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Waushara County Miscellaneous Information

From History of Northern Wisconsin: An account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns, and villages. Published by The Western Historical Company A. T. Andrea, Proprietor 1881

Transcribed & submitted by Paula Vaughan February 2007

EARLY HISTORY

The territory within the present limits of Waushara County was, in 1848, owned by the Indians, but, in September of that year, two brothers, Isaac and William Warwick, veterans of the Mexican War, made a claim to land on Section 2, now in the town of Marion. They built a log shanty 8X10 feet, and covered it with sods; but later, Isaac took tow yokes of oxen and went to Stevens' Point for lumbar, with which they put their house in more substantial shape. The Indian Agent and the Chief of the Menomonees ordered the Warwicks to leave, but the Chief recalled his order in consideration for their breaking up some land for a field of corn for him. In 1849, a new road was opened from Berlin to what is to what is now Wautoma; other lands were purchased, and new settlers on the present site of the village of Wautoma building a shanty; but the following spring he sold to Mr. Atkins, who kept a tavern near Strong's Landings.

Warren was settled in 1849, by John C. Williams, W. F. Chipman, John A. Dedrick, and others, the first shanty being built by __________ Waterman. Lewis H. Bagg and Mr. Shepherd settled Sand Prairie. The first school was a select one, taught by Mrs. Diana Carr, who lived with Mr. Bagg's people at the time. The first district school was opened in 1851.

Warden, a bee-hunter, was the first settler at Leon, though he remained but a short time. This was in 1849,. In the same year, at Mount Morris, in the central part of the county, claims were taken by E. W. Alford and William Tibbett; in the western part, town of Plainfield, bu Thomas Kelly and his son, William N. Kelley, W.W. Beach, Leonard Wilcox and William Lord; the latter kept a tavern in the town of Oasis. Mr. Beach did not settle until some time later. In 1852, E.C. Waterman and Charles Hamilton located in Plainfield.

ORGANIZATION

The county of Waushara comprises eighteen townships. It is in the form of a parallelogram, and is thirty-six miles long and eighteen miles wide. It was organized by an act of the Legislature approved February 15, 1851. It was organized into one tow, bearing the same name as the as the county, and the county seat was temporarily located on Sacramento. It was attached to Marquette for judicial purposes. The first town meting was held at the house of Cyrus Langworthy. The first election occurred in 1851, and Thomas H. Walker was made County Judge; Joseph Garland, Clerk of the Board; Allyn Bourdman, Clerk of the Court; George Babcock. District Attorney; Vernon Evans, Sheriff; James Saunders, Treasurer; J.S. Bugle, Register of Deeds; Charles N. Strumway, Surveyor, and A.B. Foster, Coroner. The vote was canvassed by E.W. Daniels, D.H. Robinson, Justices and I.R. Rogers, Clerk pro tem. The Board of Supervisors-C.N. Shumway, Mathew Devoe, and I. R. Rogers-had their first meeting, at the house of C. Langworthy, on the 11^th of November.

In 1852, the county was organized for judicial purposes, and in September, 1854, the county seat was removed to Wautoma. There were 740 votes cast on the question of removal, 397 of which were in the affirmative. When the county business was moved to Wautoma, the court sessions were held over Marble & Curtis’ store, without cost to the county. The rooms for the Treasurer and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors was furnished by C.M. Shumway; that for the Register and Clerk of the Court, by Alvah Nash’ that for the Sheriff’s office by W.C. Webb, while the schoolhouse was used for the Grand Jury room. Within one month after the election, all the officers were at the new county seat. The first building owned by the county for a courthouse was bought in 1857, of G.W. Smith, for $1,237, the deed being given April 30. There has been but one change in the boundary of the county, and by that two sections-one containing the old county seat, Sacramento-were made a part of Green Lake County.

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From the Oshkosh Democrat - Oshkosh, WI - March 14, 1851