|
LIND This town, west of Fremont and south of Waupaca, was first settled, in 1849, by J. W. Chandler. The post office was established the next year, with George W. Taggart for Postmaster, the first mail route being carried by John Harris, familiarly known as "Old Zach". The town was organized 1851. The Methodists built the first church, the first sermon being preached in 1850, by Rev. Mr. Baxter. First offivers: Lyman Dayton, Chairman; Charles Beadleston and J. W. Chandler, Supervisors; Chaunvy Doty, J. H. Jones, S. Warren, Justices; J. L. Rice, Town Clerk. The first store was built by Mr. Mitchell in 1859, and the first saw-mill by Mr. Strong in 1853-54. The name originated with George W. Taggart, "Jenny Lind" being the prime originator. Tyler Caldwell, George W. Taggart, the Sextons, Columbus Caldwell and Jarvis J. Rice made the first claims in 1849, on Walla Walla Creek.
From Wisconsin County Histories, Waupaca County Edited by John M. Ware 1917
Transcribed and submitted to the Waupaca County
TOWN OF LIND
The old Town of Lind was one of the six original townships of Waupaca County, created at the meeting of the county board held in the Village of Mukwa, March 5, 1852. It was described as township 21, ranges 11 and 12, and embraced the present towns of Lind and Dayton. Dayton was set off in December, 1852, reducing its territory to the present area.
In the spring of 1849 Simon C. Dow and Col. John W. Chandler located their claims in section 1, northeast corner of the town on the Waupaca River. Mr. Dow built the first log house in that locality. In the fall of the year or the spring of 1850 came Tyler Caldwell and his son, Capt. C. Caldwell, George W. Taggart, Jarvis Rice, James S. Potter, A. Rice, Charles Coffin, Hiram and James Sexton, Alonzo Vaughn, Moses Selleck and John Shaw.
In December, 1850, George W. Taggart, who had settled with his family on Walla Walla Creek, was appointed to take charge of the postoffice which had been established at what is now the center of the Town of Lind.
Other events of 1850 were: The birth of the first native white, a child of Hiram Sexton; preaching of the first sermon by Elder Baxter in the Caldwell shanty; the building of a true-enough frame house by M. A. Stinchfield, on the south bank of Crystal River in section 6, northwest corner of town, and the first Fourth-of-July celebration in the county on Lone Pine Hill. The Declaration was read by Simon C. Dow, after which national songs were sung and patriotic toasts given. Then the thirty-three in the party had something good to eat.
The year 1851 was quite a "boomer" for what was becoming known as the Chandler Settlement in section 1. Mrs. Susan Chandler commenced teaching the first school at that place, on June 5th, in a house erected especially for that purpose. That certainly was a mark of progress.
C. CALDWELL In January, 1852, before the town was organized, Capt. C. Caldwell, as he was afterward known, started overland for California, with his brother-in-law and two sisters. He remained in the gold fields for about seven years and then returned to his home in Lind. In November, 1861, he married Mattie L., daughter of George W. Taggart, and in the following month went to the front as a member of the First Wisconsin Cavalry. He reached the rank of regimental quartermaster and lieutenant; spent eleven months in Confederate prisons and returned to Lind. About two years after the death of his first wife, he married another daughter of Mr. Taggart and resided for years on his farm in section 22, near Lind Center. In 1867 he was elected register of deeds; served two terms in the Legislature, 1872-73; was chairman of the town board for several years and held various other offices.
The Town of Lind was organized at a meeting held April 6, 1852, at the house of Thomas Spencer, at which the following officers were chosen: Chairman, Lyman Dayton; supervisors, J. W. Chandler and Charles Beadleston; justices of the peace, J. H. Jones, and S. Warner; clerk, J. L. Rice. Mr. Taggart named the town in honor of Jenny Lind, the Swedish singer, who was then creating such a furore in both Europe and America.
Aside from the organization of the town, the leading local event of 1852 was the marriage of John M. Dewey and Mary Chandler in November. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Peter Prink, a Baptist minister.
The soil of Lind Township, which is mostly a gravelly or clayey loam, appears to be peculiarly adapted to stock raising and dairying. The country along Walla Walla Creek and Silver Lake seems to be especially favored. The town has nearly 2,500 cattle, valued at over $78,000, and a good creamery at Lind Center operated by the Walla Walla Brook Creamery Company. It is also one of the best horse districts in the county, and has been for many years. The value of that class of live stock has reached more than $75,000; the only townships which are superior to Lind in this regard are Bear Creek and Little Wolf. It also is fourth as to the value of its lands, $1,568,940, and the total value of real estate and personal property $1,772,467.
Return to township map Return to homepage |