Today,
it is easy for us to jump into our cars
and drive to the nearest grocery store
if we need something. Years ago, there
were no grocery stores. There were no
cars. There were no roads. Have you ever
wondered what it was like to live at this
time?
When
the early settlers of Marquette County
needed supplies, they had to travel quite
a distance to get them. In the 1850s,
there were no paved roads and no airplanes.
The only forms of transportation were
the horse and wagon and boats. You can
imagine how quiet it was. The county was
once a large forest and trails were formed
through the woods. After many years, the
trails were given names. The trail that
once connected most small communities
in Marquette County was called the Old
Ox Trail. It was given this name because
of the strong cattle that pulled wagons
on the path.
The
trail led through fields and forests to
get from town to town. That is where the
pioneers had to go to get food and supplies.
The only town to get sugar and tea was
Packwaukee. The Fox River was very important
there. Large river boats brought crates
of supplies and people came there to buy
them.
The
trail also led to Kingston where the post
office was located. Everyone traveled
there to receive news from their friends
and family. Kingston also had a mill which
was powered by the river and ground grain
into flour. Farmers brought their wheat
there to sell. Flour was a very important
food supply for everyone. In Montello,
a mill spun sheep fur into wool, and many
traveled there to buy it for clothing.
The
Old Ox Trail was very important to all
who lived in Marquette County. Today,
the land where many wagons traveled is
mostly farmland, but there are still a
few places where the old trail can be
seen. Near Harrisville, a few farmers
have found clues that years ago, many
pioneers came that way. When plowing fields,
they have found clay pipes, and other
old pieces. Deep in the woods, there are
spots were trees have been cleared and
wagon tracks can be seen.
The
land has seen many changes over the years.
It has been used for many different purposes
by many different people. If you take
a few minutes to carefully look around
you, you may find a clue into the history
of the land you live on.
Source:
Sprain, F., Places and Faces in Marquette
County, Wis. Westfield, WI: Isabella Press,
1991.
