In 1855 the Horicon Argus reported that the rafting business on our Rock River began. Norris & Co. were running a huge lot of logs from Horicon Lake through the dam to Janesville. Rich & Co. would be bringing a smaller amount of logs to use at Horicon. The Valley Rail Road, starting in Fond du Lac, will take the logs to the head of the lake in Chester. Mr. Rich had built a kiln to dry logs and would offer dry lumber for sale. The sides of the dam had been widened by over ten feet for safety, strength and convenience of the traveling public. Also in the paper was an interesting note. The young boys were known to fish along the river and were told, “Not to pull the slimy creatures up to fast because they might hit the ladies in their finest, crossing the dam.” The water ways were being put to use at this very time. Commerce along the river succeeded where the marsh was going to ruins.
In the 1850’s also the steamers, yachts and boats were plenty up and down the river. M. Winter launched a steamer able to accommodate 100 people and a band. It cost $4000 to build and was lent out at $1.00 person. The river at that time was called the Kekoskee River and it covered the river with daily trips for many years. The farmers used the steamer to load their produce and ship it to far reaches, including Milwaukee. (Miescke 1970) There is more info at the Horicon Historical Society. Come join us sometime.
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