A Glimpse Into the Past

-A Histor~ ot the Town ot Scott-

Illustrations b~: Russell LaFrombois Bernice Kelnhoter

First published b~ John Grall Publishing New Franken) Wl-1976

b~ 5a~ Settlement Historical Societ~ and . Pauline LaFrombois

Cop~right 2007 Nicolet Drive Neighborhood Association Dedication

This book is dedicated by the Bay Settlement Historical Society, in this bicentennial year, to all of our children. That with this small glimpse into their past they will be better able to understand their present and their future.

ME:ME>ER.5, OF T HE: 1976 E>AY SE:TT LE:~E.NT HISTORICAL SOCIE:TY:

Walter and Lucille Vanlieshout Mrs. Mildred Neville Orville and Bernadette Vanlieshout Mrs. Matilda Carsten Joseph and Evelyn Reynen Earl Longteau, Sr. Harold and Bernice Kelnhofer Andrew and Theresa Carsten Russell and Pauline LaFrombois Mrs. Lucille Gibson

This book is an aproved prcject ot the 5rown Count_LJ American Revolution Bicentennial Committee. Contents

Nicolet Drive Association Preface ...... Introduction and Acknowledgements ...... 2

CHAPTER ONE Indian Lite and Legends...... )

CHAPTER Two Under Three Flags...... 7

CHAPTER THREE A wilderness Along the Bay...... 12

CHAPTER FOUR E:arl_y Settlers and Settlements ...... 15

CHAPTER FIVE Beginnings ot Town Government...... 22

1 CHAPTER six The Three R s ...... 2B

CHAPTER SEVEN Pioneer Faith...... 3+

CHAPTER EIGHT Memories otthe Civil War...... 4-2

CHAPTER NINE A Wa_y ot Lite Part 1 - Economic...... +6 Part 2 - Social ...... 56 Honor Roll ot E:arl_y Settlers ...... 60 5ibliograph_y...... 68 Famil_y Scrapbook ...... JO Preface

Beneath Nicolet Drive that skirts the east shore of the only copies available are in libraries or private hands. Green Bay lies the old "lower road" of the Town of Scott The library copies have aged and are in delicate and beneath that, a Winnebago trail. If we peel away condition. Subsequently, the History Committee and each layer of time, most of our houses drop away one by the Board of the Neighborhood Association applied for one; other structures rise in their place--cabins, supper the private funds offered by the Mayor's Neighborhood clubs, and earlier a dock loaded with shingles split by the Leadership Council to scan the book into a printing hard working settlers. Up on the "ridge road" the format and to reprint the book. Pauline LaFrombois has communities of Bay Settlement and Wequiock with generously transferred her copyright to the Association their churches, homes, saloons, blacksmith shops and so we may fund future reprinting and for general stores appear and before those, French fur traders, Indian support of our fledgling Association. clans and villages surrounded by spruce and pine forests. We wish to thank so many for their support Despite all the changes, surviving landmarks remind us including Debra Anderson, Special Collections of what our neighborhood has been: the restored Lime Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay House on Nicolet Drive, Scott's Town Hall, the Holy Cofrin Library for all her support; Mary Jane Herber, Cross Rectory, the Denis Home and the abandoned Historical Collections Librarian at the Brown County cemetery behind Nicolet Memorial Gardens, all on Bay Library for editing the bibliography; members of the Settlement Road. Board of our Association for their continued encourage­ We have the Bay Settlement Historical Society ment; Tom Heyrman and the staff of Heyrman Printing and Pauline LaFrombois tci thank for having the energy for their expert advice; Karen Odegaard and Cheryl and foresight to research and gather together, in 1976, a Renier-Wigg of the City of Green Bay's Community "glimpse into the past" of our neighborhood. This Development and Neighborhoods Department for their informative and charming book reflects a coming guidance. Lastly, special thanks to the members and together of area families in order to understand and families of the 1976 Bay Settlement Historical Society remind us of the struggles and hopes of those who have and, most of all, to Pauline and Russ La Frombois for lived here before us. Whether your family has been here their friendship and support of this reprinting. for generations or you just moved in, this history, which runs from the earliest peoples to the coming of the The Historical Committee of the Nicolet Drive automobile, will make you aware of our debt to history. Neighborhood Association We hope it will also spur you on to investigate more Michael Thran, Chair about the history of our neighborhood and your own Sue Boehm past. Carol Jones To that end, the Nicolet Drive Neighborhood Gary Prefontaine Association reprints ''A Glimpse Into the Past: A History Robert Tripp of the Town of Scott." We began thinking about this reprint during a reception we sponsored jointly with UW-Green Bay's Cofrin Library. At the reception many asked to purchase a copy of the book. Unfortunately, Introduction

Thirty years ago, Mrs. Dorothy Wittig, a member on; and that there was a time in the Town of Scott when of the Brown County Historical Society, presented a there was no guarantee of even one day with shelter and program on the history of Bay Settlement at a Holy food for its settlers. Cross Home School Association meeting. Because some Our town was built by people-pioneers from of those attending that evening had lived in the Town of many countries who left their homelands for various Scott all of their lives and their parents before them and reasons. We discovered that the differences in their their grandparents before that, our social hour turned cultures, customs, and social backgrounds have all into two hours filled with "Do you remember... ?" and "I blended together to make the community what it is heard that story from my grandfather, but. .. !" This was today. the beginning of the Bay Settlement Historical Society. Personal recollections formed the nucleus for the We had had such a good time talking about the past that book; to these we added the facts and statistics gathered we decided to meet once a month. from sources such as the Area Research Center at the However, as the months passed, a sense of urgency University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and the Local began developing. From our reminiscing, we could see a History Department of the Brown County Library. The picture of a way of life very different from the present story covers a period of time beginning with the Indians one evolving. Although most of the people discussed had through the growth and development of the settlements lived a long time ago, they had laid the foundations for up to the arrival of the automobile in the early 1900's . those who are living now. We wanted to tell their We hope that as you read this history you will story - the story of the building of a township. So me allow your imagination to take over, until the picture of decided to write a book with the hope that those who what life was like in the Town of Scott a hundred years read it will gain some insight into why and what the ago becomes, not just statistics and data, but something present day is; that they will realize that we may not take alive and vivid. for granted what we have or ever expect, assume, or insist

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to all Department, for their help. We would also like to who helped in our endeavor by granting interviews thank Father Peter Renard for his help and interest in and loaning us pictures and private papers. Our forming the Bay Settlement Historical Society three thanks to Mrs. Dorothy Heinrich, Area Research years ago and the Holy Cross Parish for the use of Center, and Mrs. Mary Jane Herber, Local History their facilities for our monthly meetings. CHAPTER ONE Indian Life & Legends

The Earthmaker was sitting in space having nothing The beginnings of the Winnebago Indians are to do and he was all by himself. Finally he began to cry; and shrouded in mystery. The name itself is of Algonquian as these tears flowed, they formed seas ofwater. And because origin - attributed to the fact that when they were he knew that what he wished would be, he wished for light discovered on the shores of Green Bay, they were and earth which then came into existence. But his earth was surrounded by Central Algonquian tribes: the restless, so he made trees and grass and rocks and soil His Menominee to the north on the west shore, the Miami next wish was for the four winds blowing from four to the southeast, the Sauk and Fox to the south, and the directions: north, south, east, and west. Then he looked Ojibwa to the west. The Winnebagos called themselves upon it and saw that it was good Next he took a lump of "Hotcangara," a word generally interpreted to mean "big earth and made a being in his own likeness. He created a fish people." One theory is that they migrated from the tongue and a soul and breathed into its mouth to make it east - a theory which could be supported by the origin live. He was so pleased that he made three more to watch legends of some of the clans other than the Thunderbird over his earth and they were called Thunder Spirits. Clan which tell about a journey over the sea (lake). The Earth maker then made four chiefs and he However, whether this is myth or a vague memory is opened the heavens and showed them the earth. He decided almost impossible to determine.2 to send his spirits and the four chiefs to live on his earth. As Let us go back in time 350 years and let our imag­ a gift, he gave the chiefs a tobacco plant to be used as an inations help us picture what the first French explorers offering to the Thunder Spirits. He also gave them fire to saw when they stepped from their boats onto the shores burn in the center of their dwellings and be their of Green Bay. The Indian lodges were constructed of grandfather. poles driven into the ground in a dome shape and The four spirits brought the four chiefs to earth. It thatched with mats woven from the long grasses. These was getting dark as they descended,· and they came to a place lodges had openings in the center of the roof for the called 'Within Lake' on an escarpment known as 'Red smoke from the fires to escape. The doors were covered Banks.' They alighted on an oak branch and stepped onto the with curtains made from animal skins. These were earth while the four spirits hovered above. It was the time of decorated with crude figures or embroidered with the year when the grasses were up to their knees. The first porcupine quills. At Point au Sable and other sites in the thing the four chiefs did then was to light their fire. 1 area, large mounds were discovered which extended far The legend of the beginnings of Indian culture in into the thick forest. At first, these mounds were thought the town of Scott was told by the Indian storytellers to be burial mounds; but in 1911, Mr. John Howe a while sitting around their campfires at night. It is the Winnebago Indian, visited the area and declared that the story of the Winnebago Indians, or more specifically, the mounds were really elevations on which the Indians Thunderbird Clan who believed that they were built their lodges to keep dry. accompanied by rain and drizzle wherever they went. The women of the tribe skinned the animals How far back in history does the Indian culture which the men killed to make clothes for the family. go? No one really knows, but one theory speculates that During the summer the men usually wore a short apron the Woodland Indians were living in the area now made from the skins and the women wore a dress which known as Wisconsin as early as 500 B.C., if not earlier. covered them from their necks to their knees. Their The two tribes commonly associated with the peninsula moccasins and leggings were also made from skins; and bordered by Lake Michigan and Green Bay are the some of the more ambitious women decorated these Winnebago and Pottawatomi tribes. with quills, shells, ornaments, and embroidery. Most of their food was derived from hunting; The Winnebago Indian was, above all, a fierce although they were also fishermen. Nets woven by the warrior. The greatest honor was to be recognized as a women were used to catch fish along with spears brave man and they were always ready for battle. Many fashioned from bone, wood or stone. They did some feasts were held in honor of their gods for victory in war. farming, planting small crops of corn with beans sown in A typical menu for such a feast might have been small the same hills and different varieties of pumpkins, dried corn boiled with bear's rib, jerked meat with bear's melons, and sunflowers. When crops were not plentiful, fat, dried corn boiled with fruit, and deer loin soup. they resorted to collecting the berries, nuts, and edible There would be much dancing and speech making, but roots growing in the forest. In the spring they would tap the most important offering to these spirits was the

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Lodge rmzde ofbark. the many sugar maple trees and enjoy the treat of maple tobacco the braves smoked in various shaped stone sugar after the long winter with only staples to sustain pipes. The Indians firmly believed the story of the them. Earthmaker who gave them tobacco for their greatest Their pottery was made from clay found along the possession. They also believed that when they lit a pipe bay shore. Many years ago, Mr. John P. Schumacher, and asked for help or a special blessing, the Earthmaker discovered a large kettle buried in the ground somewhere could not refuse them. in the northeastern section of the township. It was made The Indians were a superstitious and religious from clay and used long before the early French fur people who worshiped such dieties as the sun, the moon, traders introduced the Indians to pots of metal. Other the morning star, the earth, and the water. However, early settlers found arrowheads made from stone and they interpreted religion in the terms of their own lives even a stone mortar and pestle for grinding grain and not their lives in terms of their religion. This interpreta­ mild rice. 3 tion was connected to the preservation of life and values, The political organization of the tribe was not very such as success, happiness and a long life. From the age strong. Local villages were considered democracies with of five, boys and girls taught their customs in talks which each warrior presumably as good as the next. The chiefs were usually given by the father. This was more or less a and elders who had the reputation of being wise men formal system of instruction on the duties and responsi­ were accorded a greater degree of respect. But even the bilities of life such as: fasting, wifely duties, behavior peace officer, or Sachem, whose office was hereditary towards parents and relatives, the treatment of women in through his mother's family, had but slight authority general and a wife in particular, the raising of children, unless his natural talents demanded it. When fighting and hospitality towards strangers. Their clan names were broke out, the men organized themselves under a given to them at a special feast; a person having no clan popular leader; but it was unusual for different tribes to name was regarded as having a very low social standing. unite except on a rare occasion when they felt One of the taboos of the tribe was that no man could threatened. talk directly at any time to his mother-in-law and no woman could speak to her father-in-law. 4 Red Banks played a prominent part in the legends slipped through the enemy's lines so swift/,y that the supersti­ surrounding the early history of the Winnebago. From tious savages believed they had seen a spirit. She tried to the story of the Earthmaker, we have learned that it was arouse her people but with no success - they felt that they the traditional Garden of Eden for the tribe; and thus were so powerjUl no one could threaten them. When they was regarded as a sacred spot. Red Banks is a sandy bluff awoke, however, they discovered the siege. The Menominees covered with red soil, some twelve miles northeast of below controlled the water supp/,y and they could cut the Green Bay in the Town of Scott. The Indians had built cords of the vessels as they were lowered ftom above. earthworks, seven feet high, as a line of defense running Desperate, some of the Indians tried to escape; but capture parallel with the bluff and at right angles in a easterly and torture was their fate. direction. In the center of this enclosure was a great A young brave, after fasting ten days, saw a vision. lodge and steps were cut into the clay soil to gain access 'Listen, last night there stood by me a young man clothed in to the bay. The inhabitants called this grassy plateau, white clothing who said to me that he had been alone once "Kish Ke Kwan Te No" which translated means "the like us. This young man told me that he had died and now place that slopes to the cedars." lives forever. We are to trust in him and he will deliver us. The legend of Red Banks was told by Margaret 0. At night a deep sleep will fall upon our enemies; and we are Kee Wah a Winnebago Indian who died at Bay to go forth bold/,y and silently. This way we shall escape. 'The Settlement in February, 1868, at the age of 123. other Indians believed this young brave; and while the Margaret had been cared for by Father Daems, the enemy was sleeping, they eluded their tormentors. But never pastor of Holy Cross Church, and had been baptized again was Red Banks inhabited as before. 5 and confirmed a Catholic in 1830. Her name "O Kee Wah" means "the sea." She was buried in the old church A true incident that happened m 1634 also cemetery and her funeral was attended by many of the became a legend among the Indians. The story related early settlers. The story which had been told to her when the coming of the white man - the arrival of Jean she was very young goes as follows: Nicolet at Red Banks. The storytellers told of the day that something appeared in the middle of the lake The Sauks and Outagamies entered into a league to (Green Bay). It was a canoe and from it stepped the first gain control ofthis land and rule the whole country. Woods white men the Indians had ever seen. These strangers foll ofdeer, waters foll offish, and they possessed the whole. fired terrible weapons as a salute. In return the Indians The Menominees or Folle-Avoines across the bay, feared offered them tobacco and deerskins as gifts. From these these powerful Indians; and in the spring ofa year long ago Frenchmen, the Indians learned to use an ax and a sent messengers to their neighbors: Chippewas, knife and even how to shoot a gun. The tale was Pottawatomies, and Ottawas, who were always willing to written down and preserved by a Frenchman named go on the warpath. Painted in black, they came in Decora who had married the daughter of a birchbark canoes; and for two miles along the beach, the Winnebago chief 6 canoes were packed. Then when night fell they set out for the The Porrawatomi Indians followed the wide plateau some eighty-five feet above the water (Red Winnebago tribe into the area and became the dominant Banks). They beached under the shadow of the bluff and tribe on the peninsula, probably around the year 1668. followed the shore to where the land sloped to a valley. They They held control for the next 163 years; when in 1831, then made their way to the wooded heights that surrounded the last of their land was ceded to the United States the Indian fort. government. This was the closing chapter of the history On/,y one saw them, a young girl who had that day of the first inhabitants of the area we now call the Town been given by her father against her will to be the wife ofa of Scott. Sauk brave. She was making her way back home and had CHAPTER ONE FOOTNOTES

' Susan Burdick Davis, Wisconsin Lore for Boys & Girls (Eau Claire, WI.: E. M. Hale, 1931), 29-33. 2 Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Washington, D.C.: 37th Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, 1923; reprint, Lincoln, Neb.: University of Nebraska Press, 1970), 87. 3 Deborah B. Martin, History of Brown County: Past and Present (Chicago, The S. ]. Clarke Publishing Co., 1913), 1: 10-15. 4 Radin, Winnebago Tribe, 1-5. 5 Deborah Beaumont Martin, and Sophie Beaumont, Old Green Bay (New York: Cheltenham Press, 1912), 9. In the story of Red Banks it was mentioned that the information could be found in the Green Bay newspaper, February, 1868. However, I was not able to find any reference to this in any of the February issues at the Brown County Library. 6 Radin, Winnebago Tribe, 17-21 CHAPTER TWO Under Three Flags

To fully understand the story of the had donned a Chinese robe in which to greet the development and growth of the Town of Scott, let us inhabitants of the bay shore. Although disappointed go back to the year 1608 and travel north to Canada. that his search had not ended, he and his men were It was in that year that a Frenchman, Samuel gratified by the warm welcome given to them by the DeChamplain, founded the settlement of Quebec Indians; and they later continued on their long trip of also known as "New France." From its very exploration. 1 beginning, the settlement was under the control of For the next forty years, the only visitors to the powerful merchants; and it was not long before they shores of the Baye des Puans were other French realized that enormous profits could be accumulated explorers and traders. From Mackinac Island, the if a way could be found to expand their fur trade with traders would travel along the bay with boats piled the Indians. high with provisions to entice the Indians into So on their behalf, the King of France sent a parting with their supplies of fur pelts. These boats message to Quebec directing that explorers be sent to were called "batteaus" and were heavy wooden investigate this wilderness and to claim it in the name structures at least thirty feet in length. The crew of France, thus insuring the growth and protection of consisted of anywhere from four to ten Canadian the fur trade. Another task for these early explorers boatmen, who rowed or paddled the batteau to the was to search for a new water route through the rhythm of French songs. The traders and boatmen continent to India and the Far East. Catholic mission­ were employed by fur companies for a term of three aries whose job it was to convert the Indians to to five years for wages ranging from 250 livres to 750 Christianity were to accompany the expeditions. livres a year. To augment this salary, they were given The search began! Leaving Quebec, the an "outfit": a mackinaw blanket; two shirrs; a coat; explorers and priests traveled along the Great Lakes two pair of shoes, heavy socks, and pants; and one bar until they reached Lake Superior and Mackinac of soap. These boatmen were men of unbelievable Island. From there they followed the shore line of endurance - they could row all day and yet, when Lake Michigan until they reached a body of water necessary, walk for miles carrying large packs of which was given the name "Bay des Puans." This was the same name as given to the Indians living near the supplies on their backs. sea; perhaps because the odor of the marshes The missionaries were also active in the area surrounding the bay was similar to that of the salt during this time, especially the members of the Jesuit water marshes. This is the body of water we now call order. In 1669, on the west side of the bay near Green Bay. Oconto, Father Claude Allouez, S.J., founded a On a summer day in the year 1634 an event mission which he named the Mission of St. Francis occurred which was to mark the beginning of a great Xavier. However, the next year he moved the mission change in the lives of the Indians living around this to a new site just south of Red Ranks on the east bay. Two birchbark canoes, paddled by strange shore. Here he worked with the Indians preaching looking men, drew near to their sacred spot at Red and instructing them in the Catholic faith. Then in Banks. The boats were beached below the cliff; and 1671, disturbances between the Indians and the stepping from one of them was a white man dressed French broke out. The Indians felt that they were in an exotic robe covered with bright designs. In his being cheated by the soldiers and fur traders and they hands he held two objects which made a terrifying retaliated by plundering and killing. Wanting to keep sound. Jean Nicolet, a French explorer, who hoping his people safe, Father moved his mission again, this that he had found the elusive passage to the Far East, time to De Pere. 2 "' ·- "'· I I J ~

~ ~ ~ i "''> I, I'"•') i ~ ~ ~ The French maintained control of the territory each other and spinning long tales of their adventures until the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. as voyageurs. They also spent many hours around One incident that took place during this time of their campfires singing the songs they had sung as French rule happened at an Indian camping ground they paddled along the lakes and rivers. So, like the on the bay shore known as Point au Sable, 3 a spit of Indians, their lives too were very simple and uncom­ land extending into Green Bay south of Red Banks. plicated. This also included the marriages they The word "Sable" is French meaning "sand"; and entered into. After choosing a girl from one of the since topographical records refer to this area as a sand­ Indian villages, the retired voyageur would then enter covered point used by the Indians for beaching their into a contract with her parents. The agreement canoes, we can reasonably assume that it was named stated that she was to live with the man for a certain Point au Sable by the very early explorers. period of time for which her parents were to receive The following story was discovered in a letter payment of provisions, clothing, and other gifts. written by the Governor General of Canada, Marquis Some of these contracts were renewed two or three de la Jonquiere, to the French minister in Paris and times and some later even became permanent. 4 dated August 18, 1750. Because religious and civil ceremonies were not The Governor General wrote of assigning a readily available, this arrangement seemed to be the Sieur (Lieutenant) Morin as commander of the answer for those who tired of the !onliness and territory bordering the shore of the Bay des Puans. hardship of a boatman's life. Sieur Morin was to replace Sieur Millon, the area During these years under British control, commander who had died the year before, and to try another incident took place at Point au Sable. This to make peace among the Indian tribes. Sieur Millon, story was discovered in a diary belonging to Colonel as the story went, had been a soldier from a very poor McKay of the British Army and was among the papers but ancient family in France and had been placed in of Judge James Dory of Green Bay. In 1814, Colonel charge of the fort at la Baye in 17 44. McKay was ordered by his superiors to set out on an On a blustery autumn day in October of 17 49, expedition from Mackinac Island to Prairie des he had set out alone in his small canoe to hunt. When Chiens (Prairie du Chien) to capture an American he did not return at the scheduled time, a search parry fort. His small army proceeded along the shore of was sent out. The only trace they could find was his Lake Michigan until it reached the bay. Along the way over-turned canoe at a site called "Les Islets" near the they made frequent stops to enlist the help of the mouth of the river. The canoe had no rudder, ropes, mast, or sail. Four days later Indians living on one of various Indian tribes. On July 4, 1814, the soldiers the larger islands in the lower bay found the missing arrived at Point au Sable where thirteen Indians from sail at la Pointe aux Sables, two leagues from the fort. the Courtes Oreilles or the "Short Ears" tribe joined But it wasn't until May of the next year that his body them. The following day was a beautiful, clear day; was found washed up on the sand at the Point. At first and they began the preparations to continue their the soldiers thought he had been killed by hostile journey. Suddenly the sky became very dark; a strong Indians; but since no wounds other than those wind began to blow; and sheets of rain came over the inflicted by birds were found on the body, the final bay towards the point. Colonel McKay wrote of a verdict was death from drowning in the treacherous phenomenon that had a great effect on the Indians. waters of the bay. "For a little distance all around us, we saw rain falling From 1763 to 1816, the British flag flew over in torrents whilst upon the point (Sable) which we the area. But life along the bay shore did not change occupied, not a single drop fell." In their ignorance with the change in government. Fur trading remained and superstition, the Indians attributed this "miracle" the principal occupation. But by now some of the to the great power of Colonel McKay and quickly French fur traders had retired and settled down in decided to become his allies. From that time until crude shelters near the Indian villages. They cleared they reached the fort at Green Bay, they never stopped small plots of land and planted a few crops such as singing their war songs and praising the "Great Spirit" wheat, barley, and peas. They enjoyed hunting and for giving them such a magnificent war chief with fishing and would spend their leisure time visiting absolute power over heaven and all the elements.5 --·---··'-'··'.:"J..,..,..·----. --··.·-.

MAP Of H1sromc 51rEs oH GREEN TIAY, W1scot1srn

l(;{,9 - 1(.89 VY A'RTllUR C. HtVlllC • 1905

This drawing from the Green Bay Historical Bulletin, (1926, Green Bay Historical Society) May-June, Voll-. #I & 2, Page 3. Then in 1816, after the end of the War of 1812, for themselves. But arriving in even greater numbers the first of the Americans arrived in the area. When were the farmers who had traveled thousands of miles the American flag was raised over la Baye, it became with their families spurred on by dreams of large the last of the three flags to fly over the territory. It farms and earth conducive to growing. also marked a new era in the history of the future All over Europe posters and bulletins were Town of Scott. The complete surrender of all their being distributed advertising the good, cheap land in land by the Indians became a foregone conclusion. the Middle West. The State of Wisconsin employed Although the Indian and white settler were equal in an "Immigration Official" in New York whose job it intelligence, they differed in their viewpoints toward was to advertise extensively in the European press for ownership of land. Their ignorance of the customs of settlers and then to help the new arrivals to reach their the white man kept the Indian unaware of the fact final destinations. One of the posters read: that he was actually signing away his birthright - he Come! In Wisconsin all men are free and equal before thought he was only contracting to share his woods the law. Religion is free and equal between church and state. and streams with his brothers from across the seas. 6 Opportunities are unlimited to those who want to work. It also marked the beginning of an influx of a Good land can be purchased from the generous American new breed of pioneer, especially along the shores of government for $1.25 an acre. The soil is adapted to raising Green Bay. We know that a few retired French corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, and vegetables - all products voyageurs were still living near Bay Settlement with which the Belgian husbandman is fomiliar. 8 because of the official autograph schedule taken in This method of advertising was successful Brown County by Henry S. Baird in 1830. This wherever people saw it: in rural areas where the census reported two retired fur traders and their families living along the bay shore.7 However, only a farmers barely made a living off their small farms; in few years later these voyageurs were joined by families countries where political freedom was limited; in who immigrated from Germany, Belgium, Holland, countries where religious differences were widespread; and the British Isles. Americans, too, from the states and in countries where poverty was prevalent. Good, on the eastern seaboard were soon arriving on the cheap land and religious and political freedom were scene. Among these new settlers were men of the magnets used to draw these immigrants with their education who would become leaders of the dreams of a better life for themselves and their community and the builders of the Town of Scott. families. They came; they settled; and they began to They were knowledgeable in the areas of business and lay the foundations of our town. government and anxious to make new and better lives

CHAPTER 2 FOOTNOTES

' Reuben Gold Thwaites, Wisconsin, the Americanization ofa French Settlement, (Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1908) 28-31 2 Lyman Copeland Draper, ed., Wisconsin Historical Collections, (Madison, Wis: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1902), 6:81. 3 The common spelling is Point au Sable; however, the following spellings are also found: Point aux Sable, la Pointe aux Sables, and Pointe aux Sables. 4 Reuben Gold Thwaites, ed., Wisconsin Historical Collections, (Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin), 18:64-65. 5 Green Bay Historical Bulletin (Green Bay, WI: Green Bay Historical Society, 1925-1934) 9 volumes. 6 Eileen Lockwood, ''Trail of the Wisconsin Indian," Milwaukee Journal, Decmeber 3, 1967, Pictorial magazine. 7 Thwaites, ed., Wisconsin Historical Collections, 13:468-470. 8 Math S. Tlachac, History ofth e Belgian Settlements in Door, Kewaunee, and Brown Counties (Algoma, WI: Belgian­ Arnerican Club, 1974) 6. CHAPTER THREE

A Wilderness Along the 5a~

Trees: red and white oak, cedar, white birch, cove at their lower extremity which affords an excellent beech, white and black ash, soft maple, and pine, harbor. The water is ten feet deep, within fifty yards ofthe stretching from the rocky beaches along the bay to the shore; and the mountain at this point approaches within limestone ridge rising high above; a forest, broken only halfa mile ofthe margin ofthe Bay: leaving a fertile valley by narrow Indian trails; small streams, plentiful with between ofconsiderable length. fish, winding their way down to the bay - this was the About seven miles below the 'Red Banks, ' there is sight that greeted the first settlers as they began their another recess in the land continuing a distance ofprobably search for land along the east shore of Green Bay. three miles, along which is a bold, pebbly shore, the banks The following description of the area was written rising.from three to six feet above the level ofthe Bay. Near in 1831 by Mr. Samuel Stambaugh, the United States the centre of this recess there is a small stream of water Indian Agent at Green Bay. He had been sent by the gushing .from the forest into the Bay, which is called Red Secretary of War to the Wisconsin Territory to assess the River, .from the circumstance, I presume ofthe water having quality and condition of the land ceded to the a remarkably reddish appearance. About seven hundred government by the Indians. Mr. Stambaugh requested yards above the mouth of this stream following its course that his letter be sent to the Senate to aid them in over a bed of rocks, there is a natural cascade, over which determining ratification of the treaty. The report is a this stream falls, perpendicularly, about thirty-five feet. This most beautiful description of the bay shore from Red sheet ofwater is about twenty feet in width and first strikes Banks to the mouth of the Fox River and one that a solid rock, and then bounds over a space offive feet more presents a completely different picture of the countryside into a basin, beautifally formed, about thirty feet in circum­ from what we see now. ference; and in the centre, where the water appears as clear as crystal it is four feet deep. The water is very cold and The distance .from Little Sturgeon Bay to Fort delicious. The space immediately occupied by the cascade is Howard is about thirty-five miles and the country above probably 150 feet in circumference; and may truly be called increases in beauty. About twelve miles below the fort, there a lovely spot. The walls or bastions supporting it are is a very conspicuous promontory, called the 'Red Banks' - composed of rock, arranged in horizontal strata with they are, at the highest point, about a hundred feet above the surprising regularity. On the east side ofthe cascade there are level of the Bay. The ground on these banks represents the appearance ofhaving once been under cultivation, probab/,y natural stairs, leading by a gradual and safe ascent to the the very early French settlers; and one place evidently bears level above; and on every side there are large trees standing vestiges offortifications ofsome kind I have not heard these on the brink of the precipice. On the east and west side of appearances accounted for by the Indians or the present the cascade are several pyramids formed of solid rock, French settlers. The ground from the summit ofthese banks, standing entirely isolated. After the water leaves the basin, a gradually descends in going back .from the bay and at the short distance, it disappears under the rocky bed ofthe creek, foot ofthe mountain about two miles .from the shore, there but rises again about 100 yards below and flows into the is some of the most beautifal and rich bottom land in the Bay, as I have already stated, a rapid and handsome stream country, well watered with numerous never-failing springs, ofwater. There is a beautifal cove below the cascade, about rising in the mountain. The soil generally, at this part ofthe 150 yards, of an oval shape, nearly surrounded by high purchase, has a red loamy appearance, and is deep and very banks, which contains about twenty acres of the richest rich. This appearance and quality extends across the land, and is covered with a grove of oak, maple, and mountain in the direction of Lake Michigan. The high butternut trees, ofa vigorous growth. The ground above the ground at 'Red Banks' breaks offsuddenly after hanging over cascade has a fine elevation, the soil has the appearance of the Bay along a distance ofabout half a mile and forms a great fertility in every direction. In taking a N W course from the cascade to the Bay, The climate of the area was also conducive to the distance in a straight line, is something above 500 yards settlement. The very first recorded weather statistics showed and passes through a dense forest of very large trees, that from 1829 to 1846 the mean temperatures were: consisting chiefly ofoak, maple, beech, and bass wood, until Winter 20.24 degrees Summer 68. 75 degrees within about seventy-five yards ofthe shore ofthe Bay, when Spring 43.42 degrees Fall 45.99 degrees the timber changes into a very The maximum temperature handsome pine grove. There is an recorded during that period was 100 elevation within a few yards of the degrees and the minimum a minus 32 Cascade from which a slight view of degrees; the annual rainfall was 38.83 the Bay can be obtained through a inches. 2 vista in the forest, and by opening an The second issue of the Green Bay avenue from this point to the margin of Intelligencer published on December 23, the water, through the pine grove, a 1833, had the following weather report: splendid prospect would be formed. Up to the 20th {of December), the There is a small settlement of weather was mild and the setting sun would French and half breeds above the Red have beautified a day in Harvest. Early 4th Banks on the Bay, and six miles below October we had a few flakes of snow - the fort, who have cleared and some ice made on the streams, and people cultivated several hundred acres of looked for winter. It proved, however, land; which is the only white premature, and was followed by a fine, long settlement on this peninsula, outside of Indian summer, which has just taken leave the confirmed claims. Between this of us, and flown with its myriads of settlement (Bay Settlement) and the Wequiock Falls or the "Cascades" feathered tribe, to the south. The Fox River 'Green Bay Settlement' there is a very is still open but the ground is covered with extensive prairie, which is very valuable as a meadow, on snow, and the temperature is changing; the locks of St. account of its convenience to these settlements. The Nicholas, in his merry tour this morning, were slightly Mountain or ledge ofrocks, which extends from the east side whitened by a Northwester; and stern, uncompromising, of Winnebago Lake the whole length Peninsula to Green but not unwelcome, WINTER, is slowly and coolly asserting Bay, approaches this settlement at the nearest point, about his rights among us. A Merry Christmas! east, within a distance ofsix miles. The country filling the intermediate space is rather low and level,· but the soil is very The Green Bay Advocate on Thursday, January 13, fertile and productive. In running a course about S.E. from 1859, printed the following report for those settlers who this place to the mouth ofthe Manaywaukee River at Lake used the bay for transportation during the winter Michigan, the country is just sufficiently undulating to months: make it a desirable farming country, and give power to the The ice is now good to all points on the Bay, except numerous streams with which it abounds, for the purposes on the East shore below Bay Settlement. The Bay has been offarming and forming valuable mill seats. The land is open in the vicinity of Whitney's Bluff {six miles north of unquestionably ofthe most fertile quality. 1 Green Bay) until within a few days and although now frozen over is not considered safe for teams. It undoubtedly This land, "of the most fertile quality," had been will be so within the present week so that travel will be under the control of many different territorial uninterrupted on the ice (from Green Bay) to Sturgeon Bay governments: in 1800, the Indiana Territory; in 1818, and other points on the East shore. the Illinois Territory; then the Michigan Territory; and Unknown to the early settlers was the fact that this finally in 1836, the Wisconsin Territory. And from wilderness of forests and Indian trails also covered a 1820, the present Town of Scott has been part of the secret forest which would lie undiscovered for over a county of Brown and later the Township of Green Bay. hundred years. The trees were spruce which had taken The exact geographical location is as follows: root and developed between the third and fourth glaciers "Townships 24 and 25 North, Ranges 21 and 22 East of which covered the Green Bay area some 11,400 years the 4th Principal Meridian, Brown County, Wisconsin." ago. The third glacier, which passed over a gray soil and rock area, brought the soil and dropped it on Wisconsin. were mowed down by the force of the ice. Almost all After this glacier receded, probably several thousand remnants found have been pointing in the direction of years later, life developed again on the new land. First the forward progress of the glacier. This glacier had there were simply plants and spores. Lichens, mosses, picked up red soil and buried the trees in this red clay. and larger plants followed. Evidence of these plants and The till formed an excellent protective covering under also of animal life - mollusks - was well preserved in the which the remains of the forest were almost perfectly ancient forest bed. preserved. This spruce forest was discovered in 1957 Trees followed. Their rings indicate they grew up along Nicolet Road on property belonging to the to 82 years. When the fourth and last glacier came they Norbert Peters family. 3

CHAPTER 3 FOOTNOTES

'Thwaites, ed., Wisconsin Historical Collections 15:425-428. 2 I.A. Lapham, Wisconsin: its geography and topography, history, geology, and mineralogy: together with briefsketches ofits antiquities, natural history, soil productions, population, and government (Milwaukee, I.A. Hopkins; New York, Paine & Burgess, 1846). 3 Green Bay Press-Gazette, September, 1957. From the family papers of Mr. Norbert Peters. Now property of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

:;::==: 14 ~I CHAPTER FOUR

Earl~ Settlers & Settlements

According to the 1830 census, as mentioned in members of the John Campbell family. The first John chapter two, there were eight people living along the bay Campbell had arrived at Mackinac prior to the shore: Isaac Jacques homesteading with two other people Revolutionary War. He settled there and married the and Amable Jerva (Gervais) and his family which daughter of an Indian chief. His son John was born at included one "alien" and a blind person. Amable Mackinac in 178 7 and in 1815 married a Miss Elizabeth Gervais, in 1818, had been listed as an employee of the Davenport. John, Elizabeth, and their family traveled by American Fur Company. He worked out of Mackinac open boat along the shores of Lake Michigan and Green Island as a boatman on the lower waterways for a salary Bay to Fort Howard where he worked as a blacksmith. of $900 a year. Evidently, sometime between 1818 and Later he bought land in the Town of Scott which he 1830, he retired from the fur trade and settled near the farmed until his death in 1864. His son, John, born in Indians he had been trading with. 1 Then on March 5, 1819, owned a farm in the area and was also employed 1834, the Green Bay Intelligencer contained the following at various times as a sailor, trader, and interpreter. article: "Mr. Amable Jervais (Gervais) was married on Another pioneer family was that of Robert the 28th day of]anuary, 1834, by the Reverend Samuel Gibson. The Gibson's were from Berwickshire, Scotland, Mazzuchelli2 to a Miss Louisa Brunette of the town of and had immigrated to the United States in the early Green Bay." The only other information on this early 1800s. New York state was their first destination; but settler was the verification of his death in 1834 when a eventually they made their way to Green Bay - finally notice appeared in the same newspaper on October 9: settling in the Town of Scott in 1837. Robert Gibson, Administrators sale. Notice is hereby given that by the first town chairman, married Miss Ellen Mahone virtue ofan order ofthe Court ofProbate andfor the county from England and they had eleven children. Ellen died of Brown, a sale at public auction ofall personal property in 1884 and Robert in 1910. (household, cattle, oxen, crops, etc.) will take place upon the The last names listed in the census of early premises lately occupied by the said late Amable Jervais American settlers were those ofVanRennssalaer Marshall (Gervais) at the "Bay Settlement" on Saturday, October 11, and William Sylvester. One recorded event offering at 10:00 a. m. Signed: Maxim Gervais, Joint proof that these families did indeed settle in the area was Administrator. a marriage notice published in the Green Bay Advocate on January 27, 1847: "Married, Bay Settlement, Brown Augustin Rousseau was also one of the first settlers County, on Wednesday evening last by Edwin Sylvester, in Bay Settlement. He was born in 1799 in Canada Esp., Captain William Marshall of that place to Miss where he later married Margaret Louise Champagne. Mary Ann Claflin, daughter of Increase Claflin of Like Amable Gervais he was also listed as an employee of Sturgeon Bay." (Mr. Claflin was a trader and the first the American Fur Company in 1818, who worked as a white settler in Door County.) fur trader along the lower Mississippi River at a salary of The next settlers to arrive were a group of $600 a year. Subsequently he and his family moved to immigrants from Bavaria, Germany; and they built the the Town of Scott area where in 1835 he became a village of New Franken in the southeastern corner of the farmer. One of his sons was killed in the Civil War and township. John Peter Schauer, Michael Burkart, Michael a daughter was one of the original members of the Sisters Lang, Valentine Lang, Wendel Sahler, Casper Schoerger, of St. Francis at Bay Settlement. Augustin died in 1857 Andrew Schott, Jacob Schauer and Andrew Schmitt and his wife passed away in 1891. The first American were all farmers who decided to leave their homes in settlers came to Bay Settlement and the Town of Scott Bavaria and travel to the United States. Possessed by around the year 1836. Among these p10neers were their dream of becoming prosperous landowners, they John Campbell Homestead

The John Campbell homestead below the ledge is built on land purchased by John and Elizabeth Campbell on August 6, 1838 for $320.00. The home still stands and is now owned by the Orville Vanlieshout family. The home was featured in the April, 1959 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Family members pictured: (Left to Right) Martha Campbell, Mary Smith Campbell, Elvira Campbell, and Eugene Campbell. One day while John Campbell was building the homestead, over 100 years ago, two of his children, Hannah and Eugene, were told to take him his lunch. Hannah, the oldest, was to drive the horse and buckboard while Eugene was to sit in the back - holding onto the bucket filled with John Campbell's lunch. As they were driving through the dense woods they heard a pig squealing and suddenly came upon a big black bear killing his lunch. Hannah whipped the horse and Eugene was thrown out of the wagon to the ground completely covered with his father's lunch - squirrel stew! (from an interview with Mabel Campbell Gibson) (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. Walter Gibson) began their journey by wagon in May of 1845 to the city by a pioneer wife to her relatives back in Bavaria gave Wertheim, Germany. From there they went by boat to very practical advice on what any future immigrants Rotterdam and then to Havre, France. By ocean should bring with them to their new homes: schooner and lake vessel, these hardy travelers made their A really warm well-stuffed feather bed, packed in a way to Green Bay arriving in June of that year. For three strong /,aced-up bag is a real necessity. Linen things are weeks the men searched for suitable farm land but could scarce, so ifyou have some, you should bring them; yet cotton find nothing that really pleased them. Then, by chance, sheets, shirts, etc. are avai/,able and quite cheap. And as for they made the acquaintance of a Mr. St. Pierre, a boots and shoes, the ones made here are quite well-made and hotelkeeper in Green Bay and the owner of a farm in Bay not too expensive; so it is not too important to bring those. 4 Settlement. He enthusiastically cold them about the very Because of the industrious ways of these early fertile and yet unclaimed land near his farm. And after settlers, New Franken prospered and grew. New homes seeing it for themselves, the farmers from Bavaria replaced the old log cabins; small businesses grew up; decided that they had found what they were looking for. schools were built; and a church erected. But in the fall So on August 2, 1845, John Schauer filed the first claim of 1871, disaster struck. It had been a year of few for 320 acres and realized his dream of becoming a snowfalls and little rain. The land was parched and the landowner. The men and their families left Green Bay forests exceptionally dry. All through the months of and journeyed through the dense forests along the August and September, small fires would break out. But Indian trails. The first homes were crude log cabins from until the 8th of October the settlers had managed to their own trees, although what sawed lumber they did contain them, suffering only the loss of some fencing, a need was bought in Green Bay, shipped to a dock at the few bridges, and a few corduroy roads. During that end of the present Church Road, and brought the rest of night, a tornado wind from the southwest began to the way by wagon and oxen. Their small settlement was spread these isolated fires along a strip of land 60 miles first known as the Bavarian or Deutch Settlement; long and 6 to 17 miles wide. Fire raged in the village of however, around 1850, this was changed to Franconia or New Franken for a week and came very close to New Franken after the state in Germany which was their destroying the church. Father Welbes, the pastor, rang homeland. the church bell; and a large' group of men, women, and After building these shelters for their families, the children responded. They formed bucket brigades and men began to clear the land for cultivation ... not an easy finally managed to save the building. At last, the rain task. Huge trees had to be felled and burned; to aid in came; but in place of green forests and fields, all that was this task John Schauer bought a yoke of oxen from John left was ashes and burned stumps. The total destruction Campbell, an earlier settler. By the following spring, Mr. included a saw-mill, general score, and about thirty Schauer had managed to clear some seven acres. And in homes. 5 At this same time, numerous fires were fall his first harvest produced the following yields: 175 destroying settlements and lives all over northern bushels of corn from 2 acres; 64 bushels of wheat; 98 Wisconsin and Michigan. At Peshtigo, Wisconsin, more bushels of oats; 550 bushels of potatoes; and 38 bushels than 400 men, women, and children were burned to of buckwheat. death. Most of these terrible events went unnoticed With this first harvest the families of the settlers because of the Chicago fire on October 9 which had were provided with their food for the coming winter; received so much publicity. however, they still had to purchase some of their The early 1850's, prosperous years for the German supplies. Since most of their ready cash had been spent settlers in New Franken, were years of difficulty and on sea passage, hotel bills, clothing, land, and necessary hardship for yet another group of pioneers - the cools, another means of earning money had to be Belgians. To trace the immigration of these people to the found- splitting shingles. After long hours of work in Town of Scott area, we have to go back to the early the fields, the families spent their evenings splitting 1840's and to Brabant, Belgium. Three events played a shingles by hand to be sold in Green Bay. The trip with dominant part in the decision to emigrate: first, the a load of five to six thousand shingles cook over eight Belgian Evangelical Society, led by an ex-Catholic priest, hours and netted the small profit of $6.00.3 established a Protestant church. Because Belgium was By 1850, twenty families had settled around the primarily a Catholic country, this fact led to much village of New Franken. An excerpt from a letter written dissension and many families were divided by their

I~ 17 ~I religious differences. At the same time a cns1s was missionary, began to try to persuade them to join him at developing in the textile industry of Belgium. Bay Settlement instead. He argued that the soil was Mechanization was taking place and putting many excellent for farming and that there were many other weavers out of work. And lastly many farmers could not French speaking settlers in the area. However, what earn a decent living for their families because they did apparently convinced the women was that he stressed not own enough land or had to work for someone else. the religious and spiritual benefits he could provide for This was the situation then in Brabant when Mr. them. Their husbands were persuaded to relinquish their Adolphe Strauss, who had seen the American advertising previous claims and the families set out on foot posters, decided to take action. Adolphe Strauss was a following the winding Indian trail along the bay shore to ship owner who began to see the emigration of Bay Settlement. There the women and children rested thousands of Belgians, not in terms of people leaving while the men went to stake their new claims. They their homeland, but in terms of enormous profits for his found suitable land in the Town of Green Bay at a site shipping company. He and his agents began to now known as Robinsonville. 7 encourage those who were dissatisfied with their present Their first nights were spent sleeping out under lives to sell their homes and farms and depart for the the stars since they had no shelter. And on the second United States - of course, on one of his ships! 6 night, with only an umbrella to protect them, they were The first settlers of Belgian descent in the Town of soaked by a tremendous downpour. So as soon as Green Bay were led by a young farmer, Francois Petiniot. possible, the men felled trees to build crude log cabins This adventurous young man was joined by Jean and furniture. They slowly pushed the forest back and Martin, Phillip Hannon, Joseph Morreau, Etienne after hours and days of back-breaking toil managed to Detienne, Adrian Masy Lambert Bodart, Joseph Jossert, clear small plots of land for crops. The Indians taught Martin Paque, and Jean Baptiste Detienne. They and them to tap the maple sugar trees and how to make their families sailed from Antwerp on May 18, 1853, on maple syrup. The settlers also learned the art of animal the ship "Quinnebaug." The voyage lasted almost fifty trapping; and eventually they overcame the many days and was delayed by many storms. It was also beset hardships and learned how to survive in the wilderness. by illness, lack of food and drink, overcrowding, and On Sundays they would dress in their best clothes and other hardships. While aboard the ocean schooner, they with wooden shoes on their feet walk the many miles to met a group of pioneers from Holland who were bound Holy Cross Church to hear Mass and listen to Father for Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Since Mr. Petiniot's group Daems preach in their native language. had no particular destination in mind, they decided to By 1854 every little house was crowded with new join the Hollanders. After arriving in New York, they arrivals from Belgium; but along with these settlers came continued the journey by canal boat and lake steamer to the deadly germs of the Asiatic cholera. Many of the new Milwaukee. Here they discovered that most of the prime immigrants died from this illness, along with their hosts. farm land in the Sheboygan area had already been It was a sudden disease for which they had no cure and claimed. This along with the fact that they could not no doctor they could call. Strong men, well one day, converse with the Hollanders, quicldy changed their were found dead the next morning. Father Daems, who minds. Now what to do? While in this dilemma, they had some knowledge of medicine, came as often as met a French-Canadian who told them about Green Bay possible to offer whatever practical help he could. But and its French speaking settlers. Following his advice, many of the homes were not yet accessible to his horse they left for Green Bay; and after weeks of exploration, and buckboard. If he was too late to offer medical help, they decided to stake their claims some twenty miles he tended to their spiritual needs by comforting the south of Green Bay in the Kaukauna area. mourning families and conducting funerals. Even so, he When the men finally returned to their waiting could attend only a few of these burials; and, conse­ families, they learned that the five year old son of Phillip quently, many of the victims were attended only by their Hannon had died during their absence. On the day of close relatives and buried in the woods without the rites the boy's funeral, the local officiating priest was visited of the church. This was, indeed, a sad and anxious time by a friend, Father Daems, Pastor at Holy Cross Church for these Belgian pioneers. at Bay Settlement. On hearing their decision to During the next two years, a large stream of homestead near Kaukauna, this spellbinding and fervent Belgian immigrants, estimated at 15,000, followed on the heels of Francois Petiniot and the others and left special recipe). They smoked tobacco which they grew in Belgium to settle in the United States. 8 Many of them their own fields. were farmers who were used to the small, already In spite of all the hardships and difficulties, the cultivated fields back home; a few were mechanics, Belgian people never lost their love of music. Each carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, machinists, settlement had a local music society which was shoemakers, etc.; and some had been weavers in the responsible, along with the music master, for much of clothing industry. However, in order to feed their their entertainment during the long winter evenings. families, they all had to do some farming. The first years What had impressed Xavier Martin most was the were tremendously difficult - just clearing enough land fact that after four years of troubles, illness, and hard for their small crops was an overwhelming task since work, the settlers still clung to their dreams of a better most of them did not own oxen or other livestock. Then life. What they needed now, however, were schools, there was the difficulty of cutting through the dense churches, and the knowledge of how to exercise their forests to open paths wide enough for a horse and rights as American citizens. The time had come for the wagon. Even if they accomplished this task, these early Belgians to take action and become an integral part of roads were hemmed in by enormous trees which the community. prevented much sunshine and resulted in muddy and The first election attended by the settlers from generally wretched conditions. Aux premier Beiges was for the officers of the Town of Because they had settled deep in the forest, did not Green Bay held in April, 1858. The nearest polling place always speak the same language as their neighbors, and was near the windmill at Bay Settlement some ten miles were beset by all the above problems, the Belgian away. They drew up a slate of candidates; and on the pioneers knew little about their new land or the appointed day, an army of 230 Belgian voters marched freedoms it guaranteed them. Their plight was ignored double file to the poll to exercise, for the first time, their by those around them until the arrival of a young, voting rights. Every candidate on the Belgian ticket was intelligent, and energetic visitor, Xavier Martin. Xavier elected; Xavier Martin was elected to the offices of clerk, Martin had been one of the first members of the Belgian superintendent of schools, and justice of the peace. And Evangelical Society and one of its most fervent mission­ from then on, the Belgian element was recognized as an aries. He had worked as a tailor in Belgium and was important factor in the town, county, and later state fairly educated. He had arrived in America in 1853, at politics. which time he learned to speak English. Four years later Along with his work in the fields of education and he came to the Belgian Settlement, Aux premiers Belges9 politics, Xavier Martin also organized the French­ and wrote of what he saw happening among his people. Presbyterian Church (Robinsonville Presbyterian He noted that the settlers were very poor and that all Church). In 1861, it was established with the Reverend members of the family had to help with the daily work. Henry Morell the first pastor. Eighteen settlers were Some cut down trees and cleared the land while others received into the church. All but one were from the planed shingles by hand to sell in Green Bay. The original group first started by the Belgian Evangelical women were busy splitting blocks of wood for the Society in Brabant. French was the official language used fireplaces or burning branches and tree trunks. Others for the next 52 years. The Belgian pioneers in our area were helping with the harvest - beating the grain with owed much of their growth and progress to Xavier flails. The children worked hard, too, bundling the Martin; for he provided the impetus they needed to finished shingles and helping with the chores. The become an active force in the community. elderly who could not work in the fields did the Across the ocean, in Belgium, a partial depopula­ housework and cooking. tion in the region of Nivelles and other provinces was Mr. Martin also wrote that each family had at least taking place. The Commissioner ofNivelles claimed that five to twenty acres under cultivation and that most of this was the fault of the powerful ship owners and their them raised pigs (fed on acorns in the woods) for their agents who were still reaping enormous profits from the winter supply of meat. recruitment of the dissatisfied, thus causing a wave of After a long, hard day working their land, the men emigration. An example of how the recruitment process enjoyed refreshments, usually their home-brewed beer worked was that of a Belgian emigrant from Antwerp (Phillip Hannon owned a tavern and made his own who had settled in Green Bay but later decided to return home. A Green Bay land company hired him to recruit were leaving church, they were met by the local band new settlers. They paid his passage back to Antwerp and consisting of a coronet, slide trombone, violin, clarinet, the sum of five francs for each one of the 250 and bass drum. The band members wore colorful native immigrants he persuaded to leave their homes and settle costumes as they led the procession to the dance hall. All in the Green Bay area. 10 day and into the early hours of the morning, there was Then in 1857 the number of emigrants leaving much dancing and merrymaking. During intermissions, Belgium began to decline. One reason for this was the the dance caller would shout, "All promenade to the publication of a letter written by an immigrant, a Mr. bar. " However, since it was unheard of that a woman Poncelet, who wrote his relatives in Belgium and told of enter a saloon, her partner would have to bring her drink the many difficulties and hardships he had encountered to her outside. Food booths were erected where the in the new land. At the same time the news of the hungry could feast on a piece of sausage between cholera epidemic of 1854 was made public. It had been crackers or bread (at a nickel a sandwich) or homemade kept secret through the efforts of the ship owners and belgian pie, trippe, or chicken booyah. Another land companies who had realized that their source of important celebration took place in May to honor the income would be greatly diminished if such news spread new town officials elected in April. A maypole was through the provinces. erected and brightly decorated with ribbons and flags, Back in the Town of Green Bay; the Belgian around which.dancers paraded entwined in the colorful settlers, with the patient industrious characteristics of ribbons. The observance of these festivities not only their people, had overcome many of the hardships that brought joy into a life that had more than its share of had faced them. By 1860 nearly all their villages had hardships and hard work bur also provided a link with schools; churches were being built; and country stores the homeland these Belgians had left. complete with tavern and dance hall were springing up. Immigrants from Holland also added their heroic Now there was time to enjoy life so they turned to stories and endeavors to those of the settlers from celebrating those holidays which had been an important England, Belgium, and Germany. One such story is that part of the culture they had left. One such holiday was of the Reynen family. Theodore Reynen was born in the Kermiss, marking the end of the harvest and a time Holland in 1838 and arrived in the United States during of thanksgiving. The first Kermiss was held in the middle 1850's. He and his family spent 33 days on September, 1858, at a small inn owned by Jean Maccoux the ocean; and after landing in New York, they made near Rosiere. Father Daems said Mass; and as the people their way to Rochester. Here they ran out of money, but

Theodore Reynen family on the porch of the Reynen homestead on Bay Settlement Road. The home was built oflumber from his own land at a total cost of$100.00. (Photograph courtesy ofMr. Joseph Reynen.) finally with the help of friends they managed to book acres. The first thing the family did was to build a small passage on a lake steamer to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. frame house and barn. Then they began to clear their From there Mr. Reynen walked through the wilderness land which took over three years to accomplish. While to Bay Settlement, a distance of over 100 miles. He the family always seemed to have enough to eat and to worked as a carpenter until 1864 to earn enough money wear, they had little available cash. If they did have to to buy a farm. At one time the Reynen family owned the purchase supplies, they paid eight cents for a dozen eggs, property which included Wequiock Falls. three cents for a pound of pork, eight cents for butter The recollections of another Dutch family show and cheese, and $1.00 for a bushel of wheat. Peter the strength and perseverance of these early pioneers. VanEgeren and his family worked hard and accom­ Mr. Peter VanEgeren had been the manager of a steam plished what they had dreamed of One reason for Peter's mill in Holland when he decided to uproot his family success in this new country was the fact that, as he said and travel to America. His family, including an eight on the occasion of his 55th wedding anniversary, he had month old baby, slept on a hard bench aboard ship for a good wife. 11 the 22 days it took to make the ocean crossing. After arriving in Green Bay, they walked to Bay Settlement where Mr. VanEgeren purchased a homestead of 7 4

CHAPTER 4 FOOTNOTES

'Thwaites, ed., Wisconsin Historical Collections, 12:160. 2 Father Samuel Mazzuchelli was a famous Dominican priest, founder of the Dominican Convent at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. He erected more that 25 churches in the Wisconsin Territory and always tried to build a school with the church, since Catholic education of children was a priority with him. He also worked with the Winnebago Indians. For further information, please refer to James Butler, Father Samuel Mazzuchelli (Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1898) at the Brown County Library. 3 N. D. Diedrich and J. B. Gehl, History ofNew Franken, Wisconsin, from pioneer days to the present time, written for the occasion ofthe diamond jubilee ofSt. Kilian Parish, 1851-1926 (New Franken, WI:, 1926), 12-17. 4 Davis, Wisconsin Lore for Boys and Girls, 171. ; Diedrich & Gehl, History ofNew Franken, Wisconsin, 2 l. 6 Antoine DeSmet, Belgian Community in Northeastern Wisconsin, Its Origin and Development (1957). Research paper written by Antoine DeSmet, Assistant Custodian of the Royal Library of Belgium. The translation from the French is in the Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. 7 Tlachac, History ofthe Belgian Settlement in Door, Kewaunee, and Brown Counties, 5-13.

8 Thwaites, ed., Wisconsin Historical Collections, 13:379. (However, according to DeSmet's research paper mentioned in footnote six, the figure was 7,500 immigrants, not 15,000.) 9 The first name of the Belgian settlement located northeast of Green Bay was Grez-Daems, Grez after their home province in Belgium and Daems in honor of Father Edward Daems, the pastor of Holy Cross Church at Bay Settlement. 10 DeSmet, ''Belgian Community in Northeastern Wisconsin", University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. 11 Green Bay Press-Gazette article on the occation of the 55th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Van Egeren. From a scrapbook owned by Mrs. Evelyn Reynen. CHAPTER FIVE

Beginnings of Town Government

In November, 1859, the Brown County Board of ofsection #21 in Town #24 North ofrange #22 East thence Supervisors voted to divide the Town of Green Bay into north on section lines to the bayshore thence up and along smaller townships, one of which was to become the the bay shore to the p/,ace of beginning. After April 1860, present Town of Scott. Mr. John P. Arndt, the chairman all "connexion" of the said Town of Scott to the Town of of the board, organized a meeting at the schoolhouse Green Bay would cease; and at this time, the debts due and near the Cascades (Wequiock Falls). The citizens owing by the present Town of Green Bay shall be divided attending this meeting were to select a name for the new according to the tax assessment role of the new township. township. Three names were proposed: Liberty, Adopted November 17, 1859, and signed by Oscar Gray, Pochequette, and Scott. This last name was a favorite of clerk ofthe Brown County board. 3 Robert Gibson, probably because it evoked memories of On April l, 1860, the following members were his homeland. Presumably it was in honor of Sir Walter elected to the town board: Robert Gibson, chairman; F. Scott. 1 And after much discussion, Scott was the name Morrison, town clerk; Henry VanLaanen, treasurer; chosen. They also decided to hold the first election of town officials on the first day of April, 1860, at the John Gibson, superintendent of schools; Patrick schoolhouse of Joseph Allard near the falls. 2 Jennings and Charles Bison, assessors; John May, The boundaries of the new town were outlined as Leonard LaPlante, and Nelson Hazen constables; John follows: Lafond, poundmaster; Peter Morrison, sealer of weights Commencing at the bayshore at the southwest corner and measures; John B. Burger, justice of the peace; B. A. ofsection #22 in the town 24 North ofrange #21 East and Sawyer and George Schauer first supervisors with 89 and then running east on the section line to the southeast corner 88 votes.

Robert Gibson, the first town chairman. (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. W'alter Campbell Gibson The first supervisors' meeting was held on April 3, Another duty of the town board was to issue 1860, at the schoolhouse in District #4, New Franken. grocery and tavern licenses. This money went into the It was chaired by Robert Gibson, along with Hosmer contingency fund for various expenses. The list of Cowles and John Campbell, clerks and P.]. Jennings and licenses issued by the supervisors is also a list of some of Anton Leigannis, inspectors. The new town treasury had the very first businesses in the Town of Scott. In 1860 a balance of funds in the amount of $213.96. However, John Corsten received the first tavern license and two since the supervisors felt that they would need at least years later also opened a grocery store. That same year $500.00 to run the town for the coming year, $286.04 three other establishments for the serving of intoxicating would have to be raised by taxes. The budget was broken beverages opened owned by Christian Craanen, Joseph down as follows: $200.00 for town expenses, $150.00 for common schools, and $150.00 for incidental expenses. The hiring of three interpreters was the first matter of business voted on: Mr. Denis Parent, French; Mr. Fred Daul, Dutch (the town records show the spelling "Dutch," however, this could have been a spelling error meaning instead Deutch or German); and Mr. Henry VanLaanen, Holland. Salaries were also set up at this time and it was decided that the clerk and assessor would receive payment not to exceed $25.00 per annum. Supervisors and the school superintendent would receive $1.00 for each day of the year actually spent in service to the town. One of the first ordinances passed was that no stallion over one year and six months shall be allowed to run at large, although a similar law that no bull over one year be allowed to run at large was not carried by the The Corsten home on Bay Settlement Road, now owned by the board. The town clerk was ordered to purchase a stamp Albert Ullmer family. Built by John Corsten, who bought the and book to register and license dogs in accordance with property around 1850. The small building on the south was a law passed by the Wisconsin state legislature. used as a grocery store and shoemaker's shop. Declared a The annual meetings were held at the schoolhouse Century Farm in the 1850's. Mrs. Ullmer was a Corsten. in District #4; and in 1861, the supervisors voted to pay the sum of $6.00 annually to the treasurer of that school Pillegrin, and Joseph Depeyrot. Gregorie Denis took out district for the use of the building. his first license in 1863. Seventeen years later the list of The town budget remained approximately the tavern licenses had tripled: Mr. Langlois, Frank same for the next few years - the only difference being Greenwood, Julian Neville, Albert Gagnio, Abe Ropson, the addition of small sums of money for the building Melchior Schauer, M. Long, John May, Paul Lescoque, and upkeep of the roads and bridges. and Gregorie Denis. Before 1900 the tavern bonds were Then in 1869, the supervisors voted to hire Mr. issued only in the name of the owner; however, that year John B. Heyrman to take the first assessment of taxable the treasurer began to write a description of the location. property in the town - this was to be a complete Now we find Louis Bender was given his license to do evaluation of all real and personal property. The tax roll business at Red Banks only for the months of summer when completed showed 136 families with personal travel; Alex Cons at his old stand on the Ridge Road; property such as horses, cattle, mules, asses, sheep and Anton VanEss, the Bay Settlement Saloon near the lambs, swine, riding carriages and sleighs, watches, church; Julian Neville at his old stand on Ridge Road; pianos, melodeons, and shares of bank stock. Listed also and Wendell Long and Peter Schauer in New Franken. were five merchants: Christian Craanen, Cowles Bros., Three years later the following were added; Louis VanEss Gregorie Denis, Smith and Ebealing, and Van Straten & for the Wequiock House near the waterfalls on three Company. Neville (Neuville) the owner of Hotel and Saloon (now the Country Inn), presented a bill in the amount of $45.00 for boarding a "poor person" at his hotel for six months. The bill was allowed and paid by the town treasurer. Then in 1891 a further solution to the problem was made in a proposition passed by the supervisors that anyone taking care of the needy in his own home be paid by the town the sum of $1.50 a week. Yet there were some discrepancies in the payment of medical bills for the poor. For two years, 1901 and 1902, Frank Cleeremans of the Town Board of Health, presented bills and accounts for the treatment of small pox victims. Two of the patients had been sent to a pest house in Marinette County; their account of $173.42 for treatment and all of the bills for the patients treated at home were disallowed by the town board with no Wequiock House. Run by Mr. Louis Mm Ess. Owned by the Earl explanation given. Longteau family. (Photograph by Andrew LaFrombois) Payments of town money outright to private families caring for the poor ended in 1907. At this time corner road; Paul Harvey for Harvey's Hotel and later the first transfer of town funds into a county aid fund for the Bay View Hall; Peter Basten for Basten's Saloon; and welfare was made in accordance with Chapter 312 of the Joseph Schneider for the New Franken Hotel. laws of the state of Wisconsin. The license fee in 1860 was set at $10.00 for a The Scott Board of Health was formed in 1883. tavern or grocery store. Seven years later the tavern fee Frank Greenwood was elected chairman; Peter Zeutzius was raised to $20.00 and the grocery store to $25.00. In and Jacob Jacobs, board members; Peter Morrison, clerk; 1882 tavern licenses went to $75.00 for the full year; and and Leonard LaPlant, the first health officer. During the four years later, they were raised to $100. 00. per annum. next twenty years only two physicians held the job of By 1880 the budget of the Town of Scott had Health Officer. The first one was Dr. William Fairfield, grown to $650.00 and now included such disburse­ a stepson of John Langlois, one of the early settlers. 5 Dr. ments as roads and bridges, $50.00; schools, $300.00; Fairfield was given the position in 1888 with the strict current expenses, $100.00; and the poor, $200.00. The admonition that his salary was not to exceed $10.00 per last item was added to the town expenses because at that annum. Then in 1902 another member of a pioneer time indigent citizens and their families received welfare family, Dr. James H. Gibson, was selected for the funds from the individual townships, not from the position. county or state. The people receiving such help were designated simply as "poor persons." Some of the different expenses paid for by the town were burial fees (coffins, grave-diggers, etc.), wood for heating, payment of some medical bills, and the sums of $3.00 to $5.00 per month for support. The only other alternative for those who could or would not support themselves was the county poor farm which had been in existence for over twenty years. 4 The situation remained the same for the next eight years when the board voted not only expense money for the "poor persons" but that they were to be given temporary help in their own homes. Additional proof that the community felt the poor were a problem to be handled by local government is in the Julian Neville's Country Inn. Gas pumps added after the auto Town Record Book for 1888 which showed that Julian came onto the scene. (Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Louis Gibson.) During this time state funds had become available a load of wood delivered to a poor person; $1. 00 to fix a through a state law to enable each town to build a road built on a hill· $1.50 for wood to heat the town hall library. This matter was first discussed in 1887 but the for one year; $5. 00 to paint the hall· $2. 00 for a day's work town officials agreed to put off any action for one year with a team of horses; $4.00 for 19 loads of gravel and until they had time to discuss this with other townships repairing ofa culvert; $1. 64 for 100 feet oflumber; $2. 00 to see how successful the program was. However, there is to dig a grave; $5. 00 for a coffin; $9. 01for wire for fences; no further mention of establishing a town library in any and $3.20 to Anton DePas, a blacksmith near Bay of the subsequent minutes. Settlement Church for repairing road machines. Tired of having to meet in a schoolhouse, a group of freeholders of the town requested that a vote be taken Probably the most important duty of the town in April of 1882 on the proposition that a Town Hall be board was to supervise the building and repair of the built and how the necessary sum of $400.00 should be highway system within its boundaries. The very first raised. The said hall was to be located on the road then roads were the Indian trails which followed the known as Ridge Road (Bay Settlement Road) south of highlands and thus were passable at all times of the year. the Cowles Brothers sawmill. Two months later the However, the early settlers soon found out that these board found a piece of property that fit all the require­ trails were much too narrow for their needs so new roads ments and purchased it from Edmond and Martha had to be built. To build a good road bed, logs were laid Schilling for the sum of $30.00. Peter Morrison bid side by side to form what was then called "corduroy $600.00 to build the hall, the contract, was signed in roads." Although fairly solid, these first roadbeds were 1883, and work was begun. The building was completed very rough so the traveler was bounced and jolted for the by March, 1884. It is still used by the Town of Scott as duration of his trip. An old saying, "Life is like a a town hall and remains virtually unchanged except for corduroy road, the faster you go, the more you get the removal of a fence that had been originally put up bounced." was a good description not only of the early around the building. roads but of the everyday life of the early settlers. How were the funds raised by taxes used? A list of The highway system was actually begun in 1844 disbursements from the treasurers' records through the while the area was still part of the Town of Green Bay. years showed that the money was spent in many On August 13 of that year the commissioners voted to different ways: establish a road which was to begin at the Windmill (on $2. 00 for road work and bridge repair; $5. 00 for a Bay Settlement Road) and run west to a south line on poor person; $12.00 to haul a load of road planks from the Charbonneau property and then west on said line to Green Bay; $6.25 for two cords ofstone to cover two bridges; the old road. Four years later the present Church Road $11.50 for pulling 46 stumps out ofa highway; $1.00 for was laid out. It started at the Ridge Road from the Bay Settlement Church and also ran west through property belonging to J. LaPlante, Father Bonduel, Francis Bibo, and Bat. Gaspard. The Green Bay-New Franken highway (Hwy. #54) was surveyed and declared a public highway in 1851. It began at Cedar Creek Mill6 and followed an east and north turning course until it stopped dead two and one-half miles east of New Franken. The trip from Green Bay to New Franken on this primitive highway took eight hours. The road leading from Highway #54 south to the lower village of New Franken was just a narrow lane for many years until the construction of the Green Bay and Western Railroad in 1892. Mr. A. L. Greiling, a school teacher, recognized the many business possibilities and bought five acres of land near the new Town of Scott Town Hall. Built in 1884. (Photograph by depot. He then began a spirited fight for a road to this Andrew LaFrombois) depot and eight years later one was constructed which connected New Franken with the Town of Humboldt labor instead of money and they continued to do so for and the adjacent farming community.7 the next few years. During the years between 1850 and 1860, many Two incidents mentioned in the minutes of the roadways were built in the area. The lower road running annual meetings point out the fact that these early roads parallel to the bay shore was completed; a road near the were not the wide, smooth, concrete highways we take present County Trunk K was surveyed in 1857: for granted. In May of 1894 a summons was served on commencing at a stake at the Ridge Road close to the the board by the Sheriff of Brown County in the case of schoolhouse and running west through property owned Frank DeNys, plaintiff, versus the Town of Scott and on the south by Augustus Rousseau, Charles Unsin, John Heyrman, defendants. Mr. DeNys claimed that his Antoinne Lyonnaise, and Feby Marshall and on the wagon tipped over with a load of hay while he was north by John Gibson, John Campbell, Christian driving along the highway known as the lakeshore road Schilling, and Rennslaar Marshall, Sr. (this road is no (Nicolet Drive); and he was suing the Town for damages. longer there); the present Church Road running east was The case was tried twice because the jury could not reach ordered established as a public road in 1854; and the a verdict the first time. At the second trial the jury road to Red Banks from the District #3 schoolhouse was decided that Mr. DeNys had not sufficiently proved that straightened by moving a fence bordering the properties the upkeep of the road was inadequate and the case was of Mr. Marshall and Mr. Unsin. Later many smaller thrown out. roads were petitioned for by various farm owners to The second incident took place twenty years later provide access to the public highways. Some of the first and the letter that follows explains in great detail exactly highways were originally constructed less than the legal what happened: width of four rods and the town records show that many To the Town ofScott, Brown County, Wisconsin, its petitions were presented to the board to widen them as supervisors and the town board ofaudit: I, the undersigned traffic increased. One such petition by Abraham Parent of Green Bay, Wisconsin, have and hereby present a claim mentioned that "the present Church Road which ran against the said town for the sum of$12 7. 95 which claim from the church to the dock of Anton Burkart should be accrued to me by force of the Statute, upon the folwwing widened since it was only 24 feet wide and insufficient facts and circumstances: On the 7th Day of October A.D., for the convenience of persons who have to pass along it 1914, I was driving and riding in my carriage, which is an with wagons duly bound for Green Bay or taking automobile, and is my own property, on the public highway supplies to the dock to be shipped." in said town, which runs north and south along the After the establishment of the Town of Scott, the boundary line between section 19 and 20 in said town, and problem of highway construction and maintenance was whi/,e passing that part of said highway being about four handed over to the new town board. The supervisors hundred feet north ftom the point where said highway decided to divide the township into fifteen separate road intersects the highway known as New Franken Road, and districts - each one to be under the supervision of a whi/,e in the exercise ofdue care, in the trave/,ed path ofsaid roadmaster. All of the inhabitants of the town were able highway, the engine case and engine ofmy said automobile to work on the roads near their property. The struck upon a large stone or boulder which was about two roadmasters or overseers were to supervise the feet square and p rojected upward ftom the bottom of the maintenance and construction of all highways and were tracks about one foot, which boulder was between the wheel to give an account to the board each year of the number tracks and nearly in the center of the traveled part of said of days spent on shoveling snow, repair work, pulling highway and which said town and its officers had stumps etc. The first highway tax was set in 1867 and negligently suffered for a long time to remain in the center was seven mills on the dollar. Other jobs included ofthe traveled path, and was an insufficiency and want of graveling and grading new or existing roadways and repair, greatly endangering the safety of travelers, and by erecting guide boards on the curves of the main traveled reason ofsuch insufficiency and want ofrepai1; and without roads and at their intersections. Mr. Anton DePas did negligence on my part, and by reason of striking my said this work and was paid a total of $18.00 with the automobile upon said stone or boulder the engine case ofmy provision that all the signs must be completed in a "good said automobi/,e was torn open and the engine case and and workmanlike manner." Then in 1894 the voters engine greatly injured causing the discharge slowly of all decided to pay all their highway taxes in the form of lubricating oil and the burning out of the engine and causing said automobile to stop running and it making This claim was served on Mr. Edward necessary to have the same hauled into the city of Green Bay LaFrombois, a town supervisor, and was itemized as and extensive repairs to be made to the said engine base and follows: $7.20 for towing, $104.25 for repairs and said engine to the amount aforesaid That at the time ofsaid $16.50 for the rental of another car. The letter was injuries aforesaid, I was traveling .from Green Bay to New written in November, 1914; it was submitted to the Franken by the direct road, that at a point where said New board in April, 1915, and they moved that it be given Franken Road passes East and West through the center of their consideration as to pay the claim as read or to fight said section 20, the said highway was undergoing repairs against such payment. No further mention was made and was impassable, and there was a printed notice posted until a check was drawn by the town treasurer in up at the junction ofsaid New Franken highway with the December of that same year for $75.00.8 aforesaid highway running north, directing travelers to take the highway and I followed the said directions and was traveling north when said injuries were received as aforesaid Signed· Mr. J H Taylor

CHAPTER 5 FOOTNOTES

'Another version of how the Town of Scott received its name was that the settlers named it after a well known army general at the time, General Winfield Scott. 2 Martin, History ofBrown County: Past and Present, 163-166. 3 Town Record Book, Volume I, page 1. These records are not cataloged and are presently kept at the Town of Scott Town Hall on Bay Settlement Road. 4 During the late l 850's the state legislature was enacting new laws to remove the burden of supporting the poor from the individual townships. One result of this was the county poor farm. In 1857 the county board bought 112 acres from David Saunders, for $1,600.00, on the road from Green Bay to Bay Settlement in the Town of Scott. A further note on the progress of this farm was in a report made in 1860 by Miss Dorothea Dix of the state of New York. She was a famous pilanthropist who had done much hard work to improve the condition of prisons, poor houses, and asylums. The article she wrote mentioned that the county farm was neatly kept, although small, and the buildings impressed her very favorably. She thought that the site was especially beautiful with acres of untouched forest and the view of the bay. And she found no fault with the care given the inmates by the overseers at that time, Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Further information on Miss Dix can be found in the American Peoples Encyclopedia, (Danbury, CT: Grolier, Inc., 1964) 417. 5 Dr. Wm. Edward Fairfield, M.D., was born in Canada in 1861. His family had originally come from England. He went to public schools in Quebec and Montreal. Dr. Fairfield received his M.D. and C.M. from Bishop's College in Ontario, Canada, in 1887. He received many honors including gold medals for the best exam written in surgery and botany. He then came to Wisconsin and settled at Wequiock where he practiced until 1895. He married Winifred Derrick in 1880. As reported in Deborah B. Martin's book, "His steady hand and clear brain have saved many lives and his high intelli­ gence and broad humanity have made the world happier and better through the lessening of its pain." History ofBrown County: Past and Present, 2:85. 6 Cedar Creek Mill was a grist mill located at the junction of the present University Avenue and Humboldt Road. Additional information can be found in Chapter 9. 7 Diedrich & Gehl, History ofNew Franken, 22-23. 8 All the information referring to the minutes of the town board of supervisors and the building of roads is from the record books at the Town Hall. These are not titled other than Town Records, Volumes I and 11; some years are missing; page numbers are not always consecutive; and other information on the tax assessment and road building is contained in various small books. CHAPTER SIX The Three R) s

With the landing of Jean Nicolet at Red Banks in income from the sale of state land, was to be distributed 1634, the territory became a part of New France; to all the school districts on the basis of the number of however; since this area was so remote from the French children eligible to attend. Each town and city was also Canadian community in Quebec, it was almost totally required to raise by taxation at least half as much as it ignored except for the fur traders and missionaries. The received from the state fund. Another requirement was priests who arrived in the wake of the explorers were that in order to receive state help the district had to probably the first educators. Their primary goal was the provide and maintain a school for at least three months religious conversion of the Indians but they did attempt out of the year. some rudimentary teaching. Because of the inequalities not covered by the first The expansion of the fur trade did nothing to school statute, a new code was adopted ten years later. further the development of education for the few settlers The goal of the legislators was to re-organize the system living here. Little effort was made to encourage a settled by placing control of each school district in the hands of social and cultural life among the voyageurs. When he a three member school board. The board was to grew too old to do his work in a competent manner or formulate standards of education in their district, to grew tired of the loneliness of his life, he would either initiate a greater variety of courses, to choose the books marry and clear a small farm near a trading post or used, and to examine and set the qualifications for the simply live out the rest of his life with the Indians. This teachers. The basic motivation behind the early was the population of the Town of Scott area until after educational methods used in Wisconsin during the the end of the War of 1812 - the Indians, French fur 1850's was that the formal education of the child would traders and soldiers, and a few retired voyageurs. So consist of at least three months in a school setting and primitive a society did not demand much in the way of that he be given a reasonable mastery of the three most formal schooling and many were illiterate. common and necessary subjects such as reading, writing, The arrival of the first American settlers marked and arithmetic. Education, in short, was synonymous the beginning of an organized school system in the with schooling; and there was little thought given to village of Green Bay. By 1817 there was some type of environment and outside influence as playing any part schooling being offered on a fairly regular basis - in the educational process. religious schools, subscription schools (parents One problem encountered by the early teachers organizing and paying a teacher for their children), or was that there was no law against teaching the courses some other kind of community undertaking. offered in a foreign language as long as some English Then in 1818 a statute was passed by the grammar was also taught. But in 1854 the state government of the area, the Michigan Territory legislature passed a law that all subjects had to be taught legislature, which decreed that every village had the legal in English. This presented a problem in many obligation to maintain schools and to support them with communities - especially in the Belgian settlements in a general property tax. But since the Green Bay area was the Town of Green Bay. Virtually none of these again so remote from the seat of government, little immigrants had had the opportunity to learn the attention was paid to this new law. language. It wasn't until Xavier Martin arrived in 1857 The beginnings of public education, as we know that their struggle to provide schooling for their children it now, came when the Wisconsin legislature passed a gained any momentum. 1 general school law in August, 1848. This statute The next decade saw the establishment of the extended free education to all children between the ages county superintendent who was given charge of the of four and sixteen. Income from the state school fund, examining and licensing of teachers along with the which was comprised of both federal grants and the overall governing of the county school system. Later the city system passed under the control of a board of elected were Valentine Lang, director; Melchior Schauer, education comprised of a member from each city ward Treasurer; and M. Burkart, clerk. elected by a common council with a city superintendent Four months later the voters resolved to rent a log chosen by the board. Prior to this action the school house on the Schauer property to be used for a school;3 leaders had been chosen from the best educated settlers a stove was to be purchased and the parents of all the in each village - although this could vary from a man students were to provide the wood for heating; a levy of with a very formal education to one who had only an $30.00 was to be made on all taxable property for the elementary knowledge of the three R's. purchase of this stove, pipes, and lumber for desks and Some of the first teachers were almost as young as blackboards; and a tax of four shillings per eighty acres their pupils since the age minimum was fourteen years. was to be levied to pay the teacher's salary. They had to pass an examination which might consist of The school officers were very slow to act on the a math problem; a spelling test with words such as above proposals; and it finally took a petition signed by Europe, biscuit, phthisis, etc.; a reading from Gulliver's fourteen parents to force the issue. The school opened Travels, Robinson Crusoe, or Pilgrim's Progress; and a short on June 24, 1850. John (Michael) Burkart had qualified grammar test. The only other requirement was a firm as the teacher, and 21 pupils enrolled out of a total of 25 recommendation as to his or her good moral character. 2 boys and 32 girls eligible to attend. Their ages ranged The only recorded history of the development of from 7 to 14 years of age. Since the school was to be a public school system in the Town of Scott is from open only during the three months of summer, the District #4, the area around New Franken. Since most of district did receive a sum of $118.28 from the state these German settlers had some type of schooling school fund which helped to pay most of the bills, themselves, their first project afrer the building of a including Mr. Burkart's salary of $12.00. The textbooks shelter for their families was to insure the education of used were Webster's Spelling Book, Bronen's Grammar, their children. Davis's Arithmetic, and Morse's Geography. District #4 was set off in 1849 by the Mr. James Everz was hired as the schoolmaster for Superintendent of Common schools, Joel J. Fiske, and the next two years; but in 1853 Mr. Burkart was again included all of the township except sections 5, 6, 7, and given the position and he taught until his death from 8 which formed part of District #3. The first officers cholera in September, 1855. During these years the We have no written records concerning the other schools in the Town of Scott; but from interviews with relatives of early settlers, it would seem that there were at least six public schools in the area. 5 Further proof of some kind of early school system was found in the Town Road Records of 1853 where mention was made of a meeting held at a schoolhouse near a road which led co Red Banks. An article about the Honorable John Wigman, a mayor of Green Bay, also mentioned that he began his career as a school teacher in the Town of Scott area. 6 And according to the papers of Hosmer Cowles, another early settler, one of the first teachers of the small The school built by Robert Campbell and Peter Morrison. All school located near the Presbyterian Church was a Miss chairs, desks, and other equpment were handmade. The present Jessie Mitchell. His children, Emma, Frank, and Andrew site of Wequiock Public School. (Photograph courtesy of Mrs. attended this school; and during the week Miss Mitchell Walter Gibson) boarded with the Cowles family. According to Mr. school was held in the church built by the members of Cowles she was "especially remembered because she was 7 St. Kilian Parish. so jolly and full of fun." Robert Campbell, the son of The early years of building a school system were another pioneer, also taught in the Town of Scott after not without discord. Hotly debated was the issue of who his return from the Civil War. From this information we was qualified to teach and whether the district should can form a picture of some of the educational facilities build its own school and if so, where. Money was in very that were first built in the township. short supply and one year the school was open only as According to interviews with people who attended long as the $63.00 in the treasury held out. school in the Town of Scott, the Benderville School was In 1854 the district was changed from District #4 located on the site of the present Wequiock School; the to District #5 and now included sections 20, 21, 22, and first Wequiock School was built on VanLanen Road near 28; the south halves of 15, 16, 17 in the Town of Green Wequiock Falls; the Ridgeview School was on Bay Bay; and sections 22 and part of 15 in what was to Settlement Road south of Nicolet Memorial Gardens; become the Town of Scott plus section 28 in the area and the old Mount May School (or Willy May School) lacer known as Humboldt. still stands near the junction of County Trunk T and VanLanen Road. Another small school, the Joint District At this time it was also voted to build a schoolhouse. Jacob Landwehr presented the low bid of ·• $89.00. The specifications were as follows: a good rafter roof covered with shingles; square walls inside and out - with the chinks of the log building stopped up with plaster; a planed floor; a door with latch, hinges, and padlock; closed gable ends with clapboards; and four windows with frames and shutters. This building was used until 1874 when a new frame building was constructed at a cost of $400.00. Many different teachers, both men and women, were hired during the years from 1855 to 1885. Then chat year the St. Kilian Parochial School (along with the rectory) was built; and the pastor, Father Pfaller, made arrangements for the Sisters of St. Francis from Milwaukee to come to New Franken and teach both the parochial and public school. This system of alternating the employment of lay teachers and the religious continued for many years. 4 Mount May School. - i>==: 30 ~I ft9 if!' ,~.-~...... _ ,,.,.. ~ ...... ~~·~"' · ·· · ·-· ~·-~J J -~~~·'"~"'"'~'"'"'""""~"''''~·'"'"-: \ , ,....,.... __..._ ~ · j . ~ ..

The old Ridgeview School., now 3589 N. Nicolet Drive. Illustration by Bernice Kelnhofer.

of Green Bay and Scott School was on Bower Road and Books, $1.lQ; Winning His IDz.)4 65

Class from old Benderville School. (photograph courtesy ofMrs. Walter Gibson) UPPER ROW: (Left to Right) Jos. Lumburg. Gust Hannon, Robt McMonagle, Nettie Campbell Jennie Morrison, Rachel Vincent, Prudance DePas. MIDDLE ROW: (Right to Left) Ida Rousseau, Lore DePas, Temperance DePas, Patience DePas, Lizzie Gibson, Alice Hannon, Anna Unsin, Charley Unsin, Fred E. K , Julie Hannon, Peter Morrison, Nellie Mullen. BOTTOM ROW.· Dora Resler, Charley E.K, Nettie Mullen, Rosie McMonagle, Jennie Schilling, Mary Vincent, Robbie Stephenson, Elverea Schilling, Warn Schilling, Emma Fischer, Re/a Gibson. TEACHER: Jennie Jennings. we are not sure ofpositive identification of the children since only names were given with no specific left to right or row identification. Holy Cross School built in 1923. Old white pine school torn down April 3, 1922. School rooms upstairs and a hall on the first floor. Had an electric Delco light pl.ant. (photograph courtesy ofMrs. Orville VanLieshout)

CHAPTER 6 FOOTNOTES

1 Lloyd P. Jorgenson, Founding of Public Education in Wisconsin (Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1957), 3-12, 68-93, 101 , 116, and 145. ' Manin, History ofBrow n County: Past and Present 1:2 45-249. 3 The log cabin used as a school by the settlers in New Franken was built by people from Bay Settlement and used each spring for their maple sugaring. 4 Deidrich & Gehl, The History ofNew Franken, 25-39. 5 The interviews took place in October 1974, at a monthly meeting of the Bay Settlement Historical Society. 6 Martin, History ofBrown County: Past and Present 2:51. John Wigman was born in Amsterdam, Holland. He received a classical education and became proficient in French, German, and Latin. Rev. VandenBroek was visiting Holland and induced Mr. Wigman to come to Green Bay and help him teach. In 1856 he taught in the Town of Scott. He married Mathilda Lyonnais in 1857. Later he studied law under Judge Cotton and in 1870 was elected mayor of Green Bay. The log cabin school was built on the Campbell property. 7 The private papers of the Hosmer Cowles family were loaned by Mrs. Donald Galloway, whose family new resides in the home built by Mr. Cowles at the junction of Bay Settlement Road and Van Lanen Road near the falls. 8 Interview with members of the Bay Settlement Historical Society in October, 1975. 9 Interview with Walter VanLieshout, a member of the Bay Settlement Historical Society in April, 1975. 10 History ofNorthern Wisconsin (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881), 109. 11 For further information on the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, please refer to Chapter 7 on the religious growth in the Town of Scott. CHAPTER SEVEN Pioneer Faith

The spiritual needs of the early settlers played an wearing a large straw hat, red flannel shirt, and important role in the settlement of the Town of Scott. pantaloons held up by a worn belt. On his feet he wore The forerunners of the established churches were the one shoe and one moccasin. Father Daems ofren related missionaries who accompanied the French explorers and this story to his family and friends, always expressing his fur traders. Of these, Father Claude Allouez, S.J., was the great admiration and respect for the many sacrifices most prominent. He was the first Vicar General of the Father VandenBroek had made during his years as a Catholic Church in the United States and was called the missionary.4 founder of Catholicism in the West and the "Apostle of A record of the progress of the Catholic mission­ the Ottawa Nation." 1 During the ensuing years, many aries in our area is found in a letter written by a unknown "men of God" traveled along the bay shore, Capuchin priest, Father Bonduel. His parish work took laboring to establish a foothold in the wilderness. him to many settlements within the Wisconsin Territory. The Catholic Church in this area was first under This letter, dated August 24, 1844, was written to the the spiritual jurisdiction and leadership of the Bishop of editor of the Catholic Telegraph Newspaper in Cincinnati, Quebec from 1674 to 1796. Then control was given to Ohio, and describes one of his journeys. the Bishop of Baltimore until 1808 when the Bishop of Father Bonduel wrote of an expedition made by Bardstown (Louisville) became head of the diocese. the Rt. Rev. Dr. Henni, Bishop of Milwaukee, to the From 1822 the following Bishops ruled: Cincinnati, various Catholic settlements in his diocese to instruct 1822-1833; Detroit, 1833-1839; Dubuque, 1839-1843; and confirm the children. On July 18, 1844, the Milwaukee, 1843-1868; and finally the first Bishop of Bishop's entourage arrived in 6reen Bay. Bishop Henni Green Bay, The Most Reverend Joseph Melcher, in remained there to preach so Father Bonduel proceeded 1868.2 to Bay Settlement, "a very handsome village lying some It wasn't until the steady flow of white settlers and six miles NE of Green Bay," to prepare the congregation immigrants began after 1816 that an attempt was made for the Bishop's arrival. When Father Bonduel reached to establish permanent churches in the Town of Scott the settlement, he discovered that the sixty Catholic area. The settlers, in order to persevere in the face of families had donated a three acre lot situated in the adversity and hardship, had a great need for courage and center of the village to the Bishop for the purpose of comfort that religion brought to them. If they did not building a church. have their own church, they walked anywhere from five After instructing and preparing the children for to twelve miles on Sunday to attend services. Their communion and confirmation, Father Bonduel returned tenacity was matched only by that of the pioneer priest to Green Bay and plans were made for the Prelate to who had to travel great distances along remote Indian journey to Bay Settlement the following Monday. On trails to administer to the spiritual needs of his parish- that day 25 of the most respected men of the village met 10ners. the Bishop in Green Bay to accompany him on his The first church in the Bay Settlement area was journey. They were on horseback but had brought along built by Father VandenBroek, "The Apostle of two horses and a "good country wagon" for the Bishop. Wisconsin,'' during the early 1930's. He was a dedicated "The day was truly charming;" wrote the priest, "a missionary who had left his comfortable home in circumstance that created much joy in the hearts of those Holland to work among the Indians and settlers in the poor people: it gave them the assurance that they would Green Bay and Little Chute areas. Father Edward see their Bishop for the first time." Daems,3 wrote that when he first arrived in Little Chute As the travelers neared the settlement, they he was greeted warmly by Father VandenBroek who was discovered that a German family had strewn the trail with many beautiful, bright flowers - forming a carpet Thomas Verbonceur, Francois LaFrambois, Abraham six feet wide and at least 300 feet long; and the father, Houle, Y. Allard, Jose Allard, Augustin Rousseau, and mother, and children were kneeling alongside for the Thomas Langlais. Bishop's blessing. When the Prelate saw this manifesta­ tion of their spiritual faith and loyalty, tears streamed from his eyes. A5 they traveled through the forest, they suddenly caught a glimpse of the lake (bay) on their left hand side. Upon the shores of this lake were a number of highly cultivated farms which were mostly owned by Catholic families. The trail then turned to the right and began the climb up the limestone ridge to Bay Settlement. By this time, the "cavaliers" had been joined by many more riders. The procession was being led by two men carrying an American flag and a white flag with a centered gold cross - the emblem of peace and salvation. A line of 125 children from the village also marched at the head of the cavalcade - walking two by two, each carrying either a wooden cross or a white flag. Dismounting from their horses, the men led the Holy Cross Church. 1852-1932 The building contract was awarded to Joseph Bishop and Father Bonduel to the church site. The day Berton (also spelled in different records as Breton or was very warm, but the people had built a shade for Burton). The total cost was $605.00. The church was them of cedar and pine branches. Several elegant mats built of white pine in the form of a cross with a heavy made by Catholics from the Menominee and Chippewa timber frame. The only foundation was one of flagstones tribes covered the ground. A large pitcher of "health­ buried in about six inches of ground. The finished giving temperance" (cold spring water) had been placed structure was given two coats of paint with whitelead on a table. and oil. All of the furniture was handmade and each Bishop Henni spoke to the people gathered in family had its own pew with a door opening onto the both German and English- expressing his gratitude for main aisle. The rectory, still in use today, was built about their show of love and regard. He also told them of his 1860 and is a heavy stone building in the colonial style. happiness at the progress that had been made in their The stone was from the Oliver Champeau lime kiln near religious education. The Bishop concluded by telling the church. them that he would help them build a church that same Also with Father Daems was a young man, Peter year with missionary funds. An interpreter explained the Witves, better known to the parishioners as Brother speech in French; and after the Bishop's blessing, the Pete. Together they worked unceasingly for the people in 5 journey back to Green Bay was begun. their parish which extended as far as Sturgeon Bay on In 1852 the Parish of Holy Cross was given official the north and Green Bay on the south. Baptismal status with the appointment of Father Daems as its first records for the year 1856 show that over 300 baptisms pastor. Plans were made to build a permanent church took place that year and for several years afterwards.7 and a building committee was formed. Denis Parent was In 1859 an incident took place among the selected as chairman and M. Parenteau as treasurer. Mr. Catholics living in the Belgian settlement ten miles from Parent kept a diary of all the transactions that took place Bay Settlement. It served to stir up a great deal of and also a list of the first members of the church. 6 It controversy between the hierarchy of the church and the includes the names of families such as: lay people. Adele Brice, the young woman involved in C Champeau, Louis LaFramboise, Honore Landry, the dispute, was the daughter of Lambert and Marie Denis Parent, Louis Charbonneau, Jean Bellanger, Edward Brice, pioneers in the area. She had been born in Bellanger, Antoine Lyonnais, B. Lemeronde, 0. Deschesne, Brabant, Belgium, in 1831, and had immigrated to Aux A. Parenteau, Michael Parenteau, C Bison, M Langlais, premier Beiges at the age of 24. Very little is known of Jacque Grocier, Basile Grocier, Paul Fox, Thomas Waldt,

!>==: 35 ~I her childhood, except that she had received little formal unpainted benches without backs; but the chancel and education and had lost the sight in one eye in an altar were richly decorated with paintings, images, and accident. silverplate. And on one of the side walls were hung eight From childhood on Adele had been known for her crutches said to have been left by cripples who had been obedience and religious piety. Although she had wanted cured of their afflictions through the intercession of the to remain in Brabant and enter a religious order, she had Blessed Mother. On August 15 of each year, hundreds of followed the dictates of her conscience and had the faithful still gather at the chapel at Robinsonville to accompanied her parents on their journey. She spent offer up their prayers in honor of the Virgin Mary. days working with her family: clearing the land, planting In 1865 the pastor of the Belgian colony urged her and harvesting the crops, and even planing shingles by to build a convent and a school; so Adele set out to hand. Her story; as she herself told it, was recorded by solicit funds for her undertaking. The first school she Sister Pauline LaPlant of the Sisters of the 3rd Order of established was a free school - no tuition had to be paid St. Francis. and thus many parents were willing to place their It was in the early part of October, 1859, that children under her care. The school was known as St. Adele was said to have seen the apparition of the Virgin Mary's Boarding Academy. Classes were presented in Mary for the first time. She was walking along an Indian both English and French. On the first floor were the trail to a grist mill about four miles from Aux premier schoolroom, the dining room, and the kitchen. Above Beiges. As she drew near to two trees which stood close were two sleeping rooms - one for each sex. The only together on the path she saw a lady dressed all in white. furniture were low wooden cots and a trunk or valise for Adele became very frightened; but as she stood there, the each child. vision slowly disappeared. She continued on her errand And times were hard - many days the teachers and then returned home to tell her parents what had and students did not know where their next meal was happened. The following Sunday, while walking the corning from. After beseeching God's help, Sister Adele eleven miles to Mass at Holy Cross Church, she again would go out with her horse and wagon and beg food saw the vision. Her sister Isabel and a neighbor lady with from the neighboring farmers. her saw nothing; but it was apparent that Adele was About the same time that Sister Adele was quite agitated. Then on their return from Mass, working among the people of the Belgian settlement, accompanied by a man who worked for the Holy Cross Father Daems decided to form a religious community at Fathers, the Virgin Mary again appeared and told her to Bay Settlement. The special work of these women would pray daily for the conversion of sinners in the world and be to teach; and their rule, dress, and manner of life to gather all the children in the wilderness to her and to would be very simple. His plans were approved by teach them the Catholic faith. Bishop Melcher and "The Rule of the 3rd Order of St. When news of this "miracle" reached the Francis," was selected as the most appropriate name. On settlements, some of the settlers believed the story; November 7, 1874, the first members were received into however, there were some who thought Adele was the order: Sr. Christine Rousseau, Sister Pauline demented. LaPlant,8 Sr. Pius Doyle, and Sr. Mary VanLanen. Until her death in 1896, Adele Brice devoted Another duty besides that of education was to herself to the work chosen for her by the lady in the help tend the sick. They received no salaries but were vision. She went from house to house helping in provided for by Father Daems. Before his death in 1879 whatever way she could - asking only that she be plans had been drawn up for a convent. The building allowed to instruct the children in the sacraments. When was finished in 1880. she thought they were sufficiently prepared, she would In 1881 the constitution for the new community bring them to Father Daems for examination and the was approved by Bishop Francis X. Krautbauer of Green sacrament of Holy Communion. Bay; and the four founding nuns and Sister Francis Two years later Lambert Brice, with the help of Jennings, who had recently joined them, made their some of his neighbors, built a small chapel, 24 by 40 professions of faith. Two years later they took the name feet, at the site of the apparitions. Over the entrance was of "The Sisters of St. Francis of Bay Settlement," an carved, Notre Dame de bon Secours, priez pour nous." educational and charitable institution. Sister Jennings (Lady of good help, pray for us). The pews were was elected the first Mother Superior. Later they became affiliated to the First Order in Rome and by 1921 had Catholic Church" and also a "Spiritualist Movement" joined the Catholic University of America. This was for which had begun about the same time were broken.9 the purpose of better educating their members, some of Most of the early history of Holy Cross Church whom had not completed their own high school was lost in a fire at the rectory. However, we do know education. that in 1879, after the death of Father Daems who had Religious problems arose in the pioneer parishes become the first Vicar-General of the Green Bay - usually because of misunderstandings between pastor Diocese, the parish came under the care of the Fathers of and parishioners due to many differences in their social Mercy. The following priests assumed the duties of and cultural backgrounds and nationalities. Because of pastor up through the early 1900's: Fathers Henty the bad feelings generated by such differences, the Bruns, J. Martin, J. Rocagel, J. McFadden, Jos. Darche, settlers in these parishes were open to accepting other A. LeBras, T. McCarthy, J. Courvoisier, T. Tacken, and doctrines and sects. One such movement was active on P. Coutereels. Father Coutereels was born in Belgium in the peninsula and in Green Bay. It was called "Old 1833 and had been both a professor and a chaplain there Catholic" and was led by Joseph Rene Vilatte. This sect until his departure for the United States in 1882. denied such concepts as compulsory and private After Father Coutereels' death in 1903, Bishop confession, the Immaculate Conception, indulgences, Fox asked the Norbertine Fathers of De Pere to take over and clerical celibacy; it also introduced the vernacular the mission. The Abbott sent Father S. Mickers who was Mass. To combat this heresy, Bishop Messmer of Green to serve as pastor for the next sixteen years. Father Bay solicited the help of the Canons of Premontre from Mickers decided to write a short, annual diary. From his the Abbey of Berne in Holland. Three priests were sent notes we can learn a little more about the parish and its in November of 1893, among them the Rt. Rev. Abbott people. Pennings, 0. Praem. This is how the Norbertine Order One of his first acts as pastor was to purchase a began its missionary work in our area. Through their new organ from Montgomery Ward's for the enormous hard labors, by 1898, the hold on the settlers of the "Old sum of $85.00.

A Holy Cross First Communion Gass - approximately 1905. Father Mickers, Pastor. (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. Albert]. Neville whose husband was a member of the class)

1;= 37 :==:::1 Two years later Father Mickers made note of the Father William DeVries was appointed the new fact that the annual payment of dues had been replaced pastor in 1920. Seven years later, on June 19, the parish by pew rent: for pews 1-24, $14.00 per annum; pews celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding - the 25-48, $12.00; and 49-76, only $10.00. Single seats, the third oldest Catholic parish in the area. The church was stairs, and upstairs went for $2.50 a year; and for those beautifully decorated and Bishop Rhode of Green Bay who did not wish to take a seat, the dues were $5.00. confirmed 76 of the parish's young people. Mr. Louis During the ten years between 1909 and 1918, two LaPlante was godfather for all the boys since he was the natural disasters struck the parish. On June 13, 1909, only surviving member of the congregation which had lightning struck the church. It happened during High built the church; and Mrs. John Kuypers (Kuipers) was Mass at the end of the epistle and killed Eddie godmother for the girls. Deschesne, the son of Moses and Matilda. At the time of The parish death records beginning in 1887 his death, Eddie was only twenty years old. A dozen provide some clue to the illnesses and diseases prevalent other people attending the service received burns on in the early settlements. That year 27 deaths were noted; their backs, arms, or legs. Many were stunned by the some of the causes given were consumption, croup, old shock and some even had their shoes ripped off their age, infantile atrophy from malnutrition, fever, typhoid, feet. The bolt tore the shingles off the roof, entered near intestinal inflammation, and dropsy. Later records note the steeple, and exited through the window on the drowning, paralysis, "phkysia'', and the grippe (Father Coutereels referred to this as "La Grippe"). Ten years southeast corner. Then in 1918 a tornado blew down the later the first deaths from meningitis and peritonitis were bell-tower which had been erected in front of the church listed. In 1900 an epidemic of whooping cough took the in 1874. The bell fell outside of the fence surrounding lives of several small children; smallpox and scarlet fever the belfry onto the road and was badly cracked. The led the list two years later. Diabetes became more storm also blew down the barns of two neighboring noticeable around 1916. The influenza epidemic during farmers, George Elliot and Edward Greenwood. World War I caused many deaths during the months of An important event in the spiritual life of the November and December in 1918. Catholics was the mission held during the year. This was The cost of a burial permit in 1905 ranged from a time of renewal for them with special emphasis on how $1.75 to $2.50. The horse-pulled hearse used by Holy they should conduct their daily lives (usually with many Cross Church was kept in a barn near the school. Jacob threats of brimstone and hellfire). Several missions were Craanen, Sr., was the driver. And since funeral parlors held during Father Micker's tenure as pastor. He wrote were not in general use yet, the body was laid out at that usually the attendance was quite good, although home for visitation, taken to church for the funeral "some lukewarm stayed away, especially among the Mass, and then buried in a plain wooden box. French who would only go to confession during Easter The German immigrants who had settled New and some of the young people who knew they would be Franken were also a deeply religious people. The nearest told to stay away from public dances and public dance church to their settlement in the early years was located halls." By 1910 Father Mickers had organized the Holy at Shantytown - some twelve miles distant. But they, Name Society with a membership of 147 members, too, would don their Sunday clothes and make the long including the young boys of the parish, and the Young trip to church and then back again. Later they were Ladies Sociality with an attendance of over 100 women visited twice a year by a missionary priest, Father Casper and girls. Rehrl. As early as 1847 Father Rehrl journeyed on foot Almost all of the renovating and repair work on to New Franken, carrying on his back the equipment he the parish buildings was done by the members. needed to celebrate Mass. The service was usually held in Whatever funds were needed were raised by holding the log cabin belonging to John Schauer and his bazaars or dinners (Bayview Hall near the church was homemade kitchen table served as the altar. mentioned often). Mr. Schauer and his wife, Marianna, deeded ten These church doings played an important part in acres of land to the Bishop in 1850 to be used for a the social and recreational lives of the early settlers, along church site and cemetery. The first church was built on with such gatherings as the adult singing classes led by a knoll of land chosen by Father Rehrl and marked with Alex Rousseau. a large wooden cross. The log building, 28 feet by 45 - I~ 38 ='.I St. Kilian Church was built in 1868, incorporated November 21, 1883. feet, was built in the form of a cross and was ample during a fierce storm. The Captain, as a last resort, enough to serve the requirements of the thirty families in slowly rang the church bell. The sound was finally heard the parish. The church was named after St. Kilian, the by a passing ship which stood by and helped to save the patron saint of Wurzburg, Germany, which was the boat and its cargo. Then in 1889 four new bells were homeland of many of these families. purchased and consecrated. The largest bell weighed Father Weinger preached the first mission in the 1400 pounds and was named, Kilianus; the second bell, new building. It was very successful and provided the 800 pounds, was christened, Colonatus; the third bell, spiritual uplift the settlers needed after their years of Totnanus; and the smallest one, Franciscus Xaverius in religious deprivation. For the next fifteen years St. honor of Father F. X. Pfaller. 10 Kilian's remained a mission church and was served by According to the papers of Hosmer Cowles, 1858 ten pastors. The first resident pastor was Father F. saw the beginnings of a Presbyterian Church in the Commencind; and during his three years of service, the Town of Scott. The Reverend Jeremiah Porter, a noted rectory ·was built. After he was transferred, Father W Presbyterian minister, came to visit the Cowles family Boden assumed the duties of pastor. A new church was during that year. He stayed with the John Campbell built to replace the old log one. It was 40 feet by 40 feet family at their family homestead near Point au Sable on in size and cost $2628.00. the lower road. The first Sunday worship services were The furnishings of the very early churches were held in the front room of the home with Grandfather meager to say the least. The vestments and vessels used Campbell playing his violin and leading the singing. In had to be brought from Europe so few parishes could later years services were held in the schoolhouse near the boast that they had all the necessary equipment. Two of present Presbyterian Church and probably also in the the members of St. Kilian's approached Father Temperance Hall built across from the school. VandenBroek at Little Chute to try and outfit the new Thirty years later the First Presbyterian Church of church. Father VandenBroek had just returned from a Wequiock was organized with a membership of about visit to Holland and had brought with him a good thirty families. The decision was made to build a church; supply of vestments, etc. These had been donated to the and the foundation was laid in October, 1888. The American missions by the Dutch Catholics. He building was completed the next year. The first trustees responded to their plea by giving them two vestments were Frank Cowles, Edmund Schilling, and Joseph and some of the badly needed sacred articles. Campbell. The Reverend H. Talbot of De Pere preached Church bells played an important part in the the sermon at the formal dedication ceremonies and everyday lives of the pioneers: the melody of the bells filled the pulpit most of the time until 1896 when sounding across the fields to call a halt to work in the Reverend Maynard became pastor. Other pastors were early evening and the prayer of the Angelus; the joyful Reverend Geiger, Reverend Ernest Trembley who served sound of the bells proclaiming a wedding or a holiday; as a lay evangelist, and from 1923 to 1929 the Reverend the clanging, terrifying sound of the bells during times Charles Kilpatrick. 11 of trouble and disaster; and the mournful, muffled This is the history of the religious growth in the tolling that told of a death in the parish by the slow, early years of the Town of Scott. It is not only the story deliberate ringing out of the age of the deceased. The of the spiritual lives of the settlers. It is also the story of first bell given to St. Kilian's Parish came from Europe the loneliness and sacrifice of the priests and missionar­ and the sound of its clanging became a legend even ies, who shared in the hardships and privations of the before it reached New Franken. The ocean vessel that the people they were serving, to bring them the comfort of bell had been shipped on was in danger of sinking the word of God.

CHAPTER 7 FOOTNOTES

1 The mission of St. Francis Xavier founded by Father Al louez in the Town of Scott in 1670 is discussed in Chapter 2. 2 Marx, Joseph A. God's Acre: a Necrology ofthe Diocesan Clergy ofthe Diocese of Green Bay. (Green Bay, Wl: 1939)

I;:==: 4 0 :==

I:::==: 41 :=

By 1861 our town government had been of Scott. He specifically mentioned the good times organized and the settlers were busy building new lives enjoyed with such settlers as the McMonagle family, for themselves and their families. They were learning the Alex Rousseau, the Gibsons, and the McNamees. On language and customs of their adopted land; and homes, April 28 he said good-bye and traveled to Camp Randall churches, schools, and businesses were replacing the at Madison, Wisconsin, for further orders. His next wilderness. Then came the morning of April 12, 1861. assignment was with General Sherman's army stationed It was spring - the time for the farmers to prepare their in Georgia. land for planting. But this spring was different; many Sgt. Major Campbell wrote a very vivid miles away on the east coast a shot was fired at Fort description of the furious fighting that he took part in Sumter which was to change the lives of many of the for Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia and also the battle settlers in the Town of Scott - because this opening and siege of Atlanta. He came through these unscathed volley of the Civil War was soon to be followed by a call and was finally ordered to join the 17th Army Corps to arms by President Lincoln. under Sherman for their now famous march to the sea. Robert Campbell, a member of a pioneer family His diary ends on Saturday, October 22, 1864, with the homesteading near Point au Sable, volunteered his words: "Non veterans are ordered to be ready to go home services to the Union Army in 1862. Two years later he by 11 o'clock a.m. I send my book (home) by Mr. was promoted to the rank of Sgt. Major and began to Andrew Gray. Good Bye. Wish I was going with the keep a diary of the first ten months of that year. His story book." started with his re-enlistment in January in Company H, Robert Campbell survived the final year of the #12 of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, war, was discharged in 1865, and returned to his home which was stationed near Natchez, Mississippi. in the Town of Scott. In 1874 he bought a farm in the The weather in January was disagreeably cold, area and was later employed as a sailor, bookkeeper, much rain, and very uncomfortable for the soldier in the grocer, realtor, and the superintendent of Woodlawn field. And after a month of doing routine duty, the men Cemetery in Green Bay. He married Eliza Parish in 1867 in Company H were ordered to break camp and march and they had five children. In 1920 he donated his Civil towards the rebel front lines, where they were to hold a War diary to the Green Bay Museum. 1 bridge across a small stream called Baker's Creek. Sgt. Because of a lack of volunteers, a draft was Major Campbell wrote of watching one of his men die organized to provide the needed soldiers for the Union - the top of his head sheared off by an enemy shell. A Army. It was handled by the individual towns and a few days later the Union forces cornered the rebel quota had to be met. Since most of the rural population soldiers near a farmhouse. A young woman with three were newly arrived immigrants who had not lived in the small children huddled around her came to the door. United States long enough to sympathize with either She was struck and killed by a stray bullet and as the side and who were hard at work trying to establish soldiers marched away, they could still hear the themselves, it is understandable why some of them frightened cries of her babies. resisted what to them seemed an unjust demand. Sgt. Major Campbell's regiment was given orders At times their opposition went beyond arguments to move to Chicago. It took them two months to travel and raised voices. Those in the town who disagreed with to their destination because of constant skirmishes with them were threatened with the loss of their homes and the Confederates. They arrived there on March 20 and barns although there is no record of any such incidents. were all given thirty day furloughs. Campbell spent most And it is probable that some of the men who supported of his visiting with his friends and relatives in the Town the federal government were intimidated by these threats of violence and did not come forward to volunteer. In history of the Civil War. He often told the following 1862 the visit ofSenatorT. 0. Howe provoked the anger story about a hunting incident. Long before the war, of the anti-draft group. Senator Howe was a staunch Jefferson Davis, later the president of the Confederacy, supporter of this hated conscription order. So several was an officer in the American army and was stationed hundred Belgian settlers from the Town of Green Bay at Fort Winnebago. He met Mr. Hardwick on one of his and Scott armed themselves with farm implements, journeys and they became good friends. Moses invited guns, and any other weapons they could find and Davis to go deer hunting with him one fall along the marched to the Senator's residence in Green Bay. The Devil River (now the East River). AB the two men were Senator decided to face the mob and appeal to their paddling their small boat, it capsized; and Hardwick spirit of patriotism; but since most of them did not rescued his companion, who could not swim, from the understand English, his fervent speech only served to treacherous stream. In later years this pioneer would add kindle their anger. AB the menacing voices grew louder, to the tale the fact that, if he could have looked into the the Senator managed to escape through a side entrance future, he probably would have left Davis to drown. and drive away. Finally the chairman of the county Thus the career of the future leader of the South would 3 board, the Honorable John Last, a graduate of a Brussel's have ended here in Green Bay. university, managed to quiet the crowd. The men The original Holy Cross Cemetery, located in a listened to him and some were even persuaded to submit field north of the Nicolet Memorial Gardens on Bay to the draft. And when and if they did see action, these Settlement Road, was donated by the John Gagnon family. Many veterans of the Civil War were originally same Belgians were considered among the bravest and buried there. At that time it was marked by a wooden best fighters in their divisions. 2 cross fifteen feet high with a cross bar eight feet long. Another way of filling the enlistment quota Now it is deserted and no longer used as a cemetery­ assessed against each town was to pay the volunteer who the story it could tell completely hidden by a large grove agreed to serve. The Town Record Book, January 23, of trees. 1864, showed the following resolution: "Resolved that the sum of eight hundred and fifty dollars be raised by taxes levied on the taxable property in the Town of Scott to pay eight volunteers the sum of $100.00 each to fill the quota of the Town on the President's (Lincoln) last call for three hundred thousand men." The money raised by this resolution was put into the Civil War Volunteer Army Fund. Eleven months later twelve freeholders in the Town of Scott requested a special meeting for an accounting of this fund. It was held on December 20 with Leonard LaPlant as chairman. The following report was submitted as to the allocation of the funds: Robert Campbell and Thomas Langlois had each received $100.00 and the balance had been paid out to all 100 day volunteers. These last volunteers must have been Old Holy Cross Cemetery (Photograph by Andrew given the sum of $10.00 because the next month Jacob LaFrombois) Jacobs appeared before the supervisors with a bill of Maintenance claims for the graves of the Civil deposit in this amount. He stated that he was a "drafted" War veterans of Holy Cross Parish and their spouses are man about to leave for service and he asked the board to found on the last page of the Church Internment Book: please pay him $10.00 from the Volunteer Fund. Fester Trucky, Private; Andrew Zeutzius, Private; Another concession by the Union government and Paul Pung, Regiment #41; Albert Ganion, Regiment #41; accorded to all men of eligible draft age was permission Mars Albert Ganion; Joseph LaPumte, # 13, Wisconsin to buy substitutes to take their place. The sum of money Infantry; Oliver LaPlante, Private #32 (he also marched paid, in some cases, was as much as $1,000.00. with Sherman); Moses Hardwick, Private; Amable Moses Hardwick, an early pioneer and settler in LaFrambois, Private; Henry Laundrie, Private/ Frank the Town of Scott had it within his power to change the Baenen, Private; Hubbard Kriescher, Private;5 Moses Schauer, and John Simons. John Schaut died soon after Rousseau, 1st Lieutenant; John Larock, Private; and john being sent to the South, a victim of yellow fever, and is Shellefeau and P Mae Lemee, both buried in the old grave buried in an unknown southern war burial ground. But yard. by good fortune the other three soldiers returned safely to their families at the end of the war. 6 The New Franken Settlement sent four men to As the war continued prosperity began to decline. the Union Army: John Schaut, Conrad Karcher, Louis A contributing factor was that so many farmers either volunteered or were drafted into service. This led to a lack of skilled laborers and the inability of the farm Cemetery-"' Roster owners to be home to supervise the work that had to be done. Prices paid for crops also declined from the ORIGINAL BURIALS LISTED IN THE HOLY CROSS INTERNMENT REC­ ORD BOOK AS THEY WERE TAKEN OFF THE GRAVESTONES IN THE previously high prices paid in the middle 1850's. This OLD CEMETERY: was perhaps the most visible affect the Civil War had on NAME & AGE the Town of Scott area.

Leious A. Stemm, daughter of N., 1 yr. , 1 mo. , 15 days 9-22-1853 T. Champeau, 80 years old 9-3-1857 Augustus Rousseau, 58 years old 11-1-1857 Adolphus M. Stemm, son of N., 1 yr., 7 mo., 27 days 1-15-1858 Nary Allard, l1rs. Antoin, 52 years old 1861 .2l.bra.m Houl.e 2-19-1862 Francis Stemm, son of N., 1 yr., 8 mo., 10 days 4-14-1863 11ichael Parenteau, 17 years old 4~22-1863

Mary Rousseau LaF1.-amboise 1 Mrs. Jean Baptiste, 41 years old 8-21-1863 .21. Mansau, 80 years old 12-21-1863 Mary Stemm, Daughter of N., 10 months 4-10-1864 Wife of Francis Bauduo 5-25-H64 N. M. Stemm, 40 years old 4-26-1865 Sophia Ste.'l1112 Morin, Mrs. Peter, 48 yea.rs old 10-11-1866 Adeline LaRock, Mrs. John, 26 years old 11-22-1866 Mary McGinnis, daughter of J., 6 days old 8-30-1866 George Houle, 63 years old 11-26-1867 Jane Champo u, Mrs. Joseph, 19 years old 5-.1-1868 Louis Henry Jennings, son of P. 10 years old 12-27-1868 Catherine Landry, Mrs. Henry, 46 years old 3-5-1869 Anna Rousseau, daughter of August .Jr., B years old 9-1-1870 Joseph Rouse, son of J., 6 months old 3-17-1871

Micha.el Rodgun, son of J. 1 22 yea.rs old 10-8-1871 Mary Amanda Laffond, daughter of John, 5 years old 10-29-1871 John NcNamee, son of H. , 20 years old l0-2-1871 Odile Greenwood, daughter of F.,

2 yrs. 1 11 mos. 12-20-1871 Mary Rouse, daughter of J., 4 yrs., 3 mos., 8 days 2-18-1872 Milo Palmer, 34 years old 10-18-1872 Adelide Langlais, Espouse of Tl2oma.s, 56 years old 1872 Helene Odile Campeau Laffond, J1rs. Moses, 20 years old 1-26-1873 Moses Hardwick, Jr., 38 years old 5-22-1873 Solomon M. Stemm Hugh McNamee, Co. H., 12th i·/is­ Civil W7tir Veterans Moses Rousseau (top) and Oliver LaPlant. consin Infantry

Henry Landry, Co. G. 1 4lst Wis­ (photograph courtesy ofMrs. Mary Rousseau Liedeka and Mrs. consin Infantry Norbert]adin) CHAPTER 8 FOOTNOTES

'Green Bay Historical Bulletin, (Green Bay, WI: Green Bay Historical Sociery, 1935) 6:3,1-17. 2 Martin, History ofBrown County: Past and Present, 1:205.

3 Martin, History ofBrown County: Past and Present, 1: 143 4 A daughter, Angeline, was born in 1855. When interviewed many years later, Angeline remembered the day President Lincoln was assassinated. Angeline's grandmother was a French Canadian who had settled in Bay Settlement may years earlier. Angeline married Joseph Champeau at the age of fifteen and they operated a lime kiln below the ridge near the present U.WG.B. They had thirteen children; Mr. Champeau died in 1915 but Angeline lived to the age of 94. Her brother Henry born in 1852 was married three times: 1876, Jennie Contley; 1885 Louise Boulanger; 1905, Delia VanLieshout (the name is spelled either Laundrie or Landry). He farmed for sixry years in the area and at the age of91 still boasted of raising his own vegetables and tobacco. He died in 1952, leaving 48 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchil­ dren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. At one time, he and his son Harry (one of 21 children) were actually brothers-in­ law. Harry married the sister Henry's third wife, Delia. Interview with Bernadette Van Lieshout, member of the Bay Settlement Historical Sociery, 1974. 5 Hubert Kriescher was born in Germany in 1830 and came to the United States in 1847. He opened a blacksmith shop in the Town of Green Bay. He was married twice, in 1854 and 1894. He retired to a farm at Bay Settlement in 1894. During World War I, his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Craanen Kriescher, walked from their farm on Church Road into Green Bay to an office on Washington Street to become the first buyer in Brown Counry of the Third Liberry Loan Bonds. She asked the officials what her fair share was and when informed of the amount took the$ 600.00 from her pocket and paid for them saying, "This has been a good country to me. I was born in Germany 72 years ago and have been here 45 years. My only blood relation left is my sister Margaret Newman with whom I live on a small farm in Bay Settlement." Information from a Green Bay Press-Gazette article in a scrapbook belonging to Mrs. Lucille VanLieshout, a member of the Bay Settlement Historical Sociery. 6 Diedrich & Gehl, History ofNew Franken, 21. CHAPTER NINE AWa~of Life

PART I ECONOMIC The farms were small, consisting of anywhere The story of the economic growth of the Town of from 10 to 100 acres of cultivated land. Twenty-seven Scott is the story of the farmer and the services that grew farm owners were listed in the 1860 census: Robert up to provide for his needs. One source of information Gibson, James Knight, Melchior Schauer, Michael Long, concerning these developments is the census reports. Antonio Leona, Louis Leona, Valentine Long, George However, since the township was not formed until 1860, Schauer, Anton Gecmas, William Campbell Michael Wall the first census of Brown County in 1850 showed only John Gibson, Moses Rousseau, Joseph Allard, Denis Parent, the statistics for the Town of Green Bay. So any figures Abram Parenteau, Eli Wright, Abraham Houle, Christian for our area have to be approximations. Unsin, Christian Schilling, John Campbell, Benjamin There were probably between 100 and 125 Sawyer, Tom Langlais, Henry Verboncouer, Mike families living here by that time. The countries of Harteaux, Tom Jeffry, and Alex Douville. Germany, Canada, Holland, the British Isles, France, and Prussia were represented. The majority of the settlers The total cash value ranged from $200.00 for a were farmers. However, a few made their living by 40 acre farm to $5000.00 for 200 acres; and the value of fishing; and there was one merchant, one blacksmith, the farm machinery varied. The smallest farm in the area one saddlemaker, one shoemaker, one lumberman, and had machinery valued at only $10.00 while the most two schoolteachers who taught the 75 students modern farm had equipment estimated at $ 150.00. attending school at that time. At least forty of the new All but 5 of the 27 farmers owned horses - citizens over twenty years of age were illiterate. This from one to pull the family's wagon to as many as eight. census also lists three blacks and nine mulattoes from the All of the husbandmen had "milch cows" and 20 of them east coast living somewhere near the bay shore. The total used working oxen for clearing land and other heavy value of the real estate was in the area of $68,000. work. Eleven families raised sheep and all but two owned In contrast the 1860 census showed a growth to swine. The largest crop grown those fost years was 175 families and a total population of 1053. Only 11 oats - all but one farmer grew this as their main crop. people over 20 years of age admitted to being unable to The highest yield noted in 1860 was 700 bushels and the read or write and 125 students were attending schools in the area. As ten years before, most of the heads of lowest yield was 19 bushels. Rye was planted by a few of families were employed as farm laborers or farm owners. the farmers; some of them also planted Indian corn. However, there were now three hotelkeepers: Joseph Wheat was the second largest crop - yielding anywhere Lambert, Joseph Depereau, and Wendell Sohler. John from 50 bushels to 250 bushels. Barley, buckwheat, peas, Wigman listed his employment as a land agent; beans, and Irish potatoes were some of the other Christian Craanen was a shoemaker; and Hosmer products grown. None of the settlers made wine of any Cowles owned a wagonmaker's shop. Four Roman kind. Eighteen farms produced a total of 2930 pounds Catholic priests were living in the area: Fathers James of butter but no cheese. Moses Rousseau was the largest Knight, Francis Daems, William Varhoc, and Anthony maple sugar producer, accounting for 1300 pounds out Arts. A new job classi£cation was the domestic, or of a total of 2250 pounds made each spring. Denis servant; a total of eight people listed this as their Parent prepared seven gallons of molasses but honey was employment. Belgium, Canada, Holland, and Germany, evidently not used as a food at that time. in that order, were the places of birth for a majority of From the statistics listed above we see that the immigrants. The real estate value was now farming, the economic base of the township in those $86,270.00 and the value of personal property was early years, was done on a fairly small scale, mostly to $20,933.00. provide the food supply for the individual families. ' Old Wind-Powered Grist Mill (illustration by Russ LaFrombois) To grind their grain the farmers needed a grist Green Bay to Milwaukee, traveling along an old Indian mill. About three miles west of the German settlement at trail which ran southeast to Manitowoc and then along New Franken, along the Ridge Road (Bay Settlement the lakeshore. The pay scale was quite good for those Road), was an old stone wind mill which had been in times; but because of the many hardships, carriers were operation as early as 1844. However, it proved to be a very hard to find. 3 failure since its location was too low to have enough In 1843 the small semi-monthly newspaper in power for operation except when a strong wind was Green Bay, The Intelligencer, summed up the story of blowing from the west. Consequently, the poor settler mail delivery in pioneer days with the following walking a great distance with his sack of wheat on his headline: shoulders would have to retrace his weary steps if there ''.3 times a week without any foil was a wind direction change.2 At 4 o'clock we look for the mail During the 1850's another mill was built on the Brought with dispatch, old Cedar Creek Road (now University Avenue) in the On an Indian trail " Town of Green Bay. It was originally operated as a flour mill, then a feed mill, and after its purchase in 1907 by The first mail service to the Town of Scott was in the C. J. Marchant family, as a feed storehouse. the southeastern area in New Franken. Two brothers, According to a Green Bay Press-Gazette article on January Jacob and George Schauer, were the first carriers. They 11, 1935, three gentlemen still living in Green Bay at followed the Green Bay-New Franken Indian trail (now that time remembered the "good old days" of the mill. Highway #54) - during the summer on foot and in the winter with a horse and sleigh. Delivery was weekly at William Rothe, Joseph Rothe, and George B. Hess had first; later on, when the stagecoach route was established, worked at the flour mill in the late 1870's. One of the it was made twice a week, and by 1889, daily. Michael distressing incidents remembered by Joseph happened Burkart of New Franken wrote to his relatives in during the Civil War. His father had left Green Bay to Germany in October, 1851, that he was acting as the join the Union Army and he and his three young village postmaster out of his home.4 brothers were alone at home with their mother. All four children came down with smallpox. The owner of the Cedar Creek Mill at that time, a fellow named Luke, brought them bread to eat made of flour from the mill and baked by his wife. As the farmers began to clear more land and raise crops to sell, the economic growth of the township was also helped by the development of mail service which served to link the small settlements and was one of the earliest methods of communication. The story of the development of this service in the Town of Scott begins with the story of mail delivery between the Town of Green Bay and the southern parts of the Wisconsin Territory. At first this type of communication was very irregular. In 1817 it was reported that a Mr. Moses Hardwick had been hired to carry the mail between Old Mail Carriage. Picture taken at Galloway Village, Fond Green Bay and Detroit, Michigan. Hardwick tramped du Lac, Wisconsin. (Photograph by Andrew LaFrombois) through the dense forests, sleeping and eating whenever The second post office established was at and wherever he could and delivering the letters he Wequiock in the northern section of the township. The carried as swiftly as possible. Seven years later a private first postmaster was John Masse. This office was closed route between Green Bay and Fort Wayne, Indiana, was in 1907. The third postal station was opened in 1868 at established. The distance to be covered was 300 miles Bay Settlement near Holy Cross Church. The first and the monthly salary $86.00. Mr. Hardwick took this postmaster appointed was F. VanStralen.5 job and still later was employed as a mail carrier from \

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'"V, .

Long Tail Point Lighthouse 1848-1859 (Illustration by Russ LaFrombois) Accessibility to the waters of Green Bay was yet smce these two types of businesses needed workers, another determining factor in the expansion process of lumber, and grain, both the laborer and the farm owner the town. Not only did it provide another means of profited. Then came the disastrous fire of 1871. Not communication between communities but it was also a only were many of the sawmills burned to the ground way of transporting their farm and lumber products to but there was the even greater loss of the enormous Green Bay and of bringing back needed provisions and reserves of lumber. This caused a shift in the direction of supplies. the lumberman and farmer, which produced the To guide vessels using this route, the first light beginnings of the dairy industry in our area. beacon on the lower bay was built on Long Tail Point in In 1889 the first directory of rural areas in Brown 1848. It was of limestone obtained from the bay shore County was published.7 It listed, by post offices, the near Bay Settlement. This beacon was used for eleven various kinds of services offered in the community and years to guide ships through the treacherous shoals presents a good picture of how the factors described which blocked direct access to the mouth of the Fox previously contributed to the building of the Town of River and the port of Green Bay. The tower was erected Scott. A description of the three settlements comprising by C. B. and H. W Hart and Daniel Hubbard was the the township follows. mason placed in charge. The laborers made their way up The Bay Settlement post office was described as a the beach below the settlement, took the loose stone, village eight miles north of Green Bay serviced daily by loaded their scows, and hand poled their way across the the Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay Stage Line. The shallow bay to the island. The structure was 25 feet in stagecoach fare was fifty cents one way to the village and diameter at the base with a solid circular wall 5 feet $1.60 for the trip to Sturgeon Bay. One of the stops was thick. Originally, when completed with a wooden turret at the Neville Hotel on Bay Settlement Road. Mr. and iron lantern, it loomed 85 feet above Long Tail. Neville, a Belgian immigrant, had all his savings of John P Dousman was the lighthouse keeper from $3000.00, which was going to be used to build the inn, 1849 to 1853. He was replaced by Thomas Atkinson in the Farmer's Exchange Bank in Green Bay. The day who held the job until 1859 when the government after he withdrew the funds, the bank was robbed and ordered the tower dismantled because of high water. the depositors lost all their savings. 8 Mail delivery was However, it was so well constructed that neither the daily and the postmaster in 1889 was Gregorie Denis. wrecking crew nor nature now have been able to alter the The population of the hamlet was 1400. Bay Settlement structure. had, at that time, a steam sawmill, a church, and a To replace it a frame three story house was built district school. Services offered were: on higher ground to the north. This building served not Arnold Corsten, Dennis Laundry, and Joseph Malliette, only as a lighthouse but also as a social and recreational shoemakers; Christian Cranneri (Craanen) and Gregorie center for vacationers boating on the bay. According to Denis, general merchandise; Joseph Evrard, blacksmith; annals of the Union Congregational Church, their Wm. Fairfield, physician; Frank Greenwood and Nicholas minister wrote of the "genial and courteous host of the Schilling, butchers; Moeller Bros., blacksmiths and Long Tail Point Lighthouse which was a popular resort wagonmakers; Peter Morrison, justice of the peace; and Ed for church social excursions during the heat of the Schilling, general store and creamery. summer." Between 1883 and 1905, the steamers, John and Nettie Denessen, owned by Cornelius Denessen The number of farmers had more than tripled who was the son of Dutch settlers in the Town of Scott, since 1860 and included the families of the following: carried picnic and bathing parties to the island. The Jacob and john Bastian, john Beaudoin, Ben Beaumier, water was too shallow for the steamers to land so the Louis Beaupry, Frank Bebeau, Ed and Peter Belongia, Fred passengers were transferred to a scow and poled to a long and Mrs. J Benon, Mrs. Joseph Berton, Joseph Brice, pier which extended out from the shore.6 Charlotte Champeau, Joseph Champeau, Frank Along with the growth of the farms, a mail service, Cleeremans, Zouve Cookly, Peter Coopman, Joseph Congdo, and the increased use of the bay for business and Moses Deschane, Peter Deterville, john Douville, Peter pleasure, the planing mills which were built during the Draise, Aurase Evrard, Ben and J B. Forsythe, John and years following the Civil War added to the prosperity of Reme Gonion, Mike Greenwood, Mrs. Alex Hannon, the area. More flour mills were also established; and Nelson Hazen, john and Martin Hermans, Mrs. Susan Houle, john and Theodore Jacobs, Mrs. Alfonses Klaus, The second district was the Wequiock Post Office Peter, Antone, and john Kuipers, Henry and Hubert located near the falls. This area had a population of 100 Kriescher, P. J Kriescher, Amable LaFramboise, Louis and and was described as being situated nine miles northeast Oliver LaPlant, Antone Larscheid, Antone Larcheit, Henry of Green Bay. It, too, was serviced by the same stage line Laundry, David and Peter and Xavier Leanna, Fred and that ran to Bay Settlement. Mail was delivered daily and Louis Lemeuse, Joseph LeClaire, Leo Lescoch, fohn May, Miss Emma Cowles was the postmistress. The following families made their living by farming: Joseph Marchant, Henry Mil~ . Antone and Frank Baenen, August Beaumier, Leonard Bertrand, Henry Nooyen, john Parent, William Rouse, Martin Francis Bibeau, John and Joseph Campbell Arnold and Simonare, Foster Truckey, Peter Vanegheim, Antone Vaneghren, John Vanhandle, B. Vanharen, Frank and Gotftied and john and Bernard VanLaanen, Antone and Peter and Peter, Jr. Vanvechel Gus Verbonkeor, john Vincent, and Paul Zeutzius.

P .fut 1l' 01·· ~~~~~ Townsh.ips 24&25Xorth, Han!/es21&22 East of the1''ourthPri11oiµi1/ JJ,.;i

1889 Plat map ofthe Town of Scott Peter Carsten, Peter Coopman, Frank Cowles, Frank Mr. Cowles owned a store which housed the Crevia, Francis DePas, John Douville, Peter Drais, Peter Wequiock Post Office and the offices of Dr. Fairfield, and John Dappern, Lambert Evrard, Anderson and David M.D. on the old Ridge Road near the falls. Across the M Gibson, john M. Gibson, Robert and Tom Gibson, street from his home and store was the Cowles Sawmill, Francis and john B. Hannon, A. Harriman, Matt complete with wagon and machine shops. A letterhead Haysacker, William Horchmans, john Jacobs, Pat T. on their invoices and stationary in the year 1874 was Jennings, Moses Langlais, Joseph and Leonard LaPlante, printed; Ferd and Francis Lemense, William McMonagle, John

May, David Minsart, Peter Morrison, Jacob Roessler, Al M COWLES & BROS. andAlex Rousseau, Cornelius and Theodore Reynen, Al and MANUFACTURERS OF Henry Schilling, Nie Schilling, August and Julius PINE AND HARDWOOD LUMBER Speerschneider, Charles and Wm. Unsin, Wm. Unsin Jr., LATH , HUBS, SPOKES, BENT WORK & WAGON STOCK Francis Vanderheyden, Frank and Godfrey VanLaanen, DEALERS IN Henry and John VanLaanen, Nels Vanlebargen, John DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, & ETC. Vanleeshout, Anton and Peter Vanvackle, and John B. Vincent.

THE COWLES HOME The Hosmer Cowles home was built in 1861 at the crossroads The 1889 Wequiock Sunday School CU:zss taught by Mrs. Emma ofVanLanen Road and Bay Settlement Road. The home is now Outland Campbell. (Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Walter owned by the Donald Galloway family. (Photograph by Andrew Gibson) LaFrombois) The store at the crossroads near Wequiock Falls A moving force in the development of the now owned by Robert and Dorothy Lindell has a long northern section of the Town of Scott was Hosmer list of owners, going back to 1820. The first name on the Cowles. He was born in 1817 in Lima, New York. His abstract in 1835 is Joshua Hathaway, Jr., who deeded the parents were farmers but he devoted all of his spare time property to the Morgan Martin family. Alex Douville, an to the pursuit of learning and eventually became a early settler, bought a portion of it fourteen years later. schoolteacher. His travels led him to Garyville, New The abstract also notes that in 1866 Hosmer Cowles York; Detroit, Michigan; Mackinac Island; and Grand bought a half-acre and also the "store on the property." Traverse Bay where he was employed as an Indian trader. Whether this was the same store used by the family as a He married John Campbell's daughter, Hannah; and in general merchandise store and post office and which 1856 the family journeyed to Wequiock, traveling along now houses Lindell's Grocery is a matter of speculation the lake and bay on one of Captain Han's sailing vessels. since the original construction date is not known. 9 resort by carriage road. The Bender family ran the resort until approximately 1913. A daughter, Miss Genevieve Bender of De Pere, told in an interview how her brothers would catch fish near the hotel during the slack business months and then row all the way into Green Bay to sell the fish to provide a little extra income for the family. The southeastern portion, New Franken, was serviced by the Green Bay, Kewaunee, & Ahnapee Stage Line. The stagecoach left Green Bay promptly at 7:00 a.m. and a one way ticket was 75 cents. The village had a population of 50. Mail delivery also was daily and Michael Schauer was the postmaster. According to the directory New Franken was linked directly to Green Bay by telephone - a service not noted in the report on the other two settlements. There was a church, district Nooyen's Grocery. Now Lindell's Grocery Store. Photo taken in school, and a parochial school. The settlers were serviced June, 1935. (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. Mabel Nooyen) by the following businesses: Anton Burkard, general store, cheese manufacturer, Kish-Ke-Kwan-Te-No, or Red Banks, was wagonmaker, and Macksmith; Hubert Schaudt, sawon; developed into a well-known resort area during the late Lawrence Schauer, Macksmith and wagonmaker; Michael l 800's by Louis Bender. Mrs. Bender was employed in Schauer, general store and sawon; and August Schauer and various business professions until ill health forced him to George Findeisen, proprietors ofthe New Franken Fwuring retire to the shores of Green Bay. Mr. Bender, his wife Mill Ellen, and their twelve children platted the land at Red Banks, erected a hotel and cottages, and sold some of the A list of the surrounding farms was as follows: lots for summer homes. Nie Blunde, john Bourgonon, Michael Burkard, Henry An advertising leaflet described the resort, also Duquaine, Conrad Englerd, john Findeisen, Sebastian known as Benderville, as a healthful and pleasant repose Gehring, August and Larry and Martin and Michael for the weary and nervous city folk during the months Heim, Mike Listle, Michael Long, john May, Frances and when life in the city was unbearable. It mentioned that Ferdinand Mene, Joseph Metzler, Mrs. Peter Meurer, Peter the hotel was bordered by a farming community and Meuewsen, Henry Pitters, Michael RenckeL Matthew Ripp, fresh butter and eggs were always available. Collectors of Nathan Rist, Casper and George and Lawrence Schauer, Indian relics were especially welcome since the John and Joseph and George Schaut, Matthew Schott, countryside abounded with souvenirs such as Stephen and valentine Schott, Jacob Seek le, Andrew Simon, arrowheads, pottery, skeletons, etc. Within three-fourths Michael Smith, Victor Sorted, Martin Strebel John of a mile of the resort was a cave extending some 65 feet Tausheck, and John vanderhoven. back into the cliff which was well worth visiting. An excellent bathing beach had been prepared with a new thirty room bath house. The pamphlet also contained The above statistics on the businesses and farms in specific directions on how to reach the resort. From the Town of Scott in 1889 help to complete the picture Chicago or Milwaukee, the vacationers were told to of what life was like some fifty years after the first census travel by either the Chicago & Northwestern or the noted only eight people living along the bay shore. The Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroads. By boat the combined population of the three post office districts Goodrich Line from Chicago and the Hart Line from was 1500. These settlers were serviced by a daily mail Mackinac Island afforded a very pleasant lake trip. Then delivery. They could travel as far north as Sturgeon Bay upon arriving at Green Bay, the steamer Denessen and as far east as the shores of Lake Michigan on two carried the passengers and their baggage directly to the stagecoach lines. Hotels and saloons provided food, hotel whar£ Or, if so preferred, the traveler could rent a shelter, and drink for the weary travelers. The families horse and buggy at any of the livery stables and reach the did not have to journey into Green Bay for most of their provisions and physical needs because supplying them

1~53~ were six general stores and meat markets, two three districts but enumerated only the types of services shoemakers, four blacksmiths and wagonmakers, five offered. saloons and inns, two creameries, some sawmills and The following businesses were listed for both Bay flours mills, one physician, and a justice of the peace. Settlement and Wequiock: Two Catholic churches and parochial schools provided Gregorie Denis, Anton vaness, general stores; Louis Denis, for their spiritual and educational needs along with a Julian Neville, and Peter Basten, saloons; Antoine Depas, Presbyterian church built later that year and a growing blacksmith; John Corsten, butcher; Edward LaFrombois, public school system. meat market, Carl Moeller, tobacco factory; George Morrison, Mgr. of the Wequiock Creamery Co.; John Williams, justice ofthe peace; and Emil Williams, MD. 10

The creamery was located just south of Wequiock Falls. Mrs. Earl Longteau, Sr., who died in 1975, was an employee of the dairy many years ago and he mentioned that they made the first sweet cream butter in the area. The pump still used in the park at Wequiock Falls marks the original well and its depth is 1165 feet deep. Mr. Longteau also owned the house at the crossroads which was the old Wequiock Hotel run by Mr. Louis VanEss. The tobacco factory owned by the Moeller family was located on Bay Settlement Road near the Town Hall. The Bay Settlement Crossroads. (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. The structure also housed a blacksmith and Orville VanLieshout) wagonmaker's shop. Each year approximately five acres Twenty-one years later another directory, "The were planted in tobacco and when ready, the neighbor­ Wright's Brown County Postoffice Directory, 1911 " was hood children were hired to pick the crop. The drying published. This book also divided the Town of Scott into shed was on the west side of the road- here the tobacco

Tobacco Facotry and Blacksmith and wagon Shop (Illustration by Russ LaFrombois) was hung up until dried and then packaged in one pound bags and sold. 11 One of the best known businesses in the area was the Denis Store and Saloon located at the crossroads of Bay Settlement Road and Church Road. Mr. Gregorie Denis was a Belgian immigrant whose family had settled near Robinsonville in 1855. Six years later he married a Mrs. Mary Gosze Depereaux who operated a small restaurant in Bay Settlement and did a thriving business with the traveling public. Later that year they took their savings of $65.00 and opened their first grocery store in a small log cabin. The enterprise prospered and soon they were buying more and more supplies from as far

Anton DePeau Blacksmith Shop. (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. Theresa DePas Corsten)

of sausage in another basket. These were passed around and everyone would take a roll and a piece of meat and fix their own sandwiches. Mr. Depas was also a blacksmith and had his shop there.13 The directory for 1911 listed the following businesses for the New Franken area: John Basten, Kate and Gertrude Schauer, general stores; john Burkart and William Peot, blacksmiths; Ralph Gregory, buttermaker; Joseph Roznowski, cheese manufac­ turer; Al Greifing, store and elevator; Gus Jandrain and Fred Schmidt, meatmarkets; Peter Mornard and Joseph THE DENIS HOME Schneider, hotels; Frank Blonde, Mgr. New Century Co­ The Gregorie Denis Home was built in 1889 at Bay Settlement operative Creamery; Gus Vand.enack, saloon: Ed Schmidt, Road and Church Road. At the time it was built, it was said to medicines; and Joseph Hubertin, MD. have been elegantly furnished with all the "modern improve­ In 1911 Mr. Greiling also organized the New ments." (Photograph by Andrew LaFrombois) Franken State Bank, capitalized at $12,000.00. And the next year the New Franken Telephone Company was away as Milwaukee. Because of the increased debt established. involved with expansion, Mr. Denis soon developed a A growth pattern in the New Franken area "cash only," "no credit" trade. They stocked, not only emerges from the above statistics. During the twenty groceries, but also hardware, buggy whips, nails, tools, years between the publication of the directories, eleven clothing, dry goods, etc. In the rear of the building was new businesses were established. However, during this Mr. Denis's private real estate and banking business. And same period of time, the number of services in Bay next door, attached to the store, was the Denis Saloon. 12 Settlement and Wequiock declined slightly, although the South of the Denis complex was the Bay View creamery and tobacco factory were new. Part of this Hall, a saloon and dance hall. It was first owned by Paul development which saw New Franken become a Harvey and then by the Anton Depas family. The flourishing and prosperous village can be attributed to building was destroyed by fire in 1932; but up to that the building of the Green Bay & Western Railroad in time, it was the scene of many dances and social events 1892 and the successful efforts of Mr. A Greiling to for the community. Mr. and Mrs. Depas served a free have a road built connecting the depot to the old Green lunch to the dancers at the end of each evening: Bay and Kewaunee highway on the north and the homemade rolls placed in a big wash basket and chunks farming communities to the south.

I~ 55 :=;1 its nuclear families. One family listed a father, five sons, a daughter-in-law, one granddaughter, and three grandsons all working together for the welfare of its members. Even the fourteen year olds were pressed into service to help with the farm labor or the housework. And by seventeen, girls had some kind of occupation -

Dr. Emil Williams, M.D. had the first automobile in Bay Settlement. Drawing from book owned by Mrs. Orville VanLieshout.

A factor in the demise of services in the Bay Settlement and Wequiock areas was the improvement of the highway system which considerably shortened the Mrs. Theresa DePas Corsten plowing her father's field. amount of time needed to travel to Green Bay and the (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. Corsten) advent of the automobile which brought the services if not domestic work, as dressmakers, stenographers, or located in the city so much closer and accessible. cooks. Helping their fathers on the farm was quite PART 2 SOCIAL different for the young boys than it is now. All the work Daily life on a farm or running a business was was done with horses or oxen - the farmer walking and never easy for these early settlers. Very few ever retired - driving the team. When it was time to do the haying, the a census taken in 1905 showed that men in their sixties, crop was cut with a mower pulled by horses. After it was seventies, and even older were still working their farms. raked, the hay was dried and then hauled to the barn Many of the households listed more than one person where it was unloaded by hand with large special hay doing housework or farm labor. This was common in forks and spread in the mow. Plowing was done working those days when two and three generations worked and one furrow at a time. In the fall the corn was cut, also by lived together - a way of life foreign to our society with hand, and tied into bundles. These then would be stacked against a three-legged buck which would soon resemble a tepee. After the corn had dried, the ears were broken off and put on the floor of the barn. Then the neighbors and relatives were invited over for a cornhusking bee complete with lunch for the hungry workers. The husks were used for bed mattresses and the stalks were chopped up for corn feed. Most of the farmers owned ten to twelve milk cows. The milking was done manually with the wife and children all helping. Most boys started quite young working at the farm chores, usually by the time they were eight. The milk was put in large cans and strained through a clean cloth. Butter was churned by the women Pat VanLanen and Jack Reynen driving their hay wagons. in the family in a large wooden churn. (Photograph courtesy ofMrs. Joseph Reynen) Chickens were raised for their eggs and a few the loss of his license, the tavernkeeper would have to roosters or hens for butchering. If the family had more refuse to serve or sell any kind of intoxicating beverage eggs than they could use, they would bring them to the to the husband. This posting could also be done by any neighboring grocery store and trade for groceries or sell town officer upon proof that anyone, by excessive them for extra cash. Some of the farmers raised sheep. drinking, was misspending, wasting, or lessening his They clipped the wool and the women and girls spun it estate and thus exposing himself or his family to becoming a liability to the town, or injuring his health; or endangering the personal safety and comfort of his family.15 To lend further credence to the wife's position in this matter of temperance, the following verse printed in Dr. Chase's Receipt Book and HousehoU Physician or the Practical Knowledge for the People, 1887, said: 16 A pledge I make - no wine to take; Nor brandy red, that turns the head, Nor whisky hot that makes the sot, Nor fiery rum, that ruins the home. Louie Gibson hauling ice with his horses, May and Bird, in Nor wiff I sin, by drinking gin, the 1920's. Prior to the advent of modern refrigeration ice Hard cider, too, wiff never do. harvesting was a popul.ar method. Nor Lager beer, my heart to cheer, Nor sparkling ale, my face to pale. into yarn and then knitted stockings and mittens for To quench my thirst, I'll always bring, their families. 14 CoU water from the weff or spring; Along with church doings and public dances, the So here I pledge perpetual hate, "charivari" was part of the social life of the early settlers. To aLL that can intoxicate. When a couple got married, their friends would gather There was a branch of the Green Bay Temperance together all the neighbors and march to the young Movement in the Town of Scott. A hall had been built people's home (honeymoons were not too frequent) and in the late 1800's across from the Wequiock Presbyterian serenade them with old pots, kettles, and other Church. It was a frame building and was used primarily noisemakers. Since this was usually done after midnight, as a social hall for those presumably the husband and wife had retired for the who had taken the pledge night. The merrymakers would stop their clamor only to abstain from all liquor, when invited in by the reluctant newlyweds and given except in the case of a ample food and drinks. In some extreme cases, the severe cold. 17 serenaders might have to charivari two or three nights in According to the a row until the reluctant couple would provide them Town Records, Volume with the free refreshments. VI, the temperance The neighborhood saloon also played an movement was at its important part in the social life of the men. Here they strongest peak during the could hear the latest news and gossip in the early 1900's when a community- in an atmosphere of good will and con­ petition was presented to viviality. However this, at times, presented a problem for the supervisors to prohibit their wives. AB a last resort to stop her spouse from "sale and traffic of intoxi­ visiting the tavern, a wife could "post" or blacklist her cating and spirituous Ribbon worn by members of husband. This "posting" was a legal procedure whereby liquors within the the W'equiock Temperance Society. Red background the wife would file a petition with the town government town boundaries." The with gold embroidered which the Constable would then deliver to all the proposal was defeated in a letters. (Illustration by Russ saloons in the township. The notice would be posted on general referendum by a LaFrombois, courtesy of a public wall and under the threat of a fine of $50.00 or vote of 141 to 91. Mrs. Walter Gibson)

I::===: 5 7 :==;I In May of 1908, a list of all the parents and lawful into their holes with a feather. To make fly guardians of the students of Holy Cross School was "Stickumfast": melt six ounces of rosin in a tin cup and given to the board, along with a petition to reconsider add two ounces lard. Spread this mixture upon rather the license granted to Gregorie Denis for his saloon stiff paper and place about the rooms. "This will hold which had been built too close to the school and church fast all that lights upon it and the more light, the more grounds. will come thinking that something good has been In June the annual licensing meeting was held and found." Many a young, worried mother would turn to the first order of business was this petition. His license such a book to find out how to treat a sick child or how was denied until a new site could be found which would to handle a housekeeping problem. be in "better taste. " This was the everyday life of the early settlers; for Once again in 1909 the foes of alcohol tried to the men and boys - up early in the morning to do out-law taverns in the Town of Scott - but with even chores - hard back-breaking work clearing land and less success, losing 153 to 85. Ten years passed before the planting crops; for the women - cooking and cleaning same petition again appeared in the town records. But for their families with little in the way of equipment; for before any further action could be taken, prohibition all - always the threat of not having enough to eat or became the law of the land and effectively accomplished the loss of shelter and the necessity that every able­ what the Wequiock Temperance Movement could not. bodied family member do his or her share. Another hardship which faced the pioneers was Their social life was simple and limited to that there was little in the way of medical help when they whatever the community itself could provide: a church first arrived in the wilderness. So books such as Dr. doing, a wedding celebration, a neighborhood dance, Chase's which contained medical advice on the the singing class, a visit to the neighbors, or a friendly symptoms and treatment of many diseases, along with gathering at the next door tavern. household hints, were on the shelves of many homes. We have also seen th.at religion and the church For fever, chills, and ague, the sufferer was told to take played an important part in the lives of the settlers as did one pint of cottonseed and add two pints of water which their desire that their children receive as much formal had been boiled down to one pint... strain and "Take education as possible. They quickly learned how to warm at least one hour BEFORE the attack." Onion was exercise their rights as American citizens and to take an good for wasp stings when applied to the source of the active interest in the town government. irritation. For acne, the young girl when reaching fifteen Out of a wilderness broken only by a few Indian years of age was to be dosed by a half teaspoon of villages, the pioneers carved out three settlements which bicarbonate of soda in 3 tablespoons of water after each were, of necessity, almost completely self-sustaining meal. The following remedy was given for sprains and during their early years. As needs developed, services swellings: one pint best cider vinegar and add a half pint were established to fulfill them. The economy changed of spirits turpentine. Beat well three eggs and mix all only as the automobile arrived on the scene along with together. Apply to hurt by saturating cloths and lay on the improved highway systems and here we end our or bond on. "Cures" says Preacher Jones, "on the double story. quick." According to Dr. Chase, "this medicine cured a This process of developing and shaping the Town woman's swollen arm in nine days who had had to give of Scott took place over a period of many years through her up her work and go to begging on account of the the combined efforts of men, women, and children from swelling." many different cultural, religious, and social Information on household problems included an backgrounds. The common denominator was that they article on how to discourage egg eating hens. Mix the all had a dream that a better life was within their grasp. insides of the egg with strong mustard and refill the egg. This hope was the driving force which led them to bid It was to be put back near the nest - this would quickly farewell to family and homeland and to endure the stop such a bad habit for hens or dogs. The housewife struggles and hardships of a way of life, that we living was told to drive away crickets by putting scotch snuff here today, will never know and can only imagine. • CHAPTER 9 FOOTNOTES

'Brown County Census Records: Town of Green Bay, 1850, page 44 and Town of Scott, 1860, page 379.

2 Ella Hoes Neville, Sarah Greene Martin, and Deborah Beaumont Martin. Historic Green Bay, 1634-1840 (Green Bay, WI: The Authors, 1893), 169-251. 3 Diedrich & Gehl, History ofNew Franken, 17-18. 4 Diedrich & Gehl, History ofNew Franken, 20-21.

5 Bella French, ed., The American sketch book: a collection ofhistorical incidents with descriptions of corresponding localities. v.3. History ofBrown County (La Crosse, WI: American Sketch Book Co., 1876), 270. 6 Green Bay Press-Gazette, "Now" section, Sunday, July 7, 1974, 1.

7 John Richards, comp., Brown County Directory (Chicago, Central Publishing Company, 1889-1890), 260-295. 8 Interview with Mrs. Mildred Neville, member of the Bay Settlement Historical Society. 9 Other owners of the store were: Peter VandeWal, Ferdinand Lemense, Frank and Emma Cowles, Antone and Minnie VanEss, Edgar and Melva Coney, Edward and Mable Nooyen, John and Verna Junio, Wallace and Matilda Corsten, James LeCaptain, and Frank and Alice Kowalski.

10 Dr. Williams, M .D., was born in Belgium, March 4, 1857 where he received his medical education. Arrived in Bay Settlement in 1902. He was said to have been very proficient in his practice and progressive and public minded. His offices were south of Holy Cross Church. He supposedly bought the first auto in the area (see illustration on page 118). He made regular house calls and at times sewed up wounds with a needle and regular store thread. If necessary, he would also pull teeth. He delivered some of the people still living in Bay Settlement. He died in 1917.

11 Interview with Jos. Reynen, Bay Settlement Historical Society, October, 1973. 12 Martin, History ofBrow n County, 2:88. 13 Interview with Mrs. Andrew Corsten, April, 1973. 14 Interview with Walter VanLieshout, May 1975. 15 Interview with Jos. Reynen and Walter VanLieshout, May, 1975. Wisconsin Statutes of 1911, Chapter 66, Section 1552, p. 1047. 16 Dr. Chase's Receipt Book was found amoung the books and papers belonging to Miss Lotus LaFrombois whose father was Edward LaFrombois. 17 Interview witl1 Mrs. Mabel Gibson, 1975.

The Limestone House

The Old Limestone House. The house, located in Bay Settlement, was first bought by Morgan L. Martin for Jos. Jourdain and Peter Chelifeaux as a trading post around 1830. Referred to at that time as the "old limestone building." Gutted by fire in the early 1900's, but the 24" to 30" walls remained, intact. Restored in the 1930's by Howard Kissel it is now owned by the Russel LaFrombois family. (Photograph by Andrew LaFrombois) Honor Roll of Earl_y Settlers

ALLARD, Joseph: Born 1813. Wife Adelaide born BRUNETTE, George: Born Bay Settlement 1864. Son 1823. Canada. Farmers. Town of Scott 1860 census. of Charles & Philomene. Attended school Town of ARVEY, John: Wife Odile DeBauche. Members Holy Scott. Wife Lucy Zoeller. 1912 owned finest Cross Church. restaurant in Green Bay on the European plan. H . of BAENEN, Ed: Born 1878. Wife Emma Paulson. B. C., II p. 172 Married 1904. Farmer. Member Holy Cross Church. BRUNETTE, Jesse: Born Canada 1812. Wife Theresa BAENEN, Henry: Wife Delia Reynen, born 1878. Canada 1823. Farmers. 1860 census. Married 1900. Member Holy Cross Church. BRUNNER, Michael: Wife Caroline Lang. Farmer. BAENEN, John: Born 1885. Town of Scott. New Franken Road. BASTEN, Peter: Born 1876, son of Lawrence and BURGER, John: Born 1815 Germany. Wife Dorothy Catherine. Wife Emma Delande. Married 1897. born Bavaria 1832. Schoolteacher in the Town of Prop. Basten's Saloon. History of Brown County, II, Scott. 1860 census. p. 164. BURKART, Melchior: Wife Apollonia Schott. 14 BEAUDOIN, Narcisso: Born Canada 1825. Wife children. Farmers in the Town of Scott. Josette born 1832. Farmers. 1860 census. BURTON (Berton), Joseph: Born France 1812. Wife BEAUDOIN, Pierre: Born Canada 1818. Wife Angel Canada 1828. Laborer. See Chapter 7. 1860 Margaret born 1824. Farmers. 1860 census. census. BEAUMIER, August: Immigrated to Town of Scott, CAMPBELL, John Sr.: (See Chapter 4). John and 1839, from Canada. Son, August, married daughter Elizabeth's children: Hiram, Robert, John, William, of Joseph Berton, Philomene, in 1893. Six children Samuel, Hannah, Elizabeth Roe I, Henry, Elizabeth of Gus. Jr.: Bill, John, Florence, Jessie, Stella, and Roe II, Joseph, and Hiram Porter. Cecelia. CAMPBELL, John Jr.: Married Mary Smith. Children: BENDER, Louis: (See Chapter 9) History of Brown Robert Redwood, 1842; Joseph Chase, 1844 (also County, II, p. 356. fought in the Civil War by lying about his age); BESEAU (Besaw), Charles: Wife Margaret Houle born Hannah Marian, 1846; Eugene Morrison, 1848; in 1830. Family were homesteaders at Bay Elvira Roe, 1850; Francis Merena, 1852; and Martha Settlement in the 1850's. Maria, 1855; Carrie May, 1858; John James, 1860; BERKEN, Antone: Born 1888 to Theodore & Nellie Andrew Blish, 1864; and Louis Mark, 1866. Jansen Berken. 1910 Married Elizabeth CAMPBELL, Eugene; Born 1848. Wife Emma Vandenlangenberg who was born in 1889. Outland, born 1856. One daughter Mabel. BIBEAU (Bebeau), Francis: Born in Canada 1815. Wife CHALIFOU, Lambert: Born Wisconsin 1820. Wife Mary born in Wisconsin 1828. Farmer. 1860 census. Elizabeth Wis. 1825. Farmers. 1860 census. BINS, Christian: Born 1808 Germany. Wife Barbara CHALIFOU, Pirri: Born Wisconsin 1794. Wife born Bavaria 1820. Farmer. 1860 census. Magdaline Wis. 1794. Farmer. 1860 census. BINS, Joseph: Son of John Bins from Germany. Wife CHAMPEAU, Albert: Born April 1862 in Bay Kollen Gilling from Belgium. Mr. Bins owned a Settlement. Married 1888 to Donnie LeMense born blacksmith shop for 5-112 years at Bay Settlement. Champion 1867. 6 children. Members Holy Cross Church. CHAMPEAU, Angeline (Landry): (See Chapter 8, page BISON, Charles: Born 1820 Canada. Wife Margaret 95) Canada, 1830. Farmer. 1860 census. CHAMPEAU, Joseph: Born Canada 1802. Wife BOULANGER, Antone: Farmer on New Franken Charlotte born Wisconsin 1822. Farmer. 1860 Road. census.

1::= 60 ~I CHAMPEAU, Isadore: Born 1886. Wife Anna Beseau. DEGROOT, Henry Sr.: Born Holland 1818. Wife Married 1904. Lifelong resident Bay Settlement. Herbertino Holland 1826. Farmers. 1860 census. Plaster contractor. Member Holy Cross Church. DEGROOT, Henry: Born Bay Settlement 1862. Wife CHAMPEAU, Oliver: Born Canada 1809. Wife Mary Mary Baenen born 1867 Bay Settlement. Married Canada 1820. Farmer. 1860 census. 1886. Children: Louise Nooyen, Minnie Jacobs, CHARTIER, Sr. Angela: Born Bay Settlement 1862. Joseph, Anthen, Ben, Frank, Agnes Geasl, and Joined community in 1880. Taught in De Pere, Martha Daul. Holy Cross Church. Robinsonville, & Holy Cross Askearon. Mother DELANG, Amable: Born Canada 1801. Wife Louise Superior of Order for 15 years. Many old settlers Canada 1810. Farmer. 1860 census. remembered the "Little Mother" trotting her horse, DENIS, Gregorie: (See Chapter 9) Old Dan, to Green Bay to shop. Buried Holy Cross DENESSEN, Nicholas: Pioneer in Town of Scott. Born Cemetery in 1956, Press-Gazette article, 1956. Holland. Farmer. A son, Cornelius, ran the boats, COLLINS, Louis: Wife Emma Hannon born 1891 the Nettie and John Denessen, which traveled along Benderville. Members of Robinsonville Presbyterian the bay. H ofB. C., II, p. 200 (See Chapter 9) Church. DEPAS, Antone: Born Champion 1868. Wife Mary COOKLE, Edward: Born Canada 1828. Wife Zvah Vincent. Blacksmith and operator of Bay Viem Hall. Wisconsin 1840. Laborer. 1860 census. Children: Clara, Liz, Theresa, John, Felix, Russ, and COOPER, John: Born Holland 1819. Wife Elizabeth Dorphine. (see Chapter 9) Holland 1820. Farmer. 1860 census. DEPAS, Ignace: Born Belgium 1798. Wife Mary born CORSTENS, Henry: Born Belgium 1794. Wife Anna 1813. Farmers. 1860 census. Belgium 1801. Farmed with John Corstens born in DEPEREAU, Joseph: Born France 1811. Wife Mary Belgium 1802. Belgium 1820. Hotelkeeper. 1860 census. CORSTEN, John: Born Holland 1810. Wife Theodora DEPEREN, Peter: 1815. Children: Arnold, John, Herman, Henry, DESCHESNE, Eli: Born Canada 1790. Wife Mary Rosie VanEgeren, Mary Kuyper, Lena Rawley, Canada 1802. Farmer. 1860 census. Lawrence, Andrew, Miss Dora, Peter, and George. DESHOTEL, Frank: Born Canada 1802. Wife Lucy John ran a grocery store and shoemakers shop in Canada 1813. Farmers. 1860 census. home on Bay Settlement Road. (See Chapter 5) DESHOTEL, John: Born Canada 1808. Wife Margaret COWLES, Hosmer: (See Chapter 9) Canada 1823. Farmer. 1860 census. CRAANEN, Christian: Born Holland 1827. Wife DEVRIES, Rev. J.W: Born 1882 Holland. Joined Theodora Holland 1820. Shoemaker. 1860 census. Norbertine Order 1902. Came to Green Bay 1907. (See Chapter 9) Taught classics and philosophy at St. Norbert's and CRAANEN, Frank: Wife Anna Boehm. was the chaplain at the Reformatory, 1909-13. CRAANEN, Jacob Sr.: Born Bay Settlement 1858. Pastor of Holy Cross Church and chaplain for the Farmer. Wife Mary Beaumier. Nine children. Mary Sisters of St. Francis from 1920 until his death in Beaumier born Bay Settlement 1868 (See Chapter 1957. 7). Children: Jacob, Joseph, Gerald, George, Myrtle, DOUVILLE (Deville), Alex: Born Canada 1809. Wife Margaret, Sr. Coletta, Blanelu, and Clara. Mary born Vermont 1809. Farmer. 1860 census. CRAANEN, Jacob Jr.: Born 1893. Wife Mary DOUVILLE, Alec: Born 1869. Married in 1890. Early VanLanen. Married 1918. Farmed, then moved to settlers in Town of Scott. Members of Wequiock Green Bay. 6 children. Presbyterian Church. One daughter, Mrs. Edgar DAEMS, Father Edward: (See Chapter 7) Harvey. DAPPERN, Henry: Born 1857. Wife Theresa born DOUVILLE, Fred: Born Town of Scott 1866. Wife 1863. Farmers, Town of Scott. Augusta Rosier. Married 1893. Members Wequiock DAPPERN, Joseph: Wife Minnie Jacobs. Four children. Presbyterian Church. DALY, Denis: Born and educated in Northumberland DRAIS, Peter: Born Bay Settlement 1868. First wife County, Canada. Came to Town of Scott at 20 years Mary Hermans. Five children: Mary Ann (Sr. of age. Prop. of New Franken Flour Mill. Wife Philomena, 1891); Rose (Sr. Gertrude, 1893); Lizzie Hannah Hennesy of Canada. (Sr. Rita, 1896) Joe, 1897; and Albert, 1903. Second wife Anna Jacobs born in 1873. Members of Holy GIBSON, Walter: Born in the Town of Scott. Married Cross Church. Mabel Campbell in 1918. Veteran WW I. Members ENGLAD, Conrad: Born Prussia 1828. Wife Mary Wequiock Presbyterian Church. Prussia 1832. Farmers. 1860 census. GIBSON, Ward: Born 1880. Wife Leah Bodart, 1893. ENNO, Francis: Born Belgium 1808. Wife Malani Ward son of David and Margaret Gibson. Members Belgium 1812. Farmers. 1860 census. Wequiock Presbyterian Church. EVRARD, Francois: Born Belgium, 1807. Wife Sophia GONION, Edward: Born Bay Settlement 1862. Wife Belgium, 1810. Farmer. 1860 census. Clara. FAIRFIELD, William, M.D.: (See Chapter 5) GREENWOOD, Edward: Born 1877. Served as FISHER, Christian: Born Schuartzburg 1805. Wife Chairman of the Town of Scott. Barbara 1809. Farmers. 1860 census. GREENWOOD, Frank: Early settler in Town of Scott. FONTAINE, Banjamin: Born 1883 Town of Scott. 1880 owned a tavern in the township. Wife Ida Parent. Two children: Pauline and Gordon. GUILLAUME, Jules: Born Antwerp 1888. Arrived Bay FORCIER, Jacques: Born Canada 1795. Wife Josette Settlement, 1893. Wife Nellie Liebergen. Farmer. Canada 1787. Farmer. 1860 census. HANNON, Eli: Born Green Bay 1873. Wife Adele FORSYTHE, Chester Sr.: Born 1889. Wife Rose Bodart. Farmer. Second wife Millicent Schilling. Murray. Married 1908. Farmer in Bay Settlement. HANNON, Joel R.: Bachelor. Born December 10, GAGNON, Francis: Born Canada 1814. Wife Mary 1866. Town of Scott. 1820. Farmer. 1860 census. HANNON, John: Belgium 1805. Wife Mary Belgium GAGNON, Jeremiah: Born Canada 1822. Wife Mary 1805. Farmers. 1860 census. 1824. Farmer. 1860 census. HANNON, Joseph: Born in Bay Settlement 1865. Wife GAGNON, Louis: Born Canada 1815. Wife Wisconsin Alabine Petiniot born in 1865. 1821. Farmer. 1860 census. HARTEAUX,Joseph: Canada 1812. Wife Mary born in GAUTHIER, John: Wife Mae Vanderheyden. John Michigan 1822. Farmers. 1860 census. born 1895. Welldriller. Members Holy Cross HAZEN, George: Born 1860 Bay Settlement. Wife Church. Christine Lennais. Married Bay Settlement 1903. GIBSON, David Miller: Born in New York state 1841. HAZEN, Joseph: Born Bay Settlement 1866. Wife Came to Town of Scott in 1851 with father and Edna Barribeau. sister, Agnes. Wife Lena Kramer born Wequiock HAZEN, Nelson: Born Vermont 1817. Wife Pauline 1864. Six children. Members Wequiock Presbyterian Canada 1815. Farmer. 1860 census. Church. HEESACKER, Matt: Born in De Pere 1852. Wife born GIBSON, John: Born Scotland 1799. Married in Bay Settlement 1856. Married at Holy Cross by Elizabeth Miller in Scotland in 1831. Arrived in Father Daems. Ten children. New York in 1831 and moved to Town of Scott in HEIM, Lawrence: Wife Barbara Petitjean. History of 1851. Elizabeth died in New York. Second wife, New Franken. Eliza, born in New York in 1820. Farmers. 1860 HEIM, Martin: Wife Margaret Oechner. H ofN F census. HERMANS, Albert: Wife Anna. Children: Rose; GIBSON, John Henry: Son of David M. and Lena Martin; John; Mary; Hannah; Anna; and Lizzie. Kramer. Born 1889. Wife Jessie Ellen Gibson born HERMANS, Martin: Born 1856. Wife Nellie Jacobs 1889. Married 1912. Farmer. born 1860 Bay Settlement. Children: Albert, 1886; GIBSON, Robert: Born Berwickshire, Scotland in John, 1891; Bill, 1888; Edward, 1898; Henry, 1899; 1817. Came to Town of Scott 1837. Farmer. Minnie, 1883; Nary, 1884; Delia, 1890; Anna, Married Ellen Mahone. Eleven children: John, 1842; 1894; Louise, 1896; and a foster son, John Nooyen. Ann Elizabeth, 1844; Robert E., 1846; Anderson Herman, Leonard: Born Bay Settlement 1893. Wife Porter, 1848; James Hook, 1850; William Henry, Nora Gerondale. Married 1919. Veteran WW I. 1853; Thomas Jefferson, 1858; Ellen, 1856; Elisia, Farmer and blacksmith. 1862; and Esther, 1860. HETTMANN, Aloysisus Louis: Wife Barbara GIBSON, Tom: Wife Annie Resler born in 1868. Hemmen. Eight children. HORKMAN, John: Born Belgium 1819. Wife Nellie where he worked for Otto Tank. Later settled in born 1825 Holland. Farmers. 1860 census. Wequiock and married Julia Opstelder, who was HORKMAN, Wm.: Born Belgium 1829. Wife Theresa born in 1833. Children: Louise, 1857; Delia, 1859; Belgium 1825. Farmers. 1860 census. Selma, 1861; Mary, 1862; Lena, 1865; Edmond, HOULE, Abram: Canada 1816. Wife Susan Wisconsin 1868. 1837. Farmer. 1860 census. KUIPER, John: Mr. and Mrs. HOULE, George: Early settler in Town of Scott. Wife JACOBS, Theo: Mr. and Mrs. Brother and sister Mary. married brother and sister at Holy Cross Church. All HOULE, Joseph: Born Canada 1807. Father of George had been baptized, made their first communions, Houle. Farmer. 1860 census. and were married in the little white pine church and JACOBS, Albert: Born Bay Settlement 1854. Carpenter. later celebrated their golden anniversaries together. Moved to Sturgeon Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs had 14 children; Mr. and Mrs. JACOBS, Edward: Born 1884 Bay Settlement. Wife Kuiper, 12 children. Mary Ann Hermans. Married 1908. Members Holy KUIPERS, Martin: Born 1880. Wife Anna Peters born Cross Church. 1886. JACOBS, Herman: Born 1816 Holland. Wife Hermenia KUIPERS (Kuypers), William: Born Bay Settlement Thyson Holland 1816. 1884. Wife Elsa Schrickel. Married in 1912. JACOBS, Jacob: Born Holland 1839. Arrived Town of LAFOND, John: Born Canada 1815. Wife Margaret Scott 1849. Served in Co. B. 13th Wisconsin Michigan 1823. Farmers. 1860 census. Infantry, Civil War. LAFOND, Moses: Born Canada 1818. Wife Louise JACOBS, John: Born 1858. Wife Rose Hermans born Wisconsin 1827. Farmers. 1860 census. 1859. Children: William, 1892; Albert, 1895; LAFRAMBOISE (LaFrombois), Amable: Born Henry, 1901; Mary, 1885; Minnie, 1883; Lizzie, Wisconsin 1836. Wife Matilda Rousseau born 1888. Wisconsin 1840. Laborer. 1860 census. JACOBS, John: Born Bay Settlement 1877. Wife Mary LAFROMBOIS, Edward: Born Town of Scott 1880. Heraly. Married 1903. Farmer. Wife Myrtle Schilling born 1883. Married 1904. JACOBS, William: Born 1893. Wife Leona LaPlante. Five children. Glenn, Manny, Russ, Elerene, and Married 1922 Holy Cross Church. Farmed the Lotus. Jacobs homestead for 37 years. Eight children. LAFRAMBOISE, Francis: (See Chapter 7) JADIN, Paul: Wife Louise. Paul born 1898. Farmer at LAFROMBOIS, Gus.: Bachelor. Brother to Edward. New Franken. He and his wife raised 56 foster LAFRAMBOISE, John: Born Wisconsin 1826. Wife children. Treas. Town of Scott for 26 years. Paul died Mary Michigan 1822. Farmer. 1860 census. February, 1976. LAFRAMBOISE, Louis: Born Wisconsin 1820. Wife JEFFRY, Thomas: Born England 1820. Wife Eliza Mary Wisconsin 1820. Farmer. 1860 census. England 1825. 1860 census. LAFRAMBOISE, Jean Baptiste: Wife Mary Rouseeau. JENNINGS, Patrick: Born Ireland 1825. Wife Francis Married 1849. Two children. Ireland 1825. Farmer. 1860 census. LAMBERT, Joseph: Belgium 1830. Wife Mary Belgium JENNINGS, Peter: Born Ireland 1832. Wife Latilia 1830. Hotelkeeper. 1860 census. Ireland 1835. Farmer. 1860 census. LANGLOIS, John: Canada 1821. Wife Belgium 1830. JOURDAIN, Charles: Born Ohio 1815. Farmer. 1860 Laborer. 1860 census. census. LANGLOIS, Maxim: Born Canada 1810. Farmer. 1860 KRAUSE, Otto: Farmer New Franken Road. census. KRIESCHER, Hubert: H of B. C., II, p. 353. (See LAPLANT, Edward: Born Bay Settlement 1877. Wife Chapter 8) Josephine Leanna. Married 1903. KRIESCHER, John: Born in Germany. Wife Anna. LAPLANT, Louis: Born 1824 in Green Bay. Later Farmer and blacksmith in township. H ofB. C., II, farmer in Town of Scott. Four of his children died of p. 223. diptheria in one week during an epidemic. KRAMER, Michael: Born Germany 1819. Came to LAPLANT, Oliver: Born 1840 on his father's farm in New York in 1858. Arrived in Fort Howard in 1860 Towm of Scott. Parents, John and Katherine,

!:=: 63 :=

i:= 67 ~I 5ibliograph_y

Arese, Francesco. A Trip to the Prairies and in the Dominica, Sister M., O.S.F. The Chapel, Our Lady of Interior ofNorth America, 1837-1838, Travel Good Help: a Shrine ofMary on the Green Bay Notes. New York: The Harbor Press, 1934. Peninsula. Green Bay, WI: the Sisters of St. Brevet's Wisconsin Historical Markers and Sites. Sioux Francis of Bay Settlement, 1955. Falls, S.D., Brevet Press, 1974. "Dorothea Lynde Dix, 1802-1887." American Peoples Brown County Census Records. Town of Green Bay, Encyclopedia. Danbury, CT: Grolier, Inc., 1964. 1850. Town of Scott, 1860 and 1905. Area Research Edwards, E.E., ed. Fifty Years in the Northwest. Center, Universiry of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Pioneer Press, 1888. Butler, James. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. Madison, WI: State Historical Sociery of Wisconsin, 1898. French, Bella, ed., The American Sketch Book: A Collection ofHistorical Incidents with Descriptions Chase, A.W, M. D. Dr. Chase's Third, Last and of Corresponding Localities. La Crosse, WI., Complete Receipt Book and Household Physician or Sketch Book Company, 1874-76. Practical Knowledge for the People. Detroit, MI: F.B. Dickerson Company, 1910. Green Bay Advocate & Green Bay Intelligencer Clark, Giles. Historic Tales of the Fox River Valley: Fox Newspapers. Green Bay, WI.: 1833-1860. tales. Menasha, WI: Educational Enterprises, 1973. Microfilm. Brown County Library. Collections of the State Historical Society ofWisconsin. Green Bay City Directories. Green Bay, WI.: 1872-1906. Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Green Bay Historical Bulletin. 9 vols. Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1855-1931. WI.: Green Bay Historical Society, 1925-1934. Commemorative Biographical Record ofthe Counties of Green Bay Press-Gazette. Article on Wequiock Brown, Kewaunee, and Door, Wisconsin. Chicago: ]. H. Beers, 1895. Local History Department, Presbyterian Church, September 13, 1939. Brown County Library. "Now" Section, July 7, 1974. Cowles, Hosmer. Family papers presently owned by Henderson, Margaret C., Ethel Dewey Speerschneider the Donald Galloway family. Town of Scott. and Helen L. Ferslev. Unpublished. It Happened Here; Stories ofWisconsin. Madison, Davis, Susan Burdick. Wisconsin Lore for Boys and WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1953. Girls. Eau Claire, WI: E. M. Hale, 1931. History ofNorthern Wisconsin: containing an account of Dell, Virginia. Bay Settlement, a Hamlet in Northeast its settlement, growth, development, and resources; Wisconsin. Green Bay, WI: November 25, 1974. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881. Unpublished. Area Research Center. University Holand, Hjalmar Rued. Old Peninsula Days, Tales of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Sketches ofthe Door County Peninsula. Diedrich, N. D. and J. B. Gehl. History ofNew Ephraim, WI: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1925. Franken, Wisconsin, ftom Pioneer Days to the Present Time, written for the occasion ofthe Holand, Hjalmar Rued. Old Peninsula Days; The diamond jubilee ofSt. Kilian parish, 1851-1926. Making ofan American Community. New York: New Franken, WI: 1926. Twayne Publishers, 1959. Holy Cross Parish Birth and Interment Records. Richards, John comp., Brown County Directory. Diary of Denis Parent, 1852. Yearly diary written Chicago: Central Publishing Company, 1889-1890. by Father Mickers and Rev. DeVries, 1904-1952. Smet, Antoine de. translated by Florence Clarke Unpublished. Rectory of Holy Cross Church, Bay Stehn. Belgian Community in Northeastern Settlement Road. Wisconsin, Its Origin and Development. Research Incidents in the History ofBrown County, Wisconsin. paper by de Smet, Assistant Custodian of the Green Bay, WI.: 1953. Royal Library of Belgium. Wavre: Belgium: Jorgenson, Lloyd P. Founding ofPublic Education in Cercle historique et archeologique de Wavre et de Wisconsin. Madison, WI: State Historical Society la region. 1957. ofWisconsin, 1956. 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The Jesuit Relations and Pictorial Magazine. allied documents; travels and explorations of the Martin, Deborah B. H istory ofBrown County: Past Jesuit Missionaries in New France, 1610-1791. and Present. 2 volumes. Chicago: The S. ]. New York: Pageant Book Co., 1959. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913. Thwaites, Reuben Gold, ed. Wisconsin: the Martin, Deborah Beaumont. and Sophie Beaumont. Americanizcztion ofa French settlement. Boston, Old Green Bay. New York: Cheltenham Press, 1899. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1908.

Marx, Joseph A. comp., God's acre: a Necrology ofthe Tlachac, Math. The History ofthe Belgian Settlements Diocesan Clergy ofthe Diocese of Green Bay. in Door, Kewaunee and Brown Counties: ... a Green Bay, WI: 1939. Legacy in 10 parts. Algoma, WI: Belgian McLeod, Donald. History ofWiskonsan: from its first American Club, 1974. discovery to the present period. Buffalo, NY: Town of Scott Records and Minutes of Annual Steele's Press, 1846. Meetings, 1860-1918. Highway Record Books, Nesbit, Robert C. Wisconsin: a history. Madison, 1844-1918. Unpublished. Town of Scott Town WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1973. Hall, Bay Settlement Road. Neville, Ella Hoes, Sarah Greene Martin, and Wisconsin Magazine ofHistory. Madison, WI: State Deborah Beaumont Martin. Historic Green Bay: Historical Sociery of Wisconsin. 1917- 1634-1840. Green Bay, WI: The Authors, 1893. Personal Interview with the members of the Bay Quaife, Milo Milton. Wisconsin: its history and its people 1634-1924. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Settlement Historical Society. Town fo Scott: Publishing Co., 1924. 1973-1976. Radin, Paul. The Winnebago Tribe. Washington, Scrapbooks and funeral memorial holy card. Owned D.C.: 37th Annual Report of the Bureau of by Mrs. Evelyn Reynen and Mrs. Lucille American Ethnology, 1923; reprint, Lincoln, VanLieshout. Town of Scott. Bay Settlement NE. University of Nebraska Press, 1970. Historical Society members. Famil~ Scrapbook

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