The Town of Grand Chute
the large rapids
la grande chute

In brief

The French gave Grand Chute its name by referring to the large rapids in the lower Fox River as la grande chute when directing other travelers to the area.

Grand Chute was established on April 3, 1849 in Brown County (Outagamie County did not become a County until 1851). When Grand Chute became a town it was located on the Fox River.

1835 One of the first settlers was Hippolyte Grignon. He built White Heron at the Head of la grande chute (the large rapids).

1847 Reverend Reeder Smith purchased land on behalf of Amos A. Lawrence as a site for the Lawrence Institute.

1848 It was in this year surveyors began laying out plots for the school and for a village. First the village plat of Appleton was laid out. The village plat of Grand Chute was next to be laid out. The area was west of Appleton plat and separated by deep ravines as well as a dense forest, but was at the point opposite the magnificent waterfall and soon grew to be a busy point. The last was the land lying to the east of Appleton plat and was called Lawesburg. All three plats at this time were in the Town of Kaukauna in the County of Brown

1849 Grand Chute was organized as a Town on April 3

1850 The first United States census was taken in the area showing a population of 619 people in the Grand Chute Township. (Most of this population was in the area of the Lawrence Institute.)

1851 On February 17, Outagamie County was created by the State Legislature, with Grand Chute as the county seat. The original state measure provided that the county seat be located in Grand Chute temporarily and at the first county election the voters decide where the county seat would be permanently situated. The election resulted in the plat of Grand Chute being chosen as the county seat.

General information

It is supposed that the upper Fox River once drained into the Wisconsin River. Slowly the level of the land changed, elevating one end and lowering the northeastern part. This caused a large lake to be formed, which overflowed and found the course of the lower Fox River by following the path of least resistance. The theory explains the opposite stream flow of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers which are separated only by a low divide at Portage. It also indicates why the upper Fox and its tributary, the Wolf, double back in their courses. (Land of the Fox)

Beginning in the late 1840, Grand Chute was also the site of two of the earliest hostelries in the county: Grignon's White Heron Inn and B.B. Marcus "backwoods boarding house" according to "The Land of the Fox."

The first meeting of the Town of Grand Chute was held at the house of W.P. Tuttle. Reder Smith was appointed Chairman and Seth K. Fitch Secretary. Henry S. Blood, R. R. Bateman, & Wm. S Warner were chosen judges of the election.

At the first election held at the house of W. P. Tuttle in the Town of Grand Chute, County of Brown & State of Wisconsin on Tuesday the third day of April 1849. The following named persons received the number of votes annexed to their respective names, for the following described offices."

Chairman
Henry L. Blood - 24 votes
 
Supervisors
Julius S. Buck - 26 votes
Wm. H. McGregor - 24 votes
 
Clerk
Ezra L Thurber - 26 votes
 
Treasurer
Hiram Polley - 23 votes
 
Constables
Wm. Canter - 27 votes
John P. Parrish - 27 votes

Justice of Peace
Obed T. Roynton - 26 votes
Julius S. Buck - 26 votes
Bela B. Murch - 27 votes
Samuel P. Blake - 22 votes
Robert R. Bateman - 27 votes
 

1858 March 15 the territory of Grand Chute was enlarged by the additions of the West 1/2 of Sections 5,8,17,20 and all of 6,7, 18,19, Township 21 North, Range 18 East.

Information obtained from:
Ryas History of Outagamie County
The Land of the Fox-Centennial Committee, Inc.
Important Events in Appleton History prepared by the Appleton Public Library
History Atlas of Wisconsin 1878
Newspaper clipping from Appleton Post Crescent Saturday Evening April 30 1932

2004 Post Crescent Article featuring
The Town of Grand Chute