USA > Wisconsin > Door County > History of Door county, Wisconsin, together with biographies of nearly seven hundred families, and mention of 4,000 persons > Part 11
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CORRECTIONS.
extensive area of intense cold ever recorded in the United States.
Regarding the fall of snow, there is a very wide gap between statements. In the northern part of the county the fall of snow was heavier than in the southern portion. In the south- ern part the deepest snow was about three feet four inches on a level, and in the northern part about four feet-the average perhaps being three and a half feet on a level in the woods. Snow drifts from six to fifteen feet were not uncommon scenes. But putting it at the heighest it was a light touch when com- pared with some other sections of the State and northwest.
It is now the first of April, and there is still two feet of snow on the level in the woods. However, it is evident that winter is relaxing her icy grasp, and ere another four weeks roll by we may well expect the arrival of the much-longed-for spring.
CORRECTIONS.
On pages 56 we give some facts concerning "The Town of Chamber's Island," that was organized in 1859. The records show that it was disorganized in the same year, but further investigation goes to show that it remained a town for nearly ten years.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, Page 113 .- Though first organized in 1865, the first County Fair was not held untill 1869.
COLD WINTER, Page 99 .- The old settlers disagree concerning the "cold winter," some stating that it was the winter of '62-3, while others are "sure it was '63-4."
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THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871.
soil covered their bones! The iron tongue of a bell did not mark the event, but the human tongue of a Northern wife yet quivers in remembrance, and tears enough have been shed to moisten the baked dust that covers graves a thousand miles away! The soft southern breeze that sways the wild grass over a father's grave, fans the brow and lifts the curls that cluster around the head of fatherless daughters in Door county! But nature commands all things, and by the same law she invig-
orates life, destroys an existence. The sorrowing bird
sings just as sweetly after grief, and the human family is of like nature. * A number of the men who enlisted from this county returned, and still reside here, being among the most respectable citizens. They are quite old now, and in some instances their hair has turned as white as the record of St. John. Long may they live to enjoy the blessings of peace in a Union they helped to preserve!
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871.
The year 1871 will long be remembered in the annals of Door county-in fact in the history of the whole Northwest. The year was one of unusual destruction throughout the country -- the loss was pretty evenly divided between the mishaps of water and fire. On the lakes hundreds of lives was swallowed up by the mighty waves, and vessel wrecks were strewn at intervals from Chicago to Buffalo. On terra firma, forest fires raged most furiously-particularly was this the case in north- eastern Wisconsin. The fire was general, but Door, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties suffered most, although a corner of Brown county received quite a severe blister. As this brief history is but a local affair, we shall particularly give facts of the fire that was encircled within the limits of this county.
The main reason why the fire was so destructive was on account of the long and continued drouth. Previous to '71 no extensive drouths had visited this section. Refreshing and growing rains were as regular as the planting seasons. But in 1871 irregularity took the place of regularity, and cultivated lands became parched and cracked-as is often the case in treacherous frontier States. The great loss of life was much owing to the unsettled state of the county. Ten years ago clearings were small and far between. Those who bought land and had started a farm were generally men of meager means. Not a few settled upon homesteads, with their pocket- books much contracted for want of dollars. Under these cir- cumstances it could not be expected that rapid progress would or could be made in as heavily timbered a country as this was. Many of the settlers, in hewing a farm from the forest, had to
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
"eat it as they went." That is, when they cut a tree, they worked it up into shingles, shaved out by hand, split it into boalts, barrel staves, or some other marketable product. The marketing or hauling was generally done on rude carts, drawn by cows, and oxen, and when close pinched, by man and wife. The little jag or load was traded for groceries and supplies, which were carted home and sustained life while more trees were felled and worked into marketables. Thus was the pro- gress of settling and clearing a farm in Door county from 1855 to a decade later. True, when the year 1871 dawned, the settlers had made considerable progress, and let a good deal of the light of civilization into the dense forests, but the depri- vation and hardships they had to contend with for long years, made their progress slow, and they were entirely unprepared- not being protected from forest fires by large clearings. With clearings small, and far between, imagine the position of the settlers that were in what is now known as the "burned dis- trict!" Up from the highways that were usually moist-yes, muddy-rose huge columns of dust, looking like smoke or clouds; swamps and marshes that for years before were covered with water, were traversable in 1871.
It is a hard matter to get at the origin of the fire, for the blaze was general. The first start might have been lit from sparks of some land clearer's log heaps; or the smouldering coals of some camp fire might have been fanned into a blaze by the wind. Once started, and with the whole country as combustible as a powder magazine, no other result could be looked for than was experienced. By the middle of September matters really looked serious. The swamps were on fire; corduroys and wood structures were burning, and fences being reduced to ashes. No rain came, but the fire ser- pent kept rapidly crawling forward and covering the bosom of the forest! So intense were the flames that the running fire burned out the heart of large maples, and the sturdy old trees that had held out against all assaults for a century or more, toppled over and added fuel to the flames. Gnawing at the roots, and feeding on the tops of the trees, the fire spread miles each day. The whole atmosphere, for many miles around, was oppressive to inhale. At night the sight was dis- heartening. The whole heavens, around the horizon were aglow, and the dark red, as seen through the smoky atmosphere, seemed to be an indicator of some great calmity soon to take place. Days went by, and the settlers fought the fire and saved their property as best they could. Saturday, October 7th, the fire took a new start and brisked up, but in a few hours lulled again, and hopes were entertained that the worst was over. Sunday, (or "sad day," as it was afterward termed)
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THE GREAT FIRE OF IS71.
October 8th, the morning dawned with no perceptable change. In the afternoon the wind was quite fresh, and contiued brisk until late in the evening, when there was a sudden change. The wind had evidently gone to rest, as is frequently the case in summer time-but there seemed to be something unnatural about the stillness! In a few minutes there came a gust of wind, followed by a loud roaring. Here (Sturgeon Bay) the night was dark, but toward the west and south-west (the direc- tion from which came the roaring) dense clouds were notice- able. Then a flame shot up, and the heavens seemed to be on fire! Flames were visible but a few minutes, and traveled with great velocity in a southerly direction. After the first large flash or flame, a glow was visible, but at times almost hid by the huge columns of black smoke. The terrific roaring of the wind at a distance, together with the noise of falling timber caused the stoutest hearts to flutter. The night was made more hideous by the startling cries of birds, flying frant- ically in all directions. Time dragged on, and morning dawned. During Monday reports of distress came in from all portions of the country. North of Sturgeon Bay the fire had done much damage, but to the Westward, in Nase- waupee and portions of Gardner townships, a tornado had passed through, dealing death and destruction on every hand -a little place known as Williamsonville, was completely wiped out of existence, but on Monday evening a drenching rain set in which lasted for several hours, and completely stayed the further progresss of the great fire of 1871.
Tuesday, October 10th, in company with several others, the writer of this sketch started for the "tornado district," with a mule team well loaded with supplies for the destitute ones. The road was filled with burnt, and burning trees and at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon a distance of only four miles had
been made toward Williamsonville. It was evident that to get the team to Williamsonville (six miles distant) would consume the time of at least another day; hence a portion of the crowd loaded themselves with what they could carry, and set out on foot, while the team re-traced its steps. The jour - ney was dreadful! The odor of wild birds and animals, together with that of hogs, cattle and horses that had been roasted alive, mingled with the dense smoke of burning tim- ber, was almost stifling! Some portions of the road were blocked with trees nine deep-burning and smouldering, mak- ing the journey both slow and difficult. Williamsonville was finally reached-the sight was the most horrible imaginable! Dead bodies were strewn in all directions, and most all burned beyond recognition. Something like thirty-five bodies lay in one heap! Some had one or both legs burned off; another was
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
an arm, while still another had the head or other parts burned to a crisp-men, women, and children composing the pile. The fleshy substance that remained uncharred, was cooked through, and when moved would fall into pieces! Added to the most affecting sight, was the almost unbearable odor that arose from the burned bodies that had been moistened by the drenching rain! Nearly ten years have elapsed since that. terrible sight, yet it is as fresh in memory to-day as the date it was witnessed - the great black trees stand out now as visionary mourning statues as they stood in reality October 11th, '71.
Williamsonville was a little settlement established by the Messrs. Williamson, in the dense forest a few miles South of Little Sturgeon-the manufacture of shingles being the main pillar upon which rested the foundation for forming the set- tlement. A mill, store, boarding house, large barn, black- smith shop, eight dwelling houses, and minor buildings made up the settlement-all of which were reduced to ashes. From 76 to 80 persons were in the settlement at the time of the fire, and all perished in the flames except seventeen. Out of eleven of the Williamson family, but two escaped-Thomas and his mother. We interviewed several of the survivors, and all told, in substance, one and the same story. The clearing of Williamsonville was small-some six or seven acres. For a week or two they had been fighting the flames, and setting back-fires, "and began to feel pretty safe." In the evening a heavy puff of wind came, leveling trees in all directions; and what seemed to be the reflection of a big fire bounded up in the south, or south-west. Then came another heavy gust of wind, and with it a sheet of fire that rolled along over the tree tops; then sparks came down as large and thick as rain drops. In a few minutes the buildings were all on fire, and the strife was to save life instead of property. A general rush was made for the vacant part of the clearing, known as the potato-patch. It was there that the thirty-five dead lay in one heap, and it was within ten feet of where lay the thirty-five that the old lady Williamson sat with a wet blanket over her, and was saved. A woman whose head rested against the lower part of Mrs. Williamson's blanket, was roasted to death. Thomas Williamson was saved by wrapping himself in a wet blanket, and rooting face downward, into an old ash-bed. Out of the seven that got into the well, two perished. Beside the human lives that were lost, sixteen out of seventeen horses, and five out of six oxen burned to death, beside some forty hogs, etc. One of the most shocking reports, was concerning two men that endeayored to kill themselves by pounding their head against a stump, while they were fairly roasting!
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COUNTY MYSTERIES.
Re-tracing the tracks from Williamsonville to Sturgeon Bay, the first place where the buildings were still standing, and where there was any signs of life, was Mr. Daley's place-a distance of five or more miles. From Daley's to town a num- ber were burned. In fact, a vast amount of property through- out Nasewaupee township was licked up and carried out of existence by the fire, and a number of lives were lost. Gard- ner, Union, Brussels, Forestville and Clay Banks townships also were severely scorched, and the lives of some of the inhab- itants were saved by digging holes deep in the earth, and then crawling into the pits. The scenes that followed in the path traveled by the fire and tornado, beggars all description, and one might as well break off citing incidents first as last, for thousands had a hand in the battle, and each one saw or experienced some particular thing that the others did not. Although the timber districts of the whole North-eastern part of the State were more or less ruined by the fires, the tornado dealt its heaviest blow at Williamsonville, this county; Rob- insonville, Brown county; Sugar Creek, Peshtigo, Menekaunee, and Marinette, Oconto county. It was estimated that in the circuit about 7,500 persons were rendered homeless. The catastrophy not only resulted in great loss to life, buildings, roads and fences, but some of the best farming lands were burned to barrenness.
But as sunshine follows storm, so did humanity soothe the blistered, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. From all over the State-from nearly every State-even from Europe came assistance, and by mixing the assistance with hardships, the unfortunates "pulled through." To-day, those who have not passed from earth, are standing on their own feet; com- forte surround them, and the meat they eat is sweeted by the bitter experience they endured in by-gone years.
MYSTERIES.
THE SUNKEN ISLAND.
From Mrs. Josephine Graham we learn some particulars concerning the so-called"sunken island" in the vicinity of Port du Morts (Death's Door). Mrs. Graham states that the Island was situated in Lake Michigan, about five miles South east of Rock Island, and known as "Little Gull," because of its whiteness and appearance of a gull at long range. The Island was irregular in shape-being about fifty feet in width by one hundred feet in length; was entirely a formation made of small stones-ranging from the size of a walnut to rocks weighing several pounds. By no means was the Island a place of vegetation, for not even grass grew upon it. In the sum-
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
mer of 1846 or '47 Mr. Graham built a fish shanty or house on "Little Gull," to be handier to his nets that were set "out side" (which phraze means that the nets were set out in the lake several miles from Rock Island). Into the small fish pal- ace, on the island of sea pebbles, Mrs. Graham went and cooked for her husband during the summer months, but as fall approached and Old Michigan began to froth, the inhabi- tants of Little Gull returned to Rock Island, where terra firma was more extended. The next season Little Gull was too small to even "squat" on-having diminished a good deal dur- ing the winter. It continued to grow smaller each year, and long years ago disappeared below the surface of the water. Then the spot was referred to as the "outside shoal." Still the work of "going down" continued, and small sail crafts, of light draft could navigate over the shoal. A few years ago the water over the shoal was of a depth sufficient to hide the appearance of a shoal, and a large steamer suffered a heavy loss by grounding on the bar. To-day the once dry island is covered by fathoms of water. By the superstitious it is claimed that the disappearance of Little Gull Island is a mys- tery, and that the neighboring Islands have also settled a num- ber of feet. Land marks prove the latter statement untrue, while the mystery connected with the "sunken Island" does not seem to be difficult to solve. The fact that the little island was entirely formed of small stones-unquestionably heaped up by the sea-it does not seem unreasonable to suppose that the same power that rolled the stones up, could also level or roll them down again.
THE BERTHOLF MYSTERY.
Among other incidents connected with the early history of the county, was the mysterious disappearance of one H. B. Bertholf in August 1857. Messrs. Bertholf and D. H. Rice (better known as judge Rice) entered into partnership for the purpose of cutting and shipping cedar, such as fence posts, telegraph poles, raiffoad ties, etc., and had purchased quite a large tract of land a little South of Rowley's Bay, where they were to build a pier, and go into the business-on an exten- sive scale, as it was deemed in those days. Mr. Rice was at the proposed field of operation, awaiting the arrival of Mr. Bertholf, who was on his way (a foot) with the necessary funds for starting the enterprise. After leaving Sturgeon Bay, no definite traces of his whereabouts have ever been ascertained, though at about that date a man stopped at Clark's fisheries at Whitefish Bay, and some of the old settlers are of the belief that the man was Bertholf. But if such is the case, the mys- tery is as profound as ever, for there all traces end. In the Green Bay Advocate, dated October 29th, 1857, the following
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COUNTY MYSTERIES.
letter appears, as correspondence from this vicinity:
"On Monday, the 24th of August last, Mr. H. Bertholf, whose family reside in Kenosha, left Sturgeon Bay to go to Bailey's Harbor, on the lake shore, since which time he has not been seen or heard of by his friends. He started to go from Sturgeon Bay across the portage to the Lake Shore, intending to go by that way, stopping the same night at Whitefish Bay, and go on to Bailey's Harbor the next morn- ing. The men at I. S. Clark's fishing station, at Whitefish Bay, have some recollection of a man stopping at their shanty about the 24th of August, and their description in part corresponds with Mr. Bertholf, but after canvassing the matter over carefully with them, it is consid- ered very doubtful about that man being Mr. Bertholf, and many here have come to the conclusion that he has not been seen since he left Sturgeon Bay on the 24th of August.
The first intimation the people here had of his disappearance, was the arrival of his son at Sturgeon Bay in the latter part of September in quest of his father, the family becoming alarmed for his safety, not having heard from him since he left home in August. A search was at once instituted by the son, who visited every settlement along the Lake Shore from Sturgeon Bay to Rowley's Bay, but with the exception of the above mentioned supposition of his having been seen at Whitefish Bay, no traces of him could be found. He was known at all the set- tlements and was expected along by several people, but no one had seen him, and the son returned to Sturgeon Bay.
Rumors were afloat of the sudden disappearance of a gang of fisher- men from a point on the Lake Shore where Mr. B. must have passed, and several of the citizens at Sturgeon Bay, with the son, went over to investigate it, which resulted in the fact that the fishermen did not arrive here for a week after Mr. Bertholf should have passed their camp.
Since then Mr. F. Robinson, son-in-law of Mr. B., has, with the assistance of many of the people of Door county, been searching the shore and the woods without success. A reward of $600 has been offered by the city of Kenosha for the recovery of his body and the apprehension of the murderers, should he have met with foul play. The whole matter is still involved in profound mystery-whether he has been murdered or met with an accident in the woods, is a ques- tion yet to be solved. He was known to have had considerable money about him to enter lands which he was then going to select, but this knowledge, it is believed, was confined to but very few of his friends.
Mr. Bertholf was widely known in this region, as having been con- nected with Gardner's mill at Pensaukee, and for the two last years has had charge of Bradley's mill at Sturgeon Bay. Since Mr. Robinson left, the search in the woods has been continued without success, but all here still hope that the body may yet be recovered, and if he has been murdered, the perpetrators of the horrible crime brought to justice.
Dated Sturgeon Bay, Oct. 24th, 1857.
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
Early in the fall of 1879 a skeleton was found in P. G. Hib- bard's clearing, town of Jacksonport. The bones were un- earthed a few rods from the lake, near the creek running through the north end of Jacksonport. Being more or less decomposed, it was evident that the skeleton was aged, and the Bertholf affair was at once brought to notice. The more the matter was talked over the stronger public opinion grew in the belief that it was the remains of the man that mysteri ously disappeared in that vicinity in 1857. Bertholf had in his head some filled teeth, but all search (after the finding of the skeleton) for such minor parts, was without effect. One day a year later, or in 1880, after a heavy rain, Mr. Hibbard happened to be near the place in his clearing where the skele- ton was found, and thought he would take a look at the place of excavation. The soil was sandy, and the rain had wrinsed and exposed many small bones, and among them Mr. H. found several teeth; one of them hollowed out, and looked as if it had been filled some time years before. After further search he found a small lead bullet-bruised, and badly blackened with age. The last two finds were sufficient to convince Mr. H. that the skeleton found was that of Mr. Bertholf, and that he had met his death by foul play. On either side of the creek used to be a dense thicket, and Mr. Hibbard is of the opinion that Bertholf was about to cross the creek, when he was shot in the back, robbed, thrown into a hollow, and his remains covered with sand or earth. It is also stated that the watch Bertholf used to carry, found its way to a Michigan pawn shop, and was afterward recognized. At any rate, by many the belief is strong that the skeleton found was none other than that of the man Bertholf who so mysteriously disap- peared twenty-three years ago. Further than supposition, the mystery is unsolved, and still sleeps on with the multi- tude of unknowns.
THE PRESS.
The organization of the county; townships within its bor- ders, and many incidents, etc., have been narrated in preced- ing chapters of this sketch, and we now turn our attention to the advancement and improvements of the county. In the latter part of this nineteenth century, the press stands on one of the pillars upon which rests the first principle of civiliza- tion, and it is the press that acts as a lever to start the great balance wheel which steadies the public mind; keeps in motion mechanical man, and drives the business of the world! Hence, we will first mention the press, in chronicling the advancements.
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THE PRESS.
The first newspaper published within . the limits of Door county, was the Door County Advocate, established March 22d, 1862, and published by Joseph Harris, Sr., and a Mr. McCord. A short time afterward Mr. Harris assumed the sole control of the paper. The subscription price was then, as now, $1.50 per year. A copy dated December 29th, 1864, is at hand. At the "mast head" is printed: "Joseph Harris, Editor; W. L. Abbott, . Local Editor." The paper was a five-column folio, well filled with news. and made particularly interesting by a column article headed "Savannah Captured." I . 1866 Mr. Henry (better known as Harry Harris) purchased an interest in the paper, and it was then published by J. & H. Harris. Under their supervision the paper was enlarged to its present size- a seven column folio. In April 1875, Mr. Frank Long, who had been in the office from boyhood, purchased the Advocate, and is its present owner. The journal, from its foundation, has been considered, in politics, a Republican organ. Since established, the Advocate has received from the county, for printing, $14,915.93.
In 1873, October 24th, the Expositor was established by Pinney & Co. It was a four-column, eight page quarto, and opened up newsy, with the brightness of a sunbeam in a clear summer's morn. It was Independent in politics-in fact, the paper was given encouragement by men of all parties, irres- pective of party; it being deemed that a second paper was greatly needed in Door county. After a time, Mr. Geo. Pinney became the sole proprietor, and in 1876 the paper was a Demo- cratic sheet, supporting "Tilden and Reform." In May, 1877, the paper changed hands-and was bought by its present owner, Chas. I. Martin, a young man residing in the county from boyhood, and who was the first "printer's devil" in the office. With the changing of proprietors came a difference of opinion, and the paper stepped back to its first love, viz: Inde- pendent-in religon favoring no particular creed, and in poli- tics heeding no party lines. In the election of 1880 the Expos- itor published all three tickets and platforms, but personally, the editor favored Weaver & Chambers: on local affairs the journal championed the principles of men, not party. In June, 1880, the Expositor was changed in make-up to the pre- sent style, an eight column tolio, equipped with a new and improved newspaper press, engraved heading, new type, etc., and is much the largest paper published in the county. Since established, the Expositor has received from the county, for printing, $2,679.23-competition, of course, reducing printing rates.
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