Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 63, 1880

Chapter 63

Situation - Topographical Description - Lovely Face of the Country - The Young Growth of Timber which has Sprung up since the settlement of the Country - Soil and Water - Farms and Buildings - Railroad Stations, Pickett's and Fisk's - Social and Educational Advantages - First Settlements in the Town - Early Settlers - Erection of the Fir.st Houses - Organization of Town Government - First Town Officers - First Bivlh - First Marriage - First Death - Recollections of the Early Day in Utica, by James O. Pickett - Illustrations and Personal Notices.

jHE Town of Utica, situated on the southern boundary of the county, and one township east of the west line of the county, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque tracts of country to be found in the State. Its surface is high and rolling - not broken; but rising and falling in graceful undulations. It was originally what is called rolling prairie, skirted with openings. In a state of nature it was a scene over which the eye could sweep for miles - its vision only intercepted, in some directions, by the encircling horizon; while prairie and grove, and scattering trees, formed a landscape of indescribable loveliness.

Since the settlement of the town, the annual fires, that used to sweep over the country, destroying the incipient undergrowth, have been checked; and the consequence is, a luxuriant growth of forest trees have sprung up in many places, forming, in some instances, large groves, in which many of the trees have attained a large size. The country, therefore, does not present so open and prairie-like an appearance as in the day of its early settlement. The old settlers of Utica can now point out tracts of dense forest, where, in the early day, they could drive a wagon without meeting any obstruction.

The soil is a deep, rich loam, with a clay subsoil, mixed with lime-stone gravel. Its base is lime-stone, which in places crops out at the surface; and occasionally gravel-beds and lime-stone knolls are found. These furnish the best of material for making roads, and are largely utilized. The town is traversed by a small stream called Fisk's Creek; and in many places copious springs are found. Excellent water is obtained at various depths, by digging, and, in some localities, by drilling through the rock.

The farms in this town are generally on a large scale, and in a high state of cultivation, with fine dwellings, barns and out-buildings, as the several views of Utica places in this work give evidence.

The population of this town is composed principally of people from the Eastern States, and their descendants. In the southeastern part of the town the inhabitants are chiefly Welsh, and the location forms a part of what is called the Welsh Settlement, which also embraces a large part of the western portion of the Town of Nekimi. These are also thrifty and fore-handed farmers, and very generally with fine dwellings and large barns. This town, in fact, presents in every direction an appearance of thrift and prosperity, in its handsome, well-painted dwellings, barns and well-cultivated fields.

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad traverses the town. There are two railroad stations - one at Fisk's Corners, and one called Pickett's Station, at both of which places depots are established, that make large shipments of wheat and other farm produce.

Pickett's Station is quite a business center, with a store well-stocked with mixed merchandise, and which does a large business. It is also the location of Pickett's cheese-factory, and has a feed-mill.

The town has good social and educational facilities - its several localities being from six to nine miles distant, respectively, from the cities of Ripon and Oshkosh; while good school-houses are found at convenient distances.

At Utica Center is a very feat church edifice and fine parsonage, of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The resident pastor is the Rev. Mr. Wanless; a gentleman of much ability and of liberal education. He was for some years in the missionary service in Turkey, and is very zealous, devoted and energetic in promoting the interests of the church.

Early Settlement

The first settlers in the town were Ervvin Heath, Armine Pickett, David H. Nash, Seth Harris, and their families, who located near what is now Pickett's Station, April, 1846; and E. B. Fisk and George Ransom, and their families, who settled in the same month, near Fisk's Corners.

In February, 1846, Mr. Heath selected a claim and built a log house on the same, and, on the first of April, following, started from Jefferson County, where he had been living, for his new home, with four yoke of oxen and a wagon loaded with household goods, provisions, farming tools, ete. ; and, also, drove a lot of live-stock. He was compelled to ford streams, there being no bridges this side of Beaver Dam, and no road cut out for a long portion of the distance.

Arriving at his place on the tenth day of April, he found himself monarch of all he surveyed; there being no house nearer than Ceresco, eight miles distant.

On the night of his arrival, snow fell to the depth of ten inches, but in less than two days it all disappeared, and the cattle found feed on the Rush Lake marshes.

Messrs. Pickett, Nash and Harris, with their families, immediately joined Mr. Heath, who was Mr. Nash's son-in-law. The log houses of Mr. Heath and Mr. Harris were the first completed, and these were soon followed by the erection of the dwellings of Mr. Pickett and Mr. Nash.

While this little colony was getting fixed in their new homes, another settlement was being made in the northeastern part of the town by E. B. Fisk, who commenced the erection of a log house in the same month.

The Rev. Hiram McKee, John Thrall and others, settled here the same season. Mr. McKee was the first settled minister in the town, and was quite noted for his energetic style of preaching.

C. W. Thrall, L. Hawley, T. J. Bowles, L. J. Miller, George Miller, Henry Styles, J. M. Little, Wm. Hunter, Philo Rogers, W. S. Catlin, James Adams and Walter Houston are among early settlers; and, prominent among the later comers, as substantial thrifty farmers, are D. R. Lawrence. Wm. Parks, James R. Williams, Ira Walker, W. H. Clark, A. B. McFarhuid, J. H. Maxwell, Wm. Griffith, Jas, Robinson, A. Stone and F. J. Bean.

Growth Ok The Town

Within two years after the arrival of the first settlers, the land in this town was nearly all occupied, and was dotted in every direction with the primitive log structures of the early settlers. The land was so productive and easily cultivated, that the settlers soon became fore-handed; and good frame barns and dwellings rapidly superseded the original log-cabins; and in almost every portion of Winnebago County may now be found many elegant farm-residences, that equal the finest city mansions, and provided with all the luxuries, conveniences and comforts of modern social life.

Indian Scare

During the fall of 1847, the settlements in this vicinity were thrown into great excitement by the arrival of some four or five hundred Indians, who encamped near the bank of Fox River, on the north side, nearly opposite LaBorde's trading post, (Delhi), decked out in war-paint and feathers, and all the paraphernalia of war, well armed with gleaming muskets, tomahawks and war-clubs. Here they proceeded to hold a series of councils, a sort of "protracted meeting," from which every one, not strictly belonging to the brotherhood, was excluded. Rumors became rife that the Indians were preparing for a general massacre, and a general alarm pervaded the little communities. At last an appeal was made to Mr. LaBorde, the great mediator and pacificator, who informed the chiefs that he must know the meaning of all these secret councils; that the whites were preparing for an attack on the Indians. In the mean time, those of the settlers who possessed horse teams, had, with their families, fled for safety to Fond du Lac, Ceresco, and other places, while those remaining, for want of transportation, met together in the best houses, for mutual protection. Mr. LaBorde was informed they were only settling some difficulties between themselves; but, fearing in turn that the whites were about to commence hostilities, left with greater precipitancy and less ceremony than the whites. And, of such is pioneer life.

The Early Day In Utica, By James C.

In June, 1S45, M''- David H. Nash, then a resident of JeiTerson County, this state, contracted with Samuel Brooks to transport his family and household goods from Milwaukee, to what is now the Town of Vinland.

The road from Milwaukee to Watertown passed through Rock River woods, then an almost unbroken wilderness for fifty miles, and usually consumed a week in making the distance.

Mr. Nash and his load of emigrants, found no settlers north of Watertown until they reached Oshkosh, excepting at Waupun and Eond du Lac, where a few families had recently located. At Oshkosh they found the families of Webster Stanley, and the half dozen families who had joined him there. The immigrants were ferried across the river by Mr. Stanley, in a frail ferry-boat, assisted by his Indian helpers, the team and wagon making two loads. Eleven days had been consumed in coming from Milwaukee, and on the following d.ay Mr. Nash set the Brooks family down on their claim ; this being the first settlement in the Town of Vinland.

Mr. Stanley had been through on the Indian trail to Fort Winnebago, and gave a glowing description of the country southwest of Oshkosh; and as he had not settled permanently, Mr. Nash determined to return to Oshkosh, at an early day, and explore the country.

Mr. Armine Pickett had immigrated to the territory in 1S40, and was a neighbor of Mr. Nash, in Jefferson County. Not being entirely satisfied with his location, he concluded to accompany Mr. Nash on his exploring trip to Winnebago County. Accordingly, about the middle of August, 1S45, accompanied by their wives, and taking with them the conveniences for camping-out, when necessary, they started for Oshkosh, where they arrived with out anything of note occuring on the way. Stopping with Mr. Stanley over night, they engaged him to pilot them over the country to Cereseo, ( now Ripon.)

It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful and picturesque country, than that lying southwest of Oshkosh, at that time. Following the Indian trail, leading to Fort Winnebago, the party for eight miles, passed through oak openings, entirely destitude of underbrush, and reminding them of the bid orchards they had left at the East. Eight miles from Fox River they crossed the first stream of any note, shown on the map as Eight Mile Creek ; but known after the settlement of the country, as Fisk's Creek. The stream divided the oak openings, and as beautiful prairie country as ever was created ; and is the most northern limit of the great prairies of the state. Four miles further, the party halted by a spring brook for dinner. They were charmed by their surroundings. There was not a sign to indicate that civilized man had ever traveled over this route, and the country was, in fact, just as it came from the hands of the Creator. They could not wish for anything nearer their ideal of a perfect country, and Mr. Nash decided to locate on the spring creek, upon which they halted" which was in a strip of openings a mile wide, separating the two prairies. While dinner was being prepared, Mr. Pickett went back half a mile, and a few rods from the tr.iil found another spring, on the edge of the prairie, and there drove his stake for his future farm.

At Ceresco they found a colony of four hundred, who had lately arrived, and were operating under the co-operating plan of labor and capital. At Ceresco the party took the line of Government survey and followed it back to their claims in Utica, and thus established the boundaries of their future farms. Mr. Pickett entered four hundred and eighty acres, and Mr. Nash one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mr. Pickett's being the first entry in town, and the first between what is now Ripon and Oshkosh.

On the following October, Mr. Pickett returned to his new purchase with a half dozen of his neighbors, hoping they would locate farms, and thus continue the old associations. The party arrived on the ground on the evening of a beautiful October day, and built a camp, by felling a large burr oak tree aud building a camp-fire against the body.

The railroad depot at Pickett's Station now occupies the ground upon which the little party had encamped. It would have required a stretch of the widest imagination for that party of land-lookers, to see in the distant future, long trains of heavily loaded cars freighted with the grain grown upon the thousands of acres which was then lying in a state of nature. There were then no railroads in operation West of Buffalo; but on the iSth day of October, 1871, exactly tvventy-six years from the evening that camp-fire was built, the construction train of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, rolled up to the spot and sounded a whistle, which was indeed music to the ears of the large concourse of citizens who had met to welcome the visitors, whose coming had been so long and anxiously looked for. It may be worthy of note to say that it is believed that the cutting down of that burr oak tree, was the first stroke of civilization in the settlement of the town, and to Hon. H. W. Barnes - then a young man, and now a judge of the circuit court of the State of Kansas, belongs the honor of wielding the axe which felled the first tree. To the visitors at the station is shoftvn the stump of the first tree cut, which several years ago was taken up and carefully preserved, as a relic of the early settlement of the town. The settlement of the town really began the following spring.

In March, 1846, A. Pickett, Seth Harris, D. H. Nash and his son in law, Erwin Heath, arrived in town and began its settlement. During the previous winter they had brought portions of their goods, including a years supply of pork, etc., and left them by the side of the trail, with no protection but a covering of boards, until their arrival in the spring.

The depot had been daily passed by scores of Indians, but remained unmolested. It is now a rare sight to see an Indian, but the civilization of the times would hardly warrant such an exposure of property.

The log dwellings of Mr. Heath and Harris were the first erected, but as they were in process of erection at the same time, neither could claim priority. There was during the spring, probably a dozen families resided temporarily in these dwellings, until their own was completed. Mr. Pickett and Mr. Nash finished their dwellings in April. At the raising of Mr. Nash's house, after the last round of logs had been placed in position, the Rev. H. McKee, who had arrived at the settle ment the day before, mounted the building and proposed then and there, that the town be given a name. The names of several settlers were proposed, but as each declined the honor. UtUa was proposed and adopted. The name Liberty Prairie was also given, to that portion of the prairie included in the town limits. By midsummer the population of the town had increased to about twelve families, and from that time forward immigration poured in rapidly, and within two years there was but little Government land to be had.

The first law-suit occurred in the spring of 1S46 - an assault and battery case between S. Harris and A. M. Darling; but there being no officers in town, the suit was held before Justice A. H. Howard, in his premption shanty, three miles southeast of Oshkosh. Every male citizen of the town attended court, either as witnesses or as advisory committee. The plaintiff was assisted by A. Pickett, and the defence by "Jed, " ( afterwards Judge) Smalley, of Oskhosh. The court, after patiently listening all day to the evidence and arguments of the learned counsel, decided that it appeared to him that the parties were equally to blame, and that in the set-to they were equally used up, and he would fine them each one dollar, and divide the costs equally between the parties, which seemed to give entire satisfaction. This is believed to have been the first law suit in the county, south of the river.

Hiram McKee was the first settled minister. A man of indomitable energy, both as a minister and an advocate of antislavery principles, for which he battled both in and outside the pulpit His eloquence though not always refined, was of that power, that he became known far and near as the sledgehammer preacher. During the infancy of the Free Soil Party, he received the nomination of congressman in opposition to Governor Doty, who was elected.

T. J. Bowles settled in the town in 1849, ^^^ of its citizens have taken a more active part in the affairs of the town. He has for more than twenty years, been an acting inagis'.rate, and has repeatedly represented the town in the County Board of Supervisors, and has nearly always held other important trusts of honor conferred by his townsmen.

During the early settlement of the town, the nearest postoffice was Ceresco, which was supplied by a weekly mail. In 1847, a mail-route was established from Oshkosh to Ceresco, and three post-offices located in this town ; at which D. H. Nash was postmaster at Welaunee ; L. Hawley, at Hawley's Corners ; E. B. Fisk, at Fisk's Corners.

The history of the town would be incomplete, were we to omit mentioning an incident connected with its eaily settlement, and which at the time created quite a sensation : The proprietors of the mill-power at Waukau, three miles below Rush Lake, on its outlet, in the fall of 1846, erected a dam across the stream, a few rods below the lake, for the purpose of making a reservoir of the lake. While the dam was in process of construction, a deputation of the settlers waited upon the proprietors, and made a protest against the raising of the water in the lake, fearing that not only the health of the town would be imperilled, but that a great deal of valuable meadow land, bordering on the lake, would be oveiflowed. The proprietors, however, gave assurance that the lake should only be raised one foot, and that only in the fall and winter months. This agreement, however, was not respected, and in the Spring of 1847, the settlers found a dam of five feet in height erected, and the lake gradually encroaching npon the low lands, until in June, the lake had grown to nearly double its original size, and daily spreading out.

The dam having been erected without legal interference, it was daiined by the proprietors that they had a legal right to maintain it. A public meeting was called, at which it was resolved: First - That the dam was a nuisance; second - That the nuisance should be abated ; third - It should be done immediately. Accordingly, on the night of June 15, there was standing on the bank of the outlet of Rush Lake, about forty men, which included nearly all the men in town, with the minister. A large bonfire was built at one end of the dam, which threw a lurid glare into the forest, bringing into relief about one hundred Indians, who had come out of their camps a few rods distant, and standing as spectators of the unusual proceedings, and awaiting further developements. The elder having taken off his coat, mounted a large maple stump, and made a short address, recounting the history of the dam aud justifying the resolutions adopted by the meeting. His closing words were. " Friends - the exercises of the evening will begin by making a hole in the dam." But the hole was not so easily made, the structure being what is called a log and brush dam, covered with dirt and gravel. Going out to the middle of the dam, a crow-bar was worked down through the covering and between the logs, until an opening was made the size of a man's arm, when the water found an opening, and after a deal of labor, n log was loosened and the water poured through. The logs on each side of the opening were pried out, and the flood which momentarily grew into a torrent, poured through. Logs, drift-wood and floating islands, drifted down from the lake, and passed down stream with the flood. The destruction of the dam was complete, and although the lake has at times been temporarily damned since, yet no particular damage has resulted from it.

A period of thirty-four years marks great and important changes in a country, and especially in its inhabitants, and it is with feelings of sadness that the writer looks about, him and while witnessing the marvelous improvements made in his town since when a boy, he became a resident in 1S46, and reflects that among the earliest band of pioneers, he stands comparatively alone.

Since its settlement, the town has seen a generation born and arrive at middle life. Our friends of youth are scattered over the earth, while our parents are resting in the silent city of the dead.

The Town of Utica was set off from Rushford, and organized as a separate town in pursuance of an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved March 11, 1848.

The organic election was held April 4, 1848, at the house of Lucius Hawley; and David H. Nash was elected chairman of the board, and Edwin B. Fisk and Lorenzo McCauley, supervisors; Eli N. Hyde, clerk; Jeremiah Mericle, treasurer; Andrew Farrand and George Ransom, assessors.

At the next annual town meeting, April 3, 1849, held at the same place, David H. Nash was elected chairman of the board, and Geo. N. Burrows and Erwin Heath, supervisors; Wm. H. Hyatt, clerk; Henry Knapp, treasurer; Daniel S. Storey, assessor, Armine Pickett, Joel Waterman and Sam'l N. Dodge, justices.

Liberty Prairie Cemetery Association was organized on January i, 1849, and the site was donated by Armine Pickett. The first burial in the cemetery was that of Laura, wife of H. W. Barnes, which event occurred in 1850.

Incidents In The Early Day Crops, Etc

Mr. T. J. Bowles informs us that the first fall of his arrival, in 1849, on election day, which would be in the early part of November, a heavy snow-storm set in, and snow fell to the depth of eight inches, remaining on the ground for three days, with prevailing cold weather. At the expiration of that time the weather came off fine, and remained open and mild the greater part of the winter; so much so, that farmers were plowing as late as Christmas, and the roads were muddy nearly all winter; the weather being similar to that of the winter two years ago, viz: 1877-8.

The first two seasons that Mr. Bowles lived in Utica, 1850 and 1851, were what was known as the wet seasons. The lowlands throughout the country were flooded, and the rain poured in a deluge, frequently for days at a time. The superabundance of rain and heat made a tropical climate, and the wheat made a rank growth and generally rotted. From 1852 to 1858, the wheat crops were good, yielding from twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre of the first quality of grain. Oats were an abundant crop, and sold for fifteen cents per bushel. The second winter of his residence here, he threshed oats with a flail all winter, for every eighth bushel. This was the usual way of threshing out grain in pioneer days, when they earned their bread by the sweat of their brows. In 1859, the wheat made a rank growth of straw; and untimely heat and rains caused considerable rust. This was followed by the

BIG CROP OK i860. This year was one of the most favorable for wheat ever known in the history of this county. The spring was unusually early, and in the last of February and first of March the soil was in many places in good condition for seeding. Dry weather prevailed through March, followed by a succession of timely rains and cool weather, until after the middle of July. Such a yield of wheat and oats was never known here, before nor since; and although on the rich black soil, the straw made a very rank growth, and the grain in places lodged badly, still, even the lodged grain yielded immense crops of the first quality. Whole fields produced thirty to forty bushels of wheat per acre, and in some instances, ten-acre fields yielded forty-five bushels per acre.

The pernicious practice prevailed, for a long time, in this county, of burning the straw; but the better husbandry of the present converts it into manure, in which shape it is returned to the soil.

About the year 1854 or 1855, some parties set fire to a lot of grain stacks belonging to Armine Pickett, and destroyed some two thousand bushels of grain. A very ex.citing trial took place, before Justice Bowles, which lasted a week. One of the parties accused was bound over, but was afterwards acquitted in the higher court.

E. B. Fisk was the first settler in the northern part of the town, occupying the beautiful property since known as Fisk's Corners. Mr. Fisk had resided in Waukesha County, from the year 1838, to the spring of 1846, when he moved to this county.

On the thirteenth of i\pril, 1846, occurred one of the heaviest falls of snow ever known in the history of the country. The snow fell to the depth of from a foot to a foot and a half. Availing himself of the splendid sleighing, Mr. Fisk and wife and Mr. Chamberlain and wife started with an ox-team and sled for the new home Mr. Fisk had formerly selected, in this county.

Arriving at his place, they found the whole face of the country covered with snow to the depth of a foot or more, and no place of shelter, except the body of a log cabin on an adjoining place. This had no roof or floor and did not present a very inviting appearance; but they shoveled the snow out, setup a stove, hung up blankets, and made themselves as comfoi'table as circumstances would permit. The next day they sent their wives back to Rosendale.

They ne.xt proceeded to build a log house on Mr. Fisk's place. After getting up the body, Mr. Fisk went to Rosendale to bring their wives to the new home, leaving Mr. Chamberlain to put on the roof, which he expected to have completed by the time Fisk returned. The day after Mr. Fisk started, Mr, Chamberlain was taken suddenly with typhoid fever, and was compelled to take to his bed. There was no roof on, and there he lay in a violent fever under the canopy of the sky. A heavy rain-storm set in, coming down in torrents, and deluged his bed. In this emergency, Mr. Winters, who was looking land, called at the shanty for shelter and food. He did what he could for Mr. Chamberlain, who requested the stranger to proceed with all dispatch to Rosendale, and acquaint Mr. Fisk with his situation, and to ask him to come on as quickly as pos.sible, with his family. Mr. Winters, after taking some refreshments, started for Rosendale, where he found Mr. Fisk, who immediately started, accompanied by Mrs. Fisk and Mrs. Chamberlain, and traveling in a rain storm, arrived in due time at the shanty, where they found Mr. Chamberlain in a violent fever and the bedclothes drenched with water. Mr. Fisk immediately commenced to put on the roof, and accomplished the work in one day. Then, after getting Mr. Chamberlain into a dry bed, and making the house comfortable, he started for Stanley's Ferry and Algoma, in pursuit of a doctor. He blazed his way, for the purpose of guiding his return, and had quite a search to find Oshkosh; which at that time was hardly visible to the naked eye, and which consisted of the little trading post of Osborn & Dodge and the residence of Webster Stanley.

Procuring a physician at Algoma, they took the back track, and in due time reached Mr. Fisk's shanty, and administered to Mr. Chamberlain, with benefical effects, who notwithstanding his long exposure to a cold rainstorm, rapidly recovered. It was the opinion of the physician, that the rain was rather beneficial than injurious in the first stages of the disease, while the fever was high, and that the rain had the effect of cooling and checking it.

The pleasant, warm spring weather rapidly changed the former dreary, wintry aspect of the country which was soon dressed in all the graces of the early summer, and presented a lovely appearance.

Mr. Fisk states that, at the time of the Indian scare, mentioned on a former page, he was in town, serving on the first circuit court jury empanelled in this county, and that on his return home, he found that his wife had secreted their valuables in the bushes, among which were a clock and saddle, and had fled with her child to a place of safety. Mr. Fisk says that the settlers in every direction loaded their effects on sleds and wagons, and taking their families, went to Ceresco and other places of safety. The panic subsided as

Mr. Fisk has been one of the most prosperous farmers in the town one of its largest land owners, and ranks among its most influential citizens. While still owning his handsome place in Utica, he has a fine residence in the City of Oshkosh, where he resides in the enjoyment of the reward of his early years of industry.

Early Day

EARLY DAY. Mr. Kdward B. Ransom migrated with his father's family from Cattaraugus County, New York, in the spring of 1841, to Milwaukee, from whence he moved to the Town of Waukesha, and was one of its first settlers. His father, George Ransom, not being suited with that location, moved his family to Lowell, Dodge County, in 1843, and there settled on a small farm, and was the first to break the soil in that vicinity.

Having three sons on the verge of manhood, desiring to engage in farming and stock-raising, he again sold out. and, in October, 1845, made one of the first selections of land in the now Town of Utica.

Mr. Edward B. Ransom

MR. EDWARD B. RANSOM, in company with his father, started from Dodge County, in the fall of 1845, passed up the Fox River from Cercsco, and examined the various localities on the borders of Green Lake and Democrat Prairie, returning to Ceresco, and thence home, his only company being his ox-team, dog and gun. From Ceresco, his father took the Indian trail for Oshkosh and Green Bay, for the purpose of examining the country on the route.

In traversing what is now the Town of Utica, he was charmed with the lovely and fertile country, and selected for his future home the northeast quarter of Section 14, the present residence and farm of E. B. Ransom, which he entered. In the following spring - 1846, he moved his family to the place, and, on his arrival, found Mr. E. B. Fisk nicely located on adjoining land, in a log house, with good accommodations and anxious to see new settlers.

Mr. Ransom soon raised a double log house, twelve by sixteen, with hall in the center, which was often filled with new-comers. Fish, venison and prairie-chickens were plenty, and often helped to make a good meal for the hungry and weary traveler.

Fort Winnebago and other points. This creek takes its name from its length. Its head is a large spring. Numerous other springs are found along the creek which affords the best of stock water.

Near the town line of Nekimi and Utica, this creek looses itself, running underground, for the distance of a mile, where it breaks out into a beautiful stream; its course being in a northwesterly direction for a distance of about three miles, where it again runs underground, until near Rush Lake, where it empties.

The Menomonees and other Indians, often camped here, hunting and trapping; and a Winnpbago once called at the house of Mr. Ransom, and asked for bread and meat, saying that he " had no money, but would come in three days and pay." Mrs. Ransom gave him a loaf, and told him to go, and that he was welcome. He said, "No, me good Indian. " But he took the loaf, set his gun in the corner of the room, and went his way. In just three days he returned with some venison, and took his gun, seeming well pleased with the trade.

The yield of wheat was forty to fifty bushels per acre. The crops of other grain and vegetables were correspondingly large. The produce found a ready market among the settlers who were fast coming in.

This place is one of the historical landmarks of the early times. This building and a fine frame barn, were erected by Mr. Pickett in 1847, and were, with the Hawley dwelling, the first frame structures built in the town of Utica. The original building, a fine large farm-house, is shown in the view as the Pickett homestead, now occupied by Mrs. O. P. Lane, a daughter of Mr. Armine Pickett, who inherited this portion of the estate.

This is one of the most beautiful locations in the county, and was selected by Mr. Pickett when he had the opportunity to select from all the lands in the town.

affairs, and occupies a conspicuous place in its history. He was a public spirited man, and among the foremost in advocating and substantially aiding improvements and enterprises beneficial to its interests. He was universally esteemed by his townsmen; and for the last forty-two years of his life, he was continuously an acting magistrate, with the exception of the first year of his residence in the town. He was chairman of the Town Board nearly one-half of the time, after its organization, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1861 and 1862, representing the South Assembly district of Winnebago County. In 1872, he was a candidate for the State Senate, and was defeated by only a few votes. He was also postmaster at Welaunee, now Pickett's Station, for twenty-five years, and died in 1875, at the age of seventy- five years, universally lamented by a large circle ol friends, relatives and acquaintances.

James G. Pickett

Mr. James G. Pickett, son of the subject of the foregoing sketch, came to Utica with his parents, at the time of their settlement, viz: in the Spring of 1846, and is one of the very first settlers in the town which he has seen transformed from an unsettled wild into its present highly improved and cultivated condition. Mr. Pickett is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the town, taking a leading part in its affairs, and is generally recognized as a man of much ability and culture. He is proprietor of the cheese factory at Pickett's Station, and also of a large tract of real estate. The cheese factory is a large stone structure, as shown in the accompanying illustration.

One thing worthy of mention, in connection with the history of Utica, and, in fact, of all the towns of this county, is that the education of youth received the attention of the early settlers, as something of the first importance; and the evidence of this is found in the very general intelligence of the people of the several towns, among whom are found many of much culture and of considerable proficiency in literary attainments, of whom Mr. Pickett is an example.

David R. Lawrence

Mr. David R. Lawrence, the view of whose fine farm is given in this work, came to Wisconsin in October, 1847, and settled in Dodge County; from there he moved to Spring Vale, Fond du Lac County, in 1850, and having improved a farm and erected fine buildings, sold the same, and moved to Outagamie County, in June, 1858, where he subsequenth' settled on a farm in the Town of Grand Chute, from which place he moved on his present farm in the Town of Utica, in this county, in 1855. This is the fourth farm in the West that Mr. Lawrence has opened up and erected buildings on, having been engaged for thirt)' years in making improvements on new places. He has also contributed, with a spirit of Western liberality and enterprise, to the building up of the country, and the opening of its lines of trade, having subscribed six hundred dollars toward the construction of the first railroad from Milwaukee to the northwest, and one hundred and twenty-five in aid of the Oshkosh & Mississippi Railroad.

This beautiful farm is most eligibly situated, being only half a mile from Pickett's Station, and about si.x miles from the City of Ripon. His yield of wheat, on an average, one year with another, has been about twenty bushels to the acre. Thefarm, with a detached timber and meadow lot, contains one hundred and seventy-four acres.

William H. Clark

The beautiful larm of William H. Clark, which furnishes one of the illustrations of the Town of Utica, is situated about a mile south of Pickett's Station, and on the southern boundary of the county. It contains one hundred and seventy-eight acres, and is in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Clark is one of those public spirited men who take a commendable interest in his town, and was instrumental in having it well represented in this work; being one of the first in the town to extend it the necessary patronage, and give aid and encouragement. Without the assistance of such men, a county history could not be published.

Mr. Clark migrated from his nati\e place, Jefferson County, New York, with his father, to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he arrived on the 25th, of December, 1844. This was in the beginning of the first settlement of Dodge County, and before roads were laid out or bridges built. Mr. Clark is, therefore, one of the western pioneers, and has experienced, in the fullest sense, the various incidents and privations of pioneer life. He helped to move the Pottawattamies of Rock River to their Western reservation - the remnant of the once powerful nation that inhabi-

In the spring of 1862, he moved on his present farm, and is one of the prominent men of his town - a highly respected citizen, and in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency.

W. S. Catlin

W. S. Catlin, of Utica, is probably the earliest Western settler living in the county, he having moved into the wilds of Michigan in 1833, and witnessed that rush of Western immigration that took place after the Black Hawk war and the subsequent Western speculation, with its wild-cat currency, that culminated in the grand crash of 1837 and 1838. He moved from Michigan to Illinois in 1842, and from the latter place to Utica, this county, in 1850. He, therefore, passed the earlier years of his manhood on the frontier of civilization, and is one of those who have helped to pioneer Western settlement and progress. Mr. Catlin's experiences in pioneer life would furnish material for a volume. He has seen the county changed from a wilderness, into the populous abodes of the highest type of civilization and has contributed his share toward its development. Mr. Catlin is a man of wide information in the school ofpractical life, and one of the successful and forehanded farmers of this county. His fine farm, a view of which illustrates this work, is situated in the central part of the town, about a mile and a half from Pickett's Station, and is among the best farms in the county.

The Late George Miller

Mr. Williams, though not one of the earliest settlers, is worthy of mention as one of the prominent and highly respectable citizens of the town. His is another of the beautiful farms of Utica, with a handsome, commodious dwelling, fine barns, and all the conveniences of farm-life; and his house is one where the guest is received with a well-bred cordiality and a hearty and generous hospitality. THE LATE GEORGE MILLER.

Among the old settlers, and one of the most highly respected citizens of the Town of Utica, was the late George Miller, who left to his relict, Mrs. Mary Miller, and his children, the large farm of which a view is given in this work.

Mr. Miller was born in Northampton, York County, New Brunswick, June 21, 1817, and married Miss Mary Esty, in 1838. He migrated to Wisconsin and settled in Palmyra, Jefferson County, on the first of September, 1845, where he resided until 1850, when he moved to the Town of Utica, Winnebago County, where he

Mr. Miller left to his family, not only a fineproperty, but the valuable inheritance of his good name; for he was one who was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors, from whom he received the highest marks of their confidence, and he will be long remembered in the town as one of its most worthy citizens.

He was elected several times chairman of the Board of Supervisors, was one of the most efficient and influential members of the Count}- Board, and was one of the Building Committee under whose direction our fine courthouse was built. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and of great efficiency in whatever public business was entrusted to his hands. His death was not only an irreparable loss to his family, but, also, to the town whose interests he was always ready to promote, and the burden of whose enterprises he was always ready to share.

The farm, now in the possession of his family, is one of the finest in the county, and contains three hundred and ten acres. It has yielded, in good seasons, 1,500 to 1,800 bushels of wheat, and 1,200 to i,8oO bushels of corn and oats, with other crops in proportion.

James H. Maxwell, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Utica, with but small means, in 1855. By industry and sagacious management he has acquired a competency, and is now one of the largest land-holders in the town. Mr. Maxwell, in addition to being a most skillful farmer, is a man of fine natural capacity and business ability, as his success well attests.

His fine farm contains nearly three hundred acres, and is one of the best tracts of land in the town, and is well stocked and provided with spacious barns and outbuildings.

No illustration can do justice to this beautiful and sightly place and its handsome surroundings. It is situated a half mile south of Pickett's Station, and has all the modern conveniences and appliances for farm cultivation and stock-raising.

Edward B. Ransom

A view of Mr. Ransom's fine farm is given on another page. The history of his advent in this county, is related in the " Early Recollections of E. B. Ransom."

He is the youngest son of the late George Ransom, who was one of the early pioneers, and whose death was caused from the effects of being gored by a cross bull, in August, 1861.

After the death of his father, Mr. E. B. Ransom came into the possession of the farm, where he has since resided, and by industry and perseverance, has converted it into one of the best stock-farms in the county. It contains one hundred and sixty acres, with good buildings, and is in a high state of cultivation. Mr. B., although brought up to the vocation of a farmer, also took high rank as a schoolteacher, having taught fortensuccessive winters. He is now one of the most prosperous and forehanded farmers in the town; the owner of a valuable property, and in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency.

Mr. Bowles, who settled in Utica in 1849, had a varied experience in all the trying incidents of pioneer life. The first year of his residence, he entertained new-comers and travelers, in his very limited quarters, and frequently had a house filled with guests.

He was hardly settled in his new home, when official duties were thrust upon him, and he was immediately appointed school district clerk, and officiated as acting town treasurer.

In the spring of 1 851, he was elected justice of the peace, and has acted in that capacity with but few short intervals, from that time to the present. He has also represented the town in the County Board for six or seven terms, and is now acting in that capacity, and is recognized as one of the leading and most efficient members.

Mr. Bowles' large experience in town and county affairs, and his natural ability, has given him much local prominence. His long experience as justice of the peace, has given him an intimate acquaintance with law practice, and he does much business in the justice courts; in which he is very successful.

In March 1864, he enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin, Company B., and served till the close of the war. While he was in the service, and during a period of severe sickness, he was detailed as counsel for the defense of eleven soldiers, who were tried before a court martial. This was a new practice for Mr. Bowles, and he was very reluctant to attempt it; but after much entreaty on the part of the accused, and of officers, he undertook the task. At the end of a protracted trial, which lasted a week, he succeeded in obtaining the acquittal of the prisoners - and modestly and blushingly carried off his new honors.