HISTORIES:  "The Red Men" of Barron, Barron County, WI

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Linda Mott <bikelady@worldnet.att.net>  24 June 2000	
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This article, not politically correct in today's world, shows the attitude 
of early European settlers towards the Native Americans that lived and 
thrived in Barron County. I apologize for the sentiments of my ancestors 
in a land that was not even theirs.

                                 The Red Men

Long before Columbus discovered America we are quite sure what is now 
Wisconsin and Barron County was the home of many thousands of Indians. 
Hundred of lakes provided excellent fishing and vast areas of forest lands 
provided the best hunting. For the Indians' way of life in Wisconsin had a 
great deal to offer.

The first Indians to live in Barron County were probably the Mound 
Builders. Some scholars believe they were immediate ancestors of the Dakota 
or Sioux Indians. Mounds may still be seen in Chetek, Rice Lake and Cedar 
Lake areas.

Before the white man came the Sioux and Chippewa tribes had fought many 
savage battles along the Red Cedar River and on the shores of Prairie Lake 
for possession of Barron County. The Chippewa Indians after much warfare 
finally had their headquarters south of Lake Superior while their bitter 
enemies, the Sioux, had their headquarters in the Mille Lacs region of 
Northern Minnesota.

The two commodities, found in Barron County, which were of great value to 
the Indian were wild rice and pipe stone.

For many years after white men came to Barron County Indians were tolerated. 
There was some intermarriage between white men and Indian women. In 
lumbering days there was a large village near Almena. It was one of the 
last villages to die out.

Indians became somewhat of a nuisance in time by begging and pilfering. 
When they learned to drink the white man's whiskey they even became a 
menace and committed some murders among their own members and threatened 
some whites.

On January 1, 1878 the county board requested secretary of the Interior, 
Carl Schurz, to remove the Indians from Barron County to a reservation. 
Later most of them were moved to Courte Orilles reservation.

Many white Frenchmen from Canada visited Barron County as explorers, fur 
traders and missionaries long before 1860. These are familiar names; 
Radisson, Grosseilliers, Alloues, Marquette, Joliet, Perrot and Daniel du 
Luth.

--From the Souvenir Historical Album of the Barron Centennial-1960
(used by permission)