Town of Fremont

The Town of Fremont comprises Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, Range 14, taken from Caledonia, and Sections 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, the south half of Sections 29 and 30, and the whole of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, Township 21, Range 13, taken from the Town of Weyauwega. It is the smallest town in the County, containing but twenty sections. It is bounded on the north by the Towns of Weyauwega and Caledonia, on the east by Caledonia, on the south by the Counties of Winnebago and Waushara, and on the west by Lind and Weyauwega.

The town was organized in 1865. The first town meeting was held at the house of A. J. Mayo, in the Village of Fremont, in April, 1865.

The first town officers, elected at said meeting

The first law suit was before Justice Bartlett, in 1866. The parties were Ira Sumner, plaintiff, and Charlie Peters, defendant. It was a jury trial.

The jurors were John Brickley, I. N. Kinsman, C. V. Isbell, Benjamin Brickley, Deming, and George Finley. C. C. Kinsman appeared as counsel for Sumner, and J. B. Strain for Peters. After a long and spirited trial, the jury brought in a verdict of eighteen cents for the plaintiff, that amount being the balance due on a bushel of corn.

Fremont was one of the first settled towns in the County. The first settlement was made in the spring of 1849. The first shanty within the present limits of the town was built in the spring of 1849, by D. Gorden, on a claim in Section 25, where the Village of Springer's Point was afterwards laid out. During the same year a man named Crosby built a log shanty on the west side of Wolf River, near the present crossing, on Section 25.

The same year, Ira Sumner built a board shanty on the east side of the river, it being the first dwelling erected on that side. Harman Mumbrue made a claim on the west side of the river, where the Presbyterian Church now stands. The three Eastmans, and a man named Hill, made claims on Section 25. Frank Millett made a claim on the place afterwards owned by Alvah Sherburne.

The next year other settlers came, among them Benjamin Brickley and the Bergstressers, who settled on the east side of the river. Amos Riley made a claim on Section 27. A man named Rowley made a claim and built a shanty on the west side of the river; and another, named Clow, made a claim at the ''red banks," a short distance up the river from where the village now stands.

During the same year Ira Sumner put up the first frame house. It was framed by Harman Mumbrue, was on the east side of the river, and is still standing, being a portion of the old Booth House.

In 1851, W. A. Springer moved from Little River, where he had located two years before, and settled near the mouth of Partridge Lake, where he subsequently laid out a village, giving it the name of "Springer's Point." It is now incorporated with the Village of Fremont, of which it forms a part.

Alvah Sherburne came in February, 1853, and bought out the claim of Frank Millett, Section 36. The first hotel was started by Ira Sumner, in 1850, on the east side of the river.

The first school was taught in the Sumner school district, by Miss Stroud in 1853.

The first school house was built in the same district in 1854.

The first store was kept by Benjamin Brickley and Samuel Bergstresser, on the east side of the river, in 1850.

The first saw mill (steam) was built in 1856, by S. F. Conant and M. J. Russell, at the outlet of Partridge Lake.

The first dock and warehouse were built by Bender & Kinsman in 1855, at the lower landing, being on the site where the warehouse of I. N. Kinsman now stands.

The first grist mill was built in 1876, by C. C. Arnold. The mill was subsequently owned by George I. Smith. It has since been burned.

The first post office was established in 1853 on the east side of the river, with Ira Sumner for postmaster.

It was subsequently moved to the west side, where it remains.

The first mail route was from Oshkosh to Stevens Point. The mail was carried by "Old Jack" once in two weeks, up the Wolf River in a sail boat to Fremont, and the rest of the way on foot.

The first child born in town was Charles, son of Riley Eastman, in 1851. Charles Eastman now lives in St. Lawrence.

The first death was that of young David Riley, in 1850.

The first marriage was that of Frank Millett and Betsy Eaton, June 22, 1851. Elder Miller, a Methodist, officiated.

The first sermon was preached by Rev. John Baxter, a Congregationalist, in 1851.

The first church (Presbyterian) was built in 1873.

The first survey was made in 1846, by Theodore Conkey, who subdivided as far west as the west line of Township 21 north. Range 14 east. That was the Government survey. The next surveying was done by Ira Sumner in 1849.

The first bridge across the Wolf River was built by Abel Neff, of Oshkosh. It was a toll bridge. After a few years it was purchased by the town, and made free. It did good service until the great freshet in the spring of 1888, when it was swept away. In the summer and fall of that year it was replaced by a first-class bridge, with an iron turn-table resting on a substantial stone pier. Its cost was more than $5,000, the town and village bearing half the expense, and the County the remainder.

The first apple tree was planted in 1851, by Mr. Springer, and in 1854 he raised the first apples.

In 1857 a weekly newspaper was started at Fremont.

It was called the Fremont Pioneer, and was "neutral in politics." It was edited by John M. Dewey, of Waupaca. It survived only one year. The first number is before us, dated November 4, 1857, five columns on a page. Among the advertisements we find:

The town officers for 1889

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