from http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiashla3/history/nwimainland.html
History of Northern Wisconsin
Ashland County
Source: History of Northern Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development, and Resources, an Extensive Sketch of Its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Views of County Seats, Etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881.
pp. 64-66
THE MAINLAND.
At the period of first settlement of Ashland, La Pointe County had but one town, which was called La Pointe; but outside of Madeline Island there was no real estate on the tax roll, except perhaps a few sections around Bayfield. On March 12, 1856, a petition was presented and the town of Bayport was set off. This included all the mainland. Election was held on the first Tuesday of April of the same year. Schuyler Goff was elected Chairman. J. T. Welton and Asaph Whittlesey, Supervisors. The annual statement made in 1857 showed the indebtedness of the town to be $25; in 1858 it was $22.75; and at that election $195.50 was levied. The first bills allowed in 1857 were: Edwin Ellis, $9.25; J. T. Welton, $9; A. J. Barkley, $5.50. At the town meeting in 1858, the first bill acted upon was that of Asaph Whittlesey, Superintendent of Schools, amounting to 75 cents.
The town of Bayport organization was kept up about ten years, when the settlers became reduced in numbers, and the town was vacated.
The first United States survey around the head of the bay was made in 1848 by S. C. Morris, Deputy United States Surveyor. George and Albert Stuntz surveyed around Berk Point and Ashland in 1854-5, though it was several years before the survey was completed. It was while on one of these expeditions that young Barber, son of Hon. J. Allen Barber, deceased, of Lancaster, was drowned in the Montreal River, at the foot of the falls, by being sucked into a whirlpool.
In 1860 the county was constructed from a portion of the territory of La Pointe County in pursuance of an act of the Legislature. The first election was held in June, 1860, and resulted in choice of the following officers: Martin Beaser, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Clerk of the Circuit Court and District Attorney; J. O. Smith, Sheriff; Junius T. Welton, Coroner; Andrew Cramer, County Treasurer; John W. Bell, Register of Deeds; Albert C. Stuntz, Surveyor. The first meeting of the County Board, which was a special meeting, was held May 10, 1860. John W. Bell was elected Chairman. The first annual meeting was held November 13, 1860. A petition praying for the vacation of the village of Bay City was granted. The County Treasurer's report showed: State tax collected, $5.93; county tax, $35.58; town tax, $6.27; school tax, $3.96; highway tax, $7.06. Bills amounting to $314.70 were reported and allowed. At this time the assessed valuation of lots in Bay City was $1.04; Ashland 2.08; Houghton, $1.56; La Pointe, $2.33.
In 1867 the county was divided as follows: District No. 1, comprising all of the mainland of the county; district No. 2, the island of LaPointe or Madeline Island; district No. 3, comprising the whole group of the Apostle Islands, with the exception of Madeline Island. This year the town of Bayport was declared vacated, and made a part of the town of La Pointe. July 3, 1867, the County Board ordered a "good Winter road" cut through from some point on the lake shore between Ashland and Fish Creek to Long Lake; from there to Packwayuwang Indian village. At this time the County Clerk's salary was $100. The County Superintendent of Schools received $25. October 17, 1871, the village of Ashland was made an election precinct. In 1872, $3,000 were appropriated to build a turnpike road from Moffett's Bridge to Gooseberry River, and for the grading of Main and Front streets, Ashland, and sidewalks for same. In 1872 the town of Ashland was set off from La Pointe. That year $1,000 were appropriated to the town of Ashland for building bridges across Fish Creek and for work on Moose Lake road.
Ashland for several years was the county seat, until the waning population of the village caused the records to be removed to La Pointe, where the seat was located till 1873, when it was removed back to Ashland.