Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-23
OF PRAIRIE DU CHEN.

STATISTICS OF PRAIRIE DU CHEN
From tie notes for McCABs's GAzErTEER OF
WISCONSIN, by julius p. Boiiror IMcCa5e.-
august 2lst, ls45.
prairie du Chen is the seat of Justice Of
Crawford county, Wisconsin Territory
Prairie do Chen ION Dog Prairie) embra-
cling three villages. is delightfully."- situated on
the East side of the Mississippi River. on a
level prairie of the same name and four miles
above the junction of the Wisconsin and Mis-.
sissippi rivers.
The village derives it's name from an Indian
Chief named DOG" from whom the French
traders purchased the site Of the inain village
on the river bank, (then the site of an Indian
village.
In 1878 Michael Brisbois, father of Joseph
Brisbois, Esq J. p, emigraied to Prairie do
Chen. He saw the ashes Of the old Fort
which was built on the ground which forms
the site Of what is now called the lower town.
Calve built the first French fort at this place;
but afterwards abandoned it, as 1t was too
sckly.
Ia 1879. Pierre Antsga, Pereaux Calve,
Sivain and Girard bull, each log house and
were the first white men who brought their
families here, and in 1880 Mr.. Louis Monroe
built splendid frame mansion, which he soon
afterwards sold TO the above named Michael
Brisbois for the sum of 1900 livres, or $4,000,
'paya6le in lead o, fur"
In 1871 Mr.. Brisbois removed his family to
Prairie do Chen, where he resided during the
remainder Of his life, in the capacity Of an ex-
tensive merchant and trader, and by honorable
enterprise acquired large fortune, of which,
he was plpndered By the Winnebago and Me-
nominee Indians through the instigalion of the
British in 1913 and 1914.
Prairie du Chen contains Catholic church;
a u. S. Military Foit, Court house and Jail,
three English schools having in all about six.
,y pupils. and an excellent French school
kept by Mr.. Isadore Boilat. native OF France
(under the patronage Of the very Rev'd Bon.
duel) with thirty male and ten female pupils;
four lawyers. one physician, six dry good
stores Gnclu4ing the settlers at the ForD with
a full stock of merchandise amounting in the
aggregate to $lO3.OOo; one drug store. four
taverns. Masonic society, one saddler shop,
one auc.ioneer; one shoemaker's shop, two
lailors' shops. two watchmakers. one gunsmi,h
shop, four blacksmith shops TWO wagonnakers'
shops, two butchers shops, one painters shop.
one joiner's shop, ten groceries, one copper
and iinsmiih shop, one barber, one brick yard,
and two grst mills. one of which is worked
by steam power. Arrangements are being
made for the establishment Of neutral press.
The population is abou, 800 souls, including
natives of the States of New York. Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio. Maine. Kentucky. Illinois. Vir-
ginia, Maryland aud Vermont; together with
Irish, German, French, English and Poland
eIs.
A large number Of the population Of the
village and its vicinsge are natives of Wiscon-
sin, of French extraction, and are the oldest
inhabitants Of the place.
The first school was established here by MIR
Michael Brisbois 10 1904. 1t was French.
The oldes, house now standing in Prairie
du CHEN is in the main village directly oppo-
site the new steam saw mill. twas built by
Mr.. Nicholas Boelvin, sen., the agent for the
10 1910.
The first tavern 10 Prairie du Chen was
kept by Mr.. Mann in 1918, and Mr.. Jean
Brunet opened tavern in the main village In
1891.
Tha, part of Prairie du Chen which is
known as 81. Terrible and which now consti-
lu,es the principal place of business. was com.
menced by Mr. Pierre La Riviere.
10 1914 the United States bull, a For. on
tie mound in the main town OH which Mr. III.
l.. Dousman's dwelling now stands. This
Fort was in the same year taken by the Brit
ish. who burned il down in August. 1915.
The middle town was commenced by Re-
piste Gagnier and Cold. but al what period
am no, informed.