Weyauwega Gills Landing
OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN
August 13, 1868
WEYAUWEGA
Special Correspondence of Daily Northwestern
WEYAUWEGA, Aug. 7th, 1868
A ride of over thirty miles up the Wolf River, to Gill’s Landing, thence by the primitive mode of conveyance (i.e., a stage) two and one-half miles, and we are in the pretty rural village known to both white and red men as Weyauwega. But hold – we anticipate. Reader, hastest everest taken a drive over a corduroy road? If you reply in the negative, let an obscure individual recommend a trip from Gill’s to Weyauwega, over a most lovely and inviting corduroy. Our firs ride, last week, is a memorable one. One huge Teuton occupied a seat just behind us. We were jolting over the road at a fearful rate, when suddenly down came seat and sitter, and from the yell nigh undistinguishable mass, came after fierce infilading fire of expletives. “Gott fer tam, you most proke mine head off, you tam pull-head, Py tam, I pays you notinks for dis ride,” ad infinitum. It is really a rough road, and ye who rejoice in a Nicholson would corroborate our testimony However, a pleasant chat with E.H. Smith, the energetic agent of the line, or with Indian “Tom,” the driver, will tend to relieve the sameness of corduroying it to the village of Indian antecedenta. As we have stated, Weyauwega is a pretty place, its streets are broad and regularly laid out, its merchants are industrious, and ignorant of the term fogyism, its young ladies are handsome and vivacious, its young men are manly and contented with their respective lots, (not very large in the main, however) but there is one serious objection to Weyauwega it is “upon the sand”, which fact induces many capitalists to seek a home elsewhere, thinking the land is wholly unproductive. It seems strange to us, men of clay, that the early settlers of Weyauwega should either ignore or forget the biblical injunction in regard to domiciles built upon the sand. At all events, they did so forget or ignore, and Weyauwega still stands, a monument to their skill and unflagging industry. They raise almost everything imaginable on this soil, although one man tried to raise two hundred and fifty dollars on his and failed; another raised the d-ickens so “early and often” on his, that his neighbors met in dignified conclave, and voted to dispossess him of his land unless he would demean himself like a Weyauwega Christian. Casting light remark to the winds, a very superior article of cereals, hops, potatoes, &c., is grown upon the sands of Weyauwega. The Waupaca River flows through the town, and may eventually rise and inundate the place, thus fulfilling scriptural prophesy. Through the kindness, of one of Weyauwega’s oldest residents, Mr. Bostedo, we were enabled to view the country contiguous to Weyauwega, and were decidedly pleased with its appearance. Crops will be quite as abundant, in the town of Lind particularly, as in many sections of Winnebago county. But we must cease our wanderings, and confine ourself more closely to the
BUSINESS OF WEYAUWEGA
We devoted a considerable time to a leisurely inspection of two of the most prominent adornments of Weyauwega. The grist mills of Weed & Co. and Henry Steinburg, both of which are the best establishments of the kind we have ever visited. The first named mill, built in 1855, is a fine one in eery respect, and its proprietors are constantly introducing new and highly approved machinery. Mr. Steinburg’s mill, erected in 1866, is much larger, and necessarily contains a few more modern appliances than its older neighbor. It cost about $30,000, and is a model mill in every respect. – As flour from the “Weyauwega” and “Northwestern” mills is in demand wherever it has been used, we denominate these rival institutions, standing upon opposite sides of a most excellent water power, as the most prominent objects of itnerset in Weyauwega. Messrs. W.G. & Co., and Mr. Steinburg also, own two saw-mills which perform their work well. Messrs. W.G. & Co. have recently purchased a new flour packer and appurtenances which will enable them to fill orders hereafter more promptly even than heretofore. Mr. S. Cornwell, the P.M. of Weyauwega, a gentleman, we have pleasure in saying, in every respect has a most excellent stock of drugs, groceries, stationery and schoolbooks, and if any of our readers chance to visit Weyauwega, and desire information respecting the town, Mr. Cornwell will be pleased to meet their interrogations. Mr. W.C. Potter is fitting up what will soon be a very desirable store, for the sale of articles usually found in a country store. He is of a liberal mind, and a non-believer in the “penny-wise and pound foolish” principle. Messrs. Clarks & Forbes, of this city, have transferred their stock from New London to this place, and are doing much better than they anticipated. A private sale of over a hundred dollars worth of summer goods in one day, in a small country village is certainly an index of brisk trading. G.W. Kimball of Oshkosh officiates as their auctioneer, every evening. We have not time to speak particularly of the business of other Weyauwega merchants, L.L. Post, Druggist, Poll & Gardner, Hardware, J.B. Hunt, meatiest J. Crocker, Groceries, Dry Goods &c., B. Jones, confectionery, fruits &c., E. Edwards, Boots and Shoes and many others are all busily engaged much of the time. With Mr. Edwards we had a very pleasant conversation and learned that he was formerly editor and proprietor of the grandfather of the present NORTHWESTERNER, he also wrote the first article written in Oshkosh, for a newspaper and may with propriety be called the pioneer newspaper man of the Northwest. We must also refer to Weisbrod & McCall, dealers in Groceries, Hats and Caps, Crockery, &c. Their store was filled much of the time while we were there, with cash customers, and as they are obliging and accommodating, we trust their business may immeasurably increase. One thing more, and we have done with Weyauwega. G.D. Tarbell, Esq., has leased the old “Northwestern” House, and having enlarged, repainted, and to a certain extent remodeled the same, will throw open his doors to travelers within a fortnight. Weyauwega has been cursed for some time with poor hotels, and now that our genial friend Mr. Tarbell is about to open a firs class house, we know he will receive a liberal patronage. There are more than thirty sleeping rooms in the house, a hall on the third floor, 22 x 68, which Mr. T. intends shall be devoted to Terpsichorean pleasures, when he is ready for the reception of guests, and clean, tidy, sitting rooms and parlors. There is also a very commodious barn on the premises, one of the best in the country.
RESIDENCES.
There are several pretty residences in Weyauwega, the pretties of which is that of Mr. Wm. G. Gumaer. Sheriff Taggart has a very fine one also, but a short distance from Mr. Gunmaer’s. Messrs. Bostedo, Teal and others, are fitting up their homes in very attractive form. Therefore, we say in concluding our Weyauwega letter, that we have never visited a town, which we have like better upon so short an acquaintance than Weyauwega.
We had well nigh neglected to make mention of one of the most important institutions of Weyauwega, viz: The Pottery of Mr. Peter Meiklejohn. Nearly eight years ago, Mr. M. accidentally unearthed several rude specimens of Indian pottery, which induced the belief that a suitable clay could be found in the vicinity for the manufacture of earthenware on a more extensive scale. Search was at once instituted and the material found. Matters remained quiet until quite recently, when Mr. Meiklejohn engaged the services of John Besau, a skillful Menasha potter, who commenced experimenting at once with the clay found on Meiklejohn’s farm. The result we have seen, in some excellent samples of stoneware, from Mr. M.’s establishment. Mr. M. is about to enlarge his facilities for the manufacture of all kinds of pottery, and hopes to improve very materially in its manufacture. He is also owner of a thrifty hop yard of about eight acres, which looks quite as well as that of Mr. Wyatt in this city. With more perfect arrangement for hop-drying, than last year, he will doubtless send a fine article to market.
GILL’S LANDING
We are now at Gill’s Landing, on our way home and have accepted an invitation from friend Wm. B. Mumbrue, Sec. and Treas., of the Wolf River Trans. Co., to go duck hunting to “The Island”. We obtained a boat, ferried across the river, disembarked and after plunging through a thickly matted undergrowth of rank vegetation, for a considerable distance, we reach the “Bayou”, when – hist., there they are, where? There on that log, three of them. O, yes. I see them, shall I fire? Yes, but be cautious, we cocked our piece, closed our eyes and shot, hard, and – winged an “Island” Mosquito. We proceeded a short distance further, where we killed ten plump ducks, then turned our faces homeward. By the way, duck hunting is invigorating sport, if a man has a canoe or dog, but to be compelled to wade through a lovely marsh, en dishabille, after a few ducks, and be eaten alive by mosquitoes large enough, and fierce enough to be caged isn’t tremendous fun, is it reader?
However, we, (or rather our bones) trotted home in safety. We will go again, probably, so soon as possible, saturate our clothing with some inflammable oil, to drive off all insects, and shoot – ducks. The principal institution at Gill’s aside from the well kept Gill’s Landing House, is
THE “PEANUT DIVE”
where our royal selves spent a very agreeable evening. Here one may obtain table luxuries, bolognas, pepper-sauce, pretzels, cheese, and “such things.” In conclusion, we express the hope that friend Geo. B.H-n will never gain be “ordered up” from the table, and not compelled to go it “alone” through life.
LILLIE PUSHEN