Incidents and Anecdotes of Early Days and History of Business in the City and County of Fond Du Lac From Early Times to the Present, Personal Reminiscences, Remarkable Events, Election Results, Military History, Etc.

              116 BUSINESS HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC
Fond du Lac, and on their arrival a shanty was erected on the well known Sylvester farm in Byron. They dug potatoes for Pat Kelly for one bushel in ten, and did other work for their neighbors to make both ends meet.
William Adams, who died recently at his home in the town of Eden, was one of the early pioneers of this county, and his face was familiar to most people of this city. He came to Fond du Lac county in 1847 ^^^ settled in the town of Forest; but afterwards moved to Empire, then to Eden where his home was for many years. Besides the homestead in Eden, he had long owned a farm in Eldorado. Mr. Adams was in many respects a remarkable man, capable, idustrious, honest, he never failed in his undertakings. In his intercourse with his friends, he tried always to do his whole duty and few indeed will say he did not succeed. He was an honored member of the Old Settlers' Club and his death is greatly lamented.
At the beginning of this twentieth century, the pioneer of the west has but a slight realization of the obstacles encountered by the early settlers of Fond du Lac county. Railroad transportation is now obtainable to within a few miles of almost any point, while we had but miserable trails and not a rod of railroad in the state. All sorts of machinery and tools, including mills, may be had in a few days— they were not in existence when our pioneers struggled. All sorts of building material is now readily obtained, our pioneers were com¬ pelled to resort to logs and poles to build hovels to cover their heads from the storm. The western pioneer of today, of course meets with privations and annoyances, but the world in general has progressed too far for him to duplicate the experiences in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. A half century has brought remarkable changes. Will another half century leave any pioneers—will we have any frontier left for settlement—doubtful. The rapid rate of settlement the past few years, indicates an absorption of the country by settlers, long before the end of another fifty years.
The First City Directory.
The first city directory of Fond du Lac, that for the year 1857, was compiled by Bingham & Co., and printed in the office of the Fond du Lac Union. The entire book consists of 104 pages, forty-one of the pages being given to names of residents and sixty-three to sum¬ maries, notices and advertisements. The book contains about 1,700 names, indicating a total population of about 2,400. A. T. Glaze printed the book, assisted by two brothers by the name of Brown, who worked in the Union office. The copy now owned by Mr. Glaze, was found in the attic of the residence of Dr. T. S. Wright, on Forest Avenue, thirty-five years after it was printed. The ink used in print¬ ing the book holds its color and now, though nearly half a century has elapsed since it was issued, the book is in every respect as solid and perfect as when first given to the people forty-eight years ago. The condition and appearance indicate that it may last another half century if properly housed and cared for.