From A Standard History of Sauk County, Harry Ellsworth Cole, General Supervising Editor, The Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago and New York 1918 [pgs. 363-393]

Recollections of Old Settlers

Old-Time Amusements

by Mrs. L. H. Palmer

"It seems to be the generally accepted belief that those who resided in the country and small towns previous to the past quarter of a century, lived a rather dun-colored existence; no pleasures, or no hopes of any kind. In fact they are described as being dull, overworked and underfed, without hope of any thing better unless they went to the city.

Undoubtedly these conditions prevailed in many homes, but a little investigation into the history of the social life of those times, brings to light that in many ways it did not differ materially from the present time.

True there have been many changes for the better in our rural homes which have added much to our comfort and consequently to our pleasures. The sports, games and amusements of those far-off days were mainly along the lines of today, though differing somewhat in their methods.

Fishing, boating and hunting were popular amusements and as there was no closed season, and no laws but those of supply and demand, the hunting season lasted the whole year, and in those days the keen-eyed hunters did not mistake a man for a deer at eighty rods.

Fishing on the rivers by the light of a pine knot placed in a wire basket was greatly enjoyed. The boat was usually manned by two or three fishermen, one managing the boat, the others handling the spears, and as they frequently succeeded in landing a boatload of the finny tribe in two or three hours. There seems to be a pretty substantial foundation under the fish stories that have come down through historical channels.

Skating on the inland rivers, lakes and mill-ponds was a never-ending delight in winter, and as the rivers were fed by numerous springs along their banks, many a luckless skater got a ducking.

Nearly every neighborhood boasted of someone with a little musical education, and winter would not have been winter without the singing school. The young, with a judicious sprinkling of those who sometimes forgot that they were no longer young, gathered at the schoolhouse once every two weeks to learn to climb the musical scale, and if some learned a lesson they remembered longer than they did their music, their descendants have no cause for complaint. Musical instruments were expensive and few families possessed one, unless it was a violin, or fiddle, as it was then called, but singing was very popular and entered largely into all social life. A good solo singer was in great demand and frequently there would be a full quartet in one family.

Cards were not very popular, but checkers and chess were played by nearly everyone, and it was something of a distinction to be an expert at either of those games.

One of the old-time customs could be advantageously revived, and our leading educators are making great efforts to bring it about, and that is the spelling school. People could spell in those days, and when John and Anna stood up and bravely faced Joe and Jessie, each pair supported by a long line of valiant assistants, the spectators sat up and took notice. The contest usually took place in the schoolhouse and lasted from one to two hours, the words being pronounced by the school teacher. By the time the spelling book was exhausted the ranks would be somewhat thinned. Geography, history, and the names of eminent people would be used to pull down the colors, and when the last tired speller went down to a glorious defeat, the audience sent up such a howl of applause as to cause the windows to rattle, and sometimes the old stove would topple over in the excitement. Then would ensue a lively contest to see which could do the greater amount of damage, fire or water. The decision was usually left to the judgment of the teacher when he arrived next morning to open school.

'When the frost was on the pumpkin and the corn was in the shock,' was the time for the husking bee and an apple-paring frolic. There would not be enough corn husked to fill the corn bin very full, but the amount of fun gotten out of the work filled the hours to completion. Refreshments and dancing or games followed, making this form of amusement very popular.

Apple-parings were another very pleasant pastime. Apples were pared, quartered and threaded on strong twine and festooned around the room to dry, and occasionally the girls found some festooned about their necks, and were obliged to purchase their freedom. A candy-pull, with nuts and popcorn finished the fun for the evening.

Pleasant Saturday afternoons in summer were given over to playing ball. The diamond was usually laid out in some pasture, where the players and their friends gathered with all the enthusiasm of a matched game. There were no gloves or face protectors, but the players with hands and muscles toughened by exposure to wind and hard labor, lined up and played a hotly contested game. At the close of the game the whole party would saunter to the shady coolness of the near-by forest, where would be found a swing made by suspending two long poles from the arm of some giant of the woods, with a seat conveniently arranged for two at the lower end. Here the young ball players would take turns in swinging each other with their fair friends until the lengthening shadows warned them that the setting sun was spreading its good-night banners across the western sky. With a ripple of good nights they would saunter homeward by twos, dreaming youth's sweet dream in the cool, beautiful twilight.

Picnics were quite as much in order as at present. There would be the usual feast where each housekeeper would modestly apologize for the inferior quality of her delicious cooking. Dinner would be followed with visiting among the older people, and the ever-present swing would be kept in motion. Feats of strength and agility would create much interest among the spectators as the husky young men displayed their activity in running, leaping, turning somersaults, handsprings, or making cartwheels. Wrestling was much indulged in, and great was the excitement when two seemingly equally matched contestants struggled for the victory. The terms side hold, back hold, square hold and rough-and-tumble indicated the manner in which wrestlers grappled each other.

Afternoon teas and quilting bees were social functions in which the the women were greatly interested. Such gatherings gave opportunity for social intercourse; also, a chance to display their culinary skill and, as in those days an especially good cook was held up as an authority on cookery in the neighborhood, all were anxious to make as delicious a spread as possible. Frequently the husbands would be invited to supper and the young people would come in the evening, when the quilt would be rolled up to make room for dancing and games. The designs and work on the quilts that have come down from those far-off days are silent witnesses of the skill and industry of our grandmothers.

Dancing has always been popular in all times. and among all classes, and our dignified grandparents were once young and enjoyed tripping the light fantastic toe as well as the most feather-headed of their descendants. The dances were conducted somewhat differently from the present time, round dances not being as popular, and there were not as many forms. Quadrilles and reels were greatly in favor, and the caller could ring on as many variations as his quick brain could conjure up.

Operreel, Virginia reel, moneymusk, with an occasional Irish trot, a rollicking jig, were all popular, but the real favorite was a firemen's dance. There was a throb and rhythm about that tune that set one's pulse throbbing and caused a general rush for places on the floor.

Round dances differed very much from present forms. The hop, skip and half turns on the modern waltz would hardly be recognized as waltzing by those familiar with the graceful gliding step of the old-time waltz. The dignified five-step and schottische would stare  aghast at the gyrations of the modern tango.

This is but a partial list of the social activities and amusements of our grandparents' time. They were strong morally, mentally and physically, and they lived, loved, married and reared their families and died, leaving to their descendants as a rich legacy the foundation upon which all the conveniences and luxuries of our modern life have been erected."

Reminiscences of C. O. Baxter

"Early in the spring of 1838, Berry Haney received private information from George W. Jones, who was then delegate in Congress from Wisconsin Territory, that the treaty with the Winnebago Indians, for their lands north of the Wisconsin river, was ratified. Haney at that time was engaged with Colonel Abner Nichols, of Mineral Point, in staging between Mineral Point and Fort Winnebago. They had two men in their employ by the names of Jonathan Taylor and Solomon Shore. Haney at that time was living on Black Earth Creek, at the place now called Cross Plains. On the receipt of the intelligence of the ratification of the treaty, as above mentioned, he sent Taylor to the Wisconsin River, opposite Sauk Prairie, there to await the coming of Shore, who went with Haney to Fort Winnebago to purchase a skiff to take down the river to Sauk Prairie, in order to get across. They met at that point according to previous arrangement, crossed over and proceeded to mark out their claims. The first one marked out by them was for Berry Haney, on what is now Sauk City. Taylor claimed the next above Haney, and Shore the next, which claim I afterwards purchased and own at this time. Haney, I believe, had the first land broke in Sauk County. In June, 1838, he employed James Ensminger and Thomas Sanser to break ten acres, for which he paid them one hundred dollars. The first place in the shape of a dwelling on Sauk Prairie was built by Ensminger and Sanser. They dug a pit in the ground about four feet deep, 12 by 16 or 18 feet square, logged it up and covered the hole with hay and earth, making a sort of root-house. This they did for the purpose of preventing the Indians from burning them out, as they had threatened.

PALM TO THE ALBAN FAMILY

James S. Alban (who is now Judge Alban of Portage County) and family moved on to Sauk Prairie in January, 1839, being the first family I believe in Sauk county, or what is now Sauk County. I believe it is claimed by John Wilson, of Wilson's Creek, that he and family were the first. How this is I cannot say; I have always understoood until a few years since, that Alban and fa

ARRIVES AT SAUK PRAIRIE

I left Rock Island for Wisconsin about the lst of April, 1839, on board the old steamer Fayette. I arrived at Galena in due time, and there took stage- or rather wagon-for Mineral Point. The proprietor was John Messersmith, Esq. We arrived at his place at Elk Grove, at noon, where we were very politely entertained by the Esq. and his family, and after an excellent dinner we proceeded on our way. We arrived at Mineral Point in the evening of the same day. I there lay over one day for the stage- or rather wagon again- to Madison. At Mineral Point I met Berry Haney, who introduced me to A. A. Bird, of Madison, who was also waiting for the stage, and to many prominent citizens of the Point. We were one day in going from the Point to Haney's place in Black Earth Valley, where I arrived, I believe, on the 6th of April. A few days after I arrived at Haney's place, Haney, Joseph Denson, from Iowa Territory, and myself started for Sauk Prairie. We followed a dim trail to the river, left our horses on the South side and crossed over in an lndian canoe.

We visited several of the cabins and claim shanties, and among others we visited D. B. Crocker's, which was situated where the villlage of Prairie du Sac is now situated. While there a little incident that may be worth relating.

DENSON SHOOTS A LYNX

The day was pleasant and we were all seated out in front of his cabin, admiring and conversing upon the beauties of the country when some one of the company discovered an animal of some kind approaching the grove below us, from the prairie. Some supposed it to be a deer, others that it was a wolf. Denson being an old hunter and good marksman, proposed to go down and try to get a shot. He took Crocker's gun and went down to the grove, where he soon disappeared. Presently we heard the report of the gun, and very soon Denson with his hat off, running with all speed towards us, making signs to us to come to him. We all ran as fast as we could. When we came up to him he told us he had shot an animal, the like of which he had never before seen. He said when he fired it leaped into the air about ten feet, and then he thought it was making after him, which was the cause of his running and giving us signals to come to him. After re-loading his gun, we cautiously advanced to the spot, and there

FIRST SETTLERS IN THE COUNTY

The only families that were then settled in what is now Sauk County, were James S. Alban and Albert Skinner. unless John Wilson. Wilson was living at Wilson's Creek at that time. There were several young men making and improving claims when I came, the names of all of whom I believe I recollect.

H. F. Crossman, Burk Fairchild, D. B. Crocker. William Billings, William May, Nelson Lathrop, E. B. Harner and an old bachelor, by the name of Hunter.

The third family that moved in was named Parks, and the fourth Jonathan Hatch's.

We celebrated the 4th of July, 1839, where the village of Prairie du Sac now stands. There were 25 persons present, of whom four were females- Mrs. Alban, Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Haney. The other population of the County, or what is now Sauk County, were present. At that time we were in Crawford county. In the winter of 1839 and 1840 we petitioned the legislature to strike out a new county, call it Sauk, and attach it to Dane for all purposes, which was done.

The first election was held on Sauk Prairie in the fall of 1839, and returns made to Prairie du Chien. The return was made by James S. Alban. He went down in a canoe, and returned, I believe, on foot. We polled 14 votes, all told.

 

VISIT TO INDIAN VILLAGE

Some time in October, 1839, five of us, Berry Haney, Burk Fairchild, Solomon Shore, Samuel Taylor and myself crossed the bluffs over to the Baraboo Valley. The trail led us over the bluffs immediately back of what is now known as the Teals' place, the highest peak, I think, in the center range between the prairie and Baraboo. The trail led us directly to the Baraboo river, at the place where Maxwell's mill dam now stands. Here we forded the river and entered the Indian Chief's Caliminee's village, where we were very warmly and hospitably received. We rested and refreshed ourselves and horses, and were much amused in seeing the Indians playing cards and horse racing. Some of them would stake their last string of wampum on a single chance at cards. The game we could not understand. After spending about two hours at this village we started to traverse the river above, which we did, wherever it was approachable, as far up as Dandy's village, which was five or six miles above. At this village we were received with marked displeasure by the Indians, many of them gathering around us, and making much noise and confusion. They made signs and gesticulations for us to leave. After some parley with them, however, we succeeded in restoring quiet, and afterwards purchased some corn to feed our horses for the night, and then left them in peace.

We encamped about two miles above the village, where I spent the most disagreeable night of my life. It was very chilly, pitchy dark, and rained the entire night. We had no shelter except that afforded by our blankets, which was but little, as we were drenched to the skin in a short time, through blankets and all. After much trouble we succeeded in making a fire, which somewhat relieved us from the cold.

The next morning the rain ceased. After drying our clothes and taking breakfast in the Indian style, we proceeded up the river to the narrows, from which point we returned on the direct trail to the lower village, where we had the honor of dining with the Chief. We spent several hours at this village and then went down the prairie to the Narrows below, from which place we returned home. After a very tedious and tiresome journey across the bluffs, we arrived at Sauk some hours after night and lodged in the primitive house (or dug, out, as we used to call it), which was a very agreeable change from the night before.

We saw no visible signs of white men in the Baraboo valley. I think in all probability we were the first white men that ever crossed the bluffs between the Prairie and Baraboo valley.

FIRST WHITE CHILDREN BORN IN COUNTY

Some time in the after part of the summer of 1839. Cyrus Leland and George Cargel moved their families to the prairie, being the 5th and 6th, and a little later in the season of the same year Berry Haney moved his family to the Prairie, being the 7th. On the 30th of November, 1839, Charles B., son of Berry and Anna Haney was born, being the first white child born in Sauk County.

There was nothing further of importance transpired during the winter of that year. The winter was very cold, with much snow, which covered the ground until spring. This ends my first year's stay in Wisconsin."-- In a letter to W. H. Canfield, written in 1861.

In a footnote Mr. Canfield says: Sarah Leland, now wife of Judge J. B. Quimby, of Sauk City, I think was the second white child born in Sauk County.-W. H. C.

 

Edmund Rendtorff's Recollections

Mr. Rendtorff writes to W. H. Canfield from Sauk City, under date of June 19, 1861, as follows:

"On board the Hamburgh Packet, Barque Washington, I left Hamburgh and landed safe, December 8, 1838, in the city of New York where I lived about one year as clerk in a mercantile house, being importers of dry goods, especially silks. I left there for the Southern part of Illinois, near Albion, Edwards county, where I lived with some German friends, and commenced to learn something about farming. By extreme hard labor and the influence of that, for me unhealthy climate, my mind and body was nearly broken down- when, unexpectedly, and to my great joy, my brother Adolph arrived direct from home to visit me. It was in the spring of 1840. He had made the acquaintance of two passengers on shipboard- Auguston Haraszthy and his cousin, Charles Hallasz, Hungarians- and said if I had no objections it was their mutual wish and plan that we four settle together, and keeping up a correspondence with them, we prepared to join them. In the meantime my brother was taken sick and came near dying with a fever. I remained by him and did the best I could under the circumstances. To rest a little at night I rolled myself up in a blanket at the foot of his roughly made bedstead on a few planks called the floor of the log house. After a long sickness and as soon as my brother was able to travel, we left the place where we had endured so much hardship.

ARRIVES AT PRAIRIE DU SAC

In the fall of 1840 we arrived at Prairie du Sac. The day of our arrival I shall never forget. The weather was splendid. We stepped ashore and looked around, but stood still for a good while. The scenery the beauty of nature made a great impression on me-on us, I dare say. 'Oh yes, if possible,' said we-'if possible, yes! yes! let us settle here!--and immediately we were halloed and greeted by Haraszthy, Hallasz and the Germans who worked for them, and the few Americans present, as if we had been friends, 'long time ago.' The very next day we went to work.

Over twenty years have passed by since my arrival here-a time faster spoken of than lived through- a time that has brought to our German settlement many hardships which the inhabitants can testify to; most of them are now forgotten, and with the joys and blessing which have been showered upon us, the griefs and hardships of the past are thought of no more.

 

CHANGES ON SAUK PRAIRIE

During the first days, especially, that I lived in Sauk, my eyes were much of the time on the fine scenery. It was no unbroken wilderness that met my gaze. The idea struck me that Indians had lived here and that still an ancient people before them occupied this lovely prairie. Many signs of them were here upon the surface of the soil, showing, themselves in the silence of beautiful nature, where only a few white men could be seen. What a change time has made here! Those formerly untouched bluffs now show numerous quarries of lime and building rock. That valuable, high and mighty timber on the islands of the Wisconsin river and border is gone. Its barbarous enemy, the 'American ax,' in German hands has been here and brought destruction all around- but now in its place, kind nature has planted new trees which, are at this time half grown again. The wild grass of the marshes has changed as countless tons of hay have been made there by the settlers.

Look at the prairie from the end to the commencement again of winter, full of flowers, changing almost every week, one closing to make room for another- more blossoms than leaves or spears of grass. But now you see, only now and then- a vacant, unoccupied green spot; the blossoms have disappeared by the feeding of cattle. Their seed could not fall to the ground to spring up again to bring blossoms for future years. But how is it with the spot of land and surrounding eountry where we landed in the fall of 1840? All then was covered with Indian hills; thousands of deer bones, glass neck-pearls, arrow points of flint, and Indian graves were everywhere to be found. Yes, here they hunted, fished, raised corn and died. Time has decayed the bones; the new generation, children of Germans, have picked up their glass pearls, etc., to play with; their cornbills have been leveled, the village of Sauk City being located upon them, whose largest portion of inhabitants consists of Germans.

 

THE EARLY CLAIMS

When I arrived at Sauk I found some Americans had made their claims here. The land could not be bought from Government, as it was not yet in market. Of these claims I only mention a few. Messrs. Haney, Russell, Crossman and Ensminger, who soon sold out. Chas. O. Baxter, Esq., has occupied his claim ever since; so has Jonathan Hatch. In all there were but a few acres of land broken and fenced, and a few log cabins built. Haraszthy and his men had erected one already. and we went to work and soon built another.

As time has passed on, all of these cabins, have disappeared. The one in which Hallasz lived burned down during a very severe winter night, by which he lost many things. The next year after we settled here, we were very short of provisions. My brother and I raised an enormous quantity of melons, which aided much in giving a variety of food.

A WEEK OF MISHAPS

Haraszthy, Hallasz, my brother and I, sometimes made hunting excursions. At one time, leaving the settlement, we started for Honey Creek valley, in which at that time, not one living soul could be found, but a plenty of rattlesnakes. We killed many of them; also lots of pigeons and prairie chickens, which made us fine soups. We found wild honey, too, but how to get it, we did not understand at that time. At another time we started out, taking a horse to carry our tent and other things. Near that bluff where Merrihew's mill now stands, the Count shot a deer, but unluckily so that it escaped him. By and by we all four started after the buck, but in vain was all the trouble. In the chase we had lost much time and greatly exhausted ourselves, and did not notice a tremendous thunder storn coming over us. The Count's head was wounded and we had nearly lost him. We arrived at last at camp drenched to the skin, where, in the dark and rain, we found everything wet; the tent torn into pieces, and its contents swimming in water- no fire- cold and shivering. You can believe we made pretty sour faces that night; but never mind, the night passed; at daybreak we regaled ourselves as best we could. Fine sunshine warming us up again, we endeavored to cross Honey Creek. But to do this we had no idea what a difficult job it would be. We tramped up and down the creek through mud, heavy underbrush, and were by thorns half torn to pieces. At last we were so lucky as to find a place where the trunks of fallen trees lay partly across the stream. Now we ventured out balancing. But such balancing 1 had never done before in my life. I used to balance in dancing saloons, in Hamburg, New York, and even in a log cabin on the Wabash river; but here, surely it could not go very well, from sheer nervousness on account of being in such a critical position. I declare I was not afraid of water, as in my former days I was called a pretty good swimmer; but that swampy mud by the shore!- if any shore was there, nobody could tell where, or whether a bottom could be found; then to swim in mud is a considerable piece of art, and I knew, not so easily done, as I had experienced before in a piece of Honey Creek swamp. However, over we must and did go. But oh! our traveling assistant had to come over yet, besides all our guns, tent and baggage. Finally, all crossed safely, which consumed a half day's labor. Now we traveled on, up hill and down hill, for hours, until we struck an Indian trail, which set us in good spirits. Not understanding how to travel by compass, however, we took ours out, which showed us greenhorns about the direction we wished to take; but on we traveled, following that trail. After many hours, up and down, round and about, we came out in an entirely contrary direction from what we wished to travel; we stood upon a height and saw our Wisconsin river, where we finally camped. Being now not very far from Helena, we visited for the first time the oldest settler in Sauk county, John Wilson. We traveled and camped out several times along Pine river, where we met a great many Indian graves, but no settlers. Near the head of this river we discovered a cave, in which we slept that night. The next morning brought us a most disagreeable affair. We soon noticed that overnight our most worthy traveling companion, our horse, had got loose, and was now- who knows where? Here we sat in the wilderness- with kettle, coffee-pot, blankets, tent, etc., but the horse was gone. With empty stomachs, my brother and I started immediately in search of the four-leg. We searched and searched- traced back where we had traveled the day before, not noticing much how fast the time passed by. At last, fatigued and very near giving up all hopes of finding the horse, there, we came in sight of him far-far away- so far we could hardly distinguish him. Really we had to combine all our energy to advance with something like good humor. The four-leg was eating grass very comfortably, while he kept walking slowly on, bound home ward. Noticing this, we had to march faster, to cut him off by and by, but to do this, it cost us a heap of drops of sweat, until we got so far- now commenced a chase, and a trying, and trying over and over again, to catch that- our traveling companion. We learned now, if we had not learned it before what independence means- that horse- really he showed himself an independent one. He tricked us out continually. On that day we had some experience in Western horse-catching! My legs seemed to me to have turned over to the age of sixty or more years; my brains- in what condition they were is hard to tell! At last! At last! we caught him, and almost dropped down, so exhausted we were. Now came the returning to our cave, which luckily we found at last; we had done enough that day, which lasted then but a short time, and it was sunset. Next morning we started together from our cave, but met also with a most unlucky day. We had traveled all day, and not noticing that we traveled in too much of a circle, at evening found ourselves at the same spot we had left in the morning- our cave. During the following day we endeavored to do better- came at last to a creek, but knew not which one it was, and being bound for home we followed it down. We had exhausted our provisions; the large and fat coon the Count had killed was gone. By climbing upon a high bluff we convinced ourselves that we were going straight ahead and right. With half empty stomachs, we calculated with joy at about what hour we should reach Sauk; but as it often goes- so here- we soon found we had made a miscalculation. We had to pass a great hindrance, which consisted of a large tamarack swamp, many of which at that time were along the Honey Creek valley. We were anxious to get home and not willing to march for miles round it; so we concluded to cross it in a straight line, but we had to suffer for it. At the commencement, for a good while, we did not care for the great elasticity of the ground, but our marching went over into a kind of jumping, somewhat like grasshoppers. It often happened that in jumping to what seemed a pretty solid place, on arriving we would find ourselves in mud- first knee deep, afterwards deeper- but the hardest trouble was our traveling companion, that independent horse, with all the baggage. O, Jerusalem!- hot and sultry it was; our bellies fallen in, our skin pretty near the bones, and no inside fat present, sweating all the time! Now that horse got stuck sundry times, not alone we had to carry the baggage! No- we bad to carry the horse too, mostly through this mud and nasty smelling swampy concern. I consider it yet half a miracle how it was possible that we crossed this place, but it came to a fact that we crossed it, and we were thrown into astonishment at the fact! But hurrah now for sweet home; this we reached at sunset, totally torn and dirty, having been out eight or ten days. Our German settlers glared and stared at us. I believe they could not make out whether we came direct out of --- or from the moon. In fact, we looked worse than any European beggars, Winnebagoes or chimney sweeps.

FIRST FRAME HOUSE IN SAUK CITY

"The Count soon employed a carpenter, Mr. Morgan, an Englishman, who put him up a frame house for his family. This was the first one erected in Sauk City. I purchased it in later years, and have kept it in repairs. It stands yet, and is occupied by one Mr. Cowles. More frame buildings were then put up. That of Mr. John Gallards and one under the name of the United States Hotel, now occupied by Hiram Miller; that now occupied by J. Werner, Sr., then a part of the District School building; then that of the Catholic Church- but before this latter building was finished, during church time it caught fire, and burned down in a few moments. It was full of persons at the time who had to flee for their lives. It was supposed to have taken fire by some one emptying his pipe before entering the church. From the abundance of shavings which lay around, the flames spread rapidly.

THE SAUK REVOLUTION

Provisions at one time being rather scarce, a civil rebellion broke out in the village among the workmen of the Count and Bryant. The motto of the rebels had previously been, 'pork and potatoes for breakfast, potatoes and pork for dinner, etc;' and seldom anything extra. A procession was formed, headed by a stout man, carrying on a long pole a picked ham bone for a banner, the rest following in single file like geese, each one carrying a piece of the cooking concern, such as tea-kettle, tin-pail, tin-pan, etc.; beating on them, shouting, joking, and making a tremendous noise, which from the clearness of the evening, was echoed back from the bluffs upon the opposite side; and the reverberation came again and again, from the numerous islands up and down the river, as though all pandemonium was there. When the procession disbanded, the settlement was still and quiet. The supper horn was blown by the cook at an unusually early hour. In a short time a great hurrah was heard, the sequel of which was, that dishes were heaped with pies and cakes, etc. So ended the Sauk Revolution.

Next day lumber, nails, hammer, plow, and everything was handled extremely fast. At one time I was requested by the Count to ride his mare to upper-town, to buy a few articles from D. B. Crocker's store, which was a very small one, and the only one in the country. After I jumped upon her back I found her willing to run off too fast, and therefore held the reins very tight, so she overthrew herself and backwards upon the hard ground. I was near losing my life at that time; but she gave me a lesson how to ride a mare. I did not know, and had no idea this female creature had such a soft mouth!

Bears now and then made their appearance here, and in hard winter nights we often heard the yell of packs of wolves, whose tracks in the snow on the ice were to be seen in abundance all along the river.

My neighbor, Lueders, and my brother-in-law, J. C. Grapel (deceased) arrived from Hamburgh. Grapel, my brother and I bought a claim of Ensminger, who was afterwards killed in the Mexican war. We settled on the land and kept bachelor's-hall in his log house, but took our meals with our neighbor, R. H. Davis', who lived in Esquire Alban's house, at that time, which was situated where J. P. Mann's steam mill now stands, and was surrounded by a grove of timber which has since disappeared, and is supplanted by fences, buildings, etc., of German people. To get a house built upon our place we sent to Galena, and got out the families of B. Ragatz, Louis Accula, and Wolf. When they had finished the house, old Mr. Bartholomew Ragatz, a Swiss (now deceased), with his family moved out to his claim on Honey Creek, and this was the first settler in Honey Creek Valley. This valley is now settled mostly by Germans and Swiss.

 

THE COUNT ENTERS SITE OF SAUK CITY

When the land came into market, most of the persons owning claims in Sauk County could be found at the Land Office at Mineral Point, to secure if possible, his piece of land. They passed resolutions to protect each other against speculators overbidding them. The land sale went off peaceably, however, and on the 27th day of October, 1843, the land where now stands Sauk City, was entered from Government by Charles Haraszthy, the father of Auguston Haraszthy.

 

BOATING ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND WISCONSlN

The Count and Bryant were somewhat engaged in steamboating; they owned a share in the Rock River, of which, at that time I was clerk. We went three times from Galena to Fort Snelling (St. Peters) and back, and once from Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chien) to Fort Winnebago, for which latter fort we brought numerous soldiers of U. S. Infantry, their baggage, etc., returning from their Florida war trip. At the Forts we were kindly entertained by officers and men. Our boat was frozen in at Prairie du Chien, but as a warm spell of weather came afterwards, the engineer, two other men and myself were sent off from Sauk City in a skiff to get the boat to Sauk, if possible. After we had started it commenced freezing very fast. Past sunset we were nearly blocked up with running ice; we stopped upon an Island and camped, it being in the month of December.

Without a fire we lay down to rest, and when we awoke, found about half a foot of snow upon our blankets. We hauled our skiff onto the ice, and carried it to where the river was open. We however had to leave the skiff about three miles from Prairie du Chien. We commenced our march from here, through the deep snow towards that place. Our engineer gave out, and if left alone would perish. We took him between us and supported him onward as best we could. We arrived at the boat and cut her loose, but the ice was too strong for her to work in, and our trouble was all in vain. We went home under great hardships, it being very cold. Later I was engaged as clerk in Haraszthy's store. He built the first brick building on Sauk Prairie. It is that which now Messrs. Williams & Son occupy as a store."

CAPT. LEVI MOORE

William H. Canfield in his "Historical Sketch," 1891, has the following appreciative sketch of the late Capt. Levi Moore, and it is here reproduced, even at the risk of repeating certain facts in his life which have already been given. He says: "The Captain's first acquaintance with the Winnebago wilderness country on the Baraboo river was in 1840. Levi was the tenth and the next to the youngest of Joseph Moore's family, who was formerly from Massachusetts; thence moved to New York and thence to Ohio."

At a very early age he had a fondness for sailing. He went onto the lakes and served in all the capacities from cabin boy to captain and owner and was familiar with the location of every town from Buffalo to the head of Lake Superior. He also learned the ship carpenter's trade. At the present time, at the age of 82, he has a beautifully constructed model for a wooden ship nearly completed that he believes to be extraordinarily strong. He thinks it could hardly be broken short of a terrible catastrophe. We think he expects to obtain a patent upon it.

A captain must always have a mate. He chose his in the state of New York- Miss Adelia Titus. About one and one-half years thereafter she died, leaving Erastus for the captain's charge and comfort. When he came to the Baraboo country Erastus was put out to board in that estimable family of Prescott Brigham, Sr., on Sauk prairie. Erastus was old enough in 1861 to enlist in the war of the rebellion, in Company F, Wisconsin cavalry. He died at Vicksburg, Arkansas. He was a mild, pleasant boy.

We conjecture that the love of adventure led Mr. Moore to abandon the lake country. He went to Illinois, thence to Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, and there built a boat, the first one that ever ran over the rapids. He also built a ferry boat at Haraszthy, now called Sauk City, and a boat at Baraboo. He first visited Baraboo in 1840. Spent the winter of 1840-41 in hunting deer and in becoming acquainted with the country, and, located his claim about the falls of a creek, which he named Skillet, from the circumstance of conical holes being washed out in the soft sand rock, which made nice places in which to wash your hands, as they were constantly supplied by small streams of water. In the winter of '41-2, he, in company with Alex. Draper, hunted deer in Back Woods near Whitewater. In June, 1842, we found Mr. Moore at his cabin at Skillet Falls. He had a family keeping house for him by the name of Simon Griffith. This season, or perhaps the next, Moore entered into the mill business. He first helped put in the gearing to Wood & Rowan's sawmill. At one time, 1846, the people thought to organize a military company. Mr. Moore was recommended as the proper person for captain. Governor Dodge gave him a captains commission. The whole matter soon fell through, but he has the old parchment still. His being the captain of a lake vessel and holding a commission doubly made the title good, and he is now spoken of as the Captain.

In August, 1846, he chose his second mate, Miss Deborah Stevens. Harris Searles of Sauk Prairie tied the 'knot.' Four crown up children and their mother and father constitute his present family. The children are Margaret (Mrs. C. H. Williams), Valloo, Carrie and Edith; the three latter are at home.

 

THE CAPTAIN AND THE COUNTY SEAT FIGHT

The Captain dislikes high colored sketches of a flattering character; hence, we feel quite free to say that in the fore part of the county seat war he had a plenty of political enemies made by his action as one of the county commissioners. The seat of justice of Sauk county was by the legislative commissioners located at that one of the Sauk villages which would make the highest bid for it. The upper town bid was received. It consisted of a donation to the county of a certain number of village lots. In making out a deed of them to the county there was a proviso that if the county seat should ever be removed the lots should revert to the original owners, with all the improvements upon them. This proviso was so ingeniously worded that it was difficult to discover the deception. Two of the county commissioners voted to accept the deeds.

The Captain discovered the trick. The Prairie du Sac lawyers tried their best to convince him that the deeds were properly worded and did not convey the intent he thought they did; but he was invincible. Long discussions and explanations were had. He stood alone. The two other county commissioners voted Yes; but he had put in a big No. The clerk, Andrew Garrison, recorded the vote. Moore told him to put down a big No, and insisted upon it. Not satisfied by being whipped out of justice by treachery, he ordered the clerk to write out a protest for him against the swindle and put that upon the record. The clerk said he could not do that, as it was all he could do to record his negative vote. Moore replied: 'Garrison, you are the clerk of this board to record our doings and not to be judge of them. I am one of this county's board of commissioners. A minority, as well as a majority, can be represented on the books as he chooses, and you are not to be judge of what is or is not proper. Sir, I demand of you to place upon record my protest to the infamous trick.' Garrison wrote out a protest. according to Moore's dictation, and put it upon the book. Not satisfied yet he called at the meeting at the bluffs to show the trick up to the people. It was largely attended, and the matter was so thoroughly sifted that the Sacites offered to make a new draft for the deeds, leaving out the objectionable feature. There was a motion made that for the present the matter be 'laid on the table.' A Baraboo unparliamentary backwoodsman moved to amend by having the whole matter put under the table. The amendment carried by a large majority.

 

STUBBORN IN A JUST CAUSE

We retell this old quarrel story (which ought to be forgotten and all Sauk county be one loving family), for the purpose of showing what one indomitable will can do in an emergency. The good book tells us that 'one man can put 1,000 to flight.' This the Captain very nearly did. When he has a cause of justice to work in, Andrew Jackson could not excel him for stubbornness. We all know that. Some years after the county seat fight he arranged his affairs at Baraboo, went to Black River and bought a saw mill. This mill was destroyed, and he built a new one and ran it for two or three years. Lumber went down, and he sold out and came back to Baraboo. In 1878 he went into the cranberry business near Norway Ridge and made a great many valuable improvements on his bog. In 1886 and 1887 railroad fires burned his marshes over very deeply. He tried to get redress of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, but was offered a pittance for the damage. He finally brought suit against them and after two circuit court trials obtained a judgment of $6,000. He now is quite a hale man.

 

DOG SAVED BY BUCK

We do not like to close this personal sketch without referring to an incident which happened while Mr. Moore, in company with Count Augustine Haraszthy, Edmund Rendtorff of Lower Sauk, T. B. Remington, Abraham Wood, and Wm. H. Canfield, of Baraboo, was going to explore the wilderness in the back part of Sauk County. Wood and Moore, old hunters, agreed to keep us supplied with meat; besides, the count had a shot gun and a setter dog, yet, away back in the wilderness, where now have grown up fine dwellings and broad, rich fields, we had a starvation feast. We subsisted three days upon one partridge, notwithstanding our three hunters and a hunting dog. We had labelled the dog for breakfast. Next morning, however, about 2 o'clock, as we were lounging in our tent, the three hunters being out, we beard the sharp report of a rifle, and soon there followed a loud halloo. We started instantly and soon found the captain with a nice young buck hung up. A feast we three had and saved the dog."---W. H. Canfield in "Historical Sketch, 1891."

ARCHIBALD BARKER

W. H. C. in Sauk County Democrat: "The day for his funeral mentioned in your paper brought together a large collection of his old neighbors. It was indeed a sad 'old pioneers' meeting-.' 'It seems too bad that he could not have lived at least a year or two longer to enjoy his new residence in the city of Baraboo' was a very common remark that passed between neighbors. This building and the tastily arranged 'grounds occupy an entire block. The buildings were erected by M. J. Drown in his prosperous days and purchased by Col. D. S. Vittum soon after his return from the war of the rebellion, and recently by A. Barker. He had occupied it about thirteen months.

Mr. Barker was a quiet, pleasant, prompt, active, honorable man, full of enterprise. His words needed no props or the scratch of a pen. We think he never held an office of any kind in his life except school district treasurer. He was both physically and morally courageous and fond of adventure. He had enough of native combativeness and courage to take care of himself, but was far from being quarrelsome and was always just. He was brought up by Protestant parents and always had a regard for the Christian religion, although he made no open profession. At eighteen he left his comfortable home and came to America, landing at New York city; went to New Jersey and worked one summer; then to Philadelphia and wintered there; then came to Iowa to visit an old friend, Mr. Reed, and stayed with him one summer, helping him farm; then went to the lead mines and spent one summer working and prospecting and got acquainted with Dunn and McFarland, pioneer Wisconsin pinery men, which took him to the pinery. While spending some time at Ft. Winnebago he formed an acquaintance with Wallace Rowan and went in company with him in the Indian fur trade; this was in 1837. He became attached to the family, especially to the eldest daughter, Emily, and a marriage contract was entertained, but she died of consumption after several years' illness in 1847. He never lost his regard for the Rowan family.

IN THE PIONEER PINERIES

Mr. Barker assisted Wood & Rowan in putting up their sawmill (the first one on the Baraboo river) in 1839. In the winter of 1840-41 he logged in the Seeley Creek pinery and ran down his logs in the spring. In the same summer he built a raft of about 10,000 feet and ran it out of the Baraboo river, selling it at Decorah. This was the first article of commerce run out of our river (1841). He joined in partnership with James I. Christie to log in the upper Baraboo pineries, which as yet had not felt the American ax, and in the late fall of 1842 in crossing a creek while going to his field of labor he got his feet wet and very badly frozen, which came near taking his life. On one foot he lost all of his toes. He was confined to the shanty all winter, and, in fact, a year's labor was lost to him and more, for he since was not the ironsided man he was before. Mr. Christie pushed the logging and made out a fair winter's work at a small expense, but did not get the logs down until next spring. After they were snugly boomed there came one of the greatest freshets the country ever experienced, broke the boom and carried the mill off. Mill and logs were scattered upon the mouth of the river. Mr. Barker sold his runaway logs to some Caledonia farmers for four yoke of oxen. These he took the next winter (1845) into the Lemonweir pinery and banked logs for Captain Joseph Finley for a stipend per M and to take his pay in lumber. In the spring he rafted his lumber. He had made arrangements with John B. Crawford and Wesley Clement to go with them by the overland route to California, Clement to bring the team (horses), and wagon to Galena. He then shipped them aboard the raft, and as they were floating down the river they changed their minds and determined to go via the Isthmus. Wm. Christie took the team and wagon back to Baraboo, and, after selling, they went according to the new arrangement. After arriving at their haven each went his own way.

MINING ADVENTURES

Mr. Barker worked a placer mine in company with an apparently honest, fine man. This mine proved to be a rich one. They quietly attended to their business, burying the dust they accumulated. It was the rule for one to go to town one week while the other stayed working and watching their hidden treasure. One day after his partner had gone to town he looked over their accumulation and found a large share of it gone. He followed him to town and met him and charged him with purloining. He declared his innocence. Barker, with revolver in hand had him strip from head to foot. He plead innocence so sincerely that he believed him, but that night he left and shipped for Australia. Barker had a wealthy brother in the Australian gold fields, so he made up his mind to follow his partner and visit his brother. He did not succeed in meeting his old partner.

SHIPWRECKED

He spent one season with his brother, adding some to his 'pile' then went to Ireland and visited his parents; thence to England and purchased a stock of dry goods, largely silk, and shipped for New York City. While they were off the coast of Newfoundland the ship struck a rock, which opened a hole in her, and she sank. Their signals brought relief from shore, and no lives were lost; even some property being saved. He secured his trunk. He lost about $4,000 in this wreck, as he had nothing insured.

RETURNS TO BARABOO

Mr. Barker got back to his Baraboo home in 1854, after a nine years' absence. He now got some of his old claim put under the plow. Leaving John Rowan to take charge, he went onto the Mississippi river and bought and sold farm produce- pork and grain- occasionally coming home to look after affairs. From 1854 to 1858 he spent most of his time in this business, still making farm improvements. That proved to be the most lucrative business in the same space of time he was ever in. He invested in real estate about St. Paul. His agent swindled him out of about $4,000.

 

HIS BEST FORTUNE

The really best business arrangement the rover ever entered into was made with Sarah Jane Lamborn, of Jackson County, Iowa. An old schoolmate and intimate friend of Mr. Barker's married a sister of Miss Lamborn and in visiting his friend Sarah Jane netted him, and what was better she took him, or he took her, onto his old claim. There he was planted the rest of his natural life. She was an American woman of German and French extraction. No more roving or shipwrecks or robberies or duels or swindles. A year before his acquaintance with Miss Lamborn he had erected a comfortable outfit of farm buildings. The same week of the marriage, groom and bride were lord and lady in a well equipped manor; for the last fifteen or twenty years he had managed a large dairy of thirty or forty cows, making butter and running a creamery. Here they quietly lived on, to, see grow up about them six boys and one girl. He had just purchased the Colonel Vittum place and got comfortably settled when the summons came. One great comfort the mother and children have is to know that they had a husband and father who was an honorable man. His early life was so varied and he so well acquainted with the world and rich in anecdotes and many practical jokes, that it made him always a cheery conversationist, who will long linger in our memories."

John B. Crawford

Says Mr. Canfield: 'John B. Crawford came to Baraboo in October, 1844, with a corps of government surveyors: James E. Freeman, the deputy, or contractor; Hugh Moore, James Bell and Rodgers, assistants. Freeman was taken sick in camp. I fell in with them one day while I was coming home from Sauk, and make an engagement to work for them. Moore was using Freeman's compass. I got up a party and commenced surveying December 11th. My party consisted of James Bell and J. B. Crawford, chainmen, Henry Webster, axman. My cousin, Bradford R. Remington, was engaged with us in Hugh Moore's party, This surveying job was a hard one on account of the deep snow. We also had the ill-luck to have our tent burned up, which obliged us to sleep on the snow for a couple of weeks. We would break off oak bushes with the leaves on and lay them on the snow about a foot in thickness and make our bed on them, which was buffalo skins and blankets. While on this surveying job, John B. Crawford came near losing his life by getting lost in the night. And had it not been for James Bell, who heard John halloo just once, he probably would have died. But as a piece of good luck, the boys in camp led by Bell went directly to him. He was holding on to a little tree almost ready to fall down, and partially out of his mind; but after one day's rest was able to go to work again. After the surveying job was finished I hired Crawford and Moore to help me log in Peck's pinery for one month. John wrote to his father to come and see the Baraboo country, which he did, and concluded to remain here. He came on and made claim of a piece of land one-fourth of a mile north of the Wood-Rowan mill and built a log house on the north side of the river near the bank of the old Indian ford, as is known to this day as the Crawford place. John was an only child; a good and faithful one to his parents. As the country developed, he was an active member in all public enterprises, especially of a moral or religious character. In his two years' trip to California some gold dust stuck to his pocket, besides obtaining the heart and hand of his partner's sister. In a few years thereafter he bought up oxen and a great wagon and did freighting in the mountains in the Pike's Peak gold district. He has given his children good school advantages, and is now reaping some reward. The father, Alexander Crawford, and mother, Hannah, were universally respected. They were members of the M. E. church and he seemed to love to respond to ideas given out, and that too very heartily. The Amen never came from him with a whisper. His stalwart form and heavy voice would almost shake the building. For a series of years they entertained travelers and new comers. One of our early settlers that was traveling in an emigrant wagon intending to stop at Adams, the county seat, went through the place and did not know it, came to a log house and there stood a tall, stout-built man. I said, 'Sir, is there a place where a stranger could get accommodations over night?' 'I discovered in his features an open, manly expression, and intuitively felt that we were safe. He opened his broad, frank mouth and said: 'Yes if you will take up with such accommodations as I have in my little house, you are welcome,' at the same time starting with me towards the house. On entering I found the house unsurpassed for cleanliness- in fact, one of the cleanest I had ever had my foot in.' This was the home of Alexander Crawford. The Crawford family played a pleasant and profitable part in the early settlement of Baraboo.

W. C. CANFIELD WRITES OF WALLACE ROWAN

L. C. Draper, secretary of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, addressed a note to me some two years ago in which he asked for information about Wallace Rowan, who lived for a few years at Baraboo, and, believing that a daughter lived near this place yet, said he would like to have me visit her and collect what information I could get of her father's life. I could get very few accurate dates, but learned that Wallace Rowan was a Kentuckian. Soon after his majority he went to Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. He married Elizabeth Metcalf, a North Carolinian. They had here three children born to them, Emila, Archibald and Mary Ann. Then they moved to Platteville, Wisconsin, where Alminda was born. He then moved to the four lakes, in the neighborhood of where Madison now is, and thence to a place called Odds and Ends, afterwards Hanie's-- Hanie kept a house of entertainment here- and now named Black Earth. While here, a new country incident occurred. A difficulty between Hanie and a man named Pelky arose about a claim. Hanie shot Pelky, not fatally, however.

From here Rowan moved to Poynette, where he lived seven years. Three children were born here, Robert, Elizabeth and Clarissa. While there he was obliged to move to Portage on account of the Black Hawk war. From Poynette he moved to a point on the military road from Fort Crawford to Fort Winnebago, fourteen miles from Winnebago and twenty eight from Madison, on a creek that carried the name of Rowan Creek for many years, now generally known as Token Creek. Mr. Archibald Barker and Rowan went into company in the Indian fur trade business the next year after he moved here. Barker thinks the Rowan family moved to this point in 1837 or 1838. He feels quite confident that it was in '37. He built a large double log house and opened a place for entertainment. It proved to be well located for such a house. Often every bed (and he had many) and every foot of floor room would be occupied by sleepers, so great was the travel to and from the pineries.

LIVELY INDIAN TRAFFIC

But Mr. Rowan loved the Indian traffic so much that he turned his attention to it once more, leaving his large family and a hired man to attend to the farm and the house of entertainment. (The whole family could speak Winnebago fluently.) Rowan and Barker had an Indian trading point at Portage and another at Lake Puckaway on Fox River, and one in the Wisconsin pinery. While on the way with goods to the pinery, they had an altercation with the Indians. For a few minutes there was a sharp little battle. One Indian drew a knife and broke the blade in attempting to use it. Some Indians were knocked down. The whites, three in number, soon drove the Indians away. These melees
with the Indians were of no uncommon occurrence in this trade.

PARTNERSHIP WITH ABRAM WOOD

At Portage Mr. Rowan formed an acquaintance with Abram Wood, a brother Kentuckian, who had a Winnebago squaw for a wife, and entered into co-partnership with him to build a saw mill at the Baraboo rapids, knowing that there were nice pine groves at the head of most of the branches of that stream. Wood moved onto the claim in the fall of 1839 and commenced work. Rowan moved his family here in 1841. Mr. Rowan's eldest daughter married a man by the name of Mason, who stayed at their Rowan Creek place for two or three years, when the place was sold to James Enspringer. Mason moved to Baraboo. On August 19, 1844, we had one of the greatest freshets ever known on the Baraboo River. Their boom full of logs, the first ones ever brought down the river, broke, and most of them went over the dam next to the mill. This had the effect to dig out a deep hole beside the mill, undermining it. The mill tipped

DEATH AND CHARACTER

Mr. Rowan lived by farming at Baraboo until February, 1846, when he died very suddenly. In the afternoon he was taken with a pain between the shoulders and died before daylight the next morning. We are sorry to say that there are so few exact data in the above sketch, but we believe the incidents are quite correct.

In some respects Mr. Rowan was a remarkable man. He was of medlium size and well built and possessed an endurance for a pioneer life far, far above, that of ordinary men. A small volume could be filled with relations of privations and hardships he endured. He was always pleasant and very slow to anger. His word was, however, always law in his family. A person that had been long a member in it says he never saw him chastise a child but once. Two, quite good-sized lads of his had so serious a difference that they came to blows. He happened to witness the altercation. He stepped in between them, took each by the collar and mildly walked them into the house. The boys, fired up with passion, tried to tell their grievances. But the father said: 'I saw it; say no more.' He stood one on one side of the room and the other on the opposite side. Calling in the family, he told the boys to meet half way and kiss, with their heads up and pleasant. They complied, but very surily and sour. The father said he was not satisfied; they must try again and be more pleasant: which they did, and the father said that was a good deal better and would do. Our informant says that as long as be was acquainted with the boys they were pleasant toward each other. Mr. Rowan's home was always welcome to his neighbors and to strangers. He was very far from being a penny-fisted man in his dealings with them. On his death the neighborhood very much missed his genial society. His remains were interred in a pleasant knoll about forty rods northwest of the dam, with nothing to mark the spot, together with some other members of his family and some other early settlers.

DOCTOR QUAIFE WRITES OF BARABOO'S FIRST SETTLER

There has been some doubt as to when Abraham Wood came to Baraboo and as to who the first settler really was. Under date of October 18, 1917, Dr. M. M. Quaife, Superintendent of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, writes: " We appreciate your difficulty in determining the time of the advent of Abraham Wood on your river, because of the conflict in the authorities. So far as we can determine, the account in the Wisconsin Historical Atlas seems to be the most authoritative. The sketches in this volume were carefully written, and were obtained from survivors then alive. According to that statement the first man who attempted settlement at the Baraboo Rapids in 1837 was Archibald Barker, who then lived at Portage. He was driven off by the Indians. Meanwhile the treaty at Washington had been negotiated, and there seemed more hope that a settlement might be made. In the spring or early summer of 1839 a man named James Alban discovered Devil's Lake; he went back to Portage and told Eben Peck, first settler at Madison. Peck had just sold out at the latter place to Robert Ream, and he and Alban set out up the Baraboo and marked out a site at the Rapids, including, the water power. As Peck was going back (after a stay of some weeks) apparently, be met Wallace Rowan and Abraham Wood, whom he had known well at Madison, coming up from Portage. They staked out their claim at Lyons, where Wood spent the winter. In the meanwhile James Van Slyke came up from Walworth County in the fall of 1839 and determined to jump Peck's claim. Van Slyke had had his claim at Lake Geneva jumped by other parties, and was in a bitter and retaliatory frame of mind. After staking out his claim to the Rapids of the Baraboo, he went back to Walworth, and interested James Maxwell in a plan for a mill and persuaded him to furnish irons and equipment. Van Slyke went up in the spring of 1840 and built a dam. which was carried out by the freshet of June. Meanwhile, Peck had brought his claim before the court at Madison and obtained judgment against Van Slvke. The latter had already abandoned the enterprise. Van Slyke sold his irons to Wood and Rowan, who during the summer started a sawmill at the upper rapids."

There seems to be every evidence that the source of this account was the Peck family, who were in a position to know the facts. If this account is true, we suppose Wood might be called the first settler, since he remained in the vicinity during the winter of 1839-40; but no doubt he lived as the Indians did, if not with them, since his wife was a squaw. He was thus not much more of a first settler than Barker, Alban, Rowan, Peck or Van Slyke.

To return to Wood. We are unable to discover when or how he come to Wisconsin. He was probably a fur trapper or trader, one of the rough frontiersmen of Scotch descent from the backwoods of Canada. In the course of trade he came in contact with the Decorah chiefs and took to wife one of the daughters of the tribe. He had probably been on the Baraboo often before 1839, since his squaw's native village was near its mouth, and there her father died in 1836. Wood was not then at the Baraboo, since be was wintering near Madison. He was not at this site in 1832, so sometime between that date and 1836 he set up his wigwam at Squaw Point on Third Lake opposite the modern city of Madison. His neighbor at this place was Wallace Rowan, a rough, goodhearted frontiersman from Indiana with a white wife. There is a good account of Rowan in the 'History of Dane County' (Chicago, 1880), pp. 382-83. Rowan seems to have permitted Wood to place his wigwam or whatever kind of dwelling he had, on his claim, which he entered with William B. Long in 1835. Wood was on Third Lake during the winter of 1836-37, and during the summer of 1837 he aided in building Madison, being employed as a mechanic on Peck's log house. It seems probable that Wood spent the winter of 1837-38 at the same place as there is no record of him at Portage before the spring of 1838.

Probably Wood moved away from Squaw Point, because Rowan that spring sold his claim and improvements to William B. Slaughter. Rowan moved to Poynette and opened his noted tavern. Wood went to Portage where, no doubt he had often been before with the relatives of his squaw. In 1838 work was begun on the Portage canal, and Wood opened a house of liquid refreshment just below Carpenter's on the Wisconsin river. There probably in the spring of 1839, Wood killed Pawnee Blanc, a noted Winnebago chief. Wood's brother-in-law, John T. de La Ronde, tells the sordid story in 'Wisconsin Historical Collections, VII, 360.' He does not give the date of the murder; Moses Paquette says (idem, XII, 431) that it was in 1837. Paquette probably remembered that it was after his father's death in 1836. but it could hardly have been in 1837, since Wood was then at Madison. Our inference is that the death of Pawnee Blanc occurred in 1838 or 1839. Wood was probably anxious to leave Portage at this time; moreover, in 1839 Winfield Scott went to Portage and held a council with the Winnebago Indians concerning their removal from Wisconsin. Wood knew the Baraboo valley would soon be open for settlement. He persuaded his old friend, Rowan, to go prospecting with him. But on their way out they found Peck and Alban had been there before them. Wood, not wanting to go back to Portage, spent the winter in the Baraboo woods, and the next autumn (1840) with Wallace Rowan began a sawmill, as La Ronde states (Wis. Hist. Colls., VII, 360).

The foregoing hypothesis appears to reconcile all the accounts except Moses Paquette's date of the killing of Pawnee Blanc. The record of Wood's trial may sometime come to light. Possibly it may be preserved in the records of the court of Brown County, still kept at the courthouse at Green Bay."