USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 54
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
In 1846, Mr. Cross, in crossing the ferry at Oshkosh, found but a scow, capable of car- rying two Indian ponies, and at once went to work and built a ferry-boat that would carry a pair of horses and loaded wagon; after which he assisted Mr. Webster Stanley in building a shanty on the southwest corner of High and Main streets. He next commenced the erec- tion of a building near the present site of S. M. Hay's store, for Mr. Stanley, which, in the spring of 1847, was purchased by M. Griffin, moved across the street to the present site of Griffin's Block, and, with sundry additions and
improvements, „was opened as a hotel during the summer.
Mr. Cross was also employed by John Ban- nister, a land surveyor and agent at Fond du Lac, and was often sent to Green Bay with large sums of money, for entering land for settlers from all parts of the country.
These land agencies were quite prominent and important institutions in the early days of the settlement of this country, and were fre- quently considered as a sort of sub-agency of the Government Land Office, which was a mis- taken idea.
Any one disposed to establish a land agency could procure diagrams of the several town- ships in the vicinity of their agency, showing the Government sub-divisions, the streams, lakes, marshes, and the general character of the surface, and, thus provided, open an office, where, having made themselves familiar with the locality, and the diagrams representing all lands sold, pre-empted or reserved, they were ready to recommend desirable selections to those inclined to purchase, and to take them on to the ground, pointing out the boundary line and all the attractions; and when the selec- tions were made, receive the money for its purchase, which they forwarded to Green Bay by a messenger, in whom they had confidence, and, on his return, receive the duplicate (title) which the purchaser could obtain by calling for it. These trips to Green Bay were made once, twice or three times each week, as the amount of business required. The Government assum- ing no responsibility until the money was deposited in the land office.
This obviated the necessity of each pur- chaser making a trip to Green Bay over the most villainous roads, impassable much of the time to anything but a foot-man or horse-man. By accumulating the money for numerous entries at one agency, one trip was sufficient for the whole number, and by frequent trips the agent was kept at all times advised of the lands sold within his limits.
We have wandered, somewhat, from our sub- ject as this seemed a fitting place for this explanation.
In the fall of 1846, Mr. Cross made a claim of the farm on which he at present resides, and, consummating the purchase in due time, rented it until 1859, when he took up his resi- dence here, meanwhile working at his trade, that of miller and mill-stone dresser.
In the spring of 1847, he induced his brother, Mr. John Cross, to take up a farm adjoining his, and, in 1848, Mr. William Cross joined them, with his family. William was killed a few years later by the kick of his horse.
267
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN
1846-47.]
Mr. George Cross, who related the forego- ing recollections, is a gentleman of scholarly attainments, an extraordinary memory of per- sons, dates and events, a sound judgment, com- bined with a happy faculty for relating his experiences and observations, in fact a perfect oracle or animated history.
The entire family seem to have been pos- sessed of iron constitutions, a perfect embodi- ment of health, and in every way most hap- pily constituted for the struggles of a pioneer life.
The father, William Cross, before leaving England, was, on account of an excellent judg- ment and fine taste in stock-raising, employed by Lord Allerthorpe, to select the finest Durham stock to be obtained, and, while thus engaged, Mr. Cross bred and raised a short- horn Durham bull for his employer, which became quite noted, under the name of Wild Comet, and which was sold for fifty guineas. Henry Clay afterward secured this animal and brought him to Ashland, the first iniported stock introduced into the West. Still later, Governor Trimble, of Ohio, purchased Wild Comet from Mr. Clay; and from Governor Trimble, Governor Doty obtained the short- horn stock well known in this county.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Mr. Greenbury Wright emigrated from Ohio, in 1846, to Wisconsin; came directly to Osh - kosh, and, following Fox River as far as Buttes des Morts, selected a location on Section 24, the present site of the village of that name. In 1865, Mr. Wright sold his farm in Section 24, and purchased eighty acres in Section 13, where he still resides. At the time of his arrival, there was but one white family in the township, that of George Bell, who had pre- ceeded him by about three weeks. Having made a pre-emption claim in 1846, he was compelled the next year to go to Green Bay, to enter the land, and says that on this trip there were no signs of a habitation on the present site of Appleton, but he there found several persons who were then about locating the site for the present Lawrence University. At Little Chute he recollects seeing an apple orchard, well loaded with fruit.
Mr. Richard Cousins was born in Maine, July 22, 1823, and in September, 1846, emi- grated directly to Wisconsin. Landing at Milwaukee, he took the trail for the Northwest, and finding short sections of roads cut through the woods, he continued his course until he arrived at Fond du Lac; thence, by trail only, to Oshkosh, crossing the river on the ferry at the present location of Main street bridge. Here he found an embryo village, but pushing
his way still westward found the object of his search, in the form of a satisfactory location, six miles from Oshkosh, on the present road to Buttes des Morts, on Section 28, Town 19, Range 16. In 1849, he removed to the vil- lage of Buttes des Morts, then just starting. Mr. Cousins was employed in the election of the first hotel at Algoma, the second frame building in that place, built by C. J. Coon, in the spring of 1847. He was also engaged in the building of the first saw-mill at Algoma, the same season, for Forman, Daggett & Co., and in 1849-50 on the saw-mill of Smith & Bennett, at Buttes des Morts. He subsequently settled at Winneconne, where he now resides.
William G. Calkins was born in Steuben County, State of New York, August 20, 1823, emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1845, and, in the spring of 1846, selected his present farm, only purchasing forty acres at the time. Here, he built a log shanty, but, with no one but him- self to occupy it, he rented it to Mr. S. Allen, with whom he boarded. In 1848, finding a co-tenant, they took exclusive possession of the shanty, which they retained until it was replaced by an elegant brick residence which now ornaments a farm of 330 acres, unsur- passed for beauty or fertility.
During the winter of 1847-8, Mr. Calkins, with Stephen Allen, Richard Cousins and one other, went to the cut-off, above Lake Poy- gan, and procured pine timber, which was drawn by team to Winneconne, and some as far as Oshkosh, for a market.
George Snyder, bornin the town and county of Onondaga, New York, October 4, 1812, removed to Cattaraugus County in 1823, and in 1 846, having read in the newspapers of the day, very flattering accounts of the country about Oshkosh, written by Wright, Gallup and oth- ers, determined to examine for himself, arriv- ing at Milwaukee about the fifteenth of April, and at once started westward. At Watertown he changed his course to Waupun, and thence to the ferry of Grignon (Buttes des Morts) .. Here he made choice of his present farm, and pre-empted it, but, having no family, he, with others in like condition, organized a "bachelor's hall" in a shanty about a mile east of his pres- ent residence.
Wheat, flour and vegetables, they obtained in the southern part of the State. Fish they could help themselves to, or purchase of the Indians .. Indian sugar, common brown sugar, tea, coffee and tobacco, they could obtain at Grignon's.
In the fall of 1846, Augustine Grignon har- vested a crop of wheat on the ground now occupied by the Village of Buttes des Morts.
268
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-50.
George Cross assisted at the harvest. George Bell raised the first crop of wheat raised in the town by the white settlers, in 1846.
Mr. M. Kittell emigrated from Switzerland to the United States in 1861; resided in the State of New York for four years, and in 1865 located in the Town of Oshkosh, where with a Mr. Preuss he rented a farm of Mr A. Rich, and at once commenced the manufacture of Limburgher and Switzer cheese, which he con tinued until 1872. In 1873, Mr. Kittell leased the farm of Julius Ashby, containing 160 acres, about half a mile north of the Village of Buttes des Morts, where he continues the same busi- ness. The product of this factory is about 400 pounds per day during the dairy season, con- suming the milk of 120 cows, of which Mr. Kittell owns fifty.
VILLAGE OF BUTTES DES MORTS.
One of the loveliest localities in Wisconsin, is the site of Buttes des Morts, with its beanti- ful surroundings of river and lake, and hand- some undulating prairie and openings. It is also the scene of famous historical events in the days of French-Indian occupancy. It was here that Marquette, while on a visit to the village of the Mascoutins and Miamis, was told of the Great River - the Mississippi; and had pointed out to him the Fox River, which, near here, forms a junction with the Wolf, as the channel of travel to the great water; and, it was here that he conceived the idea of making the trip, which he afterwards did, for the pur- pose of discovering the Upper Mississippi. This was in 1673, more than a century before the American Revolution.
Marquette describes the place as a most charming one - a handsome elevation rising from the river, while adjoining it stretched away the prairie, as far as the eye could reach, interspersed with groves of trees (oak open- ings). Here, also, occurred the famous seige of Buttes des Morts - one of the encoun- ters between the French and the Fox Indians, in the long struggle, which resulted in the expulsion of the latter from the Fox Valley .*
Just below the present site of the Village of Buttes des Morts, was the trading-post of Augustine Grignon, established in 1818. This place, in the early day, was a business center, and here was the crossing place . on the Fox River for the travel on the Indian trail, from Green Bay to Fort Winnebago. In the early part of the American settlement of this county, this place first secured the location of the
county seat, and was at first, a formidable rival of Oshkosh - for which see early history of Winnebago County.
The village now contains two stores and mechanic shops, a post-office, and a very handsome church edifice, which, with the handsome residence of L. W. Hull, adjoining, forms a lovely rural scene.
P. C. Peterson, dealer in dry goods and mixed merchandise, and S. L. Odell, in the same line, do a prosperous business.
VILLAGE OF WINNECONNE.
The Village of Winneconne is most delight- fully situated on both sides of the Wolf River. and at the foot of Lake Winneconne - a beau- tiful sheet of water, with handsome, bold, wooded shores. The site rises in fine eleva- tions from either shore of the river; and the adjoining country is like that of Buttes des Morts - lovely prairies and openings of the richest fertility, now in a high state of cultiva- tion.
Much of the early history of the place will be found in the foregoing history of the Town of Winneconne, and will here be but briefly recapitulated.
The first settler on the site of the Village of Winneconne, was Jeremiah Pritchett, who, in 1847, built a log house very near where his present residence now stands.
In 1849, C. R. Hamlin, from Ohio, settled there, and found on his arrival but two primi- tive log structures, one of which had been erected by the Government for the residence of a blacksmith, employed by the Government for the benefit of the Indians, and which Mr. Hamlin fitted up and converted into a tavern.
In 1849, E. D. Gumaer built the first frame house, which occupied a site near the present residence of Captain N. Cobb. While this was in process of construction, Charles L. Gumaer and John Atchley were also building frame structures, which were completed the same season; and the Mumbrues in the same year erected a frame building, in which they opened a hotel.
In 1849, John Scott opened a store, which was the first mercantile establishment in the place.
H. C. Rogers opened the second store in the village, during the same season. Mr. Rogers is now Assistant Internal Revenue Commissioner at Washington.
In 1850, C. R. Hamlin erected a frame structure for a hotel, the Winneconne House, which Mr. Hamlin kept for many years, and which is still standing.
In this year, a post-office was established,
*NOTE. - See page 34, for Marquette's visit to Buttes des Morts and Discovery of the Upper Mississippi, and page 50, for Siege of Buttes des Morts and official account of same.
269
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1853-79.]
with Joseph Edwards as postmaster; and the same year, C. Mumbrue built a chair factory, and the Hyde Brothers built a saw-mill.
In 1853, a float bridge was built across the Wolf River by a stock company, under the management of John D. Rush. This was located on the site of the present bridge, which is a fine truss structure, built in 1871, at a cost of about $18,000.
In 1855 the village had attained good pro- portions and contained three stores, a saw- mill, mechanic shops and two hotels; and had a population of between three and four hundred.
VILLAGE PLATS - INCORPORATION.
The original Village of Winneconne, was platted and recorded October 15, 1849, Hoel S. Wright and E. Gordon, proprietors.
The plat of what is now known as Williams- port, was recorded in 1866; and the plats of Ripon addition and Scott's addition were platted and recorded in the fall of 1868. The Ripon addition was platted by a company of capitalists from Ripon, who purchased .the land from John L. Williams, and the plat was recorded in the name of J. Bowen, proprie- tor. Scott's addition was platted by John Scott, R. H. Wellington, J. D. Rush and N. Cobb.
Up to the year 1868, the village was con- fined to the east side of the river, with the exception of two saw-mills on the west side, one of which was Eric McArthur's, and the other belonging to a Mr. Cooper.
RAILROAD COMMUNICATIONS.
In the fall of 1868, the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was extended to the Village of Winneconne and the first through passenger train arrived on the first day of September. The railroad depot was established on the river-bank, on the west side.
A SPIRIT OF PROGRESS AWAKENED.
New comers now began to flock in and pur- chase lots on the west side, which rapidly rose in value, and sold readily from a hundred to a thousand dollars each. Buildings were so rap- idly constructed, that, in the year 1872, forty- four structures were erected; among others, several business blocks, and the west side began to assume the appearance of quite a bus- iness center.
The place continued to make a rapid growth up to the year 1875, when the general depres- sion prevading the whole country, checked its expansion. In 1874, the population of the place was something over 1,800, according to a census taken at the time.
THE LAKE VIEW HOUSE.
One of the attractions of the place is the Lake View House, and its handsome surround- ings - with the beautiful Lake Winneconne. This is a favorite resort in the summer months, and is frequented by people from abroad and especially by those who are fond of boating and shooting.
Lake Winneconne and the adjoining Lake Poygan are visited by myriads of wild water fowl, that feed on the wild rice. Among them are found, in large numbers, blue and green winged teal, mallards, wood-duck and other varieties.
BUSINESS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC.
The place now contains a saw-mill, a saw and shingle-mill, a cheese-factory, two hotels, seven stores, dealing in general merchandise, a drug store, an exchange bank, two millinery shops, two boot and shoe shops, a meat mar- ket, two livery stables, and a number of mechanic shops.
There are five churches -the Baptist, Meth- odist, Presbyterian, Norwegian Lutheran and Catholic. The Baptist is a fine brick structure and the others, handsome frame edifices.
There are two fine school buildings - one brick, which cost $8,000; the other, frame, costing $4,000. They are both graded schools and employ five teachers.
TOWN OF VINLAND.
CHAPTER LXV.
Situation and Description-Farm-Buildings and Roads-Soil, Timber and Face of the Country-Social and Educational Facilities - Churches, Schools and Population - Town Officers - Early Settlers - First Schools - First Religious Services-Organization of the Town-Organic Election- The Lost Partridge Child-Interesting Relicts of French Indian days.
HE Town of Vinland, lying east of Winneconne, and with its southeastern portion bordering on Lake Winne- bago, comprises the north two-thirds of Township 19, Range 16, and nearly five sections in Township 19, Range 17. The western two-thirds of the town was originally prairie and openings; its surface beautifully undulating and entirely free from waste lands. The soil is a rich, deep black loam, with limestone clay base, and is remark- ably productive, and of exhaustible fertility, with proper tillage. In its present highly improved state, it is a lovely tract of country; and it would be difficult to find in the State
270
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-79.
any town that can surpass it in the number of fine farm buildings, highly improved farms, and good roads.
The eastern part of the town was originally covered with a heavy growth of maple, oak, hickory, butternut, elm, basswood and other varieties of forest trees. The soil of this portion is a rich vegetable mould, overlying clay. While the whole town is well adapted to grain raising, it is also one of the best for stock raising and dairying. Good well-water is readily obtainable, in all localities, by digging or drilling.
The inhabitants of this town are composed largely of people from the Eastern States, and their descendants, with some Germans, Irish and other European nationalities.
The houses, many of which are very fine residences, and the large barns and tidy appear- ance of the farms, give every evidence of a very general thrift and prosperity. Many of the homes in this town are luxuriously fur- nished, and the farms are provided with the modern conveniences of agriculture.
The town has also good social and educa- tional facilities, being well provided with school-houses and churches, and is also in proximity to the cities of Oshkosh and Nee- nah.
CHURCHES - SCHOOLS - POPULATION.
There are three churches within the town, and two joint churches across the highway, in adjoining towns.
The free-will Baptist church, on Section 8; another of the same denomination, on Section 13. The MethodistEpiscopal, at Clemansville, one of the same denomination across the line in the Town of Clayton, and one on Section 20, in the eastern part of the town.
There are eight school-houses in the town, four hundred and five children, between the ages of four and twenty.
There is one post-office in the Town of Clemansville.
The population, given in the state census of 1875, was one thousand one hundred and forty one.
TOWN OFFICERS.
The present town officers arc: Anthony Bowers, chairman; James P. Davis, W. S. Frazier, supervisors; A. T. Cronkhite, Clerk; L. B. Bemis, treasurer; J. F. Libby, assessor, A. Bowers, Hiram Miracle, Sr., S. B. Doty, G. M. Beardsmore, justices.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The first settlement in the town was made in the spring of 1846, by N. P. Tuttle, and immediately after, Horace Clemans located on
Southeast corner of Section 21, (now Clemans- ville); Jeremiah Vosburg, on Section 15. In June, William W. Libbey settled on Section 13; about the same time came Charles Scott, on Section 8; Wakeman Partridge, Section 21 ; William Swan, Silas M. Allen, Jacob and Wal- ter H. Weed, William G. Gumaer and Thomas Knott, also came the same year. In 1847, the number was largely increased, and among the arrivals of this year were: Luther and Henry Robinson, I. W. Mears, Seth Wyman, George Clark, Charles Libbey, William Mer- riman, Lorin. B. Bemis and A. T. Cronkhite.
FIRST SCHOOLS - RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The first school-house was a frame building erected in 1847, on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 9, under the supervision of Jeremiah Vosburg. Miss Lucy Alden was the first teacher in this town, com- mencing the same fall.
In 1849, a joint school district was set off in the northeastern part of the town, and the southeastern part of Clayton, and the first public school-house erected, on the northeast corner of Section 2 (now known as Gilling- ham's Corners ), and here Miss Elizabeth McLean taught the first public school, in the .sumnier of 1849.
The first birth in the town, was a son of N. P. Tuttle.
At the time of the organization of the town, in 1849, it included two tiers of sections on the South, which were subsequently set off to the Town of Oshkosh, and for this reason the leading incidents of the two towns were so intimately connected, that it is found impos- sible, at the present time, to distinguish between the two.
Divine services were held in various parts of the original town, at an early period, by Rev. O. P. Clinton, then residing at Neenah, and Rev. Slingerland, from Stockbridge, probably as early as 1846.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWN - ORGANIC ELECTION.
The organization of the town was consum- mated April 3, 1849, at an election held by virtue of an act of the legislature, approved March 15, 1849, Said election was held at the house of Samuel L. Brooks, now within the Town of Oshkosh. Horace Clemans was chosen chairman; Orlando B. Reed, clerk; Thomas Kimball and Charles Scott, inspectors. It was voted to raise a tax of twenty-five dollars, to pay supervisors; twenty dollars to pay clerk and six dollars to pay school super- intendent.
There were fifty-seven votes cast, electing
271
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846-79.]
Orlando B. Reed, chairman; Corydon L. Rich and Hiram Wilcox, supervisors; Jacob Weed, clerk; Isaac W. Mears, treasurer; A. T. Cronkhite, assessor; Watson Bowron, Dan Emery and Luther Robinson, justices; Samuel Brooks, Superintendent; Gilbert Brooks, Jerry Bemis and J. C. Nutter, constables; Samuel Brooks, sealer.
At the election April 2, 1850, there were one hundred and ten votes cast, electing Wat- son Bowron, chairman; Timothy Allen and David Murray, supervisors; William T. Merri- man, clerk; Thomas Kimball, collector and treasurer; Corydon L. Rich, assessor; Charles E. Scott, superintendent; Horace Clemans and Dan Emery, justices; Joel C. Nutter. F. L. King and Joseph Langley, constables.
Sixty-five votes were cast for the removal of the county seat to Buttes des Morts, and forty- three against removal.
This town was the scene of a very exciting event, in the early day. A little son of Mr. Alvin Partridge, living in the northern part of the town, mysteriously disappeared, and was never found. The poor little fellow wandered off from a sugar-camp in the woods, where he was staying with his parents, who were making maple-sugar. When night came and the parents had failed to find him, they were frantic with grief. The whole community then turned out and scoured the woods; but their search was fruitless. It is now thought that he wandered off to the marshes, which were partly frozen, and escaping observation perished; for the remains of a small child were afterwards found in the vicinity. The history of this occurrence, and the supposed discovery of the child among the Indians, is fully nar- rated on pages one hundred and seventeen and eighteen, of this work.
Mr. D. C. Church is now the owner of the Partridge farm, on which he resides. It is a beautiful place, and Mr. Church is the possessor of several very interesting relics of Indian- French days, in this section; among them the pipe of peace, or calumet of Chief Oshkosh; and the hatchet-pipe of Augustin Grignon. He also presented to the Lawrence University, a medal from George the Third to Wildcat, a Pottawattomie chief, and which Mr. Church obtained from Louis B. Porlier.
One of the fine farms of Vinland, is that of Mr. Samuel Pratt, one of the pioneers who settled there in 1847, and prominent among the old settlers and prosperous farmers of the town are, L. B. Beemis, A. B. Devins, J. F. Libby, Levy P. Worden, William Demhart. the Vosburgs, J. Whitacre, H. Clemans, C. Newman, A. Bowers, S. A.March, J. Ihrig,
G. M. and J. B. Beardsmore, William Thayer and W. H. Scott.
The publisher of this work is indebted to Mr. A. T. Cronkhite, long prominent in the town affairs, for kind attentions and generous hospitality.
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.