The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 111

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

USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin > Part 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

* The first settlement of Ashford and Auburn being so near to the line now dividing the two, it is no wonder there is a dispute as to who were first settlers iu each.

738

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

just over the line in what is now Ashford. Crouch's saw-mill, the first in the vicinity, was put in motion in the fall of 1846, and did good service for the settlers. Lumber was scarce, and what was not wanted for home use brought a good price at Taycheedah. The Hemenway brothers, millwrights, first used it without roof or sides. It changed hands many times before going into disuse. In 1856, Emil Brayman purchased 160 acres including the mill, and raised the frame of the present flouring-mill. Hle failed, and the mill stood incomplete and unused until about 1863, when the Hirsch brothers finished and put it into operation. It has since changed hands several times, A. Colburn & Sons, the present proprietors, finally making it one of the best mills in the county.

New Cassel Post Office was called Auburn for many years. It was changed to New Cassel in 1856. Squire Crownhart was the first Postmaster, keeping the office in his tavern at Crown- hart's Corners. The Postmasters have been, Marion Buckland, S. C. Matteson, Seth G. Pickett, Adin Nelson, Emil Brayman. Mrs. Emil Bravman, S. Hirsch, who kept it in his mill, P. Berkhauser, David Gudex, F. M. Findeisen, and William Pool, Jr., appointed August 3, 1870.

The Baptist Church society is comparatively an old one. The first services were held in the fall of 1846, in II. Barnett's house, by Rev. H. A. Sears. In 1852 an organization was formed in the schoolhouse at the five corners, town of Auburn. R. F. Adams was elected Deacon and Clerk. In 1866, the present edifice, costing $2,200, was built under the supervision of J. E. Helmer, Henry Barnett and C. Yancy, Building Committee. The first preacher in the town, Rev. II. A. Sears, is the present Pastor. The Trustees are F. W. Tanner, President and Treas- urer ; F. Borchert, Clerk, and William Scheid.

The Evangelical Reformed Church was organized and built a log place of worship, in 1855, in the south part of Ashford. The leaders in the work were Ulrich Legler, John Senn, U. Gundel, and others. In 1867, they built the present edifice in New Cassel. The first Pastor was Rev. Reine, the present is Rev. Charles Huicker.

The Roman Catholic Church is now the richest in New Cassel. The first services were held by Father Dael, of Fond du Lac, in Owen Bannon's house. James Kramer, J. Guippe, C. Becker, O. Bannon, T. lloy, M. McCulloch and others composed the first organization. The first attempt to build a house failed. In 1866, however, the congregation having been re-organized in 1865, the church edifice was erected ; soon after, a pastoral residence was built by Father Michels. Since 1872, when Father A. Michels took charge, additions costing $1,800 have been made, the debt of $1,100 cancelled, and in 1874, St. Joseph's Convent built, at a cost of $10,000. This was erected for the Sisters of St. Francis, who numbered eighty-five. They teach a boarding-school in the Convent building, and a parochial school in a building near the church. They also teach music, needlework and all useful branches. The church numbers ninety families. A new parochial school building, 30x54 feet, two stories high, will be built during 1880.

In 1846, O. R. Potter sold the first goods in New Cassel. then Crouchville.

The Adams House was built in 1869, by Adam Holzhauer, who opened the first hotel in New Cassel, in 1856.

BYRON.

The first settlement in the town of Byron was in the year 1839; John Case and Oscar Pier, Patrick Kelley and William Stewart, selected a position and commenced the improvement of a neighborhood a little east of the middle of the north line of the town. Their location embraced a desirable variety of rich prairie, warm and fertile oak openings, and a beautiful grove of forest timber, with a small brook flowing through it. John Parsons, arriving direct from England, located upon a lot about a mile farther west. James Balson and Samuel Butler settled in this neighborhood in the fall of 1842. In the summer of 1844, John Potts, with his wife and four children, removed from the State of New York to Mound Prairie. in Byron. He set up crotches, upon which he laid long poles. He used prairie grass for a covering to this rude structure, and hung up blankets for its sides. Here he and his family were domiciled until he

WilliamBlocker

DECEASED

BRANDON.

741

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

could build a house, obtaining hands from about ten miles distant to assist in rolling up the logs. Another settlement was soon after commenced by Hiram Merriam, Jabez C. Clemens and Jonas C. Reynolds, the last mentioned arriving in November.

These pioneers on Mound Prairie, were, many of them, nearly destitute of capital when they arrived at their new homes. They were able, however, to purchase some cows, which were then very cheap in Illinois. They put their cows together for a team ; broke up the prairie land, and planted corn on the sod in the spring. They realized a good harvest, and, although they met with some inconveniences, felt they were getting rich. In 1845, Messrs. Bullock, Churchill and Roan settled in the southeasterly part of the town, and in the month following, Sumner Sweet and Joseph Nightingale came into the same neighborhood. They were joined the same season by several others. Rev. Mr. Vaughn and some friends from the county of Genesee, N. Y., settled near Oakfield, and formed what was called the " Genesee neighborhood."

The early settlers in Byron shared in all the privations and difficulties so common in new countries. They raised grain in abundance, but found it very difficult to get it ground; the few mills in this region were small and could not supply the demand. For several years the settlers went to Watertown, a distance of forty miles, to get their grinding done. The roads were bad, and they had to wait several days to get their grists. Mr. Vaughn once sent his son to mill, and told him to wait for' his "grinding ; " he was gone ten days. Mr. Reynolds once paid $14.50 for the milling of twenty bushels, and did not think it more than an average cost.

Byron was organized in 1846. William Stewart was elected Chairman, and Orrin Morris, at whose house the first election was held, Town Clerk. Its boundary lines were run by Mullett & Brink during the first quarter of 1834 and the second quarter of 1835. Hiram Burnham ran out the sections and quarter-sections in the third quarter of the last-mentioned year. The town has for its territory the whole of Township 14 north, in Range 17 east, of the Govern- ment survey. It contains 23,122,57 acres of land. The town is bounded on the north by Fond du Lac; on the east by Eden ; on the south by Lomira, in Dodge County, and on the west by Oakfield. The face of the country, before improvements began, presented a pleasing variety of prairie, oak openings, marsh and timber land, undulated with gentle ascents and declivities. There is, however. one bold elevation where " the ridge " passes through the town, which, in sev- eral places, breaks out with a rugged front. Springs and brooks are frequent, but not as abundant in this as in some of the other towns of the county. The springs furnish some of the head- waters of the east branch of Fond du Lac River. The southern part of Fond du Lac Prairie stretches into Byron. Mound Prairie, near the center of the town, is more elevated, lying above the ridge. The soil is generally fertile and casy of tillage, the more elevated part of the town being dry and warm.

The first birth which occurred in Byron was that of Eliza, daughter of William Stewart, about the last of the year 1840. The first school taught was in the summer of 1843, in Mr. Batler's corn-barn, by Miss Mary Butler, afterward Mrs. F. Tallmadge. The first death was that of a German woman, in the summer of 1845. She came into the house of Joseph Nightin- gale-was greatly distressed ; said she had just drunk heartily at the cold spring near by : lay down on a bench and immediately expired. Iler name or place of residence was never learned. The first religious societies formed in Byron were Baptists, Methodists and Wesleyans. At the first town election, held April 7, 1846, it was voted that the officers chosen serve gratis. There were 34 votes polled-18 in favor of a State government and 16 against it. At the second election, held April 6, 1847, a motion to allow Orrin Morris $16.50 for stationery as Town Clerk was lost, as was also a motion to allow C. P. Phelps $10 for serving as Assessor. At this election, 43 votes were cast against and 26 in favor of license; 43 in favor of, and 71 against the Constitution, and 43 in favor of and 33 against equal suffrage. Patrick Kelley and his family, who settled in Byron in September, 1839, were the first Irish to make Fond du Lac County a permanent home. The first German in Byron was Phillip Bodemar. The first schoolhouse was erected at the expense of five men, in 1841, on land donated by Patrick Kel- ley. The first preaching in the town was in this schoolhouse. The " Ledge " passes through

742

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Byron, on which, in Sections 20 and 29, is located the M. E. camp-ground, not far from the Narrow-Gauge Railway. In the vicinity of this camp-ground are many interesting natural euri- osities in the line of mighty masses of rent limestone and winding passage-ways into the " Ledge." Very large and cold springs are also found near this spot. The Chairmen and Town Clerks have been : 1846, William Stewart and Orrin Morris; 1847, William Stewart and D. W. Cruthers : 1848-49-50. the same ; 1851, D. C. Brooks and Franklin Nye ; 1852, D. C. Brooks and Emerson Fay ; 1853, Henry Conklin and E. Fay ; 1854, H. Conklin and Joseph Noyes : 1855, C. B. Brown and J. Noyes ; 1856, B. R. Harrington and J. Noyes ; 1857, F. Nye and D. W. Cruthers ; 1858, F. Nye and Alfred Bliss ; 1859, J. M. Adams and A. Bliss ; 1860, N. C. Lewis and A. Bliss ; 1861, C. P. Phelps and A. Bliss ; 1862, N. C. Lewis and A. Bliss : 1863, D. D. Jones and A. Bliss ; 1864, Henry Bush and A. Bliss ; 1865, E. A. Cook and A. Bliss ; 1866-67-68-69, Delos Allen and A. Bliss ; 1870, D. D. Treleven and F. Nye ; 1871, D. D. Treleven and A. Bliss ; 1872, John Bell and Delos Allen ; 1873, John Bell and A. Bliss ; 1874-75. John Bell and Delos Allen ; 1876, John Bell and George Radliff ; 1877, John Bell and D. Allen ; 1878, John Bell and F. Nye ; 1879, John Bell and John Lonergan.

At Byron Post Office, on Section 22, is a good town hall.

CALUMET.

The town of Calumet, so called from the Menomonee Indian village ("Pipe") of the same name, formerly located on the northeast quarter of Section 27, is the northeast town of Fond du Lac County, and contains 19,146.91 acres of' land, as follows : In Township 16 north, of Range 18 east, 2,307.56 acres ; in Township 17 north, of Range 18 east, 4,742.13 acres ; in Township 17 north, of Range 19 east, 12,097.22 acres ; total 19,146.91 aeres. It is bounded on the north by Calumet County ; on the east by the same county and the town of Marshfield in Fond du Lac County ; on the south by the towns of Marshfield and Taycheedalı, and on the west by Winnebago Lake.

The three sections numbered 1, 2 and 3, and the fractional section numbered 4 in Town- ship 16 north, in Range 18 east, in the town of Calumet, were surveyed (as was the remainder of that township) by Nehemiah King and C. T. V. King, during the second quarter of the year 1835; but the sections and quarter-sections in the fractional Township 17 north, in Range 18 east, also those in the fractional Township 17 north, in Range 19 east, were surveyed by A. G. Ellis, in the last quarter of 1834. The township lines were run by Mullett & Brink during the first half of the last-mentioned year.

Deputy Surveyor A. G. Ellis, in speaking of the northwestern portion of what is now the town of Calumet (fractional Township 17 north, in Range 18 east), says : "This frac- tional township must be considered as first-rate and valuable land. It consists almost wholly of extensive oak openings and dry and wet prairies. The soil is first rate-a mixture of red loam and black sand. Its position (east side and above the center of Winnebago Lake) gives it an additional value. The stream entering [the lake] at [a little distance southwest of ] ' Pipe Village,' thongh small and barred at the mouth, is nevertheless large enough for a harbor for boats ; and a small pier at the mouth would deepen the water so that it might be entered. The banks are high and beautiful, and ' Pipe Village' is a beautiful site." This was written upon the spot over a year before there was a white settler in Fond du Lac County.

The same writer, in November, 1834, in speaking of what is now the eastern portion of the town of Calumet (south half of Township 17 north, Range 19 east), says: "That part of this fractional township lying east of the stream (Manitowoc River) is rather low, though on the whole it may be considered first rate land. The soil is very deep and rich, with fewer stones than are found farther east. The stream is sluggish and muddy. No wild animals ford it. The marsh has on it deep water, and the grass is very thin. West of the stream the land is high and mostly openings, with a suitable quantity of good timber, and water in small prairies. Numerous trees were observed to have been eut here, by Indians, for honey-bees." Seeing this region before any portion of it was cultivated, such were his impressions.

743

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The first settlement in Calumet was made in 1837, near what was afterward known as Pipe Village, by Rev. George White, William Urmston and a Mr. Norton, Mr. White, ho w- ever, loeating there first. About the same time or a little later, a company of Germans settled in the north part of the town, which then formed a part of Calumet County. In 1840, this part was, on application being made to the Legislature of the Territory, by George White, set off from Calumet and joined to Fond du Lac County. The town was organized March 8. 1839, including a large territory. It was re-organized in 1842, the first election being held in April of that year, at Mr. White's house. George White was elected Chairman, and Charles Amidon, Clerk. The town is watered by springs and brooks, some of which help to form the Manitowoc River, while the waters of others flow into Winnebago Lake. At the present time, as well as when in its native wildness, no country in the State has a more pleasing aspect than that high, dry, rich portion of Calumet which lies just back from the shore of Lake Winnebago. It is the most picturesque town in Fond du Lae County. In 1851, Herman Heeson erected a large stone flouring-mill close to the lake shore a little below Pipe Village, and, in 1854, Mr. Allen erected, on the road from Taycheedah to Pipe Village, another flouring- mill, to run by water carried high in the air to a very large "overshot" wheel .* In 1838 and 1839, Pipe Village was much more of a business center than Fond du Lac, as it contained a store of goods for Indian trading, and the Germans were coming in very rapidly, many of them bringing considerable capital; and at one time the town of Calumet cast more votes than the village and very large town of Fond du Lac. The "Ledge" extends through this town nearly parallel with the lake shore; and, besides being in early days the refuge of numberless snakes and wild animals, was the source of numerous beautiful springs, a famous resort for nut and grape gatherers and the seat of fine stone-quarries and lime-kilns. In Calumet the roads are unusually good; fruit trees are easily cultivated and bear in comparative abundanec, and graz- ing for sheep is especially good. While the yield of wheat per acre may not equal that of some other towns, the quality is always unsurpassed.

Rev. George White, the first permanent settler in Calumet, now well advanced beyond fourseore years, is a clerk in the Pension Office at Washington.

Calumet Village, with its large local trade, is partly in Calumet County. It is in the midst of a rich farming country, and is pleasantly located near Lake Winnebago.

Marytown is a hamlet and post office in the eastern portion of the town. It has a good grist-mill, blacksmith-shop, and other village concomitants. St. Mary's Church is south of the village, on Section 27, and St. John's Church east, on Section 30. Both are Catholic and prosperous.

Pipe Village, on Section 26, called Calumet Harbor Post Office, is a place of resort in summer. It has a very large hotel, is near the lake and in the midst of the most beautiful farmning country in the whole West.

EMPIRE.

Empire, Township 15 north, Range 18 east, originally was a portion of Taycheedah, and it is difficult, therefore, to separate the carly history of the former from that of the latter. Gov. Doty entered the first land in Empire and caused to be built the first frame house in Fond du Lac County, on what is now the Wells farm, on Section 7-possibly on Section 8, in 1838. This house was mostly built by the Piers and Joseph Olmsted. The first school- house in the county was also built in Empire, but never was used for school purposes, owing to a greater number of scholars living at Taycheedah. The building was of logs, and erccted by G. de Neveu and others. The first permanent settlers were probably Mr. de Neveu and his hired help-the family of A. T. Denniston, who worked the large de Neveu farm, unless one of the La Bordes had taken up a residence within what is now Empire a few months earlier. But all this time Empire belonged to Taycheedah. In March, 1851, the Legislature passed an act erecting all of Township 15, Range 18, except Sections 1 to 6, both inclusive, into the

* Now in the town of Taycheedah.

744

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

town of Empire, the first election to be held at the Meiklejohn schoolhouse. The town, there- fore, contains only thirty sections ; but the west tier of sections overruns to the extent of about one hundred and eight aeres, making the town contain 19,308 aeres. The southeast portion was originally heavily timbered. Fond du Lac prairie laps on to its northwest corner. The " Ledge" extends the whole distance across its west side. The cast and some of the south por- tions abound in hay marshes, and the balance is composed of oak openings. The soil is warm and quick. Springs, some of them very large, abound in great numbers, especially along the Ledge. A very large one exists on F. M. Phelps' farm; another on the farm of G. de Neveu ; one or more on David Gidding's farm ; a very large and peculiar one on the old Henry Conklin place, and another on the old John Westervelt farm. Streams in the east flow through She- boygan River to Lake Michigan, while those from the west flow into Lake Winnebago. Stone quarries and limekilns abound, and the surface is broken in many sections where the ridge of limestone crops out, being too rough and barren for cultivation. These localities are, however, profitably used as sheep pastures, or as sources of wood, building-stone and lime. On Section 17 is a woolen-mill, whose machinery is turned by water. It is near G. W. Carpenter's residence ; is known as the Empire Woolen Mills, and turns ont an excellent quality of goods. It is now the only factory of the kind in Fond du Lac County.

A beautiful sheet of water, known as de Neven Lake, named after G. de Neveu, who first purchased it of the Government, lies in Sections 30 and 31 of this town. It abounds in bass, perch and pickerel ; has had other fish put in by artificial means, and is a resort where thousands " camp out," or have good summer-houses during the heated term.

In 1847, Miss E. Maxwell taught a school near the Lyons place. In 1854, the town con- tained three schoolhouses, and in 1880 it contained seven ; all modest structures, but in good repair. Peter Vandervoort, an authorized Methodist exhorter, who settled in the adjoining town of Eden, held the first religions services in Henry Conklin's very large log house. The first births were not far apart, in 1839, in the families of G. de Neven, A. T. Denniston and Luke La Borde. They were the very first, except John A. Bannister, in the county.

In addition to plenty of hardwood fuel, good building stone, and good brick-clay, Empire has rich peat beds, though none of them were ever worked. No town, unless it is Calumet, in the eastern portion of the county, is more favorable for apples, grapes and other fruits. The different Chairmen since 1851 have been : F. S. Crans, Jolin Y. Westervelt, J. E. Fisher, John Berry, A. T. Germond, John Meiklejohn, James H. Ilaight, G. S. Wilson, Edward Ray, Edward Colman, James Laferty and John Wiley. The Town Clerks have been : A. S. Wilson, James A. Fisher, G. S. Wilson, George Keys, James Laferty, John Campbell, A. II. Carpenter and Alexander Campbell.

Empire has no railroads, and but one post office and one church edifice.

Rienzi Cemetery. the finest in the county, is in this town, on Sections 18 and 19.

The first grist-mill in the county was erected in Empire, on Section 22, by Henry Conklin.

Empire M. E. Church .- On the 6th of March, 1850, the Methodists of the town met to devise means for building a church. Logs were hauled, but the enterprise ended at this point, the timber rotting on the ground, on the site of the present edifice. Section 33. In 1866, the project was revived. Theron Berry donated the ground, and a donation of $200, by Hannah Thorne, of Lockport, N Y., was followed by liberal subscriptions from others in Byron and Empire, and the edifice, costing 83,000, was built. Dedication took place July 28, 1867. The first Pastor, who also aided greatly in securing the erection of the building, was Rev. J. W. La Fever. The first Trustees were John Berry. A. T. Germond, HI. Westervelt, B. White, R. Willis, Thomas Mayhew, L. If. Jennings. W. M. Dasenbury, John Vinton. The first Stewards were J. Berry, W. M. Dusenbury and William Edwards. The church never was in debt.

Empire Cemetery .- This Cemetery Association was organized July 10, 1852: John Berry, Sr., President ; T. J. Dougherty, Secretary, and E. Vincent, Treasurer. One acre of land was bought near the M. E. Church, of J. V. Jewell. A few years later another acre was purchased, and in 1879 two acres more were added. It is tastefully platted and decorated. T. Berry is President, A. T. Germond, Secretary, and H. Westervelt, Treasurer.

745

IHISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

EDEN.

In a southeasterly direction from Fond du Lac, bounded on the north by Empire, east hy Osceola, south by Ashford and west by Byron, lies the town of Eden-named after the habita- tion of our first parents. Two ridges of limestone, suitable for building material, extend north and south through the town. Otherwise the surface is gently undulating, and was originally composed of prairies, wide hay marshes, rather small oak openings and limited belts of heavy timber. In early days, wild plums, cranberries, grapes and erab-apples grew in abundance and were unusually large and edible. The highest point of land in Fond du Lac County is said to be on Section 16 in this town, being 352 feet above Lake Winnebago and about five hundred feet above Lake Michigan. There are several large springs in Eden, and several lakes, in which fish and waterfowl, in season, are abundant. The soil is not alike in all sections, but is generally of a deep. rich loam, with a subsoil of limestone gravel. Farmers can follow almost any branch of agriculture with equal and satisfactory success. The town is well watered by springs, lakes, the West Branch of Milwaukee River, and other small streams, some of which flow north and some south. The lake in which the branch of Milwaukee River takes its rise, flowing nearly south, has another outlet on the north, which flows into Lake Winnebago : and streams in the south part find their way into the Gulf of Mexico, through Roek and Mis- sissippi Rivers.

The mounds. pottery, earthenware and various peculiar artieles found in this town, make it a peculiarly rich and interesting field for the arehæologist. These relics of an ancient and extinct race have been found in no other town in this vicinity in such profusion and variety.

Joseph Carr is generally conceded to be the first permanent settler in what is now Eden, though he did not enter the first land. In November, 1845, he began building a log house, which was the foundation for the first settlement in the town. In February following, Samuel Rand and Peter Vandervoort came with their families, and immediately put up log houses. The first erops were raised in 1847, and they were of such abundance as to exceed the most sanguine expectations of the hopeful settlers. That fall, settlers began to arrive rapidly, or select locations on which to locate in the spring. Therefore, in April, 1848, by authority of an aet passed March 11. 1848, a meeting was held at the house of Peter Vandervoort and town officers chosen. Peter Vandervoort was chosen Chairman, and Samuel Rand Town Clerk. The year before, or some time before, a meeting was held to name the town. The proceedings are thus recorded: "Adam Holiday, an eccentric character, arose to propose a name. After commenting on the many beauties of the place, the richness of the soil, the abundance of fruits and flowers, and the beautiful woods and fields, he remarked that Adam dwelt in the garden of Eden, and that there were holy days there." Therefore, amid some merriment, the town was named Eden.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 111

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