Ackley, Charles

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