Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-09
Origin of the Term Badger"

The state journal. while engaged, \
few days since, in hunting up the his
tory of the state seal and the badger,
wrote u letter TO tho Hon. Moses M.
Strong, of Mineral Point, ex-president
OF the state historical society, and an
early pioneer of the lead regions, with
a view to ascertaining whether its
previously-obtained information rela-
tive To the origin of the term bad
GER" would be endorsed by one who
might I've considered rs an absolute
authority in the matter. The follow
ing reply. in continuation, will be read
with general interest;
MINERAL roINr, Dec. q, 1870.
EpIToRS STATE NAL:-Your
letter of the 5th inst. requesting me
to inform you what know OF tho
term Badger" us applied to Wiscon-
sin and its inhabitants. Is received
Whatever know about it is ira
ditienal, and may not be entirely cor
rect.
1t il known that, with the exception
or the military posts of Fort Howard,
Fort Crawford and Fort Winnchago.
Il few missionary stations and the
persons connected with the Indian
trade. tho whole Of what now consti-
mtcs the State of Wisconsin was en-
tiely destitute Of white inhabitants
until about 1885, except those who
had been attracted hither by the fame
of the lead mines.
The lead mines of Wisconsin were
inhabited for about two years previous
TO this time 10y II class of advonturers,
many of whom were itinernnt. aud
few Of whom. comparatively, had amy
fixed intention Of remaining perma
nently,
The badger is Il plantrigrade quad.
rupcd fraNus or Mclcsl. with short
thick legs. and long claws on the four
feet. It's most distinguishing charac-
teristic is its natural propensity to
burrow in the ground, where IL digs u
subterrmcous residence. often to a
great depth below the surface, IN
which most Of It's existence Is spent.
In the earlier settlement of the
mines these animals were very nu-
merous, and their flesh was used by
the miners as food, and their skins
for caps. The badger Is n solitary IN.
imal that retires from the approach
of man, and they are now rarely seen
1t WAS the custom Of the earlier IT,
inerant adventures to tho lead
mines TO go-two together, rs "pards'
- TO prospect" IN new and unexplor.
ed parts of the country, where neither
food nor shelter could be obtained
Taking with them tho few tools nee.
essary to sink Il prospect hole" and
the necessary supply of food; having
fixed upon the site. the first effort
made was to secure shelter. Their
limited means and the uncertainty OF
the duration Of its occupancy, forbade
that any time or expense not absolute
~ Indispensable should be devoted to
providing their precarious abode.
The result in general was an im!ta-
tion Of the habits Of the badger by
digging d hole into a side-hll; extern
PORTING for roof, rocks or sods or
both, Of such dimensions as would
suffice for two to sleep in, and 10 cook
their frugal meals. II the minor did
not succeed in finding good "diggings,
near the site thus selected, IL was
abandoned. But in many instances
the prospect" proved to be q "lead,
and Badger hole" was occupied rs n
residence for long time. and often
replaced by "A comfortable house, and
was sometimes the nucleus of ham
let on village.
The term Badger according 10
tradition was first applied TO the oc-
cupants Of these temporary subterran-
can residences, in dcrsion las the
term Sucker" was applied 10 the mi
gratory inhabitants Of southern ILL
nois, who. like the fish Of the carp
family, came TO the mines In the
spring, and returned on the approach
OF winter land afterward TO all the
Inhabitants Of the lead-miHe region.
and BY not unnatural adaptation,
has been applied TO the people OF the
state and to the State itself.
Very truly yours,
MOSES N. STRONG.