An excerpt from the story of the Outhwaite Jewelers. 

De Pere jeweler John C. Outhwaite was born December 6, 1848 in Green Bay to Edward and Catherine (Cooper) Outhwaite. His mother, Catherine Cooper, was the granddaughter of William Cooper, the founder of Cooperstown, New York and niece of the famous writer James Fennimore Cooper, author of “The Last of the Mohicans.”
At the start of the Civil War, Outhwaite was eager to join the action. He enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 14 as a drummer. As soon as he was old enough, he signed on with the 47th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served until the end of the war.
Shortly after returning to De Pere, Outhwaite established himself as a jeweler. To save costs, in 1882, he and druggist H. I. Wheeler struck a bargain to share retail space. The two retained this arrangement for over forty years...

Outhwaite Jewelers (photo courtesy of the De Pere Historical Society)

Newspaper clippings, like the ones below, are included among the stories of De Pere of Yesteryear.  These snippets offer a first hand perspective about life before, during, and after living in De Pere.

Fat Lady almost Sinks H. Gerke
Taxi Man gets Call from Fair Grounds from Heavy Weight during Storm
The Wisconsin Public Service company did its best to transport people to and from the fair grounds and the city of De Pere, but two busses are entirely inadequate for this service. Hundreds of people ride in the busses or walk to the grounds, at their leisure, but when the afternoon and night shows are over, everybody wants to come home about the same time and do not want to walk back. The busses can handle only a small handful of these. Some people believe that a boat service across the river, as in former times, would be a great convenience. When the storm broke on Friday night many people were anxious to get back home immediately and some complain that the busses either discontinued running or were way behind time. Telephone calls from the fair grounds for the busses failed to get service it is said.
Henry Gerke received a call for his taxi during the height of the storm about 8 o’clock, and he responded immediately. When he arrived at the fair grounds he learned that his prospective passengers were the fat lady, weight 635 pounds; the tall slim man, weight 60 pounds, and two women who showed in the free acts. Mr. Gerke didn’t like to turn his Buick sedan into a truck, but finally decided to help out those in distress; then he was puzzled how to get the fat lady into his car through the door. She finally squeezed into the car sideways and likewise squeezed out upon arriving at the hotel on the east side. He says his Buick taxi stood the trip all right. All his passengers complimented him upon his service and thanked him generously after paying their fares.
It is said the fat lady sleeps on a springless bed, but does not mind this as she has plenty of body cushion to offset the lack of springs.

Brown County Democrat
_______________________________________________________________________

Robert Crabb tells of Wisconsin Picnic

The Wisconsin group of residents at Los Angeles and vicinity held their annual winter picnic in Sycamore Park, Los Angeles, on a Saturday of last month, and Robert Crabb, well known old settler of De Pere, sends the Journal-Democrat the following account of the affair:
“The annual picnic of former residents of Wisconsin, and of those who spend their winters here was held in Sycamore Park. There were many De Pere people in attendance and it made everyone from around our old home town feel good to shake each other’s hand. We met Dr. A. M. Kerstenand he told us that he was feeling fine, but we missed his daughter, Miss Theresa, who was not with him at the time. Matt Clark, brother of the late J. E. Clark, was present, he is in the clothing store business here on a large scale.
“I met Peter and Harry Loy, and both are looking fine; also Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Minich, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Race  and Mr. Race’s mother; Chas. Miller, Mrs. J. W. Scottand her daughter Ethel, and Mrs. Fred Lindauerand son. Mrs. Scott told us that she was under the weather. Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Gibsonof West De Perealso took in the picnic. Luther Lindauer was among those present. There was a big turnout from Green Bay. Everyone present appeared to be happy. Fred Lindauer told us his health was poor; he has not been able to do any work for some time.
“Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turriff , Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Gibson and son George took in the orange show yesterday at San Bernardino. It is said that 300,000 people attended the show.
“The weather here is just fine. I am feeling as well as usual and taking in all the sights that I missed on my previous winters here. I see by the Journal-Democrat that some of old friends have passed away. Give my best wishes to all of my friends in De Pere.

Each family section begins with information about two generations of the family.  For example:

The Family of William Perry Call

William Perry Call, son of Joseph Call and Clarinda Medora Worden was born January 14, 1816 in Chesterfield (Westport), Essex County, New York, and died July 31, 1908 in De Pere. He married Mary Ann Pond February 23, 1834 in Lewis, Essex County, New York, daughter of Ezra and Parmelia (Hubbell) Pond. She was born March 24, 1816 in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, and died May 22, 1895 in De Pere.

The Call Children
Amirah ‘Emery’ Perry Call was born April 1, 1834 in McKeesport, Essex County, New York and died December 13, 1913 in Oconto, Wisc. He married Sarah Hooten May 10, 1857 in the Methodist Church, De Pere. She was born in England on December 3, 1840 and died October 18, 1928 in Oconto.

Ellen May Call was born February 7, 1837 in Westport, Essex County, New York and died June 20, 1895 in Menominee, Mich. On December 31, 1856, she married German Fleming in the Methodist church in De Pere. Her second marriage was to John Bullion.

Frances Celia Call was born June 3, 1839 in Westport, Essex County, New York and died July 17, 1905 in De Pere. She married Alpheus Rollins Martin January 1, 1856 in De Pere. He was a school principal. He was born August 18, 1834 in Abbot, Piscataquis County, Maine and died November 27, 1862 in [East] Boston, Suffolk County, Mass. of fever during the Civil War. After his death, she married George Washington Willits on January 1, 1863 in De Pere. He was born about 1822 in New York and died April 2, 1907 in Milwaukee.

Justus Call was born January 1, 1844 in Lewis, Lewis County, New York and died February 25, 1911 in De Pere. He married Mary I. Cooley, daughter of Julia and Edwin H. Cooley. She was born September 22, 1847 in Elkhorn, Wisc., and died April 24, 1918 in De Pere.

Albertrine Agnes Call was born March 24, 1847 in Green Bay and died April 23, 1921 in Rockland. She married Oscar F. Cooley June 2, 1864 in Fort Howard; He was the son of Julia and Edwin H. Cooley and was born 1840 in New York. He died May 5, 1912 in Veteran’s Home, Waupaca, Wisc.

Florinda ‘Flora’ Nebraska Call was born March 4, 1854 in De Pere and died November 16, 1919 in De Pere. She married Jasper Stephen Chase November 23, 1879 in De Pere. He was born September 17, 1853 to Nathan Burch and Ann Maria (McClure) Chase in Port Huron, St. Claire County, Mich. He died August 2, 1913 in Anacortes, Wash.

A sample "From the Newspaper..."

Brown County Democrat - March 3, 1911
Justus Call, a well known resident of De Pere for 66 years, died early Saturday morning at his home on South Wisconsin street, after but a few days’ illness, although he had been in failing health for several years, retiring from active work about three years ago. Mr. Call was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Call, who came to De Pere from Westport, N.Y., in 1845, when the subject of this sketch was a year old. Mr. Call has made his home here ever since. He was employed by the John P. Dousman Milling company for 25 years, and in recognition of his long service with the company a flag floated at half mast from the mill Sunday and Monday. Mr. Call was a member of the De Pere fire department for many years. He was also a member of the Equitable Fraternal Union. He is survived by his wife (nee Mary Cooley), and three children: Alice at home; Mrs. J. W. Good of Ashland; Louis Call of Milwaukee. He is also survived by two sisters: Mrs. J. S. Chase, Mrs. O. F. Cooley; also one brother, M. Call of Oconto. The funeral was held Monday from the late residence. Rev. H. A. Talbot and B. L. Bergstrom officiated. Interment was at Greenwood. Among those who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. George Carter and Mrs. Hamond of Omro, John Hilton of Algoma, Louis Call of Milwaukee, Geo. Call of Green Bay and Mrs. James Good and son James of Ashland.
_____________________________________

Brown County Democrat - May 19, 1911
Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Call, who were married at De Pere on May 10, 1856, celebrated the 55th anniversary of their wedding day at their home at Oconto last week. Mr. Call has been blind the past five years; Mrs. Call still enjoys good health.