The pioneers of Outagamie County, Wisconsin : containing the records of the Outagamie County Pioneer Association; also a biographical and historical sketch of some of the earliest settlers of the county, and their families, their children, and grand-children, Part 10

Author: Spencer, Elihu
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Appleton, Wis. : Post Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 314


USA > Wisconsin > Outagamie County > The pioneers of Outagamie County, Wisconsin : containing the records of the Outagamie County Pioneer Association; also a biographical and historical sketch of some of the earliest settlers of the county, and their families, their children, and grand-children > Part 10


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Daniel Huntley directed attention to the urgent need of better facilities for the education of farmers' boys. In the matter of education he said, farmers are far behind the times. He instanced many places where a $500 school house, illy maintained and with no adequate instructors,


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was surrounded by $5,000 pioneers' homesteads. The need in the matter of education, was for an exhibition of a little of the spirit that has animated pioneers in the past in other undertakings.


H. D. Ryan uttered a serio-humorous warning against woman's suffrage. He said he desired to see all men stand- ing on a level, but he didn't want women at the polls. He said that women were not needed to straighten out tangled political questions; that the great trouble in the world was that men did not understand each other better and better appreciate each others' ideas, and thus render possible effectual and concerted work.


Henry Dickerson spoke of the delightful quality of pioneer hospitality in the old days even when the comforts available were scanty. The heart that dictated and the hand that executed were moved by the true spirit of hospi- tality. Many of the warmest friendships found their beginning in pioneer days, and their ending is not yet.


At the conclusion of the speeches a vote of thanks was tendered to Mrs. McGillan and her associates for the excel- lent music contributed, and the meeting was closed by the singing of "America," in which all joined.


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Pioneers' Meeting, Feb. 22, 1888.


The Outagamie County Pioneer Association met pur- suant to notice in South Masonic Hall, in Appleton, Feb. 22, 1888, for their annual festival. The meeting was called to order at 10 a. m. by John Dey, the president; E. Spencer was present as secretary.


The first business in order was the election of officers for the ensuing year. John Dey was elected president; Joseph Rork, vice-president; John McGillan, treasurer, and E. Spencer, secretary; executive committee, Wm. F. Johnston, John McGillan, Matthew McComb, Charles Spicer and Geo. H. Myers.


The afternoon session commenced promptly at 1:30 o'clock. The day and occasion had brought out a very full attendance of pioneers and their friends, from both the city and country, and the somewhat restricted dimensions of the hall were almost uncomfortably crowded. Music was furnished by a quartette consisting of the Misses Mead and Woodhead and Messrs. Cole and Wheeler.


When order had been restored the first exercise of the afternoon was an organ solo by Miss McGillan. Rev. John Faville followed by offering a prayer. President John Dey spoke feelingly of the ones who, since the last gathering, had departed hence to be at rest forever. After music by Mrs. McGillan and Miss McGillan the annual address was delivered by the Hon. Humphrey Pierce. This effort re- quires no praise, it speakes for itself. The full text is as follows:


Sympathy is one of the great controlling powers over the actions of mankind; that feeling common to the human breast, quickening in unison in a cause in which an inter- est common to all centers, often resulting in great good, always, when guided by reason, rarely in evil.


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From this attribute arose the great religious enthusiasm of the Crusaders and led them on to the deliverance of Jerusalem.


Depicting the wrong, insults and sufferings of the peo- ple of the Holy Land, inflicted upon them by the barbarian Turks, aroused a religious enthusiasm that knew no bounds. It was the first great power laid hold upon and wielded with so much success by Peter the Hermit and Pope Urban II.


The element of power is present and as active to-day as of old. It takes hold upon and moves the few as well as the many; it serves the bad as well as the good purposes of men; anarchy builds upon it and thrives by it when turned from its true purpose and guided by unreasoning passion.


The pioneers of Outagamie county acknowledge its power for good and obey its mandate in coming together on this national holiday to pay tribute to the memory of those who have gone before with the record of a well rounded life, and renew and repledge, among those who still remain, one to the other, the ties of lifelong friend- ship.


Having by choice settled within the limits of what is now Outagamie county they united in one common cause, the subduing the wilderness to peaceful homes, producing farms and thriving cities.


The comforts and advantages of a high civilization, won by industry, persistent toil and economy are theirs to enjoy with a gratification known to those only who possess by right of their own individual eflort.


Starting out as an organization as late as the year 1872, the right of membership limited to those who settled in the county prior to July 4, 1853, the pioneers have already extended the right of membership to all residents prior to 1860, sweeping away the bar to fellowship of seven years, a full period in life's journey, in an organized existence of sixteen years.


Looking backward the line of pioneers already lengthens until lost to the remembrance of those now living. Death has thinned the ranks; the spirit of change and adventure


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has taken some into far western lands, away from the circle around the altar to day; time has laid its hand even upon the fold and forced a recognition of the inevitable.


Into the thinned ranks the new ones welcomed have come, the battle half won, taking their place to share in victory or suffer defeat as they prove true or false. It is the history of the human race since the beginning, re- peatedly within this limited circle.


Later pioneers have ever been taking the place of the elder. Men do not live for themselves alone; else life were void and not worth the living. All cannot succeed equally; that seems to be the law of necessity. Were all, perforce, equally successful, ambition would die, and ambition, rightly directed and controlled, is a noble and essential quality of the human character; without, there would be nothing to pioneer, no pioneers.


Those who came and made for the family a home, gathered and enjoyed the first rude comforts of early life in the forests, have made a record worthy of the best, and dying leave behind them a grateful remembrance by those who, living after, inherit the fruits of the early toil, and taking guide, stride on to fortune.


Those who came and still are here may well feel proud in forming this circle to-day. Amid the wilderness they have homes with plenty and to spare. The struggle, long and hard, the spirit of the pioneer has been cqual to the task; nothing short of victory would satisfy.


That which is hardest to win is prized the most; the harder the task the greater the joy in the finishing; look- ing backward upon the trials, the risks, the doubts and fears, the harvest is doubly prized.


Those who gain to save are the most valuable to the world. Waste is not a virtue, but a lack of it; sloth and indolence are waste in its worst form, and those invested with them are burdens to the industrious and saving; to these faults and improvidence, may be traced the cause of nine-tenths of the pauperism of this country. Take away the habits of industry and economy and the whole world becomes a pauper in creation.


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That Outagamie county has been and is now the home of an energetic, industrious and saving people, needs but a glance to show. In years the county is young; in all things that go to make up human happiness and lift the people in the scale of existence, it is second to no other county in the State. In intelligence, the people rank with the best. Compared in population and age, as much money and effort has been spent for religious and educational pur- poses as in the most favored county in the State. The evidence of this and of the general thrift of the people is everywhere abundant, in general wealth among all, none can make a better showing with the same limitations.


The natural desire to better one's condition led some who were early in the struggle to seek a more favored spot. Tracing them up from their going will not satisfy one that they have reason to rejoice in the parting with the place of their first choice.


The old adage "A rolling stone gathers no moss" often brings to them regrets in its reminder of their mistake. A few may have escaped its force. Every rule has its exception, and, in taking risks, all hope to get within the exception, but the heart most often grows sick from hope deferred.


To those who seek to shirk the burdens of life, success never comes; the seeker of an easier way never feels the real joy of victory. He who grapples with the problem he meets with all the force he can bring to bear, though it take a lifetime to solve it, finds in his success that which repays him for all and which none other can enjoy. .


To those who bring about results, having abundance to aid them, should not be given the greatest, nor equal credit. Washington, whose birthday we celebrate, won not his greatness by doing what he did for his country, having all his heart could desire at his call. His great genius and love of country shone brightest in his contest with a powerful foe, well armed, well fed, well clothed and thoroughly disciplined; while his own band of defenders, comparatively, were few in numbers, poorly clad, half starved, at times almost without means of defense. There


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was no song in his ears, "We are coming father Abraham, 300,000 more," to cheer and encourage. The work stood out before him a great barrier to the march of liberty and justice. It was enough to appal the strongest heart. An easier way lay open to his choice. With no thought but that of victory, he went straight forward to the work. To fail was ignominous death.


History shows us an example of constancy, stern devotion to country and to duty, unyielding determination and per- severance through the darkest hours and the greatest uncertainty, characterized by a Christian spirit and crowned glorious success that has never been equalled in ancient or modern times. What must have been the feelings of Wash- ington, when, after victory had came, his country, an independent, happy and united people, he looked back over the ground scene of his successful pioneer life through which he had passed with those he loved. Public honors, military rank and political preferment, all left out of the account, there was that still left which brought supreme happiness and contentment, a mind at piece with itself, the consummation of all human desire.


Generations may come and go and the long years may never bring about the time when another shall be called upon to prove his worth and devotion, to the same degree, in a cause upon which hangs such grand results. But the way is open to every one to make his life as grand, noble and devoted in the common affairs of life. True greatness does not hang upon the size of the affairs with which we have to do, but truly rests upon the well doing of that to which we may be called. Anything worth doing at all demands energy, integrity and persistence.


False pride and pomp are the weak points in life; they capture and hold fast and rule through their very weak- ness; they rob us of true courage, make integrity wait upon vanity, constancy upon popular applause. Every stroke guided and tempered by them is shorn of the true ring of life's battle and gives but a hollow sound.


May not the pioneers of Outagamie say, at least, they have tried to be faithful in their life work; may they not


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point to their churches, colleges and schools, their homes and the evidences of great thrift, energy and civilization, that are found on every part and parcel within her bound- aries, as proof, and truthfully claim for themselves an honest and persistent effort to leave to those who may come after them the best results it were possible for them in life to obtain.


At the conclusion of the address a collection to defray expenses was taken up and amounted to $12.54.


Anecdotes and experiences of pioneer life were then re- lated by Rev. John Faville, Mr. Breiterick of Ellington, Wm. Briggs of Appleton, Mr. Manley of Ellington.


After a song by the quartette the committee, consisting of P. S. Bennett, Joseph Rork and G. H. Myers, appointed in the forenoon to prepare resolutions upon the death of the late Col. H. L. Blood, reported the same as ready to be submitted. The resolutions were read by Rev. Mr. Bennett as follows:


The committee appointed to prepare a suitable notice of the late Henry L. Blood, so suddenly removed by death, respectfully present the following for your consideration:


WHEREAS, We the members of Outagamie County Pioneer Asso- ciation assembled in Appleton on this 22d day of February, 1888, for our annual reunion, have just learned of the death of one of our most esteemed members, Col. Henry L. Blood, he being among the earliest settlers of Appleton, and ever holding a warm place in the hearts of those who knew him, be it


Resolved, That as it has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove him from our circle we reverently submit to the sad event, but shall ever cherish a pleasant memory of our honored brother.


That this Association tender to the bereft and sorrowing family our earnest sympathy in their affliction (such as none but those who have experienced it knows) and pray that while the right hand of the Infinite has inflicted the blow, the hand nearest the heart may sustain the sufferers.


That the secretary be and hereby is instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to the bereaved family, and to the press of the city for publication. J. RORK,


P. S. BENNETT, Committee.


Appleton, Feb. 22, 1888.


G. H. MYERS.


At the conclusion of the reading the resolutions were adopted by a unanimous vote; and appropriate remarks


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were made by members present who had been intimately acquainted with the deceased during lis lifetime.


Matthew McComb of Hortonville then related some of his pioneer experiences, among them an amusing account of the fish wedding once solmonized in the town of Hor- tonia. Mr. McComb was followed by Mr. Huntley. The last speaker was Joseph Rork, who spoke of his former re- lations with the late Col. H. L. Blood. The closing music was by Mrs. McGillan and her daughter, and the benedic- tion was pronounced by Elder Bennett.


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Pioneers' Meeting, Feb. 22, 1889.


The annual meeting of the Outagamie Pioneer Associa- tion met pursuant to notice at Odd Fellows' Hall, at 10 o'clock a. m. The meeting was called to order by John Dey the president; E. Spencer was present as secretary. Forty or fifty pioneers from the county were present, a very good representation, considering the severity of the weather.


The first business in order was the election of officers for the ensuing year, which was accomplished as follows: President, John Dey; vice-president, Joseph Rork; treas- urer, John McGillan; secretary, E. Spencer; executive committee, William F. Johnston, Henry Kethroe, C. E. Spicer, J. S. Buck and Daniel Huntley.


At noon the association adjourned for dinner.


Immediately after the noon adjournment a sumptuous repast, prepared by the ladies, was partaken of in true pioneer style. After the remains had been cleared away, at 1:30 o'clock order was again called and the afternoon exercises were inaugurated. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. C. Jackson and opening remarks made by the president. Vice-President Rork then spoke of the departed pioneers. After music by Prof. Silvester and choir, the annual address was delivered by Mr. H. D. Ryan, as follows:


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Mr. President and Friends:


These meetings are profitable and pleasant to the par- ticipants, and valuable to the great procession behind us. The deeds done by those who made the early beginnings in our county are here recalled and recorded. Then the history so made is written and will soon be inestimable. Therefore, any event, however trivial, should not be neg- lected. Many of you have in your libraries some history, or books giving the events of the late war, and when the last page is finished, only a broad sweep of the larger events of that war have been read; yet when the partici- pants gather at camp fires or reunions and recount again the story of the war, fresh from the lips of the gallant boys who stood in the midst of raining shot and shell, and looked at the red carnage in the jaws of the monster war- only then does its magnitude, its events, its very life in death, enter fully into one's thought.


In December, 1852, a small lad had a choice of either learning a trade or going to college. His parents, then living at Fort Howard, opposite Green Bay, preferred the latter. Bargaining with them for the choice of trade and the kind as well, the boy selected the former. Therefore, in January, 1853, a few days before Franklin's birthday, which usually is celebrated by printers on the seventeenth of that month, accompanying a load of printing material on a double sleigh, the team driven by N. A. Schmit (liv- ing, I think, in Ellington), the speaker came to Appleton. 'Twas nearly 11 p. m .- the coldest night of that very cold winter-when he left the sleigh at the "Edgarton House" (now "Park") at the corner of Drew street, and trudged through the snow and over stumps to the National Hotel, on the corner of Lawe and the avenue. Thomas Hanna let him into his hospitable inn. There was no fire and the bed was awful cold that dreadful night. When the lad looked out next morning and saw three houses in the vicinity ("Squire " Bateman's, J. P. Buck's and "The Store ") then a sea of stumps to the west, and asking the little landlord where the town was located, received reply


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that it was all around there, you can never realize how lonesome and forlorn that. boy felt.


Homesick! Oh no! Just a trifle subdued like! Only a sort of longing for something lacking, mingled with a sickly effort to feel proud and courageous. I want to say right here that any boy or "feller," who never was the least bit sentimental about "Home, Sweet Home" on his first venture out in the great world, must have inherited other than human blood or else must be less than human.


When the first Crescent was printed, with Henry S. Eggleston as political editor, Sam Ryan (then Junior was attached to the rear of his name) as local editor, C. D. Foote as pressman and compositor, and Henry D. Ryan as devil, it was about 8 p. m., I believe, in Feb. 1853. The office was surrounded by a large crowd of excited people eager for the event, and a great struggle for the first copy ensued, which fell to the hands of Ansel B. Briggs or A. B. Everts. A few evenings after, the event was celebrated by a public meeting and speeches at the wooden school house, then located on the present site of the Second ward school building on Appleton street. I only recollect one incident of this meeting, and that was when a man named Fuller, who was somewhat celeberated as being rather tedious as a speaker, but who generally had something to offer, arose, cleared his throat with emphasis, addressed the chair, was about to address the meeting, when a strong voice in the rear part of the room broke in upon the scene with: "Haw Buck! Haw Bright!" and the hit was so pat that the audience broke forth in uncontrollable laughter, that continued until the speaker sat down. The would-be speaker was in the practice of thus driving his oxen through the village in a loud voice.


About those days the leading business men were J. W. Woodward or C. G. Adkins, A. McNaughton (J. S. Buck, manager), Phinney Bros., A. C. Darling, a druggist named Bennett, W. S. Warner, Reeder Smith, Charles Mory and "Uncle Peter" White.


The lawyers were A. S. Sanborn, Smith & Ballard, Geo, H. Myers and Fred Packard,


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Mr. Packard, who was clerk of the county board under a deputyship, was a scholarly, educated man, but quite eccentric. One morning a farmer had been waiting from an early hour for Mr. Packard to open his office. As the latter finally appeared, he said to that official: "Mr. Pack- ard, you know 'tis the early bird catches the worm!" The reply came instantly, with a dry chuckle: "Served the worm right! Served the worm right! He'd no business to get up so early!"


Some of the other leading men here in addition to those named were the late Henry L. Blood, O. W. Clark, Theo. Conkey, Jackson Tibbets, John F. Johnston, Col. William Johnston, J. H. "Squire" Marston, Wmn. Rork, T. P. Bing- ham, A. B. Randall, Amos Storey, Geo. M. Robinson, A. B. Bowen, Dr. B. Douglas, James Gilmore, Robert Morrow, J. P. Hawley, Joseph Rork, R. A. Lawe, C. P. Richmond, and many others.


The Avenue was largely filled with stumps, which were mostly burned or dug out during the years 1853-4. There was then a rickety bridge (impassable) over the big ravine, afterwards dirt-filled by Thomas Hanna's persistency and skill under much opposition.


Every new enterprise, from the building and location of the court house to that of a sidewalk, met with discussion and opposition, and charges of corruption were as rife then as now, with generally no basis except a vague imagina- tion. Public men are usually liberally lied about in this "land of liberty." My own opinion is, that there is less dishonesty among our public men than in any of the great nations, considering the opportunities; and I really think these charges are made largely as political ammunition for use in firing the prejudices of the dear voter just before election more than from an honest belief in their truth.


The people here lived in a frugal way, were moderate in their demands. One limited meat market, usually having a scant supply of meats, sufficed for the village. The National Hotel didn't indulge in a printed bill of fare, yet the landlord always presented enough of quality and quantity.


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The roads were bad enough-often impassable. In the spring of 1853 I returned by stage to Green Bay, going from Wrightstown at 9 p. m. and reaching the Bay at 9:15 the following morning. Much of the distance of fifteen miles the mud and water reached the hubs. It rained nearly all night, only interlarded with lightning and thunder. Trees in many places had fallen across the road, necessi- tating the passengers getting out and walking around while the driver (Jones) drove over the obstruction. Speak- ing of a similar storm at the same locality, the late Judge A. G. Miller said in the old United States Hotel, Green Bay, one day at the dinner table: "I never was out in such a terrible storm. The rain poured down in torrents; the lightning belched forth in livid sheets, lighting the whole sky. I got under a large oak tree, and expected every minute the lightning would strike that tree." Just at this point Hon. Moses M. Strong, who was present exclaimed: "Why in thunder didn't you take another tree, judge?"


The college was in those days a power, a strong force in shaping the tone of the community through its literary exercises, and a guide and leader in public opinion. Every Saturday forenoon the chapel of Lawrence Institute was filled with the town folks to hear the students' oratoricals, essays, papers, etc., and the other exhibitions were simi- larly appreciated.


There were many notably pretty girls in the college at that time, among others Miss Helen Day, Miss Emery, Miss Thomas, Miss Sanford, Miss Hannah K. Smith, Miss Ada M. Grant, being the most noted (in fact, the early girls are always lovely.)


Those who were pioneers in settling and founding this western civilization are rapidly passing into the newer and better land. The ranks of veterans are yearly growing thinner.


"To the past go more dead faces Every year, As the loved leave vacant places Every year;


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Everywhere the sad eyes greet us, In the evening's dusk they meet us, And to come to them entreat us, Every year.


"You are growing old," they tell us, Every year; "You are more alone," they tell us, Every year; Old places changing fret us, The living more forget us, There are fewer to regret us, Every year.


A few years and other eyes will look into other eyes, other faces will fill those assemblies, other voices will break in upon the quiet air with laughter and song. Yet little to us will it matter if our record is rounded out in deeds that shine. The pioneers here will soon be a memory. May they never be forgotten.


At the conclusion of the address a collection to defray expenses was taken up amounting to $14.40. Those who spoke subsequently were Henry Kethroe of Hortonia, Rev. John Faville, M. R. Barteau, Charles Breiterick of Elling- ton, Mr. Thirteen of Ellington, Rev. A. A. Drown, Daniel Huntley, Rev. J. C. Jackson, Judge Sam Ryan, and John McGillan of Center. Historical papers were presented from James Dean of Seymour City, G. R. Downer of Sey- mour Town, and Charles Wolcott, now of Georgia.




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