Vernon County, Wisconsin - Ancient Inhabitants, 1884

Ancient Inhabitants

The first people of Vernon county, who were they ? This question, of course, can never be answered. We know that, scattered over it, in vafious directions, there once lived a race concerning which all that has come down to us is exceedingly shadowy. These people are usually denominated

The Mound Builders

Vestiges of the labor of the so-called Mound Builders still exist in various parts of the connty of Vernon, in the form of earthworks, consisting of mounds, some rudely representing animals ; others seemingly like low battlements; while a third variety are simply elevations, usually conical in shape. Although more plen- tiful in the vicinity of the Mississippi and the Kickapoo rivers, yet they are all above tiie liigh watermark. They are numerous in the towns of Liberty, Sterli' g and Wheatland, and are in existence in Viroqua, and in other towns. What all these earthworks were for - what uses they subserved - is absolutely unknown. It is probable tiiat the ingenuity and research of man may never 7-each beyond conjecture in determining the object of these mounds. x\nd of the hands that shaped them, we know nothing.

The most noted of these eartimorks in the county are lliose to be seen on the farm of H. L. Turner, on section 24, township 12, range 3 west, ill tlie town of Liberty. In some respects they are the most remarkable of any in the State as yet discovered. We give a sketch of them, the first one that has been given to tlie public. It is from the pen of Mr. Turner himself :

"There are thirty-two mounds on the place. Scattered around in groups of one or more on about 100 acres of land, of a dry, sandy soil, being above high water mark, the mounds are always on good dry land, 'i lu'y are of an even texture of earth throughout, sliowing that they are built of soil from the surface where they are constructed. They are of various forms and sizes. Some are round, some are long, straight mounds of earth ; some are in the form of animals and some are in the form of birds ; all are very distinct, and show clearly what they are. But they vary from the animals and birds of the present time.

"The first group consists of three mounds. Two of these are nearly in the form of deer lying on their sides, facing each other, their heads about two rods apart. They are about six rods long in their bodies ; their tails six or eight rods long. The knee joints of botli forward and hind legs are bent back, and the tails are very long for deer. The other mound is in the form of a bear lying on his side, and is about five rods long.

About fifty rods northwest from this is group No 'i. consisting of two mounds in the form of a bear lying on his side, the knee joint of the fore and hind legs bending back 'I'liey are some six rods long ; their legs are toward each other. They are about six rods apart, one about its length ahead of the other.

About forty rods to the north of this group is group No. 3 consisting of thirteen round mounds, in two rows ; one of the rows is straight - the largest mounds are in the middle. The other row is in a curve, in which there are seven mounds. From this group of mounds in a southwest direction, about forty rods, is group No. 4 consisting of two mounds ; one a straight mound of earth about

About fifty rods to the southeast of this fourth group is a large mound in the form of a bird, his wings and tail extended as though sailing in the air. From tip to tip of wings is about thirty rods. This mound is called the Eagle, on account of its large size, being the largest on the place. About thirty rods to the northwest of the Eagle is another mouad in the form of a bird, about eight rods in length, of a more compact form then the Eagle. Its wings and tail are extended like a bird sailing in the air. Hawk is the name of this mound. About fifty rods to the south of the Hawk is a small round mound. From this round mound in a southwest direction is group No. 5, consisting of two mounds, one is in the form of a beaver crouched on the ground, his legs under him; the other mound is the same animal lying on his side, and forward of the other. Those mounds are about six rods in length. To the north of group No. 5 about twenty-five rods distant, is group No. 6 consisting of two mounds in the form of birds. They are alike, both flying the same way. They are side by side, the tips of the wings just touching each other. They are flying south. These are called the Wild Geese. To the northwest of the Wild Geese, about thirty rods distant, is a straight mound about six rods in length. To the north of the Wild Geese,about thirty rodsdistant, is a grouj) of four mounds, two of them are in the form of a beaver crouched upon the ground with his feel under him. The two other mounds are straight in line with each other, witli about two rods between them; the length of these mounds are from six to eight rods each.

On the same section in the Kickapoo valley, on the farm now owned by David Sommers, are numerous earthworks of like character as those on the farm of Mr. Turner. The average height of these mounds was, when the country was first settled, from two to three feet.

Thb Indians

the Indians, is that given on the map of Samuel C'hamplain, dated in 1632. It is there seen that reports liad reached the ears of the French upon the waters of the St. Lawrence, of a great river to tlie westward of Lake Huron and to the southward of Lake Superior, but which it was said flowed north into the lake last mentioned. This was a vague account of the Mississippi. Upon that river are located savages, which, probably, were those afterward known as

The Sioux

Uands of tiiis Nation occupied the whole country immediately north of the Wisconsin and adjacent to the Mississippi. It is not known that they had any village within what is now Vernon county; but this region was, probably, their hunting grounds, if they did not actually occupy it with their wigwams.

It was known to the French, also, before any white man had ever set foot upon any part of Wisconsin or the northwest, that these Sioux were in the habit of going in their canoes to trade with the Winnebagoes, who were located at that time (before 1634) around Lake AVinnebago. Fartlier than this, no knowledge liad been gained of these savages. Not many years afterward they must have withdrawn farther lip the Mississippi, leaving the country upon and down this river for some distance from tie mouth of the Wisconsin, without inhabitants. At this time, the nearest savages, eastward, were the Kickapoos, Mianiis and Mascoutins, who were loca ed on Fox river above Lake Winnebago. Such was the casein 1634, when John Nicollet, the iirst man to explore the present State of Wisconsin, reached that river.

What is now Vernon county and its surrounding country remained a derelict region until finally the Sacs and Foxes from the east came to Fox river and then moved westward to the

Wisconsin. Of all the tribes who have inhabited this State, they are the most noted. The Sacs were sometimes called Sauks or Saukies and the Foxes were frequently known as the Outagamies. They are of the Algonquin family, and are first mentioned in 1665, by Father Allouez, but as separate tribes. Afterward, however, because of the identity of their language, and their associations, they were and still are considered one Nation. In December, 1669, Allouez found upon the shores of Green bay a village of Sacs, occupied also by members of other tribes; and early in 1670 he visited a village of the same Indians located upon the Fox river of Green bay, at a distance of four leagues from its mouth. Here a device of these Indians for catching fish arrested the attention of the missionary. "From one side of the river to the other," he writes, "Ihey made a barricade, planting great stakes, two fathoms from the water, in such a manner that there is, as it were, a bridge above for the fishes, who by the aid of a little bow-net, e^.sily take sturgeons and all other kinds of fish which this pier stops, although the water does not cease to flow between the stakes." When the Jesuit father first obtained, five years previous, a knowledge of this tribe, they were represented as savage above all others, great in numbers, and without any permanent dwelling place. 'I"he Foxes were of two stocks - one calling themselves Oiitaganiies or Foxes, whence our English name; the other, Musqiiakink, or men of red clay, the name now used by the tribe. They lived in early times with their kindred the Sacs east of Detroit, and as some say near the St. Lawrence. They were driven w(sl,aiid settled at Saginaw, a name derived fi-om the Sacs. Thence they v\ ere forced by the Iro(juois to Green bay; but were compelled to leave that place and settle on Fox river.

Allouez, on the 24th of April, 1670, arrived at a village of the Foxes, situated on Wolf river, a northern tributary of the Fox. "The Nation," he declares, "is renowned for heing numerous; they have more than 400 men bearing arms; tlie number of women and children is greater, on account of polygamy which exists among them - each man having commonly foiiiwives, some of them six, and others as high as ten.'' The missionary found tliat the Foxes had retreated to those parts to escape the persecutions of the Iroquois. Allouez established among these Indians his mission of St. Mark, rejoicing in the fact that in less than two years he had baptized "sixty children and some adults." The F'oxes, at the summons of De la Barre, in 1684, sent warriors against the Five Nations. They also look part in Denonville's more serious campaign; but soon after became hostile to the French. As early as 1693, they had plundered several on their way to trade with the Sioux, alleging that they were carrying arms and amunitions to their ancient enemies frequently causing them to make portages to the southward in crossing from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi. Afterward they became reconciled to the French; but the reconciliation was of short duration. In 1712, Fort Detroit, then defended by only a handful of men, was attacked by them in conjunction with the Mascoulins and Kickapoos. However, in the end, l)y calling in friendly Indians, the garrison not only protected themselves but were enabled to act on the offensive, destroying the greater pai-t of the besieging force.

The Nation continued their ill will to the French. The eonseque.iCe was that their territory in 1716 had been invaded and they were reduced to sue for peace. Hut their friendshi]) was not of long continuance. In 1718 the Foxes numbered 500 men and "abounded in women and children." 'I'hey are spoken of at that date as being very industrious, raising large quantities of Indian corn. In 1728 another expedition was sent againstthem by the French. Meanwhile the Menomonees had also become hostile; so, too, the Sacs, who were now tlie allies of the Koxes. The resu't of the enterprise was, an attack upon and the defeat of a number of

Monomonees; the burning of the wigwams of the Winnebagoes (after passing the deserted village of the Sacs upon the Fox river), that tribe, also, at this date being hostile; and the destruction of the fields of the Foxes. They were again attacked in their own country by the French, in 17.S0, and defeated. In 17.S4 both the Sacs and Foxes came in eonilict with the same foe; but this time the French were not as successful as on previous expeditions. In 17.36 the Sacs and Foxes' were "connected with the government of Canada;" but it is certain they were far from being friendly to the French.

The conflict between France and Great Britain, commencing in 1754, found the Sacs and Foxes allied with the former power, against the English, although not long previous to this time they were the bitter enemies of the French. At the close of that contest so disastrous to the interests of France in North America, the^e tribes readily gave in their adhesion to the conquerors, asking that English traders might be sent them. The two Nations, then about equally divided, numbered, in 1761, about 700 warriors. Neither of the tribes took part in Pontiac's war, but they befriended the English. The Sacs had emigrated farther to the westward;'but the Foxes, at least a portion of them, still remained upon the waters of the river of Green bay, which perpetuates their name. A few years later, however, and the former were occupants of the upper Wisconsin; also, to a considerable distance below the portage, where their chief town was located. Further down the same stream was the upper village of the Foxes, while their lower one was situated near its mouth at tlie site of the present city of Prairie du Chien. At this date, 176G, and even later, what is now Vernon county, was within the territory claimed as theirs. Gradually, however, they retreate<l down the Mississippi until, before the close of tlie century, all their possessions in what is now Wisconsin, was in the extreme southwest. They no longer had their hunting grounds to the

During the war of the Revolution, the Sacs and Foxes continued the firm friends of the English. In 1S04 they ceded their lands south of the Wisconsin river to the United States; so that tliey no longer were owners of any lands within this State. From that date, therefore, these allied tribes can not be considered as belonging to tilt- Indian Nations of Wisconsin. They were generally friendly to Great Britain during the War of 1812-15, but they soon made peace with the United States after that contest ended. A striking episode in their subsequent history, is the Black Hawk war, which will be narrated in a subsequent chapter. The exact (late of the Foxes leaving the Wisconsin river country is unknown. They sold the prairie at the nioutli of that stream, to some Canadian French traders in 1781, and subsequently vacated their village. Probably about the beginning of ttie present century they had abandoned this region as their home, although they long after visited it for the purposes of trade.

The Winnebagoes

The Nation which displaced the Sacs and Foxes upon the Wisconsin river and its contiguous territory, including what is now Vernon county, was the Winnebagos. It is now 250 years since the civilized world began to get a knowledge of the VVinnebagoes - the "men of the sea," as they were called, pointing, possibly, to their early emigration from the shores of the Mexican gulf, or the Pacific. The territory now included within the limits of Wisconsin, and so much of the State of Michigan as lies north of Green bay. Lake Michigan, the Straits of Mackinaw and Lake Huron were, in early times, inhabited by several tribes of the Algonquin race, forming a barrier to the Dakotas, or Sioux, who had advanced eastward to the Mississippi. But the Winnebagoes, although one of the tribes belonging to the family of the latter, had passed the great river, at some unknown period, anil settled upon Winneliago lake. Here, as early as 16-34, they were visited by John Nicolet, an agent of France, and a treaty concluled with them. Little more was heard of the Winnebagoes for the next thirtyfive years, when, on the 2d of December, 1669, some of that Nation were seen at a Sac village on Green bay, by Father Allouez.

As early at least, as 1670, the French were actively engaged among the Winnebagoes trading. '-We found affairs," says one the Jesuit missionaries, who arrived among them in September of that year, " we found affairs there in a pretty bad posture, and the minds of the savages much soured against the French, who were there trading; ill treating them in deeds and words, pillaging and carrying away their merchandise in spite of them, and conducting themselves toward them with insupportable insolences and indignities. The cause of this disorder," adds the missionary, " is tiiat they had received some bad treatment from the French, to whom they had this year come to trade, and particularly from the soldiers, from whom they pretended to have received many wrongs and injuries." It is thus made certain th it the arms of France were carried into the territory of the Winnebagoen over 200 years ago.

The Fox river of Green bay was found at that date a difficult stream to navigate. Two Jesuits who ascended the river in 1670, had " three or four leagues of rapids to contend with," when they had advanced " one day's journey" from the head of the bay, "more difficult than those which are common in other rivers, in this, that the flints, over which" tliev had to walk with naked feet to drag their canoes, were so "sharp and so cutting, tint one h:is all the trouble in the world to hold imc's self steady against the great rushing of the waters." At the falls they found an idol thai the savages honored ; "never failing, in pas.sing, to make him some sacrifice of tobacco, or arrows, or paintings, or other things, to thank him that, by his assistance, they had. in ascend- ing, avoided the dangers of the waterfalls which are in this stream; orelse, if they had to ascend, to pray him to aid them in this perilous navigation." The missionaries caused the idol "to be lifted up by the strength of the arm, and cast into the depths of the river, to app(>ar no more," to the idolatrous savages.

The Winnebagoes, by this time, had not only received considerable spiritual instruction from the Jesuit fathers, but had obtained quite an insight into the mysteries of trading and trafBcking with white men ; for, following the footsteps of the missionaries, and sometimes preceding them, were the ubiquitous French fur traders. It is impossible to determine precisely what territory was occupied by the Winnebagoes at this early date, farther than that they lived near the head of Green bay.

A direct trade with the French upon the St. Lawience was not carried on by the Winnebagoes to any great extent until the beginning of the 18th century. As early as 1 679, an advance party of LaSalle had collected a large store of furs at the mouth of Green bay, doubtless in a traffic with this tribe and others contiguous to them; generally, however, the surrounding Nations sold their peltries to the Ottawas, who disposed of them, in turn, to the French. The commencement of the eighteenth century found tlie Winnebagoes tinnly in alliance with France, and in peace with the dreaded Iroquois. In 1718, the nation numbered 600 They had moved from the Fox river to Green bav. They were afterward found to have moved up Fox river, locating n])()n Winnebago lake, which lake was their ancient seat, and from which they had been driven either by fear or the prowess of more powerful tribes of the west and southwest. Their intercourse with the French was gradually extended and generally peaceful, though not always so, joining with them, as did the Menorainees, in their wars with the Iroquois, and subsequently in their conflicts with the English, which finally ended in 1760. i

When the British, in October, 1761, took possession of the French post, at the head of Green bay, the Winnebagoes were found to number 150 warriors only ; their nearest village being at the lower end of Winnebago lake. They had in all, not less than three towns. Their country, at this period, included, rot only that lake, but all the streams flowing into it, especially Fox river ; afterward extended to the Wisconsin and Rock rivers. They readily changed their course of trade - asking now of the commandant at the fort for English traders to be sent among them. In the Indian outbreak under Pontiac in 1763, they joined with the Menomonees and other tribes to befriend the British garrison at the head of the bay, assisting in conducting them to a place of safety.

They continued their friendship to the English during the revolution, by joining with them against the colonies, and were active in the Indian war of 1790-4, taking part in the attack on Fort Recovery, upon the Mauraee, in the present State of Ohio, in 1793. 1 hey fought also on the side of the British in the War of lsi-2-ir), aiding, in 1814, to reduce Prairie du Chien. They were then estimated at 4,5v.O. When, in 1816, the government of the United States sent troop to take possession of the Green b;iy country, by establishing a garrison there, some trouble was anticipated from these Indians, who, at that date, had the reputation of being a bold and warlike tribe. A deputation from the Nation came down Fox river and remonstrated with the American commandant at what was thought to be an intrusion. They were desirous of knowing why a fort was to be established so near them. The reply was that, although the troops were armed for war if necessary, their purpose was peace. Their response was an old one : "If your object is peace, you have too many men; if war, you have too few." However, the display of a number of cannon, which had not yet been mounted, satisfied the Winnebagoes that the Americans were masters

On the 3d of June, 1810, at 8t Louis, the tribe made a treaty of peace and friendship with the general government; but they continued to levy tribute on all white people who passed up Fox river. English annuities also kept up a bad feeling. At this time, a portion of the tribe was living upon the Wisconsin river, away from the rest of the Nation, which was still seated upon the waters flowing into Green bay. In 1820 they liad five villages on Winnebago lake and fourteen on Rock river, lu 1825, the claim of the Winnebagoes was an extensive one, so far as territory was concerned. Its southeast boundary stretched away from the source of Rock river, to within forty miles of its moutii, in II inois, where they had a village. On the west it extended to the heads of the small streams flowing into the Mississii)pi. To the northward, it reached Black river and the upper Wisconsin, in other word.s, to the Chippewa territory including what is now Vernon county, but did not extend across Fox river, although they contended for the whole of Winnebago lake. In 1829 a large part of their territory in southwest Wisconsin, lying between Sugar river and the Mississippi, and extending to the Wisconsin river was sold to the general government.

in the next chapter. In 1832, all the residue of the Winnebago territory south and east of the Wisconsin and the Fox river of Green bay, was disposed of to the United States.

Finally, in the brief language of the treaty between this tribe (which had become unsettled and wasteful) and the United States, of the Ist of November, 1837, "the Winnebago Nation of Indians" ceded to the general government "all their lands east of the Mississippi." Not an acre was reserved. And the Indians agreed that, within eight months from that date, they would move west of "the great river." This arrangement, however, was not carried out fully. In 1842, there were only 756 at Turkey river, Iowa, their new home, with as many in Wisconsin, and smaller bands elsewhere. All had become lawless and roving. Some removed in 1848; while a party to the number of over 800 left the State as late as 1873. The present home of the tiibe is in Nebraska, where they have a reservation north of, and adjacent to the Omahas, containing over 100,000 acres. However, since their first removal beyond the Mississippi, they have several times changed their place of abode. The period of Winnebago occupancy of Vernon county and the region of country contiguous thereto, properly began about the commencement of the present century and ended, virtually, in 1848.