USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 49
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The matron's report shows that 3,650 articles of clothing, bedding, etc., have been manu- factured in the institution during the year.
The hospital is lighted with gas manufac-
tured on the place, at a cost of $1.98 per one thousand feet.
The trustees estimate the current expenses and appropriations needed for the year com- mencing March 1, 1879, at $85,057.60.
TOWN OF NEPEUSKUN.
| COMPILED FOR THIS WORK BY WM. N. WEBSTER. ]
CHAPTER LXI.
Situation - Face of the Country - Soil, Timber and Water - Early Settlers - Incidents of the Early Settlement - First Births - First Marriages - School-house and Post-offices - Town Organization - Organic Election - First Town Officers - Advent of Other Early Settlers - First Crops and Large Yields of Grain - Notices of Illustrations.
2min HE Town of Nepeuskun is bounded on the north by Rushford, east by Utica, south by Ceresco, in Fond du Lac County, and west by Berlin, in Green Lake County, comprising all of Town- ship 17, north, Range 14, east, except the north half of Section 1, attached to the Town of Rushford.
The general surface is high and rolling, often rising into abrupt elevations, affording extended views of the surrounding country, and of unusual beauty. Rush Lake, in the eastern part of the town, is about two miles in width by five in length, lying north and south, divides the town. Its shores, slightly above its surface, are generally level, extending away from one-fourth of a mile to two miles, afford- ing ample meadows and pasture lands, but equally adapted to the raising of grain. Natural meadows are abundant.
The soil, in the northern part, is a rich black loam, with a subsoil of red clay, and more southerly, a marshy loam, with lighter clay. A desirable admixture of sand is generally found, while in some portions the sand pre- dominates, but, overlying elay, it produces good crops.
The early settlers were attracted to the vicinity of the lake by a heavy growth of forest timber on the west, more especially the hard or sugar maple, while in other parts are burr, white and black oak, in the character of open- ings, which afforded sufficient timber for ordi- nary purposes. These tracts were frequently diversified with small prairies.
Limestone is the prevailing rock, with an occasional ridge of sandstone. There are no. streams of note, except the outlet of Rush Lake, which, running north through the Vil- lage of Waukau, where it affords considerable
31
242
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-76.
water-power, makes its way thence into the Fox River. At the time of the early settle- ment, several small streams were found con- tributing to the supply of the lake and were supposed to be the main source on which the lake was dependent; but as the timber van- ished and the land became cultivated the streams all became dry a greater portion of the year, without any perceptible effect upon the lake; and the fact became patent that the lake was fed by springs within its borders and in the vicinity. The chief products of the town are wheat, corn, oats, horses, cattle and sheep, although by no means confined to these; its capacities being fully as varied as those of any town of nearly the same latitude.
The population is composed mostly of peo- ple from the Eastern States, and largely of the early settlers or their descendants, who have ever been noted for their industry, economy and excellent morals. There is not at this time, and never has been, within the limits of the town, a place where spirituous liquors are sold.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settlement in the town was made on the arrival of Mr. Jonathan Foote, wife, daughter, and a nephew, W. H. Foote, who in March, 1846, selected their future homes near the center of Section Eleven; more par- ticularly (as before mentioned) on account of a fine grove of hard maples, and a profusion of never-failing springs. The uncle and nephew still retain their first purchase. The Footes, after living in their wagons some weeks, had procured lumber and built a shanty, thirteen by sixteen feet in size, where they not only lived but entertained many strangers, who were seeking locations for homes, often to the number of sixteen or eighteen at a time; W. H. Foote devoting a wagon to the purpose of a sleeping-room all summer.
In the following May, Mr. Lucius B. Town- send, family and brother, arrived; and the day of their arrival, taking a plow from their wagon, turned the first furrow in the soil of Nepeuskun. They then set two crotches in the ground, and laying a pole in these, formed a shelter by resting boards against the pole, under which they lived during the summer, "breaking-up" some sixty acres in the mean- time.
Before the close of the year, their numbers were increased by the arrival of many new set- tlers, among them Aashel B. and James H. Foster, Samuel Clough, Sidney Vankirk, John Nash, Dan Barnum, T. F. Lathrop, George Walbridge, W. C. Dickerson, Lyman B. John- son, H. F. Grant, John Vankirk, Solomon
Andrews, H. Stratton and Alonzo J. Lewis, making quite a neighborhood, although scat- tered over a great portion of the town. In 1847, they were further reinforced by Elisha Percival Foote (father of W. H.), wife, four daughters and two sons, Darius Rosa, Martin Eager, A. Y. Troxell, D. C. Vedder, G. McLaughlin, G. Slingsby and Julius Keep.
FIRST BIRTHS-FIRST MARRIAGES-POST OFFICE.
The first birth in this town, was that of Marshal, son of Sidney Vankirk, which occurred July, 1846. The first marriage was that of George Marsh and Elvira Nash, daughter of John Nash, at the residence of Edward Noble, east half of northeast quarter of Section 3, and was conducted by Asahel B. Foster, Esq. We are unable to give the exact date of this marriage; but can state that it was but a few days previous to the first day of September, from the fact that on that day occurred the second marriage in the town, that of Ira R. Lathrop and Miss Avis Alvira Foster, daughter of Ashael B. Foster. This ceremony was performed at the residence of A. B. Foster, on the spot where James H. . Foster now resides, by Lyman B. Johnson, Esq.
On the 26th of the same month, a notable ยท event occurred, at the close of divine service, on Sunday, at the residence of George Wal- bridge, residing on the east half of the south- east quarter of Section 18, the double wedding of Abraham Devore and William C. Smith to Misses Mary and Sarah Foote, twin daughters of Elisha Percival Foote, soleminized by Rev. Hiram McKee. The log house built for this newly married quartette, the same fall, is still seen near the Free Soil School-house, cen- ter of Section 8.
The first death was that of Mary E., daughter of L. B. and M. Johnston, Novem- ber 15, 1847.
A log school-house was erected the same year, near the center of Section 8, and a public school instituted for the winter, with Asahel B. Foster as teacher, and before the close of the year, religious services were held here by Elder Manning, a Baptist Minister.
A post-office was established in 1850, on the northeast quarter of Section 8, present residence of James H. Foster, named Koro, and J. H. Foster appointed postmaster.
In 1858, Mr. Foster was elected Register of Deeds, and his father succeeded him in the postoffice. At the death of his father, Octo- ber 19th, 1862, J. H. Foster was reappointed. Elected to the Legislature in 1869, he resigned the postoffice and his eldest daughter, Miss A.
243
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1847-75.]
Florette Foster, was duly commissioned; holding the position until her marriage, May 1, 1872, when the honor was again bestowed upon J. H. Foster, who was nominated for Presidential Elector in 1876, and thereby compelled to abdicate for the third time, and is now anticipating a fourth appointment, upon the marriage of his youngest daughter, Miss Jennie, who received the appointment upon his last retirement, and has to the present time most satisfactorily conducted the office.
I. Hasbrouck, an early resident of Oshkosh, was the mail contracter between Oshkosh and Berlin, at the time this office was established.
In September, 1849, a postoffice was estab- lished near Rush Lake, named Nepeuskun, and James J. Catlin appointed postmaster. It is now located at Rush Lake Junction, Sec- tion 21.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
In 1847, the Town of Rushford was set off (which see), and included in this township.
November 17, 1849, Nepenskun was set off by the County Board of Supervisors.
In pursuance of the order of the County Board, the organic election was held the first Tuesday in April, 1850, at the house of Lyman B. Johnson. Johnathan Foote was chosen chairman; George S. Barnum, clerk; E. P. Foote and George Walbridge, inspectors; resulting in the election of L. B. Townsend, chairman; Lyman Pomeroy, second, and A. A. Vedder, third supervisor; George S. Bar- num, clerk and assessor; Jonathan Foote, treas- urer; George S. Barnum, superintendent of schools; Samuel Clough, constable; A. Y. Troxell, L. B. Johnson and Jonathan Foote, justices.
April 13th, pursuant to notice given, the justices elected, met at the house of L. B. Townsend, to draw lots for their terms of office. A. Y. Troxell and Jonathan Foote drew two years, and L. B. Johnson one year term.
At the annual town election, held at the school-house, in District No. 2, April I, 1851, Daniel Barnum was elected chairman; A. A. Vedder and Philester Randell, super- visors; A. Y. Troxell, clerk; Jonathan Foote, treasurer and superintendent; George Stock- ing and James Deyoe, justices; Samuel Clough, constable; James P. Wakefield, sealer.
In 1857, the Milwaukee & Horicon Rail- road Company completed their line to Berlin, passing along the western shore of Rush Lake and through the entire length of the town, with a station on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 21.
In 1860, a railroad was constructed from
this station to Winneconne, via Waukau and Omro. These roads are now owned and operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. A postoffice, telegraph office and grain elevator are located here.
The present town officers are, Geo. Slingsby, chairman; Chas. Jordan and Jerome Vankirk, supervisors; George Brigham, clerk; D. P. Morrison, treasurer; Saml. Atkins, assessor; Jonathan Foote and H. F. Grant, justices.
In 1855, Nepeuskun contained six hundred and eighty-four inhabitants, six schools and two hundred and six scholars.
In 1875, the population was 1, 123, and in 1878, there were six schools, four hundred and forty-five children, over four and under twenty years of age.
INCIDENTS IN THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
As previously stated, W. H. Foote settled in the town, in March 1846, and his father, Elisha P. Foote, in the spring of 1847. During the latter season they erected the first frame barn in the town, which is still standing. the shingles, rived and shaved from oak tim- ber, are still doing service.
Theresidence of W. H. Foote was destroyed by fire, with all its contents, July 10, 1870, in the absence of the family. In two weeks Mr. Foote had a good, substantial frame house so far completed, that he moved his family into it, and is still in possession. Within the door-yard is a most beautiful and copious spring, populated with myriads of minnows, while several smaller springs in close proxim- ity, discharging into the same stream, form a brook of liberal dimensions.
John Edward Sheldon, a native of Frank- lin County, Vermont, located at Berlin, in 1848, and in 1856, married Miss Orlena Foote, daughter of E. P. Foote, when he took up his residence on the southeast quarter of Section Io in this town.
Mrs. Sheldon has a distinct recollection of making a trip to Neenah with her brother, W. H., accompanied by a sister, the fall after their arrival (1847); crossing the ferry at Oshkosh, stopping at the hotel of M. Griffin (just opened), their visit with a friend at Neenah, who was engaged at the time in the wool-card- ing machine of Daniel Priest, a short excur- sion in a row-boat while there, and the return home; and very prominent among these recol- lections is the entire lack of roads at that time.
The carding-machine mentioned was the first machinery on the water-power at Neenah, the Government mills only excepted, and we are indebted to Mrs. Sheldon for confirmation of views otherwise obtained in relation to that fact.
244
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-79.
Sidney Vankirk, a native of Oneida County New York, settled in Nepeuskun in 1846. As early as 1835, Mr. Vankirk was employed in lumbering on Menomonee River. In the fall of 1836, he with one man, each in a bark canoe, the two canoes lashed together, came down to Green Bay, thence by the Indian trail to Milwaukee and Chicago, camping by the way.
In 1838, he made a land claim at Burlington, Wisconsin, which he sold in 1846, and having married during his residence here. he con- structed a truck-wagon, the wheels being made by sawing off from logs and tapering. from center to circumference; and loading their worldly effects, with his wife, started north, a term fully as definite as his ideas, at the time, of his destination, which, however, turned out to be the southwest corner of Scc- tion Seventeen, Nepeuskun. In their course they traveled through the Watertown woods, requiring three days between Aztalan and Watertown (we believe a distance of eleven miles).
Samuel P. Button, a native of Vermont, came to Strong's Landing, Berlin, in 1847. On his arrival he found there was quite a demand for pine shingles, which could only be procured by cutting logs on the Wolf River, sawing them into bolts, and loading them on flats; they were then floated down the Wolf River, poled up the Fox, and eventually con- verted into shingles by the old method of riv- ing and shaving. Mr. Button, having purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, entered into a contract to manufacture one hundred thousand shingles for one hundred dollars. Mr. Button also laid the first railroad ties in the townships of Berlin, Nepeuskun, Rushford and Omro; built all the culverts on the Winne- conne Railroad, and laid the iron through the Town of Rushford and to Omro station.
T. J. Lathrop, born in Burlington, Vermont, came to Nepeuskun, in September, 1846, and at once purchased eighty acres, where he still resides, and built a small house, obtaining lumber from Strong's Landing (Berlin). This old house is still standing. The energies of the early settlers were principally devoted to raising wheat and getting it to Milwaukee, the nearest market. Mr. Lathrop, however, always sold his wheat on the farm, sometimes as low as three shillings per bushel; being better sat- isfied with this than by investing the entire pro- ceeds in making sundry trips to Milwaukee for its sale.
Darius Rosa, born in the State of New York, emigrated to Belvidere, Illinois, in 1839, where he suffered almost continually for seven years
with ague and fever, when he was driven to the more healthful climate of Nepeuskun, where he purchased his present farm, in Sec- tion 31, and soon fully regained his health.
John Rosa, a son of Darius, was born at Belvidere, in 1845, also resides in Section 31, where he purchased his farm in 1870, and in October of that year, married Miss Ella Tusten, a daughter of J. G. Tusten, who was among the first settlers at Strong's Landing, where Mrs. Rosa was born in 1849.
Martin Ream was born at Wittenberg, Ger- many, in 1818, and emigrated to the United States in 1837. Landing at New York, without means, he struck out for the West in search of employment; working for a time on the Mau- mee Canal, in Ohio, he was next engaged on the Illinois and Wabash Canal. In 1850, he purchased a farm and settled in Waushara County, and in 1866, located on the northeast quarter of Section 9, in Nepeuskun, where he is now the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of land, with a handsome residence and out-buildings.
Martin Eager was born in Orleans County, Vermont; after spending many years in Indiana. was compelled to leave on account ofill health, and, in 1846, came to this section, when, after some month's residence, he became satisfied that this was the place he was looking for, and, in 1847, purchased the farm where hc now resides.
Gabriel Kleiber was born in Germany, in 1832, emigrated to the United States in 1854, and, in 1869, to Nepeuskun, purchasing eighty acres, where he now resides, subsequently adding twenty acres. In 1864, he enlisted in the First Independent Battery of Heavy Artil- lery of Pennsylvania, and was stationed at Fort Delaware, until the close of the war. In 1866, he visited the old country, and, in 1876, the American Centennial.
H. F. Grant was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in 1822, came to Milwaukee in 1844, and in June, 1846, entered cighty acres, where he now resides. Built a log shanty the same year, and broke up nine acres, which he sowed to winter wheat, and in 1847 harvested twenty-six bushels per acre. In the winter of 1846 and 1847, he cut oak logs on his farm, drew them to Waukau (ten miles), and the lumber home, and in 1847, built a frame-housc. Mr. Grant, in common with other settlers of that day, has a distinct recollection of drawing pork to Milwaukee (one hundred miles), and selling it at one dollar and fifty cents per onc hundred weight. And wheat drawn the same distance often sold as low as fifty cents per bushel, for the best. A trip to Milwaukee and
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846.]
return required from seven to ten days, and thirty bushels of wheat was agood average load, forty bushels the outside.
John Vankirk was born in Oneida County, New York, in 1795, emigrated to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1845, and, in 1846, located on the farm now owned by Mr. William Vankirk, in this town, where he died May 25, 1868, leaving three sons, one of whom, William, died at the old homestead, June 3, 1873. Jerome and Horace, the two remaining, are still resi- dents of the town; also, a daughter, the wife of W. H. Foote.
Edward Barker, with five sons, Edwin, James, Henry, William and Thomas, natives of England, emigrated to this country in 1844, and in 1850, settled on the shores of Rush Lake, where they at once erected a small shop on the southwest quarter of Section 15, for the manu- facture of pocket cutlery; each having learned his particular branch of the trade in England, the father and Henry making handles, James forging blades and backs, Edward grinding and polishing, the others working at odd times as helpers. The machinery was run by horse- power. The best quality of goods was turned out here, but the market was very uncertain The merchants of Oshkosh, Ripon and other places, became liberal patrons, but the sales were too limited to make the business renum- erative, and, upon the death of Edwin, in 1868, it was abandoned.
John Nash was born in Berkshire, England, January, 1800. One day, in 1830, while at work at his trade (a ship-sawyer) a mob of "strikers" compelled Mr. Nash to join them, when they proceeded to destroy machinery and domestic implements indiscriminately. Mr. Nash endeavored to dissuade them. At last he, with several others, were arrested, tried and banished to Van Diemen's Land, for seven years, where he served out his time, working at his trade. For meritorious behavior he was granted a full pardon, just before the expiration of the term, when he settled at Melbourne for seven years more. Lumber was in great demand at that time and Mr. Nash was enabled to make five or six dollars per day. He sawed the lumber for the roof of the first bank in Australia. When he left Melbourne there were three banks. He relates that dur- ing his banishment, many barbarous and cruel scenes were witnessed. . Many desperate char- acters are transported from the cities of Eng land, and often in a morning, six or eight are brought out, stripped and whipped, until life is almost extinct. In one instance one Robbin Nutman, an overseer of a chain- gang, caused the gang to be punished
with fourteen hundred lashes, distributed, for complaining that they did not receive the full allowance of rations to which they were entitled. Mr. Nash has traveled forty-four thousand miles on the water, and a correspond- ing distance by land. In 1844, he left Australia and rejoined his family, and March 10, 1846, emigrated to Salem, Wisconsin, and in Septem- ber of the same year, located on his present farm in Nepeuskun, where he has since resided, and no man is held in higher esteem, or more universally respected, than Mr. John Nash.
Mr. Solomon Andrews, one of the pioneers of 1846, was born at Homer, Courtland County, New York, and emigrated to Racine County in 1837, and in May, 1846, settled in Nepeuskun, where he died in August 18, 1866.
Mr. A. Y. Troxell was born in Northumber- land County, Pennsylvania, in March, 1807, and in 1837 1emoved to Indiana, to Nepeuskun in 1847; having the year before spent some. time in the vicinity, and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. The log buildings first erected in 1846-7 are still standing, and near by a fine, commodious residence, embow- ered amongst a profusion of evergreens and native oaks.
It is related by settlers of 1846-7 that the winter of 1847-8 was similar to that of 1877-8, being mild in the extreme, and little or no snow. Mr. Troxell, of Nepeuskun, states that they finished planting five acres of corn on the 18th of April, 1848. It is also generally recollected by the early settlers of that town, that on that day (April 18th) occurred the heaviest snow storm of the season, correspond- ing with our rain and hail storms of the 18th and 20th of April, 1878. On the first of May Mr. Troxell says his corn was ready for cultivating, and at harvest they gathered five hundred bushels of ears from the five acres, which was broken up the year before, and on the same breaking was raised in 1848 a crop of spring wheat which harvested forty bushels to the acre.
The following winter was one of great seve- rity, with several months of uninterrupted sleighing and a great depth of snow. From 1840 to 1850 a rainstorm during the winter was almost unknown, and it was a well estab- lished fact that farmers could at any time in the winter open their grain and hay stacks without fear of damage from wetting. Grain and hay was then universally stacked for want of barns, and a large portion of the grain was threshed on the ground, or a floor laid upon the ground, sometimes by the use of the flail, but more generally treading it out with horses
246
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN
[1846.
or cattle; this was necessarily a long and tedi- ous method, frequently keeping stacks open for weeks. Hay was also fed from day to day, directly from thic stack, which was left entirely unprotected until consumed. The atmosphere seemed much dryer and clearer than at the present, and twenty-five or thirty degrees below zero was far less to be dreaded than ten or fifteen below now.
The Fourierites had a grist-mill in operation at this early day, at Ceresco, which was built for their exclusive benefit, and when the first crops were harvested in their vicinity they absolutely refused to grind for the settlers, which compelled them to take their grain to Watertown.
At last "forbearance ceased to be a virtue," the settlers held an indignation meeting at which they denounced the action of the Four- ierites in unmeasured terms.
A conference was then held, and the asso- ciation consented to set apart two days in the week (Mondaysand Saturdays) for the accom- modation of the outsiders.
On account of a great rush to the mill on those days, a strife arose as to who should get there first, "first come, first served, " being the motto. On one occasion Mr. C. left home at daylight. Arriving at the mill he found a num- ber of teams in waiting, and among them a neighbor who had driven farther than himself, of whom he inquired, "How did you get here? I started as soon as I could see." "Oh! I started last night," was the reply.
JEROME BETRY.
Mr. Jerome Betry, the view of whose farm residence is here given, moved from Leroy, Genessce County, New York, in 1846, and settled in the now Town of Nepeuskun. In company with his brother, he made a claim of land now embraced in the McCauley farm. Imigration was, at this time, pouring in, and taking possession of the land.
From Milwaukee Mr. Betry started on foot with all the energy and hopefulness of youth, for the promised land. He fell in with a teamster who was moving goods to Fond du Lac, and who, being sick with the ague, offered Mr. Betry the privelege of riding if he would help him to drive and take care of the team. This proposal being, under the cir- cumstances, very satisfactory, was acceded to, and our foot passenger was elevated to the dignity of a teamster.
Arriving at Fond du Lac, Mr. Betry hastily looked over the dimensions of what is now one of the principal cities of the State. It then consisted of one small hotel and three little stores and a few scattering dwellings and
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