More Area History

Black Hawk

Image of Chief Blackhawk found on the sign of a local tavern."I liked my town, my cornfields and the home of my people. I fought for them." Those simple words of Sauk chief Black Hawk sum up the reason behind the war which is this area's claim to fame. Black Hawk's people lived on the Rock River, only farther south near it's mouth at Rock Island, Illinois. Although treaties had been signed which gave the Sauk land to the United States government, Black Hawk and his people wanted to continue to stay in the area. In 1832 they were forced from their land by the United States Army. Despite repeated attempts to surrender, they were pursued until they reached the Mississippi River. There, at the Battle of Bad Axe, all but 150 of Black Hawk's people were massacred as they tried to cross the river to safety.

Black Hawk's journey took him up the Rock River to the area of Lake Koshkonong.  For a time during the summer of 1832, a group of approximately 1,200 Indians lived in the area, while Black Hawk and his braves went on raids of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The camp has traditionally been placed on what is now known as Black Hawk Island, near nearby Fort Atkinson. More recent evidence points to a camp site closer to the mouth of the lake, near Newville. Among his pursuers was General Henry Atkinson. He ordered the building of a stockade near the the Bark River which was known as Fort Koshkonong, later named Fort Atkinson in his honor.

Other soldiers passing through the area during the Black Hawk War were a Colonel named Zachary Taylor and a young Captain by the name of Abraham Lincoln. Both men went on to become presidents of the United States. Also in the area during the war was Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, who later became president of the Confederate States of America.

Although Black Hawk was only in the area a few months, his presence is still felt today. The Rock County phone directory alone has 22 listings for businesses and institutions that use Blackhawk's name. And there are certainly more in adjoining counties. Quite an accomplishment for a 65 year old man simply wanting a place to live.

The Underground Railroad

Milton House MuseumJoseph Goodrich moved to Milton in 1838 and built the Milton House Inn in 1844. Goodrich was known for his anti slavery views and was soon involved in the Underground Railroad. Due to the possibility of fines and imprisonment, he could not allow the slaves into the Inn, where they may be seen by guests. Instead, he housed them in the Inn's basement. Access into and out of the basement was through a tunnel connected to a cabin in the back yard. From the Milton House, slaves could continue on towards Lake Koshkonong and then keep heading north, eventually reaching freedom in Canada. To learn more about the Milton House and the Underground Railroad, visit the Milton House Museum at 18 S. Janesville St. Milton, WI.

Area Legends

The local Winnebago tribes had a legend about a water monster which lived in the depths of the lake. They must not have realized how shallow the lake was, as a monster of any size probably wouldn't have fit in the lake. Anyway, this monster was said to have great power and a terrible form. It would attack any Indian canoe which dared to cross the lake. Oddly enough, it never attacked the white man's canoe, only the Indians'. Eventually two brothers set out to disprove the claim of a monster. Traveling by canoe, they started across the lake in opposite directions. A fierce storm blew up, capsized their canoes and the brothers both drowned. When the bodies were found they had white clay in their nostrils and ears. This was a sure sign to the Winnebago that the brothers had been caught and drowned by the monster.

A legend still heard today concerns the deer footed woman. Travelers along highway N, between highway 59 and Whitewater, have reported seeing a woman along the side of the road, especially during dark or foggy conditions. If they stop to offer her a ride, she is no longer there, having vanished into thin air. However, a fresh set of tracks, resembling deer tracks, is always found at the site. At the present time, I do not know the origin of the story, but will continue looking for it.

I have just recently learned of an area ghost story. Apparently many years ago, when the Lake House Inn was still a hotel, two young girls were staying there. One of the girls drowned in the lake. The other girl is still waiting for her to return.

If anyone reading this has information about the deer footed woman, the Lake House ghost, or any other area legends, please send me an email and tell me about it.

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