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 7

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 7


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22


Human greed early planned to make some money by drawing our students into amusements which were pro hibited by our rules. At the close of school hours one day, I called the attention of the students to the subject in the chapel and advised them to pay no attention to the matter, as they were not here for such purposes; that it would be of no service in fitting them for their life work; that they were here at the expense of parents and friends, and that it would bring them into trouble. The result was no one went, which greatly exasperated those who had provided for the entertainment, because "the hopes of their gains were gone." They were overheard to say, the best thing to do would be to start a public school, break Lawrence, "drive these d-d Methodist preachers out of the coun- try, and put some one in charge of Lawrence that can be religious without being pious." The Methodist preachers encouraged the establishment of the public schools and helped what they could till they were equal to any in other cities of our size; but it did not drive them out of the country.


We have so often listened to rehearsals of the early his- tory of the city and surrounding country, that anything new will not be expected from me, and I need not bore you with the rehearsals of stale and unimportant incidents. Most, if not all, the old settlers highly appreciate pure, true, moral and religious character, which is the most valuable inheritance that we can treasure up in this life, and many of them are ambitious to secure and maintain it at any reasonable sacrifice. In spite of all the obstacles in the path of success, many of them have procured that priceless treasure, and directly or indirectly have con tributed to the success of others who have gone out to do a grand work in the same direction in other parts of our great and growing nation. Over two hundred and fifty have left Appleton bearing college honors, and a much greater number with academic and public school advant- ages, who carry with them more or less of the moral and


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religious influence received from the old settlers during their school days. These students are filling most respon- sible positions, some on the judge's bench, some at the bar, some in the sacred desk, some at the bedside of suffering ones, some in legislative halls, some occupy the chair of the college president, some the professor's chair; indeed, almost every honorable and laudable calling in this great nation has a representative from the schools in Appleton. This fact should be an encouragement and an inspiration to every remaining old settler to aim at the truest and noblest moral character attainable in this life, that we may confer the greatest possible good upon all who may come within our influence.


Music on organ by Miss McGillan. Singing by Mrs. Jas. McGillan. Remarks by Chas. Breiterick, of Ellington.


Collection taken to the amount of $12.25.


Remarks by Judge Ryan giving a brief recital of the improvements and future prospects of Appleton. Com- munication read by the secretary from Rev. W. H. Sampson, the first regular pastor of the M. E. church of Appleton. Remarks by Joseph Rork suitable on the death of our late president, Harmon Jones.


Music by the Misses McGillan. Remarks by A. B. Murch, a former editor of the Appleton Free Press. Remarks by J. F. Johnston, Appleton's first postmaster. Remarks by D. Huntley, who also read a poem by Will Carleton. Mrs. T. W. Brown also favored the pioneers with happy remarks, followed by Mr. John McGillan.


On motion the chair appointed J. Rork, Mrs. Mary Blood and Mrs. Alex. Ross as a committee to relieve out of the treasury any needy members of the association, if found. The meeting was then closed by remarks from J. M. Phinney, C. Wolcott and Deacon Spafford.


List of pioneers who died in 1883. Prepared by Jos. Rork:


Theodore Conkey,


Anderson, Wm. Johnston,


A. L. Jabas,


Mrs. J. Bullock,


Mrs. John Leith,


Mrs. F. Nye,


J. Gilmore,


Anson Ballard,


Porter Ballard,


Fred Packard,


J. Jewett,


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A. C. Darling,


Wmn. Rork,


Mrs. Joseph Rork,


Mrs. Wmn. Rork,


Two Mrs. H. L. Bloods, C. Renoud,


Ed. Wolcott,


Gideon Wolcott,


Mrs. R. Bateman,


Mrs. J. S. Buck,


John Batley,


Mr. and Mrs.McGillan,


Mrs. H. Greenfield,


Mrs. J. Webly,


C. Pfenning,


Mrs. W. H. Sampson,


Prof. H. Pomeroy, F. Marble,


Prof. R. O. Kellogg,


Wm. Griffis,


Henry Eggleston,


Mrs. E. C. Goff,


Mrs. Wmn. Whorton,


N. Pauly,


P. White and wife,


Mrs. S. Phinney,


Mrs. Parrish,


Mrs. S. Ryan,


Capt. Story,


Mr. and Mrs. Foster,


Geo. Ketchum,


C. Ketchum,


R. A. Lawe.


Mrs. Woodland.


Pioneers' Meeting, Feb. 22, 1884.


The twelfth anniversary of the organization of the Outagamie County Pioneer Association was celebrated at South Masonic Hall, and, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather during the early part of the day, the at- tendance was exceedingly good.


The association was organized on the 22d of February, 1872, since which time annual meeting's have been held in this city. At the first meeting 124 persons who settled in this county previous to July 4, 1853, were made members, and many names have since been added to the list. Out of the 124, who may be termed as charter members, there re- main but eighty-nine, twenty-two having died since that date, and thirteen removed to various parts of the country.


The meeting was called to order at 11 o'clock by Presi- dent John Dey. The first business which presented itself to the notice of the pioneers, was the election of officers for the ensuing year. The following is the result: Presi- dent, John Dey, Greenville; vice-president, Charles Wolcott, Grand Chute; secretary, E. Spencer, Appleton; treasurer, John Leith, Center. Executive Council: John McGillan, Center; A. M. Spencer, Frank Harriman, Wm. F. John- ston, Appleton; John McMurdo, Hortonia. Relief Com- mittee: Mrs. A. Ross, Mrs. H. C. Jones, and Mrs. John Dey.


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After the election of officers, as is customary, the meet- ing adjourned until 1:30, during which time the ladies prepared a sumptuous repast, which had been brought in baskets, and in the neighborhood of fifty hoary-headed individuals " formed 'round the festive board " and partici- pated in talk of olden times, while the articles of diet placed before them vanished as if by magic. Nearly every town in the county was represented to enjoy the festivities of the anniversary, which, very appropriately, comes on Washington's birthday, and many were the incidents told of pioneer life in Outagamie county. One of an observant turn of mind could not but notice the careworn and wrinkled brows of those who inhabited this county when the lofty pine and sturdy oak occupied the territory which honest and industrious toil, by these respected citizens, converted into fertile farms, villages and cities, as the wearers sat clustered about the table indulging in their annual feast.


At the expiration of the adjournment, the meeting was called to order by the president for the transaction of busi- ness and the carrying out of the entertaining exercises. Mrs. Foye and Mrs. Canfield sung a beautiful song in a most admirable manner, and elicited the praise of all pres- ent. This was followed by an opening speech by President Dey, who, in his good-humored style, pleased the audience with his interesting remarks.


The reading of the annexed poem by Mrs. Stansbury, who has favored the pioneer association with one of her admirably written poetical addresses for several meetings past, was received with applause, as its merits well deserve:


THE PIONEER'S MEMORIAL.


How shall we keep the memory bright, Of those brave hearts that lie at rest, Where summer's fairest blossoms grow, And winter spreads her robes of snow, Softly above each quiet breast ?


Still sweeps the lordly stream below,


Still bright the sunlight on the foam, -- The ripples' voice is just as sweet


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As when it lured the wanderer's feet, With tuneful prophecies of home,-


But cold are hands that swung the ax, And struck the plow share in the soil,- Dim, many an eye, that, year by year, Saw widening fields with plenteous cheer, Reward the laborer's patient toil.


'Tis meet to rear the granite shaft, Guarding their sleep from age to age, Meet that the sculptor's chisel trace, In letters of enduring grace, Their virtues on the marble page.


Yet not in cities of the dead Their record with their dust is laid ; Along the busy street, the mart, On every wall, the builder's art, Has reared to suit the needs of trade ;


On mills whose tawny chimneys cast A shadow o'er the cloudless sun, Whose panting engines throb and burn Through miles of sinewy belts, and turn A million glittering wheels as one ;


On happy homes, that cluster fair As oases to pilgrim-eyes, Where children's merry voices ring, And from love's sacred fountain spring Streams of all tender charities;


On college-walls, that slowly rose, While yet was heard the panther's screani, Scared by the builder's hammer-blows,- Whence, now, the light of science glows, Grown to a beacon's steady beam ;-


On every church-spire bright with dawn Or golden in the sun-set air,- The doors, whence holy sounds of praise Steal out along life's crowded ways,- The altars where we kneel in prayer ;


On these, and more than these, we read The names of those we honor here, And measure by their hopes and fears, Their self-denial, their toilsome years, The cost of all we hold most dear,


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Our fair, young city of the West, Girt by her river's sparkling zone, Her feet upon the fertile lands, Outspread afar her welcoming hands,- No chilly statue carved in stone,


But touched to life with purer fire Than once to old Pygmalion lent, Crowned with the loyal love and pride Of sons, who in her smile abide, She stands,-their noblest monument !


Mr. Joseph Rork's remarks in memory of departed pioneers, was attentively listened to throughout, and many were the minds refreshed with the scenes of early times, as he smoothly jogged along over his chosen subject.


At this juncture Mr. A. M. Spencer introduced to the notice of the audience, which had been rapidly increasing since 1 o'clock, the "Wandering Brass Band," which he had induced to enter the hall and favor the meeting with music. The band was composed of seven Germans, who travel about the country dispensing excellent music on the streets of cities, or wherever opportunity affords, and to say that every member of "dot leetle German pand," is a thorough musician is no deviation from the truth. A col- lection was taken up and the itinerant horn-tooters were made extremely happy by the liberality of the assembly.


Judge Sam Ryan was then called to the rostrum, and in that happy mood for which he is characteristic, gave a brief account of his early recollections and experiences as a pioneer. Some few weeks ago, Mr. Ryan secured the records of the organization of the town of Grand Chute, and the first town meeting; also, the proceedings of the town board for several years, and from this somewhat antiquated relic he read, greatly interesting those whose memory of many occurrences had become dimmed by time. The judge, as he carelessly turned the pages, here and there perusing a few lines for the edification of his hearers, recited incidents which transpired in the early history of that town. But, if there is one thing more than another that this gentleman is posted on, it is on the history of


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Appleton, and the remarks made by him on this ever fertile subject were amusing and interesting.


After music by the band, a collection to defray several necessary expenses of the association, was taken up and $10.41 was contributed.


President Dey invited Mr. J. S. Buck to favor his pioneer friends with a speech, which he did. His remarks were appropriate and to the point, and were attentively listened to and fully appreciated.


Judge A. L. Collins also gave his recollections of early life in Appleton and Outagamie county. The judge is an eloquent speaker, and did the subject, with which he is familiar, justice.


After another piece by the wandering musicians, Judge Harriman preambulated to the rostrum and everybody anxiously awaited his first words. He spoke in brief of pioneer life, our advancement and finally turned to the sub- ject that all were patiently waiting for him to reach-his Florida trip. Mr. Harriman compared the South with the North, giving a descriptive sketch of places visited during his recent trip to the "sunny south," and concluded by saying, in substance, that he was not very favorably im- pressed with that portion of the continent; that the North was the place, and Appleton the place. His remarks con- sumed about half an hour, and the audience, although the curtains of night were rapidly descending, would have will- ingly remained the balance of the sixty minutes listening to the jovial judge's interesting, instructive and amusing illustrations of southern ways, and the honest and candid opinions advanced regarding our favored county and city.


The band discoursed excellent music as the audience dis- banded, and thus ended one of the most interesting meet- ings the Outagamie County Pioneer Association ever held.


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OUTAGAMIE COUNTY PIONEERS.


Pioneers' Meeting, Feb. 22, 1885.


The annual meeting of the Pioneer Association of Outa- gamie County was held at South Masonic Hall, Feb. 22, 1885.


The weather being somewhat more favorable than for weeks past the gathering was comparatively large, and all present were in a happy spirit, evidently bent on improv- ing the short season of sociability. The meeting was called to order at 11 o'clock by the president, John Dey, and the following officers elected : President, John Dey; vice-president, Chas. Wolcott; secretary, E. Spencer; treas- urer, John Leith; executive committee, Wm. F. Johnston, Jos. Rork, Appleton; John McGillan, Center; A. Ross, Grand Chute.


The business meeting was adjourned until 1:30 o'clock during which time in the neighborhood of 150 persons par- took of the bountiful repast prepared by the ladies. As the hoary-headed pioneers sat gathered around the board, they chatted merrily of olden times, recalling many reminis- cences almost faded from memory's tablet which suggested themselves at the sight of familiar faces.


Upon calling the meeting to order, Mrs. James McGillan enlivened the occasion by singing a favorite selection after which President Dey made a few brief remarks welcoming the pioneers and urging that the organization be kept up, for within a few short years at most the old settlers of Outagamie county will be gone forever.


The Hon. Geo. H. Myers delivered the annual address as follows:


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Pioneer Association of Outa- gamie County :


I was the eldest of a family of three children, all boys. My father had a good farm for the county; but as I thought not large enough for four families, and consequently I


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was impressed with the idea, quite early in life, that when I became of age it would be my turn to go away and run a farm for myself, in that or some new country.


I therefore began diligently to study the geography of the valleys of the great lakes, and of the Mississippi river to search for the rivers that empty into the lakes and the Mississippi, respectively, and for such places where such waters came nearest each other, at the divide between the valley of the lakes and the valley of the Mississippi.


I found nothing that appeared to me so likely to afford water of sufficient volume to make a navigable way between the lakes and the Mississippi as the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.


At that time railways were being constructed in the East, but few then supposed that in forty years there would be such a network of railways as now exists in the United States, and all men looked for great cities to spring up in future as had in the past on or at the mouths of great rivers, and that diverse population would continue to assemble on the line of navigable waters, as had been the case since the world began to be inhabited. Moved by these considerations, I had as early as 1845, when I first entered a law office as a student, determined to move to the valley of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers on my admission to the bar.


In the winter of 1848-49 intelligence reached the eastern states of the discovery of gold in California. All through that winter the young men were excited upon the subject, were almost nightly planning to go to California in the spring. I was as anxious to go as any of them, but was unable to do so without the assistance of my father. I was away from home all winter, but when I got home in the spring I applied to my father for money to go to California. He appeared to be expecting and prepared for such an affliction. He looked me earnestly in the face and replied: I have this winter bought three hundred acres of land so as to have farms for the other boys. I have no money now to let you have, but if I had the money I would never let you have it to go to California with, where I should never


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see you again, and where if you got sick, or met with mis- fortune, I should be obliged to leave you to your fate."


I was finally obliged to give up the idea of going to California, and to go back to my original plan of moving to Wisconsin. I was admitted to the bar in May. I had intended to go immediately thereafter, but early in that month the cholera broke out on the lakes, and I remained at home until fall. Early in September I set out in the "Keystone State," and after a stormy passage arrived in Sheboygan. From there I went up to the Fox river, and finally came down Lake Winnebago on the "Manchester," and arrived in Appleton on the 11th of October or foot, having come from Neenah on the Indian trail.


On the lakes I met the late Wait Cross and his family, and Henry Berrmouth, on their way to Appleton. I found them all here on my arrival. I stopped at first at the Appleton House, kept by W. S. Warner. In the afternoon of the day of my arrival, I visited the bank of the river, marked the volume and fall of the water in front of the village plats of Grand Chute, Appleton and Lawsburgh, and saw a Durham boat loaded with goods passing up the rapids propelled by men with poles, assisted by one or two yoke of oxen wading in the river. To me this was a new method of navigation, and appeared to be somewhat slow and tedious, but I was informed that congress had given one-half the land for three miles in width on each side of the river for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and that in a very few years the Durham boats would be supplanted by steamers that would pass between the lakes and the Mississippi, by way of those rivers. The great water power at Appleton, the college, and the pros- pect that a navigable highway between the lakes and the Mississippi, by way of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, would soon be completed, were the inducements that moved me to make a halt at Appleton. However, after a couple of weeks I became uneasy and thought of going to Mis- souri, but I was pursuaded by some whose acquaintance I had made, to remain longer, and I have continued to do so until this day.


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About 1850 Cyrus Jackman built quite a large hotel on the Grand Chute plat, it was burnt two or three years after it was built. In 1849 or soon after, the following persons whom I now remember lived on the Grand Chute plat, but I do not recall the location of the residences of any of them. Theodore Conkey, A. B. Boner, J. W. Boner, T. P. Bingham, James Hanchett, and one gentle- man the name of Noort, Ever Grant, Mr. Van Luthner, Mr. Quentymen, O. W. Clark, L. L. Hulce, A. S. Sanborn, John Jewett, E. C. Foot, H. C. Sheenin, and his brother, two or three men by the name of McDill, J. W. Letchen, Ladd, William Lean, James Lean, A. M. Tanner, and others there were whose names I cannot as yet recall. John D. Pierce who in late times resided at the Chute, resided on the Appleton plat in the early day.


Among my other early acquaintances in Appleton not above named are J. W. Cross, Wm. H. McGregor, a Mr. Wotieman, J. C. Smith, D. L. Stinel, D. J. Fouler, Thomas Glede, John McGregor, P. J. Gates, Mr. Gates, A. B. Evarts, Henry J. Eggleston, James Eggleston, John Stephens, Mr. Warner, a hunter, D. W. Briggs, William Rork, William Johnson, Anson Ballard, Rev. H. Smith, J. W. Woodward, Byron Douglas, C. G. Adkins, Winfield Scott, Frank Wing, Nicholas Wing, E. P. Edgarton, J. W. Whorton, W. G. Whorton, Dudley Geans, John Moodie, Mr. Ford, Frederick Packard, John McPherson, William Londa, William M. Ceoken, Isaac I. Buck, J. W. Holmes, John Ennis, E. W. Doris, Frank Bernard, S. H. Otto, W. Breitung and several sons, J. M. Steffins, George Lanphear, Benjamin Proctor, John H. Hait, Harrison Green, Daniel Huntley, Jackson Tibbits, H. A. Phinney, S. C. Phinney, J. W. Wilcox, Warren B. Nenton, E. L. Thurber, Aaron Messicae, F. R. Fuller, Nathan Nye, Jonathan Nye, R. A. Lawe, John P. Whip, John S. Eaton, A. S. Story and Otto Van Heukelon.


Although I was twenty-five years old when I came to Appleton I was classed among the young people; and was unmarried. There was little gaiety among us. The best and only party of young people I attended in the winters


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of 1849-50 was at the house of D. N. Briggs on lot 9 of block 11 of the Lawsburg plat, on the occasion of J. M. Steffin arriving at his majority.


But among the young men of the time was J. M. Steffin, Ansel Briggs, R. S. Bateman, John Moodie, J. W. Cross, Mr. Ford, Mr. Buck, R. H. Smith, Anson Ballard, John Ennis, Daniel Huntley, Harrison Green, W. G. Whorton. And among the young ladies were Amelia Bateman, Elieta Norton, Miss Briggs, a Miss Nitherpoor, one or two young ladies by the name of Rogers, Leveol, young ladies by the name of Noort, Leneol, daughters of Reeder Smith, Lucinda Blood, Lobeina Lanphear and Arabella Proctor.


Among the early justices of the peace were J. P. Blake, J. S. Buck, R. R. Bateman, William Rork, E. N. Louis, W. T. Bailey, and Benjamin Proctor.


For about three months I was the only attorney in Appleton, then Perry Smith came and Anson Ballard with him. Perry H. Smith remained until about 1858, when he moved to Chicago; Anson Ballard remained until his death. Soon A. S. Sanborn settled at Grand Chute, and John Jewett came there shortly after, and about 1851 Frederick Packard settled at Appleton. P. H. Smith, A. S. Sanborn and I are still living. Mr. Ballard, Mr. Jewett and Mr. Packard have departed this life.


In 1849 Dr. S. E. Beach was the only physician, but Dr. Maake soon came, then Drs. Murray, Merriman, William- son, Mayer and others, but at the present time we have no one in our medical faculty that settled here in early days.


Between here and Little Chute in those days owned and occupied by an elderly Frenchman by the name of Tyboult, the town was on the lot near the Cedars, near where the house of the late Dr. Bongers is now located.


There was quite a settlement at Little Chute in 1849. One of the first pioneers I knew at Little Chute was Van den Broek. He was quite an active man and was often to be seen giving directions about improvements going on in the village. Among my other acquaintances in Little Chute were E. St. Louis, C. A. Hamer, A. Davis, Michael Benoit, Peter LaForrest and Jacob Appleman. At Kau-


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kauna in those days lived Geo. W. Lawe, Charles A. Grig- non, Alexander Grignon and David P. Mead, and shortly after Alfred Aspenall, Reubin Doud, for a while; Geo. N. Kontz, Peter Martin, Patrick Hunt and Lemuel Brothers.


And in this county near by lived G. W. Kelso, Truman Tuttle, Thomas Armstrong, M. B. Lemento. William H. Spoin was a surveyor and land looker in this county. He soon left and for some years resided in Portage City. He then became an attorney at law and finally fell a victim to our statute allowing cases to be carried over from the counties where the case is commenced to another, on the ground that either the people or the judge of the county where the case was commenced are prejudiced against the party making the affidavit.


Mr. Spoin was counsel to some party charged with a criminal offense in the western part of the state; the case was taken at length to Columbia county for trial; before the trial came off the main witness for the state was assassinated, that caused excitement and Mr. Spoin, having fallen into an angry dispute with some one in Portage City in respect to that alleged assassination, lost his temper, and shot and killed the man with whom he was disputing; a few moments thereafter a mob of people assembled around Mr. Spoin in the street and hanged him.


In 1849 an elderly Frenchman called Retette Grignon lived on the river bank a little above Lehman's landing. Ben I. Craft lived near the brick yard ; Mr. Rogers and Mr. Kavanaugh lived this side of that and near the river ; B. B. Murch lived where he does now ; Obed Boynton lived near him. Hector Mckay and Alexander Ross lived about where they do now. John Samuel and Seth Childs lived up near Mud Creek, William Verity lived on the farm where he lives now ; and with clearing land, hunting bear and deer and keeping bachelor hall made out to keep him- self employed.




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