Welcome to the
Town of Little Wolf

History of the Town of Little Wolf

The history of Little Wolf

The town was first settled by William Goldberg in 1848, who was joined by George E. and J.P. More in 1849, and James and Peter Meiklejohn in 1850.[3] The first settlements straddled the river on the southern border of the township. The town was at first known as Centerville, and was organized on March 5, 1852. On November 15, 1854 the town changed its name to Little Wolf.[4] After Jack Brickley built the first bridge across the river in 1858, it was also known as Brickley Bridge, but the name Little Wolf stuck after A. P. Jones established a new town post office in January 1859.
The Town of Royalton separated from Little Wolf in 1853. The towns Town of Union was separated from Little Wolf in 1857, with the Town of Dupont separating from the Town of Union in 1864.
The area grew fairly quickly in just ten years. Goldberg and the Mores built a sawmill there in 1849. Andrew Van Adestine fired up a smithy, Dan Smith and A. P. Jones opened groceries, and Jack Brickley bridged the river. Although Peter Meiklejohn set aside a room in his house for the village's first teacher, Miss Fortner, to use as a class room in 1853, the village raised a school house in 1857, the same year that Meikeljohn opened a grist mill on the southwest bank of the river. A two-story hotel, also operated by the Meiklejohns, stood near the grist mill.
Little Wolf never grew much bigger, though, and probably began to decline in the 1870s, after another lumbermill was built upriver in 1871, and the railroad was routed through Manawa in 1873. Until recently,[when?] the hotel and the foundations of the grist mill were all that remained to show that the village ever existed. Today, even the hotel is gone.

 

Mill Pond Joint Statement

UPDATED on 7-9-2025: Joint Statement regarding Mill Pond

Joint Statement from City of Manawa and Town of Little Wolf The news about funding our Dam, from the State, was not what we’d hoped for. With that in mind, the City of Manawa and the Town of Little Wolf would like to reiterate our intent and desire to work together on the mutual goal of restoring the Manawa Mill Pond to its pre- July 5, 2024 condition, or better. This recreational resource has served this community for its kayaking, fishing, boating, ice fishing and fund raising uses. On the West side, it provides a beautiful back drop to the Veteran’s Park. The County Landing on the South side gives access to the Pond for fishing or boating enjoyment. The vision of restoring the Mill Pond to its pre-catastrophe condition is the Goal! The two municipalities remain committed to finding the solution and funding to make this vision a reality, as we work to make our City and Town residents whole.

Upcoming Meetings

Upcoming Meetings
 

Next meetings: The Public Hearing for the 2026 Budget will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 6 PM and be followed by the Elector's Meeting to adopt the 2025 Levy, payable 2026. This will be immediately followed by the regular monthly Town Board Monthly Meeting- November 11, 2025 See specific Agenda's on the Agenda/Minutes page