Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-12-07


cial. 1.-The historic value of Kaukauna' S
Indian mounds has awakened so much
interest in the subject that some means
of permanently marking the old land
marks is likely to be taken in the near
future.
Many Mounds on Grignon Flats.
On the Grignon flats are twenty eight
or thirty Indian mounds varying in size
from 10 feet to 100 feet the largest way,
some of them being round in shape and
others oblOng. The largest mound is on
the Black property near the fifth lock.
This mound is 10 feet high, 100 feet in
length, and about 80 feet across at the
widest part. This mound has formerly
been point of great interest because of
it's location and its having been honored
with greater and more distinguishing
symbols than any of these prehistoric
burial places.
For many years, lying exposed to the
elements. a cross made of red cedar in
which was burned an Indian symbol lay
on the mound. 1t disappeared fifty
years ago. Near by this noted Indian
mound was formerly a bay at the mouth
of creek which came down from the
hills north of the present city of Kau-
kauna. in the still waters of which the
native aborigines used to anchor the
canoes while stopping temporarily on
their way up or down the river This
bay has now nearly disappeared and the
creek which came rushing down from
the heights above has long since dried
up. Traces of It's ancient bed can be
found where it meandered across the
fiat. 1t crossed the government canal
just below where the United States gov
eminent drydock is now located
Lawrence Students Study Mounds
When Lawrence university was in it's
infancy there once came to Kaukauna
a bevy of students which camped on the
Grignon flats for several days, and they
delved in the various Indian mounds
located here. When they returned they
were loaded down with Indian bones
and relics of various kinds, which can
now be found in the museum of that
college The large mound was especial
ly the fruitful subject of their predatory
explorations.
Another party of prehistoric grave rob
bers came here, it is said, from some
down river point and from smaller
mound near the fourth lock dug up a
British soldiers overcoat and CAP, also
Indian relics and bones.
The large mound is now partly covered
with q thicket of thornapple trees and
relic hunters have been nearly obliter-
ated. The height of the mound has been
reduced perhaps nearly one-half from its
former proportions. A chain shot was
once picked up on the fat The pair of
shots, four or five inches through, were
connected by a chain and swivel about
three feet long. A large number Of mus
ket balls were also found on this spot.
Is an Indian Boneyard.
Just below the Outagamie mill. OH
what might be termed Hill of the
Dead" was formerly group of four
Indian mounds, which have been dug up.
This piece of land for a space of go
feet square is an Indian bOneyard, for
the remains of these prehistoric tribes
are found here at almost any point. This
hill of the dead is nearly ten feet higher
than the fat below-but ne rly that
much more has been sacrificed to the
constant wear of time.
Another historic landmark is what was
formerly known as the old Indian fire
place on the point of the bluff at Eden
park. AS Indians were never known to
build fire places, it is now conceded to be
an Indian cairn or burial place. This
method of Indian burial was not so often
used as mounds of dirt, and it is said
that it indicates the resting place of a
chief or leader of his tribe. The broad
spreading oak which stands guard over
this cheftains grave has become known
as the Indian council tree.