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BIOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL
-Ei _L ^3 'J-' C^ Jzv/ JL
OF THE
CITY OF OSHKOSH,
WINNEBAGO CO., WISCONSIN.

ITS EHRLY HISTORY, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT
CONDITION.

PREPARED FOR, AND PUBLISHED IN THE
"NORTHWESTERN."

FINNEY & DAVIS, PUBLISHERS.

OSHKOSH:
PRINTED AT THE NOKTHWESTEEN OFFICE.
1867.

37. H i>

OSHKOSH

In presenting to the readers of the
Northwestern the Early History and pro
gress of Oshkosh, I have had to draw
largely on Lap ham's Early History of
Wisconsin; Mitchel & Osborn's History
of Winnebago County; Wisconsin His
torical Collections; and the Documentary
History of the State. But these data,
though important, are all matters of
history, and wishing to give much that
is not written, as the prominent feature
ot the work in hand, I have had to call
to my aid many of our older citizens
whose recollections of the past are still
fresh, concerning the events of their
early life. The history of one, is the
history of the many, for the strong tie
of sympathy, in times of hardships and
deprivations incident to the flrst settle
ment of every place, bound all iirmly
together as one family, having common
interests, and a common and unselfish
motive, that of building up a new city,
that should .be their future homes. The
life of every one thus engaged is an
eventful one, whose trials and hardships
can never be fully written.
With this purpose in view, my chief
reliance must be on those who have
passed through the ordeal of early life
in this new country, aud with great
kindness and ardor, they have given me
all the 'aid in their power. Of these, it
may be said, they have hardly passed
the middle ago, and they are yet among
us and stand among the most prominent,
and respected of our citizens. To every
one of these, thiough whose untiring
efforts so much has been achieved, we
owe a debt of gratitude. Yet their trials

and sufferings were not wholly vicari
ous, for they had their aims and objects
to accomplish, from which they derived
enjoyment. They had much even to
amuse and gratify; they were, as is ever
the case in the settlement of all new
countries, free from the trammels and
conventionalities of society, that do so
much to hinder or prevent true rational
enjoyment. A beneficent Being watch
ed over and protected them from all the
dangers to which they were exposed, and
feeling that reliance on Him, they look
ed forward to their future homes in
unswerving confidence.
To write a history of a past age, or of
a generation passed by, is compara tiyely
an easy task; for then the data, defined
and accessible iu national and state ar
chives, is less conflicting and more
reliable; although contemporaneous his
tory and incidents of every day life of
the early settler, are more diflacult in
compilati6n,they are better appreciated,
and read with greater interest. Taking
this view of it, I can only hope to pre
sent such a History as will be of inter
est to the many whose memories can
attest the facts therein related.
Thousands of scenes aud incidents in
the history of Oshkosh are common to
that of every other new town; differing
somewhat by the close connection of the
past and the present" of our
city. These scenes in which there is a
thrilling interest, many of them were
but as yesterday, and still fresh in the
minds of our older citizens.
The Indian, as it were, has but just left
us, and where but a few short years ago,'

was the Red man, his village, his plant
ing grounds; his council fires and his
war dances; and where were heard the
monotonous drum or the shrill war
whoop— are now our proud city, team
ing with a busy and a prosperous peo
ple, commerce and manufactures, noble
school and church edifices, and the
abode of civilization and refinement,
have thus quickly taken the place of
the wild enchantments of aboriginal life
Before entering upon the immediate
purpose in view, it seems necessary to
consider, though briefly, some of the
motives and incentives that led to the
discovery and early settlement of this
part of the country; and In doing so, the
early history of this place being so in
timately connected with others in this
part of the State, I find it proper to
speak of and dwell at some length on
their importance, being initial points to
the settlement of this. Green Bay was
the entrepot for all those who came for
trade and traffic here for several years
Those who came to settle here, first
came to that place, gradually but surely,
to find a place more suited to their
ideas of western settlements, farther up
the river.
At that time Wisconsin was a wild,
unknown, and mostly an unexplored
region. Its people consisted solely of
the various Indian tribes, who follow
ed the chase or the war path, unmind-
fnl of, and indifferent to, the many
transfers and changes through which
their country was passing. Since the
times to which I shall allude; in a
period of about 186 years, the oountiy,
now Wisconsin, has been under the
government of France 93 years; of Great
Britain, 31 years; of Virginia and Ohio
0 years; of Indiana 9 years; of Illinois 9
years, and lastly, of Michigan 18 years.
It was organized as a Territory in 1836,
and as a State and a^ member of the

great confederacy in 1848, and now we
see it take the proud position of one of
the sister states of the. Union, with ad
vantage of soil, climate, mineral wealth,
ezhaustless pine forests, and facilities of
commerce, second to none in the Union.
EARLY VOYAGES.
As early as the year 1654, more than
two hundred years ago, was the first
visit of the white man.to this place,
of which we have any Knowledge, in
his endeavors to find the great river-
In 1659 another French trader, being
actuated by a desire to find a passage
across the State, as well as to trade with
the Indian for his Furs, traversed the
great wilderness between Lake Superior
and Green Bay. But not until 1669,
was a permanent trading post establish
ed at that place. From that time on,
the starting point being Green Bay,
many trading and exploring parties
were drawn here by the facilities pre
sented in our navigable rivers, of reach
ing the Mississippi. Lake Michigan
was then called Illinois Lake, and the
flrst voyage on its west shore was in
1670, when a Frenchman by the name
of Perrot made a voyage from Green Bay
to Chicago. An overland route was at
tended with difficulties, as the country
south of this was fllled with a warlike
race of savages. Milwaukee was occu
pied by the Mascoutin and Kickapoo
Indians, who were ever distrustful of
the incursion of the white man.
But to return to my narrative. In
1673 Marquette started from Green Bay
(called Puans), up the Lower and Upper
Fox, to the Wisconsin; thence down
that river reaching the Mississippi, be
ing the first successful voyage across the
country, and the flrst discovery of the
upper waters of that river. It is diffi
cult to conceive a more difficult or
hazardous undertaking than the explor
ation of this country at that early day.

Had the voyageures given to the world a
complete diary of every day's trials and
dangers it would be a record of inost
thrilling interest. In 1680, this same
party passed through this country re
turning over the satne route to the
lakes. In 1689 another party passed
westward over this route; and thence
onward, for many years this became the
favorite route for all those who from
love ot adventure, or incited by the
lucrative trade with the Indians, sought
to find the great river. The trade in
furs was immense, but there is no data
at hand to give the amount yearly taken
out of the country. So profitable was
it that many of those engaged in it were
men of great wealth; many of them
reared, to luxury and ease, chose to
forego all the comforts of civilization
and spend a life of hardship and ad
venture. But the great and most beneficial
result of this Fur trade with the Indians,
was the settlement, though not till
after many years.of this western country.
It was to this inviting traffic that the
great west, particularly Wisconsin, to a
large extent, owes its settlement. Thus
passed many years of adventure, of
traffic with the red man, and many stir
ring scenes, the recital of which can
only be found in traditionary stories, or
the wild legendary tales of the Indian.
The Fox and Wisconsin rivers with
the easy portage ot Ft. Winnebago, now
Portage City, was the most convenient
passage to the western country and
hence became the great highway ot the
adventurers of different nations.
What is now Winnebago county,
by the beauty of its scenery, salubrity of
climate and its broad and deep rivers,
did not fail to attract the notice of these
early visitors. It was for many years
their favorite resting place, and where
the city of Oshkosh now stands, many

are the French and English traders who
delighted to sojourn for awhile. And
here alliances, offensive and defensive,
were formed, with the savage tribes in
order to facilitate their trading expedi
tions. It was the focal point of numer
ous tribes of Indians. They had their
villages in this neighborhood; their
council fires, their talks and their
treaties; their corn huskings, and their
war dances, and for many years these
rivers drew to their banks many power
ful and often antagonistic tribes. And
thus many difficulties sprung up, in
which the Frenchman was a participant,
and in his alliances with the Indian,
had ever a purpose to subserve. In one
of his efforts to push on through the
country of the Sacs and Foxes, these
powerful and war-like nations opposed
him, when he allied himself to a largo
band of the Menomonee and Chippewa
Indians and attacked the Sacs and Foxee
at Butte des Morts, where they were
strongly defended by ditches
and three rows of palisades. This was
about the first of the last century. It
was headed by De Lovlgny and wa9
one of the most sanguinary conflicts of
which we have any record in Indian
warfare. So strongly were they forti
fied that the French leader deemed it
imprudent to attempt to carry their
works by assault, and so commenced a
regular seige, and not until he had
blown up some part of their works, and
great slaughter had taken place on both
sides, that the beseiged consented to
surrender; the terms of surrender being
faithfully carried out, and the captives
protected. Here were several hundreds
of the savages slain and buried, the
mounds covering the dead are yet promi
nent, giving to the spot the name of
"Butte dee Morts," (Hills of the Dead).
moband's expeditions.
Another version which conflicts some-

6

what with the above is as follows: In
speaking of the Tumuli, or mounds in
dicating the burial places of the dead
this writer says: "The tumulus at the
great Butte des Morts, in Winnebago
county, has undoubtedly been erected
both as ft burial place and a monument,
it is literally the 'hill ofthe dead.' The
earth has not only covered the bodies of
warriors slain in battle, but it has been
raised up as a record of events disastrous
to the Outagamie (Fox) tribe of Indians,
whose principal village at an early
period was at this place. This mound
is nevertheless to be considered of
modern structure, because the time of
its erection, or at least the event which
it commemorates, can be referred to, if
not in correct history, at least in tradi
tionary account. Here it is said the
Poxes had their stronghold, and from
this point not only were predatory in
cursions made against the neighboring
tribes, but the early French traders were
compelled to submit to exactions in their
voyages along the Pox Elver. It thus
became necessary for the French to
inflict such punishment on them as
should be the means of deterring them
in future from their depredations. Ac
cordingly in 1706, an expedition under
Capt. Morand, was fitted out and sent
against them at Little Butte, des Morts
In the attack upon them at this their
stronghold, by surprise, more than one
thousand of their warriors perished;
and this event gives to the spot the
name of "Little Butte des Morts."
CAUSE OF THE WAR.
The cause that led to this conflict
was the great hostility of the Poxes
toward the French. The Foxes (called
Outagamies) sometimes joined by the
Sauks (Sacs) had long held possession of
the banks of the Fox river and sought
every opportunity of making themselves
troublesome. Their stronghold was at

this "Little Bute," on the points ot
land on what is now known as Little
Butte des Morts Lake, a beautiful bay
or a widening ofthe river just below
Doty's Island, between Neenah and
Menasha, They had a village in which
they were somewhat defended by
mounds and ditches, and annoyed the
traders by the exactions of tribute from
every boat that passed up the river.
Their custom was on seeing boats ap
proaching — and they were always on
the lookout — to place a signal of a bunch
of grass on a pole, by day, and a torch
by night, being a demand to "heave to''
and pay toll, which the boats had in
variably to comply with or do worse,
which was to run the gauntlet of the
Indians in their ambush along the shore.
So aggravating had these exactions
become, that the navigation of the
river became one of extreme difficulty
and danger; consequently Capt. Mor
and was ordered to disperse this hostile
tribe at whatever cost. He moved up
the river in his fleet of Durham boats,
canoes and barges, each boat having an
oil cloth to cover its cargo, and
when near the point he halted and sent
a detachment of men ashore to pass
around in rear of the savages, and to
act in concert. Those remaining in the
boats were all concealed under the oil
cloths, except two men, lu order to take
their enemy by surprise. He saw the
well understood signal and the crouch
ing savages ready to enforce the de
mand, and ordered his boats to run
near shore, thereby throwing the In
dians completely off their guard, as they
saw rich booty in the great number of
the boats, and their unusual acquios-
ence in coming to land; when at a suita
ble distance the signal was given and
the oil cloth covering was thrown off,
rose seyeral hundred well loaded mus
kets pouring their charge into the un-

suspecting savages. The land detach
ment came up, and being attacked front
and rear, the Indians were soon put
hort du comiat; and but a part of their
number escaped. This remnant fled up
the east bank of Lake Winnebago, and
passing entirely around it, sought shel
ter and aid from some straggling bands
on the south shore of the Upper Fox.
The French forces followed and engaged
in several skirmishes along these rivers
to the head waters of the Fox, thence
down the Wisconsin to near its mouth,
where the decisive battle was fought and
the savage Foxes, who had so long struck
terror to the weaker tribes, and so
much annoyance to the white man, were
slain — few being left except their
women and children. This ended the
Fox war and nearly the Fox tribe.
A few years previous to this, and
which led to trouble with the Indians,
the end being as above stated, another
matter small in the beginning trans-
spired. The Sauks and Poxes dwelt
together. The former were more peace
fully inclined, but were drawn into
several conflicts by their allies, the
Poxt's The French Commander, of tJie
post at Green Bay, issued his orders of
separation of the tribes, which order
was being executed as fast as the nature
ofthe case would admit; a little inci
dent occurring that led to a severe
struggle and considerable bloodshed.
An Indian child of the Sauks had been
adopted into a family ot Foxes, and
pursuant to the order for separating
them, the child was demanded, but not
given up; the Sauks then making com
mon cause with the whites, persisted in
the liberation of the boy, and numerous
delays, talks, and put offs occurred,
when the Sauks appealed to the French
commandant again and a small body of
men sent up the river with orders to take
the child at all events. A peremptory

demand was then made by the officer in
command of the detachment, and as
usual met by some pretense, saying "be
patient," and other demonstrations in
sulting to the pride of the Frenchman,
when he fired upon and killed the head
chief with whom he was parleying; and
again fired and killed a second chief;
from which grew the war above alluded
to, but not the rescue of the child.
As the French increased in numbers
the bitter feeling on the part of the In
dians grew stronger, and many petty
conflicts arose, including at times sever
al tribes. Indian troubles was an al
most unbroken series of events, the rec
ord of which is so imperfect and tradi
tionary account, so conflicting, that it is
impossible to give anything like a cor
rect history of them ; even if the lim
its of these pages would permit. Suf
flee it to say, the motive of the White-
man was to break down every obstacle
to their trade and traffic with the In
dian, in other words, to sell their whis
key, tobacco, and trinkets, nothing
higher or nobler. On the part of the
Indian,to preserve their hunting grounds
from molestation, although he was by
no means an unwilling victim to these
seductive and baneful influences.
carver's expedition.
In October, 1766, Capt. Jonathan
Carver started from Green Bay, up the
Neenah, (Lower Fox) through Lake
Winnebago and the Upper Pox (Neenah)
and Wisconsin, arrived at Prairie Du
Chien. In his passage up these rivers,
Capt. Carver in somewhat of a spirit of
prophesy says: "To what power or
authority this new world will become
dependent, after it has arisen from its
present uncultivated state, time alone
can discover. But as the seat of Empire
from time immemorial has gradually
been progressing towards the West,
there is no doubt but that, at some future

8

period, mighty kingdoms will emerge
from this wilderness — and stately pala
ces and solemn temples, with gilded
spires reaching the skies, supplant the
Indian huts, whose only decorations are
the barbarous trophies of their yan-
quished enemies." And may I not truly
add, could prophetic vision see into the
unknown future, with a more truthful
eye ? At the time Carver was at "Labaye
des Puants," as it was then called by
the French, (now Green Bay) in 1766,
there was no garrison there, though an
old fort was kept in tolerable repair
-and a number of families of French,
Half-breeds and Indians lived there
and seemed happy, producing enough to
satisfy their wants.
Green Bay, the name given to it by
the English, was so called by this ex
pedition of Carvers. They had been
fourteen days in coming from Mackinac,
where all was dreary and winter like.
When they arrived at the bay, the coun
try was covered with verdure, and veg
etation so luxuriant that they Jiamed it
"Green Bay."
In proceeding up the Fox (Lower Fox)
the same party were still more enamor
ed of the beautiful scenery all along its
banks, and arriving at our beautiful
Lake Winnebago, he was most enchanted
with the scenery that was presented to
his view, which no doubt, gave inspira
tion to that prophetic vision; is it not
almost verified in the present ? Instead
of "palaces" and "solemn temples," have
we not in the present structure of our
government that more than realizes the
dreams of the early traveler; a temple
prouder than those of the old
world, and palaces all over the land in
which dwell, not the purse proud
and bloated aristocrat of the old world's
nobility, but men who hold the sceptre
of a greater power, the true American
yeomanry.

To follow a little further Capt. Car
ver's narrative, — when arriving at the
lower end of Lake Winnebago he found
the village of the Winnebagoes, where
dwelt a large band of that tribe under
the government of an Indian woman.
He was received cordially and with
great hospitality was entertained for
several days. The band numbered some
300 and was well governed; their houses
were strongly built with palisades and
other means of defense. Further up
(probably Algoma or Butte des Morts)
he found another tribe 'as he says, but
probably Menomonees, as that tribe oc
cupied there about this time. He reach
ed and passed over the Portage (now
Portage City) and then camping ou the
Wisconsin, he made the discovery that
the Fox and Wisconsin had opposite
directions, he says: "one running IJIorth-
east and the other (Wisconsin) South
west, and approaching so near each
other, that his men could alnmst step
from one to the other, (a little over one
mile) and then running in different
directions, one reaching the great gulf
at the South, and the other an equal
distance of over two thousand miles,
and passing through four great lakes,
reaches the Sea through the Gulf of St.
Lawrence." This description is a little over
wrought, as it is well known that the
head waters of the two rivers are far
apart; the Wisconsin being in Sac
Vieux Desert, some two hundred miles
north of Portage, and the Fox, but a
small affair until it had swallowed the
Wolf; illustrative of the superior s.agaci-
ty of the one animal ovcr the other.
INDIAN tribes.
But I must pass over years of stirring
scenes and hasten on to events of more
modern times. Nor would I linger
over a farther recital of the Red
man's history, but for its almost inseper-

able connection with the early white
settlements. These people are fast pass
ing away, and everything in relation
to them is of interest to our readers.
For many years the Menomonees had
their villages at Butte des Morts and
Wihneconne, and laid claim to a large
tract of country, even at one time as far
as Milwaukee southward, and north to
the Menomonee river on Green Bay.
They however permitted the Winneba-
goes to occupy a portion of their
territory receiving therefor a yearly
tribute and generally lived on peaceful
terms. The Winnebagoes had their
village a littie south of this, now called
Black Wolf, after their head chief. In
the war of 1813 the Menomonees, sided
with the British but were friendly to our
people during the well remembered
struggle called the Black Hawk war.
They were not very strong and since
that time but little has been said of
them, except in this neighborhood,where
they had many of them lived. The name
is an Algonquin term, and means wild
rice. The Winnebagoes are a Dakota tribe
and came from the west. They were
c.iUed Winnebagoes jvhich signifies in
the Algonquin language "Fetid," from
the fact that they were supposed to have
come from the far western Ocean.
(Pacific) salt water being called "Fetid
water" and their migration hither was
stoiAly resisted by the Algonquin con
federacy, the Illinois tribes being at the
head. It is asserted by what appears to be
good authority that of all the aboriginal
tribes west ofthe AUeghanies and the
great Lakes comprising, Ohio, Indiana,'
Michigan and Canada West, were called
Hurons. Those of Illinois and North
west were called Algonquins and tradi
tion not only gives these tribes a differ-
e.it origin,bait a different language, there

being but two "mother tongues," the
Huron and Algonquin, and all other
tribal dialects, a corruption of the
original languages. Tradition also says,
in the wars between the Northern tribes
and the Illinois, the former were driven
from the west shore of Green Bay into
the Fox River, where a party of the
Winnebagoes and perhaps others, rallied
and 600 strong, went out to the lake to
give the Illinois battle, in their canoes;
when a storm arose and the whole band
perished. This disaster gave the north
ern passage from Green Bay to Lake
Michigan called 'Deaths Door,' its nam«.
VISIT OF KISH-KE NB-KAT.
A distinguished Chief of a band of
the Winnebagoes lived here where
Oshkosh now stands. This great Chief
luxuriated in the non deplume oi 7 oyf-
wa-ga-nieu, and his fame was in story
and ia song. Their planting grounds
were at Algoma (now the 5th ward of
the city of Oshkosh,) and many stories
are told, not alone of his bravery, but
his noble heartedness and generous and
humane disposition. He disdained to
take the scalps of women and children,
and never put to death his captives. An
anecdote of this Chief and Black Wolf
is told in Mitchel and Osborn's History,
and illustrating the character, so well,
in the ludicrous as well as the grave, I
will venture upon the patience of my
readers to give it entire :
"Kisli-ke-ne-kat or Cut finder, head war chief
of the Pottawottamies of Chicago, was a great
brave, and, lilteaoine successful white braves,
somewhat ot a bully. Among other of his hab
its was an ugly one, of insulting the greatest
brave of any tribe he mijjht be visitina, and
such was the awing effect of his reputation
tliat none as yet resented it. As waj his wont he
sent one of his young men to Black Wolf to in
form him of a visit he intended to pay that Chief,
moved thereto, hy Black Wolf's great reputa
tion as a brave. Black Wolf knowing Cut fin-
ger's habits, thought it it best to get his Me -
nomonee friend Pow wa-ga-nieu, ta assitt in
dispensing his hospitalities tothePottawottamie.
Therein he showed his great wisdom. The
Illinois Ohisf made his appearance at Black
Wolf's village with three hundred warriors, dDd

10

not being expected there, did not find the
Otaiet; so according to custom he started after
him to Algoma, whither he had gone to the
corn-husking, on the planting ground u{ his
Jriend Pe e-shen. Black Wolf, by this time ap
prised of their coming, assembled his, aud the
Menomonee braves to receive them. On their
arrival they sat down on a pleasant spot within
hailing distance ot their hosts. A young Win
nebago who could speak the Pottawotta mie
tongue, presented the pipe to the great Chief,
with the usual compliments. While the pipe
was going round. Cut finger enquired which was
Black Wolf p The interpreter pointed him out.
"Who is that who seems to be as great as he, sit
ting by his side ?" '"That's Pow wa g»nieu
the great Menomonee." Cut-finger's eyes snap
ped with delight at the prospect of humbling
the great warrier betore his young men. Bid
ding the Winnebago to tell Black Wolf that he
would shake his hand; before the young men
arose be started and paid the usual courtesies to
that chief. After these preliminaries were set
tled on both sides, Cut finger asked "who is he
this who occupies a place ot so much honor ?
must be a great Indian.' 'This is the bravest
Menomonee, Pow-wa-ga-nieu. ' 'Ah, i.s that the
great Pow wa-ga-nieu, who fills the songs of the
lidtious ? let me look at him." He walked all
round the chief, examining him with the critical
air of a horse jockey, Pow-wa-ga-nieu, all this
time keeping profound silence, having a good
idea what it was goinc to amount to. "Well,"
at last broke forth Cut finger, "you are a fine
Indian a groat Indian, a strong Indian, but you
don't look Uke a bravo Indian. I have seen
braver looking Indians than you in my travels —
I am a great traveler — I (hink you must have
got a great deal of your reputation from your
size. You don't look brave — you look slespy.
You have no tongue, you don't speak.' Then
lolling the young Menomonees that be was.
going to satisfy himself as to the courage of
their chief, he cook hold of the bunch of hair the
old warrior always kept on his crown for the
convenience of any Sac or Fox who might find
it necessary to scalp him, and gave him a good
shaking, saying all the time , 'You are sleepy,
you have no tongue;' and a plentiful supply of
aboriginal banter. Pow wa ga-nieu, aided bv
his great strength and a neck that could with
stand any thing but rum, sustained but little
damage from this and submitted with Indian
calmness, until his tormentor had got through.
After satisfying himself Cut-finger announced to
Black Wolf that he would go and sit among his
warriors until Black- Wolf gave the word to
rise. Pow-wa ga-nieu immediately set himself
about fixing the flint of his Pottawottamie
friend. He opened his sack and drew fcrlh his
cap of war-eagle feathers — itself equal to a
small band of Sacs and Foxes — put it on bis
bead and picked up his lance and club. His
young men feared an unpleasant result, but
none dared to speak except his brother, who
admonished him to 'do nothing rash.' One
glance of Pow-wa-ga-nien's eye and an emphat
ic 'I'm mad now !' sent that respectable Me
nomonee to his seat, excusing hiniself by saying
that Pow-wa ga-nieu 'know what a fool he al
ways made of himself when be got a-going.'

Stretching himself up to his full height, h^
stalked toward the Fottawottamies in a style
that excited the universal admiration of his
friends, especially old Black Wolf, who not only
admired his friend, but also his own tact in
shifting this particular scrape on to that friend's
shoulders. 'My friends, ' said the old brave to the Fot
tawottamies, 'I am glad to see you here; you
look brave — you are brave; many of you I
have met on the war-path, and know you are
brave; some of your youngest I do not know, it
being many years since I went to war; I am
glad to see you look so well. I have beard
much of your chief, but I don't think him very
brave; I think him a coward. He looks sl«epy,
and I am going to see if be is worthy to lead
such braves as you.' Whereupon throwing bis
weapons on the ground, he seized the Pottawot
tamie chief by the hair, which he wore very
long as if in prophetic anticipation of som'a
such retribution as this. He shook him \<lth
all his might, and continued to shake unlil his
vol ng men remonstrated, saying they were
satisfied, He stopped without relinquishing his
hold, turned I ound his head, looked his follow
ers down into silence, and shook again with the
vim of a man whose whole heart was in the
pei'formance ot an evident and pious duty. The
life was nearly out of Kish-ke-ne-kat, but the
brave Menomonee bore that individual's suf
ferings with the same fortitude that he had
borne his own. Satisfied at last, he raised bis
enemy up by the hair and threw him from him;
at the same time, he picked up bis club and
lance and waited to see ''what be was going to
do about it.' Cut-finger raised himself on his
elbow and rubbed his head, not daring to Io«k
up while the Menomonee invited him to look up
and see a man if be was one himself| 'to come
and decide this mutter like men,' which being
unattended to. he went back to his seat at the
right hand of Black-Wolf, v/ho had been all this
time smoking with the utmost indifference, aa
indeed it was no affair oi his.
Kish-ke ne-kat continued to recline on his
arm. Pow-wa ga-nieu eyeing him all the time,
and when the Pottawottamie would steal a
glance at the great war cap, the eye uuder it
would make him turn again, at the same time
his ears were assailed with, 'why don't you
look up ?' 'what are you afraid of?' 'come ar.d
talk to me,' and such taunts. Cut-fin{cer flaw
that his position among his young men was get
ting to be rather delicate, and the last inyita-
tion, as a means of reconciling all parties, met
his view; so rising and laying his hand on his
sore head, he said: 'My friends — there is im
dodging the fact that ' Pow-wa-ga-nieu is a
brave Indian, a very brave Indian, braver than
I, and I'll go and tell him so.' Gathering him
self up he walked over to the Chief's and told
Pow-wa-ga-nieu that he had come over to shake
him by the hand. 'You are a great chief, I
have shook many chief's: none have resented
till now; if you h"ad submitted you wonld have
been disgraced in the eyes of my young men;
now they will honor. lama great traveler, I
am going to all the tribes ot the south, I will
tell those who have spoken well of you how you
have used me, they will believe me, for I have
pulled all of their heads and as you have pulled

11

mine, you are as great as if you had pulled
theirs also; let us shake hands and be friends.'
Pow-wa-ga-nieu, who was a good fellow at bot
tom, reciprocated the good feelings of the now
friendly chief, and a lasting friendship sprung
up between them and showed Itself in the inter
change of presents every year, as long as they
both lived.
The war-eagle cap which contributed so much
toward this victory is now in the hands of Pow-
wa-ga-nieu's, son, and can be seen any time by
those who doubt the truth of the foregoing.'
MISSIONABT TRIALS.
The following account taken from the
history of the "Jesuit Relations" of the
north-west, is but the history of nearly all
of those traders Missionaries and others
in the early discovery and explorations
of this country. It says ''Father Menaf d
and eight Fremchmen started from
Three Rivers August 1660, and ariived
at their destination (Green Bay) the
15th of Oct. after inconceivable labors,
bad treatment from their boatmen, in
the highest degree inhuman, and an
extreme scarcity of provisions; so much
60, that the "Father'' at last could
hardly sustain himself, being beside of-
a feeble constitution, and broken down
with toil. But as one travels very far
after being tired, so had he sufficient
courage to reach the wigwams of his
host. One named "Pike" Chief of the
family, a proud and vicious man, who
had four or five wives, treated the 'Holy
Father' very badly and at last compelled
him to withdraw from his wigwam and
build a hut for himself with pine
branches." He continues "O God ! what
a dwelling place to pass the dreary days
of a rigorous winter, which in this
country is almost insupportable. The
nutriment was scaercely better; often
their only food was a miserable fish
boiled in clear water, to be divided
among four or five; and this they owed
to the charity ofthe Savages ,bestowed
on one of their number waiting for the
return of their canoea as the poor men
dicant waits for the distribution of alms
at the church doors. A certain moss

that grows upon the rocks, has often
served them for a good repast. They
put a handful of it into their boiler,
which slightly thickened the water,
forming upon it a kind of scum, or
slime similar to that of snails, and
which seemed to nourish their imagin
ation rather than their bodies. The
flsh bones which they carefully pre
serve when fish are abundant.also served
to amuse the appetite in times of neces
sity. There is nothing even to pounded
bones, of which these poor starving
creatures cannot make a profitable use.
Many species of wood also furnish them
with provisions; the barks of the Oak,
the Birch, the Whitewood, and some
other trees, well dried and pounded,
then put into the water in which the
fish have been boiled, or else mixed
with fish oil, furnishe them with ex
cellent ragouts. They eat acorns with
great relish but their hunger is never
satisfied. Thus passed this dreary winter. Du
ring the Spring and Summer they fared
better, as they were able to hunt occas
ionally. They killed a few ducks and
some other birds, which afforded them
a delicious banquet. Raspberries, and
other small fruit of the kind, were to
them most grateful refreshments.
The second winter setting in unex
pectedly, the Frenchmen having ob
served the manner the savages took
their fish, resolved to follow their ex
ample, judging that hunger was more
dfficult to support than the great hard
ships and risks of these fishing expedi
tions. It was a sight worthy of pity to
behold, on these great lakes, (probably
Green Bay) rolling sometimes like the
sea, some of these poor Frenchmen in
canoes, through rain and snow, tossed
here and there, the sport of the winds,
often on their return, they have discov
ered their hands and feet to be frozen;

12

sometimes they were assailed by such a
cloud of drifting snow, driven by the
violence ofthe wind, that the person at
the steering oar could not discover his
companion at the bow of the canoe.
What means had they then to reach the
post ? Certainly each time when they
landed in safety it seemed like a inir
acle. When successful iii fishing they
set aside a portion of their fish, which
they smoked, and these served them as
food when the fishing season was over,
or the weather did not allow them to
go out.
In that country there is a certain
plant, about four feet high (doubtless
the wild rice which is quite plenty, on
all our rivers) that grows in marshy
places; a little while before it begins to
head, the Savages go in their canoes and
bind the stems together in tufts, and
separating them from each other, so
that a canoe can passs between them
when they return to gather the grain.
The time for harvesting having arrived,
they paddle their canoes into the little
alleys which they have made across the
field of grain, and bending over the
tuft thus bound together, they shake
out the grain into the canpfe, when full
they go to the , shore and empty it into
a ditch close to the waters edge and
there with their feet they tramp it out
and preserve It for future use.
This pious old missionary, soon after
the scenes of suffering -past related died,
while yet struggling to christianize the
savages, and not without some little
success; the obstacles being as he says,
"their wandering lives, indolent habits,
great brutality and poligamy," enough
in all eonsclence to block the the way
of any christianizing or civilizing in
fluence. There is no brighter example of vi
carious suffering, since thcdfeftthof oui*
Savibt, than in the laljotB of the cath

olic missions in this country at an early
day. Every day the scene of trials,
hunger, and fatigue, were but a repeti
tion of the preceeding one, and nothing
but a life of the severest trials and pri- ¦
vations was experienced by those whose
only motive was to civilize and .im
prove the race of the Indians; and no
effort worthy to be called so, has
proved more signally abortive than this-
With few exceptions, and those of a
modern date, the poor Indian "whose
untutored mind, sees a God in clouds,.
and hears him in the wind," has with
stood every effort to make him, other
than what Nature designed him, an In
dian. One ofthe exceptions spoken of
is on the East Shore of Winnebago Lake,
the Stockbridge and Brothertown na
tions who follow all the pursuits of
civilized life, have excellent farms;
churches and schools; are honest and in
dustrious, and, some years since were ad
mitted to all the privileges of citizen
ship, and are allowed one member in
the legislature. Other examples may
be found but they are only exceptions
at best.
Having dwelt lonl^eT than I intended
over the subjects of interest, antecedent,
and accessory to the flrst settlement of
Winnebago Co., I must now pass to
notice events in the early history of our
city and county. I will say however,
by way of extenuation in keeping the
reader so long away from the immedi
ate subject promised, that I fjund near
ly every incident of those times, from
the flrst incursion of the white man for
exploration, adventure, or for traffic, to
the actual settlement of the country,
so intimately blended with the history
of this county and the subsequent devel
opments of the City of Oshkosh, that
not to have done so would have been
neglecting the flrst and most obvious
duty devolving upon ae. Almost from

13

the time of the first settlement of Green
Bay, over two hundred years ago^ this
immediate locality has participated
more or less directly in the interests of
the wyageur or the sojourner on its
lakes and rivers. Here was the great
hijrhway through which all had to pass
in reaching the Mississippi where
trading ports and missions had been es
tablished; hence in all that concerned
for many years, the discovery and final
settlement ofthe country, this particu
lar spot has its share of the importance
attaching to the whole.
The history of the red man will be
appreciated by future generations as
that of an extinct race, and not till
then will his vices, for which he is
scarcely accountable, be forgotten, and
his virtues be remembered.
OSIIKOSH — HIS TRIBE
In 1837 the head Chief of the Me
nomonees died leaving no male offspring.
The male line having run out there
arose a necessity for a successor, and a
good deal of excitement arose among
the tribes, each claiming the right to
elect the new chief. The difficulty was
reported to the President when he ap
pointed two commissioners. Gov. Cass
and Col. McKinney to decide the vex
ed question. They assembled the tribe
at Little Butte des Morts, and after
healing the arguments, and examin
ing all the claims of the different
bands, they elected Oshkosh as best
qualifled to serve his people as head
.chief, and the appointment seemed to
satisfy all parties. Oshkosh then lived
with a portion of his tribe on the head
waters of the Wisconsin River; a tract of
country was afterwards reserved to them
on the Wolf River, where the little
remnant of that taribe now dwell.
This tribe had at one time several
Indian slaves which they had bought of

other tribes, whose practice it was to
make war on the Pawnees, Osages, and
others, and hold as slaves their captives;
but this practice was abandoned after a
few yr-ars and their slaves set at liberty,
under the advice of the French and
English Traders, as being repulsive to
their ideas of right.
Of the lineage of the new Chief
Oshkosh we have but a meager outline.
He was the grand-son of Cha-kau-cho-
ka-ma, or the "old chief" long, head
chief of the Menomonees. He was born
in 1795 and died in 1858. He was en
gaged on the side of the British in the
war 1813-15. under Tomah, whence he
derived the title, brame. That he was
brave though in a bad cause is very
probable. Mr. Grignon says of him;
"He is of medium size, possessing
much good sense and ability, but is a
great slave to strong drink, and two
of his sons surpass their father in that
vice. His name has descended to our fair
city, with what propriety, I leave to
others to decide. It was originally
pronounced Oshosh, and as it ought to
be, as being far more convenient in its
orthography, easier of pronunciation
and decidedly more harmonious in sound
than the present method of pronoun
cing it. All Indian names are expres
sive and often beautiful, and generally
refer to some animal, thing or place,
and the definition quite often is sug
gestive of events of great moment, or
perhaps of exceeding beauty. Of the
signiflcation of the name OsTcosh, there
is some variance of opinion. That
which is generally attributed to it, is,
brave, but I think that a title given him
for some brave act, rather than the true
meaning of the term. In the Chip.
pewa dialect it means the Eoof, or
extremity of some animal; by others it
is said to mean the Toe-nail. This

14

definition, I am informed by a gentle
man who years ago understood the lan
guage, customs and habits of the Me-
nommonees, was said to be the true
one, and its almost coroboration by the
original Algonquin term makes it
probable that such was the case. How
ever that may be, it matters but little,
and I leave it to others that may be
more curious and better skilled in In
dian nomenclature. Why the old Chief
should have been so unfortunate in a
patronymic, so wanting in the eupho
nious, with such an origin, it is difficult
to explain; probably he had at some
early time of life been afflicted with a
malformation of that particular pedal
appendage. Whatever the true origin
of the term, it is so uncouth, so entirely
unpoetical, that it is far more rational
in its application to a stolid old chief,
than to the fair young city that inherited
it; but not wishing to do injustice to the
old Chief, or his name, I leave both, here
after speaking of them only incidentally
and retrospectively. The red man every
where, and particularly those hanging on
the borders of civilization, is but a rem
nant of his former greatness; a last sad
relic of a people that were once lords of
the soil. That they have been wrong
ed, often and sorely wronged, is a fact
patent to the world; fate seemed to de
cree his ultimate extinction, and a more
favored race became the instrument,
and generally the unscrupulous instru
ment, in hastening on the destruction in
the order of this irretrievable destiny.
The end nuuy be just, and in the
order of Providence, but the means
used, like all other acts of man, must be
accounted for, and the plea of "doing
wrong that good might come," will
hardly stand the scrutiny of stern
justice. EARLY SETTLERS.
One ofthe first settlers in this vicini

ty, of which we have any account, ex .
cept voyageurs and traders passing over
the route, and only sojourning for a
brief period, was Aug. Grignon and
Jas. Porlier, who established a trading
post about one mile below where the
village of Butte des Morts now stands,
in the year 1818. Mr. Porlier was a
resident of Green Bay, and Mr. Grig
non of Eaukauna a little below Apple-
ton, where his family resided most of
the time, he being mostly engaged at
the post, and subsequently much inter
ested in building up a village there. He
was a Canadian by birth but of French
descent, as was also his partner, Mr.
Jas. Porlier. Mr. Robert Grignon, a.
Nephew of Aug. Grignon, came about
the same time and acted in the capacity
of Agent or Clerk at the post, but only
for a short time, when he went to Algo
ma and set up for himselt, and James
Knaggs, a half-breed, succeeded him in
the agency at the post. Mr. Knaggs re
mained there several years when he also
went to Algoma and kept a ferry, being
succeeded by L. B. Porlier about the
year 1833. Mr. Porlier is the son of
Jas. Porlier then partner in the firm; is
an intelligent gentleman of French de
seent and married the daughter of Aug.
Grignon whom he survives. He had for
several years the direction of affairs and
was a good business man. He still lives
on the spot where the trading post was
first established and many of the old
buildings still may be seen, expressive
mementoes of olden time among the
Indians. At that time the Indian trail between
Fort Winnebago and Green Bay crossed
the Wolf river at the place where their
trading post was established, and just
above the head of Lake Butte des Morts;
and continued there until the year 1835,
when it was established at Algoma. It
was the half-way house, and many were

15

the "wild wood" scenes that transpired,
which will soon be buried and forgotten
in the past. The Mail was also carried
over this route; in summer on horseback,
and in winter on snow shoes and other
overland methods. As a matter of
reminiscence it may be interesting to
many to see the old "Bill o' fare" at
this Half-way House and Ferry, to-wit;
Ferriage one horse in summer, 25 cts,;
in winter, 50 cts; stabling for horses,
18%; to pasture 6J^; corn for horse, 35
ots. per gallon; oats 13 1-3 cts. Meals
for man, 25 cts; Lodging 13 1-3 cents.
Whiskey for man, small measure, 5 cts.;
for Indian, several drinks in one day, a
Beaver skin; one drink for Indian,
muskrat. Farther my informant saith

not.

FUR TRADE.

The trade in furs was a remarkably
large one at this post, being in the
centre of a large Indian country, and of
the most successful operations in hunt
ing and trapping. These furs were sent
to Green Bay in boats and barges down
the Fox river, and thence to Mackinac,
where the American Fur Co. had their
Depot; the return boats brought up the
food and other supplies for all this
region of country. This was the route
of the boats in the Mississippi river
trade engaged in the transportation of
furs for the same Company. Durham
boats, barges and dugouts being loaded
with their freight, a number of French
men, (according to size of boat) armed
with ropes and poles, plied themselves
vigorously to their task, by no means
an easy one. Along the "still waters"
the boats were propelled by poles, but
over the rapids, they had to be hauled
round with ropes, but not without un
loading. At Eausauna Mr. Grignon
kept a team to haul the freight round
the rapid; at Little Chute, Appleton,
and Winnebago rapids, the boats were
unloaded and hauled over by ropes,
the freight carried on the shoulders of

the men or rolled on poles to the still
water above, truly a, task, slow and
toilsome. These boats were piloted
over the rapids, up and down by In
dians, who were pretty good pilots, but
bad at the rope or the pole, and in
ferior to the Frenchmen; they would
work vigorously however by being well
plied with whiskey, lesser quantities
being given them while running the
rapids. A GOOD TIME.
Mr. Aug. Grignon had also a trading
post at Kaukauna and kept a public
House, the resort of the elite and the
scene of many a merry dance, engaged
in by the Officers of Ft. Howard and
other places who would make long
journeys in their sleighs in winter and
boats in summer, to this place in order
to have a "cheer up" in tlje slden time
style. Gen. Cass, Gov. Dodge and
other dignitaries of State being no
exceptions in the attendance on these
reoherehe gatherings. The boats were
rowed by five Frenchmen, which was
only a part of the duties expected of
them, for it is said none were engaged
except they could sing,ti.ndL such singing,
too, would shame the puny efforts of
modern times. In sentiment, melodious
strains, and deep pathos, it was said to
charm even the wild beast; but in the
soul stirring chorus, for cheering the
heart and nerving the arm of the boat
man, it had a most happy effect,
BAHLT SETTLERS CONTINUED.
But I must return to the early settlers.
Mr. Peter Powel settled in 1883 on a
point of land on the north bank of
Butte des Morts Lake, about two miles
above Algoma, where he was engaged
in farming, trading &c., until 1638
when he died. His son, Capt, Wm.
Powell, resided there until the death of
his father when he went to Algoma
with Robert Grignon.

16

Capt. Wm. Powell is well known
by many of our older citizens, and took
a lively interest in all things of a pub
lic nature. His acquaintance with the
Indian character, as well as with their
language, gave him great influence with
the Menomonees and closely allied him
to their interests while here; and since
the removal of the remnant of that tribe
to their reservation at Keshena, on the
Wolf river, about ten miles above Shaw
ano, where that last sad relic of a once
powerful tribe now dwell; Capt. Pow
ell is still there as their interpreter,
and in government employ, and the
same old type of kind heartednes, and
eccentricity, as of old. He was a man of
great urbanity, and good address, but
the dry est joker of the State. He was
always said to have plenty of money ,
but when going away from home,
invariably left his money behind him,
probably the cause of his being always
in funds. Many amusing' anecdotes
might be given of the Captain, but as
his eccentricities as well as his virtues,
are fresh in the memories of most of our
older citizens, I must leave him to his
laurels. Another old settler hereabouts, was
Archibald Caldwell, to whom I will
make a brief allusion. He settled
among the Indians at Neenah, in 1835,
and interested himself in the estab
lishment of an agency at that place for
the benefit of the Menomonee Indians.
This agency embraced the objects of a
benevolent civilizing, and christianizing
institution. It was to establish schools,
give instruction in Agriculture and
mechanics; but with all the worthy
objects aimed at, it was not sustained.
The Menomonees did not enter into the
spirit of it heartily, and after lingering
over the vain attempt to benefit them,
the enterprise was abandoned.
Chas Grignon, brother of Aug. Grignon,

was one of the first to drive the stake
here He settled on Jackson's Point, now
foot of Wisconsin street, where he en
gaged in some way in trade.
Of all those first settlers in this
neighborhood, who came prior to 1886,
the recollections of our citizens will be
as distinct of Robert Grignon, as of any
other one of whom I have spoken. As
before said, he came to this part of the
country somewhere about the year 1818^
and served as a Clerk for a few years
with his uncle, Aug. Grignon, then
went to Algoma where he run a ferry
for awhile, being succeeded by James
Knaggs. Among the early settlers none
took a more active part in public matters.
He was a man of considerable energy and
perseverence; good sense and fair busi
ness qualifications, notwithstanding he
was deprived ofthe benefits of an educa
tion. His patriotism led him to take
an active part in an expedition fltted
out against the remnant of the Sacs
and Foxes who had survived the defeat
of years before, and were committing
depredations on the early settlers on
the "^Visconsiu and Mississippi Rivers.
This expedition was under the com
mand of Col. Boyd, assisted by
several Menomonee Chiefs, Oshkosh
being of the number. The command
consisted of about 600 Indians which
was the entire party except the officers.
Among the officers were Aug. Grignon
and Geo. Johnson, Captains, and Rob't
Grignon and Wm. Powell among the
Lieutenants. This mighty army moved
up the Fox river, passed over the ferry
at Algoma, and thence to Portage, and
down the Wisconsin to Prairie du Chien.
On its way down the Wisconsin river,
it captured a half starved Indian girl
who was entirely alone on an island,
whom they sent back to Green Bay,
not wishing to be encumbered by pris
oners. At Prairie du Chien they struck

17

a trail, and following it up, they soon
came upon an Indian encampment, con
sisting of two men ! one boy, three
women ! and as many more children.
In the wildest consternation of excite
ment, and with savage yells, they
rushed upon their defenceless enemy,
when the two men fell pierced v?ith
bullets, a whole volley having been
fired at them. Others coming up and
wishing to share the glory of having
participated in the battle, continued to
flre at the fallen enemy until they were
literally riddled with bullets.- They
took the women prisoners,and killed the
the boy. Thus ended this sanguinary
battle,and thus "they conquered all their
foes, and thrice they slew the" slain." In
the melee, Lieut. Grignon was wounded,
and had to be left at Prairie du Chien,
while his compatriots in arms, returned,
in all the pomp and consequence of
much ado about nothing. The relator
'''i^f the incident says, "for this noted
campaign, ending in such a glorious
victory, ,every one of the party (Menom
onees included) received land warrants,
and Robert Grignon a pension." Lieut.
, Robert Grignon, as he must be
called, since acquiring such military
honors, as above mentioned, was also
engaged to some extent in the Black
Hawk war.and was^crediSsd with the dis
tinction of having handed over to Gen.
Scott, Black Hawk himself, for which
service he became quite popular, and
had much to do with procuring Indian
claims. From these claims it is said,
he came into possession of considerable
sums of money, which he alleged, cost
to get them about all they were worth.
He was not rich but in comfortable
circumstances on a piece ot land near
Algoma, where he met a tragic end. He
was returning to his home from town,
and got on a team going that way;
when getting near his house, in a driv

ing snow storm, h^ left the team, be
came bewildered and was found next
morning frozen. A few years before,
his wife fell into the fire and was burn
ed to death. CEOAR R.-VPIDS TREATY.
In 1836 Gov, Dodge was appointed
by the general government as commis
sioner to hold a treaty with the Me
nomonee Indians, for the purchase of
their lands, whereupon the time and
place of the treaty was fixed upon.
Cedar Rapids on the Pox river, a little
below Appleton, being the place select
ed. This treaty was attended by all
the Menomonee Chiefs and, a solemn
talk was held, resulting in the Menomo
nees ceding to the government, some
foiir millions of acres of land lying north
of the Pox river, and west of Winne -
bago Lake, (which embraced all that
part where the city of Oshkosh now is,
on the north side of the Fox river,) and
a strip of land on the Wisconsin river
consisting in all of 184,320 acres, large
enough for eight townships. This
cession, says Childe, "gave a new impetus
to the settlement of Northern Wiscon -
sin, and doubtless led to the establish
ment of the boundary line between
Wisconsin and Michigan, which was
run ia the summer of 1841.
FIRST SETTLER IN OSHKOSH.
In the summer of 1836 Webster Stan
ley, having been the year before in
Goternment employ in transporting
supplies between Fort Howard and Ft.
Winnebago, being prepossessed in favor
of this locality, resolved to "pitch his
tent" here. Consequently, he brought
with him a boat load of lumber, and.
built a cabin on the south side of the
river at Algoma, opposite to the point
where Mr, Knaggs had several years
before established a ferry, being on the
new Indian trail between Ft. Howard;
and Portage, the old one near Butte deSj

18

Morts having been abandoned. Here,
just above where the Algoma bridge
now is, Mr. Stanley set up his cabin, and
purchased Mr. Knagg's interest in the
ferry. His object in coming here was
to locate land, and moke a permanent
home, and, brought with him provision
to last a year, and immediately set him
self about the main object ot his com
ing, which was to build up a city here.
Mr. Stanley was born ^in Connecticut,
September, 1798. He came to Green
Bay in 1834. In 1835 he worked at
Neenah; in 1836 as above stated came
to this place. In 1836, Gov. Dodge re
turning from the Cedar Rapids treaty,
informed Mr, Stanley of the purchase by
the government of all the lands here
abouts. On receiving this information,
being joined by Chester Gallup,he profit
ed by it,and laid claim to all that part of
the land (now Oshkosh) between Ferry
Street and the Lake on the north side
of the river. Mr. Gallup's claim was
the beautiful elevation on the point be
tween the river and the lake, consist
ing of 170 acres. Mr. Stanley took from
Mr. Gallup's west line to Ferry Street
117 acres, on which they proceeded to
erect a dwelling, which was occupied
in common until the following Novem
ber, when Mr. Gallup had erected a
house for himself. Mr. Stanley is
credited with being the first white set
tler, and the founder of Oshkosh. Not
wishing to rob Mr, Stanley of one jot
or tittle of his well earned fame as the
founder of a city, I will in common
with others, accord him the high meed
of praise to which he and' every one
who starts a new settlement, is so richly
deserving — but as a pioneer, in the
neighborhood, I can't but think, that
some others ought to have honorable
mention without detracting anything
from him. For a number of years, as
seen in the preceeding pages, "there were

persons engaged in traffic with the In
dians, farming and other vocations, at
several places in this immediate neigh
borhood, which settlements being ante
cedent and accessory to the building up
of our city, and so closely connected
with its interests, (to say nothing of
Algoma, now one of the wards of the
city) that it seems but justice to these
gentlemen that they shonld be duly
remembered in the expressions of our
gratitude to the founders of our goodly
heritage. Again we see. shoulder to
shoulder with Mr. Stanley, Mr, Chester
Gallup, making his first claim, and
erecting his first house, at the same time;
their families for a time occupying
jointly ^the same, and the first permaj
nent residence, where our city now
stands. Mr, Stanley was a man of
energy,and doubtless entitled to all the
credit he receives, but others may well
be allowed to share it with him. After
making his claim to tfie land spoken of, ¦
he established , '.a ferry at the point of
land a little Mow the R. R. Bridge,
crossing passengers in canoes and
swimming horses; which ferry was con
tinued until the new one at Perry street
was established a few years after.
H. A. and J. P. Gallup now take
their places In the line of the founders
of Oshkosh, bein^ -but a few months
behind Mr. Stanley. I will give here a
narrative of their experience and ob
servations. EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OP H. A. G.
In compliance with a request made
some time since, that I should furnish
you with some of my early recollections,
I now sit down to make the attempt,
not promising but what I may make
some mistakes as to dates &c. The
changes are so great in Northern
Wisconsin in the last 30 years, that it
seems like drawing on my own imagin
ation, to state facts. If therefore any ono

19

should discover auy discrepances, they
will make allowance for the length of
time I am obliged to go back
On the fifth day of August 1836, af
ter about a week ou the lakes, on the
Steamer Michigan, we entered the port
of Green Bay Wisconsin, (Wisconsin
was then known as the North West
Territory.) On the right hand as we
entered the river, stood Fort Howard, a
larg^ pile of buildings built on a
square and surrounded by palisades, m
the center of which was a court or pa
rade ground. Outside of the palisades,
and fronting the river, was stationed
several large cannon mounted on wheels,
which looked as though they might
throw great obstacles in the way of a
vessel entering the river, but they were
never required for that purpose; many
of them since have been taken to the
neighboring towns to be used at 4th of
July celebrations &c. Green Bay, or
Navarino, as it was then called, was all
on the opposite side from the Fort.
The whole population of the place was
assembled on the docks on the arrival
of a steamer, which to a person from
the land of civilization, presented a very
novel appearance, for such a heteroge
neous crowd was never seen, composed
of Indians, in the different stages of
civilization, French half-breeds — eiti-
izens and soldiers in about equal pro
portions. There were the half civilized
Indians and Stockbridges, with the half
citizen dress, and the wild Menomonees)
with their hideously painted faces, and
their many colored blankets; and ming
ling with these, were the officers and
soldiers of Fort Howard, which I should
have said was at that time ocupied by a
company of United States Soldiers.
And but for the presence of the Amer
ican uniform, and the stars and stripes
which floated over the fort, one might
have thought himself in some foreign

and barbarous land. After getting
through the crowd without being so
licited to patronize any particular
house, we were directed to a private
boarding house, kept by Rev. Geo.
White, then an officiating Clergyman
in the place, aud now a resident of
Calumet; and the favorable opinion
which I formed of George White at that
time, after an acquaintance of twenty-
four hours, is now fully confirmed; — He
is one of Natures noblemen. The town
was on a low sandy strip of land along
the edge of the river, while immediate
ly back of the first street, was what ap
peared an interminable Alder Swamp.
The place had nt that time two hotels
which were fllled to overflowing. Green
Bay at that time was but a trading
post on a large scstre: the resident and
floating population of the place were
about equal in numbers. The resident
portion lived on what they could make
out of the transient portion, and the
annuities paid yearly to several tribes
of Indians in their vicinity, and the
money that was disbursed by the sol
diers of Fort Howard. But little at
tention being paid at that time to
agriculture, emigration had but just be
gun to set in towards Green Bay at that
time, and the few that had come were
engaged in speculation, which at that
time it will be remembered, ran high,
particularly in the west; money was
plenty, and labor commanded any price
a person chose to ask. Provisions
brought exorbitant prices, for instance
Flour was worth twelve dollars per bbl.
Pork forty, and everything in propor
tion. The spirit of speculation got so
strong a hold of us, as almost to induce
us to sell one years stock of provisions,
which we had brought with us, but
we had come west for a different pur
pose; our object being to fiind cheap
land, and start a farm. When we left

20

Ohio, our destiiiati n was Lake AVinne-
bago, and leaving our fiither, and
mother, and sister, in good quarters,
my.self and brother started for that
particular locality without i.aaking any
enquiries, excejat as to the direction and
distance; we started on foot, our course
was up the Fox River. A sandy i'oad
of five miles thickly settled by French,
and half-breeds, with quaint looking
houses, many of them surrounded by
palisades and the windows generallj
secured by shutters, brought us to De-
pere, — a rival of Green Bay. Here we
found quite a number of houses, and
extensive preparations for building
more. Here we were told it was nec
essary to cross the river. We ivere ac
cordingly ferried over in a skiff, and
an Indian trail pointed out to us to
follow, and was told it was ten miles to
the first house. Five miles had carried us
beyond civilization; we expected to
find a new country, but were quite un
prepared to find it entirely unsettled,
and a foot path ten miles in length,
struck mo as remarkable. Our trail
led us directly along the river. Some
times we were on the top of the hill,
and then our path would wind down to
the very water's edge to avoid some
deep rayine, as nature seldom makes
bridges. The scenery was beautiful,
the side of the river we were upon was
quite open, while the other side was
heavily timbered. The waters of the
broad river undisturbed, except by an
occasional Indian canoe, which seemed
to float so beautifully; we were sorry
we had not adopted that mode of trav
eling. Our trail would sometimes pass
through a grove of wild plum, and
crab-appl'e, thus with scarcely room
enough for a' pei'son to pass, which
suggested to us amliuscades, and we
vfere always glad when ^e were throligh
them. Indian file, was tlie mode of

traveling in those days. Our ten miles
was soon got over; when we came
down upon a low natural Prairie cov
ered with a luxurient growth of grass,
the river had quite an expansion, and
in it were several little grass Islands.
This was Petit Kackalin, and here was
the house spoken of, a log house with
the usual lay out buildings, and sur
rounded by a dozen Indian Wigwams.
This was the residence of Eleazei»Wil-
liams. The veritable Dauphin of
France; but he was as ignorant of the
fact at that time, as we were ourselves.
As we approached the house, we were
beset by an army of Indian dogs, and
their bark was as intelligible to us as any
thing we heard on the premises. The
Indians looked their astonishment at
seeing two Kich-e-ma-ka-man boys in
their encampment. We made many
enquiries of them; but got laughed at
for our pains. As none of Williams'
family could be found, it seemed like
seeking information under difficulties;
and finding the trail that led up the
river, we pushed on, feeling satisfied
that if we had gained no information,
we had not . imparted any, so the In
dians and we were even. Our next
point, we had been told, was Grand
Kack-a-lin, which for some reason, — per
haps the name, — we supposed was quite
a place. About sundown, we came
down from the high bank upon which
OUT trail had been, upon the most beau
tiful flat of land I ever saw, covered
with a tnft of short grass, and dotted'
all over with little grovel of crab-apple,
and plum trees. The flat containing
perhaps a hundred acres; the hill en
closing it in the shape of a crescent,
and the boiling rapid' river in front,
which here, is more than half a
mile in width. Here we found
several large spriligs, very strongly
impregnated with sulphur, at which we

21

drank. Upnn this flat we discovered
a large pile of buildings which con
sisted of a large dwelling house, and
trading post, with the necessary out
buildings, and belonging to Mr. Grig-
iion, an Indian trader. This was the
Grand Kack a-lin, but the name is ap
plied to the Rapids in the River.
Our greeting here was still more cor
dial than at our last place of calling,
fts there wera more dogs. At this
house we applied for food and lodgings,
but without success. 'There were noth
ing but Indians and Squaws on the
premises. Things began to have rath
er an unpleasant look, and we began to
think that we were too far from home;
— twenty miles from Green Bay, and
fifteen from any place.
On looking about the . premises, we
discovered for the first time that day,
after crossing the river, something that
wore pantaloons, and on accosting him,
found that he could speak English.
ile was half Negro, and the balance
Stockbridge Indian. He informed us,
that Mr. Grignon, was not at home, and
there would be no use in trying to get
accommodations, in his absence, that
he lived directly on the opposite side
ofthe river, — that his canoe would not
carry us,— but he would get an Indian
to take us over, and that we should be
his guests over night; — to all these
propositions we readily consented, and
procuring an Indian to take us across,
we got into a log canoe, when our
ferryman, an old Indian, ot perhaps
dighty or ninety years, taking his po-
sltioii in the stern with a shoving pole,
•hoved' us safely through the boiling
waters. Passing the night under the
hospitable roof of our mixed friend, we
hailed our Native ferryman, and were
acrain soon upon our march; passing
I'apidly along, we came pat upon an In
dian in a kneeling posture beside the

trail, and at the foot of a tall post, upon
the top of which was a gilded Rooster;
while in a side box set in the post, was
the infant Jesus. We were quite star
tled, but Mr. Indian maintained a per
feet gravity, and we left him at his
morning orisons.
At a point five miles from the Grand
Kack-a-lin, called Little Chute, we
found a Catholic mission in process of
erection, to which Nym Crinkle gives a
very aincient origin. The manner of
building was a curious one, which was
by setting up posts about eight feet
apart, and then filling up between with
small logs and pinning through the
posts into the end of the logs — there
were but one or two men at work upon
it. It was afterwards occupied by a
Catholic priest, who was also a physi
cian, and administered to one band of
the Menomonee Indians, both bodily
and spiritually, with very beneficial
results. Five miles further brought us
to the Grand Chute (now Appleton.)
Here was a perpendicular fall in the river,
of seven feet. But close to the shore the
rock had worn away so that a boat
could take the plunge in going down,
and be led up by ropes if quite light.
Here the Durham boats which did all
the freighting at that time, up and down
the river,were obliged to discharge their
freight and roll it along under the bank
on poles to above the fall. The boats
were then lifted and dragged up"
by a large party of Indians and reload
ed above. The amount of freighting
was then considerable. All the Gov
ernment supplies for Fort Winnebago,
passed up this way and detachments of
soldiers often passed in the same man
ner. Nothing could exceed the gran
deur of the scenery at this point, every
thing at that time being in its wild
' and natural state, and no habitation
within miles. Just below the falls at

zz

the mouth of a little ravine was a little
plat of grass turf among a grove of
plum and forest trees, entwined with
wild grape vines, which was the favor
ite camping ground, and a more en
chanting spot was never found. I had
the pleasure of camping here two nights
that same fall, in the month of Novem
ber under most unfavorable circum
stances — a crew of drunken Indians
with nothing but the canopy of Heaven
above us. But still the place had at-
fe-actions for me. Following the bank
of the river a short distance above, our
trail suddenly diverged from the river,
and we found ourselves floundering
tlirough the woods and mud of Mud
CreeK. This was the first place we
had found but what had some attraction.
This was dismal enough. A few miles
and we emerged into another enchant
ing spot of ground known as Little
Butte des Morts, or the Mounds of the
Djad. Here on a rising piece of ground,
are several large mounts where the
dead of some Indian battle had been
buried. An expansion in the river here
is called Little Butte des Morts Lake,
at the upper end of which appears to
be quite a village. This was Winne
bago Rapids, (now Neenah), Here the
Government had built a grist and saw
mill and had commenced a large num
ber of small log houses for the Menomo
nee Indians, which were in different
stages of completion, when the work
was stopped by the Indians consenting
to sell the land to the government.
Some of the houses the Indians had
taken possession of .by tearing out the
floors and pitching their tents on the..
ground inside the walls. They were
also furnished with four farmers to
instruct the Indians in farming, at a
salary of eight hundred dollars per
year, which the Indians paid. These
farmers were the only inhabitants of the

place, at the house of one of whom, Mr.
Clark Dickinson, we were welcomed
and furnished with our dinner. We
could make but little stay as we still
had sixteen miles to travel without a
habitation. Our trail now ran across
the country, through prairie and open,-
ings to Knaggs Ferry, now in the Fifth
ward of the city of Oshkosh, and just
above Algoma bridge, I do not sup
pose I could at this time trace that trail
through all the highly cultivated fields
between those two points. But at that
time it was a lonesome journey, indeed,
all the low ground was covered with
water a foot deep, and grass up to our
arms, and in the whole distance we did
not see a Hying thing with the excep
tion of a few prairie chickens. Arriving
at the river at the point mentioned, we
found a log house belonging to Mr.
Knaggs, a half-breed, the owner of the
Ferry; but which was then kept by
Webster Stanley, who lived on the
other side of the river in a board
shanty, who in answer to our call, came
over for us and we were once more
among friends. Mr. Stanley had
about two years before left Ohio and
went to Green Bay and then to Winne
bago Rapids, and had within the last
thirty days moved to this point. We
now learned that our journey from
where we had crossed the river five
miles from Greeu Bay, had all been
through Indian territory, and we weie
now for the first time on Government
land. We had at last arrived at our journey's
end, our next object was to bring up
the family. There was just two ways
to do it; one was, on foot or on horse
back by land; the other, by water —
and we adopted the latter, and pro
curing a large bark canoe and an
Indian, we started and passing down
the river we stopped at au Indian en-

23

campment, on what is now Jackson's
Point, and procured another Indian,
which was thought sufficient crew, —
respectively named No-to-kee sleek, and
Kish-e-quom, — two fellows who were
full ot fun and frolic, and who if we
•ould have talked with them would no
doubt have been very companionable.
We then saw for the first time the spot
on which the city of Oshkosh now
stands. Our Indians worked with a
will,,and we very soon ] assed through
Lake Winnebago and were in the rapid
waters of the lower Fox. Here the
Indians laid aside their paddles and
taking poles, confined themselves entire
ly to steering the canoes clear of rocks,
the sharp points of many of which were
ahove water. We were leisurely
enjoying the beautiful scenery of the
river, when we were startled by the
sudden velocity of our canoe and a wild
whoop of our Indians. On looking
about us, we found ourselves on the very
brink of the falls. The Indians had
from a listless manner and sitting
posture suddenly sprang to their feet,
one in the bow and the other in the
stern and every nerve strung. For their
energies were to be tried to their
utmost, their manner was really terrify
ing, we had hardly time to notice so
much before we had taken the fearful
leap and were in the terrible breakers
below; one false set with the steering
pole and we were surely lost, I watched
th e Indians closely, they were as pale
and stem as marble statues, the bow
of the canoe when we descended into
the breakers, struck a rock which stove
considerable of a hole through our
frail canoe, when our leeward Indian
with the quickness of thought had his
blanket off and over the hole, and his
foot upon it. We were going with
the speed of the race horse. About a
mile below we weie enabled to make

a landing and repair damages. We
again encountered very rapid and rough
water at the Kack-a-lin, but the Indians
were masters of the situation, and we
passed through safely, and arrived at
Green Bay towards night of the same
day. Taking the family and a few
necessary articles into our frail bark,
the next day, we started on our return
which we accomplished in two days.
The Indians using paddles in still
water — poles in moderately swift, and
wading and leading the canoe when it
was very rapid.
The appearance of the country on the
west shore of Lake Winnebago from
Neenah up, was beautiful to look upon
from our canoe ; heavily timbered from
Neenah to Garlic Island — the balance
of the way openings. We had now
arrived at the point started for when
we left Ohio — the veritable Lake
Winnebago. Now the question to
decide was, where to locate — who to
buy of — should we buy. The country
from Neenah to Oshkosh then belonged
to the Menomonee Indians. From Osh
kosh (or Fox river) south to where
Fond du Lac now is, and around on
the East side of the lake as far as
Calumet, belonged to the government.
Then came the Brothertown Indian's
land, fronting six miles on the Lake,
and adjoining them north, the Stock-
bridge Indians with the same amount
of front. The Government owning the
balance of the territory around to
Menasha. We now decided to make a circuit of
the lake, so as to better understand the
situation; which we accomplished in
about a week's time, on foot with a led
horse to carry our baggage. Encounter
ing but one white family in the round
trip. This was Mr. Pier who had just
built a log house on the Fond du Lac
Creek. After getting back and com-

24

jiaring notes, the following was the
summing up of all we had seen aud
heard : First from Green Bay to this
place of our sojournment, on the west
side of the river and lake belonged to
the Indians, and but three white
families, the entire distance of flfty
miles — -and but one family between us
and Fort Winnebago (now Portage
city) aud Mr. Pier's the only house
I)ctween here and Milwaukee or She
boygan. Being better pleased with
tlie west side of this lake than any
other place we had seen, and learning
that the Government intended trying to
purchase it of the Indians the coming
tall, we decided to await ' the issue,
in the meantime amusing ourselves
with hunting and fishing and explora-
tioos. In September I had the pleasure
of ferrying Governor Dodge and suit
over the river myself — the ferryman
baing absent — vvho was on his way to
the annual Indian payment then held
at Cedar Rapids, near the Grand Chute,
(now Appleton). The entire party
(six I think) were on horseback, the
Governor srmed to the teeth. He had
two pairs of pistols, and a bowie-knife
on his person, and a brace of large horse
pistols ill his saddle holst.ers. I sup
pose to impress upon the Menomonees
what he told the Winnebagoes a few
years before — that he was as brave as
Julius- Cazar. At this payment then
held, the treaty was formed, ceeding to
the Government the territory from here
to Green Bay, and although the treaty
could not be ratified by Congress until
December, we did not choose to wait —
never doubting but what the old veteran
Governor knew what he was about.
Accordingly in the month of October,
1836, we commenced the erection of
tv(;o log houses on ground now within
the city of Oshkosh. The Indians wore
quite plenty here at that, time aud

manifested some curiosity as to what
we were doing but were perfectly
friendly. Mr. Webster Stanley was the
owner and occupant of his house, abou t
the first of November, but we had to
make another trip to Green Bay for our
goods. We hired a b.iat called a lighter,^
this time, of about five or six tons
capacity, and with a crew of ten or
twelve Indians we made the trip up in
seven days, arriving at homo on the
evening of the 16th of November,
camping out and cooking rations for
that trip was anything but pleasant at
that season of the year. It was the last
day that a boat could have passed
through, the lake freezing entirely over
that night.
Although liking the excitement of a
new country, I must confess that tha t
first winter was rather tedious. Our
two families were the only ones nearer
than Neenah or Fond du Lac, with no
roads but the lake, and surrounded by
Indians, not less than five hundred
wintering within what is now the city
of Oshkosh. The next summer was
passed rather more pleasantly, the
monotony being relieved by an oc
casional Durham boat passing up the
river with supplies for Fort Winnebago,
and frequently a company of U. S. sol
diers. We had made some little pro
gress in the way of farming and in the
fall of 1837, had raised some few ;;crops,
and sowed the first acre of winter wheat
ever sowed in Wisconsin, and only to
have the most of it stolen by the
Indians the next summer as soon as
harvested, they carrying it off- in the
sheaf in their canoes.
The winter of 1837, wo had the first
accession to our population in two more
families, Messrs. Evans and Wright
aud from that time the country liegan
to settle slowly, on both sides of the
river, that upon the north side not

coming into market until 1840. We
had given this point (the mouth of
the river) the name of Athens, and goods
were so marked at Green Bay, destined
for this place; but at a meeting of the
inhabitants, called for the purpose of
choosing a name for this particular
locality, which was held at the house
of George Wright, and which was at
tended by all the French and half-
breeds from as far up the river as Butte
des Morts, and who in fact had no
interest in the place or its name, it was
decided by an even vote that the place
or locality should be known hereafter
forever, as Oshkosh. But it came
nearer to universal suffrage than any
election I ever attended, and smoking
was participated in to that extent that
you could not recognize a person across
the room, the smoke was so dense.
Plug tobacco and Kinnikinick (the
bark of a bush of that name) mixed in
about equal quantities. Such was the
christening of Oshkosh.
BAREY SETTLERS — CONTINUED.
In the year 1837 Mr. George Wright,
Sen. laid his claim to the tract of land
on the west side of what is now Main
St. and built a first class log house on
the place now occupied by the residence
of A. B. Knapp, on Algoma Street.
Two of his sons being with him at the
time, they all went eagerly to work in
helping on the incipient process of
building up a city; and how well aimed
their efforts proved, is best shown by
what that city now is, as well as in the
feet of his own success, in preparing
the way for his sons, who survive him.
He died in 1841, before the fruits of his
labor could be fully seen, lamented by
all around him. Geo, P. Wright suc-
osieded to a part of the original claim,
where he still resides, and a pleasant
spot it is, "on which to. dwell," The
«ld log house built by him, still stands

there as a land mark of the early days
of Oshkosh — the other sons are well and
pleasantly located in other parts of the
city. H. A. & J. P. Gallup were here but
a few months later than Mr. Stanley,
and together with their father, Mr.
Chester Gallup, occupied that part of
our present city, lying on the point be
tween the river near its mouth and the
lake, a prominent and- delightful loca
tion, on which they built a house in
1837. After a fevtr years, the land was
sold, and the brothers settled on land in
the South part of the city, and are in
good circumstances. Mr. Chester Gal
lup and Geo. Wright, sen'r. came here
at the same time, and after getting
fairly under way, in their new adven
tures, in 1887 went back east for their
families, feeling confident that the
county seat would be established here,
and from the many natural advantages,
all of which were so plainly marked, that
but little time would be required in build
ing up a place of importance. Mr.
Chester Gallup still in the midst of his
usefulness, and like his neighbor who
had just precedeed him, died in 1849,
hardly yet having a fortaste of the bene
fits of his early efforts, also regretted,
as another of the old pioneers that had
gone. A year or two after, David and Thom
as Evans arrived here and settled on the
lake shore near where the former still
resides, the latter, Thomas Evans, having
died some few years after. At that
time the whole number of families con
sisted of that of George Wright, W.
Stanely, Chas. Gr^non, Chester Gallup,
and the Evans. Chester Ford and W. A.
Boyd had settled on the point a little
south of the eity.
In 1836 the land on the South side of
the river came into market, but even be
fore th,at, the irrepressible;' squatter had

26

pitched his tent; it is said as early as
1835, a Mr. Wright, from what is now
Wrightstown, on the lower Fox river,
found his way here, and built a cabin
near the spot where the 3d ward school-
house now stands. But soon after the
land coming into market we find the
names of Hamilton Stevens, H. T.
Stringham, the President of the Wis
consin Bank of Green Bay, Jno Mead,
and others, whose participation is not so
distinct, connected with the project of
building up a great city there, that
should start into being without the
usual delays and toil, incident to .such
an object; consequently the name of a
new city flashed upon the world and
DANE CITY
had an existance at least ori paper,
if not in the ardent anticipation of its
founders. Dane City, by the indefatiga
ble, mental and physical efforts of its pro
jectors, with the aid of artistic skill,
in a very few weeks became a great city.
The manner in which it sprang into be
ing, with its numerous well laid out
streets; its Court House Squares, its
¦public parks and fountains; its mag'
nificent church edifices; and last not
least, its Tower, that should rival that
one of old, and be the wonder of mod
ern times, was only known to the few at
home, while the existence of the magic
city, was only known to the many
abroad. Agents went abroad with
ele'^a'iit' Lithographs, who rivaled the
"Ready-Relief" or the Yankee soap
man" in eloquence. Many of the lots
were sold for cash, choice corners and
those on the public parks, were held at
higher prices, while good business lots
wei:e held at fifty dollars each, title,
gjuit claim or, contract, which in most
cases answered just as well as a warran
tee, and so the "work went bravely on, at
least every where except at home. At
length those who had- invested in this

new city came on to take possession of
their property, and found, with the aid
of Dug outs, the stakes, tor most of the
lots in that city were "water lots," and
then ouly saw the joke as it was, pro
nouncing it as "one little joke" or "a
"big humbug." In which ever light
they saw it, they said but little, but
sought the flrst opportunity of shifting
the responsibility onto other shoulders;
and thus ended the career of 'Dane
City,' who.se imaginary locality was
where the third ward of our city now is;
and what influence it had on the build
ing up of that part of the city of Osh
kosh is a matter not clearly defined. By
some process the land fell into the hands
of Jos. Stringham, who has done much
in making that part of Oshkosh what it
now is, and who still holds a large part
of the lots, originally embracing about
400 acres. A GOOD EXAMPLE.
Another of our old citizens was
Joseph Jackson, who came here in 1838
and being a "higher law" and order
man, and not unmindful of the Divine
Injunction, set an example that good
men in all times have followed, by ta
king to himself a wife, being the flrst
marriage, in this place. The event was
duly chronicled in the Green Bay pa
pers as follows: Married at Athens
March, 1838 at the house of Chester Gal
lup Esq., by the Rev. S. Peet, Mr.
Joseph Jackson and Miss Emeliue
Wright, daughter of George Wright
Esq. all of that place. Mr. Jackson
coming here at that early day set a
noble example to his fellow man and four
days from the time of his arrival, was
long enough to resolve to do a wise act.
He immediately set himself about build'
ing him a house, which he did on High
Street about half a mile west of Ferry
Street. In 1844 still a pioneer in good
works, he put up the first frame house,

27

on Algoma Street near Ferry, the same
house being there still and in good re
pair. In 1846, he, in connection with W
W. Wright, caused a survey to be made
of the village plat, and commenced the
sale of lots. In 1854, and again in
1855, hc was elected to the office of
Mayor, being the Democratic candi
date. Since then we see him struggling
on wilh his fellow citizens, in all the
up hill work, incident to the building
up of a new town, and still among us
with good evidence that many years
may yet be his.
In 1839 0. J. Coon bought land of
Robert Grignon, where he built a mill
which was burned down in 1846,
Mr. Coon, one of the oldest settlers, and
a highly respectable member of the
community at that time, is still residing
on his land at that place, robust and
active) as most of the old Pioneers are
who have survived the hardships of a
new settlement; and has lived to see a
city grow up, and the country so im
proved and developed that it now
stands proudly beside the most favored
portions of the State.
Mr. Samuel Brooks deserves honorable
mention as one of the flrst here, and I
regret that I have so little data as to
be unable to make but a very brief
notice of him. He was elected as coun
ty surveyor, which office he filled for
several yeais; he now resides at the
place called Brooks Corners, about five
miles north of this city, on the Neenah
road, and is a well to do farmer.
From letters in my posession writ
ten from here in 1837, 38 and 39, there
is plainly visible one feature in all, the
people though few in number, were
happy and generally contented. They
were highly delighted with the spot
they had chosen, were fully confident
that it would at no distant day become
a place of importance, and were not

discouraged or disheartened under the
many trials and hardships to which
they were subjected. They had to
suffer many privations and forego many
pleasures, but blessings innumerable
they felt were theirs, and they were
content, which was richer to them than
mines of wealth, and the parent of a
happiness that gold could not give.
"We are in good spirits and hard up"
says a lady in one ofthe letters alluded
to. "We have little of the worlds
goods, but the promise of a hereafter
shines brightly here," says another,
while the third, taking a practical view
of the situation, says, "we are working
hard with but few enjoyments, but the
progress of the settlement, the rich soil
promising food in abundance, the good
health enjoyed by all, and the care of
our families, keeps us from re
pining and fills us with hope for the
future." Where, let me ask, are the
heroines of romance upon whom so much
mawkish sentiment has been ^expended,
compared with the wife and mother, in
all the functions of .her high and holy
office, nobly fighting out lifes battles in
a new country ? They sink into noth
ingness, and the bedrabled soul that
conjures them up for the insipid food
of silly youth, or effeminate maturity,
is unworthy of an immortality.
Another letter to his friends left
behind, says, "I have two Heifers worth
$50 a peice, and two Pigs, and shall get
a yoke of Oxen if they can be found,
as they are scarce and dear." Another
says he has raised one acre of spring
wheat, producing 38 bushels, and three
acres of winter wheat, giving him 80
bushels to the acre, and one acre of
Buckwheat. Flour here is $13, Mess
Pork $30, Potatoes 25c, Beans $3, Corn
$1,50, Wheat, 2. Wood $2;" and so on.
About that time 1839, the products
of Winnebago County, were 363 bushels

28

Wheat; 446 bushels of Oats; 21 of
Buckwheat; 1090 bushels of Corn;
1960 bushels of Potatoes; 309 tons of
Hay; 4400 lbs of Maple Sugar; 3 barrels
of Fish, and 9000 dollars worth of
Skins. In 1840 there were in the Coun
ty, 39 Horses, 184 head of Cattle, and
147 Swine.
At this time we find Chester Gal
lup, and his two sons, J. P. and H. A.
Gallup; W. Stanley; Geo. IVright and
two sons. W. W. and P. V. Wright;
tlie Brooks family, S. Quartermass, Ira
Aiken, W. C. Isbel, Joseph Jackson,
Schooley, C. Dickenson, C. J. Coon,
C. R. Luce, David and Thomas Evans,
Chester Ford, and W. A. Boyd, and
probably others, but whose names are
not now before me.
VOTING A NAME.
The first great conflict of opinions
which marked an epoch in the history
of Oshkosh, was in the choice of a name
by which the city should ever after be
known; which took place about this time
in 1839. There was a great diversity
of choice, each man bringing out a
name to suit his taste. A meeting was
called, and the voters from Butte des
Morts to the lake assembled, and the
contest was remarkably animated, and
not carried on without a resort to a lit
tle "logrolling." The inevitable jug
was under its favorite bush, and had at
least, one vote. Mr. Evans furnished
the box of cigars. All being ready, the
informal ballot, brought out the names
of Athens, Fairview, Oceola, Oskosh
and Standford, all good and true, when
the electioneering commenced and many
a bit of eloquence was displayed on the
occasion, and not without its concomi
tant expletive, so anxious and persistent
was each man for his favorite candidate.
At length the jug under the bush was
heard from, and being as in aftertimes,
a great electioneerer was beginning to

have things about his own way; result
ing, in the choice of O«kosh by a small
majority, and as usual declared to be
the unanimous voice of the meeting;
several declining to vote on this mo
tion. Robert Grignon ever active in
all public measures, and possessing con
siderable influence with the Half
Breeds, was the God father at the
Christening. Those whose ears had not been so
much accustomed to the "gutteral" felt
chagrined at the bad taste displayed in
the choice
But like other thini^s not readily cured,
In philosophy, or sense, mnst he endured.
I will beg leave to say in this con
nection, that if they had given the or-
riginal name, not its vulgarity, by
the use of a superfluous h, the pro
priety would certainly have been less
questionable. The original name was
Oshosh, and pronounced by the Menom
onees with the accent on the last sylla
ble, and never Oshkosh as now spelled
and pronounced. There is much in a
name, and for places as well as persons,
a pleasant name is a thing of beauty,
and lives long to bless the giver, while
that which has claims to neither beauty
nor appropriateness, will live long, and
like the mantle of Nemesis, will ever
trouble the possessor.
Mr. Fitzgerald, who was then in the
Territorial Legislature, and having; no
doubt the interests ot his constituents
at heart, had then the opportunity of
fixing the orthography of the name in
accordance with its original meaning
and manner of pronunciation, but by
some inadvertance it was allowed to
remain as it was reported from the
meeting, ' FIRST JUSTICE COnRT.
Anothfer reminiscence of the early
times ot Oshkosh is the organization of
a, court of justice. In the spring of

29

1838, Geo. Wright was appointed by
Gov. Dodge as the flrst Justice of the
Peace for this place, and immediately
assumed the duties of his office. The
first suit, growing out of some misunder
standing in regard to the possession of
some land, being the flrst judicial trial,
caused not a little sensation, and filled
the Court room with interested out
siders. The case was , Jas. Knaggs vs.
Francis Leroy. Mr. Knaggs appeared
in person and Capt. Wm. Powell for
the defense. My informant failed to
say whether a jury was called for, or a
straight stand up fight on its merits,
leaving the new made justice to decide
in the case. The issue being fairly
made, the trial proceeded. In a niche at
the roots of a tree were the refreshments
both solid and liquid, for Judge and
jury, the solids being the needful for
paying off the witnesses, the counsel,
(like the Dutch Constable of old, had to
pay his own fees). Capt. Powell a little
new before a bar of justice, was most
happy in his argument, and not wholly
wanting in legal acumen on this oc
casion, gained the case, but bore his
blushing honors meekly, and to this
day it is said, the laurels of this his flrst
forensic effort, are plainly visible on his
brow. Another little judicial squabble some
little time after, the account being
traditionary the dates cannot be given,
came off to the amusement of those not
concerned, and to the satisfaction of
everybody. It appears that a certain
person whom I will call I. L. D — was
in possession of some goods, wares, and
merchandize, the rightful possession of
which was doubted, so a resort to
justice was had, by the party claiming
to have beeen despoiled ofthe property,
and a lively time it was, several legal
gentlemen volunteering to try the case.
So a competent jury was summoned and

duly sworn to hear nothing but the
evidence, witnesses also to tell nothing
but the truth, and the trial proceeded,
but soon the jury became convinced that
there was no clear case of guilt, and
were not long, when the case was sub
mitted, in making up their verdict of
acquittal with this proviso, that the de-
fendent should stand treat all around,
to which secret proposition, through the
Constable, the defendent readily con
sented and the court was adjourned just
round the corner, where there was no
stoearing required and where the treats
came down handsomely, and all agreed
that the verdict was a righteous one.
Jan. 6, 1840 — The Legislature passed
the act for the organization of Winneba
go County. The county then contained
135 inhabitants; in 1843 had only 143,
and in 1846 it had 500 people all told.
By an act of the Legislature Feb'y 18,
1843, the Counties of Calumet and
Winnebago were organized from and
after the flrst of March, for all purposes
of county government, and attached to
Brown County for judicial purposes,
the first election to be held in Man
chester, Calumet county. To this ar
rangement the people of this county
demurred, and held their election at
the house of Mr. Stanley in this place,
which proceeding was legalized by the
legislature at its first session thereafter.
In 1843 the County was organized
for all purposes ot business, but remain
ed attached to Brown County for judi
cial purposes for a few years after, when
it was attached to Fond du Lac county,
where it remained until 1847, when it
assumed its own judicial control, the
county seat having been permanently
located here by the legislature in 1845.
POST OFFICE ESTABLISHED.
In 1840 the people feeling sorely in
need of a Post Office, and a mail, which
had hitherto been supplied from Green

30

Bay and Fond du Lac, through the
means of couriers, which was attended
with great delay and much expense,
became clamorous for the organization
of mail facilities nearer home. Where
upon an order came for a Post Office,
and J. P. Gallup was appointed the
flrst Postmaster. To Chester Ford who
was then living a few miles south of
the city, was given the contract for
carrying the mail once in each week
between Fond du Lac via Oshkosh, and
Bridgeport, now Wrightstown, on the
lower Pox river, a distance of about
fifty miles. The mail was carried on
horseback. The first trip made by Mr.
Ford was a light one, and the mail was
carried in his coat pocket; consisting of
one letter and one newspaper; highly
suggestive of the greatest improp riety of
robbing the mail. His mail was a light
cine, but not so his task,when we consider
that it was carried through an Indian
country, through deep snow in winter
and deep morass in summer, with but
few stopping places, and those not
always first class Hotels; we can readily
conceive of a long and toilsome weekly
journey. And then the task of the
vJ-orthy post master; jumping out of
a warm bed in mid winter, at the blast
of the "Tin Horn," announcing the
arrival of the mail, to "change" it;
lighting a tallow dip, and with heavy
eyes peering over the half obliterated
superscriptions; and any one can readily
imagine his task, when the amount of
Jiis pay is duly considered. This sketch
' may be a little overdrawn perhaps,
but aa indistinct recollection of a little
experience in the same line suggested
it. In 1843, this place was called the
fflWTi of '^Viunebago, and the legislature
passed an act requiring' that "all elec
tions for town or county officers shall
be held at the house of Mr. Stanley."

May 1, 1843— The first session of the
Board of Supervisors was held; com
posed of W. C. Isbel and Chester Ford,
(Mr. Porlier being absent) which being
a quorum, Geo, P. Wright was appoint-.
ed Clerk. The bonds of W. W. Wright
as County Treasurer, were accepted, by
C. J. Coon and B. B. Brenan becoming.-^^
surety. They then adjourned to May 6,
at which time the same Board met again
and voted a tax of flfty dollars for
county expenses, and also adopted a
county seal; device, an eagle holding a
serpent in his claws.
At the annual meeting of the Board
Sept. 14, 1843, Isbel, Ford and Porlier
voted to raise a tax of ten mills on the
dollar, and sundry accounts were allow
ed amounting to $36,75. In 1844, the
Treasurer's report showed receipts for
$49,76; expenditures $49;76. A tax of
was theu voted for county ex-
Same year an election was held
for the election of County officers, and
also to vote for or against a state gov
ernment. The whole number of votes
cast was 23 — for a state government 4;
against it, 19. At this election W. C,
Isbel was elected Register of Deeds,
Geo. P. Wright, Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors, W. W. Wright County
Treasurer; J. F. Aiken, Coroner, and
Sam'l Brooks as County Surveyor.
LOCATING COUNTY SEAT.
In 1840, the Legislature passed an
act providing for the location of the
County Seat of Winnebago county, by
the election of three Commissioners by
the people. Whereupon, at an election
called for this purpose, at the house of
Webster Stanley, Robert Grignon, 0,
Dickinson and H. Reed were elected.
These commissioners after looking the
ground over, and hearing the arguments
pro and con, reported that they had
located the seat of justice for the county,
on Sec. 34, town 19, and range 16, now

31

Butte des Morts. This report took the
people by surprise, and caused much
dissatisfaction; though from many con
siderations the wisdom of their choice
could not be severely criticized — but in
view of the general disapprobation, the
legislature at its first session passed an
act fixing it permanently at Oshkosh.
Yet another effort was made in 1849 to
have the County Seat established at
Butte des Morts, but the project failed
by 250 majority. Soon after the fixing
the county seat here in 1847, active
measures were inaugurated for the
erection of a Court House, and $300,
was voted by the town towards the pre
liminary outlay. FIRST MILL.
In 1847 Morns Firman commenced
the erection of a saw-mill on the site of
the present ga,ng-mill — being on the
north bank of the river and near its
mouth. In the |same year, Porman and
BashfoBd commenced building a saw
mill at Algoiua, which they pushed
forward to completion a little ahead of
Mr. Firman's, and actually made the
flrst lumber, although Mr. Firman
moved first in the matter of building.
There was, at that time, a strong riyal
feeling bet'tyeen Algoma and Oshkosh,
£.nd every effort was put forth in any
direction that would tend to the ad
vantage of either. Thus we see that
Algoma gained a little victory in cutting
up the first log into lumber, being,
however, but a few months ahead of
Oshkosh. The Algoma mill occupied
the site or nearly, ofthe present mill of
p. Sawyer & Son.
The third mill was built a few years
later,at Jackson's Point, in the 1st ward
by Geer & Co.
The fourth mill was built by L.B.Shel-
don,and on the site of L.B.Reed's shingle
mill, in the third ward. Mr. Firman
was the flrst to huild a planing-miU.

The first grist mill was built at Algo
ma by D, W.Forman& Co., C.E.Woolsey,
Agent, in 1848, being a grist and saw
mill combined. The second one was at
Jackson's Point, in 1850.
Before the building of these mills,
there was great want of lumber, and the
little that was used here at tliat time,
had to be brought from Neenah or from
up the Wolf river, as there was a small
mill somewhere near Shawano ; but the
supply was far less than the demand,
and even after the two mills were run
ning here, it is said, that orders had to
be left a week or two before they could
be filled. Thus we see the small be
ginning of 0, business that has since
grown to such an extent, that it has now
become the leading business of the
place, and has distinguished it as the
great lumber manufacturing place ot
the North- West. The same or greater
distress prevailed for want of flouring
mills; for several years the people had
to go to Manchester, across the lake, or
to Neenah, and sometimes they had to
go to Green Bay, a distance of over 50
miles, to get a bag of flour. This was
attended with insurmountable difficul
ties, as there were no roads, nothing but
Indian trails, and, at some seasons of
the year, these journeys could not be
performed in any way. In such times
coftee-mills had to bo used, and oven a
paint mill was a big thing, and brought
many a grist at two shillings a grind,
provided the owner of the grist would
do the grinding. One of our citizens
savs ho kept boarders and did all
the grinding of the wheat in a coffee
mill, which took most of his time.
Wheat ground in this way was healthy
no doubt, as of course it could not be
bolted, but made very good bread;
The settlers in every new country
experience privations, perils, hunger
and fatigue, the recital of which would

32

er the belief of those who come
after them ; and the first settlers in
Oshkosh were no exception to that rule.
The first decade of its existence, tried
both the endurance and the fortitude of
its people, and not until 1846 could
they begin to realize that they had not
made a great mistake in coming, though
none had occasion to retract their first
sayings or opinions of the advantages
that first elicited their admiration. The
natural scenery, the salubrity of climate,
the rich and fertile soil, have all been
proved to be reality, but the world had
not seen or appreciated them, and the
tide of immigration did not set this way
until after 1846, ten long years from
the time of its first commencment, then
the stranger came, saw and admired
what had held the first comers ten
years before, and from that time on, the
the flow of immigration was all that the
most ardent had expected. In 1846
there were but 733 persons in tha county,
but in 1847, a single year, the popula
tion had increased to 3,787, being an
increase, in a single year, of over two
thousand. FIRST TAVBRK.
In 1846 Mr. Stanley opened a public
house on Ferny street, on the corner
occupied by McKey, Bro. & Folds,
which he kept as such for several years,
but as the patronage began to increase
with the new impulse in the affairs of
the city, he found it necessary to pull
down the old board shanty and erect
one more suitable to the business and
prospects of the place.
The second public house was opened
by M. Griffin, on the site of the old
Oshkosh House, on Perry street, midway
between Otter and Ceape streets, which
was a good house, and long supplied
the demand for such a house.
The third one of which I have any
note. Was k^t by Otis & Earl, all these

houses being in operation in the year
1848. As there is in all new places a want
of something stirring, something to
relieve the monotony, every thing of thi^
nature is eagerly seized upon and made
the most of. If I maybe allowed to
retrogade a little, I will relate an
incident occurring in 1840, which was
one of great interest at that time, and
perhaps not uninteresting now. This was
the first csUbration nf our American In -
dspsad^uoe in Oshkosh, and a great oc
casion it was It took place on the lake
shore near the foot of Washington street,
and was of the Pic-Nic order ; ample
preparations being made for a grand
dinner under the Oaks, every man,
woman and child turned out to do
it honor. Oxen bowed their necks to
the yoke, a«d were hitched to the sleds,
(they had no wagons) to bring
to the feast the fatted calf, lamb and
pig, and every thing assumed the proper
shape for a time that would do honor, to
the day and be long remembered
by the people. Mr. J. P. Gallup was
the orator of the day, and J. H. Osborn
read the Declaration of Independence.
The drinking of toasts, and short patriot
ic sentiments, common to such occasions,
were not omitted, and the day was well
rounded out with such cheer as the
circumstances might admit or require.
If there was any lack oia, full house, the
lack was more than made up by the
determination of all to have a " glorious
time," — so ended the flrst grand anni
versary of our American Independence
in Oshkosh, an ocoasion that has not
been forgotten to this day.
LNDIAN TRIAB,.
Another incident happening about
this time and creating qu'ite a sensation,
has been related to me by one who
witnessed it-. There were still prowling
about here batjds of the Menomonees as

33

well as Winnebagoes, and although
they generally lived together peacefully
enough, difficulties would sometimes
spring up and outrages would sometimes
be perpetrated. So it happened that a
young Winnebago was killed by a
Menomonee. It was the custom of the
Indian, when a murder was committed,
for the murderer to hare his breast to
the avenging knife in the hand of a
brother of the slain, or his nearest of
kin, in times far back, an opportunity
not slow to be laid hold of. It was
also a custom with some tribes to
ransom the murderers by payment of
horses, blankets or trinkets, that might
be agreed upon, when the guilty party
would go free. My informant says the
scene was an impressive one. At the
appointed time for the trial, the
Winnebago chiefs, one in each canoe,
sitting bolt upright, in all the pomp
and panoplys of " fuss and feathers ; "
the several canoes, each being paddled
by eight of the tribe, were slowly and
silently approaching the place of trial,
which was the grove near the mouth of
the river. All being at length seated,
the accustomed pipe went the rounds on
its mission of peace, and the prisoner
was brought before the Council. The
head chiefs of both tribes were seated
side by side, the sub-chiefs being seated
around to do the grunting and perhaps
to vote if a question should be submitted
to them; and thus the trial went on with
all the gravity of Indian impurturbabil-
ity, and a decision s,rrived at, that the
prisoner should be liberated on the
payment of a certain ransom, being thsn
and there agreed upon — and so ended
another occasion ot unusual interest.
About the year 1844 the first steam
boat made its appearance, called the
Manchester, built at Manchester on the
.east side of the lake. It was designed
to run on the river between Oshkosh

and Shawano, as well as on the lake,
and for some five years she performed
her trips acceptably to her owners, when
the name was changed to Badger State.
On one of her trips at or near Shawano,
on the Wolf river, she broke her crank
— what was to be done ? Nothing could
be done but to get a new one, and so
they started three men on foot across
the country to Green Bay, being the
nearest plice at which such a thing
could be supplied. After considerablie
delay the crank was obtained, and
carried on the backs of these men,
through a dense forest, without a road
or even a trail to guide them, back to
the place of the accident, a distance of
forty-one miles, when the boat resumed
her trips.
The second steamboat appearing in
these waters was the Peytona, a fine
boat built at Neenah, in 1849, by Capt,
Estis. The Peytona was a great im
provement on the Manchester, larger,
better fltted out, and better adapted to
the trade on the lake and river, and
gave good satisfaction, both on her part,
as well as on the part of her commanders
to her patrons. She had a successful
career and was succeeded by other boats
which will be spoken of hereafter.
At this time there were some four or
five small schooners or sloops running
on the lake, of from five to ten tons,
and proved quite successful in the lake
trade, CHANGE OF TRADE,
Up to the year 1848, Green Bay was
the port of entry for all commercial
operations, and a depot for all supplies
for northern Wisconsin, from time
almSst immemorial. From the flrst
occupation of the country by the white
man, Green Bay was the out-fltting
post for northern and western posts,and
her foundries and machine-shops, sup
plied machinery, her mills the flour, and

34

her stores the provisions. In short, the
people of this new town had been
accustomed to look to Green Bay for
almost every thing they had to buy,
until stores and provision houses could
be started. The change of trade from
that place may be attributed to several
causes. Sheboygan began to offer a
better market, with a means of trans
portation more favorable, as well as a
market better supplied. The lower
Fox river presented serious obstacles in
navigation, and caused great delays in
getting goods from the east, while the
new route from Sheboyitan, with a
plank road to Taycheedah on the east
shore of Lake Winnebago, and boats to
this place, presented less difficulties
and delays, and at cheapei rates — these
were some of the causes, and, perhaps,
the main ones, that caused so radical a
change as took place, and until the
completion of the railroad to this place,
the trade and travel over the Sheboygan
and Milwaukee routes was a large one.
It is said that the arrival and departure
of the boats were occasions of great
interest. In the Spring of 1847 Edward East
man, C. Ford, S. H. Farnsworth, Geo. F.
Wright, Wm. Smith, and L. M. Miller,
were incorporated a Fox River Bridge
Co., for the purpose of building a bridge
at the old ferry, foot of Ferry street.
The company commenced the erection
of the bridge promptly, but it met
stern opposition from parties interested
in other localities, which greatly
retarded the work, when it was taken
and completed by Abel Neff. On the
3d of July the flrst team crossed over it,
and next day, the " glorious %th,"
hundreds of people tested its capacity,
notwithstanding its enemies had pro
nounced it unsafe, that it would be
carried away, by the current, that it
would sink under its burdens, and other

calumnies not uncommon in such cases.
FIRS STORES.
As early as 1843, J. H. Osborne open
ed a store near the lower end of Ferry
street, but soon sold out to Amos
Dodge, who changed the location to the
old store still standing near the present
gang mill, where he did a successful
t rade for several years.
The second store was opened by
Smith aud Gillett, cornel of Main and
High streets. The third one by Miller
& Eastman in 1846, on Ferry street. In
1847 and 1848 several other stores were
opened, a law office, a shoe shop and
other branches of business. In 1849
Jas. A. Chesley kept a store on Perry
street, consisting of all kinds of goods.
The same year in the Winnebago store
was opened a general stock of goods,
by Andrew & Papendiek. Another by
W. A. Knapp, a general stock, and same
year Whiteacre & Lang worthy opened
a store with a general stock. In 1850
M, J. Williams opened the flrst drug
store, in which business he has contin
ued successfully up to the present day,
being the oldest druggist now in the
business in the State.
In 1849 Governor Dewey and others
arrived here, and made preparations for
the inauguration of active measures on
the •' Fox and Wisconsin Improvement."
The first addition to the vilage of
Oshkosh was made by L. M. Miller, and
some others, in the year 1847, which
addition was a part of the original
claim of Mr. Stanly's.
CHANGE OF POSTMASTER.
In 1849 a little excitement arose
about the appointment of a new Post-
mastrr. Mr, Edward Eastman, the
incumbent of the office, expecting a
removal in consequence of a change of
administration, resigned his office in
favor of Mr. Arnold, a good Whig by
the way. In the meantime confidential

35

meetings were being held on the street
corners,and there were several candidates
in the field, all pressing their claims,
and counting the thing sure ; when
unexpectedly the appointment of Mr.
Arnold came on, which created great
indignation among the aspirants that the
retiring Postmaster, being- a Democrat,
should appoint a successor. But where
the joke comes in ; one of the aspirants
had applied a short time previous to Mr.
Eastman for the same favor that was
bestowed on Mr. Arnold ; but Arnold
being a good Whig, showed flght, and a
meeting was called to settle the matter.
This meeting declared A. A. Austin,
then a Judge of Probate, as being the
man, he having received the greatest
number ot votes. A motion was then
made and unanimously carried, that the
fortunate elect should pay the beer; the
judge coming down right handsomely
in the spirit as well as letter of the
motion. Mr Arnold assumed the duties
of the office, notwithstanding the ban
of displeasure was held over him, until
the June following, when A. A. Austin,
Esq., was duly appointed Postmaster,
vice G. Arnold removed.
In April, 1849, both Democrats and
Whigs made a nomination for town
officers, but many being opposed to
making a party nomination, a third
party was brought ought, called the
People's Ticket, which ticket was
elected by respectable majorities.
OSHKOSH IN 1849.
Some more geneaal items of improve
ment not mentioned before as occurring
in 1849, may be briefly mentioned as
follows: The lake and river trade was
carried on by the steamer Manchester,
and some three or four small vessels,
and an addition to the "marine force"
was greatly needed. It didn't have to
wait long, for in the winter of 1849-50
the steamers, D. B, Whitacre and Pey

tona were built, and in the summer
following, commenced running between
Fond du Lac and Menasha, by Taychee
dah and Oshkosh,
The market report shows the price of
flour $4,35; Wheat, $1,00; Oats, 35 cts.;
Potatoes 25 cts.; Butter, 16 cts.; Eggs,
12 cts.: Pork $5 per cwt.; Beef, $4,00.
During the year 5000 bushels of wheat
were raised within what is now the city
limits; 340,000 in the county. The
high price of provision was complained
of and emigrants advised to bring their
provisions with them.
At the close of this year there were
six dry good stores, four groceries,
seven lawyer's offices, two shoe stores,
two taverns, one saloon. One steam
saw mill, one shingle mill, one furni
ture shop-, one sash and door shop, two
cabinet makers, one watch maker,
one gun smith, one harness
maker, three black smith shops,
one physician, and one newspaper, (7
lawyers ! 1 doctor ! ! a sound body but
bad at heart). Of the butcher shops
one was located on the corner of Main
and Washington Streets,where Knapp &
Fowlers' Grocery Store now is, but it
was too far out of town, and the pro
prietor was notified that he mnst move
nearer the business part of the place or
lose his patronage, which hint he acted
upon instantly, moving his shop on
rollers, and saved his trade by setting
up near Ceape Street.
Amos Dodge and Geo. F. Wright this
year added greatly to their facilities of
storage and forwarding, by making a
large addition to the old Ware House;
and doing a lively business,
A little incident quite amusing hap
pening about this time, may be men
tioned, A young Norwegian, a little
green out west, was anxious to vote on
the question ofthe proposed change of
the county seat to Butte des Morts, and

36
also wanting to enter a piece of land; of the gravity of the most serious ot^^its
seeing a doctors sign for vaccination, members, and never failed —-."'"_
mistook the word for naturalization;
and stepping boldly into the office ot
the modern Galen, desired to be vaccin
ated. The doctor ordered him to be
seated and make bare his arin, when he
produced his lancet, preparatory to the
operation. Norwegian stared -wildly, —
"is that the way to do it?'' he asked,
"To be sure," says the Doctor. "Well I
want it done right, so I can vote on the
county seat, and get a pre-emption of
some land." The doctor just beginning
to [see it, told the young Norwegian
that he had got into the wrong shop to
pre-empt his laind, and was directed to
the Register's office, amd to the Clerk of
the Court for naturalization.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS,
In 1850, Oshkosh was not behind
sister villages in charitable and reforma
tory institutions. It had at this time
"Saukeon Lodge No. 32," I, 0, of O, P.
which held weekly meetings in their
Hall oveir W. A, tnapp's store.
Alsd Oshkosh Lodge,' No. 27, A, F. &
A. M., whose hall was over Weed's
store, on Ferry Street
At the same time I find a record
of the "Oshkosh Division of the S, of
T,"— J, P, Gallup, W. P.; H. Rogers, W.
A.; and R. L. Howard, R. S.
¦ One oth«r institution of a little differ
ent kind has been described; not strict
ly a benevolent institution, yet the
¦widow's heart had cause to bless some-
bod/y for aid received; and not a few
were the acts of kindness bestowed on
the unfortunate in other cases. This
institution was called the O. E. O. 1001,
and held weekly meetings for mutual
benefit, by way of. "laugh and grow
fat." The more sedate and staid mem
bers, it is said, mide but short meinber-
sfaips, but received great benefit. Its
distinguished feature vras the upsetting

in accom
plishing its purpose, except in one case,
and that one, one of our most respectai-
ble citizens, who never speaks of it to
this day, without a smile on his coun
tenance. In May, 1850, there was a report,
though found to have but a feeble hold
on facts, went the rounds, causing not
only a sensation, but actually retarded
the settlement ot the place, which had
been growing quite rapidly. The scare
however soon passed over, and the pro
gress of improvements regained its
usual vigor. The following description
ofthe immigration to the place, and its
condition at the time, I find in the Dem-
crat of May, 1850. It says— "The influx
of immigration into this portion of the
State, the present spring, is far greater
than had been anticipated by the most
sanguine. The whole tide appears to
be rolling this way, and in and upon us.
By day our streets are crowded with
immigrants, prospecting over our beau
tiful village; and the advantages, and
rapidly growing improvements, mark
it as a place of wealth and importance
at no distant day. By night, our Ho
tels, under the management of experi
enced and obliging landlords, are all
filled to inconvenience. Every boat
that arrives at our port, — and there are
daily arrivals — bring the mechanic, the
artizan, and many others of other in
dustrial pursuits; who, from choice,
have selected this for their permanent
homes. The pioneer from Eastern and
Southern States, and many who had at
an early day, temporarily settled in
other parts of this State, are fast
making their way to this part of Wis
consin. The German population which
is not at the present time inconsidera
ble, is being augmented by constant ar
rivals, bringing with them their

37

peculiar habits of industry and enter
prise. These considerations combined,
justify the conclusions, that have already
ceased to be a probability, that Oshkosh
must continue to remain the most im
portant commercial town along the
line of communication from the Missis
sippi to Lake Michigan, With water
communication and privileges un
bounded— a soil unsurpassed in fertility,
variety — timber, openings and prairie
land to suit all taste — with a ready and
easy market to the best marts east and
west; nothing remains but a knowledge
of these facts, to invite to this portion
of the State, from among the flood of
emigration moving on in search of
homes in the west,"
IMPROVEMENTS AND PEOPLE.
In the summer of 1850, Messrs. Weed,
Gumaer & Coon built a bridge across
the river at Algoma, and that place,
now the 5th ward of our present city,
was improving rapidly — mills being
erected, dwelling houses, bridges, &c.,
being among the improvements most
prominent at that time. The rival
spirit that had been kept alive from the
first, still continued, and every nail
driven, and every blow struck, was
but good evidence ot their determina
tion to outstrip Oshkosh, its rival in
the race. Nor was the idea of making
Algoma the place, relinquished until
*'J'|-»about the year 1856; when Oshkosh had
I j^ rather got ahead of her sister village, —
had actually become a city. The
superior advantages of the latter, in
river and lake navigation, nearness to
the expected railroad, and in some
other respects haid only to be seen to
be appreciated by those who came here
to look about, and gave her that ad
vantage her rival could not do away.
It cannot be overlooked, or denied, that
Algoma had a position that entitled
her to the most respectful consideration.

and probably would have fared better
in the public estimation, if less eager
ness in big profits on sale of lots, had
been practiced. It is said, at one time
lots were held at such high prices, that
the prospector was deterred in his pur
pose of settling there —that, however,
was a fault so common as to be almost
excusable; and Oshkosh was not entire
ly exempt.
In July, 1850, a tri-weekly mail was
established between Oshkosh and Ber
lin, and soon after extended to Ceresco,
now Ripon, July, 1850, Arnold & Gates
started a steam saw mill near the bridge.
In the same year the town of Nekimi
was divided, and that portion along the
lake shore organized into a new town
by the name of Black Wolf, A portion
01 Algoma, adjoining Sheldon's Mill,
was attached to Winnebago,
The population of Oshkosh in 1850
was 1393, of whom 758 were males, and
634 females. The professions and occu
pations were nearly as follows: Lumber
men 36, Lawyers 39, Merchants 24,
Saloon keepers 9, Butchers 8, Black
smiths 11, Editors 2, Speculators 1,
Bakers 3, Printers 8, Grocers 11, Far
mers 31, Laborers 93, Carpenters 77.
Men who had no visible occupation,
sometimes miscalled gentlemen, 31. The
balance being pretty well divided up
between nearly all the various vocations,,
not mentioned aboye, in which this
place was well represented. The na
tivity was, Maine 73, Ohio 43, Conn, 10,
N. H. 14, Penn. 42, Vermont 67, N. Y.
335, Michigan, 16, N. J. 6, Mass. 32,
Illinois 24, Wisconsin 175, New Bruns
wick 33, Wales 34, Ireland 76, Canada
32, England 75, Germany 236, balance
scattering, Oct., 1850,— Edward Eastman was
nominated on the regular Democratic
ticket for Member of Assembly, Wm,
Blanchard was the ncminee of the Whig

38

party, Jas D. Doty was the candidate
for Congress for the 3d district, and
elected by 4000 majority. Mr. East
man was elected to the Assembly. At
this election the Democrats elected their
Congressman, Member of Assembly,
Dist. Attorney, Treasurer, Clerk of the
Board, Surveyor, and Coroner. The
Bolters elected the Sheriff, Register and
Clerk of the Court. The total vote of
Winnebago County was 1665.
The Board of Supervisors met Nov.,
1850, a full board, and having a large
amount of business before it. All orders
ever issued by the county up to the
present session, were cancelled, and de
stroyed except $700. Orders allowed
about $3000, making the indebtedness
at that time less than $3000. The re
port of the County Treasurer showed
$1600, in the treasury, in tax certificates,
which were supposed to be available;
showing an actual indebtedness of
about $1500. The Board ordered a tax
of six mills levied for county purposes
— two mills for schools, two mills for
State tax and one-fifteenth of a mill for
the asylum for the blind. A resolution
passed that after that date, no fees
should be allowed in assault and bat
tery cases.
The new steamer, Whiteacre, built by
J. Harris, and name changed to Oshkosh,
was sunk soon after in the lake near
Fond du Lac, She left that place about
eight o'clock in the morning on her
Tegular trip, and when out but a short
distance was found to be sinkine, and
turned round to put back, but was una
ble to do so, sinking in about four feet
of water. The cause of the accident
was supposed to be the ice, which was
of considerable thickness at the time.
In Nov., 1850,a Board of Fire wardens
were appointed to examine into the
condition of the fire apparatus in the
village — many however proving re

fractory or unwilling to comply with
the orders ot the wardens.
Hotchkiss' line of telegraph from
Milwaukee to Green Bay, was completed,
and Oshkosh put under the influeflfig
of lightning facilities, for communicas|
ting with the rest of the world.
A little excitement occurred here
about this time on the subject of the
fugitive slave law. Rumors had been
in circulation that there were human
bloodhounds on the scent for some
black men and women, who had re
cently come to this place. Oshkosh had
gravitated decidedly towards Democra
cy. Still it was not believed that it
would be a good hunting ground for
fugitives of a dark color; therefore on
the possibility of such a thing hap
pening, a meeting was called at the
Court house to take, not only the slave
hunters into consideration, but the law
itself, called the fugitive slave law. At
this meeting the subject was pretty
freely discussed, the majority of the
meeting leaning toward the full execu
tion of the law, winding up by the
passage of resolutions sustaining it; hut
hinting that slave hunteJ-s had better
keep away from Oshkosh,
In the fall of 1850 there was much
complaint of the deep mud on Ferry
Street, and many suggestions for an
improvement were made; and the best
of these suggestions was, that the street
be laid wilh plank, no other way was
then thought of. The block pavement
was not then in use, at least, out west,
and no very clear idea of its practical
utility or advantages. None then had
so wild a dream as that the same street
would, as now, be paved by blocks, or
that Main Street in the city of Oshkosh
would ever be graced by a Nicolson
pavement. But thanks to the spirit of
improvement, a spirit that never dies,
and thanks, too, that our new Lumber

39

city, had minds to conceive, and energy
to execute, this great and much needed
improvement. Following closely this
meeting an ordinance was passed provid
ing for the planking of Ferry St. In
good time, plank were laid on each
side of the centre of the Street, making
two tracks of plank, and one of mud in
the centre, a decided improvement on
all mud.
A birds eye glance over the improve
ments for the year 1850, shows the old
Oshkosh House enlarged and greatly
improved, a Brooklyn House on the
south side ofthe river, and a Winneba
go House; seven or eight stores; several
manufacturing establishments, though
yet on a small scale; a brewery; two
drug stores; Insurance and real estate
offices; Doctors, Lawyers and Dentist's
offices; school houses, a good deal better
than none; places of religious worship,
— a step in the right direction; a tem
ple of justice and retribution, called a
court house and jail; and many other of
the lesser lights of progress. While at
Algoma, they had an Eagle Hotel and
Algoma House; a new mill; several
houses going up and a bridge. Showing
altogether iu both places, unmistakable
signs of great progress.
In 1851 the Portage Canal was so far
finished that two steamers had already
passed through it. In the same year
the Congregationalists, having until
this time used the Court House as a
place of worship, built a church on
Perry Street near Church Street, and
the Methodist society erected a neat
commodious chapel on the site of the
present one, on Church Street. The
House built by the Congregationalists,
was of good size and height, pews neat
ly and commodiously arranged; the
whole edifice well painted and wearing
the garb of neatness and good arrange
ment. This house was used until 1859,

when their new church edifice on Al
goma Street was so far finished as to
allow the use of the basement for pur
poses of worship. The old house is
still standing, sound and healthy, but
bearing no marks now of its once hav
ing been consecrated to a high and
holy purpose — it is now occupied as a
dwelling, and a Feed and Flour Store,
The people became a little excited
over the subject of excessive toll at the
bridge, and the usual remedy, a meeting
was called, to ventilate the matter, and
have their grievances redressed in
some way. The bridge had just com
pleted its first year and proved itself
far more useful than its enemies had
predicted it would, and now its owners
desirous of making more money out of
it, imposed an extra tax on the peo
ple, by raising their commutation rates
of toll about a hundred per cent; to
which the good people demurred, and
the meeting called at the Court house,
July 16, 1851, was the, means used to
reach a remedy. At this meeting
crowding the Court House to its utmost
capacity, it was suggested that they go
back to a free ferry; others that the
city buy the bridge; which seemed the
most plausible and was concurred in by
many. After talKing the matter over,
a committee was appointed to call on
the Bridge Company lor abatement of
charges, which was to some extent con
ceded, and all tried to be satisfied for
two or three yeii r?, when the bridge was
bought by the ciiy "^nd became a free
bridge. The Rock River Valley Railroad
opened at this time a new line of trade
between Fond du Lac and Green Bay,
by a line of steam boats to Menasha,
plank road to Kaukauna 13 miles, and
thence by steamboat again 30 miles, to
Green Bay. By this route the trip was
made in seven hours. The steamer

i-

0^

Menasha supplied the lake part of the
route. The Democrat ot August, 1851, says:
"On Thursday last, five steamers were
leaving this place at the same time.
The Menasha and Peytona, for foot of
the lake; the Oshkosh and Badger State,
for Berlin, and the Mitchel for Mukwa,"
It is needless to say the editor was
greatly exhilarated on the occasion.
The same editor went into extaiics over
the new Soda Fountain, a new institu
tion here, put up by M. J. Williams,
"It sent forth its sparkling waters," he
says, "to the comfort and delight of
thousands," (rather lucrative business) —
that same fountain is still sending forth
its waters, just as sparkling as it did
sixteen years ago, to scarcely less num
bers. Up to this time Oct., 1851, there was
but one school house in this part of the
place, and that was a small one, and as
most school houses were at that time,
low, illy ventilated, badly arranged,
and entirely inadequate in regard to
size, to accommodate the growing (up)
population of the place. A new house
was much needed, and the subject came
up for ifree discussion. Some proposed
to raise by tax 1000 dollars to build a
new one; to the propriety of this prop
osition none dissented, but all felt
poor, as is generally the case when a
new school house is to be built, and
doubted the expediency of taxing the
people at that time for such a purpose.
It was suggested that they use the
Court house, as they were soon to have
n new one; others proposed that the
matteJ' be put off a little longer, which
suggestion seemed a popular one, and
the whole matter was postponed to a
hiture time, (that time will be noticed
in its proper place.)
Oct, 21, 1851, the steamer Berlin,
Dapt, Malbonrne, made her flrst appear

ance here. She was'a double engine and
a well built boat for the trade for which
she was designed — to run on the Wolf
river, INDIAN PAYMENT.
Another payment to the Menomonee,
Indians took place Oct. 30, 1851, an^
like the preceding ones, was a great day
in every imaginable sense. Merchants
and traders looked forward to these
occasions with great earnestness in order
to get their dues; as it had long been
the practice to trust the Indians until
payment. K was attended, too, by a
very large class who had no dues to
collect, but had goods to sell, and they
could not forgo this last opportunity of
trafficing with the unfortunate creatures,
that would part -with their last dollar for
a mere trinket of no value. It was also
attended by hundreds from mere
curiosity or for recreation, and lastly, it
was attended by gamblers, bad charac
ters of all kinds; every possible device
was resorted to, to get the last cent of
the miserable and degraded beings,
whose numbers were every^ year grow
ing less, and who would, in a few* years
entirely disappear. So it became a game
of "now or never" and to say that on
such occasions, conscience, or rectitude
of purpose, had any part or lot in the
matter, would be a gross misrepresenta
tion of things as they were A person
who was there says: "The poor remnant
of the Menomonees were gathered there
in their squallid misery , and any num
ber of eating, drinking and gambling
saloons were clustered about, meat
shops, stores, confectioners, clothing
shops, and a little of everything found
in any large village, was there, and
every means to get their money was
resorted to— a painful sight."
Nov. 2, 1851, the steamer Berlin was
partially burned at her dock at Men
asha; the engine and hull saved, most
else lost.

41

•'4

4.

. Another year In the history ot Osh
kosh is glanced over, and I would con
tinue my practice of noting each and
every step in its progress, each new
store, shop and office; but so multiplied
are the improvements, and so many are
the accessions to all branches of trade,
that it is now impossible without great
ly enlarging the limits designed for this
brief work; and perhaps trespassing too
far on the patience of the reader — here
after I shall pass on more rapidly, only
noticing such events, or such improv-
ments and progress, as will be most in
teresting to the reader; or such as may
be useful as matters ot reference, or
valuable as historical record,
CHILD LOST,
The greatest excitement that had
ever occurred in this community, was in
.April, 1842, concerning a little boy
some four years old, said to have been
stolen from his parents, named Patridge,
in the town of Vinland, adjoining this
pl&ce,— by a Menomonee woman, called
Nah-koro. Mr. Patridge was a well to
do farmer, and had beside his farni in
Vinland, a piece of timber land some
five miles from his residence, where he
made maple sugar, and was in the habit
of taking his family with him to the
sugar camp. One day this boy, Casper,
accompanied his father, and being left
alone somewhat, was missing and
search was immediately made in every
direction without avail. The neighbors
turned out, and all the country far and
near, and all the Indian villages and
camps were visited with no good result.
It was generally thought that the In
dians had stolen the child, and the
whole people became interested in the
search. At length a small party of the
Menomonees made their appearance
and among them this woman Nah-kom,
having with her a little boy that did
not appear to be her child, This sus

picious circumstance with others quite
as mysterious, were communicated to
Mr, Patridge, when he sought for and
returned home with the boy to his
home, and taking also with him this
Indian woman and her family; whom
he kept at his house over night, Mrs,
Patridge did not recognize the boy as
hers, and Mr, P, was not fully satisfied
it was his boy, though all his friends
and neighbors were convinced that this
was the lost child. The Indians re
turned to their camp, taking the boy
with them as Mr. P. had relinquished
all claims to him. His brother, P. H.
Patridge on hearing that the boy was
given up, started in pursuit again, and
finding the child, sued out a writ for
the recovery.
The question then came before E. L.
Buttrick, Court Commissioner, who
after patiently hearing all that could
be brought to bear on the question,
postponed his decision for a short time,
intending probably to bring the case
before the regular term of Court, per
haps not wishing to take the responsi
bility of deciding a case of so much
doubt, but changed his plan as being
illegal, and came to the decision that
the child belonged to the Indian
woman; Mr. Patridge to pay the cost.
Pending this decision however he
had allowed the boy to remain in the
family of Mr. P., he giving bonds of
$3000 to deliver the child up to the
Indian Superintendent on the requisi
tion of the Court, Immediately on
hearing of the decision, some one start
ed to inform the Patridges, and at the
same time the Sheriff started ou horse
back with an order for the boy. Or
arriving and finding the boy he pre
sented his orders but was informed
that if the boy went, he, Mr. P,, must go
along, and requesting the Sheriff to
wait until a team could be harnessed.

42

During this delay some twenty of Mr,
P.'s nei^bors presented themselves and
informed the Sheriff that the boy could
not be taken back — and so the boy was
spirited away and Mr. P. claimed that
he was not holden on the bond, as the
child was in the SherifTs custody when
. taken away.
But the Menorhonees were not dis
posed to give the child up so, and
through their Superintendent, got pos
session of the boy once more, and he
was taken to Milwaukee. The Pat
ridges then sued out another writ be.
fore Judge Smith, and pending the
trial, the boy was placed in the hands
ofthe sheriff. After a full examination
of the case, the judge also decided that
the child belonged to the Indian woman
Nah-kom, and that it be giyen up to
her — ^but to remain in the hands of the
Sheriff for two days in order to give the
Patridges an opportunity of taking
other legal steps if they chose to do so,
— but instead of taking legal measures
further they made off with the boy.
Smarting under a sense of this new
wrong, a delegation of the tribe went to
Milwaukee, their old chief Oshkosh be
ing at their head. He sought the office
6i the Milwaukee Sentinel, and wished
to tell his wrongs to the editor of that
paper, that he might tell the world. —
On being permitted to relate the story
of his grievances, he made a speech, be-
, ing interpreted by Robt, Grignon and
Wm. Johnson, that in sincerity and ap-
'parent truthfulness, as well as eloquence,
would gain him a high position as one
o^ nature's orators. So far as this speech
relates to the lost child it is given en-
•iiie. "I was at the payment at Lake
Poygun, made by Col. Jones, when this
diild was born. I then lived with my
people on the Wisconsin. I was desired
to come to the payment with my tribe —
'the roll had all been made up — and the

payment was to be made next day— du
ring the night the child was bci'n. I
asked Col. Jones to put this child on the
roll, he said it could not be, except by
the consent of all his chiefs — then the
child should have its share in the pay
ment — they were willing — the boy was
put on the roll — his share was given to'
me — I gave it to his mother — It was the
same child taken from us-It is the truth
I am telling. And now we want you to
help us to get back the child — we still
hope to find him — we cannot give him
up— we want you to satisfy the public
that the child is ours — we hope to take
him with us this time. I came from a
great distance — once before, the child
was carried off by force, after the law
had decided in our favor — and now he is
again carried off — we are grieved and
disappointed — this is why we ask your
help." May 7, 1853, the old jail was declared
by the Grand Jury as a nuisance. They
say ; "they deem it their duty to pre
sent, not only those who offend against
the laws ofthe State, but also whatever
is offensive to the sense of humanity.
Their attention has been called to the
jail ofthe county, and having visited it,
and made a careful examination of the
premises, they feel it a duty they owe to
the county, to the Court, and to them
selves, as well as to suffering humanity,
to declare it in their official capacity, as
utterly unfit for even a temporary abode
of human beings.
About this time May 35, 1853, consid
erable excitement arose on the subject
of the Neenah and Menasha Dams. The
waters of Lake Winnebago had risen
about two feet at this place, and was the
subject of much complaint among those
who were suffering from it. The cause
of the rise of water was justly attributed
to these dams at the foot of the lake. —
Meetings were held here, as well as in

43

Fond du Lac, aud some pretty strong
resolutions were passed, (not belligerent
and a committee from both places ap
pointed to see what might be done to
lessen the evil — at length the matter
died away, and nothing of great moment
was done or conceded as I can now learn.
A FIRE.
Oct. 15, a large two story building,
known as "Bode's Barn," somewhere
near the present Adam's House, the up
per part of which was finished off for a
ball room, was destroyed by fire, with
two other smaller buildings — supposed
to be the work of an incendiary. This
is the first fire of which I have seen any
account in Oshkosh, and as this par
ticular element has in after times acted
so important a part in the purification
and upbuilding of the place, this first
occurrence deserves a passing notice.
About this time the Debating club of
the city had up for discussion this ques
tion ; " Shall the people of this city vote
to raise money to aid in building a rail
road in this county ?" Certainly a nov
el but practical use of a debating socie
ty, and might be copied at the present
day with excellent results,
FIRST BELL,
In Febuary 1853 a town bell,
cast by Fred Gaeuzler of this city, was
placed in the Cupulo of the building on
Ferry Street corner of Ceape, known as
'Marks Block.' The bell weighed 700
lbs. and had an excellent tone. It was
the first one made in the State, and the
manufacturer had reason to be proud of
a thing that could so well sound its
own praise. The building was destroy
ed by fire in the great fire of 1859 and
the bell was lost; but it was recast and
is now on the cupulo ot the Engine
house, having no less the ring of the
true metal than of old,
OSHKOSH IS A CITY,
In progressive times like the present,

when boys jump suddenly from the
kite and marbles, to the manly habit of
a cigar and a headed cane; and girls
from doll babies to moonlight rambles,
and every thing characterized as being
fast; is it at all strange that a village of
two or three thousand inhabitants
should be putting on city airs, and
ready to take upon itself a name, and
the responsibilities of a city. The peo
ple taking this -yiew of it adopted a
city charter by 177 majority, held their
first charter election under it, and elec
ted Edward Eastman as their first May
or April 5th, 1853. There were two
tickets in the field. Democratic and In
dependent. Mr. Eastman being the
nominee of both parties, had little diffi
culty in being elected. The following
named persons were the flrst municipal
officers elect. For Mayor Edward
Eastman — Gity Clerh, Wm. Luscher —
Treasurer, W. H. Weed — Ma/rshal, E.
'SieS— School Supt, E. R. Baldwin -
Alderman 1st Ward, W. G, Gumaer, H.
Swart — Assessor, D. Dopp — Justice, C.
Coolbaugh, — Constable J. A. Rae. — 2nd
Ward Alderman., M. Griffin, A. Andrae,
— Assessor, W. A. Knapp; — Justice, J. R.
Forbes— Oojist., P. M. Crary— 3<? Ward
Aldermen, A. Neff, S. Wyman; — -Assessor,
P. Leech — Justice, L. B. Reed, — Consta
ble, M. Moody.
In the Spring of 1853, the Local Press
thus speaks of the business of the place:
"There are more buildings put up, more
lite and activity all round town, than
formerly. Last season there were un
tenanted houses, they are all occupied
now, and great demand for more. All
our dealers are receiving heavy stocks of '
goods in their respective lines of trade,
and activity, and prosperity apparent
on every side." — Such is the initiatory of
the new city.
In May 1853 the people were agita
ting the subject of a rail road from
Milwaukee here. The need of rail road
facilities was begining to be felt since the

44

place had become a city, and business of
every description had greatly increased.
The lumber just then beginning to be
made to some considerable extent, with
yet a small market at home, was want
ing means of sending it away; the coun
try in its agricultural resources had
just begun to be developed, and a lit
tle surplus was also looking abroad
for an outlet; in short every operation
was feeling cramped for the want of
railroad facilities— and the prospect of
a road from almost anywhere was a
matter of interest. In furtherance
the project every necessity for, and
every advantage of that could possibly
be shown up as an inducement,
such as our fertile and well settled
country, our large and navigable rivers,
running direct from the great pine
forests, our lumber manufacturing, as
well as our fast growing town, were all
held up to view. The councilj convened
to take the matter into consideration!
resolved that in accordance with the
provisions of the law, an ordinance be
passed, pledging the credit ofthe city of
Oshkosh to the Milwaukee, Fond du Lac
and Green Bay rail road company, for
the sum of $50,000, provided said
company will contract for the building
of the road direct to Oshkosh.
COUNCIL ROOM.
The Council at their regular meeting
May 6th, 1853, resolved to grant licenses
for selling spirituous Liquors, to Hotels
for $30,00, To saloons $26,00, and
that the City Attorney be directed to
prosecute all persons selling liquors
without a license. That the watchman
be paid $30,00 per month for this or
dinary duties, and tliat he ring the
city bell, at 9 a m and 13 m; and at 6
and 9 p M — for which services he re
ceived t5 per month. They also passed
an ordinance providing :for the plank
ing of Ferry Street; which in due time

was done by a plank track on each side
ot the street, leaving a space in the cen
tre without plank, a decided improve
ment on the old bottomless road that
the street was, before the plank was
laid. In Dec. 1853 the Board of Supervi'
sors took action to commence the erec
tion of county buildings. They ap
pointed a committee to begin immedi
ately the erection of a fire proof build
ing for county offices, and instructed
the members of the legislature from
this county to procure the passage of a
law authorizing the county to issue
bonds, to raise money to build a Court
House and jail. FREE BRIDGE.
In March 1854 the city began to re
joice over the immediate prospect of
a free bridge. The old bridge had
long been a rickety old affair, and a
nuisance beside being a toll bridge, and
the people had become impatient to
have the toll bridge obstruction to the
business of the city, removed, and not
until after long and earnest discussion,
was a satisfactory arrangement arrived
at, and then not without the most per
sistent opposition. A strong effort was
made to get the bridge at Broad St.
Meetings were called and at one time it
had some prospect of being carried to
success. It was however decided by a
majority of 153 votes at a meeting,
March 16, to purchase the stock of the
old one, and bonds for $3000 were or
dered to be issued, as soon as the en
tire stock of the old bridge company
shall be transferred to the city. But
the trouble did not quite end here; the
opponents were not all dead, and so
application was made to Commissioner
Buttrick for an injunction restraining
the city from issuing their bonds for
the purchase of tiie old bridge. This
injunction was granted, and duly served

45

on the Mayor (Edward Eastman,) but
he having an eye to public good, and
keeping in view the expressed will of
the people, declined an answer to it,
for which contempt he stood responsi
ble, but was sustained by the people,
and finally the injunction was with
drawn, the applicants paying their own
cost. It is said that an excitement so
intense had never before pervade.d this
community, and from a circumstance
worthy of mention, it appears the ele
ments were enlisted on the side of the
opposition, for the very next morning
after the vote was taken in favor of the
free bridge, a part of the old one was
carried down stream; but was recovered
and replaced, and served the people
well, (for it is a good bridge that car
ries one safely over) for a year or more,
when it was replaced by a new bridge,
after the manner of the old, and that in
turn, performed its duties faithfully,
being succeeded by the present "swing
bridge." The Charter Election April 3d 1854,
resulted in the election of Joseph Jack
son for Mayor by about 300 majority.
Luscher Glerh; Weed Treasurer; Wash
burn, Superintendent of schools; Rae Mar
shal. In 1855 Mr. Jackson was again
elected. After the election of Mr.
Jackson the first time, the opponents of
licenses sent up a petition to the coun
cil against granting license for the sale
of liquors. This caused great excite
ment among the men of freedom, as
they called themselves, those who were
in favor of licenses, and finding that the
Rev'd. Mr. Sans pastor of the German
Lutheran Church, had circulated a pe
tition, visited his house and made
threatening demonstrations, requiring
him to retract what he had done; but
without avail. The council not being
really in favor of prohibitory measures,
the matter was allowed to die away.

mayor's PROCLAMATION
In Aug, 1854 the Mayor issued his
proclamation, saying, "the excellent
health of oui city is a subject of con
gratulation, and our total exemption,
thus far from cholera, and other dis
eases that are now so generally pre
valent throughout the country, should
be a cause for sincere and heartfelt
thankfulness on the part of every mem
ber ofthe community.
Now, therefore, in order that the
healthfulness of our city may be pre
served, and pestilence and death kept
from entering our households, I have
deemed it proper to issue this proclama
tion, enjoining upon every citizen,
and particularly upon all heads of
families, a strict and unceasing obser
vance of the ordinances enacted for the
purpose of guarding the public health.
All persons are required under penalty,
to keep their premises from offensive
substances, and nuisances of every
kind" — etc, — etc,
The steamer Barlow, while at the
dock Aug 7th 1854, burst one of her
boilers, killing two men and
seriously injuring several others. A
coroners inquest was called, and the
facts elicited were, that the boilers
were defective, as the sole cause of
the disaster. There appeared to be no
blame attached to the engineer as there
was less than the usual pressure of
steam on at the time.
The disturbance at the place called
"Bode's Barn," where balls and dances
were frequently held, ending in a dis
graceful row, is shown up by the Couri
er of that date in the smo comico style
headed by, "Another Great Battle" as
follows;" There was a sound of revelry by night;
And Bode's famous ball had gathered there
Its beauty and its chivalry, and bright
The lamps shone oe'r fair -women, and braye
men.
A thousand hearts beat happily, and when
Music and mirth its rapturous swell.
Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake
again.
And all went merry as a marriage bell;

46

but hark ! some one is kicking up a row
below, the scene is changed, and such a
change, O Beer! lager and common,yo u
are wonderous strong, but not quite so
lovely in your strength as is the light,
of a.dark eye in woman , and so a des
perate fight ensued in which all engaged
except those who ran away. The battle
of "Bodie" was fought over again, the
struggle was short but sanguinary. —
Quite a number were slightly killed. —
One old gentleman appeared on the
field armed with a sausage chop ,
with which formidable weapon he greats
ly distinguished himself" This noted
place was soon after destroyed by fire as
noticed elsewhere.
In the tall of 1854 just before the elec
tion I notice the names of Joseph Jack
son for State Senator, L. M. Miller for
Assembly, Thos. Follett for Sheriff, C. A.
Weisbrod for Clerk of the Court, &c. &c.
These names were flying at the mast
head of one of the city papers — the next
week just after election, I find in the
same paper, the following; "The elec
tion yesterday resulted in the complete
rout, or flattening out, of the Democrat
ic party in this county. The few Dem
ocrats who have the affrontery to show
their faces in the street, look, as if they
had been initiated in the 1001, and
hadn't exactly made up their minds
what to do about it." The above is
rather severe onthe 1001.
Nov. 5th, 1854 — The season of navi
gation is about closing. The Peytona
has made her last trip. Stages have been
put on between here and Fond du Lac
and other places, for the winter, and
everything is preparing to go into win
ter quarters, having seen a season of
prosperity seldom surpassed in this
place. The winter is the night of the
year,and is to the vegitable world, what
night is to the animal.

NEW FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP.
March 7th,1855 —A new Foundry and
Machine shop was started under the firm
of Powers, Rogers & Co., in this city,
embracing all the minor branches of
business under that general head. Same
year Messrs. Cottril, Peasely & Johnson
are preparing to build an extensive new
steam saw mill with a capacity for turn
ing out five millions of lumber. Also
same year the new Steam Flouring mill
at Jackson's Point was in successful op
eration. March 14 1855— Mr. John Fitzgerald
became the owner of the steamers Me
nasha, Peytona, Barlow, Eureka and
Knapp, being the entire steam boat force
on the lake and rivers. The large in
crease of travel and freight on this
route induced Mr. F. to make a bold
strike and control the trade on these
waters. THE NEW CEMETERY.
The Mayor agreeably to the vote of
the Common Council, purchased of Mr.
Grignon, 20 acres of land on the north
side of Lake Butte des Morts, about
half a mile above Algoma, for a new
cemetery, and immediate steps were ta
ken for fencing and laying it out. The
wisdom of this movement is obvious in
the beauty of the spot chosen.
Apr. 1855. — Comptroller Dennis and
Mr. Henning cashier ot the Oshkosh
Bank, had made ariangements after
buying up nearly the whole circulation
at a great discount to redeem the bills
of that bank at par — a great condescen
sion on their part,
A NEW YORKERS TESTIMONY.
He says — "The termination of my trip
was at Oshkosh, a town in the northern
part of Wisconsin, on Lake Winnebago,
and at the confluence of the Wolf and
Fox rivers and though but six years
old,a place of some four thousand inhab-

47

itants. The Wolf river pinery is cele
brated for the abundance and good
quality of its lumber, and Oshkosh is
destined in my opinion, to become the
seoond city of the State," — twelve years
after, a prediction fully verified.
I find the following in Mayor Jack
son's inaugural, Apr. 11, 1855,"siuce the
organization of our City government,
many important and necessary improve
ments have been made by the council,
all of which it V7as thought tended to
the comfort and convenience of the peo
ple, and had added materially to the
value of city property. In the first ward
there is now completed and in good
condition 675 rods of good plank side
walk. There are also some 400 rods of
street in this ward, which has been gra
ded. In the 2d ward there are 950 rods
of plank sidewalk and 80 rods of gra
ded street. In the third ward there
has also been considerable movement in
the way of plank walk, and opening and
grading public thoroughfares.
The whole amount expended during
the two years, since the organization of
the city government, is about six thous
and dollars; this sura includes the
amount paid for the bridge at Ferry
street. The fine and crminiodious line of
steamers now lying at the docks, in
readiness to commence their regular
trips, are worthy of notice, and I trust
vvill be well patronized by our citizens,
that their owner may be renumerated
for his euterprize. During the past
year there was manufactured over ten
million feet of lumber, and the amount
of logs coming down this spring is esti
mated at forty million feet."
The Mayor then recommended that
improvements should go on, such as
sidewalks, opening and grading new
streets; the setting out of shade trees
along the walks, the fencing and im

proving the new cemetery, the appoint
ment of a person to take charge of the
bridge, and lastly that an addition be
made to the school house, as being
entirely inadequate to the wants of the
city. These suggestions aud recom
mendations embrace all the much need
ed improvements of the city.
WINNEBAGO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The organization of this society was
perfected April 11, 1855, and a consti
tution adopted— the officers then elected
were G. P. Vining, President, J. H.
Osborne, Secretary, and John Daugher-
ty, Treasurer.
July, 1855, the Common Council re
fused to grant licenses to the dealers in
ardent spirits in this city, which created
quite an excitement, some characterizing
it as arbitrary, as the subject of license
was not in issue at the election.
February 6, 1856,— The Steam Plan
ing Mill of Phelps, Carlton & Co., on
Jackson's Point, also the lumber mill of
J. H, Porter were destroyed by fire.
Both buildings belonged to Mr. Porter
and his loss was heavy — no insurance,,
on any ofthe property destroyed.
February 13, 1856, the exciting topic
of a railroad to Ripon was under dis
cussion. Meetings were called — dele
gations from Ripon and Milwaukee
arrived and buHCombe was as cheap and
plentiful a commodity at that time, as
since, and the road built, equipped and
running in a day, that is in the excited
imagination of its projectors — only it
toasn't built. A company was formed,
a portion of the stock taken, and a
good share of the grading between here
and Ripon was done, but it fell through,
I mean the project, not the road, that is
still there.
April, 1856, — At the election of city
officers, Thos. A. Follett was elected
Mayor, J. R. Forbes, City Glerh, D. C.
Hicks, Treasurer, John La Dow. Mai'-
shal, and E. Wheeler, School Supt.

48

TRINITY CHURCH.
June 30, 1856, the corner stone of the
new Episcopalian Church, was laid
with appropriate ceremonies. That
society had long felt the need of a new
church edifloe, and after commendable
persistency in their efforts in provid
ing means for building a new one, it
became very gratifying, not alone to
them, but to citizens generally, that
their hopes were so soon to be crowned
with success. This church has since
been enlarged and improved, and is a
building that does no discredit to our
city. The society had been using the
hall of the Sons of Temperance as a
place of worship until that hall was
burned July 1, 1856.
ANOTHER FIRE,
July 1, 1856— The Foundry & Ma
chine Shop of Williams and Sterns was
destroyed by fire together with their
machinery, tools, mouldings, &c. The
fire also consumed several other build
ings, including the Sons of Temperance
Hall used as a place of worship by
, the Episcopal Society. The loss was
$12,000 to $15,000, and threw a large
number of men out of employ.
An old paper published in this city
in 1856, says: "We have been told that
there is no less than $3000 worth of
beef consumed in this city each week,
and notwithstanding the facilities of
raising and fattening cattle in this
county, almost the entire amount of fat
cattle are purchased in the south part
of the State or in Illinois."
August 6, 1856 — The Common Coun
cil passed a resolution authorizing the
Mayor and Clerk to issue the bonds of
¦the city to the amount of $150,000, and
deliver the same to the Chicago, St.
Paul and Fond du Lac Railroad Com
pany, provided that said Company shall
pledge to said city $300,000 of its first
mortgage bonds, as security for the

faithful performance of the condition
of said bonds. Conditioned that the said
company shall faithfully expend the
proceeds of said bonds in the extension
of said road from Fond du Lac to Osh
kosh, and that they shall pay, the
interest on said bonds when the same
shall become due, until the road is
completed to Oshkosh, and in operation,
and shall make cash dividends to the
city semi-annually, sufficient to pay the
interest on said bonds, provided the
earnings of said road shall be sufficient
for that purpose. And provided fur
ther, that the said company shall de
liver to the city certificates of full paid
stock to the amount of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, of said company.
And provided further that the Mayor
and Clerk shall not be authorized under
the above resolution, to issue or deliver
any of said bonds to said company, until
all the conditions above are fully com
plied with.
The year 1856 brought with it the
fullest realization cf those times which
had been anticipated for several years.
In, 1855, there was an improvement
over the previous year,and holders of city
property began to see the thing coming,
but not until '56 did it burst fully into
view. Then came the climax, and the
fever as well as fervor of excitement
was all that the most enthusiastic could
desire. Real estate fever ran high, and
prices hung but little lower in the
scale of values, fictitious or real, than
in the older cities. Real estate changed
hands readily at really fictitious prices,
and the good time had really come
whose long coming was but hope de
ferred, Oshkosh had prior to this
made commendable progress in im
provements and population, its growth
had been healthy and steadily onward;
but in common with other western
towns and cities, it must get up and go

49

ahead for these times tolerated no
plodding, no slow coaches, no old fogy-
ism — "kite or clear the track," and to
borrow a phrase of the immortal "Sam."
*8he kited,' Well there is nothing like
getting a good start, trusting to the
momentum of heavy bodies to carry it
through all intervening space. So it
was with our city. She got a good
start, and although the bubble of specu
lation burst in 1857, our good city was
only slackened in its progress, not stop
ped, its movements were more cautious
but she was not thrown off the track
like many western towns.
The market report of April 1858 will
perhaps be an interesting item to look
at from our present stand point. Flour
J3@325; Wheat 45@53 cts per bushel;
Oats 18@30 cts. Potatoes 18@20 cts;
Beans 50@75 cts; Butter 16@20 cts;
Eggs 8@10 cts. per doz; Cheese 10@13
per lb. In the grocery line. Brown
Sugar ll@13,Rio Coffee 13@15 &e.,&c.
DEATH OF OSHKOSH.
One of the most noticeable events of
that year, is the death of the old Me
nomonee Chief Oshkosh, which occurred
Augst, 30 1858 at Keshena, Shawano
Co. Wis., after an illness of seven days;
much lamented by the remnant of his
tribe. Ofthe immediate cause of his
death there are various opinions, many
attributing it to his habits of intemper
ance, while others say it was brought on
by trouble with his own sons, who with
the Agent and some others were trying
to have him sign certain papers relin
quishing his right to some lands in this
State, causing serious trouble between
them and the old Chief, It was as he
supposed; a conspiracy against him,
which, in his old age so grieved him
that his death soon followed.
The Oshkosh Democrat of January
1869, has some very high encomiums
on the Citv of Oshkosh, which must be

' true, every word of them, as I see they
run through seven consecutive issues of
that paper; from which I have taken
the following facts. "The City of Osh
kosh contains 10,000 inhabitants, gnd
that it is situated at the mouth of the
Fox and Wolf rivers(granted, being still
tliere); that the land rises to the height
of thirty feet, 1000 feet from the river;
that there are over 30 miles of good pine
side- walk in the city limits; that fifteen
steamers are running connecting us
with Neenah and Menasha northward,
Fond du Lac on the South, and the up
per rivers westward; that the Chicago
and Fond du Lac rail road connects us
with Milwaukee, Janesville, and Chi
cago; and further that the Winnebago
Railroad, thsn in process of construction
connects with Milwaukee and Horicon
rail road," Several other roads are
spoken of extending in every direction
from Lake Superior South, And lastly
that there were, "eleven Churches ten
Hotels, and sixpublic Hall's," The most
ofthe above are more than verified,
«o??ie of the lines of rail way are not yet
completed. In March 1859, the Steamer Peytona
was sunk by the ice in Lake Poygan —
the boat was a total loss; the passengers
and their baggage were taken about
one mile to the shore,
April 5, 1859,— S, M. Hay was re
elected to the office of Mayor, and Geo.
Burnside was City Clerk, in place of
Wm. Luscher; J. H. Osborn Supt. of
schools in the place of Mr. Knapp.
In May 1859, the people of the first
and fifth wards had a little scare con
cerning a claim of Moses Knagg's, a
half breed, to some sixty acres of land
lying near the Cemetery, He claimed
this land by virtue of a grant from gov
ernment. The Chicago St. Paul and Pond da
Lac Rail Road was sold in Janesville,
June, 1st 1859, for the sum of $300,000

50

S. J. Welden and O. D. Ashley, zVgt's. of
the flrst mortgage bond holders, being
the purchasers. The road was sold un
der a plan of organization adopted in
March, and for the purpose of being
more speedily completed and put in
operation THE GREAT FIKE.
This -fire occurred on the night of
May 10 1859, and swept clean almost
the entire business part of the city.
It broke out in an unoccupied barn be
longing to the Oshkosh House on the
East side of Ferry Street, and between
Ceape and Otter, and was not stayed in
its work of destruction until it had
reached Algoma and Washington, and
not until it had swept (everything in
its way on both sides of Perry Street,
for three entire blocks. The Courier
and Democrat Offices were burned, the
Post Office, the Oshkosh and Winne
bago Houses, — stores. Lawyers offices,
Butcher Shops, Shoe Shops and in
short every thing that.stood in the way;
leaving a field of charred rubbish, and
a whole city to mourn over the ruins.
The number of buildings destroyed was
estimated at one hundred and seventy-
five, and the loss was half a million of
dollars. This loss was felt the more
heavily as nearly every place of busi
ness was swept away, and but a small
part of the loss covered by insurance.
The origin of the flre was no doubt the
work of an incendiary, and the time
and place well chosen, in the accomplish
ment of his purpose.
The young city felt the shock much
more severely from the fact that it had
but just passed through a year or more
ot the adverse times that visited the
whole country in 1857, and trom which
she in common with her sister villages
and cities, had suffered to a greater or
lesser extent — at least it was quite un
prepared for a calamity so overwhelm
ing. -- . :

BUILDING UP
On the 34th following the fire, there
is a list occuping more than one column
of the Democrat (which had saved its
press and some material), of new build
ings all ready going up, and many of
them nearly completed— ten to twenty
days was the time required for putting
up a store, office or shop, so great was
the zeal and energy in repairing dama
ges. Sevenl buildings two stories
high, and of good proportions, were
contracted for in ten days, to be
ready for occupancy. One building a
millinery store two stories high, 16 by
31 to be built in five days; — every body '
that could handle a saw or a hammer,
was brought into requisition.
July 37 1859— the Jail,an old wooden
building, was burned, and an insane
woman who was confined in the upper
room of the building, lost her life.
At the same time an attempt was
made to set fire to a dwelling house on
Algoma St. and the man caught in the
act, and bound over for trial together
with two of his accomplices. An in
tense excitement pervaded the entire
community in consequence of this at
tempt to set fire again, being less than
three months since the great fire of May
previous. FIRST R. E. EXCURSION
On Thursday October 13th, 1859—
the first train on the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad arrived at this
place, bringing a large party of both
sexes, who were intending to make a
Steam-boat trip as far as Appleton, but
the programme being changed, they
made a trip up the Wolf, instead, to the
great delight of the excursionists. They
were hapily disappointed in what was
obvious to every one, the importance of
this point, and would hardly believe
that a few months before, the whole
business part of the city was laid.

51

in ashes. It was on the whole a great
day, for those who had never before seen
so much ot the Badger State.
The advent of the flrst train through,
was also an occasion of much interest
to our citizens generally, for they had
for a long time been coveting the ad
vantages to be derived from a direct
connection with Chicago, and now that
the first train had actually arrived, and
that long looked for connection had
come, the occasion was naturally an
important one to our people.
RAIL ROAD ACCIDENT.
Nov. 1st, 1859 — but a tew days af
ter the excursion spoken of above, there
was another over the same road, which
ended in a disaster almost unparalleled.
This excursion consisted mostly of per
sons from the several towns on the
line of the road beginning here with
four cars, filled with invited guests, six
more cars at Fond du Lac and at Wat-
ertown several more, making about
seven hundred of the excursionists in
all. Their destination was Chicago,
and never did a party set out with
brighter prospects or higher hopes, and
seldom was a termination more dis
astrous. Five of the mangled dead, of
the party from this place, were borne
to the grave on the Thursday following,
while many of our citizens were more
or less severely injured, enshrouding
this community in a gloom never be
fore witnessed.
January 1860— the new Court House,
had been pushed forward almost to
completion, at this time, and a reason
able certainty presented that it would
be complete for the April term of court,
following. It is one year since the great fire
when Ferry Street was a desolate
waste; a charred and blackened field
with hardly a sign of where the city
was. Now that blackened field is near

ly all covered with buildings, very few
of less dimensions than formerly, while
very many are of a better class. Sev
eral brick blocks are already up or in
process ot erection, and some of them
are elegant structures that would do
honor to any city. Those who suffered
by the fire have so far recuperated that
they are again going ahead as if nothing
had hajipened.
And thus we see in a single year a
new city built up, fresh and finer than
the old one — a growth uncommon even
in the western states; for its rapidity
and healthiness, and one that would
surprize the old fogies of the East.
But it arises from this fact; Oshkosh
has a location, for commerce, and for
agriculture that does not permit laggard
movements. It occupies a position
where business must be done — where
business is done naturally, not forced
or constrained, but in the order of
things; business centres here — a city
has been born here from natural laws,
the legitimate result of cause and effect.
One thing should be borne in mind
that Oshkosh though born poor and
though, too, a backward child, its
maternal parent was necessity, and
Nature the putative father, and even
now in her youth, her constitution is
such that no fortuitous circumstance
can enfeeble it.
July 13th, 1860 — the Republican party
organized a company of widawakes
being the first organized of the kind in
this place. The club numbered nearly
one hundred members, and took a very
active part in the election of Abram
Lincoln "to the Presidency.
INDIAN WRONGS.
During the year 1859 and 1860, it
became well known that certain per
sons were making another effort in the
old and continued series of wrongs
heaped upon the Indian. A delegation

52

of the Menomonees was sent to Wash
ington to lay the matter before
the government. On an investigation
of the charge, it was found that a com
bination of Indan Traders, and specu
lators existed pretending to have
claims of one sort and another, amount
ing to $300,000, and they were making
superhuman efforts to have that claim
so fixed that it would be railed against
the Indian Department, and some part
of which should be withheld from the
forthcoming payment. The magni
tude of the claim as well as the doubts
existing of correctness, caused the
Government to investigate the matter,
as it was generally believed that nearly
the whole claim was fraudulent. Con
sequently an agent was sent here, but
the investigation was far from thorough
or satisfactory, but brought out the fact
that it was far from being a just claim
of anything like the amount preferred.
These claimants had so worked their
card that they had brought over even
a part of the tribe in their favor, and
it is said the government Interpeter and
even the Agent favored the claim, the
correctness of this rumor, was not fully
established, and the claim or a portjon
of it, was lost sight of, while the whole
thing became so mistified, as is gener
ally the case when big steals are to be
perpetrated, that very few outside the
ring knew, or know to the present day,
anything about it.
ANOTHER FIEE
In May 34th, 1861—1 find a record
of another incendiary attempt to de
stroy the town by fire. This occurred
on the East side of what is now called
South Main St., and swept everything
clear from the Seymoure House to the
bridge, including two Hotels and sev
eral stores.
The Rail-road bridge across the riv
er just below Ferry Street bridge, was

completed Sept. 1861. This noble
structure is over five hundred feet long,
having a draw, spoken of at the time
as the finest specimen of bridge archi
tecture in the west. Forty-two tons
of Iron were used in its construction.
At this time several military com
panies had been organized, equipped
and sent forward, all of which will be
noticed in another place,
October 33 1868— there was a great
stir about lighting the city with gas,
but for some reason of which I have no
account, the thing ended in gas, leav
ing the people in greater darkness than
before, as they were quite in the dark in
regard to the cause of the failure.
December 1863, the M. E, Society of
this city had received and put in the
cupulo of their church, a fine bell,
weighing about one thousand pounds.
Dec. 3d, 1863— Schneider's Hall was
opened to the public by the Oshkosh
Amateur Theatrical Company This
Hall was destroyed by flre in 1866.
QUID PRO QUBO
The Northwestern of Dec. 1863. is
responsible for the following little tit
for tat, which will do to repeat by way
of a change. "Two colored gentlemen
of the tonsorial profession, arriving in
our city, dropped into a Billiard Saloon
and commenced playing to while away
a lonely hour in a strange place. After
playing awhile, the Capt. politely in
formed them they had better quit, as
their being seen there would injure the
reputation of his business, and so the
darkies left. On the Sunday morning
following, the Capt. called at their room
to get shaved, but was very politely
informed that 'they could not shave him
as his being seen there would spile
de reputation of their establishment as
dey feared.' The Capt, profaning a
little, was seen going up street cogita
ting on the Uncertainty of human

63

events, and the chances ot turn and
turn about, but at last accounts had
not come to a final conclusion."
THE DRAFT OF 1863,
It is needless to attempt to describe
the excitement produced in this place
at the time, by the draft. The quotas,
how to fill the quota, was a subject of
interest, and discussed by everybody
Oshkosh felt the strain upon her pop
ulation, pretty severely, but came up to
the requirements, as cheerfully as the
nature of the case would permit, and
raised money, bought substitutes or
sent her own young men to the war
with commendable promptness — but
here as elsewhere, the necessity for
drafting was a dark cloud over the
community, that only a conquered and
honorable peace could dispel,
fire's.
January 8th 1866— the residence of
J. C. Welch was destroyed by flre
Next day the Wisconsin House, owned
and kept by Wm. Suhl, was burned —
loss mostly covered by insurance. June
18th, same year, a block of wooden
buildings belonging to Col. Wolcott, on
the corner of Algoma and Ferry Streets,
was destroyed. This building was oc
cupied by O. P. Crary, grocer, E. Smith
& Bro. Druggists, Chandler & For-
man, music and fancy goods store, and
several others occupying the building —
loss on building, $5000; Insurance
3,500. Insurance on the stocks of
goods, partially covering the loss.
In May, 1866, still another fire and the
most destructive since the great fire in
May, 1859. It broke out on the west
side of Ferry Street, sweeping the entire
block without leaving a timber stand
ing, the buildings being entirely of
wood; then crossed to the east side of
Ferry street, and swept away nearly
every building between Waugoo and
Washington Streets; then along on J

Washington half way to Shonoan; and
then crossing to the North side of Wash
ington, it burnt everything between
Jefferson Avenue and Main St., includ
ing two public Halls, Post Office and
several stores, saloons, &c. This was
the second great conflagration, either
one of which would have paralized the
energy of a less enterprising city, say
nothing of a score of less destructive
fires; but not so here, for in less than
six months, one entire block is rebuilt
by substantial and tasty brick build
ings, that would grace the streets of any
city, and another block in the same
time was covered by buildings, includ
ing one fine brick building on the east
side of Main Street.
February 34, 1866, occurred one of
those sad calamities, which cast a gloom
over the entire community, which was
the Boiler explosion at the Foundry of
J. P, Morse & Co , killing four men who
were at work in the establishment. The
cause of the explosion was not known.
BANKS AND BANKING HOUSES.
In 1853 the Oshhosh Gity Bank was
organized; Jas. Kneeland, President,
and B. kS. Henning, Cashier. This
Banking House continued but two
years, but during its brief existence, it
was closely identified with the inter
ests of the place, and conferred perhaps
greater benefits on the general prosperi
ty of Oshkosh than itself received.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
"There is perhaps nothing in this city
that so clearly illustrates the successful
results of industry, economy and finan
cial ability, as the first ten or twelve
years of the First National Bank. In
1853, Mr. Ansel Kellogg, representing
the firm of Darling, Wright, Kellogg &
Co., with a capital of four thousand
dollars, in one side ofthe room occupied
by J. W. Scott as a jewelry store, entered
upon the doubtful experiment of a

54

banking business in the village of
Oshkosh. With Mr. Kellogg, young
and inexperienced, having just grad
uated trom a New England farm, the
question was, would the profits support
even the expenses of an economical
man. Mr. Kellogg was himself the
bookkeeper, teller and cashier, and so
closely did these duties tax his time,
his mental and physical powers, that
his subsequently impaired health was
attributed to it. At flrst it was a mere
brokers business, and consisted m buy
ing and selling exchange. Deposits at
that time, were not large, and the dis
count line was necessarily limited from
the amount of capital employed, and
the limited demand for money in carry
ing on the business. But the fact was
established that Mr. K. was a safe and
reliable banker, and at the end of four
years it was found that the business
had paid fair dividends."
From August 10, 1856, the business
was carried on under the firm of Kel
logg, Fitzgerald & Co., with a capital
of $30,000, until April, 1857; when the
institution was organized under the
general Banking Law, with a capital of
$50,000. During the depres,5ion of
1858-'59 and '60, that amount ot capital
could not be used profitably, and in
May 1860, the capital was reduced to
$30,000 again, by the withdrawal of
Mr. Fitzgerald 'and his interest from
the institution, a withdrawal considered
a loss to the business and general inter
est of the city. Under this new ar
rangement the circulation was gradually
retired until but little remained out
standing. On the fifst day of February, 1863,
the Bank reorganized, and commenced
business as the First National Banh of
Oshkosh, with a capital ot 50,000. The
confidence in the new National Bank,
together with the increase of business.

then taking place, is well shown by a
deposite of 330,000, an amount said to
be larger than any bank in Milwaukee
or Madison. At this time, 1865, Mr.
Kellogg retires from the Presidency and
S. M. Hay became President, P. Sawyer,
Vice President and R. B. Kellogg,
Cashier. COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK.
In Aug., 1854, I find the name ot
Nelson Fletcher as Banker and Broker,
who was succeeded in January, 1855, by
Fletcher & Strong.
Nov., 1856, the Oshhosh Commercial
Banh was organized under the General
Banking Law, with a capital of $50,000.
Nelson Fletcher President, and Henry
Strong, Cashier. Nov., 1858, Messrs.
Reeve & Roe succeeded Fletcher &
Strong, the bank continuing under the
same name as before, Thos. T. Reeve,
President, and G. W. Roe, cashier.
Oct., 1865, the bank came under the
National Banking System, called the
Commercial National Banh, with a capi
tal of $100,000, Thos. T. Reeve, Pres
and G. W. Roe, Cash., as before. Of its
suecessful career, and present prominent
position in our city up to the present
time, it is needless for me to speak.
That it is ably and judiciously conduct
ed, and enjoys the fullest confidence of
its patrons, is also well shown by de
posits, in amount not less than any
banking institution in the State,
THE NEW BRIDGE.
Dec. Sd, 1865, the new bridge was
opened for the passage of teams, Hagan's
omnibus being the flrst to cross, followed
clo.sely by the inevitable Kelly with his
dray. The citizens generally felt a
lively interest in the completion of this
iiridge, and the event was very justly
marked by considerable enthusiasm by
the whole people. It is a Howe's Truss
Bridge and is a well and substantially
built structure. The contract for the

55

erection was made in July, 1865, to
bo completed by January 1, 1866. The
contract price was $19,600, which
amount was paid, together with $1500,
more for extra work and material, mak
ing the total cost ot the bridge $31,100,
David McCartney was the contractor
and Edward Sargent the engineer. This
bridge is a little over 600 feet long,
with a draw of 150 feet, and works well,
reflecting favorably on the builder. It
ie an object of pride, and properly so,
to our citizens, showing the liberality
and enterprize that characterizes our
city in all its public improvements.
By the building of this new bridge
two old "Beauties" were dispensed with.
The old bridge was a mere crib, and
though it had served a good purpose in
more ways than one, for it is said our
lumbermen met there "on change," and
many a sharp trade -was whittled out on
its frail railings; its passing away was
regretted by none. It had its day, its
friends and its enemies, and while a
grateful remembrance will be entertain
ed by the former, its enemies will re
spect it for the good it has done. The
other "beauty" spoken of, was the old
scow whose motive power was all things
by turns and nothing long. It served
out its brief day between the old and
the new bridges, and though it was a
thing of "Beauty" it came far short of
being a "joy forever."
The Press — Free Democrat.
Vi (7 July 9, 1849, Messrs. Densmore and
' / Cooley issued the first number ot the
Oshhosh Free Democrat. The first pa
per ever published in this City. It was
a small sheet, but ably edited by Mr.
Densmore who was a ready and able
writer. At the end of the first volume
he sold his interest in the paper to his
partner and went to Milwaukee. After
an absence of three months, he returned
and bought back the office and contin

ued the publication until the spring of
1853,then called it the Oshhosh Democrat.
At that time Mr. George Burnside boug't
an interest in the paper and continued
it under the firm of Geo. Burnside &
Co., Mr. Densmore continuing the Edi
tor until April 1853,when Mr. J. Daugh-
erty became the Editor, the name
remaining as before. In March 1855
Martin Mitchel succeeded Mr. Daugher-
ty as Editor, Burnside & Co., continuing
the publishing firm until May 2d, 1856.
May 9, 1856.— Mitchel & Smith be
came the publishers, Mr. Mitchel being
the Editor, until Aug. 15, 1856.
From Aug. 26, 1856 to January 20,
1857, the paper was published by Mark-
ham & Felker, when C. G. Finney pur
chased the interest of Mr. Markham,and
the paper was continued by Finney &
Felker until April 1858.
From April 13, 1858, to July 21, 1860
the paper was published by Finney &
Davis. July 31, 1860 Mr. Geo. Gary became
Editor and publisher, but sold out Oct.,
4, 1860 to C. R. Nevitt, when the Demo
crat ceased to have a name, its restless
spirit flnding a resting place in the
bosom of the Weekly Narihwest&m.
Pox River Coukibb.
In June 1852 Mr. J.H. McAvoy issued
the first number of the Fox'River Couri
er, but soon after sold out to J. Crowley
later of the Menasha AdvocaU, and still
late of the Manitowoc Pilot. Mr. Crow
ley continued the Courier to August
1853, when he sold out to Read & Nev
itt. Messrs. Read & Nevitt continued the
Courier weekly until August 1857, when
Mr. Nevitt sold his interest to Mr.
Strong, the firm being Read & Strong.
The paper was then published by Read
& Strong until December 1863, when
they sold out to Morley & Davis.
Messrs. Morley and Davis continued

56

the Courier until August 1864, when it
ceased to exist, the proprietors uni
ting with George Gary in the pub
lication of the Northwestern.
The Northwesters.
In May 1860 D. C. Pelton & Co., is
sued the first number of the Northwes
tern, and in October same year C. R.
Nevitt one of the firm, became sole pro
prietor, and continued the paper to May
36, 1864— From that time (May 1864),
to Nov. 10, 1864 Geo, Gary & Co., were
the publishers.
In Nov. 1864, Mr. Morley retired leav
ing Geo Gary and B. F, Davis publishers,
and was published by Gary & Davis until
March 1866, when C, G. Finney bought
Mr. Gary's interest and the paper was
published by Finney & Davis, by whom
the Northwestern is still published.
Dailies.
On the 10th of July 1854 Messrs. Read
& Nevitt issued the Daily OoMn'er, which
they continued until Dec. 1857, when it
died. August 36, 1856, Messrs. Markham &
Felker started the Daily Democrat which
was continued throughout all the chan
ges of the Weekly to Dec. 1857, when
with its Democratic cotemporary, the
Daily Courier, both passed quietly to an
honored rest.
In March 1860, the spirit of the depart
ed Democrat, after a restless immortali
ty of three years, revisited the scenes of
its former greatness, and while hovering
over the auspicious event that would
soon send a great and a good man to
the head of the nation, was caught up
and again moulded into form by Geo-
Gary Esq., but foreseeing the success
that awaited ' its friends, its spirit, yet
uncontaminated by the warring elements
of party strife, passed again to its rest
in May 1860, to return no more.
January 12, 1881 C. R. Nevitt issued
the first numljer of the Daily Northwes

tern, and that too had an honorable but
brief career of six months, dying Aug ,
1861, lamented by all save its nearest .
friends, Oshkosh Delbgaies,
In August 1860 the Oshhosh Delegate
was started by M, P, Shipper as the or
gan of the old Whig party, but under
unfavourable auspices, and after a few
issues, an arrangement was made with a
young Lawyer, late of Milwaukee, to
take the Editorial management. Being
associated with Hiram Morley as pub
lisher, the name was changed to the
Oshkosh Republican, which continued
but a few months when the material of
the office was removed to Fond du Lao.
On the 34th of January, 1861, B. P.
Davis published a paper called the Osh-
hash Republican, but it was discontinued
May 3d, 1861.
The Winnebago Telegraph was start
ed in the fall of 1849 by Dr. B. S. Hen
ning, who issued but a few numbers and
sold out to Morley & Edwards. Mr.
Edwards succeeding lo the sole manage
ment of the paper, continued its publi
cation about two years,when he removed
the office to Appleton, but betore he
was ready to issue his paper, his office
was destroyed by fire.
The Oshkosh Democrat — A Demo
cratic paper started by Robt. V. Shurley
as Editor and publisher, January 9, 1866
— Office burnt in May 1866, started
again in June following, and still flour
ishing. The Anzetger des Nordwestens, was
started March 1853 by C. Kohlman pub-
lisher,and Chas. Roeser Editor — discon
tinued August 1853.
In April 1858 the Waechter ami Winne
bago was started under the Editorial
charge of Henry Cordier, C. Kohlman
publisher.and continued until Oct., 1860
when it was discontinued.
In October 1860 the flrst number of a

57

Monthly Magazine, called the Deutsche
Volkblaetter was issued by C. Kohlman
as the publisher, being ably edited by
Charles Rose. This periodical has met,
and is still meeting, with excellent suc
cess, under the Editorial management of
Mr. Rose, who is a scholar, and ready
writer in the several modern languages.
In October 1866 the Wisconsin Tele
graph (German) was started by C. Kohl-
man,publisher,and Charles Rose Editor,
and is still flourishing. Churches.
The Congregational Church, on Al
goma St., near Ferry, is the largest
Church Edifice in the City, being 60 by
ne feet and basement. It is of brick
and well and substantially built, and
handsomely finished with upholstered
seats,capable of seating 700 persons. It
has a fine gallery for singers, with an al
cove for an organ at some future day.
The inside decorations are not elaborate
but plain and in good taste.
The erection of this Church com
menced in 1857, but owing to the gen
eral depressed state of affairs at the time,
the walls were but half built, and there
remained until 1859. At that time the
large basement was used as a place of
worship,until June 1867, when the com
pletion had so far progressed that the
congregation gladly availed themselves
of the opportunity of getting into the
audience room at the earliest moment.
The Rev. J. P. Roe is the Pastor, there
being three hundred members, with a
large congregation who worship there.
It was dedicated July 14, 1867.
Trinity (Episcopal) Church.
This edifice was built in 1857 at a cost
of $7000. It is pleasantly located on
the corner of Algoma and Light streets,
and together with the parsonage ad
joining, is an ornament to our City. In
addition to the original cost, $4000 was
expended in the summer of 1866 for

enlarging and improving the Church,
of which sum, $3000 was spent on the
interior. The size of the audience room
is 44 by 70— Tower 14 by 14 and the
Chancel 13 by 18. The Society also
erected during the summer of 1866, a
fine Parsonage at a cost of $1500 The
Rev. F. R. Haff has been the Rec
tor for the last nine years.
The Methodist Episcopal Church on
the north side of Church street, corner of
Division, is in size of Edifice, num
ber of members and Congregation, next
to the Congregationalists. Their orig
inal Edifice was built in 1850 and about
three years ago it was much enlarged
and improved; some $4000 being ex
pended on improvements. It is now a
fine structure, the upper part of wood,
with a stone basement. It has one hun
dred and sixty members,and the society
prospering. They are about building a
parsonage to cost abont $1500 to $2000.
Rev. Geo. C Haddock is the Pastor.
The First Baptist Church, corner of
Jefferson Avenue and Merrit sts., is a
wooden structure and cost about $5000,
In the summer of 1866 it was moved
from its old location on Jeff. Avenue to
the corner of Merrit street, and an addi
tion of 30 feet put on, making it 30 by
75- -is of good proportion and fine
appearance. There are 65 ^nembers, W,
W. Whitcomb is the Pastor,
The St. Peters Church is a wooden
structure of respectable dimensions loca
ted on High street in the first 'Ward of
the City, Its present Pastor is the Rev.
Thos. Keenan, and numbers among its
communicants seven hundred.
This Church has a history, a brief re
view of it may not be uninteresting to
the general reader.
The first Mass was celebrated in a
small frame building on Ceape st,, near
where Beckwith & Davis's foundry now
stands, in 1849, Divine .fiervices were

58

then held where McCourt's store now is;
then where Mr. Gill's Feed store now
stands. In 1850 there were but twelve
Catholic families at this place,they how
ever erected a small Church on the site
of the present St. Peters'Church. The

Church street in the first Ward, was
erected in 1866 at a costs of $5000. This
is a handsome wooden Edifice, pleasant
ly located in a grove and has a member
ship of fifty-six. The Rev. J. H. Niblock
is the Pastor, a young man, but held in

first Catholic Clergyman, was the Rev. i high estimation by his people, and the
F. J. Bonduel, who remained twelve
years, with the Indians at Lake Poygun

occasionally visiting this place — the
regular Pastor for this place was, Rev.
Mr. Fermashi, an ex monk from Italy,
who changed his mode of life to the
great scandal of the Church. The next
one at St. Peters, was Rev. Jas. Colton,
and the next Rev, F, Fusseder under
whom the St. Mary's (Cath.,) Church
was built, being succeeded by the Rev.
Thos. Keenan, the present incumbent.
The St, Mary's (German Catholic)
Church is located on Merrit street, east
of Broad, and is a neat and well appear
ing Church Edifice with a Parsonage
adioining. The Congregation is large
and the society is in a flourishing condi
tion — Rev. A. Leitner is the Pastor, No.,
of Communicants four hundred and
flifty. The Second Baptist Church is located
on Ninth street Sd Ward; is 40 by 50
feet,and built in 1858. The society was
organized in 1859, and now forty-five
persons are members of the Church. —
The Rev. Thos. Holman is the Pastor.
Cost of Church $3000.
The German Methodist Church on Ot
ter street, near Shonaon, was erected du
ring the summer of 1866 costing about
$4000. It is a neat and well finished
Church and numbers among the mem
bers thirty persons. It has a pleasant
and convenient parsonage adjoining the
Church, The lot is well fenced the
whole bearing an air of neatnesss and
order. The Pastor is Rev. J, W, Roeck-
er, ¦ .- - '- -
The United Presbyterian Church on

church is well sustained
There is a Welch Congregational

IS a
Church corner of Church and Chestnut
streets. Rev. T. Hughes Pastor.
Also a Welch Calvenistic Church on
Division,near Church street. The Rev,
T. Fouck, Pastor,
The Evangelical Methodist (German)
Church on Bay street between Waugoo
and Otter, sometimes called the Alb-
reicht Society.
The Lutheran (Ger.) Church corner of
Fifth and Bowen streets, 3d Ward, Rev.
Mr. Ruloph Pastor.
The German Lutheran Church on
Eighth, between Oregon and Min
nesota streets, 3d Ward. Rev. C. Starck
Pastor From the foregoing brief review of
the Churches in the City of Oshkosh, I
find there are in all Fourteen Church
Buildings and Societies, and for the
most part they are pretty well sustained
and are evidently doing good in their
spheres. One half of these Churches
have been built within the past year, or
have been enlarged and greatly im
proved- — but one evidence among many,
of the moral and religious advancement
of the City. Schools.
Prior to the year 1859 our Schools and
School Houses were far behind other
improvements of the City. The few
School houses that did exist were inade
quate to the demand, in point of size,
without comfort or convenience — in
short the whole School tacilities were
I wretched and entirely unsuited to the
wants of the rapidly increasing popula-

59

tion. And not until 1868 was the pres
ent graded system fully introduced, a
system that has worked well thus far,
and the Supt. of Schools at that time
Mr. K. M. Hutchinson is deserving of
much praise for the interest he took in
its introduction, as well as for his un
tiring exertions in making the Schools
what they are. The present board of
education consists of a Superintendent
and five School Commissioners, one from
each Ward as follows, — Dr. H. B. Dale,
Superintendent — E. R, Colton, Commis
sioner 1st Ward — C. A. Weisbrcd, 3d
Ward— Dr. S. J. Osborn 3d Ward— W.
B. Stickney, 4th Ward— and D. D.
Whitney, 5th Ward.
The Union High School will soon be
held in the new High School building
now in course of erection on Algoma st.,
at present it is on Main, between Algo
ma and Church streets. Its Teachers
are, Arthur Everett PrincipalfWiss, Clara
Winters Assistant;Miss Joana Daly.prin-
cipal of the Grammar Department, and
Miss Flora Wright, Assistant. There
were, last term 164 scholars in this
School; number of seats 150 — enrollment
184. First Ward School.
The School House for the First Ward
was erected in 1859 but in 1863
was greatly enlarged and improved
at a cost in the aggregate of nearly six
thousand dollars, and calculated to seat
333 scholars. The School is now under
the direction of Miss E. C. Wilkins,
principal of 1st intermidiate depart
ment, Mis3 Mattie Williamson 2d inter
midiate dept., Miss Sarah Ellsworth 1st
primary dept., Miss Georgiana Ellsworth
2dprimaiy. No. of seats 333, No. of
Scholars in attendance 315, No. of schol
ars enrolled in the Ward 333.
SECOND WARD SCHOOL.
The school house in this ward was
built in 1861. and cost $3000. It is lo
cated on the corner of Otter and Mill St.
Its management is under the direction
of Miss Lora Austin, Principal, Miss
Libby Watts, Assistant, Mrs. E. C.

Hardy, Primary Department. Number
of seats 186, number of scholars in at-
teudance 211. No. enrolled in the ward,
259. THIRD WARD SCHOOL.
The flrst school house in the 3d ward
was erected m 1861, at a cost of $3,500
In the summer of 1866, a new
one was built costing $1300, the
first one being inadequate to the ac
commodation ot the number of .scholars
in the ward. The teachers are Miss
Esther Hopkins, Principal; Miss Mary
E. Jackson, Assistant; Miss M. E. Ham
ilton, Primary. No. of seats (in old
school) 186. No. of scholars in attend
ance in all, 304. No. in the ward, in
cluding both schools 379.
FOURTH WARD.
The school house in the 4th ward was
rebuilt in 1864 at a cost of $3500. It is
located on the corner of Jefferson Ave
nue and Merritt Sts. Its teachers are
Miss Lizzie H Peet, Principal; Miss E.
A. Colton, Assist., and Mrs .C.B.Kimball,
Primary Department. No. of seats 180;
No. of scholars in attendance 331; No.
of scholars in the ward, 351.
FIFTH WARD SCHOOL.
In the 5th ward there are two schools;
one on Elm street, Miss Dopp, teacher.
Fifth ward school, west side. Miss Mary
Cornell, teacher. No. of scholars in
attendance in both schools 148. No. of
scholars in ward, 156.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
The German and English Academy on
Court House street. Mr. Moline, Prin
cipal, and Miss. D. Angel, Assistant, —
iOO scholars.
German Lutheran school, 3d ward,
located on 7th street. Rev. C. Starck,
Principal, and Matilda Starck, Assist
ant, 60 scholars.
St. Peters Catholic school on High
street, under the ,control of the sisters
of St. Dominick numbers 250,scholars.
Miss Sander's school on Main Street
corner of Merritt, 25 scholars.
Misses Whittemore's school, on High
street, 50 scholars.
Mrs. Quau's school in 3d ward, 30
scholars. Jas. Bork's . Academy, German a,nd
English, located on ShonaOn Street, be-

(iO

low otter and Waugoo Streets. Jas.
Bork, Principal; Miss Anna Bork, As
sistant; 49 scholars in attendance.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
There are eight public schools in the
city. The High school consists of a
high or Academic Department, and a
higher and lower grammar department;
all under the direction of Arthur Ever
ett, an accomplished and efficient teach
er, assisted by three young ladies.
The ward schools consist of tsvo or
more deparrments with a corresponding
number of teachers, and at the end of
the third term, hold examinations of
the higher classes, for the purpose of
sending up such scholars as are entitled
to it, to the first or second department
of the grammar school, according to
qualification, to which department they
are duly certified by the Supt. This is
called the "graded system," and while it
holds out constantly, inducements of the
strongest character to the scholar to
prepare himselt for the graduation, it
precludes the idea of partiality or
prejudice, leaving every scholar to stand
on his own merits, without hope of
favor. As the high school presents all the
advantages for obtaining a liberal or
classic education, the scholar has
constantly held up before him the great
prize, and must never relax his efforts
if he would obtain it. Much more
might be said in favor Of this graded
system, but want of space forbids, suffice
it to say, briefiy, that with scarce an ex
ception, the teachers of our schools
are competent, and assiduous in the
discharge of their duties, and so far as I
can learn have an aptness for teaching,
as well as possessing the love and re
spect of their scholars. I believe I
speak the sentiment of the people when
I speak proudly of our schools, as they
now are.

ORDERS AND ASSOCIATIONS.

The Oshhesh Lodge A. F. and A. M.
communications at Masonic Hall, oyer
Hay's Hardware Store, first and third
Tuesdays of every month.
Tyrian Chapter Nv. 15 B. A. M. meets
at the Masonic Hall, third Monday in
every month.
Winnebago Lodge No. 130 I. 0. of 0. F.
meet weekly at their Hall, third story
of the 1st National Bank building,
Main street.
Oshhosh Lodge No. 38 /. 0. of Q. T,
meet every Monday evening at their Hall
over the First National Bank. This
lodge is flourishing having over 300
members. Sons of H&rman Lodge No. 3, hold their
meetings twice in each month on Ceape
Street. United Q&rman Brotliers, meet third
Tuesday of every month.
Aeient Order of Druids hold their
meetings monthly in Schwalms' build
ing on Main street.
St. Peters' Catholic Benevolent and Lit
erary Association, meet flrst of every
month at St. Peters' school room on
High street.
The Fire Department Benevolent As
sociation, meet first Tuesday in May in
A. C. Osborn's office.
Oshhosh ThfCspian Society meet at St.
Peters school room weekly.
Young Men's Christian Association
meet at their Hall in Wolcott's Block.
They have a fine reading room and
library — room open every evening in
the week — it is a flourishing institu
tion. niGlI SCHOOL BUILDING.
This splendid building is now in
course of erection, and will be completed
in January, 1868. It is located in a beau
tiful grove of sturdy oaks on Algoma
street, running through to Church St.,
in the flrst ward of the city; size of
building 71 by 85, and from foundation
to the top of the tower, it is to be 181
feet. It IS divided into four depart
ments as follows. The basement is lOJ^
feet high between joints and comprises

61

a room 36 by 68 for a gymnasium; three
rooms for .Taunitor's dwelling, the bal
ance to be used as furnace and fuel
rooms. The first story is 16 feet high
between joints, and divided into two
school rooms each 34 by 44; two cloak
rooms each 12 by 26; two recitation
rooms 14 by 26; hall 16 by 33; reception
room 15 by 15. Second Story is divided
as follows: School room 44 by 58; two
recitation rooms, each 15 by 25; labra-
tory 25 by 38; hall 16 by 30; library 14
by 14; two entrees or reception rooms
13 by 16; and two entrances and stair
ways, — 16 feet between joints.
Third Story, or attic, has an assembly
room 65 by 68 feet; ante room 14 by 15,
and two stairways— ceiling 16feethigh-
L. D. Cochran, of Chicago, is the
architect, S. G. Alger, master builder
and contractor of the carpenter work,
and Wm. Wilson contractor of mason
work. It is built of a cream colored
brick made at Clifton in Calumet Co.,
Wis., the stone for the water tables,
window caps, &c., is the Athens Mar
ble brought from JoUiett, Illinois.
This building, beside being an object
of pride to our citizens, as the best in
the State, will be the great thing need
ed, to give the High school department
facilities it should have for the proper
development of its usefulness.
The above hasty sketch conveys but an
imperfect idea of its arrangements, as the
accommodation it will afford to all de
partments ofthe school. Not by any
means, the least impirtaut, it provides
for the physical training as well as the
mental. These advantages, added to
the lovliness of the grounds, places it
high in the scale of fitness and beauty.
STEAM BOATS.
The Steamers running this season are
as follows: The Tigress, 350 tonnage,
and the Northwestern 150 tons, run
between Oshkosh and New London, on
alternate days.

The steamer A. Lincoln, 100 tons, and
the Berlin City, 110 tons, ply daily be
tween here and Berlin, on the Pox river.
The Brooklyn, 150 tons, stern wheel,
plies between this city and Green Bay,
making a trip down and back in three
days. The Winnebago also runs to Green
Bay, and makes the trip up the Fox to
Berlin twice a week.
The Lumberman, 330 tons, designed
as a lumber boat, plies between this city
and Fond du Lac, touching the east
shore of the lake
Beside these mentioned, there are 20
Tugs running on the Wolf and Fox
rivers for towing and freighting busi
ness. Some half dozen of these tugs
have been built here and at Winne-
conne, during the past winter, all being
fitted out with their machinery here.
BOAT BUILDING.
Considerable has been done the past
season in the way of boat building at
this place. The one doing the most in
this line, is W. W. Barnes. He thinks
his boat building during the past year
will amount to $160,000. He has built
several barges and two tug boats for the
Mississippi river. Others have also
been engaged in boat building, both
here and in the vicinity, the number of
boats or amount of business done I have
no account of.
INSURANCE COMiPANIES.
Insurance Companies, among which
are the best in the country, are well
represented here. Mr. A. C, Osborne
represents fifteen companies and a capi
tal of $40,000,000- as follows: Ten
Fire Insurance, three Life, one Accident,
and one lAve Stoch.
Nevitt & Hicks represent nine com
panies, as follows; Three Fire, two Ac
cident one Live Stoch, and three Life.
Gary & Harmon represent eleven
campanies — nine Fire, one Accident, and
one iLfe.

62

Wm. Luscher represents two Fire
Insurance Companies.
Church & Janes represent five com
panies — three Fire, one Life, and one
Accident. O. E. Carrier, represents the North
western Mutual Life Insurance Co.,
Office on High Street.
COURT HOUSE.
Oshkosh being the County seat, of
Winnebago Co., it is entirely proper to
say, that we have the largest and best
Court House in the State.
It was commenced in the
early part of 1859, but not completed
until the fall of 1860. Its cost was
$21,000, and the same building at the
present time would more than double
that amount. It is 60 by 100 feet, built
of Milwaukee brick, stone basement, and
two stories high above the basement.
In one half the basement are the cells
and other accommodations for the pris
oners; the other half being fitted up for
the accommodation of the Sheriff's
family. It stands in the centre of an
entire block, between Otter and Ceape
Streets, and has a pleasant surrounding
in its ample yards, shrubbery, &c. The
present incumbent ot the office of Sher
iff, is A. B. Smith an efficient officer.
POST OFFICE.
Our present Post Office is located on
Waugoo Street, near Main, in a brick
building built for the purpose, and is
kept by Erwin Heath, present incum
bent, in a manner highly satisfactorv to
the public. NlCOLSON PAVEMENT.
This noted improvement which has
spread farther and faster the fame of
our city, in the last few months, than
any thing else, deserves at least a pass
ing notice: No city in the West per
haps had greater need of a pavement of
some sort, than Oshkosh. Our streets
at all times were either deep mud or

rough and uneven, in consequence of
the deep and loose character of the soil;
and there was no peace at any time, '
until the City Fathers at length decid
ed to strike boldly out on the sea of ex
periment; and resolved that the people
had been tolerably patient about long
enough, and should have something
that would in a measure compensate
them for their long suffering, provided
they would pay for it themselves. So the
Nicolson was hit upon as just the
thing, as they thought, — aud it was. In
September the great experiment, at least,
in this part of the country, was com
menced, aud although it was late in the
season, it was pushed through with
commendable promptness to completion
about the first of December, 1866, at a
cost to the property holders on the
street, of $30,000. The contractors were
Michael McCourt and Wm. Sharp, C.
Palmer was the Engineer; and I believe
there are very few regrets now existing
that the improvement has been made.
The pavement is 56 ft wide and 1,500 ft.
long,near ons third of a mile, and required
575,000 feet of lumber to build it. But
the spirit of improvement did not stop
yet, but the street for about three hun
dred feet farther, was laid with good
sound four inch plank, which serves a
purpose but little inferior to the blocks,
and gives us a street of such excellence,
that Oshkosh is justly credited with
having taken a step in advance of her
neighbors. This was another evidence
of the fact, that though -we may have
waited long for several improvements,
they have been unsurpassed when they
did come. See Bridge, Court House,
Schools and others. HOTELS.
The Empire HousB—On the cornerof
Main and Algoma Streets, was built in
the summer and fall of 1866, by Jas. A.
Rea, proprietor, at a cost of $18,000. It

63

,_is built of brick, four stories high, and
standing prominently on the corner of
two principal streets, make a fine ap
pearance. It is 88 feet on Main Street
and 105 on Algoma. It has 58 lodging
rooms, with a dining room 23 by 70
feet, fresco work — the first story is oc
cupied by stores and a billiard room.
The Seymour House is on South
Main Street in the 3d ward, is a wooden
building 100 feet square, three stories
high, the basement being occupied by
stores, shops, &c. It was built in 1860
by Jos. Stringham, and cost $15,000. It
has -34 lodging rooms, large dining
rooms, office and parlors — the present
proprietor is J. M. Belanger.
Reverb House — On Main Street in
the 2d ward, near the bridge, is a brick
building, four stories high and makes
quite an imposing appearance. It was
built in the summer of 1866 by G. Bogk,
present proprietor, at a cost of 25,000.
It is 80 feet square and has 50 lodging
rooms, good sized parlors and dining
rooms, with fresco work. The basement
is occqipied by stores and a billiard room.
Adams' House — Located on the corner
of Shoanon and Otter Sts., was built in
1855 by Victor Adams. This old Trav
elers' Home, so long the leading hotel
of the City, is still at its post, and
caturing as of old to the appetites and
wants of its guests, and is still the
favorite of many of its former patrons.
It is a wooden building three stories
high, and centrally located. Geo. B.
& C. P. Adams, proprietors.
Tremont House. — This Hotel is
located on the corner of Waugoo and
Shoanon streets, was built of brick, in
the summer of 1866, by Wm. Suhl, at a
cost of about $7000. It is three stories
high, fitty feet on Waugoo and sixty feet
on Shoanon street, and has twenty-five
lodging rooms, with other accommoda
tions for a flrst class hotel. The present

proprietors are Vandoren and Sons, who
know how to keep a hotel on temper
ance principles.
Peters House — located on South
Main street, 8d ward, and is a frame
building of three stories high, 54 by 86
feet. It was built in 1861 by J. A. Rea,
who was succeeded by P. Peters present
proprietor. Its cost of construction and
improvements has been about $6009.
It is doing a good business.
Grant House is located near the
depot ofthe C. & N. W. R. R. It was
built by Jos. Stringham in the fall of
1866, as a Hotel and Railroad Eating
House, at a cost of $6000. It is 50 by
140 feet, two steries high. Wm. M.
Perrin, proprietor.
Winnebago House on South Main
street, built in 1866, and kept by 
FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS,
J. F. Morse & Go. — This is a large and
well appointed establishment, and is
doing a large business in the way of
mills and boat machinery; over a wide
scope of country. It has been in opera
tion fourteen years, and now employs
forty-five men. It consists of two build
ings. A machine shop 40 by 130 and a
room for casting 30 by 100 feet, and is
amply supplied with all the most ap
proved machinery now in use, requiring
a capital to carry on the business of
$30,000. The great feature of this
establishment is the building of Mills
and Machinery, which go to all parts of
the northwest, and contributes in a large
degree to the reputation of Oshkosh as
a place of business. The greater num
ber of the boats now running on these
waters, as well as many of the mills, are
using machinery made at these works.
Their business the past season was
$75,000, and the present year will ex
ceed that amount.
BecJmith, Davis <6 Co., successors to
Adams & Beckwith, manufacturers of
mill and other machinery, Threshing
Machines and Seed Sowers, This estab-

64

lishment is located on Ceape street, and
consists of a stone building two stories
high, 42 by 136, with additions for
furnace room, for casting and other pur
pose, and has machinery equal to any
establishment of the kind in the coun
ty. One iron planer cost $1,500, and
an engine manufactured by themselves
that is a perfect model. Like their
neighbors above spoken of, they supply
a great many engines and other machin
ery, for boats and mills all over the
Northwest, and their threshing machines
are widely known and used. I noticed
a band wheel made by t'nem to go to
Chicago, weighing 4500 lbs. They
employ 40 men, in the various depart
ments, and the past season did a business
of $75,000 with a capital invested of
$50 000. They made additions and
improvements in the fall of 1866, cost
ing $10,000. In all parts of their work
is order and method manifest. Mr.
John Everet their foreman in the
Machine shop has been at his post
twelve yeais, M. W. Bates, foreman in
the wood department', fourteen years.
and T. B. Wheeler of the moulding
rooms, has been fifteen years in the
establishment, all good and efficient
mechanics. The success of a II mechan
ical operations depends much on the
efficiency and trustworthiness of the
master mechanic, and the time these
men have been in this establishment, is
highly deserving of special notice.
MANUFACTURES.
M. T. Battis, manufacturer of Boilers
on Division St. and employs six men.
Plows — G. D. Wyman, Ceape Street,
manufactures Plows and Agricultural
Implements, employing five men, and
turns out about 200 Plows yearly.
J. H. Ward, corner of Shonaon and
Waugoo streets, manufactures plows and
cultivators, turning out about 200 of
each yearly. '' '

Wagons. — John Litfln, on Ceape St.,
manufactures wagons, &c. Chas. Mier-
swa, on south side, also manufactures
wagons, employing seven men.
There are several others that are
making wagons, on a small scale,
making the amount done in that line of
considerable importance.
Carriages. — Rudd & Holden, on
High Street, manufacture Carriages,
Sleighs, &c., employing some ten or
twelve men, and turn out thirty car
riages and buggies yearly amounting to
about $8000.
Neubaur & Mierswa, on Ceape Street,
manufacture wagons and carriages and
employ six men.
Furniture. — J. Heberlee, manufac
tures furniture, chairs, lounges, coffins,
&c. Employs four men, ware rooms on
Main Street.
J. Nagler manufactures furniture —
Sale room, 37 Main Street.
Loper & Spikes, of the 3d ward, and
B. H. Soper, 1st ward, manufacture
sofas, bureaus, lounges, coffins, &c., and
employ five men. Ware rooms on Main
Street, 1st ward, and South Main Street,
3d ward.
Fence Factory. — G. W. Porter, suc
cessor to E. L. Fraker, 8d ward, manu
factures Round and Picket Fence, and
employs ten men, employing a capital
of about $10,000. The reputation and
sale of this fence is far and wide. Sells
at 35 cents per foot, posts and casing,
extra. The work is carried on under
the direction of J. C. TFhidden.
Furniture and Turning. — James
Cartwright & Bro., in the 3d ward, are
manufacturers of bedsteads, chairs,banis-
ters, and everything under the head of
turning, scroll sawing, house brackets,
&c. Employ five men and turn out
$8000 per year.
Hoop Skirts— A. M. Weber, manu
facturea hoop skirts and corsets. No, 4,

6^

Alpma St. Employs four girls and
two men.
-jtfATCH Splints.— J. L. Clark, manu
factures match splints. Has a building
32 by 107 feet, two stories high, and
employs 35 girls and ten men and boys
the year round. He has three machines
and can turn out 195 gro per day, or
3'J',600 per minute, amounting to $4^.00
per day. These splints are sent to
Match factories all over the country
where they are made into matches.
Matches. — W. D. Curtiss & Co., man
ufactures matches, employ 31 girls and
two men, iiiiiking 50 ca.ses per work.
LiMK AND Brick. — J. A Day & Co.
have tlih-e lime kilns and are extensive
ly dealing in lime. They manufacture
lirick on tlie east side of the lake, hav
ing several vessels employed in bring
ing over brick limestone and sand.
Jno Williams has a lime kiln east of
Colvin's dock-employs a s.chooner and
tarings the lime stone from across the
lake. ^
John Kuclier, also mumifactures lime
near Beckwith, Davis & Co.'s Foundry,
House Factory.— J. Danforth has
just erected ii large building, with all
needed machinery, for the manufeictur^
of Houses which'are made ready to put
together, of any size, and shipped to all
parts of the west.
Northwestern ' Stave Factory. —
The Northwestern Stave Co., a joint
stock comijany, incorporated in 1856,
Jackson Case, President; M. 'iV. Sim
mons. Superintendent and Secretary;
Dr T. S. Garter, Treasurer; and five
Directors. This establishment has all
the machinery for doing a' large busiiiess,
and erhijloys 25 hands— can but 15,0p0
flour barrel staves, 6000 pieces of head'
ing — or 3P00 tight barrel staves- per
day. They cut up 2000 cords of timber
per season of eight months, and haVe a
small steamer engaged in bringing their

stave bolts from up the river, — located
on north bank of the river in the First
Ward, Curtain ^actpry - -J. Emeny, manu
factures the Grecian blinds or rustip
window shade, on the corner of Otter
and Shonaon streets, 3d ward.
Marble Forks — Moore -& Holley
are Marble cutters, the only establish
ment in the city — they are on Main
between Chnrcji and Algoma streets.
Soap and Candle Factory— J. R.
Loper & Co., manufacture soap, candles,
Neatsfoot oil, &c., ' Merriam street. "1st
ward. Cigars — H. Banimp.fSf>l. tobnconist
and manufacturer of cigars, 70 Main St.
Overton & Rieck, inanufa<;tuiers of
cigars, Main Street.
Hilton & Doubin, manufacture cigars
Main Street.
Sash, Doors & Blikds. — O. E. God
frey, 3d ward, manufactures sash, dooi-s,
(ind blinds, atii^ employs eight men, da,
ing a business of $8pp0 per year.
J. H. Vaglit, on Ceape street, manu-
f.ctures sa.?h aud doors, by hand.
Flouring MlL|.s— I. |L,aafes & Co.,
Empire mill, 3d ward; 'Gr^jen & Conro,
¦Tl'blf Rivermill,'3d Ward.
Chapman & l3anforthi Oshkosh City
mills, 1st ward;
' Oshkosh City Eleva.or — Beach &
Conlee, 3d ward. i ¦ "^
Strinoham's Elevator.  Thomp
son, wheat buyer, 3d ward.
Leatheu Manupactcrers.— |iletz &
Schccrb, cornerof Waugoo undMain Sts.
Wa\ Klntzli, liiiifuifacturer and dealer
in leather. Main stieet
Booit' Bi'jIding— Northwestern Book
Bindery, Pinhey & Davis, manufacturers
§f blanfc book?, Cfirnur ofiHiglv& Main
Streets, Robert HeUarf|, Booj{;JJin4e,r. ,
C. Kohlmap, i5po|c ^indpj-y, coi-ner of
TFaugoo and MaiK street.'*.
REAL ESTA'j'B SALES,
Cpl, J L. Dprrance w^^ fosmerly the
Real Estate Agent; ui^^r "wfioSfe 'eiier-

66

^etic agency a large ' number of sales
were reported as follows,— Aug. last 50
transfers, $38000: Sept., 69 ti-ansfer^
$50,000; Oct.' and Nov., 65 tranfers,
$55,000; Der., 38 tranfers, $38,130;
.Ian.,' (1867) 82 transfers, $34,700; Pel).,
25 transfers, $14,600; 'March, 64 tranfers,
$67,259; April, '89 transfers, 110,000 dol
lars. Aggi'egate in' nine months, 373,-
903 dollars. About this'time Church &
Janes succeeded Got. Dorrance and re
port sales for May as being 35 transfers,
amounting to 11,330 dollars, and for
June 14 tranfers, 15,575 dollars. Aggre
gate in eleven months, 399,808.
PKOFESStoNAL BOTINKSS,

Hand engine, fifty
Harid en-

Gerinaiiia No.
members. ' Fl-anklin No. 1, hth wal'd,
gine, thirty me'mbers.
Union Hook & Ladder Company,
thirty members.' ' '•
Express (/OmpanieS. — American Ex-
Co., W. Colvin, Agent. '
Merchants Union Express do!, J. ' D.
Wheelock, Agent.
TTiscbnsin Telegraph Co., Miss Mag
gie Gairimon, operator.
'¦' ' prbsen't improvements! ' "
Under this head, coluinfas would be
required trt convey a correct idea, but

There are fiften Lawver'.s offices, eight \ *""'' ¦""'' 'l'^'^'^' *'"'''''^' ""®^''' *' *" ^'*-^'
Phvsicians, two Dentis'ts, -six Insurance "^^' ""¦' ''^'J' ''''' "^^<^'" P'-^sented a .more
Agencies, two Real Estate Agencies. ^°^'^*^ ""'' ^'"'^^^^ ^''''« of progress. On
! our business Streets several bHck build
ings are going up and about to be coni-

MERCANTILE BUSINESS.
There are ten Dry Goods stores; 33
Grocery stores, 5 Hardware stores. 6
Drug stores', 1 Crockery and Glass ware,
3 Book stores, 3 Jewelry stores, 6 Boot
& Shoe stores, 7 Merchant Tailor and
Clothing, 1 Children's Clothing, 7 Mil
linery stores, 3 Variety stores, 3 Leather
stores, 1 Liquor store, 1 Hat and Cap
store, 1 second hand store, 9 Peed and
Flour stores, 3 Confectioneries, 1 Auc
tion House, 1 News room.
FOOD AND , refreshments.-
Four Bake;cies, 5 Meat Markets, 6
Peanut and Fruit stands, 4 Cigar shops,
TONSORIAL AND EXILBRATIVE.
Five Baiber shops, tvventy Saloons,
six Billiard ' rooms. MECHANICAL.
Fifteen Shoe shops, 12 Blacksmith
shops, 5 Harness shops, 4 Tin shops, 4
Cooper shops, 1 Agricultural imple
ments and seeds, 5 Furniture stbres, 4
PhotOgi-aph rooms.
' FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Phceoix No. 1, has thirty mehibers and
a steamer, — men paid fifty cents per
hour while -engaged at fires. Cost of
Steamer, 5,7oo dollars. -

menced, and all over thecity new build
ings are syringing up in every direction,
while many, of them are really elegant
and costly structures. And what is
worthy of notice, these dvvelliug houses
are being built from necessity. The
influx of people here has been so great
that houses must be built to supply the
demand. Beside these, there are two
large mills nearly ready for business, a
Planing mill and House Factory, a Tub
and Pail Factory, and a High School
house costing 4o,ooo dollars. From
close observation, buildings now going
up are over five hundred in number
Improvements last summer and fall,
were four churclic.-,, three large brick
hotels, twelve brick blocks and build
ings, supplying twenty first class stores,
several mill.o, and additions, and dwell
ing houses everywhere. The number of
buildings put up last season is estimat
ed at riine hundred. Present popula
tion 14,000.' ¦
Add to the above, some seven Steam
tugs, ; several barges and Other craft,
buil't during the past winter and spring,
and lastly, not least, our Nicolslin Pave-

67

ment of nearly one third of a mile, and
the strangei- may form some idea of what
Oshkosh now is. and yet that idea must
be more or less incorrect without seeing
it, as it is. What it will ie, no prophetic
vision of mine has been able to discover.
OUR LUMBER INTEREST.
Up to the year of 1861 our Lumber
men^ labored under many difficulties.
TheTiijeries were unbounded in their
resources; the access to them easy; labor
-was cheap and abundant; mills estab
lished and ready for business; but there
was no money. The market price of
lumber was low, and the means of
sending it forvi-ard was attended witii
many and serious difficulties. Many of
the mill owners had exhausted all their
available means in erecting their mills,
while others had greatly embarrassed
themselves and were deeply in debt al
most without the hope of extrication.
They could not sell even at the extreme
low price to which it had descended.
It could not be sent abroad to any great
extent, under the want of shipping fa
cilities, and thus they struggled through
most ot the time of the great finan
cial revulsion beginning in 1857. Beside
the general stringency that affected the
whole country, Wisconsin had to pass
through peculiar and sore trials in her
monetary affairs. ¦ Her banks were but
little better than "promises to pay," her
agricultural resources but poorly devel
oped, and her lumber trade entirely
dormant from the general depression.
These were times that truly tried the
souls of all men, and the strength and
ability of our lumbermen in par
ticular, to the full extent of their en
durance. But the crisis passed,, and thqse who
were able to stand, began then, a career
of prosperity and success that has re
sulted in the present, prosperous condi

tion in which ve now see the lumber
interests of our city. Now our broad
river is teaming with the "first fruits"
of those immense pine forests remuner
ating the enterprize of the numerous
logging companies that are engaged in
bringing out their boundless supplies.
Now our numerous mills on either
bank of the river are proud m-ementoes
of the enterprize that distinguishes our
city at the present day. '''
I designed to speak of our lumber
trade in the aggregate, but find that I
cannot set it forth as clearly and as
completely as I would like, or as the
suliject demands; and hence I shall
try to do all, some sort of juistice to
which they are entitled, by noticing each
individualh", from careful and unbiased
observation. In collecting the materials
for this brief discription of pur lumber
intarests, I proposed as the: only correct
source of information, to visit each mill
and gather facts iVom those directly
interested and correctly informed.
This involved a task requiring time and
labor, but feeling sure that it was the
only way correct information could be
obtained; and anything .like 'facts ar
rived at, this course was adopted. In
doing that, I have endeavored to avoid
puffery, only stating facts as nearly as
possible, and such as would be read
by the public with interest, and be du
ly appeciated by those directly con
cerned. P. Sawyer and son, have a mill, at
Algoma 5th ward, city of Oshkosh; in
which was manufactured last season
5,435.000 teet of lumber, and 1,500,000
lath — employ 24 men, exclusive of those
required to run their new Steamer
Lumberman. This boat is just now
completed and running. It is designed
to carry the luinber made at this niill to
their yard at Fond du LaC;' where their
lumber is mostly sent. It has sufficient

6^

power and capacity for carrying 330
tons. Jewell Lawrence & Co's. mill is
also at Algoma and not far from the
One last inentioued. it has one Braud-
ereaa machine for hiakingshinglts, with
a,ll the necessary machinery for; making
lumber, sliingles and, lath. TJiey em,
ploy 50 hands' including some boys and
girls for packing sliingles. This mill
eut last season 4,000,000 -feet of lumber,
1000,000 lath, and 400Q,000 shingles.
I C. N. Paine, &, Co. Lumber Shingles
and Lath — with plaining mill attached:
This mill is directly on the npr^h baul^
of tiie rivpr, iie.ir the Algoma bridge
pid well located for doing a large bu.ii-
ness. It is two stories high, 45 by 100
feet — has a powerful engine of about
onc hundred hprse power. The pla
ning mill is Cfipable of dressing 30,000
feet per day. They have- also t]tie
feraudereau ihachine, made at Fond du
Lac, which stands in great favor iuiv.n^
pur Shingle inills. This mil! manufac
tured last season ,(of .eight nionths)
31^,000,000 feet ,pf lumber, l,OQ0,O0q
lath, and 3,000,000, shingles with a
capacity for' makitig 12 millions of
shingles per season.. Their business
last season must have been about $100,-
OpO, a? their yards are extensive,, their
facilities ample, for doing a large an4
lirofitable business. They etniiioy 60
men boys and girls
, They are interested ih a Steam Boat
^nd : several barges used in carrying
their Iniliber to their yards in this and
other places. One peculiarity in this
mill deserves notice, which is the
Friction Gearing. It has for some time
been a disputed point about the pro
priety of using this gearing in its ap-
f licatioil to the inain power; but I' was
jasuredithat they bad never after giving
it a , thorough trial, regretted, putting iii
the machinery for its use;, and think it
isi ^reat advantage over tfie old system
•Where several macihin^S arfe ruU by the
samB -motive power, r I IbeKevei it. is thd
^i^yiUii^lwhereiiit Isj ,used, ^seept; fo?
some lighter wqrk, ^pd this one is good
eyideiice of its sucbess.

Battis, Hakbrouck, Fanchek, «fc
iityNGEHFORD— Lumber ap(! shingle
mill, on nortli bank of the river near
Algoma. This is a new mill, built during the
past winter and now receiving its en
gine and machinery. It is.s .fine build
ing in a good location for doing . q, layge
business. It lias two boilers, aiid engine
inade lit the foundry of J. F, Morse
and Co. in this city, and I shpuld judge
-wh^n in operation, it will do no dis
credit to its biiildeis or to our city as
a native production. One Shingle ma
chine of the Ghalloner patent, made at
Oniro, and well liked by those who use
hem. This mill aud machinery cost
OQO, and will have a capacity f((r
turning out 4,000,000 ieet of lumlier,
one million: of lath ami eight million
shingles, — emuloys thirty uieu; it is
called the Mechanics mill.
Since the above notes were taken, the
niilj lias been put In operation and
iriore than meets the expectations of its
builders. .
Derby <fc Curban, Shingle Mill,-^
This mill is located in the First Ward,
on the nprth bank of the river, and has
an excellent machinery, engine thirty
horse power, made at Fond du Lac
Unioii Iron works. Mill made last sea
son' six million shingles, which tliey
ship to Illinois and othei' places South
"they empl6y fourteen hands, iind use
a capital of about $15,000 per sea
son. Cut last sea.son .'ibout one mil
lion teet of logs and have now on hand
i'lbout ttiat amount.
, - j I ¦ j
Reed & Bronson, Shingle Mill. —
This IS near the one last spoken of, is
a new and good mill with a,n engine of
twenty-iive horsepower, and all tlie oth
er macliinery, doing a successful busi
iiess. They ^iiiploy fourteen hands, cut
thifty-thoUsand shingles per day. They
\ purchase their logs as niost of the shin
gle mills in this city, do and rUn the mill

^9

at a cost of $5000 per sea8',.n. The av
erage price of shingle logs is $10 per

Mill— This
of the river
,St. it has
power, and

M. J. H. Porter, Lumber
mill is; on the north bank
near the foot of Wiscon,sin
an engine thirty-five horse
cut hist season three million feet of
lumber, Mr. P. got out the past winter
three iind one half million feet of ipgs.
D-L. Libby & Bro. Lumlier.— This
mill is at the foot of Wisconsin St. 1st
wai'd. It has one engine forty horse
power. Employs twenty men, and cut
litst season three million feet of lumber
and half million lath, the mill i^ ca-
{lahle ,of doing fifty thousand to sixty
tliousiind dollars worth of business.
. Cu.APMAN & Danforth, ILiumber
Shingles and. Lath. — This firm has twp
mills; one ot which, was formerly used
as a flour and feed milj; but is now used
mostly as a Shingle inlll. It has one
shingle machine and all the machinery
for a flrst class mill." They have also a
lumber mill attached for manufacturing
lumber nnd lath; two engines one for
each mill, employ thirty hands in both
departments, and -last season ' cut four
million feet of lumber, one million lath
and four million shingles. They have
all the facilities for doing a large busi
ness, and have a lumber yard at Rock-
ford 111. and one at Sun Prairie in this
State. Wm. Campbell, Shingle Mill, foot of
Wisconsin St. 1st ward.^-One Shingle
niachine, Challenor Patent, and other
machinery for a large business. Em
ploy thirty hands iind cut fourteen mil
lion of shingles liisi; ¦n-a.son. 'l''he ca
pacity of I he mill is ..seventy thousand
shingles per il.iy, :iiid last seastm did
;il)out $60,000 of business.
Carter and Haydkn, Lumlier -and
Liith. — Thisinill is located on 'the river
at the foot of Black Hawk Street. It
employs 37 men, and made three niib
lion feet of lomber and flve hundred
thousand lath. This is a „good mill,
having been enlarged during the. past
few m(>nths, and capable of doing a
pretty large business.
' SPALbiNG & Badger, Lumber and
Lath. — This mill near the foot oi Wis-
con-in Street, north side ofthe river.. is
A. new mill, and takes the place of one

burned do-wn in August last; being
built in thirty days - from the burning
ofthe old one. It is a good mill, with
appropriate machinery and facilities
for dojing business, it' has but Just
started, but has capacity tor making five
raillipn feet of lumber and one ijaillion
of lath. Thirty men are employed — and
have on hand three million feet of logs.
This is said to be capable of cutting
thirty-two thousand feet of lumber
daily, which I think is a little above an
average capapity of our mills.
Wood & Honeyman, Shingles. — This
mill is also on the north bank of the
river in the first ward. It is a new and
a: , good mill, — ha.s two shingle ma-
Qhin«!S, the Valentine and the Everett,
and can make sixty thousand shingles
daily. Mr. D. D. Bucklin is running
the mill on contract by the thousand,
and employs thirty -five men boys and
girls.; It costs to run the mill about
$ip,000 per season.
Roberts & .Morgan, Lumber and
Lath-^-This mill is located in the 1st
ward of the city, not far from the foot
of Wisconsin Street, and is capable of
making twenty-two thousand feet of
lumber per.id"ay> and three thousand
lath. It employs sixteen men. They
cut three million feet of lumber last
season James & Stille, Lumber and Lath.—
This is an old established and successful
mill.' It is located on the north bank
of the river at the foot of Light
Street. It has a fine engine of
fifty horse powcr, made by Beckwith
Davis & Co. of this city; iBraploys
twenty-two men and cut lai^t season
three million feet of lumbeii and five-
hundred thousand lath. They can do
$50,060 business per Season.
McMillin & Co. .Shingles.— This
is a new and good mill, and is located
at the foot of Light Street, in the 1st
ward. It has a double Valentine ma-
chiiie, and employs twenty hands, and
iriakes flfty flve thousand, Shingles daily
or about nine milion per Season.
RoisBBTs Bliss & Co. Shingles.— This
is also a new mill, located on t^ie north
bfihk of the river near the foot of Di-
visipii Street. ' It has one Valentine
liiachine, and machinery for doing the
biisiness of a first class mill. Capacity

70

fifty thousand per day or seven and one-
half million per season of six months.
They employ thirteen men and boys
and twelve girls for packing the shin-
glesi! Thompson & PoRTEit, Shingles. —
This mill is located in the 2nd ward,
East of the Rail Road Bridge and near
the mouth of the river. It has one Val
entine machine, and emyloys twenty-
tour men, boys, and girls. The capacity
of the mill is fifty-five thousand daily
or about nine million per season.
J. M. Ball, Shingles — This mill is
located in the 2nd ward and near the
last one spoken of. It uses the Valentine
machine with other apropriate machinery
—employs twenty-four hauds, and makes
fift.V thousand shingles per day or about
eight and one half million per season.
Gano Mill, J. Jenkins & Co., Lum
ber Lath and Pickets. — ^This mill is
near the mouth of the river on the
north bank arid is" the largest of our
mills. It has an engine of 90 horse
power and sine Donkey Engiiie. It has
two gangs of saws thirteen and twenty-
two each; one double and one ' single
rotary. Employs flfty men. It made
last season seven million feet of lumber,
two million Lath and 12,000 Pickets.
The peculiarity of this mill is a steam
saw filing machine, which does ujj the
work rapidly and perfectly, a new de
vice and certainly a very good one in
an establishment extensiv^ as this is.
Their business last season was a heavy
one, some $135,000. They employ a
capital of $80,000, and have now on
hand twelve million feet of logs got
out by them, and intend sawing at least
eight million feet of lumber this sea
son. This firm is also -largely engaged
in getting out logs for market, supply
ing to some extent other inills with a
part of their stock.
This Gang Mill has a history that will
do to repeat briefiy. It occupies the
site of the old Morris Firman Mill, the
first one built here. A. B. Knapp
bought half of the old mill, and in con
nection with Burnham & Foster, built
the nresent Gang Mill July 1856. In
\85i Mr. Knapp bought out B. & P.
and sold a half interest to Jas. Jenkins
which firm under the name of A. B.
Knapp & Co. carried on the business
nine years, being succeeded by the pres

ent firm, who is doing a large and suc
cessful business. ; ""
Wheeler & Bradly, Lumber and
Lath.-Thismill is in. the 3d ward ofthe
city on the South bank of the river
near the rail road bridge, arid has ex
cellent facilities for shipping their
lumber by water or liy rail, ti-Hck run
ning tlirough the yard. Employs
twenty men and cut last season four
million feet of lumber and half million
of lath. , ¦ , ,
ToLMAN & Harris, Luniljer aud Lath.
— This mill is near the last one men
tioned,, and is at present -sawing lumber
by the thousand, and employs twenty-
five men. Last se son they made
tour million seven hundred and fifty
tliousaud feet of lumber and one milion
lath. This mill has also facilities for
shipping by water and rail.
Buckstafp Bros., Lumber, Shingles
& Lath. — This mill is located above and
near the 'bridge, is well situated be-
tweeu the river and. railroad track, in
the 3d ward of the city. Formerly they
run a shingle mill, but have during the
past winter built a lumber mill adjoin
ing the other, making it a complete and
convenient establishment. , ,,
In the lumber department they have
a new engine of flfty horse jjower, made
by J. F. Morse & Co., and one Donkey
engine. Capacity about tour million
feet per season.
In the shingle department they have
two shingle macliines, one Valentine
and one Muzzy, and can make seventy
thousand shingles per day. They erh-
ploy in both departments thirty-eight
men, boys and girls.
Foster & Buttrick, Lumber & Lath,
— This mill is also in the 3d ward of
the city on the south bank ofthe river.
The-y have an engine made by Adams &
Beckwith of this city; employ twenty-
two men, and manufactured last season
four million feet of lumber and three-
tburth million of lath. The south side
railroad track runs convenient to this
mill. H. W. McCoy & Co., Lumber & Lath.
This mill is on the south bank of the
river, 3d ward. Employs twenty six
men and cut last season three million
seven hundred and fifty thousand feet
of lumber aud one-half million of lath.

71

L. B. Reed, Shingles. —This is a new
mill a d favorably iooate'd onthe south
bank of the river and near tlie , railroad
track, uses the Challoner machine, made
at Omro;" employs twenty-eight' men,
women and boys, and can" rrtake sixty
thou.sand shingles per day. This mill
vvas built hist summer and run but
sixteen weeks last season, and cut up
t.welve thousand dollars worth ot logs
in that time.
,.L. P. Sheldon & SoN.'Lumber &'Lath
-^Situiited on the south bank of the
Tiver and is the most westerly of the
long line of mills on that side. It is
one hundred and thirty-six by
forty rfind has all the
facilities foj: shipping that the others
have. It has a ninety horse power
engine, made by Beckwith, Davis & Co.
of this city; employs twenty-three men,
and cut last season four million feet of
lumber, and one half million of lath.
in addition to the above is the mill
of J, H. Weed & Co., of which I was
unable to get the desired information.
I am therefore only able to make an
aproximate estimate of its busines^ and
other data, which will be embraced in
making up the following aggregate
statement. As our planing mills and manufac
tures of doors, sash and blinds, are so
closely connected with the manufac
turing of lumber, I shall include them in
the general statement of business done,
capital, labor employed, &c.
¦ Eagle Planing Mill, Foster & Jones
— This mill is located in the 3d .ward ol
the city on the south bank of the river
above tlie bridge, and occupies an eligi
ble location for doing an'active and ex
tensive business, and has machinery
welt adapted to the purpose; such as a
double .set of planers' and mat;chers,
with an improved, machine for tlie
manufacture of flooring and siding.
The machinery of this establishment is
ample and complete, with a capacity fpr
planing, &o., four million feet per
year, or twelve thousand per day. They
eiAploy twenty men, and can turn out
0,000 of work in the year. They

ship a large part ot their doors and sash
to the far.-w'cst, having a few days since
Sent off thirty car loads to Omaha,
and can find a ready market in that
direction — $215 per car load is the
freight paid to Council Bluff.
Northwestern Planing Mn.L. —
Gould, Hume & Co., successors to , Rob
erts, Morgan & Co., Sash, Doors &
Blinds.- -This isa large and fine mill,
located on 10th street, near the depot of
the C. & N. W. R. R., and occupies a
prominent and favorable position, being
on the railroad track, for shipping. It
has good machinery and in abundance
tor doing a large business. They em
ploy sixteen men and can plane twenty
thousand feet per day. The business of
this well appointed establishment could
not have been less than $75,000 last
year, and, is capable of being run to a
higher figure than that. The building-
is now -well painted and is eighty-two
by thirty-five ftet beside boiler room.
Their work is shipped by rail and is
s.nt all over the western states.
Oshkosh City Planing Mill, Griffith
& Co., Sash, Doors and Blinds. — This
mill is located near the, foot of Light
Street, 1st ward, and finds ready demand
for all the work they can make. They
have a good mill, and first class machin
ery such as planers, matchers moulding
machine, &c., and employ fourteen- men
the year round, — capacity for planing
and tnatching forty thousand per day.
They do work to order and have a dry
house that will dry ten thousand feet
at. the same time. This inill is located
near the track of the north ,side Rail
Road,- giving them ample facilities for
shipping. J. Danforth, Planing Mill & House
ButtDiNG. — This establishment would
more properly come under the head of
manufacturing but combining as it is
designed, a planing mill. I shall speak
of it in this connection. The building
has just been erected and the machinery
is being put in for the purpose of manu
facturing material' all ready for tbe
putting up of houses!

7g

This is a novelty .in this part of the'
countiry in' house building; but will 'hot
only prove a profitable uiidertaking,-
but a great convenience, and I doubt
not a saving to persons intending to
build in the-Prairte states where timber
isscdrc'e, and luniber High. Ample and
sippropfia-te iriachincry'is now being set
6^ for 'this 'manufacture; the building;
iS! fifty t^et squarqiandtwo stories highi
vfith a separaf^ rooin.fo!* the. boiler, ap4
being on tlie railroad track will }iav^
Iiu heeded facilities ' for shipping the
niliterial. This mill will einbrac*'' com
plete planidg and matching machinery
with a capacity for planing fifty thou
sand feet per day, alio for the manufac
ture of doors, sash and blinds, and con
sidering itfe different purposes, i will oc
cupy a promiiient position in: the manu
facturing ihterests of this city.
' Mills Ni^aiily Ready, — Knapp, Fow
ler' & Co., are building a first class mill
on tfie site of the Northwestern Eleva
tor,, burnt dowh in 1866, which they
will have' ready in August, It is ' forty-
five- by one hundred and four' feet, two
Stdi"ies high and is a staunch and -well
eohstru6ted mill. -It will make lumber,
lath and shingles, arid stand second to
none in this place ib capacity. B Ham
ilton is' the millright. The engine
ninety horse power, is built by Hiner &
do.. Fond du Lac.
Df. McCartney will soon have finished
bis new mill near foot of Black Hawk
Street; which he expects to excel all
btiiers in point of sizp and fltness. This
mill is to |}e three stories high, forty by
eighty feet, and adapted also to planing
and njanufacture of sash,doors & blinds.
RECAPITULATION.
TJien in review of th<j above state
ment of the number, capacity and busi
ness of our lumber, shingle and' planing
iufps, I deduce the following interesting
items, tP wit:
"That ther^ are now in tlie city of
Qshkosh in operation thirty-three mills;
foiirteen of these are used exclusively

in the manufacture of lumber and lath;
niUe nse3 ' in the manufacture o^
shihgjes alone; five in manufacturing
lumber, lath apd s|iingles, and lour ^iv
planing liiills, and manufacture doors,
sash and blinds.
That in all these mills are employed,
includiug about sixty boys and girls iii
tlie shingle mills, eight hundred' an(|
34 persons to all of whom Is giVeU
employment eight months ia the year^
and to about one fourth, the year round.
The averfeige amount of wages to meiris
two dollsf^s and twenty-five Cents per
day. * '
That there are thiitj-ffve engines
used, ranging from tvventy live to ninety
horse po-wer.
That the amount of 'lumber made
during last season (eight months} is
seventy-four million feet.
The number of shingles made the
past season was one hundred an4 twenty
one [fnd one-lialf millions.
Tjfe number of lath, fifteen million. .,
That the whole amount of capital in-
ve^tt'a, is liihe hundred and severity
thousand' dollars. This amount covers.
but a part of the stock used.
fhe whole amount of business done
i^ne million tive hundred and nineteen.
thousand dollars. '
And lastly, that the whole amount of
logs put,, including lumber, shingles an4
lath, reduced to a., lumber equivalent;
js pne hundi;ed apd one million, two
hundred and fifty thousand feet. Truly
an aggregate that should satisfy the
most ambitious among those engaged ih
that business, as well as being a matter
of pride to every citizen of Oshkosh.
How I^isposED OF. — This lumber is
sent to all parts of the western States
and territories, carrying with it some
sort of iin idea of the great resources pf
the pine lands, oh the' rivers tliit find
an outlet at this pliice, and also of thd
extensive 'operations requisite to tht
production of the, lumber and shingles
that' ^re sent off from here.
Logs How Qbtained— The number
of our inill owpers is but a sinall paif
of those wjip are engaged in getfingrout

73

logs. These eonjpauies come from all por crib, or one dollar per raft But the

parts of the State, and engage regularly
in what is termed the logging business,
which is getting out the logs on con
tract or for the market, and supply not
alone the wants of the inills of this, but
other places. This goes to make up
such deficiency as arises from the prac
tice of our mill owners, in getting out
only a part of the logs required for their
inilis. the boom compahy.
Another prominent feature in our
lumber trade is the "Wolf River Boom
Company." This company was incor
porated in 1857 J. U. Weed, President.
It occupies that part of the Wolf river
above lake Poygan, a distantie of three
and one half miles, the cut off or canal
one-eight of a mile, and a bay at the
northeast point df the lake, (Poygan)
how known as Boom Bay, and extending
southwards from the cut off two miles.
In this Bay the rafts are mostly made
up, and to say acres of logs conveys but
a slight idea of the magnitude of the
company operations. This cut off,
the spiling and booming of the Bay
and the river above, has cost the corn
pany $20,000, and has so systematized
and facilitated the business of making
up the "Fleets" of logs ready for towing,
that compared to a formei" period, the
business is now done at a leSs expense,
a saving of time and a saving of logs to
the owners. !f t hai^ until a year or two
e^nce, b,een the practice pf the Boom Co,
tb collect the logs and make up the
rafts for those running logs to market, <^
and receiving from forty to flfty cents
per M, as a reiiQbursement; but that
practice is mostly abandoned, Novy
each man or Company, owning the logs,
has men all along at the Booms on the
Bay and river above, of some miles, to
gather up the logs as they come along,
turn theni into their respective booms,
where they are rafted, and hung outside
the Booms in the bay, and are there
made up into what is called ^'fleets;'- for
furnishing such facilities and con
veniences the company receives ten
cents per thousand feet, amounting to a
l^rge sum in the. course of the season.
Many logs are cribbed above and
brought down ji» that shape -when they
^re run, directly through, tl»e put pff
vyithout raftiug, an^ pay ^oU of 25 cts.

greater part of the logs are gathered
and rafted as before described, '
This canal or cut off is one- eighth of a
mile long, and is one hundred feet wide!
It connects Boom bay or the. north
eastern bay ot Lake Poygan, with the
Wolf riyer above, where the river takes
a sharp turn to the southwest, and
shortens the distance of navigation seven
miles; two and one-half mijes.of river,
and a round about trip throiigh lake
Poygan, and. making pearly a straight
course with the river aboye, through tlje
lakes Poygan and WipnecoApe, a gteftt
saving in the navigation of the' Wolf
river. Though the greater part of thi^
rafting is done at the Bay, the river
above the cut off and between that and
the lake, comprizing a distance of ^bput
three and one-half mileSi \9 prepared for
.this purpose by a continuous b6om>
some ten feet from the rive^ bauk,
making a race, through which all logs
have to pass, and outside tbis boom rafts
are made up, belonging to the differ
ent companies having logs to come
down, and hundreds of men may be seen
standing at their respective post^
matching closely every log foi' \,\if
owners rpark, and shoving . it pn its
journey to the next when an ownersttjp
is not recognized. When their raft \^
full, made up in this way, it is shQved
aciQss the channel an4 "hung," tP bp
taken through the canal in that 8\\^p^
but to be made i(p into "fleets"^ ip t\\^
bay below.
The river from its tnri» 'to the la];:^
some two niiles, presents one solid mass
of logs, fvhich a,xp al^o rA^ed and tak^,fi
round through tbe |a^ to tbe b^y as
aforesaid. It is 4>ffi<!<)U to conyey to
the piind of fttc r^f^^T a corre^
idea of this laborious proce^. It 9);st
be seen to b^ apprcsciatedi an4 to X^ln^ ft
T^evr of the hundreds of small bouses jill
afloat on rafts, in which men, apparently
happy, spend the^r Ures, is but .to ina-
press'the beholder with a lujl peqpe of
the magnitude pf the >iroTki 9Qd the
mode of Ii|(^ of tj^opsands of nv^r |nen
in the luinber trad^-
SPKCrFICATlONS.
That there are two miles and a h^lf
ot the riveir occupied ini iiiakin^ up the
rafts, and two miks of Boom Bfty belo'w
t{ie cut pflTus^d for the same purpose.

74

Si-xty eompaijies are engaged in get
ting out and running down logs.
.There are facilities for makiugup at
the same time, <).?^« , hundred and fifty
rafts, which are made up and. "hung"
outside the hopms for "fleeting "
Half a million of logs in number pass
through the cut off in one season..
One hundredvt'tid fifty million feet of
logs got oMt, is & fair estimate for this
year. ' ' ' ' -.
Two thousand men are engaged j ear
ly in the logging business.
Three hundred men are engaged
in rafting p,t the bay.
Average wages per day is two dollars,
HOW LOGS ARE BROUGHT DOWN.
Logs taken in fleets from this Bay by
Tugs to Osbkosh; 15 to 20 cents--to
Fond du Las 40 to 50 cents — Neenah &
Menasha 40 to 50 cents. Fleits compris
ing' from 2 million to 3 'million feet are
brought down by a single tug. This
j'5i"6cess is not generally known by the
people and I wilL-'b'riefly discribed it.
The prominent appendage of a tug is
her 'grouser' which an old 'salt' would
cdll a 'Jury' mast. After the. boat is
attached to the flteet, she is run but tp
the length of her loW'line, and this
perpendicular ffxtiire (grouser) is then
let do-wn dii-ectly through the forwaril
part of the boat, and being armed with
a steel point, sinks deep into the saiid
or mud, and like a kedge anchor, holds
the boat fast; then the machinery for

winds up -the'line, and moves' the fleet so
much. Then before the monilentum is
lost, the boat has hauled up her 'grousef '
gone ahead arid ready to give another
pull. A some-what 'Slow but' powerful
meathbd of moving logs. It is only
through the lakes that thi^ is done", on
the rivei' the fleSets have to be di-vided ,
into raft-S or 'di-ibs. on 'account of the
fiarr'ownes's aAd 'meandering of the 'chan
nel, as well as'iU ordea to pass through
the bridges; after -which they are regu
larly towed, and noif 'groused', as in the
case of the fleets. There is no ' 'Tug' on
the river with a draft i and capacity ad
apted to the businessi, that ¦ cdUld iiiove
one of 'these 'Fleets,' hence- the 'gr,oUser'
is an' important member.-
As I have used -st) often ^ the term's

Cribs, Rafts p^itX Fleets, I will briefly
say, for the benefit ol those unacquain
ted with river dialect, that a crib of
logs is nearly square and of a size.ac-
cording to the'l'epgth of the timbers or
poles ii,sed to fasten them together, the
logs being only hg.l;d,in , their places by
such timbers, size usually about 20,;to30
feet squre. ,;^ ^ ., . ,, , ,.;;-¦
A Raft consists of several of .these
cribs, sometimes, to, the number of hun
dreds, genera|lly rearanged an.d fastened
together by. trverse sticks or poles, run
ning across and; holding^ the logs secui^ely
in their places, the' length dfpeii4j"g oi)
the number of logs belonging ;.to the
party pr parties employing the Tug —
rafts half a mih' in length are a com ,
mdn sight on the river..
-iA 'fleet' is any number pf , these rafts
that may be , attached , (tefliporarily) tp
save time in: towing them - through the
lakes, covering thousands -of .feet. square
a.ccording to the power of, the tug em
ployed. Cribs of timber, post.s or ties
are similar to a crib of logs in-,size.and
shape, , but laid pne course abpve the
other consistant with the depth of; the.
watei;.,., FACILITIES OF SHIPPING. '
Another important feature in otir
lumber trade is the facilities of moving
the lumber -fi'om our mills td-the place
of shipmerft. Formerly a lafge part of
it waS|moved by Barges and by teanjstp

increased power is operated on by steamy, tl^e Depot, or to a convenient place of

loading into cars; a laborious and expen
sive proess in shipping large qnantittee
of lumber. Now a track'is laid down
onthe north side of the river connect
ing-, with the traok.of the C. & N. W. R.
R. near the R. R. Bridge, and being on
'a gen-tle curve tn where it strikes Ceape
St. thencti along,,,said street, crossing
maiii, and' running thence along river
street touching the yard (if some fifteen
of our mills, and to be continued to Al
gom^, a distance, of over two miles. The
South side is similarly provided for by a
track running from the main road south
'of the passenger Depot and iicconfioda-
ting nine lumbei' aUd -shingle mills on

75

that side of the river, 'these trapks
are built by private companies, and
charge to each shipper 50 cts per car
passing over them; a paying thing for
the companies owning thern, and a great
convenience and- saving to the shipper.
But the Chicago and Northwestern
Railroad is the great artery of commer
cial operations, and furnishes an outlet
for our lumber to the world* Without
this, the business would be greatly cir
cumscribed, and that development
which now characterizes our city as the
great ; lumber manufacturing place of
the Northwest, would be of but feeble
comparison to its present condition.
BOATS IN THE LUMBER TRADE.
In addition to the facilities spoken of
above, several of our mills, such as have
not yet the benefit of the "rail," have
steam:boats and barges which they use
in moving their lumber to the place of
shipment, and also to other points on
the lake and river where they have
lumber yards. One large lumber firm
send all their lumber, to Fond du Lac,
where they have extensive yards fpr
supplying the trade. This firin owns
and runs a steamer, some sail vessels
and several barges, for that purpose,
while others have sole [or part interest
in steam tugs and barges to convey the
produce of their mills to points on the
river above and elsewhere. , ,;
There are now in the, business ;pf
towiog logs and :freightiiig lumber on
ithe river, this being the centre, twenty
steam tugs, employing over one hundred
and fifty men. The most of these boats
are for "public hire," the balance are
private property used in individual
interests; and. there are , no "Barnacled
keels" during eight mpnthsof the year.
AU are actively eniployed in the several
vocations to which they;, are adapted.
These boats have an extensive field of
operations. ' Some of them runAne
hundred and fifty mile| up the 'Wolf
river and an equal distance «B the

upper Fox; and hencethrpugh the lake
and lower Fos: river an(J canal, to Green
Bay; an extended line , pf water , com
munication,, tp say nothing of the fur
ther outlet through Green Bay'' on the
North to, jLake Michigan, anS. to the
Southwest, to the Mississippi through
the Wisconsin river, f
ADVANTAGE OF POSITION.
Thecity of Oshkosh bearing the name
ofthe town in which^ it is located,
originally called^ Winnebago, stands on
the west bank of Lake Winnebago,
e ighteen miles from the head ofthe lake,
and ten miles from the foot, and on both
sides of the: Fox, river, at ;its mouth.
This,rivei fVom its breadth and depth
of water, forms,;an excellent harbor, and
a fford's every desired facility for com-
meicial operations. Its navigable
waters for ilO miles form an outlet for
the.prpducts of a large scope of produc
tive country.
The Wolf river, a much larger stream,
mingles its w,aters with the Fox about
twelve miles from its mouth, the two
i mmediately widening into a beautiful
lake, and then their united waters
forming a deep and broad chapnel to
jthe lake at the mouth where th^ city of
O shkosh now stands. The que,stion is
often asked why the Fox shpuld take
the name of the Wolf when the latter is
s everal times its, size,, "The answer is;
the Fox Indians for, many years,, far
back, :possessed all the country frpmithe
head' waters of the Fox river to its
mouth at Green Bay, including both the
upper and lower Fox, and'would h^'ver
relinquish the name; though it is to, be
regretted that the Lower Fox should
not now have its original name, N4endh,
by way pf distinction, and ,the Wolf
have retained its name to its mouth..
The Wolf river is navigable for boats of
large size for 'eeveiity-'five miles, and an
equal distance further for those of lesser
size, and drains, with its tributaries, the
great Pineries, bringing to 'our doors,

76

the rich prpducts of that extensivq
re^iori, a greater source of vvealth per
haps thin all 'others opr city enjoys.
Add to, iikik the 'agricifltural resources,
sta.nding iia it doe^ in the midSt of a
(Sb'uniiry -wlios^ fertility is surpassed b^
noie in the State; iind to this' ftg^iu a
^^lii&riousahtf'heal'thjrdlimate, and ^e
have a few of the leading ad viintages
that belong tt^ Oshkosh bfi account of
its positiop.: It ik on' the 44th parallel
of nprth latitude: Fjfty-twp miles ffofn
Green ^ay and 17.Q fi^ft atjove thp 'paters
ofthe feay; one tijadred '.and teii mlleS
Ubrtlieast from Portage Ctty, and ii
ieet loWerj and from - the' Mississippi
^ver at the maqth of |ht$ ^isgonsin it
is 22^ mijes an4 140 fi^ei higher. It is
ninety miles.'frbm Milwaukee and Ig^
ftfeltt Ch'icig'o, lyiilg diTedll^jf on the line
ofthe Chicago and 'Nocth western R. Ri
giving it facilities of commerce, an^
l^eauty pf location that i^ not excellec^
by any place in the nprthvvest.
OSHKOSH SOCIALLY COflSIDBBED.
The people o^ American birth surpass
all other nationalities in numbers, and
have come mostly from the eastern and
mi(idle States. 'There is also a consider
^ble foreign bop pppulation, consisting
of German^ Welch and Irish, with all
of whom may be found many of our
best citizens. They have their churches
and their schools, Anil do much in theil*
own wayi ftir the advancement of moral
^nd religious impfoyemeiit. In the
social enjoyments, these classes, after the
habits and customs in which they have
been educated, surpass that of the
AidiericaU^. ' They cling more to the
pleasures of Ufe than to its convention -
^^tie^ aud se;iz^ '>ippu evei;y rational
enjoymeUt, as their t^htful inheritance,
'"The Amerifcans are commendably
active in building chhrches, schools and
other great' public improvements; as in
/fll "good Tiyprd and wor^s." And wli'ether
their ^evotipii l|es in the 4i>'Bction of
Things bivine or the Irrepressible dol
lar, the same ardor is evin6ed, the latter
standing "an equal chance of attain-
p}ent. They are less free from the cpg-
sti^aiints antl fashiops of the age, ^nd
Sftcrjipei niQte of th^ ratipnal enjpympnts
of society to the ruling passioui tbaf pf

ttie acquirement p,t wealth, than eitliei'
of the others mentioned. To that paS'
sion even the socialities of lite are madi^
Bubservieiit, IK COHCLUSIpjr.
I have now detain«d the reader much ,
longer than I at first intended, and will
not presume further on bis patienc^.
The little history that belongs properly
to Oshkosh, was an unwritten one, and
difficulties I found at every step in my
efforts to bring it to light. If some
futufe historian should include this with
other places in the State, he may make
available the results of my patient labor
in gathering up and reducing to form
the indistinct recollectioUs nf those who
had passed through the scenes which
have been described, and thus a good
result arrived at. In every history,
however.brief, that is made up mostly
of statistics, the general reader will find
nolhing but weariness, while there ate
others that will prize it the more highly.
In this I had no ambition to gratify^ no
motive to serve but truth, and if this
little anonymous production, called here
the "History of Oshkosh," shall be found
useful or interesting to either class, my
labors are twice repaid and I am satis
fled. That I have been instrumental in
rescuing from the oblivion of forgetful
ness, a record that must sooit have been
lost, and that it will be appreciated for
that, if naught else, let mo hope,
ACKNO WLEDOEHKNT ,
To Geo. P. Wright, H B. Porlier, of
Butte des Morts, H. A. «fc J. P. Gallup,
Joseph Jackson, Edward Eastman, R.
L, Harding and others, who have been
most kind in placing in my hands,
books, old files and other documents,
from which much valuable data was
obtained, as well as recounting to me
the scenes and events of their early life
in Oshkosh, -vyhicb has formed the base
of what I have vvfitten, I am placed
under a 4ebt of gratitU4e,