The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 66

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 840

USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The sobriquet "Shanghai " was given to him by the local Democratic politicians, as the representative of the Republican or " Shanghai " party, as it was called by the Democracy in 1854-55. The new species of Shanghai poultry was introduced into the State about the time the Republican party was in the period of incubation. When it finally made its appearance, it was dubbed the " Shanghai party," because it was a new species of fowl in the political barn-

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

yard. Mr. Chandler's ardent advocacy of the principles of the new party, a's well as his per- sonal appearance, obtained for him the cognomen of " the Shanghai ;" he accepted it and used it as his nom de plume in some of his correspondence, and by it he ever after was generally known. He died at Baraboo, August 28, 1878, aged forty-five years and five days. His widow still resides in Baraboo.

FIRST AND LAST CENSUS OF SAUK COUNTY.

In the spring of 1842, Sheriff A. A. Bird, of Dane County, to which Sauk County then belonged, under official instructions and in accordance with an act entitled " An act to provide for the taking of the census of the inhabitants of the Territory of Weskonsan. approved Feb- ruary 18, 1842," returned the names of the following persons, as "heads of families," then residing in the county. The figures set opposite the names indicate the number of persons be- longing to each family, though they really included others :

Sauk Prairie .- Prescott Brigham, 4; E. P. Brigham, 4; Josiah E. Abbott, 7; J. Wag- goner, 5; Andrew Garrison, 2; Nathan Kellogg, 6; William G. Simons, 5; H. F. Crossman, 6; John La Messeure, 15; W. Langdon, 3; Calvin Frink, 11; John Gallard, 3; A. Morgan, 4; George Dunlap, 3; Jonathan Hatch, 9; Albert Skinner, 7; J. Hayden, 8; Adolph Rendtorff, 6; James S. Alban, 8. Total, 116.

Baraboo .- M. Crain, 2; Robert V. Allen, 2; Levi Moore, 5; Moses Nulph, 4; John Meads, 1; M. Gillson, 6; Orrin Hudson, 1; Peter Manaar, 3; John Rainey, 2; John de la Rond, 1; Thomas Kelsey, 1; C. Randall, 7; Henry Lewis, 6; Milo Blood, 5; Don Carlos Barry, 6; James Christie, 6; D. Gilson, 7; Edward Kingsley, 5; Mrs. V. B. Hill, 6; Abram Wood, 3; Wallace Rowan, 11; John Draper, 5; Lewis Brunson, 5; William H. Canfield, 3; Simeon Griffith, 5; Richard Clark, 1; Thomas Clark, 3; Solomon Shaffer, 3; Edward John- son, 5; Daniel Brewster, 3; Eben Peck, 5; William Stephens, 1; S. Knox or Traux, 5. Total, 134.

Helena .- [The name of the census district. which is supposedto have included a strip of ter- ritory south of the Wisconsin river. It is well known that Charles Halasz, Robert Bryant and others whose names are familiar in the history of this county, lived on the lower end of Sauk Prairie, north of the river, but, as the taking of this census occurred two years before the organ- ization of the county, and while it belonged to Dane County, it may be that Helena census dis- trict lay on both sides of the Wisconsin. Such is the opinion of an old settler of Baraboo .- ED.]-P. M. Nichols, 4; Charles Halasz, 13 ; Robert Bryant, 10; Birosch, 8; Alvin Crane, 8: H. B. Staines, 9; E. Brown, 1; Cyrus Leland, 10; John Russell, 2 ; Henry Teal, 6 ; M. Blodget, 1; John Hoover, Jr., 3; John Hoover, Sr., 4; Zenas Herrington, 8; Albert Jameson, 5; Albert Myers, 4; John Kellogg, 4; Andrew Hodgett, 1; William John- son, 9 ; Samuel Mather, 3; D. R. Baxter, 4; George Cargill, 5; Samuel Woodruff, 9; Will- iam Tanner, 4; John Wilson, 7; Frank Pravoncil, 5. Total, 146.

This census was by no means a correct one. It is the only one in existence, however, taken at that early day. It is known to be incomplete for the reason that the names of several of the first settlers in the county who were heads of families were omitted. The census-taker seems to have contented himself with the names of those at the head of families, and those en- gaged in business, overlooking many persons then engaged as " hired hands." For instance, it will be observed that there were thirteen persons, in the "family " of Charles Halasz. This doubtless included ten or a dozen men then in the employment of Mr. Halasz. The same may also be said in reference to the figures opposite the names of many others.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

In 1870, the population of Sauk County was 23,060; in 1875, 26,932, an increase in five years of 3,872. The population for 1880, by towns, is as follows :

Baraboo.

*4,594

Merrimack ..

829

Bear Creek

808

Prairie du Sac

1,963

Dellona.

583

Reedsburg ..

*2,547

Delton.

867

Spring Green

1,090

Excelsior

1,109

Sumter

745

Fairfield

747

Troy.

1,028

Franklin.

1,010

Washington.

1,169

Freedom .

1,330

Westfield.

1,462

Greenfield

753

Winfield

780

Honey Creek

1,248

Woodland

1,367

Ironton

1,311

Lavalle

1,364

Total

29,104

THE OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY.

A preliminary meeting of the old settlers of Sauk County was held in the parlor of the Baxter House, in Prairie du Sac, on the 22d of February, 1872. Jonathan Hatch, a pioneer of 1839, was called to the chair, and Charles Halasz was chosen Secretary. The following old settlers-opposite whose names are placed the dates of their arrival-were present : Jonathan Hatch, July, 1839; William and Alexander Johnson, December, 1839 ; George Dunlap, May, 1840 ; Charles Halasz, June, 1840; Cyrus Hill, June, 1840; J. I. Waterbury, September, 1840 ; John Gallard, April, 1841; Archibald Hill, May, 1841; D. R. Baxter, May, 1841; John Acola, May, 1842; William H. Canfield, May, 1842; Henry Gatwinkle, August, 1842; A. M. Seymour, September, 1842; George Owen, September, 1842; H. H. Webster, December, 1842; John Thilke, May, 1844; James H. Haines, May, 1844; John B. Crawford, October, 1844; B. F. Brown, May, 1845; James Cowles, October, 1845; John Sharpe, February, 1846; David B. Crandall, November, 1846; Robert B. Crandall, February, 1847; Ransom E. Stone, February, 1847 ; D. K. Noyes, June, 1847 ; Ryland Stone, September, 1847; S. W. Corwith, September, 1847 ; L. V. Tabor, October, 1847.

Annual meetings of the remaining old settlers of Sauk County continue to be held. The proceedings are very interesting, but are not usually of an historical nature, partaking more of sociability than of reminiscence.

THE COUNTY POOR.

Upon the organization of Sauk County, the town poor system, then in vogue in other and earlier- settled parts of the State, was adopted. In March, 1854, by vote of the Board of Super- visors, the distinction between town and county poor was abolished, and three County Superin- tendents of the Poor were chosen-one to hold office for three years, another two years, and the third one year. E. G. Wheeler, Charles O. Baxter and James Maxwell were elected to the offices thus created. From this date until November, 1855, the county at large was responsible for the care and maintenance of all the paupers within its borders, a poor tax being levied in each town, and turned over to the county for that purpose. At the fall meeting of the board of this year, the distinction between town and county poor was restored, the old system of each town caring for its own paupers being again adopted, and the county caring for such transient paupers as might come within its borders. This system remained unchanged until 1872, when, at the spring term of the board, the town system was again abolished. Immediate measures were taken for the location of a poor farm and the construction of a poor house. A committee, of which H. P. Ellinwood was chairman, was appointed to select a site, and, after making an examination of some thirty or forty farms in different parts of the county, the committee reported in favor of purchasing 125 acres of land of James B. Clark, in Section 34, town of Reedsburg, and paying therefor $5,000. The report being adopted, an appropriation of $4,000 was voted toward building a poor house, and the work was soon afterward commenced. At the

*Including population of villages. Population of Baraboo Village, 3,266; Reedsburg, 1,331.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

same sitting of the board, J. I. Waterbury, G. Stevens and Enos Kimball were chosen Superin- tendents of the Poor. A Superintendent is chosen annually, one going out each year, and three being continuously in office.

While the new poor house was being built, and during the prevalence of a wind storm Sep- tember 26, 1872, a portion of the north wall was blown down. Two young men, named Thorn and Knowles, were unloading brick at the time at the base of the wall, and the former was con- siderably bruised. The heaviest portion of the falling mass overreached them, however, but their escape from instant death was almost miraculous.

A separate structure' was erected for the safe-keeping of the county's insane. or that portion of this unfortunate class who are returned from the State asylums as incurable. During the year 1879, there were cared for at this institution sixty-one paupers and fifteen cases of insanity. The present Superintendents of the Poor are Anton Fischer, O. Thomas and N. Stowe.

ORNITHOLOGY.

One of the most peculiarly interesting evidences of home talent and industry to be found in this county is a collection of birds, animals, insects and minerals, gathered and prepared by Mr. Charles Dininger, of Sauk City, taxidermist and ornithologist. This splendid collection, large in number and numerous in variety, is the result of nearly half a lifetime's labors ; twenty- nine years of hard work and study having been almost uninterruptedly devoted to the work of collecting and preparing these specimens for permanent preservation. The amount of persever- ance, enterprise, talent, strength and time, that it takes to accomplish anything really appre- ciable in such a field of effort, can hardly be overestimated, and is seldom ever fully appreciated. A man, to be successful in such work, must not only be imbued with a love and engrossing admiration for nature and her productions, but he must be willing to give the best energies of his life entirely to his pursuit ; for thus, and thus only, have the varied mysteries of nature been solved, and her paramount beauties exposed. Although but few may ever look at this collection with aught save the interest created by curiosity, yet that few will give Mr. Dinninger the credit which is due to his fine intelligence, and unusually excellent achievements, in placing before them, from field, forest and stream, so much that is graceful and beautiful, as well as being, in many cases, exceptionally rare and remarkable.

The number of birds, of various species, indigenous to this part of the country, is very large, and includes many of exquisite beauty of plumage as well as perfection of form. Of these, and those also that come to this county annually (migratory birds), Mr. Dininger has succeeded in getting specimens, there now being several hundred in the collection, and all being very per- fect, from the wee young ones of our red-throated humming-bird in their nest, to the monster gray eagle, sitting in native majesty on his perch, and that measures 8 feet 4 inches from tip to tip of his wings. The albinos (odd specimens of regular species) are, perhaps, the most novel in appearance of any kind here, and, though being almost unknown, are worthy of careful men- tion. There are a pair of beautiful white quail; a yellow-breasted white robin ; a black robin, with white-mottled head and white-tipped wings ; a variegated robin, being white, brown and yellow ; a white pheasant, with beautifully tufted head and heavy brown ruff ; a white specimen of the specie purple crakle, or blackbird; a white redwing starling (very rare), and female starling, with red on wings ; a snowy owl, with mottled plumage, and ears like the great horned owl (not mentioned in any work). Among the others there are large numbers of exceedingly fine specimens, of which may be mentioned : A pair of pilated woodpeckers, now very rare ; a pair of Bohemian waxwings, or wanderers, a bird which, it is said, roams through the cold regions of the entire globe; a yellow-headed crakle, indigenous to California ; a yellow-breasted chat, strayed hither from the Sunny South; a great heron, of magnificent plumage, and a cor- morant, with greenish black body and neck, beautifully mottled crest, and mottled, dark bronze- colored wings-a most superb specimen.

The description could be continued to almost any length, so many and worthy are the various specimens ; but the above is sufficient to give a fair idea of the character and merit of

445

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

the collection, which, be it remembered, has been made entirely in this county. Below is given a catalogue of the different birds that abound in the county, with their common names, all of which are represented in Mr. Dinninger's collection :

Bald eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, pigeon hawk, sparrow hawk, marsh hawk, white- breasted hawk, broad-winged hawk, rough-legged hawk, goshawk, cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, black-belted hawk, American fish-hawk, great horned owl, snowy owl, snowy owl (or a very light-colored mottled, with ears ; not found in books), mottled or screech owl, barred owl, hawk owl, long-eared owl, brown wren, golden-crested wren, red-crested wren, black-billed cuckoo, blue-jay, red-headed woodpecker, golden-winged :woodpecker, yellow-bellied woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, whippoorwill, night-hawk, belted kingfisher, great northern shrike, white-bellied nut-hatch, kingbird, peewit or Phœbe bird, ruby-throated humming-birds, Maryland yellow-throat, black-throated blue warbler, yellow-rump warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, black and yellow warbler, black-throated green warbler, black-burnion warbler, bay-crested warbler, black-poll warbler, lesser red poll, brown thrush, water thrush, wood thrush, green black-cap flycatcher, American redstart, scarlet tanager, purple marten, barn swallow, bank swallow, chimney swallow, white-bellied swallow, cat-bird, cedar bird, Bohe- mian chatterer or waxwing, purple finch, siskin, snow bunting, the American creeper, black-cap titmouse, American skylark, goldfinch, bluebird, song-sparrow, fox-colored sparrow, tree spar- row, indigo bird, red crossbill, rose-breasted grossbeak, ground robin, bobolink or rice bird, red- winged starling, rusty blackbird, swamp blackbird, purple crakel or crow ;blackbird, cow bunting, meadow lark, Baltimore oriole, turtle dove, passenger pigeon, pinnated grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, quail, sandhill crane, bittern or stake driver, least bittern, great heron, snowy heron, green heron, night heron, golden plover, kill-deer, king plover or semi- palmated snipe, Wilson's English snipe, field plover, parrie plover, yellow-legs, prairie plover, sandpiper, woodcock, clapper rail, sara or common rail, coot or mud hen, hell diver, Canada goose, snow goose, white-fronted goose, brant, black duck, ruddy duck, redhead duck, pentail duck, wood duck, mallard duck, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, buffel-headed duck, spoonbill duck, scaup duck, American widgeon, sheldrake, goosander, hooded merganser, common cormorant, double-crested cormorant.

446

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

CHAPTER VII.

REMINISCENCES.

PIONEER DAYS-EARLY VISITS TO; SAUK COUNTY-A TRIBUTE TO SOME OF THE FIRST PIONEERS -THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN THE BARABOO VALLEY-A TILT WITH REDSKINS-THE INDIAN SCARE OF 1844-EARLY CHRISTIAN EFFORT IN SAUK COUNTY.

PIONEER DAYS.

Early in the spring of 1838, Berry Haney received private information from George W. Jones, who was then Delegate in Congress from Wisconsin Territory, that the treaty with the Winnebago Indians, for their lands north of the Wisconsin River, had been ratified. Haney, at that time, was engaged with Col. Abner Nichols, of Mineral Point, in staging between Min- eral Point and Fort Winnebago. They had two men in their employ by the names of Jonathan Taylor and Solomon Shore. Haney lived on Black Earth Creek, at the place now called Cross Plains. On the receipt of the intelligence of the ratification of the treaty, he sent Taylor to the Wisconsin River, opposite Sauk Prairie, there to await the coming of Shore, who went with Haney to Fort Winnebago, to purchase a skiff to take down the river to Sauk Prairie, in order to get across. They met at that point according to previous arrangement, crossed over, and proceeded to mark out their claims. The first one marked out by them was for Berry Haney, on what is now Sauk City. Taylor claimed the next above Haney, and Shore the next, which claim I afterward purchased and own at this time. Haney, I believe, had the first land broke in Sauk County. In June, 1838, he employed James Ensminger and Thomas Sauser to break ten acres, for which he paid them $100. The first place in the shape of a dwelling, on "Sauk Prairie, was built by Ensminger and Sauser. They dug a pit in the ground, about four feet deep, twelve by sixteen or eighteen feet square, logged it up, and covered the hole with hay and earth, making a sort of root-house. This they did for the purpose of preventing the Indians from burning them out, as they had threatened. James S. Alban (who was afterward Judge of Portage County) and family moved on to Sauk Prairie in January, 1839, being the first family, I believe, in Sauk County, or what is now Sauk County. I believe it is claimed by John Wil- son, of Wilson's Creek, that he and family were the first. However this may be, I cannot say ; I have always understood, until a few years since, that Alban and family were the first. I left I Rock Island for Wisconsin about the 1st of April, 1839, on board the old steamer Fayette. arrived at Galena in due time, and there took stage-or rather wagon-for Mineral Point. The proprietor was John Messersmith. We arrived at his place at Elk Grove, at noon, where we were very politely entertained by the Squire and his family, and after an excellent dinner we proceeded on our way. We arrived at Mineral Point in the evening of the same day. I there lay over one day for the stage-or rather wagon, again-to Madison. At Mineral Point, I met Berry Haney, who introduced me to A. A. Bird, of Madison, who was also waiting for the stage, and to many prominent citizens of the Point. We were one day in going from the Point to Haney's place in Black Earth Valley, where I arrived, I believe, on the 6th of April. A few days after I arrived at Haney's place, Haney, Joseph Denson, from Iowa Territory, and myself, started for Sauk Prairie. We followed a dim trail to the river, left our horses on the south side and crossed over in an Indian canoe. We visited several of the cabins and claim- shanties, among others, that of D. B. Crocker, which was situated where the village of Prairie

*By Charles O. Baxter.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

du Sac is now situated. While there, a little incident occurred that may be worth relating. The day was pleasant, and we were all seated out in front of his cabin, admiring and conversing upon the beauties of the country, when some one of the company discovered an animal of some kind approaching the grove below us, from the prairie. Some supposed it to be a deer, others thought it was a wolf. Denson, being an old hunter and a good marksman, proposed to go down and try to get a shot. He took Crocker's gun and went down to the grove, where he soon dis- appeared. Presently we heard the report of the gun, and very soon saw Denson with his hat off. running with all his speed toward us, making signs to us to come to him. We all ran as fast as we could. When we came up to him he told us he had shot an animal, the like of which he had never before seen. He said when he fired, it leaped into the air about ten feet, and then he thought it was making after him, which was the cause of his running and giving us signals to come to him. After reloading his gun, we cautiously advanced to the spot, and there found a monster lynx pierced through the heart.

The only families that were then settled in what is now Sauk County, were those of James S. Alban, Albert Skinner and John Wilson. Wilson was living at Wilson's Creek at the time. There were several young men making and improving claims when I came. They were H. F. Crossman, Burk Fairchild, D. B. Crocker, William Billings, William May, Nelson Lathrop, E. B. Harner and an old bachelor by the name of Hunter. The third family that moved in was named Parks, and the fourth, Jonathan Hatch.

Some time in October, 1839, five of us, Berry Haney, Burk Fairchild, Solomon Shore, Samuel Taylor and myself, crossed the bluffs over to the Baraboo Valley. The trail led us over the bluffs immediately back of what is now known as the Teel place, the highest peak, I think, in the center range between the prairie and Baraboo. The trail led us directly to the Baraboo River, at the place where Maxwell's mill-dam now stands. Here we forded the river and entered the village of the Indian Chief, Caliminee, where we were very warmly and hospitably received. We rested and refreshed ourselves and horses, and were very much amused in seeing the Indians playing at cards and horse-racing. Some of them would stake their last string of " wampum " on a single chance at cards. The game we could not understand. After spending about two hours at this village, we started to traverse the river above, which we did, whenever it was approachable, as far up as "Dandy's" village, which was five or six miles above. At this village we were received with marked dis- pleasure by the Indians, many of them gathering around us, and making much noise and con- fusion. They made signs and gesticulations for us to leave. After some parley with them, however, we succeeded in restoring quiet, and afterward purchased some corn to feed our horses for the night, and left them in peace. We encamped about two miles above the village, where I spent the most disagreeable night of my life. It was very chilly and dark, and rained the entire night. We had no shelter except that afforded by our blankets, which was but little, and we were drenched to the skin in a short time, through blankets and all. After much trouble we succeeded in making a fire, which somewhat relieved us from the cold. The next morning the rain ceased. After drying our clothes, and taking breakfast in the Indian style, we pro- ceeded up the river to the Narrows, from which point we returned on the direct trail to the lower village, where we had the honor of dining with the Chief. We spent several hours at this village, and then went down the prairie to the Narrows below, from which place we returned home. After a very tedious and tiresome journey across the bluffs, we arrived at Sauk some hours after night, and lodged in the primitive house (or dugout, as we used to call it), which was a very agreeable change from the night before.

We saw no visible signs of white men in the Baraboo Valley. I think in all probability we were the first white men that ever crossed the bluffs between the prairie and Baraboo Valley. Some time in the after part of the summer of 1839, Cyrus Leland and George Cargel moved their families to the prairie, being the fifth and sixth families who came ; and a little later in the season of the same year, Berry Haney moved his family to the prairie, being the seventh. On the 30th of November, 1839, Charles B., son of Berry and Anna Haney was born, being the

448

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

first white child born in Sauk County. There was nothing further of importance transpired during the winter of that year. The winter was very cold, with much snow, which covered the ground until spring. This ends my first year's stay in Wisconsin.

EARLY VISITS TO SAUK COUNTY .*

On the 1st day of May, 1848, 1 set out from my home at Spring Prairie, Walworth County, for my first visit to the valley of the Baraboo, of which I had heard, for the first time, only four or five years previous. A young man whose father's farm adjoined that of my father in Massachusetts, had spent the preceding winter with us. During that time, the land warrants which Congress had granted to the soldiers of the Mexican war, began to come upon the market. My friend sent to a New York broker and bought one for 160 acres for about $120, and wished me to assist him in its location. Sauk County at that time was regarded as the best portion of the State accessible to us for obtaining Government lands. For that reason we directed our jour- ney here.

Friday morning, May 3, 1848, found us at the little village of Prairie du Sac, the guests of Rev. Warren Cochran, who then resided there. He had removed the autumn previous from the vicinity of our home in Walworth County, and was preaching alternately at that village and at Baraboo. We found him at the time too feeble in health to ride to Baraboo to preach on the next Sabbath, and he wished me to hold meeting in his place. He was then in the vigor of early manhood, of strong physical powers, a towering intellect and a benevolent heart-such a giant intellectually and morally as is seldom found on the frontiers. He came to Wisconsin with the intention of founding a college. Although he failed in accomplishing that object, he did estab- lish a school of elevated character, which became the Baraboo Collegiate Institute, and which continued to educate for usefulness large numbers of youth, until it was supplanted by the pres- ent graded school. Mr. Cochran went everywhere preaching the word with the zeal of an Apos- tle, there not being a village or schoolhouse in the county in which his voice at one time or another was not heard. At 8 A. M., we set out for Baraboo upon substantially the same road now traveled over Sauk Prairie, which then was but partially under cultivation. About midway of the prairie we met Maj. James A. Maxwell and family on their way to Sac Village to attend a quarterly meeting of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had removed with his father from Walworth County the year previous and purchased the lower water-power on the Baraboo, now known as the village of Manchester. As we passed up the southern slope of the Baraboo Bluffs, we were presented with the finest landscape view we had ever beheld. Sauk Prairie for a dozen miles, dotted all over with fields of growing grain, was presented to our vision. It was a scene worth a hundred miles' travel to look upon. For six miles across the bluffs there was at that time not a house to be seen, and the road was filled with bowlders. In the vicinity of Devil's Lake, the scenery was more Alpine than anything I had before seen west of New England. We found Baraboo to be a village of some three hundred inhabitants, lying mostly near the river on both sides. On the south side was a, saw-mill, which was converting logs from the Baraboo pinery into lumber, most of which was rafted down to the cities and villages on the Mississippi River. The largest hotel in the place was kept by Lyman Clark, now of Windom, Minn. It was situated just north of where the present railroad depot stands, and has since been converted into a brewery. There were also a dozen to a score of dwellings, mostly small, on the south side. The river was crossed by a bridge. On the north side ran a street parallel with the river, upon which were two or three stores and several houses. A small unfinished grist-mill of one run of stones stood upon the site of the present large flouring-mill of R. H. Strong. The pro- prietor, whose name was Brown, had been killed by the fall of a timber in raising an addition to it, a few weeks previous. The county seat had been removed from the village of Prairie du Sac the year previous and located upon a square quarter-section composing a part of the land between the first and second bluff from the river, the present court house standing somewhere

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The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 66

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 840

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 840