Oshkosh Remembered

Following a short presentation about a book I had recently written, stories that occurred in the early part of the 20th century, many in the audience asked what life was like living in Oshkosh during this time. I managed to answer a few, but only partially, and was disappointed I was unable to provide a clearer picture of our city’s past.

I knew I needed to find out more about our earlier years so I, once again, explored books and articles to help me understand more of our past. I eventually came across a story about the Underground Railroad and after reading part of the story I wondered if runaway slaves seeking freedom sought refuge in Oshkosh. My research, for the most part, went unfulfilled as few records were kept due to the passage of a federal law making it illegal to assist the enslaved.

But knowing that other national events played a role in shaping our city, I continued exploring our early history during the pre-Civil War years and beyond and found stories I thought would help provide a fuller understanding of Oshkosh and its history.