Wisconsin Gazetteer 1853:
Names, Location, And Advantages Of The Cities, Towns,
Villages, Post-Offices And Settlements, Together With
A Description Of The Lakes, Water Courses, Prairies,
And Public Localities In The State Of Wisconsin-For 1853.
Alphabetically Arranged.
ABBEVIATIONS.-
C. H., Court House, or County Seat;
L., Lake;
Pr., Prairie;
P. O., Post Office;
P. V., Post Village;
R., River;
T, Town;
V., Village.
[ A ] [ B ] [ C ] [ D ] [ E ] [ F ]
[ G ]
[ H ] [ I ] [ J ] [ K ] [ L ] [ M ] [ N ]
[ O ] [ P ][ Q ] [ R ] [ S ] [ T ]
[ U ] [ V ] [ W ] [ Y ]
[ N ]
NAGAWICKA, Lake, is mostly on section 17 of the town of Delafield.
It is about 3 miles long, and three-fourths of a mile
wide; at the outlet are the mills and the village of Delafield.
This lake has Bark river for its inlet and outlet, and contains
a small and beautiful island.
NAMEBIN, Lake, La Pointe county. See Megilcheque lake.
NARROWS, Creek, is a tributary from the southwest of Baraboo
river, which it enters about half way between Baraboo and
Reedsburg.
NASHOTAH, Jouse, the oldest institution of learning in the State, is
located on the eastern bank of the upper Nashotah Lake, in
the town of Summit, Waukesha county. It was chartered
in 1847, and has all the powers and privileges of a University.
At present the only department in operation is the
Theological, which numbers about 30 students. The Board
of Instruction consists of 3 Professors and 2 Tutors. It has
a library of about 4,000 volumes. It is an institution of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and endeavors are now being
made to place it upon a permanent foundation, which promises to be successful.
NASHOTAH, Lake, (Twin Lakes,) are in the eastern part of the town
of Summit, Waukesha county, between which the old stage
route from Madison to Milwaukee passes. The lakes are connected by
a small brook, and each contains a periphery of
two miles-the lower being a trifle the largest. The lower
lake approaches within a short distance of the Upper Nemahbin.
NECADA, River, rises in the north part of Adams' county, and
runs southerly, emptying into Yellow river about 6 miles
above the Wisconsin river, in Adams' county.
NEENAH, P. V., in town of same name, Winnebago county, on
south side of the outlet of Winnebago lake, opposite Menasha,
in town 20 N., of range 17 E.
NEENAH, P. V., is situated at the outlet of Lake Winnebago,
opposite Menasha, on the south side of the south channel. The
property was first purchased from the Government by Harrison Reed
in 1846. There are now 3 large flouring mills, 2
saw mills, 1 sash and blind manufactory, 1 cabinet shop, 1
planing mill, and an immense hydraulic power yet inoccupied.
Some think that time will ultimately connect the two
villages of Menasha and Neenah, including the large island
between, in one large city, possessing advantages of location
and water power rarely equalled.
NEENAH, Town, in county of Winnebago. Population in 1850
was 1,420. It has 7 school districts.
NEENAH, River, see Fox river of Green Bay.
NEKIMI, Town, in county of Winnebago. Population in 1850 was
910. It has 6 school districts.
NEKIMI, P. V., on section 20, town 17 N., of range 16 E., in Winnebago
county. It is 95 miles northeast from Madison, and 15
southwest from Oshkosh, county seat, and is on the main road
from Oshkosh to Milwaukee. Population 600, with 150 dwellings,
2 stores, 4 hotels, and 3 churches-Free Will, Baptist,
and Methodist congregations.
NELSON'S Landing, in Chippewa county, at mouth of Chippewa
river, town 22 N., of range 14 W.
NEMAHBIN, Lakes, are in the southeastern part of Summit, Waukesha
county, through which Bark river passes transversely.
These lakes are separated from each other by a small strip of
land, across which the road passes from Delafield west,
through Summit centre. The Upper Nemahbin is but a short
distance south of Nashotah, and about a mile and a half west
of Nagawicka Lake. The lower lake contains a beautiful
island, known as "Fairservice's," which was never surveyed,
and is now claimed by the Hon. O. Reed. It is covered
with a noble growth of maple. These lakes are about 3 miles
long from north to south.
NEMIADJI, River, La Pointe county. See Gauche river.
NEMAHKUM, P. O., in Marquette county, 11 miles from Montello.
NEMANDY, River, (Emandiga,) in western part of La Pointe county,
a tributary from the north of St. Croix river.
NEMAYACUM, River, see Mechan river.
NEOSHA, P. O., in town of Rubicon, Dodge county, on section 30,
town 10 N., of range 18 E., on the Rubicon.
NEPENSKI, P. V, town 17 N., of range 14 E., Winnebago county.
It is 20 miles southwest from Oshkosh, and 90 miles north
from Madison, 6 miles from Ceresco, and 6 miles from Berlin.
In the vicinity is Rush Lake, 7 miles long, and 3 miles wide,
with an unimproved water power at the outlet. Population
95.
NEPEUSKUM, P.O. in county of Winnebago.
NEPEUSKUM, Town, in county of Winnebago. Population in 1850,
was 361. It has 5 school districts.
NESHKORA, Town, in county of Marquette. It embraces sections
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, in town 17, of range 12 E., and
sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34
and 35, in town 17 N., of range 11 E., and sections 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, in town 16 N., of range 11 E.
NESKORO, P. V., on section 8, town 17 N., of range 11 E., of
Marquette county. It is 18 miles from Marquette, and 80
miles north from Madison, in a fine farming country, with
sufficient water power for 10 run of stones, on the main road
from Milwaukee to the Wisconsin and Black river pineries,
and from Sheboygan to La Crosse. Population 200, with 27
dwellings, 4 stores, 2 hotels, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1 turning
lathe, and Presbyterian and Methodist denominations.
NESHONOE, is the name of a new town in the county of La Crosse.
NEVADA, P. V., on section 25, town 2 N., of range 8 E., in Green
county, 9 miles from Monroe, on the main road from Janesville to
Galena, 1 mile north of the surveyed route of the
S. W. R. R. The advantages for farming are not to be surpassed by
any part of the State. The denominations are
Baptist, Methodist, and Christian.
NEWARK, V., (Barton P. O.) in Washington county, on section 1
and 2 of town of same name. It is 18 miles west of Ozaukee,
and 75 miles northeast from Madison, on the direct route from
Milwaukee, 36 miles; to Fond du Lac, 28 miles. It is pleasantly
situated on the Milwaukee river, in the midst of a
highly productive country, with 150 inhabitants, 40 dwellings,
4 stores and 2 hotels, several mechanical shops and religious
denominations.
NEWARK, Town, in county of Washington, being part of towns
11 and 12 N., of range 19 E. It has 6 school districts.
NEWARK, Town, in county of Rock, being town 1 N., of range 11
E.; centrally located, 13 miles southwest from Janesville.
Population in 1850 was 798. It has 9 school districts.
NEWARK, P. V., in town of same name, Rock county, town 1 N.,
of range 11 E.
NEW BERLIN, P. V., in town of same name, Waukesha county,
town 6 N., of range 20 E.
NEW BERLIN, Town, in county of Waukesha, being town 6 N.,
of range 20 E.; located six miles east from Waukesha.
Population in 1850 was 1,293. It has 10 school districts.
NEW BUFFALO, Town, in counts of Sauk. It is north of Baraboo.
NEWBURG, P. V., on sec. 12, town 11 N., of range 20 E., being in
the town of Trenton, Washington county, 10 miles west from
Ozaukee, and 80 miles northeast from Madison; on the Milwaukee
river, 30 miles northwest from the city of Milwaukee.
The place is new, it being but five years since the first location.
Population 100, with 15 stores, 2 hotels, 1 flouring mill,
1 saw mill, and several mechanical shops.
NEW CALIFORNIA, P. V., on section 27, in town of Clifton, Grant
county, being town 5 N., of range 1 W., 12 miles east from
Lancaster, and 75 miles westerly from Madison.
NEW DIGGINGS, P. V., on section 26, of town 1, range 1 E., in
Lafayette county. It is in the heart of the lead mines, and
has 5 smelting furnaces. It is 6 miles southwest from Shullsburg,
and about 80 southwest from Madison, and has 5 stores,
3 hotels, 1 mill, and 3 religious denominations.
NEW DIGGINGS, Town, in Lafayette county.
NEW GLARUS, P. V., on section 14, town 4 N., of range 7 E., in
Green county. It is 15 miles north from Monroe, and about
25 miles south from Madison. Population 120, with 25 dwellings,
2 stores, 1 hotel, and 1 German reformed church.
NEW GLARUS, Town, in county of Green, being town 4 N., of
range 7 E.; centrally located, 14 miles north from Monroe.
Population in 1850 was 321.
NEW GRANT, Diggings, a mining settlement in town 4 N., of range
4 E., in Grant county.
NEW HOLSTEIN, P. O., in town of same name, in Calumet county.
NEW HOLSTEIN, Town, in county of Calumet. It has 2 school
districts.
NEW MEXICO, Town & Village, name changed to Monroe, Green
county.
NEWTON, Town, in Manitowoc county.
NEWTON CORNERS, P. 0., on section 7, in town 7 N., of range 13
E., being town of Lake Mills, Jefferson county. It is 15 miles
northwest from Jefferson, and 20 east from Madison, at the
junction of the State road from Janesville to Portage city
with the Madison and Milwaukee mail route. It has 4 dwellings,
20 inhabitants, 1 hotel, and a saw mill near, on Koskonong creek.
NICHOL'S, Creek, a small branch of Black river from the north,
opposite Robinson's creek.
MIDJIKWE,(possibly NIDJIKWE) iLake, the most eastern of the sources
of the St. Croix river, in La Pointe county.
NIP-AND-TUCK, Diggings, a mining point on section 30, of Down 4
N., of range 4 W., in Grant county.
NIPPISING, Creek, is a small stream in the southeast corner of Walworth
county, runs southerly into the State of Illinois.
NIPPISING, lakes, two lakes in the southwest corner of the town of
Wheatland, in Kenosha county, the most southern of which
is about 2 miles long, the other nearly 1 mile. The road from
Kenosha to Beloit passes between them. They discharge
their waters into Fox River, (Pishtaka.)
NORTH, Lake, is about half way between Okauchee and Tuck-Kipping
lakes, and directly north of Pine Lake. It has an area
of over 500 acres, and is near the centre of the town of Merton,
Waukesha county.
NORTH JANESVILLE,, P. 0., in town of Janesville, Rock county,
town 3 N., of range 12 E.
NORWAY, Town, in county of Racine, being town 4 N., of range
20 E.; centrally located, 18 miles west from Janesville.
Population in 1850 was 870. It has 3 school districts.
NORWAY, P.O., in town of same name, Racine county; being
town 4 N., of range 20 E.
NORWICH, Town, in county of Waushara; name changed to
Oasis.
[ O ]
OAK CREEK, P.O., in town of same name, Milwaukee county,
town 5 N., of range 22 E.
OAK, Creek, a small tributary of Lake Michigan, from near the
town line between the towns of Lake and Oak Creek, in Milwaukee county.
OAK CREEK, Town, in county of Milwaukee, being town 5 N., of
range 22 E.; centrally located, 10 miles from Milwaukee. The
population in 1850 was 1,289. It has 7 school districts.
OAKFIELD, Town,, in county of Fond du Lac, being town 14 N.,
of range 16 E., centrally located, 10 miles southwest from
Fond du Lac. The population in 1850 was 588. It has 8
school districts.
OAKFIELD, P. 0., in town of same name, on section 27, in Fond
du Lac county, 12 miles southwest from Fond du Lac, and 80
northeast from Madison, on the head waters of Rock river, in
a good farming region.
OAKLAND, P. O., in town of same name, in Jefferson county.
OAK GROVE, P. V., in town of same name, Dodge county, on sections
31 and 32, town 11 N., of range 15 E.
OAK GROVE, Town, (formerly Fairfield), in county of Dodge, being
town 11 N., of range 15 E. Population in 1850 was 1,143.
It has 10 school districts.
OAK HILL, P. V., in Jefferson county.
OAK LAND, Town, in county of Jefferson, being town 6 N., of
range 13 E.; centrally located, 8 miles west from Jefferson.
Population in 1850 was 806. It has 4 school districts.
OASIS, Town, in county of Waushara, being town 20 N., of ranges
8 and 9; centrally located, 25 miles northwest from Sacramento.
OASIS, P. V., on section 33, in town of same name, being town 20
N., of range 9, in Waushara county; 30 miles northwest from
Sacramento, and 80 miles north of Madison, on the stage road
from Madison, via Fort Winnebago, to Plover Portage.
OCHA-SUN-SEPA, River, a tributary from the northeast of Courtcerille
river, in La Pointe county.
OCKEE, Creek, rises in Lowville, Columbia county, and runs nearly
west, emptying into the Wisconsin.
O'CLAIR. River, L'eau St. Claire, in Chippewa county, a branch of
Chippewa river from the E., in town 27 N., of range 9 W.
OCONOMOWOC, Town, in county of Waukesha, being town 8 N.,
of range 17 E.; centrally located, 20 miles northwest from
Waukesha. Population in 1850 was 1,218.
OCONOMOWOC, P. V., on section 33, in town of same name, 18 miles
northwest of Waukesha, and 50 east from Madison, on the
great mail route from Milwaukee to Galena; also on the Milwaukee and
Watertown plank road. Population 250, with
50 dwellings, 10 stores, 3 hotels, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1
oil mill, 2 turning lathes, 1 saleratus factory, and a good supply
of mechanics and professional men; also 1 Methodist and
1 Episcopal church. It is beautifully situated on a neck of
land between La Belle and Fowler's Lakes, and is surrounded
by a fertile farming district.
OCONOMOWOC, Creek, rises in the town of Polk, Washington county,
and running southwest, passes through a succession of small
and beautiful lakes, enters Rock river in the south part of
Ixonia, Jefferson county.
OCONOMOWOC, Lake, is on the river and in town of same name,
about half way between the village of Oconomowoc and
Okauchee. It is nearly 2 miles long.
OCONTO, County, is bounded on the north by the State line, on the
east by the middle of Green Bay, and a portion of Brown, on
the south by Brown and Outagamie, and on the west by
Waupacca and Marathon. It was set off and established from
Brown, February 6, 1851, and organized for county purposes
April 7, 1852. The principal rivers are Pishtego (sic), Oconto,
Pensaukee, and Little Suamico. The judicial connection of
Oconto is with Brown, and representative with Outagamie.
The chief product of this county, thus far, has been pine
lumber, which is produced in great quantities; but little is
known of its agricultural advantages.
OCONTO, Town, including the whole of Oconto county. It has 5
school districts.
OCONTO, Bank, near the mouth of Oconto river, in Green Bay.
OCONTO, Piver, rises near the head waters of Wolf river, and
running southeast, enters Green Bay in town 28 N., of range
22 E.
OENCA, P. O., in Jefferson county.
OGALLA, P. V., at the mills near the mouth of the Eau Galla river,
in Chippewa county.
OKAUCHEE, Lake, (or Kauchee), is on the Oconomowoc creek, in
the eastern part of town of Oconomowoc, at the outlet of
which are mills and a settlement formerly known as " Reed's
Mills," " Hurd's Mills," and "McCormack's Mills."
OKAUCHEE, P. V., at outlet of lake of same name, in Oconomowoc,
Waukesha county.
OMRO, P. V., on section 17 and 18, in town of Bloomingdale,
Winnebago county, at the junction of the Manitowoc and
Menasha, (extended), and the Waupun and Liberty Prairie
plank roads. It is pleasantly situated on the south side of the
Neenah river, 11 miles west from Oshkosh, and 75 miles
northeast from Madison. It has a heavy body of timber on
the north, with a rich soil of openings and prairie on the
south, and has excellent facilities by water for obtaining pine
logs from the immense pinery of Wolf river, a great quantity
of which is here manufactured into lumber Population 600,
with 100 dwellings, 5 stores, 2 hotels, 3 mills, and 4 religious
denominations. A Company has been organized and is now
completing the proper buildings for the manufacture of glass.
OMRO, Town, (formerly Bloomingdale,) in county of Winnebago,
being town 18 N,, of range 18 E.
ONEIDA, P. V., in Brown county, on Duck creek, near centre of
Oneida Reservation.
O'NEIL's, Creek, a small tributary of Black river from the east,
in town 24 N.
ONE MILE, Creek, a tributary in Sauk county, of the Lemonwier
river.
ONEONTA, P. O., in Sauk county.
ONION RIVER, P. O., in Sheboygan county.
ONION RIVER, P. V., in county of Sheboygan.
ONION, River, rises in Holland, Sheboygan county, runs northerly,
and unites with Sheboygan river, just below the Falls.
ONTARIO, Town, in the county of Waushara, being town 20 N., of
ranges 11, 12 and 13, north of Sacramento.
O'PLAINE, River, rises in the southern part of Racine county, and
runs southerly, through the county of Kenosha, into the State
of Illinois, uniting with Kankakee river of Indiana, at Dresden and
the Pishtaka at Ottawa, forms the head waters of
the Illinois river. The Indian name is She-shik-ma-o.
OREGON, Town, in county of Dane, being town 5 N., of range 9
E.; centrally located, 12 miles south from Madison. Population in
1850 was 638. It has 9 school districts.
OREGON, P. V., on section 12, in town of same name, 12 miles
south from Madison, on Janesville stage road, on the head
waters of Badfish creek, equidistant from Sugar and Catfish
rivers. It has 55 inhabitants, 9 dwellings, 1 store, 1 hotel,
and 3 religious denominations-Presbyterian, Methodist and
and United Brethren.
ORIN, P. O., in Richland county.
ORION, P. V., in the town of Richmond, Richland county, being
town 9 N., of range 1 E.
OSBORN, P.O., in town of Porter, Rock county, on section 31,
town 4 N., of range 11 E.
OSHAUKUTA, P. V., (Hill's Corners), on section 10, town 11 N.,
of range 9, in Columbia county. It is 7 miles from Fort
Winnebago, and 30 miles from Madison. Population 100,
with 12 dwellings, 1 store, 1 hotel, and 1 religious denomination.
OSCEOLA, Town, in county of Fond du Lac, being town 14 N., of
range 19 E. It has 3 school districts.
OSKOSH, Town, in county of Winnebago, being town 18 N., of
range 16 E.
OSHKOSH, P. V., on section 24 of town of same name, and county
seat of Winnebago county. It is 84 miles north from Madison,
8 miles below the junction of Fox and Wolf rivers, and where
these waters empty into Lake Winnebago. The State Land
Offices are located at this place. Population, 2,500; with 6
hotels, 6 mills, 1 candle factory, 1 foundry, 1 threshing machine
factory, 3 butchers, 2 breweries, 1 pump manufactory,
2 barrel and 2 waggon shops, 1 shingle and 2 sash factories,
1 tannery, 5 blacksmiths, 9 dry goods, 1 drug, 2 hardware,
2 clothing, and 4 boot and shoe stores, 10 groceries, 2 bakeries,
5 warehouses, 1 book-bindery, 1 academy, and 3 newspapers.
There are 3 religious denominations-Episcopal, Methodist
and Catholic.
OSHTIGWAN, Lake, in Marathon county, tributary to the Little Wisconsin,
a few miles above its mouth. It is near the 45~ 30'
north latitude.
OSHTIGWAN, River, near the outlet of Lake of the same name.
OSSIN, River, rises in Washington county, and runs W., emptying
into Lake horicon, in Dodge county.
OTSEGO, P. V., in town of same name, in Columbia county, on
section 22, town 11 N.) of range 11 E.
OTSEGO, Town, in county of Columbia, being town 11 N., of range
11 W.; centrally located, 15 miles southeast from Portage.
Population in 1850 was 420. It has 5 school districts.
OTTAWA, P.V., in town of same name, on section 34, Waukesha
county.
OTTAWA, Town, in county of Waukesha, being town 6 N., of
range 17 E.; centrally located, 15 miles west from Waukesha.
Population in 1850 was 793. It has 6 school districts.
OTTAWA, Lake, La Pointe county, see Lake Court-eoreille.
OTTER, Creek, a branch from the south of L'eau Claire river, in
town 27 N., of range 9 W.
OTTER, Creek, in Bad Ax county, is a small tributary of Kickapoo
river.
OTTER, Creek, is a small stream rising near Mineral Point, in Iowa
county, running southerly, emptying into the Peckatonnica
at Otterborne, in the northwest corner of town 2 N., of
range 4 E.
OTTER, Creek, rises in town 11 N., of range 8 E., and running
south, enters the Wisconsin about 4 miles below Lower Sauk.
OTTER, Creek, rises in the town of Lima, Rock county, and runs
northwest, enters Koskonong lake.
OTTER, lake, is a small lake in the northeast corner of the town
of Sugar Creek. It is about 2 miles long.
OUTAGAMIE, County, is bounded on the north by Oconto and a
portion of Waupacca, east by Brown, south by Calumet and
Winnebago, and west by Waupacca, and is 24 miles north
and south by 27 miles east and west. It was established Feb.
17, 1851, from crown, to which it remained attached for
judicial purposes until March 15, 1852, when it was completely
organized. The boundaries were defined March 4,
1852. The seat of justice is about half way between the
villages of Appleton and Grand Chute, and about a mile from
each. The general surface of the count, is level and covered
with a heavy growth of timber, such as maple, elm, ash and
hickory, with but little or no waste lands. The soil is good,
but the agricultural existence of the county is so recent, little
can be said of its capabilities. All the crops that have been
tested here have succeeded beyond the expectations of the
farmer. The population, now numbering about 4,000, is composed
of good, rural, and industrious settlers, mostly from
New England and New York. It is watered by the Lower
Fox on the southeast, and by Wolf river on the west, and
Duck Creek on the northeast. This county belongs to the
fourth judicial circuit, to the second senate, and to the third
congressional districts, and with Oconto, constitutes an assembly
district. (County Officers for 1853 and 1854: Judge,
Perry It. Smith; Sheriff, A. B. Everts; Clerk of Court, H.
S. Eggleston; Attorney, A. S. Sanborn; Register of Deeds,
J. S. Buck; Clerk of Board of Supervisors, G. W. Gregory;
Treasurer, Robert Morrow; Surveyor, Chas. Turner; Coroner,
Patrick Hunt.
OWASCUS, P. 0., in Fond du Lac county.
OXFORD, Town, in county of Marquette, being town 15 N., of
range S.
OZAUKEE, C. H. & P. V., see Port Washington.
OZAUKEE, County, was set off from Washington at the session of
the legislature in January 1853. It comprises all of that portion
of said county east of range 20. For a description of this
county, see Washington county.
[ P ]
PACKWAUKEE, P. V., on section 20, town 15 N., of range 9 E., in
Marquette county, 35 miles northwest from Dartford, and 50
miles north from Madison. It is situated on the north side of
Buffalo Lake, on a direct line from Portage to Stevens' Point,
18 miles north from the former place. Being on the navigable
waters of the Neenah river, it is supposed that this place will
command the river trade of a large portion of good farming
lands in Adams and Waushara counties. Population 300,
with 75 dwellings, 3 stores, 2 hotels, 1 mill, and 3 religious
denominations.
PACKWAUKEE, Town, in county of Marquette. It has 12 school
districts.
PAINT, Creek, a branch of Chippewa river from the southeast, in
town 28 N., of range 8, in Chippewa county.
PAKWEYORRA, Lake, a widening of Chippewa river near its source.
PALMYRA, Town, in county of Jefferson, being town 5 N., of
range 16 E.; centrally located, 12 miles southeast from Jefferson.
Population in 1850 was 997. It has 8 school districts.
PALMYRA, P. V., on section 22, in town of same name, 15 miles
southeast from Jefferson, and 45 miles southeast from Madison.
It is situated on Scupernong creek, on the M. & M. R. R.
40 miles from Milwaukee. It has a fine water power, and is
surrounded by a good farming district, comprising prairies,
openings, and wood land.
PALMYRA, Lake, a small lake about three quarters of a mile southeast
of Palmyra village, in Jefferson county.
PARDEEVILLE, P. V, in town of Wyocena, Columbia county, on
Neenah river, in section 3, town 12 N., of range 10 E.
PARis, P. V., in town of same name, Kenosha county, being in
town 2 N., of range 21 E.
PARIS, Town, in county of Kenosha, being town 2 N., of range
21 E.; centrally located, 10 miles northwest from Kenosha.
Population in 1850 was 947. It has 9 school districts.
PARIS, Town, in county of Grant, being town 2 N., range 2 W.;
centrally located, 15 miles southwest from Lancaster. It has
4 school districts.
PATCH, Diggings, a mining town in Grant county, being town 2
N., of range 1 W.
PATCH GROVE, Town, in county of Grant, being all of said county
embraced in towns 5, 6, and 7 N., of range 5, 6, and 7 W.;
centrally located, 20 miles northwest from Lancaster. It has
11 school districts.
PATCH GROVE, P. V., in town of same name, being on section 4,
in town 5 N., of range 5 W., Grant county.
PATTENWELL, Peak, in Adams county, on west bank of Wisconsin
river, in town 18 N., of range 4.
PATRIDGE, Lake, is about 4 miles long and 2 broad, in the town
of Weyauwegan, Waupacca county, its outlet being at Wolf
river.
PAU-WAI-CON, Lake, is a large expansion of Wolf river, a few miles
above its mouth. It is about 10 miles wide from east to west,
and 3 miles long.
PECKATONICA, Forks, of river of same name, at Wiota.
PECKATONICA, River, rises a few miles west of Mineral Point,
in Iowa county, and running southeast through the counties
of Lafayette and Green, empties into Rock river, at Rockton,
Illinois.
PEMENEE (ELBOW) Falls, of the Menomonee river. At this place
the water falls about 9 feet in the distance of 800 feet; the
water is contracted to 50 feet in width.
PENSAUKEE, River, rises in town 25 N., of range 18 E., in Oconto
county, and runs northeast, entering Green Bay in town 7 N.,
of range 21 E.
PEN YANN, P. O., in the county of Racine.
PEQUOT, P. V., on the Brothertown Reservation, at the mouth of
a small stream on Lake Winnebago, in Calumet county, about
90 miles northeast from Madison.
PERRY, Town, in county of Dane, being town 5 N., of range 6 E.
It is 25 miles southeast from Madison. It is unorganized, but
attached to Primrose.
PESHTIGO, Shoals, on western shore of Lake Michigan, at the
mouth of river of the same name.
PESITIGO, River, the largest tributary of Green Bay, between the
Menomonee and Neenah. It enters the Bay about half way
between the Oconto and Menomonee rivers.
PEWAUKEE, Town, in county of Waukesha, being town 7 N., of
range 19 E.; centrally located, 4 miles north of Waukesha.
Population in 1850 was 1,093. It has 11 school districts.
PEWAUKIEE, P. V, on section 9, in town of same name, in
Waukesha county; situated at the foot of Pewaukee Lake, 6 miles
northwest from Waukesha, on the Milwaukee, Watertown,
and Madison plank road. Population 120, with 25 dwellings,
2 stores, 2 hotels, 1 saw mill, 1 flouring mill, tannery, a
Baptist and a Congregational church.
PEWAUIEE, Lake, mostly in town of same name, in Waukesha
county, is about 5 miles long and nearly a mile wide. It is
fed mostly by springs, and discharges its waters at the east
end, into the Pishtaka river, at which Pewaukee village and
mills are located.
PHEASANT BRANCH, P. 0., in east part of Middleton, Dane county,
being town 7 N., of range 8 E.
PHEASANT BRANCH, a small tributary of Fourth Lake, in Middleton,
Dane county.
PICKARDEE, Creek, enters the Mississippi in town 8 N., Crawford
county.
PIERCE, Town. A new town in county of La Crosse.
PIERCE, County, includes all that part of St. Croix county south
of the north line of town 27, and was set off from St. Croix,
March 16, 1853. It therefore is bounded on the west by St.
Croix river, by which it is separated from the Territory of
Minnesota. This county holds out very great inducements to
immigrants, a large amount of the 500,000 acre grant, given
by Congress to the State for schools, is in this county, and is
sold at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the settler
being allowed thirty years pre-emption. The lands are about
half prairie and half timber-the prairies a black loam, producing
as great a yield of wheat, oats, corn, and other grain,
as any other part of the West. The timber is of an excellent
quality, oak, ash, butternut, black walnut, sugar maple, &c.
Steam boats pass up, during the season of navigation, near
to the homes of the inhabitants. It is to be fully organized
at once, and is attached to the sixth judicial circuit, and to
the same representative districts as St. Croix, Polk and La
Pointe.
PIERCEVILLE, P. V., in town of Sun Prairie, Dane county, on section
26, town 8 N., of range 11 E.
PIGEON, Greek, rises near Lancaster, and enters Grant River in
Beetown, Grant county.
PIGEON, Creek, is a small stream rising in Sheboygan county,
unites with Stony Creek in Farmington, Washington county.
PIGEON GROVE, P. O., in Columbia county.
PIKE, river, is a small stream rising about 6 miles west of the
city of Kenosha, taking a circuit of about 15 miles to the
north, enters Lake Michigan at Kenosha.
PIN HOOK, P. O., in Grant county.
PINE BLUFF, P. O., in town of Cross Plains, Dane county, town
7 N., of range 7 E.
PINE, Creek, a small stream uniting with Skillet river, enters the
Baraboo river about 3 miles west of the village of Baraboo.
PINE, Creek, enters the Kickapoo river from the west, in Crawford
county.
PINE, Lake, is a small lake between Red Cedar and Birch Lakes,
in Chippewa county, on the east branch of Red Cedar river.
PINE, Lake, a widening of Red Cedar River, below Birch Lake on
the same.
PINE, lake, is of the Oconomowoc Group, lying in the south part
of Merton, Waukesha county, immediately north of Nagawicka, and
of the same size. It is surrounded by scenery,
which, for beauty, is unsurpassed, while the land is excellent
for agricultural purposes. Several beautiful villas have been
built upon its borders.
PINE RIVER, Town, in county of Waushara, being towns 19 and
20, of range 13 E.
PINE RIVER, P. O., in Waushara county.
PINE, River, rises in town 20 NX., of range 10 E., in Waushara
county, and running east, enters the west end of Lake Pauwaicun.
PINE, River, rises in Bad Ax county, and runs southerly into the
Wisconsin river, at the range line between ranges 1 and 2 E.
PIM, River, a tributary from the north of St. Croix river, La
Pointe county.
PINE, River, (of the Menomonee), see Muskos river.
PINE VALLEY, Town, in county of La Crosse, being all of said
county, between towns 16 and 23 N.
PIPE, Creek, rises near Dodgeville, Iowa county, and runs northerly,
emptying into the Wisconsin river at Helena.
PIE, Creek, a small stream entering Lake Michigan, at Kenosha.
PIKE, lake, in town 27 E., of Portage county, the source of Big
Plover river.
PIKE, Lake, a small lake in town of Hartford, Washington county.
PISHTAKA, River, see Fox River of Illinois.
PITTSFIELD, Town, in Brown county.
PRIVABIK, River, of Lake Superior, see Iron river.
PLATTE, Mounds, two conical shaped hills on either side east and
west of Belmont, Lafayette county, about 12 miles southwest
from Mineral Point, and 62 miles from Madison. They are
three miles apart, and have a small mound half way between
them.
PLATTE, River, rises in Wingville, Grant county, runs southerly,
and empties into the Mississippi, in Grant county.
PLATTEVILLE, Town, in county of Grant, being town 3 N., of range
1 W.; centrally located, 15 miles southeast from Lancaster.
It has 8 school districts.
PLATTEVILLE, P. V., is situated near the Rountree branch of Little
Platte river, being on section 15, town 3 N., of range 1 W.,
16 miles southeast from Lancaster, and 70 southwest from
Madison. It is in the immediate vicinity of some excellent
bodies of mineral. It was settled in 1827 by General John
I. Rountree, and a post office was established in 1830. The
village was incorporated in 1841, and contains an academy
incorporated in 1839. Platteville has a population of about
1,200, with 3 hotels, 2 smelting furnaces, a large academical
building, built of stone, several churches, and other public
buildings.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, P. V., in town of same name, Kenosha county,
being town 1 N., of range 22 E.; centrally located, 7 miles
southwest from Kenosha. Population in 1850 was 959. It has
9 school districts.
PLEASANT SPRING, Town, in county of Dane, being town 6 N., of
range 11 E.; centrally located, 12 miles southeast from
Madison. Population in 1850 was 732. It has 6 school districts.
PLOVER, Town, in county of Portage, being town 23 N., of ranges
5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
PLOVER, P. V. & C. H., on section 22, town 23 N., of range 8 E.,
in town of same name, in Portage county, being the county
seat. It is 120 miles northwest from Madison. Population 200,
with 35 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 hotels, 1 grist and 1 saw mill.
PLUM, Creek, a small stream in Brown county, entering Fox river
from the south at Bridgeport.
PLUM, Creek, rises in town 26 N., of range 15 W., in Chippewa
county, runs southeast into Chippewa river.
PLUM, Creek, empties into the Kickapoo river from the west, in
Crawford county.
PLUM, Island, a small island at the junction of Green Bay with
Lake Michigan, south of Pottowottomee.
PLYMOUTH, Town, in county of Rock, being town 2 N., of range
11 E.; centrally located, 10 miles southwest from Janesville.
Population in 1850 was 511. It has 4 school districts.
PLYMOUTH, P. V, in county of Sheboygan, being on section 22, in
town of same name 15 N., of range 21 E.
PLYMOUTH, Town, in county of Sheboygan, being town 15 N., of
range 21 E.; centrally located, 12 miles west from Sheboygan.
It has 8 school districts.
POINT, Creek, in Manitowoc county, a small tributary of Lake
Michigan, into which it empties about 10 miles southwest
from Manitowoc.
POINT DETOUR, in La Pointe county, opposite the Twelve Apostle
Islands, between Chegwamegon Bay and Bank Pointe.
POINTE SABLE, a point of land extending into Green Bay, in northeast
corner of town 24 N., of range 21 E.
POLK, County. By an act of the legislature approved March 14,
1853, all that portion of St. Croix county lying north of the
line between township 31 and 32, was set off into a separate
county, to be called and known as the county of Polk. It is
therefore bounded on the north by La Pointe, on the east by
Chippewa, on the south by Chippewa and St. Croix, and on
the west by the Territory of Minnesota, from which it is separated
by the river St. Croix. It is mostly a lumber country,
though the southern part contains a large area of excellent
farming lands. The village of St. Croix Falls, the county seat,
situated at the head of steamboat navigation on St. Croix river,
is surrounded with excellent agricultural lands, and with the
business naturally centring there of the extensive pineries
above, must be a town of considerable importance. This
county is to be fully organized during the present year, and
will form a part of the sixth judicial circuit. The representation
will continue as before the division of St. Croix.
POLK, Town, in county of Washington, being town 10 N., of range
19 E.; centrally located, 20 miles southwest from Ozaukee.
Population in 1850 was 1,344. It has 9 school districts.
PORTAGE, County, is bounded on the north by Marathon, on the
east by Waupacca, on the south by Waushara and Adams,
and on the west by La Crosse, and is 30 miles north and south,
by 54 miles east and west. It was set off from Brown, Dec. 7,
1,36, at which time it embraced about the present county of
Columbia. By an act of the legislature, approved March 14,
1841, the territory forming the present counties of Adams,
Portage and Marathon was annexed to Portage county, which
was organized for county purposes, the judicial connection
being with Dane. The county seat was established at the
Wisconsin Portage, and the county was fully organized Jan.
31, 1844; as now organized, it does not contain any of its
original limits. The eastern boundary of the county was extended
one range February 27, 1851. Plover, a little east of
the centre of the county, is the seat of justice. The Wisconsin
river passes about centrally through the county from the
north, and with its branches afford many good water powers
which are, at present, chiefly used for working up pine timber,
with forests of which the country is covered. This county
is connected with the third judicial circuit, and with the
second senate and second congressional districts, and, with
Marathon, sends one member to the assembly. The population, as
organized in 1840, was 1,623; 1842, 646; 1846, 931;
1847, 1,504; 1850, 1,267. At the last date, including Marathon,
there were 13 farms, 30 mnanufactories, and 280 dwellings. County
Officers for 1853: Judge, Enoch S. Bean;
Sheriff, Aaron Drake; Clerk of Court, C. Shekels; District
Attorney, Luther Hanchett; Clerk of Board of Supervisors,
Matthias Mitchell; Treasurer, Ames M. Dunton.
PORTAGE CITY, P. V. & C. f., on section 5 and 8 of town 12 N.,
of range 9 E., in Columbia county. It is 40 miles north from
Madison. Population 2,000; with 12 stores, 7 hotels, 1 steam
saw mill, 2 harness makers, 4 waggon makers, 6 blacksmiths,
3 cabinet, 3 paint, 8 shoe, 3 tin and sheet iron, 3 butchers,
6 millinery and 4 tailor's shops, 2 breweries, 2 livery stables,
2 jewelry stores, 2 drug stores, 1 brick yard, 1 iron foundry, 1
blind and sash factory, 1 chair factory and 1 tannery; 12 lawyers
and 5 doctors; 3 district and 2 select schools; 1 church
building and 2 denominations. It is finely situated on a bluff
between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers at the point where
they are connected by a ship canal. The Wisconsin is navigable to
this place, and the commerce on the river is considerable and constantly
increasing. Two steamers ply constantly
between this place and Galena during the summer. The
number of mills on the Wisconsin, and its tributaries, is about
100; the lumber from which seeks a market between this
place and St. Louis. The amount of lumber sent below is
almost beyond calculation. In addition to which, numerous
mills are starting on the river at different points below the
pinery, and logs are rafted to them. The amount of square
timber rafted exceeds millions of feet annually, shingles and
bolts, lath, pickets, &c. The Wolf river pinery is beginning to
pour its vast amounts of the finest lumber in the State, through
the Fox river, which stream also is navigable for small steam
boats. When the projected State improvement is finished,
inter-conmmunication will be established between the upper
Lake country and the Gulf of Mexico, and the carrying trade
will produce a large revenue to the State. The importance
of Portage City, as a commercial point, is beyond doubt very
great. It commands 200 miles north where the pine forests
nourish a large population, and are continually pouring their
products south, and will for years to come.
PORTAGE, Lake, is a small body of water in the north part of Marathon
county, tributary to the Chippewa river.
PORTAGE PRAIRIE, Town, in county of Columbia, being town 12
N., of range 12, 18 miles east of Portage city. Population
in 1850 was 455. It has 4 school districts.
PORT DES MORTS, see Death's Door.
PORTER, Town, in county of Rock, being town 4 N., range 11 E.;
centrally located, 12 miles northwest from Janesville. Population
in 1850 was 881. It has 7 school districts.
PORT HOPE, Town, in county of Columbia. Population in 1850
was 603. It has 4 school districts.
PORT HOPE, P. V., in town of same name, on section 3 on the
Neenah river, at the junction of French creek, 7~ miles north
from Portage city, and 48 miles north of Madison, at the
natural head of steamboat navigation on the Neenah river,
and on the stage and mail route from Fort Winnebago to the
Wisconsin pinery. It is beautifully located, in a good farming
district. Population about 30; 5 dwellings, 1 store, 1 hotel,
1 Baptist, and an organized church of Methodists, and has a
good hydraulic power unimproved.
PORTLAND, Town, in county of Dodge, being town 9 N., of range
13 E.; centrally located, 14 miles southwest from Juneau.
Population in 1850 was 523. It has 6 school districts.
PORT WASHINGTON, Town, in county of Washington, being town
11 N., range 22 E. See Ozaukee. Population in 1850 was
1,373. It has 5 school districts.
PORT WASHINGTON, V., (Ozaukee P.O.), on section 28, in town
of same name, in Ozaukee county. It is the county seat,
and is situated 80 miles northeast from Madison, on the
lake shore, half way between Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
Population, 2,500; with 300 dwellings, 10 stores, 5 hotels,
3 mills, 2 breweries, 1 foundry, 5 blacksmiths, 4 waggon makers,
6 shoe-makers, and 5 tailors' shops; 2 good piers, 1
church, and 5 denominations.
POPLAR, Creek, a small stream in the eastern part of Pewaukee,
Waukesha county, being a tributary to the Pishtaka.
POPLAR, River, a tributary of Lake Superior, in La Pointe county.
POTOSI, P. V., on section 34, in town 3, of range 3 W., 12 miles
south of Lancaster, and 80 miles southwest from Madison. It
is at the head of a ravine about 2 miles from the Mississippi
river, near the mouth of Grant river, and embraces the town
plats of Lafayette, Van Buren, and Dublin. This place was
formerly known as Snake Hollows, at which improvements
were commenced as early as 1836.
POTOSI, Town, in county of Grant, being fractional town 2, and
town 3 N., of range 3 W.; centrally located, 10 miles south
from Lancaster. It has 8 school districts.
POTTAWOTTOMEE, Is1and, in towns 33 and 34 N., of range 30 E., in
Door county; contains about 35 square miles.
POTTER, Lake, a small lake in the east part of East Troy, Walworth
county.
POWACK, Lake, a small body of water in the northern part of the
town of Muskego, in Waukesha county.
POYNETTE, P. F., on section 34, town 11 N., of range 9 E., in
Columbia county, 12 miles south from Portage city, and 21
miles north from Madison. It is situated in a rich farming
district of cultivated lands, on Ockee creek, and has a good
hydraulic power unimproved. It contains 150 inhabitants, 32
dwellings, 1 store, and 1 hotel.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, P. V. & C. H., is situated on section 6, town 6
N., of range 6 W., upon an elevated prairie, averaging one
mile in width, and is about 8 miles in length, extending from
the mouth of the Wisconsin river, northward, along the bank
of the Mississippi. It has one of the best landings on the
river, is very healthy; and all who have visited the place
concur in the opinion that its location gives it a commanding
commercial importance.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Town, in county of Crawford, including the
same. Population in 1850 was 1,407. It has 14 school districts.
POYSIPPI, P. O., in Waupacca county.
PRAIRIE DU SAC, (Lake Prairie), is a large prairie in Rock county,
near the foot of Lake Koskonong.
PRAIRIE DU SAC, P. V., in town of same name, Sauk county, on
section 36, town 10 N., of range 6 E.
PRAIRIE DU SAC, Town, in county of Sauk, south of Baraboo. It
has 5 school districts.
PRAIRIE LA CROSSE, is the name given to the beautiful prairie at
the mouth of La Crosse river, it was formerly an Indian trading
station, and was frequented by them for the purpose of playing their
favorite game of ball, from which fact the river now
known as La Crosse river, derived its original name of Ball
river.
PRAIRIE LA CROSSE, Village, see La Crosse P. V.
PRATT'S, Creek, rises in the north part of town of Oak Grove, in
Dodge county, and runs southwest, emptying into the Crawfish, in
the town of Shields.
PRESCOTT, Town, (formerly Elizabeth), in county of Pierce, being
all of said county, south of town 27 N. It is southeast of
Willow river.
PRESCOTT, P. V. & a. i, of the new county of Peirce. It is at the
junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi, having a number of
public houses, stores, warehouses, &C. It must eventually
be an important depot for the St. Croix and its tributaries, as
well as for Minnesota.
PRIDEAUX FORK, Creek, a branch of Grant river from the north west,
in Beetown, Grant county.
PRIMROSE, P. V., on section 9, in town of same name, Dane county;
22 miles southwest of Madison. It contains 250 inhabitants,
50 dwellings, 1 store, 1 Baptist, and 1 Freewill Baptist
church.
PRIMROSE, Town, in county of Dane, being town 5 N., of range
8 E.; centrally located, 18 miles southwest from Madison. It
has 6 school districts.
PRINCETON, P. V., in Marquette county, being on section 24, town
16 N., of range 11 E.; 10 miles from Montello.
PRINCETON, (formerly Pleasant Valley), in Marquette county.
PROSPECT HILL, P. V., on section'29 of New Berlin, Waukesha
county. It is 6 miles from Waukesha, and 70 miles southeast
from Madison, at the junction of the Milwaukee and Janesville
plank road with the Racine and Waukesha stage route.
It has 40 inhabitants, 6 dwellings, 1 store, 1 tavern, and a
steam grist and steam saw mill, 1 blacksmith and 1 waggon
shop.
PUCKAWAY, Lake, in Marquette county, is an expansion of the
Neenah river, about 2 miles wide, and 7 miles long.
PULASKI, Town, in county of Iowa, being towns 8 N., of ranges
1 and 2; centrally located, 10 miles northwest from Mineral
Point. It has 3 school districts.
PULASKI, P. V., in town of same name, in northwest corner of
Iowa county, on the Wisconsin river.
PYKI, River and Lake, upper tributaries of St. Croix river, in La
Pointe county.
[ Q ]
QUAVER, Rapids, on Menomonee river, between Sturgeon and
Pemenee Falls.
QUITQUIOC, Village, is situated upon the Mullet river, a branch
of the Sheboygan and in the township of Plymouth, county
of Sheboygan. It contains a fine hotel, a saw mill, several
stores, blacksmith shops, &c. The river, upon which it is
located, is named after General Mullet, and not, as many
suppose, from the species of fish of that name. The amount
of attention which this village has received from the legislature,
and the peculiarity of its name, have given it an
importance which it would not otherwise have attained.
Etymologists have puzzled their heads very much over the
word Quitquioc. By some it has been supposed to be a corruption
of hie, haec, hoc, but this, like many other suggestions
from the same source, is too absurd to merit consideration.
The real derivation of the word is from the Menomonee,
Quitlztlqeouowouwoc, which signifies a sulphur or mineral
spring. A spring of this character is said to exist there, and
this, together with the romantic beauty of the scenery in
that vicinity-it being upon the border of that belt of Moraines
denominated the "Potash Kettles" —may make it hereafter
the Saratoga of Wisconsin.
[ R ]
RACCOON, River, in Bad Ax county, head waters in the south part
of La Crosse county, runs southwest, and empties into the
Mississippi in town 14 N.
RACINE, City, is situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan,
at the mouth of Root river, and comprises fractional sections
9 and 16 of town 3 N., of range 23 E. It was first settled in
1835, incorporated as a village in 1841, and received a city
charter in 1848. The city is principally built upon a plain or
table land elevated some thirty or forty feet above the waters
of the lake, forming a beautiful site for a city. It is laid out
in regular lots and blocks with wide streets, and is justly entitled
to the appellation of "La Belle City of the Lakes." It
is the county town of Racine county, situated 16 miles north
of the State line, and 25 south of Milwaukee. Its beautiful
and healthful location, combined with its commercial advantages,
early attracted the attention of adventurers and
capitalists; and it has had a rapid, continuous, and healthy
growth, as will be seen by the following statement of
annual enumeration of its inhabitants: In 1840 the population was
337; 1844, 1,100; 1847, 3,004; 1849, 4,002;
1850, 5,111; 1851, 5,897; and it is now supposed to be
nearly 7,000. Racine has one of the best, if not the very
best harbor on the western shore of the lake. Over $60,000
have been expended in its construction by the citizens, of their
own means, raised by voluntary taxation. This enterprize is
justly considered one of the most important ever projected
and carried out to a successful completion by so small a
community, and furnishes a fair index to the character of her
population for enterprize. In addition to the amount raised
by this means, Congress has appropriated $12,500, which
has been expended, and $10,000 are now appropriated to be
expended the present season. The harbor is now sufficient to
accommodate the entire shipping of the lake, and being
protected by the high banks of the river is entirely safe. The city
of Racine is also distinguished among western towns for the
number and beauty of its public buildings. Over $125,000
are now invested in them. Fourteen churches have been
erected, to wit: 1 Presbyterian, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist,
1 Freewill Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Lutheran, 2
Welch, 1 German Evangelical, 1 German Lutheran, I Universalist,
2 Catholic-1 German and 1 Irish. Racine college,
an Episcopal institution, is located at this point. A beautiful
college edifice, of brick, has been erected, which, together
with the college grounds, are valued at $15,000. This amount
was contributed by the citizens. The institution is under the
management of Rev. Roswell Park, D. D. The first session
of the college commenced last fall, and now numbers over
20 pupils. The board of education of the city are now engaged
in erecting a central high school edifice for the more
advanced scholars of the common schools. The building and
furniture cost $6,000, exclusive of the lot. The facilities
afforded by the harbor and other commercial advantages of
the place, have attracted a large amount of capital. There are
ten warehouses in the city valued at $53,000, and two bridge
piers valued at $7,000. Three ship yards are constantly employed
in the building and repairing of vessels, and five new
vessels are now being built in them. The citizens of the city
own in whole, or in part, between thirty and forty different
vessels, with a tonnage of over 4,000 tons, consisting of propellers,
schooners, brigs and sloops, which are engaged in
the carrying trade between the upper and lower lakes, and in
the lumber trade on lake Michigan. There are now 126 mercantile
stores in the various branches, 1 steam flouring mill with
four run of stone, and 2 water mills just out of the limits of
the corporation; there are 7 different mechanics shops, with
steam engines and their furnaces. The bank of Racine is in
successful operation, issuing bills and doing a general banking
business. There are 3 plank roads extending into the country
from the city-the Racine and Rock River road, leading west
through the villages of Rochester, Burlington, Spring Prairie,
Elkhorn and Delavan, a distance of 56 miles, completed-the
Racine and Raymond road, leading northwest from the city
15 miles, nearly completed-and the Racine and Wilmot road
leading southwest, a distance of 16 miles, now in process of
construction. Speed's and O'Reilly's telegraph lines both have
offices in the city, and the Racine and Rock River telegraph
company have a line completed from Racine to Beloit, touching
at all the intermediate villages. The Racine, Janesville,
and Mississippi rail road has been surveyed and located from
Racine to Beloit, and the contracts are now let for the whole
distance and the work in process of construction, and will be
completed by September 1854. Considering the natural advantages of
Racine-its importance as a commercial point the character and
enterprize of its inhabitants-its institutions of learning-
its size, being second only to Milwaukee in
population among the places of the State-and, above all, its
beautiful and healthful location-no place in the State offers
more inducements to those seeking a home in the West,
either as a pleasant residence or a place of business.
RACINE, College, was chartered by the legislature in 1852, and is
located in the city of Racine, where fine college buildings
have been erected. It is the diocesan college of the Protestant
Episcopal church of Wisconsin.
RACINE, County, is bounded on the north by Waukesha and Milwaukee,
on the east by the State line in Lake Michigan, on
the south by Kenosha, and on the west by Walworth. It
was organized from the limits of Milwaukee Dec. 7, 1836.
The seat of justice is at the city of Racine, on the lake shore.
This county has a proper proportion of prairie and timber,
and is well adapted to agriculture. Its productions are various.
Besides other branches of agriculture, the raising of fruit and
keeping of cattle and sheep are successfully carried on. There
is also a large amount of capital profitably employed in
various branches of manufacture. A large portion of the
county is well settled and improved. Though small in extent,
it possesses advantages unsurpassed by any county in the
State. Its soil is well adapted to all the products of the
climate, and being contiguous to the lake, it has good and
convenient markets both at Racine and other lake ports. Its
principal streams are O'Plaine and Root rivers. It is in the
first judicial circuit, the first congressional district, and forms
the seventh senate district, and sends four members to the
assembly, as follows: 1. City of Racine; 2. Towns of Racine,
Mount Pleasant and Caledonia; 3. Towns of Yorkville, Dover,
Raymond and Norway; 4. Towns of Burlington and Rochester. The
population in 1838 was 2,054; 1840, 3,475; 1842
6,318; 1846, 17,983; 1847, 19,583; 1850, 14,971. It has 947
farms, 2,578 dwellings, and 99 manufactories.
RACINE, Town, in county of Racine, being fractional towns 3 and
4 N., of range 23 E., in which is located the city of same
name. The population of the town in 1850 was 777. It has
7 school districts.
RANDOLPH, P. V., in town of same name, Columbia county, on
section 24, town 13 N., of range 12 E.
RANDOLPH, Town, in county of Columbia, being town 13 N., of
range 12 E.; centrally located, 18 miles northeast from Portage
city. Population in 1850 was 618. It has 5 school districts.
Random, Lake, see Cold Spring lake, Washington county.
RAPIDE DE CROCHE, Rapids, of the Neenah river, 4 miles below the
Grand Kalaukalin. At this place the river has a descent of a
little over a foot in 1,300 feet, and there is a very short elbow
in the river, making the natural navigation very difficult.
RASPBERRY, River, (Fromboise), enters Lake Superior, opposite
the island scalled the Twelve Apostles, in La Pointe county, 15
miles west from Isle St. Michael, and 6 east from Sandy river.
RATHBUN, P. V., in county of Sheboygan, being in the town of
Mitchell, town 14 N., of range 20 E.
RAT, River, is an eastern tributary of Wolf river.
RATTLE SNAKE, Creek, a branch of Grant river, from the west, in
Grant county.
RATTLE SNAKE, Diggings, in town 4 N., of ranges 4 and 5 west,
in Grant county.
RAYMOND, Town, in county of Racine, being town 4 N., of range
21 E.; centrally located, 12 miles northwest from Racine.
Population in 1850 was 820. It has 7 school districts.
RAYMOND, P. V., on section 10 of town of same name, in Racine
county, 15 miles northwest from the city of Racine, and 90
miles southeast from Madison. Population, 600; with 150
dwellings, 1 store, 1 hotel, and Baptist and Congregational
churches.
READLAND, residence of Hon. Geo. Read McLane, on the border
of Pine Lake, in towns of Merton and Delafield, Waukesha
county.
RED CEDAR, Lake, is the lowermost lake on the east branch of Red
Cedar river.
RED CEDAR, Lake, is about one mile west from the centre of the
town of Oakland, Jefferson county, and covers an area of over
500 acres. It is about one mile south of Ripley lake, in the
same town and county. It empties, through a small stream
running southeasterly, into Lake Koskonong.
RED, Banks, name given to the south shore of Green Bay, in town
25 N., of range 22 E.
RED, River, in Door county, enters Green Bay, in town 26 N.
REEDSBURGH, Town, in county of Sauk, being all of said county,
in towns 11, 12, and 13 N., of ranges 2, 3, and 4; centrally
located, west from Baraboo. It has 5 school districts.
REEDSBURG, P. V., near the geographical centre of Sauk county,
on section 10, town 12 N., of range 4 E., 18 miles northwest
from Baraboo, and 50 miles northwest from Madison. It is
surrounded by good farming lands, abounding in mineral
wealth of iron and copper ore. Population 250, with 60
dwellings, 4 stores, 1 hotel, 4 mills, and 4 religious
denominations.
RHINE, Town, in county of Sheboygan, being town 16 N., of range
21 E.; centrally located, northwest from Sheboygan, and was
organized in 1852. It has 6 school districts.
RICHFIELD, Town, in county of Washington, being town 9 N., of
range 19 E.; centrally located, 22 miles southwest from Ozaukee.
Population in 1850 was 869. It has 14 school districts.
RICHLAND, County, is bounded on the north by Bad Ax and Sauk,
on the east by Sauk, on the south by Iowa, and on the west by
Bad Ax and Crawford, and is about 24 miles square. It contains
16 townships in a square form, and some fractional ones
on the Wisconsin river, which constitutes its southern boundary.
It was set off from Iowa county 15th Feb. 1842, remaining attached
thereto for judicial purposes until Feb. 7, 1850.
The seat of justice has been established at Richland Centre.
The county is connected with the second congressional district,
the fifth judicial circuit, and the fifteenth senate district,
and constitutes an assembly district. It is divided into five
towns, as follows -Buena Vista on the east side, comprising
towns 9, 10, 11, 12 N., of range 2 E., and one tier of sections
from the east side of town 9 N., of range 1 E.-Richland,
town 10 N., of range 1 E.-Rockbridge, town 12 N. of range
1 E., and 11 and 12 N. of range 1 W.-Richwood, town 9,
10, 11, and 12 N. of range 2 W., and 2 tiers of sections from
the west side of towns 9 and 10, of range 1 W.-Richmond,
4 eastern tiers of sections from towns 9 and 10, of range 1 W.,
and 5 tiers of sections from the western part of town 9 N., of
range 1 E. There are 4 considerable mill streams running
from north to south through the county, emptying into the
Wisconsin-Bear Creek, in the east part-Pine River, running
through the central-Eagle Creek, more westerly-and
Knapp's Creek, in the extreme west. These streams, with
their tributaries, supply the county abundantly. The water
is invariably soft. There are some pretty prairies surrounded
by groves of heavy timber. The face of the country is
diversified by hills and valleys. Fishes-pike, pickeral, codfish,
mullet, suckers, and speckled trout are in abundance. Plenty
of the best timber such as maple, butternut, walnut, bass, ash,
elm and oak of different kinds, with pine and poplar. Lead
and copper have been discovered in the southern part. A
marble quarry has been opened in the valley of the Bear
Creek. All the stone is found in quarries-none scattered on
the surface. There are many large tracts of well-watered and
rich land in the county-hence the name. The county is settling
rapidly with an intelligent and enterprizing population,
almost wholly Americans. Its agricultural, mineral and lumbering
resources, together with its proximity to an extensive
mining country, and its facilities for market, serve as great
inducements to settlement and cultivation. There are many
thriving villages. Perhaps there is no greater natural curiosity
in the West than the natural bridge of the Pine river, located
on the middle of the northwest quarter of section 10, town 11
N., of range 1. It is a rock from 40 to 60 feet high, and over
1 miles long, and extends into a level country, with a beautiful
arch, sufficiently large for the waters of the Pine river
in times of flood. The rock is solid for 30 feet above the
water, and is covered with a beautiful grove of thrifty pines.
It is a species of sand stone four rods wide and perpendicular
(except where it projects over) its entire length. This forms
a great water power, and also shelter for man and beast. The
Indians used to assemble here in great numbers to worship,
the chief or principal speaker standing upon the top of the
rock whilst his audience remained below. Another curiosity
is a warm cave, which sends forth a warm current of air at
all seasons. Population in 1850 was 903, now about 3,000;
with 76 farms, 175 dwellings, and 4 manufactories.
RICHLAND, P. V. and C. H., is the county seat of Richland, being
in town 10, of range 1 E. It is 7 miles above Sextonville,
on Pine Creek, situated on a prairie, surrounded by beautiful
groves and shade trees. It possesses an excellent water
power, and mills are being erected.
RICHLAND CITY, P. V., on the north side of Wisconsin river, at
the mouth of Pine creek, Richland county. It has a good
landings the banks being about four feet above high water.
It is a very flourishing village, and in a good section of farming lands.
RICHMOND, P.O., in town of same name, Walworth county, being
in town 3 N., of range 15 E.
RICHMOND, Village, late county seat of Richland county, on bank
of the Wisconsin river.
RICHMOND, Town, in county of Walworth, being town 3 N., of
range 15 E.; centrally located, 8 miles northwest from Elkhorn.
Population in 1850 was 756. It has 9 school districts.
RICHMOND, Town, in county of Richland. For bounds see Richland
county. It has 7 school districts.
RICHWOOD, Town, in county of Richland. It has 2 school districts.
For bounds, see Richland county.
RIDGEWAY, Town, in county of Iowa, being part of towns 5, 6 and
7 N., of ranges 3, 4 and 5 E.; centrally located, northeast
from Mineral Point. It has 8 school districts. It is on the
east side of the county, and embraces one of the Blue Mounds
and also Porter's Grove. A small village, called Moundville,
lies at the foot of the mounds. Both prairie and timber meet
the eye in every direction. It is abundantly watered by
springs and streams.
RIDGEWAY, P. V., on section 14, town 6 N., of range 4 E., in Iowa
county; 14 miles northeast from Mineral Point, and 35 miles
west from Madison. It has 1 store, 3 hotels, 1 grist and 1
saw mill; 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Congregational
church. It is in a well-watered region and of good soil.
RIPLEY, lake, is near the northwest corner of the town of Oakfield,
Jefferson county. It is nearly 2 miles long, and covers nearly
500 acres. Its waters run westerly into Dane county, and
thence southeast into Lake Koskonong.
RIPON, P. V., on section 21, town 16 N., of range 14 E., in Fond
du Lac county, 22 miles west from Fond du Lac, and 64 miles
northeast from Madison; on inlet to Green Lake, which falls
100 feet in distance of one mile. Water power is improved to
half its capacity. Brockway college, a Presbyterian institution,
is located at this place. There are Episcopal, Methodist,
and Presbyterian congregations. There are sash, chair, cabinet
and woollen factories. At this point the following highways
cross each other:-from Watertown to Fox River and the
Menomonee county-from Madison to Oshkosh and Green
Bay-and from Fond du Lac to La Crosse.
RISING, Prairie, is east of Beaver Dam, in Dodge county.
ROARING, Creek, emptying into Lake Pepin, a small stream in
Chippewa county.
ROBINSON's, Creek, a small tributary from the east, in La Crosse
county, of Black river, into which it enters, being in town
20 N., of range 4 W.
ROCHE-A-GRIS, River, rises in northeast corner of Adams county,
and runs southwest, emptying into the Wisconsin, in town
18 N.
ROCHESTER, P. V., in town of same name, Racine county, on sections
2 and 11; it is 23 miles west from Racine and 75 miles
southeast from Madison, at the junction of the Muskego and
Fox rivers, and has a good water power on each river, both
of which are improved and have machinery in operation on
them. It is on the Racine and Rock River plank road. The
plank road from Racine intersects the Racine plank road, and
terminates at this place. It has a daily eastern and western
mail, and weekly mails from Waukesha and Milwaukee. The
place is surrounded by a rich farming country, settled by an
intelligent and enterprising population. It contains about 500
inhabitants, with 62 dwellings, 5 stores, 3 hotels, 3 mills, 2
plough, 2 harness, 1 boot and shoe, 1 fanning mill, 1 waggon
and carriage, and 1 tin and copper shops, 1 foundry, and 1
saleratuis factory; 1 Presbyterian church, and 2 good school
houses.
ROCHESTER, Town, in county of Racine, being town 4 N., of range
19 E.; centrally located, 24 miles northwest from Racine.
Population in 1850 was 1,672. It has 11 school districts.
ROCKBRIDGE, Town, in county of Richland. It has 5 school districts.
For bounds, see Richland county.
ROCK, County, is bounded on the north by Dane and Jefferson, on
the east by Walworth, on the south by the State of Illinois,
and on the west by Green. The county seat is at Janesville,
on Rock river. It was set off from Milwaukee, Dec. 7, 1836,
and fully organized Feb. 19, 1839. The county is about
equally divided between prairie and oak openings, with no
large bodies of heavy timber. It is situated on both sides of
Rock river, the valley of which is as rich soil as can be found
in any part of the country. The prairies are some of them
quite large, but beautifully undulating, and productive in the
highest degree, and are being settled and cultivated to the
very centre. The different varieties of soil-upland, bottom
land, prairie and openings, afford facilities for cultivating all
the productions of the climate to the greatest advantage wheat
upon the rolling prairies and openings-the coarser
grains upon the bottom lands-and tame and wild grasses
upon the low prairies and marshes, flourish best, though each
class of soil is adapted more or less to all these products. It
is watered by Rock river and its branches. The principal villages
are Janesville, Beloit, Fulton, and Milton. The county
is in connection with the first judicial circuit, the second
congressional district, and is entitled to the following
representation:-17th Senate district, consists of the towns of Rock,
Fulton, Porter, Centre, Plymouth, Newark, Avon, Spring
Valley, Magnolia, and Union.-l8th Senate district, consists
of the towns of Beloit, Turtle, Clinton, Bradford, La Prairie,
Harmony, Johnstown, Lima and Milton.-lst Assembly district,
Beloit, Turtle and Clinton.-2d Assembly district, Milton, Harmony,
Lima, Johnston, Bradford, and La Prairie. -3d Assembly district,
Janesville, Rock Centre, and Fulton. -4th Assembly district, Porter,
Union, Magnolia, Spring Valley, Plymouth, Newark and Avon. Its
population in 1840 was 1,701; 1842, 2,867; 1846,12,405; 1847,
14,720; 1850, 30,717. Square miles, 720. It has 3,631 dwellings, 1,975
farms, and 126 manufactories. County Officers for 1853 and
1854: Judge, James Armstrong; Clerk of Court, George
W. Crabb; Sheriff, William i. Howard; District Attorney,
Wm. S. Rockwell; Clerk of Board of Supervisors, C. P. King,
Register, Samuel A. Martin; Treasurer, Robert F. Frazer;
Coroner, Calvin Chapin.
ROCK, Creek, is the outlet of Fish lake, in town of Deerfield,
Dane county, runs northeast through the town of Waterloo,
Jefferson county, emptying into Waterloo creek, in Portland,
Dodge county.
ROCK, Town, in county of Rock, being town 2 N., of range 12 E.;
centrally located, 6 miles southwest from Janesville. Population
in 1850 was 553. It has 8 school districts.
ROCK, Island, lies near the northeast corner of Pottowottomee
Island, at the connection of Green Bay with Lake Michigan.
It is about 5 miles in circumference.
ROCK, Island, is in the Wisconsin, at the mouth of Copper Rock
river. It is 30 feet high from the water.
ROCK, Lakes, are two lakes, Upper and Lower, just above Trout
Lake, on the most eastern branch of the Manidowish river.
They are 300 yards apart-the Lower is half a mile, and the
Upper a mile in diameter.
ROCK, Lake, is about 3 miles long and 11 wide, in the eastern
portion of the town of Lake Mills, Jefferson county, covering
an area of 1,650 acres. It discharges its waters into the
Crawfish through Keyes creek, entering near the village of
Milton.
ROCK, Mounds, on section 1, town 14 N., of range 6 W., in Bad
Ax county, also on section 33, town 17, of range 4 W., in
La Crosse county, on line between towns 16 and 17 N., near
the east side of range 7 W.
ROCK, River, rises in Fond du Lac county, and runs south through
Dodge, Jefferson and Rock counties, into Illinois.
ROCK PRAIRIE, P. O., in town of Harmony, Rock county, being
town 3 N., of range 13 E.
ROCK RIVER, P.O., in Fond du Lac county.
ROCK RIVER, West Branch, see Crawfish river.
ROCK RIVER, Woods. This name has been given to the whole of
the timbered lands on the borders of Rock river. It includes
the northeastern towns of Jefferson county, and the eastern
portions of the town of Milford.
ROCK HILL, P.O., in town of Kingsboro', Marquette county, being
on section 29, town 14 N., of range 11 E.; 14 miles from
Montello.
ROCK VALLEY, P. O., in Rock county.
ROCKY, Lake, a small lake in the southwest corner of Portland,
Dodge county.
ROCKY RUN, Creek, a small stream entering the Wisconsin from
the northeast corner of Lowville, at Dekorra.
ROCKY RUN, P.O., on section 5, in town of Lowville, Columbia
county; 10 miles southeast from Portage, and 28 miles north
from Madison, on a creek of the same name, having at this
point an unimproved water power sufficient to carry ten run
of stone most of the year. It is within a good farming region,
cultivated by industrious and intelligent people.
RODMAN, River, rises in Osceola, Fond du Lac county, and runs
southeast into Milwaukee river.
ROME, P. V., on section 17, in town of Sullivan, Jefferson county,
on Duck creek, 10 miles east from Jefferson, and 40 miles east
from Madison. This place is in the fertile and timbered lands
of Jefferson county. Population, 130; with 30 dwellings, 2
stores, 1 hotel, and 2 mills, with a good water power.
ROOT CREEK, P.O., in town of Greenfield, Milwaukee county, on
section 26. It is on the Janesville and Milwaukee plank
road.
ROOT, River, rises in the town of Muskego, Waukesha county,
and runs southeast, entering Lake Michigan at the city of
Racine, being about 35 miles in length.
ROSE, Lake, mostly on section 29, in town and county of Jefferson.
It is about 11 miles in length.
ROSENDALE, Town, in county of Fond du Lac, being town 16 N.,
of range 15 E.; centrally located, 13 miles westerly from
Fond du Lac. Population in 1850 was 714. It has 5 school
districts.
ROSENDALE, P. V., in county of Fond du Lac, on section 35, in
town 16 N., of range 15 E. It is 11 miles from Fond du Lac
city, and 70 miles northeast from Madison. It is located on
a small stream running east and west, with a prairie country
on the north, and openings on the south, and is noted for the
health and salubrity of the climate. Population, 150; with
25 dwellings, 3 stores, 2 hotels, 5 manufactories, and 2 denominations.
ROSLIN, P. V., in Marquette county, being on section 23, town 14
N., of range 9 E., 10 miles from Montello.
ROUND, Lake, in town of Summit, Waukesha county, 2 miles west
of Nemahbin.
ROUNTREE, Creek, a branch of Platte river, in Grant county.
ROXBURY, Town, in county of Dane, being fractional town 9 N.,
of ranges 6 and 7 E.; centrally located, 18 miles northwest
from Madison. It has 6 school districts.
ROXO, P. V., in Marquette county, being on section 13, town 15
N., of range 9 E.; 2 miles from Montello.
RUBICON, Town, in county of Dodge, being town 10 N., of range
17 E; centrally located, 12 miles southeast from Juneau. It
has 10 school districts.
RUBICON, River, rises near Scheisingerville, in Washington county,
and runs west into Rock river, in town of Hustisford, Dodge
county.
RUSHFORD, Town, in county of Winnebago, being towns 17 and
18 N., of range 14 E.; centrally located, 15 miles from Oshkosh.
Population in 1850 was 514. It has 4 school districts.
RUSH, lake, in town of Rushford, Winnebago county. It is about
5 miles long and 2 broad. Its outlet has several good water
powers, the principal of which is at Waukau village. It
discharges its waters northerly into Neenah river, a short
distance west of Omro village.
RUSH RIVER, Town, in county of St. Croix, being towns 27 and
28 N., of ranges 16, and east half of 17; centrally located,
southeast from Willow river. It has 1 school district.
RUSH, River, rises in St. Croix county, and running southerly into
Lake Pepin, in town 24 N., of range 16 W.
RUSH River, P. O., at head of river of same name, in St. Croix
county.
RUSSELL'S CORNERS, P. O., in town of Flora, Sauk county, town
12 N., of range 7 E.
RUTLAND, P. O., in southwest corner of town of same name, Dane
county.
RUTLAND, Town, in county of Dane, being town 5 N., of range
10 E.; centrally located, 14 miles southeast from Madison.
Population in 1850 was 759. It has S school districts.
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