USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 20
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Hardships of Early Settlers in Getting Provisions.
"The hardships and sufferings the early settlers were sub- jected to in getting their grain manufactured into flour or feed were many. But when a flouring mill was as near to us as Brother- town we thought it convenient and handy. In the fall of 1839 my father (who was a millwright) finished the Brothertown flouring mill and the inhabitants of this side of the lake were very much pleased that it was so handy and easy of access, as we could cross the lake in winter on the ice with teams with our grain, and in summer with boats or bark canoes, which we often did. One of the boat trips I will attempt to describe. In the summer of 1842, C. J. Coon, our neighbor, brought a fair-sized sailboat from Green Bay. It was the largest sailing craft on the lake at that time, about twenty feet in length and principally used for milling purposes. The late G. F. Wright (my brother) and myself hired our neighbor's sailboat, loaded in our grist and set sail for Brothertown mill. A young man from New York State accompanied us. The writer was the only sailor of the three, and nothing to brag of in that line, but we sailed across the lake all right, having a fair wind. We had to hire a team to haul our grain from the landing to the mill, which was half a mile from shore. We got our flour in due time and were ready to embark for home, when a stiff northwest wind sprang up and prevented our sailing, and we were kept there three days, wind- bound, before we could get away. Finally the wind went down
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and we got off on our return trip; but when a few miles out from shore a strong west wind sprang up and we were obliged to make for Long Point, as we could not beat against the gale that was blowing. In fact, we did not know how. We landed just south of Morley's Point in a bay out of the wind. We went on shore, built a fire and prepared to cook our meal, as we were all feeling keen appetites, having eaten nothing since early morn- ing and it was then well towards night. We had used up all our provisions in our wind-bound experience, and had nothing but flour to fall back on. The young man (Cook) who was with us had his gun and ammunition along and went into the woods close by to look for fresh meat, while the writer (who had some ex- perience in camping out and roughing it) prepared the bread for our repast. We had a small pan in the boat for baling out the water. IIaving put a sufficient quantity of flour in the pan and wet it up with lake water to a stiff dough, I rolled it out in a long string on a seat of the boat, after washing the seat, of course. I then cut a little tree about three inches in thick- ness and about four feet long, stripped the bark off and took the string or rope of dough and began at the largest end of the stick and wound it around the stick about half the length of the stick. I sharpened the other end and stuck it in the ground slanting it over the fire and occasionally turning it so as to bake the rope of dough evenly. Our hunter, Mr. Cook, soon came in with three red squirrels, which we dressed and roasted before the fire like the bread. In about an hour we had a lunch ready of roasted meat and crulls, as we called our bread, and did ample justice to the savory viands before us. A little salt would have been acceptable, but it appeased our hunger as it was. We were obliged to camp there for the night on account of the strong wind, and it was late the next day before we could get away. We had no other provisions but crulls and fresh squirrels. We were very glad to get home, where we could get a square meal again. Many other trying times of the same character might be mentioned, but think the above sufficient to show the present generation what the pioneers had to endure in settling this new country. In the earliest years of our sojourn here we were obliged to go to Green Bay for our groceries and dry goods and no way to get there with teams except in winter, by crossing the lake on the ice and reaching the military road, which was attended with more or less danger; or in summer by boat or canoe on the lake and lower Fox river, or on foot, following an Indian
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trail, which was usually the mode adopted. Generally two of us, neighbors, would go together with large knapsacks strapped on our backs, which were empty in going except a good-sized lunch stowed away in one corner of the sack, put up by our mothers or wives (if we had any). The neighbors who were in need of supplies would give their orders and money to those making the trip, who would then take their leave for the Bay, about sixty miles by the trail. It usually took four days to make the round trip and make our purchases. Our knapsacks would be crammed full on our return trip, which was a footsore and tiresome tramp. Arrived home the neighbors would come together to receive their share of goods and welcome the travelers home and eager to hear whatever news there was, also to get their mail, for this was before we had a postoffice here.
"In the year 1845 the writer sold a strip of land containing twenty acres, the strip of land being fourteen rods and two feet `in width and running from Fox river north to what is now West Irving street. The center of Main street was the east line of this strip of land. The strip was deeded by the writer to R. W. Jack- son, son of the late Joseph Jackson. In the spring of 1846 W. W. Wright and Joseph Jackson platted a portion of the above land in connection with other lands belonging to said Wright. The platting not being satisfactory to the parties, it was subse- quently vacated and in 1847 was replatted and recorded and re- mains practically the same to this day. This was the first be- ginning of the city of Oshkosh. Webster Stanley was offered a lot in the new plat if he would build thereon and keep a public house, as he was then doing at the mouth of the river, and also remove his ferry up river to Main street. He accepted the offer and immediately began operations by erecting a large board shanty on the northwest corner of Main and High streets for the accommodation of the traveling public and local boarders, who were few at that early date. The ferry was also established where Main street bridge is now located. Main street was then called Ferry street. Subsequently Mr. Stanley erected a frame building on the southwest corner of Main and Pearl streets for a hotel, but before it was finished it was sold to Manoah Griffin, who removed it across Main street to what is now Nos. 48 and 50 on the east side of the street, and enlarged and finished it for a hotel. He conducted it for many years until it was destroyed in the first great fire, which occurred in May, 1859, and swept both sides of Main street from Ceape street north to Washington
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and Algoma street of every building except Eckstein's clothing store and a few other buildings near the river. This fire was a great setback to Oshkosh, as many lost everything, with no insur- ance.
"The next prominent public house (or hotel) was erected on the site which is now Nos. 88 and 90 Main street, in 1846, by Asa Hollister and L. P. Sheldon, and was successfully conducted for a number of years by Mr. Hollister, from whom it was purchased by Lucius Olcott, father of the two Miss Olcotts living in this city, on High street. . Mr. Olcott conducted the house success- fully for many years. The first wet goods and dry goods store was erected in 1844 at the mouth of the river and was conducted by Amos Dodge and the late J. H. Osborn for general trade. Subsequently it was removed to Ceape street, now No. 29, north side of the street. They carried in stock a general assortment of merchandise. Just before moving from the mouth of the river, T. C. Wilson purchased Mr. Osborn's interest in the busi- ness and the firm was known as Dodge & Wilson thereafter. They carried on quite an extensive trade with the Menominee Indians and half breeds. J. H. Osborn bought a small stock of dry goods in the spring of 1844, the first goods ever brought here for sale. The same year Mr. Dodge joined him.
"The next business house was erected on or near what is now No. 42 Main street, by L. M. Miller and Edward Eastman, where they carried a stock of general merchandise for many years. In the spring of 1845 P. V. Wright erected a business house on what is now No. 91 Main street, where he carried a stock of general merchandise and among the stock was some Milwaukee beer. The writer was at one time left in the store while the proprietor was out. Mr. Chauncey King, an old settler that many will remember, was also in the store and asked for a glass of beer. The writer attempted to draw the beer, but found the keg empty. A fresh keg must be tapped. That was a busi- ness I did not understand, but thought I could do it all right. The faucet and the hammer were procured and the cork was being driven into the keg, when the beer blew out the stopple and shot the writer squarely in the face and eyes. Mr. King clapped his thumb into the vent and stopped the flow of beer, or he would not have had his glass.
"In the fall of 1848 S. M. Ilay came here with the first stock of hardware and commenced business at or near the northeast corner of State and Ceape streets, where he conducted a general
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hardware business. A month or two thereafter E. C. Hall became a partner and the firm name was known as Hay & Hall. They soon removed to a new building on the west side of Main street. which is now No. 75, and where the business is still continued under the name of the Hay Hardware Company. This is the very oldest business house now in the city. It has continued to do business for fifty-two years without a break, only as the devouring fire fiend compelled the firm to rest long enough to rebuild its store which was twice laid in ashes. After about two years Mr. Hall sold his interest in the business to S. M. Hay and withdrew from the firm.
"The first drug store of any note was opened in 1850 at or near No. 4 Main street, near what is now the north end of Main street bridge, and was owned by the late M. J. Williams. Mr. Williams continued the drug business until 1897.
"The first blacksmith that located here was Chauncey Foster. His shop was located at or near No. 43 Main street, the present site of B. H. Soper's furniture store, where he continued about two years to do work for citizens and farmers.
"The first shoemaker to locate here was Edward Edwards, an Englishman. He erected a 7x9 shop on what is now No. 65 Main street, the present location of Ilorn's drug store, where he manufactured boots and shoes. He arrived here in 1847, re- maining but a year or two, when he went to Waupaca to edit a newspaper, where I lost track of him.
"The first newspaper published in the city was The True Demo- crat, by James Densmore. The first issue was February 9, 1849. Quite an amusing incident occurred not long after The True. Democrat was started. Mr. Dinsmore did his own canvassing for subscribers to his paper, and among others he called on the late George Mansur, living on a farm a few miles south of Neenah and wished him to subscribe for the paper. Mr. Mansur refused to subscribe, but Mr. Densmore insisted very strongly, and after much persuasion, Mr. Mansur handed him a half dollar, saying he would take the worth of that and then stop it, as he did not like Densmore's polities. Time went on and the paper came to him once a week regularly. After a while notice was sent him to pay for the paper. Mr. Mansur sent back word to stop the paper, as he did not want it, but still it came as usual. Again he ordered it stopped, to no purpose. Then he came himself and asked some of his acquaintances how he could stop that paper. Among others he called on the writer and was advised to go to
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the office and order it stopped. He said : "I have done that and Densmore said I must take the paper or take a licking." The writer never learned whether the paper stopped or not.
"The first clothing and tailoring establishment of any note was established by the late Samuel Eckstein in 1848. This was in a building now No. 33 Main street, where he carried a large stock of ready-made clothing and also manufactured to order. The fire of 1859 did not destroy his building, but gave him a good warming. Peter McCourt also started an extensive tailoring establishment in 1850 and for many years did a heavy business. "The first lumbering in the up-river pinery was done in the winter of 1939-40 by the following named parties : Richard John- son and Louis Lamott, and a few days thereafter they were fol- lowed by W. W. Wright and Joseph Jackson. The above named parties lumbered in the Rat river pinery. They cut shingle logs and smaller trees, which they hewed into square timber for building and other logs for making lumber. These logs and tim- ber were hauled to Rat river and floated down the Rat into the Wolf river and thence to Oshkosh, where they were cut up by the old whip saws. Later on other parties followed, until the Rat river pinery was cleaned out.
"The first saw mill was erected here in 1846 by Urial Firman and Samuel Bridge, at the mouth of Fox river, just east of the Traction company's power house. They used what was called a muly saw that would cut about 4,000 feet of lumber in twenty-four hours. Another saw mill was erected on Sawyer creek by Coles, Bashford & Forman about the same time and of the same capacity. These mills were a great improvement on the whip saws previously used. Logs were brought from the Wolf river pinery to supply these mills. The lumber manufactured by these mills was an immense help to builders in Oshkosh and to farmers in the surrounding country in constructing dwelling houses for their families, as the country was fast filling up with new settlers.
"The first banking institution to do business here was under . the head of Darling, Wright, Kellogg & Co., of Fond du Lac. They opened a branch at or near what is now No. 87 Main street, then occupied jointly with them by Col. John W. Scott, jeweler. Mr. Ansell Kellogg was cashier, paying teller, bookkeeper and errand boy, all in one, and conducted the business successfully. The bank was subsequently located on the southeast corner of
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Main and Otter streets, where the business was conducted for many years.
"The first jail, the lower story of logs and the upper story frame, was built by Kendrick Kimball for the county of Winne- bago in 1850, on the present court house square. The first jailer was Mr. Kenny, father of James Kenny.
"The first public hall was erected by Mr. Marks and Peter McCourt, on the northeast corner of Ceape and Main streets, and was used for all public purposes. The bell that hung in its tower was cast here in Oshkosh and did good service until the big fire of 1859, when it was rung until the fire drove the bell-ringer out. The building was consumed and the bell was broken. The first matches made here were manufactured by S. Whitman at Al- goma in 1856. He sold out to W. D. Curtis in 1857, who removed to or near the junction of Pearl and Light streets, where he continued the business until 1863, when he sold out to the late J. L. Clark.
"The first doctor and surgeon of any note was Dr. Christian Linde, who, in 1844, located on a farm near where the Northern state hospital is now. He afterwards removed to the city and located at the northwest corner of Washington street and Linde avenue, where he died.
"The first lawyer of any prominence was L. P. Crary, father of Oscar F. Crary, now in the pension office in Milwaukee.
"The first church edifice was erected in the winter of 1850-51, on the corner of Church and Division streets, where the First Presbyterian Church now stands. It was a Methodist church and at that time was far out on the prairie.
"The first school building was built where the Athearn Hotel now stands, about 1846. It was used for school purposes, polit- ical meetings, caucauses and all sorts of gatherings, social, edu- cational, political and religious.
First Preaching in Oshkosh.
"Hitherto I have given you several scraps of early reminis- cences, historical and otherwise, and now will change the pro- gram somewhat and give you a brief account of what came under my personal observation of the first organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the county of Winnebago and city of Osh- kosh. The first preaching I have any account of was in the sum- mer of 1839, by Clark Dickinson at the house of Webster Stan-
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ley, near the mouth of the river. Dickinson was a local Metho- dist preacher. There are some people living here yet who remember him, no doubt. He lived on a farm at that time on the north side of the creek in the town of Black Wolf. The good brother has gone to his reward many years ago. The first church organization of any kind took place in the fall of 1840, when the Rev. Jessie Halsted, traveling preacher of the Methodist church at Brothertown, formed what was called a Methodist class, con- sisting of the following six persons: Ira Aiken, leader; Mrs. Aiken, his mother, and Rachel Aiken, his sister; Mrs. Anna Brooks, Mrs. George Wright and Mrs. Chester Ford. The last two named persons were Presbyterians. but wished to and did join the Methodist class until such a time as a society of their own denomination should be established here. - Subsequently others joined the class until it numbered twenty or more. On April 11, 1841, the Rev. J. P. Gallup preached his first sermon here that I have any knowledge of. This I find in a diary kept by me at that time. I was not a member then, but attended all the meetings held in the settlement or all that I could get to. Preaching was generally held at the house of Mr. Stanley. My mother's house was also open for preaching or prayer meetings, as was others also. Some time thereafter the Rev. Mr. Gallup was appointed to this circuit for four weeks by the annual Rock River conference, which included Wisconsin and northern Illi- nois. The next preacher following the Rev. Mr. Gallup was HIarvey Bronson in 1842-43. We were under full church organ- ization at this time, and Presiding Elder Goodridge held the first quarterly meeting here, while J. P. Gallup was here. In May, 1843, the writer experienced religion and joined the church after six months' probation and was appointed recording steward and subsequently class leader of a new class and held the two offices for many years. In the summer of 1844 the writer and his wife organized the first Sabbath school in the county, composed of seven scholars. The first meeting was held in the open air seated on a log under the shade of an oak tree near the present site of Dr. Steele's residence. The same belonged to the writer at that time. Four of those children are yet living, but not in the city. That school was continued during warm weather and closed through the winter season until such time as a suitable place was provided, since which time it has been a continuous school to the present time. Quite a good many people were mov- ing into this place. and in 1845, a small school house was erected
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on the site of the Athearn hotel. That was occupied for preach- ing and other meetings by all denominations that desired to do 80. This was continued for a number of years until the county seat was located here and a court house erected, when that was occupied for preaching as well as court purposes. The first Methodist church building erected here was commenced in 1850 and finished in the fall of 1851, the site being donated for that purpose. It was located on the corner of Church and Division streets. Its dimensions were thirty by forty feet. In a few years it became too small and was lengthened twenty feet. In a few years more it again became crowded to overflowing and was raised up and a stone foundation, basement and class rooms added and otherwise improved. The old church and grounds were sold to the Presbyterian society or church about eighteen years ago, and the Methodists bought their present church build- ing, corner Main and Merritt. Last year, 1893, the old church was again sold and removed, and a beautiful brick church is being erected thereon.
"During the earliest years of the settlement, Rev. Clark Dick- inson, a local Methodist preacher living at Neenah, would preach occasionally at Mr. Stanley's, in the absence of the circuit preacher. In 1842 a new preacher was sent here. In those days circuit preachers were changed every conference year. Some- times married preachers were allowed to remain two years on the same circuit. Harvey Bronson was the second preacher appointed at the annual conference of Wisconsin to fill the Oshkosh charge. During this year Presiding Elder Goodrich held a quarterly meet- ing here, the first one in this county, and organized the first church. Officers were appointed to fill the offices and a regular Methodist church organization was established in good working order. Mr. Bronson was a whole-souled, Christian man and a faithful worker in the Master's vineyard, and with the blessing of God the church here was very much strengthened and built up and many new members added thereto under his preaching and labors of love. He was a whole-souled, genial spirit and made friends with all with whom he came in contact. At the end of his year, and when about to leave for conference, Mr. Thomas Evans, a brother of the late David Evans, learning that Mr. Bronson was short in his pay, said it was too bad for him to leave without full pay for the hard labor he had done on this charge. He at once started a subscription paper, heading the list with a goodly sum, and started out among those that made
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no profession of religion and in one-half day received enough money to more than pay the balance of the claim. He made his brags afterward that the sinners did better than the Christians for the preacher.
"At the next conference, Rev. Mr. Whipple was sent to Osh- kosh. He was a young man just entered conference. Wash- ington Wilcox was appointed elder for this district. He was a man nearly sixty years of age and truly a man of God and an earnest worker for the Master. The writer was appointed dis- trict steward and was to furnish the bread and wine for com- munion. The next quarterly meeting was to be held at Ball Prairie (so called), about ten miles from Oshkosh. At the time appointed myself and wife drove there with horse and buggy, with the elements for communion. Notice had been given through the country of time and place, and farmers had gath- ered there from many miles around, and quite a good-sized congregation was gathered there. The elder preached a grand, good sermon of one hour and thirty minutes, and yet there was no lack of interest. Everybody seemed well pleased and edified with the sermon. I forgot to mention that this quarterly meet- ing was held in a beautiful grove of burr oaks, it being warm weather and no house large enough to hold the half of the con- gregation. The stewards passed through the congregation to take up a collection to pay the elder's claim. The writer passed the hat to an old farmer well known to be fairly well-to-do, who threw a silver dollar in the hat. When all had been waited on this old farmer beckoned to the collector, who went to him and he untied his purse, containing seventy dollars, which he emptied into the hat, remarking that the sermon was worth it all and more. Enough was collected to pay the elder's claim and a few dollars for the preacher in charge.
Those quarterly meetings were very interesting in those early days, as they would bring together the scattered inhabitants for many miles around, who were always glad to meet each other in Christian fellowship, at a quarterly meeting more especially, as they expected to get an extra spiritual blessing in the sermon of the elder, and were not disappointed. The presiding elders in those early days were the older class of preachers with large experience and good executive ability. Most of the circuit preachers were young men just entering the ministry and re- quired good counsel while working their circuits and at their quarterly conferences, and old Elder Wilcox was eminently calcu-
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lated to fill that position to the letter. He was truly a man of God and accomplished great good wherever he labored. He has long since passed to his reward, but will ever be remembered with loving hearts by those who had the pleasure of his ac- quaintance and Christian counsels in those early days.
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