Outagamie County, WI - "- Three Railroads in Competition for New London Line-" ************************************************************* 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 "- Three Railroads in Competition for New London Line-" Submitted by: county coordinator EMAIL: jmmarasch@aol.com Date Submitted: 15 March 2000 Source: New London Press newspaper article from Bicentennial issue, undated. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Three Railroads in Competition for New London Line Sometime ago Sheldon Hale went into partnership with Reeder Smith in operating the steam sawmill that was built in 1854. According to the Jan. 16, 1957 issue of New London Times, this partnership was just dissolved and that any person who owed money to Reeder Smith, pay either to John P. Jewett at Appleton or James Lindsley of New London. Immediately after, Hale went in partnership with Benjamen Stimson. They began building a vastly larger steam saw mill and grist mill at an estimated cost of $8,000. The July 31, 1857 issue of the New London Times reported that one of the best saw mills in Wisconsin has just been completed in New London. The Aug. 28 issue mentioned that Coffin (an employe) turned out 1,000 laths in 23 minutes with a ten inch saw, making 4,200 r.p.m. The year of 1857 went down in history of New London as the year of the paper railroads. Three of these railroads were competing for local aid and support for building a line to New London. (1) NEENAH, WOLF RIVER, and WAUSAU RAILROAD:-Was granted a franchise on February 28th to build a railroad from Neenah to Wausau, via New London, promoted by Reeder Smith who had been soliciting support at various towns along the proposed route. Reeder Smith's previous success in building the Appelton & Stevens Point Plank Road and now a jump ahead in promoting a railroad aroused other promoters who were interested in New London. (2) RIPON and WOLF RIVER RAILROAD: -Was a subsidiary of Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad. On March 6th, the state legislature authorized and empowered the Mukwa Town Board to issue bonds in the amount of $50,000 on the conditions required and for the aid of Ripon & Wolf River Railroad. This had never materialized. (3) FOX RIVER & NEW LONDON RAILROAD:-On March 6 was granted a franchise to build a railroad from either Oshkosh or Omro, or any point between the two. Charter stockholders were: Ira Millerd, Sr., Charles Lindsley, Ira Millerd, Jr., James Lindsley, John C. Hoxie, Horac Dean, Alonzo Daugherty, Henry Ketchum, Lucius Taft, Robert Perry, Nelson E. Hyde, and Welcome Hyde. At that time commercial transportation in this area was monopolized by the Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad, which ran a track all the way to Berlin, plus six river steamers that were recently acquired: PEARL, OSHKOSH CITY, W.A. Knapp, Peytona, Eureka, and MENOMONEE, which sailed the Fox and the Wolf Rivers, and Lake Winnebago. Their subsidiary, Ripon and Wolf River Railroad had announced that it would have a track from Ripon to New London within 18 months. Village fathers of New London were looking forward also to a railroad from Green Bay and one from Appleton. One of the first days during the month of February, a group of Congregationalists held a preliminary meeting at the residence of L. Taft, and on the night of February 7th they completed the necessary arrangements at the home of Alonzo Daugherty, Sr. At Globe Hall on Sunday, Feb. 8, public services were held and the First Congregational Church was organized. The New London Times, Feb. 13, 1857, stated that a sum of $290 would clear the skirts of their office for debt, and that they propose the people to subscribe from $5 to $10 each and take it out in subscriptions or job printing. The Feb. 27 issue of the Times: "The first spikes for the new bridge were driven on Wednesday last. The bridge; when finished will not only be an ornament, but a benefit to the village." (End) Since "pile driving" wasn't mentioned, no doubt, it was the foot bridge. By this time there was already a bridge across the Embarrass River at what is now the St. John's Street. During the spring of 1857, Rev. Martin Stephan, Jr., Trinity Lutheran of Oshkosh, visited the German Lutherans of New London. Rev. Friedrich Ruhland, Stephan's successor at Oshkosh, reported that Rev. Stephan had visited New London several times to preach and serve the Lutherans there. New London Times, June 5, 1857 issue:-STATE ROAD:-Messr. A.J. Duferr and Ira Millerd, Jr., have just completed a survey of a state road to be laid out between Steven's Point and this village. It will pass through some of the growing villages in this county. It will be an important road. An Evangelical minister, August Huelster, 1856, worked up through New London from Oshkosh, until he found an open door with Mr. and Mrs. Giesbert Stichman, Maple Creek, in whose house he conducted services. In 1857, the newly appointed pastor, Rev. William Zickrick, continued conducting services in the Stichman and the Ruckdaschel homes. William and Mary Ann Sloan of Northport deeded two acres on Aug. 29, 1857, located at Northport, for a building site of the St. Francis Church, which is frequently confused with the latter St. Bridget's Church. On Nov. 21, the Little Prairie School became Joint School District number 5. The area east of Division Street in Hortonia Township was attached. About November, the New London Times suspended operations. Editor Andrew Lawson went to Waupaca where he organized the Waupaca Register. George Holdridge and Leslie Perry followed.