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that year, the territory came into the possession of the United States, and by Jay's treaty, concluded in 1795, the donation was further vested, together with its forts, trading-posts and dependencies.

Until 1800, Wisconsin Territory was attached to Virginia and Ohio, afterward transferred to Indiana, Illinois and Michigan; its dependence upon these several commonwealths continuEng one hundred and sixty-six years.

BEGINNING OF LA CROSSE COUNTY.

All the territory now embraced within the State of Wisconsin was attached to the Territory of Michigan as early as 1818. On the 16th of October of that year, it was divided into twe counties, Brown and Crawford, by an act of the Legislative Council.

Brown embraced all the lands lying north of Illinois, and east of a line running due north from the northern boundary of that State, through the middle of the Portage, between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. Crawford, all of the State lying west of that line to the Mississippi River. A reference to the map will show that the latter county was probably one-third greater in extent than Brown. Within its limits was included the "Carver Grant," which excited great interest in its day, the confirmation of which would doubtless have invalidated the titles of settlers and dispossessed them of homes.

This grant, it is claimed, was made to Capt. Carver May 1, 1867, for and in consideration of services rendered to the Dakota or Sioux Indians, by How-no-paw-ja-len (Turtle), and O-tohton-goom-lish-con (Snake), two chiefs of the tribe. It extended from the Falls of St. Anthony to the mouth of Lake Pepin, thence eastward about one hundred miles; thence north one hundred and twenty miles, and thence west on a direct line to the place of beginning, comprehending about ten thousand square miles and six millions of acres. Every effort was made by the heirs of Capt. Carver to secure from the United States and Great Britain a confirmation of this grant, but without success.

Thus was the Territory defined by metes and bounds until October 9, 1829, when Crawford County was divided and Iowa County created out of the land lying east of the Mississippi River. Four years later, Milwaukee County was established and set off from Brown County, being bounded by the south and east lines of the State, the north line of Township No. 12, and the eastern line of Iowa County. The District Court for these counties convened once a year in each of them, the first term being held in October, 1824, at Green Bay, Judge Doty presiding. Among the cases, there were twenty-eight for illicit cohabitation arising from the custom of traders and French settlers taking squaws to wife; upon being arraigned, the accused pleaded guilty, but sentence was suspended till the close of the term, when all who were able to present a marriage certificate were released upon the payment of a nominal fine, while those who failed to procure the necessary certificate paid an assessment quoted at $50.

The act of Congress establishing the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, approved April 20, 1836, provided that the territory included in the present States of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and a part of Dakota should constitute a separate Territory, and that all power and authority of the government of Michigan should cease from the 4th day of July of that year. Territorial officers were appointed and qualified, and a census gave a total of 11,683 residents, divided between Brown County, which contained 2,705; Crawford County, 850; Iowa County, 5,234, and Milwaukee County, 2,893. The apportionment made on this basis gave Brown and Milwaukee two Council and three Legislative members each; Iowa County, three members of the Council, and six members of the Legislature, and Crawford County two members of the Legislature.

At that time, from Chicago to the Pacific, there were but three newspapers published, viz., the Advertiser at Milwaukee, Green Bay Intelligencer, and Belmont Gazette, the locality of the two last mentioned being indicated by their names, all of them being born in 1836, and the Belmont Gazette, in the hope of obtaining the Territorial printing. There were scarcely any landings on the Mississippi north of St. Louis, and no roads save those established by the Gov

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ernment between military posts, communication being either on foot or by horse, over well-worn Indian trails. Settlers who were able to come hither either by keel boat or canoe were fortunate, but limited. Those who made their way by the slow and wearisome wagon from the last outpost of civilization at Milwaukee and Chicago, by no means numerous, left hope behind upon entrance to the gloomy forests or while crossing the low, lonely prairies. Yet it is to the glorious self-denial of these bands of pioneers that the present prosperity of the Great West is due.

On the 12th of June, 1838, an act providing for the division of Wisconsin and the organization of Iowa Territory was approved by the President of the United States. The census of May, 1838, showed an increase in the population of over 6,000, and a new apportionment was ordered.

In 1849, Crawford County embraced the territory included in its present limits in addition to that now contained in Vernon, La Salle, Monroe, Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson Counties, as also the southern tier of townships in Clark County. In February, 1851, the Legislature of Wisconsin adopted an act providing that the portion of Crawford County lying north of Township 14, north of Ranges 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, should be organized into a separate county to be known as La Crosse. It extended eastward to within twenty miles of the Wisconsin River, and north ninety miles for the entire width of Clark County. The election for town and county officers was decided to be holden on the first Tuesday in the following April. Chippewa County was attached to La Crosse for judicial purposes, and the county seat was located at the village of La Crosse, upon condition that the people of the township furnished suitable buildings for county purposes. On the 11th of February, 1853, La Crosse County was divided. and Jackson County created, and the condition of affairs was continued before that slice was taken off until 1854.

By that time, the inhabitants of the original county had become numerous, not to say crowded, and it was decided to cut out a piece or parcel of land of sufficient dimensions for county purposes and become independent. With a view to that end, a bill was introduced into the Legislature in January, 1854, providing for the creation of Trempealeau County, and on the 24th of that month became a law. Three months later, Monroe County was apportioned from La Crosse, and on the 3d of March, 1857, the present boundaries of La Crosse County were defined and legalized by an act of the Legislature, approved on that day. So much for the incorporation of the county.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME LA CROSSE.

The origin of the name is a subject of interest, and there are several theories and statements in that behalf which will be referred to in the order of date as they occurred.

The first is a tradition to the effect that Catholic missionaries at an early day erected a cedar cross near the banks of the Mississippi, on which a crucifix was placed at the intersection of the cross-bar or below it, protected by a pane of glass held in place by wax. The date of locating the cross or its location, of course is mere conjecture. As is known, the Spaniards introduced the custom of setting up a cross upon their first discovery or landing, thus signifying to all comers that the land was claimed by Spain, which derived its title direct from the Holy See. This custom also obtained with the adventurous, self-denying missionaries of the Catholic Church, who by this means indicated that the land was dedicated to the service of Christ.

In a statement submitted by Henry B. Coons, of Potosi, published further along in this book, it would appear that the village whence the county obtained its name derived its nomenclature from French Catholic missionaries, who, en route to Prairie du Chien, which city they also settled and named, halted on their way down the Mississippi, and encamped upon the prairie, where they erected a cross, and called it Prairie la Crossette, by which it was known among the

Indians and half-breeds.

Mr. William Staats Tippetts, of Tippetts' Landing, confirms the statement regarding the cedar cross in a letter under date of May 28, 1881. He says: "In 1840, I went by steamboat to La Crosse, which I found to be covered with knolls and sand burs. The bank of the river

was about 40 feet high, and sloped back about 100 feet from the water. store stands were five or six Indian graves, made in the usual manner.

Where Lloyd & Clark's

At the head of one was

a cross made of red cedar, hewn out about six feet high. At the crossing, a small niche had been cut or carved out, and a piece of window glass had been inserted, behind which was a wooden image of our Savior, finely colored, like I have seen in the residences of the Prairie du Chien people. This was a rough-hewn cross, very old to all appearances.

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* Now, Mr. Henry Coons, of Potosi, is right about the cross, as I have a most vivid recollection of it, and of its exact location."

If set up as suggested by Mr. Coons, about the time Prairie du Chien was named, that would decide its erection to have been during the year 1728, when one Cardewell settled there. When the name was given, as already hinted, is a matter of conjecture, though it is believed to have been named from a chief, and was known as "Dog Prairie," the word chien being the Indian signification for dog. It is incredible a cross would have been left undisturbed so long, in view of the fact that steamers and hands on other craft betrayed no conscientious scruples in helping themselves to fuel of any description that could be found along the banks. The tradition. may have originated among the friends, a son of Decora, who died in 1842, having placed a cross over his grave, which remained undisturbed for eight or ten years.

The similarity of the name to the French word for cross, i. e., croix, will not bear investigation, especially in view of the fact that the name was used by the French in naming the river St. Croix, the junction of which, with the Mississippi, is said to bear a striking resemblance on a near view to that sacred emblem. Two other theories, one of the supposed but very imaginative likeness of a cross made by the Root River on the south and La Crosse River on the north, and that this spot was the favorite crossing place of the Indians; hence the place of the cross or crossing seems too puerile to be worthy of more than passing notice.

Before quoting the final and most probable theory, it may not be improper to notice several of the Indian names applied during aboriginal days. None of them, with possibly one or two exceptions, are especially felicitous; but derived from nature or their likeness thereto, are suggestive of the scenery, for the beauty of which the vicinity of La Crosse is not altogether unknown.

The first of these was that of enook-wagera, from enook, woman, and wagera, bosom, from the supposed resemblance of two bluffs near the mouth of the La Crosse River to a woman's breast. One of the Sioux names was Topaktaype, from Topa, four, and Ktaype, killed. The occasion for this is not known to the gentleman who communicates it, N. Myrick, Esq., but that it refers to the slaughter of four men or animals is evident. Another name given by the Sioux, according to Dr. Bunnel, was Wazuvleca, or strawberry prairie. All the above are expressive, commemorative, and the last musical in its softness, as also most expressive in its meaning.

It is to be deeply regretted that the great wealth and beanty of innumerable Indian names was not more largely drawn upon in the titling of towns, villages and hamlets. It would have been a just and fitting, albeit a small recompense, to have perpetuated the memory of the original inhabitants.

Coming now to the facts in the case, it may be stated that La Crosse was the name by which it was known as early as 1805, during which year Maj. Z. M. P. Pike arrived, at which he calls Prairie de la Crosse. In 1823, Lieut. Martin Scott and command, in a journey to the St. Peter's River, halted there, and spoke of the prairie as "being very level, is admirably well calculated for the game of la crosse, which is very much in favor with the Indians."

Maj. Pike speaks of having witnessed the game at Prairie du Chien nearly twenty years before. It was doubtless played here at as early and, in likelihood, at a much earlier date, as this was a noted and favorite resort for games from time immemorial. This is the uniform testimony of all the earlier settlers, who also bear witness that it was also that of the Indians. The etymology and signification of the name is of itself quite sufficient to convince any one of the great probability of this derivation of the name. In a note on page 189, Volume 2, "His

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