THE WAUPACA POST

March 25, 1886

 

Early History of Waupaca County

 

            The following letter written by “Critic” to the Weyauwega Chronicle will be of interest to many readers of the POST.  The facts stated herein can be vouched for by all of the early settlers of Waupaca:

            TO THE 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 Weyauwega, 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 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, Weyauwega.

            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 postmaster, 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. Druetzer, then living at 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 postmaster at Mukwa, Simon C. Dow at Greenwood, (on section 1 in Lind) and David Scott at Waupaca.

            One circumstance happened at this time that will be remembered by all who were then residents of 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 bridges, all of which were necessary, for there were no roads in the country; only trails, and they so blind it was frequently impossible to follow them.

            After a good deal of hard labor in getting through the 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 resident of the town of Waupaca and will verify all the statements here made.