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History of Vernon County, Wisconsin
The importance of local history is appreciated today more than ever before. A general de- sire is being manifested by the people to preserve the records made by the pioneers. Old Settlers' Associations and Historical Societies are being organized in almost every city and county throughout the land. The interest in local history is not confined, as some suppose, to men of second and third rate ability, but men like Hon. John Wentworth, Hon. E.B. Washburn, Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, and others of that class, show as much interest in pioneer reminiscences and the various little incidents that go to make up the record of a new country, as could be shown by any who think the world is comprised in that scope of territory in their own immediate neighborhood. Hon. Daniel Durkee, Librarian Wisconsin Slate Historical Society, has delivered a lecture, which has been printed and scattered broadcast throughout the land, urging the people to perpetuate their local history, and every county history that is published is purchased by him for that institution, of which he is Librarian. In that vast library of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, no historical works are more referred to than the local histories of the various counties of the States of the Union.
Believing that the county of Vernon afforded material for a good history, the Union Publishing Company of Springfield, Illinois, sent a corps of experienced historians into the field under the supervision of Prof. C.W. Butterfield with instructions to spare no pains in compiling a complete and reliable work. As preliminary to the work, and in order to insure correctness and a work in which every citizen of the county might feel a just pride, committees were appointed to read and revise the general history of each county, and a like committee in each township to examine and correct the history of their respective townships. With but one or two exceptions, every man thus appointed served to the best of his ability, and the wisdom of the choice of the committees is shown in the work performed. We feel confident that we here present to our patrons a history that is correct as possible for human beings to make it. Special care has been taken in its compilations, hundreds of men and women being interviewed, and every source of information canvassed that facts alone should be incorporated in it. The manuscript was then read to the committees, and time given to make such corrections as they deemed necessary, and each member was urged to exercise care, and not be backward in making such corrections or such suggestions as might be deemed necessary to insure correctness and add to the value of the work. Our thanks are certainly due to these men, a number of whom spent much time, with no thought of reward than that received in the consciousness of a duty well performed. Among others specially entitled to our thanks are: Heury Casson, Jr., Capt. D.W.C. Wilson, Judge W.F. Terhune, Capt. R.S. McMichael, John R. Casson, James E. Newell, N.C. Nichols, Hon. CM. Butt, P.J. Layne, Col. Earl M. Rogers, Hon. H.P. Proctor, Hon. O.B. Wyrnan, Rev. John Whitworth, William Haughton and others. Every county officer, and every deputy employed in the various offices showed a perfect willingness and an earnest desire to aid us in obtaining information.
Table of Contents
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
CHAPTER I.
PRE-HISTORIC AND SETTLEMENT 17
CHAPTER II.
WISCONSIN AS A TERRITORY 34
CHAPTER III.
WISCONSIN AS A STATE 42
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY. WISCONSIN.
CHAPTER I.
AREA, POSITION AND SURFACE FEATURES 69
CHAPTER II.
TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 73
CHAPTER III.
ANCIENT INHABITANTS 79
CHAPTER IV.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS 86
CHAPTER V.
THE WINNEBAGO WAR 91
CHAPTER VI.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR 95
CHAPTER VII.
UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS 107
CHAPTER VIII.
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY 116
CHAPTER IX.
PIONEER LIFE 118
CHAPTER X.
FIRST THINGS 122
CHAPTER XI.
FORMATION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 124
CHAPTER XII.
TERRITORIAL, STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION 136
CHAPTER XIII.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT 138
CHAPTER XIV.
CIVIL SUB-DIVISIONS OF VEENON COUNTY 164
CHAPTER XV.
THE COURTS OF VERNON COUNTY 168
CHAPTER XVI.
THE BAR OF VERNON COUNTY 183
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WAR FOR THE UNION 196
CHAPTER XVIII.
PIONEER REMINISCENCES 227
CHAPTER XIX.
ELECTION RETURNS 240
CHAPTER XX.
COUNTY REPRESENTATION 253
CHAPTER XXI.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 268
CHAPTER XXII.
AGRICULTURE AND THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 274
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE PRESS 279
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE GREAT TORNADO — JUNE 28, 1865 292
CHAPTER XXV.
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED HISTORICAL SKETCHES 310
CHAPTER XXVI.
MISCELLANEOUS 325
CHAPTER XXVII.
POETS AND POETRY 389
CHAPTER XXVIII.
SCHOOLS OF VERNON COUNTY 393
CHAPTER XXIX.
VARIOUS THINGS 401
CHAPTER XXX.
TOWN OF BERGEN 477
CHAPTER XXXI.
TOWN OF CHRISTIANA 480
CHAPTER XXXII.
TOWN OF CLINTON 491
CHAPTER XXXIII.
TOWN OF COON 505
CHAPTER XXXIV.
TOWN OF FOREST 508
CHAPTER XXXV.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN 516
CHAPTER XXXVI.
TOWN OF GENOA 527
CHAPTER XXXVII.
TOWN OF GREENWOOD 536
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
TOWN OF HAMBURG 551
CHAPTER XXXIX.
TOWN OF HARMONY 555
CHAPTER XL.
TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH 562
CHAPTER XLI.
TOWN OF JEFFERSON 580
CHAPTER XLII.
TOWN OF KICKAPOO 600
CHAPTER XLIII.
TOWN OF LIBERTY 621
CHAPTER XLIV.
TOWN OF STARK 628
CHAPTER XLV.
TOWN OF STERLING 644
CHAPTER XLVI.
TOWN OF UNION 664
CHAPTER XLVII.
VILLAGE AND TOWN OF VIROQUA 675
CHAPTER XLVIII.
TOWN OF WEBSTER 720
CHAPTER XLIX.
TOWN OF WHEATLAND 724
CHAPTER L.
TOWN OF WHITESTOWN 744
CHAPTER LI.
HONORABLE MENTION 760
CHAPTER LII.
MISCELLANEOUS 774
APPENDIX 780
BIOGRAPHICAL
PORTRAITS
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The history of Wisconsin commences with the recital of the indomitable perseverance and heroic bravery displayed by its first visitant, John Nicolet. An investigation of the career of this Frenchman shows him, at an early age, leaving his home in Normandy for the new world, landing at Quebec in 1618, and at once seeking a residence among the Algonquins of the Ottawa river, in Canada, sent thither by the governor to learn their language. In the midst of many hardships, and surrounded by perils, he applied himself with great zeal to his task. Having become familiar with the Algonquin tongue, he was admitted into the councils of the savages.
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