|
|
|
|
THE WEYAUWEGA CHRONICLE EARLY REMINISCENCES OF WEYAUWEGA Submitted By: “PIONEER” FIRST
PAPER Saturday, February 20, 1886 In writing reminiscences of the
early history of Weyauwega, or Waupaca County, I commence the epoch of my
sketches at the negotiations of the treaty of cession with the Menominee
Indians, Oct. 1848; though the Indian title was extinguished to that portion of
this county lying east of Wolf river several years previous, but that portion
west of the Wolf and known as the Indian Lands was not surrendered and
possession given until June 1852. The
period of 1848 then, is evidently the period of settlement, and the time intervening
between that date and the present may be classified as the epoch of growth and
progress, to which my sketches will mostly be confined. Events to chronicle previous to that
date are in the main a sealed book.
Many wild epic of savage loves and hates, of Homeric conflicts, of
burning wrongs and savage vengeance, may have been enacted upon the Indian
Lands of the Tomorrow River country, (embracing Waupaca county), of which, the
stories have passed into tradition, and tradition into fable, and finally
passed out of memory and left no trace to guide the pen of the historian. At the time of commencement of my
sketches, 1848, little was known of the country about Weyauwega, except that it
was called Tomorrow River country, and inhabited and occupied by a band of
Menominee Indians, who had for their chief or patriarch, Wey-au-we-ya, from
whom the village of Weyauwega derives its name. Their hunting and fishing grounds were along the Wolf and Waupaca
rivers and the vicinity of White Lake, in the center of which is a small
island, and an ancient Indian clearing of about an acre, upon which the Indians
probably cultivated a little corn with which to supplant the precarious
dependence of his bow and spear. It is
said the old chief was buried on this island, and through the archeological
enterprise of Dr. Bliss, now of Antigo, his skull was resurrected, and now
reposes quietly in the archives of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. In 1843 the first white settler made
his appearance in Waupaca county in the person of Alpheus Hicks, father of the
well known and far famed Steve Hicks, who came up Wolf river from Oshkosh and
made a settlement near Fremont; remained there one year then moved to Shawano
Lake, after remaining a short time returned to Fremont, and with his family has
resided there ever since. Weyauwega was founded by Henry
Tourtelotte in 1848, together with his Indian wife, Kemink; a woman well known
and highly respected by the early white settlers. Tourtelotte started from Oshkosh in the fall of 1848 to drive an
ox team to Weyauwega; got as far as Rat river, camped there and waited for it
to freeze so as to cross on the ice, then drove to Weyauwega, the first team in
this county; pitched his tent on the bank of the Waupaca, near present mill
site, and commenced getting out timber to build a mill and put in a dam. In the spring of ‘49 he formed a
co-partnership with a man by the name of Lewis from Fond du Lac, and John
Gill. The company employed such transient
laborers as were to be obtained, and with the assistance of some Indians (very
few), put in a dam and built the first mill on the Waupaca River. The mill builders all boarded with
Tourtelotte, in his wigwam or tent, the only human habitation of whites at that
time in Weyauwega or southward to Winneconne, and Kemink had full charge of the
establishment, and who proved to be fully adequate to the task. The news of the cession of the
Indian Lands spread East and South as upon telegraph lines (which was then
unknown) and settlers began to flock hither seeking the Eldorado of the west -
the Indian Lands of Wisconsin. The first white visitors these mill
builders received were W. B. Mumbrue, John Vaughn, Alonzo Vaughn, W. B. Cooper,
John Taylor, of Plymouth, and a young M. D. from New York; being a party of
explorers of the country. The mill
builders welcomed the travelers to their camp and to the hospitalities
thereof. After looking them over and
scanning them closely, one of their members - a tall gaunt specimen of the
pioneer - raising his hands, and with the appearance of astonishment and
dismay, exclaimed: “My God, men; we’re
glad to see you and welcome you here, but you are all men. What in h--l are you to do for women?” SECOND
PAPER Saturday, February 27, 1886 The adventurers, Mumbrue, Taylor,
and others, left at the Mill Company’s Cabin in Weyauwega, June ‘49, finished
their visit and left in search of the Vermonters Camp, consisting of W. B.
Hibbard, Joseph Hibbard, and E. C. Sessions, who had a few days previous, as
was learned, arrived on the Indian Lands from the east by a circuitous route,
coming on the east side of Wolf River and crossing at or near Mukwa, and were
supposed to be encamped at Waupaca Falls, near where the city of Waupaca is now
located. Employing an Indian guide, the
party started in a southerly direction over Gallows Hill, then striking an
Indian trail, tacked to a northwest course and came out at the Vermonters camp
near the Falls. The question is frequently asked
from what that hill or ridge south of Weyauwega derived its name, Gallows Hill,
I answer as I received it from H. Tourtelotte.
“During the summer of ‘49 Gill and Tourtelotte first climbed the hill to
get some oak timber for a specific purpose about their mill. Arriving upon the top near where the
residence of A. V. Balch now stands, they both halted to take a view of the
beautiful natural scenery surrounding, when Tourtelotte exclaimed, Gill this is
a “galleus old place,” yes said Gill and a good place for gallows to hang the
d--d scoundrels and claim jumpers who are soon to infest this country. The reply of Gill was reiterated upon their
return to camp by Tourtelotte, and afterward (as in the old story of three
black crows) exaggerated to finding a gallows already erected and finally, to a
claim jumpers hanging upon the gallows.
Undoubtedly the early squatters had some object in view in keeping this
story fresh in the minds of claim jumpers; at all events, the title has
remained till the present time, but the story has long since passed into
tradition. And now to return to our travelers
where we left them at the Vermonters camp at Waupaca Falls. This camp consisted of an awning of bushes
supported on four poles which comprised at that time every thing yet attempted
in the way of building at the city of Waupaca, and here under the shadows of
the granite ledge the travelers rested from their journey increasing the
members of that rude camp to eleven in number.
I leave the reader to images their situation without food or beds, they
might have exclaimed in scriptural language:
The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but we poor
sons of guns have nothing wherewith to feed and rest our weary carcasses. The strenuous promptings of the
inner man made the visit of our travelers brief and early the next morning they
started on their return to Wolf river by a circuitous route, stopping at
intervals to rest and reconnoiter; and not until they arrived at the river did
they discover that John Vaughn, the purser, had lost his pocketbook containing
about $500 in money and other valuable papers.
A brief consultation was held and it was concluded that two of the
party, with the Indian guide, should go back and search for the lost
pocketbook. Although to find it would
benefit them nothing so far as supplying their present wants and necessities,
and they could, like Robinson Crusoe on the island, pronounce it worthless
trash. However the three started back,
and guided by the Indian they were enabled to keep nearly the course and track
of their journey down; and when about half way between Waupaca and Wolf rivers
John Vaughn discovered, under an oak tree where he had stopped to rest when
coming down, his lost pocketbook.
Vaughn said afterward, in relating the story, that he had been hunting
for money all his life time but never was as well rewarded as upon that hunt. Returning to the river and preparing
to embark, they found their birch bark canoe had sprung a leak; the Indian
prepared to repair it by building a fire to melt some pitch for the purpose,
during which the rest of the party, being warm and dusty, concluded to go in
bathing. Stripping off their clothes
and laying them upon an old log, plunged into the raging Wolf and swimming out
into the river they heard the Indian yell, and turning their eyes to the shore
they discovered the cause. The Indian
had allowed the fire to get the advantage of him and it had spread, and running
along the old log had got into their clothing. They pulled for dear life to the
shore and got out just in time to save it, part in a badly charred state. John Vaughn’s coat, in the pocket of which
he carried the same old pocketbook was ruined, but the pocketbook and contents,
came out unscathed. John remarked, it
seems as though fate was against me, and when I start on another expedition, I
will leave that pocketbook at home.
After dressing as well as their clothing would permit, the party stepped
carefully into the birch bark canoe and embarked upon the Wolf for Oshkosh,
thankful for having escaped the dangers of starvation and the elements. In the year ‘49 the first survey
with chain and compass, in the Tomorrow River country, embracing Waupaca
County, was made by W. B. Mumbrue, at his next visit here. Commencing at the Meander post between
Section 12 and 13, Town 21, Range 13 east; he running a line westward, making
east off to locate the mill site at Weyauwega, also another to locate the mill
site of Townsend and Frank Powers, of Oshkosh, at Little River; then working
westward and north, carried up and blazed his lines to Waupaca; and this survey
was made the base in laying off the squatters claims in Waupaca County. The company of Tourtelotte and Gill
did not get their mill in running order until the summer of ‘50 and that season
they sold out to Weed and Birdsall, who during the winter of ‘50 and ‘51, put
in a quantity of logs and manufactured lumber, sufficient to supply the home
demand, which at that time had become considerable, and on the increase. The next spring Bostedo arrived and became a
member of the company of Weed, Birdsall & Co. During the winter of ‘51 and ‘52, a large quantity of logs were
put in but in the spring the dam went out and the mill was not got in order to
saw until the month of September ‘52. The time intervening between ‘48 and
‘52 I have already classified as being the period of the first white settlement
of Waupaca County. Squatters cabins had
begun to dot the plains in all directions.
Villages were platted, mercantile and manufacturing establishments
erected and in full operation; agricultural pursuits commenced; all in
violation of law, and parties occupying lands, trespassers. The Indian title to the territory of Waupaca
County east of Wolf river not yet having been surrendered nor possession given
until June ‘52. THIRD
PAPER Saturday, March 6, 1886 During the years of ‘50 and ‘51,
notwithstanding the forbidding protestations and threats of expulsion and
punishment, made by the Indian agent Bruce, and other government officials, the
tide of emigration continued to increase, and Squatters claims were daily made
upon the forbidden lands about Weyauwega.
The Squatters, having full confidence that the lands would soon be
surveyed, placed in the market, their claims recognized and provisions made by
the government for their relief as trespassers, (which was afterward
accomplished by a special act of congress legalizing their claims, and
entitling all settlers who resided on the Indian lands on the 1st day of June
‘52 to the right of preemption,) proceeded and were at this time permanently
settled upon their claims in and around Weyauwega. The Billingtons, Vannostrands, Baxters, Tibbets, Jennys, A. V.
Balch, Judge Beal, with a colony from Indiana and a number of others with their
families; on the Walla Walla creek west of Weyauwega, L. C. Dow, G. W. Taggart,
J. Potter, Tyler Caldwell and others.
The timber lands north of the Waupaca River were gobbled up more for the
timber than for settlement and cultivation. This season ‘51 Ira Sumner, a
surveyor, was employed by the Mill Company to survey and plat the village,
which plat was made, but not recorded until after the land was purchased from
the government. However, a verbal
agreement was made by the Company, that title to the village lots would be
given at such time as they could obtain title from the government. Neither the village plat nor mill site were
reported in the government survey made in ‘52, but the mill site and pond were
meandered as Waupaca River and Waupaca Lake, and reported accordingly by the
government surveyor, thus saving to the Company all trouble and expense that
might arise in proving up and entering their claims and enabling them to give
direct and immediate title to the occupants of village lots. The conditions upon which the
Company had promised title to lots in the village were, that upon payment of
$25, and building a house upon a lot, an adjoining lot would be donated and
title given of both lots. The
Weyauwegians placing the fullest confidence in the fulfillment of the verbal
promise on the part of the Company, proceeded in haste to select their lots and
erect building accordingly; consisting of rude board Shantys with stovepipe
holes in the roofs, no chimneys and no materials to be had for building
them. These comprised the buildings of
Weyauwega upon nearly every alternate lot on the principal streets in ‘51. The first frame building erected in the
village of any importance, was the hotel built and kept by Robert Baxter as the
first and only hotel of the place, and now remaining and constituting apart of
the American House. The only means of ingress and egress
to and from Weyauwega during the summer season was the navigation of natural
thoroughfare, Wolf River, no highway having yet been, or attempted to be laid
out, or traveled, and the transportation of freight and passengers confined to
a small mongrel craft between a sail and row boat of about 1 ton burthen
commanded by a tall gaunt, weird specimen of a river gnome, bearing the title
of Captain Jack, who had established his line and made regular trips between
Oshkosh and Gills Landing, as the weather and river current would permit,
carrying the United States mail by implied contract in his coat pocket and
delivering it out to individuals, collecting his pay C.O.D. No post office or mail route having as yet
been established in Waupaca County during the year ‘51. The first post office was established at
Weyauwega, and Ben. Birdsall post master, but no mail route to supply the
office. About this time the famous
stern wheel steamer Montello, (alias the Peggy,) made her appearance on Wolf
River, commanded by Captain Sherwood, of Oshkosh, and commenced her regular
tri-weekly trips between Oshkosh and Mukwa, that is, to go up one week and try
to get back the next, coming in direct competition with Captain Jack’s line,
seriously disturbing and intruding upon his inalienable rights to monopolize
the navigation of Wolf River and specially carrying the United States
mail. Hot words and hard threats passed
between the two Captains, and from the positions occupied on board their
respective boats, fears were entertained of a naval conflict on the river, to
avoid which a meeting was called and a committee appointed to hear their claims
set forth and make an award upon the merits of the navigation aspirants. Captain Jack claimed his rights by
occupation and by commanding the fasted and safest boat and cited in
corroboration of his assertion a race he had witnessed a few days before
between the Peggy and a saw-log, in which the log was the winner. The race was down stream and Jack gave as
his opinion the reason of the Peggy losing to be a want of power in here engine
to resist the force of the current against her stern-wheel, which over-powered
the steam, turned the wheel the other way and hauled the craft up stream,
thereby enabling the log to slip by and win the race. Capt. Sherwood pled only the merits of steam over wind and
muscle, and the Peggy took the cake.
Captain Jack became disheartened and left for more congenial waters
while Capt. Sherwood became sole navigator of the Wolf River. This season a post office was
established at Waupaca, with David Scott as post master, and another at Lind
with G. W. Taggart as post master. A
mail route from Green Bay to Waupaca, and from Strong’s Landing (Berlin) to
Waupaca was established, leaving Weyauwega out in the cold. We then hired a cheap boy to carry the mail
from Lind once a week, and heartily thankful were the citizens for the
improvement of a weekly mail during the winter season. It may be well to note, in sketching
the first mill enterprises in Waupaca county, that, although the Weyauwega and
Little River mills were commenced and in process of construction during the
‘48-49, yet the mill of Townsend Powers was completed and in running order first,
and the lumber used in constructing the first buildings in this village was
manufactured and hauled from the Little River mill. The Grignon mill, first on the
Little Wolf, was commenced in ‘47, before the treaty of cession, he reserving
the site and finishing it in 1848. The
first lumbering, of any account, was done by the lesses of that mill, Eliphalet
Gordon and his son, Dud Gordon, who assisted by Senator Sawyer, got in during
the winter of 48 and 49 a large amount of logs. They manufactured, rafted, and run down the river to Oshkosh a
large amount of lumber, which found slow sale at $4 per thousand. And here it is said by hard labor in this
lumber camp did the Senator, as a day laborer, lay the foundation for his
immense fortune to loom up on the dim future, and be finally consummated by the
sagacity of pine land statesmanship. FOURTH
PAPER Saturday, March 13, 1886 During the summer of 1851 the growth
of Weyauwega was augmented by the arrival of many substantial business men and
families and many permanent dwelling and business houses were erected,
prominent among which L. L. Post built and stocked his store on the corner now
occupied by Crane and Chase. Tibbetts
built the Weyauwega House on the corner occupied by Woods’ store, and
afterwards sold it to J. D. Post. Judge
Beal built dwelling house and store at the east side of the village. A boarding house and store occupied by
Charley Gumaer, near the mill was also built, all well stocked, and business
well booming for a yearling village. East of the village and to the north
of the Waupaca river, was at this time, settled by a roving band of Menominee
Indians. These roving bands held their
quarters at or near the mouth of all the tributaries of the wolf from Oshkosh
to Shawano. The region about was much
frequented by them with their patriarchs, or under chiefs, while their
headquarters, with the head chief of the tribe, or nation, occupied the
region at or near the mouth o of the
Wolf and Fox rivers; to which they easily transferred the spoils of their
hunting and fishing expeditions, by the system of streams which thread this
region, in their light canoes to their more permanent quarters on the lower
streams, where sites of Indian villages of modern antiquity were common; no
evidence of any considerable village having yet been located as far up the
stream as the mouth of the Waupaca river. There was at this time quartered at
Weyauwega, A-kom-mote, a venerable chief of the Embarrass River band; a large
brass collar was about his neck, and attached thereto was a large silver medal,
presented to him by Gov. Dodge for his bravery while assisting at the capture
of Black Hawk during the Black Hawk war, together with a large ancient copper
knife in his belt claimed by him to have been manufactured from copper taken
from an extensive mine near the falls on the Embarrass, and that he was the
only Indian who knew or could point out or locate the spot. Judge Beal’s store during the winter was quite
a resort for loungers; among them a good proportion of Indians, Indian traders
and interpreters. Among the most noted
were Bill Johnson, Bill Powell and Bill Masters, all taking par stock in old
A-kom-mote’s visionary dreams and traditions.
After spring opened, these credulous listeners, organized an exploring
expedition, consisting of Judge Beal, Bob Baxter, Hank Tourtelotte and Bill
Johnson, interpreter. For a small
stipend prevailed upon the old chief to go up the river with them and point out
the spot, the copper mine. The organization being completed and
outfit prepared, consisting of two large birch bark canoes, stocked with camp
equipage, tent and blankets, together with a well-stocked larder of provisions,
and last but not least, a liberal supply of whisky and tobacco, our little band
of explorers, on a beautiful morning in May ‘52, carefully located themselves
in the canoes at Gills Landing and embarked up the river on their perilous
journey of discovery, their minds filled with visionary imaginations of riches
and honors to be awarded them upon their return. Nothing occurred to disturb the
monotony of their first day’s journey.
No sound to be heard except the splashing of their paddles upon the
water and the rattle of little Indian drums, suspended upon poles stuck along
the river bank and the sight of little white flags floating over the traps of
bark and sticks, with which the Indians are accustomed to cover their dead;
together with evidences of the ancient occupancy of this region by the mound
builders. Scarcely a lake or a stream
of this country but exhibits everywhere along its margin these conical
structures which so much puzzle the archeologist and antiquarian. Arriving at the mouth of the Little Wolf,
near Mukwa, the party landed, pitched their tent for the night, heartily
demolished their camp rations, wrapped themselves in their blankets, and
despite the mosquitoes singing, were soon embraced by Morpheus for the
night. The next morning, after
satisfying the promptings of inner man, they embarked up the river. The second night they camped at the mouth of
the Embarrass at its junction with the Wolf.
This spot was the favorite hunting and fishing grounds of old Akommote
and his band. While journeying hither,
a short distance below, they were suddenly called to a halt by the old fellow,
saying he was now in the region of the graves of many of his braves, and that
the Great Spirit had told him that when he passed he must always stop and do
homage to the dead by leaving them something they most desired to accompany
them in the happy hunting grounds. It
took but a moment to interpret his meaning.
The little tin dipper was filled with whisky and a large plug of tobacco
placed in his hand. He stepped up to
the grave and making a short speech placed the dipper to his lips, drained the
lion share and turned the balance on the grave. Taking the copper knife from his belt, he cutoff a part of the
plug, placed it in his pouch and laying the balance on the grave, pronounced
his benediction and retired to his canoe. The next morning, after breakfast,
the party resumed their journey up the Embarrass, stopping at intervals to view
occasionally the grave of some brave and do the usual homage as well as make a
close inspection of nature’s scenery, where the axe of the woodsman had never yet
resounded through the dense forest that skirted the margin of the river for
miles; passing through rapids where the water pour over pyrite rocks that
glistened like gold, they gathered specimens, which the old Indian very
sedately informed them was not copper.
In the afternoon our party was overtaken by a violent rain storm, and
being drenched to the skin concluded to camp a few miles below the falls. Here, while drying themselves and smudging
mosquitoes they were amused and entertained by old Akommote’s fish stories,
giving them encouragement for catching plenty of sturgeon at the falls; telling
of the immense amount caught there yearly, by the Indians, smoked, dried, and
transported down the river, supplanting the necessity of smoked halibut, and relating
his tradition concerning the yearly visits of the sturgeon. That just below the falls in a deep eddy
under the bank, the father of all sturgeon lived, and all from the river and
lakes below made their pilgrimage and yearly visits to him. When asked if he had seen him, answered
“Yes; many times,” and if they would paddle carefully on the opposite side of
the river when they passed up, he would show him to them. The next day, arriving at the spot, Akommote
motioned them to paddle on the other side, and arriving opposite the spot, they
halted and the old fellow pointed out the spot, with about six rods distance
between his head and tail. The party
set up a loud laugh at the old Indian’s expense, and accused him of lying to
him. The old fellow made no reply but
stoically sat in his canoe, and tears began to course down his brawny furrowed
cheeks. When asked why he wept, he
replied, “To think they should distrust his word;” still persisting that he had
many times there seen the father of all sturgeon. The only plausible foundation for this tradition arrived at was,
that at some time during sunny days or moonlit nights, a shadow had been cast
upon the water by the trees, and wrought up in the old fellow’s mind to the
form of a fish. The band apologized to
him, acknowledged the truth of his tradition, and moved on up to the falls,
where they again pitched their tent for the night; calculating to renew the
journey and reconnoitering on foot in the morning, the all important copper
mine, now almost within their imaginations grasp. The night was warm and mosquitoes
thick. The old chief built a huge
smudge out side the tent. A fine
subject for the pencil of the artist might have been the picture of these
gnomes sitting upon the ground or stalking around that mosquito smudge, which
ever anon flashed up throwing a lurid and weird glare upon their bodies,
likening them to any thing from Italian brigands to Feejee cannibals. Toward morning, the mosquitoes ceasing
hostilities somewhat, the party crept into the tent to obtain a little sleep if
possible, before morning. The old
Indian refused to take quarters in the tent, and wrapping himself in his
blanket, stretched his brawny form upon the ground outside. At dawn, the party arose refreshed by short
sleep and with dreams and visionary anticipations of success, from which they
were ultimately to be loaded with riches and crowned with mineral honors. Replenishing the dilapidated smudge, they
awaited the appearance of the old Indian, who, at this time, aroused up, and
unwrapping his blanket, stalked forward to the fire, apparently in deep
meditation, and without word or sign, stood there like a statue for some
moments, not even designing to reply to any questions asked him. When his morning rations were doled out in
the little dipper, refused to demolish it; a thing unheard of before in the
annals of Indian history, and created some alarm in camp. They were soon relieved when the old fellow,
stretching himself up to a suitable position for the occasion, very sedately
and sanctimoniously informed them that the Great Spirit had appeared to him in
a dream that night and told him to give no further information to the white men
concerning the copper mine. “The jig was up!” Consternation and dismay seized the little band
of adventurers, and reigned supreme for a few minutes. In their fits of rage and disappointment
they threatened to murder, shoot and burn the old chief if he did not further
divulge the secret of the much coveted copper mine. Judge Beals caught up a gun, cocked it, and placing the muzzle to
his swarthy breast threatened to blow him into the happy hunting grounds )which
the Judge thought he coveted.) He stood
like a statue, unflinched and unmoved by all threats and demonstrations of
intimidation they could devise. Finding
threats of no avail they tried coaxing and bribery; all to no effect, so far as
inducing the old chief to violate a dreaming injunction of the Great Spirit,
who hates a coward. The party became demoralized and
after a brief consultation, packed their traps and embarked down stream. They arrived safely at Gills Landing after a
six day’s journey in search of a copper mine; thankful for having so nearly
escaped the dangers of navigation and Indian tradition. Thus endeth the first mining expedition
fitted out from Weyauwega. FIFTH
PAPER Saturday, March 20, 1886 By an act of the legislature of
1851, Waupaca county and town of Waupaca was organized, the territory embraced
within the limits of organization constituted both town and county. By the
organic act, Mukwa was made the temporary County seat, with a proviso that two
years after the first annual election, the voters should vote for the permanent
location of the county seat. The first election held under the
requirements of the legislative act was held at Rolf’s Tavern at Mukwa in the
April following, and was considered by the voters to be the first town meeting
for the town of Waupaca. Peter
Meiklejohn, Tyler Caldwell and David Scott were elected Supervisors; Charley
Gumaer, Town Clerk, and Ware, Boyd, Sumner, and Brandy, Justices of the
Peace. All duly qualified, and
proceeded to discharge the all important duties incumbent upon their respective
offices. The May following their
election the Town Board of Supervisors held their first meeting, and, acting in
the double capacity of Town and County board, proceeded to set off, organize,
and establish the town of Mukwa, Lind, and Centerville, Weyauwega, increasing
the number of organized towns to five in this county. They also established eight road districts in the county at this
first meeting. Waupaca was still
attached to Winnebago County for judicial purposes; our justices not yet having
commenced to spread their judicial lore upon their docket records. The local jurisprudence of this county was,
at this time, confined to the Indian code, which was brief and sure. No dilly-dallying or postponing the day of
grace or vengeance. In the spring of ‘52, a band of
Indians with their families were camped on the north side of the Waupaca river
just east of the village, for the ostensible purpose, as had been their custom
every spring for years, of making maple-sugar.
Many of the old settlers are familiar with the old Indian sugar bush, at
and around the Hatter place. While
engaged in this sweet vocation, that is, the squaws and children, the lords of
creation stalked about the camp, smoking their pipes, and looked down with
disdain upon manual labor, even if it was manufacturing the sweet that so
tickled their palates. Two strapping,
stalwart braves, while thus stalking around, got into a quarrel, when one of
them called the other the worst epithet in the Indian vocabulary “A squaw and a
coward,” a signal to a deadly combat.
His adversary sprang upon him, and with savage ferocity, plunged a large
knife, deep to the hilt, into his breast, dropping him dead at his feet. An unearthly yell went up throughout the
camp. The murderer stood stoical and
unmoved, awaiting the hand of the avenger. A messenger was sent on the run to
the village for Tourtelotte, an Indian trader, who, upon receiving the news,
and understanding the code to be, that under certain mitigatory or extenuating
circumstances, penalty for crime could be commuted to the avenger, immediately
started to the scene of the tragedy with a pack of goods. Arriving upon the grounds he found every
thing in readiness for an Indian execution.
Two graves had been dug, upon the side of one lay the body of the
murdered victim ready for interment, on the side of the other, with feet and
legs hanging in the grave, sat the murderer.
Immediately behind the doomed man stood his executioner, a large,
brawny, savage-looking squaw who happened to be the nearest of kin to the
murdered brave, and who, under their code, became the avenger and executioner;
with tomahawk uplifted, she earnestly awaited the signal to send it crashing
through his skull. Standing around in a
circle, enclosing both, was a dozen or more Indians and squaws continuing their
unearthly yelling. A scene for the pencil of an artist. Tourtelotte, taking in the situation at a
glance, began to lay out his goods upon the ground and offered commutation to
the avenger, at which the tomahawk of the executioner dropped by her side. After a moment’s consultation, “Cowin-ne-she-shin”
rang thro’ the crowd, and up went the tomahawk into the air. Tourtelotte increased the pile and down went
the hatchet again. Another moment of
suspense. Again the same exclamation,
and again up went the hatchet the third and last, as is their custom. The trader threw out another blanket, and
the hand of the executioner was staid.
The victim slowly drew his legs out of the grave, straightened himself
up with the usual Indian grunt, “Ugh!” and spoke a few words purporting to be
thanking the Great Spirit. Crime
expiated; murder avenged by commutation, satisfactory to the whole camp. It may be asked where the trader got his pay
for his goods? Bill Masters says all
accounts of traders and interpreters are preferred claims at all Government Indian
payments - and he knows. In the same summer of ‘52, another
similar tragedy was enacted in the town of Weyauwega just above Gills Landing
on the Wolf. An old feud existed
between two chiefs of Wolf River bands, Nimetosh and Wakecheon, one having headquarters
at the mouth of the Little Wolf and the other at the mouth of the Schioc. While coming down the river in their canoes,
accompanied by their respective bands, Nimetosh with his squaw took the lead of
the fleet. Rounding the bend at the
upper end of the island opposite Gills Landing, he paddled to the shore and got
out, taking his gun with him, leaving his squaw sitting in the canoe. Taking a position he anxiously awaited for
Wakecheon to round the bend and make his appearance in range of his rifle. His murderous longings were soon satisfied,
and when within range Nimetosh drew a bead and sent the leaden messenger
through the heart of Wakecheon, and he pitched forward into his canoe, dead. Nimetosh stepped to his canoe, threw
in his gun, and with his squaw, shoved it adrift down stream. He stepped a few steps up the bank and,
folding his arms across his breast, coolly awaited the hands of his
avengers. Both bands hastily landed and
formed a circle around him. The work of
trial, conviction and sentence was quick and sure; much quicker than I can
sketch it. I have been somewhat
specific in sketching these incidents for the purpose of showing, to what
extent the untutored savage places his faith and confidence in his traditionary
maxims, and coolly submits without a murmur or a flinch, with no shuffling or
effort to evade his just doom, for the Great Spirit hates a coward. Examples worthy of more civilized emulation. As in the other case, a squaw was
nearest of kin, and became the executioner, but other relations in the ring
took an avenging hand in the execution.
The old chief stood without a murmur, no turban about his head, but
bared for the tomahawk, during the preliminary demonstrations of chanting,
howling and waving of hatchets in the air.
While marching slowly around, the executioner, coming within suitable
distance, the signal was given, and down came the tomahawk, crashing into the
brain of Nimetosh; each in turn as he passed in the ring, gave him an extra
whack, until he was literally hacked to pieces. The bodies of the two chiefs were placed in canoes and taken to
their final resting places on the Wolf river.
One near the place of the tragedy, and the other near the Schioc, and
many of the old settlers have stopped when passing to view the graves and
listen to the little Indian drums rattling in the wind. These are the only two Indian murders on
record ever committed in the town of Weyauwega. --------------- MR. EDITOR: In Early Reminiscences of Weyauwega,
by Pioneer, published in your paper, the historical part, though mainly
correct, is not entirely so, and with your permission, I will point out a few
errors in the record. In the first place the Indian
Weyauweya, whose name was given to the post office and afterwards to the town,
was not one of the Menominees who inhabited the region about Tomorrow River and
White Lake, but was one (I don’t know of what tribe) who had been through the
Black Hawk war with Governor Henry Dodge, was well acquainted with all the
territory, and was employed by James D. Doty as a guide in his early
explorations of the country many years before Weyauwega or Tomorrow River were
heard of; particularly during the campaign in 1838, when he was a candidate for
delegate to Congress for Wisconsin Territory, which then embraced the present
States of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and that part of Michigan between
Wisconsin and Lake Superior. When a petition was sent to
Washington for the establishment of a post office at Tomorrow River Mills, it
was directed to Governor Doty, then the Representative of this third
Congressional district, and there being already one office in the State with
the name selected, another must be substituted, and Mr. Doty gave it the name
of his favorite guide, Weyauweya. A similar circumstance happened when
a post office at the Walla Walla settlement was asked for, Governor Doty
notified the petitioners that some other name must be selected. Lind was proposed by the inhabitants and the
office established with that name. Pioneer says “No post office or mail
route having as yet been established in Waupaca county during the year
1851. The first post office was
established at Weyauwega with B. Birdsell post master, but no mail route to
supply the office.” The facts are, a mail route was established
in the winter of 1849 and ‘50 from Green Bay to Plover, and the contract to
carry the mail was let to O. E. Dreutzer, then living in Plover, service to
commence July 1, 1850. The route traveled was through Duck
Creek, crossing Wolf river at Mukwa, thence through Weyauwega, Greenwood, and
Waupaca to Plover, and post offices were established at all these places. Horace Ralph, was appointed post master at
Mukwa, Simon C. Dow, at Greenwood, (on section 1 in Lind,) and David Scott at
Waupaca. One circumstance happened at the
time that will be remembered by all who were then residents in this part of
Waupaca county that will settle the date beyond dispute. Arrangements had been made by the settlers
at Waupaca, Walla Walla and all the surrounding country to celebrate the Fourth
of July, at the foot of the lone pine tree on the hill about two miles
south-west of the falls. Everybody had
prepared their grub, patriotic speeches and toasts for the occasion, and all
expected to have a hilarious old time. Soon after daylight on the morning
of the Fourth the report was circulated through the settlement that Duane Ware,
then a boy about twelve years old, had started on horseback with the mail for
Plover two days before and was expected back the next day, but had not put in
an appearance and was undoubtedly lost or had been devoured by bears or
wolves. A requisition was made on every
able-bodied man in the settlement to turn out and find him, which was promptly
responded to. Nearly every man in the
place started, some with teams, others with axes or other tools, for making
roads or bridge, all of which were necessary, for there were no roads in the
county only trails, and they so blind it was frequently impossible to follow
them. After a great deal of hard labor in
getting through the woods and brush we found the boy about four o’clock in the
afternoon, a few miles from where the
village of Amherst is located, still riding his horse among the brush, so thick
he could scarcely see a rod ahead of him, apparently in a dazed condition. We were much rejoiced at finding the boy and
getting safe home again, but our Independence celebration was a failure. Mr. Ware and his family are still residents
of the town of Waupaca, and will verify all the statements here made. Yours, CRITIC --------------- SIXTH
PAPER Saturday,
March 27, 1886 I am glad to notice that my sketches
are sufficiently appreciated to call forth criticisms, which I heartily invite,
and through which I am anxious to stand corrected. In the matter of post routes, so far
as dates are concerned, I may, perhaps after further investigation upon the
subject, stand corrected, but not without further satisfactory evidence. Critic says he will relate an incident that
will set at rest all controversy as to dates of post routes, an proceeds to
relate an incident of the post-boy getting lost July 4th. A good story for a sketcher, but without
date except 4th of July. Now that
celebration is well-known to have been July 4th, ‘51, and it looks plausible to
me that that was the boy’s first trip from Waupaca to Plover. Yet when Critic makes the matter a little
plainer with regard to dates, I will gladly stand corrected in the matter of
post routes, and also with regard to my Indian traditions, but not until the
evidence eminates from a thorough-bred, who know his own tribe. Now to my sketch. In April, 1852 Weyauwega held its first Town
Meeting and elected the full quota of officers, the territory of the town
embracing what is now the town of Fremont and Caledonia. During the year ‘51 a goodly number of
families had settled on the banks of Wolf river, at and near the present site
of the village of Fremont, among which were the Springer’s, at Springer’s
Point, Sumner, Simon’s, Mooney’s, Sherburnes, Brickley’s, J. B. Hunt, John
Fordyce and others. This constituted
the most important settlement of the town of Weyauwega, who had chosen this
section, as is supposed, for the purpose of reaping the advantages of navigation,
and the spoils incident to the success of the disciples of a Nimrod or an Isaac
Walton, whether it might consist of biped, quadruped, amphibious, or aquatic
edibles, to supplant the more precarious necessities of agricultural pursuits. It was getting late in the season,
when one day in September, Ben Brickley, who was at that time considered
something more than an amateur hunter, just before sundown sallied out from the
river, east, with an old rusty rifle, anticipating that some bear or fat buck
might thrust their bodies within shooting range, the adage at that time in
Weyauwega being game, fish, or no meat, and got to get something. Ben had traveled about a mile from
the river when his highest anticipations were realized by a deer making its
appearance. He drew a bead and brought
it down, but only wounded it. It was
getting dark and he gave up the chase for the night to renew early the next
morning with his dog. The news of a
wounded deer spread through the neighborhood as rapidly as the first cry of
suckers in the spring in Weyauwega. J.
B. Hunt, a well known old settler of Weyauwega, who never had fired a gun or
seen a deer in his life, was the first to volunteer assistance to
Brickley. Early the next morning,
before breakfast, and without supplying themselves with any lunch, or even a
match to build a fire, and somewhat collapsed for meat in the inner man, yet
filled with enterprise for packing in venison outside, our two disciples of
Nimrod, with one gun between them, and a dog, started out, their minds absorbed
with anticipations of the luscious repast they were to enjoy, in the shape of a
juicy steak from a fat deer. Yum! Yum! The dog soon started up the wounded
deer, and Ben brought him down for keeps.
It was quick work cutting him up, and preparing their packs, balanced
them upon their shoulders, and started, as they supposed, for the river, then
about a mile distant. The weather was cloudy, and the more
they traveled, the more they didn’t come out to the river, but on thro’ those
Caledonia swamps and marshes they sped their way, without chart or compass,
latitude, longitude, landmark, or footprint of human being, or domestic animal
directing their course, until they arrived at a lime ledge, which must have
been near Spangler’s Corners. Here they
gave way to fatigue and hunger, unloaded their packs and sat down to rest. Had they provided themselves with matches to
build a fire, they might have satisfied the cravings of hunger with some roast
venison, and when they attempted to substitute the gun to make a fire, they
found that the lock had been lost in the journey through the underbrush. After resting a spell, and
calculating the time to be past noon, and no prospect for dinner, the cut out
the hams, gathered them up, and leaving the balance of the deer, started on,
somewhat refreshed, and with much lighter packs. Keeping the edge of the lime ledge they must have taken a
northeasterly direction, toward New London.
Onward they rushed, over logs, through swamps and brush, expecting every
minute to come out to the river and home, until just at sunset, when they
struck Wolf river, at the mouth of the cut-off, nearly five miles above Gills
Landing. They could not, as others are
supposed to do when lost, have traveled in a circle, for they must have
traveled over 25 miles that day. They stood on the bank of the river,
but of the course or direction they knew nothing, only that the water ran down
stream, but in a contrary direction
from what it ought to, and how to utilize their much coveted navigation
and spoils of the chase to their interests, was a puzzle for them to
solve. If they should attempt to follow
the bank of the river it would lead them into impassable bayous, and if they
struck out from the river they would again be lost. Walking along the bank a few rods they luckily came upon a lot of
shakes that had been split out from a tree and the top log left lying on the
bank. It was growing dark and they
hastily made the shakes into a sort of a raft, binding them together as well as
they could, and put the two venison hams on board. It was a case of life or death to Hunt to get on board, for he
could not swim an inch, yet he carefully seated himself upon the frail craft
with a shake in hand for a paddle.
Brickley undertook to get aboard but it began to sink and he jumped ashore,
which sent Hunt out into the current, and down stream with the meat. Ben rolled the old tree top into the river,
and with gun in hand, climbed aboard and holding onto one of the limbs, floated
on after Hunt, who dare not move or turn his head to look after his companion
in distress, but Ben hallood that he was coming on the old log. Both crafts took the center of the stream;
the shake raft going the faster was soon out of hearing. The night was very dark, and it was truly a
trying time for our Nimrods; Hunt, with a few slippery shakes between him and a
watery grave, and Brickley on a rolling tree top. They floated on till nearly
midnight, neither knowing where they were, only that they were on the raging
Wolf. Finally Hunt descried a dim light
ahead, and, as he says “You better believe I gave loud signals of distress,”
and Tourtelotte, at Gills Landing, came out with a canoe and rescued him and
his much coveted venison. They then
pulled up stream after Brickley, and taking him from the tree top, returned to
the Landing, where Kemink got them up a rousing supper, and they went to bed to
dream of better times in more civilized lands. In the morning they engaged a canoe
and embarked down stream for Fremont.
When they arrived with their spoils, many anxious neighbors were
awaiting their arrival, who made many inquiries concerning their excursion and
the loss of the gun lock. The replies
were very brief, and our two heroes gathered up their venison and marched quickly
home without giving a steak to the anxious bystanders. Hunt says that was the dearest deer hunt he
ever experienced, and he has never been anxious for another. [Pioneer
fails to state what became of the dog.
We are much interested in his fate. - Editor] SEVENTH
PAPER Saturday, April 3, 1886 The editor inquires, What became of
the dog mentioned in my last sketch?
The last that was seen of him he was disappearing around a hill after a
deer; although it is asserted by some of the Fremont Nimrods, that his phantom
voice may still be heard bugling through the woods and swamps of Caledonia. During the years ‘51 and ‘51, our
municipal courts had become thoroughly organized, the inhabitants of this
village had employed a preacher, or missionary, to dispense the gospel once in
four weeks, and a Sunday school on intermediate Sundays. Not in the church, for we had none, but in
the school house located near the spot where the jail now stands; showing that
the early settlers of Weyauwega were not unmindful of the early precepts taught
by their Puritan fathers “way down East in the land of steady habits.” In the spring of ‘52 the first
saloon was opened in this place and kept by one Theirman; whose stock of in
trade consisted of a barrel of whisky and tin dippers. No lager beer or other beverages to supplant
the dire necessity of more powerful alcoholic stimulants; which came to us in
two brands, manufactured by Dakin in the south part of Waushara county, (who
afterwards committed suicide), and branded Dakin’s best and Dakin’s d--dst. Our saloon was not supplied by the former
but the latter, without legal restraint or license, and in violation of the
excise laws of Wisconsin. The evil
effects of the liquor traffic became too intolerable for the good people to
endure and legal measures were adopted to prevent the further practice and
bounce the Saloon-keeper, as usual in such cases made and provided. George Tarbell, a far-famed old
settler, was the first Justice to hold a Court in the village. Complaint was duly made, defendant,
Saloon-keeper, was arrested and brought before the court in custody. George had prepared a docket from a daybook,
about 10 inches square, and half an inch thick; placing a table in the shanty
court room, he sedately opened and spread it out; then with grave, stentorian
voice called the case. At this moment a disturbance and row commenced among the
crowd. The court then cried out,
Gentlemen? “I want order.” Quiet was partially restored, but for a
moment only; it became evident that forty rod was none the less fighting
whiskey, and at it they went again. The
court at this crisis cried out with great earnestness; Gentlemen? I want order and (here he swore around oath)
I will have order; but all to no purpose the row had become thoroughly
inaugurated and have it out they must.
George became disgusted, closing and slamming his new docket upon the
table cried out, Gentlemen, you can all go to h--l, I will have no more to do
with the Wisconsin judiciary. He
skipped out and resigned, terminating the first court held in Weyauwega by the
whites. It may be worthy of note here that
while these court scenes were being enacted in this place by the whites as well
Indians mentioned in my former sketch, Esq. Brandy was quietly plying his
vocation of Justice Circuit and Supreme Court of Mukwa the County seat, from
whose decisions there was no appeal. In the fall of ‘52, I attended a
similar law case to the one related, the trial being held before the Mukwa
court, Esq. Brandy presiding. The
complaint was against Rolf, the hotel-keeper, for violating the excise laws,
and selling liquor without a license.
It will be remembered that in those days we had no Graham laws, and
every well regulated hotel in this section of the country, kept a good supply
of Dakin’s brand, and landlords were not restricted in their sale or
consumption. But he law and order days of
civilization had begun to dawn upon Mukwa, and the necessity apparent of their
rigid enforcement, under the strict disciple of Esq. Brandy. The case was a jury trial. Chauncey Foster, a great man, well-known
from Mukwa to Oshkosh, officiated as constable and had charge of the jury. Lawyers Crary, Smalley, Geo. LaDow and
another young law student, all from Oshkosh, were engaged in the case. It was late in the afternoon when
John Gill and myself made our appearance in the court-room, a rude,
double-geared shanty just across the river from Rolf’s hotel. Upon our entry, the court, from courtesy to
strangers, ordered a brief recess, which gave us an opportunity to become
somewhat acquainted with court attorneys, jurors, and especially the constable
Chauncey Foster. Time of recess having
expired, court was again called, and giving the constable strict orders to keep
perfect order under pain of imprisonment, proceeded to take the balance of
testimony in the case. There were no
reporters at that time, but I will rehearse the minutes of the testimony of one
witness near as I can recollect which is an index to the whole. Question by the attorney: “Acquainted with Rolf?” “Yes.”
“Ever drink any whisky at his tavern?” “No.” “Ever drink any brandy?”
“No.” “Ever drink any kind of
liquor there?” “No.” “Ever drink anything there?” “Yes.”
“Well what was it?” “I don’t
know. Some Wolf river water, sugar and
some other dope put in, in a kind of a goose drink.” “No cross examination is required; take your seat. The testimony is closed.” The arguments of all those Oshkosh
lawyers were - I’ll simply say immense.
The court then called Chauncey up and swore him in a very grave manner
to take charge of the jury, with the injunctions against eating or drinking,
putting great stress upon the exception, cold water. The jury retired for deliberation to the addition of the shanty. It was nearly midnight when, left sitting around
the court table were the four court lawyers, Gill, myself, and a few others,
waiting for the verdict of the jury; all hungry and thirsty, not having tasted
food or drink for six hours; a sober, sad, and sedate looking set of men, with
no remedy but to sit and wait. The court, we knew was equal to any
emergency for strategy, and we silently waited his action. Soon the order came: Chauncey?
The court orders some cold water taken to the jury. Don as the court ordered, sir. Give me a little if you please. He drew the stopper, smelled of it, and
placing the jug to his lips, slacked his thirst, and passed the jug to the
attorneys. They followed suit, and the
two strangers, (Gill and myself,) were not left out of the ring by the
court. “Chauncey, take the cold water
to the jury, and tell them to agree on the verdict. It was but a few moments when Chauncey returned announcing the
agreement. “Gentlemen have you agreed
upon your verdict,” sedately came from the court. The foreman gave the verdict, “not guilty.” The prisoner is discharged, and the court
gives him counsel to sell no beverage at his tavern except cold water. The jury is also discharged. Chauncey?
Have you any more cold water in that jug? It is stated that Esq. Brandy’s precedents of practice have ever
been considered worthy of emulation by most courts of this county and that is,
don’t stint the jury on cold water if you expect a speedy and correct verdict. --------------- Mr. EDITOR: In your paper of the 20th inst, I
endeavored to correct a few errors in the early history of Weyauwega and
Waupaca County by Pioneer, but find from his next paper that he is as much
muddled in his understanding of the English language as in his statements
purporting to be facts. In my communication I stated that a
mail route was established in the winter of ‘49 and ‘50; that the contract to
carry the mail was let to O. E. Dreutzer, service to commence July 1, 1850;
after describing the route traveled and the post offices established on it, I
related a circumstance that happened at that this time. Now the only time mentioned is July 1, ‘50,
which I think is definite enough for any person of ordinary understanding, if
not for Pioneer. In conclusion I stated
that Mr. Ware and his family were still residents of Waupaca and would verify
my statements. Now if Pioneer had any
doubts of the truth of my assertations he might easily ascertain all the facts
by investigation, which it would seem to be more reasonable than to cavil or
contradict without knowing anything about the matter. There are three persons still living
in Waupaca who were employed by O. E. Dreutzer in ‘50 to carry the mail on the
route between Green Bay and Plover.
Pioneer next says, Now that celebration is well known to have
been July 4, ‘50, but it is very uncertain what he means by that
celebration. I stated distinctly, that
our anticipated celebration in ‘50 was a failure and gave sufficient reason for
it. The 4th of July ‘51 was celebrated
at the lone pine hill by a goodly number of the inhabitants of the county, but
Pioneer was not one of them. The disasters attending the carrying
of the mail on Mr. Dreutzer’s route did not end here. He had employed Edwin Buel as carrier on that part of the route
between Green Bay and Waupaca, furnished him with a pony and the necessary
equipments. Buel started from Waupaca
the morning of the 5th of July ‘50 on his first trip, apparently much elated
with his new business. After being away
several days past the time for his return, a committee from Waupaca started in
pursuit of him. When they got to Green
Bay they learned that he had delivered his mail in due time and started on his
return the next morning. The committee
then came back to Waupaca expecting either to meet Buel on his next trip or find
him in Waupaca, but were disappointed as he had not been seen or head of, and
the search was abandoned. Some days
afterward he made his appearance at the Weyauwega saw mill in about as forlorn
a condition as can well be imagined. He
was nearly starved to death, his clothing was about all torn off, and his
hands, face and body were covered with scratches and bruises, the effects of
wandering through swamps, brambles, and marshes. He stated that as he was riding
along between Bruce’s Mill and Mukwa, he discovered that his mail bag was lost,
and being tired of riding on horseback he got off; tied his horse, and started
back on foot to find the bag. After
traveling a long distance without finding it, and as the night was coming on,
he thought he would go back for his horse, but it soon was so dark he could
neither find his horse or any human habitation; so to make the best of the
situation, he cut some bushes and laid them beside a log in the woods for a bed
but did not sleep much. He spent the
next day in a fruitless search for his horse and mailbag and at night lodged as
before. The next morning being hungry,
tired and footsore, with no guide but the sun, he concluded to try to find
Waupaca, which he knew was in a western direction and across the Wolf river. When he came to the river he plunged in and
swam across, but soon found impassable swamps and marshes and was obliged to
turn back across the river again; then following down the stream to a place
where the banks were high on both sides, he swam across the river again and
brought up at Weyauwega as described, but his ambition for carrying the mail
was fully satisfied. The horse he rode
came round to a settlement some weeks afterward but the mailbag never was found. After these failures Mr. Dreutzer
employed a young man by the name of Armstrong, who carried the mail on foot
from about the 1st of September ‘50 to the 1st of July ‘52 when the route was
discontinued; making regular weekly trips during the whole time without a
failure. The distance for the round
trip being a little more than 180 miles. Very little mail matter ever went
over this route, from the facts that the towns at each end were small and
unimportant; that the mails to and from them were uncertain and irregular, that
post offices were located in Winnebago county, and nobody ever thought of
sending the mail either to Green Bay or Plover to get to Winnebago county. CRITIC ---------------
Saturday, April 10, 1886 MR. EDITOR: In your last issue I stated that not
much mail matter was carried over the route from Green Bay to Plover, the
reason being that nobody thought of sending it through the principal towns in
Winnebago County, to the county seat of Brown or Portage county; consequently,
papers or letters directed tot he offices on the route, were either returned to
the offices where mailed, sent to the Dead Letter office, or lost. The next move was an effort to get a
route from Berlin (Strong’s Landing) to Waupaca, which proved successful; and
in the latter part of 1850, post offices were established at Lind, Pine River,
Poysippi and Willow Creek. The Government furnished mail bags and allowed the
proceeds of the offices on the route for carrying the mail: all other expenses were paid by the
inhabitants, from the time the offices were established in ‘50 until July ‘52,
when mail service commenced by contract with the Government. Early in the year of ‘51, W. C. Carr
and Lyman Dayton, both living in the same town and less than two miles apart,
each circulated a petition for a post office at his place. Their petitions were sent in the same mail,
their letters of inquiry came in the same mail, and their appointments, with a
mail bag for each office were received at the same time. The nearest office to them on the
mail route was Lind; and each of them for about two years, came regularly every
mail day for his supply of mail. The
office at Weyauwega during this time was supplied in the same manner, except
that instead of a carrier with a horse and buggy and U.S. mail bag, a boy on
foot with a carpet bag was employed.
Thus we see, that instead of no post offices or mail routes being
established in ‘51, we had two mail routes, one running north and south, the other
east and west, and ten post offices to accommodate that part of the Indian land
detached form Winnebago County to make Waushara and Waupaca Counties, which
were organized by the Legislature in March, 1851. CRITIC --------------- Saturday,
April 10, 1886: Charles Doty, who lived at Weyauwega
in 1853 has been reading some of Bill Waterhouse’s “reminiscences of old
times,” and says Bill has forgotten to mention one incident. Waterhouse used to be a great fiddler, and
on one occasion was sitting gin the door of his dwelling playing the “Devil’s
Dream,” when a storm came up and lightning struck a tree, and enough of the
fluid surrounded William to render him insensible. When he came to himself the boys say he was playing “Old Hundred”
in a most effective style. -- CLINTONVILLE TRIBUNE --------------- Saturday,
March 2, 1887 While on the train the other
morning, we fell in company with a gentleman who was a resident of Weyauwega
thirty years ago. Speaking of the place
and the election which decided that Waupaca should be the county seat, he said
that Waupaca secured the vote by sending women, dressed in men’s clothes, to
the polls, who voted in its favor.
Brother Patchen you might add the above to your catalogue of crimes
committed by the city of sand and potatoes. --------------- |