The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-06-06

on the east bank Their unique character makes
them exceedingly interesting from the scientific
viewpoint. The park is botanically and geo.
logically interesting
Great Historical Interest.
Historically the region is genuinely interesting
The first white man known to have journeyed py
way of Green bay, Fox river and Wisconsin river
was Jean Nicollett; he may may not have Kept
on to the Mississippi Pierre Radissons suppressed
journal" brought to light in Paris in 1880, shows
that he and Jean Groseiller in 1850 went down the
Wisconsin and the Mississippi and up the Missouri
to the Mandan villages bismarck, N. Do In 1913
Joliet and Pere Marquette, usually credited with
the discovery of the Upper Mississippi went down
the Wisconsin and the Mississippi to the Arkan-
sas returning to Quebec by way of the Illinois and
Lake Michigan La Sale explored the region be-
fore going down the Mississippi to the Gulf in
1882 and taking possession of Louisiana" in the
name Of Louis XIV.
Local history begins before 1900. In 1877 Seur
Marin French commander, built fort near
pixies Peak. In 1904 Basil Grard, Frenchman
held a conference in midstream with the Spanish
governor of Louisiana and secured grant of 1000
acres on the present site Of McGregor. The United
States confirmed the grant after the Louisiana Pur
chase.
Prairie du Chen is very old. In 177S 1t was a
Sac and Fox village at which annual mart or
fair was attended by fur traders from the st. Law
renee and the Lower Mississippi. In 1905 1t was
a trading post of the Northwest company, the
rival of the Hudson's Bay company. Lieut.. Hebu-
lon NJ Pike U. S. A.. there il that year, ex-
ploring the headwaters Of the Mississippi. He
crossed over to Pixies Peak and raised the flag for
the first time in what is now Iowa.
Though the United States secured the territory
to the Mississippi by the Treaty Of Paris (17S3)
the British hung on to the Northwest and we did
not get full possession until a generation later.
When John Jacob Aston established the American
Fur company competitor of the Missouri Fur
company and the Northwest company in 1903 ne
set IN trading post at Prairie du Chen that
played al important part In the American fur
trade In 1914 during the War of 1872, the United
States built Fort Shelby at Prairie du Chen 1t
WAS captured the year by the British and In
dians and was called Fort McKaye until its evacu-
alton in 1915 1t burned and the Americans
huilt Fort Crawford on its site. This aban-
doned in 1876 and larger Fort Crawford was
built farther down the river; the ruins of this
sin stand The arsenal of Fort Shelby is still In
existence.
In 1881 the Black Hawk broke out. Abra-
ham Lincoln captain of Illinois volunteers
Col Zachary Taylor and Lieut.. Jefferson Davis
also fought When Black Hawk was overpowered
he w,is taken 10 Fort Crawford. Colonel Taylor
commanded Fort Crawford for time and Lieu
,enont Davis was under him. Local tradition tells
of the elopement of Davis and Tayors daughter
Natives will show you the very window through
(Which the Young woman climbed. The last garri
son marched out under Gen. Albert Sidney John
son hound for the Mormon campaign in Utah.
When Zachary Taylor "Old Rough and Ready
hero of the Mexican war, became twelfth presi
dent of the United States in 1S49. Jefferson Davis
was the pro-slavery leader in the United States
senate.
When Abraham Lincoln president of th
United States during the Civil war and comman
der In chief of the Federal army. Jefferson Davi
was president of the Confederacy and commando
in chief of its armies.