Fifty Years In The Northwest Part 76

"After making this tour we returned to the chief's lodge and found a berth provided for each of us, of good soft bear skins nicely spread, and on mine there was a large feather pillow. I must not here omit to mention an anecdote which serves to characterize more particularly their manners. This, in the eyes of the contracted moralist, would deform my hospitable host into a monster of libertinism; but by a liberal mind would be considered as arising from the hearty generosity of the wild savage. In the course of the day, observing a ring on one of my fingers, he inquired if it was gold; he was told it was the gift of one with whom I should be happy to be at that time; he seemed to think seriously, and at night told my interpreter, 'that perhaps his father (as they all called me) felt much grieved for the want of a woman; if so, he could furnish him with one.' He was answered that with us each man had but one wife, and that I considered it strictly my duty to remain faithful to her. This he thought strange (he himself having three) and replied that 'he knew some Americans at his nation who had half a dozen wives during the winter.' The interpreter observed that they were men without character; but that all our great men had each but one wife. The chief acquiesced; but said he liked better to have as many as he pleased."

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES SURVEYS IN THE NORTHWEST--A CONDENSED STATEMENT FROM THE RECORDS OF THE BOOKS IN THE SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

On the twenty-sixth day of January, 1796, when the American Congress was in session at Philadelphia, a bill was reported for establis.h.i.+ng land offices in the Northwestern Territory. The bill was ably discussed and there was much variance of opinion as to the disposition of the lands to be surveyed and brought into the market.

Some favored a proposition to give the lands to actual settlers, and others favored selling the lands at a stipulated price, applying the proceeds to the payment of the national debt. The bill, when agreed upon, bore the following t.i.tle: "An act providing for the sale of the lands of the United States in the territories northwest of the river Ohio, and above the mouth of the Kentucky river." The bill was approved by President Was.h.i.+ngton May 18, 1796.

This law established the office of surveyor general with powers specifically limited. It directed him to run lines north and south according to the true meridian, to be known as range lines, and others, crossing them at right angles, to be known as towns.h.i.+p lines, the towns.h.i.+ps thus formed to consist of areas six miles square, the whole to be subdivided into 36 sections, each a mile square, each to contain 640 acres of land, as near as may be, and to be subdivided into quarters, containing 160 acres, and these quarters to be further subdivided into forties. Marks were to be established at the corners of every towns.h.i.+p and section. These surveys were not to conflict with Indian treaty and military land warrants, or the course of navigable waters.

This admirable device for surveying the public lands grew out of a correspondence between Gen. Rufus Putnam and President Was.h.i.+ngton, in 1875, in which the former proposed the division of the public lands into towns.h.i.+ps six miles square, to be marked by towns.h.i.+p and range lines. Perhaps no more convenient and acceptable plan of survey could have been devised. Gen. Benjamin Tupper was one of a company of surveyors in 1796 that established the first lines under this new system. This survey was made in Southeast Ohio.

The first surveyor general's office was opened at Marietta, Ohio, soon after the approval of the bill, and Rufus Putnam was appointed surveyor general. In 1803 he was removed by President Jefferson and the office was located at Vincennes. A year later it was removed to Cincinnati, in 1814 to Chillicothe, in 1829 to Cincinnati, in 1845 to Detroit, and in 1857 to St. Paul, where it has since remained. The act for the survey of the public lands has since been modified and improved. In 1804 an act was approved providing for the marking of quarter sections on the section lines.

By the same law under which the lands were subdivided and opened to the public, one section, No. 16, in every towns.h.i.+p was reserved from sale for the support of common schools. Two towns.h.i.+ps were also set apart for the support of a university. This was the beginning of the donations of land for school and other purposes.

THE UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.

The first government land office in Wisconsin north of Mineral Point was located at St. Croix Falls in 1848. Towns.h.i.+p plats were received, lands advertised and offered for sale in September, covering the ground where the cities of Stillwater and St. Paul are now located, and adjacent country. The office was removed to Stillwater in 1849, and the land district divided by the St. Croix river. The land office for the east side was located at Willow River in 1849, and there remained till 1860, when it was removed to St. Croix Falls. The following are the receivers and registers:

1848. Samuel Leach, receiver; Charles S. Whiting, register.

1849. Moses S. Gibson, receiver; T. D. Catlin, register.

1853. Otis Hoyt, receiver; John O. Henning, register.

1857. J. D. Reymert, receiver; J.B. Spencer, register: 1859. Orpheus Evarts, receiver; J. B. Spencer, register.

1861. Benj. W. Reynolds, receiver; Michael Field, register.

1864. Hiram Calkins, receiver; Michael Field, register.

1869. Fayette Allen, receiver; Michael Field, register.

1871. Joel F. Nason, receiver; Michael Field, register.

1884. Alvah A. Heald, receiver; Michael Field, register.

1887. Alvah H. Heald, receiver; Wm. M. Blanding, register.

The first entry in the new district, Aug. 17, 1849, was by W. S.

Hungerford. Lot 4, Sec. 19, and Lots 1, 2, 3, Sec. 30, T. 34, R. 18, where the village of St. Croix now stands. The second entry was by George Brownell, Lot 3, Sec. 20, T. 24, R. 18. The oldest record to be found in the office is the proving up by James Purinton of his pre-emption, July 24, 1848. The first recorded correspondence is a letter from S. Leach, receiver, to Geo. W. Jones, surveyor general, Dubuque, Iowa. In June, 1863, under the receivers.h.i.+p of Mr. Reynolds, the safe in the office was blown open with powder and the contents stolen. Some time afterward, in 1865, fifty land warrants and a bunch of keys from the articles missing were thrown in at the office window. They had the appearance of having been buried in the ground.

FIRST ENTRIES.

July 24, 1848. James Purinton, residence, St. Croix Falls. Lot 1, in east fractional part Sec. 23, T. 29 north, R. 20 west, and W. 1/2 of N. W. 1/4 and S. E. 1/4 of N. W. 1/4, Sec. 24, T. 29, R. 20, 137 70-100 acres; price, $1.25; cost, $172 12-100, silver; pre-emption act, 1841. This pre-emption is where the dam and mills have since been erected at North Hudson.

Aug. 12, 1848. Samuel Burkelo, Orange Walker and Hiram Berkey. Lots 7 and 8, west of river, Sec. 6, T. 31, R. 19, 108 25-100 acres; cost $135 43-100, 1/4 gold; pre-emption act, 1840 (Marine Mills).

Aug. 16, 1848. Richard Freeborn. West 1/2 of N. W. 1/4 and N. E. 1/4 of N. W. 1/4, and Lot 3, Sec. 12, T. 28, R. 23, St. Paul; pre-emption act, 1841.

The first land offered at public auction sale was Aug. 27, 1848.

4. Albert Henry Judd, Orange Walker, Samuel Burkelo, Hiram Berkey, George Baldwin Judd, Asa Parker were the purchasers of Lots 5 and 6, Sec. 7, T. 31, R. 19, west of river; cost, $106 46-100, gold.

5. Martin Mower, David B. Loomis; Lots 7 and 8, Sec. 29, T. 31, R. 19, west of river; cost, $54 81-100, 1/4 gold (now Arcola).

6. John Allen; Lots 4 and 5, Sec. 2, T. 29, R. 20, west of river; gold (Allen's Point, now South Stillwater).

7. Eleazer R. Steves; Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 14, T. 29, R. 20, east of river; gold, $9.66; silver, $54.85; $64 51-100 (now Hudson).

8 and 9. Stephen Harris; N. 1/2 of S. E. 1/4 and E. 1/2 of S. W. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20.

10. Himan W. Greely; E. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold.

11 and 12. Albert N. Judd; W. 1/2 of S. E. 1/4 and E. 1/2 of S. W.

1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold.

13 and 14. Louis Ma.s.sey; E. 1/2 of S. W. and Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 24, T.

29, R. 20, silver; east of Lake St. Croix (now Hudson).

15 and 16. Peter F. Bouchea, Lot 1, east of river, Sec. 25, T. 29, R.

20 and Lot 2, Sec. 25, T. 29, R. 20; gold, $63 22-100; silver, $10--$73 22-100.

17 and 18. John O'Brien; Lot 3, Sec. 26, T. 29, R. 20 and W. 1/2 of S.

W. 1/4, Sec. 26, T. 29, R. 20, silver and gold (now Lakeland).

19 and 20. Albert H. Judd; E. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, and W. 1/2 of N. W.

1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold.

21. Himan W. Greely; W. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold.

The above are all the purchasers at the first sale of land in the valley at St. Croix Falls. Sale was continued from day to day until towns.h.i.+ps 25 to 31 of ranges 19 and 20 were offered, covering the settlement of St. Anthony Falls, St. Paul, Cottage Grove, and Point Douglas.

The United States land office was moved from St. Croix Falls to Stillwater in September, 1849. The first public sale of lands at Stillwater was Oct. 9, 1849. The office was held in Stillwater nine years. In October, 1858, it was moved to Cambridge, Isanti county; November 3d the first sale of lands was held at Cambridge. April 7, 1860, the office was burned, many valuable papers were destroyed, and many records were replaced from the archives at Was.h.i.+ngton. July 5, 1860, the office was moved to Sunrise, and Oct. 8, 1868, it was moved to Taylor's Falls, where it is at the present time (1888).

LIST OF OFFICERS.

RECEIVERS. APPOINTED.

Samuel Leech 1848 N. Green Wilc.o.x 1849 Jonathan E. McKusick 1852 William Holcomb 1853 Milton H. Abbott 1857 William H. Mower 1860 Lucas K. Stannard 1861 Oscar Roos 1871 George B. Folsom 1875 Peter H. s...o...b..rg 1884 E. A. Umland 1887

REGISTERS. APPOINTED.

Charles S. Whitney 1848 Abraham Van Voorhes 1849 A. Pierce 1852 Thomas E. Fullerton 1853 Charles G. Wagner 1857 Henry N. Setzer 1860 Granville M. Stickney 1861 Charles B. Whiting 1864 William Comer 1666 John P. Owens 1869 Lucas K. Stannard 1884

The records do not show the date of commission of any officer; we gather the dates as near as possible from recorded correspondence.

TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF WISCONSIN.

Governors: Henry Dodge, 1836-41; James Duane Doty, 1841-44; N. P.

Talmadge, 1844-45; Henry Dodge, 1845-48.

Delegates to Congress: George W. Jones, 1836-37; James D. Doty, 1837-41; Henry Dodge, 1841-45; Morgan L. Martin, 1845-47; John H.

Tweedy, 1847-48.