Waupaca County WI Archives History - Books .....Chapter XII 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 26, 2008, 5:04 am Book Title: History Of Waupaca Co., WI CHAPTER XII. TOWN OF MUKWA—FIRST SETTLEMENT — VILLAGE OF MUKWA — VILLAGE OF NORTHPORT— SMILEY'S ANECDOTES — CITY OF NEW LONDON—THE FIRST SCHOOL. THE TOWN OF MUKWA. The Town of Mukwa comprises Township 22, Range 14 east. It is bounded on the north by the Town of Lebanon, on the east by Outagamie County, on the south by Caledonia, and on the west by Royalton. FIRST SETTLEMENT. In the Spring of 1848, J. G. Nordman made a claim two miles south of New London, and entered the land by a soldier's land warrant, of the Mexican war. The next year he had a little corn patch. Ira Brown made a claim on the north side of the river in 1850, and Lucius Taft made one the next Spring. In 1852, Ira Millerd and Lucius Taft bought out the Johnsons, -who were Indian traders. Mr. Reynolds made a claim here in 1852, and Mr. Burnell made a claim at Mosquito Hill the same year. Messrs. Doty and Smith started a portable saw mill in 1854, on the site now occupied by Meiklejohn & Hatten. The first school taught in the town was in 1852, at Mukwa, by Mrs. Stevens. The first school house was built in 1852, at Mukwa. The first church (Catholic) was built at Northport in 1857. The first marriage was William McDonald and Miss Nichols. The first death was Mr. McCorrison, in 1851. The first birth was a child of W. N. Davis, of Mukwa, in 1851. The first saw mill was built by Robert Grignon, in 1848. The first grist mill was built at New London, in 1857, by Mr. Hale. The first postoffice was established at Mukwa, in 1851, with C. E. P. Hobart for postmaster. It was on the route from Green Bay to Stevens Point. The first store was started at Mukwa, in 1850, by C. E. P. Hobart. H. Rolph started the first hotel and saloon, at Mukwa, in 1849. The Town of Mukwa was organized by act of the County Board, at a special meeting held in March, 1852; and at the organic election, held April 6, 1852, W. N. Davis was elected Chairman, and James Smiley Town Clerk. The first apple trees were planted by James Smiley, in 1851. VILLAGE OF MUKWA. The Village of Mukwa, which obtained such notoriety during the "County Seat War," was platted in 1851 by B. F. Phillips and August Grignon. It was formerly a great trading point for the upper Wolf River country. Charles Carron, a half-breed, had his trading post here from 1838 to 1846. It afterwards became the County seat,— and what a wonderful advance in the price of village lots! But a change came; the County seat was moved elsewhere, and the bubble burst. VILLAGE OF NORTHPORT. This village was platted by J. S. Stoddard and S. Burbank in. 1855. It was first called Stevens Point, then New Boston, and finally given its present name. Its population is about 350. It is situated in the northern part of the Town of Mukwa, on the Wolf River, three miles below the City of New London. It has 1 general store, 2 saloons, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 saw mill and lumber yard, 1 planing mill, 2 churches, and 1 hotel. The first settler was a man named Stevens. William Patrick came early in 1851, and Elijah Humes and his son Alden came in the same year. Patrick built a warehouse. In 1874 a substantial draw bridge was built across the Wolf River at this place. In 1857 a Catholic Church was built; but it was burned. The present structure was built in 1866. The Methodist Church was built in 1864. SMILEY'S ANECDOTES. James Smiley, to whom we are under many obligations, is a hale, hospitable gentleman, living quietly in his pleasant home near Northport. He took a prominent part in our County affairs at an early day, and enjoys telling about being taken to jail because he refused to give up the books and papers in his office to those who he thought had no legal right to them. He was born in Ireland, June 20, 1815. He came to this country in 1837, and has resided in Waupaca County since 1851, having held several important offices. He is one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the State, having been a member of the order for forty-five years. Mr. Smiley loves to tell good anecdotes, a few of which we shall try to repeat: INDIAN DOGS AND SMILEY'S PIGS. Mr. Smiley had, at considerable trouble and expense, procured some pigs, which were allowed to run at large about the premises. A band of some 400 Indians -were encamped in the neighborhood, while there were but four or five white families near. One day Mr. Smiley caught the Indians setting their dogs on his pigs, and having lots of fun. Upon a repetition of the offense, he took his rifle and started for their camp. A squaw saw him coming, and, divining the cause, made haste to secure the safety of her canine pet by hustling it into her tent, and tried to prevent Smiley from pursuing it. But the dog, not having the fear of shooting irons before its eyes, darted out to see what the fuss was about. Smiley was a good marksman, and that dog was soon where dead Indian dogs go, much to the chagrin of the squaw. Smiley then took a lot of vension, cut it into thin slices, sweetened it with strychnine, and generously fed it to the offending curs. He soon had fifteen -where porcine heels would never more have any attractions for them, and their bark was silenced forever. The next morning fifteen exasperated Indians, late owners of the defunct curs, all dressed in their war paint, made their appearance at the house of Mr. Smiley. One said, "You kill-um my dog last night; you pay me ten dollar." Another said, "You kill-um my dog, too; you pay me five dollar." And so it went, until all had put in their claims, at the same time threatening to shoot his dog, unless theirs were paid for. Smiley told them that they might kill his dog; but, if they did, some of them would start at once for the "happy hunting grounds." That was enough. Smiley never paid for their dogs, and his own was not killed. MEIKLEJOHN'S LAW SUIT. Peter Meiklejohn was a Justice of the Peace, and had a criminal case before him. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury cleared the accused, and fined the Justice half a pound of tobacco for each of their number. The joke was too good for "Pete" to "kick," and the "fine" was paid. In those primitive times it was quite the fashio.n at law suits, in Justices' Courts, for the parties in the suit to set jugs of whisky on the table, for the use of the Court, jury and witnesses, and the man who furnished the best liquor and the biggest jug generally won. A MUKWA DIVORCE. Mike Bradley married in Chicago, and brought his wife to Mukwa. The couple had the misfortune to quarrel once in a while, and in one of their differences Mike struck his weaker part with his fist. She applied for redress to Squire Brandy, who had Mike arrested and fined $25. Then Mr. Smiley made out some divorce papers, which both parties signed. Mike then paid his fine, which was used in taking his divorced wife back to Chicago. AN INDIAN THIEF. The following anecdote was related to us by a different person, but it is worth repeating: In 1851 a large number of Indians were at Mukwa. Several whites were stopping at the hotel. One day a woman, in taking in washing, missed a certain article of female apparel, commonly called a "night dress." An effort was at once made to find the thief. After much searching, some one discovered an Indian with a ruffle peeping from under his blanket. Knowing that Indians seldom wore such ornaments, the discoverer made a further investigation, and found the missing garment transformed into an Indian's shirt. The Indian was at once turned over to the tender mercies of the white women and squaws, who soon managed to disrobe the red thief. Then the other Indians commenced jeering him, pointing their fingers at him, and calling him "Winnebago, Winnebago," meaning "bad Indian." CITY OF NEW LONDON. The City of New London is located on Sections 1, 12, and 13, of the Town of Mukwa, and also on a contiguous portion of Outagamie County. Like many Western towns, its growth from an insignificant hamlet to an important city has been truly phenomenal; and we can not think that New London has seen its best days. Its natural and acquired advantages, its capital, its push, all will combine to save it from the fate of so many mushroom prodigies of the West. In 1853 Ira Millerd started the first store within the present limits of New London. In 1856 the first postoffice was established, with William McMillen as postmaster. The first frame house was erected by Ira Brown in 1851. The first child born was Elwood Lutsey, in 1851. The first land claims made within the city limits were by Holcomb, Edwards, and Lutsey, in 1851. In 1853 George Lutsey kept the first hotel. The first newspaper was published in 1857 by A. J. Lawson. It was the New London Times. In 1869 John Ogden established the present Times. CITY ORGANIZATION. The first city officers, elected in 1877, were as follows: Mayor—J. C. Hoxie. Aldermen—First Ward, August Kappernick; Second Ward, James Hopperton; Third Ward, Theodore Knapstein; Fourth Ward, I. M. Deming. Clerk, C. M. Taylor; Justices of the Peace, V. Mischock, W. H. Walker, J. W. Bishop, C. Berely; Chief of Police, J. Murray; Treasurer, A. H. Pape. New London has 36 stores, 3 saw mills, 1 excelsior mill, 1 furniture factory, 1 planing mill, 1 grist mill, 2 breweries, 1 bottling works, 4 wagon works, 1 bee-hive factory, 1 grain elevator, 1 hay-pressing establishment, 1 bank, 5 hotels, 6 churches, a good high school and ward and parochial schools, and 1 newspaper. The professions, of course, are well represented. City officers for 1890: Mayor—R. S. Johnson. Aldermen—John Jagoditsh, August Plath, Henry Knapstein, E. H. Ramm, H. K. Jillson. City Clerk, C. E. Dickinson; Treasurer, John Dengel; Chief of Police, Charles Taggert; City Attorney, L. S. Porter; Assessor, George Freiberger; Supervisors —Fred Radkey, A. W. Jillson, B. Miller, B. A. Weatherby, I. M. Deming. New London is in the midst of an excellent farming district, at the head of navigation on the Wolf River, and at the junction of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western, and the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul railroads. It has resources and facilities for making it one of the best markets for farmers in Northern Wisconsin, and of late years has been coming rapidly to the front as an available point for manufacturing. The city has a population of 2,130, according to the census of 1890. THE FIRST SCHOOL. We have been permitted to copy a well written paper, giving an account of the first school taught in New London. It is from the pen of Mrs. C. L. Allen, formerly Miss Maria Millerd, and first read before the Old Settlers' Society, of New London: "In the year 1852 we arrived at the Village of New London, known as 'the Mouth of the Embarrass.' The village consisted of two families, and in order to draw school money for the ensuing year we were obliged to have three months school before a stated time. I was chosen teacher, being the only young lady in town who could devote time to the undertaking. " The next thing to be considered was the certificate. Being quite young, still in the period of short dresses, I looked forward to the examination with fear and trembling. In those days teachers were placed under the supervision of Town Superintendents. "The Superintendent came on Sunday. The much dreaded examination consisted of the questions, 'Where are the Straits of Behring?' and ' How far have you been in arithmetic?' Grammar and all other studies were omitted, I suppose for the sake of brevity. He asked me to give him a sample of my penmanship. I wrote 'Sabath morning,' leaving out one of the b's in the first word, for the same reason, we will premise, that he left out the other studies. " The school began the next week, it being then the Spring of 1853. One of my dresses had in the meantime been lengthened, to add dignity to my youthful appearance. "Our own house was 16 x 22 feet, the front part being occupied as a store, -while in the other we lived and kept hotel. As there was no room in which to keep the school, we organized it upon the stairs, and kept it there until the weather became warmer, when we migrated to the doorstep. "On the bank of the river stood a double log house. Part of it had been used for a warehouse, and the other part for a stable. As the weather became warmer, it was found necessary to provide a school room for us; so we 'birds of passage' flitted to the old warehouse, which was then obliged to do double duty, for the boat often came in during school hours. " The other half of the building was still used as a stable, and, as the flies were very thick, the oxen were kept there through the day. With their lowing and stamping, the unloading of freight, and the occasional visit of an Indian, our school was not a model of order. "Within an enclosure near the school room was kept an old muley cow, which went crazy at the sight of an Indian. To go and quiet her was one of my duties whenever a noble red man put in an appearance. "There were seven pupils enrolled, but the average attendance was about two and one-half. One of them in particular I was never sure of. He was always there at roll call, but when it came time for him to read he was generally missing. Being extremely hard to catch, he usually went without instruction in that branch. "At the end of the year I received $10, which I invested in real estate that eventually brought me $200. I shall leave others to say whether value was received for service rendered." Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY, WISCONSIN. By J. WAKEFIELD, Historian of Old Settlers' Society of Waupaca County. WAUPACA, WIS.: D. L. STINCHFIELD, 1890. COPYRIGHT, 1890, BY J. WAKEFIELD AND D. L. STINCHFIELD. Printed by D. L. STINCHFIELD, Waupaca, Wis. Bound by W. B. CONKEY, Chicago. 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