|
|
|
|
The Republican March 5, 1886 EARLY REMINISCENCES. Weyauwega “Pioneer” in the Weyauwega Chronicle is giving
historical reminiscences of the early settlement of Waupaca County. In the commencement of these sketches in the
Chronicle in Feb. 20, “Pioneer” says: In writing reminiscences of the
early history of Weyauwega, or Waupaca County, commence the epoch of my
sketches at the negotiation of the treaty of cession with the Menominee
Indians, Oct. 1848; though the Indian title was extinguished to that portion of
this county lying east of Wolf River several years previous, but that portion
west of the Wolf and known as the Indian Lands was not surrendered and
possession given until June 1852. The
period of 1848 then, is evidently the period of settlement, and the time
intervening between that date and the present may be classified as the epoch of
growth and progress, to which my sketches will mostly be confined. Events to chronicle previous to that date are in the main
a sealed book. At the time of commencement of my sketches, 1848, little
was known of the country about Weyauwega, except that it was called Tomorrow
River country, and inhabited and occupied by a band of Menominee Indians, who
had for their chief or patriarch, Wey-au-we-ya, from whom the village of
Weyauwega derives its name. Their
hunting and fishing grounds were along the Wolf and Waupaca rivers and the
vicinity of White Lake, in the center of which is a small island, and an
ancient Indian clearing of about an acre, upon which the Indians probably
cultivated a little corn with which to suppliant the precarious dependence of
his bow and spear. It is said the old
chief was buried on this island, and through the archeological enterprise of
Dr. Bliss, now of Antigo, his skull was resurrected and now reposes quietly in
the archives of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. In 1843 the first white settler made his appearance in
Waupaca county in the person of Alpheus Hicks, father of the well known and far
famed Steve Hicks, who came up Wolf river from Oshkosh and made a settlement
near Fremont; remained there one year, then moved to Shawano lake, after
remaining a short time returned to Fremont, and with his family has resided
there ever since. Weyauwega was founded b y Henry Tourtelotte in 1848,
together with his Indian wife, Kemink; a woman well known and highly respected
by the early white settlers.
Tourtelotte started from Oshkosh in the fall of 1848 to drive an ox team
to Weyauwega; got as far as Rat river, camped there and waited for it to freeze
so as to cross on the ice, then rove to Weyauwega, the first team in this
country; pitched his tent on the bank of the Waupaca, near present mill site,
and commenced getting timber to build a mill and put in a dam. In the spring of
’49 he formed copartnership with a man by the name of Lewis from Fond du lac,
and John Gill. The company employed
such transient laborers as were to be obtained, and with the assistance of some
Indians (very few), put in a dam and built the first mill on the Waupaca River. The mill builders all boarded with
Tourtelotte, in his wigwam or tent, the only human habitation of whites at that
time in Weyauwega or southward to Winneconne, and Kemink had full charge of the
establishment, and who proved to be fully adequate to the task. The news of the cession of the Indian lands spread East
and South as upon telegraph lines (which was then unknown) and settlers began
to flock hither seeking the Eldorado of the west – the Indian Lands of
Wisconsin. The first white visitors these mill builders received
were W. B. Mumbrue, John Vaughan, Alonzo Vaughan, W. B. Cooper, John Taylor of
Plymouth, and a young M.D. from New York; being a party of explorers of the
country. The mill builders welcomed the
travelers to their camp and to the hospitalities thereof. After looking them over and scanning them
closely, one of their members – a tall, gaunt specimen of the pioneer – raising
his hands, and with the appearance of astonishment and dismay, exclaimed: “My God, men; we are glad to see you, and
welcome you here, but you are all men.
What in h--- are we to do for women?” SECOND PAPER The second paper of “Pioneer” in the Chronicle, is
very interesting and as it relates to many of the old pioneers and events with
which many of the readers of the REPUBLICAN are interested we give it
entire: The adventurers, Mumbrue, Taylor,
and others, left at the Mill Company’s Cabin in Weyauwega, June ’49, finished
their visit and left in search of W. R. Hibbard, Joseph Hibbard, and E. C.
Sessions, who had a few days previous, as was learned, arrived on the Indian
lands from the east by a circuitous route, coming on the east side of Wolf
River and crossing at or near Mukwa, and were supposed to be encamped at
Waupaca Falls, near where the city of Waupaca is now located. Employing an Indian guide, the party started
in a southerly direction over Gallows Hill, then striking an Indian trail,
tacked to a northwest course and came out at the Vermonter’s camp near the
Falls. The question is frequently asked from what that hill or
ridge south of Weyauwega derived its name, Gallows Hill. I answer as I received it from H.
Tourtelotte. “During the summer of ’49,
Gill and Tourtelotte first climbed the hill to get some oak timber for a
specific purpose about their mill.
Arriving upon the top near where the residence of A. V. Balch now
stands, they both halted to take a view of the beautiful natural scenery
surrounding, when Tourtelotte exclaimed, Gill this is a “Gallous old place,”
yes said Gill and a good place for gallows to hand the d-----d scoundrels and
claim jumpers who are soon to infest this country. The reply of Gill was
reiterate upon their return to camp by Tourtelotte, and afterward (as in the
old story of three black crows) exaggerated to the finding of a gallows already
erected and finally, to a claim jumper hanging upon the gallows. Undoubtedly the early squatters had some
object in view by keeping this story fresh in the minds of claim jumpers, at
all events, the title has remained till the present time, but the story has
long since passed into tradition. And now to return to our travelers where we left them at
the Vermonters camp at Waupaca Falls.
This camp consisted of an awning of bushiness supported on four poles
which comprised at that time every thing yet attempted in the way of building
at the city of Waupaca, and here under the shadows of the granite ledge the
travelers rested from their weary journey, increasing the numbers of that rude
camp to eleven in number. I leave the
reader to imagine their situation without food or beds, they might have
exclaimed in scriptural: The foxes have
holes and the birds of the air have nests; but we poor sons of guns have
nothing wherewith to feed and rest our weary carcasses. The strenuous promptings of the inner man made the visit
of our travelers brief and early; the next morning they started on their return
to Wolf River by a circuitous roué, stopping at intervals to rest and
reconnoiter; and not until they arrived at the river did they discover that John
Vaughn, the purser, had lost his pocketbook containing about $500 in money and
other valuable papers. A brief consultation was held and it was concluded that
two of the party, with the Indian guide, should go back and search for the lost
pocketbook, although to find it would benefit them nothing so far as supplying
their present wants and necessities, and they could, like Robinson Crosoe on
the island, pronounce it worthless trash.
However the three started back, and guided by the Indian they were
enabled to keep nearly the course and track of their journey down; and when
about half way between Waupaca and Wolf river John Vaughan discovered, under an
oak tree where he had stopped to rest when coming down, his lost pocketbook. Vaughan said afterward, in relating the
story, that he had been hunting for money all his lifetime but never was as
well rewarded as upon that hunt. Returning to the river and preparing to embark, they
found their birch bark canoe had sprung a leak; the Indian prepared to repair
it by building a fire to melt some pitch for the purpose during which the rest
of the party, warm and dusty, concluded to go in bathing. Stripping off their clothes and laying them
upon an old log, plunged into the raging Wolf and swimming out into the river they
heard the Indian yell, and turning their eyes to the shore they discovered the
cause. The Indian had allowed the fire
to get the advantage of him and it had spread, and running along the old log
had got into their clothing. They pulled for dear life to the shore and got out just
in time to save it part in a badly charred state. John Vaughan’s coat in the pocket of which he carried that same
old pocketbook was ruined, but the pocketbook and contents, came out unscathed. John remarked: “it seems as though fate was against me, and when I start on
another expedition, I will leave that pocketbook at home.” After dressing as well as their clothing
would permit, the party stepped carefully into the birch bark canoe and
embarked upon the Wolf for Oshkosh, thankful for having escaped the dangers of
starvation and the elements. In the year of ’49 the first survey with chain and
compass, in the Tomorrow river country, embracing Waupaca County, was made by
W. B. Mumbrue, at his next visit here.
Commencing at the Meander post between Section 12 and 13, Town 21, Range
18 east; he running a line westward, making a set off to locate the mill site
at Weyauwega, also another to locate the mill site of Townsend and Frank Powers
of Oshkosh, at Little River; then working westward and north, carried up and
blazed his lines to Waupaca; and this survey was made the base in laying off
the squatter’s claims in Waupaca County. The company of Tourtelotte and Gill did not get their
mill in running order until the summer of ’51 and that season they sold out to
Weed and Birdsall, who during the winter of ’50 and ’51, put in a quantity of
logs and manufactured lumber, sufficient to supply the home demand, which at
that time had become considerable, and on the increase. The next spring Bostedo arrived and became a
member of the company of Weed, Birdsall & Co. During the winter of ’51 and ’52 a large quantity of logs were
put in but in the spring the dam went out and the mill was not got in order to
saw until the month of September ’52. The time intervening between ’48 –
’52 I have already classified as being the period of the first white settlement
of Waupaca County. Squatter’s cabins
had begun to dot the plains in all directions.
Villages were platted, mercantile and manufacturing establishments
erected and in full operation; agricultural pursuits commenced; all in
violation of law, and parties occupying lands, trespassers. The Indian title to the territory of Waupaca
County east of Wolf river not yet having been surrendered nor possession given
until June ’52. The Republican March 26, 1886 EARLY REMINISCENCES From the Weyauwega Chronicle EIGHTH PAPER. By an act of the legislature of 1851, Waupaca county and
town of Waupaca was organized, the territory embraced within the limits of
organization constituted both town and county.
By the organic act, Mukwa was made the temporary County seat, with a
provision that two years after the first annual election, the voters should
vote for the permanent location of the county seat. The first election held under the requirements of the
legislative act was held at Rolf’s Tavern at Mukwa in April following, and was
considered by the voters to the be first town meeting for the town of
Waupaca. Peter Meiklejohn, Tyler
Caldwell and D. Scott were elected Supervisors; Charley Gumaer, Town clerk, and
Ware Boyd Sumner and Brandy, Justices of the Peace. All duly qualified, and proceeded to discharge the all important
duties incumbent upon their respective titles.
The May following their election the Town Board of Supervisors held
their first meeting and, acting in the double capacity of Town and county
board, proceeded to set off, organize, and establish the town of Mukwa, Lind,
and Centerville. Weyauwega increasing
the number of organized town to five in this county. They also established eight road districts in the county at this
first meeting. Waupaca was still
attached to Winnebago County for judicial purposes; our justices not yet having
commenced to spread their judicial lore upon their docket record. The local jurisprudence of this county was,
at this time, confined to the Indian code, which was brief and sure No dilly-dallying or postponing he day of
grace or vengeance. In the spring of ’52, a band of Indians with their
families were camped on the north side of the Waupaca River just east of the
village, for the ostenscious purpose, as had been their custom every spring for
years, of making maple sugar. Many of
the old settlers are familiar with the old Indian sugar bush, at and around the
Hatter place. While engaged in this
sweet vocation, that is, the squaws and children, the lords of creation stalked
about he camp smoking their pipes and looked down with disdain upon manual
labor, even if it was manufacturing the sweet that so tickled their
palates. Two strapping, stalwart
braves, while thus stalking around got into a quarrel, when one of them called
the other the worst epithet in the Indian vocabulary “A squaw and a coward”, a
signal for deadly combat. His adversary
spring upon him, and with savage ferocity plunged a large knife, deep to the
hilt, into his breast, dropping him dead at his feet. An unearthly yell went up throughout the camp. The murderer stood stoical and unmoved,
awaiting the hand of the avenger. A messenger was sent on the run to the village for
Tourtelotte, an Indian trader, who, upon receiving the news, and understanding
the code to be that under certain mitigatory or extenuating circumstances,
penalty for crime could be commuted to the avenger, immediately started to the
scene of the tragedy with a pack of goods.
Arriving upon the grounds he found everything in readiness for an Indian
execution. Two graves had been dug upon
the side of one lay the body of the murdered victim ready for interment, on the
side of the other, with feet and legs hanging in the grave, sat the
murderer. Immediately behind the doomed
man stood his executioner, a large, brawny, savage-looking squaw who happened
to be the nearest of kin to the murdered brave, and who, under their code,
became the avenger and executioner; with tomahawk uplifted, she earnestly
awaited the signal to send it crashing through his skull, standing around in a
circle, enclosing both, was a dozen or more Indians and squaws continuing their
unearthly yelling. A scene for the
pencil of an artist. Tourtelotte,
taking in the situation at a glance, began to lay out his goods upon the ground
and offered commutation to he avenger, at which the tomahawk of the executioner
drop by her side. After a moment’s
consultation, “Cowin-ne-she” this rang through the crowd, and up went the
tomahawk into the air. Tourtelotte
increased the pile and down went the hatchet again. Another moment of suspense.
Again the same exclamation, and again up went the hatchet the third and
last, as their custom. The trader threw
out another blanket, and the hand of the executioner was staid. The victim slowly drew his legs out of the
grave, straightened himself up with the usual Indian grunt, “Ugh!” and spoke a
few words purporting to be thanking the Great Spirit. Crime expiated; murder avenged by commutation, satisfactory to
the whole camp. It may be asked where
the trader got his pay for his goods?
Bill Masers says all accounts of traders and interpreters are preferred
claims at all Government Indian agencies – and he knows. In the same summer of ’52, another similar tragedy was
enacted in the town of Weyauwega just above Gills Landing on the Wolf. An old feud existed between two chiefs of the Wolf River
bands, Nimetosh and Wakecheon, one having headquarters at the mouth of the
Little Wolf and another at the mouth of the Schioc. While coming down the river in their canoes, accompanied by their
respective bands, Nimetosh with his squaw took the lead of the fleet. Rounding the bend at he upper end of the
island opposite Gills Landing, he paddled in the shore and got out, taking his
gun with him, leaving his squaw sitting in the canoe. Taking a position he
anxiously awaited for Wakecheon to round the bend and make his appearance within
range of his rifle. His murderous
longings were soon satisfied, and when within range Nimetosh drew a bead and
sent a leaden messenger through the heart of Wakechoen, and he pitched forward
into his canoe, dead. Nimetosh stepped into his canoe, threw in his gun, and
with his squaw, shoved it down the stream.
He stepped a few steps up the bank and, folding his arms across his
breast, coolly awaited the hands of his avengers. Both bands quickly landed and
formed a circle around him. The work of
trial, conviction and sentence was quick and sure; much quicker than I can
sketch it. I have been somewhat
specific in sketching these incidents for the purpose of showing to what extend
the untutored savage places his faith and confidence in traditionary maxims,
and coolly submits without a murmur or flinch, with no shuffling or effort to
evade his just doom, for the Great Spirit hates a coward. Examples worthy of more civilized emulation.
As in the other case, a squaw was nearest of kin, and
became executioner, but other relations in the ring took an avenging hand in
the execution. The old chief stood
without a murmur, no turban about his head, but bared for the tomahawk during
the preliminary demonstrations of chanting, howling and waving of hatchets in
the air. While marching slowly around,
the executioner, coming within suitable distance, the signal was given, and
down came the tomahawk, crashing into the brain of Nimetosh; each in turn as he
passed into the ring; gave him an extra whack until he was literally hacked to
pieces. The bodies of the two chiefs were placed in canoes and taken to their
final resting places on the Wolf River.
One near the place of tragedy, and the other near the Schioc, and many
of the old settlers when passing to view the graves and listen to the little
Indian drums rattling in the wind.
These are the only two Indian murders on record ever committed in the
town of Weyauwega. The Republican April 2, 1886 Charles Doty who lived at Weyauwega in 1853 has been reading some of Bill Waterhouse’s reminiscences of old times, and says Bill has forgotten to mention one incident. Waterhouse used to be a great fiddler, and on one occasion was sitting in the door of his dwelling playing the “Devil’s Dream”, when a storm came up and lightning struck a tree, and enough of the fluid surrounded William to render him insensible. When he came to himself the boys say he was playing “old hundred” in a most effective style.
|