USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 53
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
He was hardly settled in his new home, when official duties were thrust upon him, and he was immediately appointed school district clerk, and officiated as acting town treas- urer.
In the spring of 1851, he was elected justice of the peace, and has acted in that capacity with but few short intervals, from that time to the present. He has also represented the town in the County Board for six or seven terms, and is now acting in that capacity, and is recognized as one of the leading and most efficient members.
Mr. Bowles' large experience in town and county affairs, and his natural ability, has given him much local prominence. His long experience as justice of the peace, has given him an intimate acquaintance with law prac- tice, and he does much business in the justice courts; in which he is very successful.
In March 1864, he enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin, Company B., and served till the close of the war. While he was in the service, and during a period of severe sickness, he was detailed as counsel for the defense of eleven soldiers, who were tried before a court mar- tial. This was a new practice for Mr. Bowles, and he was very reluctant to attempt it; but after much entreaty on the part of the accused, and of officers, he undertook the task. At the end of a protracted trial, which lasted a week, he succeeded in obtaining the acquittal of the prisoners - and modestly and blush- ingly carried off his new honors.
TOWN OF WINNECONNE.
CHAPTER LXIV.
Situation - Lakes -Soil - Timber - Face of the Country -
Early Settlers - Plats of the Villages of Winneconne and Buttes des Morts Recorded - Indian Villages - Town Organization - Town Election - First Births, Marriages and Death - Schools Opened - Post Offices Established - Mills Built - Other Improvements - Store Opened - Settlement of the Indian Land - Church Organization - Water and Railroad Communication-Population, Schools, Etc .- Farms and Improvements - George Cross' Recol- lections of the Early Day.
HE Town of Winneconne is bounded north by Winchester, east by Vinland and Town of Oshkosh, south by Omro, and west by Poygan. In the north- west corner of the town, Lake Winne- conne, formed by a broad expansion of Wolf River, covers some six sections within the limits of this township. This is a beauti- ful sheet of water, bordered by bold, wooded shores on the east, and on the west by natural meadows and fine groves of timber. The river again contracting in the center of the town, flows south and east some three miles, where, on Section 26, it forms a junction with Fox River, which, coming from the west and south, monopolizes the name; and, emerging from the town on Section 25, by expansion, forms Lake Buttes des Morts.
The surface, south and west of lake and river, is generally level, and was originally covered with a forest of hardwood timber, except along the shore and in the vicinity of the streams, where extensive marshes abound, of little value, save some which are sufficiently firm to produce good crops of grass and hay. South and east of Fox River is an extensive marsh, only adapted to the raising of wild rice and muskrats. The latter enterprise hav- ing been successfully conducted for several years. A Buttes des Morts trader once remarked, "Money will be plenty as soon as the muskrats begin to come in!" The greater part of this tract lying south and west of the river is fine farming land, of enduring fertility, with a rich soil, and generally in a state of good cultivation, with good farm buildings. North and east of the lake and river, the sur- face is entirely different. Rising abruptly from Fox River, some forty or fifty feet, and thence northwardly by a succession of low hills and gradual undulations, a greater eleva- tion is attained; until, near the north line, an altitude of one hundred and seventeen feet above the river is reached: when, looking to the right or left, several elevations of about the same height are seen, with a most mag- nificent panorama of rich valleys and smaller
262
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN
[1846-47.
eminences on every hand -the very acme of rural loveliness. And this is "Ball Prairie," occupying the northeast portion of the town, and stretching away into Vinland.
On one of the prominent elevations just mentioned, in Section 1, is the residence and farm of Mr. George Cross, and adjoining (within the same section), those of John, Will . iam and James Cross. Here at the very sum- mit is a series of thirteen mounds, within a distance of nine hundred feet, which, in 1848, were about four feet high, and conical in shape. At the time of the early survey, these mounds, prominent at a great distance, resembled so many balls, from which the surveyors gave the name, "Ball Prairie." These mounds are situ- ated on a bed of gravel and coarse sand, in distinct alternate layers, and formed of some three feet of black earth.
There are several apple-trees in the orchard of Mr. George Cross, which were brought from Brighton, New York, thirty years ago, looking healthy and sound, except where the limbs were dismembered by a tornado in 1871. One of these trees measure three feet ten inches in circumference. A soft-maple, in his yard, grown from seed planted in 1853, meas- ures forty-seven feet in heighth, and four feet two inches in circumference, with several oth- ers about the same size. Near his residence, in a wheat-field, is a very singular out-crop of limestone, an exposed area of about fifteen by forty-five feet, terminating at either end in a sharp angle, and not the slightest evidence of the existence of any stone outside of the well- defined limits at the surface. The plow passes without the least obstruction, and the grain grows equally well up to the very line.
The soil throughout this portion of the town is a deep, black loam, gravel and marl subsoil, based upon limestone, with frequent expos- ures. Fine springs are common.
South and west of the streams, a rich vege- table soil, overlying red clay, predominates, with considerable sand in the extreme west and southwest. The extensive marshes men- tioned were, in an early day, traversed by teams, and afforded great quantities of excel- lent hay; but at the present time they are gen- erally submerged.
The original thoroughfare, from Green Bay to Fort Winnebago, crossed Fox River at Augustine Grignon's place, northeast corner of Section 30, Town 19, Range 16; and thence, following the south bank of the river, around to the trading-post of Robert Grig- non, near the section-line between Sections 34 and 35, and the quarter-line of Section 35, Town 19, Range 15, and from there directly
south. This distance over four miles from the ferry at A. Grignon's, good, solid footing for horses then, is now under water a greater por- tion of the year.
Good wells are obtained in the western part of the town at a depth of from twelve to twenty feet; and by boring from thirty to sixty feet, copious fountains result, the water rising from one to three feet above the surface.
The usual grains and grasses of this region, when properly cultivated, produce a bountiful return in any part of the town.
The plat of the Village of Buttes des Morts was recorded July 5, 1848, Augustine Grignon, proprietor; and on October 15, 1849, a plat of the Village of Winneconne was also recorded, Hoel S. Wright and E. Gordon, proprietors. March 24, 1871, the Village of Winneconne was incorporated by act of the Legislature.
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
It has been claimed that the first white set- tler in this town was Augustine Grignon, in 1818. This we very much doubt, as Mr. Grignon was a resident of Kaukauna, if we are rightly informed, until after the general settlement commenced; but the fact that Mr. Grignon established a trading-post in the adjoining town at a very early day, with James Porlier as partner, is unquestioned.
Early in March, 1846, Samuel Champion and his son John, with Samuel Lobb, located here, and, in May following, Mr. George Bell and family arrived from Toronto, Canada West. Mrs. Bell was the first white woman in the town, and in the fall, when fever and ague prevailed throughout the State to an extent never known before or since, her husband suf- fering with the rest, she harrowed in a field of wheat; and in September, when she was the only well person in the town, after living on boiled wheat for some time, she yoked the oxen and, loading a grist into the wagon, started for the mill at Neenah, twelve miles distant, with no road more than the Indian trail; and, returning in the night with her grist, she was entertained on the way with the music of the wolves, often in uncomfortable proximity. She reached home a little before midnight.
About three weeks after the advent of the Bell family, Mr. Greenbury Wright and family, accompanied by his brother, Dr. Aaron B. Wright, better known as "Little Doctor Wright," arrived, and selected a farm on the present site of the Village of Buttes des Morts This was the second family to make a settle- ment in the town and now enjoys the distinc- tion of being the oldest resident family here.
During the year, quite a settlement was formed, consisting of Julius Ashby, Lafayette
-
263
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846-50.]
McConifer, Stephen. Allen, William Caulkins, Edwin Bolden, George Snider, and George Cross, who made a claim to the farm he now occupies.
Prominent among the early settlers of 1847, 1848 and 1849, we find the names of Mr. John Cross, A. and O. Rice, E. J. Lean, Mr. Fish, F. Hamilton, Walter Clark, William B. Cross. Richard Cousins, Charles and E. D. Gumaer, John Atchley, the Mumbrues, (the father and two sons, William and Henry), Col. C. R. Ham- lin, J. Pritchett, Reuben Tucker, Ira Avery, Rowell Kellogg and John Scott. .
These settlements were all confined to that portion the of town lying north of the Fox and east of the Wolf Rivers; that on the west of Wolf River being still known as the Indian Land; but, during the year 1849, there were some claims made on that side. J. R. Sumner, a native of Bristol, Addison County, Vermont, where he was born June 9, 1804, with a family of five children, and Samuel Smith, were amongst the number.
INDIAN VILLAGES.
The present sites of Winneconne and Buttes des Morts had long been occupied as promi- nent Indian villages and headquarters, and the forests in the vicinity, their favorite hunting and camping-grounds; while about the openings and prairies, there existed evidences of a primitive cultivation in the form of corn- hills and drills. As a natural consequence, the population at this time consisted of a large majority of the natives, who were far from being the worst of neighbors. Quiet and peace- able, they were the last to inflict any wanton injury, often supplying the little communities with fish and game, when provisions were dif- ficult to obtain.
Of all the offences charged against these long-suffering people, rare indeed was the occurence of an unprovoked injury, or one which was not directly or indirectly attributable to that bane of both whites and Indians - whiskey.
TOWN ORGANIZATION -TOWN MEETINGS.
From 1843 to 1847, the County of Winne- bago comprised but one town, called Winne- bago. (See organization of the County.)
In the latter year, five towns were organized, butthetown now under consideration, remained a portion of the Town of Winnebago, until. by an act of the Legislature, approved March II, 1848, Township 20, Ranges 14 and 15, Township 19, Range 15, and the two west tiers of sections in Townships 19 and 20. Range 16, were set off and organized as the Town of Winneconne.
In March, 1849, the two tiers of sections in Townships 19 and 20, Range 16, were set off to Vinland and Clayton; Township 20, Range 15, as part of Winchester, in 1850, and a part of Township 20, Range 14, as Orihula, in 1855, leaving the present limits.
At the first election for the Town of Winne- conne, held at the house of Augustine Grignon, April 4, 1848, it was “voted to organize into a town by the name of Winneconnah." "Voted, that Greenbury Wright be chairman of this meeting; that Greenbury Wright, Ira Avery, and William N. Davis, serve as judges of elec- tion; and that Timothy Allen and Charles Shoemaker, serve as clerks of election." They were qualified according to law. "Voted, that town officers that are paid by the day, receive seventy-five cents per day for services." "Voted, to raise forty dollars for district, schools, and one hundred dollars to pay town officers and incidental expenses." "Voted, that the next election be held at the house of Dr. Preston.'
The polls being opened, the following result was declared: James Fisk, chairman board supervisors; Stephen Allen and Hiram Wilcox, supervisors, Timothy Allen, clerk; John Cross, treasurer; Avin Partridge, Stephen Allen and Silas Allen, assessors; Alfred Hubbard, Green- bury Wright and Horace Clemence, justices; Wm. G. Caulkins, Charles E. Scott and Wash- ington Manuel, school commissioners; Alvin Pride, collector.
At the election of April 3, 1849, at the school-house, near John Catton's, Fish Hamil- ton was elected chairman; George Bell and D. Lafayette McCorpin, supervisors; Edmund J. Lean, clerk; John Cross, treasurer; Lucius Clark, James H. Jones and John Annunson, assessors; Wm. G. Caulkins, superintendent of schools; Greenbury Wright and Ira Avery, justices.
Election at the same place, Tuesday, April 2, 1850: Wm. Cross, chairman; Jerome Hop- kins and George Bell, supervisors; Edmund J. Lean, clerk; John Cross, treasurer; John Annunson and Edwin Balden, assessors; F. F. Hamilton, Elias D. Gumaer, John Boyd and O. E. Loper, justices.
The highest number of votes cast at the election of 1848, was forty-three; in 1849, thirty-nine; in 1850, one hundred and one.
FIRST BIRTH - FIRST DEATH - SCHOOLS.
- The first white child born within the present limits of the town, was M. J. Ashby, a son of Julius Ashby, on September 10th, 1840.
The first religious services were also held this fall, at the house of Greenbury Wright,
264
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-50.
the Rev. Dinsdale, a Methodist clergyman, officiating.
The first death within the town occurred in the spring of 1850. Miss Mary Wait, a sister of Mrs. C. R. Hamlin, who being of a con- sumptive tendency, came with Hamlin's family from Ohio, in the fall of 1849, for the restor- ation of health; but too late to be benefitted. Mrs. Booth, mother of Mrs James Barber, also died July 3rd, of this year. It is said that the first death was at an earlier date, a daugh- ter of Samuel Pratt, but we have been unable to ascertain the exact date.
In 1848, the first school-house was built at Catton's Corners, but we have no information relative to the first school; but in 1850, the settlers at the Village of Winneconne, erected a board shanty, sixteen by twenty-eight, for a school-house, and the first school within the village was opened that fall, with William Mumbrue as teacher. This school-house was also used for religious and other gatherings, for some two years, when a good substantial frame sehool-house was erected, which in turn, a few years later, made way for one of still greater pretentions, and was itself removed to another site, where it was converted into a Catholic church.
FIRST MARRIAGE.
In 1847, at the annual town meeting for the Town of Winnebago, held in April, Greenbury Wright was elected justice of the peace, and, as such, performed the first marriage cere- mony, between Amos Buck and Elvira Pierce, the same fall, having previously offered to unite the first couple free of charge. June 7, 1848, Mr. Wright also officiated at the marriage of William Caulkins and Miss Salina Lean.
POST OFFICE ESTABLISHED - MILLS BUILT - OTHER IMPOVEMENTS.
The first post-office within the present town, was located at Buttes des Morts, in June 1849, with Augustine Grignon as postmaster.
Mr. F F. Hamilton had previously built the first frame building in the town, and was at this time occupying it with a stock of merchandise. That building is still standing, and devoted to the same purpose, and across the street from it, is the second frame structure of the town, which was erected for Augustine Grignon, and for many years served as a hotel.
The same fall, Messrs. Smith and Bennett procured from Wolf River, the timber for a - saw-mill, and in February, 1850, the mill was commenced, completed and set in operation in August. The machinery for this mill was obtained from Detroit, and transported via
Green Bay, thence by Durham boats and teams, to its destination. Bennett dying soon after the completion of the mill, a Mr. Vib- berts became associated with Smith, and the name of Smith & Vibberts became familiar.
On February 21, 1850, another post-office was established at Winneconne Village, and Joseph Edwards commissioned as postmaster. This office was located at the instigation of Gov. Doty, who gave it the name of Wane- kuna; but by the illiterate in Indian literature, it has become perverted to the present style.
In 1850, H. C. Mumbrue built and oper- ated a chair factory, the motive-power of which was horse.
The Hyde Brothers also built a steam saw- mill at this point, during the season, and this proved " the feather that broke the camel's back;" a saw-mill at Oshkosh, one at Algoma, one at Buttes des Morts and this one, in these primitive times, when log houses were all the style, and barns, if any, of the same material, were more than the country could support. This venture proved unsuccessful, and the mill after various changes, became the property of Henry Swartz, who will be remembered by all the old settlers of this region. This mill was eventually destroyed by fire.
STORE OPENED - MORE BUILDINGS ERECTED.
John Scott was the first to engage in mer- cantile business, in 1849, followed the same season by H. C. Rogers.
E. D. Gumaer erected the first frame build- ing, or perhaps, it should be said, completed the first; for during its construction, Charles Gumaer and John Atchley, were also building, and the Mumbrues were, at the same time, erecting a frame building, intended for a hotel.
This was all in 1849, and at the present site of Winneconne Village, on the east side of the river.
On the west side the Indian trod his native heath; and looking back upon the home of his childhood, his youth and his manhood, from which he had but recently been driven by that tidal wave of immigration, whose course ever onward and westward, now checked only for a moment by the stream which lay winding at his feet; and contemplating that within a few months at most, this would no longer prove a barrier, and that the dreaded fiat would be announced, removing him forever from these carly associations, he knew not whither. At this time the natives were in full possession of the country on the west of the Wolf River, and here the Government had erected a blacksmith shop for their con-
265
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1834-50.]
venience. Two smiths were employed here, the only whites on this side. Across the river whiskey was easily obtained in amount only limited by the ability to pay. Tlius easily enabled to gratify their inordinate appetite, drunken revels and noisy carousals were of constant occurrence, and often extending far into the night, or, perhaps lasting all night, accompanied by the usual whooping, howling, singing and dancing, with the ceaseless mono- tony of the Indian drum and flute.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
In the spring of 1850, a Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. Mr. Robinson, and dur- ing the same year, the Methodists organized under the leadership of Rev. J. C. Simcox, an English Wesleyan Methodist.
THE INDIAN LAND.
In November, 1852, the Indian land lying on the west side of Wolf River, was placed in market, and was settled up rapidly by an industrious and energetic class of farmers, who are to-day in no wise behind those of neighboring towns, in the quality of the farms, their improvements or building; being sur- rounded by all the comforts and conveniences of a farm life.
WATER AND RAILROAD COMMUNICATION.
The Town of Winneconne, divided by the Wolf and Fox rivers, has from the first, possessed all the commercial advantages of water navigation, giving it communication with the pine and hardwood forests of the Wolf and its tributaries.
The construction of the Winneconne branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, to the Village of Winneconne, gives it railroad con- nections with the leading through lines.
POPULATION, SCHOOLS, ETC.
The population of the town in 1855 was eight hundred and thirty, with four schools and two hundred and thirty-one scholars; in 1875, the population was two thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. There were in 1878, six school-houses, eleven teachers and seven hundred and ninety-two children, between the ages of four and twenty.
TOWN OFFICERS.
The present town officers are: John D. Rush, chairman, Daniel Martin, L. M. Sum- ner, supervisors; J. Ulrich, clerk; G. E. Lean, treasurer; A. Lock, J. Ulrich and J. Starks, justices; Charles Miller, assessor; T. S. Wood, village supervisor.
. FACE OF THE COUNTRY -FARMS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The face of the country in this town is very
handsome, and there is no richer farming land in the State. The farms are generally in a high state of improvement, and there are many very fine farm residences. The roads are excellent, many of them being graveled. Good well and spring water is found in every locality, and the town possesses additional social and educational advantages, in its proximity to cities and villages.
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY DAY FROM GEORGE CROSS.
Mr. Wilson Cross, ancestor of the families of that name, now residing in the Town of Winneconne, was born in the City of York, Lancashire, England in 1777, and emigrated to the United States in 1831, and resided at Rochester, New York, one year, during which time he met an acquaintance from England, who had visited White Pigeon Prairie, Michi- gan, and ' from glowing accounts of that country, related by this friend, was induced to start at once for this Eldorado of the west, with his family, consisting of five sons and six daughters.
In 1834, William, the eldest of these sons, a young man of superior ability and educa- tion, in company with Bishop Philander Chase, an uncle of the late Salmon P. Chase, whose diocese extended over the 'entire Northwest, made an exploration in Illinois, and the more western portion of the diocese. Arriving at a small trading-post, at the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, now called Chicago, he concluded to remain for a time, and was installed assistant to Bishop Chase.
During the year the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas settled here, and soon became a mess- mate and chum with Mr. Cross. These two soon became prominent, and with others endeavored to perfect a political organization, with the view of establishing some rules and forms of government.
In the fall of 1835, a Mr. Bond, on his way north with a drove of cattle, induced Mr. Cross to join him, and following the shores of Lake Michigan, they crossed the southern boundary line of Wisconsin. These cattle brought here for the supply of the Government troops, were wintered near where Kenosha now stands, and here Mr. Cross selected a location for his father, in Town One, Range Twenty- two, to which the family moved in 1836, and here the father died in 1840. The family now became somewhat separated, choosing resi- dences at Eagle Prairie, English Prairie, Delavan, etc.
In 1838, George Cross started on a tour of observation through the Galena lead region, 34
266
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1839-50.
where he met Governor Doty, and with him dis- covered very rich leads of lead and copper. Arrangements were completed for a survey of the line of the Fourth Principal Meridian, from the mouth of Fever River, near Galena, to Lake Superior, in which Mr. Cross was engaged, and the party were accompanied by Governor Doty throughout the entire survey. One of the party, a Frenchman, died near the crossing of the Iron Ridge: the body was wrapped in birch-bark and buried on the spot, the burial service was read by Governor Doty. During this entire trip they were dependent for transportation upon Indian ponies, and packing upon the backs of men. This survey completed, Mr. Cross returned. home, where he remained but a short time, and again set out for the present side of Madison, when he again met Governor Doty, in whose employ he traveled the greater portion of the time, for three years. It was at this time that Governor Doty selected the present location for the seat of Government.
Mr. Cross, now had the opportunity of visiting nearly all sections of the State, and of all points that came under his observation, the Wolf River country seems to have taken preference in his judgment, as indicated by a letter to Harrison Reed, then editor of the Milwaukee Sentincl. He says: " The Wolf River is a most magnificent stream, and with the removal of some insignificant obstructions, is navigable for one hundred and fifty miles, and through the finest belt of pine and hard- wood timber I have ever seen." The Fox River Valley was also highly spoken of, and no doubt had much influence on Mr. Rced, in making the purchase at Winnebago Rapids, and these letters from Mr. Cross, only intended for Mr. Reed's benefit, were published in the Sentinel, thereby thoroughly advertising this entire section. These letters were written by an arrangement with Mr. Reed before the writer left home, in 1839, but with no expect- ation that they would be published.
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.