USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 37
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Governor Durkee, of Wisconsin, his successor as Governor
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
of Utah, said in his message to the Legislature that he was pleased "to hear testimony to his superior ability as a states- man, and his many virtues as a citizen." It was at his own request that his body should repose in Utah, where he was buried. General Albert G. Ellis, a long time friend, said of him : "He had the advantage of a fine commanding figure, open, intelligent and pleasing countenance, and most winning address. You were his friend at first sight."
Governor Doty is described to the writer by S. S. Roby, a pioneer with him in Menasha, as a tall, heavy man, with black hair and black eyes. He always wore a tall hat. Mrs. Doty had black eyes and hair. She was not as tall as her husband.
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XXVII.
COLONEL HARVEY JONES BUYS THE VILLAGE OF NEENAII.
There has been much said of the Rev. O. P. Clinton in another place, and as the investment of Colonel Harvey Jones in the property composing the reservation of Winnebago Rapids was directly due to the missionary something more may be said of his movements. Of his life in Neenah he has said: "My first visit to the place was in December, 1845, when I was hospitably entertained by Harrison Reed, Esq., and his agree- able lady, at their block house during my short stay. I saw at a glance the importance of the locality, and at once inter- ested myself in directing attention to it both by personal con- versation and written reports. In the month of March, 1846, I removed my family from Lake Mills, Jefferson county, to Winne- bago Rapids, occupying a block house on the point near the out- let of the lake, and the following Sabbath held religious ser- vices at my house, which was the beginning of religious meet- ings in Neenah. I then represented the American Home Mis- sionary Society as a missionary for Northern Wisconsin. My preaching places for that season, regular and incidental, were Oshkosh, Rosendale, Springvale, Waukau, Rushford, Strong's Landing (now Berlin), Fond du Lac, and Neenah. To compass my circuit required four weeks, making my regular service at Neenah every fourth Sabbath, the intermediate Sabbaths being occupied with Sabbath schools and reading meetings. In the early part of the summer of 1846 we renovated an old block house, which we found without floor, door or windows, and ap- propriated it to church and school purposes. In this house the lamented Deacon Mitchell was married in a public congre- gation to his estimable wife, Miss Caroline Boynton, a former pupil of mine. Those were days of small things, of sacrifices, privations, and earnest work, and yet days of sobriety, friend- ship and peace. Our gatherings were seasons of warm, friendly greetings, with the pioneer grip which none but first settlers can appreciate.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
"My first missionary year in northern Wisconsin cost me drives in all of about 7,000 miles, affording me the opportunity of preaching about 200 sermons. Nearly all the supplies for my family were hauled from Oshkosh in my buggy, on my monthly return trips, over horrible roads, always taking an axe along to chop around the seemingly bottomless mud pits. Little rest and no rust in those pioneer times.
In an early day one Jones, of Welsh extraction, or some other honorable nationality, dropped into our settlement and pro- posed to start a respectable brewery. Some questions arose be- tween the proprietors of the soil and the would-be brewer, as to the site of such an institution. John Kimberly, Esq., had chosen Neenah as his home and he was thought to be a com- petent adviser in this grave matter. The question was there- fore proposed in a business-like manner : 'Mr. Kimberly, where do you think would be the best site for a brewery ?' The char- acteristic reply was, 'In h-1, sir!' But this opinion of Mr. Kimberly's was overruled by other counsel, who thought the machine could be run more successful in Neenah. And so it was erected upon the beautiful banks of the Fox river, in full view of Mr. Kimberly's residence.
"In the autumn of 1847, I moved into Governor Doty's house, on Doty Island. The following summer a bear put in an ap- pearance on the opposite point. Taking a gun, I paddled my dug-out across below, and cut off his retreat. Discovering his danger, he artfully crept from my sight, took to the water and struck for the island, and Mrs. Clinton, seeing Bruin's pros- pects of escape, with stones and clubs, and terrific shouting, kept him at bay until an Indian reached the scene of excitement and dispatched his bearship. The Indian complimented Mrs. C. as best he could, calling her 'brave squaw.' One evening a hugh panther came prowling around our premises, uttering the most terrific screeches. Several shots were fired at him in the twilight, some of which evidently took effect, as a young panther, a short time after came out, moaning, in a starving condition, and was shot and killed by one Thomas McGhan, then in my employ. Deer were quite plenty, and the island was a favorite resort for them. I killed one near the present site of the Northwestern depot. We occasionally had a bear hunt on a small scale. On one occasion I had a fine sight of one and my gun missed fire, but he was soon halted by Lom Hart's sure fire. Judge Wheeler killed one with a shotgun. So you
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COL. HARVEY JONES BUYS NEENAH.
see our fresh meat markets were flush, if somewhat scattered, consisting not only of deer and bears, but coons, squirrels, rab- bits, pigeons, pheasants, etc., to say nothing of fish and water fowls, which were abundant.
"But I am taking your patience. I could tell you of our early navigation; of the little steamer "Manchester," which could run to Oshkosh, almost as soon as a boy could walk it. Also how we landed women and children from the sailboats in a brisk wind and storm, some on horseback and some on human back. Ask Mrs. Enos how she was taken from a boat in front of my house, when she was a young lady. I could also tell you of missionary tours to Oshkosh and Stockbridge in a dugout. But I hear you say enough such, and I am of the same opinion. Yours in remembrance of old times."
Rev. Clinton had made the acquaintance of Loyal H. Jones, who then lived at Prairieville, now Waukesha, engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. Knowing that Clinton was about to make a trip to the frontier settlements, Jones requested him to note any favorable opportunities for investing in new lands, and in- formed him that, should he find any good location, with water- power and other requisites for building up a town, he should like to know it, as his brother Harvey, who resided at Glovers- ville, N. Y., thought some of investing in western lands. Stop- ing with Reed on his first visit to the place, Mr. Clinton was soon made acquainted with the circumstances in which the for- mer was placed, and upon Clinton's informing him of the re- quests and wishes of Mr. Jones, Reed at once made Mr. Clinton the bearer of a proposition to Jones. The time having nearly expired which had been allowed Mr. Reed to, close up his bar- gain with the United States for the Reservation, and he being unable to do so, and not having found anyone to help him, he was exceedingly anxious, the more so, no doubt, as he had con- verted to his own use much of the personal property, and in con- sequence of failure to pay for the same, he or his bondsmen would be called upon to make good all which he had used or disposed. of.
This was the condition of affairs when Mr. Clinton arrived, and Reed proposed that he should return and report to Jones. and to say that if his brother would furnish the purchase money he would deed to him one-half the entire property of Winnebago Rapids, with the exception of the farm then occupied by Reed. . and the place now known as the Blair farm. These two places,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
with an undivided one-half of the balance, Reed wished to keep as an offset to the advantages offered Jones.
Mr. Clinton returned to Waukesha and informed Loyal Jones of what he had found, and his description of the property and the advantages offered were such as to induce the latter to in- form his brother of it, and urge upon him to secure the trade. Harvey Jones, being favorably impressed with the plan as pro- posed, sent Perrine Yale to accompany Loyal Jones, and the two acted as his agents to look the property over and get the best terms possible from Reed, and submit the same to him. In con- formity with this plan, Jones and Yale came to Neenah in May of 1846, and being pleased with the site, and satisfied with the representations and propositions of Mr. Reed, they partially ef- fected an arrangement, whereby Harvey Jones should furnish the money required to secure the property in due form of the government. Shortly after this Harrison Reed went to Glovers- ville, N. Y., the residence of Harvey Jones, and there, in the month of July, 1846, the trade was finally consummated, and the money furnished, with which Reed went to Washington, paid the amount of his bid on the property, with the interest which had accrued, and received his patents for the lands.
Colonel Harvey Jones was born in the village of Kingsbor- ough, New York, June 22, 1805, son of Asa and Lucy Jones; farmer, of Connecticut parentage. After enjoying the advan- tage of the district school he entered mercantile pursuits and engaged in the real estate business, and being fairly successful, he had finally located in Gloversville, New York, where he en- gaged in manufacturing gloves, had a store and dealt in real estate. Colonel Harvey Jones made his first visit to Neenah in September, 1846, accompanied by his wife and son, Gilbert C. Jones. He remained until spring, and during most of the time boarded with Mr. Reed, and later moved into the block house near the mills, with Loyal II. Jones. Mr. Harvey Jones began at once on his arrival to make improvements on the prop- erty. by deepening the raceway to the two mills, working him- self in the mud and water with the men. The grist mill was repaired under the supervision of Mr. HI. A. Burts, Mr. Burdick and Mr. Nelson Danforth, who afterward ran the grist mill. Harvey Jones returned to Gloversville to close out his business affairs there, preparatory to moving west for good. He met here with the sad affliction of the death of his wife, and soon after his father died. In the fall he returned to Neenah and
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COL. HARVEY JONES BUYS NEENAH.
was busy maturing plans for the development of the water power and other interests, repairing the old mills, and made plans for a new sawmill. He made generous offers to those who would build and improve property, in some cases giving the lots free, or selling at nominal sums. The Yale and Jones store was erected on land given them, and James Ladd had the lot on which the Winnebago hotel was built; the first hotel in town, and still standing, for $60. Mr. Harvey Jones took up his residence in a block house near the council tree, living with Mr. Charles Yale, a brother-in-law. Mr. James Ladd, Deacon Samuel Mitchell and Mr. L. S. Wheatley arrived in March, 1846, from Dodge county, traveling with a team to the south bank of the river at Oshkosh, crossing the river by the ferry and walking over the Indian trail to Neenah. This same year there arrived in the settlement Mr. Lucius A. Donaldson, Cor- nelius Northrup, Corydon P. Northrup, Philip and A. B. Brien, Milton Huxley and family, John F. Johnston, Henry C. Finch. Thomas and Joseph Jourdain were then living in the block house across the lake, and Archibald Caldwell was living on the Blair place with an Indian wife. Others who came this year were W. H. Scott, A. Jenkins, Salem T. Holbrook, D. C. Darrow, Alex. Murray, Wm. M. Stewart, Jud. Thompson, Ben Strong, H. Conrad, John T. Sanbourn, who lived in the block house that stood on the site of the John R. Kimberly colonial home on Wisconsin street.
XXVIII.
TOWN OF NEENAH ORGANIZED.
From the beginning of the settlement the people of Neenah had trecked over to Oshkosh to vote, and her citizens had been given office and treated very well. At one time Harrison Reed. had made a strong bid for the county seat for his town, but was outvoted and then favored Butte des Morts. The political rights of the village were now to be exercised nearer home, for on February 11, 1847, the Legislature had passed a law erecting several broad towns in the county, and one of them was named Neenah. It comprised the region since set off into Vinland, Clayton, the present town of Neenah, and the town of Menasha. The village of Menasha did not contain any in- habitants at that time, but was settled very soon after. The first town meeting was called for April 6 of the same year at the mill house of Loyal H. Jones, in Neenah. As this was the very first civic gathering in this part of the county, we copy here the proceedings in full. These proceedings, with those of many succeeding years, in some manner came into possession of the city of Menasha, and are systematically filed by years, and can be readily consulted.
"Neenah, Winnebago Co., April 6, 1847.
"The citizens of the town of Neenah, assembled pursuant to the law at the house of Loyal H. Jones, and organized town meeting by the appointment of Cornelius Northrup as Moder- ator, and Harrison Reed as Secretary.
"On motion, Resolved that we now proceed to determination of the number of townships, and officers that shall be elected for the year ensuing.
"On motion, Resolved, that there be three Justices of the Peace, three Constables, and three Assessors elected for the en- suing year.
"On motion, Resolved, that there be a tax of one hundred dollars raised for roads and bridges for the year ensuing.
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"Resolved, that a tax of twenty dollars be raised for the sup- port of the poor for the year ensuing.
"Resolved, that a tax of two hundred dollars be raised for defraying the expenses of the town for the coming year.
"Resolved, that the compensation of the officers for the year be fixed at seventy-five cents per day.
"On motion, Resolved, that the overseers of highways be . elected viva voce.
"The meeting proceeded to elect commissioners of highways, District No. 1. comprising town 20, Range 17, Matthew N. Bos- worth. District No. 2, comprising Town 20, Range 16, Benja- min Strong. District No. 3, comprising the northwest quarter of Town 19, Range 16, Alvin Partridge. District No. 4, north- east quarter of Town 19, Range 17, George H. Mansur.
"On motion, the minutes now read and sanctioned by the meeting.
"On motion, adjourned.
"Cornelius Northrup, chairman."
As an evidence of the manner in which people had crowded into this region, the names of the people whose names are re- corded as actually voting at this first town meeting is given as copied from the poll list of April 6, 1847.
Poll List of Actual Voters at First Election in Neenah, and Canvass of Vote.
J. Axtell. Phillip Brien, Albert B. Brien, S. G. Berdict, Luke Brien, Ira Baird, Jas. Beaty, M. N. Bosworth, Wm. M. Berry, .D. Brownell. Gilbert Brooks, Burr S. Craft, Denial Church, John Clark, St. Clair Calder, O. P. Clinton, Archibald Caldwell, Jas. D. Doty, D. C. Darrow, Lucius A. Donaldson, George Dick- inson, L. H. Dickinson, Wm. W. Frost, IIenry C. Finch, P. J. Howe, Alford Hubbard, David Hewes, Thomas Jourdain, L. H. Jones, John Largest, Wm. Libby, Charles Libby, Jas. Ladd, Ebenezer Miller, David Montgomery, Alexander Murray, Geo. H. Mancer, Dan. Mitchell, Peter McClearand, Cor. O. Northrup, C. P. Northrup, Peter Pendleton, Alvin Partridge, C. M. Peters, Benj. Proctor, John Porter, Oliver B. Reed, Harrison Reed, David H. Robinson, H. H. Robinson, Seth Reed, M. A. Seymour, John T. Sanborn, Wm. Searles. Erastus Seymour, C. C. Shekel, Benj. Strong, Truman Thompson, Oleon Thompson, J. Thompson, Gor-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
ham P. Vining, H. Wheeler, Solomon Willard, L. S. Wheatley, E. J. Wells, Perrine Yale.
We, the undersigned, having been duly elected inspectors of the election held on the sixth day of April, 1847, at the Mill house of Loyal H. Jones, in the town of Neenah, according to law, do hereby certify that on canvasing the votes given at said election it appeared that there were forty votes given for the constitution of the State of Wisconsin, and twenty-seven votes given against it. That there were thirty-four votes given for colored suffrage and thirteen votes against it. That there were forty-four votes given for a tax to construct a portage road from Winnebago Lake to the foot of the Grand Kaukaulau; and none against it. There were thirty-seven votes given against licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors, and fifteen votes given for it. That James D. Doty received thirty-nine votes as chairman of the Board of Supervisors of said town of Neenah. That Harrison Reed received twenty-three votes as said chairman; and that James Ladd received fifty-five votes as supervisor ; Salem T. Holbrook received fifty-five votes as super- sivor; Perrine Yale received fifty-six votes as treasurer; David M. Montgomery received fifty-six votes as town clerk; James D. Doty received fifty-five votes as commissioner of highways; George H. Mansur received fifty-five votes as commissioner of highways; Alexander Murray received fifty-five votes as commissioner of highways; Lucius A. Donaldson received fifty-nine votes as a justice of the peace; Samuel Mitchell received fifty-nine votes as a justice of the peace; Alfred Hub- bard received fifty-nine votes as justice of the peace; Milton Huxley received fifty-five votes as a school commissioner; Eras- tus Seymour received thirty-seven votes as a school commis-, sioner; Harrison Reed received eighteen votes as a school com- missioner ; John J. Sanborn received fifty-five votes as a school commissioner; John M. Filley received fifty-three votes as assessor; Cornelius Northrup received thirty-five votes as assessor ; Loyal H. Jones received thirty-three votes as assessor; Lucius A. Donaldson received twenty votes as assessor; James Ladd received nineteen votes as assessor; Corydon P. North- rup received fifty-nine votes as constable; Gilbert Brooks re- ceived fifty-four votes as constable; Alvin Partridge received fifty-two votes as constable; Phillip Brien, George Arnold, Will- iam M. Berry received each fifty-three votes as fence viewers. Luke B. Brien received thirty-six votes as collector, and G. C.
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TOWN OF NEENAH ORGANIZED.
Vining received ten votes as collector. All of which we do cer- tify according to the statute, under our hands, the sixth day of April, A. D. 1847.
Cornelius Northrup, J. D. Doty, John . T. Sanborn,
Inspectors."
Orlando B. Reed, Michael A. Seymour, Clerks."
Those who were assessed on the tax roll in the town of Nee- nah, as owning lands in and about the region afterward set off into the village of Neenah, were: II. Reed, on 656 acres, in sec- tions 20, 27, 28, 29; Mr. Neff, 574 acres, all of section 16; James Ladd, 160 acres, in section 17; A. Caldwell, 160 acres, in sec- tion 20; Van Ness Potter, 80 acres, in section 20; Ira Baird, 120 acres; Harvey Jones, 59 acres, in five different sections; Thos. Jourdain, 43 acres, in section 21; estate of S. Hartwell, 40 acres, in section 28; E. Everett, 80 acres, in section 28; L. S. Wheatley, 160 acres, in section 28; II. L. Blood, 80 acres, in section 29; G. P. Vining, 80 acres, in section 29; P. Pendleton, 120 acres, in section 29; Wm. Frost, 80 acres, in section 30; Charles Doty owned nearly all the west half of Doty Island, 213 acres. James Doty owned forty acres now in heart of city of Menasha. The amount of tax certified to the treasurer to collect was $118, for county tax; $44 for territorial tax; $318 for town tax, making a total of $481, to be collected. There was no personal property tax, and there appears to have been no assessment for improvements, but all were assessed in equal amount per acre, which was $103 for every 40 acres, on which the tax to be paid was $1.68. The total tax paid by Colonel Harvey Jones in 1847, on the whole village of Neenah, with all the block houses, the two mills, and canal and dam was $25.12. As the lands sur- rounding Neenah had only come into the market in 1846, this assessment roll shows that the lands of the region comprising now the towns of Vinland, Clayton, Menasha and Neenah, were nearly all entered by actual settlers within the one or two years.
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XXIX.
PIONEERING IN THE OLDEN DAYS-BEGINNINGS OF SOCIAL, MERCANTILE, CIVIC, SCHOOL AND CHURCH ACTIVITY.
Perrine Yale and Loyal Jones were given lots on Wisconsin street, corner of Walnut, to build a store, into which they moved their stock of goods. The upper floor was finished off and became the hall for amusements and long used for public wor- ship on Sundays and for some time used as a public school room. These were the pioneer merchants who opened a store in one of the block houses near the mill in 1847.
The first white child born was Nina Reed, in August, 1845, and in October the same year the first white boy was born, Mr. Aleric Duane Clinton, son of Rev. O. P. Clinton. He was born in the block house near the council tree. Mr. A. D. Clinton is now the editor of the "Menasha Record." The first marriage oc- curred in May, 1846, in the block house near the council tree, when John F. Johnston married Miss Jeanette Finch, a sister of Mrs. Clinton, with, all the settlement present to witness the ceremony, performed by Rev. O. P. Clinton. In the following year Henry Finch married Miss Brien, on July 4, under the coun- cil tree, when all the villagers again assembled, and Rev. Clinton said the words.
The little village was saddened one day by the death of two of the pioneers, Stephen Hartwell, the miller, and Johnson the Dane, the mail carrier. Hartwell was intending to visit the East and had arranged his affairs, leaving Gorham P. Vining in charge of his cabin. He was then quite ill. He started for the boat landing, but his malady was so severe that he died in a few days. The Dane died the next day. Both died of the ague. They were buried near the Hill of the Dead, on the opposite shore of the lake. The funeral procession, composed of the entire population, crossed in boats. In the absence of a minister of the gospel the services were conducted by Governor Doty and Gorham P. Vining. Governor Doty made the funeral address, and it is related by those present as being a most eloquent
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tribute to the pioneer and the sacrifices he made to extend the frontier of empire. The first religious service was at the home of Harrison Reed, in 1845, by a Methodist minister bound for Green Bay, with only a few people present. The more regular services were commenced by Rev. O. P. Clinton in the spring of 1846 in a block house near the council tree, where Rev. Clinton resided. Very soon after Rev. Clinton, assisted by several good deacons, fitted up a log house, built by Smith Moores in 1845, for a chapel by replacing the floor and placing plank seats. This was also the first school house in town, and Miss Carolina North- rup was the first teacher. It was a private school. In the fall of 1847 the first public school was begun, taught by Mr. Lambert, an itinerant dancing, singing and school master. In about a month he was replaced by William Dennison, and the following summer Miss Northrup taught the school.
The first village plat was recorded by Harrison Reed, Sep- tember 8, 1847, and the act was passed authorizing the building of the new dam, which was begun this year by Harvey Jones.
James Ladd was induced to build a hotel, as it was difficult to lodge the strangers coming to the village and there was no place for the workmen on the improvements to board. He first erected the barn on Walnut street and moved into it and took fifty boarders, besides keeping the travelers who came that way. He says: "We often had to bake a barrel of flour in a day." They used the barn during the summer of 1847 while the Winnebago House was being built on the corner of Walnut and Wisconsin streets, still standing, the first frame house in town. At one time there were thirteen different languages spoken under its roof. The work on the dam brought many laborers that year and travelers were constantly arriving to take up lands. For the lime used in the building of the hotel Mr. Ladd erected a lime kiln near the present library building and burned lime from stone taken out of the river. Afterward he erected a kiln on his farm near the Blair Springs, in which he burned lime from surface limestone and sold it. This was the source of the lime used in the erection of Lawrence University. For the brick with which he built the chimney of the Winnebago House he dug out enough from the remains of the old mission brickyard, opened on the foot of Doty island by the contractors under the Govern- ment in 1834, the first brickyard in the county. The lumber for this hotel was cut at the local mill from logs felled in the town of Menasha, and the shingles were shaved shooks and run three
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