Fox Cities
The Fox Cities began over five hundred years ago when sixteen hundred fur traders invaded the Indian tribes known as the Dakota, Outagamie, Menominee, and Iroquois. For hundreds of years the tribes had used the productive land to hunt birds, harvest food from the rich soil, and use the treacherous rivers for transportation (Kort, p. 13-14).
The Menominee and Outagamie tribes were known to have great pride in their nation. The Menominee tribe, which means 'wild oat eaters'(Kort, p. 15), flourished on the Menominee River and harvested wild rice. To the white fur traders, the Menominee tribe was very dependable for food and loyal for protection. The Outagamie tribe was aggressive, cunning, and determined to drive the foreigners out of the Fox Valley. Outagamie means 'dwellers on the other shore'(Kort, p. 15) and grew to be the restless of all the tribes. The Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Winnebago War of 1827 brought great tension between the white people and the Indian tribes. As the years went on, the white people intruded the Winnebago land of the Indians causing great arguments. The chief of the Winnebago tribe, Red Bird, set an attack against the white settlers. Frightened by the Indians, the people turned to Governor Cass to arrange an army. As white men gathered from all over the Fox River, the Indians decided to make a truce with the white people. Dressed in white elk skin, Red Bird led his tribe to the soldiers carrying the pipe of peace. He was captured by the soldiers and imprisoned and later died of old age. Red Bird's spirit is still in the heart of the Winnebago land where a monument was placed in High Cliff State Park in his memory (Kort, p. 30-33).
Known for its natural beauty and water power, Appleton was first developed from the land of Grand Chute and grew around the Lawrence Institute. In 1835, Hippolyte Grignon built the White Heron off the banks of the Fox River in the land of Grand...
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