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 9
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Among the number was a little fellow that came Jan. 6, 1849, and we named him Lewis A. Hardacker. He is re- membered now as the first white child born in the town of Greenville. In my mother's illness that winter she was attended by a physician named Fitch, doubtless some of you remember him, he afterward committed suicide. We have been told, don't know how true it is, that it was all on account of being "cut out" by one Samuel Ryan. This doctor was very small of stature, and I remember his sitting in an ordinary sized man's chair with his elbows on the arms of the chair, he tried in vain to touch his finger tips together. A hard winter followed. The men folks made shingles and took them to Neenah to sell. "Till toward spring the oxen had nothing to eat but marsh hay and browse gave out and five out of the eight died. Then I remember my father and uncle, Isaac Wickware, went to Neenah, fourteen miles away, and brought home fifty pounds of flour apiece on their backs. That spring troughs were dug out and they made maple sugar and molasses, which was acceptable, for bread or Johnney cake with maple molasses on it was good. Our cow was of course let
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loose in Uncle Sam's pasture and a generous part of the milk given to the calf that was tied up, to induce the cow to come home. What butter could be made was so im- pregnated with leeks that it was of little use.
Those long jaunts after the cattle I can remember how tired the men would be. Generally the way would be, to be all ready when the cows were milked and turned loose, to follow her if they could keep pace, she would take a bee line for the herd. In these journeys they always carried their rifle and now and then a deer or some other wild game would bring "good cheer." Once in particular father came leading old Dime by the horn and on the ox's back was a big buck deer lashed on with moose wood bark.
My mother's great worry was that her boys might be lost in the woods and to look after them that they did not go out of sight of the clearing in their play and chase after squirrels and the like, I being older was detailed to look after them. This brought me out doors much of the time and participating in the sports I acquired an endurance of fatigue equal to my brother, something that has been a blessing to me all my life. Last summer I heard a mother say to her little girls who asked if they could go to the woods to play, "no it is so far and you might tear your shoes." Thoughts went back to when we were children, when trees were at the very doors, the woods were our play ground and nature's covering on our feet. How we would limp in to mother with bleeding toe or bruised heel, while she bound it up for us we would always hear the admoni- tion, you must be more careful. Look well to your foot- steps child ! But mother we couldn't help it, there is so much brush and stubs. You will find many obstacles in your path of life -look well to your footsteps.
As a sample of this endurance I will tell you of an event that took place when I was eleven years old. My father had bought a wagon of Nordman, his farm was south of New London on the Muckwa road. Father had given his note to him for $65. He had managed to get the money ready to pay for the wagon but was busy and asked me if I could not go there and take up his note, "Would you
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know it was my note if you saw it? "Did you write it father ?" "Yes." "I would know your hand anywhere and can read it." I who was at his elbow when he recorded minutes of town meetings, survey of roads in town blocks as clerk, did not have to be told how he wrote. I do not know the way I was never west of Hortonville. Then with pencil and paper he told me the way on the New London road. I would know that as Steffen lived there, the only farm house on the way, then a few miles would come to Deslies and McCombs, they lived on opposite sides of the road, then the Shepard place way down by a spring. This was the last house, but on about so far we would see two pine stumps, then five rods from that a solitary one, at this place strike due southwest and in a little while you would find the road that led to his place. It was arranged that I should start next morning, with my brother Henry, 8 years old, now Dr. Hardacker, of Hortonville, to accompany me. We had no trouble in finding the way-when we reached his place he was plowing in the field next the road with his oxen. We told our errand and he accompanied us to the house. Mrs. Nordman made a hasty pudding for us and with a bowl of milk we were refreshed and started for home. Somehow the distance between Hortonville and our home seemed longer than usual. Never mistrusted what the reason was but felt quite promoted when mother said I did not have to wash the supper dishes nor Henry get in the night's wood, for we were tired. Some eighteen miles we had traveled that day. This is but a small ex- perience compared with the many the settlers went through in early times in this county. They have proved them- selves heroic in battling with the forests-enduring hard- ships and privations. Let us cherish their memory. I was thinking last Decoration Day as we saw the flags wave over the soldier's graves, should there not be some emblem to mark the graves of departed pioneers ?
Mr. Joseph Rork read a poem on the subject of pioneers and their exploits.
Mr. Henry Kethroe of Hortonia told of his pioneer experiences.
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D. Huntley told how pioneers received strangers in 1852.
John Dey related several anecdotes of his remembrances of a pioneer preacher.
Wm. Briggs told some pioneer anecdotes.
Carl Breiterick told some of his pioneer experiences in settling Outagamie County.
Col. H. L. Blood then recollected some of his pioneer experiences since 1848.
A vote of thanks was extended to Mr. Spicer for the use of one of his organs, also a vote of thanks to Mrs. McGillan and daughters for the splendid music they discoursed at the meeting.
A request was made for all pioneers present who settled in the county previous to 1850 to arise, 20 arose; between 1850 and 1855, 22; 1855 and 1860, 8.
Judge Sam Ryan was called and told some of his pioneer experiences, and spoke of the importance of preserving the recollections of the early pioneers.
Rev. F. S. Stein also spoke on the same subject.
Adjourned by singing America.
The hall was well filled and all seemed to enjoy the meeting and pronounced it the best they ever attended.
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Pioneers' Meeting, Feb. 22, 1887.
The annual meeting of the Outagamie County Pioneer Association was held in South Masonic Hall, Feb. 22, 1887, with a large attendance of old residents of the county, whose coming was favored by mild weather and the excel- lence of the roads. The meeting was called to order by President John Dey at 10 o'clock a. m.
The first order was the election of officers for the new year, and by the list of those chosen it will be seen that many of the old officials were retained: President, John Dey; vice-president, Charles Wolcott; secretary, E. Spencer; treasurer, John Leith; executive committee, W. F. Johnston, Joseph Rork, John McGillan, Charles Spicer and Julius Buck.
The pioneer dinner, which had been brought in baskets, was spread upon a long table in the middle of the hall, and when all was in readiness a very merry company of about seventy-five persons sat down to taste its flavor. At 1:30 the assembly was then called to order and the president, John Dey, made some opening remarks in an appropriate vein.
A collection, amounting to $10.27, to pay the expenses of the meeting, was taken up.
The annual address to the association was delivered by Prof. J. M. Phinney and was a very able effort. Prof. Phinney said:
Mr. President and Pioneers of Outagamie County:
The day of memories and retrospections has come again. Time turns backward in its flight and carries us down along the trail of our lives, not only through our experi- ences here, down to the day we made this county our home but still back of that along the windings of our previous path down to the time when as children we congregated in the rude temples of the vigin goddess and with other things
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that were considered necessary to fit us for life and make us intelligent citizens of a government controlled by the people, we were taught in all our country's previous his- tory, from the first appearance of Columbus and his "big canoes with white wings" to the wondering and frightened savages, up through the history of the colonies to the day they dared to shake off the tyrants' grasp and declare their independence. Then loom up all the incidents of a weak people with the most powerful nation of the whole earth and he, whose birthday we celebrate, appears as the leader ordained by heaven to lead our father's to victory and give to the new world freedom from "crown and crozier" that till now had "ruled the world." Of the great leader all that need be said is: Almost more than human in mould and powers of body, and God-like in wisdom and virtue was Washington. He made no mistake during all the war and proved himself king of the battle-field. But once did he show a human weakness, and this when stung and driven almost to despair by the cowardice and insubordination of one of his associates in the midst of battle. His ambition was only for his country to make it free and a land of freedom -rejecting in disdain the offer of a crown, stung to the quick that he should be considered weak and base enough to betray the divine mission and cause that had been entrusted to his hands. Truly "the sun in all his course shall not look upon his like again." It is well that he should be held as first in war, first in peace and first in the affections of his countrymen, and that every method should be taken to preserve the memory of his deeds and character and plant them indelibly in the minds of those coming after us. It is fit then that his birthday has been chosen for the meeting of the Pioneers of Outagamie County.
Some thirty-eight years ago Amos A. Lawrence con- tributed $10,000 for the establishment of a school at Apple- ton; put it in the hands of the Methodist conference of the state, conditioned, that they should add to it a like amount and take the work into their own hands. It was a daring undertaking to attempt the founding of such an institution
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in the very heart of the wild wood, almost beyond the verge of civilization, leading to and from which there were no roads, only Indian trails. The donor knew, however, in whose hands he was placing his gift, and trust to their indomitable energy, knew that they would come and bring their children with them and stay. Were there no other way in furnishing pupils, for the school ? His confidence was fully satisfied, in about a year a fine building was erected and the school opened with a respectable attend- ance, which, in less than two years increased to 200 pupils. In 1853 it was chartered as a college and has sent out more finished scholars - men and women - who have filled and are now occupying more high and responsible positions than any other institution of the state, with all their superior advantages of position and means and has become not only the bulwark of Methodism in Wisconsin but has made Appleton the Athens of the State. The location and opening of the institution advertised our county through- out and beyond the state, and brought an influx of people to Appleton; and although as compared with the prairie lands the dense woods presented an unfavorable and dis- couraging aspect; yet they were soon taken up and filled with a superior class of strong handed farmers who shortly pronounced the open sesame that gave the forest to sun- light and civilization, making the wilderness to blossom into beauty; and as early as 1850 we had more inhabitants than some counties of the state whose lands when first oc- cupied were ready for the plow and invited cultivation. Though for a few years, hard labor, deprivations and in- conveniences were the farmers' lot, they yet proved their wisdom in locating their homes. To-day their lands are more valuable than the average prairie farms; and not a county in the state, except perhaps Milwaukee, has had all along and now has as good a market as ours. All the con- veniences and luxuries have come; good and direct high- ways instead of random roads; excellent schools and churches in city and country, convenient to all. While all the railroads south are ours, over our own county and all north of us up to the great lake has been spread a net-work
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of iron rails, giving us easy access to all parts of the land and vastly improving the value of our farms and every thing they produce; giving us also many things cheaper than to those living further south.
It may be true that with these great improvements other changes have come less pleasant to contemplate. In those early days we were all friends and equals. Neither wealth, education nor position lifted the head of one above another. There was no aristocracy. All were neighbors in the high- est sense of the word and ready to give the helping hand at all times. In these things and some other social customs and practices coming with the influx of wealth and popula- tion we may have deteriorated. The saddest, however, of all changes that confronts us here to-day is the absence from our gathering of many of the oldest and best of our former associates. Some have left us to become pioneers in more western lands. Some have sought the very Occident, beyond which there is no west, and made their homes on the very shores of the Pacific. One of these by faithful labors, though his methods were not always the most acceptable, did good work in our county schools and greatly elevated their character. Another, whose name a thriving village of the county bears, is now a millionaire. A third is there, an upright and good man, who, on week days, shod our horses and on Sabbath fre- quently dispensed to us the Word -by the foolishness of preaching, aiming to elevate our moral and intellectual nature. Many more of our old friends have floated out upon that unknown sea that lies all around the world. Within the past year, with others, two of the oldest and most venerated of the pioneers, one of the patriarchs of us all have left us and passed over and joined friends and loved ones on the further shore.
Friends, the period passed by us here has been notable, not only to ourselves, but to the whole world. Terrible wars have been waged, yet their outcome has been to the advancement of civilization. One great empire of Europe has fallen and its people inspired by the spirit and work- ings of ours, have transformed it into a great republic,
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England has been slowly yielding to the people their rights; and it is not presumption to predict the downfall of its aristocracy and elevation of its masses to their full rights. And we also predict that the very means they have been compelled to adopt, the support of vast armies, for the maintenance of their thrones, will finally cause the overthrow of the great monarchies of the continent. When we made this our home, our country itself was but half free; and the southern slaveholder, not content with abso- lute power over the persons and lives of its millions of human chattels, in his pride and insolence aspired to dominate the North; and upon its first show of resistance brought upon us a war more terrible in its savagery, more fearful in its sacrifice of life and treasure than the world had ever known. In our extremity two men of different mold and mind were given us:
"Such types as nature wills to plan But once in all a people's years."
One of whom with a word annihilated slavery and
" ___ bade the race be free."
The other led our patriot armies to victory and preserved intact the Union.
In religion and law great progress has been made; as also in science and literature. In discovery and invention and all human progress, all previous time has been out- stripped; and our countrymen have not been outdone in the great work. Two of their inventions have revolution- ized the earth. Howe's great cylinder press, that has supplanted the old hand-press of Franklin, throws from its embrace with almost countless velocity, the printed sheets that, filled with news and intelligence, pass as educators into the hands of the people. Morse's telegraph interlac- ing all this country, laid across the ocean by Field, an American, has brought the tongues and ears of all men together, and annihilated time and space. At the great Centennial, Europeans conceded us the palm of works and utility, which also excited the highest admiration for their contrivences, taste, adaptation, beauty, delicacy, and
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elegance of design and construction, when compared with the lumbering vehicles, unsightly machinery and old plate of inferior beauty from over the ocean. Well may we be proud of our country and thankful that we have lived to see many of the deep things of God revealed; and the knowing of these things has certainly made life worth living. We must recollect though that these things are but the "pebbles thrown upon the shore of the ocean of truth."
Friends, our time here is nearly spent and we cannot ex- pect, during our stay to see much more; but our children will learn truths, so deep, see made discoveries so vast and wonderful, that beside them these we have seen will sink into comparative insignificance. Prediction is useless. The furthest stretch of the imagination would fail in at- tempting to picture what the coming generation will see. As the world needs and is preparing for them they are sure to come, and, old associates and friends, I believe we shall see them, too. Of one thing I feel most sure: that when, as soon as it must, our summons comes, we shall not pass into oblivion nor indolently "lie down to pleasant dreams," but shall awake to a life of tireless activity. And while there is no doubt we shall be allowed a closer view, and deeper insight into the workings of the universe and mysteries of nature, there is no reason why we may not be permitted to revisit this earth and keep pace with all things new to it revealed. Perhaps, too, from our higher standpoint we may anticipate many of these relations and be enabled to hasten their coming by whispering them to the ears and understandings of men, and thus excite them to study, experiment and research, and thereby be the means of accelerating invention, discovery and all human progress to the perfection dimly foreshadowed in the mil- lenium of the prophet. Many are predicting its immediate coming. No doubt it will come in its own good time; not though to be restricted to a thousand years, but to con- tinue with us during the world's existence. And we may confidently expect that by the vast unity of intellect and power the floodgates of light will be opened upon the 8
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earth, when the great questions now agitating it shall be settled to the satisfaction of all, bringing justice and peace, when religion shall be wholly purged of its errors and image only divine truth; when the physical laws of our nature shall be perfectly understood and followed; when knowledge shall become exalted and universal; when labor shall be relieved of its fatigue and allied to pleasure, and evil "its name and nature banished from the world."
After a solo by Mrs. McGillan "Ah, I Have Sighed to Rest Me!" Mr. A. B. Whitman was called upon and spoke of the pioneers who have died within the year. He said that Esquire R. R. Bateman's face and form had been familiar to all pioneers. He was in some respects a typical pioneer, who lived to enjoy the fruits of an energetic life. He came to Appleton in 1849; was born in Plattsburg, and witnessed the battle of that name in 1812, part of which occurred on his father's farm. Jared Lanphear, recently deceased, came in 1849. He lived to see the greatness of this commonwealth which he assisted to establish. The late John McGillan settled at McGillan's corners in Center at about 1850. L. B. Mills always lived at Greenville and had it not been for accident would probably have been a vigorous man for many years. He came to Outagamie in 1854. Otis Bessy, of Dale, is another pioneer lately de- parted. Mrs. Joseph Rork will be remembered for Chris- tian graces and virtues. She resided here since 1851. Mrs. James Gilmore came from Glens Falls, N. Y., in 1852. Both she and Mrs. Rork during later life were invalids and were best known to the older ones present. The date of Mrs. L. L. Randall's removal from Vermont was 1852.
Rev. John Faville, upon being summoned forward, said he was a pioneer, having lived in the state nearly forty years and being the child of parents who came in 1844. Mr. Faville related some of the hardships of traveling in those days when his parents spent two days and a night in going fifty miles, from Milwaukee to Lake Mills, and said he was brought up a farmer and owed a great deal to this period of his life. He impressed upon the younger ones present the thought that education is needed to increase
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material prosperity and that religion is also necessary to the same end.
Mrs. Daniel Huntley in a brief address said that her ex- perience of pioneer life had been frought with less of hardships than those of many present and that her recol- lection of them was very bright.
Mr. Kethroe, of Hortonville, spoke of the wonderful difference in the wages paid now and in years gone by. In 1848 he worked in a woolen mill in New York, thirteen hours a day, for $16 a month and boarded himself; and his position was considered a good one. In 1849 he came to Outagamie where everybody was glad to get hard work at fifty cents a day and there was no grumbling or strikes. More than this, the pay was usually in orders worth about twenty-five cents on a dollar. At the same time money could not be had for less than 50 per cent interest.
After a song by the quartette, Mrs. Ross read a paper describing her pioneer experiences in Appleton, relating the expedients resorted to in house furnishing, when hardly anything in the way of furniture was obtainable, and the laborous transportation of provisions from Neenah.
Judge Harriman who had come up to invite the pioneers to take a ride on the electric street cars, thought that an advantage had been taken of him in calling upon him for a speech. The judge said that when his hearers were young a rough sled or board was considered the height of human attainment in the way of a vehicle with which to slide down hill, but now it has been reduced to a science and he would like to show them a toboggan slide. In a more serious vein the judge advocated the need of educa- tion and said that the worse thing fond parents could do was to hoard their money to bring up their children in a life of idleness. The younger generation should be made to realize what their parents had endured. The judge closed with a cordial invitation to the county members to enjoy a ride on the street cars which would be in waiting at 4 o'clock.
Mrs. Dey said she came to Outagamie county in the fall and during the following winter saw almost no one beside
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her own family, and outside, little else than snow and tree trunks. She described some of the primitive methods of house building which allowed dogs to gain the roof and on occasions fall through, to the consternation of awakened inmates of the dwelling.
Charles Breiterick, of Ellington, said he came to the county in 1859 with $120 in his pocket and settled near New London when about the only dwellers thereabouts were Indians. At first he became discouraged but at length built a log house and settled down with a determination of making it a home. He now had only the pleasantest memo- ries of his former hardships and was grateful to Heaven for the measure of blessings and comfort that had crowned his early efforts.
William Briggs said he remembered starting in 1852 from Maine to Wisconsin, and being like most Maine men, a lumberman, he went into the lumbering business at Hor- tonville. He had $150 when he commenced, having spent $150 in the journey coming out. This $300 represented all the toil of a man who had reached his twenty-ninth year. He said it took fifty dollars to commence housekeeping and the remaining hundred was put in the business. Mr. Briggs said that at that time manufactured lumber rafted down the Wolf and through the lake to Fond du Lac brought only $4.50 a thousand; and it was the finest kind of lumber too.
Dr. Kanouse said he was in full sympathy and accord with the spirit of a pioneer meeting. The pioneer must be the man of patience and fortitude, ready to adapt him- self to all the possibilities that presented themselves to him. He is not a man without plan, but one with some definite purpose of will, that urges him on to success. The prominent element of pioneer life, the doctor thought, was a consciousness of right.
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