Wisconsin AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Villages of Mukwa and Northport
Village Of Mukwa
The Village of Mukwa, which obtained such notoriety during the "County Seat War," was platted in 1851 by B. F. Phillips and August Grignon. It was formerly a great trading point for the upper Wolf River country. Charles Carron, a half-breed, had his trading post here from 1838 to 1846. It afterwards became the County seat, and what a wonderful advance in the price of village lots! But a change came; the County seat was moved elsewhere, and the bubble burst.
Village Of Northport
This village was platted by J. S. Stoddard and S. Burbank in 1855. It was first called Stevens Point, then New Boston, and finally given its present name. Its population is about 350. It is situated in the northern part of the Town of Mukwa, on the Wolf River, three miles below the City of New London. It has 1 general store, 2 saloons, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 saw mill and lumber yard, 1 planing mill, 2 churches, and 1 hotel. The first settler was a man named Stevens. William Patrick came early in 1851, and Elijah Humes and his son Alden came in the same year, Patrick built a warehouse.
In 1874 a substantial draw bridge was built across the Wolf River at this place. In 1857 a Catholic Church was built; but it was burned. The present structure was built in 1866. The Methodist Church was built in 1864.
Smiley's Anecdotes
James Smiley, to whom we are under many obligations, is a hale, hospitable gentleman, living quietly in his pleasant home near Northport. He took a prominent part in our County affairs at an early day, and enjoys telling about being taken to jail because he refused to give up the books and papers in his office to those who he thought had no legal right to them.
He was born in Ireland, June 20, 1815. He came to this country in 1837, and has resided in Waupaca County since 1851, having held several important offices.
He is one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the State, having been a member of the order for forty-five years.
Mr. Smiley loves to tell good anecdotes, a few of which we shall try to repeat:
Indian Dogs and Smiley's Pigs
Mr. Smiley had, at considerable trouble and expense, procured some pigs, which were allowed to run at large about the premises. A band of some 400 Indians were encamped in the neighborhood, while there were but four or five white families near. One day Mr. Smiley caught the Indians setting their dogs on his pigs, and having lots of fun. Upon a repetition of the offense, he took his rifle and started for their camp. A squaw saw him coming, and, divining the cause, made haste to secure the safety of her canine pet by hustling it into her tent, and tried to prevent Smiley from pursuing it. But the dog, not having the fear of shooting irons before its eyes, darted out to see what the fuss was about. Smiley was a good marksman, and that dog was soon where dead Indian dogs go, much to the chagrin of the squaw.
Smiley then took a lot of venison, cut it into thin slices, sweetened it with strychnine, and generously fed it to the offending curs. He soon had fifteen where porcine heels would never more have any attractions for them, and their bark was silenced forever.
The next morning fifteen exasperated Indians, late owners of the defunct curs, all dressed in their war paint, made their appearance at the house of Mr. Smiley.
One said, "You kill-um my dog last night; you pay me ten dollar." Another said, "You kill-um my dog, too; you pay me five dollar." And so it went, until all had put in their claims, at the same time threatening to shoot his dog, unless theirs were paid for. Smiley told them that they might kill his dog; but, if they did, some of them would start at once for the ''happy hunting grounds." That was enough. Smiley never paid for their dogs, and his own was not killed.
Meiklejohn's Law Suit
Peter Meiklejohn was a Justice of the Peace, and had a criminal case before him. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury cleared the accused, and fined the Justice half a pound of tobacco for each of their number. The joke was too good for "Pete" to "kick," and the "fine" was paid.
In those primitive times it was quite the fashion at law suits, in Justices' Courts, for the parties in the suit to set jugs of whisky on the table, for the use of the Court, jury and witnesses, and the man who furnished the best liquor and the biggest jug generally won.
A Mukwa Divorce
Mike Bradley married in Chicago, and brought his wife to Mukwa. The couple had the misfortune to quarrel once in a while, and in one of their differences Mike struck his weaker part with his fist. She applied for redress to Squire Brandy, who had Mike arrested and fined $25. Then Mr. Smiley made out some divorce papers, which both parties signed. Mike then paid his fine, which was used in taking his divorced wife back to Chicago.
An Indian Thief
The following anecdote was related to us by a different person, but it is worth repeating. In 1851 a large number of Indians were at Mukwa. Several whites were stopping at the hotel.
One day a woman, in taking in washing, missed a certain article of female apparel, commonly called a ''night dress." An effort was at once made to find the thief. After much searching, someone discovered an Indian with a ruffle peeping from under his blanket. Knowing that Indians seldom wore such ornaments, the discoverer made a further investigation, and found the missing garment transformed into an Indian's shirt. The Indian was at once turned over to the tender mercies of the white women and squaws, who soon managed to disrobe the red thief. Then the other Indians commenced jeering him, pointing their fingers at him, and calling him "Winnebago, Winnebago," meaning "bad Indian."
Source: History of Waupaca County, Wisconsin, by J. Wakefield, Waupaca, Wisconsin, 1890.
