Barron County, Wisconsin - Chapter 5: Jurisdiction and County Boundaries, 1922

Jurisdiction over Barron county (originally erected as Dallas county) has been claimed by four nations, Spain, France, England and the United States; by the French and English colonial authorities ; by the territorial officials of the Northwest Territory, and of the Territories of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin; and by the officers of the counties of Crawford, St. Croix, Chippewa and Polk.

Spain, by virtue of the discoveries of Columbus and others, confirmed to her by papal grant (that of Pope Alexander VI, May 4, 1493) may be said to have been the first European owner of the entire valley of the Mississippi river, but she never used this claim as a ground for taking actual possession of this part of her domains other than was incidentally involved in De Soto's doings. The name of Florida was first applied to the greater part of the east¬ ern half of North America, commencing at the Gulf of Mexico, and extending northward indefinitely.

England, basing her claims on the explorations made by her subjects along the Atlantic coast, issued to various individuals and "companies", charters to vast tracts of land extending from the Atlantic westward.

Practically, however, the upper Mississippi valley may be considered as having been in the first place, Canadian soil, for it tfas Frenchmen from Can¬ ada who first visited it, and traded with its natives. The names of Canada and New France were used interchangeably to apply to the vast French posses¬ sions of the American continent. The name Louisiana was invented by La Salle and applied by him to the entire Mississippi valley. But, generally speaking, the Canada or New France of the Eighteenth century took in the upper Mississippi valley, while the name Louisiana was used only for the lower valley.

At the close of the great European conflict which found its echo in the so-called French and Indian War in America, the area that is now Wisconsin, became by the Treaty of Paris, signed Feb. 10, 1763 (a preliminary treaty hav¬ ing been signed at Fontainebleau, Nov. 3, 1762), a part of the British empire.

The success of the American Revolution resulting in the Treaty of Paris, Sept. 8, 1783, revived- the claims of the coast states ; but finally these claims were ceded to the Federal government, in order to form new States and Territories.

After the land was acquired by the Federal authority, many plans were proposed for its government. Thomas Jefferson suggested that the territory be divided into ten States, of which the State of Michigania was to include the present Barron county.

The Northwest Territory was erected by the Congress of the Confedera¬ tion (the Constitution of the United States not being adopted until Sept. 17, 1787) through the "Northwest Ordinance", passed July 13, 1787. Eventually there were formed from the Northwest Territory, in addition to Ohio, the Territories of Indiana (May 7, 1800), Michigan (Jan. 11, 1805), Illinois (Feb. 3, 1809), and Wisconsin (April 29, 1836).

Wisconsin was a part of the Northwest Territory from July 13, 1787, to May 11, 1800; of Indiana Territory from May 7, 1800, to Feb. 3, 1809; of Illi¬ nois Territory from Feb. 3, 1809, to April 18, 1818; and of Michigan Territory from April .18, 1818, to April 29, 1836, when the Territory of Wisconsin was created.

Crawford county, erected by proclamation of Lewis Cass, governor of Michigan Territory, Oct. 26, 1818, included what is now Barron county. When the Territory of Wisconsin was organized, April 29, 1836, Crawford county, Wisconsin, also included in its vast area the present limits of Barron county.

Among the counties created from Crawford were St. Croix in 1840 and Chippewa in 1845. The line between the two, through the present Barron county, followed the Menomonee (Red Cedar) river. Wisconsin was admitted as a state May 29, 1848. The Laws of 1849 describe the boundary between St. Croix and Chippewa counties as following the range line between sections 11 and 12, through the present Barron county.

Dallas county was erected from Polk in 1859, and embraced townships 32 to 37, inclusive, range 12 to 15, west, inclusive. This included the western three-fifths of the present Barron county, and nine townships to the west and north. The new county was attached to Polk county for all civil and judicial purposes. The name was chosen in honor of George M. Dallas, vice-president of the United States under James K. Polk, from 1845 to 1849. In 1860 Dallas wu enlarged by townships 32 to 37, inclusive, ranges 10 and 11, west, taken from Chippewa county. This added to the county the eastern two-fifths of the present Barron county, and two townships to the north.

The same year the county was attached to Dunn county for civil pur¬ poses, but it was not until 1866 that Dunn county assumed judicial jurisdiction.

The Legislature in 1862 authorized the citizens of Dallas county to vote on the question of reannexating townships 32 and 37, inclusive, range 15, west, to Polk county. The vote was favorable, and in 1863, the act was duly confirmed by the Legislature.

The only votes cast on the question in the present Barron county were at the home of John Banks, the first permanent settler of the county, who was then living near the present village of Prairie Farm. The confirmation of the vote by the Legislature left Dallas county with the present eastern, western and southern boundaries of Barron county, but with an additional five town¬ ships on the north.

By an act approved March 2, 1868, the Legislature authorized the organ¬ ization of Dallas county, for all civil and judicial purposes, from and after Jan. 1. 1869. The county was to continue as one town under the name of Dallas. The first town election was to be held the first Tuesday in November, 1868, or failing that, any time before Jan. 1, 1869, providing proper notice be given the voters. The first county officers were to be appointed by the governor, and were to take office Jan. 1, 1869, or shortly afterward. The first regular county election was to be held the second Tuesday in November, 1869. Cir¬ cuit court was to be held in the county the last Monday in February, and the last Monday in August, of each year. The county seat was located in sec¬ tion 26, township 34, range 12, west, east of the present city of Barron.

In 1869, the name of the county was changed to Barron, in honor of Henry D. Barron, a prominent Wisconsin pioneer editor, assemblyman, senator, and jurist. The same year, township 37, ranges 10 to 14, inclusive, was annexed to Burnett county. In 1872 this row of townships was once more placed in Barron, but in 1874 were again annexed to Burnett, leaving Barron county with its present boundaries.

In 1882 an effort was made to include a part of Barron county in a new county to be created from portions of several adjoining counties, but the effort did not succeed.