Outagamie County, WI - "New London Named After Conn. City" ************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************* Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives Subject: newspaper article "New London Named After Conn. City" Submitted by: county coordinator EMAIL: jmmarasch@aol.com Date Submitted: 15 March 2000 Source: New London Press newspaper article from Bicentennial issue, undated. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - New London Named After Conn. City by Lester Lehman About 1819, a sutler came to Fort Howard at Green Bay. When the eastern half of Wisconsin was detached from Michilimackinac County to form Brown County, this sutler was appointed as this country's first sheriff. He was a white man and was respected by the red man. Chief Grizzly Bear, who later resided at Omro, insisted during the Black Hawk War upon the appointment of this white man as one, of the captains. His commission was approved by an old frontiersman, President Andrew Jackson. After completing his tour of duty, about 1833, the veteran erected two log cabins at the present site of Oshkosh, where he began operating a ferry and trading post. He remained here one year, sold out, and returned to Green Bay. This white frontiersman was George Johnston. About 1848 or 49, two of his sons, William and George, Jr., came to the mouth of Embarrass, where they started a trading post. They built a log cabin. where Taft's Park is presently located. The Taft's Park, at that time, was perhaps the highest point on the north bank of the Wolf. About the time the trading post began, John Bannister of Fond du Lac bought from the U.S. Government a large tract of land east of the present Division Street. On 1 February 1850, Alfred Gilson, Winnebago County, bought a tract west of Bannister's. After a series of land transactions and litigations, both tracts of land plus what is located east of Lincoln Street on the north side wound up as "Bannister-Bowen-Smith" and "Reeder Smith" plats. During the spring or summer of 1850, George W. Law, Joseph Turney and Thomas Nickel, Jr. only 18 years old, from Utica Township of Winnebago County, came through New London on their way to the Embarrass region to gather tan bark from hemlock trees. The only two residents of New London, William and George Johnston, Jr., were listed on a Federal Census Report, dated 10 September 1850, Winneconne Township, Winnebago County. No inhabitants were listed for the south side of the Wolf, all of which was in Hortonia Township. During the summer of 1850, Ira Brown was engaged in boating supplies up the Wolf River from Oshkosh to a trading post near Shawano. During the fall, he came with his family to settle at what is now New London. According to the surveyor's remarks, Ira Brown's house was located 25 chains or 1,650 feet, or 5 blocks west from the trading post - pinpointed at the present corner of Lima and North Water streets. Later, during the same autumn, Welcome Hyde, Samuel Petingill, Francis Fairbanks, and an unidentified lumberjack journeyed with a yoke of oxen and sled from Oshkosh. They followed an old Indian trail from New London to what is now the village of Embarrass. During early February of 1851, the Edward, the Holcomb, and the George Lutsey's families came up from Oshkosh to live in vicinity of what is now Tew's Garage. Here all three families lived in a recently built log cabin that measured only 12 x 13 feet. On February 15, 1851, the state legislature issued the Wolf River Branch of Winnebago Lake and Fox River Road Company a charter, granting them authority to construct a road from Appleton to a point of the Wolf River or Wisconsin River as the company may judge best. On February 17, 1951, certain territories were detached from Brown and Winnebago Counties to form Outagamie and Waupaca Counties. The first election of Waupaca County was held on April 1, 1851 at Rolph's Tavern in Mukwa village. Ira Brown was the only man in New London who could have possibly attended. March 14, 1851, issue of the Oshkosh Democrat: "Messrs, John Bannister and A.B. Bowen of Fond du Lac propose laying out a new town on the east side of Wolf' River, opposite the mouth of Embarrass River." During mid-April of 1851, ten, prospectors walked up from Utica Township of Winnebago County to' New London in search of land. Among them were Gabriel Cornish and Jerry Merickle who later settled in the New London area. Here they stayed at the camp of a Menominee Indian chief of this area, They returned to Utica and a few week later returned to New London. This time they came with a yoke of' oxen, requiring two days from Oshkosh to Hortonville, then another day to reach New London, being obliged to cut the brush away along the way. A man whom Cornish believed was a half-breed ferried the party across the Wolf River in a dugout at Johnstons' trading post. On the south side of the river was a growth of scrub pine and oak, and between the, "Plywood" and within a block of the former M.W. Knapstein house was a large slough. On the north side New London was somewhat timbered and what is now North Water street was somewhat open. Under the trees were encamped hundreds of Indians, who had just returned from the maple sugar harvest. Some were drunk. Cornish verified that the trading post was operated by the Johnston brothers. Lucius Taft, Appleton, a mail carrier between Neenah and Green Bay, came here during the spring or early summer of 1851. While a person by the name of Bowles of Utica Township was here in search for land, he was hired by Taft to build a frame house, for which he was paid $30 in gold. On June 23, 1851 George Edward Lutsey (Elwood) was born in that small cabin located near what is now Tew's Garage. During the winter of 1851-52, the Samuel Price family lived with Lucius Taft in the newly built frame house. During the winter, in that house a baby was born, whose name was Mary Price. (Ware's history claims the baby's name was Rob Price.) On 4 March 1852, the George Lutsey family moved into a large log house located near what is now Sugar Bush. He sold his claim, vicinity of the Handschke farm, to Samuel Price. The Edward and the Holcomb families had left for Maple Creek previously. During the spring of 1852, either Ira Millerd, Jr. or Ira Millerd, Sr., or both, came to New London from Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Merrett Reynolds had a claim near the northerly city limits. On June 26, 1852, the George Lutsey family began their trip to Ohio to visit Mrs. Lutsey's folks. They spent the first night of their journey at Ira Brown's hotel or tavern, which was located where the Post Office now stands. On Oct. 2, 1852, Charles Brown, son of Ira Brown, was born. On Nov. 7, 1852, Samuel Perrin and his crew completed surveying of Mukwa Township. The surveyor's remarks listed only three houses within the city limits: trading post, Ira Brown's and Samuel Price's. However, I know there were two more: Ira Brown's hotel or tavern and Taft's house, which were obviously hidden among the trees. During early 1853, there was a great deal of discussion about where the Appleton-Stevens Point Road would be routed through Mukwa Township. The general consenus was that it would run along the Mukwa Road, because Mukwa Village was the county seat and a larger business center, and that it would cost less to build than if it were routed through the Mouth of the Embarrass. According to the Feb. 25. 1853 issue of the Oshkosh Democrat, Reeder Smith of Appleton had just returned from Boston and New York, where he negotiated the sale of $10,000 worth of bonds for the Appleton- Kaukauna Road and $5,000 for Wolf River Road. The Fond du Lac journal reported that $50,000 worth of stock was subscribed. On Thursday, March 10, 1853, the first marriage ceremony in New London was performed. Catherine A. Nickle of Maple Creek and William McDonald were united in marriage by Justice of Peace Ransom Nichol, from near Mukwa Village, at the Ira Millerd residence. The Ira Millerd family was living in Taft's house and Lucius Taft had moved into the loft of the warehouse. On April 2, 1853, State of Wisconsin authorized Ira Millerd and Lucius Taft to maintain a ferry across the Wolf River in Section No. 12 oi township No. 22 north of Range No. 14 east. (Johnston's Landing). The owners were entitled to charge 25 cents for the crossing of each yoke of oxen, 10 cents for each additional horse or ox, 20 cents for man and horse, 5 cents each for cattle or horses in droves, 3 cents each for hogs and sheep, 10 cents each for foot passengers. No other ferry was permitted within one mile and the franchise was in effect for five years. During 1853, Ira Brown was treasurer of Mukwa Township. He was not only New London's first public officeholder, but possibly the first town treasurer of Mukwa. During the spring of 1853, at Johnston's Landing, Maria Millerd, 15, daughter of Ira, Sr. taught school -- the first ever in New London. Before she could meet the requirements for teaching, she passed an informal examination conducted by superintendent of schools for Mukwa Township, Joseph S. St. Johns. On April 13, 1853, School District No. 1 of Mukwa Township was formed, comprised of all Mukwa Township south of the Wolf River. A building was purchased from William N. Davis, near Mukwa Village, moved to a site two miles southwest of New London, where it was. converted into a schoolhouse. I doubt very much that there were any students attending from New London. About July of 1853, it was reported that a wharf and warehouse had already been erected where Taft's Park is located, and that Ira Millerd operated a store at his residence. Three river steamers, Badger State, Barlow, and John Mitchell, were making irregular trips up the Wolf River to New London. Up to now, Milo Lyon, a boy about 13 or 14 years of age, was bringing the mail from Mukwa. A group of interested citizens living near Johnston's Landing submitted an application for establishment of a Post Office. Reeder Smith got wind of it. Immediately he filed a protest with the congressman whom he knew quite well, stating that the person recommended for postmaster did not meet his approval. Reeder Smith proposed that the town be named "New London", after New London, Conn., where his father was born, and recommended that Wm. McMillen be named Postmaster. On the south bank of the Embarrass the new Postmaster operated a store that was known as "Old Setting Hen". Hortonville, New London, Manchester, and Waupaca were served from Appleton. Date of establishment of a Post Office at New London was Feb. 6, 1854. On Feb. 10, 1854, the state legislature gave the Townships of Grand Chute, Greenville, Hortonia, Mukwa, Centreville, Scandinavia, Waupaca, Plover, and Stevens Point an option to subscribe for capital stock of the Wolf River Branch of the Winnebago Lake and Fox River Plank Road Company. During spring of 1854, Reeder Smith told Rev. Alfred C. Lathrop of Neenah about New London, a settlement on the banks of the Wolf. Rev. Lathrop walked to this village to see for himself. When the Lathrop family arrived here during the fall of 1854, their first home was the loft of Taft's warehouse. Rev. Lathrop was New London's first resident pastor, but there were nonresident pastors who may have visited here prior to Lathrop's pastorate, among whom were Rev. Reinhardt and possibly Rev. Mitchell of Hortonville. There were only six buildings in the down-town area, owners were: Ira Millerd, Lucius Taft, E.P. and R. Perry, George Lutsey, Isaac Hanson, and Alfred Lyon. A hotel was built on the northwest Cont. on Page 8 corner of State and North Water streets by Ira Millerd, Jr. and Sr., and Lucius Taft. It measured 35 x 50 feet and was a story and half building, sold for $500 and three lots to boot with the stipulation that the buyer will operate the hotel. George Lutsey acquired the hotel on March 15, 1854, but the transaction was dated July 29, 1854. The Lutseys had $450 in gold and silver as, proceeds from operating a backwoods hotel plus what was realized from the sale of one-half of their farm in Maple Creek. With this money they bought and furnished the "Lutsey House". Ryan's History of Outagamie County states that the citizens were equally divided on the Plank Road issue and that the stages would be ready to run by the latter part of June, and stopping points would be Appleton, Hortonville, New London, and other places. On August 9, 1854, Ebenezer and Robert Perry purchased from Reeder Smith two lots on which the Post Office is presently located and one lot where the Manske Tavern is now. At the time there was a log cabin which served as a tavern or hotel, operated by Ira Brown, who was a witness to the transaction. Price was $100. Construction of the Perry House could have been well underway before the papers were signed. About 1854, where Ort's Mill now stands, Giles S. Doty and Reeder Smith erected a steam powered sawmill. Because this engine was handmade by persons who had a limited knowledge of steam power, it just wouldn't run until Dan Coffin, a very capable millwright, put it in running order. The Reeder Smith Plat located in Outagamie and Waupaca Counties was registered on Sept. 21, 1854 with the Outagamie County Register of Deeds, and on Oct. 10, 1854 with the Waupaca County Register of Deeds. The first Catholic Mass offered in New London was celebrated in 1855, and according to legend the celebrant was Father Paul Farinacci. During his priesthood at St. Malachy's Mission, west of Neenah, he offered the first Mass at site of Oshkosh. His farewell sermon was delivered on the morning of May ? At Oshkosh and on the evening of the same day he married Edilia Webb of Weyauwega. Either special arrangement was made for his service or his name was erroneously listed. The first Catholic Service was possibly held on the northwest corner of Smith and Wolf River Streets, where John Baltes may have lived, a year before the Charles Sambs family arrived. On March 19, 1855, the state legislature approved the appointment of J. D. Post, Noah Brooks and Giles Doty as commissioners to lay out and establish a state road from Berlin, through Holly's Mills on Pine River, Brook's Mills on Little River, Weyauwega, New London, and then to intersect the state road located between Menasha and Shawano. During the spring of 1855, steamer "Eureka" was put in operation under the command of Capt. Enos F. Drummond who was assigned the Wolf River route. On April 12, 1855, Lucius Taft married Letitia Holcomb at Menasha. When he returned with his bride, the Lathrops moved across the river into a new log cabin built by Rev. Lathrop. During May 1855, George Lutsey sold the Lutsey House to Henry Ketchum, who changed the name of the hotel to "New London House". The price was $1,200. June 1, 1855, each town clerk filed with the State a Heads of Families Census Report for his township. According to the Mukwa report, one would say there were about 100 persons living in New London. On an old document, dated June 13, 1855, was a list of subscribers for the first artesian well in New London. Thirteen undersigned subscribers agreed to pay Ira Milerd the listed sums of money for sinking an artesian well near the Millerd residence and the Lutsey House (N.L. House). On Aug. 18, 1855, the Millerd & Taft Addition Plat was recorded with the Waupaca County Register of deeds at Mukwa . On Aug. 18, 1855, Ira Millerd and Giles S. Doty represented Mukwa Township at a Democratic convention that was held at Hortonville. A month later, Sept. 7, 1855, at the same village, W.E. Hanson and Ebenezer P. Perry represented Mukwa Township at a Republican Convention (Whig), where a strongly worded anti-slavery resolution was passed.