Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-09-02
On Tour I'd See
Historic Spots
BY n. &. COLE

Viroqua has a beautiful cemetery.
A tall shaft marks the last resting
place of the towns most famous citi-
zen-Jeremiah Mclean Rusk. He
was born June IL, 1880, and died No
vember 81, 1893, too early for one of
his physique. The obelisk is character
istic of the former governor, tall and
stately.
Rusk was bank comptroller of Wis
eonsin from 1866 to 1870, member of
the 43 and A con crosses, governor of
Wisconsin from 1882 to 1889, and
United States secretary of agriculture
from 1889 to 1893.
One daughter, Miss Mary E. Rusk,
is the only member of the family in
Viroqua. She is disposing Of the prop
erty and expects to make her home
in warmer climate, possibly Califor-
MIA.
From Viroqua it is but short ride
tothe scene of the battle of Bad Aye,
the name being derived from a small
stream which flows into the Mississ-
ippi river at this place. Black Hawk
and his band had made wild dash
through Illinois, up the Rock river to
Fort Atkinson, over the present site OF
Madison, across the river just below
Sank City, and over the country to
the Mississippi in the hope Of escap-
ing into Minnesota and down the other
side to their old camping ground in
Iowa The fates were against the In
dams They were defeated near Sank
City and many more persisted in the
wilderness. When the Mississippi was
reached the soldiers were in hot pur-
suit, the gunboat Warrior was in the
stream. and the Sioux were waiting
on the other side. But few escaped
with their lives. The Indians approach
ed the river through Battle Hollow
and those that could, reached Battle
Island There is nothing to mark the
site of the running fight, the scene of
bloodshed being between Victory and
Desoto, two small river villages.
* = =
Black Hawk and his warriors were
completely crushed The chief escap-
ed toward the Dells where he was cap
tured and most of his followers, in
Guiding the women and children,
were either killed or persisted. That
was the last of the Indian troubles in
Wisconsin.
For some tome before the advent of
the automobile Col. o. G. Munson and
others of Viroqua maintained sum-
mer resort on Battle Island but the
place is seldom visited now.
* = *
Between Desoto and Lansing, Iowa,
there is a primative little ferry used
in transporting automobiles and pas
sengers across the river. There are
two barges, one for each car in case
two are to be taken across, and the
barge or barges are dashed to the
gasoline launch. The distance is COW
cred with little delay.
y * *
The river was recrossed at Dubuque
named for Julian Dubuque, buried on
a slightly spot on the shore of the
river at the edge of the city. Dubuque
was Frenchman and lead was the
loadstone which brought him to the
region. He obtained large grant of
land from the Sacs and Fox Indians,
the grant being confirmed by the
French government. He continued to
mine lead until his death and was
buried above the mouth of Catfish
creek. He made fine terms with the
Indians and they reported to him
where ore could be obtained. The city
of Dubuque was founded by him in
1888 and was abandoned at his death
in 1910. In 1888, the year following
the Black Hawk war, the place was
settled again, enjoyed the river trade
before the advent of the railroads,
and is now a city of some size, largely
devoted to manufacturing.
= * y
Baraboo's connection with Dubuque
is through the residence there for
several years of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Sim. I. Mould.
s. * *
The hills are steep in Dubuque, so
steep in places that cars running on
inclined tracks are used to lift and
lower the inhabitants from one part
Of the town to another. Automobiles
are put to their test in negotiating the
sharp inclines.
s. s. *
Many have read the poems Of J.
G Percival, some of them occurring in
school readers. Concerning our visit
to his grave and about his eccentric
life, o. d. Brandenburg has. written
in the Madison Democrat as follows:
Hazel Green, at the southern ex-
tremity of Grant county in the his
toric lead region of Wisconsin. is
famous as the resting place of DR..
James Gates Percival, than whom no