Bios transcribed by Kay R. & History by Jan Cortez
Waukau
is a clean little village of 300 inhabitants, situated on rolling land, at the outlet of Rush Lake, and upon the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company. It possesses a charming natural site for a summer resort. The village is in the southeastern corner of the town of Rushford, in the western part of Winnebago County. All are agreed that this pure and fair location was first discovered by L.M. Parsons, who removed to Ceresco from Fox Lake, Fond du Lac County, in 1845, and thence to Waukau in March, 1846. John R. Hall, E.D. Uriah and J.M., arrived soon after. The former states that when he settled in Waukau, there was not a cabin between that spot and Rosendale, Fond du Lac County. Himself, E.D. and Uriah Hall, who came in the fall of 1846, were given shelter in Mr. Parsons' cabin, until they could erect huts of their own. A considerable infusion of new blood was drawn into the young settlement during the next spring. So encouraging did the outlook appear, that Mr. Parsons platted what is now the northern portion of Waukau, the southern portion being laid out in December of the next year by Messrs. S.W. White and G.W. Woodruff. Edward West was the surveyor. It was at this time (the spring of 1847) that mail communication was established with Ceresco, fourteen miles distant. A port office was established at Waukau during the next year, W.H. Elliott, POstmaster. In the meantime, Mr. Parsons had put in operation the first grist mill in the county, except the one at the Government agency at Neenah; a store had been opened by Elliott & White; a school started, Elder William R. Manning, teacher; and sundry other establishments were born, indicating that Waukau meant to live. Among other events that indicated a desire among the people to locate permanently and "grow up with the country," was the marriage of Henry Bixby and Miss Mary Palfrey (John G. Palfrey, one of the leading citizens of Waukau, had located in the fall of 1846.) The second event which tended to prove his statement was the birth of a son to the Mr. & Mrs. John Johnson. In 1848, Lester Rounds came from Ceresco, where he had been acting for the past four years as Secretary of the "Wisconsin Phalanx of the Fourier Association," and established the second general store in Waukau. This he removed subsequently to Eureka, and was one of the founders of that village. From 1848, up to the present time, the growth of the village has been slow but steady. It received the invariable benefit of railroad communication when the branch of the St. Paul was extended to Winneconne, in 1868.
Waukau has, at present, three general stores, owned by R.D. Paris, H.E. Robinson and Pomeroy & Wood. The Waukau Flouring Mills, successors to the old grist mill, built by Mr. Parsons, are owned and operated by Messrs. Bean & Palfrey, the Empire Mills by Messrs. Wood & Lincoln; R.D. Paris & Co. are the proprietors of the woolen mills. Rush Lake is the source of the water-power which runs these manufactories. The Carter House represents well the hotel business, inaugurated in Waukau in 1849 by Warren Beach. As to schools, the village being unincorporated, depends upon the district school, which has an average attendance of 125. Oc churches, there are two, the Baptists being without a pastor: Rev. R.S. Hayward is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Society. There is no reason why Waukau, with its helathful location, its railroad facilities, its manufactories and its good general trade, should not grow for years to come.
Page 1188 - David R. BEAN, firm of BEAN & PALFREY, proprietors of Waukau Flouring Mills, Waukau, erected in 1848, capacity 125 barrels per day; employ four men, including proprietors. He first settled in Omro in the winter of 1856, and in the following spring moved to Waukau and began the erection of the Empire Mills (completed in 1857), being in company with H. P. BECKER and O.D. WOOD, Mr. B. owning half interest twelve years, until 1869, when he exchanged his interest for the lower mills, after which he took in his present partner, each owning half interest. They have put in all the latest improvements, including the celebrated STEVENS' rollers, etc. He was born in Milton, Chittenden Co., Vt., June 25, 1827, lived there until 1850, went to California and engaged in mining; was three and a half years there, including two trips to the Pacific coast. He returned to Vermont, spent one year, then went to Wisconsin, as above stated. Was married in Alberg Springs, Grand Isle Co., Vt., Sept. 14, 1863, to Miss Julia M. BOARDMAN, who was born in Milton, Vt., Sept. 21, 1839. They have two children - Clarence H. and Helen M.E. He was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1861; was again a member in 1880, and has been Chairman of his town two or three years.
Page 1188 - A. D. PACKARD, manufacturer of sugar-cane sirup (sic), and farmer, Waukau; located in Waukau, Wis., in 1858, and engaged in farming. Kept hotel seven years; was also engaged in other branches of business. He was born in Castile, N.Y., March 20, 1839; was married in Waukau, Wis., in May, 1863, to Miss Margaret AVERY, who was born in Norwich, Conn. They have three children - George D., Lillie B. and Maggie E.
Pages 1188 & 1189 - Robert D. PARIS, firm of Waukau Woolen Mills Company, Waukau; mills were erected and began operating in 1868. The mills contain two sets of cards, one for manufacture and one set for custom work. They manufacture 20,000 pounds of wool per annum, and run from seven to eight months during the year; employ twelve persons. They paid $7,400 for wool in 1881. Mr. P. was born in Canada West, at Gault, Nov. 29, 1844, lived in Canada until he was eighteen years of age, learning his trade in Canada and the United States. He went to Janesville, Wis., and worked in a woolen factory about two years, then had charge of a woolen mill at Hanover, Ill., eighteen months; he then went to Appleton, Wis., and took charge of Appleton Woolen Mills eighteen months; then he went to Waukau and began the erection of their present mill. Was married in Waukau Jan. 25, 1870, to Miss Frances Wright, who was born in Orange Co., N.Y. They have two children - John W. and Robert, Jr.
Page 1189 - Arthur R. POMEROY, firm of POMEROY & WOOD, dealers in a general line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and hardware, crockery, etc., Waukau; established in 1876; trade amounts to about $12,000 per annum. Mr. P. first settled in Omro, Wis., in 1855, with his parents. He was about twenty-five years of age when he began business for himself; engaged in lumbering on the Wolf River, which he followed, including boating on the Wolf and Fox Rivers, until 1876, at which time he sold out his interest and began as above noted. Was born in Niagara Co., N.Y., Oct. 3, 1845; married at Waukau, Wis., March 26, 1871, to Miss Minnie KINSLEY, who was born in Vermont. They have one child, named Mamie POMEROY. Mr. P. is a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was Village Postmaster three and a half years, etc.
Page 1189 - David W. SAFFORD, miller in Waukau Flouring Mills, Waukau. Mr. S. was born in Vermont Dec. 3, 1848. His parents moved to Poygan, Winnebago Co., Wis., in 1851. He began life on his own hook at the age of twelve years, and worked on a farm the first year. He enlisted, November, 1862, in Company D, 32d W.V.I.; served until August, 1865, close of the war, and was mustered out at Madison, Wis., August, 1865. He returned to his home, in Poygan, and worked on a farm until 1867; then went to Waukau, Wis., and began work in Empire Mills; there one year; then changed into Waukau Mills and has since been there. Was married in Waukau Feb. 1871, to Miss Jane LOWE, who was born in the latter village. They have one daughter living, Ernestine S., the youngest, and Olivia M., deceased, and Maud E., deceased. Mr. S. is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Omro, Wis.
