(This is the first part of the story, second part in his wife's bio)
Gottlieb Selle Family
The Selle family left Neuschoenwalde Germany, and came to America in 1856, the voyage over the ocean requiring thirteen weeks. The family came directly to Manitowoc and a year later, Mr. Selle, a cabinet maker, bought an 80 acre farm in the town of Newton, being government land purchased at $4.00 per acre.
Upon this the usual log cabin was erected consisting of logs which had been split lengthwise and nailed across standing trees to form a perpendicular wall for one side of the house. From this the roof sloped to the ground. There was no floor other than the bare ground. During the first year more logs were hewn for a larger house which contained one large room upstairs and one downstairs. The "stairs" being merely a ladder to an opening in the cealing. The ground floor served as kitchen, dining room, living room and one corner was curtained off as a bed room. Both floors and shingles were made of logs splint lengthwise and the cracks filled with clay into which sawdust chaff or leaves were mixed.
The Selle family lived in this abode for several years. Mr. Selle being a cabinet worker, was able to make the household furniture. He also built the first church in the town of Newton.
Wheat and potatoes were the first crops raised in the little clearing. For the first three years a cow and some chickens were the only farm animals. Then a yoke of oxen were acquired.
To add to the hardships of the family, Mr. Sell fell, from a barn roof, breaking his leg and breastbone and laying him up for 32 weeks.
There was a considerable settlement of Indians in the neighborhood but they were peaceful. After their land was sold, they continued to return each summer and stayed about four weeks to visit their dead buried there.
Bears were seen only occasionally but deer, wildcats and lynx were plentiful. The children's job usually was to sit near the wheat field and drive away the herds of deer that loved to graze on the cultivated areas. Once while the daughter, Emilie, then a mere child was on her way to Manitowoc, a distance of eleven miles, eight deer bucks surrounded her. She climbed up a stump and called for help. A nearby neighbor heard and came to her rescue.
Eggs at the time sold for 5¢ per dozen, but had to be carried to Manitowoc the nearest market. Later a Mr. Carstens started a store near the Selle farm.
Gottlieb Selle Family
The Selle family left Neuschoenwalde Germany, and came to America in 1856, the voyage over the ocean requiring thirteen weeks. The family came directly to Manitowoc and a year later, Mr. Selle, a cabinet maker, bought an 80 acre farm in the town of Newton, being government land purchased at $4.00 per acre.
Upon this the usual log cabin was erected consisting of logs which had been split lengthwise and nailed across standing trees to form a perpendicular wall for one side of the house. From this the roof sloped to the ground. There was no floor other than the bare ground. During the first year more logs were hewn for a larger house which contained one large room upstairs and one downstairs. The "stairs" being merely a ladder to an opening in the cealing. The ground floor served as kitchen, dining room, living room and one corner was curtained off as a bed room. Both floors and shingles were made of logs splint lengthwise and the cracks filled with clay into which sawdust chaff or leaves were mixed.
The Selle family lived in this abode for several years. Mr. Selle being a cabinet worker, was able to make the household furniture. He also built the first church in the town of Newton.
Wheat and potatoes were the first crops raised in the little clearing. For the first three years a cow and some chickens were the only farm animals. Then a yoke of oxen were acquired.
To add to the hardships of the family, Mr. Sell fell, from a barn roof, breaking his leg and breastbone and laying him up for 32 weeks.
There was a considerable settlement of Indians in the neighborhood but they were peaceful. After their land was sold, they continued to return each summer and stayed about four weeks to visit their dead buried there.
Bears were seen only occasionally but deer, wildcats and lynx were plentiful. The children's job usually was to sit near the wheat field and drive away the herds of deer that loved to graze on the cultivated areas. Once while the daughter, Emilie, then a mere child was on her way to Manitowoc, a distance of eleven miles, eight deer bucks surrounded her. She climbed up a stump and called for help. A nearby neighbor heard and came to her rescue.
Eggs at the time sold for 5¢ per dozen, but had to be carried to Manitowoc the nearest market. Later a Mr. Carstens started a store near the Selle farm.
(This is the first part of the story, second part in his wife's bio)
Gottlieb Selle Family
The Selle family left Neuschoenwalde Germany, and came to America in 1856, the voyage over the ocean requiring thirteen weeks. The family came directly to Manitowoc and a year later, Mr. Selle, a cabinet maker, bought an 80 acre farm in the town of Newton, being government land purchased at $4.00 per acre.
Upon this the usual log cabin was erected consisting of logs which had been split lengthwise and nailed across standing trees to form a perpendicular wall for one side of the house. From this the roof sloped to the ground. There was no floor other than the bare ground. During the first year more logs were hewn for a larger house which contained one large room upstairs and one downstairs. The "stairs" being merely a ladder to an opening in the cealing. The ground floor served as kitchen, dining room, living room and one corner was curtained off as a bed room. Both floors and shingles were made of logs splint lengthwise and the cracks filled with clay into which sawdust chaff or leaves were mixed.
The Selle family lived in this abode for several years. Mr. Selle being a cabinet worker, was able to make the household furniture. He also built the first church in the town of Newton.
Wheat and potatoes were the first crops raised in the little clearing. For the first three years a cow and some chickens were the only farm animals. Then a yoke of oxen were acquired.
To add to the hardships of the family, Mr. Sell fell, from a barn roof, breaking his leg and breastbone and laying him up for 32 weeks.
There was a considerable settlement of Indians in the neighborhood but they were peaceful. After their land was sold, they continued to return each summer and stayed about four weeks to visit their dead buried there.
Bears were seen only occasionally but deer, wildcats and lynx were plentiful. The children's job usually was to sit near the wheat field and drive away the herds of deer that loved to graze on the cultivated areas. Once while the daughter, Emilie, then a mere child was on her way to Manitowoc, a distance of eleven miles, eight deer bucks surrounded her. She climbed up a stump and called for help. A nearby neighbor heard and came to her rescue.
Eggs at the time sold for 5¢ per dozen, but had to be carried to Manitowoc the nearest market. Later a Mr. Carstens started a store near the Selle farm.
Gottlieb Selle Family
The Selle family left Neuschoenwalde Germany, and came to America in 1856, the voyage over the ocean requiring thirteen weeks. The family came directly to Manitowoc and a year later, Mr. Selle, a cabinet maker, bought an 80 acre farm in the town of Newton, being government land purchased at $4.00 per acre.
Upon this the usual log cabin was erected consisting of logs which had been split lengthwise and nailed across standing trees to form a perpendicular wall for one side of the house. From this the roof sloped to the ground. There was no floor other than the bare ground. During the first year more logs were hewn for a larger house which contained one large room upstairs and one downstairs. The "stairs" being merely a ladder to an opening in the cealing. The ground floor served as kitchen, dining room, living room and one corner was curtained off as a bed room. Both floors and shingles were made of logs splint lengthwise and the cracks filled with clay into which sawdust chaff or leaves were mixed.
The Selle family lived in this abode for several years. Mr. Selle being a cabinet worker, was able to make the household furniture. He also built the first church in the town of Newton.
Wheat and potatoes were the first crops raised in the little clearing. For the first three years a cow and some chickens were the only farm animals. Then a yoke of oxen were acquired.
To add to the hardships of the family, Mr. Sell fell, from a barn roof, breaking his leg and breastbone and laying him up for 32 weeks.
There was a considerable settlement of Indians in the neighborhood but they were peaceful. After their land was sold, they continued to return each summer and stayed about four weeks to visit their dead buried there.
Bears were seen only occasionally but deer, wildcats and lynx were plentiful. The children's job usually was to sit near the wheat field and drive away the herds of deer that loved to graze on the cultivated areas. Once while the daughter, Emilie, then a mere child was on her way to Manitowoc, a distance of eleven miles, eight deer bucks surrounded her. She climbed up a stump and called for help. A nearby neighbor heard and came to her rescue.
Eggs at the time sold for 5¢ per dozen, but had to be carried to Manitowoc the nearest market. Later a Mr. Carstens started a store near the Selle farm.
Family Members
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