USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 58
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he kept bachelor's hall for a year. He lived on that place for twenty years, and in 1867, he purchased his present farm, on which he now resides, about two miles from the city of Osh- kosh. At the time of Mr. Simmons' settle- ment, there was not a dozen settlers in the town. His nearest neighbor was two miles distant, and from his place east to Lake Win- nebago, a distance of eight miles, there was not a track of a white man. He has kept pace with the growth and prosperity of the town, and is now the owner of two large farms -the one on which he resides of one hundred and fifty-four acres, and one in Rosendale of two hundred and fifty-seven acres. Mr. Simmons has served for long periods in official positions, having been chairman of the town for four or five years, justice of the peace for several terms, and represented his district in the State Legislature for two terms; and is now in the enjoyment of a substantial prosperity.
HIRAM B. COOK.
One of the early settlers of Nekimi is Hiram B: Cook, who moved from Rutland County, Vermont, to his present farm;, of which a fine view is given in this work, in October, 1847. The town, at this time, was sparsely settled and contained much Government land subject to entry. He made a pre-emption claim to his present farm, on which he built a shanty, and then commenced the work of improvement and cultivation. He afterwards entered the land embraced in his claim, and subsequently purchased additional land. The farm now con- tains two hundred and forty acres, and is one of the finest in the county. For the first few years Mr. Cook raised winter wheat, which averaged about thirty-five bushels per acre. His wheat crop last year was about one thou- sand bushels. This farm is in a high state of cultivation and provided with spacious barns and out-buildings and all the modern conven- iences for farming. Mr. Cook is regarded as one of the most successful farmers in the county, and a bountiful prosperity rewards him for his years of well directed industry and good management; he has also earned the respect and good will of his neighbors and of a wide circle of acquaintances. He has wit- nessed the transformation of the wild country in which he settled, into one of the most highly cultivated districts in the State, now in the possession of all the facilities, comforts and advantages of modern civilization.
Among the early settlers of the town are Peter Clark and his brothers John and who moved, with their father, from Michigan to the Town of Brighton in September, 1847,
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and purchased the farm which Peter now owns, and on which he resides. He has long been one of the prominent men of the town, taking an active part in public affairs and has served as supervisor for three years and as justice of of the peace for six.
MILAN FORD.
Among the handsomest illustrations of this work is that of the fine residence and farm of Milan Ford. Mr. Ford fills a conspicuous place in the history of the county, aswill be seen in the pages of this work, his father's family being one of the first five families settled in this county. Milan Ford moved, with his father Chester Ford, to this locality in the fall of 1837, and subsequently located on the land now known as Wright's Point, then called Ford's Point. Milan, at a later date, purchased the handsome place, now in Nekimi, where he has since resided. He has always taken a prominent part in the public affairs of the county, and has served in various public capaci- ties, among others, that of chairman of the Town Board and member of the State Legis- lature for two terms, and has evidently been faithful in the discharge of these respective duties. Mr. Ford is also one of the successful farmers of this county, and is in the possession of a comfortable competency. In the spring of 1846, Milan Ford and Wm. Wright, as com- missioners, with Joseph Osborn, as surveyor, laid out a road commencing at the present site of Main Street bridge, on the South Side, and running west on the quarter section line to Jed. Smalley's trading post (the present site of Omro), the road being the one that runs past Grange Hall. The party started before a deep snow had disappeared, but which was rapidly melting. A heavy storm set in and the creeks were so flooded as to be almost impassable. They reached Smalley's, where they stayed all night, and the next morning completed the survey in a rain storm and started for home, where they duly arrived, after fording Algoma Creek, where they took a cold bath at the temperature of ice water. Milan is a little more prudent now in exposing himself to such hazards, believing that the lives of good peo- ple are too precious to be jeopardized.
William Powell, with his family, came from South Wales, and settled on Section 10, Town of Brighton (now Nekimi), in 1848. His daughter, Ann, died during the first year of their residence in the town. Mrs. Powell died in 1851, and Mr. Powell in 1874, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. There are three, William, David and Jennette, of the family still living on the old farm. A fine brick house
has taken the place of the old log house. One son, John, went to Oregon, where he died recently; a daughter. Mary, is a resident of California, and Catherine, another daughter, is . a resident of Minnesota.
Peter Roberts moved from North Wales, with his parents, in 1847. His father, David Roberts, settled in the Town of Eldorado, and was among the pioneers of the Welsh settle- ment of Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties. In 1874, Peter made his home on Section 21, Nekimi, where he still resides.
Evan Jones came from South Wales, in 1848, and settled on Section 22, Nekimi, afterwards changing to Section 32, where he at present resides. He has held the office of postmaster for eighteen years, receiving his appointment from President Lincoln. He was chairman of the town in 1864, and has several times filled minor offices.
John Joyce migrated from Ireland to the United States in 1847, settling in Illinois. After a residence there of six years, he came to Wisconsin and settled in Nekimi, in 1853, on Section 34, where he still resides. He has acted as assessor for several terms, and is one of the substantial farmers of the town.
Among the early settlers of Nekimi is Wil- liam Abrams, who settled on Section 16 in the spring of 1847. The Abrams farm is a fine, well-improved place of two hundred acres, and Mr. Abrams was considered one of the well- to-do farmers of the county.
John and Richard Abrams, the Lords, Gil- lespies and Lynesses were also among the early residents.
John Ross is one of the early residents, and one of the most prosperous farmers of the county.
John O'Brien came later, but is an old and well-known resident, and one of the promi- nent men of the town.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
The present Town of Nekimi was formerly a part of the Town of Brighton, which in- cluded what is now Black Wolf, Nekimi and Algoma.
The Town of Brighton was organized in pursuance of an act of the Legislature of Feb- ruary II, 1847. From the record of a meet- ing of the Board of Supervisors, held at the house of M. N. Moulthrop, on the 7th day of August, 1848, it appears that N. Miles was chairman; Milan Ford and Elisha Hall, sup- ervisors, and A. M. Howard, clerk.
The Town of Algoma was set off and organ- ized in pursuance of act of the County Board of February 5, 1850; and by the same author-
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1847.50.]
ity the name of Brighton was changed to Nekimi.
FIRST TOWN MEETING OF NEKIMI.
The first town meeting held under the new organization was at the house of William Powell, April 2, 1850; at which time the fol- lowing town officers were elected, viz: Milan Ford, chairman; John Mandeville and George Jackson, supervisors; A. M. Howard, Samuel Stancliffe, D. Chamberlain and Warren Mor- ley, justices; J. S. Brown, town clerk; J. S. Brown, superintendent of schools; E. G. Self, treasurer; W. R. T. Armstrong, Samuel Fields and James Dickenson, assessors; M. L. Lockerby, J. W. Foster and Jacob Wanty, constables.
FIRST MARRIAGE.
In April, 1848, Hudson A. Minor and Electa Greenman were married, the bride being the daughter of the first settler in the town. Later in the season David and Maria Owens consu- mated the second marriage in the town.
FIRST BIRTHS.
So far as the writer can ascertain, the first white child born within the present limits of Nekimi was a daughter of William Crossett, born in the spring of 1848.
FIRST DEATHS.
In September, 1847, the first death occurred, which was that of Mrs. Loren Rasmussen. The wife and two daughters of Peter Jones died later in the same year.
FIRST ROAD.
The first road in the town was the old "Waupun Road," which was laid in 1847, by Commissioners D. Chamberlain, Wm. Bedient and Flave George.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are now in the town seven school houses, and in 1878, there were 438 children of school age.
There are five churches in the town: The Bethesda (Welsh Calvinistic Methodist), on Section 30; Salem (Baptist) Church, on Sec- tion 20; Methodist Episcopal, on Section 32; German Lutheran, on Section 35, and Free Will Baptist, on Section 7.
TOWN OFFICERS.
The town officers in 1880 are: Milan Ford, chairman; Thomas Jones and August Link, supervisors; Evan Jones, clerk; David T. Davis, treasurer; John Joyce, assessor; Thos. Lloyd and J. H. Koplitz, justices.
WELSH SETTLEMENT.
Compiled from history of it written in the year 1877, by Mr. John D. Evans.
This settlement lies about ten miles southwest of Oshkosh, in the towns of Nekimi and Utica - a small part of it extend- ing into the Towns of Rosendale and Eldorado, in the County of Fond du Lac.
At this late day, it is quite difficult to obtain exact informa- tion, as to time and dates, of the earlier facts pertaining to the settlement. Yet the remaining pioneers will tell us, by the hour, interesting accounts of their verdant life on the virgin soil. It is always pleasant to listen, and often a relief to laugh; but these stories, as such, are not in keeping with the chief object of this book.
It was in the summer of 1847, in the month of July, that the first Welsh immigrants came to this county. The party started from Waukesha, Wisconsin, under the leadership of Mr. Wil- liams, from Prairieville. Some were in Milwaukee at the time on their way from Wales for this purpose. Having heard of this movement at Waukesha, they left their families there, and joined the party. Their names were: Williams, of Prairie- ville; Abel Williams, Owen Hughes, Robert Roberts, David E. Evans (canwr), James Lewis, Peter Jones and John Wil- liams (afterwards of Neenah) - eight in number.
A few months before this, one Welshman, T. Hughes (Cil- mænen), had come to the neighborhood, and was then work- ing for Mr. D. Hyde, who kept a country tavern a few miles north of Rosendale, on the farm where Mr. B. Dodd lives at present. So Mr. T. Hughes always claimed to have carried the first Welsh flag into this locality; yet the above-named persons were the first ones that came to settle on the soil.
The party first arrived at Mr. Hyde's tavern, late in the eve- ning, weary and worn; for it was no small matter then to travel sixty or eighty miles, on crooked roads, through marshes and thickets. Still they were up early on the following morning, and started together to survey the land, of which they had heard so much. They found it fully up to their expectation; its marshes and lowlands were then covered with wild hay, as high as their heads, and it did not take them long to pronounce the tract the most desirable place for their settlement.
The next thing to be done was to secure clear and certain claims. This was no easy task, for the land office was then at Green Bay, and they had no vehicle to carry them, other than that with which they crossed their father's threshold, and no finger-posts to guide them, other than a moveable one in the person of some savage Indian they might casually meet. But they started, and pushed on through swamps, rushes, rivers and forests, hy the howling wolves and greasy bears, until they reached the office and obtained their papers. Then they began to retrace their tedious path rejoicing. After this, some of the party returned to see their families at Milwaukee and Wauke- sha; but Messrs. O. Hughes, Peter Jones and D. E. Evans . remained on the land, and at once commenced to build log- houses for their families.
Here we may remark that several Americans had already come to the neighborhood, but had not commenced to till their farms. The names of some of them are: Messrs. Jackson, Whitman, Thayer, Hawley, McCauley, Starkweather, Green- man, etc.
In the fall of this year, 1847, and especially in the spring of 1848, several other Welsh people came to the place. They were Messrs. David Roberts, James Lloyd, John Jones, Wil- liam Powell, Daniel Davies, Matthew Jones, Richard Moses, Daniel Owens, Frederick Roberts, Richard Jones, John Jones (mason), Rev. T. Foulkes, Hugh Owens, David Clayton, John Rees, Thomas Roberts, the Misses Jane Morgans and Mary
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Roberts. As the majority of these persons were rich only in muscular strength, it is not difficult to believe their stories of the hardships which they and their families had to go through before the virgin soil became productive of their wants. But they toiled early and late, and kept up their courage.
Nearly all these early settlers were of excellent moral and religious character - much of the same stamp and stamina as those who landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620. From the very first they came together every Sabbath to hold prayer-meetings and a Sabbath school. These meetings were held for some time in the several dwellings that were found most convenient. The first Sabbath-school was held at the house of Mr. Owen Hughes, on the farm where Mr. H. Owens now resides, and in about a year or two after that, another Sabbath-school was held at Black Wolf by the families of Messrs. E. T. Jones, John Jones (mason), William Powell and others. As these ser- vices were conducted with regularity and great interest, they were the means of untold blessings to the settlers.
The first sermon was preached at the house of Mr. Peter Jones, by the Rev. John H. Evans, of Waukesha, on a certain week-day evening in the summer of 1849. In September of this year they undertook to build their first church, which they called Bethesda. Its site was about twelve rods west of the present church of the same name, at the other end of the bury- ing-ground. We cannot learn the exact dimensions of this house, but it was large enough to hold the congregation at that time. It was a frame building, finished off quite comfortably. Rev. Thomas Foulkes was the first one to preach for the set- tlers on the Sabbath-day, and he also preached the first sermon in this church. It can also be said that he preached the first Welsh sermon at Oshkosh, Neenab, Berlin and Pine River. He served faithfully in the ministry among the new settlers for several years without receiving any pecuniary compensation, and from that time until now, he has been a faithful pastor of Bethesda Church. He has also preached much in other churches in this vicinity.
By the year 1855, the congregation had grown too large for the old church, and so they determined to build another larger and better one. Here a dispute arose as to where the new church should be located, "and the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder," and two churches were built. Bethesda was rebuilt in the spring of 1856, and Peniel in the fall of the same year. Rev. T. Foulkes retained the charge of the church at Bethesda, and Rev. John E. Wil- liams took charge of Peniel, of which he continued to be the faithful pastor until his death, in September, 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. K. Roberts, who is still its pastor. Both these churches are Calvin Methodists, or Presbyterians.
In the year 1851, a Congregational Church was organized by the Rev. Jenkin Jenkins, in the house of Mr. Daniel Owens Soon after, they built a church, calling it Zoar, on the town line between Utica and Rosendale. In 1862, they rebuilt it, upon the same site as the old one. The following ministers have been the pastors of this church : Revs John P. Jones, Samuel Jones, John Davies, Mr. Lewis, John V. Jones, and Humphrey Parry, who is their present pastor.
In the year 1855, a Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized by the Rev. Humphrey Jones, at the Red School house, in Nekimi. They held services in the school-house until the year 1862, when their present house, called Bethel, was erected. Its pastors have been (chiefly), the Revs. Thomas Hughes and John Jones. Their Baptist Church was organized in the years 1848-49, by the Rev. Evan S. Thomas and Rev.
James Jeffreys. Many of the English people came and joined this church, so that, in the year 1851, it was deemed necessary to form two congregations, one Welsh and the other English. The Welsh erected a new church, in the year 1865, which is called Salem. The Welsh pastors of this church have been the Revs. Evan S. Thomas, Jas. Jeffreys, Thomas Roberts, John W. Jones, R. T. Owens, William Jones, John Evans, H. C .. Perry (Cefni), who has the charge of it at present.
Besides these church organizations, several other societies have been formed, and are still continued. They have several weekly and semi-weekly literary societies, for the diffusion of general culture and knowledge of the literary arts. In connec- tion with these societies, a joint annual meeting is held, in which prizes are given for the best essays, orations, poems, tunes, solos, choir performances, etc. These meetings have done much to stimulate the intellectual life of the community. The settlement owes much to Messrs. D. E. Evans and E. Hughes for the singing in these meetings, as well as in the churches.
At a very early day a temperance society was organized. They hold regular meetings, and have done much to keep intemperance from the community.
In the year 1856, an auxiliary of the American Bible Society was organized. This society holds an annual meeting, to which an entire day is given ; the officers meet at 10 A. M., and pub- lic meetings are held at 2 and 6 P. M., in which several addresses are given. The entire collections and donations to the mother society, to the year 1879, are $6,690. This amount includes the collections made by the Welsh in the city of Osh- kosh, as they were operating together in this cause until the year 1871, at which time the Welsh in the city organized a separate auxiliary, and since then have collected $1,060.
MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS.
The first marriages in this settlement were those of William Connarroe and Miss Jane Morgans, and Mr. John Yates and Miss Mary Roberts.
The first male child born was Ebenezer D. Evans, a son of Mr. and Mrs. David E. Evans (canwr), and the first female, Mary Owens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Owens.
DEATHS.
In a short time after the arrival of the immigrants here, a grave-yard had to be located; for as early as the year 1848, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Powell was numbered among the dead. She was the first one buried in the Bethesda grave- yard, and several were buried here before the Zoar yard was located. The first buried there, were children of Mr. and Mrs. Williams (Cod). Some of Mr. Peter Jones' family died before these, but were interred in another location, and afterwards removed.
This neighborhood had been quite free from horrible acci- dents, until the year 1875, when several occurred which are worthy of note. Three or four young men bought a steam thresher from a man by the name of Moon, near Rosendale. August 26th, wbile threshing on Mr. Moon's farm, the boiler exploded, the explosion caused the boiler to be thrown upon the separator, crushing and killing Wm. Owens instantly, and setting fire to everything near. The separator was crushed down on the limbs of Henry Parry, who at the time was meas- uring, and before he could be released he was burned to a crisp. Two other young men, George and Henry Rees, were badly burnt while trying to rescue Parry. Wm. Owens was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Owens. Henry Parry came here a year or two before the accident, from La Crosse, Wisconsin.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
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The same fall Richard Roberts met with a horrible death while attempting to sink a stone near his house, the stone roll- ing on him while he was excavating under the same. Assist- ance was summoned as soon as possible, and the stone removed; but death was the only relief from his terrible sufferings, which occured in a very few hours.
Early in the winter, a man by the name of Thomas Roberts also met with a sudden death while assisting his neighbor to remove a barn.
The two persons, last mentioned, were among the early set- tlers here. There are other things which could be mentioned, but space in this work will not permit.
TOWN OF ALGOMA.
CHAPTER LXXII.
Situation - Face of the Country - Soil - Water - Schools - Social and Educational Advantages - Early Settlement - Village of Algoma - First Saw-mill in the Vicinity of Osh- kosh - First Grist-mill - Post-office Established - First Births and Marriages - Town Organization and First Elec- tion - Notices of Illustrations.
HE Town of Algoma. adjoining the City of Oshkosh on the west, its north- ern line bounded by Lake Buttes des Morts, is mostadvantageously situated. The surface is generally slightly undu- lating. The northern portion, on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, is more roll- ing and is a most delightful locality, in fact, one of the most beautiful in the country. The shore of the lake is bold, the land rising in handsome wooded slopes, with patches of openings and prairie.
The town was originally openings, with tracts of natural meadow land, the timber in the northern part being in some places more dense. The soil is generally a rich black loanı, and very fertile. An occasional tract of excel- lent clay loam, with an admixture of sand, is found. The base is limestone rock, more or less of which is disintegrated and mixed with the surface soil. The subsoil is a limestone clay, rich in the elements of an enduring fer- tility. Good well water is readily obtained by digging, and in some places flowing fountains are found. Good stock water is abundant. The best of limestone for building purposes is easily quarried, and several large quarries were opened, which were originally in the town, but now in the limits of the City of Oshkosh, and which furnish a large part of the building stone used in the city.
The soil is particularly well adapted to gra- zing and grass-growing. Dairying has, there-
fore, become a leading branch of industry, the city furnishing a home market for milk, butter and cheese. The cultivation of the various grains and vegetables of this latitude is also carried on with the highest success.
The town is traversed by a small stream, Algoma Creek, and the Oshkosh branch, of the Milwaukee & St Paul Railroad, crosses the southeastern portion.
The farms are generally in a high state of cultivation, with good dwellings and ample barns. There are several elegant brick resi- dences, which will compare favorably with the finest in the city.
SCHOOLS, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
There are four school houses and 256 chil- dren of school age, as per report of superin- tendent, in 1878.
The proximity to the city of Oshkosh gives additional educational advantages.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
This town was one of the first settled locali- ties in the county, the site of the village of Algoma, now a part of the Fifth ward of Osh- kosh, being the location occupied by Webster Stanley, he having put up his shanty, where he resided during the summer, on what was after- wards known as Coon's Point, formed by the River and Lake Buttes des Morts. In the fall he removed from that place to what is now the Second Ward of Oshkosh.
The first settler in the present limits of Algoma was Chester Ford, who built a log- house on what is now Wright's Point, just soutlt of thecity limits, in the winter of 1837-38, and where he resided for some years; the place being long known as Ford's Point, and is one of the old historical land-marks of the early days. Mr. Ford's family was one of the first four families settled in the county, except- ing the employes of the Government, at Nee- nah. Algoma is, therefore, one of the earliest settled points in the county.
The next settler was Wm. A. Boyd, son-in- law of Chester Ford. Mr. Boyd located on the present Roe farm, in 1840. His advent is fully related on page 103.
In the spring of 1846, Joseph H. Osborn made a claim and built a house on the place where he now resides. Mr. Osborn took a prominent part in the affairs of the county, for which see history.
John Smith was the next settler, having, the same season, 1846, built a log-house, into which he moved, and which occupied a site very near his present residence.
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