Town History
The roots of Emmet’s community trace back to Irish immigrants who began arriving in the mid-19th century, many fleeing the devastating aftermath of the Great Potato Famine. One such immigrant was Robert Freeman, who journeyed to America in 1851 with his sweetheart, Ellen McSherry, from County Cavan in northern Ireland. The couple settled near Mosinee—then known as Little Bull Falls—purchasing 160 acres along what became known as Freeman’s Creek. Freeman’s move sparked a wave of Irish immigration to the area, and by the late 1850s, families like the Maguires, O’Connors, McHughs, Fitzgeralds, and many others had transformed Emmet and surrounding towns into what many fondly called “the Irish Settlement.”
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The land itself was originally granted as bounty land to veterans of the War of 1812 through an 1855 act of Congress. However, most aging veterans had little interest in taming the wild, wooded landscapes of central Wisconsin. Instead, they sold their claims—often for as little as $2 per acre—to the younger, eager Irish immigrants. Upon arrival, the settlers found the soil rich but the terrain challenging, dense with trees and underbrush. Early efforts to clear the land often involved burning vast fields of felled timber, laying the groundwork for what would soon become a booming lumber industry.​
The Town of Emmet was officially founded in 1889, with its first meeting held in the town schoolhouse on April 2nd of that year. Felix Maguire, one of the town's early settlers, served as its first chairman. The town was named in honor of Robert Emmet, a bold and passionate Irish revolutionary who led an ill-fated uprising against British rule in 1803. Though his efforts to storm Dublin Castle ended in failure, Emmet's courage and conviction left a lasting impression on his countrymen—and his legacy lived on in this small corner of central Wisconsin.
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Felix Maguire- 1st Chairman
Pictured in about 1880, local woodsmen of Emmet with a team of oxen.
L to R: Jim Handrick, F.W. Kurtzweil, Unknown, George Drake, Unknown, Bill Freeman, Frank Kafka Sr., Robert Freeman, John Harrington, Unknown, Unknown, George Kurtzweil, Frank Schoenfuss, Ernest Holtman and Joe Schara.
The growth of the lumber trade ushered in sawmills like the Connor Company in Stratford and the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company in Mosinee. Logging camps and railroads expanded as the demand for wood grew, especially with the establishment of the Mosinee Paper Mill in 1910 and increased exports to Britain in the lead-up to World War I. Logs were floated down the Eau Pleine River, connecting Emmet to larger hubs like Stevens Point.
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By the early 20th century, Emmet had become a tightly knit community. In 1917, residents voted to make the town “dry,” prohibiting the sale of alcohol during a period of social reform. In the 1920s, a new tradition was born when the town erected a baseball diamond—now the Halder Ball Diamond. Local teams showcased some of Marathon County’s best talent, and Sunday afternoon games became a beloved pastime, drawing families together in the heart of the town.
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From its resilient beginnings to the flourishing of a proud Irish-American heritage, the Town of Emmet stands as a lasting tribute to the pioneering spirit, faith, and friendship that built it.
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Learn more about the history of Emmet by clicking the link below to read the Town's 100th Anniversary Centennial publication, put together by residents of Emmet in 1989. Digitized by University of Wisconsin Libraries.
As the community expanded, so did its cultural and spiritual needs. Most settlers were Roman Catholic, and in 1871, Rev. L. Spitzlberger began baptizing children in the area, founding what would become St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. The current church building, a testament to the faith and perseverance of early residents, was completed in 1906 at a cost of $12,000.
St. Patrick's Church
Halder Ball Diamond, pictured circa 1920