History of Calumet County
Calumet County, Wisconsin Genealogy & History
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sheboygan/

This page is part of the site located at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sheboygan/ There is no charge or fee to access this site or any information on it. If you have arrived here from somewhere else, such as a pay site, and are in a frame, you can click the above url to access this page directly.


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



A Marked Assimilation.

In 1840, the southern Portion of Calumet County, embracing the present towns of Brothertown and New Holstein was organized into the town of Manchester. The remainder of the county was not organized politically for three years. The Indians were gradually crowded from the lakeshore, mostly by American settlers, while a foreign population, mostly German, hemmed them in to the east. The Stockbridges were also being displaced by the more enterprising race. The more intelligent of them commenced to advocate a change to full citizenship, forming what was called the " Citizen's Party." " The Indian Party " consisted of those whose blood still flowed from the force of pure animal life, and whose semi-civilized manner of life, free from care, was dearer to them than material prosperity. The result of a popular vote polled by the Stockbridges was in favor of the " Citizen's Party," by a small majority. An act of Congress approved March 3,1843, granted them the rights of citizenship, and the same amount of land per capita given to the Brothertowns. The town of Stockbridge, including all the county outside of Brothertown and New Holstein, was organized the same year. Those citizens, however, who still held to un-American notions claimed that the decision was brought about by fraud. They resisted taxation and invited a party of Oneidas from their reservation to assist them in their revolt The rebellion, however, was met by such a determined front by the Governor and private citizens that the Oneidas returned and the Indian party abandoned their reckless determination. A portion of them, howrever, showed such dissatisfaction and disgust that they were allowed by the General Government to give up their lands and retire to the reservation in Shawano County. Those who remained were absorbed into the body called American citizens, and became like the Brothertowns, all that the name implies. They supported schools and churches, in common with their neighbors. Men of affairs, such as the Dicks, the Fowlers and the Johnsons, obtained and retained respect and influence. Differences of blood and race were forgotten, and another marked example of political assimilation was held up for the consternation of scoffers at republicanism and democracy.

Settlement was remarkably brisk throughout the county in 1848-49, the villages of New Holstein, Hayton and Gravesville threatening to even displace the older settlement of Brothertown, Stockbridge and Chilton. The towns of New Holstein and Charlestown were organized, and there seemed to be a wavering as to what decided course the tide of immigration and of activity would take. The causes which operated in favor of Chilton up to the time of the war are detailed in the sketch of the city, and the particular, and in some cases, the peculiar history of these and other villages, will be given hereafter. The war, as every-where else, here makes a break.

Return to Calumet Page

Transcribed by Debie

Copyright 1997 - 2005 by Debie Blindauer
All Rights Reserved