USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 47
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At the time of the early settlement, the tim- ber was burr-oak, in the form of "openings," which had attained an enormous size, and, as is common with burr-oak "openings," forming a landscape unrivaled for beauty in the west- ern world. The shores of Lake Winnebago were fringed with a narrow strip of forest, of the usual varieties of hard wood timber. Since the settlement and the consequent prevention of annual fires, other varieties of timber have sprung up and now occupy the place made vacant by the general destruction of those old monarchs that had withstood the storms and the elements for centuries. Black and white oak, hickory and many smaller kinds are now found in small groves or belts.
ORGANIZATION.
March 8, 1839, the Territorial Legislature passed an act as follows: "Townships Eighteen and Nineteen, Ranges Fifteen and Sixteen, and fractional Eighteen and Nineteen, in Range Seventeen, shall be a separate town by the name of Buttes des Morts, and the election in said town shall be holden at the house of Webster Stanley."
The present Town of Oshkosh is within those limits.
We find no record of any further organiza- tion, no election or town meeting until the fol- lowing, viz:
First meeting in Town of Buttes des Morts, April 4, 1842. On motion, Chester Ford was chosen chairman, and sworn by T. Lee, coro- ner, and Jason Wikins, clerk, and sworn by the same. On motion, all candidates shall be by elected by ballot; there shall be two assessors, two constables, and three fence- viewers; the supervisors and commissioners of highways shall have one dollar per day, for actual service, and no more. The chairman adjourned until one o'clock on the fifth of April. Signed by Jason Wilkins, clerk.
Tuesday, April 5, 1842. Met according to adjournment, and the clerk, Jason Williams, declining to serve. Clark Dickinson was appointed and sworn in. Attested by Clark Dickinson, clerk, signed by Chester Ford, chairman.
The result of the election on the fifth was declared as follows: Chester Ford, chairman; Chester Gallup and Wm. C. Isbell, supervis- ors; John Gallup, town clerk; Thomas Lee and Louis B. Porlier, assessors; Webster Stanley, treasurer; Thomas Evans, collector; Robert Grignon, Ira F. Aiken and Shipley A. Gallup, commissioners of highways; John P. Gallup and Clark Dickinson, school commis- sioners; Henry A. Gallup and Louis B. Por- lier, constables; Jason Wilkins, sealer of wrights and measures; Ira F. Aiken, Henry Moore and Archibald Caldwell, overseers of highways; Robert. Grignon, Chester Ford and Chester Gallup, fence viewers. David Johnson, Wm. Powell, James Knaggs, Augustine Grig- non, William W. Wright and Wm. A. Boyd, were also candidates, or, at least, received some votes for these offices.
At this election there were twenty-three votes polled, or that number of voters present, who voted; there were twenty-one offices distributed, and yet six got away with- out any office; probably they did not adhere to strict party lines.
Minutes of town meeting of Buttes des Morts, April 4, 1843: On motion, W. C.
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2
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1840-45.]
Isbell was chosen chairman, and sworn in by W. A. Boyd, clerk. (Query: By whom was the clerk sworn?) On motion, that a committee of three be appointed, S. Brooks, Ira F. Aiken and C. Dickinson, said committee to examine the current expenses for the ensuing year, and we jointly approve of the first and third appropriations of the current expenses, and also the contingent expenses for the ensu- ing year, amounting to fifty dollars. On motion, the compensation of officers the ensuing year be fifty cents per day, not other- wise provided by law; that there shall be two constables and two assessors. On motion, that a lawful fence shall be tour and a half feet . high.
The result of the election was declared as follows: W. C. Isbell, chairman; L. B. Por- lier and Chester Ford, supervisors; John P. Gallup, D. Allen and Clark Dickinson, school commissioners; Shipley A. Gallup, Stephen Brooks and Milan Ford, commissioners of highways; G. F. Wright, town clerk; Wm. A. Boyd and J. Wilkins, assessors; H. A. Gal- lup, collector; Wm. W. Wright, town treas- urer; Thomas Evans, sealer; Webster Stanley, overseer of highways; James Knaggs, J. P. Gallup and W. Stanley, fence-viewers; Milan Ford and H. A. Gallup, constables; C. J. Coon was also a candidate voted for. High- est number of votes cast, eighteen; number of offices to be filled, twenty-one.
At the date of the setting off of this town in 1839, it was included in Brown County.
July 6, 1840, an act of the Legislature was approved, setting off Winnebago County.
February 18, 1842, by an act of the Legis- lature, the counties of Winnebago and Calu- met, were organized for the purpose of county government; but to remain attached to Brown County for judicial purposes. This
: to take effect from and after the first Monday in April, 1843, the first election to be held at the school-house in Manchester, Calumet County. An election was, however, held on the first Tuesday, April 5, 1842, (which see) which, being contrary to this act, and in fact, wholly unauthorized ( as this act did not take effect until a year later), was legalized by the Legis- lature, March 29, 1843.
The first legislature of the territory of Wis- consin passed an act, amendatory of certain acts passed by the Territorial Legislature of Michigan, dated April 17-22, and March 6, 1833, which was approved, December 6, 1836, as follows:
· Be it enacted, by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin, That each county within this erritory, now organized, or that may hereafter be organized,
and the same is hereby declared one township; for all purposes of raising taxes and providing for defraying the public, and neccessary expenses in the respective counties, and to regulate highways, and that there shall be elected, at the annual town meeting, in each county, three supervisors, who shall perform, in addition to the duties assigned them as a county board, the duties heretofore performed by the township board.
It also provides that the clerk shall act as both town and county clerk. In conformity with that law, the Legislature passed an act, which was approved April 1, 1843, as follows:
The Town of Buttes des Morts shall hereafter be known by the name of Winnebago, and said town shall embrace all terri- tory within the limits of Winnebago County. All future elec- tions shall be held at the house of Webster Stanley.
As already shown, an election was held for the Town of Buttes des Morts, on the 4th, of April, at which William C. Isbell was elected chairman; L. B. Porlier and Chester Ford, supervisors; George F. Wright, clerk, who by virtue of the act of December 6, 1836, were constituted the county board, in which capacity they acted, as will be seen by reference to the organization of Winnebago County.
April 2, 1844, the annual town meeting for the Town of Winnebago was held at the house of Webster Stanley, when Harrison Reed was elected chairman; Wm. C. Isbell and C. Luce, supervisors; C. Ford, G. F. Wright, Jason Wilkins and W. C. Isbell, justices.
December 13, 1845, it was voted unani- mously, that the place of holding town meet- ings for the Town of Winnebago at the house of Webster Stanley be discontinued, and here- after be held at the house of Augustine Grig- non.
August 7, 1848, at a special town meeting, at the school-house in the Village of Oshkosh, a tax of two hundred dollars was voted, for the completion of the Town House.
August 28, 1849, a special town meeting was held in the Town House.
At a meeting of the Town Board of Super- visors, convened January 27, 1846, at the house of J. Jackson, present, Joseph Jackson, chairman; Chas. and W. C. Isbell, supervisors; ordered that there be a poll opened for the reception of votes, at the next annual town election, to be held on the first Monday in September, 1846, at the following places, to wit: At the house of H. Gifford, section 22, Town 18, Range 15 (present Town of Omro), at the house of Ira Baird, Section 20, Town 20, Range 17 (now Neenah), also at the house of Webster Stanley.
The last meeting of the Board of Supervis- ors of the Town of Buttes des Morts, under the law of 1839, was held April 3, 1845, and May 30
234
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1843-56.
6, 1843, the same board met as the town board of the Town of Winnebago, in pursuance of the act of April 1, 1843.
February 11, 1847, by an act of the Legisla- ture, five towns were set off. (See Winnebago County.) The Town of Winnebago comprising Township 19, Range 15, north of Fox River, the south half of Township 19, Ranges 16 and 17, and fractional Towns 18, Ranges 16 and 17; the first town meeting to be held at the house of L. M. Miller, "and for temporary township purposes, Township 20, Ranges 14 and 15, be attached to the Town of Winne- bago."
At the first election in pursuance of this act, held April 6, 1847, Edward Eastman was elected chairman; James H. Ward and Wil- liam N. Davis, supervisors; J. H. Smalley, clerk, and Greenberry Wright and Wm. C. Isbell, justices.
By an act dated March 11, 1848, the Town of Winneconne was set off from the Town of Winnebago, and temporarily organized, by which the fractional parts of Township 18, Ranges 16 and 17, lying north of Fox River, fractional Town 19, Range 17, Sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33,34, 35 and 36, Town 19, Range 16, comprised the Town of Winne- bago. G. W. Washburn was elected chairman; Wm. C. Isbell and J. L. Brooks, supervisors; H. A. Gallup, clerk
By act of March 22, 1849, Township 18, north, Range 16, east, constituted the Town of Winnebago, the first election to be held in the Village of Oshkosh the first Tuesday in April, 1849. (Fractional Town 18, Range 17, seems to have been overlooked.)
February 5, 1850, it was ordered by the County Board of Supervisors, (in pursuance of an act of August 21, 1848, authorizing county boards to set off, organize and change the names of towns), that all of Township 18, Range 16, lying south of Fox River and west of the west line of Sections 24, 25 and 36, shall be organized as the Town of Algoma, leaving to the Town of Oshkosh all of Town- ship 18, Ranges 16 and 17, lying north of Fox River, and fractional Sections 24, 25 and 36, Township 18, Range 16, south of the river.
November 10, 1852, by order of the County Board, the name of the Town of Winnebago was changed to Oshkosh.
By resolution of the County Board, dated February 8, 1856, all that part of Township 19, Ranges 16 and 17, lying south of the south line of Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, was taken from the Town of Vinland and attached to the Town of Oshkosh, establishing the boun- daries of the latter as they now exist, except
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such changes as may have resulted from the various limits assigned to the city.
The officers of the town in 1878 were, C. L. Rich, chairman, (and by virtue of that office a member of the County Board); Nelson Allen and John Ryf, supervisors; J. B. Alcott, clerk; Thomas Grundy, assessor; Isaac S. Cox, treasurer.
The first white settler in the town was Mr. J. L. Schooley, who located on Section I, Township 18, Range 16, in the fall of 1839, that is, within the present limits. Ira F. Aiken located the same fall near the present Asylum dock.
The earliest permanent settlements in the county were made in this vicinity, but not within the boundaries of the present town. Mr. Schooley is now a resident of Neenah.
In 1840, or 1841, Wm. C. Isbell settled on fractional Section 6, Township 18, Range 17, and was for many years quite prominent in the official circles of the town and county, and we are informed is now residing at Fremont, on the Wolf River.
Dr. Christian Linde, now a resident of the City of Oshkosh, a native of Denmark, emi- grated to the United States in 1842, and came directly to thistown. A brother, named Carl, had accompanied him from their home, and on the 17th of July they purchased from Colonel Charles Tuller two hundred and eighty acres of land, now occupied by the Northern Insane Asylum, and built a log house very nearly where the Asylum now stands, Section 31, Township 19, Range 17.
Samuel Brooks, who became a resident in 1842, locating a farm on Section Twenty-five, Town Nineteen, Range Sixteen, which he retained until 1846, making improvement, but erecting no buildings. In 1846, disposing of this place, he purchased his present residence. Mr. Brooks states that, on the fifteenth of April, 1843, he crossed the lake to Stock- bridge, on the ice, with a team, and that the team returned again the same day, and making another like trip on the sixteenth; but, when within about six rods of the western shore, on their return, the team broke through, but the water being shallow, they were rescued with little difficulty. Gilbert Brooks and Jason Wilkins were with the team. Mr. Brooks was a land surveyor, and as such, had unequalled opportunities of acquainting himself with the surrounding country.
In 1843, Jacob and Fredrich Heinson settled on Section Thirty, Town Nineteen, Range Seventeen, where Fredrich still remains, his brother having died.
Mr. Jefferson Eaton was born in Herkimer
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1839.49.]
County, New York, in 1820, where he resided until 1843, when, with the prevailing fever of emigration he came to Milwaukee, thence to Fond du Lac, by team, over a road just cut through that season. Leaving his family at the first hotel built at that place, and kept by Thomas Green, he started on the trail for Osh- kosh. Directed to keep the main trail, he was led far to the west, which he discovered too late to reach either place, but, returning to where he had left his course, he laid down beside a log until morning, when he resumed the direct trail which led him to Chester Ford's (present residence of Wm. Wright), where he stopped a short time, after which he crossed Fox River, at Stanley's ferry, and proceeded on his way, to the neighborhood where he has since resided; removing his family onto a tract of eighty acres, that fall. Adding one hundred and forty acres to his farm, he subsequently sold one hundred acres for the Northern Insane Hospital.
In December, 1843, Mr. Eaton, with Amos Gallup and Stephen Brooks, as commissioners, and Samuel Brooks, as surveyor, laid out the first road in the county -being from Stanley's ferry to Neenah, and called Road Number One.
In 1844, the second road was laid out on Town line, between Townships Eighteen and Nineteen, from Lake Winnebago to Lake Buttes des Morts; Road Number Two.
About 1846, he assisted in laying a road from Oshkosh, via present Algoma Street, to Winneconne; Road Number Three. Also, the road from Oshkosh (at Main Street bridge) to Waupun; this was Road Number Four.
Mr. Stephen Brooks, father of Mrs. J. Eaton, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1781. Atsixteen years of age, he removed to the State of New York, and in May, 1837, to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Residing here and at Neenah, he assisted in cutting out the road from Fort Howard to Fort Winnebago, and in May, 1839, located at Clifton (north end of Lake Winnebago); but, purchasing a farm in Section One, Town Eighteen, Range Sixteen, where he removed his family in 1842, and after hold- ing many places of public trust, and receiving a full share of public confidence. He died Feb- ruary 26, 1864.
Charles Derby was born in Downpatrick, seat of County Down, Ireland, in August, 1819, and emigrated to the United States (by himself, having lost both parents), at the age of eighteen, in search of two uncles, who had preceeded him by many years. On his arrival in this country, his first sojourn was in Massa- chusetts, where he worked at his trade (that
of machinist), at three dollars per day, but by working overtime, he was much of the time enabled to earn five dollars per day.
In 1849, about eight years from his arrival, having accumulated about fifteen hundred dol- lars, and, with the desire to secure a home, he migrated to this country, and purchased a pre- emption right to his present farm.
Here he found the logs rolled up for a house. This was June 11, 1849. The first year of Mr. Derby's farming he cleared twenty acres, and the same fall (1849) he sowed nine acres to winter wheat, without plowing, and the next season harvested three hundred bushels of wheat, which he sold for thirty cents per bushel, on ninety day's time.
Oliver Libbey, S. S. Keese and Mr. Derby were the principal men in this school district at this time, and caused a school house to be erected.
Mr. Derby now owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, well provided with buildings.
Mr. E. W. Allen was born in Wayne County, New York, in 1814; removed to Michigan, thence to Wisconsin, residing for a time in the southern portion of the State, and, in 1846, purchased a farm adjoining the Town of Oshkosh, where he resided until 1856, when he sold to Mr. Eli Stilson, and purchased a farm about one mile further north. where he resided until 1876, when he retired to the city, where he still remains, leaving his son Albert, as successor on the farm.
Corydon L. Rich purchased his farm in 1845; commenced work in spring of 1846. (For incidents in Mr. Rich's settlement, see page I18.)
T. J. Townsend and R. S. Lambert also settled in 1846.
The northern portion of the town, including two miles in width, was, from 1849 to 1856, a part of the Town of Vinland, and the first set- tlements in the original town were within the present limits of the city; the reader is there- fore referred to the history of the city for early Incidents and experiences, not here alluded to.
The lands in this town were included in the purchase from the Menomonee Indians, of September, 1836; and were surveyed by David Giddings, in 1839, offered for sale in April, 1840, and along the shore of Lake Winnebago were generally purchased by non-residents, as a speculation.
COUNTY POOR FARM.
The County Poor Farm, comprising one hundred acres, with commodious and substan- tial buildings, is on Section 36, Town 19, Range 16.
236
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1847-79.
POST-OFFICES.
The first post-office in the county was estab- lished in 1840, within the present limits of the city, prior to any town organization, and John P. Gallup was appointed postmaster. June 2, 1847, the Vinland Post-office was established, and Samuel Brooks appointed postmaster, a position he has ever since retained. This office is within the present limits of the town ( north- east corner Section 26, Town 19, Range 16). A post-office was also established at the Insane Hospital, June 26, 1876, and Wm. W. Walker appointed postmaster. This office was named Winnebago.
In 1855, the town comprised only that portion of Town 18, Range 16, lying north of Fox River, and the fraction of Town 18, Range 17, exclusive of the city, and then contained one school, seventy-seven scholars, and three hun- dred and forty-five inhabitants. Population in 1875, eleven hundred and twenty-four; in 1878 there were three schools and two hundred and seventy-six scholars.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
This town contains many elegant farm resi- dences, as shown by the views of the same in this work.
COMMODORE ROGERS.
Commodore Roger's beautiful farm, which is situated on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, in the Town of Oshkosh, contains 312 acres, and is one of the best wheat soils in the country. His wheat crop in 1877, aver- aged twenty-two bushels per acre. One piece of land in this farm, has been cropped with wheat for twenty-three successive years, and has frequently yielded from thirty to forty bushels per acre; and last year, which was the twenty-second crop, yielded thirty bushels. This is particularly remarkable, from the fact that the crop last year was unusually light throughout the country, The same piece of land this year has produced its usual large erop. On that portion of the farm, sloping to the lakeshore, there is an admixture of shell lime (marl) one of the best wheat fertilizers, and which is probably one of the causes of its great productiveness.
Mr. Rogers moved from Crawford County, Ohio, and settled on this farm in 1854, and is one of the most successful farmers in the county. By judicious management and well directed industry, his farm has been made to yield bountiful crops, and reward him with a substantial prosperity. His farm is most eligibly situated, being only two miles from the business center of Oshkosh, and commands a fine view of Lake Buttes des Morts and the
surrounding country. A view of the place is here given.
C. L. RICH.
Among the illustrations of the Town of Oshkosh will be found a view of the farm of Hon. C. L. Rich. As Mr. Rich was one of the first settlers of the county, a description of his fine farm, and a relation of his settle- ment is given on pages 118 and 119, in His- tory of Winnebago County, in this work.
THE LATE MARK PLUMMER.
Mrs. Mark Plummer, the view of whose residence is here given, is the relict of the late Mark Plummer, who was one of the well known and highly esteemed pioneer settlers of Winnebago County.
Mr. Plummer was a native of England, from whence he migrated at eight years of age, to the State of New York. From the latter state he moved to Illinois, in 1841, where he resided until 1846, in which year he
settled in this county.
He was for some time in the employment of Webster Stanley, and acted in the vocation of ferry-man at Oshkosh.
In 1847, he settled on the beautiful farm, which he has left as an inheritance to his family. This place was at this time a wilder- ness, and settlers were just building their log houses. Neighbors were from one to two miles apart, with a plentiful supply of Indian wigwams. Mr. Plummer, through his enter- prise and well directed industry, soon became one of the leading and substantial farmers of this county, and left as the result of his labor, this highly improved farm of four hundred acres. He died in December, 1874, greatly lamented in the community in which he had so long and usefully lived. Six of the children are now living with Mrs. Plummer, on the homestead. This is one of the finest farms in the county, and its appearance gives every evidence of good management and thrift. The residence is a very handsome brick structure, and is the home of an orderly and well conducted family, who are making a good use of the advantages which surround them, and are held in high esteem by their neighbors and a large circle of acquaintances.
GEORGE ROGERS.
The farm of George Rogers, a view of which is here given, is situated on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, in the Town of Oshkosh. It contains 400 acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, in a high state of cultiva- tionr This is one of the leading dairy farms of the county. The cheese factory supplied exclusively with milk from the cows kept on the farm, produces from eight to ten tons of
MRS. MARK PLUMMER. RES. OF THE LATE MARK PLUMMER , Sec. 29 TOWN OF OSHKOSH WIS.
3-8
RESIDENCE OF GEO. M . WAKEFIELD . OSHKOSH , WIS.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1849-79.]
cheese, and one thousand pounds of butter, per annum; all of which finds a ready home market in Oshkosh. The wheat crop on this farm has, for late years, averaged over twenty bushels per acre. It contains an inexhaustible supply of one of the best of fertilizers, in the large deposits of shell lime (marl) on the lands adjacent to the lake. The location affording a fine view of Lake Buttes des Morts and the distant perspective, is one of the most beauti- ful in the county.
Mr. Rogers settled here in June, 1853. The country was comparatively new at the time, and the settlers in the immediate vicinity had for some years felt discouraged at the failures of the wheat crop, occasioned by a luxuriant growth of wild sun-flower, which choked the wheat growth and destroyed the crop. After Mr. Rogers purchased, it was frequently remarked among the knowing ones that the weeds would soon starve him out; but he was not that kind of a farmer, and as soon as the sun-flowers appeared in full force and asserted possession of his wheat-fields, it occurred to him that to mow off their heads would check their enterprise. He did so, and a splendid crop of wheat was the result-over thirty bushels to the acre. His neighbors adopted the same process, and wheat-growing became a success; this section having now the reputa- tion of being one of the best wheat districts in the State.
JOHN RYF.
A view is given in these pages of the fine farm and cheese-factory of John Ryf, in the Town of Oshkosh. This farm contains 240 acres, and is kept in a high state of cultivation. Forty milch cows are kept on the place, the milk from which is used in the cheese-factory. A large quantity of milk is also purchased of the neighboring farmers. Mr. Ryf manufac- tures 28,000 pounds of Switzer cheese per annum, which finds a ready sale; as the pro- duct of this factory stands high in the market, and much of it is purchased for foreign ship- ment.
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