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 274

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 274

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FROM "ATHENS" TO "OSHKOSH."

When the county of Winnebago was created, in January, 1840, Webster Stanley's tavern, or honse, was made the political center. All the elections were held here. Embryo politicians gathered here, and upon this spot was discussed with much heat and some bitterness the possibility of fet- tering, and perhaps strangling, the brisk Sauk-eer settle- ment, with any one of a dozen names which were proposed for the new post office Robert Grignon and William Powell, interested as traders in retaining the good will of the Indians, insisted that the village should be named in honor of Oshkosh or Os-Kosh, the Menomonee chief, who had, moreover, befriended the whites from the earliest days. And many of them remembered how, even after the Menom- onces had relinguished their title to the lands, the brave chief and his tribe would, at planting time, pitch their wig- wams along the lake shore toward Merton's Point, and that Oshkosh would often linger around his old haunts as if thinking of the days of his boyhood, before the sword and the ax and the brain of the white man had invaded his hunting and fishing grounds. The proposition of Grignon

and Powell was strongly supported by those who wished to retain a stamp of these early associations in the name Osh- kosh, and firmly resisted by those who wished, either to cut clear from them or to have a more classic name chosen. John P. Gallup insisted " Athens," and he had his friends. The Evanses were the leaders in the race for " Galeopolis." The Wrights were the champions of " Osceola." "Fairview" and "Stanford," had their advocates. Finally, in the fall of 1840, universal suffrage was proclaimed and every man, woman and child, Indian, half-breed and white, who took an interest in naming the settlement, assembled at the "living room" of Squire Wright's house, elected him Chairman of the meeting, and proceeded to settle the matter for all time. Robert Grignon heading a phalanx of half-breeds and Indi- ans, was eloquently supported by William Powell and several other old settlers. Oshkosh carried the day, and the post office became thus known to Uncle Sam. The last chief of the Menomonees, ever afterward, took a fatherly interest in the growth of the village and the city, and upon his visits to Oshkosh was treated with consideration and kindness. But, like others of his race, his blood leaped to madness under the influence of fire water, and his death occurred at Keshena, the principal village of the Menomonee reservation, August 29, 1856, as the result of a fierce and drunken brawl. Oshkosh was born in 1795, at Point Bass (Wood County), and was therefore, in his 64th year at the time of his death. Thus it is that the naming of Oshkosh and the founding of Oshkosh, are both to be placed to the credit of an Indian ; for when Webster Stanley, the founder of the city, was living with the Gallups at Medina, Ohio, there moved into the neighborhood a farmer, whose wild son had joined the army, then being stationed at Fort Howard, and afterward married a Stockbridge wife. Like many of that tribe, she was remarkably intelligent and attractive, well educated, and possessed of a talent for graphic word painting. Her descriptions of the wealth and beauty of the Fox River Valley charmed the two families to their homes in Wiscon- sin, and made them the founders of its second city.

There has been some dispute as to what the name Osh- kosh or Os Kosh (as it should be pronounced) really signifies. It has generally been translated brave; in the Chippewa dialect, " hoof," and some Indian linguists have even gone so far as to debase the name to "toe-nail." But what's in a name-except that a name be given.

Oshkosh now had a name and a Postmaster in the person of John P. Gallup. Chester Ford received the contract for carrying the mail between Fond du Lac, via Oshkosh, and Wrightstown, a route of fifty miles. The trips were made on horseback, and it is on record that Mr. Ford's first mail onsisted of one letter and one newspaper carried in his coat pocket.

From 1839 to 1842, the settlement was quite largely in- creased in numbers, among others, coming Stephen and Samuel Brooks, Clark Dickenson, and W. C. Isbell. By 1843, the settlement had commenced to draw upon the pineries of the North, and several rafts of logs had been floated down from the Rat River, cut up by the saw-mill at Stockbridge, and then towed to Oshkosh. The first raft ran down the Wolf River came from Samuel Farnsworth's mill at Shawano, in the spring of 1842. In 1844, Winne- bago Rapids came more prominently into notice, Ilarrison Reed having purchased a large tract of the agency property from the Government, the paternal scheme for the improve- ment of the Menomonees having proved a total failure. In

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the spring of that year, 30,000 logs were sold to Mr. Reed by Daniel Whitney, having been cut on the Rat River pinery, at $2.50 per thousand. In 1845, Gov. Doty settled on the island which has retained his name. Associated with him in the control of the water-power was Curtis Reed, the brother of IIarrison. In the course of three years, ten families had settled on the Menasha side. Four mills were in operation on the Neenah side. In February, 1847, a company was formed for the improvement of the water- power, consisting of Gov. Doty and his son, Harrison and Curtis Reed, and Harvey Jones. The rivalries of the two factions, which favored either Neenah or Menasha, seriously interfered with the growth of the settlements for the next few years. In 1850, Curtis Reed obtained the contract for building the State canal on the Menasha side, but the im- provement was not completed by him. By this time, Osh- kosh had become a village of importance, its population being 1,400. Half a dozen steam saw-mills, as many planing and flour mills, and sash, door and blind factories were humming with life. General stores, and those confined to special lines were starting up in every direction, a paper had been established, a steamboat company organized, churches and schools were flourishing, and everything pointed to the city of Oshkosh. The villages and settlements near her were growing, but she had the start. Omro was platted this year (1850), and was maintaining a good foothold. It had just seen its first steamer, and built its first hotel. The Mumbrues and the Hydes were operating a hotel and a chair factory in Winneconne, which had been platted a year. Butte des Morts, Algoma, Waukau, were all alive and, perhaps, hopeful eventually of outstripping Oshkosh. This general view of the early settlements around Oshkosh has been presented so that the principal facts in the history of the country might be brought up to the date when the village commenced more than ever to grow into the dimen- sions of a wealthy and beautiful city.

OSHKOSII.

The city of Oshkosh contains a population of 17,000 people, and is located in the eastern part of Winnebago county, on Lake Winnebago and both sides of the Fox 'River. It is the great lumber mannfactory and mart in Wisconsin. The wealth of the city buds ont in solid and tasteful business houses and public buildings. Main street, on the North, and Kansas, on the South Side, are its principal business thoroughfares, while both sides of the river for several miles are packed with saw-mills, sash, door and blind factories, and manufactories of every kind. The cross streets are also alive with the energy for which Osh- kosh has become noted. The wealth and industry of the city fairly blossoms in the Fourth and Fifth Wards, in the shape of beautifully improved streets and elegant residences. All her public buildings-the court house, school edifices, especially the magnificent high school building on Algoma street, post office, State Normal School, between Algoma and Elin, the Insane Asylum, north of the city limits, Ex- position building, etc., etc., reflect the material prosperity of the city. Fine churches ornament it in every direction, throwing over its material wealth an influence which goes far to make Oshkosh an attractive city home. Societies and sociability flourish here, going to make up, with the other features mentioned, one of the most growing and substantial cities of the Northwest.

Oshkosh was incorporated as a city under Chapter 118, private and local laws of 1853, March 25. On the 5th day of April, a charter was adopted by 177 majority, and Edward Eastman was elected its first Mayor. In 1856, the Legis- lature enlarged the municipal limits so as to embrace the village of Algoma. The officers for 1881 are: Mayor, Joseph Stringham ; Clerk, R. J. Harney ; Treasurer, F. B. Morgan ; City Attorney, M. H. Eaton ; Chief of Police, A. Ford; Superintendent of Schools, Geo. H. Read. The city is divided into six wards, and covers an area of nearly eight square miles. Its streets are lighted by gas. Six and a half miles of mains are laid. The works were erected by Joseph B. Davis in 1869.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The volunteer department of the village was governed by fire wardens-that is, it was so laid down in the charter. But the firemen refused, at times, to recognize the authority of these officers, and in November, 1850, a board was ap- pointed to examine into the condition of the apparatus, and judge the refractory members of the fire department. Until the organization of the paid department, however, reform and improvement was slow. The present paid fire depart- ment was organized in October, 1877, and consists of three steamers, one hand engine, hook and ladder, three hose carts and one supply cart. Thirty men comprise the force. There are four engine houses-the Phoenix Company have their headquarters on Main street, W. II. Doe Company, on High, the Brooklyn on Sixth, and the Niagara Hand En- gine Company on Main. C. S. Hasbrouck is Chief En- gineer.

THE GREAT FIRES.

Oshkosh has been so remarkably unfortunate in fires, and so unsubdued in the spirit with which she has thrice arisen from calamities which seemed almost irreparable, that a pause in her municipal history is here taken to indi- cate briefly the ordeals through which she has so bravely passed. In May, 1859, her main business street-Ferry- was swept clean of buildings on both sides for nearly a quarter of a mile. In less than half a year, Oshkosh, which then had not a third of its present population, was newly attired, and pushing itself on as before. The city met with no serious calamity again for seven years. In May, 1866, both sides of Main street, from High to Algoma, and from Waugoo to Washington, were burned ; also the north side of Washington, from Main street to Jefferson avenue. The post office was destroyed. A few months sufficed to restore this destruction. On May 9, 1874, a fire started from the lumber yard of Spalding & Peck, near the corner of Han- cock and Marion streets, and flying up to Algoma, swept away $50,000 worth of property. On July 14 (same year), a district for a mile along Upper Main and North Division streets was destroyed; but before winter set in, new and better buildings were proudly standing upon the ruins. In this fire William P. Taylor, City Treasurer, lost his life. In less than a year-April 28, 1875-the flames, seeming to remember some work undone, sprung up that afternoon in Morgan Brothers' mill, and, assisted by a gale, burned over, in the course of a few hours, the western portion of the Second Ward and the southeastern part of the First. They licked up saw mills, planing mills, machine shops. the banks, the post office, the most prominent business houses, hotels, churches, schools, the Harding Opera House, print- ing offices and private residences. The court house nar-

OSHKOSH.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

rowly escaped destruction. Main street was in ruins to the point where the ruins commenced after the conflagration of 1874. From east to west the burned district was a mile in length, and one quarter of a mile from north to south. Be- sides the business wealth which had gone up in the flames, over two hundred private residences were destroyed. The loss has been placed at $3,000,000. Two lives were lost -. an employe at Morgan Brothers, in attempting to check the fire with an extinguisher, for which purpose he had entered the burning mill, was fatally burned ; and an old man was crushed by the falling walls of the Harding Opera House. By January, 1876, over 81,000,000 had been expended in the erection of new and fire-proof buildings, and before the close of the year, scarcely a sign of the terrible visitation remained. There is hardly an important business or manu- facturing locality in the city of Oshkosh which has not been swept by fire, and sometimes repeatedly.

BECKWITH HOUSE FIRE.

This conflagration does not figure as one of the widely destructive fires to which the city has been subjected. But in loss of life it takes its solemn place as a sad casualty. At about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of December 3, 1880, while a bell boy was engaged in the lamp-room under the main stairs, a kerosene lamp exploded and the flames quick- ly spread to a dozen more standing near by. The boy ran across the hall, and, seizing some blankets, attempted to smother the fire, but the flames had gained such headway that he was driven back, and a sheet of fire shot and waved up the staircase to the rooms above. The first story of the hotel was occupied by stores, its entire inside being of wood. Out- side, the building presented a substantial appearance, being constructed of brick, with stone copings, four stories in height. The wood work inside was like tinder, and before any gen- eral alarm could be given, the whole house was in flames. Mrs. S. B. Paige, at the time the fire broke out, was sitting in her room, corner of Main and Algoma, entertaining Mrs. C. E. Harlow, a lady friend. They heard nothing of the disturbance, and were unconscious of any danger until a volume of smoke and flame shot up the staircase toward their room. There was but one other hall-way in the build- ing-that used by the servants. When the two ladies, hand in hand. attempted to escape by this passage, they were driven back, nearly smothered and burned. Mrs. Harlow raised the window of the room and looked out; it was a dizzy leap, but the crowd seeing her danger, obtained a number of blankets and held them to break the force of her fall. She jumped, and fell badly burned and insensible. Mrs. Paige was unable to get to the window, and it is sup- posed was smothered soon after her friend's narrow escape. A ladder was raised by the firemen to the window, but so confident were all that Mrs. Paige had escaped, that no one ventured into the burning building for thirty minutes there- after. The room was then entered and the body of the unfortunate woman taken out of the window and lowered to the walk by means of a rope. Just as this pitiful scene was taking place, Mr. Paige, the husband, who had been away riding. drove up, only in time to assist in bearing away the body of his dead wife. Miss Mary Hanrahan, a dining room girl, first escaped the flames, but returning to her room in search of her trunk, despite the eutreaties of her friends, was burned to death, and her body found the next morning. The night watchman, George W. Wood, asleep in his room, also perished. These casualties were

what made the Beckwith House fire a noted event in the history of Oshkosh. The hotel was built in the summer of 1875, on the site of the old Beckwith House, being 150 feet on Main, by 150 feet on Algoma. It was under the management of Sanford Beckwith.

THE FLOODS OF 1881.

The prophecies which had been made that the year 1881 would witness a second coming of the flood seemed, during the fall of that year, about to be fulfilled in Northern and Central Wisconsin. Oshkosh and Fond du Lac were especially selected for the ravages of the deluge, and for weeks were in a continual state of alarm ; not only flood but disease threatened to devastate. The winter of 1880- 81 was remarkable for the ten feet of snow which fell throughout the State, and then in early spring melted sud- denly, the water pouring in torrents into the tributaries and main streams of the Chippewa, the Black, the Wiscon- sin and the Wolf Rivers. Bridges were carried away, log- ging booms divided and their logs lost, farm lands flooded, and incalculable damage done to mills and dwelling houses,

But this article is designed to treat more particularly of the rise and disaster-dealing flow of water in the valley of the Fox. Almost continuous rains during the months of September and October so swelled everything like a tribu- tary to these streams (Upper and Lower Fox), that they rose to marvelous proportions and entailed widespread devastation. Thousands of acres of tillable lands were inundated, and outstanding crops destroyed or rendered inaccessible till frost completed the work of ruin. In the cities of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, on Lake Winnebago, people were driven from their dwellings by the inordinate rise of waters, and in the various manufacturing cities lining the Lower Fox, mills were flooded on the lower floors, bulk- heads were dislodged and broken, and in some instances factories completely despoiled of their machinery.

However, the natural rise of the Fox waters from the causes stated would hardly have entailed such wide- spread damage had the usual safe-guards been kept in force to prevent the flow of the Wisconsin River waters into the Upper Fox. Along the course of the Wisconsin, in the vicinity of Lewiston, west of Portage, is quite a stretch of lowlands which for years past have been dyked to prevent damage to the farming lands adjacent thereto, in time of freshets in that river The dyke was built and maintained by the farmers of the locality, and was a safe barrier to the overflow of the Wisconsin till the June freshet of 1880, which made a number of large fissures in the dyke, and caused much loss to the farmers of Columbia County. These fissures were filled and stopped up as inexpensively as could safely be done till the attention of the State could be called thereto. It was set forth by their representatives that Columbia County farmers alone had suffered a loss not less than $150,000 by the breaking of the dyke in the spring of 1880, and as they had long maintained it at con- siderable expense, they felt it the duty of the State to come to their assistance. Accordingly, the succeeding winter a bill was framed having that object in view, which passed both Houses of the Legislature, but when it reached the Governor for his signature to make it operative, he vetoed it on the ground that the Constitution forbids the State engaging in internal improvements. Thus balked in their efforts to keep the dyke impervious to the waters of the Wisconsin by overflow, time went by and the fall rains of

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

1881 descended and swelled the Wisconsin to flood-tide once more. The dyke was swept away almost in entirety, and thus uninterrupted the waters sped on into the Big Slough, thence into the Neenah, and finally into Lake Winnebago. The little lake rose then till, as has been stated, portions of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac Cities became inundated, and great damage was incurred to property, and much suffering wrought among the inhabitants thus driven out of their homes. Add to this the distress of next to impassable roads, and in consequence, a fuel famine staring the people of these cities in the face, and the situation was one decidedly gloomy.

As in the spring of 1852, public in lignation was directed against the dams at Neenah and Menasha. On November 2 and 3, the water in Lake Winnebago rose an inch. In Algoma the sidewalks were afloat, and there was no egress to houses except by boats. The water, in places, stood to the sills of the houses. The people in the flooded districts had been living virtually on the water. Refuse and slops were emptied at the back door, and water for cooking and drinking purposes dipped up at the front. Diphtheria commenced to appear. The mills were shut down and hundreds of workmen out of employment. For two blocks from the river the main bus- iness street was flooded. A fuel famine threatened. The citizens of Oshkosh were placed in a terrible position. A committee of relief was at once appointed, consisting of O. Cook, of Oshkosh, A. K. Hamilton, of Fond du Lac, and C. B. Clark, of Neenah, and proceeded to the latter city with a demand that an outlet be made through the dam for the escape of the rising waters. Col. Boardman, of Fond du Lac, hydraulic engineer, and Capt. Edwards, Government Engineer on the Lower Fox, also accompanied the party. The committee met finally at the Waverly House, Appleton, and Neenah agreed to construct a sluice- way in the wing dam, and open all the flumes for the pass- age of the pent-up flood. Appleton became now seriously alarmed, for she considered herself in danger of receiving a devastating flood which so far the dam at Neenah had held back. She threatened to hold the Neenah Water-Power Company responsible, if the water was let through. The Government officers were appealed to, and a stirring memo- rial address to the Secretary of War. On the 21st the sluice-way was completed, and Appleton served an injunc- tion. A delegation of citizens from Oshkosh left on a special, to see that the sluice was opened, and the posi- tion of these cities seemed really warlike. Force was not used, however, either in offense or defense, and on the 22d the gates were opened. A more complete passage was made on the 29th. This seemed to be the culmination of the disasters which had overtaken Fond du Lac and Osh- kosh, and the averting of others which threatened. The rains ceased, too, the waters commenced to lower, and the cities commenced to repair the damages. The loss to Fond du Lac and Oshkosh is placed at $800,000. A great suf ferer was the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western road, whose track was under water for several miles. The farm- ing lands adjacent to Lakes Winnebago and Butte des Morts were under water from one to five feet. But fire and flood work against fate when they attempt to break the spirit of Oshkosh.

BANKS.

In 1855, Messrs. Fletcher & Strong, under the State Banking Law, established the Oshkosh Commercial Bank.

In November, 1858, Thomas T. Reeve and Gilbert W. Roe purchased the institution, and carried on the business under the old charter until 1861. "The Commercial Bank of Oshkosh " was then chartered, and continued to be thus known until October 1, 1865, when it was re-organized as the " Commercial National Bank." Continuing under the National Bank Law until January 1, 1872, Messrs. Reeve & Roe conducted the business as private bankers, under the name "Commercial Bank of Oshkosh." It was re-organ- ized as a State Bank september 1, 1880, retaining its former name.

The Commercial Bank of Oshkosh, as stated, has been doing business under the State law since September 1, 1880. Its cash capital is $100,000; deposits, from $200,000 to $250,000; discounts, about the same. Present officers : Thomas T. Reeve, President; G. W. Roe, Vice President ; James Johnston, Leander Choate. Thomas Wall and An- drew Haben, Board of Directors ; Thomas Daly is Cashier. When Messrs. Reeve & Roe first commenced business, their deposits amounted to $10,000.

The First National Bank was organized in July, 1864, with the following Board of Directors: A. W. Kellogg (President), S. M. Hay, Philetus Sawyer, William Kellogg and Frank Leach. Rufus B. Kellogg was Cashier. The capital stock was $50,000; increased in October, 1873, to $100,000. The first statement made showed the deposits to be $112,000, and loans, $41,000. In 1865, A. W. Kellogg sold out, and, in 1869, Charles Schriber succeeded R. B. Kellogg as Cashier, they having been connected with the bank since its establishment. The present Board of Directors are: S. M. Hay (President), P. Sawyer (Vice President), J. H. Porter, Robert McMillen, Moses Hooper and R. B. Kellogg. Charles Schriber is Cashier and Sec- retary of the board. As a contrast to the first statement of the bank. is the last, made June 30, 18-1: Deposits, $963,436.81 ; loans and discounts, $653,899.70 ; surplus fund, $25,000 ; undivided profits, $28,603.06; circulation, $76,400.

The Farmers' Bank was conducted by R. C. Russell from 1868 until February, 1871, when the Union National Bank was organized and he became, and continues, its Cashier.

The Union National Bank, organized February 9, 1871, commenced business March 21, with a capital of $100,000. There has been no increase. The Board of Directors were : D. L. Libbey (President), R. P. Roberts (Vice President), J. L. Mead, Nathan Cobb, R. C. Russell, Franklin Leach, Chris Sarau, Jr., Abel Neff and E. M. Danforth. The present board consists of: D. L. Libbey (President), Eben- ezer Hubbard (Vice President) R. C. Russell, Joel L. Mead, James Chase, R. T. Morgan, J. Moore, Robert Campbell and Charles Barber. The first report of the bank, covering thirty-nine days' business, makes this ex- hibit : Individual deposits, $36,525.69 ; loans and discounts, $52,519.24. Its last report, made June 30, 1881, shows its deposits to be $367,011.13 ; loans, $393,902.68 ; surplus fund, $30,000 ; undivided profits, 822,584.61.

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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