Settling the Wisconsin Territory, as told by Vernon Tichenor

Maggie Lawler

Professor Coronado

English 226

December 2, 2014

Settling the Wisconsin Territory, as told by Vernon Tichenor

            The written word not only offers its readers a glimpse into the past, but it helps people communicate in the present, too. In an era where technology has taken over, it is easy to forget that America has not always had internet and cell towers. Before the age of iPhones and laptops, or even rotary phones, people communicated with paper and ink. It was up to actual mail to keep people in touch, and not email. Letters took weeks to be delivered, and there was no option for overnight shipping. That was the past, though, so what is so significant about a yellow-edged letter from 1839? Enter Vernon Tichenor. Vernon, like many others during the early 1800s, left his home out east in search of new opportunity in the midwest. Leaving behind a wife and son, Vernon made the long journey to the land known as the Wisconsin territory. This journey, taking place in 1839, happened before Wisconsin gained statehood in 1848. Why would this letter deserve a shelf in the libraries of American history and literature? Well, because it truly is just that, American history. Vernon offers us a glimpse into the past, a past that’s roughly 175 years old now. With his rich description of the land and the wildlife that inhabited the Wisconsin territory in one letter specifically (he wrote a series of letters to his wife), his writing depicts a time when settlers were still expanding and still exploring. Vernon was literally a part of history, helping to colonize and pioneer unsettled territory. His letter shows what pioneering Wisconsin was like for settlers, and that in itself deserves to be studied by lovers of Wisconsin and historians alike.

            Not much is known about Vernon Tichenor other than that he was born in 1815 and passed away in 1892 (Wisconsin Historical Society). His biographical records indicate that he passed away in Waukesha, which would lead one to believe that he did end up settling and living out the rest of his long life in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Historical Society). That would also mean that Vernon was there when Wisconsin went from territory to state. This specific letter, just one of many, gives only one depiction of the founding of Wisconsin. His perspective is fresh and personal, instead of scientific. He is writing to keep in touch with a loved one, and not to document history. That’s what makes his letter so meaningful. It is significant in history because it does not try to be history. This letter is just one man’s opinion about a piece of land. His story is only one tale out of thousands, but unfortunately we don’t have letters from every single person’s journey. We do have Vernon’s letters, though, and what they share with us is definitely worth reading over and considering for publication. If someone were to read just this one letter from Vernon, they would see that his entire series of letters to Charlotte (his wife) deserves to be published. Not only is it historical, but it is intimate, and offers insight into a history that so many people overlook. Vernon depicts his travels to the territories, the wildlife he encounters, and how land was purchased, and that’s just in one letter. Because the letters are so personal, they are refreshing. They don’t read like most historical documents. They are vibrant and full of a rich history that deserves to be shared.

            Vernon tells Charlotte in his letter that at the time he was writing his last letter, he had been in Elgin, Illinois, and was starting towards Chicago (Tichenor). He briefly expresses his dislike for the state, saying he caught a sickness when he was there and, had he stayed much longer, he would have probably died. He takes the steamboat to Milwaukee and settles there for a while. The town of Milwaukee was originally settled in 1835, along with Racine, Kenosha, and Janesville (Dopp 597). Vernon’s letter was written in 1839 (Tichenor). Though the land was not all-together settled just yet, there were 35 post routes in the territory during the year of 1837 (Dopp 597). By June of 1838, 80 post offices had appeared in Wisconsin east of the Mississippi (Dopp 597).

            The Wisconsin Land District which opened in October of 1834 contained 2,245,942 acres (Smith 113). In 1839 alone, 650,722.82 acres of land were sold, valuing $819,909.90 (Dopp 590). When deciding upon the location of their homes, immigrants had to consider a number of factors. Often times their decision was based upon proximity to 1) a navigable stream or highway, 2) a market, 3) the site of a projected town, 4) neighbors, or 5) water and wood supply (Dopp 590). All of these factors were taken into consideration for different reasons. Roads and waterways were important not only for travel, but for the distribution of agriculture (Dopp 590). To some, the location of the land was more important than the quality of the land. With hopes that their land would be the site of a future town, it was possible that they would disregard quality in order to put their stakes on being in a successful area (Dopp 593-594).

            Vernon describes his own land by saying, “Probably no new country ever afforded as many facilities for the immigrant — both as to settlement and getting in a condition for living” (Tichenor).  He writes that aside from his father, who has never been content anywhere, everyone is quite happy in the territory. Continuing, he says, “he [his father] has now got a deed of his land from government. — our place is as good and pleasant a place as there is in this or any other country” (Tichenor). Vernon’s letter helps us understand why people were leaving the east and moving to the midwest. Because of these opportunities for farmers and settlers, the Wisconsin territory was desirable. Vernon’s letter also gives historical fact some real-world context. It is one thing to give statistics and numbers about the territories, but hearing actual depictions of the settling makes it all seem much more real. We know that people had to settle Wisconsin, otherwise it would never have become a state. Vernon’s letter offers actual insight and a first-hand account of what it was like to not only travel to the territory, but obtain land there, too.

            In his letter, he describes the Wisconsin territory to Charlotte as being “healthy” and does not have enough praise to give the land. Vernon writes, “It surpasses in beauty and fertility anything you ever saw and also in mildness of climate…This country is as yet very new. Enough so to satisfy the most romantic immigrant or settler” (Tichenor). He goes on to say that unless he receives a very good offer to work in the business district of Illinois, “sickly as it is,” he will remain in the Wisconsin territory where he is in good spirits (Tichenor). In fact, he is so stricken by the territory that he writes to Charlotte saying he does not wish to go east again, only to bring her back to Wisconsin with him. He writes, “I am sorry that I did not bring you out with me — it would have been the best thing I could do. Then we would no sooner have settled down in some snug little home” (Tichenor).

            Other settlers that have observed the Wisconsin territory echoed Vernon’s sentiments. William Rudolph Smith, who traveled from Pennsylvania to the territory, wrote Observations on the Wisconsin Territories and shared similar statements in his own work. Smith wrote “with regard to Wisconsin…fancy must fail in imagining a more lovely country” (3). He goes on to describe the territory as having rich, productive soil and earth with veins of lead, copper, and iron (3-4). Observations on the Wisconsin Territories stemmed from the writer’s short travels in Wisconsin during the summer of 1837 (iii). The compilation of notes had been extracted from letters that the author wrote to his brother during that summer. He writes in his preliminary that his published work is “the result of personal views,” and that it was the desire of a few friends that convinced him to pursue publication (iii-iv).

            Though there are similarities between Observations and Vernon’s letters, such as the fact that they are both personal letters written by males to their loved ones, there are also note-worthy differences. There is little shared about William Rudolph Smith’s backstory in the text, aside from what we learn in his preliminary about the notes being derived from letters to his brother. Vernon’s letters are truly special because they encompass so much more than one summer’s experiences. If the historical information documented about Vernon is correct, than he spent much of his life in the Wisconsin territories, and later the state of Wisconsin. His letters do not merely illustrate one summer’s findings, but are a true representation of the significance that came with settling the midwest. Vernon was forced to leave his wife and son in the hopes of finding them a better life, showing that his motivation clearly stems from his family. His observations come from a more personal place because we understand the context of his letters. Though Smith was also writing letters to his loved ones, the observations are written in a way that loses some of its personal touch. If one were to just read his observations without reading the preliminary first, they would have no idea that his notes were derived from letters. Vernon’s letter stands out because he is just one man working towards a better life for his family, something very reminiscent of early America.

            Vernon’s letter expresses several other interests that make it important historically, like his interests in farming. He writes about the territories “I feel more and more inclined to farm it” (Tichenor). Smith’s observations of the territory agree with Vernon’s desires to farm. In his journal, Smith writes “I believe from all that I have seen, that there is not to be found ten acres in any one hundred that is not fit for cultivation or for the farmer’s use” (5). At one point Smith even compares the territory to Pennsylvania, saying it will be just as prosperous (5). These insights are significant because they offer first impressions of the Wisconsin territory. Vernon’s immediate impulse upon settling the land is that it would be great land for farming. Because of observations like this, it is easier to understand the appeal that the Wisconsin territories had on settlers.

            After Vernon’s depiction of the land, he moves to the wildlife that inhabits the Wisconsin territory. He writes, “For a week or two I was quite unwell — but so that I went out into the woods & shot prairie hens — partridges, squirrels, & raccoons — & ducks along the river, more than our folks could eat. — The game here is most excellent eating” (Tichenor). Under the assumption that Vernon did not read Smith’s observations (published in 1838) prior to his letters to Charlotte only one year later in 1839, it’s fascinating how many similarities the two men share in their writing. Of the prairie hen, Smith calls it an excellent bird, saying “Their flesh is delicious, juicy and fat; they fly heavily on the prairies and alight generally at a short distance, consequently they are easily bagged by the sportsman” (24). Again, these observations offer insight into the minds of the first settlers of the Wisconsin territory. Their discoveries play a significant role in the founding of the state, and their opinions illustrate the feelings settlers had when pioneering the land.

            Yet another shared topic is that of the wolves that inhabited the Wisconsin territory. Vernon described them to his wife by saying “Wolves are very plenty and bold…at night they often come within a few nods of our door and howl” (Tichenor). Vernon shares that on occasion he has been forced to sleep on the open prairie. He said that at night, “sometimes the wolves would run so close to us that we could hear their tread distinctly” (Tichenor). In Smith’s documentation, he writes about two separate types of wolves that live in the territory, the grey wolf and the prairie wolf. He calls them “destructive on game and on the stock of the farmer” (24). These are two more examples of shared observations that occurred between different settlers. It is also significant to note that similar observations are still being made throughout the span of a few years. What Smith discovers in 1837 is still being experienced by Vernon two years later.

            Comparisons between the two works are made in an attempt to showcase the importance of Vernon’s letter. Smith’s work has been published, and Vernon’s writing shares a lot of similarities. If anything, Vernon’s letters are deserving of publication because they offer a more familial side to the Wisconsin territories that hasn’t been explored as thoroughly yet. Because of this, Vernon’s writing belongs in the canon of American literature. Writing comes in many different contexts, and the aspect of family is an important one when considering early American writing. Smith’s Observations are just that, observations. Vernon’s letter, however, have one clear motive, the betterment of his family’s future.

            These are just a few of the topics Vernon mentions in this one letter to his wife. This particular document alone chose to emphasize his opinions on the land and the wildlife. Vernon’s letter belongs in the canon of early American literature because that’s exactly what it is, early American literature. Though the writing doesn’t come in the form of a short story or poetry, it does depict the life of an early American settler. Between his depictions of the purchasing of land, his observations on farming, and his comments on the wildlife, Vernon’s experiences and observations offer a real, true glimpse into the mind of someone settling a new territory. His writing is honest and his motives are clear; he is traveling to the Wisconsin territories in pursuit of a place for his wife and son to call home. Because of intimate details like this, Vernon’s letter offers an accurate, educational representation of the struggles and successes that pioneers faced when they traveled to new lands. These personal depictions would fit nicely alongside more formally written, historical observations of the time period. While those documents offer incredible knowledge of the territories, they lack a more personal appreciation. Vernon’s writing offers exactly what’s missing.

Works Cited

Dopp, Mary. “Geographical Influences in the Development of Wisconsin.”                         American Geographical Society. 45.8 (1913): 585-609. Print.

Smith, William Rudolph. Observations on the Wisconsin Territory. New York: Arno           Press, 1975. Print.

Tichenor, Vernon. Letter to Charlotte. 1839. Archives and Area Research Center,                 Kenosha. Print.

Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin Genealogy Index: Birth Record Entry for              Racine County, Reel No. 0248, Record No. 002578; viewed online at                          http://www.wisconsinhistory.org on 13 Nov 2014.

A copy of Vernon’s letter: