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DOTY CABIN
ON Aucus'r 31, 1835, James D. Doty purchased, from the Federal
Government, land totaling IOO acres for the sum of $6oo (on the
Island, "Doty Island"). The purchase of this land was possible
be-
cause the Island and land on the Menasha side of the Fox River was
not a part of the Indian Reservation. Neenah, or the land south of
the south branch of the Fox River, remained a part of the Menominee
Indian Reserve, and was not open to settlement until after the Treaty
of the Cedars in 1836, or to purchase until after 1846.
  The original site for the cabin was selected because of its view and
accessibility to the lake. Built in 1845, the cabin was a realization of
a dream long held by Doty, to provide a rustic place for retirement.
Mrs. Doty named the cabin the "Grand Loggery." Here the family
lived until in i86o, when Lincoln appointed Doty to the Superintend-
ency of Indian affairs in the Utah territory, which office he held
until his appointment to the Governorship of the same territory in
1863. His death occurred in 1865, and he is buried at Fort Douglas in
Salt Lake City.
  Mrs. Doty returned to this region and lived with a daughter, Mrs.
Fitzgerald, in Oshkosh.
  Mrs. Gleason, whose husband was a partner in the Wilde and
Gleason Drug Store, was born in this building. Because there was no
suitable home for the doctor to work, Governor Doty took her into
his home.
  The land and the Loggery were purchased by Hugh H. Ernsting on
January 28, 1868, from Mrs. J. D. Doty.
  In 1875, John Roberts purchased the site and Loggery from Mr.
Ernsting for the purpose of erecting a resort, which was opened to the
public on May 30, 1877. The Cabin served as an annex to the resort,
serving as housing space for the help, and also accommodated pool
tables and card tables on the first floor. John Roberts sold the prop-
erty to Strange, and the Cabin lay abandoned until T926, when the
D.A.R. became interested, and under its influence it was moved to
Doty Park and opened to the public.
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