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SENEALOGV COLLECTION
A HISTORY OF
COLUMBIA COUNTY
WISCONSIN
A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its
People, and Its Principal Interests.
ComplM unoer •"< Editorial Supervision ol
J. E. JONES,
PORTAGE
Assisted by a Board of Advisory Editors
VOLUME I
ILLUSTRA TED
PUBLISHERS
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1914
PREFACE
1303716
Every student of history knows that Interior America is the Greater
America, and just as long as the Coming United States was crowded
between the Eastern mountains and the Atlantic Ocean it was bound in
Colonial chains. To the romantic, ambitious spirit of the Frenchman
whether he be cavalier or priest, is due the planting of the seed which
has bloomed into a nation. He opened the gates to the Mississippi with
all its tributary valleys; and it was the fiery genius of Napoleon which
finally passed into our keeping that vast Louisiana beyond the Mississippi,
X which lured us even beyond to the Pacific.
It is by thus getting a perspective that one may weigh the relative
importance of any locality as a necessary feature of the broad, historic
landscape over which the events of the world have marched and which
the student may calmly review as from an eminence; he is blind, except
with the prophetic eye, as to what lies before him.
Those who know Columbia County, and have studied its relation to
the development of the great heart of the United States, are proud of the
part which Providence assigned to it in the making of the Nation. In
the very center of the greatest of the four waterways, whose easy
^portages separated the vast basins of the Great Lakes from the broad
valleys of the Mississippi system, the grand figures of Marquette and
Joliet the French fur-trader and voyageur, the really noble red man
the merchandiser of all nations, the soldier, the American statesman and
finally the well-molded citizen of today's Republic-m a word this
United States in the entire making-has been largely filtered through the
County of Columbia. Although there have been some who would have
had our home county known as Portage, rather than that other goodly
section of Central Wisconsin, it is better as it is, since we are really
entitled to the name and the fame.
Ever considering Columbia County from this large relationship, we
have taken a deep satisfaction in gathering and presenting the details
of its founding and growth; and although there are other counties in
Wisconsin far more wealthy and populous, there is none whose soil has
PREFACE
t?ro^T^C g oCb e ia PiCtUreS9Ue : "" 1 Vital al0Dg " lr Iines '"' hist °ry
It has been qo small task to d ' â–
« ising editor would i,',,- #„n " V .• l . ns '"' 1 ' '" ""' subject, and the super
eh ,jTSij^ rf ^ jB "ii^rf
Although not on, , ', , ' x â„¢'- "'"' Hubert Palmer, of Lodi.
i n ,„:,,, i,^ -, u 7 ; /'' v T ,ry ; ,,iU '''- "" " it,x,n ,,f ' tl,< - , """ , >" '--
-~^
edge the services of Mrs W n m get ' '""â– v a <*nowl-
Mrs. J. B Jones , ^, V , """ ' "" ^ " i, - v 1]l '™- -•'
debtors, but ,,, ,\ „ '. X-„ i , I'?- ." , " llt . "- ■"■largest
thank you one and all." • simply
There never was ,-, book published in u hi .i, ti
ES??SSS3SSSSS
t)]l n , thnl )( . 0111[ll( . tl , hasj u
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
NATURAL FEATURES
Wisconsin's Boldest Feature — Natural Route of Indians and
French Discoverers — Protection op the Portage Necessary to
Settlement — The Wisconsin River and the Dells — The "How"
op the Dells — The Baraboo Bluffs — Through the "Grand Eddy"
on a Raft — The Great Prairie Belt of Limestone — The Water
Courses of Columbia County — Prairies, Marshes and Timber
Land — Building Stone — Dairying and Agriculture 1
CHAPTER II
THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS
Mound Builders Keep to the' Water Courses — Mounds of the Kil-
bourn Region — First Tidings of Columbia County Indians — The
WlNNEBAGOES AND MENOMINEES LAST OP THE INDIAN LaNDS — WlN-
nebago Villages — De Korra, the Noble Chief — Indian Payment
of 1830 — Mrs. Kedzie Describes the Chiefs — Yellow Thunder,
Last Winnebago War Chief — Personal Recollections of Yellow
Thunder (Mrs. Lydia A. Flanders) — Last Forced March of the
WlNNEBAGOES TlIE PAYMENT OF 1914 17
CHAPTER III
FIRST WHITE VISITORS
Nicolet and Columbia County — Where Was the Mascouten Vil-
lage? — Joliet and Marquette Pass the Portage — Memorial at
the Place of Crossing — Hennepin at the Portage — LaSalle and
Jonathan Carver — Visits op United States Soldiers — Traders
and Carriers 33
V1 CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
INDIAN WARS AND THE FORT
The Winnebago Uprising-The Pobsuit of Red Bird-Volunt ary
S ' Kuy %â„¢ '"" â„¢" Chie^The Magnificent Red Bibd-BeS Not
Is Red bU; H NS ~ RED . BlRD ° IVES A ™ HlS L ^ewI
Lor' T ° ^^^r WlN ™ G0 *» "A Paktv Nameb
f HE Fo7J P NG °* MAJ0B Twggs -G K ound Brokex for
the Fobt-Completed-Amusements at the Post-Noted Men
IwTT N AT T F0RT ~ Lie ^^t axd Mrs. Van Cleve-
Henby Mebbell-Evacuated-Final Dissolution 42
CHAPTER V
PIONEER TRADERS AND CARRIERS
Peter Pauquette-Death of the Famous Trader-Shot by Man
ZEMON-E-KA-In P LAMED BY LlQUOB AND FALSE ChaRGES-The
Remains of Pauquette Finally Located-The Coming of
Henry Merrell-Fort Winnebago in 183^-Commandants , nd
Indian Agents-The De Kobras and Joseph Crelie-Post
Amusements^Business Trips Under Difficulties-Merrell 's
Account oe the Famous 1837 Treaty-Trips More or Less Excit
Wk R H LL 1N * 0L â„¢ cs -^™℠¢ Clark's Perilous Jocrney
-Black Hawk Threatens Fort Winnebago-Clark Sent for
Wobcements-On Return Overtakes Mounted MiliJ-
Fatal Stampede of Troopers' Horses-" Battle" of the Wis-
consin-End of the Black Hawk War-De La Ronde MakJ
the Portage en 1828-The Noted Indian Family, De-kau"y
De Korra)-De La Ronde Becomes a Caledonu Farmer-
ndian Removal of 1840-Gbignon, or French Claim No. 21-
0â„¢eâ„¢: e ^ VE - TIIE P0ST ^---Wisconsinapolis^d
5S
CHAPTER VI
LAND OWNERS AND REAL SETTLERS
F Tom S ;nf E f% 0F C ° L t MBIA ''"' XTV LaXDS - The Land Districts-Me-
NOMINEE INDIAN LANDS SURVEYED-L IST OF FlRST LAND ENTRIES-
Wallace Rowan, Fibst Real Settler-Mrs. Rowan from "In-
CONTENTS vii
dianer" — The Rowan Inn — Judge Doty Objects to the Hours —
Last op the Rowans — The English Colonies op Potters — Arrive
in the Town op Scott — Other Trades Recognized — Pottersville
— Twigg's Landing — Disbandment op the Society — Inhabitants
op County (1846) 1,200 — Columbia County on Early Maps 79
CHAPTER VI [
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
The Military Road — In Columbia County — Territorial and Other
Highways — Preliminary Survey of the Fox and Wisconsin
Rivers — The Old Portage Canal — The Canal in 1851 — New
Canal Completed by the Government — Boscobel Really
Through — Control of Floods by Levee Systems — Cost and His-
tory of Great Public Work— First Dyke Gives Way — Lewiston
Levee Rebuilt — Another Levee to Protect Caledonia and
Portage — Floods of the Wisconsin River — La Crosse & Mil-
waukee Railroad — Reaches Points in Columbia County —
Development op the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul —
Chicago & Northwestern — Wisconsin Central Commenced at
Portage — Completion of Line (1871) — The M., St. Paul &
S. Ste. Marie 89
CHAPTER VIII
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
Old Portage County — First Casting of Ballots — Columbia Set Off
from Portage County — First Annual Election — James T. Lewis
Insists on Columbia — The County Officers — Sheriffs — Clerks
of Circuit Court — District Attorneys — County Clerks — County
Treasurers — Registers op Deeds — Coroners — County Surveyors
— Boards of County Commissioners — Chairmen of County Board
of Supervisors — County Seat Fights — Temporary County Build-
ings — First Steps Toward Permanent Courthouse — The Court-
house Completed — County Jail and Sheriff's Residence — Home
for County Insane and Poor — The Circuit Court — Probate and
County Court 103
w " CONTENTS
CHAPTER IX
MISCELLANEOUS COUNTY MATTERS
Household Population (1846) -Population in 1847-Figures
(1850-1910)-Real Estate and Personal Property (1875)
-Agricultural Interests-Conditions Thirty Years Ago-Con
rXLUM B r E r PRESENT 7 A SPLENWD D - RY C0UNTYic RE AHE^E S "
in Columbia County-Cheese Factories-Live Stock-County
-U-CULTURAL SOCIETY-FlSH PAIR AND SECRETARY^ RePOrT-Co
County " Associ â„¢-Câ„¢ling in Columbia
119
CHAPTER X
THE PRESS
^TiME?™ A T TY N — — — ON oe THE RIVER
Iimes-John A. Brown and the Badger State-" Shanghai"
Chandler and the Independent-Robert B. Wentworth and
the Portage City Record-Enter A. J. Tv*Z-Zl N Z
State Register Pounded-Brannan & Turner-Thf pIâ„¢
SruMB 885 N DAT& - A ' J ' Tl ' BNEB *» ^-Lc-ood-X T B
City t" ^^^^^ Mirror Precedes Kilbourn
rtetT D â„¢ocrat-The Columbus Republican-
W^L. t News â„¢, Der AVecker-Rhndshau und
Wecker-Launching op the Portage Democrat-James T
JONES-Lom's Ups and Downs-The Enterpr ISE !!'t H e Poynette
Pklss-Pardeeville Times and Badger Blade (Rio)-Kh,boS
CHAPTER XI
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
FlR C^tir L Too U p E wr HE F ^ T - FlRST SC -0 L District Formed at
CONTENTS ix
collegiate [nstitute — tlie kllbourn institute — rev. b. g. rlley
a.\h lodl — potnette presbyterian academy present status op
Public Schools — Pioneer Trainers op the Soul — Father Maz-
zuchelli at the Portage — The First of St. Mary's Parish — Stir-
ring Methodist Preacher — The Methodists of Fall River — Lodi
Methodists Organize — Mr. Townsend on the Lowville Sabbath
School — The Presbyterians at the Portage — Cambria as a
Church Center — Presbyterian Church of Kilbourn — The Nor-
wegian Lutherans Organize — Early Churches in the Town-
ships 149
CHAPTER XII
MILITARY RECORD
Jefferson Davis — Edwin V. Sumner — Other Noted Officers of Fort
Winnebago — The Portage Light Guard — Company G, Second Wis-
consin Volunteer Infantry — First Wisconsin Regiment to Enter
the Service — Record of the Second Wisconsin — Company D,
Fourth Regiment — General Bailey and Major Pierce — General
Bailey and the Red River Dam — Companies A and B, Seventh
Regiment — Company H, Eleventh Regiment — Company D, Nine-
teenth Regiment — Companies C, G and H, Twenty-third Regi-
ment — General and Judge J. J. Guppey — Record of the Twenty-
third — Companies A and E, Twenty-ninth Regiment — Company
K, Thirty-second Regiment — Last Infantry Companies — Cavalry
and Artillery — The Drafts in the County — Guppey Guard of
Portage — Competitive Drills — Captains and Armories — Company
F, Third Regiment, W. N. G. — Company F in Spanish-American
War — The New Armory 167
CHAPTER XIII
THE CITY OF PORTAGE
First White Woman at the Portage — The Settlement Grows — The
Canal Booms Things — Platting the Town of Fort Winnebago —
The Guppey Plat — Incorporation as a City — Increase of Popula-
tion — The Present City — Chicago & Wisconsin Valley Railroad
— The Fine City Hall — Free Public Library of Portage (Mrs. J.
E. Jones) — The City Water Works — Electric Light and Tower —
x CONTENTS
Commission Form op Government Adopted — Protection Against
Fire — Wisconsin Riveb Bridges— Final Dissolution of $119,000—
Nomenclature of Portage Street- (A. J. Turner) — Experiments
in Banking — City Bank of Portage — First National Bank —
Portage Loan and Trust Company — The Eulberg Brewing Com-
pany — Epstein Brothers' Brewery — The Portage Hosieri Com-
pany — Li.. Breese 184
CHAPTER XIV
PORTAGE SCHOOLS. CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
High School and Graded System Established — History of the Por-
tage High School — The Study of German — Present School
Buildings — City Superintendent Clough — List of Superintend-
ents and Clerks — Early Catholic Missionaries — Founding of St.
Mary's Parish — Pastors of St. Mary's — School Building Erected
— The First Presbyterian Church of Portage — First Methodist
Church — St. -John's Episcopal Church — First Baptist Church —
St. John's Evangelical Litheran — Other Portage Churches —
The Masons Form Pioneer Lodge — Chapter. Council and Com-
mandery — I. 0. 0. F. Bodies — The Pythian Brothers — The Elks
Lodge — D. A. R., of Portage — Knights of Columbus and Foresters
— Lodges of Railroad Employees — Portage Liederkranz — The
National Verbanp — Country Club of Portage — The V. M.
O A 206
CHAPTER XV
COLUMBUS CITY
First Settler — Wayne B. Dyer Describes the Village — Drake Suc-
ceeds Dickason — First La-wyer and First Doctor Office Together
— James T. Lewis — Postmaster Whitney and "Old Hyson"- — Lud-
ington Plat and Addition — First Hotel, Store and School — Mill
Property Passes to J. S. Manning — Columbus Becomes a Village
— Incorporated as a City — City Departments and Activities —
Electric Light and Waterworks — Fire Department — Free
Public Library — The School System — History of the Schools —
Present Graded System Established — William C. Leitsch — Con-
gregational Church of Columbus — German Lutheran Church —
CONTEXTS xi
German Methodists — English Methodists — The Catholic Church
—Leading Lodges— First Columbus Banks — First National Bank
— Farmers and Merchants Union Bank — Early Brewers— The
Kurth Company — Columbus Canning Company 227
CHAPTER XVI
KILBOURN CITY
The Village of the Present— Wisconsin River Hydraulic Com-
pany Fathers Kilbourn — Editor Holly Arrives — Village Plat
Recorded — Sales op Lots— Schools op Kilbourn City — P. G.
Stroud and Jonathan Bowman— Village Incorporated — Water
Service and Fire Protection — The Free Public Library— Im-
provement of Southern Wisconsin Power Company — First
Steamboats at the Dells — Banks at Kilbourn — The Presby-
terian Church— The Methodists— St. Cecelia (Catholic)
Church— Other Religious Bodies 250
CHAPTER XVII
LODI VILLAGE
The Beginnings op Lodi— I. H. Palmer and the Bartholomews-
Rev. Henry Maynard— The Suckers Settlement Becomes
Famous— Settlers op 1846— First M. D. and D. D.— Other Phy-
sicians—South vs. North, Before the War— I. H. Palmer
Founds Lodi — Progress of Local Schools — Village Charter-
Water Service and Electric Lighting — The Methodist Church—
The Baptist Church— Lodi Lodges— Business Houses — Banks op
Lodi— Herbert Palmer, Son op Lodi's Founder 266
CHAPTER XVIII
VILLAGE OF PARDEEVILLE
Pardeeville Founded— Yates Ashley —John Pardee, Father of
John S., Proprietor— The Old Mill Up to Date— Protection
Against Fire — Pardeeville State Bank— Incorporated as a Vil-
lage—Graded School System— Pardeeville 's Churches— Masons
and Odd Fellows 276
xii CONTENTS
CHAPTEE XIX
VILLAGE OF RIO
Origin op the Name Doubtful — Rio Platted by X. B. Dunlap — First
Merchant and Postmaster — Pioneer Business and Professional
Men — Village Incorporated Schools — Banks — People's Tele-
phone Company — The Congregational Church — The Baptist
Church — Lutheran \m> Catholic Churches 281
CHAPTER XX
CAMBRIA
The Langdons Found Cambria — Arrival of First Welsh Colony —
Seeking a Location on Foot — Decide on Welsh Prairie — Fifty-
three Colonists "At Home" — Only Three Left in 1912 — Lang-
don's Mill Becomes Bellville — Bellville Changed to Cambria —
The Schools — Welsh Organize a Musical Union — Dr. Williams,
Patron of Literature — Revival of the Ancient Eisteddfod — Post
office Established — Industries and Banks — Welsh Calvanistic
M. E. Church — The English Presbyterian Church — Evangeei-
.cal Lutheran Zion's Congregation — Morris J. Rowlands 286
CHAPTER XXI
POYXETTE
Village of Today — Its Naming, a Mistake — Judge Doty Intended
"Pauquette" — Village Platted — Poynette in 1855 — First
School — Crusty Bachelors Withhold Tax — First Preaching —
The Times that Tried Men and Women — The Jamieson Family —
Poynette as a Flour Center — Rivalry of the "Sides" — The
Grain Trade — Bank of Poynette — School History — The
Churches — TnE Methodists Organize — Rev. John M. Springer,
War Hero — The Presbyterian Church — The Lutherans and
( atiiolics 29!)
CONTEXTS xiii
CHAPTER XXII
AN OLD SETTLER'S MEMOIRS
Hi mi Jamieson's Youth in Scotland — Booked for America — The
Route to Columbia County— Arrives at the Site op Poynette—
Prices and Taxes in the '40s — Teaming Over Southern Wiscon-
sin—The Railroads— Commences to Improve Land in 1850—
Prairie Fires — Breaking Up the Land — Pioneer Plow for Heavy
Work — First Land Entered in the County' — Gets Curious about
Miss Thomas — Married by Squire Curtis — The Thomas Family —
Union School and Church — Rowan Was Not First Settler —
Purchases a PIotel — First Village Plat op Poynette — School
District of 1852 — An Important Year — Why the Hotel Paid
Well — Buys More Land — Railroad from Madison to Portage —
A Boom for Poynette — Completes New and Larger Hotel — Rail-
boad Work Ceases — Yet Local Improvements Progress — Admitted
to Citizenship — Plats Jamieson's Addition — Rivalry of North
and South Sides — War Times in the County — Securing Volun-
teers for the Union — Railroad Projects (1861-62) — Labor and
Crops in War Times — Chairman of the Board Again — Railroad
Work Resumed — Sugar River Valley Railroad Sold — Improve-
ment op South Poynette — Fall op Richmond Celebrated —
Decline of War Prices — Local Improvements after the War —
Health Failing — Sixteen Years a Hotel Keeper — Again De-
feated by Mr. Turner — Formation of the Madison & Portage
Railroad — Town Votes Aid to the Road — The Meeting at .Madi-
son — "Old Beeswax" and George B. Smith — "Jack op Clubs"
Sustained — General Store for Railroad Men — Transfer of Town
Bonds for Railroad Stock — Bond Question Traced to the End —
"Old Beeswax" Got There — Establishes Grain Business —
Cheese Factory Established — Business Passes to Jamieson
(II. P.) & Gault (W. C.) — Farm Machinery and Supplies —
Justly Proud of His Homestead — Retrospect in 1883 — His Re-
ligious Creed— Good Family Stock— Mr. Jamieson's Death 306
CHAPTER XXIII
WYOCENA
Founded by Major Elbert Dickason — Naming of Wyocena — High
Grade of Early Settlers— First Store — Messrs. Dey and Dicka-
son— The Dairy Industries— Picnic Held on Historic Ground —
Sketch of J. M. Busiinell 358
xiv CO NT K NTS
CHAPTER XXIV
FOUNTAIN PRAIRIB (PALL RIVER)
Drainage and Land Surface — Chester Bushnell, First Settler —
Dyer, Brown and Sage Locate — The Magnificent McCafferty —
First Land Entrees — School and Chobch on Section 23— Town
Government in Running Order — Reminiscences of James C Carr
(By His Daughter. Mi;-. Oekthui.e C. Fuller i— First Birth and
First Death — Farming Under Difficulties — An Opinionated
Applicant— Public Service of Carr and Adams — Story He Told
on Brother Sage — Benjamin Sage, the Victim — Village of Fall
River — A. A. Brayton, First Settler — Postoffice in 1847 — The
Village Schools — Methodist and Baptist Churches — Early Times
in Village and Town 365
CHAPTER XXV
OTSEGO TOWNSHIP (DOYLESTOWN)
Present Village of Doylestown — Wayne B. Dyer Was First Settler
— Village of Otsego — Land Owners of the Present Doylestown
— Town of Otsego Organized — Plat of Doylestown Recorded —
First Improvements — A Boom — Columbus Too Swift — Schools
and Churches 374
CHAPTER XXVI
ARLINGTON (TOWN AND VILLAGE)
Leader in Agriculture — Clark M. Young, First Townsman — Evolu-
tion of Arlington Township — First Schools — Pioneers of Re-
ligion — The First of the Village — Important 1871 — Brisk,
Pleasant Village of Arlington 377
CHAPTER XXVII
TOWN OF LODI (OKEE)
A Pretty, Healthful Town — George M. and Marston C. Bartholo-
mew — Rev. Henry Maynard and Wife — A Hunt for "Milwaukee
Woods" — Organization of the Town — Matured Pupil Writes of
First School — Village of Okee — Expected Lake — Historic
Items 380
CONTENTS xv
CHAPTER XXVIII
TOWN OF UE KOREA
Rowan Settles and Opens Hotel — Paper Seats of Justice — Village
of De Korea — First Grist Mill in South-Central Wisconsin —
Railroad Go-By a Death Blow — The Spelling of De Korea ( ?) —
Railroad Station of Hartman 385
CHAPTER XXIX
TOWN OF COURTLAND (RANDOLPH)
Rich and Beautiful Prairie Land — The Irish Pioneer — "Chestnut,"
Says Pat — Other Arrivals of 1844-45 — Horace Rust — Pioneer
Happenings — Becomes Courtland Township — Randolph (West
Ward) 388
CHAPTER XXX
DEAD AND PAPER TOWNS
Bad Conditions for Big Cities — Champion Townsite Man — Balti-
more City — Wisconsinapolis — Canal to Stir the Portage People
— Easterner Looking for Wisconsinapolis — First Settlers Come
to Town — The Village of Newport — Joseph Bailey and Jonathan
Bowman, Backers — In 1855 Contained 1,500 People— Making All,
Safe and Sound — The Slip and Fall — Founders Move to Kilbourn
— Never More Than Port "Hope" — Wisconsin City 392
CHAPTER XXXI
COLUMBUS AND WYOCENA (TOWNS)
The Town of Columbus — First Settlement — Town Organized —
Birdsey a "Live Wire" — Wyocena Township — Good Water-
powers — First Wheat and Corn Raised — Settlers of 1845-46—
Town Organized — U. S. Regulars Rout Claim Agent — Grist
Mill below Wyocena 399
CHAPTEE XXXII
CALEDONIA AND LEEDS
Caledonia, the Largest Town— Drainage \\i> Surface Features —
Farm and Timber Lands— First Farmers op the County — First
Permament Settler — ' ' Daddy ' ' Robins< >n a m> John Pate — S< iotch-
mi:.\ Name Town, Caledonia Daughter of Pauquette Living in
Town — Town of Leeds— Chief of the Forage Towns — First Land
Claims and Settlers — Leeds Center — Organization of Town —
Postoffices — First Norwegi vn Church 403
CHAPTER XXXIII
JAMES R. HASTIE'S RECOLLECTIONS
"Old Daddy" Robertson's Fair — The Settings — Everything and
Everybody Turned Loose — No Other Like Fair of 1861 — Last Day
of De Korra Home Guard— Big Hilly Wood Gets Even— Live
Stock Exhibits— Can We Beat These?— No More Daddy's Fairs—
A Mystery Still — Kentucky City — Its One Building — The Poor
Man's Court — Dixon's First Case — Honor to the Western
Pioneer — Land Speculators Crowd Out Settlers — Village of
De Korra at its Best — In the Melting Pot 409
CHAPTEE XXXIV
MARCELLON AND FORT WINNEBAGO
First Settlers in Marcellon— Others Who Came in 1846 — Several
First Events — Name of Marcellon Without Meaning — Town of
Fort Winnebago — Count Agosten Haraszthy — Makes Wisconsin
His Home — Locates in Sack County — Off for California — Prom-
inent in the Golden State — Death in Nicaragua — Portrait
Brought to Portage — First Permanent Settlers of Town — How
the Town Came to Be 420
CHAPTEE XXXV
SCOTT AXD RANDOLPH
Good Fruit and Dairy Country' — First Settler in Scott — M. W. Pat-
ton and Others — Famous Blue Tavern — Named After Winfield
Scott 42.")
CONTEXTS xvii
CHAPTER XXX VI
LOWVILLE AND SPRINGVALE
Jacob Low, First Settler of Lowville — First Makeiage, Birth and
Death — First Postoffice and Mail Route — The Hotel — First
Teacher and Preacher — Coming of the Townsend Family — Rem-
iniscences of A. J. Townsend — Town of Springvale — Adapted
to Cattle Raising — Springv ale's First Settler — High-Priced
Religion — The Welsh Settlers — Organized Under Present
Name 427
CHAPTER. XXXVII
WEST POINT AND HAMPDEN
First House-Builder in West Point — Changes in Name — Schools
— Only One Hotel Venture — Town of Hampden — First Settlers
— Town Organized and Named — First School — Introduction of
Fine Stock 433
CHAPTER XXXVIII
NEWPORT AND RANDOLPH
Newport Town and Village Founded — First Settlers — Randolph
Township — Leads in Agriculture — George Knowles, First
Settler — Coming of the Langdon Brothers — Alden and Converse
— The First Welsh to Arrive — First Schools and Teachers —
Squire Patton and His "High Court" — Villages at a Discount
But Politics, Brisk Enough 438
INDEX
Columbia County
( |.or-
A Dairy Herd
I view I, 120
A French Fin Trader ami Can
trait), 3
"A party named Astor," 49
Ackerman, Roxelana, 319
Adams, .Icilm Q., 104. 10.".. 115, 116, 155,
156, 241, 368, 582
Adams, Louie. 241
Adams, M., 245
Ades, John E., 490
Agriculture, 10; Conditions thirty years
ago, 124; Conditions of the present,
125; a splendid dairy county. L26;
cheese factories, 127; creameries in
Columbia county, 127; fairs. L28-132;
live stock. 12s'; County Agriculture
Society. 12s ; lirst tan- and secretary's
report, 128; other fail-. 130; ( olum-
bia County Pair Association. 131; in
early times (Jamiesi 314; pioneer
plow for heavy work. 315; Town of
Arlington, : : 7 T ; farm and timber lands,
404; lirst farmers of the county, 404;
chief of the forage towns, 407
Albce, Hiram, 680
Allicc. William C, 680
Albright, John L„ 245
Ahlcn, Alvin ]!., 441
Alexander, J. S.. 279
Alverson. C. L., 201
Alverson, Miles T„ 575
Amusements at the post. 52
Anacker, William, 603
Anacker. William E., 711
Anderson, John, 251
apJones. John, 290, 294
Archer, W„ 218
Arlington Township— Town of Arlington 1 ,
377; leader in agriculture, 377; Clark
M. Young, tirst townsman, 377; evo-
lution of Arlington township, 378;
first schools, 378; pioneers of religion.
378
Arlington State Bank, 379
Arlington Village. 379
Armory, Wabash City, 182, 183
Armstrong, Thomas, 210
Armstrong, William, 194
Arnt, Hamilton, 64
Ashley, E. K.. 207
Ashley. Yates, '.':>'.
Ba'chman, I. B., 214
"Badger Blade," 147
"Badger State," 134, 143
Bailey, Joseph, 176, 251. 395. 438
Bailey, Gen. Joseph (portrait), 172
Bain, George B., 764
Baker, E. S., 56, 94
anks— Experiments in Hanking, 201;
City Hank of Portage, 201 ; First Na-
tional Bank, 202; Portage Loan and
Trust Company, 802; First Columbus
banks. 240; First National Bank, Co-
lumbus, 241) ; Fanners and .Merchants
Union Hank. Columbus, 246; banks at
Kilbourn, 263; Kilbourn State Bank,
263; Farmers and Merchants State
Bank, Kilbourn, 263; Bank of Cam-
bria, 293; Hank of Portage. 201; Bank
285
404
W.
Harden. Levi W.. lis
Barker, Archibald, 185
Barkman, Mrs. P. J., 191, 192
Barney, Robert D„ 263, 688
Barrett, J. W„ 305
Barteau, S. H„ 280
Barth, Laurant, 40
Bartholomew, George M.. 6.33
Bartholomew, <:. M.. 207, 380, 381, 382
Bassett, Daniel E., 236
Hatchelder, S. L„ 372
INDEX
•nry I)..
ring, ill
vi. 15]
Bath, R. \\ .. 543
Bath, \V. I... i i::. i 1 1
Batty, A. J., 193
Batty, George M., l.">4
Bauer, Joseph, 472
Beai ii. ( harles I-'.. 215
Bean, John, 161, 313
Behncke, Rudolph J., 763
Bell, John, 159
Bell, Robert, 524
Bellack, A. M., 155, 249
Bellinghausen. Herman L.. 44'.t
Bellinghausen, II. I... 116, 1 IT. 193
Bellville, 290
Bennett, R. C, 284, 362
Bentley, Frederick D., 594
Berg, Carl E., 573
Bergum, Ellick B., 546
Bieree, Daniel, 215
Bill, George, 175
Bingham, Ira W., 218
Binnie, John, 4S3
Bisl Darius, mi
Blachley, Eben, 268
Black Hawk, 42, 70
Black Hawk'- Cave, 6
Black Wolf, 24
Blair, Linus, 362
Blue. <;.. 215
Bock, Henry, 514
Boelte, Fred J., 545
Boelte, Henry ('.. 545
Bogue, Alan.' 116, 117. 451
Bogue. David. 451
Bohling, John I'.. 479
Bonham, John E., 507
Boutwell, Simon, 540
Bowman, Ella, 256
Bowman, Hannah J., 458
Bowman, Jonathan, 254. 395, 438, 456
Bowman, Joseph J., 272
Boylan, Charles, 745
Boyum, Thomas R., 749
N5
Bradley, William P., 408
I'.i ady, I ieorge, 212
Brady, James, 213
Brady, John, 212
Braeson, Benjamin, 408
Brannan, Samuel S., 136
Brayton, A. A.. 371, 372
Brayton, Stephen, 340
BreeSe, Llywelyn, H7
Breese, LI.. 201, 203, â– .'nl
Breese, LI., Jr., 203
Brewer, V. I'... 181, 194
Briese, William I... 733
Briggs, ibbej 0., :«:
1 '• ' l l; 1 1 : i r 1 1 . Maltha. 15i',
Britt, I hauncej ( .. 135
Britt, J. C, 181
Bi it ia in. John, 155
Brockmann, II . 295
Bronson, A., i;, ;
Bronson, F. E., 226
Bronson, Parks, 359
Brown, t harles I... 113, I
Brown, Courtland, 301
Brown, I'. A., i i;
Brown, John, 366
Brown John A.. l;i
Brown, John .1.. 282
Buchanan, 1).. 282
Buckley, William. :;41
Buglass Family, 620
Buglass, David, Jr., 620
UllLila--. |;,,hr,t I. i, ,'H
II.. 142
Fred. 191
H., 151
â– rov J.. i;
Ml
Bush, Harv . .
Bushnell, Chester, 366
Bushnell, H. W., 214
Bushnell. J. M., 148, 36
Butler, Addie. 154
Butler, Charles F., 147
Byrne, John A.. 129
(aide. John, 94
760
< aldow, William. 274. 4119
Caldow, Elizabeth, 500
Caldwell, < harles P., 578
Caldwell, John, Sr., 274, 662
Caldwell, Robert, 577
Caledonia Township— Caledonia the larg-
est town. to:;-, drainage, and surface
Features, 403; farm and timber lands,
4(14; lii-st farmers of the count v. 404;
firsl permanent settler. iii:, : -i)addv"
Robertson and John Pate. 405: Scotch-
men nam.- town, I ale, l,,nia, 4(15:
daughter uf I'auuuette living in town.
406
aledonia fan i
>t 1861, IKi
ambria— The
Langdons found Carn-
bria, 286; an
ony, 287; see
288; deride i
fifty-three co
only three left
Mill becomes
ival of first Welsh eol-
king a location on foot,
hi Welsh Prairie, 288;
in 1912. 2*9: 1. amnion's
Bellville, 289; Bellville
INDEX
293; Welsh ( alvanistic M. E. i burch,
394; the English Presbyterian Church,
294; Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Con-
gregation, 294; Morris J. Rowlands,
296
"Cambria News." 147
Cambria Roller Mills, 293
Cambria Stat.' Hank, 293
( ampbell, James, 342
Carnagie & Prescott, L13
( larnegie, < feorge ( .. I 82
I arpenter, George, 184
Carpenter, Henry, 184
Carpenter, Sarah. L84
Carr, .lames C, 366, 367
Carriers, 40
Carver, (i. R., 272
Carver, Jonathan, 39, 87
( ase, G. W.. 157
Case, George W., 214
Castle Rocks, 9
Chadbourn, Frederick A., 246
Chadbourn, F. A., 249, 561
Chadbourn, R. W., 236, 246, 562
Chamberlain. T. C, 2
( lhamplain, 87
Chancellor, James, 213
Chandler, John A., 35
Chandler. Joseph, 278
Chandler. Julius C, 135
Chapin, K. K.. 94, 241
Cheese Factories, 127. 352
Chestnut, Patrick, 389
Chicago ..v. North Western Railway, 102
Chicago and Wi-eonsin Valley Street
Railways Company, 188
Chicago & Wisconsin Valley Railroad
( lompany, 188
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R.,
100
( hicago, Milwaukee & St. Raul Company,
350
Chilson. Oliver G., 613
Chilson, William O., 613
Chimney Rock and Romance Cliff, Hells
of the Wisconsin (view), 6
Chipman. William R., 469
Chou-ke-ka, 7:;
Chrisler, Elvin. 506
Christie, Alexander, 176
Christie. James, 438
Christopher, M. J., 284. 549
Christopher, Roginald, 549
Christopher, Thomas, 160, 211
( hurches— Father Mazzuchelli at the
Portage, 159; the first of St. Mary's
gregational Church. ir>:i; Cambria as
a church center, 163; Presbyte
Church ot Kilbourn, Hit. the Norwe-
gian Lutherans organize, 164; early
Churches in the townships, 165; early
Catholic missionaries, 210; founding
of St. Mary's Parish, 211; pastors of
St. Mary's. 2 12: school building
erected, 212; the Methodists of Port-
age, 213; First Presbyterian Church,
214; St. John's Episcopal Church,
Portage, 216; Firsl Baptisl Church,
Lutheran Church, Portage, 219; Ger-
man Evangelical Trinity Church, Port-
age, 219; other Portage churches. 219
Circuit Court, 117
( m . ii it court clerks. L847-1914, 107
City Hank of Portage, 201
City Hall and Auditorium, Columbus
(view), 237
City Hall, Wabash, 188
City Waterworks, 192
Civil War— The Portage Light Guard,
169; Company G, Second Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry, 169; First Wis-
consin Regiment to enter the service,
169; record of the Second Wisconsin,
L70; Company D, Fourth Regiment,
171; General Bailey and Major Pierce,
172; General Bailee and the Red River
Dam, 172; Companies A and 1!. Sev-
enth Regiment, 17:,: Company D,
Tenth Regiment, 17.7; Company II.
Eleventh Regiment, 176; ( ompany D,
Nineteenth Regiment, 176; Companies
C. G, and II, Twenty-third Regiment,
170; General and Judge J. J. Cuppey,
177; record of the Twenty-third. 177;
Companies A and E, Twenty-ninth
Regiment, 178; Company K, Thirty-
second Regiment, 178; last Infantry
Companies, 179; Cavalry and Artil-
lery, 179; the Draft's in the County,
179; war times in the county (Jamie-
son) 333; securing volunteers for the
Union (Jamieson), 334; labor and
crops in war times. 336: fall of Rich-
mond celebrated (Jamieson). 338; de-
cline of war prices (Jamieson i. 339;
local improvements after the war
(Jamieson), 340
Clark. Charlotte 0., 53
Clark, Harriet, 155
Clark, John T„ 118, 137
Clark, Joel, 217
Nathan, 53
Sattei lee, 5 I
Willard, 280
al institute,
d, J. I.. 815
.1. M. II.. 81!
( lough, Paul \\ .. 810
Clough, Mrs. \V. G., 190, L91, 210
Clough, W. G., L98, 808, 809
Cobb, Moses I:., us
Cochrane, Robert, 588
Cochrane, T. II.. 226
Coffin, .lames I... IT.",
( ole, Jonathan, 185
Coleman, Harriet, 198
Coleman, Thomas, 740
Collins, Alexander L., lis
Collins, A. S., 814
Collins, James, 160, 194, 211
Colonius, ( harles A., 635
Colonius, Josephine, 636
Columbia Bank, Lodi, 274
Columbia County Agricultural Society,
128
Columbia County Bank, 201
Columbia County Fair Association, 131
"Columbia County Reporter," 135, 140
Columbia County Teachers' Associa-
tion, 154
Columbia County Teachers' Training
School, 154
Columbia County Training Scl 1, Co-
lumbus ( view i . 154
"Columbia County Wecker," 14:;
Columbus Canning Company, 248
"Columbus
at. 14:.'
ioI, 1895-1910 (viei
"Columbus Journal." 141
"Columbus Republican," 14::
Columbus Union Fair. 128
owner ot the town, 228; Wayne B.
Dyer describes the "Village," 228;
Drake succeeds Dickason, 229; first
law \ ei and first doctoi office together,
329; .lames T. Lewis. 229; Postmaster
Whitney ami "Old Hyson," :.':;4: Lud-
ington's Plat and Addition, 234; first
hotel, store ami Bel 1. 235; null prop-
erty passes to .1. s. Manning, 235; I o
lumbus becomes a village, 836; incor-
porated as a city. 236; citj depart
ments and activities, :.'::?; electric light
an.] waterworks, 238; fire department,
238; free public library, :.'::8; the
i
ed 240 ;
:.'!!; ( ongiCL'at
lin-. 2 I I ; Gen
242; German M
Methodists, 844
844; leading io
bus bank -. 2 16
246; Fi i-
Bank, 246; ea
Kllltli ( .impair
niiij: Conmanv."
i oi the
ystem es-
Leitsi
.i i olum
i Church,
: English
elrliaill- I n
iwers, 847; the
l oliiinbus Can-
Columbus Township Natural features,
399; first settlement, 399; town or-
ganized, 400; Birdsey a "live wire,"
400
i oming of Major T« iggs, 50
Company F. Third Regiment, W. X. G.,
Guppey Guard oi Portage, 180; com-
pel itive di ill-. 181 j captains a nd ai
mories, 181; I Company F. in Spanish-
itional
liunli. Rio, 2G4
. John,
391, 441. 443
, Lena
L.. i4t;
â– astus,
179, 220
leeland
B„ 583
hn li..
584
:., 263
. Ilaml
•t. 84, 486
Willian
. li',:.'. 4:.".)
( . F..
193
W. W
. llli. 1!).-,
. Agnes
X., 807
'.il4. 109
101; (
county.
• lames
inc.; tl
107; ,1
tiict a
HIS; ,.,
Of dee,
boa ci "t super
fights, 111 ; the do,
111; county buildii
County seat fights,
linen oi eountj
I 10; COUnty seat
ive vote (1851),
112; first steps
ouse,
INDEX
xxm
Trobate and
County Superintendents of Schools, 151
County supervisors (chairmen), 1849-
1914, 110
County surveyors. 1847-1914, 109
County treasurers, 1847-1914, 108
Courthouse, 112-14
Courthouse, Shortly after its Erection
(view), 114
Courtland Township— Rich and beauti-
ful prairie land :'.SS; the Irish pioneer,
389- "Chestnut" says Pat, 389; other
arrival-; of ls44-45,'389; Horace Rust,
390; pioneer happenings, 390; "
Courtland townsh
Courts— Circuit cou
County court, 118
Cowan, Horatio N., 271
Coward, C. L., 147
Cox, G. J., 210
Cox, G. P., 94
Crawfish river, 14, 365
Creameries, 127
Crelie. Joseph, 66
Crelie, Theresa, 59
Crocker, Mary, 369
Cuff, H. A., 222
Cuff, Harry A., 567
Cumniane, J. D., 213^
Cummings, Albert, 671
Cummings. David H., 671
Curling (Hastie), 416
Curling and curlers, 131
Curry, T. F., 224
Curtis, Frederic C, 502
Curtis. F. C, 128
Curtis, Guy J., 676
Curtis, William, 317
Cushman, Orlando C, 699
Cushman, S. C, 155, 362
Cushman, Sylvester C, 151, 698
"Daddy" Robertson, 386
Dahleii, Magdaline, 767
Dairying, 16
Dalles (see Dells)
Dalton. James, 630
D. A. R. of Portage, 223
Davies, Uriah, 668
Davidson, W., 282
Davis, Jefferson. 51, 52, 55, 167
Davis. II. M., 135
Day, Frank. 727
Dean, Chester W., 156
Dean, Clara, 279
De Carrie, 73
Decker, J. R., 142
De Korra, the noble chief, 21, 24, 40,
49, 73 , .
DeKorra Township— Rowan settles and
opens hotel, 385; paper seats of jus-
tice, 386; village of DeKorra ,.Mv,
first grist mill in South-Central Wis-
consin, 386; railroad go-by, a death
blow, 386; the spelling of DeKorra,
387; railroad station of Hartman,
387
DeKorra Home Guard, 411
DeKorra Village, 386, 413, 415
Delaney, James, Jr., 134
Delaney, John, 133, 220
Delaney, Joseph, 134
De La Ronde, Frederick H., 641
De La Ronde, John T.. 59, 68, 74, 405,
Dells, The, 4-9; first steamboat at the
Dells, 262
De Neveu, A. V., 117 '
Dering, Charles L., 236
Dering, Guy V„ 718
Dering. O. M., 718
Desmond, A. P., 212
Devil's Jug, 6
Dewitt, Oliver E„ 264
Dev, Benjamin, 36(1. 401. 402
riickason. Elbert. 227, 358. 401
Diehl, John, 193
Dietrickson, I. W. C, 164, 408
Dinsmore, L. J-. 245
District attorneys 1847-1914, 108
Dixon, A. C, 771 ^
Dixon, James F., 772
Dixon, Luther S., 118, 414
Dodge, John, 288, 425, 430
Donaghue. William, 119
Dooley, Henry, 85
Dooley, J. H., 362
Dooley, S. H., 280
Dorsch, Christian, 433
Dorsch, David, 433, 434
Doty, James D„ 83. 90, 300, 394
Doty, J. D., 323. 385
Doudna, Frank, 279
Dougherty, James F„ 694
Dow% Charles C, 181
Downey, Moses J., 193, 607
Doyle, J., 212
Doyle, L. H.. 148
Doyle, Lemuel H., 375
Doylestown, 374
Drake, Jeremiah, 229
Drake, Peter, 162, 429
Drake., W. W„ 156, 236
Drew, Leander, 434
Drew, L. S., 434
Duborg, Fred, 518
Duclos, Albert A., 695
Dunlap, N. B„ 282
Dunlop, William. 485
Dunn. Andrew, 185
Dunn, William J., 558
Dunning, A. G.. 30a
Dunning, Wallace P.. 66*
Dyer, Wayne B., 228, 366, 374, 436
INDEX
Education (See Schools)
Edwards, Evan, 288, 390
Edwards, John, 288
Edwards, W. u.. 202
Eggleston, George II.. 665
Ehrhart, J. A., 116
Eisteddfod, 292
Elka of Portage, 223
Elliott, John A., 156, 240
Ellis, E., 218
Emmett, Henry, 279
Ensign, Leona, 12]
Ensminger, James, 320
Epstein Brothers' Brewery
203
Epstein, Henry, 203 559
Erickson, C. A.. 474
Ernsperger, S. B., 224
Esmond, Cornwall, 436
Eulberg l'.rew ing ( lompany,
!02 691
Eulberg, Adam, 203, 697
Killing ", .liilin- :':*::
Eulberg] Julius A., 203
Eulberg! .1. N., 203
Eulberg, Peter, 203
Evans, Rev. 1).. 256
l irsl l. ii
First lai
i ,: i lai
First Mi
I irst \;i
ueson '. 316
eh, Portage, 213
W.
Fadness, Andrew E., 468
Fahev, Frank, 762
Fairbanks. E., 437
Fairs, 128-132
Fall River Description, 370; A. A.
Brayton, first settler, 371; postofBce
in L847, 371: the village schools, ::; I ;
Methodist an,] Baptist churches, 372;
early times in village ami town. 372
"Family Tree of Columbia County," 33
Farmer, John, 88
Farmers & Merchants Union Hank, Co-
lumbus, 246
Farmers & Mereliiints State Hank, Kil-
bourn, 263, 688
Farnham, F. F., 234. 236
Fair. G. E., 218
Farr, J. U 433
Fair's Corners, 133
Farrington, Jesse I... 284, 502
Fawcett, A. lam. 2IS
Ferguson, D. J., 264
Field, Floyd A.. 693
Finch, II. "J., 218
First Baptist Church, Portage City, 218
First Congregati >l Church, Columbus,
241
I irst National Hank. I olumbus, 246
I irst National Hank. Rio, 284
I irst Norwegian Church edifice, 165
First Presbyterian Church, Portage "l I
First real "Settler," 82
First white woman at the Portagi I - 1
Fish, E. F.. 242
Fisher, .Mike, 526
Flanders, Mrs. A. ( '.. 223
Flanders, Lydia A., 26
Fleet. I). II.. 305
Floods, '.17-luo
Folsom, Ella M.. 663
Folsom, William II.. 660
Foot, Lyman, 304
Foote, John, 270
Ford, Gertrude, 6S2
Ford, ha H., 681
Foresters of Portage, 224
Forrest, James F„ 741
Fort Winnebago (near the Portage) in
is,: i | m,.« i. ;,u
Fort Winnebago— "A party named As-
tnr." 49; the coming of Major TwiggS,
50; ground broken for the foi t. 5] ;
completed, 52; amusements at the
post, 52; noted men and women at the
tort , .").: ; Lieutenant and Mrs. Van
I leve, 53; Henry Merrell, 54; Satter-
lee Clark. 54: evaluate,!, 54; final
dissolution, 55; Fori Winnebago in
1834, 65; commandants and Indian
Agents, 65; ]'<>st amusements, 66;
business trips under difficulties, 66;
the I'o-t cemetery, 77; noted officers
of Fort Winnebago, 168
Fort Winnebago Chapter No. 14. K. A.
M.. 221
Fort Winnebago Lodjro. No. 33, A. F'.
& A. M., Portage, 220
Fort Winnebago Township — Town of
Fort Winnebago, 121; Count Agosten
Haraszthy, 421; first permanent set-
tler of town. 424; how the town came
t,> be, 124
Foster, F. C., 707
Fountain Prairie- Drainage ami land sur-
face, 36.",; Chester Bushnell, lii-t set-
tler, 366; Dyer, Brown and Sage lo-
361',;' first land entries. 300; Bchool
ami church on section 23, 367; town
govern nt in running order, 367;
reminiscences of James C. Cai r, 367 ;
first I, nth and first death. 368; re-
markable friendship, 368; farming
INDEX
under difficulties, 369; an opinionated
applicant, 369; public service of Carr
and Adams. 369; story lie told on
Brother Sage. 369; Fall River, 370-3;
Benjamin Sage, the victim, 370
Four Legs, 25
Fowler, C. H., 244
Fowler, Chester A., US
Fox, Samuel, 85
Fox, W. D., 94
Fox river, 13, 14
Fox and Wisconsin Rivers Improvement
—Preliminary survey of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers, 91; changes in man-
agement, 91; the old Portage canal,
92; the canal in 1851, 92; new canal
completed by the government, 93; Bos-
cobel really through, 94; control of
floods by levee systems, 94; cost and
history of great public work. 95; first
dyke gives way, 95; Lewrston levee
rebuilt, 96; another levee to protect
Caledonia and Portage, 96; govern-
ment levee, last of the system, 96;
Hoods of the Wisconsin river, 97
Franklin House, 104, 185
Freeland Tank Works, 205
Free Public Library, Portage, 189
Fuhrman, J. W., 218
Fuller, Mrs. Gertrude C, 367
Fulton, William, 210, 591
Gabriels, Joseph, 305
Gage, Stephen B., 426
Gales, G. W„ 285
Gales, Thomas W., 372
Gallett, C. R., 195
Gamble, James, 182
Gamidge, Charles, 511
Garrison, J., 185
Gates, Cleve D., 574
Gates, Schuyler S., 6
Gault, W. C, 204. 303, 352
Gault, W. C. Jr., 304, 639
German Evangelical Lutheran Zion's So-
ciety of Columbus, 243
German Evangelical Trinity Church,
Portage, 219
German Exchange Hank 201
German Lutheran Church, Columbus, 242
Goehenour, William K., 611
Godell, Guy F.. 183
Godhardt, Louis, 212
Goers, T. 0., 271
Goff, James R., 587
Goodell, B. F„ 137
Goodman. Mrs. Maurice, 190
Goodwin, Frank D., 142
Gorman, C. W., 685
Goss, F. F„ 192
Goss, Fred F., 193, 612
Gowran, E. A., 202
Grady, Daniel H., 646
liiaham. Frank K., 220, 222
Graham, John, 110, 194, 195, 220, 631
Grand Eddy, the, 10
"Green Bay Intelligencer," 133
Green Hay & Mississippi Canal Com-
pany, 91
Green, X. S., 244
Wi
S. 1'
305
for Fort Winnebago, 51
W„ 501
P., 21S
uard of Portage, 180
loshua J., 118, 177, ISO, 181,
Guppey plat, the, 186
Guptil, .1. A. 128
Haas, Charles, 218
Hackney, C. P., 214
Hadden, Frank, 481
Ha. -aid, Henry, 703
Hahn. William, 475
Haight, Eliza, 149
Hall, F. W., 214
Hall. Frank. 572
Hall. Eugh, 537
Hamilton, Oscar F., 443
Hammond, .lames. 84, 426
Hampden Township— First settler, 436;
town organized and named, 436; first
school, 437 ; introduction of fine stock,
437.
Hamre, A. (>., 715
Hanert Nicholas, bill, 692
Hanson, Anond, 516
Hanson, Hans A., 516
Haraszthy, Agosten, 421-24
Haiku—'. Lamed B., 393
Harney, William S-, 51, 52, 168
Harpold, E. V., 361
Harrison, A. G.. 217
Harris, Edward, 293
Hartell, Charles, 203
Hartman, 387
Hartman, Joseph, 387
Harvey, L„ 162, 272
Haseltine, W. B., 214
[NDBX
Hasej . George E., 581
Hasey, Samuel, 58]
Haskell, il. S., 240
Haskell, Harrison S., 201
Haskin, Doe \\ .. 629
I [aslam, 'I liomaa B., 131
Hastie, Archibald, 41 i. 118
Has1 ie, James I:., i L6
Hastie, James R. I Recollect ion
Hastie, William, 344
Haw. William. 214
Hawkos, George 11.. 535
Hazard, Frank C, HIT
Heath, J. S., 279
Hecker, ( hristopher, 729
Heckman, George C, 215
Heindel, R. L., 239
Heitke, Henrj 1'.. 723
Helmann, Valentine, 55
.'- i
Henke, C. 1'.. 244
Henkel, -\. J., 279
Hennepin, Louis, 39
Henry, K. W., 557
Hensel, William. 194
Herron, E. R.. 172
Hettinger, Leonard W., 768
Hi'jfjins. Frank, 236
HiL'h School. Pardceville (vicwi
Hildebrandt, Frank. 602
Hill. Edgar 1'.. 176
Hillie. Christian H.. 744
Hillman. George, 411
Hinds. Almon H., 739
Hinkson, Edgar E., 187
Hnib-on, Aaron, 4iil
Hoefs, I addie, 154
Hoey, Alexander Seymour, :;l()
Hoffman, J. J.. 208
Hoile, I. â– !.. 218
Holly, Alanson. 141. 146, 251
Holmes, Israel, 137
Holtz, Fred G., 585
Holtz. .John, 585
Hopkins, A. G., 759
Hudson, Alonzo -1. M., 217
Hughes, J. J., 20S
Hughes, Michael, 566
Hughes, William. 567
Hulse, L. J., 154
Hummel, August, 619
Hunter, John, 360, 102
Hunter, Robert. 220
Hutchinson, Riley, 178
Hutchinson, W. I... 461
Huyck, Achsah, 156
[lsley, Fred S., 201
rnicnt of 1830, '-'1
Indian- I he \\ , n i i.l .:i -.>.- an. I Meiimn-
... -i tidings of, 20; last oi
i lie Indian lands, :.'i ; \\ innebago \ il-
lages, 21 ; De Korra, the noble chief,
21 : Indian payment oi 1830, 21 ; Mi-.
Kinzie describes the chiefs, 24; Yellow
Thunder, last \\ innebago war chief,
26; last forced march oi the U inneba-
Vlerrell's account of the famous 1837
67; t he noted Indian fa m ilj .
De-kau-ry (DeKorra), 73; Indian re-
moval "i l B 10, : l ; Mm inee Indian
lands surveyed, B0
Indian Wars — Uprising undei Red Bird
and Black Haw k. 12 ; t he \\ innebago
uprising, 43; the pursuit of Red Bird,
43; Black Hawk threatens Fort Win-
nebago, 70; I lark sent lor reenforce-
ments, To; on return overtakes
mounted militia. 70; fatal stampede
of troopers' horses, 71; "Battle" of
the Wisconsin. 7 1 ; end of the Black
Hawk war. 72
Irish, J. E., 214
I ion Bi igade, 1 70
Irons, Le Roy, 142
Irons, Noah P., 458
Iron-. William P., 450
Ir\
Wal
:;27
Il w in. I ,eol'e.e II.. 664
Jackson, 1). < .. 329
Jaeger, E. I... 201
g< r, Ernest I... 560
James! Thomas H.. 765
Jamieson, Addison J., 302, I, 331, 194
Jamieson, Alice Agnes, 351, 353
Jamieson, Amy Veola. 342
Jamieson & Gault, 352
Jamieson, Gault & Company, 353
Jamieson, Hugh (Memoirs), 306-57
Jamieson, Hugh, l 13, 300, 302, 30 I
Jamieson, II. P., 301, 302, 303, 325, 352,
497
Jamieson, John C, 302, 30 I, 163
• I. llllle- ,,n. Saillll.l \.. 327
Jamieson, William W.. 320. 406
Jaws oi the Dells. 5
Jenkins! Dr. George W.
Jenkins. Mary M.. 690
Jewell, Frederick E., 217
Johnson, I . B., 555
Johnson, Hubbard, 300
Johnson, Hubbard I'... 320
Johnson, John J., 538
Johnson, Thomas R. i 19
Joliet, 34
i portrait I
INDEX
Joliet
Jones
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
257
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Jones,
Marquette Memorial, 37
Adula, 435
A. <;., 317
Edwin C, 146
1). Evans, 294
E. F... 11 6
DeGarmo, 92
James E. (Kilbourn), 253, 256,
James Edwin, 144, 146
J. E., 687
J. E. (Frontispiece)
,1. E., 132, 188, 189, 283, 417
Mrs. .1. E., 1811, 190, 223
John K., 597
John A., 580
John O., 288
Margaret, 441
Stephen, 161
William, 294
William W.. 701
Jacob, 247
Karch, Martha A., 208
Karcher, John K., 217
Kearns, Thomas, 278
Keegan, M. R., 160
Keenan, Gwendolyn, 192
Keenan, Joseph, 312
Keenan, Thomas, 212
Kegan, M. R.. 212
Kellogg, A. C, 192, 210
Kellogg, Alonzo C, 647
Kellogg. Alonzo F., 118
Kellogg, James R„ 611
Kellogg, Walter W., 220
Kelm, W. O., 193
Kelm, William 0., 224. 595
Kennedy. Timothy 0.. 411
Kennan', T. L., 94
Kentucky City, 386, 413
Kennan, Henry, 242
Kerr, Joseph, 128
Kershaw, George, 95
Ketchum, A. C, 172
Keyes, S. P., 149
Kiefer, Andrew, 623
Kiefer, Fred, 624
Kilbourn, Byron, 252, 258
Kilbourn, Byron H., 258
Kill... urn Citv— The village of the pres-
ent, 250; Wisconsin River Hydraulic
Company fathers Kilbourn. 251; Edi-
tor Holly arrives, 251; village plat re-
corded, 251; sales of lots, 252; schools
of Kilbourn City, 253; village incor-
porated, 256; water service and fire
protection, 256; the free public li-
brary, 256; James E. Jones, 257; im-
provement of Southern Wisconsin
Power Company, 257; first steambi.at
at the Dells, 262; Banks at Kilbourn,
263; the Presbyterian Church, 263;
the Methodists, 264; St. Cecelia (Cath-
olic) Church, 264; other religious
bodies, 265
Kilbourn Catholic Church, the, 692
Kilbourn City Seminary, 157
Kilbourn Institute, L57
Kilbourn State Bank, 263
Kilbourn, Otis A., 435
Kings' bui v' Charles M., 220
Kinzie John H.. 24, 50
Kinzie, Mrs. John H., 24, 159
Kinzie, Mrs., describes the Indian chiefs,
Knights of Columbus, Portage, 224
Knowles, George, 440, 443
Koch, 1). H., 242, 243
Koepke, William, 304
Koester, H. J., 280
190, 191
Kurth, C, 247
Kurth Company, Columbus, 247
Kurth, J. H.. 247
Kutzke, Charles J., 638
Kutzke, William, 638
LaCrosse & Milwaukee R. R. Company,
441
Langley, R., 214
Lanzendorf, E. H.. 757
Lanzendorf, William, 404
Larson, Lars, 462
Last forced march of the Wmnebagoes,
29
Last of the Indian lands, 21
Last relic of Fort Winnebago (view), 55
La Salle, 39
Laughlin, William B., 349
Eaw. G., 220
Lawrence. William M., 208
Leach, Solomon. 105
L'Ecuyer, Jean B., 40, 73, 74, 76
L'Ecuver's Grave. 76
Lee. Frank T„ 182
Leeds ( enter, 407
Leeds Township Town of Leeds, 406;
chief "i the forage tow ns, 101 ; first
land claims and settlers. 40? : Leeds
i enter, hit ; organizat ion oi tow n,
â– mis; postofflces, in-; firs! Norwegian
church, 408
Lefferts, W., 332
Leffingwell, Arthur. 526
\V.
50
Levee system, 14, 94-100
Lewis, Gunder, 654
Lewis, J. N.. 272
Lewis. .1. T.. 105, 240
Lewis, .lames T., 69, 1 Is. 156, 239-34,
241, It:;
Lewis, T., 379
Lewis. W. L.. 246
Linck, Carl, 570
Lintner, Louis J., 600
Lione, John O., 767
Lione, Lars. 767
Lione, Ole, 767
Little Elk, 25
Live stock, 128
Lloyd, Jabez, 2SS
Lloyd, John J., 151
Lloyd, Walter \<\. 217
Lodi The beginning of, 266; I. II.
Palmer and the liai thoh.mews. :.Y,T;
Rev. Henry Maynard, 267; the Suck-
Log Bouse ni Dr. Lei
I' i (view), 434
Lone K.m k, -
I g, George S., r28
I g, Petei . ! i
Long, S. IL. ;;:i
Loomis, callett & Bri
ik I'... 182
,11a II. . 644
ie v. 239
i the \\ isconsin Dells,
il stati. .n .view |, 19
Loomis, \V
Louis Bluff
nh I In. I..
L..\\ . ( iideo
Low, Jacob, 427, 42s
Lower Dells, the, 7
Lowth, -Matthew. 238
Lowville Township Jacob Low. lirst set-
tler <it Low \ i II.-. 427 ; lii -i ... .ii i iag( .
birth and death, 427; lirst postoffice
and mail route, 427; the hotel, 42s ;
town named Lowville. 428; first
tea. h.-r and preacher, 428; coming of
the Townsend family. 428
Ludington, Ji is, 2 12
Ludington, Lewis, 228, 234, 399
Luey, ( henev O., 548
Luey, < diver Rodney, 547
I. in* . W. K.. 548
MacKenzie, John, 490
MacKenzie, William K„ G15
271: the Methodis
Presbyterian Chur
tist Church, 272;
son & Portage Railroad, 387
son & Portage Railroad Compai
jffin, J. H., 207
ney, Thomas. 508
Lev, E. B., 746
leville. Charles IL. 051
leville. John K., 052
ling, Joseph S., 156
147
"Lodi Journal," 147
Lodi Onion Agricultural Society. 128
•■Lodi Weekly Herald." 141, 147
Lodi Township -A pretty healthful
town. 380; George M. and Marston C.
Bartholomew, 380; Lev. Henry May-
nard and wile. 2-1 ; a hunt for '-Mil-
waukee Woods,'' 381; matured pupil
write- Of lil-t -el 1. 382
Log i ai.ui of the Real Settler (view),
Marcellon Township Lirst settler in
Mareellon. 420; others who came in
1S46. 4211; name ot Man, lion u ithoul
meaning, 42 1
Marcy, Randolph 1!., 54. 168
Markham, John B., 691
Markham, Sidney I).. 69]
Marlatt, Esther, 662
Marquette, 34, 36, 87, 211
Marquette Voyaging Toward the Mis
sissippi (viev, l, :;:.
Marquette & Swan Lake Canal Com-
INDEX
Marsden, Arthur, 674
Marshes, 15
MaScoutens, 20, 34, 30
Masonic Hall Building, 182
Masons of Portage. 220
Mattice, 0. F., 178
Maynard, Henry, 102, 165, 207, o04, 3<
381
Mazzuehelli, Samuel C, 159, 211
McBurnie, Reubin, 522
McCafferty, H. \V., 300
McCall, Ervin, 288, 430
McCall, John, 288
McCloud, James, 381
McConachie, John. 4-0
McConochie, R. ST.- 132.202
M(
Mi
2SS, 120
w
054
149, 185, 2S
McEwen, D. S., â–
McFarland, Andi
McFarland, Join,
McFarland, John
McFarlane, Hug]
McGregor, John, 254
McGregor. John P., 201
Mcintosh, William H., 752
McKay, A. S., 215
McKav, W. J., 214
McKenney, Thomas L., 44
McKenzie, John, 344, 345
MeKinnev, Humphrey, 408
McMahon, Timothy. 758
McMillan, George, 379, 725
McMillan. G., & Son, 379
MeNair. William \\ .. 103, 164
M.Xan, W. W.. 215
McNeal, Nelson, 220
McPherson. Robert, 92
McQueen, A. D., 405
McQueen, J. R., 470
McQueen. Sarah J., 170
McQueeney, M., 222
Meacher, Byron C, 738
Meacher. William, 222, 730
Melvin, T. C, 242
Mencke, Martin, 305
Meneg, Pierre, 74
Menominees, 20
Menominee Indians, 80
Merrell, B. H„ 54
Merrill, Henry, 54, 55, 50, 03
Merrill, Z„ 151
Met'calf, David, 376
Methodist Church. Lodi, 271
Mill Dam. Okee, 383 (view)
Military road, 90
Miller, 'Ernest H„ 714
Miller, Jacob, 214
Miller, W. G., 431
Mills, Job, 731
Mills,
Mary, '
r32
Mills,
Robert,
240
Mills,
S, 350
Milws
lukee &
St. Paul R.
R. Co.,
101
Minneapolis. St.. Paul & Sault Ste
. Ma-
rie
R. R. C
o., 102
Minei
', S. E.,
300, 302
Mitch
ell, L. H„ 215
Mitel
ell, Ste-*
vart, 203
Mohr
. Christi;
im E., 563
Mont
joinery.
A.. 163
Moor
e 1 harh
â– s, 100, 212
Moor
r', Willia
in E.. 541
Mom
e. W, E
.. 2S4
Mora
a, Domp
nick, 747
Mora
u. E. W
.. 190
Mora
n, John.
St., 077
Mora
n, John.
Jr., 678
Morrissey, John, 213, 601
Mound builders, 17
Muir, Hugh, 414
Mullen, William, 204
M linger, E. D., 258
Munn, Henry B., 210
Murphy, Henry R., 245, 508
Mm is. hi. George, 505
Mylrea, Susie, 256
Narrows, the,
National "Verband." Portage, 225
Natural features. 1
Neenah creek, 13
Neff, G. C, 259
Neill, Henry, 151
Neill, John, 659
Nelson, Anna, 154
Nelson, Frank Lee, 544
Nelson, Hans, 460
Nelson. Thomas G., 386
New Armory, the, 183
New High School, Cambria (view), 290
Newiiorf Joseph Bailey and Jonathan
Bowman, backers, 395; in 1855 con-
tained' l',500 people, 390; making all
safe ami sound, 390; the slip and fall,
390- foiuideis move to Newport, 397
Newport Township- Newport town and
village founded, 438; first settlers,
438
Newspapers, (See the Press)
Nicolet, Jean, 33
Niles, W. A., 156
Noble, G. F., 251
Noller, Fred, 533
Northrup, Theodore, 428
Noted men and women at the fort, 53
O'Brien, Alfred, 534
O'Brion, John, 710
Odd Fellows of Portage, 221
Okee Village, 101, 384
O'Keefe, Daniel, 723
IXDKX
O'Keefe, Mrs. J. E., 190. mi, 192
1 1 Keefe, James, 245
O'Keefe, .1. .1.. id::
1 »'Keefe, John !■:.. 649
"Old Daddy" Robertson's Fair, 409
( "'l [ndian Agencj House, Portage
(view), 56
Old Mill, Nucleus of Pardeeville (vie\i 1.
Old I' [uette Church, Portage (vie-w i,
1 Heson, James, 332
Olson, Henry I).. 464
Olson, Samuel, 280
Utsego rownship -Presenl village of
Doylestown, ::74; Warn,- 1!. Dyer was
first settler, 374 : village of Otsego.
375; land owners of the present
Doylestown. 375; town of Otsego or-
ganized, 375; plat of Doylestown re-
corded, 375; first improvements, 376;
a boom, 376; Columbus too swift, 376;
schools and churches, 376
Otsego Village, 375
Ott, Frank, 517
Oviatt, Ernest C, 587
Owen, Mary A., 700
Owen, J. A., 700
Palmer, David, 2S4
Palmer, Herbert. 274
Palmer, Isaac H., 381
Palmer, I. H.. 267, 209
Pankow, A. Ph., 295
Paper Towns— Wisteonsinapolis and
others like it, 78; paper seats of jus-
tin'. 386; village of DeKorra, 386;
first grist mill in South-Central Wis
consin, 386; railroad go by, a death
blow, 386; bad conditions for big
cities, 392; champion townsite man.
393; Baltimore City, 393; Wiseonsin-
apolis, 393; canal to Btir the Portage
people, 394; easterner looking for
Wisconsinapolis, 304; first settler
come to town, 395; never more than
Port "Hope," 397; Wisconsin ( ity,
398
Pardee, John, 277
Pardee, John S., 276. 277
Pardee Encampment No. 38, 2S0
Pardee Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M.,
280
Pardee Lodge, No. 120, I. o. o. F., 280
Pardeeville — Founded, 270; John Par-
dee, father of .John S.. proprietor, 277;
the old mill up to date. 278; protec-
tion against lire, 278: Pardeeville
>tate Hank. 278; incorporated as a
Milage. 2TS; graded school system,
'â– '' Pardee-v ille's churches, 279; Ma-
sons and Odd Fellows, 280
Pardeeville state Hank. 278
"Pardeeville Times." ii:
Parry, Isaac. 513
Parry, J. O., 294
Paske, Herman. 608
Patchin, Herbert E., 670
Patchin, John, or:;
Pate, John, 405, 4 1 t
I'aton, .lames. 310
Patterson, Eugene C, 217
Patton. M. W., 288, 420. 431
Paulson, Peter A., 95
Pauquette, Peter, 58, 63, 69, 160, 194,
Mi
Pauquette's daughter
Preseott), 406
Pawnee, Blanc, 23, 26
Payment of 1914. 31
Pearson, George P., 674
Pease, Willard A., 763
Pease, W. A., 532
Peck, Harry <;., 769
Penn, W. H., 214
People's Telephone Compan
Perry, G. Stroud, 20::
Perry, William H., 514
Pervonsal, Antoine, 194
Peters, Alice. 771
Peters. Charles W., 770
Peterson, Henry. 539
Pettit, I'.. 212'
Pfuehler, August, 722
Pierce, Guy ( '.. 172
Pierce. Sarah, 379
Pilcher, A. M., 214
Thomas
Population Inhabitants of county
(1846), 1.200. S7; household popula-
tion (1846), 119; figures by decades
i 1850 I'Jliii, 12(1; population (1847),
120; real estate and personal prop-
erty (1875), 122; the figures for 1913,
122; increase of population, Portage,
Portage Firsi white woman at the
Portage, 184; the settlement grows,
INDEX
1S5; the canal booms things, 185;
platting the town of Fort Winnebago,
186; the Guppey plat, 186; incorpora-
tion as a city, 187; increase of pop-
ulation, 187; the present city, 188;
Chicago and Wisconsin Valley Street
Railways Company. 188; the fine city
hall, L88; free public library oi Port-
age, 189; the city waterworks. 192;
electric light and power, 192; com-
mission form of government adopted.
192; protection against fire, 193; Wis-
consin River bridges, 194; final dis-
solution of $119,000, 196; nomencla-
ture of Portage streets. 196; experi-
ments in banking, 201; City Bank of
Portage, 201; First National Bank,
202; Portage Loan and Trust Com-
pany, 202; the Eulberg Brewing Com-
pany, 202 ; Epstein Brothers' Brewery,
20?,'; the Portage Hosiery Company,
203; minor industries, 205; societies,
220
Portage, the, 37, 38, 39
Portage canal, 92-94, 185
Portage Book & Engine Company, 205
Portage Bridge Company, 194
Portage City Lodge. No. 61, I. O. U. i .,
221
"Portage City Record," 135
Portage City Water Company, 192
"Portage Daily Register," 137
"Portage Democrat," 98, 143
Portage Electric Light & Power Com-
pany, 192
Portage High School (view), 209
Portage Hosiery Company, 203
Portage Light Guard, 169
Portage Liederkranz, 225
Portage Loan & Trust Company, 202
Portage Lodge, No. 35, K. of P., 222
Portage & Superior Railroad Company,
102
Portage Underwear Company, 205
Porter, A. A., 137
Porter, Mary, 192
Port Hope, 397
Portraits— J. E. Jones, frontispiece; a
French Fur Trader and Carrier, 3;
Gen. Joseph Bailey, 172; P. G. Stroud,
254; Jonathan Bowman. 254; Hugh
Jamieson, 306; Dr. George W T . Jen-
kins, 397
Poser, Edward M., 726
Poynette— Village of today, 299; its
naming a mistake. 300; Judge Doty
intended "Pauquette," 300; village
platted, 300; Poynette in 1855, 300;
first 'school, 301; crusty bachelors
withhold tax, 301; first preaching,
301; the times that tried men and
women, 302; the Jamieson family,
302; Poynette as a Hour center, 302;
rivalry of the sides, 303; the grain
trade,' 303; Bank of Poynette, 303;
school history, 303; the Methodists
organize, 304; Rev. John M. Springer,
war hero. 304; the Presbyterian
church 305; the Lutherans and Cath-
olics 305; first plat (Jamieson), 322;
school district of 1852, 323; a boom
tor Poynette (Jamieson), 329; plats
Jamieson's Addition (Jamieson), 332;
rivalry of north and south sides
(Jamieson), 332; improvement of
South Poynette (Jamieson), 338
Poynette Cheese Manufacturing Com-
pany, 352
Poynette Lower Mill, 330
Poynette Presbyterian Academy, 158
Poynette Upper Mill, 333
Potter. R. L. D., 94
Potters' Joint Stock Emigration Society,
84-87, 169
Pottersville, 86
Powell, J. B., 222
Power Dam at High Water, Kilbourn
(view), 258
Powers, Ambrose, 347
Prairie belt, 12, 15
Prairie fires, 313
Prentiss, Guy C, 118
Presbyterian Academy, Poynette (view),
158
Presbyterian Church, Kilbourn City. 263
Presbyterian Church, Lodi (view), 273
Presbyterian Church, Pardeeville, 279
Press— First Columbia County newspa-
per, 133; suspension of the "River
Times," 134; John A. Brown and the
"Badger State," 134; "Shanghai"
Chandler and the 'â– Independent." 135;
"Columbia County Reporter," 135;
Robert B. Wentworth and the "Port-
age City Record,
Enter A. J.
Turner," 136; "Wisconsin State Reg-
ister" founded, 136; Brannan & Tur-
ner proprietors, 136; the "Register
from 1885 to date, 137; A. J. Turner
Mild Major Rockwood, 138; "The Fam-
ily Tree of Columbia County," 138;
the facte of Mr. Turner's life, 138;
Mai S S. Rockwood. 139; first Co-
lumbus newspaper. 140; "Columbus
Journal" 141' "Wisconsin Mirror"
precedes Kilbourn City, 141; "The Co-
lumbus Democrat," 141; "Lodi Weekly
Hera id," 141: "The Columbus Repub-
lican," 142; first German newspaper,
"Her Wecker," 143; launching ot " 1 he
Portage Democrat," 143; Kilbourn s
newspaper ventures, 146; Lodra dps
and Downs, 146; "The Enterprise,
147; "The Poynette Press," 147;
XXX11
other
fund
Prim. .
Probati
county
newspapers, 14;
imm:x
Proctor, William II.. 704
Public School Building, Kilbourn (view),
Pulford, Samuel I)., 817
l'urdy, Mrs. E. S.. :, I
Pursuit of Red Mini i
Pythians of Portage, 222
Quinn, Clinton, 488
Rahr, L. 1'.. 271
Railroads— LaCrosse & Milwaukee Rail-
road, 100; readies point-, in Columbus
county, 100; development ol the I In
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. [01; Chi-
cago & Northwestern, 101: Wisconsin
Central commenced at Pdrtage, 108-
completion of line (1877) ni"- the
M, St. Paul & s. Ste. Marie/ 102;
Hugh Jamdeson, 312; railroad from
Madison to Portage (Jamieson), 328;
railroad work ceases (Jamieson), 330;
railroad projects, 1861-62 (Jamieson),
335; railroad work resumed (Jamie-
son), 337; Sugar Valley Railroad sold
(Jamieson), 338; formation of the
Madison & Portage Railroad (Jamie-
son), 342; town aid to the railroad
(Jamieson), 344; the meeting at
Madison (Jamieson), 346; "Old Bees-
wax" and George B. Smith (Jamie-
son), 346; "Jack of Clubs" sustained
(Jamieson), 347: general store for
railroad men (Jamieson), 347; trans-
fer of town bonds for railroad stock
(Jamieson), 348; bond question traced
to the end (Jamieson), 349; "Old
Beeswax" got there (Jamieson), 350
Randolph township- Leads in agricul-
ture, 440; George Knowles, first set-
tler, 440; coming of the Langdon
Brothers, 440; Alden and Converse,
441; the first Welsh to arrive. HI;
first schools and teachers, 141; Squire
Patton and his "High Court," Ill-
villages at a discount. 442; but pol-
itics brisk enough, 442
Randolph (enter. 442
Randolph (West Ward), 39]
Raup, John A.. 202, 648
Ray, O. D., 178
Red Bird, 42-49
Registers of deeds. 1847-1914. 109
Reuter, A., 242, 243
Reynolds, Alfred R., 732
Rhoads, J. W., 386
Riblett. Christian, 435
Richards. ('. L., 305
Richards. E. W., 116, 117, 742
Riedner, William J.. ;
Riley, A. <;.. 270
Riley. B. Gilbert, 157
Riley. C. B., 272
Ring, Samuel. 3*4
Rio — Origin oi the nai
Rio platted by X.
first merchant and
I leer business and
282; x Mage incorpon
283; banks, 284; Pi
Company, 284; tin
Church, 284; the Ma|
Lutheran and ( athol
Rio State Rank. 284
Ritchey, John EL, 215
"River 'limes." 134
Roads. 90
Roberts, Chan'cy, 685
Roberts, David, 441
Roberts, David ]).. 288
Roberts, E. O., 293
Roberts, I'oiilk, 288
ttoberts, Hugh, 95
Roberts, Mark, 685
Roberts, Owen M., 705
Roberts, Tl ias H., 441
Robertshaw, George, 85, 675
Robertshaw, William, 675
Robertson, David, 624
Robertson, John A., 626
Robertson. Thomas ("Daddy"
409, 414
Robinson, Isaiah, 246
Robinson, William H., 719
09
W.
115, 116
iv, Chancy T., 758
Herman' F., 217
H. S.. 140, 182
S. S., 137
Sheppard S., 138, 139
illiam II.. 614
ob, 360
II.. 2 is. 826
Rosenkrans, Cyrus E., 156
Rosenkrans, C. E., 242
Rosenkrans, David W., 151
Ross, Laura D„ 240
Rossell, Nathan IS., 169
Rowan. Wallace, 82-84, 320
Row Ian. Is. D. M.. 298
Rowlands, Morris J„ 287
Rowlands, M. J., 893
INDEX
Rowlands, John R., St., 288
Rowley, Moses, 362
Roys, Edwin I'... 531
"Rundschau unci W'ecker," 143
Rupnow, Mux, 531
Russell, A. II.. is i
Russell, E. !•'., 347
Rust, Horace, 390
Ryan, Edward, 498
Ryan, William. 411
Sage, Benjamin, 366, 370
St. ( ecilia Church, Kilhouin, 264
St. Jerome's Catholic Church, Columbus,
244
St. John's Episcopal Church, Portage,
216
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Portage, 219
St. Mary's Catholic- Church, 678
Schultz Geo] > l
Schultz, Will, am i;„ ;
Schultze, Karl R., 627
Schulze, Emma, 154
Schulze, Fred \V„ 94
\V
Schulze. Ferdinand. i',:.'i;
Scott. Jennie M., 363
Scott, Kennedy, 151, 282, 384
Scott, William. 284
Scott, W. J., 202
Scott Township— Good fruit and dairy
country, 42.".; first settler in Scott,
424; M. \V. Patton and others, 126;
famous Blue tavern. 420; named
alter Winfield Scott, 420
Seaman. .1. B., 216
Seats of justice, 386
Second old Wisconsin River bridge
St. .Mary's Parish, 160
Seibecker, Robert G., 1
Sampson. Samuel, 702
Seville, Edward E., 70.
Sanborn, Frank L., 589
Shannon. Arthur 1!.. 7
Sanderson, Thomas. 529
Shattuek, X. K., 210
Sanderson. Thomas, 001
Shaw, Robert W'.. 452
Sanderson, William, 520
Sheriffs, 1847-1914, 107
Sargent, Isaac C, 340
Sheriff's residence, 114
Sawyer, John, 84, 420
Shirk, J. !•:., 147
Sawyer, L. J., 237, 238
Signal Peak. 8
Scene in Flooded District
south
from Sill, 11. J., 340, 344
Kilbourn (view), 99
Sillsbee, E. P., 156
nek, I. V. W., 215
ee. Charles, 769
Schloemileh. A.. 210
Schmeling, A. F., 579
Schmidt. Father, 285
Schmidt, Frank R., 629
Schllell. J.. 225
Scholfield, Mrs. R., 256
Schools — First school outside the fort,
140; first school district formed at
Cambria, 150; too few cubic feet per
scholar, 150; town of Winnebago,
Portage district, 150: county super-
intendents of schools, 151; school chil-
dren in 1913, 151 ; legal qualifications
of teachers, 152; Columbia I ounty
Teachers' Association. 154; private
and parochial schools of Portage, 155;
Columbus Collegiate Institute, 156;
the Kilbourn Institute, 157; Rev. B.
C. Riley at Lodi, 157; Poynette Pres-
byterian Academy, 158; present status
of public schools, 158; first i ting
of Portage board of education, 206;
high school and graded system estab-
lished. 207; history of the Portage
High School. 207; the study of Ger-
man, 208; present school buildings,
208; City Superintendent Clough, 209;
list of superintendents and clerks, 210
Schubring, E. J. B., 259
i, Roswell I).,
S, W. C,„ 208
Hugh, 310
B. B„ 350
Charles H, I
Chester W.,
550
Smith, George 1!.. 346
Smith, George, 256
Smith, Harriet T., 204
Smith. Isaac. 85, 213
Smith, Jerome. 245
Smith, Leonard S., 95
Smith, T. C, 399
Smith. Walter E., 504
Snider, Charles W.. 471
Snider, Harry 1).. 470
Snith. Isaac, 160
Societies of Portagi — The Masons form
pirn r lodge, 220; chapter, council
and coi uidery, 221; I. 0. O. F.
bodies, 321; the Pythian Brothers,
222; Portage lodge, Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks. 223; D. A.
R. of Portage, 223; Knights of Co-
lumbus and Foresters, 224; hedges ,,i
railroad employes, 225; Portage Lie-
derkranz, 225; the National Verband,
INDEX
825; i ountry Club of Portag,
5 , \1 < \ 2 !6
Southern Wisconsin Power Company,
Kilbourn, 257
Spear, Chauncey, 360
Spencer, William ( ., 156
Spilde, I.. H.. 463
Sponheim, Ingle E., 761
Sprecher, K. A.. 20]
Springer, John M.. 214. .'(04
Springvale Township Description, 430;
adapted to rattle raising, 430; con-
tented, though without a village; 430;
SpringVaie's firel settler; 430; high-
priced religion, 431; the Welsh set-
tlers. 431; organized under present
name. 432
Stahl. Samuel. 713
Stanley, Henry < .. 683
Stanley. Thomas. CSS
Stansbury, I).. 214
Stare, F. A., 249
Starr. Damon ('.. :;75
Starr. Kason, 375
Startin, Allen. 453
State Bank of Lodi, 273
Staudenmayer, Charles. f>00
Staudenmayer, Edward R., 601
Staudenmayer, George, 599
Staudenmayer, John G., 598
Staudenmayer, John 1... 600
Steamboat 'at Devil's Elbow, Wiaconsin
Dells (view). 262
Steams. Alonzo B.. 438
Stedman, ReubeiiJ 276
Stevens, Julia, 42s
Stevenson, Andrew, 492
Steve„-u„. John. 192
Stevenson, Thomas. 494
Stevenson, William. 648
Stewart. Alva. 9 1. Ms
Stone. W. H.. 218
Storev, R.. 218
Story, II. A.. 210
Stotzer. Rudolph G., 640
Stratton, Richard, 163
Strong, M. U.. 320
Strong, Moses M., s2
Stroud, I'. (... 254
Stroml, W. S„ 202, 2 in
Suckers Settlement. 268
Sugar River Valley Company,, r;4T;
Sugai River Valley Railroad, 34?
Summevliehl. G ge, B5
Sumner. Edwin V., 74, 168
Sund, i bai
Sundby, G, A.. :.'s.-,
Siisiii. ( harlcs. 217
Sii-an. ( I, a, les I 1
Sutton. John •!.. 772
Swe, aey, John. ic,n. 212
Swenson, Magnus, 259
Sj l\ ester, William, 155
Talk English, 24
Taylor. Ah in I .. 622
Taylor, George \\ .. 882
Taylor, .1. B., lis
Tayloti Melviri W '.. B94
Taylor, Nathaniel A.. 682
Teachers' Training School, 154
Tempelmann, Frederick, 708
Ten,|,elinai,n. William. 70s
Tennison. Alban ( !.
Territorial road, 90
Thiede, Charles l'\, 556
Thomas Family, 318
Thomas, Charles II.. 52]
Thomas. John. 300
I I- as, Lucy, 31S
Thomas. S. B., 300
Thomas, Samuel R. 316
Thomas. S. M.. 155
Thomas. S. Milds W\. T14
Thompson, llanv, 217
Thompson, II. M., L56
Thompson, Hugh M., 216
Thompson. Nebs, 651
Thompson, Ole II.. 735
Thompson, ThorntonJ 752
Thomson, W. J., 223
Thorn, Garrit T.. 240
Thwaites, Reuben G'.j 34
Tillotson, J. R., 549
Timber areas, L5
Tomlinson, Mark. 4s:;
Tomlinson, Robert. 1-'.'
Topliff. Alfred, 436
Topp, John. 7:;4
Topp. Minnie, 735
Torhert. S. S., 440
Towers; James S., 604
fownsfendj A. J.. 162. 42S
Tow'npend, Jacob 486
Tbwn$e,n,d, Joseph, J86
Trailers. 4(1
Trailers and Carriers— JPeter. Pampiette.
58 63, Si; death oi the famous trader,
59: shot by .Man-zc-mon-e-ka. 61 ; in-
62; reman,- of Pauquettfi tlnally lo-
eated, 62,; the coming of Ilcnrv Mer-
rell. 63; Fort \\ inneba^o in l.s'.;l. 65;
commandants and In, ban agents', 65;
the IVKun;,- ami Joseph (relic. 65;
po-t amusements, 66; business trips
under dillieulti,-. '',,: .Meirell'- a,
count oi the famous 1837 treaty. 67;
IXDKX
s inor • less exciting. 68: Mer
in politics, US; Satterlec Clark';
perilous j
wk
threatens Fort WhmetJago, Tit-, (lark
sent for reenforcements, 70; Oin return
overtakes mounted militia, 70; fatal
stampede of trooper's horses, 71;
"Battle" of the Wisconsin. 71; end of
the Black Hawk war, 72; De La Ronde
makes the POftttge in 1S3S. 7:.'; t l"i . -
noted Indian family; De-kau-ry (De
Korra i , 7:;: Perrish GrighOn, 74; John
B. Leeuyer, 74; De La Rtinde bebonies
a ( 'aleiimiia farmer, 74; Indian re-
moval of 1840, 74: L'Ecuyer's grave,
76; the Post cemetery, 77
Train, H. V., 214
'frapp, Casper, 515
Trapp, John, 554
Trapp, Louis, 515
Trapp, Mary, 554
Trapp, Otto, 554
Trap]), Peter, 554
Treadwell, Clarence L„ 696'
Trimm, E., 214
True, E. C, 151
Tmk.r, L. .1., 132
Tuner, A. .1., 31, 33 : , 34, 51, 515. 76, 94,
113, 135, 137, 181, 191, 283, 33T, 342,
:;s7
Turner, Frederick J„ 38, 139
Twiggy Tnoma'sj 86
Twiggs, David E„ 50, 168
Twigg's Landing] 86 :
Twitchell, M. 10., 666
ydey, Myron <!., 510
Ufferioeck, William, 219
rn.lerdalil, Elli'ck G„ 543
Onderdahl, G. 0., 542
Dnderdahi; ole, 543
1'iii.in Bank of Columbus, 246
Upper Dells. 5
Utley, Joseph, 277
md Mrs., 53
Van Ness, Sarah B., 435
Van Zandt, Benjamin, 215
Vaughan, Samuel K., 176
Yaughan, S. K„ 221
Veeder, Richard 1'.. 217
Views — Chimney Rock and Rumanee
Cliff, Dells "of the Wisconsin, 6;
Witche's Gulch, Wisconsin Dells, 7:
Louis Bluff, He'ad of Wisconsin Dells,
Old Indian Signal Station, 19; Mar-
quette Voyagmg toward the Missis-
sippi. 35; Fort Winnebago (near the
Portage) in 1834. 50: Last Relic of
Fort Winnebago, 55; Old Indian
Agency House, Portage, 56; Log Cabin
of
the Real Settler, gig; Wisconsin
Riv
er Lock, Portage, 93; .Scene in
Flo
oded District. s>oiith from Kil-
bou
rn, 99;, Courthouse, Shortly after
its
Erection, 114; County Asv-
lun
i and Poor Home, Wyocena, I L6;
a i
Dairy Herd in Columbia County,
126
; Columbia County Training
Sell
ool, Columbus, 154; 'Presbyterian
Aca
.demy, l'oynette. 158; Wisconsin
Str
eet Frbnt of City Hall, Portage,
189
; Second old Wisconsin River
Itri
ige, 195; Portage High School, 209;
Cit;
v Hall ami Auditorium, Columbus',
; ( olumbus High School, 1895-1910,
; Public Sch. ml Building, Kilbourn,
253; Power Dam at High Water, Ki
bourn. 258; Steamboat at Devil's Fl
bow, Wisconsin Dells, 263; Presbyte-
rian Church, Lodi. 27.; ; old Mill, Nuc-
leus of PardeeVille, 277; Hi-.li School,
Pardeeville, 379: Villas Hail, Rio.
Old
Cambria Hotel (i
â– emod
cled
i, 29:; ;
W'y
Dcena Public Scl
look
361
; Mill
Dan
l. Okee. 383'; Lo;
i House
of Dr.
Lea
ll. lei Drew. West
Point,
431
:; Wis-
cons
nn River Along
the
N
evvport
Sho
res, 439
Villag
e Hall, Rio (view
), 283
Vliet,
Garret, 3.9.6
Vliet,
J. B„ 251
Voertman, August. Sr.,
610
Voertman, Emma, 611
Voss,
Fred, 519
Voth,
Ferdinand, 578
Wagg.
mer. J. H., 137
Walki
ng Turtle. 34
Wall.
George, 116
Walsv
rorth, Silas, 118, 1
84, 185, 1
.94
Ward,
Ml-.. 313
Warn
in, Nat han, 19::
Washl
.mm, W. 1!.. 193
Watei
courses, 13
Wat-
in, Phinea's, 34Q
"W'au
â– Bun," 27, 56, 159
Waul,
(in Chapter. Daugbtei
if the
Am.
•rican Kevolutioii.
37
Wauo
na Lodge, No. 132, I.
O.
O. F.,
Por
tage. 221
Webb
& Bronson, 112
Webb,
B. M„ 428
"Wecker, Der," 143
"Weekly Events," 146
Weir,
Andrew J„ 617
Weir.
William. 55, 616
We-Kaw, 43
Wellei
a, Coonrod, 280
Wells.
Jabes, 417
Wells.
J. H., 132, 223.
593
Wells
, Thomas J., 621
Wells.
T. S„ 384
ixdkx
elsh Calvanist
• Me
J86
hod
St (
elsh Prairie, 28
i. 292
entworth & Co
ipany
30;
350
entworth, Robert 1:..
l :::,.
L31
entworth, R. It
. 201,
nl
entworth, Mrs.
R. I'...
L91,
192
esteott, Ida A..
364
esterfield, John
244
estern Land O
npanj
. 26
estphal, Henry,
529
esl Point Town
hip West
Point
Wheeler, John E., 247, !
Wheeler, J. Russell, 241
Wheeler, John R., 246
Whist
Whiti
( row, 25
Whit.
Daniel, 92, 1 15, 1 16
Whit.
Harvey, 362
Whit.
law, \\ illiam Reed, 65(
Whiti
lan, A., 218
Whiti
ey, A. II.. 249
Whiti
ey, Alonzo 11.. 552
Whiti
ey, C. J., 207
Whit.
ey, (hnk, 185
Whiti
ey, H. A.. 234, 235
Whiti
ev, Henry A., 552
Whiti
ey, Jonathan, 3.97, 124
Wild.
â– man, J. 11.. 218
Wilki
is, Samuel, 341
Willi!
ins. Arthur. 596
Willis
ins. Benjamin, 440
Willi:
me, David E., 606
Willii
in-, E. 1'... 288
Willi!
ins. Edward, 432
Willi!
ins. Griffith J., CO".
Willi!
ins. .1. 1... 291
Willi!
ms, Robert, 282
Willii
ni~, Thomas, 606
Willi!
in-. William R., 288
\\ ilsi
i, James, 414
Wilsi
i, James W„ 655
Wilso
i, John, 301, 655
Wilsi
i. John •!.. 155
Wilsi
i, Robert, 310, 45.".
Wine
ell, A. I'... 402
\\ Urn
Lorenzo A.. 571
Wisconsin Rii
93
u isconsin St
\\ isconsin Sta
Wisconsin Sti
Portage (vi«
w itche's '.nl. I
Witche's Gulch, Wi
u i. I apt. J. li.. is
Wood, A. I... ::;'.i
W I. Big Billy, U2
H E. II.. L13
\\ I. Nathan, 2S5
Wood, Samuel P., 669
W I» ard, James, : 10
Wotring, Fred R., 215
\\ rrdr. Hem \ l .. 5Ti'i
\\ j n;i Founded by
Dickason, 358; muni:
358; high grade oi aai
first store, 360; pioi
churches, 360; Messrs.
N.» port
. 131
Hall,
"Wyod
Wyocei
Wyocei
Wyoce,
Wyocei
below Wyocena, 402
Wycoff, Samuel, 215
Yellow Thunder, last Winnebago war
chief, 26
Yellow Thunder, 26-30, 31, 68
V. M. C A., Portage, 226
Yockey, Mlary, 270, 382
York, G. K... 192
'i ork, Irving W„ 627
York. Robert E., G2S
York, II. I... 192, 201
Young, (lark M., 377, 378, 480
^i • . i i i i g . I - i i . i I . : ; -
Yule, John T.. 181
Zastrow, Ferdinand, 7 10
Zastrow, Herman E., 710
Zienert, Alois, 564
Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Cambria, 294
HISTORY OF
COLUMBIA COUNTY
CHAPTER I
NATURAL FEATURES
Wisconsin's Boldest Feature-Natural Route of Indians and
French Discoverers-Protection op the Portage Necessary to
Settlement-The Wisconsin River and the Dells-The How ^
of the Dells-The Baraboo Bluffs-Through the "Grand Eddy
0N v Rvft -The Great Prairie Belt of Limestone-The Water
Courses of Columbia County-Prairies, Marshes and Timber
Land— Building Stone— Dairying and Agriculture.
Columbia County occupies the central area of one of the most
remarkable physical features of the State of Wisconsin, and its entire
history has been moulded in an especially striking manner by geo-
graphical position and geological status. Trace the course of history
to its fountain head and it will be found that it has been largely deter-
mined by such foreordained conditions, but in the case of Columbia
County the results may be so plainly traced from the grand and natural
premises that the book lies open in all the charm of rugged simplicity.
The surface features of Wisconsin as a state are neither boldly moun-
tainous nor monotonously level, which is the chief reason why those
who have lived any length of time within its borders love the land, ^re-
spective of what they get out of it in a material way. It has all the
charm of a varied personality, seldom ponderous or obtrusive.
Wisconsin's Boldest Feature
But Wisconsin has one feature which is strikingly bold, as well as
flooded with beauty; that is the deep gash which passes diagonally from
Green Bay, the headwaters of Lake Michigan, to the upper waters of the
1
2 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
.Mississippi ;it Prairie du Chien, in the southwestern part of the state
.Nature [eft two oodles of slightly elevated limestone as a welt between
the equal sections of the deep scar formed by the valleys of the Fox and
Wisconsin fixers, and on either side lies Columbia County.
Our former great state geologist. Prof. T. < '. Chamberlain, has
thus described Wisconsin in a state of nature, with this sole pronounced
grove in its surface, of which Columbia County is the very center of all
its picturesque charms: "The surface features of Wisconsin are simple
and symmetrical in character and presi at a configuration intermediate
between the mountainous on the one hand and a monotonous level on
the other. The highest summits in the state rise a Little more than
1,200 feet above its lowest surfaces. A few exceptional peaks rise from
400 to 600 feet above their bases, but abrupt elevations of more than
200 or 300 feet are not common. Viewed as a whole, the state may be
regarded as occupying a swell of land lying between three notable
depressions — Lake .Michigan on the east about 578 feet above the mean
tide of the ocean, Lake Superior on the north about 600 feet above the
sea, and the valley of the Mississippi river whose elevation at the Illi-
nois state line is slightly below that of Lake Michigan. From these
depressions the surface slopes upward to the summit altitudes of the
state. But the rate of ascent is unequal. From Lake Michigan the sur-
face rises by a long gentle acclivity westward and northward. A sim-
ilar slope ascends from the Mississippi valley to meet this, and their
juncture forms a north and south arch extending nearly the entire length
of the state. From Lake Superior the surface ascends rapidly to the
watershed, which it reaches within thirty miles of the lake
"Under the waters of Lake Michigan the surface of the land passes
below the sea level before the limits of the state are reached. Under
Lake Michigan the land surface descends to even greater depths, but
probably not within the boundaries of the state. The regularity of
the southward slopes is interrupted in a very interesting way by a
remarkable diagonal valley occupied by Green Bay and the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers. This is a great grove traversing the state obliquely,
and cutting down the central elevation half its height. A line passing
across the surface from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi at any other
point would arch upward from about 400 to 1,000 feet, according to
the location, while along the trough of this valley' it would reach an
elevation barely exceeding 200 feet. On -the northwest side of this
trough the surface rises somewhat gradually, giving at most points
much amplitude to the valley, hut on the opposite side the slope ascends
rapidly to a well marked watershed that stretches across the state parallel
to the valley."
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
P ,.« 1 r.-i»' r "'
A French Fur Trader and Carrier
4 EISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
Natural Route of [ndians \m. French Discoverers
llns deep grove, interrupted by only a narrow portage separating
the water system of the great lakes from that of the greal river, was the
natural highway for the restless primitive peoples of the land, while
Lake Winnebago, and the valleys of the mam streams and their tribu-
taries, became the gathering places of such powerful tribes as the Poxes
and Winnebagoes, hemmed into Southern Wisconsin by the Chippewas
toward the northeast and the Sioux toward the southwest.
It was also but natural that the earliest of the French voyageura
should have selected this beautiful route, which to all outward appear-
anees would lead to the magnificent waters which were known to He
somewhere in the West, rather than expect to discover anything of
importance by way of the swamps and little reedy stream at "the lower
end of Lake Michigan.
Protection of the Portage Necessary to Settlement
So it was also that when the interior of Wisconsin commenced to be
settled by white men, the Government realized that the kevnote to their
safety was a military oversight of the "portage;" hence the building
of Port Winnebago, in which the Indians saw their doom and protested
accordingly. With Fort Howard (Green Bay) at the northeastern ter-
minus of the route, Fort Winnebago at the portage and Fort Crawford
(Prairie du Chien) at the southwestern end, the great interior water-
way of Wisconsin was comparatively safe. The cutting of the separating
belt by the canal, and the control of the turbulent waters of the Wis-
consin by means of the "levee system," were more modern works of con
venienee and protection which Nature, in that part of the world, forced
the American to accomplish.
So we repeat that the history of Columbia County is peculiarly a
child of geographical and natural conditions.
The Wisconsin River and the Dells
It is in Northwestern Columbia County, with Kilbourn City as its
central point, that the Wisconsin River which has been flowing south-
ward from the north boundary of the state is deflected eastward by a
quartz range and then hemmed in by another coming from the opposite
direction. From one-third of a mile in width, the noble stream is sud-
denly contracted to one of not more than two hundred feet, and at one
point it is not above fifty feet across. Thus forced, it cuts its way
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 5
through seven miles of sandstone, whose walls rise from the clear, shad-
owy waters to a height of from fifteen to eighty feet.
There is probably no equal stretch of water in the world which exhib-
its such fantastic and beautiful forms of water erosion, and the hundreds
of little glens or gulches which run inland from the river are lined with
eaves, fern beds and carved sandstone. In most places the walls are so
abrupt that it is impossible to land from a rowboat or pleasure steamer.
The Dells (or Dalles) are naturally divided into Upper and Lower,
the City of Kilbourn being at the head of the Lower Dells. Down the
river from Kilbourn the channel of the Wisconsin is gradually modified
until the stream again flows wide and shallow in an unconfined stream.
The depth of the gorge is from fifty to one bundled feet.
There is not one visitor to the Dells in a thousand, and probably not
ten in a hundred of the old-timers in Columbia county, who can tell
exactly where they begin and where they end. A nameless pioneer,
who is noted for his precision and pride of "getting tilings straight,"
comes to the rescue in the following words: "Seel ion 28. in Township
14 north, of Range 6 east, lies both in Adams and Juneau counties, north
of Sauk. The Wisconsin River, which is here the boundary between
them, enters the north line of that section, and just at this point begins
the Dells — the 'upper jaws' as they are familiarly called. The stream
tlows in nearly a south course through the middle of section 28 until it
crosses into section 33. It continues through the last-named section,
passing through the 'lower jaws,' and just at the point in the middle
of the river where it crosses its southern line are the corners of Colum-
bia, Adams, Juneau ami Sauk counties. It flows on across the north
line of Section 4, Township 13 north, of Range ti east, with a course
bearing to the eastward, crossing into section 3, but soon turning back
into section 4. Here a dam crosses the river.
"Above this point is known as the Upper Dells. From this dam is
seen Columbia County and Kilbourn City, town of Newport, on the
right ; Sauk County, town of Delton, on the left ; the river forming the
boundary between the two counties. Below the dam are the Lower
Dells. At the point where the river loses its characteristics of a gorge,
it is called the Foot of the Dells. Throughout the whole length of the
narrow passage from the Upper Jaws to the Foot of the Dells fanciful
names have been given to the most striking objects and places."
The Jaws of the Dells are guarded by two immense rocks, High and
Romance. Chimney Rock tells its own story. The Dell House, rambling
and wild looking, was one of the first frame houses built on the river
above Poi*tage, and was used as a tourists' hotel for many years. It
stood across the river from the churchlike rock known as Chapel George.
BISTORT OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
Many of the grottoes and caves, into which boats bore the tourist over
winding streams between fantastically carved sandstone, have been
obliterated by the construction of the great modem dam at Kilbourn
City and the consequent rising of the water level in the Upper Dells.
Where the river hanks suddenly approach within fifty feet of each
other is called the Narrows, and in the earlier years this was considered
the most dangerous point in the Dells during high water. The first
bridge ever built across the Wisconsin was thrown across the Narrows
by Schuyler S. Gates in 1850.
The Devil's Elbow is at the entrance to the Narrows where the river
makes an almost square turn.
k--- ..i .' ... â–
Chimney Rock and Romance Cliff, Dells of the Wisconsin
To the left is Black Hawk's Cave, the legend being that the old chief
made this his hiding place in the days of the Black Hawk War.
Near by is Notch Rock, a square huge bowlder, against which numer-
ous lumber rafts have been shattered and lives lost.
Canyons and glens, the Devil's Jug, the Devil's Arm Chair, Steam-
boat Rock, and a hundred other evidences of the genius of water as a
sculptor are on every hand in this region of the Upper Dells. Steam-
boat Rock challenges especial attention. It is an island standing in a
curious circular cove, and from some points of view resembles a large
steamer, 250 feet long by 100 wide and fifty feet high, except that its
perpendicular sides are rugged and covered with pine, oak and thick
shrubbery.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 1
Stand Rock, one of the most striking attractions of the region, is
over sixty feet in height, rising out of a beautiful glen and capped by a
smooth sandstone slab about twenty feet square^
Witche's Gulch, at the head of the Upper Dells, extends inland for
three-quarters of a mile. Although the rocks tower on either side to a
ae St of perhaps a hundred feet, one can almost touch the walls with
oustretcb'd arms. It is dark, gloomy and weird, with rts phantom
Witche's Gulch, Wisconsin Dells
chambers, fairy grottoes, waterfalls, winding passages and damp ferns
aUd The 0S river in its course through the Lower Dells is broader and pre-
sents a greater diversity of bluff and bottom, but the side shows are less
numerous and wonderful than those enjoyed in the Upper Dells. In
some places great shelves, with stalwart young pines growing : upon
their very edges, overhang the dark waters; elsewhere, perpendiculai
8 BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
walls I,,,,,,, „,, like vast fortifications, and further on the fortress is sup
plemented by bastions, projecting towers and covered archways
After leaving Kilboura City, going down the river, the first attrac-
tion is Taylor's Glen, which winds around and under the town and the
rocky cliff whirl, marks the exit of one of its tunnels is known as Echo
Point. Tt you have a sweel voice, it is well to be there throw it out
treely and listen for its uncanny repetition.
Farther down the river are all kin, Is of caves and rocks Signal
Peak stands as a reminder of the times when the Poxes and Winnebagoes
built their war,,,,,- ii,vs upon it. and around the bend are the Su-ar
Bowl and Ink Stand. The former is complete, hut the Ink Stand is split
down the side and will admit a small canoe.
Lone Rock, with its Cave of Dark Waters, is majestic and lonesome
in appearance, hut withal wierdly beautiful. Then there are tin- Ovens
Hawk's Bill, Cobble Stone Cove, Coldwater Spring, and other seeming
freaks of nature which are perfectly natural.
The "How" op the Dells
Many visitors will see and admire these wonderful sculptures with-
out stopping to consider how they were produced. As noted by some
Illinois professors, who have made a science of observing "One of the
features which deserves especial mention is the peculiar crenate (notched)
form of the walls at the banks of the river. This is perhaps best seen
m that part ot the Dalles known as the Navy Yard. The sandstone
is affected by a series of vertical cracks or joints. From weathering
the rock along these joints becomes softened, and the running water
wears the softened rocks at the joint planes more readily than other
parts ot its bank and so develops a reentrant at these points Kan,
water descending to the river finds and follows the joint planes and
thus widens the cracks. As a result of stream and rain and weathering
deep angles are produced, and the projections between are rounded off
When tins process of weathering at the joints is carried sufficiently
far columns of rocks become isolated and stand out on the river bluffs
as Chimneys. At a still later stage of development, decav of the rock
along the joint planes may leave a large mass of rock completely iso-
lated. Steamboat Rock and Sugar Bow] are examples of islands' thus
formed.
The walls of standstone weather in a peculiar manner at some points
in the Lower Dells. The little ridges stand out because they are harder
and re S1 st weathering better than the other parts. This is due in part
at least, to the presence of iron in the more resistent portions cementing
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 9
them more firmly. In the process of segregation cementing materials
are often distributed unequally.
The effect of differences in hardness on erosion is alsc shown on a
larger scale and in other ways. Perhaps the most striking illustration
is Stand Rock, which probably is as well known as any feature of the
Dells region.
Minor valleys tributary to the Wisconsin, such as Witche's Gulch
and Cold Water Canyon deserve mention, both because of their beauty
and because they illustrate a type of erosion at an early stage of valley
development. In character they are comparable to the larger gorge to
which they are tributary, hi the downward cutting which far exceeds
the side wear in these tributary canyons, the water has excavated large
bowl or jug-like forms. They are developed just below the falls, where
the water carrying debris, eddies, and the jug or pot-holes are the result.
The Devil's Jug and many other similar hollows are thus explained.
In the vicinity of Camp Douglas and over a large area to the west
are still other striking topographical forms, which owe their origin to
different conditions though they are fashioned by the same forces. Here
there are many towers or castle rocks, which rise to heights varying
from 75 to 190 feet above the surrounding plain. They are remnants
of beds which were once continuous over the low lands above which the
hills now rise. The rock of which they are composed is Potsdam sand-
stone. The effect of the vertical joints and of horizontal layers of
unequal hardness is especially noticeable in the formations of this
locality. Rains, winds, frosts and roots are still working to compass
the destruction of these picturesque hills, and the sloping walls of sand
bordering the "castles" are reminders of the fate which awaits them.
These "hills are the more conspicuous and instructive since the plain
out of which they rise is so flat. Geological experts have pronounced it
"one of the best examples of a base-level plain to be found on the
continent. "
The crests of these hills reach an elevation of between one thousand
and one thousand one hundred feet. The Friendship mounds north of
Kilbourn City, the castellated hills a few miles northwest of the same
place, and Petenwell Peak on the banks of the Wisconsin are further
examples of the same class of hills.
The Baraboo Bluffs
But Columbia County is not a hilly region, and besides these inter-
esting castellated mounds in the extreme northwest, its other marked
manifestations of an uprising are chiefly what are known as the Bara-
10 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
boo Bluffs. These are two bold cast and west ridges — the southern
much the bolder and most continuous — extending through Sauk and
Western Columbia County for twenty miles and lying within the great
baud of the Wisconsin River below Portage. Their cores and summits,
in some places their entire slopes, are composed of tilted beds of quartz,
while their flanks mainly consist of horizontal beds of sandstone The
Baraboo Bluffs mark the valley of the river by that uame, a large water-
power stream which comes in from Sauk County and flows eastward
through the Town of Caledonia to join the Wisconsin in Columbia
County.
Through the "Grand Eddy" on a Raft
Before leaving this most picturesque region of the Wisconsin River
we cannot forbear to present this description of the Dells written by a
traveler in 1858, when they were a part of the Wild West: "Some-
where about two miles (as they measure them here, and that is with a
'woolen string') above Kilbourn City, through a rough and unsettled
opening country, is the Dells. I availed myself of a 'lift' on one of
the stages that left Kilbourn City in good season in the morning to visit
for the first time that truly wonderful place on the largest river in the
state. As I neared the stream and came in sight, I was struck with the
wild, rough but sublime scenery. The morning was anything but pleas-
ant. A regular Scotch mist hovered about the trees, little spirts of rain
fed a chilly wind, the country around was dull, not a bird to be seen ;
the trees were leafless, not even a bud or flower in sight ; the drab col-
ored bark of the white oaks, with their scraggy tops; the dead looking
black or pin oaks, all destitute of foliage, their tops curtained with the
gossamer haze of the mist that was borne along on the wind, that chilled
the face and somewhat dimmed the eye — all looking dreary; solitude
seemed to lie reigning. The only relief to the scene before actually
reaching the river were the fine handsome tops of the pines that like
cones of bright green, here and there, reared their heads tapering off
to sharp points in many places, high above the oaks: appearing like so
many green spots in the waste.
"Turning from the course I was 'steering.' for I had missed my way.
I found the road which lead to the Dells' bridge; that is stretched from
roek to rock over the Dells, where the water is now eighty feet deep.
On the bridge is a fine view, both up and down, of a dirty, spiteful and
wicked looking river (speaking nautically). Here a river hundreds of
miles in length that has leaped cataracts and rushed almost unchecked
over rapids, spread at will over plains and piled up in its playfulness
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 11
acres of sandbars, suddenly finds itself contracted; high walls of rough
rocks built up layer upon layer until they attain at some places from
fiCto a hundred feet in height, have prescribed its hunts As xf mad-
Sea bevond control, in the height of its anger apparently it da S hes
into the jaws of the rocky monster that appears to swallow it
'Taking a good look at the stream- from the top o the bridge, I
crossed and proceeding for some distance up its side 1 soon came in
view o some rafts preparing to enter what to many a poor fellow has
been the Valley of Death. A request that I might have a passage was
r eadi ly granted, and in a few minutes by some maneuvering the raft
was started, and on we went gliding gracefully down the stream The
urren appeared to me to get swifter and swifter until the whole ra
of cribs of lumber pinned together seemed to tremble and twis and be
determined to go to pieces just because I was on it. I have heard ot
fl!ke somewhere up here called Devil's Lake ; the same name should be
•riven to this part of the Wisconsin River, in my opinion.
S ^ are fairly afloat on the fierce, rolling, rushing tide speeding
down toward the turn above the bridge, where projecting into the stream
fs the dangerous rock, on the starboard hand of the river c le ^ Notch
Rock. Having sheered too much, or given too wide a berth to the eddy
or some whirl on the opposite side of the stream, we swung too fax and
came too near the Notch, passing, it seemed to me, within four fart ^o the
savage-looking point of the rock. On we went, the men plying their
sweeps or oars with a vigor that appeared to denote a danger at hand
Looking up at the sides of the Dells when close to the bridge I beheld
? scene of which I have never seen the equal.
In some places the points of the massive masonry of rocks seemed
ready to fall on the rait and crush it to atoms. Their upper points or
promontories that hung over and far above the stream seemed held m
Lir places only by the strong roots of -me towering P"- whose
points or apex seemed lost in the clouds, and the roots of which had
gr ppled with the monstrous stone or wall, running mto every crevice
rift or fi-ure, as though the two had united their strength to resist
efforts of some hurricane that had sought to dislodge them. Upon the
outward limbs of some of these Norway pines here and there was sen
a bird greatly resembling the kingfisher, calmly looking fcwnj^
swift water that here, in its narrowest limits, was maddened Bdjto
ated, writhing, twisting, whirling, seething and foaming, ike smne hug
monster that was in an agony of pain as it forced itself through the
~?SSX£ were seen hopping about the crevices of the rocks piek-
ing up insects from the moss; and pretty little shrubs could be seen
12 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
^ ^ed away 'under the lee,' or in the crooks of the stony banks,
sate from ram or wind, as though they had
" 'Chosen the humble valley, and had rather
Grow a safe shrub below, than dare the winds
And hp a cedar.'
"Just as we passed the bridge, a hole or concave place appeared in
sight close ahead of the raft, looking as if some leviathan had suddenly
sucked down a hollow in the water; this place of hollow water seemed
twenty feet across, and into this eddy the two forward cribs of the rait
appeared to sink and to disappear, the water rushing upon the lumber
and the whole raft feeling as if it was about to turn over with a twirl
and go to the bottom of the vortex. I fancied I read in the faces of two
of those belonging to the raft a sign of more than common danger- and
a rushing backward and forward with the sweeps as the men put forth
all their strength and activity induced me to commence the P r ss of
taking oft an overcoat. Tins elicited a laugh from two of the 'red shirts-'
however it was apparent to me that unless the raft speedily righted it
would soon he 'every man for himself and God for us all.' This was
the Grand Eddy. I call it the Maelstrom on a small scale, hut large
enough. s
"I have no doubt that men accustomed to running the Dells get
Hunted to the danger, hut I fully believe that to the unfortunate who
gets overboard in the Wisconsin near the Dells, death is certain I have
passed many years of my life at sea, been tempest-tossed in some of the
worst gales that ever swept any ocean. I have seen the crested waves of
Cape Horn kiss the top-sail yard-arms of more than one good ship
I was off Nantucket shores in that memorable equinoctial gale that some
eighteen years since hurled dozens of vessels upon the Atlantic roast
m which two pdots boats foundered off New York and hundreds of sail-
ors went to their ocean sepulcher. I have laughed at the Atlantic
when the good old liner 'Caledonia' reeled to and fro like a drunken
man, and cries came up out of the deep; but never have I felt as I did
when that raft dipped its forward end into the Grand Eddy below Dells
bridge, when I believed danger was really near."
The Great Prairie Belt of Limestone
The most important land feature of the county is the high limestone
prairie belt which separates the systems of the Rock and Wisconsin riv-
ers. It crosses Green Lake County in a southwesterly direction enters
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 13
Columbia County on the north line of Scott and Randolph townships,
traverses the county in a line gradually veering to the west and, enter-
ing Dane County, turns due west. The western and northern face of
this divide forms the eastern and southern side of the "Wisconsin Valley
continuously from the mouth of the river to the most eastern point of
its great bend in Columbia County, and a spur of it is thrust out between
the Wisconsin and Fox rivers to separate their waters. Further north
the main ridge continues its northeasterly trend, leaving the Wisconsin
entirely and becoming the eastern boundary of the upper Fox River as
far as Lake Winnebago.
The Water Courses op Columbia County
The western and central sections of Columbia County depend upon
the Wisconsin River and its tributaries for drainage. The main stream
enters the gorge already mentioned as the Dells not far above the south-
ern boundary Hue of Juneau and Adams counties. This wonderful pass-
age of seven miles has already been described. At its foot between the
counties of Sauk and Columbia, the river enters upon the most remark-
able bend in its whole length of 450 miles through the entire State of
Wisconsin. Through the Dells its general course is southward, but it
is now turned almost due east by a hard, sharp quartzite range, like
a flint arrow head, which stands for the union of the Baraboo bluffs
pushing themselves in from Sauk County. Rising some four hundred
feet above the river bottom it effectually turns the Wisconsin from its
southerly course through the narrow Dells. The river then widens and
naturally flows between low sand banks for seventeen miles to Portage.
Above Portage, where the Wisconsin forms the southern boundary
line of the Town of Lewiston, the ground immediately north is lower
than the water in the river; the heads of Neenah Creek, a tributary of
the Fox, rising a short distance from its banks. In times of high water
the Wisconsin naturally overflowed into these streams, and the two river
systems — those of the Fox and Wisconsin — mingled their waters in the
earlier times, and often flooded Portage and the adjacent country to
the north, devastating property and destroying life.
At Portage the Fox, after flowing south of west for twenty miles
approaches the Wisconsin, coming from the opposite direction. Where
the two streams are nearest their natural channels are less than two miles
apart. Before the days of the canal they were separated by a low sandy
plain resting on the limestone belt described before. In a state of nature
the water in the Fox w r as five feet below that of the Wisconsin at ordi-
nary stages, and in times of high water the greater part of the inter-
14 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
raring low ground was overflowed by the latter. To this fact was
chiefly due the disastrous spring rises in the Fox.
These natural conditions made necessary the construction of the
canal and the levees, hereafter to be described.
After doubling the eastern end of the Baraboo bluffs, the Wisconsin
turns again to the west, being forced in this direction by the high belt
of limestone which separates it from the Rock River system. Soon after
striking the limestone region the Wisconsin Valley in Columbia County
assumes an altogether new character, which it retains to its mouth. It
has now a nearly level and generally treeless bottom from three to six
miles in width, bounded on both sides by bold bluffs of sandstone capped
with limestone and rising to a height of two or three hundred feet.
The Fox River, which drains the northern sections of Columbia
County, rises in the northeastern Town of Scott and the adjoining sec-
tions of Green Lake County, on the west edge of the limestone belt previ-
ously noted. Flowing southwest and west, nearly parallel to the Duck
Creek branch of the Wisconsin, expanding into several little lakes in its
course (Swan Lake, among others), it approaches the latter stream at
Portage, where it turns abruptly northward on its way toward Lake
Winnebago and Green Bay. It has already been said that in the spring,
before the building of the levees, this portion of the Fox received a
large amount of water from the Wisconsin, much of which reached it
through a branch known as the Big Slough, or Neenah Creek, which,
heading within a mile of the Wisconsin, in the Town of Lewiston, reaches
the Fox just south of the north line of Columbia County near Fort Hope,
Fort Winnebago Township.
The Rock River system, which drains the eastern portions of Colum-
bia County, is represented by the Crawfish River.
There are several pretty little lakes in the county, which abound in
fish and are favorites with summer tourists, like Silver Lake, at Portage,
which is also an old-time haunt of the curlers ; Swan Lake, a link in the
Fox River, lying in Wyoeena and Pacific townships; Lakes Loomis, Corn-
ing and Whiting, Town of Lewiston; Mud Lake, Town of Lowville, the
head of Rocky Run, and Crystal Lake, in the Town of West Point, To
tell the truth, however, though we would not lie without such little gems
of water, they are more ornamental than useful, and up to date have
had small effect upon the destiny or progress of Columbia County.
Prairies. Maeshes and Timber Land
In further expansion of the physical features of Columbia County,
upon which so much of history depends, it may be said that its surface
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 15
is roughly divided into prairies, marshes and timber land, although all
these have been materially changed, and are even now in process of
transformation, by the modifying influences of civilization and devasta-
tion. The prairies are not coextensive with those of the pioneer times,
because in places trees have been planted and natural second growths
have matured. In general, Columbia County presents the flat prairies,
chiefly seen along the Wisconsin River bottoms, and the more ordinary
rolling or broken lands. In some cases as in the Town of "West Point, the
prairie area includes both lowland and bold outlying bluffs, reaching
300 feet in height.
The limestone prairie belt in Columbia County occupies large por-
tions of the towns of West Point, Lodi, Arlington, Leeds, Hampden and
Lowville, continuing northeast though somewhat broken, through the
towns of Otsego, Courtland ami Randolph, and finally passing into
Green Lake County. This extensive prairie area is mostly on high land,
occupying the summit, of the watershed between the Wisconsin and Rock
rivers, to which reference has been made. It is nearly always under-
laid by the lower magnesia limestone, whose irregular upper surface con-
tributes much to the rolling character of the prairie.
In the earlier times several of the most marked prairie regions had
their special designations, like Empire Prairie in the south central tiers
of townships, Fountain Prairie in the southeast, and Welsh and Portage
prairies in the northeast.
With regard to the timber areas, the whole of the county outside the
prairie regions was covered with a prevailing growth of oaks, inter-
spersed with other forest trees. Along the Wisconsin and Baraboo
rivers were belts of heavy timber, composed of oak, basswood, elm, hick-
ory, butternut and soft maple. There were a few growths of heavy oaks
in the more northern and eastern parts of the county, as in the towns
of Lewiston, Fort Winnebago, Marcellon, Wyocena and Lowville, and
further south in De Korra and Lodi. But there are now few continuous
belts of heavy timber in the county; on the other hand there are many
homesteads which are protected and beautified by groves and stretches of
timber which, in their natural state, were on the bare prairie.
The marshes of Columbia County are usually small and the area of
swamp, or waste lands, has greatly decreased within recent years. Both
scientific drainage by the farmers, and the work of the state and national
governments in diverting the flood waters into safe channels, have cut
down the percentage to very small proportions. Prior to these improve-
ments the marshes along Duck Creek and the Upper Fox River, east of
Portage, stretched along as a dreary waste several miles in extent.
16 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Building Stone
Although Columbia County is rich in deposits of sandstone and lime-
stone, and numerous outcroppings arc visible in various parts of its
area, these valuable building stones have not been utilized to any great
extent. Small quarries are scattered throughout the county, such as
those of limestone in Randolph, Courtland and Columbus townships, in
the east, and Lowville in the central area, and sandstone workings in the
Town of Fort Winnebago; also near Lodi and other sections in the Wis
consiu valley region. There are valuable deposits of granite and iron in
the Town of Caledonia, but they have not yet been developed
commercially.
Dairying and Acjrictlture
It is not in the quarrying of building stone that the soil of Columbia
County has yielded its riches to the people who have settled within its
borders. But few counties in Southern Wisconsin have better natural
advantages for the development of all dairy industries than Columbia.
The territory is abundantly watered, grasses and all forage plants are
abundantly grown, and the varied nature of the land furnishes much
natural protection to live stock, even if the farmer fails to provide it.
The result is that no industry is growing more rapidly, and fully sev-
enty per cent of the milch cows owned by the agriculturists of the comity
are employed to maintain the supply of its creameries and cheese fac-
tories. Another good result is that Columbia County butter and cheese
is hard to heat, although Wisconsin is preeminent as a dairy state.
The soil of Columbia county is rich in those elements required by corn
and oats, by potatoes and vegetables, which are therefore its leading
crops. It may be argued that because oats are so readily raised horses
should be the main species of livestock ; or it may be inferred that because
well-to-do citizens will have good horses, they have set about to raise good
oats and plenty of them. Which ever horn of the dilemma you take, it
is certain that both oats and horses are large sources of wealth to
Columbia County.
The details of these general statements are brought out in the chap-
ter devoted to picturing the county as it is today. The story begun in
the foregoing pages aims to tell what Nature had done for this section
of the state, before either red man or white man came to improve upon
its ways.
CHAPTER II
THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS
Mound Builders Keep to the Water Courses — Mounds of the Kil-
bourn Region — First Tidings op Columbia County Indians — The
Winnebagoes and Menominees — Last of the Indian Lands — Win-
nebago Villages — De Korra, the Noble Chief — Indian Payment
of 1830 — Mrs. Kedzie Describes the Chiefs — Yellow Thunder,
Last Winnebago War Chief — Personal, Recollections of Yellow
Thunder (Mrs. Lydia A. Flanders) — Last Forced March of the
Winnebagoes — The Payment of 1914.
Most of the relics left by prehistoric man, the predecessor of the
Indian, indicate that his habitations and his migrations were largely
fixed and guided by the availability of the region for sustenance and
facility of transportation provided by the water courses of the land.
The old forts, and shrines, and hearths of the Mound Builders stretch
through the great valleys of the Northwest, usually not far from the
present-day streams. Both prehistoric man and historic Indian appear
to have had in mind, in the selecting of their habitations and territorial
domain, attractiveness of village sites and lands, riches of streams and
forests, and facilities of migration, whether undertaken in movements
of offence or defence.
Mound Builders Keep to the Water Courses
In Columbia County, as in other localities where the original inhabi-
tants have left evidences of their life and works, prehistoric relics and
structures are sometimes found stranded on inland hillsides, but almost
uniformly near a valley formation or a pronounced depression. Not only
is it certain that there has been a notable decrease in the volume of all
existing bodies of water, but inland valleys and sinks and ancient shore
lines, are evidences that many have entirely disappeared ; but. as stated,
vol. r —2
17
18 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
the works of the Mound Builders are never Ear away from such evidences
of old-time streams or lakes.
In some of the mounds examined in Columbia County are found
near the surface relics of Indian origin, such as flint arrowheads, beads
and pottery, while further below, and always near the base line, come the
stone implements and the remnants of human hones that crumble into
dust as soon as brought to the surf.' ; striking evidences of primitive,
if not prehistoric occupancy. There is still another class of remains
and relies, like those discovered some years ago near Wyocena where
the branches of Duck Creek come together. In an oak grove, about a
mile from the old Military road running from Green Baj via Portage
to Prairie du Chien, is a well defined chain of earth works and depres-
sions. The latter are pronounced rifle pits, and local antiquarians have
dug from them not only Indian arrow heads, rusty bayonets of the
American flint-lock musket, and pewter buttons stamped with the 1". S.
of the "regulars," but skulls and bones — all indicating a battle-field
contested by the reds and whites at that point. Now in midstream, oppo-
site the earth works and rifle pits, is a little rise of land which once
formed a portion of the site of an Indian village.
Mounds op the Kilbourn Region
The most pronounced evidences of prehistoric habitation have been
found in the romantic region of the Dells, especially in and near Kil-
bourn City. One of the largest of the mounds was destroyed, years ago,
in the construction of a village street. It was lizardlike in shape, with
its head pointing toward the west, and originally the figure must have
been 200 feet long.
Very often one of these image or animal mounds will be surrounded
by several which are conical in shape. A few miles from Kilbourn may
be found one of the most curious groups to be seen in that section of the
state. It occupies a plat of ground about 300 feet long and 80 feet wide.
Near the southeast corner of the plat is the figure of a deer, the head
being toward the west. Immediately to the north is a representation of a
lizard, some 300 feet in length, around its head being eight or ten conical
mounds, some of them twelve feet in height.
About four miles south of Kilbourn, on the east bank of the "Wisconsin
River, is another interesting group. The mounds, in fact, are found in
a number of other localities within a few miles of Kilbourn City.
That the mounds were built at a remote period is evident. On many
of them trees more than two hundred years old are found growing, and
how many more have attained their maturity, died and fallen into decay,
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
HSf^^B
^Br^-
1
â– nr^iO
, :
B i fjr^
'
m '
.
20 BISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
it is impossible to tell. Another proof of the great antiquity of the
mounds is the depth of the alluvial soil which covers them.
First Tidings of Columbia Counts Indians
It is believed that the first historic evidences of human lit'" within
the present limits of Columbia County were the recorded tidings brought
to Champlain of the tribe of Indians who hunted, fished and warred in
a region many leagues beyond Lake Huron. They were called Mashkou-
tenec; later, Mascoutens. The Hurons translated the word as Fire
Nation, and such French authorities as Marquette adopted their interpre-
tation; others, like the scholarly Dablon and Charlevoix claimed the word
was derived from Muskoutenec, a prairie, and should he translated "Men
of the prairie," or "prairie people." But whether that tribe, of whom
Champlain heard, should be called the Fire Nation or Men of the Prairie,
it is certain that its members were long known as the Mascoutens; that
they had numerous villages in what is now Green Lake County and thai
their hunting grounds, at least, stretched along the Fox Rivei' well into
the present bounds of Columbia County.
The Winnebagoes and Menominees
The nearest tribe to the Mascoutens down the Fox River was that of
the Winnebagoes, whose homes were at the mouth of that stream and
around Lake Winnebago. To the south, extending well up Rock River,
were the Illinois, who were afterward driven beyond the Mississippi.
The Foxes then crowded the Mascoutens southward to the shores of
Lake Michigan, and after occupying territory which included the Colum-
bia County of today for a time, migrated toward the southwest.
Then came the Winnebagoes from the Green Lay and Lake Winne-
bago regions, their territory gradually extending up the Fox River,
across the portage and down the Wisconsin. They seemed to be both a
strong and patient tribe ami founded several villages within the county
which flourished for a number of years. Although several treaties of
peace were made with the Winnebagoes, who had succeeded to the great
Chippewa Territory of Northern Wisconsin and the lands of the Foxes
in the central and southern parts of the state, the general Government
did not finally obtain a cession of the Winnebago lands in Columbia
County until 1833 and 1837. The treaty of the former year ceded .ill
except the area now included in the Town of Caledonia, and that section
of the county became Government property in the latter year.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 21
Last of the Indian Lands
The Indian lands of Columbia County now included the tract between
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, including the extreme northwest embraced
by the towns of Newport and Lewiston, that portion of Fort Winnebago
west of the Fox, the village of Kilbourn City and a part of the City of
Portage. This section of Northwestern Columbia County was included
in the Menominee lands until January 2:!, 1849, although the Indians
of that tribe had never settled upon them. The treaty of that date ceded
all these lands to the general Government; hut they remained in actual
possession of them until 1851.
Winnebago Villages
The Winnehagoes were the only red men who became actual residents
of Columbia County. The largest of their villages, which was two miles
south of the portage, consisted of more than one hundred lodges, and
was occupied by their principal chief, De Korra, from whom the town is
named. The village was afterward moved to land known as the Caffrey
place, Town of Caledonia, at the foot of a bluff between the Wisconsin
and Baraboo rivers. The school house of District No. 5 subsequently
occupied a part of the site. Soon after the completion of Fort Winne-
bago in 1830, the Winnebago villages commenced to disintegrate, and
there were few remains of them when the title to their lands was
extinguished in 1837.
De Korea, the Noble Chief
It is said that De Korra, perhaps the best known of the early chiefs
in Columbia County, was the grandson of Sebrevoir de Carrie, an officer
in the French army who was mortally wounded at Quebec in 1760, and
who had previously been a fur trader among the Winnebago Indians.
His name, at least, has been derived from that source. He was a favor-
ite with white settlers and a picturesque figure at the annual gathering
of his tribe, when the Government paid the Indians their annuities at
Fort Winnebago.
Indian Payment of 1830
A payment made to the Winnehagoes in 1830 is thus described by
an eye-witness: "There were two divisions of the Winnebago Indians,
one of which was paid by the agent at the portage, the other at Prairie
:>•_> BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
dii Chien. The first, between 4,000 and 5,000 in number, received ac-
cording to treaty stipulations, $15,000 annually, besides a considerable
amount of presents and certain rations of bread and pork, to be issued
in times of emergency throughout the year. The principal villages of
this division of the tribe were at Lake Winnebago, Green and Fox lakes,
the Barribault (now Baraboo), .Mud Lake (Dodge County), the Four
Lakes, Kosh-ko-nong (White Crow's village) and Tunic ('reek (now
Beloit). Messengers were dispatched at or before the arrival of the
annuity money to all the villages, to notify the heads of families or
Indues to assemble at the portage.
"When arrived the masters of families, under their different chiefs,
gave ia their names and the number in their lodges to be registered.
As, in paying, a sum of money is apportioned to earn individual, it is
an object to the head of a lodge to make the number registered as great
as possible. Each one brings his little bundle of sticks and presents it
to the agent to register. Sometimes a dialogue like the following oc-
curs: 'How many have you in your lodge?'
"The Indian carefully and with great ceremony counts a bundle
of sticks — 'Fifteen.'
" 'How many men V
" 'Two.'
"The agent lays aside two sticks.
" 'How many women V
" 'Three.'
"Three more sticks are separated.
" 'Eight.'
"Eight sticks are added to the heap.
" 'What is the meaning of those two sticks that remain?'
"The culprit, whose arithmetic had not served him to carry out
this deception, disappears amid the shouts and .jeers of his companions,
who are always well pleased at the detection of any roguery in which
they have had no share.
"The young officers generally assisted in counting out and deliver-
ing the money at these payments and it was no unusual thing, as the
last band came up, for the chiefs to take a quantity of silver out of the
box and request their father to pay his friends for their trouble, seem-
ing really disturbed at his refusal. In this, as in almost every instance,
we see the native courtesy and politeness which are never lost sighl of
among them. If a party comes to their father to beg for provisions
and food is offered them, however hungry they may be, each waits
patiently until one of the company makes an equal distribution of the
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
23
whole and then taking his share eats it quietly with the greatest
whole, ana Tue * ul violated, save in one instance,
"r M»a " Blanc, ■*. old da»d y / once -.J*.
SE^ - d „, ££U\E. i* vLnt a^d longed
";;: s ;;:,.,'-.»„ .. ... - -, - - - ■•
â– ; s::;,: its z,;',s"r=r.,,,.,- ..... •â–
Trr":r;i=^:rre:=drirL s te p
ViSl ' TLtoTemn gravity of his countenance as he motioned away those
24
BISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
well for a continuation of propriety and self-respect and a due con-
sideration of the good opinion of all around
''But alas for Pawnee! Late in the day, we saw hi,,, assist,,] ,
ward his lodge by two stout young Indians, who had pulled hi, „ of
ad tch, ins fine coal covered with mud, his hat battered, his spear shorn
1 1 dl^T 1 *' :m '' P °°J PaWDee hi " IS ""' *""*•« ■*> ^ring
all the doleful lamentations of a tipsy Indian."
Mrs. Kix/.ii: Describes the Cj
"toW i , ' ■■" ^ ''" lln Kl " zi " Wh ° is Orally ^Ued the
, ™ °' ' ll1 '-:'-"' '•'""" t0 Fot * Winnebago as the Indian agent in
1831, accompanied by his charming and talent,,! young wife She
dealing with life and events at such frontier posts as Fort Dearborn
* nd F ° r * " 1 "" 1 '-"- *« ^11 have occasion to draw upon her rem
fences later, our present indebtedness to her being on the score of her
Piquant desertion of the best known of the Winnebago chiefs, in these
words. After breakfast I received a visit from the principal chiefs
mother ° H ' H ' St ° f aPPard aml Pdnt ' t0 ^--'e their iiew'
"There was Naw-Kaw or Kar-ray-mau-nee, the Walking Turtle then
the principal chief of the nation, a stalwart Indian with a broad pleas-
ant countenance the great peculiarity of which was an immense' 1
hp hanging nearly to his chin.
"There was old De-Kau-ray (De Korra), the most noble, dignified
and venerable of his own, or indeed of any tribe. His fine. Roman
countenance, rendered still more striking by his bald head/with on
tuf -of long, silvery hair, neatly tied and falling to his shoulders; his
perfectly neat and appropriate dress, almost without ornament, and his
courteous demeanor never laid aside under any circumstance, all corn-
knew hnn g '^ ^^ '" ^ e0nsidera ^n of all who
"There was Black Wolf, whose lowering, surly face was well de-
scribed by his name. The fierce expression of lis countenance was
greatly heightened by the mass,, of heavy black hair hanging „,,
f.^«mwr3 to the usual Pashion among the WinnebagoeJ Th y
for the most part remove a portion of the hair, the remainder of whieh
bboT °W i'" k '"' ^ ^ ClUbbed Md ™*»** ^h b,
ribbons, cock feather, or. if they are so entitled, an eagle's feather for
every scalp taken from an enemy
"There was Talk English, a remarkably handsome young Indian
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
25
who received his name in the following manner: He was one of the
party of sixteen Winnebagoes who had. by invitation, accompanied their
agent and Major Forsyth (or the Chippewa, as he was called) on a
visit to the president at Washington, the year previous. On the journey
the question naturally addressed to them by people not familiar with
the western Indians was 'Do you talk English?' The young fellow
being very observant, came to his father. 'What do they mean by this?
Everybody says to me. "Talk English?" ' The agent interpreted the
words to him.' 'Ah, very well!' The next place they arrived at was
Lockport, New York. Jumping off the canal boat upon the lock he
ran up to the first man he met and thrusting forward Ins face called
out 'Talk Eengeesh?' 'Yes,' said the man. < Do you talk English?
• Ya as ' From that time forward he always bore the name of lalk Eng-
lish and was registered on the payrolls by that title, of which he was
not a little proud. ,
"Hoo-wau-nee-kah, the Little Elk. was another of the distinguished
men of the tribe. He had likewise been at Washington. Henry Clay
when he visited them, after looking carefully at the countenances and
bearing of all the members of the deputation, had indicated him as
possessing the greatest talent; and he was greatly pleased when in-
formed that he was the principal orator of the nation and decidedly
superior in abilities to any other individual of the tribe.
"Then there was Kau-ray-kaw-saw-kaw, the White Crow, a Rock
River Indian who afterward distinguished himself as a friend of the
whites during the Sauk war. He was called by the French Le Borgne,
from having lost an eye; and the black silk handkerchief which he wore
drooping over the left side of his face to disguise the blemish, taken
with his native costume, gave him a very singular appearance.
"There was a nephew of the defunct Four Legs, to whom, with .jus-
tice was given by both whites and Indians, the appellation of the Dandy
When out of mourning, his dress was of the most studied and fanciful
character A shirt (when he condescended to wear any) of the brightest
colors ornamented with innumerable rows of silver brooches set thickly
together- never less than two pairs of silver arm bands; leggings and
moccasins of the most elaborate embroidery, in ribbons and porcupine
ouills- everything that he could devise in the shape of an ornamfent,
hanging to his club of hair behind; a feather fan in one hand, and in
the other a mirror in which he contemplated himself every few minutes.
These with the variety and brilliancy of the colors upon his face, the
suitable choice and application of which occupied no small portion of
the hours allotted to his toilet, made up the equipment of young Four
Legs.
26 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
"This devotion to dress and appearance seemed not altogether out
of place in a youthful dandy; but we had likewise an old one of the
same stamp. Pawnee Blanc, or the White Pawnee, surpassed his younger
competitor, if possible, in attention to Ids personal attractions. Upon
the present occasion he appeared in all his finery, and went through the
customary salutations with an air of solemn dignity, and then walked,
as did the other, into the parlor (for I had received them in the hall),
where they all seated themselves on the floor.
"Fortunately the room was not bare of furniture, but 'Alas!' thought
I, "for my pretty carpet if this is to be the way they pay their respects
to me!' I watched the falling of their ashes from their long pipes, and
the other inconveniences of the use of tobacco, or kin-ni-kin-nic, with
absolute dismay."
Yellow Thunder, Last Winnebago War Chief
Some years after Mrs. Kinzie wrote these descriptions of the best
known Winnebago leaders of the very early times. Yellow Thunder
(Mi-ja-jin-a-ka) commenced to come into notice, and for years was the
Good Indian of Columbia County. Those who knew him in his younger
years admired his poise and unfailing kindness to white and red, and
as the years went by, and his character never changed, he became an
object of general pride and love. Yellow Thunder, who died in 1S74,
was the last war chief of the Winnebagoes and, as such, aside from the
steadfastness and nobility of his character, has a high place among the
historical figures of Wisconsin.
Among those who knew this noble red man longest and best was the
late Mrs. Lydia A. Flanders, of Portage, who contributes the following:
personal recollections op yellow thunder
By Mrs. Lt/dia A. Flanders
The red races are passing away befoi-e the silent but irresistible
spread of civilization. The tenure of Indian sovereignty is as pre-
carious as the habitation of the deer, his co-tenant of the forest. Their
gradual displacement is as inevitable as the progress of events. A por-
tion of the Indian family is destined to a citizenship with ourselves:
but this can only be accomplished by the adoption of agricultural pur-
suits and the diffusion of knowledge among them. At no distant day
the war shout of the Red man will fall away into eternal silence upon
the shores of the distant Pacific. Industry will then have taken up
her abode in the seclusion of the forest. The church will rise upon the
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 27
N. Y. University, Historical and Antiquarian Collection.
It is a matter of rejoicing among humane and fair-minded people
that the sentiment "the only good Indian is a dead Indian, is no
loneer accepted, and less frequently heard.
ETry records the first lessons taught our savage brothers. These
were lessons of deceit, dishonesty, and intemperance. They were apt
sZll and after half a century of personal observation of the rela-
» Tetween the white man and the Indian, we are fam o lean, in
chTity to the side of the latter. Adding to their savage natures these
goer' elements of civilization, can we expect the product to be one
Sh nice or even moderate distinctions r Our attitude toward them now
sh uld be governed by this knowledge and their helplessness Berber
Spencer's oft quoted line "The survival of the fittest," if applied to the
Indian, is a compliment to the white man which is capable of exception^
and the sentiment is modified when treating of individuals. Noble
red man," so often ironically quoted, is certainly not a flight of roman-
tic fancy, but a knowable and veritable fact.
More than fifty years ago, when a child of nine years, I wandered
one October day, a short distance from my home, then a settlers cabin.
Glancing along the trail, I saw an Indian approaching. Terrorized and
unable To move, I stared, but did not utter a sound. He approached
nearer and held out his hand and in the most pleasant of voices said,
«How« How?" I still felt unconvinced of my safety, even it the face
before me was not at all formidable, and the expression one of extreme
good nature, and murmuring something that I suppose was meant as a
farewell he passed on. That was my introduction to Chief Yellow
Thunder, and the beginning of a friendship which lasted many years.
in fact, to the time of his death.
On a stream of water flowing through my father s farm and near
the point made memorable by Mrs. Kinzie in that most delightful book
"Wan-Bun." is an old-time camping ground of the Indians. On the
outside curve of this stream, on a slight elevation thickly covered with
ee s where, on their journeys to and from Madison, where hey went
for heir annuity, they camped sometimes for days and often for weeks,
28 BISTORT OP COL1 MBLA COUNTY
hunting, fishing, and sum,- of the tribes begging, in which last mentioned
pastime, however, our Chief did not in the slightest degree participate.
Combined with t In- dignity of his bearing was an air of self-respect,
which enveloped him as a mantle. Be was tall and well proportioned,
with a hand that was shapely and slender and a voice deep and clear,
devoid of tin- gutterals or sharpness which is characteristic of the voices
of many of these people.
Be was not in the least affected by his visit to Washington, which
was made about the year 1838. Such was not tbe case however, with
his wife, who was greatlj set up by her traveled experience. Apparently
with him it was a natural event, of which he talked freely: with her it
was greatness achieved: with him a part of the expected: with her one
more leather in her head-band, and ever after she demanded the greatest
deference from her people, as well as the title "Madam Washington."
Whenever any of the tribe partook too freely of fire-water the old
chief ordered them tied and a guard set. but when this disgrace came
to his own dwelling, in the person of his wife, he took himself off, no
one knew whence or whither, until quiet and order were again restored
to his household.
I never saw him in paint or feathers. A small braid of hair near
the crown, into which a small black ribbon was woven, was all his head
ornament. Otherwise he wore his hair as did the white man. parted on
the left side and liruslied to the right. His garments were very similar
to the white man's in fashion though not in texture, except that his
blanket was always a part of his apparel, lie was a firm believer in
noble lineage, and rupudiated any and all the so-called "Chiefs." who
found their way to hack doors, or in fact to any doors, to beg, and in
an apologetic manner told my father that his wife was a trihes-woman.
meaning not his equal, though always appearing kind and courteous to
her. Incidentally she was the hewer of wood and the drawer of water,
as well as the doer of all other menial tasks. His affair was to furnish
the game, hers 1o see that it was prepared, either for cooking ><r. if
peltries, stretched and drying.
Few there are living today who can tell of good deeds and courtesies
extended to them by this son of the wilderness, hut many there were
who could during our long acquaintance with him. Many times he
cheered and sheltered lost and belated settlers, and when wishing to
return the value of some favor it was sent by the hand of his wife, who
I grieve to say. often tried to bargain his generosity by the gain of some-
thing for herself. Once he engaged a settler to carry himself, wife, and
belongings to their home near Delton. The conveyance was a wagon
into which their <>ut lit was piled, and among these she. of Washington
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
29
fame, calmly seated herself. Not so the Chief. He sat beside the driver
erect and dignified and appeared not to see how unprmcesslike was the
position she had assumed.
Always on approaching my father's house he gave some signal, per-
haps a few light taps on the porch or doer and never did he enter with-
out permission and a word of welcome, something he was sure of from
all its inmates. , . ,.
His instincts were gentle and had fortune placed him among the
"fittest" he would readily have been recorded as one of nature s noble-
men a title, knowing him as I did, I cheerfully accord him.
As years came on apace, his visits to the old camping ground be-
came more rare and finally ceased altogether, followed in February,
1874 by the tidings of his death, sincerely mourned by many ot the
early' settlers as well as by his own people. I am glad to chronicle the
fact that a portrait of Yellow Thunder, done in oil, by the distinguished
artist S D. Coates, hangs in the gallery of the Wisconsin Historical
Society, with many others, whose names are prominently connected
with the history of Wisconsin.
Not very different from the white man's idea of Heaven is the
thought of the place, in the mind of "poor Lo" of his state of future
bliss, and truly he "sees his God in clouds and hears him in the wind,
and thinks, when taken to that blessed land bis faithful dog shall bear
him company." .
By the report submitted to the House of Representatives, Septem-
ber 17 1850, it appears that about 900 of the Winnebagoes were forced
from the Fort Winnebago region soon after the signing of the 1H6<
treaty while about 300 remained in the swamps, inaccessible to the two
regiments of United States troops looking for them. In 1846 a new
treaty was effected by which the Winnebagoes were to be moved about
500 miles north of their allotted lands in Iowa. Some 1,300 did so m
the summer of 1848 400 lingering in Wisconsin and Iowa. In Febru-
ary 1850 quite a band of them located between the Bad Axe and Black
rivers and became threatening and insolent ; but they yielded to better
councils. Other removals followed.
Last Forced March op the Winnebagoes
When in 1837. the Winnebagoes disposed of all their lands east of
the Mississippi to the United States, they stipulated that within eight
months they would move west of the great river. As many ot them
delayed their departure under various pretenses, several forcible re-
movals were effected by the Government working through the United
30 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
States of America. The lasl of these enforced departures occurred two
da} - i" Eore the Christmas of 1873. Early in the ruing of that day
Captain S. A. Hunt and ex-Sheriff Pool crossed the old Wisconsin
River bridge at Portage, beading a detachment of Qnited States troops.
The little expedition was bound for the Baraboo River, where, near
the Crawford bridge, .1 considerable number of Winnebagoes bad trath-
ered for ;i Eeasl and an annual meeting.
Almost every lodge for forty miles around bad its delegate. The
Winnebagoes (Bagoes, as they were called) had pooled their wigwams,
their feathers, their paint, their wampum, and were having a hilarious
time when their pow-wow was interrupted bj the appearance of the
uninvited hoys in blue. Of course the greatesl consternation prevailed,
for the Indians knew at once that they must follow the hulk of their
tribe to the reservation in Nebraska. A parley followed, and as the
Bagoes refused to be persuaded by mildness, they were surrounded by
Captain Hunt's men and made prisoners to the number of nearly a
hundred.
With as little delay as possible the captives were arranged in march-
ing order and just before noon, with their families and all their festive
paraphernalia, sullenly wound over the hill near the Catholic Church,
escorted by the United States troops. They were marched to the depot,
safely lodged in the ears, and a full supply of rations dealt out to them.
After they had been housed, Captain Hunt set about to inform him-
self whether any of his captives had become real estate owners, or had
done anything else to show that they had abandoned their tribal rela-
tions ami were entitled to remain as citizens. Inquiry was made for
Yellow Thunder, Good Village, War Club, Snake Swallow. McWima
and Pretty .Man. hut it was found that only two of them were among
the captives and they were allowed to depart. John Little John and
High Snake were taken with the more common Winnebagoes. Although
not legally entitled to remain, as their characters were quite warmly
upheld by a number of respectable citizens, they were informed that
they could return to Columbia county later, if they so desired. The
ponies and all the other "traps" belonging to the Indians were then
collected and loaded into the baggage cars, and at 6 o'clock the train
was under way for Sparta, .Monroe County, which was to he the point
of rendezvous for all the Winnebagoes gathered in by Captain Hunt,
who was the official government agent for the removal of members of
the tribe who still remained in Southern Wisconsin.
Sunday and .Monday were busy days and nights for ex-Sheriff Pool,
Ins specialty being the collection of the squaws and families of the
Winnebago braves who had not accompanied their lords to the Bamboo
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 31
celebration. A writer of that time ami event puts the matter thus:
"As an Indian dance is very like a white man's frolic in some of its
characteristics, it was mil a matter of surprise to learn that a number of
braves were alone at this dance, while the squaws were doing the menial
work of housekeeping at home and attending to the papooses. Now
Big Jim was just one of that kind, and several others might be named,
hut out of respect for their families we will not put their names in
print. The circumstances, however, made it accessary for Captain Hunt
to dispatch Mr. Pool and other messengers for their families, which
were at Briggsville (Marquette County, just above the Columbia line)
and other places. By Monday evening Mr. Pool had two or three dozen
of them congregated here, and on Tuesday evening they were forwarded
to Sparta." It would thus appear thai the Christinas festivities of the
Winnebagoes were rather rudely disturbed in 1873. As we have seen,
their beloved and venerable chief, Yellow Thunder, remained in Colum-
bia County ami died in the year following the last forcible removal of
his people.
As remarked by the late A. J. Turner, who has made such valuable
contributions to the history of Columbia County, "this region con-
tinues to he the abode of straggling bands of them, from whose camps
the descendants of De Korra, Yellow Thunder and Mi-ja-jin-a-ka
(Dixon) annually depart for the blueberry plains and cranberry marshes
to replenish their finances, to trap rats on the Neenah in season ami
indulge in fire water out of season, but give no evidence of 'passing
away.' Lo is with us to stay."
The Payment op 1914
About the only chance now to see the remnant of the once powerful
Winnebago tribe resident in Columbia County is to be in Portage at
the time of an annuity payment. Fort Winnebago is no more and the
old Indian agency house is a farm building, but the hundred or so red
men, women and papooses hang around the hanks of the city for twenty-
four or forty-eight hours after receiving their annuities. Probably the
last chance at the public crib there occurred at their payment of March,
1914.
Pending the permanent settlement with the Indians of the United
States an arbitrary allotment of $16,000 was granted to the Winne-
bagoes of the district including Columbia County. As there are 1,285
Indians altogether included in the allotment, $12.45 was paid to each
individual.
They came early in the morning, from all points of the compass,
32 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
and the main street of Portage was soon a little panorama of present-
day Indians. Groups of gray-haired Winnebagoes dressed like fanners;
middle-aged women with red and blue shawls wrapped around them,
sometimes bundling up a big faced stolid papoose: and stocky, bow-
legged, black haired young men and bright girls with glistening braids
down their backs, dressed neatly and becomingly, hung around chilly
corners, apparently doing next to nothing with solid satisfaction. Occa-
sionally a couple of young shorts would pass along the street, with up-
to-date shoes, clothes, stick pins and all, and glance superciliously at
the loungers, as they picked up their heels with the sprightliness of their
young white brothers bound on countless pressing errands of pleasure
and profit. Tfloward evening and far into the next day. the Bagoes were
still gloating over the attractions of Portage, as if very loth to turn
their steps toward their country homes; but they finally commenced to
break ranks. The squaws came out of bakeries loaded with bread and
cakes and looked up and down the street — evidently for tin- heads of
families. By twos and threes the women and men straggled away to-
ward the outskirts; sometimes a family intact, but more often paired off
and segregated according to sex — men with men and women with
women. It may be that this will be the last gathering of the Columbia
County Winnebagoes. If it is, we wish them good luck, for, on the
whole, they have been a credit to their race, and their leaders have
furnished our white citizens with not a few examples of gentleness,
courtesy and sustained strength of character which might well be emu-
lated by all. irrespective of color or human family.
CHAPTER III
FIRST WHITE VISITORS
NlCOLET AND COLUMBIA C'OUNTY-WhERE WAS THE MaSCOUTEN VIL-
LAGE?— JOLIET and Marquette Pass the Portage— Memorial at
the Place op Crossing— Hennepin at the Portage— LaSalle and
Jonathan Carver-Visits op United States Soldiers-Traders
and Carriers.
Was Jean Nicolet, the great French explorer, the first white visitor
to Columbia Countv, in 1643 ? Page upon page has been written on this
question, most of the controversy raging around a sentence in the
"Jesuit Relations" of 1640, which reads: "The Sieur Nicolet, who has
penetrated the furthest into these so remote countries, assured me that
if he had sailed three days further upon a large river which issues from
this lake he would have reached the sea." The main point of the dis-
pute hovers over the word "sea ; " as to whether it means the large body
of water we now know as the Wisconsin, or the Father of Waters, the
Mississippi.
Nicolet and Columbia County
The weight of doubt is against the probability that Nicolet reached
the Mississippi, but those who believe that he reached the portage be-
tween the Fox and Wisconsin rivers in Columbia County, reason along
the lines of that good authority and earnest man, the late A. J. Turner.
In his "Family Tree of Columbia County" he says: "It is morally
certain that he (Nicolet) did not depart from the Mascouten village,
wherever located, to make an overland trip to some point on the
Mississippi, when a much easier trip by water was at hand, which would
have taken him through Columbia County. But even if he did make
au overland journey, the trail from the Mascouten village would have
taken him through Columbia County, for a well-defined Indian
trail on the west bank of the Fox River to the Four Lakes region has
33
34 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNT'S
been known to exist for more than a century, and it has not been wholly
obliterated to this day (written in 1904), 1 am assured by those who
knew it well half a century ago."
Where Was the Mascouten Vnj lgi '
Volumes have been written over the location of the Mascouten vil-
lage visited by Father Dablon in 1670, and the one a1 which Father
Allouez established a mission in .May. 1672. It is reasonably certain
that the mission was founded in the large village mentioned in the
"Relations" of 1670-1, and placed on a map published in thai volume
as three leagues from the portage. In June of the following year 1673
Joliel and Marquette visited the Allouez mission en route to the Wis-
consin and the .Mississippi. Various historians have placed the village
all the way i'ron rthern Winnebago County to northern Columbia
County, one of the latest investigators being linn in his conviction
that it was near Governor's Bend, town of Fort "Winnebago, on the
west bank of the Fox River, on Section 16 — three French leagues from
the portage, as Marquette had written.
At least, a discovery of September. 1903, seems to point to the fact
that this locality had been visited by traders or Jesuits. At the time
mentioned. James ECirwin, of Portage, while digging along the banks
of the river, uncovered a sun dial similar to the one found near Green
Bay in the previous year and which Secretary Reuben (i. Thwaites, of
the "Wisconsin State Historical Society, says "may have belonged to
some fur trailer or missionary."
"So it seems to me." says Turner, "the most reasonable theory thai
the Mascoutens village first visited by Dablon in 1670 was but one of
the smaller outlying ones, and that the main village where Allouez
established a mission two years later, which was visited by Marquette
in 1673, was where he located it. three leagues from the portage.
"If we may conclude then that such was the fact, we find there
every condition referred to by Marquette. He says: 'As we ap-
proached the Mashkoutons, the Fire Nation. I had the curiosity to drink
the mineral waters of the river which is not far from the town.' Turn-
ing aside from his ascent of the Fox he would, by running up the Nee-
nah creek a little more than half a mile come to a famous spring on
section 8 near Corning Station. Continuing his narrative Marquette
wrote: 'I also took time to examine an herb, the virtue of which an
Indian who possessed the secret had, with many ceremonies, made
known to Father Alloues. Its root is useful against the bite of serpents.
the Almighty having been pleased to give this remedy against a poison
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
1303716
Marquette Voyaging Toward the Mississippi
36 HISTORY OP COLOMBIA COUNTY
very common in this country. * * * I put sonic- into my canoe to
examine it at leisure while we went on our way toward Maskoutons
where we arrived on the 7th of June. Here we are then at Maskoutons.'
"The most famous spring in the Fi>x River valley, of which I have
any knowledge— for I assume that the 'mineral waters of the river' of
which Marquette speaks, are those of a spring or a rivulet discharged
from a spring — is that above alluded to, near Corning Station. As it
flows across the morass a few rods to discharge into the Xeenah the
medical herb, Gilliana Trifoliata, or Indian Snake Root, Marquette re-
fers to as an antedote for the snake bite, will be found in abundance.
' ' It would seem that every traveler, who crossed the portage in early
times, did so with an awe of the serpent, for I have never read one of
their accounts in which the numerous serpens a sonnettes they saw
were not abundantly referred to, although I believe none of them ever
recorded any unhappy experiences with them beyond their disagreeable
presence. At all events Marquette provided himself with the herb, as
most fishermen do with something when they go into dangerous places
inhabited by the tenants of the pool. So, fortified with herbs, Marquette
returned to his canoe and proceeded on his way to the village 'not far
away.' Reaching it he exclaims 'Here we are then, at Maskoutons.'
There is no mention made of having to walk 'a short league' to reach
it, as Dablon had, so one would conclude that it was situated on the
immediate banks of the river.
"The fact is not to be overlooked that the village may have been on
the Neenah instead of the Fox, for many of the earliest maps show the
Neenah as a portion of the Fox. and the latter river from the junction
of the two streams was considered as an affluent of the Fox, instead of
a portion of it."
Joliet and Marquette Pass the Portage
The arrival of Joliet, Marquette and his party at the village of the
Mascoutens was on the 7th of June, 1673, and their departure on the
10th. Joliet represented the intendant of Canada and the king; Mar-
quette, the Jesuits and the church. To the follower of St. Ignatius fell
the task of recording secretary for the expedition. "We knew." wrote
Father Marquette, "that there was, three leagues from Maskoutens, a
river entering into the Mississippi ; we knew, too, that the point of the
compass we were to hold to reach it was west-southwest, but the way is
so cut up by marshes and little lakes that it is easy to go astray, espe-
cially as the river leading to it is so covered with wild oats that you
can hardly discover the channel. Hence we had good need of our two
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 37
Miami guides, who led us safely to a portage of 2,700 paces
and helped us to transport our canoes to enter this river, after
which they returned, leaving us alone in an unknown country in the
hands of Providence.
"We now leave the waters which flow to Quebec, a distance of from
four or five hundred leagues, to follow those which will henceforth
lead us into strange lands. Before embarking we all began together a
new devotion to the Blessed Virgin Immaculate, which we practiced
every day, addressing her particular prayers, to put under her protec-
tion both our persons and the success of our voyage. Then, after having
encouraged one another we got into our canoes. The river on which
we embarked is called Meskousing; it is very broad, with a sandy bot-
tom forming many shallows which render navigation very difficult. It
is full of vine-clad islets. On the banks appear fertile lands, diversified
with wood, prairie and hill. Here you find oaks, walnut, whitewood,
and another kind of tree with branches armed with thorns. We saw no
small game or fish, but deer and moose in considerable numbers."
Several days after leaving the village of the Mascoutens, Joliet and
Marquette, with their Indian guides, crossed the portage between the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and about June 14. 1673, launched their
canoes on the broad bosom of the Wisconsin, and started on their his-
toric voyage which resulted in New France and the vast expansion of
interior America.
Memorial at the Place of Crossing
Waubun Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, which has
achieved so much historically, commemorated the event May 9, 1902,
by planting trees at either end of the portage, or Wauona. But neither
the Marquette Tree nor the Joliet Tree seemed to thrive, and three
years later the chapter presented the city of Portage with a fitting me-
morial of red granite, rockfaced except on one side where this inscrip-
tion appears: "This tablet marks the place near which Jacques Mar-
quette and Louis Joliet entered the Wisconsin river, June 14, 1673.
Erected by Waubun Chapter, D. A. R., 1905f ' The monument stands at
the intersection of Bronson and Wisconsin streets, in the southern part
of the city of Portage.
The memorial to Marquette and Joliet was unveiled on the 19th of
October, the anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis, always ob-
served by the Daughters of the American Revolution with significant
exercises of some kind. Rain interfered with out-of-door exercises,
but the court room was filled with local and state celebrities, and from
38 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
the addresses of a number of eloquenl speakers we seled the following
striking words uttered by Dr. Frederick J. Turner, then of the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin; "not only did religion enter the .Mississippi valley
with the advent of Marquette bul in the presence of Joliel at Portage
the power of France, the greatest nation of the time under Louis
XIV, the great monarch, passed into the Mississippi valley. Already in
1671 at Sault Ste. Marie, France had laid claim to rights over the river
system of which the Indians had made report, but which as yel had
not been explored. But now in the person of these daring wanderers
France just died her claims to one of the greatest and richest regions
of the glohi — a domain for which in later years England, Spain and
the United States contended by diplomacy and by arms, until another
Frenchman, the antithesis of Marquette, the great Napoleon, gave the
Louisiana territory to the United States
"Joliet was the leader of the expedition, the bearer of the 'sword of
the flesh,' but Marquette, gentle, courageous, enduring, the bearer of
the 'sword of the spirit,' was its hero. With the energy of the man of
action he had the ideals of the poet, the devotion of the saint. He per-
Bonified the highest type of the discoverer, the man who carries into
the darkness of the wilderness, into the utter night of savagery, the light
of spiritual civilization. Loyalty to duty, courage, aspiration for the
highest things, were Marquette's. Over two hundred years have passed
since the frail priest trod this portage path. Six generations of men
have passed here since then. But in all these years no man at Portage
has struck a higher note of devotion and loftier ideals than the first
man who trod the ground where now we stand.
"Wisconsin has fittingly honored his memory by placing his statue
in the national capital. He was one of the choice spirits driven by a
divine discontent with the narrow confines of things about him. to
widen the horizon, to push hack the unknown, to add new realms for
the human spirit. And while he followed the gleam into empires
hitherto unknown, he left undone no humble service to the lowliest of
the savages to whom he ministered. Burning as was his ambition to
find new lands, his consecration to the daily duty was no less ardent.
" Winn we mark this spot we honor a man as well as an event. We
testify our veneration for those whose lives spell service to their fellow
men."
Hennepin at the Portage
Not many years elapsed after the visit of Joliet. Marquette and
their companions to the portage, before the narrow neck of land be-
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 39
tween the Pox and Wisconsin rivers was again crossed by civilized man.
In 16S0 Louis Hennepin, a Recollet friar, and his party, as a detail
from La Salle's expedition to the Illinois, reached the portage. He
was on his way from the upper Mississippi to the Great Lakes, passing
up the Wisconsin and down the Fox River, on his way to Green Bay,
and speaks of it thus: "After we had rowed about seventy leagues
upon the river Ouisconsin. we came to the place where we were forced
to carry our canoe for half a league. We lay at this place all night and
left marks of our having been there by the crosses which we cut in the
bark of the trees. Next day, having carried our canoe and the rest of
our little equipage over this piece of land, we entered upon a river which
makes almost as many meanders as that of the Illinois at its rise."
La Salle and Jonathan Carver
La Salle and his party made the portage in 1683, on his way to
the Mississippi, and in 1766, Jonathan Carver, a noted English traveler,
passed it from the East on his way to St. Anthony Falls, on the far
upper Mississippi. After describing the Fox River, Winnebago Lake,
and all the Indian tribes along his course, he says: '"The carrying
place between the Fox and Ouisconsin rivers is in breadth not more
than a mile and three-quarters, though in some maps it is so delineated
as to appear to be ten miles. Near one-half of the way between the
rivers is a morass overgrown with a kind of long grass; the rest of it,
a plain with some few oak and pine trees growing thereon. I observed
here a great number of rattle snakes. I observed that the main body
of the Fox River came from the southwest, that of the Ouisconsin from
the northeast; and also that some of the small branches of the two
rivers, in descending into them, doubled within a few feet of each
other, a little to the south of the carrying place. That two such rivers
should take their rise so near each other and, after running such differ-
ent courses, empty themselves into the sea at a distance so amazing is
an instance scarcely to be met in the extensive continent of North
America."
Visits of United States Soldiers
Major S. H. Long paid the portage a visit both in 1817 and 1823,
being the head of a Government expedition of exploration and discovery.
In 1819 the Fifth Regiment of United States Infantry made the portage
on its way from Fort Howard to Fort Crawford, and its commander,
Capt. Henry Whiting, says in one of his reports: "The portage
40 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTT
between the Pox and Wisconsin rivers is about 2.">0(i yards: the road
runs over a marshy prairie. There is a Frenchman (Francis Lie Hoy
residing on the rising ground between the rivers. Be keeps the proper
transportation for boats and baggage. The limestone bluffs and high-
lands begin on the Wisconsin about eight miles below the portage."
In 1826 a flotilla of thirty-five boats carrying the Third United
States Infantry from Green Bay to St. Louis, passed the portage, and
in the following year General Cass came thai way during his voyage
of investigation to ascertain the feeling among the Winnebagoes toward
the United States Government.
Tb mm i;- \\i> C \kriers
Enterprising and well-known fur traders from Green Bay were
also familiar with the portage and with the Fox and Wisconsin rivers
in Columbia County. But long before, even prior to the opening of
the nineteenth century, a number of French Canadians and half-breeds,
with a few of fairly pure Italian blood, located at or near the portage
to assist in the land transportation between the two rivers, to supply
provisions to travelers or to trade with anybody who came along. Some
of them lived in the vicinity for years; others were mere adventurers
and rovers.
The first to appear on the ground were Laurant Barth and family,
French Canadians who had passed the winter of 1792-3 on the St.
Croix River of Northern Wisconsin. On his return to Canada, in the
spring of 1793, Barth stopped at the portage and obtained permission
from the Indians to transport goods at the carrying place. On
his arrival he built a cabin there, the first to be erected by a white man
in Columbia County. Its location was on the low land between the
Fox and Wisconsin, probably within the present limits of Portage
southeast of the canal. In the following year to avoid the high-water
floods he removed to higher ground and continued the transportation
business in a small way for a number of years.
Soon after the arrival of Barth, came the famous old Indian chief,
De Korra, who founded a village for his Winnebago followers about
eight miles above the portage on the east side of the Fox River, in what
is now Section 10. town of Fort Winnebago. Its side afterwards be-
came known as Waggoner's Bluff.
In 1798 came John Lecuyer, a brother-in-law of De Korra. who
improved upon Barth 's declining enterprise. The pioneer transporter
of boats and goods had used but a single horse and cart; but, after ob-
taining authority from the Winnebagoes, Lecuyer boughl several teams
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 41
and wagons. About 1803 the latter bought, as he supposed, all of Barth's
rights in the business, but afterward found that they covered only the
west end of the portage. After some trouble with Barth s sons who
Hid he east end" to the route, Lecuyer died in 1810, and Ins widow
continued the business until the War of 1812. Her son-in-law Franc,
Le Roy of Green Bay, then assumed the enterprise, and about the same
time the elder Barth died, he having removed to Prairie du Chien^
As we have seen, Le Roy was still at the portage in 1819, and there
he continued in business for several years longer When the Fifth
U S Infantry called upon his transportation outfit m that year, tie
was charging" $10 for taking a boat from one river to another, and
fifty cents per one hundred pounds of goods.
'During the years of which we have been writing the portage was
a point of consequence as a trading post. Barth kept no goods for sale
to the Indians after he had disposed of the remnant of stock which he
brought from the St. Croix, but Lecuyer always kept a considerable
Var Bu y t' although it had been evident for many years that sometime
there was to be a growing and stable settlement at the portage, it was
not until the building of Fort Winnebago and the assurance of safe
residence in the locality that real settlers-men of stable character and
of constructive value to the community-commenced to look upon
Columbia County as a fit abiding place for white people and their
families.
CHAPTER IV
INDIAN WARS AND THE FORT
The Winnebago Uprising— The Pursuit of Red Bibd— Voluntary
Surrender of the Chief— The Magnificent Red Bird— Beg* Not
to be Put in Irons— Red Bird Gives Away His Life— De Korr\
as Red Bird's Hostage— Fort Winnebago and "A Party Named
Astor"-The Coming of Major Twiggs-Ground Broken for
the Fort— Completed— Amusements at the Post— Noted Men
and Women at the Fort— Lieutenant and Mrs. Van Cleve—
Henry Merrell— Evacuated— Final Dissolution.
The Winnebago and Black Hawk wars were of much importance to
Columbia County, albeit neither murders nor military engagements
occurred within its boundaries. Each covered but a few months of
time, but the Winnebago uprising under Red Bird called forcible atten-
tion to the exposed condition of settlers and travelers in Souther,, Wis-
consin along the Fox and Wisconsin valleys and hastened the con-
struction of the fort at the portage, while the hostilities of the Sacs
under Black Hawk raged all around Winnebago and so threatened
the .security of Southern Wisconsin that the national government felt
obliged to crush all Indian pretensions forever. The final result of
Black Hawk's defeat was apparent within a few years by the session of
all the lands east of the Mississippi held by the really dangerous tribes
Within a few months after Black Hawk was crushed at the battle of
the Bad Axe, in August, 1832, the General Government commenced its
surveys of Wisconsin lands in earnest.
The lands lying east and south of the Wisconsin River were sur-
veyed in 1832, 1833 and 1834, and were placed in two land districts-
the offices were at Green Bay and Mineral Point, Columbia County fall-
ing within the Green Bay District. Public sales of the surveyed lands
were held in 1835, the first land entries for this section of the state being
made in the following year.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 43
The Winnebago Uprising
As stated the result of the Winnebago and Black Hawk wars to
Columbia County was to make it habitable to pioneers of -ettU^and
industrious habits. Yet there are certain phases of both uprisings
which are of intense interest. In the case of the Winnebago uprising
If June-August, 1827, the most dramatic episode, the surrender of Red
Bi rd to Maj. William Whistler, who commanded the Government
froops at the'portage, belongs to the history of Columbia County The
conflicts between the Chippewas and Winnebagoes m the early part of
the vear and the murder of the Gagmers, father and child n June,
W Red Bird, We-Kaw and another Indian, occurred in the Mississippi
Vailed the litter near Prairie du Chien. The attack, a little later led
by Red Bird and his drunken band upon the boats returning from Fort
Snelling, whither they had taken goods and provisions for the gar-
rison, occurred at the mouth of the Bad Axe River m Vernon County,
not far from Black Hawk's defeat five years afterward.
Great was the alarm at Prairie du Chien when the bullet-riddled
boats arrived, two dead and several badly wounded being stowed away
out of sight and protected from the desecration of the savage. An
express was immediately sent to Galena and another to Foit Snelling,
whie messengers were dispatched to General Atkinson at Jefferson
Barracks (St. Louis) and to Major Whistler, at Fort Howard. The
people near Prairie du Chien left their houses and farms and crowded
panic-stricken into the dilapidated fort.
The Pursuit op Red Bird
After committing the murders and the attack upon the transports,
Red Bird and the other Indians implicated fled up the Wisconsin
River and a mounted force composed of volunteers from Galena and
E£ which had been dispatched from Fort Snelling scoured ho h
sides of that stream to the portage. But they caught no sight ot Red
Bird or his party. . ,. ...
Several weeks later General Atkinson got into communication with
Major Whistler, who was ordered to proceed up the Fox to the portage
with all the troops at his disposal. He arrived on the 1st c , Sept
1827 and General Atkinson arrived soon after. Major Whistler had
not been long at the portage before an Indian came to his tent and
informed him that at about three o'clock of the next day they will
come in." In reply to the question, "Who will come in? he said
-Red Bird and We-Kaw." After making this answer, he retired by
44 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
""' wa y h " came. At 3 o'clock the same day another India., came,
took position in nearly the same place and. in reply to questions, gave
the same solemn promise. At sundown a third came, confirming what
the two had said, adding thai he had. to secure that object, given to the
families of the murderers nearly all his property,
A company of Oneida and Stockbridge Indians accompanied Major
Whistler's troops, and were encamped on the bluff opposite the portage
where Fort Winnebago was subsequently built to await the arrival of
General Atkinson. In the meantime the Winnebagoes to the number
of several hundred, were encamped on the ridge where Cook streel
now runs, west of the Catholic Church. The Winnebagoes had heard
of the General's approach before it was known to Major Whistler.
Voluntary Si-rrender op the Chief
On the day following the visit of the three mysterious Indians to
Major Whistler, a great stir was noticed in the Winnebago camp, and
by the aid of a field glass the troops discovered a party of about thirty
warriors on an eminence in the distance. The remainder of the story is
told by Col. Thomas L. McKenney, who was present with Major Whist-
ler's command at the surrender of Red Bird: "At about noon of
the day following, there was seen descending a mound on the portage
(Ketchum's Point) a body of Indians— some were mounted and some
were on foot. By the aid of a glass we could discern the direction to be
toward our position, and that three flags were borne by them— two, one
in front and one in the rear, were American, and one in the center was
white. They bore no arms. * * * I n the course of half an hour
they had approached within a short distance of the crossing of the
Fox River, when on a sudden we heard a singing. Those who were
familiar with the air said: 'It is a death song!' When still nearer,
some present who knew him said: 'It is Red Bird singing his death
song! - The moment a halt was made on the margin of the river, pre-
paratory to crossing, two scalp yells were heard. The Menominees
and other Indians who had accompanied us, were lying carelessly
about upon the ground regardless of what was going on, hut when the
scalp yells were uttered they sprang as one man to their feet, seized
their rifles and were ready for battle. They were at no loss to know
that the yells were 'scalp yells' but they had not heard with sufficient
accuracy to decide whether they indicated scalps to be taken or given,
but doubtless inferred the first.
"Barges were sent across to receive, and an escort of military to
accompany them within our lines. The white flag which had been seen
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 45
in the distance was borne by Red Bird. * * * And now the advance
of Indians had reached half up the ascent of the bluff, on which was
our encampment, and order being called, Car-a-mau-nee spoke, saying :
< They are here— like braves they have come in— treat them as braves-
do not put them in irons.' * * * The military had been previously
drawn out in line. The Menominee and Oneida Indians were in groups
upon their haunches on our left flank. On the right was the band of
music, a little in advance of the line. In front of the center, at about
ten paces distant, were the murderers. On their right and left were
those who had accompanied them, forming a semi-circle ; the magnifi-
cent Red Bird, and the miserable We-Kau, a little in advance of the
center.
The Magnificent Red Bird
"All eves were fixed upon Red Bird; and well they might be, for
of all the Indians I ever saw he was, without exception, the most perfect
in form, in face and gesture. In height he was about six feet, straight,
but without restraint. His proportions were those of the most exact
symmetry, and these embraced the entire man, from his head to his
feet. His very fingers were models of beauty. I never beheld a face
that was so full of all the ennobling and at the same time the most
winning expression. It were impossible to combine with such a face
the thought that he who wore it could be a murderer. It appeared to
be a compound of grace and dignity, of firmness and decision, all temp-
pered with mildness and mercy. During my attempted analysis of this
face I could not but ask myself, 'Can this man be a murderer? Is he
the same who shot, scalped and cut the throat of Gagnier?' His head,
too— sure, no head was ever so well formed. There was no ornament-
ing of the hair, after the Indian fashion ; no clubbing it up in blocks
and rollers of lead on bands of silver ; no loose or straggling parts, but
it was cut after the best fashion of the most civilized. His face was
painted, one side red, the other intermixed with green and white.
Around his neck he wore a collar of blue wampum, beautifully mixed
with white, which was sewn on to a piece of cloth, the width of the
wampum being about two inches, whilst the claws of the panther or
wildcat, distant from each other about a quarter of an inch, with their
points inward, formed the rim of the collar. Around his neck were
hanging strands of wampum of various lengths, the circles enlarging
as they descended. He was clothed in a Yankton dress— new and
beautiful. The material was of dressed elk or deer skin, almost a pure
white. It consisted of a jacket, the sleeves being cut to fit his finely
46 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
formed arm. ami so as to leave outside of the scam that ran from the
shoulder, back of the arm and along over the elbow, about six inches
of the material, one-half of which was cut into fringe; the same kind
of fringe ornamenting the collar of the jacket, its sides, bosom and
termination, which was not circular, but cut into points, and which also
ran down the seams of the leggins, these being made of the same
material. Blue beads were employed to vary and enrich the fringe of
the Leggins. < >n his feet he wore moccasins.
"A piece of scarlet cloth about a quarter of a yard deep, and double
that width, a slil being cut in its middle, so as to admit the passing
through of his head, rested, one-half on his In-east and beneath the
necklace of wampum and claws, and the other on his back. On one
shoulder and near his breast, was a beautifully ornamented feather,
nearly white; and about opposite, on the other shoulder, was another
feather, nearly black, near which were two pieces of thin shaven wood
in the form of a compass, a little open, each about six inches long,
richly wrapped around with porcupine's quills, dyed yellow, red ami
blue. On the tip of one shoulder was a tuft of horse hair, dyed red. and
a little curled, mixed up with ornaments. Across the breast, in a
diagonal position, and bound tight to it. was his war pipe, at least
three feet long, brightly ornamented witli dyed horse hair, the feathers
and bills of birds. In one of his hands he held the white flag, and in
the other the calumet, or pipe of peace.
"There he stood — not a muscle moved, nor was the expression of his
lace changed a particle. He appeared to be conscious that, according
to Indian law. and measuring the deed he had committed by the injus-
tice and wrongs and cruelties of the white man, he had done no wrong.
The light which had shown in upon his bosom from the law. which
demanded an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, so harmonized
with his conscience as to secure its repose.
"As to death, he had been taught to despise it. confiding in that
Heaven, that Spirit-land, where the game is always plenty, the forests
always green, the waters always transparent, tranquil and pure, and
where no evil thing is permitted to enter. He was therefore prepared
to receive the blow that should consign his body to the ground and
send his spirit to that blissful region to mingle with his fathers who had
gone before him. He and We-Kau were told to sit down. His motions.
as he seated himself, were no less graceful and captivating than when
he stood or walked. At this moment the band struck tip Pleyel's hymn.
Everything was still. It was. indeed, a moment of intense interest to
all. The Red Bird turned his eyes toward the band ; the notes operated
upon his feelings in such a way as to produce in his countenance a
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 47
corresponding pensiveness. The music having ceased, he took up his
pouch (which I forgot to say was a handsomely ornamented otter skin,
that hung on his left side,) and taking from it some kinnickinnic and
tobacco, cut the latter in the palm of his hand, after the Indian fashion,
then rubbing the two together filled the bowl of his calumet, struck fire
into a bit of punk with his flint and steel, and lighted it and smoked.
All the motions employed in this ceremony were no less harmonious
and appropriate than had characterized his other movements. He sat
after the Turkish fashion with his legs crossed.
••If you think there was anything of affectation in all this, you are
mistaken. There was just the manner, and appearance, and look, you
would expect to see in a nobly built man of the highest order of intelli-
gence, and who had been taught all the graces of motion, and then
escorted by his armies to a throne, where the diadem was to be placed
upon his head. * * * All sat except the speakers. The substance
of what they said was:
Begs Not to be Put in Irons
"We were required to bring in the murderers. They had no power
over any, except two— the third had gone away, and these had volun-
tarily agreed to come in and give themselves up. As their friends,
they' had come with them. They hoped their white brothers would
agree to accept the horses of which there were perhaps twenty, the
meaning of which was, to take them in commutation for the lives of
their two friends. They asked kind treatment for their friends, and
earnestly besought that they might not be put in irons, and concluded
by asking for a little tobacco and something to eat. They were
answered, and told, in substance that they had done well thus to come
in. By having done so, they had turned away our guns, and saved
their people. They were admonished against placing themselves in a
like situation in the future; and advised, when they were aggrieved,
not to resort to violence, but to go to their agent, who would inform
their Great Father of their complaints, and he would redress their
grievance that their friends should be treated kindly, and tried
by the same laws bv which their Great Father's white children were
tried- that for the present. Red Bird and We-Kau should not be put
in irons; that they should all have something to eat and tobacco to
smoke. We advised them to warn their people against killing ours;
and endeavored also to impress them with a proper notion of their own
weakness, and the extent of our power, etc.
•18 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Bed Bird Gives Away His Life
"Having beard this, the Red Bird stood up, the commanding officer,
Maj. Whistler, a few paces in fronl of the center of the line, facing
him. After a moment's pause, and a quick # survey of the troops, and
with a composed observation of his people, he said, looking at Maj.
Whistler :
" 'I am ready.' Then advancing a step or two. be paused. s;iyiiiL r :
'I do not wish to be put in h-ons. Let me be free. I have given away
my life — it is gone;' stooping anil taking some dust between his finger
ami thumb, and blowing il away, "like that,' eyeing the dust as it fell
and vanished from his sight: then adding: 'I would not take it back.
It is gone.'
"Having thus spoken, he threw his hands behind him. to indicate
that he was leaving all things behind him. and marched briskly up to
Maj. Whistler, breast to breast. A platoon was wheeled backwards
from the center of the line, when Maj. Whistler stepping aside, the
Red Bird and We Kau marched through the line, in charge of a file
of men, to a tent that had been provided for them in the rear."
Colonel Childs, in his "Recollections of Wisconsin," thus describes
Red Bird as he saw him mi the same decision-. "He was dressed in fine
style, having on a suit made of neatly-dried buffalo skins perfectly
white, and as soft as a kid glove; and on each shoulder, to supply the
place of an epaulette, was fastened a preserved red bird. Hence the
name of this noted chief, Red Bird."
The next spring after Red Bird's surrender, the noble looking chief,
lis miserable! looking accomplice, We-Kau, and another Winnebago
prisoner were tried at Prairie du Chien by Judge J. D. Doty, who went
from Green Bay by way of the portage. They were convicted and sen-
tenced to be hung, December 26, 1828, but Red Bird died soon after-
ward in prison, and a deputation of the tribe went to Washington to
solicit pardon for the others. It is believed by many that the proud
chief committed suicide. His companions of more common clay sur-
vived and were pardoned by President Adams on the implied condition
that the tribe would cede the lead lands of Southwestern Wisconsin
then in possession of the miners. To this the Winnebagoes agreed.
Mine. Gagnier was compensated for the loss of her husband and
the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty held at Prairie du Chien
in 1829, provision was made for two sections of land to her and her two
children, and the Government also agreed to pay her the sum of $50
per annum for fifteen years, to be deducted from the annuity of the
Winnebago Indians.
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 49
De Korea as Red Bird's Hostage
In connecting the Winnebago uprising and Red Bird with the his-
tory of Columbia County, the following- story told of our old friend,
De Korra. must not be omitted: It is said that soon after the attack
upon the boats the militia of Prairie du Chien seized him as a hostage
for the surrender of Red Bird. De Korra was informed that unless
the latter should be placed in the hands of the Government within a
specified time he would have to die in his place. A young Winnebago
was sent to inform the tribe of the state of affairs, and several days
elapsed without bringing any tidings of the whereabouts of the mur-
derers. The day for the supposed vicarious execution was near at
hand, when De Korra asked permission of Colonel Snelling to bathe in
the river, as was his custom to improve his uncertain health. The
commanding officer told him he might have that liberty and any other
reasonable privilege, if he would promise on the honor of a chief that
he would not leave town. De Korra thereupon gave his hand to the
colonel, thanking him for his friendly act, and then solemnly raising
his arms aloft promised to remain, adding that if he had a hundred
lives he would sooner lose them all than break his word. He was then
set at liberty. Many advised him to escape, but he steadfastly refused,
complacently remaining at Prairie du Chien until the day before that
named for his execution. Still nothing was heard promising the appre-
hension of the murderers. On what he had every reason to believe was
the day of his doom, General Atkinson arrived with his troops from
Jefferson Barracks, the order for the execution was countermanded
and De Korra was permitted to return to his home above the portage.
Fort Winnebago and ''A Party Named Astor"
It is probable that John Jacob Astor had considerable to do with
the building of Fort Winnebago. As before stated, a number of French
Canadians had been engaged in trading and transportation at the
portage for twenty years prior to the War of 1812. After hostilities
with Great Britain had ceased the American Fur Company commenced
to extend its operations, under the vigorous push of Mr. Astor. into
the valleys of the Fox and Wisconsin. A trading post had been estab-
lished at the portage for a number of years previous to the Winne-
bago uprising, and Pierre Pauquette, the energetic young man from
St. Louis, who had already become widely known in the primitive
activities of the region, was selected by Mr. Astor as the representa-
tive of the American Fur Company at that point. About the time that
50
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
ground was broken for the fort, in 1S28. a visitor at the portage wrote
to an Eastern correspondent that "a party named Astor had influenced
the Government to establish a military post here to protect his trading
post from the Indians."
The Coming of Major Twiggs
Although Astor was then the richest man in America, it is not
believed that Ins interests cut an overpowering figure in the selection
of this locality as a military post. It was long recognized that the
portage was one of the most important keys to the control of the
Pc
Winnebagoes, and steps were taken accordingly. Under orders from
the war department. Maj. David E. Twiggs started from Fort Howard
with three companies and arrived at the portage September 7, 1828.
The site selected for the fort was occupied by Francis LeRoy, the
trader and carrier, and was on the east side of the Fox River immedi-
ately opposite the portage. At the east end of the portage were a lop
house and barn, occupied by Pauquette. The other buildings com-
prised the Indian agency fn which resided John H. Kinzie and his
wife, and two huts occupied by half-breeds.
At the west end of the portage were the three houses in which lived
Perish Grignon and his wife (sister of De Korra), Lavoin Grignon, the
son, and Lecuyer, the trader. These were the habitations at and near
the portage when Major Twiggs and his three companies of soldiers
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 51
founded old Fort Winnebago. Among his first lieutenants was one
Jefferson Davis, and among his captains William S. Harney, after-
ward so famous as an Indian fighter in Florida.
Ground Broken for the Fort
The soldiers came amply provided with provisions and prepared for
winter. Major Twiggs, in the capacity of ''boss carpenter," erected
temporary barracks of tamarack logs, obtained principally from Pine
Island in the Wisconsin, about six miles west of the portage. Active
operations for the erection of the fort were soon in progress. To Lieu-
tenant Davis and his party was assigned the task of going up the Yel-
low River, a tributary of the Wisconsin, some fifty miles distant, and
getting out the pine logs. These were rafted down in the spring,
hauled across the portage with teams and wrought into proper form
with whipsaw. broadax and adz. Another party was detailed to get
out the needed stone from Stone Quarry Hill, the most abundant source
of supply from which Portage City builders have ever drawn. The
brick necessary for the chimneys were burned just opposite the "nar-
rows." and near the present Wisconsin River bridge. The locality is
still known as Armstrong's brick yard. Lime was burned near Pau-
quette farm on the Bellefountain.
Says Turner in his story of "Old Fort Winnebago:" "An enor-
mous well was sunk in the very center of the square, around which the
usual fort buildings were constructed, and it has continued from its
never-failing fountain to contribute to the comfort of the thirsty pil-
grim until the present day: but a modern windmill now does the duty
that was formerly so tedious and irksome. So all hands were busy.
Officers, who in after years became distinguished in the war with
Mexico, the Florida and other Indian wars, and the great conflict
involving the perpetuity of our Union, planned and wrought with the
common soldier in bringing into form the fort and the necessary accom-
panying buildings. Stable, hospitals, bakeries, blacksmith shops, com-
missary buildings, ice cellars (which were filled from Swan Lake),
sutlers' stores, magazines, laundries, bathhouses, etc., rapidly sprang
into existence. Gardens were also cleared, and old soldiers have
recorded the fact that they could not be excelled in the matter of the
quantity and quality of the vegetables produced.
"In the regular course of military movements, some of the com-
panies first doing duty here were transferred to different posts, and
their places were taken by others: and so it happened that many whose
names were enrolled on the scroll of fame in after vears, were initiated
52 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
into the science of war al Port Winnebago. Perhaps the mosl promi-
nciit of them all was Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, the subaltern of Capt.
William S. Harney. To his honor, he it said, his services at Fori Win-
nebago were highly creditable. I have heard it remarked by those who
knew him here, that he had no liking for the amusements to which offi-
cers, as well as private soldiers, resort to relieve the tedium of camp
life; but that he was ever engaged, when not in active service, in some
commendable occupation. His services in the lumber camps on the
Yellow River, and his successful mission in bringing down fleets of
lumber through the Dells of the Wisconsin, attest to his faithfulness as
a soldier."
Completed
The fort was completed in the spring of 1830. The principal build-
ings stood on the side of a square, and the only structures in the nature
of fortifications were two heavy, compact block houses, perforated for
musketry and situated at the northeast and southwest corners of the
quadrangle. At the same angle was the magazine, a low arched struc-
ture of heavy stone. A little south, and across the military road lead-
ing to Fort Howard, were the hospital and the quarters of the medical
staff; and still further south were the carpenters' shops in which Jeff
Davis is said to have exhibited much skill in the manufacture of quaint
furniture. Westward, on the slope toward the river, was the com-
missary building, near which were the stables of the sutler and the
slaughter houses. Forty rods east were the blacksmiths' shops, and
on the north and south sides of the fort lay the truck gardens; on the
east, the parade grounds.
The fort proper was inclosed by a solid picket or stockade. There
were two entrances, each guarded by thick double gates. The main
buildings were neat one-and-a-half-story edifices, painted white, with
sharply sloping roofs and uniform dormer windows.
Amusements at the Post
After the fort was completed, there was much leisure for amuse-
ment and both officers and privates saw that time should not hang
heavily. Billiards, cards, dancing and amateur theatricals varied the
nights, while horse racing and athletic sports absorbed the days. At
one period the mail arrived every two weeks from Chicago, via Mineral
Point. The stage which brought it hove in sight upon a height three
miles from the fort, and it was a favorite pastime to lay wagers on the
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 53
moment of its first appearance, as well as the precise moment it would
reach the postoffiee (the sutler's storehouse) ; also as to whether or not
the betters would be honored by the receipt of letters. Game was
abundant in its season, and many days were devoted to the hunt.
Sleigh-riding parties were also popular.
Social calls were not confined to intercourse between the few ladies
of Fort Winnebago. It was nothing unusual for a lady and her escort
to make a "party call" upon some acquaintance at Port Crawford,
down the Wisconsin River, 118 miles, or down the Pox to Fort Howard,
175 miles away.
Noted Men and Women at the Fort
Previous to the evacuation of Fort Winnebago in 1845, Colonel Cut-
ler, Major Green, Colonel Mcintosh, Captains Low and Jewett and
Lieutenant Mumford were in command; but they were not the char-
acters of greatest interest to the people of Columbia County. For
instance, there were Capt. Gideon Low and Lieut, Horatio P. Van
Cleve, who came from Fort Howard in the early '30s. Both Lieutenant
Davis and Captain Low served in the Black Hawk War, the latter being
ordered to Port Atkinson. After the danger was over he returned to
Fort Winnebago, where he remained until 1840. He then resigned and
took charge of the Franklin House, which he had built two years before,
and until his death at the agency ten years later was known as the most
popular landlord of the portage. Captain Low was buried in the
fort cemetery but his remains were finally removed to the Silver
Lake grounds.
Jacob Low, his only son, was a New York merchant and sea-faring
man in his earlier years, but in 1843 joined the captain at Port Win-
aebago. There he became an Indian trader and a few years afterward
moved to his farm in that section of the county which now bears his
name, Lowville Township. Afterward he blossomed into a successful
politician and office holder, and died at his home in Lowville during
1875.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Van Cleve
Lieutenant Van Cleve married Charlotte Ouisconsin Clark, daugh-
ter of Maj. Nathan Clark, at Fort Winnebago in 1836. As his wife
had been born at Fort Crawford in 1819 she was the first girl of pure
white parentage born within the present limits of Wisconsin. Her
54 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNT?
father, the major, died at Fort Winnebago and was buried in the old
military cemetery, but his body was subsequently moved to Cincinnati.
Lieutenant Van Cleve went to the front early in the Civil war
as colonel of the Second Minnesota. At the Hat tie of Stone River he
was severely wounded, but recovered and served with distinction until
the close of the rebellion, leaving the Union service as a major general.
Mrs. Van Cleve passed the later years of her long life at Minneapolis,
where she died April 1. 1907.
Henry Merrell
When Henry Merrell, also a New York merchant, came to Fort
Winnebago as a sutler in 1834, he first met Captain Low and Lieuten-
ant Van Cleve, and retained their acquaintanceship and friendship for
many years. lie afterward became agent for the American Fur Com-
pany, and was honored with many public positions, serving as the first
senator from the district when the state was organized. He died in
May, 1876, leaving a large estate. His daughter, Mrs. E. S. Purdy, is
still living in Portage: also a son. B. II. Merrell, at Superior. Wis.
Satterlee Clark
Satterlee Clark, so widely known throughout Southern Wisconsin,
was appointed a sutler by President Jackson in 1830, but being a minor
he could not assume its duties directly. So he passed it over to Oliver
Newberry, of Detroit, and became his clerk. Clark was afterward mar-
ried at the old Indian agency house to a daughter of Mr. Jones, the
regular sutler of Fort Winnebago, amassing wealth by his business abil-
ity and gaining broad popularity by his engaging personality. He
was for many years a senator from Dodge County.
Lieut. Randolph B. March was on duty at Fort Winnebago in
1837-40; captain in 1846 and in active service during the Mexican war.
During the Civil war he was chief of staff under his son-in-law, Gen.
George B. McClellan. and in 1861-2 attained the rank of inspector
general and brevet brigadier general. In her girlhood, Mrs. McClellan
resided at the fort where her father was stationed.
Evacuated
Orders for the evacuation of Fort Winnebago were issued by the
War Department in 1845. the troops being sent to Jefferson Barracks,
St. Louis, and, in turn, had been ordered to the Gulf pending hostil-
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
55
ities with Mexico. When the evacuation took place the fort was placed
in charge of Ordnance Sergeant Van Camp, who looked after it until
his death in 1847. William Weir, an old soldier of the fort, then had
charge of it until 1853, when it was sold at auction under orders from
Jefferson Davis, as secretary of war.
Last Relic of Fort Winneeago
Final Dissolution
In March, 1856, a fire destroyed, or seriously damaged, most of
the buildings which were then occupied by private families. The reser-
vation of nearly 4,000 acres became the property of J. B. Martin and
others, of Milwaukee, and subsequently of W. H. Wells, of Fond du
Lac, and F. H. Marsten, of Buffalo. In 1869 and 1873, Valentine Hel-
mann of Portage bought the eighty acres on the left of the old military
road, which contained all the remaining buildings. Afterward Mr.
Hermann sold the stone to the Government, its engineers using it in
constructing breakwaters along the Wisconsin River, and the brick
taken from the massive fireplaces and chimneys of the crumbling struc-
tures went into his farm residence. The old commissary building,
which was the headquarters of Henry Merrell and other famous sut-
lers, was moved and long did service as a barn on the same farm. The
last of it was torn down only two years ago. The old well collapsed
about twenty-five years ago, and nearly all the buildings which
56
HISTORY OF COLC.MBIA COUNTY
remained after Mr. Helmann's wholesale ravages were sold piece-meal
tn different parties in Portage and the Town of Winnebago. The
only old-time structure of the "portage"— and that was no pari of the
fort — is the Indian Agency Building occupied by John II. Kinzie and
his wife, the lively, pretty and brighl author of "Wau-Bun."
' J-
m
Old Indian A.,i m 5 Hoi a . Pobtai
It is now the farm residence of E. S. Baker, the well known lawyer
and citizen of Portage City. lie has transformed it into a pleasant and
comfortable home, but it is still the historic agency building. Its
dimensions are 30x36 feel on the ground, two stories high with attic.
The kitchen is 20x24 feet, one and a half stories. The framework is
massive, the studding, rafters, joists, sleepers and sills being twice
the size of similar material used in buildings of the present. The
house was originally surrounded by a circular row of maples and elms,
most of which bave disappeared.
"The fixtures and furniture left at the fori when it was evacuated.''
says Turner, "were disposed of at auction or carried away al will,
and many a family in the vicinage can boast of some old fort relic. The
famous 'Davises' (pieces of furniture made in the fort carpenter shop
by Jefferson Davis) could have been found in the inventories of the
household effects of some families, and they may be in existence some-
where yet. An old sideboard that was in service at the agency, pre
sumably Mrs. Kinzie 's. is one of the treasures in the Late -lames Col-
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 57
lins' household, and a bureau and sideboard, which constituted a part
of the furniture in one of the officers' quarters is in possession of Mrs.
0. P. Williams, as also the old carved wooden eagle that was perched
over the main entrance. The eagle is now in the D. A. R. department
of the Portage Public Library."
CHAPTER V
PIONEER TRADERS AND CARRIERS
Peter Pauquette — Death of the Famous Trader — Shot by Man-
ze-mon-e-ka inflamed by llquor and false charges — the
Remains of Pauquette Finally Located — The Coming of
Henry Merrell — Fort Winnebago in 1834 — Commandants and
Indian Agents — The De Korras and Joseph Crelie — Post
Amusements, — Business Trips Under Difficulties — Merrell 's
Account of the Famous 1837 Treaty — Trips More or Less Excit-
ing — Merrell in Politics — Satterlee Clark's Perilous Journey
— Black Hawk Threatens Fort Winnebago — Clark Sent for
Reinforcements — On Return Overtakes Mounted Militia —
Fatal Stampede of Troopers' Horses — "Battle" of the Wis-
consin — End of the Black Hawk War — De La Ronde Makes
the Portage in 1828 — The Noted Indian Family, De-kau-ry
(De Korra) — De La Ronde Becomes a Caledonia Farmer —
Indian Removal of 1840 — Grignon, or French Claim No. 21 —
L'Ecuyer's Grave — The Post Cemetery — Wisconsinapolis and
Others Like It.
The traders and carriers at the portage and those connected with
the garrison of Fort Winnebago were rather unsettled characters, and
cannot therefore be considered as the founders of the stable commu-
nities which gradually evolved into what is now known, collectively, as
Columbia County. Incidentally, some of the most prominent of these
advance couriers have been introduced, and further details of their
lives and characteristics are due them before we pass on to stable land
owners and the civil and political organization of the county.
Peter Pauquette
Peter Pauquette undoubtedly was one of the most noted and widely
known of all the early men claimed by the region of the portage, and
58
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 59
his tragic death, at the very commencement of the era of secure homes
and substantial development, makes his life especially significant. He
was the son of a French father and a Winnebago mother, born at St.
Louis in 17% and married there in 1818 to Theresa Crelie, daughter
of a Canadian half-breed, "Old Crelie," and a nameless mother, a
half-breed Sac. Pauquette was therefore quite a mixture of red and
white blood, which, coupled with his fearlessness, wonderful strength
and absolute honesty, gave him popularity and standing with trader,
Indian and Government. At the date of his marriage in Prairie <lu
Chien, when twenty-two years of age, he was in the employ of the
American Fur Company, and later became one of the best known inter-
preters in Wisconsin. He acted in that capacity at the treaties with
the Winnebagoes at Prairie du Chien in 1825, Green Bay in 1828, ana
Rock Island in 1832. In the year last mentioned he was active in rais-
ing a party of Winnebagoes to unite with the Americans against
Black Hawk. After the war he was engaged permanently as a trader
at the portage, representing the American Fur Company as its agent.
Previous to that time, although his headquarters had been at the port-
age for several years, he had been much occupied in different parts
of the state as an interpreter, and upon several occasions his duties
had called him to Washington.
A son and a daughter were born to Pauquette while he lived at
the portage and both resided in the vicinity for many years, respected
and popular. The daughter Theresa, who was twice married, was at
last accounts living in Caledonia, having passed her eightieth birth-
day. She retained pleasant memories of the visits to her father's place
made by Lieutenant Davis and Captain Low.
Death op the Famous Trader
It was while acting as interpreter for Governor Dodge in his nego-
tiations with the Winnebagoes for a further cession of their lands that
the events occurred which led to his assassination by an enraged
Indian, who claimed that Pauquette had acted treacherously Pau-
quette was shot to death by the Winnebago, son of Whirling Thunder,
a prominent chief, on the night of October 17, 1836, near the little
Catholic Church in the present city of Portage. At the time of his
death he was living across the river on the Judge Barden farm.
Various accounts have been written of Pauquette 's death, the most
authentic being those by John de La Ronde, the widely known French
Canadian fur trader who afterward settled in Caledonia, and Satter-
lee Clark, the Fort Winnebago sutler. From the former we quote:
60 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
"On the 17th of October, INUfi. (iovernor Dodge came to Portage to
hold a council with the Indians. Peter Pauquette acted as interpreter.
The result of the council was advising the Winnebagoes to sell their
lands east of the Mississippi. The Indians could not agree, and the
matter was postponed until the next year. A treaty for the sale of the
land was abandoned, they preferring an annuity. Peter Pauquette
demanded for them twenty-one boxes of money — $21,000 — declaring
that thai was the amount due him from the Indians for goods and pro-
visions advanced to them.
"Man-ze-mon-e-ka, a son of one of the chiefs of the Rock river
band, residing a mile or two above the present locality of Watertown,
named Wau-kon-ge-we-ka or Whirling Thunder (One-who-walks-on-
the-iron), objected on the ground that he belonged to the Rock river
hand and had received no provisions or goods from Pauquette, desir-
ing that the money should be divided between the several bands: then
those who were indebted to Pauquette might pay him if they chose.
As for himself, or his hand, they had their own debts to pay to the
traders at Rock river. The result was that the council dissolved with-
out coming to a decision.
"Pauquette crossed the Wisconsin, going to a saloon where Carpen-
ter's house now stands, and there indulged in drink. Man-ze-mon-e-ka,
who had spoken so frankly in the council, also happened there, when
Pauquette whipped him. I came there at the time and, with the help
of others, rescued the Indian from Pauquette. The chief retired to the
other end of the portage, near where the house of Henry Merrell once
stood on the Fox river. Pauquette followed him there and whipped
him again. Satterlee Clark and I took the Indian away from him
again, who was by this time badly bruised, lie went home, which was
near where Armstrong's brickyard now is, and Pauquette went to the
old post of the American Pur Company near the grist mill. While on
his way home, between one and two o'clock in the morning, he stopped
at my place. I was then living at the house which used to belong to
Francis Leroy. I did all that I could to persuade him to stay with me
that night, seeing that he was under the influence of liquor, but he
would go on; his brother-in-law, Touissant St. Huge, and William
Powell from Green Lake, were with him. There were some Indians
drinking at the house of Paul Grignon — the same house now used for
a stable by 0. P. Williams. Among these Indians were Black Wolf
and his son. Rascal De-kau-ry. the Elk, Big Thunder and others.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 61
Shot by Man-ze-mon-e-ka
"When Pauquette arrived there, he whipped Black Wolf, and Ras-
cal De-kau-ry ran away north from where they were, right in the direc-
tion of the lodge of Man-ze-mon-e-ka whom Pauquette had beaten the
preceding day. " On arriving at the chief's cabin, he informed him that
Pauquette was coming to whip him again. Man-ze-mon-e-ka emerged
from his lodge and told Pauquette very pointedly not to come any
further- that he had whipped him twice the day before without a
cause and if he advanced another step he was a dead man. Pauquette,
putting his hand to his breast, said "Fire, if you are brave,' when
Man-ze-mon-e-ka shot and Pauquette fell.
"William Powell was close to Pauquette at the time, and as soon
as I heard the report of the gun I ran for the spot as fast as I could.
It was close to where I was living. I met Powell running toward the
fort and asked him what was the matter; but he was going so last
that he did not hear me. I went where Pauquette was, took his hand
which was warm, and told him if he knew me to press my hand. But
he was dead. The ball had passed through his heart.
"Old Crelie, father-in-law to Pauquette, wanted to carry him home,
but I would not. allow him to touch him until the jury came. William
Powell arrived there with Lieutenant Hooe, Sergeant Pollmger, ten
private soldiers, Satterlee Clark and, I believe, Henry Merrell. Lieu-
tenant Hooe refused to go into the lodge to take the Indian; the chief,
White French, went and brought him out. when they took him across
in a scow, the body of Pauquette also being taken over.
"They asked Man-ze-mon-e-ka if he shot Pauquette, which lie frankly
acknowledged. I really believe he thought he was going to be killed on
the spot as he sang his death song. He was taken to the garrison, kept
in strict confinement and afterward conveyed to Green Bay, where he
was tried bv regular authority and finally acquitted, it being deter-
mined on a second trial that he had killed Pauquette in self-defense.
Both De La Ronde and Clark assert that Pauquette was not addicted
to drink, and the latter says; "His death can safely be attributed to
intoxication, though it was the first time I ever knew or heard of his
being in that condition." But from their accounts, as well as the narra-
tive of Henry Merrell, he lost his usual good temper over the criticisms
made by the traders as to the part he had taken at the council, especially
taking umbrage at the charges of misconduct made by the Gngnons.
Henry Merrell put the matter thus: "The governor proposed to
make a treaty with them (the Winnebagoes) and buy their country
between the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. After they had counseled
G2 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
for some days they refused to sell. It was generally supposed that they
would act as Pauquette advised them. Therefore the story was raised
that Pauquette had advised them not to sell, and that he had not in-
terpreted truly: which came to the ears of Pauquette, and lie said it
was untrue. He told me the chiefs asked his advice, but he told them
that he would not advise them, for he did not know anything about the
country the governmenl wanted them to go to; and therefore they must
make up their own minds about it.
"The traders and half-breeds, all the way from Prairie du Chien to
Green Bay. were assembled here, and it was supposed that many of
them, if not most of them, wanted the Indians to form a treaty, so they
could get money by it. As it was thought that Pauquette had as much
influence with the nation as a king, he was courted as well as feared by
all; therefore every man of them wanted to court his favor, and would
treat him and urge him to drink. The consequence was that after get-
ting through interpreting and settling up with Governor Dodge, which
was the latter part of the third day. lie drank too much — the first time
T ever saw him under the influence of liquor. * * *"
Inflamed by Liquor and False Charges
Thus primed with liquor, his naturally peaceful nature stirred both
by this unwonted stimulant and the charges made against his honor,
the giant Pauquette raged like an aroused lion. He sought out the
Grignons, the chief instigators of the charges against him. and one of
them barely escaped from the infuriated man. The same day he com-
menced his abuse of the Indian chiefs, and the next met his death at
the hands of Man-ze-mon-e-ka.
The Remains op Pauquette Finally Located
"There has been some doubt." says Satterlee Clark, writing many
years ago, "as to where Mr. Pauquette was buried, and I will state what
I know of his burial. In the first instance, while he did not claim to
belong to any religious denomination, his wife being a Catholic he built
a small church near the center of what is now Portage City. At his
death I assisted to bury his remains under the floor of this church.
Subsequently the church was burned, and still later, while I was living
at Green Lake, I received a summons to come up and point out the
grave, some of his friends being desirous to remove his body. I came
up and found the locality without any difficulty, but never heard whether
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 63
he was removed, or, if so, where. At that time Portage City had been
surveyed and his grave was in the middle of a street."
The sequel to Mr. Clark's story was revealed nearly seventy years
after Pauquette's death. On August 19. 1904, workmen were engaged
in excavating the cellar of the new Baptist parsonage, Conant and
Adams streets, when they scattered a pile of decayed wood, a crumbling
skeleton of unusually large proportions, some metal handles and a metal
plate, the last named bearing the plain inscription "Peter Pauquette,
died 10 Octbr. 1836, aged 41 years."
The relics of the famous trader and interpreter were uncovered
about twenty-five feet from Adams Street and twice that distance from
the rear of 'the Baptist Church, which then stood on the old Catholic
property The little log church which Pauquette had erected a few
years before his death was destroyed by fire about 1840. His grave
was then surrounded by quite an elaborate palisade, which stood until
it became necessary to remove his remains to the spot where they were
found in 1904. For some unexplained reason this location appears to
have been lost, although a tree was planted in 1903 marking the spot
(near the Adam Eulberg residence) where Pauquette was killed by
Man-ze-mon-e-ka.
When Pauquette's remains were brought to light, as recorded, his
aged daughter, Theresa, was immediately notified and she promptly
journeyed from her Caledonia home to Portage city to transfer them
to sacred ground. The next day, August 20, 1904, they were once more
consigned to mother earth in the Catholic cemetery of St. Mary's. This
daughter is still living at the old home in Caledonia.
On a window casement of the Baptist parsonage is also affixed a
tablet bearing this inscription: "Pierre Pauquette, 1795-1836 ; removed
to Catholic cemetery, 1904; placed by the Golden Gossip Club." The
tablet marks the spot where for many years reposed the remains of the
famous pioneer; as near as may be, it marks the head of Pauquette's
casket.
The Coming of Henry Merrell
Henry Merrell, one of Pauquette's most intimate friends, upon the
advice of some army officers who had visited the portage, came to Fort
Winnebago to engage in business as a sutler. This was in 1834. Pass-
ing over the details of the progress of his goods and himself from his
home in Sacket's Harbor to the "jumping off place" at the portage,
in the wild and woolly West, he finally arrived at Green Bay (via
Detroit) on June 7th and contracted with Alexander and Samuel Irwin
64 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
to transport his goods to Fort Winnebago in Durham boats. In order
to do so it was necessary for them to assemble a large number of Indians
at the rapids; then reloading and poling them up to the Grand Chute
where Appleton is now situated. There they had to unload and carry
the goods up a hill and down the other side above the chute, which was
a perpendicular fall of three or four feet. The Indians would wade in,
as many as could stand around the boat, and lift it over, while others
had a long cordelle, with a turn around a tree above, taking up the
slack and pulling as much as they could. When the boats were over,
they were reloaded and then pushed ahead and poled from there to
Fort Winnebago. Excepting in low water they would have to make
half loads over the Winnebago rapids at Neenah and, with a lair wind,
would sail through Lake Winnebago.
"This was the manner of transportation on Fox River at that time,
taking from fifteen to eighteen days to reach Fort Winnebago."
Mr. Merrell engaged Hamilton Arnt as a guide and the two rode
overland, following Indian trails up the Fox valley toward their desti-
nation. He says: "We passed over some fine prairies. In many places
they looked like cultivated fields. We would see an orchard in the dis-
tal and before I knew it I was frequently looking for the house, not
realizing that there was none from fifteen to twenty miles of us. We
arrived at Mr. Pauquette's farm at Belle Fountaine on the 27th, and
got a fine dinner of fried venison, and from here to Fort Winnebago
there was a good carriage road of twelve miles. At the fort I met
Lieutenant Lacey, quartermaster and commissary, who received me cor-
dially and said he had a bed at my disposal, as his wife was absent. He
accompanied me in calling upon the commanding officer, Colonel (Enos)
Cutler and his lady, with whom I was acquainted. The Colonel said
the store should be ready by the time my goods got there. I also met
Lieuts. Van Cleve, Johnston, Collinsworth, Ruggles, Hooe and Read,
together with Surgeon McDougall. Captains Low, Clark and Plympton
were absent at this time. Dr. L. Foot arrived in the fall. Out of
thirty-six days the Colonel told me they had had rain, more or less,
thirty-one days.
"I found Burley Follett. Daniel Bushnell and Satterlee Clark, Jr.,
in charge of the sutler's store, as agents of Oliver Newberry, of Detroit,
for whom they were carrying on the business. Captain (Robert A.)
McCabe, postmaster and Indian agent, was living in the agency house
across the river; a fine, jolly man, I found him.
"My goods arrived on the 1st of July, six weeks from New York.
How was that for speed? July 2nd Captain Low arrived at Duck
Creek, four miles from the fort, with his wife and two daughters in a
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY G5
carriage, and sent up word for men to help them across. So the Colonel
sent twenty men to help them across Duck ('reck marsh, and they ar-
rived safe at the fort.
Fort "Winnebago in 1834
"This fort is situated on a beautiful plateau forty or fifty feet
above the Fox River, on the east side of it and of the portage, the river
forming an ox-how around it on three sides. The grounds about the
buildings embraced ten or fifteen acres, with a substantial board fence.
The fort buildings were inclosed with an ornamental picket fence in a
circular form, with walks graded and kept in perfect form, with the
rest of the grounds, and altogether it was a delightful place. The
portage is low ground one and a half miles across to the Wisconsin
River, over which they haul boats. Peter, or Pierre Pauquette, a half-
breed Indian trader, kept fifteen or twenty yoke of oxen to haul boats
across from one river to the other, and finally had large wheels mounted
on which to convey the boats. As the American Fur Company sent all
its furs from Prairie du Chien this way to Mackinaw, there were many
boats that crossed the portage.
Commandants and Indian Agents
"At this time there were no white American inhabitants outside
the fort except the Indian agent. Captain McCabe, who had a shock of
palsy and left in August, when I was appointed postmaster in his stead.
which office I held for twelve years. After he left, the commanding
officer at the fort was ordered to perform the duties of Indian agent,
and after that there was no other agent at this point, except for a few
months, when Thomas A. P». Boyd was stationed here as sub-agent.
Colonel Cutler commanded until May. 1835, when he was ordered to
New York and Maj. Nathan Clark succeeded him, who died at this post.
Ma.j. John Green took the command in October, 1835, Maj. W. V. Cobbs
succeeding him in 1838, he being disabled with palsy. Captain Low
was the chief officer for a short time, when Colonel (James S.) Mcintosh
succeeded him in 1840. The garrison was finally reduced to one com-
pany, with Lieut. F. S. Mumford in command.
TnE De Korras and Joseph Crelie
"When I arrived at the fort the old chief, De Korra. had his village
on the west side of the Wisconsin River about eight miles below the
GG HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
portage. His hair was as white as wool, and he musl have been very
old. He had several brothers, but, from his looks, I should judge that
he was the oldest of the family. lie died soon a fterwa i-d. His mother
was pointed out to me some years afterward, when I was told she must
be over one hundred and forty-three years old. for she recollected the
massacre of the Indians at Butte des Morts, she being there at the time.
which was 140 years previous. But this. I think, must he a mistake,
as I am informed that it was nut so long since that massacre. At the
time I saw her she was able to walk six or eight miles to and from the
portage. She lived several years after, and came to her death by the
burning of her wigwam.
"Joseph Crelie, the father of Madam Pauquette, lived to a great
age. He carried the mail on horseback to and from Green Bay. and
seemed to ride a horse as well as a young man when he was thought to
he ime hundred years old. He died a few years ago I written in the
seventies), when it was said that he was one hundred and thirty-odd
years old.
Post Amusements
"During the winter it was rather a lonely life, to be confined to the
garrison, with no city or village within 100 miles and not even a farm-
house to visit. But we managed to enjoy ourselves pretty well, there
being ladies enough to form one cotillon, and we often met at one of
the officer's quarters and danced, there being good musicians among
the soldiers. One winter the soldiers got up a theater, the officers con-
tributing toward scenery and dresses. There being a great variety of
characters among the soldiers, they got up quite a respectable company
which afforded us much amusement. Then we would sometimes make
up a party and go a-visiting, hut to do so we had to go over 100 miles
to Green Bay, Prairie du Chien or Chicago. One visit we made to Chi-
cago is very well told by General Marcy in Harper "s Monthly (Septem-
ber, 1869), when we were all taken up on the road for stealing a buffalo
robe, for the purpose of filching money out of us. as they thought we
would sooner pay than be detained at a log cabin over night.
Business Trips Under Difficulties
"About the 1st of March, 1835, I got ready to start for New York
on horseback, hut the only sure way to go was via Galena and thence
to Chicago, as there were no roads through the country in any other
direction, and if I attempted to cross the country to Milwaukee or
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 67
Chicago, there were no bridges or ferries for crossing the streams.
Captain Harris, from Galena, came up to the fort on business, and I
gladly embraced the opportunity of accompanying him on his return."
Mr. Merrell made several trips to New York overland to Chicago
or Milwaukee, in this round-about way. in order to re-stock his goods,
and we regret that the book-space at our disposal does not allow us to
draw more liberally upon his interesting reminiscences based upon his
wide journeyings.
Merrell 's Account of the Famous 1837 Treaty
Mr. Merrell's account of the famous treaty of 1837 by which the
Winnebagoes ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi River is close
to the text — Columbia County — and is well worthy of quotation. He
says: "Governor Dodge, being in Portage in 1837, invited the Winne-
bagoes to send a delegation to visit their Great Father at Washington.
Suspicious of a purpose to obtain their lands, they asked 'What for —
to make a treaty?' The Governor evaded the point, suggesting that
they could get acquainted with their Great Father and obtain presents,
and after much persuasion it was agreed to send a delegation — Yellow
Thunder and two other chiefs, the others being young men, generally
sons of chiefs. Satterlee Clark accompanied them as one of the con-
ductors.
"As soon as they reached Washington they were beset to hold a
treaty and cede their lands to the Government. They finally decided,
saying they had no authority for any such purpose ; that the most of
their chiefs were at home, who alone could enter into such a negotiation.
Every influence was brought to bear upon them, and they began to get
uneasy lest winter should set in and prevent their returning home. They
were without means to defray their expenses back, and those managing
Indian matters at Washington availed themselves of the necessities of
the delegation, keeping them there and urging them to enter into a
treaty.
"At length they yielded not their judgments, but to the pressure
brought to bear upon them and. while reluctantly signing the treaty,
yet all the while stoutly protesting against having any show of authority
to do so. The treaty, as they were informed, permitted them to remain
in the peaceful occupancy of the ceded lands eight years, when, in
fact, it was only that number of months; and as each went forward to
attach his name, or rather mark, to the treaty, he would repeat what
he understood as to the time they were to remain, 'eight years.' And
68 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
thus the poor red men were deceived and outwitted by those who ought
"One of the young men, son of a prominenl chief, dared not, on
his I'd urn home, visit his father for a long time. The whole nation fell
that they had been outraged, and forced to leave their Dative bomes.
Yellow Thunder declared he would never go that be would leave his
hones in Wisconsin; but he was invited, with young Black Wolf, into
Fort Winnebago, on pretence of bolding a council, when the gates were
treacherously closed upon them, and they and many others wen- con
veyed h\ the United States troops beyond the Mississippi. Bui Fellow
Thunder got hack sooner than the soldiers who forced him away. Then
he induced John T. De La Ronde to accompany him to the land office
at Mineral Point and enter forty acres of land in his behalf on the west
side of the Wisconsin about eight miles above Portage. At the land
office inquiry was made if Indians would be permitted to enter land.
'Yes,' was the reply, 'Government has given no orders to the contrary.'
So Yellow Thunder, the head war chief of his people, secured a home-
stead on which he settled, declaring that he was going to be a while
man." And there the sturdy chief quietly passed the remainder of
his long life until 1874. He lived to see the last forced march of any
considerable band of his people to their lands beyond the Mississippi.
Trips More or Less Exciting
In 1839 Mr. Merrell's duties as postmaster at the agency house were
varied by an exciting trip down the Wisconsin and Mississippi in
charge of a lumber fleet. A less blood-curdling and laborious task fell
to him, the next year — the taking of the census of a large district under
tin- United States marshal. After considerable travel in the Chippewa
region of noil hern Wisconsin he found an incompleted mill with a few
employees, near what is now Wausau, whom he duly recorded, when
his enumeration ceased. But the shooting down the Wisconsin, over
rapids and through gorges, before he again reached the portage was
compensation for any disappointment which he might have felt as to
paucity of population in his territory.
Mereell ix Politics
"Judge David Irvin." continues Mr. Merrell, "was to hold court
at the portage. I think, in 1S41 or 1S42. lie sent me an appointment
as clerk of the court, and as there was no time to lose, requested me to
go to Columbus and have a jury list made out and placed in the hands
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 69
of the sheriff. I did so, and the judge held the first court in this county
(then Portage) at the Franklin House, kept by Captain Low — after
which I resigned.
"In 1848 I was elected state senator in the Second District, which
embraced all that part of the state north of Dane County to Lake
Superior, and including Sauk. Marquette, Green Lake and Portage
counties, since divided into eight or ten districts. I was elected as the
whig candidate over the Hon. James T. Lewis, the democratic nominee.
In the senate there were but three whigs. I served during this, the first
session under the Constitution, which met at Madison on the 5th day
of June, 1S48, and during the next session, which met on the 10th day
of January, 1849. During these two sessions there was an immense
deal of work done in organizing the state, revising the statutes, etc."
Satterlf.e Clark's Perilous Journey
Satterlee Clark and Peter Pauquette acted as scouts during the
Winnebago war, and the former played perhaps the most important
part in securing the troops from General Atkinson, the chief officer in
command, which perhaps averted a massacre of the thirty men remain-
ing in Fort. Winnebago, with several women and children. .Mr. Clark's
account of his adventures is simple and graphic: "In 1831, in viola-
tion of a treaty stipulation, the Sauk ami Fox Indians, under Black
Hawk and the Prophet, crossed the Mississippi into Illinois. Black Hawk
was a Fox Indian and the Prophet was a Winnebago, who, with a small
band, became discontented and left the Winnebagoes, joining the Sauk
and Fox tribes among whom they had intermarried. General Atkinson
was ordered to remove them. They offered to go back and remain for
60,000 bushels of corn, and as corn was only five cents a bushel he gave
it to them and they retired.
"The following summer, thinking to get 60,000 bushels of corn quite
easily, they again crossed the river and again General Atkinson was
ordered to remove them. Instead of buying corn of them, he ordered
all of the available troops into the field, and the President ordered out
the Illinois militia under the command of General Henry and General
Alexander, all under the command of General Atkinson. The Indians
started up Fox River pursued by the troops, committing occasional
depredations as they went along. After they got into Wisconsin the
troops lost track of them, and General Atkinson continued up Rock
River to where the village of Fort Atkinson stands, where he established
his headquarters and built a temporary fort.
70 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
Black Hawk Threatens Port Winnebago
"Tn the meantime Black Hawk, learning from the Winnebagoes,
who also promised to assisl bim, thai only thirty n remained at Fort
Winnebago, determined to burn it and massacre its inmates. They
accordingly came and encamped on the Fox River about four miles
above Swan Lake and about eighl miles from the fort. Every possible
means that could be devised was adopted to protect the fort and save
the lives of the inhabitants, most of whom were women and children;
but after all bad been done that was possible the commanding officer
concluded that without reenforcements we would lie lost, and determined
to send to General Atkinson for troops. T was selected for that duty
for several reasons; among which was my thorough acquaintance with
the country, and another was the probability that the Winnegaboes
would not harm me.
Clark Sent for Reenforcements
"Every day some Winnebago would come to me and advise me to
go at night and stay in his wigwam, where, he said. I would be safe.
At 9 o'clock at night I left the fort with many a "God speed you.'
armed with a small Ruggles rifle, my dispatches, a tomahawk and a
bowie-knife. I crossed the Fox River at a shallow point just above
where the public stables used to stand, and keeping the Indian trail
that led from there to White Grow's village on Lake Kosh-ko-nong on
my right. I traveled rapidly all night, walking up hill and running
down hill and on a level. 1 struck the trail several times during the
night, but left it immediately, as I feared that some Indians might be
encamped upon it whose dogs would discover me before I would dis-
cover them. T arrived safely at the fori (Atkinson 1 ) at half past 11
o'clock in the forenoon, and delivered my dispatches to General Atkin-
son, who sent 3,000 men at once to relieve Fort Winnebago.
On Return Overtakes Mounted Militia
"I slept till 4 o'clock in the afternoon and then started on my
return, following the trail of the mounted militia for twelve miles.
when 1 passed them and reached the head of a stream that used to be
called Rowan's Greek, about twelve miles from the fort, shortly before
daylighl ; and fearing to go further till night. I crawled into some brush
and went to sleep.
"As soon as it was dark. 1 lefl my hiding place and returned to
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 71
the fort as near as possible by the route I left it, arriving between 10
and 11 o'clock P. M. I reported that the troops were on the way and
would arrive next evening. We kept close watch all that night and at
4 o'clock P. M. next day the troops arrived. It may surprise some of
my readers that I should travel so rapidly, and the mounted troops
should be so long on the road. Put you must recollect the marshes
were very wet at that time, that the whole country was a wilderness,
and that when I jumped into a stream and waded through or walked
across the marsh the troops had to build bridges and causeways.
"The war would have been ended in two days if the militia had been
in condition to follow the Indians; but the horses needed food and rest,
rations had to be issued to the men, many of them had not a change of
underclothing, and it was absolutely necessary to wait at least one day
at the fort.
Fatal Stampede op Troopers' Horses
"The second night the horses took fright (probably at some Winne-
bago Indians), and there was a- regular stampede. Several hundred
started with a noise like thunder, running so close together that when
one was so unfortunate as to face a tree he was either killed or so badly
injured as to be unable to proceed, and was run over by the whole
drove. Petween the bank of the Wisconsin and the point of land be-
tween there and the fort, thirty-seven horses were found dead. They
took the trail they came on and ran to the prairie, a distance of about
sixteen miles. Over sixty horses were killed, and it was late next day
before those recovered were brought back. This, of course, occasioned
another delay, and it was not till the fifth day that they left the fort
in pursuit of the Indians.
"Pattle" op the Wisconsin
"The enemy, in the meantime, went to the Four Lakes, where, as I
learned later, they were advised to cross the Wisconsin and the Missis-
sippi as soon as possible. A few reliable Winnebagoes, under Peter
Pauquette and myself, were secured for scouts. We had no difficulty
in following their trail and gained upon them rapidly, overtaking them
on the bank of the Wisconsin about twenty-five miles below, where the
battle of the Wisconsin was fought.
"That battle made many heroes, and so it should. About one hun-
dred ami twenty-five half-starved Indians defended the pass against
nearly three thousand whites, while the remainder of the Indians, in
72 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
plam sight, were crossing the Wisconsin with the women and children,
and as soon as these were safe the Indians broke and ran. Thru came
the struggle for scalps. Every man who could run started down the
hill at top speed, my Indian scouts and myself far ahead of the militia,
and I was about thirty feel ahead of all. dust as I commenced raising
the hill on the other side of the valley. Pauquette passed me on horse-
back, and as he went by I caughl his horse by the tail and held on till
we reached the top of the hill, where we found four dead Indians.
Pauquette took one scalp. I took one. and the Indian smuts took the
other two.
"The Indians lost four killed all told and the whites, one. This
ended the battie of the Wisconsin about which so much has been written.
End of the Black Hawk War
"The Indians traveled as fast as possible to the Mississippi, near
the mouth of the Bad Axe River. I went home. Shortly after Capt.
Alexander Johnston was ordered to take command of the regular troops,
endeavor to intercept the Indians and prevent their crossing the Missis-
sippi. A steamboat was sent up the Mississippi from Fort Crawford,
commanded by Jefferson Davis. He drove the Indians back, and they
were all killed or taken prisoners except Black Hawk and the Prophet,
with their families, who crossed the river before the steamboat arrived.'
"Gen. Winfield Scott offered a reward of $2,000 for the capture of
Black Hawk and the Prophet, which was earned by a. Winnebago called
Little Thunder. All were then taken to Rock Island, where General
Scott had established his headquarters. From there the leaders were
taken to all the large cities of the country, to show them how impossible
it was for them to wage successful war against the whites.
"That ended the Black Hawk war."
De La Ronde Makes the Portage in 1828
John T. De La Ronde, an educated Frenchman and in his youth and
early manhood agent for the Northwest Fur Company, as well as for
its successor, the Hudson Bay Company, crossed over to the American
side of the line when he was about twenty-six years of age, became
acquainted with some of the men connected with the American Fur
Company at Mackinaw and. in quest of adventure, finally made the
portage May 29, 1828. At the time he reached that place 'in his little
bark canoe, he found the log house and barn occupied by Pauquette
and family as the trading post of the Astor concern, but its agent was
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 73
absent in Washington on treaty business, acting as interpreter for the
Winnebagoes. The post was erected almost opposite to where the mill
was subsequently built on the Fox River. Then there were the agency
house and two log cabins occupied by half breeds, and on the east side
.if the river, where the fort was afterward built, the Le Roy house.
Tin: Noted Indian Family, De-kau-ry (De Korra)
At the western end of the portage a warehouse was built, and three
houses in which resided the Grignons — Perrish and Lavoin. father and
son— and J. B. Lecuyer, the noted trader and half breed. As to the
famous family De Korra, or De-kau-ry, De La Ronde gives the follow-
ing information: "De-kau-ry, or Seha-ehip-ka-ka, was principal chief
of the Winnebagoes, often called by his countrymen Ko-no-koh De-
kau-ry, meaning the eldest De-kau-ry. Seha-chip-ka-ka was the son of
Chou-ke-ka, called by the whites Spoon De-kau-ry, and was the son of
Sabrevoir De Carrie, corrupted into De-kau-ry. an officer of the French
army in 1699 under De Broisbriant. He resigned his commission in
1729, became an Indian trader among the Winnebagoes and subse-
quently took for wife the head chief's sister named Wa-ho-po-e-kau, or
the Glory of the Morning. After living with her seven or eight years
he left her and their two sons, whom she refused to let him take away,
but permitted him to take their daughter. De Carrie reentered the
army and was mortally wounded at Quebec, April 28, 1760, dying of
his wounds at the Montreal hospital. His eldest son, Chou-ke-ka (the
Spoon, or Ladle), was made a chief and was quite aged when he died
at tlie portage about 1816. At his request he was buried in a sitting
posture on the surface of the ground, with a small log structure over
the body surrounded by a fence. I saw his burial place in 1828, when
the red cedar posts of which the fence was made were yet undecayed.
His widow died two miles above Portage in 1868, at a very advanced
age. The old chief's sister, who had been taken to Montreal and edu-
cated there, was married to Laurent Filly, a Quebec merchant, whose
son of the same name was long a clerk for Augustin Grignon.
"Chou-ke-ka was succeeded by his son, Scha-chip-ka-ka, who had
six brothers and five sisters. One of the brothers was called Ruch-ka-
saia-ka, or White Pigeon, called by the whites Black De-kau-ry ; another,
Chou-me-ne-ka-ka, or Raisin De-kau-ry; another, Ko-ke-mau-ne-ka, or
He-who-walks-between-two-stars, or the Star Walker; another, Yound
De-kau-ry, called by the whites, on account of his tricky character,
Rascal De-kau-ry; another, Wau-kon-ga-ko, or the Thunder Hearer,
and the sixth, Ongs-ka-ka, or White Wolf, who died young. Of the
74 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
sisters, three married hidian husbands; one married a trapper earned
Dennis De Riviere, and afterward Perrish Grignon; the other married
John B. Leciiyer, the father of Madame Le Roy."
De La Ronde Becomes a Caledonia Farmer
While making the portage his headquarters De La Ronde took trips
to Prairie du Chien and Green Bay, as well as far into the Lake Superior
region. In the winter of 1832 he was engaged by the American Fin-
Company as a clerk, and subsequently participated in the Winnebago
war, being accompanied by Peter Pauquette. White Crow, who com-
manded a small body of Winnebagoes, and others. When the country
became more secure De La Ronde established several trading posts, but
tired of this roving life and in the summer of 1838 opened a farm in
what is now Caledonia Township, the third in that section of the county.
Indian Removal op 1840
'"In 1840," says De La Ronde, "the troops came to Portage to
remove the Winnebago. Indians, a part of the Eighth Regiment of In-
fantry under command of Colonel Worth, and a part of the Fifth
Regiment under General Brooke, with General Atkinson as commander-
in-chief. There were three interpreters employed by the Government—
Antoine Grignon, Pierre Meneg and myself. Meneg was sent after
Yellow Thunder and Black AYolf's son, inviting them to Portage to
get provisions; but instead of that as soon as they arrived they were
put into the guardhouse with ball and chain, which hurt the feelings
of the Indians very much, as they had done no harm to the Govern-
ment. The general had understood that they were going to revolt,
refusing to emigrate according to treaty stipulations; but as soon as
Governor Dodge came here they were released. They all promised
faithfully to be at Portage, ready for removal in three days, and they
were all there the second day.
"There were two large boats in which to take down such of the
Indians as had no canoes. Antoine Grignon and Pierre Meneg went
down with the boats. I was kept here by the order of General Atkin-
son at the suggestion of General Brady, to assist the dragoons com-
manded by Capt. (Edwin V.) Sumner and Lieutenants McCrate and
Steele. We went down to Rock River to look for Mas-i-ma-ni-ka-ka ;
from there we went to Madison and thence to Fox River. We picked
up 250 Indians, men, women and children, and took them down to
Prairie du Chien. Before we got there, at the head of Kickapoo River
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 75
we came to three Indian wigwams. The captain directed me to order
the Indians to break up their camp and come along with him. Two old
women, sisters of Black Wolf, and another one came up, throwing them-
selves mi their knees, crying and beseeching Captain Sumner to kill
them ; that they were old. and would rather die and lie buried with their
fathers, mothers and children, than he taken away, and that they were
ready to receive their death-blows. The captain directed me to go with
them and watch them, and we found them on their knees, kissing the
ground and crying very loud, where their relatives were buried. This
touched the captain's feelings and he exclaimed 'Good Ood ! What
harm could those poor Indians do among the rocks .' ' "
It might interest the reader to know that the Captain Sunnier,
whose good heart did him such credit, not only served with credit as a
commander of dragoons in the Black Hawk war and elsewhere, but
distinguished himself for his bravery ami ability as a cavalry officer
in the Mexican war and in many Indian campaigns in the Southwest.
At one time he was military governor of New Mexico, and during the
Civil war, after being three or four times wounded and reaching the
rank of major general, through personal bravery and military genius,
became so shattered in body that he went to his Syracuse home to die.
His death occurred in March, 1863. He is especially identified with
the history of Columbia County, hi thabhe was stationed at Fort Winne-
bago for several years, and was always considered one of the brightest
and most popular of its officers.
Grignon, or French Claim No. 21
Two months before the Indian uprising under Black Hawk a tract
of land was conveyed by the general government to Augustin Grignon,
son of the Green Bay founder of the family, whose home was at Kau-
kauna, near the present Appleton. He was horn in 1780 and became
famous in the development of the Fox River valley, building its first
sawmill and becoming interested in numerous townsites from Green
Bay to the portage. He had served in the War of 1812 as a lieutenant
in the American army, and was a captain in the Black Hawk war.
The land of Mr. Grignon was patented to him by President Andrew-
Jackson April 2b\ 1832, and consisted of about 648 acres of the terri-
tory embraced by what are now the First ward of the city of Portage
and portions of the Second, Third and Fourth wards — in other words,
Winnehago Indian lands. The balance of Portage was still Indian
territory until 1849, the year of the session of the Menominee lands.
The land was generally known as the Grignon Tract, or French Claim
76 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
No. 21, and to real estate men of the present as Webb & Bronson's plat
"' ""' ,mv " of Wj sbago. The main road oi the portage bounded the
tract on the south, and the Indian agency building was near its northern
boundary, west of Pox River. On the opposite shore was Fort Winne-
bago in all the pride of its two years.
The angle in the tract, at its most northerly point, is near the junc-
tion of Conant and Adams streets, and was mentioned in the deed as
"the corner of the pickets which surround the grave of the late John
Ecuyer." The tract probably could have been conveyed to John B.
L'Ecuyer, but he had conveyed his rights virtually to Mr. Grignon,
who had occupied for a time the lands in question, as well as a number
of his relatives. The northern line of the Grignon tract included not
only L'Ecuyer's grave, but the old Indian burying ground, upon which
Pauquette was about to erect the first church between Lake Michigan
and the Mississippi River. The deed issued from the general land office
at Detroit and was clear of any complications, save "any right or claim
which the said heirs of John Ecuyer, deceased, may have in and to the
same."
L'Ecuyer's Grave
Not long before his death. A. J. Turner wrote thus of the grave of
Jean B. L'Ecuyer, one of the most noted landmarks on the famous
Grignon Tract: "There are persons still residing in Portage who re-
member the picketed grave of L'Ecuyer very well, which stood just in
front of the window of the house on Lot 1, Block 185, now occupied by
Mr. Eschwig, owned, I believe, by Bluford Turner. The writer of this
article also remembers the grave well, which was marked by a small
American flag over it, which had evidently been kept flying by some
relative or friend of Mr. L'Ecuyer.
"L'Ecuyer's grave, which was thus made the most conspicuous
landmark in what is now the city of Portage, was not, as some have
supposed, obliterated by the grading of Conant Street several years
ago, which operation required the removal of the remains of those who
had been buried in the Indian burying ground at that point, but the
bones of the famous pioneer remain where his kindred had placed him
some ninety years ago. I am able to say this from the fact that some
Government officers engaged in definitely fixing the boundaries of French
Claim No. 21, no longer ago than last summer, run the lines of the
claim, and when the point was reached at which L'Ecuyer's grave was
supposed to be located, a small excavation was made by one of the work-
men, and scarcely two feet from the surface L'Ecuyer's bones were
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 77
found in a good state of preservation. The excavation was immediately
filled up and the bones of the famous pioneer were left without further
disturbance. A small flower bed about a couple of feet in front of the
window soon appeared over the spot.
"Probably the good woman who utilized the loosened earth for the
purpose of a flower bed was wholly unconscious of the fact that, as she
planted her chrysanthemums in the prepared earth, she was marking
the grave of one who was probably the first bona fide citizen of our
city, and who had a hundred years before been an active business man
at the portage, transporting from the Wisconsin to the Pox, by his
primitive methods, the furs gathered as far away as the sources of the
Missouri to a market at Quebec.
"It is to be regretted that we do not know more of John B. L'Ecuyer,
who was one of, if not the very first person to make Portage his definite
abiding place. We do know where his bones lie as a conspicuous land-
mark. It would be fitting if some permanent tablet should be placed
to ever mark the spot."
The Post Cemetery
And speaking of landmarks, the Soldiers' Cemetery belonging to
the fort must not be forgotten. It is one of the landmarks which the
Government, assisted by Wau-Bun Chapter, D. A. R., of Portage, keep
in respectable repair. The grave guarded with special solicitude is
that of Cooper Pixley, a soldier of the Revolution who died March 12,
1855. It is believed that he has not to exceed half a dozen comrades
in Wisconsin soil. In the Fort Cemetery are known to repose the re-
mains of soldiers who have had their honorable part in the War of
1812, and in the Seminole, Black Hawk, Mexican, Civil and Spanish-
American wars. But most of the graves of those who fought in the
earlier conflicts have been obliterated by a fire which swept over the
ground many years ago. Besides the stone marking the burial place of
Cooper Pixley, there is another of special interest, albeit no warrior
lies beneath it; only the infant child of Lyman Foot, one time surgeon
of Fort Winnebago. Both are annually decorated by the ladies of the
chapter, one with pride, the other with tenderness.
Major Clark and Captain Low were both buried in the Soldiers'
Cemetery, but their remains were finally removed to the family grounds
elsewhere. Robert Irwin, Jr., the Indian agent, died at Fort Winne-
bago in July, 1833, but his body was taken to Fort Howard for burial.
78 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
WISCONSINAPOLIS AND OTHERS LlKE It
To the righl of the cemetery is a plal of ground surveyed and once
laid out as the City of Wisconsinapolis. It was on the north side of
Swan Lake in the town of Pacific and extended north to Stone Quarry
Hill — that is, the plat covered this territory. Although the plat was
tiled by Doctor and Surgeon Foot, of Fort Winnebago, in January, 1837,
Wisconsinapolis had received one vote during the previous year by some
member of the territorial council when the question of the location of
the capital was up before that body. But Wisconsinapolis was never
anything more than a paper town, like Winnebago City on the south
side of Swan Lake, Ida, just east of the first named, Wisconsin City
and Baltimore City — all platted by Lamed B. Harkness, who hoped that
the territorial capital might be fixed at one of them. He was in the
townsite business up to his neck, but none of his ventures seemed to
evolve into anything substantial.
CHAPTER VI
LAND OWNERS AND REAL SETTLERS
First Sales op Columbia County Lands — The Land Districts — Me-
nominee Indian Lands Surveyed — List of First Land Entries —
Wallace Rowan, First Real Settler — Mrs. Rowan from "In-
dianer" — The Rowan Inn — Judge Doty Objects to the Hours —
Last of the Rowans — The English Colonies of Potters — Arrive
in the Town of Scott— Other Trades Recognized — Pottersville
— Twigg's Landing — Disbandment of the Society — Inhabitants
of County (1846) 1,200— Columbia County on Early Maps.
By the end of 1833 a large amount of the public land of Wisconsin
south and east of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers had been surveyed, and
were placed in the Green Bay and Wisconsin districts, the office for
the latter being at Mineral Point. The lands in Columbia County which
fell in the Green Bay District included the towns of Randolph, Court-
land, Fountain Prairie, Columbus (with the site of the city of Colum-
bus), Hampden, Otsego, Springvale, Scott, Marcellon, Wyocena, Low-
ville, Leeds, Arlington; all of De Korra lying in Range 9 east, Pacific;
so much of Portage as lies southeast of the Grignon Claim, and all of
Fort Winnebago lying east of the Fox River. The whole of the present
towns of Lodi and West Point, and so much of De Korra as lies south-
east of the Wisconsin River in Range 8, were in the Wisconsin Land
District. The towns of Lewiston. Newport and Caledonia, so much of
Fort Winnebago as lies west of the Fox River, the Grignon Claim and
all of Portage lying northwest of it and south of the Wisconsin, were
not included in either district, being unsurveyed lands belonging to
the Menominees.
First Sales of Columbia County Lands
Public sales of the surveyed lands were held in 1835, at Green Bay
and Mineral Point, the four sections constituting the military reserva-
70
80 IIISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNT"?
tion in Columbia County (near the center of which was Fm-t Winne-
bago) being held out of the markel by the General Government. Ex-
cept these reserved sections and the unsurveyed Menominee lands, all
of Columbia County was immediately opened to private entry at $1.25
per acre. But no entries were made in that year. In June of the fol-
lowing- year the Milwaukee Land District was erected out of the southern
part of the Green Bay District. In the new division was embraced the
territory included in the present southern townships of Arlington,
Leeds, Hampden and Columbus.
The Land Districts
It was provided in the act of Congress creating the Green Bay and
Wisconsin land districts that they should embrace the country north
of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers where the Indian title to the same had
become extinguished. On the 1st day of November, 18:37. the Winne-
bago Indians ceded to the General Government all their lands cast of
the Mississippi River. By this treaty the United States came into
possession of lands north of the Wisconsin, of -which that portion lying
in tin- great bend of that river (now Caledonia) was a part; so this
territory, with much other, was ordered surveyed, being completed in
1845. The Green Bay and Wisconsin land districts were then extended
north, so that all of what is now the town of Caledonia lying in Range
8 east, and so much of Portage south of the Wisconsin as lies in that
range, fell into the Wisconsin Land District.
Mexominee Indian Lands Surveyed
In October. 1848. the Menominee Indians ceded all their lands in
Wisconsin to tin- United States, hut. as stated, the latter did not come
into possession of them until the spring of 1851. That part lying in
Columbia County, which lias already been described, was at once sur-
veyed, and the two land districts again extended north, so that all of
what is now the town of Caledonia lying in Range 9 east fell into the
Green Bay District and all in Ranges 6, 7 and 8 east, into the Wisconsin
District. This accounts for all hut tin- Grignon Tract, which gradually
descended from the original owners, who received their patent from the
General Government, and was platted and subdivided, from time to
time, by those who came into possession of it, as will he explained in
detail as the story of the founding of Portage city progresses.
The lands north of the Wisconsin River and west of the Fox were
surveyed in 1851 and came into the market in the following year.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 81
List of First Land Entries
These facts are given as an introduction to the following table,
showing the first land entries made in Columbia County, the record
being presented alphabetically by towns, cities and villages:
Arlington; WalliS Rowan: 8. E. 14 N. E. 14 S. 3, T. 10. R. 9; entered June 6, 1836.
Caledonia; Joseph Ward; 8. E. 14 8. E. h S. 19, T. 12, R. 8; entered December
18. 1846.
Caledonia; A. J. Hewitt; X. V- X. E. Vi 8. 30. T. 12, R. 8; entered December
18. 1S46.
Courtland; Peter Goulden; E. Vi S. E. % 8. 10, T. 12, R. 12; entered .Tune 5, 1S44.
Columbus. C'itv; Lewis Ludington ; S. E. 14 S. 12, T. 12, R. 12; entered February
IS, 1839.
Columbus. City; Lewis Ludington; N. E. Vi S. 13, T. 12, R. 12; entered February
18, 1839.
Columbus, City; John Hustis; S. W. Vi S. 12. T. 12, R. 12; entered February
18, 1839.
Columbus, City; John Hustis; X. W. Vi 8. 13, T. 12, R. 12; entered February
18, 1839.
Columbus. Town; Lewis Ludington; E. i/> S. 24, T. 12. R. 12, entered February
IS, 1839.
Dekorra; Wallis Rowan; X. E. % 8. E. ', S. 34, T. 11, R. 9; entered June 6. 1836.
Fort Winnebago; Robert McPherson ; E. V-i S. E. Y 4 S. 20, T. 13, R. 9; entered
August 11, 1836.
Fort Winnebago; Robert McPherson; S. E. > t 8. 27, T. 13, R. 9; entered
August 11, 1836.
Fountain Prairie; James C. Carr; W. V' X- W. Vi S. 34. T. 11, R. 12; entered July
19, 1843.
Hampden; Alfred Topliff; S. W. Vi X. E. i, 8. 11, T. 10, R. 11; entered June
28, 1S44.
Leeds; John Dalziel; X. W. Vi X. W. Vi S. 26, T. 10, R. 10; entered October 3, 1844.
Lewiston; E. F. Lewis; X. W. Vi S. 21, T. 13, R. 8; entered October 28, 1852.
Lodi; Ebeneirer Hale; N. W. Vi S. 21, T. 10. R. 8; cut,. red June 21. 1836.
Lowville; Catherine Low; E. Va X. E. Vi 8. 32, T. 11, R. 10; entered May 10, 1S45.
Marcellon; Hiram McDonald; X. W. 14 8. W. V» 8. 29, T. 13, R. 10; entered
February 15. 1S36.
Xewport; Michael Lallan; 8. \V. V t 8. 12, T. 13, R. 6; entered October 11, 1852.
Otsego; 8amuel Emery; S. E. Vi X. E. Vi 8. 10. T, 11, K. 11; entered December
27. 1843.
Pacific; Dayid Rutterfield; lot 3 8. 1, T. 12. R. 9; entered January 30, 1836.
Portage; Augustin Grignon; entered April 26. 1832.
Randolph; Mary Perry; W. >., \. W. U 8. 12, T. 13, R. 12; entered February 8, 1844.
8cott; John Dodge; E. % S. E. Vi S. 34, T. 13, R. 11; entered February 8, 1844.
Springyale; John Dodge; \V. \U 8. E. % S. 1, T. 12, R. 11; entered April 29, 1845.
West Point; 8. Tavlor, et al.; lot Xo. 5 S. 2, T. 10, R. 7; entered March 9, 1S36.
Wvocena; Joseph W. Turner; lots 5, 11, 12 S. 5, T. 12, R. 10; June 17, 1836.
Wyocena; Joseph \V. Turner; lot 5 S. 6, T. 12, R. 10; entered June 17, 1836.
Lodi, Village; Ebenezer Hale; X. W. Vi 8. 21, T. 10. R. 8; entered July 21, 1836.
Cambria; James Waunkie; X. E. Vi X. E. Vi S. 6, T. 10, R. 12; entered April 2, 1845.
Randolph, Village; Allen Brunson; E. % 8. E. V4 S. 10, T. 10, R. 12; entered April
29, 1840.
Rio; Jeremiah Folsom, Jr.; X. E. Vi X. E. Vi 8. 10, T. 10, R. 11; entered August
28. 1847.
Fall Riyer; John Brown; X. E. Vi X. E. Vi 8. 34, T. 11, R. 12; entered October
18, 1843.
Kilbourn City; C. F. Legate; X. V 2 N". E. Vi S. 12, T. 13, R. 0; entered December
7, 1852.
Pardeeyille; W. W. Haskin; S. V> N- W. Vi S. 10, T. 12, R 10; entered January
S, 1848.
82
BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Poynette; .lames Duai
v. L837.
Poynette: Alex. S. He
s. 34, T.
s. 34, T.
E. 9:
Wallace Rowai
. 34, T. I
First Real "Settler"
R. 9 ; entered February
l.\ '.i ; entered February
tered Februarj 8, 1-.;:.
The first settler in wlr.it is now Columbia County was Wallace
Rowan, a typical Iloosier. kind-hearted, honest and just enough re. -ni-
tric to be interesting-. He moved from Dane County with his wife and
large family of children, having entered his forty acres at the Green
Bay land office. He located on the military road and opened a tavern
a little south of what afterward became known as Dole's Mill, adjoin-
ing the village of Poynette. " I was at his house." says .Moses M. Strong.
"on the 19th of February, 1837, and there was no appearance of his
having just arrived there." He was living in a log house, built by
himself on his own land, and he was there to stay. There was no other
settler, as the term should be used, within the present limits of Colum-
bia County.
Rowan's house was a double-log affair, built both for trailing with
the Indians and for accommodating travelers. lie was a man of medium
height, rather thin and dark; was sociable and talkative, and took
great pains to make all who stopped with him as comfortable as pos-
sible. Adjoining his tavern he cultivated a tract of land to corn, pota-
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 83
toes, oats and vegetables; thus providing refreshment for man and
beast.
Mrs. Rowan, from "Indianer"
Mrs. Rowan appears to have 1 n an energetic, if somewhat un-
polished woman: but she was a good housekeeper, and that was what
the situation and the weary travelers ''ailed for. She was a stalwart
champion of Indiana, as thus,, found who sometimes twitted her on the
name of her native state, so suggestive of savagery to the rough jokers.
One of the most persistent repeatedly asked her to what tribe she be-
longed, and got his answ-er : "Gol dern it, I don't belong to no tribe:
I'm from Indianer!"
The Rowan Inn
Mr. and Mrs. Rowan had two attractive daughters, who also assisted
to make the inn popular. One picture of Rowan's Hotel is thus drawn
by an old settle]-: "I arrived then' in 1837 at 11 o'clock P. M. on
horseback. The hostler, a Frenchman, was yet up, making fires to keep
comfortable those who were sleeping on the floor. After taking care of
my horse. I went into the house. There was a good fire, and the floor
was covered with sleeping men. 1 asked the French hostler for some-
thing to eat; so he went out into the kitchen and brought me a whole
duck and two potatoes. He said that was all he could find cooked.
After eating T felt like lying down. lie pointed to a place between two
men. I took my blanket and crowded myself into it.
Judge Doty Objects to the Hours
"Next morning the teamsters got up to feed their teams, and in
taking out their corn they scattered some inside and outside the house.
James Duane Doty (afterward governor) was lying next to the door in
his robes. I was next to him in my blanket. A lean, long, old sow found
the corn that the teamsters had scattered outside the door. This encour-
aged her to follow up the corn that was scattered inside. Finding some
among Doty's robes, she put her nose under him and rolled him over,
when he exclaimed 'Landlord! Landlord! you must postpone my break-
fast for some time, as I am not yet rested.'
"Then I heard some curious noise outside which kept me awake;
so I got up and found that the noise was created by a grist mill erected
in front of the door for grinding corn into meal. A pestle hung to the
84
HISTORY
01
' COL
end
the
Of a S]
top of
,riii- poL
a stump.
We ;
dl (i
f us 1
mill
, and you could
eompa
re il
to no
coal, such ;
and plenty
ful for it,'
is you lii
of honey
id in a
. We
lila
all
eksmil
made ;
\MB1A COUNTY
nade by burning out a hollow in
il the first mess made out of this
ling hut tin- tine sittings of stone-
l's shop. Bui we hail good coffee
hearty breakfasl and were thank-
Last of the Rowan*
Besides his tavern in De Korra. Rowan kept a trading house at
Portage in 1838. Two years later, with a man named Wood, he made
a claim on Barahoo River, building a sawmill at the upper end of Bara-
boo village. They supplied the lumber used in building some of the
first houses in that place and made a business also of rafting lumber
down tlic Wisconsin River. In 1842 Rowan left Columbia County and
took his family with him to Baraboo. He soon after died, and neither
his eldest daughter Ducky, the beauty of the family, nor the homely
but helpful wife, long survived him.
The English Colonies op Potters
The most important "lump" addition to the pioneer settlers of
Columbia County occurred in 1847, when fifty unemployed potters of
Staffordshire. England, located in the town of Scott. The emigrants
were under the control of the Potters' Joint Stock Emigration Society
and Savings Fund, an English organization designed to encourage the
purchase of lauds in the western states .if this country for homesteads
and permanent settlement. Its fund was raised from weekly contribu-
tions of each member, the amount depending on the number of shares
held. Each share was fixed at one pound sterling.
It was proposed, with the moneys thus realized, that a certain num-
ber of families, chosen by ballot, should be sent to the society's land.
Each family was entitled to twenty acres of land, and the migrating
expenses of any colony were defrayed by the general fund. It was
also permitted any member who had paid one pound for his share, the
privilege of emigrating at his own expense; thereupon he was allowed
the choice of twenty acres of land, agreeing to cultivate it and erect a
dwelling on it. Anyone elected by ballot who did not choose to go
could designate a substitute. Women were permitted to become mem-
bers of the society, but could not hold office.
In 1846, when a sufficient emigrating fund hail been raised. Hamlet
Copeland, John Sawyer and James Hammond were sent out by the
society to collect information and locate lands for the use of such union
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 85
potters as desired to go to the United States. They brought with them
a fine set of fancy pottery as a present to the general land commissioner
at Washington. When they arrived in that city the commissioner was
absent, but his brother, who was a clerk in the department, received
them — also the pottery, in the name of his chief — and advised them to
seek homestead lands in Wisconsin. Coming to the state they carefully
looked over the field, and selected 1,640 acres in a body, lying in the
town of Scott. This they surveyed into twenty-acre tracts, on each of
which was to be erected a dwelling house; all according to the regula-
tions of the society.
In Easter week of 1847 a colony of fifty-two started for the Western
lands. Among them were representatives of the eight branches of the
potters' union— Isaac Smith, Henry Dooley, Enoch Pickering, George
Summerfield, Joseph Clonus, Samuel Fox, George Robertshaw and Wil-
liam Bradshaw. The colonists left the potteries of Staffordshire ac-
companied by a hand of music and several thousand people, who came
to bid them farewell and God-speed. Taking ship at Liverpool, they
sailed for New York, landing at Castle Garden after a five-weeks'
voyage. By way of Erie canal they journeyed to Buffalo, N. Y., and
thence to Milwaukee by lake. Hen- the party was met by James Ham-
mond, who was to be their conductor to the selected lands.
Arrive in the Town op Scott
Arriving in Scott, they found but four houses erected, and all in
an unfinished condition. The men therefore went to work and built
houses for themselves, in the meantime living as best they could. At
that time provisions were hard to obtain, with or without money. For
days and sometimes weeks, bread was not to be obtained; potatoes, too,
were scarce, butter unknown, and the outlook was dreary indeed.
Discouraging reports were sent back to friends in England, which
had the effect of discouraging further emigration and crippling the
work of the society. Many who had taken an active interest in the
work withdrew their aid, so much so that sufficient funds could not be
raised to even supply the wants of those who had been sent out. At
this juncture the society was reorganized, and instead of limiting its
membership to the potters, all trades were admitted.
Other Trades Recognized
A circular issued by the general agent of the society in May, 1848,
contains this: "At the commencement of the Potters' Joint Stock
86 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Emigration Society, and up to the presenl time, its operations were con-
fined to potters alone. It is now the pi. â– asm-, of the founder to announce
that these operations are thrown open to the service of other trades,
and that tin- success of the potters in their land movemenl for trade's
protection is of the most cheering character. Apart from strikes, they
have succeeded in raising the price of their labor upward id' twenty
percent, and throughout a long and unparalleled stagnation of trade,
they have conserved the. improved price thus secured. This great suc-
cess is wholly a consequence of their land operations. Instead of re-
sorting to ruinous strikes, they have put the ax to the root of all Trades'
evil — surplus labor. In ninety-nine cases out of every 100, these just
demands have been complied with; and when refused and men dis-
charged from their employ, these objects of persecution were at once
removed to self-supporting twenty-acre farms, rejoicing in their release
from the oppressors' yoke."
PoTTERSYILLE
On the first purchase of land by the society in the town of Scott
were settled, in the iirst year, 134 persons. The settlement was called
Pottersville. The new rules adopted by the society secured to each
individual not only twenty acres of land, but a two years* credit for
twelve months' provisions on the store of the colony, five acres of his
tract broken, sown and fenced, a log dwelling, and passage money of
himself, wife, and children under eighteen years of age.
Twigg's Landing
In 1849 Thomas Twigg was sent out with full power to purchase
50,000 acres of land.. and as agenl for the society he bought extensive
tracts in the towns of Fort Winnebago. Columbia County, and Mound-
ville, Marquette County. On Section 4, in the northern part of Fort
Winnebago Township on the banks of the Fox River, he opened a
society store and a blacksmith shop, calling the little settlement Twigg's
Landing. The means of transportation across the river was given the
rather high-sounding name of Emancipation Ferry.
DlSBANDMENT OF THE SOCIETY
Hut the English colonists were not yet fully emancipated from their
troubles. The stewards in charge of the store contracted debts which
they could not meet. Suits were brought against the society, judgment
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 87
, ,,,,,,„„! and a levy made upon the more improved lands in the town
of Seott Friends of the parties then living- on the land bought it m
and permitted the occupants to remain thereon. News of this state of
affairs reached England, and confidence was destroyed in the manage-
ment of the society, which soon disbanded. A few of the emigrants
returned to the mother country, but the greater part remained, some
of whom entered other lands in Columbia and adjoining counties and
became substantial citizens.
Inhabitants op County (1846), 1,200
With the spread of the land surveys and the establishment of land
tenures on a solid basis, immigrants came to Columbia County for the
purpose of making permanent homes within its borders; so that by
1846 when it assumed a civic body, there were over 1,200 persons under
the protection of the county government. But before commencing the
story of the political creation of the county, there are several topics
which seem best to be considered as logically belonging to the earlier,
or pioneer era : First, the importance of the portage, as indicated by
various French English and American maps covering more than two
centuries; and secondly, the natural and artificial means of transpor-
tation for which Columbia County has become marked in the develop-
ment of interior Wisconsin.
Columbia County on Early Maps
As early as 1632 Champlain, then at Quebec, drew a map of the valley
of the St ' Lawrence and of the region of the upper lakes— the first
attempt to cover that territory. His delineations of the country to the
westward and the northwestward of Lake Huron were wholly from
Indian reports. Upon this map Fox River is placed to the north ot
Lake Superior and the Wisconsin is rudely given as leading into a
northern sea. There is a narrow space between the two rivers, and
possiblv it had been described to him by the savages.
But the first map of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers and the portage
made with any accuracy was by Father Marquette, and we have seen
how it was made from actual observation. The portage is distinctly
traced and the general course of the two rivers given.
Other maps were published down to 1768, when a very creditable
one in consideration of the circumstances under which it was made,
appeared in the "Travels" of J. Carver, the English voyager already
alluded to. This map locates the "carrying place," and depicts Swan
88 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Lake and traces with much precision the course of Baraboo River along
which Carver passed on his way toward the far Northwest. On the
south side of Lake Puckaway is located the Winnebago Upper Town
and on Sauk Prairie, down the Wisconsin, the "Saukies Child' Town."
At the time Carter drew his map the portage was substantially the
boundary line between the hunting grounds of the Winnebagoes upon
the Fox River and the Sacs on the Wisconsin. But in the course of a
few years the former had crowded the Sacs far down the Wisconsin
River.
In 1830 John Farmer, of Detroit, published a ".Map of the Terri-
tories of Michigan and Ouiseonsin." Fort Winnebago appears as if
situated between the Fox and Wisconsin, while Roi's (Le Roy's) house
occupies the site where the fort was, in fact, located — that is, on the
east side of the Fox. Pauquette's place is designated farther down
the last mentioned stream, but on the west side. The Baraboo River is
noted as Bonibau's Creek, while Duck Creek appears by its proper name,
but in French — Riviere aux Canards. Neenah Creek is put down as
The Fork of the Fox. Winnebago villages are represented down the
Fox and the Wisconsin and upon the Baraboo, but none so near the
Portage of the Ouiseonsin as to bring them within the present bounds
of Columbia County.
In Farmer's revised map of 1836 Fort Winnebago appears in its
correct location, and but one road — the Military — is represented as
leading from it.
The first "Map of Wiskonsin Territory, Compiled from Public Sur-
veys" published in the late '30s, contains a representation of so much
of the present Columbia County as lies east of the Fox and Wisconsin
rivers, the northwest section being still held by the Menominees. Fort
Winnebago is correctly located on the east side of the Fox River, the
Grignon Tract occupying the space between the two rivers. The pro-
posed canal runs from the outlet of Swan Lake to the point on Duck
Creek where the stream is crossed by the main road leading south from
Fort Winnebago. This road continues on to Pauquette, afterward
called Poynette, then in a southwesterly direction toward the Blue
.Mounds. Duck Creek appears as Wauonah River, Rock Run as Taynah
River and Spring Creek as Ockee River. Pauquette is a small village.
A larger one is Ida, on the north side of Swan Lake and a still larger
one De Korra. on the Wisconsin. A road leads out of De Korra due
east into Dodge County, to what is now Horicon, a branch leading in
a more northerly direction toward Pond du Lac.
CHAPTER VII
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
The .Military Road— In Columbia County— Territorial and Other
Highways— Preliminary Survey of the Fox and Wisconsin
Rivers— The Old Portage Canal— The Canal in 1851— New
Canal Completed by the Government — Boscobel Really
Through— Control of Floods by Levee Systems— Cost and His-
tory of Great Public Work— First Dyke Gives Way— Lewiston
Levee Rebuilt — Another Levee to Protect Caledonia and
Portage — Floods of the Wisconsin River — La Crosse & Mil-
waukee Railroad— Reaches Points in Columbia County-
Development of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul —
Chicago & North Western — Wisconsin Central Commenced at
Portage— Completion of Line (1871)— The M., St. Paul &
S. Ste. Marie.
As the Fox and Wisconsin valleys formed the natural highway
connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi, their protection by
the General Government meant everything for the development of
Central and Southern Wisconsin. Hence the construction of Fort
Howard at the eastern terminus, Fort Crawford at the western, and
Fort Winnebago, midway at the portage. For about half of the year
furs and provisions could be transported by water, but the Government
troops passing from post to post, or engaged in movements against
the Indians, had to do the best they could, forcing their way through
uncharted forests, wading through swamps, throwing rough bridges
over swollen streams, and, when they were on the march or called into
active service, being obliged to endure great hardships.
The experiences of the Black Hawk war, and the probability that
there might be further trouble with the Indians before the country
could be considered fairly safe for purposes of settlement, induced
the Government to build a crude military road along the historic Indian
trails up the Fox and down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi.
90 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
The Military Road
Therefore early in 1835, Lewis Cass, then secretary of war, senl
out orders to open, lay out and bridge a road from Fort Howard to
Fort Crawford, via Fond du Lac and Fort Winnebago. The soldiers al
Fort Crawford were to build and bridge this Military Road to Fort
Wi bago; those stationed at Fort Winnebago from their post to the
Fond du Lac River, bridging that stream, and those at Fort Howard
to open the road from their post to Fond du Lac. The garrisons at the
three posts were under the general command of Brigadier Gen. George
M. Brooke, and comprised the Fifth Regiment of the Regular Army.
The active survey and building of the road were entrusted to Lieuten-
ant Centre and James Duane Doty. The latter was then forty-five
years old, and years before, as secretary to Lewis Cass and judge
under appointment of President Monroe, had traveled through the
territory and became especially familiar with the Fox and Wisconsin
valleys. Both were splendid men to put through the Military Road.
In Columbia County
As for Columbia County, the road entered it from the south on
Section 31, Township 10, Range !l east (Town of Arlington), ran in a
northeasterly direction to what is now Poynette, and thence almost
due north to Fort Winnebago. From that post it ran through the
southern sections of the present towns of Fort Winnebago, Marcellon,
Scott and Randolph, to Fox Lake, Dodge County, and thence to Wau-
pun, Fond du Lac and Fort Howard.
It was. as stated, a crude affair, but a great improvement over no
highway whatever. The road was built by cutting through timber
land, clearing a track about two rods wide, ami setting mile stakes. On
the prairies the latter were set and small mounds of earth thrown
up. Where stone could be found, it was used; otherwise the earth was
thrown up. On the marshes and other low places corduroy roads were
made by crossing timbers and covering them with brush and earth.
Territorial and Other Highways
In 1837 a Territorial Road was opened from Fort Winnebago, run-
ning east through the town by that name into Marcellon, thence in a
northeasterly direction into Marquette County, intersecting the Mili-
tary Road at Fond du Lac. This highway has often been mistaken for
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 91
the Military Road, from the fact that during certain seasons of th*
year it was traveled more than the other.
About the same time two roads were opened from the village of
De Korra — one taking an easterly course and intersecting the Military
Road -near Pox Lake; the other running east, through Horicon, Dodge
County, and thence to Lake Michigan, at a point then called Sauk
Harbor (now Saukville, Ozaukee County). This road was surveyed
by the General Government.
Another road was opened from Swan Lake, taking a southeasterly
direction into Jefferson County. From Pauquette (Poynette) a road
was opened south to the City of the Four Lakes, and another, to Madi-
son. These comprised all the mads laid out in the county previous to
1838.
Preliminary Survey of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers
In the following yeai (1839) a preliminary survey of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers was made by Government engineers, with the idea of
finally perfecting a great navigable waterway across the state. Even
ten years before, the subject of the improvement had been agitated,
one of its chief features being the construction of a canal at the portage.
To tell the truth, in a few words, the building of the canal at Portage
City and the construction of a score of hicks along the Fox River
comprise the sum total of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers Improvement,
about which tons of literature have been created. And it has taken
over sixty years to accomplish this. The scheme is a good one. but it
has been terribly bungled.
Changes in Management
Active work was not begun on the Upper Fox until after the admis-
sion of Wisconsin as a state in 1848. in 1853 the governor advised
that as the enterprise was in a hopeless state financially it be incor-
porated as the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers Improvement Company. His
suggestion was followed and in 1854 Congress added to the land grants
which had already been voted by the state to aid the work. In 1856
the company was obliged to reconstruct a portion of the work already
done, but capital was scarce and a little later Eastern capitalists bought
the enterprise and reorganized it as the Green Bay & Mississippi Canal
Company. In 1866, after 680,000 acres of land and $2,000,000 had
gone into the "improvements," the work was turned over to the Fed-
eral Government, and whatever has really been accomplished has been
92 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
by ('nited States cn<jri rici-r-s. To all outward appearances the great
waterway scheme lias been abandoned, although it may be resuscitated,
and of late years the Federal Government has confined its work to the
Lower Fox.
The Old Portage C \.\wl
The harrowing experience of the two-mile canal at Portage is typ-
ical of the general history of the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement. As
early as 1837 a company was chartered as the Portage Canal Com-
pany. The incorporators, owners of the village plat, were Sheldon
Thompson, of Buffalo; DeGarmo Jones, of Detroit; Robert McPherson,
Daniel Whitney, S. P. Griffith and others. Digging for the canal com-
menced in 1838 at a point on the Pox River now cmssed by the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Its course may be described as on the
line of Bronson Avenue about two rods north, entering the Wisconsin
River near Mac Street. Alter $10,000 hail been spent by the company
work was abandoned. Then the scheme slumbered for eight years.
when Congress granted the State of Wisconsin alternate sections of
land for three miles on each side of the Fox River to aid in the build-
ing of locks and the canal. The state accepted the grant and on the
1st of June. 1S4!». work was again commenced under the common-
wealth. But the contractors and the State Board of Public Works
quarreled, the workmen did not get their wages for weeks and some-
times months at a time, and after a couple of years of vexatious com-
plications the canal was again abandoned.
The Canal in 1851
A resident of Portage thus describes the state of affairs in March,
1853 : "The banks of the canal at this place are crumbling before
the thaw, in many places, and falling into the stream. The planking is
in great part afloat. By prompt attention the work done on the canal
may be saved to the state. As it is now it presents a melancholy spec-
tacle of premature decay. The unpaid laborers, lately employed on the
work, whose destitution and wrongs have aroused the indignation and
sympathies of our citizens, will hardly assist in its repair unless they
are secured in their pay, nor will they suffer strangers to lie duped and
wronged as they themselves have been."
Repairs were subsequently made, the water let in, and on May 24.
1851, a boat attempted to pass the canal. The •'attempt" is thus chron-
icled by a local paper: "The beautiful steamer, 'John Mitchell." Dearly
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA OOI'XTY
93
accomplished the feat of passing through the canal at this place on
Saturday last. She came up as far as Main street. As the 'John Mit-
chell' came up the canal, the 'Enterprise' came up the Wisconsin river
to the head of the canal. The blustering rivalry between these inhab-
itants of different waters (the throat of each giving its best puff and
whistle alternately) was quite exhilarating, and called out a large con-
course of citizens to gaze upon the scene presented and make predic-
tions for the future. After a short time boats and citizens withdrew,
amid strains of music, and the noise and confusion were over."
The water was drawn off and the work of strengthening the banks
and bottom, to prevent the quicksand from pouring in and tilling up
n River Lock, Portage
the lied, was proceeded with. But evidently somebody had sadly blun-
dered, for on August 31st the water was let in, and on the following
morning the bottom planking was floating about on the surface. Dur-
ing the next month the high waters of Wisconsin River cut a channel
through the southern bank of the canal, some fifty yards wide and ten
feet deep, and a warehouse, several dwellings, a quantity of lumber and
most of the canal planking were washed into the Fox River.
New Canal Completed by the Government
Virtually no further work
twenty years, or until the Gov<
ts done on the canal for more than
1 1 11*' nt engineers under Colonel Hous-
94 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COl \TY
ton, commenced operations in the fall of 1874. It was virtuallj a new
undertaking. The contractors were Conro, Starke & Company, of
Milwaukee, who commenced work a1 the Lower end of the old canal
channel, using a strain excavator, wheelbarrows and small construction
cars. By June, 1876, the canal had been completed two and a half
miles long, seventy-five feel wide and seven feet from the top of the
revetment to the bed. There was six feel of water.
On the 30th of June, 1876, the United States steamer Boscobel
passed through the canal — the first boat to do so.
As completed, the Portage City lock connects it with the Wisconsin
River, having a lift of nine feet, and the Port Winnebago lock with
a lift of six feet connects it with the Fox River. Between gates, the
locks are thirty-five feel wide and 160 long.
Boscobel Really Through
As a little ite E interest, it may be mentioned that when the con-
tractors turned the canal over to the Government en July 30, 1876,
the party selected to make the trip of inspection comprised Hon. Aha
.Stewart, Hon. R. L. 1). Potter, and Messrs. C. J. Cox. E. E. Chapin,
A. J. Turner, T. L. Kennan. W. D. Fox. Fred W. Schulze, B. S Baker
and John Cable. The trial trip on the Boscobel, which concluded with-
out a hitch, was the natural occasion for the unloading of considerable
history. "•One who was there" remarked: "As the steamer coursed
its way down to the Fox, trains passed by mi the several divisions of
the railroad. For some distance the theme of conversation was the
change wrought in the line of trade ami commerce by the introduction
of steam power, and we all wondered how Louis Joliet regarded it. if
his spirit was floating about in this vicinity, where 203 years before,
on the 17th of June, he had hauled his batteau across this same port-
age on his voyage of discovery, where steamboats ami railroads now
hold sway."
Control of Floods by Levee Systems
But the problems growing out of the natural relations which exist
between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers were not confined to joining
their waters by an artificial channel; a greater one and a more press-
ing problem was how to regulate them so that property and life would
be conserved. With the Wisconsin level eight feet above that of the
Fox at all average stages, and twenty feet, at flood tide, evidently
something had to be done to protect the low lands adjacent to the
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 05
Wisconsin and the entire Upper Fox Valley for a distance of 100 miles.
Hence the Levee System, the most important section of which is the
twenty miles constructed in Portage, the Town of Lewiston northwest
of it. and in Caledonia and Pacific, to the south and southeast. In the
earlier years, commencing with 1882, the system, which extended along
the Baraboo River into Sauk County, was controlled by the General
Government, but since 1901 the work has been supervised by the State
I, eve Commission, of which Leonard S". Smith is chief engineer.
Cost and History of Great Public Work
From first to last fully $150,000 have 1 n expended on the levee
system by the General Government, the state, the towns named, the
City of Portage— about $50,000 by the last named. It is by far the
most important public work prosecuted in Columbia County.
On December 31, 1900, a memorial was presented to Congress,
signed by J. B. Jones, mayor of Portage; Peter A. Paulson, chairman
of Lewiston: Hugh Roberts, chairman of Caledonia, and George Ker-
shaw, chairman of Pacific, asking that the levee system in Columbia
County be inspected, strengthened and enlarged. From this memo-
rial is condensed a history of the great public work, so essential to the
safety of the settlers of the Upper Fox Valley, the City of Portage and
adjacent country.
The territory bordering on the Wisconsin River in Columbia
County for a distance of about ten miles above the City of Portage and
six miles below, is for the greater part so low that in seasons of unusual
floods the adjacent lands were formerly submerged, the waters over-
flowing the right bank of the river expanding across the prairie to the
Baraboo River, and those over the left bank finding an outlet across
the low lands above Portage into the Big Slough, or Neenah Creek,
and thence to the Fox River. The lowest point where the Wisconsin
River first left its banks was about six miles above Portage on its left
bank, where the Big Slough at its course was separated from the river
by a short distance.
First Dyke Gives Way
As the country in the valleys of the Neenah and Fox rivers became
occupied and highways and railroads were constructed, the necessity
for shutting off the discharge of the Wisconsin River into those si reams
became fully apparent, and in 1861 a small dyke was constructed
across the most exposed points, from money arising from the sale of
96 IIISTOKY OF eol.r.MI'.IA COFXTY
reclaimed Government lands in the Town of Lewiston. This dyke
answered its purpose very well, except in emergencies, but during the
high waters of 1880— it was swept away a1 several points. The valleys
of the Xeenah and Fox were converted into a lake 100 miles in length
and several miles in width, inflicting vast damage to owners of prop-
erty and interrupting the running of trains on the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul and the Wisconsin Central lines for from a week to ten days.
Lewiston Levee Rebuilt
Property owners in the devastated district at first charged the dams
at the outlet of Lake Winnebago with being the source of the floods:
but the state saw the matter in its true light, and in 1882 to guard
against a recurrence of the disaster appropriated from its swamp land
fund $6,000 to construct a suitable levee at the exposed places on the
north side of the river above Portage, in the Town of Lewiston. Upon
a survey being made the amount advanced to the General Government
was found to be inadequate, and Congress in the same year, to prevent
further damage to its locks and other improvements along the Fox
River, appropriated another $6,000 to aid in the construction of the
Lewiston Levee. But the President vetoed the bill which embraced this
item, and the measure finally passed cut down the appropriation to
$3,000. But the Town of Lewiston and the County of Columbia applied
what resources they could, although the Lewiston Levee is still consid-
ered the weakest section in the entire system.
Another Levee to Protect Caledonia and Portage
The construction of the levee in Lewiston resulted in throwing the
waters of the Wisconsin that had formerly escaped to the north into
the Fox River, over the lowlands south of the river and so into the
valley of the Baraboo, through which they found their way back into
the Wisconsin River some five miles south of Portage. This result
necessitated the building of a levee by the Town of Caledonia and the
City of Portage, some ten miles in length on the right bank of the
river. This was constructed in 1888. but witli repeated strengthening
was found to be quite inadequate to withstand floods of any severity.
Government Levee, Last of the Svstem
In 1886 Congress passed an act providing for the construction of a
levee on the east bank of the Wisconsin River, in the City of Portage
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 97
and Town of Pacific. At the time of the unusual rise of 1900 the Gov-
ernment engineer requested the mayor to act as his agent, and all
possible efforts were made by the city authorities to preserve the levee
intact. But the river rose to such an unprecedented height that
crevasses occurred in it and much damage followed. During the sum-
mer the breaks were repaired by the Government and strengthened in
some degree, but in a manner quite insufficient to withstand a second
flood later in the season. The upper, or Wisconsin River lock, narrowly
escaped destruction by the terrible floods of 1900. The Fox River lock
was badly shattered.
Since 1901 the state has assumed charge of the levee system and has
appropriated some $60,000, most of the late work being designed to
reconstruct the Government levee which protects the eastern part of
the City of Portage, the Government canal and the four lines of rail-
road radiating therefrom. The last appropriation was made in 1912
and considerable work was accomplished along these lines in 1913.
Floods op the Wisconsin River
That the people of Portage and of the Fox and Wisconsin valleys
had cause for constant alarm before the levee system of Columbia
County was as effective as it is now, will be evident even to those who
have not lived in the threatened, and often ravaged territory, by a
brief review of the seasons when the Wisconsin River has gone on a
rampage and uproariously left its banks. The last occasion for general
alarm was on October 11, 1911, on the afternoon of that day the United
States gauge at Portage recording 12.9 feet, which was within a foot
of the Wisconsin River lock and three-tenths of an inch higher than
the water mark of the 1905 flood. But the levees held, and a news-
paper prediction of what might happen was not especially appalling
to even timid people: "If the rise continues it is likely the water will
go over the levees on the Caledonia side first, and thus relieve the situa-
tion on the city side. The water is now within a foot of the top of the
Wisconsin River lock. A break at the lock would let a big head of
water down the canal and do immense damage, but that is regarded as
almost impossible. The river certainly would go over the levees in
•many places and lower the flood before it could reach the top of the
lock."
The first flood of the Wisconsin at Portage was in 1838. There
were two feet and a half of water on the flat between the Wisconsin
and Fox rivers in the main current between those streams. It is said
that a loaded boat from Galena drawing two feet of water crossed from
98 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
the Wisconsin River to Fort Winnebago. The flat between Portage
and Baraboo was a sea. The water was eighl £ee1 above the low water
mark.
The second very high water occurred in 1845 and lacked one inch
of reaching the mark pf 1838. It occurred in Julj and lasted five days.
The third flood occurred in 1SCG, and was an inch lower than that of
1845. There was also very high water in 1850 and 1852.
111 1880 came the i ord-breaker up to that time. The Portage
Democrat of June 18th, that year, tells why: -'Portage is as oearly
isolated from the outside world as a walled city with the gates closed.
Turn your eyes in whatever direction and tiny rest upon a waste of
water. We can imagine something of the sensation Noah experienced
when he navigated his craft into the harbor on Mt. Ararat. Never
before in the history of floods has so much property hen destroyed
in the vicinity of Portage. The bottom lands between the Wisconsin
and Baraboo rivers are inundated. The levee in Lewiston gave way
Tuesday night. June 15th, and the back water of the Wisconsin now
finds an outlet through Big Slough, down Neenah Creek and into the
Fox River. The plank road is covered inches dee], and the marshes
between that highway and Swan Lake would serve a better purpose as
fish ponds than for cattle grazing. Trains are suspended on all roads
except the old line, and that track is not more than two inches above
the water. Unless the floods soon subside. Portage will be compelled
to adopt the Venetian mode of travel."
During the week of June 14. 1880. the main line of the Milwaukee
Road was flooded between Portage and Kilbourn on Lewiston Marsh,
where the river broke through the levee, and the Democrat of the 18th
says: "A section of the track on Lake George marsh is Hooded and
men are at work night and day barricading against the waves. The
Madison and Portage branch between the main line switch and Wood's
crossing is submerged, and travel on that railroad has been obstructed
several days. The Wisconsin Central is in its worse condition. Not a
train has run above Stevens Point since Wednesday. Three or four
miles beyond Stevens Point the track is built along the bank of the
Wisconsin, and there an engineer lost his life on Tuesday. His family
were sick at the Point and the unfortunate man was drowned trying to
reach them."
In October, 1881, the water reached a height within an inch of the
flood of 1880. The levee at Lewiston again broke on the 4th. and from
that time until the 29th no trains were running on the Milwaukee &
Portage Branch of the Milwaukee Road. The entrance to Portage
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 99
from Caledonia, Fort Winnebago and the plank road was completely-
obstructed for several weeks.
By the evening of April 23, 1900, the river registered 11.6 at Port-
age, overflowing the top of the shorter gauge then in use at the Wiscon-
sin River lock. That afternoon, at 4 o'clock, one hundred feet of
the First Ward Levee near the old toll gate broke out, flooding the
adjacent flats. The strong current setting across the marshes toward
the Fox submerged the Madison branch and cut a 300-ft. gap in the
main line of the Milwaukee Railroad. Fort Winnebago Lock was partly
washed out and had to be rebuilt. . Nearly the whole First Ward was
Flooded District, South from Kilbourn
under water. The flood was held at Wisconsin River Lock only by
erecting embankments of bags filled with sand.
In the fall of 1900 came another flood, on the 9th of October a new
and longer gauge showing 12.5 feet in the Wisconsin at Portage.
Trains were again forced to quit on the Portage and Madison line.
Levees on the south bank broke, and travel between the city and Cale-
donia was suspended.
At 6 P. M., June 11, 1905, the Wisconsin rose majestically to a height
of 12.6 feet, which remained the record until the flood of 1911. By
this time the system especially protective of Portage had been so
extended and strengthened that all the levees held except the one near
the Barden Place, which let several feet of water onto the Caledonia
100 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
low lands. As usual the Madison & Portage Railroad tracks got a
bath from the Duck Creek backwater and several trains were held up.
As stated, although the flood of 1911 was of unprecedented height,
the levee system proved its worth. Outside of Portage the most uneasi-
ness was felt at Kilbourn City, where the waters reached a terrific
volume and battered at the great power dam which is the source of the
electrical supply of Milwaukee'. Portage, Watertown and Kilbourn
itself.
The floods of 1905 and 1911 have fully proven the splendid protect-
ive value of the levee system to the people and the institutions of the
Fox and Wisconsin valleys, not only fixed in Columbia County, but
for miles beyond its borders.
La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad
Having passed in review the chief features of the Columbia County
waterways, natural and artificial, her modern and most important
means of communication remain to be described — her iron ways. A
glance at her map is all that is required to know that the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad is her all-important agency for trans-
portation and communication. The father of the system, which covers
all except one northern township of the county and its southwestern
corner, was the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company. It was
incorporated in 1852. among its organizing commissioners being Hugh
McFarlane, one of the proprietors of the village site of Portage. In
the following year the Milwaukee & Fond du Lac and the Milwaukee,
Fond du Lac & Green Bay railroads were consolidated, and the con-
struction of a line commenced from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac. In
1854 the Milwaukee, Fond du Lac & Green Bay and the La Crosse &
Milwaukee were consolidated under the latter name, proceeding with
the construction of the road already commenced, but turning the line
toward La Crosse.
Reaches Points in Columbia County
The road was completed to Fox Lake on November 1, 1855, to Port-
age, March 14, 1857. and to Kilbourn City, in August of the same year.
This is the branch which enters Columbia County, via Randolph and
Cambria, taking in Pardeeville, and then passing along the northern
shores of Swan Lake, to Portage and Lewiston, and thence to Kilbourn
City. The entire line was opened to La Crosse in October, 1858.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 101
Development of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
In 186.3 the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company was formed
by Ne-w York and Milwaukee capitalists, the corporation having pur-
chased the western division of the La Crosse & Milwaukee line running
between Portage and La Crosse. Their articles of agreement also
stipulated that they might purchase the Milwaukee & Western (Water-
town ) Road, from Milwaukee to Columbus. These and other minor
lines were absorbed by the vigorous Milwaukee & St. Paul, which, in
order to own a through line from Milwaukee to La Crosse, constructed
twenty-eight miles of track from Columbus to Portage. That section
in Columbia County was opened to travel in September, 1864. its sta-
tions beyond Columbus being Fall River, Doylestown, Rio and
Wyoeena.
In 1872 the Milwaukee & St. Paul Company purchased the Chicago
& St. Paul Railroad running from St. Paul to Winona and Crescent,
opposite La Crosse, and in the same year the line was completed
between Chicago and Milwaukee. Then, in February, 1874, by an act
of the Wisconsin Legislature, the name of the company became the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company.
In 1856-7 the La Crosse & Milwaukee Company partly graded a
track for a railroad between Madison and Portage, but with the col-
lapse of that company the work was abandoned. In 1869 a new com-
pany was formed which procured the right-of-way and grade of the
old concern. Principally through the efforts of James Campbell and
R. B. Sanderson the road was completed. On January 8, 1871, a large
delegation of Portage citizens took the first passenger train to Madi-
son over the new line. It was for a time operated by the St. Paul
Company under a lease, and in 1878 that company bought the road out-
right, which now forms the southern division of its system in Columbia
county. Poynette and Arlington are its principal stations.
Chicago & North Western
The Chicago & North Western Railway passes through the south-
western corner of Columbia County for about seven miles. It was
originally a section of the Madison Extension, and still earlier the
Baraboo Air Line. It reached Lodi in 1871. Okee is the only other
station in the county.
102 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
"Wisconsin Central Commenced at Portage
As early as 1864 Congress granted to the State of Wisconsin vari-
ous public lands to aid in the construction of a railroad from Southern
Wisconsin to Lake Superior, Portage City being named as a possible
terminus. After considerable wrangling over the land grant, Portage
was actually named, and the Portage & Superior Company came into
existence. The board was organized at Portage, June 5, 1866, and the first
stake of the road was set in that city, June 15, 1869, after a consolidation
of the Winnebago & Superior and the Portage & Superior. In 1871
the name of the company was changed to the Wisconsin Central.
Completion op Line (1877)
In 1870 the Portage, Stevens Point & Superior Railroad Company
was incorporated, with "W. W. Corning, S. A. Pease, A. J. Turner,
Robert Cochrane, G. L. Park, J. O. Raymond, Seth Reeves, George A.
Neeves and Joseph Wood as directors, for the purpose of building a
road on a direct line from Portage to Stevens Point, to connect with the
land-grant road. On the 3d of December, of the same year, the com-
pany was consolidated with the Portage, Winnebago & Superior Com-
pany, and its route was adopted as the line of the land-grant road. The
legislature of 1876 gave its consent to the change of route, which was
ratified by Act of Congress in the same year. In June of the follow-
ing year the Wisconsin Central Railroad completed its entire line of
330 miles through the state, much of the way through unbroken forest.
The M., St. Paul & S. Ste. Marie
The stretch of the road which runs north from Portage through the
Town of Winnebago is now included in the Minneapolis, St. Paul and
Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Company, which absorbed the
Central System in 1905.
CHAPTER VIII
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
Old Portage County — First Casting of Ballots — Columbia Set Off
from Portage County — First Annual Election — James T. Lewis
Insists on Columbia — The County Officers — Sheriffs — Clerks
of Circuit Court — District Attorneys — County Clerks — County
Treasurers — Registers of Deeds — Coroners — County Surveyors
— Boards of County Commissioners — Chairmen of County Board
of Supervisors — County Seat Fights — Temporary County Build-
ings — First Steps Toward Permanent Courthouse — The Court-
house Completed — County Jail and Sheriff's Residence — Home
for County Insane and Poor — The Circuit Court — Probate and
County Court.
It is not necessary to go further back into the political history of
Columbia County than 1836 ; that is the logical year, in fact. Rowan,
its first permanent settler, established his homestead in 1836, and on
the 7th of December of that year the Territorial Legislature set off
Portage County from Brown and Crawford. A portion of the present
Town of Caledonia remained in old Crawford County, a small slice of
Sauk County with "Sauk Prairie" as its nucleus was included in the
newly created County of Portage, which also included the western tier
of towns in the present Dodge. Otherwise its territory corresponded
with the Columbia County of today.
Old Portage County
In 1838 Portage County was set off into the Town of Lowe, and the
election polls were established at the Indian agency house. But the
polls were never opened, for about a week later the boundaries of
the county were rearranged and the county seat established at Kentucky
City. That town had been platted the year before upon the present
site of De Korra, and thus, for a brief period, snatched the county seat
103
104 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
from Winnebago City, on the south side of Swan Lake, when' it was
established when Portage County was created in 1836. Both wot
among the paper cities which spring up in every new country to com-
pete for the honor of being the "shire town." Kentucky City has some
claims for historical recognition, for it was really the predecessor of
the existent Village of De Korra.
In 1841 the Territorial Legislature so enlarged the boundaries of
Portage County as to include in its territory the present counties of
Columbia, Adams. Juneau. Wood; the eastern portions of Taylor, Price
and Iron, and the western portions of Marquette, Portage, Marathon,
Lincoln and Langlade. The election precincts of the enlarged county
were established at the Franklin House, Portage; Stephen's Mills, at
the Big Bull Falls.
Election precincts for the enlarged county were established, but the
few settlers neglected to vote, and in 1842 the sheriff of Dane County
(to which Portage had been attached for political and judicial purposes)
called an election for choosing the officers of Portage County. The time
set was the fourth Monday in March.
First Casting of Ballots
In April. 1842, the voters selected Plover (now a postoffice a few
miles from Stevens Point. Portage County) as the county seat, its com-
petitor being Fort Winnebago. At the first meeting of the county com-
missioners held at Captain Low's "Franklin House," on the 20th of the
month, three election precincts were established in the territory compris-
ing Columbia County — Columbus, voting place at Stroud and Dickin-
son's mills; De Korra. the house of La Fayette Hill, and the Winnebago
portage, Captain Low's hotel.
Hon. John Q. Adams made the election returns to the county seat at
Plover. About fifty votes were polled in Ibis precinct and one hundred
and twenty-five in the county. The day after the election Mr. Adams
started with the returns. He went as far as Dickason's (Wyocena)
with the Major, the latter on foot and Mr. Adams mounted on a pony.
This was Mr. Adams's first experience in the "ride and tie" mode of
traveling. One rode a couple of miles or more, tied his horse to a blazed
tree and walked along the trail until he was overtaken and passed, and
afterward came up with the horse tied and waiting for him. This was
not a sociable way of journeying, and often the party overtaken would
trot along Inside bis mounted friend to get a few minutes' chat. One
day on the trail satisfied Mr. Adams that it was hardly worth while for
him to take a trip of 100 miles to carry the returns of fifty votes,
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 105
and handed his papers over to Charles Temple, who was going with the
returns of the Winnebago Precinct — a proceeding which would hardly
be tolerated in these days, when such strict safeguards are thrown around
the ballot box to protect it from tamperers.
Columbia Set Off from Portage County
On February 3, 1846, the Territorial Legislature set oft' Columbia
County from Portage, and provided for its civil and judicial organiza-
tion on May 1st following. Its bounds were the same as the present,
except the northwestern portion between the Fox and Wisconsin riv-
ers, which was still included in the Indian lands of the Menominees.
At the election in April, Solomon Leach, John Q. Adams and John
Langdon were elected county commissioners, and on July 16, 1846,
Messrs. Leach and Adams met at the house of Major Elbert Dickason
at Wyocena and organized the board. Mr. Leach was elected chairman
and James C. Carr, clerk. The only business transacted was the forma-
tion of eight precincts for the fall election, "without any particular
authority,*' as the chairman afterward declared.
The election precincts are here enumerated, as the "judges of elec-
tion" include most of the leading citizens of the county in 1846. For
the LeRoy Precinct the election was to be held at the house of Oliver
Langdon, with Nathan Griffith, James Buoy and Irwin McCall as judges
of election; Columbus Precinct, at the house of A. P. Birdsey, Asa
Proctor, J. T. Lewis (afterward Wisconsin's W<ar governor), and Jere-
miah Drake, judges of election: Dyersburgh Precinct, at the house of
Landy Sowards, who. with -Jonathan E. Haight and Henry Pellet, were
named as judges; Lowville Precinct, at the house of Jacob Low, with
William Young, Henry Herring and Stephen Brayton, judges of elec-
tion; De Korra Precinct, at the house of LaFayette Hill — Joshua W.
Rhodes, John Springer ami Thomas Swearingen, judges of election ;
Pleasant Valley Precinct, election at the house of Marston Bartholomew
— election judges, Mr. Bartholomew-, Aaron Chalfant and J. Maynard;
Winnebago Portage Precinct, at the house of Gideon Low, with Henry
Merrell. Richard F. Veeder and Daniel D. Robertson as judges; and the
Wyocena Precinct, at the house of Elbert Dickason — Charles Spear,
Darius Bisbee and Harvey Bush, election judges.
First Annual Election
On the first .Monday of September (7th), 1846, the first annual elec-
tion was held for legislative, county and precinct offices. Whig and
106 BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
democratic tickets were in the field, and the result of the election was
"honors even," as witness: Territorial Council, .Mason C. Darling
(democrat); House of Representatives, Eugh McFarlane (democrat)
and Elisha Morrow (democrat I ; members of the Constitutional Conven-
tion, Jeremiah Drake (whig) and LaFayette Hill (whig) ; probate judge,
Silas Walsworth (whig), who refused to qualify, and .lames T. Lewis
(whig) was appointed in his place; sheriff, Thomas C. Smith 'demo
crat) ; clerk of board of county commissioners. Nelson Swart out (whig),
who resigned in favor of Wayne B. Dyer (whig) ; treasurer, -lames ('.
Can* (whig); collector. John Swarthont (democrat 1 : register of deeds,
Elbert Dickason (democrat) ; surveyor, Albert Topliff (whig) ; coroner,
Daniel 10. Bassetl (whig); county commissioners, H. K. Veeder (whig),
Nathan Griffin (whig) and John D. McCall (whig).
This election was believed to be void, as it was held under the action
of tin- hoard of commissioners chosen in April. There was some doubt
about the legality of their election, but everybody, including the mem-
bers themselves, were quite positive that they had no authority to divide
the county into election precincts. So in February, 1847, the Legisla-
ture legalized the election of the previous September. Consequently
Columbia County was fully and firmly organized.
The title of the Menominee Indians having been extinguished, a legis-
lative act was passed in 1849 taking in their former territory between
the Fox and "Wisconsin Rivers, thus giving the county its present form
and area.
James T. Lewis Insists on "Columbia"
To James T. Lewis is generally accorded the credit of fixing the
name of Columbia on the county. But it had a narrow escape from
"York." Mr. Lewis, of Columbus, presented a strong petition for
"Columbia;" but Wayne 15. Dyer, at Otsego, and some of the settlers
at Portage, forwarded a somewhat larger petition for "York." The bill,
thus christening the county, was about to pass, when Mr. Lewis, with
characteristic pertinacity, induced the members to vote for an amend-
ment striking out "York" in favor of "Columbia."
The County Officers
The territory thus named and legally organized has been well gov-
erned, judicially and civilly, with the following as its principal officials:
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
107
Shi
1847-4S— T. Clark Smith
1849-50— Jacob Low
1851-52 — Alexander McDonald
1853-54 — Perry Lee
1855-56— S. C. Higbie*
1857-58— Edward P. Lewis
1859-60— Benjamin Williams
1861-62— William W. Drake
1863-64— Nathan Hazen
1865-66— P. Pool
1867-6S— S. K. Vaughan
1869-70— 0. H. Sorrenson
1ST 1-72— P. Pool
1873-74— William W. Drake
1875-76— J. O. Prescott
1877-7S— A. H. Russell
1879-80— Jonas Conklin
1881-82 — T. II. Jurgerson
1883-84— D. G. Williams
1885-86 — I. W. Leffingwell
1887-88 — R. ('. Falconer
1889-90— J. R, Nashold
1891-92— P. C. Irvine
1893-94— William H. Parry
1895-96— Hugh Hall
1897-98— Ole M. Bendixen
1899-00— Lewis Leith
1901-02— J. C. MaeKenzie
1903-04— E. P. Ashley
1905-07— Don C. French
1908-09— H. II. Hawkos
1910-11— J. W. Dalton
1911-12— Ferdinand Voth
1913 -Win. K. McKenzie
Clerks of Circuit Court
1847
1848-
1851
1854
1855
1857
1859
1861
1863
1866
'-48 — Henry Merrell (clerk of
1872-78— S. M. Smith
District Court)
1879-82— S. S. Lockhart
!-50 — Josiah Arnold
1882-86— J. H. Wells
--53 — James Delaney, Jr
•11
1887-88— L. E. Greenleaf
[ —A. W. Delaney
1889-90— Peter Williams
i-56— S. K. Vaughan t
1891-92— Frank M. Shaughnessy
-58— S. K. Vaughan
1893-96— A. S. Crouch
)-60— A. Morehouse
1897-00— Evan O. Jones
-62†” A. J. Turner
1901-06— Clifford H. Crothers
!-65— H. M. Haskell X
1907-08— Louis B. Morse
> — J. Chancellor (to fill va-
1909-10— A. H. Proctor
cancy)
1911 —David D. Owen
■-71— C. A. Dibble ||
* Election contested and office awarded to George Robinson.
1[ Drowned May 31. 1853, and A. W. Delaney appointed to fill vacancy.
t Certificate given to A. W. Delaney, but office given to S. K. Vaughan on a
contest.
} Resigned and James Chancellor appointed to fill vacancy
|| Resigned and S. M. Smith appointed to fill vacancy December 6, 1871.
HISTORY OF COM .MIMA COIN TV
District Attorneys
18-17-48— James T. Lewis
1849-50—1). J. M. Loop
L85] 52— Amasa G. Cook
1853-56— Luther S. Dixon
1857-60— Levi W. Barden
1861-64— Israel Holmes
1865-66— Gerry W. Hazelton
1867-68— John T. Clark
1 869-74— Emmons Taylor
1875-80— J. H. Rogers
1881 M II. II. Curtis
1885 86— Thomas Armstrong, Jr.
1887-88— J. S. Maxwell
1889-94— W. S. Stroud
1895-98— W. G. Coles*
1899-06— H. E. Andrews
190,7-08— Henry A. Gunderson
1909-10— Royal P. Clark
1911 —David Rogue
County ( Ilerks f
1846 — James C. Carr
1847 — Wayne R. Dyer (ap-
pointed in place of
Nelson Swarthout)
1848 —James C. Carr
1849 —James R. Eaton
1851-54— Alvin B. Alden
1855-58— Thomas R. Daslam
1859-62— Julius Austin
1863-68— Harvey H. Rust
1869-74— Ogden A. Southmayd
1875-80— L. S. Rolleston
1881-86— Wm. R. Smith
1887-90— Chas. C. Dow
1891-92— Frank R. Ernsperger
1893-96— Richard Pritchard
1897-00— D. R. Marshall
1901-06— Robert J. Hughes
1907-08— Wm. O. Cordy
1909 — E. E. Price
County Treasurers
1847 — lames C. Carr
1848-49— William J. Ensign*
1850 51 — Stephen Rrayton
1852-54— Harrison S. Haskell
1 855 — Horace Rust t
1857-60 — George Ege
1861-66— LI. Rreese
1867-68 — Lewis Low
1869-72— Miles T. Alverson
1873-76— Oliver H. Sorrenson
1877-80— Henry Neef
1881-88— ('. A. Colonius
1889 92— J. A. Johnson
1893-96 -lames R. Hastie
- Died and W. S. Stroud appointed to fill vacancy,
t Title of this office was first "Clerk of the Board of County Co
changed to "Clerk of the Board of Supervisors" in 1848 and to "County Clerk"
•Stephen Brayton was elected in 1849, but Mr. Ensign claimed to lioM over.
He filed his resignation December 10, 1850, and the board appointed Isaiah Koliinson
to fill the vacancy. The contest was decided in favor of Mr. Brayton.
t Office contested and awarded to M. M. Ege.
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
109
County Treasurers — cant in in <l
1897-00— Byron Kinnear 1909-12-
1901-06— Thomas V. Dunn 1913
1907-08— Julius F. Kluender
-John Luck
-William J. Dunn
Registers of Deeds
1847 —Elbert Dickason
1849 —A. A. Brayton
1849-50— F. F. Faruham
1851-52 — Josiah Arnold
1853-56— William Owen
1857-58— D. F. Neweomb
1859-62— James Chancellor '
1863-66— Abner H. Smead
1867-74— Thomas Yule
1875-76— Joseph Schseffer
1877-80— George Yule
1881-84— Z. J. D. Swift
1885-86— II. H. Tongen, Jr. t
1887-90— John W. Brown
lS!)0-i)4— John II. Dooley
1895-98— Arthur A. Porter
1899-02— Ole Johnson
1902-08— C. II. Smith
1909-10— L. E. Nashold
1911 — G. W. Morrison
1847-50— Daniel E. Bassett
1851-54 — Isaac Smith
1855-56 — Erastus Cook
1857-58— H. S. Haskell
1859-62— Geo. W. Marsh
1863-64— Marcus Barden
1865-66— Carl Schneider
1867-68—0. H. Sorrenson
1869-70— Charles Earley
1871-76— Z. J. D. Swift
1877-78 — William Snoad
1879-80— Z. J. I). Swift
1881-S4— Geo. W. Marsh
1885-88— B. M. Allen
1889-90— N. J. Currier
1891-92— John Collins, Jr.
1893-01— B. M. Allen
1901-09— Wm. G. Bunker
1910-12— Frank Heidt
1913 —Charles E. MeSorley
1847-48— A. Topliff
1849-50— N. P. Foster
1851-52— A. Topliff
1853-54 — John Thomas
County Surveyors
] 855-56 — George M. Bartholomew
1857-60— A. Topliff
1861-62— Rensler Cronk %
1863-66— A. Topliff
* Office declared vacant in November, 1862, by reason of Mr. Chancellor s
absence from state and A. H. Smead appointed to fill vacancy.
t Mr. Tongen died in February, 18S6, and Z. J. D. Swift appointed to fill
vacancy.
J Killed in battle and Alfred Topliff appointed July 26, 1862, to fill vacancy.
110
HISTOKY <>F COUAIBIA COIXTY
County Surveyors — continued
1867-68— Jonathan Whitney L879 80- Henry .Meriton
1869-70— E. Corning 1881-82— B. Corning
1870 —H. Meriton f 1883-90 C. E. Corning
1871-72— F. A. Brown 1891-92— E. Corning
1878-74— G. M. Bartholomew 1893 08— Charles E. Corning
1875-76— Henry Meriton 1909-10— Frank S. Clark
1S77-78— G. M. Bartholomew
191]
-Charles E. Corning
Board op County Commissioners
While the county was nuclei- the territorial form of government its
affairs were administered by a board of county commissioners. The
boards Were constituted as follows:
1846 — Solomon Leach, John Q. Adams. John Langdon
1847— R. F. Veeder, Nathan Griffin, J. D. McCall
1848 — John Q. Adams. J. .1. Guppey, G. M. Bartholomew
1849 — lames < '. Carr, LaPayette Hill, John O. Jones
AIRMEN ()F CoL'NTY IioARI) OF Sri'KRVISOKs
1849— Alfred A. Brayton
1850 — Jeremiah Drake
1851-52— Joseph Kerr
1853 — Jesse Van Ness
1854— F. C. Curtis
1855— M. W. Patton
1856— F. C. Curtis
1S57— Peter Van Ness
1858-59— -J. C. Carr
1860-61— W. N. Baker
% 1862— Levi W. Barden, Charles
L. Brown, Marcus Barden
1863 — Levi W. Barden, Marcus
Barden, Charles L. Brown
1864— W. W. Drake. Marcus Bar-
den, Geo. M. Bartholomew
1865— "W. W. Drake, Marcus Bar-
den, Ceo. M. Bartholomew
1866— W. W. Drake, Marcus Bar-
den, Edward F. Lewis
1S67— Marcus Barden, W. W.
Drake, Edward F. Lewis
1868— Edward F. Lewis. Marcus
Harden. W. W. Drake
1869— W. W. Drake, G. M. Barth-
olomew, John Meredith
1870 — Geo. M. Bartholomew. John
Meredith, Ira H. Ford
1870— A. J. Turner fl
1871— W. M. Griswold
1872-76— A. J. Turner
1877-79— J. R. Decker
only.
â– In place of E. Corning resigned.
* Mr. Langdon failed to qualify.
: The board of supervisors was constituted from lSili t" I S70 of tlin
[ From June of that year.
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 111
Chairmen of County Board of Supervisors — continued
1880-81— M. T. Alverson 1898-99—11. J. Fisk
1882-83— Addison Eaton 1900-02— John Scott
1884-85— J. R, Decker 1903-04-^W. C. Leitsch
1S86 —Lester Woodard 1905-06— B. L. Tifft
1SS7-S9— J. H. Rogers 1907-08— W. R. Chipmau
1890 —James B. Taylor 1909-10^1. T. Henton
1891-92— R. N. McConoehie 1911-12— R. E. York
1893-95— Mic Adams 1913 — G. S. Lashier
1896-97 — Salmon Brown
County Seat Fights
Like every county recorded in history, Columbia had its exciting and
indecisive county seat fights. At the April election of 1816, following
its birth in February, the voters endeavored to select a county scat, but
as six rivals were in the field none had a majority. Columbus received
97 votes, Winnebago Portage 49, and Duck ('reck (Wyocena) 47, with
the others trailing in this way: De Korra, 33; Dyer's (Otsego) 10. and
Van Dner (Bendure's) 3. As there was no choice and Wyocena was
the most convenient point of assemblage for the majority of the voters
in the county, an act was passed at the 1S47 session of the Legislature
declaring the county seat temporarily located there, and providing for
a vote on the question at each annual election until some place should
receive a majority.
The Decisive Vote (1851)
Then, in 1848, an act was passed providing that the county seat of
justice should be at Columbus for a term of five years. So that Wyocena
and Columbus were temporary county seals until April, 1851, when the
permanent location was decided by popular vote in favor of Fort Winne-
bago. The legislative act under which the election was held provided
that if the latter should not receive a majority of the votes cast the
county seat should be permanently established at Wyocena, This move
was therefore considered as settling the fight between the chief rivals
forever; and from present appearances it is "not likely that the popular
decision then made will be reversed.
The vote "for" or "against" Fort Winnebago was as follows:
112 BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Yes. No.
Portage Prairie 20 43
Springvale 1 82
Wyocena 1 182
De Korra 90 22
Otsego 2 79
Fountain Prairie 95
Columbus 11 !» 50
Hampden 36 35
Kossuth 47 37
West Point 32 7
Lodi 41 6
P'ort Winnebago 141 9
Port Hope 32 7
Marcellon 92 3
Scott 17 57
Randolph 69 32
Lowville 11 57
1,096 796
Temporary County Buildings
After it had been definitely decided that Portage was to be the per-
manent seat of justice, a deed was made to the county by Webb &
Bronson, owners of the village site, conveying Block 180 (now occupied
by the county jail and sheriff's residence) for a courthouse ami any
other buildings which might be necessary in the transaction of official
business and judicial procedures. But some years were to elapse before
tbe ei mnty was to have its own official home.
The county records were moved from Columbus to Portage in 1851,
and until 1856 the officials occupied the upper part of Lemuel Berry's
store on the east side of the canal. It stood on the northeast corner of
Cook and Pleasant streets and was afterward bought by the city to house
its lire apparatus. From tbe Berry store the county officers moved
their records to Vandercook's building, where all remained until the
completion of tbe present courthouse in the fall of 1865.
First Steps Toward Permanent Courtiiocse
In 1861 the Board of Supervisors officially brought up the court-
house matter by appointing a committee to report upon the general
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 113
subject of county buildings. The members consisted of Hugh Jamieson,
G. H. Osborn and E. H. Wood, who made their report in November,
showing that the county was paying a rental of $1,400 per annum for
its official accommodations and recommending that a sum not to exceed
$12,000 be expended in permanent buildings. The report was laid on
the table, and the subject rested for two years.
In 1863, after the county board bad been reduced to three members,
the subject was resuscitated. At the historic meeting in which it came
up, never to be again buried, two supervisors were present — L. W. Har-
den and Cbarles L. Brown — and the deputy clerk of the board, A. J.
Turner, who tells the story of the birth of the present courthouse : "The
business of the board having been about completed, the writer of this,
who was acting as deputy clerk of the board, motioned Judge Barden
aside and suggested to him that the question of county buildings ought
to be presented to the board. He laughingly replied that he didn't think
it would lie of any use to do so, but it might be well enough to agitate it.
Returning to the board. 1 drew the following resolution, which Mr. Bar-
den submit teil :
•' "Resolved, That the sum of eight thousand dollars be levied and
raised in the same manner that other comity Uixes are raised, for the
purpose of building a courthouse, and that the same be paid over to the
county treasurer, and held by him, subject to the order of the Board of
Supervisors, for the purpose aforesaid.'
"The question was put on its adoption and Supervisor Brown voted
aye: Supervisor Barden remained silent and the chairman declared the
resolution adopted, and it was so minuted in the journal.
"The next, day, December 9th, the last act of the board before adjourn-
ing, was the adoption of the following resolution, which was presented
by Supervisor Brown :
" 'Resolved, That L. W. Barden, chairman of the Bonn! of Super-
visors, be and is hereby instructed to procure plans and specifications
for a courthouse, and receive proposals for a site for the same, which
shall be submitted to the board at its next meeting.'
"Such were the initial steps taken for the erection of the courthouse
which Columbia County possesses, accomplished by a single vote."
The Courthouse Completed
The initiatory steps toward building were taken soon afterward, and
in February, 1864, a contract was let to Carnagie & Prescott for building
a courthouse to cost $17,830. The site was presented by the citizens
of Portage. Work was commenced in the spring of that year and the
114
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
building was completed in the fall of 1865, at the contract price. With
the side-walks, iron fence (since removed i, grading, trees and other
improvements, the county expended about $26,000 on the courthouse
property. At the time of its erection the Columbia County Courthouse
was considered a tine building for the purpose and, with steam heating,
modern lighting and sanitary arrangements, as well as thorough interior
reconstruction, it is still convenient but not fully adequate to the require-
ments of the county. After Brown County, to winch Columbia was
attached so long, it was, in 1865, the only courthouse of any pretensions
in the state. Surmounted by a well-proportioned dome and a large
(colossal, it was then called) statue of Justice, this two-story building
of cream colored brick was a commendable pride to the county seat.
Courthouse, Shortly After Its Erection
In 1895 a small fireproof building was erected on the courthouse
square for the protection of the invaluable papers and records in care
of the register of deeds.
County Jail and Sheriff's Residence
The county jail and sheriff's residence are about- half a mile from the
courthouse, standing on the block donated by Webb & Bronson for
county purposes. A jail was first erected in 1851 by H. McNeil. It
was a two-story stone building with cells in the upper part and the
sheriff's dwelling in the lower. The building was destroyed by fire in
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 115
1864, and in the following year Carnagie & Prescott, the courthouse con-
tractors, completed a substantial stone jail, its "parade grounds" sur-
rounded by a high brick wall, and a sheriff's residence fronting it,
consisting of a well-arranged two-story brick structure. But even these
quarters were outgrown, and in 1887 a new jail and sheriff's residence
were erected at a cost of over seventeen thousand dollars. Both the
buildings and surrounding grounds have been well maintained.
Home for County Insane and Poor
i
The County Insane Asylum and Poor Home at Wyoeena are housed
in a substantial two-story brick structure, with wrings, and a large sepa-
rate wooden building. The buildings set well back from the street in the
center of an 8-acre tract. A short distance north of the village is a
40-acre farm, so that the able-bodied inmates of the home are furnished
healthful employment as well as contribute to the maintenance of the
institution.
Prior to 1858 the care of the poor of Columbia County was vested
in the towns, whose officers provided homes for all the unfortunates
within their jurisdiction, the maintenance of the poverty-stricken being
paid out of a town fund set aside for that purpose.
On November 3d of the year mentioned the County Board of Super-
visors voted to abolish the town system, and measures were taken to
establish a county institution. Daniel White. John Q. Adams and
H. W. Roblier were appointed superintendents of the poor, and $1,500
was appropriated to aid them in their duties. The old Exchange Hotel,
with one acre of land, was purchased, and on December 30, 1858, it was
opened for the care of the county poor and insane. Brick additions
were made in 1867 and 1878. In 1872 there were twenty-six inmates
of the home, of whom eleven were insane, and the cost of caring for
them was over four thousand dollars, including the $400 salary of Hugh
Hill, the overseer, aud $200 paid other help. The number of inmates
in 1879 was ninety-eight, of whom sixteen were insane.
Insane Asylum Erected
The proportion of insane patients had gradually increased so that
by the early '80s it was evident that some special provision must be
made for them. In 1882, therefore, the east wing of the present insane
asylum was completed. This is now' the male ward, but for ten years
served as sleeping apartments for both men and women. In 1892 the
116 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNT!
administration building and the west wing were completed, and the
entire struetnre is solid and attractive.
On the 3rd of November, 1858, the County Board of Supervisors
voted to abolish the town system of earing for its poor. At the same
session Daniel White, John Quincy Adams and II. W. Roblier were ap-
pointed superintendents. The Old Exchange Hotel, together with one
acre of land in the village of Wyocena, was purchased and the home for
Columbia county's poor was established. In 1878 a two-story brick
structure was erected and used for quarters for the insane. In 1885 the
present fine County [nsane Asylum was erected and additional buildings
have been erected and many valuable improvements mad!. The first
County Asylum and Poor Homk, Wyocena
superintendents were Daniel White. II. W. Roblier. John Quincy Adams.
Mr. White was succeeded by Geo. Wall of Portage, he by W. W. Corn-
ing and he by .John Graham, he by II. L. Bellinghansen. Mr. Roblier
was succeeded by Alan Bogue of Arlington. Mr. Adams was succeeded
by E. E. Jones, he by J. A. Ehrhart and he by E. W. Richards. So that
the present board is Alan Bogue, E. W. Richards and II. L. Belling-
hansen.
The Board which was long in existence and to whom the county is
greatly indebted in the care and management of its poor and insane
was John Quincy Adams of Columbus, who served forty-five years:
John Graham of Portage, who served thirty-one years, and Alan Bogue of
Poynette, who is serving his 30th year. Under their management the
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 117
institution became one of the first in the state, and upon their recom-
mendation many broad acres were added to the original one acre farm.
The overseers and matrons who have been in charge of the institution
are Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Muggleton, Mr. and Mrs. B. Miller, Mr. and
Mrs. S. C. Cushman.
The 124 inmates of the asylum and the 86 who are in the home
are faithfully eared for by the superintendent, S. C. Cushman and his
wife, the matron, with efficient and adequate help. The trustees are
Alan Bogue, president of the board; E. W. Richards, vice president,
and H. L. Bellinghausen, secretary. The attending physician is
Dr. A. V. de Neveu. There is about three thousand dollars in the treas-
ury, the farm having largely contributed to the good financial condition
of the institution. The live stock includes fifty Holsteins and over
ninety swine, with a fair assortment of chickens. Good crops of corn,,
oats, hay and cloverseed arc raised, as well as all kinds of vegetables, and
quite a neat sum is realized by the sale of eggs and dressed beef, pork,,
chickens and ducks, although the local consumption is considerable.
The state is generous in contributing to the maintenance of the asy-
lum. The Legislature has lately inn-cased its weekly allowance per
inmate from $1.50 to $1.75 for those resident in the county, and from
$3.00 to $3.50 for foreign patients. The increase of late years in the
weekly cost per capita is more attributable to the better treatment of
the insane than to the rise in the cost of living; in 1903 this weekly cost
for the Columbia County asylum was $1.35, and in 1912, $2.46.
The Circuit Court
Under the territorial form of government, from 1836 to 1848, Colum-
bia County was at various periods in the First, Second and Third Judicial
districts. But it made little difference, practically, whether it fell in
one judicial jurisdiction or another until well along in the '40s, when
the population of the county was about 2,000 and the three hundred or
more mature males felt that they were entitled to a local "sitting."
It was after the organization of Columbia County that the first ses-
sion of court was held within its limits. It was then in the Second
Judicial District and sittings began August 30, 1847, with David Irvin
on the bench. The court was held at Fort Winnebago, in a store attached
to the Franklin House kept by Captain Low. The names of the first
grand jury empaneled were Morell Stroud, Jerome B. Fargo, LaFayette
Hill, Edward J. Smith, John Converse, Benjamin F. Stanton, Isaac B.
Hancock. Jonathan E. Haight, Perry Griffith, Chauncey Spear, Samuel
118 HISTORY OF COLI'MHIA (Ol'XTV
Gibson, .Joseph Edwards. Albert Pease, Horace Dodge, Enos Grant,
F. K. Haskins, Job W. Perry, W. I',. Dyer and William W. Drake.
On the first day of the session Owen Powderly was naturalized. The
first ease on the docket was Lorenzo Bevans vs. Andrew Dunn, in
assumpsit, which was continued, and the next was of a similar nature
(Youngs Allen vs. .Miami York), in which the plaintiff recovered, by
default of the defendant, $64.73.
When Wisconsin became a state in 1848 it was divided into five judi-
cial circuits, Columbia County being included in the Third. In 1855 it
was attached to the Ninth, where it remained until 1906, since which it
has been in the Eighteenth. The first term of the Circuit Court for
Columbia County commenced May 21, 1849, Chief Justice Stow presid-
ing. The first case tried was John Converse vs. Martin Hoffman, in
error from a justice's court; judgment affirmed. The grand jury was
as follows: John Hasey, Thomas D. Wallace, Cornwall Esmond, Isaac
Requa, William 6. Simons. Benjamin A. Hagamen, Sylvanus Langdon,
Dearborn Taylor. Linus Blair, Martin Porter, Hugh MeFarlane, John
Q. Adams, Lucius Warner, Thomas Swarthout, Ascar F. Hamilton,
Benjamin Sage, Cyrus Smith, Joseph Farrington, Edward J. Smith and
Israel Sales.
Among the best known judges who presided over the old Ninth Cir-
cuit were Alexander L. Collins, Luther S. Dixon, Harlow S. Orton, Alva
Stewart, Robert G. Seibeeker and E. Ray Stevens. Chester A. Fowler
was elected the first judge of the Eighteenth Circuit and still occupies
the bench.
Probate and County Court
Until January 1, 1850, the court having jurisdiction over the settle-
ment of estates of deceased persons and of the appointment of guardians
to minors, spendthrifts, idiots and insane persons, was called the Pro-
bate Court. After that date it was called the County Court.
The probate and county judges who have served Columbia are as
follows :
1847 — Silas Walsworth * 1865-80— Joshua J. Guppey
1847^8— James T. Lewis 1881-92— Levi W. Barden
1849 —Moses R. Cobbt 1893-98— J. B. Taylor t
1850-56— Joshua J. Guppey 1898-1910— W. S. Stroud
1857-60— Guy C. Prentiss 1910 — Alonzo F. Kellogg
1861-64 — John T. Clark (Now six-year term)
* Refused to qualify and James T. Lewis appointed.
t Resigned and Joshua J. Guppey appointed September 29, 1849, to fill vacancy.
} Died September 25, 1898, and W. S. Stroud appointed to fill vacancy.
CHAPTER IX
MISCELLANEOUS COUNTY MATTERS
Household Population (1846) — Population in 1847 — Figures by
Decades (1850-1910) — Real Estate and Personal Property (1875)
- — Agricultural Interests — Conditions Thirty Years Ago — Con-
ditions of the Present — A Splendid Dairy County — Creameries
in Columbia County — Cheese Factories — Live Stock — County
Agricultural Society — Fish Fair and Secretary's Report — Co-
lumbia County Fair Association — Curling in Columbia County
There are some miscellaneous matters, chiefly statistical, which can-
not be well grouped, but which are necessary to be presented in order
to get a general view of the county before proceeding to develop classi-
fied topics and the histories of the towns, cities and villages.
Household Population (1846)
The first census in the county was taken in June, 1846, by Hugh Mc-
Farlane, assisted by William Donaghue. The names of the householders
only were taken, with the number of inmates of each household. The
county was diveded between the two so that McFarlane took as his terri-
tory what are now the towns of Fountain Prairie, Otsego, Lowville,
De Korra, Lodi, Arlington, Leeds, Hampden and Columbus, with the
city of Columbus; also the south half of Caledonia and one tier of sections
off the east side of West Point. In this area he found 1,269 persons—
705 white males and 564 white females, the largest households being
those headed by S. Brayton (12), Henry Botman (12), Nels Olson (12),
Christopher Hughes (12), James Wilson (11), Nehemiah Alten (10),
James McCloud (10), Benjamin Sage (9), S. W. Herring (9), William
Randall (9), Thomas Robertson (9), Jacob Dickenson (9), and W. B.
Dyer, Calvin Martin, Jacob Low, Tossen Parr, Tess Pearson, Sjur
119
120 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
Sturken, George Bradley, Elisha Town and Asa Proetorj each with a
family circle oi' ( > s .
Donaghue's territory included what arc now the towns of Courtland,
Springvale, Wyocena, Paeifie, the north half of Caledonia and ail of
Lew 1st. hi except three tiers of sections off its west side. Port Winnebago
and the City of Portage, and Marcellon, Scott and Randolph. In this
division were 700 persons — 438 white males, 261 white- females and 1
male negro. The largest households were those of Hugh McParlane (30),
11. Carpenter (24). William Jones (13), Job W. Perry (13), Benjamin
Dodge (11), Ephraim Blood (11), Nathan Griffin (9), John Eagadore
(8), Elbert Dickason (9), Samuel McConochie (10), Aaron Powell i 10),
Gideon Low (9), M. W. Patton (8), Powell Stein (8), John Converse
(Si. and Richard F. Veeder (8).
The total population of the county in June, 184(5. was therefore 1,969
— 1,143 white males and 825 white females, one gentleman of black color,
and several hundred Winnebagoes.
Population in 1847
The census of the county was taken the second time in June, 1847.
James T. Lewis was the chief enumerator and had five assistants. The
increase in population was quite surprising, assuming that the enumera-
tions of both years were substantially correct. The count was taken by
precincts and resulted as follows:
White
Precinct — Males.
Columbus 514
De Korra 104
Wyocena 253
LeRoy 515
Dyersburg 238
Winnehago Portage 102
Pleasant Valley 110
Lowville 190
White
Colored
Females.
Males.
Total.
435
949
97
201
222
475
464
1
980
228
466
61
1
164
93
203
163
353
Total 2,026 1,763 2 3.791
Figures bi Decades (1850-1910)
There was a gradual increase of population up to the period of the
Civil war. and for more than thirty years thereafter it remained almost
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 121
stationary. It was 9,565 in 1850; 24,-141 in 1860; 28,802 in 1870; 28,065
in 1880, and 28,810 in 1890.
The numerations made by the United States census takers for the
years ending the last three decades indicate the following:
Divisions — 1910
Arlington, town 816
Caledonia, town 1,087
( lambria, village '. 657
( Jolumbus, city 2,523
Ward 1 1,020
Ward 2 712
Ward 3 791
Columbus, town 760
Courtland, town 886
I )c Iviui-a, town 842
Doylestown, village 259
Fall River, village 360
Port Winnebago, town 626
Fountain Prairie, town 990
Eampden, town 800
Kilbouru City, village 1,170
Leeds, town 1,055
Lewiston, town 799
Lodi, town 716
Lodi, village 1,044
Lowville, town 758
Marcellon, town 853
Newport, town 534
Otsego, town 866
Pacific, town 281
Pardeeville. village 987
Portage, city 5,440
Ward 1 580
Ward 2 1.06S
Ward 3 848
Ward 4 1,357
Ward 5 1,587
Poynette, village 656
Randolph, towu 1,087
Randolph, village (west ward) 248
1900
1890
794
828
1.1 ss
1,336
561
524
2,349
1.977
744
800
820
815
908
869
"665
646
1,409
1,315
SS7
816
1,134
961
1.214
1,171
901
936
750
639
1,068
736
784
733
882
845
585
487
1,226
1.127
2S9
255
788
5,459
5.143
633
517
953
880
pto
79
122 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Total for Randolph, village, in Co-
lumbia and Dodge Counties 937 738
Rio, village 704 479
Scott, town 796 811
Springvale, town 735 751
West Point, town 663 743
Wyoeena, town 706 1,158
Wyoeena, village 425
Totals 31,129 31,121
405
339
824
7()3
701
1,303
2S.350
Real Estate and Personal Property (1875)
There has been a steady increase in the value of real estate and per-
sonal property held by the citizens of Columbia County. In 1875, after
they had had a decade to recover from the demoralizing effects of the
Civil war the county board assessed both classes of property as follows :
Arlington $ 527.607
Caledonia 314,989
Columbus (town) 508,640
Columbus (city) 758.974
Courtland 499,226
De Korra 264,695
Fort Winnebago 169,300
Fountain Prairie 414,934
Hampden 508,699
Leeds 495,774
Lewiston 139,039
Lodi 435,641
Lowville 350,325 Total
.Marc, -lion
Newport
( Itsego
Pacific
Portage
Randolph
Scott
Springvale
W'.st Point
Wyoeena
W. W. Vil. Randolph
..$ 208,376
. 239,687
. 396,696
54.872
. 886,555
. 472,565
. 289,457
. 323.072
. 332,247
. 250,434
24.380
.$8,866,184
The Figures for 1913
In 1913, when the figures were compiled by the assessor of incomes
of Columbia County, this total had increased to nearly $14,000,000. To
understand the table, arranged alphabetically, first according to towns,
and secondly according to cities and villages, it is necessary to quote the
following explanatory words from the assessor's report:
"The figures on both real and personal property are based upon sale
value ; meaning not a forced sale, but rather such sales as.are made in the
ordinary course of business transactions. The real estate valuations are
HISTORY OF .COLUMBIA COUNTY 123
based entirely upon figures made by the Wisconsin Tax Commission from
sales of real estate in this county.
"The valuation in each town is computed each year by comparing the
assessed value of lands sold during that year with its sale value. Only
such sales are used as represent the true value of the real estate, all sales
in which a trade is involved, in which personal property is included,
forced sales, and sales between relatives, are eliminated.
"The ratio between the assessed value and sales value is then applied
to the 'total real estate assessment for that year and the result is the
'annual true value.'
"The average of the last five 'annual true values' is the figures here
used. It is believed that this method is nearer correct and nearer fair
as between districts than any other method.
"Any variations which may arise from abnormally high or low sales
in any year are largely eradicated by the five year average and I have not
felt that I could vary or change these figures in any way without substi-
tuting my own ideas for the facts. The personal property valuations
were made by actual inspection of the personal property of a number of
taxpayers in each assessment district ; by then comparing what I con-
sidered to be the true value of this personal property with its assessed
value and then raising or lowering the assessed value of all property of
the district by the same ratio as the true value of the inspected property
bore to its assessed value."
Total Real Total Real and
Estate Personal Property
Districts. Assessment. True Value. Assessment. True Value.
Arlington $ 2,035,135 $ 2,021,420 $ 2,296,065 $ 2,300,675
Caledonia 1,408,360 1,875,320 1,602,021 2,126,416
Columbus 1,773,400 2,094,200 1,973,616 2,301,215
Courtland 1,224,775 1,703,260 1,395,852 1,909,860
De Korra 1,115,191 1,251,220 1,236,898 1,398,823
Fort Winnebago 483.375 771,322 549,547 866,823
Fountain Prairie 1,288.520 1,774.900 1,468.173 1,979,178
Hampden 1,659.480 2,026.680 1,889,624 2,259,984
Leeds 2,071.401 2,191,760 2,281,358 .2,423,651
Lewiston 496,030 886,188 608,600 1,029,878
Lodi, town 915.311 1,173,080 1,025,388 1,300,995
Lowville 1,396.665 1,544,340 1,541,673 1,703,200
Mareellon 809,090 977,398 927.481 1,105.653
Newport 495,025 587.078 592,115 689,664
124 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Total K.al Total Real and
A.ssessmen1 Estate Personal Property
Districts. Assessment. True Value. Assessment. True Value.
Otsego $1 ,326,4 1 2 $3 ,357,600 $1,469,007 $1,5 1 1 ,373
Pacific 282,300 350,956 324,294 401,810
Randolph, town 1,413,698 1,996,560 1,660,268 2,250,976
Scott 943,615 1,102,740 1,084,974 1,259,708
Springvale 1,055,640 1,331,020 1,211.780 1,489,978
West Point 874,900 1,269,840 1.047.381 1,469,514
Wyocena 720,960 932,683 829,437 1,055.612
Cambria, village 331,460 405,188 418,030 509,097
Columbus, city 2,040,685 2,342.480 2,649.405 3,011,820
Doylestown 214,010 218.850 264,658 268,621
Pall River 198.420 244,558 271,776 327,351
Kilbourn 728, 959,500 1,516,420 1.937.926
Lodi 736,925 861.592 918,219 1,074,879
Pardeeville 440,823 589,004 540,087 716,763
Portage, city 3,140,674 3,166,54(1 4,169,149 4,387,431
Poynette, village 391,100 445,852 478,065 532,244
Randolph, west ward. . . 192,150 227,472 241,820 281,553
Rio, village 470,735 547.220 630,550 706.110
Wyocena, village 98,392 124,559 142,453 170,493
Total for cities and
and villages $ 8,983.374 $10,132,815 $12,240,632 $13,924,288
Total for towns. ... 23,789,283 29,219.565 27.015.552 32,834,986
Total of county. ... 32,772,657 39,352,380 39,256,184 46,759,274
Agricultural Interests
The settlers of Columbia County have always been largely engaged
in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and of late years their dairy in-
dustries have assumed the greater importance. This fact is fully realized
when figures of more than thirty years ago are compared with those of
1914, which have just (April) become accessible. In 1879, for instance,
there were over sixty-nine thousand acres of wheat grown in the county,
fairly well distributed between (lie towns, and in 1914 less than two thou-
sand. Even in the former year the yield of wheat was deteriorating, the
new Northwest beyond the Mississippi rising rapidly into prominence as
the coming granary.
Conditions Thirty Years Ago
As stated by an observer of thirty years ago: "The early settlement
of Columbia County was made by a robust, thrifty, industrious and
frugal class of nun and women, in their youth and physical prime of
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 125
life, full of energy and days' work. They found a rich soil, like them-
selves, new and young and full of fertility, yielding readily to the will
and wishes of the earnest and ambitious toiler who owned and cultivated
it, and rewarding his efforts with abundant harvests. The land yielded
so abundantly and persistently that the opinion prevailed for many years
that the grain-producing qualities of the soil were inexhaustible ; hence
the straw was burned to get it out of the way and the manure was per-
mitted to go to waste. Crop after crop was taken from the soil, and
nothing returned in exchange therefor to preserve its fertility until the
crops became less and less; so that now lands which at one time would
yield with reasonable certainty 30 to 40 bushels of wheat to the acre
cannot be depended upon to yield 10 or 15."
Conditions of the Present
With the increase in agricultural population, corn and oats have both
increased in acreage and yield, but not in the proportion they would
have done had not so large a portion of the rural settlers devoted them-
selves to the dairy industries. Rye, potatoes and beans are also plentiful
crops in Columbia County. As thirty years ago, the banner corn towns
are Arlington, Caledonia, Leeds, Randolph, West Point, Scott, Lowville
and Hampden, or, generally speaking, the southwestern and northeastern
portions of the county. The same may be said of the oats area, although
Courtland and Fountain Prairie are productive districts and therefore
extend the eastern belt of that crop a little further to the south. Leeds,
Arlington, Randolph, Courtland and Hampden are good barley sections,
and De Korra and Marcellon run to rye. Potatoes are readily raised in
Newport and Lewiston townships, or the northwestern part of the
county, and Lowville is the largest of the bean towns.
Over thirty-seven thousand acres of the county are grass lands, against
nearly thirty-six thousand in 1879, the Township of Leeds being head
and shoulders above other sections in the production of that crop. One
is not surprised, of course, to see a shrinkage in the area of growing tim-
ber during this period of thirty-four years. In 1879 over fifty-eight
thousand acres were standing in Columbia County; in 1913, or 1914,
40,553. The largest areas of timber are now in Caledonia (7,215 acres),
De Korra (4.312) and Marcellon (3,310).
Some years ago quite an excitement was abroad in the county over
the prospects of tobacco as a profitable crop, but the fever has abated.
Not quite twelve hundred acres are now devoted to the cultivation of
the weed, of which Hampden has 301, Otsego 193, Lowville 188, Arling-
ton 161 and Lodi 145 ; and these lead all the others.
126 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
The actual production of farm products during the year 1913 was:
Corn 1,808,293 bushels, oats 1,612,007 bushels, potatoes 678,445 bushels,
barley 407,615 bushels, rye 189,725 bushels, tobacco 1,881,450 pounds and
hay 35,943 tons.
Columbia County, in the earlier times, was considered quite an
apple-bearing country, but most of the old orchards have been aban-
doned and other parts of the country are so much letter adapted to
the raising of that fruit that it is seldom that new trees are set out.
The result is thai there are now only about thirty-six thousand growing
apple trees in the county, as compared with 61,000 in 1879.
A Splendid Dairy County
A different story is told when a comparison is made between the
milch cows of the earlier period and the present. In 1879 Columbia
A Dairy Herd in Columbia County
County had 11.727 animals of inferior grade, valued at $171,695, while
the creameries were all home affairs and cheese factories were virtually
unknown. Now there are 21,473 milch cows, many of them as fine as
any in the country, valued at !pS05,549. Of this number 4,179 supply the
16 cheese factories with the raw product and 15,300 contribute to the
creameries. There is no class of industries in Columbia County which
exceeds in importance those connected with the establishments men-
tioned, and we are therefore pleased to present to the readers of this
history the latest obtainable details regarding them.
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
Creameries in Columbia County
127
Towns, Etc.
Columbus, twn.
No.
1
$2,500
o. Pation
100
900
Founds.
Milk
462,000
Butter'
100,000
$33,000.00
Ft. Winnebago
1
3,400
97
800 1,418,712
73,032
20,215.18
Fount 'n Prairie
2
3,500
126
1.2:iO
1,710,982
174,394
51,722.26
1
2,000
225
900
482,720
160,923
45,058.44
1
3.0(H)
80.
400
60,000
17,601.24
West Point . . .
1
950
80
800
78,641
22,530.20
( 'aniliria * . . . .
1
3,000
100
600
180,000
50,400.00
Doylestown * ..
1
4,150
318
2,500 1,021,245
255,001
72.400.2S
Kilbourn City *
1
3,800
125
750
120,000
32,000.00
1
4,000
200
2,000
318,844
96,732.50
Poynette * . . . .
1
1,300
145
1,000
108,121
29,105.00
Wyocena *
1
2,500
156
1,100
306,469
106,614
33,450.70
Columbus City.
2d W
1
3,000
115
1,000
106,000
28,600.00
Portage C i t y,
2d W
1
15
1,500
210
2,077
1,260
530,000
201,688
59,912.52
Total
$38,600
15,300
5,932,128 2,043,258 $590,728.32
Cheese Factories
No. No. Pounds, Pounds, Money
Towns, Etc. No. Value Patrons Cows Milk Cheese , Kecewed
Arlington 1 $ 1,000 15 250 400,000" 40,000$ 4,800.00,
Caledonia 1 1,500 27 315 1,638,056 169,500 22,088.58
Columbus, town. 1 2,500 20 200 594,299 55,778 8,599.28
Courtlaud 3 5,000 45 700 2,715,502 275,694 37,851.34
Fountain Prairie 2 1,900 51 500 1,351,496 133,942 19,720.00
Randolph f .... 3 3,600 82 955 4,288,117 441,700 65,685.00
Seott 4 4,400 98 875 3,497,890 352,755 53,357.97
Fall River, village 1 350 32 384 4,000,000 40,000 8.000.00
Total 16 $20,250 370 4,179 14,885,360 1,509,369 $220,102.17
* Village.
t Randolph leads the towns as a cheese producer, her brick cheese being widely
and favorably known. As is seen by the table Scott is her closest competitor.
Courtland is next, making northeastern Columbia her banner cheese section.
128 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Live Stock
The live stock of Columbia County is by no means confined to milch
cows, as the last report of the assessor proves. The value of all other
cattle is given at $310,967, making a total of .+1.1 Hi.-") Hi for that class. Its
14,787 horses an- valued at $1,464,271; 18,859 swine at $227,188, and
13,035 sheep and lambs at $48,685.
Count - ? Agricultural Society
For over sixty years the farmers have been organizing and sup-
porting agricultural societies, designed both as social factors and to
stimulate and protect their interests. Various local and sectional socie-
ties and fairs, such as the Union Fair at Columbus and the Lodi Union
Agricultural Society, grew out of the parent body, known as the Co-
lumbia County Agricultural Society. A suggestion which led to the
organization of the county society was made by Jesse Van Ness, of
West Point, at a meeting of the board of supervisors held at Portage in
November, 1851. His suggestion was received so favorably by his fellow
members thai soon after a preliminary meeting of farmers and leading
citizens was held at school house Xo. 7, in the Town of Fort Winnebago.
Van Xess became president pro tern, and Joseph Kerr of Randolph,
K. C. Curtis of Lowville and â– ). A. Guptil of Scott were appointed a
committee -(institution. On the 19th of the month the meeting re-
assembled, adopted a constitution which was simplicity itself, and about
fifty leading farmers throughout the county paid 25 cents each for
becoming members of the society.
The officers elected* were : President, J. Van Xess. West Point: first
vice president, Joseph Kerr, Randolph; second vice president. Thomas C.
Smith, Columbus; treasurer, F. ('. Curtis. Lowville: recording secretary,
John A. Byrne, Otsego; corresponding secretary, Henry Converse.
Wyocena.
First Fair and Secretary's Report
Tin' first fair of the Columbia County Agricultural Society was held
on the commons at Wyocena. The receipts were $15.75 and the dis-
bursements $11.80, but everybody had a good time, and the society went
forward with a hopeful face. At least one may so infer from the first
report of Seeretarj Byrne, which he issued as follows:
Otsego, December 6, 1852.
Dear Sir: — The first annual fail' and cattle show of Columbia County
Agricultural Society was held in the village of Wyocena. in November
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 129
last ; but this being our iirst attempt, it was. as was to be expected,
somewhat meagre; however, as a starting point and a beginning, it was
one of which we may justly feel proud. Like our parent, the stale
society, we commenced without funds or patronage. Our birth was
slowly and humble; our future — who shall say :'
At tin- session of the Board of Supervisors in November, 1851, a few
of our practical farmers, while chatting sociably on this topic, proposed
having a primary meeting, for the purpose of getting an expres-
sion of public sentiment. It was done. A proposition to organize a.
county society was received with favor. Committees were appointed to
draft a constitution and by-laws, and to nominate officers. An adjourn-
ment then took place, and on reassembling, a constitution was agreed
upon, officers appointed, and an address delivered by Hon. Joseph Kerr,
of Randolph, and under such auspices we came into existence; the vital
spark was infused into our materiality, and now it needs hut little to
fan it to the vigor of manhood.
The notice of our fair had 1 n issued only a few days prior to the
time of holding it. consequently the attendance was thin, and yet large
enough to show that, witli proper organization and a due share of
exertion on the part of each member and officer. Columbia will yet take
a. proud position among her sister counties in this State, in the cause
of agriculture. To obtain that point, hut one course is necessary. The
society has now taken root; let it extend its branches into each town-
ship, school district and road district; let its members, and all friends
of agricultural knowledge, take an interest in its welfare, and it must
succeed.
The officers elected for the ensuing year are as follows: President,
Joseph Kerr, Randolph; vice presidents, Daniel S. Bushnell, Wyocena,
and George M. Bartholomew, Lodi; secretary, Henry Converse, Wyo-
cena ; treasurer, Frederick C. Curtis, Lowville ; executive committee,
R. C. Rockwood, Wyocena; J. Q. Adams, Fall River; John Converse,
East Randolph; Jesse Van Ness. West Point; Henry Merrell, Portage
City.
1 remain, dear sir,
truly yours.
John A. Byrne,
Secretary Columbia County Agricultural Society.
This report was printed in the Wyocena Advance a few months ago,
and drew forth an addendum from A. J. Townsend, the Lowville and
Wyocena pioneer. "After reading the report of the first county fair
in last week's advance," he says, "this thought came to me: How
130
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
many are alive that took part in that fair sixty-one years ago tins fell I
There was a fine exhibition of grains, vegetables and stock. Jacob
■■« asend and sons of Lowville had a herd of line Devon cattle, on which
they took all the first premiums. There were a few tine horses exhibited
-Some amusing incidents during the fair: Two men from Marcellon
came with a large rangy horse and stumped everybody for a race for
ten dollars No takers until the Lowville hoys raised the money and ran
John Lows pony against the MarceUon horse. The pony won by ten
rods, and the men took their departure amid the shouts of the large crowd
of spectators, minus the ten.
'•Then John Gilbert of Lowville asked his father. Jonathan Gilbert
for a dollar. The old man said, 'No, but I will put up a dollar for the
winner of a foot race with ten starters, and I will be one of them ' The
race was made up and the old man started and ran a few rods and
said: -Oh, pshaw! I won't run.' John won the race and got the
dollar. '
Other Fairs
The show and cattle fair of 1853 was also held at Wyocena \t
that exhibition there were nineteen entries under the class of horses •
twelve under cattle; one. poultry, and two, farm implements-^ne of
which was a plow and the other a vertical gate. The receipts were $20
disbursements $18.81.
The fair held at Columbus September 20. 1854, was an improvement
over the Wyocena shows. The scene of the exhibition and the rural
festivities was at the forks of the road on the western declivity of
what became known as Lewis & Cook's hill. The "Mountain House " a
little hotel kept by A. P. Birdsey between the two roads, was the hall
ot fane arts, and m it were displayed a few fruits and specimens of fine
needlework. There were ninety-nine entries. The receipts for members'
fees amounted to $32. Of this $18 was disbursed in premiums, together
with thirty-one volumes of the State Agricultural Society and sundry
diplomas.
Since then fairs have been held at the following places: Portage
1855; Wyocena, 1856 and 1857; Portage, 1858 and 1S59; Cambria ls<:«.
??o^ 18 ? 8nd 1862; L0di ' 1863 ; C olumbus, 1864; Portage, 1865
and 1866; Columbus, 1867; Portage, 1868; Columbus, 1869: Portage
1870; Columbus, 1871; Portage, 1872; Columbus, 1873, and at Portage
since 1874. In that year the City of Portage purchased forty acres of
land in the first Ward, made a park of it and gave the Columbia County
Agricultural Society, or its successors, an indefinite leas,, of the -rounds
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 131
Each year up to 1901 at this place an annual fair was held under the
auspices of the society.
Columbia County Fair Association
In 1901 the old society had become weakened by adverse conditions,
and the Columbia County Fair Association, a stock company, was organ-
ized. Tins organization, with sufficient finances back of it, proceeded to
breathe new life into the annual exhibits of the county. New buildings
were erected, new methods pursued, and the fair, as the result of the
efforts of the stockholders of the association, is one of the biggest and
best in the state. The first officers of the new association were: J. II.
Wills, president; J. E. Jones, secretary, and R. N. McConochie, treas-
urer. The present officers of the association are: C. Heeker, president ;
F. A. Rzyme, secretary, and A. -I. Jamieson, treasurer.
Other fairs existing in the county at present, and which give annual
exhibits, are the Lodi Union Fair, at Lodi, and the Inter-County Fair,
held at Kilbnurn City.
Curling in Columbia County
Columbia County is the home of more curlers and more curling clubs
than any other similar locality in the United States. The Scottish
settlers in the county brought the spirit of the "roarin game" with
them from the old country, and as early as 1855 a club was organized
in the town of Caledonia. Instead of the handsome stone now used,
thi' pioneers used wooden blocks, many of the old blocks being in exist-
ence today and held as relics by the various existing clubs. About 1870
these wooden blocks were succeeded by iron, and for a dozen years the
iron block was in use. About 1880 John Graham, the pioneer druggist
of Portage, had two pairs of granite stones imported from Leith, Scot-
land.
The curlers of the early days built their rinks of ice on the ponds,
rivers and lakes, Silver Lake, in Portage County, being the popular re-
sort for county and state bonspiels. Thither the curlers annually from
Columbia County, Milwaukee, Chicago and other points used to assemble
in large numbers and enjoy immensely the famous outdoor sport in the
invigorating atmosphere. The colder the weather, the keener the sport.
At one county bonspiel held on the pond in the village of Poynette over
one hundred curlers played all day in the open, while the thermometer
registered over 30° below zero. So exciting was the sport that no one
noticed the frosty atmosphere.
L32 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
In later years the sport has become entirely an indoor sport, all of
the clubs playing in rink houses erected for thai purpose.
While the game was originally confined almosl wholly to the Scotch
nationality, it is now the winter sporl in Columbia County of all nation-
alities. Clubs are located at Portage, Pardeeville, Cambria, Columbus,
Arlington, Poynette, Port Hope, Silicaville, De Korra and Wyocena.
Portage has the tnosl pretentious and commodious rink building in the
state, and there annually the curlers of Wisconsin meet during the first
week in February and play continuously night and day for an entire
week, in what is known as the "state bonspiel," for prizes that are
competed for annually.
The game is participated in by men of all ages. The hoy of fifteen
competes with the veteran of three score and ten. Xo betting is allowed
— and the game is ind I ami in fact, a gentleman's sporl
There is no aristocracy on the ice. The banker and the hod carrier,
the clergyman and the dispenser of stimulants are on an equal footing
and forget all differences in station when engaged in the famous winter
sport, and rinks thai have won renown in state, interstate and local
bonspiels are the famous Crusaders, skipped by J. H. Wells; the Invin-
eihles, skipped by J. B. Jones; the Ironsides, skipped by R. X. Mc-
Conochie; the Pardeevillians, skipped by L. -I. Tucker; the famous
Reedal rink of De Korra, Hal. Etoekwood's Portage Terriers, Ed. Se-
ville's Lodians, Bob Robinson's Scotch Laddies of Arlington, and the
Wild Westerners, skipped by Charlie Delany of Poynette. and in recent
years the sons of the older curlers are taking the laurels from their
fathers and the newcomers are threatening to lie more expert than their
predecessors.
CHAPTER X
THE PRESS
First Columbia County Newspaper— Suspension op the River
Times — John A. Brown and the Badger State— "Shanghai"
Chandler and the Independent — Robert B. Wentworth and
the Portage City Record — Enter A. J. Turner— Wisconsin
State Register Founded — Brannan & Turner — The Register
prom 1885 to Date — A. J. Turner and Major Lockwood — First
Columbus Newspaper — Wisconsin Mirror Precedes Kilbourn
City— The Columbus Democrat— The Columbus Republican-
First German Newspaper, Der Wecker — Rundshau und
Wecker — Launching op the Portage Democrat — James E.
Jones — Lodi's Ups and Downs — The Enterprise— The Poynette
Press— Pardeeville Times and Badger Blade (Rio)— Kilbourn 's
Newspaper Ventures— Wyocena Advance— Other County News-
papers — Defunct Papers.
The press of Columbia Comity was horn in 1850, the year after the
last of the Indian lands were thrown open to white settlers. John
Delaney was its father — an energetic, honest, brilliant Irishman, who
had set his first type sixteen years before in the office of the Green Bay
Intelligencer, the first newspaper published in Wisconsin. Mr. Delaney
afterward studied law and was admitted to the bar. and therefore came
to Portage well grounded in two professions. His brother James came
with him ; also a few cases of type and a battered printing press.
First Columbia County Newspaper
On the 4th of July, 1850, the Delaney brothers issued their Fox
and Wisconsin River Times from a wooden shanty which stood on the
northwest side of the canal. It was a six-column folio, democratic, and
high and hopeful of spirit. Passing over its general literary features,
its optimism breathes in Delaney 's editorial which speaks so positively
133
Lit BISTORT OP COLUMBIA COUNT!
of the feasibility of the Fox and Wisconsin improvement — a direct inland
water communication between New Fork and New Orleans, via Portage-
placed beyond question, with the means at hand for its completion. Ee
declares that the short canal to connect the rivers will be finished that
summer, and states that the Wisconsin is traversed regularly by stea rs
throughout its entire route, and that the navigable portions of the Fox
have also their steamers plying regularly between the cities and towns.
In a supplementary greeting to the public, Editor Delaney apologizes
for not describing the town and adjacent localities, lie is willing, how-
ever, to receive advertising patronage. His establishment cost him
$1,0(111, and current expenses were heavy, hut he hopes that he lias not
commenced prematurely and that he will be reimbursed and do a good
business, the newspaper having become necessary to civilization. lie
is not quite sure of his subscription list, and for the purpose of ascer-
taining who his patrons really are will postpone the next issue for three
or four weeks. The next paper was not published, in fact, until
August 5th.
The one prediction, which has come to pass, was made by Brother
Delaney in his salutatory: "We this day publish the first number of
the Fox and Wisconsin River Times. If it is not a curiosity now. it will
be hereafter, as the first paper published in the City of Fort Winne-
bago. ' '
Si SPENSION OF THE RlYKK TlMES
James Delaney, Jr., brilliant and popular, like his brother, was
drowned in the Wisconsin River. May 31, 1853. At the time he was city
clerk of Portage and hut twenty-seven years of age. In the August
following John A. Brown became associated with Joseph Delaney,
brother of John and James, in the publication of the paper. The office
was removed to the second story of Moore & Gorman's building, opposite
the Pettiboue Block, where the paper continued to be published under
the new management until its suspension as the River Times September
17, 1853.
John A. Brown and the Badger State
On the following 1st of October .Mr. Brown rechristened the journal,
of which hi- was sole editor and proprietor, giving it the name Badger
State, under which he had published a paper at Janesville. As ex-
plained in his announcement: "Under tin- new arrangement we have
taken a new name for the paper; not because we have any objection
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 135
to that of the River Times; but we have a decided partiality for our
old name of Badger State. It was endeared to us in earlier times —
during the old constitution tight, when we joined to raise the chorus :
•' 'We arc a band of brothers
In the new Badger State.' "
On the 1-tth of April, 1855, Chauncey C. Britt became an equal
partner with Mr. Brown. The Badger State had already been enlarged,
and it was again expanded the year after the copartnership was formed.
The paper continued to be vigorously democratic. On the 15th of
August, 1856, the. Badger State office was moved to the new Badger
Block, and the editors invited their friends to "call and make themselves
comfortable in the prettiest printing office in the state." Early in the
following year Mr. Britt became sole publisher, and within 1857 and
1858 there were a number of changes in management, indicating some-
thing unsubstantial in the operations of the Badger State. The 4th of
December, of the latter year, saw Mr. Brown again at the helm, but his
death on the 10th of February, 1859, really killed the paper. His widow
and J. M. Doty, one of the former editors, attempted to save it. but it
finally suspended December 10th following Mr. Brown's decease.
"Shanghai" Chandler and the Independent
In the meantime the republican party had been born, and The
Independent had been espousing its cause at Portage since 1855. On
February 3rd, of that year, John A. and Julius C. Chandler issued its
first number. A year thereafter, the latter assumed sole proprietorship,
but on the 14th of April, 1857, Mr. Chandler — "Shanghai" Chandler,
the humorist and eccentric genius of early local journalism — abandoned
the Independent, bought the outfit of the defunct democratic infant, the
Columbia County Reporter, and established a paper at Friendship,
Adams County. He died at Baraboo in the late '70s.
Robert B. Wentworth and the Portage City Record
Robert B. Wentworth founded the Portage City Record upon the
good will and subscription list of the Independent. The first number
of the Record was issued April 29, 1857, and on its editorial page
appear the names of M. M. Davis and A. J. Turner. Mr. Davis' editorial
contributions had attracted some attention from the readers of the Inde-
pendent, but Mr. Turner was virtually unknown as an editor. He had
had a short experience as city editor of the Madison State Journal;
136 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
otherwise he had been setting type in various offices, including the defunct
independent.
Mr. Wentworth, the proprietor of the Record, was an experienced
journalist, in-so-far as the genera] management of a newspaper was
concerned. He had formerly been associated with Charles Billinghurst
in the establishment of the first uewspaper in Dodge County, the
Gazette, published a1 Juneau. He was also a practical printer.
ENTER A. J. TURNEB
On the 11th of November Mr. Davis severed his connection with the
Record as editorial writer, his duties being assumed by Mr. Turner.
Shortly afterward the latter went to Friendship to assist "Shanghai"
Chandler. But Mr. Turner was destined for Portage, to which he re-
turned in March, 1859, and resumed his former relations with the
Record. Ere this, the paper had become one of the most prosperous
journals in the county. In fact, it seemed to have too much official
business, and the republican leaders decided that a division of the spoils
was no mi. re than fail'. In this predicament of party affairs, on the 17th
of April, 1861, Mr. Wentworth sold the Record to A. J. Turner.
Wisconsin State Register Pounded
About a month previous — March 16. 1S61 — Samuel S. Brannan
issued the first number of the Wisconsin State Register at Portage, the
material used in its publication having been used by the Badger State.
Mr. Brannan 's experience in journalism had commenced as a "devil" in
the shanty of the River Times. In his salutatory the editor said:
"Having long been convinced of the necessity for a representative organ
in this city, one which will fully and fairly reflect the views of the re-
publican party, and having received such assurances as will justify the
enterprise, we have concluded to commence the publication of the Wis-
consin State Register. To enable us more fully to complete our arrange-
ments for the publication of the paper, no sheet will be issued for the
next week or two from this office. We shall, early in April, enlarge and
otherwise improve our paper."
Brannan & Turner, Proprietors
On the 27th of April, soon after the suspension of the Record, the
Register appeared enlarged from a seven to an eight-column folio;
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 137
Brannan & Turner, proprietors; Israel Holmes and A. J. Turner, editors,
and s. S. Brannan, local editor. The change is announced in the fol-
lowing card signed by Mr. Turner-. "In the last Portage City Record
announcement was made of the fact that the office had been sold to the
undersigned. This week I have the further announcement to make that
I have united my interest in the office with those of S. S. Brannan of
the State Register, and that henceforth both papers will be published
unitedly under the name of the Wisconsin State Register, by Brannan,
Turner & Company, and will be conducted by I. Holmes and A. J.
Turner as principal editors and S. S. Brannan as local editor. No
further number of the Record will be issued, except a small edition to
close up some legal advertisements. Advertisers in the Record, residing
out of the city, will have their contracts completed in the State Register.
All accounts 'of the Record will be adjusted by R. B. Wentworth. All
subscribers who overpaid for the Record will be furnished with the
State Register to the close of their subscriptions."
Mr. Holmes, the leading editorial writer, was a lawyer by profession
and a very able man. In April, 1864, he disposed of his interest in the
Register to Messrs. Brannan and Turner and retired from journalism.
Under their able management, both business and editorial, the Register
nourished. In February, 1878, the paper was sold to Judge John T.
Clark and B. F. Goodell. The former was editor and the latter in
charge of the mechanical departments.
The Register from 1885 to Date
On February, 16, 1885, Judge John T. Clark sold his onedialf in-
terest to Major S. S. Roekwood and the firm became Rockwood and
Goodell. Major Roekwood was one of the most scholarly and able
writers connected with the press of the state. He remained editor of
the paper until 1887, when he retired to accept a position in the state
land office. The Portage Daily Register was started during his editor-
ship. During the late '80s the Register Printing Company was estab-
lished and met with business reverses. Mr. Goodell retired from the
management, taking the job department to Superior, Wis. Maurice
Goodman became editor of the paper in 1891. In 1892 J. H. Waggoner
bought the paper and became its editor. In 1894 Mr. Goodman bought
the paper back from Waggoner and continued its publication until
1908, when it was sold to the Wisconsin State Register Company, of
which company A. A. Porter is the principal stockholder.
138 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
A. J. Turner and Major Rockwood
At this point we pans,- to pay a tribute to two Columbia Countj
editors who attained merited prominence in state and aational affairs
Andrew Jackson Turner and Sheppard S. Rockw 1.
When A. J. Turner disposed of the Wisconsin State Register he
retired from active journalism, although he was prominent in local,
state and national affairs almost to the time of his death, June 10, 1!in5.
The deceased was a firm republican all Ids mature life, but he was
broader and deeper than partisanship of any kind, and as a conse-
quence no man was more widely beloved or admired in Columbia County
than "Jack ' ' Turner. Small but compact of stature, his tireless activities,
covering a variety of subjects, seemed one of the miracles of nature ; but
running through them all was a steadfast affection for the people and
localities which cemented him to Portage and Columbia County as his
home. The last years of his life were especially devoted to an exhaustive
investigation of every fact having a bearing upon the remarkable history
of the county which so closely centered in the portage between the
Wisconsin and Fox. His last and most valuable contribution to this
class of literature was the little book entitled "The Family Tree of
Columbia County," to whose condensed wealth of material the editor of
this volume acknowledges his indebtedness.
The last fragment of manuscript which is known to have left his
hand was a little note addressed to a member of Wau-Bun Chapter,
D. A. R., whose labors in behalf of historic memorials and investigations
had always met his heartiest co-operation.
The Facts op Mr. Turner's Life
A. J. Turner was born in the town of Schuyler Falls, X. Y., Sep-
tember 24, 1832. He lived there on a farm until 1853, when he moved to
Grand Rapids to take a ease in the office of the Grand River Eagle.
Returning to his native town in 1855, he "set up" the first number of
the Plattsburg Sentinel, teaching school for a short time and again
settling in Grand Rapids early in the same year. In September, 1855,
he came to Portage, and the second day after his arrival was employed
as a compositor in the Independent office. He worked there until the
spring of 1856, when he wenl to Madison, and for a yea,- was employed
on the State Journal both as a printer and city editor.
As stated, in the spring of 1S57 Mr. Turner returned to Portage and
became one of the editors of the Record. During the following twenty
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 139
years his newspaper experiences have been traced in the sketches of
that journal and the Wisconsin State Register.
During the period named Mr. Turner served one term as clerk of the
Circuit Court, commencing in January, 1861, and, as compiler of the
Legislative Manual of Wisconsin in 1870-74, created the Blue Book,
which has no superior of its kind in the United States. He served m
the assembly in 1862, 1863, 1865 and 1868, and for several years there-
after was officially connected with the Portage & Superior Railroad and
the Portage Stevens Point & Superior Railroad, which were absorbed
by the Wisconsin Central System, and the Portage, Friendship & Grand
Rapids Line, subsequently consolidated with the Madison & Porta ^-
Mr Turner was chief clerk of the Wisconsin State Senate m 1876-
78 resigning that position to accept the office of state railroad commis-
sioner, to which he had been appointed by Governor William E. Smith.
He also held that office after his retirement from the State Register.
In 1881 he was elected mayor of Portage and twice reelected, and
served repeatedly as supervisor of his ward and in other local positions.
He was a delegate to the republican national conventions of 1868, 1880,
1888 and 1892, and in the last named year was the acknowledged leader
in the legislation which resulted in the rearrangement of the state into
congressional and legislative districts. It was his work more than the
efforts of any other one man which led to the overthrowing of the two
unconstitutional reapportionments of 1891-92. Mr. Turner acted as
supervisor of the United States census for the Third Wisconsin District
in 1880 and for the First District in 1900; in 1897, by appointment of
Judge Siebecker, he became chairman of the jury commission for Colum-
bia County, and it may be that, even with this, some office has escaped
us which 'was held by that marvel of industry and practical ability,
A. J. Turner.
Mr. Turner's married and domestic life was ideal. His wire was
Marv O. Hanford, to whom he was married at Friendship, Adams County,
May 29 1860. They had three children— Frederick J. Turner, suc-
cessively of the University of Wisconsin and Yale; William F. Turner, a
business man of Portage; and Ellen B, now Mrs. E. W. Demoe, of Oak-
land, California.
Ma j. S. S. Rockwood
Maj. Sheppard S. Rockwood was a. scholarly gentleman and a fine
type of the American citizen. He was only in the journalistic field of
Columbia County for a couple of years, but he was in it long enough to
endear himself to the people of the entire county.
140 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
Born in Frankfort, X. V.. December 21, 1838, be came Wesl with
his parents in liis second year. The family settled in Walworth County,
Wis., during 1S41, and a few years later located in Harmony Township,
Rock County. He graduated from Milton (Wis.' College, married Flora
A. Haw ley. of thai place, in 1859, lain- was a member of the faculty of
the college, and when the Civil war broke out in 1861 was a junior at
the University of Wisconsin.
Major Rockwood was commissioned second lieutenant of Company E,
Thirteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at the formation of the regi-
ment, and shortly after the fall of Vicksburg became captain and com-
missary of the army corps. In 1865 he served in Texas as commissary
on General Custer's staff, and on October 6th of that year was mustered
out with the rank of brevet major. United States Volunteers.
Prom 1865 to 1868 Major Rockw I engaged in business as a < Ihicago
produce commission merchant, but his training and tastes were all toward
the scholarly and for two years and a half after his Chicago experience
he was identified with the mathematical department of Milton College.
While thus engaged he received the degree of Master of Arts from the
University of Wisconsin, being then called to the Whitewater Normal
School, where for nine years he was professor of mathematics.
In 1881 Major Rockwood served under Superintendent Whit ford as
assistant to the state superintendent of sel Is. his editorial experience
covering the years 1883-87* During: that period he was editor and pro-
prietor of the Elkhorn Independent, editor and part owner of the Janes-
ville Daily Recorder ami editor and part owner of the Wisconsin State
Register. Soon after severing his connection with the State Register, in
1887, he assumed his duties as clerk of the Wisconsin State Land Office,
which office he held 1887-89 ; was chief clerk of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture from 1889-92; assistant chief of the United States
Weather Bureau, 1892-93, and secretary of the hoard of regents of the
State Normal Schools of Wisconsin, 1895-1905.
Major Rockwood 's death at Portage on July 12, 1905, removed from
the county and the state a foremost citizen, a gentleman of true ability
and worth. He left two sons — II. S. Rockwood. for twenty years the
able local editor of the Portage Democrat, and George S. Rockwood. of
Yuma. Arizona.
First Columbus Newspaper
The press obtained a weak foothold in Columbus about 1853, in the
shape of the Columbia Reporter, founded and edited by Can- Hunting-
ton, who moved his young child to Portage in 1857. It survived that
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 141
transplanting but a few months, when ii was sold out under sheriff's
execution and the material lugged off to Friendship by "Shanghai"
Chandler.
The Columbus Journal lasted from .January, 1855, to November,
1864. It was an offspring- of the republican party and was conducted
most of the time by either Daniel or Marcus A. Mallo. Its founder,
Daniel .Mallo, who was one of the oldest publishers in the Northwest,
was in charge of it. at the time of his death, October 30, 1864, and the
Journal survived his demise hut a short time.
Wisconsin- Mirror Precedes Kilbourn City
The first building erected on the site of the present Kilbourn City
was a little cottage for Alanson Holly, of Warsaw, N. Y., who had come
West in the fall of 1855 seeking a location in that part of the country's
wilds, and an even smaller building for the printing and publishing of
the Wisconsin Mirror; for Mr. Holly was a newspaper man, and had so
much faith in the country and his venture that he had brought his family
with him to live in the new village which had just been platted by the
Wisconsin River Hydraulic Company. On December 22. 1855, the news-
paper building was inclosed, and while the plasterers were at work the
"hands" in the office unboxed the type and set up the press. It was
so cold that the compositors had to bathe their fingers in warm water
every few minutes to make them limber.
As the paper was being made ready fior the press, on New Y r ear's of
1856, a number of friends gathered in the office and proposed to sell the
first copy at auction. The result of the suggestion exceeded Editor
Holly's fondest hopes, for the first copy brought $65. The second and
third papers struck from the press were bid in at $10 and $5. respectively ;
whereupon the bidding ceased. For many months mails were received
once, twice or three times a week at the village of Newport, two miles
distant, and thither the editor was obliged to go for his exchanges and
other mail matter. The Ilollys (Alanson and H. A.) published the
Mirror for a number of years, the proprietors who subsequently came
into possession being T. 0. Thompson, D. L. and E. B. Davis, Frank 0.
Wesner and W. M. Cole. In October, 1876, while Mr. Cole was conduct-
ing it, the office was burned ; and no attempt was made to revive the
Mirror.
The Columbus Democrat
In the winter of 1864-65 Valentine Baltuff brought to Columbus the
outfit of his Lodi Weekly Herald, which had suspended during the
\-l-2 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
previous November at the age of twenty months, and experimented with
the Transcript until August, 1868.
The remains of the Transcript were gathered by Henry D. Bath, who
on September 10, 186S, brought out the Columbus Democrat. In his
announcement to the public, Mr. Bath says: "It is already known by
many that the Columbus Transcript, which was formerly issued from
this office, has changed hands, and today, for the first time, we believe, in
ten years, the colors ol the Democratic party are hoisted by a newspaper
in Columbia county." Henry I). Hath, who was a most vigorous and
talented writer, managed the paper successfully for ten years, when his
editorial career was terminated by death. He was succeeded successively
by II. D. James and D. W. Bath, ('. ('. Eaton, George E. Bunsa, and
Frank D. Goodwin (its present editor).
But it did not stand to reason that the republican party, which was
in a majority throughout the county, should be without a representative
newspaper. Its leaders did not propose that the republican Transcript
should give birth to the democratic Democrat and leave their rivals with-
out a competitor.
The Columbus Republican
The party leaders therefore called upon J. R. Decker, then publishing
the Waupun Times, to come to Columbus and establish an organ for
republicanism and the general interests of the county. They offered him .
such liberal inducements that he sold out his paper, went to Chicago,
where he bought an entire new printing office, including a job press,
the latter something novel in Columbus. Mr. Decker first established
his plant on the second floor of Shaffer's Block, in the room thai for
many years Squire Farnham afterward occupied as his justice's office.
The room was soon found to be too small, and after various removals
was located on Ludington Street.
The first issue of the Republican was on October 7. 1868. less than a
month after the appearance of the Democrat. It was a seven-column
folio and, with new type and press, presented a handsome appearance.
Mr. Decker was also a strong writer and an experienced editor, and was
ably seconded by good local talent. Among other talented writers he
was assisted by Le Roy Irons, whose brilliant career was only condensed
by death. .Mr. Decker continued to guide the Republican to wide influ-
ence and financial prosperity for a period of forty years, his job office
obtaining a line reputation, as well as his newspaper. Upon the death
of .Mr. Deckei-. in 1908, Robert ('. Leitsch, a native of Columbus and a
thoroughly educated business man. became proprietor of the Republican.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 143
First German Newspaper, Der Wecker
By the early 70s the German element had become so strong in Colum-
bia County that it demanded and obtained a newspaper. On September
1, 1874, the Columbia County Weeker was first issued by Gustavus A.
Selbach, an experienced journalist who had already founded newspapers
at Appleton (Volksfreund) and at Mansfield, Ohio (Courier). For a
dozen years Der Wecker upheld its name and continued to "wake up"
the Germans of Columbia County, as well as not a few English-speaking
people. The paper was democratic in politics.
Rundschau und Wecker
In 1SS6 a competitor appeared in Rundschau, but as the years
it became evident that the field was not large enough for two well-sus-
tained German newspapers, and in 1905 they were wisely consolidated.
Frank Heidt. who had been identified with Rundschau since its estab-
lishment, continued to be the moving spirit of the new publication until
April 1, 1912, when J. Sehnell assumed control. Rundschau und
Weeker is the only German newspaper in Central Wisconsin, is inde-
pendent in tone, and well voices the interests of the countrymen who
support it.
Launching op the Portage Democrat
Since the suspension of the Badger State in 1859 the City of Portage
had been without a democratic newspaper published in English, and to
those who believed in the principles of that party the situation became
more and more intolerable. So, in March, 1877, at the solicitation of
their democratic friends in that city, Henry D. Bath, editor of the
Columbus Democrat, and his brother, W. E. Bath, established the Portage
Democrat, a. seven-column folio: Said the editors in their salutatory:
"For the first time in almost twenty years a Democratic newspaper in
the English language is issued in this city. We are here for the estab-
lishment of a legitimate business and to meet a need which has long and
repeatedly been represented to us as existing in this community. We
are not here to encroach upon the province of any other journal, but to
do work in an open field. The Register is an old and ably conducted
newspaper which has done very much to advance the material interests
of Portage. Its editors are our personal friends and we hope they will
remain so, however divergent the line of our political operations may be.
144 BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
The Advance is uot at all in our way. and the Wecker is our ally. We
propose, in the interests of Reform-Democracy and not in subserviencj
to any ring or clique of it. to make as good a aewspaper as we can. To
this end we invoke the cooperation of every member of the party, and
will devote our utmost endeavors to render it the mosl efficient aid within
our power. I'.ut the political work of a local journal is. after all, but a
small part of the labor which it has to do. It should ho ever busj in
furthering the husinrss interests and social welfare of the communitj
where it is published. It is a record of the life of the people in its
vicinity; the chronicler of their joys and sorrows, their successes and
reverses, and its general purpose is to do pood to those within the circle
of its influence and to be of value to them in the accomplishment of
worthy objects. Such are the aims of the Portage Democrat."
Early in 1878 the health of W. E. Bath, who had been in charge of
the Democrat since its launching, failed, and Irving Hath, formerly a
clerk in the state land office, went to Portage to conduct the paper. He
afterwards became sole owner and remained at its head until the sum-
mer of 1881, when he, like his brother, became a victim of consumption.
Mr. Hath prevailed upon a young country school teacher of demo-
cratic persuasion, who had never seen the inside of a printing office, to
take charge of the editorial work, while he went away seeking health.
This pedagogue was .1. E. Jones. After six weeks of absence Mr. Bath
retur I. his health unimproved, and he began to banter the young
school teacher to turn editor and buy the aewspaper. Mr. Jones was at
lirst quite skeptical as to the solidity of his talents in that line, hut he
liked the business, as he confessed very recently, and the more he thought
it over the warmer he became. So at length he bolted from tie office
out into the suburbs and secured funds to swing the purchase, and he
has blessed his self-confidence ever since; for the Democrat is a eredil to
him. to Portage and the state.
This was November 1. 1881, and Mr. Jones has controlled the destinies
of the paper ever since, a period of thirty-three years. The Democrat
has always been aggressively democratic and has wielded a far-reaching
influence in the community through which it circulates. In 1886 the
Daily Democrat was established and has been published continuously
since.
J \mi:s Edwin Jones
By E.G. Cutler
Mr. Jones, whose name appears as the editor of this work, suggested
to the writer that it would he out of place to incorporate in this history
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 145
anything relating to himself, but we thought differently, and the informa-
tion obtained was received from other sources.
J. E. Jones' prominence both as a journalist and as a public man
dates from his purchase of the Portage Democrat in 1881, of which paper
he has been editor anil proprietor continuously for a period of thirty-
three years; and he is still in his prime, active and robust. Under his
guidance the growth, influence and prosperity of the paper has been
continuous. He is one of the old school thoroughbred democrats, posi-
tive in his belief and fearless in the promulgating of the principles he
believes to be correct.
In 1885 Mr. Jones was appointed postmaster of Portage under Cleve-
land's first term, and held the office until 1889. He served as a member
of the democratic state central committee for a dozen years, and was
chairman of the democratic county committee for sixteen years.
In matters affecting Portage City be has always been a leader in both
political and business affairs. He served his city as alderman and for
six consecutive terms as its mayor.
During his administrations the city was improved as never before.
The fine city hall was built and completed; modern waterworks secured
by the city; the paved area of the municipality greatly extended; taxes
equalized between city and county, and the levee system greatly extended
to protect the city. Mr. Jones secured the $20,000 from the state by
incessant work, and got the state to assume control of the system. Thus
has been constructed a perfect levee system, to protect not only the city
but a great portion of the state from the overflows of the Wisconsin
River.
Mr. Jones was a delegate or alternate delegate to the Democratic
National Conventions of 1884, 1888, 1SII2. 1896 and 1900, and has been a
delegate to every Democratic State Convention in Wisconsin since 1882.
In 1891 he was appointed by Governor Peek a member of the State Board
of Control of Charitable and Penal Institutions, was elected president of
that body and served until 1895. In 1898 and in 1908 he was the demo-
cratic candidate for < 'ongress in his district, but the district being heavily
republican, he was each time defeated with his party.
Mr. Jones has held various other local and state offices by appoint-
ment, or election, but has during the last few years become interested in
other enterprises and has dropped the political game, lie is at this time
devoting his entire energies to the building of a system of interurban
railroads through Central Wisconsin, and it seems probable that he will
be successful. He is president and general manager of the enterprise.
Mr. Jones was born on a farm in the town of Packwaukee, Mar-
quette County, Wisconsin. November 16. 18")4. The family soon after
14G EISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNT?
moved to Mintello, and while be was still a lad settled on a farm in the
town of Port Winnebago, Columbia County. There he attended district
schools and assisted his father on the farm until Ids majority. Later
he entered the State Normal School at Oshkosh, and for six years, both
before and after graduation, was a teacher in the public schools.
On January 25, 1882, Mr. .1 is married .Miss Lena I.. Converse, of
Portage, and they have three children — Edwin C, a graduate of the
state university and now associated with his father in the publication
of the De 'rat ; Carol (Mrs. Harlan B. Rogers), and Marjorie, at Rock-
ford College.
Mrs. Jones is foremost in all movements which are of an uplifting
nature, was especially influential in establishing the public library and
is active in all the patriotic and literary work of the women's organiza-
tions of the community.
Kii.nm'Kx's Newspaper Ventures
The first settler in Kilbourn was an editor; the first thing to locate
in the unbroken forest was a newspaper. In December. 1855, Alanson
Holly built a board shanty and issued the first number of the Wisconsin
Mirror. This was published several years and discontinued for a short
time, to lie continued later by a son of the original editor. It again sus-
pended in 1878, and for several years Kilbourn had several successive
papers, the Dells Reporter and the Guard having short runs each.
In 1880 William Woodruff established the Kilbourn Gazette, selling
out in 1883 to Adams Brothers.
In 1SN4 P. o. Wisner and James E. Jones revived the Wisconsin
Mirror, and in April, lss.'i. they bought the other paper, forming the
Mirror-Gazette. In 1888 James E. Jones bought Wisner's interesl and
continued the publication until 1902. when he sold out to B. -1. Wheeler.
In the year previous R. L. Booher established the Dells Reporter, giving
Kilbourn two papers.
At the same time Mr. Jones began the publication of Illustrated
Events, a monthly magazine of historical and literary character. This
he changed to a weekly newspaper after six months, or. precisely, in May.
1905. Thus Kilbourn had three papers for some time, until April. 1906,
when J. E. Jones bought the Reporter list and business. He then asso-
ciated with B. E. Tollaksen, in August, 1911. they bought the Mirror-
Gazette, and have since held the held with the Weekly Events alone.
Lodi's Ups and Downs
Lodi has had its decided ups and downs as a newspaper field. Its
first essay was the Lodi Flag, a quarterly issued in July and November,
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 147
1856, and May, 1857, by J. 0. & A. Eaton. It was a small quarto at
that — only three columns. The Lodi Weekly Herald endured from Feb-
ruary 25, 1S63, until November 9, 1SC4; the Lodi Journal from October,
1870, to April, 1ST:!, and the Lodi Valley News followed a year afterward,
and continued for thirty years as an independent republican paper, until
the failing health of its venerable editor. Uncle Peter Richards, caused
its discontinuance.
The Enterprise
The Lodi Enterprise, now in the field, was founded by E. B. Yule
and <;. I. Richmond, February 16, 1894. Mr. Richmond retired in 18117
and Mr. Yule continued to conduct the paper alone until September S,
1902, when C. L. Coward, the present editor and proprietor, took it over.
The Enterprise is independent both in politics and in general.
The Poynette Press
The first newspaper to invade 1'oynette was the Reporter, whose first
number was issued by P. A. Brown, a Columbia County pioneer ami
editor of twenty-six years' standing. His venture lasted for about a
year from June 3, 187."). .Mr. Brown was afterward connected with the
Monroe County Democrat, Sparta. The locality endured the absence of
a local journal until 1887, when .1. E. Shirk of Cambria founded the
Poynette Press. In DK) he was succeeded bj Charles P. Butler, present
editor and proprietor.
Other County Newspapers
The Pardeeville Times was established in December, 1888, by C. H.
Williams, and since July, PHI."), has been conducted by Henry Thompson.
The Badger Blade, of Rio, was published for some years by Frank D.
Goodwin, now of the Columbus Democrat. Since January 1, 1913, its
editors and proprietors have been \Y. W. and Leslie Collins, who conduct
it under the name of Collins Brothers.
The Cambria News, founded by J. E. Shirk and published many years,
with J. F. Streeter as editor and proprietor, is a worthy exponent of that
locality.
148 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
The infant in age of Columbia County newspapers is the Wyocena
Advance, the firsl number of which was issued by L. II. Doyle, on Julj I,
1910. On account of illness he was soon obliged to sell the paper to bis
sun. L. Hobart Doyle, bu1 in the following March -I. M. Bushnell, who
bad spent much time and money in founding and sustaining the enter-
prise, assumed control.
Defunct Papers
L. II. Doyle, the founder of the Village of Doylestown, a man of fine
character, great energy and perseverance, developed in the late '80s a
mania for establishing newspapers in different localities where it seemed
impossible for them to live. Among those that he established that sur-
vive him are the Badger Blade, of Rio, and the Wyocena Advance, at
Wyocena. others which he established that were short-lived was the
Portage Advertiser, the Rio Reporter, the New Era at Fall River and a
law publication at Doylestown.
Besides the advertising papers that have come and gone in the last
thirty years in Portage are the Advance, published by E. W. Stevens,
and the Herald, by day R. Hinckley.
Hon. Lester Woodard, of Pardeeville, also established a newspaper
in that village which flourished for a time, but it eventually died for lack
of patronage.
A tew other newspaper ventures have come to life in ( lolumbia < lounty,
but that life was too short to become a matter of history.
CHAPTER XI
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
First School Outside the Fort— First School District Formed at
Cambria— Too Few Cubic Feet Per Scholar— School Children in
1913_Legal Qualification of Teachers — Columbia County
Teachers' Association— Columbia County Teachers' Training
School — Private and Parochial Schools op Portage — Columbus
Collegiate Institute— The Kilbourn Institute— Rev. B. G. Riley
AND LODI— POYNETTE PRESBYTERIAN ACADEMY PRESENT STATUS OF
Public Schools — Pioneer Trainers of the Soul — Father Maz-
zuchelli at the Portage— The First of St. Mary's Parish — Stir-
ring Methodist Preacher— The Methodists of Fall River— Lodi
Methodists Organize — Mr. Townsend on the Lowville Sabbath
School — The Presbyterians at the Portage — Cambria as a
Church Center— Presbyterian Church of Kilbourn— The Nor-
wegian Lutherans Organize— Early Churches in the Townships.
The school system of Columbia County owes its birth to Major Green,
commandant of old Fort Winnebago. He had a number of children in
his family, and in 1835 engaged Miss Eliza Haight as their governess.
As the major was thoughtful and generous, he allowed the children of
other officers to take advantage of Iut services, and a dozen children wen-
soon grouped around her. Thus was formed the first school in Columbia
County.
In the spring of 1840, Rev. S. P. Keyes became both chaplain and
schoolmaster at the post, and taught about twenty children, some of them
over twelve years of age.
First School Outside the Port
The first school in Portage and the county to provide instruction to
the children of actual settlers was established in 184:3. Hugh McFarlane
partitioned off a small room in his blacksmith shop for the purpose and
149
150 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
his wife taught it. At first instruction was given only on Sundays. It
is said the first hunks were purchased from a fund raised bj Wisconsin
River raftsmen, whose children formed a majority of the scholars. Prom
this modest beginning a private school, with ;i hired teacher, grew into
existence.
First School District Formed at Cambria
The year after the first school for settlers was opened at Portage the
Brothers Langdon founded what is now the Village of Cambria, and it
was largely due to the Welshmen who soon commenced to settle in the
village that a school district was organized in 1847.
In thai year a schoolhouse was built on land donated by Samuel
Langdon, one of the proprietors of the town site. It was 20 by 24 feet,
built of oak lumber from his sawmill, and the first winter term of school
was taught by Miss Betsy Griffin in 1848-49. Then followed in succes-
sion S. S. Torbet, Miss Butterfield, Miss Carhart, Mr. Knighl and William
Hollinshead. Teachers then received $1.50 per week, with "hoard
around," and for the winter term $20 to $25 per month.
Too Pew Cubic Feet Pee Scholar
In 1858 the 20 by 24 schoolhouse was accommodating i .' / seventy-
five pupils. The school authorities therefore decided to hire a larger
room in a building owned by Evan Morris. In 1861 a new schoolhouse
was riveted by Hugh Roberts at a cost of $1,600. Number of scholars
at that time, 318. The school was now graded, the first teachers under
the new system being Harvey Rust. S. A. Van Middleworth and Nellie
Roberts, who received a yearly salary of $50, $32 and $24. respectively,
in 1868 the schoolhouse was moved to a more favorable location on Tower
Street and an addition was built for the primary department.
Town op Winnebago Portage District
The next school district after that of Cambria included the Town of
Winnebago Portage. The town was organized and formed into a school
district January 9, 1849. There is no record of a public school in the
town during 184!); but in that year a portion of the town occupied by
those who resided near the "old fort" was set off as School District
No. 2, all other parts being No. 1. It is not necessary to give the limits
of No. 2, as in January, 1850, it became Joint District No. 1. when the
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 151
name of Winnebago Portage was changed to Fort Winnebago, and Town
13, Range 9, was taken from that town and organized as Port Hope.
The year 1849 marked both the organization of the Winnebago Port-
age School District and the first report issued by the town superintend-
ents covering the county. It appears from their figures that the average
wages then paid male teachers amounted to $11.75 per month; female,
$5.39.
Superintendents of Schools
In 1850 School Superintendent D. Vandercook formed four new dis-
tricts in the Town of Fort Winnebago.
County Superintendents of Schools
The supervision of the schools of the county was in the hands of town
superintendents until the close of 1861, when the county superintendents
came in. (In 1862 the constitution was amended by making the terms
of all county officers elected in even number years, two years. I
A list of the superintendents is as follows:
1862-67— David W. Rosenkrans 1882-88— Z. Merrill
1868-69— Levi Bath 1889 96— E. C. True
1870-71 — John J. Lloyd 1897-02— E. II. Burlingame| •
1872-75— Leroy J. Burlingamet 1903-09 — Sylvester C. Cushman
1876-79— Kennedy Scott 1909 — Chester W. Smith
1S80-81— Henry Neill
School Children in 1913
The latest figures prepared by Chester W. Smith, present county
superintendent of schools, shows the following as the census of school chil-
dren in Columbia County in 1913:
In the first column the figures show the number of children included
in the town; that is, in all the districts and parts of joint districts
wholly within the town. In column two. the figures show the number
t Offiee declared vacant August 22, 1874, and Kennedy Scott appointed to
,-acancy.
} Resigned August 16, 1902, and L. J. Tucker appointed to fill vacancy.
152 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
of school children included in all the districts of the town of which the
schoolhouse is in the town.
Arlington 258 232
Caledonia 364 364
Cambria Village 156 200
Columbus 245 254
Courtland 274 255
De Komi 297 285
Doylestown Village 86 105
Fall River 115 2(11
Fort Winnebago 195 228
Fountain Prairie 339 258
Hampden 241 245
Kilbourn Village 306 345
Leeds 346 3114
Lewiston 286 286
Lodi 2H4 121
Lodi Village 256 344
Lowville 221 265
Marcellon 295 252
Newport 202 163
Otsego 260 216
Pacific 79 59
Pardeeville 283 315
Poynette 152 183
Randolph 398 393
Randolph Village. W. W 73 73
Rio Village 200 232
Scott 280 266
Springvale 279 277
West Point 232 231
\V\ na 241 173
Wyocena Village 83 121
Totals 7.2 Hi 7.246
Legal Qualifications of Teachers
A school hoard can not legally contract with, nor pay a person for
teaching a school, unless such person is a legally qualified teacher of the
county.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 153
A qualified teacher is one who lias either state certificate, unexpired,
or an unexpired county certificate for the county in which the school to
be taught is situated.
A teacher's certificate whose time limit has expired cannot be legally
renewed. All renewals should be requested during the life of the cer-
tificate.
To get a third grade certificate for the first time, one must have at
least six weeks' professional training, and pass examination in reading,
writing, spelling, orthoepy, arithmetic, grammar, school management,
manual, agriculture, geography. United States history, including history
of Wisconsin, constitutions, physiology, rural economics.
A standing of at least 60 per cent is required in Columbia County to
pass in arithmetic, grammar and geography, and not more than one
other standing below 55 per cent is allowed for a year's certificate.
To get a second grade certificate one must have taught at least eight
months and pass examination upon American literature, physical geogra-
phy, English composition and library work, in addition to the third grade
branches. A second grade is good for three years. Sixty per cent is
required.
To get a first grade certificate one must have taught at least eight
months and pass examination in physics, English history, English litera-
ture, algebra, and theory and art of teaching, in addition to the second
grade branches. It is good for five years and 70 per cent is required.
A third grade certificate may he renewed by taking six weeks' pro-
fessional training, during the life of the certificate, or by passing exam-
ination in all but five of the third grade branches, providing the five
branches to he renewed are up to 70 per cent. A third is also renewed
without examination by passing examination in at least two second grade
branches. If the other second grade branches are earned at the next
examination a second grade certificate is issued for three years from the
last examination.
A second grade certificate is renewed by taking six weeks of profes-
sional training during the life of the certificate, or by rewriting upon all
lmt five branches, provided such are up to 75 per cent.
A first grade certificate is renewed by being a high school graduate
and getting the signature of the county superintendent certifying to five
years' successive teaching; or by taking six weeks' professional training;
or by rewriting upon all but five of the branches, provided such stand-
ings are up to SO per cent. A first grade certificate may be renewed
indefinitely after ten years of successful teaching under such certificate.
154
HISTORY OF OOldMBIA ('
Columbia County Teachers 1 Association
The Columbia County Teachers" Association was organized in Octo-
ber, 1912. The first officers were: Principal L. J. Eulse of Pal] River,
president; Miss Addie Butler of Wyocena. vice president: .Miss Caddie
Hoefs of Leeds, secretary, and .Miss Anna Nelson of Rio, treasurer. The
members of the executive committee were Superintendent R. L. Eeindel
of Columbus, .Miss Elga M. Shearer of Columbus and County Superin-
tendent Chester W. Smith.
The county was divided into five sections, each one presided over 1>\
a chairman and secretary who arranged programs for the section meet
Columbia County Training School, Columbus
ings. The constitution provides for one general meeting and two section
meetings for each section during the year.
The second year of the association has been very encouraging to
the teachers and educational leaders of the county. All sections are
working with complete programs and the meetings have been very Largely
attended. The present officers of the association are : President. I reorge
M. Batty of Rio; vice president, Addie Butler of Wyocena: secretary.
Emma Schulze of Portage. The members of the executive committee
are George M-. Batty. Emma Schulze, A. J. Henkel, Elga M. Shearer and
Chester \Y. Smith.
Tin: Columbia C
'Y Tv
The question of taking advantage of
Training School had 1 n considered by
!rs' Training School
the state law for a Teachers'
the County Board of Super-
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 155
visors previous to 1908, but in that year a resolution was carried estab-
lishing a training school for the county in the City of Columbus. The
City of Columbus had offered temporary quarters for the school in the
basement of the Methodist Church, but two years afterward the pres-
ent fine building was erected. The first training school board elected
were : H. E. Andrew's, of Portage and A. M. Bellack of Columbus, and
they are still serving, the county superintendent of schools being
ex-offieio secretary of the board.
The above board elected Principal S. M. Thomas principal of the
school and Miss Harriet Clark, assistant. Mr. Thomas is still principal
with the following assistants: Miss Elga M. Shearer, Miss Anna D.
Halberg and Miss Ella Heiliger.
This training school has exerted a marked educational uplift upon
the schools of the county. In 1909 County Superintendent S. C. Cush-
man resigned and Principal Chester W. Smith of the Kilbourn schools
was appointed in his place. At the present writing the following pub-
lications have been prepared by the faculty of the training school and
Superintendent Smith: A quarterly magazine called The Columbian,
and the pamphlets Farm Accounts, Essentials in Education, and Some
Rules in English Composition.
The school has graduated ninety teachers and there are now teach-
ing in the county sixty-two of those graduates.
Private and Parochial Schools op Portage
For fifteen or twenty years after the permanent settlement of
Columbia County the more intelligent class of its citizens supported a
number of private schools— academies, collegiate institutes, etc.— the
communities being too sparse and poor to sustain public institutions
of a high grade. As a whole, these institutions were classed as "select
schools.
The first school of a strictly private character established in Por-
tage was that founded in the winter of 1851-52 by William Sylvester,
John Q. Adams, Lemuel Berry, Rev. Bradlay Phillips, C. J. Pettibone,
and Rev. W. W. McNair. The principal was Rev. John Brittain, A. M.,
assisted by Miss Abbey 0. Briggs and Miss Margaret B. Burt. In it
were taught, besides all the English branches, Greek, Latin and French,
and music, drawing and painting. As the district schools were improved,
public interest in the Classical Institute waned, and it completely
faded away when the public schools of the city were graded and a high
" ool established in 1859.
Cotemporaneous with the Classical Institute was the select school
156 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
of .Miss Butts, which at one time bad eighty pupils, bill the maiden lady
principal became -Mrs. Cornwell, a Mr. .Mills took over the institution
and. within a few years, it also was supplanted by the public system of
education.
There were also the parish school of St. John's Episcopal Church,
established in November, 1855, and the female seminary founded two
years later. Rev. II. M. Thompson presided over the former, with .Miss
A. <). Briggs, Mary Morehouse and Miss McFarlane as assistants. Mrs.
E. I). Emery, Mrs. E. W. Tenney and Miss Briggs were connected with
the latter.
The various Catholic and Lutheran churches at Portage established
parochial schools at an early day. several of which are still in existence.
Tin- oldest is that identified with St. Mary's Parish, in charge of the
Sisters of St. Dominiek, which was founded about 1866.
Columbus Collegiate Institute
Although Columbus had a number of private schools in its early
days, the Collegiate Institute was the most ambitious attempt to found
a school of higher learning outside the public system of education. In
March, IS.")."), the Columbus Collegiate Institute was incorporated by
.lanes T. Lewis, .1. Q. Adams, R. W. Karll. E. P. Silsl.ee. Chester W.
Dean, Joseph S. Manning, William C. Spencer. W. W. Drake, \V. A.
Niles, -John A. Elliott and Cyrus E. Rosenkrans. The objects of the
Institute were to provide for "th lucation, the mental and moral
discipline, and instruction in literature, the sciences and arts, of youth
of both sexes." The act of incorporation also provided that "no
political or religious opinion shall be required as a qualification of
membership, and no student shall be required to attend worship with
any particular denomination." On the tenth of April, IS.")."), the board
of trustees met at the Congregational Church and elected Rev. .Mr.
Rosenkrans president of the institute. Soon afterward Block 1"> in
West Columbus was purchased, a small building erected thereon, and
in the fall the school was opened, with Misses Martha Brigham 'after-
ward Mrs. William Hazelton) and Mary L. Pomeroy (subsequently
Mrs. Polly) as teachers. Upon the completion of a Union School by
the city in 1858 and the failure to get sufficient subscriptions to con-
tinue the private enterprise, the Columbus Collegiate Institute suspended
and its teachers Found employment in the reorganized public schools.
The year before the founding of the Collegiate Institute, Rev. Mr.
Rosenkrans had failed in his attempt to found a seminary in Colum-
bus. In 1859 a private school was taught by Miss Achsah Iluyck,
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 157
afterward the wife of Rev. Mr. Phillips, and similar attempts were
made later, but had less and less chances of succeeding, with the steady
improvement in the facilities offered by the public schools for which
the citizens were taxed.
The Kilbourn Institute
Kilbourn City also made two bold and partially successful attempts
to found institutions of higher education under private auspices. In
1857 through the liberality of A. Bronson, of Prairie du Chien, an
academy was opened at Point Bluffs, some fourteen miles north of
Kilbourn City. It was called the Kilbourn Institute, and it was con-
tinued with varying success until 1865.
In 1863 a charter was secured from the Legislature incorporating
the Kilbourn City Seminary, and when the academy at Point Bluffs
was discontinued the incorporators of the seminary proposed that the
school should be moved to that place and operated under its charter.
The proposition was accepted, the building at the Bluffs was moved to
Kilbourn City, and the Kilbourn Institute opened to the public with
Rev G. W. Case as principal. By the fall of 1867 140 pupils were
enrolled. But about 1 o'clock, Sunday, January 30, 1868, while dedica-
tory services were being held in the new Methodist Church, word was
brought that the institute was afire. As the building was some dis-
tance away and the fire apparatus of the village crude, by the time
assistance arrived the flames had swept away the property of the insti-
tute and dealt it a death blow.
Rev. B. G. Riley at Lodi
Previous to the formation of the Union School at Lodi, in 1864,
Professor B. G. Rilev had been teaching a select high school in the
village but after that year all his hopes to compete with the public
system were dashed to fragments. The citizens of Lodi had been thor-
oughly aroused by the report of the state superintendent of education,
who had compared the schools of their village most unfavorably with
those of Kilbourn City, Wyocena, Pardeeville, Cambria, Poynette and
Fall River— in fact, placing them at the foot of the class among all
the communities of any account in Columbia County. Their awaken-
ing brought their schools well to the fore, where they have remained,
but it killed all such enterprises as the Riley private high school. The
"Professor" Rilev mentioned was the Rev. B. Gilbert Riley, so noted
158 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
as an educator and Presbyterian minister both Eas1 and West, and es-
pecially in connection with missionary work in Wisconsin. His career
will be further traced in sue >ding pages.
Poynette Presbyterian Academy
As late as L883 an academic venture was made by the Presbyterian
Church at Poynette. In that year the Poynette Presbyterian Academy
was founded for the education of indigent young men and women
who were members of the church. Tin-re were two farms connected
with the academy cultivated by the male students, and the girls and
young women, besides the academic branches, were tauehl practical
Presbyterian Academy, Poynette
matters of a domestic nature. For many years this institution was
quite prosperous, but the improvement in free high schools, and the
introduction to their courses of such branches as manual training and
domestic science, had an undermining effect upon the Poynette Acad-
emy, which finally dissolved in June. 1911. The property including
a large two-story building and attractive grounds, has been transformed
into a hotel enterprise.
Present Status op Public Schooli
In 1859 the school.
became a part of the
of Portage were graded and the
ie\v system, all under a city sup
•hool
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 159
Columbus became a city in 1874, and its act of incorporation provided
for a graded system independent of the jurisdiction of the county
superintendent. In the following year its citizens voted for a free high
school under the general state law.
The schools of Columbia County are in excellent condition, those
which are under city superintendents, as well as those under the juris-
diction of the county superintendents, being particularly described in
the histories of the localities in which they are situated.
Pioneer Trainers of the Soul
As everywhere in the world, the training of the soul preceded the
training of the mind in Columbia County. Catholicism was the pioneer
agent of religious instruction there, as throughout the other regions
of the Great Lakes and the Fox and Wisconsin valleys.
Father Mazzuchelli at the Portage
The first Christian missionary to visit Fort Winnebago was Father
Samuele Carlo Mazzuchelli, a Dominican. In September 1832, he
came on a visit to the Winnebagoes living near the portage, "the first
missionary since the days of Allouez, Dablon and Marquette, 150 years
before, to central Wisconsin. On this visit he held service on the
prairie near the village of De Kaury's south of the Wisconsin River.
A bower was erected for the purpose which was decorated with vines,
wild flowers and ferns by the Indian maidens, and was largely attended
by members of the tribe. He was unable to make himself understood
until he fell in with Pierre Pauquette, the famous Indian trader at
the portage, who rendered much assistance in preaching and confes-
sions.
••The influence of the missionary's visit to the Winnebagoes is
noted by Mrs. Kinzie in her •Wan-Bun.' She had offered a glass to
one of the squaws, which was declined with a finger pointing at the
crucifix hanging at her neck. 'It gave me a lesson,' she says, 'of more
power than twenty sermons. Never before had I seen a glass refused
from a religious motive.' "
Under Father Mazzuchelli 's ministrations there were many converts
to the faith, among others the wife of Pierre Pauquette ; and, prompted
by the missionary's teaching, as well as by his wife's request, the little
log church was erected by the giant fur trader which will stand through
all history as the first religious edifice in Central Wisconsin.
160 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
After leavi
ag his
mission
at
the portage
and
Fori
Winneba
Father Mazzucl
lelli est!
iblished
th(
i s.imt Clara
Aca
demy .•
n Sinsina
Mound, Grant
County,
olir Of
the
most noted
insti
tutions
of the ki
in Wisconsin.
The First of St. Mart's Parish
It was years after the building of Pauquette's church before the
Catholics were substantially organized. Until permanent white set-
tlers commenced to make their home at the portage and near the fort,
those who held to the faith were a varying and shifting hand of Indians
and half breeds; but in the late '40s such stalwart white Catholics
as Thomas Christopher, Patrick Lennon, Charles Moore, M. R. Keegan,
•lames Collins and John Sweeney came to stay. Several missionaries
preached and said mass for about two years before the erection of the
little frame church, early in 1851, upon the lot which lies at the corner
of Conant and Adams streets. Upon the site stood a small forest of
crosses, marking the graves of a score or more of '"good Indians" who.
having been converted by the early missionaries, had died in the faith
and been buried in sacred ground. Among them rested the remains of
Peter Pauquette, whose violent death near that locality in 1836, with
the subsequent neglect and final honoring of his place of interment.
has already been described.
All of this narrative leads to the founding of St. .Mary's Parish, a full
history of which is given in the account of the Portage churches.
Stirring Methodist Preacher
The Methodists were coming into notice about the time that the
white Catholics were founding St. Mary's Parish. Early in tin- sum-
mer of 1847 a colony of unemployed English potters from Staffordshire
located in the town of Scott, under the control of a British organiza-
tion called the Potters' Joint Stock Emigration Society. Two years
later land was purchased, and a store and ferry established, as well as
improvements made, at a place on the north hank of the Fox River, in
Section 4, town of Fort Winnebago. The colonists, who numbered about
1.30 persons, were substantia] and honorable, although their enterprise
as a community experiment resulted disastrously.
.Methodism had a strong following among these English emigrants
and one of their leaders. Isaac Smith, applied at Fort Winnebago soon
after land had 1 n purchased in the northern part of the town, asking
permission to hold religious services therein, hut mi account of the
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 161
shades of belief among the officers he received little encouragement
from the commandant. Thereupon the use of the dining-room of the
Franklin House was tendered by Captain Low, and Mr. Smith fre-
quently preached therein to large and interested congregations.
It is said that the very first sermon preached by Mr. Smith created a
sensation. It was delivered some time in the fall of 1849. Before the
hour arrived for the sermon the preacher had learned of the varying
beliefs prevalent in the neighborhood, and it being his first visit he deter-
mined to preach so that none would be hurt. A fair-sized congregation
assembled and the services began. In the course of his remarks, which
were of a mild, general nature, Mr. Smith stated that all denominations
were working for one end, and that it did not matter what label anyone
wore if his conduct was all right. Heaven was the object of all— for
which all had embarked. Notwithstanding different roads had been
taken, it would not matter when they reached the heavenly region by
which route they had come.
In illustration of this thought he said that the general course from
England by which Wisconsin was reached was to take a steamer from
Liverpool, come to New York and thence take boat for this state. Now
he came from England to New Orleans, thence by the Mississippi River
to Wisconsin, and to Columbia County overland from the West. But
he was here all the same, and he supposed he was all right ; and it was
just as satisfactory as though he had come by way of New York.
"While this thought was very consoling and satisfactory to some, one
old Hardshell Baptist jumped to his feet, started from the room, and,
slamming the door behind him, shouted, ' ' A man that will preach such
stuff as that ought to be locked up!" It is said that the sermon was
discussed from every angle by the settlers of the neighborhood for years
afterward.
In the spring of 1851 a regular Methodist society was organized at
Portage by Rev. Mr. Mackintosh, who remained until the meeting of the
conference of that year when he received a call to other parts. Local
preachers afterward kept the organization together until the fall of 1852,
when Rev. John Bean took charge as its first regular pastor.
The Methodists of Fall River
In the meantime the villages and towns outside Portage and Colum-
bus had been busy in the religious field. Among the first societies to
organize was that of the Methodists of Fall River. In 1844 Rev. Stephen
Jones founded the pioneer church of that village and locality, the organ-
ization being effected in the loghouse of Clark Smith. Its members were
162 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
largely of the Smith family— Rev. E. •!.. Martha, Clark and Sarah— and
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron E. Houghton. E. J. Smith was appointed leader.
A log sehoolhouse was erected soon afterward, and the meetings trans-
ferred to it. As the population of the village increased, the society was
moved thither, and in 1855 a church edifice was erected.
Lodi Methodists Organize
The Town of Lodi joined the ranks of the church people in the fall of
1845, when Rev. L. Harvey, a Methodist circuit rider, who covered the
territory for thirty miles west of Madison, founded a class composed of
members living near the present site of the village. It consisted of
G. M. Bartholomew (leader), Catherine Bartholomew. .M. C. Bartholo-
mew, Mary Bartholomew, Christiana Bartholomew, Rev. Eenry Maynard,
Catherine Maynard and Harriet E. .Maynard. Services were held every
two weeks in the log cabins of the Bartholomews and .Mr. .Maynard until
the sehoolhouse was built on Section 27 in the spring of 1846, which then
became the regular place of worship. Says the Rev. II. Maynard in a
local paper in 1*79 : "These meetings were generally attended with
the Divine presence, spiritual and profitable, with some revivals ami
additions to the church. As others came and settled in the valley, they
joined us in the little log sehoolhouse with one heart and one mind.
Mrs. J. N. Lewis says the first time she attended service in this valley
she rode on an ox-sled, with a family, to that little log house. There w-as
an unusual proportion of the settlers that were church-going people;
hence the influence of Christianity prevailed over opposing influences."
Mr. Tcavxsend on the Lowville Sabbath School
The Town of Lowville took an early stand for Christianity, and it is
still among the foremost sections of the county in this regard. For-
tunately we still have with us A. J. Townsend, now of Wyocena, who.
as one of the real pioneers of Lowville. tells the story of the birth of
religion in his old home and its endurance to the present time: "The
people were wide-awake, most abstemious, and of a decidedly Christian
character, and their first Sabbath school was organized in early May,
1849. All worked in harmony and the settlers came from ten to fifteen
miles around to attend it. About this time a Baptist missionary by the
name of William Cornell came and labored with the people, and on
pleasant Sundays we would have as many as :!."> in Sabbath school and 100
at the church services. Peter Drake, who lived in a pole shack aboul
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 163
12x16 feet, tendered his house to the good people for their Christian serv-
ices, and in the fall of 1849 Elder Cornell organized a Baptist church.
"That Sabbath school, if not the first in the county, was one of the
very first, and, with the exception of one year when the men were in
the Union army, has been in continuous operation. It is still doing fine
work; the grandchildren of those who organized it are the workers now."
The Presbyterians at the Portage
In 1819 the Presbyterians obtained a foothold at the portage. It
was in June of that year that Rev. William Wynkoop McNair was com-
missioned by that denomination as the Wisconsin evangelist, and in the
following month commenced preaching in the garrison schoolroom.
According to the records he ''devoted one-third of his time the first year
to the portage, preaching occasionally toward the close of his missionary
year in the new village then just springing up near the Wisconsin River,
afterward called Portage City. The remainder of his time was devoted
to Wyocena and De Korra." At the meeting of the Presbytery of Wis-
consin held at Cambridge, Dane County, in June, 1850, a committee was
appointed to organize a church at Fort Winnebago, "if the way be clear."
In the meantime, a. colony composed of members of the Presbyterian
Church of Fremont, Ohio, had settled near the fort. Thus the way
became clear, aud in July, 1S50, the First Presbyterian Church of Fort
Winnebago was organized, with Rev. W. W. McNair president and
pastor.
Columbus Congregational Church
On January 26th of that year the Congregationalists of Columbus
organized a society, with Rev. A. Montgomery as pastor and James Camp-
bell, Mrs. Julia Campbell, Richard Stratton, Mrs. Polly Stratton, Emily
Stratton, Mrs. Asenath Stratton, Mrs. Helen S. Rosenkrans, Ellen Hager-
man, Maria Hagerman and Mrs. Hayden as members. The church
became a member of the Madison District convention within a week from
the date of its organization, and R. Stratton was sent as its first dele-
gate. In 1852 the Presbyterian form of government was adopted.
(Details of the split into separate bodies and the histories of both the
Congregational and Presbyterian churches to be given hereafter. )
Cambria as a Church Center
Cambria has always been a leading center of religious, literary
and musical activities, on account of its large Welsh element. Its first
164 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
church was the Methodist, organized in 1850, a majority of whose pas-
tors have been Welshmen. The Welsh Calvanistie .Methodist and the
Welsh Congregational churches were founded in l.s5:j and 1856. re-
spectively.
Presbyterian Church of Kilboi bn
It appears that the first organization of Christians to take root in
Kilbourn City was founded by the Presbyterians. The church at that
place was based upon the failure of a similar movement undertaken at
the village of Newport, which in the early '50s promised to grow. To
double back on the narrative — in the summer of 1855, a petition was
drawn up by nineteen persons of Newport and Delton asking Rev.
William W. McNair, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort
"Winnebago (Portage City), to organize a church at those points. At
the time, Rev. Stewart Mitchell was stopping with .Mr. McNair and
the two visited the new field. Soon afterward, Rev. H. M. Robertson,
representing the Presbytery, organized the church, as requested, with
Mr. Stewart as its first pastor.
But Newport had already commenced to decline, and great difficulty
was experienced in obtaining even a room for divine services. Private
houses, stores, dining rooms, taverns — any shelter was welcomed. By
the most persistent efforts funds were collected sufficient to erect a small
church building, dedicated August 23, 1857. But the society lost con-
tinually by removals from Newport and the adjoining country until it
became apparent that nothing could be done in the way of maintain-
ing the church at that point.
On Sunday, June 29, 1S56, Rev. Mr. Mitchell preached his first
sermon at Kilbourn City, and was holding regular services there when
it was finally decided to abandon the Newport enterprise. The first
communion at the latter place was held in April, 1858, and Mr. Mitchell
went there to reside in the fall. From that time the church commenced
to grow slowly into a stable institution.
The Norwegian Lutherans Organize
The first Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Colum-
bia County was organized by Rev. I. W. C. Dietrickson on March 27,
1847, and was known as Spring Prairie Congregation. It consisted of
settlers residing in the towns of Leeds, Hampden, Otsego. Lowville.
and later Arlington and De Korra. The first Norwegian services were
held at the house of Sjur Reque. On the 15th of October, 1849, the
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 165
original church was divided into three congregations — Spring Prairie
and Bonnet Prairie, Columbia County, and Norway Grove, Dane County.
Later, they were consolidated into one parish, Lodi Congregation, em-
bracing the towns of Lodi, Arlington and De Korra, having been con-
solidated with it. Reverend Dietrickson had charge of tbese congrega-
tions until 1850.
The first Norwegian Church edifice was a small log house in the Town
of Otsego, built in the summer of 1853. In June of that year the corner-
stone of the church in the Town of Leeds was also laid. In 1866 the
Bonnet Prairie Congregation erected a meeting house of stone, and the
Lodi Church erected a brick edifice in 1871. At that time there were
280 families in the various congregations connected with the parish.
Early Churches in the Townships
A number of churches in the different towns were founded in the
pioneer decade from 1845 to 1854 which are worthy of comment.
Rev. Henry Maynard, of Lodi. preached the first sermon in the Town
of Arlington — a good Methodist one — at the house of Clark M. Young in
the summer of 1845. For several years he visited the town from time
to time, but no class appears to have been formed. In 1854 Rev. T. Lewis,
also of Lodi. preached Presbyterian doctrine at the house of A. P. Smith.
Shortly afterward a congregation was formed in Arlington, but no church
building erected.
In the spring of 1N47 Elder Wood, of Wyocena. a Baptist minister,
preached the first sermon in the Town of Otsego, at the home of Stephen
James on Section 2:]. Two years afterward Reverend Hanson, a Meth-
odist clergyman, organized a class in the sehoolhou.se in Section 23.
In the spring of 1849, the Calvanistic Methodists erected the first
church building in the Town of Springvale, on Section 12.
In the same year the Protestant Methodists organized the pioneer
religious church of the Town of Marcellon at the postoffiee by that name.
The congregation disbanded in a short time, however, the greater portion
of the members uniting with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Par-
deeville.
The first sermon preached in the Town of Newport was at the house of
A. 1'.. Stearns July 5, 1852, the occasion being the death of L. W. Stearns.
The first sermon preached in the English language, where people assem-
bled for religious purposes, was at the house of E. A. Toles, Jr.. in March,
1853, and was delivered by Elder Anderson, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
The first religious services in the Town of Newport were held by the
166 HISTORY OF COLLMBIA COUNTS
Norwegians who organized an Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1852, as
already stated. In April, 1857, a lot was selected on the northwest
quarter of Section 20, and soon after completed and opened for worship.
The entire work was accomplished by volunteer labor. Rev. 11. A. Preus
was the first pastor and served the congregation for fifteen years.
The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Town of Lewis-
ton was organized by Mr. Preus in 1851, and a small house of worship
was erected in 1873 on the northeast quarter of Section 20. The German
Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed in 1853 by the Germans living
in the west part of the town. In the same year the Methodists organized
in the sehoolhouse of District No. 2. In 1858 the German Methodist
Episcopal Church was founded, and a house of worship erected on Sec-
tion 26 in 1860.
The Welsh are strong in the Town of Randolph, and for some time
before 1854 the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist Society had held religious
meetings in the old Lake Emily Sehoolhouse and iu private houses. In
the summer of that year they built a church edifice on land donated by
P. R. Roberts on Section 12, that town, and it was dedicated on the first
Sabbath of December, 1854. The name of the church was declared to be
"Engedi," a Hebrew name signifying "a fountain of pleasant waters."
The cemetery adjoining the church was called Machpelah, after the cave
purchased by Father Abraham. Rev. John Daniels was the first and only
pastor. The church building was enlarged in 1870.
Randolph Center had a number of churches in the early times, like
the First Wesleyan Methodist, organized in 1858, and the Methodist
Episcopal at a still earlier date. The German Catholic Church on Sec-
tion 7 was built in 1861.
The above is presented as a fair picture of the efforts of the various
denominations to establish themselves throughout Columbia County, and
their continued activities and good works are detailed in the more elab-
orate histories of the localities which follow.
CHAPTER XII
MILITARY RECORD
Jefferson Davis — Edwin V. Sumner — Other Noted Officers of Fort
Winnebago — The Portage Light Guard — Company G, Second Wis-
consin Volunteer Infantry — First Wisconsin Regiment to Enter
the Service — Record of the Second Wisconsin — Company D,
Fourth Regiment — General Bailey and Major Pierce — General
Bailey and the Red River Dam — Companies A and B, Seventh
Regiment — Company H, Eleventh Regiment — Company D, Nine-
teenth Regiment — Companies C, G and H, Twenty-third Regi-
ment — General and Judge J. J. Guppey — Record of the Twenty-
third — Companies A and E, Twenty-ninth Regiment — Company
K, Thirty-second Regiment — Last Infantry Companies — Cavalry
and Artillery — The Drafts in the County — Guppey Guard of
Portage — Competitive Drills — Captains and Armories — Company
F, Third Regiment, W. N. G. — -Company F in Spanish-American
War — The New Armory.
The History of Fort Winnebago and the careers of many officers of
the post who attained fame both in the Mexican and Civil wars, give the
military affairs of Columbia County a national importance.
Jefferson Davis
The part taken by the garrison and its commanders in the Black
Hawk war has been described, Lieut. Jefferson Davis first coming into
notice as an active officer in the field. In the pursuit of Black Hawk,
Edwin V. Sumner also served as a lieutenant of dragoons. Both were
young officers at Fort Winnebago.
Davis, as the world knows, was one of the most distinguished figures
in the Mexican war and at the head of the Confederacy in the Civil war.
167
168 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Edwin V. Sumner
Sumner was a Massachusetts man. In 1819, at the age of twenty-
three be joined the United Stales army as second lieutenant; became
first lieutenanl in 1823 and as such served in tin- Black Hawk war; was
promoted to a captaincy of dragoons in 1833 and to major in L846. In
April, LS47, he led the 1'amons cavalry charge at Cerro Gordo, in which
he was wounded. For his bravery at that engagement he wa.s brevetted
lieutenant-colonel. He distinguished himself in all the other battles of
the Mexican war in which he participated. At Molino del Key he com-
manded the entire cavalry force of the 1'nited States army, holding five
thousand Mexican lancers in check, for which he wa.s brevetted colonel.
Subsequently he was made lieutenant-colonel of dragoons and military
governor of New .Mexico, and in 1857 led a successful expedition against
the Cheyennes, whom he defeated at Solomon's Fork of the Kansas River.
Joining the Union army in the Civil war. by May. 1S62. he had reached
the rank of brevet major-general. IK- commanded the left wing at the
siege of Yorktown; was in all the battles of the Peninsula and twice
wounded; was again wounded at Antietam, and at Fredericksburg, in
December, 1862, commanded the right grand division of the army. He
died at Syracuse. X. Y.. March 21, 1S63.
Other Noted Officers op Fort Winnebago
A younger comrade of General Sumner's at Fort Winnebago was
Lieut. William Steele, of New York, who also honored himself in the
Mexican war and on frontier duty against the Indians. He joined the
Confederacy, and survived the war.
Maj. David E. Twiggs, the first commandant and builder of the fort,
distinguished himself at Monterey, in the Mexican war, but was dis-
missed from the Federal service in February, 1861, for surrendering
United States stores in Texas before that state bad seceded from the
Union. For a time be was a Confederate general.
One of Twiggs' lieutenants was William S. Harney, who afterwards
so distinguished himself in campaigns against hostile Indians in Florida,
and was finally brevetted a brigadier-general for long and faithful
•services.
Lieut. Randolph I:. Marcy, who was on duty at Fort Winnebago in
1837-40, saw active service in both the Mexican and Civil wars. He was
the Father-in-law of George B. McClellan, afterward commander of the
Union army, and under the latter he served as chief-of-stat'f. attaining
the rank of brevet brigadier-general.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 169
Lieut. Nathan B. Rossell joined the Fifth Infantry at Fort Winne-
bago in 1839. He was one of the youngest of the officers, and that was his
first post. lie was severely wounded at Molino del Rey, being brevetted
for his distinguished services there and presented with a gold sword by
his native state of New Jersey. When the Civil war broke out he was
in command at Fort Albuquerque, New .Mexico, and was killed in action
at Gaines Mill, while leading the Third Infantry.
Many others might be mentioned whose military careers virtually
commenced at old Fort Winnebago. Its evacuation in 1S45 was made
necessary by the call of troops to the Mexican frontier. While hostili-
ties were in progress, permanent settlers had not come into the county
in such numbers as to call for any levy upon them. The home military
record of Columbia County therefore commences with the outbreak of
the War of the Rebellion.
The Portage Light Guard
Several years before it broke, it became evident, to thoughtful citizens
that the Civil war was bound to come, and in the late '50s military
organizations were springing up throughout the North. The Portage
Light Guard, the first of its kind in Columbia County, was organized
in 1859, but did not enter actively into military discipline and drill until
early in 1861. By the time a re-organization had been effected, hostilities
had commenced, and the President's call issued for seventy-five thou-
sand volunteers.
Company G, Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
The Light Guard promptly offered its services, and was assigned to
the Second Regiment, "Wisconsin Volunteers, as Company G. It was
mustered into the Union service at Camp Randall on June 11, 1861. with
the following officers: Capt. John Mansfield, First Lieut. A. S. Hill, Sec-
ond Lieut. S. K. Vaughan, Sergeants W. S. M. Abbott, G. W. Marsh,
Charles D. Ettinger and John G. Kent. There were eight corporals, two
musicians and eighty privates; twenty-five more enlisted at Fort Tilling-
hast, Va., in the following October, and still later (from the fall of 1861
to the winter of 1864 ) nineteen more joined the ranks of Company G.
First Wisconsin Regiment to Enter the Service
The various companies of the Second Wisconsin were organized at
Camp Randall early in May, 1861, and on the 16th of the month, with
170 BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
the other coin ma mis. Company < I re-enlisted for three years, "or during
the war." As staled, it was mustered into the service June 11, the Sec-
ond Wisconsin Regiment being the first organization to lie thus received
into the United Stairs service from that state. On the 20th of the same
month the regiment left for Washington, and was the first body of three-
years' men to appear at the national capital.
Record of the Second Wisconsin
As a part of that command. Company G participated in the move
ment on Manassas, where during a terrific assault on one of the enemy's
batteries the regiment sustained a heavy loss. In March of the next
year, after it had become consolidated with the famous Iron Brigade
under < ii'ii. Rufus King, the Second was in the advance in the con-
tinued operations against Manassas. On the 28th of August, the brigade
was assigned a position in the advance line, and proceeded slowly on the
left of the army to Groveton. via Gainesville. While moving by the
flank in the march toward Centerville, the Second Regiment was attacked
by a battery posted on a wooded eminence to the left. It promptly ad-
vanced and soon encountered the infantry. While awaiting the rest of
the brigade, the regiment cheeked I'm' nearly twenty minutes the onset
of Stonewall Jackson's entire division, under a murderous fire of mus-
ketry. When the brigade arrived, the battle was continued until !t
o'clock in the evening, when the enemy was repulsed, and the entire army
passed on the road to Centerville.
The Second took a prominent part at the storming of Turner's Pass,
South Mountain, and at the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. It
was in the advance at Gettysburg, where it suffered a loss of thirty per
cent of the rank and file. Its total loss at that date amounted to 652 killed,
wounded and missing.
In December, 1863, forty members of the Second re-enlisted and on
January 28, 1864, arrived at Madison, received their furloughs and dis-
persed to their homes. During their absence, the remainder of the
Second, with the non-veterans of the brigade, participated in a recon-
naissance to the Rapidan River. About the 1st of March, the veterans
returned to the front, and their regiment was soon after assigned to the
First Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps.
The Iron Brigade then participated in the battles of the Wilderness
and Spottsylvania Court House. After the latter engagement the Sec-
ond Regiment, having been reduced to less than one hundred men present
for duty and having lost both field officers, was detailed as provost guard
to the Fourth Division. Fifth Army Corps, thus severing its connection
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 171
with the Iron Brigade. In that capacity the remnant of the Second ar-
rived at Bottom's Bridge, on the Chickahominy, on June 11, where they
remained until the expiration of their term of service. Those absent on
detached duty were recalled, and on June 11 the little band of battle-
scarred veterans took its departure for home, arriving at Madison on
the 18th. .
Those who had joined the regiment at various times after its original
organization were formed into an independent battalion of two compa-
nies under Capt, D. B. Dailey and assigned to provost duty. They par-
ticipated in the battle before Petersburg, and in November were trans-
ferred as Companies G and H to the Sixth Wisconsin, with which they
were mustered out.
Company G suffered its severest loss at Gainesville (Second Bull
Run). It went into the engagement with 54 men, and lost in killed and
wounded 43, 13 being killed outright.
Company D, Fourth Regiment
Company D, Fourth Regiment, was recruited at Kilbourn City, and
went into camp at Racine June 6. 1861, with the following commissioned
officers: Joseph Bailey, captain ; Walter S. Payn, first lieutenant; Edwin
R. Herren, second lieutenant. On the 15th of July they left for Balti-
more, remained in Maryland acquiring discipline and drill until Novem-
ber and after various unimportant movements joined the Army of the
Gulf at Ship Island, Miss., on March 12, 1862. The hardships of the
voyage engendered much disease, and many of the soldiers found a
grave in the sands of the Gulf of Mexico. The company was present
at the bombardment and capture of the forts in the Southwest Pass by
Porter and Farragut, and in May embarked in captured transports on
an expedition which extended to Vieksburg. It participated in the
famous thirty-days' siege of that stronghold of the Confederacy, as well
as in all the operations centering in and around Baton Rouge. The
Fourth Regiment led the advance in driving the enemy within his works
at Port Hudson, where it suffered fearful losses, as well in the assaults
against the Confederate forces within. In July the regiment returned
to Baton Rouge and in the following month was completely equipped as
cavalry. Subsequently, until May, 1866, the Fourth did excellent serv-
ice against guerilla bands of Confederates and marauding Indians, its
operations extending to Texas and the international boundary.
172
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
General Bailey and .Major Pierce
Bu1 Company D achieved its greatest fame because of the splendid
services rendered to the Union cause in the Southwest by Joseph Bailey,
who went out as its captain and in May, 1864, had reached the rank of
brigadier-general by promotion.
The company, during its existence, had as captain besides General
Bailey, K. R. Herron, Guy ('. Pierce and A. C. Ketchum. ".Major Pierce
was one of General Bailey's most trusted staff officers. Being clear of
brain, brave and quick to perceive, he possessed an iron nerve and was
many times detailed for perilous duty. He was four times wound. >d.
Chosen as the recipient of a congressional medal of honor for brave and
meritorious conduct at the siege of Mobile, Major Pierce has also numer-
ous letters and relics, and has recorded many historical incidents which
future generations will value as without price."
The foregoing Wi
tendent of schools, â–
graphic sketch of "G
General Baile\
written
iXD the Red River Dam
\Y. Smith, county superin-
indebted Eor the following
lie Red River Dam:"
Gen. Joseph Bailey
"Many citizens of Wisconsin have heard of the Red River Dam, but
not all of them know that its originator and builder was a Wisconsin
soldier and received his practical education in the lumber camps of
northern Wisconsin. Fewer yet realize that this man of rugged courage,
adaptable knowledge, and unlimited energy saved to the Union cause an
entire fleet of gun boats and thereby cut short by two years the greatest
civil war of history.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 173
"When Beauregard's rebel guns woke the North to united action
against secession, Mr. Joseph Bailey was a respected citizen of Kilbourn
City, Columbia County, Wisconsin. He entered the service on May 18th,
1861, as captain of Company D, Fourth Wisconsin Volunteers. He was a
man of commanding stature, great natural ability as a leader and man-
ager of men. In July, 1863, he was made Lieutenant Colonel of his
regiment, and in the spring of 1864 he was serving under General Frank-
lin's staff in Louisiana, as chief engineer.
"In April of this year Rear Admiral Porter's fleet of gun boats had
passed up the Red River as far as Alexandria, some 200 miles above
Baton Rouge. These gun boats were intended to work in connection with
the land forces of the Union army to complete the subjugation of the
South in southern territory.
"But the campaign was not proving a success and just as the army
was preparing to retreat, the water in the Red river suddenly fell, leaving
the whole Union fleet stranded above the rapids near Alexandria.
"With a hostile people all about them, the enemy's army watching
for an opportunity for attack, supplies cut off and provisions short, Ad-
miral Porter saw only the utter loss of his fleet and certain necessity of
being compelled to destroy the whole squadron to prevent their falling
into the hands of the enemy. Expert civil engineers of the army were
consulted with no relief. They declared that it would take a year to
construct a dam across the river to float the boats. Looking at the prob-
lem from the standpoint of their book-knowledge and lack of experience,
no doubt they were right.
"But the man of practical knowledge, the man for the hour, was there
in the person of Lieut. Col. Joseph Bailey. He was there with confidence
in himself and in his plan, and he had the nerve to offer his idea to the
Admiral. But the great naval officer scouted the idea as wild and im-
possible. All of his best engineers, educated at West Point, ridiculed
the plan, so that nothing was done for twenty days.
"But the man of experience and courage, the man who had made
whole fleets of logs float down shallow streams in Northern Wisconsin
knew what be was talking about. He persisted and Anally Admiral
Porter agreed to ask permission of General Banks of the army to allow
Colonel Bailey to try the experiment. Banks gave his consent only as a
last resort,
"Now the plan that Colonel Bailey proposed was not new as to the
fact that a dam in a river will raise the water above it. . The value of
Bailey's knowledge was that it offered a way to build that dam, and
free those big, helpless boats, in ten days, instead of a year's time :
"Once the project was decided upon, gloom changed to exultation.
174 BISTORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
General Banks gave orders to supply Colonel Bailey with every possible
need he might require. He asked and obtained 3,(X 10 men, 300 teams and
wagons, all the axes and tools that could he found, iron holts and bricks
from the numerous sugar mills along the river, stones from newly made
quarries, planks from old or aew buildings. There were two or three
regiments of Maine men, who were sent into the near-by woods to cut
dnu n trees, which were brought to the river with all their branches on.
"The rapids over which the water must be raised to allow the boats
to pass, were about a mile in length, and the river was about 600 to 800
feel wide where the dam was to be constructed. To build a dam reaching
all the way across the river was impossible, nor was this a part of
Bailey's plan. He began by building wing, or bracket, dams about 300
feet long, reaching from each hank of the river, thus leaving a middle
chute about 66 feet wide for the boats to go through.
"The dams were constructed by floating on barges the logs, trees.
stone, old iron from the mills, and whatever could be used to stop the cur-
rent and hack the water up the channel. At the end of these wings four
of the largest coal barges, 170 feet lone, were loaded with stone and sunk.
Log , Tihs were made, floated to the desired place, tilled with stone and
sunk, after which long iron bolts were driven through them into the
hard bed of the river. This was necessary as the current at this point
had a velocity of ten miles an hour.
""The men worked almost day and night and at the end of the eighth
day the water was high enough to start the boats. Every one marveled,
and the tired men grew strong with hope and coming victory. But the
next morning the tremendous force of the increased volume of water
swung one of the big barges from its anchorage and again the water fell
to its former stage.
"Shouts changed as. suddenly to doubts and disappointed hopes. Men
who had opposed the idea now came forward with their 'I-told-you-so's*
and the civil engineers demanded thai the effort be abandoned before it
was too late to burn the boats and escape being captured by the enemy.
"Then was shown the mighty significance of having a Man present
who knew himself and his job. Men recognize a leader. For the past
eight days these men had been working, many of them, up to their waists
in water and in the hot sun. They now saw their labors tossed aside as
of no avail.
"But Colonel Bailey and his corps of assistants never showed a mo-
ment's hesita tine' doubt. Orders were immediately issued to begin the
construction of other wing dams and those men redoubled their efforts
for they had faith in the man who had faith in himself.
"In three days the water rose to a sufficient height to allow every boat
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 175
of the fleet safe passage over the rapids and down the river to freedom.
The Southern army was as astonished as it was disappointed, while the
glad acclaims of those who held dear the Union cause, were heard for
many days.
"Colonel Bailey was the hero of the hour and received promotion to
the position of brigadier general. Rear Admiral Porter and his staff had
ordered made a beautiful sword with sheath and hilt of gold, and also a
solid silver punch howl, standing two feet high, which were presented to
General Bailey. These magnificent gifts were made by the Tiffany Com-
pany of New York and were beautifully engraved with appropriate
inscriptions. They are now in the Wisconsin State Historical Museum at
Madison.
"After being honorably mustered out in 1865, Gen. Bailey returned
to Kilbourn City, his home. In 1866 he moved to Vernon County, Mo.,
aud the same year he was elected sheriff of the county. The next year
he was shot by assassins whom he had antagonized in doing his duty by
enforcing the law.
"The name of Gen. Joseph Bailey should live in the annals of his
country along with the many other brave soldiers who gave their all in
defence of home and liberty."
Companies A and B, Seventh Regiment
Companies A and B, Seventh Regiment, were from Columbia County,
the former from Lodi and the latter from Portage, known as the Colum-
bia County Cadets. Company A was commanded by Capt. George Bill,
with Hollon Richardson as first, and Richard Lindsey as second lieuten-
ant ; Company I!. by ('apt. James II. Huntington, with John Walton as
first, and S. L. Bachelder as second lieutenant. The Seventh Regiment
rendezvoused at Camp Randall in August, 1861, and in October joined
General King's command known as the Iron Brigade. The principal
losses to A and B occurred at the two Bull Runs, South Mountain, the
â– Wilderness, Gettysburg and Fredericksburg.
Company D, Tenth Regiment
Company D, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry, was formed in August, 1861,
and was known as the Fremont Rifles. James L. Coffin was captain.
Thomas L. Kennan first lieutenant, and (ieorge W. Marsh second lieu-
tenant. In October, 1861, the Tenth was mustered into service at Camp
Hutton, Milwaukee, and served in Kentucky, Tennessee and in Slier-
176 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
man's movemenl toward Atlanta. It was at Champlin Hills, Chicka-
mauga, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek.
Company II. Eleventh Regiment
Company II, Eleventh Regiment, was organized in September, l.stjl.
and accepted at (amp Randal] for service October 18th, with Alexander
Christie as captain. Eli II. Mix as first lieutenant and Isaac J. Wright
as second lieutenant. It saw active service in Arkansas, Louisiana.
Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The Second Brigade to winch it was
attached took part in the battle of Champion Hills, in the siege of Vicks-
burg and the Red River expedition, and the Eleventh was finally mus-
tered out of the service at Mobile. September 4. 1865. The regiment
suffered a death loss of 348; 262 of whom died of disease. Captain
Christie resigned in January, 1864, and was succeeded by Lieut. -James
O'Neal.
Company D, Nineteenth Regiment
Company I), Nineteenth Regiment, was recruited in December, 1861,
with Samuel K. Vaughan as captain. William H. Spain as first lieutenant,
and Edward 0. Emerson as second lieutenant. The command was mus-
tered into service April 30, 1862, and left for the Potomac on the 2d of
June. The boys were engaged for the first time at Newberg, N. C. on
the 1st of February. 1864. In June they accompanied the advance of
Grant's army in its assault upon Petersburg. After enjoying a veteran
furlough, in October they proceeded to the trenches before Richmond.
The regiment participated in the battle of Fair Oaks, and in April of the
following year was a part of the Union army which marched into Rich-
mond and planted the regimental colors on the city hall. On the 9th of
August, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of the service in the capital
of the Confederacy.
Companies C, G and H, Twenty-third Regiment
Companies C. G and II, Twenty-third Regiment, were all organized
in Columbia County. C was raised in Portage, with Edgar F. Hill as
captain; G was from Columbus. James E. Hazelton captain, and II from
Lodi. with E. Howard Irwin captain. J. J. Guppey, promoted from the
Tenth, was colonel of the Twenty-third during its entire service II. â–
was wounded and taken prisoner at Carrion Crow Bayou, La.. Novem-
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 177
ber 3, 1863, and exchanged in December, 1864. Captain Hill, of Com-
pany C, became lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in August, 1863
General and Judge J. J. Guppey
Joshua J. Guppey, of Portage, colonel of the Twenty-third for nearly
three years, was one of the most distinguished citizens of Columbia
County. He was a native of New Hampshire, and while a student at
Dartmouth College was captain of its military company, showing even
in his early youth one of the strong tendencies of his life. Admitted to
the bar of the Granite State in 1846, when twenty-six years of age, he
located at Columbus, Columbia County, in the same year. In the follow-
ing year he was appointed colonel of the county militia, and held the
office of judge of probate and county judge from the fall of 1849 to
January 1, 1858; was superintendent of the public schools of Portage
city from 1858 to 1861, and on September 13th of the last named year
was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry. He was in active service as such until July 25, 1862, when he
was promoted to colonel of the Twenty-third, and held that position with
high honor to the end of the war. He was wounded and taken prisoner
at the engagement at Carrion Crow Bayou, La., and in March, 1865, was
brevetted brigadier-general "for gallant and meritorious services during
the war. ' '
In April, 1865, while absent in the service General Guppey was re-
elected county judge for four years from January 1, 1866, and held that
office by successive elections until 1882. In 1866 he was again elected
superintendent of city schools, serving thus until 1873. Whether in mili-
tary or civil activities, Judge Guppey acquited himself as a man of
unusual ability and conscientiousness.
Record of the Twenty-third
The Twenty-third Regiment early joined the army destined for the
reduction of Vicksburg, its first engagement of any note occurring at Port
Hindman on the Arkansas River, which surrendered largely as the re-
sult of the fierce assault delivered by the Thirty-third. The regiment re-
ceived many congratulations for its conduct from the division and brigade
commanders. The Yazoo swamps laid many of the soldiers low, but the
health of the men improving, active operations were resumed. They
fought on the battlefield at Fort Gibson, Miss., and were the first to enter
the village. The Twenty-third won fame at the battles of Champion Hills
and Black River Bridge, at the latter engagement capturing the Sixtieth
178 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Tennessee with its colors. It was at the front in the general assault on .
Vicksburg, at the '-Ins.- of the siege the regimenl numbering hut 150 men
ready for duty. Later, at Carrion (.'row Bayou, the regimenl was at-
tacked bj a greatly superior force of the enemy, hut, with reinforcements,
regained the ground at first lost, although at greal sacrifice. The regi-
ment then engaged in the Red River expedition, the battle of Sabine
Cross Roads and the investment of Mobile, being mustered out of the
sen ice July 4. 1865.
Companies A and E, Twenty-ninth Regiment
Companies A and E, Twenty-ninth regiment, were composed almost
entirely of citizens from Columbia County. Bradford Bancock, who
became colonel of the regiment in April. 1865, was the first captain of
Company A. and was succeeded by 0. F. Mattice ami O. I). Kay, tin-
latter being promoted from the ranks.
Company E was recruited along the border between Columbia and
I lodge counties, and its captains were Hezekiah Dunham, Darius J. Wells
and Joshua A. Stark.
The Twenty-ninth was mustered into service at Camp Randall Sep-
tember 27. 1862. and its fine record is identified with the operations of
the Army of the Southwest. Its first battle was at Port Gibson and,
although the command was made up of raw recruits, the brigade com-
mander commended its conduct highly, and at the battle of Champion
Hills, fought soon afterward, it is credited with having made one of the
most brilliant charges of the entire war, capturing over three hundred
prisoners, a stand of colors and a brass battery. The regiment con-
tinued its good record at the siege of Vicksburg, the siege of Jackson, the
battle of Sabine Cross Roads, the work connected with the construction
of the famous Red River Dam under the superintendency of Colonel
Bailey, and the concluding battle before Mobile.
Company K, Thirty-second Regiment
Company K, Thirty-second Regiment, was recruited in August, 1862,
and mustered into the service at Camp Bragg, Oshkosh, September 25th
following, with John E. Grant as captain. In November the regiment
joined General Sherman's command at Memphis. Tenn.. and accompa-
nied his army later in its famous march to the sea, and from Savannah
north through the Carolinas to Richmond. It reached the Confederate
capital May 9. 1865, on the 24th of that month it took part in the grand
review at Washington, and was mustered out on the 12th of June.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 179
Last Infantry Companies
A portion of Company E, Forty-second Regiment, was raised in Co-
lumbia County during the fall of 1864, and Company D, Forty-sixth
Regiment, in which there were a few Columbia County boys, was recruited
in the first two months of 1865.
Cavalry and Artillery
Company E, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, was known as the Columbia
County Cavalry. It was recruited in the fall of 1861, was accepted for
service at various dates between December, 1861, and March, 1862. and
its captain was George N. Richmond. The regiment left Camp Wash-
burn. Milwaukee, March 2-1, 1862, and its operations were mostly around
Memphis and Vicksburg.
Company F, First Heavy Artillery, organized at Portage in Septem-
ber. 1864, with Erastus Cook as captain. The company left Camp Ran-
dall on the 3d of October, 1864, and was assigned to duty in the defenses
of Washington. It remained at that point until June 26, 1865, when it
was mustered out of service. It was the only company of troops going
from Columbia County which returned without loss of life.
The Drafts in the County
In proportion to population the number of citizens in Columbia
County who volunteered to serve the Union cause on the field of battle
was as large as any county in the state. But despite appeals from the
local newspapers to avert such a course, which was considered by some
as a reflection upon patriotism, and the strenuous efforts of the recruit-
ing agents, the "draft" came to Columbia County as it did to other sec-
tions of the North. In June, 1863, Provost Marshal S. J. M. Putnam of
Janesville, under orders, appointed the following enrolling officers to
register the names of those liable to military duty in Columbia County :
Perry G. Stroud, Newport; E. F. Lewis, Lewiston ; J. B. Wood, Fort
Winnebago; Hiram Albee, Marcellon ; David H. Langdon, Scott; John M.
Bay, Randolph; Jeremiah Williams, Courtland ; John H. Rowlands,
Springvale; Henry Converse, Wyocena ; Wells M. Butler, Portage and
Pacific ; J. C. Mohr, Caledonia ; Jacob Cosad, De Korra ; Jesse F. Hand,
Lowville; E. W. McNett, Otsego; E. T. Kerney, Fountain Prairie; G. W.
Campbell, Columbus; William K. Custer, Hampden; Annnond Chris-
tophers. Leeds; A. G. Dunning, Arlington; Thomas Yule, Lodi ; Cyrus
Hill, West Point.
180 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Toward the latter part of July, the enrolling officers having completed
their work, it was found that the number of persons in Columbia county
liable to military duty was 2,045 of the first class and 1,609 of the sec-
ond. Under the president's call for 300,000 men in 1863, the quota to
be filled in the county was about two hundred and seventy. The total
number of volunteers up to August 20th of that year was 1,602, or 260
in excess of the quotas under the volunteer calls of 1861-62. As announced
by the provost marshal who superintended the enumeration of Columbia
County, the number to be drafted in its several towns was 353. The
excess of 260 under the 1861-62 calls being deducted, there remained but
ninety-three to be supplied under the call of January, 1863.
And so the balancing of debits (quotas due) and credits (volunteers)
went on for twenty months or more before the draft actually was ''pulled
off." In July, 1864, the president issued another call for 500,000 men,
and after much figuring among those interested in the prospective draw-
ing it was discovered that Columbia county's quota to be furnished was
806. The 21st of September was an interesting day to those whose names
went into the box at Janesville. The quota of Portage was eighty-six,
and prominent among those who drew prizes were E. C. Maine,
D. G. Muir, H. O. Lewis, V. Helmann, William Armstrong, J. P. Mc-
Gregor, F. H. Ellsworth, W. W. Corning, L. Breese, John T. Clark,
James Collins, Carl Haertel, A. J. Turner, Alva Stewart and Israel
Holmes. Most of those mentioned belonged to the Draft Insurance Club,
and were entitled to draw $380 each from a citizens' fund to pay sub-
stitutes. Supplementary drafts soon followed in a few of the towns.
Another call for 300,000 volunteers having been made on the 19th
of December, 1864, it was ascertained that Columbia County's quota
woidd amount to 423 men. The quota of Portage by wards w^as fifty-
one. There was some lively volunteering about this time, under the
patriotic influence of nearly five hundred dollars bounty, $200 wages for
a year, with board and clothes and very little prospect for a fight.
A draft took place in the towns of Marcellon and Lewiston on the
27th of February, 1865, but by the time the drawing was announced
nearly every man in those towns liable to be drafted had enlisted.
Guppey Guard of Portage
The name of General and Judge J. J. Guppey was given to the
famous militia of Portage which, since 1883, has been known as Company
F, Third Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard. Prior to that time the
Guppey Guard had acquired a state-wide reputation as a finely drilled
organization.
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY 181
On the 6th of July, 1877, a meeting was held at the court house
in Portage for the purpose of organizing a military company. A petition
was then and there signed by sixty-five young men of legal military age
and presented to General Guppey, requesting him to appoint someone
to organize a company as provided for under the laws of the state.
A. J. Turner was selected for the undertaking, and at the first meeting
of the company A. H. Russell, who had served several years in the Civil
war, was elected captain, Homer S. Goss first lieutenant, and George S.
Race, second lieutenant. Soon afterward the company received from
the state sixty Springfield rifles, with belts and cartridge boxes, and at
once commenced regular drills. The citizens of Portage subscribed money
for the uniforms of gray, known as West Point cadet cloth, with gold
lace and dark facings.
Competitive Drills
The first competitive drill took place at Reedsburg, Wis., July 4,
1879, the rivals of the Guppeys being the Mauston Light Guard, then
one of the best companies in the state. Honors were so evenly divided
that the $100 prize was split between the two organizations. At the
September competition of the same year, held at Portage, the local com-
pany was second to the Mauston Light Guard, but in October it took
first prize.
In January, 1880, the Guppey Guard participated in the inaugural
ceremonies at Madison, and had the satisfaction of reading the following
in a city paper: "The Guppey Guard, of Portage, Capt. J. D. Womer,
'went in on its muscle,' and showed the crowd something grand. Cheer
after cheer went up as the company went through with some of its fancy
and most difficult movements. The other companies indulged in the
usual parade movements only. Portage City is assured that her company
'took the palm' in the drill business in our city, and the captain of
this company may well be proud of his men.
The first executive officers of the Guppey Guard were as follows:
J. J. Guppey, president; A. J. Turner, vice president; John T. Yule,
secretary ; H. S. Goss, treasurer.
Captains and Armories
Charles C. Dow followed Captain Womer in command of the com-
pany, and after him came J. C. Britt. Just before the latter's commission
arrived the guard was called to Eau Claire to quell the strikers in the
sawmills in that city. Capt, V. E. Brewer followed Captain Britt and
182 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
held the command until the fall of 1888. During the incumbency of the
former, the Guppey Guard joined with the .Masons in erecting the armory
and .Masonic Hall building on DeWitt Street. It was completed in 1883.
During the later '90s the Masons acquired the title to the entire property,
renting the lower floor to the postal authorities when the new armory
of Company F was completed and thrown open in the upper story of
the present city hall. This was in 1901.
Company F, Third Regiment, W. N. G.
After being assigned to various commands in the Wisconsin National
Guard, the Portage company became at the organization of the regiment
in 1883, Company F, First Battalion, Third Infantry, as it is today.
George C. Carnegie, formerly first lieutenant, succeeded Captain
Brewer in 1888, and commanded the company until his promotion to
the head of the Third Battalion of his regiment in 1895. Major Carnegie
died two years later, while holding a temporary position as officer in the
guard of the Nashville exposition.
H. S. Rockwood, who had been promoted to the captaincy of Company
F upon Captain Carnegie's promotion, resigned in the summer of 1897,
being succeeded by Frank T. Lee. Captain Lee held the office until
January, 1899, when the Third Regiment was mustered out of the United
States service, after the Spanish-American war.
Company F in Spanish-American War
As a unit of the Third, Company F volunteered for service in the
war. It left Portage on April 28, 1898, and as part of the command,
embarked at Charleston, S. C, for Porto Rico. Both the Second and the
Third regiments participated in the capture of Ponce, three months after
leaving home, taking an active part in the taking of Coamo. The troops
fought in various skirmishes up to the signing of the protocol of peace
in August. Several members of Company F were wounded, and Corporal
Frank B. Loomis and Private James Gamble subsequently died in a
Coamo hospital. At the muster-out at Portage, in January, Frank I.
Lee was captain, William 0. Kelm, first lieutenant, and H. S. Rockwood,
second lieutenant. In addition, there were eighteen officers, two
musicians, an artificer and a wagoner, and seventy-three privates; three
members of the company had been honorably discharged, and there had
been two deaths of typhoid fever, as noted.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 183
The New Armory
Since the Spanish- American war Company P has been well supported
and its ranks maintained at the legal standard— sixty-five in times of
peace. Its armory in the new city hall building is commodious and
strictly metropolitan, with equipment to match. Guy P. Godell is captain,
Samuel B. Ernsperger, first lieutenant, and Frank B. Ernsperger, second
lieutenant.
The armory drill hall occupies a space of 72x73 feet on the Wisconsin
street side of the second and third floors, and is reached by two wide
maple stairways from the first floor. Like all the other floors in the
building, the floor is of matched maple. The wainscoting and other
woodwork throughout are of southern pine in natural finish. A wide
balcony runs around the hall on three sides, and on a level with the
hall floor at the Clark Street side are reception, dressing and smoking
rooms Above these, and level with the gallery, are the officers' quarters
Columbia county is proud of Company F which, like other units of
the Wisconsin National Guard, has always upheld the fine traditions of
United States soldiers, whether members of the regular army or the
volunteer service.
CHAPTER XIII
THE CITY OF PORTAGE
First White Woman at the Portage— The Settlement Grows— The
Canal Booms Things— Platting the Town of Fort Winnebago—
The Guppey Plat— Incorporation as a City— Increase of Popula-
tion—The Present City— Chicago & Wisconsin Valley Railroad
—The Fine City Hall— Free Public Library of Portage I Mrs. J.
E. Jones)— The City Water Works— Electric Light and Tower-
Commission Form of Government Adopted — Protection Against
Fire— Wisconsin River Bridges— Final Dissolution of $119,000—
Nomenclature of Portage Streets (A. J. Turner)— Experiments
in Banking— City Bank of Portage— First National Bank-
Portage Loan and Trust Company— The Eulberg Brewing Com-
pany—Epstein Brothers' Brewery— The Portage Hosiery Com-
pany — Ll. Breese.
When you weed out the inhabitants of old Fort Winnebago, and
the traders, and the carriers, and the interpreters at the portage, who
by no stretch of prose license could be classed as "permanent," the first
real householder of the settlement which developed into Portage was
Henry Carpenter. Long after, when he had become a resident of
Waushara County, Wisconsin, he wrote: "I landed in Portage in July,
1837— my wife and I, and a man and his wife by the name of Hart.'
Henry Merrell was keeping a sutler's store when I came, in a building
close by the fort. He afterward built and moved to the west side of
Fox River.
First White Woman at the Portage
"The first white woman who came to the portage and permanently
settled there was Sarah Carpenter, my wife; the first white child born
at the portage was George Carpenter, my son.* Silas Walsworth kept a
*Mr. Carpenter is now, and has been for years, a resident of Milwaukee.
184
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 185
small grocery on the Wisconsin River near the place where I built my
hotel. Gideon Low (an army officer, then living at the fort) was building
the Franklin House when I came, and afterward moved into it."
Neither Carpenter nor Low came to Portage to settle there, although
they finally became residents. The same may be said of Henry Merrell,
who built a store on the west side of Fox River opposite the fort (and
therefore within the present city limits) about the time that Carpenter
erected the original United States Hotel. Silas Walsworth, whom Car-
penter found living at the portage in July, 1S37, was a new arrival. He
afterward married the widow of Pierre Pauquette, and in 1846, at the
organization of Columbia County, was chosen county judge, although he
failed to qualify. He was a typical trader — here one day, and there,
the nest.
The Settlement Grows
Andrew Dunn, Hugh McFarlane, Clark Whitney, J. Garrison, Archi-
bald Barker, Jonathan Cole and others came in 1838 — the first three to
stay, as the future was to develop. In 1839-40 immigration set in with
some strength, and within the next fifteen years the "entrepot of Central
Wisconsin" really stood up to the name by which its people were wont
to call it.
Before the arrival of Mr. Carpenter the Portage Canal had been
chartered, and in 1838 digging actually commenced at a point on the
Fox River now intersected by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line.
Its course was along Bronson Avenue, about two rods north, entering
the Wisconsin River near Mac Street. After about ten thousand dollars
had been spent on that route work ceased.
The Canal Booms Things
But enough had been done to start a boom in the lowlands. "When
it was finally decided that there should be a canal, before the survey
had been made, great excitement prevailed among the people owning and
occupying the little cluster of houses along Wisconsin Street. It was
generally believed that the two rivers would be connected through Bron-
son Avenue, inasmuch as the two streams approached nearest together
at this point, and a demand for property along the avenue was necessarily
soon manifest. But, as experience has long since taught, there is no
telling where canals and railroads are going until they get there; the
Portage Canal was no exception to the rule. Bronson Avenue property
owners were seriously disappointed when the fiat went forth that the
186 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
canal, with a perplexing elbow in it. should be Located some distance
northwest of the original survey. This announcement created confusion,
and real estate values were sadlj affected. I ugrants were pouring in,
but very few of them chose to Locate upon 'the flal ;' they preferred high
ground.
"And then it was that the first settlements were made along the
brow of the semi-circular hill, then so clearly discernable, in what are
now the Second and Third Wards. The population of tins new settle-
ment was composed almost entirely of former residents of Fremont, Ohio.
A very brisk rivalry soon sprang up between the old residents of Lower
town and the new comers of Upper town; and when the Latter became
influential enough to secure the removal of the postoffice to the north
side of the canal, the name Gougeville was immediately substituted for
Upper town by the chagrined denizens of the Flat. The energy and
industry of all classes, however, soon united in the common cause of
progress. The two settlements became one, and local differences of a
character to retard development were thereafter seldom indulged in."
Platting the Town of Fort Winnebago
In the meantime progress had been made in the platting of a large
portion of the present site of Portage. The canal company had come
into possession of the old Grignon claim, had turned it over to its
former owners, Sheldon Thompson, of Buffalo, and DeGamo Jones, of
Detroit, who, in turn, shuffled off the tract upon Benjamin L. Webb and
Alvin Bronson, in September, 1842.
In November, 1849, a plat of the town of Fort Winnebago, covering
the Grignon claim, was made by "Webb & Bronson, with John Mullet as
surveyor. The boundary lines of that plat may be easily traced upon
any of the modern maps of the city of Portage. The northwestern
boundary, designated as "the line of public lands,'' as distinguishing
them from the possessions of the Menominee Indians, begins at a point
on the Fox River opposite old Fort Winnebago, and runs southwesterly
to the corner of Adams and Conant streets; thence almost directly south
across the canal to the Wisconsin River, thence southeasterly along the
bank of the river to a point half a block east of Ontario Street, thence
northwesterly on a direct line to the Fox River, and down that stream to
the place of beginning.
The Guppey Plat
In .lime, 1852, -I. J. Guppey, as county judge, entered various lands
in Section 5, in trust for settlers; it was surveyed in the following month
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 187
and lias since been known as the Guppey Plat. The United States Land
Office recognized the validity of the entry of lands only on even sections,
as Congress had given to the state the odd sections as public lands.
Richard F. Veeder acquired interests in both Sections 5 and 8, and further
complicated the wrangle between the state and settlers who had bought
land in these parts of the town. It is impossible to go into the legal
details regarding the troubles of property owners, especially Mr. Veeder,
but suffice it to say that after nearly a decade of state legislation and
legal procedure such titles were made secure. Numerous additions have
since been made, the first after Portage became a city being that of
Dunn, Haskell & Tenney. In 1856 Ketchum's second addition was laid
out.
Incorporation as a City
On the 10th of March, 1854. Governor Barstow approved the legis-
lative act to incorporate the city of Portage, which was to go into effect
on the first Tuesday in April. Its territory was described as "all that
portion of the west fractional half of Section 4 which lies south and
west of the Fox River ; Sections 5 and fi ; all that portion of Sections 7
and 8 which lies north of the Wisconsin River; the west fractional half
of Section 9, and claim No. 21, known as the claim of A. Grignon, in
Township 12, north. Range 9 east." The three wards of the city were
thus defined : First — all that part lying south and east of the canal ;
Second — lying north of the canal and east of DeWitt Street and the
road leading from the same to the north line of Town 12 ; Third — lying
north of the canal and west of DeWitt Street. An amendment to the
original charter passed March 30th created the Fourth Ward, and on
the first Tuesday in April, the following officers were elected through
the casting of 366 votes : William Sylvester, mayor ; John Lodge, clerk ;
D. Vandercook, treasurer ; Henry Carpenter, assessor ; Alexander Christie,
marshal, and W. S. M. Abbott, school superintendent.
In 1868 the boundaries of the city were extended, the Fifth Ward
was ci-eated, and the limits of the boundaries changed ; and these processes
have gone on, from time to time.
Increase of Population
In 1850 the population of Portage City, as officially ascertained, was
2,062, it was still the great route between the East, the lakes and the
Mississippi valley. During the summer and fall of that year it was
188 HISTORY OK COU.MBIA COCXTY
estimated that ten thousand persons with their teams and stock, crossed
the Wisconsin River in the neighborhood of the portage.
By 1856 the population had increased to 4,364. Three years later
the assessed value of its real and personal property had reached $588,169.
Its appearance and recorded prosperity well fitted it lo assume the honors
and responsibilities of a municipality.
The Present City
The present Portage of 6,000 people extends over two miles along
the eastern side of the Wisconsin River, its northeastern districts extend-
ing to the Fox. The business district lies along the lower lauds on both
sides of the canal, its substantial and attractive residences, churches and
schools covering the higher and more broken area of the old "Upper
town, ' ' and far beyond to the west.
The streets are well paved and lighted, electricity for both illumination
and power being supplied by Southern Wisconsin Power Company, whose
plant is located at Kilbourn City. Both police and fire protection are
adequate. The city is under the commission form of government.
Chicago and Wisconsin Valley Street Railways Company and
Chicago and Wisconsin Valley Railroad Company
Portage has a street car system which is a part of the contemplated
interurban system for Central Wisconsin. The Chicago & Wisconsin
Valley Railroad Company was organized in September, 1909, and the
object of the organization is to build an interurban electric railway
from Janesville to Merrill, from Madison to Fond du Lac. from Madison
to Prairie du Lac, all in Wisconsin. Work on these lines is now in
progress, with headquarters of the company at Portage and Madison.
The officers of the company are J. F. Huntoon, Chicago, president ; J. E.
Jones, Portage, vice president and general manager; Thos. W. Potts,
Chicago, secretary; A. S. Wehrheim, treasurer.
The Fine City Hall
Portage takes a great and commendable pride in its fine city hall,
completed in the early part of 1902. It is a three story structure, with
a body of red brick and trimmings of darker sandstone. There are
entrances on two streets, that on Wisconsin being the chief, the municipal
offices, the business men's room and historic portrait gallery, and Free
HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
189
Public Library occupying the first floor and the armory of Company F,
the second and third stories.
The city hall was completed under the administration of Mayor J. E.
Jones, the building committee consisting of himself, J. C. Britt (then
captain of Company F), J. L. Hardie, F. E. Burbach, M. J. Downey
(now mayor), and Guy F. Goodell. The first meeting in the new council
chamber was held February 11, 1902, and at the first session in the fol-
lowing month the building committee submitted its final report turning
the municipal home over to the city. The total cost of the building had
been $18,917.53, which is borne equally by the city and Company F.
As the city spent, in addition, nearly three thousand dollars in fixtures
rffft!
Wisconsin Street Front op City Hall, Portage
and furniture, it paid some $11, 616 for its accommodations. Company F
meets its share of the cost of erection in ten annual payments, assigning
to the city its receipts from the State of Wisconsin. Thus both parties
to the transaction are happy.
Free Public Library op Portage
By Mrs. J. E. Jones-
The story of the organization and growth of the free circulating
library of Portage, from its inception to its present important place in
the educational and material worth of the city, is one which reflects
great credit upon the women of Portage whose optimism, energy and
190 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY
zea] gave to the community the benefits of this most admirable insti-
tution.
On the 29th of .May. 1900, a communication from -Mrs. Catharine
Krech since deceased was read before the Do Nothing Society (a lit-
erary club) in which she urged the ladies to take some step toward
establishing a free circulating library in the city, as it hail been the oft-
expressed wish of her deceased daughter. Miss Catharine, thai some
such move he made and that her library be In-stowed upon such an
institution when assured. As Mrs. and Miss Krech had both been mem-
bers of the Do Nothings, the request seemed like a personal appeal to
each individual member of the society, and with .Miss Catharine's
small lint admirably selected library as a forcible incentive, it was
unanimously decided to act. It being the last meeting of the yrnr. a
committee was appointed to formulate some feasible plan of pi edure,
to report at the first meeting in the fall, and the society adjourned for
the summer.
At the first meeting of the next society year. October 2. 1900, it
was decided to call a public meeting at the city hall on October 27th, for
the purpose of organizing a free public library association, to which all
the ladies of the city were invited and all of the women's clubs were
asked to send representatives. The day arrived, the ladies assembled,
an organization was perfected and the following officers were chosen:
President, Mrs. J. E. Jones: first vice president. Mrs. J. E. O'Keefe;
second vice president, Mrs. Et. (). Loomis; secretary, Mrs. .Maurice Good-
man; treasurer, Mrs. \Y. (i. Clough; directors, Mesdames P. J. Bark-
man. E. G. Boynton, F. Burbach, Ja.s. Collins. ('. E. Dering, E. T.
Gorton, ('. G. Jaeger, J. E. McDonald. A. â– ). Turner and P. P.. Went-
worth and Misses Margaret Ilanley and Emma Voertmann.
Though tie' project seemed to be well launched, the ladies were now
confronted with the problem of suitable rooms for their purpose, a
problem which was more serious than the casual reader might imagine,
as although they had a treasurer they had no treasury and no positive
assurance of ever having one. But nothing dismayed, the ladies pro-
ceeded to map out a plan of work for collecting a library, determined
to do their present duty and willing to let tomorrow take care of itself,
secure in the firm belief that the way would be prepared for them, as
such united effort in so noble a cause must perforce be crowned with
success. And how soon were their hopes and supreme faith to be re-
warded! for before the close of the meeting a message was received from
Mr. E. W. Moran offering two pleasant rooms above his store for the
use of a library gratis for so long a time as they should be needed. This
offer was accepted with thanks and the ladies took up their work with
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY 191
a will. Everything necessary for the furnishing of the rooms was
quickly offered and before the adjournment of their first meeting pleas-
ant library rooms were assured, containing all the requirements of an
up-to-date library excepting, alas, the books.
Provided with rooms, now began the real work of accumulating the
books. The members of the association did not feel that their interest
and responsibility ended with the naming of the officers but remained
faithful and zealous participants in every project undertaken for the
good of the cause. The first money — about five hundred and sixty dol-
lars — was raised by a canvass among the women of the city, for this was
a woman's enterprise and only the women were asked to give. Offerings
of books were also solicited and freely given, and on the 21st of January,
1901, the library was opened to the public. And surely it is a record to
be proud of! In less than three months from the organization of the
association the ladies had filled up a neat little library for the use of the
public with nothing to build upon lint the promise of Miss Krech's books
"when the library shall be an assured success." And it was not until
several months later that these were turned over to the association.
The library has steadily grown by the purchase of new books (the
money being raised in various ways by the women) and by valuable
gifts of single volumes and collections, until it numbered about two
thousand volumes, when at the first annual meeting of the association,
on October 26. 1901, it was formally offered to the city and accepted;
and on December 1. 1901, the board of directors appointed by Ma 
