Ackley, William Leroy

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7965
• 1870 Census: 1870, Weston, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA
• Death Record - Civil: 25 Nov 1894
• Biography: 1922; History of Langlade County

Notes:

1870 Census:
Willard L Ackley 39
Sarah Ackley 40
Alexander Ackley 14
Dewitt Ackley 11
Charles Ackley 8

Death Record - Civil:
Name: W Le Ackley
Death Date: 25 Nov 1894
County: Langlade Volume: 01 Page #: 0067 Reel: 047 Image: 0064 ImageNum: 100014 Sequence #: 000951
Level Info: Wisconsin Vital Records Death Index

Biography:
WILLIAM LEROY ACKLEY. the first white settler in Langlade County, was born in the State of New York on or about 1830. Little is known of his boy- hood days except that he was a venturesome lad who was lured to the western states by the stories of ad- venture among the Indian tribes and the plucky fur traders of the great northern wilderness. He came west to the hamlet of Wausau where he stopped for a time before definitely settling in Ackley township, Langlade County, in 1853. Mr. Ackley was associated with P. Hogarty, a proprietor of a stopping place, who had extensive commercial intercourse with In- dians and home seekers. He built a log shack on the banks of the Eau Claire river, section 28, when he first came into this vast wild country inhabitated by Indians and animals. Young Ackley was twenty-one years old when he first made a claim in this region. He married Me-Da-Gee-Wa-No-Kwa, "Maiden of the Forests," a Chippewa Indian maiden, who bore him two children — De Witt and Charles Ackley. Charles Ackley is a merchant in Wabeno, Forest County; De Witt Ackley is living with the Pottawattomi Indians near Mole Lake, Wisconsin. Ackley, fur trader, lum- ber cruiser, adventurer, was a leader of the Indians who sought his counsel. He was a just barterer and those who were acquainted with him acknowledged him to be an upright business man. He never took advantage of the Chippewa's in their fur transactions. Most of his fur products were shipped down the Eau Claire river to Schofield and sold to agents of St. Louis fur buyers. Mr. Ackley died November 24, 1894. His wife died March 9, 1899, having lived to be over one hundred years of age.

William married No-Ouay, Ma-Dwa-Ji-Was "Sarah" "Mary" 2 Aug 1840, Weston, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA. Ma-Dwa-Ji-Was was born Abt 1802, Post Lake, Langlade, Wisconsin, USA; died 9 Mar 1899, Antigo, Langlade, Wisconsin, USA; was buried , Antigo Cemetery, Antigo, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7965
• 1870 Census: 1870, Weston, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

1870 Census:
Willard L Ackley
39
Sarah Ackley
40
Alexander Ackley
14
Dewitt Ackley
11
Charles Ackley
8

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7965
• 1870 Census: 1870, Weston, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

1870 Census:
Willard L Ackley
39
Sarah Ackley
40
Alexander Ackley
14
Dewitt Ackley
11
Charles Ackley
8

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7965
• 1870 Census: 1870, Weston, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA
• 1880 Census: 1880, Ackley, Langlade, Wisconsin
• 1900 Census: 1900, Upham, Langlade, Wisconsin
• Obituary: 27 Feb 1952; Antigo Journal

Notes:

1870 Census:
Willard L Ackley
39
Sarah Ackley
40
Alexander Ackley
14
Dewitt Ackley
11
Charles Ackley
8

1880 Census:
Willard L. Ackley52
Mary Ackley50
Charles Ackley18
George Ackley7

1900 Census:
Charles Ackley41
Jessie Ackley30

Obituary:
Charles Ackley, County's First White Baby, Dies
Charles Ackley, 101, the first white baby born in Langlade county, Langlade county's oldest resident, son of Langlade county's first permanent settler and grandson of Chief Great Eagle, a power in the Chippewa Indian tribe during the first 50 years of the of last century, died late yesterday.
The man who linked this area's pre-history period with the present died of the infirmities of advancing age at the Langlade County Memorial hospital where he had been a patient since Feb.15.
Charles Ackley was the son of William (Willard) Leroy Ackley, who was born in New York and drifted west to the Wisconsin river before 1850. He logged in the Eau Claire river area and built a cabin at the forks of the Eau Claire river three miles west of Antigo at the midway point of the (19th) century.
William Ackley traded with the Indians at his post and negotiated with Chief Great Eagle, whose French name was Gros Aigle. Great Eagle's daughter, Ma-dwa-ji-wan-no-quay, became Willaim Ackley's wife. In English her name meant "Maid of the Forest."
According to Charles Ackley's information from his father, he was born Oct. 20, 1850, at the Ackley place on the banks of the Eau Claire.
At age 15, Charles Ackley joined his father and older brother, Missabe (Ed Ackley) in logging and making drives down the Eau Claire to sawmills downstream. He knew all the squawmen on the Eau Claire, including John Hogarty, and on the Wolf river, including Ludwig Motzfeldt, Hi Polar, Bill Johnson, and Henry Strauss.
Charles Ackley was the last of the family to live on the old homestead in the town of Ackley, which was named for his father.
William L. Ackley died Nov. 24, 1894, and his wife died Mar. 9, 1899. They are buried in the Antigo cemetery, the first lot south of the main entrance.
De Witt Ackley, a brother of Charles Ackley, died at Mole Lake about 10 years ago. The brother Missabe died at Lac View Desert. A half-sister, Sarah, was John Hogarty's first wife.
Charles Ackley is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Gladys Pireaux of Lily. He also had two sons and another daughter. The daughter, Mrs. Lillian McDonald, is buried in the Antigo cemetery with her grandparents.
After leaving the old home, Charles Ackley lived for a time on a clearing across the Eau Claire river and later in Antigo, Summit Lake and Wabeno. He logged in Jennings for 15 years. He then lived in Antigo for a long time, spending the summers with his niece, Alice Ackley Randall, and her husband, George Randall at Mole Lake. Alice is the daughter of the late De Witt Ackley.
The last regular employment Mr. Ackley had is as bartender 10 years ago at a tavern just a mile east of his birthplace. The tavern was at that time operated by a relative at Woodcock's corner.
Mr. Ackley also leaves two grandsons, Stuart Ackley of Gary, Ind., and Melville C. McDonald of Minneapolis, and a great - grandchild.
Funeral services have been tentatively set for Friday. However, final arrangements are awaiting a meeting of relatives and an Indian council gathering.
From the Antigo Daily Journal, Feb. 27, 1952 Page 1