Early Beginnings

The Stratford area was once a lush forest of pristine hardwood and pine trees. The Indians followed the Big Eau Pleine River hunting and fishing for their survival. The first white men to walk on soil of what is now known as Stratford were the Fur Traders.

In the late 1870’s German immigrants, Christian and Anna Weber, settled on the south banks of the Big Eau Pleine River. They built their own community called Webertown that consisted of a post office, general store, boarding house, lumber and shingle mill, and other related businesses.

The rivers were the backbone of the growing lumber industry, which was responsible for the settlement of Wisconsin forest land. In 1890, it was announced that the Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western Railway Company would build a line from Wausau to Marshfield. The Connor family, wanting to expand, saw the opportunity to move to this area. W.D. Connor created a “company town” and renamed it Stratford.

For more history about this local area, contact the Stratford Historical Society.