George P. Delaplaine. 
523 
His coming to reside at Madison in 1838 was only one year 
after the first settlers had arrived, and at his death, April 29, 
1896, he had outlived all but one of those who had made their 
homes there before him. In 1837 he had seen the Madison 
pioneers start from Milwaukee. Still earlier, in 1835, he had 
been a rodman under Capt. G-arret Vliet, United States 
surveyor in that region, until thrown out of business by an 
order from Washington suspending the work. Then, with one 
Joseph Green from Rutland, Vt., a schoolmate of the present 
writer, he roved about the unknown country in quest of mill- 
sites. In October, 1836, these prospectors came to Madison 
where they saw Fourth Lake ridge covered with Winnebagoes 
who were gathering in a harvest of fish for winter — the braves 
spearing fish, the squaws spreading the captures to dry on 
frames, children bringing up the scaly store, and pappooses 
hanging up near by. The Indian summer was at its height and 
the scene fascinated Delaplaine with a first love which he never 
forgot. His companion and he were, however, afraid to lodge 
among the fishers, and fled as far as possible before nightfall. 
Their fear was of losing at least their single pony. This inci¬ 
dent was related to the writer by Mr. Delaplaine nearly forty 
years ago. 
Mr. Delaplaine served the first three Wisconsin governors as 
private secretary. He is described in 1846 by General Hobart, 
who was then in the territorial council, as “ the life and soul 
of Governor Dodge’s office. If there was anything to be looked 
up or any information to be secured he was the man we went to. 
He was withal the wittiest man in the State in those times and 
his wit was of a refined nature. ” Another councilman says, 
" His fund of anecdote has never been equalled in my experi¬ 
ence. ” 
For many years our associate held offices in the State militia. 
In the civil war he became engineer-in-chief with the rank of 
brigadier general, and did efficient service in making troops 
ready to take the field. As Park commissioner he was largely 
instrumental in getting trees planted alongside Madison’s 
streets, indeed, many of those earliest planted he had set out 
with his own hands. 
