USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 60
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In 1848, Mrs. George Beckwith taught a school in her own house. A private school was taught in 1848, by Hannah Olin, in the Gilman Lowd neighborhood. The school-house was built by subscription. These seem to have been the first schools opened in the town.
The first record of school district organiza- tion is that of a meeting of the school com- missioners of the towns of Buttes des Morts and Rushford, held October 22, 1847, at which two school districts were organized in the southern part of the town. One was the ·· West School District," now Number One.
The first town school superintendent was George Beckwith, who organized most of the school districts in the town. The first male teacher was George Herrick, who lived on Section 9.
FLOOD IN 1846.
Mr. John S. Johnson states that a great flood occurred in March, 1846. He had just settled in the town and had built a preemption shanty on Section 30, in March ; and on the 14th of the month a heavy snow storm set in, and a heavy fall of wet snow continued for four days and nights without cessation. It then cleared up and remained clear weather for twenty-four hours; at the expiration of which time it commenced to rain. The rain continued to fall for forty-eight hours, and con- verted the former fall of snow into water. The streams ran in torrents ; and the country was so flooded that half its surface was under water. The country resembled a vast lake dotted with islands. Large portions of the present towns of Omro, Rushford, Algoma, Oshkosh, Nekimi and Black Wolf, were under water. Nothing like this ever occurred before in the recollection of the Indians. Old Osh- kosh, Chief of the Menominees, said he never saw anything to compare with it; and an old squaw, Madam Rabbit, over eighty years of
age, and who had lived near Omro the greater part of her life, said that there never was, in her remembrance, anything that would bear a com- parison to it. A number of the settlers aban- doned their claims. In a short time the water dissappeared, except in the low, flat lands, and the settlers who had left, returned to their pre- emption shanties
The spring and summer of 1851 was a period of high water. The low lands were flooded by long continued rain storms, but no great permanent damage was done, for the conforma- tion of the country is such that no damaging freshets occur.
Since the early day there has been no similar occurrences, the natural water courses convey- ing the water away harmlessly as fast as it accumulated, while the cultivated land, absorb- ing the rain fall, prevents any sudden flow or rapid accumulation. The opening of water courses and artificial drains has also afforded ample facilities for its conveyance.
FIRST FRAME HOUSES.
Elder Pillsbury built the first frame house in the town, in 1848. The second was a good, well-finished dwelling, erected by George Beckwith the same year, and is the building that of late years was occupied by Crego near the "Junction."
The third or fourth was built by Milo C. Bushnell, and was the first house painted in the town. The paint was put on by George Wrightson. The first frame barn was built by David Minkler, on the Richard Tanner place, in 1849.
EARLY BIRTHS - MARRIAGES.
The first white child born in the limits of the town was George Johnson, son of John S. Johnson, born June 2, 1846. The second white child, born in the town, was Maria Scott, daughter of Leuman Scott, born in October, 1846. The third was Jane Augustine Olin, daughter of Nelson Olin, born on the 23rd of March, 1847.
One of the earliest marriages was that of Albert Hall to Miss Julia Jones, in April, 1848. Mrs. Hall died the following July. On the Fourth of July, 1848, Daniel Ingalls and Miss Elizabeth Jones were married, and at the same time Asa Kennedy and Mrs. Harriet Dunning.
EARLY DEATHS.
Among the earlier deaths was that of Mrs. Albert Hall, in July 1848. On the 10th of May, 1849, William Parker was drowned in the Fox River.
FLOWING WELLS.
A belt of the artesian fountain strata is found in this town, and there are many flow- 37 A
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[1846-49.
ing fountains, furnishing an unlimited supply of the best of water. The first flowing well or fountain was opened by Stephen Johnson, in 1847, who was then "keeping bach." In digging a well he had dug some thirty feet without obtaining water. During the night the water broke through; and in the morning the well was flowing over, and the ground all around his house was flooded. He at first, on looking at it, thought that it was an illusion, and that he was in a dream; but on putting his foot in the cold water he learned it was a reality. This fountain is on Section 36, now the Parks place.
The second was obtained by Nelson Olin. While digging a well on his place, in January, 1848, they had reached thirty-three feet when Mr. Richard Reed, who was picking in the hard-pan, struck his pick through to the handle, and on prying out a chunk of the hard- pan, the air and water burst through the aperture with great force. They immediately raised him to the surface. This well, six feet in diameter and thirty-three deep, filled so rapidly, that in an hour and a quarter from the time Mr. Reed struck the vein with his pick, the well was flowing over at the surface, and has flowed to the present time.
The third fountain was struck by Mr. Rich- ard Reed, on his own place, in 1848. They had reached fifty feet, in digging this well, when, one morning, the water broke through, and flowed so rapidly, that by nine o'clock at night, the well, fifty feet deep and six in diameter, was filled and overflowing. The well has never been tubed, and remains in the same condition as when dug; and flows with undi- minished volume, to the present time. It is cold, soft water, and the most wholesome drinking water. He built a curb and covered the surface, so as to keep out the surface water, and enclosed the curb with a small building in which he kept meat, butter, and such perishable articles in the cool air.
In 1852, he sunk two more wells for stock water, and at a depth of forty feet in both, struck flowing fountains.
In the "fountain belt," which is from one to 1wo miles in width, a never-failing supply of flowing water is obtained by boring from fifteen to thirty-five feet.
From Mr. H. W. Webster we obtain the following recital of a
MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.
In 1848, a Frenchman was living on a piece of land on the bank of Fox River, just below the present Village of Omro. In the fall he went with an ox team, to bring to his place some
produce that he had raised near Waupun. He returned one night, his wife says, about nine o'clock, and after she had gone to bed. She heard him drive up to the house with his oxen, which he turned out, and then came to the door and asked for a pail to wash his feet in. She told him where he would find it; and that was the last heard of him until the following spring, when the Indians reported that they had found the remains of a body on the edge of the river. Mr. H. W. Webster, now of Omro, and other persons, brought the remains, which proved to be those of the missing man, to the widow's house, where an inquest was held and a verdict rendered, "of death by some unknown means. " The event occasioned much excitement.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The Rev. Mr. Sampson held services in the grove, near the West place, in the summer of 1847. In the winter of 1847-48, meetings were held in a shanty on Section 27. In 1848, meetings were held in Mr. Richard Reed's house. This, a log building 18 by 22 feet, was called the "big house." The first sermon was preached by Elder Pillsbury.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Of the early settlers, Mr. West and several others have already been fully mentioned.
Nelson Olin is one of the earliest Western settlers, having come to Milwaukee on the 27th of June, 1835. He then helped to put up the first frame store in Milwaukee, and to dig the first cellar in that place, which was under the Juneau store, on the corner of Wisconsin and East Water streets. He also built the first dock in that place, and graded Wisconsin Street, from Spring Street bridge to the lake. He lived in Milwaukee over two years; from there he went to Waukesha; and from the latter place moved to the present Town of Omro, on the 20th of November, 1846, and settled on Section 27. He was elected the first town clerk, and has served as chairman of the town for five years. He, also, as road commissioner, helped to lay all the roads in the town which were opened during the first three years of its organization. He is still a resident.
Gilman Lowd settled on Section 33, in this town, in July, 1846, at which time he built a log-house, in which he kept "bach." In 1849, he was married, and has since, with his family, lived on the same place. He was road com- missioner, and directed the laying of the first roads in the town, among which are, what are called, the Section Line Road and Town Line Road. The town had voted twenty-five dol-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1846-50.]
lars for town expenses, and the actual amount expended during the first year of the organi- zation did not exceed thirty dollars.
Myron Howe is one of the earliest settlers of Omro, having settled in this town in July, 1846, at which time he built a log shanty on the southeast quarter of Section 9, in which he kept "bach." His nearest neighbor was two miles distant. He built a frame house in 1851, at which time he assumed matrimonial relations. His present residence is a fine brick structure, which was erected in 1870. Mr. Howe migrated from the State of New York to Wisconsin, in 1844. When he landed in the Territory, his worldly possessions consisted of his clothes, a chest of joiner's tools and ten dollars in cash. From these small beginnings, by industry and good management, he has become one of the most prosperous farmers of this county. He helped, in 1847, to cut out what is known as the Section Line Road.
John R. Paddleford built a pre-emption shanty on the northeast quarter of Section 14, in February, 1846, and is, therefore, one of the very earliest settlers in the town. In the spring of 1847, he moved his family to this place, where he has since resided. He helped to open the first roads in the town, and took a prominent part in its early organization and improvement. His fine farm is among the best in the county, and he ranks as one of its promi- nent farmers.
Milo C. Bushnell came from Vermont, to Wisconsin, in 1846, and in that year entered the northwest quarter of Section 27, in this town. In 1847, in company with A. H. Pease, he built a log shanty on adjoining land, in which they kept "bach" for a number of years. In 1849, he built, on his own place, a frame building 16 by 24, which was the fourth frame building put up in the town. Mr. Bushnell was elected chairman of the town in 1851, and has served for several terms since in that office. He was United States Assistant Assessor from 1862 to 1870, and member of the Legislature in 1867 and 1868.
Richard Reed, with his family, consisting of his wife, five sons and one daughter, settled in this town, on Section 22, in the fall of 1848; he having, in the fall of 1847, entered the land and built a log-house on the same; his family, in the meantime, living in Waukesha. Mr. Reed continued to reside on this place until 1872, when he moved into the Village of Omro, where all his sons are engaged in various busi- ness occupations - Richard, Jr in mercantile business, and with whom the old gentleman resides. Mr. Reed was justice of the peace for nine years, and has served in many other
official capacities. He is called, by the old settlers, "Uncle Richard," and they claim that he merits the title on occount of their affec- tionate regard for him, as one in whom they ever found a kind friend and a generous and hospitable neighbor. He is now one of the patriarchs of the town, in his eighty-third year, and in vigorous health. On his eightieth birth- day, some sixty of his neighbors made up a surprise-party; at which they presented him with a cane, rocking-chair, secretary and other keepsakes. He was obliged to kiss all the ladies, but being unused to this mode of salu- tation, lie was at first a little awkward, but at last, in a very spirited manner, did full justice to the requirements of the occasion.
Among the pioneer settlers of the Northwest are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pew, who purchased their present farm, in the Town of Omro, in 1847. Mr. Pew migrated from St. Lawrence County, New York, to Green Bay, in 1837. Mrs. Pew is among the oldest settlers in the Northwest, having lived at Green Bay in 1828. She remembers the Black Hawk War, and has a great fund of recollections of the early days. At nine years of age, in 1832, she passed up the Fox River and down the Wisconsin, in a birch-bark canoc, paddled by Indians, one named We-au-we-ya, after whom the Village of Weyauwega was named. From Prairie du Chien, she went to New Orleans, and from that place to Alexandria, on the Red River. Her father was connected with the troops sta- tioned on the frontier. In 1835, she returned to Green Bay, where she lived until 1846. . In 1843, she was married to Frank Pew, and moved with him to her present residence in this county, in 1850.
Mr. Frank Pew drove the first wagon that had ever passed down the west side of the river. from Neenah to the Oneida Settlement. The road was only partly cut out, and, in many places, he had to cut fallen trees. One of the memorable. instances of Mr. Pew's pioneer days was, when a young man of twenty-three engaged in a mill on Manitowoc River. He, and a companion, were left to protect the mill from the depreda- tions of Indians, while the proprietor was absent to Milwaukee to obtain provisions. The ves- sell having been driven by astorm to Mackinaw, failed to bring them a supply at the expected time; and, although out of food, except the growing corn and potatoes in the field, they did not desert their charge; and for four weeks they subsisted on the green corn and potatoes. The corn soon ripened, so that they could grind it in a coffee-mill, when mush and musk- rat stew afforded sumptuous living. As the
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1848-80.
corn and potatoes were their chief resources of living, they were not a little alarmed when they found that the Indians were most adroitly and cunningly hooking the potatoes out of the hills and leaving them the growing tops, which compelled them to keep up a vigilant watch; and between them and the Indians the crop was successfully harvested. Mr. Pew is now the owner of one of the finest farms in the county, and in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency.
William O. Giddings settled on Section 8, in this town, in the spring of 1848. He built a log house, into which he moved with his family, at that time, and continued to reside there until 1875, when he moved into the Vil- lage of Omro, where he now lives. He served as supervisor for two terms, and helped to organize the first district school in the Village of Omro; and also to build the first school- house.
S. D. Paddleford came to this town in Janu- ary, 1849, and in March, the same year, entered the southeast quarter of Section 10, where he now resides. Mr. Paddleford is one of the prominent men of the town, and has taken an active part in its improvement from the days of its early settlement. He is the present assessor.
Alfred Robinson is one of the early settlers, having located on Section 16, in April, 1848, where he still resides.
George H. Hatch came to Omro in 1865. and purchased the M. C. Bushnell farm, which was. one of the first farms opened in the town.
Thomas Palfrey is one of the old settlers, having moved with his parents to Waukau in 1846, and now resides on his farm in this town.
Mason Campbell is a later accession. His fine farm of 160 acres is on Section 26.
The names and location of all the farm own- ers in the town will be found on pages 305, 306 and 307, with the number of acres in their respective farms, and the post-office address of each.
TOWN OFFICERS.
The town officers, in 1879, are as follows: J. M. Beals, chairman, G. W. Minckler and L. J. Silverthorn, supervisors; J. H. Caswell, clerk; Robert Webb, treasurer; S. D. Paddle- ford, assessor.
VILLAGE OF OMRO.
The Village of Omro occupies a most lovely and eligible site on the Upper Fox River. The land, on either side, rises in handsome elevations, affording most delightful sites for residences. From the higher elevations, exten- șive views can be had of the beautiful sur-
rounding country, dotted with fine farm houses and large barns; and no richer or more lovely country can be found, than that surrounding the village.
The place contains something over two thousand inhabitants, and has twenty odd stores; two steam saw-mills, one a large, first- class mill (H. W. Webster's), which manufac- tures some four or five million feet of lumber per annum; a foundry and machine shop (Geo. Challoner's) 36 by 170 feet, one of the princi- pal articles manufactured being Challoner's famous patent shingle-mill machinery. There is also a large carriage manufactory and sev- eral smaller waggon and carriage works; a sash and door factory; a barrel factory, employ- ing a large number of hands; grist mill, cheese factory, and a number of mechanic shops of various kinds. A stock company has also built a very fine brick structure for a woolen-mill.
The main business street is quite a busy mait of trade, and presents a lively appearance, and is frequently thronged with teams. It is a well built street, and contains several fine brick blocks.
There are also two good hotels, the Larrabee House and the Northwestern.
A weekly newspaper, The Omro Journal, is published by Platt M. Wright, and is a zealous and useful advocate of the interests of the place.
The village, with its many handsome resi- dences and tastily ornamented grounds, pre- sents a very attractive sight. A large number of the native trees have been preserved, and many shade trees have assumed large propor- tions.
MANUFACTURES AND BUSINESS.
The Village of Omro has a most advan- tageous location for trade and manufacturing. The country surrounding and tributary to it is one of the richest agricultural districts to be found in the State, while its location on a navigable stream, giving it water communica- tion with pine and hardwood forests, affords access to manufacturing material. Among the resources of the place is an inexhaustible sup- ply of the best of sand for glass-making. .
The place enjoys, in common with other points on these navigable water-courses, the many resources for business and manufacturing which the Fox Valley so largely possesses, and which are fully treated of in other pages of this work. A branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, gives railroad connection with main lines, and a daily mail.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
As will be seen by a perusal of the subse- quent historical sketch of the place, the people
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1846-79.]
of Omro, have, from the beginning, considered educational facilities as something of para- mount importance, and have made ample pro- visions for the education of youth.
The schools of the village are established on the graded system, with a high-school, inter- mediate and primary departments. There are three school buildings, two brick and one frame.
There are four church structures, very neat and tasty edifices. These have large congre- gations and well attended Sunday-schools. The leading denominations are, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
There are several civic societies, temperance and benevolent, with well attended meetings. Among the noted institutions of the place is a brass band, which takes high rank, and whose playing, at the Northern State Fair, was highly praised.
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
Board of trustees, W H. Cain, Robert Crawford, Almond Grey, S. D. Gilman, J. E. Lindsley; treasurer, John D. Treleven; clerk, J. H. Caswell; justices of the peace, N. Frank, D. W. McLeod, A. B. Russell, D. W. Reed .*
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE VILLAGE.
The first settler on the site of the Village of Omro, was David Humes. In the spring of 1847, he embarked on the Fox River, at Mar- quette, and came from that point in a skiff. Arriving at what is now Omro, he landed and selected for his future residence a portion of Section 16, now called "Beckwith Town." He built a log-house on his new possessions, and this was the first structure on the site of the Village of Omro.
The following extracts are copied from a publication issued by the Omro Journal:
" It was Mr. Humes' ambition to build up a thriving town. He settled here for that purpose, and laid every plan for the accomplishment of that end. He had a plan of his own, and n the following Spring he proceeded to carry it out. Taking his axe, he proceeded to the north side of the river, which was hen known as the " Indian Land," and selecting his trees, he truck the first blow toward the building of the " Grouser," or upright anchor boat, for towing logs against the current. The Grouser was a new idea - one of Mr. Humes' own invention, und predictions of failure were many. But he had faith in it, und persevered. "I am going to build a boat which will tow ogs up this river, and there will be saw mills built here, and a own will grow up," was his reply to all attempts to discourage im. Swimming his oxen across the stream, he drew the tim- er to the river bank. He went on with the work, and soon lad the satisfaction of making it a complete success. The tim-
ber of the boat was all hewed in the woods across the river, and framed and put together under Mr. Humes' own super- vision. The boat was propelled by horse power - four horses on a sweep, and was known as the " Humes Horse Boat." When the first fleet of logs was brought up, Mr. Nelson Beck- with, a son-in-law of Mr. Humes, went down the river in a skiff to meet the new boat. He paddled around the raft and boat and watched operations for some time, and then said: " Well ! well ! he will be a Fulton yet !" Mr. Aaron Humes a son of David, built the first steam grouser boat. It was called the Swan. Mr. Humes ran it but a little while, then sold it to parties in Neenah, after which he put up a store near where Richardson's house stands in Beckwithtown.
" As soon as it became certain that the boat which Mr. David Humes had invented would be a success, steps were taken by certain parties toward building saw mills. Mr. Nelson Beck- with, a son-in-law of Mr. Humes, proposed to his father-in-law to put up a mill, if he would give him ten acres of land on the river. Mr. Humes agreed to it. About the same time, Mr. Elisha Dean went to Mr. Humes on a similar errand. As the best mill site had already been promised to Mr. Beckwith, Mr. Dean did not accomplish anything, but Elder Theodore Pills- bury, who owned land this side of Beckwithtown, extending to what is now West Division Street, and who built the house now occupied by W. C. Dean, near the Fair Grounds, offered forty acres of land to Mr. Dean. He accepted, and by some understanding, the nature of which we do not know, Mr. Nel- son Beckwith joined him and commenced a mill on the site of the present woolen mill. Messrs. Dean and Beckwith continued in partnership but a short time, and Mr. Dean associated with himself Mr. Joel V. Taylor. Meantime Mr. Beckwith erected a mill in Beckwithtown, on the site of the present slaughter house of Mr. Towers. This was in 1849. Mr. Beckwith's residence was on the site of the one now owned by John Douty. Among the other settlers who came to the village about 1847 to 1849 we mention the names of Col. Tuttle, Dr. McAllister, Andrew Wilson, L. O. E. Manning, A. Corfee, William Ham- mond, Mr. Peck and John Wilson.
"Col. Tuttle purchased the fractional' seventy acres of Sec- tion 7, on the south side of the river, commencing at Lot I, Western Addition, and extending south and west. Near the site of the old Exchange Tavern was an Indian camping ground. The original plat of the village was laid out in 1849, by Joel V. Taylor, Elisha Dean and Nelson Beckwith. The plat of the Western Addition was laid out the year following.
" Previous to 1850, the river was crossed by a ferry, but in that year Col. Tuttle built a float bridge across the stream at the foot of Main Street, where Thompson & Hayward's Car- riage Works are situated.
"The first well dug in the village was hy William Parker and Alexander Allen, near the old Compound building.
" We find by the records that in 1850 there was quite an accession to the population of the village, and the business of the place. N. Frank and C. Bigelow came in that year. N. Frank came up the river on the steamer " Badger," the first steamer, so far as known, that ever came up the river so far as the bridge. At that time the bridge was not finished. The freight was unloaded on the end of the bridge in the north channel, and plank laid down to get it across to the south shore. The south channel was then very shallow, and many supposed it would never be navigable; but Mr. Frank and some others were of a different opinion, and put a yoke of cat- tle and a scraper at work dredging it out. After the current
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