Antigo City

Antigo City

Antigo received its name from Nequi-Antigo-Seebeh, the Chippewa Indian name of Spring River, signifying balsam evergreen river from the balsam evergreen that bordered the river.

The Streets Of Antigo

Virginia - Named after Virginia Deleglise, daughter born to F. A. and Mary Deleglise after the return of the former from Virginia, where he had served under General Bragg in the Civil War.

The Atlantic was the block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues east of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad depot. The Pacific was the street between the same avenues on the west side of the depot. Both streets, Atlantic and Pacific and the territory between, included of course (the depot and its grounds), were called America. This no doubt signified that between the Atlantic and Pacific was America, the continent.

Long Planned Settlement

Regarding the founding of the city of Antigo, Mr. Deleglise said: "As early as 1857, I believed that there were openings in this neighborhood for several prosperous settlements. Looking over the map of Wisconsin, I came to the conclusion that the valley of the upper Embarrass river and of the upper Eau Claire river would afford sites for at least two central commercial points, one to be located in the Embarrass country and the other in the Eau Claire river country."

Mr. Deleglise had in view a location within a radius of a few miles around the southeastern corner of town 27, range 13 east and another in the vicinity of section 15, town 27, range 12 east, as the eligible points in the valley of the Embarrass river. He also had in view a point at the fork of the Eau Claire river, known as the Ackley trading post,' another at Bear Lake (now Elmhurst) in town 30, range 11 east, also another on section 21, township 32, range 11 east and another near Mueller's Lake in township 31, range 12 east.

1. The city of Antigo should have been located at the forks of the cast and west branches of the Eau Claire river. The Milwaukee. Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company originally planned to construct their road through what is now Ackley Township, Langlade County.

After considerable deliberation, while at Appleton, in the summer of 1876, Mr. Deleglise mapped out the present plan of the city of Antigo and determined upon its location as the point for the upper Eau Claire river valley. Most of the land was entered in the name of his wife, Mary Deleglise, in the fall of 1877, with $300 received from her parents. Entry was made upon a contract with the state. "We paid about $16 per forty acres down," said Mr. Deleglise.

The founder of the city built a log shanty on lot 13, block 35, of the future village and moved his family into it. Thus his was the first family and the first building in the original plat of the place. The first shanty, however in the neighborhood was that erected

Pioneers of Shawano had succeeded in inducing the legislature in 1879 to attach Antigo and New County to Shawano County for county and judicial purposes. This actually bound Antigo, hand and foot, to Shawano. Twenty miles of woods separated Antigo from the Wolf River country, where the town board of Langlade township met. The town board was also antagonistic to citizens of Antigo. This was unbearable and the settlers of Antigo thereupon devised a plan to overthrow the town board and elect officers with sympathy for Antigo and who would afford the city the opportunity to grow that it was entitled to by law.

Where the oxen slowly trudged in 1870, the molerii automobile spins in 1922. The Pioneer "picked his way" through marsh and mud by the light of an oil lantern then. Forty-three years later Antigo's main street, lined with splendid brick buildings, and e.xcellently paved, is illuminated by a beautiful ornamental lighting system.

by Michael Weix in what is now Weix's addition to the city of Antigo. In 1878, there were just eighteen people, including laborers and transients in Antigo. The village of Antigo was originally included within the Town of Langlade, Oconto County. The nearest town officers were twenty-one miles away.

Mr. Deleglise engaged in lumbering operations and as a land and real estate agent having had control of 10,000 acres of land within a radius of ten miles of Antigo.

Famous Political Episodes

During the early years of the settlement of Antigo, the people were apprehensive of trouble with their neighbor, the city of Shawano. Antigo was destined to rival and ultimately surpass Shawano as a business and commercial center. Shawano citizens believed that a great deal of the Wolf River lumber business would be diverted to Antigo. Consequently this served as an incentive to the people of Shawano to spare no means to prevent Antigo's prosperity and growth.

The Surprise Voters

THE SURPRISE VOTERS. The Antigoites kept very quiet on election day, thus leading the Wolf River party to think that Antigo citizens would not vote. The Antigo citizens, starting the day before election, in that fine spring of 1879, camped out during the night along the road and put in their appearance late in the afternoon of the following day and won by superior numbers. The Langlade settlement was defeated by about six votes, their strength being divided by dissension. ^ It has been said by an old pioneer that the Langlade settlers could have defeated Antigo by challenging the vote, which they did not do. The total vote was less than one hundred.

The Fight To Incorporate Antigo

1. If the Langlade voters knew of the approach of the Antigo citizens they would have temporarily buried their differences to save to the Wolf River region that political prestige which they held so many years.

village of Antigo were opposed to its incorporation because they disliked the idea of greater representation of the village on the county board.

Proponents of the plan for incorporation declared that the village should be incorporated as a city because the pro rata of electors to each chairman of the county townships exclusive of the Town of Antigo was in 1883, 51 inhabitants. Thus, they argued, if the village becomes a city, each of the four ward supervisors would represent 53 electors. The four supervisors of the city and the Chairman of Antigo township would each represent 63 electors and that even with the four city supervisors on the board, that the county members opposed, the per cent of representation would still be in favor of the townships.

First Aldermen Elected The Old City Hall Axd Fire Departmext

Of the city of Antigo arc shown herewith. This picture, taken in ISiiO bj- C. B. McDonald, shows the frame building at the intersection of Clermont Street and Fifth .Avenue (now the site of the First National Bank). Just north of it on Clermont Street was the store of Henry Berner. Sr.. and north of that building was the old city hall and fire department, (the building with the steeple and bell). This photo was taken on Memorial day. Clermont Street, north of Third .Avenue was then being opened. The old Tiblu-t place (nnw the Mnrten residence) is seen north of the old city hall.

to have the city incorporated and were successful. The city was incorporated under chapter 79 of the laws of 1885 with four wards. The first election was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1885. Inspectors of ward elections selected by the act incorporating the city were: 1st ward - H. G. Borgman. 2nd ward - B. F. Dorr; 3rd ward - August Schoepke and 4th ward - Louis Mendlik.

The first polling places were held at: 1st ward - Clithero & Strong's lumber office on Superior street; 2nd ward - Spencer's Hall on 5th Avenue; 3rd ward - At Sherman & Dawley's office on Fifth Avenue; 4th ward - At Louis Mendlik's office on Superior street.

George Clithero was chosen first President of the city council at the first city council meeting held at Spencer's Hall, April 13, 1885. The first act of the council was to create by resolution the city of Antigo pursuant to the provisions and in compliance with chapter 79 of the laws of 1885.

Antigo's progress as a city is discussed in another chapter, as the opening of the new form of government closed a vivid chapter in early pioneer life.