Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-05

MILWAUKEE, Oct 80, 1868.
A journey through the State of Wis.
consin during tie last few weeks has en-
abIed me to gather some interesting in
cidents and statistics of its history, pro-
g-ess and prosperity, which may not be
nninteresting to those of our readers who
are watching the giant strides of the
young West.
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
1t is fact worthy of record that the
State eff Wisconsin has been successfully
under the governments of France, Eng
land and the States Of Virginia, Ohio,
Illinois aud Michigan. The French oc-
cupation, some two hundred years since,
has left its mark upon the land more
distinctly than any Of it's successors, IN
The names of cities, lakes, and rivers:
La Crosse, Prairie bu Chen, Trempe
TEau, and others, are titles which will
point out the history of the ear y set
tiers of this country for ali time to come.
In the year 1854, two young men, fur
traders, found their way here in pursuit
Of their hazardous avocsiion. For two
years they were lost to the civilized
world-if Canada at that time could
properly be called ''civi!ized." Their pur-
suits led others persons to enter the lndl-
an country in 1869 and 1860. These
however, were only trading expeditions.
the first settlement WAS made in 1865,
at place called La Point on Lake SUI
perior. This was before Philadelphia
was founded by Penn, or their ancestors
Of South Carolina chiyalry had driven
the first stake whore the city of Charles
ton now stands. In 1878 Father Joseph
Marquette commenced that journey Of re-
ligious zeal and peril which has given
his name to history and song. Starting
at Green Bay he assembled the Fox river,
made the portage across to the Wiscon-
| sin river, followed that beautiful stream
in its winding wsstway towards the Mis-
siss;ppi, the vision of whose broad wa
tiers, walled in by rugged Corinthian
bluffs, was spread forth to his worship
ing, wondering eyes.
The discovery Of the Upper Mississip-
pi by Marquette, was IN event more ex-
/ traordinary and noteworthy than that OF
De Soto At its mouth. The first was ac-
complished in the self sacrificing deyo-
ton of the missionary, alone and IN
friended, striving. to win heather souls to
the knowledge of the true God; the sec
ond in the interests OF gain and selfish
ambition, surrounded BY bands of armed
men with oil the paraphenalia of war
The latter has found place in art-histo-
ry, so far rs it goes, IN that absurd pic
lure in the rotunda Of the capital where
the Spanish adyenturer and his train, af-
ter march of many miles through mud
and storm, are represented in all the
spanglos, feathers, red and yellew velvet
of court costume. Father Marquette, in
ais Jesuit robe, his birch bark canoe,
standing there alone, watching the eddy
al d W hir Of the great Father
of waters, is a spectacle grander far,
worthy the yenci Of Edwin White or
some future American Delsroche. For
ono hundred years following Marquette's
adventurous journey, the history of Wis
consin Is marked only by the footprints
Of French traders who trahicked with
the Indians, exchanging their trinkets
and Ereaater, for tie skins Of beaver,
mink and otter.
Ii is singular fact, worthy Of consid-
Grafton, that lie French arc the only ma
ton who have lived in peace with the
| North American Indians. Whether the
reason lies in some peculiar national char
| acteristic of our French friends, or that
they came in so few numbers as not to
excite the distrast and jealousy of the In
dams, | cannot tell. Certain it is how
| ever. that for moro than one hundred
years they were allowed to buy and sell,
10 marry and intcrmarry. Even at this
late day | have heard lie scattered rem.
nants Of these tribes who inger about
their old hunting ground use many
words of tho French language. Until
this time ora Wisconsin had been as
colony by the French, when it was sur
rendered 10 the English. Twenty wears
later, il 1894, it was included in the
Northwest Territory transferred to the
Am orican government. Thrty-cight
years passed by ana still it was a wild
unbroken country, occupied by tho orig
inal owners of The soil, except where
military and trailing posts had been es
ial,Iished At Green Bay and Prairie ia
Chen. Yet at that late day, 1892, the
! journey of civilization was made by the
circuitous way Of the great inland seas
occupying nearly rs many months to
reach he city Of New York as it now
takes days.
GROWTH OF TIE STATE.
Thirty years ago this was a wild
waste of rolling praries, of lake and
woodland. Let us see what has occur
ed to this state during that space of time.
The population has increased from few
hundred to more than eight hundred
thousand persons. A chain of railroads
trayerses The State in all directions; thev
pass through millions of acres of fruit.
full fields golden with grain, cities and
villages here and there arrest the prog
ress Of the iron horse as it speeds along.
Manufactures mark the spot where ma
| ture assists the hands of Industry Shin.