Bios transcribed by Kay R. & History by Jan Cortez
Early History
Charles de Langlade, the first settler of Wisconsin, who planned the ambuscade at Fort du Quesne which defeated Gen. Braddock and young Washington in 1755, and who is a historical character fully sketched in the chapters devoted to Green Bay and Brown County, had a grandson named Augustus Grignon. He, with James Porlier, of Green Bay, established a branch trading-post at Butte des Morts. Mr. Grignon was then a resident of Kaukauna, now in OUtagamie County. The buildings were located on Overton's Creek, which flowed into the Upper end of the lake, two miles below the Indian village. In a few years Robert, the nephew of Augustin Grignon, became the agent at Grand Butte, but in 1830 established a post at Algoma. Soon after Louis B. Porlier, then a smart lad of fifteen, was sent from Green Bay to take charge of a post, operated by the firm Porlier & Grignon. This was situated a few miles above the Oshkosh Cemetery, and here for many years Porlier did an extensive and profitable business. A mail route between Forts Winnebago (Portage County) and Howard had been established in 1826, and the next year came Peter Powell, a trader, who built a log hut on the lake shore, a little nearer the present site of Oshkosh. Mr. Powell made this his summer home and spent his winters at his trading-post on the Upper Mississippi. He died in 1837 at his cabin on the shores of Butte des Morts. The trading post had been, in the meantime, moved further up the Wolf, and quite imposing and artistic buildings erected. In 1841, Mr. Porlier, the agent, married a daughter of his employer, Augustus Grignon. It may be remarked here, incidently, that Peter Powell, Augustin Grignon and James B. POrlier took part in 1812 in the English expedition against the American Fort at Prairie du Chien - Fort Crawford. With his father came William Powell, who, in partnership with Robert Grignon, bought the tavern and ferry of George Johnson. In accordance with the treaty of 1831, made with the Menomonees, the Government contractors were now at work in Winnebago Rapids (Neenah) erecting the saw and grist-mill, and houses for the official farmers and for Indian occupancy. As far as the Menomonees were concerned, the scheme was a failure, as will be seen further on in the history of Neenah and Menasha, but it was the means of drawing to the spot such brisk workers as Harrison Reed and Harvey JOnes, and of eventually laying the foundations of two important and floursihing manufacturing cities. Among the twenty-five workmen who were given employment in the erection of the buildings for this paternal Indian agency was Webster Stanley, regarded as the founder of the "City of Athens."
"CITY OF ATHENS."
In July, 1836, his engagement having expired, Mr. Stanley loaded a Durham boat with a year's supplies, and with his family, and a small crew to assist him for a short time, set out on his voyage of exploration. After being capsized, undergoing other hardships which pioneers expect, and passing thru a short season of indecision as to choice of location between the point on the south side of the Fox River and Coon's POint, they finally decided upon the latter location, the shanty was erected and the crew took their departure and left the founder of Oshkosh to found his city. Across the river was James Knaggs, a half-breed, who had purchased the tavern and ferry from Messrs. Powell & Grignon. IN a few days Messrs. Knaggs and Stanley had entered into a partnership, and together were running the two establishments, which were on the new trail between Forts Winnebago and Green Bay. Chester P. Gallup and family, whose eldest daughter Mr. Stanley had married, followed him to Green Bay from Medina, Ohio. About the middle of August Henry and Amos Gallup, Webster Stanley's brothers-in-law, arrived at his little log hut, having taken the journey on foot from Navarino (Green Bay). Returning, the remainder of the Gallup family were on the ground ina few days, and while the erection of a new cabin went on, the Stanley hut was occupied in common. In September of this year (1836), Gov. Dodge concluded his treaties with the Menomonees at Cedar Rapids, and on his return was ferried over the river by the Gallup brothers, who learned from him the welcome news that the land north of the Fox River now belonged to the Government. Webster Stanley and the Gallups at once staked off thier claims, which comprised the land between the Main street and Lake Winnebago, and Merritt Street and the Fox River - properly the Second Ward of the city of Oshkosh. It was then called "Sauk-eer," and later Meron's Point. The settlement on both sides of the river became known under the former name. The lands were bid in at public sale in 1838. The Gallups soon had a new shanty erected on the north side of what would now be River street. This life at home, however, was not quite to the restless taste of the boys - Henry and Amos - so in November they journeyed around Lake Winnebago, the first time that trip had been made by white men. Later they crossed the lake on the ice to the Brothertown settlement, and there met George Wright, a New Yorker, and another carpenter named Webster, who had been at work building the agency saw-mill at that point. They were carried away by the stories brought to them of Sauk-eer, and the adjoining country, so that in the following spring they both entered tracts of land near the claims of Stanley's and Gallup's. George Wright brought his family with him, and purchased the 154 acres now bounded by Algoma and Main streets, the Fox River and Wisconsin street (First Ward). Webster did not settle but sold his land, embraced now in the Sawyer and Paine property, to C.J. Coon in 1839. The same year, David and Thomas Evans settled on land adjoining. Chester Ford, whose starting-point, like all the others, was Green Bay, arrived at the Sauk-eer settlement, with his son Milan, in the fall of 1837. He had been a partner with J.P. Arndt, H.F. Stringham and A.G. Ellis, of Green Bay, and operated a saw-mill at Neshotah, Manitowoc County. He sold out his interest and located on what afterward became known as Wright's Point, south of the river. During March of the next spring Joseph Jackson, a stirring young Irsihman who had come from Detroit to Green Bay, and there met George Wright's daughter Emeline, before the family had removed to Brothertown, appeared at the Sauk-eer settlement and the house of his prospective father-in-law. On the 8th day of that month the nuptials were celebrated at Stanley's house, all of the pioneer families being present. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Stephen Peet, of Green Bay, who had inserted in the Democrat of that village a notice thereof, locating the marriage of the happy couple at "Athens." This was the first marriage which occurred in Winnebago County, between two white persons, and when, on August 26, 1838, the small settlement was increased by the advent of G.W. Stanley, son of the founder of Oshkosh, the first birth had become an event of the past. When, during the year, George Wright was appointed Justice of the Peace for "all of Brown County west of Lake Winnebago," the goddess first balanced her scales in this region, and brought them into use in November, when Knaggs, the trader, sued a half-breed for $14.25 worth of goods. He recovered his suit and Mr. Jackson, the pioneer husband, was authorized to enforce the collection, but the difficulty was settled and stern justice hid her head for a time. C.J. Coon arrived in 1839 and purchased the Sawyer-Paine property, several localities were made a few miles north of the present city, and by the beginning of the next year "Sauk-eer" settlement, "Athens," etc., began to have quite a flourishing appearance.
In March, 1839, the town of Butte des Morts was organized, but the county of Winnebago was not created from Brown until January 6, 1840. Nathaniel Perry, Robert Grignon and Morgan L. Martin were appointed Commissioners to locate the county seat, but as the county was entirely unorganized for judicial purposes little attention was given to this doubtful duty. On February 18, 1842, Winnebago and Calumet were organized and attached to Brown County for judicial purposes after the first Monday of April, 1843. Under the act of organization the town of Butte des Morts was changed to Winnebago, which embraced the county. The town officers were, therefore, the county officers, and the Board elected in April at Webster Stanley's house, where all elections occurred, performed the duties of Supervisors. William C. Isbell was chosen Chairman; L. B. Porlier and Chester Ford, Supervisors; George F. Wright, Clerk; W.W. Wright, Treasurer. The two latter were sons of George Wright, who had died the previous year. This is the first regular election. Under a misunderstanding, an election for town officers had been held in in April of the previous year, and the result legalized by the Legislature in March, 1843. At this irregular election Chester Ford was chosen Chairman of the Town Board; Chester Gallup and William C. Isbell, Supervisors; John Gallup, Clerk; Webster Stanley, Treasurer. In September, 1844, occurred the first election of regular county officers, which resulted: George F. Wright, County Clerk; W.W. Wright, Treasurer; W.C. Isbell, Register of Deeds; Samuel L. Brooks, District Attorney; Ira F. Aiken, Coroner; W.C. Isbell, C. Luce and Harrison Reed, members of the County Board. A majority of nineteen was polled against the State Constitution, and T.J. Townsend elected Probate Judge. During the winter of 1844-45, an act was passed providing for the election of three Commissioners at the town meeting in April, who should locate the county seat, now that Winnebago was assuming political and judicial shape. After several meetings had been held, and a close contest between Joseph Jackson and Harrison Reed, the latter with Charles Dickinson and Robert Grignon, were chosen Commissioners. The latter championed his uncle's claims to locate the county seat upon Augustin Grignon's land at Grand Butte des Morts; Clark Dickinson presented and urged the advantages of Chester Ford's land at the mouth of the Fox; Harrison Reed, who was deep in his speculations at Winnebago Rapids (Neenah), spoke for that locality, and himself. Finally the Grignon site was selected, Mr. Dickinson voting "nay." On July 31, S.S. Brooks, the County Surveyor, in the presence of three commissioners, staked out a park of 90,000 square feet, the gift of Augustin Grignon, and situated in Section 24, Township 19, Rage 16, near the center of the county. Oshkosh and other populous and growing sections to the east were so indignant at the decision that the Board never met there, but gathered at house of H.L. Blood and there continued to hold their meetings until the county seat was changed by law to its present site. In February, 1847, the county was organized for judicial purposes, and after January 1, 1848, the county seat was be lkocated in Section 24, Township 18, Range 16, for the next three years, if the proprietors of the town would furnish site and buildings free of cost. Several propositions were received from the enterprising and delighted villagers of Oshkosh, but in April, 1847, the ten lots in Block 19, offered by L.M. Miller, S.A. Wolcott and S.M. Farnsworth, were accepted. In August of the next year, Alex W. Stow, Circuit Judge, held the first session of court in the village schoolhouse, and in April, 1849, two years from the time the site was accepted, the court convened in the building erected by popular subscription. In September of this year Jedidiah Brown was elected County Judge. In April, 1850, the voters of the county decided not to remove the seat to Butte des Morts, and Oshkosh was left in undisputed possession of its honors. In 1853, the question of erecting suitable county buildings was agitated, and the next year a small brick building, at a cost of $1,800, was built. The court house was not built until 1859, when the county was authorized to issue bonds for that purpose. The building presents a fine appearance, is three stories in height, with stone foundation and Mansard roof. The square, containing two acres, is situated in the Second Ward, on Otter Street, corner of Court. The officers for 1881, now occupying the building, are: O.F. Chase, County Clerk; J.W. Ladd, Treasurer; T.E. Loope, Register of Deeds; George Gary, County Judge; W.D. Harshaw, Sheriff; T.D. Grimmer, Clerk of Court; George W. Burnell, District Attorney; C.R. Hamlin, Coroner; C. Palmer, Surveyor; W.W. Kimball, Superintendent of Schools.
FROM "ATHENS" TO "OSHKOSH."
When the County of Winnebago was created, in January, 1840, Webster Stanley's taver, or house, was made the political center. All the elections were held there. Embryo politicians gathered here, and upon this spot was discussed with much heat and some bitterness the possibility of fettering, and perhaps stangling, the brisk Sauk-eer settlement, with anyone of a dozen names which were proposed for the new post office. Robert Grignon and William Powell, interested as traders in retaining the good will of the Indians, insisted that the village should be named in honor of Oshkosh or Os-Kosh, the Menomonee chief, who had, moreover, befriended the whites from the earliest days. And many of them remembered how, even after the Menomonees had relinquished their title to the lands, the brave chief and his tribe would, at planting time, pitch their wigwams along the lake shore toward Merton's POint, and that Oshkosh would often linger around his old haunts as if thinking of the days of his boyhood, before the sword and the ax and the brain of the white man had invaded his hunting and fishing grounds. The proposition of Grignon and Powell was strongly supported by those who wished to retain a stamp of these early associations in the name Oshkosh, and firmly resisted by those who wished, either to cut clear from them or to have a more classic name chosen. John P. Gallup insisted "Athens," and he had his friends. The Evanses were the leaders in the race for "Galeopolis." The Wright's were champions of "Osceola." "Fairview" and "Stanford," had their advocates. Finally, in the fall of 1840, universal suffrage was proclaimed and every man, woman and child, INdian, half-breed and white, who took an interest in naming the settlement, assembled at the "living room' of Squire Wright's house, elected him Chairman of the meeting, and proceeded to settle the matter for all time. Robert Grignon heading a phalanx of half-breeds and Indians, was eloquently supported by William Powell and several other settlers. Oshkosh carried the day, and the post office became thus known to Uncle Sam. The last chief of the Menomonees, ever afterward, took a fatherly interest in the growth of the village and the city, and upon his visits to Oshkosh was treated with consideration and kindness. But, like others of his race, his blood leaped to madness under the influence of fire water, and his death occurred at Keshena, the principal village of the Menomonee reservation, August 29, 1856, as the result of a fierce and drunken brawl. Oshkosh was born in 1795, at Point Bass (Wood County), and was therefore, in his 64th year at the time of his death. Thus it is that the naming of Oshkosh and the founding of Oshkosh, are both to be placed to the credit of an Indian; for when Webster Stanley, the founder of the city, was living with Gallups at Medina, Ohio, there moved into the neighborhood a farmer, whose wild son, had joined the army, then being stationed at Fort Howard, and afterward married a Stockbridge wife. Like many of that tribe, she was remarkably intelligent and attractive, well educated, and possessed of a talent for graphic word painting. Her descriptions of the wealth and beauty of the Fox River Valley charmed the two families to their homes in Wisconsin, and made them the founders of its second city.
There has been some dispute as to what the name Oshkosh or Os Kosh (as it should be pronounced) realy signifies. It has generally been translated brave; in the Chippewa dialect, "hoof," and some Indian linguists have even gone so far as to debase the name to "toe-nail." But what's in a name - except that a name be given.
Oshkosh now had a name and a Postmaster in the person of John P. Gallup. Chester Ford received the contract for carrying the mail between Fond du Lac, via Oshkosh, and Wrightstown, a route of fifty miles. The trips were made on horseback, and it is on record that Mr. Ford's first mail consisted of one letter and one newspaper carried in his coat pocket.
From 1839 to 1842, the settlement was quite largely increased in numbers, among others, coming Stephen and Samuel Brooks, Clark Dickenson, and W.C. Isbell. By 1843, the settlement had commenced to draw upon the pineries of the North, and several rafts of logs had been floated down from the Rat River, cut up by the saw-mill at Stockbridge, and then towed to Oshkosh. The first raft rand own the Wolf River came from Samuel Farnsworth's mill at Shawano, in the sping of 1842. In 1844, Winnebago Rapids came more prominently into notice, Harrison Reed having purchased a large tract of the agency property from the Government, the paternal scheme for the improvement of the Menomonees having proved a total failure. In the spring of that year, 30,000 logs were sold to Mr. Reed by Daniel Whitney, having been cut on the Rat River pinery, at $2.50 per thousand. In 1845, Gov. Doty settled on the island which has retained his name. Associated with him in the control of the water-power was Curtis Reed, the brother of Harrison. In the course of three years, ten families had settled on the Menasha side. Four mills were in operation on the Neenah side. In February, 1847, a company was formed for the improvement of the water-power, consisting of Gov. Doty and his son, Harrison and Curtis Reed, and Harvey Jones. The rivalries of the two factions, which favored either Neenah or Menasha, seriously interfered with the growth of the settlements for the next few years. In 1850, Curtis Reed obtained the contract for building the State canal on the Menasha side, but the improvement was not completed by him. By this time, Oshkosh had become a village of importance, its population being 1,400. Half a dozen steam saw-mills, as many planing and flour mills, and sash, door and blind factories were humming with life. General stores, and those confined to special lines were starting up in every direction, a paper had been established, a steamboat company organized, churches and schools were flourishing, and everything pointed to the city of Oshkosh. The villages and settlements near her were growing, but she had the start. Omro was platted this year (1850), and was maintaining a good foothold. It had just seen its first steamer, and built its first hotel. The Mumbrues and the Hydes were operating a hotel and a chair factory in Winneconne, which had been platted a year. Butte des Morts, Algoma, Waukau, were all alive and, perhaps, hopeful eventually of outstripping Oshkosh. This general view of the early settlements around Oshkosh has been presented so that the principal facts in the history of the country might be brought up to date when the village commenced more than ever to grow into the dimensions of a wealthy and beautiful city.
