Sauk County, Wisconsin - Chapter 3, 1880

Chapter 3

Locating the County Seat - Court Houses - Railroads - Agricultural Industries, Soil, ETC. - Sauk County Agricultural Society - Blood Cattle - Stock Breeders' Association Dairying - Statistical - Hops, and the Panic of 1868-Nature's Provisions.

In 1843-44, the people of Prairie du Sac petitioned the Legislature to fully organize Sauk County. The residents of the Baraboo Valley remonstrated, on the ground that there were not voters enough in the county from which to draw a jury-list, and fill the county offices; and, further, that it was not politic, at that time, to burden themselves with the expense of a fully organized county. But this remonstrance availed nothing, for the Saukites had made up their minds to lose no time in which to allow Baraboo to gain strength, and a bill was pushed through the -Legislature and approved May 10, 1844, under the provisions of which Noah Phelps, of Green County, John Morrison,* of Jefferson, and Charles Hart, of Milwaukee, were appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice. They were instructed to make a thorough examination of the whole county, and make the location "with regard to the future as well as the jiresent ))opulation." They finally decided to locate it at one of the Sauk villages - the one which would make the largest donation. Sauk City, or Lower Town, ofi'ered the Bryant- Haraszthy House, estimated to be worth ^3,000. Prairie du Sac, or Upper Town, ofi'ered a certain number of village lots, supposed to be worth more than the Lower Town offer. The Commissioners accepted the Prairie du Sac offer, and the seat of justice was located accordingly.

Some months later the people of Prairie du Sac offered the deeds of the donated lots to the County Board. It was then discovered that they contained a clause making the lots revertible to the original donors in case of the removal of the county seat. This excited great indignation among the residents of Sauk City, Baraboo and the region known as the Bluffs, and several public meetings were held at which the matter was discussed.

In the summer of 1845, at one of these meetings, a committee' was appointed, consisting of Count Haraszthy and Edmund Rendtorff, of Sauk City, and Levi Moore, Abram Wood, Thomas Remington and William H. Canfield, of Baraboo, to make an exploration of the interior of the county, and ascertain whether the land was fit for settlement and cultivation. The committee started on this exploration on the 10th of November, 1845. Count Haraszthy's mare and a week's provisions, a shot-gun, two rifies and a bird-dog constituted the outfit. They took the pinery road to Seeley's Creek, and camped that night in a pinery shanty. In the morning, the Count took the halter off the mare and told her to go home to her colt, and, taking one day's provisions, the explorers started for the primeval forests. The next day. Wood shot a deer, but did not get it, and a partridge, which the Count bagged, had to suffice for dinner, supper and breakfast, for six stalwart men. Another day was ])assed with nothing but water to drink, and the next breakfast and dinner, also, were a blank. It was proposed to shoot the dog that night for supjier, but Capt. Moore's trusty rifle brought down a fine yearling buck, and the fast was soon terminated.

The committee crossed over the head-waters of Honey Creek, passed on to Bear Creek, thence down Narrows Creek to the Baraboo River, and thence to Baraboo. They subsequently reported to a mass meeting that the interior of the county was not only fit for cultivation, but would make a fine agricultural district.

Li the winter of 1845-46, the Legislature was petitioned to re-establish the seat of justice by a vote of the people. The petition was granted, and on the 7th day of April, 1846, an election was held, resulting in the removal of the county seat to Baraboo. The county board appointed twelve Commissioners to designate the point for county-seat purposes. They made an arrangement with the school district for the southeast quarter of Section 35, which quarter the school district had previously claimed. On the day of the Government land sale, which occurred soon afterward, Prescott Brigham, then a County Commissioner, purchased the said quarter-section in his own name, and with his own money, there being no funds in the county treasury, and subsequently deeded it to the county. The County Commissioners platted it into a village, and called it Adams, in consideration of Mr. Brigham's high regard for the renowned Massachusetts family of that name. The survey was made by Charles 0. Baxter, and the record of it bears date of April, 1847. The name was changed to Baraboo in 1852. The block upon which the old Western Hotel was afterward built was purchased by Sumner k Maxwell before a public sale of lots was held. Harvey Canfield and C. C. Remington were appointed Commissioner and Clerk, respectively, to conduct the sale of lots, and about $4,000 was realized therefrom. With this money a wooden court house and jail were subsequently put up on the north side of Fourth street, facing the public square. The court-house was two stories high, and was completed in April, 1848, by Col. Edward Sumner, the contractor. The jail, it is said, resembled a huge dry-goods box, and was surrounded by a high wooden fence. Abe Wood was among the early inhabitants of this "jail." He had been incarcerated for attempting to shoot Henry A. Chapman, and, soon after being locked up, raised a portion of the loose floor and dug his way out.

But Baraboo did not long enjoy her county seat laurels in peace and quiet. About 1850, Reedsburg became an aspirant for county seat honors. The contest waxed warm for some time, and finally reached a climax in the spring of 1851, when the citizens of the "burg" took the position that no rafts or logs should pass over their dam en route for Baraboo. The services of a United States Deputy Marshal were called into requisition by the Baraboo people, and the Reedsburg dam was partially cut away. This event has since been referred to as the "Reedsburg war."

In 1852, the leading residents of Reedsburg petitioned the Legislature to have a nine-mile strip stricken from the southern portion of Juneau County and attached to the northern part of Sauk County. The petition was granted, and the strip added in accordance with the prayer of the petitioners. This brought Reedsburg nearer the geographical center of the county. In 1853, through the efforts of Charles Armstrong, member of the Legislature, the strip was set back. But Reedsburg was not yet prepared to relinquish its claim, and, in 1855, they again came before the Legislature with a petition, praying that the county seat question be submitted to a vote of the people. The petition was granted, and in April, at the spring election, the question being submitted, Baraboo came off victorious.

The necessity for a new and better court house becoming apparent, the County Board at once took steps toward building. Sixty of the prominent citizens of Baraboo came forward with a $3,000 subscription to defray a portion of the expenses. In the fall of 1855, a contract was let to P. A. Bassett for the erection of a two-story brick building, 40x60 feet, in the center of the public square. The structure completed, was formally accepted by the board on the 1st of January, 1857.

On the night of the 4th of July, 1857, the old court house (then the property of Peter Van Wendall) was destroyed by fire. A local writer thus sums up the history of this ancient landmark.

" The remorseless fire on the night'of the 4th inst., destroyed the last vestige of this venerable edifice. As we stood and saw the fire-fiend wrapping it in his lurid glare, and as one by one the old timbers dropped to ashes beneath his fiery embrace, we could not help letting our thoughts wander back to the past, when the old court house was the pride of our village, the best building in all Sauk County. Erected in 1847, when Baraboo was scarcely a hamlet, and this county numbered its inhabitants by scores instead of by thousands, its construction was a work of no small magnitude. When completed, no wonder that the pioneers, long used to the hut and wigwam, should gaze upon it with honest pride. A year or two after the building was put up, we well remember how a new acquaintance volunteered to show us the sights, and took us the first thing to see the new court house, then the ' elephant ' of the place. The second story was not°only the court-room, but the schoolroom, the church, the lecture-room, and, in fact, the only place for the accommodation of public assemblages. At last the wants of the people, growing with the increased population, demanded a new court house, and ere a larger and more showy building could be completed, the old court house was left deserted, for a time, when its upper story was let for a printing office to D. K. Noyes, then the proprietor of the Republic. At last, neglected by man and abused by the elements, it was not fit for a printing office, even, and the Republic changed its quarters. After that it stood empty and forlorn until about two years ago, when it was bought by P. Van Wendall, and moved a short distance to the east, when a new front was built for it ; and, being otherwise rejuvenated, it presented an entirely different appearance. It tV'as then turned into a saloon, and no doubt felt the degradation deejily. But it was not long to endure this humiliation. The fire came, and as the flames seethed, hissed and roared in, around and about it, it was cleansed of all imj^urities, and its ashes sank to earth as pure as nature herself"

In 1857, a hexagonal stone jail was built near the corner of Second and Broadway, overlooking the river and the picturesque hills and vales beyond. Col. Sumner was the contractor. In 1864, an addition, or rather a new wooden jail, was built in the rear of the stone structure, which had come to be considered unsafe. The construction of this latter building was superintended by Jonas Tower, of Ironton fame.

In 1867, the interior of the new court house was remodeled. New floors were laid, partitions altered, two fire-proof vaults put in to accommodate the records of the County Court and Register of Deeds, and a Sheriff's office added.

When the question of a permanent location for the county seat was finally settled, and Reedsburg ceased to be an aspirant, the citizens of Baraboo turned their attention toward the improvement of the public square. A large number of the principal kinds of shade and ornamental trees were planted throughout the park. Many of them have grown to be full size, and now spread their cool branches above the heads of a new generation.

About 1850, leading citizens of Sauk County obtained a charter for a railroad through the Baraboo Valley. The corporate title was the Fort Winnebago, Baraboo Valley & St. Paul Railway Company. At that time, A. Hyatt Smith, Robert J. Walker and others were engaged in building (chiefly on paper) a line of road from Chicago to Janesville, and from there, it was understood, the main line was to pass through Madison and the Baraboo Valley to St. Paul, while a branch was to lead via Fonddu Lac to the Lake Superior region. Messrs. Smith & Walker had organized a company for this purpose, under the statutes of Illinois and Wisconsin, known as the Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company, and later as the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Company. They had a charter from Janesville to Madison, and had laid considerable track between Chicago and Janesville. The scheme had every element of apparent suc- '^ess in its composition, and the citizens of Sauk County, fearing the road from Madison to St. Paul might be located at a point too far south to be of any benefit to them, procured the charter referred to, and subsequently obtained amendments to it securing the right of way from Madison to Baraboo, and thence northwestward to La Crosse or any other point on the Mississippi River. They stood ready to deliver this charter to Messrs. Smith & Walker, and also to furnish financial aid, just 80 soon as those gentlemen manifested their ability to put the road through.

In 1852, a bill was introduced in Congress granting to the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac pcoj)lo the alternate sections of land for six miles on either side of the proposed routes to aid in the construction of the roads. A clause in this bill provided that, in case the lands which would 80 fall to the company had been settled by private entry, an equivalent should be given them from the then unoccupied lands in other parts of the State. The bill passed to a third reading, and was defeated by one vote, when its friends were confident of its success. Opposition to it came chiefly from Milwaukee, from parties then engaged in directing the affairs of the La Crosse & Milwaukee road, now the La Crosse Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. They fought it vigorously from the very beginning, but, having twice met with defeat (in the first and second readings), had withdrawn from the contest, and openly conceded its ultimate success. The friends, as well as the enemies, of the grant, were very numerous. The "third house " was composed almost entirely of Wisconsin men. Smith & Walker had opened regular headquarters, and it is said the former expended $80,000 in the one article of wine during the two winters that the contest lasted. P. A. Bassett and Col. James Maxwell, of Baraboo, went to Washington at different times in the interest of the grant, Mr. Bassett being present when the final vote was taken. The defeat of the grant bill, of course, left the managers of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Company without prospective resources, and they were compelled to let the project rest.

In the winter of 1856-57, negotiations were opened with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, of which William B. Ogden was then President. P. A. Bassett, of Baraboo, having been delegated by the citizens to consult with Mr. Ogden, proposed to him that if the company would take the matter in hand and build a road through the valley, Sauk County would give in bonds and securities the sum of $450,000, and that the city of Madison would increase the amount to $600,000, Mr. Ogden promised that the route should be surveyed the following spring and work commenced as soon thereafter as possible. The crash of 1857 ruined the comjiany's calculations in this regard and postponed further consideration of the subject.

A corporation known as the Milwaukee & Western Railroad Company also enjoyed the favorable consideration of the people of Sauk County at an early day ; but before any action was taken by the company toward locating a line, the corporate name was changed to the Milwaukee, Waterto\Nn & Baraboo Valley. Judge S. L. Rose, of Beaver Dam, becoming President of this company, secured an amendment to the charter, and called it the Milwaukee, Watertown, Beaver Dam & Baraboo Valley Railroad Company. The sura of $100,- 000 was named as the amount Sauk County would be required to raise to aid in its construction, and Judge Rose made a tour through the Baraboo Valley for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions. Special elections were held in some of the towns through which the proposed line was to have passed, and money voted to aid in its construction. The town of Merrimack pledged itself to raise $50,000 should the line cross the river at that point before the bonds were issued. Other towns along the contemplated route held out similar inducements. The company was thus thrown upon its own resources to commence the work, and for the want of means the project was abandoned.

It remained, however, for that great railway genius, Byron Kilbourn, to successfully enlist the support of the citizens of Sauk County in favor of a railway scheme calculated to make the "poor rich and the rich richer." The agents of Mr. Kilbourn 's enterprise invaded the county from the direction of Milwaukee and induced numerous farmers to give their notes, secured by mortgages upon their property, for the stock of the then comparatively unknown La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad. In many parts of the county they found but little difficulty in securing customers for their paper. The advantages of a road running in front of every stockholder's door were pictured in attractive colors and eloquently dwelt upon. Then there was something irresistibly enticing in the prospect of forthcoming dividends upon the stock, which would surely enhance its value 100 per cent by the time the road should have been completed.

Meetings were held at all the principal points in Sauk County, at which enthusiastic speeches were made in favor of subscribing to the stock of the road. Mr. Kilbourn was present in person at many of these gatherings, and frequently harangued the assemblage. An old settler of Baraboo remembers hearing him, on one occasion, state that the road would in all probability pass through Baraboo ; at any rate, " Baraboo stood as good a chance as any other point in the county." That same evening a meeting was in progress at Newport, at which the speakers assured the citizens of that pretentious place that the road would certainly cross the river there. These promises, though glaringly inconsistent, served the desired purpose to keep up the excitement, and farm mortgages continued to be given with the utmost confidence in the declarations of the railroad men ; in fact the granting of mortgages became a mania which lasted so lone/ as there were unencumbered farms and confiding farmers in the county. It is a remarkable fact that farms with mortgages upon them were considered worth more than those that were unmortgaged, so earnest were the people in the belief that the stock of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company would appreciate in value and pay handsome dividends to the holders of it. Not to be the possessor of shares of this company was for a time considered a social disqualification, and, it is said, not a few neighborly feuds occurred between holders and non-holders on account of a manifest feeling of superiority on the part of the former over the latter.

But there finally came a revelation which, at this late date, seems almost cruel to refer to. The first intimation the people had of the '' true inwardness " of the scheme was contained in the announcement that the company had decided not to cross the Wisconsin River at Newport ; neither would the line pass through the Baraboo Valley. On the contrary, the managers had concluded not to penetrate any part of Sauk County with their road. Still the holders of stock remained hopeful. Passing over the question of anticipated dividends, the stock, they thought, would certainly be redeemed at par, and in this way they would escape loss. Then came the intelligence that the road had passed to other hands, and that the individuals composing the original company, were no longer responsible to the mortgagors for the redemption of the stock they held. Following close upon this astonishing information, came still more tangible evidence of duplicity, in the form of interest-bills upon the bonds of the defunct company. It had been stipulated between the farmers and the railroad men that the interest upon the bonds should be paid by the latter, but now that the company had ceased to exist in name, the bondholders naturally pounced upon the grantors of the mortgages for interest satisfactions. Recourse has since been had to the courts, decisions being rendered in favor of the bondholders.

In the meantime the road was rapidly approaching the Wisconsin River from the east. Apparently nothing definite had been determined upon as to the point of crossing, and the citizens of the village of Newport, though sadly disheartened over the prospect before them, resolved to press their claims to the last. The village had been built up principally upon the verbal promises of the officers of the La Cross & Milwaukee Company that the road should cross the Wisconsin River at that point, and in anticipation thereof, lots rose to a very high price. Soon afterward, however, the company purchased land a mile and a hnlf up the river, and procured a new location for the crossing. Many of the Newport citizens were stockholders in the road, but had no power to remedy the great wrong inflicted upon them. Finding themselves unable to obtain redress, they next endeavored to secure a depot on the line of the road opposite their place. In December, 1858, the company's Board of Directors granted a memorial, signed by the most prominent business men of Newport, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Delton, and the surrounding country, to allow Newport to erect a depot, on the east side of the river, at her own expense, and have the trains stop there. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and forthwith was heard in the then almost deserted village, the busy sound of ax, saw and hammer, and within ten weeks one of the handsomest depots on the line of the road stood erect and ready for use. On the 25th of February, 1859, a grand festival was held to celebrate the event, and the next day the first passenger train stoj)])ed there. And Newport was " resurrected." Some of the toasts on that festive occasion were very appropriate. For instance: "The Resurrection - Newport on theright. Kilbourn City on the left." " The citizens of Newport and vicinity - may they never be obliged to go to Kilbourn City to get on a train," And this one, aimed at the heads of the railroad managers: "The La C. k M. R. R., from Lone Rock to the head of the Dells -

" A serpent once roamed in a garden, 'tis said, With deception and lies as his tlienie ; And engulfetl in corruption our primitive head. By his false and fraudulent schemes.

" Ho his offspring can now, in all they may do. Be known by the manner they travel - The serpentine course this railroad pursues. Will their origin fully unravel."

But the confiding people of Newport were not permitted long to enjoy the privileges and benefits accruing to an ordinary way station. Mr. Kilbourn soon pushed his road up the east side of the river to the present site of the city which bears his name. A crossing was there effected, and, with characteristic energy, Mr. Kilbourn completed his road to the Mississippi River, about one mile of the line passing through Sauk County.

The feeling against the company was very intense, not only in this county, but in other parts of the State where the people had been hoodwinked. In order to quiet the deceived mortgagors, the La Crosse & Milwaukee Company finally signed over to them their State land-grant. Sales of this grant have since been made, and the proceeds distributed pro rata among the mortgagors. About 20 per cent has so far been realized upon the original amounts invested.

The facts concerning subsequent movements to obtain a road through the Baraboo Valley are very meager, though the citizens did not pause in their efibrts to secure this long-desired outlet. In the fall of 1862, the Chicago & North- Western Railroad Company made a preliminary examination of a route from Madison to La Crosse, and, in March following, Vice President Perry H. Smith, of Chicago, wrote to Gen. Starks, of Sauk County : " The route is an exceedingly feasible one, though some portions of it will be quite expensive. Our Board of Directors have determined to extend their line to the river, although, with the uncertainties of the times, I can make no positive promises of an immediate commencement of the work."

At a meeting of citizens held July 23, 1863, the Baraboo Valley Railroad Association was organized with P. A. Bassett as President, and correspondence was at once entered into with various railroad companies, setting forth the advantages of the route and the extent to which the people of the county would lend financial aid. In September following, the Chicago & North- Western Company made a survey from Madison to La Crosse, through the Baraboo Valley, Col. Van Meenan, the surveyor, reporting favorably upon the route. Here the subject appears to have been temporarily dropped.

The next railroad movement was made in January, 1865, when Gen. Starks introduced a bill into the Legislature to incorporate the Portage City & Baraboo Valley Railroad. The measure passed, and under this charter meetings were held in Baraboo and Greenfield, the latter town pledging |15,000 in aid of the road. In Baraboo, a resolution was adopted pledging $100,- 000. In June of that year, Gen. Starks, R. H. Strong and A. A. Avery had a conference with the Directors of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, and a re-organization of the Baraboo & Portage City Company was effected. In September, a route was surveyed by Chief Engineer Sill to Fine Island, above Portage. It was the original purpose of the company to continue the survey to Baraboo through the Lower Narrows, but the changing interests of " Mitchell's road " put a check upon further progress in this direction.

On the 11th of October, 1865, a meeting of the Directors of the " Madison, Lodi & Baraboo Valley Railroad Company " was held at Madison, Baraboo being represented by Messrs. Starks, Thomas, Sumner and others. The company thus named was formally organized on the 6th of March following, 500 shares of the stock being taken, and $5 per share paid in. Nothing tangible grew out of this movement, and it was not until 1869 that the people of Sauk County, heartily disgusted with the coquettish managers of the great lines from whom they had cause to expect something, resolved to go into the railroad business themselves. In October of that year, Col. S. V. R. Ableman expressed the popular sentiment in a communication signed '' Locomotive," published in the local papers. The article, the caption of which was " Shoulders to the Wheel," argued the ability of the citizens to construct a line of road through the valley, and thus place themselves in a position to dictate terms to either of the companies operating in this State who desired to make connection with them. This opening gun, as it were, was followed by a broadside from the pen of J. C. Lusk, in which was expressed the intense feeling stirred by Col. Ableman's eloquent appeal. The first meeting was held on the 19th of November, 1869, and was attended by delegates from far and near. An executive committee was appointed, headed by Col. Ableman, and it was resolved to apply for a charter. An instrument, covering the ground, was accordingly drawn up and passed by the next Legislature. A permanent organization was effected July 1, 1870 (the Baraboo Air Line Railroad Company) hj the election of the following officers: President, T. Thomas; Vice President, J. Mackey; Secretary, T. D. Lang ; Treasurer, R. M, Strong ; Directors, S. V. R. Ableman, J. F. Smith, Moses Young, S. P. Barney and Jonas ISTarracong. At this meeting, 500 shares of the stock were taken, ^5 on each share being paid in. In the meantime, propositions had been received from various railroad officials, which gave great strength to' the undertaking and encouraged the managers to use every energy they possessed in the interest of the project. About this time, a public statement was made by Messrs. Tracy and Dunlap, of the Chicago & North-Western, that that comi)any ]jro])Osed to undertake the construction of a line through the Baraboo Valley. Holding the charter for a route through the "lake gap," it was evident the Air-Line people occuj>icd a strong position. The Michigan Central road, through James F. Joy and George E. Easterly, also made a proposition to build the road, but the North-Western managers seem to have held out the best inducements, and arrangements were finally made with them. On the 12th and 13th of July, the Directors of the Air-Line road had a conference with the Directors of the (Jhicago & North-Western, at which a basis of agreement was accepted by both parties and reduced to writing. Under this agreement, a re-organization of the Air-Line directory was effected, five of its members retiring and being succeeded by George L. Dunlap, James H, Howe, Henry H. Porter and John B. Turner, of the North-Western Company, James L. Hill being jointly chosen on behalf of both com])anies.

The history of the enterprise from that time to the present is unattended by events of a nature demanding exhaustive consideration in these pages. It is sufficient to say that the basis of agreement has been strictly adhered to by both parties. Sauk County, so long in a position to aid in the building of a road through her fertile valleys, came promptly forward with the amount stipulated in the agreement. Work upon the road was commenced and vigorously prosecuted to the end. The results have been of a character beneficial to both the people and the company.

The road was completed to Baraboo on Friday, September 8, 1871, and on Tuesday, the 12th, a grand celebration took place, such a one as was never before held in these classic precincts. There were music, speaking, cannon-firing and great rejoicing generally. It is estimated thai 10,000 people were present. One of the remarkable features of the occasion was the great arch erected over the track. On either side of the track a circle of hop-poles had been formed. Through the spaces between the poles, hop-vines were wreathed until the poles were entirely clad with green. On the top of the columns rested a broad arch, surmounted by a large keystone, upon which were piled immense golden pumpkins, strings of red-cheeked apples, sheavesof wheat and stalks of corn. In the center stood a flag-staff, from which floated a banner.

The iron-horse reached Reedsburg on New Year's Day (1871-72), but, on account of the unfavorable season for outdoor celebrations, the observance of the event was postponed.

The material interests of the county have undergone a greater degree of development in the past nine years than during the entire period of its history preceding the advent of the railroad; and the permanent location at Baraboo of the company's roundhouse, workshops and business headijuarters for the Madison Division, contributes almost immeasurably to the importance of the road to every part of the county.

Passing through the southwestern portion of the county, with stations at Spring Green and Lone Rock (the latter just over the line in Richland County), the Prairie du Chien Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee .^ St, Paul road furnishes a convenient and valuable outlet for the people of that section. Chiefly in consequence of the advantages thus afforded. Spring Green has grown to occupy the third position in the list of prosperous villages in Sauk County.

The total amount of farm mortgages given in Sauk County to different railroad companies was 91 20,1 (M», as follows: La Crosse & Milwaukee, $87,200; Watertown c^ Madison, §4,020 ; Madison, Fon<l du Lac k Michigan, §27,300 ; Milwaukee, Watertown & Baraboo Valley, Milwaukee k Horicon, §1,000.

Agricultural Industries, Soil, Etc

Sauk County presents productive features of remarkable diversity. Almost every known tind or quality of soil is found within its borders. There are large areas of prairie, which, it seems, were especially adapted by nature to the raising of corn ; hills dimpled with small valleys and surmounted by table-lands, where the best winter wheat in the State is grown, and marshes calculated for meadows, both wild and tame.

Beginning in the northwest portion of the county, in the town of Woodland, we find, in the valleys, a soil of rich loam, and on the ridges the quality of clay in which winter wheat thrives and yields abundantly. This town, however, is more particularly noted for its timber ; in fact, is the great lumbering region whence, in early days, came all the rafts of pine logs that were gathered and floated down the Baraboo into the Wisconsin, and thence to the Mississippi. It was here also that the Wonewoc Wagon Company got their timber until that institution -closed down

Passing west into the town of Lavalle, we find the diversity of soil and the variety of productions more marked, though the features west and south of the river are very similar to those described in Woodland. East of the river, the soil is sandy. Wheat and corn are raised in this region in about equal proportions. Dairying is the principal industry in the southern part of the town.

The town of Delton may be fitly described as poor and sandy north of the two southern tiers of sections. The extreme southern tier comprises the best soil in the town, though there is a strip of very productive land along the Wisconsin River. Webster's Prairie is particularly noted for its sand and unproductiveness. Corn is the principal product in the town.

In the town of Fairfield, the cultivated portions are devoted chiefly to corn. The best lands are in the north part of the town. An extensive marsh, covering some seven or eight sections, exists in the southeast portion.

The south half of Greenfield is very broken and sterile, though there are occasional valleys of fair soil. The north half consists of good prairie soil. A large part of the famous Baraboo Valley is in this town. Corn, wheat and oats are grown here quite extensively. Dairying is one of the substantial interests of the town.

Turning westward, we pass into the town of Baraboo, and find two distinct soils, with the river as the dividing line. North of the stream are the "oak openings " and sand; south of it, the clay and maple groves, where winter wheat of the very best quality is raised, samples of it having taken the first premium at a recent State fair.. Here, also, are many sugar orchards, while north of the river not a maple is to be seen, except those transplanted there. The northwest portion of the town is largely devoted to corn.

In the town of Excelsior, the best lands lie between Baraboo and Ableman, though there are patches of good land in other parts. Corn predominates.

Within the boundaries of the town of Reedsburg is contained some excellent soil ; especially is this true of Babb's and Narrows Prairies. The town is especially noted for the great quantities and superior quality of potatoes raised there and shipped from the railway station. Hopraising also forms one of the leading agricultural pursuits.

The north part of Ironton is formed of similar soil to that of the two prairies in the previously described town. The southern portion of the town is broken and hard to cultivate. Corn and wheat are raised in about equal proportions, while stock-raising and dairying receive considerable attention. This town is noted for its iron mines, from which it derives its name.

The town of Washington is or was before advancing civilization bore down upon it very heavily timbered throughout. The soil is very strong, and it has the reputation of being probably the best winter wheat section in the county.

The agricultural characteristics of the town of Westfield are not unlike those of the town of Washinc'ton. Winter wheat and hops are the chief productions.

Two-thirds of the town of Sumter is prairie land, which is almost exclusively devoted to corn. The famous Kirk vineyard is situated in the northeast corner of this town.

The south and southwes't portions of the town of Merrimack are considered the best lands in its borders. The north and northeast parts are sandy and unproductive. Corn predominates.

The only town in the county exclusively prairie, and therefore a good corn region, is Prairie du Sac. In the northern portion of the town the soil is rich and heavy, but it grows thinner as we pass south, and finally disappears entirely, enormous sand beds taking its place.

The town of Troy is considerably broken, with a large area of sand in the southern portion. There is some excellent land in the Honey Creek Valley. Corn is the leading agricultural feature.

In the town of Franklin, corn and wheat are raised in about equal proportions. The southern part of the town is i^rairie, the north being heavily timbered.

Crossing into the town of Bear Creek, we find ourselves in a region of naked bluffs and fertile valleys, where the dairying interest takes the lead of all other industries. There are two cheese factories in this town, and there is probably more of this article manufactured here than in any other town in the county. Wheat and corn receive considerable attention.

The town of Spring Green, the last in the category, is largely prairie, interspersed with sand beds. Corn and rye are the principal products.

The organization of this society took place in 1855. The first meeting of which there is any record was held on the 22d of February (an historic day) of that year, at Taylor's Hall, in the village of Baraboo. Due notice of this meeting had been given, and the attendance was large, considering the very primitive state of agriculture at that date. Alexander Crawford was called to the chair and James S. Moselcy was appointed Secretary. A twelve article constitution was presented and adopted. The first article declared the objects of the society to be the " i»romotion and improvement of the condition of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical, manufacturing and household arts." The remaining clauses set forth the obligations and duties devolving upon the officers of the society, and included specified rules for governing the management of fairs. Then followed the election of officers for the ensuing vear : James M. Clarke was chosen President: Daniel Pound, Vice President; James S. Moseley, Secretary and R. H. Davis, Treasurer. An invitation being extended to those present to become members by signing the constitution and paying into the treasury the sum of ^1, the following-named individuals responded: James M. Clarke, William J. Huntington, R. R. Remington, Benjamin L. Brier, Isaac W. Morley, Charles A. Clarke, B. B. Brier, William Stees, Francis K. Jenkins, John B. Walbridge, B. F. Mills, Rufus N. Flint, Alexander Crawford, John B. Crawford, S. V. R. Ahh-man, Charles H. Williams, Moses M. Chaplin, Ebenczer Martin, Stephen M. Burdick, Samuel Xortiiroj), Oliver W. Thomas, James S. Moseley, Daniel Pound and John Acker. An Executive Committee was chosen as follows : jNIessrs. Morley, Remington, Williams, Jenkins, Acker and K. 0. Rudd, A. F. Kellogg, Zoeth Eldridge, Henry Ochsner, Alexander Stewart, Williiini Andrews, E. G. Blakeslee, Albert Kelley, Ransom E. Stone, James K. Thompson and John Yitiinjr.

A i»remium list was arranged, and October 16, 1855, set for the date of the first fair, to be held in the village of Baraboo; but unfortunately there is no record of such fair having been held. The last meeting of the Executive Committee, prior to the date appointed for holding the fair, took place on the 15th of September. At this meeting, James M. Clarke tendered his resignation as President of the society, and R. G. Camp was appointed to fill the vacancy.

The next meeting was held on March 15, 1856, when Mr. Camp was elected President; I. W. Morley, Vice President; R. H. Davis, Treasurer, and M. C. Waite, Secretary. An Executive Committee was also chosen, composed of one representative from each of the seventeen towns in the county. Nothing of consequence appears in the proceedings of this meeting in reference to the fair held the year previous. We are informed, however, that there was a balance in the treasury of $135, which is conclusive evidence that the first fair of the Sauk County Agricultural Society was at least a profitable one. At this meeting a premium list for the next fair, to be held at Baraboo on the 1st and 2d of October, 1856, was presented, aggregating $249.50 in cash. The names of eighty-six members appear on the roll.

In the fall of 1856, there seems to have been a re-organization of the society, as appears from a minute in the proceedings of a meeting held on the 1st of October, to wit : " On motion, the funds of the old society were passed over to the present organization." Officers were elected on the same date as follows : President, R. H. Davis ; Vice President, J, B. Crawford ; Treasurer, I. W. Morley ; Secretary, E. Martin. Among the seventeen Directors chosen at this meeting appear many new names, indicating a complete revolution in the management.

At the July (1857) meeting of the Executive Board, President Davis presented his resignation, which was accepted, John W. Powell being appointed to fill the vacancy. The Treasurer's report showed $23.97 on hand. On the 19th of September, Mr. Martin resigned the secretaryship, and was succeeded by William H. Joy. Five days later, the annual meeting for the election of officers was held, resulting in the choice of John B. Crawford for President, R. R. Remington for Vice President, John W. Powell for Treasurer, and James M. Clarke for Secretary. No reference is made, in the proceedings of the meetings held this year, to the fair of October, 1856,

On the 28th of August, 1858, the Executive Committee met, and adopted the report of the Committee previously appointed on premium list. Premium money to the amount of $244 was voted to be distributed at the approaching October fair, which, it was subsequently resolved, should be held at Reedsburg. October 14, at the close of the fair, the annual election for officers was held, with the following result : President, J. B. Walbridge ; Vice President, A. W. Starks ; Treasurer, William H. Thompson ; Secretary, H. H. Peck.

August 12, 1859, the Executive Committee met, and elected A. M. Starks, President, and A. B. Bradley, Vice President. It was also decided that the next fair and cattle show should be held at Baraboo, on the 21st and 22d of September. A resolution was passed to the effect that "a diploma be considered the highest possible testimonial of approbation this society can bestow." Henry Getchell and R. Jones were appointed a committee " to make inquiries as to the cost of leasing grounds and erecting suitable buildings for the convenience and accommodation of the society." The Committee reported in favor of accepting the offer of a site made by John B. Crawford, with whom they were further instructed to make a written agreement, and also to mature plans for a building. Mr. Peck resigned the secretaryship. M. C. Waite was appointed to fill the vacancy, and the board adjourned.

In January, 1860, it was resolved to procure material, and fence the ground leased of Mr. Crawford. In March, contracts were closed with P. A. Bassett for boards, and with Metcalf & Paddock for posts, and Messrs. Lee & Lemeroux were employed to build the fence. The fair this year was held at Baraboo, on the 19th, 20th and 21st of September. The records show that there were 150 exhibitors and 801 entries. Premiums were awarded to the extent of $277.50, while the receipts from all sources amounted to $398. At the close of the fair, A. W. Starks was elected President: F. K. Jenkins, Vice President; John B. Crawford, Treasurer, and M. C Waite, Secretary. The Board of Directors this year was composed of twenty members, and the membership of the society was 140. The financial report showed that there had

The annual fair for 1861 was held at Baraboo on the 16th, 17th and 18th of September, There were two diplomas awarded: Mrs. C. A. Hutchins for best lace cape, and Mrs. F. Longlev for best sofa pillow. The sura of §142 was disbursed in premiums. The highest premium (^0) was given to F. G. Staley for the best-conducted farm. The business meeting of the society, held on the second day of the fair, resulted in the election of Harvey Canfield for President, R. R. Remington for Treasurer and H. H. Potter for Secretary. The receipts of this fair were $25^i.2S.

In January, 1862, Peter Cooper was chosen President of the society in place of H. Canfield, deceased. F. G. Staley was elected A^ice President to supply the omission made at the preceding annual election. No record of the fair held this year is to be found.

In 1863, there were 298 entries and ^203.40 paid in cash premiums. The receipts amounted to ^285.55, and the total expenditures to $291.79. The old board of officers was re-elected.

No record exists for 1864. The regular annual meeting of the Executive Committee was held January 21, 1865, at which Charles H. Williams was chosen President; E. Walbridge, Vice to hold business meetings in June, but failed on account of a quorum not appearing. President; R. R. Remington, Treasurer, and J. J. Gattiker, Secretary. Two attempts were made to hold business meetings in June, but failed on account of a quorum not appearing.

The next record of the society is dated the 18th of February, 1866. At this meeting, it was decided to hold a fair on the 10th and 11th of October, and $235 were offered in premiums ; according to the Treasurer's report, however, only $127 was disbursed for this purpose. This was the most profitable fair held by the society up to that date. The receipts from all sources amounted to $533.91, while the expenses were but $289.21, leaving a balance of $244.77. Charles H. Williams was re-elected President and J. J. Gattiker Secretary. H. H. Potter, J. B. Crawford and F. G. Staley were chosen Vice Presidents, and Henry Cowles Treasurer.

The records for 1867 are somewhat brief. The fair took place in October, but we are left in the dark as to the financial result. A resolution was passed at the business meeting that followed, extending thanks to John Y. Smith for an address delivered on the occasion : also one to the elTect that " in future a diploma be offered in place of any first premiums to those who shall prefer it to the money." The following officers were chosen: President, H. H. Potter; Vice Presidents, J. B. Crawford, J. G. Graw and D. D. Lee ; Treasurer, Henry Cowles ; Secretary, J. J. Gattiker.

On the 18th of Sej)tember, 1868, in pursuance with a previous call, a meeting of the Executive Committee was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of holding the usual annual fair. A majority of the six gentlemen present favored a proposition not to hold a fair, and it was so determined, though the reason for this action does not appear. It certainly could not have been for lack of funds, for the report of the Treasurer showed that there was $676.10 on hand.

The record of 1869 is also dated the 18th of September, and is very much to the same effect as the preceding. It reads as follows: " The meeting was called for deciding whether it would be advisable or not to hold a county fair. There was no quorum present, but those in attendance were decidedly of the oi)inion that, under the present circumstances, it would be best to dispense with the fair. The lease on the Crawford ground had expired, the building had been taken down, and there was no place to be had except Emery's race grounds, for which he would charge for two years at the rate of $100 per year. The officers thought it to the advantage of the society to find a piece of ground which could be bought for a permanent location. "

In .May, 1870, it was decided to hold a fair on the 6th and 7th of October, and a list was made up offering $455 in cash premiums, $84 being for trotting and running. Four hundred articles were entered for (.-xhibition, upon which there was paid $304. Forty acres of land were purchased this year from Adam Nixon for $1,540, twenty acres of it being sold afterward for $600. At the close of the fair the society found itself in debt $779.59. Officers were chosen as follows : President, H. H. Potter ; Vice-Presidents, J. M. True, J. G. Grow and I. W. Morley ; Treasurer, Henry Cowles ; Secretary, J. J. Gattiker.

The fair of 1871 was held in the society's new building on the 20th, 21st and 23d of September. There were ninety exhibitors and 326 entries in the different departments. The old board of officers was chosen, with the exception of I. W. Morley, who was succeeded as one of the Vice Presidents by John B. Crawford. Owing to the heavy expense attending the construction of a new building, the financial condition of the society this year was not favorable, though the prospects were bright. The receipts from all sources were $1,070.70, but the expenses were sufficiently large to make the indebtedness $1,155.

The result of the fair of 1872 composes no part of the very brief record of that year. A meeting; was held on the 23d of March, at which it was decided to hold the fair on the 17th and 18th of September. A very extensive premium list was adopted, amounting to $749.50. There is no record of the officers elected this year; and, for the following year (1873), while we have a list of the officers, there is no record of the fair. The officers for the latter year were : President, H. H. Potter ; Vice Presidents, James Morey, H. Ochsner, John Dennett, P. J. Parshall, I. W. Morley, J. W. Wood ; Secretary, John M. True ; Treasurer, T. T. English.

In 1874, the officers were : President, H. H. Potter ; Vice Presidents, J. B. Crawford, D. E. Welch, W. C. Cady, P. J. Parshall, A. Hoage, W. Thiele, J. B. Clark, B. U. Strong, N. H. Briggs, G. I. Bancroft, T. Gillespie, T. J. Morgans, E. Kimball, H. Ochsner, William Dennett, Isaac Gibbs, John Young and A. Cottington ; Treasurer, T. T. English ; Secretary, John M. True.

In 1875, John True was chosen President ; a Vice President was chosen from each town ; Henry Cowles was Treasurer, and Philip Cheek, Jr., Secretary.

In 1876, H. H. Potter was elected President, H. Cowles Treasurer, and John M. True Secretary. The receipts this year were $1,032.08, the fair being held on the 19th, 20th and 21st of September.

Charles H. Williams was chosen President in 1877, J. M. Highland, Treasurer, and G. A. Pabodie, Secretary. The fair was held on the 26th, 27th and 28th of September. Receipts, $790.25.

In 1878, John M. True was President, John M. Highland, Treasurer, and George A. Paboilie, Secretary. The Vice President representation by towns was changed this year, two Vice Presidents being chosen - J. W. Wood and H. B. Knapp. The officers for 1879 were the same, with the exception of 0. H. Cook being chosen as Vice President in place of J. W. Wood.

The present officers are John M. True, President ; 0. H. Cook and J. W. Wood, Vice Presidents ; J. B. Duncan, Treasurer ; F. N. Peck, Secretary. The receipts of the last exhibition were $536.84.

For the past six or seven years, the winter meetings of this society have been full of interest. The attendance is very large from all parts of the county, while not a few practical men from other parts of the State take interest enough in them to be present. The meetings are chiefly devoted to the reading of papers on various topics pertaining to agriculture, horticulture, etc., and the discussion of those papers.

Blood Cattle

The rearing of blood cattle has become one of the leading industries among Sauk County farmers, whose tastes have a tendency in that direction, and this feature of the farmyard, to all appearances, results in financial returns quite as satisfactory as many of the leading branches of agriculture. The ample area of lands in the county which produce sweet and nutritious grasses also makes the dairying interest a profitable one, and dairymen have not been slow in seeing the necessity for improving the breed of their milch cows. Hence the demand for short-horns, Jersevs AVrshires. etc., and the consequent new departure of a few farmers who have turned their attention entirely to rearing them. Probably the first to take the lead in this industry m Sauk County was C H. Williams^ whose farm, near the village of Baraboo, is well adapted to stockraising He brou^^ht the first short-horns into the county about twenty-seven years ago. and has now somethincrlike thirty head. The Major is the most extensive breeder of fine cattle in the countv R A. Morley and" John M. True come next in point of numbers, though there are others amon^r whom may be mentioned W. T. Kelsey, of Prairie du Sac, G. W. and A. S. Waterburv, R. E. Stone and James Grisim, who have probably been longer m the business. Of Ayrshires.Mrs. C C. Remington has eight or ten head, while A. G. Tuttle is the owner of half a dozen fine Jerseys.

On the 13th of June, 1874, Charles H. Williams, H. H. Potter, John M. True. John B. Crawford, R. J. Wood, J. W. Wood, J. H. Vrooman, William Fessler, Melatiah Willis, P. W. Carpenter, H. J. Farnum, Charles Teel, G. C. Astle, A. J. Sears, R. Johnson, Charles Payne, S. McGilvra, S. W. Emery, Ryland Stone, R. E. Stone, J. R. Hall, N. W. Morley, James Hill, William Christie, H. H. Howlett, R. A. Morley, Levi Cahoon, Amos Johnson and 0. H. Cook, met in the Court House, Baraboo, and organized " The Stock Breeders' Association of Sauk' County," a. joint-stock company with a capital stock of $4,200, having for its purpose " the procuring and keeping of imported and thoroughbred horses and mares for breeding purposes."

On the 10th of February, 1875, H. H. Potter, M. Willis, Amos Johnson, John B. Craw^ ford and Charles Teel were chosen Directors of the Association, and on the 13th of the same month, H. H. Potter was elected President, J. B. Wood, Treasurer, and John M. True, Secretary.

The officers for 1876 were H. H. Potter, President; J. J. Gattiker, Treasurer, and John .M. True, Secretary. Directors - Ross Johnson, H. J. Farnum, A. Johnson, H. H. Potter and J. B. Crawford.

On the 12th of January, 1878, R. H. Strong was chosen President, E. Walbridge, Treasurer, and J. M. True, Secretary. Directors, P. W. Carpenter, R. Johnson, R. H. Strong. F. Baringer and 0. H. Cook.

In 1879, R. J. Wood was made President, Messrs. Walbridge and True being re-elected Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. Messrs. Johnson and Strong were succeeded in the directory by H. J. Farnum and R. J. Wood.

The present officers are : President, John B. Crawford ; Treasurer, E. Walbridge : Secretary, John M. True. Directors, George C. Astle, R. Johnson, J. B. Crawford, 0. H. Cook and Fred Baringer.

Dairying

Sauk County has become somewhat distinguished for her dairy products, one of her citizens having secured the highest prize awarded at the National Dairymen's Fair held in New York in l.s71>. The principal dairymen in the county are A. & D. Beckwith and Aaron Southard, of the t<iwn of IJt-ar Creek, wiio manufacture cheese on quite an extensive scale. J. A. Morley and Archibald Barker, of the town of Baraboo, are the next most extensive dairymen, butter being their chief product ; John Tordoff, Lavalle, cheese; Amos Johnson, 0. K. Cook, H. Bradbury and .loiin Monroe, Greenfichl, butter and cheese; Peter S. Young and Henry Hills, Sumter, cheese. In 1>^7S'. J. A. Morley prepared an exhibit of butter and sent it to the National Dairymen's Fair, where it took the first premium ($50) in the Wisconsin Class. This eiititU'd it to compete for the sweepstakes, for which no butter could be entered that was not the be»t of some Stat** class. The sweepstakes prize ($100) it also took, it being pronounced the best butter in the Fair. Then, again, it took the conditional prize of $100 oifered by the Higgins Salt Company, which that company agreed to pay to the winner of the sweepstakes, should it happen ^;hat the winning butter was salted with the Higgins salt, as was the case with the Morley butter.

Statistical

The following tabulated statement of the agricultural productions in Sauk County for 1878 is taken from the records of the County Board, and will furnish a fair idea of the productive wealth of the county :

Number Of Bushels Number Of Pounds

- Here is an item, supplied by the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in 1868, which will grow valuable as it grows older : Number of acres of improved land in the county, 85,000 ; average price per acre, $15; acres of unimproved land, 447,000; price per acre, $4; post offices in county, 20 ; schoolhouses, 157 ; church buildings, 25 ; flouring-mills, 12, with 35 runs of stone ; saw-mills, 21, with 35 sets of saws ; woolen-factories, 2 ; foundries and machine shops, 4 ; smelting furnaces, 1 ; other manufacturing establishments, 24. Population of county (estimated), 25,000. Population of villages (estimated): Baraboo, 3,000 ; Reedsburg, 1,500 ; Sauk City, 1,600 ; Delton, 500 ; Ironton, 400 ; La Valle, 100 ; Lyons, 200 ; Manchester, 50 ; Merrimack, 100; Spring Green, 600; Prairie du Sac, 800; Loganville, 500.

Hops, And The Panic Of 1868

Sauk is the banner hop-raising county of Wisconsin, and, in fact, of the Northwest. Harvey Canfield. Benjamin Colton and Mr. Cottington are believed to have been the pioneers in the business in the county. Producers then thought themselves fortunate if they obtained 7 cents per pound for their crop, after hauling it to Beaver Dam, which, in early times, was the nearest market. About 1863, owing to an increased demand for hops, the price advanced to such an unusual figure that farmers everywhere were induced to devote a portion of their lands to the cultivation of the article. For the next four years, notwithstanding the increased acreage and supply, there was no falling-ofF in prices; on the contrary, hops advanced steadily, and in 1865, reached the extraordinary figures of 50, 55 and even 60 cents per pound, with fair prospects'of going still higher. By this time, the cultivation of other farm products was almost entirely abandoned. Preparations had been made throughout the county to plant almost every availaVjle acre of tillable land into hops. Producers purchased from outside sources the necessary small grains required for feed and flour, and turned their undivided attention to hop-raising. The excitement ran high. Speculators, with pocketfuls of money, were plenty, and anxious to buy. Hundreds of farmers, with but very few acres of land, who had hitherto been considered poor, and in fact were poor, suddenly became reputably rich. A man needed no higher indorsement than to have it said of him, " He has a hop-yard." His credit was good at any of the mercantile establishments in the villages where he did his trading. " I'll pay when I sell my hops," was a sufficient guaranty for almost unlimited credit. It was a day of liberal dealings, not of sharp bargains, as now. The man with a hop-yard never stopped to say " It's too high ; I'll give you so much," and he seldom inquired the price of an article he sought to purchase. It went on the books, and much depended upon the conscientiousness and fair-dealing qualities of the merchant. Farmers' daughters wore silks and attended universities ; sons went to college, clothed in broadcloth, and the airs of opulence. There were evidences of wealth on every hand, and not without cause. A great many men became comparatively wealthy. The fiM-mers in a radius often miles who had made .$10,000 in three years, could not be enumerated upon the fingers twice touched. Enormous hop-houses of fantastic shapes were built ; fine blood horses were purchased ; family carriages, phaetons and fancy harness found ready sale - " If you'll wait till my hops get ripe ;" though toward the latter part of the period of excitement the cash was paid in most cases, and a great many old accounts were squared. But the end came, finally, and at a very inopportune time, when the acreage had been largely increased. Prices fell, and with a crash, too. Most of the crop of 1867 was held for higher figures ; 30 and 35 cents was not enough. "They'll be worth more next year," said the hop-grower; but his prophecy was shorn of its wisdom the following season, when the bottom of the market dropped completely out, and hops became a drug, commercially, worth from 3 to 5 cents, with but few buyers. The old crops on hand were, in many instances, more than a dead loss ; the pickers had been paid half the value of a pound of hops per box at the date of picking, which, a year later, amounted to more than the market price, and about the only profit left the producer, was contained in the conversion of his hop-poles into stovewood. One good result, however, of this hop excitement, was the substantial farm improvements made during its existence. The large and costly hop-houses now make good barns. Hop-raising, however, was not entirely abandoned after the |ianic ; some farmers still continue to grow them quite extensively, and -to some degree of profit.

Thirty years ago, when fiirms were small, owing to the great length of time required to clear away the heavy growths of timber, many of the settlers in the western portion of the county found themselves in straitened circumstances and were compelled to fight starvation at great disadvantage. But nature seems to have provided a way for those who persevered in their efi'orts to <rain a livelihood. John Jessop, of the town of Ironton, had but recently taken a claim of forty acres. He strove for a time to feed and clothe his fiimily from the product of a few acres, but the period was drawing near when he would be called upon by the Government to pay for hi.s land, and money he must have. At that date wild honey was very plentiful. The woods , echoed with the ))uzz of the busy bee. Relinquishing his farm labors, Mr. Jessop turned his entire attention to the gathering of honey. When he had accumulated a wagon load of the "native sweet," he set out with his ox team for Baraboo, Portage and intervening commercial points, where he peddled it out to the citizens by the pound, for cash, provisions or anything else useful he could get. In this way, after making several trips, he paid for his land and supplied his family with the necessaries of life.

Another of the natural products of the western portion of the county, which indirectly furnished food and raimentTor a large number of settlers in early days, was ginseng root, so highly prized for medicinal purposes by the Chinese. In some localities, the root was very plentiful, and for a time the people generally devoted their attention to digging and shipping it to market, where they received as high as $1 per pound for any quantity it might be their good fortune to gather. A widow lady, in the town of Washington, earned enough money in this way to pay off a considerable mortgage on her farm, which the previous hard times had compelled her to negotiate. Ginseng, so common with us, is a rare herb among the heathens of Asia. With them it is the panacea for all ills, and after it has undergone a process known to the Cantonese as leong-tsue^ it enhances greatly in value. Large quantities of the article are transhipped to Australia, the Hawaiian Islands and that other Chinese province, California, where it finds ready sale among the nations of the Orient at the exorbitant figures of $25 and $30 an ounce. It is said to derive its great value in their estimation from having cured a former emperor of the colic.

The cutting of hop-poles furnished profitable employment to many during the great hop excitement from 1865 to 1872. One of the principal industries in the towns of Ironton and Lavalle at the present time is the cutting and hauling of stave timber to the mills of Messrs. Paddock & Keith. The burning of charcoal and smelting of iron ore also furnish employment to a large number of the residents of the same towns. In the southernpart of the county, where there is less soil than sand, the raising of melons has become a profitable industrial pursuit. Berries and grapes (wild and tame) and the stronger varieties of tree fruits flourish in every part of the county. Only about one-third of its broad and fertile acres are now under cultivation. With its great diversity of soil and peculiar adaptability to almost every variety of useful products, who can estimate the future importance of Sauk County ?