USA > Wisconsin > Waupaca County > History of Waupaca county, Wisconsin > Part 7
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White Lake, the largest lake in the County, is in this town. It covers nearly all of Section 21, and portions of Sections 15, 16, 20, 22, 28, and 29. The grove on the south shore of White Lake was for many years the favorite picnic ground for the Old Settlers' Society and other organizations.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
Town officers for 1889: Chairman-F. Conrad; Supervisors-W. C. Ritchie, J. Seeley; Treasurer -J. C. Ritchie; Clerk-E. T. Mathews; Assessor -F. J. Deane; Justices of the Peace-E. B. Davis, William Masters.
VILLAGE OF ROYALTON.
The Village of Royalton has four general stores, one hardware store, one saloon, two livery barns, one hotel, one grist mill, one saw mill, one black- smith shop, one wheelright shop, one insurance agent, two doctors, and one minister. It has an excellent water power.
The Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul railroad passes through the village.
CHAPTER XVII.
TOWN OF CALEDONIA -FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1849, BY JAMES MCHUGH-ORGANIZED IN 1853.
The Town of Caledonia originally consisted of Township 21, Range 14, but when the Town of Fremont was formed, Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, and 32 were taken therefrom and attached to Fremont.
Caledonia is bounded on the north by the Town of Mukwa, on the east by Outagamie County, on the south by Winnebago County and the Town of Fremont, and on the west by Fremont and Wey- auwega.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
The town was organized in 1853. The first town meeting was held in 1854, at the house of James McHugh.
The first town officers were: Chairman - Thomas Gore; Supervisors-John Fife, Jacob Whitaker; Town Clerk - - ; Town Treas- urer-John Littlefield.
The first settlement was in 1849, by James McHugh, who built the first house (log) on Sec- tion 24. It is still standing.
The first child born in town was a boy of James McHugh.
The first death was that of a boy of John Little- field, August 25, 1856.
The first marriage was F. M. Fowler and Sarah J. Littlefield, June 22, 1854. The marriage cere- mony was performed by A. B. Kinnear, Justice of the Peace.
The first school taught was by Miss Phœbe Lit- tlefield, now Mrs. Lyman Otis, in 1854.
The first school house was built in 1854.
The first church (Lutheran) was built in 1867.
The first sermon preached in town was by Elder Mitchell, a Baptist, in 1855.
The first saw mill was built in 1870, by "Con" Ruggles, who also built the first grist mill in the same year.
The first postoffice was established in 1854, and called Readfield, with John Littlefield as post- master. The mail route was from Menasha to
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Waupaca, and the mail was carried by - John- son.
Theodore Conkey did the first surveying, in 1846-the Government survey.
The first law suit in town was Frank Houghton vs. Harvey Jewell, in 1854, before Thomas Bishop, Justice of the Peace.
The first store was started by - Ward.
In 1853, John Littlefield planted the first apple trees, and in 1860 he raised the first apples.
Caledonia is quite heavily timbered. The soil is generally well adapted to agricultural purposes, and many good farms are being well cultivated.
Town officers for 1889: Chairman - Louis Knoke; Supervisors - August P. Tews, William Brehmer; Treasurer - George Mader; Clerk - Ernst Keison; Assessor-Christ Vohs; Justices of the Peace-Fred Prebono, Louis Knoke.
CHAPTER XVIII.
TOWN OF FREMONT -FIRST SETTLEMENT BY D. GORDEN IN 1849 -ORGANIZED IN 1865 -SPRINGER'S POINT - VILLAGE OF FREMONT ORGANIZED IN 1888 - KILLING OF WAU-KE- JOHN.
The Town of Fremont comprises Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, Range 14, taken from Caledonia, and Sections 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, the south half of Sections 29 and 30, and the whole of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36,
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
Township 21, Range 13, taken from the Town of Weyauwega. It is the smallest town in the County, containing but twenty sections. It is bounded on the north by the Towns of Weyau- wega and Caledonia, on the east by Caledonia, on the south by the Counties of Winnebago and Waushara, and on the west by Lind and Weyau- Ivega.
The town was organized in 1865. The first town meeting was held at the house of A. J. Mayo, in the Village of Fremont, in April, 1865. The first town officers, elected at said meeting, were : Chairman-Ira Sumner; Supervisors-A. T. Montgomery, John Brickley; Town Clerk - M. B. Patchen; Treasurer-Henry G. Schroeder; Justices of the Peace-Ira Sumner, J. S. Bartlett, C. C. Kinsman.
The first law suit was before Justice Bartlett, in 1866. The parties were Ira Sumner, plaintiff, and Charlie Peters, defendant. It was a jury trial. The jurors were John Brickley, I. N. Kinsman, C. V. Isbell, Benjamin Brickley, - Deming, and George Finley. C. C. Kinsman appeared as coun- sel for Sumner, and J. B. Strain for Peters. After a long and spirited trial, the jury brought in a verdict of eighteen cents for the plaintiff, that amount being the balance due on a bushel of corn.
Fremont was one of the first settled towns in the County. The first settlement was made in the Spring of 1849. The first shanty within the
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
present limits of the town was built in the Spring of 1849, by D. Gorden, on a claim in Section 25, where the Village of Springer's Point was after- wards laid out. During the same year a man named Crosby built a log shanty on the west side of Wolf River, near the present crossing, on Sec- tion 25.
The same year, Ira Sumner built a board shanty on the east side of the river, it being the first dwell- ing erected on that side. Harman Mumbrue made a claim on the west side of the river, where the Presbyterian Church now stands. The three East- mans, and a man named Hill, made claims on Sec- tion 25. Frank Millett made a claim on the place afterwards owned by Alvah Sherburne.
The next year other settlers came, among them Benjamin Brickley and the Bergstressers, who set- tled on the east side of the river. Amos Riley made a claim on Section 27. A man named Rowley made a claim and built a shanty on the west side of the river; and another, named Clow, made a claim at the "red banks," a short distance up the river from where the village now stands.
During the same year Ira Sumner put up the first frame house. It was framed by Harman Mumbrue, was on the east side of the river, and is still standing, being a portion of the old Booth House.
In 1851, W. A. Springer moved from Little River, where he had located two years before, and
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settled near the mouth of Partridge Lake, where he subsequently laid out a village, giving it the name of "Springer's Point." It is now incorpo- rated with the Village of Fremont, of which it forms a part.
Alvah Sherburne came in February, 1853, and bought out the claim of Frank Millett, Section 36.
The first hotel was started by Ira Sumner, in 1850, on the east side of the river.
The first school was taught in the Sumner school district, by Miss Stroud in 1853.
The first school house was built in the same dis- trict in 1854.
The first store was kept by Benjamin Brickley and Samuel Bergstresser, on the east side of the river, in 1850.
The first saw mill (steam) was built in 1856, by S. F. Conant and M. J. Russell, at the outlet of Partridge Lake.
The first dock and warehouse were built by. Bender & Kinsman in 1855, at the lower landing, being on the site where the warehouse of I. N. Kinsman now stands.
The first grist mill was built in 1876, by C. C. Arnold. The mill was subsequently owned by George I. Smith. It has since been burned.
The first postoffice was established in 1853 on the east side of the river, with Ira Sumner for post- master. It was subsequently moved to the west side, where it remains.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
The first mail route was from Oshkosh to Stevens Point. The mail was carried by "Old Jack" once in two weeks, up the Wolf River in a sail boat to Fremont, and the rest of the way on foot.
The first child born in town was Charles, son of Riley Eastman, in 1851. Charles Eastman now lives in St. Lawrence.
The first death was that of young David Riley, in 1850.
The first marriage was that of Frank Millett and Betsy Eaton, June 22, 1851. Elder Miller, a Methodist, officiated.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. John Baxter, a Congregationalist, in 1851.
The first church (Presbyterian) was built in 1873.
The first survey was made in 1846, by Theodore Conkey, who subdivided as far west as the west line of Township 21 north, Range 14 east. That was the Government survey. The next surveying was done by Ira Sumner in 1849.
The first bridge across the Wolf River was built by Abel Neff, of Oshkosh. It was a toll bridge. After a few years it was purchased by the town, and made free. It did good service until the great freshet in the Spring of 1888, when it was swept away. In the Summer and Fall of that year it was replaced by a first-class bridge, with an iron turn-table resting on a substantial stone pier. Its
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
cost was more than $5,000, the town and village bearing half the expense, and the County the re- mainder.
The first apple tree was planted in 1851, by Mr. Springer, and in 1854 he raised the first apples.
In 1857 a weekly newspaper was started at Fre- mont. It was called the Fremont Pioneer, and was "neutral in politics." It was edited by John M. Dewey, of Waupaca. It survived only one year. The first number is before us, dated No- vember 4, 1857, -five columns on a page. Among the advertisements we find: "The Fremont House, by A. J. Mayo." "Wolf River House, J. P. Shoemaker, Proprietor." "Evan Townsend, Notary Public and General Land Agent." "Steam Saw Mill, Damon & Springer." "Store, J. Bender & Co." "T. W. Brisbine, Dry Goods, Etc." "Livermore's Variety Store." "Steam Shingle Mill, Hubbard, Manzer & Co."
The town officers for 1889 were: Chairman-J. Wakefield; Supervisors - Jacob Steiger, C. V. Isbell; Clerk-F. D. Stange; Treasurer-Henry Spindler; Justices of the Peace-J. Wakefield, H. Spindler ; Constable-Frank Hicks.
VILLAGE OF FREMONT.
The Village of Fremont is located on both sides of the Wolf River. Its population is about 300. There is no good crossing of the river for miles above and below Fremont, and this fact, together
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with the excellent bridge at the village, makes considerable travel to and through the town.
The village was organized in May, 1888, when an assessor and other village officers were elected.
The first officers were: President-E. L. Damon ; Trustees - Charles Hildebrand, August Lucht, Adam Walter, W. E. N. Roy, Fred Gabel, C. Kins- man; Clerk- William Sherburne; Assessor-Fred Gabel; Treasurer-I. N. Kinsman; Police Justice - William Sherburne; Village Justice - E. L. Damon; Supervisor-H. Randle.
Officers for 1889: President-Dr. C. D. Eddy ; Trustees-C. Kinsman, August Lucht, W. E. N. Roy, Herman Arndt, George Bergstresser, Albert Steiger; Clerk- William Sherburne; Treasurer- I. N. Kinsman; Village Justice-E. L. Damon; Assessor-Adam Walter; Supervisor-H. Randle. Fremont has one saw mill, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 wagon shop, 1 shoe shop, 1 agricultural im- plement warehouse, 3 churches, 1 high school, 4 stores, 1 hotel, 2 saloons, and 2 physicians.
DEATH OF WAU-KE-JOHN.
This noted Indian was a war chief of the Me- nominees. Honored by his tribe, his noble qual- ities had won the respect of the whites, whose friend he was. His tragic fate was lamented by both whites and Indians. We shall give the par- ticulars of the affair as they were given us by W. A. Springer, who was in the neighborhood when
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the chief was killed, and who saw him a few hours afterwards, and was present at the funeral :
During the Summer of 1852, a band of about 300 Menominee Indians were going down the river in their canoes, bound for Winneconne to pro- cure ammunition. Landing on the marsh, on the east side of the river, a little above Fremont, they met a Chippewa, who was on his way up the river. This Chippewa and Wau-ke-john were not on very good terms, having had some previous difficulty.
The Chippewa asked Wau-ke-john for a drink of whisky; and, upon being refused, shot the chief through the heart. A nephew of Wau-ke-john then sprang forward and buried his hatchet in the mur- derer's brain.
According to Indian law, it was his privilege, as the near relative of the murdered brave, to thus avenge his murder.
The murderer laid where he fell a day or two, when some of his tribe came and buried him near where he met his punishment. It was reported that the friends of Wau-ke-john cut out the mur- derer's heart.
Immediately after the murder, the band took the body of their murdered chief into a canoe, and car- ried it down to where the Village of Fremont is located. Landing on the flat near where the Pres- byterian Church now stands, just below the out- let of Partridge Lake, they pitched their tents.
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Soon after they landed, our informant, in com- pany with another man, paid a visit to their camp. They were met by the dead brave's wife and daughter, who appeared in great distress, and who, with sobs, exclaimed, "Wau-ke-john nepo ! Wau-ke-john nepo!" (Wau-ke-john killed !) They were fine looking, intelligent women. Receiving an invitation, the whites followed the women into the tent, where they found six or eight Indians sit- ting around a small fire smoking very long pipes, and uttering a sort of mournful chant all the time.
The wife and daughter led them to where lay the dead chieftain, and showed them where the bullet entered the body, directly over his heart. The chief was dressed well for an Indian. He had on a fine, black frock coat, and was a splendid speci- men of savage life. He appeared about forty-five years old. The chief's son, a bright looking boy, was with the party. Everything was perfectly quiet and orderly throughout the camp.
The next morning they got William G. Sher- burne, a son of Alvah Sherburne, to make a nice coffin; and about 4 o'clock in the afternoon prep- arations for the funeral commenced. The Indians formed a sort of hollow square on the river bank, with the coffin and the chief's relatives in the center. Then the "avenger" and two others step- ped into the circle. It was an impressive scene. The avenger was silent, but the others spoke, in
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the Indian tongue, one after the other. Each speaker held in his hand, while speaking, a stick about three feet long, with which he made gestures while addressing the other Indians. The language, of course, was unintelligible to our informant, but the gestures were graceful and natural, equalled by few of our modern orators who have been spoiled by education. They were both old, gray- headed men. The last orator frequently spoke of the "Schmo-ke-men." It has since been learned that, while extolling the deceased and enumerating his many virtues, he spoke of the respect enter- tained for him by the "Schmo-ke-men," (whites) his friendship for them, etc.
They divided his personal effects among his children, and then put into the coffin with the body the following articles: A loaf of bread under one arm, and a cake of sugar under the other. On his breast were placed his "medicine bag," containing his flint, steel and punk, his war paints, and also a large silver medal, having on one side the likeness of President Polk, and on the reverse a white man's hand clasping that of an Indian, with the legend, "Peace and Friendship." The medal was given to the chief by President Polk.
They then closed the coffin. On its lid they placed the dead chieftain's war club, and his rifle. The club was of hickory, about three and a half feet long, and two inches in diameter at the larger
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end. The bark, which had not been removed, had the appearance of age. The club was carved at one end to fit the hand.
They put the coffin, with the rifle and war club, into a canoe and started up the river, accom- panied by two or three Indians. The rest of them went on down the river towards Winneconne. The body was buried at the "bark lodge," near the "Cutoff," two miles above Gills Landing. Messrs. Springer, Sumner, and Sherburne, with their families, and perhaps a few other whites, were present at the funeral.
Since writing the above, Hon. H. C. Mumbrue, of Waupaca, tells us that he thinks our informant is mistaken in one or two particulars-that Wau- ke-john was shot by mistake, by an Indian who intended to kill another with whom he was having a quarrel.
CHAPTER XIX.
TOWN OF UNION - FIRST SETTLEMENT BY ISAAC AMES IN 1855 -ORGANIZED IN 1858 - EXPERIENCE OF NATHAN JOHN- SON - SIXTEEN PERSONS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR OF A 16 x 20-FOOT SHANTY.
The Town of Union consists of Township 24, Range 13. It is bounded on the north by the Town of Dupont, on the east by Bear Creek, on the south by Little Wolf, and on the west by Hel- vetia.
The first settlement was made by Isaac Ames, in the Fall of 1855.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
The town was organized in April, 1858. The first town meeting was held at the house of E. C. Scott on the north-east corner of Section 35, April 6, 1858. Ensign Sprague was chosen Chairman of the meeting, N. W. Baldwin, Clerk, and Isaac Ames and Samuel Norton, Inspectors of Election.
An adjournment was then had to a brush heap across the way, near the north-west corner of Sec- tion 36. A. W. Johnson, an early settler, says : " That brush heap made a good fire, and when one side got cold, all they had to do was to turn around and warm the other side. They had a grand time." That was exercising the rights of freemen under difficulties. Mr. Johnson did not tell us what sort of a ballot box was used, but we presume it was as simple and primitive as their arrangements for keeping themselves warm. Those honest, sturdy voters required no modern appliances to prevent illegal voting, or ballot box stuffing.
Nine votes were cast and the following officers elected : Chairman-Ensign Sprague; Supervisors -O. A. Quimby, Joseph Stroud; Clerk-N. W. Baldwin; Treasurer-Samuel Norton; Superin- tendent of Schools-David Quimby; Justices of the Peace-Isaac Ames, O. A. Quimby, Benjamin Dean; Assessors-N. W. Baldwin, Isaac Ames, David Quimby ; Constables - David Quimby, Daniel Ames, Lewis Devaud.
In May, 1857, Benjamin Dean and A. W. John-
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son settled on Section 12. They made a house by cutting baswood poles, from eight to ten inches in diameter, splitting them through the center, and then setting them up on end against a pole, making a shanty like the roof of a house, with a half pitch. For feather beds, they used hemlock boughs for about six weeks, sleeping on them much sounder than many do on their beds of softest down. They had no blankets or quilts. Mr. Johnson naively remarks, "It was rather tough for a man who had been married only two months !"
Mrs. E. C. Scott baked their bread. They went after it twice a week, a round trip of ten miles through the woods without any road. The wolves would frequently follow them, pretty close- ly, too, sometimes. And Mr. Johnson is willing to swear that the mosquitoes were always ready for a lunch.
They paid one dollar a bushel for potatoes, and packed them six miles on their backs. They cleared and planted three acres that Spring.
The wild beasts, especially the wolves, were very troublesome. One morning Mr. Dean shot a large wolf in their clearing. Mr. Johnson approached the wolf as he lay apparently dead. Getting his toe under the animal's nose, he tried to raise it from the ground. But the wolf was not dead, and the first Mr. Johnson knew his toe was in the brute's mouth. He was unable to wear his boot
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for two weeks. He says, "It was fun for Dean,' but I couldn't see it in that light!" One thing he says he learned-never to trifle with a dead wolf. The animal measured seven and a half feet from the end of his nose to the tip of his tail.
The last of June they went back to their families in Washington County. Dean returned in the Fall. Johnson remained until May, 1859, when he returned with his family. He had one cow, and the enormous sum of twenty-five cents! He has now 165 acres of land, with sixty acres cleared, "and a good family of eight children !"
Nathan Johnson, father of A. W., moved into the town the last of May, 1859, from Washington County, this State. His family consisted of three boys (one of whom had moved in the year before) and three girls. He drove an ox team, and brought along two cows. They carried bread with them; and when they got hungry they would stop, let the oxen feed, milk the cows, get out the tins and spoons, and have some bread and milk; then they would go on until hungry again.
They would manage to stop over night at some settler's cabin on the way. They were eight days on the road. One night they staid at Hortonville, Outagamie County. Next day they drove to the edge of the marsh between New London and Northport, where they stopped, baited their team, and ate bread and milk. They had with them the two youngest boys, one seven, and the other
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ten years of age. The rest of the family had taken the boat at Fond du Lac.
Mr. Johnson says of the trip: "After resting on the edge of the marsh, we started out as happy as clams at high water, thinking we would soon be at our new home. It soon commenced to rain, and we got stuck fast in the mud. I had to hitch the team to the hind end of the wagon to pull it out of the hole. Then we traveled on foot to Northport. It was raining hard when we got there. At Northport I got a team and went back for the baggage. It took two days from North- port to reach our new home.
"We moved in with Mr. Dean, who lived in a 16 x 20-foot shanty, in which sixteen persons slept on the floor at night. In the day time we moved the beds out of doors-when it didn't rain. We lived in that way four or five weeks, until we could build another shanty.
"We never took more comfort than we did at that time. We were as happy as could be. I was fifty years old the day I started for our new home. Now I have a good house, and have been post- master about twelve years."*
.
The first child born in town was a daughter of E. C. and Betsy Scott, October 11, 1856.
The first marriage was Joel A. Taylor and Mary Jane Johnson, October 22, 1865. The ceremony
*The foregoing was written several years ago. The old gentleman has since been called away from his pleasant home. J. W.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
was performed by W. Dresser, Justice of the Peace, from Royalton.
The first death was that of Ida Jane Laflin, August 31, 1863. She was a little over a year old.
The first school was taught by Amanda Sprague in 1859, on Section 36. The same Spring one was taught by Sophia C. Johnson on Section 12. In the Spring of 1859 school houses were built on the aforesaid sections.
The first sermon was preached in 1861, by Rev. Joseph Hammond, of Northport.
In 1873 Ogden & Scott built a saw mill at "Union Bridge."
A postoffice was established in town in 1862, and J. K. Townsend was appointed postmaster. The first mail route was from Waupaca to Clinton- ville. The mail was carried on foot by Lewis Blein- koph.
The first surveying was done in 1857, by Edwin C. Scott .*
The first law suit was tried February 21, 1874, before J. K. Townsend, Justice of the Peace.
The first store was started in 1873 by George Scovill.
The first apple tree was planted in 1858, near the center of Section 12, by Benjamin Dean.
The Town of Union did its share in the great work of putting down the late Rebellion. At the
*The Government survey was made in 1852, by Samuel Perrin.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
town meeting in the Spring of 1865 only eight votes were cast, so many had volunteered or been drafted into the service.
Union is a good farming town, but heavily tim- bered. The soil is mostly a dark, deep loam. It is capable of producing fine crops.
Considerable maple sugar is made in this town.
There is still plenty of excellent land to be had at reasonable prices.
The Village of Symco, in Section 31, contains a saw mill, a hotel, several general stores, shops, etc., and churches and schools. It is on the Little Wolf River, which furnishes good water power.
Town officers for 1889: Chairman- Thomas Flannagan; Supervisors- Gust. Lenke, William Lucht; Treasurer-A. W. Johnson; Clerk-L. J. Dilley; Assessor-John F. Rogers; Justices of the Peace-J. M. Chapin, George B. Bard; Constables -M. S. Stroud, J. C. Baldwin, J. F. Rogers.
CHAPTER XX.
TOWN OF DUPONT - FIRST SETTLED BY O. A. QUIMBY IN 1857-ORGANIZED IN 1864 - VILLAGE OF MARION.
The Town of Dupont comprises Township 25 north, Range 13 east. It is one of the most northern towns in Waupaca County. It is bound- ed on the north by Shawano County, on the east by the Town of Larrabee, on the south by Union, and on the west by Wyoming.
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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.
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