p. 887

-748-

-887-

1851.

We found work to do here and shall stay in this neighborhood tomorrow. Tomorrow night we shall probably be no farther than Hartford. We have to go south 2 1/2 miles towards Hartland before we go north. We hear of a hill so very high that Lake Michigan, it is said, can be seen from the top of it; we will be there in the afternoon tomorrow; so be very particular with the observations for I wish to decide the question whether this can be done.***

Your affectionate husband,

I.A. Lapham.

Ann M. Lapham.

Oct. 8. Lapham's Peak," as seen from the south (Sketch No. 54). This very prominent and remarkable peak is situated on Sec. 11 T. 9 R. 18, being the town of Erin, the southwest town of Washington county. It is made up of drift gravel and boulders; no evidence of rock in situ could be found.

There are several other elevations in the vicinity but this one towers above them all and is much more acute at the apex. From its summit the horizon is not interrupted by these inferior hills. When first seen, as represented above, it presented many resemblances to the Blue Mounds in the western part of Dane county, though on a smaller scale.

On the summit we found three artificial mounds. The middle and largest one proved to be a mound of stone covered about three feet with rich black mould [mold], such as must have been brought up from the base of the hill. This could only have been done by means of patient and continued labor. While the work of opening these mounds was progressing I took several observations with the barometer for altitude.