Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-09-23
Copy of letter from gentleman travelling
through Wisconsin, to bis brother IN kentucky.

Copy OF letter from a gentleman travelling
through Wisconsin, tohis brother il, kentucky.
Du BuouE. w. r., Sept IL, 1897.
Dear Brother: You desire me to give you a
description of every part Of Wisconsin Terri
tory through which may have occasion to
pass. This cannot do. Adler pens than
mine have attempted to sketch portion Of this
delight region, and have fallen far short ofgi-
wing any thing likean adequate idea gifts beau
ties,- great resources. | will tell you,
however, OF a ride had occasion recently to
take on horse back through part Of it which
you design shortly to visit. left the steam
boat at Stephenson, H., and crossed the Mis-
sissipp river to Davenport, a fourishing viii
lage at the foot of the upper rapids, where l
put up for the night at McGregor's Hotel, the
only one in the place; had good supper, bed
and breakfast, and were | allowed to express
an opinion, would say, that from the unremit-
ting attention paid to travellers, this young
landlord would soon reap rich reward for his
industry.
From Davenport kept up the river. and
Immediately on its bank for some distance.
The country along the first six or eight miles
of this road seemed to be scarce OF timber, but
notwithstanding this great disadvantage, there
are many fine fields oil good corn, some wheat,
oats, potatoes, &c. &c. ] do not hesitate in
saving that every acre Of land in this vicinity
would, if well attended, produce one hundred
bushels ofcorn per acre. Six miles above Da-
venport is Duck Creek, beautiful stream for
mill, on which, and near its mouth, is an ex-
cellent saw mill, now at work, a short distance
farther on are Crow and Spencer's Creeks, both
beautiful streams for mills; ON the former Of
which saw grist and saw mill in operation.
These mills, was informed, did an excellent
business, yet so great is the demand for lum-
Der in these parts, that it is worth at the mills
three dollars per one hundred feet. From
Crow Creek to the head of the rapids is about
At the head Of these rapids is situated the bcau-
tiful village of Parkhurst, llaid off only last
May in which are several frame and log bull
dngs of fine size. If time, or the limits of a
letter would admit, would dwell here long
enough to give you some idea Of the seeming
advantages this place possesses. Suffice it to
say, if any part Of this great and growing Ter
ritory is entitled to the enviable appelation Of
Paradise, surely the country along these rap
ids, and for ten miles above, and several miles
back, is that country. Parkhurst is in the
midst, and on the Father of Waters. From
this town to the beautiful little river Wapesa-
penacon, is ten miles. On leaving the Mis-
sissippi at Mr.. Hubbard's, fmissed my way,
and crossed the Wapesapenacon at what is
called the Lower Ferry, tho forded it with
out difficulty two miles above its junction with
the Mississippi, which is the first place IT can
be easily approached atabove its mouth. Here
is a handsomely situated place on either side
of the Wapesapenacon, rendered valuable oy
their locality. being at point where much tra-
vel by land will be obliged to centre. Having
been better informed of my road, Te-crossed
the river and fell in with an intelligent citizen
Of Du Buque, and going Immediately there;
so I was much pleased to have company along
these unbroken roads.
We passed through eight miles Of one Of the
richest and lovely prairies have yet seen, in
which are some beautiful fields of corn, and
the country seems to be improving rapidly.
About sunset we arrived at Mr.. Bowen's, on
the north bank Of the Wapesapenacon, and
were received by this gentleman with a good
old Virginia welcome. We were shown into
his good comfortable double log cabin. and in
troduced to his wife, as fine a iandlady as YOU
will find between sold kentuck'' and Du
Buque. This gentleman's table groaned un-
der the weight Of good eating, part of which
was pike, red horse, catfish, and sturgeon, ta-
by Mr.. b. with a spearfrom this beautiful
clear stream: Mr.. Bowen related TO us many
pleasing anecdotes Of his bear, deer, volt, fox,
and prairie chicken hunts. with apress'ng IN.
vitation TO stay few days and ''ses sport.