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The Valley of the Lower Fox: historical, descriptive, picturesque
(1887)
The Valley in 1825, pp. [11]-[12]
The Fox and Wisconsin improvement, pp. [12]-[19]
Page [12]
writer says: "In a short time we found the river to expand into a small lake, called by the early Prench traders Little 1Butte des iVMorts, or " hill of the dead," from the tact that on its banks are a number of mounds formerly used by the Indians as burial places, and furthermore it is said that here took place a great massacre of the Fox Indians under a French officer named Moran, just one hundred years ago. After traversing this lake we came to a large island called by the Indians Me-na-sha, and here again the river becomes a rapid and this locality is known as Winnebago Rapids. We passed across the first or northern branch of the river and paddled along the shore of the island and ascended the southern branch and here we came in view of a large Indian village situated on both sides of the river. This is the first Indian village we have seen during our trip. A great number of wigwams are in view and smoke ascending from many fires. We landed here and remained the balance of the day and night. The Indians were very peaceable and indeed hospitable. They very cheerfully provided us with fish and venison and made no objection to our going among them and examining their wigwams and manner of cooking and living." In the year 1830, Mrs. Doty, wife of Governor Doty, wrote the following graphic description of the situation and scenery at Appleton: "The brilliant light of the setting sun was resting on the high wooded banks through which broke the beautiful, foaming, dashing waters of the Chute. The boat was speedily turned toward a little headland projecting from the left bank, which had the advantage of a long strip of level ground sufficiently spacious to afford a good encamping ground. I jumped ashore before the boat was fairly pulled up by the men, and with the judge's help, made my way as rapidly as possible to a point lower down the river, fromn which he said the best view of the Chute could be obtained. I was anxious to make a sketch before the daylight quite faded away. The left bank of the river was to the west and, over a portion less elevated than the rest, the sun's parting rays fell upon the boat, the men with their red caps and belts, and the two tents already pitched. The smoke noxw beginning to ascend from the evening fires, the high wooded bank beyond, up which the steep portage path could just be discerned, and mote remote still, the long stretch of waterfall now darkening in the shadow of the overhanging forests formed a lovely landscape to which the pencil of an artist could alone do justice." The Menomonee Indians, in 1836, surrendered to the Government all their rights in this region, and retired to the Keshena reservation, about 6o miles north of Appleton. They numbered then over 2,000. The money to be paid by the Government was funded, and the interest, at six per centum, was to be paid them semi-annually. The Oneida Indians came here from the State of New VorkI in the ye r 1822. Their reservation is in the northeastern part of ()utaganie county,, and extends into the adjoining county of Brown. THE FOX AND WISCONSIN IMPROVEMENT. We have already said that the Fox River x as a link in one of the most extensive and important waterways on the face of the globe, commencing in the Gulf of St. I.awrence in the north and running through the interior of the country, along the chaint of the great ,lakes, ip the lox and down the \Vis- consin and ending in the Gulf of Mexico. The Government early discovered that the improvxement of this river wold be of vast importance, and inaugurated a movement which ultimately resulted in its completion. In 1836 a survey was made by Mr. A. J. Center, from Fort Hloward to Tail Point, a distance of about six miles. In 1837 a hurried survey was made under direction of the War Department. In 1838 the improvement of this route was recommended to Congress by the Secretary of War, for the purpose of facilitating the transportation of troops and Iinunitions of war to the frontier. In I839 a preliminary survey, was made by Captain Cram under the directiou of the Secretary of War.
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