News: Clark County (Trouble - 1861)
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Pettingill

---------Source: Daily Argus & Democrat, Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 1861, Page 2

A Counterpart to Secession—Indian: Trouble in Northwestern Wisconsin—Clark Co. Court House Captured by the Indians

(From the Trempealeau Representative, 22nd inst.)

There is considerable excitement just now existing in the. Black. River Pinery on account of difficulties with-the Indians. It appears that a trader-by the name of Pettingill, shot an Indian dead in the streets of Neillsville." The Indians in the neighborhood became highly excited, and marched into town, took possession of the court house, hoisted the American flag, and held a grand council, to which they invited the whites of Neillsville. They demanded the surrender of the murderer, either to be tried by the laws or give over to "Indian justice". Whiskey was the original cause of the trouble.