USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 5
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Sympathy of higher classes and government officials in England was in favor of the Confederacy at the outset of the Civil War. "They have made an army -more than that they are making a Nation," said Gladstone, British statesman. Britian's financiers purchased $10,000,000.00 worth of Confederate bonds in the spring of 1863 when the cause of the South looked favorable. The North had no way of trans- porting troops from the interior to the Canadian line in the event of trouble with the Indians, spurred on by friends of the South.
Thus on March 3, 1863, Congress passed an act ap- proving the construction of a military road from the points mentioned. Public lands were granted to Wis- consin and Michigan to aid in construction.
The Wisconsin legislature, April 4, 1864, accepted the grant of land and Commissioners were appointed by the state to lay out the said road, advertise for bids
1-There is a birch tree growing on section 14, Township 32, Range 13 East on which United States surveyors placed the date 1858,
22
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
and let the contract to the lowest bidder. All work was paid for in grants of land, three sections for each mile of completed road.
James M. Wintlow secured the road contract from the Commissioners on August 24, 1864. He trans- ferred it over to the U. S. Military Road Company, a corporation, organized under Wisconsin laws. This company assigned the contract to Jackson Hadley, transfer being approved by the legislature. March 2, 1867, Hadley died. He had completed thirty miles, of the road from Fort Howard. Ninety sections of land were turned over to Mrs. Augusta Hadley, wife, and administratrix of the deceased's affairs. July 30, 1867, the administratrix turned over the 90 sections of land granted her by the state to A. G. Crowell. Previously, on July 18, 1867, Mrs. Hadley entered into a contract with John W. Babcock, A. G. Crowell and G. N. Fletch- er, assigning to them all interest in the road not con- structed.
John W. Babcock entered into a contract with the Commissioners August 24, 1868, to construct the in- completed road in accordance with terms made out with Jackson Hadley. Meanwhile Congress extend- ed the time of completion of the road from August 24, 1868 to March 1, 1870. Babcock completed 521/2 miles of the road by January 1, 1869. He then en- tered a contract with Alanson J. Fox and Abijah Wes- ton of Painted Post, N. Y., giving them half interest in the road incompleted. On February 20, 1870, the Commissioners certified to Governor Fairchild that Babcock, Fox & West had completed the unconstruct- ed portion of the road commencing one-half mile from the 82nd mile post and ending on the state line, sec- tion 5, township 42, north of range 11 east, within time limited by Congress.
Amolons G. Crowell and heirs were granted 38,017.17 acres of land in Langlade County (then part of Ocon- to County) in even numbered sections.
The Military Road enters Langlade County in sec- tion 32, township 31, range 15 east, runs in a north- west course through Elton, Langlade and Ainsworth townships, entering Forest County from section 4, township 34, range 12 east. More than any other wagon road, "the old militaire" opened up a vast ex- panse of the Wolf River country to early traders and stimulated and increased the momentum of the great lumbering industry in eastern Langlade County.
While the stated intent of the Military Road was for military purposes in defense of the nation, old Langlade County woodsmen, who worked in the pineries for Ex-Senator Philetus Sawyer and other well known Wisconsin lumber kings of a half century ago, refute this. They insist that the Military Road was a land and timber conspiracy.
PIONEER SETTLERS OF 1880.
Most of Whom Settled Along the Historic Military Road.
The historic Military Road opened up the wild north to a great number of new settlers. By February, 1880, New County had approximately seven hundred
settlers. Their names are given herewith from the original census as taken then. Because most of them were in the eastern section of New County, with a fair number in Norwood and Springbrook (Antigo) townships, they are given in this section as follows :- Joseph Cruger, Mrs. Joseph Cruger, Mrs. M. A. Scott, Jane E. Scott, Mary C. Scott, May Scott, Loly Scott, Agnes Scott, Joseph Quimbey, Mrs. J. Quimbey, Min- nie Quimbey, George Scott, Mrs. M. Scott, Hattie Scott, George Sherin, Mrs. George Sherin, George Sherin, Jr., John Emiland, Mrs. John Emiland, Hatty Emiland, A. O. D. Kelly, Mrs. A. O. D. Kelly, Alsina Kelly, James Brenan, Pat Byrnes, Emil Brenan, Mrs. Pat Byrnes, James Atwood, James Atwood, Jr., Mary Atwood, Eugene Toplin, Alexander McMartin, Mrs. A. McMartin, Bur McMartin, Daniel McMartin, Mrs. Elizabeth O'Connor, Charles O'Connor, Peter O'Con - nor, James O'Connor, Mary O'Connor, Dominic Gold- en, Mrs. M. Golden, Bridget Golden, Anna Hughes, Robert Sheriff, Joseph Sheriff, Anna Sheriff, Charles Sheriff, Nicholas Hawley, Robert Webster, Mrs. Ro- bert Webster, John Jones, Josephine Eldridge, Mrs. J. Eldridge, Thomas Eldridge, Mr. and Mrs. "Doc" Olm- stead, Harry Olmstead, W. J. Olmstead, Caroline Olmstead, Susan Olmstead, Charles Beemer and wife, Eurica Beemer, James Beemer, William Beemer, Eras- tus Beemer, Rauf Beemer, Walter Beemer, Robert Beemer, H. E. Baker, Mrs. E. Baker, Ella Baker, Lola Baker, Ephram Stephens, Mrs. Ephram Stephens, Charles Stephens, Mary Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Jos- eph Moser, Sarah Moser, Isaac Nobles, Mrs. I. Nobles, Thomas Nobles, Albert Nobles, Luther Nobles, A. Nobles, Meranda Nobles, William Miller, John Evans, Mrs. John Evans, Lyman Wax, Joseph Wax, Michael Wax, Henry Wax, August Wax, "Baby" Wax, Frans Compton, Mrs. Frans Compton, Sada Compton, H. Compton, Clark Waldreth, Elizabeth Waldreth, Mrs. C. Waldreth, Harvey Gee, John Gee, William Jones, Mrs. W. Jones, William Stark, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Starks, Mrs. William Starks, Mr. and Mrs. M. Muller, Beca Muller, Mary Muller, Baby Muller, Mr. and Mrs. W. Schoefeldt, P. Simons, Mrs. P. Simons, Sarah Si- mons, Henry Simons, Michael Maloney, Mrs. Kate Maloney, Bridget Maloney, Lizzie Maloney, James Maloney, Dick Maloney, Thomas Maloney, Phil Ma- loney, Patrick Maloney, Michael Ford, Mrs. Michael Ford, Caty Ford, Royer Ford, Michael Carney, J. W. Hooker, J. Wideburgh, Henry Wideburgh, Alex Mc- Mullen, Mrs. Alex McMullen, Joseph Debrower, Jake Debrower, Ed. Teipner, Ada Bell Teipner, Jule Teip- ner, William Teipner, John Teipner, George Morley, Mrs. George Morley, Mamy Morley, Baby Morley, Charles Moser, Mrs. Charles Moser, Erastus Moser, Julius Moser, Hiram Moser, Peter Moser, Julie Moser, Vern Moser, Caty Moser, Nicolas Golden, Danield Mc- Taggart, Frank Burn, Mrs. Rosy Burn, Bridget Burn, Caty Burn, May Burn, Lewis Burn, James Burn, Ja- cob Johnson, Mrs. J. Johnson, Sherman Johnson, Blaine Johnson, Lucy Johnson, M. Johnson, Gus Lind, Wesly Dorson, Joseph Krause, Charles Honzik, Mrs. Joseph Krause, Mike Stidel, Mrs. M. Stidel, Louis
23
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Stidel, Abram Gaplanik, Mrs. A. Gaplanik, Gabe Ga- planik, Edward Gaplanik, Mrs. R. Nattanie, Gabriel Nattanie, Anton Nattanie, Mary Nattanie, Joseph Liminger, Mrs. Liminger and baby, Niels Anderson, Louis Novotny, John Novotny, Burt Novotny, F. A. Deleglise, Jo. Deleglise, Mrs. F. A. Deleglise, Malin- da Deleglise, Albert Deleglise, Alex Deleglise, Edmond Deleglise, Amelia Deleglise, Mr. and Mrs. John Cherf, Maxwell Cherf, Gleason Cherf, Rebecca Cherf, Allace Cherf, James Nowotny, Julina Nowotny, Jake Holley, Joseph Holley, Wencel Holley, Mrs. Jake Holley, John Doersch, Mrs. Mary Doersch, Baby Doersch, Scott Hale, Mrs. D. Hale, Alex McCloud, Charles Gowan, Mrs. Chas. Gowan, Eugene Gowan, Frank Gowan, Daniel Gowan, Baby Gowan, Woodley Hale, Chris and Mary Hanson, Charles Brunther and wife, Lizzie Brunther, Kenton Brunther, Anna Brunther, Oscar Brunther, Ripley J. Richards, Mrs. Ripley J. Richards, Mary Richards, W. Richards, William Richards, George Richards, Baby Richards, W. A. Wheeler, Mrs. W. A. Wheeler, G. Bridgeman, Mrs. G. Bridgeman, John Mc- Closkey, Mrs. John McCloskey, Grace McCloskey, Frank Churchouse, Ben Colwell, Nellie Colwell, Hat- tie Colwell, Bessie Colwell, Herman Colwell, Sim Post, Eel Post, Eugene Rumery, Mrs. Eugene Rumery, D. Rumery, John Murphy, Thomas Hutchinson, Mrs. Thomas Hutchinson, Mina Hutchinson, Eugene Hutchinson, Jessie Hutchinson, Orman Hutchinson, Steven Hutchinson, Malcolm Hutchinson, George Hutchinson, Allen C. Taylor, Mrs. Allen C. Taylor, O. J. Yates, Mrs. O. J. Yates, Walter Yates, Baby Yates, John Yates, John Haron, James Folin, Isaac Farrow,
Mrs. Isaac Farrow, Etta Farrow, G. Farrow, Edgar
and Mrs. Neff, Pina Neff, Ulu Neff, Willard Neff, Mike Willit, Grace Willit, Mike Willet, Jr., Etie Willit, Charles H. Larzelere, Mrs. Charles H. Larzelere, Alta Larzelere, Vernie Larzelere, Carrie Larzelere, Rosy Larzelere, Baby Larzelere, Mary Murtolf, Charles W.
McFarland, J. J. Springer, John Gibson, Mrs. John Gibson, Leta Gibson, E. Cole, Fred Dodge, Mrs. Fred Dodge, Fred Dodge, Jr., Anna Dodge, Walter Dodge, William Dodge, Theodore Dodge, Baby Dodge, Mary Turtillotte, Hull Gromoson, Baby Gromoson, William Frisby, L. J. Marsh, Mrs. L. J. Marsh, Eugene Marsh, Sarah Marsh, Baby Marsh, Charles Van Zile, Abraham Van Zile, C. Quindlund, Robert and Mrs. Gilray, Baby Gilray, Louis Pison, Stephen A. Austin, Stephen Aus- tin, Jr., Mrs. M. Austin, Clery Austin, Mary Austin, Lucretia Austin, William Austin, Harry Austin, Ella
Austin, Bert Getchell, Mrs. E. Getchell, Thomas D.
Kellogg, Nellie Kellogg, Mary Kellogg, Haty Kel- logg, Polly Kelley, M. Kelley, H. Colnel, Mrs. H. Col- nel, H. Preston, M. Faliny, Edward Born, F. Wescott, Mrs. A. Smith, Lily Smith, August B. Miller, Thomas M. Dobbs, J. J. Commiskey, B. Barto, L. M. Gray, Caspar Bosh, Mrs. C. Bosh, Baptist Bosh, Henry Price, Sarah Price, William Price, William Smith, Joseph
Bunyard, Mrs. Joseph Bunyard, Louis Bunyard, R. Johnson, David B. Edick, Mary Edick, H. Hayter, H. Hayter, Jr., Sam Scribins, Herman Sperburgh, Ira Lathan, John Lathan, Alton Lathan, John Keyhoe,
Mrs. John Keyhoe, Magg Keyhoe, Jason Howard, John McNair, Harvey Sawtell, Thomas Lett, Charles Lett, Edward Allen, Jacob Grutchens, Will Grutchens, Mrs. Will Grutchens, Anna Grutchens, Charles Culling, Jos. Gibbs, Edward Marden, Henry Peck, Robert Hayter, Philipp Labell, Annie Labell, Thomas Labell, Mrs. Thomas Labell and baby, John Atridge, James John- son, Harlowe Lawrence, Will McDonald, John and James Morse, John Gardner, John Wunderlich, Abram Wunderlich, Mr. and Mrs. John Caligan, George Wil- son, Miles Lutsy, Nels Dristal, Patsy Dristal, John Mature, William Gary, Mr. and Mrs. James Cregg, Trean Cregg, Sylvester Cregg, Amos Cregg, Jap Sears, Thomas Lutsy, P. Lutsy, Theodore Sholts, Christopher Ludlo, August Ludlo, Henry Miller, John Miller, Aman- da Miller, Theressa Miller, Frank Thompson, H. Bur- dow, William Johnson, Mrs. William Johnson, Anga Johnson, Nina Johnson, N. Lake, H. Conors, Edward Bisby, Joseph Jackson, George Jackson, John Jackson, Cary Jackson, Fred Stanca, Mrs. Fred Stanca, Albion Cole, Levit Smith, L. Pendleton, Thomas Ainsworth, Jr., John W. Ainsworth, William Tipkey, Mr. and Mrs. George Gilmore, Burdy Gilmore, Baby Gilmore, James Roberts, Philip Melona, William and Mrs. Simons, James Simons, Walter Simons, Magg Simons, Thomas Lima, Michael Kepner, Albert Fingler, William Star- kucother, August Caston, James McCloud, Deba Mc- Cloud, Mary McCloud, Angus and James Cason, Wil- liam Parks, Mrs. William Parks, M. Parks, George Culiner, Jerry McDonald, John Miller, Angus
McCloud, Demona McCloud, Anna McCloud, Nancy McCloud, Daniel McCloud, Sandy McCloud, Mike McDonald, Albert McMillan, John Johnson, Ed- ward Morgan, Martin Echtner, William Gauge, Thom- as Gauge, Martin Erisi, Herman Wurl, Daniel Mc- Cary, David Getchel, Mrs. David Getchel, George
Getchel, Thomas Simons, Louis Horn, John Gordon, Thomas Oconnel, Joseph Winters, H. B. Polar, Mrs. H. B. Polar, Barney Polar, James Polar, Giles Polar, George Polar, John Polar, Emma Polar, Pheba Polar, Sarah Polar, Gip Bagby, James Olmstead, Joseph Cor- net, Andrew Burnett, John Harmon, Archa Beggs, Henry Zimmerman, William Merical, Lorenzo Meri-
cal, Herman Merical, James Buckstaff, Oscar Buck- staff, Louis Motzfeldt, Mrs. Louis Motzfeldt, Tepa Motzfeldt, Hanna Motzfeldt, Patsy Shay, Dewood Bery, Winson Williams, Daniel Gagen, Mrs. Daniel Gagen, Jack Gagen, James Gagen, Henry Gagen, William
McDonald, William Fundow, Leonard Thomas, Mrs.
L. Thomas, Pearson Thomas, Allace Thomas, Emma Thomas, Ada Thomas, James Thomas, Mrs. J. Irwin, Ryan Irwin, Lota Irwin, Sallie Irwin, Adams Irwin, Mr. and Mrs. James Hones, L. Hones, Anton Hones, Henreitta Hones, Samuel Stobard and wife, Saby Stobard, Albert Bernet, Herman Bernet, Daniel Quade, Charles Tomas, Edward Tomas, Mrs. Edward Tomas,
Mary Tomas, John and Ernest Dagat, Elliott Dagat, Henrietta Dagat, Antinett Dagat, Mical Kenby, Charles Kenald, Norman Hide, James Austin, Mrs. James Austin, Robert Austin, Agnes Austin, Horatio Austin, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nichols, George Nichols,
24
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Mary Nichols, Ancy Yakes, Ranki Scott, W. H. Allen, John Smith, Willis Peck, Lucy Peck, Charles Peck, Henry Peck, Charles Knapp, Thomas Martin, Seman Smith, Alphonso Stephen, Mertin Johnson, George Holland, James Dell, Edward Savaga, William Wil- kins, Elbrage Wilkins, Mary Wilkins, Wallace Wil- kins, Robert Wilkins, Edward Peckham, Hurburt Bush, Henry Wix, Mr. and Mrs. P. Wix, Emily Wix, Charles Hiat, Thomas H. Jenkins, John Blyman, Esra Read, H. Emka, Arthur Perry, A. Spencer, John Spen- cer, Charles Judd, S. Anderson, Harshal Fullerton, Mrs. Harshal Fullerton, Albert Fullerton, John De Lamatra, A. Hurdiny, H. A. Lee, J. Jascam, Julius Melrich, J. Baskirk, Mike Moran, Mrs. C. Moran, George Olmstead, William McGinnis, Abe Kiny, Wil- liam Livingston, Nicholas Acous, Mrs. Nicholas Acous, Julia A. Acous, Martha Acous, Masco Acous, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Parkherst, Albert Parkherst, Adi- son Parkherst, Helen Parkherst, Julia Parkherst, Mar- garet Hanes, William Livingston, Edward Lacy, Mrs. Edward Lacy, Louis Lacy, Agnes Lacy, Harriett Lacy, Wad Wilber, William Kilisass, Jane Armstrong, Roy- ers Armtsrong, Henry Aural, R. R. Smith, Thomas McNutt, Michael Kennedy, Thomas Bolton, Frank Zaler, Charles Fischer, Edward Fisch- er, Dexter Luce, Joseph Faliny, Frank Oka, Elmer Ward, Criss Olson, Thomas Caton, Charles Murser, Mrs. Charles Murser, Hiram Murser, "Old" Murser, Sefrona Murser, Justin Butterfield, Samuel Nolton, Roda Hacock, John Cobler, Mrs. John Cobler, Sefrona Cobler, Milton Cobler, Fineus Cobler, Amos Caring- ton, Mrs. Amos Carington, Anace Carington, Alnerd Carington, Samuell Carington, Gus Frunbaw, R. Park- er, J. H. Laystreet, Adam Brunker, David Chapman, William Ale, Thomas Shehan, Oly Swanson, Sandy Stronic, Ramsey Denby, Walter Shat, Richard Du- rand, Mrs. Richard Durand, Erica Durand, Richard Durand, Jr., Frederick Stotson, Joseph Elmwood, H. S. Wood, J. A. Frebum, Tom Maham, Squire A. Tay- lor, Burt Sheldon, Charles Sheldon, Frederick Semore, Charles Abrams, Peter Nelson, Max Riter, Frank Rit- er, Frank Hopkins, Henry Housuyer, Albert Skinner.
The census was taken by Thomas M. Dobbs and Joseph M. Gray, who stated in explanation that the above list "is correct of the people of New County as far as we have gone. But there are many we have not got." The western part of Langlade County as it is today was not included in this census because it then belonged to Lincoln County.
PIONEER LIFE ALONG THE MILITARY ROAD.
The old Military Road has been the source of many a poem and pioneer song. Its history has been inter- woven with the pioneer lumbering of eastern Lang- lade County. The Squaw Man and the pine hunter both played their part with the early adventurer in the development of this country. Dan Gagen, Louis Motz- feldt, Henry Strauss, "Old Dutch Frank," Hiram B. Polar, Charles Larzelere, Dave Getchell and William Johnston, were either traders or pine loggers of that section of the county first settled.
For several years before the construction of the Mil- itary Road mail was carried by men on foot in the sum- mer and by dog teams during the winter, following an Indian trail (old Lake Superior Trail) along the same route as the government Military Road. Log houses or stations were erected every thirty-five miles. These mails, though somewhat slow, were regular, as only men accustomed to the wilderness and familiar with the wild frontier life were employed in this service.
They seemed to be equal to any emergency, and when it became necessary, on account of deep snow, to abandon the dog team they would put on their snow shoes, slap the mail sack on their back and make thir- ty or forty miles per day. Darkness, storm or hunger had little terror for them. They seemed to realize that the tireless mail, the evangel of the wilderness, the mission of civilization and the herald of a progressive era, could not brook delay. They were the brave young men whose love of adventure, principally, led them away from their haunts of civilization, and whose untamed nature found keen zest and enjoyment in the dangers and excitement of the daring frontier life.
Thus month after month and year after year, these pioneers of the wilderness trod their lonely beat. Then the wave of war with its bloody issue rolled in sullen gloom over the entire nation. For several years they had driven their dog teams in the great pine forests in the interest of peace and now they set off to drive their war horses in battle armed with gun and sabre.
The mail carriers faded from the trail and passed into history; the trail became grass grown and the abandoned stations stood like ghosts of silent cities.
The fur trader in the employ of the American Fur Company was the pioneer of the new north, as he pen- etrated the pine forests very much in advance of the lumbermen, who could see but little wealth in the giant pines and still less in the hardwood forests. The fur industry was established in northern Wisconsin over one hundred years ago. It has been half a century since the lumberman or logger began cutting pine tim- ber on the upper waters of the Wolf and Wisconsin rivers. It seemed to be his ambition from the start to begin at the top or headwaters of a stream and cut down. Extensive lumber camps were established where now the thrifty little City of Eagle River (once in Langlade County) stands, which soon became the center of attraction for the woodsman and river driver. Wages were very high and money was plenti- ful. This soon attracted a rowdy element which rep- resented all that was bad and vicious.
After the completion of the Military Road the moral tone of society in towns along its route was improved but little. The towns were typical of the western mining town, where the frontier element held full sway. Hotels and travelers would spring into exis- tence in day. A bank and an opera house would rise simultaneously side by side. Stores and outfitting establishments of every variety would line the main streets with their quaint signs and em- blems of trade.
25
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Mechanics and artisans poured in from other parts of the state and with them came the lawyer and the doctor, both great healing mediums with peculiar methods. The morning's dawn was not greeted by the daily newspaper, the first to herald the name and fame of the new town, but night's blackness would be dispelled by flaming campfires built in front of sa- loons and dance houses, where men and women stood within the vestibule of Hades and drank fiery liquids, danced to the wheezing tune of the "Hurdy Gurdy," sang their songs and laughed merrily at their ribald jests. Verily they were of their day and generation. They were a part of the rude civilization of wild frontier life, which paved the way for the purer and gentler influences that followed to mould the morals of the race that peopled the cities of the wilderness. Every store in the village on the Sabbath contracted and carried on more business than upon any other day in the week. The river driver, the woodsman, the team- ster, the Indian, the fur trader, all gathered here, and to each and all it was a gala day.
Drunkeness, brawls, and fights became the amuse- ment and smote the peace and order of the communi- ty. But civilization brought thither a finer feeling; order arose from chaos and bloodshed; refinement ap- peared with the wives and daughters of the pioneers, who came like angels to create homes from the haunts of vice. The light of love banished the mildew and rot of depravity and a better manhood dawned upon the brave rough diamonds of the northern pine. The church came with the bold missionary, who was the bravest of them all, and then the school house and the court house weeded out the dance hall, and the for- lorn outcasts moved farther on in the race of life until dissipation entombed their ghostly shadow.
Of course there was a broad and deep gulch between the Sunday rattle of the auctioneer and the sweet chimes of the Sabbath bells, and in the rude element of frontier society the violence of the bad was often checked by the violence of the good.
The region along the old Military Road was very rich in natural resources before white men came to ac- cumulate wealth, with and without capital.
It was not uncommon for one of the many fur trad- ers to purchase ten thousand dollars worth of fur from the Indians in a single season. The fur consisted largely in bear, wolves, beavers, otter, fisher, martin and mink. But little cash was paid the Indian. Blank- ets, beads and tobacco played a prominent part in the purchase. They demanded the best grade of blank- ets and fifty dollars a pair was often paid by the In- dians. The white man as a hunter and trapper was more industrious and energetic than the Indian, and with his improved methods, the fur industry was des- troyed in a very few years. The fur bearing animals have largely disappeared; a few black bear and gray timber wolves remain. The wolf is an enemy to civ- ilization, an outcast and a vagabond, despised alike by the white and the red man. The increase of the deer keeps pace with the annual slaughter.
The choice white pine is now
extinct. The
silence and solitude along the old Military Road has disappeared forever; the red man and the pine for- ests have faded together. Along the great lines of railroad plowing through these once vast solitudes, all is life and activity. Towns and cities have invaded their paths. Men who have followed the faint trail of civilization have themselves beheld the great tide roll over their own foot prints and view with wonder its ever advancing waves. Schools, churches and happy homes have appeared to enlighten the multi- tude and mould the morals of a new born community. The Anglo-Saxon spirit of enterprise laid the hand of industry upon the pine forests; the pioneers of the north woods came as a mighty army; they were soldiers of industry, drilled by labor and hardship, and went forth only to industrial conquests. The
fruits of the old pioneer ripen into the full measure of wealth and refinement; their names may not live in history; no monument of the everlasting hill will bear their fame. Some of them lie in the graveyard at the edge of the pine forest by the side of the torrent streams that forever sing a wild dirge to their memory; some in green graves covered by the flowers of re- membrance, far beyond the crags, over which they strode, more like Gods, than men; some sleep in their own home valley; some of the gallant band are yet in the active busy world, awaiting the final summons be- yond the snow and the frost line. Wherever they are they will be recalled as heroes of the storm beaten north.
THE RAILROADS-C. & N. W .- M. L. S. & W.
The story of how the Chicago & Northwestern rail- road secured absolute control of 86,215.03 acres of val- uable timber and agricultural lands within the present limits of Langlade County is also the story of the de- velopment of railroad facilities in Upper Wisconsin.
By an act of Congress, June 3, 1856, thousands of acres of public lands were granted to the state to aid construction of railroads. October 11, 1856, the state approved incorporation of the Wisconsin & Superior Railroad, which was granted all immunities and privi- leges for the purpose of aiding in railroad construc- tion from Fond du Lac to the state line.
The Wisconsin & Superior consolidated with the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad. On March 14, the legislature passed an act to facilitate and authenticate formation of a corporation by the purchasers of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac, which has since been known as the Chicago & North- western railroad. " This new organization became at once entitled to all land grants to the state to aid in railroad construction if they would build a road to the state line, which they did. The Chicago & North- western was completed to the mouth of the Menominee River, certification of the same was made by the Gov- ernor and the Secretary of the Interior and the lands were deeded over to the railroad company. Odd num- bered sections were selected. It is interesting to note that between the contractors of the Military Road and the Chicago & Northwestern railroad approximately
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