The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 112

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

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The first child born in the town was a daughter of Adam Holiday, in 1847. The first boy born in the town, who also voted in it, was John L. Martin, now of Fond du Lac. The first religious service was at Peter Vandervoort's house, in August, 1846, by Rev. Dickinson. Mr. Vandervoort began preaching the same year. The first marriage ceremony was that uniting Margaret Bell to a Mr. Ballwin, in 1848, and was performed by Rev. M. L. Noble. The town of Eden is settled largely by a fine elass of Irish in the south, though Dutchess County New Yorkers, Germans and some New Englanders form important elements in the population. In 1850, there were two pretty thoroughly ventilated log schoolhouses in Eden-now there are seven good school buildings in good repair. The Air Line Railroad crosses the town, and main- tains a station called Eden, on the southwest quarter of Seetion 8. There are some good stone quarries and limekilns in Eden, and on Seetion 17 is a large spring, in which one branch of the Milwaukee River takes its rise, while from Twin Lakes, on the line between Seetions 9 and 16, flows a stream into Lake Winnebago.

The town of Eden. Township 14 north, of Range 18 east. contains 23.058.79 aeres, or 18.79 aeres more than thirty-six full sections of land.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

EDEN VILLAGE .- Prior to 1873, there was no village at Eden. The Air Line Railroad gave it birth. The land, owned by L. Batterson, was platted when that road was built, and the first lot sold to A. Edelman, who built the first store. The second purchase was made by M. Altenhofen, who built a store. The large steam elevator was erected by Mr. Batterson. The first wheat shipped from the station was by Isaac Advance. The hotel was built by John Botzem, its proprietor. The post office was established by Peter Vandervoort in 1850. He kept it in his house, near by- until 1872, when he resigned. T. Hardgrove is the present Postmaster. In addition to three stores and the various shops, Eden has a thriving cheese factory.

Foster Post Office was established by Egbert Foster. It is now out of use.

The German Reformed Church erected a place of worship on Section 10, which is now used by the German Methodists.

St. James' Catholic Church first held services in a log house built in 1849, on the line of Section 29, by Joseph Lawler, C. Mangan, E. Mc Inroe, P. Ryan, T. Ward, T. McGinty and others. This was used until 1865, when Rev. J. McGowan built the present structure. The first mass said to this congregation, which now numbers 120 families, was by Rev. Ehrle. Father M. O'Brien, the Pastor, has charge also of St. John's Mission, in Byron.

ELDORADO.

Eldorado-Township 16 north, of Range 16 east, bounded on the north by Nekimi (Winne" bago County), cast by Friendship, south, by Lamartine and west by Rosendale-was named, in all probability, by John O. Ilenning, now of Hudson, editor of the first paper in Fond du Lac County. It surface is considerably but gently undulating, and contains less prairie than most of the other towns in the vicinity. It has considerable heavy timber, some oak openings and several marshes; one, called Eldorado Marsh, being of considerable size. From them an immense quantity of wild hay is cut, while some portions have been seeded to tame hay and make productive meadows.

The first settlers were Moses S. Barnett, Theodorc R. Sheldon, William Hall and others, who located within its borders early in 1846. It was a large town at first; an act approved March 11, 1848, making what is now Eldorado and Friendship a separate town called Ektorado. The first town meeting was held in April, 1848, at the house of Cyrus Parks, at which M. S. Barnett was chosen Chairman, and James Cowhan, Town Clerk. Another act, passed Feb- ruary 1, 1849, divided the original town into the present towns of Eldorado and Friendship, the first election being held in April, 1849, at the house of William C. Walcott.

Eldorado is well wooded, the sale of cord-wood, stave-bolts and materials for hard-wood work being an important item with its inhabitants. It is also well watered, has a good soil of loam (except the marshes) and in some parts is well adapted to sheep raising, which is profitably followed. No license for the sale of intoxicating drinks was ever granted in Eldorado, and never but once did the town give a Republican majority on a State or national question. The first school was taught by Jobn F. Steele in the north portion of the town. Now there are six schoolhouses within its limits. in which there is a good attendance. There are also three church buildings, on Sections 18, 15 and 26, the first being built about 1860. The Sheboygan & Fond du Lac Railway, which maintains a depot near Eldorado Mills, passes through the extreme southwest corner of the town. The West Branch of the Fond du Lac River flows through the southern portion of the town, affording water-power at Eldorado Mills, where Scribner's large flouring mill is in operation. This stream, in an carly day, also turned M. S. Barnett's mill, built in 1846, and the first of any kind in the town.

The inhabitants of Eldorado are largely Irish-Americans, though a good sprinkling of Germans and Americans is found. The records being burned, only the following Chairmen and Town Clerks can be presented :

1861, L. M. Dunham, Thomas Woods ; 1862, C. W. Frederick, William Kirkwood ; 1863, C. W. Frederick, William Kirkwood : 1864, C. W. Frederick, William Kirkwood; 1865, C. W. Frederick, William Kirkwood; 1866, C. W. Frederick, William Kirkwood; 1867, C. W.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Frederick, David Ackerson; 1868, C. W. Frederick, David Ackerson ; 1869, C. W. Frederick, L. M. Dunham ; 1870, C. W. Frederick, L. M. Dunham : 1871, C. W. Frederick, L. M. Dun- ham ; 1872, James Lewis, L. M. Dunham : 1873, James Lewis, George Gibson ; 1874, C. W. Frederick, George Gibson ; 1875, C. W. Frederick, W. S. Hall ; 1876, John Remer, George Gibson ; 1877, John Remer, George Gibson ; 1878, John Remer, Mark Crain ; 1879, James K. Scribner, Mark Crain.

The first to make a location in Eldorado was Harvey Anderson, in the fall of 1845. In Mav, 1846, Moses S. Barnett, now of Neenah, Wis., made a permanent settlement.

The first land was entered by Samuel Sanborn, on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 31, in 1846.

The first grist-mill was built in 1857 by Hiram Wheeler and James K. Scribner on Sec- tion 31.

The first store was opened in 1849, on Section 7, by N. Jorgensen.

The first schoolhouse was built in November, 1848.

The first sermon was preached by Elder E. N. Wright, a Free-Will Baptist, in the fall of 1848, at Cyrus Pasco's house.

The first child born was Charles A. Wolcott, July 30, 1847.

The first death, George Barnett, in 1847.

The first marriage, Stephen Claggett to Margaret O'Neil, in 1847.

The first post office was established in the spring of 1848, by Necoli Jorgensen, called Bothelle. Not far from this time, John O. Henning was postmaster on the east side of the marsh, and some think his commission was received before Jorgensen's.

Stephen Claggett, Alex. Cronk, and Thomas and James Merchant settled in the town in 1846, after the first settlement. In 1847, Cyrus and Joseph Pasco, John and Robert Cow- han, John Claggett, John F. Steele, William Dilts, M. Duch, Isaac Claggett, John Adams, David Austin, E. and William Williams, A. R. Wilber, Nelson Phillips, A. M. Donelly, H. Dilts and perhaps others.

FOND DU LAC.

As the first settlement, first birth, first village, first death and many other first things in the county were in the town of Fond du Lac, its history will be found elaborately recorded else- where. It has, however, some interesting town history. It once, by act approved January 2, 1838, comprised the entire county of Fond du Lac. A year later, it contained all the territory in the county, except the towns of Calumet and Butte des Morts, the first election being held at the house of Edward Pier, and the second, in 1839, at the house of Mason C. Darling. In 1842, it was made one of three towns-Fond du Lac, Waupun and Calumet-in the county, but it now contains only the territory in Township 15 north, of Range 17 east. The City of Fond du Lac, however, does not belong to the town in any matter of local government, and Lake Winnebago cuts off a small portion of its territory on the north. The town territory, therefore, is a mere shell. In June, 1835, Nehemiah King, Deputy Surveyer, made the follow- ing report as to what now constitutes the town of Fond du Lac :

" This is a fine township. The prairie and woodland are good and deserving the attention of the farmer. The merchant and mechanic will soon find it for their interest to invest capital here. Its location is such it cannot fail of becoming a place of considerable business. It com- mands a handsome view of the lake, and abounds in streams of water sufficiently large and rapid to drive mills. Along the shore there are evidences of Indian habitations. From the fertility of the soil and abundant supply of fish in the lake and streams, it is presumed this has been a favorite residence of theirs. In short, from the location of the Green Bay and Portage road, and the probable location of other important ones leading to and through it, its future prosperity is rendered almost certain. Along and near the margin of the lake, however, there is some marsh, but it is not without dry and solid ground for buildings."

On the 21st day of April. 1837, Colwert Pier and his brother, Edward Pier, turned the first furrow in the county and town of Fond du Lac, breaking some sixteen acres, about one mile

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

south of the spot where the court house now stands, probably in the northeast quarter of Section 22. Six days later, they sowed wheat, oats and peas. A log house was erected on Section 22, east of the river, and oceupied by Edward Pier and his family July 4, 1837. This was the second house built in the county, and the first in the town outside the present city limits. When first occupied, the structure had neither doors nor windows. During the fall, the first winter wheat was sown in the county and town, by Colwert Pier. IIe brought five bushels on his horse from Green Bay. From this wheat he raised enough to furnish his neighbors seed for the next year. The yield was abundant. The first school in the county was taught by Harriet Harding, in Edward Pier's residence. The first mill of any kind in the county was erected in the town of Fond du Lac.

On the 29th day of August, 1836, James Duane Doty, as trustee for the Fond du Lac Company, sold for $240 to John Drake, of Warren County, N. J., and Charles C. Pinckney Arndt, of Green Bay (afterward shot dead in the Legislature at Madison), the land and water privilege situated in the town of Fond du Lac, known afterward as the " Clark Mill," and described as the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 20 in that town. The contract had a proviso which required Drake & Arndt to finish the mill within a specified time, which they failed to do. On account of this failure and the strength of the proviso, after giving proper notice to Drake & Arndt, the Fond du Lac Company sold the mill site and water privilege, together with whatever improvements had been made thereon, to Mason C. Darling, on the 21st of May, 1838. Ile completed the mill and sold a one-half interest in it to Bannister & Clark (John Bannister and A. D. Clark), August 15, 1838, for $300. This mill, which has nearly or quite disappeared, cut the first lumber in Fond du Lac County, with a "sash saw."

The first house built by an actnal settler in the county, was erected in the town of Fond du Lac : the first burial was also in this town.

At a meeting of the West Fond du Lac Temperance Society, held at the house of Joseph Stowe, on the third Tuesday of January, 1848, it was

Resolved, That the prairie situated between the north and south (east and west branches) of Fond du Lac River, and between Deacon Humiston's on the east and Quincy Hall's on the west, be named Temperance Prairie. That we will use all honorable means to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the vomit of the inebriate from polluting its virgin soil.

A. C. Everest was President of the meeting which adopted this resolution, and E. Humis- ton, Secretary. Thereafter for many years, the locality was known as Temperance Prairie. At the election held in May of that year, the town gave a majority of thirteen against granting licenses to sell intoxicating liquors.

The records of the town officers from 1838 to 1848. are not extant. The following are the Chairmen and Clerks from 1849 to 1879, inclusive: 1849, John C. Lewis and Frank MeCarty ; 1850. Edwin Flint and Hiram Walker; 1851, Isaac Brown and William C. Brown; 1852. Edward Pier and Eric Tallmadge; 1853, Edward Pier and IIenry R. Colman; 1854, Sewell N. Hawes and George II. Clark ; 1855. Seth A. Chase and George H. Clark ; 1856, Seth A. Chase and Lewis M. Darling; 1857, Seth A. Chase and II. Spafford; 1858, Charles Brown and David Crofoot; 1859 and 1860, G. K. Stanchfield and D. Crofoot; 1861 and 1862, S. A. Chase and D. Crofoot ; 1863 to 1870, both inclusive, G. K. Stanchfield and D. Crofoot ; 1871. Dana C. Lamb and David Crofoot; 1872, Henry Van Allen and D. Crofoot ; 1873, Dana C. Lamb and D. Crofoot; 1874 and 1875, Dana C. Lamb and S. B. Stanchfield; 1876, 1877 and 1878, Henry Van Allen and S. B. Stanchfield; 1879, L. B. Dunham and Henry Landreman.

Four lines of railway cross the town of Fond du Lac-the C. & N. W., Air Line, She- boygan & Fond du Lac and Narrow Gauge; but they maintain no stations within its limits out- side of Fond du Lac City. Both branches of Fond du Lac River flow through its territory, furnishing limited water-powers on Sections 27, 22 and 16. Four toll roads are in this town : Empire Gravel Road, extending southeast from the city to Empire; one extending on Main street south ; one extending east through Taycheedah, and one southwest toward Waupun from the city. During 1879, a lively agitation was made against them ; indignation meetings were

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

held, and the question of surrendering their charter was submitted to vote in Fond du Lac City, that corporation holding a majority of their stock, but the move failed of accomplishing its purpose. The Poor House and Farm are on Section 21 in this town. There are several fine sand-pits, two good brick-clay beds, two hay marshes, two good stone-quarries and one small peat-bed in Fond du Lac Town, but no timber of any account.

Fond du Lac Fire Insurance Company. - This insurance company, composed of farmers in the towns of Fond du Lac, Empire and Friendship, was organized April 24, 1875, and issued its first policy May 20, 1875, with the following officers : G. K. Stanchfield, President ; J. L. Colman, Secretary ; A. T. Germond, Treasurer. The Directors were, for town of Fond du Lac-G. K. Stanchfield, HI. Van Allen and J. L. Colman ; Empire-A. T. Germond, John Meiklejohn and Benjamin White; Friendship-Joseph Kinsman, Charles Carberry and F. Rondeau. The present officers are as follows : President, John Meiklejohn ; Secretary, John J. Brayton ; Treasurer, William Adams. Directors, for Empire-Jolin Meiklejolin, Richard Kaye and William Adams ; Fond du Lac-R. C. Wilson, J. J. Brayton and II. Van Allen ; Friendship-Robert Shiels, Horace Hodgkin and Joseph Kinsman. The last formal report of the Company was made in September, 1879, when the total amount of the policies in force was $466,110. The losses from incendiary fires and by lightning have been heavier in this than in other similar companies in this county, but they have all been paid so promptly as to render the Company a favorite one. The three assessments made for losses aggregate $5,991.50-not including expenses.

FOREST.

The town of Forest was named after the splendid forests of hard timber that originally covered much the larger portion of its surface. No town in the county was blessed with finer hardwood timber, with occasional jungles of tamarack and some patches of cedar. It contains no genuine prairie, and but few oak openings. In early days, it was excellent for winter wheat, and is yet, as compared with other towns, owing to the peculiar soil of the timbered tracts. A great amount of labor has been expended in this town to fit the land for crops ; but the cash return for hard timber and cordwood, the abundance of it for home use, the protection forests afford in winter and the excellent soil when once ready for crops, abundantly repay the inhab- itants for their extra exertions. The town is well watered. is rather more uneven than prairie towns, has some splendid sugar-maple groves and several water-powers. On Sections 28 and 33. in the south, is Mullet Lake, whence rises a stream of the same name, flowing northeast into the Sheboygan River, which flows across the entire western portion of the town, turning a lathe, two mills and other machinery even as early as 1853. At Dotyville is a flouring-mill run by water-by the Sheboygan River. In February, 1847, the following aet was passed :

SEC. 32. That township number fifteen north, and the sonth half of township number sixteen north, of range number nineteen east, in the county of Fond du Lac, be, and the same is hereby, set off into a separate town by the name of Forest, and that the first town meeting be held at the house of George Chase, in said town.

In March, 1848, another act, as follows, was passed by the Legislature :

SEC. 16. Township number fifteen and the south half of township number sixteen north, in range number nineteen east, organized into the town of Forest, is hereby declared to be a town by that name, and the acts and proceedings of said town in its affairs for the year 1847 shall not be deemed illegal or invalid by reason of said town- ship having been included in Taychcedah.

The town is now the six full sections in Township 15 north, of Range 19 east. It was set- tled in 1845, Henry C. Giltner, now of Minnesota, probably making the first location, though Josiah A. King settled there permanently in May of that year, and James Davis and P. T. King settled the same year near the center of the town, and were, probably, permanently located a month or two earlier than Mr. Giltner. Early in 1846, William Chase, at whose house the first election was held : O. C. White, Solomon Benedict and others settled not far from Mr. Giltner's, in the western portion of the town.

The town is now largely owned by Germans, who are unusually well-to-do, a considerable amount of their ready money being derived from the sale of wood, which they haul to Fond du Lac.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

At the first election, held April 1, 1848, H. C. Giltner was chosen Chairman. The first birth was that of Sarah Chase; first death, James Davis ; first marriage, a Mr. Slocum to Miss Riley. The first schoolhouse was built on Section 14, and, in the summer of 1849, S. Corbett taught school in it. The town now has eight schoolhouses.

CHURCHES .- Some time in 1847, the first sermon was preached, at the house of William Chase, by Rev. Mr. Scott. In 1858, the Catholics built a church on Section 19, and now the town has five church edifices. The Union Church, on Section 36, was organized, April 7, 1879, by Henry Stannard, E. C. Coon, William Stewart and P. H. Montgomery ; Henry Stannard, President and Secretary : E. C. Coon, Treasurer ; H. Stannard, E. Conger and E. C. Coon, Trustees. It was dedicated by Rev. F. A. Marsh, February 19, 1880, who preached the first sermon in it. On Section 13 is the Methodist Episcopal Church. The society was organized November 17, 1873, at James Corbett's house. The edifice was built in 1874. The first ser- mon was by Rev. J. T. Woodhead. The first Trustees were James Corbett, S. Elecson, David Rogers, Ezra Coon, William Bennett and J. O. Dowling. The first Pastor was J. S. Bolton. Present Pastor, Rev. H. Knight. The first marriages in the church were Joseph Colton to S. Hall and S. Gibson to Sarah Bolton.

The first post office was established early in 1847, called Oasis, of which H. C. Giltner was Postmaster. The second was Dotyville, established by Thomas Davidson in 1849. In 1852, Mr. Davidson opened the first store in Forest, at Dotyville. In 1866, C. A. Corbett established Banner Post Office.

The first cheese-factory was built on Section 16, in 1877, by C. C. Lyon and J. Smith. It is the only one in the town.

FRIENDSHIP.

This, one of the most level and unbroken towns in the county, was, previous to being erected into its present proportions, a portion of Eldorado. An act by the Legislature, approved Feb- ruary 1, 1849, set off so much of the territory of Eldorado as was in Township 16 north, Range 17 cast, into a separate town called Friendship, the first election to be held at Lyman Walker's house. Friendship lies along the west shore of Lake Winnebago, and contains but seventeen full sections of land, the balance being shore-marsh and lake. In this town the State owns some overflowed lands in Sections 3 and 10. The town contains but few springs and streams. Its soil is very deep and rich ; its timber tracts of excellent quality ; its crops varied and profitable, and its inhabitants, being near a good market, generally well to do.

The first election was held at Lyman Walker's house April 12, 1849. The first settler was Champion Wilson, who came in 1845. In 1846, L. Forbes, Russell McCarty, Edwin Roberts, C. B. Matteson and, perhaps, others settled in the town.

The first births were Julius Roberts and Dora Cook.

The first deaths were two, recorded near together-Burns and Coleman.

In 1847, a school was taught on Section 28, by Elias Worden.

In 1848, a schoolhouse was erected on Section 21, in which Miss Robinson taught the first school.

In 1849, John Prescott preached the first sermon in the town in Lyman Walker's house.

In 1848, Friendship Post Office was established-Jackson Pritchard, Postmaster. Van Dyne is the present post office, and D. N. Morgan, Postmaster.

In 1851, Adolph Henning opened, on Section 16, the first store in Friendship.

In 1860, the German Methodists built a church edifice on Section 17. The town now con- tains two churches-the German Methodist, P. Limber, Pastor, and German Lutheran, John Rosenthal, Pastor.

In 1879, a cheese factory was built in the town. The Chicago & North-Western Railway extends across Friendship from south to north, maintaining a station at Van Dyne. In 1851, the inhabitants along the lake shore began to be uneasy when, without any apparent reasonable cause, Lake Winnebago began to steadily advance upon their shore lands. As the waters con- tinued to advance, they continued to be more uneasy. Nearly one thousand acres were over- flowed at this time, caused by the erection of dams at Neenah and Menasha.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

In 1854, the cholera made its appearance in Friendship, causing greater consternation than the sudden rise in Lake Winnebago. The disease appeared in August, and resulted fatally in six instances.

Champion and Minor Wilson, soon after the first settlement of the town, began the manu- facture of chairs, which they continued until the larger factories made the business unprofitable. Whether Minor Wilson settled within the town limits in 1844, the year before the accepted time of permanent settlement, is a matter of question. There seems to be more than a probability that he did.

The population of Friendship is composed mostly of French and Germans.

The Chairmen and Town Clerks, since the town was separated from Eldorado, have been : In 1849, Henry Bruce and Edwin R. Roberts: 1850, Henry Bruce and Edwin R. Roberts ; 1851, Charles Wheton and Edwin R. Roberts ; 1852, Minor Wilson and Hector Munro ; 1853, Adolph Henning and Hector Munro : 1854, Adolph Henning and Hector Munro : 1855, Eben- ezer Austin and Hector Munro: 1856, John Stoddart and Hector Munro; 1857, Charles Car- berry and Heetor Munro : 1858, John Stoddart and Hector Munro: 1859, John Stoddart and Hector Munro ; 1860, John Stoddart and Mitchel Perrizo : 1861, Charles Carberry and John Stoddart ; 1862, Joseph Kinsman and Mitchel Perrizo ; 1863, Joseph Kinsman and Mitchel Perrizo: 1864, Joseph Kinsman and Mitchel Perrizo; 1865, Charles Carberry and Mitchel Perrizo ; 1866, Charles Carberry and Mitchel Perrizo; 1867, Charles Carberry and Hector Munro ; 1868, Charles Carberry and Hector Munro : 1869, Charles Carberry and W. J. Ray- craft : 1870, Joseph Kinsman and William Lumly ; 1871, Joseph Kinsman and William Lumly ; 1872, Ilector Munro and Fitch Kinsman; 1873, Hlector Munro and Fitch Kinsman ; 1874, Charles Carberry and Fitch Kinsman ; 1875, Joseph Kinsman and Hall MeCourt : 1876, Patrick MeMonagle and Hall MeCourt; 1877, Joseph Kinsman and Hall MeCourt; 1878 and 1879, Theodore Herrling and HIall MeCourt.

LAMARTINE.

This town, lying directly west of the town and city of Fond du Lac, Township 15 north, of Range 16 east, was named after Alphonse de Lamartine, the French poet and historian, who sprang into such wonderful popularity during the French revolution of 1848. Before that time the town had been called Seven Mile Creek. an awkward name, derived from the settle- ment on the creek about seven miles from Fond du Lac, and an act of February 11, 1847, erected it into a legal town, the first election being held at Peter V. Sang's house. The name was changed to Lamartine (Lam-ar-teen) by an act approved August 8, 1848. The first settler was John Parker, Jr., though the first location and claim of land were made by Edward Bec- son in 1837, and perfected by Peter V. Sang in 1840. The former began residing upon the latter's farm early in 1842, and. in August, 1842, Mr. Sang became a boarder in the Parker family. The next settlers were John Parker, Sr., J. M. Loomis, Samuel Bacon and, soon after, others. The first child born in the town was Martha Parker, in February, 1843.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 112

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