History of Milwaukee Unit 1

Menominee Tribe

The largest village was at the mouth of the Menominee River near Marinette. They were moved to a reservation on the Wolf River in 1852-1853 as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1838.

Winnebago (Ho-Chunk)

Milwaukee was their territory. They dominated an area stretching from Door County to northern Illinois. Population decreased due to European diseases.

Potawatomi Tribe

They were once the dominant tribe in Milwaukee. They were evicted in the 1830's which left the tribe without a Milwaukee foothold until the opening of the casino in 1991.

Ojibwa (Chippewa) Tribe

After the war ended in 1814, the distrusted the Americans and often traded with British traders across the border in Canada. They sold most of their land in north-central Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota; they ceded their remaining lands in Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula

Sauk Tribe

Closely related to the Fox tribe.

Fox Tribe

Woodland Natives who formed an alliance with Sauk Natives and fought in the Black Hawk War under the leadership of warrior Black Hawk

Mascouten Tribe

A small settlement at the at the mouth of the "Melleoki" river.

Iroquois Tribe

Upper New York area but overheated beaver in that land so they gradually pushed others tribes west toward Wisconsin.

Samuel de Champlain

French explorer who founded Quebec in 1608 and was the governor of New France. He pushed expeditions west to expand fur trade and look for a water route to the Pacific. Died Christmas 1634 after learning of Green Bay and Lake Michigan.

Etienne Brule

Was sent by Champlain to look for the Northwest passage. He was the only European thought to have visited western Great Lakes prior to Nicolet. In 1622-1623 he traveled around Lake Superior.

Jean Nicolet

Was sent west by Champlain. He wore a Chinese robe when he met the Winnebago Indians. He hoped the Indians would show him the way to China.

Louis Joliet

French explorer (with Jacques Marquette) of the upper Mississippi River valley (1645-1700). Traveled Green Bay to Fox River to Wisconsin River to Mississippi River to Illinois River to Des Plaines. Must have skirted Milwaukee to get to Lake Michigan.

Pere Jacque Marquette

First white man in Milwaukee. Wrote La Robe Noire and stationed St. Francis Xavier Mission while being in De Pere, WI. Had poor health from hard travels and harsh winters. Set out to keep promise to return to visit Illinois Indians in October 1674. Reached the mouth of Milwaukee River 11/23/74. He did visit the natives but died next spring going to St. Ignace where he had been the pastor of a little log church.

Robert La Salle

Frenchman who followed the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, claiming the region for France and naming it Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.

Jacque Vieau

Opened trading post in Milwaukee in Mitchell Park in 1795. Spent half the year in Milwaukee and the other half in Green Bay. Owned an American Fur Agency, ended up dying in poverty due to the Indians dying.

Jean Baptiste Mirandeau

In 1795, he became a blacksmith on the east bank of the river. He could possibly be the first permanent resident. He had 10-21 children.

Solomon Juneau

Arrives in Milwaukee in 1818 to be Vieau's clerk prior to buying post in 1819. Married Vieau's daughter Josette. Was the only white man living in Milwaukee in 1820s and early 1830s. Was not a fan of Yankees. Became a US citizen in 1831. Was the first mayor of Milwaukee.

Josette (Vieau) Juneau

married Solomon Juneau. Helped mediate between Europeans and Natives due to her background.

Voyageurs

A French-Canadian adventurer and explorer who journeyed by canoe to the interior to trade with Indians for furs.

Increase Lapham

A surveyor, engineer, and scientist. He studied effigy mounds, meteorites, plants, shells, etc. He is the father of the US weather service because he urged the use of telegraphing forecasts.

Morgan Martin

He was a well-born New York Lawyer who was Juneau's land development partner. Green Bay resident but had the money to back developments in the new city. He bought half of Juneau's claim.

George Walker

Was from Virginia and claimed 160 acres of land that would be his in 1845. He was all about the good times.

Byron Kilbourn

He was a combative, ornery, and arrogant man born in CT. He was a legislator. He came to Milwaukee for development and claimed the land west of the Milwaukee River. Tries to "Isolate and Impoverish" Juneautown.

Alexander Mitchell

Born in Scotland. He managed the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company. He was the richest man in Wisconsin. From 1864-1887 he was the President of Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway.

Joe Oliver

sailed the Great Lakes as a ship's cook but came ashore to work for Juneau in 1835. Was the first African American to cast a ballot in Wisconsin's first mayoral election.

Montreal

a major Canadian city in Quebec; founded by the French in 1642. It was prominent for fur trading but it fell in 1760 during Native conflicts

St. Lawrence River

It flows in a roughly north-easterly direction, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean and forming the primary drainage outflow of the Great Lakes Basin. It traverses the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, and is part of the international boundary between Ontario, Canada, and New York

St. Ignace

place in Michigan where Marquette had a little log church

Green Bay

the metropolis of Wisconsin.

Menomonee River Valley

a U-shaped land formation along the southern bend of the Menomonee River. Abundant wild rice once grew in the marshland of the confluence and along the shores of the river. Reshaping of the valley began with the railroads built by city co-founder Byron Kilbourn to bring product from Wisconsin's farm interior to the port.

Lake Superior

The largest of the Great Lakes of North America. The lake is shared by the Canadian province of Ontario to the north, the US state of Minnesota to the west, and Wisconsin and Michigan to the south.

Lake Michigan

The third-largest of the Great Lakes; borders Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Fox River

a river in eastern Wisconsin in the Great Lakes region. It is the principal tributary of the Bay of Green Bay, and via the Bay, the largest tributary of Lake Michigan. Generally taken to get to the Wisconsin River (with a 2 mile portage)

Wisconsin River

a tributary of the Mississippi River. After portaging from the Fox River, Marquette and Joliet continued downstream 200 miles to the rivers's mouth, entering the Mississippi on June 17, 1673.

Mississippi River

A major North American river and the chief river of the United States, longest river in the U.S. Would be crucial to connect to for water transportation. Kilbourn's canal was to connect this to Lake Michigan.

Milwaukee

established in 1846. Was a boom town due to western fever in 1836.

Illinois River

Tributary of Mississippi river, source in northern Illinois, meets Mississippi in central-western Illinois on border with Missouri. This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi.

Des Plaines River

a river that flows southward for 133 miles through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It was named by early French coureurs de bois sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries, after the trees lining the banks of the river. The local Native Americans showed these early European explorers how to traverse waterways of this river watershed to travel from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River and its valley

Jacque Vieau Trading Post

smaller part of the North West Company that showed Vieau as a licensed trader and permanent resident. He then joined the American Fur Company

Solomon Juneau Trading Post

gradually, it was entrusted to Juneau from Vieau. Josette helped persuade new customers to come here.

Indian Fields

location of the effigies on the South Side; also became a very rich environment for growing corn

Milwaukee Bay

the largest bay on the west side of Lake Michigan. Presumably able to harbor 300 vessels.

Milwaukee River

The river begins in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin and flows south past Grafton to downtown Milwaukee, where it empties into Lake Michigan. Three towns were formed across the banks of the Milwaukee and Kinnickinnic rivers: Juneautown, Walker's Point, and Kilbourntown. The quarrel over the formation of a bridge across it was a key point in the merging of the three towns into the city of Milwaukee in 1846.

Kinnickinnic River

one of three primary rivers that flows into the harbor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at Lake Michigan. It is southernmost of the three rivers, flowing in a generally northeastern direction towards the harbor

Kilbourntown

land west of the Milwaukee River. Responsible for destroying the Chestnut Street Bridge

Juneautown

land east of the Milwaukee River. Responsible for destroying the Spring Street Bridge and Menomonee River Bridge

Walker's Point

land to the south that was the least developed due to issues regarding claim jumping.

Courthouse Square

now Cathedral Square; location where the courthouse and first "jail" were located

Milwaukee and Rock River Canal

Promoted by Kilbourn. Canals were favored over railroads because "water was never known to run off the track, break down, or get out of repair." 1.25 miles were dug in 1840 but never fished.

Prairie du Chien

Home of the military base Fort Crawford. Where the railroads were finished in 1857.

Alexander Mitchell Mansion

Wisconsin Club; There are extensive greenhouses and the home has its own conservatory

Straight Cut

refers to the harbor being built by army engineers who dug out the natural river mouth rather than digging through the sand bar. Eventually in 1857, another was dg north of the mouth at a narrow place in the sand bar (city paid for most)

Inner/Outer Harbor

sides of the bay in relation to Jone's Island

Jones Island

peninsula that is near the straight cut of the harbor

Kansas/Forest County

In 1913, the Federal government purchased 14,439 acres scattered across here as a reservation for the wanderers

Erie Canal

A canal between the New York cities of Albany and Buffalo, completed in 1825. The canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time, allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the North and allowed northern manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the West. Had "canal fever".

North Avenue Dam

built in 1835 for milling and factory purposes; "The factories are all built between the river and the canal. From the latter they derive their water power, and the former enables vessels of all sizes to come up and moor immediately alongside."

Chestnut Street Bridge

located on Juneau Avenue and was the catalyst to the Bridge War because it was the first to fall.

Meaning of Milwaukee

Algonquian "Good Land"; Winnebago "Stinking River"; Potawatomi "Gathering place by the water"

Shatter Zone

a broad, largely depopulated area covering much of modern-day Ontario, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio

Effigy Mounds

Ceremonial mounds built in the shape of animals or birds by native North American peoples. There were 200 or more in Milwaukee county

New France

French colony in North America governed by Samuel de Champlain. It fell to the British in 1763.

Interpreters

People who translate one language to another; were necessary for the voyageurs in order for them to understand the Natives

The Felicity

dispatched in 1779 to arrest the rebel Chief Siggenauk

The Griffin

believed to be the first ship lost on the Great Lakes after leaving Green Bay to head back to Niagra

The Cataclysmic Century

Milwaukee had a group of nine native villages in the seventeenth century. The natural resources, terrain, and geography all played important roles in Milwaukee's development. Fur trading lead to emerging dependency on European material culture which resulted in overhunting.

The French and Indian War

(1754-1763) War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won.

Fur Trade

European powers sought to capitalize on popularity of fur in Europe; involved trade with Indians. Started 20 years after Nicolet for the first to arrive in Wisconsin.

American Fur

Owning one of these was like owning a Ford dealership. Juneau was given control over this business from Vieau.

Overhunting

killing animals at a rate faster than the population can renew its numbers; beaver was overheated and ruined native way of life killing for profit instead of necessity

Treaty of Chicago

This treaty cedes Potawatomi land between Lake Michigan and Lake Winnebago. This includes the land south of Menomonee River and West of MKE. This opened up land for European settlement.

Blackhawk War

War that was fought in 1832 in the Midwestern United States. Consisted of more than 150 battles, raids, and killings between natives and European settlers. It was the last armed protest of Wisconsin Indians.

St. Peter's Church

First Catholic Church in Milwaukee; donated by Juneau and built in 1835.

Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad

originally the Milwaukee and Waukesha Roadbed started by Kilbourn. Was finished at Prairie du Chien.

Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company

Established by George Smith but managed by Alexander Mitchell. Their money was very secure. This bank is now called Chase bank.

Milwaukee Claimants Union

There was no government protection for settlers who had preempted the land sale. They could not acquire a title to the land until the auction. This allowed speculators to outbid and dispossess you. It might be legal but wasn't right because man had a moral right to keep his land. It protected rights "peacefully if can be and forcibly if must be."

Land Speculation

The practice of buying up land with the intent of selling it off in the future for a profit.

Claim Jumping

Stealing someone else's land or mining claim that often caused conflict in towns. Lead to the Milwaukee Claimants Union. Walker had a first hand experience with this and took the issue to Congress.

Sectionalism

Loyalty to one's own region of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole. Motivation behind the Bridge War.

Panic of 1837

When Jackson was president, many state banks received government money that had been withdrawn from the Bank of the U.S. These banks issued paper money and financed wild speculation, especially in federal lands. Jackson issued the Specie Circular to force the payment for federal lands with gold or silver. Many state banks collapsed as a result. A panic ensued (1837). Bank of the U.S. failed, cotton prices fell, businesses went bankrupt, and there was widespread unemployment and distress. Because Milwaukee had a wobbly foundation, inflated prices for land and goods was common. Many people left due to speculative losses. Juneau and Martin were hit the hardest; Kilbour stayed intact from other business revenues; Walker had nothing to lose.

Wheat

cash crop of Milwaukee

Plank Roads

a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Had to be repaired often due to damage by Mother Nature.

Rum Holes

This is what they called a bar. There were 1 for every 40 residents.

Cream City Bricks

Clay from the lakeshore when fired in a kiln came out yellow. At least six kilns were in operation in 1845 and the bricks were then sold in Milwaukee and around the Great Lakes region

Lake Schooners

These were ships designed specifically to sail on the Great Lakes. They were mostly three masted ships.

Bridge War of 1845

The East Siders want access to the world while the West siders want them isolated. The West siders drop their side in the water. Impacted new settlers.

Mobocracy

lawless control of public affairs by the mob or populace; rule by the masses.

Greek Revival Style

A term referring to architecture and furnishings, especially from about 1820 to about 1850, in which ancient Greek Forms and ornamental details were used in more or less free interpretations.

Milwaukee Advertiser

Started by Byron Kilbourn to promote the West Side.

Milwaukee Sentinel

Started by Solomon Juneau, this was the paper of the East Side.