Founded in Wisconsin - Historical Leaders in Green Bay's Economic Development

Introduction

The city of Green Bay has had numerous individuals, families and groups that were instrumental in its economic and business development from the 1700's to the present. This post presents a brief review of many of those people

The Evolution of Green Bay: From Indigenous Roots to Industrial Powerhouse

Green Bay's narrative is shaped by the presence of diverse communities and significant historical events. In 1634, Jean Nicolet established diplomatic relations that facilitated the French fur trade and laid the groundwork for subsequent economic transformations. The area's identity has undergone several phases: initially serving as a central hub for the Ho-Chunk and Menominee nations, then as a fur trade outpost, and eventually evolving into a permanent American settlement founded on the lumber, paper, and transportation industries. Today, Green Bay's identity is rooted in its manufacturing heritage and advancements in technology and services, with its reputation further bolstered by the Green Bay Packers.

Key Figures and Early Entrepreneurs

The history of Green Bay is closely connected to the influential leaders of the Native American nations who originally inhabited the land. These leaders were crucial not only in the early days of the region but also in shaping its contemporary identity and economy. Green Bay’s history is linked to the tribes that have called the area home. The Dawes Act of 1887 and the Menominee Termination Act of 1961 sought to undermine tribal sovereignty. However, tribal autonomy has been reaffirmed in recent years. The Oneida Nation revitalized its economic foundation with initiatives such as the Oneida Casino, which support community needs and help reclaim land. Since 1973, the Menominee Indian Tribe has managed its reservation as a model of sustainable forestry, integrating tradition with modern practices and providing economic stability in contrast to Green Bay’s industrial past. Here are some of the important leaders of indigenous peoples who influenced Green Bay's development:

Chief Oshkosh (c. 1795-1858) - Menominee Nation: As a prominent leader of the Menominee, he was a skilled negotiator dedicated to safeguarding his tribe's homeland in Wisconsin. He is renowned for successfully convincing President Millard Fillmore to rescind a removal order that would have forced the Menominee to relocate to Minnesota. This achievement led to the creation of a permanent reservation in their ancestral territory. Under his leadership, the Menominee were able to maintain their cultural identity and economic stability, particularly through their sustainable forestry practices.

Domitilde de Langlade (18th Century) - Ottawa Nation: was the mother of Charles Michel de Langlade, known as the "Father of Wisconsin" for founding the first permanent European settlement in Green Bay. As the sister of Nissowaquet, a prominent Ottawa head chief, her marriage to a French-Canadian fur trader represented a strategic business alliance that provided her family with substantial advantages in the fur trade. Her familial connections and influence within the Ottawa nation were crucial to her son's authority as a military leader and diplomat in the region.

Chief Buffalo (c. 1759-1855) - Ojibwe Nation: Renowned for his exceptional diplomatic and oratorical abilities, Chief Buffalo of the Lake Superior Ojibwe played a pivotal role in treaty negotiations with the U.S. government. He championed the preservation of hunting, fishing, and gathering rights on ceded lands, a legacy that endures today. Following an 1850 removal order that compelled hundreds of Ojibwe to embark on a perilous journey to Minnesota, Chief Buffalo led a delegation to Washington, D.C., successfully convincing President Fillmore to rescind the order. His efforts directly resulted in the establishment of permanent Ojibwe reservations in Wisconsin.

Daniel Bread (1800-1873) - Oneida Nation: Daniel Bread, a pragmatic and influential leader, played a crucial role in guiding the Oneida people during their relocation from New York to Green Bay in the 1830s. He was a staunch advocate for tribal sovereignty, even challenging reductions in Oneida lands by meeting with President Andrew Jackson. Besides his political efforts, Bread was an entrepreneur, owning a blacksmith shop and a store, and he was instrumental in helping his community adapt to new circumstances while preserving their cultural heritage.

Purcell Powless (1925-2010) - Oneida Nation: Purcell Powless, as the longest-serving chairman of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin from 1967 to 1990, was a visionary leader who transformed the tribe's economic landscape. Under his leadership, new revenue streams were developed through a lottery and gaming casino, enabling the funding of social and welfare programs, job creation, and the repurchase of tribal land. His tenure saw the Oneida Nation evolve from a community with over 80% unemployment to a significant economic force in the region.

Key Figures Shaping Green Bay: From Early Encounters to Economic Expansion

Jean Nicolet Jean Nicolet's 1634 arrival in present-day Wisconsin was a significant event in North American history, not as a founding moment, but as an encounter with established Indigenous communities like the Ho-Chunk and Menominee. These tribes had complex societies with economies based on trade, agriculture, and hunting. Nicolet's mission, on behalf of Samuel de Champlain, sought to create peaceful relations and expand the French fur trade. His diplomacy fostered mutual respect and trade alliances, enriching both French settlers and Indigenous peoples. Although Nicolet did not discover the Northwest Passage, his efforts led to lasting commercial ties and cultural exchanges. However, these interactions also heralded future challenges for Indigenous peoples due to increasing European influence. Nicolet's legacy is intertwined with the broader story of colonization and its effects on Indigenous communities.

Charles Michel de Langlade Known as the “Father of Wisconsin,” Charles Michel de Langlade played a crucial role in Green Bay’s history through eras of French, British, and American rule. Of Métis descent, with education from Jesuits and ties to the Ottawa, Langlade led Indigenous fighters during the French and Indian War and later supported the British in the American Revolution. Settling in Green Bay in 1764, he was a vital figure until his death around 1801.

John Jacob Astor I (1763–1848) operated out of New York as the leader of the American Fur Company, which dominated the fur trade after 1812. Green Bay became a regional center for his business, and his extensive land investments shaped the city’s growth, including the creation of the Astor town plat in 1835.

Daniel Whitney (1795–1862), considered Green Bay’s first “Yankee” settler, was a leading businessman in early Wisconsin. He opened trading posts, supplied local forts, and became familiar with the area’s rich resources. Whitney was instrumental in shifting Green Bay’s economy from fur trading to retail and lumber, starting logging operations on the Wolf River in 1835.

The Joannes Brothers - Charles, Mitchell, Thomas, and William Joannes moved from Belgium as children and founded Joannes Brothers Company in 1872. Their small grocery business grew rapidly, expanding into interstate distribution by the early 20th century, aided by Green Bay’s port and railroad network. Innovators in technology, they were the first to install a telephone line in the city. Their prosperity led to notable philanthropy, providing land for Joannes Park and supporting the downtown YMCA.

From Lumber to Paper: Industrial Leaders of Green Bay

In the 19th century, Green Bay's position at the mouth of the Fox River fueled its industrial growth, initially focused on lumber, which was a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s economy. Although river transport was initially vital, the advent of railroads facilitated year-round industrial activity. As local forests became depleted, the lumber industry moved westward, leading Green Bay to invest in paper manufacturing and transition from raw timber to producing finished paper products.

John Hoberg,John Hoberg founded the Hoberg Paper Company in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1895 after moving from Kaukauna. Following Hoberg's accidental death in 1904, his family led the company through a merger with Green Bay Paper and Fibre Company in 1921, forming Hoberg Paper and Fibre Company. A significant milestone was the launch of the Charmin brand in 1928, renowned for its "charming" quality. By 1953, the company was renamed Charmin Paper Mills, and in 1957, it was acquired by Procter & Gamble. The original Hoberg mill site remains a key part of Procter & Gamble's Green Bay operations, continuing its legacy in the paper industry.

Austin Ellsworth Cofrin (1883–1980) In 1919, a visionary industrialist and philanthropist founded Fort Howard Paper Company, known as "The Fort," in Green Bay. He championed recycling and business self-sufficiency, leaving a lasting impact on the paper industry. His philanthropy is evident at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with several buildings named after his family. Fort Howard, named after a historic military fort, pioneered recycling in the 1930s with innovations in de-inking technology. The company led the "away-from-home" market with products like paper towels and napkins and expanded with mills in Oklahoma and Georgia. In 1997, it merged with James River Corporation to form Fort James Corporation, later acquired by Georgia-Pacific in 2000. Fort Howard's legacy of recycling innovation continues in Georgia-Pacific's operations.

Homer McGee as president from 1934, revolutionized the Green Bay and Western Railroad (GB&W) into a high-speed "bridge route," crucially linking the Midwest and East Coast. The innovative train ferry from Kewaunee across Lake Michigan bypassed congested Chicago rail lines, reinforcing Green Bay's status as a shipping hub. The GB&W, originating from the Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railway in 1866, served as a vital east-west freight corridor across Wisconsin, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River while avoiding Chicago. Despite financial challenges, it became the Green Bay & Western Railroad in 1896 and thrived as a "bridge line" using car ferries from 1892. Under McGee's leadership, the railroad modernized, but the rise of trucking and railroad mergers diminished its role, leading to its acquisition by Itel Corporation in 1978. By 1993, it merged into the Fox Valley and Western Railroad under Wisconsin Central, with much of its route now part of the Canadian National Railway after Wisconsin Central's acquisition in 2001.

Lillie Rosa Minoka-Hill (1876-1952): was the second Native American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, a distinction she achieved in 1899. After marrying an Oneida farmer, she moved to the Oneida reservation in Wisconsin. She served as the primary caregiver for the Oneida community for many years, often treating patients in her "kitchen clinic" without a Wisconsin medical license. She collaborated with doctors in Green Bay to ensure her patients received the necessary hospital care and prescriptions. Her trust fund was depleted by the Great Depression, so she took the state medical exam in 1934 to be able to charge for her services. She was officially adopted by the Oneida Nation in 1947 and given the name "You-da-gent" (She who serves)

(Note - this post doesn't include many names of founders and other individuals of organizations that will be written about in future posts on company-by-company basis for organizations that exist as independent and near 100 years old)

Closing

Green Bay's intricate history, beginning with the initial diplomatic engagements of Jean Nicolet in 1634, presents a compelling narrative of continual transformation, resilience, and interconnectedness. It is not a tale of a singular founding moment but rather of ongoing evolution—from serving as a vibrant center for the indigenous Menominee and Ho-Chunk nations to becoming a colonial fur trading post, and later a significant American hub for the lumber and paper industries. Today, the city's strength is rooted in a diversified economy and a distinctive cultural identity, yet its foundation remains deeply connected to the land and the enduring presence of sovereign Native nations such as the Oneida and Menominee, whose stories of revitalization and self-sufficiency parallel the city's own journey. Ultimately, Green Bay's narrative is a testament to how a community can honor its rich and multifaceted past while continually reinventing itself for the future.

In this series on Green Bay, the following companies will be reviewed in greater detail that were founded in Green Bay over 100 years ago and still running as independent firms include:

• Green Bay Packaging,

• Green Bay Canning,

• Lawton Novelty and Manufacturing,

• Straubel Machines,

• Hudson Sharp/Foundry,

• Belin Health,

• McDonald Company and Lumber,

• Schroeder Transport,

• Schrieber Foods, and

• The Green Bay Packer organization.

  
  

Citations

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• Newcomer Green Bay. Hoberg, 89, Green Bay, passed away peacefully, Monday, January 14, 2013. He was born September 27, 1923, in Green Bay, to the late William and Katherine Hoberg. Leonard was a lifelong resident of Green Bay and graduated from Central High School. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during WWII..

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• Iowa PBS. The Great Depression Hits Farms and Cities in the 1930s.

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• Newcomer Green Bay. Hoberg, 89, Green Bay, passed away peacefully, Monday, January 14, 2013. He was born September 27, 1923, in Green Bay, to the late William and Katherine Hoberg. Leonard was a lifelong resident of Green Bay and graduated from Central High School. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during WWII..

• Milwaukee Public Museum. Wisconsin's Fur Trade.

• Port of Green Bay. Port History.

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• Wikipedia. Treaty of the Cedars.

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• **** Wisconsin Historical Society. James Ruben.

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• Wisconsin Historical Society. Ke-che-waish-ke.