Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 23, 1880

HEN the Government of the United States took formal possession of the Northwest in 1 8 16, councils were ^^ held with the various Indian tribes, for the purpose of establishing amicable relations between them, and of defining the boundaries of their respective territory.

A treaty had, however, been previously concluded with the Sauks and Foxes, at a council held in St. Louis, Feb. 21st, 1805, defining their limits as follows: On the easi and southeast, by the Fox River, in thtj south, to its confluence with the Illinois thence down that stream to its mouth; thenc( down the Mississippi to the mouth of thi Missouri; and on the southwest by that river The boundary on the north, between then and the Winnebagoes and the Sioux, is rathe indefinite.

The Chippewas and Sioux having long madi conflicting claims to territory, in 1826, a coua cil was held for the purpose of amicably adjust ing the boundary lines between the severs tribes in the Northwest. At this council treaty was made by which the Siou.x reliij quished all territory east of the Mississippi The Chippewas of the North were limited 01 the south and east by a line running from th mouth of Black River, in a northeasterl direction to a point between Big and Littl Bay de Noquet, north of the mouth of (jreq Bay. This made a line across the State a|i was the southern boundary line of tt Chippewas, and the northern bound^ of the Menominees and of the Winnebagoa The Winnebago countr\' was bounded i follows:

Fox River and along that stream to Lake Winnebago by the south channel; thence along the west shore of the lake to the inlet of the Fox River (Oshkosh), folloAving that river to the "portage of the Fox and Wisconsin," and across that portage to the Wisconsin River; thence up that stream to the mouth of the left fork, and along the fork to its source; thence due west to a point on Black River, and down that stream to the lands of the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies oflllinois; thence southeasterly to a Winnebago village on Rock River, about forty miles above its mouth, (leaving a strip of land not well defined between this line and the Mississippi River belonging to the last mentioned tribe); thence up Rock River to its source near Lake Winnebago; thence northerly by aline along the east shore of that lake to the place of beginning, including all of that lake and the island at its outlet.

The Menominees not conversant with metes and bounds at remote points of their territory, the limits were not as definite, but for the purposes of this treaty they were fixed as follows:

Beginning at a point on the lower Fox near Little Kaukauna, and following the boundaries of the Winnebagoes along the Fox, Wisconsin and left fork of the Wisconsin until it reaches Black River, and North by the Chippewa country across to Green Bay, along the western shore of the Bay to the mouth of Fox River, and up that stream to the place of beginning. Also that tract lying east of Green Bay and the Winnebago nation, to Lake Michigan on the east, from the mouth of Green Bay on the north, to a line drawn from the south extremity of Lake Winnebago to the source of the Milwaukee River; thence by that stream to its mouth on the south.

The Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawata mies, of Illinois, were limited by the Milwaukee River on the north, Lake Michigan on the east. Rock River and the eastern boundary line of the Winnebagoes on the west, extending south into Illinois. The Sauks and Foxes relinquishing all claims east of the Mississippi, that territory seems to have been divided between these bands and the Winnebagoes.

In 1 83 1, the Menomonees ceded to the United States for the occupation of the New York Indians a tract of land described as follows, to-wit: Beginning on the Fox River at the dam near Little Kaukauna, thence northwest forty miles; thence northeast to Oconto Creek, falling into Green Bay; thence down said creek and along Green Bay and Fox River to place of beginning, to contain five hundred thousand acres, with a proviso that all New York Indians, who shall settle thereon within three years, shall be entitled to the benefit of this grant to an extent not exceeding one hundred acres to each person, and at the end of three years whatever lands were not required to complete the distribution should revert to the United States. It was afterwards left optional with the President to extend the time of settlement.

At the same time the Menomonees ceded to the United States all the land within the following limits, to-wit: Lake Michigan on the east, a line from the southern extremity of Lake Winnebago to the source of Milwaukee River and that river on the south, Lake Winnebago and the Indian (Winnebago) boundary and Green Bay on the west and north, and provided that two townships on the east of Lake Winnebago should be set apart for the occupation of the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians, and one township adjoining the last for the benefit of the Brothertown Indians. The Government, at this time, expressed their intention to fully remunerate the tribes located on the east side of the Fox River for the improvements they had made, by which it appears that the New York Indians had for some years been occupying the lands in the vicinity of Green Bay, to which they undoubtedly thought they had acquired a title from the Menomonees and Winnebagoes, while the Menomonees in this treaty emphatically deny any rights acquired, and are made to express in that instrument that, through their great respect, good will, love, confidence, esteem, veneration, etc. for the United States, and their great desire to secure a home for themselves and their posterity forever, they are induced to make these grants for the benefit of the New York Indians. This treaty, not fully ratified until July 9th, 1832, was, by mutual consent, somewhat modified as to the boundaries of the five hundred thousand acre tract, not material here. Only the Oneidas and St. Regis availing themselves of the five hundred thousand acre reservation, it was reduced to its present limits.

At this treaty the United States also agreed to employ farmers, millers, blacksmiths, etc., build mills and make sundry improvements at Winnebago Rapids, (see City of Neenah), which was partially, or, perhaps, fully performed, but in the treaty of September 3rd, 1836, at Cedar Rapids, this agreement was annulled.

February 13th, 1833, by a treaty heldat Rock- Island, the Winnebagoes ceded all lands belonging to them south and east of the Wisconsin River, Fo.x River and Lake Winnebago.

September 3rd, 1836, a treaty was held at Cedar Rapids, (on the Lower Fox River,) at which the Menomonees ceded all their land bounded by the Fo.v River and Lake Winnebago on the southeast. Wolf River on the northwest and the Chippewa country on the north. This treaty was proclaimed February 15th, 1837.

June i6th, 1838, the Winnebagoes relinquished their claim to all lands east of the Mississippi River, and agreed to remove to the west of that stream within eight months.

February 4th, 1847, they ceded everything belonging to them, and the Government gave them a tract in e.xchange, lying north of the St. Peter's River and west of the Mississippi, in Minnesota.

October i8th, 1848, the Government obtained the Indian title to all the lands claimed by the Menomonees within the State of Wisconsin. This treaty was made at Lake Poygan,and the purchase included thetract lying north and west, ofFox River between theWolfand Wisconsin, long known as the "Indian land; "in return the Indians accepted a grant of land previously ceded by the Chippewas of the Mississippi and Lake Superior, and by the Pillager band of Chippewas.

At a treaty held August 2nd, 1854, the Menomonees having become dissatisfied with the Chippewa country, and desiring to remain in Wisconsin, they deeded back that grant, and, partly in lieu thereof, accepted a grant or reservation on the upper Wolf River, comprising Townships 28 and 29, Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16, eight townships.

At the treaty of October i8th, 1848, it was stipulated that they might remain on the lands then ceded for two )'ears, or until notified by the Government that the lands were wanted. In the fall of 1852 they were so notified, and removed to this tract spoken of in the treaty of 1834, on Wolf River, their principal village being at Keshena, from which they intended soon to remove to the Chippewa country to which they held the title.

In the meantime the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians on the east side of Lake Winnebago had become divided, some wishing to become citizens and have their lands distributed among the members, whileotherspreferred to retain their Indian customs. To settle this matter satisfactorily to all, the Government had given the latter the privilege of retaining their tribal habits, and of locating west of the Mississippi amongst those of like taste. This proposition was accepted and they went West, but were soon desirous of leturning; and at last, by a treaty of February i ith, 1856, fully ratified April 24th of the same year, the Government purchased of the Menomonees two townships in the southwest part of their Wolf River reservation, upon which was located all such of the Stockbridge and Munsee tribes as were opposed to citizenship, where they and the Menomonees still remain.

We now return to the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies of Illinois, whom we left in possession of the southern portion of Wisconsin, extending into Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.

By treaties of January 2d, 1830 and I'^ebruary 21st, 1825, they disposed of all their interest in Southern Wisconsin; were finally, in [846, united with the various bands of the Pottawattamie tribes and placed upon a reservation in Kansas, upon the Kansas River.

In 1833, the Foxes, Sauks, Winnebagoes, Pottawattamies and Menominces, had ceded to the Government all the lands lying south of the Fo.x and Wisconsin.

In 1836, Menominecs ceded a tract, bounded on the south and cast by Fox River and Lake Winnebago; west by the Wolf; and north b)' the Chippewa country.