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THE REPUBLICAN August 4, 1899 Some Early Reminiscences TO THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN: Mr.
Editor: - The writer hereof has often been solicited, even importuned to pen
some of the incidents that cluster around the early settlement of Waupaca, but
has hitherto withheld therefrom for various reasons, and would not have been
drawn at this time into the undertaking had not his present visit, after an
absence of forty years, shown great changes and contrasts, thereby reviving old
incidents and memories of the early days. The
final thought that culminated in Waupaca’s settlement, (for thought always
precedes and provokes action) took place in the town of Plymouth, fifteen miles
west of Sheboygan on the 4th day of June, 1849, when five
Vermonters, four tenderfeet as went the country’s vernacular, and one who had
passed two winters west of Lake Michigan, started out of the said Plymouth on
foot, taking blankets and a small grubstake, going westward past the town of
Greenbush, in all about six or seven miles on the Fond du Lac road, thence
northerly through the forest with no road save now and then an Indian trail
part of the way. As the day closed upon
them it found them on the frontier settlement of the Stockbridge Indians, with
whom they camped in one of their out-buildings. The next day they traveled on and night overtook them as they
reached the northern part of Lake Winnebago about one and one-half miles or so,
southeast of Menasha, their objective point being from the start the Indian
land so called, which was treated for by the United States government during
the month of October, 1848. The next
day found them at nightfall in the timber land a few miles from Muckwa where
they camped, and the following day they crossed the Wolf river and made camp at
a place called Phillips mill on the Little Wolf, three miles from its
confluence with the Wolf. The following
day taking a rather blind Indian trail they made for where now stands
Weyauwega, passing by on the eastern bank of what was called at that time White
Lake. At this time at Weyauwega were
two men holding a claim on which was a mill site, and were engaged in getting
out timber for a mill. With them camp
was made. One of these men, Hank
Tourtelotte by name, was somewhat conversant with the country and went the next
day with them to show the country. He
had heard of Waupaca Falls and so headed westward up the river. On arriving at a point on the river where J.
W. Chandler and S. Dow afterward settled, a part of the company were satisfied
to locate and were not willing to go farther, being rather drilled out by the
long jaunt. But some were not satisfied
and concluded to go on, while the others returned to camp. When they had advanced to about where James
Thomas afterward settled they were overtaken by a thunderstorm of much severity
which continued all the afternoon, causing the homeseekers to look like drowned
rats. On
arriving at the Falls even under such adverse circumstances it did not take
long to come to a decision regarding a location; so hastily blazing a few trees
near the falls and writing thereon the declaration of intention, hastened back
to camp with all speed, blazing the trees on one side as they went, as a guide
to return. The following day the whole
company of homeseekers returned and perfected claims, blazing trees and setting
stakes. It now was very evident in
order to carry out their plans for homemaking, work and laborious toil in
abundant measure was directly in their pathway. Everything was to be done and nothing at hand or within reach to
do it. They were in unbroken wilds,
without roads and no possibility of making connecting roads eastward in the
near future, being separated there from by the Wolf river with its adjacent
marshes and numerous lakes. Supplies
and all things necessary to carry forward the enterprise in which they had
embarked must be obtained, and the only way at that time was in row boats up
the Wolf. Consequently the first thing
after the party’s return to Plymouth was to lay the keel and build a boat as a
vehicle of transportation, to be hauled and launched in Lake Winnebago, which
was afterward successfully accomplished. After
other preliminary arrangements were made including the purchasing of oxen and
cows, advancement was made in the following manner: Part of the company was to dive the stock, going on the east side
of Lake Winnebago, past Menasha, and so on to Mukwa on the Wolf, crossing the
same in a canoe and swimming the cattle, and so on by the way of Phillips Mill
and Weyauwega to Waupaca. The other portion
of the company launched the boat a little way east from Fond du Lac fully laden
with such supplies as necessarily had to be taken, and make across the lake to
Oshkosh and up Wolf river arriving at Gills Landing at about the same time that
the other party with the cattle arrived at Weyauwega. In the meantime J. W. Chandler and S. C. Dow with their families
had come in and made claims where they afterward resided for many years, having
come in the same way and in lake manner as had the other party, but bringing
more effects, having a wagon with them, which they very cheerfully tendered to
those less favored, thus greatly aiding them in their necessities. The party of home builders had scarcely
arrived with their effects where they had selected their homes when their ears
were saluted by the shout of voices in the distance, and soon appeared J. M.
Vaughn, his brother Alonzo, W. G. Cooper, Buel and others all in pursuit of
homes. They were gladly and joyfully
received and all the help and aid that was possible was given. Most of them made claims and became much
respected citizens and helpers in transforming the wilderness into production
fields, also adding much to the social conditions. As
the first named homeseekers boats cargo of supplies was very limited other
absolutely necessary and almost indispensable beside food supplies were
included in the first cargo and as they were some days longer in making the
transit and having more visitors to entertain then was named on the card, their
larder ran wretchedly low, being reduced to plain flour and salt, thus forcing
on them the days of unleavened bread.
In this dilemma haste was made as soon as the Vaughn’s and Cooper had
made their claims, to dispatch the boat to Oshkosh for another cargo of
necessities. The original company that first started from Plymouth was now reduced to three, the others having dropped out and gone elsewhere. It was arranged that one of these three in company of Cooper and Buel should man the boat, while the other two should remain and hold the fort and make all possible progress toward erecting a habitation. Up to this time only a bush shanty had been made, consisting of a pole laid in crotches, leaned against trees and covered with boughs. The party that started for supplies had scarcely passed out of hearing distance from the two remaining, one of whom was laying under the bush house with an excruciating sick headache, to which attack he was quite subject, groaning and taking on most piteously, whilst the other was trying to do all that was possible for his relief. While thus occupied he say a dusky Indian in hunting rig, rifle on shoulder as he came into view, rounding the point where now stands the Danes’ Home, followed by another and still another and on they came, all with rifle, pouch and powder horn, and clustered around the camp fire so thick that rendered it difficult to get at the groaning one, who lay there seeming all oblivious of such distinguished company. But this was not the case altogether with the other. Not at that time having had much acquaintance with the noble red man of the forest, and having in his youthful days read the early history of our country, wherein, he in said history is not set forth as being at all times a harmless and loveable character. Consequently it is not to be greatly wondered that chills pervaded the anatomy and at least imaginary sparks of electricity fructified his hair. But the sequel was not so terrifying as might have been imagined, for after standing around for a few minutes, having been supplied with a few matches, they marched down the river about one mile and camped, remaining there until the next day, having a good time, judging from the jubilant sounds that came wafting on the air, which to them were undoubtedly joyous, but to other ears were not entirely melodious, for the full measure of their hilarity and joyfulness was not clearly understood. It transpired afterward, as a better acquaintance with them resulted in finding them friendly and in many cases useful, in replenishing the never over burdened larder with venison which was in much demand. The new arrivals of the party had left their families in Vermont, but soon after making their claims sent for them, and the old bachelor of the crowd had also come to the conclusion that the statement made to the firs one of whom we have any account that “it is not good for man to live alone” was good and true and very applicable to his case, and also realizing from former experience in bachelordom that it took more than one isolated being to make a place worthy the name of home, concluded to make an attempt to supply the necessary want. What was lacking to meet this special need had come from the green hills of Vermont about one year before, to a place in the southeastern portion of the state, stopping with friends; some of whom said, she came after a certain one, which was literally true, having been preceded by about one year. But the saying admits of an ambiguity, and it had a literal fulfillment whether or no, it was contemplated at first. In August a comfortable house with shake roof had been completed for Cooper, and Mrs. C. had arrived, being the first woman to grace what is now the beautiful city of Waupaca. A log cabin 12 x 13 with bark roof and bark floor had also been erected near the granite ledge, where now stands the Danes’ Home. There was not a board used in its’ construction as none was available, the mills at Little River and Weyauwega were being constructed and did not produce lumber until late in the season. Our knight of bachelordom at the appointed time started for the place where the bands he had been bound were to be broken, and other banns proclaimed which have often come, with peculiar melody to the maiden’s ear and perhaps with like significance to him who equally pledges his troth. This having been done the wedding tour commenced by taking stage to Fond du Lac, thence by steamer to Oshkosh, and from thence up Wolf river by the best means obtainable. The results was to charter a schooner as it was called, capable of carrying three or four tons freight and as the families that had been sent for had come and gone forward leaving freight to follow, which with other things made a full cargo. The schooner’s crew consisted of two men. All things being ready the embarkation from Oshkosh took place about mid-afternoon with a fair wind, expecting to reach Butte Des Morts or Winneconne before nightfall. Progress had not been made more than one-half of the way across Lake Butte Des Morts when the wind subsided and a dead calm ensued. Advancement was out of the question as the water was too deep to use a pole, but a tie up was finally made to a raft of logs lying long side of the bank. There were the newly married pair out in an open boat with a single cover for a bed, and in company with two unknown men, and the cold unsympathetic moon looking squarely down upon them. But the night like other nights had an end and with the dawn came a breeze that took them through the lake to the open river, upon whose bank was a house where entertainment could be had. No wonder that after such a night’s experience appetite should fail and homesickness brood the mind, thus launching out into the unknown and untried future, which thus far bespoke only toil and sacrifice. By much labor Winneconne was reached as the sun sank behind the hill, and rest and cheer was found at the home of the Mumbrues, where also was found Capt. David Scott and Mr. Gard, who from thence joined the crew, rendering much help; notwithstanding the pay ground at Lake Poygan was only reached the next day, where camp was made. Little River was the objective point for the next day as there was no intermediate place and it was not desirable to pass another night like the one in Butte Des Morts. So at early dawn we were on the move, but adverse winds stayed the progress, but by repeated tackings back and forth across the lake the entrance of the river’s course was made a little past mid-day. It now became evident that Little River could not be reached that day by the main craft, and as a row boat was in tow it was thought best to man it and proceed in advance and leave the schooner to follow as best it could with its own crew. Consequently Mr. Scott, Mr. Gard and the newly made pair of homeseekers pressed forward with all speed, Mr. Gard as steersman, the other two being the motive power, and the bride seated in a rocking chair in the center of the boat. The landing at Little River was not made until quite dusk, being two or three miles down from the settlement or location of the mill which was being then built. This distance lying through timbered country darkness came quickly upon the party and rendered walking, it being the only way of proceeding, very unpleasant and difficult, especially so as at one point water was encountered that must be crossed, some rods in width and several inches in depth. This, however, was overcome by toting the feminine part of the company across without any mishap, safely arriving at the point of destination at rather a late hour. The next morning after a walk of five miles brought the party to the Chandler settlement, where were found women and children, with some of the comforts of life, thereby giving courage to hope that by faithfulness and zeal a brighter day would surely dawn. Our
party soon made the trip to Waupaca and started their first home life in the
log shanty with bark roof and floor as before described. Rude and uncouth though it was, with only
the bare necessities and very few of what are generally considered the comforts
of life, weeks and moths were here joyfully spent, for hope and trust assured
that by constant toil and effort, a bright lesson of hopefulness and trust was
learned, the true talisman that leads to happiness and content. E.
C. SESSIONS
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