USA > Wisconsin > Door County > History of Door county, Wisconsin, together with biographies of nearly seven hundred families, and mention of 4,000 persons > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
DOOR COUNTY
WISCONSIN,
TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPIMES OF NEARLY
SEVEN HUNDRED FAMILIES, AND IENTION OF 4,000 PERSONS
BY CHAS. I. MARTIN,
STURGEON BAY, WIS. EXPOSITOR JOB PRINT.
F587 . D7M3
686
No F587.17M3 C
TECE TR
STEES
PUBLIC LIBRARY
LVX
OMNIVM
CIVIVM
ADESSL J
OF THE CITY OF
BOSTON 1852 . 1878
HISTORY
A 4376,117 OF
DOOR COUNTY,
WISCONSIN, 0
.
TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHIES OF NEARLY
SEVEN HUNDRED FAMILIES,
AND MENTION OF 4,000 PERSONS.
BY CHAS. I. MARTIN.
STURGEON BAY, WIS: EXPOSITOR JOB PRINT. 1881.
* F587 .57M3
408116
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SKETCH OF WISCONSIN.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Territorial Government.
I State Governors from 1848 to '78 ... 2, 3
Territorial Gov's from :836 to '48 __ 1, 2 | Historical Sketch -3, 4
DOOR COUNTY.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Boundary, etc.
-4, 5
12
County organization
17, 18, 19
12
Death's Door.
19, 20
13
A Mystery
-5,6
13
The First White Settler
6, 7, 8, 9
REVIEW OF COUNTY
9
Fruits 13,
14
Roads
9
Sheep
14
The log house
IO
Lumbering
.10, 11, 12
Manufactures
12
Town Organization-Origin of Name.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Ist Washington
21
8th Nasewaupee. 68
2d Otumba (Sturgeon Bay)
26
9th Sevastopol
72
3d Forestville
46
roth Egg Harbor 77
4th Gibraltar
51
IIth Bailey's Harbor
8I
5th Brussels
56
12th Gardner 86
6th Liberty Grove
63|13th Union. 90
7th Clay Banks
65|14th Jacksonport
94
Concerning Chamber's Island Township, see page 56 and 100}2.
Letter Writters.
PAGE.
PAGE.
H. N. Mc Cleary
16, 17
N. H. Rockwell 47
H. D. Miner
22
H. P. Jacobs 52
Jesse Miner (poem)
22, 23
R. M. Wright. -54, 55
A. Thompson
H. B. Stephenson 73,74, 75
D. A. Reed 31, 32
O. P. Graham -77, 78
L. R. McLachlan
33 M. E. Lyman. -79, 80
Jesse Kimber .34, 35
Soloman Beery 82, 83, 84, 131
Joseph Harris, Sr 37, 38 |J. E. Thorp. 94, 95, 96
Improvements, Reminiscences, Etc.
PAGE. PAGE.
The Canal .116, 117, 118, 119, 120 The Boys in Blue 100, 10I
The hard winter .97, 68, 99 Great Fire of 1871 .... IOI, '2,'3, '4,'5
The cold winter -99, 100, 10072 |The Sunken Island 105, 106
Maple sugar 14, 15
Fishing.
15, 16
Religious
Crops I3
Water
9
Pork raising
14
Railroads
Mails, express, etc
School facilities.
III
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Bertholf Mystery .106, 107, 108 Amusements
.115, 116
The Press
108, 109, 110
Uncolored facts .120, 12I
The Ferry
IIO, III
Summary 128, 129
County Seat ..
III, 112
Final Mention of Settlers.
130
Library Association 112, 113
The Death List .131, 132
Agricultural Association 113, 114
In Conclusion.
I32,133
Politics-Vote From 1856 to 1881.
PAGE.
PAGE.
County Politics
121, 122 Vote for Assemblyman '56 to '81. .. 123
Vote for Gov. from '55 to 78. 123 |Vote for Co. Officers '56 to 81, -.____ 125
Biography of County officers for 1881-2, on page 129.
County Business Directory Page 134, 135, 136.
Biography of Old Settlers.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Anderson, Hans P
25
Bueus, Victor
6x
Arlum, Christena
39
Benien, Peter 62
Allen, Gideon W
41
Bernville, Peter
63
Ashby, Jacob
47
Bailey, Wm. 68 1
Amunderson, Jorgen
52
Bink, John
Anderson, Aslag.
Bassford, Geo
72
Aslagson, Byron
64
Boyce. Chas
76
Anger, George
65
Bankner, Albert
76
Annasen, Syvert
68 Birmingham, Andrew
76
Arlt, Adolph
70 Barringer, John J
80
A'hern, Edward
71
Baker, Russel.
80
Armbrust, Nicholas
75
Barringer, George
81
Ash, Richard
7J Brooks. Wilder L
8 x
Arlt, Fred.
84 Beery, Soloman
8I
Apple, Jacob
85 Brooks, James W
84
Aherns, Fred
86 Bateman, Walter
85
Bommen, Andrew
25 Balza, Eugene.
88
Bacon, Samuel N
29 Baptist, Arnold
88
Berg, Fred
Balza, Leopold
88
Bernson, Peter
Bosman, August J
89
Bushman, Margaret.
41
Bounonville, Herbert 89
Bottleson, Erne
41 Benning, Chas .. 90
Bushmann, Caroline
42 Boullion, John B. 92
Bershaw, Martin
Baudhuin, Joseph.
93
Birmingham, Eugene
43
Baudhuin, Dennis J .
93
Boes, Hugo
43. Beward. Anton
94
Backey, Martin
44 Blair, Niel. 96
Bush, John.
47 Brabazon, Wm
97
Bernhart, Julius
47 Bagnall, J T.
97
Bernhart, Robert.
47
Buchan, Wm.
130
Brockhausen. Henry
48 Cornell, John
23
Brandt, August
49 Cornell, Joseph
Bacholz, John
49 Coffey, Thomas
24
Bretel, Joseph
50 Coffey, Timothy
24
Brei. Anton.
50 Cramer, Martin. .
39
Birdsall, Wm
51 Colignon, Joseph 39
Brown, John
54 Cocagne, Chas. A 40
Bailey, W.
55 Chase, Charles M
4 C
Basinne, Clement
58 Campbell, J. A.
42
Baye, Martin
58 Carlton, Andrew
42
Bero, John B
58 Cochems, Mathias
45
Baugnet, Antoine
59 Churches. Samuel 55
Balza, Michael.
59 Comble, Lambert 59
.
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Baumgartner, Joseph 89
Bowe, Kearn
41
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Churches and Lodges .114, 115
IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE®
Coco, Ferdinand
60 Derv, Casimier.
89
Charles, John B.
61 Dekeyser, Gabriel
90
Cardy, Julius
71 Degrandaggnage, Francois
90
Crass Jacob
73 Decamp, Pierri
90
Crowley, Ann
76 Delwiche, Wm
Campbell, Joseph
76 Dubois, Melchior
92
Carmody, Wm.
80 Dugean, John
92
Carmody, Thomas
80 Delfosse, Noel J
92
Carrington, Miles M
84
Delveau, Francois
92
Chapman, Isaac.
84 Delfosse, August J
92
Collins, Hugh
84 Delfosse, Louis J
92
Chater, John
85 Delfosse, Eugene
92
Collins. John
85 Dubois, Mary
93
Collin, Con
85 Dery, Gasper
93
Claflin, Wm
87 Dimond, Thomas
130
Connard, John B
87 Erickson, Nels
43
Coffin, David
89 Ellis, John
Charles, Jacques
90 Escher, George
85
Carpiam, Julie
91 Erskine, Ben J 86
Collard, Martin
9I Erskine, Link. 86
Counard, Joseph
91 Eatough, Roger
86
Chaudoir, Anton
91 Eichinger, Anton
90
Counard, Francois
93 Evrard, Francois
91
Colbot, Gustav
93 Evrard, John B
91
Calhoon, J. C.
97 Fuller, Elijah S.
36
Cromwell, N. N.
97 Fuller, Nelson W
39 40
Damkoehler, Matilda
40|Fetzer, John.
Dresser, Olive A
40 Fowels, George
Dewur, Wm
46 Foster, Joseph
Dreves, Jochin
50 Fry, Wm
Darling. Wm
55
Dennis, Frank
57 Fish, Daniel L
Dewit, Josephine.
57 Frank, Alexis
Delvaux, Celestine
58 |Falk, Vesonir.
Delvaux, Constant
58 Francois, Adrien
Daudois, Ettienne
58 Francois, Joseph.
Dachelet, Julian
58 Flachac, Mathias
62 6 ~~
Delfosse, Eugene
60 Flemal, Constant
Dachelet, Toussain
60 Flemal, Frank
Devos, Peter
60 Finan, Patrick
Dedeken, Oliver
62 Fritz, Peter
Degardin, Eugene. Dupont, Eugene
62 Fletcher, James
Dimond, Patrick
65 Farley, Patrick
87
Dickinson, Charles
69 Fabry, Guillaume
92
Donland, Barney
6g Fidler, Frederick
130
Donland, Francis. ·
69 Garrett, Volney S.
24
Daley, John.
71 Goodletson, Goodlet.
24
Daniels, Edward.
75 Graham, Josephine E. 20
Donovan, Michael
76|Gættelmann, John
42
Dunn, James
76 Graass, John P
44
Delmont, G. B
87 Guidener, Anton
50
Debroux, Alphonse.
88 |Goodletson, Thomas
53
Dockuırr, Johnlambert.
88 Gustavson, Frank
55
Delsipee, Joseph ..
88 Gaspart, Frank 57
Delsipee, Guillanum
88 Gillson, Joseph 58
Dury, Isidore
89/Gigot, Joseph 59
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Daniels, Chris
39 Feldmann, Constantine
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Dewit, Charles
60 Francois, Paschal
49 50 50 54 5 5 58 50
Corbisier, Adolph.
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62 Finnegan, Andrew
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87 Englebert, John I 1 89 Elison. John 57 64 1 1 1 66
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Fairchild, C. P
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V
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE .!
PAGE.
Gillson, Charles
60 Hurley , John
67
Gurlette, John.
60 Hayes, Michael. 80
Gaspart, Bernard
61 Hendricks, Adam 83
Greitner, Anton
63 | Higgins, Allen 85
Gunderson, H
65
Herlache, John B
88
Gros, Charles
65 Henquinet, John
89
Gormley, Cornelius
69 Holleck, George
90
Gættelmann, Andrew
96
Gillick, Phillip
71 |Hogan, Emanuel.
97
Garlach, John
71 Hunt, Thos. W
130
Gillespie, James
76|Ingebos, Constant
Grovogel, Michael.
76 Johnson, Charles
24
George, John
76 | Jacobson, Christian 24
Graham, Oliver P
77 Johnson Louis
25
Graham, Dr. David.
8o Jacobs, Philip
31
Griffin, Ann T
84 Johnson. Ole_
35
Goss, Peter 1
84 Johnson, Theodore
43
Gigot, Henry. 1 1
87 Johnson, John
43
Girondal, Charles 1 I 1
90 Johnson, A
45
Geniess Ghislain 1
91 Jacobs, H. P
52
Geulette, Florent
93|Johnson, Henry C
52
Geniesse, Clement
93 Jeffcott, Chas
53
Geivais, Prosper
93¡Jones, George
54
Hanson, Iver P 1 1 1
Haskell, Chauncey
29 Josephson, Peter
69
Harris, Joseph Sr
36 Janisch. A.
85
Hanson, Hans
39| Jenquinne, Anton 89
Hendershott, Betsey
Jenquinne, Charles 89
Houle, David
40 Jenquet, Pierre 90
Hanks, Warren
Jadin, John B.
93
Hahn, Henry F
43 Janbuet, John J
93
Hopp, Alexander
43
Janquart, Chas 94
Houle, John.
43|Jackson, Wm.
130
Hart, Oscar
43| Kalambach, Godfreid 24
Heilmann, Henry
44
Kimber, Jesse_
34
Hankel, Jacob
49
Knudson, Henry C.
36
Heittiger, Casper
49
Knudson, Ambrust
41
Hayes, Martir
50 Kruger, Frederick
44
Hanson, Soren
52
Keogh, James Sr
46
Hanson, Henry
52 Kruger, Michael
47
Hempel, August.
53
Kum, Louis 48
48
Herlache, Alexander
60
Kimple, Conrad
50
Hanson, James
64
Knudson, Christian
51
Hemple, Christian
64 Kill, Nicholas
55
Hitt, Charles I
66 Kombar, Frank 59
61
Hitt, Walter.
66 Kroanang, Henry 63
Heald, Engene.
66 Kinney, James. 71
Hoslette, John
66 Kinney, Edward 71
Horn, Wm. H
68 Klinkinburg, Capt 72
69 King, Wm.
72
70 Kemp, Dominick 76
Kirtland, N. W. 81
Hanson, Jacob
72 Kilgore, Moses
84
Hocks, John
75 Kehoe, Michael 86
Heldmann, Leonard
75 Killorn, Luke 89
Hopp, Lucas
76| Kirby, Michael 93
1
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48
Hogan, John
54
Hautlet, Elois.
59 Klamski, Wm
1
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Gillot, Francois 1
93 Jarman, Charles 53
Hebert, Joseph .
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26 Judd, Josiah. 55 64
35 Johnson, Iver
1 1
Krueger, Samuel
Hitt, Frank.
66 Kisar, John.
Haines, Talleck Heilmann, Adam Hennessy, Richard
70 Hibbard, P. G.
VI
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Kirtland, P. W.
97 Mc Dermott, Thos.
5℃
Larson, Christian
25
Miller, Chas. A. B
50
Lawrence. Wm. B
30 Marshall, John 53
Lawrence, Augustus W
31 Mapes, Stephen
53
Lavassor, Joseph
31 Minor, Martin
53
Long, John
39
McSweeny, Charles 1
55
Larch, Peter
I32 Mignon, Lewis
57
Leonhardt, Chris 1
41 Massart, Felix
57
Leatham, John
44 Massart, Mary E
57
Lockhart, James H. I I I
48
Massart, John B
57
Larsson, Capt. A
45 Mohemont, Antoine
57
Lawson, Alexander Sr
59
Leege, Henry
Macaux, Felican
60
Leege, John
51
Mignon, Nobert
60
Lockhart, Robert.
51
Moore, John
6I
Larson, Ole L 1 1
51 Miller, Chas
61
Lallemont, August I
6x
Lechler, Christian
55
Metzke, Carl
62
Lundburg, Carl
55 Metcalf, Andrew
65
Lardinois, Peter
58 Mackey John
66
Lebotte, Antonette
61 Madoche, Eugene
66
Leelu, Leonard
61 Madden, John
66
Lumacy, Joseph
62 Millard, P. B.
66
Labedelle, Heubert
62
Monoso, Joseph
67
Lynhart, James.
67 Masner, Thos
67
Langlois, Newel
71
Maloney, Simon
69
Liest, Paul
Mann, John
70
Laurie, Robert.
72
Monk, Fredrick
70
Long, Anton
75
Lyman, Milton E
78
Mullane, John
71
LaRoy, Wm
81
Michaels, Conrad
7 1
Lyman, Thomas I.
8I
Murray, John
71
Lafountain, Ezra.
81
Michaels, Godlip.
71
Lallemont, J. B
84 Michaels. Godfrey
7 [
Labigois, Joseph
88 Meyer, Jo' n
75
Laluzerne, Leopold
88 | Martin, Henry
75
Laviolette, Godfrey 1
89 Mann, James R. Sr
76
Lauzeone, Hubert
91 Miller, Lucas
76
Larose, Bartholemew
91 Miller, Marcus
76
Lempereur. Joseph
92 Moore, A. W
76
Laduron, Louis
92 Mashall, Ransselar
77
Leroy, John 1 1
130 Maloney, Martin
80
Miner, Henry D
21 Manna, W. G
80.
Mc Donald, Dennis 1
24 Meyers, Geo
86
Marshall, Wmn
29 Mc Ardle James I
86
McLachlan, L. R
33 Martin, Pierre 92
Machia, David
41 Maxini, Francois 92
Machia, Henry
41|Moore, Margaret 92
Machia, George_
1 41 Maloney, John. 93 1
41 Moore, Maurice.
93
Masse, C. A I
42 Messenger, John C. 97
Matsen, Clement
42 Mc Dermott, Michael 97
130
Meyers, Charles
43 Mc Cullough, Thos. W
I3L
Mc Eacham, Dr. A
45 Nelson, Peter
25
Miller, Peter I
48 |Nelson, Andrew
35
Machia, Louis
48 Noble, Robert.
36
Machia, Joseph
49 Nelson, Iver A
39
Matski, Gottfreid
49 Nelson, Cap. Nels P
40
McDermott, Frank
49 Nelson, Paul
4 f
McDermott, Bryan
50 Noll, Jacob
44
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Meikle, Alexander
43 Marshall, W'm.
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Martin, Frank
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1 Mulverhill, John 70
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54 Munier, Alexander
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VII
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Nelson, Ever
51
Roberts, Geo
66
Nelson, Carl
53
Rohan, John
69
Norton, John
53 Rittenburg, Michael 80
Norton, Stephen
53 Rushford, Antoine
8 1
Naze, Prosper
58 Rowe, Daniel E
84
Naniot, Antoine
Riding, James
85
Naze, Amond.
59 Richardson, L. H
86
Nelson, Ole A
68 Rickey, Edward
86
Neuville, Jacques
87 Riley, Philip.
87
Neuville, John B
87
Ottoson, Louis P
25
89
Olson, Ole P.
26 Renard, Francois
92
Olsen, Lesabat B
Renard, Lambert
92
Olsen, Nels.
3.5 Reynolds, Thos.
96
Oneson, Abraham 1 1
51 Robinson, Joseph
97
Olson, Martin
55 Severs, Robert
23
Olsen, Edward.
67 Soucie, Demas.
25
Olsen, Osman.
67 Saabye, Hans O
25
O'Hern, Daniel
8I Schelswick, Knud O 26 I
Olen, J. B.
I30
Schuyler, Henry
35
Olen, Almon P
I30 Schjoth, Erick T
35
Peterson, Soren
35 Sherwood, Albert H
39
Peterson Andrew
36 Stephenson, Septimus
39
Post, Henry F
39 Stephenson, Sartial R
40
Propsom, Peter
41 Sorenson, John
40
Pinney, Silas
44 Spear, Geo. O
42
Perry, Richard
46 Spear, A. M
42
Perry. Matt
47 Scott, Thomas
42 43
Peterson, Peter
53 Sailer, F. X
43
Poppleton, Geo
53 Smith, Thos. H
44
Patris, Francois
57 Scofield, Chas
44
Pierre, Alexander
61 Sorenson, Knud
44 44
Piette, Joseph
61 Stoneman, John
46
Phillips, J. L.
67 Schnider, Anton I
48 48 48
Panter, Wm
85 Seiler, John 1
49
Panter, Thos
85 Sullivan, James
50
Peltier, Jerome
89|Stueber, Wm.
50
Poriuse, Celesten
93|Schmitz, Martin
51
Pensis, Gustav
93 |Stevens, Myron H .
53 54
61 Stanley, Henry
56
Queer Boy-Brussels
63 Splinger, Florence
58 6x
Reed, D. A
31 Swaboda, Martin
62
Ryan, John
42 Smith, Wilhelm
65
Rehr, Wm
44 Schuyler, Albert J
66
Rockwell, N. N
47 Spalsbury, J. E
67
Rupp, John
49 Schuster, Mathias
68
Raymond, Edward S
54 Schuemacher, Louis
69
Raggendoff, John
54 Schafer, Philip
70
Reinhardt, Geo
55 Simon, John P.
70
Rouer, Theodore 1 I
57 Simon, Nicholas
70
Rouer, Charles
57 Stephan, Christopher 70
Rouer, Joseph
57 Seneft. George. 70
Rinse, Alexander
59|Seidemann, Hugo
Roger, John
65 Solway, Baaka
72
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Peterson, Emily
70 Sclies, John
Pfiester, John
71 Stich, Philip
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58 Smith, J. A
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50 Spaulsbury, D. D
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61 Sampson, Frank A
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Olsen. Christian 1 1 1
25 Rabior, Louis
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Queamant, Celesten
25 Simonds, Eli
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89 Riley, Edward Robin, John G
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VIII
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Schuyler, Frederick
73
Theys, Joseph A.
93
Stephenson, H. B
73
Thorpe, J. E.
94
Simon, Peter J
75 Vedder, Christian 55
Scott, James
84 Vorous, Levi 55
Sanderson, Wm. A
85
Vangind ertælen, Edward 57
Spring, Hugh G.
85 Verlee, Anton 62
Sloan, John.
86 Vesta, Knud
68
Stricott, Maria
88
Vesta, Nels
68
Sacotte, Florent.
88 Vandergaitte, Guillaume
91
Sacotte, Francis
88
Wright, J. T
36
Scofield, Robert
88
Warren, Albert G.
38
Swado, Michael
89
Wester, John
43
Schulz, Anton
90
Walski, Michael
49
Smith, Joseph
97 Writt, Patrick
49
Thompson, Carl
25
Woolar, Ferdinand
49
Thompson, Anton
30
Woolf, John.
50
Torstenson, Nels
30
Waters. Patrick
59
Tnck. Sarah
Weburg, Peter.
52
Thorp, Geo. H
36 Wright, Rufus M
54
Tong, Job
41 Weberg, Ole
56
Tauba, Hermann
Wanthien Gregor
62
Theisan, Anton
48
Warren, Wm. H
66
Thorpe, Asa
51
Wobser, Albert.
71
Tibonne, Adel
58
Williams, Samuel
84
Thoresen, John
64 Williams, Geo Williams, Wm
85
Thayer, Chauncey
67 Wohltmann, F
86
Tufts, Alexander
67 Young, Jacob
24
Templeton, Albert
68 Zink, Claus_
25
Tansing, Christian.
70 Zastrow, Chas
48
Templeton, Alexander
75 Zettel, Joseph
50
Thorp, Levi.
78 |Zepherin Ignace.
60
Turner, Geo. A
78 |Zettel, Joseph
73
Toseland, Wm ..
85 Zettel, Rudolph
76
Tellier, Anton
89.
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1
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1
1
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1 1 1
1 1
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1 1 1
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85
Thompson, Moses C.
65
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45
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PAGE.
MUSS-ENG.CO. N.Y.
Chas I. Martin
PREFACE.
In May, 1877, we bought the EXPOSITOR printing establishment, and a helping hand was extended to us by the old acquaintances we had known ere we entered our 'teens. It was the desire of those good old fatherly gentlemen that we write up a history of Door county, and publish it in the EXPOSITOR. To refuse to comply with their wishes would have been unbecoming-even to an editor ; hence we nodded -consented. Time rolled by until one fair summer morning, 1880, when we set ourselves to work to make good the promise we made three years previous. For five or six weeks we made it our business to do nothing else than roam from town to town, farm to farm, house to house-chatting with every one we met, and personally interviewing every old settler we came across. At the beginning it was not our intention to publish the history in any other form than through the columns of the EXPOSITOR, but the continued demand for "the sketch in book form," changed our first intention. We feel that the work is not so complete as it might be, for a portion of it was got out in the midst of a political campaign, and the entire publication of it was made in weekly installments in the EXPOSITOR before being printed in this form. The reader should take into consideration the circumstances, and remember that in a work of this kind the author turns his attention only to the labor of blending facts into ideas, while the scrutinizer has the easy work of turning ideas into criticisms. We give facts and figures the preference of flowery sayings, and trust and believe that the work will be found to be correct in its narration of events pertaining to the county, and hope that it may be read with interest by those into whose hands it may come. Respectfully,
THE AUTHOR.
STURGEON BAY, April, 1881.
BRIEF
HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
SHORT SKETCH OF WISCONSIN,
It is an old, and probable true saying, that "all things have a beginning and ending." As a commencing point for a brief history of Door county, it may be but just to briefly touch upon the organization of the State Door county now belongs to.
Under Territorial government, the first session of the first Legislative Assembly convened at Belmont, Iowa county, Oc- tober 25th, 1836, and adjourned December 9th, same year. Henry S. Baird, of Brown, was president of the Council.
The first Constitutional convention assembled at Madison October 5th, 1846, and adjourned on the 16th day of December, same year; having framed a constitution, which was submit- ted to a vote of the people on the first Tuesday in April, 1847, and the same was rejected. A. J. Upham, of Milwaukee, was president. A second Constitutional convention assembled at Madison December 15th, 1847, and adjourned on the 1st of February, '48; having framed a Constitution which was sub- mitted to a vote of the people on the second Monday in March following, and the same was adopted.
TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS.
The following are the names of the Territorial Governors of Wisconsin :-- Henry Dodge, appointed by President Andrew
4
BOUNDRY, ETC. OF DOOR COUNTY.
Michigan. In 1823, Wisconsin was made part of a separate judicial circuit, and in 1836, was organized as a territory, with Henry Dodge as governor. On the 29th day of May, 1848, Wis- consin became a State in the Union, being the seventeenth admitted, and the thirtieth in the list of states. Wisconsin, though one of the youngest states in the Union, already ranks among the foremost in its public institutions. For its educational advantages, it is largely indebted to the munificence of Congress in donating lands for the support of common schools, a state university, normal schools and an agricultural college.
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DOOR COUNTY.
Door County was the fifteenth division of the State into counties; or, in other words, as the State gradually became divided up into counties, Door came fifteenth among the early divisions, and is bounded as follows: "Beginning on the west shore of Lake Michigan, where the south line of township 26 intersects Lake Michigan; running thence west on the town- ship line to the center of Green Bay; thence northeasterly along the center of the main channel of Green Bay to the boundary line between the State of Michigan and State of Wisconsin to a point in Lake Michigan, where the east and west line on the south side of township 26, extended easterly, would intersect the eastern boundary of the State of Wiscon- sin; and from thence west to the place of beginning."
Door county is some 60 or 70 miles in length, and averaging, perhaps, 10 miles wide-varying in width from 4 to 18 miles, and is a peninsula running northeast and southwest; the north and west shores being washed and purified by the clear waters of Green Bay, while the east shore borders on, and is rinsed by the crystal waters of Lake Michigan. The proxim- ity of the lake, the waters of which remain open throughout the year, exercise great power in equalizing the temperature; of course reducing it in the summer and cooling the extreme heat of the mid-summer sun, and acts as a balance in avoid- ing the extreme low temperature of winter-the lowest range
5
A MYSTERY.
of the thermometer being about the same as that in the south- ern part of the State, two hundred miles farther south.
The county was heavily timbered with various species of wood. Of the hard woods there was Beech, the various kinds of Maple, white and black Ash; red, white, and blue Oak, Ironwood, Elm, etc. Of the soft woods, Pine, Hemlock, Cedar, Basswood, Spruce, Balsam Fir, Tamarack, Poplar, etc., were abundant. For manufacturing and ship building purposes, perhaps no place in the Northwest equalled what is now Door county for furnishing timber. For the largest variety of tim- ber and shrubs, our evergreen and forest tree dealers have scattered broadcast the fact that no section in America is equal to this peninsula.
A MYSTERY.
That this section of the State was settled to a meagre extent long years before any record is given by history, is pretty gen- erally believed. Since the work began of cutting and using the large growth of timber, there are several places in this section where leaden bullets have been extracted from near the heart of large trees-said bullets being covered with from 138 to 171 rim layers or season's growth of the timber; which would indicate that the bullets had been entombed from 138 to 171 years. At the best, it is a query as to the date the bul- lets were serviceable, and we'll leave the matter for our read- ers to ponder over. Another matter that is worthy of men- tion, is the small mounds so numerous throughout this sec- tion. These small mounds look like the hills in the Southern States hoed around the roots of the mammoth corn grown in that locality. What was grown in the small hills or mounds in this section is only surmise work, but that something was cultivated is evident. In some parts of the county there are patches containing many acres where these small mounds or hills are quite regular, and average from 412 to 6 feet each way, from center to center of the mounds. From Washington Island, the extreme northern part of the county, to the towns of Union and Brussels on the extreme southern boundary, said hills or mounds may be numerously seen in patches. In every instance, where these mounds are most numerous, large forest
6
THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER.
trees are now growing; the trees apparently being from 50 to 150 or more years old, which would indicate that if the mounds were once utilized for agricultural purposes, that it was gen- erations ago. As with the leaden bullets, we will leave the matter for our readers to carefully investigate and solve as their own ideas may dictate. While certain theories might possibly bear one out in forming an idea that this was once a mild climate, it is also evident that there are indications that it was once the extreme reverse. Even within the past ten or twelve years, large sugar maple trees were not a few that showed cuts or "taps" six to eight feet from the ground, which would go to show that longer ago than memory now reaches, snow falls of great depth must have visited this re- gion, and the harvest of the maple sugar crop (which was probably attended to by the Indians, or a white people of which we can find no record) was far more difficult than at the present time. We also leave this matter with our readers, which may be set down as quandary No. 3.
THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER OF THE COUNTY. INDIANS-DARK AND BRIGHT DAYS.
The first white settler of any record, inside the boundaries of what is now Door county, was a man by the name of Increase Claflin, who located on what is now known as Little Sturgeon point. He came thither March 19th, 1835. At that date this was an unsurveyed country, and was a wilderness in every sense of the word. Like all new and unsettled portions of the West (in fact, like all portions of America), this was a country inhabited by the Indians. A number of the tribes that roamed this section at a very early date, had gone to their "long sleep," or been driven farther west by the Chippewa and Menominee tribes, who held the sway when Mr. Claflin located. The "Chips." and "Menoms.," as they were termed, were certainly true-blood Indians, yet they were peaceable, greasy, and lazy. At the very first the Indians were perfectly satisfied that Mr. Claflin should settle, but when he had got nicely to work, they changed their minds, and decided to drive him away. He was informed of their intention, but Mr.
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