USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 43
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Its main business street presents a very handsome appearance, and is largely built up with fine substantial brick structures, as the view of the same in this work exhibits. Its larger mercantile establishments do a heavy business and carry large stocks of goods.
The residence streets are very handsome, and there are a large number of elegant resi- dences, with tastefully laid-out grounds. One of the attractive features of the place is the original forest trees, embowering the houses and grounds in luxuriant foliage. Shade and ornamental trees have been largely planted to give additional adornment, and it is rare that a place can be found with so large a pro- portion of palatial residences and which give
*NOTE - See Pages Io and II of " Early History of the Northwest, " in this work, for Nicollet's voyage to the Win- nebago Country. Pages 32, 33, etc., for Discovery of the Mississippi. Page 48, for the Fox River Country, and Page 53, for the Battle of Little Buttes des Morts.
B
G.W. SALISBURY DEL.
"COUNCIL TREE"
RIVERSIDE PARK, NEENAH WIS.
....
G. W. SALISBURY DEL.
152
NEENAH CITY HIGH SCHOOL. NEENAH, WIS:
211
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1879.]
evidence of the wealth and taste of their occu- pants.
FACILITIES FOR A SUMMER RESORT.
River Side Park, a view of which will be found in this work, is one of the loveliest spots in the West, and affords a delightful retreat in the summer months. This locality is now one of the most popular summer resorts, and attracts many visitors from abroad. The lake affords the finest yachting facilities and good fishing. The air is salubrious and exhilirating, and the adjoining country, and especially the lake shore, furnish most delightful carriage drives.
John Robert's summer resort on the Island, the old home of Governor Doty, is famous as one of the most popular watering-places, and is well patronized.
The Russell House, a fine commodious structure, and one of the best kept hotels in the country, affords comforts and conveniences to satisfy the most fastidious guests. Views of both these places will be found in this work.
WATER AND RAILROAD COMMUNICATIONS.
The situation of the place on the line of water communication, so fully described in these pages, gives it steamboat communication with Lake Michigan to the East, and with the tributary waters of Lake Winnebago, in west- ern and northern directions. Its railroad and shipping facilities are unexcelled, through the medium of the Chicago and Northwestern and Wisconsin Central.
MANUFACTORIES.
The crowning glory of Neenah is its fine water power, with Lake Winnebago for an exhaustless reservoir and feeder. There are no freshets, the flow of water being gradual and regular, and its volume so large that no formation of ice ever interrupts the working of its machinery.
This city is now one of the chief manufac- turing centers of the State; its river shore is one continuous line of mammoth manufactor- ies, and its manufactures of flour and paper are industries of immense magnitude, as the following list of mills and statistics of manu- factures will show.
FLOURING MILLS.
There are seven flouring mills. The names of the firms are as follows:
Krueger & Davis, Smith & Proctor, D. L. Kimberly, J. A. Kimberly & Co., Clement & Stevens, C. W. Howard, Wolf, Walker & Co. These seven mills manufacture on an average per day, an aggregate of 1,425 barrels of flour.
Their actual yearly manufacture reaches the immense amount of 427,500 barrels, with an average value of six dollars per barrel- amounting to the sum of $2,565,000. At the present prices, the yearly product of the Neenah flouring mills would aggregate over three million of dollars.
These mills are chiefly large, substantial structures with all the modern improvements in flouring mill machinery, to which within the last two years, has been added the new patent machinery for the manufacture of patent flour. Patent flour now constitutes about eighty per cent. of their product.
In connection with the mills, are a number of large cooper shops, in which are employed about 150 hands, and with the product of the barrel factory, turning out about 1, 500 barrels per day-in itself an industry of large propor- tions. About ninety hands are employed in the flouring mills, which with the number engaged in cooperage, make about 240 hands in connection with that industry.
PAPER MILLS.
Another branch of vast importance is the manufacture of paper. There are four large paper mills, viz: The Winnebago Paper Mills, (a stock company); A. W. Patten's mill, the Globe Mill and the Neenah Mills. These employ some fifty hands each, making two hundred in all, and produce in the aggregate, twenty-two thousand pounds of print and book paper per day, amounting to 6,600,000 pounds per year, and aggregating a value of $495,000. The receipts of paper rags per day are over twenty tons.
FOUNDRIES.
There are two foundries, those of Wm. Aylward and Bergstrom Bros. & Co.'s Stove Works; the latter an extensive concern, em- ploying about twenty moulders, and about fifty hands in all.
STAVE AND BARREL STOCK FACTORY
Of Theodore Brown, is another large establish- ment, turning out twenty thousand dressed staves per day, and employing forty-five hands. He also employs about twenty hands in making flour barrels.
PLANING MILLS, AND SASH AND DOOR
FACTORIES.
E. F. Weickert, J. A. Sanford. The aggre- gate yearly value of the manufactures of these two factories, is about $20,000.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Among the miscellaneous branches of manufacture are the machine shop of John-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1879.
son & Jamison, omnibus factory of G. Olds, . Adam Ergot's Brewery, two brick yards and the various mechanic shops.
MERCANTILE HOUSES OF NEENAH.
Banks - One bank of issue, the National bank of Neenah.
Dry Goods-The number of dry goods housesis eight. Some of these deal exclusively in dry goods and others in mixed merchan- dise, and several of them are spacious, well stocked establishments, doing a very large business.
Drugs - There are four drug stores and some of them are elegantly fitted up.
Hardware - Four hardware stores, large concerns, and well stocked.
Clothing - There are three clothing stores, some of them in connection with merchant tailoring.
Boots and Shoes - Two boot and shoe stores well stocked.
Groceries - There are fifteen grocery stores, several of them fine establishments with large stocks and doing a good business.
Jewelry - Two stores in this branch.
Musical Merchandise - One music store.
Stationery and Books - One stationery store.
Agricultural Implements - Two houses doing business in this line.
Furniture - Three furniture warerooms, carrying fine stocks.
Flour and Feed -Two stores.
Harness and Saddlery Hardware - Four in this line of business.
Wholesale Liquor Store - One establish- ment.
There are in addition to the above, the pro- portionate number of millinery, confection- eries, tobacconists, bakers, meat markets, etc.
For agents, professional men and names of all business and manufacturing firms, sce classified business directory of Neenah in last pages.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
On another page will be found a view of the fine residence of Hon. A. H. F. Krueger. Mr. Krueger emigrated from Crivitz, Mecklen- burgh-Schwerin, to the State of New York in 1848, and resided there until the fall of 1850, when he moved to the town of Clayton, in this county, where he settled on a tract of new land, which he cleared and converted into a fine farm, and on which he resided eighteen years. In the fall of 1868, he moved to Nee- nah, and in partnership with Mr. Stridde erected the Island City Flouring Mill, and has since that time been engaged in the milling
business. The product of his mill averages two hundred barrels of flour per day.
Mr. Krueger is regarded as one of the most prominent and public-spirited citizens of Nee- nah, and among the foremost in promoting public enterprises. He has served in several public capacities; first, as a school commis- sioner, which position he held for nine years; next, as one of the village trustees, then as alderman, under the city organization, during the years 1874 and 1875. In 1876, he was elected Mayor of the city, and again elected Mayor in 1878, and is now the nominee of his party for Member of Assembly.
He was chiefly instrumental in securing the erection of the Schuetzen Hall, which gives Neenah a fine and capacious hall for public entertainments. He was also one of the most zealous and persistent of those who advocated the construction of the New High School build- ing, which is a credit to the city. Mr. Krue- ger is also noted for his generous benefactions to the poor and unfortunate, and for his readi- ness to aid all who merit assistance.
It is such men who leave enduring monu- ments of their existence, and who, when they have passed away from the scenes of their earthly labors, linger in the memory as a pleas- ant recollection.
Mention has already been made of the Rus- sell House, which is illustrated in this work. Mr. J. B. Russell, the enterprising proprietor, came from St. Lawrence County, New York, his native place, to the town of Clayton, in this county, in the spring of 1851, where he set- tled on a new farm, which he improved and on which he lived till 1868, when he moved to the village of Neenah, where he has since resided.
In Neenah he first engaged in the mercan- tile business, which he followed for six years. At the end of that time he purchased the Dol- sen House, a brick hotel on the present site of the Russell House, which he had taken down brick by brick, and in 1875, built the present elegant hotel, the Russell House. Mr. Russell is one of Neenah's most enterprising citizens, and a very popular landlord. He has fre- quently served in capacities of public trust, and is now City Superintendent of Schools, and the nominee of his party for Member of Assembly.
Among the illustrations in this work is that of John Roberts' Summer Resort. This delight- ful place has been mentioned in the general description of Neenah. It is the Governor Doty place, which Mr. Roberts purchased, and on which he erected, in 1877, the present fine hotel. It is now one of the most popular resorts in the country. The facilities for boat-
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OLD COUNCIL TREE
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1836-79.]
ing and fishing are unexcelled, and the delight- ful surroundings afford the greatest attraction for the summer tourist.
Mr. Roberts has represented his Ward in the County Board of Supervisors to the full- est satisfaction of his constituents, and is now serving his third term as alderman.
Among the early settlers of this county is Doctor I. H. Wright, now of the City of Nee- nah. Doctor Wright moved from Ohio to Oshkosh, in August, 1847. There was at the time no passable road from Fond du Lac to Oshkosh, and he came from the former to the latter place in a row-boat. Shortly after his arrival in Oshkosh, he commenced the prac- tice of his profession, which he followed for over twenty-five years in that place, and then went on a tour through the southwest, passing about two years in traveling and sojourning in that section, and during which time he opened up a farmı near Salina, Kansas. He traveled extensively in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and othersections, but found no locality so attractive and desirable as a place of residence, as his much-loved Wiscon- sin, and he returned to his old home with an enlarged appreciation of its delightful and healthful climate, its picturesque scenery and material advantages.
His family having resided in Oshkosh dur- ing his travels, he remained in that place about a year after his return, and in 1875 removed to Neenah, where he he has since resided, fol- lowing the practice of his profession. There are few men more widely known in this county than Doctor Wright, who is highly esteemed by a host of friends who have known him for more than a quarter of a century.
TOWN OF NEENAH.
[COMPILED FOR TBIS WORK BY WM. WEBSTER.]
CHAPTER LV.
Early History - Physical Description - Organization - Early Settlers -First Births, Marriages, Etc.
HE Town of Neenah, organized Febru- ary II, 1847, by an act of the territor- ial legislature, embraced Township Twenty (20), Ranges Sixteen and Sev- enteen (16 and 17), and the north half of Township Nineteen (19), Ranges Sixteen and Seventeen (16 and 17). In 1849, it was reduced by the setting off and organiza-
tion of the towns of Vinland and Clayton; and in 1855, the Town of Menasha was taken from her limits; so, that at the present time, the Town of Neenah comprises about seventeen sections and a half, of which eleven sections are in Township Twenty (20), north, Range Seventeen (17), east, and nearly six and a half sections in Township Nineteen (19), Range Seventeen (17).
It is bounded on the north by Menasha, east by Lake Winnebago, south by Vinland, and west by Clayton. Originally covered by a heavy growth of hardwood timber, along the eastern and southern portion, consisting of oak, hard maple, ironwood, hickory, elm, bass- wood, ash and butternut, with oak openings in the northwest.
It is now largely under a good state of cul- tivation, with a rich vegetable soil, overlying a deep subsoil of clay, producing fine crops of wheat, rye, oats, barley and hops; is well adapted to grazing and most kinds of fruit are successfully raised.
Watered Dy the lake and river on the north and east, a good supply of water is obtained at a depth of ten to twenty feet below the sur- face.
Limestone is readily obtained along the lake shore in the eastern portion of the town, and a good quality of clay for brick-making on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, which is being utilized to a considerable extent.
The surface, well elevated above the water courses, is sufficiently rolling to afford good and inexpensive drainage and a pleasing variety to the eye.
The land lying south of the south channel of Fox River was first obtained from the Menom- onee Indians, by treaty at Cedar Rapids, Sep- tember, 1836, ratified by Congress and pro- claimed February 15, 1837, and surveyed by Gerret Vliet, under the direction of A. G. Ellis, Surveyor-General, in 1839. October 2, 1843, it was offered for sale at the United States Land Office, Green Bay (except the reservation at Winnebago Rapids), the offer remaining open until October 14, when it was withdrawn (such as was not sold).
The reservation comprised so much of the following sections as was lying west and south of Lake Buttes des Morts and the south chan- nel, to-wit: sections 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 21, 22, 26, 27, 34 and 35.
The lands offered for sale October 2, 1843, as already mentioned, were again offered, sub- ject to private entry, on the twelfth day of January, 1846.
In the meantime a portion of the reserva- tion had been sold to Harrison Reed, which
214
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1844-48.
sale was fully consummated in July, 1846, (see City of Neenah.)
This sale included all south of the lake in Sections 21 and 22, north half of Section 16, the north fraction of Section 26, and all of Section 27, except the south half of the south- west quarter, and the south half of the south- east quarter.
The remainder of the reservation was subject to private entry, on or after December 28, 1846.
As already stated the town was organized by the Legislature in 1847, and the first elec- tion was held at the mill house of L. H. Jones, April 6, 1847.
Cornelius Northrup was chosen chairman and Harrison Reed, secretary. After some preliminary business, the proceedings were certified to by Northrup, chairman, and D. M. Montgomery, town clerk.
The polls were then opened for the election of town officers, and sixty-five votes were cast, resulting in the election of James D. Doty, chairman; James Ladd and Salem T. Holbrook, supervisors; D. M. Montgomery, town clerk; Perine Yale, treasurer; Henry M. Filley, Cor- nelius Northrup and L. H Jones, Assessors; L. B. Brian, collector; Milton Huxley, Eras- tus Seymour and John T. Sanborn, school commissioners, Lucius A. Donaldson, Samuel Mitchell and Alfred Hubbard, Justices of the Peacc.
At a special election held at the house of James Ladd, in the Town of Neenah, Septem- ber 18, 1847, the following town officers were elected, Cornelius Northrup, chairman, and H. C. Finch, supervisor.
Although no record seems to exist showing cause for this election, it is probable that James D. Doty and Salem T. Holbrook neg- lected to qualify; and Northrup and Finch were elected to fill the vacancies.
At a meeting of the supervisors September 30, 1847, it appearing that there is a vacancy in the office of town clerk, by the removal of Montgomery from the town, Herbert Reed was appointed to fill the vacancy.
At this meeting the town was divided into five school districts. The same number of road districts having been established at the organic election.
October 6, 1847, Herbert Reed resigned the office of town clerk.
November 29, 1847, Lucius A. Donaldson seems to have acted in the capacity of town clerk, and continued to do so, although no record is found to show by what authority.
The first white family making a permanent settlement within the present limits of the
town was that of George H. Mansur, in June, 1844. (For a complete history of his advent see City of Neenah.)
Mr. Mansur's family seems to have been the only population within the present limits, until 1846, when G. P. Vining, George Harlow (both without families), Ira Baird, Stephen Hartwell and Salem T. Holbrook, selected farnis and moved on to them. From this time the growth of population was rapid and very largely composed of young, industrious and energetic men from the Eastern States.
Many of these early settlers we have noticed in the early days of the city, and unable to ascertain the date of their settlement in the surrounding country, can only say, that, while numbers eventually moved out, others remained until they suddenly found themselves within the limits of a city.
In 1847, a building was erected for a store, on the south east quarter of Section 20, near the present residence of Mr. William Tipler; but after a year's experience the enterprise was abandoned, and, in 1848, a school was opened in the same building - the first public school within the limits of the town, and was taught by Miss Caroline Boynton, that year and 1849.
Miss Boynton soon after became the wife of Deacon Samuel Mitchell, of whom mention is made in the sketch of the city, as a pioneer, in 1846.
The first birth in the town was that of Greenville K., son of George H. and Mary Mansur, August 3, 1845. The first female child born here was Helen, daughter of Asahel Jenkins, in June, 1848. The first death occurred in December, 1849, that of Mrs. H. Houghton.
The first post-office was established March 14, 1844, being long prior to any town or vil- village organization. Harrison Reed was appointed postmaster, and Simon Quatermass, nowresiding in Vinland, was the first mail car- rier.
Mr. Reed held the office until April 1, 1847, when he was succeeded by John F. Johnston, who, at the expiration of six months, resigned in favor of H. C. Janes, and he, in turn, gave place to H. C. Finch in 1848, when the office was removed to the store of J. R. and H. L. Kimberly, the latter and Earl P. Finch (now residing at Oshkosh, but at that time a clerk in the store), served as deputies. The next office, and the only one within the present lim- its of the town, was established at Snell's, a station on the Northwestern Railroad, May 4, 1876, and called Snell's Station. David Reed was appointed postmaster.
215
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1835-48.]
The track of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was laid through the town in 1860, and passing through the hardwood belt in the eastern portion of the town, afforded an excel- lent market for wood.
Soon after the completion of the road, an establishment for the manufacture of barrel stock was erected, and a side-track laid for con- venience of shipping.
After running for a year or two, this manu- facturing establishment was blown up, and so far destroyed that no attempt was made to rebuild, but the place became a railroad sta- tion, situated on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section Eight.
A comparative statement of population, schools and valuation, would be oflittle impor- tance here, in consequence of the frequent changes of boundaries prior to 1862.
The present town officers are, Geo. Hailow, chairman; George Zemlock and A. W. Collins, supervisors; C. A. Tuller, clerk; G. P. Vin- ing, Frank Heigel,
assessor; treasurer; G. H. Mansur, David Doyle and David W. Thomas, justices.
HISTORY OF CITY OF MENASHA.
[COMPILED FOR THIS WORK BY WM. N. WEBSTER. ]
CHAPTER LVI.
The Early History of Menasha - Purchase of Site - Com- mencement of Improvements - First House Built - First School, and First Religious Services - First Birth - Rivalry between Menasha and Neenah for the Location of the State Canal - Menasha Secures the Prize - Store Opened - Post Office Established - Dam Completed - First Saw-mill in Operation - First Grist Mill - More Manufactories Established - Steamboat Built - Plank Road and Bridge Constructed - Government Land Office Established at Menasha - The Village Incorporated - Distinguished Residents - Captain Mckinnon's Blooded Stock -Increased Transportation Facilities-Completion of Canal.
HE soil upon which the City of Menasha now stands, was first offered for sale by the United States, August 31, 1835, and was bid off at prices ranging from five to ten dollars per acre, evincing an unusual confidence in the future import- ance of this locality.
The Hon. James Duane Doty, long acquainted with this section, became the owner of a large portion of the present site.
By an act approved February 8th, 1847, the Legislature granted authority for the construc-
tion of a dam across each channel of the Fox River from the Island to the mainland. This authority was obtained through the efforts of Gov. Doty, who had long foreseen the import- tance and value of this immense water power, associating with himself Harvey Jones and Harrison Reed, who had become owners of the property on the south side, and Curtis Reed who was particularly identified with Doty on the north side. Disagreements soon sprang up between the two interests, in consequence of which Doty and Reed, through Mr. Reed, procured a new charter, March 10, 1848, and the repeal of the old charter, so far as it related to the dam on the north side.
COMMENCEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS.
In June 1848, Mr. Reed came here for the purpose of improving the water power, and locating a village thereon. He at once com- menced the erection of a log house, near the head of the present canal, which when com- pleted was occupied by Clark Knight as a tavern and boarding house. About this time the place was named by the wife of Governor Doty, " Menasha," signifying " an island. " At this time that portion of the present town, lying north and east of the lake and river, was an unbroken wilderness, untouched by the hand of man, except that two months prev- iously Mr. Cornelius Northrup had erected a slab house, by placing two vertical courses of slabs with their flat sides together, and was occupying it. This stood in the center of what is now known as Milwaukee street, at the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section fifteen, within Reed's addition to the city of Menasha. The same year Mr. Reed put up a log building which he occupied-as a store, and commenced the construction of the present dam.
Before the close of the year, Philo Hine, George Stickles, Thomas and William Brother- hood, Henry C. Tate, I. M. Naricong, Wil- liam Geer, J. H. Trude, Uriah Clinton, Henry Alden, John B. Lajest and Jeremiah Hunt, had settled here. The latter, and some of the others had brought their families. Elbridge Smith also came in October, and immediately commenced the erection of the first frame building, situated on Canal Street, and which was so far completed at Christmas, that a dance was held within its walls.
FIRST FRAME BUILDING - FIRST SCHOOL - FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES - THE
MENASHA HOUSE.
The first frame building was also the first devoted to the practice of the legal profession; in it was ,also, taught the first school within
-
216
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1848-49.
the present limits of the town. This was a private school, taught by Miss Hettie Frost, the pupils, "as in duty bound," each bringing their mite to the extent of one shilling per week as tuition fee. This building has a long unwritten historical record of the early day which we are compelled to omit for want of space.
The first divine services was conducted during the fall, in the log tavern, by Rev. O. P. Clinton, the bar and sitting room being thrown open for the occasion. During the services several persons came into the bar room for spiritual consolation of a different order; such as they had heretofore sought every day in the week, and probably had never been so disappointed. Mr. Clinton noticing their anxiety, gave them a lesson of patience and self-denial, by extending his discourse to an unusual length.
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