USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 31
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
The first grouser towboat built was a cheap affair, and the logs were towed up by horses, four horses on a sweep, and was known as Hume's Horse boat. Mr. Aaron Humes, a son of the inventor. built the first steam winch grouser boat. It was named the "Swan." Mr. Humes operated it a short time, then sold it to parties in Neenah. As soon as it was demonstrated that the grouser boat was a success, Mr. Nelson Beckwith, son- in-law of David Humes, and Mr. W. C. Dean commenced the erection of a sawmill. Mr. Beckwith withdrew and built another mill in 1849. Among the newcomers of the period were Colonel Tuttle, Dr. McAllister, Andrew Wilson, L. O. E. Maning, A. Corfee, William Hammond. The original plat of the village was laid out in 1849, by Joel V. Taylor, Elisha Dean, and Nelson Beckwith. The river was crossed by a ferry boat; but in 1850 Colonel Tuttle built a float bridge over the river at the foot of Main street. The steamer Badger is said to have been the first boat to come up river. It appeared in 1850, bringing several people to join the settlement. The first store opened in the town was by Mr. N. Frank, and Mr. C. Bigelow, who put up a building at the end of the bridge for the purpose. Of the extent of business operations in town at that time, it is related that a load of wood was brought to town for sale. Late in the day, finding no purchaser, the farmer started for the river to throw it away, rather than draw it home; but some one came out and offered him a pint of whisky for the load, which he accepted. The first hotel was erected in 1850, on the site of the present Larrabee House. There was a sawmill erected on the north side of the river in 1851, by Hiram Johnson. It was burned in 1866; but restored at once, and operated for many years afterward. The schools were instituted in 1850-51. Mr. Henry Purdy was the teacher, and the building was located near the present High School building. The Methodist church was erected in 1855, the Baptist church in 1866 and the Catholic church the same year. Mr. Andrew Wilson erected his saw- mill on the north side of the river in 1856. The same year the great event for the village was the erection of a flour mill, by Mr. McLaren. This was the means of drawing considerable trade to the town. The village charter was granted in 1857, and at the first village election Mr. W. P. McAllister was elect- ed president. The project of a railroad was pushed, and dur- ing the summer of 1857 the town and village took stock to the extent of $90.000, which was pledged and paid, insuring the
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
:. ! grouser towhoat built was a cheap atfair, and the wed up by horses, four horses on a surep. and was Blade's Hierse boat. Mr. Aaron Humes, a son of the : git the first steam winch grouser boat. It was san." Mr Iwas operated it a short time, then . rus in Nornab. As soon as it was demonstrated 11 roter boat was a shevess, Mr. Nelson Beckwith, son- " David Humes and Me W. ( Dean rammeneed the of a sawmill. Mr. Beckwith withdrew and built acer mil in 1849. Among the newcomers of the period we Golong Tunk. Dr. McAllister. Andrew Wilson. L. O. F. Many A. Coffee. William Hammond. The original plat of the vilay a was laid out in 1849, by Joël V. Taylor, Elisha Dean, and Notse Beck with. The river was crossed by a ferry boat: but it Is00 Colonel Tottle built a float bridge over the river at the foot of Main street. The stemmer Badger is said to have been the first boat to come up river. It appeared in 1950. bringing several people to join the settlement. The first store opened in the town was by Mr. V. Frank, and Mr. (' Bigelow, who put up a building at the end of the bridge for the purpose. Of the extent of business operations in town at that time. it is related that a load of wood was brought to town for sale. Late in the das sinding to niechaser, the farmer started for the river to throw it away, rather than draw it home ; but some one came out and wered ham a pint of whisky for the load, which he wpis The first het i was tre ti led on the site of its pret Larrabee House There was a sawmill erected ou
burning in lote: bis Bestand at one and operated for many
Honey Pune was ab cacher, and the bautding was located near ... .From High School line The Methodist church was in LaJn the Baptist church b. Lors and the Catholic
Me very Waisen erected his saw. : ii: Show river'n is The same year the 1,
The these charter was granted in 1ST.
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coming of the railroad essential to the improvement and advance of any village. The last rail was laid January 1, 1861. The villagers paid for the depot. The float bridge was purchased by the town of Omro for $800, the village agreeing to keep it in repair. It was now opened free to the public. Mr. George Challoner built a shingle mill in 1863. This was afterward used by Thompson & Hayward for a carriage factory. The "Omro Union," the first newspaper, was established in May, 1865. The machine shop of George Challoner was built in 1866. Mr. Challoner had invented a shingle mill which after- ward became famous, and the leading machine in America for the manufacture of shingles. A number of years ago the shop which was built of stone, was moved on barges down river and set up in Oshkosh. The ten block shingle mills made by the Challoner Sons, became the leading mill used for the manu- facture of shingles. A spoke factory was put up by Good- enough & Utter in 1866. Sheldon & Allen built a broom han- dle factory. Scott's shingle mill was built the same season .. Hon. Hiram W. Webster built his fine sawmill in 1866.
The Omro Journal has been published by the veteran editor, Mr. Platt M. Wright, since 1876. It was established in May, 1865 as the "Omro Union" by S. H. Cady, and in 1876, pub- lished as the "Journal" by Kaine & Wright. Mr. Wright has been sole proprietor since April 1, 1877. He was born in Wrightstown on the Fox river, Wisconsin, son of Hoel S. Wright, who settled in Brown county in 1833, and gave his name to Wrightstown. Mr. C. HI. Slocum publishes the "Omro Herald." The hotels are the Larrabee House and Northwest- ern Hotel.
The Baptist Church was erected in 1866. The first pastor was Elder Theodore Pillsbury. The membership increased to 125. Elder O. W. Babcock, of Neenah, was in charge in 1881. The Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1859, but not com- pleted until 1866. The pastor in 1881 was Rev. Jesse Cole.
The Presbyterian Church was organized May 10, 1851, by Rev. L. Robbins. Their church, erected in 1867, cost $3,500, but has since been improved and enlarged. Rev. F. Z. Rossiter was pastor in 1881. The Episcopal mission was in charge of Rev. Charles T. Susan, rector, in 1881. The Catholic church, St. Joseph, was built in 1866. In 1881 it was in charge of Father Mazzeaud, as a mission attached to Berlin; but in 1896
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
it was in charge of Rev. M. Kelleher, as a mission of the Poy- gan church.
Hon. Milo C. Bushnell, so long a prominent citizen of the town and village of Omro, and so often representing them away from home that he becomes a part of their history. He came from Vermont, where he was born in 1824, to the town of Omro in 1846, among the earliest pioneers of the town and county, and took up lands at $1.25 an acre, on which he erected a log house. In a few years he moved into the village, taking an active in- terest in civic and moral affairs. He was a member of the county board for fifteen years, treasurer of the township five years, and on the school board twenty-seven years. Several terms chairman of the township and supervisor for a good many years. He was elected to the Legislature in 1867, and re- elected. It can be honestly said of him that he was an es- teemed citizen.
In the Civil War the village and town was well represented by stalwart sons. The companies mostly recruited from Omro were Company C of the Fourteenth; A, of the Forty-eighth, and F, of the Eighteenth regiment, as well as members of the Third Cavalry. Company C was recruited in the fall of 1861, mus- tered into the United States service January 30, 1862, and left the state March 27. David Hinman was the first of the Omro contingent to be killed. William W. Wilcox, commissioned October 8. 1861, was captain, and resigned March 16, 1862, giv- ing place to Absolom S. Smith, commissioned March 17, 1862, Captain, and afterwards promoted to Colonel. Lieutenant Colin Miller died May 23, 1863, from a mortal wound received in the assault upon the works at Vicksburg the day before. Asel Childs took his place under commission December 9, 1864. The Fourteenth Regiment was divided in 1864, the non-veterans being transferred to the army under General Sherman, the veterans re-enlisted were assigned to the Seventeenth Army Corps before Vicksburg, and then on the Red river expedition. In the western campaign they marched on ten days' rations 324 miles in nineteen days, building two bridges and fording two rivers.
Company F, of the Eighteenth Regiment Infantry, Colonel James S. Alban, were mustered in January 20, 1862, at Camp Washburn, and departed from the state March 27, 1862. Cap- tain Joseph H. Roberts, commissioned January 13, 1862. Lieu- tenant George Stokes was taken prisoner at the battle of Shi-
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loh, Tenn., April 6, 1862, but was afterward promoted to Chap- lain. William A. Pope, who took his place in April 1, 1864, was reported missing in action October 5, 1864. George A. Topliff was Second Lieutenant, succeeded by Francis M. Carter, July 4, 1862. This regiment participated in Sherman's movements for the relief of Chattanooga, and with the Army of the Cum- berland helped make a thrilling page in the history of the civil war.
The Third Cavalry, partly recruited at Omro, and contained a large number of men from this place, was commanded by ex-Governor Colonel William A. Barstow. It was mustered into the service from November 3, to January 31, 1862, at Camp Barstow, and left the state March 25, 1862. In reading over a list of the commissioned officers of this regiment of cavalry, there appears the names of many men who have distinguished themselves in the civie and business life of the state. In Kan- sas, Colonel Barstow was appointed provost marshal general of Kansas, and the command was given over to Major Henning. They were in the campaign west of the Mississippi river, with the army, doing scout duty and engaging in many of the numer- ous battles, some of them with Quantrell's famous band of so- called guerillas, who gave no quarter. killing their prisoners. At one battle the guerillas captured the whole regimental band, who were non-combatants, and killed all of them, even burning their bodies, so the official report records. During the last of the war Company A of the Forty-eighth Regiment was re- cruited in Omro, composed almost entirely of men from Omro town and village.
Town of Oshkosh.
The town of Oshkosh occupies with the city of Oshkosh the triangle of land which lies between Lake Winnebago and Big Lake Butte des Morts, containing 8,600 acres of land. all under cultivation except 700 acres, the smallest amount of unused lands of any of the towns. The cash value of these lands and their improvements is $900.725. The surface is elevated above the lake and generally level. The soil of the southeast is a rich vegetable mould, and south and west clay loam. Gla- cial escars of gravel and sand are frequent, affording material for excellent highways. The land was formerly occupied by scattered hardwood belts of timber. black and white oak and hickory.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
According to the census of 1905, the crops consist of 2,000 bushels of wheat, 52,000 oats, 9,000 barley, 35,000 corn, 4,000 tons of hay; no rye is raised. The people possess 351 horses, 1,182 cattle, 665 hogs, 5,600 hens, which produced $5,600 worth of eggs; 1,153 milch cows produced $21,000 worth of butter.
The pioneers of the town were Yankees and New Yorkers; but many foreigners have taken over much of the land in later days. The population of 1,797 is the largest number living in any of the towns. It is made up of 1,234 native born, which, excepting Rushford, is the largest number of native born in any of the towns. There are, however, 563 foreign born, which is the largest number in any of the towns. It has a German population of 270, which is more than in any other town. The nativity of some of its citizens not included above is: Ireland, 38; Norway, 39; Sweden, 24; Canada, 26; Poland, 15; Den- mark, 36; England, 17. The town contains more German and Irish than any other, and is only beaten in Scandinavian popu- lation by Winchester.
The evolution of the town by depletion and addition of terri- tory has been explained in another place, continued from 1840 down to February 8, 1856, when the present area of the town became permanent except for frequent additions taken in by the city of Oshkosh. Long before this, however, the town was set- tled by an ever-increasing population. The first to settle on lands within its present limits was J. L. Schooley, who moved on his land in the fall of 1839 (on section I. T. 18, R. 16). He afterwards moved to the city of Neenah. Ira F. Aiken located the same fall near what is now the Asylum landing on the lake shore. Wm. C. Isbell settled in 1840, on section 6. He was frequently given prominent and responsible offices in the county and moved before 1878 to Fremont on the Wolf river. Dr. Christian Linde, afterward a prominent physician of Oshkosh, arrived from Denmark in 1842, and first took up lands in this town where, with his brother Carl, who came with him, they purchased of Colonel Charles Fuller, 280 acres of land, which is now occupied by the Northern Insane Asylum. Here they erected a log cabin for their home.
Samuel L. Brooks moved in 1842, locating on section 25, until 1846. when he moved on to the old Brooks homestead. IIe was a land surveyor, and laid out many of the roads. Mr. Jeffer- son Eaton entered on his lands, now partly occupied by the Asylum. in 1843. IIe was born in Herkimer county, New York,
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in 1820, and moved west with his family, arriving in Oshkosh by team. He remained on his farm the remainder of his life, and died there August 4, 1882. Ilis son, M. H. Eaton, was born there and became a prominent attorney at the city of Oshkosh, where his son, Leo Kimble Eaton, is also a prominent attorney. Charles Derby, born in Downpatrick, Ireland, in August, 1819, arrived in the town in 1849, the pioneer of the Irish settlement. He had $1,500, earned in Massachusetts as a machinist, and he purchased a pre-emption right to his farm. He built the sec- ond frame house in the town. With Oliver Libbey and S. S. Keese they erected a school building. Mr. Corydon L. Rich purchased his dairy farm in 1845, commencing work in the spring of 1846. He died there March 24, 1886. This family has always been one of the most prominent in the town.
The Northern Insane Hospital, the county Insane Hospital, and the county Poorhouse, are all located in this town about four miles north of Oshkosh; but have been described in detail in another place. The lands in this town were purchased from the Menominee Indians, September 3, 1836, at the treaty of Cedar Rapids; surveyed by David Giddings in 1839, and of- fered for sale in April, 1840, the lake shore region being pur- chased by non-residents for speculation. The first post office was the Oshkosh village office, which was the first in the county, established in 1840, with John P. Gallup as postmaster. In June 2, 1847, the Vinland post office was established, with Samuel L. Brooks as postmaster, a position he retained for more than thirty-nine years. The northern portion of the town of Oshkosh, two miles wide, was from 1849 to 1856, part of the town of Vinland, and was then assigned to the town of Osh- kosh. The change in jurisdiction brought this post office into the town of Oshkosh. A post office, named Winnebago, was es- tablished at the asylum June 26, 1876, and William W. Walker was appointed postmaster. When the town in 1855 was not so large as now, it contained but one school house of seventy- seven scholars. There are three school buildings now in the town. A large town hall is located in the center of the town at the crossing of two principal highways. No town contains so many elegant and substantial residences and farm buildings. There is one store at Winnebago conducted by W. M. Walker. There is a church on the ridge road which crosses the center of the town. The Northwestern Railway crosses the town with two lines of road with a station at Winnebago. The Wisconsin
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Central crosses the town, with a station at Winnebago. The Interurban street car line crosses the town on the ridge road. A stage line crosses it on the Winneconne road.
Island Park is in Lake Winnebago off the shore of the town of Oshkosh. It was formerly known as Pe Sheu or Wild Cat's Island, prior to 1813, since then to recent times as Garlic Island; and is the only island remaining above the waters in the lake. The story of the bold warrior chief, Pe Sheu, who had his vil- lage there, is related in another place in this work.
The corn hills of the Indian village are still visible on the island and on the mainland adjacent. On the south shore of the island there is a cairn made of boulders, now about thirty inches high, and about fifteen feet diameter, supposed to mark some aboriginal burial. On the lakeside shore there lies an immense black trap rock about which are gathered legendary lore.
On the farms north of the asylum there seems to have been an aboriginal graveyard, from which have been recovered ves- sels, clay pipes and other relics. Some of these have been illus- trated in the Wisconsin Archeologist. There was also a ceme- tery at Sunset Point on Big Lake Butte des Morts. Near by on Plummer's Point on the property of Levi Plummer there was a round mound on the southeast quarter of section thirty. It was twenty feet diameter and thirty inches high.
Town of Poygan.
In the town of Poygan the lands did not come into the mar- ket until 1852, and it was the last town to be taken over from Indian occupation and ownership. On the shore of Lake Poy- gan, which borders the whole north line of the town, the ancient tribe of Menominee Indians made their last home in the county. Their principal village under Grizzly Bear was located on sec- tion 16 in the town, and it was at this place where the annual payment was made to the tribe by the government, and the loca- tion became known as the Pay Grounds. These payments. under the treaty of Cedar Point, made by Governor Henry Dodge as commissioner, September 3, 1836, by which all the lands south of the Wolf and Fox rivers in the county passed to the United States, reserved to the Indians the lands north of these rivers and provided for certain payments annually to be made to the Menominee. Their head chief was Oshkosh, who was a strong-minded, bright old chief.
The annuities provided for in the treaty to be paid each
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summer in June or July, was under the treaty of Green Bay of 1832, $1,000 annually. Under the treaty of Cedar Point of 1836, the amount was increased to $23,750, annual cash pay- ment; but changed by the Senate on ratification to $20.000, to be paid annually for the term of twenty years. These annui- ties were given for a cession by the tribe to the United States of all their rights to. 4,000,000 acres of land. "The United States further agreed to pay and deliver to the said Indians, each and every year during the said term of twenty years the following articles : $3,000 worth of provisions; 2,000 pounds of tobacco; 30 barrels salt; also $500 for the purchase of farm- ing utensils, cattle or implements of husbandry, to be expended by the superintendent," also appoint and pay two blacksmiths and furnish the iron and steel for them, as mentioned in the history of Winneconne. It was also agreed to pay the just debts of the Indians amounting, if proven to be $99,710.50. The further sum of $80,000 was to be divided among the mixed bloods.
It was the distribution of the articles and payment of cash at the pay ground in the present town of Poygan, from the time of the making of this treaty in 1836. until the making of the treaty of 1848, giving up the lands north of the Fox and Wolf rivers in the county, a period of some twelve years, that drew to these annual payments an adventurous crowd of all classes of society then on the frontier. People came to these payments from all parts of the county, and along the river as far as Green Bay on the one side and Portage on the other. There were traders like Grignon, Porlier, Powell. Archibald Cald- well and Smith Moores from this county, and John Lawe and Daniel Whitney from Green Bay, who came for the collection of their just accounts for the credits of the Indians during the year. Then there was the peddler and vender of flash jewelry. beads and colored scarfs, who came to attract the Indian to their wares. Then the gambler, the sport and the hanger-on of the frontier came to play his game, and all of them came to get their share of the money of the Indian, and they all met with fair success. The agent of the United States was usually guard- ed by a company of soldiers, who made some show of protect- ing the Indian. Temporary eating houses and boarding places were improvised and the scene was one of thrilling, exciting life, the forest was alive with the hum of its activity. After the treaty of 1848. the Indians remained on the site of Poygan for
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
a number of years, as they were not satisfied with the western lands provided, and became finally settled on the reservation at Keshena, where they remain. The land of the town is rich loam, and it is one of the finest farming sections in the county. There is no railroad communication in the town; but depots at Omro and Winneconne are close at hand.
The town was originally a forest of hardwood, which is cleared away now, excepting an occasional wood lot. The roads are good, and the town is under a high state of cultivation, with fine farm buildings. At present the town has a popula- tion of 686, of whom 477 were born in this state, 32 in Ireland, 79 in Germany, 22 in Canada, 22 in England, and 20 in Russia. There are 14,000 acres of land in the town, of which 10,000 acres are improved, and valued at $1,000,000. The annual crops raised are 2,200 bushels of wheat, 55,000 oats, 8,000 barley, 25,000 corn, 20,000 potatoes, 3,000 apples and 4,000 tons of hay. In stock the thrifty people possess 384 horses, 2,400 cattle, 3,400 hogs, 1,000 sheep, 1,200 milch cows, and 6,000 fowls. The sales of lands show the average cash value of $73 per acre.
The town has six school houses, a church and a town hall. The first pioneer was Mr. John Keefe, who still resides on his lands near Poygan post office. He made a cruise through the town in 1848, and staked out the site that he intended to enter as his future farm as soon as the lands were open to settlement. Having located in Waukau with his family, he remained there until the spring of 1849, when he moved into the town and set up a shanty on his claim, title to which he could not obtain until it was surveyed and 'open to sale in 1852. His son Charles was the first child born in the town, in February, 1850. In the fall of 1849, Mr. Thomas Mettam moved in with his family, and found Mr. George Rawson and brother, Jerry Caulkins, and Thomas Robbins, who had all just moved into the town. Mr. Thomas Brogden and Henry Cole, with their families, Richard Barron, George Burlingame, Joseph Felton, Jonathan and David Maxon and Reed Case, all came very soon after. Phi- lander IIall, James Heffron, James Barron, William Johnson. G. and S. Wiseman, II. Scofield, William Tritt, and E. B. Wood settled in 1850; and the following spring Mr. Micheal O'Reilly came. Later Mr. M. Killilea settled. His son is now a promi- nent attorney located in Milwaukee.
The pioneers had a difficult task to maintain peace with the Indians, who had made the treaty selling these lands, but were
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
M. Kelleher officiated. The resident priest also attends mis- sions at Omro and Winneconne. There are possibly more peo- , ple of Irish descent in this town than any other in the county, unless it was the town of Menasha in its older days.
Town of Rushford.
The town of Rushford is generally level and the soil is a rich clay and sandy loam. The Fox river runs through the town, and is crossed by bridges at Eureka and old Delhi. The higher grounds were originally covered with "oak openings." North of the river there formerly existed a forest of maple, but- ternut, hickory, basswood and ash. Flowing wells are easily obtained by drilling about fifteen feet deep along the shore of the river. Waukau creek runs through the south part of the town north into the Fox river.
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