History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its cities, towns, resources, people

              1176 HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
they obtained the portage contract for carriage of goods be¬ tween the steamboat navigation at Kaukauna over the plank road to Menasha. Purchasing a stock of goods, he opened a store on AVisconsin street in 1855, but in September he bought out the interest of Mr. Edward Smith in the stock of goods of Smith Brothers, in the Smith Block, on the corner where the old building still stands in active service. This was the beginning of the half century partnership with Hiram Smith, Two years later he operated the old government mission fiour mill in com¬ pany with Aaron IT. Cronkhite. He removed to Eldorado, Fond du Lac county, and engaged in the milling business wdth Mr. James K. Scribner in March, 1861, where he remained for seven years, then returned to Neenah. AVhile at Eldorado he Avas elected a member of the legislature, where he had the honor of voting for the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. He was renominated, but declined a second term. His partner at Eldorado was a relative, as the partners had married sisters. The old red paper mill had been erected on the site of the old government mission sawmill in 1865-66, the first paper mill in Neenah and the real pioneer of profit in paper making in AVisconsin, though the product Avas only 3,000 pounds in twenty-four hours, made of cotton rags, and the paper sold for 11% cents per pound. The capital stock was $10,000, and the members of the company Hiram and Edward Smith, Nathan Cobb, Dr. N. S. Robinson and Moses Hooper. After the successful operation for two years the Smith Brothers took over most of the stock, and Mr. Yan Ostrand, returning from El¬ dorado, bought the interest of Mr. Edward Smith and with Hiram Smith operated the mill until they sold out all their in¬ terest in 1874 to the Kimberly & Clark Company, AA^ho had begun the making of paper in the Globe mill in 1872.
In the meantime Smith & Yan Ostrand with H. P. Leavens purchased the stove works at the foot of Little Lake Butte des Morts, which had been founded by Moore Brothers & AYells in 1857, After some changes in ownership it was entirely under the control of Mr. A, K, Moore by 1870, who died in 1873, when it was taken over by this firm and operated by them until 1878, then sold to George 0. Bergstrom and D. AV. Bergstrom,
AVhile they were owners of the stove works, this firm also became interested in the Alagie hardware store, on AVisconsin street, from which have gone more men to become millionaires than any other place in the county.    At times interests in this