Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-02
EhO Pioneers Of wiscsnsin a v-
ernor Dodge and 0thcrs.

on the 2lst ul,imo. II was presided over
By DR.. Chase, supported by numerous vice.
presidents, among whom We notice the
names Of Hon. A. g. Miller, ono Of the ter.
ritorial judges, now United States Judge,
and Gen. A. G.. Ellis, member Of the leg |
islasure when Burliugton was the capitol OF
Wisconsin.
The reunion Of pioneers is spoken of as
smOst happy one, she supper excellent and |
the speeches instructive aud amusing.
DR.. Chase referred 20 the wonderful
changes made ia the northwest. Forty
years ago there was only weekly mail on
horse back, from Detroit to Chicago, which
supplied west Michigan, northern Indiana
and Illinois, the whole Of Wisconsin and
the county vest Of IT, Then Chicago and
Green Bay were hamlets, and Solomon
Juneau, the only white man in Milwaukes,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and
Nebraska, did not contain ohe.third az
many inhabitants as now live ia Milwaukee
county. The states named al this time
have . population Of Eve million.
The subjoined letter from the Hon. M. M.
Strong, disting uished lawyer, formerly
U. s. Distrio, Attorney, and many years
state senator for Wisconsin,, will be read
with pleasure and benefit BY all who feel
an interest in the march Of empire, aud in
. the men By whom il has been extended in
the northwest. He SAYS:
MINERAL PoISr. Wis, Dec 10. II,
Hon. Eaoch Chase, President, and J, ".
Miller, Esq, Secretary, Oh Settlers Club,
Milwaukee Wisconsin.
am, and have been for more than .
week, confined by sickness, arising from
an accident which would have furnished
me . wAiery grave in the Mississippi river,
had NOS been providehtially rescued by
the bold and noble conduct Of two young
men, who, at the hazard Of their own lives
saved mine.
Nothing else prevents my acceptance oil
your invitation for the 2ln. | would
have been graii6ed to meet you, and con
tribute my mite to the interest which al
ways grows out Of . recurrence TO tn,
events Of the early history of Wisconsin b.
its pioneers.
IL would have afforded me an especiA
pleasure 20 have referred to the early set
element Of the 'lesd mines, aud TO hAv
reminded the club, aud through il the PEG
pie of the whole state, that the occupation
Of what nov constitutes Iowa, Grant ant
Lafayette counties, BY lead miners, was re
ally the FIRST aggressive effort made b
white men to occupy any part Of Wisconsi
in Antagopism to the interests or in OF
position to the wishes Of las savage inhab
tsnts.
II is true that more THAI 200 years prev
Gus, adventurous missionaries OF the Roma
Catholic church had erected the cross q
La Points, Green Bay, aud Prairie du ChieI
and At some other places and at these rariou
mission stations, were, with the zeal Of th
crusaders engaged in propagating the ter
cts Of their mother church. But none {
these acts or efforts, produced any aniagor
ism between the Indians aud the mission
aries. They already believed in an invis
bic spirit which they called "Msnitou,
while the faith OF the missionaries diffsre
only in the triune character OF the spir
they worshipped. These difference create
no hostlities, aud the missionaries continue
prosecuting their holy work Tor two eel
turtles, being regarded by the Indians
their welcome guests and by no act, pr
voking their hatred or revenge.
II is also true that prosperous village
grew up during the FIRST quarter of sh
century, and before there Was any occr
pancy Of the lead mines, both CT Gree
Bay and Prairie do Chen. But these, 1
far from being 10 antsgonism with the i
forests of the Indians, were in entire ha
mony with them and in accord with the
savage designs.
These villages were occupied by deAle
and traders in peltries add by the hume
Gus relinuo OF roydgeirs aud dttdche
which we're deemed necessary to the So
81 ~. fVkfa
. limited portion OF the Indians hubtir
ground, no willingly Assented TO, for q
consideration Of being thus enabled TO e
change the products OF the hunt, for su
articles Of utility or fancy as grAti6ed d
desires Of himself, his squsw, or his pa
poose SO that IN truth no hostile feelll
approx aling to war, we're excited betwe
the Indisns and white men, until after {
occupation Of the lead mines BY the phone
settlers Of that region.
The time was now rapidly approaoh
when WAr--A frontier, savage war-vss
exist 70 try IN the cruoible Of physis
strength the sRtsgonis,ic IDEAS Of the 81
age and the white man. The Winneba
tribe Of Indians, by the common consent
other tribes, occupied all that part Of W
consin which have spoken Of as the 10
mluess Acquiring w hhe iNoA tuey tuN
tanned Of their rights, al these broad, re
ing and beautiful prairies, oil the luIuri'
oak openings ell the beautiful and vAluAl
groves Of larger timber which dotted /
whole surface of this generally prairie
gion, and the bubbing brooks and orys
springs which met the eye on every har
all we're their inheritance TO be used
their happy hunting grounds.
a . u. a. II h. .
neer. Very many of them had slWs
lived upon the frontier; and regarded u
their duty 10 ''isplenish the earth and 81
due IT," and that no imaginary rights
Indians were 70 interrupt them. Previo
TO 1926 the occupancy Of the Indians b
been but little disturbed, but during Il
year settlements were common oil over
mines, from GAlena 10 the Wisconsin riv
Ia the next year . formidable band Of "
riors, under = chief called Red Bird, v
organized, and numerous incursions ms
upon the whites. The mirers, hovsy
were not indifferent TO their danger, a
organized themselves into n mounted for
choosing one Of their number, oil. Her
Dodge, as their commander, aided and 81
ported by a regiment OF mornted men q
By the governor Of Illinois. The war '
hnAEp anu luClhlNat huh euNNu'
was entirely suppressed aud the lead
spirits in it taken prisoners.
The result Was treaty Of peace,by VIII
all the territory claimed by the Wiuuebsg
south Of the Wisconsin river vas ceded
the United States, and the miners contin
70 occupy IL without molsstation.
A few years later lin 1892 the BIZ
Hawk war broke out, the general history
which is more generally unders.ood.-l
was brought on BY similar causes, the
oonsiu troops we're under the same CT
mandsr, il was terminated in q short q
with the same successful result, and v
like the other, followed by treaty VII
granted the Indian title TO other extent
tracts, and the two treaties opened to IN
structed settlement and occupation OF
the valuable and extensive portion OF
state south aud east Of the Fox and