CHAPTER XXVI. MISCELLANEOUS. VERNON COUNTY ONCE SIOUX TERRITORY. [A paper read by Alfred Brunson before the Ministerial Association of the Methodist Church, held at Viroqua, Sept. 7, 1858.] History is among the most pleasing and entertaining of human studies. By it we converse and become familiar with men and things of ages long in the past, and live, as it were, from the beginning of time to the present hour; but we cannot extend our researches into the future. History relates to the past. Prophecy to the future. the existence of something like brick or pottery indicates some advances in the arts of civilization, much more so than anything found among the aborigines which the Anglo-Saxon race found in the country. But the present race of Indians have no traditions of the people who made these mounds nor of the design for which they were built. The age in which these builders lived, or the distance of time from the present, is inferred from the age of trees found growing in the mounds, some of which, from their annual rings, are supposed to be 400 years old. But who were the builders, whence they came, whither they went, or by what means they became extinct, lies in the impenetrable darkness of the past, and is not likely to be known in time. But there is an interest excited in the mind on see History embraces the biography of men and Nations; their ups and downs, rise and fall, detailing the incidents which have been, the changes which have occurred, the improvements which have been made, and when known, the reasons therefor, which is the philosophy of history. There are, however, many things of interesting these ancient works, a written history of on the face of the earth of which we have no history, for the reason that none has reached us, if any was ever written; of such we can can only draw inferences of their causes from the effects which lie before us. Such is the case in reference to the ancient tumuli which abound to an unknown extent in the western States, but in none of them more numerously than in our own. Their forms, and the materials of which they are made, clearly indicate the work of human hands, and intelligence and design on the part of the builders. The forts and fortifications indicate the existence 01 wars among them, and that the combatants had more or less knowledge of military science. In some of them which would highly gratify, if it were authen- As the matter relative to these mounds now stands, conjecture alone can answer the inquiries of the antiquarian, which in most cases is as unsatisfactory as the total darkness in which the history of those times is now enveloped. Some have thought that these mounds were thrown up as monuments over the distinguished dead, and have inferred this from the fact that in some of them relics have been found. But as the most and the largest of them, on examination, are found to contain no such remains, the inference is not well founded. That human bones and Indian relics have been found in some of them of late years is no proof that they were erected for places of interment; for since the whites have been in the country, our modern Indians have been in the habit, more or less, of burying their dead in them, and frequently guns, axes, kettles, etc., have been found with the bones-and sometimes without them-which shows that the interment took place since the whites came to the continent, and the fact that such metallic substances have been found without the bones, shows that if men were buried there at first, their bones could not have continued in a state of preservation until this time. It is worthy of remark that while in Ohio the most prominent of these tumuli were forts or fortifications in Wisconsin, but few of that description are found. I can now call to mind but one such, that at Aztalan, and in traveling extensively in the State for twenty-two years, I have noticed but few of these mounds south of a line drawn east from the mouth of the Wisconsin river to the lake, while north of this line and between the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers there are probably 1000 of them. In Crawford county alone there are at least 500, one hundred of which can be found in the towns of Prairie du Chien and Wauzeka. The evidence of ancient mining found in the Lake Superior copper region, with trees on them of 400 years' growth or more, indicating some degree of intelligence and skill, makes it probable that those mines were wrought by the same race of people who made the mounds, and at about the same time; and yet, their being no copper relics found in these mounds, makes it probable that either they had no commerce with each other, or that they were few in number and emigrated from place to place, to avoid their pursuing enemies, and that those mines were their last retreat, from which they disappeared from this country, either by emigration or by being destroyed. The latter, I think, is the most probable. The earliest inhabitants of the district now included within this State of whom we have positive knowledge, were the ancestors of present Indians of this vicinity, and from the best light I have been able to obtain upon the subject, from Indian traditions, and the earliest history of the country, the Dakota or Sioux were the occupants and owners of the soil of what is now our entire State, together with Minnesota and the northern parts of Iowa and Illinois. This occupancy we can trace back about 150 years, and if the growth of trees on the mounds and mines, which indicate at least 400 years to the time of the mound builders, be a true index, it is very strange that the Sioux have no traditions of them, as there would have been but 150 years between them. This makes it probable that the time of the mound builders was farther back in the world's history than is generally supposed. Of the origin of the Sioux, or how long they had inhabited and hunted over this country before the whites came to it, we have no means of determining. They claim, and their traditions, together with the traditions of the Chippewas and the earliest history of both by the whites, sustain the claim; the earliest occupancy of the country to which any known history or tradition refers. In 1639, (1634), Nicholet (John Nicolet), found the Potta wottomies in the vicinity of Green Bay. But in 1641 they were at Sault Ste. Marie, fleeing before the Sioux, who claiming the country as far at least as to that point, were driving the intruders from their soil and country. In 1642 a missionary was killed near Kewee-we-na, by the Sioux, as an intruder upon their territory. From 1652 to 1670 the Hurons appear to have been wandering about the country between Green Bay and La Pointe, when they were expelled by the Sioux. In 1667 the Kiskasons, a band of the Ottawas, were driven by the Sioux from the western shore of Lake Saukies. This is the largest and best built Michigan, south of Green Bay. Indian town I ever saw. It contains about In 1660 Father Maret and others established ninety houses, each large enough for several a mission among the Sioux, on the Che-goi-me- families. These are built of hewn plank, gon bay, which lies south of La Pointe. In neatly jointed and covered with bark, so com1668 there appears to have been a large gather-pactly as to keep out the most penetrating rains. ing of the floating bands of the Algonquin Before the doors are placed comfortable sheds, or Chippewa race, who were encroaching in which the inhabitants sit, when the weather. upon the territory of the Sioux, at this will permit, and smoke their pipes. The streets. mission, amounting to 800 warriors, for a are regular and spacious, so that it appears kind of protracted religious meeting. The more like a civilized town than the abode of Jesuit missionaries coming to the country savages. The land near the town is very good. through Canada, first became acquainted with On their plantations, which lie adjacent to their the Algonquins, and being kindly received by houses, and which are neatly laid out, they them, of course felt partial to them; and know- raise quantities of Indian corn, beans, melons, ing that the Sioux and they were enemies, it etc., so that this place is esteemed the best would be natural for them to favor their early markets for traders to furnish themselves with friends, and gathered them around their mission provisions, of any within 800 miles of it. notwithstanding they were intruders in the country. Not a Sioux appears to have been there at the meeting, and the preaching was in the Algonquin tongue. But this meeting of the enemies of the Sioux, in their own territory, seems to have aroused them to a defense of this right; and in 1670 they drove all these intruders, with the missionaries who had been the means of gathering them at that place, as far as Sault. Ste. Marie. This proves that the Sioux claimed and exercised jurisdiction over the country as far east as Lake Michigan and St. Mary, as late as that period, which they did upon a more ancient right and occupancy of the country. In 1681 Hennepin was taken prisoner by the Sioux, on the Mississippi, below the mouth of the Wisconsin river, as an intruder upon their country. This shows their claim to the country in that direction. The Saukies can raise about 300 warriors, who are generally employed every summer in making excursions into the territories of the Illinois and Pawnee Nations, from whence they return with a great number of slaves. But those people frequently retaliate, and, in their turn, destroy many of the Saukies, which I judge to be the reason why they increase no faster. Whilst I staid here I took a view of some mountains [Blue Mountains], that lie about fifteen miles to the southward, and abounded in lead ore. I ascended one of the highest of these, and had an extensive view of the country. For many miles nothing was to be seen but lesser mountains, which appeared at a distance like haycocks, they being free from trees. Only a few groves of hickory and stunted oaks, covered some of the valleys. So plentiful is lead here, that I saw large WHY THE FOX INDIANS LEFT THE LOWER WIS- quantities of it lying about the streets in the CONSIN. [By Jonathan Carver, 1766.] On the 8th of October, (1766) we got our canoes into the Ousconsin river, which at this place is more than a hundred yards wide; and the next day arrived at the great town of the town belonging to the Saukies, and it seemed to be as good as the produce of other countries. On the 10th of October we proceeded down the river, and the next day reached the first town of the Ottigaumies. This town contained about fifty houses, but we found most of them deserted, on account of an epidemical disorder that had lately raged among them, and carried off more than one-half of the inhabitants. The greater part of those who survived had retired into the woods to avoid the contagion. On the 15th we entered that extensive river, the Mississippi. The Ouisconsin, from the carrying place to the part where it falls into the Mississippi, flows with a smooth but strong current; the water of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may perceive a fine and sandy bottom, tolerably free from rocks. In it are a few islands, the soil of which appeared to be good, though somewhat woody. The land near the river also seemed to be, in general, excellent; but that at a distance is very full of mountains, where, it is said, there are many lead mines. About five miles from the junction of the rivers, I observed the ruins of a large town, in a very pleasing situation. On inquiring of the neighboring Indians why it was thus deserted, I was informed that, about thirty years ago, the Great Spirit appeared on the top of a pyramid of rocks, which lay at a little distance from it toward the west, and warned them to quit their habitations; for the land on which they were built belonged to him, and he had occasion for it. As a proof that he, who gave them these orders, was really the Great Spirit, he further told them that the grass should immediately spring up on those very rocks from whence he now addressed them, which they knew to be bare and barren. The Indians obeyed, soon after discovered that this miraculous alteration had taken place. They showed me the spot, but the growth of the grass appeared to be no ways supernatural. I apprehended this to have been a strategem of the French or Spaniards to answer some selfish view; but in what manner they affected their purpose I know not. This people, soon after their removal, built a town on the bank of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Ouisconsin, at a place called by the French La Prairies les Chiens, which signifies the Dog Plains; it is a large town, and contains about 300 families; the houses are well built, after the Indian manner, and pleasantly situated on a very rich soil, from which they raise every necessary of life in great abundance. I saw here, many horses of a good size and shape. This town is a great mart, where all the adjacent tribes, and even those who inhabit the most remote branches of the Mississippi, annually assemble about the latter end of May, bringing with them their furs to dispose of to the traders. But it is not always, that they conclude their sale here, this is determined by a general council of the chiefs, who consult whether it would be more conducive to their interest, to sell their goods at this place, or carry them on to Louisiana, or Michillimackinac, according to the decision of this council, they either proceed farther, or return to their different homes. The Mississippi, at the entrance of the Ouisconsin, near which stands a mountain of considerable height, is about half a mile over; but opposite to the last mentioned town, it appears to be more than a mile wide, and full of islands, the soil of which is extraordinary rich, and but thinly wooded. CONCERNING THE FOX INDIANS. (By Schoolcraft, 1820.) The first we hear of these people (the Foxes) is from early missionaries of New France, who call them, in a list drawn up for the government in 1736, "Gens du Sang," and Miskaukis. The latter I found to be the name they apply to themselves. We get nothing, however, by it. It means red earth, being a compound from misk-wau, red, and aukie, earth. They are a branch of the great Algonquin family. The French, who formed a bad opinion of them as their history opened bestowed on them the name of Renouard, from which we derive their longstanding popular name. Their traditions attribute their origin to eastern portions of America. Mr. Gates, who acted as my interpreter, and is well acquainted with their languages and customs, informs me that their tradi and they boldly plied their paddles, sometimes animating their labors with a song; but the Mississippi proved too stout for us, and sometimes after night-fall we put ashore on an island, before reaching the Wisconsin. tions refer to their residence on the north banks I again embarked at 4 o'clock A. M. (8th). of the St. Lawrence near the ancient cataraqui. My men were stout fellows, and worked with They appear to have been a very erratic, hearty will, and it was thought possible to reach spirited, warlike and treacherous tribe, dwelling the prairie during the day by hard and late but a short time at a spot, and pushing west-pushing. We passed Turkey river at 2 o'clock, ward as their affairs led them, till they finally reached the Mississippi, which they must have crossed after 1766, for Carver found them living in villages on the Wisconsin. At Saginaw they appeared to have formed a fast alliance with the Saus, a tribe to whom they are closely allied by language and history. They figure in the history of Indian events about old Michilimackinac, where they played pranks under the not very definite title of Muscodainsug, but are first conspicuously noted while they dwelt on the river bearing their name, which falls into Green bay, Wis. * The Chippewas, with whom they have strong affinity of language, call their Otagami, and ever deemed a sanguinary and unreliable tribe. The French defeated them in a sanguinary battle at Butte de Mort, and by this defeat drove them from Fox river. Their present numbers cannot be accurately given. I was informed that the village I visited contained 250 souls. They have a large village at Rock Island, where the Foxes and Sauks live together, which consist of sixty lodges, and numbers 300 souls. One-half of these may be Sauks. They have another village at the mouth of Turkey river; altogether they may muster from 460 to 500 souls. Yet, they are at war with most of the tribes around them, except the Iowas, Sauks and Kickapoos. They are engaged in a deadly, and apparently successful war against the Sioux tribes. They recently killed nine men of that Nation, on the Terre Blue river, and a party of twenty men are now absent, in the same direction, under a half-breed named Morgan. They are on bad terms with the Osages and Pawnees of the Missouri, and not on the best terms with their neighbors, the Winnebagoes. * This name was first applied to a territory in 1836. In ascending the river this day, observed the pelican, which exhibited itself in a flock standing on a low sandy spot of an island. This bird has a clumsy and unwieldly look, from the duplicate membrane attached to its lower mandible, which is constructed so as when inflated to give it a bag-like appearance. A short sleep served to restore the men, and we were again in our canoes the next morning (9th) before I could certainly tell the time by my watch. Daylight had not yet broke when we passed the influx of the Wisconsin, and we reached the prairie under a full chorous and landed at 6 o'clock. THE WINNEBAGOES. Twelve treaties were held at different times between the United States and the Sac and Fox Indians and the Winnebagoes, affecting, immediately or remotely, the territory now included within the limits of Vernon county, as fol lows: 1. A treaty was held at St. Louis, Nov. 3, 1804, between the Sacs and Foxes and the United States. William Henry Harrison was acting commissioner on the part of the government. By the provisions of the treaty, the chiefs and head men of the united tribes ceded to the United States a large tract on both sides of the Mississippi, extending on the east from the mouth of the Illinois to the head of that river, and thence to the Wisconsin; and including on the west considerable portions of Iowa and Missouri, from the mouth of the Gasconade |