Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 40, 1880

Chapter 40

The Period from 185010 i860 - The Cheapness and Abundance of Building Material Greatly Facilitates the Construction of Buildings - Breaking up Land - Fertility of the Soil and Large Crops - Prices for Farm Produce - Market Report for 1858 - The Big Crop of i860 - Improved Methods of Farming - The Cultivation of Tame Grasses - County Agricultural Society - Stock Growers' Association iS will be seen by proceeding pages, the county was, in 1850, making rapid progress in improvement and population. The cheapness of building material greatly facilitated the erection of comfortable farm buildings, and a better class of farm houses began to take the place of the primitive log structures. The breaking of new lands and fencing in the same, was one of the chief occupations of the pioneer farmer, and this work went on in every direction. The breaking was generally done in the months of June and July.

The land was very productive and abundant crops rewarded the labor of the farmer; good wheat soil yielding from twenty-five to thirty bushels ot spring wheat per acre; large crops of corn and oats were also raised. The prevailing varieties of wheat for some years was the Canada Club and Hedgerow. Upto 1858, small grain was principally cut with a cradle. Farm machinery was gradually introduced until the reaper and mower very generally took the place of cradle and scythe.

The price of wheat was from fifty to sixty cents per bushel. The market report for April, 1858, gives the following prices at Oshkosh: Wheat, 45cg)52 cents; oats, l8@20 cents; potatoes, i8(ai20; beans, 50(«75 cents; butter, l6@20 cents.

In 1849, the large immigration created a demand beyond the supply of home production, and wheat was $l.OO per bushel; flour, $4.o6(«j$5.oo; pork, $5.00 per cwt, and beef, $4-00; but the large area that was soon brought under cultivation, reduced the prices of farm products.

In i860, an immense crop was raised. In some instances, ten acre fields yielded fifty bushels per acre of number one wheat. Oats was also a very lar^e crop. Wheat made such a growth that much of it lodged; but even the lodged grain gave a good yield. The season was a peculiar one; the spring very early, and wheat nearly all sown in March. Timely rains occurred all through the growing season, and the weather was moderately cool, nearly up to the time of the ripening of the grain.

In the earlier years in this country, the tame grasses were very generally a failure; herds grass killed out badly, and the native grasses were the principal resource for hay; but of later years, timothy has been more successfully raised, and with red clover has become a very important crop; red top, too, on the moist land, mixed with timothy, now grows luxuriantly.

In the earlier times, wheat formed a much larger proportion of the farm products of the county, than at the present, and the straw accumulated in such large quantities, that the practice prevailed of burning it. The more provident system of converting it into manure, is now practiced, and no farmer is anxious to get rid of his straw. A system of mixed farming has been gradually introduced, and stock raising has been more largely engaged in. White and red clover does well and affords good pasturage. Wool has become one of the staples of the county, and cheesemaking one of the leading agricultural industries; cheese factories on an extensive scale, are found in many of the towns. Those of George Rogers, of Oshkosh, and James Pickett, of Utica, arc famous for their choice productions. John Ryf, of Oshkosh, has a large factory, in which Swiss cheese is exclusively made. The products of thi? factory stand high in the market, and there is a good demand for it for foreign shipment.

Hop raising was, a few years ago, largely engaged in with expectations of great profit, but the supply soon so largely exceeded the demand, that prices became ruinously low, and occasioned great loss to those engaged in its cultivation.

County Agricultural Society

COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. A County Agricultural Society was formed in 1856, and held the first fair in the county on the tenth and eleventh of October of that year at Oshkosh; and afterwards, fairs were held yearly at that place, until the organization of the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association, which took theirplace. The exhibitions at these county fairs were highly creditable to the county in the fine display of fruits, vegetables, grain and live stock.

Stock Growers Association

STOCK GROWERS ASSOCIATION. A Stock Growers Association was formed, which purchased a large tract of land adjoining the City of Oshkosh and fitted up the same for exhibitions, with a fine mile track for races. The grounds are now appropriated to the use of the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association. The raising of blooded stock has received much attention, and there are several fine herds in the county.

THE GROWTH OF NATIVE "TIMBER." In the early day, the prairie and openings portion of the county was more open even, than at present. The annual fires kept down the young growth. Since they have been stopped a native growth has sprung up on the uncultivated ground, and especially in the towns of Utica and Nepeuskun that used to be considered prairie towns, large groves of good sized trees have grown up within the past twenty-five years. The writer has seen many places that were but little more than mere copses of hazel brush and grubs through which a wagon could be driven, that are now covered Vv'ith a dense growth of trees which, in many instances, have attained a heighth of from thirty to forty feet, composed principally of oak and poplar with an occasional hickory. The timber growsso rapidly thattwenty acres, formerly grub land, furnishes a farm with an ample supply of fire-wood.

Fruit Raising

FRUIT RAISING. In the earlier years of the settlement of this county the apple trees that were planted were generally the old favorite varieties of the East, and the method of culture the same as of that section. The orchards that were planted very generally proved failures, and a belief generally prevailed that it was "a poor fruit country," and the fact greatly deplored. It was soon ascertained by the more observing that the richness of the soil occasioning too rank a growth, and the bright, clear, dry air causing a rapid evaporation, were among the circumstances inimical to the health of the apple tree. Persistent in\'cstigation and effort to produce slower growing and harder wooded varieties, soon discovered kinds better adapted to the rich soil and climatic conditions of the Northwest, and ascertained more judicious methods of culture. The consequence^was, thattheculture of the apple tree was more successfully conducted, and several varieties producing a fine quality of fruit have become very popular. Before the year i860 a large portion of the farms had bearing orchards; many of them small, it is true, and in many instances in a poor condition, but in the aggregate producing quite a large yield of apples and making a a very promising show of fine fruit at the County Fair.

Small fruits, from the first, ha\-e been cultivated with the highest success; strawberries, currants and especially grapes of the choicest quality ha\'e been grown in profusion

In the early daj' the roads in the timbered portions of the county were, in rainy periods, almost impassable; and many of the small streams had, in the absence of hxidges, to be forded; but the roads were rapidly improved, streams bridged, and, by the year i860, the roads throughout the county were comparatively good. During the last ten years, great progress has been made in the improvement of roads; and this county can now boast of as good roads as can be found in the West.

Gravel beds are found throughout the county at short intervals, which furnish an abundance of bank gravel, which has proved an e.xccllent material for road-making. This has been largely utilized, and in every direction is found excellent, hard-surfaced roads, extending from one extreme of the county to the other. This bank-gravel cements into a hard surface, and makes most enduring roads, over which it is a great pleasure to drive, and view the beautiful lake and river scenery.

The Growth Of Cities And Villages In

In 1853, Oshkosh had attained sufficient size to be incorporated as a city, and in 1855 had a population of 4,118. Her manufactories, in 1856, consisted of fifteen saw, shingle, planing mills, and sash and door factories. The aggregate of lumber manufactured during the year was about thirty million feet. There were two grist mills, a machine shop, two plow factories, two steam boiler factories, and a large number of mechanic shops.

The village of Neenah, in 1856, had about twenty-fi\'e stores, four flouring mills, and another in process of construction. Three saw mills, a planing mill, sash and door fac-

The village of Menasha, in 1856 had four dry good stores, one hardware store, two clothing stores, two drug stores, five grocery stores, a tub and pail factory - an extensive establishment, three saw mills, two flouring mills, three furniture factories, two sash and blind factories, a pottery, one turning shop, and a number of mechanic shops. The Government Land Office was in this place. Its population was 1,700.

The village of Waukau had, in 1855, three country stores, a flouring mill, and several mechanic shops; and had a population of five hundred.

Great Fire Of 1 859

In 1859, May 10, occurred the first great fire in Oshkosh, which destroyed almost the entire business portion of the city. For the particulars of this, see history of Oshkosh in this work.

During the same year the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad reached this county in the course of its construction, and the first through passenger train arrived at Oshkosh.

This was an event hailed with much joy, and the county now, for the first time, had railroad connection, and a new outlet for the products of its farms and manufactories.