Railroad Prospects01

 

OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN

June 16, 1870

 

UP THE WOLF

The Wolf River – Weyauwega and Fremont – Railroad Prospects

 

            A ride of five or six hours on one of the Wolf River transportation company’s steamers bring us to Gill’s Landing, the most important point on the river between Winneconne and New London.  There is not much to be seen here – a warehouse or two, a hotel, saloon, barn and a tanner, - but at this point all the freight and travel for Stevens Point, Waupaca, Weyauwega, and Plover, leaves the river and goes by land.  Two miles and a half further on over a rough road and we arrive at

WEYAUWEGA

            The village made so famous in the time of Barstow and Bashford by its elastic poll lists, has a population of about 1500, boasts of two saw mills, two grist mills, a newspaper, a good hotel, several first-class business  houses, and all the necessary appurtenances of a live inland village.  Two weeks ago it voted $30,000 to aid the land grant railroad, and the Weyauwegians hope to hear the snort of the iron horse during the present season.  John B. Stram, district attorney, formerly of “old Scholharie”, and A.V. Balch, the efficient member of the last assembly from Waupaca County, reside here.

PETER MEIKLEJOHN

            About half a mile east of the village lives Peter Meiklejohn.  Eight or ten years ago, Meiklejohn discovered that hops could be successfully raised in Wisconsin, and accordingly he devoted two or three acres of land to hop raising.  His hops throve well.  Quietly and with little show, he raised a good crop of hops every year, deriving more clear profit from his little hop yard than any other man in the county did from his whole farm.  For years he was the only hop yard in this part of the state.  At length others, seeing the value of hops, engaged in the culture also, and then came the reverse of 1868.  But he has not changed his policy, and today has one of the finest yards in the state from which he will clear a handsome profit.  A few years ago he found that the clay dug from a small stream near the village looked clear and white and the idea entered his mind that it might be utilized.  After a few experiments, he procured the services of a workman and began the manufacture of pottery and is now turning out specimens which are equaled by none manufactured in the west.  The clay has been examined by competent chemists in the east and pronounced to be superior to that used in the manufacture of porcelain and china-ware.  There is no doubt that if properly prepared by skillful workmen, this clay can be made into the finest ware. There is said to be no other deposit of this clay in the United States.  A manufactory of fine ware, in New York, is supplied with similar clay, but of an inferior quality which is imported at great expense from Europe.  There is a field for profitable investment in the manufacture and sale of this ware.  Mr. I.J. Hoile, of this city, is general agent for its sale and has samples of the ware at his store.  It is well to add that the machinery now used is of the rudest pattern and a great difficulty has been found in obtaining skilled workmen.

BUILDING

            J.A. Day & Co., of Oshkosh, are now erecting a fine two story brick block, on the corner of Main and Mill streets for parties in the village.  The corner store is to be occupied by Weed, Gumaer and Co, as a banking and exchange office.  Poll & Gardner, hardware dealers, and W.A. Weisbrod, dry goods and groceries, will occupy the others.  Waterhouse and Webber are also erecting another fine brick store on the north side of Main Street, the brick used being made of the clay discovered by Meiklejohn.  R. Rockser has just completed a fine brick store on the corner of Main and Pine streets, and other improvements are in progress.

FREMONT

            About four miles below Gill’s Landing, on both sides of the Wolf River, is the village of Fremont.  At this point, the old Oshkosh and Wausau railroad crossed the river, and away to the left can be seen the road-bed graded in 1863.  At Fremont, we had the pleasure of meeting J. Wakefield whose letters in the NORTHWESTERN have made him familiar to our readers.  He is doing well in the insurance business, and also devotes his spare time to practice of law.  I.N. Kinsman, dry goods and groceries, J. Livingston, “mine host” of the hotel, Mr. Schonfield, grocer, and others doing business at Fremont, appear to be thriving well.  The Berlin, Weyauwega and Lake Superior railroad, when built, will pass close by this village and will undoubtedly greatly improve its prospects.  Crops throughout this section are doing finely and apparently have not suffered from the drouth.