Sauk County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1861 (part 2 of 13)

"On, board the Hamburgh Packet, " Barque "Washington." I left Hamburgh and landed safe, December 8, 1S3S, in the city of Xew York, where I lived about one year as, clerk in a mercantile house, being importers of dry goods, especially silks. I left there for the Southern part of Illinois, near Albion, Edwards county, where I. lived with some German friends, and commenced to learn something about farming. By extreme hard labor and the influence of that, for me unhealthy climate, my mind and body was nearly broken down - when, unexpectedly, and to my great joy, my brother Adolph arrived direct from home to visit me. It was in the spring of 1840. He had made the acquaintance of two passengers on ship-boad - Auguston Haraszthy and his cousin Charles Hallasz, Hungarians - and said if I had no objections it was their mutual wish and plan that we four settle together, and keeping up a correspondence, wjth them, we prepared to join them. In the mean time, my brother was taken sick and came near dying with a fever. I remained by him and did the best X could under the circumstances. To rest a little at night I rolled myself up in a blanket .at the foot of his, roughly made bedstead on a few planks, called the floor,- of the log house. After along sickness and as soon as my brother was able to travel, we left the place where we had endured so much hardship.

er was splendid. We stepped ashore and looked around, but stood still for a good while. The scenery - the beauty of nature made a great' impression on me - on us I dare say. Oh yea, if possible, said we - if possible yes! ves, let us settle here, - and immediately we were halloed and greeted by Ilaraszthy, Hallasz and the Germans who worked for them, and the few Americans present, as if we had been friends " lung time ago." The very next day we went to work.

'-Over twenty years have passed by since my arrival here - a time faster spoken of than lived through - a time that has brought to our German settlement many hardships which the inhabitants can testify to ; most of them are now forgotten, and with the joys and blessings which have been showered upon us. the griefs and hardships of the past are thought of no more.

"During the first days, especially, that. I lived in Sauk, my eyes were much of the time on the fine scenery. It was no unbroken wilderness that met my gaze. The idea struck me. that Indians had lived here and that still an ancient people before them occupied this lovely prairie. Many signs of them were here upon the surface of the soil, showing themselves inthe silence of beautiful nature, where only a lew white men could be seen. What a change time has made here! Those formerly untouched bluffs now show numerous quarries of lime and building rock. That valuable, high and mighty timber on the islands of the Wisconsin river and border is gone. Its barbarous enemy, the " American ax," in German hands has been here and brought destruction all around - but now in its place, kind nature has planted new trees which are at this time half grown again. The wild grass of the. marshes has changed as countless tons of hay have been made there by the settlors.

Look at the prairie from the end to the commencement again of winter, full of flowers, changing almost every week, one closing to make room for another,

- more blossoms than leaves or spears of grass. But now you see - only now and then - a vacant, unoccupied green spot ; the blossoms have disappeared by the feeding of cattle. Their seed could not fall to the ground to spring up again to bring blossoms for future years. But how is it with the spot of land and surrounding country where we landed in the fall of 1840. All then was covered with Indian hills ; thousands of deer bones, glass neck-pearls, arrow points of Hint, and Indian graves were everywhere to be found. Yes, here they hunted, fished, raised corn and died. Time has decayed the bones ; the new generation, children 01 Germans, have picked up their glass pearls, <fec, to play with ; their corn hills have been leveled, the village of Sauk City being located upon them, whose largest portion of inhabitants consists of Germans.

When I arrived at Sauk I found some Americans had made their claims here. The land could not be bought from Government, as it was not yet in market. Of these claims I only mention a few. Messrs. Haney, Russell, Crossman and Ensminger, who soon sold out. Chas. O. Baxter, Esq. has occupied his claim ever since; so has Jonathan Hatch. In all there were but a few acres of land broken and fenced, and a few log cabins built. Haraszthy and his men had erected one already, and we went to work and soon built another.

As time has passed on, all of these cabins have disappeared. The one in which Hallasz lived burned down during a very severe winter night, by which he lost many things. The next year after we settled here, we were very short of provisions. My brother and I raised an enormous quantity of melons, which aided much in giving a variety of food

Haraszthy, Hallasz, my brother and I, sometimes made hunting excursions. At one time, leaving the bcttlement, we started for Honey Creek valley, in which at that time, not one living soul could be found, but a plenty of rattlesnakes. We killed many of them ; also lots of pigeons and prairie chickens, which made ns fine eoups. We found wild honey too, but how to get it, we did not understand at that time. At another time we started out, taking a horse to carry our tent and other things. Near that bluff where Merrihew's mill now stand's, the Count shot a deer, but unluckily so that it escaped him. By and by we all four started after the buck, but in vain was all the trouble. In the chase we had lost much time and greatly exhausted ourselves, and did not notice a tremendous thunder storm coming over us. The Count's head was wounded and we had nearly lost hirn. We arrived at last at camp drenched to the skin, where, in the dark and rain, we found everything wet ; the tent torn into pieces, and its contents swimming in water - no lire - cold and shivering. You can believe we made pretty sour faces that night; but never mind, the night passed; at day-break we regaled ourselves as best we could. Fine sunshine warming us up again, we endeavored to cross Honey Creek. "But to do this we had no idea what a difficult job it would be. We tramped up and down the creek through mud, heavy underbrush, and were by thorns half torn to pieces. At last we were so lucky as to find a place where the trunks of fallen trees lay partly across the stream. Xow we ventured out balancing. But such balancing I had never done before in my life. I used to balance in dancing saloons, in Hamburgh, New York, and even in a log cabin on the A\ abash river; but here, surely it could nut go very well, from sheer nervousness on account of being in such a critical position. I declare I was not afraid of water, as in my former days I was calkd a pretty good swimer; but that swampy mud by the shore! - if any shore was there, nobody could tell where, or whether a bottom could be found ; then to swim in mud is a considerable piece of art, and I knew, not so easily done, as 1 had experienced before in a piece of Honey Creek swamp. However, over we must and did go. But oh ! our traveling assistant Lad to come over yet, besides all our guns, tent and baggage. Finally, all crossed safely, which consumed a half clay's labor. Now we traveled on, up hill and down hill, for hours, until we struck an Indian trail, which set us in good spirits. Not understanding how to travel by compass, however, we took ours, out which showed us (green horns,) about the direction we wished to take, but on we traveled, following that trail. After many hours, up and down, round and about, we came out in an entirely contrary direction from what we wished to travel ; we stood upon a height and saw our Wisconsin river, where we finally camped. Being now not very far from Helena, we visited for the first time the oldest settler in Sauk County, Mr. John Wilson. "We traveled and camped out several times along Pine river, where we met a great many Indian graves, but no settlers. Near the head of this river we discovered a cave, in which wc slept that night. The next morning brought us a most disagreeable aiFair. We soon noticed that over night our most worthy traveling companion, our horse, had got loose, and was now - who knows where ( Here we sat in the wilderness - with kettle, coffee-pot, blankets, tent, «fcc, but the horse was gone. With empty stomachs, my brother and I started immediately in search of the tour-leg. We searched and searched - traced back where we had traveled the day before, not noticing much how fast the time passed by. At last, fatigued and very near giving up all hopes of finding the horse - there, there we came in sight of him, far - far away - so far we could hardly distinguish him. Really we had to combine all our energy to advance with something like good humor. The four-leg was eating grass very comfort ably, while he kept walking slowly on, bound homeward. Noticing this, we had to march faster, to cut him oil' by and by, bat to do this, it cost us a "heap"' of drops of sweat, until we got so far - now commenced a chase, and a trying, and trying over and over again, to catch that our traveling companion. We learned now, if we had not learned it before, what independence means - that horse - really he showed himself an independent one. He tricked us out continually. On that day we learned some experience in Western horse-catching ! My legs seemed to me to have turned over to the age of sixty or more years ; my brains - in what condition they were is hard to tell ! At last ! At last ! we caught him. and almost dropped down, so exhausted we were. Now came the leturning to our cave, which luckily we found at last ; we had done enough that day, which lasted then but a short time, and it was sunset. Next morning Ave started together from our cave, but met al*o with a most unlucky day. We had traveled all day, and not noticing that we traveled in too much of a circle, at evening found ourselves at the same spot we had left in the morning - our cave. During the following day we endeavored to do better - came at last to a creek but knew not which one it was, and being bound for home we followed it down. We had exhausted our provisions; the large and fat coon the Count had killed was gone. By climbing upon a high bluff we convinced ourselves we were going straight ahead and right. With half empty stomachs, we calculated with joy at about what hour we should reach Sauk ; but as it often goes - so here - we soon found we had made a miscalculation. We had to pass a great hindrance, which consisted of a large tamarack swamp, many of which at that time were along the Honey Creek valley. AVe were anxious to get home and not willing to march for miles round it, so Ave' concluded to cross it in a straight line, but we had to suffer for it. At the commencement, for a good while, avc did not care for the srreat elasticity of the ground ; but our inarching went over into a kind of jumping, someAvhat like grasshoppers. It often happened that in jumping to Avliat seemed a pretty solid place, on arriving we. Avould fiud ourselves in mud

- first knee deep, afterwards deeper - but the hardest trouble was our traveling companion, that independent horse, with all the baggage. O, Jerusalem ! - hot and sultry it was; our bellies fallen in, our skin pretty near the bones, and no inside fat present, sweating all the time. Now that horse got stuck sundry times, not alone we had to carry the baggage ! no - we had to carry the horse too, mostly through this mud and nasty smelling swampy concern. I consider it yet half a miracle how it was possible that we crossed this place, but it came to a fact that we crossed it, and we were thrown into astonishment at the fact ! But hurrah now for sweet home ; this we reached at sun-set, totally torn and dirty, having been out eight or ten days. Our German settlers glared and stared at us. 1 believe they could not make out whether we came direct out any European beggars, Winnebagosor chimneysweeps. " The Count soon employed a carpenter, Mr. Morgan, an Englishman, who put him up a frame house for his family. This was the first one erected in Sauk City. I purchased it in latter years, ami have kept it in repairs. It stands yet, and is occupied by one Mr. I '- Cowles. More frame buildings were then put up. That of Mr. John Galhirds and one. under the name of the United States Hotel, now occupied by Hiram Miller;* that now occupied by J. "\\ erner, Si'.; then a part of the District School building ; then that of the Catholic Chuivli - but before this latter building was finished, during church time it caught lire, and burned down in had to fly for their lives. It was supposed to have taken fire by someone emptying his pipe before entering church. Erom the abundance of shavings which lay around, the flames spread rapidly.

* This was a palace of a building for sn new n country, and for any time, will J&ake a fine appearance. It was thoroughly built and furnished. W. U. C.

bellion broke out in the village among the workmen of the Count and Bryant. The motto of the rebels had previously been, " pork and potatoes for breakfast, potatoes and pork for dinner, etc.," and seldom anything extra. A procession was formed, headed by a stout man, carrying on a long pule a picked ham bone for a banner, the rest following in single fde like geese, each one carrying a piece of the cooking concern, such as tea-kettle, tin-pails, tin pans, <fec; beating on them, shouting, joking, and making a tremendous noise - which from the clearness of the evening, was echoed back from the bluffs upon the opposite side; and the reverberation came again and again, from the numerous islands up and down the river, as though all pandemonium was there. When the procession disbanded, the settlement was still and quiet. The supper horn was blown by the cook at an unusually early hour. In a short time a great hurrah was heard, the sequel of which was, that dishes were heaped with pies and cakes, etc. So ended the Sauk Revolution.

"Next day lumber, nails, Trammer, plow, and everything was handled extremely fast. At one time I was requested by the Count to ride his marc to upper-town, to buy a few articles from I). 13. Crocker's store, which was a very small one, and the only -one in the country. After I jumped upon her back I found her willing to run off too fast, and therefore held the reins very tight, so she overthrew herself and myself backwards upon the hard ground. I was near losing my life at that time; but she gave me a lessou how to ride a mare. I did not know, and had no idea this female creature had such a soft mouth !

"Bears now and then made their appearance here, and in hard winter nights we often heard the yell of flocks of wolves, whose tracks in the snow oh the ice were to be seen in abundance all along the river.

el, my brother and I bought a claim of Ensminger, who was afterwards killed in the Mexican war, \Ve settled on the laud and kept bachelor's-ball in his log house, but took our meals with our neighbor, R. H. Davis', who lived in Esquire Albau's house, at that time, which was situated where J. P. Mann's steam mill now stands, and was surrounded by a grove of timber which has since disappeared, and is supplanted with fences, buildings, etc., of German people. To get a house built upon our place we sent to Galena, and got out the families of B. Ragatz, Louis Accula, and Wolf. When they had finished the house, old Ml1. Bartholomew Ragatz, a Swiss, now deceased, with his family moved out to his claim on Honey Creek, and this was the first settler in Honey Creek Valley. This valley is now settled mostly by Germans and Swiss.

" When the land came into market, most of the persons owning claims in Sauk County could be found at the Laud Oi'tice, at Mineral Point, to secure if possible, his piece of land. They passed resolutions to protect each other against speculators overbidding them. The land sale went off peaceably, however, and on the 27th

!day of October, 1843, the laud where now stands Sauk City, was entered from Government by Charles Har- (aszthy, the father of Auguston Haraszthy. "The Count and Bryant were somewhat engaged in steamboating ; they owned a share in the Hock Jiiuei', of which, at that time. I was clerk. We went three

(numerous soldiers of U. S. Infantry, their baggage, etc., returning from their Florida war trip. At the Forts we were kindly entertained by officers and men. Our boat was frozen in at Prairie du Chien, but as a warm spell of weather came afterwards, the engineer, two other men and myself were sent oft' from Sauk City in a skiff to get the boat to Sauk, if possible. After we had started it commenced freezing very fast. Past sunset we were nearly blocked up with running ice ; we stopped upon an Island and camped, it being in the month of December.

"Without a lire we lay down to rest, and when we awoke, found about half a foot of snow upon our blauets. We hauled our skiff on to the ice, and carried it to where the river was open. "We however had to leave the skiff about three miles from Prairie du Chien. We commenced our march from here, through the deep snow towards that place. Our engineer gave out, and if left alone would perish. We took him between us and supported him onward as best we could. We arrived at the boat and cut her loose, but the ice was too strong for her to work in. and our trouble was all in vain. We went home under great hardships, it being very cold. Later I was engaged as clerk in Haraszthy's store. He built the first brick building on Sauk Prairie. It is that which now Messrs. AVilliams ifc Son occupv as a store."

Edmoxd Rexdtoeff

It is with regret that I could not have answered your letter of June 12th before to-day. I take pleasure in answering your questions, but in such a condensed form as the time will permit.

"I arrived at Sauk Prairie in July 1841, in company with my (now deceased) friend, J. C. Grapel, brother-in-law of Mr. Rendtorff. We reached Green Bay by the way of the Lakes, and passed through the richly wooded country which borders upon the Fox River and Lake Winnebago. Leaving the forest and entering the openings country, we were much surprised at the beauty of this natural park. At that early time a few farms only guided the stage road. In almost every house where we stopped, the hospitable people. (settlers, mostly from the Eastern States,) invited us to spend a few days at their new homes, and share "what their humble plantation could afford, of course without pay. Arrived at Fort Winnebago, the terminus of the stage. The fortification Avas still garrisoned ; there was besides, a store, tavern and blacksmith's shop, near the fortress. From here we went down the AVisconsin River by a boat of a French fur trader.

"In March 1*42 I went to Galena, and from there to St. Louis. There I found an easy introduction in my pursuit, as a Dr. Asa Grayof iS'ew York, had kindly

"After a short stay in the city I proceeded to search the Western part of Missouri, collecting plants and other curiosities. On my excursion in that part of Missouri, I found opportunity to gather information about the Western country, and resolved to pursue the next spring a westerly course, as far as taraiirma would permit me to study and collect the flora of the mountainous country. In the mean time there had awakened a spirit of emigration to Oregon, and large bodies of emigrants were along the frontier of Missouri forming several companies. One of these I joined - leaving the civilized world in Ala}" 1843.

" The loss of my baggage in the rapids below the Grand Cascades of the Columbia River, rests not only severe with the collection of plants, but perhaps more 60 with a good many valuable instruments and other collecting materials, as I had fitted myself out to spend several years in that part of the country. "

"The kindest assistance was ottered me by the gentlemanly officers of Fort Vancouver, but could not lead me again into the course which my enthusiastic mind had marked out, and from there all communications by letter were tedious and uncertain, - I concluded to return

"A gentleman named I.ticders, a Botanist from the eitv of Hamburgh, arrived at the Bay I have called by his name while ivc were bringing up the boats. I was delighted to meet at such a place a man of kindred pursuits; but we had only the pleasure of a brief conversation, as his canoe, under Lhc guidance of two Ind'ians, was about to run the rapids; and I could not enjoy the satisfaction of regaling him with a breakf.ivt, which, after his recent journey, would have been an extraordinary luxury. Alt bis few instruments ami baggage were in the canoe, and be lurried around to meet it at the Grave Yard Bay; 1 ui lie was scarcely out of sight when, by the carelc«sness of the Indians, the boat was drawn into the midst of the rapids, and glanced down the river, bottom up, with a loss of everything it contained. In the natural concern I felt for his misfortune, I gave to the little cove the name "Luedera Bav."

Skcox'D Sketch

" In February 1 844 I left the mouth of the Columbia River for the Sandwich Islands, and proceeded from there to Chili, touching the Paradise of the Pacific (Otaheite), then in a state of seige. 1 arrived in Hamburgh in November of the same year.

"In the short space of my absence family circumstances had taken a change, that made my presence there, at least for several years necessary - so the course near est my heart, for future life, was beyond my individual control. ,

" At Christmas 1844, I again hailed the Mississip pi- I lived at St. Louis until 1851, and after thaitime in Sauk County, near Sauk City, tilling the soil and ray rnind.-: ;

" Theirigher or lower number 'of species of plants de pends partly on the mean temperature of the country and the configuration of the same, and besides Accomposition of the soil, physical as well as chemical Many other agents have to be considered that play ai: important part in the flora of a country.

"According to'mv knowledge the number of spe cies for a given space in California is considerable larg er than in Oregon or Wisconsin ; and still the latte" State will hardly make a larger show of variety thai Oregon. The Comity of Saul:, however, represent.- nearly two-thirds of the species of the entire State. Our beautiful country, adorned with elevations, valleys, plains and low land's, furnishes all kinds of soils and situations for the choice of Mother Flora, and m vane.

- Mr. L. oceanic* and tills ten acre* of land, and labors hard both mentally u» d.yivJly. B,ii thorough and orderly in bis labors, mid is a world wuMn mtr*4t

The Village of Prairie du Sac, or upper Sauk, as it is termed, still bears its christian name and now contains about 600 inhabitants. There is a bridge across the river here, 1452 feet long, built in IS - . It was the second one across the river. There is a stone School House 30 by 40 feet ; a Congregational Church 24 by 52 ; A steam Flouring Mill of three run of stone; a steamboat, built for the use of the mill. Henry Howell, the old miller and machinist, put this machinery into operation, being the third fine mill that he has built in the county ; two taverns, one kept by D. R. Baxter (the Baxter House,) one of the oldest, settlers in the county; five dry goods stores, that sell about $75,000 worth of goods per annum ; one hardware and tin store ; two boot and shoe stores, (II. J. Ochsuer of one of them is doing quite a large and liberal business); three backsmiths, (one of them, Samuel Kelsey, an old settler and much respected citizen, has stood by the same forge, on the same spot, IS years. He now manufactures wagons and plows quite extensively. He has forged quite a small fortune out of the much iron that he has hammered); one wagon maker, A. Ortill, who has also been long in the business here, and is flourishing ; one jeweler; four saloons; this place sells about $100,- 000 of merchandise per annum. There are a correspondincr number of professional men. One of these, J. B. Woodruff, settled here in the summer of 1S43, and wa3 the first physician in the county. He has ever en. joyed the reputation of being an excellent physician.

the surface is nearly level, and about 60 feet above the Wisconsin River. Many trees have been left standing as nature planted them, which gives a pleasant appearance to the town.

There is an Evangelical or Dutch Reformed Church in the South-west corner of this town, numbering 131 members. It was incorporated in the spring of 1851. The Church is a neat looking structure 24 by 32 feet.

John McQuaker, a Scotchman, settled on Otter Creek I where he now lives, back of Sauk City, in IS44, and George Luetcher, a German, in 1846, where he yet resides.

"To your inquiries relative to my settlement at Sauk, I would say, - That in the fall of 1852 I came to this place. The Village of Prairie du Sac, at that time contained in all three log buildings, one frame enclosed and one unenclosed; three more log buildings outside, but near the village plat was built but unoccupied. About a-half dozen were the entire population of the place. The names of the heads of the families were Ts athan Kellogg, Calvin Frink, John LaMeseure, Josiah Abbott, Frank Crbssman, Egbert Cary, Samuel Kelsey, Archibald JI ill and myself. The four last named are yet at this place.

"The Village was laid out in 1840, before the land was surveyed by the United States, by Calvin Frink, John LaMesuere and David B. Crocker. The site was occupied by Crocker and Burk Fairchild, with other lands immediately joining. In division of claims the village claim fell to D. B. Crocker. The Government land sale was in the fall of 1843. William H. Hubbard was chosen to enter the land in trust for the claimants, to be deeded according to their respective claims, and payments in proportion as their claims were to the whole, at the rate of 81 50 per acre, which was carried out satisfactorily, with one or two exceptions.

" When Mr. Crocker came to settle here, he brought with him a stock of goods suitable for the times. The Winnebagos became large contributors to his trade, which continued for several years. Galena was then the head quarters for the trade of this place. Goods frequently were shipped by steamboats that came up the Wisconsin to supply the military station at Fort Winnebago.

"The first School I believe began about 1844, and was taught by a Mr. Smith, a Scotchman, who with his family had but recently come from the old country - a most worthy noble son from a noble christian country. He continued his school for two or three years, and then removed to Columbia county, where he now lives. Since then we have been gradually adopting the approved systems of education, and keeping pace with the growing wants of the present. As soon as the fruits of the toil of the husbandman began to be thrown into our lap, much toil was experienced in preparing it for use. The nearest mill was Ilicox's West of Blue Mounds, a distance of 40 miles from Sauk, to which a second trip had frequently to be made to get our grist. In the fall or winter of 1842. I opened a tavern, in company with Win. II. Hubbard. Respectfully vours,

"In January, 1841, the Rev. S. Chafee, by request of the fen- members of the Church of Christ who had emigrated to Prairie du sac, and were living -without being organized into a Church, visited the place, preached a sermon and organized a Presbyterian Church, consisting of nine members - all having presented letters of dismission and recommendation from other Churches, to wit : Calvin Frink, Lydia L. Frink, Alary E. Prink, Nathan Kellogg, John C. Kellogg, Charles F. Parks, Burk Fairehild, Jane Axtell, and Elizabeth Parks. During the year 1842, there were 9 additions ; in 1843* 6 ; in 1844, 2 ; in 1845, 3 ; in 1846, 3 ; in 1S47, 4; in 1848, 1; in 1850, 2; in 1851, 4; in 1S52, 5; in 1853, 2; in 1854, 3; in 1856, 4; in 1857, 2; in 185S, 10; in 1859, 6 ; in 1860, 11 ; - total 87. Of this number twelve have been removed by death ; three have been excommunicated and forty-live have received, on application, letters of dismission and recommendation to other Churches. Among the latter number are sixteen who were dismissed on the 25th of November, last, at their own request, on account of exceptions being taken to the Meeting House being granted previously for funeral services, at which time a Universalist Clergyman preached the sermon. The minister insisted that the use of the house should not be granted by the trustees for any purpose, without the consent of the minister. A majority of the Church and society dissented from these views, and on account of this difference of opinion, myself and fifteen others seceded from the church, - leaving at present twenty-seven members.

" The Ministers who have supplied the pulpit since the first organization are as follows : - Rev. W . \\ . Nichols, from April 1842 to April 18-14; Rev. E. G. Bradford from April '41 to April '47; Rev. W. Cochran from October '47 to November '48; Rev. L. G. Miner from October '51 to October '53; Rev. J. G. Kanouse from June '54 to June '55; Rev. D. T. Noyes from October '55 to November '58; Rev. H. Hutchins from 1st December '58 to 1st December 1860. The pulpit has been supplied since November last, by the Rev. John Silsbv.

"At a Church meeting held Nov. 29, 1844, the organization, of the Church was changed from Presbyterian to Congregational, and assumed the name of the First Congregational Church of Prairie du Sac, by a unanimous vote. The Church edifice was erected during the vear 1851, at a cost of about $1,000, and will seat 200 persons. Since that time o bell has been procured by subscription from the citizens of the village for the purpose, at a cost of $300." Yours, 'very truly,

S. II. BASSINGER. The town of Snmpter, (formerly Kingston,) is about midway the length of the Sauk Prairie basin, - back from, and not touching the river. The South-east part comprises the North end of Sauk Prairie, and is second in fertility to none in the County, if indeed in the State : it is now in a high state of cultivation. The South-west is divided up a good deal by high and narrow ranges of bluffs, the character of which will be more particularly described in the Honey Creek basin. On the AVest side lies "Stony Pocket." The word 11 Pocket" is a Western phrase, indicative of a small basin nearly surrounded by 1 "luffs. This pocket is a large one, being about three miles in length and two broad.

Descriptive Topography

The town of " Sunipter," formerly called " Kingston," lies about midway of the length of the Sauk Prairie Basin, back from, and only touching the Wisconsin river at the southeast corner post of the town. The southeast part of the town comprises the northern portion of Sauk Prairie, and the land is perhaps second in quality to none in the northwestern states. It has for a quarter of a century been well cultivated, and the residences, and farm buildings are large and of a good character.

The southwest part is considerably cut up by high and narrow ridges or bluffs, from two to three hundred feet high. It is these Otter creek bluffs that catch the eye of the weary traveler, as he commences to descend the Baraboo bluffs on his -way from the county seat to Prairie du Sac, and few have traveled that way from whose lips have not escaped an exclamation of delight as their eyes ranged over the lovely scene presented by the sea-like expanse of level prairie, cheequered with farms aud their various crops and grasses ; dotted along the edges with scattering timber, and bounded all along the western horizon by the picturesque spurs of the main line of bluff which thrust themselves out into the prairie-like headlauds into the sea. To the south, in the extreme distance, are faint blue lines of hills on the other side of the Wisconsin river, while to the east, the bold bluff on the south shores of the same completes the frame of the picture. This scene, hightened as it is, by contrast to the almost savage wilderness of the road across the bluffs, is perhaps the finest "extended" view in all Sauk county.

The Otter creek bluffs are not only beautiful, but they contain immense quarries of very good and handsome building stone, which is a calcifcrous sand stone, overlaying the Potsdam. It is in layers of from one to twelve inches thick, of a color varying from a light cream to one several shades darker ; is easily quarried and dressed; and by a tasteful arrangement of the different shades of color, a very good effect can be obtained in building. These quarries vary iu their Hthological character. Some are more chirty or flinty than others. One opened by Cuas. Abbott, has a strata of what seems to be Serpentine, probably orthocerata, described in Report of Geological Survey of Wisconsin, by Jas. Hall, p. 147. There is a deposit of sand rock, of a few feet in thickness, forming a bench in the bluff side, owing to its more frable nature. Quarries are opened above aud below this bench. Those below are usually more chirty than those above it. Above the calciferous sand stone are beds of Dolomite, from which lime is binned. "With good means of transportation, these quarries must be a large source of wealth to their owners, and to the country generally.

Upon the west side of the town is a recess or bay, surrounded on three sides by bluffs, viz : The Main Baraboo Bluff on the north; the Honey Creek Bluffs on the west; the Otter Creek Bluffs on the south, and opening out on the east on the Sauk Prairie. This is what is locally called a " Pocket," and in this case, is " Stone's Pocket," so called from the fact of five families of that name residing there, three of which are in no wise re. lated to each other. It is three miles long by two broad, and contains 3,840 acres, of which 8-10 is susceptible of cultivation. The high lands are a clay loam, and the bottom lands the same with a greater accumulation of vegetable matter. A small portion, however, has a sandy loam soil.

The northern part of the town lies upon the south shed of the Baraboo Bluffs. It has a heavy clay soil and mucii of it very stony. Originally, it bore a growth of white, red and black oak, some hickories, also a few burr oak and maple in the vallies. Most of the oak was ': made " into rails by the farmers on the prairie before the ceremony of purchasing from the . United States Government was performed. It is now, where uncleared, covered with a dense second-growth, which is alreadv beginning to yield an income to those prairie fanners, who have added every foot of it to their real estate. The bluff sides are cut by many and deep ravines, on the sides and bottom of which are quantities of sharp angular fragments of quartzite - blocks of sand stone, sand stone partly metamorphosed, granitic boulders and masses of conglomerate, talcose slate and beds of nearly pure talc - tumbled and jumbled so that when you pass over them you balance from point to point, if indeed you are so lucky as to " make a point." Iu the bottom of these canyonlike ravines - among these rocks, shrubs, ferns, lichens and mosses drips pearly drops forming slender threads - ripples and gurgles the purest of water. A gentle channel emerges and flowing out into the iutervale, joins others, thus forming small creeks, available for stock, and from its softness rejoices the heart of the farmer's wife at the wash tub. The land upon the bluff sides and top is so filled with stone as to be generally unfit for cultivation, with the, exception here and there of small tracts. Near the northeast corner of the town upon the north boundary line lies Devil's Lake - "Spirit Lake" - "Lake of the Hills." A very small portion of it lying within the limits of the town.

Chronology

The town of Kingston (now Sunipter) was one of the original five towns of Sauk county, organized May 10th, 1849. It was so named by Henry' Teal and Charles Kern, who were former residents of Kingston, Lucerne, Penn. It has been believed by some that it derived its name from a family of Kings, who settled near the centre of the town. The old gentleman, Mr. IIozy King, soon opened a tavern, and at one time had a small stock of goods. This place became known as King's Corner. In March, 1S56, Solomon King laid out a village plat at the Corners and called it New Haven. It is better known now by the name of King's Corners than New Haven. (The old gentleman was living with his second wife. She with her second husband. He had ten children and she ten, yet between them they had but nineteen).

The first Town Meeting was held at the house of James Morelaud, April 3d, 18-10. Jas. I. "Waterberry, chairman; Isaac Gibbs and Sam'l Shaw were elected supervisors; Prcscott Brigham, town clerk; Sam'l Mather, assessor; Itansome E. Stone, school superintendent; Cyrus Hill and David Randall received an equal number of votes for treasurer; R. Baxter was appointed clerk in place of P. Bryan, who had resigned.

1850 - Calvin Danforth, Wm. Farnarn, John Thelke, supervisors; D. R. Baxter, clerk; Hiram Bailey, assessor; R. E. Stone, school superintendent; Albert Jameson, treasurer. June 15th, T. B. Cowles was elected treasurer in place of A. Jaireson, resigned.

1854 - Eli Davis, Nicholas Furst, John Dennett, supervisors; Chas. Nail's, clerk; Rob't Colburu, assessor; Geo. Gatwinkel, treasurer; Norman Wood, school superintendent.

18G1 - O. S. Knapp, John Dennett, Chas. Ryone, supervisors; Win. W. Perry, clerk; Ilarvey Durkee, treasurer; A. J. Sears, superintendent of schools; Wm. Johnson, assessor.

There being a town of Kingston in Green Lake county, 'causing confusion in mail matter, the County Board in 1861 changed the name. In the midst of the excitement attendant on the firing on Fort Sumpter, and its defense by Maj. AxDiiissox, they gave it the name of Sumpter to commemorate that event.

{November 14th, 1855, the town of Merrimack was organized out of Kingston territory. Sections 23 and 24 of town 11 north, range 6 east, was set off to Baraboo, Js02.

Of the old settlers, who are heads of families, and still (1870) reside in the town, (enumerating down as far as 1857) the following list is criven :

If the unmarried of both sexes and married women were added, there would probably be over fifty persons who would have over a twenty-five years' residence in the town.

Charles Packs, whose parents resided for a short time at the bluffs, and now (1870) are living near Arena, Iowa county, was the first child .born in the town, Feb. 1840, and the second ono in the county. It is said in a note at the bottom of page 58, Second Sketch, that Sarah Behind was probably the second child born in the county. This must be an error. She must have been about two years old when her parents moved into the county.

As an instance not only of the kindheartedness and christian charity, but also as an example of the difficulties that beset the early settlers, we give the account of the action of Mrs. P. Brigham, of Kingston, at the Bluffs, she having learned from her husband, that a family in Baraboo, were in most destitute circumstances, being reduced to grinding a little corn in a coffee mill daily for their bread, and the other provisions being nearly exhausted and their boy, an infant with a broken leg, no surgeon nearer than Madison. Mrs. B. next morning had her horse saddled and packed with flour and pork, and such medicines as were likely to be useful or were available and started alone with the burden of relief. She lost her way upon the bluffs, taking the wrong trail, there being nothing worthy of any more definite name to follow, had many fears in crossing a swolen stream, (Skillett creek) but finally arrived safe at her destination. Her aid was most acceptable and unexpected, and it is probable that that family must often think with grateful hearts of that brave, kind woman at their door, with her well laded horse. She found that a neighboring woman, Mrs. Rosaline Peck, and the father had apparently set the bone correctly and the babe was doing well ( so it proved.) Mrs. B. the Sabbath following, made a second visit, accompanied by Mrs. Henry Teal, both on horse-back. (This naration the author can particularly vouch for, its coming so near home.) Mrs. Teal now (1S70) is generally known as grand-ma Teal; her kind heartedness ( and indeed that of the whole family ) is well known. She has brought up as tenderly as though they were her own, seven orphan children. One of whom was married to her son Charles, with whom the good old lady, still active and lively in her 84th year, now resides, ( 1870) at the old homestead at the bluffs. Her roof has always been a shelter to friends and strangers alike.

John Hoover, Sen., came into the town about 1843, and soon opened a public house at the Blurt's, upon the east road, so called, and for many years made it a pleasant home for tho traveller. This pleasant couple of Pennsylvanians are now ( 1870 ) in their graves.

The nationality of the first settlers of the town, can be seen quite truly by the census reports. That of 1860 shows a population 959, of which 359 were born in Wisconsin, 101 in the Eastern States, 122 in X. Y., 51 in Penn., 44 in Ohio, 80 in other states, 31 in English dominion, 17S in the German states. Putting aside those born in Wisconsin, the relative numbers between foreign and native born are 394 that moved from the states hither, and 209 from Europe.

The health of the town is superior - being nearly free from malarious diseases. The census report of I860, shows a mortality of 18 persons: 1 Apepsy, 2 congestion of the lungs, 1 inflamation of the lungs, 1 asthma, 2 typhoid fever, 1 liver complaint, 2 cholera infantum. 2 spinal complaint, 1 cholic, 1 croup, 2 scarlet fever, 1 diphtheria, 1 accident.

The census report of 1870 shows there to be out of a population of S47, but six deaths this year, 2 of these were by accident, 1 diphtheria, 1 bilious fever, 1 Hepatitis, 1 Lung fever. There are 154 families. The oldest person 80. These statistics abundantly prove it a salubrious climate. In fact the county and this part of the "norih west" is an invigorating, healthy climate.

It seems from the census report of 1ST0, that the poulation has diminished 112 persons. This diminution is not owing to poverty of soil or natural disadvantages, the reverse is the fact The first farms cultivated in our county were here. We have before affirmed the soil to be second to none other in the western states. The climatic statistics of the U. S. census reports proves its perfect healthfulness.

This diminution of population is caused by farmers becoming and enlarging their homesteads, and from the fact also of its being entirely an agricultural town, there being within its borders no growing villages or cities.

The town of Sumpter when first settled, and before the soil had its wheat growing properties partially exhausted, grew very large crops of wheat, and for many years it was its chief product.' The farmers never have indulged to any extent in speculative crops, i e, when compared to the other towns of the county. When we shall treat the county as a whole, on the subject of agriculture, we will give a comparative table of its products. The crop i.-> not reported in the. IT. S. census reports of I860 and 1870. These reports give the crops grown in 1859 and 18G9:

It is difficult to come to anything like an accurate conclusion as to the prosperity or productiveness of a country from the census reports. The United States reports of 1860 for the crops of 1859, was a very low average, on account of the extreme drouth that season. The wheat crop averaged but 34- bushels to the acre. The United States census reports for the next decade, 1870, which was for the crop of 1S69, was again very low ; it being another dry season. This year the average of the wheat crop was but 5 8-10 bushels to the acre. It is a fact that the country is not subject to drouths. The Town Assessors report for the year of 1801, given, the crop of 1S60 shows an average of 22+ bushels of wheat to the acre. The average for the decade is about 13 bushels to the acre.

Impf.Ovement8

The only village plat in town is New Haven, formerly called King's Corners, on section 3, T. 10 N., R. 6 E. It contains 9 dwellings, 2 blacksmith shops, 2 small wagon shops and a church building. It was layed out regularly, March 22, 1856, by Solomon Kxsg. A district school building is within a few rods of the pTat. In the same month, 19th, the village plat of Otterville, was laid out by Chap.les Hedges, on Section 4, T. 10 N., R. 6 E., near a steam sawmill, built the year previous, by Wm. Farnam and Epheaim Kellogg ; they had a small grist mill attached, mostly for grinding feed. About a mile from this there was another steam saw mill, built by Roet. Baxter. The Machinery from both of these mills is now removed, the inhabitants have deserted Otterville, and the village lots turned into farm fields. There are T public school houses, 2 of stone, 5 of wood. That of district No. 1 is the best. It is a wooden building, large, well built and nicely furnished, cost *1,G00. No. 2 h3s the poorest, but they intend to build another year.

Evangelical ( gerraan,) and Lutheran (german.) The Wisconsin river improvement will toucli the N. E. corner of the town, and the Baraboo Air Line It. R., the X. W. corner. This latter improvement is bcin^ constructed, and fast pushing on to completion. There is a post office called Bluff Post Office, at the bluff, upon the East road, so called.

Socialistic Relations

There are none other than district schools and religious societies in the town. The first class of that was organized in the county, was formed in this town, at the Bluff, and at the house of Henry Teal, 1840, the Rev. James Whitford officiating, Henry Teal, Geo. Teal, Lccy Brigham, Catharine Kellogg, .Martha Brigham, Thomas B. Cowles and Andrew IIodget, were the members of the class. Martha Cowles thinks Elder Nichoi.es, a Congregational clergyman that had settled at the village of Prairie du Sac, preached the first sermon at Sauk and Baraboo. Mr. T. B. Cowi,E3 thinks perhajis that a traveling Baptist missionary by the name of Mathews, preached the first sermon in the county. Mrs. Henry Teal is quite positive that John Crumiler preached the first. While boarding with her at Willow Springs,- he determined to preach the first sermon in Sauk county, that the honor might rest with the i Methodist denomination. Accordingly, in May, 1 S40, he repaired to the Wisconsin river on Saturday, and found a log stable, opposite Lower Sauk, that was empty. In this he put his horse, cutting grass with his pocket knife, sufficient to sustain the animal until he should return the nest day. A German set him across the river in a "dug out." He then went to John: Hoover's, at the Bluffs. Here, the next day, he delivered his sermon and returned to Willow Springs. The next Methodist service was held by Reed and Winn orl>, at Henry Teal's. The nest by Thomas Fdllertox, who was the first circuit preacher that made stated appointments, tu this class. In 1S42, there was organized, what svas called the Sauk Prairie Mission, its territory extended from Black Earth creek, in Iowa county, to Dekora in Columbia county. The second quarterly Conference was held at Benjamin Johnson's, on Sauk Prairie, Dec. 28, 1844; B. T. Kavenaugh, presiding elder of the

Iu the N. E. part of the town, there is a society of Albrights, or properly "Evangelical Association of North America;" they have a membership of 28, and have a chapel on the N. E. corner of John Thilke's farm, 24x30 ; the society was organized March 23, 1863.

About a mile north of this, at the Cross roads, by Willhelji Seibecker's there is a Lutheran Chapel and a Lutheran society of fourteen families. It was organized in 1S62 ; in 1863 the building was erected.

In this part of the town there are a good many Germans, that adhere to the " Free German Association, of Sauk County." Their lecture room is in the town of .Merrimack.

A Farce

In the summer of 1845, there was a farce played upon tha inhabitants of Sauk, by a Barabooan - a man who was a monomaniac upon the subject of Indian troubles.

On the ISth day of August, 1845, in the evening, he got very much frightened, by - some say boys, others think it was but his crazy immagination. Be the cause what it may, the facts were these: He went to his sister's house and told her that she must leave immediately - thattl Indiaus were burning the houses and murdering the people at I Baraboo village - that he saw the flames and heard shrieks from I the people. She partly dressed her children - took her shoes | and stockings in her hand, and in company with her brother! and an Irishman by the name of John Gray, who was board- 1 ing there, started in haste for the Sauk settlement, six miles distant, in the dead of night, with children half dressed at.d] barefooted, over the rocky road, and as soon as time could pcr-1 mil, readied A. Jameson's house, and urged him "for God'sj sake" to alarm his neighbors, for the people were all massacred] at Baraboo. These persons were considered truthful, and! Mr. J. did not doubt for a moment that it was just as theyj bad stated, and, as is natural, the ever-quick immagination j never allows an alarm to subside, and from house to house he went; and others went; and in a short time the whole settlement was in a boil of excitement. Women and children crying and urging their fathers and brothers to make haste. Some packed their most valuable things; some took provisions, one man took oats for his horses and nothing for themselves. In a short time the bluff settlement was en route for the Sauk villages, alarming their neighbors as they went (who had not got I the news by rumor.) The towns were reached and alarmed, j and word sent on to the extreme lower end of the prairie, and before daylight all Sauk was rendezvoused at Upper Town - had j companies organized and officered - Count Harasztha was j chosen captain. A blacksmith, in fixing a gun, discharged it j and wounded a person slightly. Scouts were sent out as the j day dawned, constantly feeling their way to Baraboo. They found the people there at their usual employments, and entirely ignorant of the intense excitement of their Sauk neighbors. This practical joke, although a large one, was pleasantly taken, because it was evident that the intention was good and came from a monomaniac. Judge Stephen Bates, a much respected citizen at Lower Sauk, relapsed from an indisposition, that he 6eemed to be recovering from, in consequence probably of this excitement, and in a few days died. He had been a man of a very active mind, and during hie whole indisposition the family had been extremely careful to keep his mind quiet. (He had what was then called Upper Town, was ou that night lodging with one of his friends ont on Otter Creek, and being aroused by the cry of (Indians) was soon seen with a broomstick in his hnnd, resolved on a desperate defense. »

$ It will be uorne In mind that Sauk l'rairie was settled before the Baraboo valley, and at the time of this occurrence the latter cuontrywas eparcely inbabitati-d, and gave no indications of its subsequent rapid growth and prosperity, and the owla were then the most noisy inhabitants of that region.

ifew of the particulars, respecting my coming into this county. My first visit here, was Dec. 12th, 1838, in company with Andrew Hodgett, Alexander Bills and Nelson Laturop. We crossed the Wisconsin river upon the ice, the snow was about six inches deep. After meandering as much of the prairie as we could, we camped, in what has since been called the Hoover Hollow, from John Hoover, who settled at the \ mouth of it. We swept away the snow and made preparations for the night ; some making a fire, some collecting pine bows, their being in this gorge, as well as others, along this range of bluffs, a few pine trees, for a bed. These we had to substitute for blankets, for we had none. I was engaged in getting supper which consisted of rather plain fair, simply corn meal wet with cold water and baked upon a stone. After our repast, we retired to our lodgings, and spent the night pleasantly. We located our claims on the 20th ; my claim I am now living upon. We then started for the river. Esqr. Alban had moved over the river with his family that day. We put up that night with him, and was entertained as well as could be expected under the circumstances. To the best of my knowledge, Mrs. Alban was the first white woman living within what is now the county of Sauk. Wit. Johnson came in a short time after located our claims. Cyrus Leeland, I think, came here the following June ; be brought bis family with him, and Mrs. Leeland was the second white woiuan upon our prairie. I did not bring my family until I bad been here a year or thereabout. I had been here about a year before I knew any thing about tbe Baraboo, except by tbe Indians. The first woman that crossed the bluffs, was Mrs. Peck, in company with Eben Peck, her husband. They had to cut their road through the brush over the bluffs. Like other new places, tbe very first settlers labored under many and great inconveniences. Our nearest mill was south of Mineral Point some 20 miles, owned by I. J. Sheldon. I never expected to have seen so great a change take place as has in the settlement of this county, in so short a space of time. The improvements, commerce, &c, are nearly equal to the 0lder states already. Yours Truly,

I have learned from Mr. Johnson and family that he left Belmont in the fall of 1 86.3. When they arrived at the Wisconsin river it was sufficiently frozen to cross on foot. They left thenteam at the river, with a man to care for it, and went to tbe bluffs, near the Honey creek Valley, and crossed over into what was called the "Pocket," to a cabin occupied by one Lathkop, where they spent the night. The next day they went to the point of the bluff where he now resides, and liking the location set his men immediately to work. There had been a storm, commencing with rain and then freezing, which festooned every twig and brauch with ice. The day was clear, makin"-, says Mr. Johnson, the most brilliant display of ice adorning, that he ever saw.

They threw up a small cabin near tbe spot where now stands the steam saw-mill, and spent the winter in getting out rails. Thirty or forty Indians lodged near them. They Mere fair neighbors, and dealt with their white friends considerably, never, but in one instance, having any difficulty. Then an Indian insisted on having flour when they could spare no more, and was about helping himself, when Caret, (his oldest son,) caught hold of his clothes in such a way as to walk him hastily on tip-toe out of doors, to the great amusement of the other Indians.

The next spring he crime on with five ox teams, a set of blacksmith's tools, a large breaking plow, and a mill similar to au overgrown coffee mill. He got the mill of Col. Mooke, of Belmont, Iowa, and Moose got it of an old pioneer, who it is said, ground for toll. It is believed to have cracked the first kernel of corn in the northwest, as well as the first in Sauk county. It was capable of grinding nearly a bushel an hour. The old mill should be preserved as a memorial. They got J. E. Albax to help them across the river. It was with much difficulty they got the cattle into the water, but finally succeded. One yoke, however, would not swim, sinking and rising

/like a drowning person. They finally got them started beside their two canoes and made good progress until their feet struck a sand bar, where they made a stubborn halt, and effectually anchored them out. They coaxed and whipped; the cattle turned their yoke. They unyoked them to keep them from drowning, and tied each one to a canoe, and put the boys (John Itoumxs and Geoijge Foi.en', both of whom are now dead,) into them, and Johnsox and Albas trot into the water and crowded them off the bar. They then made a great effort to get into the canoes. The boys were frightened almost to death, for neither of them could swim. They might have taken hold of their horns and kept the canoes away from, them; but instead of so doing they broke everything, except the paddles, they could get hold of, over their heads. They soon got them unfastened and let them go their own way, and the boys landed upon an island. They were too poor canoemen to get to Albax an 1 Johxstox, who were obliged to swim to them. But they had time to do that and get back to the oxen before they lauded on the opposite shore. One ox was thought to be dead. They hauled him out and he finally came to and got well ; but from that day to the day of his death lie could not be got near the Wisconsin river. They started in above Upper Town, and landed upon this side, below town, a distance of a mile and a

(half from where they started. That summer he broke GO acres for themselves, and as much more for their neighbors. The next summer they fenced and put into crops what' laud they had broken; and their harvest was never better. In the fall lie moved his family here. After this harvest the little mill was of much use. It was a rule of

When the land came into market, Mr. Joiueaox entered G40 acres. He has sold none except what fce has deeded to his sons; having now 400 acres, lie had three girls and a boy by his first wife, and eight boys by his present wife - some of whom are married. He has been and now is an energetic man, and has probably assisted in laying more roads than any other man in the county, excepting surveyors. He is a member of the Methodist church.

"Wit. Jonxsox, Albert Jameson and Samuel Shaw, have many thauki, from the author and compiler of " Outline Sketches of Sank County," for their reminisences. We feel particularly thankful to Louis Claud for assistance in arranging part of the matter of this "sketch" and for valuable suggestions.

Errors and omissions are incidental annoyances - criticism a purifier. The friends of " Outline Sketches" will do a favor to the author and public, by pointing out to him those omissions and errors when noticed.

Devil'S Lake

I scenery. In the pass where the lake is located, the bluff appears to have completely parted from base to base as though a river had passed through, and subsequently filled up from 150 to 300 feet with glacier debris. Near the north end the lake basin was scooped out, and is now filled to the depth of 50 feet with pearly and very soft, pure water; the rock-bound scenery being so far distant from a mountain chain, renders it the more interesting. It has already become a favorite place of resort for pleasure seekers. It has for the past few years' profitably supported a public house at the north end, the Jfiinii- Waukea, and at this time there is another in course of erection at the south end. The land-lord of the AT/nni- Wauken, S. Hardley, has a small steamboat "the Capitola,"' together with a fleet of row-boats. The south end of the lake is known as Kirkland, where there are pleasure grounds. At the north end Louis Claude, an English gentleman, has fine grounds, and buildings in rural design. The lake has no visible outlet, vet it has a small inlet. At times it overflows to the north into Babbling Brook, thence into Baraboo River. At the present time, ISjO, the Chicago & North western Railroad Company are constructing the Baraboo Air Line Railroad through the gap at the east shore. There has been much written and published relative to it, much of which is exaggeration. It is an easy matter for many minds to find myths and legends to spin yarns of, to weave into ballads, epics or fertile prose. So much ot such matter has been served out to the public and greedily swallowed, it would be extremely difficult to disabuse the venerating of the reality of their existence. It is said Chat Indians will eat no lish caught cut of the lake. The earliest settlers - those who associated with their red brother - knew their canoes were upon the lake, and that they hunted about and fished there the same as elsewhere. From much careful inquiry of those early settlers, it does not appear that "Nitchie" had any legends of this lake; yet from their known legend characteristics, it is not utterly improbable but that he may have had.

There has been etforts made to change the name of the lake to " Lake of the Hills " and " Spirit Lake." The name so stands upon some maps. Laterly it has fallen back upon its " bad manitou " name, given by our forest brother, in square English. '

II. WOOD, of Portage City, (the well-known merchant), after a visit with his family to the lake, (T".£-^ T gives the "Portage Register" an epic of what he there saw and imagined. We copy the "Baraboo Republic's" synopsis of it :

"My Geological Friend, will you please permit your fancy to retrospect the 20,000 years last past when the old pancake formation call Wisconsin was 'without form, and void ;' when the. vast sandbed from Dekorra to the Lake Superior re_rion was overflowed) and the water commenced to recede toward Green Bay ; when the little clamshells on the top of Lone Rock began to petrify, and the ' Old Granny' rocks on the Kickapoo were just getting their nose's out of the water.

" Previous to this, old Vulcan, who had been forging thunderbolts, - which, 'let oil',' had upheaved the Blue Mounds and the Illinois prairies - found his works moving along in the region of Dekorra. Here, with a regular 'peacemaker,' he tore open the gap at Dekorra, letting the pent up waters through the rocks. This in the end will be a great blessing to the Mississippi river country, giving it a ship canal to the great lakes.

Nevertheless it spoilt the mighty channel of the Fox, and rendered it necessnrj to cut the Portage canal and expend a good deal of money. So much for explaining the origin of the Wisconsin river.

" But old Vulcan, though drowned out at Dckorra', fanned the expiring embers of his furnace at Merrimack, and came rushing on toward the upper Barraboo, casting and heaving up the Baraboo bluffs, at a rate which must have astonished the mound builders. Gaining force as he proceeded, and wrathy from his Dekorra ducking, his upheavals soon assumed the volcanic form, and his eruptions were of a high old order. For three miles down this valley did he cast forth rocks, from one hundred tons weight downward. But the grand expiring effort of his whole northwestern experience was at the ' Devil's Lake.' Here he piled quartz rock to the extent of the weight of a small country like France, and his last upheavals were of the California order, getting particles of gold mixed up with the molten quartz, when Jupiter interfered with his extravagant spree, and °rdained that the people of the Baraboo hills should henceforth and forever be the virtuous sons of toil. The Baraboo (which at that time was agitated by a tearing tiood) let in the water to the tune of a lake four miles in circumference ; and this lake, then, is the crater of the last volcano in'the United States. So disgusted was the old blacksmith, that he put out for the country of the Andes, where he has ever since kept up his fires. But, doubtless, as soon as the ship canal is finished, he will commence operations upon Louisiana soil, and not only rib that alligator country with mountains, but stop up all but one of its dozen mouths, thereby affording slackwater navigation, like the Hudson, its whole length. So you see that in this matter of a ship canal, Providence is on our side; and the mighty god, Vulcan, having deserted, and drowned the devil in his own lake, is enlisted in the improvement enterprise also.

" But we must go to the other end of the lake. Most of the party go by boat. But three of us, valiant men wdio ' lap water like a dog,' chose to climb the rocky steep and go over the mountain. Xo donkey can aid us here ; we are not fooling about the sloping Alps now, We are climbing the Devil's Lake precipice, and can make no comparisons till the devil gives the world another. A man who can climb a greased pole can genorally climb up here ; but when we undertake to descend at the other end, towards the vineyards of N. C. Kirk, Esq., and in a broiling sun, theu- the case is different. 'Can we get down here, Mr. KlRfc?' we shouted when we got to a point where we could not see over. ' Not there ! steer to the right and take it coolly,' said he. Coolly! We have swam the Wisconsin when the current run from shore to center, but wc never were so completely used up. Ice-water, tire-water, and lake-water, with the cool shades, finally calmed our heaving bosoms, and we proceeded to view the paradise of Wisconsin. You might have a combination of Madison with the '7G farm, and the St. Luke farm opposite Portage, ad led to the New York Central Park, and still you would want Kirk's groves, lake-front, lawns and ancient mound - where he exhumed the pic-Adamite sketeton iu a sitting posture - to make paradise complete.

The designs of providence are often seen in the selection of the right man in the right place. Adam might have been well fitted for a landlord, but he must have suffered terribly for guests when he made companions of serpents. On the contrary our friend Kirk has hosts of friends about him, and no pleasure party leaves his beautiful shades, eats his grapes, apples, and drinks his nectar - of which he lias a cellar full - without pronouncing him the prince of good fellows, generous to a fault, and worthy of the ownership of such a charmed spot.

'; We advise you - the yeomanry of the northwest - when you do go anywhere, to go to the Devil's Lake. Take along your entire families, and always stay over night, at least ; patronize our friend Hartley of the Minni-Wauken House to the best of your ability. If the funds are short you can camp in the Sugar Maple groves, and hire his boats. If you can afford to enjoy his comfortable quarters and his cheer, it is worth all it costs; and as he is landlord, captain, engineer, fireman and pilot combined, he is like his many occupations, 'a host in himself;' and better than all, he has no cringing flunkeys about him to sponge your loose change for naught, like the eastern watering places. We have traveled some, and confess we never saw a spot where nature taught the "re it lesson of her ' bosom's upheaval" as here; and if the world but knew what was here - as it soon will - there is nothing in four states that will compare with its attractions."

@fjf STOOD upon the northern shore one summer day, nHI Before me, silent, calm, and deep, its -waters lay, ^3 A mighty mirror, framed by God's own hand With gmnite rock and beach of golden sand.

Wondering I' gazed on mighty cliffs that tower, Rock piled on rock, as if by earthquake power ; Riven and carverned, silent, dark and drear, Whose shadowy shapes frown o'er the waters clear.

While nature's turrets, walls and gothic spires Stand sharply lined lit by the sunset fires ; And hardy pines, upheld by fissured rock, Sigh to the breeze, or brave the tempest's shock.

No wonder that the red man, Nature's child, When first the dun deer led him to this wild, Surveyed the scene, and, struck with awe and fear, Felt the dread presence of an evil spirit near.

'Twas said when lightning flashed athwart the sky, And the loud thunder shook the mounds near by, Their inmates rose, and oft in birch canoe Sped o'er its seething waves swift as the arrow flew.

The " pale-face," even, ponders o'er its weird design, And dreams of ages past, beyond the reach of mind, When mountains rose like billows of the sea, And formed a valley where a lake we see.

G-tf'S the report of the " Geological Survey of the State of rj|' Wisconsin," vol. l,p. 11, by James Hall, the character of j^*2>the rock about " Spirit Lake," as it is hero called, is described :

" The quartzite rock is compact, usually redish brown, often pink in the more crystalinc portions ; while in some localities it is ferruginous, and again, nearly white. In the fresh fracture and usually upon the weathered surfaces, no lines of lamination or bedding arc perceptible. When exposed in cliffs, it is traversed by numerous nearly verticlc joints or fissures, which are sometimes so numerous that the exposed portions are divided in this way, and fall down in small pieces, entirely covering the slope. In favorable positions the times of bedding are distinctly perceptible, and the mass is clearly stratified - the alternation of tine and coarse material, and the diagonal lamination of some parts, are as clearly distinguishable as in a modern

(sandstone. "In the vicinity of ' Spirit Lake' and other places between the Baraboo river ami Sauk Prairie, these rocks appear in great force. The cliffs bounding that lake are about 400 feet above its level, and we have from 100 to 200 feet in nearly perpendicular cliffs. In ascending over the exposed edges of these strata, the lines of bedding are in some places seen; and towards the upper part of the exposure, beds of conglomerate occur, in which the pebbles, varying from the smallest size to more than a foot in diameter, consist of the brown quartz rock. This condition would indicate that the mass became indurated and was subsequently broken up and its detritus aggregated into a conglomerate."

The following crude verses arc founded on a legend, which is said to have given Devil's Lake its not surpassingly euphoni - ons, but very suggestive title. They are respectively dedicated to my friend Chandleb, (J. C.) * * * * * -

Minni-Wauken A Legexd Of Devil'S Lake

#§» NAMELESS Lake with sullen roar *?£% .Broke on the rocky strand ; \±£2\2 While Demons of the lake and shore Seemed clasping hand in hand.

Their beds shall be upon the stones That lie beneath the waves ! Their scalps shall in our wigwams hang! I Their bow-strings in our hands shall twang!

A Legend Of Devil'S Lake By Miss Mary E. Dartt

NESTLED close down between wild, rocky hills Feeding no rivers and fed by no rills, GS'Exk) Devil's Lake lies, like a jewel rare, Dropped from the ocean's casket there On the stern gray rocks - they'd forgotten where - By wandering nymphs of the upper air, But though forgotten, and bound to the place By the unyielding clasp of its shore's rude embrace Like a sad, prisoned spirit, it still seemed to be Ever murmering low for its home in the sea; And in pity, perchance, for the painful unrest, That at times heaved so wildly its beautiful breast, Pines have grown up midst the rocks uu its shore, And whisper to it of the ocean's deep roar, As fanciful breezes, with lingers unseen, Toss their dark boughs into wavelets of green, Like time-worn battlements crumbling away, Whose dark sides with lichens are softened and gray, And over whose fragments of unshapeu stone, A soft smile of verdure is gracefully thrown,

Slender her form, her motions full of grace, As full of strange, dark beauty her delicate young face - Dark as though a shadow from the midnight of her hair Enamored by its loveliness, was softly sleeping there. But grace of form and feature were lost ia sweet surprise When the gazer felt the liquid light that trembled from her eyes; So much of soui was in the look, so arch and yet so innocent, 'Twas love and timid playfulness in one expression blent. Yet oft that deeper light would steal into her eyes, Which speaks a depth of feeling, boundless as mid-sea skies, When listening to the wild music the woodland birds would

When early morn, with dewey lips, First kissed the slumbering lake And smiled to see its sleeping waves Iu dimpling ripples wake, Each lover sought the ehieftian's side, To ask the maiden as his bride ; The one, with all that hate could paint Stamped on each dusky lineament, Showing the maid's foreboding true In every glance liis> fierce eyes threw Upon the other, who like stone, Scarce ctirved his lips in quiet scorn. The chief possessed one passion - pride - All others in his breast had died, Or in this one were lost.

Love never had his bosom stirred - lie felt no meaning in the word. The question, then, within his mind, Was not which suitor was most kind - Which loved his daughter most ; But which, as hunter, could exceed The other in some daring deed. He paused a moment. In a tree Towering high o"er a cliff, He'd seen an eagle seek her nest The night before, when in his skiff He fished along the shore. The j. lace is found without much search, For near the shore two groups of birch On either side the rocky way Their graceful, silvery branches sway; Then higher up for many feet Only nude rocks, one's footsteps meet - One fragment, huge and gray, has on its side The ripplemaiks of some old tide - And then o pine, with fire-scathed base, " Helps mark the pathway to the place ; A half-burnt tree still higher stands ; And. then, defying feet and hands, A hill-top fortress crowned with pines, The loolced-for cliff against the sky reclines. Not long the silence was unbroke: Pointing towards it, the ehieftian spoke - " He shall the chosen suitor be Who first from the boughs of yonder tree An unfledged eaglet shall bring to me."

- Scarce had they heard the chief's reply, Ere they had flung their blankets by, And reached their boats upon the strand. One hasty glance their pathway planned ; Quick the time their paddles make, O'er the waters of the lake, As^wift their steps from block to block, Up that wild mass of broken rock, O'er fallen trees and fissures deep,

Through which the startled n ptilea creep, Through briars that, with cruel grasp, Claimed blood a* tribute for their clasp - No pause - no rest - in their wild race, Save one dread moment, face to face, When they had reached the crag's rude base And then no words the silence broke : Their eyes alone the challenge spoke, "With flashes of that vivid fire. Subtle as thought, without a name, That bursts from souls when all aflame, ' Telling the deadly purpose of their ire!

- And then, as with new madness stung, Up the steep crag the pale-face sprung, Resting his feet he knew not Where - Whether on ivy, rock or air.

That he had gained upon his fop, Was all he wished or cared to know. The fatal tree was reached at last, And upward he was climbing fast, When to its ba-^e the red man came. Something more than rage or shame Was in that upward glance of flame - A deadly purpose nerved his frame ! Eager to know the lover's fate -

An eaglet - nothing more ! A cry, as when a heart's string break, A moment trembled o'er the lake ; And then, as mocking its despair, A yell of triumph filled the air, For Windago had gained the band, Holding an eaglet in his hand !

Like one who walks in some dread dream, Unconscious quite, of reason's beam, The maiden found the water's side. Here, the dark horror of the sc^ne, Rushed o'er her like a tide - The mangled corse - the exultant yell - Windago's smile as Pierie fell - Oh ! agony ! could she ever wed That face that smiled above her dead !

Oft, as they'd glided o'er the lake, When every wave was bright, Pierie had spoken of a land That never knew a night, ; A land where all love's dreams are true - Where lovers never weep - Whose gates should open to their view When death should bid them .deep. She'd seek its shore - why should she wait? Perchance she'd meet him at its gate; If not, to lie beneath. the breast Of darkest waters, were more ble.>t Then life, with her dark fate.

[There stands a huge, rough rock to-day; And, 'tis said, when through the sky The hoarse autumnal breezes fly, Scattering the garlands of gold and red Autumn has wreath'd round the forest's head, The maid comes back from her watery grave, And wanders at night along the shore, Where oft with her lover she'd wandered of yore; \ - Wreathing her arms, slender and bare,

With the long, dark waves of her midnight hair; And then o'er the rock, like a spectral shade, Glides the shadowy form of the Indian maid, And a mournful sob and a wailing cry Sweeps through the pines with a shivering sigh i As, like a smoke-wreath, she fades away Into the mists of twilight gray.

Woe to the warrior, raajd or child, That meets this spectre, weird and wild, Or" hears the notes of the vengeful cry That fills the air as it passes by !

A Catalogue Listed Without Much Deference To Order Or Genery

Man. - We have the marks of his toil in long gone-by years. Hoary Bat - Little Brown Bat. - The latter the most plenty. Hoy^s Shrew Mole - Common Shrew - Silver Mole - Star Nosed Mole.

Northern Hare. - Seldom seen. Gray Rabbit. - Scarce when the country was new, but now very plenty. Water Rabbit. - That resorts to water when pursued, sinking below the surface except the nose and eyes.

Green Lizard. - Xot common. Ibere are two or three varieties of Skink Lizard. We have one variety of the Glass Snake, whiehls classed as a lizard.

Blow Snake. - Common when the country was now. Milk Snake. - Very rare, if any. Water Snake. - Common. Blue Racer. - Scarce. Rattlesnake Pilot.

Tailed Eati'.Ac'Hiaxs

This completes the list of the Indiginons Vertebra? creation of Sank county. It is not expected to be perfect or complete. Should "Outline Sketches" prosper, a list of Insects, Articulate Mplnsks and Radiates, may be given in a future number. Also a list of Plants.

Memoir Of Albert Jameson

the Barabi-. Republic announced the In 1S31 he went to Ohio ami spent two decease of Albert Jameson, one of years; thence to Rockford, 111., and Sank County's earliest settlers, best spent two years. Here he married Miss neighbors and truest friends. \Vords Elizabeth Hoover. The wedding was cannot be arrange. 1 to express our heart's celebrated on the 25th of November, sadness as we mournfully laid him in 1S37, making 38 years of married life, earth's bosom to rest. He will be for- lacking ten days. Two boys and four gotten only when those who knew him girls were the fruits of this marriage, shall also be in their rest. He had no The boys and the eldest, a daughter, positive enemies, if indeed anv. He passed away before him. From Rockwas constituted for thought and labor, ford he went with his father-in-law to more so than than the mass of men, be- Belmont, La Fayette Co., Wis., where ing of medium stature and of a nervous, they made but a temporary home. In sanguine temperament, with excellent December, 1833, in company with three vital organs to sustain his . m-ntalitv. other young men, Hodget, Hills and La- He was affable and even-tempered; was throp, they started for Sauk county, honest, liberal and just iu his deal with crossing the river upon the ice Decemliis fellow-men; was charitable in his ber 12th. They explored the north end opinions and approachable; was ardent, of Sauk Prairie, camping one night iu and like Paul before his conversion, the Hoover Hollow gorge. Having no yet (especially in politics) was consHi'ri- blankets they cleared away the snow, tive, belonging to the democratic school, which was six feet deep, and used pine The inmost desire of his very soul was boughs for both under and upper sheets. to obtain knowledge, and it was his de- They made their claims in this vicinity, light to impart it to others, which was In the following summer they took posalways done without any apparent self- session of their land--. Mr. J. has ever esteem. All of these plea-rant qualities since occupied his, making valuable imrendered him a valuable mid much es- provements and purchasing other tracts teemed neighbor and citizen. He was in the vicinity. He was emphatically a not a politician, yet he held some offices social man, always taking an active part of trust from the hands of the people, in social life; las house much of tin- He never sought the office. time hail the appearance of a public inn. He was born in Wilkesbarre, Lucerne The stranger never if as turned away, county, I'.-un., Aug. loth, 18b.1. As he but made welcome and went away happy.

Memoir Of Albert Jameso.V.

There are but few families over a large his head-quarters .it Rocky Bar, Alturas tract of country that have entertained County, Idaho. This detovr was mostly so many and m so hospitable a way as spent " carpentering - the erecting o'f this family. About fifteen years were bridges. He came back in 1873, arrivthu« spent here. California now opened ing October 19. He tried to induce his a field for his activity. We believe it family to return with him the next seawas not the money that allured him to son; but to exchange an excellent home its realms as much as the wild excite- for one. of excitement and uncertainty, ment of obtaining it. In 1853 he made it was not thoaght best to do. His his first tltlonr, proswecting and mining heart was there, and in the spring of about Placervide. He was an euthusi- lSJJyfce returned to Rocky Bar. entering astio lover of the sublime and wonderful into partnership with his nephew, Stein nature, and was always entertaining phen Dilley, who has been there several and happy in his descriptions of what years, in quartz mining. He had not he had seen, and was a collector of rare been there more than two months bemhierals and curiosities. Towards the fore lie became uneasy about his health, end of the second year he male a trip He could not agree with physicians through Oregon. At Port Orford, when there. November 5. 1S75, he started for the tide was out, it made the most west- home, arriving at Baraboo on the mornwardly point of land iu America. Tuis ing of the 13th. Ho went directly t > point of lar.d he went to and did set his Dr. C rwles. He had taken a severe cold foot upon. He thinks if he had stayed upon the cars, and the Doctor told him rive minutes longer the vide would have that he thought it would terminate iu overtaken him. Iu 1855 he came home, lung fever if lie was not very careful,

In the spring of IS5J he was among and thought he had better not go over the great rush of people that started for the Mull's at present, for in his weak the new gold region this side of the state if he should have a run of this mountains, at Bike's Peak. Meeting so disease it would go hard with him. Bat many that hail been there ami were re- his anxiety to be with his familv decided turning discouraged, he also turned him to go! Pneumonia did set 'in. "With back, at a point two miles beyond Fre- the ride over the bluffs it was more than mont's Orchard. he could endure Now all that skillful

The next spiincr. 18150, he went to the physicians and kind friends could do vicinity of where Boulder is now located could not save him. He died Wednesnnd spent the summer iu prospecting dav. Nov. 17th. at 11 o'clock p. m., and and mining. He was elected sheriff of on" Friday, Nov. 19th, was buried bethe county, making a profitable season side some of Ids children. He hardly of it. He came home in the fall. had time to exchange friendly words

In the spring of 18ul tie again went to witli his family or to" arrange any busithe Peak, taking his son Onin with him, ness. After he got home he lav down to and that fall they returned. Orrin soon rest, in hopes to recuperate, but only to after married, and not long thereafter awake to the urgent needs of a physienlisted in the Union armv and was eian; and soon delirium took possession killed at Atlanta, Georgia. He was one of his brain. ills boxes of specimens, of the best of young men. Mr. Jame- and even his trunk, he did not open. It sou's health was now poor, suffering seems sad, yet it is pleasant to look back much from rheumatism. In 1870, July upon scenes ihat he played a part in. 19th, he went to tne mountains,

Errata Corrections And Omissions Ix And Of Third Sketch

The name of Thos. D. Long, that occurs several times in the list of town officers, should be Thos. D. Lang. Charles and Ilenry Rorck should read Charles and Theodore Rorck.

Guide Book Attractions About The Lake

t i- no longer a difficult place to reach. The Chicago and rthwestcrn Railroad is now constructed through the gap, with tation at either end of the lake, - at Kirkland and at the Itii-Wauken. P. B. Parsons & Co., proprietors of the Vilas so, at Madison, Wis., have just completed here a pleasant 1 called the Minni-Waukcn House, designed by Louis J. M'PE, and built in the Swiss cottage style of architecture. It t .tins about seventy-five rooms, has wide verandahs fronting ike and bluffs, and a pleasant air of comfort beams out at fv point. The great want so long felt at this charming place f'liiuner resort, of proper hotel accommodations, will hereafter [well supplied. At the south end is the Sheldon House. P'i the railroad, at the south-east corner of the lake is Biland, a ilag station. Here is a most beautiful park, with H1'1 t grounds, arbors, rustic seats, and a wine cellar. In the P -.'round is a hue large orchard, and a vineyard of several }~ Nearly all visitors resort to this place to while away their pre moments, so shady and eool and pleasant is the retirement. I placid lake at your left, with h- beautiful gravelly beach, lr pure soft water, gradually deepening, overhanging with a forest, that a woodsman's axe has not found only to open paths for the landscape gardener. In front vou have the

.'. , , ill now introduce the '.'- a ier to other points of interestim .. r\ in Sauk County. Mo ! if them will richly [>a\ for tinn -. expense in making them a visit.

located in section nuiuber '-'. t >wn 11. north of range number 6 r. iii the town of Baraboo, three miles distant from the city, in \V. S-W. direction. It reu ived its name in 1v4o. from the reiimstance of an ingenious exeentric mechanic building a workup in ;i recess of the solid sand rock, ten feet above a deep pool water, confined within the walls of this canyon, dug mil by the ume of water over a fall " - r 1 ' feet iii Iright. The approach it was either through a trap-door in the roof, or a trap-door in e floor. If through the roof, it was by climbing down the rock ill to it ; it' through the floor, ir was by a floating bridge upon -- pool, with a ladder at its i nd leading to the trap-door in the or. The shop could not be seen from the mouth of the canyon, r from the top, or from any direction but one. Hence, by the ily settlevs, it was dubbed "Pee-wee'sX'est." Here he repaired itches, clocks, guns, and even farming utensils were made and paired. He had lathes for turning iron and wood. The power Inch propelled them was from an old fashioned centrifugal waterlicel, itself a novelty. He also had a large coffee mill arranged run by this power, and a grindstone. He could tell a lively -IV. could, and did, fiddle well. He preached sonic for the lormon church. He is always living upon the borders of a new untry, and is a doctor at the present time. There has since pen a saw mill built here, propelled by an overshot water-wheel, 14 feet in diameter, with a shaft 9 feet long, its bearings the rock :dts of the canyon. This wheel, thus suspended, for years made n interesting feature of the picturesque place. Mary E. Dart*. -w Mrs. ]>. Thompson, while residing here, wrote poetry that as published by sundry newspapers and 'magazines. She bus: ivored us with a few lines, not before published, upon

The Pewit'S Xest

-named the stream "Skillet Creek," from the water-worn lioles iu the soft sand-rock, looking much like basins, or hand-washing iron vessels, called "skillets." He is yet our neighbor, Levi Moore. It is the pleasant aspect about these falls that has always made them a point of interest. The present owner of the property, Warren Wood, is a gentleman of culture and education, is courteous to visitors, which does nat detract from the pleasures of a visit -to this place.