Page 187 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

CHILDB' BECOLLECTIONS.
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appointment for two years, when I was re-appointed several
times by Gen. CASS, and thus held the office until Wisconsin
was organized as a Territory in 1836; and then re-commis-
aioned by Gov. DODGE. While serving as sheriff, it became
my duty to execute a second person for the crime of murder;
these executions were the most unpleasant duties I ever
performed-and these two murderer3 were the first and last
ever executed in all that part of Wisconsin.
In 1829, I was appointed post-master at Grand Icakalin, on
Fox River; and resigned after serving one year. I was the
second post-master appointed in the north-eastern part of
Wisconsin. I had charge of the first Durham boat that ever
went up Fox River and crossed the portage; I went to Galena
and purchased the first lead that was brought thence to Green
Bay. Fort Winnebago was built in 1828; and, in 1829, the
President appointed Commissioners to hold a treaty with the
Winnebagoes, and they procured the cession of the entire
country to which they laid claim east of the Mississippi. The
first annuity paid the Menomonee Indians was paid to them at
the Grand Chute, twenty-five miles above Green Bay.
At an early day the Sauk and Fox Indians sold the General
Government their lands east of the Mississippi, which were
situated on Rock River. BLACK HAWI~ was not pleased with
the sale, and refused to sign the treaty. In 1831, he returned
with his people to their old planting grounds on Rock River.
There were, at this time, a number of white families settled in
that region, who did not like their Indian neighbors; they
complained to the Governor of Illinois, and an arrangement
was finally effected with BLACK HAWK and his followers to
leave the country, for doing which they were to receive three
thousand bushels of corn as an equivalent for their abandoned
crops. But the next season BLACK HAWK and his people again
returned to the homes of their fathers; they could not bear the
idea of permitting the pale faces to plow up the graves of their
ancestors. Again did the white inhabitants report to the
Governor; when a body of volunteers was raised to dispossess