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OCONTO COUNTY PIONEERS
The
series of biographic information
found on this page was published
in
the Oconto County Reporter
starting in 1895.
It was then picked up and carried
in the Milwaukee Journal later that year,
and
contain short sketches about successful citizens from all walks of life.
Researched and prepared for
posting by - Cathe
Ziereis
"The Oconto County Reporter is printing short sketches of Pioneers of the county that will be valuable to future generations, as well as interesting to the present".......... Milwaukee Journal Sep/1895
March 1898
A Pioneer Fisherman
Beginning and Present Status of the Fish Industry in Oconto
John D. Olsen John D. Olsen came into Oconto county twenty-five years ago from New Denmark, 18 miles south of Green Bay. He is living on what is known as the old Lindsay place, on the bay shore, one mile north of the Oconto city piers, and follows the vocation of a fisherman. He says that this season promises to be the most profitable in three or four years in this line of business. The catch has been plentiful, but the price low. Herring is the principle catch. They spawn in deeper water and later in the season and multiply more rapidly because not so easily caught. Other species that inhabit these waters, such as perch, pike and pickerel, spawn in the spring, and nearer shore, and the supply is diminishing at a more rapid rate than herring.
"When I first began to fish along the bay shore" he said, "there was no market for these fish, but half a cent per pound being offered, and sturgeon were so plentiful that profanity entered largely into our conversation whenever we hauled up boat ;loads of the latter kind of fish, and we were obliged to throw them back into the water. Six cents per pound is the ruling price now. We are lucky if we get two or three a week into our nets nowadays."
Mr. Olsen says that he salted 700 packages of fish last year and sold between $600 and $700 worth fresh, in outside markets.
Charles Longrie
Charles Longrie is a native of Belgium, but has resided in this country nearly all his life, his parents having come to America when he was but a mere child and located at Pensaukee. With the exception of three years, during which time he was employed by the lumber companies in various capacities, he has resided in the town of Pensaukee. For thirteen years he drove ox teams for F. B. Gardner, once an extensive logger and lumberman. Twenty-four years ago Mr. Longrie and Miss Mary Pelkin of Green Bay were married and twelve children have blessed their union, ten of whom are living. A son, three years ago, married Miss Aggie Shanke of Brookside, and they also reside in Pensaukee. Mr. Longrie was 44 years of age January 29, last. He is a stalwart republican.
Dell Barker
Dell Barker was "born and brought up" at Stiles, and when in his teens moved with his parents to West Pensaukee, where his father had homesteaded 160 acres of land, and where the latter died. Eighty acres were afterward sold. He married Miss Lettie Chase six years ago and they have one 3 year old boy.
Fred Bartz Fred Bartz arrived in Oconto County from Canton, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1883, and settled in the town of How, where a brother had proceeded him, and for several years he worked for him in the woods; also for Joseph Suring, for whom a station on the new line of railroad was named. Eleven years ago he purchased, near Mountain, forty acres of land from the state, at $1.25 an acre, one-half of which is now under cultivation. Pulcifer, 32 miles away, being the nearest point where there is a grist mill, the raising of wheat is unprofitable. Other grains and vegetables are produced. Mr. Bartz has a wife and eight children- four boys and four girls. "Two of my boys," said he, "are old enough to fight and are eager for a brush with the Spaniards."
Frank LaPage
Frank LaPage, sr., of the town of Oconto, near the Little River church, came to New Hampshire from Canada in 1860. He was born in Canada in 1835. He worked for Holt & Balcom till 1865, living in a little house near where the city hotel now stands. Oconto wasn’t much of a city in those days. He then moved to the farm, which he has since made one of the brightest spots in the county by clearing up eighty acres and putting up comfortable buildings. Miss Celestine Hanron became his wife, in Oconto, in 1860, and nine children born to them are yet living, the youngest 14 years of age. Four children are married – two daughters and two sons: the daughters, Mrs. Alfred Greenwood in Florence, and Mrs. Martha Jeffer in Waushara county, and the sons, Frank and Gilbert, in Little River, have contributed fifteen grandchildren to the family tree. Another daughter, Sarah, lives in Menominee. Mr. LaPage has been supervisor of his town and is now school district clerk and treasurer of the local creamery company. Before deciding between the political parties of this country, he made a study of the issues between them, and in 1860 cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has been a zealous and influential republican ever since. He is elder of the Little River Presbyterian church. OCR 2/1896
B.B. Barker
B.B. Barker of the town of Pensaukee, born in New Hampshire in 1829, came west in 1857, first settling at Stiles, where he worked three years for the Eldred company. He then moved upon the farm in Pensaukee which has since been his home. He has been twice married, first in 1857, in New Hampshire. After the death of his first wife he married Charolette A. Whitcomb, a native of Boston. Mr. Barker has but one child, a daughter, who lives in Superior. He was a member of the 12th Wisconsin infantry and was three times wounded at the battle of Atlanta; he also participated, with his regiment, in the battles of Ezra church and Bentonville. He has been a member of the Pensaukee board of supervisor’s 14 years, chairman 5 years of the time. He is republican "of good cloth and full yard wide." OCR 2/1896
S. F. Everhart
Northern Michigan was once the home of S. F. Everhart, which he left in 1874 and came to Oconto county, locating in the town of Pensaukee, one half mile south of Brookside station. The first three years he labored in the woods – a portion of the time for E. S. McKenny, who manufactured charcoal for the A. B. Meacher company in Menominee.
In July, 1876, he was married to Miss Ella West by Rev. B. J. Minnick, the Methodist clergy man at Brookside, nine children – four boys and five girls all living at the parental home, blessing their union.
He has 127 acres of land, 70 of which is under cultivation, is in prosperous circumstances, and an enthusiastic republican. OCR 2/1896
H. F. Ohswaldt
Next to the oldest in years and experience in the county as a practicing physician is H. F. Ohswaldt of Stiles. He was born in New York City in 1857, and after graduation from medical college, and two years practice he came west; was stranded in Green Bay, by reason of a great snow storm, during winter of ’80 – ’81, and located in Stiles in May, ’81, where three children have since been added to his household and an extensive practice and acquaintance acquired. He is an active member of the K. P. and M. W. A. lodges of Stiles. OCR 2/1896
Erwin Cleveland
Erwin Cleveland of the town of chase, born in New York in 1841, came to Kewaunee county, this state, in 1870, and thence to Chase in 1880. Was a member of the 1st independent battery of New York artillery. Isa farmer, with wife (Catherine St. Peter) and six children at home. As he expressed it, Mr. Cleveland "is a terrible distant" relative of Grover C., but unlike Grover, votes the republican ticket every time he gets a chance to do so. OCR 2/1896
Frank Cheffings
Frank Cheffings of Lincolnshire, Eng., was attracted to Oconto in 1875 by the fact that a cousin, Mrs. Hardin Gilkey, now of Maple Valley, had preceded him and written encouragingly of the new country. After a visit of a few weeks, Mr. Cheffings engaged to work for Isaiah Post, in Maple Valley, and remained with him and L. Lord a couple of years, when he took up a homestead, to which he has since made additions and improvements, among other things building a handsome dwelling house a couple of years ago. His farm consists of 160 acres, fifty acres under cultivation. Miss Minnie Cooley, united her fortunes with his in 1857, and a son and daughter have been added unto them. Mr. Cheffings is not politically ambitious, has never held an office, and is not a candidate for one. He is an active member of the Disciple church. OCR 2/1896
Nels Hougaard
Nels Hougaard, until long after he had arrived at man’s estate, was a resident of Denmark, but like many other of his countrymen who had learned of the country across the waters – America – he bade adieu to the home of his childhood, and twelve years ago landed in New York, and later became an employee in the Blatz brewery in Milwaukee. Six months afterward he came into Oconto county and for about a year and a half worked for Anson Eldred. He took up a homestead and after he had proved up sold it to John Carlson and bought a quarter section of land of Banker Mittelstedt of Seymour, and later an eighty adjoining, and in the past five years he and his boys have cleared forty five acres out of the heaviest kind of timber. He is a resident of Maple Valley. OCR 2/1896
A.C. Lovell
A.C. Lovell of Abrams, when a lad of 14, left the parental home in the state of Maine and entered upon the life of a sailor, which he followed for several years. Returning to the scenes of this youth he was importuned by his father to remain upon the farm, but western fever had settled upon him and in 1856 he became an employee in the water mill of Jones and Whitcomb in Oconto, and for three years had charge of their log boom. When the war cry was sounded and men dropped their plowshares and answered the call to arms, he became a member of the "Oconto River Log Drivers," which afterward became so well known, and fought for Uncle Sam for a period of three years and six months and received numerous scars of honor upon the fields of battle.
He has a farm of 160 acres, near the village of Abrams, and is one of the most prosperous residents of the county. OCR 2/1896
Edward Cota
Edward Cota was a subject of Great Britain, twenty-five years ago, and when he first came to Oconto county he assisted his brother Joseph in logging woods and upon the farm. He resides upon a farm three miles from the city. "I have been married twenty-two years and have a family of fourteen children, all living at home, the oldest twenty years and the youngest five months," said he, with a feeling of pride, "and I am a republican till I die." OCR 2/1896
Dec/1895
E. S. McKenny E. S. McKenny settled near Pensaukee in 1857, when there were but four houses in the village, and became a farmer, although he had worked at the trade of stone-cutting many years in the city of Lowell, Mass., previous to immigrating to Oconto county. He has two children one daughter, the wife of William Beauock of Pensaukee.
Jan/1896
D. E. Whiting D. E. Whiting has been a resident of Oconto county since Nov. 5, 1856, "Hailing" from the state of Maine. A cousin - Jacob Couillard - proceeded him to Wisconsin, and it was chiefly upon his solicitation that he sold his farm in the east and removed and moved with his family to the new west. With him came his brother-in-law and wife - Mr. and Mrs. George Williams.
Mr. Whiting, like all pioneers, suffered early deprivations, but with characteristic persistency he finally made for himself and family a comfortable home in the wilderness.
When he had been in the county two years he was elected justice of the peace, and he has retained the office ever since. He was chairman of the town of Oconto three years - '64 '65 '66 -appointed by the board town treasurer, and in 1871 was chosen deputy town clerk, continuing in that office twenty years - relinquishing his claim three years ago. Besides, he was assessor three years. For seventeen years he followed logging -jobbing for the lumber companies.
He has been married twice - five children living - all grown to man's estate and residents of this county. He was 65 years of age ast November.
May/1896
Lemuel J. Bovee Lemuel J. Bovee, when but a youth, removed with his parents from the state of New York to Eagle, Waukesha county., where his father engaged in farming and for four years held the office of register of deeds. This was twenty-eight years ago. In 1866 the subject of this sketch entered the ranks of the benedicts and one year later came to Oconto county and purchased 161 acres of wild land of B. B. Barker, later exchanging it with E. C. Whitney for the farm on which he now resides.
Dec/1895
Jacob Blomers Jacob Blomers came from Holland in '55. A acquaintance had been to America - residing at Green Bay - and going back to his land of birth, had interested many neighbors in the new country which he had adopted as a home, but of 55 who had expressed a determination to return with him, Mr. Blomers was his only companion. He was then twenty years of age. Coming to Oconto, and his search for work unavailing, he went to Green Bay, secured employment and was swindled out of his pay for eight months labor.
Two years latter he came again to Oconto and worked one day in Norton's lumber yard, of which George Farnsworth was foreman. Later he was employed on a farm near Stiles by Mel Smith.
When he had been in this country seven years he had $2,000 in cash and owned considerable land, situated about three miles east of Green Bay. He earned $1000 one season loading vessels, receiving $1.50 an hour for the last work he did of that nature.
Returning to the old country he remained one year and while there took unto himself a wife - sister of Frank Bitters, of this city. Two years in loading vessels followed, when he bought eighteen acres of land in Oconto -six acres of which he donated to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company for depot grounds. This was in '71. He now resides two miles and a half from the city, in the town of Oconto, on a farm of 120 acres.
W. A. McKinley W. A. McKinley came into Oconto county from Lapeer, Mich. in '78, and began life in the new surroundings by teaching school at Oconto Falls. He labored and farmed and taught, was elected superintendent of schools, and is now serving his second term. He says he never saw the schools of Oconto county in better condition, and that he is trying to work the standard upward, which is being accomplished, as there are more applicants for positions than can be employed, enabling him to select those best qualified for this important work. Mr. McKinley owns a home in the village of Abrams, is comfortably situated; and genial to everybody. OCR
Nov/1895
Cornelius Lince Cornelius Lince and his nephew James, along in '67, lived in the woods near the spot now known as Brookside, and upon assurances that this was a grand section of the universe for a young man to adopt a home, George Lince, of Jefferson county, New York, came to Oconto county and joined his relatives. His first summer's work was in the saw mill of Beyer & Balcom at $35 per month, and for ten winters he received the same pay for working in the woods, and in those times wages upon the roads or in the hay fields were $2 per day, and hay sold readily at $25 and $30 a ton. He has forty acres of land split in twain by the Pensaukee river, from 20 of which he raises good crops. He has leased his uncle's place for next year and hope's for better prices for products of the farm. said he "Has it not been for the creamery I don't know what the farmers out our way would do this fall, as there is no sale for anything we raise. Some perdict an advance in the price of potatoes and oats and I think both may yet bring 25 cents a bushel. There is one thing certain - times cannot be much worse then now."
R. E. Bowman R. E. Bowman first became a resident of Oconto county in 1870, and bought eighty acres from F. B. Gardner near Brookside for $3 per acre, which he converted into a farm, fully improved. He has been a member of the school board, but says the best way to retain friends is to keep out of office. Previous to coming to Oconto county he resided for a time at Lowell, Dodge county, and came originally from Jefferson county, New York.
George Birmingham George Birmingham helped to clear the first acre of land at Pensaukee and his present home is near that locality. He came into this county three years before the opening of the civil war and has retained his present residence ever since. He has a farm of 110 acres, and a good sugar bush. He was 21 years of age when he arrived from Watertown, New York, and entered the employment of F. B. Gardner. He has been constable four years.
Michael Peterson In 1868, Michael Peterson and wife landed in New York from Denmark. Mrs. Peterson had a brother and sister residing at Oshkosh, and so eager were they that their relatives should become residents of this country that the brother journeyed across the waters and accompanied them to America. Mr. Peterson worked in a saw mill and in the woods for a year and a half and came to Oconto county in 1870. At Maple Valley he bought an eighty of land for $100, where he resided up to six years ago, since which time he has conducted a hotel in the town of Maple Valley.
Charles Butler Charles Butler dates his residence in Oconto county from the fall of '61. He built a house in the South ward which he sold to J. F. Meyers. During his sojourn in the city he had jobbing contracts with Holt & Balcom, the Oconto Company and Mix & Orr, and he and George D. Knapp, Thomas Simpson, Lyman Pierce and Sim Butler took jobs of shoving lumber from rafts into vessels lying at anchor in the bay. The going wages for this sort work was 50 cents per hour, but in the latter part of the season, when the weather was cold and ice had formed upon the boards, 75 cents and $1 per hour was the usual compensation. They frequently put in eighteen hours a day, and one week Mr. Butler made $65. Vessel freights to Chicago were $8 per thousand feet of lumber and common flooring sold at $30.
Mr. Butler went to Hickory eighteen years ago, purchased eighty acres of wild land of Benjamin Simpson, forty of which was clear. He's a good republican and patiently awaiting the election of a republican president in '96.
Aug./1895
Charles Swear Charles Swear resides at Oak Orchard and by hard work and the primitive methods of years ago has a farm cleared and producing good crops. He served in the army with Company H., 4th Wisconsin, was disabled , and as a result of tedious routine in the pension department, his allowances were not regularly received and the first payment amounted to $137. He and W. G. Links of this city married sisters.
Charles Schemehorn Rancor county, New York, was the home of Charles Schemehorn in 1865, and that year he came to Oconto county and bought forty-five acres of land near Abrams. For nineteen years he had charge of the engine in Tremble's saw mill at Big Suamico, runt the engine in Coleman & Esson's mill where now stands the Holt Shingle mill, and when the Coleman & Esson mill was moved down to the city pier he was employed in his former capacity by Esson & Noonan. Mr. Schemehorn was 65 years of age on the 30th day of June, last.
Henry Plucker In 1846 Henry Plucker sailed from Oconto to Chicago with ship-loads of lumber for Huff Jones' father, and on '52 went to Pensaukee on the brig Mary, one of Gardner's boats. He entered a homestead, cleared the land, and with duties of a farmer added lumbering and fishing. A gunshot wound received while hunting prevented his acceptance as a shoulder, and he is one of the very few pioneers of Oconto county who were not allowed to enter the service of their country in time of oppression. He married a young lady named Powell and even children were born to them, eight of whom are now living.
W. T. Snyder W. T. Snyder came into this county twenty-five years ago, married a daughter of John Windross and two children have blessed their union. Previous to four years ago, at which time he settled down to permanent farming, he was, for twelve years, captain on the lakes and the smaller bodies of water. When Charles Hall of this city ran a saw mill at Cavour, in Forest county, there were but three families residing there and the entire vote of the town but thirty-four. At their first election Mr. Snyder was made Justice of the peace. It was the fall of Garfield's election to the presidency and thirty-four votes were republican - the four democrats being section hands upon the railroad. Mr. Snyder has a farm of 70 acres, is rugged and happy.
Sam Hunter During the days of bondage among the colored people of the south, slave-owners occasionally granted their "boys" the pleasure of a hunt to bring down the wily 'possum. One day Sam Hunter, accompanied by four companions, strolled into a thicket ostensibly for game, but they did not tarry until they had reached a camp of Union soldiers, then in the neighborhood. When the master came, the next day, in quest of his runaways, he was driven from camp at the point of the bayonet, and the Negroes afterward joined in the struggle for the emancipation of their people. Sam was wounded twice and badly crippled. After his release from the hospital he worked his way north and today is living upon a farm of thirty seven acres, five miles south of the village of Pensaukee, along the bay front. A widow, grateful for his service as a man-of-all-work, gave him her farm and during one of his pilgrimages to Green Bay he met the colored lady who afterward became his wife. Sam is entitled for a pension, but owing to the entanglement of names similar to his own the delay has been prolonged through all these years, but there is a prospect that may yet come.
William Windross William Windross of Pensaukee was born in the state of New York, seventy years ago last month, and eleven days after the arrival of his parents from England. When eighteen years of age he accompanied the family to Oconto County and settled near what is now known as Oak Orchard. Farming and fishing were their avocations, but when the war broke out, William entered the permanent guard, with other strapping six-footer, and for fourteen months served his country in escorting renegade soldiers to points to which they were assigned. There were three sons and one daughter - Charles is 79 years of age, and daughter - now Mrs. Levi Hale of Peshtigo - is 77, and John 75. After their fathers death the farm was divided and in their advanced years the "boys" continue to till the soil, seemingly unmindful that the touch of time had silvered their locks; furrowed their features and robbed their step partially of it's old-time elasticity. William is a walking encyclopedia- thoroughly conversant with both ancient and modern historical events and gifted with a style of expression decidedly entertaining. He resides with his brother Charles and wife, and has never married. "When I was in the mood for marring," he said, " there were no girls, near by, to wed."
Charles McAllister Charles McAllister, sixteen years ago, was a resident of Manitowoc county. Coming to Oconto county he "pitched his tent" at Maple Valley, cut a hole out of the Wilderness and has sixty-five acres of hi 160 clear for farming purposes. He has four children - all boys - and was a solider with Co. K.
J. S. Harvey J. S. Harvey came to Oconto county at the close of the war, and settled in the town of Case, where he assisted in building the Chase & Dickey mill. He has since pursued lumbering and farming. Of his children, one son and a daughter reside at home, and Leslie is present register of deed of this county.
Issac Elliot Issac Elliot has been a resident of Little river twenty-one years, but went out as a soldier with a New York regiment. From a wilderness of 120 acres he has cleared a farm of sixty and became a farmer. Of his children, William married Miss Lillian Babbitt of Marinette; William E. (now janitor at the court house) married Charlie Quirt's daughter; one daughter became Mrs. John Hoyt of Little River; another, Mrs. Charles Yeaton (now dead); and another, Mrs. Alex Sharpley of Oconto, and still another Mrs. Cyruss Sharpley of Little River. Nathaniel, the youngest, resides at home. OCR 8/1895
Eugene Fitzpatrick Eugene Fitzpatrick came to Oconto county from Watertown, N. Y., in the spring of 1858, worked among the pines until '61 and went to the war. Four years later he began to superintended logging camps by F. B. Gardner scaling and sawing. Later he made for himself a farm where he has since resided. He was deputy for R. H. Hall, county surveyor, four years, was himself elected surveyor two terms, and the last election placed him again in that position. His wife was Miss Grace Leadd of Chase and her parents now reside upon the old place.
F. W. John F. W. John has been a sojourner in the town of Gillett thirty-nine years. The first winter he helped build a mill for Morrill & St. Ores, which was afterward sold to George Farnsworth. It burned down and the present mill of the Oconto Company was erected upon the spot. When the carpenters were at work upon the structure his wife kept a boarding house for the men. Mr. John soon afterward purchased an acre of land near where the present State bridge crosses the river and built himself a home.
A Pioneer Fisherman
Beginning and Present Status of the Fish Industry in Oconto
John D. Olsen John D. Olsen came into Oconto county twenty-five years ago from New Denmark, 18 miles south of Green Bay. He is living on what is known as the old Lindsay place, on the bay shore, one mile north of the Oconto city piers, and follows the vocation of a fisherman. He says that this season promises to be the most profitable in three or four years in this line of business. The catch has been plentiful, but the price low. Herring is the principle catch. They spawn in deeper water and later in the season and multiply more rapidly because not so easily caught. Other species that inhabit these waters, such as perch, pike and pickerel, spawn in the spring, and nearer shore, and the supply is diminishing at a more rapid rate than herring.
"When I first began to fish along the bay shore" he said, "there was no market for these fish, but half a cent per pound being offered, and sturgeon were so plentiful that profanity entered largely into our conversation whenever we hauled up boat ;loads of the latter kind of fish, and we were obliged to throw them back into the water. Six cents per pound is the ruling price now. We are lucky if we get two or three a week into our nets nowadays."
Mr. Olsen says that he salted 700 packages of fish last year and sold between $600 and $700 worth fresh, in outside markets.
Charles Longrie
Charles Longrie is a native of Belgium, but has resided in this country nearly all his life, his parents having come to America when he was but a mere child and located at Pensaukee. With the exception of three years, during which time he was employed by the lumber companies in various capacities, he has resided in the town of Pensaukee. For thirteen years he drove ox teams for F. B. Gardner, once an extensive logger and lumberman. Twenty-four years ago Mr. Longrie and Miss Mary Pelkin of Green Bay were married and twelve children have blessed their union, ten of whom are living. A son, three years ago, married Miss Aggie Shanke of Brookside, and they also reside in Pensaukee. Mr. Longrie was 44 years of age January 29, last. He is a stalwart republican.
Dell Barker
Dell Barker was "born and brought up" at Stiles, and when in his teens moved with his parents to West Pensaukee, where his father had homesteaded 160 acres of land, and where the latter died. Eighty acres were afterward sold. He married Miss Lettie Chase six years ago and they have one 3 year old boy.
Fred Bartz Fred Bartz arrived in Oconto County from Canton, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1883, and settled in the town of How, where a brother had proceeded him, and for several years he worked for him in the woods; also for Joseph Suring, for whom a station on the new line of railroad was named. Eleven years ago he purchased, near Mountain, forty acres of land from the state, at $1.25 an acre, one-half of which is now under cultivation. Pulcifer, 32 miles away, being the nearest point where there is a grist mill, the raising of wheat is unprofitable. Other grains and vegetables are produced. Mr. Bartz has a wife and eight children- four boys and four girls. "Two of my boys," said he, "are old enough to fight and are eager for a brush with the Spaniards."
Frank LaPage
Frank LaPage, sr., of the town of Oconto, near the Little River church, came to New Hampshire from Canada in 1860. He was born in Canada in 1835. He worked for Holt & Balcom till 1865, living in a little house near where the city hotel now stands. Oconto wasn’t much of a city in those days. He then moved to the farm, which he has since made one of the brightest spots in the county by clearing up eighty acres and putting up comfortable buildings. Miss Celestine Hanron became his wife, in Oconto, in 1860, and nine children born to them are yet living, the youngest 14 years of age. Four children are married – two daughters and two sons: the daughters, Mrs. Alfred Greenwood in Florence, and Mrs. Martha Jeffer in Waushara county, and the sons, Frank and Gilbert, in Little River, have contributed fifteen grandchildren to the family tree. Another daughter, Sarah, lives in Menominee. Mr. LaPage has been supervisor of his town and is now school district clerk and treasurer of the local creamery company. Before deciding between the political parties of this country, he made a study of the issues between them, and in 1860 cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has been a zealous and influential republican ever since. He is elder of the Little River Presbyterian church. OCR 2/1896
B.B. Barker
B.B. Barker of the town of Pensaukee, born in New Hampshire in 1829, came west in 1857, first settling at Stiles, where he worked three years for the Eldred company. He then moved upon the farm in Pensaukee which has since been his home. He has been twice married, first in 1857, in New Hampshire. After the death of his first wife he married Charolette A. Whitcomb, a native of Boston. Mr. Barker has but one child, a daughter, who lives in Superior. He was a member of the 12th Wisconsin infantry and was three times wounded at the battle of Atlanta; he also participated, with his regiment, in the battles of Ezra church and Bentonville. He has been a member of the Pensaukee board of supervisor’s 14 years, chairman 5 years of the time. He is republican "of good cloth and full yard wide." OCR 2/1896
S. F. Everhart
Northern Michigan was once the home of S. F. Everhart, which he left in 1874 and came to Oconto county, locating in the town of Pensaukee, one half mile south of Brookside station. The first three years he labored in the woods – a portion of the time for E. S. McKenny, who manufactured charcoal for the A. B. Meacher company in Menominee.
In July, 1876, he was married to Miss Ella West by Rev. B. J. Minnick, the Methodist clergy man at Brookside, nine children – four boys and five girls all living at the parental home, blessing their union.
He has 127 acres of land, 70 of which is under cultivation, is in prosperous circumstances, and an enthusiastic republican. OCR 2/1896
H. F. Ohswaldt
Next to the oldest in years and experience in the county as a practicing physician is H. F. Ohswaldt of Stiles. He was born in New York City in 1857, and after graduation from medical college, and two years practice he came west; was stranded in Green Bay, by reason of a great snow storm, during winter of ’80 – ’81, and located in Stiles in May, ’81, where three children have since been added to his household and an extensive practice and acquaintance acquired. He is an active member of the K. P. and M. W. A. lodges of Stiles. OCR 2/1896
Erwin Cleveland
Erwin Cleveland of the town of chase, born in New York in 1841, came to Kewaunee county, this state, in 1870, and thence to Chase in 1880. Was a member of the 1st independent battery of New York artillery. Isa farmer, with wife (Catherine St. Peter) and six children at home. As he expressed it, Mr. Cleveland "is a terrible distant" relative of Grover C., but unlike Grover, votes the republican ticket every time he gets a chance to do so. OCR 2/1896
Frank Cheffings
Frank Cheffings of Lincolnshire, Eng., was attracted to Oconto in 1875 by the fact that a cousin, Mrs. Hardin Gilkey, now of Maple Valley, had preceded him and written encouragingly of the new country. After a visit of a few weeks, Mr. Cheffings engaged to work for Isaiah Post, in Maple Valley, and remained with him and L. Lord a couple of years, when he took up a homestead, to which he has since made additions and improvements, among other things building a handsome dwelling house a couple of years ago. His farm consists of 160 acres, fifty acres under cultivation. Miss Minnie Cooley, united her fortunes with his in 1857, and a son and daughter have been added unto them. Mr. Cheffings is not politically ambitious, has never held an office, and is not a candidate for one. He is an active member of the Disciple church. OCR 2/1896
Nels Hougaard
Nels Hougaard, until long after he had arrived at man’s estate, was a resident of Denmark, but like many other of his countrymen who had learned of the country across the waters – America – he bade adieu to the home of his childhood, and twelve years ago landed in New York, and later became an employee in the Blatz brewery in Milwaukee. Six months afterward he came into Oconto county and for about a year and a half worked for Anson Eldred. He took up a homestead and after he had proved up sold it to John Carlson and bought a quarter section of land of Banker Mittelstedt of Seymour, and later an eighty adjoining, and in the past five years he and his boys have cleared forty five acres out of the heaviest kind of timber. He is a resident of Maple Valley. OCR 2/1896
A.C. Lovell
A.C. Lovell of Abrams, when a lad of 14, left the parental home in the state of Maine and entered upon the life of a sailor, which he followed for several years. Returning to the scenes of this youth he was importuned by his father to remain upon the farm, but western fever had settled upon him and in 1856 he became an employee in the water mill of Jones and Whitcomb in Oconto, and for three years had charge of their log boom. When the war cry was sounded and men dropped their plowshares and answered the call to arms, he became a member of the "Oconto River Log Drivers," which afterward became so well known, and fought for Uncle Sam for a period of three years and six months and received numerous scars of honor upon the fields of battle.
He has a farm of 160 acres, near the village of Abrams, and is one of the most prosperous residents of the county. OCR 2/1896
Edward Cota
Edward Cota was a subject of Great Britain, twenty-five years ago, and when he first came to Oconto county he assisted his brother Joseph in logging woods and upon the farm. He resides upon a farm three miles from the city. "I have been married twenty-two years and have a family of fourteen children, all living at home, the oldest twenty years and the youngest five months," said he, with a feeling of pride, "and I am a republican till I die." OCR 2/1896
Dec/1895
E. S. McKenny E. S. McKenny settled near Pensaukee in 1857, when there were but four houses in the village, and became a farmer, although he had worked at the trade of stone-cutting many years in the city of Lowell, Mass., previous to immigrating to Oconto county. He has two children one daughter, the wife of William Beauock of Pensaukee.
Jan/1896
D. E. Whiting D. E. Whiting has been a resident of Oconto county since Nov. 5, 1856, "Hailing" from the state of Maine. A cousin - Jacob Couillard - proceeded him to Wisconsin, and it was chiefly upon his solicitation that he sold his farm in the east and removed and moved with his family to the new west. With him came his brother-in-law and wife - Mr. and Mrs. George Williams.
Mr. Whiting, like all pioneers, suffered early deprivations, but with characteristic persistency he finally made for himself and family a comfortable home in the wilderness.
When he had been in the county two years he was elected justice of the peace, and he has retained the office ever since. He was chairman of the town of Oconto three years - '64 '65 '66 -appointed by the board town treasurer, and in 1871 was chosen deputy town clerk, continuing in that office twenty years - relinquishing his claim three years ago. Besides, he was assessor three years. For seventeen years he followed logging -jobbing for the lumber companies.
He has been married twice - five children living - all grown to man's estate and residents of this county. He was 65 years of age ast November.
May/1896
Lemuel J. Bovee Lemuel J. Bovee, when but a youth, removed with his parents from the state of New York to Eagle, Waukesha county., where his father engaged in farming and for four years held the office of register of deeds. This was twenty-eight years ago. In 1866 the subject of this sketch entered the ranks of the benedicts and one year later came to Oconto county and purchased 161 acres of wild land of B. B. Barker, later exchanging it with E. C. Whitney for the farm on which he now resides.
Dec/1895
Jacob Blomers Jacob Blomers came from Holland in '55. A acquaintance had been to America - residing at Green Bay - and going back to his land of birth, had interested many neighbors in the new country which he had adopted as a home, but of 55 who had expressed a determination to return with him, Mr. Blomers was his only companion. He was then twenty years of age. Coming to Oconto, and his search for work unavailing, he went to Green Bay, secured employment and was swindled out of his pay for eight months labor.
Two years latter he came again to Oconto and worked one day in Norton's lumber yard, of which George Farnsworth was foreman. Later he was employed on a farm near Stiles by Mel Smith.
When he had been in this country seven years he had $2,000 in cash and owned considerable land, situated about three miles east of Green Bay. He earned $1000 one season loading vessels, receiving $1.50 an hour for the last work he did of that nature.
Returning to the old country he remained one year and while there took unto himself a wife - sister of Frank Bitters, of this city. Two years in loading vessels followed, when he bought eighteen acres of land in Oconto -six acres of which he donated to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company for depot grounds. This was in '71. He now resides two miles and a half from the city, in the town of Oconto, on a farm of 120 acres.
W. A. McKinley W. A. McKinley came into Oconto county from Lapeer, Mich. in '78, and began life in the new surroundings by teaching school at Oconto Falls. He labored and farmed and taught, was elected superintendent of schools, and is now serving his second term. He says he never saw the schools of Oconto county in better condition, and that he is trying to work the standard upward, which is being accomplished, as there are more applicants for positions than can be employed, enabling him to select those best qualified for this important work. Mr. McKinley owns a home in the village of Abrams, is comfortably situated; and genial to everybody. OCR
Nov/1895
Cornelius Lince Cornelius Lince and his nephew James, along in '67, lived in the woods near the spot now known as Brookside, and upon assurances that this was a grand section of the universe for a young man to adopt a home, George Lince, of Jefferson county, New York, came to Oconto county and joined his relatives. His first summer's work was in the saw mill of Beyer & Balcom at $35 per month, and for ten winters he received the same pay for working in the woods, and in those times wages upon the roads or in the hay fields were $2 per day, and hay sold readily at $25 and $30 a ton. He has forty acres of land split in twain by the Pensaukee river, from 20 of which he raises good crops. He has leased his uncle's place for next year and hope's for better prices for products of the farm. said he "Has it not been for the creamery I don't know what the farmers out our way would do this fall, as there is no sale for anything we raise. Some perdict an advance in the price of potatoes and oats and I think both may yet bring 25 cents a bushel. There is one thing certain - times cannot be much worse then now."
R. E. Bowman R. E. Bowman first became a resident of Oconto county in 1870, and bought eighty acres from F. B. Gardner near Brookside for $3 per acre, which he converted into a farm, fully improved. He has been a member of the school board, but says the best way to retain friends is to keep out of office. Previous to coming to Oconto county he resided for a time at Lowell, Dodge county, and came originally from Jefferson county, New York.
George Birmingham George Birmingham helped to clear the first acre of land at Pensaukee and his present home is near that locality. He came into this county three years before the opening of the civil war and has retained his present residence ever since. He has a farm of 110 acres, and a good sugar bush. He was 21 years of age when he arrived from Watertown, New York, and entered the employment of F. B. Gardner. He has been constable four years.
Michael Peterson In 1868, Michael Peterson and wife landed in New York from Denmark. Mrs. Peterson had a brother and sister residing at Oshkosh, and so eager were they that their relatives should become residents of this country that the brother journeyed across the waters and accompanied them to America. Mr. Peterson worked in a saw mill and in the woods for a year and a half and came to Oconto county in 1870. At Maple Valley he bought an eighty of land for $100, where he resided up to six years ago, since which time he has conducted a hotel in the town of Maple Valley.
Charles Butler Charles Butler dates his residence in Oconto county from the fall of '61. He built a house in the South ward which he sold to J. F. Meyers. During his sojourn in the city he had jobbing contracts with Holt & Balcom, the Oconto Company and Mix & Orr, and he and George D. Knapp, Thomas Simpson, Lyman Pierce and Sim Butler took jobs of shoving lumber from rafts into vessels lying at anchor in the bay. The going wages for this sort work was 50 cents per hour, but in the latter part of the season, when the weather was cold and ice had formed upon the boards, 75 cents and $1 per hour was the usual compensation. They frequently put in eighteen hours a day, and one week Mr. Butler made $65. Vessel freights to Chicago were $8 per thousand feet of lumber and common flooring sold at $30.
Mr. Butler went to Hickory eighteen years ago, purchased eighty acres of wild land of Benjamin Simpson, forty of which was clear. He's a good republican and patiently awaiting the election of a republican president in '96.
Aug./1895
Charles Swear Charles Swear resides at Oak Orchard and by hard work and the primitive methods of years ago has a farm cleared and producing good crops. He served in the army with Company H., 4th Wisconsin, was disabled , and as a result of tedious routine in the pension department, his allowances were not regularly received and the first payment amounted to $137. He and W. G. Links of this city married sisters.
Charles Schemehorn Rancor county, New York, was the home of Charles Schemehorn in 1865, and that year he came to Oconto county and bought forty-five acres of land near Abrams. For nineteen years he had charge of the engine in Tremble's saw mill at Big Suamico, runt the engine in Coleman & Esson's mill where now stands the Holt Shingle mill, and when the Coleman & Esson mill was moved down to the city pier he was employed in his former capacity by Esson & Noonan. Mr. Schemehorn was 65 years of age on the 30th day of June, last.
Henry Plucker In 1846 Henry Plucker sailed from Oconto to Chicago with ship-loads of lumber for Huff Jones' father, and on '52 went to Pensaukee on the brig Mary, one of Gardner's boats. He entered a homestead, cleared the land, and with duties of a farmer added lumbering and fishing. A gunshot wound received while hunting prevented his acceptance as a shoulder, and he is one of the very few pioneers of Oconto county who were not allowed to enter the service of their country in time of oppression. He married a young lady named Powell and even children were born to them, eight of whom are now living.
W. T. Snyder W. T. Snyder came into this county twenty-five years ago, married a daughter of John Windross and two children have blessed their union. Previous to four years ago, at which time he settled down to permanent farming, he was, for twelve years, captain on the lakes and the smaller bodies of water. When Charles Hall of this city ran a saw mill at Cavour, in Forest county, there were but three families residing there and the entire vote of the town but thirty-four. At their first election Mr. Snyder was made Justice of the peace. It was the fall of Garfield's election to the presidency and thirty-four votes were republican - the four democrats being section hands upon the railroad. Mr. Snyder has a farm of 70 acres, is rugged and happy.
Sam Hunter During the days of bondage among the colored people of the south, slave-owners occasionally granted their "boys" the pleasure of a hunt to bring down the wily 'possum. One day Sam Hunter, accompanied by four companions, strolled into a thicket ostensibly for game, but they did not tarry until they had reached a camp of Union soldiers, then in the neighborhood. When the master came, the next day, in quest of his runaways, he was driven from camp at the point of the bayonet, and the Negroes afterward joined in the struggle for the emancipation of their people. Sam was wounded twice and badly crippled. After his release from the hospital he worked his way north and today is living upon a farm of thirty seven acres, five miles south of the village of Pensaukee, along the bay front. A widow, grateful for his service as a man-of-all-work, gave him her farm and during one of his pilgrimages to Green Bay he met the colored lady who afterward became his wife. Sam is entitled for a pension, but owing to the entanglement of names similar to his own the delay has been prolonged through all these years, but there is a prospect that may yet come.
William Windross William Windross of Pensaukee was born in the state of New York, seventy years ago last month, and eleven days after the arrival of his parents from England. When eighteen years of age he accompanied the family to Oconto County and settled near what is now known as Oak Orchard. Farming and fishing were their avocations, but when the war broke out, William entered the permanent guard, with other strapping six-footer, and for fourteen months served his country in escorting renegade soldiers to points to which they were assigned. There were three sons and one daughter - Charles is 79 years of age, and daughter - now Mrs. Levi Hale of Peshtigo - is 77, and John 75. After their fathers death the farm was divided and in their advanced years the "boys" continue to till the soil, seemingly unmindful that the touch of time had silvered their locks; furrowed their features and robbed their step partially of it's old-time elasticity. William is a walking encyclopedia- thoroughly conversant with both ancient and modern historical events and gifted with a style of expression decidedly entertaining. He resides with his brother Charles and wife, and has never married. "When I was in the mood for marring," he said, " there were no girls, near by, to wed."
Charles McAllister Charles McAllister, sixteen years ago, was a resident of Manitowoc county. Coming to Oconto county he "pitched his tent" at Maple Valley, cut a hole out of the Wilderness and has sixty-five acres of hi 160 clear for farming purposes. He has four children - all boys - and was a solider with Co. K.
J. S. Harvey J. S. Harvey came to Oconto county at the close of the war, and settled in the town of Case, where he assisted in building the Chase & Dickey mill. He has since pursued lumbering and farming. Of his children, one son and a daughter reside at home, and Leslie is present register of deed of this county.
Issac Elliot Issac Elliot has been a resident of Little river twenty-one years, but went out as a soldier with a New York regiment. From a wilderness of 120 acres he has cleared a farm of sixty and became a farmer. Of his children, William married Miss Lillian Babbitt of Marinette; William E. (now janitor at the court house) married Charlie Quirt's daughter; one daughter became Mrs. John Hoyt of Little River; another, Mrs. Charles Yeaton (now dead); and another, Mrs. Alex Sharpley of Oconto, and still another Mrs. Cyruss Sharpley of Little River. Nathaniel, the youngest, resides at home. OCR 8/1895
Eugene Fitzpatrick Eugene Fitzpatrick came to Oconto county from Watertown, N. Y., in the spring of 1858, worked among the pines until '61 and went to the war. Four years later he began to superintended logging camps by F. B. Gardner scaling and sawing. Later he made for himself a farm where he has since resided. He was deputy for R. H. Hall, county surveyor, four years, was himself elected surveyor two terms, and the last election placed him again in that position. His wife was Miss Grace Leadd of Chase and her parents now reside upon the old place.
F. W. John F. W. John has been a sojourner in the town of Gillett thirty-nine years. The first winter he helped build a mill for Morrill & St. Ores, which was afterward sold to George Farnsworth. It burned down and the present mill of the Oconto Company was erected upon the spot. When the carpenters were at work upon the structure his wife kept a boarding house for the men. Mr. John soon afterward purchased an acre of land near where the present State bridge crosses the river and built himself a home.