6 
 
 
                                ,HiOMIESTEADING 
 
         "As a general rule the settlers in Wisconsin were poor, but

     industrious, men of large hearts and aspirations.   They had a 
     stern determination of 'I will conquer, " 
 
         Our earliest picture of the Omro area is one of trees, marsh 
  td", land, Indians, and good fertile soil. The last item was the great-

     est drawing card for settlers. Always one had to eat, and only 
     the good earth could grow lush crops. No doubt the trees, marsh, 
     and Indians were the "flies in the ointment". However, these

     harassments did not deter the adventurers from settling on the 
     land. This area was hunting grounds for 4 powerful Indian tribes-- 
X,   Winnebagoes, Menominees, Chippewas, and Pottawattomies. They held 
     possession of all the country from the Wolf river on the east and 
 . :{" to the Mississippi on the west. 
 
         The Fox river was the Indians main hunting grounds, as it was 
     alive with wild fowl and fish. The settlers shot great numbers 
     of fowl to protect their grain fields; many were fed to the hogs 
     as the families could not eat all of them.             I_         ,.

 
         It could be of interest to note the first census of Winnebago 
  4' County. This was taken in 1840-- 
     135 residents, 78 males and 57 females. No deaf, dumb, blind, 
     insane or idiots, and no free colored persons or slaves. 
     44 men engaged in agriculture. 
     Samuel Irwin busied himself' with navigation. 
     The Jourdainbrothers, noted for their wrought iron work were 
         listed in manufacturing and trade. 
     16 students were attending schools at public charge in 1840, 
         their expenses being paid by such noted pioneers of this 
         area as Chas. and Augustin Grignon, the latter's son, and 
     *    -Jaraes Knggs, Oshkosh, and Win. Powell (also an influence 
     Sin Omro history).0 
     40 children of 10 years or less and record showed also 1 man and 
         I woman in the 70 to 80 range. 
         Ten years later the 1850 county census showed a total of 
     1,625 persons.  888 white males, 732 white females, 3 colored 
     males and 2 colored females. 
 
         Information asked of each; Names, age, sex, color, profess- 
     ion, occupation, or trade of each over 15 years of age, value of 
     real estate, place of birth, marriage within the year (there were 
     21), number of persons attending school during the year (237 
     children), number of persons over 20 who could not read or write 
     (48), convicts (2), deaf person (1), other states and foreign 
     nations:  England 20, Maine 28, Pennsylvania 23, Vermont 18, 10 
     born in Germany. 
 
         All settlers were allowed to take out a 40 acre homestead. 
     Many purchased more additional land f or more acreage. The 
 
 
nearest land office in the earlier days was located at Green 
Bay, so journeying to claim, register, and purchase land was 
somewhat of an undertaking. One could get there either by 
traveling on foot, by boat, on horseback, or with a team of 
oxen.  Few came with any other means of transportation than 
that of "tshank's mares".