History of Door County, Wisconsin, The County Beautiful

              HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY 395
to be found. A general alarm was sounded and scores of men turned out to search the woods and the fields thoroughly. Nothing was ever found of the child, how¬ ever, only some big fresh bear tracks leading into the swamp.
There is some doubt as to the origin of Egg Harbor's unusual name. In April, 1862, Hon. Henry S. Baird of Green Bay contributed the following article to the Door County Advocate for the purpose of throwing light on the origin of this name.    Mr. Baird writes as follows:
"In looking over the list of towns in Door County, I observe that one of them is named *Egg Harbor.' This name calls to mind an incident which occurred many years since—before Wisconsin had a habitation, or name—and from which event, 'Egg Harbor,' undoubtedly received its appellation. At all events, the relation to the circumstance alluded to, may be of interest to the inhabitants of that part of the state, as a reminiscence of the 'early times' in Wisconsin, and exhibits the contrast between the facilities and mode of travel in the 'fast days' of the world's progress and the slow and primitive locomotion of the days of yore. At the period I allude to, *Green Bay Settlement' was the oldest of two places—then—the only white settlements in the limits of Wisconsin. The only highways, then existing, were the lakes and rivers; and upon those the journeys, or rather voyages of the travelers, were made. The communication between Green Bay and Mackinac, Detroit, and the lower lakes, was principally by sail vessels for at that time there was but one (possibly two) steamers on the lakes, and their visits to Green Bay were 'few and far between'; perhaps once or twice a year. The travel on the rivers was by Mackinac boats or bateaux, and bark canoes and very frequently these bateaux and canoes made voyages to and from Green Bay from Mackinac and other places, even Montreal. This was done by coasting along the eastern shore of Green Bay, to its riiouth, making—in the lan¬ guage of the voyageur—'Traverse' of the bay, and thence coasting along the north shore of Lake Michigan, and through the 'straits' to the Island of Mackinac. In making the voyage, the traveler was obliged to lay in a sufficient quantity of the 'creature comforts,' to serve himi to the end of his journey; for there were then neither 'hotels or taverns'—and no inhabitants save the original owners and occu¬ pants of the country.
"In the summer of the year 1825 Mr. Rolette, then a very prominent and extensive Indian trader, arrived at Green Bay, from the Mississippi, with three or four large Mackinac boats, on his annual voyage to Mackinac, with the returns from his year's trade. There being at that time no vessel at Green Bay, Mr. Rolette kindly offered a passage on his own boat to Mr. and Mrs. Baird, then 'young folks' who resided at the bay and were anxious of visiting Mackinac. On a fine morning in June, the fleet left the Fox River and proceeded along the east shore of Green Bay, being well supplied with good tents, large and copious 'mess baskets,' well stored with provisions of all kinds, especially a large quantity of eggs. On the second day at noon the order was given by the 'Commodore' (Mr. Rolette) to go ashore for dinner. The boats were then abreast of 'Egg Harbor,' until then, without a name. On board the 'Commodore's' boat, there were besides himself, Mr. and Mrs. Baird and nine Canadian boatmen, or voyageurs, as they were styled. On another of the boats were two young men, clerks, in the employ of Mr. Rolette—one of whom was a Mr. Kinzie—now of Chicago and a like num¬ ber of boatmen.    It was the etiquette on those voyages, where there were several