USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 55
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Mr. Cronkhite migrated from Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1846, to Wisconsin, and in June 1847, settled in what subsequently became the town of Vinland. In 1848 he moved to the Village of Winnebago Rapids, now Neenah, and opened the first drug store in that place. He subsequently became mine host of the Winnebago Hotel; and among the recollections of the earlier settlers, and travelers of Northern Wisconsin, the name of " Dud " Cronkhite will be associated with the Winnebago Hotel - a hearty welcome and a generous entertainment. In 1855, he returned to his much loved occupation, that of farming, and has been on his farm in Vinland from that time to the present.
Among the illustrations in this work will be found a view of the farm of E. L. Bartlett. This handsome place is most eligibly situated, and is one of the finest farms in the town, with good buildings and all the conveniences of farm life. The publisher of this work is indebted to Mr. Bartlett for aid and encourage- ment in its publication.
TOWN OF CLAYTON.
CHAPTER LXVI.
Situation - Face of the Country - Soil - Timber - Produc- tions - Early Settlement - First Schools - Town Organi- zation - Organic Election - Present Town Officers -Pop- ulation - Schools - L. Hinman's Farm.
LAYTON, one of the northern towns of the county, is bounded north by Green- ville, in Outagamie County, east by Menasha and Neenah, south by Vin- land, and west by Winchester, compris- ing all of Township 20, Range 16. The surface is generally undulating and occas- ionally quite rolling, entirely free from any prominent elevations, it is high above the neighboring lakes and is susceptible of easy drainage.
The soil is a rich loam, with an admixture of sand, and, in some places along the western border, the sand predominates. Few towns present a soil and surface. better adapted to all branches of agriculture than this.
. The original timber was, to a great extent,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-49.
burr-oak, in the form of "oak openings," but the northern part, some two miles in width, was covered with a forest of oak, maple, elm, basswood and hickory; and along the eastern portion the same varieties are found to a small extent.
There are no streams of note. Rat River, in the northwest, is a small stream meandering through low natural meadows, and, after pass- ing through the Town of Winchester, empties into Boom Bay, in the Town of Wolf River.
All the grains, vegetables and grasses of this latitude are successfully raised in Clayton, and the usual varieties of fruits are readily pro- duced. Owing to the topographical formation, natural meadows are abundant, and stock- raising and dairying are among the important industries.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settlement in the town was made in the fall of 1846. D. C. Darrow and William Berry were the first settlers. About the same time came Alexander Murray and John Axtell, followed soon after by Benj. George, William Robinson and Benj. Strong.
In the spring of that year, William M. Stewart, Salem Holbrook, D. C. Darrow and Asahel Jenkins made selections of farms in the town.
In June, L. H. Brown purchased the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 15.
Geo. W. Giddings, W. H. Scott, J. S. Roblee and Truman Thompson also made settlements during that year. Some brought their families during the fall; the others in the following spring.
Darrow settled on the south side of Section 36, Giddings on the south half of Section 14, Roblee, northcast of Section 15.
Immediately after their arrival, in the fall, Berry and Axtell built a shanty, which they occupied in common, and which, for want of lumber, they had covered with marsh hay. They had barely got settled in their new quar- ters, and, as the saying is, had hardly got "the hang of the barn," when the treacherous roof took fire and the entire fabric was consumed with nearly all its contents. The men were at work but a short distance away, and discov- ered the fire when it first issued from the roof, but could do nothing to extinguish it. Mrs. Axtell picked up a trunk which had contained their money, as she was driven from the shanty, and was, of course, very thankful that the money was saved; but Mr. Axtell soon realized the fact that he had put the money in a pocket of a pair of pants, which were hang- ing the shanty, and were consumed.
In January, 1847, L. H. Brown drove to the
little settlement of Algoma, where he met C. J. Coon, who offered him twenty dollars if he would carry him (Coon) to Green Bay, before the closing of the land office, that day. Twenty dollars being, at that time, a great inducement, Mr. Brown accepted the offer, and, sending word to his wife, by a neighbor, informing her where he had gone, as she was alone, he started at about eight o'clock, with the horses and sleigh he had driven from home.
They arrived at Green Bay, a distance, all told, of fifty-six miles, with no roads until they crossed the Fox River at Wrightstown, and struck the military road. Arriving at Green Bay, a snow-storm set in which detained them four days.
On Mr. Brown's return home he learned that his wife had only received his message from Algoma a few hours before, and had been entirely ignorant of his whereabouts.
The same spring, 1847, Mr. Brown brought the boiler for Foreman & Daggett's saw-mill, at Algoma, from Milwaukee. He went to Milwaukee with four horses, but find- ing these insufficient, started on his return with six, and was often compelled to add two more. During the summer, Mr. Brown being at work just out of sight of the house, five Indians came along, and finding Mrs. Brown alone, demanded something to eat; being somewhat timid, she set everything eatable before them, which they soon devoured and directed her to make a good fire, as they wished to run some bullets. Stepping outside the door for wood, she caught sight of her husband and beckoned him to the house, where he found they had taken the spider to melt lead; but he very soon convinced them that it was not a desirable place to run bullets.
FIRST SCHOOLS.
The same year, G. W. Giddings and Mr. Roblee erected a private school-house, and Miss Elizabeth McLean was employed as teacher.
In 1849, a joint school district was set off in the southeast of Clayton, and northeast of Vinland, and a school-house erected at what is now known as Gillingham's Corners. Miss McLean here taught the first public school in the summer of 1849, although the school- house was, strictly speaking, in Vinland.
In 1849, a school-house was built in District number two; Giddings and Roblee neighbor- hood. This was literally the first public school-house in the town, and Miss Amanda Hicks was the first teacher here, in 1850.
TOWN ORGANIZATION - ORGANIC ELECTION.
By an act of the legislature, approved March 21, 1849, Town 20, Range 16, was set off from
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1847-75.]
Neenah, and organized as the Town of Clay- ton, the first election to be held at the house of G. W. Giddings, the first Tuesday in April next.
The organic election was held in pursuance of the law, the second Tuesday in April 1849, George W. Giddings was chosen chairman; Benjamin Strong and Henry Bashford, inspec- tors.
Thirty-six votes were polled, which resulted in the election of George W. Giddings, chair- man; Benjamin Strong and Cyrenus Baldwin, supervisors; James Balfour, clerk; Lewis H. Brown, treasurer; Benjamin George, assessor; James Balfour, superintendent of schools; Alfred Hubbard, Daniel C. Darrow, Thomas Conneff and William S. Hubbard, justices, William T. Beattie, Jerome Bailey and Biley Bashford, constables.
[These justices and constables were prob- ably not all elected, but were all voted for, and the record does not show who or how many were elected, or to be elected. ]
The second town election was held at the house of William T. Beattie, April 2, 1850. William M. Stewart was elected chairman; Henry Bashford and John Lester, supervisors; Daniel Nugent, clerk; Benjamin Strong, col- lector and treasurer; Daniel C. Darrow, assessor; Henry C. Janes, superintendent of schools; John Halverson, Alfred Hubbard and William Bailey, justices; William Hubbard, Truman Thompson and Jerome Bailey, con- stables.
PRESENT TOWN OFFICERS.
Jacob Howard, chairman; James Brien, Peter Walter, supervisors; Emanuel Jones, treasurer; Charles Ludermann, clerk; Harlan P. Giddings, assessor; Jacob Howard, Benjamin Strong, justices.
The population of the town in 1855, was seven hundred and seventy-five; in 1875, one thousand three hundred.
In 1879 there were ten schools and five hund- red and twenty-three scholars.
L. HINMAN.
The illustration here given of the handsome farm of Mr. L. Hinman, serves to show the appearance of the better class of farms in this town.
This beautiful place is located on the south line of the town, and is about seven miles from the city of Neenah. It contains threc hundred and fifty acres of handsome, undula- ting land, formerly openings, now in a high state of cultivation, with commodious out- buildings and barns, the largest of which is fifty by one hundred feet; and the farm is well
provided with the modern conveniences of agriculture. This farm has produced in some. seasons, among other crops, one thousand eight hundred bushels of grain, and one hund- red to one hundred and twenty-five tons of hay.
The residence is a handsome one, and with its picturesque surroundings, forms a pleasant rural scene.
Mr. Hinman is one of the earliest settlers in that part of the county; having settled on this farm in 1847, and has helped to redeem the country from a wilderness-experiencing the hardships and privations incident to pion- eer life, and now, as one of the influential and highly respected citizens of this county, is enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil.
Mr. Hinman's house is one where the guest is received cordially, and with a kindness and hospitality that reminds one of the generous manners and customs of pioneer days.
TOWN OF WINCHESTER.
CHAPTER LXVII.
Face and Character of the Country-Soil-Timber-Peculiar Geological Formation-Character of the Population-Early Settlement-First Births, Schools and Religious Services- Town Organization-Organic Election-Change in Bound- aries-Churches-Town Officers.
HE town of Winchester, one of the el northern towns, is bounded north by the Town of Dale, in Outagamie County, east by Clayton, south by Winneconne, and west by the Town of Wolf River. The northern part is generally low and level, with occasional low hills and ridges, and frequent marshes, which in some places produce cedar and tamarack; but are generally of little value.
Rat River, running through this part of the town from Section 1, in the northeast, a little south of west, to where it leaves in the north- ern part of Section 18, is bordered by extensive meadow lands of inferior quality. The center part from the east is higher, often breaking into hills and ridges of considerable altitude, with smaller marshes and low-grounds between, while in the south it is somewhat rolling, but generally low and level.
The soil, principally of clay in the low- grounds, is frequently covered with a deep vegetable mold, or in many places with peat throughout the marshes of the northern part, while the arable portion of this section is little else than clay. In the west and south the
35
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1847-79.
clay is overlaid with a sandy loam, and in some places a black vegetable mold, of the character usually found in timbered land. Through the middle and eastern portion is found a singular formation. In ascending the ridges and small hills, which here abound, from the clay of the lower level, a prominent outcrop of limestone is crossed, the lower hills formed entirely of yellow sand, and rest- ing immediately thercon, while the higher hills are surmounted by a deposite of clay and gravel overlying the sand. This clay and gravel makes the finest of carriage roads, when placed upon the muddy flats or sandy hills. These sand hills are often conical and quite small in size, resembling mounds, and although the sand has in some places washed from above and concealed the rock from sight, it is seldom wanting at a certain height. In the western part of the town, two quarries of sand stone have been found of very good quality and have been worked to some extent.
The timber on the sand-hills is of black or pin-oak; in the low-lands elm, basswood, popular, etc., with scattering areas of oak openings.
The usual crops are raised here, but the soil is not as desirable as in other parts of the county, and the grasses although in great abundance, are poor in quality. Springs and small streams are common.
The population is composed largely of Nor- wegians, with a settlement of Germans in the west, and a few families of Welch-and Ameri- cans.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement in the town was made by Jerome Hopkins, in the winter of 1847-8, followed in the spring by Samuel Rogers and family; James H. Jones came soon after and selected the farm where he still resides, also the one occupied by his father, Charles Jones; and both moved their families in the same fall.
FIRST BIRTHS - SCHOOLS - RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The first birth occurred in the family of Mr. Hopkins, the same scason.
A school district was set off in 1849, and a log school-house erected.
The first religious services were held in June, 1850, Rev. Fredrick Partridge officiating, and, during the year, Rev. Mary became the first resident clergyman; Mrs. Mary teaching the first school in the log house mentioned.
The first death was that of Samuel Rogers, father of the present resident of that name, September 1, 1850, at the age of ninety-two years.
TOWN ORGANIZATION-ORGANIC ELECTION.
The Town of Winchester was set off and organized by the County Board, by an order dated November 11, 1851, to take effect April V 6, 1852, and comprised all of Township 20, Range 15, and fractional parts of Townships 19 and 20, Range 14, lying east of Wolf River.
At the organic election, April 6, 1852, S. R. Hopkins was chosen chairman; Ole Oleson and George Hopkins, inspectors. Whole number of votes cast, forty-seven, electing John Annunson, chairman; George Ohler and Anders Jergerson, supervisors; S. R. Hopkins, clerk; Halver Annunson, assessor; Ole Hal- verson, treasurer; S. R. Hopkins, George Ohler and John Annunson, justices, William Hall, Perry Hopkins, and Ole Hanson, con- stables.
The Winchester post-office was established October, 1852, and Sherman R. Hopkins appointed postmaster. S. N. Clark is the present incumbent.
January 4, 1855, the Town of Orihula (Wolf River, which see,) was set off, including the ter- ritory lying east of Wolf River and west of the section line, between Sections 22 and 23, Town 20, Range 14.
SCHOOL POPULATION.
In 1855, Winchester contained one school with forty-eight scholars, and a population of one hundred and eighty-four.
Population in 1875, 1,10I.
In 1878, four schools and four hundred and seventy-seven scholars.
Total valuation of taxable property in 1855, $29,592. In 1877, $290,435.
CHANGE OF BOUNDARIES.
January 8, 1873, the two tiers of sections lying west of section line between Sections 22 and 23, were set off and attached to the Town of Wolf River, and the present boundaries established.
On the northwest corner of Section 24, two comfortable and substantial looking brick churches have been erected, both belonging to the same persuasion - Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran, and in the northern part of Section 19, in the German Settlement, is a church for their accommodation.
PRESENT TOWN OFFICERS.
Wesley Mott, chairman; S. Knudson, and Herman Neihring, supervisors; P. N. Lund, clerk; Ole H. Uvaas, treasurer; Ole S. Oleson, assessor, Wesley Mott and Ole S. Oleson, justices.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1849-79.]
TOWN OF WOLF RIVER.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
Situation-Lake Poygan-Wolf River-Boom Bay-Rafting Logs-Physical Character-Soil-Timber-First Settlers- First Births, Marriages and Schools-Indian Neighbors -- Town Organization-Organic Election-Change of Name, and Boundaries-Churches-Post-office-Schools-Town Officers.
SHE Town of Wolf River is the north- western town in the county; embracing Township 20, Range 14, and is bounded on the north by the Town of Caledonia, in. Waupaca County; east by Win- chester; south by Poygan, and west by Bloomfield, in Waushara County.
Lake Poygan, extending the entire length of the town, on the south, occupies nearly four sections. Wolf River, entering the town on Section 5, runs some six miles in a south- easterly direction; thence southwesterly about four miles, where it empties into Lake Poy- gan, on the southwest corner of Section 33. Rat River, rising to the eastward, in the Town of Clayton, running through the Town of Winchester, enters the town in the northern part of Section 13, and making its way to the south and east, some three miles, empties into Wolf River in Section 23.
BOOM BAY -RAFTING LOGS.
Boom Bay is also situated in the southeast part of the town, and is connected directly with the Wolf River by an artificial channel three-fourths of a mile in length, which leaves the river some four miles above its outlet to the lake Upon this bay, and for a distance of ten miles along the river above, are stored, sorted and rafted, the immense products of the pineries of the Wolf River and its tributaries, including pine, hemlock, bass and oak logs, cedar logs, telegraph poles, fence posts and square timber, averaging nearly or quite, two hundred million feet per annum.
During the rafting season, the surface of this bay and the river above, is literally cov- ered with the above named commodities, almost to the exclusion of steamboat naviga- tion, and requiring a small army of men for their care, and to prepare them for distribution; but no written account can convey an idea of the magnitude and importance of this busi- ness. A trip to Boom Bay and up the river to Fremont, during the rafting season, will repay any one who has never been there.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
The surface of the town is generally low and level. In some portions sufficiently high and undulating to afford good cultivation.
The southern portion in the vicinity of Wolf and Rat Rivers, and from the confluence of these streams to the north line of the town, on the east side of the Wolf, is principally marsh land.
The predominating soil is sand to a depth as far as explorations have been made, and some portions are clay soil; and limited tracts are found of black loam. Small tamarack, and cranberry marshes are frequent.
The more elevated lands of this town were originally covered with a dense forest growth, composed of hard-maple, hickory, ironwood, various kinds of oak, elm, white-birch, bass- wood, poplar and a few small bodies of pine, while scattering pines are quite common. A large percentage of the original timber is still standing.
The chief products are: Wheat on new lands, rye, corn in favorable seasons, and vegetables; good wild hay is cut on some of the marshes, and small tracts of marsh have been purchased for raising cranberries ; although to the present time with but indiffer- ent success.
An extensive muskrat plantation has for several years proved as profitable as any branch of agriculture in the town.
The standard of health would seem to be fully up to the average of Wisconsin, notwith- standing the comparatively large amount of low and marshy land, which has long been attributed to the fact that the extensive drainage of Wolf River, is largely from the pine, tamarack and cedar country of the north.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Mr. Andrew Merton was the first white settler within the limits of the present town. Residing at Plymouth, Sheboygan County, and desirous of locating a home on some large stream or body of water, he explored the unbroken wilderness along the Lower Wolt River, and selected a site on the bank of that stream, in the northwest quarter of Section 16, since known as " Merton's Land- ing," and here he built a shanty and located his family in the fall of 1849, and was imme- diately joined by Albert Neuschaeffer and Her- man Page, who came from the same neighbor- hood in Sheboygan County.
Charles Boyson and family, also settled in the southwestern part of the town, in the same fall.
These few persons were for several years, the only white residents in the town. A long distance from the habitation of man, without roads or bridges, cut off from intercourse, except with each other and their Indian neigh- bors, unless from some pressing necessity,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1849-79.
some one of their number was compelled to make the trip to Oshkosh, their privations and sacrifices must have been in the extreme, in fact, far greater than under ordinary circum- stances of pioneer life.
Until 1852, their condition seems to have met with but little change. Dependent upon Oshkosh for such necessaries as they could not raise or produce at home, and upon the pioneer grist-mill of D. W. Forman & Co., at Algoma, for converting their small crops of grain into edible form; and these places could only be reached by a journey of some twenty- five miles on foot (fifty miles to go and return). During some six or seven months of the year that the river and lake were free from ice, a boat for the transportation of supplies became a necessity, This being the only means of obtaining anything too heavy to be carried on a man's back, Messrs. Neuschaeffer and Page set about the construction of a "dug-out" (canoe) from a large pine log about eighteen feet long, but not being familiar with this sort of craft, their efforts were not crowned with perfect success; however, such as it was, it was com- pleted and served many a good turn. On one trip they were freighted with three thousand shingles, which they were taking to market, at Oshkosh, and manned by three men, when a storm overtook them at the head of Lake Buttes des Morts, with great difficulty they reached the point above the foot of the lake, where they found still greater difficulty in landing.
In the fall of 1851, the steamer Berlin made a very few trips up the river. During the season of 1852, steamboat arrivals at Merton's Landing were frequent and from that time they became daily.
FIRST BIRTHS-MARRIAGES-SCHOOLS, ETC.
The first birth was that of Mary, a daughter of Charles Boyson, in the early winter of 1849.
The first marriage, Mr. Neuschaeffer and Miss Emily Hahn, in October, Ira Sumner, officiat- ing
The first death, that of Jacob Ketecer, Jr., a son of Jacob Ketecer, Sr., which occurred in the fall of 1857.
There being but few settlers in the town and those considerably scattered, very little atten- tion was paid to the cause of education, and no attempt was made in that direction until the spring of 1858, when Mrs. Mary Hagers opened a school at her house, and, in 1859, the first public school-house was erected.
There are at this time eight school-houses in the town, and three hundred and ninety-three
scholars enrolled, of which two hundred and twenty attend school.
INDIAN NEIGHBORS.
Mr. Merton states that for several years his neighbors were almost entirely Indians, and that he has never found a more honest or quiet people.
In the fall of 1862 Mr. Merton was elected Register of Deeds for Winnebago County, when he removed to Oshkosh, upon taking the office in 1863; was re-elected in 1864, and, upon the expiration of his second term, returned to his old home, after which he again became a resi- dent of Oshkosh, where he will doubtless spend the remainder of his life.
TOWN ORGANIZATION-ORGANIC ELECTION.
By order of the County Board of Super- visors, dated January 4, 1855, all that part of Township 20, Range 14, lying west of Wolf River, and that lying east of Wolf River and west of the cut off, and west of the section line, between Sections 22 and 23, was set off from the town of Winneconne and Winchester, and organized as a separate town, to be called Orihula; the first election to be held at the house of Andrew Merton.
The organic election was held on Monday, April 3, 1855. Lyman Pomeroy was chosen chairman, Lewis Braun and Henry Spindler, inspectors, and Andrew Merton, clerk. The total number of votes polled was six, of which A. Merton and Benj. Brickley each received (for the office of chairman) three; Lewis Braun and Aquilla Eastman, for supervisors, each three votes, and Lyman Pomeroy and Andrew Merton, each three votes, for the same office. Thus far a tie. Lyman Pomeroy was elected clerk; Gottleib Spindler, Sr., treasurer; Aquilla Eastman, assessor; Albert Neuschaeffer, consta- ble; Andrew Merton superintendent of schools. Thomas Eastman, Lewis Braun, Andrew Mer- ton and Lyman Pomeroy were all candidates for the office of justice of the peace; who or how many were elected is not for me to decide, and, as the record is silent upon the subject, we may reasonably conjecture that they all qualified and acted.
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