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THE REPUBLICAN January 12, 1900 In Regard to Pioneers of
Waupaca County. EDITOR
MARION ADVERTISER: I
read with interest the item in the December 20th issue of the
Advertiser, entitle “Historical,” speaking of Mr. I. Hanson, James Smiley and
some other early residents. From my own
early acquaintance in Waupaca County, I judged that Mr. Hanson was not just
correct in thinking that he and Mr. Smiley were the only two pioneers who
settled and now live in the Eastern part of the county. Being Secretary of the Old Settlers’
Association, I went to the records of the Association and looked up
matters. Of the early pioneers and
settlers now surviving and living in the county, I find as follows: First the oldest settler as recorded, is
Evan Townsend who came into the county early in 1849 and settled at Little
River. He now resides in the town of
Waupaca. George W. Taggart came in 1849
and settled in Lind. He now resides in
Weyauwega. M. L. Hayward located on the
Little Wolf in 1850. He now resides in
Waupaca. James Smiley is recorded as
coming to the county in March, 1851 settling at Mukwa. He now lives at Northport. James M. Jenney settled in Weyauwega early
in 1851 and is now living in that town.
A. V. Balch came to the county in Sept. 1851, made the first entry of
land in the town of Weyauwega, at the United States land office, and has
continuously resided on the same to this day.
J. E. Devens is another of the 1851 settlers in the county and resides
in Weyauwega. We find also the names of
Geo. L. Lord and W. J. Chamberlain as settlers of the county in 1851. Both now live in the city of Waupaca. I do not find Mr. Hanson’s name on the
records and therefore cannot give the year of his coming to the county. Will be very gratified to whoever can give me
the desired information, so it can be recorded. There may be others whose names are not on the records, who as
heads of families or as single men came to he county and made settlements an
early date as those above named and who yet live in the county. I will be pleased to enter their names and
date of settlement when furnished to me.
There are a goodly number yet living in the county, who came as children
and minors with their parents in the early days, but we cannot properly enroll
such as Old Settlers because they cam at the option of parents. What memories come up as we look back over
the names of the early pioneers, seeing how great is the number removed or
departed to the “happy hunting grounds.” A.
V. Balch. |