Commercial Fishing in 1870's

Vast marshes along the bay consisting of huge beds of wild rice and wild celery drew waterfowl to these areas. From the 1870’s to the early 1900’s men known as market hunters paddled their way through the marshes and flats of Green Bay hunting the birds. During their era, large numbers of birds were taken. They were sold to local meat markets and later shipped to Milwaukee and Chicago.

In the 1870’s and 80’s, there were five iron furnace companies along the Fox River, one in Green Bay and four in De Pere. These furnaces were supplied with ore from northern Michigan. The Green Bay Iron Furnace Company was formed in 1870 by John C. Neville, Philip Earle, Anton Klaus, Max Resch and others. It was located along the north side of the East River between Quincy and Van Buren Streets. The site was later take over by the John Hoberg Paper Company, which eventually became the East River mill of Proctor and Gamble.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad made its way to Green Bay in 1873. Following a path between Lake Michigan and the east side of Lake Winnebago, the City of Green Bay now had a train service of its own. There was always fierce competition between Green Bay and Fort Howard.

The Green Bay & Western Railroad started to put down track in 1871. The first track ran from Fort Howard to New London. The small line ran through the center of the state with a terminus in Winona, Minnesota. It connected the small, rural communities with Fort Howard and Green Bay leading to communities beyond through connections made here.