Fifty Years In The Northwest
wise, and altogether a citizen of whom the State might justly be
proud. He died in Burlington, Iowa, June 19, 1867.
GEORGE W. JONES was born in Vincennes, Indiana. He graduated at
Transylvania University, Kentucky, in 1825. He was educated for the
law, but ill health prevented him from practicing. He, however, served
as clerk of the United States district court in Missouri in 1826, and
during the Black Hawk War served as aid-de-camp to Gen. Dodge. In 1832
he was appointed colonel of militia, and was promoted to a major
generalship. After the war he served as judge of a county court. In
1835 he was elected delegate to Congress from the territory of
Michigan, or from that part of it lying west of Lake Michigan, and
remained a delegate until the formation of Wisconsin Territory, in
1836, when he was elected delegate from the new territory. In 1839 he
was appointed surveyor general for Wisconsin. He was removed in 1841,
but reappointed by President Polk, and continued in office until
elected senator from the state of Iowa, which position he held for six
years, and was then appointed by President Buchanan minister to New
Granada. During the Civil War his sympathies were with the South and
he was imprisoned for awhile at Fort Warren under a charge of
disloyalty. He has resided in Dubuque, Iowa, since the formation of
Iowa Territory. He still lives, a hale and hearty old gentleman, and
served as a delegate to the waterways convention held in St. Paul,
September, 1880.
S. G. AND S. L. TAINTER AND JOHN THOMAS (father of Hon. Ormsby Thomas,
representative from Wisconsin in the Congress of 1887-88) with their
families came to Prairie du Chien in 1837. The Messrs. Tainter and
Thomas died many years ago.
CHAPTER II.
STILLWATER AND ST. CROIX COUNTY.
In September, 1844, reluctantly I bade adieu to Prairie du Chien with
its picturesque bluffs and historic associations, and embarked on the
steamer Highland Mary, Capt. Atchison, to seek a home and more
salubrious climate further north. The voyage was without incident
worthy of note, till we reached St. Croix lake, in the midst of a
crashing thunder storm and a deluge of rain, which did not prevent us
from eagerly scanning the scenery of the lake. The shores were as yet
almost without inhabitants. The home of Paul Carli, a two story house
at the mouth of Bolles creek, was the first dwelling above Prescott,
on the west side of the lake. A few French residences were to be seen
above on the west side. On the east bank, below the mouth of Willow
river, where Hudson is now situated, were three log houses owned by
Peter Bouchea, Joseph Manesse, and Louis Massey. On the high hill
west, nearly opposite Willow river, stood the farm house of Elam
Greely, and on the same side, on the point, in full view of
Stillwater, stood the farm house of John Allen. With the exception of
these few dwellings, the shores of the lake were untouched by the hand
of man, and spread before us in all their primitive beauty. There were
gently rounded hills sloping to the water's edge, and crowned with
groves of shrubby oak, amidst which, especially at the outlet of
streams into the lake, the darker pines stood out boldly against the
sky. We passed on over the clear, blue expanse of water on which was
no floating thing save our boat and the wild fowl which were scared
and flew away at our approach, till we reached the head of the lake at
Stillwater, the end of our journey. November 30th my family arrived on
the steamer Cecilia, Capt. Throckmorton.
STILLWATER IN 1845.
We landed just in front of the store of nelson & co. just below the
landing was a clear, cold spring, bubbling out of the earth, or the
rock rather. It was walled in and pretty well filled with speckled
trout. On the opposite side of the street Walter R. Vail had a house
and store; north of Vail's store the house and store of Socrates
Nelson. Up Main street, west side, stood Anson Northrup's hotel and
Greely & Blake's post office and store. One street back was the
residence of John E. Mower, and north of this the mill boarding house,
and in the rear the shanty store of the mill company, where the Sawyer
House now stands. Up a ravine stood the shanty residence of John
Smith. In a ravine next to Nelson & Co.'s store was the residence of
Wm. Cove. On Main street, opposite Greely & Blake's store, was the
residence of Albert Harris. On the shore of the lake, north of
Chestnut street, was John McKusick's saw mill. Sylvester Stateler's
blacksmith shop stood just south of the mill. In Brown's Dakotah, now
Schulenberg's addition, near the old log court house, was a log hotel,
kept by Robert Kennedy. This was Stillwater in 1845.
ST. CROIX COUNTY.
From 1819 to 1836 this valley was under the jurisdiction of Crawford
county, Michigan, there being no white inhabitants save Indian
traders. There was no law dispensed in this region, excepting the law
that might makes right. In 1836 the territory of Wisconsin, comprising
all of Michigan west of the great lakes; also all that portion of
Missouri Territory out of which was formed the state of Iowa, which
was organized as a territory in 1838, and admitted as a state in 1846;
also that portion of Minnesota which lies west of the present
state--yet unorganized--known as Dakota, was organized.
The year 1837 forms a new era in our history. Gov. Henry Dodge, of
Wisconsin, on the part of the national government, was appointed to
negotiate with the Ojibways. They met at Fort Snelling. A treaty was
made, the Indians ceding to the United States all their lands east of
the Mississippi, to near the headwaters of the St. Croix and Chippewa
rivers.
A deputation of Dakotas at Washington, the same year, ceded all their
lands east of the Mississippi to the parent government, thus opening
to settlement all this portion of Minnesota and Wisconsin. But few
adventurers made their way into this far off region, however, for many
years. A steamer once in two months was the only mode of travel,
excepting by birch canoe.
In October, 1837, at Prairie du Chien, I met a party who had ascended
the Mississippi and the St. Croix as far as St. Croix Falls. According
to their account they had found the place where creation ended, where
a large river, capable of bearing a steamer, burst out of a rock like
that which Moses smote. They had seen "the elephant with his quills
erect," and were returning satisfied to their New England home. They
had entered the since famous Dalles of the St. Croix, located at the
head of navigation on that river.
In the year 1838, being the year succeeding the purchase of the lands
bordering on the St. Croix river and a portion of her tributaries, may
be dated the commencement of the settlement of the St. Croix valley;
but with the exception of the Hon. Joseph R. Brown, the parties that I
shall enumerate as opening business, came here for the purpose of
lumbering, and in no instance as permanent settlers. The valley was
considered too far north and the soil too sterile for cultivation, but
many of those who came here in 1838 found out their mistake and made
choice of the valley for their permanent homes. They were afterward
abundantly satisfied with the healthfulness of the climate and the
fertility of the soil. Several companies were formed this year for the
ostensible purpose of lumbering, many members of which became
permanent settlers.
The first dismemberment of the St. Croix valley from Crawford county
was by the organization of the county of St. Croix. Joseph R. Brown
was elected representative to the legislature, from the north part of
Crawford county. His residence at that time was Gray Cloud, now in
Washington county. Mr. Brown introduced the bill for the organization
of St. Croix county, which passed and was approved by the governor of
Wisconsin, Jan. 9, 1840. The writer of these sketches was employed by
Messrs. Brown and Brunson (the representatives from this district), in
December, 1839, to take them with a team from Prairie du Chien to
Madison. One of the indispensable requirements for traveling in those
days was a large "Black Betty," which was the butt of much wit and
humor. Mr. Brown said the contents of Old Betty must establish a new
county away up in the Northwest. The deed was done--the act did pass.
I don't know whether Old Betty came back to assist in organizing the
county or not. It is well to say Mr. Brown acquitted himself with
honor to his constituents, and was successful in the one great object
for which he sought the election. This was the precursor to coming
events--a shadow cast before. For it was under this organization that
Northwest Wisconsin and Minnesota first obeyed the mandates of law and
order.
Under the provision of the act of organization, Hazen Mooers, of Gray
Cloud, Samuel Burkelo, of Marine, and Joseph R. Brown, of Dakotah,
were constituted a board of county commissioners with county seat
located at Dakotah.
This town was located at the head of Lake St. Croix, on the west side,
on unsurveyed government lands, known as "Joe Brown's Claim." When the
Wisconsin legislature of 1840 made this the county seat of St. Croix
county it was named Dakotah.
JUDGE IRWIN'S COURT IN 1840.
The first district court north of Prairie du Chien was called at
Dakotah, St. Croix county. This county had been assigned to Judge
Irwin's district (Green Bay). The time assigned for the court was
June, 1840. Judge Irwin wended his way up Fox river to the portage,
down the Wisconsin to Prairie du Chien, up the Mississippi to St.
Paul, and across from St. Paul to Dakotah with guides. At Dakotah the
regular officers were all absent, but he found at the court house two
young men named Brown and six Frenchmen from St. Paul and Little
Canada, summoned as jurors by Sheriff Lawrence. Judge Irwin remained
one night, slept in deer skins in the county building, subsisting
meanwhile on venison and bear steak. No calendar was to be found and
the judge and jurors left for home.
The first commissioners' meeting was held Oct. 5, 1840. At this
meeting much important work was done. An acre of ground at the county
seat was selected for county buildings. A contract to erect a court
house according to specifications was let to J. R. Brown, he to
receive for the same eight hundred dollars. The parties agreed upon a
deed or conveyance of ground, a synopsis of which we append. The
conveyance cites and reiterates a Wisconsin legislative law
establishing St. Croix county, giving to the people the right to
locate the county seat by vote and to the county commissioners power
to erect county buildings, the selected location to be the permanent
seat of justice of said county. It further provides that the county
commissioners shall carry into effect the law of Congress of the
United States, entitled "An act granting to counties or parishes, in
which public lands are situate, the right of pre-emption to one-fourth
section of land, for seats of justice within the same." Approved May
20, 1824. It then cites the vote taken Aug. 5, 1840, locating the
county seat at "Brown's warehouse, at the head of Lake St. Croix."
Further conditions are set forth in compliance with the law,
confirming the location on Joseph R. Brown's land claim. This is the
first recorded deed in St. Croix county.
Thirty dollars was allowed to J. R. Brown and W. B. Dibble, each, for
carrying election returns to Prairie du Chien. The first abstract of
votes polled in St. Croix county was for delegate to Congress and for
county officers. For delegate to Congress the following vote was cast:
Henry Dodge, seventeen; Jonathan E. Arnold, ten. Samuel Burkelo, Hazen
Mooers and W. B. Dibble were elected county commissioners; William
Holcombe, county treasurer and register of deeds; Phineas Lawrence,