The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-08-26
EDUCATIONAL.
HISTORY OF MANITowoC COUNTY
BY JOHN NAGLE.

ceding years Then came the natural
reaction. Every branch of industry
langnlshed and the depression in bust
ness was felt in every infant settlement
There was no demand for land. Its in
fiated value burst and shrunk to the op-
poste eextreme. Lots in Mantowoc would
| not bring one per cent Of what could
readily be obtained for them a short
time before. All the mills in the county
discontinued work and discharged their
hands, except Conroe's which continued
| to run. Most of the workmen left the
county, only those having families re
manned. The families of Benjamin
Jones Oliver Hubbard, ID. S. Munger
and Jos Edwards remained at Manito.
woo. A settlement was made this year
at kewaunee, but it was abandoned
during this extreme depression. Peter
Johnson remained, but grew discourag
ed as winter approached, and =. 7.
Smith with three or four others, took
Mackinaw and removed him and his
family to Manitowoc. The population
of the county was reduced TO sixty. A
number of those who remained and We're
without means, began the work of shin
gle making, Those shingles were ship
ped to Chicago and exchanged for pro-
visions. About this time there was a
rumor that the Indians were meditating
an attack upon the settlers Pat Teboo
and E. j.. Abbot We're sent to the Indian
chief, Mexico, to ascertain if ii were
true. Mexico managed to draw from
them the object of their visit, and assur.
ed them that he had no such intention.
He felt offended at the suspicion of the
settlers
Benjamin Jones, this year, built the
National Hotel. 1t was not wholly com.
pleted until some years after. Three
rooms We're finished and one of these
was used as a bar room. Gin brandy
and whisky all came from the same
bottle" Customers were scarce and the
three rooms furnished ample accomoda-
tions for the guests who were like an
gel visits-few and far between. Four
families from Sheboygan settled at Man
itowoc this year. The first wedding in
the county occurred in July Of this year.
| E. l.. Abbot, one of the five men who
came to Manitowoc in 1885, and Marie
Smith, sister of =. =. Smith, and mem
ber of Benjamin Jones family were the
parties. The marriage ceremony was
| performed by Benjamin Jones, who had
been appointed Justice of the Peace
The event was duly celebrated at the
| Rapids whittier the young couple went
after the performance of the ceremony,
Mr. Jones was the first judicial officer
of the county and the only official acts
of his, that he can remember, are the
performance of marriage ceremonies II
circumstance which speaks well for the
abiding character of the community.
Each of the settlers had cleared enough
land for II garden, and potatoes and 9th
|
sown in small quantities by II. Conroe
and Benjamin Jones. In 1899 Horace
Conroe sowed four acres of wheat about
one mile north Of the Rapids. The crop
yielded fairly. 1t was brought to mill
Mt Green Bay by Hiram Nc Allister and
ground into -four. This was the first
flour from home raised wheat used in
the county. Horace Conroe did not con.
time to work his farm but soon left
the county. In the year 1871, Jones
sowed five acres of wheat near the south
eud of Main street This was an excel
lent crop. This wheat was brought to
Depere by F. =. Smith and ground
there. 1t took four days to make the
trip with an OK team About this time
Hiram Nc Allster purchased the farm,
owned by John Landreth, and commenc-
ed the work of farming and continued
it until within the last few years He
is entitled to the distinction Of being the
pioneer farmer of the county.
During the winter of 1888 o. what is
now known a. the Green Bay road, was
cut through the county. 1t was not
brilged or graded. As late az lsis, per.
sons coming from Sheboygan to the
county had to ford streams and found
the route very laborious. There was
not much travel over the road until
some time after the year last mentioned.
Other roads were projected during the
year 1889 which will be mentioned in
another place,
The first school was opened in the
county this year. 1t was conducted by
S. NJ. Peak, in a small huildiug near
Sixth street and was attended by about
II children. p. p. Smith attended this
school and was peri aps the Oldest pupil.
The expenses of the school were defray.
ed oy those having children attending.
The first settlers were mostly from
the Eastern states, though few came
directly from there, the majority having
resided mt Chicago or Green Bay before
settling at Manitowoc. The workmen,
most of whom intended TO remain only
while employment could be had at sat
isfactory wages were French. After
the panic immigration to the county
practically ceased until the year 1916