THE MARION ADVERTISER

April 20, 1900

 

More About Old Settlers

 

            It appears that the short articles contributed by the writer, relating to old settlers and early incidents in our county, published in the ADVERTISER, have created some interest.  This I am pleased to see, and sincerely hope that many of the old timers will wake up and make contributions also.  H. S. Perkins in a short article in the WAUPACA POST, speaking of my last communication in which I gave mention of James Smiley and G. W. Taggart as being survivors of the first election held in our county, states that he was in the county, coming in 1850, so was M. H. Stinchfield, also naming Evan Townsend, Columbus Caldwell and N. L. White.  What about them?  All I know about them is they did not attend that first election.  Capt Caldwell if I am correctly informed, came into the county in 1849 with his father, Tyler Caldwell, remained here on his father’s claim until his father returned with his family, and soon after went to California.  N. L. White did not come to the county until 1857 or 1858, I am not certain which year.  The individuals who attended and cast their ballots at that first election (spring of 1851) from Waupaca were W. B. Hibbard, Jos. Hibbard, W. G. Cooper and a Mr. Buell, John M. Vaughn and J. W. Chandler having claims between Waupaca and Weyauwega, Hiram Sexton, Tyler Caldwell, W. G. Taggart of Walla Walla settlement, now Lind Center, John Boyd and a Mr. Veile of Weyauwega, one Armstrong who carried the mail on foot between Green Bay and Plover, and the few settlers at Mukwa and at Phillips Mill.

            At that election, if I am correct in memory, G. W. Cooper was elected register of deeds, S. C. Dow, treasurer; James Smiley, clerk of the board of supervisors and G. W. Taggart, county surveyor.  Even at that date only claims could be surveyed, as the government had not made surveys of any land in the county west of Wolf River.  That there were others living in the county eligible to vote at that first election is quite true, but I think I have correctly named those who did attend.  If I am in error I hope some one will correct my statements.  An incident at that first election which I heard related by one of the inspectors of the election, is of sufficient interest to be recorded and remembered.  Hiram Sexton was the first person to offer his ballot.  It was immediately challenged, presumably on the ground of not having lived a sufficient time in the state.  He promptly swore in his oath he had long been a resident of Racine county before he came to this county.  As history the first vote offered and cast in our county was challenged.  This alertness and vigilance on the part of our first electors to protect our polls from fraud and illegality was truly commendable, and had it been followed at subsequent elections, the good name of Waupaca county would never have suffered.  When I came into this county in 1851, I believe H. J. Perkins with his father was on a claim or claims in the west part of the town of Lind. Am I not right H. J.?  The only Perkins names on old settlers records are L. and N. Perkins, who came into the county in 1855, are recorded.

                                                                                                                        A. V. B.