Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 24, 1880

The Several Territorial Organizations of the Soil, now Included in the Limits of Wisconsin - The Old Northwestern Territory - The Organization of the Territory of Wisconsin.

HE territory now included in Wisconsin, it will be seen from the foregoing pages, remained under the govern- - CyAyj ' ment of France till 1763; when, by ' the Treaty of Paris, it was ceded to Great Britain, who held it until after the acknowledgement of the independence of the United States, in 1783, when it was claimed by Virginia, as territory conquered by her forces, under Colonel George Rogers Clark.

Great Britain, however, remained in possession until the ratification of the Jay Treaty, 1796, which settled the boundary questions; and in that year the United States first came into actual possession.

By the famous ordinance of 1787: a Government was established over the region known as the Nprthwestern Territory, and Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor. By his proclamation in 1796, a county was formed, which included with other territory, what is now Eastern Wisconsin, and all of the State of Michigan. It was called Wayne County. In 1800, the Northwestern Territory was divided into two territorial governments; the Western one called Indiana, and embraced what is now Wisconsin. The seat of government was Vincennes, on the Wabash. Illinois territory was organized in 1809, and what is now Wis-, consin formed a part of it. When Illinois became a State in 18 18, the region west of Lake Michigan was made a part of Michigan territory. General Lewis Cass was Governor, and by proclamation he established in 1818, three counties, including all the present territory of Wisconsin, viz: Michilimackinac, Brown and Crawford.

The County of Michilimackinac, embraced all the district, north of a line running east and west, from Bay de Noquet to Lake Huron on the east, and to the Mississippi on the west. Its county seat was Michilimackinac.

Brown County, which included the territory of what is now Winnebago, embraced the tract east of a line running north and south, through the middle of the Portage, between the Fo.x and Wisconsin Rivers. Green Bay was designated as its county seat.

In 1823, an act of Congress created a District Court for the Counties of Brown, Crawford and Michilimackinac; James Duane Doty was appointed District Judge; and one term of court was held in each county, each year. In 1824, Judge Doty held his first term in Green Bay; Henry S. Baird, the first practicing lawyer in Wisconsin, officiating as District Attorney.

In 1836, the Huron District of Michigan was organized into the territory of Wisconsin, which had its birth-day July Fourth, of that year. It included within its territorial limitations, the whole region from Lake Michigan, westward to the Mississippi River, and the head waters of the Mississippi. Its southern boundary was the northern line of Illinois, and of Missouri. General Dodge was appointed the first Governor and also Superintendent of Indian affairs. The Territorial Secretary was John S. Horner; and the first Legislature was convened at Belmont, Grant County.

It will be seen, from the foregoing, that the territory, now embraced in the limits of Wisconsin, was under the Government of P'rance for ninety-three years; of Great Britain for thirty-one years; of Virginia for six years; and for short periods under the jurisdiction of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, respectively.