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

OLD NORTHPORT
Northport, three miles below New London on the Wolf River, is more than fifty years old, and is gradually fading away. There are only a few
buildings left of what was once a promising village. The first settler on its site was one Stevens, whose only claim to fame seems to have been that
he was a bachelor, which was rather unusual for those days. In 1851, not long after he located, comes an Irishman, William Patrick, and builds
a warehouse.

VILLAGE IN 1855-56
In 1855 the village was platted by J. S. Stoddard and S. Burbank and was called Northport, although some of the residents rather favored
New Boston. The following was written by a visitor to Northport about 1856: "Northport is a young, thriving and promising little village, three
miles below New London by land and four by steamer, on Wolf river. There has been a disposition lately manifested among its inhabitants to
call it Boston, but the name by which it is known is unique, pleasant and appropriate, from the fact that it is the most northerly town below the
mouth of the Embarrass, from which it lies nearly due west. A ware-house, for some years, has stood there in its loneliness, giving it rather a
desolate appearance, especially in high water. But it has been convenient for the accommodation of immigrants who have been rapidly filling up the
excellent agricultural region and pinery, lying north and west of it. This warehouse was built by an Irishman, Patrick, and most of the settlers
in the vicinity have been Irish until within the past year, with the exception of a few scattering settlers of New England origin, among whom is
James A. Stoddard and others, who have held claims and owned lands there for some years, and borne the hardships of a new settlement. Mr.
Patrick sold out about a year and a half ago to Seldom Burbank who, in conjunction with Mr. Stoddard, laid out a village plat. For a year past
an excellent New England immigration have settled there. It is evidently quite a desirable and feasible location for a thriving mechanical village.

"The land rises on the north side of the river gradually for half a mile, embracing a large number of mound springs of excellent water. It
is believed these springs, could be combined and furnish water power sufficient to run machinery to a limited extent and thus be rendered valuable.
These springs furnish, at any rate, water enough to supply the wants of a large town. Besides the springs, there are quarry stones of
gray lime suitable for building material. A brick yard has been laid out and brick made equal to the far-famed Milwaukee brick. It is said that
pipe clay abounds in the vicinity. Pine and other valuable timber are contiguous.

"The Stevens Point Plank Road runs through the town. It is becoming a point of interest. The prospect for increase of population is flattering.
It only needs capital and enterprise to make it a point of importance. There are now two stores, two taverns, a warehouse and, through the
generous encouragement of the owners of the town plat, a steam saw mill of the first class about to be erected by Kimball & Company. Northport
lies nearly in the center of the township of Mukwa, and is become a fixed fact."

THE ISAAC BROWAN INTERESTS
It is said that the Patrick Warehouse noted was built by that good enterprising Irishman to shelter his countrymen, many of whom settled
at Northport during the earlier years, and was thus used rather for business or transportation purposes. In 1865 a stave factory was erected at
Northport. In the same year Isaac Brown, a native of Connecticut who had been a resident merchant for several years, expanded into the lumber
business, and in 1873 erected a large sawmill at Northport. Within the next fifteen years, or so, the development; of his interests made the
village quite prosperous. Eventually he manufactured a large share of the woodwork for wagons and agricultural implements used by the manufactories
of Fond du Lac, Horicon and Beaver Dam. He acquired large tracts of hardwood timber lands in the Wolf and Wisconsin River valleys;
added the manufacture of railroad ties, bridge timber, lath and shingles to the other products of his mills; built a large warehouse on the
banks of the Wolf, and operated a general feed store and a 200-acre farm. 

When Mr. Brown moved to Oshkosh in 1892, and transferred his interests to the larger and more promising place, Northport realized that
its best days were in the past. He died in that city on September 20, 1893.

INDIAN DOGS AND SMILEY'S PIGS
According to Wakefield's county history James Smiley, who lived near Northport for many years, 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 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 attraction 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 paye 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 claim, at the same time threatening to shoot his dog, unless theirs were paid for. Smiley told them they might
kill his dog; but, if they did, some of them would start at once for then "happy hunting grounds." That was enough. Smiley never paid for
their dogs, and his own was not killed.