OSHKOSH COURIER

Geo. H. Read, Editor

Wednesday, July 25, 1855

 

Waupaca County

 

            This county is bounded on the east by Outagamie and Shawano, on the south by Winnebago and Waushara; on the west by Portage; on the north by Shawano and territory that is not yet organized into counties.  It lies north of a central State line.  It contains twenty towns, and its area comprises seven hundred and twenty square miles.  For diversity of soil – heavy and second growth timber, openings, prairie, etc., it is not surpassed by any county in the State.  The Wolf River runs through the eastern and southern portions of this county, receiving in its progress the waters of the Little Wolf, Embarrass, Waupaca, and a large number of smaller streams.  The opportunities afforded throughout the county for mill sites are more numerous than the necessities of the inhabitants will ever require.

            Waupaca county was uninhabited six years since, with but few exceptions.  It now contains about 8,000 inhabitants, the greater part having settled there within the last three years.  There is government land not yet entered, of the best quality; but it is being taken very fast, and the probabilities are that it will all be entered within the present years.  These lands are embraced in two land districts all but the Western range of towns are in the Green Bay land district, the office of which is at Menasha; the Western range of towns are in the Steven’s Point land district.

            There are several enterprising villages in this county, the most populous of which is Weyauwega.  Weyauwega is situated on the Waupaca River, about 2-1/2 miles from the Wolf:  it has 600 inhabitants, eight stores, one hardware store, three hotels – one of mammoth proportions now finishing; wagon, paint and blacksmith shops, and other mechanical shops corresponding with the growth and necessities of the village and county.  A flouring mill is in course of construction at a cost of $16,000.  There is also a saw mill which turns out large quantities of lumber, but not fast enough to supply the demand.

            Waupaca Falls is twelve miles from Weyauwega, on the Waupaca River, and is a very enter-prising village.  It has one saw mill, two flouring mills, several stores, two hotels, livery stable, mechanical shops, etc.  It is the competitor of Weyauwega for the county seat, which question is to be decided this fall by vote of the inhabitants of the county.

            Muckwa, New London, Ogdensburg, Rural, Parfreyville, Crystal Lake, Little River, Fremont, Lind, Dayton, Nepuwan, are all growing places in Waupaca Co.

            The crops throughout the county give evidence of an abundant yield, and the inhabitants feel elated with the prospect before them.