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In 1803-1860 it is documented that the lands lying between the
Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and encompassing the present states of Ohio,
upper and lower Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of upper
Minnesota were called the Northwest Territory.
In 1846, a document was signed setting aside portions of
land for a canal which encompassed the Fox River.
In 1849, President Zachary Taylor signed a document
releasing some of these lands, thereby making them available for purchase
for homesteads. The document released lands described as Town 18, Range 16,
Section 21, further described as the Town of Algoma. Some of these lands
were documented as purchased as early as 1847, although the State of
Wisconsin was not officially formed until 1848, and at that time the Town of
Algoma officially became part of the state.
"No town in the county contains less waste land and none
is better watered with springs. The town was mostly burr oak openings with
here and there a small prairie or natural meadow, while in Sec. 28 and 29
was a large grove of forest timber. The village of Algoma (now included in
the fifth ward of the city of Oshkosh) was started in the summer of 1846 by
C. J. Coon, Thomas C. Baker, James Whittemore, D. W. Forman, Wm. Daggett and
others. A store was started and well supplied with goods by Mr. Baker; an
excellent saw mill was started by Messrs. Forman & Daggett, and a Hotel
erected by Mr. Coon. The location being at the old crossing of the trail
from Fort Winnebago to Green Bay, it at first bid fair to become the main
point on the river, but with poor management or position, Oshkosh finally
took the lead and at length absorbed its early rival. Farms can be bought in
the town of Algoma, from fifteen to fifty dollars per acre, according to the
character and amount of improvements. In this town in 1855 there were five
schools, 316 scholars. Population 850." (From the book, Geographical and
Statistical History of the County of Winnebago, Published by Martin Mitchel
and Joseph H. Osborn; Markham and Felrer, Book and Job Printers, Oshkosh,
1856)

The original town hall building was built in 1872 and was
called the Algoma Grange Hall. An early town board meeting was recorded
April 17, 1877.

Looking South on North Oakwood Road from Lake Butte des
Morts, circa 1910.

The painting, "Spring at Quail Trap School" by Nile Behnke.
The Quail Trap School (circa 1865 to 1954) stood on the present site of
Oakwood School. The name "quail trap" originated from neighborhood boys
setting traps to catch quail in the vicinity.

Frank Leonard Milk Wagon (circa 1919). Leonard farmed on
the east side of Leonard Point Road to the lake, hence the name Leonard
Point Road and Lane. Other Town of Algoma dairy farmers who delivered milk
to the City of Oshkosh: Wood, Cowan, Kohls, Grunske, Zelhofer, Moon, and
Madison.
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