The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 105

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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The first birth was that of a son, Ira, to Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Wilcox, April 17, 1841. The second was that of J. N. Ackerman's daughter, Marian A., in October, 1843.

The first death was that of a boy named Town, which occurred at his father's house. At Mr. Town's " barn-raising" a pail of whisky was set out for the men, and the boy, unnoticed, drank so freely of it that he soon after died.

The first frame building was a barn built by John N. Ackerman in 1843. The next two were Mr. Ackerman's residence and a building erected by Seymour Wilcox, where the Exchange Hotel stands.

The first railroad train reached Waupun February 15, 1856.

The first church building was erected by the Baptists in 1849.

GROWTH OF WAUPUN.

The first settlement in what is now the city of Waupun was made, as we have seen, in 1839, at which time Seymour Wilcox, perceiving that here was a water power on the west branch of Rock River-then a stream of considerable size-combined with other natural advantages, determined to locate at this point, and, in that year, removed with his family from Green Bay and became the first settler and founder of what has since become a beautiful and flourishing young city. At the same time, Hiram Walker and John N. Ackerman, attracted by the reports brought to Green Bay by Mr. Wilcox, were induced to accompany him and settle at this place, where Mr. Ackerman still resides on the farm originally entered by him, having lived to see the silence of the prairie where he had chosen to build his home give place to a community of happy settlers, again changing to a thriving village, and, again touched by the wand of progress, trans- formed into a busy and ambitious little city, of which he had the honor of becoming the first Mayor.

In these early days, the location of but a few families in one locality was necessary to form a nucleus for others, and, in this case, but few years had passed before a small store was opened, a mill erected, and it became evident that a village must eventually grow up. To facilitate that result, Mr. Ackerman, in 1846, laid out into village lots, platted and recorded as the village of Waupnn, about ten acres of land on the southeast corner of Section 31, in the town of Wau- pun, Fond du Lac County, since known as the " upper town." The year following, Mr. Wil- cox, whose farm lay about three-quarters of a mile to the eastward, unwilling to see the pros- pective village grow up without sharing in its benefits, proceeded, with others, to lay out and plat into village lots about fifty acres of land, lying across the county line, partly in Dodge and partly in Fond du Lac County, and called their village East Waupun. Then commenced a lively but friendly contest between the rival villages, to determine which should be the future city. This rivalry continued until the location of the Wisconsin State Prison, adjoining East Waupun, in 1851, and the completion, to this point, of the Milwaukee & Horicon, now the Northern Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, in the year 1856. These events practically settled the question, and the "upper town " reluctantly submitted to the inev- itable, and, in 1857, the rival villages were united, under the name of the village of Wanpun, by a special charter, granted by the Legislature, and approved March 6, 1857. By this act, the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 4, the north half of Section 5, and the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 6, taken from the town of Chester, in Dodge County, and the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 31, the south half of Section 32, and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 33, taken from the town of Waupun, in Fond du Lac County, was incorporated. The village lying thus in two counties, special provisions were required and granted in the charter, among which, jurisdiction in both Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties was conferred upon Justices of the Peace. and the Village Marshal was given authority to serve process in both counties.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The growth of the place had been so rapid, that at the first charter election in April, 1857, three hundred and twenty-three votes were cast, indicating a population of over sixteen hundred.

In 1858, and again in 1865, the charter was amended to provide inore fully for laying out and opening new streets. In 1871, the original charter, with its amendments, was revised and consolidated by an act of the Legislature, approved March 21, 1871.

The steady growth of the place was such, that in 1878 it was considered advisable to incor- porate as a city, with a charter entirely re-written, adapted to the peculiar geographical situation of the place. A city charter was accordingly granted March 5, 1878, including within the city limits additional territory, the residents of which, having observed the economy and good judg- ment displayed in the management of theaffairs of the village, desired the advantages to be derived ed from a city rather than a town government. This additional territory was taken partly from each county. The southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 4, and the north half of the south half of Section 5, a total of 200 acres taken from the town of Chester, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 23, from the town of Waupun.

The growth of Waupun has been steady and constant from the beginning. Very few com- mercial failures have intervened, to retard its general prosperity. Its business men have, as a rule, been honorable and enterprising tradesmen. Its professional men and other citizens have generally been public spirited and liberal in everything tending to build up the place. The tone of its society and government was originally imparted, and has since been maintained, by the sound judgment and strict integrity of its carlier citizens, many of whom still remain promi- nent and influential in social and business affairs, among whom W. H. Taylor, who came in 1846, Dr. H. L. Butterfield, Eli Hooker, Edwin Hillyer and B. B. Baldwin, in 1847, John Bryce, M. K. Dahl and R. L. Graham, in 1849, and M. J. Althouse, about 1853, have done much in giving direction to the management of affairs, and making the city what it now is, while many other useful and valuable citizens, who were among the first to come, having per- formed their full share of the builders' work, have crossed the river to their homes upon the other shore.

The prudent and conservative policy pursued by its earlier citizens has produced its natural result. No municipal debt has ever been created, and while Waupun possesses superior railroad facilities-both the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago & North-Western Railways competing for its trade-and has a thoroughly equipped fire department, and all necessary build- ings for a city of its size, it is entirely free from debt, and by the terms of its charter must ever remain so. Its numerous churches, schools, fine business establishments, elegant private resi- dences, and valuable public library of about 3,000 volumes, together with its general healthful- ness and the natural beauty of its situation, are constantly attracting new residents to aid in its further development. The name is in itself suggestive. The Indian word " Waubun" signi- fying " early light," changed to Waupun is emblematically represented by a device on the seal of the city, showing the sun just rising over a low range of hills, which may well be taken to represent the well-known "ledge" which lies a few miles to the eastward.

VILLAGE AND CITY OFFICERS, 1857-1879.

1857-J. Look, President; Ira Hill, Treasurer; Cromwell Laithe, Marshal; W. II. Tay- lor, Clerk ; A. P. Phelps, Street Commissioner.

1858-L. P. Preston, President; T. B. Moore, Treasurer; Phelps Moore, Marshal ; Eli Hooker, Clerk; William Ware, Street Commissioner.

1859-T. Carpenter, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; F. Hamilton, Marshal; Eli Hooker, Clerk; D. E. Dingman, Street Commissioner.

1860-J. N. Ackerman, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; A. A. Greenman, Marshal ; W. II. Taylor, Clerk ; D. E. Dingman, Street Commissioner.

1861-A. H. Rounseville, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; A. A. Greenman, Mar- shal; Eli Hooker, Clerk; George V. Ackerman, Street Commissioner.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

1862-George Wirt, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; J. T. Bennett, Marshal ; W. H. Taylor, Clerk; D. E. Dingman, Street Commissioner.

1863-T. W. Markle, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; A. J. Spear, Marshal; W. H. Taylor, Clerk ; A. A. Greenman, Street Commissioner.

1864-D. P. Norton, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; A. J. Spear, Marshal; W. H. Taylor, Clerk; A. A. Greenman, Street Commissioner.

1865-John Ware, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; A. B. Kimball, Marshal ; L. B. Hills, Clerk ; A. A. Greenman, Street Commissioner.

1866-George W. Bly, President; R. W. Wells, Treasurer; A. B. Kimball, Marshal ; John Ware, Clerk ; F. W. Stewart, Street Commissioner.

1867-G. W. Stanton, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; J. B. C. Drew. Clerk ; T. W. Markle, Street Commissioner.

1868-A. Robinson, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; W. H. Taylor, Clerk ; J. L. Sargent, Street Commissioner.

1869-Charles Jones, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; W. H. Taylor, Clerk ; D. C. Brooks, Street Commissioner.

1870-George W. Bly, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; W. H. Taylor, Clerk ; D. C. Brooks, Street Commissioner.

1871-D. P. Norton, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; S. Heath, Marshal ; W. H. Taylor, Clerk ; J. L. Sargent, Street Commissioner.

1872-J. N. Ackerman, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; S. Heath, Marshal ; C. W. Henning, Clerk ; D. C. Brooks, Street Commissioner.

1873-M. J. Althouse, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; S. Heath, Marshal; C. W. Henning, Clerk ; D. P. Norton, Street Commissioner.

1874-M. K. Dahl, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; C. W. Henning, Clerk ; A. G. Pierce, Street Commissioner.

1875-George W. Stanton, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; C. W. Henning, Clerk ; D. C. Brooks, Street Commissioner.

1876-M. K. Dahl, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; S. Heath, Marshal; C. W. Henning, Clerk ; D. C. Brooks, Street Commissioner.

1877-George W. Stanton, President ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; W. H. Taylor, Clerk; Charles Graves, Street Commissioner.

1878-Under the city government-John N. Ackerman, Mayor : R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; S. J. Sumner, Clerk ; A. Colburn, Street Commissioner.

1879-George Jess, Mayor ; R. W. Wells, Treasurer ; Simon Heath, Marshal ; S. J. Sumner, Clerk : Charles Graves, Street Commissioner.

A REMINISCENCE. [BY A PIONEER, 1878.]

" It was in the summer of 1844 that I, for the first time, set my eyes on the broad prairies and pleasant openings of Waupun. Beautiful indeed was the panorama which greeted my sight. The landscape was then covered with a luxuriant growth of vegetation, the greater part of which was new and strange to me. Wild flowers of every shade and color that fancy could paint or imagination conceive were blooming on every hand, richly contrasted by the tall prairie grass, which in wild luxuriance was waving in the gentle breezes of that balmy summer after- noon. You may imagine, but can scarcely realize, with what rapture and delight I gazed on the lovely scene. Coming as I did from the bleak and rugged hills of the Empire State, it seemed to me more like a vision of fairy-land than it did a reality before me.

" The road on which I came from Watertown led past Oak Grove to Waupun. The scene as I came upon Rolling Prairie was beautiful indeed. Far away before me stretched the prairie, rolling in gentle undulations until the outlines were lost against the dark green forest. The prairie grass was broken into billows by the breeze and it looked like a sea of emerald.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

" No habitation was in sight ; but once or twice I caught a glimpse of a settler's cabin nestled far away on the borders of the prairie, or the blue smoke ascending heavenward marked the home of the pioneer. As I entered the openings on the Waupun road, no sound disturbed the scene, save now and then the whir of the prairie-hen as she arose into the air, or the shrill whistle of the plover, or the more harsh notes of the sand-hill crane might be heard in the distance. The first house I passed was on the farm now owned by Mr. Cole, then owned by a man by the name of Mickle. I called at the door for a drink of water and to inquire the distance to Wau- pun. He sat playing on his flute, reminding one of the Arkansas traveler. I was told it was five miles to Waupun.

" The next cabin I passed was occupied by a man known as Bach Davis, standing near where Mr. Bancroft's residence now is. As I came near where the prison now stands there was a cultivated field on either hand which extended down to where Main street now is. As I came down Prison street, I caught sight of a log house on the south bank of the river, which I found to be a hotel kept by Mr. Wilcox, where the hungry were fed, where the weary found rest and where strangers were taken in.

"Most of what is now the village of Waupun was not as yet broken by the plow of the husbandman. Mr. William McElroy was living in a small house, on the site where Mr. C. J. Bush now resides. Mr. Collins still lived a little farther west, and Col. Lyman Town lived near by. Esq. Ackerman and Esq. Hinkley were then both residing on the Walker place oppo- site and a little farther west from where Mr. Stanton's elevator now stands. These, together with old Elder Smith and a son-in-law by the name of Hooker, constituted the entire popula- tion of what is now the village of Wanpun. There were but five families in the town of Wau- pun. A man by the name of White was living on the farm now owned by Mr. Atwood, near Willow Creek. Mr. L. P. Preston then resided where Mr. Gee's house now stands, opposite the old slaughter-house, while Mr. Hawley then owned the farm now owned by Mr. Merriam. Jedediah Amadon had built his cabin on the land now owned by Mr. Ichabod Franklin. A Mr. Gould had built a house on the Corrigan place. The next house on the Fond du Lac road was about three miles beyond the east branch of Rock River, or about eight miles from this place.

" In the town of Chester, Mr. N. J. Newton then owned the farm that now belongs to his heirs, and Mr. Lyman Barrows then lived on the Sumner farm, and there were a few more set- tlers in that town. With these few exceptions, Waupun and the most of Chester presented to the eye an unbroken scene of timber, prairie, openings and meadow lands, which could be bought for $1.25 per acre.

"The nearest physician was at Fox Lake on the west and Fond du Lac on the east. There was no lawyer to stir up strife and litigation between neighbors. We had but one min- ister, and he was good, for he taught the people to do as they should. The United States mail was then carried on horseback from Fond du Lac to Portage and back once a week, by Mr. Wilcox. His boy would go to Fond du Lac and get it on Tuesday and back home : then take it to Portage Wednesday and back Thursday, then take it to Fond du Lac Friday ; and if we got a letter from friends in the East, it would take from ten to fifteen days, and would cost 25 cents. which was no small sum at that time. Esq. Hinkley was then Postmaster.

" Having given you a sketch of the carly white settlement, let us turn for a few moments to the aborigines. It was no uncommon sight to see a band of Indians with their squaws, papooses and ponies traveling through the country, or to see their wigwams at their favorite camp- ing grounds, or to hear the tinkle of the bells on their ponies on a still night. On a beautiful elevation on the west side of the east branch of Rock River, about sixty rods north from where Mr. Zolloner's mill now stands, was the remains of an old French trading-post. known as Scalp Village. A fine spring of pure water issued from the bank and flowed into the river, but is now submerged by the mill-pond. A deep, worn path led from the village to the spring. The ground for some distance around the village was literally covered with bones of deer and other game that had been slain to provide food for the red man. Still further back from the river,

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

scattered here and there among the rolling burr-oak openings, were a number of Indian graves, each being protected by a miniature log house, or what more resembled the second floor of a pioneer cabin, covered with shakes as the pioneer covers his, the top being about three feet high. But the plow and the ax of the white man have swept them all away, and naught is left to mark the spot where the red man sleeps his last sleep. About half a mile west from this village, was the Indian planting-ground, or cornfields, on lands owned by Mr. Dean and Mr. Hillebert. And about three-quarters of a mile southwest, on the lands now owned by Mr. Oleson, was the Indian sugar-buslı, or sugar-camp, and from the scars the trees bore, it had evidently been used as such for many a year. From this village an Indian trail ran up the river, crossing at the place where the Fond du Lac road crosses, thence to Fond du Lac. The trails were the Indian roads lead- ing from one trading-post to another, or from one favorite camping-ground to another, and were often worn four or six inches deep. The second trail ran in a northwesterly direction, crossing the river on the rapids above the place known as the Sheldon deep hole, and thence through the grove and near the large oak (that one of our village lawyers in his early practice addressed with great force of eloquence as an imaginary Judge), thence through this village to Fox Lake. The fourth led in a northwesterly direction, near Mr. George Wells' residence, to Green Lake. Near this trail, on lands owned by Mr. Carpenter, on the south bank of what was then a small stream or brook, lay scattered here and there among the tall grass a number of human skele- tons : who they were, or by what means they came to their death, is not known. Probably they fell in battle.'

CHURCHES.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. - The Catholics of Waupun were first attended, as a mission, by Rev. James Roch, from Fox Lake, 1850 to 1853. Then by Rev. R. Dumphy, from Fox Lake, to 1855. Next by Rev. J. IIaly, from Fox Lake, to 1856. Afterward by Rev. Louis Daily, from Fond du Lac, to 1858 ; followed by Rev. J. Morris, who built the present church in 1862, and attended it as a mission from Fox Lake, to 1863. Next attended as a mission by Rev. J. Smith, from Fox Lake, to 1865. Then attended as a mission by Rev. W. Doherty, from Fox Lake, to 1867. Next came Rev. G. T. Willard, first resident Pastor. Father Willard remained until 1869 : added twenty feet to the old church. Then came, as resident Pastor, Rev. M. Hanna, who left November, 1870. The present Pastor, Rev. J. Smith, has resided here for the last nine years, and built the tower and steeple, making the church 80x30. Father Smith has presented the church with a bell weighing 1,350 pounds. It is now a very nice, convenient church, with a fine pastoral residence, has two lots nicely ornamented with trees and shrubbery, and all paid for. Rev. Joseph Smith, Pastor, is also Catholic Chaplain to the State Penitentiary for the last nine years. The Church numbers fifty-three families.

First Congregational Church .- In July, 1845, a Church of ten members was organized in Waupun, by Rev. Stephen Peet. Of this Church Joel Norton was chosen Deacon, and Barnabas Hinkley, Clerk.

In September following its organization, the services of Rev. E. S. Peck were secured on alternate Sabbaths for one year. Services were held in the schoolhouse.

It would naturally be expected that those who differ only in their answer to the question whether one is more effectually rendered " clean every whit," by the symbolical application of water to the whole surface of the body than to a part, while agreeing in their views of church government, and on all doctrinal points, as perfectly as do the Baptists and Congregationalists, would co-operate in efforts to advance a common cause ; and we accordingly find these two branches so drawn together that the bonds uniting Baptist and Congregationalist almost equal in strength those binding Baptist to Baptist. At times, Congregationalists have joined with Baptists in sustaining a Baptist preacher, and sometimes the reverse.

After the termination of Mr. Peck's labors, the services of Rev. Mr. Murphy, a Baptist clergyman, were secured.

WAUPUN. Fitt, Pickleshalf

705

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

In 1850. the Congregational society took measures to secure the erection of a house of worship. A house costing about $1,000 was accordingly built, to which an addition has since been made, not increasing the perfection of its architectural proportions, but increasing its capacity and affording a place of meeting which to those who mect seems homelike.

The pulpit has been occupied for periods of five years or more each by Revs. Mr. Ashman, Mr. Williams and Mr. Darling. The services also of Revs. Mr. Bradford (two years). Mr. Blake (one year), Mr. Benson (two years), and specially of Mr. Marble (two years), will not soon be forgotten.

Believing that " prevention is better than cure ;" that it is better to keep out of the ditch than to wash off its filth : to start the young in a virtuous course of life, than to reclaim them from a vicious course when fallen, the Congregational Church has given prominence to its Sabbath school. And although other organizations may, perhaps justly, boast of surpassing it in efforts to relieve distress, it is not admitted that it has been surpassed in efforts to prevent dis- tress. The successive Superintendents of the school have been C. C. Bayley, Josiah Drum- mond. L. B. Hills, Abijah Hubbard, Edwin Judd, Martin Short, Edwin Hillyer and John Bryce.

The number connected with the school at present is about one hundred and twenty-five, not differing very much from the number of members of the Church.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- As Methodism has always been progressive in its nature, and always among the first to plant the standard of Gospel liberty in new countries, there has been no exception to this rule in Waupun, but, to give its history, we must go back to the first settle- ment of the country, and trace its working, along down to the present time.

As early as the year 1844, a class was formed in what was then called the Upper Town, consisting of the family of the Rev. Silas Miller, Eunice Miller, Henry L. Hillyar, Malvina Hillyar, Ezekiel T. Miller and Weston G. Miller (now Dr. Miller), six persons in all. The Doctor says this band consisted of three officers and three privates ; his father was the local preacher, his brother the class-leader, and he the exhorter ; his mother, sister and sister's husband were the members.

During the same year, the Rev. Samuel Smith, an aged local preacher, and father of the Rev. Charles Smith, settled with his family in Waupun, and held religious services in private dwellings. whenever convenient. Father Smith and family soon identified themselves with the little class, and became efficient laborers in the Lord's vineyard. At the same time, the class was made stronger by the addition of Dr. Brooks Bowman and wife. Others were added during the year, including S. J. Mattoon and Mr. and Mrs. S. A. L. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Sex- mith, and Mrs. F. F. Davis, the class now numbering twenty-two members. A building had been erected by the contributions of the people in the village and the country adjacent, for the purpose of a chapel and a schoolhouse, in which regular services were held, both morning and evening, and the Lord poured out His Spirit upon the people abundantly. The eldest daugh- ter of Dr. Bowman, as the first trophy of grace, was converted. Other conversions followed, and in a short time the number increased to twenty ; among them were W. G. McElroy and wife, and several others who became leading and influential members of the Church in Waupun, many of whom have gone home to reap their reward in heaven ; but the Master has not left himself without others to take their places.

Thus the work went on for some years, growing in interest, as might have been expected under the able administration of such ministers as the Rev. J. S. Prescott, Rev. S. B. Tharp, Rev. William II. Thompson and Rev. William Shraff, until it became evident that schoolhouses and private dwellings would no longer accommodate the people.

During the winter of 1854, it was decided to build a church. A site was secured, the materiał was provided, and during the next summer, under the administration of the Rev. James Lawson, a building was erected and dedicated to the service of God. A revival soon fol- lowed, and the interest increased so that, in a short time, it was found necessary to add a num- ber of feet to the length of the building : in addition to the andience-room, it is furnished with two large classrooms.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 105

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082