Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871

Although overstaged by the Chicago Fire on the same day, a fire on 8 Oct 1871 destroyed many communities in Oconto, Marinette and Door Counties along Lake Michigan. The area was suffering from a drought. Many areas had been cleared and the branches, twigs, sawdust, etc lay in piles throughout the area. It is said that the heat from the fire turned sand into glass and melted metals thought to be unmeltable. Whole families were burned to death. People with their belongings and stock headed for the river to escape the flames. Some drowned, some suffered from hypothermia. Others hid is wells or attempted to stay in root cellars only to die. Those who survived were scarred by the events of this one night. Many of the survivors were badly crippled. The fire crossed the Peshtigo River destroying communities on both sides. It jumped across the Green Bay destroying communities on the Door Penninsula. Not all victims were identified. Several lumber camps were totally destroyed. Those who survived may not have known everyone. Mass graves were dug and the charred remains placed together with others.

Before the fire, Peshtigo was a thriving community of about 1700 people. In one night, it became a smoking ruins. Because this was not the only fire that night, Chicago also suffered a devastating fire, as well as Holland, Michigan and Manistee, Michigan and Port Huron on Lake Huron. In the aftermath, the first week in October has been established as Fire Prevention Week.

Over a million acres was burned in the area around Peshtigo. An estimated 2500 people lost their lives. Most of these names were taken from the 1873 Congressional Report to the Wisconsin Legislature about the devastation. Not all names are listed.

*4* Enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin infantry under the name of Bailey, and drew a pension for wounds until he was burned.

*5*Known to have been upon their farm at the time of the fire. Nothing has been heard or seen of their remains since. Mrs Doyle was a daughter of John Derryman of Mill Point, Michigan with three of the children by her first husband, Ferguson

*6*Husband died just before fire

*7*Three of the sons were badly burned. One in trying to save the life of his mother, Mrs Maria Hoyt, who begged to be left to her fate, which he refused to do, and is badly crippled by the fire in consequence.

Brussels Mill is the Schoefields & Co Mill is section 15 of Brussels