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Antigo township, range 11, once extended from the southern boundary line of township 31, direct north in range 11 east to the boundary line between townships 37 and 38, range 11 east. Its original area was 252 square miles. Antigo Township originally included its present area and all of Neva Township, east Upham Township, east Elcho Township and township 35, 36 and 37, north of Langlade County.
The township lies in the south central part of Langlade County. Like the city of Antigo, it received its name from the Chippewa Indian word, Nequi-Antigo-Seebeh, signifying balsam evergreen. It is bounded on the north by Neva township, on the west by East Ackley township, on the east by Polar township and on the south by Norwood and Rolling townships. Antigo Township embraces one Congressional township or thirty-six square miles. The most important watercourse in the township is Springbrook, which flows through sections 2, 10, 16, 23 and the city of Antigo. The township is generally level, its soil of exception- fertility. Once the land was covered with dense timber, the great tracts of pine being first to fall under the blow of the woodsman's axe. Maple, birch, elm and cherry were also plentiful. It is distinctly a dairying and agricultural township. Its farms, cheese factories, stock and poultry farms, commodious barns and silos have taken the place of the stately pine tree of a half-century ago. H. C. Fellows of the U. S. Survey surveyed Antigo Township in September 1860.
ORGANIZATION-TOWN OF SPRINGBROOK.
Antigo Township belonged to Langlade Township of Oconto County before 1879, when New County was organized. Thereupon it was under the jurisdiction of Shawano County and was known as Springbrook Township.
Prior to January 1, 1880, the Shawano County Board of Supervisors ordered electors of Springbrook town_ ship to meet April 6, 1880 at the residence of Robert Sheriff, section 26, township 31, range 11 East. The meeting was adjourned from the Sheriff residence "because of illness in the family" to the farm home of A. 0. D. Kelly, section 11, township 31, range 11 East. An election was held and the following were chosen first officers of Springbrook township: Chairman Robert Sheriff; James Brenner and J. B. Beemer, Supervisors; A. 0. D. Kelly-Assessor; D. S. Olmsted-Town Clerk; George Taplin-Town Treasurer; F. J. Despins, E. B. Morley and Charles Gowan-Justices of the Peace; John Cherf, D. H. Brands and Wm. Miller-Constables. Nineteen votes were cast by the following: D. S. Olmsted, Alex McMillan, George Taplin, James Brennen, Henry Jones, Richard Healy, Sr., John Everling, A. 0. D. Kelly, Robert Sheriff, Fred Betke, Albert Betke, Charles Fred, Joseph Debrauer, Ferdinand Betke, Robert Webster, George Scott, Joseph Sheriff, Joel Quimby, D. H. Brands. J. B. Beemer, refused to qualify as a Supervisor, and John Cherf, was appointed to serve in his place from 1880-81. This set of officers held meetings at the homes of the officers the last one August 9, 1880, when $200 was appropriated from the drainage fund of the town to defend the township in an action began by F. A. Deleglise in Circuit Court.
WHY THE ACTION WAS INSTITUTED.
When F. A. Deleglise, George Ratcliffe, M. W. Waite, V. Simmons, John Doersch, John Cherf, A. Price, E. M. Stevens, Charles Teipner, Wm. Shiel, Niels Anderson and Charles Gowan, all of the town of Springbrook, proceeded to the farm house of Robert Sheriff (the place designed by the Shawano County Board as the place of holding an election and organizing the town of Springbrook), they were informed of illness in the Sheriff family. The twelve citizens were indignant over the fact that "the polling place had been adjourned before the legal time of opening it and because a constable or any other person in authority was not left at the place from which adjournment was made to inform the electors of the new polling booths at the A. 0. D. Kelly home."
Thus the township was divided into two factions before it was organized. The followers of Hon. F. A. Deleglise proceeded to the store of Niels Anderson, section 29, and township 31. An election was held in which F. A. Deleglise was chosen Chairman; Joseph Duchac and James O'Connor as Supervisors; E. M. Stevens, Clerk; George Ratcliffe, Treasurer; Assessor -Charles Gowan; Justices of the Peace-F. J. Despins, V. Simmons and Charles Mosher; Constables J. Compton and Lawrence Weix.
The fight between the two factions ended in Circuit
Court at Green Bay when the Sheriff group was sustained.

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