Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 55, 1880

HE Town of Neenah, organized February II, 1847, by an act of the territorial legislature, embraced Township Twenty (20), Ranges Sixteen and Seventeen (i6 and 17), and the north half ofTownship Nineteen (19), Ranges Sixteen and Seventeen (16 and 17). In 1849, it was reduced by the setting off and organization of the towns of Vinland and Clayton; and in 1855, the Town of Menasha was taken from her limits; so, that at the present time, the Town of Neenah comprises about seventeen sections and a half, of which eleven sections are in Township Twenty (20), north, Range Seventeen (17), east, and nearly six and a half sections in Township Nineteen (19), Range Seventeen (17).

It is bounded on the north by Menasha, east by Lake Winnebago, south by Vinland, and west by Clayton. Originally covered by a heavy growth of hardwood timber, along the easternand southern portion, consisting of oak, hard maple, ironwood, hickory, elm, basswood, ash and butternut, with oak openings in the northwest.

It is now largely under a good state of cultivation, with a rich vegetable soil, overlying a deep subsoil of clay, producing fine crops of wheat, rye, oats, barley and hops; is well adapted to grazing and most kinds of fruit are successfully raised.

Limestone is readily obtained along the lake shore in the eastern portion of the town, and a good quality of clay for brick-making on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, which is being utilized to a considerable e.xtent.

The surface, well elevated above the water courses, is sufficiently rolling to afford good and inexpensive drainage and a pleasing variety to the eye.

The land lying south of the south channel of Fox River was first obtained from the Menomonee Indians, by treaty at Cedar Rapids, September, 1836, ratified by Congress and proclaimed February 15, 1837, and surveyed by Gerret Vliet, under the directionof A. G. Ellis, Surveyor-General, in 1839. October 2, 1843, it was offered for sale at the United States Land Office, Green Bay (except the reservation at Winnebago Rapids), the offer remaining open until October 14, when it was withdrawn (such as was not sold).

The reservation comprised so much of the following sections as was lying west and south of Lake Buttes des Morts and the south channel, to-wit: sections 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 21, 22, 26, 27, 34 and 35.

The lands offered for sale October 2, 1843, as already mentioned, were again offered, subject to private entry, on the twelfth day of January, 1846.

This sale included all south of the lake in Sections 21 and 22, north half of Section 16, the north fraction of Section 26, and all of Section 27, except the south half of the southwest quarter, and the south half of the southeast quarter.

As already stated the town was organized by the Legislature in 1847, and the first election was held at the mill house of L. H . Jones, April 6, 1847.

Cornelius Northrup was chosen chairman and Harrison Reed, secretary. After some preliminary business, the proceedings were certified to by Northrup, chairman, and D. M. Montgomery, town clerk.

The polls were then opened for the election of town officers, and sixty-five votes were cast, resulting in the election of James D. Doty, chairman; James Ladd andSalemHT. Holbrook, supervisors; D. M. Montgomery, town clerk; Ferine Yale, treasurer; Henry M. Filley, Cornelius Northrup and L. H Jones, Assessors; L. B. Brian, collector; Milton Huxley, Erastus Seymour and John T. Sanborn, school commissioners, Lucius A. Donaldson, Samuel Mitchell and Alfred Hubbard, Justices of the Peace.

At a special election held at the house of James Ladd, in the Town of Neenah, September 18, 1847, the following town officers were elected, Cornelius Northrup, chairman, and H. C. Finch, supervisor.

Although no record seems to exist showing cause for this election, it is probable that James D. Doty and Salem T. Holbrook neglected to qualify; and Northrup and Finch were elected to fill the vacancies.

At a meeting of the supervisors September 30, 1847, it appearing that there is a vacancy in the office of town clerk, by the removal of Montgomery from the town, Herbert Reed was appointed to fill the vacancy.

At this meeting the town was divided into five school districts. The same number of road districts having been established at the organic election.

November 29, 1847, Lucius A. Donaldson seems to have acted in the capacity of town clerk, and continued to do so, although no record is found to show by what authority.

Mr. Mansur's family seems to have been the only population within the present limits, until 1846, when G. P. Vining, George Harlow (both without families), Ira Baird, Stephen Hartwell and Salem T. Holbrook, selected farms and moved on to them. From this time the growth of population was rapid and very largely composed of young, industrious and energetic men from the Eastern States.

Many of these early settlers we have noticed in the early days of the city, and unable to ascertain the date of their settlement in the surrounding country, can only say, that, while numbers eventually moved out, others remained until they suddenly found themselves within the limits of a city.

In 1847, a building was erected for a store, on the south east quarter of Section 20, near the present residence of Mr. William Tipler; but after a year's experience the enterprise was abandoned, and, in 1848, a school was opened in the same building - the first public school within the limits of the town, and was taught by Miss Caroline Boynton, that year and 1849.

Miss Boynton soon after became the wife of Deacon Samuel Mitchell, of whom mention is made in the sketch of the city, as a pioneer, in 1846.

The first birth in the town was that of Greenville K., son of George H. and Mary Mansur, August 3, 1845. The first female child born here was Helen, daughter of Asahel Jenkins, in June, 1848. The first death occurred in December, 1849, that of Mrs. H. Houghton.

The first post-ofl[ice was established March 14, 1844, being long prior to any town or vilvillage organization. Harrison Reed was appointed postmaster, and Simon Quatermass, now residing in Vinland, was the first mail carrier.

Mr. Reed held the office until April i, 1847, when he was succeeded by John F. Johnston, who, at the expiration of six months, resigned in favor of H. C. Janes, and he, in turn, gave place to H. C. Finch in 1848, when the office was removed to the store of J. R. and H. L. Kimberly, the latter and Earl P. Finch (now residing at Oshkosh, but at that time a clerk in the store), served as deputies. The next office, and the only one within the present limits of the town, was established at Snell's, a station on the Northwestern Railroad, May 4, 1876, and called Snell's Station. David Reed was appointed postmaster.

The track of the Chicago & NDrthwestern Railroad was laid through the town in i860, and passing through the hardwood belt in the eastern portion of the town, afforded an excellent market for wood.

Soon after the completion of the road, an establishment for the manufacture of barrel stock was erected, and a side-track laid for convenience of shipping.

After running for a year or two, this manufacturing establishment was blown up, and so far destroyed that no attempt was made to rebuild, but the place became a railroad station, situated on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section Eight.

A comparative statement of population, schools and valuation, would be oflittle importance here, in consequence of the frequent changes of boundaries prior to 1862.

The present town officers are, Geo. Hailow, chairman; George ZemlockandA. W. Collins, supervisors; C. A. Tuller, clerk; G. P. Vining, assessor; Frank Heigel, treasurer; G. H. Mansur, David Doyle and David W. Thomas, justices.