Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 71, 1880

Chapter 71

Face of the Country - Soil - Timber - Water - Early Settlement - First Schools - Early Residents - - Town Organization - First Elections - The First Road Laid in the Town - First Marriages, Births and Deaths - Schools - History of the Welsh Settlement

^HE Town of Nekimi, situated on the southern border of the county, was originally forest land and openings; the .eastern part being timberland with tracts of interval or natural meadow. The western portion of the town was openings. The surface is slightly undulating in the eastern part and more rolling in the west - the soil varying from a deep black loam to a rich red clay soil on a limestone base and is very generally excellent wheat land and highly productive. It is now in a high state of cultivation and most of the cultivated fields cleared of stumps, so the farms present a handsome appearance. The fine dwellings and ample barns and out-buildings give evidence of prosperous husbandry. There are many elegant residences and some of the finest farms in the county are found in this town.

The interval land, of which there is considerable, makes the best of meadows, so that the town has the natural resources for a prosperous farming community. It also has good social and educational advantages and its pro.ximity to cities gives additional social and business facilities and near markets. A portion of the original forests have been preserved and in many places a second growth has sprung up which has attained the dimensions of good sized trees.

Early Settlements

The first settler within the present limits of Nekimi was William Greenman, who settled in the western part of the town in the summer of 1846. He continued to reside there until the time of his death. Several members of his family still live there. The next settlers were David Chamberlain and A. M. Howard, who came early in the fall of 1846.

Robert W. Holmes migrated from the State of New York to Wisconsin in November, 1844, and settled in the now town of Nekimi, in the fall of 1846, having the March previous entered the land on which he settled in Section 2. When he entered his land there was not a settler between his place and Rosendale Creek, and not a settler in the present limits of the town, That summer, Wm. Greenman, David Chamberlain and A. M. Howard moved on to land in the present town, and the same season William Crossett and Chauncy Foster built a blacksmith-shop on Crossett's claim, which is the farm now occupied by Milan Ford.

Stephen W. Bennett, now a resident of the town, was one of the first five settlers, his father, Elisha Bennett, moving into what became the town of Brighton, in 1846, although his land became subsequently included in what is now Black-wolf. Stephen helped to haul the logs for the school house which was built near the site of the present Boyd school house, in the winter of 1846-47.

First Schools

It seems that one of the first efforts of the settlers was to provide educational facilities for their children; and it is very creditable to them, that they had hardly erected their primitive log houses when they built a log school house. These first few settlers that came in the summer and fall, had a school-house built and a school taught the following winter.

Mr. Holmes helped to split out the punch- . eons for the floor. The school teacher was Miss Eliza Case, and she afterwards became the ii-iTe of George Vincent.

In the winter of 184748, a school was opened in the southwestern part of the town. It was taught by John S. Brown in a little pre-emption shanty on Section 29.

William Simmons

One of the first settlers in the southwestern part of the town was William Simmons, a view of whose fine residence furnishes one of the illustrations of this work. He migrated from Wyoming County, New york, to the west in 1846, where, after traveling in various localities, he finally arrived at Milwaukee in April 1847. From there he went by stage to Fond du Lac. The frost was coming out of the ground and the roads were almost impassable. He paid stage fare for the privilege of carrying a rail on his back with which to pry the wheels out of the mud. They forded Rock River at Theresa, and, at this point, the passengers had to get out in the mud and water knee-deep, and pry the stage out. It required two days to make the trip to Fond du Lac. Here he met John Banister, surveyor and land agent, and from him procured plats of the townships now Nekimi and Algoma, and started to look up a location. Taking the Indian trail from Fond du Lac to Waukau, he followed it to a point in the now town of Nekirni. Two miles from Fond du Lac he passed the last house that he found on his route for a distance of twenty miles. At this point the trail intersected a blazed road, over which a few waggons had passed. Night was coming on with a drizzling rain, and it became a matter of the first importance to find a place where food and shelter could be obtained. After considering which course, north or south, would be most likely to lead to the nearest house, he decided to try the latter, and after about six miles travel he brought up at Hyde's tavern, in Rosendale. Tired and desponding, he resolved, when he retired that night, to return to a more civilized country; but in the morning, which dawned bright and clear, things wore a more pleasing appearance, and the beautiful country looked so attractive that he determined to select a home. Not having money enough to enter a quarter section of land, he was compelled to make a pre-emption claim; so he went back to what is now the Town of Nekimi, and selected the south-east quarter of Section 29, on which he built a shanty in which he kept bachelor's hall for a year. He lived on that place for twenty years, and in 1867, he purchased his present farm, on which he now resides, about two miles from the city of Oshkosh. At the time of Mr. Simmons' settlement, there was not a dozen settlers in the town. His nearest neighbor was two miles distant, and from his place east to Lake Winnebago, a distance of eight miles, there was not a track of a white man. He has kept pace with the growth and prosperity of the town, and is now the owner of two large farms - the one on which he resides of one hundred and fifty-four acres, and one in Rosendale of two hundred and fifty-seven acres. Mr. Simmons has served for long periods in official positions, having been chairman of the town for four or five years, justice of the peace for several terms, and represented his district in the State Legislature for two terms; and is now in the enjoyment of a substantial prosperity.

Hiram B. Cook

One of the early settlers of Nekimi is Hiram B. Cook, who moved from Rutland County, Vermont, to his present farm-, of which a fine view is given in this work, in October, 1847. The town, at this time, was sparsely settled and contained much Government land subject to entry. He made a pre-emption claim to his present farm, on which he built a shanty, and then commenced the work of improvement and cultivation. He afterwards entered the land embraced in his claim, and subsequently purchased additional land. The farm now contains two hundred and forty acres, and is one of the finest in the county. For the first few years Mr. Cook raised winter wheat, which averaged about thirty-five bushels per acre. His wheat crop last year was about one thousand bushels. This farm is in a high state of cultivation and provided with spacious barns and out-buildings and all the modern conveniences for farming. Mr. Cook is regarded as one of the most successful farmers in the county, and a bountiful prosperity rewards him for his years of well directed industry and good management; he has also earned the respect and good will of his neighbors and of a wide circle of acquaintances. He has witnessed the transformation of the wild country in which he settled, into one of the most highly cultivated districts in the State, now in the possession of all the facilities, comforts and advantages of modern civilization.

and purchased the farm which Peter now owns, and on which he resides. He has long been one of the prominent men of the town, taking an active part in pubHc affairs and has served as supervisor for three years and as justice of of the peace for six,

Milan Ford

Among the handsomest illustrations of this work is that of the fine residence and farm of Milan Ford. Mr. Ford fills a conspicuous place in the history of the county, as will be seen in the pages of this work, his father's family being one of the first five families settled in this county. Milan Ford moved, with his father Chester Ford, to this locality in the fall of 1837, and subsequently located on the land now known as Wright's Point, then called Ford's Point. Milan, at a later date, purchased the handsome place, now in Nekimi, where he has since resided. He has always taken a prominent part in the public affairs of the county, and has served in various public capacities, among others, that of chairman of the Town Board and member of the State Legislature for two terms, and has evidently been faithful in the discharge of these respective duties. Mr. Ford is also one of the successful farmers of this county, and is in the possession of a comfortable competency. In the spring of 1846, Milan Ford and Wm. Wright, as commissioners, with Joseph Osborn, as surveyor, laid out a road commencing at the present site of Main Street bridge, on the South Side, and running west on the quarter section line to Jed. Smalley's trading post (the present site of Omro), the road being the one that runs past Grange Hall. The party started before a deep snow had disappeared, but which was rapidly melting. A heavy storm set in and the creeks were so flooded as to be almost impassable. They reached Smalley's, where they stayed all night, and the next morning completed the survey in a rain storm and started for home, where they duly arrived, after fording Algoma Creek, where they took a cold bath at the temperature of ice water. Milan is a little more prudent now in exposing himself to such hazards, believing that the lives of good people are too precious to be jeopardized.

William Powell, with his family, came from South Wales, and settled on Section 10, Town of Brighton (now Nekimi), in 1848. His daughter, Ann, died during the first year of their residence in the town. Mrs. Powell died in 1 85 1, and Mr. Powell in 1874, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. There are three, William, David and Jennette, of the family still living on the old farm. A fine brick house has taken the place of the old log house. One son, John, went to Oregon, where he died recently, a daughter, Mary, is a resident of California, and Catherine, another daughter, is a resident of Minnesota.

Peter Roberts moved from North Wo'it^. with his parents, in 1847. His father, David Roberts, settled in the Town of Eldorado, and was among the pioneers of the Welsh settlement of Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties. In 1874, Peter made his home on Section 21, Nekimi, where he still resides.

Evan Jones came from South Wales, in 1848, and settled on Section 22, Nekimi, afterwards changing to Section 32, where he at present resides. He has held the office of postmaster for eighteen years, receiving his appointment from President Lincoln. He was chairman of the town in 1864, and has several times filled minor offices.

John Joyce migrated from Ireland to the United States in 1847, settling in Illinois. After a residence there of six years, he came to Wisconsin and settled in Nekimi, in 1853, on Section 34, where he still resides. He has acted as assessor for several terms, and is one of the substantial farmers of the town.

Among the early settlers of Nekimi is William Abrams, who settled on Section 16 in the spring of 1847. The Abrams farm is a fine, well-improved place of two hundred acres, and Mr, Abrams was considered one of the wellto-do farmers of the county,

Town Organization

The Town of Brighton was organized in pursuance of an act of the Legislature of February II, 1847. From the record of a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, held at the house of M. N, Moulthrop, on the 7th day of August, 1848, it appears that N, Miles was chairman; Milan Ford and Elisha Hall, supervisors, and A, M, Howard, clerk.

First Town Meeting Of Nekimi

FIRST TOWN MEETING OF NEKIMI. The first town meeting held under the new organization was at the house of William Powell, April 2, 1850; at which time the following town officers were elected, viz: Milan Ford, chairman; John Mandeville and George Jackson, supervisors; A. M. Howard, Samuel Stancliffe, D. Chamberlain and Warren Morley, justices; J. S. Brown, town clerk; J. S. Brown, superintendent of schools; E. G. Self, treasurer; W. R. T. Armstrong, Samuel Fields and James Dickenson, assessors; M. L. Lockerby, J. W. Foster and Jacob Wanty, constables.

First Marriage First Births

In April, 1848, Hudson A. Minorand Electa Greenman were married, the bride being the daughter of the first settler in the town. Later in the season David and Maria Owens consumated the second marriage in the town. FIRST BIRTHS.

So far as the writer can ascertain, the first white child born within the present limits of Nekimi was a daughter of William Crossett, born in the spring of 1848.

First Deaths

In September, 1847, the first death occurred, which was that of Mrs. Loren Rasmussen. The wife and two daughters of Peter Jones died later in the same year.

First Road

The first road in the town was the old "Waupun Road," which was laid in 1847, by Commissioners D. Chamberlain, Wm. Bedient and Flave George.

Schools And Churches

There are five churches in the town: The Bethesda (Welsh Calvinistic Methodist), on Section 30; Salem (Baptist) Church, on Section 20; Methodist Episcopal, on Section 32; German Lutheran, on Section 35, and Free Will Baptist, on Section 7.

Town Officers

The town officers in 1880 are: Milan Ford, chairman; Thomas Jones and August Link, supervisors; Evan Jones, clerk; David T. Davis, treasurer; John Joyce, assessor; Thos. Lloyd and J. H. Koplitz, justices.

Welsh Settlement

This settlement lies about ten miles southwest of Oshkosh, in the towns of Nekimi and Utica - a small part of it extending into the Towns of Rosendale and Eldorado, in the County of Fond du Lac.

At this late day, it is quite difficult to obtain exact information, as to time and dates, of the earlier facts pertaining to the settlement. Yet the remaining pioneers will tell us, by the hour, interesting accounts of their verdant life on the virgin soil. It is always pleasant to listen, and often a relief to laugh ; but these stories, as such, are not in keeping with the chief object of this book.

It was in the summer of 1847, in the month of July, that the first Welsh immigrants came to this county. The party started from Waukesha, Wi'^consin, under the leadership of Mr. Williams, from Prairieville. Some were in Milwaukee at the time on their way from Wales for this purpose. Having heard of this movement at Waukesha, they left their families there, and joined the party. Their names were: Williams, of Prairieville ; Abel Williams, Owen Hughes, Robert Roberts, David E. Evans (canwr), James Lewis, Peter Jones and John Williams (afterwards of Neenah) - eight in number,

A few months before this, one Welshman, T. Hughes (Cilmsenen), had come to the neighborhood, and was then working for Mr. D. Hyde, who kept a country tavern a few miles north of Rosendale, on the farm where Mr. B. Dodd lives at present. So Mr. T. Hughes always claimed to have carried the first Welsh flag into this locality; yet the above-named persons were the first ones that came to settle on the soil.

The party first arrived at Mr. Hyde's tavern, late in the eve' ning, weary and worn ; for it was no small matter then to travel sixty or eighty miles, on crooked roads, through marshes and thickets. Still they were up early on the following morning, and started together to survey the land, of which they had heard so much. They found it fully up to their expectation; its marshes and lowlands were then covered with wild hay, as high as their heads, and it did not take them long to pronounce the tract the most desirable place for their settlement.

The next thing to be done was to secure clear and certain claims. This was no easy task, for the land office was then at Green Bay, and they had no vehicle to carry them, other than that with which they crossed their father's threshold, and no finger-posts to guide them, other than a moveable one in the person of some savage Indian they might casually meet. But they started, and pushed on through swamps, rushes, rivers and forests, by the howling wolves and greasy bears, until they reached the office and obtained their papers. Then they began to retrace their tedious path rejoicing. After this, some of the party returned to see their families at Milwaukee and Waukesha; but Messrs. O. Hughes, Peter Jones and D. E. Evans remained on the land, and at once commenced to build loghouses for their families.

Here we may remark that several Americans had already come to the neighborhood, but had not commenced to till their farms. The names of some of them are : Messrs. Jackson, Whitman, Thayer, Hawley, McCauley, Starkweather, Greenman, etc.

In the fall of this year, 1847, and especially in the spring of 1848, several other Welsh people came to the place. They were Messrs. David Roberts, James Lloyd, John Jones, William Powell, Daniel Davies, Matthew Jones, Richard Moses, Daniel Owens, Frederick Roberts, Richard Jones, John Jones (mason). Rev. T. Foulkes, Hugh Owens, David Clayton, John Rees, Thomas Roberts, the Misses Jane Morgans and Mary

Roberts. As the majority of these persons were rich only in muscular strength, it is not difficult to believe their stories of the hardships which they and their families had to go through before the virgin soil became productive of their wants. But they toiled early and late, and kept up their courage.

Nearly all these early settlers were of excellent moral and religious character - much of the same stamp and stamina as those who landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620. From the very first they came together every Sabbath to hold prayer-meetings and a Sabbath school. These meetings were held for some time in the several dwellings that were found most convenient. The first Sabbath-school was held at the house of Mr. Owen Hughes, on the farm where Mr. H. Owens now resides, and in about a year or two after that, another Sabbath-school was held at Black Wolf by the families of Messrs. E. T. Jones. John Jones (mason), William Powell and others. As these services were conducted with regularity and great interest, they were the means of untold blessings to the settlers.

The first sermon was preached at the house of Mr. Peter Jones, by the Rev. John H. Evans, of Waukesha, on a certain week-day evening in the summer of 1849. I" September of this vear they undertook to build their first church, which they called Bethesda. Its site was about twelve rods west of the present church of the same name, at the other end of the burying-ground. We cannot learn the exact dimensions of this house, but it was large enough to hold the congregation at that time. It was a frame building, finished off quite comfortably. Rev. Thomas Foulkes was the first one to preach for the settlers on the Sabbath-day, and he also preached the first sermon in this church. It can also be said that he preached the first Welsh sermon af Oshkosh, Neenah, Berlin and Pine River. He served faithfully in the ministry among the new settlers for several years without receiving any pecuniary compensation, and from that time until now, he has been a faithful pastor of Bethesda Church. He has also preached much in other churches in this vicinity.

By the year 1855, the congregation had grown too large for the old church, and so they determined to build another larger and better one. Here a dispute arose as to where the new church should be located, " and the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder," and two churches were built. Bethesda was rebuilt in the spring of 1856, and Peniel in the fall of the same year. Rev. T. Foulkes retained the charge of the church at Bethesda, and Rev. John E. Williams took charge of Peniel, of which he continued to be the faithful pastor until his death, in September, 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. K. Roberts, who is still its pastor. Both these churches are Calvin Methodists, or Presbyterians.

In the year 185 1, a Congregational Church was organized by the Rev. Jenkin Jenkins, in the house of Mr. Daniel Owens Soon after, they built a church, calling it Zoar, on the town line between Utica and Rosendale. In 1862, they rebuilt it, upon the same site as the old one. The following ministers have been the pastors of this church : Revs John P. Jones, Samuel Jones, John Davies, Mr. Lewis, John V. Jones, and Humphrey Parry, who is their present pastor.

In the year 1855, a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by the Rev. Humphrey Jones, at the Red School-house, in Nekimi. They held services in the school-house until the year 1862, when their present house, called Bethel, was erected. Its pastors have been (chiefly), the Revs. Thomas Hughes and John Jones. Their Baptist Church was organized in the years 1848-49, by the Rev. Evan S. Thomas and Rev.

James Jeffreys. Many of the English people came and joined this church, so that, in the year 1 85 1, it was deemed necessary to form two congregations, one Welsh and the other English. The Welsh erected a new church, in the year 1865, which is called Salem. The Welsh pastors of this church have been the Revs. Evan S. Thomas, Jas. Jeffreys, Thomas Roberts, John W. Jones, R. T. Uwens, William Jones, John Evans, H. C. Perry (Cefni), who has the charge of it at present.

Besides these church organizations, several other societies have been formed, and are still continued. They have several weekly and semi-weekly literary societies, for the diffusion of general culture and knowledge of the literary arts. In connection with these societies, a joint annual meeting is held, in which prizes are given for the best essays, oralions, poems, tunes, solos, choir performances, etc. These meetings have done much to stimulate the intellectual life of the community. The settlement owes much to Messrs. D. E. Evans and E. Hughes for the singing in these meetings, as well as in the churches.

At a very early day a temperance society was organized. They hold regular meetings, and have done much to keep intemperance from the community.

Marriages And Births

In the year 1856, an auxiliary of the American Bible Society was organized. This society holds an annual meeting, to which an entire day is given; the officers meet at 10 A. M., and public meetings are held at 2 and 6 P. M., in which several addresses are given. The entire collections and donations to the mother society, to the year 1879, are $6,690. This amount includes the collections made by the Welsh in the city of Oshkosh, as they were operating together in this cause until the year 1871, at which time the Welsh in the city organized a separate auxiliary, and since then have collected $1,060. MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS.

The first male child born was Ebenezer D. Evans, a son of Mr. and Mrs. David E. Evans (canwr), and the first female, Mary Owens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Owens. DEATHS.

In a short time after the arrival of the immigrants here, a grave-yard had to be located; for as early as the year 1848, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Powell was numbered among the dead. She was the first one buried in the Bethesda graveyard, and several were buried here before the Zoar yard was located. Thefirst buried there, were children of Mr. and Mrs. Williams (Cav/). Some of Mr. Peter Jones' family died before these, but were interred in another location, and afterwards removed.

This neighborhood had been quite free from horrible accidents, until the year 1875, when several occurred which are worthy of note. Three or four young men bought a steam thresher from a man by the name of Moon, near Rosendale. August 26th, while threshing on Mr. Moon's farm, the boiler exploded, the explosion caused the boiler to be thrown upon the separator, crushing and killing Wm. Owens instantly, and setting fire to everything near. The separator was crushed down on the limbs of Henry Parry, who at the time was measuring, and before he could be released he was burned to a crisp. Two other young men, George and Henry Rees, were badly burnt while trying to rescue Parry. Wm. Owens was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Owens. Henry Parry came here a year. or two before the accident, from La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The same fall Richard Roberts met with a horrible death while attempting to sink a stone near his house, the stone rolling on him while he was excavating under the same. Assistance was summoned as soon as possible, and the stone removed! but death was the only relief from his terrible sufferings, which occured in a very few hours.

The two persons, last mentioned, were among the early settlers here. There are other things which could be mentioned, but space in this work will not permit.