Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-07-13
EQt8t0G6Cdg.
From the Old Oaken Bucket.

EARLY HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN forms portion of the great North
Western Territory. which formerly embraced with
in lis broad limits all that vast extent of country
comprising the now States Of Ohio, Michigan, In
diana Illinois Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin, and
the Territories Minnesota and Nebraska. Its ear
~ history therefore, is the morning history OF all
these states-the narrative of the discovery, ex-
poration, and first settlement Of each enter into
ana help form the records of the Great VEST
Here was one vast world, separated and far reno
ved from civilization IN the East, By cha IN Of
great Lakes its solitude unbroken by the. pres
ence and the falling footstep of the white mana
land of prmeval forests of boundless prairles, OF
broad rivers. ard inland seas, Of sunny dells and
sparkling fountains over which ~oamed the savage
Indian. the proprietor and monarch OF 1t all.
Otis History we have nothing written beyond
the year 1853 and the light furnished Us by that
early time is faint and dim. 1t is carcely less IN
certain than that which emanates in Pickering and
broken fragments from amid old ruins, the Crum-
bling remains OF demolished temples and fortihca-
tons, the Tavished mounds and sepulchres of the
dead-the remnants OF a civilization and an I'M
known race long since passed away.
Cartier. the old French mariner, was indeta told
II the village of Hochelaga nthe St Lawrence,
more than three centuries ago, of a great country
uest-north-west-of a strange people there IN that
iar-dIstant region, = who were clad as the French
and lived IN towns, who Were very honest, and had
great stores of gold and copper, that between
them and the land they described there were great
lakes and fresh-water sea. the end Of which no
man had ever found; and farther on, q mighty riv-
down which they might sail a month ere they
reached its termination.
This then, is the date, and this the commence
ment Of the history of the NoRrH-wFsr.
This history is blended somewhat with that Of
the early French settlements in Canada, which as
we have seen extends back as far as $50 After
- - -
plain. the leader OF French Colonial Expedition,
settlements continued - be extended farther into
the wilderness; and during the administration of
Count de Prontenac, RT-lich began IN 166S, the
country bordering on Lakes Erie, Huron, 1lIchl-
Gan and Superior was explored, and military sta
lions appointed at AIackiaaw, and at the Falls Of
S. Mary in Michigan.
Tbs first white man. far as we have any &C
count, TO set foot in Wisconsin, were Fathers All
cues and Dahoyv, two Catholic Missionaries. EN-
plovel by the society of the Jesuits TO carry the
Cross into the western wilderness, and among the
Wild tribes OF savage men. Fired with the zeal
and the indomitabe courage OF the old martyrs.
dasirous only to serve their Church and their King
these stout hearted apostles OF the Romish reli-
gon set out to explore the unknown regions OF
the far West. and through many prlvatlons, hard
ships. and perils they found their way across the
Great Lakes, and established a Missionary post at
Green BAY on the western shore Of Lake MIchi
gan. This was between the years 1868 and 1868
After thus penetrating many hundreds Of mile.
INTO the wilderness there was yet vast extent o
territory stretching out before them, inhabited by
Red Men. and undisturbed by the footsteps or tht
sounds OF approaching civilization. Separated by
hundreds of leagues from their brethren in New
France, alone and unprotected, they would go on
Others followed and joined them, and as they went
They shook the depths of the desert gloom,
With their hymns of lofty cheer;
And the sounding asles OF the dim woods rang
Win Tie solemn anthems of q Christian worship