From The Wolf River Herald – October 26, 1855
Transcribed and submitted to the Waupaca County Website
by Paula Vaughan March 2003

THE VILLAGE OF CRESCENT – This village is on the South Branch of the Waupaca twelve miles from Weyauwega. It already contains about thirty houses, among which are a good hotel, and a large Flouring Mill recently erected by Parfrey & Gumaer. It is bound to be a flourishing place, and the business point for a considerable population

The village of Crescent was formerly known as Parfreyville. It has all the elements necessary to make a place of importance and it is even now outstripping some of its pompous and city-pretending neighbors.

Parfreyville – This village is beautifully situated on the South branch of the Waupaca River, in the county of Waupaca and is fast rising into a town of no mean importance; having al the elements essential to the building up of a large place-Water power-a flouring mill which turns out flour equal in quality to any mill in the county. The Mill has recently been bought by GUMAER & CLARK, who take possession the 15^th of May next. Of stores, the village contains three, all doing good business-receiving goods almost daily; and a fourth will soon be in operation. Business is active and all kinds of produce is bought and sold at fair rates. Grain of all lands taken there meets with a ready sale, as ROBT’. PARGREY Esq. the former owner of the Mill, is paying cash for all kinds of grains, either on delivery or contract. He puts no one off on store pay as some of his north neighbors do.

Parfreyville is in the midst of a rich and extended agricultural country, of which it is the Emporium for trade. It is in a healthy location and is on the stage route between Weyauwega and Stevens Point. The village lots are held at mere nominal prices, which places them within the reach of all. Building for the last season was active, and the in-coming summer will witness its counterpart; 30 buildings are now under contract, to be put up immediately on the opening of spring weather. The lots are large, conveniently laid out, and the streets are wide and regular. In the centre of the town is a Public Square of four acres.

This village with its beautiful site, healthy location and business advantages, offers superior inducements to those hunting permanent homes in Northern or Central Wisconsin.

Parfreyville – As our "Town" is to be reported in the columns of THE POST it may be well enough to give people some facts in regard to its position, size, etc. Parfreyville is located on the South Branch of the Waupaca River, in section seven, town of Dayton. Its extent is not very definite. A few acres of ground would suffice to set the residence and business places of our village upon, but you know no place with a spark of ambition would consent to such a bourn. All towns have more or less vacant ground which they insist on "counting in" when telling how large they are. That is the case with us, and then there is Crystal River which is really a part of our village. It contains the two grist mills of Messrs. Gunner and Oertell and the carding mill owned and run by Mr. Thompson. Also a store run by the experienced tradesman Peter Nordeen.

About midway between Parfreyville and Crystal River is our school house, where the children from both places gather to the number of sixty to walk the narrow path that leads to knowledge and understanding.

Sometimes since L. F. Jones announced to the public that he was bound to close out his stock of goods if it had to be done by selling at cost. People thought it was the old story over again, but have concluded that if he does not sell at cost he must know where to buy very cheap.