USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 36
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XXV.
SALE OF THE RESERVATION OF WINNEBAGO RAPIDS TO HARRISON REED-THE ARRIVAL OF THE PIONEERS-THE VILLAGE NAMED NEENAH.
The mission improvements and occupation of Winnebago Rapids ceased after the treaty of Cedar Point, made November 3, 1836, and its history during the period that intervened before the advent of Harrison Reed, in 1843, seems to be a seven years' interval in which the story is lost. The reservation of Winne- bago Rapids was under the War Department and the large amount of personal property must have been left in charge of some responsible person. It was determined by the War De- partment to offer the village, its lands and improvements for sale; and the property was advertised in the western news- papers, to be sold at auction. The official record of the trans- action says: "These lands were sold by the War Department under act of Congress authorizing the sale of the lands, with the improvements thereon erected by the United States, for the use of their agents, teachers, farmers, mechanics and other per- sons, employed among the Indians. Approved March 3, 1843." Mr. Harrison Reed had moved from New York to Milwaukee with his father, Seth Reed, in 1837, a biography of whom is given under the history of Menasha. Harrison Reed had founded there the Milwaukee "Sentinel," now the leading paper in the state; and in 1840 published it as a weekly supporting whig politics, which later became the Republican party. A con- temporary says of him, he was "a good writer, and a patriotic and virtuous citizen." He is said to have sold out his inter- est in this paper to Elisha Starr in 1844. The advertisement of the sale of the Reservation of Winnebago Rapids was pub- lished in the regular course of business in his paper in Mil- waukee, and attracted his attention, and he determined to in- vestigate it. To this end he consulted Judge James D. Doty, then Governor of the territory of Wisconsin, with whom he was acquainted, and who knew the property very well, admitted its value and advised Mr. Reed to purchase it. Acting on this
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advice and his own judgment that it was a good investment, he made a bid for the property at the sale in 1843. To his sur- prise his bid was accepted. The sale was made October 2, 1843. The property was the reservation of 562 44-100 acres of land, with thirty-four log houses, a blacksmith shop, a saw- mill, a grist mill, and all the water power of the south outlet with the dam and canal; also the large amount of tools and implements purchased by the government for use of the mis- sion. Among the personal property there was listed a stock of iron and tools at the blacksmith shop; and a quantity of sash, doors, nails, glass, lumber, carts, wagons, chains, tools, also logs and timber which had been cut and rafted to the mill. It was a whole village put up at auction and practically in- cluded the area of the present city of Neenah, and then sold to Harrison Reed on his bid of $4,760.
Mr. Reed is thus described as remembered by old settlers : "A man of ability, a tireless worker, a great organizer, and fertile in all manner of plans and schemes. He was sociable, attracting and making friends very easily." In personal ap- pearance he was of medium size, thin featured, light com- plexion, blue eyes, thin hair, nearly bald, and being near- sighted, wore glasses. He was thirty years of age when he bought the town. Ile says himself in the "Conservator" that he came to Winnebago Rapids with his family in 1843, the first resident of the future city of Neenah. Mr. Reed was then with his family, almost the sole resident of Neenah. As soon as he was notified of the acceptance of his bid, Mr. Reed wrote to the United States land office to know who was in possession or care of the property, and what steps were necessary for him to take. He was informed that the property was deserted, and as the purchaser he had better take possession at once and look after it. He did not have the means to pay for it, but having filed bonds as required by the government in the usual form to accompany all bids over $500, he was allowed time in which to pay for the purchase; though in the meantime he could not dispose of the land, as title could not pass until the money was paid. He had taken possession of the property expecting that ways and means would be found to complete the purchase.
Mr. Reed moved to Neenah with his wife, a daughter of Captain Joseph Turner and one child in the winter of 1843, crossing Lake Winnebago from Fond du Lac, over the ice. He found Peter Pendleton in the large block house on the lake
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. .
shore, and moved in with him, and remained in this house for nearly eighteen years. It was afterward occupied by Mr. Red- field, and was torn down about 1880. In this house all of Mr. Reed's children were born, except one, and two of them died there, and were buried in the yard. During the following year he had the company of several traders. He found occupying the block houses on the point Smith Moores, a trader among the Indians; Colonel Fuller and Robert Irwin, also traders. Archibald Caldwell was living on the Blair place in a block house and trading among the Indians. Smith Moores afterward purchased land and built a house one mile west of the vil- lage, which was afterward sold and occupied by the Rev. Free- man. Mr. Moores was a man of great force of character, and died of smallpox in 1851, while at a Poygan payment. When Mr. Reed secured the post office in 1844, he had it named "Neenah." The office was at his house. Simon Quatermas was the mail carrier. On his first trip to Oshkosh he was lost in the wet lands near Mansurs. Travel was by water in summer and over the ice in winter. Mr. Reed employed Archibald Cald- well to build a scow or barge for use on the lake. It was forty- five feet long, named the Growler, and was in use many years. A daughter was born to Mrs. Reed in August, 1846, the first white child born in the village, and was named "Nina." Much of the career of Mr. Reed appears in this work; but as his later years were passed in Florida, we will add here that just after the war he went south to Jacksonville, Florida, where he pub- lished the "Semi Tropical," a magazine. Here he became an influential citizen and had high political influence, being at one time elected governor of the State of Florida.
When Mr. Reed came in the spring of 1843, he had with him Mr. Charles Wescott, from New York, who worked for him that season, and was succeeded by Mr. Gilbert Brooks in 1844, many years a resident of this county. Mr. Wescott left Mr. Reed to become the first settler of Shawano and Shawano county in May, 1843, with a company of mechanics destined to erect a sawmill on the Wolf river for Mr. Samuel Farnsworth.
In June, 1843, Mr. George H. Mansur left Buffalo with his family on the steamer Black Hawk, owned and commanded by Captain P. Hotaling. Arriving at Green Bay, they steamed up the Fox river, intending to run the rapids and enter Lake Winnebago. They got as far as the rapids at Kaukauna. "Her stern wheel was taken off and placed on shore, a canvas thrown
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
: tor. es! moved in with him, and remained in this house for wat Higher years. It was afterward aupied by Mr. R.l. held and was torn down about feed. In this house M of Me Road's children were born. acept one, and we of them die! Here and were baried in the yard. baring the following y ar he had the company of several traders. He found onps ... the block houses on the point Smith Meures, a trader auml the Jedians: Coined Fuller and Robert Irwin, also traders. Archibald Caldwell was living on the Blair place in a block house and trading among the Indians. Smith Moores afterwar. i purchased land and built a house one mile west of the vy lag .. which was afterward sold and occupied by the Rev. Fre. . man. Mr. Moores was a man of great forer of character. ari died of smallpox in 1851. while at a Porgan payment. When Me Reed se ured the post office in 1344. he had it pat .L ".Nooneh " The office was at bis heute. Sinon Quaternants was the mati carrier On his first trip to Oshkosh he was lost in the wet lands year Mansurs. Travel was by water in som ." and over the ite in winter. Mr. Reed employed Archibald fall well to build a scow or barge for use on the lake. It was forty five feet long renard the Growler, and was in use many years. I daughter was born to Mrs. Reed in August. 1846. the Air- white chahl born in the village, and was named "Vina. " Mais of the carver of Mr. Red appears in this work ; but as his later Save were passed in Florida, we will add here that just at! " the way he went south to Jacksonville, Florida, where he mag. Tropical a masacho. Hope he became ...
time of god governor of the State of Florida.
.Barna Wieoft. from 'S a York, who worked for ha !: 17
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· Volete Mr Samed Fortworth. :13 Mr. George H Matter lot Bande WAR IN st ...... black Hawk. coned an ! convaried be
wishing to ces the rapids and entes I ..... 1 . as far as the roots & Kankene. V .:
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WILLIAM TRITT.
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SALE OF THE RESERVATION.
over it and the Mansur family moved into the wheel, where they resided for three weeks, during which time their daughter Es- ther was born to Mrs. Mansur, July 17. The attempt to draw the boat over the rapids failed. Mr. Mansur and Captain Hota- ling made a trip around Lake Winnebago and met Mr. Reed at Winnebago Rapids, who prevailed on Mr. Mansur to locate there. A durham boat was obtained from Mr. Reed, and the Mansur family arrived in Winnebago Rapids August 9, 1843. Mr. Mansur set to work to repair the old mills, and managed them until the spring of 1844. Mr. Stephen Hartwell came in 1844 to run the grist mill, and at the same time one Johnson, or Jensen, a Dane, made a claim on lands afterward owned by Mr. Brien, in Sherrytown. He was mail carrier between Fond du Lac and Wrightstown. The post office was established in Winnebago Rapids, March 14, 1844, and Harrison Reed was ap- pointed postmaster. In the summer of 1845 Mr. Gorham P. Vining, from Lowell, Massachusetts, arrived at Watertown and met Mr. George Harlow, and together they walked to Fond du Lac. Vining did not like the level country, and exclaimed that he "was bound to find some place where water ran down hill." He was advised to go to Winnebago Rapids. The means of travel was quite limited. The little steamer "Manchester," built under direction of Captain Peter Hotaling, the previous season by Stockbridge Indians, lay at the water edge, and Vin- ing offered the man in charge $25 in gold to take him over to Winnebago Rapids; but in the absence of the Captain. he did not get the boat. They finally embarked in a large skiff. The first night out they camped near Stockbridge. Embarking again the next morning they crossed the lake, and landed at the residence of Harrison Reed on the lake shore at the end of the present Wisconsin street. Here they met Governor James Duane Doty, who with Mr. Reed piloted the visitors around the village. They were pleased with the prospects and returned to Watertown, where they procured provisions for the winter and came back to Winnebago Rapids overland with an ox team. They set up bohemian quarters for the winter in the log house at the grist mill. Leasing the grist and sawmills they ran them during the winter. This was the only flour mill in the county, and the only one for many miles that could run in the winter, and grists came to the mill from many miles away, as far north as Green Bay, from Stockbridge, and from beyond Oshkosh. It was not an uncommon sight to have 100 different grists in
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
the mill at one time. The settlers would bring their grain to the mill and return home waiting often several weeks for their grist to be ground. All the other mills were situated on small streams which were frozen in the winter; but the Fox river at the Winnebago Rapids never froze over. The agreement on which they operated the mill was to repair the dam and mills, and give Mr. Reed half the tolls received. Stephen Hartwell was engaged as miller. Mr. Reed had run the mills indiffer- ently the previous season; but now they were run regularly. Both lived many years in Neenah, and became successful busi- ness men. Mr. Vining's old home, set back in the trees a mile west of the city on the Vinland road, still stands. Mr. Harlow was killed while leaving the cars at the Wisconsin Central depot in October, 1887. He was then sixty-nine years of age.
This season Mr. Ira Baird migrated to the site of Neenah, in the cold month of December, 1845, with his wife and child, in a farm wagon drawn by three-year-old steers, from Watertown. At Oshkosh, where they arrived at night, the river was frozen over, and there being no shelter, they were obliged to venture over the thin ice or freeze to death. The oxen froze their noses, and Mr. Baird's face and hands were frozen. The cross- ing was extremely dangerous, but there was no other way. Arriving the next day in Neenah they took possession of one of the block houses.
The origin of the name of "Neenah" has been explained in different ways. Pierre Pauquette, the giant half-breed porter at Portage, related to Mr. Michael Brisbois, of Prairie du Chien, the trader, that once Governor Doty was traveling with an In- dian, and pointed to the Fox river, asked its native name. Supposing the Governor meant the element and not its geo- graphical name, responded "Neenah," the Menominee name for water. Governor Doty, supposing this the aboriginal name of the river, endeavored to have it restored.1
Hon. Morgan L. Martin, of Green Bay, wrote of the origin of the name "Neenah," as applied to the Fox river, giving a simi- lar origin. "Mr. John B. Pettival, a civil engineer, sent by Secretary of War J. R. Poinsett, during Van Buren's adminis- tration, to make a survey of Fox river, with a view to its im- provement in 1837, gave it the name "Neenah" in his report. It had never before been known by that name. It is said that he found Indians, when making his exploration between Green '9 Wis. Hist. Colls. 300.
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Bay and Lake Winnebago, from whom he got the word "Nee- nah," by taking water in his hand from the river, and asking them what it was. They answered that it was "Neenah," which was their word for water, and from this circumstance the name was derived and placed by him on the maps of that survey."' In the year 1844, when Harrison Reed secured the post office located at Winnebago Rapids, he had it, as he says himself, named "Neenah." This was before Mrs. Governor Doty arrived to reside in the Grand Loggery. The town of Neenah was not organized until authorized by the act of Febru- ary 11, 1847. Mr. G. A. Cunningham in his "History of Nee- nah," supposes that Governor Doty "took a fancy to the name; or, more properly speaking, the word, and ever afterward ap- plied it to this locality, and in time it became its only name." The origin of the application of the name to the village of Neenah has not come down to us; but if we may venture a guess, it may be supposed the name "Neenah," as given first by Pettival in his maps, and then by Captain Cram in his maps of 1839, to the Fox river, had been seen by Harrison Reed and led to his applying the name to the post office in 1844. There is no evidence that Judge Doty was concerned in attaching this name to the place.
19 Wis. Hist. Colls. 300.
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XXVI.
THE COMING OF GOVERNOR JAMES DUANE DOTY- THE LOGGERY-A CHARACTER SKETCH OF THE STATE BUILDER.
One of the most important of the pioneers of Wisconsin was one of its earliest residents, Judge James Duane Doty. Com- ing to Wisconsin when the warrant of its only court was the jacknife of old Reaumeis, he established law and order; and in its council helped to form first the territory and then the state, and founded the cities of Fond du Lac, Madison and Menasha. Everywhere through the story of Wisconsin for half a century from its earliest settlement days until long after it became a state occurs the activity of Governor Doty, the state builder. During his life within its borders he saw its population grow from 700 to 1,500,000. He never neglected an opportunity to put it forth. No single man ever did so much to promote Wis- consin as Governor Doty. He was but forty-four years of age when he moved to Neenah, yet he had just closed his term of three years as Governor of the territory of Wisconsin. He had the Grand Loggery erected in the season of 1844, and moved into it in 1845.
The island made by the twin channels of the Fox river as it divides into two outlets of Lake Winnebago, and tumbles over the twin rapids into Little Lake Butte des Morts, is a beautiful tract of high land covered by large oaks and elms, of about one mile square in area. The cities of Menasha and Neenah now join on the center of the island at Nicolet avenue. This tract had been long known as Doty Island. The surveys of the river made in 1839, by Captain Cram, name it Doty Island, but when first so named is not known. The lands of the island, as well as north of the Fox river at this point, as explained elsewhere, were purchased from the Menominee in 1831, surveyed by the United States by General Albert G. Ellis in 1834, and offered for sale in 1835, eight years before Winnebago Rapids was sold, and eleven years before title passed to the village of Neenah on the south side. Daniel Whitney, of Green Bay, bought in
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THE COMING OF GOVERNOR DOTY.
the property of the Doty Island plantation August 31. 1835. It has always been supposed that the purchase was for Judge Doty, as the patent was made out to Doty. Whitney also pur- chased ninety acres west of the railroad track, including the present home of Hon. Samuel A. Cook. Mr. Samuel W. Beall purchased 100 acres on the river bank east of the railroad track, including the north end of the present dam.
The "Grand Loggery," as built on the plantation of Gover- nor Doty, is still standing, one of the historic landmarks of Wisconsin. It was a pretentious pile of buildings in those far- off days. It was a double log house, each house set off to form a hallway and vestibule between. This was roofed over, form- ing two upper rooms. A large kitchen .log house was set six- teen feet in the middle rear, and the intervening space was subsequently framed into a large dining room. The cellar was up ground and made of earth covered logs. There was a lean-to made of clapboards at each end of the Loggery. The one on the south end was the china closet, and that on the north end was the library. After the death of the Governor someone came and tumbled his library of 1,500 books into carts, and sold it to the paper mills of Neenah to be ground up into pulp for making paper. His china is scattered among many families up and down the river. Governor Doty had a lattice work in front of the central vestibule entrance, and above this in his day there always reposed a great buck antler, with paddles crossed below it. The well curb near the house in the south angle was covered with a pretty and ornate pavilion. Governor Doty came to live in this home when he left the Governor's chair of Wisconsin, 1845, and left it twenty years later on being appointed by President Lincoln Governor of Utah.
Governor James Duane Doty was born in Salem, New York, 1799. At nineteen years of age he had mastered the study of law and settled at Detroit, where he at once became a favorite of Governor Lewis Cass. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of the territory of Michigan and made its clerk, and the same year appointed clerk to the Legislative Council, and on a visit to Washington was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. Governor Cass made him his secretary and ap- pointed him to command one of the boats on his 4,000-mile canoe voyage around the lakes and through the wilds of Minne- sota, Wisconsin and Michigan. President Monroe appointed him judge of the territory of Michigan west of the lake, Febru-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
ary 11, 1823, at a salary of $1,200 per annum; and he thus became the first judge in the region since made into the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
Judge Doty began an agitation for Wisconsin territory as early as 1824, by drafting a bill to erect the "territory of Chip- pewa" west of Lake Michigan to the Missouri river, and had interested Senator Thomas H. Benton in the bill. The agita- tion for the establishment was continued by Doty for a dozen years until finally successful. In 1827, Doty had changed the name to "Wiskonsan," in honor of the principal river, and this name prevailed in the bill introduced in 1834.
As soon as the first legislature was to meet in Belmont in 1836, Judge Doty, who had become convinced that the four lake region was the proper location for the beautiful capital of a beautiful state, had purchased lands, and secured power of at- torney to control other lands, and joined by Governor Mason of Michigan, who had money, they became proprietors of a princely domain of 1,000 acres about the lakes. In October, Judge Doty formed one of a party of surveyors to lay out the beautiful city of Madison on this property. He brought little baggage, except a green shawl and a shotgun, lodging at night with a half blood St. Cyr. In the next few days they had meandered the lakes and obtained data from which to form the maps. He then hurried away sixty miles to Belmont, where the first territorial legislature was already in session, and com- menced the agitation to make this paper town the future capital of this great state, and no matter how he did it, he succeeded. Doty had given the park on which the capitol buildings now stand. He located and named Madison, and donated the park on which the capital buildings stand and located them, and named Dane county in which the city is located.
Judge Doty was superseded after nine years as United States District Judge, and very soon after, in 1834, was elected by the people to the Legislative Council of the territory of Michigan, which met at Detroit, where he served for two years. After the territory of Wisconsin was organized, he was very soon elected a delegate to Congress, where he served until Septem- ber 30, 1841, when he was appointed by President John Tyler as Governor of the territory of Wisconsin, a position he held for three years. In his first annual message, December 10, 1841, Governor Doty declared for and recommended the building of railroads, then unknown in the state. For many years he agi-
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THE COMING OF GOVERNOR DOTY.
tated the subject of statehood, at first a very unpopular move- ment and everywhere voted down. It got to be called "Doty's Hobby." But by persistent effort it finally carried after the first constitution was voted down. He was a member of the first constitutional convention in 1846. As soon as the state was organized he was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1851. He was appointed by President Lincoln, in 1861, Super- intendent of Indian Affairs; then in the spring of 1864 he was appointed Governor of Utah, where he died June 13, 1865, and was buried in Salt Lake City.
While on the bench Judge Doty presided in the trial of the .
accomplices of Red Bird; We Kau, and Chic-hon sic, for the mur- der of Gagnier and Lipcap in 1828, in the Red Bird or Winne- bago war, mentioned elsewhere. The prisoners were sentenced to hang; but there being no sheriff they were pardoned.
Mrs. Sarah C. Doty, his wife, was born in Whitestown, daugh- ter of General Oliver Collins, a soldier of the Revolution and war of 1812. She was married to Judge Doty in 1823, and went with him to live at Green Bay, where he erected a frame dwelling house. She was a typical lady of the frontier, adapt- ing herself gracefully to all its inconveniences, and learning to enjoy the life; frequently making long canoe voyages over the Fox and Wisconsin river between Green Bay and Prairie du Chien. She lived with Judge Doty in Washington, while he was in Congress many years, and afterward spent three years at Madison as the first lady of the Territory. The official life of the Governor did not take him away from home quite so much after the Grand Loggery became their home, and here they enjoyed real home life, keeping open house to all comers, and a friendly hospitable board, a memory of whose enjoyment long lingered with those fortunate enough to have visited there. After the death of the Governor, Mrs. Doty returned to the Grand Loggery, and then took up her residence with her daugh- ter, Mrs. John Fitzgerald, in Oshkosh, where she died February 20, 1871. Her sons, Major Charles and James, both resided in Menasha, and were in part founders of the town. Major Doty married a sister of W. N. Webster and had his home on Broad street, where he raised a family; and in 1875, moved to Alton, Illinois. James never married, went out west in 1854, with Governor Stevens to lay out a railroad route to the Pacific and treat with the Indians. Arriving in Astoria he was drowned.
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