Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 31 of those read), 1880

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 31 of those read)

jHE following list shows the political subdivisions of the county. To make it complete and convenient for reference, the date of territorial, state and county organizations, with the extinguishment of Indian title to all the land in the limits of the county, and the organization of each town, in its regular order, is given. This last will be found valuable, as it is the only one which gives a full list of the organization of the towns in this count}-; the county records being defective.

County Organization

Winnebago County set off from Brown County, by act of Territorial Legislature, approved January 6, 1840, and commissioners appointed by same act to select a location for count}' seat.

The territor}' now constituting the County of Winnebago, the Indian title to which was extinguished at various dates and obtained by the United States from different sources, was acquired and offered for sale in something like the following order:

At a treaty held at Rock Island, February '3. I'^SS- the Winnebagoes ceded that portion lying east of Lower Fo.x Riverj including Doty's Island, being Sections i, 2, 10, 11, i; I3i I4> 15. 22, 23, and the fraction of 3, Town 20, Range 17, which was offered for sale August 31, 1835; also, all that portion of the county lying south of Fox River, viz: Township 17, Ranges 14, 15, 16 and 17; Towns i8 and 19, Range 15; and Town 18, Ranges 14 and 16, south of the river; offered for sale in June and November, 1838.

September 3, 1836, the Menominees relinquished their claim, at the Cedar Rapids | Treaty, to all that portion north of Fox River and Lake Winnebago, and east of Wolf River. In April, 1840, a portion of this (the greateq portion) was placed in market, viz: Town-j ship 18, Range 17; Township 19, Ranges 16^ and 17; and so much of Township 18, Range 16, Township 19, Range 15, and Township 20,

October 2, 1843, all that portion of Township 20, Range 17, not before offered for sale or reserved (Winnebago Rapids Reservation, see City of Neenah), was offered for sale for two weeks, and all that was not sold at that time was withdrawn from market.

January 12, 1846, all lands in Township 20, Range 17, previously offered (August 31, 183s, and October 2, 1843), and not sold were now offered at private entry; the sale of 1835 being an auction sale, to the highest bidder.

October 18, 1848, the Government obtained the title to all lands belonging to the Menominees within the State, and included Township 18, Range 14, north ofFox River; Township 19, Range 15, north of the Fox and west of the Wolf Rivers; Township 20, Range 14, west of Wolf River, and Township 19, Range 14, previously known as the Indian lands, and which was offered for sale in November, 1852.

Town Of Winne15Ago Town Organizations

TOWN ORGANIZATIONS. , Oshkosh - Originally organized as the Town of Winnebago, and reorganized as Town of Winnebago in pursuance of act of Legislature, February II, 1847. The first election held in pursuance of act of reorganization, was on April 6, 1847. November lo, 1852, by order of the County Board, the name of the Town of Winnebago was changed to Oshkosh. By resolution of the County Board, dated July 8, 1856, all that part of Township 19, Ranges 16 and 17, lying south of the south line of Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, was taken from the Town of Vinland, and attached to the Town of Oshkosh, establishing the boundaries of the latter as they now exist, except such changes as have resulted from the various limits assigned to the city.

Oiiiro - By act of territorial legislature of February II, 1847, all ofTownships 18 and 19 in Range 15, lying south of F"ox River, was set off and organized as a separate town called Buttes des Morts. This included the present Town of Omro. The organic election was held April 6, 1847. On March II, 1848, Winneconne was set off, and on March 15, 1849, the name of Buttes des Morts was changed to Bloomingdale; in 1852 the name of the town was again changed to Omro b)' act of the County Board.

Riishford - This town was organized in pursuance of act of territorial legislature of February II, 1847, comprising, in addition to the present town, the territory now comprised in the Towns of Utica and Nepeuskun. The organic election was held April 5, 1847.

Nekinii - This town was organized in pursuance of the act of the Legislature of February II, 1847, under the name of Brighton, and included what is now Black Wolf The organic election was held April 5, 1847. In 1850 the name was changed from Brighton to Nekimi by act of the County Board.

Wolf River - This town was organized under the name of Orihula in pursuance of act of County Board of January 4, 1855. Organic election April 3, 1855. The name was changed to Wolf River by act of County Board, July 6, 1855.