COUNTY AFFAIRS AND MISCELLANY.

WHAT is now the County of Outagamie was owned by the Indians until taken possession of by the French in the seventeenth century. It so remained until it passed to Great Britain as a result of the Seven Years' War, 1761-2. At the close of the Revolution, 1783, it became the possession of the United States. In 1789 it was made a part of the Northwest Territory, and in 1800 a part of Indiana Territory. In 1809 it was included in Illinois Territory and so remained until 1818, when it was attached to Michigan Territory. On April 20, 1836, it was included in the Territory of Wisconsin.

By the Act of January 11, 1805, all territory east of the line due north from the south end of Lake Michigan to the northern boundary of the United States was constituted Michigan Territory.

By the Act of Congress approved April 18, 1818, "all that part of the Illinois Territory which is situated north of and not included within, the boundaries described by this Act (creating the State of Illinois) to the state thereby authorized to be formed, shall be and hereby is attached to and made a part of the Michigan Territory from and after the formation of the said state (of Illinois), subject, nevertheless, to be hereafter disposed of by Congress according to the right reserved in the fifth article of the ordinances as aforesaid."

Brown county, Michigan Territory, was given the following boundaries: "Bounded on the north by the county of Michilimackinac as established by an act of the governor of the said territory of this date; on the east by the said county of Michilimackinac and by the western boundary of the said territory as the same was established by the Act of Congress passed January 11, 1805, entitled 'An Act to divide the Indiana Territory into two separate governments;' on the south by the states of Indiana and Illinois; and on the west by a line to be drawn due north from the northern boundary of the State of Illinois through the middle of the portage between the Fox river and the Ouissin (Wisconsin) river to the county of Michilimackinac, into a separate county to be called the county of Brown, October 26, 1818."

"And I do establish the seat of justice of the said county of Brown at such point on the Fox river and within six miles of the mouth thereof, as may be selected by a majority of the judges of the County Court of said county."LEWIS CASS, "Governor of Michigan Territory."

The County Court was ordered held on the second Monday of July of every year.

In 1824 a bill was drawn dividing Michigan Territory into two separate governments, one was to be called Chippewau. The bill was drawn by J. D. Doty. One section was as follows: "That the seat of government of said territory shall be established at or near the village of Munnominnee (so called) on the east bank of the Fox river, eleven miles above Fort Howard. And the Legislature of the said territory shall cause the public buildings to be erected at such point near the said village as they may deem most suitable; and five thousand acres of land located by the Governor to be below the Grand Kaukaulan on said river, is hereby given to the said Legislature for the use of the Territory, the proceeds of which shall be applied to the erection of the said Territorial buildings."

"All that district of country within the county of Brown to which the Indian title has been extinguished and comprehended with the following boundaries, namely: Commencing at a point ten miles southeast from the head of the rapids of the Grand Kaukaulin and running a due northeast course until it intersects a line drawn due northwest and southeast through Point au Sable of Green Bay, thence along said line until it intersects another line commencing at and running a due northeast course from a point ten miles northwest from the head of the rapids aforesaid, and from thence due southeast to the place of beginning, shall be the township of Green Bay. April 27, 1827."

In May, 1832, Morgan L. Martin was councilman from the Seventh District, composed of the counties of Chippewa, Michilimackinac, Brown, Crawford and Iowa. There was introduced in Congress about this time a bill to establish the Territory of Huron or Ouisconsin.

In 1832 post routes were granted from Chicago to Green Bay, and Green Bay to Prairie du Chien via Fort Winnebago. The latter crossed Outagamie county.

"That all that tract of country lying north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan and south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers of Green Bay, in the present territory of Michigan, be laid off into four new land districts." One was called Green Bay Land District, "which district shall embrace the country north of said rivers (Wisconsin and Fox), when the Indian title shall become extinguished and the Green Bay District may be divided so as to form two districts when the President shall deem it proper." On June 15, 1836, the Green Bay district was divided, the southern half being cut off and constituted the Milwaukee district.

The Act of December 9, 1836, fixed the seat of justice for Brown county at either Navarino, Astor or DePere, as might be decided by the voters.

On September 6, 1834, the boundaries of Brown county were fixed as follows: "Bounded north by the county of Michilimackinac." All that part of Brown county to which the Indian title ships 11 and 12 north, in the Green Bay Land district, and east by the line drawn due north through the middle of Lake Michigan until it strikes the southern boundary of the county of Michilimackinack." All that part of Brown county to which the Indian title was extinguished was attached to and constituted a part of the township of Green Bay. South of Brown county to the Illinois line was made Milwaukee county, which was attached to Brown for judicial purposes. Approved September 6, 1834.

"All that district of country in said county (Brown) lying on the west side of Fox river and Green Bay in the county of Brown and north of the south line of the claim of Paul Duchane (Ducharme) at the Grand Kaukaulin extended, shall be a township by the name of Howard, and the first township meeting shall be held at the dwelling house of Jacques Porlier on the first Monday of September next."--Approved March 17, 1835.

"All that district of country in said county composed of surveyed townships 21, 22 and 23 north, ranges 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 east, shall be a township by the name of Mason, and the first township meeting shall be held in the courthouse in the village of Menominee on the first Monday of September next."--Approved March 17, 1835. As will be seen this township embraced the southeastern part of the present Outagamie county. In 1839 a portion of the present Outogamie county became the town of Kaukaulin. (See chapter on Kaukauna.)

In January, 1840, Daniel Whitney, William Dickerson, Alexander Grignon and David Johnson were appointed commissioners by the Legislature to lay out a territorial road from Fort Howard via Grand Kakalin and Little Butte de Morts to Knagg's ferry in Brown county.

The Act of February, 1846, authorized the construction of a macadam, plank, rail or turnpike road from the foot of Grand Kakalin to Winnebago lake.

"George Grignon, of Green Bay, while shooting pigeons near Grand Kaukalin accidentally shot his right arm near the wrist through the center, so that it had to be amputated. Doctor Armstrong, assisted by Doctor Ward, performed the operation."-- (Green Bay Advocate, August 27, 1846.) The Act of March 13, 1848, incorporated the Winnebago Lake & Fox River Road company, with power to build a plank road from Winnebago lake to the foot of the rapids at the Grand Kakalin; the incorporators were Albert G. Ellis, William Mitchell, Samuel Ryan, Siliver Newton, Henry S. Baird, William Dickinson, Erastus M. Drury, Francis McCarty and George McWilliams.

In 1848 Wisconsin Territory, by vote of the residents and the adoption of a constitution, formed a state government and asked for admission into the Union, which was granted. The new state asked for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers under the former Act of 1846.

In 1849 George W. Lawe, John C. Dean and Thomas H. Clark were authorized to lay out and establish a state road from Wolf river near the southwest corner of section 20, town 22, range 16, to the Grand Kaukalin. At this time a state road was ordered laid out from Madison to Green Bay, via Oshkosh; another was established from Winnebago rapids, via Grand Chute, to Aldrich's mill.

In response to a general call for a meeting of the pioneers of the county, signed by John Stephens, J. M. Phinney, Harmon Jones, G. H. Myers, W. S. Warner, J. F. Johnston, William McGuire, Samuel Ryan, Jr., and others, a large number met at the hall of J. C. Smith in Appleton on Washington's birthday, 1872. John Stephens called the meeting to order and James M. Phinney was chosen temporary chairman. He stated the object of the meeting. A committee was appointed to prepare a program for the occasion. A resolution inviting Dr. Steele of the university and the ministers of the county to attend was passed. A list of old settlers was ordered made out, with statistics of their arrival. A constitution was at once prepared. The first officers elected were: John Stephens, president; Ethan Powers, vice-president, Daniel Huntley, secretary; John Leith, treasurer; H. L. Blood, John Dey, W. H. P. Bogan, Edwin Nye and John H. McGillan, executive council. The song of the pioneers, composed by Mr. Stephens, was then first read and then sung. At the conclusion of the song, dinner was served. After dinner Mr. Stephens delivered the first address and told how he had hunted over the country before it was settled. Dr. A. B. Randall came here first in August, 1847, and erected a log cabin in 1848. W. S. Warner said he came to Appleton in 1847, before a street was opened or a house built, and later helped to chop out College avenue; built his own house in a day and a half; he and George H. Myers got lost in the woods between Appleton and Hortonville. Prof. James M. Phinney said when he came here in 1848 "the very idea of building the college here in the woods with no town or village near it, appeared almost foolhardy; he became teacher of mathematics; they began the university in the fall (of 1848) with thirty-five students, little and big. Before winter ended they had 100 and before the year closed 150. Randall Johnson of Black Creek said he settled in what was Bovina in 1852; helped lay out the Green Bay and Stevens Point road; stopped with Mr. Jordan where Shiocton now stands. John Leith located in Center in 1850; went back to England, returned, got lost in the woods near his own home and was out over night with wolves howling around; his wife taught the first term of school in the town. John Batley, John H. McGillan, Charles Breitreick, L. L. Randall, Daniel Huntley, John Dey, Capt. Ethan Powers and others related how they settled here. "General" A. J. Jackson, an old colored man, was called out. Mr. Stephens introduced him as "the first white settler in the county." He was reared in Tennessee, near Nashville; could not tell when he came here; lived for a time in a wigwam with Winnebago Indians where Madison is; then lived in Oshkosh before it had a name; and then at Neenah; secured a wife from the Stockbridge Indians, had six children, but all died: "I was the first settler this side of the Oneida line; I chopped and cleared many farms--one for Mr. Abbot, of Freedom; one for Mr. Woodward, and one for Mr. Phinney." Ephraim St. Louis, of Kaukauna, said he came from Canada to Green Bay in 1838 and traveled thence to Kaukauna on foot; lost the trail, but followed the river; wolves all around him; went to Little Chute and located and had resided there ever since. The same year a Methodist missionary settled here with the Indians. St. Louis soon went up the river to see the country; reached "Flat Rock" at what is now Appleton; saw a fresh brush-heap, examined it and found the dead body of the Methodist missionary, who no doubt had been murdered; went back to Little Chute; got help; buried him where he was found; never knew his name; word was sent to the Indian agent, Colonel Boyd, who at once demanded of the Menominee chief the arrest of the murderers; three Indians were taken and locked in the Depere jail; one confessed that they killed him expecting to get money; they cut out his heart and ate it and drank his blood to make themselves brave; the other two Indians killed the one who confessed in jail, and then hung themselves with strips of their blankets. I took through the river to the lake, portaging around the rapids the first boat that sailed on the waters of Lake Winnebago, the sailboat 'Snow Bird'. (Statements of Mr. St. Louis).

The following is a list of the pioneers prepared and published at this time: George St. Louis, 1839; N. Pauley, 1842; Thomas St. Louis, 1844; Ephraim St. Louis, 1838; James Jackson (colored), 1830; Christian Heinz, 1842; R. R. Bateman, 1847; H. L. Blood, 1847; M. Culbertson 1848, Charles Wolcott 1848, John Stephens 1848, Alexander Ross 1848, John F. Johnston 1848, John Lillman 1848, J. C. Van Neil 1848, S. . Childs 1848, W. H. Johnston 1843, John Dey 1849, W. McGuire 1849, David Barry 1849, C. E. Wolcott 1849, Thomas Powers 1849, Wait Cross 1849, Charles Breitreich 1849, C. A. Fisher 1849, M. D. McGrath 1849, P. V. Smith 1849, T. W. Lyman 1849, J. C. Smith 1849, D. Huntley 1849, Thomas Gleed 1849, A. P. Lewis 1849, H. M. Jones 1849, Miles R. Perry 1849, Edwin Wolcott 1849, Frank Wolcott 1849, Mrs. S. A. Wilson 1849, H. Greenfield 1849, Mathew Nugent 1849, John McPherson 1849, John McPherson Jr. 1849, J. M. Phinney 1849, George H. Myers 1849, W. W. Crane 1849, W. B. Crane 1849, W. S. Warner 1849, A. Mortis 1849, Harrison Green 1849, W. F. Johnston 1849, Mrs. N. Mereness 1849, Fred Blood 1849, F. L. Tuttle 1849, A. B. Briggs 1849, A. P. Lewis 1849, H. M. Jones 1849, Miles R. Perry 1849, E. E. Powers 1850, Levi Randall 1850, James Gilmore 1850, Henry Priest 1850, J. H. Wharton 1850, Nicholas Wertz 1850, W. G. Whorton 1850, Clark Renoud 1850, Hector McKay 1850, John Leith 1850, L. L. Randall 1850, F. C. Vandebogart 1850, Morris R. Gleed 1850, A. C. Darling 1850, C. B. Brownell 1850, A. G. Smith 1850, Mrs. P. A. Brownell 1850, R. Johnston 1850, John Batley 1850, R. K. Randall 1850, George Knowles 1850, E. Godwin 1850, E. Connery 1850, A. B. Everts 1850, J. D. Pierce 1850, G. M. Robinson 1850, Almany Orr 1851, E. Saxton 1851, Samuel Boyd 1851, John McGillian 1851, James A. McGillan 1851, R. G. GMcGillan 1851, Jennie St. Louis 1851, M. B. Johnston 1851, Humphrey Sul- livan 1851, M. H. Lyon 1851, George G. Johnston 1851 S. B. Belding 1851, W. D. Reynolds 1851, Seth J. Perry 1851, John H. Barnes 1852, Samuel Ryan Jr. 1852, Dr. Byron Douglas 1852,- Earle W. Douglas 1852, J. H. Marston 1852, L. Zenton 1852, James Ryan 1852, W. W. Briggs 1852, G. W. Boone 1852, W. L. Sweetzer 1852, M. Doran 1852, E. Spencer 1853, Francis Bernard 1853, R. F. Mc- Grath 1853, Alfred Aspinall 1853, H. D. Ryan 1853, W. H. P. Bogan 1853.

In February, 1850, there was a tri-weekly mail Green Bay to Fond du Lac via Kaukauna, Appleton, Neenah, etc. In 1850 Congress gave to the states all the unsold swamp and overflowed land within their respective borders. The act of February 4, 1850 authorized a state road laid out from Hortonville in Brown county to Grignon bridge in Winnebago county, A. E. Horton, William N. Davis and Cyrenus Baldwin were commissioners. On June 1, 1850, the population was as follows: Ellington 264, Grand Chute 630, Hortonia 192, Kaukauna 689 and Lansing 209. The population of Brown county in 1846 was 2,672; 1847, 2,914; 1850, 6,222. In 1849-50 six townships were separated from Brown county and added to Manitowoc county.

In the legislature early in 1851 a bill was introduced to construct a bridge over Fox river at Grand Kaukauna. For this three substitutes were offered: A toll bridge at Grand Kaukauna; a bridge over the river at Grand Chute; a toll bridge over the river at Little Chute. The first one above mentioned was introduced in the senate by Mr. Conkey. Other bills were to incorporate the Fox and Wisconsin Plank Road Company; build the Waupun and Oshkosh road; a memorial to Congress to survey the public lands north of Fox river, and one prohibiting any persons but Indians from killing wild buck, doe and fawn during February, March, April, May and June of each year.

In 1850 Theodore Conkey was senator from the first district. In the legislature in January, 1851, the following proceedings were had: "By Mr. Conkey, No. 17, Senate. A bill to divide the county of Brown and to create the county of Utaghamie, Wednesday, January 15, 1851." The next day the Senate as a committee of the whole considered the bill to create Utagamie county and reported it back to the Senate without amendment. Further consideration was postponed eight days. It was then postponed until January 31, on which day it was reported back with amendments by the committee of the whole; the Senate agreed to the amendments. Mr. Conkey then moved to amend the 6th section by striking out the word "village" and inserting the words "town of Grand Chute." Mr. Gale moved to amend by striking out the word "Utagamie" wherever it occurred in the bill and to insert therefor the word "Fox;" carried 9 to 1. The bill was then ordered engrossed. Later the motion to engross was reconsidered by 11 to 5. Mr. Conkey voted not to reconsider. Mr. Bugh then moved to reconsider the vote to strike out the word "Outagamie" and to insert the word "Fox;" agreed to. Mr. Conkey voted against this motion to reconsider. The bill was then ordered engrossed for a third reading. Mr. Reed moved to suspend the rules and have the bill read the third time which was done. It then was put upon its passage and was carried. Mr. Conkey voted against the motion to pass the bill. It was his own bill, was passed as he introduced it, but he voted against it apparently because he had changed his views concerning it perhaps as to the proposed alteration in name. On February 15, the House concurred in the bill creating Outagamie county as it was spelled at last.

The act approved February 17, 1851, was as follows: "That all that portion of country now embraced in the county of Brown, known and designated as Towns 21, 22, 23 and 24 north, ranges 15, 16, 17 and 18 and the west half of 19, is hereby set off into a separate county, which shall be called and known as the county of Outagamie.

"That the county of Outagamie as aforesaid shall be organized after the first day of April next for the purpose of county government, and shall enjoy all the rights, privileges, immunities and powers of the other counties of this state.

"There shall be an election held in the several towns and precincts such now or may be hereafter established by law on the first Tuesday of April next for the election of all such town and county officers as the said county by virtue of its organization and the privileges of this act shall be entitled to, who shall severally hold their offices until the first day of January after the next general annual election and their successors are duly qualified.

"The said election shall be considered in all respects in the manner now provided for holding the same under the law regulating general elections and the votes cast at the same shall be returned and canvassed as therein provided and the judges of said election shall issue certificates of election to any person duly elected under the provisions of this act.

"That the seat of justice of said county shall be and is hereby located at the Town of Grand Chute in said county and the citizens of said county may at their first election vote for or against the establishment of the seat of justice of said county at any place in said county and the place so receiving a majority of the votes polled at such election shall be the permanent seat of justice.

"Said county so established shall remain attached to the county of Brown for judicial purposes until otherwise provided by law.

"The county supervisors so elected on said day of election shall meet as soon thereafter as may be at the seat of justice and with the clerk of said county, all of whom being first duly qualified according to law and under oath by some person authorized to administer the same, shall then and there proceed to organize said county and may then and there perform all such duties and services as may be required of them by law in order that the said county may be organized as contemplated by this act and to approve the qualifications of other county officers.

"That the county of Outagamie shall pay into the treasury of the county of Brown all costs, fees, charges and expenses that shall be paid by the county of Brown that may accrue in consequence of any prosecution, conviction, imprisonment or proceedings whatever against any person charged with any crime or misdemeanor within said county of Outagamie and the supervisors of the county of Brown may sue and collect the same from said county of Outagamie in any court of competent jurisdiction."

"At Kaukauna we found some buildings going on and there is said to be a good demand for lots. The country back towards Wolf river is now receiving settlers and preparations are making to open a road to that river from Kaukauna. The land is of the very best quality and persons are constantly arriving in search of locations. The new hotel at Lansing is a fine building and we found Mr. Hanna and a number of others at work preparing for the 'gravitation ball' which was to come off soon. We stopped the second night at the house of Mr. Jackman at Grand Chute. Having some business in Dublin, the settlement at the public works on the opposite side of the river, we found some twenty shanties, filled with inmates ready to go to work. They are now getting out timber for the lock; the canal is about half completed. Grand Chute, Appleton and Lawesburg continue to grow and business seems in a healthy condition. We noticed many new buildings, which were constructed with a good deal of taste. The institution (Lawrence University) is in full operation and doing well. It is highly spoken of everywhere. There are many new clearings and new and neat farmhouses on the way from the Chute to Neenah. Good locations are eagerly sought after and uncleared land is sold readily for $10 to $15 per acre. This will do for a country through which, three years ago, the only road was an Indian trail."--(Cor. Green Bay Advocate, January 16, 1851).

"At the first meeting of the board of supervisors for the county of Outagamie held in pursuance of the act creating said county at the house of R. P. Edgarton in the village of Appleton in said county April 18th, A. D., 1851, the following chairmen were present from their respective towns: Grand Chute--Geo. M. Robinson; Kaukauna (misspelled in the records)--Geo. W. Lawe; Lansing-- Lewis A. Hine; Greenville--Lorenzo E. Darling; Hortonia-- Lorenzo Josephus Wakefield; Ellington--(absent)." George M. Robinson was chosen chairman of the board and R. A. Lawe, secretary pro tem. Charles A. Grignon, treasurer-elect, presented his certificate of election from the clerk of the board of Brown county; also his bond with the signatures of Charles A. Grignon and of M. L. Martin, Perry H. Smith and Alexander Grignon as sureties; this bond was accepted and Mr. Grignon was duly sworn in as county treasurer. Lorenzo E. Darling became clerk of the county board. Charles Turner was duly qualified as county surveyor.

This meeting was evidently held in the forenoon, because an adjournment was taken to half past one o'clock, when upon motion of Josephus Wakefield a "furnishing. committee" was appointed by the chairman to procure books, stationery, desks, cases and other necessaries for the county officers. This committee was composed of Hine, Wakefield and Lawe. Mr. Wakefield asked to be released, whereupon Mr. Robinson was substituted on the committee. Mr. Lawe upon request was also excused and Lorenzo E. Darling was substituted. The following resolution was then adopted: "Resolved, That the register of deeds be authorized immediately after receiving his books to transcribe the records from the register's office at Green Bay appertaining to land in Outagamie county." The following resolution was also adopted: "Resolved, That the chairman of this board be authorized to receive proposals or bids for erecting suitable county buildings in Grand Chute, Appleton, Lawesburg or any other part of Grand Chute, said proposals to be accompanied by drafts specifying the block or lot on which they propose to erect those buildings; said proposals to be received before the next meeting of the board." The "furnishing committee" was authorized to procure a seal for the county. Miles F. Johnson was authorized to charge 10 cents for each foot passenger on his ferry over Fox river. A resolution annexing certain lands to the towns of Kaukauna and Lansing having been lost, a motion to reconsider carried, whereupon the original resolutions were unanimously adopted. These resolutions were as follows: "That so much of town 21, range 19, as is embraced in Outagamie county; also sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33, town 22, range 19, be embraced in the town of Kaukauna; and that,so much of the county of Outagamie as lies east and north of the town of Lansing, excepting sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33, town 22, range 19, be embraced in the town of Lansing. The board then adjourned to meet on the first day of July, 1851, at Edgarton's Hotel, in the town of Grand Chute.

On the first day of the July (1851) meeting, the following members were present: George M. Robinson, Lorenzo E. Darling L. A. Hine and George W. Lawe. The first proceedings was to adjourn from Edgarton's Hotel to the plank road office at half past one o'clock, at which time the following members were present: L. E. Darling, L. A. Hine, George W. Lawe, George M. Robinson, John R. Rynders, and Josephus Wakefield. The "furnishing committee" reported in substance as follows: "That they had purchased of Rood & Whittmore for the county one deed book, one mortgage book, two alphabets and one index book, (the cost) amounting to $40.75; also of I. N. Lydan of Green Bay one ream of paper at (a cost of ) $3 per ream. Time for receiving proposals for the county buildings was extended to 10 o'clock July 2, 1851, and it was resolved that no proposal without satisfactory security would be received. Rood & Whittemore were allowed $30.75, though their bill was previously stated to be $40.75. The petition of I. Macpherson and twenty-three others to set apart so much of the town of Kaukauna as formerly belonged to Wrightstown and Lawrence in a separate town to be called Cast, was laid on the table.

On the second day of the July term the proposals for erecting the county buildings were considered, whereupon it was resolved "That the board now proceed to view the several lots or parcels of land that have been offered for the site of the county buildings. At two o'clock p. m. the board came in from taking views." A bounty of $5 for wolf scalps was offered; an effort to raise the bounty to $10 was lost. The district attorney was directed io examine the accounts of Earle L. Goodrich and John P. Arndt against the county. Hine and Wakefield were appointed a committee to enter into agreement with the persons who should erect the county buildings. John Jewett, Jr., was deputy clerk of the county board.

On the third day of the July term there were present Darling Hine, Robinson, Rynders and Wakefield; an adjournment from 10 to 11 o'clock was taken, the same members being present. Mr Lawe s excuse for absence, sent by special messenger was accepted. It was "Resolved, That the electors of Outagamie county did at the election on the first Tuesday of April last, A. D. 1851, establish the seat of justice of Outagamie county in the town of Grand Chute, known as the town organized for town purposes under the Revised Statutes, Chapter K." All the bids for county buildings were declared out of order. It was resolved to separate the courthouse from the jail, register's office and clerk's office; the latter two were ordered made fireproof. It was ordered that the courthouse should be completed by the next annual meeting of the board. It was "Resolved, That so much of Outagamie county as lies west of towns 23 and 24 north, range 16 east shall be embraced in the town of Ellington; also so much of the county west of town 22, range 16." New proposals for land donations and county buildings were ordered received before the next meeting of the county board, no bid to be considered unless accompanied by satisfactory security. The board then adjourned to July 14.

At that time they again met at the "plank road office." Mr. Hine reported having procured record books from Green Bay. The board then adjourned to meet the same day at the office of A. S. Sanborn in the village of Grand Chute. All members were then present. Petitions to postpone the erection of county buildings and to accept the proposal of Theodore Conkey were laid on the table. It was resolved to open the proposals in relation to the county buildings at 9 o'clock on July 15. Donations of lands for the county buildings were ordered received. A bounty of $10 for the scalp of every wolf killed in Outagamie county was ordered paid upon oath made to that effect before any justice of the peace who was ordered to thereupon destroy said scalps; the affidavit was declared sufficient to entitle the affiant to the bounty. On the 15th the resolution to attach certain territory (see back) to Ellington was repealed. Plats of the various towns of the county were ordered kept in the clerk's office. The proposals for county buildings were then opened and read and the following action thereon was taken:

"Whereas, Theodore Conkey is desirous of deeding to this county Block No. 31 in the town of Grand Chute and to erect county buildings on said block as this board shall direct; therefore

"Resolved, That Block No. 31 or a part of said block and other lands adjoining it on the east in the plat of the village of Appleton shall be the block on which to erect the county buildings, which shall be accepted for county purposes, provided said Conkey erect the county buildings as the county supervisors shall direct otherwise not." All the members voted in favor of this resolution-- Darling, Hine, Lawe, Robinson, Rynders and Wakefield On July 16, A. S. Sanborn, district attorney, drew up the articles of agreement between Theodore Conkey and A. A. Lawrence on the one part and the county board on the other, and after a number of changes had been made therein both parties signed the agreement.

On November 11, 1851, the board met and organized at the office of H. S. Eggleston, there being present Darling, Robinson, Lawe, Wakefield, Hine and Rynders. The board adjourned to Frederick Packard's office. The chairmen of the several town boards of supervisors were required to report the aggregate amount of real and personal estate. At this session the board equalized assessments throughout the county. The sum of one and one-half mills was ordered levied for school purposes. Eight mills were ordered levied for county expenses. The towns were Grand Chute Hortonia, Kaukauna, Greenville, Ellington and Lansing. The aggregate valuations of the taxables as corrected by the board were as follows: Ellington, $35,623.32; Grand Chute, $108,165.02; Greenville, $29,240.55; Hortonia, $31,917.74; Kaukauna, $81,761.73; Lansing, $65,539.58. J. Wakefield was paid $2 for canvassing the votes of the county; L. A. Hine, $4 for furnishing plats of the towns; A. S. Sanborn, $5 for preparing the Conkey & Lawrence agreement; H. S. Eggleston, $743.27 for transcribing the records concerning Outagamie county, on the Brown county books; W. J. Johnson, $5 for certain plans and specifications; J. Jewett, Jr., $6 for preparing report on schools for the state superintendent scholars to the county treasurer; J. Hersey, $3.46 for services as justice of the peace; J. R. Rynders, $2 for services as county canvasser. The county officials were paid at this time. The "furnishing committee" was directed to procure a safe for the register of deeds. Adjournment to meet in December at the house of Thomas Hanna.

At the December (1851) session much unfinished business was done. William S. Bailey was paid for services as justice of the peace. H. C. Sillis was paid $10 for a grey wolf scalp. Robinson & Brother were paid for printing county orders. The clerk and chairman of the county board were authorized to sign and issue county orders that had been allowed by the board. The town of Medina was set apart from Hortonia, the separation to take effect in March, 1852; an election for town officers was ordered held in the schoolhouse of District 1. There was dissension as to the boundaries of the new town. The annual town meeting for 1852 in Hortonia was ordered held at the schoolhouse in District 2. The clerk of the county board was allowed a salary of $300 for 1852, to be paid quarterly. He was paid $150 for his services in 1851. The board unanimously adopted a memorial praying the Legislature to pass a law making tax titles good, or else to render all unoccupied lands and those owned by nonresidents free from taxation. Orders amounting to $125 for an iron safe for the register's office were authorized to be issued.

At the February (1852) session George Pratt was paid $10 for a wolf scalp. At this date the resolutions creating the town of Medina and for the town meeting in Hortonia were repealed.

On February 23, 1852, it was resolved that so much of the county as lay west and north of Wolf river in town 22, range 15, should be embraced in the town of Hortonia. The following was passed: "Resolved, That the Legislature be requested to pass no acts authorizing the laying of state roads in this county, which require the county to pay for laying out the same." A. S. Sanborn was paid $10 for rent of clerk's office for nine months. Smith & Ballard were paid $18 for rent of office for county treasurer for nine months in 1851. E. Rudd was allowed $6 for a county seal. The clerk of the board was authorized to pay the county bounty on wolf scalps. R. A. Lawe and George M. Robinson were appointed agents on the part of Outagamie county to make full and final settlement with Brown county; their acts thus far were ratified and confirmed. Benjamin Proctor was a justice.

"Whereas, The traffic in intoxicating liquors has in all ages of the world been a fruitful source of untold crime, misery and pauperism; and,

"Whereas, Until the recent glorious discovery made in the State of Maine, the benevolent and the good were at a loss to know what plan could be devised to put a stop to its dreadful and ruinous consequences, therefore

"Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of the county of Outagamie do hereby request the Legislature to protect us from the evils set forth in the above preamble, ere our prisons are filled with criminals and our poorhouses with the wives and children of the drunkards, by enacting a law similar to the one now in operation in the State of Maine."

The above, offered by Mr. Darling, was unanimously adopted.

On April 30, 1852, the new county board met at the house of S. E. Beach, Appleton, and consisted of the following members: S. E. Beach, of Grand Chute; Isaac Wickware, of Greenville; Milo Coles, of Ellington; Norman Nash, of Hortonia; Lewis A. Hine, of Lansing; Ethan Powers, of Lansing. Hine and Powers contested for the office, both claiming election. Mr. Beach was chosen chairman of the board. The opinion of George H. Powers, district, attorney, was called for to determine what evidence was necessary and legal to learn whether Hine or Powers was entitled to the seat. February 24, 1852, counsel appeared for Mr. Powers. The contest was postponed and in the meantime both Hine and Powers were permitted to sit with the board. Action concerning tax certificates was taken by the board. Albright & Crosby were allowed $200 for a safe for the register's office. Robinson & Brother were paid for printing delinquent tax lists. A.S. Sanborn was paid $10.50 for transporting the county safe from Green Bay to Grand Chute. The county treasurer's fees were inquired into at this time. The offer of Hanna and Bateman to furnish room for county offices and courtroom was accepted. Lewis A. Hine having charged the deputy county treasurer with fraud in,the discharge of his duties the board expressed the opinion that there was no evidence before them to substantiate such charges. An investigation was ordered. Lorenzo E. Darling was clerk and Alden S. Sanborn deputy at this time. At the November (1852) session the members present were: Beach, Nash, Wickware, Powers, N. M. Hephner and Henry Bassonnett Kaukauna. At this time the town of Freedom was set off from Lansing by the Legislature, but no provision was made for an election in the latter to fill vacancies thus caused; the Legislature was requested to remedy this oversight. Robert Lovett was paid $28 for court seals. The register of deeds and the clerk of the board rented offices of P. H. Smith. The board solicited proposals for rooms for the county offices at this time. Theodore Conkey was called before the board to state how near completion the county buildings were. The following passed:

"Resolved, That there be and is hereby appropriated out of the county treasury the sum of $5 and that a county order in that amount be immediately drawn and the sheriff of the county be and is hereby instructed to negotiate said order for apples and segars immediately and forthwith present the said apples and segars to this board for further consideration."

The books and vouchers of the county treasurer were ordered investigated. The clerk of the board was paid for canvassing the votes for county officers, April, 1852; for canvassing those for county judge, May, 1852; for canvassing those for judges of the Supreme Court, October, 1852; and for a general canvass of the election of November, 1852.

In 1852 the first pauper expenses were allowed by the board; the town of Kaukauna was allowed $40.14 on this account. The county treasurer having withheld school moneys, was sued by the county and was reimbursed by the school districts affected. A. S. Sanborn was paid $200 per year for his services as district attorney for 1853 and 1854. George H. Myers was paid $75 salary as district attorney for 1852. The clerk's salary was $150 a year. A county order registry was ordered kept by the treasurer.

In November, 1852, the county towns were Grand Chute, Kaukauna, Ellington, Greenville, Hortonia, Freedom and Lansing. The board passed this resolution: "That the board at the present session deem it inexpedient to enforce the contract for the completion of the county buildings; but if they are not completed by the 30th day of December next, then the board will adopt such measures as the interests of the county may require." The board adjourned to meet on that day--December 30.

The aggregate value of taxable property in the county, November, 1852, was as follows: Grand Chute, $102,869.25; Ellington, $26,515; Kaukauna, $96,960; Greenville, $24,151; Hortonia, $31,664; Freedom, $29,254; Lansing, $22,828. There were three taxes -- State, county and school.

In December, 1852, all of the county north and west of Wolf river was organized with a separate township and the first town meeting was ordered held at the house of Washington Law in April, 1853; the new town was named Embarrass. Grand Chute, Appleton, Lawesburg, Hortonville and Nepomuc villages were laid out before Outagamie county was organized. The board at this time conditionally released Conkey and Lawrence from their contract to build the courthouse: The latter two claimed they had already expended $800 and asked for relief from their contract. The conditions of relief were as follows: "That if the said Lawrence shall execute to the said county a deed of the lands contracted to be executed on his part in said contract and if the said Conkey will give good and sufficient security to deed to said county Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, in Block 31, town of Grand Chute, then this board will release said Lawrence and Conkey from said contract dated July 16, 1851." An appropriation of $500 was made with which to complete the courthouse. Conkey's bond was fixed at $1,000. Lawrence conveyed the above mentioned land to the county. The board then released them from their former contract. The following offered by Mr. Nash was adopted:

"Resolved, That H. S. Eggleston, clerk courts; A. B. Everts, sheriff; J. S. Buck, register of deeds; P. H. Smith, deputy treasurer; A. S. Sanborn, deputy clerk; and S. E. Beach, chairman of this board, do each and severally invite one member of this board to a New Year's dinner and each of the said county officers and the said chairman is hereby commanded to have a good roast turkey for dinner." Propositions or bids to finish the courthouse were called for, but this act was rescinded and a committee was appointed to negotiate with some responsible party to finish the building; Beach, Powers and Wickware were the committee.

The act of February 18, 1852, was as follows: "That the county seat of Outagamie county be and the same is hereby permanently located upon lands conveyed to the county for the purpose of erecting county buildings thereon and upon which lands said buildings are now being erected by order of the board of supervisors of said county."

The act of March 4, 1852, defined the boundaries of Outagamie county as follows: Beginning at the southwest corner of township 21 north, range 15 east, of the Fourth principal meridian; running thence north on the range line between ranges 14 and 15 to the northwest corner of township 24 north, range 15 east; thence east on the line between townships 24 and 25 north, to the northeast corner of section 4, township 24 north, range 19 east; thence south on the section lines to the southeast corner of section 33, township 21 north, range 19 east; thence west on the township lines between townships 20 and 21 north to the place of beginning.

The act of March 15, 1852, provided that after June 1, 1852, Outagamie county should be fully organized for judicial purposes and in October of that year the first term of circuit court was ordered held by the judge of the Fourth circuit, and thereafter two terms in April and October were to be held each year. In April, 1852, a sheriff, clerk of the court and district attorney were ordered elected.

"Kaukauna and Appleton Plank Road.-- We are happy to state that nearly the entire stock has been taken in the above important road and that it is now a settled fact that it will be completed between the 1st and 20th of June. The officers of the company and many of our citizens are entitled to great credit for their labors to fill the stock during the past week."-- (Green Bay Spectator, April 24, 1852).

The commissioner of the general land office reserved from sale the even sections along Fox river for the improvement fund. They were offered at public sale, but were withdrawn from market on the day of sale. But settlers entered thereon and continued to do so and in the end were entitled to the usual preemption rights. There was much complaint over the long lapse of time before they were permitted to prove up and receive their patents. The settlers wanted Congress to handle the sale, because they thus would have to pay only $1.25 per acre, while under the state it would cost them $2.50 per acre.

On February 17, 1853, the recent proceedings of the county board were ordered published in the Appleton Crescent and $40 was appropriated to cover the cost. The courthouse committee reported that in as much as the sum required to complete the courthouse was so much larger than expected and as no provision for such a large sum had been made, they were unable to carry out the order of the board. G. H. Marston was employed to paint the building. A resolution to recognize Robert Morrow and not Charles A. Grignon as treasurer was laid on the table; but the board authorized town treasurers to pay taxes to Mr. Morrow. This step caused Mr. Grignon to commence action against the town treasurers, whereupon the board

"Resolved, That Charles A. Grignon is hereby requested to discontinue all proceedings that may have been instituted against the said town treasurers in consequence of making their returns to said Morrow; and said Grignon is also hereby requested to endorse the bonds of said town treasurers as satisfied." If he would comply, the board agreed to hold him blameless; also the sheriff. About this time there appeared in the Crescent an anonymous article cautioning all persons against paying taxes to Robert Morrow; whereupon the board issued a statement to the effect that in their opinion Robert Morrow was the lawful county treasurer and the Crescent was asked to publish this statement, for which the board agreed to pay charges.

S. E. Beach was allowed $3 for medical attendance upon a county pauper, February, 1853.

In February, 1853, the treasurer's fees to the amount of $656.88 were referred to a special committee -- Beach, Powers and Bassonnett The board passed the following.

"Resolved, That in the opinion of this board the condition of the official bond of Charles A. Grignon, late treasurer of the county of Outagamie, is forfeited and the district attorney is hereby requested to commence suit thereon as soon as he shall deem practicable." The board occupied a room owned by B. McFaul at this time. "Resolved, That Robert Morrow, acting treasurer of Outagamie county, is entitled to the county treasurer's sign and is hereby authorized to reduce the same to his immediate possession." S. E. Beach and two assistants were appointed to investigate the accounts of Mr. Grignon, county treasurer, in lieu of the former committee.

In 1853 the new county board was as follows: H. L. Blood of Grand Chute; N. M. Hephner, Lansing; C. Hartman, Freedom; L. E. Darling, Greenville; W. W. Benedict, Hortonia; Milo Cole, Ellington; B. H. Beaulieu, Kaukauna; Mr. Blood became chairman. All of Outagamie county in town 24, ranges 18 and 19, except the Oneida reservation was annexed to the town of Freedom. The total equalized assessments of the county in 1853 was $301,710.04. The names of three streets in Lawesburg (near Appleton) were changed -- Division to Union, Spain to Washington and Menasha to Franklin. W. W. Benedict and others petitioned for a new town to be set off from Hortonia -- referred to a special committee. H. S. Eggleston was clerk of the Circuit court. George W. Gregory was clerk of the county board. The committee on the new town to be called Bovina and to be set off from Ellington was appointed. At this time, also, the town of Dale was ordered set off from Hortonia. At this date a new committee on courthouse was chosen; they were empowered to see about the county jail also; the committee were: Coles, Hartman and Benedict. The bounty on wolves was fixed at $5 in November, 1853. A committee of three --Blood, Darling and Hephner -- was appointed to count up the assets with a view to the early completion of the courthouse and jail. Conkey deeded the property agreed upon to the county for courthouse, etc., and was released from this bond. Mr. Grignon not having turned over the county treasurer's books, etc., the board resolved as follows: "That Robert Morrow, the treasurer of Outagamie county, be and is hereby directed forthwith to make a demand of the said Grignon to deliver to said Morrow all and singular the books, records, papers, funds and property belonging to the office of treasurer of said county in the possession of said Grignon, and in case the said Grignon shall refuse to deliver to said Morrow upon such demand the said books, records, etc., then the said Morrow is hereby enjoined and directed with the advice of good and sufficient counsel to commence summary proceedings forthwith for the recovery of the same before some court having jurisdiction in the premises."

The committee on courthouse having recommended raising that structure and building a jail in the basement, the board refused to concur. "Resolved, That so much of the report of the committee on public buildings as casts aspersions upon the action of the board of supervisors of this county, who located the county buildings and entered into contract for the building and completion of the same, be stricken out." Darling and Benedict voted for this resolution and Blood, Beaulieu, Hartman, Coles and Hephner against it. However, the following language was ordered stricken from the report of the building committee by a vote of 5 to 2: "Whether this action on the one part was consummated by a mistaken devotion to the public good, or the influence of selfish and designing men on the other part, is not a matter for your committee to determine." The report as amended was then adopted by the vote of 5 to 2, the latter two being Blood and Coles. A tax of 10 mills on the dollar for county purposes was levied in 1854. Blood, Hephner and Darling were instructed to have the courthouse and jail completed at the earliest practicable moment; orders were authorized to be issued to cover the cost. The case of Grignon vs. Morrow to test the right to the office of county treasurer was pending in the circuit court. The board thereupon determined to make settlement with Morrow. In 1853 the total receipts in the county treasury were $8,738.72, and the total expenses $8,588.72, balance on hand $150; other funds in the hands of the treasurer amounted to $2,832.20.

Blood, Beaulieu and Coles were appointed a committee to make final settlement with Brown county. Costs in cases from Shawano county amounted to $264.

"Resolved, That in the opinion of the board of supervisors the organization of agricultural societies in this country, has proved eminently beneficial to the agricultural and manufacturing interests and has a direct tendency to stimulate to increased action all departments of industry; and we therefore recommend that the citizens of the several towns in this county meet at the National Hotel in the village of Appleton, on the second day of January next for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society; and Resolved, That Henry S. Blood, Robert R. Bateman and Rolla A. Lawe be and are hereby appointed a committee to make arrangements for said meeting and to draft such articles as may be necessary for the organization of said society."--(Adopted November 26, 1853).

The plan for a county jail submitted to the board by Mr. Benedict was adopted in November, 1853. Alden S. Sanborn was paid $35 for office for clerk for the year 1853, and for the board during the November session. Charles A. Grignon, claiming to be county treasurer, presented his bond as such official, but the board refused to consider it. Prof. E. Cooke was paid $15 for services as chemist in analyzing the contents of the stomach of the wife of Fred Schoeffler, supposed to have been poisoned by arsenic. S. Ryan, Jr., had charge of the Crescent at this time. Mr. Benedict represented the town of Dale on the county board.

"Appleton and Grand Chute.-- The citizens of these thriving villages appear to appreciate fully the advantages of Plank Roads. And although young in years they have, in the kind of improvements, already outstripped this as well as most other places in the north. They have built a plank road to Grand Kaukauna some nine miles and one to intersect the Menasha and Kaukauna road and are now at work building one westward to Wolf river some twenty miles which is to be continued to Michiljohn's mill, Waupaca Falls, Plover Portage and Stevens Point. $50,000 of stock has. been taken and $15,000 of the bonds of the other road negotiated which places the enterprise in a position for immediate construction. A large quantity of plank and logs have been got out for it during the winter and workmen are busy and expect by next fall to reach Wolf river with it. Persons will not wonder at the extraordinary success of road building at Appleton when informed that Rev. Reeder Smith is the main operator."--(Fond du Lac Jourrnal, March, 1853).

Early in 1853 there was subscribed $50,000 toward the proposed plank road from Appleton to Stevens Point.

"Outagamie or Utagamie? -- Which is correct? We do not profess to be well versed in Indian orthography, but from what we do know of it, we are persuaded that Utagamie is the correct mode of spelling the name of our county. At any rate, that is the pronunciation."-- ( Crescent, March 26, 1853.)

"It is believed that $75,000 logs (equal to 25,000,000 feet of lumber) were cut upon the Wolf and Embarrass rivers during the past winter. Wolf river is fairly choked up with rafts on their way to Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, etc." --(Crescent, April 30, 1853.)

"Farmers, is it not high time for Outagamie to have a county agricultural society? Why should we not have a stock fair in the spring or winter?" --(Crescent, November 19, 1853.)

The Agricultural Society gave great encouragement to agriculture, horticulture and stock raising early in the '50s. The newspapers took up the matter and had departments devoted to those subjects. Improved stock was particularly demanded by the society and by the press, and in response the farmers throughout the county began to improve their herds of cattle, hogs, horses and sheep. Improved fruit raising was also an important subject. Grain received due consideration. The culture of cranberries was urged upon citizens owing to the numerous marshes where they grew wild. As a whole, the society greatly advanced the conditions of the farmer and horticulturist.

Late in 1853 the court affirmed that Charles A. Grignon was the legal treasurer of Outagamie county. Mr. Morrow took an appeal from this decision, returnable at the coming June session. There being two men who claimed to be county treasurer it was uncertain to whom town treasurers and other officials should make their reports.

Albert Cook of the town of Freedom raised ten acres of wheat in 1853 which averaged 33 bushels per acre. This was a little better than the county average, but the crop generally was excellent that season.

"Caution --It is said that Robert Morrow is pretending to act as treasurer of Outagamie county and to receive money in that capacity; therefore this is to caution all persons against making any payments to said Morrow. Further information will be given at the county treasurer's office, corner of College avenue and Garrison streets, up stairs. --Charles A. Grignon, county treasurer, February 17, 1853." --(Crescent, June 18, 1853).

"The town of New London was subject to entry a few weeks since, but now the land is entered, a town laid out and lots are being built upon. A wharf and a warehouse has been constructed and a store established. A steamboat from Fond du Lac and Oshkosh visits this point daily. This must be a point at which a mechanic, merchant or public house keeper could invest without risk. It offers the best kind of an opening for a tanner and currier; also for a foundry." --(Cor. Crescent, July 16, 1853).

In early years the maple sugar industry of northern Wisconsin was not only large, but often very valuable. It was hard labor, but it paid in those days when sugar cost so much. Quite often from 25 to 100 pounds of sugar were made in a single day in this county by some of the early settlers. In Grand Chute alone over five tons were made during the season of 1853. Not everybody knew how to make maple sugar properly. Those who understood the methods produced an excellent article which found ready sale in all the stores.

The legislature in 1853-4 passed an act authorizing the boards of supervisors of the towns of Grand Chute, Greenville, Hortonia and other towns in adjacent counties to subscribe in behalf of said towns to the capital stock of the Wolf river branch of the Winnebago Lake and Fox River Plank Road Company, such amounts not to exceed $10,000 for any one town, and to pay for the same in bonds of such towns, the bonds to be payable in fifteen years, with interest not exceeding 10 per cent. In response to this act, Grand Chute by a vote of 141 to 97 voted for the bonds. In due time the town supervisors ascertained that the road was incumbered with heavy liabilities and until freed therefrom would jeopardize the issue of bonds ordered. This fact becoming known, caused the town board to pass resolutions calling for information as to such liabilities.

In March, 1853, the Fort Howard and Kaukauna Plank Road was authorized. It was surveyed and was to cross Apple creek a little below La Vine's residence; a little grading was to be at Dutchman's, Ashwaubane and Apple creek; it was to be nearly a straight road from Depere to Kaukauna. It was a part of the standard road from Green Bay to Lake Winnebago.

At the annual session of the county board commencing November 14, 1854, there were present Theodore Conkey, Grand Chute; B. H. Beaulieu, Kaukauna; M. W. Allen, Hortonia; Isaac Wickware, Greenville; C. Hartman, Freedom; Milo Coles, Bovina; N. M. Hephner, Centre; Edward Spicer, Dale; , Ellington; J. Merrickle, Embarrass. Isaac Wickware was chosen chairman. The board was in session in the courthouse, but adjourned to the National Hotel for reasons not shown. Diagrams of several of the towns were ordered procured from the land office at Menasha. The assessment of the plank road in the town of Kaukauna was ordered abrogated for 1854. Ryan & Co., were paid $271.62 for printing. At this time the..case of Grignon vs. Morrow was in the Supreme Court. The petition of N. M. Hephner and others to change the name of the town of Lansing to Center was referred to a committee of two. The board relinquished any claim for damages it might have in consequence of there having been laid out, by the trustees of the village of Appleton, streets and alleys through the lands set apart for county purposes -- Lawrence and Elm streets. The board directed both Grignon and Morrow to report the county funds in their hands. The salary of district attorney for 1855 and 1856 was fixed at $300 per annum; the clerk's salary was set at $100 per year. James Gilmore took Mr. Conkey's place on the board, November 17.

Both Grignon and Morrow made reports as requested by the county board. Part of the village plat of Little Chute was vacated. Settlement with Brown county was not yet effected. Shawano county had not yet paid the court expenses due this county. The decision of the Supreme Court in the county treasury case was read to the board by Frederick Packard, Esq. The Supreme Court decided that the officers elected in November, 1851, were legally elected for two years. County officers were notified on November 21, that offices in the new courthouse were ready for them. Increase in travel and custom at the National Hotel forced the board to occupy a room opposite the National -- usually known as the "feed store."

At this time Mr. Conkey took Mr. Gilmore's place on the county board, representing Grand Chute. "November 23, 1854; members all present; committees were busy at their respective duties; when motion was made to adjourn till 3 o'clock to attend service and hear the Thanksgiving sermon by Rev. N. E. Cobleigh, and the motion carried." The new county buildings were placed in charge of Theodore Conkey, member of the board, with orders to complete the same and furnish them for occupancy. A complete set of standard weights and measures were ordered. The bond of Charles A. Grignon, county treasurer, dating from November 25, 1853, was approved by the board.

During the November session (1854) Allen street in Appleton was changed to Prospect. A portion of the village of Little Chute was vacated. A change was made in the boundary of Bovina, town. The town of Lansing was changed to Center.

There were many people in Outagamie county in 1854 who bitterly opposed the last grant of land in this district to private enterprises. The lands were reserved from sale to await the action of Congress upon a bill which proposed to donate them to various railroads.This reservation was highly disapproved by nearly all the citizens of this county. The Crescent used bitter language in denouncing the act as "the last great land grab," and called it the "land grant swindle."

In April, the Crescent declared that the recent town meetings had chosen township officers superior to any that had ever been elected before. This guaranteed an excellent and able board of county supervisors and meant improvement in county affairs in every department. In Grand Chute, J. S. Buck was chairman of the supervisors. In Greenville, Isaac Wickware, democrat, was elected over L. E. Darling, free-soiler, by a majority of 24 votes. In Hortonville, M. W. Allen, a free-soil whig, was elected chairman without opposition, succeeding Mr. Benedict, democrat. In Dale, E. Spicer, democrat, was chosen chairman without opposition. In Ellington, H. Kethroe, democrat, was elected chairman over S. D. Mason, whig. Kethroe succeeded Milo Coles, democrat. In Centre, N. M. Hephner, democrat, was re-elected without opposition. In Freedom, Christian Hartman, democrat, was re-elected. In Kaukauna, B. H. Beaulieu, a national whig, was re-elected by a majority of 4 over Mr. O'Connor, democrat. The indications were that the new board would stand 8 democrats, 1 free-soil whig and one regular whig. In 1853 the political completion of the board was 5 democrats, 1 freesoiler and 1 whig.

The Wolf river branch plank road was designed to extend from Appleton to Stevens Point, a distance of about 70 miles, and an extension thereto was projected to Green Bay. It was announced that stages would be ready to run regularly over this route by the latter part of June. The points touched by the stages were announced to be Appleton, Hortonia, New London and other places toward Stevens Point.

It was announced late in May, 1854, that there were in this land district 69 towns, which were reserved from sale agreeably to the request of the Michigan delegation in Congress. A considerable part of this land lay in Outagamie county.

By the first of June the grain crop throughout the county looked better than ever before. Winter wheat particularly was excellent and promised a very large yield. Spring wheat was also fine. As prices were high the farmers were happy over the outcome.

Late in May the citizens were called upon to vote on the proposition of taking stock in the Appleton and Stevens Point plank road by the issuance of town bonds therefor. The citizens were pretty equally divided on this question. Many who wanted the plank road favored the bonds; others who saw no private benefit or foresaw trouble opposed the issuance.

By the middle of May the maple sugar season ended. It was thought to be the poorest year for that industry the county had had in five seasons. However, more than one sugar bush in Grand Chute made from 300 to 500 pounds. It was realized that the falling off in the supply was due to the destruction of the maple trees and to the fact that the farmers were busy in their fields and could not find time to attend to the sap.

The act of March 1, 1854, legalized the election of Appleton village officers in April, 1853. The organization and acts of the original school district No. 6, Grand Chute, were legalized and the name changed to District No. 6. The act of March 29. 1854, provided that the county officers should have the right to hold their offices in such buildings in the village of Appleton as the board of supervisors should agree upon, but that said offices should be furnished free of charge to the county.

At a town meeting in Grand Chute the sum of $200 was appropriated in June, 1854, toward the opening of a road from the court house toward Greenville and Bald Prairie. The work of causewaying the cedar swamp and grubbing a large portion of the road was let to Mat. Long. The people of Greenville agreed to construct the road through their town to the cedar swamp. The Appleton council also ordered a new street opened from Lawrence street to the courthouse square. All town officers throughout the county were busily engaged at this time in opening roads in every direction to meet the wants of the new settlers.

This spring the legislature passed a law authorizing the state treasurer to withold the state school money from all counties in arrears to the state. Much complaint was occasioned thereby. Outagamie county was in arrears and the Crescent and the citizens generally complained grievously concerning the act of the legislature.The result, however, was to compel the county to pay her dues to the state in order to secure money for the support of her schools. It was really a wise measure, though not relished at the time by the citizens.

According to N. M. Hephner, the winter wheat raised in the town of Centre in 1853 ranged from 35 to 42 bushels of plump seed per acre on new land; on rough stubble land where the trees had been cut off the yield was about 20 bushels per acre. There were large tracts of land yet in the county to be purchased at $1.75 to $2.50 per acre. Settlers were called for and were not slow in coming. The county was filling up rapidly with an excellent class of settlers, not only from the East, but from the German provinces in Europe.

"Town Assessments. --We suggest to the different town assessors in this county that they meet on some future day at the county-seat and compare and equalize their assessments. Last year great inequalities existed; for instance improved lands in the town of Greenville (richest soil in the county) were assessed at $1.50 to $2 per acre, only 25 or 50 cents higher than the wild lands in the town of Freedom. Now, we know that the Greenville land owners do not take less than from $6 to $10 per acre in yellow gold for their farms and we also know that wild. land of an excellent quality can be bought in Freedom at from $1.50 to $2.50 per acre. These remarks extend to other towns. Look at the inequality and injustice of the same. Should not a remedy be provided at once?" --(Crescent, June 10, 1854).

"The First Load of Cheese. --We saw in town last Saturday a fine load of cheese from the farm of Mr. Barnes near this village. Mr. Barnes is from Ohio and the product of his dairy bore the superior mark of the rich cheese of which large quantities are imported from that state. Mr. Barnes has already manufactured over 1,000 pounds this season which readily sell at 10 cents a pound. He has a farm of 100 acres under cultivation and a fine stock of cattle, and we wish him every success as a pioneer dairyman of our county." --Crescent, June 10, 1854).

"According to the census of June, 1850, the population of the county of Outagamie (then a part of Brown county) was as follows: White males 1,079; white females 797; colored males 6; colored females 4; total 1,886. Taking the average of the vote cast at the recent town elections and allowing one voter to every seven souls, we have a population of 6,139. The increase, counting everything, amounts to about 100 per cent per annum in four successive years, and the greatest part of this increase has occurred during the last eighteen months. The present rate of arrivals will crowd hard upon 10,000 a year. The backwoods are fairly alive with newcomers and this village is receiving daily accessions to its population and our village population today, we do honestly believe, is greater than the number in the whole county four years ago." --(Crescent, June, 1854).

About the middle of June, 1854, a large meeting of the citizens convened at the central schoolhouse to make arrangements for the celebration of the 4th of July. Dr. S. E. Beach was chosen chairman and Franklin Proctor, secretary. Remarks were made by H. L. Blood, Samuel Ryan, Jr., G. H. Marston and others and it was unanimously resolved to celebrate that day. President Cooke was invited to deliver the principal oration. M. A. Mosher, A. B. Everts, and G. H. Marston were the committee of arrangement. The sum of $75 was raised to procure fireworks. Mark A. Mosher was chosen to prepare toasts; Julius S. Buck was elected marshal of the day; the Appleton Saxhorn Band was invited, to furnish the music; connected with the band were Johnston, Huntley and Randall. Joseph McNeil agreed to prepare the public dinner. Among those who took part in this proceeding, in addition to those mentioned above, were Edward H. Stone, Moses W. Allen, William D. Jordan, Stephen D. Mason, William Youngs, L. S. Augur, N. M. Hephner, A. C. Black and Edward West. Another committee of arrangement was as follows: W. S. Warner, John Moodie, J. W. Letcher, Henry L. Blood, Joseph McNeil, H. C. Sherwin, M. D. McGrath, N. Richmond, G. H. Marston, D. C. W'eston, Wait Cross, Robert Briggs and Thomas Marsden.

The Howard and Kaukauna plank road was projected to bring Appleton and Kaukauna in connection with Howard. It traversed an important section of country which was being rapidly settled.The plan was to bring the trade of a large section of back country to the Fox river.

In 1854 two men who claimed to be county clerks officiated as such. The Crescent said, "Ours is a double-barreled county. We have two gentlemen acting as clerks. Both together ought to be able to satisfy the inquisitive. A correspondent asks why the receipts and expenditures of the county are not published." --(Crescent; August 19, 1854).

"Ladd & Letcher and Tibbits & Johnson after several weeks of hard work succeeded in getting their rafts of lumber safely moored at Grand Chute. While on Lake Winnebago they were towed by the Swan and were broken up and the logs scattered and piled upon the beach. They had great difficulty at Neenah in getting through the incomplete lock. They were also detained at Butte Des Mortes. This is a roundabout way of bringing logs from the Wolf river, but it is the only way they can be brought by water until a canal is dug from the Wolf to the Fox terminating at Appleton." -- (Crescent, August 19, 1854).

In August, 1854, the complaint of Charles A. Grignon against Robert Morrow for withholding the books and papers belonging to the office of county treasurer after the decision of the supreme court was heard before Judge Johnson. After a full investigation of the case and after hearing the arguments of counsel the judge ordered issued a warrant for the commitment of Morrow and a search warrant for the county books and papers. Morrow in the meantime decamped and left the county. The sheriff reported himself unable to find any of the books and papers and accordingly pursued Mr. Morrow who left the county. About the last of August, 1854, winter wheat was worth here $1.10 to $1.15; spring wheat 85c to $1; oats 30 to 33c; potatoes 38 to 44c; eggs 15c; butter 12 and 15c; beef 7 to 1Oc; superfine flour $6.25 to $6.50 per barrel; spring wheat flour $6.

The case over the county treasurership was decided by the supreme court in August. Charles A. Grignon, the supreme court announced, was entitled to the office for the years 1852-3. The Crescent said: "The county having enjoyed for so long a time the luxury of two county treasurers will, we suppose, now be content to foot the bill and try hereafter to get along with one set of officers -- a measure of economy which the present state of finances will fully justify."

"Squirrels, etc.--The woods in this vicinity are fairly alive with black squirrels and the boys are having rare sport hunting them. Raccoons are also more abundant and accordingly are more mischievous than at any time in the memory of the white man. Coon hunts --night parties -- are not infrequent." --( Crescent, September, 1854.)

"And Still Another Bear. --On Saturday evening our friend, Warren Warner, brought us a luscious bear steak for our Sunday dinner. It was part of a fine black bear killed by him on the school section. It seems as if bears were more plentiful in our county than they have been for years."-(Crescent, September, 1854.)

From time to time the Crescent noticed the large vegetables that were grown in this county. The soil was alluvial and very rich, and carrots, potatoes, squashes, cabbages, etc., were raised in large quantities and of the largest sizes. Many parts of the county were as rich as a garden. Particularly was it noted that throughout the county, whether on old wood-land or prairie land, the growing of wheat was extremely successful. The principal wheats grown at that time were Black Sea and Canada grub. Winter wheat was a standard crop. It was noted by the Crescent that corn planted on July 4 was perfectly ripe and ready for the mill on September 5. The corn crop was heavy throughout the country.

In the spring of 1854, R. A. Lawe was secretary of the County Agricultural Society. An adjourned meeting was held in the courtroom in Appleton to prepare an exhibit for the coming fall. The executive committee of the society consisted of William Johnston, R. A. Lawe, Edward West, Milo Coles, John H. Barnes, Peter Hephner, Josephus Wakefield and Ethan Powers. Samuel Dunn was president of the society.

It was announced early in March that the "wooden rookery," otherwise known as jail, authorized by the county board, would be ready for service about the middle of April. Previous to this date it was necessary to keep prisoners in the jail at Depere where several insane persons from this county were confined.

During the summer and early fall this county suffered severely from a drought, many wells in Appleton and vicinity entirely drying up. It was followed by one good result, namely: the digging of better and deeper wells. It had not yet been ascertained that artesian water might be obtained here by digging to a suitable depth. County orders in July, 1854, were 25 per cent discount.

In the early fall of 1854 the Grand Chute town supervisors after a thorough investigation rescinded all action previously taken by them in reference to the issue of town bonds to aid the Wolf River plank road.

"The Hunt. --A party of thirty of our citizens had a backwoods hunt on Saturday last. In all they killed about 1,000 black and gray squirrels, pigeons, quails, partridges, ducks, etc. Only one deer was killed and the bear could not be found. In the evening they partook of a splendid supper at the Crescent Hotel. They talk of another hunt soon."-(ICrescent, September, 1854.) "Deer Killing. -- During the stay of the light fall of snow last week some of our town men were very successful killing deer within one or two miles of town. Venison has been very plentiful for the last few days and never fatter or better in quality." --(Crescent, November 18, 1854.) In September two men killed eight bears in one day near Wolf River in Outagamie county. The abundance of acorns presumably took the bears to that locality.

"The county board gave notice of adjournment today after a session of twelve days. Some wise measures were adopted. Unlike the basswood board which sat at 1853, the present board voted a sufficient amount of county tax to pay off all the debts left by the heavy expenses growing out of the murder trials, and the current expenses of county government for the ensuing year, and a round thousand dollars beside. Although the raising of $6,500 county tax is an extraordinary amount for so young a county as ours, we are frank to say that we think the supervisors acted wisely in voting the tax because it will pay up everything we owe and leave a surplus so that the county orders must go up to 90c as soon as the first of January instead of 70c the current price of yesterday. Theodore Conkey, supervisor from this town, was appointed to take charge of the public buildings and cause them to be completed; also to furnish county officers all necessary supplies. Next year in all probability a county tax of $3,000 will be amply sufficient. Isaac Wickware of Greenville is the chairman of the county board." --(Crescent, November 25, 1854.) It was suggested that the county board should make the necessary appropriation and purchase land for a county poor-farm. Such farm should be located in Ellington, Center or Freedom, it was said.

"Thanks. --To Mr. W. W. Crane for a venison steak, part of a fine buck killed by him a short distance from this village."--(Crescent, November 11, 1854.)

At the February (1855) session there were present Isaac Wickware, Greenville; Edward Spicer, Dale; Theodore Conkey, Grand Chute; B. H. Beaulieu, Kaukauna; C. Hartman, Freedom; N. M. Hephner, Center; Henry Kethroe, Ellington; Mr. Allen, Hortonia; Mr. Coles, Bovina; Mr. Given, Embarrass. S. R. Sherwin contracted to complete the courthouse, and was paid $529 for that work. The same bounty allowed for killing wolves was also allowed for killing bears to all persons, exclusive of Indians. The sheriff was allowed expenses of keeping prisoners. The report of Mr. Grignon, treasurer, showed many duplicate orders, but nevertheless was rejected by the board. Mr. Morrow admitted the existence of duplicate tax certificates, and upon his promise to make good concluded to take no action. At this time there was outstanding in county orders and jury certificates, $6,448.01. A portion of Freedom was separated and attached to Kaukauna.

At a special meeting in August, 1855, there were present Conkey, Eggleston, Bateman, Hephner, Childs, Palmer, Johnson, Mason, Beaulieu, Mr. Conkey was chosen chairman. It was resolved that after this date no bear bounty would be paid. This motion was reconsidered and laid on the table.

At the November (1855) session there were present Conkey, Allen, Palmer, Hubbard, Mason, Johnson, Childs, Hephner, Beaulieu, Merichle, Bateman, Eggleston and Lawe, the last three representing the three wards of Appleton. The board took steps to clear and fence the courthouse square. For almost the first time the board adopted the rule to refer all claims first to the appropriate committee."Your committee on bears would very respectfully report that the resolution granting a bounty on those harmless animals called bears should, be repealed. --Robert R. Bateman, James Merichle, N. M. Hephner, adopted." A portion of Embarrass town was attached to Ellington; also a part of Bovina was attached to Embarrass. An additional safe for the county records was demanded. L. B. Noyes was district attorney in November, 1855; the board disapproved of his retention of fees in certain cases. A special committee recommended the construction of a fence twelve feet high and seventy feet square of two-inch plank around the jail; cost about $200. The board at this time decided against raising a county tax for the improvement of county roads. The sum of $200 was appropriated for clearing and fencing the courthouse grounds. Mr. Noyes, district attorney, rendered the opinion that the county was responsible for the care of a "dangerous lunatic confined in jail" here. The board decided that under the constitution they could not increase nor decrease the salaries of officers.

In November, 1855, the board appointed Mr. Lawe to make arrangements with the trustees of the Baptist Church for the use of the courtroom for divine service for one year, the rent not to exceed the cost of keeping the room in order. A special committee made a long and complicated report on the condition of the county treasurer's office and accounts; the actual state of county finances was in doubt. The reports of the two treasurers Morrow and Grignon conflicted; and no doubt ill will and private gain cut a figure in the adjustment. Mr. Grignon's report made the following showing:

The committee recommended that $1,292.45 be deducted from the above credits and $1,211.09 be added to the above debits, leaving to the county a credit of $2,503.54. There were on hand county orders to the amount of $7,709.18 and tax certificates $2,530.92; making in all due the county from the treasurer $12,743.64. Mr. Morrow was behind in his accounts as treasurer and suit against him was commenced by Mr. Grignon. The board criticised the reports and finally passed the following resolution: "That the sum of $12,743.64 be charged to said treasurer on the date of his last report, to wit: November 15, 1855, in addition to the interest on said tax certificates of 1853 and 1854 received from Mr. Morrow as hereinbefore mentioned." The board appropriated $1,200 for fireproof buildings for the county records. There was ordered levied for 1856 six mills for county purposes; two and a half mills for schools, and ten and one-sixth mills for State. The tax was apportioned as follows:

Additional and complete field notes of all lands in the county were ordered procured from the land office in Menasha. A large quantity of logs was seized by the district attorney under the swamp land act. John G. Jewell was paid $10 and Alvin Owens $20 for killing bears. The previous act attaching a part of Bovina to Embarrass was repealed.

The board met in special session in March, 1856; Mr. Alien was chosen chairman pro tempore. The board promptly repealed several acts passed at the last session, because it had been shown that they were illegal and would work a hardship on important interests of the county; they referred to tax certificates, land sales and the collection and disposal of taxes, etc. Messrs. Childs, Gilmore and Bateman were appointed a special committee to ascertain and report the exact amounts due from Robert Morrow and Charles A. Grignon as treasurers of the county. This troublesome question still hung fire; the board itself was uncertain what to do. The contract to build fireproof offices was let to Patton & Moore.

"Whereupon the board adjourned, having done just enough to fill this book without crowding, leaving the necessary space for the comments of propriety, the subsequent pages being devoted to the expression of that admiration which future generations must feel when beholding the wisdom of their fathers illustrated in this book; attest, Frederick Packard, clerk."

Late in January, 1855, lumbering operations were in full blast. The pineries were alive with woodmen and teams and the drives were expected to be very large. Immense forces of men and teams went to the pineries on Wolf River and there found steady employment. One man alone on that river employed a sufficient force to get out 3,000,000 feet of logs.

There was much complaint in October owing to the lack of roads leading to the flourishing town of Freedom. Both Center and Freedom were filling up with newcomers, large clearings were being made, houses built and farms opened. The roads were few and the county board was importuned to open additional ones at once. A road leading to Freedom could be made to extend to Ellington and Bovina. The town of Dale was growing rapidly also. At Medina a substantial store had just been built and a general stock of goods introduced. This enabled the farmers to secure supplies without much trouble. The roads to Appleton were very bad. Bovina also was growing rapidly. Another saw-mill was in. process of erection at the mouth of Shioc River and another store was established there. A large tavern was in process of erection also. Bovina at this date was opening a road to Shawano. At Ellington another mill was going up; Mr. Van Vleck was building a store; a new tavern was projected, and many settlers were coming in.

Mr. Sherwin secured the lumber for the Courthouse from Hortonville. He planned to have the building ready for the spring term of court in 1855. Center the most sparsely settled town in the county voted a $500 special road tax in 1855; Ellington voted only $400; Greenville voted $800. The other towns also took some action.It was realized that next to good schools, good roads were necessary in this county.

"New Comers. --Land seekers throughout our county were never more plentiful at this season of the year than now. Prices of wild land have gone up rapidly. While a good many arrivals leave disappointed, the price is nothing to what it will be one year hence. We hear of quite a number of sales at prices far in advance of last year and yet land is cheap, and there are enough to know it as will be proved in less than six months."-(Crescent, April 21, 1855.)

By the last of April the Courthouse was fully completed and received an extra coat of paint. The jail also was newly painted and both presented an attractive appearance. Inasmuch as considerable money was expended on the jail, it was thought that the county should raise the price of rent there at once.

From June 1 to September 1, 1853, nineteen families settled in Appleton, adding approximately one hundred to the population. As there were usually about 300 students in the village, the actual population during the summer of 1855 was nearly 2,000. In 1850 Ellington comprised three townships in length and one in width. The town of Bovina in 1855 embraced towns 23 and 24, range 16. The Shioc mills were on section 16, town 23. The mills and one section of pine land were recently sold for $12,000. Mr. Winch, formerly one of the proprietors of the mills, built a steamboat to run on Wolf river. It was thought that the mouth of Shioc River must eventually become a.n important trading point. A small steamer was designed to run upon the upper Wolf river.

In 1855 the wheat crop was very heavy in this county. It was believed that the winter wheat would average thirty bushels to the acre. At this time winter wheat was worth about 90c per bushel.

The contract for finishing the Courthouse was let to Stephen Sherwin of Appleton for $415. The court-room was planned to occupy the whole side of the building, 40x40 feet, thus furnishing abundant space for any public or court proceedings.

In October, 1855, the secretary of state served notice on the clerk of the county board of Outagamie county to pay at once the state tax of $4,103.90. In 1854 this state tax amounted to $2,450. It had almost doubled in one year. The Crescent complained that this was due to the republican management of state affairs.

A large flock of sheep arrived in Appleton October, having been imported from the East via the Collingwood route to the Green Bay country. It was destined for some farms back of Appleton.

In 1855 the Outagamie and Shawano Plank Road Company was incorporated by J. C. Lewis, Jackson Tibbits, G. R. Andrews, Charles D. Westcott, E. West, Luther B. Noyes and Perry H. Smith with a capital stock of $100,000; object to construct a plank road from Appleton to some point in Shawano county.

On December a large quantity of school and university land in Outagamie county was sold by the commissioners at Appleton. Lands sold at that time lay in townships 23 and 24, range 15, and was sold at $1.25 per acre. Private sales were made in these tracts at $1.50 per acre, and a few choice tracts at $2 or more per acre.

In January, 1856, a man named Leonard became intoxicated in Kaukauna and laid out during one of the coldest nights. He was terribly frozen and great care was necessary to save his life. Drs. Beach and Merriman attended him and performed twelve amputations using chloroform. All the fingers, both thumbs and two toes were taken off. Some of the fingers were disjointed at the hand. The man had a wife and four children who were totally dependent upon his labor for support. He thus became a county charge. This case was noted as a remarkable one, showing the shocking and fearful results of liquor drinking.

In March Frederick Packard in a communication to the Crescent endeavored to explain how Outagamie county became indebted to the state. He said it was due to the dispute over the county treasury by Messrs. Grignon and Morrow. He claimed that during the years 1853-4 while Mr. Morrow held the office he should have paid to the state treasurer $2,896.60, but only actually paid $982, leaving a balance due of $1,914.60.

In April the postoffices and postmasters in Outagamie county were as follows: Appleton, --John Elliott; Little Chute, --Peter Maas; Kaukauna, --John Hunt; Oneida, --C. G. Lathrop; Freedom, --John Brady; Lansing -,-L. S. Augur; Center, --M. McGillan; Ellington, -- S. D. Mason; Shiocton, --M. G. Bradt; Hortonville, --D. E. Woodward; Greenville, --Burnett Mills; Wakefield, --Seth J. Perry; Medina, --C. Koontz.

The crop of maple sugar in the spring of 1856 was very light and as a consequence the price advanced to 12e a pound.

By the summer of 1856 there was much speculation in land around Appleton. This was deplored because it was believed that the interests of the city itself would thereby suffer. The village property on the northern side of the river in the First and Third Wards was 30 per cent cheaper than improved agricultural lands. Village lots were held at reasonable rates. Lands in Center, Ellington, Bovina, and Freedom were worth from $3 to $10 per acre, and there was extensive speculation in such property.

Notwithstanding the scarcity of lumber and other building materials, the construction of stores and dwellings at Appleton rapidly progressed in the spring of 1856. It was said that more lots were cleared and fenced this spring than during any previous season. In addition, the citizens everywhere were planting shade and fruit trees. The high stages of water and the heavy winds which had prevailed prevented the rafting of logs to this point. However, more than 2,000,000 feet of logs were on the way here by May 24.

"There is quite a heavy emigration into the northern towns of our county. The land is cheap and fertile and the climate healthy. Cattle growers, dairymen, and others can make fortunes in the Wolf River Valley in a few years."-(Crescent, May 24, 1856.)

It was reported in September that nine men in one day killed thirteen bears in Waupaca county. This report awakened the hunters of this locality and they prepared to seek the woods. In October all swamp land pre-emptors were invited to come to the register's office with two disinterested witnesses to prove the required progress on their claims. The register of deeds was P. D. Bingham.

In November, 1856, the county board appropriated $500 with which to fence and clear the Courthouse square. The total county receipts in 1856 were $22,690.54 less $2,530.92 on hand at the beginning of the year. There was on hand at the end of the year $9,751.52.

In January, 1857, the county board made an appropriation with which to prepare a map of the county showing the location of towns, villages, and the principal streams. This map was attractively prepared and copies were sent to scores of counties in the East for the purpose of attracting settlers to this vicinity. Excellent farm land was advertised in Center, Freedom, Ellington, Bovina and Embarrass at from $2 to $10 per acre.

"Killing Deer. --An immense number of deer were killed in this county during the latter part of last week. We hear that one Indian killed fourteen in the town of Center on Saturday. The snow was crusted over strong enough to bear a man and they hunted the poor animals with dogs and clubs. This wholesale destruction of deer is too bad. We actually wish that the legislature would take away the privilege given to Indians to hunt game out of season; and that the white savages who are so wicked and thoughtless as to exterminate the species in season and out of season were made to feel the rigid penalty of the law." --(Crescent, February 21, 1857.)

The special attention of newcomers was called to the desirability of residing in the town of Bovina. The lumber interest there was very large and valuable and the mills were in steady operation. Hundreds of men were at work the previous winter in the lumber camps. The village of Shiocton counted two hotels, several stores and half a dozen mechanic's shops and already the village was an important point in river navigation. In addition there were many acres of unoccupied grazing and farming land within the limits of that town. It was considered an excellent location for actual settlers. It was announced by the Crescent that the use of maple sugar in Outagamie county was more than ten times greater than in any previous sugar season known, and the quality was never better; the price was about 12c a pound.

In April the City of Appleton and the town of Grand Chute jointly voted at the courthouse the sum of $4,140 for roads and bridges in city and town. This was thought a liberal appropriation. It was believed the county should build and maintain the bridges, even within the limits of Appleton, over navigable rivers like the Fox and Wolf.

About the middle of June a large meteor passed over Appleton about noonday, taking a northeast direction and though the sun was shining brightly at the time it was distinctly visible. It left as a trail a white cloud and after a few seconds exploded in a series of concussions resembling the firing of a cannon in rapid succession. It was estimated to have been one hundred miles from Appleton and accordingly must have been very large.

By the last of August the plank road between Dunn's Corners and the Greenville town line was nearly all graded and was considered one of the best pieces of road making in this county.

In 1857 the state geologist, Prof. Daniel, was in this portion of the state making an examination of the geological features. He stated that he found a much larger quantity of excellent farming land in this portion of the state than he had expected. There was great complaint in the fall that young men, in order to secure hickory nuts, walnuts, etc., were in the habit of cutting down the trees in order to get at the nuts more readily. The citizens regarded this act as outrageous and demanded that it should cease.

The report of the secretary of state for the year ending September 30, 1857, showed that Outagamie county was indebted to the State to the amount of $2,800. The existence of this indebtedness was laid to the usurpation of the office of county treasury by Robert Morrow who had gone to Kansas.

In November at the session of the county board there was for the first time in history an entire unanimity in the reports of the treasurer and the equalization of the assessment rolls. Much credit was given Dr. Douglas for his method of keeping the accounts and finances of the county. The board appropriated $1,000 to aid in constructing .a bridge across Fox river in the Second ward. The property holders were expected to add $3,000 to this appropriation.

Late in 1857 a public road extending from New London to the town of Embarrass was projected and its construction commenced. The latter town was quite rapidly settling at this date. Some complaint was made because the proprietors of certain lands at New London compelled the roadmakers to build in a half circle to avoid crossing their property.

In 1857 the county board appropriated $1,000 for the partial construction of a bridge over Fox river at Appleton. Thomas Hanna took the contract. He failed to build the bridge and the money was used to pay county expenses. The county sued the Morrow bondsmen -- Robert Bateman, H. L. Blood and William Rork -- and got judgment, the county finally agreed to settle the judgment for $200.Patton & Moore were the contractors for the fire proof county buildings in 1858. The total receipts of the county treasurer for 1858 were $33,100 less $1,347 on hand at the beginning of the year.

In November 1858 the county board were presented with an application in behalf of Robert Morrow for an appropriation of $500 to be used in paying his expenses in contesting with Charles A. Grignon for the treasuryship of this county in 1853. The claim was disallowed by a vote of three in favor to eleven against. It was wondered at the time how any three men could be found who would vote in favor of this application.

The county board made an appropriation of $1,000 to aid in constructing a permanent bridge across the Fox river at Appleton and appointed a committee to let the contract and to report concerning progress of the work. The high stage of water in the river prevented work on this improvement until August, 1858, at which time the contractor endeavored to get rid of his bargain. He was released from his contract upon his request, as the $1,000 was raised by an express law for a specific purpose. It was believed that the board had no right to divert it to any other use. At this date the board numbered fifteen members and W. H. P. Bogan was chairman. "I am ashamed to see a procession of disgusted pilgrims picking their way from the steamboat through an ocean of mud and then comforting themselves in believing their troubles are over and crossing the bridge only to find a nasty slippery hill of red clay mud and only to remember that at one end of this nuisance are the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement Company and some others who claim to be our most enterprising citizens and at the other end the business part of the city of Appleton and to realize that for two whole seasons of business this abomination has disgraced our city." --(Correspondence, Crescent, November 27, 1858.)

At an adjourned session of the county board held in January, 1858, the following proceedings were had: Numerous petitions and remonstrances were heard in reference to proposed locations of the boundaries of Embarrass, Hortonia and Medina. A committee framed an ordinance dividing Embarrass and forming a separate town of 22, range 15, to be called Musquito Hill. The citizens of Little Chute petitioned the county board to divide the town of Kaukauna by north and south lines, and remonstrated against a river boundary. A committee appointed to ascertain the gross amount of county ordinances and other certificates not canceled reported outstanding $5,187 worth. The board finally decided the town of Buchanan to be all that part of ranges 18, 19 and township 21, lying south of Fox river. At this time several sections were attached to Grand Chute. The first annual meeting of Buchanan was ordered held at the school house No. 6 in the town of Kaukauna. It was ordered that all that part of Embarrass lying in township 22, range 15, be set off and become a new town to be called Liberty. The first meeting was ordered held at the school house in district No. 1 of the town of Embarrass. At this session there was quite a sharp discussion over the boundaries of Embarrass. It was finally concluded that Liberty should be all that part of Embarrass in township 22, range 15, and all of township 23, range 15, and east of Embarrass river. Remonstrances against the change of the name of Medina to Dale were received. The board took steps to have prepared correct maps of every town in the county. The committee on jail and county buildings reported substantial progress. The finance committee reported having examined the accounts of Charles A. Grignon, former county treasurer, and had found them in fair condition.

In its session January, 1858, the county board effected a final settlement between Charles A. Grignon, late county treasurer of the county of Outagamie. Anson Ballard, the deputy, made a full report, accounted for every dollar of public funds, and delivered the books and papers with clean hands. There had been much complaint over the management of the county treasurer's affairs, but Mr. Ballard showed that under him any complaint was wholly unfounded.

Late in January it was announced that a new republican paper was soon to be issued in Appleton. The old Free Press under Brady and others had died and this apparently was a new attempt of the republicans to secure a permanent organ in this county.

The Dutch settlers road and the bridges across the creeks were constructed in a hurry. This road was greatly desired by Appleton owing to the fact that when once opened it would attract here the trade of one hundred farmers living in that direction.

At this time Congress passed a bill for the relief of settlers upon certain public lands in Wisconsin. These lands were granted to aid the improvement on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers and were thus sold or contracted to be sold; and were by this new law consigned to the state and the title of purchasers was declared to be as valid as though the selection had been made in conformity to the law.

On March 26, 1858, the old settlers held a complimentary meeting at the National Hotel in honor of Dr. S. A. Beach and lady who were about to move to Kansas. Nearly forty couples assembled and listened to speeches and enjoyed a bountiful supper.

Henry L. Blood presided and on behalf of the meeting presented Dr. Beach with a morning gown and slippers. The doctor responded with much feeling. He stated that he had been here nine years and that his intercourse with the people had been pleasant though sometimes exacting and severe. He arrived at Appleton in June 5, 1849, and found the only hotel in the place was the Edgarton barn, and the only means of access thereto without wading in water was a foot-bridge affording a safe footing to dryer ground. Emmon Kelly was cook at the hotel. The doctor said: "I have had the pleasure of aiding according to my limited means every arrangement and every meeting of possible interest calculated to benefit Appleton. I have been present at nearly every celebration or meeting of public interest that has ever been held here, and the remains of an only brother fill the oldest grave in your cemetery." The guests presented Mrs. Beach with a reticule filled with implements. President Cooke replied on behalf of Mrs. Beach to the address of W. S. Warner. Resolutions regretting the departure of Dr. Beach and his wife were passed.

In March a bill was pending in the legislature to submit to a vote of the people the division of Calumet County in order to allow a couple of towns to be attached to Outagamie county. Bills were also pending for a resurvey of Appleton and for amendments to the city charter.

The city engineer of Appleton was authorized by the Legislature in 1858 to make a survey and map of the city as follows: Wherever the boundaries of lots, blocks or streets or any part of said city which is now platted or purports to be platted are uncertain or the landmarks effaced, he shall establish such boundaries and renew such landmarks according to the latest plat of such part as the same appears in the office of register of deeds of the county of Brown or Outagamie wherever such plat is deficient in not showing anything required by law to be shown, he shall supply such deficiency in the map to be made by him; but he could not change records nor landmarks. The map was to represent the whole of sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, town 21 north, range 17 east, and could show outlots.

It was announced in April, 1858, that information from Holland had arrived to the effect that 100 families there had embarked and would come to settle in the vicinity of Little Chute. These inhabitants were welcomed because they were sure to make good citizens. Excellent lands in Center, Freedom, Kaukauna and Buchanan were open for their selection.

It was reported that 1,000 immigrants had just been landed in New York and that 500 of them were on their way to the Green Bay settlement which included Outagamie county. At this time the county boasted of its German population. Men of that nationality made settlements here and were fast becoming Americanized.

In the town of Bovina there was a pigeon roost seven miles long by two or three miles wide. Millions of pigeons roosted there and often settled in such large numbers on trees as to break them down. Thousands were killed for sport and for the boiling pot.

The contract for building a foundation wall for the courthouse was let in August to Joseph Stowe for $170.

The equalized assessment of the county in 1858 was $1,511,130. The assessment in the city of Appleton in 1858 was as follows: First ward, $132,415; Second ward, $185,796; Third ward, $137,669; total of personal and real property, $455,880. The year before the aggregate assessment footed up $135,000; there was thus a gain of $320,000 in a single year.

In September the suit of Henry Hewett against the town of Grand Chute for $9,000 of plank road bonds which the town refused to recognize as legally issued, was decided against the plaintiff. The suit of Elisa Morrell against the University of Lawrence for a lot on the Lawrence tract was decided in favor of the plaintiff. Both cases were sent back to the circuit court for future proceedings.

By a decision of the supreme court Samuel Ryan, Jr., was denied the right to the office of clerk of the court and C. A. Hamer his opponent of November, 1858, was installed in his place. This decision was based upon the opinion that Outagamie county should not join its forces with, nor be influenced by, any county or territory attached merely for political purposes, as was Shawano.

In November, 1858, O. P. Peebles, a citizen of the town of Ellington, was accidentally drowned at Stephensville. He was getting out logs at the mill when he was accidentally precipitated into the pond, but in falling was stunned so that he immediately sank and did not rise again.

At the annual meeting of the county board in November, 1858, the following action was taken: W. H. P. Bogan was elected chairman. The petition of Antoine Smith and sixty others and of N. B. Des Marteau and others prayed that the town of Buchanan might be reattached to the town of Kaukauna, and that of Nicholas Beaulieu and forty-seven others against such reunion were received.

At this session so much of the town of Freedom as was embraced in towns 23 and 24, range 18, and all that part of town 24, range 19, west of the Oneida reserve was set off and made a separate town called Osborn. The first town meetings were ordered held at the house of Robert McNab.

The boundaries of Embarrass and Liberty were so changed that in the latter was included all that part of town 22, range 15, north of Wolf and the two south tiers of sections in town 23, range 15, leaving to Embarrass all of town 23, range 15, north of the section line south of sections 19 and 24, inclusive, and all of town 24, range 15. Elections in Embarrass were ordered held in the schoolhouse at Maple Creek. At this session the name of the town of Medina was changed to Dale; later this change was left to the voters to be decided.

At the session of January, 1859, a committee was appointed to see where a county poor-farm of not to exceed 320 acres could be procured. It was also resolved that at the next town meeting the question of whether the county seat should be changed to the center of the county would be submitted to a vote of the citizens of all the towns.

It was at this time that Shawano county desired a separate organization. Its courthouse and county buildings were erected and ready for use and it desired to be separated from Outagamie county. In the discussion over the change in the county government, many advocated the retention of the supervisor system, while the Crescent took the other side and favored a change.

Early in 1859 it was stated that the people living northwest of Fox river in Brown county desired to be annexed to Outagamie county. They complained that they were continually in trouble about their school districts, one district lying in three different towns, and in consequence were put to great annoyance and expense.

The proposition current in the state in January to abolish the existing system of county boards of supervisors and the substitution therefor of three county commissioners, was at first well received by the people of this county. It was believed such a change would be a saving to the counties and the state.

The people of Dale, Hortonia, Embarrass and Liberty towns and a number of towns in Waupaca county agitated the subject of forming a new county. The Crescent fought this movement, alleging that the towns of these counties which desired to be separated would find themselves in a much worse condition afterward than at present should the project be carried into execution. Every town in Shawano county desired to join the proposed new county.

In February, 1859, a new saw-mill was built at New London. That village at this date began to grow quite rapidly, because it was believed it would become the seat of justice of the new county which was proposed to be organized. Hortonville and Mukwa were rivals for county seat honors in the proposed new county, the name of which was to be Menominee.

In March there was promise of a prosperous maple sugar season. Many who owned groves of maple trees prepared to go into the woods. The Crescent editor said: "Long ago we used to plod over seven or more miles of mud ever so deep to enjoy a ladle of warm sugar or a pull at a handful of wax. Fine fun may be had at one of those old-fashioned bark-covered log camps."

Persons who had pre-empted claims on the sections of the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement Company's lands were notified to prove up by May 2, 1859, agreeably to the proclamation of President Buchanan. Much of these lands had been cultivated several years and contained good buildings and other improvements.

The state road from Appleton to Shawano was laid out late in May. The lines were run and an excellent route was found, Bingham and Foote established this road in which the people of