Of the Old Settler Society of Waupaca County

At the Annual Reunion

Held at White Lake, Sept. 1, 1880.

The territory embraced in the present limits of Waupaca County, was but recently the home of the red man. Here were his favorite hunting grounds. Here, on every side were found the bear, the wolf, the elk and deer, besides other valued game. The numerous lakes and ponds, the rivers and other streams, were stocked with nearly every variety of fish and no white men were here to rob him of his heritage or circumscribe the limits of his hunting grounds. He was happy in his innocence, happy in his ignorance of the many wants which render the man of civilization discontented and miserable. He may have had his vices, but they were virtues in comparison with those learned by contact with civilization. From being the type of a manly, noble race, he is but the relic of a race just passing into oblivion. But a few years more and the last Indian will have disappeared; a few more, and all we shall know of him will be what little may be learned from tradition. The Indian has no history.

The first settlements in the county that we can get any account of were made in 1848. In that year Henry Tourtellotte, Amos Dodge, and a Mr. Lewis, made a settlement at Weyauwega. Hicks, Tourtellotte and Mr. Gill started in Royalton. J. G. Nordman in Mukwa, and Wm. Goldsberry in Little Wolf, but we are unable to learn which has the honor of being the first.

In 1849 the following settlements were made - E. C. Sessions, J. and W. B. Hibbard, Capt. David Scott, A. M. Garde, Judge Ware, Dana Dewey, W. G. Cooper, J. M. Vaughn, T. M. Paine, Dexter Williams, F. B. Young, Jas. Thomas, Mr. Webb, A. H. Chandler, settled in Waupaca. Simon C. Dow, Col. J. W. Chandler, Tyler and Capt. C. Caldwell, Geo. W. Taggart, Jarvis L. Rice, Hiram and Geo. Sexton, Alonzo Vaughn, Moses Selleck and John Shaw settled in Lind. Riley Eastman, D. Gordon, Harmon Mumbrue, Mr. Crosby, Frank Millet, Mr. Girard, Chas. Fuller, and Mr. Hill settled in Fremont; James McHugh in Caledonia, and A. M. Garde, Roswell Hicks, and Granville Jones in Farmington.

The first deaths in 1850, were: In Waupaca - Joel Dieter; Lind - Mrs. Foster; Dayton - child of J. Robbins.

Births in 1850 : Waupaca - Mary Hibbard, May 25; Lind - child of Hiram Sexton.

Married in 1850: at Weyauwega - Mat. Lincoln and Caroline Smith.

Schools taught, 1851 - In Weyauwega by Miss Mary Chandler, now Mrs. J. M. Dewey; In Lind - by Mrs. Susan Chandler.

School houses built, 1851 - In Weyauwega, Lind, and Waupaca.

The first church built in 1853 (Methodist) in what is now the fourth ward of the city of Waupaca.

The first sermons were preached in 1850 as follows: In Waupaca in a log shanty by Rev. Silas Miller. In Lind in shanty of Mr. Caldwell by Rev. Mr. Baxter. In Little Wolf at the house of P. Meiklejohn, by Rev. Mr. Baxter.

The first saw mills in 1848: In Mukwa, by Robt. Grignon, In Weyauwega, at Evanswood, by Townsend, Powell and Lincoln, during 1848-9.

The first grist mills, 1851: In Dayton by Mr. Parfrey. In Waupaca by W. C. Lord and Wilson Holt.

First Post Offices and Postmasters in 1850: In Weyauwega - Benj. Birdsall, P. M. In Lind - Geo. W. Taggart, P. M., and another in Lind, called “Greenwood,” S. C. Dow, P. M.

Stores in 1850. At Weyauwega - by C. L. Gumaer. At Mukwa - by C. E. P. Hobart.

The first deed of land lying within the limits of Waupaca County, was dated January 20th, 1849. Daniel Hill and wife to Cyrus Strong; parties of Milwaukee. Description - S E 1/4 of Sec. 31, Town 21, Range 14, in the present town of Fremont. It was recorded in Brown county June 25, 1949.

The first mortgage was from Charles Garrow to F. B. Webster, dated July 13, 1849, on the N E 1/4 of N W 1/4 Sec. 22, Town 22, Range 14, in Mukwa. Consideration $25.

The first sale of lands by the County Treasurer took place April 12, 1853.

The act to organized the County was passed Feb. 1851. The first election was held at the house of H. Ralph, in Mukwa, April 1, 1851, where the following officers were elected: Supervisors, P. Meiklejohn, Tyler Caldwell, David Scott. Justices, Albion Brandy, Judge Ware, John Boyd. Town Clerk, C. L. Gumaer.

The first meeting of the Board was held at the same place, May 6, 1851. Present, Sups. Meiklejohn and Caldwell. Tyler Caldwell was chosen chairman, being the first in the county. James Smiley was Clerk. There being a vacancy in the office of Treasurer, Geo. W. Taggart was appointed to that office.

Oct. 7, 1851, two voting precincts were made for the County. One at the house of W. G. Cooper, in Waupaca, and the other at the house of A. Tibbets, in Weyauwega.

The report of School Supt. S. C. Dow, for 1851, gives eight schools in the county, only four having made report; 3 months school in the four reported as taught. Number of children of proper age to attend, 166. Average monthly wages paid female teachers, $6.00. No male teachers.

At the first general election held Nov. 4, 1851, only 127 votes were cast in the county.

In 1853 a vote was taken through the county on a “Prohibitory Liquor Law.” Resulting in 279 for the law, and 125 against; showing a majority for the law of 154.

The first Fourth of July celebration in the county was held upon the top of “Lone Pine” hill, in 1850, at which the Declaration of Independence was read by S. C. Dow, of the town of Lind, after which national songs were sung, and patriotic toasts given. Then an adjournment was made to the foot of the hill, where a bounteous repast was partaken of under the spreading branches of some oaks. The company separated well pleased with the first Fourth of July on the “Indian Land.” Thirty-three persons participated.

But your patience must not be further tried. Materials enough have been collected to fill a volume, and will some day be utilized. In this communication I have barely referred to some of the leading events connected with the very first settlements of our county. My report has, of necessity, been meager and disconnected; otherwise it would have been tedious and unsatisfactory.

Several of our “Old Pioneers,” from whom much valuable information was obtained, have emigrated to another, and we trust, better country. More are just ready to start on the uncertain journey. Our gray hairs, wrinkled brows, and cautious steps, admonish us that our time for starting cannot be far distant. Our annual reunions will be but few. Let us make the best of them while they last. Perhaps their memory will be pleasant after that dreaded journey has been completed. At least, we will hope so, for even so much happiness would not make a very undesirable heaven.

Respectfully submitted,

Josephus Wakefield