The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-08-12
The DEDICATION OF MONUMENT
TO CHIEF MEXICO AT RAPIDS.


day afternoon. The program, arranged
by the Manitowoc Co. Historical Socie-
ty, was carried ont as scheduled with
the exception of the part assigned to
Benjamin Y Mexico, son of the dead
chief, who was in Northern Michigan
on a vacation and all efforts to locate
him failed.
Judge Baensch presided and in open
ing the exercises gave brief but inter
esting address. He explained the ma
ture Of the celebration, gave history Of
the monument, and paid a tribute to
Chief Mexico and took occasion to thank
Mic Kettenhofen who donated and de.
signed the monument. He then intro
duced Rev l.. B. Hastings who offered
prayer. Then followed the principal
address of the day by Dr.. Louis Falge
whose subject was sketch of Mexico .
DR.. Falge is we'll versed in the lore of
the Indians and handled his subject in
an able manner The following is his
address in full
The Wampun, otherwise colloquially
known among our early settlers as
Mexico, or John Y. Mexico, was head of
band Of Chippewas and Otiawas, with
some intermixture of Menominees and
pottawatomies, living iii the first half
of the last century within the limits of
what is now Manitowoc County. His
favorite abode was at the Manitcwoc
Rapids, about two miles above the riv-
ers mouth, where the great Indian tail
that Rugged the West Shore of Lake
Michigan leading from Fort Dearborn to
Fort Howard crossed the river. This
well known trail as distinct to-day as it
was then, was generally known az the
Green Bay Military Road.
Although our country's red men were
mainly Of the Chippewa tribe, 1t is an
undisputed fact that the greater part of
eastern Wisconsin WAS acknowledged by
the general government as belonging to
the Menominee tribe However by a
treaty concluded at Washington, the
Menominees sold all that part of their
territory bounded by Green Bay, Fox
River, Lake Winnebago, Milwaukee
River and Lake Michigan to the United
States in 1881 land Office was estab
lshed at Green Bay, and corps Of sur
veyors under Morgan l.. Martin com
peted the survey in the fall of 1885
when lands were open for sale Simul
taneously in 1886 the cities of Milwau
kee, Port Washington, Sheboygan, She
boygan Falls, Manitowoc, Two Rivers,
kewaunee and Ahnapee were begun.
When the first early pioneers entered
this beautiful region it was a veritable
red mans paradise. That it was so
considered by them is evidenced by its
meaning, Mantowoc. "the Home of the
Great Spirit" The Sloping river banks
covered with pine, hemlock and hickory
oak and beech trees, richly festooned
with the wild grapes, offered shelter
from storm and wind, while the wide
rich, alluvial river bottoms were exten.
sively cultivated by the industrious
squaws, for acres of ancient garden beds
and cornhills abounded everywhere
Here too was the finest fishing place in
the county.
The pale faces all too soon recognized
its many natural advantages, for at this
place, the first permanent settlement of
the comfy was made, becoming the
county seat, until outdistanced by its
more formidable rival at the rivers
mouth, which was chosen as the county
seat in 1858. On the river banks and in
have built there summer cottages, while
in place of the silent tread of the red
hunter is heard the merry laughter of
numerous picnickers. Here also in
1195, was established one of the series of
jack knife trading posts by Jean Viea
for the North West Fur Co Three
groups of Indian mounds were within
sight one of the Musson group, having
been described by Dr. Increase A. Lap
ham in his Antiquities of Wisconsin 3"
All except portions of two large mounds
are now destroyed. Three Indian Gene
teries are known Cache pits were nu-
merous, among these one Of seventeen
flint implements was unearthed, another
last fall on county house hill contained
several bushels of acorns. The plow
turns up numerous implements of flint
stone, bone and copper and ancient pots
herds, rs well as traders beads, iron
trade axes, etc. all of which have found
their way to local collections.
The Wampun was a man of fine ply
siqne over six feet in height, erect, very
dignitied and courteous in his demeanor,
possessing considerable strength of
character and more than ordinary intel
ligence. In his dress he was very plain
and unassum-ng, indulgng in none of
the tineries and tinsel so common among
Indians of both sexes. He was upright
in all his dealings with his white neigh.
bors as well as with his own people,
highly respected and trusted by both,
for which reasons his intercessions were
required in many dispute. his decision
always remaining as a court OF last re
sort He spoke only broken English
He was free from that common rursa of