History of Calumet County
Calumet County, Wisconsin Genealogy & History
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History of Northern Wisconsin

History of Northern Wisconsin
Publisher Chicago The Western Historical Company, A.T. Andreas, Proprietor
1881 Copyright The Western Historical Co.
Reprint The Ralph Secord Press Iron Mountain MI. 1988

Calumet County



Locations and Natural Features

In Territorial extent Calumet County is one of the smallest in the State, having an area of only 830 square miles. Its greatest width east from Lake Winnebago is fourteen miles, and it's extreme length from north to south twenty-four miles. To the north lie Outagmaie and Brown counties; to the east Manitowoc; Sheboygan and Fond du Lac bound it on the south, and Lake Winnebago on the west. The main stream of the Manitowoc River divides at the boundary line between Calumet and Manitowoc counties, the two branches drain a great part of the territory. The entire eastern, northern and southern portions of Calumet are thereby drained indirectly into Lake Michigan, while the region bordering the shore of Lake Winnebago is accomodated by small streams flowing into that body of water. Most of the land has been so long cleared of its former heavy growth of pine that it is well adapted to agricultural purposes, and is easily cultivated. On the shores of Lake Winnebago and extending some miles eastward the usual water formations are found, while along the Calumet River marals conifer formations prevail. The general subsoil consists of a real marly clay, while along the banks of the Manitowoc River are quite marked deposits of post. Calumet County, in fact, differs little in its natural features from Manitowoc. The same grains thrive - wheat, corn, barley, oats, etc. The working of the dairy products is also profitable. Valuable stone quarries exist in the northeast and the west, and will prove a source of wealth to the county. Considered in a sanitary point of view, Calumet is favorably located, escaping as it does, many of the damp and unhealthy winds of Lake Michigan; and yet, having Lake Winnebago to the west, it avoids the hot, dry seasons of localities farther towards the interior of the State. Its average elevation is 350 feet above Lake Michigan.

Calumet County has obtained a reputation over the State and beyond for the excellent quality of her cheese. Thirty factories are scattered in different towns. Stockbridge takes the lead in this industry; but the whole region bordering the lake is splendidly adapted to the raising of the dairy products. The western slope of Calumet County toward Lake Winnebago is in fact the agricultural district par excellence.

The agricultural Society was organized in June, 1878. O.R. Potter was elected president, a vice-president being chosen from each town.

The name of this county is suggestive of peace and its attendant arts. Nor is the suggestion is a spacious one, for the history of this region has but few, if any, counterparts in the country. The pipe of peace between the aboriginal and the invading races was smoked by those who saw the inevitable approach of civilization; and the county presents the anomaly of having first been redeemed from native wilderness from the race which formerly possessed the rights of savage ownership.

The immediate derivalion of the name was a menonomee village, lying upon the east shore of Lake Winnebago, in what is now the town of Calumet in Fond du Lac County.

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Transcribed by Debie

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