How Manitowoc Cities and Villages got their name

[LinksToThePast]

Tells How Manitowoc Was Named

Manitowoc Herald Times
February 1, 1934

Manitowoc people who join in the tribute to Father Claude Jean Allouez at the Green Bay historical pageant next summer, will be honoring the man to whom Manitowoc owes its name, according to officers of the Manitowoc County Historical Society.

In 1677, Father Allouez planted a large cross near the mouth of the Manitowoc river. No Indians lived here at the time, but the exploring missionary wrote that "a number of savages resort here for hunting, some by canoe on the lake and others through the woods on foot."

A small Potawatomi village grew up around the cross which was visited by Rev. Father Marais who wintered here with a party of Frenchmen, and by Father J.B. St. Cosme who passed this way, October 4, 1699. Perhaps Father Marquette saw it when he came up the lakeshore on his return from the discovery of the Mississippi.

The worship which the Potawatomi gave the cross led to the village being known as "The People of the Manitou or Great Spirit," in the opinion of Hjalmar Holand, the Ephraim histoiran, as told in the current bulletin of the Wisconsin Historical Society. This also gives the commonly-accepted translation, "Home of the Great Spirit," a Christian rather than a pagan significance. It is known that Indians often looked upon curiously shaped trees as the dwelling places of spirits, and it was natural for them to accept the great, wooden crosses of the Jesuits as the home of the Great Spirit of the Christians.

Submitted by LinksToThePast

[LinksToThePast]

TOWN OF MISHICOT
From "History of Manitowoc County" by Dr. Louis Falge, 1912 Vol. 1, pg. 329

The town of Mishicot was separated from the town of Two Rivers November 15, 1852, and at that time included what is now the town of Gibson, which was detached from Mishicot November 9, 1858. The town was named after the Indian chief Mishicot (meaning hairy leg), who was the grandfather of Benjamin Y. Mexico’s mother, an Ottawa, and whose sway extended over the Twin River territory.

The first settler was Daniel Smith in section 5, in 1844, who soon after erected a sawmill there. The first private school was taught by Miss Harriet Higgins. The first public school was established in 1859, with George Peterson as instructor. H. Cogswell was the first white child born in the town; this was in 1846. The first marriage was that of Nathan Daniels to Miss Sear in 1851. The first election was held April 5, 1853, Albert Borcherdt being elected chairman and Lorenz Peterson, clerk.

In the same year the name of the town was changed to Saxonburgh, owing to a large number of Saxons having settled there. The first of these (fifteen families) came in 1847, through the instrumentality of Frederick Horcherdt, who conducted a sawmill at Neshoto five miles south, and who came here in 1841, being the first German to locate in the county.

In 1854 the original name of Mishicot was restored to the town Oldenburgers and Rhenish Prussians flocked into the town at about the time of its organization.

Among the early settlers were: J. Trossen, N. Trossen, J. Scheuer, J. Schmidt, J. Runge, 1847; Jul. Lindstedt, F. Halberg, J. Mueller, F. Braassh, J. Altmeier, Peter Rau, 1848; H. Beyer, B. Soenksen, 1852; A. E. Selk, A. Cayo, 1854; L. Damon, L. Koehnke, 1855; H. Mueller, 1856.

Mishicot ranks highly as an agricultural town containing a large number of exceedingly well developed farms. It has also developed a large number of bright minds who have made their mark along political and professional lines.

Submitted by LinksToThePast

[LinksToThePast]

From "History of Manitowoc County" by Dr. Louis Falge, 1912
P. 339

St. Nazianz, an important village of Manitowoc county, located in Eaton town, was founded by a colony of Badenese, who belonged to a religious order of the old world and sought this country that its members might live under more auspicious conditions and observe tenets of their organization without molestation. The colony lived in St. Nazianz as a community many years and thrived both materially and spiritually. Eventually, after the death of the founder, the property was divided. The community still exists but not as a body politic or as a unit in relation to its property interests. The church has grown in strength and wealth and its educational institutions are highly considered and most generously patronized. In September 1904, the golden jubilee of the founding of the colony was observed and made a gala day and holiday. Many were the guests in St. Nazianz on that day from various parts of the state. The buildings and streets were gaily decorated and spiritual and other feasts were partaken of by the multitude.

For more information on the St. Nazianz, visit the Manitowoc Genealogy Website
www.2manitowoc.com/stnaz.html

Submitted by LinksToThePast

[LinksToThePast]

The village of Fischerville by today's standards is much too small to be considered a village. It was never incorporated.

In the late 1890's, Fischerville was a little village consisting of a blacksmith shop and a cheese factory. The Fischer Farm was located slightly south of the cheese factory and blacksmith shop.

By the early 1900's, knowing he did not want to be a farmer, John Fischer, who grew up on the Fischer farm, went to Madison to a training school where he learned to be a cheese maker. He began his career making cheese at the cheese factory in the village. He didn't like cheese making so built the "saloon/store" across the street from the cheese factory. He named it Fischer's Saloon.

There was a large dance hall upstairs and a baseball diamond to the east of the saloon. John Fischer sold the saloon to Henry Hagenow, who ran it for a number of years before a fire destroyed it on October 26, 1923. The saloon was rebuilt and still stands today.

Fischerville was not given the name Fisherville until some years later. The story has been told that is because the name Fischerville was one too many letters long to fit on the street sign.

Fisherville's claim to fame is that it is located at the east end of the longest straightest road in Manitowoc County. Fisherville Road begins near Mishicot and extends west past the county line.

Submitted by LinksToThePast
Born and raised in Fischerville, Wisconsin
Population: varies depending on the way the wind blows.

[AJE]

History of Valders, Wisconsin

Valders, Valders, Who Are We? 100 Years of History


Valders is a community of about 1,000 residents. Valders can trace its name and heritage to Norwegian immigrants who settled in Manitowoc County in the 1840's. About the time Wisconsin was becoming a state, many settlers arrived here from the Valders area of Norway. It is recorded that the first settler in the present area in 1848 was Ole Evensen and family. The community might not exist today in its present form had it not been for the railroad. Valders did not begin to come together as a community until almost the turn of the century. At that time, Clarks Mills to the north was a thriving town.

Thorstein Veblen, perhaps the most famous native son of the Valders area was born 1/2 mile north of Valders on July 30, 1857. He was considered one of the geat economists of the 19th century, publishing numerous books and articles. A memorial to Veblen stands in Veterans Memorial Park.

Construction of the railroad tracks began in early 1894. By 1985 the train service was available to Valders. During construction of the railroad depot, the name of the town became known as Valders. At this time, three families owned the land surrounding the new community: K.K. Robley, Christopher Evenson and Mr. Boynton. The home of these three families were the only buildings of the area at that time. However, in the spring of 1897, Joseph Zipperer built the Central Hotel, which formally was occupied by Mr. Lucky's tavern, which in recent years was destroyed by a fire. The same year, Otto G. Berge bought a lot from Mr. Boynton and began construction of the Valders Hotel, which today is know as the Willows.

Other industries and businesses began to spring up after the first few settlements were made. These included: In 1898 the first undertaking parlor, operated by Otto Berge and Knute Sebo; In 1899 the Valders Meat Market, today known a Griffin's Fresh Meats; Valders Elevator in 1904 and Jerpen-Valders Telephone Co. and Valders Lime & Stone Co.in 1905. Christel and Luelllof Grocery Store opened in 1907; and a general merchandise store was opened in 1900. Electricity was first supplied to Valders and Clarks Mills in 1908 - Five cusstomers, - four businesses and a farm were hooked up for service when the switch was thrown on December 19 of that year.

The Valders State Bank was organized in 1911 with Joseph Rappel, Sever Thompson, Louis Horstman and Otto G. Berge as stockholders. The actual bank came about a year later on McKinley Street, and in 1961 construction started on a new building at the corner of Lincoln Street and Calumet Drive. The old bank building served as a dental office, first for Dr. Howard Zirwes and for Dr. Thomas Peterson before he moved to a new building. In the early 1900s various businesses operated in the community including a Ford automobile dealership, a canning company, and a condensed milk company processing plant..

Valders was incorporated as a village in late 1919, and the first election was held on Jan.13, 1920. At that time William F. Christel was chosen president and six other men served as trustees.

The Valders volunteer fire Department was organized in 1918 with Arthur Thiel as chief. The first truck was purchased in 1921 at a cost of $4,200. The department has since grown to a three-truck, 30-man organization with all modern equipment. The village is also served by a police department and ambulance service.

Public education came to Valders in 1906 when a two story frame building ws constructed for $2,500 on top of the hill on the north side of the town. Viola Sullivan became the first principal here in 1910 when enrollment totaled 78 pupils through the eigth grade. A four year high school was established after a two story brick building on Jefferson Street was completed in 1922. L.M. Adams was principal at the time and seven teachers were on the staff. The first high school class graduated in 1924. C.E. Brey became principal in the fall of 1924, and he remained in that position for 37 years. Several building projects have been complete in the years since: a gymnasium in 1940, vocational agriculture shop in 1944, an addition to the high school in 1958, a more extensive addition in 1964, a swimming pool in 1965, a new junior high school wing in 1967-68 and a new elementary school in 1973. The schools are currently undergoing an expansion project to add space to the middle school/high school complex and the elementary school. The district currently has approximately 1100 students and 95 certified teachers.