The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 114

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

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Honest Temple, No. 85, Juvenile Templars, was organized in March, 1878. Its officers are: Lincoln McClelland, C. T .: Edith Yorty, V. T .; Charles Whitton, P. C. T .; Neil Knapp, R. S .: George Porter, F. S .; Minnie Danforth, Treas .; Almer Hall, M .; Frank Knapp, C .; Grace Whitton, I. G .; Andrew Yorty, O. G.

The membership is forty-nine, and is composed of those who are in the habit-forming period of life, namely, from six to sixteen years of age. Most of the members are pledged to abstain not only from intoxicants, but from tobacco and profanity. Fully six thousand of these Juve- nile Templars are numbered in Wisconsin, and ought to be a potent factor in shaping the future history of the State.

Brandon Grange, No. 52, was organized January 24, 1873, by Edwin Reynolds, Deputy of the State Grange. The first Master was John Wormwood, and the first Secretary was R. C. Kelly. The present membership is forty-four.

In the autumn of 1877, the Brandon Grange, in connection with several surrounding Granges, organized a stock company for the management of a co-operative store in Brandon. They commenced with a capital of $4,050. Chester IIazen is President of the Cooperative Association ; F. Collins, Secretary ; J. Wormwood, Treasurer. R. C. Kelly was engaged to

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

take charge of the store, which has thus far been a success. It is conducted mainly on a cash basis. The profits are divided among the stockholders, not in proportion to their stock invested. but according to the amount of purchases they have made at the store during the year. Mr. Kelly is assisted by Frank G. Fowler, salesman, and also most of the time by an additional clerk. The capital, on the 1st of October, 1879, was $5,950, showing a net increase of $1,904. The Grangers express satisfaction at the result of the experiment. The present Master of the Lodge is William Irwin, and the Secretary is O. B. Knapp.

RAILROAD.

The efforts of this township and others in this locality were successful in securing railroad connections, and the Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad was built through this township in 1856. It passes northwesterly, from Section 36 to Section 3, in its course through Metomen. The road is now owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. It was built by a construction company, who did not meet all their obligations, which caused some difficulties. Near Reed's Corners, the tracklayers were forcibly prevented from putting down the rails, by the unpaid workmen who had graded the road-bed. Civil and military aid was invoked and the rails were laid amid much excitement. The scene of the encounter is still known as the " battle ground." During the building of the railroad much freight had accumulated at Waupun, and some was sent over the line before the regular running of trains.

Way-bill No. 1 and first freight receipt were dated Tuesday, October 14, 1856. The goods were consigned to G. Perkins & Co., who were merchants, then located in the Walker House. The senior member of that firm is now County Judge of Fond du Lac County. Regular freight trains did not run until the 19th of October, 1856. The first regular passenger train which left Milwaukee for Brandon, and returned on schedule time, came into Brandon with flying colors about noon on Saturday, October 18, 1856. The event was an occasion of special rejoicing ; Charles Larrabee, of Iloricon, was the leading orator of the day ; a public dinner and free drinks made it a memorable day. H. W. Gregory was the first station agent at Brandon. The express and railroad agent at the present time is W. S. Randall.

MANUFACTORIES.

The village is fairly supplied with manufacturing establishments, and among the leading ones are the planing-mill and sash, door and blind factory of C. P. Knapp ; the wagon factory of Alexander Turner, and the flouring-mill of H. G. Mathews.

There are two hotels-the Ensign House, kept by the owner, Esquire Ensign; it has twenty-two rooms for guests, has a good reputation, and is a pleasant home for pilgrims and strangers. The Walker House, about the same size, is kept by the owner, Warren Hall. This was the first hotel in Brandon, and still retains a share of the traveling patronage.

The business interests of Brandon are represented by enterprising men in the various depart- ments of industry and commerce. An extended sketch of most of them will be found in the Biographical Department of this History. A rich agricultural country is tributary to Brandon, which is a thrifty village of 800 population. It contains four general stores, three hardware stores, two drug stores, two groceries, three milliners' stores. one notion store, one jewelry store, one flouring-mill, one planing-mill, two wagon-shops, three harness-shops, two shoe-shops. two meat markets, two hotels, one merchant tailor, two paint-shops. one cooper-shop, one cabinet- shop, three blacksmith-shops, one barber-shop, four grain warehouses, two lumber-yards, five grain and produce buyers, two jobbers and contractors, two stonemasons, four agricultural-implement dealers, one drayman, two justices of the peace, one lawyer, three doctors, four ministers and four churches, three saloons, two insurance agents, one police magistrate, one broker, one news- paper and printing office, one money-order post office, one depot, one graded high school and seven secret societies.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

FAIRWATER.

In the southwestern part of Metomen, on the Grand River, in 1847, a flouring-mill was built by Messrs. Dakin and Lathrop; it was a favorable site for a village and was the starting- point of Fairwater, which rapidly grew and was for ten years the commercial center of a large tract of rapidly developing country. The railroad, in 1856, left Fairwater "out in the cold," and a decline was inevitable.

The first church in Metomen was built at Fairwater. The society was organized February 2, 1850, with the name of the First Free-Will Baptist Church of Fairwater, under the minis- trations of Rev. William Mitchell; the first Clerk was Deacon R. M. Harwood. Their church edifice was dedicated on the 10th of July, 1856, by Rev. Ransom Dunn. The cost was $1,600, and, in 1863, the society built a $f.000 parsonage. The original membership was eight; the present is thirty. The Trustees are F. Newland, C. Tinkham and P. P. Tucker, who also is Clerk. John Hogben is Deacon, and Rev. J. P. Hewes, Pastor. This first church of the town, at the present writing, is the scene of unusual religious interest. The First Regular Baptist Church of Metomen, at Fairwater, was organized March 30, 1851; the Council was held April 30, 1851. Original membership, thirteen. Elder Peck was the organizing Pastor. Their church was dedicated in July, 1860. The society was at one time quite flourishing, but by deaths and removals has become very small. It is now nominally a branch of the Ripon Baptist Church, but most of the former members attend and help support the Free-Will Baptist Church of Fairwater. No regular services are now held in the church; it is the temporary lodge-room of the Good Templars.

The temperance people of Fairwater and vicinity organized Lodge No. 111, of I. O. of Good Templars, on the 9th day of February, 1876. The officials are: W. C. T., Frank Hunt; R. S., Warren Batson; Lodge Deputy, Frank Collins. They have a membership of forty, and are in good working condition.

The first Evangelical Lutheran Church of East Fairwater was organized at a meeting held on the 21st of June, 1872. The presiding and recording officers of said meeting were William North and Louis Dreis, The first Pastor was Rev. G. Heolzel, who began his pastor- ate in the autumn of 1872, and a church was erected the saine season. The membership includes forty-seven familics. The President of the Board of Trustees is Gottlieb Klawon, and the Clerk is H. Kath.

The leading industry of Fairwater is the flouring-mill of N. C. Hurlburt. The Post- master is J. H. Brown. The village has two general stores, one flouring-mill, one blacksmith- shop, one shoe-shop. two carpenter-shops, one stonemason, a post office. one secret society, two ministers, three churches and one saloon.

REED'S CORNERS AND METOMEN.

The northern portion of Metomen was settled as early as the western, and several of the first settlers located in the vicinity of what is known as Reed's Corners. A post office was established at that point in 1852, with Giles Eggleston as Postmaster. In 1847, a Weslevan Church society was organized by Rev. Marcellus Barnum, but no church was built until 1857. This organization was consolidated with or merged into a Congregational society on the 21st of May, 1865, and Rev. S. Bristol was their first Pastor. The church property was deeded by the Trustees of the former Wesleyan society to the new organization, which is named the " Sec- ond Congregational Church of Metomen," and is located at Reed's Corners. The Deacons are MI. Barnum, L. Stillwell and G. C. Goodfellow. The Clerk is H. E. Stillwell. Pastor, Rev. Heman Safford. Membership, thirty-two.

Rev. W. G. Miller, Methodist, held meetings on Section 2, near Reed's Corners, in 1846. Services were afterward discontinued, but, in 1860, were revived by Rev. S. S. Lang, who organized a class and appointed S. T. Wilsie Class Leader. Their present church edifice was built in 1866, during the pastorate of Rev. A. A. Reed. The Trustees are S. T. Wilsie, N.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Van Camp, J. B. Russell, N. A. Miller and T. Hutchinson. The charge is connected with Brandon, and is served by Rev. Jesse Cole, as Pastor. Present membership about thirty.

The place was once of local importance, and had stores, shops, depot, post office, etc., but in 1873, the post office and depot were removed half a mile south and the station named Meto- men. The location of the two churches at Reed's Corners gives it prominence. It receives its name from Warren Reed, deceased, who was actively identified with the locality.

Metomen is the other railroad station in the township, besides Brandon. It has no busi- ness houses, stores, shops or manufactories. The post office is in official charge of Mrs. E. Reynolds.

There are two cheese factories in the town, one established by HI. C. Kibbie, on Sec- tion 18, in 1871. The other by Hazen & Norris, on Section 26, in 1872. The town is noted for its pleasant farmhouses and spacious, substantial barns. Probably no portion of Wisconsin can show so large a percentage of first-class barns as Metomen and the few surround- ing towns. The contents of these barns are supposed to be more secure because of the existence of a thoroughly organized Protective Association, with fully seventy members. The name suggests its purpose. E. Reynolds is President, and R. M. Wilse, Secretary. In 1875, the town had a population of 1,838, and will doubtless show its proportionate growth according to the census of 1880. More than the usual percentage of old pioneers still retain their original purchases from the United States Government. There are eleven schoolhouses and nine churches in the town : the people, being largely from New England, are of the class which builds churches and schoolhouses very soon after securing their first cabin homes. Metomen is a choice town, both in the fertility of its soil and in the character of its inhabitants.

OAKFIELD.

This is a rich, prosperous and pleasant town. It was erected into the town of Lime by an act approved February 2, 1846, and the name changed to Oakfield February 10, 1847. The extensive and rich quarries of limestone afforded by the "Ledge," in Township 14 north, of Range 16 east, suggested the name of Lime, and the beautiful oak openings suggested the pres- ent name of Oakfield. It is about equally divided between the high oak openings and prairie. That portion of Horicon Marsh which extends into Oakfield has been drained, and is now mostly tillable land. The Ledge is very prominent in this town. It furnishes lime, building material, delicious springs and picturesque scenery -.. Darling's Gap," a wild spot near the vil- lage of Oakfield, being the most notable and attractive. Its winding crevices, deep caverns, overhanging precipices and vast domes of disintegrated rocks attract thousands of tourists and pienickers.

The first settlement was begun in 1840, south of the present village of Oakfield, by Rus- sell Wilkinson, who came with his family from Rensselaer County, N. Y., carly that year, and built a log house. The Winnebago Indians were very numerons about the Ledge then, owing to the abundance of game in its retreats, and were highly displeased by the invasion of the pale- face. They stole nearly everything he possessed that was movable, and finally burned his home with all its contents. Mr. Wilkinson then procured a yoke of oxen and removed his wife, who was in delicate health, to the house of Edward Pier, at Fond du Lac. The Indians then held undisputed sway in that section until October, 1843, when Mr. Wilkinson and his brother Rob- ert returned to the farm and made a perminent settlement. They were for some time the only white denizens of the town, but were joined not much later by John Wilkinson, John Beirne, S. Botsford and Messrs. Silvernail, Hubbard and Hazen. When once the richness and warmth of the soil, the beauty of the location and the healthfulness of the climate became generally known, the town settled with wonderful rapidity, and has always maintained itself in the front rank of prosperous and populous towns.

The first town election was held in April, 1846, at Russell Wilkinson's house, at which C. T. Rich was chosen Supervisor, and Lorenzo Hazen, Clerk.

In 1844, Lorenzo Hazen was one of the leaders in forming the Washingtonian Society, the first regularly organized temperance society in the county.

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IHISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The first birth was Martha, daughter of Robert Wilkinson, in May, 1844.

The first death was that of John Wilkinson, killed by the fall of a tree in 1846. The neighbors, meager in numbers and poor as they were, massed their means, and paid for the "forty " which Mr. Wilkinson had entered, but not paid for, and gave it to his stricken family. Russell Wilkinson died suddenly May 4, 1847.

The first marriage was Thomas Burns to Elizabeth Stene in 1844.

The first school was taught in 1845, by Mariah Moore, afterward Mrs. A. Hubbard, in a schoolhouse built that year on Section 14. The town now contains eight schoolhouses.

The first sermon was preached in February, 1845, by Rev. Harvey Bronson, at Russell Wilkinson's house. The first church was not erected until 1852, by the Congregationalists, on Section 22.

The first post office was established at Avoca, one mile east of what is now the village of Oakfield, on Section 13. Isaac Orvis was the first Postmaster. Ilenry Cornell is the present Postmaster of Oakfield, as it has many years been called.

The first mill was a saw-mill, built in 1844 by J. Allen. In 1851, Col. Henry Conklin built the first flouring mill, at a cost of $12,000, on the East Branch of Fond du Lac River, near the village of Avoca.

The first store was opened in 1845, on Section 22, by William I. Ripley.

In 1869, Strong & Hammond built the first cheese factory in the town.

In 1852, the Chicago & North-Western Railway was built through Oakfield. It maintains two stations in the town-Oakfield and Oak Center.

The town of Oakfield never granted license to sell liqnors of any kind as a beverage.

Oak Center is the geographical center of the town. It has a post office, store and elevator.

The Journal of September 15, 1848, said : " A fragment of a bowl or vase was presented to us last week, which was found in the town of Oakfield, ten inches under ground. It is about a quarter of an inch thick, marked with parallel lines and dots. The curve indicates the vessel to have been fourteen inches in diameter. The substance appears to be a brown clay burned." Many other similar relies have been found in the town.

OAKFIELD VILLAGE.

The first village in the town of Oakfield was called Avoca, and was situated on Section 13, on the " old plank road." Ilere were opened the first mill and established the first post office. When the Rock River Valley Union Railway was put through the town the center of trade was transferred to the present site of Oakfield, one mile west of Avoca. It is one of the most pleas- ant inland hamlets in the county. From the residences on the hill, Fond du Lac. Lamartine, Mount Calvary Monastery, the whole sweep of Lake Winnebago and a stretch of thirty miles of hill and prairie can be seen, and the Ledge, only a few rods back of the village, is a resort of all pleasure parties in the vicinity.

The most prominent industry, Putnam & Blair's sash, door and blind factory, was torn down and removed in 1879, after years of prosperity.

The cheese factory, built by Strong & Hammond, in 1860, now owned by Bristol & Orvis. is prosperous.

The Vermont House, so named because its builder came from Vermont, is owned and man- aged by William H. Brown. It is the only hotel in Oakfield. Since coming into possession of the house in 1876, Mr. Brown has enlarged and improved it.

The physicians are William Moore, J. W. Burns and G. B. Durand. Burns Bros .. of which firm Dr. J. W. Burns is a member, have the only drug store.

The general stores are by W. S. Russell, Bristol & Worthing and II. Cornell.

Bogie & McDonald have the only meat market.

Oakfield Lodge, No. 158, A. F. & A. M., was granted a dispensation February 22. 1866, and a charter June 13 of the same year. with the following charter members : William Moore, N. Filby, H. Cornell, O. Hatch, S. G. Pickett, D. H. Spencer and Theodore Conklin. The

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

first officers were: S. G. Pickett, Master ; H. Cornell, Senior Warden ; N. Filby, Junior War- den ; T. Conklin, Secretary ; and D. H. Spencer, Treasurer. The Lodge now has fifty mem- bers ; rents a hall in Il. Cornell's building. The present officers are: J. W. Burns, W. M .: William Moore, S. W .; H. A. Burns, J. W .; II. A. Ripley, Secretary ; William Worthing, Treasurer. The first officers elected after the charter had been granted were: H. Cornell, W. M .; William Moore, S. W., and N. Filby, J. W.

Oakfield Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F., was organized December 24, 1869, with the follow- ing charter members : John Hubbard, E. A. Hubbard, Thomas Burns, A. H. Odell, Michael Foley, J. E. Collins. The first officers were : N. Filby, P. G .; J. H. Hubbard, N. G .; E. A. Hubbard, V. G .; M. B. Dille, P. S .; Treasurer, A. H. Odell. The present officers are: A. A. Swan, P. G .: E. T. Hitt, N. G .; W. S. Orvis, V. G .; L. R. Wells, R. S .; J. W. Burns, P. S .; Thomas Burns, Treasurer. The Lodge is in good working order, and has forty-two members. Meetings are held in Masonic Hall.

The Sons of Temperance organized along in the fifties, but disbanded when the war broke out. H. D. Ilitt was the first Worthy Patriarch.

Wide-Awake Lodge, No. 504, I. O. G. T., was organized in September, 1879, P. E. Gil- son being the first Worthy Chief. The Lodge is wide-awake in more than name. It now has thirty-five members, with frequent additions. P. E. Gilson still holds the office of Worthy Chief.

Oakfield Grange, No. 55, was organized in 1872 with H. D. Hitt as Master. The lodge has a fine hall over the cheese factory, and holds regular meetings at which all farm, fruit and dairy topics are discussed in their season. The lodge now numbers forty thrifty farmers, with Levi Large as Master. The Patron's Aid Society is a branch of the Grange, which secures for the family of any member at his death an assessment of $1 from cach member in the State. II. D. IIitt, who is one of the Directors of this branch, was also one of its originators.

The Union Church was built in 1867, by a stock company, at a cost of $4,000 for build- ing, site and furniture. The organization consists of about one hundred members who are stock- holders. The building is free to be used by any denomination, and was erected with that plan in view. The first officers were : H. D. Hitt, President ; J. T. White, Treasurer, and E. A. Putnam, Secretary. The present officers are : II. D. Hitt, President ; William Worthing, Secre- tary, and Henry Cornell, Treasurer.

Grace Episcopal Church had its origin in an Episcopal Sunday school started in 1857 in District No. 10, by Mrs. L. Russell and T. J. Wood. A school teacher named Palmer then began lay-reading, and a sermon or two by Rev. George B. Eastman, of Fond du Lac, increased the interest, and Mrs. Russell and Mrs. N. Filby began the collection of funds for the erection of a church edifice. They were aided by Mrs. Robert Kinninment, in Brooklyn, N. Y. Finally, a meeting for organizing the church was held, and the gathering lacking one of the number required by law to complete the legal formation, Mrs. L. Russell crossed the field and asked in William Butler, who then donated the site for the edifice. The consecration of the building, erected on Section 13 but moved to its present location in Oakfield Village in 1868 or 1869, took place in 1861, by Bishop Kemper. The first Pastor was Rev. Turner ; present Pastor, Rev. W. E. Wright, residing at Waupun. The first officers were N. Filby, Senior Warden, and Robert Palmer, Junior Warden.

Avoca Cemetery, platted in 1856, on Section 13, by H. D. Ilitt and N. Filby, covers two and one-quarter acres of ground, and is an unusually neat and well-kept burial place. It is beau- tifully shaded by deciduous and evergreen trees. The first officers were H. D. Hitt. N. Filby and Jacob Avery. The present officers are W. W. Wheeler, H. D. Hitt and A. H. Steen.

The first elevator in Oakfield was built in 1868 by George W. King. It burned, and he erected in its place the present fine steam elevator, which some seasons is compelled to run night and day. The proprietors are George W. King & Son.

M. R. Hubbard & George W. King erected a large steam hay-press which began a thriving business early in 1880. It is the only steam press in the county.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Willard & Morgan built a steam saw-mill in the winter of 1879-80. It is also fitted with machinery for turning out materials for various kinds of hardwood work.

The Henry Conklin mills, built in 1851, run now by H. Hanson and owned by C. K. Pier ; the Avoca mills, built by Mr. Large and run by Charles Frensel, and the Stroup mills, built by Isaac Orvis, are flouring-mills near Oakfield Village, all situated on the East Branch of the Fond du Lac River.

O. W. Willard has a large stone wagon factory, the only one in Oakfield.

The school is graded and very thorough, although managed on the district plan.

OSCEOLA.

The name of the famous chief of the Florida Indians is perpetuated in the name of this town-Township 14 north, of Range 19 east. It is rich in timber, small lakes, fish and wild waterfowl. The town was named by W. R. Longstreet. It was first settled, probably, in 1845, by Washington Noble, James Farr, and Peter Radliff, at what is now Waucousta. About eight months later, W. R. Longstreet, John Beeson, William Mitchell and Silas Allen settled at the same place, and John Graham, William Oliver, John Airhart, Joseph Cavanagh and others soon after settled in other parts of the town.

The first birth was in William Oliver's family in 1847 ; Byron, son of John and Louisa Graham, was born March 14, 1849.

The first marriage was that of Washington Noble to IJelen Airhart.

In February, 1849, the infant daughter of Michael and Ellen Scannell died, and later the same year, Mrs. Noble died-the first death in Osceola.

The first election was held in April, 1851, when the town was set off from Eden. Rev. J. W. Whitney was elected Chairman; W. R. Longstreet, Superintendent of Schools ; William Mitchell, Clerk ; Leander Mayhew, Treasurer.

In 1850, Sarah J. Walters taught the first school, at the house of N. Carey. In the win- ter of that year a schoolhouse was erected on Section S. The town now contains seven good schoolhouses. The first sermon was preached in William Mitchell's house, by Rev. John W. Whitney, in 1847 ; probably the first church edifice was built in 1855 or 1856, on Section 2, by the Catholics.

The first post office was called Osceola, as it is still. C. W. Prescott was the first Post- master.

Post offices are now open at Dundee, Waucousta and Armstrong's Corners-the latter named after Asher Armstrong.

The first saw-mill and first grist-mill were built at Waucousta, by John Beeson-the former probably in 1848; the latter two or three years later. Both were on Middle Branch of the Milwaukee River.

C. W. Prescott entered the first land-northeast quarter of Section 9-in 1846.

William Crosby built the first cheese factory in 1877, at Waucousta.

The first Irish settler was Michael Scannell, 1848 ; first German, John Airhart ; first Scotchman, William Mitchell ; first Americans, William Oliver and John Graham.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 114

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