OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN

May 24, 1867

 

            CURIOUS HISTORY OF A STATE – The territory now known as Wisconsin was claimed by France, on the ground of discovery by its missionaries and travelers in 1670, who governed it until they ceded it to Great Britain, 1763.  It was held by the British nation until 1783, when it was ceded to the United States.  It was claimed by Virginia, for one year, when she ceded all her possessions North West of the Ohio, to the United States.   Wisconsin was then thrown under the territorial government of Ohio, by the ordinance of 1787.  On the 4^th of July 1800, Indian Territory was organized, and Wisconsin placed under its jurisdiction, where it remained until 1809, when Illinois Territory was organized, and it was attached to that territory until April 18^th, 1818, when Illinois became a state.  It was then attached to the Territory of Michigan, until organized as the Territory of Wisconsin, July 4^th, 1836.

            So that Wisconsin was governed by the King of France ninety-three years; by the King of Great Britain twenty years; by the State of Virginia one year; by the Territory of Ohio sixteen years; by Indian Territory nine years; and by Michigan Territory eighteen years.  She continued a territory of the United States nearly twelve years, when on the 18^th of March, 1848, she became the thirtieth State of the Union.