MRS. A. B. WILLIAMS' MEMORIES OF DE PERE:
On the first day of April. 1847. Dr. A. B. Williams accompanied by his family left Belvidere, Ill, to seek a home farther west. He had not decided, upon starting, whether to go to Chicago or Fond du Lac. The advantages of the latter place were being noised abroad over the country, and the doctor was in favor of settling there. But I preferred Chicago. To settle the question, he decided to give the horses the rein, at the junction of the two roads, and let them choose the course. They took the Fond du Lac road, and thither we went. But, upon arriving at our destination, we were saluted by a myriad of frogs, some of which gave the information that the mud was "only knee deep." while others declared "you'll drown! you'll drown!" This disgusted the doctor, and the next day he turned his face toward Green Bay, intending, if chances were favorable, to settle there, if not to go to Chicago. A while before reaching Wrightstown, he inquired of an Indian the distance to Green Bay. The Indian laid his head on his arm and shut his eyes; then raising his head repeated the action, thus giving the information that it was two days' travel. Neither the doctor nor any of our family had ever heard of De Pere, and it flashed upon our vision like a dream of Fairyland; only the inhabitants seemed to have deserted it. Though in early spring, the earth had already spread its carpet of green, dotted here and there by beautiful wild flowers, and the birds were already singing of summer. "Dickinson's Folly" stood like a grand old castle, in ruins and deserted. The Frontier House and several other large buildings were empty, while on the street, there was not a sign of life to be seen. The village which a few years before had been so flourishing, at that time, contained only some half dozen families, and these were so scattered that our first impressions were that we had entered a deserted place, properly belonging to legendary times.
We got out of the wagon and walked around the castle, in front of which stood a large locust tree, apparently many years old. (We afterward learned from Mr. Dickinson, that the tree had been raised from a sprout of a locust growing at Washington's grave.) Beside the empty houses, there were several wigwams in sight. We drove to where the Village House stands now, then a log house supposed to be a hotel, and kept by Peter La Fond. Here we stopped to make some inquiries, not knowing but that we had reached Green Bay; and here we met General Dickinson. The doctor asked what fool built the castle that we had passed, and he answered, that it was a fool who had ruined himself by it, speaking in such harsh terms that no one would have supposed that he was the man, as we afterward found him to be.
We took a dinner of fish, (the hotel furnished but little else,) and then continued our journey toward Green Bay. Mr. Dickinson mounted a horse and followed us. He had taken a liking to the doctor and meant to have him settle at De Pere, if possible. We found that we could not readily get a house at Green Bay, so we turned back and decided to occupy one at De Pere, furnished us by Mr. Dickinson. The following families were settled at De Pere at that time: Dickinson, Wilcox, Webster, Clow, Vesey, Soper, Ketchum, Reeves, Call and La Fond. Reuben Field, then and always a bachelor, was the only single man in the place. He bad come to De Pere with Mr. Wilcox, who was a relative. Besides these there were several French people.
Mr. Williams was the first, and for some time, the only physician in De Pere. He had, at that period, but few calls. The people lived plainly, and there were but few cases of sickness. There were weeks together that we lived on fish and game, other meat being out of the question. That fall, David Loy came, as agent for Mr. Cox. He brought a stock of goods, the first sold in De Pere, since the crash of '37 had closed up the general business. In the winter, C. Allen came, and bought the property known as the De Pere House, where he opened a hotel. But Soper and Vesey had left, so our number remained the same. At that time Mrs. Ketchum kept the post office, and Ed. White carried the mail by land. There were two mills when we arrived, a saw-mill, belonging to Mr. Dickinson, and a grist mill, owned by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Clow run the latter, whenever there was any wheat to grind and when there was not, he fished. The saw mill situated on the west side, at the end of the dam, was not running. It was burned the spring we came. Mr. Loy built the lock and employed a number of Frenchman, whom he paid in trade. No one expected any money for work, only directly after an Indian payment.
Mr. Porter, a Presbyterian minister, used to hold meetings here once in every two or three weeks. Two years later, Mr. Thorp, a Methodist, commenced holding meeting's occasionally. Marcus Shaler taught school and "boarded around." His school I think was the first in De Pere.
In the spring of 1848, we moved into the Frontier House, which had been built by Fish Hamilton in the good time of 1836. It had been deserted for a long time. The rats, bats, swallows and pigeons had occupied it so long, and the spider webs were so thick and heavy, that it took three men a week to get it in a condition
fit for us to enter it. That fall, we built a house near the old jail and moved into that, and the next spring we set out some shade trees, the first set out in De Pere.
The doctor's practice increased steadily, and extended over a radius of forty miles. In fact it increased so fast that the doctor sent to Illinois for a physician, named Johnson, whom he took as a partner. About this time, a young physician settled at Green Bay, who advertised very largely in the Green Bay Advocate, his advertisement claiming that he was capable of performing many different kinds of surgery which he named. Dr. Williams never advertised to any extent, and in view of the young doctor's flaming advertisement, friends in both places urged him to occupy a like space in the paper. At last he consented, and inserted the following notice, for one issue, directly beneath that of the Green Bay doctor:
"Dr. A. B. Williams still resides at De Pere and intends to practice medicine and surgery if called upon. His medicine is of the pure gelicum whilicum aurora borealis, coated over with elicum frasier fat and knocks the foundation from the ague. He has a microscopic eye and a stethoscopic ear, and can see as far into a mill stone as the next man. His preceptor was a hyena for human flesh. He trusts one year and takes grain if he can get it."
The next week, the Green Bay doctor's advertisement was cut down to a mere card.
The next year, both the doctor and myself got the California fever, and April 1st. 1850, we bade good bye to our many friends and with six teams left De Pere en route for the land of gold.
We returned, in 1857, to find some change. The locks were completed and so was the bridge, and the Cox property had changed hands, Mr. Cox having died while we were absent. De Pere had improved some. The population all told was about four hundred. Wilcox & Wager had a flouring mill. There were two saw mills, one owned by Ritchie & Reed, and the other owned by Frank Thompson; four stores kept by D. Jordan, C. R. Merrill, Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Wager respectively, three churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic; two hotels, and a cabinet shop belonging to T. E. Sharp; yet there was not business enough to keep the grass from growing in the streets.
The next spring, we commenced building the large stone hotel known as the California House, of which James Millar was the architect. I looked upon its being built as rank insanity, for the country was settling up with poor people and the prospects were not bright, though some persons predicted a grand future for De Pere. The building of the hotel made times livelier for awhile as a great many persons were employed in the work. We put a stock of goods in the south lower room which was subsequently sold to James Childs, who still continues in that line.
The Catholic church was burned in 1861. It was not completed at the time, and it was so illy fitted for services, that Father Bonduel took a cold, while holding meetings there, which resulted in his death.
In 1860, the Northwestern railroad reached West De Pere, but it did not enliven business much, on this side of the river; and, at last, totally discouraged, we offered our entire property in De Pere, consisting of the California House, De Pere House, and nineteen lots, some of which were built upon, for $8,000; and offered $500 to any one who would find a purchaser, but found none.
In 1864, the doctor went to Idaho, and soon after a flax factory was put into operation, by A. T. Stout, J. G. Lawton, and others. It flourished for a while, and made times lively; but upon the closing of the war, it failed, owing to the sudden reduction in the prices of articles manufactured, which were less than they had paid for raw material.
With the building of the first blast furnace, De Pere began to improve, and it has continued to improve steadily ever since, until our village has become one of the finest manufacturing points north of Milwaukee, and one and all look forward to a golden future.
But the old settlers have, with a few exceptions, all passed away. "Uncle" Reuben Field, always highly esteemed by all, and P. Call are all that remain of the men who settled here, previous to 1850. General Dickinson passed to the other shore several years ago. Mr. Jordan followed him soon after. Both were very much missed. The latter's son-in-law, B. F. Smith, an enterprising merchant, continued the business founded by Mr. Jordan. Mr. Wilcox died October 16th, 1872, leaving his blessing with De Pere. He had been a very influential man, having filled many offices of trust, under the territorial and state governments, in fact having been in public offices all his life. He was much loved, and deeply mourned. Mr. Buck, another old settler went next. D. M. Loy, one of the most energetic men, De Pere ever had, fell a victim to disease, brought on by working so much in the water, while building the locks, etc., and departed this life, August 30th, 1873, aged fifty-six years. The Dickinson, Loy, Wilcox and Jordan families still reside here.
Dr. A. B. Williams, the poor man's friend, closed his mortal eyes upon earthly things, February 28, 1875. His work continued to the very last. He wrote a prescription at ten o'clock A. M., and at one P. M., was gone. To those who knew and loved him, his place can never be filled.
From The American sketch book : a collection of historical incidents, Vol. III (1876), pg. 132
Provided by Dave Francis
On the first day of April. 1847. Dr. A. B. Williams accompanied by his family left Belvidere, Ill, to seek a home farther west. He had not decided, upon starting, whether to go to Chicago or Fond du Lac. The advantages of the latter place were being noised abroad over the country, and the doctor was in favor of settling there. But I preferred Chicago. To settle the question, he decided to give the horses the rein, at the junction of the two roads, and let them choose the course. They took the Fond du Lac road, and thither we went. But, upon arriving at our destination, we were saluted by a myriad of frogs, some of which gave the information that the mud was "only knee deep." while others declared "you'll drown! you'll drown!" This disgusted the doctor, and the next day he turned his face toward Green Bay, intending, if chances were favorable, to settle there, if not to go to Chicago. A while before reaching Wrightstown, he inquired of an Indian the distance to Green Bay. The Indian laid his head on his arm and shut his eyes; then raising his head repeated the action, thus giving the information that it was two days' travel. Neither the doctor nor any of our family had ever heard of De Pere, and it flashed upon our vision like a dream of Fairyland; only the inhabitants seemed to have deserted it. Though in early spring, the earth had already spread its carpet of green, dotted here and there by beautiful wild flowers, and the birds were already singing of summer. "Dickinson's Folly" stood like a grand old castle, in ruins and deserted. The Frontier House and several other large buildings were empty, while on the street, there was not a sign of life to be seen. The village which a few years before had been so flourishing, at that time, contained only some half dozen families, and these were so scattered that our first impressions were that we had entered a deserted place, properly belonging to legendary times.
We got out of the wagon and walked around the castle, in front of which stood a large locust tree, apparently many years old. (We afterward learned from Mr. Dickinson, that the tree had been raised from a sprout of a locust growing at Washington's grave.) Beside the empty houses, there were several wigwams in sight. We drove to where the Village House stands now, then a log house supposed to be a hotel, and kept by Peter La Fond. Here we stopped to make some inquiries, not knowing but that we had reached Green Bay; and here we met General Dickinson. The doctor asked what fool built the castle that we had passed, and he answered, that it was a fool who had ruined himself by it, speaking in such harsh terms that no one would have supposed that he was the man, as we afterward found him to be.
We took a dinner of fish, (the hotel furnished but little else,) and then continued our journey toward Green Bay. Mr. Dickinson mounted a horse and followed us. He had taken a liking to the doctor and meant to have him settle at De Pere, if possible. We found that we could not readily get a house at Green Bay, so we turned back and decided to occupy one at De Pere, furnished us by Mr. Dickinson. The following families were settled at De Pere at that time: Dickinson, Wilcox, Webster, Clow, Vesey, Soper, Ketchum, Reeves, Call and La Fond. Reuben Field, then and always a bachelor, was the only single man in the place. He bad come to De Pere with Mr. Wilcox, who was a relative. Besides these there were several French people.
Mr. Williams was the first, and for some time, the only physician in De Pere. He had, at that period, but few calls. The people lived plainly, and there were but few cases of sickness. There were weeks together that we lived on fish and game, other meat being out of the question. That fall, David Loy came, as agent for Mr. Cox. He brought a stock of goods, the first sold in De Pere, since the crash of '37 had closed up the general business. In the winter, C. Allen came, and bought the property known as the De Pere House, where he opened a hotel. But Soper and Vesey had left, so our number remained the same. At that time Mrs. Ketchum kept the post office, and Ed. White carried the mail by land. There were two mills when we arrived, a saw-mill, belonging to Mr. Dickinson, and a grist mill, owned by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Clow run the latter, whenever there was any wheat to grind and when there was not, he fished. The saw mill situated on the west side, at the end of the dam, was not running. It was burned the spring we came. Mr. Loy built the lock and employed a number of Frenchman, whom he paid in trade. No one expected any money for work, only directly after an Indian payment.
Mr. Porter, a Presbyterian minister, used to hold meetings here once in every two or three weeks. Two years later, Mr. Thorp, a Methodist, commenced holding meeting's occasionally. Marcus Shaler taught school and "boarded around." His school I think was the first in De Pere.
In the spring of 1848, we moved into the Frontier House, which had been built by Fish Hamilton in the good time of 1836. It had been deserted for a long time. The rats, bats, swallows and pigeons had occupied it so long, and the spider webs were so thick and heavy, that it took three men a week to get it in a condition
fit for us to enter it. That fall, we built a house near the old jail and moved into that, and the next spring we set out some shade trees, the first set out in De Pere.
The doctor's practice increased steadily, and extended over a radius of forty miles. In fact it increased so fast that the doctor sent to Illinois for a physician, named Johnson, whom he took as a partner. About this time, a young physician settled at Green Bay, who advertised very largely in the Green Bay Advocate, his advertisement claiming that he was capable of performing many different kinds of surgery which he named. Dr. Williams never advertised to any extent, and in view of the young doctor's flaming advertisement, friends in both places urged him to occupy a like space in the paper. At last he consented, and inserted the following notice, for one issue, directly beneath that of the Green Bay doctor:
"Dr. A. B. Williams still resides at De Pere and intends to practice medicine and surgery if called upon. His medicine is of the pure gelicum whilicum aurora borealis, coated over with elicum frasier fat and knocks the foundation from the ague. He has a microscopic eye and a stethoscopic ear, and can see as far into a mill stone as the next man. His preceptor was a hyena for human flesh. He trusts one year and takes grain if he can get it."
The next week, the Green Bay doctor's advertisement was cut down to a mere card.
The next year, both the doctor and myself got the California fever, and April 1st. 1850, we bade good bye to our many friends and with six teams left De Pere en route for the land of gold.
We returned, in 1857, to find some change. The locks were completed and so was the bridge, and the Cox property had changed hands, Mr. Cox having died while we were absent. De Pere had improved some. The population all told was about four hundred. Wilcox & Wager had a flouring mill. There were two saw mills, one owned by Ritchie & Reed, and the other owned by Frank Thompson; four stores kept by D. Jordan, C. R. Merrill, Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Wager respectively, three churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic; two hotels, and a cabinet shop belonging to T. E. Sharp; yet there was not business enough to keep the grass from growing in the streets.
The next spring, we commenced building the large stone hotel known as the California House, of which James Millar was the architect. I looked upon its being built as rank insanity, for the country was settling up with poor people and the prospects were not bright, though some persons predicted a grand future for De Pere. The building of the hotel made times livelier for awhile as a great many persons were employed in the work. We put a stock of goods in the south lower room which was subsequently sold to James Childs, who still continues in that line.
The Catholic church was burned in 1861. It was not completed at the time, and it was so illy fitted for services, that Father Bonduel took a cold, while holding meetings there, which resulted in his death.
In 1860, the Northwestern railroad reached West De Pere, but it did not enliven business much, on this side of the river; and, at last, totally discouraged, we offered our entire property in De Pere, consisting of the California House, De Pere House, and nineteen lots, some of which were built upon, for $8,000; and offered $500 to any one who would find a purchaser, but found none.
In 1864, the doctor went to Idaho, and soon after a flax factory was put into operation, by A. T. Stout, J. G. Lawton, and others. It flourished for a while, and made times lively; but upon the closing of the war, it failed, owing to the sudden reduction in the prices of articles manufactured, which were less than they had paid for raw material.
With the building of the first blast furnace, De Pere began to improve, and it has continued to improve steadily ever since, until our village has become one of the finest manufacturing points north of Milwaukee, and one and all look forward to a golden future.
But the old settlers have, with a few exceptions, all passed away. "Uncle" Reuben Field, always highly esteemed by all, and P. Call are all that remain of the men who settled here, previous to 1850. General Dickinson passed to the other shore several years ago. Mr. Jordan followed him soon after. Both were very much missed. The latter's son-in-law, B. F. Smith, an enterprising merchant, continued the business founded by Mr. Jordan. Mr. Wilcox died October 16th, 1872, leaving his blessing with De Pere. He had been a very influential man, having filled many offices of trust, under the territorial and state governments, in fact having been in public offices all his life. He was much loved, and deeply mourned. Mr. Buck, another old settler went next. D. M. Loy, one of the most energetic men, De Pere ever had, fell a victim to disease, brought on by working so much in the water, while building the locks, etc., and departed this life, August 30th, 1873, aged fifty-six years. The Dickinson, Loy, Wilcox and Jordan families still reside here.
Dr. A. B. Williams, the poor man's friend, closed his mortal eyes upon earthly things, February 28, 1875. His work continued to the very last. He wrote a prescription at ten o'clock A. M., and at one P. M., was gone. To those who knew and loved him, his place can never be filled.
From The American sketch book : a collection of historical incidents, Vol. III (1876), pg. 132
Provided by Dave Francis
MRS. A. B. WILLIAMS' MEMORIES OF DE PERE:
On the first day of April. 1847. Dr. A. B. Williams accompanied by his family left Belvidere, Ill, to seek a home farther west. He had not decided, upon starting, whether to go to Chicago or Fond du Lac. The advantages of the latter place were being noised abroad over the country, and the doctor was in favor of settling there. But I preferred Chicago. To settle the question, he decided to give the horses the rein, at the junction of the two roads, and let them choose the course. They took the Fond du Lac road, and thither we went. But, upon arriving at our destination, we were saluted by a myriad of frogs, some of which gave the information that the mud was "only knee deep." while others declared "you'll drown! you'll drown!" This disgusted the doctor, and the next day he turned his face toward Green Bay, intending, if chances were favorable, to settle there, if not to go to Chicago. A while before reaching Wrightstown, he inquired of an Indian the distance to Green Bay. The Indian laid his head on his arm and shut his eyes; then raising his head repeated the action, thus giving the information that it was two days' travel. Neither the doctor nor any of our family had ever heard of De Pere, and it flashed upon our vision like a dream of Fairyland; only the inhabitants seemed to have deserted it. Though in early spring, the earth had already spread its carpet of green, dotted here and there by beautiful wild flowers, and the birds were already singing of summer. "Dickinson's Folly" stood like a grand old castle, in ruins and deserted. The Frontier House and several other large buildings were empty, while on the street, there was not a sign of life to be seen. The village which a few years before had been so flourishing, at that time, contained only some half dozen families, and these were so scattered that our first impressions were that we had entered a deserted place, properly belonging to legendary times.
We got out of the wagon and walked around the castle, in front of which stood a large locust tree, apparently many years old. (We afterward learned from Mr. Dickinson, that the tree had been raised from a sprout of a locust growing at Washington's grave.) Beside the empty houses, there were several wigwams in sight. We drove to where the Village House stands now, then a log house supposed to be a hotel, and kept by Peter La Fond. Here we stopped to make some inquiries, not knowing but that we had reached Green Bay; and here we met General Dickinson. The doctor asked what fool built the castle that we had passed, and he answered, that it was a fool who had ruined himself by it, speaking in such harsh terms that no one would have supposed that he was the man, as we afterward found him to be.
We took a dinner of fish, (the hotel furnished but little else,) and then continued our journey toward Green Bay. Mr. Dickinson mounted a horse and followed us. He had taken a liking to the doctor and meant to have him settle at De Pere, if possible. We found that we could not readily get a house at Green Bay, so we turned back and decided to occupy one at De Pere, furnished us by Mr. Dickinson. The following families were settled at De Pere at that time: Dickinson, Wilcox, Webster, Clow, Vesey, Soper, Ketchum, Reeves, Call and La Fond. Reuben Field, then and always a bachelor, was the only single man in the place. He bad come to De Pere with Mr. Wilcox, who was a relative. Besides these there were several French people.
Mr. Williams was the first, and for some time, the only physician in De Pere. He had, at that period, but few calls. The people lived plainly, and there were but few cases of sickness. There were weeks together that we lived on fish and game, other meat being out of the question. That fall, David Loy came, as agent for Mr. Cox. He brought a stock of goods, the first sold in De Pere, since the crash of '37 had closed up the general business. In the winter, C. Allen came, and bought the property known as the De Pere House, where he opened a hotel. But Soper and Vesey had left, so our number remained the same. At that time Mrs. Ketchum kept the post office, and Ed. White carried the mail by land. There were two mills when we arrived, a saw-mill, belonging to Mr. Dickinson, and a grist mill, owned by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Clow run the latter, whenever there was any wheat to grind and when there was not, he fished. The saw mill situated on the west side, at the end of the dam, was not running. It was burned the spring we came. Mr. Loy built the lock and employed a number of Frenchman, whom he paid in trade. No one expected any money for work, only directly after an Indian payment.
Mr. Porter, a Presbyterian minister, used to hold meetings here once in every two or three weeks. Two years later, Mr. Thorp, a Methodist, commenced holding meeting's occasionally. Marcus Shaler taught school and "boarded around." His school I think was the first in De Pere.
In the spring of 1848, we moved into the Frontier House, which had been built by Fish Hamilton in the good time of 1836. It had been deserted for a long time. The rats, bats, swallows and pigeons had occupied it so long, and the spider webs were so thick and heavy, that it took three men a week to get it in a condition
fit for us to enter it. That fall, we built a house near the old jail and moved into that, and the next spring we set out some shade trees, the first set out in De Pere.
The doctor's practice increased steadily, and extended over a radius of forty miles. In fact it increased so fast that the doctor sent to Illinois for a physician, named Johnson, whom he took as a partner. About this time, a young physician settled at Green Bay, who advertised very largely in the Green Bay Advocate, his advertisement claiming that he was capable of performing many different kinds of surgery which he named. Dr. Williams never advertised to any extent, and in view of the young doctor's flaming advertisement, friends in both places urged him to occupy a like space in the paper. At last he consented, and inserted the following notice, for one issue, directly beneath that of the Green Bay doctor:
"Dr. A. B. Williams still resides at De Pere and intends to practice medicine and surgery if called upon. His medicine is of the pure gelicum whilicum aurora borealis, coated over with elicum frasier fat and knocks the foundation from the ague. He has a microscopic eye and a stethoscopic ear, and can see as far into a mill stone as the next man. His preceptor was a hyena for human flesh. He trusts one year and takes grain if he can get it."
The next week, the Green Bay doctor's advertisement was cut down to a mere card.
The next year, both the doctor and myself got the California fever, and April 1st. 1850, we bade good bye to our many friends and with six teams left De Pere en route for the land of gold.
We returned, in 1857, to find some change. The locks were completed and so was the bridge, and the Cox property had changed hands, Mr. Cox having died while we were absent. De Pere had improved some. The population all told was about four hundred. Wilcox & Wager had a flouring mill. There were two saw mills, one owned by Ritchie & Reed, and the other owned by Frank Thompson; four stores kept by D. Jordan, C. R. Merrill, Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Wager respectively, three churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic; two hotels, and a cabinet shop belonging to T. E. Sharp; yet there was not business enough to keep the grass from growing in the streets.
The next spring, we commenced building the large stone hotel known as the California House, of which James Millar was the architect. I looked upon its being built as rank insanity, for the country was settling up with poor people and the prospects were not bright, though some persons predicted a grand future for De Pere. The building of the hotel made times livelier for awhile as a great many persons were employed in the work. We put a stock of goods in the south lower room which was subsequently sold to James Childs, who still continues in that line.
The Catholic church was burned in 1861. It was not completed at the time, and it was so illy fitted for services, that Father Bonduel took a cold, while holding meetings there, which resulted in his death.
In 1860, the Northwestern railroad reached West De Pere, but it did not enliven business much, on this side of the river; and, at last, totally discouraged, we offered our entire property in De Pere, consisting of the California House, De Pere House, and nineteen lots, some of which were built upon, for $8,000; and offered $500 to any one who would find a purchaser, but found none.
In 1864, the doctor went to Idaho, and soon after a flax factory was put into operation, by A. T. Stout, J. G. Lawton, and others. It flourished for a while, and made times lively; but upon the closing of the war, it failed, owing to the sudden reduction in the prices of articles manufactured, which were less than they had paid for raw material.
With the building of the first blast furnace, De Pere began to improve, and it has continued to improve steadily ever since, until our village has become one of the finest manufacturing points north of Milwaukee, and one and all look forward to a golden future.
But the old settlers have, with a few exceptions, all passed away. "Uncle" Reuben Field, always highly esteemed by all, and P. Call are all that remain of the men who settled here, previous to 1850. General Dickinson passed to the other shore several years ago. Mr. Jordan followed him soon after. Both were very much missed. The latter's son-in-law, B. F. Smith, an enterprising merchant, continued the business founded by Mr. Jordan. Mr. Wilcox died October 16th, 1872, leaving his blessing with De Pere. He had been a very influential man, having filled many offices of trust, under the territorial and state governments, in fact having been in public offices all his life. He was much loved, and deeply mourned. Mr. Buck, another old settler went next. D. M. Loy, one of the most energetic men, De Pere ever had, fell a victim to disease, brought on by working so much in the water, while building the locks, etc., and departed this life, August 30th, 1873, aged fifty-six years. The Dickinson, Loy, Wilcox and Jordan families still reside here.
Dr. A. B. Williams, the poor man's friend, closed his mortal eyes upon earthly things, February 28, 1875. His work continued to the very last. He wrote a prescription at ten o'clock A. M., and at one P. M., was gone. To those who knew and loved him, his place can never be filled.
From The American sketch book : a collection of historical incidents, Vol. III (1876), pg. 132
Provided by Dave Francis
On the first day of April. 1847. Dr. A. B. Williams accompanied by his family left Belvidere, Ill, to seek a home farther west. He had not decided, upon starting, whether to go to Chicago or Fond du Lac. The advantages of the latter place were being noised abroad over the country, and the doctor was in favor of settling there. But I preferred Chicago. To settle the question, he decided to give the horses the rein, at the junction of the two roads, and let them choose the course. They took the Fond du Lac road, and thither we went. But, upon arriving at our destination, we were saluted by a myriad of frogs, some of which gave the information that the mud was "only knee deep." while others declared "you'll drown! you'll drown!" This disgusted the doctor, and the next day he turned his face toward Green Bay, intending, if chances were favorable, to settle there, if not to go to Chicago. A while before reaching Wrightstown, he inquired of an Indian the distance to Green Bay. The Indian laid his head on his arm and shut his eyes; then raising his head repeated the action, thus giving the information that it was two days' travel. Neither the doctor nor any of our family had ever heard of De Pere, and it flashed upon our vision like a dream of Fairyland; only the inhabitants seemed to have deserted it. Though in early spring, the earth had already spread its carpet of green, dotted here and there by beautiful wild flowers, and the birds were already singing of summer. "Dickinson's Folly" stood like a grand old castle, in ruins and deserted. The Frontier House and several other large buildings were empty, while on the street, there was not a sign of life to be seen. The village which a few years before had been so flourishing, at that time, contained only some half dozen families, and these were so scattered that our first impressions were that we had entered a deserted place, properly belonging to legendary times.
We got out of the wagon and walked around the castle, in front of which stood a large locust tree, apparently many years old. (We afterward learned from Mr. Dickinson, that the tree had been raised from a sprout of a locust growing at Washington's grave.) Beside the empty houses, there were several wigwams in sight. We drove to where the Village House stands now, then a log house supposed to be a hotel, and kept by Peter La Fond. Here we stopped to make some inquiries, not knowing but that we had reached Green Bay; and here we met General Dickinson. The doctor asked what fool built the castle that we had passed, and he answered, that it was a fool who had ruined himself by it, speaking in such harsh terms that no one would have supposed that he was the man, as we afterward found him to be.
We took a dinner of fish, (the hotel furnished but little else,) and then continued our journey toward Green Bay. Mr. Dickinson mounted a horse and followed us. He had taken a liking to the doctor and meant to have him settle at De Pere, if possible. We found that we could not readily get a house at Green Bay, so we turned back and decided to occupy one at De Pere, furnished us by Mr. Dickinson. The following families were settled at De Pere at that time: Dickinson, Wilcox, Webster, Clow, Vesey, Soper, Ketchum, Reeves, Call and La Fond. Reuben Field, then and always a bachelor, was the only single man in the place. He bad come to De Pere with Mr. Wilcox, who was a relative. Besides these there were several French people.
Mr. Williams was the first, and for some time, the only physician in De Pere. He had, at that period, but few calls. The people lived plainly, and there were but few cases of sickness. There were weeks together that we lived on fish and game, other meat being out of the question. That fall, David Loy came, as agent for Mr. Cox. He brought a stock of goods, the first sold in De Pere, since the crash of '37 had closed up the general business. In the winter, C. Allen came, and bought the property known as the De Pere House, where he opened a hotel. But Soper and Vesey had left, so our number remained the same. At that time Mrs. Ketchum kept the post office, and Ed. White carried the mail by land. There were two mills when we arrived, a saw-mill, belonging to Mr. Dickinson, and a grist mill, owned by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Clow run the latter, whenever there was any wheat to grind and when there was not, he fished. The saw mill situated on the west side, at the end of the dam, was not running. It was burned the spring we came. Mr. Loy built the lock and employed a number of Frenchman, whom he paid in trade. No one expected any money for work, only directly after an Indian payment.
Mr. Porter, a Presbyterian minister, used to hold meetings here once in every two or three weeks. Two years later, Mr. Thorp, a Methodist, commenced holding meeting's occasionally. Marcus Shaler taught school and "boarded around." His school I think was the first in De Pere.
In the spring of 1848, we moved into the Frontier House, which had been built by Fish Hamilton in the good time of 1836. It had been deserted for a long time. The rats, bats, swallows and pigeons had occupied it so long, and the spider webs were so thick and heavy, that it took three men a week to get it in a condition
fit for us to enter it. That fall, we built a house near the old jail and moved into that, and the next spring we set out some shade trees, the first set out in De Pere.
The doctor's practice increased steadily, and extended over a radius of forty miles. In fact it increased so fast that the doctor sent to Illinois for a physician, named Johnson, whom he took as a partner. About this time, a young physician settled at Green Bay, who advertised very largely in the Green Bay Advocate, his advertisement claiming that he was capable of performing many different kinds of surgery which he named. Dr. Williams never advertised to any extent, and in view of the young doctor's flaming advertisement, friends in both places urged him to occupy a like space in the paper. At last he consented, and inserted the following notice, for one issue, directly beneath that of the Green Bay doctor:
"Dr. A. B. Williams still resides at De Pere and intends to practice medicine and surgery if called upon. His medicine is of the pure gelicum whilicum aurora borealis, coated over with elicum frasier fat and knocks the foundation from the ague. He has a microscopic eye and a stethoscopic ear, and can see as far into a mill stone as the next man. His preceptor was a hyena for human flesh. He trusts one year and takes grain if he can get it."
The next week, the Green Bay doctor's advertisement was cut down to a mere card.
The next year, both the doctor and myself got the California fever, and April 1st. 1850, we bade good bye to our many friends and with six teams left De Pere en route for the land of gold.
We returned, in 1857, to find some change. The locks were completed and so was the bridge, and the Cox property had changed hands, Mr. Cox having died while we were absent. De Pere had improved some. The population all told was about four hundred. Wilcox & Wager had a flouring mill. There were two saw mills, one owned by Ritchie & Reed, and the other owned by Frank Thompson; four stores kept by D. Jordan, C. R. Merrill, Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Wager respectively, three churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic; two hotels, and a cabinet shop belonging to T. E. Sharp; yet there was not business enough to keep the grass from growing in the streets.
The next spring, we commenced building the large stone hotel known as the California House, of which James Millar was the architect. I looked upon its being built as rank insanity, for the country was settling up with poor people and the prospects were not bright, though some persons predicted a grand future for De Pere. The building of the hotel made times livelier for awhile as a great many persons were employed in the work. We put a stock of goods in the south lower room which was subsequently sold to James Childs, who still continues in that line.
The Catholic church was burned in 1861. It was not completed at the time, and it was so illy fitted for services, that Father Bonduel took a cold, while holding meetings there, which resulted in his death.
In 1860, the Northwestern railroad reached West De Pere, but it did not enliven business much, on this side of the river; and, at last, totally discouraged, we offered our entire property in De Pere, consisting of the California House, De Pere House, and nineteen lots, some of which were built upon, for $8,000; and offered $500 to any one who would find a purchaser, but found none.
In 1864, the doctor went to Idaho, and soon after a flax factory was put into operation, by A. T. Stout, J. G. Lawton, and others. It flourished for a while, and made times lively; but upon the closing of the war, it failed, owing to the sudden reduction in the prices of articles manufactured, which were less than they had paid for raw material.
With the building of the first blast furnace, De Pere began to improve, and it has continued to improve steadily ever since, until our village has become one of the finest manufacturing points north of Milwaukee, and one and all look forward to a golden future.
But the old settlers have, with a few exceptions, all passed away. "Uncle" Reuben Field, always highly esteemed by all, and P. Call are all that remain of the men who settled here, previous to 1850. General Dickinson passed to the other shore several years ago. Mr. Jordan followed him soon after. Both were very much missed. The latter's son-in-law, B. F. Smith, an enterprising merchant, continued the business founded by Mr. Jordan. Mr. Wilcox died October 16th, 1872, leaving his blessing with De Pere. He had been a very influential man, having filled many offices of trust, under the territorial and state governments, in fact having been in public offices all his life. He was much loved, and deeply mourned. Mr. Buck, another old settler went next. D. M. Loy, one of the most energetic men, De Pere ever had, fell a victim to disease, brought on by working so much in the water, while building the locks, etc., and departed this life, August 30th, 1873, aged fifty-six years. The Dickinson, Loy, Wilcox and Jordan families still reside here.
Dr. A. B. Williams, the poor man's friend, closed his mortal eyes upon earthly things, February 28, 1875. His work continued to the very last. He wrote a prescription at ten o'clock A. M., and at one P. M., was gone. To those who knew and loved him, his place can never be filled.
From The American sketch book : a collection of historical incidents, Vol. III (1876), pg. 132
Provided by Dave Francis
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