From Wisconsin County Histories, Waupaca County Edited by John M. Ware 1917
Transcribed and submitted to the Waupaca County Website
by Paula Vaughan January 2002

In the early days, when lumbering on the Wolf was at its height and before the railroads came, Fremont promised to be a growing village. There 
was no good crossing for miles above and below, and as a safe bridge was early thrown across the river at Fremont, or Springer 's Point as it 
was first called, and always maintained there, the locality became well known to travelers. Some of the earliest settlements were on the east 
side of the river, but the main growth of the village gradually extended toward the outlet of Partridge Lake, or Little River, where the first sawmills were built.

PIONEER EVENTS AND PEOPLE
The first shanty within the present limits of the village was in the spring of 1849, by D. Gorden, on a claim in section 25, where 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. Harmen Mumbrue made 
a claim on the west side of the river, where the Presbyterian Church afterward stood. The three Eastrans, and a man named Hill, made claims on section 25. 
Frank Millett made a claim on the place afterwards owned by Alvah Sherburne.

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 was afterward incorporated with the Village of Fremont.

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

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

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

The first postoffice 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 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.

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, dated November 4, 1857, contains, among its other advertisements, the following: "The Fremont House, 
by A. J. Mayo." "Wolf River House, J. P. Shoemaker, Proprietor." "Evan Townsend, Notary Public and General Land Agent." "Steam Saw Mill, Damon &
Springer." "Store, J. Bender & Co." "T. W. Brisbine, Dry Goods, Etc." "Livermore's Variety Store." "Steam Shingle Mill, Hubbard, Manzer & Co."

SINKING OF THE PEARL AT FREMONT
The following communication to the New London Press of comparatively recent date is self-explanatory: "I notice in your paper of February 17th an article
taken from the Fremont Pioneer, of 1858, giving an account of the sinking of the steamer Pearl at Fremont.

"In going up the river from the dock the boat struck a sunken pile near the place where the old Neff sawmill had formerly stood, bursting a large hole in the bow. 
The captain, seeing that she was sinking, ran her ashore on the east side of the river before she went down. She was heavily loaded with passengers, who, 
with us 'outsiders,' became badly demoralized, as was natural.

"I was at the time in the office of Mr. Sumner, on the east side of the river, with Mr. Balch. Fremont then formed a part of Weyauwega, and we were 
assessors for the town and at work finishing the assessment "Seeing the boat go down, Mr. B. and I started for the scene of operations.

Piling into a large skiff, we made for the sunken boat, making splendid time-for us! But when about halfway one of my oars broke, my heels changed
places with my head, and I found myself lying on the floor, bottom side up, without having time to choose a favorable location. Mr. Balch, I am sure,
will recall the event, as he seemed to enjoy the sport fully as much as I did. "Upon unloading the submerged vessel an old, hair-covered trunk much the 
worse for wear, belonging to a young German, a fireman on the boat, was found, which was at once claimed by a party living at Readfield, who went 
before Justice Sumner and swore it was the identical trunk that he shipped from Gills Landing, with clothing, a year before, for his brother in California, 
and which he alleged was never received by his brother. The trunk was new when it was shipped, but he contended that one year of hard usage would 
give anything an unhealthy appearance.

"Well, a warrant was issued and the scared German was brought before His Honor for examination. C. C. Kinsman appeared for the prosecution 
and Mr. Kellogg, the clerk of the boat, employed the other fellow for the defense. After a spirited 'scrap' the court decided that there was not testimony 
sufficient to hold the prisoner, and he was let loose.

"After a short time the complainant had the satisfaction of learning that it was all a mistake that his brother had received the trunk. JAY DOUBLEYOU. '

INCORPORATED AS A VILLAGE
Fremont was organized as a village corporation in May, 1888, with E. L. Damon as president of the board of trustees and William Sherburne, clerk and 
police justice. The Sherburnes have always been prominent in the local development, W. E. Sherburne being now postmaster at Fremont. The Kinsmans 
and the Steigers have also been leaders in the development of the village and the country around.POPULATION, 1890-1916 As to actual increase in 
population, the village has been virtually stationary since its incorporation. It numbered 275 in 1890, 263 in 1900 and 305 in 1910. Postmaster Sherburne 
estimates that its present population is 350.

FREMONT OF THE PRESENT
The village has nine or ten stores of various kinds, two blacksmith offices and a lumber, wood and coal yard. At and near Fremont are also several cheese 
factories, such as the plants known as Silver Field, Oak Grove and Fountain Valley.

There are two small churches at Fremont without settled pastors. Rev. August Mueller, of Dale, is pastor both of the German Lutheran congregation at 
Fremont and that in Caledonia township, about three miles east. The latter was organized as early as 1859, while the Fremont church was not founded 
until 1870. The congregations erected church buildings in the samed year, 1885.

The village school, a state graded institution, has an enrollment of about a hundred, and a new two-story brick building was opened in January, 1917. 
Miss Mary Barnard is principal.

The Fremont State Bank was organized in March, 1910, and the building for the transaction of its business was completed in the following July. There has
been no change in the officers, viz.: Theodore H. Johnson, president; W. J. A. McIntyre, vice president; N. H. Johnson, cashier. In the fall of 1916 the 
financial condition of the Fremont State Bank was indicated by the following: Capital, $10,000; surplus and undivided profits, $2,748; deposits, $173,845.

The earliest settlements were made upon the site of the present Village of Fremont and have already been described; they commenced in 1849 on the
west side of the Wolf, in section 25. Two years afterward William A. Springer, who had been residing at Little River improving the Townsend sawmill, 
pre-empted and soon bought the part of his farm -in section 25 which was soon afterward laid out as Springer's Point. That was his home until 1874, 
when he bought property and settled in section 26, to the west. Springer's Point was the forerunner of the Village of Fremont.