Sauk County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1880

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read)

The First Permanent Settlement - County Officers from 1844 to 1880 - Laying Out the Towns - Territorial, State and Congressional Representation - Territorial District Court and State Circuit Court - County Judges - Political Parties in Sauk County.

The First Permanent Settlement

Early in the spring of 1838, Berry Haney, who was then engaged in staging between Mineral Point and Fort Winnebago, now Portage City, received information of the ratification of the. treaty with the Winnebago Indians for the purchase of their lands in this region, and on his next trip to the fort took with him Jonathan Taylor and Solomon Shore, for the purpose o making a claim on Sauk Prairie. Taylor was left opposite the prairie, while Shore accompanied Haney to the fort, and returned to him with a skiff, in which they crossed over the river. They marked out a claim for Haney on the present site of Sauk City. Taylor made a claim on an adjoining tract above, and Shore took a third claim still farther up the Wisconsin River. In the month of June, 1838, Haney employed James Ensminger and Thomas Sanser to break ten acres. When these men came to perform their work the Indians threatened to burn their camp. They therefore dug a pit, walled it with logs, and protected it with a covering of earth, as a fire-proof dwelling. These were the first permanent locations and improvements made by white men on the soil of Sauk County. There had been an attempt made in the fall of 1837 by Archibald Barker and Andrew Dunn to pre-empt a piece of land at the Winnebago corn-fields near Baraboo, but the Indians destroyed their shanty and compelled them to leave the country. Mr. Barker subsequently returned and became a permanent resident, and still resides in the county.

James S. Alban, December 20, 1838, moved with his family to the south end of Sauk Prairie, where he built a cabin in the midst of a small cluster of trees. His was the first white family in the county. Mrs. Alban survived but a few years.

The beauty and fertility of Sauk Prairie soon attracted others hither. In December, 1838, Albert Jameson, accompanied by Andrew Hodgett, Alexander Bills and Nelson Lathrop, came and located claims on the prairie, farther back from the Wisconsin, near the present southern boundary of the town of Sumter. William Johnson arrived soon afterward, from Belmont, crossing the Wisconsin River on the ice, and established himself near Jameson, in the valley of Honey Creek ; erecting a cabin, he engaged, during the winter, in getting out rails to fence an inclosure. Jameson and Johnson brought their families about a year later.

Early in April, 1839, Charles 0. Baxter came to the prairie and purchased the claim of Solomon Shore. A short time previously, the site of Prairie du Sac Village was claimed and occupied by David P. Crocker ; and about the same time, Albert Ski?;iner and John Wilson brought the second and third families into the county. Other claims were occupied during the spring by H. F. Crossman, Burke Fairchild, William Billings, William May, E. B. Harner, a person by the name of Hunter and another named Parks, with his fimily.

In the course of the spring, also. Berry Haney moved in with his family' and occupied his claim. His son, Charles B. Haney, was born here November 30, 1839. he being the first white child born in the county. The 4th of July was this year celebrated at the site of Prairie du Sac, by twenty-five persons, among whom were four females - Mrs. Alban, Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Haney. Jonathan Hatch, Cyrus Leland and George Cargel, with families, became residents of the prairie during the summer.

The German settlement at Sauk Prairie, was founded in 1840, by Count Autjustine Haraszthy, and his cousin, Charles Halasz, who set out from Hamburg, in March, 1841), accompanied by a considerable number of German and Hungarian followers. They found the most desirable portion of the prairie occupied by the Americans, but here they decided to establish themselves. The Count bargained with Fairchild for a portion of his claim, thirty rods in width upon the river, and extending a mile into the interior, for the sum of $400. He then made a trip to Milwaukee for supplies. While visiting Milwaukee again in the fall, he made the acquaintance of an Englishman of rank and wealth, by name of Robert Bryant. A partnership was formed between them, and together they purchased Haney's claim. Upon this tract of land, in the summer of 1841, they laid out a village, which was at first named Haraszthy, subsequently Westfield, and still later, Sauk City. In the fall of 1840, Edmund Rendtorff, a prominent citizen of German birth, became a resident of Sauk City.

The villatre of Prairie du Sac was laid out by David B. Crocker, Calvin Frink and John La Mesuere, in 1840, two miles above Sauk City. This village was settled chiefly by Americans, and when Crocker came here, in 1839, he brought with him a stock of goods, and opened here the first store in the county. The location of these two villages so near together engendered a spirit of rivalry, which was maintained for many years.

The first saw-mill in the county was erected by Robert Bryant, on the site of the present Sauk City Mills, on Honey Creek, in 1842. William H. Clark, the first lawyer in the county, took up his residence at Sauk City in the spring of 1842. The first physician was Dr. J. B. Woodruff, who located at Prairie du Sac in 1843. Rev. John Cramer, an itinerant Methodist minister, preached the first sermon in the county, at the house of Henry Teel, in May, 1840. The first wedding ceremony occurred at the same place, August 15, 1841, in the union of the Rev. James G. Whitford and Mrs. Sarah Sayles, a widowed daughter of Mr. Teel. In January, 1841, a Presbyterian society of nine members was organized at Prairie du Sac, by Rev. S. Chafee, and about the same time a Methodist class was formed at Teel's house by Rev. James G. Whitford.

John Wilson, who has already been mentioned, came with his family from Helena, Iowa County, and located by the creek which bears his name, near the line between the present towns of Troy and Spring Green. A little later, a man by the name of Turner located still further down the Wisconsin River Valley, near the site of Spring Green Village. They were the pioneer settlers in this portion of the county.

From Sauk Prairie the settlement of the county extended in radiating lines up the labyrinthian valleys of the Honey Creek region, and over the hills into the broad basin of the Baraboo River. In the summer of 1839, Alban, while reconnoitering the highlands north of Sauk Prairie, came suddenly upon a singular miniature lake, cradled far below his feet between precipices, against whose wild, towering rocks tall, clinging pines appeared like mere dwarfs. The opening through its lofty barriers upon the north side disclosed to Alban a glimpse of the Baraboo Valley. While at Madison, soon afterward, he related what he had seen to Eben Peck, at whose suggestion the two immediately set out to explore the country. Arriving near the present site of Baraboo Village, the}'^ found upon the north side of the river, near the lower part of the rapids, the village and corn-fields of the Winnebago Chief, Caliminee. Here Peck proceeded to mark out a claim, including the fine water-power at the lower ox-bow or great bend of the stream, at which the Indians manifested strong displeasure, and obliged the intruders to re-cro3S the river. In the fall, Peck visited his claim, accompanied by his wife, Roseline, on horseback, and while here they met Abraham Wood and Wallace Rowan coming up the valley from Fort Winnebago, who immediately laid claim to the water-power at the upper great bend of the river, in the western outskirts of the Baraboo Village. There was a second Indian village at the time near Wood and Rowan's claim, at the site of the village of Lyons ; but there were no longer any hostile demonstrations from their occupants. Wood was living with a Winnebago woman, said to be a daughter of the chief, Dekaury, and remained during the winter, making preparations to build a dam and saw-mill; their mill was comiileted during the winter of lS41-^2.

About a month later, James Van Slyke came to the Rapids, concluded to "jump " Peck's claim, and likewise engaged during the winter in constructing a dam. He enlisted in his enterprise James A. Maxwell, of Walworth County, who furnished teams, provisions, mill-irons and means to pay the men. Thus equipped, Van Slyke, early in the spring of 1840, commenced vigorously prosecuting the work. In the month of June, however, high water carried away the greater portion of his dam. Meanwhile, Peck had commenced proceedings in court at Madison to maintain his right to the claim, resulting in a decision in his favor. Van Slyke, thus doubly discouraged, sold his mill-irons to Wood and Rowan, returned Maxwell the remainder of his outfit, and abandoned his undertaking for the tioae being. In the early part of the fall of 1840, Peck moved on with his family, but for want of means never undertook to improve the water-power.

Joseph H. Finley was the first man to ascend further up the Baraboo Valley and select a location. He be&;an opening a farm in 1839, about six miles above the Rapids, within the present town of Excelsior, near the village of the Winnebago Chief, Dandy. Though the Indians were in general hostile to such intrusion, Finley was not molested. They were removed out of the country by United States troops early in 1840 ; and in March of that year, the site of their village was claimed by James Christie, a Scotchman, who became a prominent and much respected citizen. He removed from the county in 1852. When he came, two lodges were all that remained of the deserted Indian village, one of which he occupied as a dwelling for his family until a better could be constructed. It was several years from that time before this part of the county began to be rapidly settled. Prominent among the early settlers of Excelsior were A. W. Stark, a descendant of Gen. Stark, of Revolutionary fame, who came to the town in 1850, and S. V. R. Ableman, now deceased, who came in 1848, and after whom the village of Ableman was named.

In the fall of 1844, Don Carlos Barry, who then resided at the Rapids, in inspecting the country farther up the valley, discovored a lode of copper in Section 1 of the present town of Reedsburg. He occupied the place the following spring, and, with the assistance of two miners from the lead region, proceeded to test the value of his discovery. It was quickly exhausted however, yielding only about two tons of ore. In May, 1845, James W. Babb settled upon the prairie which bears his name, just west of the site of Reedsburg. He erected a hev;n-log house, and in the fall, leaving his house and chattels in charge of some Indians, returned to his family in Ohio. His son, John Babb, and family, accompanied him hither the following spring. His own family and a son-in-law. Stern Baker, joined him in 1847.

The settlement of the county extended up Wisconsin River to the northeast part of the county in 1841. In the spring of that year, John Mead, J. B. McNeil and Samuel Bradley located at or near the mouth of Dell Creek, where the village of Newport was laid out. In 1852, Edward Norris and a man by the name of Marshall built here a saw-mill and laid out the village. It had a rapid growth ; nearly a dozen large stores were erected and heavily stocked ; in 1854, lots were held as high as a ^1,000 apiece; and it is said that in 1856 the place numbered nearly one thousand inhabitants. The La Crosse line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was to have crossed the river at this point, but the crossing was afterward located where Kilbourn City now stands; consequently, Mr. Norris and eight or ten other families are all that remain of that once flourishing village. In 1841, the Dell House was built in this section of the county by Robert Allen, a bachelor ; it was first occupied by J. B. McEwen and family. The present site of the village of Delton was selected, in an early day, by Edward Norris. In 1847, he associated with himself Jared Fox and Henry Topping, and commenced the erection of a fine flouring-mill, which was completed in 1849. During the latter year. Fox & Topping brought here a large stock of goods for sale, and, the following year, erected a fine block of stores.

Immigration, following close upon the steps of the pioneers, spread rapidly over the adjacent country, and, in a brief time, every township in the county received a thrifty and enterprising population.

County Officers From 1844 To 1880

At an election held at the house of Samuel Shaw, in Sauk Prairie Precinct, in the county of Sauk and Territory of Wisconsin, on the. 11th day of March, 1844, the following-named persons received the number of votes set opposite their respective names for the followingdescribed offices : For Sheriff, Joshua E. Abbott received 39 votes, and Burke Fairchild, 1 vote ; for County Commissioners, John Hoover, 43 votes, Levi Moore, 44 votes, William G. Simons, 4(3 votes, Arba M. Seymour, 1 vote, Thomas B. Cowles, 1 vote ; for Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, Burke Fairchild, 38 votes, and William Eikey, 1 vote ; for Register of Deeds, Ebon M. Hart. 46 votes, and Samuel Riggs, 1 vote ; for Treasurer, Nathan Kellogg, 38 votes, and William Eikey, 1 vote ; for District Surveyor, William H. Canfield, 44 votes ; for Coroner, John C. Kellogg, 44 votes, and H. P. Kelsey, 1 vote ; for Collector, James I. Waterbury, 46 votes ; for School Commissioners, Cyrus Leland, 46 votes, W. H. Canfield, 45 votes, and A. M. Seymour, 43 votes; for Assessors, Harris Searle, 45 votes, Jonathan Hatch', 46 votes, Luther C. Peck, 43 votes, George Williams, 2 votes. A, M. Seymour, 1 vote ; for Justices of the Peace, Cyrus Leland, 43 votes, Prescott Brigham, 43 votes, Alvin Crane, 84 votes, Burke Fairchild, 1 vote. A. M. Seymour, 1 vote, and Daniel B. Crocker, 1 vote ; for Constable, John B. Skinner, 38 votes, A. M. Seymour, 1 vote, Samuel Kelsey, 1 vote, and John Hoover, 1 vote ; for Judge of Probate, Prescott Brigham, 44 votes, and Samuel Kelsey, 1 vote. The Judges of Election on this occasion were Lyman Grossman, Prescott Brigham and Daniel R. Baxter ; Clerks, George H. Howard and Henry Wagner. There wee 47 votes cast in all.

On the 23d of September, 1844, a second election took place for county officers, resulting a'^ follows: Sheriff, John B. Woodruff; County Commissioners, Prescott Brigham, John Russell and Levi Moore; School Commissioners, Wallace Rowan, Don C. Barry and Abrara Crane; Assessors, Jonathan Hatch, Abraham Wood and Harris Searls ; Collector, James J. Waterbury ; Register of Deeds, E. M. Hart; Treasurer, Charles 0. Baxter; County Surveyor, W. H. Canfield ; Clerk of the Board, Andrew Garrison ; Judge of Probate, Lorrin Cowles ; Coroner, Thomas L. Clarke; Road Supervisors, Isaac Gibbs, McC. Thacker and Adam Dunlap. These officers entered upon the discharge of their duties on the 1st of January, 1845.

At an election held September 22, 1845, the following officers were chosen : County Commissioners, Alexander Crawford, Prescott Brigham and John Russell; Clerk of Board, Edmund Bcndtoff; Register of Deeds, Prescott Brigham; School Commissioners, Jonathan Hatch, Albert Jameson and Harvey Canfield; Assessors, John Gallard, Isaac Gibbs and Valencia Hill; Collector, Harris Searle; Coroner, Richard Clark; Surveyor, Charles 0. Baxter; Treasurer, Charles 0. Baxter.

1846 - Sheriff, H. F. Grossman; Register, Prescott Brigham; Treasurer, Curtis Bates ; Commissioners, James Christie, A. Jameson and Egbert Gary ; Clerk, R. H. Davis ; Judge of ' Probate, George Cargel ; Collector, James H. Haines ; Coroner, Lewis Benson ; Surveyor, Charles 0. Baxter ; Assessors, Edward Cadwell, J. B. Crawford and Francis Webster ; School Commissioners, H. Canfield, Hiram Bailey and William H. Hibbard.

1847 - County Commissioners, Jabish T. Clement, James Christie and Curtis Bates ; Clerk, R. IL Davis; Register. Prescott Brigham; Treasurer, James Maxwell; Collector, Charles Ilalasz; Coroner, Andrew Ilodgett; School Commissioners, John H. Shearer, Cyrus Leland and Silas Remington ; Assessors, J. H. Haines, Uriah Kendall, Cyrus Hill and J. B. Crawford. At this election a vote was taken upon two important subjects - the new constitution and negro suffrage. There were 111 votes cast in the county for the ratification of the (first) constitution, and 157 for its rejection. There were fifty-eight voters who cast their ballots in favor of giving the colored man equal rights, while 143 free and unfettered American citizens exercised their privilege against the proposition.

1S4S - Sherin; William Dunloj) ; Treasurer, Ilarvev Canfield: Commissioners, Charles Kearns, Charles Hahisz and Jacob Slentz; Clerk, R. H. Davis; Judge of Probate, William H. Clark; Clerk of Circuit Court, Boswell R. Clement; Register, E. P. Spencer; District Attorney, C. C. Remington; Surveyor, Charles O.Baxter; Coroner, Philip Slavmates ; School Commissioners, Harvey Canfield, A. naraszthy and J. B. Crawford. There were 245 votes cast for and twelve against the new constitution, the vote for President and Vice President was as follows: Van Buren and Adams, 150; Cass and Butler, 158; Taylor and Fillmore, 149.

1849 - The county having been divided into six townships, elections were held on the 3d of April in each for the purpose of choosing town officers - three Supervisors, a Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, etc. - the Chairman of the Town Board being a sitting member of the County Board. The following persons composed the County Board, which met for the first time in special session on the 13th of August : James Christie, John B. Crawford, James Cass, James J. Waterbury, Nathaniel Perkins and David C. Reid. On the 13th of November, an election took place for county officers, resulting in the choice of Alexander Ostrander for District Attorney, Charles Halasz for Treasurer, George Cargel for Clerk of the Board and W. H. Canfield for Surveyor. At this election, twenty-six votes were cast for and eighty-one against " equal suffrage for colored persons."

1850 - Board of Supervisors (elected in April) - Lewis Butterfield, Ebenezer Martin, Joseph Davis, Harvey Hurlbut, Diah Remington, *Lyman Clarke (Chairman), Calvin Danforth, and Leonard Thompson. County officers (elected in November) - Sheriff, David F. Baxter ; Register, E. P. Spencer; Clerk of the Board, James T. Moseley ; Clerk of the Court, Boswell R. Clement ; District Attorney, Alexander Ostrander ; Surveyor, W. H. Canfield ; Coroner, John Marshall.

1851 - Board of Supervisors (elected in April) - James B. Avery (Chairman), William Huntington, James Christie, Solomon Soule, G. F. Albertus, Samuel Shaw, Diah Remington, Joseph Lester, John H. Rork and Daniel B. Young. County Treasurer, Richard H. Davis.

1852 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - Bela Warner, Patrick Hickey, James Heany, Solomon Soule, James Waddle, Henry Myres, Ransom E. Stone, Chauncey B. Strong, Reuben Thornton, John Marshall, Joseph Lester, John H. Rork and John Wilson. County officers (chosen in September) - Sheriff, Daniel W. Wheeler; Treasurer, Curtis Bates; Clerk of the Board, James S. Moseley ; Register, Edward P. Spencer ; Clerk of the Court, George Mertens ; District Attorney, J. B. Quimby ; Surveyor, W. H. Canfield; Coroner, Royal C. Gould. At this election, there were 1,013 votes cast for and 150 against the business of banking.

1853 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - R, H. Davis, Lemuel Thompson, Putney Fuller. Diah Remington, Samuel Northrop, Ebenezer Martin (Chairman), E. G. Wheeler, Ezra Gregory, A. H. Brownell, J. I. Waterbury, G. F. Albertus, Alexander Stewart and Joseph Lester.

1854 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - Charles Armstrong, Caleb Cook, Ebenezer Martin, Putnam Fuller, Isaac Palmer, G. F. Albertus, John Dennett, A. H. Brownell, Solomon Brown, Charles 0. Baxter, E. G. Wheeler, Alex. Stewart, Ezra Gregory. County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriff, Ebenezer Martin; Treasurer, G. F. Albertus; Clerk of the Board, J. S, Moseley ; Register, Edward P. Spencer ; Clerk of the Court, John Bear ; District Attorney, J. B. Quimby ; Surveyor, G. Stevens ; Coroner, Charles Halasz.

1855 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - James A. Maxwell, Samuel Northrup, Harvey Lippitt, P. Chapman, Nathaniel Mitchell, Lemuel Thompson, William Benham, John Dennett, A. H. Brownell, S. W. Hovey, E. B. King, J. B. Woodruff, John H. Rork, Evan Evans, Ezra Gregory and James A. Thompson.

1858 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - E. Martin, M. Temple, J. Monroe, J. S. Tripp, John Bear, G. Xippert, W. Palmer, C H. Rice, A. W. Starks, J. Cottington, C. Root, J. G. Blakeslee, Alexander Stewart, N. Wheeler, R. E. Stone, E. Evans, A. R. McCoy, P. Chapman, A. B. Bradlev and H. W. Andrews. County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriff, Ebenczer Martin ; Register, James M. Clark ; Treasurer, Thomas D. Lang ; District Attorney, Smith S. Wilkinson ; Clerk of Board, J. J. Gattiker ; Clerk of Court, F. M. Stewart ; Surveyor, E. Norris ; Coroner, B. W. Strong.

1862 - Supervisors (chosen in November, 1861, in accordance with an act of the Legislature providing for the division of the county into three districts, and the election of a Supervisor from each to serve two years) - J. I. Waterbury, B. U. Strong and Jonas Tower. At this election, J. W. Morley was chosen Superintendent of Schools. County officers (chosen in November, 1862) - Sheriff, N. Stewart ; Register, J. G. Train ; Treasurer, T. D. Lang ; Clerk of Board, J. J. Gattiker ; Clerk of Court, F. M. Stewart ; District Attorney, S. S. Barlow ; Surveyor, Josiah Dart ; Coroner, B. L. Brier.

1864 - County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriff, S. M. Burdick ; Register, J. G. Train ; Treasurer, T. D. Lang ; District Attorney, S. S. Barlow ; Clerk of Board, J. J. Gattiker ; Clerk of Court, W. F. Carver ; Surveyor, D. B. Hulburt ; Coroner, A. West.

1S67 - Surpervisor, Second District, T. D. Lang ; School Superintendent, R. B. Crandall ; District Attorney, W. N. Wheeler ; Clerk of Court, J. J. Jenkins. All chosen in November.

1868 - Supervisors: First District, J. S. Walser; Third District, George B. Swain. Sheriff, N. Stewart ; Register, M. Pointon ; Treasurer, R. M. Strong ; Clerk of Board, A. Fischer ; Surveyor, H. Muohlberg ; Coroner, N. Wheeler. All chosen in November.

18(;9 - County Judge (chosen in April), C. C. Remington; Supervisor (chosen in November) - Second District, T. D. Lang; District Attorney, N. W. Wheeler; Clerk of Court, J. J. Jenkins ; School Superintendent, C. F. Viebahn.

1870 - Supervisors (chosen in April, in accordance with an act of the Legislature providing for the election of one County Supervisor, Chairmen of the Town IJoard from each town) - George Mertens, D. D. Thompson, Thomas Timlin, Charles H. Williams, D. Felt, William Hudson, A. R. McCoy, Amos Johnson, Henry Ochsner, William All, William Rathbun, Hiram Bailey, J. N. Vanderveer, J. I. Waterbury, Austin Seeley, James A. Taylor, W. W. Perry, Alexander Stewart, R, S. Inman, William P. Noyes, Nicholas Rossiter, Uriah Gregory. Village Representatives in the Board - Baraboo, T. D. Lang ; Sauk City, J. S. Tripp ; Reedsburg, T. S. Mackey ; Spring Green, B. U. Strong. County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriif, Benjamin G. Paddock ; Register, M. Pointon ; Treasurer, R. M. Strong ; Clerk of Board, Anton Fischer ; Clerk of Court, Philip Cheek, Jr. ; Surveyor, H. Muehlberg ; Coroner,. A West.

1875 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - James Dykins, R. H. Thurber, D. E. Welch, Patrick Timlin, Fred Baringer, Royal Ayers, Anthony Rick, John Dickie, A. F. Kellogg, H. Ochsner. N. Stowe, John Tardoff, Levi Wright, George Owen, A. P. Ellinwood, John R. Lewis, H. B. Knapp, Peter Schneller, A. C. Harris, D. B. Hulburt, Amos Cottington, Chr. Meffert. School Superintendent and District Attorney (chosen in November) - James T. Lunn and John Barker.

ton A J Cornell Village Representatives - Baraboo, J. J. Gattiker ; Reedsburg, S. Mackey ; Sauk City J S. Tripp; Spring Green, E. W. Evans. County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriff R. A. Wheeler; Register, John M. True ; Treasurer, A. L. Slye ; County Clerk, John P. ivitwen; Clerk of Court, D. E. Morgan; Surveyor, D. B. Hulburt ; Coroner, 0. L.

County Officers for 1881 will be chosen at the coming November election. The Republican nominees are, for Sheriff, 0. H. Perry; Register, F. N. Peck; Treasurer, A. L. Slye; County Clerk, J. P. Witwen ; Clerk of Court, D. E. Morgan ; Surveyor, R. G. Evenden ; Coroner, 0. L. Glazier.

Laying Out The Towns

At the first meeting of the first Board of County Commissioners, held at the house of Joshua E. Abbott, in the town [village] of Prairie du Sac (the county seat of Sauk County, as located by Commissioners appointed for that purpose), on the first Monday in April, 1844, there were present Commissioners John Hoover, William G. Simons and Levi Moore. The board, having met pursuant to an act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin, organizing tiie county of Sauk, proceeded to the election of a Chairman, and John Hoover was chosen to lill that position. Burke Faircliild, who was elected as Clerk at the first general election lor county olliccrs, not having aj)pcared, Andrew Garrison was unanimously appointed to fill the vacancy. He thereupon took the oath of office before A. M. Seymour, Supreme Court Commissioner.

The first business of importance that came before the board, was the organization of road districts and the appointment of Road Supervisoi's. The county was divided into five districts, as follows :

District No. 1. - Beginning at the north line of Town 9, extending west to the county line ; thence south to the south line of said county; thence east to the county line, along the Wisconsin River to the place of beginning. Jonathan Hatch was appointed Road Supervisor.

District No. 2. - Beginning at the line of Town 9, running due west to the line between Sections 34 and 35, in Town 10 ; thence due north into Town 11, three miles ; thence east to the county line, and south to the place of beginning. Philip Blodgett was appointed Road Supervisor.

District No. 3. - Beginning on the section line between 34 and 35, Town 10, running west to the bounds of the county line ; thence north along the county line three miles into Town 11 ; thence east on said line to the corner of District No. 2; thence south to the place of beginning. William Johnson was appointed Road Supervisor.

District No. Ip. - Beginning half a mile east of the northeast corner of District No. 3, running due north alcng said line until it strikes the county line ; thence east to the county line ; thence south until it strikes District No. 2 ; thence west to the place of beginning. Chester P. Matson was appointed Road Supervisor.

District No. 5. - Beginning half a mile east of the northwest corner of District No. 2, running north to the county line ; thence west to the county line ; thence due south to the northwest corner of District No. 3 ; thence east to the place of beginning. McCager Thacker was appointed Road Supervisor.

It was then ordered that Sauk Prairie Election Precinct consist of Road Districts No. 1, 2 and 3, and that the judges thereof be John Hoover, John Mann and W. H. Hubbard, elections to be held at the house of Joshua E. Abbott, Prairie du Sac; that Baraboo Election Precinct comprise Districts 4 and 5, elections to be held at the house of James Webster, Baraboo ; judges, Abraham Wood, Luther Peck and Orin Hudson. Jonathan Hatch was appointed Assessor for District No. 1, Harris Searle, for Districts 2 and 3, and Luther Peck for Districts 4 and 5.

The first county order was issued in favor of Charles Hart for $27, being in payment for services in " locating the county seat." Noah Phelps and John Morrison were allowed $42 and ^21 respectively for similar services.

The Clerk of the Board was directed to procure a seal, from Milwaukee or elsewhere, for the use of the Board of County Commissioners, " the design of which shall be an engraving of a breaking-team, with one or more yoke of oxen and plow in the foreground, with the words surrounding the margin ' Seal of the Board of County Commissioners, Sauk County, Wisconsin Territory.' " Upon the introduction of the Board of Supervisors system in 1849, the county seal was remodeled. It is now the exact size of one of the " dollars of our daddies," the design being a sheaf of wheat, a plow and a grain rake, the whole being surrounded by the words " Board of Supervisors of Sauk County, Wisconsin.''

Lyman Crossman, Cyrus Leland and Daniel B. Crocker, as principals, and John L. Messimer, Arba M. Seymour, William H. Hubbard and Joshua E. Abbott, as sureties, having entered into a bond with the County Commissioners to erect and build a good and substantial frame building, 20x30 feet, two stories high, in form suitable for a court house, were requested to place the said building on the public square of the county seat.

At a subsequent meeting, it was ordered that " a gaol be erected and built, to be paid out of the funds of the county from the sale of town lots, or the same to be given in exchange at a fair valuation." It was provided that the building should be completed by the 1st of the following December, but at a later meeting the order was rescinded.

At the July meeting of the board, the Clerk was directed to issue county orders to the three County Commissioners, for services rendered as such, at the rate of 75 cents per day, which amounted in the aggregate to $18. P. C. Hale was allowed |85 for books for county purposes, and S. F. Blanchard $11 for transportation of the same from Milwaukee. Arba M. Seymour was authorized to make, for the use of the Register of Deeds and the Clerk of County Commissioners, two pine tables three and a half feet wide and four and a half feet long, " to be stained with Venetian red, one large drawer in each."

On the 26th of August, the board discovered that the time had arrived for the appointment of a District Attorney. William H. Clark was honored with the choice of the board, and was directed to '"enter upon the duties of said office at the present term of the District Court."

On the 3(3th of September, the Clerk, under instructions of the board, reported on the taxable property of the county, as follows : Assessed value of farming lands, with all the improvements thereon, $38,736 ; assessed value of town lots, with improvements, in the village of Prairie du Sac, $4,675 ; assessed value of merchandise and personal property in the county, 314,496. Upon the total amount (.^57,907) a tax of nine mills on the dollar was levied.

Dividing The Towns

The territory now included in Sauk County once composed a single election precinct, as has been shown, and that it was afterward organized into five road districts, or two election precincts. A third election precinct was created April 5, 1848, called BlulF Precinct, bounded as follows : Beginning at the town line between Towns 10 and 11, running south two miles ; thence commencing at the county line and running west to the west line of Towns 10 and 11 ; thence north five miles ; thence east to the easterly line of Sauk County, agreeable to the petition signed by thirty-five electors in said county ; A. Jameson, George Jeele and John Hoover, Jr., being appointed Judges of Election.

It was also ordered " that the county of Adams shall be an election precinct called the County of Adams Precinct, J. H. Finlay, Andrew Dunn and - Baird to be Judges of Election."

On the 10th of January, 1849, Sauk County was divided, by order of the County Commissioners, into six towns - Honey Creek, Prairie du Sac, Kingston, Eagle, Brooklyn and Baraboo, the boundaries being as follows :

Ilonrii Creek. - Commencing on the Wisconsin River, on the town line between Ranges 5 and 6 ; running thence north to the northeast corner of Town 9, Range 5 ; thence west on the town line four miles; thence north on the section line, six miles to the town line; thence west on the. town line to the western boundary of the county ; thence south on said boundary line to the Wisconsin River ; thence up said river to the place of beginning ; the whole being the territory now embraced in the towns of Spring Green, Bear Creek, Franklin, Troy and the four western tiers of sections (the west half) of the town of Honey Creek. The house of Jonathan W. Harris was designated as the place for holding the first election, which took place on the 3d of April, 1849, with the annexed result : Supervisors, James Cass (Chairman), Dewitt Houghton and Joseph Davis ; Clerk, H. B. Stames ; Treasurer, J. A. Taylor ; Assessor, Henry Keifer ; Superintendent of Schools, J. N. Cassel.

Prairie du Sac. - Commencing on the Wisconsin River on the town line between Ranges 5- and 6 ; thence north on the said line to the northwest corner of Town 9, Range 6 ; thence west on the town line four miles ; thence north on the section line, six miles to the town line between 10 iiiid 11, Range G ; thence east on the town line four miles; thence south on the town line,, between Ranges 5 and 6, four miles ; thence east on the section line to the Wisconsin River ; thence along said river to the place of beginning; the whole being the territory now embraced in the town of Prairie du Sac and the four eastern tiers of sections (the east half) of the town of Honey Creek. It was stipulated that the election should be held at the schoolhouse in the upper town. That event occurred on the 3d of April, 1849, with the following result: Supervisors, Nathaniel Perkins (Chairman), Samuel Kelsey and Charles Halasz ; Clerk, Cyrus T.eland: Assessor, Archibald Hill; Treasurer, P. B. Staymates ; School Superintendent, J. B. oodrufl'.

A7;|//«^>/^. - Commencing on the Wisconsin River on the section line between Sections 24 d 2.), Town lU, Range 6; running thence west on said section line to the town liue between

Rancres 5 and 6 : thence north seven miles on the town line ; thence east on the section line twelve miles to the eastern boundary of the county ; thence south on said boundary line to the Wisconsin River; thence down said river to the place of beginning, embracing what is now the towns of Merrimack and Sumter, and Sections 19 and 20 of the town of Freedom, and Sections 23 and 24 of the»town of Baraboo. . The first election was held at the house of John Hoover, resulting in the choice of J. I. Waterbury (Chairman), Samuel Shaw and Isaac Gibbs for Supervisors ; Prescott Brigham for Town Clerk ; S. Mather for Assessor ; Cyrus Hull and David Randall (both receiving 34 votes), for Treasurer ; R. E. Stone for School Superintendent, and James Moreland for Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Eagle. - Commencing at the southeast corner of Town 11, Range 5 ; running thence west on the town line to the western boundary of the county ; thence north on said boundary nine miles ; thence east on a section line through the center of Town 12, eighteen miles ; thence south between Ranges 5 and 6, nine miles to the place of beginning - comprising an area of territory now embraced in the towns of Washington, Westfield and Freedom (except Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18, Town 11, Range 6), and the south half of the towns of Ironton, Reedsburg and Excelsior. The first election in the town of Eagle was held April 3, 1849, with the following result : Supervisors, James Chrystie (Chairman), J. W. Henthom and Reuben Ward ; Clerk, L. B. Swallow ; Treasurer, Hiram Hubbard ; School Superintendent, Josiah Hunter ; Assessor, George Randall.

Brooklyn. - Commencing on the eastern boundary of the county on a section line between Sections 13 and 24, Town 11 ; thence west on said section line twelve miles to the town line between Ranges 5 and 6 ; thence north on said town line to the northern boundary of the county ; thence east on said boundary to the Wisconsin River; thence down said river to the eastern line of the county ; thence south on said boundary to the place of beginning - embracing what are now the towns of Baraboo (except Sections 23 and 24), Greenfield, Fairfield and Delton, and Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18 of the town of Freedom. The village of Baraboo is indicated upon the plat of the town of Brooklyn as " Adams," then the county seat, and it was ordered by the Commissioners that the first election in the town of Brooklyn be held at the court house, and it was so held April 3, 1849, resulting in the choice of John B. Crawford (Chairman), Solomon Soule and Lyman Clark, for Supervisors ; D. K. Noyes, Town Clerk ; William Griffiths, Treasurer ; A. A. Noyes, Assessor, and Harvey Canfield, School Superintendent.

Baraboo. - Commencing on the town (12) line between Ranges 5 and 6 ; thence running west on the section line between Sections 13 and 24, Town 12, to the western boundary of the county ; thence north to the northern boundary of the county ; thence east on the north boundary eighteen miles, between Ranges 5 and 6 ; thence south nine miles to the place of beginning - comprising the present towns of Lavalle, Winfield and Dellona, and the north half of Ironton, Reedsburg and Excelsior. The house of D. C. Reed was designated as the place for holding the first election, which occurred April 3, 1849, resulting as follows : Supervisors - D. C. Reed (Chairman), William Adams and Lewis Butterfield ; Clerk, William McClung ; Assessor, Don Carlos Barry ; School Superintendent, Patrick Hickey ; Treasurer, Thompson Shepard,

At the same sitting of the board, it was further ordered that " the county of Adams, now attached to Sauk County for judicial purposes, be a town called Lemonweir.

On the 8th of January, 1850, a new town, called New Buffalo, was created out of territory somewhat vaguely described as follows : " Town 13, Range 6, as far north as the petition calls for ; no further east, nor west, than the range line, and commencing at the southeast corner of Town 13, Range 6 ; thence one mile west and three miles south ; thence west to the range lines between Ranges 5 and 6 ; thence north to the northwest corner of Town 13, Range 6 ; thence west and north to the limits of Sauk County."

At the same sittingr of the board, the town of Flora was created. Its boundaries were as follows : Commencing on the Wisconsin River on the county line ; thence south on said line to the southeast corner of Section 24, Town 12, Range 7 ; thence west on the section line seven miles ; thence north to the line between Towns 12 and 13 ; thence east one mile ; thence north to the Wisconsin River ; thence down said river to the place of beginning, including what is now the town of Fairfield, with the exception of Sections 2, 11 and 14.

In November, 1850, the remainder of Town 10, Range 5, was aoWed to the town of Honey Creek, in accordance with the prayer of residents therein, and, at the same sitting of the board, the town of Honey Creek was divided, and the town of Spring Green created, the latter being set off as follows : "Commencing two miles north of the south line of Town 9, running thence west to the west line of the county, and all that part of said town lying south of said line shall be a town called Spring Green."

Out of the town of Baraboo was also created the town of Dellona, by setting off all the north half of Town 12, Range 5, and the whole of Town 13, Range 5.

On the 11th of December, 1850, acting upon the petition of interested residents, the board, by a vote of five ayes to three noes, agreed to the formation of a new town out of parts of Baraboo and Eagle, to be known as the town of Reedsburg.

On the same date, an alteration of the boundaries of the town of Brooklyn was authorized, the town of Eagle being wiped out, and the town of Freedom created.

In August, 1851, it was ordered by the board that '"all that portion of the tract of country lying north of the north line of Town 13, Range 6, be embraced in a new town, to be called Lemon weir." During the same session of the board, it was ordered that Town 13, Range 2 (now the Town of Woodland), be annexed to the Town of Reedsburg. Also, that a new town to be called Marston be organized out of the territory embraced in Town 12, Range 3, Town 13. Ranges 2 and 3, and Town 11, Range 3. Section 36, Town 13, Range 6, was taken from the Town of Flora and annexed to the Town of New Buffalo.

In December. 1851, the Town of Dells was organized out of territory embraced as follows: South half of Town 15, Range 5, and Town 14, Range 5; also Sections 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32. Town 14, Range 6. The boundaries of the town of Lemonweir were changed so as to com])rise Town 14, Ranges 2, 3 and 4, and the south half of Town 15, Ranges 2, 3 and 4.

In September, 1852, in accordance with the prayer of the citizens of Brooklyn, the town of Greenfield was organized, composed of territory described in the Supervisor's journal as follows: '* All that portion lying east of the range line between Ranges 6 and 7, the west line of which to be the line above mentioned." At the same session of the board, all that tract of country lying upon the east side of the Wisconsin River, consisting of Town 14, Ranges 6 and 7, and Town 15. Ranges 5, (5 and 7 (now Juneau County), were organized into a town called Jackson. Also, Towns It) and 17, Ranges 4 and 5 (now Juneau County), were set off as a new town called Quincy. The northeast boundary line of the town of Dells was altered so as to make the main channel of the Wisconsin River its northeastern boundary, and the order of December, 1851, - irgaiiizing tin- boundaries of the town of Lemonweir, was rescinded. It was also ordered that all of that portion of Adams County lying upon the east side of the Wisconsin River and not being within the town of <.,)uincy, be attached to the town of Jackson ; and all that portion of the same county Iving west of the Wisconsin River, including Town 18, Range 4, be attached to the town of (Juincv.

In November, 1S;V2, Town 13, Range 4, was set off as a new town called Winfield. The name of the town of Dells was also changed to that of Kildare. Sections 19 and 20, Town 11, liangc 0, were attached to the town of Freedom. One of the most animated scenes in the history of the board occurred at this session over a proposition to divide the town of Prairie du 'ac. A vote was taken by towns, on a motion to postpone action on the petition, resulting in eight noes and five ayes. The vote on the question of division stood the same.

In Deceiuber. 1852, Sections 2, 11 and 14, Towti 12, Range G (then belonging to the town of New Bunalo), were- annexed to the town of Flora. The order providing for the division of the town of Prairie du Sac was also taken up, and a vote to reconsider was carried. A subsequent motion to rescind the order was voted down - ayes, five, noes, eight. A petition from citizens of the " Lemonweir " for a new town, to be called Hillsdale, was granted. The territory now in Sauk County, then included in the town of Hillsdale, was that comprised in the north half of the towns of Lavalle and Woodland. The greater portion of the town, however, lay in the present county of Juneau. It was at this session of the board that the name of the town of Brooklyn was changed to Baraboo, and the southern division of the town of Prairie du Sac was christened Lower Prairie du Sac.

In November, 1854, the town of Reedsburg was divided, and the new town thus created was called Westfield. It was also the wisdom of the board that the town of Kingston be likewise severed, and the name of Merrimack given to the new town. The action of the board in this regard was prompted by the result of the elections previously held in the towns of Reedsburg and Kingston, at which the citizens voted in favor of a division. It was during this session of the board that the town of Honey Creek was divided, and the town of Franklin created.

In December, 1855, so much of the town of Marston as was then included in Town 11, Range 3, and Sections 25 to 36, inclusive, in Town 12, Range 3, was organized into a new town, called Washington.

In January, 1857, Town 13, Range 2, was set off from the town of Marston, the new town being called Woodland. In December of the same year, the town of Troy was organized out of the towns of Honey Creek and Spring Green. The organization of the town of Excelsior bears the same date, it having been formed out of the towns of Dellona and Freedom. The territory of the town, of Freedom was further abridged, about this time, by Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32 being attached to the town of Baraboo.

In November, 1859, the towns of Marston and Washington were divided, by setting oflf from the former all that part lying south of the town line between Towns 12 and 13, and from the latter all that part lying north of Towns 11 and 12. Out of the portions thus set off, the town of Ironton was created.

In November, 1861, the name of the town of Kingston was changed to Sumter, and the town of Marston was also changed to Lavalle. There have been other slight changes from time to time in the boundaries of towns. No new towns have been created, however, and for the past twenty years the number of towns in the county (twenty-two) has not been increased or decreased.

The First Legislative Assembly under the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, convened at Belmont, La Fayette County, in October, 1836. The counties of Brown, Crawford, Iowa and Milwaukee, then embraced the whole territory of what now constitutes Wisconsin. Until 1840, Sauk County was a part of Crawford, and was so represented in the Territorial Legislature, at the first session of which James H.. Lockwood and James B. Dallam sat as Representatives. Thomas P. Burnett claimed a seat in the Council, but was rejected by that body, as the appointment of members belonged exclusively to the Executive of the Territory.

The first session of the Second Legislative Assembly convened at Madison November 26, 1838, and adjourned December 22. Council, George Wilson ; Representative, Alexander Mc- Gregor.

Second Session, 1841-42 [Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson and Sauk] - Council, Ebenezer . Brighara ; Representatives, Lucius I. Barber and James Sutherland.

First Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly, 1847 [Dane, Green and Sauk] - Council, Alexander L. Collins ; Representatives, Charles Lum, W. A. Wheeler and John W. Stewart.

The first Constitutional Convention assembled at Madison October 5, 1846, and adjourned December 16, having framed a constitution, which was submitted to a vote of the people on the first Tuesday in April, 1847, and the same was rejected. Sauk County was represented in the convention by W. H. Clark.

The second convention met also at Madison December 15, 1847, and adjourned February 1, 1848, having framed a constitution which was ratified by the people in March following. It does not appear of record that Sauk County was represented in the second convention.

The First Session of the State Legislature convened at Madison June 5, 1848, and adjourned August 21. Sauk County, together with Columbia, Marquette and Portage, was represented in the Senate by Henry Merrell, of Fort Winnebago, who was chosen for two years. The.se counties comprised the Second Senatorial District. Delando Pratt represented the county in the Assembly.

I Public Library

Sixteenth Session, 1863 - Senate (Fourteenth District), S. S. Wilkinson, Prairie du Sac ; Assembly, Alonzo Wilcox, Spring Green, and A. W. Starks, Baraboo.

If previous Republican majorities in Sauk County indicate anything, the thirty-fourth session will witness the attendance of the same gentlemen from this county who took part in the Thirty-third Assembly.

The act of Congress, approved April 20, 1836, organizing the Territory of Wisconsin, conferred upon the people the right to be represented in the National Congress by one delegate, to be chosen by the votes of the qualified electors of the Territory. Under this authority the Territory was represented by the following delegates : George W. Jones, elected October 10, 1836; James Duane Doty, September 10, 1838 ; James Duane Doty, August 5, 1840* ; Henry Dodge, September 27, 1841 ; Henry Dodge, September 25, 1843 ; Morgan L. Martin, September 22, 1845, and John H. Tweedy, September 6, 1847.

By the Constitution adopted when the Territory became a State, in 1848, two representatives in Congress were provided for by dividing the State into two Congressional Districts, the First District bein^ composed of the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, JefiFerson, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green ; the Second District, of Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet Brown, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa' La Fayette, Grant, Richland, Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe. Under this authority, an election was held May 8, 1848, and William Pitt Lynde was elected member of Congress from the First District ; Mason C. Darling, of Fond du Lac, for the Second District. The people, therefore, then residing within the limits of Columbia County, were represented in the Thirtieth Congress by Dr. Mason C. Darling. t c a oi

At the first session of the State Legislature, which continued from June 5 to August Zl, 1848, the State was divided into three Congressional Districts, Sauk County falling in the second. This appointment continued unchanged until 1861. The district was represented during that period as follows : Thirty-first Congress, 1849-51, Orsamus Cole ; Thirty-second, 1851-53. Ben C. Eastman; Thirty-third, 1853-1855, Ben C. Eastman; Thirty-fourth, 1855- 57, Cadwallader C. Washburn ; Thirty-fifth, 1857-1859, Cadwallader C. Washburn ; Thirtysixth, 1859-1861, Cadwallader C. Washburn ; Thirty-seventh, 1861-63, Luther Hanchett.*

At the Fourteenth Session of the Legislature of Wisconsin, continuing from January 9 to May 27, 1861, the State was divided into six Congressional Districts, Sauk County falling to the Third. Under this appointment the district was represented as follows : Thirty-eighth Congress, 1863-65, Amasa Cobb. Mr. Cobb was thrice re-elected, and was succeeded by J. Allen Barber, who served until 1873.

The present Congressional apportionment was made at the twenty-fifth session of the Legislature of Wisconsin, continuing from January 10 to March 27, 1872, when the State was divided into eight districts, Sauk County again faUing into the Second District, composed of the Counties of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk. and Columbia. In the Forty-third Congress, 1873-75, the district was represented by Gerry W. Hazleton ; in the Forty-fourth, 1875-77, by Lucien B. Caswell ; in the Forty-fifth, 1877-79, by Lucien B. Caswell ; in the Forty-sixth, 1879-81, by Lucien B. Caswell.

Until 1823, all that part of the Territory of Michigan now forming the State of Wisconsin had no separate courts, except County Courts of very limited civil and criminal jurisdiction, and Justices' Courts. All important civil cases and all criminal cases, except for petty offenses, were tried by the Supreme Court at Detroit. Here the judicial power was vested in three judges appointed by Congress, originally to hold the office during good behavior, but subsequently limited to four years. In January, 1823, an act of Congress provided for the appointment of an additional Judge for the counties of Brown, Crawford and Michilimackinac. That court had concurrent civil and criminal jurisdiction with the Supreme Court of the Territory. The law provided for holding one term of court in each year, in each of the counties named in the act. Hon. James D. Doty was appointed Judge of this court at its organization, and held the office until May, 1832. when he was succeeded by the Hon. David Irvin. This court continued as organized until 1836, when it was abrogated by the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin, what is now Sauk County being then a part of Crawford County ; it consequently came under the jurisdiction of Judges Doty and Irvin.

The terms of the District Court for the counties of Michilimackinac, Brown and Crawford, which was e.'ftablished by the act of 1823, were held once in each year in each of those counties, at Mackinac in July, at Green Bay in June, and at Prairie du Chien in May. Although Judge Doty had received his appointment in 1823, yet he did not arrive in the district until midsummer, and no regular term of the court was heUl that year. In October, 1824, he appointed and held a special term for the trial of criminal cases at Green Bay. At this term the first grand jury was impaneled in Brown County, and the Hon. Henry S. Baird, who was the pioneer lawyer of Wisconsin, was appointed District Attorney. A large amount of criminal business was brought before the grand jury. Forty -five indictments were found and presented to the court, one for murder, on which there was a conviction, some for assault and battery, larceny, selling spirituous liquors to the Indians, and last, but not least, twenty-eight cases for illicit cohabitation. The large number of the latter arose from the reprehensible practice adopted by the traders and French inhabitants of taking Indian women as wives, according to the custom of the natives. Those cases were generally disposed of by the defendants being brought into court on a warrant. Most of them pleaded guilty, when the court suspended sentence until the close of the term, with the intimation that all who presented the court, in the interim, certificates of legal marriage, would be let off by paying a nominal fine, which fine was afterward fixed at $1 and costs. Some of the delinquents refused to marry, and were fined $50.

In 1825-28, Judge Doty and H. S. Baird, Esq., traveled from Green Bay to Prairie du Chien in a bark canoe, by way of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, with a crew of Canadians and Indians, the time required for the journey being from seven to nine days. In May, 1829, Judge Doty, M, L. Martin, Esq., and H. S. Baird, Esq., made the trip from Green Bay to Prairie du Chien on horseback, accompanied by a Menomonee Indian guide. They were the first white men to attempt and accomplish the land journey from Green Bay to the Mississippi.

After the organization of Iowa County in 1830, the county of Crawford was attached to Iowa County for judicial purposes, and remained so until Wisconsin Territory was organized in 1836, the term of court that had theretofore been held at Prairie du Chien being thereafter held at Mineral Point.

When the Territory was organized in 1836, it embraced the present States of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota and a part of the Territory of Dakota. The judicial power of the Territory was vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts and Justices of the Peace. The Territory was divided into three judicial districts, and Justices Charles Dunn, David Irvin and William C. Frazer, composing the Supreme Court by Presidential appointment, were assigned to the districts ; Chief Justice Dunn to the First District, composed of the counties of Iowa and Crawford (to which latter county Sauk County then belonged) ; Justice Irvin to the Second District, Dubuque and Des Moines Counties ; and Justice Frazer to the Third District, Milwaukee and Brown Counties.

The Territory of Iowa having been organized July 4, 1838, embracing that portion of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi River, the Legislative Assembly of Wisconsin, at its session in 1839, made anew division of this territory into judicial districts; the counties of Iowa, Grant and Crawford, constituting the First District, to which Chief Justice Dunn was assigned ; the counties of Dane (to which Sauk had but recently been attached for judicial purposes), Jeff'erson, Rock, Walworth and Green, constituting the Second District, to which Judge Irvin was assigned; and the counties of Brown, Milwaukee and Racine, constituting the Third District, to which Judge Miller, the successor of Judge Frazer, upon the death of the latter, was assigned.

Upon the admission of Wisconsin as a State in the Union, it was divided into five judicial .circuits, Sauk County, together with the counties of Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette and Portage, being in the Third Circuit. At an election on the first Monday in August, 1844, Charles H. Larrabee was chosen Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, his term expiring December 31, 1854. At the previous April election, in 1854, he had been re-elected for a full term of six years, commencing January 1, 1855, and to end at the close of the year 1859; but, Sauk County having been taken from the Third Circuit in April, 1855, and attached to the Ninth, it came into the jurisdiction of Judge Alexander L. Collins. In the meantime, in accordance with a constitutional provision. Circuit Judges had been relieved of the duties devolving upon Supreme Justices, or, in other words, the Supreme Court had became an entirely separate tribunal, presided over by Justices especially chosen for that purpose.

On the 5th of September, 1858, Judge Collins resigned as Judge of the Third Circuit, and Luther S. Dixon was appointed in his place until a successor was elected and qualified. Before the next April election, however. Judge Dixon resigned, having been elevated to the Supreme Bench, and Harlow S. Orton was elected Judge of the Ninth Circuit to fill out the full term for which Judge Collins had been elected, which expired December 31, 1860. On the 3d of April, 1860, Judge Orton was elected for a full term of six years, but he resigned January 28, 1865, when' Alva Stewart was appointed to hold until the next April election. In April, 1865, Judge Stewart was elected to fill out the full term of Judge Orton, which he did, and in April, 1866, he was arrtiin elected, but this time for a full term of six years, which began January 1, 1867, and ended at the close of the year 1872. In April of this year, he was re-elected for a second term. However, on the 2d of April, 1877, upon the increase of the Ninth Circuit by the addition of Juneau, Adams and Marquette Counties, Judge Stewart resigned, but was appointed on the 5th of the same month as his own successor to fill out his full terra. In April, 1878, he was reelected for another full term, which will close December 31, 1884.

County Judges

On the 11th of March, 1844, the qualified electors of Sauk Prairie Precinct, which then embraced, together with other territory, all that now contained in Sauk County (then belonging to Dane County, for judicial purposes), came together and cast their ballots for a complete set of county officers, including Probate Judge. This office Prescott Brigham* was chosen to fill. In the fall (September 23) of the same year, the county having been organized and another election precinct (Baraboo) created, a second election took place in pursuance of the provisions of the organic act. Lorrin Cowles,* father of Dr. Charles Cowles, of Baraboo, was elected to the office of Probate Judge. It is the belief of an old settler that Judge Cowles' successor was George Cargel. Maj. W. H. Clark* was then elected to the oflSce, and, at the expiration of his term, he was succeeded in 184!» by James M. Clark, who was re-elected. Judge Clark resigned before his second term of office expired, and R. G. Camp* was appointed to fill the vacancy. E. G. Wheeler was chosen to the position in 1853, and served till 1857, when S. S. Barlow was elected as his successor. John B. Quiraby succeeded to the office in 1861, and, being re elected in 1865, retired in favor of C. C. Remington in 1869. Judge Remington resigned the position in 1872, and John Barker was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy. James W. Lusk was elected in 1873, and Giles Stevens, the present incumbent, in 1877.

In the early history of " Old Sauk," County Judges (by which title these dignitaries are now most generally known) had jurisdiction, as now, over probate matters only. Early in the fifties, an act was passed by the Legislature giving them jurisdiction also over civil cases. This law was subsequently repealed.

The " oldest inhabitant " recalls some pleasant memories of the individuals who have served the people of Sauk County in this capacity. He recalls their characteristics, their manner and their dignified bearing. Judge Cowles (who is entitled to the distinction of having been the first County Judge in Sauk County, after its organization), he remembers as a sturdy, honest old farmer, and likewise Judge Cargel ; both fully competent to handle the affairs of the oflBce at that date. Maj. Clark was a native of Madison County, N. Y. A graduate of Hamilton College, he was a fine scholar and an able lawyer. On account of his skill in his profession and his ability in the Legislature (he having been a member of one of the Territorial Legislatures), he came to be known as the " Lion of Sauk." An amusing incident is related concerning the Judge, who, being engaged in the prosecution of a case of theft, in which the prisoner was charged with having stolen a light wagon, replied to the Latin phrase, /a/sus in uno, fahus in omtilhn.r{, used by counsel for defense, by saying, sotto voce, " Yes, a man that will lie about a one-horse wagon will lie about an omnibus."

Ju<lge James M. Clark was a graduate of an eastern law school. He was a sociable gentleman, thoroughly competent. He went from here to Tennessee, and later removed to Greeley, Colo., where lie now lives. Judge Wheeler, now of Sioux Falls, Dak., bore his honors easy and had the confidence of the people. His successor, Judge Barlow, made a good Judge.

He has also distinguished and Attorney General of like most men of mark, leading barristers of the filled the ofiice of County the present amiable incu mind, and is regarded as himself as District Attorney, member of the Assembly several terms, the State. Judge Remington was a man of strong convictions, and, had some enemies. Judge Lusk holds a high position among the State as a gentleman endowed with superior legal attainments. He Judge with credit both to himself and to the people. Judge Stevens, mbent of the office, is well read in his profession, has a clear legal a correct and conscientious official.

For the past twenty-four years, Sauk County has been largely Republican. Prior to 1856 and subsequent to the organization of the county in 1844, it was under Democratic rule. The change of front came in November, 1856, at the Presidential baptism of the Republican party. As an index to the political complexion of the county for the past thirty-two years, the following figures will be interesting :