HOLAND, HJALMAR R., _History of Door County, Wisconsin. The
County Beautiful._ (Two volumes, 459, 480, $21, Chicago,
1917.)
This is a good example of the type of county subscription history
which flourishes in the Middle West. The author had at his disposal an
unusually attractive storehouse of material from which to construct
his narrative; the field was a virgin one, no history of Door County
having ever been written before; the writer is a man of university
education, a long-time resident of the county, and an enthusiast on
the subject of local history. With such conditions prevailing it is
not surprising that the work which has resulted should constitute a
good example of the type to which it belongs.
The second volume of the two is filled with the usual collection of
commercial biographies, for which the promoters of the work are
responsible rather than the author of the history. Volume one, in
which alone his name appears on the title-page, contains the history
of the county which gives title to the work. It comprises fifty
chapters and an appendix. The first nine chapters deal with the usual
preliminary topics pertaining to geography, discovery and exploration,
the Indians, and the French period. It is impracticable to classify
the remaining forty-one chapters further than to note that they cover,
along with many other subjects, sketches of the several towns of the
county, and of the more important types of social and industrial
activity of its people. Thus there are chapters on schools, banking,
political organizations, churches, highways, newspapers, and
industries. More unusual than these are those on lighthouses,
Peninsula State Park, Rock, Chambers, and Washington islands, and the
Sturgeon Bay Canal. Interspersed are several chapters (such as “A Man
of Iron: a Tale of Death’s Door,” “David Kennison,” “The Sage of
Shivering Sands”) which seem either to have no logical place in the
book or to be given a prominence disproportionate to their importance.
There is little perceptible logic about the order of arrangement of
these many chapters, and one does not gain, from a reading of the
book, any clear impression of the progressive unfolding of the
county’s history and development.
The author possesses an unusual command of the English language,
notwithstanding his birth on foreign soil, and the volume is
entertainingly written. Both the history itself, and the style of the
narrative would have been improved, however, if greater restraint had
been imposed by the author. Journalistic throughout, at its best the
style of the narrative is fascinating; at the opposite extreme it is
oftentimes exuberant as to style and of questionable taste as to
content.
* * * * *
The January, 1918, number of the _Wisconsin Archeologist_ contains a
survey of the Indian remains in Door County, made by J. P. Schumacher
of Green Bay. The survey shows that these consist chiefly of village
and camp sites and burial places, comparatively few mounds having been
found in the county. The author states that several alleged mounds
have proved upon investigation to be either grass-grown windfalls or
sand dunes. One of the most valuable parts of the bulletin is the
section devoted to place names in Door County. In preparing this, the
author was assisted by Dr. Alphonse Gerend, of Cato.
* * * * *
Two timely military articles appear in the January, 1918, number of
the _Iowa Journal of History and Politics_. Ivan L. Pollock concludes
his paper on “State Finances During the Civil War,” and Cyril B. Upham
has an especially interesting article on “Arms and Equipment for the
Iowa Troops in the Civil War.” A reprint of the early reports by
Captain W. Bowling Guion and Lieutenant John C. Fremont in 1841
concerning the Des Moines River is included in this issue.
* * * * *
The State Historical Society of Iowa has published a volume entitled
_Marches of the Dragoons in the Mississippi Valley_, by Louis Pelzer.
It describes the marches, campaigns, and military activities of the
First Regiment of the United States Dragoons between the years 1833
and 1850. The services of this military unit during the period
mentioned consisted of frontier defense work, garrison duty, marches,
exploring expeditions, and enforcement of federal laws. For those who
are interested in the army life and activities on our extensive
frontier during the second quarter of the nineteenth century, the book
has more than a local value.
* * * * *
Mr. Charles Freeman, of Menomonie, a member of the State Historical
Society, is the author of an extended article on “Early Menomonie, Its
Physical Appearance, Its Enterprises and Its Aims,” published in the
_Dunn County News_, January 10, 1918.
* * * * *
During the early winter John Hicks of Oshkosh was publishing in his
paper, the Oshkosh _Northwestern_, a narrative of his life under the
caption “Fifty Years of Oshkosh--A Retrospect.” The last installment
told interestingly of his diplomatic career in South America. At this
point death suddenly interrupted the narration; the story will forever
remain unfinished.
* * * * *
In the Phillips _Bee_ of March 7, 1918, appeared a long article by
John E. Herron entitled, “The Early Days of Phillips.”
* * * * *
Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand of Batavia, Illinois, is the author of a
lengthy series of articles in the Port Washington _Star_ under the
general title “Parental Stories of Pioneer Times.”
* * * * *
A valuable series of articles on the “Development of Farming in Sauk
County” was begun by William Toole, the “pansy king,” with the issue
for February, 1917, of the _Sauk County Farmer_. In all a dozen or
more monthly installments appeared, running from February, 1917, into
the current year.
* * * * *
John S. Roeseler, of Superior, a life member of the State Historical
Society, is the author of “Early Days in the Town of Lomira,”
currently published in a large number of installments in the Lomira
_Review_. Aside from its present interest to the community itself, the
general historian of Wisconsin cannot fail to find such a detailed
narrative as this of great value to him in his larger task of writing
the history of the state as a whole.
* * * * *
Those of our readers who are interested in the publications of our
Society dealing with the Lewis and Clark expedition will find in the
January number of the _Missouri Historical Review_ an article
describing the great system of transportation that developed in later
years along the route followed by these early explorers. The article
is by Professor H. A. Trexler, of the University of Montana, and is
entitled, “Missouri-Montana Highways.” A second article, dealing with
the travel and commerce on the Overland Trail, is promised for a later
number.
* * * * *
The January, 1918, number of the _Michigan History Magazine_ contains
a paper by Edward G. Holden on “Carl Schurz in Michigan,” the author
having been associated with Schurz on the Detroit _Post_ during the
sixties. Other articles in this issue are: “Indian Legends of Northern
Michigan,” by John C. Wright; “History of the Equal Suffrage Movement
in Michigan,” by Karolena M. Fox; “Coming of the Italians to Detroit,”
by Rev. John C. Visman; “Father Marquette at Michilimackinac,” by
Edwin O. Wood; “Congregationalism as a Factor in the Making of
Michigan,” by Rev. John P. Sanderson; “Historical Sketch of the
University of Detroit,” by Pres. William T. Doran; and “The Factional
Character of Early Michigan Politics,” by Floyd B. Streeter.
* * * * *
A worthy example of collecting and compiling history while it is in
the making is the work that is now being done by Floyd C. Shoemaker,
editor of the _Missouri Historical Review_. Two stimulating articles
have recently appeared in the _Review_, one in September, 1917, the
other in January, 1918, entitled “Missouri and the War.” The part
played by the citizens of that commonwealth, the contributions made by
the state both in men and in resources, the recognition for
distinguished services won by Missouri men in the service, are being
carefully collected up to the very latest report. Before filing these
records away in the archives for the use of students of a later
generation, the editor is utilizing them to give the readers of the
_Review_ a survey of the current activities of their state in the war.
* * * * *
The Nebraska State Historical Society began publication in February of
a monthly news sheet entitled _Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer
Days_. The editor states his aim to be to make the new publication “a
piece of popular literature--as distinguished from academic.” A
practical newspaper worker of long years’ experience, he should easily
succeed in this endeavor. Judging from the indications afforded by the
first issue, a thing really new under the sun has at last been
produced--a history journal which is similar both in typography and in
content to the ordinary newspaper. From another point of view the new
journal may be described as a somewhat glorified press bulletin,
belonging to a type with which, in humbler guise, the world has long
been familiar.
* * * * *
The second number of the _Louisiana Historical Quarterly_, bearing the
date September 14, 1917, was distributed in March. Since the first
number was issued January 8, 1917, the _Quarterly_ is hardly living up
to the promise implied in its title. This is a matter for genuine
regret, since Louisiana constitutes one of the richest fields of
historical exploitation in America, one well worthy of vigorous
cultivation at the hands of the local historical society. Aside from a
brief paper on Lafayette’s visit to New Orleans, the issue of the
_Quarterly_ now at hand is devoted to two interesting items: the first
is a valuable bibliography of the principal works published on
Louisiana and Florida from their discovery until 1855, prepared by A.
L. Boimare, and hitherto unpublished; the second, is a filial and
somewhat passionate attempt at rehabilitating the reputation of
General James Wilkinson, made by his great-grandson, of the same name.
* * * * *
The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania has launched a new
quarterly publication entitled The _Western Pennsylvania Historical
Magazine_, volume I, number 1, appearing in January, 1918. The initial
number contains the following articles: “Rev. John Taylor, The First
Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Pittsburgh and His Commonplace
Book,” by Charles W. Dahlinger; “The Boatman’s Horn” (a poem), by
General William O. Butler; “The Trial of Mamachteaga, a Delaware
Indian, The First Person Convicted of Murder West of the Alleghany
Mountains, and Hanged for His Crime,” by Judge Hugh Henry
Brackenridge; “Diary of a Young Oil Speculator”; and an account of the
eleventh annual meeting of the Ohio Valley Historical Association. One
section of the magazine is devoted to notes and queries.