Waushara County, Wisconsin
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Township/Village of Plainfield
History & Miscellaneous Information

Last updated December 31, 2008
 

History

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin - Acme Publishing Co. 1890

(Town of Plainfield)

Plainfield is the northwest town of the county. It is bounded on the north by Portage County, on the east the town of Oasis, on the south by the town of Hancock, and on the west by Adams County. This town is nearly level. It has no large streams. The Wisconsin Central line crosses it north and south in the east part, with a station at Plainfield Village. Sand Lake is a small body of water in the southeast corner.

The first settlement in the western part of the county, was made in this town, in 1849, by Thomas and William N. Kelly, father and son. C.E. Waterman and Charles Hamilton came in the winter of 1849-50, and located at the site of the present of Plainfield.

(Village of Plainfield)

Plainfield, seventeen miles northwest of Wautoma and twenty-two miles south of Stevens Point, is one of the wide-awake and progressive villages on the line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad. It is the center of a good country trade and the shipping point of large quantities of grain and live-stock.

In 1852 E.C. Waterman settled on land now within the corporate limits of the village and erected a shanty 12X16 feet which he used as a dwelling and hotel. It is left to the imagination of the traveler of to-day to picture such hotel accommodations as he must have had. This building was afterwards enlarged into the nucleus of the Plainfield House, still standing on Main Street.

Others who came early to Plainfield were Judge T.H. Walker; Jesse Bentley and family, in 1850; and Samuel Westbrook in 1852.

In March, 1855, W.W. Beach, who became one of Plainfield's most honored citizens, settled in the village and built the next house. Charles Hamilton was among the very earliest settlers of the town. He, with Messrs. Waterman and Beach, built the first school house and Miss Mary Chester was the first school teacher. William Kelley, the very first settler in the town of Plainfield, who came as early as 1848, located just south of, but not within the village limits.

Early in its history, the little settlement on the present site of Plainfield was called Norwich; but when the post-office was established and it became necessary to choose a name of it, Plainfield was decided on at the suggestion of E C Waterman, the postmaster, from Plainfield, Vt., in honor of his earlier home. About this time (1855) came G W Sheardown and Charles Mann. The former erected the second house after Mr. Beach's and the latter the third. Having been named, the village was platted the same year by S W Hall, surveyor for E. C. Waterman, proprietor. Hamilton's and other less important additions to the village have been platted.

The location of the postoffice and the platting of a village is always the signal for fresh growth. This proved true in Plainfield. The first gristmill and a a sawmill run in connection with it were erected by Cady & Chamberlain in 1856. It was burned, however, in 1857, and rebuilt. Beach & Chester had opened the first general store in the place the year before (1855). This, by 1856, the ground-work had been laid for the present prosperous village. The building of the railroad gave it an added impetus, and it now ranks as one of the most thriving and promising villages in this section. An idea of its rapid growth during the past twenty years may be gained from a comparison of its business men in all lines: Sherman Bordwell, B F Griffith, J B Mitchell, F B Munson, J A Rozell, general merchants; J F Cannon, Harmilton & Rist, blacksmiths; J H Millington, merchant tailor; R R Rapp, wagon maker; G W Sheardown, druggist and postmaster. Of course grist and sawmills were in operation at this time. At the present time Plainfield has fifty or sixty business establishments, including the Bank of Plainfield, H N Drake, Proprietor; the general stores of Sherman & Bardwell, F J Luce & Co., and L S Walker; the planing mill of W J Durham; the flouring mill of O'Cain & Bardwell; the marble works of Joseph T. Sherman; the Mitchell House, Coon & Perrins, proprietors; and the Plainfield House, J L Shaw, proprietor; the drug store of Bishop B Borden, and the farm implement warehouse of George B. Fox, Charles H Millington and Albert J Steele.

J T Ellarson some years since published a paper here named the Plainfield Times. It was local in character and Republican in politics. The Sun, published L W Chapman,, is in its seventh volume. It is a five-column, eight-page paper, devoted to upbuilding the best interests of Plainfield and vicinity, ably edited from towns around about, which makes it one of the newsiest sheets published in this section.

Walter Waterman Post, No. 197, G.A.R. was organized Aug. 22, 1885, with the following character members: J B Mitchell, Henry McCallin, H B Holmes, J C Rowsam, Peter Mitchell, Frank Rathermel, L S Walker, J P Lane, L D Stilwell, S S Mills, E M Pickering, A M Pierce, Geo. B Fox, Henry Washburn, Frank Briggs, H C Wood, C B Foss, W W Gillett, G D Foss, John Metier, R R Crowe, B F Powell, Geo. D Ball, Joseph Waters, B B Borden, Gideon Crowe, A Allen, Andrew Lutz, Geo. Goult, Jas Rozell,  A D Dewitt, Louis Thiele, John Tibbetts, S Bentley, I N Copeland, E G Eaton, W A Rozell, A Stevens, W W Stilwell, D B Culbertson, R H  Runcorn, B F Hutchinson, I C Herrick, John Townsend, R D Sparks, Joseph Sherman, Arad LAkin, S C Waterman, John E WIlson and John Peevy. The first officers were: Com. R H Runcon; S V C , J B Mitchell; J V C, Peter Mitchell; Surg.; I C Herrick; O Day, H B Holmes; Q M; L S Walker; Adjt., R B Hutchinson; O G, Geo. Foss; Chap., R D Sparks; Ser Maj., S C Waterman; Q M Ser., G D Ball.

The present officers are: Com., R H Runcorn; S V C, Geo. Foss; J V C, Arad Laken; Surg., I C Herrick; O. Day, J T Sherman; Q M, H F Treadwell; Ajt., S C Waterman; O G, B A Elliott; Chap., A W Alderman; S.M., L H Weldon; Q M S, H C Wood.

Plainfield Lodge, F A  M, No. 208, holds its regular meetings on the first and third Saturdays of each month, at Masonic Hall, over Sherman Bardwell's store. W B LaSelle is Worshipful Master and George B Fox is Secretary.

The village officers of Plainfield in January, 1890, were: President, B B Borden; Trustees, E M Pickering, H E Pratt, W W Runcorn, F J Luce, J H Mattice, W T Michi; Clerk, L W Chapman; Assessor, John A Printup; Treasurer, L S Walker; Justice of the Peace, George Spees; Police Justice, H F Treadwell; Marshal, George W Goult.

There are three churches in the village: Methodist Episcopal, Rev. A W Alderman, pastor; Baptist, Rev. J U R Wolf, pastor; and Congregational, worshiping in the Baptish Church, Rev. E A Child, pastor.

Early in its history Plainfield was the scene of the dread culmination of a tragedy such as few towns in this part of the country have witnessed. Its story will be found interesting as a dramatic chapter of the history, not only of Plainfield, but of the county. In 1853, there settled on a piece of land on Big Prairie, in Waushara County, a man named Firman. Some time thereafter being in Milwaukee, he fell in company with a man from Chienango County, New York, named Cartwright, who was looking for a place in which to settle. Firman induced him to come up to Big Prairie, offering him a one "forty" Firman, liked the appearance of the country, went to work and built a log house on the "forty" Firman had agreed to let him have; and, after staying about the place a few weeks, started back to New York to sell out,; settle up his affairs and bring on his family to his new home. In due time he returned and went into his log house with his family. For a time all things went on harmoniously, until Firman, whose habits and disposition were of a somewhat lawless character, got into some controversy with Cartwright, who was inclined to keep within and stand upon his legal rights, and a series of lawsuits arose between them for trespasses, assaults, and a variety of other contentions, which kept the justices in Berlin and Princeton (where they were obliged to seek law, Waushara County being then attached to Marquette County for judicial purposes) comparatively busy in adjudicating their disputes.

This went on until all the means and credit of the parties were exhausted. In the meantime the "Indian Land,: as all northwest of the Fox River was called, was taken up and pre-emptors were required to make "final proof." Firman had continued to assert a claim to the property he had given Cartwright during the period of their quarrel, and the rough and lawless elements in the community had sided with him in the controversy, while the law-abiding class were friendly with Cartwright. The day previous to that on which they were notified to appear at Menasha to "prove up" their claims, Firman had been arrested on a warrant for some offense, and his examination was fixed for the same day on which he wished to get to the land office. As he could not be present to contest Cartwright's claim to the "forty", which the latter obtained a duplicate for, he started home immediately after his case was idsposed of and in the bar-room of the hotel at Wautoma, where he stopped, he met Cartwright, whom he accused of "swearing to a lie." A quarrel ensured, and at length, angered by a bitter insult, Firman sprang upon Cartwright, struck him repeatedly and at length knocked him out of his chair (for he was sitting) against the stove, which tumbled over and scattered live coals over the floor. The bystanders pulled FIrman off of Cartwright who immediately got up, and passing through the house went into a large frame building which had been lately constructed on the west end of the diningroom of the log building. After a few moments, Firman went through into the kitchen and not seeing Cartwright enquired where he was, and being told by the servant girls that he had gone into the frame building, started after him. When he entered the room where Cartwright was he sprang toward him. Cartwright ran out of a side door onto the platform in front the of building, Firman following him and catching him by the collar just as he sprang from the platform at the southeast corner of the building, where a hitching-post had been erected, and twisting down Cartwright's head tried to gouge his eyes. Cartwright being unable to release himself put his hand in his back pocket, drew pistol and began firing and at the second or third discharge FIrman released his hold and dropped. He died in about an hour. Cartwright was at once arrested charged with murder. The next day he was held for trial.

Mr. J V Swetting, of Berlin, Green Lake County, passing through Wautoma in company of FIrman intended to lunch Cartwright, and with the district attorney he went to the justice who had held Cartwright for trial and told him that he (the justice) would be held responsible for what might follow if he did not immediately make out a commitment and send the prisoner to jail. The justice pleaded that he had no form book and did not know how to write out a commitment. Mr Swetting wrote the necessary document and the justice signed it; and in charge of a constable Cartwright was at once started for Oshkosh, where the nearest jail was located. They proceeded as far as Berlin that afternoon, and the next day Cartwright was lodged in jail to await his trial for murder. There he quietly remained until after the passage of an act by the Legislature of Wisconsin abolishing the death penalty; and as by the statutes of the State, all offences except a capital offence, were bailable, shortly after the enactment became a law Cartwright obtained bail and returned to his home. On his way home in passing through Berlin he was warned that the friends of Firman threatened to lynch him if he ever gain came to Big Prairie. He insisted on going home, taking the precaution of arming himself with a pistol and having already a rifle at home. The second night after his arrival home, about 11 o'clock, p.m. the front door of his home was broken in and his con, who was sleeping on the lower floor seized in bed by about a dozen men and carried out of doors. On discovering their mistake they lynchers let the boy go and rushed again into the house and up the ladder which led to the upper floor. The first man whose head appears above the floor shot and killed instantly. The crowd then withdrew from the house, and on consultation concluded to burn to the building and commenced kindling a fire at one corner where the legs came to the ground. Cartwright then poked his rifle through between the logs and firing, killed another of the party, whereupon the rest retreated from the house and after a second consultation sent a constable who was one of the party to the house of Judge Walker living near Plainfield and about four miles from Cartwright's, of whom he was a very warm friend. Walker was duped into going back with the constable and to assure Cartwright that the crowd of lynchers had dispersed and that if he would surrender himself to the constable he (the constable) would protect him and return him to Oshkosh jail until he could be tried. This Walker finally prevailed upon Cartwright, against his own judgment, to do, and he started from his house in company with the constable and Walker.

They had not proceeded twenty rods from the house when they were surrounded by the mob, Cartwright was taken from the constable, who made no resistance, put into a sleigh with the crowd and driven rapidly to Plainfield, where a pole was run out of the upper story of the hay barn belonging to the tavern. A rope was attached thereto and several bunches of shingles were piled up for Cartwright to stand on. Walker who had followed and was appealing to the mob to desist, was told that if he did not leave he would be hanged with Cartwright. The rope was noosed, about Cartwright's neck, the shingles were pushed from under him and he was left hanging until he was dead. Then the rope was untied from the pole and attached to the rear of the sleigh, and Cartwright's body was dragged behind the sleigh to his home and thrown into his house where his horror-stricken wife and children had been wondering at his fate.

To the shame of the good name of Waushara County, the human fiends who participated in this murderous outrage against law and right were never punished nor even prosecuted, though many if not all of them were known; but some of them have met death by violence.

Other Information

Was called Norwich when first settled in 1848 by William N. Kelly. In 1849, Elijah C. Waterman arrived and laid out a village, offering free lots to anyone willing to build and live on them. When the post office was established and Mr. Waterman appointed postmaster, he officially changed the name to honor his home in Plainfield, VT.

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