History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 266

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 266

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J. R. MOORE, M. D., New London, was born in 1850, in Jefferson Co., Wis. ; educated in his native town. where he resided until 1869, where he went to Chicago, Ill .; entering the Chicago Medical College, he graduated in 1873 ; began practice at Stough- ton, Wis., and, two years later, came to New London. where he has since resided and practiced. He married Miss Julia A. Me- Farlane, of Jefferson. She died Ang. 14, 1880, leaving a daugh- ter-Mahel. Dr. Moore is a member of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Northwestern Medical Society, and also of Northport Lodge, I. O. O. F.

G. A. MURRAY, grocer, New London, came to New London from Ohio in 1874, and, in company with E. S. Shepard, began business as a real estate agent. In 1877 and 1878, he was Chief of Police ; began his present business about two years ago, and bought out his partner, Silas Giles, in February, 1881. Mr. Murray was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. Was educated in Madison Semi- nary, taught three terms of school in Ohio and four in Wisconsin, the last term as Principal of the school in District No. 1, New London. Is a Freemason, and is Secretary of the llook and Lad- der Company here. His wife was Lydia Moseley, of Geauga Co., Ohio. Mr. Murray lacked only twenty-three votes of the election as Register of Deeds in his county in the fall of 1880.

JAMES MURRAY, blacksmith, New London, was born in Ireland. When he was six years of age, his parents emigrated

and settled in Quebec. He passed his boyhood here on a farm ; learned his trade in Hoxbury on the Ottawa River; spent some time in Montreal, where he attended Gurbon College. In the fall of 1865, he came to New London, spent a year at his trade, and, after various wanderings, returned to Canada where he married. lle then resided and worked for a time in Oshkosh, Wyola and Detroit, and, in September, 1870, located in New London. He began business in a shop, which he still owns near the engine- house. Mr. Murray was first elected Village Trustee in 1875. Was elected Alderman in 1877, and has been annually re-elected since. Has been President of the Council and Chairman of the Bridge Committee. Has been for five years Foreman of the Fire Department here. His wife was Margaret Hefferman ; they have six children.

H. H. PAGE, now the veteran merchant of New London, was born July 23, 1833. He is of an old New England family, and was educated in the High Schools of Exeter and Foxcraft, his parents having settled near Burlington, Me., when he was quite young. He resided here as a farmer, lumberman and school teacher until 1855, when he brought his family and a small stock of goods to New London. His first store was in a small building near the bridge which burned on the night of April 17, 1881 ; at this time there were half a dozen goodly stores here, and he has seen them all collapse. In 1871, Mr. Page built, and has since occupied, his present store. He married Harriet C. Libby, of Burlington, Me .; their only daughter and child, Nellie E., is now the wife of Marshall Heath, who is associated with Mr. Page in business at Marion, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Page lost a daughter, Annie, aged ten years. He is a Freemason and has held local offices. Is the owner of a steam-mill at Marion, and is evidently a live business man.

HON. M. B. PATCHIN, attorney at law, New London, was born Sept. 1. 1824, in Plattsburg. Clinton Co., N. Y. ; received a common-school and academic education in his native town ; began the study of law with Gardner Stone, in Keeseville, N. Y. Remov- ing in August, 1844, to Troy, N. Y., he studied in the offices of Stowe & Millard, and of Swetland & Nutting, of Plattsburg; was admitted to the bar at the general term of the Supreme Court of New York, held at Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in Sep- ember, 1852. In January, 1853, he married Miss Frances E., daughter of Judge George Parsons, of Saranac, Clinton Co., N. Y. Mr. Patchin now practiced his profession, and did clerking, surveying, etc., at Saranac, until 1857, when he came to Fremont, Waupaca Co., Wis. Here he platted Springer & Russell's Addi- tion to Fremont. settled down and began legal practice in what was then the Wisconsin wilderness. At that day, Fremont seemed destined to become quite a town, which of course encour- aged Mr. Patchin to make investments and arrangements for a permanent home there. In December, 1858, his wife met with a fatal accident, by being thrown from a sleigh, though her death did not oceur until May, 1859. In the fall of that year, Mr. Patchin was elected hy the Democrats to the Wisconsin Assem- bly. At the outbreak of secession's thunders in 1861. M. B. Patehin and Capt. Redfield began raising volunteers. The unfair- ness of the military authorities kept their company from due recognition, but it was finally mustered into the service in Septem- ber, 1861, as Company A. 8th W. V. I. (the Eagle Regiment ). He held the First Lieutenant's commission, and with his regi- ment participated in the battles of Fredericton, Oct. 21, 1861; the expedition to Indian Ford ; the sieges of Island No. 10 and New Madrid, siege of Corinth, battle of Farmington, and went into camp at Clear Creek. Lieut. Patchin was in charge of the entire transportation of supplies, when the Union forces left New Madrid. His health failing. he went into hospital at Iuka, Miss., Sept. 12, 1862; was transferred to the Jackson Hospital, where he resigned his commission, returning to Wisconsin in December, 1862. During the winter of 1863, he was Postmaster of the State Assembly. Married in June, 1863, Ilannah E. Taggert, of Weyauwega, Wis. Resided in Fremont until August, 1864,

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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.

when he went to Little Rock, Ark. ; here he was in Government service until March, 1865, when he returned to Fremont, which was his home until 1871, when he came to New London. The firm of Patchin & Weed formed in May, 1872, was dissolved by mutual consent April 13, 1881. Since residing in New London, Mr. Patchin has been both Village and City Attorney. Mr. Patchin has three living children. His oldest son, George M. Patchin, educated in Saranac, N. Y., was, for a time, editor of the New London Times, then owned by him and his father, and sold by them to the Messrs. Pickard.

LEONARD PERRIN, Cashier of the Bank of New London, was born Aug. 24, 1828, near Coburg, Canada ; a few years later, his parents removed to London, Canada. He came to Wisconsin in 1861, locating in Waupaca ; was for three years in the lumber- ing business at Port Edwards, and spent two years in the ware- house of Doud & Mumbrue, at Gill's Landing. In 1868, he came to New London, taking charge of the warehouse of Dakon, Dewey & Co. H. S. Dixon and himself then rented the ware- house for a few years, also operating a saw-mill in the manufacture of wagon-timber, tight-work, barrel staves, etc. Mr. Perrin sold his interest in the saw-mill to Mr. Dixon, and, in 1874, entered the bank of L. C. Patterson & Co., as clerk. Has been Cashier of the institution since it was organized as a State Bank in 1876. J. W. Bingham, President of the bank and himself are now part- ners in business, owning a store at Norrie, and another at Aniwa, the present terminus of the M. L. S. & W. R. R. Mr. Perrin married Mrs. Ellen P. Hill, of Weyauwega, Wis. He is a mem- ber of New London Lodge, A., F. & A. M., and is a man of excellent business habits and qualifications.

HON. E. P PERRY, attorney, New London ; was born in the town of Rushford, Allegany Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1826; his father, E. P. Perry, was a native of Massachusetts, and a farmer. Young Perry was educated in his native county, and when eight- een, went to Michigan, the last illness of his father's causing him to return to Allegany Co. soon after ; in 1852, he again visited Michigan, and two years later, located at New London; was admitted to the bar of Waupaca Co., in 1856 ; practiced till May, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. E, 2d W. V. I .; in March follow- ing, he was made Second Lieutenant of Co. D, same regiment, of which company he served as Captain during the last fifteen months of his service, which ended for a time at the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the thigh ; after an absence of only three months from his command, he returned and served until his regiment was mustered out, July 29, 1864; in 1856, Mr. Perry was a contestant for the seat of B. F. Philips, in the Wisconsin Assembly, in which body he represented his district in 1867; has also served as village and city attorney. Repub- lican.

II. S. PICKARD, of the New London Times and Tribune ; born July 9, 1843, in Stephenson Co. Ill .; was for two and a half years a student at the old Lawrence University ; began as an apprentice on the Southwestern Local, at Shullsburg, Wis., in 1857 ; enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. C, 33d W. V. I. ; served three years, participating in the battles of Coldwater, Jackson, etc., sieges of Vicksburg and Atlanta, battle of Nashville and siege of Mobile ; after his honorable discharge, he settled in Dar- lington, Wis., and in 1869 went to Chicago, residing there until December, 1880, when he came to New London, and with his nephew and partner, H. W. Pickard, founded the New London Tribune; in March, 1881, the Times was purchased by them, and the papers consolidated ; it is an eight-column folio, Republi- can in politics.

E. S. SHEPARD, New London pine land agent, New Lon- don ; was born in Hortonia, Outagamie Co., Wis .; his parents were S. A. and Lydia Shepard, of Henrietta, Ohio ; the father died in Texas, and young Shepard, thrown upon his own resources, has carved out a very comfortable position in the world ; begin- ning at fourteen years of age, he has thoroughly mastered his business, and knows Northern Wisconsin "like a book ; " Mr.

Shepard has for years acted for Cornell University, selling thou- sands of acres of its lands, and does besides a large business, locat- ing lands, estimating values of timbers and lands, and preventing timber steals from lands in his charge.

G. R. STRICKLAND, jeweler, New London ; came to New London in July, 1875; he is a native of Lewis Co., N. Y., and came West in 1867, locating at Waupaca, where he learned his trade of gold-worker and jeweler with an uncle. Mr. Strickland has a large and attractively arranged stock in the drug store of Dickinson & Trayser.

ANTHONY TRAYSER, druggist, New London; is a son of Louis Trayser, one of the first Germans to locate in Milwaukee, Wis., with a family ; he was a pioneer hotel keeper, managing the Little Hotel, corner Martin and Market streets. Anthony Tray- ser was born in Milwaukee, in December, 1841; his youth was a hard and unremitting struggle with poverty, and owing to the misfortunes of this family, his school facilities were abridged to a great extent; at four years of age, the kick of a horse tore away about half the skull forming the forehead, in consequence of which, he lay in a state of almost total coma for three years ; his recovery, however, was complete. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, 24th W. V. I .; participated in the battles of Stone River and Perryville, besides lesser disputes; in 1868, he came to New London, and for two years was in the photographing business ; for about a year, he was an owner of the planing mill here; then bought out the interest of and succeeded Dr. Dickinson in the drug business, firm of Dickinson & Trayser. Mr. Trayser mar- ried Augusta Andrews, then a teacher in New London. They lost their first-born child, and have two living sons.

J. H. WHITFORD, proprietor of the City Drug Store, New London ; is of New England parentage, and was born at Grass Lake, Mich .; soon after, the family went to Kansas, and from there to Dakota Co., Minn, where the parents still reside. J. H. Whitford learned his business in Omro, Wis., and in August, 1878, came to New London ; clerked for R. N. Roberts until Nov. 1, 1879, when he bought him out. Mr. Whitford carries a full line of everything pertaining to the drug business, and is prosper- ing. His wife was Carrie Swan, of New London.

NORTHPORT.

This village, whose population is 356, is situated in the northern part of the town of Mukwa, on the Wolf River, three miles below New London by land, and four by steam- er. It contains a graded school, two general stores, black- smith and wagon shops, a hotel, shoe shops, meat shops and other equipments for comfortable living. There was a disposi- tion to give the place various names, but its present cognomen was settled upon because the village is the most northerly point below the month of Embarrass. The first settler was a bachelor named Stevens, for whom the burg was afterward called Stevens' Point. William Patrick was the next settler, early in 1851. Alden Humes and Elijah, his father, came in 1851, latter dying in April, 1880. The son is now the oldest settler in the village. The name, Stevens' Point, was changed to New Boston when the village was platted by J. A. Stoddard and S. Burbank, in 1855. The latter chris- tened it in turn Northport. For several years, up to 1857, most of the settlers were Irish, with the exception of a few from New England. Patrick built a warehouse which stood for several years, only to shelter many of his countrymen who came to Northport from the old country for the pur- poses of settlement. The most noteworthy establishments of Northport are the stave factory and steam saw-mill. The former dates back to 1865, the mill being erected by Isaac Brown in 1873. Both manufactories are owned by him. and from 75 to 100 men employed, both indoors and on the

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

river. During 1881, he manufactured 6.000,000 feet of ular and satisfactory, and hope soon to raise the entire hard lumber into wheel and frame material for wagons, bar- vesters, reapers, ete .: a large business is also done in the manufacture of staves, healings, shingles and lath. The substantial draw-bridge across the Wolf was built in 1874. In 1857, a Roman Catholic Church was built, but was burned four years later, and the present structure erected in 1866. The Methodist Church was built in 1864. North- port Lodge, No. 299, I. O. O. F., is the chief local society.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ISAAC BROWN, manufacturer, Northport, was born in Union, Tolland Co., Conn., 1825; was for a time in the mercan- tile business; came to Northport from Connecticut in 1859; opened a small store and sold, perhaps, $3 or $4 worth of goods per day for a few years. The growth of his trade, however, was proportionate with that of the lumber interests here, finally rising as high as 8400 to $600 per day. Mr. Brown began the lumber business himself in 1865, having previously engaged in real estate dealing; his large saw-mill was built in 1873; it is supplied with a sixty-horse power engine, and gives employment to over thirty men. Ilere is manufactured nearly all the wood work used in the building of wagons, reapers, harvesters, seeders, harrows, cul- tivators, bedsteads, etc .; white and red oak and rock maple are principally used; a million and a half feet of this hard lumber will be cut here during 1881. Mr. Brown supplies the large seeder works at Fond du Lac, Horicon and Beaver Dam ; he also manufactures, on a large scale, railroad ties, bridge timber, lath, shingles, etc .; he also owns a stave factory here, in which are twenty male and female employes; basswood staves and red oak headings are made here. A commodious warchouse stands on the bank of the Wolf, down which river thousands of feet of his lumber are shipped. In addition to his large manufacturing inter- ests here, he runs a general feed store and a 200-acre farm, besides owning 600 acres of timber in the Wolf and Wisconsin River Valleys.

WEYAUWEGA.

The town of this name is situated west of Caledonia and Fremont and east of Lind. Its first settlers were Henry Tourtelotte, Amos Dodge and M. Lewis, who located in the year 1848. Upon the organization of the town in 1851, the following officers were elected : C. L. Gumaer, Chair- man ; Melza Parker and Carr Barker, Supervisors; A. W. Potter, Town Clerk ; Warren Jenny, Treasurer. The first school was taught by Miss Chandler in a shanty, where the village now is, in 1850. Rev. Silas Miller, a Methodist elergyman, preached the first sermon in 1851, and three years later (1854) the Presbyterians erected the first church, situated in the village of Weyauwega. Benjamin Birdsell became the first Postmaster in Weyauwega, during the year 1850. In the same year Robert Baxter built the first hotel, and in 1851 A. Tibbets erected the Weyauwega Ilouse. The present Tarbell House was started by Robert Baxter and Charles Hare in the fall of 1851. In the spring of 1850, C. E. Gumaer started the first store, the veteran saw mill having been erected by Messrs. Townsend, Powell & Lincoln in 1848-49, at Evanswood.

The village of Weyauwega is located on the Wanpaca River, three miles from its junction with the Wolf, twelve miles (as the crow flies) from New London, and more than twice that distance by way of Gill's Landing and the Wolf. It is on the line of the Wisconsin Central road, to aid which it burdened itself with a large debt, which has deterred many from investing money in real estate or busi- ness enterprises. Its merchants, however, report sales reg-

weight from the shoulders of the village and the town. Since passing through the winter of 1855, they consider hard times-the genuine article-as past. That season seemed to be some such winter as that of 1880-81. The snow was late in disappearing, and the annual visitation of suckers in the Waupaca River was delayed. In April the ice went out, and the inhabitants made a break for the dam. After waiting several days-ten days-the fasting became monotonous. Saturday came-the night of that day. Sen- tinels were posted, still no suckers. On Sunday morning, so the story goes. the people gathered in a log house on the hill, and the preacher prayed for relief to be quickly sue- cored in their present misery. The audience all gave a hearty "Amen," and at 11 o'clock, Cole Rector, a long- haired, illiterate enthusiast, rushed up the street shouting, "Suckers has come! Suckers has come!" The benediction was never pronounced at that meeting. The famine siege had been raised, and preacher and congregation seized what they could-anything to hold suckers with-and broke pell-mell for the dam. That season of fasting and prayer will be long remembered by old settlers of the Weyauwega region, and it was no joke in 1855.

But Weyauwega must be treated as it is. The village has five churches -- Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Ger- man Lutheran and Catholic. The societies are not strong, and some of them are without settled pastors. There is one graded village school, James Melville, Principal. Weyau- wega has two organized lodges -- No. 82, A., F. & A. M., and No. 77, I. O. O. F. Its only newspaper, the Chronicle, is published by a veteran in the profession, J. C. Keeney. The first paper was the Weyauwegian, published in July, 1855, William C. Tompkins, editor ; next came the Herald, then the Times, published eight years by F. W. Sackett ; and the Chronicle, an independent journal, the first number of which was issued in March, 1877. One bank, Weed, Gumaer & Co., proprietors, accommodates the villagers, while among the foremost of her people engaged in general merchandise are H. W. Potter & Co., Jerome Crocker, W. A. Weisbrod, William Woods and E. Hennig. W. F. Waterhouse and John Fordyce are its prominent lawyers; its physicians, Drs. F. E. Walbridge, J. S. Walbridge and J. F. Corbett. Its only foundry and machine shop is owned by John Whitney. In addition, the village has a number of black- smith shops, wheelwright and shoe shops, and two small breweries, operated by Joseph Duerr and George Greil. The Postmaster of the village is Francis A. Brackett.

The most important business enterprise of Weyauwega is, without doubt, the flouring and saw mills, under control of the Weed & Gumaer Manufacturing Company. The origin of the latter is traced back to 1848, when Amos Dodge, James Hicks, M. Lewis and II. Tourtelotte obtained possession of the fine water power, building a dam and mill during the next year. Financial embarrassments. however, made it necessary for these parties to sell out their interests to Jacob Weed and Benjamin Birdsell. W. G. Gumaer, who had been a partner of Mr. Weed at Oshkosh, bought an interest in the fall of 1851, Louis Bostedo becoming connected with the property during the same year. Messrs. Weed, Birdsell & Co. next built the present flouring mill in 1855-56, the original cost of building. machinery, etc., being $20,000. Mr. Birdsell withdrawing, the firm was dissolved in 1860, and that of Weed, Gumaer & Co. was formed. That gentleman, however, retained the saw-mi

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HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.

and three-eighths of the water-power, but subsequently disposed of his interest to Mr. Steinberg, the latter selling out in turn to W. F. Waterhouse. The former built a flouring-mill and distillery, which were burned about nine years ago. The paper-mill crected on the ruins suffered the same fate in February, 1879. It should be stated, however, that Jacob Weed died in 1867, his only son, W. H., succeeding him four years later, when the present company was organized under the name of the Weed & Gumaer Manufacturing Company. In 1880, Mr. Waterhouse sold out to the company. L. Bostedo sold out to his son, A. L., in 1865, the latter disposing of his interest to the company in 1880. The flouring-mill is a plain, substantial wooden structure, three stories and a half in height, with basement, having five run of stone, and a capacity of one hundred barrels per day. The product is shipped all over the State, much of it going to Shawano County and other sections along the line of the Wisconsin Central. The saw-mill, erected in 1860, turns out some 4,000,000 fect of lumber per annum. At both establishments about thirty men are employed.

The leading hotel in Weyauwega is the Tarbell House, originally started by Robert Baxter and Charles Hare in the fall of 1851. Mr. Tarbell came into possession in 1867. H. W. Potter & Co., present proprietors, have had charge of the hotel for two years. It is a large, airy, four-story structure-in fact, somewhat beyond the wants of the vil- lage. Its original cost was $6,000; improvements made since, $3,000. The American House, proprietor, August Schroeder, comprises, as a portion of itself, the building erected by Robert Baxter, the first hotel in the village. Additions have since been made, so that the house will accommodate some thirty guests. Mr. Schroeder is an old settler, having lived in the county since 1858, first locating in the town of Lind.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM BAUER, furniture dealer, Weyauwega; born 1838, in the province of Saxony, Germany. Learned his trade in Ranis, Germany, and for nine years traveled from one German city to another ; came to America and Weyauwega in 1866, be- ginning his present business July 1, 1866. He employs two hands, and deals in everything in the line of furniture and under- taking, also dealing in pianos and sewing-machines. Mr. Bauer married in Weyauwega, Hannah Beuke, a native of Pommen, Prussia. They have five children, all born in Weyauwega. Mr. Bauer is an Odd Fellow.

JEROME CROCKER, merchant and manufacturer, Weyan- wega ; born Oct. 11, 1824, Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y .; grew up on his father's farm. In 1846, he went to Peru, Ind., and elerked ten years for one house in that city. From 1856 to 1859, he was in the employ of a mining company in California. During 1859, he came to Weyauwega and has, since 1871, carried on mercantile business in his present store; prior to that he occupied the adjoining store. He married Aug. 9, 1864, in Silver Creek, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Miss Helen M. Tew, a native of James- town, N. Y .; she died Oct. 12, 1879. Besides his mercantile and farming interests, Mr. Croeker is the owner of the saw-mill and factory occupied by the Evanswood Manufacturing Company. The company was formed in November, 1880, comprising Messrs. Jerome Crocker, George Phillips, W. E. Hinchey and Fitz Phil- lips. The object of the meeting is the manufacture of corn bas- kets ; fifteen hands are employed, and thirty dozen baskets per day made. The factory is the well known old Mack saw-mill and washing-machine factory, on Little River ; the only factory of a similar character in America, is in Perrysville, N. Y. All the

above named firm except Mr. Crocker have had practical experi- ence in the Perrysville establishment. Mr. Hinchey has already invented several cutting and compressing machines, which are greatly increasing the facilities for the cheap and rapid manufact- ure of baskets by the Evanswood Company. Evanswood is a hamlet named in honor of Evan Townsend, an early settler.

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Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052