History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People, Part 28

Author: Publius Virgilius Lawson
Publication date: 1948
Publisher: Chicago : C.F. Cooper
Number of Pages: 773

USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 28

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At the age of 23 years on January 2, 1803, he was married to Marguerite Gravelle, who was born at Prairie du Chien. October 14, 1781. Her mother was a daughter of l'Espagnol, chief of the Menominee Indians, who served in the War of 1812. Her father was Michael Gravelle. She died at Menasha and was buried be- side her husband in Allouez Cemetery, where her grave is marked with an iron cross.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jourdain had eight children, two boys and six girls :

(1) William, born at Green Bay in 1804. He was a blacksmith by trade and had a shop at Portage, Wisconsin, for many years, then moved to Green Bay, and later lived with his daughter, Mrs.

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TOWNSHIP HISTORY.

Marguerite Lafond, at Two Rivers, where he died in 1888 at the age of 84 years.

(2) Mary Magdalene, born at Green Bay, December 15, 1806, became the wife of Rev. Eleazer Williams, the lost King. Louis XVII of France, March 3, 1823, at the home of her parents, Judge James Porlier officiating, in the presence of Gen. Albert G. Ellis and Ebenezer Childs. After their marriage they repaired to their estate of 4,800 acres at Little Rapids, given to her by the chiefs of . the Menominee, fourteen miles above Green Bay. Of their three children only John Lawe Williams lived to grow to manhood. He was born at this home January 1. 1825. At her confirmation in the old Trinity Church on Broadway, New York. by Bishop Hobart he gave her the name of Mary Hobart Williams. She lived twenty-eight years after the death of her husband and died at her home July 22, 1886, and was buried in Woodlawn cemetery in Green Bay, Judge E. HI. Ellis reading the Episcopal service. Visitors say "her house was as neat as wax." By her will she provided for her old Indian domestic. "Nan." whose descendants own the historic old log cabin home. Her son, John Lawe Wil- liams, as described under the history of Winneconne, came into possession of the 160-acre farm on the west side of the river at that place in 1849. When sixteen years of age he was with his father, Rev. Williams, on the steamboat when presented to the Prince de Joinville, an incident in the now famous interviews with the son of King Louis Philippe. December 26. 1851. he married Mrs. Jane Pattison Enery at Fond du Lac. a sister of Mrs. Judge George Gary, Mrs. Matt Hasbrouck and Mrs. S. R. Clark. all of Oshkosh. They resided at Winneconne until the farm was sold in 1868, when they moved to Oshkosh. While in the woods at Tiger- ton he was fatally injured by a falling log, and died September 22, 1883. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. F. R. Haff, the late venerable Episcopal rector. and the Masonic service was conducted by the late Col. Gabe Bouck. He was buried in the cemetery at Oshkosh. There were three children- George, Louis and Eugene. The last two born in Oshkosh died young. George Williams, their oldest child and now the last of the Bourbons, was born in Winneconne, November 8, 1852. IIe attended school in Oshkosh and is remembered by many friends there. He has re- sided for many years in St. Louis; has been married since 1884. but has no children. Mrs. John Lawe Williams, his widowed mother, now resides with her son in St. Louis.

(3) The third child, Josephine, died young.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

(4) The fourth child was Susan, born at Green Bay, July 22, 1809. She was married at Green Bay, January 18, 1834, to Major De Quinder by Father Sandrall at the Shanty Town Mission Church. Major De Quinder was a merchant at Green Bay and died there May 23, 1864. They had no children, but always a houseful of orphans and homeless children. They adopted a girl baby and named her Matilda, who afterwards married Frank Fay, and still lives at .Green Bay. Mrs. Susan De Quinder died at Green Bay, June 8, 1893, and is buried in Allouez Cemetery.

(5) The fifth child was Marguerite Monie, born November 1, 1812, at Green Bay. She was married at Green Bay, February 3, 1836, at the mission church at Shantytown by Father Sandrall to D. J. Parent, of Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Parent was born at Sand- wich, Ontario, Canada, February 17, 1809, where he attended school till he was 18 years old, when he learned the wagon- maker's trade at Detroit. On June 12, 1831, he sailed from De- troit for Green Bay, where he arrived July 9 and entered the employ of Gen. Albert G. Ellis. From 1832 till 1836 he was em- ployed at the garrison of Fort Howard. In 1836 he opened a wagon shop of his own at Green Bay, and in 1841 moved to Bay Settlement, on the claim given to his wife by her father, where he spent the remainder of his life on the farm and where he died Friday, January 30, 1885, and was buried February 2 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Bay Settlement, by Rev. Father Canterells. Mrs. Marguerite Monie Parent was probably the best known woman in Bay Settlement. She was doctor and nurse for the whole settle- ment, as there was no regular doctor in the settlement. She died March 26, 1899, at the age of 87 years. The funeral services were held at Holy Cross Church, Bay Settlement, and burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, same place, Rev. Canterells officiating.

(6) The sixth child born was Domitile, born at Green Bay, May 12, 1814. She married Joseph Parent, of Detroit, Michigan, where they went to live, and died there January 5, 1834. One son was born to them. He died at Detroit when a young man.

· (7) The seventh child was Christine, born at Green Bay, March 4. 1816. She married Polite Grignon,1 and died July 2, 1857. Three children were born to them-one son and two daughters. They live at Milwaukee at present.

(8) The eighth child was Thomas, born at Green Bay in 1823, the same as described above as the companion of his father's

' It is possible this name is Hipalite Grignon, who had a trading post at Grand Chute, Appleton, in 1838, the original of the White Heron Inn.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

: The fourth child was Susan, born at Green Bay, cheby 22. 150g. She was married at Green Bay, January 1s. 1534. to Major I. Vunder dog Father Sandrall at the Shanty Town Mission Harol. Mayor De Quinder was a merchant at Green Bay and and there May 23. 1564. They had no children, but always a houseles of arplans and homeless children. They adopted a girl habe and send in r Matilda, who afterwards married Frank Fax. and stir ner at Green Bay. Mrs. Susan De Quinder land at Green Bay Juan s. 103 and is buried in Allouez Cometery.

5) The With child was Marguerite Monte, born November 1. 18:2 at Green Bay. She was married at Green Bay. February 3, Ist at the mission church at Shoutstown by Father Sandrali to D. .. Paret. of Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Parent was born at Sand- aja. Agrario, Canada. February 17. 1509, where he attended shoot 'N'h was is years old, when he learned the wayon. makes bul at letoit. On June 12. 131. he sailed from De. frost for Green Bay. where he arrived July 9 and entered the amplas of Cion An deleG. Mais. From Jas? till 1836 he was em- j'ai ! . gargan of Fort Howard. In 18 he opened a wagon stop of his own a Green Bay. and in I'll moved to Bay Settlement , on the late giang to his wife by her father, where he speat the remainder of ins life on the farm and where he died Prodes. Joshuany 30. Les5, and was buried February 2 at Holy Cross Country, Bay Settlement, b; Kov. Father Cantorells Mrs.

Bas Selement She was doctor and warse for the whole settle. mota there was no grenier doctor a the settlement She died sixat the way was Datde. born at Green Bay

... i Joseph Form of Detron. Midlogan.

: " A . In at trova Bay in 1-2: :

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nitritt

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TOWNSHIP HISTORY.

smithy at Neenah and Winneconne and with whom his parents lived from 1834 to the time of their death. He was married, and his wife died last fall in Green Bay. IIe was killed in the writing- paper mill fire, described under the history of the city of Menasha. They had no children. Mr. Louis T. Jourdain, now residing with his family on Nicolet avenue, Neenah, engaged in insurance and real- estate, is an adopted son, having lived nearly his whole boy- hood days in the family and given their name.

Mr. Wells E. Blair located on the place so long occupied by him in 1850. At first he moved with his family into one of the better Government block houses near the Blair Springs. This was one of the better and larger houses built for the teachers. It was, as Mrs. Blair says, "excellent and substantial, well framed and fin- ished, made of hewn or square logs. Near this was one of the log houses built for the Indians, which we used for a barn. Later in 1861 we built a stone house (still standing) and moved into it." Mrs. Blair is living in Madison with her daughter, Miss E. Helen Blair.

Mr. Michael Kerwin was one of the earliest pioneers in the town and county. He carved his splendid domain out of the primeval forest of hardwoods and made his wide acres into a thrifty, fruit- ful farm. The Kerwin family has been celebrated in Ireland and America, many of its members being highly educated and display- ing great intelligence as priests and lawyers. Many of them came to America and attained considerable prominence in religious and civic life as well as military affairs. Gen. Michael Kerwin, of New York, was one of them. This biography is mostly of some of the descendents of James Kerwin. James Kerwin, of County Tip- perary, Ireland, where he was born and died, married Mary Quin- lan, of the same place, who was born there in 1790 and died in Wisconsin in 1877 at the age of 86 years. Their son, Michael Kerwin, was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, in 1815. IIe mar- ried Mary Buckley in Ireland, daughter of Walter Buckley. of Ireland, where he was born in 1790 and died in 1830. His wife was Mary Clary, who died when her daughter, Mary Buckley, was an infant. Mary was born in 1821 in Ireland in County Tip- perary. Michael Kerwin went to Canada from Ireland in 1844 and remained there until 1848, when he returned to Ireland and married Mary Buckley. They came to America, settling on a large farm in the town of Menasha, Winnebago county. Wiscon- sin, in 1848, and lived there until his death in 1902, his wife, Mary Kerwin, having died in 1873. He was one of the first settlers in

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

Winnebago county and helped to make the first canal improve- ments on Fox river. which were made from Neenah to Kaukauna. . aiding in building the first dams on the Fox river and helping to clear brush and timber from the lands now occupied by the cities of Neenah. Menasha and Appleton. Seven children were born to Michael and Mary Kerwin-Margaret Kerwin (Mrs. P. McGann), Judge J. C. Kerwin. Bridget Kerwin. John Kerwin. Mary Kerwin, Walter Kerwin. and Dr. M. H. Kerwin. three of whom. Mary, Walter and Dr. MI. H. Kerwin-having died.

Dr. Michael H. Kerwin, who. though young in years, had ob- tained by his ability a high place in his chosen profession of medicine. was. to the great grief of his numerous friends, stricken down just as he had gained the highest honors in preparation for his life work. "The Transactions of the State Medical Society" had this to say of him: "Born May 14. 1855, in the town of Menasha. Winnebago county. Wisconsin, on his father's farm, and until of adult age his time was spent on the farm. summers at work and winters in the school. He graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1876. practiced for a few months at Hilbert Junc- tion, Wisconsin, and then removed to Seymour, Wisconsin, where he soon built up a very large and lucrative practice. In 1881 he went to New York and spent a year at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. receiving his second degree from this institution in 1882. He then returned to Seymour and resumed his practice. In 1887 he went to Europe and remained abroad two years. studying in Vienna. Berlin. Hamburg, Prague and Paris. He returned in 1889 to Seymour and again resumed prac- tice. remaining there about one year. when he removed to Mil- waukee in 1890. When the announcement was made that Prof. kobert Koch had discovered a cure for consumption he again took his departure for Berlin and was able to bring to Wisconsin the first vial of Koch's lymph. On March 7, 1891, from an acute intestinal disease and after an illness of but two days he died at 35 years of age. At the time of his death there probably was not a physician in Wisconsin of his age so well informed and so well known as he. Dr. Kerwin was a most diligent student. Ile read and spoke German almost with the same ease that he did English. and he also acquired a good knowledge of French. reading it without difficulty. Dr. Kerwin was by nature well calculated for a physician-tender, generous. sympathetic and genial. Always considerate of the feelings and sensibilities of

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others, he made friends wherever he went. Sober, industrious, self-reliant, cool and collected under the most trying circum- stances, his patients had not only the utmost confidence in his ability, but they loved and honored him for his untiring devo- tion to their cause as well as for his sterling honesty and integ- rity. During his stay in Seymour he acquired a large practice. It is difficult to grasp and comprehend the position and prac- tice he might have attained had he lived the allotted three- score years and ten. Cut off in the vigor of young manhood when he had gained a most enviable position and practice in the city of Milwaukee, his untimely death has cast a gloom over the entire state of Wisconsin." The celebrated late Dr. Nicholas Senn, of Chicago, and the leading physician of the West, kindly remembers Dr. Kerwin in this generous language: "I knew Dr. Kerwin well. He was a young physician of great promise, a pol- ished gentleman, a faithful student and most conscientious prac- titioner."

His brother, Judge James C. Kerwin, now Justice of the Su- preme Court of Wisconsin, son of Michael Kerwin, the pioneer, was born on the farm in this town May 4, 1850, son of Michael and Mary Kerwin. Mr. Kerwin passed his early life on a farm, attended district school and graduated at Menasha High School in 1870. He then attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated in the law department in 1876. He studied law with Judge A. L. Collins at Menasha and was admitted to the bar in the Circuit Court of Dane county, then the Supreme Court, in 1875, the U. S. courts in 1875 and the U. S. District and Circuit Court by Judge Charles E. Dyer, July 10, 1878, at Oshkosh. After his admission he plied himself with unremitting energy to the practice of law in the city of Neenah. He was one of the board of regents of the State University of Wisconsin, is a Republican in politics and supported Gov. Robert M. La Follette. He has won some very important cases. One was the railroad bond case of the town of Menasha. The case had been fought in all the courts and the bonds won. It was a long standing.and acknowl -. . edged by all to be a hopeless defense by the town. When he took hold of the case it did look useless; but he made a success- ful defense for the town and they did not pay the bonds. Another very important case was the celebrated Krueger vs. the Wisconsin Telephone Company, in which he established before the Supreme Court the right of the property owner to prevent setting of poles on the street in front of his property and ob-

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tained damages against them for doing so, and had an injunc- tion to remove the pole. It was said that the decision would cost the corporations requiring the use of poles in the highway more than $50,000,000. We copy the following notice from the "Osh- kosh Times" of December 23, 1902: "For many years Mr. Kerwin has been recognized as the foremost attorney in Neenah and one of the best known men in the profession in this section of the state, a distinction he has gained solely upon his merits as a lawyer, for, unlike most of his brethren, he is a total abstainer from the alluring influences of politics. Mr. Kerwin is noted as a man of forceful characteristics, learned in the fundamental principles as well as the intricacies of law, and strong, clear and convincing as a trial lawyer. By reason of these distinctive qualities in his make-up he has been more than successful and his services have been eagerly sought in prominent cases from all parts of the state. Mr. Kerwin is one of the busiest men in his profession in this part of the country and, although of a won- derful capacity, his time is taxed to the utmost. He is one of the leading citizens of Neenah and has done much to promote the welfare of the city and make it what it is today. He has hundreds of friends in Neenah and the surrounding country, as he is a gentleman who makes many friends and always retains them." Three years ago after a sharp contest he was elected to the Supreme Court by the immense majority of 14,000 over an opponent favored by all the railway and largest financial in- fluences in the state. He was married in 1880 to Miss Helen Elizabeth Lawson. Their daughter Jessie was married January 4, 1908, to Mr. Charles Benjamin Clark, of the Kimberly-Clark Company, and their daughter Grace was married May 27, 1908. to Mr. John Sensenbrenner, son of Mr. Frank J. Sensenbrenner, first vice-president of the same paper-making firm.

The late Mr. Phillip Verbeck resided in the town from a very early date and was always a prominent man in its civic, moral and educational affairs. He was retained in the position of chairman for many years. It was due to his persistent efforts that the town finally beat the bondholders in the attempt to col- lect the railroad bonds from the town. Mr. A. D. Paige moved from the village of Menasha on to his farm in East Menasha at an early day and always took a lively interest in the town affairs. Mr. Charles Derby resided for a good many years on a well improved farm of eighty acres in West Menasha. He was several times chairman and held other offices. Mr. Andrew

TOWNSHIP HISTORY.

297

Frederickson, who purchased his old place on the lake shore in . 1860 and on to which he moved in 1863, made the farm profita- ble. The place at last contained 175 acres. On this he bred im- proved stock and Clydesdale horses. For a good many years he acted as chairman of the town board.

Capt. Laukland B. Mackinnon introduced into the county the first blooded stock. In April, 1854, he wrote the "Menasha Ad- vocate" that "Menasha Mac" had sailed for America. He was a full blood Durham with a long pedigree set forth in detail in the paper. He was bred in England of a stock then said to be the most popular breed of cattle as best milkers and heavy weight. From the "Menasha Advocate :" "Capt. L. B. MacKin- non, of the British navy, shipped the horse April, 1854, to Menasha from England, 'King Cymbry.' bred in 1847, a son of the celebrated racer 'Touchstone,' 16 hands high, a rich bay." "If he survives the journey I trust he will be the progenitor of the finest and best breed of horses in America." writes the Cap- tain.

The "London Mirror" called him an "entire horse," In a later edition the "Advocate" in May, 1854, says: "Captain Mackinnon's horse, 'King of Cymbry,' bred by Wynn and got by 'Touchstone' and showing a line of Derby, Great Doncaster, St. Leger and other great race winners extending back to 1780." The description of the family required half a column in the "Advocate" to transcribe. On July 3, 1854. the "Advocate" mentions : "Captain Mackinnon arrived in town with the stal- lion, bull and a variety of fowls, with which he hoped to improve the stock of this county."

Town of Neenah.

The town of Neenah lies in the corner against Lake Winne- bago and the western sweep of the Fox river over the Winne- bago rapids into Little Lake Butte des Morts, the several sec- tions along the river being occupied by the city of Neenah, set off from the town. The original town comprised all of Vinland, Clayton and the town of Menasha, as well as the town of Neenah. It was covered with a forest of hardwood timber, bass- wood, hickory, oak, ash, elm and butternut. Most of this has been cleared away and the town covered with beautiful farms with large, handsome homes and outbuildings. There are sev- eral limestone quarries in the town in the Trenton measure, and

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artesian wells can be, had by boring 50 to 200 feet. A stream named the Big Slough crosses the town. Something of the his- tory of the origin of the town and its land sales has been men- tioned in other pages. The Indian title to the lands of the town was taken over by the Government at the treaty of Cedar Rap- ids in 1836, and after survey in 1839 were offered for sale October 2, 1843, at the United States land office, then in Green Bay, excepting the Reservation of Winnebago Rapids, formerly intended as a mission to the Menominee Indians. The offer of the lands for sale remained open until withdrawn, October 14, the sale having been allowed to proceed but twelve days when it was suspended as to these lands until January 12, 1846. The reservation comprised part of the present city of Neenah and described by Government survey all the lands now in the town and city south of the Fox river, two miles south to the south line of the B. F. Rogers place, east to Lake Winnebago and west to La Grange road in the city, and south of Lake Butte des Morts to Sherry street. Part of the reservation was sold to Harrison Reed, as described in the history of the city of Neenah, and De- cember 28, 1846, the remainder of the lands included in the original reservation were offered for private entry.

The first settlers in the town were those who located at the site of the settlement of Winnebago Rapids; but Mr. George H. Mansur, who had been at work in the old Government mills at Winnebago Rapids for Harvey Jones, located in June, 1844, with his family on his lands on the Lake Shore road and became the pioneer of the town. Two years later farms were entered by G. P. Vining on the Ridge road, George Harlow, Ira Baird, Stephen Hartwell and Salem T. Holbrook near by. The town was there- after settled rapidly. A store was opened on the Ridge road in 1847, but after one year was given up and a school opened in the building with Miss Caroline Boynton as teacher. She be- came the wife of Deacon Samuel Mitchell, a pioneer of Neenah in 1846. His farm adjoined the city on the Lake Shore road. He died over twenty years past. and Mrs. Mitchell lived here until her death this last winter, the farm in recent years being occupied as a fruit farm by her son-in-law, Mr. Joseph Reek. The postoffice for the town was at the village of Neenah, and now the town has the rural mail delivery. The postoffice at Snells was established in 1876. The . Northwestern railroad crosses the town with stations at Snells and Neenah. The Wis- consin Central railway parallels the same line through the town

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with stations at Snells and Neenah. The Interurban from Neenah to Oshkosh crosses the town with stops at all places.

The original town meetings for the organization of the town is involved in the history of the city of Neenah and is there de- scribed in full. The original town records are in the office of the city clerk of Menasha. The late Hon. II. E. Huxley, whose beau- tiful place adjoins the city on the highway to Oak Hill Cemetery, was for many years chairman of the town. Mr. F. Gillingham has a large farm in the town. The farms of the late D. Blakely, Gilbert C. Jones and A. W. Collins are under high state of cultivation. Mr. Anthony Miller operates the Snells Station cheese factory, and Mr. H. J. Frank conducts an exten- sive creamery in the city of Neenah. The sales of lands show the average value of $80 per acre.

The population of the town is 617, of whom 45 were born in Denmark, 73 Germany and 394 in this state. There are 7,972 acres, nearly all improved, valued at $552,000. There is pro- duced 39,000 bushels oats, 3,000 barley, 8,000 corn, 5,000 pota- toes and 4,000 pounds of honey, and there are 331 horses, 1.200 cattle on the farms and 880 milch cows, with 4,000 fowls.

On the old C. H. Manser farm, on the shore of Manser's Bay, Lake Winnebago, in the northeast quarter of section 9, there are indications of a rather extensive aboriginal burying place. The graves are scattered over an area of ten acres along the shore of the lake. In excavating at this point in October. 1898, Mr. Harold K. Lawson and others succeeded in uncovering eleven skeletons, an entire pottery vessel and fragments of several others, some carved clam shells, bone awls and a number of flint arrow points. The perfect vessel and the half of another were described and figured by the author in the July. 1902, issue of the "Wisconsin Archeologist." The former is well fashioned of a dark colored clay, shell tempered and decorated about the shoulder and neck with a pattern consisting of incised lines and indentations. The dimensions of this vessel are: Height, 41/2 inches; diameter at the top, 4 inches; at the shoulder. 6 inches; thickness, 3-16 of an inch. The fragmentary vessel is of similar material and is ornamented about the neck with a single row of indentations. Its original dimensions I estimate to have been as follows: Height. 9 inches; diameter at the top, 8 inches; at the shoulder, 10 inches. These vessels are the present property of Messrs. Harold K. and Percy V. Lawson, of Menasha.

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History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People, Part 28

Author: Publius Virgilius Lawson Publication date: 1948 Publisher: Chicago : C.F. Cooper Number of Pages: 773

Author: Publius Virgilius Lawson
Publication date: 1948
Publisher: Chicago : C.F. Cooper
Number of Pages: 773