In the descriptive portion of the work the plan is apparent, and needs only an outline explanation. The bounda ries of each county are defined and described. The soil and productions, trade and manufactures, of the county are generally set forth. The division of the county into towns is noted, and each town is then separately described. In the description of each township in each county, will be embraced the history of its first settlement, its soil and productions, its streams and water-powers, its woods and prairies, its improvements in machinery and manufactures, its plank-roads and rail-roads, its local advantages, and its farming interests-improved and unimproved; its villages, churches, school-houses, and other public buildings, its population and general statistics, and, in fine, the compiler has endeavoured to give a truthful picture of Wisconsin as she now is, and to lead discerning minds to reflect on the means of rendering her more beautiful still.

Personal visits to every county in the State (with the few exceptions of new counties lately taken from the larger counties in the north) has enabled the compiler to present his views and descriptions generally from actual observation. His indebtedness to gentlemen of intelligence and accuracy of information, in every part of the State, for the highly valuable facts imparted to him, and the facilities afforded him of personal examinations into interesting matters, is most gratefully acknowledged. To name the individuals in each county which the compiler visited, who afforded him such facilities, and gave him such valuable information, would certainly swell an immense list, but could not either increase his gratitude, or

add to the satisfaction which he is confident they feel in having conferred upon him benefits so essential to the completion of his labours.

Such has been the design of the compiler of this work; and if, in his earnest endeavours to accomplish the task confided to him, and perhaps rashly assumed, he has materially failed, or embodied incorrect views in any, even the least important, of the many subjects of such a compilation, his sincere regrets for such act may (in the charitable spirit of forbearance to censure mistaken judgment) be allowed to be at least equal to those of his readers.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

CHAPTER I.

NEW FRANCE AND LOUISIANA.

Early History-Mississippi Valley-Discovery of Florida-Ponce de Leon, Miruelo, Narvaez, De Soto-Discovery of the Mississippi, and fate of De Soto-Charter Grant of New France-Jesuit Missionaries, zeal and success-Reach the Western Lakes-Enterprising views of DiscoveryMesnard, Allouez, Marquette-Views of the Intendant Talon-Great Congress of Indian Nations at the Falls of St. Mary-Enterprise of Marquette and Joliet-Dangers pointed out by the Indians-Fox River, Portage, and Wisconsin-Upper Mississippi discovered-The Illini Indians hospitable-The Missouri passed, the Ouabache reached, and the Mississippi descended to below the Arkansas-Return of Marquette and Joliet to Green Bay-Joliet's papers lost-Death of MarquetteDe la Salle, his enterprise, protected and encouraged by Colbert and Seignelay-Builds a vessel on Niagara River, and navigates the Upper Lakes-He reaches the sources of the Illinois River-Descends and builds a Fort-Learns the course of the Mississippi River, loses his vessel on the Lakes, and resolves to build a new one-Despatches Hennepin on a voyage of discovery up the Mississippi-Leaves Tonti in command, and returns on foot to Fort Frontenac-Tonti builds Rock Fort-Is driven away by the Indians-La Salle returns, descends the Mississippi to the sea, and takes possession of the country, by the name of Louisiana-Returns to France, procures a fleet, and endeavours to discover the mouth of the Mississippi by sea-Passes the mouth, and lands in St. Bernard's Bay-His misfortunes, fruitless searches, and assassination-Joutel and Anastasius return by the Mississippi to Fort Crevecœur, and thence to Quebec-Attempts to decry the merits of La Salle's discoveries-Hennepin's alleged discoveries-His two publications, and interpolations-The claims of England to the Mississippi founded on Hennepin's books-The claims of France-Conflicting opinions of French and English Colonists-New France neglected

23

French possessions in the West include the whole Valley of the Mis sissippi-Iberville and his brothers-Expedition fitted out to discover the mouth of the Mississippi-Iberville successful-Passes up the River-Finds a letter from Tonti to La Salle--Builds a Fort at Biloxi, and returns to France-Possession taken of the whole basin of the Mississippi, by France, under the name of Louisiana

THE early history of that portion of the great North-west now known as the State of Wisconsin, is necessarily connected with that of the whole valley of the Mississippi; and in taking a condensed retrospective view of the early explorations of the country bordering on its waters, it cannot be considered as altogether foreign to our immediate subject. Although more than a century had elapsed from the advent of the first European to the banks of the great River of the West, previous to any important exploration of its course, yet that event must be considered as the inception of its history. The first adventurers came, seeking conquest and gold; they found poverty, endured sufferings, and met with death. Religious zeal and persevering self-denial on the part of the early Jesuit missionaries accomplished more with the Red man than the sword, and laid the foundation of that astonishing prosperity of settlement and cultivation by civilized. man, which at this day pervades the entire valley of the Mississippi. Wisconsin, as a portion of that valley, is so far connected with the early discovery and settlement of any part of it, that the story of the fortunes of adventurers, and the ultimate reduction of the whole of the Great West to the peaceable possession and occupancy of the United States, necessarily becomes a part of her own history, and cannot justly be omitted in the records of her own proper annals.

The southern coast of the North American continent, near St. Augustine in Florida, was discovered on Easter Sunday, in the year 1512, by Juan Ponce de Leon. In honour of the day, as well as on account of the flowers of the ground, and the blossoms of the trees, he named the new-found country Pascua Florida. Ponce de Leon had been one of the adventurous companions of Columbus, and, in the spirit of the