USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
A period of thirty-four years marks great and important changes in a country, and especially in its inhabitants, and it is with feelings of sadness that the writer looks about, him and while witnessing the marvelous improvements made in his town since when a boy, he became a resident in 1846, and reflects that among the earliest band of pioneers, he stands compara- tively alone.
Since its settlement, the town has seen a generation born and arrive at middle life. Our friends of youth are scattered over the earth, while our parents are resting in the silent city of the dead.
TOWN ORGANIZATION-ORGANIC ELECTION.
The Town of Utica was set off from Rush- ford, and organized as a separate town in pur- suance of an act of the Territorial Legisla- ture, approved March 11, 1848.
The organic election was held April 4, 1848, at the house of Lucius Hawley; and David H. Nash was elected chairman of the board, and Edwin B. Fisk and Lorenzo McCauley, super- visors; Eli N. Hyde, clerk; Jeremiah Mericle, treasurer; Andrew Farrand and George Ran- som, assessors.
At the next annual town meeting, April 3, 1849, held at the same place, David H. Nash was elected chairman of the board, and Geo. N. Burrows and Erwin Heath, supervisors; Wm. H. Hyatt, clerk; Henry Knapp, treas- urer; Daniel S. Storey, assessor, Armine Pickett, Joel Waterman and Sam'l N. Dodge, justices.
In 1850, D. B. Babcock was chairman.
In 1851, and in many subsequent years, Hon. Armine Pickett was chairman.
FIRST BIRTH - MARRIAGES- SCHOOLS.
The first birth in the town was a daughter of Lucius Hawley, born in May, 1846. .
The first death, a daughter of Mr. Parsons' in the fall of 1846.
The first marriage was that of John Thrall and Rhoda Adams, which happy event occurred in the winter of 1846
In 1846, the first ycar of the settlement of the town, a private school was taught by Mrs. Alfred Thrall, near Pickett's.
In 1848, a log school-house was built near
Fisk's Corners, and a school taught by a Miss Kimball.
Liberty Prairie Cemetery Association was organized on January 1, 1849, and the site was donated by Armine Pickett. The first burial in the cemetery was that of Laura, wife of H. W. Barnes, which event occurred in 1850.
No spirituous liquors have ever been sold in the town, and none of its citizens convicted of a capital crime.
INCIDENTS IN THE EARLY DAY -CROPS, ETC.
Mr. T. J. Bowles informs us that the first fall of his arrival, in 1849, on election day, which would be in the early part of Novem- ber, a heavy snow-storm set in, and snow fell to the depth of eight inches, remaining on the ground for three days, with prevailing cold weather. At the expiration of that time the weather came off fine, and remained open and mild the greater part of the winter; so much so, that farmers were plowing as late as Christ- mas, and the roads were muddy nearly all winter; the weather being similar to that of the winter two years ago, viz: 1877-8.
The first two seasons that Mr. Bowles lived in Utica, 1850 and 1851, were what was known as the wet seasons. The lowlands throughout the country were flooded, and the rain poured in a deluge, frequently for days at a time. The superabundance of rain and heat made a tropical climate, and the wheat made a rank growth and generally rotted. From 1852 to 1858, the wheat crops were good, yielding from twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre of the first quality of grain. Oats were an abun- dant crop, and sold for fifteen cents per bushel. The second winter of his residence here, he threshed oats with a flail all winter, for every eighth bushel. This was the usual way of threshing out grain in pioneer days, when they earned their bread by the sweat of their brows. In 1859, the wheat made a rank growth of straw; and untimely hcat and rains caused considerable rust. This was followed by the
BIG CROP OF 1860.
This year was one of the most favorable for wheat ever known in the history of this county. The spring was unusually early, and in the last of February and first of March the soil was in many places in good condition for sccding. Dry weather prevailed through March, fol- lowed by a succession of timely rains and cool weather, until after the middle of July. Such a yield of wheat and oats was never known here, before nor since; and although on the rich black soil, the straw made a very rank growth, and the grain in places lodged badly, still, even the lodged grain yielded immense
257
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846-55.7
crops of the first quality. Whole fields pro- duced thirty to forty bushels of wheat per acre, and in some instances, ten-acre fields yielded forty-five bushels per acre.
August and September were very warm months, and brought the corn to perfection.
The pernicious practice prevailed, for a long time, in this county, of burning the straw; but the better husbandry of the present con- verts it into manure, in which shape it is returned to the soil.
About the year 1854 or 1855, some parties set fire to a lot of grain stacks belonging to Armine Pickett, and destroyed some two thousand bushels of grain. A very exciting trial took place, before Justice Bowles, which lasted a week. One of the parties accused was bound over, but was afterwards acquitted in the higher court.
E. B. FISK.
E. B. Fisk was the first settler in the north- ern part of the town, occupying the beautiful property since known as Fisk's Corners. Mr. Fisk had resided in Waukesha County, from the year 1838, to the spring of 1846, when he moved to this county.
On the thirteenth of April, 1846, occurred one of the heaviest falls of snow ever known in the history of the country. The snow fell to the depth of from a foot to a foot and a half. Availing himself of the splendid sleighing, Mr. Fisk and wife and Mr. Chamberlain and wife started with an ox-team and sled for the new home Mr. Fisk had formerly selected, in this county.
This was the same snow storm that greeted Mr. Erwin Heath on his arrival.
Arriving at his place, they found the whole face of the country covered with snow to the depth of a foot or more, and no place of shel- ter, except the body of a log cabin on an adjoining place. This had no roof or floor and did not present a very inviting appearance; but they shoveled the snow out, set up a stove, hung up blankets, and made themselves as comfortable as circumstances. would permit. The next day they sent their wives back to Rosendale.
They next proceeded to build a log house on Mr. Fisk's place. After getting up the body, Mr. Fisk went to Rosendale to bring their wives to the new home, leaving Mr. Chamber- lain to put on the roof, which he expected to have completed by the time Fisk returned. The day after Mr. Fisk started, Mr. Chamber- lain was taken suddenly with typhoid fever, and was compelled to take to his bed. There was no roof on, and there he lay in a violent fever under the canopy of the sky. A
heavy rain-storm set in, coming down in tor- rents, and deluged his bed. In this emer- gency, Mr. Winters, who was looking land, called at the shanty for shelter and food. He did what he could for Mr. Cham- berlain, who requested the stranger to pro- ceed with all dispatch to Rosendale, and acquaint Mr. Fisk with his situation, and to ask him to come on as quickly as possible, with his family. Mr. Winters, after taking some refresh- ments, started for Rosendale, where he found Mr. Fisk, who immediately started, accom- panied by Mrs. Fisk and Mrs. Chamberlain, and traveling in a rain storm, arrived in due time at the shanty, where they found Mr. Chamberlain in a violent fever and the bed- clothes drenched with water. Mr. Fisk imme- diately commenced to put on the roof, and accomplished the work in one day. Then. after getting Mr. Chamberlain into a dry bed, and making the house comfortable, he started for Stanley's Ferry and Algoma, in pursuit of a doctor. He blazed his way, for the purpose of guiding his return, and had quite a search to find Oshkosh; which at that time was hardly visi- ble to the naked eye, and which consisted of the little trading post of Osborn & Dodge and the residence of Webster Stanley.
Procuring a physiclan at Algoma, they took the back track, and in due time reached Mr. Fisk's shanty, and administered to Mr. Cham- berlain, with benefical effects, who notwith- standing his long exposure to a cold rainstorm. rapidly recovered. It was the opinion of the physician, that the rain was rather beneficial than injurious in the first stages of the dis- ease, while the fever was high, and that the rain had the effect of cooling and checking it.
The pleasant, warm spring weather rapidly changed the former dreary, wintry aspect of the country which was soon dressed in all the graces of the early summer, and presented a lovely appearance.
During the summer new-comers began to flock in, and Mr. Fisk's house was crowded with people seeking temporary accommoda- tions.
Mr. Fisk states that, at the time of the Indian scare, mentioned on a former page, he was in town, serving on the first circuit court jury empanelled in this county, and that on his return home, he found that his wife had secreted their valuables in the bushes, among which were a clock and saddle, and had fled with her child to a place of safety. Mr. Fisk says that the settlers in every direction loaded their effects on sleds and wagons, and taking their families, went to Ceresco and other places of safety. The panic subsided as
33
.
258
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-79.
soon as the whites discovered that the Indians were as badly scared as themselves.
Mr. Fisk has been one of the most pros- perous farmers in the town one of its largest land owners, and ranks among its most influ- ential citizens. While still owning his hand- some place in Utica, he has a fine residence in the City of Oshkosh, where he resides in the enjoyment of the reward of his early years of industry.
E. B. RANSOM'S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY DAY.
Mr. Edward B. Ransom migrated with his father's family from Cattaraugus County, New York, in the spring of 1841, to Milwaukee, from whence he moved to the Town of Wau- kesha, and was one of its first settlers. His father, George Ransom, not being suited with that location, moved his family to Lowell, Dodge County, in 1843, and there settled on a small farm, and was the first to break the soil in that vicinity.
Having three sons on the verge of manhood, desiring to engage in farming and stock-rais- ing, he again sold out. and, in October, 1845, made one of the first selections of land in the now Town of Utica.
MR. EDWARD B. RANSOM,
in company with his father, started from Dodge County, in the fall of 1845, passed up the Fox River from Ceresco, and examined the various localities on the borders of Green Lake and Democrat Prairie, returning to Ceresco, and thence home, his only company being his ox-team, dog and gun. From Ceresco, his father took the Indian trail for Oshkosh and Green Bay, for the purpose of examining the country on the route.
In traversing what is now the Town of Utica, he was charmed with the lovely and fertile country, and selected for his future home the northeast quarter of Section 14, the present res- idence and farm of E. B. Ransom, which he entered. In the following spring - 1846, he moved his family to the place, and, on his arrival, found Mr. E. B. Fisk nicely located on adjoining land, in a log house, with good accommodations and anxious to see new settlers.
Mr. Ransom soon raised a double log house, twelve by sixteen, with hall in the center, which was often filled with new-comers. Fish, venison and prairie-chickens were plenty, and often helped to make a good meal for the hun- gry and weary traveler.
The Winnebago and Menomonee Indians camped on what is now called Eight Mile Creek, while on the way from Green Bay to
Fort Winnebago and other points. This creek takes its name from its length. Its head is a large spring. Numerous other springs are found along the creek which affords the best of stock water.
Near the town line of Nekimi and Utica, this creek looses itself, running underground, for the distance of a mile, where it breaks out into a beautiful stream; its course being in a northwesterly direction for a distance of about three miles, where it again runs underground, until near Rush Lake, where it empties.
The Menomonees and other Indians, often camped here, hunting and trapping; and a Winnebago once called at the house of Mr. Ransom, and asked for bread and meat, say- ing that he " had no money, but would come in three days and pay." Mrs. Ransom gave him a loaf, and told him to go, and that he was welcome. He said, "No, me good Indian." But he took the loaf, set his gun in the corner of the room, and went his way. In just three days he returned with some venison, and took his gun, seeming well pleased with the trade.
The yield of wheat was forty to fifty bush- els per acre. The crops of other grain and vegetables were correspondingly large. The produce found a ready market among the settlers who were fast coming in.
The nearest mill was at Ceresco, which was sometimes so crowded with grists that it was two weeks behind its engagements.
Mr. E. B. Ransom once took a load of wheat to mill, as far as Beaver Dam, forty-five miles distant.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
A fine view is here given of the Pickett homestead, the residence of the late
HON. ARMINE PICKETT.
This place is one of the historical landmarks of the early times. This building and a fine frame barn, werc erected by Mr. Pickett in 1847, and were, with the Hawley dwelling, the first frame structures built in the town of Utica. The original building, a fine large farm-house, is shown in the view as the Pickett homestead, now occupied by Mrs. O. P. Lane, a daughter of Mr. Arminc Pickett, who inherited this portion of the estate.
This is one of the most beautiful locations in the county, and was selected by Mr. Pickett when he had the opportunity to select from all the lands in the town.
His relict, Mrs. Armine Pickett, resides with her daughter at the old homestead.
Mr. Pickett, from the very first settlement in the town, was always prominent in its public
1.
259
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846.79.]
affairs, and occupies a conspicuous place in its history. He was a public spirited man, and among the foremost in advocating and sub- stantially aiding improvements and enterprises beneficial to its interests. He was universally esteemed by his townsmen; and for the last forty-two years of his life, he was continuously an acting magistrate, with the exception of the first year of his residence in the town. He was chairman of the Town Board nearly one-half of the time, after its organization, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1861 and 1862, representing the South Assem- bly district of Winnebago County. In 1872, he was a candidate for the State Senate, and was defeated by only a few votes. He was also postmaster at Welaunee, now Pickett's Station, for twenty-five years, and died in 1875, at the age of seventy five years, uni- versally lamented by a large circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances.
JAMES G. PICKETT.
Mr. James G. Pickett, son of the subject of the foregoing sketch, came to Utica with his parents, at the time of their settlement, viz: in the Spring of 1846, and is one of the very first settlers in the town which he has seen transformed from an unsettled wild into its present highly improved and cultivated con- dition. Mr. Pickett is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the town, taking a leading part in its affairs, and is generally recognized as a man of much ability and cul- ture. He is proprietor of the cheese factory at Pickett's Station, and also of a large tract of real estate. The cheese factory is a large stone structure, as shown in the accompanying illustration.
We are indebted to Mr. Pickett for the very interesting and well written sketch of the early day in Utica.
One thing worthy of mention, in connection with the history of Utica, and, in fact, of all the towns of this county, is that the education of youth received the attention of the early settlers, as something of the first importance; and the evidence of this is found in the very general intelligence of the people of the sev- eral towns, among whom are found many of much culture and of considerable proficiency in literary attainments, of whom Mr. Pickett is an example.
DAVID R. LAWRENCE.
Mr. David R. Lawrence, the view of whose fine farm is given in this work, came to Wis- consin in October, 1847, and settled in Dodge County; from there he moved to Spring Vale, Fond du Lac County, in 1850, and having
improved a farm and erected fine buildings, sold the same, and moved to Outagamie County, in June, 1858, where he subsequently settled on a farm in the Town of Grand Chute, from which place he moved on his present farm in the Town of Utica, in this county, in 1855. This is the fourth farm in the West that Mr. Lawrence has opened up and erected buildings on, having been engaged for thirty years in making improvements on new places. He has also contributed, with a spirit of West- ern liberality and enterprise, to the building up of the country, and the opening of its lines of trade, having subscribed six hundred dollars toward the construction of the first railroad from Milwaukee to the northwest, and one hundred and twenty-five in aid of the Oshkosh & Mississippi Railroad.
This beautiful farm is most eligibly situated, being only half a mile from Pickett's Station, and about six miles from the City of Ripon. His yield of wheat, on an average, one year with another, has been about twenty bushels to the acre. Thefarm, with a detached timber and meadow lot, contains one hundred and seventy-four acres.
The publisher of this work is indebted to Mr. Lawrence for the kind interest he has taken in its success.
WILLIAM H. CLARK.
The beautiful tarm of William H. Clark, which furnishes one of the illustrations of the Town of Utica, is situated about a mile south of Pickett's Station, and on the southern boundary of the county. It contains one hundred and seventy-eight acres, and is in a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Clark is one of those public spirited men who take a commendable interest in his town, and was instrumental in having it well represented in this work; being one of the first in the town to extend it the necessary patronage, and give aid and encouragement. Without the assistance of such men, a county history could not be published.
Mr. Clark migrated from his native place, Jefferson County, New York, with his father, to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he arrived on the 25th, of December, 1844. This was in the beginning of the first settlement of Dodge County, and before roads were laid out or bridges built. Mr. Clark is, therefore, one of the western pioneers, and has experi- enced, in the fullest sense, the various inci- dents and privations of pioneer life. He helped to move the Pottawattamies of Rock River to their Western reservation-the rem- nant of the once powerful nation that inhabi-
260
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-79.
ted the southeastern portion of the State and Northern Illinois.
In the spring of 1862, he moved on his present farm, and is one of the prominent men of his town - a highly respected citizen, and in the enjoyment of a comfortable com- petency.
W. S. CATLIN.
W. S. Catlin, of Utica, is probably the earliest Western settler living in the county, he having moved into the wilds of Michigan in 1833, and witnessed that rush of Western immi- gration that took place after the Black Hawk war and the subsequent Western speculation, with its wild-cat currency, that culminated in the grand crash of 1837 and 1838. He moved from Michigan to Illinois in 1842, and from the latter place to Utica, this county, in 1850. He, therefore, passed the earlier years of his man- hood on the frontier of civilization, and is one of those who have helped to pioneer Western settlement and progress. Mr. Catlin's experi- ences in pioneer life would furnish material for a volume. He has seen the county changed from a wilderness, into the populous abodes of the highest type of civilization and has contributed his share toward its development. Mr. Catlin is a man of wide information in the school of prac- tical life, and one of the successful and fore- handed farmers of this county. His fine farm, a view of which illustrates this work, is situated in the central part of the town, about a mile and a half from Pickett's Station, and is among the best farms in the county.
R. J. WILLIAMS.
Mr. Williams, though not one of the earli- est settlers, is worthy of mention as one of the prominent and highly respectable citizens of the town. His is another of the beautiful farms of Utica, with a handsome, commodious dwelling, fine barns, and all the conveniences of farm-life; and his house is one where the guest is received with a well-bred cordiality and a hearty and generous hospitality.
THE LATE GEORGE MILLER.
Among the old settlers, and one of the most highly respected citizens of the Town of Utica, was the late George Miller, who left to his relict, Mrs. Mary Miller, and his children, the large farm of which a view is given in this work.
Mr. Miller was born in Northampton, York County, New Brunswick, June 21, 1817, and married Miss Mary Esty, in 1838. He migrated to Wisconsin and settled in Palmyra, Jefferson County, on the first of September, 1845, where he resided until 1850, when he moved to the Town of Utica, Winnebago County, where he
spent the remaining years of his life, and died on the seventh day of September, 1860.
Mr. Miller left to his family, not only a fine property, but the valuable inheritance of his good name; for he was one who was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors, from whom he received the highest marks of their confidence, and he will be long remembered in the town as one of its most worthy citizens.
He was elected several times chairman of the Board of Supervisors, was one of the most efficient and influential members of the County Board, and was one of the Building Commit- tee under whose direction our fine court- house was built. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and of great efficiency in whatever public business was entrusted to his hands. His death was not only an irreparable loss to his family, but, also, to the town whose inter- ests he was always ready to promote, and the burden of whose enterprises he was always ready to share.
The farm, now in the possession of his family, is one of the finest in the county, and contains three hundred and ten acres. It has yielded, in good seasons, 1,500 to 1,800 bushels of wheat, and 1,200 to 1,800 bushels of corn and oats, with other crops in propor- tion.
JAMES H. MAXWELL.
James H. Maxwell, a native of Pennsyl- vania, came to Utica, with but small means, in 1855. By industry and sagacious management he has acquired a competency, and is now one of the largest land-holders in the town. Mr. Maxwell, in addition to being a most skillful farmer, is a man of fine natural capacity and business ability, as his success well attests.
His fine farm contains nearly three hundred acres, and is one of the best tracts of land in the town, and is well stocked and provided with spacious barns and outbuildings.
No illustration can do justice to this beauti- ful and sightly place and its handsome sur- roundings. It is situated a half mile south of Pickett's Station, and has all the modern con- veniences and appliances for farm cultivation and stock-raising.
EDWARD B. RANSOM.
A view of Mr. Ransom's fine farm is given on another page. The history of his advent in this county, is related in the " Early Recol- lections of E. B. Ransom.
He is the youngest son of the late George Ransom, who was one of the early pioneers, and whose death was caused from the effects of being gored by a cross bull, in August, 1861.
DrainFUAR As UMU PIRE CASA 50 0. 9% Teurer an lars
. .. NW
261
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846-79.]
After the death of his father, Mr. E. B. Ransom came into the possession of the farm, where he has since resided, and by industry and perseverance, has converted it into one of the best stock-farms in the county. It con- tains one hundred and sixty acres, with good buildings, and is in a high state of cultivation. Mr. B., although brought up to the vocation of a farmer, also took high rank as a school- teacher, having taught for ten successive winters. He is now one of the most prosperous and fore- handed farmers in the town; the owner of a valuable property, and in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency.
T. J. BOWLES.
Mr. Bowles, who settled in Utica in 1849, had a varied experience in all the trying inci- dents of pioneer life. The first year of his residence, he entertained new-comers and travelers, in his very limited quarters, and fre- quently had a house filled with guests.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.