Name/Title
Marsh, Horicon Marsh Was Once Largest Artificial Lake./Marsh Has Become Recreation CenterDescription
Copy of two articles found in a scrapbook in Waupun Museum.
Horicon Marsh Was Once Largest Artificial Lake.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article was written by Mrs. James Moore of 255 Doty St., Waupun. It was originally presented in 1955 to the Waupun Monday Club, and the article was read at a recent Waupun Historical Society meeting. The article is being published in two parts with the second part to appear on Monday.
WAUPUN - The Horicon Marsh lies in northcentral Dodge County extending about 14 miles in length and three or four miles in width, in the upper reaches of the Rock River.
Geologists say the marsh was formed by the Green Bay lobe of the Wisconsin glacier. The shallow gouging of the glacier once formed a large lake approximately 51 square miles, five times larger than Lake Mendota. Scouring of the natural moraine barrier at the outlet of the marsh and alluvial matter washed in by the Rock River and decomposed vegetation made the lake a marsh as it is today. Drumlins present throughout the area make gravel washing an important local industry.
Of the cultural features left by the Indians only a few are in evidence. The many Indian mounds and the number of arrowheads and other stone tools which have been found indicate this was once a great hunting and fishing ground. It is estimated that there are over 400 mounds on the marsh. Barrel mounds are numerous, also mounds in the shapes of panthers, geese and other wild animals. The Milwaukee Museum started a detailed study of these mounds. Remnants of the Indians persisted until about 1920.
In general, the Indians were friendly but were reluctant to leave the area which furnished them with abundant animal life, fish and plant food, especially wild rice.
O. H. W. Hornby likes to recall the days when the Winnebago Indians taught him to swim near Waupun. "Big Injun George" was one of Hornby's favorites, and he was one of the 75 who used to camp along the Rock River at east Waupun. Big Injun George was the Father of Chief Yellow Thunder of the Wisconsin Dells. In summer they hunted and fished, but in winter they disappeared into the woods.
Fur traders and possibly missionaries were the first to explore this Indian paradise and later as the pioneers moved west the abundant resources of the Rock River were exploited for lumbering and agriculture.
The need for water transportation and water power for the mills was answered by the Rock River.
The first dam was made of brush, logs, stone and mud. It furnished water power to run a saw mill and grist mill. The dam was said to have formed the largest artificial lake in the world and was famous for fishing a n d hunting. Bass, pike, pickerel, bullheads and muskies abounded in 1856, and 140 tons of pickerel were shipped to eastern markets.
The passenger pigeon was a farm menace, and hunters were invited to exterminate them. Pigeon pie became fashionable. Records show that in 1857 every species of waterfowl was plentiful as well as prairie chicken and ruffled grouse (partridge), muskrat and mink. Besides the plentiful game, the scientific advance of guns and ammunition and better transportation especially the railroads, added to the popularity of the marsh. In 1858 the railroad connecting Waupun to Chicago was built and Chester became the largest shipping center in the vicinity and its rise and fall was paralleled by the history of the Horicon lake and marsh as a hunting and fishing paradise.
Back in the days when the Horicon Marsh, or lake, as it was called prior to 1858, it was known throughout the United States as one of the best duck hunting spots. Sportsmen from Chicago, New York, St. Louis and other distant places came to Chester and stayed at the hotel. Some even brought the ladies along to add to the social life.
All hunters brought their own hunting and fishing skiffs, sailing down the Rock River to the heart of the marsh. Steamboats docked at Chester in those days.
Frank Hall's father owned the hotel in Chester at one time. As well as being a stopping-off place, it was also a social center. Ned Lindsley remembers that many times during the winter months, parties would make sleigh ride trips to Chester and stop at the hotel for an oyster supper and dancing. Ed Haueisen also recalled that only those in formal dress were allowed in the dining room.
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Marsh Has Become Recreation Center.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following Is the second part of an article written by Mrs. James Moore of 255 Only St., Waupun. It was originally presented in 1955 to the Waupun Monday Club, and was recently read at a Waupun Historical Society meeting. The first part of the article appeared Saturday in the Fond du Lac Reporter.
Three large hunting clubs were formed in 1870. One hunted the north end of the marsh. There was also a Diana Shooting Club owned by eastern industrialists and a Horicon Shooting Club made up of eastern Wisconsin hunters. Hunting rights were leased to these clubs for $100 a year by the owners of the marsh.
When the Moore family came to the marsh to do experimental agriculture, one of these club houses was still standing. It was quite large, built like an old eastern tavern. Downstairs was a large living room with a huge fireplace; a kitchen and pantry. There was a balcony on the second floor off of which were the sleeping rooms. There was a cellar, storage room, wine cellar and outdoor storage sheds too. The place was stripped of furniture except for a table and a few chairs. But the evidence of gay living remained in the dozens of empty bottles of imported liquors - mostly French cognac.
Market hunting was prevalent during the hunting club era from 1870 to 1900. Oscar Hanisch of Waupun has told of times in his boyhood years when ducks were shot by the hundreds and shipped out to Chicago and New York by the barrel. Barrels of waterfowl also were shipped in the spring and fall to Milwaukee markets. Ducks were sold for 10 cents each.
In later years the marsh land was the principal source of hay for cattle and horses, and often two or three farmers would join equipment resources and spend two or three weeks at the marsh putting up their annual supply.
The marsh fires were quite a sight, both frightening and beautiful. Now there are controlled fires which burn off just what is desired. The floods in the spring were also something to contend with, especially when living in the midst of them.
In 1867 legislation permitted sale of the land under the expansive lake. Drainage interests began ditching the marsh in 1909, starting at the far northern end. The main ditch and several lateral ditches were completed between 1914 and 1918. Land thus reclaimed sold for as much as $400 an acre.
In 1921 the fight to restore the marsh was begun. In 1920, armed guards were kept at the dam in Hustisford day and night to keep the land owners from blowing it up. It was the one thing that kept them from complete drainage of the marsh.
There was a long legal fight and eventually 30,000 acres became public property; one-third of which belongs to the State of Wisconsin and two-thirds to the national government, now retained as a wild life and game preserve.
The Horicon Marsh is one of the most productive areas for muskrats in Wisconsin. About 25,000 rats were taken on the 10,000 state-owned acres during 1953 and 1954. Horicon Marsh is open to trapping on permit of sharecropping, bringing an income to the trapper and to the state.
The conservation committee puts out a guide for field excursions, including facts on good and poor conservation practices. Birds en route to the marsh include meadow larks, crows, bluebirds blackbirds and hawks. Birds on the marsh include whistling swans, egrets, herons, cranes, sandpipers, hawks, pheasants, geese and ducks. Other things to look for are wild life, weeds, animal tracks, insects and larvae, frogs, snakes, cocoons and algae.
The greatest values of this marsh are the recreational and esthetic opportunities. During the fishing season many people enjoy themselves and during the hunting season thousands of hunting are granted.
Roads across the marsh are kept in repair. Evenings and Sundays, cars are parked along the roadway while the occupants watch the abundant wild life that is visible from the highway; geese, ducks, swans, muskrats, deer and many others in their natural habitat. The shoulders of the highway have been widened to make parking places for sightseers.Acquisition
Accession
2013.0601Source or Donor
Found in collection.Acquisition Method
Bequest,Collected byCredit Line
Waupun Historical Society
