Rock County, Wisconsin - Chapter 2, 1879

Chapter 2

Physical Geography - Mound Builders - Indian Ocoupancy - The Black Hawk War- United States Surveys and Land Sales - First Settlement in Rock Copntt.

Rock County is composed of twenty townships of six miles square each. These include the originally surveyed Townships 1, 2, 3 and 4, of Ranges 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 east. The surface of the county is generally regular and even, a very inconsiderable portion of it being rough or broken land. More than half, when surveyed, was prairie. The residue consisted of oak openings and heavily timbered land. The county is intersected in almost every direction with living streams, and is dotted here and there with springs and lakes. In the original survey, the area of the meandered streams is not included in the acreage, nor are the townships exactly six miles square, as a matter of fact, though the theory of surveying, adopted by the Government, proceeds upon the hypothesis that they are. The county contains actually four hundred and fifty-seven thousand two hundred and eighty-five acres and ninety-seven hundredths, as follows :

About three-fourths of the town of Avon is timber land - burr oak and white oak openings ; the residue is prairie land. The soil is sandy, but the Sugar River bottom yields an abundance of grass. The town of Spring Valley has but very little prairie land : the surface is undulating, with a scattering growth of burr-oaks and more or less hickory. The town is well watered, and possesses a fair proportion of natural meadow. The town of Magnolia is mostly undulating ; the soil is a sandy loam, with a subsoil of clay ; it has a number of burr-oak openings, alternating with prairies, and is well watered by springs and running streams. The surface of the town of Union is rolling, but not broken ; it is pretty evenly divided between prairie and timber, and is well watered.

The town of Newark has a soil composed mainly of a sandy loam, is nearly equally divided between prairie and oak openings, and is watered by only one stream. The surface of Plymouth town is rolling ; the land is rich, and all well drained. The town has extensive meadows, a number of beautiful groves of timber, and is well watered by a number of springs and running streams. The town of Center is mostly prairie, with a few oak openings ; it is traversed by streams, and has a considerable area of marsh, found to be valuable for the production of hay. The town of Porter is about equally divided into prairie and the finest kind of oak openings. It is well watered by running streams.

Beloit Town presents a singularly diversified and beautiful surface - prairies, bluff's and oak openings ; it is well watered by several important streams. That portion of the town of Rock lying east of the river is nearly all prairie, while on the west side it is nearly all timber - some of it of the most excellent quality. It is well watered, and abounds in luxuriant grasses. The face of the country in the town of Janesville is broken by the river bluffs, which extend back some little distance from the banks. It is well watered and wooded throughout its whole extent, and is divided into prairie and oak openings, the river being skirted with heavy timber. The town of Fulton is mostly timber land, the trees generally being of large growth, suitable for sawing and building purposes. It has, however, several small and beautiful prairies, with soil of superior quality. Rock River traverses the town in a southwesterly direction, and several stone quarries have been discovered upon its banks.

Turtle Town possesses abundant timber and some very rich prairie land. Limestone is also found here, and clay for making brick. The town is watered by a number of streams. The town of La Prairie is almost wholly rolling prairie land, with a deep soil, underlaid by sand and gravel, and lime rock is found in some portions. It has but one water-course of any size, which runs across the southeast corner, and the only timber in the town is found on the banks of this stream, except a small grove in the northwest. The north half of the town of Harmony is nearly all timber, and the southern half nearly all prairie. A fine elevation of the prairie occurs at Mount Zion, in the eastern portion of the town, which commands a view of the country for many miles around. This town is poorly watered, it having no running streams. The surface of the town of Milton is gently undulating, and about equally divided between prairie land and oak openings. It has several lakes, and one creek flows through the northeastern corner. In the immediate vicinity of its lakes, there is a considerable quantity of low land, valuable for pasturage and meadows.

Clinton Town is largely composed of unusually fertile prairie land, though timber in large quantities, suitable for building, fencing and fuel, is found in the southern part. The town is well watered by living streams flowing in all directions. The larger portion of the town of Bradford is prairie, but all along Turtle Creek there are fine burr and white oak openings. There is also a small grove of timber on the western boundary of the town, while Emerald Grove, in the northwest corner, is one of the most beautiful in the county. The town is well watered. The twelve sections in the southern part of the town of Johnstown are almost all prairie land, but about two-thirds of the other twenty-four sections are oak openings. The town is but poorly watered. The surface of the town of Lima is gently rolling, covered mainly with burr and white oak openings - mostly the first named. Quite one-sixth of the entire town is marsh land, the largest one being Otter Creek Marsh.

Rock River rises in Fond du Lac County, follows a tortuous course through Dodge and Jefferson Counties, running through Lake Koshkonong, from which it debouches on Section 7, in Milton Town, and traverses the entire width of Rock County from north to south, its general course being a little east of the center of Townships 1, 2, 3 and 4, Range 12 east. On either side of the river, from the point where it leaves Lake Koshkonong in the town of Milton till it crosses the State line at Beloit, the shores are dotted, at frequently recurring intervals, with belts of timber and with openings. The following table gives the distances between certain points on the river, the descent and the elevation above Lake Michigan of each point named :

Sugar River rises in the western central portion of Dane County, traverses Green County from north to south, flows thence in an easterly direction, passing through the town of Avon, and empties into the Pecatonica, a short distance south of the State line.

The Yahara (Catfish) River, the outlet of the "four lakes" in Dane County, enters Rocfc County on Section 2, of Township 4, Range 11 east (Porter), follows a southeasterly course, and empties into Rock River in Section 19, in the town of Fulton.

A stream flowing out of Turtle Lake, in the northeastern corner of the town of Richmond, in Walworth County, unites, near the west line of the town of Delavan, with the outlet of Delavan Lake, .and the united streams form Turtle Creek, which, following a westerly course, enters Rock County on Section 13, in the town of Bradford, flows west and southwest, and empties into Rock River just below the State line at Beloit.

Badfish Creek rises in the town of Rutland, Dane County, flows easterly and southeasterly and enters Rock County in the northeast section of the town of Union, runs almost due west through Porter, and empties into the Yahara (Catfish) River about the Section lines of 3 and 10.

Afton, or Bass Creek, rises in the town of Magnolia, flows southeasterly through Center and Plymouth, and empties into Rock River near the village of Afton, in the town of Rock.

Otter Creek rises in the marsh of that name in the town of Lima, flows west and northwest and empties into Lake Koshkonong, in Jefierson County.

Taylor's Creek rises about the middle of the town of Magnolia, flows southwest and south through the town of Spring Valley, and empties into Sugar River, in Section 18, in the town of Avon.

Marsh Creek rises in the northeast corner of the town of Spring Valley, follows a southwesterly course and empties into Taylor's Creek, just above the south line of the town.

North Creek has its source in the southeastern corner of the town of Spring Valley, flows south and southwest into the town of Avon, and then follows a westerly course until it empties into Taylor's Creek.

Pratt's Creek rises just east of the head of Otter Creek marsh in the town of Lima, flows east and empties into the Whitewater, in Walworth County.

Coon Creek rises in the town of Plymouth, runs south and southeasterly, fed by numerous small tributaries, through the town of Newark, and empties into Sugar River in the State of Illinois.

The larger part of Lake Koshkonong lies in Jefferson County, but its southern extremity, or foot, extends into Rock County, occupying an area of about 1,000 acres in Sections 5, 6 and 7, in the town of Milton. Other lakes are to be found in the county, but they are all small - the largest will not exceed a mile in length. They lie only in the northern tier of towns. Big Spring Lake is on Section 27, in the town of Porter, and Little Spring Lake between Sections 27 and 34, in the same town. Clear Lake, Duck Lake and Mud Lake all lie in Section 20, in the town of Milton ; Grass Lake in Section 17, and Storr's Lake between Sections 25 and 26, in the same town.

The principal prairies in the county are Rock, Jefferson, Turtle, Du Lac, Catfish, Ramsey's and Morse's. Rock Prairie extends almost the entire length of the county from east to west, and varies in width from six to eighteen miles. The prairie is dotted here and there with groves of timber, and points of timber-land jut into it at many different places, giving an uneven and irregular outline. The greater part of Jefferson Prairie lies within' the boundaries of the town of Clinton, though it laps over on the north into Bradford, and on the west into Turtle. Du Lac Prairie lies mostly in Milton, but extends east into Lima. Catfish Prairie extends through the towns of Fulton, Porter and Union ; and Ramsey's and Morse's Prairies are both in Fulton.

The, Mound Builders

Ancient works exist in the valley of Rock River, not only below the State line, but also above it. Indeed, those south, in Illinois, are of much less importance than such as are known to exist to the northward. So far as the valley of this stream is concerned, throughout its whole extent, in Wisconsin, are to be found interesting relics of pre-historic man ; some of the mounds being seen at the very sources of a number of its branches. In the lead region, for some cause, there seem to be few evidences of their existence. In one locality, however, on the Pecatonica, a branch of the Rock River, ancient works are noticed. It is probable that the necessities of these builders did not include lead, and there are no indications of ancient mining of that metal in the lead region, as in the copper mines of Lake Superior. The copper ore associated with lead was beyond the reach of their metallurgic arts. The works on the Pecatonica consisted of several oblong, or circular mounds ; there is also one tapering mound. The last mentioned is destitute of appendages, or other indications of its relation to any animal form. These mounds are situated on sloping ground, and extend from the top of a hill half-way to the Pecatonica. The soil at this point is sandy, being in the district of the sandstone, which crops out occasionally in the vicinity. There is nothing to distinguish these works from others more within the proper region, as it were, of the Mound-Builders. In one of the mounds bones are said to have been obtained. Indian graves along the margin of the stream, when exposed, furnished a few glass beads and some trinkets. The point where these works exist is eleven miles west of Monroe, in Green County, Wis.

The valley of Sugar River, a considerable stream between the Pecatonica and Rock Rivers, appears also t'o have been to a great extent avoided by the Mound-Builders. A few unimportant works have been seen, however, on some of the tributaries of that river. In Beloit, on the college grounds, some ancient works were surveyed in 1852, by Prof. S. P. Lathrop. They consisted of circular and oblong mounds. On the east bank of the river, three-quarters of a mile above the city, he also surveyed, in the same year, some interesting vestiges of the pre-historic race. Some of the mounds here examined were of animal shape. There is a group of earthworks about two and a half miles east of Beloit, on a bluff overlooking Turtle Creek. These mounds represent animals of different kinds.

Proceeding up Rock River, the first works worthy of notice are near the junction of the outlet of the four lakes, at Fulton. At a place known as Indian Hill, about a mile above the mouth of the Yahara (Catfish), Dr. I. A. Lapham, in 1850, surveyed a series of oblong mounds on the steep slope of the hill, converging toward a point where there is a dug-way leading to the river. The hill has an elevation of seventy or eighty feet, and from its summit the valley of the river can be overlooked for several miles above and below. It may be that this was a most important post of observation, and that the peculiar arrangement of the mounds was intended to guard the access to the water from the top of the hill. The hill is quite steep, and the graded way has been increased in depth by running water, but it bears evidence of having originally been constructed by art.

At the intersection of Main and State streets, in the village of Fulton, Dr. Lapham found, in 1850, an irregular oval earthwork, consisting of a flat ridge, and resembling the roadway of a modern turnpike. The breadth varied from thirty to forty feet, and the elevation from two to three feet in the middle. The diameters of the oval were 500 and 300 feet. Such a structure might have had its usage in some of the public games or ceremonies of uncivilized life ; but it would be idle, of course, to undertake to ascertain its particular purpose.

Besides the works already mentioned, in this vicinity. Dr. Lapham found numerous tumuli, of the ordinary circular form, supposed to be sepulchral. They were occasionally arranged in rows, more or less regular, along the margin of a brook or valley. Usually, two or three mounds near the middle of the row were found larger than the others. Three of these mounds were found on the east side of the Yahara, half a mile below Fulton, and a group a mile above the village. Two miles above, on Section 11, was found a group of eight, situated on the edge of a prairie, so as to be seen in profile. About a mile below Fulton, there was found a group of fourteen, and another on the side of Rock River. All these were circular mounds, not accompanied by others of imitative forms. Some had been opened, and were said in most cases to have contained remains of human skeletons, frequently of several persons in the same mounds. In 1834, the Government Surveyors noted eight mounds on the west shore of Lake Koshkonong, immediately above where Rock River leaves the lake. Recently, one of these mounds, sixty feet in diameter and eighty feet above the water, was opened by W. C. Whitford and W. P. Clarke, and found to contain some Indian skeletons and relics ; also, what'are believed to be the skulls of three Mound-Builders.

Indian Occupancy

As early as the year 1632, the civilized world had knowledge, through vague reports of savages, of a tribe of Indians to the westward and southwestward of Lake Huron, who lived in a country "where there was a quantity of buifaloes." This nation, it is believed, was the one afterward known as the Illinois. They occupied what is now Northern Illinois, extending their occupation, probably, so far to the northward as to include Southern Wisconsin, and, of course, the territory now included in Rock County. Afterward, they were driven beyond the Mississippi, but subsequently returned to the region of the river which bears their name.

Meanwhile, there commenced an emigration- of tribes from Fox River of Green Bay. to the southward. The Mascoutins and their kindred, the Kickapoos and Miamis, moved to the vicinity of the south end of Lake Michigan. It is probable that one or more of these tribes had their homes for a time in the Rock River Valley, after the migration of the Illinois across the Mississippi. Following them in, at least, a nominal occupation of Southern Wisconsin, were the Foxes ; but these Indians and their kindred, the Sacs, instead of migrating toward the south, moved westward and southwestward from the river which commemorates the first-mentioned tribe.

Though there is abundant evidence that the territory now known as Rock County was occupied by the Winnebagoes previous to the advent of the whites, it is impossible to fix the exact spots within the present bounds of the county where they located all their villages. The character of the country, so admirably suited to all the requirements of a primitive and nomadic people - well watered throughout its whole extent, and containing a broad expanse of prairie, upon which grazed the herds of game, or which were readily converted into fertile cornfields - affords presumptive evidence that it must have been a favorite abode of a portion of that tribe.

Two of their villages were very favorably situated ; one at the extreme northern boundary of the present limits of the county, the other at its extreme southern boundary. The first mentioned was located on the northwest fractional quarter of Section 6, in Township 4 north, of Range 13 east, being within the limits of the present town of Milton, on the west side of Lake Koshkonong, and upon its immediate bank, about three-fourths of a mile north of the point where Rock River leaves the lake. The Indian name of this village was Tay-e-hee-dah. When, in 1834, the Government Surveyors were there, they described it as the " ruins of an old Indian village." At the beginning of the Black Hawk war, it was found deserted; but how long previous to that date it had remained so, is not known. Tradition represents it to have once been populous.

Below Tay-e-hee-dah, at or near the mouth of the Yahara (Catfish), on the west side of Rock River, it is probable that there was also an Indian village. Concerning it, however, there is very little information extant. Still farther down the river, at the point where the city of Beloit is now located, was the Winnebago village called by the early traders and explorers, the Turtle. It was evidently occupied not long anterior to the commencement of the Black Hawk war - how long, is not known with certainty. When the army under Gen. Atkinson marched by the point, in pursuit of the famous Sac chief, the dwellings were found deserted.

While the Winnebagoes occupied this western Eden - the Rock River Valley - undisputed masters of all its beauty and all its wealth of game and fish, they were occasionally visited by adventurous white men, who took up temporary residences among them for purposes of trade. Others married among them and became what may be called Indian residents. Of the latter class was one Thiebault, a Frenchman, who established himself at the Turtle village probably about the year 1824. His cabin is noted in the plat of the Government survey of the township in 1834. Here he remained until after the arrival of the pioneer settlers of the county.

There were many tribes of Indians who claimed tobe sole owners of all the land embraced in the present State of Wisconsin, when it finally came under the jurisdiction of the United States. This question of aboriginal ownership of the soil was then found to be inextricably complicated by conflicting claims of different tribes to the same land. As will be found fully explained in the general history of the State, the Menomonees, Chippewas, Ottawas, Winnebagoes. Sacs and Foxes and Pottawatomies were all located within the present boundaries of Wisconsin, and the claims of several different tribes were frequently found to embrace the same territory. Thus, for example, the Winnebagoes, the Sacs and Foxes, and the Pottawatomies each claimed an ownership in the Rock River country ; and the particular subdivision of it, now known as Rock County was specially claimed by both the Winnebagoes and Pottawatomies.

The first treaty affecting the lands of the Rock River Valley made with the Indians was that between " William Clark, Ninian Edwards and August Choteau, Commissioners Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on the part and behalf of the said States, of the one part, and the chiefs and warriors of that portion of the Winnebago tribe or nation residing on the Wisconsin River, of the other part," which treaty was proclaimed January 30, 1816. Article II of this treaty stipulated that "the undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and those they represent, do, by these presents, confirm to the United States all and every cession of land heretofore made by their nation to the British, French or Spanish Governments within the limits of the United States or Territories, and, also, all and every treaty, contract and agreement heretofore concluded between the United States and the said tribe or nation, as far as their interest in the same extends."

Subsequently, a treaty proclaimed February 6, 1826, was entered into with the Sioux and Chippewa, Sac and Fox, Menomonee, Iowa, Sioux, Winnebago, and a portion of the Ottawa, Chippewa and Pottawatomie tribes, for the purpose of "promoting peace among these tribes, and to establish boundaries among them and the other tribes who live in their vicinity." Article VI of this treaty is to this effect : " It is agreed between the Chippewas and Winnebagoes, so far as they are mutually interested therein, that the southern boundary line of the Chippewa country shall commence on the Chippewa River, half a day's march below the falls of that river, and run thence to the source of Clear Water River, a branch of the Chippewa; thence south to Black River; thence to a point where the woods project into the meadows, and thence to the Plover Portage of the Wisconsin."

Article VII stipulates: "It is agreed between the Winnebagoes and the Sioux, Sacs and Foxes, Chippewas' and Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies of the Illinois, that the Winnebago country shall be bounded as follows : Southeasterly by Rock River, from its source near the Winnebago Lake, to the Winnebago village, about forty miles above its mouth ; westerly by the east line of the tract lying upon the Mississippi, herein secured to the Ottawa, Chippewa and Pottawatomie Indians of the Illinois ; and also by the high bluff described in the Sioux boundary, and running north to Black River ; from this point, the Winnebagoes claim up Black River to a point due west from the source of the left fork of the Wisconsin ; thence to the source of the said fork, and down the same to the Wisconsin; thence down the Wisconsin, to the portage and across the portage to Fox River ; thence down Fox River to the Winnebago Lake, and to grand Kau Kaulin, including in their claim the whole of Winnebago Lake."

By a treaty concluded at Rock Island between the United States, by their Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, and Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, and the Winnebagoes, proclaimed February 13, 1833, the Winnebagoes, for certain considerations of land, money and supplies, ceded " to the United States, forever, all the lands to which said nation have title or claim, lying to the south and east of the Wisconsin River, and the Fox River of Green Bay."

As, however, the country claimed by the Winnebagoes under the treaty of February 6, 1826, was bounded on the southeast "by Rock River from its source, near the Winnebago Lake, to the Winnebago village, about forty miles above its mouth," it is evident that the land ceded by this last treaty (that of February 13, 1833), could not include the whole of Rock County as it now exists. The other moiety of this county was acknowledged to be the property of the United Nation of Chippewa, Ottawa and Pottawatomie Indians ; aod, to extinguish their title, a treaty was entered into with them at Chicago September 26, 1833, whereby, for good and valuable considerations, this confederated nation of Indians ceded '' to the United States all their land along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and between this lake and the land ceded to the United States by the Winnebago nation at the treaty of Fort Armstrong (Rock Island), made on the 15th of September, 1832, bounded on the no.th by the country lately ceded by the Menomonees, and on the south by the country ceded at the treaty of Prairie du Chien, made on the 29th of July, 1829, supposed to contain about five millions of acres."

Einally, and to remove the possibility of any doubt whatever as to the validity of the title held by the United States to the lands lying on both sides of Rock River, a treaty was concluded at Washington City - proclaimed June 16, 1838 - with the Winnebagoes, whereby, in brief but comprehensive terms, " the Winnebago Nation of Indians cede to the United States all their land east of the Mississippi River."

With this treaty the United States obtained an unassailable title to all the lands lying within the present bounds of Rock County ; but, so fond of their former homes in this locality were the Rock River Winnebagoes, that even after they had been removed to the reservation provided for them, they continually revisited them, in small parties, to the great annoyance of the citizens ; and the Government was finally compelled, in 1841, to send a military detachment to secure obedience to the order confining them to territory set ofi" to them beyond the Mississippi. But, though forced to leave, they would frequently return in small parties ; and, when these straggling bands would pass their old-time burial places, they would manifest the deepest reverence.

The Black Hawk Wak

The summer of 1832 was a somewhat notable one in the history of the territory afterward included in Rock County. June and July of that year saw the gathering of Indiafi hordes within its limits, painted and plumed - at war with the whites. Black Hawk, the leader of the Sacs, had retreated up Rock River until a point was reached - Black Hawk Grove - just outside of what is now the city of Janesville, where the savages remained some time in camp. It must not be understood that they were now at their former homes. This was not the case. It was not then the country of the Sacs, but, as previously stated, of the Rock River Winnebagoes. The last mentioned had not yet ceded their territory east of Sugar River.

While Black Hawk was in camp at the grove which has received his name, there were brought in two prisoners, Sylvia and Rachel Hall. As it was at this point they were detained until ransomed by Winnebagoes, the particulars of their captivity are properly related in this connection. They are given in the words of one of the captives :

" On the 21st of May, 1832, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, as Mr. Pettigrew's and our (Mr. Hall's) family were assembled at the house of William Davis, in Indian Creek settlement, in La Salle County, 111., a party of Indians, about seventy in number, were seen crossing Mr. Davis' fence, about eight or ten paces from the house. As they approached, Mr. Pettigrew attempted to shut the door, but was shot down in doing so. The savages then rushed in and massacred every one present, except my sister and myself. The persons massacred were Mr. Pettigrew, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Pettigrew, Mrs. Hall (my mother) and Miss Davis, a young lady of about fifteen - and six children, four of them boys and two of them girls. These were in the house. Mr. Davis, Mr. Hall (my father), William Norris and Henry George were massacred without ; fifteen in all. The time occupied in the massacre was less, probably, than ten minutes. When the Indians entered, my sister and myself were sitting near the door sewing. I got immediately upon the bed and stood there during the massacre. The confusion was such - the terror inspired by the firing of guns in the house, and the shrieks of the wounded and dying so great - that I have no recollections in what manner they were killed.

"As soon as the massacre was over, three Indians seized and dragged me from the bed, without much violence, and led me into the yard. I was then taken, by two of them, about half-way across the creek - fifty paces, or more, perhaps, distant. Thence I was led back into the yard in front of the house, where I saw my sister for the first time since our separation.

" We were then 'taken by four Indians--two having hold of each - and hurried off on foot, in a northern direction, as fast as we could run for about two miles, through timber bordering upon the creek, when we came to a place where the Indians had left their horses previous to the attack. We were then placed, without constraint, upon two of their poorest animals, each of which was led by an Indian, and proceeded as fast as our horses could travel in a direction, as I supposed, toward the camp, accompanied by about thirty warriors. We continued traveling in this manner until about midnight, when we halted to rest our horses - the Indians exhibiting all the while symptoms of great uneasiness, arising apparently from their apprehension of being pursued. After resting for about two hours, we started again on the same horses, as before, and traveled at a brisk gait the residue of the night and all next day until about noon, when we halted, and, the Indians, having scalded some beans and roasted some acorns, desired us to eat. We ate some of the beans and tasted of the acorns, not from any disposition we had to eat, but to avoid giving ofiense to our captors. We remained in this place for one or two hours. The Indians, after having finished their scanty meal, busied themselves in dressing the scalps they had taken, stretching them upon small hoops. Among them I recognized, by the color of the hair, my own mother's ! It produced a kind of faintness or blindness, and I fell into a swoon, from which I was awakened, shortly thereafter, by a summons to set out upon our journey. We traveled on in the same way, but more leisurely than before, until almost night, when the liorse I rode gave out, and I was seated behind an Indian wJio rode a fine horse, belonging to Mr. Henderson, taken from the settlement in which we were captured. In this manner we continued on until about 9 o'clock at night, when- we reached a camp, having traveled, as I suppose, about ninety miles in twenty-eight hours.

" The Sac camp was on the bank of a small creek, surrounded by low, marshy ground, scattered over with small burr-oak trees. On our arrival, several squaws came to our assistance, took us from our horses and conducted us into the camp, prepared a place for us to sit down, and presented us some parched corn, some meal and maple sugar mixed, and desired us to eat. We did so, more through fear than hunger, and, at their request, threw a small parcel (about a tablespoonful) into the fire, as did also the squaws, and the Indians that accompanied us. There was much apparent rejoicing on our arrival. About 10 o'clock, we were invited by the squaws to lie down, which we did, and enjoyed a kind of confused or disordered slumber, which lasted until after sunrise. The next morning, soon after we arose, our fears of massacre and torture began to abate. We were presented with some boiled beans and sugar for breakfast, and ate a little, having, though almost exhausted, as yet no appetite for food. About 10 o'clock, the camp broke up, and we all moved about five miles across the creek, and encamped again on an elevated spot, covered with timber, near a small creek. We traveled each upon a separate horse, heavily laden with provisions, blankets, kettles and other furniture required in an Indian camp. We arrived at our new encampment a little before sundown. Here a white pole was stuck in the ground, and the scalps taken when we were captured hung up as trophies. About fifty warriors assembled in the center and commenced a dance, in which a few of the squaws participated. They danced around this pole to the music of a drum and gourds, so prepared as to make a rattling noise. I was invited frequently by the squaws to join in the dance, but refused.

" The first dance was had in the morning after our arrival in camp. The same was repeated daily while we continued among them. Soon after we arose, on the first morning after our arrival, some warriors came to our lodge, and took us out, and gave me a red flag, and placed something in the hands of my sister, which I do not recollect, and made us march around through the encampment, passing each wigwam. Then they led us to the center of the spot they had cleared oflF to prepare for the dance, near where the white pole was stuck up ; then, placing a blanket upon the earth, and after painting our faces red and black, ordered us to lie down with our faces toward the ground. They then danced around us with war-clubs, tomahawks and spears. Before its conclusion, we were taken away by two squaws, who, we understood, were the wives of Black Hawk. In the evening, as soon as the dance was over, we were presented with a supper, consisting of coffee, fried cakes, boiled corn and fried venison, with fried leeks, of which we ate more freely than before. We continued with them for four days longer, during which we fared in a similar manner, until the t\vo last days, when we got out of flour. When our flour was exhausted, we had coffee, meat and pounded corn made into soup. On being delivered over to the squaws above mentioned, we were separated from each other, but permitted to visit every day, and remain for about two hours without interruption. These squaws encamped near each other, and we were considered as their children, and treated as such. Our encampments were removed flve or six miles each day, and my sister and myself were always permitted to ride at such removals. Our fare was usually better than that of others in our wigwam. Our fears of massacre had now subsided, being received and adopted into the family of a chief. We were not required to perform any labor, but were closely watched to prevent our escape.

" On the flfth day after our arrival at the Sac camp, we were told that we must go with some Winnebago chiefs who had come for us. At that time, the Sac encampment was on Si considerable stream [Rock River], the outlet, as I supposed, of a lake [Koshkonong]. There were a number of lakes in its vicinity. The squaws with whom we lived were apparently distressed at the idea of our leaving them. The Winnbbagoes endeavored to make us understand that they were about to take us to the white people. This, however, we did not believe ; but, on the contrary, supposed they intended to take us entirely away from our country, friends and homes.

" We left the Sac encampment with four Winnebagoes the same evening, and traveled about fifteen miles, each of us riding on horseback behind a Winnebago chief; the latter expressing frequently their fears of pursuit by the Sacs, who exhibited great uneasiness at our departure - the prophet having cut two locks of hair from my head and one from my sister's just before we left them.

" We reached the Winnebago encampment a little after dark, and were kindly received. It was more comfortable than any we had seen, and we slept sounder and better than before. We rose early next morning ; the Indians, however, had been up some time. We ate breakfast before sunrise, and started in canoes up the river. There were, I believe, eight in company. We continued on our course until nearly sundown, when we landed and encamped on the bank of the river. There were present about a hundred Winnebago warriors. During the next day, four Sac Indians arrived in camp, dressed in white men's clothes, and desired to talk with us. We were told, however, by the Winnebago chiefs that we must shut our ears and turn away from them, which we did.

" The ' Blind ' [White Crow] and his son left our encampment during the night, and returned early in the morning. Immediately afterward they came to us, and the ' Blind ' asked if we thought the whites would hang them if they took us~ to the fort. We gave them to understand that they would not. They next inquired if we thought the white people would give them anything for taking us to them. We gave them to understand that they would. The ' Blind ' then collected his horses, and with the Whirling Thunder and about twenty of the Winnebagoes we crossed the river and pursued our journey, my sister and myself each on a separate horse. We encamped about dark ; rose early next morning, and, after a hasty meal of pork and potatoes (the first we had seen since our captivity), of which we ate heartily, we traveled on until we reached the fort - the Blue Mounds, Wisconsin Territory. Before our arrival thither, we had become satisfied that our protectors were taking us to our friends, and that we had formerly done them injustice. About three miles from the fort we stopped, and- the Indians cooked some venison ; after which they took a white handkerchief which I had, and, tying it to a long pole, three Indians proceeded with it to the fort. About a quarter of a mile thence we were met by a Frenchman [Edward Beouohard].- The Indians formed a ring, and the Frenchman rode into it and held a talk with our protectors. The latter expressed an unwillingness to give us up until they could see Mr. Gratiot, the Indian agent. Being informed by the Frenchman we should be well treated, and that they should see us daily until Mr. Gratiot's arrival, they delivered us into the Frenchman's care.

"We repaired immediately to the fort, where the ladies of the garrison (who in the mean time had assembled) received us with the utmost tenderness. We were thereupon attired once more in the costume of our own country, and next day started for Galena. On reaching a little fort at White Oak Springs, we were met by our eldest brother, who, together with a younger one, was at work in a field near the house when we were captured, and when the massacre began fled, and arrived in safety at Dixon's Ferry. On leaving Galena, we went on board the steamboat Winnebago for St. Louis, which jdace we reached in . five days, and were kindly received by its citizens and hospitably entertained by Gov. Clark. Previous to our leaving Galena, we had received an afi"ectionate letter from Rev. Mr. Horn, of Morgan County,. 111., inviting us to make his house our future home. We accepted the invitation, and left St. Louis in the steamboat Caroline for Beardstown, on the Illinois River, where we arrived on the third day thereafter. On landing, we were kindly received by the citizens, and, in a few hours,. reached the residence of Mr. Horn, five miles distant, in the latter part of July, 1832, when, our troubles ended."

The tent-poles, ashes and brands of the Indian camp-fires, where the two captives were given over to the Winnebagoes by the Sac Indians, were plainly discernible when the first settlers located in the vicinity.

Gen. Atkinson having arrived at the mouth of the Pecatonica, in pursuit of the savages, and hearing that Black Hawk was further up Rock River, determined to follow him, with the intention of deciding the war by a general battle, if possible. Black Hawk, judging of his intentions from the report of his spies, broke up his camp, near what is now Janesville, and retreated still farther up the river to the foot of Lake Koshkonong, where, on the west side of the river, in what is now the town of Milton, he again formed a camp. Here he remained some time, when he again removed, this time to an island in the lake, and afterward, to the region of the four lakes, in what is now Dane County.

"The 30th of June, 1832, we passed through the Turtle village [now the city of Beloit], which is a considerable Winnebago town, but it was deserted. We marched on about a mile, and encamped on the open prairie near enough to Rock River to get water from it. We here saw very fresh signs of the Sac Indians, where they had been apparently fishing on that day. Gen. Atkinson believed we were close to them and apprehended an attack that night. The sentinels fired several times and we were as often paraded and prepared to receive the enemy but they never came, though from the accounts given by the sentinels to the ofiicers of the day, there was no doubt that Indians had been prowling about the camp.

"July 1. - We had not marched but two or three miles before an Indian was seen across Rock River at some distance ofiF, on a very high prairie, which, no doubt was a spy, and likely was one that had been prowling about our encampment the night before. We proceeded a few miles further and came to the place where the Indians, who had taken the two Misses Hall prisoners, had stayed for several days [near the present city of Janesville]. It was a strong position, where they could have withstood a very powerful force. We afterward discovered they always encamped in such places. We had not marched but a few miles from this place before one of our front scouts came back meeting the army in great haste, and stated that they had discovered a fresh trail of Indians, where they had just gone along in front of us. Maj. Ewing, who was in front of the main army some distance, immediately formed his men in line of battle and marched in that order in advance of the main army, about three-quarters of a mile. We had a very thick wood to march through, where the undergrowth stood very high and thick ; the signs looked very fresh and we expected every step to be fired upon from the thickets. We marched in this order about two miles, not stopping for the unevenness of the ground or anything else, but keeping in a line of battle all the time, until we found the Indians had scattered, then we resumed our common line of march, which was in three divisions. Soon after we had formed into three divisions, the friendly Indians that were with us raised an alarm, bj seven or eight of them shooting at a deer, some little in advance of the army. The whole army here formed for action, but it was soon ascertained that these children of the forest had been at what their whole race seems to have been born for, shooting at the beasts of the forest.

" We here camped by a small lake [Storr's] this night, and had to drink the water, which was very bad, but it was all that could be found. Here a very bad accident happened. One of the sentinels, mistaking another that was on post, with a blanket wrapped around him, for an Indian, shot him just below the groin, in the thick of the thigh. At first, the wound was thought mortal. I understood, before I left the army, that the man was nearly well. Here Gen. Atkinson had, on this nij;ht, breast-works thrown up, which was easily done, as we were encamped in thick, heavy timber. This was a precaution which went to show that he set a great deal by the lives of his men, and by no means was any mark of cowardice, for generalship consists more in good management than anything else.

"July 2. - We started this morning at the usual time, but went only a few miles before Maj. Ewing, who was still in front with his battalion, espied a very fresh trail, making off at about a left angle. He dispatched ten men from the battalion, in company with Capt. George Walker and a few Indians, to pursue it and see, if possible, where it went to. He moved on in front of his battalion a short distance further, when we came on the main Sac trail of Black Hawk's whole army, which appeared to be about two days old. Capt. Early, who comma&ded a volunteer independent company, and had got in advance this morning, called a halt ; so did Maj. Ewing with his battalion. Then Maj. Ewing sent back one of his staff officers for the main army to call a halt for a few minutes. He, with Maj. Anderson, of the infantry, Capt. Early and Jonathan H. Pugh went a little in advance, when Maj. Anderson, with a telescope, took a view across the lake, as we had now got to Lake Koshkonong. They then discovered three Indians apparently in their canoes. Maj. Ewing went himself and informed Gen. Atkinson what discovery was made, and requested Gen. Atkinson to let him take his battalion round through a narrow defile that was between two of those lakes, where we supposed the Indians were. By this time, our scouts, who had taken the trail that led off on our left, returned, bringing with them five white men's scalps. They followed the Indian trail until it took them to a large Indian encampment that they had left a few days before. They reached it ; the scalps were sticking up against some of their wigwams ; some of them were identified, but I do not recollect the names of any, except one, which was said to be an old gentleman of the name of Hall. Maj. Ewing then marched his battalion about a mile, where the pass on the side of the lake appeared so narrow, that he dismounted his men and had the horses all tied, and a few men left to guard them. The rest of us marched on foot about one mile through a narrow defile on the [east] bank of Koshkonong Lake.

United States Surveys And Land Sales

Immediately after the close of the Black Hawk war, and the acquisition by the United States of the Indian title to all the land west of Lake Michigan, not reserved to the Indians or secured to specified individuals by the terms of the several treaties, a survey was commenced by the General Government. The northern boundary of Illinois, which was fixed April 11, 1818, on the parallel of 42° 30' north latitude, became necessarily the base line of the surveys. A principal north and south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was also run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior. This line was west of the territory now included in Rock Countv, running between what are now the counties of Grant and La Fayette. Parallel lines to this were run every six miles both on the east and west sides of it. The intervening six miles between these lines are called ranges. Range 1 east is the first six miles east of the Fourth Meridian ; Range 2 east is the second six miles east ; and so on to Lake Michigan - Rock County lying in Ranges 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 east. Parallel lines north of the base lines were run every six miles, which, crossing the ranges at right angles, cut the whole into blocks six miles square, called townships. These are numbered by tiers going north from the base line, as Townships 1 north, Townships 2 north, and so on. As the present territory of Rock County extends twenty-four miles north of the base line, it includes, of course, four tiers of townships, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 north. Hence, in speaking of the territory of Rock County as surveyed by the General Government, it is said to be in Townships 1, 2, 3 and i north, of Ranges 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 east. The history of the surveys made in what is now Rock County is as follows :

Designated Suevbys Designated Surveys

By the end of 1833, a large amount of the public land had been surveyed, and the fact being duly reported by the Surveyor General, Congress, by an act approved June 26, 1834, created two land districts. They embraced all that tract north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, included in the then Territory of Michigan. It was divided by a north and south line, drawn from the northern boundary of Illinois, between Ranges 8 and 9, to the Wisconsin River. All east of that line was called the Green Bay Land District ; all west, the Wisconsin Land District Within the first-mentioned district was included the whole of the present county of Rock. A Land Ofiice for this Eastern District was established at Green Bay, which was duly opened by the Government, and a notice given of a public sale of all the then surveyed public lands lying south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, which notice placed in the market all that portion of what was afterward Rock County, lying west of Rock River and Lake Koshkonong. In accordance with this announcement, a sale took place at Green Bay in 1835.

By act of Congress of June 16, 1886, the Milwaukee Land District was erected out of the southern portion of the, Green Bay District, including all the land between Range 8 east and Lake Michigan, bounded on the south by the Illinois State line, and extending north so as to extend to and include the tier of townships numbered 10 north ; also. Townships 11 and 12 north, of Ranges 21 and 22 east. Of course, in this district fell all the territory now included within the limits of Rock County. The Land Office was located at Milwaukee, where the first public sale of Government lands within the new district was held in the spring of 1839. This brought into market all of what is now Rock County that had not previously been disposed of, and, for the first time, that part lying east of Rock River and Lakp Koshkonong.

To obtain exact and reliable information concerning events which have occurred within a comparatively recent period, while many of those are yet living whose individual efforts and achievements form the subject of the inquiry, would appear to be a task presenting but few difficulties. But busy men, whose thoughts and energies have been devoted mainly, if not exclusively, to the securing of homes and fortunes in a new country, naturally have little time to record the incidents and events which made up the history of their daily lives ; nor are they inclined to regard them as other than trivial and unimportant, and therefore too insignificant to be perpetuated. From this disposition to regard most occurrences as trifling in themselves, combined with want of leisure or inclination to keep a daily record of what they thought^ felt, hoped, did or suffered, it follows that the record of early settlements contains but scant material" from which to obtain facts for the pages of history. Patient industry and careful research, however, rarely fail to discover forgotten letters and old books of account, or to refresh the memories of early settlers regarding the events of long ago, which, being compared, weighed and sifted, supply the laborious searcher for truth with the information necessary for his purpose. The difficulties encountered in preparing a history of any particular county are precisely of the character just indicated, and they are surmounted only by patient arid persistent research and investigation.

The close of the Black Hawk war and the return home of the soldiers by whose fortitude and gallantry the Sac chief had been defeated and his band dispersed, called the attention of the country to the extraordinary natural advantages of the Rock River Valley. Next to the narration of the exploits of himself and comrades in the field, the returned volunteer found his greatest delight in glowing accounts of the beautiful, flower-decked prairies, rich with nutritious grasses from three to six feet in height, and dotted at intervals with burr-oak openings, and of the swift and sparkling streams, winding like silver threads between their verdure-clad banks. According to these accounts, the Rock River country was a veritable modern Eden. Such enthusiasm naturally communicated itself to those who listened to the narrations, many of whom made up their minds to dispose of their then possessions as speedily as possible, and secure for themselves a home in this region, which was, seemingly, awaiting the occupation of the industrious and the enterprising. On the 14th of July, 18'35, John Inman, of Lucerne County, Pennsylvania, and William Holmes, of Ohio, started from Milwaukee " to spy out the land " in this much-vaunted valley. Procuring a couple of Indian ponies upon which to pack their provisions, and armed with the trusty rifle, without which no one in the Northwest traveled in those days, they set out upon their explorations. Two days' march from Milwaukee brought them to Fort Atkinson, then just evacuated by the officer for whom it was named and his command, where they went into camp for the night. The next day they traveled west and south, and camped at night at the mouth of the Yahara (Catfish) River. When morning came, they found that their ponies had taken French leave, and that they must either pack their own traps, or leave them behind. This was an inconvenience, to be sure, but not a disaster to hardy pioneers ; so they shouldered their luggage and continued their explorations, following the course of the river southward till they reached the point now occupied by the city of Janesville, where they camped on the point of the bluff on the Racine road. From this point they saw Rock Prairie stretching away in the distance to the east and south, till the verdant plain mingled with the blue of the horizon. They saw before them an ocean of waving grass and blooming flowers, and realized the idea of having found the real Canaan - the real paradise of the world. Continuing their journey to the eastward, they came within half a mile of a beautiful grove, in which they found unmistakable indications of its having been occupied not long before as an Indian encampment, to which they gave the name of Black HaWk Grove, which it still bears. Shortly after this, they discovered their ponies, and, having secured them, set out upon their return to Milwaukee, entirely satisfied with their investigations, and fully determined to make this magnificent and fertile prairie their future home. They reached Milwaukee on the 23d of July, having been absent ten days. In all their travels, they had found but one white family - that of Mr. McMillan, who resided where Waukesha now stands.

" On the 15th day of November, 1835, John Inman, Thomas Holmes, William Holmes, Joshua Holmes, Milo Jones and George FoUmer started from Milwaukee with an ox team and wagon, the latter containing provisions, tools and other necessaries, and, on the 18th day of the same month, arrived opposite the ' big rock.' " The biting frosts of winter were at hand ; no time was to be lost. The banks of the river on either side were lined with oaks, maples and ash. There was no scarcity of building material. The woodman's ax soon resounded from the forest, and within a week a log house graced the hillside. This was the first settlement in Rock County.