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BEAR CREEK The town lies south of Larrabee, and west of Outagamie County, its first
settler being, Welcome Hyde, who came in 1854. In the spring of 1856, upon the
organization of the town, Welcome Hyde was chosen Chairman, and C. Clinton and
C. Bennett, Supervisors. A. B. Phillips received the first post office
appointment, in 1857. Rev. S. Peet preached the first sermon at Mr. Hyde's house
in 1857, the Lutherans erecting the first church ten years thereafter. G. House
kept the first store, while J. J. Demming built the first saw-mill-a steam
power-in 1865. The first school taught was in the summer of 1856, by Mrs. L. G.
Williams. It was a "high school", situated in the attic of L. E.
Phillip' house, the scholars (two boys) entering and departing by means of a
ladder placed firmly on the outside. Three years later a schoolhouse was built. From Wisconsin County Histories, Waupaca County Edited by John M. Ware 1917 Transcribed and submitted by Paula Vaughan January 2002
BEAR CREEK Bear Creek, one of the northeastern townships of the county, is, in several respects, the wealthiest of the political divisions which contain neither villages nor cities. It embraces some of the choicest farms and dairy lands, being only exceeded by Larrabee in the value of its real estate, which is placed by the assessor at $1,699,540. The 3,201 neat cattle of Bear Creek exceed in value those of any other township, being placed at $110,057. Outside of Clintonville, there are two cheese factories in the township-the Maple Leaf and Nicholson-and the township in every way upholds the high reputation of northeastern Waupaca County as one of the most prosperous dairy districts in Northern Wisconsin. There is another way by which Bear Creek demonstrates its material stability-that is, in the high prices which its lands bring in the sales market. In that particular it is second only to Larrabee, the average value of lands sold for the past five years being $1,699,540. The old Town of Bear Creek, erected in 1855, embraced what is now Larrabee; the latter was set off in 1860, and Matteson was taken from Shawano County in the same year (thus disturbing the symmetry of Waupaca County).
THE COUNTY'S FIRST "HIGH SCHOOL"
The first settlement in what is now Bear Creek Township was made by Welcome Hyde in 1854. He cleared the first land and raised the first crop on section 13, near the Outagamie County line. Mr. Hyde's two boys were the only children in town for three years, and comprised Mrs. L. B. Williams' first class, which she commenced to teach in the summer of 1856. It has been facetiously called the pioneer "high school" of Waupaca County; it was in the attic of L. E. Phillips' log house, and its main and only entrance and exit was a ladder manipulated from the outside.
The Town of Bear Creek is now second among the townships of the county in the strength of its school population, 444 being thus recorded. There are seven rural schools within its limits. In 1855, the year following Mr. Hyde's settlement, came L. E. Phillips, S. C. Packard, N. H. Phillips and Ludwig Shoepke. All but Mr. Shoepke were from Massachusetts; he was a Prussian. The birth of his child in May, 1857, and its death in the following June, were the pioneer happenings of their kind. On June 21, 1857, L. G. Williams, a son, was born to Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Williams, the first native of the township to reach maturity.
Although Bear Creek Township was erected by the county board at its meeting of November, 1855, the first meeting for organization was not held until April; 1856. The voters met at the house of Welcome Hyde and elected the following: Chairman of the town board, Welcome Hyde; supervisors, C. Clinton and Chet. Bennett.
The first postoffice in town was established in 1857, with A. B. Phillips as postmaster. It was on the mail route from Menasha to Shawano, and F. Fairbank was the carrier. In the same year Elder Peet, the Congregational missionary from New London, preached the first sermon delivered in the township, at Mr. Hyde's house.
The first marriage was that of August Shoepke and Louisa Baisler, on April 26, 1859, and 0. Bowman, justice of the peace, made them one.
WELL KNOWN PIONEERS OF BEAR CREEK
F. M. Hyde, a son of Capt. Welcome Hyde and one of the associate editors of this history, has this to say in the Clintonville Tribune, of some of the pioneers of Bear Creek Township, most of whom have been mentioned by name in the foregoing items-the article having been written in January, 1913:
"As this is the beginning of a new year, and as there are some now living who could not be counted as the first old pioneers, but still are old pioneers, coming here with their parents and passing through the pioneer period of a new country, having passed the zenith of their manhood and womanhood, their heads sprinkled with gray, and some who we meet to rejoice at the ushering in of another new year may be counted among the missing; and while we are recording the history and undertakings of the stronger sex, we must not forget those sterling young women who are the mothers and grandmothers of today. They helped carry the burdens and responsibilities as well as their brothers and future husbands, and by their encouragement, good management, sweet dispositions and unceasing toil, helped smooth the many rough places along life's highway that tried men's souls in this early period of our history. "Among those are Mr. Malem Munsert, one of Clintonville's most-worthy citizens. Coming to Bear Creek with his parents, who located on the farm that since has become noted as one of the finest farms in the county. Moving to Clintonville about twenty years ago he engaged in the manufacture of shingles and became interested in other various industries. He has always been identified with the leading interests of the city, having various offices, having been elected sheriff of the county, also to the office of supervisor from his ward for several terms. Mr. Munsert at the present time is engaged in the lumber business, is the owner of one of the finest residences in the city, and himself and accomplished wife are noted for their hospitality.
" This article would be incomplete, if the name of our old time friend and worthy citizen Mr. Richard Jackson were omitted. Mr. Jackson came to New London when a young boy in his 'teens, soon after the closing of the Civil War, engaging in various pursuits. At one time he was the owner and manager of the stage line from New London to Shawano. At the completion of the old Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western railroad (since changed to the C. & N. W.) from New London to Clintonville, he located here opening a barber shop and billiard room in the basement of the Ward House. He was also interested in the lumber and tie business. At one time he was in the mercantile business with our late deceased Mr. Theodore Folkman, occupying a store building upon the site where now stands Mr. Charles Folkman's fine store. Disposing of his interest to Mr. Folkman he moved to Buckbee where he opened a boarding house. He afterwards worked for the G.' W Jones Lumber Co. after the closing of their business and removed from Buckbee and engaged in the restaurant business in this, city, continuing in the business until about two years ago when he retired from all active pursuits. Mr. Jackson is one of those large hearted, whole souled men who has a large acquaintance and whose friends are legion, and who are not only counted by the tens, but by the hundreds.
"Mr. Charles Schroeder, who as a boy came with his parents, who located on a farm in the western part of the township of Bear Creek, started out in life with only his two strong and willing hands, worked at various industries, and helped his parents until arriving at maturity and locating on a farm near Nicholson. Later he disposed of his farm and moved to this city, engaging in the hardware business for a term of years, retiring from this business to take up the insurance business, in which he has made a decided success. Mr. Schroeder has always taken a decided interest in the welfare of the city, being interested in the pickle factory, of which he was the first vice president. He is also a large stockholder in the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company. The people showed their confidence in him by electing him city treasurer and supervisor of his ward. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder are enjoying the comforts of their luxurious home, surrounded by their children all of whom are taking an active part in the activities of life. His daughter Miss Louise is our most accommodating assistant postmistress.
"Permit me to digress to a small degree and call your attention to an aged couple living here in our midst, who are the only couple of whom both are living, of the first old settlers at Bear Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Long, who are counted among our most worthy citizens and who have passed the half century mark of wedded life. They are passing the sunset of their declining years in a beautiful home here in this city. May the balance of their journey on life's highway be one of pleasure and their pathway strewn with roses, and their children and grand-children, along with their numerous friends have the pleasure of meeting and celebrating the diamond wedding anniversary of this aged couple. Mr. and Mrs. Long's children have all grown to manhood and womanhood and are counted among the most prosperous and well to do citizens of this community.
"Among those with whom many of our citizens are well acquainted is J. W. Raisler of Welcome. He came to Bear Creek when a mere boy with his parents who located on the farm now in possession of his brother Gottlieb, in what was called the west settlement or near Nicholson. Mr. Raisler started out in life with only his two hands and a robust constitution, doing farm work during the summer season and working in the lumber woods during the winter months. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was one of the first to respond to the call of Father Abraham.
We are coming three hundred thousand and more,' going to the front where he had the misfortune of being taken prisoner. He was con-fined in Libby and Andersonville prisons for eighteen months, finally making his escape and returning to our lines. He was granted a furlough and came home for a short visit, returning to his regiment and serving out his enlistment. At the end of this time he received an honorable discharge. Like all honest soldiers who passed through this great conflict, upon their return home after laying down the musket and haver-sack turned the attention to more civil pursuits. And while he failed to surrender to rebel bullets, he could not help surrendering to the charms of one of Bear Creek's most charming young ladies, Miss Molly Klein, leading her up to the marriage altar, soon locating on the farm where he has since resided until his removal to the village of Welcome, about one year and a half ago. This union was blest with five children, all of whom are living, and have taken an active part in the welfare of the business interests of the day. Soon after his return home from the war, he in company with Mr. Carl Miller built a sawmill on Bear Creek near his place of residence.- This partnership continued for a number of years, he finally buying out Mr. Miller's interest and conducting the business until 1891 or '92, when he moved his mill to the village of Welcome, where he became associated with Mr. Charles Eggers in the lumber and mercantile business. Later on he purchased Mr. Eggers' interest and conducting the business until the terrible conflagration that destroyed the business portion of the village. He returned to his fine farm, where he made a specialty of the dairy business until he removed to his present place of abode. Mr. Raisler, aside from his very pressing business interests, has always found time to take an active part in the welfare of the town. He has had various offices, being elected chairman for several terms. Mr. Raisler is a gentleman of the old school, whom it is a pleasure to meet. He has passed the biblical age allotted to men, three score and ten, but his step is as elastic and' his eye as bright as a man of forty. On the old homestead is living his brother Gottlieb, who by good management and careful planning is enjoying with his devoted wife the benefits and pleasures of a fine home.
"Mr. Albert Schroeder, brother to Charles Schroeder, who is living' on the old homestead, has accomplished what only a few men of his age could do. He is the proud possessor of a fine farm, with a beautiful home and fine surroundings.
"The Sharnows, Klems, Mullarkeys, Rices and Tyrrells, with the, Millers, and Phillips, whose parents were among the first to locate in the town of Bear Creek, have fine farms with fine homes and are rated among the prosperous farmers of the community. "Charles and August Schoepke were the first to enlist and after pass-ing through the great struggle until its close, came home with an honor-able discharge. While they were not captured by the enemy they suc-ceeded in capturing two of Larrabee's most charming young ladies, the Misses Fischer, Charles Schoepke took up the life of a farmer living on his farm at Nicholson until the grim reaper of death claimed him. His remains were interred in the little churchyard at Nicholson. August Schoepke located on a farm, soon afterwards engaging in the mercantile business. He is now a resident of Pelican Lake.
"Mr. Charles Thielke, who came to Bear Creek when a mere boy in his 'teens, working at various occupations until the breaking out of the war, when he offered his services to Uncle Sam and marched with Sher-man from Atlanta to the sea, came home and like many another soldier whom the enemy failed to capture, laid siege, not to the enemy, but to the battlements of one of Bear Creek's young ladies, Miss Matilda Schoepke, becoming a benedict. He located on a farm four and one-half miles south from this city. One year after the railroad was built and the village of Welcome was started, moved there with his family and opened up a hotel. Later on he entered the mercantile business, which he carried on until his removal again to his farm. Several years ago he disposed of this and removed to Wausau where he is engaged as a traveling salesman.
"Mr. Harry Williams, who lives on the old homestead where he was born, and with his accomplished wife and several bright children are enjoying the comforts of a well earned competency. "Mr. George Phillippi is the man who has gained a wide reputation for blooded sheep and Angora goats, and has a fine farm located two and one-half miles west from Welcome. He is meeting with unusual success in the sales of his fine stock.
"Mr. Ralph Phillips, one of the first born of Bear Creek, and a son of one of the veterans of the Civil War, for a number of years was a resident of this city, but now has sworn allegiance to King George, migrating to Northwestern Canada, where he is engaged in agriculture. "There are others, descendants of those old pioneers, whose names and good deeds it would be a pleasure to recall, but space forbids. Most of them have become interested in other pursuits in this vicinity or in the 'surrounding country."
(NOTE from Don W. Hansen 1/2007corrections to previous articles: The given name of the Mrs. L. B. Williams mentioned above was La Mira Goodwin (Baldwin) Williams and her husband is also the L. B. Williams mentioned. L. B.'s full name was Lucien Barber Williams. The son born to these parents on June 21, 1857 was not L. B. but was named Harry Baldwin Williams. )
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