Historic Map - Oshkosh, WI - 1867

Oshkosh, Winebago Co., Wisconsin 1867. Drawn from nature by A. Ruger.

Panoramic view of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, drawn from nature by Albert Ruger in 1867, reprint.

An excerpt from "The History of Winnebago County" that was compiled by Wm. N. Webster, published in 1880, describes the town of Oshkosh as follows:

"The town of Oshkosh is bounded north by the Town of Vinland, east by Lake Winnebago, south by the City of Oshkosh and Lake Buttes des Morts, and west by Lake Buttes des Morts, and comprises about six sections in the northern portion of Township 18, north of Range 16, east, a fraction of Town 18, Range 17, of about one section a fraction of Town 19, Range 17, of about three sections, and some five sections of the southern portion of Town 19, Range 16, making a total of not far from twenty sections.

The surface is well elevated above the lakes, and, in the southern part, quite level, slightly undulating through the middle, and more rolling and broken in the north; but no prominent elevation.

The soil is also varied; in the south-east is a deep clay, generally covered with a rich vegetable mold; in the south and west, clay and loam predominate with small areas of loam and sand. Ridges and knolls of gravel are frequent, as indicated by a thorough system of hard gravel roads in all parts of the town.

The crops are, wheat, oats, corn, barley, some rye, potatoes, and the various grasses, all of which are successfully raised.

Horses, cattle and sheep are also important items in the list of productions.

Many large farms are devoted to dairying, and the cheese factories annually produce great quantities of cheese of the best quality.

At the time of the early settlement, the timber was burr-oak, in the form of "openings", which had attained an enormous size, and, as is common with burr-oak "openings", forming a landscape unrivaled for beauty in the western world. The shores of Lake Winnebago were fringed with a narrow strip of forest, of the usual varieties of hard wood timber. Since the settlement and the consequent prevention of annual fires, other varieties of timber have sprung up and now occupy the place made vacant by the general destruction of those old monarchs that had withstood the storms and the elements for centuries. Black and white oak, hickory and many smaller kinds are now found in small groves or belts."

Features numbered references to the following locations:

1. Court House.
2. High School.
3. Ward School
4. Presbyterian Church.
5. Methodist Church.
6. 1st Baptist Church.
7. Congregational Church.
8. Episcopal Church.
9. Catholic Church.
10. Lutheran Church.
11. 2nd Baptist Church.
12. Chicago & North West Rail Road Depot.