The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-03-10
OLD SETTLERS.


men were at work clearing land in the
present site of the city. Edwards had
purposed going to Chicago. A cousin of
his had gone west and settled near Chi
cago. His name was Cook and the coun-
ty now bears his name. He visited his
old home IN New Jersey and his glowing
description OF the west was sufficient to
induce Edwards to decide upon immedi-
ate removal to the Ell Dorado. When he
came to Buffalo he found that there was
no means OF reaching Chicago, as the
place then was not of sufficient conse-
quence to justify boats running there
He took the old steamer Robert Fulton
to Detroit and there learned that a
schooner was to sail for Green Bay with
supplies for the fort. He formed the &C
quaintance OF the captain who allowed
him to work his passage to Green Bay.
| Chicago all this time was the objective
point, and as Green Bay was nearer Chi
| cago than Detroit was, by the only means
| of communication then possible for long
| distances, the coming to Green Bay was
performing part OF the projected trip.
The schooner left Green Bay for Manito-
voc with supplies for Conroe's mill and
| Edwards thought this was another op-
portunity to shorten the distance to Chi
cago and SO came along with his family
The proprietors of the Rapids mill
found it Necessary to have scows to take
| their lumber down the river and into the
bay where it was loaded on vessels. Ed
wards was carpenter and took contract
| to build two scows, Obtaining work here
he abandoned his intention of going to
Chicago and decided to make Manitowoc
his home. He had had some knowledge
of fishing and had an idea that the lake
off Two Rivers was an excellent fishing
ground. He built fishing boat which
he completed in 1886 and then walked to
Green Bay where he purchased twine
from which he made seine. He set out
with man fran the Rapids, his son Hen
ry, then lad of Ii, and Perry Smith.
They dropped their seine in the lake mid
way between here and Two Rivers and
caught about 10 barrels of fine whitefish
in the first haul. This was distributed
among the people but the success deter.
mined Edwards to engage permanently
In the business of fishing. He moved
from the Rapids to the Little Manitowot
where he built log hut and formed 6
partnership with man from Detroit
named John P. Clark. The fishing outfit
was good one for these days. A shanty
was built between Two Rivers and the
Point, and schooner owned by CLARK
made monthly trips for the fish caught
Often 100 barrels of fish were caught in
one haul. In 1S41 Edwards built hote
on the Green Bay road about half ways
between Manitowoc and Green Bay, &
short distance from the village of Coop
ers. The road to Green Bay was at that
time mainly trail and travel was wholly
by foot or on horseback. He disposed Of
this hotel and came to Manitowoc
When the war broke out he enlisted ano
died in this city about 20 years ago.
The Indians were quite numerous a.
that time but were peaceably inclined
They seemed to have the utmost confid
ence III the white people and their chief
who bore the name of Mexico, was a man
OF excellent judgment, calm, dispassion-
ate and very conservative. One morning
IN 1886 Edwards with companion went
out hunting. They separated and Ed.
wards while near where Luep's house
now stands heard a bullet whistle neal
him and at the same time heard the crack
of rifle. Two moro shots followed and
then Edwards set out to find the cause
He found an Indian reloading his rife
who explained he was shooting at some.
thing in tree. Edwards walked away
and soon after another bullet whistled by
him. Satisfied now that the Indian
meant to shoot him he ran down to
Lueps's Peninsula and again the Indian
sent bullet after him. He met his CON-
panion and they concealed themselves
behind tree. Soon the Indian was seen
following Edwards trail on run. When
the Indian was quite close to their hiding
place both men stepped out. Seeing two
men the Indian dropped his gun and he
was taken in custody and brought to the
shanty OF E. l.. Abbott, Farnham and
Howard, three men who were at work
clearing up. The Indian would offer no
explanation of his conduct. The matter
was reported to the chief, Mexico, who
was quite indignant. No one learned the
fate of the Indian and he was never seen
again in this section. 1t was learned
later that man named Hart had whip
ped this Indian, using blacksnake whip
Hart bore striking resemblance to Ed
wards and it is thought the Indian mis-
took him for the man on whom he waited
to be revenged.
There was an Indian plantation near
Kings Bride, on the form owned later by
the Birdsalls. The Indians had cleared
up patch OF land on which they raised
corn. In the fall they camped near Two
Rivers and fished. Indeed the bucks
fshed there throughout the season leav-
ing the care of the plantation to the
squaws. They camped about half a mile
from where Edwards had his fish shanties,
There were quite number of French
who had settled in the neighborhood of
Two Rivers and one dealt in whiskey.
One day the Indians got on big spree.
In the night some Of them called at the
fish shanty and asked the men to go up
to the camp as one OF the Indians was
running amuck and was stabbing his
wife and her brother. The fishermen