- Police/Fire - Janesville Sesquicentennial
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- Land speculators numerous in 1800s
- Speculation in land claims in this part of the state was
widespread and many early settlers were
- "taken in" by early comers who merely established
claims to market to others for what they could get.
- A plow mark around an 80-acre plot was considered enough
evidence to establish title to a claim.
- Purchases of claims of this sort were fictitious but were
sometimes carried through by the purchasers nevertheless.
- The speculation did not succeed well after the public land
sale in 1839. At Jefferson Prairie, a
- public meeting was held prior to the sale, and arrangements
made between the settlers to protect each other should efforts
be made to overbid them. Allotment of available land was agreed
upon, and bidders were sent to Milwaukee where the sale was held
to handle the matter.
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