History Known as forested and prairie land, the region was first home to Indigenous tribes like Menomonie, Ojibwe (Chippewa), Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), who practiced agriculture and trade. In 1836, Native American tribes formally lost title to the land when treaties were disregarded and were forcibly removed by the Federal Army. Prior to the 1830s, the area was unoccupied by settlers due to its inland location and the fact that the Fox River was not a water highway. The New England settlers only came to the area to set up fur trading posts between their new encampments and established cities like Milwaukee. Morris D. Cutler and Alonso Cutler, seeking claims for homesteads, were the first permanent white colonial settlers.
history known as forested and prairie land the region was first home to indigenous tribes like menomonie ojibwe (chippewa) potawatomi and ho-chunk (winnebago) who practiced agriculture and trade in 1836 native american tribes formally lost title to the land when treaties were disregarded and were forcibly removed by the federal army prior to the 1830s the area was unoccupied by settlers due to its inland location and the fact that the fox river was not a water highway the new england settlers only came to the area to set up fur trading posts between their new encampments and established cities like milwaukee morris d cutler and alonso cutler seeking claims for homesteads were the first permanent white colonial settlers