of the settlement of the Valley of the Mississippi had some bearing on the proper history of Wisconsin, immediate or remote, and with such view the subject has been treated.

With regard to the documentary history, a very wide field appears open. All that relates to the civil and political history of the Territory and State; all public papers and public action having reference to any matter in which the improvement, progress, and prosperity of the State is concerned; private narratives of great public events, such as Indian disturbances, and their consequences; interesting narratives of early adventure in the settlement of the State; all matters tending in any degree to establish a foundation for a correct statistical history of the whole country; in fine, all matters which may be considered as affecting the general interests, and not in their nature restricted to private interests, may find a proper place in this field of inquiry. Old States are now searching, with indefatigable care and at very great public expense, into the records and traditions of the past, for every matter which has a bearing on their early history; and this is done at this day, with an acknowledgment of deep regret that the preservation of such matters, in the shape of a Documentary History, had not received their attention at an earlier period. If it be not a source of gratulation that Wisconsin, in her infancy, has the advantage in her power of collecting and preserving such matters belonging to her early history, she may at least be commended `for endeavouring to prevent future regrets that her materials for such history were suffered to perish, one by one, for want of compilation in time.

In the descriptive portion of the work th rent, and needs only an outline explanation. ries of each county are defined and descr and productions, trade and manufactures, are generally set forth. The division of towns is noted, and each town is then separ In the description of each township in ea be embraced the history of its first settlem productions, its streams and water-powers prairies, its improvements in machinery and its plank-roads and rail-roads, its local adva farming interests-improved and unimprov churches, school-houses, and other public population and general statistics, and, in fin has endeavoured to give a truthful pictur as she now is, and to lead discerning min the means of rendering her more beautiful

Personal visits to every county in the S few exceptions of new counties lately ta larger counties in the north) has enabled present his views and descriptions general observation. His indebtedness to gentler gence and accuracy of information, in eve State, for the highly valuable facts impart the facilities afforded him of personal exa interesting matters, is most gratefully ackno name the individuals in each county which visited, who afforded him such facilities, such valuable information, would certainly mense list, but could not either increase his

work the plan is app anation. The bound d described. The s actures, of the court

on of the county in -n separately describe p in each county, Settlement, its soil a powers, its woods and

ery

and manufactures

cal advantages, and improved; its village public buildings, i

1, in fine, the compi picture of Wiscons

g minds to reflect a

autiful still.

the State (with tely taken from the abled the compiler t enerally from actual entlemen of intell n every part of the nparted to him, and 1 examinations into acknowledged. T which the compiler ies, and gave him ainly swell an im se his gratitude, a

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 ma terially failed, or embodied incorrect views in any, even the least important, of the many subjects of such a compi lation, his sincere regrets for such act may (in the charita ble 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 I Miruelo, Narvaez, De Soto-Discovery of the Mississippi, and fa De Soto-Charter Grant of New France-Jesuit Missionaries, zeal success-Reach the Western Lakes-Enterprising views of Discove Mesnard, Allouez, Marquette-Views of the Intendant TalonCongress of Indian Nations at the Falls of St. Mary-Enterpris Marquette and Joliet-Dangers pointed out by the Indians-Fox R Portage, and Wisconsin-Upper Mississippi discovered-The Illin dians hospitable-The Missouri passed, the Ouabache reached, the Mississippi descended to below the Arkansas-Return of Marq and Joliet to Green Bay-Joliet's papers lost-Death of Marque De la Salle, his enterprise, protected and encouraged by Colbert Seignelay-Builds a vessel on Niagara River, and navigates the U Lakes-He reaches the sources of the Illinois River-Descends builds a Fort-Learns the course of the Mississippi River, loses vessel on the Lakes, and resolves to build a new one-Despatches nepin on a voyage of discovery up the Mississippi-Leaves Ton command, and returns on foot to Fort Frontenac-Tonti builds Fort-Is driven away by the Indians-La Salle returns, descends Mississippi to the sea, and takes possession of the country, by the of Louisiana-Returns to France, procures a fleet, and endeav to discover the mouth of the Mississippi by sea-Passes the mouth, lands in St. Bernard's Bay-His misfortunes, fruitless searches, assassination-Joutel and Anastasius return by the Mississippi to Crevecœur, and thence to Quebec-Attempts to decry the merits o Salle's discoveries-Hennepin's alleged discoveries-His two pub tions, and interpolations-The claims of England to the Missis founded on Hennepin's books-The claims of France-Confli opinions of French and English Colonists-New France neglect