Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-09-22

A section of Wisconsin only recently
beginning to be properly appreciated
and exploited 70 the kickapoo valley,
lying in tte counties of Monroe, Vernon,
Richlsno and Crawford, in the south
western part of tire state.
Nearly every one has heard more or
less mention of this region, but gen.
orally inaccurate and misleading ac-
counts, and it has been customary to
treat as joke any reference to the
kickapoo. This is partly due to the
fact that for more than forty years
after it was first settled there was no
direct railroad communication with the
valley and it remained almost world
to itself, its peculiarities and foibles
distorted and exaggerated by outside
report.
About eighty miles in length and
varying in width from narrow canyon
to breadth of two or three miles, this
lovely valley extends from north to
south in ageneral course almost parallel
with the Mississippi river and distant
from it about thirty-five miles on an
average, though slightly converging,
the month of the stream at Wauzeka,
on the Wisconsin river being perhaps
eighteen milea father west than its
source resr Wilton in Monroe county.
The mans K,ckapoo is of Indian ORR
gin and sgrifies crooked water. "
Like most indian appelatiens it is wise
ly bestowed, the river itself meas airing
a length of nearly 900 sniles. The name,
Sc-ever, has come Co pertain M only
to the river, but to all the count ry tri-
butary to it, an area of about 800 square
miles. The region through wi lch the
Kickapoo flows is extremely rrzged and
picturesque. with innumeraJie gOrges
and canyons, imposing heights and zig
Tagging ridges, 300 to 500 feet in alti-
tude.
The river has an average width of
about 100 feet, but the volume of water
has greatly decreased during the last
twenty years, owing to deforestation.
The valley bears undisputable evil
dences of the occupation of the mound
builders, and there are few valuable
collections in possession of early resi-
dents, Of relics of that race and of the
Indians who followed them.
The Kickapoo country was first set
tied in the late sos and early 'd0s by a
rowing population of trappers and trad
ers dealing with the Indians. Perma-
nent settlement began about 1850.
In the early years the river was the
main highway, the only roads through
that section being the one maintained
by the federal government, between
Black River Falls and Orion on the Wis
consin river, and the state road be-
tween La Crosse and Baraboo. These
roads, little more than trails, kept on
the ridges and did not really enter the
valley at all.
The early Kickapoogians met and
conquered the hardships common to all
western pioneers and many a pictures
que character was developed among
them when neighbors lived ten miles
apart and every one knew everyone
else the entire length Of the valley.
| The chief industry of the early set
tiers was numbering. Il is impossible
now to state with an accuracy the
lamouut Of lumber rafted out of the
Kickapoo valley prior to 1890, but II
was immense, and even at the low
prices prevailing in those years It was
profitable business, giving employ
m4nt to hundreds of men. AS the
timber was cleared Off, the numbering
industry gradually gave place to agri-
! cultural occupations, stock, farming,
dairying, ETC., and of late years the
valley has supported large acreage of
| tobacco.
| The Kickapoo has for some years en-
| joyed the benefit of railroad, branch
Of the Chicago, Milwaukee q st. Paul,
extending northward from Wauzeka to