History of Iowa County, Wisconsin : containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources ; biographical sketches

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Preface

^ I "'HIS WORK was commenced with a specific object in view, which was to place upon record, in a reliable manner and in permanent form, whatever incidents of importance have transpired within the region of which Iowa County is now a part. As a necessary preliminary to this work, a brief history of the entire district now known as Wisconsin is given, together with such valuable facts concerning the antiquities of the Northwest as science has revealed. Following along this plan of labor, the history of the Lead Region, with an ample geological and mineralogical sketch thereof, is detailed from trustworthy sources. The more local records embrace the narrative of settlement in the early times that tried the courage and endurance of the heroic pioneers ; a recital of the bravery of Iowa's citizen-soldiers in the Indian wars ; a , description of the characteristic deeds of the representative men of the county, and a complete delineation of the events of the past half-century. In the history of the county will be found incidents, reminiscences and anecdotes, which serve to spice the more statistical portions of the work. In the preparation of this volume, many men of experience have patiently examined record books, intelligently conversed with pioneers, and carefully compiled the fruits of their industrious researches. The chief value of the histbry lies in the fact that not only was the original matter gathered first-handed from the participants in many of the scenes, but in the fact, of still greater importance, that the proof-sheets have been submitted for correction to many of the oldest settlers. Herein is furnished a truthful reflex of the times and deeds of by-gone days, and it is hoped that the present generation will feel that pride in the work which future generations are surely destined to do. The publishers are aware that all persons cannot be pleased, but impartial and conscientious efi'orts must eventually be accepted at their true worth. Upon that faith is this volume submitted to the public with confidence.

Thanks are herein expressed to the scores of Pioneers, the County Ofiicials, the Clergy and the Press for the uniform courtesy extended the compilers.

April, 1881. THE PUBLISHERS.

Contents

Page.

Antiquities 19

Indian Tribes 21

CHAPTER I. Pagr. Indian Occupancy 437

Derivation of th e Name 438

Natural Vegetation 439

Water, Scenery and Soil 440

Coon Bluff; a Romance of the Wis-

conpin 440

Educating Slaves 445

The Mysterious Cave 448

Recovery of the Lost Child 457

CHAPTER II. The Winebago War. 4fil

Capture of Red Bird 463

First Settlement, Dodgeville 465

Van Matre Survey 466

First White Woman 466

Peddler's Creek and Dallas 466

Mineial Point 467

Early Merchandising 467

First Marriage and Birth 467

First Farming 408

First Mill 468

Blue River 468

Ridgeway 471

First School and Physician 471

Old Helena 471

A Visit to Helena in 1836 472

The First Census 474

Territorial Roads 475

First County Schools 475

County School Work since 1843 477

CHAPTER III. The Black Hawk War 479

Dodge's Letter and the Mineral Point

Messenger 479

First Military Movementand Forts 480

Distributing Supplies 481

Account of Arms Distributed at Mineral

Point 481

Occurrences and Mound Fort 482

Fort Jackson Alarmed 483

Battle of the Pecatonica 485

Battle of Wisconsin Heights and Bad

Axe 486

Grignon's Recollections 490

CRAPTER IV.

Mineral Discoveries and Limitations 492

Indian Treaties and Abuses 493

First Miners and Early Deprivations 494

Life in the Diggings 495

First Land Districts 496

Claim Restrictions and First Entries 497

Projected Railroads and Canals 498

Hard Money Wealth 499

First Roads and Highways 600

Chronicles of the Cholera, 1849 and 1850, 501

The Second Visitation, 1851 503

Land Swindling Schemes 504

CHAPTER V. OflBcial RecordP 508

LaFayettennd Montgomery Counties... 511 State Grovernment and subsequent Reforms 512

HISTORT OF lOU A COUSTTY.

Page, j

Past and Present County Buildings 514

Judicial Districts and First Cases 516

The County Seat War 517

County Poor Houseand Farm 520

Tornado of 1878 567

County Officers 572

Property Valuation 576

Farm Products 579

Iowa County Agricultural Society 579

Early Voting Points 581

Press 582

CHAPTER X. — Pioneer Beminiscknoes

Memoir, by William R. Smith 589

The Pecatonica, by William Penn Smith, 59u

First Impressions of the Mines 592

By T. M. Fullerton 600

A Bridal Trip 661

CHAPTER XL— Some of Fayette County's Illustrious Dead.

Henry Dodge 601

Gen. William R. Smith 609

Hon. Moses Meeker 612

Hon. Charles Dunn 612

Hon. Stephen P. Hollenbeck 617

Col. Thomas Stephens 618

Hon. Henry M. Billings 619

Hon. Elihu B. Goodsell 619

Gen. Charles Bracken 620

Gen. John B.Terry 620

John Falls O'Neill 621

Col. D. M. Parkinson 621

Hon. Thomas Jenkins 622

Page.

Hon. Levi Sterling 623

Capt. William Henry 623

John Messersmith 624

Robert S. Block 625

Judge L. M. Strong 625

Judge John Bonner 626

George Mulks 626

Hon. George L. Frost 626

Schuyler Pulford 627

Maj. Charles F. Legate 627

Edward D. Beouchard 628

George W. Burrall 629

CHAPTER XII.— Mineral Point. Uncle Sam's Donation 652

First Surveys and Entries 653

The Public Square Imbroglio 654

Mineral Point Before 1832 655

Who was the First Settler? ^ 656

The First Notable Events 657

The Black Hawk War..: 659

A Celebrated Tavern 661

The Old Jail, and Other Notes 662

CHAPTER XIII.— Mineral Point as a Borough. First Ordinances and Corporation Money, 665

Business Condition in 1837 666

An Englishman's Observations 669

The Bank of Mineral Point 671

The Trial and Hanging of Caffee 673

Border Justice and Vendettas 674

A French Prince's Visit 675

The California Exodus 676

A Mineral Point Craft and her Adventures 677

California Emigrants 678

CHAPTER XIV.— MiNKRAL Point as a Village. Charter and Government 680

Early Ordinances 681

Business in 1845 681

A Temperance Move, Old Miners' Guard, 681

Newspaper Extracts 682

Ho, for California! 683

Jail BreaUing 683

Miners' Honor 683

Incendiaries and Cholera 683

The Order of 1001 684

Ladies Cold Water Union 684

Business in 1856 684

Old Banks 687

Newspaper Comments 689

Early Telegraphid Communication 692

CHAPTER XV.— Mineral Point as \ City. First Charter 693

Second Charter 694

Third Charter 695

Statistics and Notes, 1860 to 1863 695

War Occurrences 696

Old Settlers' Re-union Celebration 697

Various Items 698

Old Settlers Still Living '... 699

CONTENTS.

Paoe.

William T. Henry's Geological Collection 899

Zinc Works 70®

Post Office 701

ManufacturiDg, Banks, etc 702

Industrial Association 705

Secular Societies 707

Religious 714

Cemeteries 724

Official Boster 726

Business Summary and Conclusion 728

City Directory 728

CHAPTER XVI.— DODOEVILLE. Fir^t Land Entries and Plats 733

Government and Official Roster 734

Early Settlement 736

The First Fort and Dodge's Indian Reception 737

First Claims and Notable Events 738

After the Black Hawk War 742

Trade Resumed 743

The " Suckers " and their Successors 744

Page.

Health of the Village 747

War Items 748

Railroad Interests 750

Post Office 754

Bands 754

Mineral Point and Dodgeville Telegraph, 755

Fires and Fire Company 756

Hotels 757

Manufactories 758

Secular Societies 759

Religious 761

Cemeteries 764

General Summary 764

Professional Men ; 766

Directory 766

CHAPTER XVII.— Towns and Villases. Old Arena 781

New Arena 784

Heleua Station 787

Page.

JTown of Eden 793

IVillageof Eden 794

Centerville 797

Village of Highland 800