Category: Historic Timeline

Wisconsin gains statehood status

John and Almira Volk come up the Oconto River as far as the falls by boat as their possessions could not be taken along the Indian trails, the only land routes of the time. They traveled from Chicago to settle and build a saw mill at Oconto Falls.
Coordinates: 44°52′29″N, 88°8′34″W | Source

Thomas Lindsey and family came to the mouth of the Oconto River from Milwaukee by boat as the first permanent settlers in the city of Oconto. They built an “over-night place” for travelers. Thomas Lindsay family, first permanent settlers of City of Oconto. Lived at first in a tent. They were followed shortly after by the Harts & Richard Berry.
Coordinates: 44°53′15″N 87°52′13″W

Colonel David Jones, with sons Tarleton and Huff, from Wellsburg VA, built the first successful dam and mill at the site of today’s city of Oconto at “Susie’s Hill” near the large Menominee Village. Earlier attempts had washed out, including the first in 1842 by George Lurwick. The Jones family manufactured the first wood for general sale. The Jones family eventually settled nearby in 1847, after living several years in the comfort of Fort Howard near Green Bay.

John Penn Arndt built the first dam and sawmill at today’s Pensaukee, beginning the first settlement in Oconto County.  He was the first to have a written land deed.
Coordinates: 44°47′37″N 87°56′51″W | Source

Oconto County area becomes a territory of the newly established United States of America in the Ordinance of 1787 as part of the Northwest Territory.

Father Claude Allouez founded the first mission in northeastern Wisconsin at the present day city of Oconto and named it St. Francis Xavier Mission. An estimated 600 Native Americans lived in the nearby village of “Oak-a-toe” now Oconto.

Negotiations between the Potawatomie and Menominee averted an almost certain war. French-Indian fur trader, Nicolas Perrot mediated settlement of the crisis. His partner was Tousignant Baudry.