Seventy-two years' recollections of Wisconsin

              2^2 Wisconsin Historical Collections [voLiii
there was then no garrison there, nor had the fo-rt been kept in repair since its abandonment by Lieut. Gorrell, three years previously; that a few families lived in the foaii; and opposite to it, on the eastern side of the river, there wer'ei a few French settlers, who cultivated the land, and appeared to live comfort¬ ably. Carver was plainly a man of observation and foresight, for he remarks: "To what power or authority this new world will become dependent, after it has risen from its present uncul¬ tivated stiate, time alone can discover. But as the seat of em¬ pire, from time immemorial, has been gradually progressive toward the West, there is no doubt but that, at some future period, mighty kingdoms will emerge from, these wildernesses, and stately palaces and solemn temples, with gilded spires reaching the skies, supplant the Indian huts, whose only decora¬ tions are the barbarous trophies of their vanquished enemies.'^ What was almost prophecy to Carver, fourteen years before my birth, I have lived to see literally fulfilled.
At my earliest recollection, say about 1785, or a little before, we still find the settlement small, containing only seven families, and fifty-six souls; with two trading establishmients, my father's, and Marehand's as the agent of a Mackinaw house. Eeaume, as we have seen, had a small store, which had only a short¬ lived existence. The Mackinaw establishment, after three years' operations, was at length purchased out, about 1788, by my father; and about 1794, the trading house of O^gilvie, Gillaspie & Co., was established, which three years after gave pla,ce to Jacob Franks', of which, after a career of many years, John Lawe became the proprietor. After my father's death, in 1795, my mother continued the store a couple of years, when my brother Pierre and myself took it in charge, and continued the business some twenty-eight years, and until my brother's death. These were all the stores at Green Bay prior to the war of 1812. I can say but little of the early mechanics of Green Bay.