History of Sauk County by saukcountyhistoricalsociety

HISTORY OF

SAUK COUNTY, WISCONSIN,

AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES; AN EXTENSIVE AND MINUTE SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES— THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTORIES, CHURCHES. SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES: ITS WAR RECORD, BIOGRAPH-

MEN AND EARLY SETTLERS;

ICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT

THE WHOLE PRECEDED BY A HISTORY OF WISCONSIN, STATISTICS OF THE STATE, AND AN ABSTRACT OF ITS LAWS AND CONSTITUTION AND OF THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE UNITED STATES.

IX.IL.-rTSTK.A.TIE ID-

CHI C A

( ;

( )

WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY.

PREFACE. TT

with no little pride that the publishers present this work to the citizens of Sauk County,

knowing that, with whatever inaccuracies it may be found to contain, it will prove one of the most valuable books ever added

to their

libraries.

a book wholly unlike any other ever

published, being exclusively for and concerning the people of this county, and is of such size,

completeness and comprehensiveness as could never have been furnished had the community

been less advanced in civilization, culture and wealth than it now is.

The index shows what the book attempts be foolish to deny

;

That

preserve.

for the very nature of all historical

contains errors it would

publications, depending as they do upon

oft-repeated and oft-mangled stories, imperfect newspaper accounts, and memories weakened by the. toils

and sorrows of many decades, renders perfect accuracy absolutely impossible.

ever, let the public take these prefatory

How-

remarks as a pledge that the publishers have spared no

means, and the historian no labor or patience, to make every account as nearly perfect as possible.

And let every reader remember, also, as he notes the contents of the hundreds of subjects the book contains, that, wherever the historian has been led citizens of

the least astray,

was due to the

Sauk County, for whom the work was undertaken, and from whom he obtained the

least and the greatest of the facts necessary in its compilation.

To those who have taken thanks are here returned

;

particular

pains to aid in

making this a valuable book sincere

and, as years roll on, and the work becomes more and more cherished

and valuable, the thanks of the future will be still more sincere than ours

;

sincere not only,

but universal.

Western Historical Society.

CONTENTS. iiisioirv 01

wisroxmv.

OF S.VlIt COUJVTY.

IIISTOISV Page.

The First \\ hite Woman in the Bara-

CHAPTER I. Indian

iipatic.v

(

The Mascoutins,

ECicka]

Miamis,

Foxes, Sacs and Winnebagoes Early Government First While Men in Sauk County Early Visits to Sank Count} liuu Sauk County got its Name

310 311

312 31 ft

Valley

CHAPTER VIII— I'm "Oium

Districts

Qj art:

Ban

tti

472 472

Flora and Fauna

486

CHAPTER IX—BaraBOO

CHAPTER II. The First

461

Features Elevations :

317

Sank Count} on F.ailv Maps 319 The Winnebago Wai United States Land smve}- and Land

Forty-tin

Permanent Settlement

County 0fflcsrsl844 to ls.su Laying Out the Towns Sell Hon ai, state and Congressional T.

4'.H

Advent Of the Pioneers

In:'.

Early "'.' 1

460 A 'lilt with" Redskins 4"2 Indian Scale of 1S44 Early Christian Effort in Sauk County 403

idatioti

and

Page. Subsequent 586 586

591 591

Societies.....

churches

Attorneys and Physician., S.u k Cnv.or Lnwi.R Sack Inlv s uleineiit aIK i KTO wth ni

Mnii.,1}

Company

Manufactures

County Judges Political 1'aitie, in sail,

Post Office

The lh lilue Public Schools Fire Company and Fires...

Locating c Houses Railroads Agricultural Indu Sank County Agri

Societies and Churches.

Attorneys and Physicians.

SlCK

Blood Cattle

ll.lltle

Stock Breeders' At Dairyii

Town of Washington ....

What •

\ i- :

Devil's I'd 1

The

;

iii.M'i

E.lio R...U

Bee Bii I

,,.

Congr. is

CHAPTER

Km irtm

Governmi

i:d Fire Rei

:.t

Cemeteries

CHAPTER XI

TiikS.uk Vii.i mis.

Early Historj Pbairie on Sao, oi

ri u

Sauk...

oS'.l

Hotels

346

CHAPTER III.

588

590 590

Manufacturing

Territorial. District and State Circuit

Court

5x7 587

Genera] Notes Tin- Bridge Post Office and Postmasters Schools

I'n

Settlement

Growth The Old Court House The First Staging

".!>:-;

604

594 595 Mill

1>'

MAP OF WIS.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. BY

BUTTEEFIELD.

I.— WISCONSIN ANTIQUITIES. The first explorers of the valleys of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi and its tributaries. seem not to have

noticed, to

any considerable extent, the existence within these vast areas of

monuments of an extinct race.

Gradually, however, as the tide of emigration broke through the

barriers of the Alleghanies and spread in a widely extended flow over what are now the States of

more and more the attention of the curious and the learned, until, at the present time, almost every person is presumed to have some general knowledge, not only of their existence, but of some of their striking peculiarities. Unfortunately, these signs of a long since departed people are fast disappearing by the never ceasing operations of the elements, and the constant encroachments of civilization. The earliest notices of the animal and vegetable kingdom of this region are to be found in its rocks; but Wisconsin's earliest records of men can only be traced in here and there a crumbling earth-work, in the fragment of a skeleton, or in a few stone and copper implements dim and shadowy relics of their the Northwest, these prehistoric vestiges attracted

—

handicraft.

The ancient dwellers in these valleys, whose history is lost in the lapse of ages, are designated, usually, as the Mound-Builders not that building mounds was probably their distinctive employment, but that such artificial elevations of the earth are, to a great extent, the only evidences remaining of their actual occupation of the country. As to the origin of these people, all knowledge must, possibly, continue to rest upon conjecture alone. Nor were the habitations ;

of this race confined to the territory of which Wisconsin now forms a part. At one time, they must have been located in many ulterior regions. The earthworks, tumuli, or "mounds," as they

are generally designated, are usually symmetrically raised figures,

such as the square, the octagon, and the

Besides these earth-works, there are pits dug

and often inclosed

circle, with

the solid

mathematical

long lines of circumvallation.

rock; rubbish heaps formed in the

prosecution of mining operations; and a variety of implements and utensils, wrought in copper

Whence came the inhabitants who left these evidences to sua ing generations ? In other words, who were the Mound-Builders? Did they migrate from the Old World, or is their origin to be sought for elsewhere? And as to their manners and customs and civilization what of these things ? Was the race finally swept from the New World to give place to Red men, or was it the one from which the latter descended ? These momentous quesor stone, or moulded in clay.

—

tions are left for the ethnologist, the archaeologist, and the antiquarian of the future to answer if they

can.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

mounds of the prehistoric people, it is generally believed, constituted but

Inclosures and

parts of one system; the former being, in the main, intended for purposes of defense or religion;

the latter, for sacrifice, for temple sites, for burial places, or for observatories.

In selecting sites

Mound-Builders appear to have been influenced by motives which prompt civilized men to choose localities for their great marts; hence, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities of the West are founded on ruins of pre-existing River terraces and river bottoms seem to have been the favorite places for these structures. for many of these earth-works, the

earth-works.

In such localities, the natural advantages of the country could be made available

with much less trouble than in portions of the country lying at a distance from water-courses. In Wisconsin, therefore, as in other parts, the same general idea of selecting points contiguous,

Mound-Builders; for

to the principal natural thoroughfares is found to have prevailed with the

Fox river of the Illinois, in that of Rock river and its branches, in the valley of Fox river of Green bay, in that of the Wisconsin, as well as near their works are seen in the basin of the

the waters of the Mississippi.

While a few circumvallations and immense mounds, such as are common to certain other portions of the United States, are discoverable in Wisconsin, yet by far the largest

earthworks have one peculiarity not observable, except reptiles,

birds, fish,

number of

few instances, outside the State.

The fact is revealed that they are imitative in form

This characteristic is a very striking one resembling beasts,

in a

man.

All these, for convenience, are usually classed

under the general name of "animal mounds," although some are in the similitude of trees, some Generally, these figures are in groups, though sometimes of war clubs, others of tobacco pipes. For what purpose these earth-works were heaped up they rise above the they are seen alone. or what particular uses they were intended to subserve, surface two, four, and sometimes six feet A number resemble It is, however, safe to affirm that they had some significance. is unknown. Lizards, turtles, and even tadpoles, are outthe bear; a few, the buffalo; others, the raccoon. the war club has each its representative. war eagle, and The All lined in the forms of some. The sizes of these the work of chance. this, of course, could not have been a mere happening mounds are as various as their forms. One near Cassville, in Grant county, very complete in its representation of an animal, supposed to be of the elephant species, was found, upon measureAnother in Sauk county, quite ment, to have a total length of one hundred and thirty-five feet. a veritable colossus; perfect in its resemblance to the form of a man, was of equal length prone, it is true, and soon to disappear, if it has not already been destroyed, by ravages of a

—

superior civilization.

In portions of Wisconsin, as well as in a few places outside the State, are found earth-works of another kind, but quite as remarkable as the "animal mounds," which, from their supposed They are ridges, or beds, about six inches in heigh' and use, have been styled "garden beds " four feet in width, ranged, with much apparent method, in parallel rows, sometimes rectangular

symmetrical curves, and occupying fields of from hundred acres. The Mound-Builders have left many relics, besides their earthworks, to attest their presence Scattered widely are found stone and copper axes, spear-heads, and in Wisconsin in ages past. arrow-heads, also various other implements evidently their handiwork. As these articles are in shape, sometimes of various but regular and

ten to a

—

frequently discovered many feet beneath the surface, it argues a high antiquity for the artificers.

Whether they had the skill to mould their copper implements is doubtful. Such as plainly show the work of hammering, indicate an art beyond that possessed by the Red men who peopled America upon its first discovery by Europeans. In a few instances, fragments of human skulls have been found so well preserved as to enable a comparison to be drawn between the crania of

THE INDIAN TEIBES OF WISCONSIN.

ancient race and those of modern ones; the results, however, of these comparisoi

this

any, light upon "the dark backward and abysm" of mound-building times. The evidences of an extinct people of superior intelligence is very strikingly exhibited

iittle, if

the ancient topper mines of the

Here are to be found excavations in the copper utensils fashioned into knives, chisels,

Lake Superior region.

solid rock; heaps of rubble and dirt

;

and arrow-heads; stone hammers; wooden bowls and shovels; props and levers for raising and These mines supporting the mass copper; and ladders for ascending and descending the pits. were probably worked by people not only inhabiting what is now the State of Wisconsin, but territory farther to the southward.

The copper was here obtained, it is believed, which has been

found in many places, even as far away as the northern shore cf the Gulf of Mexi< o, wrought " But there are no traces in Wisconsin of a " copper age into various implements and utensils. succeeding a " stone age," discernible in any prehistoric relics. They all refer alike to one age the indefinite past; to one people the Mound-Builders.

—

II.— THE

INDIAN TRIBES OF WISCONSIN.

When, as early, it is believed, as

1634,

civilized

man

first

set

foot

upon the territory now

included within the boundaries of Wisconsin, he discovered, to his surprise, that upon this wide

—

met and mingled clans of two distinct and wide-spread families the Algonquins and Sioux. The tribes of the former, moving westward, checked the advance of the latter in their As yet there had been no representatives of the Huron-Iroquois seen west excursions eastward. the members of this great family, at that date dwelling in safety in the of Lake Michigan Already had the extensive regions northward and southward of the Erie and Ontario lakes. French secured a foot-hold in the extensive valley of the St. Lawrence; and, naturally enough, the chain of the Great Lakes led their explorers to the mouth of Green bay, and up that watercourse and its principal tributary, Fox river, to the Wisconsin, an affluent of the Mississippi. On the right, in ascending this bay, was seen, for the first time, a nation of Indians, lighter in complexion than neighboring tribes, and remarkably well formed, now well known as the area

—

Menomonees. This nation is of Algonquin stock, but their dialect differed so much from the surrounding tribes of the same family, it having strange guttural sounds and accents, as well as peculiar inflec-

tions of verbs

and other parts of speech,

distinct language.

period.

Their traditions

that,

for

point to an

long time, they were supposed to have a

emigration

from the East

some remote

When first visited by the French missionaries, these Indians subsisted largely upon wild

from which they took their name. The harvest time of this grain was in the month of September. It grew spontaneously in little streams with slimy bottoms, and in marshy places. The harvesters went in their canoes across these watery fields, shaking the ears right and left as they advanced, the grain falling easily, if ripe, into the bark receptacle beneath. To clear it rice,

from chaff and strip it of a pellicle inclosing it, they put it to dry on a wooden lattice When the rice was well dried, it \\\ fire, which was kept up for several days.

small in

skin of the form of a bag, which was then forced into a hole, made on purpose, in the

They then tread it out so long and so well, that the grain being freed from the chaff, After this, it was pounded to meal, or left impounded, and boiled in water seasoned with grease. It thus became a very palatable diet. It must not be inferred that this was the only food of the Menomonees; they were adepts in fishing, and hunted with skill the game which abounded in the forests. For many years after their discovery, the Menomonees had their homes and hunting ground.

was easily winnowed.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

grounds npon, or adjacent to, the Menomonee river. Finally, after the lapse of a century and a quarter, down to 1760, when the French yielded to the English all claims to the country, the territory of the Menomonees had shifted somewhat to the westward and southward, and their principal village was found at the head of Green bay, while a smaller one was still in existence So slight, however, had been this change, that the country at the mouth of their favorite stream. of no other of the surrounding tribes had been encroached upon by the movement. In 1634. the Menomonees probably took part in a treaty with a representative of the French, who had thus early ventured so far into the wilds of the lake regions. More than a score of

years elapsed before the tribe was again visited by white men,

authentic accounts of earlier visitations.

— that

to say, there are

In 1660, Father Rene Menard had penetrated the Lake

Superior country as far, at least, as Kewenaw, in what

now

the northern part of Michigan,

whence some of his French companions probably passed down the Menomonee river to the waters of Green bay the following year; but no record of the Indians, through whose territory 1670 brought to the Menomonees they passed, was made by these voyagers. Ten years more (who doubtless had already been visited by French fur-traders) Father Claudius Allouez, to win them to Christianity. He had previously founded a mission upon the bay of Chegoimegon, now Chaquamegon, or Ashland bay, an arm of Lake Superior, within the present State of Wisconsin, " Sault" on in charge of which, at that date, was Father James Marquette. Proceeding from the the third of November, Allouez, early in December, 1669, reached the mouth of Green bay, where, on the third, in an Indian village of Sacs, Pottawattamies, Foxes and Winnebagoes, containing about six hundred souls, he celebrated the holy mass for the first time upon this new field of his labors, eight Frenchmen, traders with the Indians, whom the missionary found there upon his arrival, His first Christian work with the Menomonees was performed in taking part in the devotions. May of the next year. Allouez found this tribe a feeble one, almost exterminated by war. He spent but little time with them, embarking, on the twentieth of that month, after a visit to some Pottawattamies and Winnebagoes, " with a Frenchman and a savage to go to Sainte Mary of the His place was filled by Father Louis Andre, who, not long after, erected a cabin upon Sault." the Menomonee river, which, with one at a village where his predecessor had already raised the standard of the cross, was soon burned by the savages; but the missionary, living almost constantly in his canoe, continued for some time to labor with the Menomonees and surrounding tribes The efforts of Andre were rewarded with some conversions among the former; for Marquette, who visited them in 1673, found many good Christians among them. The record of ninety years of French domination in Wisconsin beginning in June, 167 1,

—

and ending in October, 1761

— brings

—

to light but little of interest so far as the Menomonees are

Gradually they extended their intercourse with the white fur traders. Gradually and with few interruptions (one in 172S, and one in 1747 of a serious character) they were drawn under the banner of France, joining with that government in its wars with the Iroquois; in its contests, in 1712, 1729, 17,50, and 1751, with the Foxes; and. subsequently, in its conflicts

concerned.

with the English.

The French post, at what is now Green Bay, Brown county, Wisconsin, was, along with the residue of the western forts, surrendered to the British in 1760, although actual possession of the former was not taken until the fall of the next year. The land on which the fort stood was

claimed by the Menomonees.

Here,

that date,

was their upper and principal village, the

These Indians soon became reconciled lower one being at the mouth of the Menomonee river. to the English occupation of their territory, notwithstanding the machinations of French traders who endeavored to prejudii e them against the new comers. The Menomonees, at this time, were very much reduced, having, but a short time previous, lost three hundred of their warriors

THE INDIAN TRIBES OF WISCONSIN.

by the small pox, and most of their chiefs in the late war in which they had been engaged by the They were glad to substitute English lor then Frencli commander there, against the English.

French traders

;

as they could purchase supplies of them at one half the price they had previously

It was not long before the sincerity of the Menomonees was put to the test, fontiac's War of 1763 broke out, and the [lost of Mackinaw was captured. The garrison, however, at Green bay was not only not attacked by the savages, but, escorted by the Menomonees and other tribes,

paid.

crossed Lake Michigan in safety to the village of L'Arbre Croche Montreal.

The Menomonees continued

thence making their way to

;

their friendship to the

English, joining

with them same side during the war of

against the Colonies during the Revolution, and fighting on the

-812-15.

When, in July, 1S16, an American force arrived at Green bay to take possession of the country, the Menomonees were found in their village near by, very peaceably inclined. The commander of the troops asked permission of their chief to build a fort. " My Brother!" was the response, " how can

we oppose your locating a council-fire among us? You are too strong Even if we wanted to oppose you we have scarcely got powder and ball to make the One favor we ask is, that our French brothers shall not be disturbed. You can choose any place you please for your fort, and we shall not object." No trouble had been anticipated from the Menomonees, and the expectations of the government of the United States in that What added much to the friendship now springing up between the regard were fully realized. Menomonees and the Americans was the fact that the next year Si 7 the annual contribution, which for many years had been made by the British, consisting of a shirt, leggins, breech-clout and blanket for each member or the tribe, and for each family a copper kettle, knives, axes, guns and ammunition, was withheld by them. It was found by the Americans, upon their occupation of the Menomonee territory that some of the women of that tribe were married to traders and boatmen who had settled at t',e head of the bay, there being no white women in that region. Many of these were Canadians of for us.

attempt.

—

French extraction; hence the anxiety that they should be well treated, which was expressed by At this period there was a considermany of them frequently winThe first regular treaty with this tribe was " made and concluded" on tered on the Mississippi. the thirtieth day of March, 1817, "by and between William Clark, Ninian Edwards, and Auguste Chouteau, commissioners on the part and behalf of the United States of America, of the one part," and the chiefs and warriors, deputed by the Menomonees, of the other part. By the terms of this compact all injuries were to be forgiven and forgotten perpetual peace establishedlands, heretofore ceded to other governments, confirmed to the United States all prisoners to be delivered up and the tribe placed under the protection of the United States, " and of no other the Menomonees upon the arrival of the American force.

able trade carried on with these Indians at Prairie du Chien, as

;

nation, power, or sovereign, whatsoever."

The Menomonees were now fully and fairly, and for

first time, entitled to be known as " American Indians," in contradistinction to the term which had been so long used as descriptive of their former allegiance—" British Indians."

the

The territory of the Menomonees, when the tribe was taken fully under the wins, of the Genbecome greatly extended. It was bounded on the north by the dividing ridge between the waters flowing into Lake Superior and those flowing south into Green bay and eral Government, had

the Mississippi; on the east, by Lake Michigan;

on the south, by the Milwaukee

river, and on though they were pracLake Michigan, lying between the mouth of Green bay on the north and the Milwaukee river on the south, and to a somewhat indefinite area west. Their general claim as late as 1825, was north to the Chippewa countrv

the west by the Mississippi and Black rivers. tically restricted to

This was their territory;

the occupation of the western shore of

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

south to the Milwaukee river, and west to Black river. ake Michigan Green bay and Vnd what is most surprising is that the feeble tribe of 1761 had now, in less than three quarters between three and four thousand. numbering nation, powerful ntury, become a

east to

;

The Menomonee territory, as late as 1831, still preserved its large proportions.

Its eastern

bounded by the Milwaukee river, the shore of Lake Michigan, Green bay, Fox river, and Winnebago lake: its western division, by the Wisconsin and Chippewa rivers on the west Fox river on the south Green bay on the east, and the high lands whence flow the streams This year, however, it was shorn of a valuable and large part into Lake Superior, on the north. by the tribe ceding to the United States all the eastern division, estimated at two and one half The following year, lie Menomonees aided the General Government in the Black million acres.

division was

;

Hawk war. That the Menomonees might, as much as possible, be weaned from their wandering habits, their permanent home was designated to be a large tract lying north of Fox river and east of Wolf river. Their territory farther west, was reserved for their hunting grounds until such time In 1S36, another portion, amounting to s the General Government should desire to purchase it. four million acres, lying between Green bay on the east and Wolf river on the west, was disposed of to tlie United States, besides a strip three miles in width from near the portage north, still leaving them in peace on each side of the Wisconsin river and forty-eight miles long ble possession of a country about one hundred and twenty miles long, and about eighty ;

—

broad. Finally, in [848,

the

Menomonees sold all their lands in Wisconsin to the General Govern-

ment, preparatory to their movement to a reservation beyond the Mississippi of six hundred thousand acres; but the latter tract was afterward re-ceded to the United States; for, notwithstanding there were treaty stipulations for the removal of the tribe to that tract, there were the way of their speedy migration, resulting, finally, in their being permitted to remain

in in

Lands, to the amount of twelve townships, were granted them fortheir permanent

Wisconsin,

—

on the upper Wolf river, in what is now Shawano and Oconto counties a portion, but m til one, of what was once their extensive possessions. To this reservation they removed in

October,

185.'.

Thus

are the

Menomonees, the only one of the original tribes of Wisconsin

whole, have a local habitation within

its

limits.

This tribe refused to join the Sioux in lunteers

their outl

the United States

army during the late civil war.

now over two centuries since the civilized world began to gain knowledge of the existence, in the far West, of a tribe of Indians known as the Winnebagoes that is, men of the sea; It is

—

pointing, possibly, to their early migration from the shores of the

Mexican gulf, or the

Pacific.

The territory now included within the limits of Wisconsin, and so much of the State of M Green bay, Lake Michigan, the Straits of Mackinaw and Lake Huron w i

of the

early times, inha ,

who had advanced eastward

the trili >

visited by an agent ol ira,

passed the great river,

Green bay.

some unknown

Here, this "sea-tribe," as early, it reaty concluded with them.

Thetribe

or Ochunkoraw, but were styled by the Sioux, Batanke,

d of the Ouenibigoutz, or Winnebegouk (as the Winnebagoes

or Sturgi

ionaries,

fetid or salt

water,

translated by the

the tribe had be

the second

after w.o

'.here

Algonquin race, forming a barrier to the ippi. But the Winnebagoes, although one of

-ah by Father Alii

and the Algonquin

tribes,

Puants) for the

meaning men from the dthough ,

leanwhile by adventurous Frenchmen, when on

some of that nation were noted al a

Sa<

(Sauk or Saukis) village

THE INDIAN TRIBES OF "WISCONSIN.

As early at least as 1670, the French were actively engaged among the Winnebagoes trading. " We found affairs," says one of the Jesuit missionaries, who arrived among them in September of that year, "we found affairs there in a pretty bad posture, and the minds of the savages much soured against the French, who were there trading ill-treating them in deeds and words, pillaging and carrying away their merchandise in spite of them, and conducting themselves toward them with insupportable insolences and indignities. The cause of this disorder," adds the missionary, " is that they had received some bad treatment from the French, to whom they had this year come to trade, and particularly from thesoldiers, from whom they pretended to have received many wrongs and injuries." It is thus made certain that the arms of France were carried into the territory of the Winnebagoes over two hundred years ago. The Fox river of Green bay was found at that date a difficult stream to navigate. Two Jesuits who ascended the river in 1670, had "three or four leagues of rapids to contend with," when they had advanced " one day's journey " from the head of the bay, " more difficult than those which are common in other rivers, in this, that the flints, over which" they had to walk with naked feet to drag their canoes, were so " sharp and so cutting, that one has all the trouble in the world to hold one's self steady against the great rushing of the waters." At the falls they found an idol that the savages honored " never failing, in passing, to make him some sacrifice of tobacco, or arrows, or paintings, or other things, to thank him that, by his assistance, they had, in ;

;

ascending, avoided the dangers of the waterfalls which are in this stream

;

or else, if they had to

ascend, to pray him to aid them in

this perilous navigation." The devout missionaries caused the idol " to be lifted up by the strength of arm, and cast into the depths of the river, to appear

no more " to the idolatrous savages.

The mission of St. Francis Xavier, founded in December, 1669, by Allouez, was a roving one among the tribes inhabiting the shores of Green bay and the interior country watered by the Fox river and its tributaries, for about two years, when its first mission-house was erected at what is now Depere, Brown county. This chapel was soon after destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in 1676.

The Winnebagoes, by this time, had not only received considerable spiritual instruction from the Jesuit fathers, but had obtained quite an insight into the mysteries of Hading and trafficking with white men; for, following the footsteps of the missionaries, and sometimes preceding them, were the ubiquitous French fur traders. It is impossible to determine precisely what territory

was occupied by the Winnebagoes at this early date, farther than that they lived near the head of Green bay.

A direct trade with the French upon the St. Lawrence was not carried on by the Winnebagoes to any great extent until the beginning of the eighteenth century. As early as 1679, an advance party of La Salle had collected a large store of furs at the mouth of Green bay, doubtless in a

traffic with this tribe and others contiguous to them; generally, however, the surrounding nations sold their peltries to the Ottawas, who disposed of them, in turn, to the French. The commencement of the eighteenth century found the Winnebagoes firmly in alliance with France, and in peace with the dreaded Iroquios. In 1718, the nation numbered six hundred. They were afterward found to have moved up Fox river, locating upon Winne-

bago

lake, which

stream and lake were their ancient seat, and from which they had been driven

either by fear or the prowess of more powerful tribes

of the West or Southwest. Their intercourse with the French was gradually extended and generally peaceful, though not always so. joining with them, as did the

Menomonees, in their wars with the Iroquois, and subsequently in

their conflicts with the English, which finally ended in 1760.

When the British, in October, 1761, took possession of the French

post, at

the head

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

2b'

Green bay, the Winnebagoes were found to number one hundred and fifty warriors only their They had in all not less than three nearest village being at the lower end of Winnebago lake. ;

Their country, at this period, included not only that lake, but all the streams flowing They into it, especially Fox river; afterward extended to the Wisconsin and Rock rivers. asking now of the commandant at the fort for English their course of trade changed readily towns.

—

among them. In the Indian outbreak under Pontiac in 1763, they joined with the Menomonees and other tribes to befriend the British garrison at the head of the bay, They continued their friendship to the English assisting in conducting them to a place of safety. traders to be sent

during the Revolution, by joining with them against the colonies, and were active in the Indian war of 1790-4, taking part in the attack on Fort Recovery, upon the Maumee, in the present

They fought also on the side of the British in the war of 1812-15, They were then estimated at 4.500. When, in 1814, to reduce Prairie du Chien. government of the United States sent troops to take possession of the Green bay country, by establishing a garrison there, some trouble was anticipated from these Indians, who, A deputation from the nation at that date, had the reputation of being a bold and warlike tribe. came down Fox river and remonstrated with the American commandant at what was thought They were desirous of knowing why a fort was to be established so near to be an intrusion. The reply was that, although the troops were armed for war if necessary, their purpose them. " If your object is peace, you have too many men was peace. Their response was an old one However, the display of a number of cannon which had not yet been if war, you have too few." mounted, satisfied the Winnebagoes that the Americans were masters of the situation, and the On the 3d of June, 1S16, at St. Louis, the tribe deputation gave the garrison no farther trouble. made a treaty of peace and friendship with the General Government; but they continued to levy English annuities also kept up a bad tribute on all white people who passed up Fox river. At this time, a portion of the tribe was living upon the Wisconsin river, away from the feeling. In 1820, rest of the nation, which was still seated upon the waters flowing into Green bay. In 1825, the claim of they had five villages on Winnebago lake and fourteen on Rock river. Its southeast the Winnebagoes was an extensive one, so far as territory was concerned. boundary stretched away from the source of Rock river to within forty miles of its mouth, in On the west it extended to the heads of the small streams Illinois, where they had a village. To the northward, it reached Black river and the upper Wisflowing into the Mississippi. consin, in other words, to the Chippewa territory, but did not extend across Fox river, although In 1829, a large part of their territory in they contended for the whole of Winnebago lake. southwest Wisconsin, lying between Sugar river and the Mississippi, and extending to the Wisconsin river, was sold to the General Government and, three years later all the residue lying south and east of the Wisconsin and the Fox river of Green bay the Winnebago prophet State of Ohio, in 1793.

aiding, in 1

816, the

;

before that date supported the Sacs in their hostility.

Finally, in the brief language of the treaty

between this tribe (which had become unsettled and wasteful) and the United States, of the first Winnebago Nation of Indians " ceded to the General Government

of November, [837, "The

" all their lands east of the Mississippi."

And the Indians agreed

Not an acre was reserved.

months from that date, they would move west of " the great river." In 1842, there were only 756 at Turkey arrangement, however, was not carried out fully. that, within eight

Iowa, their new home, with as many in Wisconsin, and smaller bands e lawless,

and roving.

Some removed in 1848;

while a party to the

ewhere.

This river,

All had bei ome

number of over eight hun-

dred left the State as late as 1873. The present home of the tribe is in Nebraska, where they have a reservation north of and adjacent to the Omahas, containing over one hundred thousand acres.

However, since

their

first

removal beyond the Mississippi, they have

several

times

THE INDIAN TKIBES OF WISCONSIN. changed their place of abode.

When

the territory,

now

Their number, all told, is the northern

constituting

less

portion

generally known to the civilized inhabitants of the eastern

than twenty-live hundred.

part

of Wisconsin,

of the United

became very State

Their hunting-grounds extended south found to be occupied by Indians called the 'mi 'Pi w \s. from Lake Superior to the heads of the Menom'onee, the Wisconsin and Chippewa rivers; also <

At an early day they were engaged in a war with the Sioux war indeed, which was lung ontinued. The Chippewas, however, persistently maintained still occupying the same region when the General Government extended its their position jurisdiction over the whole country south of the Great Lakes and west to the Mississippi. By treaties with the Chippewas at different periods, down to the year 1S27, the General Goveminent had recognized them as the owners of about one quarter of what is now the entire The same policy was pursued toward this tribe as- with neighboring ones, in the purchase State. Gradually they parted with their extensive possessions, until, of their lands by the United States. It was the intention of the in 1S42, the last acre within what is now Wisconsin was disposed of. General Government to remove the several bands of the Chippewas who had thus ceded their lands to a tract reserved for them beyond the Mississippi; but this determination was afterward changed so as to allow them to remain upon certain reservations within the limits of their oldThese reservations they continue to occupy. They are located in Baytime hunting grounds. The clans are known, respectively, as the Red field, Ashland, Chippewa and Lincoln counties. Cliff band, the Bad River band, the Lac Courte Oreille band, and the Lac de Flambeau band. Of all the tribes inhabiting what is now Wisconsin when its territory was first visited by white men, the Sacs (Sauks or Saukies) and Foxes (Outagamies) are, in history, the most noted. They are of the Algonquin family, and are first mentioned in 1665, by Father Allouez, but as separate tribes. Afterward, however, because of the identity of their language, and their associations, they were and still are considered as one nation. In December, 1669, Allouez found upon the shores of Green bay a village of Sacs, occupied also by members of other tribes; and earl)- in 1670 he visited a village of the same Indians located upon the Fox river of Green bay, at a distance of four leagues from its mouth. Here a device of these Indians for catching fish arrested the attention of the missionary. "From one side of the river to the other," he writes, "they made a barricade, planting great stakes, two fathoms from the water, in such a manner that there is, as it were, a bridge above for the fishes, who by the aid of a little bow-net, easily take sturgeons and all other kinds of fish which this pier stops, although the water does not cease to flow between the stakes." When the Jesuit father first obtained, five years previous, a knowledge of this tribe, they were represented as savage above all others, great in numbers, and without any permanent dwelling place. The Foxes were of two stocks one calling themselves Outagamies or F'oxes, whence our English name; the other, Muscfuakink, or men of red clay, They lived in early times with their kindred the Sacs east of the name now used by the tribe. Detroit, and as some say near the St. Lawrence. They were driven west, and settled at Saginaw, Thence they were forced by the Iroquois to Green bay; but a name derived from the Sacs. were compelled to leave that place and settle on Fox river. farther eastward and westward. a

—

Allouez, on the twenty-fourth of April, 1670, arrived at a village of the Foxes, situated on

"The nation," he declares, "is renowned for men bearing arms the number of women and children is greater, on account of polygamy which exists among them each man having commonly four wives, some of them six, and others as high as ten." The missionary found that Wolf

river,

a northern tributary of the Fox.

being numerous

;

they have more than four hundred

;

—

the Foxes

had retreated

those parts to escape the persecutions of the Iroquois.

Allouez

established among these Indians his mission of St. Mark, rejoicing in the fact that in less than

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

two years he had baptized "sixty children and some adults." The Foxes, at the summons of De They also took part in Denonville's la Barre, in 1684, sent warriors against the Five Nations.

more serious campaign but soon after became hostile to the French. As early as 169.3, they had plundered several on their way to trade with the Sioux, alleging that they were carrying arms and ammunition to their ancient enemies frequently causing them to make portages to the southward in crossing from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi. Afterward they became reconIn 17 12, Fort Detroit, then ciled to the French; but the reconciliation was of short duration. defended by only a handful of men, was attacked by them in conjunction with the MascouHowever, in the end, by calling in friendly Indians, the garrison not only tens and Kickapoos. ;

—

protected themselves but were enabled to act on the offensive, destroying the greater part of the besieging force.

The nation continued their ill will to the French. in

1 7

The consequence was that their territory

16 had been invaded and they were reduced to sue for peace.

But their friendship was not

In 17ns, the Foxes numbered five hundred men and "abounded in women They are spoken of at that date as being very industrious, raising large quantities In 17-^, another expedition was sent against them by the French. Meanwhile of Indian corn. the Menomonees had also become hostile; so, too, the Sacs, who were now the allies of the The result of the enterprise was, an attack upon and the defeat of a number of Foxes. Menomonees; the burning of the wigwams of the Winnebagos (after passing the deserted village and the destruction of the Sacs upon the Fox river), that tribe, also, at this date being hostile They were again attacked in their own country by the French, in of the fields of the Foxes. In 1734, both the Sacs and Foxes came in conflict with the same foe; but 1-30, and defeated. of long continuance.

and children."

•

;

this I

time the French were not as successful as on previous expeditions.

Mixes were "connected with the government of Canada

" ;

but

In 1736, the Sacs and

certain they were far from

being friendly to the French.

The conflict between France and Great Britain commencing in

1754, found the Sacs and

foxes allied with the former power, against the English, although not long previous to this time

At the close of that contest so disastrous to the France in North America, these tribes readily gave in their adhesion to the conThe two nations, then about equally divided, numbered, in 1 761, about seven hundred warriors. Neither of the tribes took part in Pontiac's war, but they befriended the English. The Sacs had migrated farther to the westward but the Foxes at least a portion of them still remained upon the waters of the river of Green bay, which perpetuates their name. A few years later, however, and the former were occupants of the upper Wisconsin also, to a considerable distance below the portage, where their chief town was located. Further down the same stream was the upper village of the Foxes, while their lower one was situated near its mouth at the site of the present city of Prairie du Chien. At this date, 1766, the northern portion of what is now Wisconsin, including all that part watered by the streams flowing north into Lake Superior, was the home of the Chippewas. The country around nearly the whole of (ireen bay was the hunting ground of the Menomonees. The territory of Winnebago lake and fox river was the seat of the Winnebagoes. The region of the Wisconsin river was the dwelling place of the Sacs and Foxes. During the war of the Revolution, the Sacs and Foxes ontinued the firm friends of the English. At th nl ol the nineteenth century, only a small part of their territory was included in what is now Wisconsin, and that was in the extreme southwest. In 1804, they eded this to the Unite* that they no longer were owners of any lands within this they were the bitter enemies of the French. interests of

querors, asking that English traders might be sent them.

;

—

;

State.

From that date, therefore, these allied tribes can not be considered as belonging to the

PRE-TEKEITORIAL ANNALS OF WISCONSIN. War

A striking episode in their subsequent histor)

Indian nations of Wisconsin.

the Black

—

Hawk

comes in, notwithstanding, as a part, incidentally, of the annals of the State. Deserving a place in a notice of the Indian tribes of Wisconsin is the nation known as the Pottawattamies. As early as 1639, they were the neighbors of the Winnebagoes upon Green They were still upon its southern shore, in two villages, in 1670; and ten years subsequent bay. to that date they occupied, at least in one village the same region. At the expiration of the

—

first quarter of the eighteenth century, a part only of the nation were in that vicinity upon the These islands were then known as the Pottawattamie islands, islands at the mouth of the bay. and considered as the ancient abode of these Indians. Already had a large portion of this tribe emigrated southward, one band resting on the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan, the other near Detroit. uliarity of this tribe at least of such as resided in what is now Wisconsin was their intimate association with neighboring bands. When, in 1669, a village of the Pottawattamies, located upon the southeast shore of Green bay, was visited by Allouez, he found with them Sacs and Foxes and Winnebagoes. So, also, when, many years subsequent to that date, a band of these Indians were located at Milwaukee, with them were Ottawas and Chippewas. These "united tribes" claimed all the lands of their respective tribes and of other nations, giving the United States, when possession was taken of the western country by the General Government, no little trouble. Finally, by a treaty, held at Chicago in 1833, their claims, such as they were, to lands along the western shore of Lake Michigan, within the present State of Wisconsin, extending westward to Rock river, were purchased by the United States, with permission to retain possession three years longer of their ceded lands, after which time this " united nation of Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies " began to disappear, and soon were no longer seen in

—

southeastern Wisconsin or in other portions of the State.

— Menomonees, Winnebagoes, Chippewas, Sacs ami Foxes, and — many others, whole or have, since the now constituting the visited by white men, been occupants of State was Of some are only — known having once lived what now Wisconsin; others such as the Hurons, Besides the

five

tribes

Pottawattamies

territory

part,

first

its

territory.

these,

Illinois,

Kickapoos, Mascoutens, Miamis, Noquets, Ottawas and Sioux, are recognized as Indians once dwelling in this region; yet so transitory has been their occupation, or so little is known of their history, that they scarcely can be claimed as belonging to the Slate. Commencing in 1822, and continuing at intervals through some of the following years, was the migration to Wisconsin from the State of New York of the remains or portions of four tribes :

the Oneidas, Stockbridges,

Green

May, where they

Munsees and Brothertowns.

still

reside.

The Oneidas finally located west of

Their reservation contains over 60,000

acres,

and

lies

wholly within the present counties of Brown and Outagamie. The Stockbridges and Munsees, who first located above Green Bay, on the east side of Fox river, afterward moved to tin- east side of Winnebago lake. They now occupy a reservation joining the southwest township of the Menomenee reservation, in Shawano county, and are fast becoming citizens. The Brothertowns first located on the east side of Fox river, but subsequently moved to the east side of Winnebago lake, where, in

1S39, they broke

their tribal

relations

and became citizens of Wisconsin

territory.

III.— PRE-TERRITORIAL

When, in

1634, the

first

ANNALS OF WISCONSIN.

white man set foot upon any portion of the territory

now consti-

tuting the State of Wisconsin, the whole country was, of course, a wilderness.

Its inhabitants,

the aboriginal Red men, were thinly but widely scattered over all the country.

John

Frenchman, who had

been

Canada

since

161S, and had

spent several years

Ni<

among the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

Indians, was the first of civilized men to unlock the mystery of

its

situation and people.

French

upon the St. Lawrence sent him as an ambassador to the Winnebagoes, of whom he On his outward voyage he visited the Hurons allies of the French a tribe seated upon the eastern side of the lake which bears their name, and Nicolet was empowered to negotiate a peace with them. " When he approached the Winnebago town, he sent some of his Indian attendants to announce his coming, put on a robe of damask, and advanced The squaws and children fled, screamto meet the expectant crowd with a pistol in each hand. ing that it was a manito, or spirit, armed with thunder and lightning but the chiefs and warriors regaled him with so bountiful a hospitality, that a hundred and twenty beavers were devoured at Such was the advent of the daring Frenchman into what is now the State of a single feast."

authorities

—

had heard strange stories.

—

;

Wisconsin. " Upon the borders of Green bay," wrote the Jesuit, Paul le Jeune, in 1640, " are the MenoSome monees; still farther on, the Winnebagoes, a sedentary people, and very numerous. Frenchmen," he continues, " call them the Nation of the Stinkards,' because the Algonquin word Winipeg signifies stinking water.' Now they thus call the water of the sea therefore, these people call themselves Winnebagoes,' because they came from the shores of a sea of which we have no knowledge consequently we must not call them the Nation of Stinkards,' but the Nation of the Sea.' " From these Men of the Sea, Nicolet passed westward, ascended Fox river of Green Bay, until nigh the portage to the Wisconsin, down which stream he could have floated easily to the Mississippi, the "great water" of his guides, which he mistook for the This adventurous Frenchman, when so near re-discovering the river which has given sea. immortality to De Soto, turned his face to the eastward retraced his steps to Green bay, and This was the first exploration of what is now Wisconsin finally returned in safety to Quebec. only fourteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims upon the wild shores of New England. its discovery, was left to its savage inhabitants. At years after Wisconsin, for twenty-four They length, in 1658, two daring fur traders penetrated to Lake Superior, and wintered there. '

;

probably set foot upon what is now Wisconsin soil, as they

made several trips among the sur-

rounding tribes. They saw, among other things, at six days' journey beyond the lake, toward the southwest, Indians that the Iroquois had driven from their homes upon the eastern shores of Lake Huron. These Frenchmen heard of the ferocious Sioux, and of a great river not the sea,

—

— on which they dwelt.

This was the Mississippi; and to these traders is the world indebted for a knowledge of its existence; as De Soto's discovery was never used, From these upper countries, in the Sumentirely, forgotten. if not well-nigh, became and soon as Nicolet had supposed

mer of 1660, the two returned to Quebec, with three hundred Indians in sixty canoes, laden with This was, indeed, the dawn though exceedingly faint of what is now the commerce of Nineteen years after flashed a more brilliant light; for, in 1679, tne the great Northwest. "Griffin," laden with furs, left one of the islands at the mouth of Green bay, on its return spreading her sails for Niagara, hut never more to be heard of. Following in the footsteps of the fur traders came the Jesuit missionaries to Lake Superior one "I them, father Menard, as early as 1660, reaching its southern shore as far to the westward, There is no positive evidence, however, as kewenaw, in the present State of Michigan. that he or his French companions, visited any portion of what is now Wisconsin; although the next

—

peltry.

—

;

year, 1661, some of his associates probably passed

down the Menomonee

river

Green bay.

Following Menard came Father Claude Alloue/., arriving on the first day of October, 1665, at "Chagowamigong," or "Chegoimegon," now Chequamegon, or Ashland Bay, " at the bottom of Which," wrote the missionary. " is situated the great villages of the savages, who there plant their Near by he erected a small chapel of bark the fields of Indian corn, and lead a stationary life."

—

PRE-TERRITORIAL AXNALS OF WISCONSIN. structure erected by civilized

first

man

Wisconsin.

At La Pointe, in the present Ashland

county, he established the mission of the Holy Ghost.

The next Catholic mission in what is now Wisconsin was that of St. Francis Xavier, founded

Upon the second of December, 1669, he first attended to his priestly devotions upon the waters of Green bay. This mission, for the first two years of its existence, was a

also by Allouez.

migratory one.

The surrounding tribes were all visited, including the Pottawattamies, MenomHowever, in 167 1, one hundred and five years before

onees, Winnebagoes, and Sacs and Foxes.

the Declaration of Independence, there was erected, at what

garbs and unarmed, carry the cross to

many

Thus early did the

chapel for the mission of St. Francis Xavier.

now Depere, Brown county, a Jesuit Fathers, in their plain

of the benighted heathen occupying the country

—

circumscribed by Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior, and the "great river" the Mississippi. French domination in Wisconsin dates from the year 1671, the very year in which it seems the indomitable LaSalle, upon his first expedition, passed the mouth of Green bay, but did not France then took formal possession of the whole of the country of the upper lakes. enter it. By this time, the commerce with the western tribes had so attached them to her interests that she determined to extend her power to the utmost limits vague and indeterminate as they

were

— of Canada. An agent — Daumont de

St.

Lusson

— — was dispatched

to the distant tribes,

proposing a congress of Indian nations at the Falls of Ste. Mary, between Lake Huron and Lake The invitation was extended far and near. The principal chiefs of Wisconsin tribes, Superior.

Then and there, with at the meeting. due ceremony, it was announced that the great Northwest was placed under the protection of had to a certain extent And why not? She had discovered it the French government. explored it had to a limited extent established commerce with it and her missionaries had But none of her agents none of the furproclaimed the faith to the wondering savages. none of the missionaries had yet reached the Mississippi, the "great river," concerning traders which so many marvels had been heard, although it is claimed that, in 1669, it had been seen by the intrepid La Salle. But the time for its discovery, or properly re-discovery, was at hand, if, indeed, it can be called, with propriety, a re-discovery, since its existence to the westward was gathered by Nicolas Perrot in Green bay, were present

— —

—

already known to every white man particularly interested in matters appertaining to the XorthNow, however, for the first time, its upper half was to be, to a certain extent, explored.

west.

For the

first

time, a white

man was to behold its vast tribute, above the Illinois river, rolling Who was that man? His name was Louis Joliet; with him

onward toward the Mexican gulf. was Father James Marquette. Born

Quebec, in 1645, educated by the

Jesuits, and first resolving to be a priest, then

turning fur-trader, Joliet had, finally, been sent with an associate to explore the copper mines of Lake Superior. He was a man of close and intelligent observation, and possessed considerable

mathematical acquirements. At this time, 1673, he was a merchant, courageous,' hardy, enterprising. He was appointed by French authorities at Quebec to " discover " the Mississippi. He passed up the lakes to Mackinaw, and found at Point St. Ignace, on the north side of the strait, Their outfit was very simple Father James Marquette, who readily agreed to accompany him. two birch-bark canoes and a supply of smoked meat and Indian corn. They had a company of five

men with them, beginning their voyage on the seventeenth of May, 1673.

Passing the straits,

they coasted the northern shores of I.ake Michigan, moved up Green bay and Fox river to the They crossed to the Wisconsin, down which they paddled their frail canoes, until, on portage. the seventeenth of June, they entered

— "discovered" — the Mississippi.

eastern and the western boundary of what therefore, it

may be said that

its

So the northern, the

now Wisconsin had been reached

territory had

this

date

been explored sufficiently for the forming of a

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

pretty correct idea of its general features as well as of

its

savage inhabitants.

After dropping

down the Mississippi many miles, Joliet and Marquette returned to Green bay, where the latter remained to recruit

his

exhausted strength, while Joliet descended

Quebec, to report his

"discoveries" to his superiors.

Then followed the expedition of LaSalle to the west, from the St. Lawrence, when, in 1679, he and Father Louis Hennepin coasted along the western shore of Lake Michigan, frequently landing then, the return of Henri de Tonty, one of LaSalle's party down the same coast to Green bay, in r68o, from the Illinois; the return, also, the same year, of Hennepin, from up the .Mississippi, whither he had made his way from the Illinois, across what is new Wisconsin, by the Wisconsin and Fox rivers to Green bay, in company with DuLhut, or DuLuth, who, on his waydown the " great river " from Lake Superior, had met the friar and then, the voyage, in 1683, from ;

;

Lake Michigan

the Mississippi river, by the same route, of LeSueur, and his subsequent La Pointe, in what is now Ashland county, Wisconsin, followed several years after by a trip up the Mississippi. The act of Daumont de St. Lusson, at the Sault Sainte Mary, in 167 1, in taking possession of the country beyond Lake Michigan, not being regarded as suffito

establishment at

ciently definite, Nicolas Perrot, in 1689, at Green bay, again took possession of that territory, as well as of the valleys of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and extending the dominion of New France over the country on the Upper Mississippi, and "to other places more remote." The voyage of St. Cosme, in 1699, when he and his companions frequently landed on the west coast

of Lake Michigan, upon what

now territory of Wisconsin, completed the explorations in the

west for the seventeenth century.

Following in the footsteps of early explorations, of self sacrificing attempts of the Jesuits to carry the cross to the wild tribes of the West, of the

— such

first visits

—of what

of the lawless coureurs dc hois,

now Wisconsin by the French. The ninety years of domination by France in this region were years of only nominal possession. The record of this occupation is made up of facts concerning the Indian policy of the French was the military occupation

can be called

and Foxes; their treaties, at various times, with different and protection of, the fur trade, and kindred subjects. The Indian re, at most, only the allies of France. mere stockades without cannon, more for Posts on to fur-traders than for any other purpose were erected upon the Mississippi at two least, upon what is now territory of Wisconsin. On the west side of Fox Green bay, "half a league from its mouth," was a French post, as early as 1721, where resided, besides the commandant and an uncouth squad of soldiers, a Jesuit missionary; and near bywere collected Indians of different tribes. Of course, the omnipresent fur-trader helped to augment the sum-total of its occupants. This post was, not long after, destroyed, but another blished there. When, however, France yielded her inchoate rights in the West to Great Britain when, in 1761, the latter took possession of the country there was not a French post within what is now Wisconsin. The "fort" near the head of Green bay. had been vacated for irs; it was found " rotten, the stockade ready to fall, and the houses without cover;" emblematic of the decay— the fast-crumbling and perishing state of Freni h supremacy, at that America. Wisconsin, when England's control began, was little better than a howling rhere was not within the broad limits of u hat is now the Stale, a single boTia fide settler, at the time the French Government yielded up it, possession to the Knglish; that is to rulers; their contests with the Sacs tribes; their interest

in,

— —

—

say, thei

acceptation of the term

The military occupation oi v --

;

October,

fears' \yar, was a brief

the British, afl is

now the cit) of Fort Howard, Brown county, was called

1701,

regiment.

taken

possi

toi

by English

troops,

under Lieutenant

Two days after, that officer departed, leaving

PRE-TERRITOKIAL AXNAI.s OF WISCONSIN.

James Gorrell, in command, with one sergeant, one corporal and fifteen privates. Tli remained at the post a French interpreter and two English traders. The name of the This post was abandoned by the commandant on lion was changed to Fort Edward Augustus. the twenty-first of June, 1763, on account of the breaking out of Pontiac's War and the capture The cause of this war was this: The Indian tribes of the fort at Mackinaw by the savages. saw tlie danger which the downfall of the French interests in Canada was sure to bring to them. The struggle was short but fierce The) banded together under Pontiac to avert their ruin. full of "scenes of tragic interest, with marvels of suffering and vicissitude, of heroism and endurance;" but t'.ie white man conquered. The moving incidents in this bloody drama were enacted to the eastward of what is now Wisconsin, coming no nearer than Mackinaw, which, as jusl mentioned, the savages captured; but troops, who

resulted in the evacuation of

its

territory

1»,

though they continued until 1796 a nominal military rule over it, after Mackinaw was again occupied by them. Canadian trading station French at the head of Green bay assumed finally the An early never after took possession of

it,

—

the first one in Wisconsin. To claim, however that any French Canadian is entitled to the honor of being the first permanent white settler is assuming " The title of The Father and Founder of Wisfor him more than the facts seem to warrant. consin " belongs to no man. After Pontiac's War, one of the noted events in this region was the journey of Jonathan Carver, who, in 1766, passed up Fox river to the portage, ami descended the Wisconsin to the He noticed the tumbling-down post at what is now Green Bay, Drown count)'. Mississippi. He saw a few families living in the fort, and some French settlers, who cultivated the land That was the whole extent of improvements opposite, and appeared to live very comfortably. The organization of the Northwest Fur Company; the passage of in what is now Wisconsin. an act by the British Parliament by which the whole Northwest was included in the Pro\ Quebec; the joining of the Indians in this region with the British, against the Americans, in the

form of a permanent settlement

War of the Revolution; the exploration of the lead region of the Upper Mississippi by Julian the first settlement of the territory northwest Dubifque; the passage of the ordinance of 1787 of the River Ohio; and the Indian war which followed, are all incidents, during British occupation, of more or less interest for the student of Wisconsin history. He will find that, by the ;

treaty of 17.83

and of 1795, with Great Britain, all the inhabitants residing in this region were to

be protected by the United States in the full and peaceable possession of their property, with the All who did not right to remain in, or to withdraw from it, with their effects, within one year. leave were to be deemed American citizens, allowed to enjoy all the privileges of citizenship, and to

be under the protection of the General Government.

He will also find that less than

years was the whole time of actual military occupation of what

two

now Wisconsin by British

ioldiers, and that English domination, which should have ended at the close of the Revolution, was arbitrarily continued until the Summer of 1796, when the western posts, none of which were upon territory circumscribed by Lakes Michigan and Superior and the Mississippi river, Great Britain over were delivered into the keeping of the United States. Thus the sup the Northwest was, after an actual continuance oi thirty-five years, at an end.

Although the General Government did not get possession of the region northwest of tin throughout its full extent, for thirteen years subsequent to its acquirement by the treat) ol of 1783 with (Ireat Britain, nevertheless, steps were taken, very soon, to obtain concessions from such of the colonies as had declared an ownership in any portion of it.

None of the claimants,

seemingly, had better rights than Virginia, who, by virtue of conquests, largely her own, of the Illinois settlements and posts, extended her jurisdiction over that country, erecting into a count)-

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

so much of the region northwest of the Ohio, as had been settled by Virginians or might afterward be settled by them. But as, previous to her yielding all rights to territory beyond that

she had not carried her arms into the region north of the Illinois or made settlements upon what is now the soil of Wisconsin, nor included any portion of it within the bounds of an organized county, it follows that her dominion was not actually extended over any part of the area river,

included within the present boundaries of this State;

nor did she then claim jurisdiction north

of the Illinois river, but on the other hand expressly disclaimed it. Virginia and all the other claimants finally ceded to the United States their rights, such as

they were, beyond the Ohio, except two reservations of limited extent and the General Government became the undisputed owner of the "Great West," without any internal claims to posses;

sion save those of the Indians.

Meanwhile, the United States took measures to extend its juris-

diction over the whole country by the passage of the famous ordinance of 1787, which established

a government over "the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio."

But this

organic law was, of course, nugatory over that portion of the region occupied by the British, until their yielding possession in 1796, when, for the first time, Anglo-American rule commenced,

though nominally, in what is now Wisconsin. By the ordinance just mentioned, "the United States, in congress assembled," declared that the territory northwest of the Ohio should, for the purposes of temporary government, be one district subject, however, to be divided into districts, .

as future circumstances might, in the opinion of Congress, make

expedient.

was ordained

that a governor, secretary and three judges should be appointed for the Territory

;

a general

and it was declared that religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of It was also ordained that there should be neither education should forever be encouraged. slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory, "otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." Thus was established the first Magna Charta for the five great States since that tine formed out of "the territory northwest of the River Ohio," and the first rules and regulations for their government. Under this act of Congress, Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor of the Northwestern Territory, as it was called, and Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum, and John Armstrong, the latter, not accepting the office, John Cleves Symmes was appointed in his place. judges, At different periods, counties were erected to Winthrop Sargeant was appointed secretary. By the governor's proclamation of the 15th of include various portions of the Territory. August, 1796, one was formed to include the whole of the present area of Northern Ohio, west of Cleveland also, all of what is now the State of Indiana, north of a line drawn from Fort Wayne "west-northerly to the southern part of Lake Michigan;" the whole of the present State of Michigan, except its extreme northwest corner on Lake Superior; a small corner in the northeast, part of what is now Illinois, including Chicago; and so much of the present State of Wisconsin as is watered by the streams flowing into Lake Michigan, which of course included an This extensive portion, taking in many of its eastern and interior counties as now constituted. vast county was named Wayne. So the feu- settlers then at the head of Green bay had their was Northwestern Territory." It local habitations, constructively at least, in "Wayne county, just at that date that Great Britain vacated the western posts, and the United States took quiet Kut the western portion of what is now Wisconsin, including all its territory oi them. watered by streams flowing northward into Lake Superior, and westward and southwestward into assembly was also provided

for;

—

;

the Mississippi, was as yet without any county organization

;

as the count)- of St. Clair, including

the Illinois country to the southward, reached no farther north than the mouth of Little

naw creek, where

empties into the River Illinois, in what is

Macki-

now the State of Illinois.

The

PRE-TERRITORIAL AXXALS OF WISCONSIN

"law of Paris," which was in force under French domination in Canada, and which by the British Parliament in 1774, had been continued in force under English supremacy, was still " the law of the land " west of Lake Michigan, practically at least. From and after the fourth day of July, 1S00, all that part of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, which lay to the westward of a line beginning upon that stream opposite to the mouth of Kentucky river and running thence to what is now Fort Recovery in Mercer county, Ohio thence north until it intersected the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was, for the purposes of temporary government, constituted a separate territory called Indiana. It included not only the whole of the present State of Illinois and nearly all of what is now Indiana, but more than half of the State of Michigan as now defined, also a considerable part of the present Minnesota, and the whole of what is now Wis;

consin.

The seat of government was established at of Vincennes, Indiana.

"Saint Vincennes on the Wabash,'' now the city To this extensive area was added "from and' after" the admission of

Ohio into the Union, all the territory west of that State, and east of the eastern boundary line of the Territory of Indiana as originally established; so that now all "the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio," was, excepting the^tate of Ohio, included in Indiana Territory.

On the thirtieth day of June, 1805, so much of Indiana Territory as lay to the north of

a line drawn east

from the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie, and east

of a line drawn from the same bend through the middle of the first mentioned lake to its northern extremity, and thence due north to the northern boundary of the United States, was, for the

purpose of temporary government, constituted a separate Territory called Michigan, of course no part of the present State of Wisconsin was included therein but the whole remained in the Territory of Indiana until the second day of March, 1S09, when all that part of the last mentioned Territory which lay west of the Wabash river, and a direct line drawn from that stream and " Post Vincennes," due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was. by an act approved on the third of February previous, constituted a separate Territory, called Illinois. Meanwhile jurisdiction had been extended by the authorities of Indiana Territory over the country lying west of Lake Michigan, to the extent, at least, of appointing a justice of the peace for each of the settlements of Green Bay and Prairie du Chien. All of what is now Wisconsin was transferred to the Territory of Illinois, upon the organization of the latter, except a small portion lying east of the meridian line drawn through Vincennes, which remained a part of Indiana Territory. This fraction included nearly the whole area between Green bay and Lake Michigan. When, in 1S16, Indiana became a State, "the territory of the LTnited States northwest of the River Ohio," contained, besides Ohio and Indiana, the Territories of Illinois and Michigan, only so the narrow strip, formerly a part of Indiana Territory, lying east of a line drawn due north from Vincennes, and west of the western boundary line of Michigan Territory, belonged to neither, and was left without any organization. However, upon the admission of Illinois into the Union, in 1818, all "the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio," lying west of Michigan Territory and north of the States of Indiana and Illinois, was attached to and made a part of Michigan Territory by which act the whole of the present State of Wisconsin came under the jurisdiction of the latter. During the existence of the Territory of Illinois, a kind of jurisdiction was had over the two settlements in what is now Wisconsin rather more ideal than ;

;

—

real,

however. In 1834, Congress greatly increased the limits of the Territory of Michigan, by adding to it,

for judicial purposes, a large extent of country west of the Mississippi

— reaching south

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

Iowa and Missouri north, to the terriand west, to the Missouri and White Earth

the present boundary line between the present States of torial line between the

rivers.

United States and Canada

;

so continued down to the fourth of July, 1S36.

A retrospective glance at the history of this region for forty years previous to the last mentioned year, including the time which elapsed after the surrender of the western posts, in 1796,

by the British, discloses many facts of interest and importance. The Anglo-Americans, not long after the region of country west of Lake Michigan became now and then to cast an eye, either through the opening of the Great Lakes or the Mississippi, upon its rolling rivers, its outspread prairies, and its dense covet land but the settlers at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien were forests, and to the goodly The General Governmostly French Canadians at this date, although a few were Americans. ment, however, began to take measures preparatory to its occupation, by purchasing, in 1804, a tract in what is now the southwest portion of the State, of the Indians, and by holding the various tribes to a strict account for any murders committed by them on American citizens passing through their territories or trading with them. Comparative peace reigned in the incipient settlements at the head of Green bay and at the mouth of the Wisconsin, which was changed by the a part of Indiana Territory, began

;

breaking out of the war of 1812, with Great Britain.

The English early succeeded in securing the Wisconsin Indian tribes as their allies in this war; and the taking of Mackinaw by the British in July, 1812, virtually put the latter in possesEarly in 1S14, the government authorities sion of what is now the eastern portion of the State. of the United States caused to be fitted out at St. Louis a large boat, having on board all the

men that could be mustered and spared from the lower country, and sent up the Mississippi to The troops landed at Prairie du Chien, and immediately proceeded to fortify. Not long after, Colonel McKay, of the British army, crossing the country by course of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, with over five hundred British and Indians, received the surrender of the whole force. The officers and men were paroled and sent down the river. This was the only battle fought upon Wisconsin soil during the last war with England. The post at Prairie du Chien was left in command of a captain with two compaprotect the upper region and the few settlers therein.

nies from

Mackinaw.

He remained there until after the peace of 18 15, when the place was

evacuated by the British.

When it became generally known to the Indian tribes in what is now Wisconsin, that the contest between the United States and Great

themselves as ready and willing

to establish friendly relations with the

therefore, a favorable

Britain

was at an end, they generally expressed

make treaties with the General Government power they had so recently been

moment for taking actual

—eager,

hostile to.

in fact,

This was,

possession of the country between the Missis-

and United States troops were soon ordered to occupy the two promGreen Bay and Prairie du Chien. At the former place was erected Fort Howard at the latter Fort Crawford. At Green Bay, half a hundred (or less) French Canadians cultivated the soil at Prairie du Chien, there were not more than thirty houses, mostly occupied by traders, while on the prairie outside the village, a number of farms were cultivated. Such was Wisconsin when, at the close of the last war with Great Britain, it began in earnest to sippi

and Lake Michigan

;

inent points between ;

;

be occupied by Americans. The latter were few in number, but in 1818, they began to feel, now that the country was attached to Michigan Territory and the laws of the United States were extended over them, that they were not altogether beyond the protection of a government of their own, notwithstanding they were surrounded by savage tribes. Their happiness was increased upon the erection, by proclamation of Lewis Cass, governor of the Territory of Michigan, of Their establishment dates three Territorial counties: Michilimackinac, Brown and Crawford.

PRE-TERRITORIAL A.X3TALS OF WISCONSIN.

The county of Michilimackinac not only included all of the present State of Wisconsin lying north of a line drawn due west from near the head of the Little Nbquet bay, but territory east and west of it, so as to reach from Lake Huron to the Mississippi river. Its county seat was established "at the borough of Michilimackinai ." The whole the twenty-sixth of October, [818.

area in Michigan Territory south of the county of Michilimackinac and west of Lake Mi< liigan formed the two counties of brown and Crawford: the former to include the area east of a line drawn due north and south through the middle of the portage between the Fox river of Green

the latter to include the whole region west of that line. bay and the Wisconsin Prairie du Chien was designated as the county seat of Crawford; Green Bay, of Brown county. On the 22d of December, 1S26, a county named Chippewa was formed from the northern portions of Michilimackinac, including the southern shores of Lake Superior throughout its entire length, and extending from the straits leading from that lake into Lake Huron, west to the western boundary line of Michigan Territory, with the county seat "at such point in the vicinity of the Sault de Ste. Marie, as a majority of the county commissioners to be appointed shall designate.'' Embraced within this county, its southern boundary being the parallel 46 31' north latitude, was all the territory of the present State of Wisconsin now bordering on Lake Superior. Immediately upon the erection of Brown and Crawford counties, they were organized, and their offices filled by appointment of the governor. County courts were established, consisting of one chief and two associate justices, either of whom formed a quorum. They were required to hold one term of court annually in their respective counties. These county courts had original and exclusive jurisdiction in all civil cases, both in law and equity, where the matter in dispute exceeded the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace, and did not exceed the value of one thousand dollars. They had, however, no jurisdiction in ejectment, They had exclusive cognizance of all offenses the punishment whereof was not capital, and the same power to issue remedial and other process, writs of error and mandamus excepted, that the supreme court had at Detroit. Appeals from justices of the peace were made to the county courts. The establishing of Indian agencies by the General Government the holding of treaties with some of the Indian tribes; the adjustment of land claims at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien the appointment of postmasters at these two points, were all indications of a proper interest being taken by the United States in the affairs of the country. But a drawback to this region, was the fact that, in all civil cases of over a thousand dollars, and in criminal cases that were capital, as well as in actions of ejectment, and in the allowance of writs of error, and mandamus, recourse must be had to the supreme court at Detroit; the latter place being the seat of government of Michigan Territory. However, in January, 1823, an act of congress provided for a district court, and for the appointment of a judge, for the counties of Brown, Crawford, and Michilimackinac. This court had concurrent jurisdiction, civil and criminal, with the supreme court of the Territory, in most cases, subject, however, to have its decisions taken to the latter tribunal by a writ of error. The law provided for holding one term of court in each year, in each of the counties named in the act so, at last, there was to be an administration of justice at home, and the people were to be relieved from all military arbitrations, which frequently had been imposed upon them. James Duane Doty was appointed judge of this court at its organizaA May term of the court was held in Prairie du Chien; a June term in Green bay; a tion. July term in " the Borough of Michilimackinac," in each year. In 1S24, Henry S. Baird, of Brown county, was appointed district attorney. Doty held the office of judge until M when he was succeeded by David Irvin. This court continued until 1.S36, when it was abrogated by the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin. For a long time it had been known that there were lead mines in what is now the south;

—

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

western portion of the State; but it was not until the year 1825, and the two following years, that very general attention was attracted to them, which eventuated in the settlement of different places in that region, by Americans,

who came to

dig for lead ore.

This rapid increase of

settlers awakened the jealousy of the Winnebago Indians, at what they deemed an unauthorized

intrusion upon

their lands, which, with other causes operating unfavorably upon their minds,

aroused them in June, 1827, to open acts of hostility.

Murders became frequent.

Finally, the

Chien were called out. On the twenty-ninth of August, Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson, of the United States army, with a strong force of regulars, ascended the Wis-

militia of Prairie du

consin river to put an end to any further spread of Winnebago disturbances.

He was joined on

the first of September, by one hundred and thirty Galena volunteers, mounted, and under

com-

The Winnebagoes were awed into submission. Thus ended was followed by the erection at the portage of Fort Winnebago, by

mand of General Henry Dodge. the "Winnebago War."

the United States.

After the restoration of tranquillity, the United States proceeded by treaty with the Indians, to secure the right to occupy the lead regions. This was in 1828. The next year, the General Government purchased of the Winnebagoes, Southwestern Wisconsin, which put an end to all trouble on account of mining operations. On the ninth of October, 1829, a county was formed,

by the legislative council of the Territory of Michigan, comprising all that part of Crawford county lying south of the Wisconsin river. This new county was called Iowa. The county seat was temporarily established at Mineral Point. Following this was a treaty in 1831, with the

Menomonees, for all their lands east of Green bay, Winnebago lake, and the Fox and Milwaukee rivers.

There was now a crisis at hand. The most prominent event to be recorded in the pre-Terannals of Wisconsin is known as the Black Hawk War. This conflict of arms between

ritorial

regard to lands. By a Muskingum from Marietta, Ohio, in January, 17S9, the Pottawattamie and Sac tribes of Indians, among others, were received into the friend-

the Sacs and Foxes and the United States arose from a controversy in treaty made at Fort Harmar, just across the River

ship of the General Government, and a league of peace and unity established between the contracting parties

On the third of November,

1804, a treaty at' St. Louis stipulated that

the

united Sac and Fox tribes should be received into the friendship of the United States, and also

These tribes also agreed to consider themselves under the protection of the General Government and of no other power whatsoever. At this treaty lands were ceded which were circumscribed by a boundary beginning at a point on the Missouri river opposite the mouth of the Gasconade, and running thence in a direct course so as to strike the River Jefferson at the distance of thirty miles from its mouth, and down that stream to the Mississippi. It then ran up the latter river to the mouth of the Wisconsin, and up that stream to a point thirty-six miles in a direct line from its mouth; thence by a straight course to a point where the Fox river of the Illinois leaves the small lake then called Sakaegan, and from that point down the Pox to the Illinois, and down the latter to the Mississippi. The consideration for this cession was the payment of goods to the value of two thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifty cents, and a yearly annuity of one thousand dollars six hundred to be paid to tli.- Sa s and four hundred to the Foxes to be liquidated in goods valued at first cost. Afterward, Fort Madison was erected just above the Des Moines rapids in the Mississippi, on the territory ceded at the last mentioned treaty. Then followed the war with rreat Britain, and the foxes agreed to take no part therein. However, a portion afterward joined the English against the Americans along with other Western tribes. At the restoration of peace the Foxes held treaties with the United States. There was a renewal of the treaty of 1804. be placed under their protection.

—

(

PRE-TERRITORIAL ANNALS OF WISCONSIN.

Such in brief is a general outline of affairs, so far as those two tribes were concerned, down to the From this time, to the year 1S30, several additional treaties close of the last war with England. were made with the Sacs and Foxes by the General Government one in 1822, by which they relinquished their right to have the United States establish a trading house or factory at a convenient point at which the Indians could trade and save themselves from the imposition of traders, for which they were paid the sum of one thousand dollars in merchandise. Again, in 1824, they sold to the General Government all their lands in Missouri, north of Missouri river, for which they received one thousand dollars the same year, and an annuity of one thousand dollars for ten :

years. In 1830, they ceded to the United States a strip of land twenty miles wide from the Mississippi to the Des Moines, on the north side of their territory. The time had now come lor the two tribes to leave the eastern shore of the Mississippi and retire across the " great water." Keokuk, the Watchful Fox, erected his wigwam on the west side of the river, and was followed by a large part of the two tribes. But a band headed by Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or the Black Sparrow Hawk, commonly called Black Hawk, refused to leave their village near Rock They contended that they had not sold their town to the United States and, upon Island. their return early in 1831, from a hunt across the Mississippi, finding their village and fields in possession of the whites, they determined to repossess their homes at all hazards. This was looked upon, or called, an encroachment by the settlers so the governor of Illinois took the responsibility of declaring the State invaded, and asked the United States to drive the refractory ;

;

The result was,

Indians beyond the Mississippi.

the

Indian village was destroyed by Illinois

This and the threatened advance across the river by the United States commander, Hawk and his followers to terms. They sued for peace— agreeing to remain

volunteers.

brought Black

forever on the west side of the Mississippi.

But this truce was of short duration. Early in the Spring of 1S32, Black Hawk having assembled his forces on the Mississippi, in

the vicinity of the locality where Fort

Rock river.

Madison had stood, crossed

that stream

and ascended

The governor of Illinois made a call for volunteers;

This was the signal for war.

hundred had assembled at Beardstown, Cass county. They marched for the mouth of Rock river, where a council of war was held by their officers and Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson, of the regular forcas. The Indians were sent word by General Atkinson that they must return and recross the Mississippi, or they would be driven back by force. " If you wish to fight us, come on," was the laconic but defiant reply of the Sac chief. When the attempt was made to compel these Indians to go back across the "great river," a collision occurred between the Illinois militia and Black Hawk's braves, resulting in the discomfiture of the former with the loss of eleven men. Soon afterward the volunteers were discharged, and the first campaign of Black Hawk's War was at an end. This was in May, 1S32. In June following, a new force had been raised and put under the command of General Atkinson, who commenced his march up Rock river. Before this, there had been a general and, in a brief space of time, eighteen

"forting" in the lead region, including the whole country in Southwest Wisconsin, notwithstanding which, a

number of settlers had been killed by the savages, mostly in Illinois.

Squads of and in one with entire sucnow Lafayette county, Wisconsin every savage (and

volunteers, in two or three instances, had encountered the Indians; cess

— upon the Pecatonica,

what

—

there were seventeen of them) being killed.

wounded.

Atkinson's march up

Rock

The loss of the volunteers was three killed and

river was attended with some skirmishing;

when, being informed that Black Hawk and his force were at Lake Koshkonong, ir. the southwest corner of what is now Jefferson county, Wisconsin, he immediately moved thither with a portion of his army, where the whole force was ordered to concentrate. But the Sac chief with his people had flown.

Colonels Henry Dodge and James

I).

Henry, with the forces under them, discovered the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

40 trail

of the savages, leading in the direction of the Wisconsin river.

was evident

that the

and that it had but recently passed. The pursuing troops hastened On the twenty-first of July, 1832, they arrived at the hills which skirt the left bank

retreating force was large, their march.

Here was Black in what is now Roxbury town (township), Dane county. Hawk's whole force, including women and children, the aged and infirm, hastening by every effected, became necessary for river. But that this might now be it across the escape effort to The Indians were in the bottom lands that chief to make a firm stand, to cover the retreat. when the pursuing whites made their appearance upon the heights in their rear. Colonel Dodge occupied the front and sustained the first attack of the Indians. He was soon joined by Henry The action commenced about five with his force, when they obtained a complete victory. The enemy, numbering not less than five hundred, o'clock in the afternoon and ended at sunset. The loss of the Americans sustained a loss of about sixty killed and a large number wounded. was one killed and eight wounded. This conflict has since been known as the battle of Wis-

of that stream,

consin Heights.

During the night following the battle, Black Hawk made his escape with his remaining force and people down the Wisconsin river. The women and children made their way down stream The Indians were pursued in in canoes, while the warriors marched on foot along the shore. their flight, and were finally brought to a stand on the Mississippi river, near the mouth of the Bad Axe, on the west boundary of what is now Vernon county, Wisconsin. About two o'clock on the morning of the second of August, the line of march began to the scene of the last conDodge's command formed the advance, supported by regular Black Hawk War. under Colonel Zachary Taylor, afterward president of the United States. Meanwhile an armed steamboat had moved up the Mississippi and lay in front of the savages; so they were The battle lasted about two hours, and attacked on all sides by the exasperated Americans. Black Hawk fled, but was soon after captured. This complete victory for the whites. flict

the

troops,

ended the war.

The survey of public lands by the General Government;

the locating and opening of land

the erection of Milwaukee county from a part of at Mineral Point and Green Bay; Brown, to include all the territory bounded on the east and south by the east and south lines of the presenl State, on the north by what is now the north boundary of Washington and Ozaukee counties and farther westward on the north line of township numbered twelve, and on the west offices

line between ranges eight and nine; and the changing of the eastern boundary are some of the Iowa county to correspond with the western one of Milwaukee county; important events following the (lose of the Black Hawk war. There was an immediate and rapid increase of immigration, not only in the mining region but in various other parts of what The interior is now Wisconsin, more especially in that portion bordering on Lake Michigan.

by the dividing

—

By tlie act of June 28, 1834, congress having attached to the Territory of Michigan, for judicial purposes, all the country "west of the Mississippi river, and north of nf Missouri." comprising the whole of what is now the State of Iowa, all of the present

Mississippi river, and more than half of what is now the Terri-

State of Minnesota west of the tory of Dakota, the legislative area, dividing it on the 6th oi

oun< il of Michigan Territory extended her laws over the whole

September, [834, by a

Rock island to the Missouri river into two counties: the county of

north of the line, to be

line drawn

known as the county of Dubuque.

whole region west of the Mississippi was known as the Iowa treaty of 1832 with tin

tract in this district, several families

district.

States having

rossed the

due west from the lower end of

the country south of that line constituting

Immediately

after

This the

ome into ownership of a large

Mi>sissippi, and settled on the purchase, but as

WISCONSIN TERRITORY the time provided for the Indians to give possession was the

41 first

of June, [833, these settlers

were dispossessed by order of the General Government. So soon, however, as the Indians yielded possession, settlements began, but, from the date just mentioned until September, 1834, after the district was attached, for judicial purposes, to Michigan Territory, it was without any municipal law whatever.

The organization of the counties of Dubuque and Des Moines on the sixth of

that month, secured, of course a regular administration of justice.

Before this time to facili-

Howard at Green Bay, and Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien, a military road was commenced to connect the two points; so, one improvement followed another. On the 1st of January, 1836, a session (the first one) of the seventh legislative council of Michigan Territory that is, of so much of it as lay to the westward of Lake Michigan was held at Green Bay, and a memorial adopted, asking Congress tate intercourse between the two remote military posts of Fort

—

for the formation of a new Territory west of that lake

embraced in the proposed State of Michigan.

;

to include all of

Congress, as will

Michigan Territory not

now be shown, very soon com-

plied with the request of the memorialists.

IV.—WISCONSIN TERRITORY. The

establishing of a separate and distinct Territory west of Lake Michigan, was the result

of the prospective admission of Michigan into the Union (an event which took place not until the twenty-sixth of January, 1837), as the population, in all the region outside of the boundaries

determined upon by the people for that State, would otherwise be left without a government, or, at least, it would be necessary to change the capital of the old Michigan Territory farther to the westward so it was thought best to erect a new territory, to be called Wisconsin (an Indian ;

word signifying wild rushing water, or channel, so called from the principal eastern the Mississippi within

its

tributary of borders), which was done by an act of congress, approved April 20,

1836, to take effect from and after the third day of July following. The Territory was made to include all that is now embraced within the States of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and a part of the Territory of Dakota, more particularly described within boundaries commencing at the northeast corner of the State of Illinois, running thence through the middle of Lake

Michigan to a

point opposite the main channel of Green bay; thence through that channel and the bay to the

mouth of the Menomonee river

thence up that stream to its head, which is nearest the lake of the Desert ; thence to the middle of that lake thence down the Montreal river to its mouth thence ;

;

•with a direct line across Lake Superior to where the territorial line of the United States last touches

the lake northwest; thence on the north, with the territorial line, to the White Earth river; on the

West by a line drawn down the middle of the main channel of that stream to the Missouri river,

and down the middle of the main channel of the last mentioned stream to the northwest corner of the State of Missouri and thence with the boundaries of the States of Missouri and Illinois, as already fixed by act of congress, to the place or point of beginning. Its counties were Brown, Milwaukee, Iowa, Crawford, Dubuque, and Des Moines, with a portion of Chippewa and Michilimackinac left unorganized. Although, at this time, the State of Michigan was only engaged, so to speak, to the Union, to include the two peninsulas (many of its citizens preferring in lieu thereof the lower one only, with a small slice off the northern boundary of the State of Ohio as now constituted), yet the marriage ceremony was performed, as has been stated, a few months ;

afterward.

The act of congress establishing the Territorial government of Wisconsin was very full and complete.

It first

determined its boundaries; then it declared that all authority of the govern-

ment of Michigan over the new Territory should cease on the fourth day of July, 1S36, with

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

proper reservation of rights in favor of the

Indians.

provided for subsequently dividing tn&

It also declared that the Territory into one or more, should congress deem it wise so to do. executive power and authority in and over the Territory should be vested in a governor, at the same

time denning his powers.

should be.

provided for the appointment of a secretary, stating what his duties

The legislative power was vested in the governor and legislative assembly, the latter

house of representatives, answering respectively to the senate and There was a provision for taking the census of the assembly, as states are usually organized. the time, place, and manner of several counties, and one giving the governor power to name the number of members of the council and house of declare to and election, first the holding

to consist of a council and

He was also to determine where the representatives to which each county should be entitled. and a wise provision was that the latter should not be in first legislative assembly should meet, session in any one year more than seventy-five days. One section of the act declared who should be entitled to vote and hold office ; another defined the extent of the powers of the legislature, and a third provided that all laws should be There was a section designating what to congress for their approval or rejection.

submitted

offices should

be elective and what ones should be

filled

by the governor.

There were others

regulating the judiciary for the Territory and declaring what offices should be appointed by the United States, providing for their taking the proper oaths of office and regulating their salaries.

One, perhaps the most important of all, declared that the Territory should be entitled to and enjoy granted by the celebrated ordinance of 1787. There all the rights, privileges, and advantages was also a provision for the election of a delegate to the house of representatives of the United in the old courts should be conStates; and a declaration that all suits and indictments pending tinued in the new ones.

Five thousand dollars were appropriated for a library for the accommo-

dation of the legislative assembly of the Territory and of its supreme court. For the new Territory, Henry Dodge was, on the 30th of April, 1836, by Andrew Jackson,

John S. Horner was commissioned then President of the United States, commissioned governor. secretary; Charles Dunn, chief justice; David Irvin and William C. Frazer, associate judges; W. W. Chapman, attorney, and Francis Gehon, marshal. The machinery of a territorial government was thus formed, which was set in motion by these officers taking the prescribed oath of The next important step to be taken was to organize the Territorial legislature. The office. provisions of the organic act relative to the enumeration of the population of the Territory were that previously to the

first

election, the governor should cause the ceusus of the

inhabitants of

the several counties to be taken by the several sheriffs, and that the latter should make returns of Iowa county, These figures gave to Des Moines county, 6,257 the same to the Executive. ;

Brown county, 2.706; 5,234; Dubuque county, 4.274; Milwaukee county, 2,893; The entire population, therefore, of Wisconsin Territory in the summer of 1836, county, 850. thousand two hundred and fourtwenty-two as given by the first census was, in precise numbers, 1

teen, of which the

twocounties west of the Mississippi furnished nearly one

half.

The ap

ment, after the census had been taken, made by the governor, gave to the different counties thirBrown county got two councilmen and three teen councilmen and twenty-six representatives. representatives; Crawford, two representatives, but no councilmen; Milwaukee, two councilmen and three representatives; Iowa, Dubuque and Des Moines, each three councilmen but ol ;

Iowa got six; Dubuque, five, and Des Moines, seven. The election was held on the ing considerable interest, growing out, chiefly, of local consideratenth of Octob The permanent location of the capital, the division of counties, and the location of county tions. There were elected from the county seats, were the principal questions influencing the voters. Ebenezer Childs, Albert of Brown, Henry s. Baird and fohn P. Arn.lt, membi rs of the couni

sentatives,

;

WISCONSIN TERRITORY.

G. Ellis and Alexander J. Irwin, members of the house of representatives;

from Milwaukee, representatives, William B. Sheldon,

Knapp and Alanson Sweet Madison W. Cornwall and Charles Durkee from Iowa, councilmen, Ebenezer Brigham, John B.

the councilmen were Gilbert

;

Terry and James R. Vineyard; representatives, William Boyles, G. F. Smith, D. M. Parkinson, Thomas McKnight, T. Shanley and J. P. Cox from Dubuque, councilmen, John Foley, Thomas :

MeCraney and Thomas McKnight; representatives, Loring Wheeler, Hardin Nowlin, II Camp, P. H. Engle and Patrick Quigley from Des Moines, councilmen, Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Joseph B. Teas and Arthur B. Inghram representatives, Isaac Lefrler, Thomas Blair, Warren L. Jenkins, John Box, George W. Teas, Eli Reynolds and David R. Chance: from Crawford, representatives, James If. Lockwood and James B. Dallam. Belmont, in the present county of LaFayette, then in Iowa county, was, by the governor, :

;

—

appointed the place for the meeting of the legislature; he also fixed the time the twenty-fifth A quorum was in attendance in both branches at the time decided upon for their

of October.

assembling, and the two houses were speedily organized by the election of Peter Hill Fngle, of

Dubuque, speaker of the house, and Henry S. Baird, of Brown, president of the council. Each the executive, the judicial, and the legislative was now in working order, except that it remained for the legislature to divide the Territory into judicial districts, and make an assignment of the judges and for the governor to appoint a Territorial treasurer, auditor and attorney general. The act of congress establishing the Territory required that it should be divided into three judicial districts. The counties of Crawford and Iowa were constitued by the legislature the first district, to which was assigned Chief Justice Dunn. The second district was composed of the counties of Des Moines and Dubuque to it was assigned Associate Judge Irvin. The third district was formed of the counties of Brown and Milwaukee, to which was assigned Associate Judge Frazer. Governor Dodge, in his first message to the Territorial legislature, directed attention to the necessity for defining the jurisdiction and powers of the several courts, and recommended that congress should be memorialized to extend the right of pre-emption to actual settlers upon the public lands and to miners on mineral lands; also, to remove the obstructions in the rapids of the Upper Mississippi, to construct harbors and light-houses on Lake Michigan, to improve the navigation of Fox river and to 'survey the same from its mouth to Fort AVinnebago, to increase the amount of lands granted to the Territory for school purposes, and to organize and arm the militia for the protection of the frontier settlements. The first act passed by the legislature was one privileging members from arrest in certain cases and conferring on themselves power to punish parties for contempt. The second one established the three judicial districts and assigned the judges thereto. One was passed to borrow money to defray the expenses of the session others protecting ad lands donated to the Territory by the United States in aid of schools, and creating a common school fund. A memorial to congress was adopted requesting authorization to sell the school-section in each township, and appropriate the money arising

—

of the separate divisions of the government

;

therefrom for increasing the fund for schools.

During this session, five counties were "set off" west of the Mississippi river:

Lee, Van

Buren, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine, and Cook; and fifteen east of that stream: Walworth, Racine, Jefferson,

Dane. Portage, Dodge, Washington, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Calumet, Manitowoc,

Marquette, Rock, Grant and Green.

The principal question agitating the legislature at its first session was the location of the capital.

Already the people west of the Mississippi were speculating upon the establishment of

a Territory on that side the river, prospects for which

the

seat of

government somewhat

would be enhanced evidently, by placing

central position east

of that stream, for Wisconsin

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

Now, as Madison was a point answering such requirements she triumphed over all including, among others, Fond du Lac, competitors; and the latter numbered a dozen or more Milwaukee, Racine, Belmont, Mineral Point, Green Bay, and Cassville. The struggle over this Madison the Territorial legislature. in ever witnessed exciting the most question was one of was fixed upon as the seat of government, but it was provided that sessions of the legislature should be held at Burlington, in Des Moines county, until the fourth of March, 1839, unless the After an enactment that the public buildings in the new capital should be sooner completed. legislature should thereafter meet on the first Monday of November of each year, both houses, Territory.

—

on the ninth day of December, 1836, adjourned sine die. In the act of congress establishing the Territory of Wisconsin it was provided that a delegate to the house of representatives of the United States, to serve for the term of two years, should

and that the be elected by the voters qualified to elect members of the legislative assembly first election should be held at such time and place or places, and be conducted in such manner In pursuance of this enactment, as the governor of the Territory should appoint and direct. •,

Governor Dodge directed that the election

for delegate

should be at the time and places

—

the 10th of October, 1836. appointed for the election of members of the legislative assembly The successful candidate for that office was George W. Jones, of Sinsinawa Mound, Iowa county— in that portion which was afterward "set off" as Grant county. Jones, under the act of 1819, had been elected a delegate for Michigan Territory, in October, 1835, and took his December of that year. By the act of June 15, 1836, the consti-

seat at the ensuing session, in

tution

and State government which the people of Michigan had formed

for

themselves was

she was declared to be one of the United States of America, so that the term of two years for which Jones had been elected was cut short, as, in the nature of the case, his term could not survive the existence of the Territory he represented.

accepted, ratified and confirmed, and

But, as he was a candidate for election to represent the

new Territory of Wisconsin in congress

as a delegate, and was successful, he took his seat at the commencement of the second session of

the twenty-fourth congress little over two

— December

12, 1836,

notwithstanding he had been elected only a

months.

The first term of the supreme court of the Territory was held at Belmont on the 8th day of December. There were present, Charles Dunn, chief justice, and David Irvin, associate judge. John Catlin was appointed clerk, and Henry S. Baird having previously been commissioned attorney general for the Territory by Governor Dodge, appeared before the court and took the Causes in which the United States was party or interested were looked after by oath of office. the United States attorney, who received his appointment from the president; while all cases in which the Territory was interested was attended to by the attorney general, whose commission was signed by the governor. The appointing of a crier and reporter and the admission of The annual term appointed several attorneys to practice, completed the business for the term. for the third Monday of July of the following year, at Madison, was not held; as no business for the action of the court had matured. At the time of the complete organization of the Territory of Wisconsin, when the whole machinery had been put fairly in motion, when its first legislature at its first session had, after at this time, passing forty-two laws and three joint resolutions, in forty-six days, adjourned; the entire portion west of the Mississippi had, in round numbers, a population of only eleven thousand; while the sparsely settled mineral region, the military establishments Fort Crawand the settlements at or near them, with the village ford, Fort Winnebago, and Fort Howard of Milwaukee, constituted about all there was of the Territory east of that river, aggregating about twelve thousand inhabitants. There was no land in market, except a narrow strip along

—

— —

WISCONSIN TERRITORY.

4.5

Lake Michigan, and in the vicinity of Green bay. The residue of the country south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers was open only to preemption by actual settlers. The Indian tribes still claimed a large portion of the lands. On the north and as far west as the shore of

the

Red

river of the north

were located the Chippewas.

The southern limits of then

sions were defined by a line drawn from a point on that stream in about latitude 46° 30' in a

southeasterly direction to the head of Lake St. Croix; thence in the same general direction to

what

now Stevens Point, in the present Portage county, Wisconsin thence nearly east to in a direction nearly northeast to the Menomonee river. The whole Red river and Mississippi on the east; the parallel of about 43"' of ;

Wolf river; and thence

country bounded by the

latitude on the south; the Missouri and \V h ite Earth river on the west; and the Territorial line on the north, was occupied by the Sioux. In the southwest part of the Territory, lying mostly

south of latitude 43°

—

in the country

to the Missouri river west

reaching to the Missouri State boundary line south, and

— were the homes of the Pottawattamies, the Iowas, and the Sacs and

Between the Wisconsin river and the Mississippi, and extending north to the south Chippewas was the territory of the Winnebagoes. East of the Wirmebagoes in the river of Green bay were located the Menomonees, their lands extending to Wolf river. Such was the general outline of Indian occupancy in Wisconsin Territory at its organization. A portion of the country east of Wolf river and north of Green bay and the Fox river; the whole of the area lying south of Green bay, Fox river and the Wisconsin; and a strip of territory immediately west of the Mississippi, about fifty miles in width, and extending from the Missouri State line as far north as the northern boundary of the present State of Iowa, constituted the whole extent of country over which the Indians had no claim. The second session of the first legislative assembly of the Territory began at Burlington, now the county seat of Des Moines county, Iowa, on the 6th of November, 1S37. The governor, Foxes.

line of the

country north of the Fox

in his message, recommended a codification of the laws, the organization of the militia, and other

measures of interest to the people. An act was passed providing for taking another census, and one abolishing imprisonment for debt. By a joint resolution, congress was urged to make an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars in money, and two townships of land for a " University of the Territory of Wisconsin." The money was not appropriated, but the land was granted forty-six thousand and eighty acres. This was the fundamental endowment of the present State university, at Madison. A bill was also passed to regulate the sale of school lands, and to prepare for organizing, regulating and perfecting schools. Another act, which passed the legislature at this session, proved an apple of discord to the people of the Territory. The measure was intended to provide ways and means whereby to connect, by canals and slackwater, the waters of Lake Michigan with those of the Mississippi, by way of Rock river, the Catfish, the four lakes and the Wisconsin, by the incorporation of the Milwaukee and Rock This company was given authority to apply to congress for an approriver canal company. priation in money or lands to aid in the construction of the work, which was to have its eastern outlet in the Milwaukee river, and to unite at its western terminus with Rock river, near the present village of Jefferson, in Jefferson county. The result was that a grant of land of oddnumbered sections in a strip of territory five miles on each side of the line of the proposed canal 1S39, was secured, and in July, over forty thousand acres were sold at the minimum price of two dollars and fifty cents per acre. However, owing mainly to the fact that purchasers were compelled to pay double the government price for their lands owing also to the circumstance of an antagonism growing up between the officers of the canal company and the Territorial officers intrusted with the disposition of the lands, and to conflicts between'the beneficiaries of

—

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

—

the whole scheme proved a curse the grant and some of the leading politicians of the time and a blight rather than a blessing, and eventuating, of course, in the total failure of the project.

There had been much Territorial and State legislation concerning the matter but very little It is only within the year 1875 that an apparent work, meanwhile, was done on the canal. quietus has been given to the subject, and legislative enactments forever put at rest. ;

Fourteen counties were

set off

during

this session of

the legislature at Burlington

—

all

They were Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Fayette, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Linn, Slaughter, Scott and Clayton. One hundred and five west of the Mississippi. acts

and twenty joint resolutions were passed.

On the

20th of January, 1838, both houses

adjourned until the second Monday of June following. The census of the Territory having been taken in May, the special session of the first legislature commenced on the eleventh of June, 183S, at Burlington, pursuant to adjournment, mainly for the

purpose of making a new apportionment of members of the house.

This was effected by

giving twelve members to the counties east of the Mississippi, and fourteen to those west of that stream, to be contingent, however, upon the division of the Territory, which measure was not

only then before congress, but had been actually passed by that body, though unknown to the The law made it incumbent on the governor, in the event of the TerriTerritorial legislature. tory being divided

remaining,

before

—enacting

the

make an apportionment for the part made by the act of the legislature should, in that case, have

next general election, to

that the one

Having provided that the next session should be held at Madison, the legislative body adjourned sine die on the twenty-fifth of June, 1S3S, the public buildings at the new capital

no effect.

having been put under contract in April, previous. at large,

Up to this time, the officers of the Territory

appointed by the president of the United States at

its

organization, had remained

unchanged, except that the secretary, John S. Horner, had been removed and his piace given to Now there were two other William B. Slaughter, by appointment, dated February 16, 1837. changes made. On the nineteenth of June, Edward James was commissioned marshal, and on the United States for the Terattorney of was commissioned the fifth of July, Moses M. Strong

By an act of congress, approved June 12, 1838, to divide the Territory of Wisconsin, and to establish a Territorial government west of the Mississippi, it was provided that from and after the third day of July following, all that part of Wisconsin Territory lying west of that river and west of a line drawn due north from its headwaters or sources to the Territorial line, for the It purposes of a Territorial government should be set apart and known by the name of Iowa. was further enacted that the Territory of Wisconsin should thereafter extend westward only to of Minnesota, present State the Mississippi. It will be seen therefore that all that portion of the extending eastward from the Mississippi to the St. Croix and northward to the United States ritory.

boundary line, was then a part of Wisconsin Territory, even after the organization of the TerriThe census taken in May, just previous to the passage of this act, gave a total tory of Iowa. population to the several counties of the Territory, east of the Mississippi, of 18,149. the first one On the third Monday of July, 1S3S, the annual terms of the supreme court

—

after the re-organization of

the

Territory of Wisconsin

Dunn and Associate Judge

present Chief Justice

— was held

Frazer.

Madison.

After admitting

live

There were attorneys to

and granting several rules, the court adjourned. All the terms of the Supreme Court thereafter were held at Madison. At an election held in the Territory on the tenth day of September, 1838, James Duane Doty received the highest number of votes for the office of delegate to congress, and was declared by Governor Dodgs duly elected, by a certificate of election, issued on the twenty-seventh day of practice, hearing several motions,

on the commencement of the third session of the twenty- fifth congress

WISCONSIN TERRITORY.

on Monday, December 10, 183S, Isaac E. Crary, member from Michigan, announced to the chair of the house of representatives that Doty was in attendance as delegate from Wisconsin Territory, and moved that he be qualified. Jones, the former delegate, then rose and protested

had not expired. The basis for was that under the act of 1S17, a delegate must be elected only for one congress, and not for parts of two congressional terms; that his term as a delegate from Wisconsin did not commence until the fourth of March, 1837, and consequently would not expire until the fourth of March, 1839. The subject was finally referred to the committee of elections. This comagainst Doty's right to the seat, claiming that his (Jones') term his claim

mittee, on the fourteenth of January, 1839, reported in favor of Doty's right to

his seat as dele-

which passed the house by a vote of one hundred and as delegate from Wisconsin Territory, and took his seat at the date last mentioned. On the 8th of November, Andrew G. Miller was appointed by Martin Van Buren, then president of the United States, associate judge of the supreme court, to succeed Judge Frazer, who died at Milwaukee, on the iSth of October. During this year, Moses M. Strong succeeded W. W. Chapman as United States attorney for the Territory. On the 26th day of November, 1S3S, the legislature of the re-organized Territory of Wisconsin—being the first session of the second legislative assembly met at Madison. Governor Dodge, in his message, recommended an investigation of the banks then in operation, memorializing congress for a grant of lands for the improvement of the Fox river of Green bay and the Wisconsin; the revision of the laws; the division of the Territory into judicial districts; the justice of granting to all miners who have obtained the ownership of mineral grounds under the regulations of the superintendent of the United States lead mines, either by discovery or purchase, the right of pre-emption; and the improvement of the harbors on Lake Michigan. The attention of this Legislature was directed to the mode in which the commissioners of gate, submitting a resolution to that effect

sixty-five to twenty-five.

Whereupon Doty was qualified

—

There was an investigation of the three banks Green Bay, one at Mineral Point, and the other at A new Chief Justice Dunn was assigned to the assignment was made for the holding of district courts. first district, composed of the counties of Iowa, Grant and Crawford Judge Irvin to the second, composed of the counties of Dane, Jefferson, Rock, Walworth and Green; while Judge Miller was assigned to the thud district, composed of Milwaukee, Brown and Racine counties including therein the unorganized counties of Washington and Dodge, which, for judicial purposes, were, when constituted by name and boundary, attached to Milwaukee county, and had so remained since that date. The legislature adjourned on the 22d of December, to meet again on the 2 st of the following month. "Although," said the president of the council, upon the public buildings had discharged their duties

then

operation in the Territory

Milwaukee.

— one

A plan, also, for the revision of the law-, of the Territory was considered. ;

of the adjournment, "but few acts of ,i general character have been passed, as the discus-,. action of this

body have been

chiefly confined

to bills of a local nature,

and to the pa

memorials to the parent government in behalf of the great interests of the Territorj

;

yel

believed that the concurrent resolutions of the two houses authorizing a revision of the laws, 1- a

measure of infinite importance to the true interests of the people, and to the credit and charai

ter of the Territory."

Tbe census of the Territory having been taken during

the year [838, showed a population

of 18,130, an increase in two years of (>,H7

The second session of the second

legislative assembly commenced on the twenty-first daj ol

The most important work was the revision of the laws which had been perfected during the recess, by the committee to whom the work was intrusted^ January, 1839, agreeable to adjournment.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

48 consisting of three

Strong, and James Collins;

from the house

Story, and Barlow Shackleford.

July following.

from the council, M. L. Martin, Marshall M. Edward V. Whiton, Augustus The act legalizing the revision, took effect on the fourth day of

members from each house

representatives,

The laws as revised, composed the principal part of those forming the Revised

Statutes of 1S39, a valuable volume for

courts and lawyers place on the

all

classes

—during the next ten years. The

the territory

— and especially so for the

sine die adjournment of this legislature took

nth of March, 1839.

On the 8th of March of this year, Henry Dodge, whose term for three years as governor was about to expire, was again commissioned by the president of the United States, as governor At the July term of the supreme court, all the judges were preof the Territory of Wisconsin. A seal for the court was also adopted. The sent, and several cases were heard and decided. attorney general of the Territory at this time was H. N. Wells, who had been commissioned by Governor Dodge, on the 30th of March previous, in place of H. S. Baird, resigned.

Wells not

being in attendance at this term of the court, Franklin J. Munger was appointed by the judge

The clerk, John Catlin having resigned, Simeon Mills was From this time, the supreme court met annually, as pro-

attorney general for that session.

selected by the court to fill his place.

vided by law, until Wisconsin became a State.

The next legislature assembled at Madison, on the second of December, 1839. This was The term for which memit was therefore desirable that a new appor-

the third session of the second legislative assembly of the Territory.

bers of the house were elected, would soon expire

;

As the census would be taken the ensuing June, by the United States, would be unnecessary for the Territory to make an additional enumeration. A short session was resolved upon, and then an adjournment until after the completion of the census. One of the subjects occupying largely the attention of the members, was the condition of the capital, and the conduct of the commissioners intrusted with the money appropriated by congress to tionment should be made. it

The legislature adjourned on the thirteenth

defray the cost of its construction.

of January,

1S40, to meet again on the third of the ensuing August. The completion of the census showed a population for the Territory of thirty thousand seven hundred and forty-four, against eighteen

thousand one hundred and thirty, two years previous. Upon the re-assembling of the legislature which is known as the extra session of the second legrlative assembly at the time agreed

—

upon, some changes were

made in

the apportionment of members to the house of representa-

few days, a final adjournment taking place on the fourteenth of August, 1840. At the July term of the supreme court, Simeon Mills resigned the office of clerk, and La Fayette Kellogg was appointed in his place. Kellogg continued to hold the positives ; the session lasted but a

tion until the state judiciary was organized.

At the ensuing election, James Duane Doty was first time under his second term, on the

re-elected Territorial delegate, taking his seat for the

eighth day of December, 1840, at the commencement of the second session of the twenty-sixth

congress.

The first session of the third legislative assembly commence^- on the seventh of December, all new members in the house except three. All had recently been elected under the

1S40, with

new apportionment. Most of the session was devoted to the ordinary routine of legislation. There was. however, a departure, in the passage of two acts granting divorces, from the usual There was, also, a very interesting contested lei 'ion Such was the backwardness in regard vo members from Brown county.

current of legislative proceedings in the Territory. 1

to the building of the capitol, at this date, that a large majority of the

the seat of

government to some other

agreed upon, it remained at Madison.

place.

members stood ready

However, as no particular point could be

The legislature adjourned on the nineteenth of February,

WIM'OXSIX TERRITORY.

1841, having continued a term of seventy-five days, the maximum time limited by the 01

Francis J. Dunn, appointed by Martin

Van Buren, was commissioned

B. Slaughter, as secretary of the Territory, on the 25th of January, 1841, but

place of William

was himself super-

ceded by the appointment of A. P. Field, on the 23d day of April following. On the 151I1 of March, Daniel Hugunin was commissioned as marshal in place of Edward James, and on the 27th of April, Thomas W. Sutherland succeeded Moses M. Strong as United States attorney

On the 26th of June, Governor Dodge commissioned as attorney general of M. Jackson. On the 13th of September following, Dodge was removed from John Tyler, then president of the United States, and James Duane Doty appointed in his place. The appointment of Doty, then the delegate of the Territory in congress, by the president of the United States as governor, and the consequent resignation of the latter of his seat in the house of representatives, caused a vacancy which was filled by the election of Henry Dodge to that office, on the 27th of September, 1841 so that Doty and Dodge changed places, for the Territory.

the Territory, M.

office by

;

Dodge took his seat for the first time, at the commencement of the second session of the twentyfifth congress— Monday, December 7, 1841. About this time, the Milwaukee and Rock river canal imbroglio broke out afresh. The by the governor to negotiate a loan of one hundred thousand dollars for had negotiated fifty-six thousand dollars of bonds, which had been issued but he did not report what kind of money was to be received for them. Now, the canal commissioners claimed that it was their right and duty not to recognize any loan which was to be paid in such currency as they disapproved of. This dispute defeated the loan, and stopped During the year 1S41, Thomas W. Sutherland succeeded Moses M. all work on the canal. Strong as United States attorney. The second session of the third legislative assembly began at Madison, on the sixth of December, iS4r. Governor Doty, in his message to that body, boldly avowed the doctrine that no law of the Territory was effective, until expressly approved by congress. "The act," said he, "establishing the government of Wisconsin, in the third section, requires the secretary of the Territory to transmit annually, on or before the first Monday in December, two copies of the laws to the speaker of the house of representatives, for the use of congress.' The sixth section provides that 'all laws of t the governor and legislative assembly shall be submitted to, and, if disapproved by the congress of the United States, the same shall be null and of no effect.' " "These provisions," he added, "it seems to me, require the laws to be actually submitted to congress before they take effect. They change the law by which this country was governed while it was a part of Michigan. That law provided that the laws should be reported to congress, and that they should be in force in the district until the organization of the general assembly therein, unless disapproved of by congress.' " The governor concluded in these words: "The opinion of my predecessor, which was expressed to the first legislature assembled after the organization of this government, in his message delivered at Belmont on the twenty-sixth day of October, 1836, fully sustains this view of the subject which I have presented. He said We have convened under an act of congress of the United States establishing the Territorial government of Wisconsin, for the purpose of enacting such laws as may be required for the government of the people of this Territory, after their approval by congress.'" This construction of the organic act resulted in a lengthy warfare between the governor and the legislative assembly. At this session, the Milwaukee and Rock river canal again raised a tumult. "Congress had made a valuable grant of land to the Territory in trust. The Territory was the trustee; the canal company the cestui que trust. The trust had been accepted, and a large portion of the lands h d been sold, one tenth of the purchase money received, and ample securities held loan agent appointed

the work, reported that he ;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The Territory now, by its legislature, repealed all the laws authorizing a loan, and all which contemplated the expenditure of any money on its part in constructing the The legislature resolved that all connection ought to be dissolved, and the work on canal. for the

the

balance."

canal by the Territory abandoned, and that the latter ought not further to execute the

trust.

They

resolved also that the

congress be requested to divert the grant to such other

internal improvements as should be designated by the Territory, subject

to the approval of make this diversion, it was requested to take back the grant, and dispose of the unsold lands. On the eleventh of February, 1842, a tragedy was enacted in the legislative council, causing great excitement over the whole Territory. On that day, Charles C. P. Arndt, a member from Brown county, was, while that body was in session, shot dead by James R. Vineyard, a member from Grant county. The difficulty grew out of a debate on motion to lay on the table the nomination of Enos S. Baker to the office of

congress; and that, if the latter should decline to

sheriff of Grant county. Immediately before adjournment of the council, the parties who had come together, after loud and angry words had been spoken, were separated by the by-standers. When an adjournment had been announced, they met again whereupon Arndt struck at Vineyard. The latter then drew a pistol and shot Arndt. He died in a few moments. Vineyard ;

immediately surrendered himself

committed to jail.

sheriff of the county, waived

to the

slaughter,

was

an examination, and was

After a short confinement, he was brought before the chief justice of the

Territory, on a writ of habeas corpus, and admitted to bail. tried

and acquitted.

resignation as member of the council.

but at once.expelled him.

He was afterward indicted for man-

Three days after shooting Arndt, Vineyard sent in his That body refused to receive it, or to have it read even

The second and last session of the third legislative assembly came

to a close on the eighteenth of

February, 1S42.

The first session of the fourth legislative assembly commenced on the fifth day of December, 1842. The members had been elected under a new apportionment based upon a census taken in the previous June, which showed a total population for the Territory of forty-six thou-

—

sand six hundred and seventy-eight an increase of nearly ten thousand in two years. A politiGovernor Doty's political cal count showed a decided democratic majority in each house. The contest between him and the legislature now proclivities were with the whig party. assumed a serious character. He refused to "hold converse " with it, for the reason that, in his opinion, no appropriation had been made by congress to defray the expenses of the session, and, as a consequence, none could be held. in session,

The legislature made a representation to congress, then

of the objections of the governor, and adjourned on the tenth of December, to meet

again on the thirteenth of January, 1S43.

was not until the fourth of February following that

a quorum in both houses had assembled, when the legislature, through a joint committee, waited

on the governor, and informed him that they had again met according to adjournment, and were Previous to this time, congress had made an appropriation then ready to proceed to business. to cover the expenses of the legislature now in session, which it was supposed would remove all conflict about its legality.

But the governor had, on the thirtieth day of January previous, issued March, and still Both houses then adjourned to the day fixed by

a proclamation, convening a special session of the legislature on the sixth of

refused to recognize the present one as legal. the executive.

A final adjournment took place on the seventeenth of April following.

The term of two years for which Henry Dodge was elected as delegate, having expired at the close of the third session of the twenty-seventh congress, he was, on the twenty-fifth of September, 1843, re-elected, taking his seat for the first time on his second term at the commence-

ment of the

first

session of

the

twenty-eighth congress, Monday, December

the thirtieth of October of this year,

1843.

George Floyd was commissioned by President Tyler as

WISCONSIN TERRITORY.

secretary of the Territory, in place of A. P. Field.

The second

session of the fourth legislative assembly of the Territory, commencing on the

fourth of December, 1843, and terminating on the thirty-first of January, 1844

nine days

—accomplished but

little

— a period of

fifty-

worthy of especial mention, except the submission of the

question of the formation of a State government to a vote of the people, to be taken at the gene-

September following. The proposition did not succeed at the ballotThe third session of the fourth legislative assembly did not commence until the sixth of January, 1845, as the time had been changed to the first Monday in that month for annual meetGovernor Doty having persisted in spelling Wisconsin with a "k" and an "a" Wisings. ral election to be held in

box.

/fonsrtn

— and some of the people having adopted

a matter of sufficient importance to be checked.

Wisronsm

— employed

in the

ever since been used. expired.

—

his

method, it was thought by this legislature

So, by a joint resolution, the orthography

organic act, was adopted as the true one for the Territory, and has

Before the

commencement of this session Doty's term of office had

He was superseded as governor of the Territory by N. P. Tallmadge, the latter having

been appointed on the twenty-first of June, 1844. On the thirty-first of August, Charles M. Prevost was appointed marshal of the Territory, in place of Daniel Hugunin. There was the utmost harmony between Governor Tallmadge and the legislature of the Territory at its session in 1845.

His message, which was delivered to the two houses in person, on the seventeenth of January, was well received. Among other items of interest to which he called the attention of the legislative assembly, was one concerning the construction of a railroad to connect Lake Michigan with the Mississippi.

"The interests of the Territory," said he, "seem inperiously to demand the con-

struction of a railroad, or other communication, from some suitable point on

the Mississippi river. it

Lake Michigan

Much difference of opinion seems to exist as to what it shall be, and how

be accomplished.

There is a general impression," continued the governor, "that the con-

struction of the Milwaukee and Rock river canal, which was intended to connect those waters, is

abandoned.

remains to be seen what shall be substituted for it."

The session terminated on

the twenty-fourth of February, 1045.

James K. Polk having been inaugurated president of the United States on the fourth of March, 1845, Henry Dodge was again put into the gubernatorial chair of the Territory, receiving on the eighth of April, 1845. Other changes were made by the president during the same year, John B. Rockwell being, on the fourteenth of March, appointed marshal, and W. P. Lynde, on the fourteenth of July, L-nited States attorney for the Territory, Governor Tallmadge, on the twenty-second of January of this year, having commissioned the latter also as attorney general. On the twenty-second of September, Morgan L. Martin was elected delegate to the twenty-ninth congress, as the successor of Henry Dodge. The fourth and last session of the fourth legislative assembly was organized on the fifth of This session, although a short one, proved very important. January, 1846. Preliminary steps were taken for the formation of a State government. The first Tuesday in April next succeeding was the day fixed upon for the people to vote for or against the proposition. When taken it resulted in a large majority voting in favor of the measure. An act was passed providing for taking the census of the Territory, and for the apportionment by the governor of delegates to form a State constitution, based upon the new enumeration. The delegates were to be elected on the first Monday in September, and the convention was to assemble on the first Monday in October, 1S46. The constitution when formed was to be submitted to the vote of the people for adoption or his appointment

rejection, as, at the close of the session, the terms of members of the council who had been elected for four years, and of the house,

who had been elected for two years, all ended. The legislature

HISTOEY OF WISCONSIN.

re-organized the election districts, and conferred on the governor the power and duty oi making an apportionment, based on the census to be taken, for the next legislative assembly, when, on the third of February, 1846, both houses adjourned sine die.

On the twenty-second of January,

Governor Dodge appointed A. Hyatt Smith attorney general of the Territory. On the twentyfourth of February, John Catlin was appointed Territorial secretary by the president. The census taken in the following June showed a population for the Territory of one hunDelegates having been elected to dred and fifty-five thousand two hundred and seventy-seven. form a constitution for the proposed new State, met at Madison on the fifth day of October. This event took place on the sixteenth of After completing their labors, they adjourned. December, 1846. The constitution thus formed was submitted to a popular vote on the first Tuesday of April, 1S47, and rejected. The first session of the fifth legislative assembly commenced on the fourth of January of that year. But little was done. Both houses finally adjourned on the eleventh of February, 1847. John H. Tweedy was elected as the successor On of Morgan L. Martin, delegate to the thirtieth congress, on the sixth of September following. the twenty-seventh of that month, Governor Dodge issued a proclamation for a special session of the legislature, to commence on the eighteenth of the ensuing month, to take action concernThe two houses assembled on the day named ing the admission of Wisconsin into the Union. in the proclamation, and a law was passed for the holding of another convention to frame a when, after nine days' labor, they adjourned. Delegates to the new convention were elected on the last Monday of November, and that body met at Madison on the fifteenth A census of the Territory was taken this year, which showed a population of December, 1847. The result of the labors of the of two hundred and ten thousand five hundred and forty-six. second constitutional convention was the formation of a constitution, which, being submitted to the people on the second Monday of March, 1848, was duly ratified. the last legislative assembly The second and last session of the fifth legislative assembly commenced on the seventh of February, 1848, and adjourned sine die of Wisconsin Territory on the thirteenth of March following. On the twentieth of the same month, J. H. Tweedy, constitution

;

—

its admission into the Union. The was finally passed; and on the twenty-ninth of May, 1848, Wisconsin became a State. There had been seventeen sessions of the legislative assembly of the Territory, of an average duration of forty days each the longest one lasted seventy-six days the shortest, ten days. So long as the Territory had an existence, the apportionment of thirteen members for the council, and twenty-six for the house of representatives, was continued, as provided in the organic act. There had been, besides those previously mentioned, nine additional counties " set off " by the Milwaukee v legislative assembly of the Territory, so that they now numbered in all twenty-eight Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Walworth, Rock, Green, Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa, La Fayette, Grant, Richland, Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix, and La Pointe.

delegate from Wisconsin, introduced a bill in congress for bill

;

V.— WISCONSIN AS A STATE. First Administration.

— Nelson Dewey, Governor— 1848,

184,;

The boundaries prescribed in the act of congress, entitled "An Act to enable the people of Wisconsin Territory to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the admission of such State into the Union," approved August 6, 1846, were accepted by the convention which formed the constitution of Wisconsin, and are described in that instrument as "beginning at the norththat is to say, at a point in the center of Lake Michigan east corner of the State of Illinois

—

WISCONSIN' AS A STATE.

where the line of forty-two degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude crosses the same thence running with the boundary line of the State of Michigan, through Lake Michigan [and] Green hay to the mouth of the Menomonee river; thence up the channel of the said river to the Brule thence along the southern shore of river; thence up said last mentioned river to Lake Brule Lake Brule, in a direct line to the center of the channel between Middle and South islands, in the Lake of the Desert; thence in a direct line to the head waters of the Montreal river, as marked upon the survey made by Captain Cram thence down the main channel of the Monthence through the center of Lake Superior to the treal river to the middle of Lake Superior ;

;

mouth of the

St.

Louis river

thence up the main channel of said river to the first rapids in the

;

same, above the Indian village, according to Nicollett's

branch of the River St. Croix

map

;

thence due south to the main

thence down the main channel of said river to the Mississippi

;

thence down the center of the main channel of that river to the northwest corner of the State of Illinois; thence due east with the northern boundary of the State of Illinois to the place of

The

State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Territory, as formerly constituted, lying west of so much of the above mentioned boundary as extends from the middle beginning."

territory included within

familiarly known as the " Badger State."

these lines constitutes the

All that portion of

of Lake Superior to the mouth of the St. Croix river, not being included in Wisconsin, the limits of the State are, of course, -not identical with those of the Territory as they previously existed.

The State of Wisconsin, thus bounded, is situated between the parallel of forty-two degrees and that of forty-seven degrees, north latitude, and between the eighty-seventh and ninety-third degrees west longitude, nearly. For a portion of its northern border it has Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water in the world for a part of its eastern boundary ithas Lake Michigan, almost equal in size to Lake Superior; while the Mississippi, the largest thirty minutes

;

The State of MichiIowa and Minnesota on the west. Wisconsin has an gan lies on the east Illinois on the south average length of about two hundred and sixty miles; an average breadth of two hundred and river in the world but one, forms a large portion of ;

its

western boundary.

;

fifteen miles.

The constitution of Wisconsin, adopted by the people on the second Monday of March, 1848, provided for the election of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer,

attorney general,

members of the

State legislature, and

members of congress, on

Nelson Dewey, for governor

governor;

in the choice of

day

that

the second

— the 8th of the month — the election was held,

Monday of the ensuing May. which resulted

;

John E. Holmes, for lieutenant

Thomas McHugh, for secretary of state; Jairus C. Fairchild, for state treasurer; The State was divided into nineteen senatorial, and

and James S. Brown, for attorney general.

assembly districts, in each of which one member was elected

was also divided into elected- William Pitt Lynde in the first district, composed of the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Walworth, Rock, and Green Mason C. Darling, in the second district, composed of the counties of Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa, La Fayette, Grant, Richland, Crawsixty-six

two congressional

districts, in

each of which one

;

member of congress was

;

ford, Chippewa, St. Croix, and

La Pointe

— the counties of Richland, Chippewa and La Pointe

being unorganized.

The first session of the legislature of Wisconsin commenced at Madison, the seat of government for the State, on Monday, the 5th day of June, 1S4S. Ninean E. Whiteside was elected speaker of the assembly, and Henry Billings president of the senate, pro tempore. The democrats were largely in the .majority in both houses.

The legislature, in joint convention, on the 7th of

June, canvassed, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, the votes given on the 8th of May previous, for the State officers and the two representatives in congress. >n the same <

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

day, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary ot state, treasurer, and attorney general, were sworn into office in presence of both houses. All these officers, as well as the representatives in

Dewey's majority over John H. Tweedy, whig, was five thousand and congress, were democrats. William P. Lynde's majority in the first district, for congress, over Edward V. eighty-nine. Mason C. Darling's majority in Whiton, whig, was two thousand four hundred and forty-seven. the second district, over Alexander L. Collins, whig, was two thousand eight hundred and fortyAs the thirtieth congress, to which Lynde and Darling were elected would expire on the 4th six. of March, 1849, their terms of office would, of course, end on that day. The former took his seat on the 5th of June, the latter on the 9th of June, 1848.

The constitution vested the judicial power of the State in a supreme court, circuit courts, courts of probate, and in justices of the peace, giving the legislature power to vest such jurisdiction as should be

deemed necessary in municipal courts

;

it the power and criminal jurisdiction.

also, conferring upon

to establish inferior courts in the several counties, with limited civil

The State was divided into five judicial circuits; and judges were to be elected at a time to be It was provided that there should be no provided for by the legislature at its first session. election for a judge or judges, at any general election for State or county officers, nor within thirty days either before or after such election.

On the 8th of June, 184S, Governor Dewey delivered his first message to a joint convention of the two houses.

was clear, concise, and

definite

upon such subjects as, in

his

opinion

demanded immediate attention. His views were generally regarded as sound and statesmanlike by the people of the State. " You have convened," said he, "under the provisions of the constitution of the State of Wisconsin, to

perform as representatives

duties contemplated by that instrument."

of the people, the important

" The first session of the legislature of a free people,"

continued the governor, " after assuming the political identity of a sovereign State, is an event of no ordinary character in its history, and will be fraught with consequences of the highest

Wisconsin possesses the natural elements, its future welfare and prosperity. by the judicious system of legislation," the governor added, " to become one of the With a soil unequaled in fertility,

importance to fostered

most populous and prosperous States of the American Union.

and productive of all the necessary comforts of life, rich

mineral wealth, with commercial

advantages unsurpassed by any inland State, possessing extensive manufacturing facilities, with a salubrious climate, and peopled with a population enterprising, industrious, and intelligent, the course of the State of Wisconsin must be onward, until she ranks among the first of the States It is," concluded the speaker, " under the most favorable auspices that the

of the Great West. State

of Wisconsin has taken her position

among the families of States.

With a population

numbering nearly one quarter of a million, and rapidly increasing, free from the incubus of a State debt, and rich in the return yielded as the reward of labor in all the branches of industrial pursuits, our State occupies an enviable position abroad, that is highly gratifying to the pride of our people." Governor Dewey then recommended a number of measures necessary, in his judgment, to be made upon changing from a Territorial to a State government. The first important business of the legislature, was the election of two United States senators. The successful candidates were Henry Dodge and Isaac P. Walker, both democrats.

Their election took place on the 8th of June, 1848, Dodge taking his seat in the senate on the 23d of June, and Walker on the 26th of June, 184S. The latter drew the short term; so that his office would expire on the 4th day of March, 1849, at the end of the thirtieth congress Dodge drew the long term, his office to expire on the 4th day of March, 1851, at the end of the :

thirty-first

congress.

The

residue of the session was taken up in

passing such acts as were

deemed necessary to put the machinery of the new State government, in all

its

branches, in fair

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

One was passed providing for the annual meeting of the legislature, on the second Wednesday of January of each year; another prescribing the duties of State officers; one dividing the State into three congressional districts. The first district was composed of the running order.

counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Walworth, and Racine the second, of the counties of Rock, Green, La Fayette, Grant, Dane, Iowa, Sauk, Richland, Crawford, Adams, Portage, Chippewa, La ;

l'ointe, and St.

Croix; the third, of the counties of Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Brown, Winnebago, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Dodge, Jefferson, and Columbia. Another act

provided for the election of judges of the circuit courts, on the first Monday of August, 184S. By the same act, it was provided that the first term of the supreme court should be held in

Madison on the second Monday of January, 1S49, and thereafter at the same place on the same afterward changed so as to hold a January and June term in each year. An act was also passed providing for the election, and defining the duties of State superintendent of That officer was to be elected at the general election to be holden in each public instruction. day, yearly

;

term of office to commence on the first Monday of January succeeding his election. another exempted a homestead from a forced sale Another act established a State university another provided for a revision of the statutes. The legislature, after a session of eighty- five days, adjourned sine die on the twenty-first of August, 1848. The State, as previously stated, was divided into five judicial circuits Edward V. Whiton being chosen judge at the election on the first Monday in August, 1848, of the first circuit, composed of the counties of Racine, Walworth, Rock, and Green, as then constituted; Levi Hubbell of the second, composed of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane Charles H. Larrabee, of the third, composed of Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette, Sauk, and Portage, as then formed; Alexander W. Stow, of the fourth, composed of Brown, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, and Calumet; and Mortimer M. Jackson, of the fifth circuit, composed of the counties of Iowa, LaFayette, Grant, Crawford and St. Croix, as then organized; the county of Richland being attached to Iowa county the county of Chippewa to the county of Crawford and the county of LaPointe to the county of St. Croix, for judicial purposes. In the ensuing Fall there was a presidential election. There were then three organized year, his

;

political parties in

the field.

the State

whig, democratic, and free-soil

— each of which had

a ticket in

The democrats were in the

Cass and William O. Butler.

majority, and their four electors cast their votes for Lewis At this election, Eleazer Root was the successful candidate for State

superintendent of public instruction.

were also three members for the district;

Orsamus

In his election party politics were not considered.

thirty-first

congress chosen

Charles Durkee,

There

represent the

and James D. Dotv, the third district. Durkee was a free-soiler; Cole, a whig Doty, a democrat with somewhat decided Doty proclivities. The act of the legislature, exempting a homestead from forced sale of any debt or liability contracted after January t, 1S49, approved the twenty-ninth of July previous, and another act for a like exemption of certain personal property, approved August 10, 1S48, were laws the most first

the

Cole,

second;

;

liberal in their nature passed by any State of the

—

Union previous to those dates.

was prophe-

—

sied that they would work wonderful changes in the business transactions of the new State for the worse; but time passed, and their utility were soon evident: it was soon very generally

acknowledged

that proper

exemption laws were highly beneficial

—a

real

good

to the greatest

number of the citizens of a State. So much of Wisconsin Territory as lay west of the St. Croix and the State boundary north of it, was, upon the admission of Wisconsin into the Union, left, for the time being, without a

—

government unless it was still "Wisconsin Territory." Henry Dodge, upon being elected to the United States senate from Wisconsin, vacated, of course, the office of governor of this fraction. John H. Tweedy, delegate in congress at the time Wisconsin became a State, made a formal

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

resignation of his office, thus leaving the Catlin, secretary of the Territory of office, to be

Thereupon John and now claiming, by virtue of that.

fractional Territory unrepresented.

Wisconsin as

a whole,

acting governor of the fractional part, issued a proclamation as such officer for an

election on the thirtieth of October, 1848, of a delegate in congress.

Nearly four hundred votes were polled in the district, showing "Wisconsin Territory" still to have a population of not less than two thousand. H. H. Sibley was elected to that office. On the fifteenth of January, 1849, he was admitted to a seat as "delegate from Wisconsin Territory." of the Territory of Minnesota

This hastened the formation

—

a bill for that purpose having become a law on the third of March, when " Wisconsin Territory" ceased finally to exist, being included in the new Territory.

The year 1848

— the

first

year of the existence of Wisconsin as a State

—was one of general

The National Government effected a treaty with the Menomoneee Indians, by which their title was extinguished to the country north of the Fox prosperity to its rapidly increasing population.

embracing all their lands in the State. This was an important acquisition, opened a large tract of country to civilization and settlement, which had been for a considThe State government at the close of the year hac been in existence long enough to demonstrate its successful operation. The electric telegraph had already reached the capital and Wisconsin entered its second year upon a flood tide of river of Green bay,

erable time greatly desired by the people.

;

prosperity.

Under the constitution, the circuit judges were also judges of the supreme court. of the

approved June

legislature,

29,

1848, providing for the election of judges,

An act

and for the

classification and organization of the judiciary of the State, authorized the election, by the judges,

of one of their

number as chief justice.

Judge Alexander W. Stow was chosen to that office,

and, as chief justice, held, in conjunction with Associate Judges Whiton, Jackson, Larrabee. and

Hubbell, the

first

session of the

supreme court

Madison, commencing on the eighth day of

January, 1849

The second

session of the State

legislature commenced, according

to law, on

January, 1849, Harrison C. Hobart being elected speaker of the assembly. his message, sent to

both houses on the nth, referred to the rapidly increasing population of the

State, and the indomitable energy displayed in the development of

recommended the

the tenth of

Governor Dewey, in

its

productive capacity.

university lands on a long credit, the erection of a State prison, and the modification of certain laws. On the seventeenth of January, the two houses met in joint convention to elect an United States senator in place of Isaac P Walker, who had drawn the short term The democrats had a small majority on joint ballot. Walker was re-elected; this time, for a full term of six years, from the 4th of March, 1S49. The legislature at this session passed many acts of public utility; some relating to the boundaries of counties; others, to the laying out of roads; eighteen, to the organization of towns. The courts were cared for; school districts were organized; special tax: were authorized, and an act passed relative to the sale and superintendence of the school and university lands, prescribing the powers and duties of the commissioners who were to have charge of the same. These commissioners, consisting sale of the

of the secretary of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general, were

not only put

charge

of the school and

them.

university lands held by the State, but also of funds arising from the sale of This law has been many times amended and portions of it repealed. The lands at

present subject to sale are classified as school lands, university lands, agricultural college lands,

Marathon county lands, normal school lands, and drainage private entry on terms fixed by law.

of the State subject to sale, or that

lands, and

are

subject to sale at

Regulations concerning the apportionment and investment

of trust funds are made by the commissioners in

pursuance of law.

All lands now the property

have been State lands and sold, were derived from the Gen-

WISCONSIN As A STATE. eral Government.

Lands owned by the State amount, at the present time, to about one and one

half million acres.

A joint resolution passed the legislature on the 31st of March, 1S49, instructing Isaai Walker to resign his seat as United States senator, for " presenting and voting for an amendment to the general appropriation bill, providing for a government in California and New Mexico. west of the Rio Grande, which did not contain a provision forever prohibiting the introduction I

of slavery or involuntary servitude " in those Territories. instructions.

The senator refused to regard these The legislature adjourned on the second of April, 1849. after a session of eighty-

three days. In July, 1848, the legislature of Wisconsin elected M. Frank, Charles C. Jordan, and A. W. Randall, commissioners to collate and revise all the public acts of the State, of a general and permanent nature in force at the close of the session. Randall declining to act, Charles M. Baker was appointed by the governor in his place. The commissioners commenced their labors in August, 1848, and were engaged in the revision the greater part of the time until the close of the session of the legislature of 1S49. It was found impossible for the revisers to conclude their labors within the time contemplated by the act authorizing their appointment; so a joint select committee of the two houses at their second session was appointed to assist in the work. The laws revised by this committee and by the commissioners, were submitted to, and approved by, These laws, with a few passed by that body, which were introduced by individual the legislature. members, formed the Revised Statutes of Wisconsin of 1849 a volume of over nine hundred

—

pages.

At the general election held in November of this year, Dewey was re-elected governor. W. Beall was elected lieutenant governor; William A. Barstow, secretary of state; Jairus C. S.Park Coon was elected attorney general; and Eleazer

Fairchild was re-elected treasurer;

Root, re-elected superintendent of public instruction. ocrats, except

All these officers were chosen as dem-

Root, who ran as an independent candidate, the term of his office having been

changed so as to continue two years from the first day of January next succeeding his election. By the revised statutes of 1849, all State officers elected for a full term went into office on the first of January next succeeding their election. The year 1849 developed in an increased ratio the productive capacity of the State in every department of labor. The agriculturist, the artisan, the miner, reaped the well-earned reward of The commercial and manufacturing interests were extended in a manner his honest labor. The educational interest of the State began to highly creditable to the enterprise of the people. assume a more systematic organization. The tide of immigration suffered no decrease during Within the limits of Wisconsin, the year. the oppressed of other climes continued to find welcome and happy homes.

Second Administration.

— Nelson Dewev, Governor (Second Term) — 1850, 185

On the first day of January, 1850, Nelson Dewey took the oath of office, and quietly entered upon his duties as governor, for the second term. The third legislature convened on the ninth. Moses M. Strong was elected speaker of the assembly. Both houses had democratic majorities. Most of the business transacted was of a local character. By an act approved the fifth of February, the " January term " of the supreme court was changed to December. The legislature adjourned after a session of only thirty-four days. An act was passed organizing a sixth judicial circuit, from and after the first Monday in July, 1850,. consisting of the counties of Crawford, Chippewa, Bad Axe, St. Croix and La Pointe, an election for judge to be holden on the same Wiram Knowlton was elected judge of that circuit. day

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The first charitable institution in Wisconsin, incorporated by the State, was the " Wisconsin Institute for the Education of the Blind."

A school for that unfortunate class had been opened

in Janesville, in the latter part of 1859, receiving its vicinity.

By an act of the

support from the citizens of that place and

approved February 9, 1850, this school was taken under

legislature,

the care of the Institute, to continue and maintain it, at Janesville, and to qualify, as far as might be, the blind of the State for the enjoyment of the blessings of a free government; for obtaining

the

means of subsistence; and for the discharge of those duties, social and

upon American citizens.

political,

devolving

On the

has since been supported from the treasury of the State-

seventh of October, 1850, it was opened for the reception of pupils, under the direction of a board of trustees, appointed by the governor. The Institute, at the present time, has three

departments: in one is given instruction such as is usually taught in common schools; in sewing, another, musical training is imparted in a third, broom-making is taught to the boys,

—

;

and various kinds of fancy work to the girls, and seating cane-bottomed chairs to both On the thirteenth of April, 1874, the building of the Institute was destroyed by fire. A new building has since been erected. taking of the census by the United States, this year, showed a population for Wisconsin The the astonishing increase in two years of nearly ninetyof over three hundred and five thousand In 1840, the population of Wisconsin Territory was only thirty thousand. This five thousand! addition, in ten years, of two hundred and seventy-five thousand transcended all previous experience in the settlement of any portion of the New World, of the same extent of territory. It was the result of a steady and persistent flow of men and their families, seeking permanent Many were German, Scandinavian and Irish; but homes in the young and rising State. The the larger proportion were, of course, from the Eastern and Middle States of the Union. principal attractions of Wisconsin were the excellency and cheapness of its lands, its valuable mines of lead, its extensive forests of pine, and the unlimited wa'er-power of its numerous knitting

boys and girls.

—

streams.

By the Revised Statutes of

1849, Wisconsin was divided into three congressional districts

the second congressional apportionment

— each of which was entitled to elect one representative

The counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Walworth and the counties of Rock, Green, La Fayette, Grant, Iowa, Racine constituted the first district Dane, Sauk, Adams, Portage, Richland, Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe, the second district; the counties of Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Brown, Winnebago, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Columbia, Dodge and Jefferson, the third district. At the general election Benjamin C. Eastman, of the in the Autumn of this year, Charles Durkee, of the first district second and John B. Macy, of the third district, were elected to represent the State in the Durkee, it will be remembered, represented the thirty-second congress of the United States. he ran the second time as an independent candidate. same district in the previous congress Eastman and Macy were elected upon democratic tickets. The General Government this year in the

congress of the United States. ;

;

donated to the State all the swamp and overflowed lands within its boundaries. The year 1850 to the agriculturist of Wisconsin was not one of unbounded prosperity, owing to the partial failure of the wheat crop. In the other branches of agriculture there were The State was visited during the year by cholera; not, however, to a very alarming fair returns. extent.

The 1851.

fourth

session of the

legislature

the State

commenced on the 8th of January, The majority in the legisla-

Frederick W. Horn was elected speaker of the assembly.

Governor Dewey, in his message, referred to the death of the president of Zachary Taylor; said that the treasury and finances of the State were in a

ture was democratic.

the United States,

WISCONSIN As a STATE.

sound condition and then adverted to many topics of interest and importance to the people of It was an able document. One of the important measures of the session was the Wisconsin. election of an United States senator, in the place of Henry Dodge, whose term of office would March, next ensuing. In joint convention of the legislature held on the the 4th of expire on On the 22c!, the governor 20th of January, Dodge was re-elected for a full term of six years. ;

approved a joint resolution of the

legislature, rescinding not only so much of the joint resolu-

tion of the legislative assembly of Wisconsin, passed March 31, 1849, as censured Isaac J. Walker, but also the instructions in those resolutions relative to his resigning his seat in the senate of the United States.

Among the important bills passed at this session of the legislature was one providing for the location and erection of a State prison. Another one the apportionment bill was vetoed by the governor, and having been passed on the last day of the session, failed to become a law. The legislature adjourned on the eighteenth of March, 1851, after a session of seventy days. On the 1st day of January, 185 1, Timothy O. Howe took his seat as one of the associate

—

judges of the supreme court, he having been elected judge of the fourth circuit in place of Alex-

ander W. Stow.

The office of chief justice of the supreme court, which had been filled by Judge

Stow, therefore became vacant, and so remained until the commencement of the next term 18,

— when Levi Hubbell, judge of the second

— June

circuit, was,

by the judges present, pursuant

By an act of the legislature approved March 14, 185 1, the

location and erection of a State

1851

to the statute, elected to that office.

prison for Wisconsin

was provided

for

—the point afterward determined upon

suitable

Waupun, Dodge county. By a subsequent act, the prison was declared to be the general penitentiary and prison of the State for the reformation as well as for the punishment of offenders, in which were to be confined, employed at hard labor, and governed as provided for by the legislature, all offenders who might be committed and sentenced accordplace for its establishment being

ing to law, to the punishment of solitary imprisonment, or imprisonment therein at hard labor.

The organization and management of this the first reformatory and penal State institution in Wisconsin, commenced and has been continued in accordance with the demands of an advanced civilization and an enlightened humanity.

On the 29th of September, 1S51, Judge Hubbell was re-elected for the full term of six years as judge of the second judicial circuit, to commence January

1S52.

At the general election in November, 1851, Leonard J. Farwell was chosen governor; Timothy Burns, lieutenant governor; Charles D. Robinson, secretary of State E. H. Janssen, State treasurer; E. Estabrook, attorney general; and Azel P. Ladd, superintendent of public All these officers were elected as democrats except Farwell, who ran as a whig instruction. ;

;

his majority over D. A. J.

Upham, democrat, was a little rising of five hundred.

Third Administration.

— L.

Farwell, Governor

— 1852-1853.

Governor Farwell's administration commenced on the fifth day of January, 1852. Previous to this on the third day of the month Edward V. Whiton was chosen by the judges of the supreme court, chief justice, to succeed Judge Hubbell. On the fourteenth of that month, the This was the beginning of the fifth annual session. James legislature assembled at Madison. McM. Shafter was elected speaker of the assembly. In the senate, the democrats had a

—

majority

;

in the

assembly, the whigs.

izing of congress to cause

the

The governor, in his message, recommended the memorial-

agricultural

lands within the State to be surveyed and brought

into market; to cause, also, the mineral lands to be surveyed

and geologically examined, and

and to make liberal appropriations for the improvement of rivers and harbors. The question of "bank or no bank " having been submitted to the people in November previous,

offered for sale;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

and decided in favor of banks, under the constitution, the power was thereby given to the legisFarwell recomlature then in session to grant bank charters, or to pass a general banking law. mended that necessary measures be taken to carry into effect this constitutional provision. A By a provision of larger number of laws was passed at this session than at any previous one. the constitution, the legislature was given power to provide by law, if they should think it expedient and necessary, for the organization of a separate supreme court, to consist of one chief to be elected by the qualified electors of the State, at such such manner as the legislature might provide. Under this authority, an act was passed at this session providing for the election of a chief justice and two associates, on the last Monday of the September following, to form a supreme court of the State, to supplant the old There was also an act passed one, provision for the change being inserted in the constitution.

justice and two associate justices,

time and

members of the senate and assembly, by which the number was increased from eighty-five to one hundred and seven: twenty-five for the senate; eightytwo for the assembly. An act authorizing the business of banking passed the legislature and was approved by the governor, on the 19th of April. By this law, the office of bank-comptroller was created the officer to be first appointed by the governor, and to hold his office until the first Monday in January, 1854. At the general election in the Fall of 1853, and every two years Governor Farwell afterward, on the thereafter, the office was to be filled by vote of the people. The legislature adjourned on the 20th of November, appointed James S. Baker to that office.

to apportion and district anew the

—

nineteenth of April, 1852.

The second charitable institution incorporated by the State was the "Wisconsin Institute Education of the Deaf and Dumb." It was originally a private school for deaf mutes, By an act of the legislature approved April 19, 1852, it was made the object and duty of the corporation to establish, confor the

near, and subsequently in, the village of Delavan, Walworth county.

at or near the village tinue and maintain this school for the education of the deaf and dumb, of Delavan, to qualify, as near as might be, that unfortunate class of persons for the enjoyment

of the blessings of a free government, obtaining the means of subsistence, and the discharge of those duties, social and political, devolving upon American citizens." It has since been supA complete organization of the ported by annual appropriations made by the legislature.

school was effected in June, 1852, under the direction of a board of trustees appointed by the governor of the State. The institute has for its design the education of such children of the State as, on account of deafness, can not be instructed in common schools.

Instruction is given

by signs, by the manual alphabet, by written language, and to one class by articulation. Two trades are taught: cabinet-making and shoe-making. During this year, considerable interest was manifested in the projecting of railroads. At the September election, E. V. Whiton was elected chief justice of the

new supreme court and

Under the law, the chief justice was Samuel Crawford and Abram D. Smith associate justices. to serve a term of four years from the first day of June next ensuing; while the two associates were to cast lots one to serve for six years, the other for two years, from June 1, 1853. CrawSmith the long term. At the subsequent general election for memford drew the short term bers to the thirty-third congress, Daniel Wells, Jr., was chosen from the first district B. C Eastman from the second: and J. B. Macy from the third district. All were democrats. A

—

democratic electoral ticket was chosen at the same time.

The electors cast their votes for Pierce

and Butler. During 1852, the citizens of Wisconsin enjoyed unusual prosperity in the ample products and remuneration of their industry and enterprise. Abundant harvests and high markets; an increase in moneyed circulation, and the downward tendency of the rates of interest: a prevaiiing confidence among bu<->.ess men and in business enterprises; a continual accession to the

WISCONSIN As

sTATF.

population of the State by immigration; the energetic prosecution of internal impro under the skillful management of companies; the extension of permanent agricultural improve-

ments; and the rapid growth of the various cities and villages; were among the encouraging prospects of the year.

The sixth session oi the Wisconsin

legislature commenced on the twelfth of January, 1855. K. Wilson, of Milwaukee, preferred charges Hubbell, judge of the second judicial circuit of the State, of divers acts of corruption and malfeasance in the discharge of the duties of his office. A resolu-

On the twenty-sixth of the same month, William in

the assembly against

Levi

tion followed appointing a

committee to report articles of impeachment, directing the members

Upon the trial of the judge before the An act was passed to provide for the election of a State prison

thereof to go to the senate and impeach Hubbell. senate, he was acquitted.

sioner by the legislature at that session

January. 1853

—

hold his

office

until the first day of the

ensuing

The office was then to be filled by popular vote at the general election in November,

— and afterwards biennially — the term of

uary next succeeding the election

office

by the people.

be two years from the first day of Jan-

On the 2Sth of March, the legislature, in

The legislature adjourned on the fourth day of April until the sixth of the following June, when it again met, and adjourned sine die on joint convention, elected

John Taylor

to that

office.

the thirteenth of July, both sessions aggregating one hundred and thirty-one days.

By an act of the legislature approved February 9, 1S53, the "Wisconsin State Agricultural Society." which had been organized in March, 1S5 1, was incorporated, its object being to promote

and improve the condition of agriculture, horticulture, and the mechanical, manufacturing and household arts. It was soon after taken under the fostering care of the State by an appropriation made by the legislature, to be expended by the society in such manner as it might deem best calculated to promote the objects of its incorporation; State aid was continued down to the commencement of the rebellion. No help was extended during the war nor until 1873 since which time there has been realized annually from the State a sum commensurate with its most pressing needs. The society has printed seventeen volumes of transactions and has held annually Besides these fairs, its most important work is the a State fair, except during the civil war. holding annually, at the capital of the State, a convention for the promotion of agriculture genThe meetings are largely participated in by men representing the educational and erally. ;

industrial interests of Wisconsin.

By an act of the legislature approved March 4, 1S53, the "State Historical Society of Wisconsin " was incorporated having been previously organized the object being to collect,

—

embody, arrange and preserve

—

authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, maps, charts,

manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary and other materials illustrative of the history of the

memory of its early pioneers, and to obtain and preserve and hardy adventures to exhibit faithfully the antiquities, and the past and present condition, and resources of Wisconsin. The society was also authorized to take proper steps to promote the study of history by lectures, and to diffuse and publish information relating to the description and history of the State. The legislature soon after took the society under its fostering care by voting a respectable sum for its benefit. Liberal State The society, besides collecting a library of historical aid has been continued to the present time. books and pamphlets the largest in the West has published eight volumes of collections and a Its rooms are in the capitol at Madison, and none of its property catalogue of four volumes. can be alienated without the consent of the State. It has a valuable collection of paint traits and bound newspaper files; and in its cabinet are to be found many prehistoric relics. On the first day of June, 1853, the justices of the new supreme court went into office: Associate State; to rescue from

oblivion the

narratives of their exploits, perils,

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

Justice Crawford, for two years; Chief Justice Whiton, for four years, Associate Justice SmithThe first (June) term was held at Madison. La Fayette for six years as previously mentioned.

On the 21st of September, Timothy Burns, lieu-

Kellogg was appointed and qualified as clerk. tenant governor of Wisconsin, died

La Crosse.

As a testimonial of respect for the deceased

the several State departments, in accordance with a proclamation of the governor, were closed for one day

— October

In the Fall of this year, democrats, whigs and free-soilers, each

1853.

called a convention to nominate candidates for the various State offices to be supported by at the

ensuing election in November.

tow

for lieutenant governor,

;

State treasurer, Edward H. Janssen

;

them

The successful ticket was, for governor, William A. Bars-

James T. Lewis

for secretary of State,

for attorney general, George B.

Alexander T. Gray,

Smith

;

for

for superintendent

Hiram A. Wright; for State prison commissioner, A. W. Starks; and They were all democrats. The year 1S53 was, to the agriculturists of the State, one of prosperity. Every branch of The increase of commerce and manufactures more than realized the expecindustry prospered. of public instruction,

for bank comptroller, William M. Dennis.

tations of the most sanguine.

Fourth Administration.

—William A. Barstow, Governor— 1854-1855.

On Monday, the second of January, 1S54, William A. Barstow took the oath of office as governor of Wisconsin.

The legislature commenced its seventh regular session on the eleventh of January. FredW. Horn was elected speaker of the assembly. Both houses were democratic. The

erick

legislature adjourned on the 3d of April following, after a session of eighty-three days.

In the early part of March, a fugitive slave case greatly excited the people of Wisconsin.

A slave named Joshua Glover, belonging to B. S. Garland of Missouri, had escaped from his master and

made his way to the vicinity of Racine.

Garland, learning the whereabouts of his

personal chattel, came to the State, obtained, on the 9th of March, 1854, from the judges of the district court of the United States for the district of

Wisconsin, a warrant for the apprehension

of Glover, which was put into the hands of the deputy marshal of the United States.

was secured and lodged

jail

Milwaukee.

Glover

A number of persons afterward assembled and

Among those who took an active part in this proceeding was Sherman M. rescued the fugitive. Booth, who was arrested therefor and committed by a United States commissioner, but was released from custody by

Abram D. Smith, one of the associate justices of the supreme court The record of ihe proceedings was thereupon

of Wisconsin, upon a writ of habeas corpus.

taken to that court in

full bench by a writ of certiorari to correct any error that might have been committed before the associate justice. At the June term, 1S54, the justices held that Booth was entitled to be discharged, because the commitment set forth no cause for detention. Booth was afterward indicted in the United States district court and a warrant issued for He was again imprisoned; and again he applied to the supreme court then, in his arrest. This was in July, 1854. In his petition to the supreme term time for a writ of habeas corpus. ourt, Booth set forth that he was in confinement upon a warrant issued by the district court of the United States and that the object of the imprisonment was to compel him to answer an indictment then pending against him therein. The supreme court of the State held that these facts showed that the district court of the United States had obtained jurisdiction of the case and that it was apparent that the indictment was for an offense of which the federal courts had They could not therefore interfera; and his application for a discharge exclusive jurisdiction.

—

was denied.

Upon the indictment, Booth was tried and convicted, fined and imprisoned, for a violation if

tlv;

fugitive slave law.

Again the prisoner applied to the supreme court of Wisconsin,

— his

WISCONSIN As A STATE. application bearing date January 26,

last

1855.

He claimed discharge on

unconstitutionality of the law under which he had been indicted.

the ground of the

The supreme court held that

the indictment upon which he had been tried and convicted contained three counts, the

first

which was to be considered as properly charging an offense within the act of congress of September

18,

1850, known as the "fugitive slave law," while the second and third counts did not set

forth or charge an offense punishable by any statute of the United States; and as, upon these lastmentioned counts he was found guilty and not upon the first, he must be discharged. The action of the supreme court of Wisconsin in a second time discharging Booth, was afterward reversed by the supreme court of the United States and, its decision being respected by the State court, Booth was re-arrested in 1S60, and the sentence of the district court of the United States executed in part upon him, when he was pardoned by the president. By an act of the legislature, approved March 30, 1S54, a " State Lunatic Asylum " was directed to be built at or in the vicinity of Madison, the capital of the State, upon land to be donated or purchased for that purpose. By a subsequent act, the name of the asylum was changed to the " Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane.' This was the third charitable institution established by the State. The hospital was opened for patients in July, i860, under the direction of a board of trustees appointed by the governor. All insane persons, residents of Wisconsin, who, ;

under the law providing for admission of patients into the hospital

for treatment, become resi-

dents therein, are maintained at the expense of the State, provided the county in which such patient resided before being brought to the hospital pays the sum of one dollar and fifty cents a

week for his or her support

Any patient can be supported by relatives, friends or guardians, if

the latter desire to relieve the county and State from the burden, and can have special care and

be provided with a special attendant, if the expense of the same be borne by parties interested. The hospital is beautifully located on the north shore of Lake Mendota, in Dane county, about four miles from Madison.

At the general election in the Fall of 1854, for members from Wisconsin to the thirty-fourth congress, Daniel Wells, Jr. was chosen from the first district

Washburn, from the second, and Washburn were elected as republicans that party having been organized in the Summer previous. Wells was a democrat The year 1S54 was one of prosperity for-Wisconsin, to all its industrial occupations. Abundant crops and increased prices were generally realized by the agriculturist. It was a year also of It was ascertained that the amount of exports during the year, including lumber general health. and mineral, exceeded thirteen millions of dollars. and Charles Billinghurst from the third

district.

;

C. C.

Billinghurst

—

The eighth 1855.

regular session of the State legislature

C. C. Sholes was elected speaker of

assembly, republican.

the

commenced on the 10th of January, The senate was democratic tiie

assembly.

On joint ballot, the republicans had

;

but one majority.

On the

1st of

February, Charles Durkee, a republican, was elected United States senator for a full term of

six

years from the 4th of March next ensuing, to fill the place of Isaac P. Walker whose term would

expire on that day.

Among the bills passed of a general nature, was one relative to the rights of

married women, providing that any married woman, whose husband, either from drunkenness 01 profligacy, should neglect or refuse to provide for her support, should have the right, in her own name, to transact business, receive and collect her own earnings, and apply the same for her own support, and education of her children, free from the control and interference of her husband. The legislature adjourned sine die on the second of April, after a session of eighty-three days Orsamus Cole having been elected in this month an associate justice of the supreme court in place of Judge Samuel Crawford whose term of office would expire on the thirty-first of May of that year, went into office on the first day of June following, for a term of six years. His office would therefore end on the thirty-first of May, 1S61.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

On the

27th of May, 1S55, Hiram A. Wright, superintendent of public instruction, died at

On the 18th of June following, the governor appointed A. Constantine Barry to

Prairie du Chien. fill

his

place.

the 5th of July, Garland, the

owner of the rescued

slave Glover,

fugitive

United States district court for the loss of his slave, against Booth, the trial came on at Madison, resulting in the jury bringing in a verdict under instructions from having brought

suit in the

the judge, of one thousand dollars, the value of a negro slave as fixed by act of congress of 1850.

The constitution of the State requiring the legislature to provide by law for an enumeration of the inhabitants in the year 1S55, an act was passed by that body, approved March 31, of this year, for that purpose. fifty-two thousand.

The result showed a population for Wisconsin of over five hundred and

In November, at the general election, the democratic ticket for State

offi-

William A. Barstow, for governor; Arthur McArthur, for lieutenant David W. Jones, for secretary of State; Charles Kuehn, for State treasurer Wil-

cers was declared elected:

governor; liam R. Smith, for attorney general; A. C. Barry, for superintendent of public instruction; William M. Dennis, for bank comptroller; and Edward McGarry for State prison commissioner. :

The vote for governor was very close; but the State canvassers declared Barstow elected by a The opposing candidate for that office was Coles Bashford, who ran as a

small majority.

republican

The year 1855 was a prosperous one to the farmers of Wisconsin as well as to all industrial There were abundant crops and unexampled prices were realized.

occupations.

Fifth Administration.

— Coles Bashford, Governor — 1856-181:7.

On the seventh day of January, 1856. William A. Barstow took and subscribed an oath of Bashford, who had determined to contest the right same day, to the supreme court room, in Madison, and had the oath of office administered to him by Chief Justice Whiton. Bashford afterward called at the executive office and made a formal demand of Barstow that he should vacate the These were the initiatory gubernatorial chair; but the latter respectfully declined the invitation. steps of " Bashford vs. Barstow," for the office of governor of Wisconsin. The fight now commenced in earnest. O.i the eleventh, the counsel for Bashford called upon the attorney general and requested him to file an information in the nature of a quo warranto against Barstow. On the fifteenth that officer complied with the request. Thereupon On the twenty-second, Bashford, by a summons was issued to Barstow to appear and answer. office as governor of Wisconsin, while Coles

of Barstow to the governorship, went, on the

asked the court that the information filed by the attorney general be discontinued and that he be allowed to file one, which request was denied by the court. While the motion was being argued, Barstow, by his attorneys, entered his appearance in the case. On the second of February, Barstow moved to quash all proceedings for the reason that the This motion was denied by the court that tribunal at court had no jurisdiction in the matter. the same time deciding that the filing of the motion was an admission by Barstow that the allegations contained in the information filed by the attorney general were true. his attorney,

;

On the twenty-first of February, the time appointed for pleading to the information, Barstow, by his attorneys, presented to the court a stipulation signed by all the parties in the case, to

the effect that the board of canvassers had determined Barstow elected governor; that the secretary of State had certified to his election

;

and that he had taken the oath of office.

They submit-

ted to the court whether it had jurisdiction, beyond the certificates, of those facts and the canvass so made to inquire as to the number of votes actually given

for

Barstow,

— Bashford offering

prove that the certificates were made and issued through mistake and fraud, and that he, instead This stipulation the court declined to enterof Barstow, received the greatest number of votes. tain or to pass

upon the questions suggested

;

as they

were not presented in legal form.

Barstow

WISCONSIN AS A STATE

was thereupon given until the twenty-fifth of February to answer the information that had been filed against him by the attorney general. On the day appointed, Barstow filed his plea to the effect that, by the laws of Wisconsin regulating the conducting of general election for State officers, it was the duty of the board of canvassers to determine who was elected to the office of governor and that the board had found that he was duly elected to that office. It was a plea to the jurisdiction of the court. A demurrer was interposed to this plea, setting forth that the matters therein contained were not sufficient in law to take the case out of court; asking, also, for a judgment against Barstow, or that he answer The demurrer was sustained and Barstow was further the information filed against him. required to answer over within four days; at the expiration of which time the counsel for Barstow withdrew from the case, on the ground, as they alleged, that they had appeared at the bar of the court to object to the jurisdiction of that tribunal in the matter, and the court had determined to proceed with the case, holding and exercising full and final jurisdiction over it; and that the} could take no further steps without conceding the right of that tribunal so to hold. Thereupon, on the eighth of March, Barstow entered a protest, by a communication to the supreme court, against any further interference with the department under his charge by that tribunal, "' either by attempting to transfer its powers to another or direct the course of executive action." The ;

;

counsel for Bashford then moved for judgment upon the default of Barstow.

A further hearing of the case was postponed until March filed

iS,

when

the attorney general

against which Bashford. by his counsel, protested as was the opinion of the court that the attorney general could

a motion to dismiss the proceedings

being prejudicial to his rights.

;

not dismiss the case, that every thing which was well pleaded for Bashford in his information was

confessed by the default of Barstow.

lowed

;

By strict usage, a final judgment ought then to have fol-

but the court came to the conclusion to call upon Bashford to bring forward proof, showing

Testimony was then adduced at length, touching the character of the returns made to the State canvassers; after hearing of which it was the opinion of the court that Bashford had received a plurality of votes for governor and that there must be a judgment in his favor and one of ouster against Barstow which were rendered accordingly. The ninth regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin commenced on the ninth of The senate had a repubJanuary, 1856. William Hull was elected speaker of the assembly. lican majority, but the assembly was democratic. On the eleventh Barstow sent in a message to a joint convention of the two houses. On the twenty-first of March he tendered to the legislature his resignation as governor, giving for reasons the action of the supreme court in "Bashford On the same day Arthur vs. Barstow," which tribunal was then hearing testimony in the case. McArthur, lieutenant governor, took and subscribed an oath of office as governor of the State, afterwards sending a message to the legislature, announcing that the resignation of Barstow his right to the

office.

;

On the twenty-fifth, Bashford called on McArthur, then occupying the executive office, and demanded possession at the same time intimating that he preferred peaceable measures to force, but that the latter would be employed if necessary. The lieutenant governor thereupon vacated the chair, when the former took the gubernatorial seat, exercising thereafter the functions of the office until his successor was elected and qualified. His right to the seat was recognized by the senate on the twenty-fifth, and by the assembly on the twenty-seventh of March, 1S56. This ended the famous case of " Bashford vs. Barstow," the first and only " war of succession " ever indulged in by Wisconsin. The legislature, on the thirty-first of March, adjourned over to the third of September, to dispose of a congressional land grant to the State. Upon re-assembling, an important measure was taken up— that of a new apportionment for the legislature. It was determined to increase the made it his duty to take the reins of government.

—

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

number of members from one hundred and seven to one hundred and twenty-seven. The session closed on the thirteenth of October. The general election for members to the thirty-fifth congress, held in November, resulted in the choice of John H. Potter, from the first district C. C. Washburn from the second and Charles Billinghurst, from the third district. They were all elected as republicans. The presidential canvass of this year was an exciting one in the State. The ;

;

republicans were successful.

Electors of that party cast their five votes

for

Fremont and

Dayton.

The year 1856 was not an unprosperous one, agriculturally speaking, although in some In many districts the earlier part of the season was exceedingly

respects decidedly unfavorable.

dry, which materially diminished the wheat crop.

Other industrial interests were every where

in a flourishing condition.

The legislature commenced its tenth regular session at Madison, on the fourteenth day of January, 1857, with a republican majority in both houses. Wyman Spooner was elected speaker For the first time since the admission of the State into the Union, a majority of of the assembly. the members of both houses, together with the governor, were opposed to the democratic party.

On the twenty-third the senate and assembly met in joint convention, for the purpose of electing Henry Dodge, whose term of office would expire on the James R. Doolittle, republican, was the successful candidate for The legislature term of six years, from the fourth of March, 1857. adjourned on the ninth of March, 1857. At the Spring election, Judge Whiton was re-elected chief justice of the supreme court for a term of six years. The second reformatory State institution established in Wisconsin, was, by an act of the legislature, approved March 7, 1857, denominated a House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents, afterward called the State Reform School, now known as the Wisconsin Industrial School for a United States senator in place of fourth of March next ensuing.

that

for

office,

Boys, and

full

located at Waukesha,

the county seat

Waukesha county.

The courts and

several magistrates in any county in Wisconsin may, in their discretion, sentence to this school any male child between the ages of ten and sixteen years, convicted of vagrancy, petit larceny, or any misdemeanor; also of any offense which would otherwise be punishable by imprisonment The term of commitor, of incorrigible or vicious conduct in certain cases.

in the State prison

;

ment must be to the age of twenty-one years. At the State election held in November of this year, the republicans elected A. W. Randall S. D. Hastings, State treasurer, and Edward M. McGraw. State prison commisgovernor The democrats elected E. D. Campbell, lieutenant governor D. W. Jones, secretary sioner. ;

;

Gabriel Bouck, attorney general tion, and J. C. Squires, bank comptroller.

of State

;

L. C.

Draper, superintendent of public instruc-

The year 1857 was a disastrous one to Wisconsin, as well as to the whole country, in a finanEarly in the Fall a monetary panic swept over the land. A number of

cial point of view.

prominent operators in the leading industrial pursuits were obliged to succumb. the year was a fair one for the State.

Sixth Administration.

he <

Agriculturally

— Alexander W. Randall, Governor — 185S-1859.

Randall's administration began on the fourth day of January, 1S5S, when for the first time On the eleventh of January the legislature was inaugurated governor of the State.

ommenced its eleventh regular session, with a republican majority in both houses. Frederick The legislature adjourned sine die on the I,, veil was elected speaker of the assembly.

That seventeenth of March, after an unusually long session of one hundred and twenty-five days. for the public weal, can not "

a large majority of the members were men of integrity, and disposed

AV1SC0NSIX AS A STATE. be doubted

;

but they were nearly all

new members, and without former legislative experience.

They set out to accomplish a great good, by holding up to public scorn and execration the wholesale briberies and iniquities of the immediate past

;

but they lacked concentration of effort, and.

for want of union and preconcerted action, they failed to achieve the great

triumph they sought, by providing a 'sovereign remedy for the evils they exposed." the legislature of an was act 1856, passed for a general revisi-n of At the regular session of Under this, and a subsequent act of the adjourned session of that year, the laws of the State. David Taylor, Samuel J. Todd, and F. S. Lovell were appointed " to three commissioners Their report was submitted to the collect, compile and digest the general laws " of Wisconsin. legislature of 1858, and acted upon at a late day of the session. The laws revised, which received the sanction of the legislature, were published in one volume, and constitute what is know as the '

—

Revised Statutes of 185S.

At the Fall election, John F. Potter from the first district, and C. C. Washburn from the second district, both republicans, were elected to the thirty-sixth congress while C. H. Larrabee, democrat, was elected to represent the third district. The twelfth regular session of the Wisconsin legislature commenced on the twelfth of William P. Lyon was elected speaker January, 1859, with a republican majority in both houses. The legislature adjourned sine die on the twenty-first of March, 1859, after a of the assembly. At the regular spring election, Byron Paine was chosen associate session of sixty-nine days. justice of the supreme court, for a full term of six years, as the successor of Associate Justice As it was a question when the term of the latter ended Smith. whether on the 31st day of he went through with the formality of May, 1859, or on the first Monday in January, 1S60 resigning his office, and the governor of appointing Paine as his successor, on the 20th of June, On the twelfth of April, 1859, Edward V. Whiton, chief justice of the supreme court, 1859. The office was filled by executive appointment on the 19th died at his residence in Janesville. of the same month the successor of Judge Whiton being Luther S. Dixon. Late in the Summer both political parties put into the field a full state ticket. The republicans were successful electing for governor, Alexander W. Randall for lieutenant governor, B. G. Noble; for secretary of state, L. P. Harvey; for state treasurer, S. D. Hastings, for attorney general, James H. Howe; for bank comptroller, G. Van Steenwyck for superintendent of public instruction, J. L. Pickard; for state prison commissioner, H. C. Heg. ;

—

;

Seventh Administration.

—Alexander W. Randall, Governor (second term), 1S60-1861.

Alexander W. Randall was inaugurated the second time as governor of Wisconsin, on Monday, January 2, i860. One week subsequent, the thirteenth regular session of the legislature commenced at Madison. For the first time the republicans had control, not only of all the State offices, but also of both branches of the legislature. William P. Lyon was elected speaker of the assembly. A new assessment law was among the most important of the acts passed at this session. The legislature adjourned on the second of April. At the spring election. Luther S. Dixon, as an independent candidate, was elected chief justice of the supreme court for the unexpired term of the late Chief Justice Whiton. In the presidential election which followed, republican electors were chosen casting their five votes, in the electoral college, for Lincoln and Hamlin. At the same election, John F. Potter, from the first district; Luther Hanchett, from the second, and A. Scott Sloan, from the third district, were elected members of the thirty-seventh congress. Hanchett died on the twenty-fourth of November, 1862, when, on the twentieth of December following, W. D. Mclndoe was elected to fill the vacancy. All

—

these congressional representatives were republicans.

Wisconsin, in i860, was a strong repub-

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

According to the census of this year, it had a population of over seven hundred and seventy-seven thousand. lican State.

On the ninth of January, 1861, the fourteenth regular session of the State legislature comassembly.

On the tenth, both houses met

annual message.

Amasa Cobb was elected speaker of the

Both branches were republican.

menced at Madison.

in joint

was a remarkable document.

convention to hear the governor read his

Besides giving an excellent synopsis of the

operations of the State government for i860, the governor entered largely into a discussion of the question of secession and disunion, as then proposed by some of the southern states of the

These are his closing words

Union.

" The right of

a State to

secede from

the Union can never be admitted.

Government can not treat with a State while it is in the Union, and

The National

particularly while

stands

So long as any State assumes a position foreign, independent and hostile to the government, there can be no reconciliation. The government of the

in an attitude hostile to the Union.

United States can not treat with one of its own States as a foreign power. The constitutional They are to be enforced in every State alike. A State can Once in, it must stay until it pleases. But where a faction of a people arrays the Union is destroyed. There is no coercion of a State. itself, not against one act, but against all laws, and against all government, there is but one

laws extend over every Stat^ alike.

not come into the Union as it pleases, and go out when

answer to be made

The Government must be sustained;

the

laws shall be enforced !

On the twenty-third of January the legislature met in joint convention to elect a United States senator to fill

the place of Charles

Durkee, whose term of office would expire on the

The successful candidate was Timothy O. Howe, republican, who was elected for a full term of six years from the 4th of March, 1861. One of the important

fourth of

March next ensuing.

acts passed at this session of the legislature

apportioned the State into senate and assembly

by which the whole number of members in both houses was increased from one hundred and twenty-seven to one hundred and thirty-three. Another act apportioned the State into districts,

six congressional districts instead of three.

By this

— the third congressional apportionment —

each district was to elect one representative. The first district was composed of the counties the second, of the counties of Rock, of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha Jefferson, Dane, and Columbia; the third, of Green, La Fayette, Iowa, Grant, Crawford, Richland, and Sauk; the fourth, of Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan; the Marquette, Waushara, Waupaca, Outafifth, Manitowoc, Calumet, Winnebago, Green Lake, ;

gamie, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Oconto, and Shawano; and the sixth, of the counties of Bad Axe, La Crosse, nroe, Juneau, Adams, Portage, Wood, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Dunn, Eau Claire, Clark, Marathon, Chippewa, Dallas, Polk, Burnett, Douglas, LaPointe, and Ashland. The legislature adjourned on the seventeenth of April, 1861.

At the spring elections of this year, Orsamus Cole was re-elected as associate justice of the supreme court. On the ninth of May following, Governor Randall issued a proclamation convening " The extraordinary condition the legislature in extra session on the fifteenth of the same month. of the country," said he, " growing out of the rebellion against the government of the United States, makes it necessary that the legislature of this State be convened in special session, to provide more completely for making the power of the State useful to the government and to other loyal States." The fifteenth or extra session began on the fifteenth of May, as designated in the governor's proclamation. The message of the governor was devoted entirely to the war. " At the close of the last annual session of the legislature," said he, " to meet a sudden emergency, an act was passed authorizing me to respond to the call of the president of the United States, for aid in maintaining the Union and the supremacy of the laws, or to suppress rebellion '

WISCONSIN As a STATE. or insurrection, or lo repel inva ion within the Tinted

States,'

and

was uithorized, and it was

made my duty, to take such measures as, in my judgment, should provide in the ,peed was authorized to accepi most efficient manner for responding to such call and to this end the services of volunteers for active service, to he enrolled in companies of not ie>s than seventy-five men each, rank and file, and in regiments of ten companies each. 1 was also authorized to provide for uniforming and equipping such companies as were not provided with " The first call of the president for immediate a< tive servii ," conuniforms and equipments." tinued the governor, " was for one regiment of men. My proclamation, issued immediately after the passage of the act of the legislature, was answered within less than ten days, by companies enough, each containing the requisite number of men,. to make up at least tive regiments instead of one. I then issued another proclamation, announcing the offers that had been made, and advising that thereafter companies might be enrolled to stand as minute men, ready to answer further calls, as they might be made, but without expense to the State, except as they were mustered into service. In less than one month from the date of my first proclamation, at least live thousand men, either as individuals or enrolled companies, have offered their services for the war, and all appear anxious for active service in the field. I"he time for deliberation," concludes I

the governor, " must

give

way to the time

for

action.

must be sustained in all its first intent and wholeness.

The constitution The right of the

of the

United States

people of every State-

every other State and engage in any lawful pursuit, without unlawful interference or molestation; the freedom of speech and of the press; the right of trial by jury; security from to go into

unjustifiable seizure of persons or papers,

and all constitutional privileges and immunities, must

receive new guarantees of safety."

The extra session of the legislature

passed, wtih a single exception, no acts except such as

appertained to the military exigencies of the

times.

Both houses adjourned

sine

die on

the

As the administration of Governor Randall would close with the year, and as he was not a candidate for re-election, there was much interest felt throughout the State as to who his successor should be. Three State tickets were put in nomination union, republican, and democratic. The republican ticket was successful, electing Louis P. Harvey, governor; Edward Salomon, lieutenant governor; James T. Lewis, secretary of state; S. D. Hastings, state treasurer; James H. Howe, attorney general; W. H. Ramsey, bank comp-

twenty-seventh of .May, i S6 1.

troller;

L. Pickard, superintendent of public instruction;

and A.

1'.

Hodges, state prison

commissioner.

The War of Secession —.Last Year of Randall's Administration.

When Wisconsin was first called upon to aid the General Government in its efforts to sustain itself against the designs of the secession conspirators, the commercial affairs of the State were embarrassed to a considerable degree by the depreciation of the currency.

The

designs of the secessionists were so far developed at the ending of the year 1S60 as to show that resistance to the national authority had been fully determined on.

It is

not a matter of wonder,

Governor Randall in his message to the legislature, early in January, 1S61, should have set forth the dangers which threatened the Union, or should have denied the right of a State to secede from it. "Secession," said he, " is revolution; revolution is war war against then, that

;

" It is time," he continued, "now, to know the government of the United States is treason." whether we have any government, and if so, whether it has any strength. Is our written The nation must be lost or preserved by its own constitution more than a sheet of parchment?

strength.

It is time now that politicians became men show their love of country by every sacrifice, but that of principle, and by

Its strength is in the patriotism of the people.

oatriots; that

HISTOBY OF WISCONSIN.

unwavering devotion

to its interests

and integrity."'

"The hopes," added the governor, most

eloquently, " of civilization and Christianity are suspended now upon the answer to this question

The capacity for, as well as the right of, self-government is to pass its ordeal, and speculation to become certainty. Other systems have been tried, and have failed and all of dissolution.

;

along, the skeletons of nations have been strewn, as warnings and land-marks, upon the great

She will not highway of historic overnment. Wisconsin is true, and her people steadfast. Devised by great, and wise, and good destroy the Union, nor consent that it shall be done. men, in days of sore trial, it must stand. Like some bold mountain, at whose base the great seas break their angry floods, and around whose summit the thunders of a thousand hurricanes have so may our Union be, while treason surges at its base, rattled strong, unmoved, immovable here let it stand forever." These are the and passions rage around it, unmoved, immovable words of an exalted and genuine patriotism. But the governor did not content himself with eloquence alone. He came down to matters of business as well. He urged the necessity of

—

legislation that would 'give

—

more efficient organization

to the militia of the State.

He warned

the legislators to make preparations also for the coming time that should try the souls of men.

"The signs of the times," said he, " indicate that there may arise a contingency in the condition of the government, when it will become necessary to respond to a call of the National Government for men and means to maintain the integrity of the Union, and to thwart the designs of men

engaged in organized treason. While no unnecessary expense should be incurred, yet it is the part of wisdom, both for individuals and States, in revolutionary times, to be prepared to defend our institutions to the last extremity." It was thus the patriotic governor gave evidence to the members of both houses that he " scented the battle afar off." On the 1 6th of January, a joint resolution of the legislature was passed, declaring that the people of Wisconsin are ready to co-operate with the friends of the Union every where for its preservation, to yield a cheerful obedience to its requirements, and to demand a like obedience that the legislature of Wisconsin, profoundly impressed with the value of the from all others ;

Union, and determined

to preserve

unimpaired, hail with joy the recent firm, dignified and

patriotic special message of the president of the United States; that they tender to him, through

the chief magistrate of their

own State, whatever aid, in men and money, may be required to

enable him to enforce the laws and uphold the authority of the Federal Government, and in defense of the more perfect Union, which has conferred prosperity and happiness on the

American people.

" Renewing," said they, " the pledge given and redeemed by our fathers,

are ready to devote our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honors in upholding the Union and

the constitution."

The legislature, in order to put the State upon a kind of " war footing," passed an act for to aid in enforcing the laws and maintaining the authority of the General was under this act that Governor Randall was enabled to organize the earlier regiments of Wisconsin. By it, in case of a call from the president of the United States to aid in maintaining the Union and the supremacy of the laws to suppress rebellion or insurrection, or to repel invasion within the United States, the governor was authorized to provide, in the most to accept the services of volunteers for service, efficient manner, for responding to such call in companies of seventy-five men each, rank and file, and in regiments of ten companies each, its

defense,

Government.

and

—

The governor was also authorized to contract for and to commission officers for them. One uniforms and equipments necessary for putting such companies into active service. hundred thousand dollars were appropriated for war purposes; and bonds were authorized to be issued for that amount, to be negotiated by the governor, for raising funds. It will be seen, for Fort Su.nter had not yet been surrendered therefore, that the exigencies of the times

—

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

were fully met by the people's representatives, they doing their whole duty, as they then understood it, in aid of the perpetuity of the Union.

Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of the heat, four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions but pork remaining, Robert Anderson, major of the first artillery, United States army, accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard, marched out of the fort on Sunday afternoon, the fourteenth of April, 1861, with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting his flag with fifty guns. This, in brief, is the story of the fall of Sumter and the opening act of the War of the Rebellion. the main gates destroyed, the gorge-wall seriously injured, the

" Whereas," said

Abraham Lincoln, president, in

his

proclamation of the next day, " the

laws of the United States have been for some time past, and now are, opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed,

States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi,

the

Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or fact,

by the powers vested

the marshals by

law."

Now, in view of that

he called forth the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of

seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress those combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly " A call is made on you by to-night's mail for one regiment of militia for immediate

executed.

service," telegraphed the secretary of war to Randall, on the same day.

In Wisconsin, as elsewhere, the public pulse quickened under the excitement of the fall of

Sumter.

"The dangers which surrounded

patriotism and devotion.

the nation awakened the liveliest sentiments of For the time, party fealty was forgotten in the general desire to save

The minds of the people soon settled into the conviction that a bloody war was at hand, and that the glorious fabric of our National Government, and the principles upon which

the nation.

with a determination unparalleled in the history of any it is founded, were in jeopardy, and On every hand the National flag could be seen displayed, and the public enthusiasm knew no bounds in city, town, and hamlet, the burden on every tongue was war." "We have never been accustomed,'" said Governor Randall, " to consider the military arm as essential to the maintenance of our government, but an exigency has arisen "The time has come," he continued, " when parties and platthat demands its employment." forms must be forgotten, and all good citizens and patriots unite together in putting down rebels " and traitors." "What is money," he asked, "what is life, in the presence of such a crisis ? Such utterances and such enthusiasm could but have their effect upon the legislature, which, it so, although that body had already voted to adjourn, will be remembered, was still in session sine die, on the fifteenth of April, yet, when the moment arrived, and a message from the governor was received, announcing that, owing to the extraordinary exigencies which had arisen, an amendment of the law of the thirteenth instant was necessary, the resolution to adjourn was at once The two houses thereupon not only increased the amount of bonds to be issued to rescinded. two hundred thousand dollars, but they also passed a law exempting from civil process, during the time of service, all persons enlisting and mustering into the United States army from WisWhen, on the seventeenth, the legislature did adjourn, the scene was a remarkable one. consin. Nine cheers were given for the star spangled banner and three for the Governor's Guard, who had just then tendered their services the first in the State under the call for a regiment of country, they rushed to its defense.

;

—

men for three months' duty. " For the first time in the

history of this

federal government," are

the words of tin

nor, in a proclamation issued on the sixteenth of April, "organized treason has manifested itself

within several States of the

Union, and armed rebels are

making war against

1:."

treasuries of the country," said he, "must no longer be plundered; the public property must be

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

protected from aggressive violence; that already seized must be retaken, and the laws must " made upon Wiscon be executed in every State of the Union alike." "A demand," he added, sin by the president of the United States, for aid to sustain the federal arm, must meet with a

prompt response."

The patriotism

of the State was abundantly exhibited in their filling up

On the twentya regiment before some of the remote settlements had any knowledge of the call. second, Governor Randall reported to the secretarj of war that the First regiment was read) to

go into rendezvous.

twenty-seventh of April.

The place designated was "Camp Scott," at Milwaukee; the day, the Then and there the several companies assembled the regiment after-

—

ward completing its organization. With a wise foresight, Governor Randall ordered, as a reserve force and in advance of another the Second and Third. call for troops by the president, the formation of two more regiments Camps at Madison, Fond du Lac, and Racine, were formed for and, eventually, the Fourth. Companies their reception, where suitable buildings were erected for their accommodation. assigned to the Second regiment were ordered tu commence moving into "Camp Randall," at Madison, on the first day 'if May. On the seventh, the secretary of war, under call of the presi-

—

dent of the United States for forty-two thousand additional volunteers this time for three years, telegraphed Governor Randall that no more three months' volunteers were or during the war

—

wanted; that such companies as were recruited must re-enlist for the new term or be disbanded.

At the extra session of the legislature of Wisconsin, which, as already mentioned, commenced on the fifteenth of May, called by Governor Randall immediately upon his being notified of the second call of the president for troops, on the third of May, the law hurriedly passed at the close of the regular session, and under which the governor had organized the First regi-

ment, was found inadequate to meet the second call for troops. " A bill was introduced, and became a law, authorizing the governor in raise six regiments of infantry, inclusive of those he had organ-

When the six regiments were mustered into the United States service,

ized or placed at quarters.

he was authorized to raise two additional regiments, and thus to keep two regiments continually He was authorized to quarter in reserve to meet any future call of the General Government.

and subsist volunteers at rendezvous — to transport, clothe, subsist and quarter them in camp at Arms and munitions were to be furnished by the United States. the expense of the State. Recruits were to be mustered into State service, and into United States servii e, for three years. Two assistant surgeons to each regiment were to be appointed, and paid by the State. The regiments, as they came into camp, were to be instrui ted in drill and various camp duties, to secure The troops, so called in, were to be paid monthly by the State, the same efficiency in the field. pay and emoluments as the soldiers in the United States army, from the date of enlistment. The paymaster general was authorized to draw funds from the State treasury for the payment of ami clothing them. the State troops, and the expense incurred in subsisting, transporting The governor was authorized

purchase military stores, subsistence, clothing, medicine, field and

camp equipage, and the sum of one

million dollars was appropriated

ivernor to

carry out the law."

Other laws were passed relating to military matters. One authorized the governor to purchase two thousand stand of arms; and filly thousand dollars were appropriated to pay tor the same. Another authorized counties, towns, cities and incorporated villages to levy taxes for the purpose limits.

The one passed

'.he

support of families of volunteers residing in their respective

ms session, exempting volunteers from civil process

the service, was amended so as to include all who might thereafter enlist.

rhile in

One granted live dollars

per month as extra pa) to enlisted volunteer- having families dependent upon them for support,

payable to their families

Another authorized tht

governor

ds,

clerk--

and

WISCONSIN As

STATE

Still another authorized the paymessengers, as he deemed necessary for the public interests. ment of those who had enlisted for three months, but had declined to go in for three years.

The expenses of the extra session were ordered to be paid out of the "war fund." dollars in bonds were authorized to be issued for war purposes to form that fund.

secretary of state and state treasurer were tion approved the twenty-first of

empowered to negotiate them.

One million The governor,

By a joint resolu-

May, the consent of the legislature was given to the governor

to be absent from the State during the war, for as long a time as in his discretion he might think

proper or advisable, in connection with the military forces of the State.

For liberality, zeal and

genuine patriotism, the members of the Wisconsin legislature, for the year i86r, deserve a high commendation. All that was necessary upon their final adjournment at the close of the extra session to place

tlte

State

upon a "war footing," was the organization by the governor of the These he effected by appointing Brigadier General William L.

various military departments. Utley, adjutant general;

Brigadier General W. W. Tredway, quartermaster general:

Edwin R. Wadsworth, commissary

general;

Colonel

Brigadier General Simeon Mills, paymaster gen-

Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general; Major E. L. Buttrick, judge advocate; and Colonel William H. Watson, military secretary. On the seventeenth of May, the First regiment, at "Cam]) Scott," was mustered into the United States service, and the war department informed that it awaited marching orders. The eral;

regimental officers were not all in accordance with the law and

mode adopted

afterwards

(

the seventh of the month Governor Randall had appointed Rufus King a brigadier general, and

assigned the

First,

Second, Third and Fourth regiments

his

command as the Wisconsin

although at that date only the First and Second had been called into camp. This brigade organization was not recognized by the General Government. The secretary of war

brigade

;

lied

the governor of Wisconsin that the quota of the State, under the second call of

president, was two regiments

the

— so that the whole number under both calls was only three — one

(the First) for three months, two (the Second and Third) for three years.

Notwithstanding this.

Governor Randall proceeded to organize the Fourth. As a number of the companies ordered into " Camp Randall" on the first* day of May to form the Second regiment had only enlisted for three months, the order of the secretary of war of ;lic seventh of that month making it imperative that all such companies must re-enlist for three years or during the war, or be disbanded, the question of extending their term of enlist-

ment was submitted to the companies of the regiment, when about five hundred consented to the change. The quota of the regiment was afterward made v.p, and the whole mustered into the service of the United States for three years or during the war, under the president's second This was on the eleventh of June, 1861. The Third regiment having had its companies assigned early in May, they were ordered in June into "Camp Hamilton" at loud call for troops.

du Lac, where the regiment wa3 organized, and, on the twenty-ninth of June, mustered into the United States' service as a three years regiment.

This filled Wisconsin's quota under the se< ond

By this time war matters in the State began to assume a systematic thanks to the patriotism of the people, the wisdom of the legislature, and

call of President Lincoln.

course of procedure

—

the untiring energy and exertions of the governor and his subordinates.

The determination of the secretary of war regiments under the second

accept from Wisconsin only two three-years

call for troops was soon changed, and three more making it necessary to organize the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. The Fourth was called into " lamp Utley " at Racine on the sixth of June, and was nm tered into the service of the Unit on the ninth of the following month. By the twenty-eighth of June, all the companies of the Fifth had assembled at " Camp Randall." and on the thirteenth of July were mustered in as v.

IITSTOBY OF WISCONSIN.

7-4

United States troops. By the first of July, at the same place, the complement for the Sixth regiment had been made up, and the companies were mustered for three years into the service of the General Government, on the sixteenth of the same month. Governor Randall did not stop the good work when six regiments had been accepted, but assigned the necessary companies to form two more regiments the Seventh and Eighth; however, he wisely concluded not to call them into camp until after harvest, unless specially required to do so. "If they are needed sooner," said the governor, in a letter to the president on the first of July, " a call will be immediately responded to, and we shall have their uniforms and equipments ready for them." "By the authority of our legislature," added the writer, 'I shall, after the middle of August, keep two regiments equipped and in camp ready for a call to service, and will have them ready at an earlier day if needed." About the latter part of June, W. P. Alexander, of Beloit, a good marksman, was commissioned captain to raise a company of sharpshooters for Berdan's regiment. He at once engaged in the work. The company was filled to one hundred and three privates and three officers. It left the State about the middle of September under Captain Alexander, and was mustered into the service at Wehawken on the twenty-third day of that month, as Company "G " of Berdan's regiment of sharpshooters. On the twenty-sixth of July, a commission was issued to G. Van

—

Deutsch of Milwaukee, to raise a company of cavalry. He succeeded in filling his company to He left the State in September, joining Fremont. The company was afterward attached to the fifth cavalry regiment of Missouri. About the 20th of August, Governor Randall was authorized to organize and equip as rapidly as possible five regiments of infantry and five batteries of artillery, and procure for them necessary clothing and equipments according to United States regulations and prices, subject to the inspecThe five regiments were to be additional to the tion of officers of the General Government. eight already raised. One regiment was to be German. During the last week of August the companies of the Seventh regiment were ordered into "Camp Randall," at Madison. They were mustered into the service soon after arrival. On the 28th of August orders were issued for the reorganization of the First regiment for three years, its term of three months having expired.

eighty-four men.

The secretary of war having signified

his acceptance of the regiment for the new term, its mus-

tering into the service was completed on the nineteenth of October.

This made six infantry regi-

ments

On the same day orders were to " Camp Randall," at

in addition to the eight already

accepted, or fourteen in all.

issued assigning companies to the Eighth regiment,

— the whole moving

Madison, the first week in September, where their mustering in was finished on the thirteenth. The Ninth, a German reginent, was recruited in squads, and sent into camp, where they were formed into companies, and the whole mustered in on the 26th of October, 1 861, at " Camp Sigel," Milwaukee. Companies were assigned the Tenth regiment on the 18th of September, and ordered into camp at Milwaukee, where it was fully organized about the first of October, being mustered into the service on the fourteenth of that month. The Tenth infantry was enlisted in September, 1861, and mustered in on the fourteenth of October, 1S61, at "Camp Holton," Milwaukee. The Eleventh regiment was called by companies into " Camp Randall " the latter part The Twelfth was of September and first of October, 1861, and mustered in on the eighteenth. called in to the same camp and mustered in by companies between the twenty-eighth of October and the fifth of November, 1861. The Thirteenth rendezvoused at "Camp Treadway," JanesThese ville, being mustered into the United States service on the seventeenth of October, 1861. thirteen regiments were all that had been accepted and mustered into the United States service

while Randall was governor.

From the commencement of the rebellion a great desire had been manifested for the or^an-

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

ization of artillery companies in Wisconsin,

and this desire was finally gratified. Each battery was to number one hundred and fifty men, and, as has been shown, five had been authorized by the General Government to be raised in Wisconsin. The First battery was recruited at La Crosse, under the superintendence of Captain Jacob T. Foster, and was known as the " La Crosse Artillery." It rendezvoused at Racine.early in October, 1861, where on the tenth of that month, it was mustered into the United States service. The Second battery, Captain Ernest Herzberg, assembled at " Camp Utley," Racine, and was mustered in with the First battery on the tenth. The Third, known as the " Badger Battery," was organized by Captain L. H. Drury, at Madison and Berlin, and was mustered into the service on the same day and at the same place as the First and Second. The Fourth battery, recruited and organized at Beloit, under the supervision of Captain John F. Vallee, was mustered in on the first of October, 1861, at Racine. The Fifth battery was recruited at Monroe, Green county, under the superintendence of Captain Oscar F. Pinney, moving afterward to " Camp Utley," Racine, where, on the first of October, it was mustered in, along with the Fourth. So brisk had been the recruiting, it was ascertained by the governor that seven companies had been raised instead of five, when the secretary of war was telegraphed to, and the extra companies the Sixth and Seventh accepted the Sixth, known as the " Buena Vista Artillery," being recruited at Lone Rock, Richland county, in September, Captain Henry Dillon, and mustered in on the second of October, 1861, at Racine; the Seventh, known as the "Badger State Flying Artillery," having organized at Milwaukee, Captain Richard R. Griffiths, and mustered in on the fourth of the same month, going into camp at Racine on the eighth. This completed the mustering in of the first seven batteries, during Governor Randall's administration the whole mustered force being thirteen regiments of infantry; one company of cavalry one of sharpshooters and these seven artillery companies. " Wisconsin," said the governor, in response to a request as to the number of regiments organized, " sent one regiment for three months, officers and men eight hundred and ten. The other regiments >r the war up to the Thirteenth (including the First, re-organized), will average one thousand men each; one company of sharpshooters for Berdan's regiment, one hundred and three men and seven companies of light artillery." Of cavalry from Wisconsin, only Deutsch's company had been mustered into the United States, although three regiments had been authorized by the General Government before the close of Randall's administration. The governor, before the expiration and five additional of his office, was empowered to organize more artillery companies ten in all regiments of infantry making the whole number eighteen. On the tenth of December, he wrote: " Our Fourteenth infantry is full and in camp. * * * Fifteenth has five companies in camp, and filling up. Sixteenth has eight companies in camp, and will be full by the 25th of December. Seventeenth has some four hundred men enlisted. Eighteenth will be in camp, full, by January 1. Seven maximum companies of artillery in camp. * * * Three regiments of two full above the maximum; the third, ahout eight hundred men in camp." It cavalry

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

be seen, therefore, that a considerable number of men in the three branches of the service was then in camp that had not been mustered into the service and this number was considerably increased by the 6th of January, 1S62, the day that Randall's official term expired; but no more will

;

men were mustered in, until his successor came into office, than those previously mentioned. The First regiment three months' left "Camp Scott," Milwaukee, on the ninth of June,

—

— — eight hundred and ten

in number; John C. Starkweather, The regiment returned to Milwaukee on the seventeenth of August, 1861, and was mustered out on the twenty-second. Its mustering into the The First regiment re-organized at "Camp Scott," Milwaukee. On the twentyservice, as previously mentioned, wa^ completed on the nineteenth of October.

1861, for Harrisburg. Pennsylvania

colonel.

—— HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

its

—

nine hundred and forty-five strong under command Starkweather. The Second regiment, with S. Park Coon as Madison, tor Washington city, on the eleventh of June, 1861 one thousand and fifty-one. The Third regiment started from "Camp

eighth, it started for Louisville, Kentucky

former colonel, John C.

colonel, left " Camp Randall.

numbering, in all, Hamilton," Fond du Lac, for Karrisburg, Pennsylvania, under command of Charles S. 'Hamilton, numerical strength of nine hundred and seventywith a numerical strength of one nine. The Fourth regiment Colonel Halbert E. Payne as colonel, on the twelfth of Jul)-, 1861, with a

—

thousand and

fifty-three, departed

The

for Baltimore, Maryland.

on the

Fifth

—

fifteenth of July, 1861, from "Camp

regiment

left

Utley," Racine,

"Camp Randall," Madison, one thousand

by Colonel Amasa Cobb, on the twenty-fourth of July, 1S61, liington city. On the twenty-eighth of July, 1S61, the Sixth regiment, numbering one thousand and eighty-four, moved from Madison, having been ordered to Washington city. It was commanded by Colonel Lysander Cutter. The Seventh regiment Joseph Van Dor, Colonel with a numerical strength of one thousand and sixteen men officers and privates, received They started from Madison orders, as did the Fifth and Sixth, to move forward to Washington. on the morning of the twenty-first of September, 1861, for active service. The Eighth infantry, nine hundred and seventy-three strong, commanded by Colonel Robert C. Murphy, left Madison, and

fifty-eight strong, commanded

—

en route for St. Louis, Missouri, on the morning of the twelfth of October, 1S61.

The Ninth, or

command as colonel, did not leave "Camp Sigel," The Tenth infantry moved from " Camp for active service, while Randall was governor. Holton," Milwaukee, commanded by Colonel Alfred R. Chapin, on the ninth of November, 1861, German regiment, with

Frederick Salomon

destined for Louisville, Kentucky, with a total number of nine hundred and sixteen officers and

Eleventh regiment "broke camp" at command of Charles L. Harris, as colonel. Its whole The Twelfth regiment, at " Camp Randall," Madison Colonel George E. Bryant, and the Thirteenth, at " Camp Tredway," Janesville Colonel Maurice Maloney were still in camp at the expiration of the administration of Governor

On the

privates.

Madison, starting

twentieth of November, 1861, the

for St. Louis,

under

number of men was nine hundred and sixteen.

—

had not moved out of the State for active service, — making a grand total of infantry sent from Wisconsin, up to that date, by the governor, to answer calls of the General Government, for three years' service or during the war, of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one men, in ten regiments, averaging very nearly one thousand to each regiment. Besides these ten regiments of infantry for three years' service, Wisconsin had also sent into the field the First regiment, for three months' service, numbering eight hundred and ten men; Alexander's company of sharpshooters, one hundred and six; and Deutsch's company of cavalry, eighty-four: in all, one thousand. Adding these to the three years' regiments, and the whole force, in round numbers, was eleven thousand men, furnished by the Stale in 1861. Randall

these, with the Ninth, were all that

of those mustered in previous to January 6, 1861,

Eighth Administration.

— Louis

Harvey and Edward Salomon-, Governors

— 1862-1863.

Harvey was inaugurated governor of Wisconsin on the sixth of January, 1862. The fifteenth regular session of the legislature of the State began on the eighth of the same month. In the senate, the republicans were in the majority; but in the assembly they had only a plurality "I members, there being a number of " Union " men in that branch enough, indeed, to elect, b) out iide aid, J. \V. Beardsley, who ran for the assembly, upon the "Union" Governor Harvey, on the tenth, read his message to the legislature in joint ticket, as speaker. convention. "No previous legislature," are his opening words, " has convened under equal Louis

1'.

—

incentives to a disinterested zeal in the public service

The occasion," he adds, "pleads

WISCONSIN AS A STATE. with you in rebuke of

all

the

meaner passions, admonishing

patriotism, becoming the representatives of a Christian

77 the exercise of a conscientious

people, called in

God's

pass through the furnace of a great trial of their virtue, and of the strength of the Government."

On the seventh of April following, the legislature adjourned until the third of [une next ensuing Before

again assembled, an

event occurred, casting a gloom over the

whole

State.

The

occasion was the accidental drowning of Governor Harvey.

Soon

Landing, on the seventh of April, 1862, the certainty that some of the Wisconsin regiments had suffered severely, induced the governor to organize a red f party, to aid the wounded and suffering soldiers from the State. On the tenth, Harvej after the battle of Pittsburgh

and others started on their tour of benevolence. Arriving at Chicago, they found a large number of boxes had been forwarded there from different points in the State, containing supplies oi various kinds.

At Mound City, Paducah, and Savannah, the governor and his part) adminiswounded Wisconsin soldiers. Having completed their mission

tered to the wants of the sick and

of mercy, they repaired

to a

boat

the harbor of Savannah, to await the arrival of the

haha, which was to convey them to Cairo, on their homeward trip. the nineteenth of April, 1S62, and very dark

when

the boat

Minnewas late in the evening of

arrived which was

take the

and as she rounded to, the bow touching the Dunleith, on governor ami his friends on board which was congregated the part)' ready to depart. Governor Harvey, by a misstep, fell overboard ;

between the two boats, into the Tennessee river. The current was strong, and the water more than thirty feet deep. Every thing was done that could be, to save his life, but all to no purpose. His body was subsequently found and brought to Madison for interment. Edward Salomon, lieutenant governor, by virtue of a provision of the constitution of the State, upon the death of Harvey, succeeded to the office of governor of Wisconsin. On the third day of June, the legislature re-assembled in accordance with adjournment on the seventh of April previous, Governor Salomon, in his message of that day, to the senate and assembly, after announcing the >ad event of the death of the late governor, said:

The last among the governors elected

by the people of this State, he is the first who has been removed by death from our midst. The circumstances leading to and surrounding the tragic and melancholy end of the honored and lamented deceased, are well known to the people, and are. with his memory, treasured up 111 He died,*' added Salomon, " while in the exercise of the highest duties of philantheir hearts." thropy and humanity, that a noble impulse had imposed upon him." The legislature, on the thirteenth of June, by a joint resolution, declared that in the death of Governor Harvey, the high-toned gentleman, a warmState had " hist an honest, faithful, and efficient public officer, hearted philanthropist, and a sincere friend." Both houses adjourned sine die, on the seventeuth a.

of June, 1862

Business of great public importance, in the judgment of the governor, rendering a special session of the legislature necessary, lie issued, on the twenty-ninth of August. [862, his proc-

lamation to that effect, convening both houses on the tenth of September following.

On that

He referred to the fact that since day he sent in his message, relating wholly to war matters. the adjournment of the previous session, six hundred thousand more men had been called for by the president of the United States, to suppress the rebellion. "It is evident," said he, "that to meet further calls, it is ne< essary to relj upon a system of drafting or conscription, in Wisconsin." The governor then proceeded to recommend such measures as he deemed necessary to meet elides of the times. The legislature levied a tax to aid volunteering, and passed a law giving the right of suffrage to soldiers in the military service. The) also authorized the raising of money for payment of bounties to volunteers. The legislature adjourned on the twentysixth of September, [862, after a session of sixteen days, and the enacting of seventeen laws.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

On the yth of October, James H. Howe, attorney general, resigned his office to enter the On the 14th of that month, Winfield Smith was appointed by the governor to fill the army. vacancy.

At the general election in the Fall of this year, six congressmen were elected to the thirtyeighth congress: James S. Brown from the first district; I. C. Sloan, from the second; Amasa Cobb, from the third Charles A. Eldredge, from the fourth Ezra Wheeler, from the fifth and ;

;

W. D. Mclndoe, from the sixth district. Sloan, Cobb, and Mclndoe, were elected as P.rown, Eldridge, and Wheeler, as democrats. cans

republi-

;

legislature, commenced on the fourteenth of The majority in both Allen Barber was elected speaker of the assembly. Governor Salomon read his message on the fifteenth, to the joint

The sixteenth regular session of the Wisconsin January, 1S63.

houses was republican.

convention, referring, at length, to matters connected with the war of the rebellion.

A large

number of bills were passed by the legislature for the benefit of soldiers and their families.

the twenty-second, the legislature re-elected James R. Doolittle. to the United States senate for

The legislature adjourned sine die on the from the fourth of March next ensuing. In the Spring of this year, Luther S. Dixon was re-elected chief second of April following. independent candidate. running as an justice of the supreme court, six years,

By a provision of the Revised Statutes of 1S5S, as amended by an act passed in 1862, and 1S75, the terms of the justices of the supreme court, elected for a full term, commence on the first Monday in January next succeeding their election. interpreted by another act passed in

At the Fall election there were two tickets in the field: democratic and union republican. Wyman Spooner, lieutenant latter was successful, electing James T. Lewis, governor governor; Lucius Fairchild, secretary of state; S. D. Hastings, state treasurer; Winfield

The

;

Smith, attorney general troller;

;

Pickard, state superintendent ;

W. H. Ramsay, bank comp-

and Henry Cordier, state prison commissioner.

War of Secession- — Harvf.v and Salomon's Administration. When Governor Randall turned over to his successor in the gubernatorial chair, the military matters of Wisconsin, he had remaining in the State, either already organized or in process of three regiments formation, the Ninth infantry, also the Twelfth up to the Nineteenth inclusive ;

—

and ten batteries First to Tenth inclusive. Colonel Edward Daniels, in the Summer by the war department to recruit and organize one battalion of cavalry in Wisconsin. He was subsequently authorized to raise two more companies. Governor Ranthe First cavalry dall, in October, was authorized to complete the regiment by the organizaThe organization of the Second cavalry regiment' was authortion of six additional companies. ized in the Fall of 1861, as an "independent acceptance," but was finally turned over to the Early in November, 1861, the war department issued an order discontinuing State authorities. enlistments for the cavalry service, and circulars were sent to the different State executives to Ex-Governor Barstow, by authority of General Fremont, consolidate all incomplete regiments. which authority was confirmed by the General Government, had commenced the organization of when Governor Randall received information that the Third Wisconsin a cavalry regiment The latter, however, soon had his authority the authority of Barstow had been revoked. restored. In October, Governor Randall was authorized by the war department to raise three Eighth to Tenth inclusive. These three batteries wen all additional companies of artillery of cavalry

;

of 1S61, was authorized

—

tilled

and went

out of the

into camp bj

State

eleven

t-1

thousand men, had

61.

Governor Randall, therefore, besides sending

process of formation, or fully organized, nine

regiments of infantry, three regiments of cavalry, and ten companies of

artillery, left

behind

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

various camps in the State, to be turned over to his successor.

The chief;

military officers of Wisconsin

were the governor, Louis P. Harvey, commander-in-

Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general;

Brigadier General W. W. '1 red-

way, quartermaster general; Colonel Edwin R. Wadsworth, commissary general; Brigadier General Simeon Mills, paymaster general; Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general; Majoi M. H. Carpenter, judge advocate; and Colonel William H. Watson, military secretary. As the

General Government had taken the recruiting service out of the hands of the executives of the States, and appointed superintendents in their place, the offices of commissary general and paymaster general were no longer necessary; and their time, after the commencement of the administration in Wisconsin of 1S62, was employed, so long as they continued their respective The office of commissary general was closed about offices, in settling up the business of each. the first of June, 1862; that of paymaster general on the tenth of July following.

On the last

of August, 1862, Brigadier General Tredway resigned the position of quartermaster general, and

Nathaniel F.

Lund was appointed to fill his place.

Upon the convening of the legislature of the State in

its regular January session of this message to that body, a full statement of what had been done by Wisconsin in matters appertaining to the war, under the administration of his He stated that the State furnished to the service of the General Government predecessor. First Wisconsin under the call under the call for volunteers for three months, one regiment for volunteers for three years, or the war, ten regiments, numbering from the First re-organized

year

— 1S62, Governor Harvey gave,

his

—

to the officers,

Eleventh, excluding the Ninth or

German

regiment.

;

He gave as the whole number of

musicians and privates, in these ten three-year regiments, ten thousand one hundred and

seventeen.

He further stated that there were then organized and awaiting orders, the

Ninth, in

"Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, numbering nine hundred and forty men, under Colonel Frederick Salomon the Twelfth, in " Camp Randall," one thousand and thirty-nine men, under Colonel George E. Bryant; the Thirteenth, in "Camp Tredway," Janesville, having nine hundred and and the Fourteenth, at " Camp Wood," nineteen men, commanded by Colonel M. Maloney ;

;

Fond du Lac, eight hundred and fifty men, under Colonel D. E. Wood. The Fifteenth or Scandinavian regiment, Colonel H. C. Heg, seven hundred men, and the Sixteenth, Colonel Benjamin Allen, nine hundred men, were at that time at "Camp Randall," in

near readiness for marching orders.

The Seventeenth (Irish) regiment, Colonel J. L. Doran, and

the Eighteenth, Colonel James S. Alban, had their full number of companies in readiness, lacking

one. and had been notified to go into camp

— the former

Madison, the

latter at

Milwaukee.

Seven companies of artillery, numbering together one thousand and fifty men, had remained for a considerable time in " Camp Utley," Racine, impatient of the delays of the General Government in calling them to move forward. Three additional companies of artillery were about going into camp, numbering three hundred and thirty-four men. furnished, as already mentioned, an independent

Besides these, the State had

company of cavalry, then

Missouri, raised

by Captain Von Deutsch, of eighty-one men a company of one hundred and four men for Berdan's sharpshooters; and an additional company for the Second regiment, of about eighty men. Three regiments of cavalry the First, Colonel E. Daniels; the Second, Colonel C. C. Washburn; ;

—

and the Third, Colonel W. A. Barstow; were being organized. They numbered together, two thousand four hundred and fifty men. The Nineteenth (independent) regiment was rapidly organNot izing under the direction of the General Government, by Colonel H. T. Sanders, Racine. bringing this last regiment into view, the State had, at the commencement of Governor Harvey's administration, including the First, three-months' regiment, either in the service of the United States or organizing for it, a total of twenty-one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three men.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The legislature at its regular session of 1862, passed a law making it necessary to present all claims which were made payable out of the war fund, within twelve months from the time they accrued

;

a law was also passed authorizing the investment of the principal of the school fund in

the bonds of the state issued for war purposes

;

another, amendatory of the act of the extra session

of 1861, granting exemption to persons enrolled in the military service, so as to except persons

acting as fiduciary agents, either as executors or administrators, or guardians or

trustees, or

persons defrauding the State, or any school district of moneys belonging to the same; also authorizing a stay of proceedings in foreclosures of mortgages, by advertisements.

" The State

Aid Law" was amended so as to apply to all regiments of infantry, cavalry, artillery and sharpshooters,

defining the rights of families, fixing penalties for the issue of false papers, and imposing duties on

make certain reports. These amendments only included regiments and companies organized up to and including the Twentieth, which was in process of organization before the close of the session. A law was also passed suspending the sale of lands mortgaged to the State, or held by volunteers; another defining the duties of the allotment commissioners appointed by the president of the United States, and fixing their compensation. One authorized the issuing of bonds for two hundred thousand dollars for war purposes one authorized a temporary loan from the general fund to pay State aid to volunteers and one, the appointment of a joint committee to investigate the sale of war bonds; while another authorized the governor to appoint surgeons to batteries, and assistant surgeons to cavalry regiments. The legislature, it will be remembered, took a recess from the seventh of April to the third of June, 1862. Upon its re-assembling, .... ict was passed providing ir the discontinuance of the active services of the paymaster general, quartermaster general and commissary general. Another act appropriated twenty thousand dollars to enable the governor to care for the sick and wounded soldiers of the State. There was also another act passed authorizing the auditing, by the quartermaster general, of bills for subsistence and transportation of the Wisconsin cavalry regiments. At the extra session called by Governor Salomon, for the tenth of September, 1862, an amendment was made to the law granting aid to families of volunteers, by including all regimilitary officers in the field to

;

ments of cavalry, infantry, or batteries of artillery before that time raised in the State, or that might afterward be raised and mustered into the United States service. It also authorized the levying of a State tax of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars to be placed to the credit of the war fund and used in the payment of warrants for " State Aid" to families of volunteers. Another law authorized commissioned officers out of the State to administer oaths and take acknowledgments of deeds and other papers. One act authorized soldiers in the field, although out of the State, to exercise the right of suffrage and another gave towns, cities, incorporated villages and counties the authority to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers. On the fifth of August, 1862, Governor Salomon received from the war department a dispatch stating that orders had been issued for a draft of three hundred thousand men to be immediately called into the service of the United States, to serve for nine months unless sooner discharged that if the State quota under a call made July 2, of that year, for three hundred thousand volunteers, was not filled by the fifteenth of August, the deficiency would be made up by draft and that the secretary of war would assign the quotas to the States and establish regulations for the On the eighth of that month, the governor of the Stale was ordered to immediately cause draft. an enrollment of all able-bodied citizens between eighteen and forty-five years of age, by counties. Governor Salomon was authorized to appoint proper officers, and the United States promised to pay all reasonable expenses. The quota for Wisconsin, under the call for nine months' men, was ;

;

eleven thousand

nine hundred and four.

the order he had received from

Washington

The draft was made by the governor in obedience to ;

but such had been the volunteering under the stim-

WISCONSIN AS A STATE. caused by a fear of it, that only four thousand This was the first and only draft made drafted. ulus

five

hundred and thirty-seven men were Wisconsin by the State authorities.

Subsequent ones were made under the direction of the provost marshal general

Wash-

ington.

The enlisting, organization and mustering into the United States service during administration of thirteen regiments of infantry

—

Randall's

the First to the Thirteenth inclusive, and the marching of ten of them out of the State before the close of 1S61, also, of one company of cavalry under Captain Von Deutsch and one company of sharpshooters under Captain Alexander, constituted the effective aid abroad of Wisconsin during that year to suppress the rebellion. But for the year 1862, this aid, as to number of organizations, was more than doubled, as will now lie shown. The Ninth regiment left " Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, under command of Colonel Freder.ck Salomon, on the twenty-second of January, 1862, numbering thirty-nine officers and eight hun dred and eighty-four men, to report at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.The Twelfth infantry left Wisconsin under command of Colonel George E. Bryant, ten hundred and forty-five strong, the eleventh of January, 1862, with orders to report at Weston,

Missouri.

—

The Thirteenth regiment Colonel Maurice Maloney left "Camp Tredway," Janesville, on hundred and seventy strong, under orders to report at Leavenworth, Kansas, where it arrived on the twenty-third. The Fourteenth regiment of infantry departed from " Camp Wood," Fond du Lac, under command of Colonel David E. Wood, for St. Loui-, Missouri, on the eighth of March, 1S62, it the eighteenth of January, 1S62, nine

having been mustered into the United States service on the thirtieth of January previous. Its It arrived at its destination on total strength was nine hundred and seventy officers and men. the tenth of March, and went into quarters at " Benton Barracks."

The Fifteenth regiment, mostly recruited from the Scandinavian population of Wisconsin, was organized at "Camp Randall," Madison Hans C. Heg as colonel. Its muster into the United States service was completed on the fourteenth of February, 1862, it leaving the State for St. Louis, Missouri, on the second of March following, with a total strength of eight hundred and one officers and men. The Sixteenth regiment was organized at "Camp Randall," and was mustered into the service on the last day of January, 1S62, leaving the State, with Benjamin Allen as colonel, for St. Louis on the thirteenth of March ensuing, having a total strength of one thousand and

—

sixty-six.

The reg. mental organization of the Seventeenth infantry (Irish), Colonel John L. Doran, was effected at " Camp Randall," and the mustering in of the men completed on the fifteenth of March, 1862, the regiment leaving the State on the twenty-third for St. Louis The Eighteenth regiment organized at " Camp Trowbridge," Milwaukee James S. Alban, colonel completed its muster into the United States service on the fifteenth of March, 1862,

—

and left the State for St. Louis on the thirtieth, reaching their point of destination on the thirtyfirst.

The Nineteenth infantry rendezvoused at Racine as an independent regiment, its colonel, Horace T. Sanders, being commissioned by the war department. The men were mustered into they were enlisted. Independent organizations being abolished, by an order from Washington, the Nineteenth was placed on the same footing as other regiments in the the service as fast as

State.

rebel

On the twentieth of April, 1862, the regiment was ordered to "Camp Randall " to guard prisoners.

seventy-three.

Here the mustering in was completed, numbering in all nine hundred and They left the State for Washington on the second of June.

— HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The muster into the United States service of the Twentieth regiment colonel

—was completed on the twenty-third of August, 1862,

strength being nine hundred and ninety.

— Bertine Pinckney,

at "Camp Randall," the original On the thirtieth of August the regiment left the State

for St. Louis.

The Twenty-first infantry was organized at Oshkosh, being mustered in on the fifth of September,

1862, with a force of one thousand

and two,

all

told

— Benjamin

Sweet, colonel

leaving the State for Cincinnati on the eleventh.

The Twenty-second regiment

— Colonel William L. Utley— was organized

Racine, and mustered in on the second of September, 1862.

sand and nine.

It left

"Camp Utley,"

Its original strength was one

thou-

the State for Cincinnati on the sixteenth.

—

On the thirtieth of August, 1862, the Twenty-third regiment Colonel Joshua J. Guppey was mustered in at "Camp Randall," leaving Madison for Cincinnati on the fifteenth. The Twenty-fourth infantry rendezvoused at " Camp Sigel," Milwaukee. Its muster in was completed on the twenty-first of August, 1862, the regiment leaving the State under Colonel Charles H. Larrabee, for Kentucky, on the fifth of September, one thousand strong. On the fourteenth of September, 1S62, at " Camp Salomon," LaCrosse, the Twenty-fifth They left the State on regiment was mustered into the service Milton Montgomery, colonel. the nineteenth with orders to report to General Pope, at St. Paul, Minnesota, to aid in suppressTheir entire strength was one thousand and eighteen. ing the Indian difficulties in that State.

—

The

regiment, after contributing to the preservation of tranquillity

among

the settlers, and

deterring the Indians from hostilities, returned to Wisconsin, arriving at " Camp Randall " on the

eighteenth of December, 1862.

—

The Twenty-sixth almost wholly a German regiment was mustered into the service at The regiment, under command of Colonel William H. Jacobs, left the State for Washington city on the sixth of October,

"Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, on the seventeenth of September, 1862.

one thousand strong. The Twenty-seventh infantry was ordered to rendezvous at "Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, on but the discontinuance of recruiting for new regiments in the seventeenth of September, 1862 An order authorizing the August left the Twenty-seventh with only seven companies full. recruiting of three more companies was received, and under the supervision of Colonel Conrad Krez the organization was completed, but the regiment at the close of the year had not been ;

mustered into the service.

—

On the twenty-fourth of October, 1862, the Twenty-eighth regiment James M. Lewis, of was mustered into the United States service at "Camp Washburn," Mil-

Oconomowoc, colonel

—

In November, the regiment was Its strength was nine hundred and sixty-one. employed in arresting and guarding the draft rioters in Ozaukee county. It left the State for Columbus, Kentucky, on the twentieth of December, where they arrived on the twenty-second;

waukee.

remaining there until the fifth of January, 1863. The Twenty-ninth infantry Colonel Charles R. Gill was organized at " Camp Randall," its muster into the United States service was completed on the twenty-seventh of Sep-

—

where

tember, 1862, the regiment leaving the State for Cairo, Illinois, on the second of November. The Thirtieth regiment, organized at "Camp Randall" under the supervision of Colonel Daniel J. Dill, completed its muster into the United States service on the twenty-first of October, 1X62. with a strength of nine hundred and six.

On the sixteenth of November, one company of

Bay to protect the draft commissioner, remaining several weeks. On the eighteenth, seven companies moved to Milwaukee to assist in enforcing the draft in Milwaukee county, while two companies remained in " Camp Randall" to guard Ozaukee rioters. the Thirtieth was sent to Green

— WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

On the twenty-second, six companies from Milwaukee went to West Bend, Washington county, one company returning to "Camp Randall." After the completion of the draft in Washington county, four companies returned to camp, while two companies were engaged in gathering up the drafted men. The final and complete organization of the Thirty-first infantry Colonel Isaac E. Messmore was not concluded during the year 1S62.

—

The Thirty-second regiment, organized at "Camp Bragg," Oshkosh, \Wth James H. Howe as colonel, was mustered into the service on the twenty-fifth of September, 1862; and, on the thirtieth of October, leaving the State, it proceeded by way of Chicago and Cairo to Memphis, Tennessee, going into camp on the third of November. The original strength of the Thirty-

second was nine hundred and ninety-three. The Thirty-third infantry Colonel Jonathan B. Moore

—

October, 1862, at

—mustered

on the eighteenth of

"Camp Utley," Racine, left the State, eight hundred and ninety-two strong,

moving by way of Chicago to Cairo.

The Thirty-fourth regiment, drafted men, original strength nine hundred and

—

sixty-one

Colonel Fritz Anneke had its muster into service for nine months completed at "Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, on the last day of the year 1S62.

numbered from the Twelfth to the Thirty-fourth three— the Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth were mus-

the twenty-four infantry regiments,

inclusive, and including also the Ninth,

—

The whole of the residue were mustered in during

tered into the United States service in 1861.

the year 1862, except the Twenty-seventh and the Thirty-first. All were sent out of the State during 1862, except the last two mentioned and the Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-fourth. The First regiment of cavalry Colonel Edward Daniels perfected its organization at

—

Camp Harvey," Kenosha.

—

muster into the United States service was completed on the eighth of March, 1862, the regiment leaving the State for St. Louis on the seventeenth, with a Its

strength of eleven hundred and twenty-four.

The muster of the Second Wisconsin cavalry was completed on the twelfth of March, 1S62,

"Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, the regiment leaving the State for St. Louis on the twentyfourth, eleven hundred and twenty-seven strong. It was under the command of Cadwallader C. at

Washburn as colonel. rhe Third Wisconsin cavalry

—Colonel William A. Barstow — was mustered

in at "

Camp

The muster was completed on the 31st of January, 1S62, the regiment leaving the State on the 26th of March for St. Louis, with a strength of eleven hundred and Barstow," Janesville.

eighty-six.

The original project of forming a regiment of light artillery in Wisconsin was overruled by the war department, and the several batteries were sent from the State as independent organizations.

—

The First battery Captain Jacob T. Foster perfected its organization at "Camp Utley," where the company was mustered in, it leaving the State with a strength of one hundred and fifty-five, on the 23d of January, 1862, for Louisville, where the battery went into "Camp Irvine," near that city. The Second battery Captain Ernest F. Herzberg was mustered into the service at "Camp Utley," October 10, 1861, the company numbering one hundred and fiftythree. It left the State for Baltimore, on the 21st of January, 1862. The Third battery Captain L. H. Drury completed its organization of one hundred and seventy at " Camp Utley," and was mustered in October 10, 1S61, leaving the State for Louisville, on the 23d of January. 1S62. The Fourth battery Captain John F. Vallee rendezvoused at "Camp Utley." Its muster in was completed on the istof October, 1S61, its whole force being one hundred and fifty one. The company left the State for Baltimore on the 21st of January, 1S62. The Fifth bat-

—

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

commanded by Captain Oscar F. Pinney, was mustered in on the ist of October, 1S61, at " Camp Utley," leaving the State for St. Louis, on the 15th of March, 1862, one hundred and The Sixth battery Captain Henry Dillon was mustered in on the 2d of fifty-five strong. October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," leaving the State for St. Louis, March 15, 1862, with a numerical strength of one hundred and fifty-seven. The Seventh battery Captain Richard R. Griffiths was mustered in on the 4th of October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," and proceeded on the 15th The Eighth battery, comof March, 1862, with the Fifth and Sixth batteries to St. Louis. manded by Captain Stephen J. Carpenter, was mustered in on the 8th of January, 1862, at tery,

—

"Camp Utley," and left the State on the iSth of March following, for St. Louis, one hundred and The Ninth battery, under command of Captain Cyrus H. Johnson, was organsixty-one strong. It was mustered in on the 7th of January, 1862, leaving ized at Burlington, Racine county. At St. Louis, their complement of menone hundred and fifty-five was made up by the transfer of forty-five from another battery. The Tenth battery Captain Yates V. Bebee — after being mustered in at Milwaukee, on the 10th of February, 1862, left " Camp Utley," Racine, on the 18th of March for St. Louis, one hundred and seventeen strong. The Eleventh battery Captain John O'Rourke was made up of the "Oconto The company was organized at " Camp Irish Guards " and a detachment of Illinois recruits. Early in 1862, William A. Pile succeeded in enlisting Douglas," Chicago, in the Spring of 1862. The men were mustered in ninety-nine men as a company to be known as the Twelfth battery. and sent forward in squads to St. Louis. Captain Pile's commission was revoked on the 18th His place was filled by William Zickrick. These twelve batteries were all that left the of July. To these are to be added the three regiments of cavalry and the nineteen regiState in 1862.

" Camp Utley " for St. Louis, on the 18th of March.

—

ments of infantry, as the effective force sent out during the year by Wisconsin. The military officers of the State, at the commencement of 1863, were Edward Salomon, governor and commander-in-chief; Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Nye Gibbs, assistant adjutant general Brigadier General Nathaniel F. Lund, quartermaster general; Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general; and Colonel W. H. the Twenty-seventh and Watson, military secretary. The two incomplete regiments of 1862 The former was Thirty-first volunteers were completed and in the field in March, 1863. " " the 7th of March, and left the State, in at Camp Sigel Krez on mustered Colonel Conrad eight hundred and sixty-five strong, on the 16th for Columbus, Kentucky; the latter, under command of Colonel Isaac E. Messmore, with a strength of eight hundred and seventy-eight, The Thirty-fourth (drafted) regiment left Wisconsin on the ist of March, for Cairo, Illinois. left " Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, on the 31st of January, 1863, for Columbus, Kentucky, numbering nine hundred and sixty-one, commanded by Colonel Fritz Anneke. On the 17th of The February, 1S63, the Twenty-fifth regiment left "Camp Randall" for Cairo, Illinois. Thirtieth regiment remained in Wisconsin during the whole of 1863, performing various the only one of the whole thirty-four that, at the end of that year, had not left the State. duties On the 14th of January, 1863, the legislature of Wisconsin, as before stated, convened at Madison. Governor Salomon, in his message to that body, gave a summary of the transactions of the war fund during the calendar year; also of what was done in 1862, in the recruiting of military forces, and the manner in which the calls of the president were responded to. There ;

—

were a number of military laws passed at this session. towns to raise bounties for volunteers, were also passed.

A multitude of special acts authorizing

No additional regiments of infantry besides those already mentioned were organized in On the 3d of March, 1863, the congress 1863, although recruiting for old regiments continued. of the United States passed the "Conscription Act."

Under this act, Wisconsin was divided

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

M. Bean was appointed provost marshal; C. M. Baker, commissioner; and |. B. Donsman, examining surgeon. Headquarters of this district was at In the second district, S. J. M. Putnam was appointed provost marshal; L. B. Milwaukee. Headquarters of this Caswell, commissioner; and Dr. C. R. Head, examining surgeon. In the third district, J. G. Clark was appointed provost marshal; E. district was at Janesville. Headquarters at Prairie E. Byant, commissioner; and John H. Vivian, examining surgeon. In the fourth district, E. L. Phillips was appointed provost marshal Charles du Chien. L. H. Cary, examining surgeon. and Headquarters at Fond du Burchard, commissioner; William A. Bugh, Lac. In the fifth district, C. R. Merrill was appointed provost marshal Headquarters at Green Bay. In the commissioner; and H. O. Crane, examining surgeon. In the first district, I.

into six districts.

;

Cooper was appointed provost marshal;

sixth district, B. F.

commissioner;

L. S. Fisher,

and

Headquarters at LaCrosse. The task of enrolling the commenced in the month of May, and was proceeded with to its completion. The

D. D. Cameron, examining surgeon. State was

nine months' term of service of the Thirty-fourth regiment, drafted militia, having expired, the

regiment was mustered out of service on the 8th of September.

The enrollment

Wisconsin of

all

persons liable to the "Conscription" amounted to Nearly fifteen thousand were

A draft was ordered to take place in November.

121,202.

drafted, only six

hundred and twenty-eight of

whom were mustered in

;

the

residue either

furnished substitutes, were discharged, failed to report, or paid commutation. In

Summer of 1861, Company " K," Captain Langworthy, of

Second Wisconsin His company was designated as

the

infantry, was detached and placed on duty as heavy artillery. "A," First Regiment Heavy Artillery. This was the only one organized until the Summer of 1863; but its organization was effected outside the State. Three companies were necessary to add to company "A" to complete the battalion. Batteries " B," " C" and " D " were, therefore, organized in Wisconsin, all leaving the State in October and November, 1863.

Ninth Administration-

— James T. Lkwis, Governor — 1864-1865.

James T. Lewis, of Columbia county, was inaugurated governor of Wisconsin on the fourth of January, 1864. In an inaugural address, the incoming governor pledged himself to use no executive patronage for a re-election; declared he would administer the government without prejudice or partiality; and committed himself to an economical administration of affairs connected with the State;. On the thirteenth the legislature met in its seventeenth regular session. W. W. Field was elected speaker of the assembly. The republican and union men were in the majority in this legislature. A number of acts were passed relative to military matters.

On the instruction.

day of October,

Pickard having resigned as superintendent of public

McMynn was, by the governor, appointed to

till

the vacancy.

On the fif-

November, Governor Lewis appointed Jason Downer an associate justice of the supreme court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Byron Paine, who had

teenth of

resigned his position to take effect on

that day, in order to

the

position

of lieutenant

colonel of one of the regiments of Wisconsin, to which he had been commissioned on the tenth of August previous.

The November elections of this year were entered into with great zeal by

the two parties, owing to the fact that a to be chosen.

The

president and vice president of the United Slates were

republicans were victorious.

Electors of that party cast

their eight votes

The- members elected to the thirty -ninth congress from Wisconsin at this election were from from the first district, H. E. Paine; from the second, I. C. Sloan the third, Amasa Cobb; from the fourth, C. A. Eldredge; from the fifth, Philetus Sawyer; and for

Lincoln and Johnson. :

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

8b from

the

sixth

district,

W. D. Mclndoe.

All were

republicans except Eldredge,

who was

elected as a democrat.

The Eighteenth regular session of the Wisconsin legislature began in Madison on the eleventh of January, 1865. W. W. Field was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was, as to its political complexion, "Republican Union."

On the tenth of April, the last day of

the session, Governor Lewis informed the legislature that General Lee and his

rendered. fall

" Four years ago,"

army had surnews of the and next to Him

said he, " on the day fixed for adjournment, the sad

of Fort Sumter was transmitted to the legislature.

To-day, thank God!

the brave officers and soldiers of our army and navy, I am permitted to transmit to you the of the rebellion.

just received, of the surrender of

General Lee and

his army, the last prop Let us rejoice, and thank the Ruler of the Universe for victory and the pros-

official intelligence,

pects of an honorable peace."

In February preceding, both houses ratified the constitutional

amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. At the Spring election, Jason Downer was chosen associate justice of the supreme court for a full term of six years. The twentieth of April was set apart by the governor as a day of thanksgiving for the overthrow of the rebellion and restoration of peace. tickets

the

The

field.

At the

P'all

Wyrrian Spooner, lieutenant governor; state

treasurer;

Charles

public instruction;

and democratic, had

election both parties, republican

republicans were victorious, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor; R.

Gill,

Thomas S. Allen, secretary of state; William E. Smith, general; John G. McMynn, superintendent of

attorney

J. M. Rusk, bank comptroller;

and Henry Cordier, state prison commis-

sioner.

War of Secession — Lewis' Administration. The military officers for 1864 were besides the governor (who was commander-in-chief) Brigadier General Augustus Gay lord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Nye Gibbs, assistant adjuBrigadier General Nathaniel F. Lund, quartermaster and commissary general, and chief of ordnance and Colonel Frank Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general H. Firmin, military secretary. The legislature met at Madison on the 13th of January, 1864. "In response to the call of the General Government," said the governor, in his message to that body, " Wisconsin had sent to the field on the first day of November last, exclusive of three months' men, thirty - four regiments of infantry, three regiments and one company of cavalry, twelve batteries of light artillery, three batteries of heavy artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, making an aggregate of forty-one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five men." Quite a number of laws were passed at this session of the legislature relative to military matters: three were acts to authorize towns, cities and villages to raise money by tax for the payment of bounties to volunteers; one revised, amended and consolidated all laws relative to extra pay to Wisconsin soldiers in the service of the United States; one provided for the proper reception by the State, of Wisconsin volunteers returning from the field of service; another repealed the law relative to allotment commissioners. One was passed authorizing the governor to purchase flags for regiments or batteries whose flags were lost or destroyed in the service: another was passed amending the law suspending the sale of lands mortgaged to the State or held by volunteers, so as to apply to drafted men; another provided for levying a State tax of $200,000 for the support of families of volunteers. A law was passed authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and appropriated ten thousand dollars for that purpose. Two other acts authorized the borrowing of money for repeltant general;

;

ling invasion, .suppressing insurrection, and defending the State in time of war.

hibited the taking of fees for procuring volunteers' extra bounty

dence of certain soldiers from

this S*

te in

;

One act pro-

another one defined the

resi-

the service of the United States, who had received

— WISCONSIN AS A SPATE.

towns other than their proper places of residence. At the commencement of 1S64, there were recruiting in the State the Thirty-fifth regiment The latter was mustered in on the 29th of December, of infantry and the Thirteenth battery. local bounties from

In February, authority J863, and left the State for New Orleans on the 28th of January, 18C4. was given by the war department to organize the Thirty-sixth regiment of infantry. On the " 27th of that month, the mustering n of the Thirty-fifth was completed at " Camp Washburn Colonel Henry Orff the regiment, one thousand and sixty-six strong, leaving the State on the The other regiments, recruited and mustered 18th of April, 1864, for Alexandria, Louisiana. Colonel into the service of the United States during the year 1864, were: the Thirty-sixth the Thirty-eighth Colonel Frank A. Haskell; the Thirty-seventh Colonel Sam Harriman

—

fames

Bintliff;

the Thirty -ninth

— — Colonel Edwin L. Buttrick

—

;

the

Fortieth

— — Colonel

\V.

—

Lieutenant Colonel George B. Goodwin; the Forty-second— Augustus Ray; the Forty-first Colonel Amasa Cobb. Colonel Ezra T. Sprague; the Forty-third The regiments mustered into the service of the United States during the year 1865 were: the Forty-fifth— Colonel Henry F. Belitz; Fortythe Forty-fourth Colonel George C. Symes Forty-seventh Colonel George C. Ginty Forty-eighth sixth Colonel Frederick S. Lovell Forty-ninth Colonel Samuel Fallows; Fiftieth Colonel John G. Colonel Uri B. Pearsall Clark; Fifty-first Colonel Leonard Martin; Fifty-second Lieutenant Colonel Hiram J. Lewis

—

;

—

;

—

;

and Fifty-third

;

—

— — Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Pugh.

;

All of the fifty-three regiments of infantry raised in Wisconsin during the war, sooner or

and were engaged there in one way or other, in aiding to suppress the Twelve of these regiments were assigned to duty in the eastern division, which conboth sides of the Potomac and upon the seaboard from Baltimore to

later moved to the South

rebellion.

stituted the territory on

Savannah.

These twelve regiments were:

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Nineteenth,

Ten

the

First

(three months), Second, Third, Fourth,

Twenty-sixth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, and Thirty-eighth.

regiments were assigned to the central division, including Kentucky, Tennessee,

Alabama, and Georgia.

These ten were:

the Tenth, Twenty-fust, Twenty-second,

fourth, Thirtieth, Forty-third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and

Northern Twenty-

Added

Forty-seventh.

Thirty-one regiments were ordered to the western division, embracing the country west and northwest of the central division. These were: the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-first, to these was the First (re-organized).

Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, FortyDuring the second, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third.

war several transfers were made from one district to another.

There were taken from the eastern

division, the Third and Twenty-sixth, and sent to the central division;

was sent to the department of the

gulf.

also the Fourth, which

The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seven-

teenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first

and Thirty-second were transferred from

the western to the central department.

The four regiments of cavelry were assigned to

the western division

— the First regiment

being afterward transferred to the central division. Of the thirteen batteries of light artillery, the the First and Third, to Second, Fourth, and Eleventh, were assigned to the eastern division the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth, the central division ;

;

During the war, the First was transferred to the western division while Of the Twelfth, were transferred to the central division. "A," "E," " F," "G," "11," "I," "K," "L," and "M," were assigned to duty in the eastern division "B" and "C," to the central

to the

western division.

the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth, and

twelve batteries of the First regiment of heavy artillery

;

—

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

and "D," to the western division. shooters, was assigned to the eastern division. division;

Company "G," First regiment Berdan's sharp-

The military officers of the State for 1865 were the same as the previous year, except that Brigadier General Lund resigned his position as quartermaster general, James M. Lynch being appointed in his place. The legislature of this year met in Madison on the nth of January. Lewis, in his message, " no State She has sent to the field, since the commencement of the war, forty-four regiments of infantry, four regiments and one company of cavalry, one regiment of heavy artillery, thirteen batteries of light artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, making an aggregate (exclusive of hundred day men) of seventy-five thousand one hundred and thirty-three men." Several military laws were passed at this session: one authorizing cities, towns, and villages to pay bounties to volunteers; another, incorporating the Wisconsin Soldiers' Home; two others, amending the act relative "to the commencement and prosecution of civil actions against persons One was passed authorizing the payment of salaries, in the military service of the country." clerk hire, and expenses, of the offices of the adjutant general and quartermaster general from the war fund; another, amending the act authorizing commissioned officers to take acknowledgment of deeds, affidavits and depositions; another, amending the act extending the right of One act provides for correcting and completing the records of suffrage to soldiers in the field. "

To the calls of the Government

for troops," said Governor

has responded with greater alacrity than has Wisconsin.

the adjutant

general's office, relative to

the

several military organizations of this State;

military history of the

another

stitute brokerage.

individual

members of the

fixes the salary of the adjutant general

the quartermaster general, and their clerks and assistants

and

another prohibits volunteer or subOne act was passed supplementary and explanatory of a previous one of the ;

same session, authorizing towns, cities, or villages, to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers another, amending a law of 1S64, relating to the relief of soldiers' families; and another, providing for the establishment of State agencies for the relief and care of sick, wounded, and There was an act also passed, authorizing the borrowing of money disabled Wisconsin soldiers. for a period not exceeding seven months, to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the State in time of war, the amount not to exceed $850,000. On the 13th of April, 1865, orders were received to discontinue recruiting in Wisconsin, and About the first of May, orders to discharge all drafted men who had not been mustered in. were issued for the muster out of all organizations whose term of service would expire on or As a consequence, many Wisconsin soldiers were soon before the first of the ensuing October. on their way home. State military officers devoted their time to the reception of returning regiments, to their payment by the United States, and to settling with those who were entitled to the last soldier was mustered out extra pay from the State. Finally, their employment ceased Wisconsin had furnished to the federal army during the War of the Rebellion was at an end. the conflict over ninety thousand men, a considerable number more than the several requisitions of the General Government called for. Nearly eleven thousand ot these were killed or died of wounds received in battle, or fell victims to diseases contracted in the military service, to say nothing of those who died after their discharge, and whose deaths do not appear upon the military records. Nearly twelve million dollars were expended by the State authorities, and the people of the several counties and towns throughout the State, in their efforts to sustain the National Government.

—

Wisconsin feels, as well she may, proud of her record made in defense of national existence.

—

Shoulder to shoulder witli the other loyal States of the Union, she stood always ranking among From her workshops, her farms, her extensive pineries, she poured forth stalwart St..

WISCONSIN AS A .STATE.

men, to fill up the organizations which she sent to the field. The blood of these brave men drenched almost every battle-field from Pennsylvania to the Rio Grande, from Missouri to Georgia. To chronicle the deeds and exploits the heroic achievements the noble enthusiasm of the various regiments and military organizations sent by her to do battle against the hydrawould be a lengthy but pleasant task but these stirring annals headed monster secession belong to the history of our whole country. Therein will be told the story which, to the latest But an outtime in the existence of this republic, will be read with wonder and astonishment. line of the action of the State authorities and their labors, and of the origin of the various

—

military organizations,

;

Wisconsin, to aid

contain a reference to other helps employed

but none the less effective

the

suppression of the rebellion, must needs

—mostly incidental,

many cases wholly charitable,

the sanitary operations of the State during the rebellion.

Foremost among the sanitary operations of Wisconsin during the war of the rebellion was to the end that the troops sent to the the organization of the surgeon general's department field from the State should have a complete and adequate supply of medicine and instruments as In 1S61, Governor Randall introduced the practice of appointwell as an efficient medical staff. ing agents to travel with the regiments to the field, who were to take charge of the sick. The On the 17th of June, 1862, an act of the practice was not continued by Governor Harvey. the governor take care of the sick to and wounded soldiers legislature became a law authorizing of Wisconsin, and appropriated twenty thousand dollars for that purpose. Under this law several expeditions were sent out of the State to look after the unfortunate sons who were Soldiers' aid societies were formed throughout the State soon suffering from disease or wounds. When temporary sanitary operations were no longer after the opening scenes of the rebellion. a necessity in Wisconsin, there followed two military benevolent institutions intended to be of a the Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at permanent character Madison. The latter, however, has been discontinued. The former, started as a State institution, is now wholly under the direction and support of the General Government. Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the General Government, in the courage or constancy of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the war of the rebellion, Wisconsin proved herself the peer of any loyal State.

—

TABULAR STATEMENT.

We publish on the following pages the report of the Adjutant General at the close of the war. but before all the Wisconsin organizations had been mustered out.

shows how many brave men

courageously forsook homes, friends and the comforts of peaceful avocations, offering their lives

Twenty-two out of every hundred either died, were killed or wounded. Thirteen out of every hundred found a soldier's grave, while only 60 per cent of them marched home at the end of the war. Monuments may crumble, cities fall into decay, the tooth of time leave its impress on all the works of man, but the memory of the gallant deeds of the army of the Union in the great war of the rebellion, in which the sons of Wisconsin bore so conspicuous a part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized governments endure. in defense of their country's honor.

c -t ~

O H OS CS to -.

lOOOBO'.

; — r £g:

O i- ~ O '—

•'oav ::c:ieeoi'!

; v - — o ^ to — t- d CO M CO '-ft*

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

Tenth Administration. —Lucius Fairchild, Governor

— 1866-1867.

The inauguration of the newly elected State officers took place on Monday, January r, 1866. The legislature, in its nineteenth regular session, convened on the tenth. H. D. Barron was elected speaker of the assembly. The " Union " and " Republican " members were in a " Our first duty," said Governor Fairchild in his majority in both branches of the legislature. message, "is to give thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies during the year that is past." " The people of no nation on earth," he continued, " have greater cause to be thankful than have our people. The enemies of the country have been overthrown in battle. The war has settled finally great questions at issue between ourselves."

Among the joint resolutions passed

was one submitting the question of a constitutional convention to frame a new The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of April. At the general election in November of this year, having been in session ninety-three days. H. E. Paine, from the first district; B. F. Hopkins, the Fortieth congress there were elected from the second; Amasa Cobb, from the third; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Philetus All were republicans Sawyer, from the fifth, and ('. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. The proposition for a constitutional convenEldredge, who was elected as a democrat. was defeated. this election, but tion was voted upon by the people at The twentieth session of the legislature commenced on the ninth of January, 1867. Angus Cameron was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was strongly " Republican-Union." The message of Governor Fairchild was read by him in person, on the tenth. On the twenty-third, the two houses, in joint convention, elected Timothy O. Howe United States senator for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth of March next ensuing. This legislature p ssed an act submitting to the people at the next Fall election an amendment at this

session

constitution for the State, to the people.

four of the constitution of the State, providing

section twenty-one of article

salary of three hundred

and

fifty

for

paying a

each member of the legislature, instead of a per A sine die adjournment took place on the eleventh of April,

dollars to

diem allowance, as previously given. after a service of ninety-three days.

To provide for the more efficient collection of license fees due the State, an act, approved on the day of adjournment, authorized the governor to appoint an agent of the treasury, to superintend and enforce the collection of fees due for licenses fixed by law. This law is still in force, the

agent holding his office at the pleasure of the executive of the State.

Dixon resigned his office but was immediately At the election in April following, associate Justice Cole was re-elected, without opposition, for six years from the first Monday in January following. On the 16th of August, Associate Justice Downer having resigned, Byron Paine was 27th of March, Chief Justice

the

appointed by the governor to the same position.

appointed by the governor in his place.

The republican

State ticket, in the Fall, was elected over the democratic

choice of Lucius Fairchild for governor S.

for

A.J. Craig,

for

— resulting

in the

Wyman Spooner, for lieutenant governor; Thomas

William E. Smith, for state treasurer;

Allen, Jr., secretary of state;

attorney general;

;

Charles R.

superintendent of public instruction;

bank comptroller, and Henry Cordier,

for state

prison commissioner.

Gill,

for

Jeremiah M. Rusk, Except Craig, all

The amendment to section 21 of anicle 4 of the members a salary instead of a per diem allowance, was now stands, each member of the legislature receives, for his services, three hundred and fifty dollars per annum, and ten cents for every' mile he travels in going to and returning from the place of the meetings of the legislature, on the most tlu-sc

officers

were the former incumbents.

constitution

of the State, giving

adopted

this election.

the

WISCONSIN As In case of any extra session of the

usual route.

STATE.

legislature, no additional

compensation shall

be allowed to any member thereof, either directly or indirectly.

Eleventh Administration.

— Lucius Fairchild, Governor (second term) — 1868-1869.

The Eleventh Administration in Wisconsin commenced at noon on the 6th day of January, This was the commencement of Governor Fairchild's second term. On the eighth of 1868. January, 1868, began the twenty-first regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin. A M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. Of the laws of a general nature passed by this

was one abolishing the

legislature,

office

bank comptroller, transferring

state treasurer, and another providing for the establishing of libraries in

the

his

duties to the

various townships

A visible effect was produced by the constitutional amendment allowing members

of the State.

session, though not materially diminishing the amount of business

a salary, in abreviating this

A sine die adjournment took place on the sixth of March.

transacted.

At the election in April, 1868, Chief Justice Dixon was chosen for the unexpired balance his own term, ending on the

first

osen associate justice

Monday of January, 1870.

for

the

At the same ele< lion, Byron Paine unexpired balance of Associate Justice Downer's term,

ending the 1st da)- of January, 1872. At

the

ball

election

year, republican

this

democratic ticket, for president and vice president; the vote

received

congress, all

of Wisconsin.

electors were

chosen over those upon the

and, as a consequence, Grant and

Of the members elected at the same

but one were republicans

— Eldredge being a democrat.

was: H. E. Paine, from the first district;

Colfax

time, to the forty-first

The successful ticket Amasa Cobb, from

Hopkins, from the second;

the third; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn,

from the sixth district. congress

These were all members, form their respei tive districts, in the previous

— the only instance since Wisconsin bee ante a State of a re-election of

till

the incum-

bents.

On the thirteenth of January, 1869, began the twenty-second regular session of the State legislature. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. A very important duty imposed upon both houses was the election of a United States senator in the place of James R. Doolittle. The republicans having a majority in the legislature on joint ballot, the excitement among the members belonging to that party rose to a high pitch. The candidates for nominaThe contest was, up to that time, tion were Matthew H. Carpenter and C. C. Washburn.

Both gentlemen had

unparalleled in Wisconsin for the amount of personal interest manifested.

Carpenter was successful before the republican a large lobby influence assembled at Madison. nominating convention, on the sixth ballot. On the twenty-seventh of January, the two houses proceeded to ratify the nomination by electing him United States senator for six years, from the One of the most important transactions* entered into by the legisfourth of March following. lature of 1S69 was the ratification of the suffrage amendment to the constitution of the United States.

Both houses adjourned sine die on the eleventh of March

—a very short

At the

session.

spring election, on the 6th of April, Luther S. Dixon was re-elected without opposition, chief justice of the

supreme

court,

for a

ensuing election:

Monday in January next

;

the field for the

ThadHenry llaetz, stateLlywelyn Breese, secretary of state george F. Wheeler, state prison commissioner; Barlow, attorney general;

the republicans were successful, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor

deus C. Pound, lieutenant governor; treasurer

term of six years, from the first

In the Fall, both democrats and republicans put a State ticket

ensuing.

;

and A. L. Craig, superintendent of public instruction. The office of bank comptroller expired on the 31st day of December, 1S69, the duties of the office being transferred to the state

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

an amendment to sections 5 and 9 of article five of the constitution of the Slate was ratified and adopted by the people. Under this amendment, the governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of five thousand dollars, which At

this

election,

in full for

all

traveling or other expenses

The lieutenant governor

incident to his duties.

receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of one thousand dollars.

Twelfth Administration.

— Lucius Fairchild, Governor (third term) — 1870-187

On the third of January, 1S70, commenced

ernor Fairchild thus entering upon his third term as chief executive of the State instance since

;

the only

Union, of the same person being twice was an emphatic recognition of the value of his services in the

the admission of Wisconsin into the

re-elected to that office.

On the twelfth of January, the twenty-third regular session of the legis-

gubernatorial chair.

commenced

lature of the State

assembly.

the twelfth administration in Wisconsin, Gov-

Madison.

James M. Bingham was elected speaker of the

Before the expiration of the month, Governor Fairchild received official information

that over two hundred thousand dollars of the war claim of Wisconsin upon the General Govern-

ment had been audited, considerable more than one hundred thousand having the previous year been allowed. In the month of March, an energetic effort was made in the legislature, by members from Milwaukee, to remove the seat of government from Madison to their city but the project was defeated by a considerable majority in the assembly voting to postpone the ;

According

matter indefinitely.

to section eight of article

one of the constitution, as originally

adopted, no person could be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or

The legislature of 1S69 proposed an amendment against the "grand jury system " of the constitution, and referred it to the The latter took up the proposition and legislature of 1870 for their approval or rejection. indictment of a grand jury, except in certain cases therein specified.

agreed to it by the proper majority, and submitted

the people at the next election for their

The sine die adjournment of both houses took place on the seventeenth of March, On the first day of January, previous, the member of congress from the second district

ratification.

1870.

of the State, B. F. Hopkins,

died,

and David Atwood, republican, was elected

fill

the

vacancy on the fifteenth of February following. Early in 1S70, was organized the "Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters." By an act of the legislature approved March 16, of that year, it was incorporated, having among its specific objects, researches and investigations in the various

physical, ethical, ethnological

of the

State, with

invention;

social

arts,

departments of the material, meta-

sciences; a progressive and thorough scientific survey

view of determining

advancement of the useful of original

and

its

mineral,

agricultural

and other resouices; the

through the application of science, and by the encouragement

the» encouragement

of the

line

arts,

means of honors and prizes

awarded to artists for original works of superior merit; the formation of scientific, economical and art museums; the encouragement of philological and historical research; the collection and preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general library; and the diffusion of knowledge by the publication of original contributions to science, literature and the arts. The academy has already published four volumes of transactions, under authority of the State. The fourth charitable institution established by Wisconsin was the " Northern Hospital for the Insane," located at >shkosh, Winnebago county. It was authorized by an act of the legislature approved March 10, 1S70. The law governing the admission of patients to this hospital is the same as to the Wisconsin State Hospital. <

WISCONSIN AS A STATE. On

the third day of July, 1S70, A.

Craig, superintendent of public instruction, died of

consumption, and Samuel Fallows was, on the 6th of that month, appointed by the governor The census taken this year by the General Governto fill the place made vacant by his death. ment, showed the population of Wisconsin to be over one million sixty-four thousand. At the Fall election for members to the forty-second congress, Alexander Mitchell was chosen to represent

the

first

G. W.

district;

Eldredge, the fourth;

article

Hazelton, the second;

Philetus Sawyer, the fifth

and Eldredge were democrats;

;

Barber, the third;

and J. M. Rusk, the sixth district.

the residue were republicans.

Mitchell

The amendment to section 8, of

system was ratified by a answer for a criminal offense without due

of the constitution of the State, abolishing the grand jury

large majority.

Under it, no person

shall be held to

process of law, and no person, for the same offense, shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment,

nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

All persons shall,

before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is

evident and the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be

suspended unless, when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety ma)- require it. Governor Fairchild, in his last annual message to the legislature, delivered to that body at twenty-fourth regular session beginning on the eleventh of January, i87i,said that Wisconsin State polity was so wisely adapted to the needs of the people, and so favorable to the growth and prosperity of the commonwealth, as to require but few changes at the hands of the legislature, and those rather of detail than of system. At the commencement of this session, William E. Smith was elected speaker of the assembly. A very carefully-perfected measure of this legislature was one providing for the trial of criminal offenses on information, without the intervention of a Grand Jury. A state commissioner of immigration, to be elected by the people, was Both bodies adjourned slue die on the twenty-fifth of March. On the thirteenth provided for. of January preceding, Associate Justice Byro Paine, of the supreme court, died; whereupon the governor, on the 20th of the same month, appointed in his place, until the Spring election should be held, William Penn Lyon. The latter, at the election in April, was chosen by the its

people to serve the unexpired time of Associate Justice Paine, ending the first Monday of Jan uary, 1872, and for a full term of six years from the same date. On the 3d of April, Ole C Johnson was appointed by the governor state commissioner of immigration, to serve until his To the end that the administration of public charity and correction should thereafter be conducted upon sound principles of economy, justice and humanity, and that the relations existing between the State and its dependent and criminal classes might be better understood, there was, by an act of the legislature, approved March 23, 1871, a "state board of charities and reform" created to

successor at the next general election could be chosen by the people.

—

consist of five members to be appointed by the governor of the State, the duties of the members

being to investigate and supervise the whole system of charitable and correctional institutions

supported by the State or receiving aid from the State treasury, and on or before the first daj of December in each year to report their proceedings to the executive of the State. This board

was thereafter duly organized and its members have since reported annually to the governor and the amount of their expenses, as required by law. The "Wisconsin State Horticultural Society," although previously organized, first under the name of the " Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association,'' was not incorporated until the 24th <>t March, 1S71 the object of the society being to improve the condition of horticulture, rural adornment and landscape gardening. By a law of 1868, provisio was made for the publication

their proceedings

—

of the society's transactions

connection with the State agricultural society; but by tile act

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

of 1871, this law was repealed and an appropriation made for their yearly publication in separate The society holds form; resulting in the issuing, up to the present time, of nine volumes.

annual meetings at Madison.

At the November election both republicans and democrats had a full ticket for the suffrages The republicans were successful, electing for governor, C. C. Washburn; M. H.

of the people.

Henry Baetz, for state Llywelyn Breese, for secretary of state Samuel Fallows, for superintendent of public instruction; S. S. Barlow, for attorney and O. C. Johnson, for state commisG. F. Wheeler, for state prison commissioner general At this election an amendment to article four of the constitution of the sioner of immigration. As it now stands, the legislature is prohibited State was ratified and adopted by the people. 1st. For changing the names of from enacting any special or private laws in the following cases 2d. For laying out, opening, or persons or constituting one person the heir-at-law of another. altering highways, except in cases of State roads extending into more than one county, and mili3d. For tary roads to aid in the construction of which lands may be granted by congress. 4th. For authorizing persons to keep ferries across streams, at points wholly within this State. authorizing the sale or mortgage of real or personal property of minors or others under disability. 6th. For assessment or collection of taxes or for 5th. For locating or changing any county seat. 7th. For granting corporate powers or privileges, extending the time for the collection thereof. 9th. except to cities. 8th. For authorizing the apportionment of any part of the school fund. For incorporating any town or village, or to amend the charter thereof. The legislature shall provide general laws for the transaction of any business that may be prohibited in the foregoing Pettitt, for lieutenant governor;

;

treasurer;

;

cases, and all such laws shall be uniform in their operation throughout the State.

Industrially considered, the year 1S71

had but little to distinguish it from the average of

previous years in the State, except that the late frosts of Spring and the drouth of Summer diminWith the exception of slight showers of only an hour ished somewhat the yield of certain crops. or two's duration, in the month of September, no rain fell in Wisconsin from the eighth of July to the ninth of October

— a period of three months.

The consequence was a most calamitous event

which will render the year 1871 memorable in the history of the State. The great drouth of the Summer and Fall dried up the streams and swamps in Northern Wisconsin. In the forests, the fallen leaves and underbrush which covered the ground became very ignitable. The ground itself, especially in cases of alluvial or bottom lands, was so dry and parched as to burn readily to the depth of a foot or more. For many days preceding the commencement of the second week in October fires swept through the timbered country, and in some Farmers, saw-mill owners, railroad men and all others instances over prairies and " openings." interested in exposed property, labored day and night in contending against the advance of devouring fires, which were destroying, notwithstanding the ceaseless energies of the people, an Over the occasional mill or house and sweeping off, here and there, fences, haystacks and barns. counties lying upon Green bay and a portion of those contiguous thereto on the south, southwest and west, hung a general gloom. No rain came. All energies were exhausted from " fighting

The atmosphere was every where permeated with smoke. The waters of the bay and even Lake Michigan, in places, were so enveloped as to render navigation difficult and in some instances dangerous. It finally became very difficult to travel upon highways and on railroads. fire."

Time drew on

— but there came no

Persons sought refuge

rain.

The ground

of Oconto, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Manitowoc, Outagamie and Shawano but in Oconto county, and for some less swept by this besom of destruction Menomonee county, Michigan, across the Menomonee river, on the west shore of

The counties were all more or into

very many places was burned over.

—-some in excavations in the earth, others in wells. ;

WISCONSIN AS

A STATE.

the bay and throughout the whole length and breadth of the peninsula,

—

lying between the bay and in

October passed

indefinite length.

;

— that

is,

the territory

Lake Michigan, the fires were the most devastating. The first week then came an actual whirlwind of lire— ten or more miles in width and of The manner of its progress was extraordinary. It destroyed a vast amount of

property and many lives. It has been described as a tempestuous sea of flame, accompanied by a most violent hurricane, which multiplied the force of the destructive element. Forests, farm improvements and entire villages were consumed. Men, women and children perished awfully

—

Even those who fled and sought refuge from

perished.

the

fire

cleared

fields,

swamps,

lakes and rivers, found, many of them, no safety there, but were burned to death or died of suffocation.

This dreadful and consuming train

—

the roar of a waterfall

was heralded by a sound likened

to that of a railroad

to the noise of a battle at a distance.

Not human beings impend-

fire

—

only, but horses, oxen, cows, dogs, swine

— every thing that had

life

— ran

to escape the

The smoke was suffocating and blinding the roar of the tempest deafening Children were separated from their parents, and trampled upon by Husbands and wives rushed in wild dismay, they knew not where. Death rode triumphantly upon that devastating, fiery flood. More than one thousand men, women and children perished. More than three thousand were rendered destitute utterly beggared. ing destruction.

;

the atmosphere scorching.

crazed beasts.

—

Mothers were left with fatherless children fathers with motherless children. Every where were homeless orphans. All around lay suffering, helpless humanity, burned and maimed. Such was the sickening spectacle after the impetuous and irresistible wave of fire swept over that portion of the State. This appalling calamity happened on the Sth and 9th of October. The loss of property has been estimated at four million dollars. At the tidings of this fearful visitation, Governor Fairchild hastened to the burnt district, to assist, as much as was in his power, the distressed sufferers. He issued, on the 13th of the month, a stirring appeal to the citizens of Wisconsin, for aid. It was promptly responded to from all portions of the State outside the devastated region. Liberal contributions in money, ;

clothing and provisions were sent

—

some from other States, and even from foreign countries. Northwestern Wisconsin also suffered severely, during these months of drouth, from large fires.

A compilation of the public statutes of Wisconsin was prepared during the year 1871, by David Taylor, and published in two volumes, generally known as the Revised Statutes of 1871. It was wholly a private undertaking but the legislature authorized the secretary of state to purchase five hundred copies for the use of the State, at its regular session in 1S72. ;

Thirteenth Administration.

— C. C. Washburn, Governor — 1S72-1873.

The thirteenth gubernatorial administration in Wisconsin commenced on Monday, January The only changes made, in the present administration from the previous one, were in 1, 1872. the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.

The twenty-fifth

regular session of the legislature began on the

republican majority in both houses.

10th of January, with a Daniel Hall was elected speaker of the assembly. The

next day the governor delivered to a joint convention of the legislature his first annual message

— a lengthy document, setting forth

The recent The work of this session of the Legmany general laws which the last constitutional

in detail the

general condition of State affairs.

great conflagrations were referred to, and relief suggested. islature was

peculiarly difficult, owing to the

necessary. The apportionment of the State into new congressional districts was another perplexing and onerous task. Eight districts were formed instead of six, as at the

amendment made

commencementof the last decade.

By this, the fourth congressional apportionment, each district

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

member. The first district consists of the counties of Rock, Racine, Kenosha, Walthe third* of Grant, worth, and Waukesha; the second, of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk, and Columbia the fourth, of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and WashIowa, LaFayette, Green, Richland, and Crawford Sheboygan and Manitowoc Fond du Lac, the sixth, of Green Lake, ington; the fifth, of Dodge, the sevWaushara, Waupaca, Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Brown, Kewaunee and Door enth, of Vernon, La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Eau the eighth, of Oconto, Shawano, Portage, Wood, Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Claire, and Clark To this Marathon, Dunn, Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Bayfield, Douglas, and Ashland. district have since been added the new counties of Lincoln, Taylor, Price, Marinette and New. elects one

;

After a session of seventy-seven days, the legislature finished its work, adjourning on the At the ensuing November election, the republican ticket for presitwenty-seventh of March. The ten electors chosen cast their dent and vice president of the United States was successful.

In the eight congressional districts, six votes in the electoral college for Grant and Wilson. the last mentioned republicans and two democrats were elected to the forty-third congress ;

from the fourth and fifth districts. C. G. Williams represented the first district G. W. HazelAlexander Mitchell the fourth C. A. Eldredge the ton the second; J. Allen Barber the third M. Rusk the seventh and A. G. McDill the eighth district. Philetus Sawyer the sixth fifth J. ;

;

Throughout Wisconsin, as in all portions of the Union outside the State, a singular pestiamong horses in the months of November and December, 1872, very few escapHorses kept in warm, well ventilated stables, avoiding currents of air, with little or no Although but few died, medicine, and fed upon nutritious and laxative food, soon recovered. yet the loss to the State was considerable, especially in villages and cities, resulting from the diffi-

lence prevailed ing.

culty to substitute other animals in the place of the horse during the continuance of the disease. The twenty-sixth regular session of the State legislature commenced on the eighth day of

fanuary,

1873, with a republican

speaker of the assembly.

one

majority

both houses.

Henry D. Barron was

On the ninth, Governor Washburn's message

— was delivered to the two houses.

It opened with

—

his

elected

second annual

a brief reference to the abundant returns

from agricultural pursuits, to the developments of the industries of the

state, to the

advance in

manufacturing, to the rapid extension in railways, and to the general and satisfactory progress in He followed with several recommendations claiming that education, throughout Wisconsin.

—

"many vast and overshadowing corporations in the United States are justly a source of alarm," and that " the legislature can not scan too closely every measure that should come before it which proposed to give additional rights and privileges to the railways of the state." He also recommended that the " granting of passes to the class of state officials who, through their public The office, have power to confer or withhold benefits to a railroad company, be prohibited." message was favorably commented upon by the press of the state, of all parties. " If Governor

Washburn," says one of the opposition papers of his administration,

" is

not a great statesman,

he is certainly not a small politician." One of the first measures of this legislature was the election of United States senator, to fill the place of Timothy O. Howe, whose term of office would On the twenty-second of January the two houses expire on the fourth of March next ensuing

met in joint convention, when

was announced

that by the previous action of the senate

and

On the assembly, Timothy O. Howe was again elected to that office for the term of six years. twentieth of March, the legislature adjourned sine die, after a session of seventy-two days. Milton

adjournment. public officer.

Pettitt,

the

lieutenant governor, died on the 23d day of

March

following the

By this sudden and unexpected death, the State lost an upright and conscientious

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

Among the important acts passed by this legislature was one providing for a geological survey of the State, to be begun in Ashland and Douglas counties, and completed within four years, by a chief geologist and four 'assistants, to be appointed by the governor, appropriating for the work an annual payment of thirteen thousand dollars. An act providing for a geological survey, of the State, passed by the legislature, and approved March 25, 1853, authorized the governor to Their appoint a state geologist, who was to select a suitable person as assistant geologist. Under this law Edward duties were to make a geological and mineralogical survey of the State. Daniels, on the first day of April, 1853, was appointed state geologist, superseded on the 12th day of August, 1854, by James G. Percival, who died in office on the 2d of May, 1856, at Hazel Green. By an act approved March 3, 1857, James Hall, Ezra Carr and Edward Daniels were By an act approved April 2, r86o, Hall appointed by the legislature geological commissioners. was made principal of the commission. The survey was interrupted by a repeal, March 21, 1S62, However, to complete the survey, the matter was reinstated by of previous laws promoting it. the act of this legislature, approved March 29, the governor, under that act, appointing as chief geologist Increase A. Lapham, April 10, 1873. providing for the appointment Another act changed the management of the state prison by the governor of three directors; one for two years, one for four years, and one for six years, in place of a state prison commissioner, who had been elected by the people every two years,

—

along with other officers of the State.

At the Spring

election, Orsamus Cole, who

had been eighteen years upon the bench, was supreme court, for a term of six years

re-elected, without opposition, an associate justice of the

from the

first

Monday in January following.

The two tickets in the field at the Fall election The latter was successful the political scepter

were the republican and the people's reform. p issing out of the hands of the republicans, after a supremacy in the State continuing unbroken since the beginning of the seventh administration, when A. W. Randall (governor for a second ;

term) and the residue of the State officers were elected

—

all

republicans.

The general success among the cultivators of the soil throughout the state during the year, notwithstanding "the crisis," was marked and satisfactory but the financial disturbances during the latter part of the Fall and the first part of the Winter, resulted in a general depreciation of ;

prices.

Fourteenth Administration. — William R. Taylor, Governor

— 1874-75.

The fourteenth administration of Wisconsin commenced at noon on Monday, the fifth day of January, 1874, by the inauguration of William R. Taylor as governor; Charles D. Parker,

Doyle,

secretary

attorney

general;

Edward

Searing,

Argard,

state

lieutenant

governor;

Sloan,

and

Scott

Martin

elected

Peter

by any distinctive

commissioner

political " all

party

state;

Ferdinand Kuehn,

superintendent

immigration.

such,

but

the

These

state

public officers

representatives

treasurer; instruction;

were

not

new

Republicans, and other electors and impartial legislation, honesty Among the marked characteristics of the platform agreed upon by the convention nominating the above-mentioned ticket was a declaration by the members that they would " vote for no candidate for office whose nomination is the fruit of his own importunity, or of a corrupt combination among partisan leaders ;" political

organization,

Democrats,

Liberal

genuine reform through

equal

including

Wisconsin, friendly to

in office, and rigid

economy in the administration of affairs."

another, "that the sovereignty of the State over corporations of its own creation shall be sacredly respected, to the full extent of protecting the people against every form of monopoly or extortion," not denying, however, an

encouragement

wholesome enterprise on the part of aggre-

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

100 gated capital

—

this

"plank" having

special reference to a long series of alleged grievances

assumed to have been endured by the people on account of discriminations in railroad charges and a consequent burdensome taxation upon labor especially upon the agricultural industry of

—

the State.

The twenty-seventh regular session of the Wisconsin legislature commenced at Madison on The two houses were politically antagonistic in their majorities the

the fourteenth of January.

;

senate was republican, while

the

assembly had a

Gabriel Bouck was elected speaker.

" reform " majority.

Governor Taylor, on the

joint convention and delivered his message.

In the latter branch,

fifteenth, met

die legislature in

An era," said he, "of apparent prosperity without

parallel in the previous history of the nation, has

been succeeded by financial reverses affecting

"Accompanying these come an imperative demand from the people more equitable apportionment of the burdens and blessings of government, and a more rigid economy in the administration of public affairs." all

classes of industry, and largely modifying the standard of values."

financial disturbances," added the governor, " has for a purer political morality, a

Among the

important acts passed by

this

legislature

was one generally known as the by Robert L. D. Potter, sen-

" Potter Law," from the circumstance of the bill being introduced ator, representing

the twenty-fifth senatorial district of the state.

The railroad companies for

a number of years had, as before intimated, been complained of

by the people, who charged them with unjust discriminations and exorbitantly high rates for the transportation of passengers and merchandize. All the railroad charters were granted by acts at different times of the State legislature, under the constitution which declares that " corporations may be formed under general laws, but shall not be created by a special act, exeept for municipal purposes and in cases where, in the judgment of the legislature, the objects of the corporations can not be attained under general laws. All general laws, or special acts, enacted under the provisions of this The section, may be altered or repealed by the legislature at any time after their passage." complaints of the people seem to have remained unheeded, resulting in the passage of the " Potter Law." fied

freight, and

This law limited the compensation regulated prices for

its

for the transportation of passengers, classi-

transportation within the State.

It also

required the

governor on or before the first of May, 1874, by and with the consent of the senate, to appoint one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, three railroad commissioners whose terms of office should commence on the fourteenth day of May, and that the governor, of May, of each year, should appoint one commissioner for three the first day on thereafter, ;

years.

Under this law, the governor appointed J. H. Osborn, for three years; George H. Paul, and J. W. Hoyt, for one year. Under executive direction, this commission inau-

for two years ;

gurated

its

labors by compiling, classifying, and putting into convenient form for public use for

the first time, all the railroad legislation of the State.

—

At the outset the two chief railroad corporations of the State the Chicago, Milwaukee and served formal notice upon the governor of WisSt. Paul, and the Chicago and Northwestern

—

consin that they would not respect the provisions of the

new railroad law.

LTnder his oath of

Governor Taylor to expedite all such measures as should be resolved upon by the legislature, and to take care that the laws f be faithfully executed. No alternative, therefore, was le t the chief executive but to enforce the law by all the means placed in his hands for that purpose. He promptly responded to the notification of the railroad companies by a proclamation, dated May 1, 1874, in which he enjoined compliance with the statute, declaring that all the functions of his office would be exercised in "The law of the faithfully executing the laws, and invoking the aid of all good citizens thereto. land," said Governor Taylor, "must be respected and obeyed." "While none," continued he, office, to support

the constitution of the State, it was the duty of

WISCONSIN AS " are so weak as to be without its protection,

STATE.

provisions of the law be deemed oppressive, resistance to

multiply the anticipated evils."

its

mandates will not abate, but rather

the right," he added, "of

the constituted channels, but with that right to its requirements until

101

none are so strong as to be above its restraints. to test its validity

through coupled the duty of yielding a general obedience all

has been pronounced invalid by competent authority."

The railroad companies claimed not merely the unconstitutionality of the law, but that its lines. The

enforcement would bankrupt the companies, and suspend the operation of their

governor, m reply, pleaded the inviolability of his oath of office and his pledged faith to the people.

The result was an appeal

was compelled

an array of the most formidable

to confront

the courts, in which the State, under the direction of

the result in Wisconsin depended the vitality of

and Governor Taylor and

his associate

its

governor,

legal talent of the country. Upon much similar legislation in neighboring S ates,

representatives of State authority were thus compelled

The contention extended nd United States courts, the main question involved being the constitutional power of the State over corporations of its own creation. In all respects, the State was fully sustained in its position, and, ultimately, judgments were rendered against the corporations in all the State and federal courts, including the supreme court of the United States, and establishing finally the complete and absolute power of the people, through the legislature, to modify to

bear the brunt of a controversy of national extent and consequence.

both to State

or altogether repeal the charters of corporations.

tion,

Another act of the session of 1874 abolished the office of State commissioner of immigra"on and after " the first Monday of January, 1S76. The legislature adjourned on the

twelfth of March, 1S74, after a session of fifty-eight days.

The office of state

prison commissioner having, by operation of law, become vacant on the day of January, 1S74, the governor, on the twenty-third of that month, appointed for State prison directors, Joel Rich, for tw years; William E. Smith, for four years; and Nelson Dewey, fifth

for six years:

these to take the place of that officer.

On the sixteenth of June, Chief Justice Dixon, whose term of office would have expired on the first Monday in January, 1S76, resigned his seat upon the bench of the supreme court, Governor Taylor appointing Edward G. Ryan in his place until his successor should be elected and qualified. At the November election of this year, the members chosen to the forty-fourth congress were Charles G. Williams, from the first district; Lucian B. Caswell, from the second; Henry S. Magoon, from the third; William Pitt Lynde, from the fourth; Samuel D. Burchard, from the fifth; A. M. Kimball, from the sixth; Jeremiah M. Rusk, from the seventh, and George W. Cate, from the eighth district. Lynde, Burchard and Cate were " reform ;" the

—

residue were republican.

At the same

election, an

amendment

State was duly ratified and adopted by the

to section 3

people.

of article

Under

this

n of the constitution of the

section, as

now stands, it is

empowered, to provide for the organization of restrict their power of taxation, assessment, borrowing

the duty of the legislature, and they are by

and incorporated villages, and to money, contracting debts, and loaning their credit, so as to prevent abuses in assessments and taxation, and in contracting debts, by such municipal corporations. No county, city, town, cities

village, school district, or other municipal corporation, shall be allowed to become indebted any manner, or for any purpose, to a '"/ ..ount, including existing indebtedness in the ag

exceeding five per centum on the vai

e of the

taxable property therein, to be ascertained by the

assessment for State and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness. Any county, city, town, village, school district, or other municipal corporation, incurring any indebtlast

edness as aforesaid, shall, before, or at the time of doing so, provide for the collection of a direct

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

102

annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof within twenty years from the time of contracting the same. In 1872,

tlie

first

appropriation for fish culture in Wisconsin was

subject to the direction of the United States commissioner of fisheries.

made by the legislature, In 1874, a further sum

was appropriated, and the governor of the State authorized to appoint three commissioners, whose duties were, upon receiving any spawn or fish, by or through the United States commisplace such spawn in the care of responsible pisciculturists of the State, to be hatched and distributed in the different waters in and surrounding Two more members have since been added by law to the commission their labors Wisconsin. have been much extended, and liberal appropriations made to further the object they have in view with flattering prospects of their finally being able to stock the streams and lakes of the sioner of fish and fisheries, to immediately

;

—

State with the best varieties of food fish.

The year 1874, in Wisconsin, was characterized as one of general prosperity among farmers, The crop of that cereal was light, and, in places, entirely

excepting the growers of wheat.

As a consequence, considerable depression existed in business in Trade and commerce continued throughout the year at a low ebb, the direct result of the monetary crisis of 1873. The legislature commenced its twenty-eighth regular session on the thirteenth of January, F. W. Horn was elected speaker of the 1875, with a republican majority in both houses. assembly. The governor delivered his message in person, on the fourteenth, to the two houses. " Thanking God for all His mercies," are his opening words, " I congratulate you that order and peace reign throughout the length and breadth of our State. Our material prosperity has not fulfilled our anticipations But let us remember that we bear no burden of financial depression not common to all the States, and that the penalties of folly are the foundation of wisdom." In " regard to the Potter Law," the governor said, " It is not my opinion that this law expressed the best judgment of the legislature which enacted it. While the general principles upon which it is founded command our unqualified approbation, and can never be surrendered, it must be conceded that the law is defective in some of its details The great object sought to be accomplished by our people," continued the speaker, "is not the management of railroad property by themselves, but to prevent its mismanagement by others." Concerning the charge that Wis sin was warring upon railways within her limits, the governor added, " She has never proposed such a war. She proposes none now. She asks only honesty, justice and the peace of mutual good will. To all men concerned, her people say in sincerity and in truth that every dollar invested in our State shall be lawfully entitled to its just protection, whencesoever the danger comes. In demanding justice for all, the State will deny justice to none. In forbidding mismanagement, the State will impose no restraints upon any management that is h nest and just. In this, tlie moral and hereditary instincts of our people furnish a stronger bond of good faith than the judgments of courts or the obligations of paper constitutions. Honest capital may be timid and easily frightened; yet it is more certain to seek investment among a people whose laws are at all times a shield for the weak and a reliance for the strong where the wholesome restraints of judicious legislation are felt alike by the exalted and the humble, the rich and tlie pool Tin- first important business to be transacted by this legislature was the election of a United States senator, as the term for which M. H Carpenter had been elected would expire on the fourth of March ensuing. Much interest was manifested in the matter, not only in the two houses, but throughout the State. There was an especial reason for this; for, although the then destroyed by the chinch-bug. the wheat-growing districts.

—

WISCONSIN As A STATE.

103

incumbent was a candidate for re-election, with a republican majority in the legislature, yet it was well known that enough members of that party were pledged, before the commencement of the session, to vote against him, to secure his defeat,

should they stand firm to their pledge.

The republicans met in caucus and nominated Carpenter for re-election; but the recalcitrant members held themselves aloof. Now, according to usual precedents, a nomination by the dominant party was equivalent to an election of the nominee

felt

not so, however, in this case, notwithstanding the friends

;

sanguine of his election

twenty-sixth of January, was,

the

senate,

the

The result of the first ballot, on the

end.

thirteen

for

the

republican

candidate;

the

He lacked four votes in the assembly assembly, fortv-six votes, an aggregate of only fifty-nine. and an equal number in the senate, of having a majority 1.1 each house. On the twenty-seventh, the two houses, in joint convention, hiving

met

compare

the

record of the voting the day

appearing that no one person had received a majority of the votes in each house The result was, no election. for United States senator, they proceeded to their first joint ballot. previous, and

The balloting was continued each day, until the third of February, when, on the eleventh joint trial,

Angus Cameron, of LaCrosse, having received

sitxty-eight votes, to Carpenter's fifty-nine,

with five scattering, was declared elected.

—

As in the previous session so in this, one of the most absorbing subjects before the legislature was that of railroads; the " Potter Law" receiving a due share of attention in both houses.

The result was an amendment in some important particulars without changing the right of State The law as amended was more favorable to the railroad compacontrol: rates were modified. The legislature adjourned sine die on the 6th of March. nies and was regarded as a compromise. This was the shortest session ever held in the State except one of twenty-five years previous. On the 16th of February, O. W. Wight was appointed by the governor chief geologist of Wisconsin, in place of I. A. Lapham, whose appointment had not been acted upon by the Senate.

On the

24th of the same month, J. W. Hoyt was appointed railroad commissioner for three

years from the first day of May following, on which day his one-year term in the same office would expire.

At the regular Spring election on the 6th of April following, Edward »',. Ryan was supreme court for the unexpired term of Chief

elected, without opposition, chief justice of the

Justice

Dixon, ending the first Monday in January, 1876, and for a full term of six years from

the last mentioned date; so that his present term of office will expire on the 1st uary, 1882.

An act providing for taking the census of Wisconsin on or

Monday in Jan-

before the 1st of July,

It required an 1875, was passed by the legislature and approved the 4th of March pievious. enumeration of all the inhabitants of the State except Indians, who were n'ot entitled to the right The result of this enumeration gave a total population to Wisconsin of one million of suffrage.

two hundred and thirty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine. tickets were in the field for State At the November election, republican and "reform For this office Harrison officers, resulting in the success of the latter, except as to governor. Ludington was chosen by a majority, according to the State board of canvassers, over William The rest of the candidates elected were: Charles R. Taylor, of eight hundred and forty-one. D. Parker, lieutenant governor; Petei Doyle, secretar) of state, Ferdinand Kuehn, treasurer Scott attorney state, A. Sloan, general; and Edward Searing, superintendent of public of The act abolishing the office of state commissionei of immigration was to take instruction. effect "on and after" the close of this administration; so, 01 course, no person was voted for to '

fill

that position at the Fall election of 1875.

During this administration the principle involved in a long-pending controversy between the State and Minnesota relating to valuable harbor privileges at the head of Lake Superior, was successfully and finally settled in favor of Wisconsin.

The influence of the executive was

largely

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

104

movement which resulted in securing congressional appropriations the Fox and Wisconsin river improvement. A change was inaugu-

instrumental in initiating a

amounting to $800,000 to rated in the whole system of timber agencies over State and railroad lands, by which the duties of agents were localized, and efficiency was so well established that many important trespasses were

brought to light from which over $60,000 in penalties was collected and paid into the Treasury, while as much more was subsequently realized from settlements agreed upon and proceedings

By decisive action on the part of the governor an unsettled printing claim of nearly

instituted.

a hundred thousand dollars was met and defeated in the courts.

priations were cut down,

and the rate of taxation diminished.

During this period also approGovernor Taylor bestowed unre-

mitting personal attention to details of business with a view of promoting the public interests with strict economy, while his countenance and support was extended to prises. it

all

legitimate enter-

He required the Wisconsin Central railroad company to give substantial assurance that

would construct a branch line from Stevens Point to Portage City as contemplated by congress,

before issuing certificates for its land grants.

The closing year of the century of our national existence

— 1875, was one somewhat discour-

The previous Winter had aging to certain branches of the agricultural interests of Wisconsin. been an unusually severe one. A greater breadth of corn was planted than in any previous year but the unusually late season, followed by frosts in August and September, entirely

in the State,

ruined thousands of acres of that# staple.

Fifteenth Administration.

— Harrison Ludington, Governor — 1876-1877.

The fifteenth administration of Wisconsin commenced at noon on Monday, January 3, 1876, by the inauguration of State

officers

— Harrison Ludington, as previously stated, having been

elected upon the republican ticket, to fill the chief executive office of the State

the residue of the offices, upon the democratic reform ticket:

predecessors

;

the others, to

the governor, like three of his

— having been chosen by a majority the predecessors — Farwell and Bashford — when

— Farwell, Bashford, and Randall

less than one thousand ; and, like two of his

(first term)

all

other State officers differed with him in politics.

The twenty-ninth regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin began on the 12th of JanuThe republicans were in the majority in both houses. Samuel S. ary, 1876, at Madison. Fifield was elected

speaker of the assembly.

On the 13th, Governor Ludington delivered in

person, to a joint convention of that body, his message, communicating the condition of affairs of the State, and recommending such matters for the consideration of the legislators as were thought

expedient

was brief;

its

style condensed

;

its

striking peculiarity, a manly frankness.

" It

not the part of wisdom," said he, in his concluding remarks, "to disguise the fact that the people of this State, in common with those of all sections of the Union, have suffered some abatement of "We have entered," he continued, "upon the prosperity that they have enjoyed in the past." the centennial of our existence as an independent nation.

It is

fit

that we should renew the spirit

which the Republic had its birth, and our determination that it shall endure to fulfill the great purposes of its existence, and to justify the noble sacrifices of its founders." The legislature adjourned sine die on the 14th of March, 1876, after a session of sixty-three days. The chief measures of the session were; The amendment of the railroad laws, maintaining salutary restrictions while modifying those features which were crippling and crushing an important interest of and the apportionment of the State into senate and assembly districts. It is a prothe State vision of the constitution of the State that the number of the members of the assembly shall and that the senate shall consist of a never be less than fifty-four, nor more than one hundred in

;

number not more than one-third nor less than one-fourth of the number of the members of the

WISCONSIN AS A STATE. assembly.

105

Since the year 1862, the aggregate allotted to both houses had been one hundred and

thirty-three, the maximum allowed by the constitution

three in the senate.

ment of 1876.

;

one hundred in the assembly and

thirty-

The number of this representation was not diminished by the apportion-

One of the

railroad laws abolished the board of railroad commissioners, confer-

ring its duties upon a railroad commissioner to be appointed by the governor every two years.

Under this law, DanaC. Lamb was appointed to that office, on the 10th of MarcK, 1876. On the 2d day of February, previous, George W. Burchard was by the governor appointed state prison

On the same day Chamberlin was appointed chief geologist of Wisconsin in place of O. W. Wight. application of Miss Lavinia Goodell, for admission to the bar of Wisconsin, was "We can not but think," rejected by the supreme court of the State, at its January term, 1876. said Chief Justice Ryan, in the decree of refusal, " we can not but think the common law wise "The profession,'* he added, "enters in excluding women from the profession of the law." largely into the well-being of society, and, to be honorably filled, and safely to society, exacts the devotion of life. The law of nature destines and qualifies the female sex for the bearing and nurture of the children of our race, and for the custody of the homes of the world, and And all life-long callings of women inconsistent with their maintenance in love and honor. these radical and social duties of their sex, as is the profession of the law, are departures from the order of Nature, and, when voluntary, are treason against it." By a law since passed, no person can be denied admission to any court in the State on account of sex; and Miss Goodell has been admitted to practice in the Supreme -Court. By an act of the legislature, approved March 13, 1876, a State board of health was established, the appointment of a superintendent of vital statistics, was provided for, and certain The State board was organized soon after; duties were assigned to local boards of health. the governor having previously appointed seven persons as its members. The object of the organization, which is supported by the State, is, to educate the people of Wisconsin into a better knowledge of the nature and causes of disease, and a better knowledge and observance of director for six years, in place of Joel Rich, whose term of office had expired.

T. C.

The

hygienic laws 1868, as amended in 1870 and 1873, the secretary of state, state and attorney general, were constituted a State board of assessment, to meet in the Madison, on the third Wednesday in May, 1874, and biennally thereafter, to make an

By a law passed in treasurer, city of

equalized valuation of the property in the State, as a guide to assessment for taxation. tables of equalized valuations compiled by this board in

property in Wisconsin, is set down at $423,596,290

;

1S76,

of which

the whole

In the

amount of taxable

sum $337,073,148, represents real

estate and $86,523,142 personal property.

This being the year for the election of president and vice president of the United States, republican and democratic had tickets in the field. election on Tuesday, November 7, the republican presidential electors received a

the two political parties in Wisconsin

—

At the

majority of the votes cast in the State, securing Wisconsin for

congressional districts elected the same day their

members

terms of office would expire on the 4th of March, 1879.

Hayes and Wheeler. to the forty-fifth

The eight

congress, whose

Charles G. Williams was elected in the

Lucien B. Caswell, in the second; George C. Hazelton, in the third; William P. Edward S. Bragg, in the fifth; Gabriel Bouck, in the sixth; H. L. the seventh; and Thad. C. Pound, in the eighth district. A majority of the delegation was republican, the representatives from the fourth, fifth and sixth districts only, being

first

district;

Lynde,

the fourth;

Humphrey, in democrats.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

106

There was a general and spontaneous exhibition of patriotic impulses throughout the length and breadth of Wisconsin, on the part of both native and foreign-born citizens, at the commencement of tlie centennial year, and upon the fourth of July. The interest of the people of the State generally, in the Exposition at Philadelphia, was manifested in a somewhat remarkable manner from its inception to its close. By an act of congress, approved .March 3, 1S71, provision was made for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence, by holding in that city, in 1876, an exhibition of arts, manufactures, and the products of the soil and mines of the country. A centennial commission, consisting of one commissioner and one alternate commissioner, from each State and Territory, was authorized to be appointed, to cany out the provisions of the act. David Atwood, as commissioner, and E. D. Holton, as alternate, were commissioned by the president of the United States, from Wisconsin. This commission " The commission has gradually made progress in preparing for an international exposition. been organized," said Governor Washburn, in his message to the legislature in January, 1873, " and has made considerable progress in its work. The occasion will be one to which 1'he American people can not fail to respond in the most enthusiastic manner." The president of the United States, by proclamation, in July, 1873, announced the exhibition and national celebra" It seems fitting," tion, and commended them to the people of the Union, and of all nations. said Governor Taylor, in his message to the Wisconsin legislature in 1874, " that such a celebration of this important event, should be held, and it is hoped it will be carried out in a manner worthy of a great and enlightened nation." By the close of 1S74, a large number of foreign governments had signified their intention to participate in the exhibition. The legislature of Wisconsin, at its session in 1875, deeming it essential that the State, with its vast resources in agricultural, mineral, lumbering, manufacturing, and other products and industries, should be fully represented at Philadelphia, passed an act which was approved March 3, 1S75, to provide for a "Board of State Centennial Managers." Two thousand dollars were appropriated to pay its necessary expenses. The board was to consist of five members to and there were added thereto, as ex-ofncio members, the United be appointed by the governor The duties of the members were to disStates centennial commissioner and his alternate. ;

seminate information regarding the Exhibition; tific,

secure the co-operation of industrial, scien-

agricultural, and other associations in the State; to appoint co-operative local committees,

representing the different industries of the State;

intended

stimulate local action on

all

measures

render the exhibition successful, and a worthy representation of the industries of

the country; to encourage the production of articles suitable for the Exhibition

;

to distribute

documents issued by the centennial commission among manufacturers and otheis in the State; to furnish to render assistance in furthering the financial and other interests of the exhibition to care for the information to the commission on subjects that might be referred to the board to receive and interests of the State and of its citizens in matters relating to the exhibition pronounce upon applications for space to apportion the space placed at its disposal among the exhibitors from the State and to supervise such other details relating to the representation of citizens of Wisconsin in the Exhibition, as might from time to time be delegated by the United ;

;

States centennial commission.

The board was required to meet on the first Wednesday of April, 1875, at the capitol, in Madison, to organize and adopt such by-laws and regulations as might lie deemed necessary for Governor Taylor appointed the successful prosecution of the work committed to their charge Eli Stilson, J. I. Case, J. B. Parkinson, T. C. Pound, and E. A. Calkins, members of the board. Its organization was perfected, at the appointed time, by the election of J. B. Parkinson as preThe ex-officio members of the board, were David Atwood, sident, and W. W. Field, secretary.

WISCONSIN- AS A STATE.

107

From this time forward, the hoard United States commissioner, and E. D. Holtun, alternate was untiring in its efforts to secure a full and proper representation of the varied interests of E. A. Calkins having resigned his position as Wisconsin in the centennial exhibition of 1876. member of the hoard, Adolph Meinecke took his place by appointment of the governor Jul) Ludington, in his to the legislature in January, 1.S76, spoke in Governor message 24, 1875. commendation of the coming exhibition. "The occasion," said he, "will afford an excellent opportunity to display the resources and products of the State, and to attract hither capital and immigration."

Soon after the organization of the United States centennial commission, a national organwas perfected. A lady of Philadelphia was placed at its Mrs. A. C. Thorp assumed the head; and a presiding officer from each State was appointed. duties of chairman for Wisconsin, in March, 1S75, appointing assistants in various parts of the This organization was efficient in Wisconsin in State, when active work was commenced. arousing an interest in the general purposes and objects of the exhibition. By an act of the legislature, approved March 3, 1876, the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated to the use of the board of centennial managers, for the purpose of arranging for, and making a proper exhibition of, the products, resources, and advantages of the State at the exposition. The treasurer of Wisconsin was, by this act, made an ex-offrcio member of the board. By this and previous action of the legislature by efforts put forth by the board of managers by individual enterprise by the untiring labors of the "Women's Centennial Executive Committee,'' to whom, by an act of the legislature, approved the 4th of March, 1S75, one thousand dollars were appropriated Wisconsin was enabled to take a proud and honorable ization of the women of the country

—

— —a

position in the Centennial Exposition

gratification

who visited Philadelphia during its continuance, but

not only to the thousands of her citizens to

the

people generally, throughout the

State.

In Wisconsin, throughout the centennial year, those engaged in the various branches of agriculture and other useful avocations, were reasonably prosperous. The crop of wheat and

was a light

yield, and of poor quality; but the corn crop was the largest ever before raised and of superior quality. The dairy and hog product was large, and commanded Fruits were unusually plenty. prices. Trade and business enterprises, however, generally remained depressed.

oats

in the State,

remunerative

By section five of article seven of the constitution of Wisconsin, the counties of the were apportioned into

five judicial circuits:

the county of Richland being attached to

State

[owa,

Chippewa to Crawford, and La Pointe to St. Croix. In 1850, the fifth circuit was divided, and a sixth circuit formed. In 1864, Crawford and Richland were made part of the fifth circuit. Bj an act which took effect in 1854, a seventh circuit was formed. On the first day of January, was circuit county divided, and an eighth and ninth formed, the ot 1855, the sixth circuit Columbia being made a part of the last mentioned one. In the same year was also formed a tenth circuit; and, in 185S, Winnebago county was attached to it; but, in 1870, that county was attached to the third circuit. In 1S58, Kewaunee county was attached to the fourth circuit. An eleventh circuit was formed in 1864, from which, in 1S65, Dallas county was detached, and made part of the eighth. By an act which took effect on the first day of January, [871, hetwelfth circuit was formed. In 1876, a thirteenth circuit was "constituted and re-organized." At that time, the whole sixty counties of the State stood apportioned in the thirteen judicial circuits as follows: First circuit, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha; second circuit, Milwaukee, and Waukesha, third circuit, Green Lake, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, and Winnebago; fourth circuit, Sheboygan, Calumet, Kewaunee, Fond du Lac, and Manitowoc; fifth circuit, t

;

108

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

La Fayette, Richland, and Crawford; sixth circuit, Clark, Jackson, Monroe, La and Vernon; seventh circuit, Portage, Marathon, Waupaca, Wood, Waushara, Lincoln, and Taylor; eighth circuit, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix; ninth circuit, Adams, Columbia, Dane, Juneau, Sauk and Marquette; tenth circuit, Outagamie, Oconto, Shawano, Door, and Brown- eleventh circuit, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, and Polk; twelfth circuit, Rock, Green, and Jefferson; and the thirteenth circuit, Buffalo, Eau Claire, and Trempeleau, Marinette and New are now in the tenth Price is in the seventh circuit. The thirtieth regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin commenced, pursuant to law, on the ioth of January, 1877. The republicans had working majorities in both houses. J. B. Cassoday was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Governor Ludington delivered his message to Grant, Iowa,

Crosse,

;

the joint convention of the legislature the following day. his concluding remarks, " to conceal

We should not seek," said he, in

from ourselves the fact that the prosperity which our people

have enjoyed for a number of years past, has suffered some interruption. Agriculture has rendered less return labor in all departments has been less productive, and trade has consequently been less active, and has realized a reduced p.-rcentage of profit." " These adverse circumstances," continued the governor, " will not be wholly a misfortune if we heed the lesson that ;

they convey.

This lesson is the necessity of strict economy in public and private

affairs.

have been living upon a false basis; and the time has now come when we must return to a solid foundation." The legislature adjourned sine die on the Sth of March, after a session of fiftyone hundred and thirteen less than at the eight days, passing three hundred and one acts

—

The most important of these, as claimed by the dominant party which passed it, is one for the maintenance of the purity of the ballot box, known as the " Registry Law." On session of 1S76

the 3d day of April, at the 'regular Spring election, William

opposition, an associate justice of the

supreme court

Lyon was re-elected, without

for six years

from the

first

Monday in

January, 1878, his term of office expiring on the first Monday of January, 1884.

Under a law of 1876, to provide for the revision of the

statutes of the State, the justices of

the supreme court were authorized to appoint three revisors.

The persons receiving the appoint-

ment were David Taylor, William F. Vilas and J. P. C. Cottrill.

By an amendatory law of 1877,

purpose of having the revision completed for the session of 1878, the justices of the supreme court were authorized to appoint two additional revisors, and assign them special duties for

the

on the commission. H. S. Orton was appointed to revise the criminal law and proceedings, and J. H. Carpenter to revise the probate Laws, Governor Ludington declined being a candidate for renomination. His administration was

As the chief executive officer of Wisconsin, he kept view the best interests of the State. In matters coming under his control, a rigid. system of economy prevailed. There were three tickets in the field presented to the electors of Wisconsin for their suffrages at the general election held on the sixth of November, 1877 republican, democratic, and the "greenback" ticket. The republicans were successful, electing William E. Smith, governor James M. Bingham, lieutenant governor; Hans B. Warner, secretary of state; Richard Guenther, characterized as one of practical efficiency. in

treasurer;

Alexander Wilson, attorney general

of public instruction.

and William C. Whitford, state superintendent At the same election two amendments to the constitution of the State

were voted upon and both adopted.

;

The first one amends section four of article seven; so that,

hereafter, " the supreme court shall consist of one chief justice and four associate justices, to be

elected by the qualified electors of the State.

The legislature shall, at its first

session after the

adoption of this amendment, provide by law for the election of two associa e justices of said court, to hold their offi< es respectively for terms ending two and four years, respectively after the

;

WISCONSIN AS A STATE. end of the term of the justice of the said court then

last

to expire.

justices and associate justices of said court shall be elected for the term of ten years." after,

law.

109

And thereafter the chief

and hold

their offices respectively

The second one amends section two of article eight;

so that, here-

"no money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation bj No appropriation shall be made for the payment of any claim against the State, except

claims of the United States, and judgments, unless filed within six years after the claim accrued." The year 1877, in Wisconsin, was notable for excellent crops. A depression in monetary

matters continued, it is true, but not without a reasonable prospect of a change for the better within

the near future.

Sixteenth Administration.

— William E. Smith, Governor— 1878 — 1879.

At noon, on Monday, January 7. 1878, began the sixteenth administration of Wisconsin, b\ the inauguration of the State officers elect. On the 9th of the same month, commenced the thirty-first regular session of the Legislature. A. R. Barrows was elected Speaker of the Assembly. On the day following, Governor Smith delivered his message a calm, business-like document to

—

Both Houses adjourned sine die on the 21st of March following.

the Legislature.

On the 1st day

of April, Harlow S. Orton and David Taylor were elected Associate Justices of the Supreme Court the term of the first named to expire on the first Monday of January, 1S8S ; that of the last mentioned, on the first Monday of January,

1886.

In obedience to a proclamation of the Governor,

the Legislature convened on the 4th day of June, A. D. 1S78, in extra session, to revise the statutes,

A. R. Barrows was elected Speaker of the Assembly. 7th of the same month.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on the

In November following, the members chosen to the Forty-sixth Congress

were C. G. Williams, in the First District

;

L. B. Caswell, in the Second ;

George C. Hazelton, in

the Third ; P. V. Deuster, in the Fourth ; E. S. Bragg, in the Fifth ; Gabriel Bouck, in the Sixth

H. L. Humphrey,

;

and T. C. Pound, in the Eighth. The thirty-second regular session of the Legislature commenced on the 8th day of January, 1879. D. M. Kelly was elected the Assembly the next day, the message of the Governor a brief, but able State Speaker of On the 21st, Matthew H. Carpenter was elected United paper was delivered to both Houses. States Senator for six years, from the 4th of March thereafter, in place of Timothy O. Howe. The Legislature adjourned sine die on the 5th of March, 1879. On the 1st day of April following, Orsamus Cole was elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, for a term of ten years. Wisconsin has many attractive features. It is a healthy, fertile, well-watered and well-wooded State. Every where within its borders the lights of each citizen are held sacred. Intelligence and education are prominent characteristics of its people. All the necessaries and many of the comfort-, and luxuries of life are easily to be obtained. Agriculture, the chief source of wealth to so many nations, is here conducted with profit and success. Generally speaking, the farmer owns the land he cultivates. Here, the laboring man, if honest and industrious, is most certain to secure a competence for himself and family. Few States have made more ample provisions for the unfortunate the deaf and dumb, the blind, and the insane than has Wisconsin. Nor has she been less interested in her reformatory and penal institutions. In her educational facilities, she already rivals the most advanced of her sister States. Her markets are easily reached by railway, and water-navigation, so that the products of the country find ready sale. Her commerce is extensive her manufactures remunerative; her natural resources great and manifold. In morality and religion, her standard is high. Her laws are lenient, but not lax, securing the in the

Seventh;

—

;

—

;

who

greatest

good

f.ict, all

the essential elements of prosperity and good government.

fore, must

those

are disposed to live up to their requirements.

be her future career.

Wisconsin has, in

Exalted and noble, there-

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. By T.

CHAMBERLIN, A. M., State Geologist.

The surface features of Wisconsin are simple and symmetrical in character, and present a conon the one hand, and a monotonous level, on' the other. The highest summits within the state rise a little more than 1,200 feet above its lowest surfiguration intermediate between the mountainous,

faces. A few exceptional peaks rise from 400 to 600 teet above their bases, but abrupt elevations of Viewed as a whole, the state may be regarded as ocmure than 200 or 300 feet are not common. cupying a swell of land lying between three notable depressions Lake Michigan on the east, about 578 feet above the mean tide of the ocean, Lake Superior on the north, about 600 feet above the sea, and the valley of the Mississippi river, whose elevation at the Illinois state line is slightly below that of Lake Michigan. From these depressions the surface slopes upward to the summit •altitudes of the state. But the rate of ascent is unequal. From Lake Michigan the surface rises by a long, gentle acclivity westward and northward. A similar slope ascends from the Mississippi valley to meet this, and their junction forms a north and south arch extending nearly the entire length of the state. From Lake Superior the surface ascends rapidly to the watershed, which it reaches within ;

about thirty miles of the lake. If we include the contiguous portion of the

upper peninsula of Michigan, the whole elevation

maybe looked upon as a very low, rude, three-sided pyramid, with rounded angles. The apex is The near the Michigan line, between the headwaters of the Montreal and Brule rivers. The southeastward and southwestward sides are long, and northern side is short and abrupt. considered in round of this pyramid may be as, numbers, 600 gently. The base decline feet the sea, and its extreme apex 1,800 feet.

Under the waters of Lake Michigan before the limits of the state are reached.

the

surface of the land passes below the

Under Lake Superior

sea level

the land-surface descends to

even greater depths, but probably not within the boundaries of the state. The regularity of the southward slopes is interrupted in a very interesting way by a remarkable diagonal valley !

Green bay and the Fox and Wisconsin

rivers.

This

a great groove, traversing

the state obliquely, and cutting down the central elevation half its height.

A line passing across

the surface, from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi, at any other point, would arch upward from

about 400

to 1,000 feet,

according to the location, while along the trough of this vaHey

reach an elevation barely exceeding 200 feet. the surface

rises

would

On the northwest side of this trough, in general,

somewhat gradually, giving at most

points

much amplitude to the valley, but

on the opposite side, the ^lope ascends rapidly to a well marked watershed that stretcher, a< ross At Lake Winnebago, this diagonal valley is connected with a the state parallel to the valley. Geologically, this Green-bay -Rockscarcely less notable one, occupied by the Rock river.

— TOPOGRAPHY AXn GEOLOGY. river valley is even more noticeable, since

Ill

along the trend of the underlying

and was in large measure plowed out of a soft stratum by glacial action. Where it crosses the watershed, near Horicon marsh, it presents the same general features that are seen at other points, lies

strata,

and in an almost equally conspicuous degree. Except in the southern part of the state, this valley is confined on the east by an abrupt ascent, and, at many points, by a precipitous, rocky " which is the projecting edge of the strata of the Niagara acclivity, known as "The Ledge On the watershed referred to between the St. Lawrence and Mississippi basins limestone, this ledge is as conspicuous and continuous as at other points, so that we have here again the phenomenon of a valley formed by excavation, running up over an elevation of 300 feet, and connecting two great systems of drainage.

—

On the east side of this valley, as already indicated, there is a sharp ascent of 200 feet, on an average, from the crest of which the surface slopes gently down to Lake Michigan. The uniformity of this slope is broken by an extended line of drift hills, lying obliquely along it and extending from Kewaunee county southward to the Illinois line and known as the Kettle range.

A less conspicuous range of similar character branches off from this in the northwest corner of Walworth county and passes across the Rock

river valley, where

west of Madison, crossing the great bend

the Wisconsin

river,

curves northward, passing

and bearing northeastward

into Oconto county, where it swings round to the westward and crosses the northern part of the state.

As a general topographical feature it

not conspicuous and is rather to be conceived as

a peculiar chain of drift hills winding over the surface of the state, merely interrupting in some

There

be occasion to return to this feature in our observed that the southeastward slope is interrupted by valleys running across it, rudely parallel to Lake Michigan, and directing its drainage northward

degree the regularity of its slopes discussion of the

drift.

will

and southward, instead of directing it down the slope into the lake. The Mississippi slope presents several conspicuous ridges and valleys, but their trend is toward the great river, and they are all due, essentially, to the erosion of the streams that

One of these ridges constitutes the divide south of the Wisconsin river, to. Another of these, conspicuous by reason of its narrowness and sharpness, between the Kickapoo and the Mississippi, and extends through Crawford, Vernon and Monroe counties. Still another is formed by the quartzite ranges of Sauk county and others of less prominence give a highly diversified character to the slope. Scattered over the surface of the state are prominent hills, some swelling upward into rounded channel the slope. already referred lies

domes, some rising symmetrically into conical peaks, some ascending precipitously into castellated towers, and some reaching prominence without regard to beauty of form or convenience of description. A part of these hills were formed by the removal by erosion of the surrounding In the former case, strata, and a part by the heaping up of drift material by the glacial forces. they are composed of rock; in the latter, of clay, sand, gravel and bowlders. The two forms The highest peak in the southwestern part of the state is the West are often combined. which is feet above Michigan; in eastern part, Lapham's Blue mound, Lake the peak, 824 1,151 The crest of Penokee range in the northern feet, and in the central part, Rib hill, 1263 feet. part of the state rises 1,000 feet, and upwards, above Lake Michigan. The drainage systems correspond in general to these topograpical features, though several minor eccentricities are to be observed. The streams of the Lake Superior system plunge rapidly down their steep slopes, forming numerous falls, some of them possessing great beauty, prominent among which are those of the Montreal river. On the southern slope, the rivers, in the upper portion of their courses, likewise descend rapidly, though less so, producing a succession In the lower part of their courses, the of rapids and cascades, and an occasional cataract.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

112

descent becomes much more gentle and many of them are navigable to a greater or less extent. The rivers west of the Wisconsin pursue an essentially direct course to the Mississippi, The Wisconsin river lies, for the greater part of its attended of course with minor flexures. the north and

course, upon

south arch of the

state, but

on encountering the diagonal

valley-

above mentioned it turns southwestward to the " Father of Waters." The streams east of the Wisconsin flow southerly and southeasterly until they likewise encounter this valley when they turn in the opposite direction and discharge northeasterly into Lake Michigan, through Green bay.

Between the Green-bay-Rock-river valley and Lake Michigan, the drainage is again

the normal southeasterly direction.

In the southern part of the state, the rivers flow in a gen-

beyond the state, turn westward toward the Mississippi. If the courses of the streams be studied in detail, many exceedingly interesting and instructive features will be observed, due chiefly to peculiarities of geological structure, some of which will be apparent by inspecting the accompanying geological map. Our space, however, forbids our entering upon the subject here. The position of the watershed between the great basins of the Mississippi and the St. LawOn the Illinois line, it lies only three and one half miles from Lake rence is somewhat peculiar. Michigan and about 160 feet above its surface. As traced northward from this point, it retires from the lake and ascends in elevation till it approaches the vicinity of Lake Winnebago, when it recurves upon itself and descends to the portage between the Fox and the Wisconsin rivers, whence it pursues a northerly course to the heights of Michigan, when it turns westward and eral southerly direction, but,

passes in an undulating course across the northern part of the state.

will

be observed that

much the greater area of the state is drained by the Mississippi system. The relationship which the drainage channels have been observed to sustain to the topoThe general arching of the graphical features is partly that of cause and partly that of effect. surface, giving rise to the main slopes, is due to deep-seated geological causes that produce an upward swelling of the center of the state. This determined the general drainage systems. On the other hand, the streams, acting upon strata of varying hardness, and presenting different attitudes, wore away the surface unequally and cut for themselves anomalous channels, leaving

corresponding divides between, which gave origin to the minor irregularities that diversify the planed that great ice stream, the father of the drift surface. In addition to this, the glacier

—

and plowed the surface and heaped up its debris upon it, modifying both the surface and drainage features Looked at from a causal standpoint, we see the results of internal forces elevating, and external agencies cutting down, or, in a word, the face of the state is the growth of geologic ages furrowed by the teardrops of the skies.

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. In harmony with

the historical character of this atlas, it may be most acceptable to weave

our brief sketch of tin- geological structure of the state into the form of a narrative of its growth.

THE ARCH.-KAN AGE. LAUREN IAN PERIOD. I

The physical history of Wisconsin can be traced back with certainty to a state of complete :ath the waters of the ancient ocean, by which the material of our oldest and submergem e 1

Let an extensive but shallow sea, covering the whole of the deepest strata were deposited. present territory of the Mate, be pictured to the mind, and let it be imagined to be depositing

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

113

mud and sand, as at the present day. and we have before us the first authentic stage of the history under consideration.

Back of that, the history is

lost in

the mists of geologic antiquity.

The

thickness of the sediments that accumulated in that early period was immense, being measured

These sediments occupied of course an essentially horizontal position, and were, doubtless, in a large degree hardened into beds of impure sandstone, shale, and other sedirock. mentary But in the progress of time an enormous pressure, attended by heat, was brought to bear upon them laterally, or edgewise, by which they were folded and crumpled, and forced up out of the water, giving rise to an island, the nucleus of Wisconsin. The force which produced this upheaval is believed to have arisen from the cooling and consequent contraction of The foldings may be imaged as the wrinkles of a shrinking earth. But the contorthe globe. tion of the beds was a scarcely more wonderful result than the change in the character of the rock which seems to have taken place simultaneously with the folding, indeed, as the result of the heat and pressure attending it. The sediments, that seem to have previously taken the form of impure sandstone and shale for the most part, underwent a change, in which re-arrangement and crystalization of the ingredients played a conspicuous part. By this metamorphism, granite, gneiss, mica schist, syenite, hornblende rocks, chloride schists and other crystalline rocks were formed. These constitute the Laurentian formation and belong to the most ancient period yet distinctly recognized in geology, although there were undoubtedly more ancient rocks.. They are therefore rocks (formerly Azoic.) very fittingly termed Archasan ancient No remains of life have been by thousands of feet.

—

found in this formation in Wisconsin, but from the nature of rocks elsewhere, believed to be of the same age, it is probable that the lowest forms of life existed at this time. It is not strange that the great changes through which the rocks have passed should have so nearly obliterated all

The original extent of this Laurentian island can not now be accurately ascer-

traces of them.

tained, but it will be sufficiently near the truth for our present purposes to consider the formation as it is

now exposed, and as it is represented on the maps of the geological survey, as showing This will make it include a large area in the north-central

approximately the original extent.

portion of the state and a portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

All the rest of the state

was beneath the ocean, and the same may be said of the greater portion of the United States The height of this island was doubtless considerable, as it has since been very much cut down by

denuding agencies. The strata, as now exposed, mostly stand in highly inclined attitudes and present their worn edges to view. The tops of the folds, of which they are the remnants, seem to have been cut away, and we have the nearly vertical sides remaining.

As soon as the Laurentian island had been elevated, the waves of the almost shoreless ocean began to beat against it, the elements to disintegrate it, and the rains of the then tropical climate to wash it; and the sand, clay and other debris, thus formed, were deposited beneath the

waters around

its

base, giving rise to a new sedimentary formation.

there was any vegetation on the island

There is no evidence that

the air and water were, doubtless, heavily charged with

carbonic acid, an efficient agent of disintegration: the climate was warm and doubtless very moist circumstances which combined to hasten the erosion of the island and increase the

—

In addition to these agencies, we judge from the large amount of carbonaceous matter contained in some of the beds, that there must have been an abundance

deposition in the surrounding sea.

of marine vegetation, and, from the limestone beds that accumulated, it is probable that there was marine animal life also, since in later ages that was the chief source of limestone strata.

The joint accumulations from these several sources gave rise to a series of shales, sat d and limestones, whose combined thickness was several thousand feet.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

L14

At length the process of upheaval and metamorphism that closed the Laurentian period was repeated, and these sandstones became quartzites; the limestones were crystalized, the shales were changed to slates or schists, and intermediate grades of sediments became diorites, The carbonaceous matter was changed quartz- porphyries and other forms of crystalline rocks. There were also associated with these deposits extensive beds of iron ore, in part to graphite. which we now find chiefly in the form of magnetite, hematite and specular ore. These constitute From the amount of iron ore they contain, they are also fittingly termed the Huronian rocks. As in the preceding case, the strata were contorted, flexed and folded, the iron-bearing series. and the whole island was further elevated, carrying with it these circumjacent strata, by which The area of the island after receiving this increment was conits extent was much enlarged. siderably greater than the surface represented as Laurentian and Huro.nian on the accompanying map, since it was subsequently covered to a considerable extent by later formations. Penokee range, in Ashland county, is the most conspicuous development of the Huronian rocks in the

The upturned edge of the formation forms a bold rampart, extending across the country

state.

for sixty miles,

making the nearest approach to a mountain range

be found within the

state.

In the northern part of magnetic schist may be traced nearly its entire length. Oconto county there is also an important development of this formation, being an extension area found in Barron of the Menomonee iron-bearing series. A third is county, which includes belt of

deposits of pipestone.

In the south central part of the state there are a considerable

number

of small areas and isolated outliers of quartzite and quartz-porphyry, that, without much doubt,

The most conspicuous of these are the Baraboo quartzite ranges, in to this series. Sauk and Columbia counties, and from thence a chain of detached outliers extends northeasterly The most southerly exposure of the formation is near Lake Mills, in

belong

through several counties. Jefferson county.

THE COPPER-BEARING SERIES. Previous to the upheaval of the Huronian strata, there occurred in the Lake Superior region events of peculiar and striking interest. at least say

If we may not speak with absolute assurance,

we may

with reasonable probability, that the crust of the earth was fissured in that region,

and that there issued from beneath an immense mass of molten rock, that spread itself over an The action area of more than three hundred miles in length and one hundred miles in width. was not confined to a single overflow, but eruption followed eruption, sometimes apparently in

Each outpouring, when solidified, quick succession, sometimes evidently at long intervals. formed a stratum of trap rock, and where these followed each other without any intervening In some cases, however, an interval occurred, deposit, a series of trappean beds were formed. during which the waves, acting upon the rock previously formed, produced a bed of sand, gravel and clay, which afterward solidified into sandstone, conglomerate and shale. The historj oi these beds is lithographed on their surface in beautiful ripple-marks and other evidences of waveaction.

After the cessation of the igneous eruptions, there accumulated a vast

thickness of

sandstone, shale and conglomerate, so that the whole series is literally miles in thickness.

The eruptive portions have been spoken of as traps, for convenience; but they do not now possess the usual characteristics of igneous rocks, and appear to have undergone a chemical

metamorphism by which the mineral ingredients have been changed, the leading ones now being an iron chlorite and a feldspar, with which are associated, as accessory minerals, quart/., epidote, prenite, calcite, laumontite, analcite, datolite, magnetite, native copper and silver, and, more rarely, other minerals.

The rock, as a whole, is now known as a melaphyr.

The upper portion

of each bed is usually characterized by almond-sized cells filled with the minerals above men.

.iving to the rock an amygdaloidal nature.

The native copper was not injected in a

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

115

molten state, as has very generall) been supposed, but was deposited by chemical means aftei the beds were formed and after a portion of the chemical change of the minerals above mentioned had been accomplished. The same is true of the silver. The copper occurs in all the different the melaphyrs, amygdaloids, sandstones, shales and conglomerates, but most forms of rock

—

abundantly in the amygdaloids and certain conglomerates. This series extends aero,-, the northern portion of the state, occupying portions of Ashland, When the Huronian rocks were elevated, the) Bayfield, Douglas, Burnett and Polk counties. they partook of the folding in some measure. The coppei Keweenaw Point, Michigan, extends southwestward through Ashland, Burnett

carried these up with them, and

bearing range of

and- Polk counties, and throughout this whole extent the beds dip north-northwesterly toward

Lake Superior, at a high angle; but in Douglas and Bayfield counties there is a parallel range and undoubtedly form the opposite side of a trough formed by a downward flexure of the strata.

in which the beds incline in the opposite direction,

PALEOZOIC TIME— SILURIAN AGE. Potsdam Sandstone. After the great Archaean upheaval, there followed a long period, concerning wnich very little It is only certain that immense erosion of a " lost interval " in geological history. is known

—

the Archaean strata took place, and strata and redepositing the

sea advanced upon the island, eroding its

that in time the

wash and wear beneath

its

surface.

The more resisting bed^, with-

stood this advance, and formed reefs and rocky islands off the ancient shore, about whose bases the sands and sediments accumulated, as they did over the bottom of the surrounding ocean.

The breakers, dashing against the rocky cliffs, threw down masses of rock, which imbedded themselves in the sands, or were rolled and rounded on the beach, and at length were

buried, in

either case, to tell their own history, when they should be again disclosed by the ceaseless gnaw-

ings of the very elements that had buried them.

In addition to the accumulations of wash and

wear that have previously been the main agents of rock-formations, abundant life now swarms in the ocean, and the sands become the great cemetery of its dead. Though the contribution of each little being was small, the myriad millions that the waters brought forth, yielded by their remains, Among plants, there were sea-weeds, and a large contribution to the accumulating sediments. among animals, protozoans, radiates, mollusks and articulates, all the sub-kingdoms except the in nature and number, were the trilobites, both the most remarkable, Among these, vertebrates.

who have left their casts in countless multitudes in certain localities.

The result of the action

of these several agencies was the formation of extensive beds of sandstone, with interstratified

These surrounded the Archaean nucleus on all sides, and repo>ed the copper and ironthe red Lake Superior sandstone. On the opposite side of the island, the wave-action was mainly upon quartzites, porphyries and granites, and resulted in light-colored sandstones. The former is confined to the inn vicinity of Lake Superior; the latter occupies a broad, irregular belt bordering the \ lay ers

"I"

limestone and shale.

on its flanks.

On the Lake Superior margin, the sea acted mainly upon

bearing series, which are highly ferruginous, and the result iva

area on the south, and, being widest crescent.

The form and

accompanying map.

m lie in

position

will

the central

of the

area

part of the state,

will

best

ir,

often likened to a rude

apprehended by

referring to the

be understood from the foregoing description, that the strata of tin-,

nearly horizontal position, and repose unconformably upon the

of the crystalline rocks.

wuv..

The close of this period was mil marked by any great upheaval; there

HISTOEY OF AVISCOXSIN.

116

was no crumpling or metamorphism of the strata, and they have remained to the present day very much as they were originally deposited, save a slight arching upward in the central portion of the state. The beds have been somewhat compacted by the pressure of superincumbent strata and solidified by the cementing action of calcareous and ferruginous waters, and by their own coherence, but the original character of the formation, as a great sand-bed, has not been obliterated. It still bears the ripple-marks, cross-lamination, worm-burrows, and similar Its thickness is very irregular, owing to the unevenmarkings that characterize a sandy beach. The strata ness of its Archaean bottom, and may be said to range from 1,000 feet downward. slope gently away from the Archaean core of the state and underlie all the later formations, and may be reached at any point in southern Wisconsin by penetrating to a sufficient depth, which As it is a water-bearing formation, and the can be calculated with an approximate correctness. source of fine Artesian wells, this is a fact of much importance. stone and shale, by supplying impervious

strata, very

The interbedded layers of limemuch enhance its value as a source of

fountains.

Lower Magnesian Limestone. During the previous period, the accumulation of sandstone gave place for a time to the formation of limestone, and afterward the deposit of sandstone was resumed. At its close, without any very marked disturbance of existing conditions, the formation of limestone was resumed, and progressed with little interruption till a thickness ranging from 50 to 250 feet was attained. This variation is due mainly to irregularities of the upper surface of the formation, which is undulating, and in some localities, may appropriately be termed billowy, the surface rising and This, and the preceding similar deposit, falling 100 feet, in some cases, within a short distance. have been spoken of as limestones simply, but they are really dolomites, or magnesian limestones, This rock also contains a since they contain a large proportion of carbonate of magnesia. notable quantity of silica, which occurs disseminated through the mass of the rock; or, variously, as crystals of quartz, filling or lining drusy cavities, forming as nodules or masses of chert ;

beautiful miniature grottos; as the nucleus of oolitic concretions, or as sand.

Some argillaceous

matter also enters into its composition, and small quantities of the ores of iron, lead and copper, The evidences of life are very are sometimes found, but they give little promise of value.

Some sea-weeds, a few mollusks, and an occasional indication of other forms of life embrace the known list, except at a few favored localities where a somewhat ampler fauna is But it is not, therefore, safe to assume the absence of life in the depositing seas, for it found. is certain that most limestone has orignated from the remains of animals and plants that secrete calcareous material, and it is most consistent to believe that such was the case in the present instance, and that the distinct traces of life were mostly obliterated. This formation occupies an It was, doubtless, originally a somewhat uniform band irregular belt skirting the Potsdam area. scanty.

swinging around the nucleus

of the

state

already

formed, but

has since been eroded by

streams to its present jagged outline. St. Peter's

Sandstone.

At the close of this limestone-making period, there appears to have been an interval of which we have no record, and the next chapter of the history introduces us to another era of sand accumulation. The work began by the leveling up of the inequalities of the surface of the Lower Magnesian limestone, and it (eased before that was entirely accomplished in all parts of the

The material laid State, for a few prominences were left projecting through the sand deposits. down consisted of a silicious sand, of uniform, well-rounded — doubtless well-rolled grains. This

—

was evidently deposited horizontally upon the uneven limestone surface, and SO rests in a sense

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

117

unconformably upon it. Where the sandstone abuts against the sides of the limestone prominences, it is mingled with material derived by wave action from them, which tells the story of its formation. But aside from these and other exceptional impurities, the formation is a very pure sandstone, and is used for glass manufacture. At most points, the sandstone h firmly cemented and readily crumbles, so that it is used for mortar, the simple handling with pick and shovel being sufficient to reduce it to a sand. Owing to the unevenness of its bottom, it varies greatly in thickness, the greatest yet observed being

100 feet.

212

feet,

but the average is less than

Until recently, no organic remains had ever been found in it, and the traces

now col-

lected are very meager indeed, but they are sufficient to show the existence of marine

life, and demonstrate that it is an oceanic deposit. The rarity of fossils is to be attributed to the porous nature of the rock, which is unfavorable to their preservation. This porosity, however, subserves

a very useful purpose, as it renders this pre-eminently a water-bearing horizon, and supplies some

of the finest Artesian fountains in the state, and is competent to furnish many more.

but a narrow area at the surface, fringing that of the

occupies

Lower Magnesian limestone on the south.

Trenton Limestone.

A slight change in the oceanic conditions caused a return to limestone formation, accompanied with the deposit of considerable clayey material, which formed shale.

The origin of the

limestone is made evident by a close examination of

it, which shows it to be full of fragments of and other organic remains, or the impressions they have left. Countless numbers of the lower forms of life flourished in the seas, and left their remains to be comminuted and

shells, corals,

consolidated into limestone.

A part of the time, the accumulation of clayey matter predominated,

and so layers of shale alternate with the limestone beds, and shaly leaves and partings occur in Unlike the calcareous strata above and below, a portion of these are true

the limestone layers.

limestone, containing but a very small proportion oi magnesia. A sufficient amount of carbonaceous matter is present in some layers to cause them to burn readily. This formation is quite

highly metalliferous in certain portions of the lead region, containing zinc especially, and con-

The formation abounds in fossils, many of them well preserved, and, from their great antiquity, they possess uncommon interest. All the animal sub-kingdoms, except vertebrates, are represented. The surface area of this rock borders the St. Peter's sandstone, but, to avoid too great complexity on the map, it is not distinguished from the next formation to which it is closely allied. Its thickness reaches -o feet. siderable lead, with less quantities of .other metals.

The C.alena Limestone. With scarcely a change of oceanic conditions, limestone deposit continued, so that we reposing upon the surface of the Trenton limestone, 250

feet,

find

or less, of a light gray or buff

colored highly magnesian limestone, occurring in heavy beds, and having a sub-crystalline structure.

In the southern portion of the state, it contains but little shaly matter, but in the north-

eastern part, it is modified by the addition of argillaceous layers and leaves, and presents a bluish or

greenish-gray aspect.

receives

its

name from the sulphide of lead,

contains large quantities, in the southwestern part of the state.

Zinc ore

— galena, of which is

also abundant, and

these minerals give to this and the underlying formation great importance in that region.

Else-

where, although these ores are present in small quantities, they have not developed economic

importance.

This limestone, though changing its nature, as above stated, occupies a large area in

the southwestern part of the state, and a broad north and south belt in east-central Wisconsin.

be seen that our island is growing apace by concentric additions, and that, as tinformations sweep around the central nucleus of Archaean rocks, they swing off into adjoining states, whose formation was somewhat more tardv than that of Wisconsin It

will

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN Cincinnati

A change ensued upon the formation of the Galena limestone, by virtue of which there followed the deposition of large quantities of clay, accompanied by some calcareous material, the The sediment has never whole reaching at some points a thickness of more than 200 feet. partially indurated, and a portion of it is now only a bed of compact clay. The shales are of Other portions hardened to shale or limestone according to the material. various gray, green, blue, purple and other hues, so that where vertical cliffs are exposed, as along

become more than

Green bay, a beautiful appearance

presented.

As a whole, this

a very soft formation, and

hence easily eroded. Owing to this fact, along the east side of the Green-bay-Rock-river valley, it has been extensively carried away, leaving the hard overlying Niagara limestone projecting The prominence of the mounds in the southwestern in the bold cliffs known as "The Ledge." part of the state are due to a like cause.

ing

numbers of well preserved

fossils,

Certain portions of this formation abound in astonish-

among which

corals, bryozoans, and

brachiopods, pre-

dominate, the first named being especially abundant. A little intelligent attention to these might have saved a considerable waste of time and means in an idle search for coal, to which a slight

resemblance to some of the shales of the coal measures has led. This formatiun underlies the mounds of the lead region, and forms a narrow belt on the eastern margin of the Green-bay-Rockriver valley. This was the closing peri >d of the Lower Silurian Age.

Clinton Iron

Ire.

On the surface of the *hales just described, there were accumulated, here and there, beds of peculiar lenticular iron ore.

It is

probable that it was deposited in detached basins, but the evidence

own state, this is chiefly known as Iron Ridge ore, from tne It is made up of little concretions, which from their size and color are fancied to resemble flax seed, and hence tiie name "seed ore," or the of this

not conclusive.

In our

remarkable development it attains at that point.

roe of

fish, and

hence oolitic ore.

"Shot ore" is also a common term.

This L a soft ore occur-

ring in regular horizontal beds which are quarried with more ease than ordinary limestone.

deposit attains, at Iron Ridge, the unusual thickness of twenty-five accessible supply of ore, adequate to all demands less

for a

feet,

This and affords a readily

long time to come.

Similar, but

much

extensive beds, occur at Hartford, and near Depere, besides some feeble deposits elsewhere.

Large quantities of ore from Iron Ridge have been shipped to various points in this and neighboring States for reduction, in addition to that smelted in the vicinity of the mines.

Niagara Limestone. Following the period of iron deposit, there ensued the greatest limestone-forming era in the During its progress a series of beds, summing up, at their points of greathistory of Wisconsin. The process of formation est thickness, scarcely less than eight hundred feet, were laid down. was essentially that already described, the accumulation of fie calcareous secretions of marine Toward the close of the period, reefs appeared, that closely resemble the coral reefs of the Corals form a very prominent element in the present seas, and doubtless have a similar history. life.

life of this period, and with them were associated great number, of molluskg, one of which {Pentamerus oblongus) som rtimes occurs in beds not unlike certain bivalves of to-day, and may At certain points, those wonderful animals, be said to have been the oyster of the Silurian seas. the stone lilies {Crinoids), grew in remarkable abundance, mounted on stems like a plant, yet

true animals.

Those unique crustaceans, the trilobites, were conspicuous in numbers and variety,

while the gigantic cephalbpods held sway over the life of the seas.

In the vicinity of

th.- reefs,

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. there seem to have been extensive settled, the

stone.

former resulting

119

areous sand Hats and .ire. is over which fine

all

(

a pure granular dolomite, the latter in a

all

ompai

an o

lose-textured

Of other portions of the formation,

The rock of the reel's is of very irregular structure.

some are coarse heavy beds, some line, even-bedded, close-grained layers, and some, again, irreguimpure and cherty. All are highly raagnesian, and some are among the purest dolomites known. The Niagara limestone occupies a broad heh lying adjacent to Lake Michigan.

lar,

Lower believed to represent this period.

[eldi rbi rg

On Mud creek, near Milwaukee,

there

Limb stone.

found a

thin-bedded

slaty limestone,

that

has negle ted, however, to leave us an unequivocal record

of its history, as fossils are extremely rare, and its stratigraphical relations and lithographical Near the village of Waubeka in are capable of more than one interpretation. Ozaukee county, there is a similar formation, somewhat more fossiliferous, that seems to repreThe area which these occupy is very small and they play a most insignifisent the same period. They close the record of the Silurian age in Wisconsin. cant part in the geology of the state. During its progress the land had been gradually emerging from the ocean and increasing its

character

There had been no general amplitude by concentric belts of limestone, sandstone and shale. nature of the forming rock and

disturbance, only those slight oscillations which changed the facilitated

deposition.

its

close the waters

from the borders of the

retired

interval supervened, during which no additions are

state,

and an

known to have been made to its substructure

DEVONIAN AGE. Hamilton Cement

Rock.

After a lapse of time, during which the uppermost Silurian and the lowest

Devonian strata,

advanced slightly upon the eastern margin of and almuninous material, forming a combination of which a portion has recently been shown to possess hydraulic properties of a high degree of excellence. With this deposition there dawned a new era in the life-history of Wisconsin. While multitudes of protozoans, radiates, mollusks and articulates swarmed in the previous seas, no trace of a vertebrate has been found. The Hamilton period witnessed the introduction of the highest type of the animal kingdom into the Wisconsin series. as found elsewhere, were formed, the waters again

the state and deposited a magnesian limestone mingled with silicious

—

the fishes. The lower orders of lite, as Precisely bow far less ancient Devonian type. now known, as it has undoubtedly been much reduced by

But even then only the lowest class was represented before, were present, but the species

were of the

the deposit originally extended is not

the eroding agencies that have acted upon

it.

That portion which remains, occupies a limited

area on the lake shore immediately north of Milwaukee, extending inland half a dozen miles.

The cement rock proper is found on

the

Milwaukee

river just

above the civ.

At the

the Hamilton period the oceanic waters retired, and, if they ever subsequently encroached upon

our territory, they have left us no permanent record of their intrusion.

The history of the formation of the substructure of the state was. it unusual degree, simple and progressive.

Starting

he growing island until it extended

itself far

it,

be observed, in an

adding belt after belt to the margin of

beyond the limits of our state, and

oalesi ed with

An ideal map of the state would show the Archean nucleus surrounded om entric bands of the later formations in the order of their deposition. Lint during all the

the forming continent. b\

will

with a linn core of most ancient crystalline

rocks, leaf upon leaf of stony strata were piled around

HISTORY

120

WISCONSIN.

<>K

vast lapse of time consumed in their growth, the elements were gnawing, carving and channeling

the surface, and the outcropping edges of the formations were becoming more and more jagged, and now, after the last stratum had been added, and the whole had been lifted from the waters that gave it birth, there

ensued perhaps a

still

vaster era, during which the history was simply

The face of the state became creased with the wrinkles of age. The The remaining Devonian edges of her rocky wrappings became ragged with the wear of time. that of surface erosion.

periods, the great Carboniferous age. the

Mesozoic

and the earlier Tertiary periods passed,

era,

leaving no other record than that of denudation.

THE GLACIAL PERIOD. With the approach of the great Ice Age, a new chapter was opened.

An immense sheet of

but irresistibly, down from the north, planing down the prominences, filling up

ice moved slowly,

the valleys, polishing and

grooving the strata, and heaping up its rubbish of sand, gravel, clay and

bowlders over the face of the country. It engraved the lines of its progress on the rocks, and, by reading these, we learn that one prodigious tongue of ice plowed along the bed of Lake Michigan, and a smaller one pushed through the valley of Green bay and Rock river, while another

immense ice-stream flowed southwestward through the trough of Lake Superior and onward into Minnesota.

The diversion of the glacier through these great channels seems to have left With it we find no drift accumulations.

the southwestern portion of the state intact, and over

warmer climate, the ice-streams were melted backward, leaving their debris heaped promiscuously over the surface, giving it a new configuration. In the midst of this retreat, a series of halts and advances seem to have taken place in close succession, by which the drift was pushed up into ridges and hills along the foot of the ice, after which a more rapid The effect of this action was to produce that remarkable chain of drift hills and retreat ensued. ridges, known as the Kettle range, which we have already described as winding over the the approach of a

surface of the state in

verj

peculiar manner.

position of the edge of the glacier at a certain stage of

a great historic rampart,

its

retreat,

recording the

and doubtless at the same time

noting a great climatic or dynamic change. The melting of the glacier gave rise to large quantities of water, and hence to numerous torrents, as well as lakes.

There occurred about this time a depression of the land to the north-

This gave ward, which was perhaps the cause, in part or in whole, of the retreat of the ice. The waters advanced somewhat upon the land and deposited the red

origin to the great lakes. t

lay that borders

Lakes Michigan and Superior ami occupies the Green bay valley as far up a^>

the vicinity of Fond du Lac.

After several oscillations, the lakes settled down into their present

Wherever the glacier plowed over the land, it left an irregular sheet of commingled The depressions formed by clay, sand, gravel and bowlders spread unevenly over the surface. Probably not one its irregularities soon filled with water and gave origin to numerous lakelets. existence lakes had an before the glacial period. Wherever the Wisconsin of the thousands of great lakes advanced upon the [and, they leveled its surface and left their record in lacustine clays and sandy beach lines. With the retreat of the glacier, vegetation covered the surface, and by its aid and the action of the elements our fertile drift soils, among the last and best of Wisconsin's formations, were produced. And the work still goes on.

CLIMATOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. OLDENHAGE.

By Prof. H. H.

The climate

of a country, or

that

peculiar state of the atmosphere in regard to heat and

moisture which prevails in any given place, and which directly affects the growth of plants and animals, is determined by the following causes

from the

sea.

3d. Height above the sea.

ist.

4th.

Distance from the equator,

Prevailing winds; and 5th.

2d.

Local

influences,

such as soil, vegetation, and proximity to lakes and mountains.

Of these causes, the first, distance from the equator, is by far the most important. The warmest climates are necessarily those of tropical regions where the sun's rays are vertical. But in proceeding from the equator toward the poles, less and less heat continues to be received by the same extent of surface, because the rays fall more and more obliquely, and the same amount of heat-rays therefore spread over an

increasing breadth of surface

;

while, however,

increase of obliquity, more and more heat is absorbed by the atmosphere, as the

with the

amount of air

is greater. If the earth's surface were either wholly land or water, and its atmosphere motionless, the gradations of climate would run parallel with the latitudes from the But owing to the irregular distribution of land and water and the prevailing winds, such an arrangement is impossible, and the determination of the real climate of a given region, and its causes, is one of the most difficult problems of science. On the second of these causes, distance from the sea, depends the difference between oceWater is more slowly heated and cooled than land the climates anic and continental climates. of the sea and the adjacent land are therefore much more equable and moist than those of the

to be penetrated

equator to the poles.

;

interior.

A decrease of temperature is noticeable in ascending high mountains.

The

rate at which and is influenced by a variety of causes, such as latitude, situation, moisture, or dryness, hour of the day and season of the year. As a rough approximation, however, the fall of i° of the thermometer for every

the temperature falls with the height above the sea

a very variable quantity,

300 feet is usually adopted. Air in contact with any part of the earth's surface, tends to acquire the temperature of that surface. Hence, winds from the north are cold those from the south are warm. Winds from Prevailing winds are the result of the sea are moist, and winds from the land are usually dry. the relative distribution of atmospheric pressure blowing from places where the pressure is highAs climate practically depends on the temperature and est, toward places where it is lowest. moisture of the air, and as these again depend on the prevailing winds which come charged with the temperature and moisture of the regions they have traversed, it is evident that charts show;

ing the mean pressure of the atmosphere give us the key to the climates of the different regions

of the world.

The effect of prevailing winds is seen in the moist and equable climate of West-

ern Europe, especially Great Britain, owing to the warm and moist southwest winds; and in the

extremes of the eastern part of North America, due to the warm and moist winds prevailing

summer and the Arctic blasts of winter.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

V22

Among local influences which modify climate, the nature of the soil is one of the most important. As water absorbs much heat, wet, marshy ground usually lowers the mean temperature. A sandy waste presents the greatest extremes. The extremes of temperature are also modified by extensive forests, which prevent the soil from being as much warmed and cooled as it would be if bare. Evaporation goes on more slowly under the trees, since the soil is screened from the sun. And as the air among the trees is little agitated by the wind, the vapor is left to

accumulate, and hence the humidity of the air is increased.

Climate is modified in a similar manDuring summer the water cools the air and In winter, on the other hand, the opposite effect is pro-

ner by lakes and other large surfaces of water.

reduces the temperature of the locality.

The surface water which is cooled sinks to lower levels; the warmer water rising to the

duced.

radiates heat into the air and thus raises the temperature of the neighboring region. This influence is well illustrated, on a great scale, in our own state by Lake Michigan. It is, lastly, of importance whether a given tract of country is diversified by hills, valleys and mountains. Winds with their warm vapor strike the sides of mountains and are forced up into surface,

Air coming in conduring the night or in winter, with the cooled declivities of hills and rising grounds becomes

higher levels of the atmosphere, where the vapor is condensed into clouds. tact,

cooled and consequently denser and sinks to the low-lying grounds, displacing the warmer and lighter air.

Hence, frosts often occur at these places, when no trace of them can be found at For the same reason the cold of winter is generally more intense in ravines and

higher levels.

valleys than on hill tops and high grounds, the valleys being a receptacle for the cold-air currents

which descend from all sides.

These currents give rise to gusts and blasts of cold wind, which

are simply the out-rush of cold air from such basins.

This is a subject of great practical impor-

tance to fruit-growers. In order to understand the principal features of the climate of Wisconsin, and the conditions

on which these depend, it is necessary to consider the general climatology of the eastern United States. all is

The chief characteristic of this area as a whole is, that

subject to great extremes

those variations of temperature which prevail from the tropical to the Arctic regions.

—

This

The Rocky mountains con-

principally due to the topographical conditions of our continent.

densing the moisture of the warm winds from the Pacific and preventing them from reaching far inland, separate the climate of the Mississippi valley widely from that of the Pacific slope. the Gulf of

Mexico and the Arctic sea there is no elevation to exceed 2,000 feet

flow of the hot southerly winds of summer, or the

Between

to arrest the

cold northerly winds of winter.

From this

results a variation of temperature hardly equaled in any part of the world.

In determining the climates of the United States, western basis of comparison.

Europe

usually taken as the

The contrast between these regions is indeed very great. New York is in Quebec is not so far north as Paris.

the same latitude with Madrid, Naples and Constantinople.

London and Labrador are equi-distant from the equator

;

but while England, with her mild, moist

climate, produces an abundance of vegetation, in Labrador all cultivation ceases.

In the latitude

of Stockholm and St. Petersburg, at the 60th parallel, we find in eastern North America vast icefields

which seldom melt.

The moist and equable climate of western Europe in high

latitudes

is due to the Gulf Stream and the southwest winds of the Atlantic, which spread their warmth and moisture over the western coast. Comparison, however, shows that the climate of the Pacific coast of North America is quite as mild as that of western Europe and this is due to the same kind of influences, namely, to the warm, moist winds and the currents of the Pacific. And to continue the comparison still further, in proceeding on both continents from west to east, or from ocean into the interior, we find a general resemblance of climatic conditions, modified greatly, it ;

true, by local influences.

CLIMATOLOGY OF Wisconsin. The extreme summer climate of the

eastern United States

southwesterly winds, which blow with great

12d is

owing

to the southerly

regularity during this season, and, after

region the peculiar semi-tropical character of

its

summers.

and

great areas of tropical seas, hear the warmth and moisture of these seas far inland, and give

tin

The average temperature of summei

varies between 8o° for the Gulf states, and 6o° for the extreme north.

While

the (lull state

the thermometer often rises to ioo°,in the latitude of Wisconsin this occurs very seldom.

During

These cold blasts from the Arctic deflected by the Rocky mountains, sweep down unopposed into lower latitudes, and produi winter the prevailing winds are from the northwest.

the rigors of an arctic winter. The mean temperature for this season varies between 6o° for the Gulf coast and 15° for the extreme northern part of Wisconsin. In the northern part of the valley the cold is sometimes so intense that the thermometer sinks to the freezing point oi

mercury.

The extreme of heat and cold would give a continental climate if this extreme were not accomThe southerly winds, laden with moisture, distribute this moistwith great regularity over the valley. The amount of rainfall, greater in summer than in

panied by a profusion of rain. ure

winter, varies, from the Gulf of

On the Atthroughout the year on account of its proximity

Mexico to Wisconsin, from 63 inches to 30 inches.

lantic coast, where the distribution is more equal

to the ocean, the amount varies, from Florida to Maine, from 63 to 40 inches.

movements on which, to a

great extent, the climatic conditions of

depend, may be summed up as follows

The atmospheric

the eastern United

States

" 1.

That the northeast trades, deflected in their course to south and southeast winds in their passage through the Carribean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, are the warm and moist winds which communicate to the Mississippi valley and the Atlantic slope their fertility. "2. That the prevalence of these winds from May to October communicates to this region a sub-tropical climate. " 3. That in the region bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, the atmospheric disturbances are propagated from south to north; but in the northern and middle states, owing to a prevailing upper current, from west to east. " 4.

That while this upper current

cool and dry, and we have the apparent anomaly of

rain storms traveling from west to east, at the same time the moisture supplying them comes from

the south.

"5.

That, in the winter, the south and southeast winds

rise into the

upper current, while

the west and northwest winds descend and blow as surface winds, accompanied by an extraor-

dinary depression of temperature, creating, as it were, an almost arctic climate. " 6. That the propagation of the cold winds from west to east is due to the existence of a warmer and lighter air to the eastward. "7. That in summer the westerly currents seldom blow with violence, because, in passing

over the heated plains, they acquire nearly the same temperature as the southerly currents, but in winter the conditions are reversed."

The line of conflict of these aerial currents, produced by unequal atmospheric pressure, shift

so rapidly that the greatest changes of temperature, moisture, and wind, are experien< ed

within a few hours, these changes usually affecting areas of great extent.

In the old world, on

the other hand, the mountain systems, generally running from east to west, offer an impediment, especially to the polar currents, and the weather is therefore not so changeable.

Wisconsin, situated in the upper and central part of the Mississippi valley, is subject to the same general climatic conditions which give this whole area its peculiar climate.

The highest mean summer temperature is

72° Fahrenheit in the southwestern part of the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

124

Lake Superior. During the months of June, July and seldom to 100°. In 1S74 the mercury reached August, the thermometer often rises as hig ! as 90 There are usually two or this high point twice at LaCrosse, and three times at Dubuque, Iowa.

state, and

the lowest 64

Bayfield,

three of these "heated terms " during the summer, terminated by abrupt changes of temperature.

The isotherm of 70

(an isotherm being a line connecting places having the same mean tem-

perature) enters this state from the west, in the northern part of Grant county, touches Madison, takes a southerly direction through Walworth county, passes through southern Michigan, Cleveland, and Pittsburg, reaching the Atlantic ocean a little north of

New York city.

From this it is seen that

and central Michigan, northern Ohio, central Pennsylvania, and summer temperature. Northwestward this line runs Eastern Orethrough southern Minnesota and along the Missouri to the foot of the mountains. the line then returns gon, at 47 30' north latitude, has the same average summer temperature the Pacific coast at San Diego. and touches The remarkable manner in which so large a body of water as Lake Michigan modifies the temperature has been carefully determined, so far as it relates to Wisconsin, by the late Dr. LapIt is seen by the map that the average summer temperature of Racine is ham, of Milwaukee. sou'thern Wisconsin, southern

southern New York have nearly the same

;

the same as that of St. Paul.

The weather map for July, 1875, in

1876, shows that the mean temperature for July was the

same

part of the state, as that of Breckenridge, Minn., north of St.

the

signal service report

for

Rock county, in the southern The moderating effect of Paul. in

the lake during hot weather is felt in the adjacent region during both day and night.

Countries in the higher latitudes having an extreme terized by a small amount of rain-fall.

The

summer temperature are usually charac-

Mississippi valley, however, is directly exposed in

spring and summer to the warm and moist winds from the south, and as these winds condense their moisture by coming in contact with

profusion

colder upper currents from the north and west, it has a

As already Of this amount

of rain which deprives the clim tte largely of its continental features.

stated, the average amount of rain-fall in Wisconsin is about 30 inches annually.

about one-eighth is precipitated in winter, three-eighths in summer, and the rest is equally disin other words, rain is abundant at the time of the year tributed between spring and autumn when it is most needed. In Wisconsin the rainfall is greatest in the southwestern part of the

—

state; the least on and along the shore of

Lake Michigan. This shows that the humidity of the n area an be greater, and the rainfall less, than that of some other. comparison with western Europe, even where the mean temperature is higher than in the

air of a gi\

(

Mississippi valley, the most striking fact in

the climatic conditions of the United States

great range of plants of tropical or sub-tropical origin, such as

Indian corn, tobacco, etc.

the

The

onditions on which the character of the vegetation depends are temperature and moisture, and

the mechanical and chemical composition of the soil.

"The basis of this great capacity (the greal

range of plants) is the high curve of heat and

moisture for the summer, and the fact that the measure of heat and of rain are almost or quite tropical tor

of the Gulf." in Illinois,

the

period in duration from one to live months, in the range from Quebec to the coast

Indian corn attains its full perfection between the summer isotherms 72° and 77

Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas; but it may be grown up to the line of 65

which includes

The successful cultivation of this important staple is due to the intense summer and a virgin soil rich in nitrogen.

whole of Wisconsin.

heat of

While Milwaukee and central Wisconsin have a mean annual temperature of 45

that of

the line of 72°, the average temperature for July, outhern Ireland and central England is 50 runs from Walworth county to St. Paul, while during the same month Ireland and England have ;

mean temperature of only 60"'.

Wisconsin the thermometer rises as high as 90^ and above,

CLIMATOLOGY OF WISCONSIN while the range above the mean in England is very small.

It is

125

the tropical element of our sum-

mers, then, that causes the grape, Xhe corn, etc., to ripen, while England, with a higher mean temperature, is unable to mature them successfully. Ireland, where- southern plants mi. out-doors, unfrosted, the whole winter, can not mature

Wisconsin.

those fruits and grasses which ripen in In England a depression of 2^ below the mean of 6o° will greatly reduce the quan-

or prevent the ripening of wheat altogether, 6o° being essential to a good crop.

Wheat, re-

quiring a lower temperature than corn, is better adapted to the climate of Wisconsin.

This grain

tity,

far north as

Hudson

bay.

Autumn, including September, October and November, is of short duration in Wisconsin. North of the 421! parallel, or the southern boundary line of the state, November belongs properl} to the winter months, its mean temperature being about 32 The decrease of heat from August to September is generally from 8° to g" n° from September *o October, and 14 from October to November. The average temperature for these three months is about 45°. A beautiful season, commonly known as Indian summer, frequently occurs in the latter part of October and in November. This period is characterized by a mild temperature and a hazy, calm atmosphere. According to Loomis, this appears to be due to "an uncommonly tranquil condition of the atmosphere, during which the air becomes filled with dust and smoke arising from numerous fires, by which its transparency is greatly impaired." This phenomenon extends as far north as Lake Superior, but it is more conspicuous and protracted in Kansas and Missouri, and is not observed .

;

in the southern states.

Destructive frosts generally occur in September, and sometimes in August. of 36

to 40° at sunrise is usually attended with

" A temperature

frosts destructive to vegetation, the position of

the thermometer being usually such as to represent less than the actual refrigeration at the open surface.''

In 1S75, during October, at Milwaukee, the mercury fell seven times below the freez-

ing point, and twice below zero in November, the lowest being 14

The winters are generally long and severe, but occasionally mild and almost without snow. The mean winter temperature varies between 23 in the southeastern part of the state, and 16° at Ashland, in the northern. For this season the extremes are great. The line of 20 is of importance, as it marks the average temperature which is fatal to the growth of all the tend

In the winter of 1875 and 1S76, the mean temperature for December, January and February, in the upper lake region, was about 4 above the average mean for many yea.rs while during the previous winter the average temperature for January and Feb-

such as the pear and the peach.

;

ruary was about 12

mild winters.

below the mean for many years, showing a great difference between cold and 1 S>5~ '76, at Milwaukee, the thermometer fell only si

In the same winter,

below zero, the lowest being 12 while during the preceding winter the mercury sank thirty-six times below zero, the lowest being 23°. In the northern and northwestern part of the state the temperature sometimes falls to the freezing point of mercury During the exceptionally cold Winter of 1S72-3, at La Crosse, the thermometer sank nearly fifty times below zero; on Dei ,

ber 24, it indicated 37

below, and on

January 18, 43° below zero, averaging about 1 2 ° below

mean for those months. The moderating effect of Lake Michigan can be seen by observing how the lines indicating the mean winter temperature curve northward as they approach the lake. Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, and the Grand Traverse region of Michigan, have the same average wintei temperature. The same is true regarding the usual

Galena, 111., l.eloit, and Kewaunee.

Lapham concludes that this is

A similar influence is noticed in all parts of the state.

Dr.

Lake Michigan, but that the mountain range which extends from a little west of Lake Superior to the coast of Labrad 1,100 to 2,240 feet high) protects the lake region in no inconsiderable degree from the not wholly due to the presence of

(

cold of winter.

126

HISTOEY OF WISCONSIN.

According to the same authority, the time at which the Milwaukee river was closed wi h ice v for a period of nine years, varied between November 15 and December 1 the time at which it In the lake district, snow and rain are became free from ice, between March 3 and April 13. interspersed through all the winter months, rain being sometimes as profuse as at any other season. In the northwestern part the winter is more rigid and dry. Northern New York and the New England states usually have snow lying on the ground the whole winter, but in the southern In 1842-43, however, sleighing commenced about the lake district it rarely remains so long. middle of November, and lasted till about the same time in April five months. The average temperature for the three months of spring, March, April and May, from Walworth county to St. Paul, is about 45°. In central Wisconsin the mean for March is about 27 , which is an increase of nearly 7 g from February. The lowest temperature of this month in 1876 was 40° above zero. April shows an average increase of about g° over Match. In 1876 the line of 45° for this month passed from LaCrosse to Evanston, III, touching Lake Erie at Toledo, showing that the interior west of Lake Michigan is warmer than the lake region. The change from winter to spring is more sudden in the interior than in the vicinity of the lakes. " "In the town of Lisbon, fifteen miles from Lake Michigan," says Dr. Lapham, early spring flowers show themselves about ten days earlier than on the lake. In spring vegetation, in places remote from the lakes, shoots up in a very short time, and flowers show their petals, while on the lake shore the cool air retards them and brings them more gradually into existence." The increase from April to May is about 15°. In May, 1S76, Pembina and Milwaukee had nearly the same mean temperature, about 55°. The extremes of our climate and the sudden changes of temperature no doubt have a And though a more marked influence, both physically and mentally, on the American people. equable climate may be more conducive to perfect health, the great range of our climate from arctic to tropical, and the consequent variety and abundance of vegetable products, combine to make the Mississippi valley perhaps one of the most favorable areas in the world for the development of a strong and wealthy nation. During the months of summer, in the interior of the eastern United States, at least threefourths of the rain-fall is in showers usually accompanied by electrical discharges and limited to But in autumn, winter, and spring nearly the whole precipitation takes place in small areas. general storms extending over areas of 300, 500 and sometimes over 1,000 miles in diameter, and generally lasting two or three days. An area of low atmospheric pressure causes the wind to blow toward that area from all sides, and when the depression is sudden and great, it is accompanied by much rain or snow. On account of the earth's rotation, the wind blowing toward this region of low pressure is deflected to the right, causing the air to circulate around the center with a ;

—

motion spirally inward.

In our latitude the storm commences with east winds.

center, or area of lowest barometer,

to the

When the storm

south of us, the wind gradually veers, as the storm

from west to east with the upper current, round to the northwest by the north point.

On the south side of the storm center, the wind vers from southeast to southwest, by the south The phenomena attending such a storm when we are in or near the part of its center are After the sky has become overcast with clouds, the wind from the northeast The generally begins to rise and blows in the opposing direction to the march of the storm. The clouds which are now moving over us, discharge rain or snow according to circumstances. barometer continues to fall, and the rain or snow is brought obliquely down from the northern point.

usually as follows

quarter by the prevailing wind. ceases.

After a while the wind changes slightly in direction and then

The thermometer rises and the barometer lias reached its lowest point.

of the storm.

After the calm the wind has changed

its

This is the center

direction to northwest or west.

The

CLIMATOLOGY OF WISCONSIN".

127

wind blows again, usually more violently than before, accompanied by rain or snow, which is now generally of short duration. The sky clears, and the storm is suddenly succeeded by a temperature 10 or 20 degrees below the mean. Most of the rain and snow falls with the east w before the center passes a given point.

The path of these storms is from west to east, or nearly

so, and only seldom in other directions.

These autumn, winter, and spring rains are generally noticed on the western plains, but may originate at any point along their path, and move eastward with an average velocity of about 20 miles an hour in summer and 30 miles in winter, first

but sometimes attaining a velocity of over 50 miles, doing great damage on the lakes. In predicting these storms, the signal service of the army is of incalculable practical benefit, as well as in collecting data for scientific conclusions.

A subject of the greatest importance

to every

forests on climate and the effects of disrobing a forests in

inhabitant of Wisconsin

county of its

trees.

the influence of

The general

influence of

modifying the extremes of temperature,

humidity of the air, has already been mentioned.

retarding evaporation and the increased That clearing the land of trees increases the

temperature of the ground in summer, is so readily noticed that it is scarcely necessary to mention it; while in winter the sensible cold is never so extreme in woods as on an open surface exposed to the full force of the winds. " The lumbermen in Canada and the northern United States labor in the woods without inconvenience, when the mercury stands many degrees below zero, while in the open grounds, with only a moderate breeze, the same temperature is almost " In the state of Michigan it has been found that the winters have greatly insupportable." increased in severity within the last forty years, and that this increased severity seems to move along even-paced with the destruction of the forests. Thirty years ago the peach was one of the most abundant fruits of that State; at that time frost, injurious to corn at anytime from May to October, was a thing unknown. Now the peach is an uncertain crop, and frost often injures the corn." The precise influence of forests on temperature may not at present admit of definite solution, yet the mechanical screen which they furnish to the soil often far to the leeward of them, is sufficiently established, and this alone is enough to encourage extensive planting wherever this

protection is wanting.

With regard to the quantity of rain-fall, " we can not positively affirm that the total annual is even locally diminished or increased by the destruction of the woods, though both theoretical considerations and the balance of testimony strongly favor the opinion that more rain falls in wooded than in open countries. One important conclusion, at least, upon the meteorological influence of forests is certain and undisputed: the proposition, namely, that, within their own limits, and near their own borders, they maintain a more uniform degree of humidity in the atmosphere than is observed in cleared grounds. Scarcely less can it be questioned that they tend to promote the frequency of showers, and, if they do not augment the

fpiantity of rain

amount of precipitation, they probably equalize its distribution through the different seasons." There is abundant and undoubted evidence that the amount of water existing on the surface in lakes and rivers, in many parts of the world, is constantly diminishing. In Germany, observations of the Rhine, Oder, Danube, and the Elbe, in the latter case going back for a period of 142 years, demonstrate beyond doubt, that each of these rivers has much decreased in volume, and there is reason to fear that they will eventually disappear from the list of navigable rivers.

"The 'Blue-Grass' region of Kentucky, once the pride of the West, has now districts of such barren and arid nature that their stock farmers are moving toward the Cumberland mountains, because the creeks

water for their cattle."

and old springs dried up, and their wells became too low to furnish In our own state "such 1ms been the change in the flow of the Milwau-

HISTORY OF Wisconsin'.

128

kee river, even while the area from which it receives its supply is but partially cleared, that the proprietorr of" most of the mills and factories have found it necessary to resort to the use of steam, at a largely increased yearly cost, to supply the deficiency of water-power in dry seasons " What has happened to the Milwaukee river, has happened to all the other water of the year."

and many farmers who courses in the state from whose banks tire forest has been removed selected land uqon which there was a living brook of clear, pure water, now find these brooks ;

dried up during a considerable portion of the year.'' Districts stripped of their forest are said to be more exposed than before to loss of harvests,

and frost. " Hurricanes, before unknown, sweep unopposed over the regions chus denuded, carrying terror and devastation in their track." Parts of Asia Minor, North Africa, and other countries bordering on the Mediterranean, now almost deserts, were once densely to droughts

populated and the granaries of the world.

And there is good reason to believe " that it is the From such facts Wisconsin,

destruction of the forests which has produced this devastation."

already largely robbed of its forests, should take warning before it is too late.

TREES, SHRUBS Bv It is not

AND VINES.

HOY, M.D.

the purpose of this article to give a botanical description, but merely brief notes on

the economical value of the woods, and the fitness of the various indigenous trees, shrubs vines for the purpose of ornament, to be found in Wisconsin.

and

White Oak — Quercus Alba. This noble tree is the largest and most important of the The excellent properties of the wood render it eminently valuable for a great American oaks.

—

Wherever strength and durability are required, the white oak stands in the first employed in making wagons, coaches and sleds staves and hoops of the best quality for barrels and casks are obtained from this tree; it is extensively used in architecture, shipbuilding, etc.; vast quantities are used for fencing; the bark is employed in tanning. The domestic consumption of this tree is so great that it is of the first importance to preserve the young The trees wherever it is practicable, and to make young plantations where the tree is not found. white oak is a graceful, ornamental tree, and worthy of particular attention as such found abundantly in most of the timbered districts. Nothing Burr >ak Q. Jifacrocarpa. This is perhaps the most ornamental of our oaks. can exceed the graceful beauty of these trees, when not crowded or cramped in their growth, but Who has not admired these trees in our extenleft free to follow the laws of their development. The large leaves are a dark green above and a bright silvery white sive burr oak openings? variety of uses.

rank.

It is

;

—

beneath, which gives the tree a singularly fine appearance when agitated by the wind. is

The wood

tough, close-grained, and more durable than the white oak, especially when exposed to frequent

changes of moisture and drying; did the tree grow to the same size, it would be preferred for most uses. Abundant, and richly worthy of cultivation, both for utility and ornament. Swamp White Oak Q. Bicotor. Is a valuable and ornamental tree, not quite so large or

—

as common as the burr oak. (if

—

The wood is close-grained, durable, splits freely, and is well worthy

cultivation in wet, swampy grounds, where it will thrive.

Post Oak

— Q. Obtusiloba. —

Is a

ber is durable, and makes good fuel.

scraggy, small tree, found sparingly in this state.

Not worthy of cultivation.

The tim-

TREES, SHRUBS

Swamp Chestnut Oak — Q. Prinus.

AM)

VINES.

L29

— This species of chestnut oak

a large, gra< efui tree,

wood rather open-grained, yet valuable for most purposes to which the oaks the best fuelof any of this family.

A rare tree, found at Janesville and

are applied

Brown's

;

makes

lake, near Bur-

Worthy of cultivation. Red Oak. Q. Rubra. The red oak is a well-known, common, large tree. The wood is coarse-grained, and the least durable of the oaks, nearly worthless for fuel, and scarcely worthy lington.

—

of cultivation, even for ornament.

Pin state.

Oak — Q. Palustris. — This is one of the most common trees in many sections of the The tree is quite ornamental, and should be

The wood is of little value except for fuel.

sparingly cultivated for this purpose.

Shingle Oak Wisconsin.

It is

— Q. Imbricaria. —

a tree of

medium size, found sparingly as

far north

ornamental, and the wood is used for shingles and staves.

especially Scarlet Oak — Q. — This an ornamental autumn, when value common. hence the name. Wood of leaves turn found growing abunSugar Maple — Acer Saccharium. — This well-known and noble Coccinea.

tree,

scarlet,

little

its

;

tree is

dantly in many sections of the state.

The wood is close-grained and susceptible of a

beautiful

which renders it valuable for many kinds of furniture, more especially the varieties known The wood lacks the durability of the oak consequently is not For fuel it ranks next to hickory. valuable for purposes where it will be exposed to the weather. The sugar manufactured from this tree affords no inconsiderable resource for the comfort and even wealth of many sections of the northern states, especially those newly settled, where it would be difficult and expensive to procure their supply from a distance. As an ornamental tree The foliage is beautiful, compact, and free from it stands almost at the head of the catalogue. the attacks of insects. It puts forth its yellow blossoms early, and in the autumn the leaves polish,

as bird's-eye and curled maples.

;

change in color and show the most beautiful tints of red and yellow long before they fall. Worthy of especial attention for fuel and ornament, and well adapted to street-planting. Red Maple A. Rubrum. Is another fine maple of more rapid growth than the foregoing With wood rather lighter, but quite as valuable for cabinet-work for fuel not quite so species.

—

good.

—

The young trees bear transplanting even better than other maples.

mental, this tree hardly equals the first-named species.

blossoms before a leaf has yet appeared.

—

Though highly orna-

puts forth, in early spring, its scarlet

Well adapted to street-planting. Is a small branching tree, or rather shrub, found grow-

Mountain Maple A. Spicatum. Not worthy of much attention. Silver Maple A. Dasycarpum. This is a common tree growing on the banks of streams, especially in the western part of the state, grown largely for ornament, yet for the purpose it is the least valuable of the maples. The branches are long and straggling, and so brittle that they ing in clumps.

—

are liable to be injured by winds.

Box Maple

— Negundo Aceroides. —-This tree

frequently called box elder.

It is

of a rapid

The wood is not much used in the arts, but is good fuel. It grows on Sugar and Rock rivers.

growth and quite ornamental. be cultivated.

White Elm

— Ulmus Americana. — This large and graceful tree stands confessedly

head of the list of ornamental deciduous trees.

Its

Slioulu

at the

wide-spreading branches and long, pendu-

grows rapidly, is

lous branchlets form a beautiful and conspicuous head.

and the destructive attacks of insects, will thrive on most

soils,

and for planting along streets, in

public grounds or lawns, is unsurpassed by any American tree.

The wood is but little used in

free

from disease

makes good firewood should be planted along all the roads and streets, near dwelling, and on all public grounds. the arts;

;

ever;

130

HISTOPT:

—

OT W1SCC?S'S1"N

—

Slippery Elm V. Fulva. This smaller and less ornamental species is also common. The wood, however, is much more valuable than the white elm, being durable and splitting readily. It makes excellent rails, and is much used for the framework of buildings; valuable for fuel; should be cultivated. Wild Black Cherry Cerasus Serotina. This large and beautiful species of cherry is one of the most valuable of American trees. The wood is compact, fine-grained, and of a brilliant Teddish color, not liable to warp, or shrink and swell with atmospheric changes extensively emIt is exceedingly durable, hence is ployed by cabinet-makers for every species of furnishing. Richly deserves a place in the lawn or timber plantation. valuable for fencing, building, etc. Bird Cherry C. Pennsylvanica. Is a small northern species, common in the state and worthy of cultivation for ornament. Choke Cherry C. Virginiana. This diminutive tree is of little value, not worth the trouble

—

;

—

— — — of cultivation. Wild Plum — Primus Americana. — The common wild plum when

in full bloom is one of the most ornamental of small flowering trees, and as such should not be neglected. The fruit is rather agreeable, but not to be compared to fine cultivated varieties, which may be engrafted on It is best to select small trees, and work them on the the wild stock to the very best advantage. roots. The grafts should be inserted about the middle of April.

Hackberry

—

Celtis Occidentalis.

close-grained and elastic

;

— This

makes the

an ornamental tree of medium size

;

wood hard, The

best of hoops, whip-stalks, and thills for carriages.

Indians formerly made great use of the hackbeiry wood for their bows. ited share of attention.

American Linden or Basswood

—

Tilia Americana.

—

A tree worthy of a lim-

Is one of the finest ornamental trees for

public grounds, parks, etc., but will not thrive where the roots are exposed to bruises; tough, susceptible of being bent to almost any curve paint well, and is considerably used in the arts

for

;

flourish in almost any moderately rich, damp soil

readily from layers.

White Thorn

— Crataegus

durable

;

fuel

Coccinea, and Dotted Thorn

should be cultivated for ornament.

Crap Apple its

—

;

C. Punctata.

;

takes

This tree

will

can be propagated

—These two species

attractive when covered with

Wood hard, fine, compact grain, but the tree is too Well worthy of a place in extensive grounds. to our yards is found growing in

— P. A me ricana.—-This popular ornament

White Ash — Fraxinus Acuminata. an eminent degree.

—

The wood is useless.

Is a large, in'teresting tree, which

combines utility with

The wood possesses strength, suppleness and elasticity, which

renders it valuable for a great variety of uses.

It is

extensively employed in carriage manufact-

is esteemed superior to any other wood for oars; The white ash grows rapidly, and in open ground forms one of the most The foliage is clean and handsome, and in autumn turns from

uring; for various agricultural implements excellent for fuel.

value.

The wood is remarkably compact and hard, and were it not

the northern part of the state and as far south as 43 in

little

would be valuable.

small for the wood to be of much practical value.

Mountain Ash

When in bloom they are beautiful, and

— Pyrus Coronaria. — This common small tree

highly fragrant rose-colored blossoms.

beauty

kept from the weather

bears transplanting well

of thorn are found everywhere on the rich bottom lands.

for the small size of the tree,

for this

The wood is light and

reason it is not adapted to planting along the streets of populous towns.

;

lovely trees that is to be found.

its bright green to a violet purple hue, which adds materially to the beauty of our autumnal sylIt is richly deserving our especial care and protection, and will amply repay all van scenery. labor and expense bestowed on its cultivation.

TREES SHRUBS

VINES.

.\\l>

131

—

Black Ash F Sambucifolia;— This is another tall, graceful and well-known species of ash. The wood is used for making baskets, hoops, etc. when thoroughly dry, affords a good article of fuel. Deserves to be cultivated in low, rich, swampy situations, where more useful trees will not ;

thrive.

Black Walnut

—

Jtiglaiis

Nigra.

—This giant of the rich

special attention for its valuable timber.

can woods It

;

susceptible of a fine polish

It is ;

bottom lands claims beautiful of Amerishrink and swell by heat and moisture. alluvial

among the most durable and

not liable to

extensively employed by the cabinet-makers for every variety of furniture.

are frequently found which rival in in favorable situations,

crop of nuts.

Butternut

Walnut forks.

richness and beauty the far-famed mahogany.

grows rapidly;

—J. Cinerca. — This species of walnut

not as valuable as the above, yet for its

beauty, and the durability of its wood, it should claim a small portion of attention. is

This tree,

highly ornamental, and produces annually an abundant

rather soft for most purposes to which

otherwise might be applied.

The wood

When grown near

streams, or on moist side-hills, it produces regularly an ample crop of excellent nuts. rapidly.

Shell-Bark Hickory

grows

— Carya Alba. — This, the largest and finest of American hickories,

grows abundantly throughout the state. Hickory wood possesses probably the greatest strength and tenacity of any of our indigenous trees, and is used for a variety of purposes, but, For fuel, the shell-bark unfortunately, it is liable to be eaten by worms, and lacks durability. hickory stands unrivaled. The tree is ornamental and produces every alternate year an ample crop of the best of nuts.

—

Shag-Bark Hickory C. Inclata. Is a magnificent tree, the wood of which is nearly as The nuts are large, thick-shelled and coarse, not to be compared to the

valuable as the above. C. alba.

A rare tree in Wisconsin

Pignut Hickory

—

;

abundant further south.

Glabra.

— This species possesses

all

the bad and but few of the good

The nuts are smaller and not so good. The tree should be preNot abundant. served and cultivated in common with the shell-bark. Bitternut C. Amara. Is an abundant tree, valuable for fuel, but lacking the strength and qualities of the shell-bark.

— — however, quite as ornamental as any of the hickories. shining light-green with Red Beech — Fagus Ferruginea. — This a common

elasticity of the preceding species.

It is,

leaves, and long, flexible branches.

It is

brilliant,

tree,

highly ornamental, and should be cultivated for this

much

It is purpose, as well as for its useful wood, which is tough, close-grained and compact. used for plane-stocks, tool handles, etc., and as an article of fuel is nearly equal to maple.

Water Beech — Carpinus Americana. — Is a small

wood

exceedingly hard and

compact, but

the

tree,

small

called

size

The

hornbeam by many. the

tree

renders

almost

useless.

Iron Wood— Ostrya our woodlands.

wood

It is, to a

Virginica.

— This small tree

found disseminated throughout most of

considerable degree, ornamental, but of remarkably slow growth.

The

possesses valuable properties, being heavy and strong, as the name would indicate; yet.

from its small size, it is of but little use. Balsam Poplar Populus Candicans.

—

This tree is of medium size, and is known by sevWild balm of Gilead, cottonwood, etc. It grows in moist, sandy soil, on river botIt which turn a fine yellow after the autumn frosts. toms. It has broad, heart-shaped leaves, grows more rapidly than any other of our trees can be transplanted with entire success when the most ornamental of popeight or nine inches in diameter, and makes a beatiful shade tree lar-. The wood is soft, spongy, and nearly useless.

eral names

;

—

132

HISTORY OF Wisconsin. Quaking Aspen

—P. Tremuloides. —

It is

rather ornamental,

frequently grows to

the height of sixty or seventy feet, with a diameter of two and one-half feet.

The wood is soft,

Is a well-known,

small tree.

but scarcely worth cultivating.

Large Aspen

— P. Grandidentata. —

easily split, and used for frame buildings.

Cotton Wood — P. Monolifera. — This Used

Mississippi river.

largely for fuel

the arts.

Sycamore or Buttonwood of our trees,

largest of our poplars.

Is the

It is is

the most durable of our poplars.

the largest of all

Occidentalis.

abundant on the

;

The timber is of but little use in

on the steamboats.

—Platanus

the poplars

— This, the largest and most majestic The

found growing only on the rich alluvial river bottoms.

tree

readily

known, even at a considerable distance, by its whitish smooth branches. The foliage is large and beautiful, and the tree one of the most ornamental known. The wood speedily decays, and when sawed into lumber warps badly; on these accounts it is but little used, although susceptible As an article of fuel it is of inferior merit. of a fine finish. Canoe Birch Betula Papyracea. Is a rather elegant and interesting tree. It grows abundThe wood is of a fine glossy grain, susceptible of a good antly in nearly every part of the state. finish, but lacks durability and strength, and, therefore, is but little used in the mechanical arts. For fuel it is justly prized. It bears transplanting without difficulty. The Indians manufacture their celebrated bark canoes from the bark of this tree. Cherry Birch B. Lenta. This is a rather large, handsome tree, growing along streams. Wood, fine-grained, rose-colored used largely by the cabinetLeaves and bark fragrant.

—

;

makers.

Yellow Birch

— B. Lutea. — This beautiful tree occasionally attains a large

size.

highly ornamental, and is of value for fuel; but is less prized than the preceding species for cabinet work.

Kentucky Coffee Tree

— Gymnocladus Canadensis. — This singularly beautiful tree

only

met with it growing near the Peccatonica, in The wood is fine-grained, and of a rosy hue is exceedingly durable, and well

found sparingly, and on rich

Green county.

alluvial

lands.

;

worth cultivating.

—

June Berry Amelanchier Canadensis. Is a small tree which adds materially to the beauty The wood is of no particular of our woods in early spring, at which time it is in full bloom. value, and the tree interesting only when covered with its white blossoms.

—

White Pine Pinus Strohis. This is the largest and most valuable of our indigenous pines. The wood is soft, free from resin, and works easily. It is extensively employed in the mechanical arts.

found

great

profusion in the northern parts of the state.

readily known by the leaves being

m fives.

highly ornamental, but in

This species is

common with all

Only small plants should be moved. Norway or Red Pine P. Resinosa, and Yellow Pine P. Mitis.— These are two large The wood contains more resin, and is consetrees, but little inferior in size to the white pine. Vast quantities of lumber quently more durable. The leaves of both these species are in twos. The extensive pineries are yearly manufactured from these two varieties and the white pine. pines, will hardly bear transplanting.

—

of the state are rapidly diminishing.

—P. Banksiana. — a small, low tree; only worthy of notice here for the ornathe northern sections of the found multiplied a great extent on Balsam Fir—Abies Balsamea. — This beautiful evergreen Shrub Pine

mental shade it produces.

It is

state.

the shores of

Lake Superior, where it grows forty or

fifty feet

in height.

The wood

but

iREES. SHRUBS .VXD VINES.

133

The balsam of fir, or Canadian balsam, is obtained from this tree. Double Spruce A. Nigra.— This grows in the same localities with the balsam fir, and assumes the same pyramidal form, but is considerably larger. The wood is light and possesses value

little

—

considerable strength and elasticity, which renders it one of the best materials for yard's and top-

masts for shipping.

It is extensively

cultivated for ornament.

— A. Canadensis. — The hemlock the largest of the genus. The baik extensively employed Tamarack — Larix Americana. — This beautiful grows abundantly Hemlock

mental, but the wood is of little value.

tree

throughout the state.

It is not

recovers them in early spring. uses.

quite an evergreen

drops

its

gracefully orna-

It is

in tanning. in

swampy situations

leaves in winter, but quickly

The wood is remarkably durable and valuable

for

a variety of

The tree grows rapidly, and can be successfully cultivated in peaty situations, where other

trees would not thrive.

—

Arbor Vit.e Thuja Occidentalis. This tree is called the white or flat cedar. It grows abundantly in many parts of the state. The wood is durable, furnishing better fence posts than any other tree, excepting the red cedar. Shingles and staves of a superior quality are obtained from these trees.

A beautiful evergreen hedge is made from the young plants, which bear trans-

planting better than most evergreens.

It will

—

grow on most soils

sufficiently damp.

Red Cedar — Junipcrus Virginiana. Is a well known tree that furnishes those celebrated fence posts that " last forever." The wood is highly fragrant, of a rich red color, and fine grained

;

hence it is valuable for a variety of uses.

should be extensively cultivated.

Dwarf Juniper-—J. Sabina. — This is a low trailing shrub.

ornament.

Is conside-ably prized

for

Especially worthy of cultivation in large grounds.

— Sassafras — small tree of appearance, with fragrant leaves bark. Grows Kenosha county. Should be cultivated. Willows. — There are many species of willows growing every part of the several of which are worthy of cultivation near streams and ponds. — a White Willow — Salix often reaching sixty height. The wood and makes the best charcoal the manufacture of gun-powder. Grows rapidly. Black Willow — Nigra. — This also a but not quite so large as the foregoing. Sassafras

officinale.

Is a

fine

alba.

is soft,

state,

feet in

for

It is

fine tree,

used for similar purposes.

There are many shrubs and vines indigenous to the state worthy of note. call attention to only a

—

shall, however,

few of the best.

Dogwoods. There are several species found in our forests and thickets. All are ornamental when covered with a profusion of white blossoms. corus I would especially recommend :

sericea, C. stolonifera, C. paniculata,

and C. alternifolia.

All these will repay the labor of trans-

planting to ornamental grounds.

Viburnums. V. dentatum.

— These are very beautiful. We have viburnum

V. pubescens, V. acerifolium, V. pauciflorum, and

lentago, V. prunifolium, V. nudum,

V. opulus.

The last is known as

the cranberry tree, and is a most beautiful shrub when in bloom, and also when covered with its red, acid fruit.

The common snow-ball tree is a cultivated variety of the V. opulus.

—

Witch Hazel Hamamelis Virginica. Is an interesting, tall shrub that flowers late in autumn, when the leaves are falling, and matures the fruit the next summer. It deserves more attention than it receives.

Burning Bush

— Euonymus atropurpureus. — This

berry, and is exceedingly beautiful

during winter.

fine shrub is called the American straw-

when covered with its load

of crimson

fruit,

which remains

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

134

— Rhus typhina. —

11 known, When well but seldom cultivated. grown it is ornamental and well adapted for planting in clumps. Hop Tree Ptclea trifoliata. This is a showy shrub with shining leaves, which should be

Sumach

—

Is a tall shrub,

—

Common in rich, alluvial ground. Bladder Nut — Staphyleci trifolia. Is a fine, upright, showy shrub, found sparingly all over

cultivated.

—

the state.

Is ornamental, with greenish striped branches

and showy leaves.

Vines.

Virginia Creeper— Ampelopsis quinquefolia. disc-bearing tendrils, so well colors.

Bitter Sweet

a noble vine, climbing extensively by

— Ce/astrus siandais. —

Especially beautiful in

Yellow Honeysuckle

its

fall

Is a stout twining vine, which would be an ornament to

In the fall and early winter it is noticeable for its bright fruit.

any grounds.

— Lonicera flava. —

Common.

shrubs and trees.

Is a fine native vine, which is found climbing over There are several other species of honeysuckle none, how-

Frost Grape — Vita

—

Ornamental. ever, worthy of special mention. tall

— This

known as to require no eulogy.

;

This tall-growing vine has deliciously sweet blossom-,, cordifolia. which perfume the air for a great distance around. For use as a screen, this hardy species will be found highly satisfactory.

FAUNA OF WISCONSIN. By P.

HOY, M.D.

FISH AND FISH CULTURE. Fish are cold blooded aquatic vertebrates, having fins as organs of progression.

They have

a two-chambered heart; their bodies are mostly covered with scales, yet a few are entirely naked,

and eels; others again are covered with curious plates, such as the sturgeon. Fish inhabit both salt and fresh water. It is admitted by all authority that fresh-water fish are_ more liversally edible than those inhabiting the ocean. Marine fish are said to be more highly (la Tired than those inhabiting fresh waters an assertion I am by no means prepared to admit. As a rule, fish are better the colder and purer the water in which they are found, and where can you find those conditions more favorable than in the cold depths of our great lakes ? We have tasted, under the most favorable conditions, about every one of the celebrated salt-water fish, and can say that whoever eats a whitefish just taken from the pure, cold water of Lake Michigan will have no reason to be envious of the dwellers by the sea. Fish are inconceivably prolific; a single female deposits at one spawn from one thousand to one million eggs, varying according to species. Fish afford a valuable article of food for man, being highly nutritious and easy of digestion they abound in phosphates, hence are valuable as affording nutrition to the osseous and nervous syscertainly a very desirable article tem, hence they have been termed, not inappropriately, brain food of diet for some people. They are more savory, nutritious and easy of digestion when just taken from the water in fact, the sooner they are cooked after being caught the better. No fish should be more than a few hours from its watery element before being placed upon the table. For convenience, I will group our fish into families as a basis for what I shall offer. Our bony fish. like catfish

;

—

;

F \l

\A OF U'lMllN'MX

135

—

having spine rays and covered with comb-like scales, belong to the perch family a valuable family all take the hook, are gamey, and spawn in the summer. The yellow perch and at least four species of black or striped bass have a wide range, being ;

found in all the

rivers

There

and lakes in the state.

a large species of

fish

known as Wall-

eyed pike (Leucoperca amerkand) belonging to this family, which is found sparingly in most of our The pike is an active and most rapacious animal, devouring fish of considerrivers and lakes. able size. it

The flesh is firm and of good flavor.

would probably be economical to pro

to a moderate extent.

The six-spined bass {Pomoxys hexaeanthus, Agas.) is one of the most desirable of the spinerayed fish found in the State. The flesh is fine flavored, and as the fish is hardy and takes the hook with avidity, it should be protected during the spawning season and artificially propagated. I have examined the stomachs of a large number of these fish and in every instance found small Prof. J. P. Kirtland, the veteran ichthycrawfish, furnishing an additional evidence in its favor. ologist of Ohio, says that this so-callea " grass bass" is the fish for the million.

The white bass {Hoccus chrysops) is a species rather rare even in the larger bodies of water, but ought to be introduced into every small lake in the State, where I am certain they would It is an excellent fish, possessing many of the good qualities and as few of the bad ae flourish.

any that belong to the family. There is another branch of this family, the sunlish, Pomotis, which numbers at least six species found in Wisconsin. They are beautiful fish, and afford abundant sport for the boys none of them, however, are worth domesticating (unless it be in the aquarium) as there are so many better. ;

The carp family {Cyprinidce) are soft finned fish without maxillary teeth. They include by Some specimens are not more than one inch, while far the greater number of fresh-water fish. Our chubs, silversides and suckers are the principal memothers are nearly two feet in length. Dace are good pan-fish, yet their small size is objectionable; they are the bers of this family. The Cypriindw all spawn in the spring, and might be profitably propachildren's game fish. gated as food for the larger and more valuable fish. There are six or seven species of suckers found

our lakes and rivers.

The red horse,

found every where, and at least one species of the buffalo, inhabiting the Mississippi and its tribSuckers are bony, and apt to taste suspiciously of mud; they are only to be tolerated in the absence of better. The carp (jOyprenius cdrpd) has been utaries, are the best of the

genus Catastomus.

successfully introduced into the Hudsonriver.

rays.

The trout family (Salmonida) are soft-finned fish with an extra dorsal adipose fin without They inhabit northern countries, spawning in the latter part of fall and winter. Their The trout family embrace by far the most valuable of our fish, and whitefish. The famous speckled trout {Salmo fonlinalis) is a

flesh is universally esteemed.

including, as

does, trout

small and beautiful species which

found

nearly every stream

the northern half of the

Wherever there is a spring run or lake, the temperature of which does not rise higher than The great sixty-live or seventy in the summer, there trout can be propagated in abundance.

State.

salmon trout {Sal. amethystus) of the great lakes is a magnificent fish weighing from ten to sixt) pounds. The Sisioivit salmo siscowit of Lake Superior is about the same size, but not quite so fat and oily. They will, no doubt, flourish in the larger of the inland

good a fish, being too lakes.

The genus Coregonus restricted, the nose

includes the true

whitefish, or lake shad.

square and the under jaw short, and when

fragrance of fresh cucumbers.

In this

first

genus, as

now

caught they have the

There are at least three species found in Lake Michigan.

In my

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

136

fish are more delicately flavored

than the celebrated Potomac shad but I doubt whether they will thrive in the small lakes, owing to the absence of the small Crustacea on which they subsist. The closely allied genus Argyrosomus includes seven known species inhabiting the

opinion these

;

sisco, which is found in several of the lesser lakes. The but little inferior to the true whitefish, with which they are commonly The nose is pointed, the under jaw long, and they take the hook at certain seasons with activity. They eat small fish as well as insects and crustaceans. Of the pickerel family, we have three or four closely allied species of the genus Esox, armed They lie motionles eady to dart, swift as an with prodigious jaws filled with cruel teeth. They are the sharks of the fresh water. The pickerel are so rapacious arrow, upon their prey. Sometimes they attempt to swallow a fish nearly as large that they spare not their own species. Their flesh is moderately good, and as they are game as themselves, and perish in consequence.

larger lakes, and one, the Argyrosomus larger species are

confounded.

to the backbone, it might be desirable to

propagate them to a moderate extent under peculiar

circumstances.

The catfish

(

have

Siluridce)

soft fins,

protected by sharp spines, and curious fleshy barbels

of mucus. The They are filthy in habi; the vigilant and watchful motherly and food. There is one interesting trait of the catfish He defends them with great spirit, and herds them together care of the young by the male. when they straggle. Even the mother is driven far off; for he knows full well that she would There are four species not scruple to make a full meal off her little black tadpole-like progeny. one peculiar to the great lakes, and two found in the numerous known to inhabit this State floating

from their

lips,

without

scales,

genus Pimlodus are scavengers among

covered

fish, as

only with

vultures

slimy coat

among birds.

—

affluents of the Mississippi.

hundred pounds.

One of these, the great yellow catfish, sometimes weighs over one

When in good condition, stuffed and well baked, they are a fair table fish.

The small bull-head is universally distributed. The sturgeons are large sluggish fish, covered

with- plates

instead

scales.

are at least three species of the genus Acipenser found in the waters of Wisconsin.

There Being so

large and without bones, they afford a sufficiently cheap article of food; unfortunately, however,

the quality

decidedly bad'.

Sturgeons deposit an enormous quantity of eggs

;

the roe not

much as the entire body, and numbers, it is said, many The principal commercial value of sturgeons is found in the roe and swimming The much prized caviare is manufactured from the former, and from the latter the best

unfrequently weighs one fourth as millions.

bladder.

of isinglass is obtained.

The gar-pikes {Lepidosteus) are represented by at least three species of this singular fish. They have long serpentine bodies, with jaws prolonged into a regular bill, which is well provided with teeth. The scales are composed of bone covered on the outside with enamel, like teeth. The alligator gar, confined to the depths of the Mississippi, is a large fish, and the more common species, Lepidosteus bison, attains to a considerable size. The Lepidostcous, now only found in North America, once had representatives all over the globe.

Fossils of the same family of which

the gar-pike is the type, have been found all over Europe, in the oldest fossiliferous beds, in the strata of the age of coal, in tertiary formations

the

new red sandstone, in oolitic deposits, and in the chalk and

— being one of the many

living evidences that

North America was the first

For all practical purposes, we should not regret to have the gar-pikes follow in the footsteps of their aged and illustrious predecessors. They could well be spared. There is a fish {Lota maculose) which belongs to the cod-fish family, called by the fishermen There the "lawyers," for what reason I am not able to say at any rate, the fish is worthless. are a great number of small fish, interesting only to the naturalist, which I shall omit to mencountry above the water.

—

tion here.

FAUNA OF WISCONSIN".

137

Fish of the northern countries are the most valuable, for the reason that the water is colder

and purer. Wisconsin, situated between forty-two thirty, and forty-seven degrees of latitude, bounded on the east and north by the largest lakes in the world, on the west by the "Great river," traversed by numerous fine and rapid streams, and sprinkled all over with beautiful and picturesque lakes, has physical conditions certainly the most favorable, perhaps of any State, for an

abundant and never-failing supply of the best fish. of the fisheries of Lake Michigan.

Few persons have any idea of the importance

adequate data to form a correct knowledge of the capital invested and the amount of fish taken; enough, however, has been ascertained to enable me to state that at Milwaukee alone $100,000 are invested, and not less than two hundred and eighty tons of dressed fish taken annually. At Racine, during the entire season of nine months, there are, on an average, one thousand pounds of whitefish and trout, each, caught and sold daily, amounting to not less than $16,000. It is well known that, since the adoption of the gill-net system, the fishermen are enabled to pursue their calling ten months of It

difficult to collect

the year.

When the fish retire to the deep water, they are followed with miles of nets, and the poor There is a marked falling off in the number and size of whiteWhen fish were only captured with seines, they had abundant chance to escape and multiply so as to keep an even balance in number. Only by artificial propagation and well enforced laws protecting them during the spawning season, can we hope now to restore the balance. In order to give some idea of the valuable labors of the state fish commissioners, I will state briefly that they have purchased for the state a piece of property, situated three miles from Madison, known as the Nine Springs, including forty acres of land, on which they have erected a dwelling-house, barn and hatchery, also constructed several ponds, in which can be seen many valuable fish in the enjoyment of perfect health and vigor. As equipped, it is, undoubtedly, one of the best, if not the best, hatchery in the states. In this permanent establishment the commission design to hatch and distribute to the small lakes and rivers of the interior the most valuable of our indigenous fish, such as bass, pike, trout, etc., etc., as well as many valuable foreign varieties. During the past season, many fish have been distributed from this state hatchery. At the Milwaukee Water Works, the commission have equipped a hatchery on a large scale, using the water as pumped directly from During the past season there was a prodigious multitude of young trout and whitefish the lake. The success of Superintendent Welcher in hatching whitefish at distributed from this point. Milwaukee has been the best yet gained, nearly ninety per cent, of the eggs "laid down" fish are entangled on

every side.

fish and trout taken, when compared with early years.

being hatched.

Pisciculturists will appreciate this wonderful success, as they well

know how

it is to manage the spawn of the whitefish. append the following statistics of the number of fish hatched and distributed from the Milwaukee hatchery previous to 1878 Total number of fish hatched, 8,000,000 whitefish, 6,300,000; salmon trout, 1,700,000. They were distributed as follows, in the month of May, 1S77 Whitefish planted in Lake Michigan, at Racine, 1,000,000; at Milwaukee, 3,260,000; between Manitowoc and Two Rivers 1,000,000; in Green bay, 1,000,000; in Elkhart lake, 40,000. Salmon trout were turned out as follows: Lake Michigan, near Milwaukee, 600,000; Brown's lake, Racine county, 40,000 Delavan lake, Walworth county, 40,000 Troy lake, Walworth county, 40,000 Pleasant lake, Walworth county, 40,000 Lansdale lake, Walworth county, 40,000; Ella lake, Milwaukee county, 16,000; Cedar lake, Washington county, 40,000; Elkhart lake, Sheboygan county, 40,000 Clear lake, Rock county, 40,000 Ripley lake,

difficult I

—

;

—

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

138

Mendota

lake, Dane county, 100,000 Fox lake, Dodge county, Columbia county, 40,000 Little Green lake, Green Lake Lake county, 100,000; Bass lake, St. Croix county, 40,000; Twin lakes, St. Croix county, 40,000; Long lake, Chippewa county, 40,000; Oconomowoc lake, Waukesha county, 100,000; Pine lake, Waukesha county, 40,000; Pewaukee lake, Waukesha county, 100,000; North lake, Waukesha county, 40,000 Nagawicka lake, Waukesha

Jefferson

county,

40,000

Swan and

;

40,000

;

Silver lakes,

;

county, 40,000;

Big Green lake, Green

county, 40,000;

Okanche lake, Waukesha county, 40,000.

;

LARGE ANIMALS.— TIME OF THEIR DISAPPEARANCE. Fifty years ago, the territory now included in the

state of Wisconsin, was nearly in a state Now, all has changed. The ax and rarge wild animals were then abundant. railway and telegraph, have Most of metamorphosed the face of nature. and dog, plow, gun the large quadrupeds have been either exterminated, or have hid themselves away in the wilderThe date and order ness. In a short time, all of these will have disappeared from the state. in which animals become extinct within the boundaries of the state, is a subject of great interest. There was a time when the antelope, the woodland caribou, the buffalo, and the wild turkey,

of nature, all the

were abundant, but are now no longer to be found.

The Antelope, Antilocarpa A?nericana, now confined to the Western plains, did, two hundred years ago, inhabit Wisconsin as far east as Michigan. In October, 1679, Father Hennepin, with La Salle and party, in four canoes, coasted along the Western shore of Lake Michigan. In " The oldest of them " (the Indians) " came to us the next mornThis was somewhere north of " "Being in sore distress, we saw upon the coast a great many ravens and eagles Milwaukee. (turkey vultures), " from whence we conjectured there was some prey, and having landed upon This that place, we found above the half of a fat wild goal, which the wolves had strangled. provision was very acceptable to us, and the rudest of our men could not but praise the Divine Providence which took so particular care of us." This must have been somewhere near Racine. "On the 1 6th" (October, 1679), " we met with abundance of game. A savage we had with us, killed several stags (deer) and wild goats, and our men a great many turkeys, very fat and big." This must have been south of Racine. These goats were undoubtedly antelopes. Schoolcraft

Hennepin's narrative, he says;

ing with their calumet of peace, and brought some wild goats."

mentions antelopes as occupying the Northwest territory.

When the last buffalo crossed the Mississippi is not precisely known. lingered in Wisconsin in 1825.

It is

certain they

said there was a buffalo shot on the St. Croix river as late

as 1832, so Wisconsin claims the last buffalo.

The woodland caribou

Rangifer caribou

— were

A few were seen not far from La Pointe in .045. The last wild turkey in the eastern portion of the state, was in 1846. On the Mississippi, one was killed in 1856. I am told by Dr. Walcott, that turkeys were abundant in Wisconsin previous never numerous within the limits of the

to the

state.

hard winter of 1842-3, when snow was yet two feet deep in March, with a stout crust, so They became so poor and weak, that they could

that the turkeys could not get to the ground.

not fly, and thus

became an easy prey to the wolves, foxes, wild cats, minks, etc., which exterminated almost the entire race. The Doctor says he saw but one single individual the next Moose are Elk were on Hay river in 1863, and I have little doubt a few yet remain. not numerous, a few yet remain in the northwestern part of the state. I saw moose tracks on the Montreal river, near Lake Superior, in the summer of 1845. A few panthers may still inhabit the wilderness of Wisconsin. Benjamin Bones, of Racine, shot one on the headwaters of winter.

FAUX A OF

WISCONSIN.

139

Badgers arc now nearly gone, and in a few years more, the only badgers found within the state, will be two legged ones. Beavers are yet numerous in the Black river, December, >863.

small lakes in the northern regions.

Wolverines are occasionally met with

the

northern

Bears, wolves, and deer, will continue to flourish in the northern and central counties,

forests.

where underbrush, timber, and small lakes abound. All large animals will soon be driven by civilization out of Wisconsin. The railroad and improved firearms will do the work, and thus we lose the primitive denizens of the forest and prairies.

PECULIARITIES OF THE BIRD FAUNA. The

recorded

facts

this

paper, were obtained by personal observations within fifteen

miles of Racine, Wisconsin, latitude 42

46' north, longitude 87 48' west. This city is situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, at the extreme southern point of the heavy lumbered district, the

lake than

Racine extends six miles further into the base of which rests on Lake Superior. Milwaukee, and two miles further than Kenosha. At this point the great prairie

approaches near the lake from the west.

The extreme rise of the mercury in summer, is from

c The isothermal line conies further north in summer, and retires further 90 to ioo Fahrenheit. south in winter than it does east of the great lakes, which physical condition will sufficiently

explain the remarkable peculiarities of its animal life, the overlapping, as it were, of two distinct faunas.

More especially is this true of birds, that are enabled to change their locality with the

greatest facility.

Within the past thirty years, I have collected and observed over three hundred Many species, considered all birds found in North America.

species of birds, nearly half of rare in other sections, are

A striking peculiarity of the found here in the greatest abundance. is that southern birds go farther north in summer, while

ornithological fauna of this section,

Of summer birds

northern species go farther south in winter than they do east of the lakes. that visit us,

Atlantic States.

will

ciinumerate a few of the many that belong to a more southern latitude in the

Nearly all nest with us, or, at

least,

did some years ago.

Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virdis ; mocking bird, Mi?nus pollyglottus j great Carolina wren, Thriothorus ludovkiaiius ; prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea; (estiva;

summer red bird, Pyrangia

wood ibis, Tantalus loeulator.

Among Arctic birds that visit us in winter are: Snowy owl, Xyctea niiva ; pie,

tina;

hawk owl, Surma ululaj Arctic banded three-toed woodpecker, Picoides hirsutus; mag-

great gray owl, Syrnium cinerusj

three-toed woodpecker, Picoides arclicus;

Canada jay, Perisorius canadensis; evening grosbeak, Hesperiphona vesperHudson titmouse, Pants hudsonicusj king eder, Somaieria speciabilis; black-throated diver,

Pica hudsonica;

Colymbus arcticus; glaucus gull, Laurus glaucus.

These examples are sufficient to indicate the rich avi fauna of Wisconsin.

doubtful if

there is another locality where the Canada jay and its associates visit in winter where the mock-

ing bird nests in summer, or where the

hawk owl

flies

silently over the spot

the warmer days by the summer red bird and the yellow-breasted chat.

occupied during

But the ax has already

much of the great woods, so that there is now a great falling off in numbers of our old familiar feathered friends. It is now extremely doubtful if such a collection can ever again be

leveled

mad; within the boundaries of this state, or indeed, of any other.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. Bv Prof.

EDWARD SEARING, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

From the time of the earliest advent of the families of French traders into the region now known as Wisconsin, to the year 1818, when that region became part of Michigan territory, education was mostly confined to private instruction, or was sought by the children of the The early Jesuit missionaries, wealthier in the distant cities of Quebec, Montreal, and Detroit.

and

— subsequently

to 1816,

when it came under the

military control of the

United States

representatives of various other religious denominations, sought to teach the Indian this section. I

—

tribes of

In 1823, Rev. Eleazar Williams, well known for his subsequent claim to be the

)auphin of France, and who was in the employ of the Episcopal Missionary Society, started a

school of white and half-breed children on the west side of Fox river, opposite " Shanty-Town." A Catholic mission school for Indians was organized by an Italian priest near Green Bay, in 1S30.

A clause of the treaty with the Winnebago Indians, in 1832, bound the United States to

maintain a school for their children near Prairie du Chien for a period of twenty-seven years.

The Original School Code. From 1818 to 1836, Wisconsin formed part of Michigan territory. In the year 1837, Michigan was admitted into the Union as a state, and Wisconsin, embracing what is now Minnesota, Iowa, and a considerable region

still

further westward, was, by act of congress approved April

20th of the year previous, established as a separate territory.

The act provided that the existing

laws of the territory of Michigan should be extended over the new territory so far as compatible with the provisions of the act, subject to alteration or repeal by the new government created.

Thus with the other statutes, the school code of Michigan became the

original code of Wiscon-

and it was soon formally adopted, with almost no change, by the first territorial legislature, which met at Belmont. Although modified in some of its provisions almost every year, this The imperfect code continued in force until the adoption of the state constitution in 1848. first material changes in the code were made by the territorial legislature at its second session, " lands, provide for of school and to organregulate the sale to in 1837, by the passage of a bill It was provided in this act that as soon as izing, regulating, and perfecting common schools." twenty electors should reside in a surveyed township, they should elect a board of three com-

sin,

missioners, holding office three years, to lay off districts, to apply the proceeds of the leases of It was also proschool lands to the payment of teachers' wages, and to call school meetings. vided that each district should elect a board of three directors, holding office one year, to locate school-houses, hire teachers for at least three months in the year, and levy taxes for the support

of schools.

was further provided that a third board of five inspectors should be elected

Two years annually in each town to examine and license teachers and inspect the schools. subsequently (1839) the law was revised and the family, instead of the electors, was made the Every town with not less than ten families was made a school More populous towns were divided into district and required to provide a competent teacher. two or more districts. The office of town commissioner was abolished, its duties with certain The rate-bill system of taxation, previously in others being transferred to the inspectors. existence, was repealed, and a tax on the whole county for building school-houses and supportbasis of the town organization.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. ing schools was provided

for.

One

two years later the

141

office of

restored, and the duties of the inspectors were assigned to the same.

town commissioners was Other somewhat important

amendments were made at the same time. In 1840, a memorial

congress from the legislature represented

that

the people were

From anxious to establish a common-school system, with suitable resources for its support. The rate-bill tax or private lack of sufficient funds many of the schools were poorly organized. Until a subscription was often necessary to supplement the scanty results of county taxation. state government should be organized, the fund accruing from the sale of school lands could not be available. Congress had made to Wisconsin, as to other new states, for educational purposes, a donation of lands. These lands embraced the sixteenth section in every township in the state, the 500,000 acres to which the state was entitled by the provisions of an act of congress passed in 1 84 1, and any grant of lands from the United States, the purposes of which were not speciTo obtain the benefits of this large fund was a leading object in forming the state confied. stitution.

Agitation for Free Schools. Shortly before the admission of the state the subject of free schools began to be quite

widely discussed.

M. Frank, of Kenosha, a member of the territorial became a law, authorizing the legal voters of his own town

In February, 1S45, Col.

legislature, introduced a bill, which

to vote taxes on all the assessed property tor the full support ot

act required

its

submission to the people of the town before

its

schools.

A provision of the

could take effect.

met with

strenuous opposition, but after many public meetings and lectures held in the interests of public enlightenment, the act was ratified by a small majority in the fall of 1845, and thus the first free school Subsequently, in the legislature, in the two constitutional conin the state was legally organized. ventions, and in educational assemblies, the question of a free-school system for the new state

soon to be organized provoked much interest and discussion.

In the constitution framed by the

convention of 1846, was provided the basis of a free-school system similar to that in our present constitution. The question of establishing the office of state superintendent, more than anyother feature of the proposed school system, elicited discussion in that body. this office, and the advantages of free schools

The necessity of

supported by taxation, were ably presented to the

convention by Hon. Henry Barnard, of Connecticut, in an evening address. He afterward prepared, by request, a draft of a free-school system, with a state superintendent at its head, which

was accepted and subsequently embodied in the constitution and the school law.

In the second

constitutional convention, in 1848, the same questions again received careful attention, and the article on education previously prepared, was, after a few changes, brought into the shape in

which we now find it. Immediately after the ratification by the people, of the constitution prepared by the second convention, three commissioners were appointed to revise the statutes. To one of these, Col. Frank, the needed revision of the school laws was assigned. The work was acceptably performed, and the new school code of 1849, largely the same as the present one,

went into operation May first of that year.

The School System under the State Government. The In the state constitution was laid the broad foundation of our present school system. four corner stones were: (1) The guaranteed freedom of the schools; (?.) the school fund created;

(3) the system of supervision;

(4) a state university for

higher instruction.

school fund has five distinct sources for its creation indicated in the constitution

from the sale of lands granted

to the state

(1)

The

Proceeds

by the United States for educational purposes;

(2)

142

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

moneys accruing from forfeiture or escheat; (3) all fines collected in the several counties for breach of the penal laws (4) all moneys paid for exemption from military duty (5) five per cent. all

;

of the sale of government lands within the state.

In addition to these constitutional sources of the school fund, another and sixth source was open from 1856 to 1S70. By an act of the state legislature in the former year, three-fourths of the net proceeds of the sales of the swamp and

overflowed lands, granted to the state by congress, Sept. 28, 1850, were added to the commonschool fund, the other fourth going into a fund for drainage, under certain circumstances but if ;

not paid over to any town for that purpose within two years, to fund.

The

become a part of the school following year one of these fourths was converted into the normal-school fund,

leaving one-half for the common-school fund. In 1858, another fourth was given to the drainage fund, thus providing for the latter one-half the income from the sales, and leaving for the school fund, until the year 1865, only the remaining one-fourth. to the normal-school fund, with

In the latter year this was transferred

the provision, however, that one-fourth of the income of this

fund should be transferred to the common-school fund until the annual income of the latter fund should reach $200,000. In 1870 this provision was repealed, and the whole income of the

normal fund left applicable to the support of normal schools and teachers' institutes. At the first session of the state legislature in 1848, several acts were passed which carried out in some degree the educational provisions of the constitution. A law was enacted to provide for the election, and to define the duties, of a state superintendent of public instruction. A district board was created, consisting of a moderator, director, and treasurer; the office of town superintendent was established, and provision was made for the creation of town libraries, and for the distribution of the school fund. The present school code of Wisconsin is substantially that passed by the legislature of 1848, and which went into operation May 1, 1849. The most important change since made was the abolition of the office of town superintendent, and the substitution therefor of the county superintendency. This change took effect January 1, 1S62.

The School-Fund Income. The first annual report of the state superintendent, for the year 1849, gives the income of the school fund for that year as $588, or eight and three-tenth mills per child. Milwaukee county received the largest amount, $69.63, and St. Croix county the smallest, twenty-four cents.

The average in the state was forty-seven cents per district.

The following table will show at a

glance the quinquennial increase in the income of the fund, the corresponding increase in the number of school children, and the apportionment per child, from 1849 to 1875, inclusive; also, the last published apportionment, that for 1878.

will

be seen that since 1855 the increase of

the fund has not kept pace with the increase of school population

70,457 92,105

288,984

$5SS 00 47,716 00 125,906 02 184.949 76

.67

335.5S2 412,481 450,304

.64

t:S,6.)2

S0.00S3 .518

fhe amount of productive school fund reported September 3c The portion (if the fund not invested at that date, was $58,823. 70.

151, S16

159,271 38 184,624 64 185,546 01

was $2,680,703.27..

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

14-i

The State University. In his

message to the

first

legislature, in

territorial

1836,

Governor Dodge recommended

asking from congress aid for the establishment of a state educational institution, to be governed This was the first official action looking to the establishment of a s1 ite

by the legislature. university.

The same legislature passed an act

to establish

and locate the Wisconsin univer-

At its second session, the following year, the legislature 19, 1S3S, establishing " at or near Madison, the seat of government, a university for the purpose of educating youth, the name whereof shall be 'The " A resolution was passed at the same session, directUniversity of the Territory of Wisconsin. sity at

Belmont, in the county of Iowa.

passed an act, which was approved January

ing the territorial delegate in congress to ask of that body an appropriation of $20,000 for the erection of the buildings ot said university, and also to appropriate two townships of vacant land for its endowment.

Congress accordingly appropriated,

1S38. seventy-two sections, or two

townships, for the support of a "seminary of learning in the territory of Wisconsin," and this

was afterward confirmed to the state for the use of the university. No effectual provision, however, was made for the establishment of the university until ten years later, when the state was Congress, as has been said, had made a donation of lands to the territory for the organized. support of such an institution, but these lands could not be made available for that purpose until The state constitution, adopted in 1S48, declared that prothe territory should become a state. vision should be made for the establishment of a slate university, and that the proceeds of all lands donated by the United States to the state for the support of a university should remain a perpetual fund, the interest of which should be appropriated to its support

The state legislature, at its first session, passed an act, approved July 26, 1848, establishing the University of Wisconsin, defining its location, its government, and

its

various departments,

and authorizing the regents to purchase a suitable site for the buildings, and

proceed to the

same, after having obtained from the legislature the approval of plans. This act The regents were soon after appointed, and their first annual repealed the previous act of 1S38. erei tion of the

report was presented to the legislature, January 30, 1S49.

This report announced the selection

of a site, subject to the approval of the legislature, announced the organization of a preparatory

department, and the election of a chancellor or president.

The university was thus organized,

with John H. Lathrop, president of the University of Missouri, as its first chancellor, and John

W. Sterling as principal of the preparatory department, which was opened February 5, 1849. Chancellor Lathrop was not formally inaugurated until January 16, 1850. Owing to the short-sighted policy of the state in locating without due care, and in appraising and selling so low the lands of the original grant, the fund produced was entirely inadequate to the support of the institution.

Congress, therefore, made, in 1S54, an additional grant of

seventy-two sections of land for its use.

These, however, were located and sold in the same

inconsiderate and unfortunate manner, for so low a price as to be a means of inducing immigration, indeed, but not of producing a fund adequate for the

support of a successful state univer-

Of the 92,160 acres comprised in the two grants, there had been sold prior to September 30, 1866, 74,17s acres for the sum of $264,570.13, or at an average price of but little more than sity.

$3.50 per acre.* Besides this, the state had allowed the university to anticipate its income to the By a law of 1S62 the sum of $104,339.43 extent of over $100,000 for the erection of buildings.

The resulting embarto pay for these buildings. rassment made necessary the re-organization of 1866, which added to the slender resources of sale of lands donated to the state by the institution the agricultural college fund, arising from the was taken from its fund (already too small)

the congressional act of 1862.

•Compare the price obtained for the lands of the University of Michigan. $22.85 per acre, and brought in a single year (1837) $150,447.90.

and $19 per acre.

The first sale of those lands averaged

Sales were made in succeeding years at $15, $17.

144

HISTOBY OF WISCONSIN.

The first university building erected was the north dormitory, which was completed in 1851. This is no feet in length by 40 in breadth, and four stories in height. The south dormitory, of the same size, was completed in 1855. The main central edifice, known as University Hall, was finished in 1859. The Ladies' College was completed in 1872. This latter was built with an appropriation of $50,000, made by the legislature in 1870 the first actual donation the university had ever received from the state. The legislature of 1875 appropriated $80,000 for the

—

erection of Science Hall, a building to be devoted to instruction in the physical sciences.

This was completed and ready for occupancy at the opening of the fall term of 1877. The growth of this institution during the past fourteen years, and especially since its reorganization in 1866, has been rapid and substantial. Its productive fund on the 30th day of September, 1877, aside from the agricultural college fund, was $223,240 32. The combined university and agricultural funds amounted, at the same date, to $464,032 22. An act of the legislature in 1867 appropriated to the university income for that year, and annually for the next ten years, the sum of $7,303.76, being the interest upon the sum taken from the university fund by Chapter 100 of the general the law of 1862 for the erection of buildings, as before mentioned. laws of 1872 also provided for an annual state tax of $10,000 to increase the income of the uniChapter 119 of the laws of 1S76 provides for an annual state tax of one-tenth of one versity. mill on the taxable property of the state for the increase of the university fund income, this tax to be "in lieu of all other appropriations before provided for the benefit of said fund income," and to be " deemed a full compensation for all deficiencies in said income arising from the disposition of the lands donated to the state by congress, in trust, for the benefit of said income." The entire income of the university from all sources, including this tax (which was $42,359.62), The university has a faculty of over was, for the year ending September 30, 1878, $81,442.63. 1877-8 it had in it's various departthirty professors and instructors, and during the past year ments 388 students. The law department, organized in 1868, has since been in successful operation. Ladies are admitted into all the departments and classes of the university.

—

Agricultural College. The agricultural

state by the congressional act of 1862, was by a subsequent legislative enactment (1S66) applied to the support, not of a separate agricultural college, but of a department of agriculture in the existing university, thus rendering it unneces-

college fund, granted to the

Under the provisions of chapter 114, Dane issued to the state, for the purpose of purchasing an experimental farm, bonds to the amount of $40,000. A farm of about 200 acres, adjoining the universary for the state to erect separate buildings elsewhere.

laws of 1866, the county of

was purchased, and a four years' course of study provided, designed to be thorough and extensive in the branches that relate to agriculture, in connection with its practical application upon the experimental farm. The productive agricultural college fund has increased from $S,o6i.S6, in 1866, to $244,263, 18,

sity grounds,

in 1878.

Normal Schools. The

propriety

making some

special provision for the instruction of teachers was acknowledged in the very organization of the state, a provision for normal schools having been embodied in the constitution itself, which ordains that after the support and maintenance of the

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

145

common schools is insured, the residue of the school fund shall be appropriated to academies and normal schools. The state legislature, in its first session in 1848, in the act establishing the University of Wisconsin, declared that one of the four departments thereof should be a department

of the theory

and practice of elementary instruction.

The first institution ever chartered in

the state as a normal school was incorporated by the legislature at its second session

under the title of the " Jefferson County Normal School."

— 1849 —

This, however, was never organized.

The regents, when organizing the university, at their meeting in

1849, ordained the estab-

lishment of a normal professorship, and declared that in organizing the normal department

was their fixed intention " to make the University of Wisconsin subsidiary to the great cause of popular education, by making it, through its normal department, the nursery of the educators of the popular mind, and the central point of union and harmony to the educational interests of the commonwealth." They declared that instruction in the normal department should be free to all Little was accomplished, however, in this direction during the next ten suitable candidates. years. In 1857 an act was passed by the legislature appropriating twenty-five per cent, of the income of the swamp-land fund " to normal institutes and academies under the supervision and direction of a board of regents of normal schools," who were to be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the act. Distribution of this income was made to such colleges, academies, and high schools as maintained a normal class, in proportion to the number of pupils passing a successful examination conducted by an agent of the board. In 1859, Dr. Henry Barnard, who had become chancellor of the university, was made agent of the normal regents. He inaugurated a system of teachers' institutes, and gave fresh vigor to the normal work throughout the state. Resigning, however, on account of ill-health, within two years, Professor Chas. H. Allen, who had been conducting institutes under his direction, succeeded him as agent of the normal regents, and was elected principal of the normal department of the university, entering upon his work as the latter in March, 1864. He managed the department with signal ability and success, but at the end of one or two years resigned. Meantime the educational sentiment of the state had manifested itself for the establishment of separate normal schools. In 1865, the legislature passed an act repealing that of two years before, and providing instead that one-half of the swamp-land fund should be set apart as a normal-school fund, the income of which should be applied to establishing and supporting normal schools under the direction and management of the board of normal regents, with a proviso, however, that onefourth of such income should be annually transferred to the common-school fund income, until the latter should amount annually to $200,000. This proviso was repealed by the legislature of 1870, and the entire income of one-half the swamp-land fund has since been devoted to normalschool purposes. During the same year proposals were invited for aid in the establishment of a normal school, in money, land, or buildings, and propositions from various places were received and considered. In 1066, the board of regents was incorporated by the legislature. In the same year Platteville was conditionally selected as the site of a school, and as there was already a productive fund of about $600,000, with an income of over $30,000, and a prospect of a steady increase as the lands were sold, the board decided upon the policy of establishing several schools, located in different parts of the state. In pursuance of this policy, there have already been completed, and are

now in

very successful operation, the Platteville Normal School, opened

October 9, 1866; the Whitewater Normal School, opened April 21, 1868 School, opened September 19, 1S71, and the River Falls 2,

1875.

Each

assembly

district

the state

the Oshkosh Normal Normal School, opened September

entitled

;

eight representatives in

the

normal schools. These are nominated by county and city superintendents. Tuition is free to all normal students. There are in the normal schools two courses of study an

—

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN'.

146 elementary course of two years, the former, receives a certificate

and an advanced course of four years. ;

The student completing The certificate, when

the one completing the latter, a diploma.

the holder has successfully taught one year after graduation, may be countersigned by the superintendent of public instruction, when it becomes equivalent to a five-years' state certificate. The diploma, when thus countersigned, after a like interval, is equivalent to a permanent state certificate. It is believed that the normal-school system of Wisconsin rests upon a broader and more That basis is an independent secure basis than the corresponding system of any other state. and permanent fund, which has already reached a million dollars. The precise amount of this securely invested and productive fund, September 30, 187S, was $1,004,907.67, and the sum of 133,290.88 remained uninvested.

Teachers' Institutes. In addition to the work of the normal schools, the board of regents is authorized to expend

A law of 187 1, amended in 1876, $5,000 annually to defray the expenses of teachers' institutes. provides for normal institutes, which shall be held for not less than two consecutive weeks, and appropriates from the state treasury a sum not exceeding $2,000 per annum for their support. There were held weeks.

the State, in

1878, sixty-six institutes, varying in length from one to two

The total number of persons enrolled as attendants was 4,944

Graded Schools. Including those in the cities, the graded schools of the State number about four hundred. The annual report of the State superintendent for 1878 gives the number with two departments as 207, and the number with three or more as 225.

A law of March, 1872, provided that "all graduates of any graded school of the state, who shall have passed

an examination at such graded school satisfactory to the faculty of the univerand college classes of the university, shall be at

sity for admission into the sub-freshman class

A consideronce and at all times entitled to free tuition in all the colleges of the university." able number of graduates of graded schools entered the university under this law during the this class of students, next four years, but it being deemed an unwise discrimination in favor of in 1876, in the same act which provided for the tax of one tenth of one mill, the legislature provided that from and after the 4th of July of that year no student, except students in law and Few graded schools those taking extra studies, should be required to pay any fees for tuition. of the state are able as yet to fully prepare students for entrance into the regular classes of the The larger number prepared by them still enter the classical department of the university. scientific department or the sub-freshman class.

The Town-ship System. In 1869 the legislature passed a law authorizing towns

adopt by vote the " township sys-

Under this system each town becomes one school district, and the Each sub-district -lects a clerk, several school districts already existing become sub-districts. and these clerks constitute a body corporate under the name of the " board of school directors," and

tem of school government."

are invested with the title and custody of erty belonging to

the sub-districts, with

schools of the town.

all

school

power

houses, school-house

sites,

and other prop-

control them for the best interests of the

The law provides for an executive committee to execute the orders of the

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

14,

board, employ teachers, etc., and for a secretary to record proceedings of the board, have immeBut few towns diate charge and supervision of the schools, and perform other specified duties. ha\e as yet made trial of this system, although it is in successful operation in Pensylvania, Massachusetts, and some other states, and where fully and fairly tried in our own, has proved entirely It is the general belief of our enlightened educational men that the plan has such

satisfactory.

merits as ought to secure its voluntary adoption by the people of the state.

Free High Schools. In 1S75 the legislature enacted that any town, incorporated village, or city, may establish and maintain not more than two free high schools, and provided for an annual appropriation of

not to exceed $25,000, to refund one-half of the actual cost of instruction in such schools, but At the session of 1877 the benefits of the no school to draw in any one year more than $500. act were extended to such high schools already established as shall show by a proper report that

they have conformed to the requirements of the law.

towns decline

establish such a

The law has school, one or more adjoining districts in the same have the privilege of doing so. met with much favor. For the school year ending August 31, 1S76 (the first year in which it was the sum of $7,466.50 was paid, being For the year ending August 31, 1878, eighty-five schools

in operation), twenty such schools reported, and to these

an average of $373.32 per school.

reported and received a pro rata division of the

maximum appropriation.

The high school law

neighborhoods the twofold advantages ~f (i)a higher instruction than the common district schools afford, and (2) a better class of teachers for these schools. It was anticipated, however, from the first that the immediate results of the law would was primarily designed to bring

to rural

be chiefly the improvement of existing graded schools in the larger villages and in cities.

School Officers.

The school officers of Wisconsin are, a state superintendent of public instruction, sixty-four county superintendents, twenty-eight city superintendents, and a school board in each district, consisting of a director, treasurer, and clerk. The state and county superintendents hold office two years, the district officers three years. In each independent city there is a board of educa-

and the larger cities have each a city superintendent, who in some cases is also principal of He is appointed for one year. The county board of supervisors determine, iwn and ward of their county for school purposes, levy an additional amount for the salary of the county superintendents, may authorize a special school tax, and may under certain circumstances determine that there shall be two superintendents for their county. The town board of supervisors have authority to form and alter school districts, to issue notice for first meeting, to form union districts for high school purposes, and appoint first boards for the same, to locate and establish school-house sites under certain circumstances, to extinguish districts that have neglected to maintain school for two years, and to dispose of the property of the same. The district clerks report annually to the town clerks, the town clerks to the county superintendents, and the county and city superintendents to the state superintendent, who in turn makes an annual report to the governor. tion,

the high school.

within certain limits, the amount of money to be raised annually in each

State Teachers' Certificates.

The state superintendent is authorized by law " to teachers of eminent qualifications."

issue state

certificates of high

grade to

Two grades of these are given, one unlimited, and the

The examination is conducted by a board of three examiners, appointed annually by the state superintendent, and acting under rules and regulations prescribed by him.

other good for five years.

HISTORT OF WISCONSIN.

148

Teachers' Associations. Besides the Wisconsin State Teachers' Association, holding its annual session in the summer

and a semi-annual or " executive " session in the winter, there are, in several parts of the county or district associations, holding stated meetings.

The number of such

state,

associations

annually increasing.

Libraries.

The utility of public libraries as a part of the means of popular enlightenment, was early The constitution, as set forth in 1848, required that a portion of the

recognized in this state.

income of the school fund should be applied to the " purchase of suitable libraries and appaThe same year the legislature of the state, at its first session, ratus" for the common schools. enacted that as soon as this income should amount to $60,000 a year (afterwards changed to $30,000), each town superintendent might devote one tenth of the portion of this income received by his town annually, to town library purposes, the libraries thus formed to be distributed among Districts were also empowered the districts, in sections, and in rotation, once in three months. The operation of this discretionary and voluntary system was to raise money for library books. In ten years (185S) only about one third of the districts (1,121) had libraries, not successful. embracing in all but 38,755 volumes, and the state superintendent, Hon. Lyman C. Draper, urged upon' the legislature a better system, of " town libraries," and a state tax for their creation and maintenance. In 1857, the legislature enacted that ten per cent, of the yearly income of the school fund should be applied to the purchase of town school libraries, and that an annual tax of one tenth of one mill should be levied for the same purpose. The law was left incomplete, however, and in 1862, before the system had been perfected, the exigencies of the civil war led to the repeal of the law, and the library fund which had accumulated from the ten per cent, of the school fund income, and from the library tax, amounting in all to $88,784.78, was transferred to the general fund.

This may be considered a debt to the educational interests of the slate that

should be repaid.

Meanwhile the

single district

library

system languishes and yearly grows

weaker. The re-enacting of a town library system, in which local effort and expenditure shall be stimulated and supplemented by State aid, has been recommended by the State Teachers' Association, and will, it

hoped, be secured, at no distant day, as a part of a complete town

system of schools and of public education. List of State Superintendents.

The act creating the office was passed at the first session of the state legislature, in 1848. The incumbents up to the present time have been as follows Hon. E. Root

Hon. A. P. Ladd. Hon. H. A. Wright* Hon. A. C. Barry Hon. L. C. Draper Hon. J. L. Pickardf Hon. J. G. McMynn Hon. A. J. Craigf Hon. Samuel Fallows Hon. Edward Searing 11,,,,.

YV. C,

—

..Three years and nine months— 1860-61-62-C3. Four years and three months 1S63-64-65-66-67.

—

Two years and six months — 1868-69-70. Three years and six months— 1870-71-72-73. Four years— 1874-75-76-77. Two years— 1878-79.

Whitford

* Died.

May 29, 1845.

DURATION OF INCUMBENCY. Three years— 1849-50-51. Two years— 1852-53. One year and five months— 1854-55. Two years and seven months 1855-56-57. Two years— 1S5S-59.

NAME OF INCUMBENT.

Resigned, October 1. 1S63.

Died, July

1S70.

Sketches of Colllges in Wisconsin. was founded in 1847, at Beloit, under the auspices of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches of Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In 1848, Rev. Joseph Emerson and Rev J J. Bushnell were appointed professors, and in 1849, Rev. A. L. Chapin was appointed president, and has continued such until the present time The institution has had a steady Beloit College

growth, has maintained a high standard of scholarship and done excellent work, both in its pre-

Two hundred and thirty-six young men have graduated. lands and buildings are valued at $78,000, and its endowments and funds amount to about

paratory and college departments. Its

$122,000.

Lawrence University, at Appleton, under the patronage of the -Methodist church, was organized as a college in 1850, having been an " institute " or a( ademy for three years previous, under the Rev. W. H. Sampson. The first president was Rev. Edward Cook the second, K, ;

Mason;

the present one is the Rev. George M. Steele,

has graduated 130 young men, and 68 young women.

ment.

has been an institution of great benefit

part of the state.

in a

1>.

still

open to both sexes, and

maintains a preparatory depart-

new region of country, in the northeastern

Receiving a liberal donation at the outset from the Hon.

of Boston, it has land and buildings valued

Amos A. Lawrence,

$47,000, at Appleton, and funds and

endowments

amounting to $60,000. Milton College, an institution under the care of the Seventh Lay baptists, was opened as college

1S67, having been conducted as an academy since 1S44.

president, was for

many

years the principal

of the

academy

Rev. W. C. Whitford, the

The institution has done'much The college has gradu-

valuable work, particularly in preparing teachers for our public schools.

ated 38 young men and women, having previously graduated 93 academic students.

It lias

lands,

buildings and endowments to the amount of about $50,000.

Ripon College, which was known till 1S64 as Brockway College, was organized

1853, at

Ripon, and is supported by the Congregational church. Since its re-organization, in 1S63, it has graduated 77 students (of both sexes) in the college courses, and has always maintained a large

and flourishing preparatory department. Under its present efficient head, the Rev. E. H. Merrell, A. M., it is meeting with continued success. Its property amounts to about $125,000. Racine College was founded by the Episcopal Church, at Racine, in 1852, under the Rev. Roswell Park, D. D., as its first President. It was for a long time under the efficient administration of Rev. James De Koven, D D., now deceased, who was succeeded by Rev. D. Stevens Parker. It maintains a large boys' school also, and a preparatory department. It was designed,

young men for the Nashotah Theological Seminary. It has property, including amount of about <§tSo,ooo, and has graduated ninety-nine young men. Its principal work, in which it has had great success, is that of a boys' school, modeled somewhat in part, to train

five buildings, to the

after the English schools.

The Seminary of St. Francis of Sales, an ecclesiastical school, was established at

St.

Fran-

Milwaukee, chiefly by the combined efforts of two learned and zealous priests, the Rev. Michael Heiss, now bishop of La Crosse, and the Rev. Joseph Salzmann. was It opened in January, 1S56, with Rev. M. Heiss as rector, and witli 25 students. Rev. Jo eph alzmann was rector from September, 1868, to the time of his death, January 17, 1874, since which time Rev. C. Wapelhorst has held the rectorship. The latter is now assisted by twelve professors, and the students number 267,0!" whom 105 are theologians, 3 students of philosophy, and the rest classical students. (

Station, near

bio

Mono College is a Roman

Catholic institution, at St. Francis

neighborhood of the Seminary of St. Francis. * The statistics

;

r this di

immediate was founded in 1871, by Rev. Joseph Salzmann, Station, in the

---. -md ire for the previous vear

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

150

who was the first rector. He was succeeded in 1874 by the present rector, Rev. Thomas BrueBesides the college proper, there is a norner, who is assisted by a corps of seven professors. mal department, in which, in addition to the education that qualifies for teaching in common and There is also, under the same higher schools, particular attention is given to church music. management, but in an adjoining building, an institution for the instruction of the deaf and dumb. The pupils in the latter, both boys and girls, numbering about 30, are taught to speak by sounds,

and it is said with the best success. An institution was organized in 1865, at Prairie du Chien. under the name of Prairie du Chien College, and under the care of J. T. Lovewell, as principal. In the course of two or three years it passed into the hands of the Roman Catholic church, and is now known as St. John's It has so far performed principally preparatory work. College. Sinsinawa Mound College, a Roman Catholic institution, was founded in 1S48, through the labors of Father Mazzuchelli, but after doing a successful work, was closed in 1863, and in 1867 the St. Clara academy was opened in the same buildings. The Northwestern University, which is under the Lutheran church, was organized in 1865, It has graduated 21 young men, and at Watertown, under Rev. August F. Ernst, as president. has a preparatory department.

Its property is valued at

$50,000.

Galesville University was organized in 1859, under the patronage of the Methodist church

The first president was the Rev. Samuel FalIt has graduated ten young men and eight young women, its work hitherto having been mostly preparatory. It is now under the patronage of the PresbyIt has property valued at terian 'denomination, with -J. W. McLaury, A. M., as president.

at Galesville, in the northwest part of the state.

lows, since state superintendent.

$30,000, and an endowment of about $50,000. Carroll College was established at Waukesha, by the Presbyterian church, in 1846.

Prof. J.

W. Sterling, now of the state university, taught its primary classes that year. Under President John A. Savage, D.D., with an able corps of professors, it took a high rank and graduated classes but for several years past it has confined its work principally to academic studies. Under W. L. Rankin, A. M.,the present principal, the school is doing good service. Wayland University was established as a college, by the Baptists, at Beaver Dam, in 1854, but never performed much college work. For three years past, it has been working under a new charter as an academy and preparatory school, and is now known as Wayland Institute. ;

In 1 841, thq Protestant Episcopal church established a mission in the wilds of Waukesha county, and, at an early day, steps were taken to establish in connection therewith an institution This was incorporated in 1847, by the name of Nashotah House. In 1852 the of learning. classical school was located at Racine, and Nashotah

seminary. sustained

House became distinctively a theological

has an endowment of one professorship, the faculty and students being otherwise by voluntary contributions. It has a faculty of five protessors, with Rev. A. D. It

Cole, D.D., as president, buildings pleasantly situated, and has graduated 185 theological students.

Female Colleges.

Two institutions have been known under this designation.

The Milwaukee Female College

was founded in 1852, and ably conducted for several years, under the principalship of Miss Mary Mortimer, now deceased. It furnished an advanced grade of secondary instruction. The Wisconsin Female College, located at Fox Lake, was first incorporated in 1855, and re-organized in It has never reached a collegiate course, is now known as Fox Lake Seminary, and 1863. admits both sexes.

Rev. A. O. Wright, A. M., is the present principal.

;;

\<;i:in

LTURE.

151

Academies and Seminaries.

The following institutions of academic grade, are now in operation: Albion Academy Benton Academy; Big Foot Academy Elroy Seminary Fox Lake Seminary two German and English academies in Milwaukee Janesville Academy; Kemper Hall, Kenosha Lake Geneva Seminary, Geneva; Lakeside Seminary, Oconomowoc Marshall Academy, Marshall; Merrill Milwaukee Academy; Racine Academy; River Falls Institute; Institute, Fond du Lac; Rochester Seminary; St. Catherine's Academy, Racine; St. Clara Academy; Sinsinawa Mound; St. Mary's Institute, Milwaukee; Sharon Academy; and Wayland Institute, Beaver Dam. Similar institutions formerly in operation but suspended or merged in other instituAllen's Grove Academy Appleton Collegiate Institute Baraboo Collegiate Institions, were tute; Beloit Female Seminary; Beloit Seminary; Brunson Institute, Mount Hope; Evansville Seminary; Janesville Academy (merged in the high school); Kilbourn Institute; Lancaster Institute; Milton Academy; Platteville Academy Southport Academy (Kenosha); Waterloo Academy Waukesha Seminary; Wesleyan Seminary, Eau Claire; and Patch Grove Academy. The ;

;

most important of these were the Milton and Platteville Academies,' the former merged

Mil-

ton College, the latter in the Platteville Normal School.

Of the others, several were superseded

by the establishment of public high schools in the same

localities.

Commercial Schools. Schools of this character, aiming to furnish what is called a business education, exist in Mil-

waukee, Janesville, Madison, LaCrosse, Green Bay, largest

Ishkosh and Fond du Lac. The oldest and Milwaukee, under the care of Prof. R. C. Spencer, and enrolls from two to three (

hundred students annually.

AGRICULTURE. By W. W. DANIELLS, M.S., Prof, of Chemistry and Agriculture at the University op

Wisconsin.

The trend of the earliest industries of a country, is the result of the circumstances under which those industries are developed. The attention of pioneers is confined to supplying the immediate wants of food, shelter, and clothing. ers,

Hence, the firs tsettlers of a country are farmminers, trappers, or fishermen, according as they can most readily secure the means of pres-

ent sustenance for themselves and their families. well exemplified. ber,

In the early history of Wisconsin this law

The southern part of the state, consisting of alternations

was first settled by farmers.

of prairie and timAs the country has developed, wealth accumulated, and means

of transportation have been furnished, farming has ceased to be the sole interest. Manufactories have been built along the rivers, and the mining industry of the southwestern part of the stale has

grown to one of considerable importance. The shore of Lake Michigan was first mainly settled tied by fishermen, but the later growth of agriculture and manufactures has nearly overshadowed the fishing interest; as has the production of lumber, in the north half of the state, eclipsed the trapping and fur interests of the first settlers. That the most important industry of Wis. onsin is

tanning, may be seen from the following statistics of the occupation of the people as given by

the United States census.

Out of each one hundred

inhabitants, of all

occupations, 68 were

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

152

The rapid growth of the agriculture 01 farmers, in 1840; 52 in 1850; 54 in i860; 55 in 1870. the state is illustrated by the increase in the number of acres of improved land in farms, and in the value of farms and of farm implements and machinery, as shown by the following table, compiled from the

United States census:

Farming, at the present time, is almost entirely confined to the south haif of the state, the A notable exception to this statement is still largely covered by forests. found in the counties on the western border, which are well settled by farmers much farther north. 1

northern half being

The surface of the agricultural portion of the state is. for the most part gently undulating, affordThe soil in- ready drainage, without being so abruptly broken as to render cultivation difficult. and mostly very fertile. The southern portion of the state consists of is varied in character, undulating prairies of variable size the largest being Rock prairie— alternating with oak openings. The prairies have the rich alluvial sr.il ^o characteristic of the western prairies, and are easily worked. The soil of the "openings " land is usually a sandy loam, readily tilled, fertile, but not " The proportion of timber to prairie increases passing north as " strong as soils having more clay.

—

from the southern boundary of the state, and forests of maple, basswood and elm, replace, to some extent, the oak lands. In these localities, the soil is more clayey, is strong and fertile, not In as easily tilled, and not as quickly exhausted as are the more sandy soils of the oak lands. that portion of the state known geologically as the " driftless " region, the soil is invariably good where the lime-rock has the valleys, however, rock is limestone. In some of surface the where

been removed by erosion, leaving the underlying sandstone as the surface rock, the soil is sandy and unproductive, except in those localities where a large amount of alluvial matter has been deposited by the streams.

The

soils

of the pine lands of the north of the state, are generally

However, where pine is replaced by maple, oak, birch, elm and sandy and but slightly fertile. basswood, the soil is "heavier " and very fertile, even to the shores of Lake Superior. The same natural conditions that make Wisconsin an agricultural state, determined that

The fertile prairies covering during its earlier years the main interest should be grain-growing. large portions of the southern part of the state had but to be plowed and sowed with grain to From the raising of cereals the pioneer farmer could get the produce an abundant yield. quickest returns for his labor.

Hence in 1.S50, two years after its admission

the Union, Wis-

consin was the ninth state in order in tin' production of wheat, while in 1S60 this rank was raised The true rank of the state is not shown by to ihird, Illinois and Indiana only raising more. nres.

vation

Were the number of inhabitants and the number of acres of land

taken into account

actual culti-

the comparison, the state would stand still higher in rank than

There is the same struggle for existence, and the same desire for gain the world over, and hence the various phases of development of the same industry in different civilized countries is mainly the result of the widely varying economical conditions imposed upon that Land is thoroughly cultivated in Europe, not because the Europeans have any industry. inherent love for good cultivation, but because there land is scarce and costly, while labor is In iindant and cheap America, on the other hand, and especially in the newer states, here indicated.

AGRICULTURE.

153

land is abundant and cheap, while labor is scarce and costly.

In its productive industries each

country is alike economical

in the use of the costly element in production, and more lavish in Each is alike economically wise in following such a course the use of that which is cheaper. when it is not carried to too great extremes. With each the end sought is the greatest return for In accordance with this law of economy, the the expenditure of a given amount of capital.

Good cultivation of the soil was never The same land was planted successively to one crop, as long as it yielded enough The economical principle above stated was carried to an extreme. Farm-

early agriculture of Wisconsin was mere land-skimming.

thought of.

to pay for cultivation.

ing as then practiced was a quick method of land exhaustion. It was always taking out of the Xo attention was paid to sustaining the soil's fertility. The only aim was to secure the largest crop for the smallest outlay of capital, without regard to the future.

purse, and never putting in.

Manures were never used, and such

unavoidably accumulated was regarded as a great nuis-

ance, often rendering necessary the removal of stables and outbuildings. invariably burned as the most convenient

means of disposing of them.

Straw-stacks were

Wheat, the principal

product, brought a low price, often not more than fifty cents a bushel, and had

be marketed

by teams at some point from which it could be carried by water, as this was, at an early day, the On account of the sparse settlement of the country, roads were only means of transportation. poor, and the farmer, after raising and threshing his wheat, had to spend, with a team, from two to five

days, marketing the few bushels that a team could draw.

So that the farmer had every

obstacle to contend with except cheap and very fertile land, that with the

gave a comparatively abundant yield of grain.

manures and other

fertilizers, would

not,

poorest of cultivation

Better tillage, accompanied

upon the virgin

soils,

have added

with the use of

sufficiently to the

Hence, to the first farmers of the state, poor farming was the only profitable farming, and consequently the only good farming, an agriculturo-economical Notwithstanding the fact that farmers could economiparadox from which there was no escape. yield to pay the cost of applying them.

cally follow no other system than that of land-exhaustion, as described, such

a course was

none

the less injurious to the state, as it was undermining its foundation of future wealth, by destroy-

ing the fertility of the soil, that upon which the permanent wealth and prosperity of every agricultural community is first dependent.

Besides this evil, and together with

it,

came

the habit of

loose and slovenly farming acquired by pioneers, which continued after the conditions that method a necessity had passed away.

making

With the rapid growth of the northwest came better

home markets and increased facilities for transportation to foreign markets, bringing with them higher prices for all products of the farm.

As a consequence of these better conditions, land in

farms in the state increased rapidly in value, from $9.58 per acre in 1850, to $16.61 in i860, an of 62 per cent., while the total number of acres in farms increased during the

increase

With this increase in the same time from 2,976,658 acres to 7,893,587 acres, or 265 per cent. value of land, and the higher prices paid for grain, should have come an improved system of husThis could have been bandry which would prevent the soil from deteriorating in fertility. accomplished either by returning to the soil, in manures and fertilizers, those ingredients of which it was being rapidly drained by continued grain-growing, or by the adoption of a system of mixed husbandry, which should include the' raising of stock and a judicious rotation of crops. Such a Great progress upon the earlier Indeed, it is now slowly coming. system is sure to come. But so radical and thorough a change in the methods of farming have already been made. habits of any class of people as that from the farming of pioneers to a rational method that will preserve the soil's fertility and pay for the labor it demands, requires many years for its full accomplishment.

It will

not even keep pace with changes in those economical conditions which

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

154 favor it.

In the rapid settlement of the northwestern states this change has

come most rapidly

with the replacement of the pioneer farmers by immigrants accustomed to better methods of

go west '' again, to begin anew their frontier farming In Wisupon virgin soil, as their peculiar method of cultivation fails to give them a livelihood.

culture.

In such cases the pioneers usually

consin as rapid progress

made in the system of agriculture as, all things considered, This change for the better has been quite rapid for the past ten

being

could reasonably be expected.

years, and is gaining in velocity and momentum each year.

It is

partly the result of increased

intelligence relating to farming, and partly the result of necessity caused

by the unprofitableness

of the old method.

The

estimated value of all agricultural products of the state, including that of orchards,

market gardens, and betterments, was, in 1870, as given in the census of that year, $79,072,967, In 1875, which places Wisconsin twelfth in rank among the agricultural states of the Union. according to the " Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture," the value of the principal farm ranks ninth in agriAccording to this estimation the state was in this state crops $58,957,050. cultural importance. As has been before stated, Wisconsin is essentially a grain-growing state. This interest has been the principal one, not because the soil is better adapted to grain-growing than to general, stock, or dairy farming, but rather because this course, which was at an early

day most immediately profitable, has been since persistently followed from force of habit, even after it had failed to be remunerative. The following table shows the bushels of the different grains raised in the state for the years indicated

Year.

AGRICULTURE. demands of the market.

155

The value in 1869 of all farm products and betterments of the state

There were raised of wheat the same year 25,606,344 bushels, which at $1.03 2 wheat (the leading grade), for the year ending July 31, 1S70, amounts to $26,374,524, or one third the value of all agricultural products and betterments. The average production per acre, as estimated by the commissioner of agriculture, was 14 bushels. Hence there were 1,829,024 acres of land devoted to this one crop, nearly one third of all the improved land in the state. Of the wheat crop of 1869 24.375,435 bushels were spring' wheat, and 1,230,909 bushels were winter wheat, which is 19.8 bushels of spring to 1 bushel of winter wheat. The latter is scarcely sown at all on the prairies, In some of the timbered regions hardy varieties do well, but it is or upon light opening soils. not a certain crop, as it is not able to withstand the winters, unless covered by snow or litter. It is not injured as seriously by the hard freezing, as by the alternate freezing and thawing of February and March. The continued cropping of land with grain is a certain means of exhausting the soil of the phosphates, and of those nitrogenous compounds that are essential to the production of grain, and To the diminished yield, yet are present even in the most fertile soils in but small quantities. partly attributable to the overcropping of the land, and partially to poor seasons and chinch bugs, and to the decline in prices soon after the war, owing to an over production of wheat, may largely be attributed the hard times experienced by the "grain growing farmers of Wisconsin from 1872 to 1S77. The continued raising of wheat upon the same land, alternated, if any alternation occurred, with barley, oats, or corn, has produced its sure results. The lesson has cost the was $79,072,967.

per bushel, the mean price reported by the Milwaukee board of trade, for No.

farmers of the state dearly, but it has not been altogether lost.

A better condition of affairs has

Wheat is gradually losing its prestige as the farmers' sole dependence, while The number of bushels of wheat stock, dairy, and mixed farming are rapidly increasing. already begun.

raised to each inhabitant in the state was in 1850 fourteen, in i860 twenty-three and eight tenths, in 1870 twenty-four, and in 1875 twenty and four tenths. These figures do not indicate a dimin-

productiveness of the state, but show, with the greatly increased production in other branches of husbandry, that farmers are changing their system to one more diversified and Straw stacks are no longer burned, and manure heaps are not looked upon as altogether ished

rational.

Much more attention is now paid to the use of fertilizers. Clover with plaster is looked upon with constantly increasing favor, and there is a greater seeking for light upon the more difficult problems of a profitable agriculture Corn is raised to a large extent, although Wisconsin has never ranked as high in corn, as in Sixteen states raised more corn in 1870 than this state, and in 1S75, seventeen wheat growing. Corn requires a rich, moist soil, with a long extended season of warm sunstates raised more. While this crop can be raised with great ease in the larger portion of the state, it will shine. always succeed better farther south, both on account of the longer summers and the L reater amount of rainfall. According to the statistics of the commissioner of agriculture, the average yield per acre for a period of ten years, is about 30 bushels. Corn is an important crop in the useless.

economy of the farmer, as from it he obtains much food for his stock, and it is his principal dependence for fattening pork. On these accounts it will, without doubt, retain its place in the husbandry of the state, even when stock and dairy farming are followed to a much greater extent than at present. in 1870,

Barley is cultivated largely throughout the state, but

than Wisconsin.

for this grain.

live states produced

The great quantity of beer brewed here, furnishes a good home market

Barley succeeds best in a rather moist

climate, having a long growing season.

The dry, short summers of Wisconsin, are not well adapted to

its

growth.

Hence the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

156

According to the returns yield is but a medium one, and the quality of the grain is only fair. furnished the commissioner of agriculture, the average yield for a period of ten years, is 22 bushels per acre. Next to wheat, more bushels of oats are raised than of any other grain. Wisconsin was, in The rich soils of the state oat-growing states; in 1S70, sixth. 1 S60, fifth in rank among the

abundant crop of oats with but little labor, and hence their growth in large quantities is

raise an

not necessarily an indication of good husbandry.

They

will

bear poor cultivation better than

It is a favorite corn, and are frequently grown upon land too weedy to produce that grain. With the best farmers, oats arc looked upon with less grain for feeding, especially to horses.

favor than corn, because it is apt to leave land well seeded with weeds which are difficult to In the production of rye, Wisconsin ranked seventh in i860, and fourth in 1870. exterminate.

much surer crop in this state than winter wheat, as it is les3 easily winter-killed when not

It is a

protected by snow, than

that grain.

Besides, it ripens so early as not to be seriously injured

by drouth in summer, and succeeds well even upon the poorer soils. The average yield per acre is about 16 bushels. But few hops were grown in Wisconsin, up to i860, when owing to an increased demand by the breweries

the state, there was a gradual but

healthful increase in

hop

culture.

A few

years later the advent of the hop louse, and other causes of failure at the east, so raised the price Many acres were planted in this state of hops as to make them a very profitable crop to grow.

The success of those from 1863 to 1865, when the total product was valued at nearly $350,000. The profits were large. engaged in this new branch of farming, encouraged others to adopt it. remunerative, and in 1S67 and 1S6S, the " hop 'years been several not for had Wheat growing "

fever

be< ame an epidemic,

almost a plague.

The crop of Sauk county alone was estimated at

The quality of the crop was excellent, the yield over 4,000,000 pounds, worth over $2,000, 000. The secretary of the State Agricultural society says, in his large, and the price unusually high. " which the first crop has paid for the land and all numerous in are Gases year. report for that the improvements."

To many farmers hop raising appeared to offer a sure and speedy course to

The hop louse ruined the crop, and low prices caused by But a change came quickly. In 1S67, the price of hops was from over production, aided in bringing ruin to many farmers. 1S69 it was from 10 to 15 cents, some of poor quality selling while in pound, per cents 40 to wealth.

as low as

Many hop yards were plowed up during 1869 and

cents.

1S70.

The area under

" Report of the Secretary of State," 10,932 cultivation to this crop in 1875, was, according to the

acres.

The production of tobacco has greatly increased since i860, when there were raised in the As is well known, the quality In 1870, the product was 960,813 pounds. 7,340 pounds. \

in the

northern states is greatly inferior for chewing and smoking, to that grown leaf, suitable for cigar wrappers, do well

uh. although varieties having a large, tough

Tobacco can only be grown )f the amount produced and it is very exhausting to the land. Rock county 645,408 pounds, and in Dane county, 229,568 pounds;

The variety principally grown is the Connecticut seed leaf.

here.

illy

rich, fertile soils,

According to the report of ire remaining portion of the state raised but 85,737 pounds. Of this res planted to tobacco in 1875, was 3,296. the secretary of state, the whole number of ,1.

amount Rock county planted der of the state, buf [66 acres.

1,676 acres, and

Dane county, 1,454 acres, leaving for the remain-

While the crop has been fairly productive and profitable, these

up to tile present nine tobacco-raising has been a merely local interest. The production of flax is another merely local industry, it being confined principally to the tii

;

show

tli.it

AGRICULTURE. counties of Kenosha, Grant, Iowa and LaFayette. nearly four fifths of the entire

raising of flax fibre profitable.

Of flax fibre, Kenosha

amount grown in the

the high price of labor and the low price of cotton

'.",7

[in 1869.

being 497,398 pounds.

state, the total

now ruling,

is 5<

Flax seed is raised to a small extent

arcel) in

the

With

make the ounties men-

possible to othei

The present price of oil makes this a fairly profitable crop.

tioned.

that in addition to the oil, the oil

If farmers fully appro iated cake is of great value as a find tor cattle and sheep, a\h\ also

manure made by the animals eating it, of three times the value of that made by animals fed upon corn, doubtless much more flax seed would be raised than is at present. Ameri-

that the

i-,

ready market in England, at prices which pay well for it. exportation. If English farmers can afford to carry food for their stock so tar, American farmers may well strive

can oil-cake finds

tain if they

can afford to allow the exportation of so valuable food

paid in our own country to the qualit) of the

manure made by our

When greater attenmore

tion

will

be fed at home, and a much smaller proportion of that made here will be exported.

stock,

oil-i

ake

The amount of maple sugar produced diminishes as the settlement of the state increases,

ow scarcely sufficient in amount to be an item in the state's productions. The in< rease try sorghum raising. But the Two attempts present low prices of this staple has. caused an abandonment of the enterprise. Wisconsin manufacture beet-root sugar, the fust fond to at have been made in du Lac in 1867 The Fond du Lac company removed their the second at Black Hawk, Sauk county, in 1870. works to California in 1869, not having been successful in their efforts. The Black Hawk company made, in 1S71, more than 134,000 pounds of sugar, but have since abandoned the business. in the

price of sugar from 1861 to 1868 caused many farmers to

Both these failures may be attributed to several causes, first of which was the want of sufficient and carry on a factory sufficiently large to enable the work to be done economi-

capital to build

cally; secondly, the difficulty of sufficiently interesting farmers in to raise beets

the business

induce them

on so large a scale as to warrant the building of sued) a factory; and, thirdly, the high The quality of beets raised was good, the polarization

price of labor and the low price of sugar. test

showing in many instances as high as sixteen per

cent, of sugar.

The larger proportion of

hay made in the state is from the natural meadows, the low lands or marshes, where wild grasses grow in abundance, and hay only costs the cutting and curing. Cultivated grasses do well throughout the state, and "tame hay " can be made as easily here as elsewhere

The limestone

where timber originally grew, are of the uplands, most natural to grass, and, consequently, furnish the richest meadows, and yield the best pasturage. Ye e only soils where grasses do not readily grow, are those which are so sandy and dry as to be nearly barrens. Clover grows throughout the state in the greatest luxuriance. There is occasionally a season sodryas tomake "seeding down " a failure, and upon light soils (lover, when not covered with snow, is apt to winter-kill. Vet it is gaining in favor with farmers, both on account of the valuable pasturage and hay it affords, and on account of its value as a soil renovator. In wheat-growing regions, clover soils,

now recognized

to be of the greatest

value in a " rotation," on account of

its

ameliorating

influence upon the soil.

Throughout the stock and dairy regions, clover is depended upon to a large extent for pasturage, and to a less extent for hay. There has been a growing interest in sto< k raising for the past ten years, although the increase has not been a rapid one.

Many of the herds of pure-blood

cattle

the

state

rank

The improvement of horses has been less rapid than that of cattle. md swine; yet this important branch of stock farming is improving each year. The most

high for their great excellence.

attention is given to the improvement of draught and farm horses, while roadsters and are not altogether neglected.

fast

horses

There are now owned in the state a large number of hois,

heavier English and French breeds, which tire imparting to their progeny their own characteristics

EISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

158

of excellence, the effects of which are already visible in many of the older regions of the state.

Of the different breeds of cattle, the Short-horns, the Ayrshires, the Devons, and the Jerseys are The Short-horns have met with most favor with the general farmer, the grades of this breed being large, and possessing in a high degree the cpjiet habits and readiness to fatWithout doubt, the grade Short-horns will continue in characteristic of the full-bloods. ten, so the high favor in which they are now held, as stock-raising becomes a more important branch of the husbandry of the state. Of pure blood Short-horns there are many herds, some of which are of the very highest excellence. At the public sales of herds from this state, the prices have ranked high universally, and in a few cases have reached the highest of "fancy" prices, showing the estimate placed by professional breeders upon the herds of Wisconsin. The AyrThey are not shires are increasing in numbers, and are held in high esteem by many dairymen. well represented.

however, as generally disseminated over the state, as their great merit as a milking breed would warrant. The rapid growth of the dairy interest will doubtless increase their numbers Of pure bred Devons and Jerseys, there are fewer than of the former breeds. The latter are principally kept in towns and cities to furnish milk for a single family. The following table shows the relative importance of stock raising in yet,

greatly, at least as grades, in the dairying region.

the state for the years mentioned.

The figures are an additional proof to those already given,

that the grain industry has held sway in Wisconsin to the detriment of other branches of farming, as well as to the state's greatest increase in wealth.

YEAR.

AGEIOULTUEE. i860,

and 1870 the

statistics

are from the U. S. census, and hence include

all

the butter and

cheese made in the state, while for the remaining years, only that made by factories and professional dairymen as reported to the secretary of the State Dairymen's Association, is included It

has been found impossible to obtain the statistics of butter, except for the census years.

YEAR.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN'.

160

Besides the above cause, the extreme cold weather occasionally experienced will kill Notwithstanding these natural obstacles, a healthy trees of all varieties not extremely hardy.

altogether.

This success has good degree of success has been attained in the raising of apples and grapes. been the result of persevering effort upon the part of the horticulturists of the state, who have It is thus by intelsought the causes of failure in order that they might be removed or avoided. ligent observation that the fruit growers have gained the experience which brings with it a The first requisite to success is the planting of varieties sufficiently hardy creditable success. This has been accomplished by selecting the hardiest of the to withstand our severe winters. old varieties, and by raising seedlings, having besides hardiness, qualities sufficiently valuable to make them worthy of cultivation. The second requisite to success is in the selection of a situaAmong the tion having suitable soil and exposure, and thirdly, proper care after planting. hardy varieties of apples regarded with greatest favor are Tetofski, Red Astrachan, and Duchess Besides these there are a few of Oldenberg, all Russian varieties, and Fameuse from Canada.

American varieties so hardy as to prove reliable in the south half of the state. Among these Apple trees are less apt to be injured by the winter upon a site sloping to the northeast or north, where they are less directly exposed to the rays of the winter's sun. High ground is much better than low, and a good, strong, not too Apples do better upon soils where timber originally grew than on the prairies, rich soil is best. and they are grown more easily along the border of Lake Michigan than in the interior of the are a few seedlings that hive originated in Wisconsin.

state.

Pears are raised to but a slight extent, as only a few of the hardiest varieties will succeed

Grapes are grown in great abundance, and in The Concord, on account of its more tender varieties. Next to this comes the hardiness and excellenc bearing qualities, is cultivated most generally. prolific, varieties, excellent and are raised with great ease. The Delaware, while many other both season is seldom too short to ripen the fruit well, and the only precaution necessary to protect Cranberries grow spontaneously the vines during the winter is a covering of earth or litter. at all,

and these only

favorable situations.

great perfection, although not of the

upon many marshes in the interior of the state. Within a few years considerable attention has to improving these marshes, and to the cultivation of this most excellent fruit. Doubtless within a few years the cranberry crop will be an important one among the fruit pro-

been given

ductions of the state. All of the small fruits adapted to this latitude are cultivated in abundance, and very successfully, the yield being often times exceedingly large. Altogether, the horticultural interests of the state are improving, and there is a bright prospect that in the near future fruit growing will not be looked upon with the disfavor with which it has been regarded heretofore.

Of the associations for advancing the agricultural interests of the state, the first organized was the " State Agricultural Society." The earliest efforts 1 3 establish such an organization were made at Madison in December, 1846, during the session of the first constitutional convention of A constitution was adopted, but nothing further was done. In February, $49, the territory. another meeting was held in Madison, at which it was " Resolved, That in view of the great 1

importance of agriculture

the west, it

expedient

form a state agricultural society

Another constitution was adopted, and officers were elected, but no effectual The " Wisconsin State Agricultural Society"— organization resulted from this second attempt. had its inception in a meeting held at Madison, March 8, 1S5 1, at the present organization which a committee was appointed to report a constitution and by-laws, and to nominate persons Wisconsin."

—

At its organization, the society was composed of annual members, who paid one dollar dues eacli year, and of life members, who, upon the payment of The annual membership was afterward to fill the various offices of said society.

ten dollars, were exempt from the annual contribution.

AGTtlCTTLTt'IlE '.

and

the fee constituting one a

life

I'-'J

member was raised to twenty dollars.

The

Fairs have been held first annual fair of the society was held in J tnesville, in October, 185 In 1851 premiums were paid to annually since, except during the years 1861, 1862 and 1863. amount to nearly In 1851 $10,000. the amount of only $140, while at the present time they i

there were five life

members.

At the present time there are over seven hundred, representing all The fairs held under the auspices of this society have been

the various industries of the state.

of excellent character, and have been fruitful of good to all the industries of the state, but more The state has been generous in aid of this society, having furnished v to the farmers. commodious rooms for its use in the capitol building, printed the annual report of the secretary, a volume of about 500 pages, and donated annually, for many years, $2,000 toward its support.

Besides its annual fairs, for the past five years there has been held an

annual convention, under

the auspices of this society, for the reading and discussing of papers upon topics of interest to

farmers, and for a general interchange of ideas relating to farming. in

These conventions are held

high esteem by the better class of farmers, and have added greatly to the usefulness of the The " Wisconsin State Horticultural Society" was originally the "Wisconsin State

society.

Fruit

('.rowers' Association,"

which was organized

December, 1853,

Whitewater.

Its

avowed object was "the collecting, arranging, and disseminating facts interesting to those engaged in the culture of fruits, and to embody for their use the results of the practice and experiments Exhibitions and conventions of the association were of fruit growers in all parts of the state." held annually up to i860, after which the society was disorganized, owing to the breaking out of A volume ol " Transactions " was published by the association in the war of the rebellion

From In 1S59 its transactions were published with those of the state agricultural society. 1855. In September of the latter i860 to 1S65 no state horticultural association was in existence. " " vear the Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association" was reorganized as the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society."

The legislature had previously provided for the publication of the proceedings The new society has

of such a society, in connection with those of the State Agricultural Society.

held annual exhibitions, usually in connection with those of the State Agricultural Society, and

annual conventions for the reading of papers upon, and the discussion of, horticultural subjects. In 1 87 1 an act was passed by the legislature incorporating the society, and providing for the separate printing of 2,000 copies annually of

its

The

transactions, of which there are now seven volumes.

most active, intelligent, and persevering of the horticulturists of the state are members of this association, and to their careful observation, to their enthusiasm and determined persistence in seeking means to overcome great natural difficulties, the state

largely indebted for the success

Besides these state associations, there are many local agricultural and horticultural societies, all of which have been useful in aiding the cause for whieli they already attained in horticulture.

Farmers' clubs and granges of the "Patrons of Husbandry" have also were organized. done much, both directly and indirectly, to promote the industrial interests of the state. By thei frequent meetings, at which discussions are held, views compared, and experiences related, much valuable intelligence is gained, thought is stimulated, and the profession of farming advanced.

As agriculture, like all kindred professions, depends upon intelligence to direct its advancement, all means intended to stimulate thought among farmers will, if wisely directed, aid in advancing To those above named, and to other like associations, this most complex of all industries. is

a large degree to be attributed

the

present favorable

condition

of the

agriculture

the state.

Wisconsin

moneyed capital.

yet,

comparatively, a new State.

was mainly settled by men who had

little

The early settlei

h td

Markets were distant, and means of transportation poor.

consequently t (Struggle for a livelihood in the fare of the greatest difficulties.

When these o|

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

162

circumstances are taken into account, and the improvement in methods of culture, and changes from grain to stock and dairy-farming that are now being made, are given their due weight, it

must be acknowledged that the present condition of the agriculture of the state is excellent, and that the future of this most important industry is rich in promise of a steady, healthful growth, toward a completer development of all the agricultural resources of the state.

MINERAL RESOURCES. By ROLAND

IRVING, Professor of Geology, etc., at the University of Wisconsin.

The useful mineral materials that occur within the limits of the state of Wisconsin, come under both of the two grand classes of such substances the metallic ores, from which the metals ordinarily used in the arts are extracted and the non-metallic substances, which are used in the arts for the most part without any preliminary treatment, or at least undergo only a very partial alteration before being utilized. Of the first class are found in Wisconsin the ores of of the second class, the lead, zinc, iron and copper, besides minute traces of the precious metals :

;

principal substances found are brick-claw kaolin, cement-rock, limestone for burning into quick-lime, limestone for flux, glass sand, peat and building stone.

LEAD AND ZINC. These metals are considered together because they are found occurring together in the same region and under exactly the same circumstances, being even obtained from the same openings. Lead has for many years been the most important metallic production of Wisconsin, and, together with zinc, whose ores have been utilized only since i860, still holds this prominent position, although the production is not so great as formerly. Small quantities of lead and zinc ores have been found in the crystalline (Archaean) rocks of the northern part of the state and in the copperbearing rocks of the Lake Superior country, but there are no indications at present that these regions will ever produce in quantity. All of the lead and zinc obtained in Wisconsin comes then from that portion of the southwestern part of the state which lies west of Sugar river and south of the nearly east and west ridge that forms the southern side of the valley of the WisThis district is commonly known in Wisconsin consin, from the head of Sugar river westward. as the " Lead Region," and forms the larger part of the " Lead Region of the Upper Mississippi," which includes also smaller portions of Iowa and Illinois. What European first became acquainted with the deposits of lead in the upper portion of valley of the Mississippi is a matter of some doubt. Charlevoix (Histoire de la Nouvelle France, and states that in r72i III, 397, 398.) attributes the discovery to Nicolas Perrot, about 1692 the deposits still bore Perrot's name. Perrot himself, however, in the only one of his writings The itinerary of Le Sueur's voyage up the that remains, makes no mention of the matter. Mississippi, 1700-1 701, given in La Harpe's History of Louisiana, which was written early in the 18th century, shows that the former found lead on the banks of the Mississippi, not far from ;

MINERAL RESOURCE! the present southern boundary of

Wisconsin, August

25,

163 1700.

Captain

Jonathan

Carver,

1766, found lead in abundance at the Blue Mounds, and found the Indians in all the country around in possession of masses of galena, which they had obtained as " float mineral," and which they were incapable of putting to any use. There is no evidence of any one mining before Julien Dubuque, who, 178S to 1S09, mined in the vicinity of the flourishing city which now bears his name. After his death in 1809 nothing more was done until 1.821, when the attention of American citizens was first drawn to the rich lead deposits of this region. By 1827,

the mining had

become

quite general

and has continued

the present time, the

maximum

production having been reached, however, between the years 1 S45 and 1847. The following table, prepared by the late Moses Strong, shows the mineral production of southwestern Wisconsin for the years 1S60 to 1S73 in pounds:

YEARS.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

164

Formation,

Thickness.

Niagara dolomitic limestone Cincinnati shales (

Lead Horizon

Galena dolomitic limestone

Blue limestone

Buff dolomitic limestone

— 300 — 100 " 250 — 275 " " 50— 75 20 15 —

300 60 _

Lower Magnesian (dolomitic) limestone Potsdam sandstone series

feet.

250

— 1000

800

The first two of these layers, in the Wisconsin part of the lead region, are met with only in a. few isolated peaks and ridges. The prevailing surface rock is the Galena limestone, through which, however, the numerous streams cut in deep and narrow valleys which not unfrequently are carved all the way into the Lower Magnesian.

The lead and zinc ores are entirely confined to the Galena, Blue and Buff limestones, an feet. The upper and lower strata of the series

aggregate vertical thickness of some 350 to 375 are entirely barren.

Zinc and lead ores are found in the same kind of deposits, and often

together; by far the larger part of the zinc ores, however, come from the Blue and Buff limestones,

and the lowest layers of the Galena, whilst the lead ores, though obtained throughout the whole thickness of the mining ground, are especially abundant in the middle and upper layers of the Galena beds. The ore deposits are of two general kinds, which may be distinguished as vertical crevices and flat crevices, the former being much the most common. The simplest form of the vertical crevice is a narrow crack in the rock, having a width of a few inches, an extension laterally from a few yards to several hundred feet, and a vertical height of 20 to 40 feet, thinning out to nothing in all directions, and filled from side to side with highly crystalline, brilliant, large-surfaced Occasionally the vertical galena, which has no accompanying metallic mineral, or gangue matter. extension exceeds a hundred feet, and sometimes a number of these sheets are close together and can be mined as one. Much more commonly the vertical crevice shows irregular expansions, which are sometimes large caves, or openings in certain layers, the crevice between retaining its normal character, while in other cases the expansion affects the whole crevice, occasionally widening it throughout into one large opening. These openings are rarely entirely filled, and commonly contain a loose, disintegrated rock, in which the galena lies loose in large masses, The though often adhering to the sides of the cavity in large stalactites, or in cubical crystals. vertical crevices show a very distinct arrangement parallel with one another, there being two and west crevices are The east west, north and south. which roughly trend east and and systems, far the

most abundant and most productive of ore.

The vertical crevices are

confined nearly

altogether to the upper and middle portions of the Galena, and are not productive of zinc ores.

They are evidently merely the parallel joint cracks which affect every great rock formation, filled by chemical action with the lead ore. The crevices with openings have evidently been enlarged by the solvent power of atmospheric water carrying carbonic acid, and from the way in which the ore occurs loose in the cavities, it is evident that this solving action has often been subsequent to the first deposition of lead ore in the crevice.

The " flat crevices," " flat sheets," and "flat openings," are analogous described, but have, as indicated by

the names, a

to the deposits just

horizontal position, being characteristic of

certain layers, which have evidently been more susceptible to chemical action than others, the

dissolving waters having, moreover, been directed along them by less pervious layers above and below. The flat openings differ from the vertical crevices also, in having associated with the

MINERAL RESOURCES

165

galena much of cither the black-jack or drj -bone zinc ores, or both, the galena not unfrequently Cleavable calcite also accompanies the ores in these openings in large being entirely wanting. quantities, and the

same is true of the sulphide of iron, which

the variety known as marcasite.

These materials have sometimes a symmetrical arrangement on the bottom and top of the openThe flat openings characterize the Blue and Buff and ing, the central portion being empty. lower Galena beds, and from them nearly all the zinc ore is obtained. It is

not possible, in the limits of this

districts.

paper, even

short

mention the various mining

may merely be said that the amount of galena raised from single crevices has often

been several hundred thousand, or even over a million pounds, and that one of the principal mining districts is in the vicinity of Mineral Point, where there are two furnaces constantly Between the years 1S62 and [873, these two establishments have produced engaged in smelting. 23.903,260 pounds of metallic lead, or an average of r, 991,938 pounds, the maximum being, in 1869, 2,532,710 pounds, the minimum, in 1873, 1,518,888 pounds.

The zinc ores were formerly rejected as useless, and have only been utilized since i860. An attempt to smelt them at Mineral Point was not successful, because the amount needed of fuel and cla\\ both of which have to come from a distance, exceeding even the amount of ore used,

caused a very heavy expense for transportation. The ores are therefore now taken altogether to LaSalle, Illinois, where they meet the fuel and clay, and the industry at that place has become The amount of zinc ore in the Wisconsin lead region is, beyond doubt, very a flourishing one. great, and will be a source of wealth for a long time to come.

Since the ores of zinc and lead in this region are confined to such a small thickness of strata greatly eroded by the atmospheric waters, the entire thickness having frequently been removed, to know how much of the mining ground remains at district. The very excellent topographico-geological maps of the made by Mr. Moses Strong, and since published by the State in the Report of the Geological Survey, make this knowledge accessible to all. it

becomes a matter of great importance

every point throughout the

region,

IRON. Iron

mining

Wisconsin

yet

producing a considerable quantity of ore.

its

infancy, although

some important deposits are

A number of blast furnaces have sprung up in the

eastern part of the state, but these smelt Michigan ores almost entirely. be. done in

Much remains yet to

the way of exploration, for the most promising iron fields are in the heavily timbered

and unsettled regions of the north part of the

state,

and

are

as yet imperfectly

known.

appears probable, however, that iron ores will, in the near future, be the most important mineral production of Wisconsin. The several ores will be noted in the order of their present importance.

Red Hematites. The iron in these ores exists as an anhydrous sesquioxide, which is, however,

an earthy

condition, and entirely without the brilliant metallic luster that characterizes the specular hematites.

Pure hematite contains seventy per cent, of metallic iron, but the red hematites, as mined,

are always so largely mingled with mechanical impurities that they rarely contain more than

fifty

The most important red hematite mined in Wisconsin is that known as the Clinton ii on This formation is a member of the Upper Silurian series, and is named from a locality in Oneida county, New York, where per cent.

ore,

the name coming from the formation in which the ore occurs.

rocks, which are limestones and shales, its stantly found a peculiar red hematite, which is so persistent in its charai ters, both physical and

was

first

recognized.

Associated

with

—

HISTORY OF

ltiu

"WISCONSIN".

and chemical, that one familiar with it from any one locality can hardly fail to recognise it when coming from others. The iron produced from it is always "cold-short," on account of the large content of phosphorus; but, mingled with siliceous ores free from phosphorus, it yields always It is mined at numerous points from New York to Tennessee, a most excellent foundry iron. and at some points reaches a very great total thickness. In Wisconsin the Clinton rocks merge into the great Niagara limestone series of the eastern part of the state, but at the bottom of the Clinton ore is found immediately overlying the Cincinnati shales. The most important locality is that known as Iron Ridge, on sections twelve and thirteen in the town of Hubbard, in Dodge county. Here a north-and-south ledge of Niagara limestone overlooks lower land to the west. Underneath, at the foot of the ridge, is the ore bed, fifteen to eighteen feet in series, in a few places, the

thickness, consisting of horizontally bedded ore, in layers three to fourteen inches thick.

The

ore has a concretionary structure, being composed of lenticular grains, one twenty-fifth of an inch

and in places Three quarters of

in diameter, but the top layer is without this structure, having a dark purplish color,

Much of the lower ore is somewhat hydrated.

a slight metallic appearance.

a mile north of Iron Ridge, at

Mayville, there

a total

thickness of as

much as forty feet.

According to Mr. E. T. Sweet, the percentages of the several constituents of the Iron Ridge ore are as follows: iron peroxide, 66. 38; carbonate

of lime, 10.42; carbonate of magnesia, 2.79;

manganese oxide, 0.44; sulphur, 0.23

4.72; alumina, 5.54;

silica,

;

phosphoric acid, 0.73; water,

= 100: metallic iron, 46.66.

8.75

Two small charcoal furnaces at Mayville and Iron Ridge smelt a considerable quantity of An analysis of the Mayville pig

these ores alone, producing an iron very rich in phosphorus. iron, also

1.675

by Mr. Sweet, shows the following composition:

carbon, 0.849; silicon, 0.10S

= 100.286.

iron, 95.7S4 per cent;

phosphorus,

The average furnace yield of the ore is forty-

By far the larger part of the ore, however, is sent away to mingle with other ores. five per cent. It goes to Chicago, Joliet and Springfield, 111., St. Louis, Mo., Wyandotte and Jackson, Mich., and Appleton, Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wis. In 1S72, the Iron Ridge mines yielded 82,371

The Clinton

tons.

ore

found at other places farther north along the outcrop of the base of

the Niagara formation in Wisconsin, but no one of these appears to promise any great quantity

of good ore.

Red hematite is found at numerous places in Wisconsin, highly charging certain

layers of the

Potsdam sandstone series, the lowest one of the horizontal Wisconsin formations.

In the eastern part of the town of Westfield, Sauk county, the iron ore excludes the sandstone,

forming an excellent ore.

No developments have been made in this district, so that the size of

the deposit is not definitely known.

Brown Hematites. These ores contain has

about

sixty

their iron

per cent,

contain over forty per cent.

of the

as the hydrated, or brown, sesquioxide, which, when pure,

metal

Bog iron

;

the

ore,

ordinary brown

a porous

hematites,

however,

seldom

brown hematite that forms by deposi-

tion from the water of bogs, occurs somewhat widely scattered underneath the large

marshes of

Portage, Wood and Juneau counties.

Very excellent bog ore, containing nearly 50 per cent, of found near Necedah, Juneau county, and near Grand Rapids, Wood county, but the amount obtainable is not definitely known. The Necedah ore contains: silica, 8.52 alumina, 377; iron peroxide, 71.40; manganese oxide, 0.27; lime, 0.58; magnesia, trace; phosphoric iron,

acid,

0.21;

;

sulphur,

0.02; organic matter,

1.62; water,

13.46=99.85, metallic

iron,

49.98

according to Mr. E. T. Sweet's analysis. An ore from section 34, twp. 23, range 6 east, Wood alumina, 1.00; iron peroxide, 73.23; lime, county, yielded, to Mr. Oliver Matthews, silica, 4.81 ;

o. 11

magnesia, 0.25

;

sulphuric acid, 0.07

;

phosphoric acid, 0.10; organic matter, 5.88; water,

MINERAL RESOURCES.

L67

14.24; =99.69: metallic iron, 51.26.

Rrown hematite, mingled with more or less red ore, occurs also in some quantity filling ra< ks and irregular cavities in certain portions of the Potsdam series in northwestern Sauk county and A small charcoal furnace has been in operation on this ore at Ironton, Sauk county, for a number of years, and recently another one has been erected at Cazenovia in the same district. 1

the adjoining portion of Richland.

Magnetic Ores and Specular Hematites. These are taken together here, because their geological occurrence is the same, the two ores occurring not only in the same group of rocks, but even intimately mingled with one another. These ores are not now produced in Wisconsin; but it is quite probable that they may before

many years become its principal mineral production.

In magnetic

iron ore, the iron

the

shape of the mineral magnetite, an oxide of iron containing 72 4 per cent of iron when pure, and this is the highest percentage of iron that

any ore can ever have.

Specular hematite is the same

as red hematite, but is crystalline, has a bright, metallic luster, and a considerable hardness.

mined the richest magnetic and specular ores rarely run over 65 per cent., while in most regions where they are mined they commonly do not reach 50 per cent. The amount of rich ores of this kind in the northern peninsula of Michigan is so great, however, that an ore with less than 50 per cent, finds no sale; and the same must be true in the adjoining states. So largely does this matter of richness affect the value of an ore, that an owner of a mine of 45 per cent, "hard " ore in Wisconsin would find it cheaper to import and smelt Michigan 65 per cent, ore, than to smelt his own, even if his furnace and mine were side by side. The specular and magnetic ores of Wisconsin occur in two districts the Penokee iron district, ten to twenty miles south of Lake Superior, in Bayfield, Ashland and Lincoln counties, and the Menomonee iron district, near the head waters of the Menomonee river, in township 40, ranges 17 and 18 east, Oconto county. Specular iron in veins and nests is found in small quantities with the quartz rocks of the Baraboo valley, Sauk county, and Necedah, Juneau county; and very large quantities of a peculiar quartz-schist, charged with more or less of the magneti< and specular iron oxides, occur in the vicinity of Black River Falls, Jackson county but in none

—

;

of these places is there any promise of the existence of valuable ore.

Penokee and Menomonee regions, the iron ores occur in a series of slaty and quartzose rocks known to geologists as the Haronian series. The rocks of these districts are really the extensions westward of a great rock series, which in the northern Michigan peninsula contains the rich iron ores that have made that region so famous. In position, this rock series In

the

may be likened to a great elongated parabola, the head of which is in the Marquette iron district and the two ends in the Penokee and Menomonee regions of Wisconsin. In all of its extent, this roi

k series holds great beds of lean

of quartz, which, from erosion.

its

magni tii and

m ores are found forming high and bold ridges.

lean ores have deceived many explorers, and not

richness and purity, which, from their

In the

the most part occupying portions of a higher layer, are

ores.

nl tr

large quantities

great hardness, renders them very resistant to the action of atmospheric

Such

same rock

rii

series, for

found, however, ores of extraordinary ,

very rarely outcrop.

The existence

quantity of these very rich ores in the Menomonee region has been definitely proven.

>ne

open during the Summer of 1S77, shows a width of over 150 feet of fii specular ore; and exceeding in size the greatest of the famous deposits of Michigan. In the Penokee region, however, though the indications are favorable, the existence of tin ores is as yet an inference only. The P 110 range itself is a wonderful development of deposit, laid

HIST0RY05F WISCONSIN.

168

lean ore, which forms a continuous belt several hundred feet in width and over thirty miles in Occasionally portions of this belt are richer than the rest, and become almost merchantlength.

The probability is, however, that the rich ores of this region will be found in the able ores. lower country immediately north of the Penokee range, where the rocks are buried beneath heavy accumulations of drift material. Copper.

The only copper ore at present raised in Wisconsin is obtained near Mineral Point, in the lead region of the southwestern part of the state, where small quantities of chakopyrite, the yellow sulphide of copper and iron, are obtained from pockets and limited crevices in the Galena limeCopper pyrites is known to occur in this way throughout the lead region, but it does not stone.

appear that the quantity at any point is sufficient to warrant exploration. Copper occurs also in the northernmost portions of Wisconsin, where it is found under altogether different circumstances.

The great copper-bearing series of rocks of Keweenaw point and

Isle Royale stretch southwestward into and entirely across the state of Wisconsin, in two parallel

One of these belts enters Wisconsin at the mouth of the Montreal river, and immediately leaving the shore of Lake Superior, crosses Ashland and Bayfield counties, and then widening The other greatly, occupies a large area in Douglas, St. Croix, Barron and Chippewa counties. belts.

forms the backbone of the Bayfield peninsula, and crosses the northern part of Douglas The rocks of this great series appear to county, forming a bold ridge, to the Minnesota line. be for the most part of igneous origin, but they are distinctly bedded, and even interstratified

belt

with sandstone, shales, and coarse boulder-conglomerate, the whole series having generally a In veins crossing the rock-beds, and scattered also promiscuously through the tilted position. layers of both conglomerates and igneous rocks, pure metallic copper in fine flakes is often found.

Mining on a small

scale has

flowing northward into Lake Superior

been attempted

make gorges

numbers of points where the rivers

across the rock series, but at none of them

has sufficient work been done to prove or disprove the existence of copper in paying quantity.

Gold and Silver. Small traces of gold have been detected by the writer in quartz from the crystalline rocks of Clark county, but there is no probability that any quantity of this metal will ever be found in Traces of silver have also been found in certain layers of the copper series in Ashthe state. land county.

Judging from the occurrence of silver in the same series not

far to the east in

Michigan, it seems not improbable that this metal may be found also in Wisconsin.

Brick Clays. These constitute a very important resource in Wisconsin. Extending inland for many miles fiom the shores of Lakes Michigan and Superior are stratified beds of clay of lacustrine origin, All of having been deposited by the lakes when greatly expanded beyond their present sizes. Along these clays are characterized by the presence of a large amount of carbonate of lime.

Like Superior they have not yet been utilized, but all through the belt of country bordering Lake Michigan they are dug and burned, fully 50,000,000 bricks being made annually in this A large proportion of these bricks are white or cream-colored, and these are widely region. known under the name of " Milwaukee brick,'' though by no means altogether made at MilThe difference between the light-colored and red Others arc ordinary red brick. waukee. bricks is ordinarily attributed to the greater amount of iron in the clay from which the latter are

MINERAL RESOURCES.

16 fJ

has been shown by Mr. E. T

Sweet that the white bricks are burned from clay which often contains more iron than that from which the red bricks are made, but which also

burned, but

contains a very large amont of carbonate of lime.

The following analyses show (i) the compo-

sition of the clay from which cream-colored brick are burned at Milwaukee, (2) the composition of a red-brick clay from near Madison, and (3) the composition of the unutilized clay from Nos. 1 and 2 are by Mr. E. T. Sweet, No. 3 by Professor W. VV. Ashland, Lake Superior.

Daniells:

iriSTOKY OF WISCONSIN.

170 the mineral kaolinite.

Prepared in this way the kaolin has a high value as a refractory material,

and for forming the base of fine porcelain wares. The crystalline rocks, which, by decomposition, would produce a kaolin, are widely spread over the northern part of Wisconsin but over the most of the region occupied by them there is no sign of the existence of kaolin, the softened rock having apparently been removed by glacial In a belt of country, however, which extends from Grand Rapids on the Wisconsin, action. ;

westward to Black river, in Jackson county, the drift is insignificant or entirely absent; the glacial forces have not acted, and the crystalline rocks are, or once were, overlaid by sandstone, along whose line of junction with the underlying formation numerous water-courses have existed, the Here we find, in the beds of the Wisconsin, result being an unusual amount of disintegration. Yellow,

and

Black

rivers,

large

exposures

crystalline

rocks,

which between the rivers

by sandstone. The crystalline rocks are in distinct layers, tilted at high angles, and in numerous places decomposed into a soft white kaolin. Inasmuch as these layers the country in long, straight lines, patches of kaolin are found ranging strike across The kaolin patches are most abundant on the Wisconsin themselves into similar lines. are overlaid

the vicinity of the city of

Grand Rapids,

Wood county.

They vary

greatly

size,

one deposit even varying from a fraction of an inch to a number of feet in thickness. The kaolin varies, also, greatly in character, some being quite impure and easily fusible from a large content of iron oxide or from partial decomposition only, while much of it is very

There is no doubt, however, that a large amount of kaolin exists in this by selection and levigation an excellent material may be obtained, which, by mingling with powdered quartz, may be made to yield a fire-brick of unusual refractoriness, and which may even be employed in making fine porcelain ware. The following table gives the composition of the raw clay, the fine clay obtained from it by levigation, and the coarse residue from the same operation, the. sample having been taken from opening on the land of Mr. C. B. Garrison, section 5, town 22, range 6 east, Wood county the pure and refractory. region, and that

MINERAL RESOURCES. bay, and at other points in the immediate vicinity of Milwaukee. large, and a very elaborate series of tests by

17]

The quantity

attainable

Whittemore, chief engineer of the Milwau-

made from it exceeds all native and foreign cements in strength, except the famous English " Portland " cement. The following are three analyses of the rock from different points, and they show that it has a very constant kee and St. Paul railroad, shows that the cement

composition

Carbonate of Lime Carbonate of Magnesia Silica

Alumina

Iron Sesquioxide Totals

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

Peat. Peat exists in large quantities and of good quality underneath the numerous marshes of the Whether it can be utilized in the future as a fuel, will eastern and central parts of the state.

depend altogether upon the cost of its preparation, which will have to be very low in order that As a fertilizer, peat has always a great value, and requires it may compete with superior fuels. no Preliminary treatment.

Building Stones. All the rocky formations of Wisconsin are used in building, and even the briefest synopsis

of the subject of the building stones of the state, would exceed the limits of this

A few

paper.

of the more prominent kinds only are mentioned.

Granite occurs in protruding masses, and also grading into gneiss, in the northern portions In many places on the Wisconsin, Yellow, and Black rivers, and especially at Big Bull Falls, Yellow river, red granites of extraordinary beauty and value occur. These are not yet utilized, but will in the future have a high value. The handsomest and most valuable sandstone found in Wisconsin, is that which extends along the shore of Lake Superior, from the Michigan to the Minnesota line, and which forms the of the state, at numerous points.

basement rock of the Apostle islands. On one of these islands a very large quarry is opened, from which are taken masses of almost any size, of a very close-grained, uniform, dark brown At the latter place, the well stone, which has been shipped largely to Chicago and Milwaukee. known court house is built of this stone. An equally good stone can be obtained from the neighA very good white to brown, indurated sandboring islands, and from points on the mainland. stone is obtained from the middle portions of the Potsdam series, at Stevens Point, Portage county; near,Grand Rapids, Wood county; at Black River Falls, Jackson county; at Packwaukee, Marquette county; near Wautoma, Waushara county; and at several points in the Baraboo A good buff-colored, calcareous sandstone is quarried and used largely in valley, Sauk county. the vicinity of Madison, from the uppermost layers of the Potsdam series. All of the limestone formations of the state are quarried for building stone. locally as the " Mendota " limestone, included in the

A layer known

upper layers of the Potsdam series, yields a

very evenly bedded, yellow, fine-grained rock, which is largely quarried along the valley of the In the town of Westport, Dane lower Wisconsin, and also in the country about Madison.

county, a handsome, fine-grained, cream-colored limestone is obtained from the Lower

Magne-

The Trenton limestone yields an evenly bedded, thin stone, which is frequently used for laying in wall. The Galena and Niagara are also utilized, and the latter is capable, in much of sian.

the eastern part of the state, of furnishing a durable, easily dressed, compact, white stone. In preparing this paper, I have made use of Professor Whitney's "Metallic Wealth of the United States," and " Report on the Geology of the Lead Region;" of the advance sheets of Volume of the Reports of the State Geological Survey, including Professor T. C. Chamberlin's Report on the Geology of Eastern Wisconsin, my own Report on the Geology of Central Wisconsin, 1

and Mr. Strong's Report on the Geology of the Lead Region Mr. E. T. Sweet's account of the and of my unpublished reports on the ;

mineral exhibit of the state at the Centennial Exposition geology of the counties bordering Lake Superior.

;

WISCONSIN RAILROADS. By Hon. H. H. GILES.

The territory of Wisconsin offered great advantages to emigrants.

Explorers had published

accounts of the wonderful fertility of its soil, the wealth of its broad prairies and forest openings, and the beauty of its lakes and rivers. Being reached from the older states by way of the lakes

and easily accessible by a long line Of lake coast, the hardships incident to weeks of land travel Previous to 1836 but few settlements had been made in that part of the were avoided. territory of Michigan, that year organized into the territory of Wisconsin, except mining camps in the southwestern part, and scattered settlers in the vicinity of the From that time on, with the hope of improving their conditrading posts and military stations. tion, thousands of the enterprising yeomanry of New England, New York and Ohio started for Germans, Scandinavians and other nationalities, attracted by the glowing the land of promise. accounts sent abroad, crossed the ocean on their way to the new world; steamers and sail-craft

then

laden with families and their household goods left Buffalo and other lake ports, all bound for It may be doubted if in the history of the world any country was ever peothe new Eldorado. pled with the rapidity of southern and eastern Wisconsin.

1840 was 30,749; With the development of the agricultural resources of the new territory, grain raising became the most prominent interest, and as the settlements extended back from the lake shore the difficulties of transportaThe expense incurred in moving a load of tion of the products of the soil were seriously felt. produce seventy or eighty miles to a market town on the lake shore frequently exceeded the gross sum obtained for the same. All goods, wares and merchandise, and most of the lumber used must also be hauled by teams from Lake Michigan. Many of our early settlers still retain vivid recollections of trying experiences in the Milwaukee woods and other sections bordering on the lake shore, from the south line of the state to Manitowoc and Sheboygan. To meet the a valuable land grant was obtained from better facilities for transportation great want The company which congress, in 1838, to aid in building a canal from Milwaukee to Rock river was organized to construct it, built a dam across Milwaukee river and a short section of the canal; then the work stopped and the plan was finally abandoned. It was early seen that to satisfy the requirements of the people, railroads, as the most feasable means of communication within in 1850, 304.756; in

1860,773,693;

in 1870,

—

Its

population

1,051,351; in 1875,

1,236,729.

—

their reach, were an indispensable necessity.

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Between the years 183S and 1S41, the

territorial

legislature of

Wisconsin chartered several

railroad companies, but with the exception of the " Milwaukee & Waukesha Railroad Company,'

none of the corporations thus created took any particular shape. The commissioners named in its charter met November 23, 1847, and elected a president, Dr. L. W. Weeks, and a secretary, A. W. Randall (afterward governor of Wisconsin). On the first Monday The charter of the company provided of February, 1S4S, they opened books of subscription. incorporated in

1847,

HISTOEY OF WISCONSIN.

174

that .^ioo.ooo should be subscribed and five percent, thereof paid in before the company should

The country was new. There were plenty of active, energetic fully organize as a corporation. men, but money to build railroads was scarce, and not until April 5, 1849, was the necessary A board of directors was elected on the 10th day of subscription raised and percentage paid. May, and Byron Kilbourn chosen president. The charter had been previously amended, in 1S48, authorizing the company to build a road to the Mississippi river, in Grant county, and in 1S50, name was changed to the " Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company." After the company was fully organized, active measures were taken to push the enterprise forward to completion. The city of Milwaukee loaned its credit, and in 185 1 the pioneer Wisconsin railroad reached Waukesha, twenty miles out from Milwaukee. In the spring of 185 2, Edward II. Broadhead, a prominent engineer, from from the state of New York, was put in charge of the work as chief Under his able and energetic administration the road was pushed engineer and superintendent. forward in 1852 to Milton, in 1853 to Stoughton, in 1S54 to Madison, and in 1S56 to the MisIn 185 1 John Catlin of Madison, was elected president sissippi river, at Prairie du Chien. its

place of Kilbourn.

The proposed

length of this article wid not admit of any detailed statement of the trials,

struggles and triumphs of the

lake to the river, this

first

men who projected, and finally carried across the state, from the

Wisconsin railroad.

Mitchell, Kilbourn,

Holton, Tweed)', Catlin,

Walker, Broadhead, Crocker and many others, deserve to be remembered by our people as beneIn 1S59 and i860, the company defaulted in the payment of the interest on factors of the state. its

bonds.

A foreclosure was made and a new company, called the " Milwaukee & Prairie du

Chien," took its place, succeeding to all its rights and property. Idle "Southern Wisconsin Railway Company" was chartered in 1852, and authorized to build a road from Milton to the Mississippi river.

When the Milwaukee and Mississippi road reached

Milton in 1852, it was not authorized by its charter to go to Janesville, but, under the charter of the Southern Wisconsin, a company was organized that built the eight miles to Janesville in 1853. Under a subsequent amendment to the charter, the Milwaukee and Mississippi company was authorized

to build

from Milton

to the

Mississippi

river.

The

Janesville branch

was then

purchased and extended to Monroe, a distance of about thirty-four miles, or forty-two miles west The people of Surveys were made and a line located west of Monroe to the river. of Milton.

La Fayette and Grant counties have often been encouraged to expect a direct railroad communiOther and more important interests, at least so considered by the railroad company, have delayed the execution of the original plan, and the road through the counties mentioned still remains unbuilt. The " LaCrosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company " was chartered in 1852, to construct a road During the year in which the charter was obtained, die company from LaCrosse to Milwaukee. Among its pro;anized, and the first meeting of the commissioners held at LaCrosse. Kilbourn was elected its first president. iie Byron Kilbourn and Moses M. Strong. Xo work was done upon this line until after its consolidation with the " Milwaukee, Fond du Lac Bay Railroad Company" in 1854. The latter company was chartered in 1853, to build a It organized in the spring of mi Milwaukee via West Bend to Fond du Lac and Green Bay. and at once commenced active operations under the supervision of James Kneeland, its 1853, The city of Milwaukee loaned its credit for $200,000, and gave city bonds. The first president. company secured depot grounds 111 Milwaukee, and did considerable grading for the first twentyfive miles out. Becoming embarrassed in January, 1854, the Milwaukee, Fond du Lac & Green Work was at once resumed on Bay consolidated with the LaCrosse & Milwaukee company.

cation with the city of Milwaukee.

the partially graded line.

1S55 the road was completed to Horicon, fifty mil

WISCONSIN RAILROADS.

175

The Milwaukee & Watertown company was chartered in 1851, to build from Milwaukee to Watertown.

soon organized, and began the construction of its line from Brookfield, fourteen

miles west of Milwaukee, and a point on the

Milwaukee

& Mississippi road leading through

The charter contained a provision that the company might extend It reached Watertown in 1S56, and was consolidated its road by way of Portage to La Crosse.

Oconomowoc to Watertown.

with the LaCrosse & Milwaukee road in the autumn of the same ye ir. In the spring of 1856 congress made a grant of land to the state of Wisconsin, to aid in the

building of a railroad from Madison, or Columbus, via Portage City, to the

Croix river or

St.

end of Lake Superior, and to An adjourned session of the Wisconsin legislature met on September 3 of that year, Bayfield. The disposal of this grant had been generally discussed by the press, to dispose of the grant. and the public sentiment of the state seemed to tend toward its bestowal upon a new company. There is little doubt but that this was also the sentiment of a large majority of the members ol When a new company was proposed a joint comboth houses when the session commenced. mittee of twenty from the senate and assembly was appointed to prepare a bill, conferring the grant upon a company to be created by the bill itself. The work of the committee proceeded lake, between townships 25

and

31. and

from thence

to the west

harmoniously until the question of who should be corporators was

be acted upon, when a In the meannumber of the

difference of opinion was found to exist, and one that proved difficult to harmonize.

time the LaCrosse and Watertown companies had consolidated, and a sufficient

members of both houses were " propitiated" by " pecuniary compliments" to induce them to bill, conferring the so called St. Croix grant upon the LaCrosse & Milwaukee railroad company. The vote in the assembly in the passage of the bill was, ayes 62, noes 7. In the senate pass the

stood, ayes 17, noes 7.

At the session of the legislature of 1S58 a committee was raised to investigate the matter, and their report demonstrated that bonds were set apart for all who voted for the LaCrosse bill; A few months to members of assembly $5,000 each, and members of senate $10,000 each. after the close of the legislative sesssion of 1856 the land grant bonds of the LaCrosse road Neither the LaCrosse company nor its successors ever received any portion became worthless. of the lands granted to the state. During the year 1857 the LaCrosse company completed its line of road through Portage City to LaCrosse, and its Watertown line to Columbus. Between the The "Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad Company" was chartered in 1S52. years 1S55 and 1857 It

built

through Waupun and Ripon to Berlin, a distance of forty-two miles.

was, in effect, controlled by the LaCrosse

branch.

& Milwaukee company, although built as a separate

This line was subsequently merged in the LaCrosse company, and is now a part of the

northern division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway.

Madison, Fond du Lac &: Lake Michigan Railroad Company" was chartered in 1855, Madison via Fond du Lac to Lake Michigan. In 1857 it bought of the LaCrosse company that portion of its road acquired by consolidation with the Milwaukee & Watertown company. Its name was then changed to " Milwaukee <S: Western Railroad Company." It owned a line of road from Brookfield to Watertown, and branches from the latter place to Columbus and Sun Prairie, in all about eighty miles in length. In 1S58 and 1859 the La Crosse & Milwaukee and the Milwaukee & Horicon companies defaulted in the payment of the interest on their bonded debts. In the same years the bondholders of the two companies instituted foreclosure proceedings on the different trust deeds given to secure their bonds. Other suits to enforce the payment of their floating debts were also commenced. Protracted litigation in both the state and federal courts resulted in a final settlement in 1868, by a decision of the supreme court of the United States. In the meantime, in 1862 and

The

to build a road from

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

176

1863, both roads were sold, and purchased by an association of the bondholders, who organized The new company succeeded to all the rights the " Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company."

of both the

La Crosse and Horicon companies, and soon afterward, in

property of the Milwaukee

1863, purchased the

& Western company, thus getting control of the roads from Mil-

waukee to La Crosse, from Horicon to Berlin, from Brookfield to Watertown, and the branches In 1864 it built from Columbus to Portage, from Brookfield to Milwaukee, and subsequently extended the Sun Prairie branch to Madison, in 1869. It also purchased the Ripon & Wolf River road, which had been built fifteen miles in length, from Ripon to Omro, on the Fox river, and extended it to Winneconne on the Wolf river, five miles In 1867 the Milwaukee & St. Paul railway company farther, and twenty miles from Ripon. The legislature of 1857 had obtained control of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien railroad. passed an act, authorizing all stock-holders in all incorporated companies to vote on shares of The directors of the Milwaukee & St. Paul company had secured a stock owned by them. majority of the common stock, and, at the election of 1867, elected themselves a board of All the rights, property and interests of the directors for the Prairie du Chien company. latter company came under the ownership and control of the former. In 1865, Alexander Mitchell, of Milwaukee, was elected president, and S. S. Merrill general manager of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railway company. They were retained in their respective positions by the new organization, and still continue to hold these offices, a fact largely owing to the able and efficient manner that has characterized their management of the company's affairs. The company operates eight hundred and thirty-four miles of road in Wisconsin, and in all two Its lines extend to St. Paul and Minneapolis in thousand two hundred and seven miles. Minnesota, and to Algona in Iowa, and over the Western Union to Savanna and Rock Island to Columbus and Sun Prairie.

in the State of Illinois.

The"Oshkosh & Mississippi Railroad Company" was chartered in 1866 to build a road from the city of Oshkosh to the Mississippi river. Its construction to Ripon in 1872 was a move on the part of citizens of Oshkosh to connect their town with the Milwaukee & St. Paul road. It is twenty miles in length and leased to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company. In 187 1 and 1872 the "Wisconsin Union Railroad Company," of which John W. Cary was president, built a road from Milwaukee to the state line between Wisconsin and Illinois, to connect with a road built from Chicago to the state line of Illinois. This new line between Milwaukee and Chicago was built in the interest of, and in fact by, the Milwaukee & St. Paul

company to afford a connection between its Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota system of roads, and the eastern trunk lines centering in Chicago. It runs parallel with the shore of Lake Michigan and from three to six miles from it, and is eighty-five miles in length.

The Chicago & Northwestern Railway.

The territorial legislature of 1848 chartered the " Madison & Beloit Railroad Company" with authority to build a railroad from Beloit to Madison only.

1850, by an act of the

legislature, the company was authorized to extend the road to the Wisconsin river and

and

La Crosse,

to a point on the Mississippi river near St. Paul, and also from Janesville to Fond du Lac.

name was changed, under^ legislative authority, to the " Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company." In 1851, the line from Janesville north not being pushed as the people expected, the legislature of Illinois chartered the " Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad Company " with authority Its

In 1855, an act of the Wisconsin legislature consolidated the Illinois and Wisconsin companies with the " Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company," and the new organization t< >k the name of the "Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railto consolidate with any road in Wisconsin.

WISCONSIN RAILROADS. road Company."

1854, and

previous to the consolidation, the

177

company had

failed

and

passed into the hands of the bondholders, who foreclosed and took stock for their bonds.

The management of A. Hyatt Smith and John B. Macy was superseded, and Wm. B. Ogden was made president. Chicago was all along deeply interested in reaching the rich grain fields of the Rock river valley, as well as the inexhaustible timber and mineral wealth of the northern part of Wisconsin and that part of Michigan bordering on Lake Superior, called the Peninsula. It old

also sought a connection with the

upper Mississippi region, then being rapidly peopled, by a line

Madison to St. Paul, in Minnesota. Its favorite road was started from Chicago on the wide (six feet) gauge, and so constructed seventy miles to Sharon on the WisThis was changed to the usual (four feet, eight and one-half inches) width, consin state line. and the work was vigorously pushed, reaching Janesville in 1855 and Fond du Lac in 185s. The Rock River Valley Union railroad company had, however, built about thirty miles from Fond du Lac south toward Minnesota Junction before the consolidation took place. The partially graded line on a direct route between Janesville and Madison was abandoned. In 1S52 a new charter had been obtained, and the " Beloit & Madison Railroad Company " had been organized of railroad to run through

to build a road from Beloit via Janesville to Madison. A subsequent amendment to this charter had left out Janesville as a point, and the Beloit branch was pushed through to Madison, reach-

ing that city in 1864.

The " Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company" had built a branch of the Galena line from

Belvedere to Beloit previous to 1854.

In that year, it leased the Beloit & Madison

road, and from 1S56 operated it in connection with the Milwaukee & Mississippi, reaching Janes-

way of Hanover Junction, a station on

Southern Wisconsin branch, eight miles west The consolidation of the Galena & Chicago Union and the Chicago, St. Paul & of Janesville. Fond du Lac companies was effected and approved by legislative enactment in 1S55, and a new

ville by

its

organization called the "Chicago & Northwestern Railwav Company " took their place.

The "Green Bay, Milwaukee & Chicago Railroad Company " was chartered in 1S51 to build a road from Milwaukee to the state line of Illinois to connect with a road from Chicago, called the Chicago &

Milwaukee railroad.

Both roads were completed in 1855, and run

until 1S63, when they were consolidated under the name of the "Chicago

connection

& Milwaukee Railroad

To prevent its falling into the hands of the Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Chicago & Northwestern secured it by perpetual lease, May 2, 1866, and it is now operated as its Chicago

Company." division.

The " Kenosha & Beloit Railroad Company " was incorporated in 1853 to build a road from Kenosha to Beloit, and was organized soon after its chartenwas obtained. Its name was afterward changed to the " Kenosha, Rockford & Rock Island Railroad Company," and its route changed to run to Rockford instead of Beloit. The line starts at Kenosha, and runs through the Eounty of Kenosha and crosses the state line near the village of Genoa in the county of Walworth, a distance of thirty miles in the state of Wisconsin, and there connects with a road in Illinois running to Rockford, and with which it consolidated. Kenosha and its citizens were the principal subscribers tc its capital stock. The company issued its bonds, secured by the usual mortgage on its franchises and property. Failing to pay its interest, the mortgage was foreclosed, and the road was sold to the Chicago & Northwestern company in 1863, and is now operated by

Kenosha division. The line was constructed from Kenosha to Genoa in 1S62. The "Northwestern Union Railway Company " was organized in 1872, under the general raillaw of the state, to build a line of road from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac, with a branch to road Lodi. The road was constructed during the years 1S72 and 1873 from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac. The Chicago & Northwestern company were principally interested in its being built, to it

as the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

178

shorten its line between Chicago and Green Bay, and now uses it as its main through line between the two points. The " Baraboo Air-Line Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1870, to build a road from

Madison, Columbus, or Waterloo via Baraboo, to La Crosse, or any point on the Mississippi It organized in the interest of the Chicago & Northwestern, with which company it conriver. between Madison and Winona Junction was vigorously pushed forward. Lodi was reached in 1870, Baraboo in 1871, and Winona JuncThe ridges between Elroy and Sparta were tunneled at great expense and with tion in 1S74. In 1S74 the company reported an expenditure for its three tunnels of much difficulty. §476,743.32, and for the 129 1-10 miles between Madison and Winona Junction of $5,342,169.96, and a large expenditure yet required to be made on it. In 1S67 the Chicago & Northwestern company bought of D. N. Barney & Co. their interest in the Winona & St. Peters railway, a line being built westerly from Winona in Minnesota, and of which one hundred and five miles had been built. It also bought of the same parties their interest in the La Crosse, Trempealeau & Prescott railway, a line being built from Winona Junction, three miles east of La Crosse, to The lattei line was put in operation in 1870, and is twenty-nine miles long. Winona, Minn. solidated, and the work of building a connecting line

With the completion of its Madison branch to Winona junction, in 1873, it had in operation a Madison and Winona, to Lake Kampeska, Minn., a distance of six hundred and twenty-three miles. In the year 1856 a valuable grant of land was made by congress to the state of Wisconsin to aid in the construction of railroads. The Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac company claimed that the grant was obtained through its efforts, and that of right it should have the northeastern grant, so-called. At the adjourned session of the legislature of 1856, a contest over the disposition of the grant resulted in conferring it upon the " Wisconsin & Superior Railroad Company,'' It was generally believed a corporation chartered for the express purpose of giving it this grant. at the time that the new company was organized in the interest of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac company, and at the subsequent session, in the following year, it was authorized to consolidate with the new company, which it did in the spring of that year, and thus obtained the grant of 3,840 acres per mile along its entire line, from Fond du Lac northerly to the state line It extended its road to Oshkosh in 1859, to Appleton in between Wisconsin and Michigan. line from Chicago, via

The hundred and forty-two miles long. Howard to Escanaba, one hundred and fourteen miles long, was opened in DecemIt now became a part

1861, and in 1862 to Fort Howard, forming a line two line from Fort

ber, 1872, and made a connection with the peninsular railroad of Michigan.

of the Chicago

Lake Superior

& Northwestern, extending from Escanaba to the iron mines, and thence to at

Marquette.

Albert Keep, of Chicago, is president, and Marvin Hughitt, a

The company operates five gentleman of great railroad experience, is general superintendent. hundred and sixty-seven miles of road in Wisconsin, and in all sixteen hundred and sixteen miles. Over these lines its equipment is run in common, or Its lines extend into five different states. transferred from place to place, as the changes in business

may temporarily require.

Wisconsin Central Railroad.

The " Milwaukee & Northern Railway Company" was incorporated in 1870, to build a road from Milwaukee to some point on the Fox river below Winnebago lake, and thence to Lake It completed its road to Menasha, one hundred and two miles from Milwaukee, with a branch from Hilbert to Green Bay, twenty-seven miles, in 1873, and in that In vear leased its line to the " Wisconsin Central Railroad Company," which is still operating it.

Superior, with branches.

WISCONSIN RAILROADS.

170

1864 congress made a grant of land to the state of Wisconsin to aid in the construction of a rail-

road from Berlin, Doty's Island, Fond du Lac, or Portage, by way of Stevens Point, to Bayfield or Superior, granting the odd sections within ten miles on each side of the line, with an indemnity limit of twenty miles on each side.

The legislature of 1865 failed to dispose of this grant,

but that of 1866 provided for the organization of two companies, one to build from Portage City

by way of Berlin

Stevens Point, and the other from Menasha to the same point, and then

jointly to Bayfield and Lake Superior.

The former was called the "Winnebago and Lake Superior

Railroad Company," and the latter the " Portage & Superior Railroad Company."

In 1869 an act was passed consolidating the two companies, which was done under the name of the " Portage, Winnebago & Superior Railroad Company." In 1S71 the name of the company was changed to the " Wisconsin Central Railroad Company." The Winnebago & Lake Superior company was organized under Hon. George Reed as president, and at once commenced the construction of its line of road between Menasha and Stevens Point. In 187 1 the Wisconsin Central consolidated

with the " Manitowoc & Mississippi Railroad Company."

The articles of consolidation provided

that Gardner Colby, a director of the latter company, should be president, and that George Reed,

a director of the former, should be vice president of the new organization; with a further provision that

Gardner Colby, George Reed, and Elijah

Phillips should

be and remain

its

executive

committee.

an act was passed incorporating the "Phillips and Colby Construction Company," which created E. B. Phillips, C. L. Colby, Henry Pratt, and such others as they might associate In

1-871,

with them, a body corporate, with authority to build railroads and do all manner of things relating to railroad construction and operation.

Under this act the construction company contracted its line of road from Menasha to Lake

with the Wisconsin Central railroad company, to build

In November, 1873, the Wisconsin Central leased of the Milwaukee & Northern company its line of road extending from Schwartzburg to Menasha, and the branch to Green Bay, for

Superior.

the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, and also acquired the rights of the latter com-

pany to use the track of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company between Schwartzburg and Milwaukee, and to depot facilities in Milwaukee. The construction of the land grant portion of this important line of road was commenced in 1871, and it was completed to Stevens Point in November of that year. It was built from Stevens Point north one hundred miles to Worcester During 1872 and 1873, it was built from Ashland south to the Penoka iron ridge, a disin 1S72. tance of thirty miles. The straight line between Portage City and Stevens Point, authorized by an act of the legislature of 1S75, was constructed between October 1, 1S75, and October, 1S76, seven y-one miles in length. The gap of forty-two miles between Worcester and Penoka iron ridge was closed in June, 1877. E. B. Phillips, of Milwaukee, is president and general manager. It has been pushed This line of road passes through a section of our state hitherto unsettled. through with energy, and opened up for settlement an immense region of heavily timbered land, and thus contributed to the growth and prosperity of the state.

The Western Union Railroad. The " Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company " was chartered in 1852,10 build a road from Racine to Beloit, and was organized the same year. The city of Racine issued its bonds for $300,000 in payment for that amount of stock. The towns of Racine, Elkhorn, Delevan and Beloit gave $190,000, and issued their bonds, and farmers along the line made liberal subscriptions and secured the same by mortgages on their farms. The road was built to Burlington in 1855, to Delavan early in 1S56, and to

same year.

Beloit, sixty-eight

miles from Racine, during the

Failing to meet the interest on its bonds and its floating indebtedness, it was sin-

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

180

rendered by the company to the bond-holders in 1859, who completed it to Freeport during that year, and afterward built to the Mississippi river at Savannah, and thence to Rock Island. The bond-holders purchased and sold the road in 1866, and a new organization was had as the " West-

ern Union Railroad Company," and

has sinee been operated under that name.

In 1869, it

Elkhorn to Eagle, seventeen miles, and thus made a connection with Milwaukee over the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line. The latter company owns a controlling

built a line from

interest

its

line.

Alexander Mitchell is the president of the company, and D. A. Olin,

general superintendent.

West Wisconsin Railroad. The lands granted by congress in 1856 to aid in the construction of a railroad in Wisconsin, from Tomah to Superior and Bayfield, were disposed of as mentioned under the history of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company.

The La Crosse company, as we have seen, prevailed in

the legislature of 1856, and secured legislation favorable to its interests; but it failed to build the line of St.

road provided for, and forfeited its right to lands granted.

In 1863, the " Tomah & Lake

Croix Railroad Company " was incorporated, with authority to construct a railroad from some

point in the town of Tomah in Monroe county, to such point on Lake

St.

Croix, between town-

To the company, by the act creating it, was much of the lands granted by the United States to the state of Wisconsin, known as the St. Croix grant, as lay between Tomah and Lake ships 25 and 31 as the directors

might determine.

granted all the interest and estate of this state, to so St. Croix.

A few months after its organization, the company passed substantially into the hands

of D. A. Baldwin and Jacob Humbird, who afterward built a line of road from Tomah, via Black

River Falls, and Eau Claire to Hudson, on Lake St. Croix, one hundred and seventy-eight miles. Its

name was afterward changed to the "West Wisconsin Railroad Company."

its

road from Warren's

In 1873, it built

Mills via Camp Douglass, on the St. Paul road to Elroy, and took up its

track from the first-named place, twelve miles, to Tomah.

A law-suit resulted, which went against

the railroad company, and the matter was finally compromised by the payment of a sum of money by the company to the town of Tomah. The road was built through a new and sparsely settled country, and its earnings have not been sufficient to enrich its stock-holders. It connects at Camp Douglass with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road, and at Elroy with the Chicago & Northwestern railway company's line, which gives the latter a through line to St. Paul. It is operated in connection with the Chicago & Northwestern railway, and managed in its interest. It is now in the hands of Wm. H. Ferry, of Chicago, as receiver; H. H. Potter, of Chicago, as president'; and E. W. Winter, of Hudson, superintendent.

The Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway. "Milwaukee, Manitowoc & Green Bay Railroad Company " was chartered to build a road from Milwaukee to Green Bay by way of Manitowoc. It built its line from Milwaukee to Manitowoc in 1873, when its name was changed to " Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company." Under a decree of foreclosure, it was sold Dec. 10, 1875, and its name was changed to " Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway Company," by which name it is still known. In

1870, the

In 1S66, the " Appleton

road from

& New London Railroad Company" was incorporated to build a

\ppleton to New London, and thence to Lake Superior.

charter authorized

to extend its road to Manitowoc. Appleton to that city, and then, under legislative authority, sold

its

subsequent amendment most of the line from

It built

this

extension to the Milwau-

WISCONSIN RAILROADS. Lake Shore

kee,

& Western

London, on the Wolf ita

road.

river,

railroad

company.

twenty-one miles, in

1^1

The last-named company extended to New 1876, where it connects with the Green Bay & it

now operates one hundred and forty-six miles of

road, extending from Mil

wankee to New London, passing through Sheboygan, Manitowo< and Appleton, which includes six miles in length from Manitowoc to Two Rivers. F. W. Rhinelander, of \c\\ York, is its president, and II. G. H. Reed, of Milwaukee, superintendent.

a branch line

The Green Lav & Minnesota Railroad. The line of road operated by this company extends from

Fort

Howard

the

Mississippi

two hundred and sixteen miles in length, and was 'built through a sparsely settled and heavily timbered section of the state. It began under most discouraging circumstances, yet was pushed through by the energy of a few men at Green Bay river,

opposite Winona.

and along its line.

Minnesota.

was originally chartered in 1S66

the "Green Lay & Lake

Pepin

Rail.

road Company " to build a road from the mouth of the Fox river near Green Bay to the Missis-

But little was done except the making of preliminary surveys in During 1S70 and 1S71, forty miles were constructed and put in operation. In 187?, one 1870. hundred and fourteen miles were graded, the track laid, and the river reached, sixty-two miles farther, in 1873. In 1876, it acquired the right to use the "Winona cut-off" between Winona and Onalaska, and built a line from the latter point to La Crosse, seven miles, thus connecting its The city of La Crosse aided this road with the chief city of Wisconsin on the Mississippi river. Henry extension by subscribing $75,000 and giving its corporation bonds for that amount. Ketchum, of New London, is president of the company, and D. M. Kelly, of Green Bay. general manager. sippi river opposite Winona.

Wisi onsin

Valley Road.

The "Wisconsin Valley Railroad Company " was incorporated in 1S71 to build a road from a point on or near the line of the Milwaukee & La Crosse railroad, between Kilbourn City and the tunnel in said road to the village of Wausau, in the county of Marathon, and the road to pass

not more than one mile west of the village of Grand Rapids, in the county of Wood.

The road

was commenced at Tomah, and graded to Centralia in 1872, and opened to that village in 1873, and during 1874 it was completed to Wausau, ninety miles in its whole length. Boston capitalists furnished the money, and it is controlled in the interest of the Dubuque & Minnesota railroad, The lumber regions of the Wisconsin river find an through which the equipment was procured. outlet over it, and its junction with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road at Tomah enables It gives the people of Marathon county a connection with the railroads of Iowa and Minnesota. an outlet long needed for a large lumber traffic, and also enables them to receive theirgoods and Junes F, Joy, of supplies of various kinds for the lumbering region tributary to Wausau. Detroit, is president, and F. O. Wyatt, superintendent.

Sheboygan & Fond du Lac Railroad, The " Sheboygan

& Mississippi Railroad Company " was incorporated in 1852, to build a

It was completed from Sheboygan to Plymouth Lac in 1868, and to Princeton in 1S72. The extension from Fond du Lac to Princeton was built under authority of an act passed in 187 1. Under a foreclosure in 1861 the line from Sheboygan to Fonddu Lac was sold, and the name of the company changed to "Sheboygan & Fond du Lac Railroad Company." The length of

road from Sheboygan to the Mississippi river. in 1858, to Glenbeulah in i860, to Fond du

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

182

the line is seventy-eight miles, and

passes through a fertile agricultural country.

The city of

Sheboygan, county, city and town of Fond du Lac, and the towns of Riverdale, Ripon, Brooklyn, D. L. Wells Princeton, and St. Marie, aided in its building to an amount exceeding $250,000. is

president, and Geo. P. Lee, superindendent.

The Mineral Point Railroad. The "Mineral Point Railroad Company " was chartered in 1852, to build a road from Mineral Point, in the county of Iowa, to the state line, in township number one, in either the county of Green or La Fayette. It was completed to Warren, in the state of Illinois, thirty-two miles, in 1855, making a connection at that point with the Illinois Central, running from Chicago to Galena. It was sold under Iowa county loaned its credit and issued its bonds to aid in its construction. Suits were brought against Iowa county to collect the amount of its bonds, Much litigation has been had, and ill feeling and judgment obtained in the federal courts. engendered, the supervisors of the county having been arrested for contempt of the decree of the court. Geo. W. Cobb, of Mineral Point, is the general manager. The Dubuque, Platteville & Milwaukee railroad was completed in July, 1870, and extends

foreclosure in 1856.

from Calamine, a point on the Mineral Point railroad, to the village of Platteville, eighteen miles, and is operated by the Mineral Point railroad company

Madison & Portage Railroad. The legislature of 1855 chartered the " Sugar River Valley Railroad Company " to build a road from a point on the north side of the line of the Southern Wisconsin road, within the limits of Green county, to Dayton, on the Sugar river. In 1857 it was authorized to build south to the state In 1861 it was authorized to build from Madiline, and make its northern terminus at Madison. son to Portage City, and from Columbus to Portage City, and so much of the land grant act of 1856, as related to the building of the road from Madison, and from Columbus to Portage City,

was annulled and repealed, and the rights and privileges that were conferred upon the LaCrosse company were given to the Sugar River Valley railroad company, and the portion of the land Under grant, applicable to the lines mentioned, was conferred upon the last named company. this legislation about twenty miles of the line between Madison and Portage were graded, and The LaCrosse company had the right of way secured for about thirty of the thirty-nine miles. In 1866 the company was relieved done considerable grading before its right was annulled. from constructing the road from Columbus to Portage City. In 1870 the purchasers of that part of the Sugar River Valley railroad lying between Madison and Portage City were incorporated the " Madison & Portage Railroad Company," and to share all the rights, grants, etc., that were conferred upon the Sugar River railroad company by its charter, and amendments thereto,

so far as related to that portion of the line.

1864 and r865, judgments had been obtained against the Sugar and its right of way, grading and depot grounds sold for a small sum. James Campbell, who had been a contractor with the Sugar River Valley company, with others, became the purchasers, and organized under the act of 1870, and, during the year 1871, completed it between Madison and Portage City, and in March, 1871, leased it to the Milwaukee & In 1S71 the Madison & Portage St. Paul company, and it is still operated by that corporation. company was authorized to extend its road south to the Illinois state line, and north from Portage City to Lake Winnebago. The same year it was consolidated with the " Rockford Central Previous to this time, in

River Valley company

;

WISCONSIN RAILROADS.

18o

name changed to the "Chicago & Superior Railroad Company," but still retains its own organization. The Madison & Portage railroad company claims a share in the lands granted by acts of congress in 1856, and have commenced proceedRailroad Company," of

Illinois,

ings to assert its claim,

which case is still pending in the federal courts.

and

its

North Wisconsin Railroad. The "North Wisconsin Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1S69, to build a road from Lake St. Croix, or river, to Bayfield on Lake Superior. The grant of land by congress in L.S56, to Lake St. Croix to Bayfield on Lake Superior, under the decision of at the disposal of the state. This company, in 1S7 1, built a short In 1873, the grant was conferred upon the Milwaukee & St. Paul company, but under the terms and restrictions contained in the act, it declined to accept it. The legislature of 1874 gave it to the North Wiseonsin company, and it has built forty miles of its road, and received the lands pertaining thereto. Since 1876, it has not completed any part of its line, but is trying to construct twenty miles aid in building a road from

the federal court,

was yet

section of its line of road, with the expectation of receiving the grant.

The company is authorized to construct a road both to Superior and but the act granting the lands confers that portion from Superior to the intersection

during the present year. to Bayfield,

of the line to Bayfield

company have

upon the Chicago & North Pacific

air-line

railroad.

This last-named

projected a line from Chicago to the west end of Lake Superior, and are the

owners of an old grade made through Walworth and Jefferson counties, by a company chartered in 1853 as the "Wisconsin Central," to build a road from Portage City to Geneva, in the county The latter company had also graded its line between Geneva and the state line of Illinois. This grade was afterward appropriated by the Chicago & Northwestern, and over it they now operate their line from Chicago to Geneva. of Walworth.

Prairie du Chien

& McGregor Railroad.

This is a line two miles in length, connecting Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin, with McGregor

owned and operated by John Lawler, of the latter-named place. It extends across the Mississippi river, and an intervening island. The railroad bridge consists of substantial piling, except a pontoon draw across each navigable channel. Each pontoon is four in

Iowa.

It is

both channels of

hundred feet long and thirty feet wide, provided with suitable machinery and operated by steam Mr. Lawler has secured a patent on his invention of the pontoon draw for railroad bridges. His line was put in operation in April, 1874. power.

The Chippewa Falls & Western Railroad. This road was built in 1S74, by a company organized under the general law of the state. It is eleven miles in length, and connects the " Falls " with the West Wisconsin line at Eau Claire. It

was constructed by the energetic business men and capitalist:, of Chippewa Falls, to afford an

outlet for the great lumber and other interests of that thriving is

and prosperous

city.

The road

substantially built, and the track laid with steel rails.

Narrow Gauge Railroads. The " Galena & Southern Wisconsin Railroad Company its

Under commenced

was incorporated in 1857.

charter, a number of capitalists of the city of Galena, in the

state of Illinois,

HISTORY

ISi

ill'

WISCONSIN.

the construction of a narrow (three feet) gauge road, running from that city to Platteville, thirty-

one miles in length, twenty miles in Wisconsin.

runs through a part of La Fayette county to

and was completed to the latter point in 1875. Surveys are being ension to YVingville, in Grant county. The " Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria Railway Company" was organized under the general law of the state, in 1874, to build a narrow gauge mad from the city of Fond du Lac to the south line of the state in the county of Walworth or Rock, and it declared its intention to consolidate with a company in Illinois that had projected a line of railroad from Peoria, in Illinois, to the south line of the state of Wisconsin. The road is constructed anil in operation from Fond du Lac to Iron Ridge, a point on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, twenty-nine miles from Fond du Lac. The "Pine River & Steven's Point Railroad Company" was rganized by the enterprising citizens of Richland Center, and has built a narrow gauge road from Lone Rock, a point on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road, in Richland county, to Richland Center, sixteen miles in Its track is laid with wooden rails, and it is operated successfully. length. The li Chicago & Tomah Railroad Company " organized under the general railroad law of Platteville, in Grant county,

1S72, to construct a narrow gauge road from Chicago, in Illinois, to the city of Tomah, in Wisconsin. Its president and active manager is D. R. Williams, of Clermont. Iowa, and its secretary is L. M. Culver, of Wauzeka. It has graded about forty-five miles, extending from Wauzeka up the valley of the Kick ipoo river, in Crawford county, Wisconsin. It expects to have fifty-four miles in operation, to Bloomingdale, in Vernon county, the present year (1877). The rolling stock is guaranteed, and the president is negotiating for the purchase of the iron. South of Wauzeka the line located to Belmont, in Iowa county. At Wauzeka it will connect with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line. The publi -spirited citizens of Nei ed ih, in Juneau county, have organized under the general law of the state, and grade.] a road-bed from their village to New Lisbon, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company's line. The litter company furnish and lay the iron, and will

the state, in

i-*

operate the road.

thirteen miles in length.

It is

Conclusion.

The railroads of Wisconsin have grown up under the requirements of the several localities that have planned and commenced their construction, and without regard to any general system. Frequently the work of construction was begun before adequate means were provided, and bankruptcy overtook the roads in their early stages. The consolidation of the various companies, as in the cases of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Chicago & Northwestern, and others, has beet ted to give through lines and the public greater facilities, as well as to introduce economy in management. At times the people have become apprehensive, and by legislaHon ai tive prohibited railroads from consolidating, ami have sought to control and break down the power of these corporations and to harmonize the interests of the companies and the public. The act of 1874, called the " Potter law," was the assertion, by the legislative power of the state, of its right to ontrol corporations created by itself, and limit the rates at which freight and passengers should be carried. After a long and expensive contest, carried through the state and federal courts, this right has been established, being finally settled by the decision of the supreme court of the United States. •<

after

Quite all the railroad, of Wisconsin have been built with foreign capital. The plan pursued an organization was effected, was to obtain stock subscriptions from those immediately

LUMBER MANUFACTURE. interested in the enterprise, procure the aid of counties and municipalities, and then allure

185 tin-

farmers, with the prospect of joint ownership in railroads, to subscribe for stock and mortgagi

Then the whole line was bonded and their farms to secure the payment of their subscriptions. The bonds and mortgages thus obtained, were taken to the money a mortgage executed. of New York, London, Amsterdam and other places, and sold, or hypothecated to The bonds and mortgages were made to draw a high rate of interest, and the earnings of these new roads, through unsettled localities, were insufficient to pay more than running and incidental expenses, and frequently fell short of Default occurring in the payment of interest, the mortgages were foreclosed and the that. Such has been the property passed into the hands and under the control of foreign capitalists. The total number of farm mortgages given has history of most of the railroads of our state. town, county and municipal bonds, amounting to been 3,785, amounting to §4,079,433 The total cost of all the railroads in the state, as given by the railroad commissioner $6,910,652. h in his report for 1876. ^,453.67. This vast sum is, no doubt, greatly in excess of what the cost should have been, but the roads have proved of immense benefit in the develop-

centers

obtain the money with which to prosecute the work.

;

ment of the material resources of the state. Other lines are needed through sections not yet traversed by the iron steed, and present The questions upon which great issues were raised lines should be extended by branch roads. between the railway corporations and the people, are now happily settled by securing to the latter and the former, under the wise and conciliatory policy pursued by their managers, their rights ;

An era of good feeling has succeeded one of and antagonism. The people must use the railroads, and the railroads depend upon the This mutuality of interest, when fully recognized on both people for sustenance and protection. sides, will result in giving to capital a fair return and to labor its just reward.

are assured of the safety of their investments. distrust

LUMBER MANUFACTURE. By W.

JUDSON.

Foremost among the industries of Wisconsin is that of manufacturing lumber. Very much of the importance to which the state has attained is due to the development of its forest wealth. In America, agriculture always has been, and always will be, the primary and most important interest; but no nation can subsist upon agriculture alone. While the broad prairies of Illinois and Iowa are rich with a fertile and productive soil, the hills and valleys of northern Wisconsin are clothed with a wealth of timber that has given birth to a great manufacturing interest, which employs millions of capital and thousands of men, and has peopled the northern wilds with energetic, prosperous communities, built up enterprising cities, and crossed the state with a network of railways which furnish outlets for its productions and inlets for the new populations which are ever seeking for homes and employment nearer to the setting sun. If a line be drawn upon the state map, from Green Bay westward through Stevens Point, to where it would naturally strike the Mississippi river, it will be below the southern boundary of the pine timber regions, with the single exception of the district drained by the Yellow river, a tributary of the Wisconsin, drawing its timber chiefly from Wood and Juneau counties. The territory north of this imaginary line covers an area a little greater than one half of the state. The pine timbered land is found in belts or ridges, interspersed with prairie openings, patches of hardwood and hemlock, and drained by numerous water-courses. No less than seven large

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

18b

rivers traverse this northern section, and, with their numerous tributaries, penetrate every county,

affording facilities for floating the logs to the mills, and, in many instances, the power to cut them into lumber.

This does not include the

St.

Croix,

which forms the greater portion of the

boundary line between Wisconsin and Minnesota, and, by means of its tributaries, draws the most and best of its pine from the former state. These streams divide the territory, as far as lumbering The Green bay shore, which includes the is concerned, into six separate and distinct districts Wisconsin side of the Menomonee, the Peshtigo and Oconto rivers, with a number of creeks the Wolf river which flow into the bay between the mouths of the Oconto and Fox rivers the Black river; the district; the Wisconsin river, including the Yellow, as before mentioned Chippewa and Red Cedar and the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix. Beginning with the oldest of these, the Green bay shore, a brief description of each will be attempted. The first saw-mill built in the state, of which there is now any knowledge, was put in operation in 1S09, in Brown county, two or three miles east from Depere, on a little stream which was known as East river. It was built by Jacob Franks, but probably was a very small affair. Of its machinery or capacity for sawing, no history has been recorded, and it is not within the memory of any inhabitant of to-day. In 1829, John P. Arndt, of Green Bay, built a waterpower mill on the Pensaukee river at a point where the town of Big Suamico now stands. In 1834, a mill was built on the Wisconsin side of the Menomonee, and, two years later, one at Peshtigo. Lumber was first shipped to market from this district in 1834, which must be termed The lands drained by the streams the beginning of lumbering operations on the bay shore. which flow into Green bay are located in Shawano and Oconto counties, the latter being the largest in the state. In 1847, Willard Lamb, of Green Bay, made the first sawed pine shingles in that district they were sold to the Galena railroad company for use on depot buildings, and were the first of the kind sold in Chicago. Subsequently Green Bay became one of the greatest The shores of the bay are low, and points for the manufacture of such shingles in the world. gradually change from marsh to swamp, then to level dry land, and finally become broken and mountainous to the northward. The pine is in dense groves that crowd closely upon the swamps The Peshtigo flows into the skirting the bay, and reach far back among the hills of the interior. bay about ten miles south of the Menomonee, and takes its rise far back in Oconto county, near It is counted a good logging stream, its annual product to the latter's southern tributaries. :

;

The timber is of a rather coarse quality, running but lumbermen term "uppers." About ten per cent, is what is Of the whole amount of timber tributary to the Peshtigo, probably

being from 40,000,000 to 60,000,000 feet. a small percentage to what the

known

Norway

pine.

about one third has been cut off to this date. The remainder will not average of as good quality, and only a limited portion of the land' is of any value for agricultural purposes after being cleared of the pine. There are only two mills on this stream, both being owned by one company. The ii( onto is one of the most important streams in the district. The first saw-mill was built on its banks about the year 1840, though the first lumbering operations of any account were begun in 1845 by David Jones. The business was conducted quite moderately until 1856, in which year several mills were built, and from that date Oconto has been known as quite an extensive lumber manufacturing point. The timber tributary to this stream has been of the best quality found in the state. Lumber cut from it has been known to yield the extraordinarily high average of fifty and sixty per cent, uppers. The timber now being cut will

not average more than half that.

The proportion of Norway is about five per cent.

estimated that from three fourths to four

fifths

of the timber tributary to the Oconto has been

cut away, but it will require a much longer time to convert the balance into lumber than was

necessary to cut its equivalent in amount, owing to

its

remote location.

The annual production

LUMBER MANUFACTURE.

187

The whole production of the Menomonee from Wisconsin, is about

of [line lumber at Oconto is from 50,000,000 to 65,000,000 feet.

exclusive of the timber which

district,

put into the

140,000,000 feet annually.

The Wolf river and its tributaries constitute the next district, proceeding westward.

The

saw logs cut on this stream for commercial purposes were floated to the government mill at in 1835. In 1S42, Samuel Farnsworth erected the first saw-mill on the upper Wolf near the location of the present village of Shawano, and in the following spring he sent the first This river also rises in Oconto county, but flows in raft of lumber down the Wolf to Oshkosh. Its pineries have been very extena southerly direction, and enters Winnebago lake at Oshkosh. sive, but the drain upon them within the past decade has told with greater effect than upon any other district in the state. The quality of the timber is very fine, and the land is considered good for agricultural purposes, and is being occupied upon the lines of the different railways which cross it. The upper waters of the Wolf are rapid, and have a comparatively steady flow, which renders it a very good stream for driving logs. Upon the upper river, the land is quite rolling, and about the head-waters is almost mountainous. The pine timber that remains in this district is high up on the main river and branches, and will last but a few years longer. A few years ago the annual product amounted to upward of 250,000,000 feet; in 1876 it was 138,000,000. The principal manufacturing points are Oshkosh and Fond du Lac; the former has 21 mills, and first

Neenah

the latter 10.

Next comes the Wisconsin, the longest and most crooked river in the state. It rises in the extreme northern sections, and its general course is southerly until, at Portage City, it makes a grand sweep to the westward and unites with the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien. It has numerous tributaries, and, together with these, drains a larger area of country than any other river in Its waters flow swiftly and over numerous rapids and embryo falls, which renders logthe state. driving and raft-running very difficult and even hazardous. The timber is generally near the banks of the main stream and its tributaries, gradually diminishing in extent as it recedes from them and giving place to the several varieties of hard-woods. The extent to which operations have been carried on necessitates going further up the stream for available timber, although there The first cutting of lumber on this stream, of is yet what may be termed an abundant supply. which there is any record, was by government soldiers, in 1828, at the building of Fort Winne-

bago.

In 1831, a mill was built at Whitney's rapids, below Point Bass, in what was then Indian

territory.

1840, mills were

population of 350 souls.

operation as high up as Big Bull

falls,

and Wausau had a

Up to 1876, the product of the upper Wisconsin was all sent in rafts

to markets on the Mississippi.

The river above Point Bass is a series of rapids and eddies

;

the

current flows at the rate of from 10 to 20 miles an hour, and it can well be imagined that the task of piloting a raft from Wausau to the dells was no slight one.

The

cost of that kind of

transportation in the early times was actually equal to the present market price of the lumber.

With a good stage of water, the length of time required to run a raft to St. Louis was 24 days, though quite frequently, owing to inability to get out of the Wisconsin on one rise of water, sevThe amount of lumber manufactured annually on this river is from eral weeks were consumed. 140,000,000 to 200,000,000 feet.

Black river is much shorter and smaller than the Wisconsin, but has long been known as a The It is next to the oldest lumber district in the state. first saw-mill west of Green Bay was built at Black River Falls in 181 9 by Col. John Shaw. very important lumbering stream.

The Winnebago tribe of Indians, however, in whose territory he was, objected to the innovation of such a fine

art,

and unceremoniously offered up the

mill

upon the

altar of their

outraged

188

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The owner abruptly quitted that portion of the country. In 1S39 another attempt to establish a mill on black river was more successfully made. One was erected at the same point by two brothers by the name of Wood, the millwright being Jacob Spaulding, who His son, Mr. Dudley J. Spaulding, is now a very extensive eventually became its possessor. solitude.

La Crosse is the chief manufacturing point, there being ten saw-mills

operator upon Black river.

The annual production of the stream ranges from 150,000,000 to 225,000,000 feet of logs, less than 100,000,000 feet being manufactured into lumber on its banks. The balance located there.

sold in the log to mills on the Mississippi.

It is

a very capricious river to float logs in, which

necessitates the carrying over from year to year of a very large amount, variously estimated at

from 150,000,000 to 200,000,000 feet, about equal to an entire season's product.

This makes the

business more hazardous than on many other streams, as the loss from depreciation is very great after the

first

year.

The quality of the timber is line, and good prices are realized for it when

sold within a year after being cut.

The Chippewa district probably contains the largest and finest body of white pine timber now standing, tributary to any one stream, on the continent. It has been claimed, though with more extravagance than

truth, that the

Chippewa

pineries hold one-half the timber supply of

The river itself is a large one, and has many tributaries, which penetrate the rich The character of the tributary country is not unlike that through pine district in all directions.

the state.

which the Wisconsin flows.

In 1S28 the first mill was built in the Chippewa valley, on Wilson's

creek, near its confluence with the Red Cedar.

mill at

(

Ihippewa

Falls.

lumber-making stream. west.

Its site is

now occupied by the village of Meno-

In 1837 another was built on whatis the present site of the Union Lumbering Company's

monee.

It was not until near 1865

that the Chippewa became very prominent as a

Since that date it has been counted as one of the foremost in the north-

Upon the river proper there are twenty-two saw-mills, none having a capacity of less than

3,500,000 feet per season, and a number being capable of sawing from 20,000,000 to 25,000,000

The annual production of sawed lumber is from 250,000,00c to 300,000,000 feet; the production of logs from 400,000,000 to 500,000,000 feet.

In 1.867 tne mill-owners upon the Mississippi, between Winona and Keokuk, organized a corporation known as the Beef Slough Manufacturing, Log-Driving and Transportation Company. Its object was to facilitate the handling of logs cut upon the Chippewa and its tributaries, designed for the Mississippi mills. At the confluence nt the two rivers various improvements were made, constituting the Beef Slough boom, which is capable of assorting 200,000,000 feet of logs per season. The Chippewa is the most difficult stream in the northwest upon which to operate. In the spring season it is turbulent and ungovernable, and in summer, almost destitute of water. About its head are numerous lakes which easily overflow under the influence of rain, and as their surplus water flows into the Chippewa, its rises are sudden and sometimes damaging in their extent. The river in many places flows between high bluffs, and, under the influence of a freshet, becomes a wild and unmanageable torrent. Logs have never been floated in rafts, as upon other streams, but are turned in loose, and are carried down with each successive rise, in a jumbled and confused mass, which entails much labor and loss in the work of assorting and delivering to the respective Previous to the organization of the Eagle Rapids Flooding Dam and Boom Company, owners. in 1S72, the work of securing the stock after putting it into the river was more difficult than to cut and haul it. At the cities of Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, where most of the mills are located, the current, under the influence of high water, is very rapid, and for years the problem was, how to stop and retain the logs, as they would go by in great masses and with almost resistIn [847 is recorded one of the most sudden and disastrous floods in the history less velocity. of log-running streams. In the month of June the Chippewa rose twelve feet in a single night,

LUMBER MANUFACTURE.

189

and, in the disastrous torrent that was created, piers, booms, or "pockets " for holding logs at the mills, together with a fine

new mill, were swept away, and the country below where Eau Claire

covered with drift-wood, saw-logs, and other debris. Such occurrences led to the invention of the since famous sheer boom, which is a device placed in the river opposite i

boom

the mill

The sheer boom is thrown diagonally number of ingeniously arranged

into which it is desired to turn the logs.

across the river, automatically, the action of the current upon a "fins tilled,

logs

holding it in position. By this means the logs are sheered into the receptacle until it is when the sheer boom, by closing up the " fins" with a windlass, falls back and allows the By this go on for the next mill to stop and capture its pocket full in like manner.

method each mill could obtain a stock, but the supply was composed of logs cut and

a great difficulty

was experienced from the fact that

owned by everybody operating on the river, and the

process of balancing accounts according to the "marks," at the close of the season, has

been one prolific of trouble and legal entanglements. The building of improvements at Eagle Rapids by the company above mentioned remedied the difficulty to some extent, but the process of logging will always be a difficult and ha/.ardous enterprise until adequate means for holding

and assorting the entire log product are provided. important branches of the Chippewa, such

The entire lumber product of the Chippewa, with floated in rafts to markets upon the

of the

timber

good, and

Upon the Yellow and Eau Claire rivers, two

difficulties

are avoided by suitable improvements.

the exception of that

Mississippi, between its mouth

commands

the best market

price

and

St.

consumed Louis.

locally,

The quality

the sections where

seeks

market.

West of the Chippewa district the streams and timber are tributary to the St. Croix, and in all statistical

calculations the entire product of that river is credited to Minnesota, the same as

Menomonee is given to Michigan, when in fact about one half of each belongs to The important branches of the St. Croix belonging in this state are the Apple Clam, Yellow, Xamekogan, Totagatic and Eau Claire. The sections of country through which The St. Croix has long been noted for they flow contain large bodies of very fine pine timber. that of the hi.

the excellence of

its dimension

timber.

Of this stock a portion is cut into lumber at Stillwater,

and marketed by rail, and the balance is sold in the log to mills on the Mississippi. Such is a brief and somewhat crude descripti n of the main lumbering districts of the state. Aside from these, quite extensive operations are conducted upon various railway lines which In almost every county in penetrate the forests which are remote from log-running streams. the state, mills of greater or less capacity may be found cutting up pine or hard-woods into Alost important, in a lumbering point of view, of all the lumber, shingles, or cooperage stock. It extends from Milwaukee to Ashland, on Lake Superior, is the Wisconsin Central. a distance of 351 miles, with a line to Green Hay, 113 miles, and one from Stevens Point to It lias only been completed to Portage, 71 miles, making a total length of road, of 449 miles. Ashland within the last two years. From Milwaukee to Stevens Point it passes around to the east and north of Lake Winnebago, through an excellent hard-wood section. There are many stave mills in operation upon and tributary to its line, together with wooden-ware establishments and various manufactories requiring either hard or soft timber as raw material. From Stevens Point northward, this road passes through and has tributary to it one of the finest bodies of timber in the state. It crosses the upper waters of Black river and the Flambeau, one of the main tributaries of the Chippewa. From 30,000,000 to 50,000,000 feet of lumbet is annually manufactured on its line, above Stevens Point. The Wisconsin Valley railroad extends from Tomah to Wausau, and was built to afford an outlet, by rail, for the lumber produced at the latter point. Tlie extent of the timber supply in this state has been a matter of much speculation, and .

HISTORY (IF WISCONSIN.

190

Pine trees can not be counted or is a subject upon which but little can be definitely said. It is certain that for twenty years the measured until reduced to saw-logs or lumber. forests of Wisconsin have yielded large amounts of valuable timber, and no fears are entertained by holders of pine lands that the present generation of owners will witness In some sections it is estimated that the destruction to an exhaustion of their supply. the standing timber by fires, which periodically sweep over large sections, is greater than by the axes of the loggers.

The necessity

for a

state

system of forestry, for the protection of

the forests from fires, has been urged by many, and with excellent reason for no natural resource According to an estiof the state is of more value and importance than its wealth of timber. mate recently made by a good authority, and which received the sanction of many interested ;

parties, there was

standing in the

state

1876,

amount of pine timber approximating

35,000,000,000 feet. The annual production of lumber in the districts herein described, and from logs floated out The following table gives of the state to mills on the Mississippi, is about 1,200,000,000 feet. the mill capacity per season, and the lumber and shingles manufactured in 1876

LUMBER MANUFACTURED IN 1S76.

— using Wisconsin logs

2o6,00O,COO 258,500,000 72,500 000 34,500,000 222,000,000 101,000,000 311,000,000 509,000,000

138,250,000 138,645,077 31,530,000 17,700,000 139,700,000 70.S52.747 255,866,999 380,067,000

85,400,000 123,192,000 132,700,000 10,700,000 106.250,000 37,675.000 79,250,000 206,977,000

1,714,500,000

172,611,823

782,144,000

Green Bay Shore

Wolf River

Wisconsin Central Railroad Green Bay & Minnesota Railroad Wisconsin River Black River.. _.

Chippewa River. Mississippi River

Total

---

If to the above is added the production of mills outside of the main districts and lines of railway herein described, the amount of pine lumber annually produced from Wisconsin forests would

reach 1,500,000,000 feet. Of the hard-wood production no authentic information is obtainable_ To cut the logs and place them upon the banks of the streams, ready for floating to the mills, Allowing that, upon an average, each man has a family requires the labor of about 18,000 men. of two persons besides himself, dependent upon his labor for support, it would be apparent that

work of manufacturing lumber gives employment and support to 54,000 1,000,000 feet of logs into lumber, requires the consumption of 1,200 bushels of oats, 9 barrels of pork and beef, 10 tons of hay, 40 barrels of flour, and the use of 2 Thus the fitting out of the logging companies each fall makes a market for pairs of horses. 1,800,000 bushels of oats, 13,500 barrels of pork and beef, 15,000 tons of hay, and 60,000 barrels Before the lumber is sent to market, fully $6,000,000 is expended for the labor of flour. the

first

persons.

step in the

To convert

employed in producing it. This industry, aside from furnishing the farmer of the west with the cheapest and best of materials for constructing his buildings, also furnishes a very important market for the products of his farm. The question of the exhaustion of the pine timber supply has met with much discussion during the past few years, and, so far as the forests of Wisconsin are concerned, deserves a brief The great source of supply of white pine timber in the country is that portion of the northwest between the shores of Lake Huron and the banks of the Mississippi, comprising the

notice.

LUMBER MANUFACTURE.

191

northern portions of the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

For a quarter of a

century these fields have been worked by lumbermen, the amount of the yearly production With all having increased annually until it reached the enormous figure of 4,000,000,000 feet. of this tremendous drain upon the forests, there can be pointed out but one or two sections that There are, however, two or three where the end can be seen and the are actually exhausted.

date almost foretold.

The pineries of Wisconsin have been drawn upon for a less period and

less amount than those of Michigan, and, it is generally conceded, will outlast them at the present

proportionate rate of cutting.

There are many owners of pine timber lands who laugh at the As time brings them nearer to the end,

prospect of exhausting their timber, within their lifetime.

the labor of procuring the logs, by reason of the distance of the timber from the water-courses will increase, and the work will progress more slowly.

In the future of this industry there is much promise.

Wisconsin

the natural source of

The populous prairies of Illinois and Iowa are near-by and The broad plains of Kansas and the rich valleys of Nebraska, which are still in the cradle of development, will make great drafts upon her forests for the material to construct cities supply for a very large territory. unfailing markets.

which the

first

corner-stone

yet unlaid.

Minnesota, notwithstanding the fact that large

forests exist within her own confines, is even now no mean

customer for Wisconsin lumber, and

the ambitious territory of Dakota will soon clamor for material to build up a great and wealthy state.

In the inevitable progress of development and growth which must characterize the great

west, the demand for pine lumber for building material will be a prominent feature.

With the

growth of time, changes will occur in the methods of reducing the forests. With the increasing demand and enhancing values will come improvements in manipulating the raw material, and a stricter economy will be preserved in the handling of a commodity which the passage of time Wisconsin will become the home of manufactories, which will only makes more valuable. convert her trees into finished articles of daily consumption, giving employment to thousands of artisans where it

now requires hundreds, and bringing back millions of revenue where is now

Like all other commodities, lumber becomes more valuable as skilled labor employed in its manipulation, and the greater the extent to which this is carried, the greater is

realized thousands. is

the growth in prosperity, of the state and its people.

BANKING IN WISCONSIN. by john p. McGregor. Wisconsin was organized as a territory in 1S36, and the same year several acts were passed by the territorial legislature, incorporating banks of issue. Of these, one at Green Bay and another at Mineral of 1837.

Point went into operation just in time to play their part in the great panic

The bank at Green Bay soon failed and left its bills unredeemed.

The bank at

Mineral Point is said to have struggled a little longer, but both these concerns were short lived,

and their issues were but a drop in the great flood of worthless wild-cat bank notes that spread over the whole western country in that disastrous time. The sufferings of the people of Wisconsin, from this cause, left a vivid impression on their minds, which manifested its results in the legislation of the territory and in the constitution of the state adopted in 1848.

So jealous wen

the legislatures of the territory, of banks and all their works, that, in every act of incorpoi for any purpose, a clause

was inserted to the

effect that

itioi

nothing in the act contained should be

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

192

taken to authorize the corporation to assume or exercise any banking powers; and this proviso was even added to acts incorporating church societies. For some years there can hardly be said merchants and business men were left to have been any banking business done in the territory to their own devices to make their exchanges, and every man was his own banker. In the year 1839 an act was passed incorporating the " Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company," of Milwaukee. This charter conferred on the corporation, in addition to the usual powers of a fire and marine insurance company, the privilege of receiving deposits, issuing certifiand wound up with the usual prohibition from doing a cates of deposit and lending money, banking business. This company commenced business at once under the management of George Smith as president and Alexander Mitchell as secretary. The receiving deposits, issuing certificates of deposit and lending money, soon outgrew and overshadowed the insurance branch of the institution, which accordingly gradually dried up, In fact, the certificates of deposit had all the appearance of ordinary bank notes, and served the purposes of an excellent currency, being always promptly redeemed in coin on demand. Gradually these issues attained a great circulation all through the west, as the people gained more and more confidence in the honesty " " and ability of the managers and though runs were several times made, yet being successfully met, the public finally settled down into the belief that these bills were good beyond question, so that the amount in circulation at one time, is said, on good authority, to have been over ;

—

;

$2,000,000.

As the general government required specie consin Marine and

Fire

be paid for all lands bought of it, the Wis-

Insurance company, by redemption of

its " certificates

furnished a large part of the coin needed for use at the Milwaukee land for

office,

of deposit,"

and more or less

state, and its issues were of course much in For many years this institution furnished the main banking facilities men of the territory and young state, in the way of discounts and exchanges.

purchases at land offices in other parts of the

request for this purpose for the business

Its right to carry on the operations it was engaged in, under its somewhat dubious and inconwas often questioned, and, in 1852, under the administration of Governor Farwell, some steps were taken to tot the matter; but as the general banking law had then been passed by the legislature, and was about to be submitted to the people, and as it was understock! that the company would organize as a bank under the law, if approved, the legal proceedings were not pressed. While this corporation played so important a part in the financial history and commer-

sistent charter,

cial

development of Wisconsin, the writer

amount of business transacted by Fire Insurance Company's Hank."

before

is it

not aware of any available statistics as to the

became merged in the "Wisconsin Marine and

well-known firm of Marshall & Ilsley was laid by Samuel Marshall, who, in that year, opened a private banking office in Milwaukee, and was joined in 1849 by Charles F. Ilsley. This concern has always held a prominent position among the banking institutions of our state. About this time, at Mineral Point, Washburn & Woodman In 1S47, the foundation of the present

(C. C.

Washburn and Cyrus Woodman) engaged in private banking, as a part of their business.

After some years they were succeeded' by Win. T. Henry, who still continues the banking office.

Among the early private bankers of the state were Mr. Kellogg, of Racine; and T. C. Shove, of Manitowoc. the other firms has

>shkosh Ulmann and bell, of The latter still continues his business, while that of (

;

een wound up or merged in organized banks.

In 1S48, Wisconsin adopted a state constitution.

This constitution prohibited the legislature

from incorporating banks and from conferring banking powers on any corporation; but provided the question of

"banks or no banks" might be submitted to a vote of the electors, and, if the

decision should lie in favor of banks, then the legislature might charter banks or might enact a

BACKING

WISCONSIN.

193

general hanking law, but no su< h special charter or general banking law should have any force ibmitted to the electors at a general election, and approved by a majority of votes asl on In 1851, the legislature submitted this question to the people, and a majorit) "1 ibject. i

the votes were

cast in favor of " banks."

Accordingly the legislature, in 1852, made a general

banking law, which was submitted to the electors in November of that year, and was approved This law was very similar to the free banking law of the state of New York, which by them. had then been in force about fifteen years, and was generally approved in that state. Our law authorized any number of individuals to form a corporate association for banking purposes, ind its main provisions were intended to provide security for the circulating m tes, by deposit of state and United States stocks or bonds with the state treasurer, so that the bill holders should sustain Provision was made for a bank comptroller, whose no loss in case of the failure of the banks. main duty it was to see that countersigned circulating notes were issued to banks only in proper upon compliance with the law, and that the banks kept deposited, and securities amounts for the

these securities good.

The first bank comptroller was James S. Baker, who was appointed by Governor Farwell. The first banks organized under the new law were the " State Bank," established at Madi-

& Ilsley, and the "Wisconsin

Marine and Fire Insurance Company's Bank," These banks both went intooperation early in January, 1S53, and, later in that year, the " State Bank of Wisconsin " (now " Farmers' and Millers' Bank " (now First Milwaukee National Bank of Wisconsin), and the National Bank of Milwaukee), were established, followed in January, 1S54, by the " Bank of Milwaukee " (now National Exchange Hank of Milwaukee). From this time forward banks were son by Marshall

established at Milwaukee under the old management of that company.

rapidly established at different points through the state, until in July, 1S57, they

numbered sixty

— with aggregate capital, $4,205,000; deposits, $3,920,238; and circulation. $2,231,829.

October, the great revulsion and panic of 1S57 came on, and in its course and effects tried pretty Some of them succumbed to the pressure, but most of severely the new banks in Wisconsin.

them stood the trial well.

The great source of loss and weakness at that time was found in the rapid decline of the market value of the securities deposited to protect circulation, which were mostly state bonds, and largely those of the southern states; so that this security, when it came to be tried, did not Another fault of the system, or of the practice under it, was developed prove entirely sufficient. It was found that many of the banks had been set up without actual working capiat this time. tal, merely for the purpose of issuing circulating notes, and were located at distant and inaccessible points in what was then the great northern wilderness of the state; so that it was expensive and While these evils and their remin fact impracticable to present their issues for redemption. edies were a good deal discussed among

bankers, the losses and inconveniences

the

people

were not yet great enough to lead to the adoption of thorough and complete measures of reform. The effect of these difficulties, however, was to bring the bankers of the stale into the habit of consulting and acting together in cases of emergency, the first bankers' convention having been held in 1S57.

This was followed by others from time to time, and it would be

value the great good that has resulted, at several important crises from the servative action of the bankers of our state. legislature, in 1858,

Partly, at least,

upon

their

difficult

to over-

ham onious and conrecommendations the

adopted amendments to the banking law, providing that no bank should be

located in a township containing less than two hundred inhabitants; and that the comptroller should not issue circulating notes, except to banks doing a regular discount deposit and exchange business in some inhabited town, village, city, or where the ordinary business of inhabited towns, These amendments were approved by the people at the fall villages and cities was carried on.

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

194 election of that year.

Banking matters now ran along pretty smoothly until the election in i860, of the republican presidential ticket, and the consequent agitation in the southern states threatening civil war, the effects of

which were speedily felt;

states, and

first,

in the great depreciation of the bonds of the

then in a less decline in those of the northern states

southern

At this time (taking the state-

ment of July, i860,) the number of banks was 104, with aggregate

capital, $6,547,000; circula-

tion, $4,075,918; deposits, $3,230,252.

During the winter following, there was a great deal of uneasiness in regard to our state currency, and co tinuous demand upon our banks for the redemption of their circulating notes in coin. Many banks of the wild-cat sort failed to redeem their notes, which became depreciated and uncurrent and, when the rebellion came to a head by the firing on Fort Sumter, the banking interests of the state were threatened with destruction by compulsory winding up and enforced ;

sale at the panic prices then prevailing, of the securities deposited to secure circulation. Under these circumstances, on the 17th of April, 1861, the legislature passed " an act to protect the

holders of the circulating notes of the authorized banks of the state of Wisconsin." As the banking law could not be amended except by approval of the electors, by vote at a general election, a practical suspension of specie payment had to be effected by indirect methods. So this act first directed the bank comptroller to suspend all action toward banks for failing to redeem their circulation. Secondly, it prohibited notaries public from protesting bills of banks Thirdly, it gave banks until that date to answer complaints in any proceeduntil Dec 1, 1861. This same legislature also amended the ing to compel specie payment of circulating notes. banking law, to cure defects that had been developed in it. These amendments were intended to facilitate the presentation and protest of circulating notes, and the winding up of banks failing to redeem them, and provided that the

except to banks having actual cash capital that after Dec.

;

bank comptroller should not issue circulating notes

on which point he was to take evidence in all cases

1861, all banks of the state should

redeem their issues

either

Madison or

Milwaukee, and no bonds or stocks should be received as security for circulation except those of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin.

Specie payment of bank bills was then practically suspended, in our state, from April 17 to December 1, 1861, and there was no longer any plain practical test for determining which were In this condition of things, bankers met in convention, and, after discus-

good, and which not.

and inquiry as to the condition and resources of the different banks, put forth a list of those whose issues were to be considered current and bankable. But things grew worse, and it was evident that the list contained banks that would never be able to redeem their circulation, and the issues of such were from time to time thrown out and discredited without any concert of action, so that the uneasiness of people in regard to the financial situation was greatly increased. The bankers finally met, gave the banks another sifting, and put forth a list of seventy banks whose circulating notes they pledged themselves to receive, and pay out as current, until Dei emThere had been so many changes that this pledge was thought necessary to allay the ber 1. apprehensions of the public. But matters still grew worse instead of better. Some of the banks in the " current " list closed their doors to their depositors, and others were evidently unsound, and their circulation so insufficiently secured as to make it certain that it would never be redeemed. There was more or less sorting of the currency, both by banks and business men, all over the state, in the endeavor to keep the best and pay out the poorest. In this state of things, some of the Milwaukee banks, without concert of action, and acting under the apprehension of being loaded up with the very worst of the currency, which, it was feared, the country banks and merchants were suiting out and sending to Milwaukee, revised the list again, and sion

r.A\Ki\<; ix Wisconsin.

195

threw out ten of the seventy banks whose issues it had been agreed should be received as Other banks and bankers were compelled to take the same course to protect themcurrent. The consequence was a great disturbance of the public mind, and violent charge- of selves. In bad faith on the part of the banks, which culminated in the bank riots of June 24, 1S61. that day. a crowd of several hundred disorderly people, starting out most probably only with the idea of making some sort of demonstration of their dissatisfaction with the action of the banks and bankers and with the failure to keep faith with the public, marched through the street-; wit's a band of music, and brought up at the corner of Michigan and East Water streets. The banks had just sufficient notice of these proceedings to enable them to lock up ti money and valuables in their vaults, before the storm broke upon them. The mob halted at the place above mentioned, and for a time contented themselves with hooting, and showed no disposition to proceed to violence; but, after a little while, a stone was thrown through the windows of the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company's Bank, situated at one corner of the above streets, and volley, of stones soon followed, not only against that bank, but also against the State Bank of Wisconsin, situated on the opposite corner. The windows of both these were effectually demolished. institutions and of the offices in the basements under them The mob then made a rush into these banks and offices, and completely gutted them, offering more or less violence to the inmates, though no person was seriously hurt. The broken furniture of the offices under the State Bank of Wisconsin was piled up, and the torch was applied by some of the rioters, while others were busy in endeavoring to break into the safes of the offices and the vaults of the banks. The debris of the furniture in the office of the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company's Bank, was also set on fire, and it was plain that if the mob was not immediately checked, the city would be given up to conflagration and pillage the worst elements, as is always the case with mobs, having assumed the leadership. Just at that juncture, the Milwaukee zouaves, a small military company, appeared on the scene, and with the help of the firemen who had been called out, the mob was put to flight, and the incipient fire was extin<

—

guished.

The damage so far done was not great in amount, and the danger for the moment was over; full of threats, disturbance and apprehension. By the prompt action of the authorities, a number of companies of volunteers were brought from different places in the state, order was preserved, and, after muttering for three or four days, the storm died away. The effect of that disturbance and alarm was, however, to bring home to the bankers and business men the conviction that effectual measures must be taken to settle outstate currency matters on a sound and permanent basis, and that the issues of all banks that could not be put in shape to meet specie payment in December, must be retired from circulation and be got out of the way. A meeting of the bankers was held; also of the merchants' association of Milwaukee, and arrangements were made to raise §100,000, by these two bodies, to be used in assisting weak and crippled banks in securing or retiring their circulation. The bankers appointed a committee to take the matter in charge. It happened that just at this time Governor Randall and State Treasurer Hastings returned from New York City, where they had been making unsuccessful efforts to dispose of $800,000 of Wisconsin war bonds, which had been issued to raise funds to fit out Wisconsin volunteers. Our state had never had any bonds on the eastern market. For other reasons, our credit was not high in New York, and it had been found impossible to dispose of these bonds for over sixty cents on the dollar. The state officers conferred with the bankers to see what could be done at home; and it was finally arranged that the bankers' committee should undertake to get the state banks to dispose of their southern and other depreciated state bonds on deposit to but the situation was still grave, as the city was

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

196

secure circulation, for what they would bring in coin, in New York, and replace these bonds with those of our own state, .which were to be taken by our banks nominally at par

— seventy percent,

being paid in cash, and the different banks purchasing bonds, giving their individual obligation for the thirty per cent, balance, to be paid in semi-annual installments, with an agreement that the state should deduct these installments from the interest so long as these bonds should remain on

By the terms of the law, sixty per cent, of the proceeds of the bonds had to be paid in coin. The bankers' committee went to work, and with some labor and difficulty induced most of the banks to sell their southern securities at the existing low prices in New From the funds provided York, and thus produce the coin required to pay for our state bonds. by the merchants and bankers, they assisted many of the weaker banks to make good their deposit with the state.

By the 19th of July, six of the ten rejected securities with the banking department of the state. banks that had been the occasion of the riot, were made good, and restored to the list. The other four were wound up, and their issues redeemed at par, and, before the last of August, the value of the securities of all the banks on the current list were brought up to their circulation, as shown by the comptroller's report.

Wisconsin currency at the time of the bank riot was at a discount of about 15 per cent., as compared with gold or New York exchange. At the middle of July the discount was 10 to 12 The bankers' committee continued their per cent., and early in August it fell to 5 per cent. work in preparation for the resumption of specie payment on December 1. While the securities for the bank circulation had been made good, it was, nevertheless, evident that many of the banks on the current list would not be equal to the continued redemption of their bills in specie, and that they would have to be wound up and got out of the way in season. Authority was got from such institutions, as fast as possible, for the bankers' committee to retire their circulation and sell their securities. The Milwaukee banks and bankers took upon themselves the great burden of this business, having arranged among themselves to sort out and withhold from circulation the bills of these banks,

— distributing the load among themselves

certain defined

Instead of paying out these doubted bills, the different banks brought to the bank-

proportions.

ers' committee

such amounts as they accumulated from time

time, and

received from the

committee certificates of deposit bearing seven per cent, interest, and these bills were locked up by the committee until the securities for these notes could be sold and the proceeds realized. Over $400,000 of this sort of paper was locked up by the committee at one time but it was all converted into cash, and, when the first of December came, the remaining banks of this state were ready to redeem their issues in gold or its equivalent, and so continued to redeem until the issue of the legal-tender notes and the general suspension of specie payment in the United ;

States.

July,

$2,317,907 I'i\

rent

;

1S61,

the

number of our banks was

107, with

capital,

$4,607,000; circulation,

deposits, $3,265,069.

the contraction incident to the preparations for redemption in specie, the amount of cur-

Wisconsin bank notes outstanding December

1861,

was reduced to about $1,500,000. to convert Wisconsin currency

When that day came, there was quite a disposition manifested

and a sharp financial pinch was felt for a few days but as the public became satisfied that the banks were prepared to meet the demand, the call for redemption rapidly fell off, and the banks soon began to expand their circulation, which was now current and in good demand The amount saved to all the interests of our state, by this all through the northwestern states.

into coin,

;

successful effort to save our banking system from destruction, this

beyond computation.

From

time our banks ran along quietly until prohibitory taxation by act of congress drove the bills

of state

banks out of circulation.

BANKING The it

in different parts of the country.

Fanners' and Millers' Bank, in

the

WISCONSIN.

197

national banking law was passed in 1863, and a few banks were

under

The first in Wisconsin was formed by the re-organization of August, 1863, as the First National Bank of Milwaukee, The growth of the new

with Edward D. Ilolton as president, and II. II. Camp, cashier.

however, was not very rapid; the state banks were slow to avail themselves of the prh the national banking act, and

the central authorities concluded to compel

them to come in

facilities were offered for their re-organization as national banks, and then a tax of ten per

was- laid at

upon the issues of the state banks,

once caused a commotion in our state.

was

sixty-six,

with capital

;

ent.

Tl is tax was imposed by act of March, 1865, and

In July, 1864, the

83,147,000, circulation

number of Wisconsin

$2,461, 728, deposits

stale

banks

§5,483,205, and these

The securities for thecin dating re in great part the bonds of our own state, which, while known by our own people to

figures were probably not very different in the spring of [865.

be good beyond question, had never been on the general markets of the country so as to be currently known there; and it was feared that in the hurried retirement of our circulation these

bonds would be sacrificed, the currency depreciated, and great loss brought upon our banks and people. There was some excitement, and a general call for the redemption of our state circulation, but the banks mostly met the run well, and our people were disposed to stand by our own state bonds.

In April, 1861, the legislature passed laws, calling in the mortgage loans of the school fund,

and directing its investment in these securities. The state treasurer was required to receive Wisconsin bank notes, not only for taxes and debts due the state, but also on deposit, anil to By these and like means issue certificates for such deposits bearing seven per cent, interest. and in the course of a few months Wisconsin state currency the threatened panic was stopped In July, 1865, the number of state banks was was nearly all withdrawn from circulation. ;

Under the circulation $192,323, deposits $2,284,210. pressure put on by congress, the organization of national banks, and especially the re-organizatwenty-six,

with

capital

$1,087,000,

tion of state banks, under the national system, was proceeding rapidly, and in a short time nearly

every town in our own state of

much size or importance was provided with one or more of these

institutions.

In the great panic of 1873, all the Wisconsin banks, both state and national

(in

with those of the whole country), were severely tried; but the failures were few and tant;

and Wisconsin went through that ordeal with

less

loss

common unimpor-

and disturbance than almost any

other state.

We have seen that the history of banking in Wisconsin covers

stormy period, in which

It is to be hoped that permanent quiet and prosperity can not rationally be expected in the present unsettled condition of our currency, nor until we have gone through the

great disturbances and panics have occurred at intervals of a few years. a more peaceful epoch will succeed, but

temporary stringency incidental to the resumption of specie payment. According to the last report of the comptroller of the currency, the number of national banks in Wisconsin in November, 1876, was forty, with capital $3,400,000, deposits $7,145,360, circulation $2,072,869.

At this time (July, 1877) the number of state banks is twenty-six, with capital $1,288,231. Their circulation is, of course, merely nominal, though there is no legal obstacle to their issuing circulating notes, except the tax imposed by con.:

deposits $6,662,973.

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. By Hon. H. H. GILES.

The material philosophy of a people has to do with the practical and useful. iron, coal, cotton, wool, grain and the trees of the forest, the

sees in

elements of personal comfort and

sources of material greatness, and is applied to their development, production and fabrication for

purposes of exchange, interchange and sale.

The early immigrants to Wisconsin territory found

a land teeming with unsurpassed natural advantages

;

prairies, timber, water and minerals, invit-

come and build houses, furnaces, mills and factories. The first settlers were a food-producing people. The prairies and openings were ready for the plow. The ease with which farms were brought under cultivation, readily enabled the pioneer ing the farmer, miner and lumberman, to

to supply the food necessary for himself

and family, while a surplus was often produced in a few

The hardships so often encountered in the settlement of a new country, where forests

months.

must be felled and stumps removed to prepare the soil for tillage, were scarcely known, or greatly mitigated.

During the decade from 1835 to 1S45, so great were the demands for the products of the by the tide of emigration, that the settlers found a home market for all their surplus products, and so easily were crops grown that, within a very brief time after the first emigration, but little was required from abroad. The commerce of the country was carried on by the exchange of products. The settlers (they could scarcely be called farmers) would exchange It their wheat, corn, oats and pork for the goods, wares and fabrics of the village merchant. was an age of barter but they looked at the capabilities of the land they had come to possess, and, with firm faith, saw bright promises of better days in the building up of a great state. It is not designed to trace with minuteness the history of Wisconsin through the growth of To do it justice would require a volume. The its commercial and manufacturing interests. aim of this article will be to present a concise view of its present status. Allusion will only be incidentally made to stages of growth and progress by which it has been reached. Few states in the Union possess within their borders so many, and in such abundance, Its soil of unsurpassed elements that contribute to the material prosperity of a [people. its almost boundless forests fertility its inexhaustible mines of lead, copper, zinc and iron its long lines of lake shore on its water-powers, sufficient to drive the machinery of the world need but enterprise, energy and capital to two sides, and the " Father of waters " on another, utilize them in building an empire of wealth, where the hum of varied.industries shall be heard in the music of the sickle, the loom and the anvil. The growth of manufacturing industries was slow during the first twenty-five years of our The early settlers were poor. Frequently the land they tilled was pledged to obtain history. soil, created

;

—

means to pay for it. of their money.

Capitalists obtained from twenty to thirty per cent, per

annum for the use

Indeed, it was the rule, under the free-trade ideas of the money-lenders for

them to play the Shylock.

While investments in bonds and mortgages were so

profitable, few

were ready to improve the natural advantages the country presented for building factories and work-shops.

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.

199

For many years, quite all the implements used in farming were brought from outside the While this is the case at present to some extent with the more cumbersome faun state. machinery, quite a proportion of that and most of the simpler and lighter implements are made at home, while much farm machinery is now manufactured for export to other states.

Furs.

The northwest was visited and explored by French voyageurs and missionaries from Canada The object of the former was trading and gain. The Jesuits, ever zealous in at an early day. the propagation of their religion, went forth into the unknown wilderness to convert the natives As early as 1624, they were operating about Lake Huron and Mackinaw. Father to their faith. Men rd, it is related, was with the Indians on Lake Superior as early as 1661. The early

—

explorers were of two classes, and were stimulated by two widely different motives the ,, n^evw. by the love of gain, and the missionaries, by their zeal in the propagation of their faith. Previous to 1679, a considerable trade in furs had sprung up with Indian tribes in the vicinity of

Mackinaw and the northern part of " Ouisconsin."

In that year more than two hundred canoes,

laden with furs, passed Mackinaw, bound for Montreal.

The whole commerce of this vast region

then traversed, was carried on with birch-bark canoes. The French used them in traversing otherwise inaccessible by reason of floods of water at one season, and ice and snow at wilds

—

another

— also lakes and morasses which interrupted land journeys, and rapids and cataracts

that cut off communication by water.

This little vessel enabled them to overcome all difficulties. Being buoyant, it rode the waves, although heavily freighted, and, of light draft, it permitted the

traversing of small streams. Its weight was so light that it could be easily carried from one stream to another, and around rapids and other obstructions. With this little vessel, the fur northwest was carried on, as well as the interior of a vast continent explored.

trade of the

Under the stimulus of commercial enterprise, the French traders penetrated the recesses ot the immense forests whose streams were the home of' the beaver, the otter and the mink, and in whose depths were found the martin, sable, ermine, and other fur-bearing animals. A vast tradefurs sprung up, and was carried on by different agents, under authority of the h Yen, h government. in

When the military possession of the northwestern domain passed from the government of France

that of Great Britain in

1760, the relationship of the fur trade to the

government

The government of France had controlled the traffic, and made it a means of strengthit possessed. The policy of Great Britain was, to charter companies, and grant them exclusive privileges. The Hudson bay company had grown rich and changed.

ening

hold upon the country

its

powerful between 1670 and 1760. organizations were formed.

— the natives bringing

Its

success had excited the cupidity of capitalists, and rival

The business of the company had been done at their trading-stations their

furs

for

exchange and barter.

Other companies sent their

voyageurs into every nook and corner to traffic with the trappers, and even to catch the fur-bearing animals themselves. in

furs,

In the progress of time, private parties engaged in trapping and dealing

and, under the competition created, the business became less profitable.

1S15,

congress passed an act prohibiting foreigners from dealing in furs in the United States, or any of

its

territories.

This action was obtained through the influence of John Jacob Astor.

Mr.

Astor organized the American fur company in 1809, and afterward, in connection with the Northwest company, bought out the Mackinaw company, and the two were merged in the Southwest

The association was suspended by the war of 1812. The American re-entered the The fur trade is still an important branch of traffic in the northern part of the state, and, during eight months of the year, employs a large number of men.

company.

field in 1816.

HISTOHY OF WISCONSIN.

200

Lead and Zixc. In

1824, the lead ore in the southwestern

part

of Wisconsin began to attract attention.

From 1826 to 1830, there was a great rush of miners to this region, somewhat like the Pike's Peak excitement at a later date. The lead-producing region of Wisconsin covers an area of about 2,200 square miles, and embraces parts of Grant, Iowa and La Fayette counties. Between After the latter 1829 and 1839, the production of lead increased from 5,000 to 10,000 tons. year it rose rapidly, and attained its maximum in 1845, when it reached nearly 25,000 tons. Since that time the production has decreased, although still carried on to a considerable extent.

The sulphate and carbonate of zinc abound in great quantities with the lead of southwest Owing to the difficulty of working this class of ores, it was formerly allowed to accumulate about the mouths of the mines. Within a few years past, metallurgic processes have been so greatly improved, that the zinc ores have been largely utilized. At La Salle, in the Wisconsin.

state of Illinois, there are three establishments for smelting zinc ores.

There is also one at Peru,

To smelt zinc ores economically, they are taken where cheap fuel is available. Hence, the location of these works in the vicinity of coal mines. The works mentioned made in 1S75, 111.

from ores mostly taken from Wisconsin, 7,510 tons of zinc.

These metals are, therefore, impor-

tant elements in the commerce of Wisconsin.

Iron.

The iron ores of Wisconsin occur in immense beds in several localities, and are destined to prove of great value. From their product in 1863, there were 3,735 tons of pig iron received at Milwaukee; in 1865,4,785 tons; in 1S6S, 10,890 tons. Of the latter ,1111011111,4,648 tons were from the iron mines pig iron.

at Mayville. There were shipped from Milwaukee, in 1S6S, 6,361 tons of There were also received 2,500 tons of ore from the Dodge county ore beds. During

1869, the ore beds at Iron Ridge were developed to a considerable extent, and two large blast

furnaces constructed in Milwaukee, at which

place there were 4,695 tons of ore received, and

2,059 tons were shipped to Chicago and Wyandotte.

1870,

112,060 tons of iron ore were

received at Milwaukee, 95,000 tons of which were from Iron Ridge, and 17,060 tons from Esca-

naba and Marquette, in Michigan. The total product of the mines at Iron Ridge in 1S71 was 82,284 tons. The Milwaukee iron company received by lake, in the same year, 28,094 tons of Marquette iron ore to mix with the former in making railroad iron. In 1872, there were received from Iron Ridge 85,245 ions of ore, and 5.620 tons of pig iron. Much of the metal made by the Wisconsin iron company in 1S72 was shipped to St. Louis, to mix with the iron made from Missouri ore.

The following table shows the production of pig iron in Wisconsin, for 1X72, 1X73 and 1874,

FURN 11

COMMERCE AXI> MAXLT EACTURES.

201

The Milwaukee iron company, during the year 1872, entered into the manufacture of merchant iron

—

than elsewhere.

having been demonstrated that the raw material could be reduced there cheaper The Minerva furnace company built also during the same year one of the to be

most compact and complete iron furnaces

During the

found any where in the country.

year 1S73, the iron, with most other material interests, became seriously prostrated, so that the total receipts of ore in Milwaukee in 1S74 amounted to only 31,993 tons, against 69,418 in 1873,

and 85,245 tons in 1S72.

There were made in Milwaukee in 1874, 29,680 tons of railroad

iron.

In 1S75, 5S,868 tons of ore were received at Milwaukee, showing a revival of the trade in an increase of 19,786 tons over the previous year.

The operation of the works at Bay View having

suspended, the receipts of ore in 1S76, at Milwaukee, were less than during any year since 1S69, being only 31,119 tons, of which amount only 5,488 tons were from Iron Ridge, and the total

shipments were only 49S tons.

Lumber.

The business of lumbering holds an important rank in the commerce of the state. For many years the ceaseless hum of the saw and the stroke of the ax have been heard in all our great forests. The northern portion of the state is characterized by evergreen trees, principally There are exceptional localities, but this is a correct state-

pine; the southern, by hard-woods.

ment of the general distribution.

think that, geologically speaking, the evergreens belong to

the primitive and sandstone regions, and the hard

wood to the limestone and

clay formations.

Northern Wisconsin, so called, embraces that portion of the state north of forty-five degrees, and possesses nearly all the valuable pine forests. The most thoroughly developed portion of this region is that lying along the streams entering into Green bay and Lake Michigan, and bordering on the Wisconsin river and other streams entering into the Mississippi. the immediate vicinity of these streams has been cut off well are

vast

Most of the pine in

toward their source-

;

still,

there

covered with dense forests, not accessible from streams suitable for log-driving The building of railroads into these forests will alone give a market value to a large

tracts

purposes.

portion of the pine timber there growing.

It is well,

perhaps, that this is so, for at the present

rate of consumption, but a few years will elapse before these noble forests will be totally destroyed.

Most of the lumber manufactured on the rivers was formerly taken to a market by being floated Now, the railroads are transporting large quantities, taking it directly

down the streams in raft-.

from the mills and unloading it at interior points in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, and some of it From five to eight thousand men are employed in the pineries in felling the in eastern cities. trees, sawing them into logs of suitable length, and hauling them to the mills and streams during

and favorable seasons. The amount of lumber sawed in The amount of shingles made was 2,272,061, and no account was made of the immense number of logs floated out of the state, for manufacThe amount of logs cut in the winter of 1S73 and 1874 was ture into lumber elsewhere. The Chippewa, In 1876 and 1877 the Black river furnished 188,544,464 feet. 987,000,000 feet. every winter in times of .

fair

arefully estimated,

prices

was 355.055,155 feet.

90,000,000; the Red Cedar, 57.000,000. logs.

There passed through Beef Slough 129,384,000 feet of Hon. A. II. Eaton, for fourteen years receiver of the United States land office at Stevens

Point, estimated the acreage of pine lands in his district at 2.000,000, and, taking his own district as the basis, he estimated the whole state at S,ooo,ooo acres.

Reckoning this at 5,000 feet to the

would be 40,000,000,000 feet. The log product This is about the In 1876. 1,172,611,823 feet were cut. annually amounts to an immense sum. There seems to be no remedy for the average annual draft that is made on the pine lands. acre, the

aggregate pine timber of the state

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

202

wholesale destruction of our pine forests, except the one alluded to, the difficulty of transportaAt the rate of tion, and this will probably save a portion of them for a long time in the future. consumption for twenty years past, we can estimate that fifty years would see northern Wiscon-

denuded of its pine forests; but our lumber product has reached its maximum, and will probably decrease in the coming years as the distance to be hauled to navigable streams In the mean time lumber, shingles and lath will form an important factor in our increases. sin

commerce, both state and inter-state, and will contribute millions to the wealth of our citizens. Grain.

Up to 1841, no grain was exported from Wisconsin to be used as food; but, from the time of its first settlement in 1836 to 1840, the

supply of bread

stuffs

from abroad, upon which the

people depended, was gradually diminished by the substitution of home products. In the winter of 1S40 and 1841, E. D. Holton, of Milwaukee, purchased a small cargo of wheat (about 4,000 bushels), and in the spring of 1S41, shipped it to Buffalo.

This was the beginning of a

traffic

that has grown to immense proportions, and, since that time, wheat has formed the basis of the

commerce and prosperity

of the

state, until

the city of "Milwaukee has become the greatest

primary wheat mart of the world.

The following table gives the exports of flour and grain from Milwaukee for thirty-two years, commencing in 1845

WHEAT,

1845 1S46 1S47 1S4S 1S49 1850 1851

r852 1853 1S54 1855 1856 1857 185S 1-= 1

I-"

1861 1862 1863

7.550 15.756

34.S40 92,732 136.657 100,017 51.889 92.995 104.055 145.032 181,568 188,455 22S.442 2gS,66S 282,956 457.343 674.474

7".4o5 603.525

[864 186;

4U.333

[86J

1,017,598

1870

1.225,941 1,211,427 1,232,036

567.576 720,365 921,663 1.2211,058

>-:' !~7-'

[873

1874

2,2i :;.579

1 8 7!

2.163,346 2,654,028

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. Up to 1856, the shipments were almost wholly of Wisconsin products

203 ;

but with the comple-

Milwaukee to the Mississippi river, the commerce of Wisconsin became so interwoven with that of Iowa and Minnesota, that the data furnished by the transportion of lines of railroad from

tation companies, give us no definite figures relating to the products of our own state.

Dairy Products. Wisconsin

becoming largely interested

streams, and natural adaptability to grass, make

remarkably well.

the dairy it

fine

business.

Its

numerous

springs,

grazing country, and stock thrives

Within a few years, cheese-factories have become numerous, and their owners

are meeting with excellent success.

Wisconsin cheese is bringing the highest price in the markets,

and much of it is shipped to England. Butter is also made of a superior quality, and is extenAt the rate of progress made during the last few years, Wisconsin will soon sively exported. take rank with the leading cheese and butter producing states. The counties most largely interested in dairying, are Kenosha, Walworth, Racine, Rock, Green, Waukesha, Winnebago, SheboyAccording to estimates by experienced dairymen, the manufacture gan, Jefferson and Dodge. of butter was 22,473,000 pounds in 1S70; 50,130,000111 1S76; of cheese, 1,591,000 pounds in 1S70, as against 17,000,000 in 1S76, which will convey a fair idea of the increase of dairy production. The receipts of cheese in Chicago during 1S76, were 23,780,000 pounds, against 12,000,000 in 1875 and the receipts of butter were 35,384,184, against 30,248,247 pounds in 1875. It is esti;

mated that fully one-half of these receipts were from Wisconsin. The receipts of butter in Milwaukee were, in 1S70, 3,779,1 14 pounds in 1S75, 6,625,863; in 1876,8,938,137 pounds ot Cheese is not mentioned in the trade cheese, 5,721,279 pounds in 1875, and 7,055,573 in 1S76. and commerce reports of Milwaukee until 1873, when it is spoken of as a new and rapidly increasing commodity in the productions of the state. ;

;

Pork and Beef. Improved breeds, both of swine and

cattle,

have been introduced into the state during a

The grade of stock has been rapidly bettered, and stock raisers

general h

are

striving with commendable zeal to rival each other in raising the finest of animals for use

and

few years past. the market.

The folk /ii

years

ing table shows the receipts of live hogs and beef cattle at

YEARS.

Milwaukee for

thir-

204

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. The following table shows the movement of hog products and beef from Milwaukee

Shipments by Rail

since

COMMERCE AMI MANUFACT1 RES.

205

The crop of [872 was of good quality, and the market opened

qualities.

rents as the selling price, and

fell fifteen

forty

twenty cents before the close of the year.

A much

In 1873 and [874, the crop was fair and About 1X.000 bales prices ruled from thirty-three to forty-five cents, with increased production.

was raised than the year previous.

'quantity

Largei

Prices were were reported as being shipped from the different railway stations of the state. extremely irregular during 1875, and. after the new crop reached market, fell to a point that

would not pay the cost of production. In 1X70, prices ruled low at the opening of the year, and advanced from five to ten cents in January to twenty-eight to thirty in November. Over 17,000 bales were received at Milwaukee, over 10,000 bales being of the crop oi the previous year. Over 13,000 bales were shipped out of the state.

Tobacco.

Tobacco raising is comparatively a new industry in Wisconsin, but is rapidly growing in importance and magnitude. It sells readily for from four to ten cents per pound, and the plant is easily raised. It is not regarded as of superior quality. It first appears as a commodity of transportation of the

St.

the railway

reports

for

the year

1871, when

the Prairie dtt Chien division

Paul road moved eastward 1,373,650 pounds. During the four years ending with Milwaukee an average of 5,118,530 pounds annually, the axi-

1876, there were shipped from

mum being in 1874,6,982,175 pounds; the minimum in 1S75. j. 743,854 pounds.

The crop of and netted the producer from five to seven cents per pound. The

1S76 escaped the

early frosts,

greater part of

was shipped to Baltimore and Philadelphia.

raised in the state is used here or by western manufacturers.

1877, is a large one, and has been secured in good order. six

Comparatively

little

The crop of the

of the leaf

present

year,

Itis being contracted for at from four to

cents per pound.

Cranberries.

The cranberry trade is yet in its infancy.

But little, comparatively, has been done in devel-

oping the capabilities of the extensive bodies of marsh and swamp lands interspersed throughout the northern part of the state.

Increased attention is being paid

to the

culture of the fruit; yet,

the demand will probably keep ahead of the supply for many years to come. 1,500 barrels were sent out of the state. barrel's

were exported, and,

1876,

In 1S51, less than

In 1872, the year of greatest production, over 37,000

about 17,000 barrels.

Tl.

.-d

in different

years, and taken a range from eight to fifteen dollars a barrel.

Spirituous and

The production of liquors,

Malt Liquors.

both spirituous and malt, has kept pace with the growth of

There were in Wisconsin, in 1S72, two population and with the other industries of the state. hundred and ninety-two breweries and ten distilleries. In 1S76, there were two hundred and ninety-three of the former and ten of the latter, and most of them were kept running to their Milwaukee alone produced, in 1S76, 321,611 barrels of lager beei and 43,175 full capacity. barrels of high wines. In 1S65, it furnished 65,666 barrels of beer, and in 1S70, 108,845 barrels. In 1S65, it furnished 3,046 barrels of high wines; in 1870, 22,867 barrels; and in 1S75, 39,005. A large quantity of the beer made was shipped to eastern and southern cities. The beer made in

1876 sold at the rate of ten dollars per barrel, the wholesale price of the brewers bringing the

sum

$3,216,110.

The fame of Milwaukee lager beer is widely extended.

This

city has

furnished since 1870, 1,520,30s barrels which, at the wholesale price, brought $15,203,170. The total production of beer by all the two hundred and ninety-three breweries of the state for 1876,

was 450,50s barrels.

HISTORY OP WISCONSIN.

206

Milwaukee produced 43,175 barrels of high wines, or distilled spirits, and the In 1S70, the former produced 108,845 barrels of beer and state of Wisconsin 51,959 barrels. 22,867 barrels of distilled spirits, and in the same year the state of Wisconsin produced 189,664 of distilled spirits. barrels and beer barrels of 36,145 In

1876,

Miscellaneous. Porcelain clay, or kaolin, is found in numerous places in Wood and Marathon counties. The mineral is found in but few places in the United States in quantities sufficient to justify the In the counties mentioned, the deposits are investment of capital necessary to manufacture it. found in extensive beds, and only capital and enterprise are needed to make their development

Clay of superior quality for making brick and of fair quality for pottery, is profitable. found in numerous localities. The famous " Milwaukee brick," remarkable for their beautiful cream color, is made from a fine clay which is abundant near Milwaukee, and is found in extensive beds at Watertown, Whitewater, Edgerton, Stoughton, and several places on the lake shore At Whitewater and some other places the clay is used with success for the north of Milwaukee. making of pottery ware. Water-lime, or hydraulic cement, occurs in numerous places throughout the state.

An extensive bed covering between one and two hundred acres, and of an indefinite

depth, exists on the banks of the Milwaukee river, and not over one and a half miles from the city limits of Milwaukee.

The cement made from the rock of this deposit is first-class in quality, and

between twenty and thirty thousand barrels were made and sold last year. The capacity of the Stones suitaworks for reducing the rock to cement has been increased to 500 barrels per day. ble for building purposes are widely distributed throughout the state, and nearly every town lias Many of these quarries furnish stone of fine quality for substantial and its available quarry.

permanent edifices.

The quarry at Prairie du Chien furnished the stone for the capital building

At Milwaukee, Waukesha, beauty that of any state in the Union. Madison, La Crosse, and many other places are found quarries of superior building stone. beds in Marathon and Wood counties, and dressed specimens Granite is found in extensive " last year, attracted attention for their fine polish. Marbles of exhibited at the " Centennial Some of them are beginning to attract attention various kinds are likewise found in the state. and are likely to prove valuable. The report of Messrs. Foster & Whitney, United States geologists, speaks of quarries on the Menomonee and Michigamig rivers as affording beautiful varieRichland county contains marble, but its quality is genties and susceptible of a high polish. at Madison, which equals in

erally considered inferior.

Pi iWEKS.

Its forests of pine, oak, walnut, maple,, Wisconsin is fast becoming a manufacturing state. Its water-power for ash, and other valuable woods used for lumber, are well-nigh inexhaustible. by that of any state in the northwest. The Lower equaled machinery is not of driving the wheels

Fox river between Lake Winnebago and Green Bay, a distance of thirty-five miles, furnishes some of the best facilities for manufacturing enterprise in the whole country. Lake Winnebagoas a reservoir gives it a great and special advantage, in freedom from liability to freshets and droughts.

The stream never varies but a few feet from its highest to its lowest stage, yet gives The Green Bay and Mississippi canal company has, during the last twenty-live

a steady flow.

years, constructed

numerous dams, canals and locks, constituting very valuable improvements. government, which

All the property of that company has been transferred to the United States

has entered upon a system to render the Fox and Wisconsin rivers navigable to the Mississippi. The fall between the lake and Depere is one hundred and fifty feet, and the water can be utilized

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.

- -'' 1

Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Cedar, Little Chute, Kaukauna, Rapid The water-power at Appleton in its natural advantages pronounced by Hon. Hiram Barney, of New York, superior to those at Lowell, Paterson and Rochester, combined. The water-power of the Fox has been improved to a considerable Attention has been drawn to it, howextent, but its full capacity has hardly been touched. ever, and no doubt is entertained that in a few years the hum of machinery to be propelled by it, will be heard the entire length of the thirty-five miles. The facilities presented by its nearness to timber, iron, and a rich and productive agricultural region, give it an advantage over in propelling machinery at

Croche, Little Kaukauna and Depere.

any of the eastern manufacturing points. The Wisconsin river rises in the extreme northern part of the state, and has its source in a The upper portion abounds in valuable water privileges, only a great number of small lakes. few of which are improved. There are a large number of saw-mills running upon the power of Other machinery, to a limited extent, is in operation. The " Big Bull " falls, at Wausau, are improved, and a power of twenty-two feet fall is obtained. At Little Bull falls, below Wausau, there is a fall of eighteen feet, partially improved. There are many other water-powers in Marathon county, some of which are used in propelling flouringmills and saw-mills. At Grand Rapids, there is a descent of thirty feet to the mile, and the water can be used many times. Each time, 5,000 horse-power is obtained. At Kilbourn City a large amount of power can be obtained for manufacturing purposes. Chippewa river has its origin in small streams in the north part of the state. Explorers this river.

tell

us that there are a large

number of water powers on all the upper branches, but as the

country is yet unsettled, none of them have been improved, and very few even located on our maps. Brunette falls and Ameger falls, above Chippewa Falls city, must furnish considerable water-

At Chippewa Falls is an excellent water-power, only partially power, but its extent is not known improved. The river descends twenty-six feet in three-fourths of a mile. At Duncan creek at the same place, there is a good fall, improved to run a large flouring mill. At Eagle Rapids, five miles above Chippewa Falls, $120,000 has been expended in improving the fall of the Chippewa river.

The

city

Eau

Claire

are improved.

Eau Claire Some of them

situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and

rivers, and possesses in its immediate

vicinity

water-powers almost unrivaled.

The citizens of Eau Claire have, for several years, striven

obtain legislative

authority to dam the Chippewa river, so as to improve the water-power of the Dells, and a lively contest, known as the " Dells fight," has been carried on with the capitalists along the river above

There are immense water-powers in Dunn county, on the Red Cedar, Chippewa and Eau Galle rivers, on which there are many lumbering establishments. In Pepin county also The Black river and its branches, the La Crosse, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Beaver, and Tamaso, furnish many valuable powers. The St. Croix river is not excelled in the value of its water privileges by any stream in the state, except the Lower Fox river. At St. Croix Falls, the water of the river makes a descent of eighty-five feet in a distance of five miles, and the volume of water is sufficient to move the machinery for an immense manufacturing business, and the

that town.

there are good powers.

banks present good facilities for building dams, and the river is not subject to freshets. The Kinnekinnick has a large number of falls, some of them partially improved. Within twenty-five miles of its entrance into Lake St. Croix, it has a fall of two hundred feet, and the volume of water averages about three thousand cubic feet per minute.

Rock river affords valuable water-

twenty-four feet fall), and largely improved; at Jefferson, Indian Ford and Janesville, all of which are improved. Beloit also has an excellent water-power, and Scattered throughout the state are many other water-powers, not alluded it is largely improved. privileges at Watertown (with

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

208

There are several in Manitowoc county in Marquette county, also. In in the foregoing. Washington county, at West Bend, Berlin, and Cedar Creek, there are good water-powers, partly utilized. At Whitewater, in Walworth county, is a good power. In Dane county, there is a water-power at Madison, at the outlet of Lake Mendota also, a good one at Stoughton, below also at Paoli, Bellville, Albany and Brodhead, on the Sugar river. the first, or Lake Kegonsa

;

In Grant county there are not less than twenty good powers, most of them well-developed.

Racine county, three powers of fine capacity at Waterford, Rochester and Burlington, all of which are improved. The Oconto, Peshtigo and Menomonee rivers furnish a large number of The Upper Wolf river has scores of water-powers on splendid water- powers of large capacity. its main stream and numerous branches; but most of the country is still a wilderness, though

when developed, will make it rich and prosperous. There are numerous other streams of less consequence than those named, but of great importance to the they severally drain, that have had their powers improved, and their waterfalls are singing the songs of commerce. On the rivers emptying into Lake Superior, there are numerous containing resources which,

localities

and valuable water-powers.

The Montreal river falls one thousand

feet

a distance of thirty

miles.

Manufactures.

The mechanical and manufai turing industries of Wisconsin demonstrate that the people do wholly upon agricultural pursuits, or lumbering, for subsistence, but aim to diversify much as possible, and to give encouragement to the skill and ingenuity of their mechanics and artisans. All our cities, and most of our villages, support establishments th.it We gather from the census furnish wares and implements in common use among the people. report for 1870 a few facts that will give us an adequate idea of what was done in a single year, remembering that the data furnished is six years old, and that great advancement has been made not rely

their labors as

In 1S70, there were eighty-two establishments engaged in since the statistics were gathered. making agricultural implements, employing 1,387 hands, and turning out products valued at |oo. There were one hundred and eighty-eight furniture establishments, employing 1,844 $2, jg men, and making $1,542,300 worth of goods. For making carriages and wagons there were four hundred and eighty-live establishments, employing 2.1S4 men, and their product was valued at $21596,534; for clothing, two hundred and sixty-three establishments, and value of product leather, \oo sash, doors and blinds, eighty-one shops, and value of product $1,852,370 $2,34 eighty-five tanneries, employing 577 men, and value of products $2,013,000; malt liquors, one hundred and seventy-six breweries, 835 men, and their products valued at $1,790,273. At many points the business of manufacturing is carried on more or less extensively; indeed, there is hardly a village in the state where capital is not invested in some kind of mechanical industry or manufacturing enterprise, and making satisfactory returns; but for details in this respect, the reader is referred to the department of local history. The principal commodities only, which Wisconsin contributes to trade and commerce, have been considered. There remains quite a number of minor articles from which the citizens of the state derive some revenue, such as flax and maple sugar, which can not be separately considered ;.

;

in this paper. (

Statistics

ire

Ioncluding Remarks.

usually dry reading, but, to one desiring to change his location and seeking

information regardinga new country and its capabilities, they become intensely interesting and The farmer wishes to know about the lands, their value and the productiveness alue. of the soil ; the mechanic about the workshops, the price of labor, and the demand for such wares

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. iccustomed to make

;

the capitalist, concerning

matters that

all

209 pertain to resources,

Our own people want all the infor-

advantages, and'the opportunities for investing his money.

The sources of such information that can be gained by the collection of all obtainable facts. mation are now various, and the knowledge they impart fragmentary in its character. Provision should be made by law, for the collection

and publication of reliable

statistics

relating to our farming, manufacturing, mining, lumbering, commercial and educational interests.

Several of the states of the Union have established a " Bureau of Statistics," and no more valuable reports emanate from any of their

state

departments than those that exhibit a condensed

view of the material results accomplished each year. i

Most of the European

with as much solicitude as any department of their government.

become a social as well as a material

necessity, for social science extends

physii al laws of man as a social being; to the

resources of the country;

states foster these

have

Indeed, they inquiries

the

productions;

the

its

growth of society, and to (///those facts or conditions which may increase or diminish the strength, Statistics are the foundation and corner-stone of social science, growth or happiness of a people. which is the highest and noblest of all the sciences. A writer has said that, " If God had designed Wisconsin to be chiefly a manufacturing state, instead of agricultural, which she claims to be, and is, it is difficult to see more than one partic-

which He could have endowed her more richly for that purpose." She has all the matethe construction of articles of use and luxury, the means of motive power to propel the machinery, to turn and fashion, weave, forge, and grind the natural elements that abound in such She has also the men whose enterprise and skill have accomplished most surrich profusion. ular in

rial for

prising results, in not only building up a

name for themselves, but in placing the state in a proud

position of independence. It is

impossible to predict what will be the future growth and development of Wisconsin.

From its commercial and manufacturing advantages, we may reasonably anticipate that she will Union in all that constitutes real greatHer educational system is one of the best. With her richly endowed State University, her colleges and high schools, and the people's colleges, the common schools, she has laid a broad It was early seen what were the and deep foundation for a great and noble commonwealth. The northwestern explorer, Jonathan Carver, capabilities of this their newly explored domain. in a few years lead in the front rank of the states of the

ness.

in 1766,

one hundred and thirteen years ago, after traversing Wisconsin and viewing its lakes of

crystal purity, its rivers of matchless utility, its forests of exhaustless wealth,

its

prairies of won-

derful fertility, its mines of buried treasure, recorded this remarkable prediction of which we see

the

fulfillment:

"To what power or authority this new world will become dependent after it has

arisen from its present uncultivated state, time alone can discover.

But as the seat of empire from

time immemorial has been gradually progressive toward the west, there is no doubt but that at

emerge from these wildernesses, and stately palaces some future period mighty kingdoms and solemn temples with gilded spires reaching to the skies supplant the Indian huts, whose will

only decorations are the barbarous trophies of'their vanquished enemies." "

Westward the course of empire takes its way

The four first acts already passed,

A fifth shall close the drama with the day Time's noblest offspring is the last."

;

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. By D. S. DURRIE. In the early part of the seventeenth century, all the territory north of the Ohio river, As far as now known, it including the present state of Wisconsin, was an undiscovered region.

was never visited by white men until the year 1634, when Jean Nicolet came to the Green bay country as an ambassador from the French to the Winnebagoes. The Jesuit fathers in 1660 visited the south shore of Lake Superior; and, soon after, missions were established at various points in the northwest.

The French government appreciating the importance of possessing dominion over this secM. Talon, intendant of Canada, took steps to carry out this purpose, and availed himself of the good feelings entertained toward the French by a number of the Indian tribes, to establish tion,

French crown over this remote quarter. A small party of men led by Daumont de St. Lusson, with Nicolas Perrot as interpreter, set out from Quebec on this mission, the authority of the

in 1670,

and St. Lusson sent to the tribes occupying a circuit of a hundred leagues, inviting the and

nations, among them the Wisconsin tribes inhabiting the Green bay country, by their chiefs

ambassadors, to meet him at the Sault Sainte Marie the following spring. In the month of May, 1671, fourteen tribes, by their representatives, including the Miamis, Sacs, Winnebagoes, Menomonees, and Pottawattamies, arrived at the place designated.

On the

morning of the fourteenth of June, " St. Lusson led his followers to the top of the hill, all fully equipped and under arms. Here, too, in the vestments of their priestly office were four Jesuits: Claude Dablon, superior of the mission on the lakes, Gabriel Druillettes, Claude Allouez. and Andre\ All around, the great throng of Indians stood, or crouched, or reclined at length with A large cross of wood had been made ready. Dablon, in solemn form, eyes and ears intent. pronounced his blessing on it and then it was reared and planted in the ground, while the ;

Frenchmen, uncovered, sang the Vexilla Regis. Then a post of cedar was planted beside it, with a metal plate attached, engraven with the royal arms while St. Lusson's followers sang the exaudiat, and one of the priests uttered a prayer for the king. St. Lusson now advanced, and, holding his sword in one hand, and raising with the other a sod of earth, proclaimed in a loud voice "-that he took possession of all the country occupied by the tribes, and placed them under ;

the king's protection.

This act, however, was not regarded as sufficiently definite, and on the eighth of May, 1689, Nadouesioux, near Lake Pepin on

Perrot, who was then commanding for the king at the post of tiie

west side of the Mississippi, commissioned by the Marquis de Denonville to manage the of commerce west of Green bay took possession, in the name of the king, with

interests

appropriate ceremonies, of the countries west of Lake Michigan as far as the river St. Peter.

The papers were signed by Perrot and others. By these solemn acts, the present limits of Wisconsin with much contiguous territory, came under the dominion of the French government, the possession of which continued until October, 761 a period of ninety years from the gathering of the chiefs at the Sault Ste. Marie in 1671. 1

—

From the commencement of French occupancy up to the time when the British took possesstate had but few white and of these few, the locations were separated by a distance of more than two hundred miles in a direct line, and nearly double that distance by -Min,

the district of country embraced within the present limits of this

inhabitants besides the roaming Indian traders

;

TIIK

PUBLIC DOMAIN.

211

were no missionary There was no settlement the usual water courses. establishments; no fortified posts at other points, except at Depere and Green bay on Fox ~iver. of agriculturists; there

and perhaps at Prairie du Chien, near the junction of the Wisconsin and the Mississippi. The French government made no grant of lands; gave no attention to settlers or agricu.turists, and the occupation of the country was strictly military. There were, indeed, a few grants of Kinds made by the French governors and commanders, previous to 1750, to favored indiThere were also others ;ix of which were afterward confirmed by the king of France. which did not require confirmation, being made by Cardillac, commanding at Detroit, under tuthority of the king; of this latter kind, one for a small piece of thirty acres bears with 1

writer,

"so many conditions, reservations, prohibitions of sale, and a whole cavalcade

of feudal duties to be performed by the grantee, that in itself, it would be a host in opposition to

the agricultural settlement of any country."

The grants just referred to, relate to that part of the French possessions outside the of the present state of Wisconsin.

limits

Within its limits there was a grant of an extensive territory

including the fort at the head of Gree'n bay, with the exclusive right to trade, and other valuable privileges, from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, in October, 1759, to M. Rigaud. It was sold by the latter

William Gould and

Madame Vaudreuil, to whom it was confirmed by the king of

Fran< e in January, 1760, at a very critical period, when Quebec had been taken by the British, and Montreal was only wanting to complete the conquest of Canada. This grant was evidently

intended as a perquisite

entrap some unwary persons to give a valuable consideration for it, if they continued mas-

as it would be highly impolitic for the government to make such a grant, ters

of the

country, since

would surely alienate the affections of the Indians.

The whole

country had already been virtually conquered by Great Britain, and the grant of course was not confirmed by the English government. Of the war between the French and English governments in America, known as the French

and Indian war, it is not necessary to speak, ex< ept in general terms. The English made a determined effort to obtain the possessions claimed by the French. The capture of Quebec in 1759, and the subsequent capitulation of Montreal in 1760, extinguished the domination of In the basin of the St. Lawrence; and by the terms of the treaty of Paris, concluded February 10, 1763, all the possessions in, and all the claims of the French nation to, the vast country watered by the Ohio and the Mississippi were ceded to Great Britain. Among the first acts of the new masters of the country was the protection of the eminent domain of the government, and the restriction of all attempts on the part of individuals to acquire

Indian titles to lands.

By the King of England's proclamation of

within certain prescribed limits could be issued, and

all

1763, no more grants of land

private persons were interdicted the

Indians, or of making settlements within those prescribed The indulgence of such a privilege as that of making private purchases of the natives. conduced to the most serious difficulties, and made way for the practice of the most reprehensible The policy pursued by the English government has been adopted and acted upon by the frauds.

liberty of purchasing lands from the limits.

government of the United States in the extinguishment of the Indian title to lands in every part of the country.

In face of the proclamation of 1763, and within three years after

its

promulgation, under

a pretended purchase from, or voluntary grant of the natives, a tract of country nearly one hundred

miles square, including large portions of what is now northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, was claimed by Jonathan Carver, and a ratification of his title solicited from the king and council.

This was not conceded; and the representatives of Carver, after the change of governmeiu had

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

212

brought the lands under the jurisdiction of the United States, for a series of years presented the

same claims before congress, and asked for

their confirmation.

Such a demand under all the

circumstances, could not justify an expectation of success; and, of course, has often been refused.

But notwithstanding the abundant means which the public have had of informing themselves of the true nature and condition of Carver's claim, bargains and sales of portions of this tract have been made among visionary speculators for more than half a century past. It is now only a short period since the

maps of the United

ceased to be defaced by a delineation of

States

5he "Carver Grant."

The mere transfer of the dominion over the country from the French to the English govern, ment, and the consequent occupation of the English posts by the new masters, did not in any great degree affect the social condition of the inhabitants. By the terms of capitulation, the French subjects were permitted to remain in the country, in the full enjoyment of their civil and religious privileges.

The English, however, did not hold peaceable possession of the territory acquired. The war inaugurated by Pontiac and his Indian allies on the military posts occupied by the English soon May, 1763, nine posts were captured with much loss of life. In the spring of 1764, twenty-two tribes who were more or less identified in the outbreak, concluded followed, and in the month of

a treaty of peace with General Bradstreet at Niagara.

The expedition of Colonel George Rogers Clark to the Illinois country, and the conquest of the British posts in 1778 and 1779, had the effect to open the way for the emigration of the Anglo-American population to the Mississippi valley; and at the close of the revolutionary war, Great Britain renounced

all

claim to the whole territory lying east of the Mississippi river.

The dominion of the English in the Illinois and Wabash countries, ceased with the loss of the military posts which commanded the Northwestern territory of the United States. As a result of the enterprise and

success of Clark, Virginia obtained possession of the Illinois country; his

expedition having been undertaken and carried forward under the auspices of that state. Several of the eastern states under their colonial charters, laid claim to portions of the land

comprised in the territory northwest of the Ohio river. The claim of Massachusetts was derived from a grant from King James of November 3, 1620 and included from lat. 42° 2' to about lat. extending to the south sea; Connecticut claimed from lat. 41c north 1042^ 2'. The claims of 45 ;

Virginia were from grants from King James, bearing date, respectively, April 10, 1606, 1609, and March 12, 1611, and

May 23,

an additional claim for the territory conquered by Clark in the

but they extended no farther north than the southern end of Lake Michigan. It is a popular impression that the territory of the present state of Wisconsin was comprehended in the lands northwest of the river Ohio, over which Virginia exercised jurisdiction, and, consequently, was included in her deed of cession of lands to the United States. This opinion so generally entertained by writers on American history, is a statement which does not appear to have any solid foundation in fact. Virginia never made any conquests or settlements in Wisconsin, and at no time prior to the proffer of her claims to the general government had she ever exercised jurisdiction over it. In fact, there were no settlements in Wisconsin except at Green Bay and Prairie d Chien before that time, and these were made by French settlers who were in no wise interfered with while the revolution continued. In Illinois it was otherwise; and the possession of its territory by Virginia was an undisputed fact. During the revolution the title of the sovereignty in Wisconsin was actually in Great Britain, and so remained until the definite treaty of peace in 1783; at which date England yielding her right constructively to the United Suu-s, retaining possession, however, until 1796 at which time the western posts were transferred to the United States. Illinois country;

;

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. All the claiming states finally

ceded

theii

interests

213

to the

general government,

givii

The deed o\' cession from Virgin] The other states ceded their claims, some before this date, others

latter a perfect title, subject only to the rights of the Indians.

was dated March

[784.

uent thereto. Virginia

made a number of stipulations in

her died of

cession;

among

others, that

tin-

French and Canadian inhabitants and the neighboring villages who had professed themselves citizens of Virginia, should have their possessions and title confirmed to them, and be prote< ted in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties; that 150,000 acres of land near the rapids of the Ohio, should be reserved for that portion of her state troops which had reduced the country; and about 3,500,000 acres between the rivers Scioto and Little Miami be reserved for bounties to her troops

on the continental establishment. In consequence of certain objectionable stipulations

made by Virginia as to the division of

the territory into states, the deed of cession was referred back to that state with a recommendation from

congress that these stipulations should be altered.

On the 30th of December, 17S8,

Virginia assented to the wish of congress, and formally ratified and confirmed the fifth article of

compact which related to that subject, and tacitly gave her consent to the whole ordinance of 1 787. The provisions of this ordinance have since been applied to all the territories of the United After the adoption of the constitution of the United States the States lying north of the 36? 40'. the new congress, among its earliest acts, passed one, recognizing the binding force of the ordi-

nance of 1787. Of this ordinance it has been said " It was based on the principles of civil liberty, maintained in the magna charta of England, re-enacted in the bill of rights, and incorporated in our differIt was the fundamental law of the constitution, so to speak, of the great ent state constitutions. northwest, upon which were based, and with which harmonized all our territorial enactments, as well as our subsequent state legislation, and, moreover, it is to that wise, statesman-like document that we are indebted for much of our prosperity and greatness." After the close of the revolutionary war, enterprising individuals traversed the whole country which had been ceded to the government, and companies were formed to explore and settle the fertile and beautiful lands beyond the Ohio; but the determination of the British cabinet not to evacuate the western posts, was well known, and had its effect on the people who were disposed :

make settlements. The western tribes were also dissatisfied and threatened war, and efforts were made by the A grand council was held at the mouth of Detroit river government to settle the difficulties. to

in December, 1787, which did not result favorably, and two treaties were subsequently held, which were not respected by the savages who were parties to them. Soon an Indian war ensued, /hich resulted at first disastrously to the American troops under Generals Harmar and St. Clair, The treaty of Greenville but finally with success to the American arms under General Wayne. At this treaty there were present eleven hundred It was concluded August 3, 1795. followed. and thirty chiefs and warriors. It was signed by eighty-four chiefs and General Anthony Wayne, One of the provisions of the treaty was that in considsole commissioner of the United States. eration of the peace then established, and the cessions and relinquishments of lands made by the tribes of Indians, and to manifest the liberality of the United States as the great means of rendering this peace strong and perpetual, the United States relinquished their claims to all other Indian lands northward of the river Ohio, eastward of the Mississippi, and westward and southward of the great lakes and the waters united by them, except certain reservations and portions The before purchased of the Indians, none of which were within the present limits of this state. Indian title to the whole of what is now Wisconsin, subject only to certain restrictions, became

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN*.

214

absolute in the various tribes inhabiting it.

By this treaty it was stipulated that, of the lands relin-

quished by the United States, the Indian tribes who have a right to those lands, were quietly to hunting, planting, and dwelling thereon so long as they pleased but, when those enjoy them ;

;

tribes or any of them should be disposed to sell them, or any part of them, they were to

be sold

only to the United States, and until such sale, the United States would protect all of the tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their lands against all citizens of the United States, and all other white

At the same time all the tribes acknowledged thempersons who might intrude on the same. selves to be under the protection of the United States, and no other person or power whatsoever.

The treaty also prohibited any citizen of the United States, or any other white man, settling upon the lands relinquished by the general government; and such person was to be considered as out of the' protection of the United States; and the Indian tribe on whose land the settlement might be made, could drive off the settler, or punish him in such manner as it might see fit. It will be seen that the Indians were acknowledged to have an unquestionable title to the lands they occupied until that right should be extinguished by a voluntary cession to the general government; and the constitution of the United States, by declaring treaties already made, as well as those to be made, to be the supreme law of the land, adopted and sanctioned previous treaties with the Indian nations, and consequently admitted their rank among those powers who are capable of making treaties. The several treaties which had been made between commissioners on the part of the United States and various nations of Indians, previous to the treaty of Greenville, were generally restricted to declarations of amity and friendship, the establishment and confirming of boundaries, and the protection of settlements on Indian lands; those that followed were generally for a cession of lands and provisions made for their payment. It is proposed to notice the several treaties that took place after that held at Greenville, showing in what way the territory of the present state, came into possession of the government. As will be seen hereafter, it required treaties with numerous tribes of Indians to obtain a clear, undisputed title, as well as many years before it was fully accomplished. i. A treaty was held at St. Louis, November 3, 1S04, between the Sacs and Foxes and the United States. William Henry Harrison was acting commissioner on the part of the governBy the provisions of the treaty, the chiefs and head men of the united tribes ceded to ment. the United States a large tract on both sides of the Mississippi, extending on the east from the mouth of the Illinois to the head of that river, and thence to the Wisconsin and including on the west considerable portions of Iowa and Missouri, from the mouth of the Gasconade northward. In what is now the state of Wisconsin, this grant embraced the whole of the present counties of Grant and La Fayette and a large portion of Iowa and Green counties. The lead was included in this purchase. In consideration of this cession, the general government agreed to protect the tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their land, against its own citizens and all others who should intrude on them. The tribes permitted a fort to be built on the upper side of the Wisconsin river, near its mouth, and granted a tract of land two miles square, adjoining the same. The government agreed to give them an annuity of one thousand dollars per annum. The validity of this treaty was denied by one band of the Sac Indians, and this cession of land became, twenty-eight years after, the alleged cause of the Black Hawk war. j. Another treaty was held at Portage des Sioux, now a village in St. Charles county, Missouri, on the Mississippi river, September 13, 1815, with certain chiefs of that portion of the ;

Sac nation then residing in Missouri, who, they said, were compelled since the commencement of

THE PUBLIC

J >(

(MAIN.

215

They gave their assent to the treaty made at St. Louis in 1804, and promised to remain separate from the Sacs of Rock river, and to give them no aid or assistance, until peace should lie concluded between the United States and the Foxes of Rock river. 3. On the 14th of September, a treaty was made with the chiefs of the Fox tribe at the same place. They agreed that all prisoners in their hands should be delivered up to the governThey assented to, recognized, re-established and confirmed the treaty of 1.S04, to the full ment. the late war, to separate themselves from the rest of their nation.

extent of their interest in the same. 4.

A treaty was held at St. Louis, May 13, 1816, with the

Sacs of Rock river, who affirmed

the treaty of 1S04, and agreed to deliver up all the property stolen or plundered, and in failure

To this treaty, Black Hawk's name appear-, with all title to their annuities. That chief afterward affirmed that though he himself had "touched the quill " to he knew not what he was signing, and that he was therein deceived by the agent and others, who did not correctly explain the nature of the grant; and in reference to the treaty of St. Louis in 1S04, and at Portage des Sioux in 1S15, he said that he did not consider the same valid or binding on him or his tribe, inasmuch as by the terms of those treaties, territory was described which the Indians never intended to sell, and the treaty of 1804, particularly, was made by parties who had neither authority in the nation, nor power to dispose of its lands. Whether this was a true statement of the case, or otherwise, it is quite certain that the grant of to do so, to fojfeit

Others.

this treaty,

lands referred to was often confirmed by his nation, and was deemed conclusive and binding by the government.

The

latter

acted in good

faith to the tribes, as well as to the settlers, in the

disposition of the lands. 5. A treaty of peace and friendship was made at St. Louis, June 3, 1816, between the chiefs and warriors of that part of the Winnebagoes residing on the Wisconsin river. In this treaty the

state that they have separated themselves from the rest of their nation; that they, for themselves and those they represent, confirm to the United States all and every cession of land tribe

heretofore

made by

their

nation, and

every contract and agreement, as far as their interest

extended. 6.

On the 30th of March, 1817, the Menomonee tribe concluded a treaty of peace ana

friendship at

St.

Louis with the

United

States, and confirmed

all

and every cession of land

before made by them within the limits of the United States. 7. On the 19th of August, 1S25, at Prairie du Chien, a treaty was made with the Sioux, Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, Winnebagoes, Ottawas and Pottawattamies, by which the boundary between the two first nations was agreed upon; also between the Chippewas, Winnebagoes and

other tribes. 8.

Another treaty was held August

1826, at

Fond du Lac

Lake Superior, a small

settlement on the St. Louis river, in Itaska county, Minn., with the same tribes, by which the

previous treaty was confirmed in respect to boundaries, and those of the Chippewas were defined, as a portion of the same was not completed at the former treaty.

A treaty was made and concluded August 1, 1827, at Butte des Morts, between the United and the Chippewa, Menomonee and Winnebago tribes, in which the boundaries of their tribes were defined no cession of lands was made. 10. A treaty was made at Green Hay, August 25, 1828, with the Winnebagoes, Pottawattamies and other tribes. This treaty was made to remove the difficulties which had arisen in consequence of the occupation by white men of that portion of the mining country in the southwestern part of Wisconsin which had not been ceded to the United States. A provisional 9.

States

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

216

boundary was provided, and privileges accorded the government to freely occupy their territory This treaty was simply to define the until a treaty should be made for the cession of the same. rights of the Indians, and to give the United States the right of occupation. n. Two treaties were made at Prairie du Chien, on the 29th of July, 1829, and August 1, 1829 at the first date, with the Chippewas, Htawas and Pottawattamies, by which these nations ceded all their lands which they claimed in the northwestern part of Illinois and at the latter date with the Winnebagoes, by which that nation ceded and relinquished all their right, title and claim to all their lands south of the Wisconsin river, thus confirming the purchase of the leadmine region. Certain grants were made to individuals, which grants were not to be leased or <

;

by the grantees. By this important treaty, about eight millions of acres of land were added to the public domain. The three tracts ceded, and forming one whole, extended from the upper end of Rock river to the mouth of the Wisconsin, from latitude 41" 30' to latitude 43 15', on the Mississippi. Following the meanderings of the river, it was about two hundred and forty miles from west to east, extending along the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, affording a passage across the country from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan. The south part of the purchase extended from Rock Island to Lake Michigan. 12. Another important treaty was made at Green Bay, February 8, 1S31, between the Menomonee Indians and the United States. That nation possessed an immense territory. Its eastern division was bounded by the Milwaukee river, the shore of Lake Michigan, Green bay, Fox river, and Lake Winnebago; its western division, by the Wisconsin and Chippewa rivers on the west, Fox river on the south, Green bay on the east, and the high lands which flow the streams into Lake Superior on the north. By this treaty all the eastern division, estimated at two and a half millions of acres, was ceded to the government. By certain other provisions, the tribe was to occupy a large tract lying north of Fox river and east of Wolf river. Their territory farther west was reserved for their hunting-grounds until such time as the general government should desire to purchase it. Another portion, amounting to four millions of acres, lying between Green bay on the east and Wolf river on the west, was also ceded to the United States, besides a strip of country, three miles in width, from near the portage of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers north, on each side of the Wisconsin river, and forty-eight miles long— still leaving the tribe in peaceable possession of a country about one hundred and twenty miles long, and about eighty broad. By sold

supplementary articles the New York Indians 13.

to the treaty, provision was

— two townships on the

At the conclusion of the Black

Indian title of the Winnebago nation

Armstrong, September 15, 1832.

made for the occupancy of certain lands by

east side of Lake Winnebago.

Hawk war, in 1832, for the purpose of clearing up the the country, a treaty was

made and concluded at Fort

All the territory claimed by this nation lying south and east of

the Wisconsin and Fox river of Green bay, was ceded to the United States, and no band or party

of Winnebagoes was allowed to reside, plant, fish or hunt on these grounds, after June

1833,

or on any part of the country therein ceded.

On the 27th of October, 1832, articles oi agreement were made and concluded at Green Bay between the United States and the Menomonee Indians, by the terms of which that nation 14.

ceded to the New York Indians certain lands on Fox m\« r. 15. An important treaty was made at Chicago, September 26, 1833, between the United Stales and the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies. Those nations ceded to the government all their lands along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and between that lake and the land ceded to the United States by the Winnebago nation at the treaty at Fort Armstrong, September

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN".

217

bounded on the north by the country lately ceded by the Menomonees, and on the containing about south by the country ceded at the treaty at Prairie du Chien, July 19, 1829 (-,

[832,

—

five millions 16.

of acres.

On the 3d of September, 1S36, a treaty was made at Cedar Point with the Menomonees,

by which lands lying west of Green bay, and a strip on the upper Wisconsin, were ceded to the the quantity of land ceded being estimated at four millions of acres in the Green United States on the Wisconsin river, a strip three miles wide on each side of the river, running

—

bay portion;

forty-eight miles north in a direct line, equivalent to 184,320 acres. 17.

On the 29th of July, 1837, a treaty was made with the Chippewas of the Mississippi, at

Fort Snelling, and the United States, the nation ceding to the government all their lands in Wisconsin lying south of the divide between the waters of Lake Superior and those of the Mississippi. rS.

Certain chiefs and braves of the Sioux nation of the Mississippi, while visiting Washing-

ton, September 29, 1837,

ceded to the United States all their lands east of the Mississippi, and all

their islands in said river.

The Winnebago nation, by the chiefs and delegates, held a treaty with the government That nation ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi, at Washington, November 1, 1837. 19.

and obligated themselves to remove, within eight months after the ratification of the treaty, to Mississippi which were conveyed to them by the treaty of Sep-

certain lands west of the river

tember 21, 1832. 20. The Oneida or

New York Indians, residing near Green Bay, by their chief and representative, on the 3d of February, rS3S, at Washington City, ceded to the United States their title and interest in the land set apart by the treaty made with the Menomonees, May 8, i83i,and the treaty made with the same tribe, October 7, 1832, reserving about 62,000 acres. 21. Another treaty was made at Stockbridge on the 3d of September, 1839, by which the Stockbridge and Munsee tribes New York Indians) ceded and relinquished to the United States the east half of the tract of 46,080 acres which was laid off for their use on the east side of Lake Winnebago by treaty of October 7, 1S32 22. On the 4th of October, 1S42, a treaty was made at La Pointe, on Lake Superior, with the Chippewas. All their lands in the northern and northwestern parts of Wisconsin were ceded to the United States. 23. The Menomonee nation, on the rSth of October, 1S4S, at Pow-aw-hay-kon-nay, ceded and relinquished to the United States all their lands in the state, wherever situated the government to furnish the nation as a home, to be held as Indian lands are held, all the country ceded to the United States by the Chippewa nation August 2, 1847, the consideration being the sum of A supplementary treaty was $350,000, to be paid according to the stipulations of the treaty. made on the 24th of November, 1848, with the Stockbridges the tribe to sell and relinquish to the United States the township of land on the east side of Lake Winnebago, secured to said tribe by treaty of February 8, 1831. 24. A treaty was made with the Menomonee nation, at the falls of Wolf river, May 12, 1S54, being a supplementary treaty to one made October iS, 1S4S. All the lands ceded to that nation under the treaty last named was ceded to the United States the Menomonees to receive from the Linked States a tract of country lying on Wolf river, being townships 28, 29 and 30, of ranges (

—

13. 14, 15, 16.

25.

A treaty was' made with the Chippewas of Lake Superior, at La Pointe, on the 30th of

September, 1S54.

That nation ceded to the United States all lands before owned by them

common with the Chippewas of the Mississippi — lying in the vicinity of Lake Superior in Wis-

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

218 consin and Minnesota.

On the 5th of February, 1856, a treaty was held with the Stockbridge and Munsee tribes,

26.

Stockbridge.

All the remaining right and title to lands in the town of Stockbridge, possessed

by them, was ceded to the United States; and the said tribes were to receive in exchange a tract of land near the southern boundary of

the

Menomonee

reservation,

and by treaty made at

Keshena, February 11, 1856, the Menomonees ceded two townships to locate the said tribes. With this last treaty, the Indian title to all the lands of the present state of Wisconsin was

ceded to the United States government, except a few small reservations

to certain tribes,

and a

perfect, indefeasible title obtained to all the territory within its borders.

In the region of country which is now the state of Wisconsin, the settlements in early times

Soon after the organization of

were, as before stated, near Green Bay and at Prairie du Chien.

the Northwest territory, the subject of claims to private property therein received much attention.

By an act of congress approved March 3, 1805, lands lying in the districts of Vincennes, Kaskaskia and Detroit, which were claimed by virtue of French or British grants, legally and fully executed, or by virtue of grants issued under the authority of any former act of congress by

had already been surveyed, and persons claiming lands under these grants were to have Commissioners were to be appointed to until November 1, 1805, to give notice of the same. examine, and report at the next session of congress. An act was also passed, approved April 25, 1806, to authorize the granting of patents for lands, according to government surveys that had been made, and to grant donation rights to certain claimants of land in the district of Detroit, Another act was approved May 1 1, 1820, reviving the powers of the and for other purposes commissioners for ascertaining and deciding on claims in the district of Detroit, and for settling the the commisclaims to land at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, in the territory of Michigan sioners to have power to examine and decide on claims filed with the register of the land office, and not before acted on, in accordance with the laws respecting the same. The commissioners discharged the duties imposed on them, and in their report to congress in reference to the claims at Green Bay, they said that the antiquity of this settlement being, in their view, sufficiently established, and that they, being also satisfied that the Indian title must be considered to have been extinguished, decide favorably on the claims presented. About seventy-five titles were conIn relation firmed, and patents for the same were sent to the proper parties by the government. to the Prairie du Chien titles, they reported " that they had met few difficulties in their investimaybe for the antiquity which claimed settlement of that gations; that, notwithstanding the high place, no one perfect title founded on French or British grant, legally authenticated, had been This they successfully made out; and that but few deeds of any sort have been exhibited." attribute to the carelessness of the Canadians in respect to whatever concerned their land titles, and accords with whatever is known in this regard, of the French population throughout the country. They therefore came to the conclusion that whatever laim the people of the place possessed, and might have for a confirmation of their land titles, they must be founded upon proof of con either of the governors of the Northwest or Indiana territory, which

were, if necessary, to be re-surveyed;

;

tinued possession since the year 1796

say, that " since the ancestors

The commissioners further

of these settlers were cut off, by the treaty which gave the Canadas to the English, from all inter-

course with their parent eft, until

ountry, the people both of Prairie du Chien and Green Bay have been

within a few years, quite isolated, almost without any government but their own; and,

although the present population of these settlements are natives of the countries which they inhabit, and, consequently, are by birth citizens of the northwest, yet, until a few years, they have

had

little

political

connection with its government as their ancestors had with the British.

Ignorant of their civil rights, careless of their land titles, docility habitual hospitality, cheerful >

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN

210

submission to the requisitions of any government which may be set over them, are their universal characteristics."

In reference to grants by the French and English governments, the commissioners say, they " have

not had access to any public archives by which to ascertain with positive certainty, whether

either the

French or English ever effected

formal extinguishment of the Indian

title

the

mouth of the Wisconsin, which also may be said of the land now covered by the thy of Detroit, that the French government was not accustomed to hold formal treaties for such purposes with the Indians, and when the lands have been actually procured from them, either by virtue of the assumed right of conquest, or by purchase, evidence of such acquisition is rather to be sought in the traditionary history of the country, or in

the casual or scanty relations of travelers,

than

among collections of state papers. Tradition does recognize the fact of the extinguishment of the Indian title at Prairie du Chien by the old French government, before its surrender to the English; and by the same species of testimony, more positive because more recent, it is established also, that, in the year 17S1, Patrick Sinclair, lieutenant governor of the province of Upper Canada, while the English government had jurisdiction over this country, made a formal purchase from the Indians of the lands comprehending the settlement of Prairie du Chien."

The territories and states formed from were

the

section

known

the Northwest

territory,

The Northwest territory proper (1 7S7-1S00) having jurisdiction over all the lands referred the ordinance of 1787.

1802, Ohio was organized as a state with its present boun-

daries.

Indiana terrritory was formed July

4, 1S00, with the seat of government at Vincennes That territory was made to include all of the northwest, except what afterward became the state 1.

of Ohio. It was bounded on the south by a line 3. Michigan territory was formed June 30, 1S05. drawn east from the south bend of Lake Michigan, on the west by the center of Lake Michigan. It did not include what is now Wisconsin. The The upper peninsula was annexed in ^36. state of Michigan was formed January 26, 1S37, with its present boundaries. It included all of the Indiana territory west 4. Illinois territory was formed March 2, 1S10. of the Wabash river and Vincennes, and a line running due north to the territorial line. All of Wisconsin was included therein, except what lay east of the line drawn north from Vincennes. 5.

Indiana was admitted as a state April

territory,

19,

1S16, including

all

the territory of Indiana

except a narrow strip east of the line of Vincennes, and west of Michigan territory, her

western boundary. 6.

Illinois was

of latitude 42

30'.

admitted as a state April 11, 1818. It included all of Illinois territory south All of Wisconsin was added to Michigan territory. In the month of Octo-

ber of that year, the counties of Michilimackinac, Brown and Crawford were formed, comprising besides other territory, the whole of the present state of Wisconsin. 7. Iowa district was attached to Michigan for judicial purposes, June 30, 1834, out of which Des Mi lines and Dubuque counties were formed. S. Wisconsin territory was formed April 20, 1836. The state was formed May 29, 1848. The territory of Wisconsin being a part of the Northwest territory claimed, and congress by direct action confirmed to her, all the rights and privileges secured by the ordinance of 1787, one of which was that congress should have authority to form one or two states in that part of the territory lying north of an east and west line, drawn through the southerly bend or of Lake Michigan. Notwithstanding this plain provision of the ordinance, which is declared to 1

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

220

be articles of compact between the original states and the people and states in the said territory, yet congress, in establishing the boundaries and forever to remain unalterable unless by consent ;

of the state of Illinois, extended that state about sixty miles north of the line established by the This action was claimed to be unjust and contrary to the spirit and letter of the ordinance.

compact with the original states. The legislative assembly of Wisconsin passed resolutions which were approved January 13, 1840, that it was inexpedient for the people of the territory to form a constitution and state government until the southern boundary to which they are so justly entitled by the ordinance of 1787 shall be fully recognized by the parties of the original comOwing to various complications over which the territory had no control, her people never pact. succeeded in obtaining from congress what they considered their just rights. It was also contended by many, that the portion of country set off to Michigan on Lake Superior given as a compensation in part for the strip of land awarded to Ohio from her southern border, should also have constituted a portion of Wisconsin, especially as Michigan never made the least claim to it by her delegate in congress, who was decidedly opposed to the extension of

Michigan beyond the limits of the lower peninsula.

The first survey of the public lands northwest of the Ohio river, was made pursuant to an May 20, 1785 The geographer of the confederation was diected to the first line commence the survey of the government lands on the north side of the river Ohio act of congress approved

—

running north and south, to begin on said river at a point that should be found to be due north from the western termination of a line which had been 'run as the southern boundary of the state of Pennsylvania; the

through the whole the

present

state

first

line

territory.

Ohio.

running east and west, to begin at the same point, and to extend

The survey comprised seven ranges, composing ten

counties of

Other surveys followed when the Indian title was extinguished.

Thomas Hutchins, who held the office of geographer, is believed to be the inventor of the mode of laying out land which was then introduced by him, and is still in general use by the government. Soon after the government had acquired title to the Indian lands south of the Wisconsin river, the public authorities commenced a systematic survey of the lands, for the purpose of bringing the same into market at the earliest possible period.

The public lands in Wisconsin

are,

as elsewhere in the west, surveyed in uniform rec-

tangular tracts, each six miles square, by lines running north and south,

running east and west.

These townships

meridian and the base line.

are

numbered from two

The principal meridian by which

lines

intersecting others called the principal

the Wisconsin

surveys are gov-

erned is that known as the fourth, and extends from the Illinois boundary line to Lake Superior, It divides Grant at the mouth of Montreal river, about two hundred and eighty-two miles. from

aFayette county, and passes through the eastern parts of Vernon, Monroe, Jackson, Clark,

Chippewa, and Ashland counties.

The base

line

separates

Wisconsin from

Illinois

north

There are nearly seventeen hundred townships in Each township is subdivided into thirty-six sections by lines running parallel to the A section is, therefore, one mile square, and contains six sides of the township, one mile apart. hundred and forty acres. In fractional townships, each section is numbered the same as the corresponding section in whole townships. Each section is subdivided into half-mile squares, called quarter-sections, each containing one hundred and sixty acres, and the subdivision is latitude forty-two degrees, thirty minutes.

the state.

carried still further into half-quarter or quarter-quarter sections. lish at stated intervals

It is

found necessary to estab-

standard parallels, commonly called correction lines, to obviate the effect

of the curvature of the earth's surface.

The convergence in a single township is small, though

quite perceptible, the actual excess in length of

its

south over its north line being in

the state

--i

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

about three rods. The townships north of the base line, therefore, become narrower toward the north, and if continued for too great a distance, this narrowing would cause serious inconvenience. In the state of Wisconsin there are four of these correction lines.

The

first

north of the base line, and accordingly runs between townships ten and eleven.

sixty miles

The sei ond

between townships twenty and twenty-one, and so on. They are visually sixty miles apart. On these parallels, which form new base lines, fresh measurements are made from the principal meridian, and the corners of new townships are fixed six miles apart as on the original base line. This method of procedure not only takes up the error due to convergency of meridians, but arrests that caused by want of precision in the surveys already made.

The northern or western sections of townships, which contain more or dred and forty acres, are called fractional sections, deficiency arising

from errors

surveying, and

for

the

reason

from other causes,

that is

than six hun-

less

the surplusage

added

by law

deducted from the western or northern ranges of sections according as the error may be in running the lines from east to west, or from north to south. As soon as the surveys were completed in southern Wisconsin and'the Green Bay section, and a knowledge of the superior qualities of the land for agricultural purposes were known to the people, the emigration became large.

In fact much land was taken possession of by settlers

advance of being surveyed and brought into market. As soon as the land offices at Green Bay, Mineral Point, and Milwaukee were located, public announcement was made by the govern-

ment, of the time of the sale, when the lands were put up to the highest bidder, and such as were unsold were afterward subject to private entry. The first sales were held at Green Bay and

Mineral Point in the year 1S35. The sale at Milwaukee was in 1S39. From the reports of the general land office, it appears that from 1S35 to 1845 inclusive, there were sold at the three land offices from public sale, 2,958,59-

a< res, amounting to $3,768,106.51. Fort Howard military reservation was set apart by order of the president 4

March 2, 1829, and comprised all the lands lying upon Fox river and Green bay, in township 24 north, range 20 east,

4th principal meridian, being about four thousand acres.

military purposes, by the war department, December 4, 1850.

The lands were abandoned for By an act of congress approved

March 3, 1863, the commissioner of the general land office was authorized and directed to cause the reservation, including the site of the fort, containing three and four-hundredths ai res. situated in the county of brown,

between Fox river and Beaver

the confirmations to T. C.

Dam run, and which is not

Dousman and Daniel Whitney, nor in the grant to the

consin, under resolutions of congress approved April

25, 1S62, granting

acres, deducting such

public interest and convenience may require arately at auction.

of Wis-

lands to Wisconsin to

aid in the construction of railroads, to be surveyed and subdivided into lots

fourth of an acre, and not more than forty

included

state

not

less

than one-

portions of the same as the

and when so surveyed and platted, to be sold sepOn the 10th of November, 1864, under directions of the commissioner, the ;

lands were offered for sale at auction at the fort.

About one-half of the lands were sold, and purchased by actual settlers, and but few for speculation. The fort and the lands contiguous were sold for six thousand four hundred dollars. The other lands sold brought about the sum

of nineteen thousand dollars.

That portion of the reservation unsold was to be subject to private entry at the appraised Duck creek and Beaver Dam creek, was subject to entry

value, and that portion lying between as other public lands

were offered.

On the 20th of May, 186S, a joint resolution of congress was approved, by which the commissioner of the general land office was authorized and directed to cause a patent to be issued to the Chicago & Northwestern railroad company in pursuance of a resolution passed by con-

222

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

gress, granting the same to the state of Wisconsin, approved

April 25,1862, and by act of the approved June 16, 1862, granting the same to that company for eighty acres of land, as was .surveyed and approved by said commissioner June n, 1S64. The lands thus donated are now used by the railroad company for their depot grounds The Fort Crawford military reservation was purchased from J. H. Lockwood and James D. Doty by the government in the year 1829, and covered the front and main portions of farm lots numbered thirty -three and thirty-four, of the private land claims at Prairie du Chien, and comprised about one hundred and sixty acres. Fort Crawford was built on this tract in 1829, 1830and 1831. There was also a reservation of section eighteen, township seven, north of range four west, known as the Cattle Yard. This land was at the mouth of the Kickapoo river, and is now known as the village of Wauzeka. In addition to these lands which were located in Wisconsin, there was a reservation of lands lying on the west side of the Mississippi river, in Iowa. The lands in Wisconsin were relinquished by the secretary of war, January jo, 185 1, and were originally set apart by the president of the United States, February 17, 1X43 In the month of April, 1857, the secretary of wai authorized Hon. H. M. Rice, of Minnesota, to sell that part of the reservation not impioved, in tracts not exceeding forty acres each; and, in the month of June of that year, he sold at auction five hundred and seven acres of the reserve opposite Fort Crawford, none of which was claimed by actual settlers and in the month of December, 1857, he sold the remainder to claimants of lands, also on the west side, and the section in Wisconsin known as the Cattle Yard, amounting to i77yVrr acres. A portion of this reservation was subdivided into town lots, 80 by 140 feet, with streets 66 feet and alleys 20 feet wide November 17, 1864, the acting commissioner of the general land office, by order of the war department, offered for sale at public auction at La Crosse the reservation at Fort Crawford, which had been surveyed and subdivided into town lots, eighty by one hundred and forty feet, with streets sixty-five feet and alleys twenty feet wide, conforming to the plat of the village of Prairie du Chien. The lands unsold were subsequently opened to private entry and legislature

;

disposed of.

The lands of the Fort Winnebago reservation were set apart by order of the president, February 9, 1835, and consisted of the following territory: sections two, three, and that part of four lying east of

Fox river, and

fractional section nine, all in township twelve, north of range

nine east, also fractional section thirty-three, in township thirteen, north of range nine east,

Fox river, and the fraction of section four, township twelve north, of range nine east, lying west of claim numbered twenty-one of A. Grignon, and adjacent to Fort Winnebago, reserved by order of the president, July 29, 185 the whole amounting to about four thousand acres. September the first, 1853, these lands were by order of the president offered for sale lying west of

public auction at the fort, by F. H. Masten, assistant quartermaster United States army, having previously been surveyed into forty acre lots, and were purchased by J. B. Martin, G. C.

Tallman, W. H. Wells, Wm. Wier, N. H. Wood, M. R. Keegan, and others. The fust land offices in Wisconsin were established under an act of congress approved June 26, 1834, creating additional land districts in the states of Illinois and Missouri, and in the territory north of the state of Illinois.

The first section provides " that all that tract lying north Fox

of the state of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, south and southeast of the Wisconsin and

rivers, included in the present territory of Michigan, shall be divided by a north and south line, drawn from the northern boundary of Illinois along the range of township line west of Fort Winnebago to the Wisconsin river, and to be called the one on the west side, the Wisconsin land district, and that on the east side the Green Bay land district of the territory of Michigan, which two districts shall embrace the country north of said rivers when the Indian title shall be

—

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. extinguished, and the Green Ray district the president shall deem it proper;"

may be divided

223 so

form two

districts,

when

and by section three of said act, the president was author-

ized to appoint a register and receiver for such office, as soon as a sufficient number of townships are surveyed.

An act of congress, approved June 15, 1S36, divided the Green Bay land district, as established in 1S34, " by a line

commencing on

the western boundary of said district, and running

thence east between townships ten and eleven north, to the line between ranges seventeen and eighteen east, thence

north between said ranges of townships to the line between townships

said townships twelve and thirteen to Lake and all the country bounded north by the division line here described, south by the eight and nine east.'" to be constituted a separate district and known as the " Milwaukee land district." It included the present counties of Racine, Kenosha, Rock, Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth and Columbia. Milwaukee, and parts of Green, Dane, Washington, Ozaukee, Dodge and An act was approved March 3, 1847, creating an additional land district in the territory. All that portion of the public lands lying north and west of the following boundaries, formed a district to be known as the Chippewa land district: commencing at the Mississippi river on the line between townships twenty-two and twenty-three north, running thence east along said line

twelve and thirteen north, thence east between

Michigan

;

base line, east by Lake Michigan, and west by the division line between ranges

to the fourth principal meridian, thence north along said meridian line to the line dividing town-

ships twenty-nine and thirty, thence east along such township line to the Wisconsin river, thence up

the main channel of said river to the boundary line between the state of Michigan and the territory of Wisconsin.

The counties now included in this district are

Pepin, Clark, Eau Claire, Dunn,

Pierce, St. Croix, Polk, Barron, Burnett, Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Taylor, Chippewa, and parts also, the new county of Price. An act of congress, approved March 2, 1S49, changed the location

of Buffalo, Trempeleau and Jackson ;

of the land office in the

Chippewa district from the

falls of St. Croix to Stillwater, in the county of St. Croix, in the proposed territory of Minnesota; and, by section two of the act, an additional land offic e and district was created, comprising all the lands in Wisconsin not included in the districts of land subject to sale at Green Bay, Milwaukee, or Mineral Point, which was to be known as the Western

land district, and the president was authorized to designate the

site where the office should be Willow River, now Hudson, was selected. The district was usually known as the St. Croix and Chippewa district, and included St. Croix. La Pointe, and parts of Chippewa and Marathon counties. By an act of congress, approved July 30,- 1S52, so much of the public lands in Wisconsin as lay within a boundary line commencing at the southwest corner of township fifteen, north of range two east of the fourth principal meridian, thence running due east to the 1

icated.

southeast corner of township fifteen, north of range eleven, east of the fourth principal meridian,

thence north along such range line to the north line of the state of Wisconsin, thence westwardly along said north line to the line between ranges one and two east of fourth principal meridian, thence south to the place of beginning, were formed into a new district, and known as the Stevens Point land district, and a land office located at that place.

The boundaries enclosed the present counties of Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Green Lake, Waushara, Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Shawano, New and Marinette. The La Crosse land district was formed of the following territory: "Commencing at a point where the line between townships ten and eleven north touches the Mississippi river, thence due east to the fniirth principal

meridian, thence north to the line between townships fourteen and fifteen

north, thence east to the southeast corner of township fifteen

north, of range one east of the

224

H1ST0BY or WISCONSIN

fourth principal meridian, thence north on the range line to the south line of township number thirty-one north, thence west on the line between townships number thirty and thirty-one to the

Chippewa river, thence down

said

river

said river to the place of beginning."

Trempealeau, Eau Claire,

falo,

to its

junction with the

Mississippi river, thence down

The present counties of Vernon, La Crosse, Monroe, Buf-

Clark, and parts

of Juneau

and Chippewa were included in

its limits.

By act of congress, approved February 24, 1855, an additional district was formed of all that district lying north of the line dividing townships forty and

portion cf the Willow river land

forty-one, to be called the Fond du Lac district

— the

office to

be located by the president as he

The present counties of Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and part might from time to time direct. of Burnett were included within its boundaries. By an act of congress, approved March 3, 1857, so much of the districts of land subject to La Crosse and Hudson, in the state of Wisconsin, contained in the following boundaries, North of the line were constituted a new district, to be known as the Chippewa land district dividing townships twenty-four and twenty-five north; south of the line dividing townships forty ranges one and two east and east of the line dividing of the line and forty-one north west sale at

;

dividing ranges eleven and twelve west.

The location of the office was to be designated by the The present counties of Chippewa, Taylor, Eau

president as the public interest might require. Claire and Clark were in this district.

They are located at Menasha, There are at the present time six land offices in the state. La Crosse, Bayfield and Eau Claire. By the provisions of law, when the number of acres of land in any one district is reduced to one hundred thousand acres, subject to private entry, the secretary of the interior is required to discontinue the office, and the Falls of St. Croix, Wausau,

lands remaining unsold are transferred to the nearest land office, to be there subject to sale. The power of locating these offices rests with the president (unless otherwise directed by law), who is

authorized to

alsc

change and re-establish the boundaries of land

districts

whenever, in his

opinion, the public service will be subserved thereby.

The pre-emption law of 1S30 was intended for the benefit of actual settlers against compeIt gave every person who cultivated any tition in open market with non-resident purchasers. part of a quarter section the previous year, and occupied

the tract at the date

privilege of securing it by payment of the minimum price at

the commencement of the public sale.

mentioned, the

any time before the day fixed for

To avail himself of this provision he was to file proof

As men frequently located claims in advance of the survey, it of cultivation and occupancy. occasionally happened that two or more would find themselves upon the same quarter section t in which case the pre-emption law permitted two joint occupants to divide the quarter section equally between them, whereupon each party received a certificate from the land office, authorizing him to locate an additional eighty acres, elsewhere in the same land district, not interfering

with other settlers having the right of preferem e.

This was

ailed a floating right.

This pro-

was ingeniously perverted from its plain purpose in various ways. As fist as these evasions came to the notice of the department, all certificates given to tits of the same quarter section in excess of the two first, or to more than one member of the law

the same family, to employees, to any person who had not [.aid for eight)' acres originally occupied, as well as those which were not located at the time of such payment, and the additional but a large number trai paid for before the public sale, were held to be worthless or fraudulent t

;

of these certificates had been issued, and p.issed into the hands of speculators and designing men, and were a sourc e of almost endless vexation and annoyance to settlers. The law of 1S30

THE

I'l

BLIC DOMAIN.

225

expired by limitation in one year from its passage, but was revived by the law of [834 for two In the interim no settler could obtain his land by pre-emption. The law of [834 extended years. only to those who had

made cultivation in

excluded from its benefits.

1833, consequently the

settlers

of later date were

Meanwhile the fraudulent floats were freely used to dispossess actual

settlers as late as 1835.

The pre-emption law of congress, approved September 4, 1X41, provided that every person who should make a settlement in person on public land, and erect a dwelling, should be authorized to enter a quarter section (one hundred and sixty acres), at the minimum price (one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre), and thus secure the same against competition

;

and if any person

should settle upon and improve land subject to private entry, he might within thirty days give notice to the register of the land office of his intention to claim the land settled upon, and might

within one year upon making proof of his right, enter the land at the minimum price.

At the public land sales at Mineral Point, held in 1S35, all those

tracts

on which lead was

found, or on which it was supposed to exist, were reserved to the United States, and were leased

under certain regulations by the government for a rent of ten per centum of all the lead raised. Considerable difficulty The quantity of land thus reserved was estimated at one million acres. was found in collecting these rents, and subsequently it was abandoned, as the amount the of the lead collected. In the value period of four years expended in collecting exceeded the government suffered a loss of over nineteen thousand dollars. The act of congress, approved July 1 1, 1846, authorized the sale of the reserved mineral lands in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, and provided that, after six months' public notice, the lands should not be subject to the rights of pre-emption until after the same had been offered at public The law also provided, that, upon satisfacsale, when they should be subject to private entry. tory proof being made to the register and receiver of the proper land office, any tract or tracts of land containing a mine or mines of lead ore actually discovered and being worked, would be sold in such legal subdivisions as would include lead mines, and no bid should be received therefor at less than the sum of two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and if such tract or tracts should not be sold at such public sale, at such price, nor should be entered at private sale within This act was twelve months thereafter, the same should be subject to sale as other lands. changed by an act approved March 3, 1847, providing that any one being in possession by actual occupancy of a mine discovered prior to the passage of this act, who should pay the same rents as those who held leases from the secretary of war, should be entitled to purchase the lands Mineral lands were to be offered for sale in forty prior to the day of sale at five dollars per acre. acre pieces, and no bids were to be received less than five dollars per acre, and if not sold they were then to be subject to private entry at the same price. In 1S47 or 1848 the reserved mineral lands were sold at public sale at Mineral Point at two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and they were all disposed of at that price. Soon after the formation of Wisconsin territory, an act was passed by its legislature, approved January 5, 1838, incorporating the Milwaukee and Rock river canal company, and by an act of congress approved June 18 of the same year, a grant of land was made to aid in the

The grant consisted of the odd-numbered sections on a belt often Lake Michigan to Rock river, amounting to 139,190 acres. Of those lands

construction of the canal. miles in width from

43,447 acres were sold at public sale in July, 1S39, at the minimum price of two dollars and fift) Work was commenced on the canal at Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee river for cents per acre.

was improved by the construction of a dam across the river, which was made available for manufacturing and other purposes. A canal was also built about Much a mile in length and forty feet wide, leading from it down on the west bank of the river. a short distance from its outlet

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

226

dissatisfaction subsequently arose; the purchasers at this sale, and others occupying these canal

and reserved lands felt the injustice of being compelled to pay double price for their lands, and efforts were made to repeal all laws authorizing further sales, and to ask congress to repeal the The legislation on the subject of this grant is voluminous. In 1862 the act making the grant. legislature of the state passed an act to ascertain and settle the liabilities, if any, of Wisconsin and the company, and a board of commissioners was appointed for that purpose. At the session of the legislature in 1S63, the committee made a report with a lengthy opinion of the attorney-genThe views of that officer were, that the company had no valid claims for damages eral of the state. On the 23d of March, 1875, In this opinion the commissioners concurred. against the state. an act was approved by the governor, giving authority to the attorney-general to discharge and release of record any mortgage before executed to the late territory of Wisconsin, given to secure the purchase money or any part thereof of any lands granted by congress to aid in the construcThe quantity of lands unsold was subsequently made a part of the 500,000 tion of this canal. It is believed the whole matter is now closed acre tract granted by congress for school purposes. against further legislative enactments.

The next grant of lands made by congress ior internal improvements in Wisconsin, was one approved August 8, 1846, entitled " an act to grant a certain quantity of land to aid in the By this act improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and to connect the same by canal." there was granted to Wisconsin on her becoming a state, for improving the navigation of the above-named streams, and constructing the canal to unite the same, a quantity of land equal to one-half of three sections in width on each side of Fox river, and the lakes through which it passes from its mouth to the point where the portage canal should enter the same, and each side of the canal from one stream to the other, reserving the alternate sections to the United States On the 3d of August, 1854, an act of congress was with certain provisions in relation thereto. approved, authorizing the governor of Wisconsin to select the balance of lands to which the state of the act of 1846, out of any unsold government lands subwas entitled to under the provisions ject to private entry in the state, the quantity to be ascertained upon the principles which governed the final adjustment of the grant to the state of Indiana, for the Wabash and Erie canal, approved May 9, 1S4S. In the years 1S54 and 1S55, acts of congress were passed, defining and Under the grants of 1846, 1854 and 1855, the number of acres donated for enlarging the grant. this purpose and certified to the state, was 674,100. After the admission of Wisconsin into the Union, by an act of its legislature, approved August S, 1848, a board of public works was created, through which the work of improving the lands granted by con-

said rivers, by the application thereto of the proceeds of the sale of the

was undertaken by the state. It soon became apparent that the moneys realized from the sale of lands were insufficient to meet the obligations of the state issued by its board of public works as they became due and in 1853 the work was turned over to the Vox and Wisconsin Improvement company, a corporaIn 1856, by an tion created under an act of the legislature of Wisconsin approved July 6, 1S53.

gress,

;

act of the

legislature

of Wisconsin, approved October

1856, the lands granted by congress

then unsold were granted by the state, through the said company, to trustees, with power to sell,

and

hold the proceeds in trust for the payment of state indebtedness, the completion

of the work, thereafter for the payment of bonds issued by the said company, and the balance, if any, for the company itself. In February, 1866, the trustees,

execution of the powers contained in the deed of trust

made to them, and pursuant to a judgment of the circuit court of Fond du Lac county, sold at public sale at Appleton, Wisconsin, the works of improvement and the balance of lands granted

THE PUBLIC DOMAHST.

221

by congress then unsold, and applied the proceeds to the purposes expressed in the deed of trust. The proceeds were sufficient to pay in full the expenses of the trust, the then outstanding state indebtedness, and to provide a fund sufficient to complete the work according to the plan specified in the act approved October 3, 1856. Under an act of the legislature of Wisconsin ..pproved April 13, 1861, and the acts amendatory thereof, the purchasers at said sale, on the 15th day of August, 1866, filed their certificate in

the office of the secretary of state, and thereby became incorporated as the

Green Bay and

Mississippi canal company, holding, as such company, the said works of improvement.

At a subsequent date, under instructions from the engineer department of the United States, the surveys of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers were placed in the charge ren,

and by act of congress approved July a board of arbitrators

appoint

1S70,

of General G. K.

War-

the secretary of war was authorized to

how much the government should pay to the sucGreen Bay and Mississippi canal company, for the

to ascertain

Improvement company, the its property and rights; and by a subsequent act, approved June 10, 1872, an appropriation was made therefor. The legislation on matters connected with the Fox and Wisconsin river improvement would make a chapter of itself. The work is now in charge of the government, and will be prosecuted

cessors of the transfer

of all

to completion in a satisfactory manner. On the 29th of May, 1848, an act was approved by the president "to enable the people of Wisconsin territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union," by which certain propositions were to be submitted to the convention which were to be acted upon, and subsequently submitted to the people for their approval. The first constitutional convention was held in October, 1846, and, having framed a constitution, it was submitted to a vote of the people at the election in 1S47, and it was rejected. The second

convention met December 15, 1847, and, having formed a constitution, it was adopted by the The following are the propositions proposed by congress

people at the election in 1848.

1. That section sixteen numbered in every township of the public lands of said state, and where such section has been sold or otherwise disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto, and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to the said state for the use of schools. 2. That seventy-two sections, or two entire townships, of land set apart and reserved for the use and support of a university by act of congress approved June 12, 1838, are hereby granted

and conveyed to the state, to be appropriated solely to the use and support of such university in such manner as the legislature may prescribe. 3. That ten entire sections of land to be selected and located under the direction of the legislature, in legal subdivisions of not less than one quarter of a section from any of the unappropriated lands belonging to the United States within the state are granted to the state for completing the public buildings, or for the erection of others at the seat of government, under the direction of the legislature. 4.

That all salt-springs within the state, not exceeding twelve in number, shall be granted to

the state, to be selected by the legislature, and when selected, to be used or disposed of on such terms, conditions, and regulations as the legislature shall direct.

The title to all lands and other property which accrued

the territory of Wisconsin by

grant, gift, purchase, forfeiture, escheat, or otherwise, were, by the provisions of the constitution

of the state, vested in the state and the people of the state, in their right of sovereignty, were declared to possess the ultimate property in and to all lands within its jurisdiction and all ;

;

lands, the title of which shall fail from a defect of heirs, shall revert or escheat to the people.

The act of congress for the admission of the state into the Union gave formal assent to the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

228

grant relative to the Fox and Wisconsin river improvement, and the lands reserved to the United States

by said

grant, and also the grant to the territory of Wisconsin, for the purpose of aiding

in opening a canal to connect the waters of

offered for sale at

the

same minimum

Lake Michigan with those of Rock river, were to be

price, and subject to the same rights of pre-emption as

other public lands of the United States. By the provisions of the state constitution, the secretary of state, the state treasurer and attorney-general, were constituted a board of commissioners for the sale of the school and In the year 1850 the university lands, and for the investment of the funds arising therefrom. commissioners put into market, for the first time, the school lands which had been donated to the The total quantity of lands offered was 148,021, 44-100 acres, which sold for the sum of state. $444,265.19. By an act of congress, approved September 4, 1841, there were granted to the state 500,000 acres of land, which were, by act of the territorial legislature of 1849, appropriated to the school fund, and the unsold lands of the Milwaukee and Rock river canal company, amounting to about

140,000 acres, were to be included as a part of the above grant.

These lands, and the sixteenth

make up the whole of the school lands of the state. The whole number of acres sold up to the year 1877 is 1,243,984 acres, and there remain unsold, subject section of each township,

to entry, 216,016 acres.

The state university land grant was made in 1838, and seventy-two sections set apart and The lands were selected in 1845 and 1S46. On the 15th of December, 1854, an act

reserved.

of congress was approved, relinquishing to the state the lands reserved for the salt-springs, and seventy-two sections were granted in lieu thereof, in aid of the university of the state The

number of acres amounts to 92,160, all of which have been sold except 4,407 acres, which are subject to entry. Under the re-organization and enlargement of the university, under provisions of chapter 114, of general laws of 1866, section thirteen provides, among other things, that the income of a fund to be derived from the sales of the two hundred and forty thousand acres, "An act donating lands to the granted by congress by act approved July 2, 1862, entitled several states and territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts," be devoted to the state university, and the funds arising therefrom to be known All of the grant of lands have been sold except 5 1,635 acres. as the " agricultural college fund." The quantity of lands donated by act of congress August 6, 1 846, for the purpose of completing or erecting public buildings at the seat of government, known as "Capitol Lands," amounted to A grant of lands was made to the state ten entire sections, or six thousand four hundred acres. by act of congress, approved September 28, 1850, of all the swamp and overflowed lands within The total number of acres of this grant, as certified to the state from the government, its limits. :

to the year 1877, is 1,869,677.

A grant of land was made by congress, approved March 3, 1863, for the construction of a military

road from Fort Wilkins, Michigan, to Fort Howard, Wisconsin, of every alternate

section of public lands, designated by even numbers for three sections in width on each side of said road, and subject to the disposal of the legislature.

In 1865 sales of land were

made to

the number of 85,961.89 acres, which realized the sum of $114,856.54.

An act of congress was approved June 25, 1864, granting lands to the state to build a military road from Wausau, Wisconsin, to Ontonagon, on Lake Superior, of every alternate section of The grant

land designated as odd sections, for three sections in width on each side of the road.

was accepted by the state by law, approved April 10, 1S65. An act was also passed by congress, approved April 10, 1866, granting to the state of Wisconsin a donation of public lands to aid in the construction of a breakwater and harbor and ship

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. canal at the head of Sturgeon bay, Wis., to connect the waters of Green bay with

The grant was for 200,000 acres of land.

The

229

Lake Michigan.

grant was accepted by the legislature of 1868.

In 1S74, the same body by resolution transferred to the Sturgeon bay and Lake Michigan ship canal

and harbor company 32,342 acres, and the remaining portion was authorized to be sold for agricultural purposes by said company.

The first railroad grant in Wisconsin was by act of congress, approved June 3, 1856, by the first

section of which there was granted to the state, for the purpose of aiding in the construction

Madison or Columbus, by the way of Portage City, to the St. Croix river or between townships twenty-five and thirty-one, and from thence to the west end of Lake and from Fond du Lac, on Lake Winnebago, northerly to the state line, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of a railroad from lake,

Superior and to Lay field

;

of said roads, respectively; the land to be applied exclusively in the construction of said roads,

and to no other purpose whatever, and subject to the disposal of the legislature, and the same shall remain public highways for the use of the government, free from toll and other charges upon the transportation of property or troops of the United States, with other conditions as to the disposal of said lands.

The grant was accepted by the legislature by an act approved October 8, 1856, and on the nth of the same month an act was approved granting a portion of the lands to the La Crosse & Mississippi railroad company, who were to carry out all the requirements of the original grant.

A supplementary act was approved the same session, October 13, incorporating the Wisconsin & Superior railroad, which company was required to commence the construction of their road on

Of this 1, 1858. "That portion of the grant given to aid in the construction of

1857, and to complete the same to Oshkosh before August

or before January

land grant John

W. Cary

says:

a railroad northerly to the state line was conferred on the Wisconsin & Superior railroad company. This company was organized in the interest of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac railroad The road was, in 1859, extended to company, and that part of the grant was transferred to it. Oshkosh, and thence to Menasha, and finally to Green Bay. In the panic of 1857, the company failed to meet its obligations, but was afterward enabled to go on, and continued in possession until June 2, 1859, when its road was sold on the foreclosures of the mortgages given thereon and on the sixth of the same month the present Chicago & Northwestern railroad company was organized under the statute, by purchasers at said sale, and took possession." A large portion of the original grant was given for the construction of a road from Madison The La Crosse company, during the years or Columbus to the St. Croix river, as before stated. 1857 and 1858, completed its main line to La Crosse; the Watertown line, from Watertown to Neither it nor its sucColumbus, and partially graded the line from Madison to Portage City. '-

cessors ever received any part of the lands of the land grant. In 1S56 and 1S5 7, the La Crosse &

son to Portage.

Milwaukee railroad graded most of the line from Madi-

After the failure of the company, this line was abandoned, and so remained

until 1870, when a new company was organized, under the name of the Madison & Portag. City railroad company. In 1873, an act was passed chartering the Tomah & Lake St. Croix railroad company, and repealing and annulling that portion of the land grant which bestowed the lands from Tomah to Lake St. Croix upon the La Crosse company, and bestowing the same upon the company chartered by this act. This road is known as the West Wisconsin railroad. An act of congress was approved May 5, 1S64, granting lands to aid in the construction of certain roads in the state. This was a re-enactment of the law of 1S56, and divided the grant in three sections, one of which was for a road from a point on the St. Croix river or lake, between

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

230

townships twenty-five and thirty-one, to the west end of Lake Superior, and from some point on every alternate section designated the line of said road, to be selected by the state, to Bayfield

—

by odd numbers, for ten sections in width on each side of said road, with an indemnity extending twenty miles on each side, was granted, under certain regulations; another, for aiding in building every a road from Tomah to the St. Croix river, between townships twenty-five and thirty-one another alternate section by odd numbers, for ten sections in width on each side of the road

—

;

for aiding and constructing a railroad from

Portage City, Berlin, Doty's Island, or Fond du Lac,

as the legislature may determine, in a northwestern direction, to Bayfield, on

Lake Superior, and

a grant of every alternate section designated by odd numbers, for ten sections in width on each side of said road, was donated.

The legislature of 1S65 failed to agree upon

a disposition of the

The succeeding

grant.

legislature conferred the grant partly upon the " Winnebago & Lake Superior Railroad Company,"

and partly upon the " Portage & Superior Railroad Company," the former April 6, 1866, and the latter April 9, 1866. The two companies were consolidated, under the name of the "Portage, Winnebago & Superior Railroad," by act of the legislature, March 6, 1869, and by act of legislature approved February 4, 1871, the name was changed to the "Wisconsin Central Railroad."

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN. By

JOSEPH HOBBINS, M.I).

An article on state health, necessarily embracing the etiology, or causes of disease, involves the discussion of the geographical position of the state;

depressions; water supply; drainage; the nationality of its people

;

its

its area, physical

mean level above the sea;

their occupations,

its

habits, food, education

;

features;

its elevations,

geology; climatology; and, indeed, of all the

physical, moral and mental influences which affect the public health.

Geographical Position. The geographical position of Wisconsin, considered in relation to health, conveys an immediate and favorable impression, which is at once confirmed by a reference to the statistical atlas

of the United States.

On its north it is bounded by Lake Superior, Minnesota, and the northern

peninsula of Michigan; on the south by Illinois;

west by the Mississippi. 92

50'

lies

between 42

30'

on the east by Lake Michigan, and on the and 46° 55' N. latitude, and between 87° and

W. long.; is 285 miles long from north to south, and 255

giving it an area of some 53,924 square miles, or 34,511,360 acres.

breadth

from east to west,

Its natural surface divisions,

or proportions, are 16 per cent, of prairie, 50 of timber, 19 of openings, 15 of marsh, mineral

undefined.

North of 45 ° the surface is nearly covered with vast forests of pine.

The proportion

of the state cultivated is nearly one-sixth.

Physical Features.

Among these, its lacustrine character is most conspicuous, so much so that it may not inaptly be called the state of a thousand lakes, its smaller ones being almost universal and innumerable.

;

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN.

231

an almost artificially perfect arrangement of its larger rivers, both for supply and drainage, is rolling in its surface, having several dividing ridges or water sheds, and varies from 600 to 1,600 It has

feet above the level of the sea,

Blue

Mounds being

feet

1,729

thickly wooded lands are being rapidly denuded, and to some

purposes;

its

Its pine and

above sea level.

extent converted

to agricultural

marshes in the north are being reclaimed for cranberry cultivation, and in the more

The surface of the state is beautifully diverwooded bluffs several hundred feet in height,

thickly settled parts of the state for hay purposes. sified

w'th stream, waterfall and rapids;

richly

assuming the most romantic and pleasing forms, and composed of sandstone, magnesian The health and summer resorts of Wisconsin are illustrative of its limestone, granite, trap, etc. beauty, and its numerous mineral springs have long since formed an important feature of its character for salubrity.

Geolcn .v.

The geology of Wisconsin does not require from us but a very general notice, as it is only from its relation to disease that we have to consider it. This relation is in a measure apparent in the fact that everywhere the topographical

The relationship will be seen still

features are

governed by the

strata

below them.

further in the chemical or sanitary influence of the geologii al

Through the greater part of the south half of the state limestone is found, the cliff prevailing in the mineral region, and the blue in the other parts; while in the north part of the South of the Wisconsin river state the primitive rocks, granite, slate, and sandstone prevail. structures.

While west of sandstone in layers of limestone, forming the most picturesque bluffs, abounds. Lake Michigan extends up to these rocks the limestone formation, being rich in timber or prairie land.

Sandstone is found underneath the blue limestone.

The

general dip of

the stratified

rocks of the state is toward the south, about S feet to the mile.

Medical geology treats of geology so far only as it affects health. Thus, some diluvial soils and sands are known to be productive of malarial fevers others, of a clayey character, retaining ;

water, are productive of cold damp, and

give

rise

pulmonary and inflammatory diseases

while others still, being very porous, are promotive of a dry and equable atmosphere.

the Potsdam rocks arise our purest waters and best supply, while our magnesian limestone rocks (a good quality of this kind of rock being composed of nearly

equal parts of carbonate of lime

and carbonate of magnesia) affect the water to the extent of producing simple diarrhoea in those unaccustomed to drinking it, as is observed in southern visitors, and was especially noticeable in the rebel prisoners at Camp Randall, though singularly enough do not seem to produce Why this is stone and gravel, as is alleged of the same kind of water in the north of England. is a question of some interest. Goitre and cretinism are both attributed to the use if so so Goitre is by no means an uncommon affection here, of the same magnesian limestone water.

—

but not common enough, perhaps, to warrant us in thinking

its

special

cause

the water.

—

There is still another objection particto this kind of water, the carbonates of lime and magnesia which ularly applicable to cities the decomposition of it contains, not simply making it hard, but giving it the power to promote organic matters, and thus where the soil is sandy or porous, endangering the purity of our wellGeology in general affects all our soils and their products; all our drainage; even our water. Our building stone for half of the state is a architecture, the material with which we build. magnesian limestone, a rather soft or poor quality of which will absorb one-third of its bulk of water, or two and a half gallons to the cubic foot, while most kinds of sandstone arc ne trl) as porous as loose sand, and in some of them the penetrability for air and water is the same. (A Such materials used in the construction single brick of poor quality will absorb a pint of water).

Boiling the water is a preventive of all injurious effects.

—

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

232

of our dwellings, without precautionary measures, give rise to rheumatism, other grave diseases, and loss of strength. Besides, this character of stone absorbs readily all kinds of liquid and

gaseous impurities, and though hardening in dry air, decays soon when exposed to underground The material of which our roads are made, as well as the kind of fuel we use in our moisture.

homes, have the same unquestionable relationship to geology and disease.

The natural drainage of the state, bearing in mind that

the

mean

elevation of

its

graphical axis is about 1,000 feet above the sea level, is as excellent as it is obvious.

hydro-

(A line

running from Lake Michigan across the state to the Mississippi, shows an elevation of about 500

North its drainage is by a few rapid but insignificant streams into Lake Superior, while Green bay. The principal part of the supply and drainage, however, is from the extreme north to the southwest through the center of the state, by five large rivers, which empty themselves into the Mississippi at almost equal distances from each other. feet).

east it increases greatly and enters Lake Michigan by way of

Climatology.

The climatology of Wisconsin will be exhibited in the observations taken at different times, But it must be borne in mind more upon the physical surroundings, upon the presence of large bodies of water, like our lakes, upon large forests, like our pineries, like our heavy hard-woods, and of land elevations and depressions, upon isothermal lines, etc., as Our historic period is of a character too brief for us to assume to speak it does upon latitude. for longer or shorter periods, and at different points of the state.

that climate depends quite as much and very

of our climate, or of all

the changing causes

frequently

which influence

—

a positive manner,

our

horticultural writers, to make the difficulty still greater, affirming that it has several climates within itself; still, sufficient data have been gathered from

sufficiently reliable sources to

enable us to

form a tolerably accurate idea of the subject. The great modifiers of our climate are our

These, bounding as they do, the one, lakes. Lake Superior (600 feet above the level of the sea. 420 miles long and 160 broad), on the north Michigan (578 feet above the sea level, 320 miles long and 84 broad), on the east side of the state, serve to govern the range of the thermometer and the mean temperature of the seasons, as much as they are governed in New England by the ocean. Our climate is consequently very much like that of the New England sea-board. They both exhibit the same extremes and great extremes, have the same broadly marked continental features It is of special interest in this conat some seasons, and decided tropical features at others. nection to know that the climate between the eastern coast and the lakes increases in rigor as again becomes still more rigorous as one one advances west until the lakes are reached, and side of the state, and the other, Lake

advances into the interior west of the lakes, thus affording proof, if proof were wanting, of the modifying and agreeable influences of large bodies of water During the winter the mean temperature of the east on the New England coast is 8.38 higher than the west (beyond the lakes) during the spring 3.53 lower during the summer 6.99 In the mean temperature for the year there is but a lower; and during the autumn 1.54 higher. fractional difference. That the winters are less rigorous and the summers more temperate on ;

;

the Great Lakes is demonstrated to be owing not to elevation, but, as on the ocean, to the equalizing agency of an expanse of water.

On the lakes the annual ratio of fair days is 117, and on

the

New England coast 215

;

the

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN.

233

In the former cloudy days are as 127 to 73; the rainy as 63 to 46 and the snowy as 45 to 29 The immense forests on the upper the prevailing weather is cloudy, and in the latter it is fair. ,

lake shores of course exercise a considerable influence in the modification of our temperature, as climate of this character, with its well as in the adding to our rain-fall and cloudy days.

attendant rains, gives us that with which we are so abundantly supplied,

great variety of food,

both for man and beast, the choicest kinds of fruits and vegetables in the greatest profusion, and of the best quality, streams alive with fish, woods and prairies with game, the noblest trees, the

most exquisite flowers, and the best breeds of domestic animals the world can boast of. The semi-tropical character of our summer, and its resemblance to that of New England, is 70° for three months at Salem, Massachusetts, at Albany, shown by the mean temperature New York, at southern Wisconsin, Fort Snelling and Fort Benton on the Upper Missouri, being the same while at Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, it is 75 °, and around the gulf of Mexico it is 8o°. Another feature of our climate is worthy the notice of invalids and of those who make

—

;

the thermometer their guide for comfort.

a well-ascertained fact

that during the colder

seasons the lake country is not only relatively, but positively, warmer than places far south of it. The thermometer, during the severe cold of January, 1856, did not fall so low at the coldest, by

This remark holds true of the io Q to 15° at Lake Superior as at Chicago at the same time. changes of all periods of duration, even if continued over a month. The mean temperature at Fort Howard, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 600 feet above the level of the Atlantic, latitude 44 40', longitude 87 °, observations for nine years, is 44.93; and at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, 580 feet above the level of the Atlantic, latitude 43 3', longitude 90 53', observaUnder tions for four years, is 45.65, giving a just idea of our mean temperature for the state. the head of distribution of heat in winter, it is found that the

maximum winter range at Fort

Winnebago, Wisconsin, for sixteen years, is 9.4.

Hyetal or Rain Character. Wisconsin is situated within what is termed the area of constant precipitation, neither affected by a rainy season, nor by a partial dry season. The annual quantity of rain on an average for three years at Fort Crawford, was 29.54 inches, and at Fort Howard the mean annual on an The annual quantity of rain, on an average of three average of four years, was 38.83 inches. years was 31. 8S inches at Fort Winnebago, situate (opposite the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers) 80 miles west of Lake Michigan and 112 miles southwest of Green Bay. The rain-fall

less

in the

lake district than in the valley of the Mississippi in the same latitudes.

One of the peculiarities of our winters is the almost

periodical

rain-fall of a

middle of the winter (usually in the middle of January), which extends

few days in the

to the Atlantic coast,

while north and northwest of us the dry cold continues wjthout a break, winter being uniform and severe, characterized by aridity and steady low temperature. is,

Another peculiarity of our climate

the number of snowy and rainy days is increased disproportionately to the actual, quantity

—

the large bodies of water on the boundaries of the state, contrary to the popular opinion, reduc-

ing the annual quantity of rain in their immediate vicinity instead of adding to it, the heavier precipitation being carried further away.

One of the most pleasing features of our climate is its

frequent succession of showers in summer, tempering as it does our semi-tropical heat, increasing the fertility of the soil, and carpeting our prairies with a green as grateful to the eye as that of

England.

The hygrometric condition of Wisconsin may be judged of with proximate accuracy by that given of Poultney, Iowa

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN'

234

Temperature of Air.

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN.

235

attributed to change in the temperature, have their origin in barometrical vicissitudes.

Winds. Generally speaking, the atmospheric movement

from

the west.

little

purpose

what the surface wind may be, as this does not affect the fact of the constancy of the westerly The showers and cumulus clouds of the summer always have this winds in the middle latitudes. movement. The belt of westerly winds is the belt of constant and equally distributed rains, the feature of our winds upon which so much of our health and comfort depends.

Climatological Changes prom Settling the State. There are many theories afloat concerning the effects of reclaiming the soil and the destrucTo us, a new people and a new state, the question is one of great moment, tion of its forests. the more so that it is still in our power not only to watch the effects of such changes, but still more so to control them in a measure for our good. As to the effects upon animal and vegetable whole change of life, it would appear that so far as relates to the clearing away of forests, the conditions is limited to the surface, and dependent for the most part on the retention and slow evaporation in the forest, in contrast with the rapid drainage and evaporation in the open space. The springs, diminishing in number and volume in our more settled parts of the state, do not It is a well ascertained fact that in other places so denuded, which indicate a lessening rain-fall. have been allowed to cover themselves again with forests, the springs reappear, and the streams With us, happily, while the destruction of forests is going are as full as before such denudation. on in various parts of the state, their second growth is also going on, both in the pineries, where new varieties of hard-wood take the place of the pine, and in the more cultivated parts of the state, cultivation forbidding, as it does, the practice so much in vogue some years ago, of running Thus, though the renewal of forests may not be keeping pace fires through the undergrowth. with their destruction, it would seem clear that as time advances, the springs and streams in the more cultivated sections of the state will fill and flow again, increasing in proportion as the second growth increases and expands. The change, however, from denudation, though strictly limited to the surface, affects the When the winter surface in other ways than simply in the retention and evaporation of rain. winds are blowing, the want of the sheltering protection of belts of trees is bitterly felt, both by languish and suffer beast. And so, too, in the almost of summer both tropical heats the man and from the want of shade. Nor is the effect of denudation less sensibly felt by vegetable life. The growing of our more delicate fruits, like the peach, the plum, the pear, the better varieties of the cherry and gooseberry, with the beautiful half-hardy flowering shrubs, all of which flourished se well in a number of our older counties some twenty years ago, areas a rule no longer to be found ;

in those localities, having died out, as is believed, from exposure to the cold winds, to the south

west winds in particular, and for want of the protecting influence of the woods.

In fruits, how

ever, we have this compensation, that, while

the more tender varieties have been disappearing, and equally good varieties, especially of apples, have been increasing, while the grape (than which nothing speaks better for climatology), of which we grow some 150 varieties, Nor are the cattle the strawberry, the raspberry, blackberry and currant, etc., hold their ground. suffering as much as formerly, or as much as is perhaps popularly believed, from this want of With the better breeds which our farmers have been able of late years to forests or tree shelter. the hardier

purchase, with better blood and better food, and better care, our stock

number, from the effect of cold, has progressed competes with the best in the Chicago and the New York markets.

condition, or in

instead of dwindling in quality and quantity, and

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

236

There can, however, be no doubt that the planting of groves and belts of trees in exposed in tempering the air and imparting to it an localities, would be serviceable in many ways agreeable moisture in the summer; in modifying the severity of the cold in winter in moderating the extreme changes to which our climate is subject; and thus in a measure preventing those Besides, these discomforts and diseases which occur from sudden changes of temperature. plantings, when made between our homes or villages and malarial marshes southwest of us, serve and beyond over and above southwest winds) to break up, to send our prevailing (by the aid of ;

;

us the malarial substratum of air to which we are otherwise injuriously exposed.

The effects of reclaiming the soil, or "breaking " as it is called in when the state first began to be settled, been

the west, have, years ago,

disastrous to health and

to life.

The

moist sod

being turned over in hot weather, and left to undergo through the summer a putrifying fomentative process, gave rise to the worst kind of malarial, typhoid (bilious) and dysenteric disease. Not, however, that the virulence or mortality altogether depended upon the soil emanations.

These were undoubtedly aggravated by the absolute poverty of the early settlers, who were wanting in everything, in proper homes, proper food and proper medical attendance, medicines and nursing. These fevers have swept the state years ago, particularly in the autumns of 1844 and 1845, but are now only observed from time to time in limited localities, following in the autumn the summer's "breaking." But it is pleasing to be able to add that through the advancing prosperity of the state, the greater abundance of the necessaries and comforts of life, and the facilities for obtaining medical care, the diseases

incident to " settling " are

much less common

and much less fatal than formerly.

Relations of Climatology to Sanitary Status.

One of the principal reasons for gathering climatological observations, is to obtain sanitary information, which serves to show us where man may live with the greatest safety to his health. Every country, we might perhaps correctly say every state, has, if not its peculiar diseases, at

And by nothing is either this type or variety of disease so by climate. Hence the great importance of the study of climatology to health and disease, nay, even to the kind of medicine and to the regulating of the dose to be

least its peculiar type of diseases.

much

given.

influenced as

It is,

however, best to caution the reader that these meteorological

always made at points where they would most

accurately show

observations are not

the salubrity of a geographical

were chosen not for this special purpose, but We allude to the forts of Wisconsin, from which our statistics for Another caution it is also well to bear in mind in looking over the class of

district, by reason of the fact that the positions

for purely military purposes.

the most part come.

diseases reported at these stations in connection with their observations.

of the military of the period, a class

The diseases are those

from which no very favorable health reports could

expected, considering their habits, exposure, and the influences incidental to frontier life.

The geography of disease and climate is of special interest to the public, and a knowledge knowledge that state legisendemic diseases of the state. In connection with must go the collection of meteorological and topographical

especially necessary to the state authorities, as it is only by such a lation can possibly restrain or root out the

the gathering of vital

statistics

statistics, as without these two latter

the former is comparatively useless for

sanitary purposes.

More particularly does this apply to the malarial diseases of the state. Acclimation is very rarely discussed or even alluded to by our people in relation to Wisconsin, for the reason that, come from whatever part of Europe men may, or from the eastern states, acclimation is acquired for the most part unconsciously, rarely attended by any malarial affection, unless by exposure in such low, moist localities, where even the natives of the state could not

HEALTH <>F WISCONSIN".

237

It seems to be well enough established that where malaria exists, whether London, New York, or Wisconsin where the causes of malarial disease are permanent, the is no positive acclimation to malaria. Hence it should follow that since life and malaria are irreconcilable, we should root out the enemy, as we readily can by drainage and cultivation, or, where drainage is impossible, by the planting of those shrubs , or trees which are found to thrive best, and thereby prove the best evaporators in such localities. Our climate, approximating as it does the 45th degree (being equi-distant from the equator and pole), would a priori'be a common ground of compromise and safety, and from this geographical

live with impunity. in

;

effects are permanent, and that there

position is not liable to objections existing either north or south of us.

Influence of Nationalit^s.

Our population is of such a confessedly heterogeneous character that naturally enough it suggests the question Has this intermingling of different "nationalities sensibly affected our :

health conditions ?

Certainly not, so far as intermarriages between the nations of the Caucasian

race are concerned.

This opinion

given

first

upon the fact that our classes of diseases have

neither changed nor increased in their intensity by reason of such admixture, so far as can be

learned by the statistics or the history of disease in the northwest.

of course excepted.

Imported cases of disease are

Second, because all that we can gather from statistics and history concern-

ing such intermingling of blood goes to prove that

beneficial in every respect, physically,

mentally and morally.

England, of

all

nations,

said to

the

best

illustration

of the

good attending an

intermingling of the blood of different nations, for the reason that the English character is

supposed to be, comparatively speaking, good, and that of all countries she has been perhaps more frequently invaded, and to a greater or less part settled by foreign peoples than any other. From a residence of nearly a quarter of a century in the center of Wisconsin, and from an adequate knowledge of its people, whose nationalities are so various and whose intermarriages are so common, it is at least presumable that we should have heard of or noted any peculiar or injurious results, had any such occurred. None such, however, have been observed. Some fears have been expressed concerning the influence of Celtic blood upon the American temperament, already too nervous, as is alleged. It is scarcely necessary to say that these fears are unsupported by figures or facts. Reasoning from analogy, it would seem safe to affirm diat the general intermingling by intermarriage now going on in our population, confined to the Caucasian nationalities, will tend to preserve the good old Anglo-Saxon character, rather than to create any new character for our people. If this view needed support or confirmation, it is to be found in some Yery interesting truths in relation to it. Mr. Edwin Seguin, in his work on Idiocy, lays special stress on the influences of races in regard to idiocy and other infirmities, like deafness. He says that the crossing of races, which contributed to the elimination of some vices of the blood (as may be the case in the United States, where there are proportionally less deaf and dumb than in Europe), produces a favorable effect on the health of the population, and cites as an example, Belgium, which has fewer deaf and dumb than any country in Europe, owing to the influence of the crossing' of races in past ages from the crowds of northern tribes passing, mingling and partly settling there on the way to England. We are aware that it has been predicted that our future will give us a new type, distinct from all other peoples, and that with this type must come not only new diseases but modifications or aggravations of the present diseases, in particular, consumption and insanity. But so long as we are in a formative state as a nation, and that this state seems likely to continue so long as the country has lands to be occupied and there are people in Europe to occupy them, such speculations can be but of little value.

HISTORY

^a»

(>F

Occupations, Food, Education,

WISCONSIN

etc., as

affecting Public Health.

The two chief factors of the social and sanitary well-being of a people are a proper education of the man and a proper cultivation of the soil. Our two principal occupations in Wisconsin are education and agriculture, the learners in the schools being in excess of the laborers on the soil.

A happier combination could scarcely be desired, to form an intelligent and a healthy How this will affect our habits in the future it is easy to conceive, but for the present it

people.

may be said (of so many different nationalities are we composed), that we have no habits which

A well-fed and a well-taught

serve to distinguish us from the people of other northwestern states.

people, no matter how mixed its origin, must sooner or later become homogeneous and a

of customs.

maker

In the mean time we can only speak of our habits as those of a people in general

having an abundance of food, though it is to be wished the workers ate more beef and mutton, and less salt-pork, and that whisky was less plentiful in the land. The clothing is sufficient,

and the dwellings comfortable. Upon the whole, the habits of the people are conducive to health. It is thought unnecessary to refer to the influence upon health in general fuel is cheap,

of other occupations, for the reason that manufacturers, traders and transporters are for the most part localized, and perhaps not sufficiently numerous to exercise any

marked influence on the

state health.

History of Disease. In searching for historical data of disease in Wisconsin, we are able to go back to tne year 1766, commencing with the aborigines. in

The Indians, says Carver, in his chapter on their diseases,

general are healthy and subject to few diseases.

Consumption from fatigue and exposure he

notices, but adds that the disorder to which they are most subject

wise afflicted with dropsy and paralytic complaints.

It is to

pleurisy.

They are like-

be presumed that while Carver

speaking generally, he means his remarks to apply, perhaps, more particularly to those Indians with whom he lived so long, the Sioux of this state.

That they were subject to fevers is gathered from the use of their remedies for fever, the " fever bush " being an ancient Indian remedy, and equally valued by the inhabitants of the interior parts of the colonies. Besides this, they had their remedies for complaints of the bowels, and for all inflammatory complaints. These notices sufficiently indicate the class of diseases which have certainly followed in the wake of the Indians, and are still occurring to his white brother, making it plain enough that lung diseases, bowel The fact must not be ignored that the complaints, and fevers are in fact native to the state. Indian is subject to the same diseases as the human race in general. The principal disease of the After Carver, we may quote Major Long's expedition in 1824. Sacs appears to be a mortification of the intestinal canal, more common among men than women, the disease proving fatal in four days if not relieved. It is unaccompanied with pain, and is neither hernia, dysentery, nor hemorrhoids. Intermittents were prevalent, and the small-pox visited them at different periods. As the Chippewas have a common Algonquin origin with the Sacs, and as their home and customs were the same, it may be expected that their diseases were similar. The principal disease to which the Chippewas are liable is consumption of the lungs, generally affecting them between the ages of 30 and 40 they linger along for a year or two, but always fall victims to it. Many of them die of a bowel complaint which prevails every year. ;

This disease does not partake, however, of the nature of dysentery. with sore eyes.

Blindness is not common.

They are frequently affected

Many of them become deaf at an early age.

Referring to the report of the commissioner of Indian

affairs

for

1854,

find

that

the

decrease in the number of the Menomonees is accounted for by the ravages of small-pox, in 1838,

HEALTH (>F WISCONSIN

-o9

of the cholera, in 1847 (which latter was superinduced by misery and starvation), and by the fever, which from time to time, commonly in the winter, has been raging among them, being clearly the consequence of want of provisions and other necessaries.

The report for 1850

there has been considerable sickness among the Winnebagoes for several months past

has been the prevalent disease, confined mostly to children.

For 1S57

;

says,

dysentery

the Winnebagoes have

For 1859: the chief suffered considerably from chronic diseases, scrofula and consumption. malady among the Winnebagoes is phthisis pulmonalis and its analogous diseases, having its origin. Some of the malignant diseases are occasionally met with among source in hereditary them, and intermittent and remittent fevers. In 1863: of the Menomonees, there is a large mortality list of the tribes under my charge. Measles and some of the more common eruptive diseases are the causes. But the most common and most fatal disease which affects the Indians There is but little tubercular at this agency is pneumonia, generally of an acute character. In the disease to be found in any of these tribes, Menomonees, Stockbridges, Oneidas, etc. report for 1S65, one cannot but notice with some regret the absence of all allusion, except to small-pox, to the diseases of the Indians.

Regret, because reliable information of such diseases

serves a variety of valuable purposes, for comparison, confirmation, etc., of those of the white

For these reasons, if for none other, it is to be hoped that the attention of the proper authorities will be called to this feature of such reports. The first reliable report on the diseases of the people (as distinguished from the Indians) of Wisconsin to which we have had access, is Lawson's Army Report of Registered Diseases, for 10 years, commencing 1S29, and ending 1838 (ten years before the admission of Wisconsin into the Union as a state). population.

FORT HOWARD, GREEN BAY Intermittent fever

Synochal

do do

Typhus

Remittent

This abstra-

exhibits the second quar-

only, the

mean

strength being

Diseases of respiratory organs

101

Diseases of digestive organs

All other diseases 114, excepting vene-

184

real diseases, abcesses, wounds,

Diseases of brain and nervous system

cers, injuries, and ebriety cases.

Dropsies

Rheumatic affections

ul-

Under the class of diseases of the respiratory organs, are comprised 384 catarrh, 6 pneupleuritis, and 28 phthisis pulmonalis; under the class of digestive organs, 376 diarand dysentery, 1S4 colic and cholera, and 10 hepatitis; under the class of diseases of

monia, 60 rhoea

the brain and

nervous system, 15 epilepsy, etc.

post returns, are 25, being i% per cent, per annum.

The deaths from all causes, according to the The annual rate of intermittent cases is 6,

and that of remittent is 3, per 100 of mean strength. T.

Si isons.

of Ratio of Sickness at

Fort Howard.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

240

Every man has consequently, on an average, been reported sick about once in every six months, showing this region to be extraordinarily salubrious. The annual ratio of mortality, according to the medical reports, is -fa per cent. and of the adjutant-general's returns, i t3j;

per cent. I

Intermittent

fever

U INNEBAGO.

Remittent fever. _

10 abstract

Synochal fever

—

Diseases of the respiratory organs

141

Diseases of digestive organs

Diseases of brain and nervous system..

Rheumatic

exhibits

the

fourth quarters

Typhus fever

mly, the mean strength being 1,571.

All other diseases, 80, with the exceptions

above.

affections

Under the class of diseases of the respiratory organs are comprised 448 catarrh, n pneumonia, 29 pleuritis and 10 phthisis pulmonalis; under the head of digestive organs, 193 diarrhoea

and dysentery, 149 colic and cholera, and system, 1 epilepsy.

17 hepatitis;

under the class of brain and nervous

The total number of deaths, according to the post returns, is 20.

3 are from phthisis pulmonalis,

pleuritis, 2 chronic hepatitis,

gastric enteritis,

TABLE OF RATIO OF SICKNESS AT FORT WINNEBAGO. Seasons.

Of these,

splenitis, etc.

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN.

241 y

The relative agency of the seasons in the production of disease in general is shown in the annexed table

TABLE EXHIBITING THE RATIO OF SICKNESS. Seasons.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

242

home, its causes, and its origin, we would most earnestly call the attention of the public age, to the fact that the chief cause conies under the head of congenital, 75 of the 150 pupils in this Such a fearful proportion as this must of necessity have its origin institution having this origin. its

in a cause or causes proportionately fearful.

Nor, fortunately, is the causation a mystery, since

most careful examination leaves not a shadow of doubt that consanguineous marriages are the sources of this great evil. Without occupying further space by illustrative tables and arguments, we would simplv direct the attention of our legislators and thoughtful men to the law of this diswhich is, that the number of deaf and dumb, imbeciles, and idiots is in direct keeping with the ease With such a law and exhibit before us, would not a legislative inquiry degree of consanguinity. The evil is fearinto the subject, with the view of adopting preventive means, be a wise step?

—

ful

;

the cause is plain; so, too, is the remedy."

Industrial School for Boys. This institution is situated on the banks of the Fox river, at Waukesha, and was organized The whole number of the inmates since it was opened in July, i860, to October 10, in i860. The whole number of inmates for 1876 was 415. Of these, since the period 1876, was 1,291. of opening up to date, October, 1876, 25 have died 1,

chills;

S,of typhoid fever;

of typhoid erysipelas:

nervous fever; 2, congestion of the lungs; of inflammatory rheumatism. 5, of consumption; 1 of dropsy; and 1

of gastric fever:

of brain fever;

congestive

The State Prison. This was located at Waupun in July, 1857. On September 30, 1S76, there were 266 inmates. But one death from natural causes occurred during the year. The health of the prisoners has been unusually good, the prevalent affections attendant upon the seasons, of a mild and

manageable character.

State Hospital for the Insane. This institution, located near Madison, was opened for patients in July, i860. The total number of admissions down to the year 1877, was 1,227 males, 1,122 females, total 2,349. Over one half of these have been improved j nearly one third recovered j while less than one quarter have been discharged unimproved. Total number of deaths, 288. At the commencement of the In the report for the year ending year, October 1, 1875, there were in the hospital 376 patients. September 30, 1876, we find the past year has been one of unusual health in the hospital. No serious epidemic has prevailed, although 20 deaths have been reported, 7 fatally ill before admisInsanity, coming as it does, under this head of an article on State sion, 4 worn-out cases, etc. Health, is of the highest interest from a state point of view, not only because so much may be

done to remedy it, but that still more can and ought to be done by the state to prevent it. Our insane amount to 1 in 700 of the whole population, the total number in hospitals, poor-houses and It is a striking fact, calling for our earnest consideration, prisons being in round numbers 1,400. three to one that the Germans, Irish and Scandinavians import and transmit more insanity The causes assigned for this disparity, are, as than the American-born population produce.

—

affecting importation, that those in

whom there is an hereditary tendency to disease constitute the

migratory class, for the reason that those who are sound and in the full possession of their powers are most apt to contend successfully in the struggle to live and maintain their position at

while those who are most unsound and unequal to life's contests are unable to migrate.

words, the strongest

migratory is defined.

poor land.

home;

In other

By this, the character of the not leave, the weakest can not leave. As affects transmission, poverty is a most fruitful parent of insanity, so too is

will

Says Dr. Boughton, superintendent of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane:

OF WISCONSIN

Til

243

is characterized by a large poor class, especially in the northern part of the state, where people without means have settled on new and poorly paying farms, where their life is to a severe climate, bad and insufficient diet, cheerless homes, These causes are prolific in the production of insanity. It is easy, therefore, to trace etc., etc.

Wisconsin

made up of hard work, exposure

the causes that give us so large a per cent, of insane in many of the counties of the state. it

Nor is

We draw our patients from those families where

of less interest to know, as Dr. II. adds:

phthisis pulmonalis, rheumatism and insanity prevail.

Insanity and rheumatism are interchange-

able in hereditary cases, so too arc insanity and phithisis.

What may be accomplished by intel-

ligent efforts to stem the increase of insanity in our state ?

Much.

of course curative in in table No. ro

its

Early treatment is one means,

And its necessity and advantage are well

character.

of the annual report of Dr. Boughton, for 1876, where

illustrated

seen that 45.33 of males, and 44.59 of the females who had been sent to the State Hospital having been insane but is

three months before admission, were cured, the proportion of cures becoming less in proportion

to the longer duration of insanity before admission.

preventive means, the dissemination

is largely hereditary, and consequently that intermarriage with families so tainted should on the one hand be avoided by the

of the kind of knowledge that shows indisputably that insanity

and

citizen,

on the

prevented

other hand, perhaps,

the state,

In-

restraining or preventing as far as possible persons so tainted

(congress at the same time

from settling

this

country.)

By the state, inasmuch as the great burthen of caring for the insane falls upon the state. Still Other preventive means are found in the improved cultivation of our lands and in our improved education

whatever lessens the trials of the poor and lifts them out of ignorance and

in fact, in

;

pauperism.

only by culture, says Hufeland, that man acquires perfection, morally, mentally

It is

and physically.

His whole organization

so ordered that he

may either become nothing or

nd the want of cultivation being alike destructive.

anything,

The Northern Hospital for

rut:

Insane.

This hospital was opened at Oshkosh, May, 1 S 7 3 The total number under treatment September t,o, 1S76 was Xo ailment oi .111 epidemic characmales 246, females 257, total 503. .

—

ter has affected the health of the

Kempster is

full

City adhering

Still

Ith statistics

city in

the

plan, in

01.

Milwaukee.

writing the sanitary history of the state, of gathering up all

which properly belong to us, we now take up those of Milwaukee, the only far as we know, that has kept up a system of statistics of its diseases.

Wisconsin, so

side of the mouth of Milwaukee river, on the west shore of Lake Michi-

gan in lat. 43"' 3' 45" X., long. 87 ird of health its

The report of Dr.

household, which has been generally good.

of suggestive matter for the legislator and socio!

W., and

57'

has furnished us with

its

considered remarkable for its healthy climate,

report for 1870 and downward.

mortality from June 19, 1869, to March 31, 1870, is thus summarized f

The character of

In children under five

umption, 93; convulsions, 128; cholera infantum, 1,24 carlet fever, [32; typhoid fever, 52 inflammation of the lungs, ri; stillThis disproportionate number of still-born children is attributed in part to a

age, 758 out of

;

born, 79.

The deaths from consumption in Milwaukee are 7% out of ever)- 100, one third less out of a like number of deaths than in San

sumption, being

which city, in 4,000 deaths, jji died of con-

n out of every 100 deaths for the year ending Jul)'. 1S69.

numbered 1,655, tne population being at the last census report, 71,6

The deaths

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

244

Table of Principal Causes. Consumption

143

The

Milwaukee

Inflammation of lungs

Convulsions

259

72,000, the

Diarrhoea

131

every 1,000 inhabitants would be 21,

Diptheria

Scarlet fever

Typhoid fever

Oldage

_ _

Still-born

population

being

death rate per

about

annum

after proper deductions of deaths

for

from

other causes than from disease, showing

very favorably as compared with other

cities.

123

New Orleans, 54; New York, Among seventeen of the principal cities of the Union, 32; San Francisco, 24; Milwaukee, 21. Milwaukee ranks the ninth in rate of mortality. An impression has prevailed that Milwaukee is Glasgow has 39 to every 1,000; Liverpool, 36; London, 25

;

subject to a large and disproportionate amount of lung and allied diseases. this, its

Statistics disprove deaths from consumption being only 6 percent., while those of Chicago are 7.75 of

St. Louis,

;

9.68; of Cincinnati, 11.95; an ^ of Boston, 19.31.

occur in Milwaukee, and fewer cases of intestinal fever than mortality

among children

But few cases of malarial disease in the interior of the state.

explained by its occurring chiefly

The

among the poor foreign-born

population, where all that can incite and aggravate disease is always to be found. This, (the historical part of the health article), will doubtless call forth from the profession

much additional and desirable matter, but excepting what will further appear under the head of Madison it is proper to say that we have exhausted the sources of information on the subject within our reach.

Health Resorts. Next in order would seem to come some notice of the summer and health resorts of Wisconsin, which, significant

of the salubrity of the state, are not only becoming more numerous, but

also more frequented from year to year.

Madison, the capital of the state, with a population of 11,000, is built on an isthmus between

two considerable latitude 43

lakes, from 70 to 125 feet above their level; 80 miles

north, and longitude 89

20' west, in the northern

west of Milwaukee, in

temperate region.

The lake

basins, and also the neck of land between them, have a linear arrangement, trending northeast and

southwest.

The same linear topography characterises the whole adjacent country and the boun-

dary lines of its various geological formations, this striking feature being due to the former move-

ment of glacier ice over the face of the country. At two points, one mile apart, the Capitol and University hills, respectively 348 and 370 feet above the level of Lake Michigan, rise prominently above the rest of the isthmus. Both of these hills are heaps of drift material from 100 to 126 feet thickness, according to the record of the artesian well. The neck of land on which Madison stands The same boring discloses to us the underlying rock structure, peneis of the same material. trating 614 feet of friable quartzose sandstone belonging to the Potsdam series, io}^ feet of red shale belonging to the same series, and 209^ feet of crystalline rocks belonging to the Archaean. In the country immediately around Madison, the altitude is generally considerably greater, and the higher grounds are occupied by various strata, nearly horizontal, of sandstone and limestone. The Potsdam sandstone rises about 30 feet above the level of Lake Mendota, on its northern shore, where .it Mr Bride's Point it may be seen overlaid by the next and hitherto unrecognized layer, one of more or less impure, dark-colored, magnesian limestone, to which the name of Mendota is assigned, and which furnishes a good building stone. The descent of these strata is about

HKALTH OP 9 feet to the mile in a due southerly direction.

WISCONSIN".

245

Overlying the Mendota beds are again sandstone

layers, the uppermost portions of which are occasionally charged with 10 to 20 percent, of

reous and dolomitic

matter, and then furnish a cream-colored building stone

Most of this stratum which has been designated

value.

alca-

con iderabli

the Madison sandstone, is, however,

quite non-calcareous, being either a ferruginous brown stone, or a quite pure, white, marly loose In the latter phase it is of value for the manufacture of glass.

sand

In a number of quarries,

cuttings and exposed places around the city, the Madison beds are seen tube overlaid by a grayish,

magnesian limestone, the lower magnesian, varying very considerably

Its

thickness exceeds So feet.

of a capital city, from

forts

but from

its

beautiful

its

character, but

its

largely composed of a flinty-textured, heavy-bedded, quite pure dolomite, which

good quality of lime.

burnt into a

Madison, with the conveniences and com-

easy access by railroads, from not only in itself being beautiful,

surroundings,

from

its

good

society, charming

climate,

and

artesian

summer resort. Though there are no vital statistics of the city to refer to, a residence of nearly a quarter of a century has made us sufficiently acquainted with its sanitary history, which is more or less the mineral water, is naturally a great

sanitary history of this part of the state, and in a measure of the state itself. it

In 1844 and 1S45,

was visited by an epidemic malarial fever of a bilious type, and not unfrequently

fatal,

which

passed very generally through the state, and Mas attributed to the turning up of the soil. It was most virulent in the autumns. Again in 1S54 it was visited by a light choleraic epidemic, which also swept the state, assuming very generally a particularly mild type.

from the epidemic dysentery, which passed through the

lightly

state.

Again in 1057 it suffered In 1S65, it suffered from

a visitation of diptheria, the disease prevailing generally over the state at that time.

hasalso

The last invasion, some five had two visitations of the epidemic grip {grippe), or influenza. years since, commencing in a manner perhaps worthy of noting, by first affecting the horses very generally, and again, by beginning on the east side of the city, while the other epidemics for the past twenty-five years (unless the choleraic visitation was an exception) came in on the southwest side of the city, as has been the case, so far as we have been able to observe with the light But little typhoid fever is found here, and the aguish epidemics to which children are subject. There is but little diarrhoea or dysenfevers when they occur are light and easy of control. Pneumonia and its allied affections are more common, so is rheumatism, and so neuralgia. terv. Inflammatory croup, however, is very rare, sporadic diptheria seeming to be taking its place. All the ordinary eruptive fevers of children are and always have been of a peculiarly mild type.

Prairie du Chien, situated immediately at the junction of the Wisconsin with the Mississippi, is

built

about 70 feet above low water, and 642

feel

above the level of the sea.

The cliffs on

both sides of the river present on their summits the lower strata of the blue Silurian limestone of Cincinnati, beneath which are found sandstone and magnesian limestone down to the water's edge.

We give this notice of Prairie du Chien for the purpose of bringing to the knowledge of

the public that it possesses on.: of the must superb artesian wells in the state, which

attracting

main' persons by its remedial miner. d properties.

Green Bay sanitarily may be considered as sufficiently indicated under the head of Port Howard. It is, however, proper to add that from its geographical position and beautiful situation at the head of the bay, its easy access both by railroad and steamboat, its pleasant days and cool summer nights, it has naturally become quite a popular summer resort, particularly fur southern people. Racine, some 25 miles south by east by built

rail from Milwaukee and 62 by rail from Chi< a upon the banks and some 40 feet above the level of the lake. Its soil is a sandy loam and

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN'.

246

gravel, consequently it has a dry, healthy surface, and is

much frequented in the summer for its

coolness and salubrity.

all

Waukesha, iS miles west of Milwaukee by railroad, is a healthy, pleasant place of resort at its mineral water, so well known and so highly appreciated throughout

times on account of

the country.

Oconomowoc, 32 miles by located

lightfully

resort for

railroad west by north of

the summer.

Its

Milwaukee,

a healthy and

de-

many lakes and drives form its chief attractions,

and though its accommodations were considered ample, during the past summer they were found totally inadequate to meet the demands of its numerous visitors. The Dalles, at Kilbourn City, by rail 16 miles from Portage, is unsurpassed in the northwest It is the novelty, romantic character, and striking beauty of its rock and river scenery. high and dry; has pure water and fine air, and everv-day boat and drive views enough to fill up a month pleasantly. Lake Geneva, 70 miles by rail from Chicago, is built on the north side of the lake, is justly celebrated for its beauty, and its reputation as a summer resort is growing. Green Lake, six miles west of Ripon, and So northwest from Milwaukee, is some 15 miles long and three broad, surrounded by beautiful groves and prairies; and is claimed to be one of

for

the healthiest little places on the continent. Devil's Lake is 36 miles by rail north of Madison.

Of all the romantic little spots in Wis-

consin, and they are innumerable, there is none more romantic or worthy of a

summer visitor's

Tt is, though shut in from the rude world by bluffs 500 feet high, a very admiration than this. so for those who seek quiet, and rest, and health. favorite resort, and should bi 1

Sparta, 246 miles by rail from Chicago, is pleasantly and healthily situated,

mineral water strongly impregnated with carbonate of iron, having, it solution

the imperial

gallon,

unusually

large

and its artesian

said, over

proportion, attrai is

its

14 grains in

annual summer

crowd.

Sheboygan, 62 miles by rail north of Milwaukee, from its handsome position on a bluff overlooking the lake, and from the beaut)' of its surroundings as well as from the character of its mineral waters, is an attractive summer resort. Elkhart Lake, 57 miles by rail north of Milwaukee, is rapidly acquiring a good

name from

those seeking health or pleasure, (

"it

In order to ascertain whether the

wok ix Diseases. lasses of

diseases in the state at the date of Carver's

travels are the same which prevail to-day, we have compared his description of

them with those Howard, Crawford and Winneb with those given in the V. S. Census for 1870, and with the medical statistics of th< Milwaukee. The three distinct and prominent classes prevailing from Carver's to the present onsumption, pneumonia, time, are, in the order of prevalence, diseases of the respiratoi and the enteritis, dysentery, diarrhoea, etc.; bronchitis, etc.; diseases of the dig< of the ns seem to have the diseases di malarial fevers. At 1'ort Howard alone do d in the army medical

irts

outnumbered those of the respiratory organs. of the commissioners of Indian

Then

affaii

So far as it is possible

disturbing or qualifyi

amount or distribution of these classi

gather from the reports

ures of the relative prevalence of the three

belts.

operating and affecting the For instance, there are two

HEALTH OF

Wisconsin'.

247

irregular areas in the state; the one extending from tin- Mississippi east and north, and the other starting almost as low down as

Madison, and running up as far as Green

While

subject to malarial diseases than are the other parts of the stale. parts of the state least

Bay, which an- more it

subject to diseases of the digestive organs are, a belt

found

those

thai

along the western

Lake Michigan, and a belt running from near Prairie du Chien north into the pineries. Again, it is found that the part of the state most subjec' to enteric, erebro-spinal and typhus levers, is quite a narrow belt running north from the southern border line into the center of the <

state, or

about two-thirds of the distance toward the pineries.

Michigan, and stretching acrosi the country by way of a bell

much less subject to these disorders.

It is

of Lake Michigan, and the southern shore of

All along the

Fond du Lac to

western short- of the Mississippi,

equally beyond question that the western shore

Lake Superior,

the western hall of the

as well as

southern boundary line of the pineries, are less affected with consumption than the interior parts state.

The tendency of these diseases is certainly to amelioration.

The sanitary history of \\

sm does not differ from that of an}- other state cast of us, in this striking particular; tory of disease, the worse

type

its

found

be.

on-

the farther then, thai

It follows,

the improvement in public health must progress with the general improvement of the state, as

has been the case with the eastern

states,

and that the consequent amelioration of our malarial

The ameliorating influem upon disease, of which England is so happy an known to us. But the time has come at last when this science is moving both the hearts and minds of thinking and humane men in the state, and has been heard in our legislative halls, evoking a law by which we are, as a people, I" be governed, as by any other enactment. The organization of a state board of health is a new era diseases especially will tend to mitigate infectious diseases. ever, that sanitary science has brought to beai illustration, has scarcely as yet begun to be

in our humanity. In this board is invested all legal power over the stale health. To it is committed all the sanitary responsibility of the state, and the greatest good to the people at large must follow the efforts it is making.

There are many other points of sanitary interest to which it is desirable to call the attention of those interested in Wisconsin.

It is a

popular truth that a dry climate, all other things being

Our hygrometrii al re< ords show Wisconsin to have one of

equal, is a health)- climate.

climates in the ITnited States.

Choleraic

diseases

rarely prevail

stagnant state of the atmosphere, where they are most

fatal.

unless

comparatively

Where high winds prevail such

The winds in Wisconsin, while proverbially high and frequent (carryiri and dissipating malarial emanations), are not destructive to life or property, as is the their violence, in some of the adjoining states. A moist, warm atmosphere is always provocative diseases are rare.

Moist

day or two.

ate of

atmosphere is rare with us, and still more rarely continuous beyond

air

the

medium of malarial

poisonous exhalations.

rid

Its character

arsh lands on autumnal evenings.

shut-in marshes (where there In

tor)-

but

little

poisoning, holding as readily

illustrated

by the peculiar smell of

Such a stale of moisture or no

air-current),

is seen only in our lowest and then only for a very limited

cry hot weather.

But too much importance is attached by the public to a simply dry atmosphere for respiradiseases The same mistake is made with regard to ts in such dison

simply high elevations. -sarily

Dry

air

itself or

a high

elevation

favorable to health, or curative of disease.

itself,

In the light

or both combined, are and rare atmos]

mlse is accelerated, the amount of sleep

Pike'

Peak,

ished,

and the human machine is put under a high-pressure rate of living,

dimin-

on. Lit ive on

)

rn-n'oiiY

248

WISCONSIN.

is from 115 to 120 per minute (the normal rate, in moderate elevations, being about 75). And where there is any organic affection this very dry atmosphere and high it is just from lungs, the of the heart, or tendency to bleeding

injury.

The average

pulse in healthy visitors

rate of the

Hence it is that Wisconsin, for the generality when accompanied with hemorrhage, or with heart disease, is prefer-

elevation that make these remedies (?) destructive. of lung diseases, especially

able to Colorado.

may be objected, that the diseases of the respiratory organs are in excess

of other diseases in

Wisconsin.

This feature, however, is not confined to the cold belt of our

—

our proportion of respirator}- diseases, be it noted, comparing most favortemperate latitudes ably with that of other states, as may be seen in the following table:

CLIMATOLOGlCAl

DlSTRIBl riOM OF l'ri'.h>.\;\

l'i-i

VSES.

249

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN.

census of S 70 shows that the death-rate from consumption in Minnesota, Iowa, California and WisThese four states show the lowest death-rate among the states from consumption, consin arc alike. i

the mortality being 13 to 14 per cent, of the whole death-rate.

Climatologically considered, then, there is not a more healthy state in the state of Wisconsin.

Union than the

But for health purposes something more is requisite than climate.

Climate

and soil must be equally good. Men should shun the soil, no matter how rich it be, if the climate is inimical to health, and rather choose the climate that is salubrious, even if the soil is not so rich. In Wisconsin, generally speaking, the soil and climate are equally conducive to health, and alike good for agricultural purposes.

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN. 1S75.

ADAMS COUNTY.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

BURNETT COUNTY.

DOOR COUNTY.

WISCONSIN

251

IllVKiKY

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY. FOPl'LATIfiX.

Towns, Cities and

oi'

WIM'ONMN*.

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN.

JUNEAU COUNTY.

254

HISTORY OF

MWITOWOC COUNTY.

AVI scox SIX.

STATISTICS OF WISCoXSIN".

POLK COUNTY.

.';-,;,

2oG

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN"

SAUK COUNTY.— Cont'd.

STATISTICS or Wisconsin

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN".

258

POPULATION BY COUNTIES. SUMMARY FROM STATE AND FEDERAL CENSUS.

Asllkitl'l

35,873

i!i!wi.-i.i

i.'.'i'.i

1. I.Mi l.-,,llli5

il. Ill |

Jll.l

I'-

S.I.I.S

ll, (111

.,;

,-n.iii-: Hi.

i-.'.u-j'i :>:.;. i.

•jii.i.ii;

l.v.'Ti

•J4,l:W r..ii:ll

:u,!i(is

30,591

15.317

lii.iil

IT).:!! ii i

13,907 -.

-.i

ll.lll.i •.•:(.'.)

i:.

•J-.'.lli'.l

B95 J'.'.

Hi. •

...

.MiiT

l.ll.S

..-..M.il'Ji;

S.llll

1.5(11 1C: I

l/aili.i

I'c-iilli

... i

t.sr.i;

;.:!:.:!

J.'.ssl 1-J.lSli J..,..

I.7»1

.•c, ii.;-; I, i

-'.(III)

809

1:1.(111

80,391

•.'•J.c.lrJ

i-i.-j.-.s

-. 2,'Jii.'.

following:

"Onthe 1st

:),'.!

,,,

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN.

259

NATIVITY BY COUNTIES. CENSl

HISTORY UF WISCONSIN.

VALUATION OF PROPERTY [X

' ,

THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

M'ATIiiX

.111

and'

,ii,,i

villas. |..,.|i.'ll\.

'in.

Adams Ashland lSaytiel'd.'.

10.38S

".'.'.'.'.

329, l,3S

,3,897 15,31111

Buffalo'.'.'.'.!.'.'.'!

1. 51 111

Burnett

3,111111

Calumet Chippewa

2.107.211

Clark

2,35. ,.9:2

2.4.S1, I...

5,32J.8>;9

1,100

13,2211 55.1114

33511

1,300

si'osi'm

Columbia Crawford

i. .

7.112!)

2.927,448

2.351 3,200

U39.528

259 linn

9.5 11.991,

1119. HI.",

71',.

Given Lake... Iowa

i!:iis:i:, :

''u'/'s—

5..-)isa. 1-Jti

15.075 172.31111

i.'wlvj'i":! '.

La Crosse

5..8H9.M3

117

3.HI7.3111 5.351,83'J 5. H7 l.ll HI

5,29i,.5!i9 1,711.9111

2.079.979

15.71111

l',l,s.-....-,i.l

5.HSII us;,.).;

1.77.-..

3,500

11117

1,11111. 111

2,1,33

55.9311

111,1140

in-.'

5,368

21 2 IS '.'7.2H2

1111.380 .91 195

8.73.1

771.

;.2ini

1.51

1,820

524.580

3.972.011

1. -.--;t-.

3. I*.".. 4 7.1

830 599

Pepin

.:,,,

3. 173.->l|l

Pierce Polk Portage

lil.il III

i:'i!-!(':<>'»r

Kaeiuo

in,

815,2,'*

11H..1..-.11

Ilirlilaml

•j. r.'iu,.-,.-.7

Rock St. Croix Sauk

18,393,458 3.927.213 5,4111. -.sr,

8U7.1S4 ,

'.'.

751.9511

41.370

68,720 22 500

l.lli;

.'.

1,1,725

2.: 125

3.213.255

U.-.'SS, 1-Jl) 1

:.-.

129. 3111

1,. -.'ii

1.3(111 1

III

mill

60,033

r,.'. -:.>..im

218.70H 31.1111

2, 31 1.7 IT. 1

r.'.sm.-.iis

211.495

$351,780,351

3,735,817

1!"

3;. 915

2 12.1,51,

8 II',. 421 1,9111.988

111,559.519 1.927.H31

Waukesha Waupaea " aushar.-i

2H2.3III

3.111,557 :,.:;

2,kii;;,.;kn

Taylor

4!l.51ii

21,1.1143

lu,;:!';

.1,1,1..

1,1.:;:;

Milwaukee....

Monroe Oconto

Total

lll.SI.II

17,7211

..I'.!.'.'!

19.2811

1.I-SJM, 2,5i;n.',n .

Manltowoe Marathon

88,(170

1,512,541

Kewaunee

995

23. Mil

Jefferson

Marciuelte.

S9.SIIH

5C.93II

Eau Claire

Fonddu Lac...

Lincoln

111'.

121,n;,-,

,7iu.;:,7

Douglas

Kenosha

urn

3511, :;' in

•

Dunn

18I.S75 312.1128

91.1 12

., 1

13.4111,111

Dodge.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'!!

1,393 60,11 I 1

250

STATISTICS OK

ACREAGE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS

GROWN IN COUSTIES.

[876.

•_'62

>I;Y

OF WISCONSIN".

ACREAGE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS

GROWN IN 1876. O n \ties.

ABSTRACT OF LAWS. WISCONSIN. ELECTORS AND GENERAL ELECTIONS. Sec.

\2.

Every male person of the age of twenty-one years

upward, belonging

cither of the following classes, who shall have resided in the State for one year next preceding any election, shall be deemed a qualified elector at such election 1. Citizens of the United States. 1. Persons of foreign birth who shall have declared their intention to become citizens con:

formably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization. Persons of Indian blood who have once been declared by law of Congress t-> be citizens of the United States, any subsequent law of Congress to the contrary notwithstanding. 4. Civilized |iers< ns of Indian descent not members of any tribe. Every person convicted of bribery shall be excluded from the right of suffrage unless restored to civil rights and no person who shall have made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of any election at which he shall offer to rote, shall be permitted to vote at such election. Sec. 13. No elector shall vote except in the town, ward, village or election district in which 3.

;

he actually resides. Sec. 14. The general election prescribed in the Constitution shall be held in the towns, wards, villages and election districts on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November in each year, at which time there shall be chosen such Representatives in Congress, Electors of President and Vice President, State officers, and county officers as are by law to be elected in such year. Sec. 15. All elections shall be held in each town at the place where the last town meeting was held, or at such other place as shall have been ordered at such last meeting, or as shall have been ordered by the Supervisors when they establish more than one election poll, except that the first election after the organization of a. new town shall be held at the place directed in the act or proceeding by which it was organized; and all elections in villages constituting separate election districts and in the wards of cities, shall be held at the place to be ordered by the Trustees of such village, or the Common Council of such city, at least ten days before such election, unless a different provision is made in the act incorporating such village or city. Sec. lb\ Whenever it shall become impossible or inconvenient to hold an election at the place designated therefor, the Board of Inspectors, after having assembled at or as near as practicable to such place, and before receiving any votes may adjourn to the nearest convenient place for holding the election, and at such adjourned place shall forthwith proceed with the election. I pon adjourning any election as hereinbefore provided, the Hoard of [nspectors shall cause proclamation thereof to be made, and shall station a Constable or some other proper person at the place where the adjournment was made, to notify all electors arriving at such place of adjournment, and the place to which it was made.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN

264

A registry of electors shall annually be made Sec. 20. In each ward or election district of every city which, at the last previous census, had 1. a population of three thousand or more. 2. In each ward or election d. strict of every incorporated village in which, by law. sepwhich village at the last preceding census, had a populaarate elections are held tion of fifteen hundred or more. 3 In every town containing a village which, at said census, had a population of fifteen hundred or more, in which village separate general elections are not by law required to :

;

beheld all towns any part of which shall have been embraced in any part of any city or village in which a registration by this chapter is required. Such registration shall be made in the manner provided by this chapter. The persons authorized by law to act as Inspectors of Election in each of such towns, wards or election districts shall constitute the Board of Registry therefor, The said Inspectors shall have their first meeting on Tuesday, four weeks preSec. '21. ach general election, at the place where said election is to lie held; and in election districts at which there were polled at the previous general election three hundred less, they shall sit for one day, and in districts at which there were more than three hundred votes polled, they shall have power to sit two days if necessary, for the purpose of making such They shall meet at 9 o'clock in the forenoon and hold their meetings open until 8 list. The Clerks appointed by law o'clock in the evening of each day during which they shall so sit. Inks of Election shall act as Clerks of the Board of Registry on the day of election The proceedings shall be open, and all electors of the district shall be entitled to be only. They shall have the same powers heard in relation to corrections or additions to said registry. to preserve order which Inspectors of Election have on election days, and in town 4.

the Hoard shall lie filled in the same maimer that vacancies arc filled at elections. _!± The said Inspectors at their first meeting, and before doing any business, shall

severally take and Subscribe the Oath of Inspectors at a general election, and said Inspectors shall rs of their respective districts, placing at their first meeting make ,

thereon the lull names, alphabetically arranged according to surnames, in one column, and in another the residence by number and name of street or other location, if known. If any elector residence is at any hotel or public boarding-house the name of the hotel or boarding house shall

They shall put thereon the names of all persons residing in their elecbe stated in the registry. tion district appearing on the poll list kept at the last preceding general election, and are authortake therefor such poll-list from the office where kept, omitting such as have died or removed from the district, and adding the n imes ors in such district.

all

other persons known

them to be elect-

In case of the formation of a new election district since the last preceding

may make such registry from the besl means at their command, and may, if necessary, procure therefor certified copies of the last poll-list They shall complete said registry as far as practicable at their first meeting, and shall make foui general

election,

the said Board therein

thereof, and certify fehcoriginal and each copy to be a true

known to them.

list

of the electors in their district so far

One of said copies shall be immediately posted in a conspicuous

place in the room in which their meeting was held, and be accessible to any elector for examination or making copies thereof, and one copy shall be retained by each Inspector for revision and

They shall withm two days after said first meeting file the original a at the second meeting registry made by them, ami said poll-list in the office of the proper town, city or village clerk. and may, in their discretion, cause ten printed copies of said registry to be made and posted in ten of the most public places of said election district, or mill publish" the same in a newspaper at an expense not exceeding one cent for each name The Inspectors shall hold their second meeting at the same place desigmn. Si C. 23. holding elections on the Tuesday two weeks preceding the election. They shall meet at 9 o'clock In election districts having less than three hundred voters, as shown by the in the forenoon.

A.BSTKACT OF LAWS

265

preliminary registry, the Board shall complete the registry on the same day but if there are more than that number of voters, they shall sit two days. They shall remain in session until 8 o'clock in They shall revise and correct the registry first by erasing the name of any person the evening. who shall be proved to their satisfaction by the oaths of two electors of the district to be not entitled to vote therein at the next ensuing election, unless such person shall appear ami if chalsecondly, by entering lenged, shall answer the questions and take the oath hereinafter provided the names of every elector entitled to vote in the district at the next election who shall appear before the Board and require it, and state his place of residence, giving street ami number, if numbered, or location, as hereinbefore provided, if challenged answer the questions, and take the oaths provided in case of challenge at an election but if any person shall refuse to Any person answer all such questions or to take such oath, his name shall not be registered. who is nut twenty-one years of age before the date when the registry is required to be corrected, but ;

;

will be if

he lives until the day of election, shall have his name put on the registry if he be otherAny elector who did not vote at the previous general election

wise qualified to be an elector.

shall be entitled to be registered either at the preliminary or the final registration of electors by

appearing before the Board of Registration of his election district and establishing his right to be registered, or, instead of a personal appearance, he may make his application to be registered to the .Hoard in writing. Such application shall state the name and period of continuous residence in the election district and place of residence therein, giving the number ami street of the applicant, and, in case the person making the application is of foreign birth, he shall state when he came to the United States ami to the State of Wisconsin, and the time and place of declaring his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and that he is entitled to vote at the Upon receiving such application, the Board of Registration shall register the name of such applicant, if it appears to the Board that the applicant is, by his statement, entitled to Such statement shall be made under oath, and shall be preserved by the Board and be All city and village clerks filed in the office of the village or city clerk, as the case may be. The shall keep blanks for making the application for registration, as provided by this section. form shall be prescribed by the Secretary of .State. Every person named in this section shall be subject to the same punishment for any false statement or other offense in respect thereto as led in case of such false statement or other offense by an elector offerin_ election. After such registry shall have been fully completed on the days above mentioned, Within three days after the no name shall be added thereto by any person or upon any pretext. second meeting the said Board shall cause four copies of the registry to be made, each of which shall lie certified by them to be a correct registry of the electors of their district, one of which shall be kept by each Inspector for use on election day, and one shall forthwith be tiled in the office of the proper town, city or village clerk. All registries shall at all times be open to pubiction at the office where deposited

Sec.

-!4.

without charge.

On election day the Inspectors shall designate two of their number at the opening

of the polls, who shall check the names of every elector voting in such district whose name is on No vote shall be received at any general election in any ward or election district stry. n Section 20, if the name of the person offering to vote be not on said registry made at

id meeting as aforesaid, except as hereinafter provided but in case any one shall, after the last day for completing such registry, and before such election, become a qualified voter of the district, he shall have the same right to vote therein at such election as if his name had been duly registered, provided be shall, at the time he offers to vote, deliver to the Inspectors his affi:

which he shall state the facts, showing that he has, since the completion of such regisbecome a qualified elector of such district, and the facts showing that he was not such elector on the day such registry was completed, and shall also deliver to such Inspectors the affidavits of two freeholders, electors in such election district, corroborating all the material statements in his affidavit. In case any person who was a voter at the last previous general election shall not be registered, such person shall be entitled to vote on making affidavit that he was entitled to vote at the previous election, and that he has not become disqualified by reason of removal davit, in try,

266

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

from the election district or otherwise, since that election, which affidavit shall also be corroborated by the affidavits of two freeholders, as is provided for other non-registered voters. No one freeholder shall be competent to make at any one election corroborating affidavits for more than All of said affidavits shall be sworn to before some officer authorized by the laws three voters. The Inspectors shall keep a list of the names ami resideni e of this State to take depositions. of the electors voting whose names are not on said completed registry, and attach said list to the registry and return it, together with all such affidavits, to the proper town, city or village clerk. No compensation shall be paid or received for taking or certifying any such affidavits. On the day following the election, one of said poll-lists and one copy of the registry so kept and checked shall be attached together and filed in the office of the proper town, city or village clerk, and the other of said poll-lists and copy of the registry so kept and checked shall be returned to the County Clerk with the returns of the election. Such Inspectors shall give notice by advertisement in a newspaper printed in the city, village or town where such registration was made, of the registry, ami shall include in such notice all additions to and omissions from the preliminary list, and shall also state where the election is to be held. In case there be no newspaper printed such city, village or town, such notice shall be given by posting copies thereof in three or more public For publication of such places in each ward or election district in such city, village or town. notice in any such newspaper the publisher thereof shall be entitled to the same compensation per folio as is prescribed for publishing other legal notices.

COMMON SCHOOLS. Sec. 413. The formation of any school district shall be by written order of the Town Board, describing the territory embraced in the same, to be filed with the Town Clerk within twenty days after the making thereof. The Supervisors shall deliver to a taxable inhabitant of the district their notice thereof in writing, describing its boundaries, ami appointing a time and place for the first district meeting, and shall therein direct such inhabitant to notify every qualified voter of the district, either personally or by leaving a written notice at his place of resilience, of the time and place of such meeting, at least five days before the time appointed dierefor, and said inhabitant shall notify the voters of such district accordingly, and indorse thereon a return containing the names of all persons thus notified, and said notice and return shall be recorded as a part of the record of the first meeting in such district. In case such notice shall not lie given, or the inhabitants of a district shall negSec. 414. lect or refuse to assemble and form a district meeting when so notified, or in case any school district having been formed or organized shall afterward lie disorganized, so that no competent authority shall exist therein to call a special district meeting, in the manner hereinafter provided, notice shall be given by the Town Board, ami served in the manner prescribed in the preceding section. Whenever a district meeting shall be called as prescribed in tins and the preceding section, it shall be the duty of the electors of the district to assemble at the time

and place so directed. Sec. 41."). Whenever il shall bo necessary to form a districi from two or more adj towns, the Town Hoards of such towns shall meet together and form such districts by then' written order, describing the territory embraced in such district, signed by at leasl two of the Supervisors of each town; and shall file one such order with the Town Clerk of each town, and deliver the notice ol formation to a taxable inhabitant of such district, and cause the sail and any such district may nd returned in the time and manner hereinbefore prescribed be altered only by the joint action of the Town Boards of such towns in the same manner that other districts are altered. Sec. H6. Every school district shall he deemed duly organized when any two of the officers elected at the first legal meeting thereof shall have co n sen ted to serve in the offices to which they have been respectively elected, by a written acceptance thereof filed with the clerk of the fir-t meeting, and recorded in the minutes thereof: and every school district shall he considered ;

duly organized after it shall have exercised the franchises and privileges of a district for the term of two years. The annual meeting of all school districts in which graded schools of two or Sec. 425. more departments are taught, shall be held on the second Monday of July, and of all other The hour of such meeting shall school districts on the last Monday of September, in each year. be seven o'clock in the afternoon, unless otherwise provided by a vote of the district, duly recorded at the last previous annual meeting; but at any annual meeting a majority of the electors present may determine that the annual meeting of such district shall be held on the last Monday of August instead of the last Monday of September. Said determination to take effect when a copy of the proceedings of said annual meeting in reference to such change shall have been filed with the Town Clerk in which the schoolhouse of such district is situated, and to remain in force until rescinded by a like vote of the electors of sucli district. 426. The Clerk shall give at least six days' previous notice of every annual district meeting, by posting notices thereof in four or more public places in the district, one of which shall be affixed to the outer door of the schoolhouse, if there be one in the district, and he shall give like notices for every adjourned district meeting when such meeting shall have been adjourned for more than one month but no annual meeting shall be deemed illegal for want of due notice, unless it shall appear that the omission to give such notice was willful and fraudulent. Special district meetings may be called by the Clerk, or. in his absence, by the Sec. 427. Directors or Treasurer, on written request of five legal voters of the district, in the manner and the electors, when lawfully assembled at a special prescribed for calling an annual meeting meeting, shall have power to transact the same business as at the first and each annual meeting, except the election of officers. The business to be transacted at any special meeting shall be particularly specified in the notices calling the same, and said notices shall be posted six full days prior to the meeting. No tax or loan or debt shall be voted at a special meeting, unless three-fourths of the legal voters shall have been notified, either personally or by a written notice left at their places of residence, stating the time and place and objects of the meeting, and specifying the amount proposed to be voted, at least six days before the time appointed therefor. Sec. 428. Every person shall be entitled to vote in any school district meeting who is qualified to vote at a general election for State and county officers, and who is a resident of such as

;

school district.

ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF DISTRICT TAXES. Sec. 169. All school district taxes, unless otherwise specially provided by law, shall be assessed on the same kinds of property as taxes for town and county purposes; and all personal property which, on account of its location or the residence of its owner, is taxable in the town. shall, if such locality or residence be in the school district, be likewise taxable for school district purposes.

BORROWING MONEY. Sec. 174. Whenever, upon any unusual exigency, any school district shall, before the annual meeting, vote a sp cia] tax to be collected with the next levy, the district may, by vote, authorize the District Board to borrow for a period not exceeding one year a sum not exceeding the amount of such tax, and by such vote set apart such tax when collected to repay such loan, and thereupon the District Board may borrow such money of any person and on such terms and execute arid deliver to the lender such obligation therefor, and such security for the repayment. including a mortgage or pledge of any real or personal property of the district, subject to the directions contained in the vote of the district as may be agreed upon and not prohibited by law.

Sec. 498.

Every District Clerk who shall willfully neglect to make the annual report for by law shall be liable to pay the whole amount of money lost by such

his district as required

HISTGEY OF WISCONSIN.

268 district in

consequence of his neglect, which shall be recovered in an action in the name of and

for the use of the district.

Sec. 499. Every Town Clerk who shall neglect or refuse to make and deliver to the County Superintendent his annual report, as required in this chapter within the tune limited therefor, pay the town the amount which such town or any school district therein, shall lose by such neglect or refusal, with interest thereon and every County Superintendent who shall neglect or refuse to make the report required of him by this chapter to the State Superintendent shall be liable to pay to eich town the amount which such town or any school district therein shall lose by such neglect or refusal, with interest thereon, to be recovered in either <case in an action prosecuted by the Town Treasurer in the name of the

shall be liable on his official bond to

;

town. Sec. 503. Every member of a district board in any school district in this State in which a list of text-books has been adopted according to law, who shall, within three years from the date of such adoption, or thereafter, without the consent of the State Superintendent, order a change of text-books in such district, shall forfeit the sum of fifty dollars. Sue. 513. Every woman of twenty-one years of age and upward may be elected or appointed as director, treasurer or clerk of a school district, director or secretary of a town board under the township system member of a board of education in cities, or county superintendent. In reckoning school months, twenty days shall constitute a month and one hunSec. 560. dred days five months. ;

ASSESSMENT OF TAXES. Sec. 1035. The terms "real property," "real estate" and "land." when used ia this title, shall include not only the land itself, but all buildings, fixtures, improvements, rights and privileges appertaining thereto. Sec. 103(3. The term " personal property," as used in this title, shall be construed to mean ami include toll-bridges, saw-logs, timber and lumber, either upon land or afloat, steamboats, ships and other vessels, whether at home or abroad; buildings upon leased lands, if such buildings have nut been included in the assessment of the land on which they are erected ferry-boats, including the franchise for running the same; all debts due from solvent debtors, whether on account, note, contract, bond, mortgage or other security, or whether such debts are due or to become due; and all goods, wares, merchandise, chattels, moneys and effects of any nature or description having any real or marketable value and not included in the term " real ;

property." as above defined.

The improvements on all lands situated in this State, which shall have been SEC, 1037. entered under the provisions of the act of Congress entitled "An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain." approved May twentieth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and which shall be actually occupied and improved by the person so entering the same, his heirs, shall be subject to taxation, and such improvements shall be assessed as personal All taxes levied thereon shall be collected out of the personal property of the occupant of such lands, and in no other manner. Sec. 1038. The property in this section described is exempt from taxation, to wit: 1. That owned exclusively by the United States or by this State, but no lands contracted to be sold by the State shall be exempt. 2. That owned exclusively by any county, city, village, town or school district but lands purchased by counties at tax sales shall be exempt only in the cases provided in Section Eleven Hundred and Ninety-one. 3. Personal property owned by any religious, scientific, literary or benevolent association, used exclusively for the purposes of such association, and the real property, if not leased, or not otherwise used for pecuniary profit, necessary for the location and convenience of the buildings of such association, and embracing the same not exceeding

;

ABSTRACT OF LAWS

269

and the lands reserved for grounds of a chartered college or university, not exceeding forty acres; and parsonages, whether of local churches or districts, and whether occupied by the pastor permanently or rented tor Ins benefit. The occasional leasing of such buildings for schools, public lectures or concerts, or the leasing of such parsonages, shall not render them liable to taxation. Personal property owned and used exclusively by the Stale or any county agricultural society, and the lands owned and used by any such society exclusively for fair grounds. Fire engines and other implements used tor extinguishing fires, owned or used by any organized fire company, and the buildings and necessary grounds connected therewith. owned by such company, and used exclusively for its proper purposes. The property of Indians who are not citizens, except lands held by them by purchase. Lands used exclusively as public burial-grounds, and tombs and monuments to the dead

''ensions receivable from the United States.

ten acres

•5.

;

therein.

any corporation in this State which is required to pay taxes upon its .property in the same manner as individuals. So much of the debts due or to become due to any person as shall equal the amount oi bona-fide and unconditional debts by him owing. Wearing apparel, family portraits and libraries, kitchen furniture and growing crops. Provisions and fuel provided by the head of a family to sustain its members for six months but no person paying board shall be deemed a member of a family. All the personal property of all insurance companies that now are or shall be org:

stock in

10. 11. 12.

13.

or doing business in this State. 14.

The

track, right of way, depot

grounds, buildings, machine-shops, rolling-stock and sarily used in operating any railroad in this State b company, including pontoon, pile and pontoon railroads, and shall henceforth remain exempt from taxation for any purpose, except that the same shall be subject to d assessments for local improvements in cities and villages and all lands owned or claimed by such railroad company not adjoining the track of such company, shall be subject to all taxes. The provision of this subdivision shall not apply to any railroad that rn.w is or shall be operated by horse-power, whether now or hereafter constructed in any village or city. The property, except real estate, of all companies which are or shall be engaged in the other

railroad

business of telegraphing in this State.

The real estate of the Home of the Friendless in the city of Milwaukee, not exceeding one lot in amount, is exempted, so long as the same shall continue to be used as such home.

17. All property of any corporation or association formed under the laws of this State for the encouragement of industry by agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions.

which shall be necessary for fair grounds, while used exclusively for such fairs and exhibitions, provided the quantity of land so exempt shall not exceed forty acres. Such tree-belts as are or may hi' planted and maintained in compliance with chapter sixty six of one of these statutes. Sec. liyi. Real property, upon which the county holds any certificates of tax sale, shall continue liable to taxation and to sale for unpaid taxes, and the county shall be the exclusive purchaser at the sale; but when a tax deed shall be issued to the county, and it shall hold tax certificates of sale unredeemed on the same property for two successive years subsequent to the date of the sale on which such deed shall issue, including certificates of sale made prior to the passage of these statutes, such property shall thereafter be exempt from taxation until the same is sold by the county. The County Clerk shall annually, before the first day of June, furnish to the Assosors of each town a list of the lands in such town exempt under this section. Nothing in this seci ion shall be s construed as to apply to lands owned by minors, married women, i

widowed women, idiots or insane persons.

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

ZIV

COLLECTION OF TAXES. The Town Treasurer of each town, on the receipt of the tax-roll for the cur-

Sec. 1089.

rent year, shall forthwith post notices in three or four public places in such towns, that the taxmil for such town is in his hands for collection, and that the taxes charged therein are subject to payment at his office at any time prior to the first day of January in such year; and after first day of January he shall proceed to collect the taxes charged in such roll and remaining unpaid, and for that purpose shall call at least once on the person taxed, or at any place of his usual residence, if within the town, and demand payment of the taxes charged to him on such roll. Sec. 1090. On all taxes paid or tendered at the office of such Treasurer prior to said first day of January, he shall remit all of the 5-per-cent collection fees, except so much thereof as he is authorized by law to have for his fees upon taxes so paid. Sec. 1091. Town orders shall be receivable for taxes in the town where issued, and shall be allowed the Town Treasurer on settlement of town taxes; and county orders and juror- certificates shall be receivable for taxes in the county where issued, and shall be allowed such Treasurer on settlement of county taxes with the County Treasurer, but no Town Treasurer shall receive town orders in payment for taxes to a larger amount than the town taxes included in his assessment-roll exclusive of all taxes for school purposes, nor county orders and jurors' certificates to a greater amount than the county tax included therein. Sec. 1097. In case any person shall refuse or neglect to pay the tax imposed upon him, the Town Treasurer shall levy the same by distress and sale of any goods and chattels belonging to such person, wherever the same may be found within his town and if a sufficient amount of such property cannot be found in such town, the Town Treasurer may levy the same by distress and sale of the goods and chattels belonging to such person, wherever the same may be found in the county or in any adjoining counties. Sec. 1098. The Town Treasurer shall give public notice of the time and place of such sale, at least six days previous thereto, by advertisement, containing a description of the property to be sold, to be posted up in three public places in the town where the sale is to be made. The sale shall be at public auction, in the daytime, and the property sold shall be present such property may be released by the payment of the taxes and charges for which the same is liable, to be sold if the purchase-money on such sale shall not be paid at such time as the Treasurer may require, he may again, in his discretion, expose such property for sale, or sue, in his name of office, the purchaser for the purchase-money, and recover the same with eo>ts and 10-per-centum damage-. Si C. L099. If [lie property so levied upon shall be sold for more than the amount of tax and costs, the surplus shall be returned to the owner thereof: and if cannol lie sold for want of bidders, the Treasurer shall return a statement uf the fact, and return the property to the person from whose possession he took the same; and the tax, if unsatisfied, shall be collected in lie same manner as if no levy had been made.

the said

;

HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. Sec.

The Supervisors of the several towns

shall have the care and supervision oi the highways and bridges therein, and it shall be their duty To give directions for repairing the highways and bridges within their respective towns. 1.

L223.

and cause i" I"' removed all obstructions tin refrom. To 'iniM' of the roads used as highways a- have been laid out but not sufficiently described, and such as have been lawfully laid out and used as such up to the then pros, ait time, but not fully and sufficiently recorded, to be a certained, described and 1

entered of iec. id

the Town Clerk's office.

ABSTRACT OF LAWS

-71

To cause bridges which are or may be erected over streams intersecting highways to be

To divide their respective towns into so many mad districts as they shall judge conven-

kept in repair.

and specify every such division in writing under their hands, to be recorded in but no such division shall be made within ten days next the office of the' Town Clerk preceding the annual town meeting. 5. To assign to each of the said mad districts such of the inhabitants liable to pay taxes on highways as they think proper, having regard to the nearness of residence as much ient,

;

as practicable. 6.

7. 8.

To require the Overseers of Highways from time to time, and as often as they shall deem necessary, to perform any of the duties required of them by law. To assess the highway taxes in their respective towns in each year, as provided by law. To lay out and establish upon actual surveys, as hereinafter provided, such new roads in their respective towns as they may deem necessary and proper: to discontinue such roads as shall appear to them to have become unnecessary, and to widen or alter such roads when they shall deem necessary for public convenience, and perform all other duties respecting highways and bridges directed by this chapter.

INTOXICATING LIQUORS. The Town Boards, Village Boards and Common Councils of the respective SEC. 1548. towns, villages and cities may grant license to such persons as they may deem proper, to keep groceries, saloons or other places, within their respective towns, villages or cities, for the sale in quantities less than one gallon of strong, spirituous, malt, ardent or intoxicating liquors, to be drank on the premises: and in like manner may grant licenses for the sale in any quantity of The .sum to be paid for such license for the sale such liquors not to be drank on the premises. of such liquor to be drank on the premises shall not be less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred and fifty dollars; and for the sale of such liquors not to be drank on the premises shall be not less than ten nor more than forty dollars. Every applicant for such license shall, before delivery thereof, file with such Sec. 1549. town, village or city clerk a bond to the State in the sum of five hundred dollars, with at least two sureties, to be approved by the authorities granting the license, who shall each justify in double its amount over and above their debts and liabilities and exemptions, and be freeholders and residents of the county, conditioned that the applicant, during the continuance of his ill keep and maintain an orderly and well-regulated house; that he will permit no gambling with cards, dice or any device or implement for that purpose, within his premises or any out-house, yard or shed appertaining thereto that he will not sell or give away any intoxicating liquor to any minor, having good reason to believe him to be such, unless upon the written order of the parents or guardian of such minor, or to persons intoxicated or bordering upon v.

;

intoxication, or to habitual drunkards; and that he will pay all damages that may be recovered by any person, and that he will observe and obey all orders of such Supervisors, Trustees or In case of the breach of the condition of Aldermen, or any of them, made pursuant to law. any such bond, an action may be brought thereon in the name of the State of Wisconsin, and judgment shall be entered against the principals and sureties therein named for the full penalty thereof; and execution may issue thereupon by order of the court therefor, to satisfy any judgment that may have been recovered against the principal named in said bond, by reason of any breach in the conditions thereof, or for any penalties of forfeitures incurred under this chap ter. If more than one judgment shall have been recovered, the court, in its discretion, may apply the proceeds of said bond toward the satisfaction of said several judgments, in whole or

such manner as it may see fit. If any person shall vend, sell, deal or traffic in or for the purpose of evading Sec. 1550. this chapter, give away, any spirituous, malt, ardent or intoxicating liquors or drinks in any in part, in

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

272

quantity whatever without first having ohtained license therefor, according to the provisions of this chapter, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of not less than ten nor more than forty dollars, besides the costs of suit, or, in lieu of such fine, by imprisonment in the county jail of the proper county not to exceed sixty days nor less than twenty days and, in case of punishment by fine as above provided, such person shall, unless the fine and costs be paid forthwith, be committed to the county jail of the proper county until such fine and costs are paid, or until discharged by due course of law and, in case of a second or any subsequent conviction of the same person during any one year, the punishment may be by both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. ;

;

Sec. 1551. Upon complaint made to any Justice of the Peace by any person that he knows or has good reason to believe that an offense against this chapter, or any violation thereof, has been committed, he shall examine the complainant on oath, and he shall reduce such comAnd if it plaint to writing and cause the same to be subscribed by the person complaining. shall appear to such Justice that there is reasonable cause to believe that such offense has

been immediately issue his warrant, reciting therein the substance of such comwhom sucli warrant shall be directed forthwith to arrest the accused and bring him before such Justice, to be dealt with according to law and the same warrant may require the officer to summon such persons as shall be therein named to appear at the committed, he

shall,

plaint and requiring the officer to

;

trial to give

evidence.

The District Attorney of the proper county shall, on notice given to him by Sec. 1552. the Justice of the Peace before whom any such complaint shall be made, attend the trial before such Justice and conduct the same on behalf of the State. Sec. 1553.

Every supervisor, trustee, alderman and justice of the peace, police officer*

marshal, deputy marshal and constable of any town, village or city who shall know or be credibly informed that any offense has been committed against the provisions of this chapter shall make complaint against the person so offending within their respective towns, villages or cities to

a proper Justice of the Peace therein, and for every neglect or refusal so to do every such and the Treasurer of such town, village or city shall pros-

officer shall forfeit twenty-five dollars,

ecute therefor.

Sec. 1557. Any keepar of any saloon, simp or place of any name whatsoever for the sale of strong, spirituous or malt liquors to be drank on the premises in any quantity less than one gallon, who shall sell, vend or in any way deal or traffic in or for the purpose of evading this chapter, give away any spirituous, ardent or malt liquors or drinks in any quantity whatsoever a minor, having good reason to believe him to be such, or to a person intoxicated or bordering on a state of intoxication, or to any other prohibited person before mentioned, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; nor shall any person sell or in any way deal or traffic in, or, for the purpose of evading this chapter, give away, any spirituous, ardent, intoxicating or malt liquors or drinks in any quantity whatsoever within one mile of either of the hospitals for the insane; and any person who shall so sell or give away any such liquors or drinks shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. to or with

BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES. All notes in writing made and signed by any person or for any corporation, and all certificates of the deposit of money issued by any person or corporation*, whereby he or it shall promise to pay to any person or order, or unto the hearer, any s'nii of money, as therein mentioned, shall be due and payable as therein expressed, and shall have the same effect and shall lie negotiable in like manner as inland bills of exchange, according to the custom of merchants. Hut no order drawn upon or accepted by the Treasurer of any county, town, city, village orscl district, whether drawn by anj officer thereof or any other person, and no obligation nor instrument made by such corporation or any officer thereof, unless expressly authorized by law

Sec. 1075.

ABSTKACT OF LAWS.

273

to bo made negotiable, shall be, or shall be deemed to be, negotiable according to the customs of merchants, in whatever form they may be drawn or made. L680. On all bills of exchange payablfl at sight, or at future day certain, within this State, and all negotiable promissory notes, orders and drafts payable at a future daj cer tain, within this State, in which there is not an express stipulation to the contrary, grace should be allowed in like manner as it is allowed by the custom of merchants on foreign hills of exchange The provisions of this section payable at the expiration of a certain period after date or sight. shall not extend to any bill of exchange, note or draft payable on demand. All' notes, drafts, bills of exchange or other negotiable paper maturing on Sec. 1084. Sunday or upon any legal holiday shall be due and payable on the next preceding secular day.

HOURS OF LABOR. In all manufactories, work-shops and other places used for mechanical or Sec. 1728. manufacturing purposes, the time of labor of children under eighteen years of age and of women employed therein, shall not exceed eight hours in one day; and any employer, stockholder. director, officer, overseer, clerk or foreman

who shall compel any woman or any child to labor

exceeding eight hours in any one day, or who shall permit any child under fourteen years of age to labor more than ten hours in any one day in any such place, if he shall have control over such child sufficient to prevent it, or who shall employ at manual labor any child under twelve years of age in any factory or work-shop where more than three persons are employed, or who shall employ any child of twelve and under fourteen years of age in any such factory or workshop for more than seven months in any one year, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than fifty

dollars for each such offense.

In all engagements to labor in any manufacturing or mechanical business, Sec. 172'.*. where there is no express contract to the contrary, a day's work shall consist of eight hours, am* but this shall no/ engagements or contracts for labor in such cases shall be so construed apply to any contract for labor by the week, month or year. all

;

Sec.

2207.

FORM OF CONVEYANCES. A deed of quitclaim and release of the form in common use or of the form

hereinafter provided, shall be sufficient to pass all the estate which the grantor could lawfully

convey by deed of bargain and sale. Sec. 22HS. Conveyances of land may be in substantially the following form:

WARRANTY DEED.

A B, grantor of of

County, Wisconsin, hereby conveys and warrants to C I>. grantee. dollars, the following tract of land in County, Wisconsin, for the sum of County. (Here describe the premises.)

Witness the hand and seal of said grantor this In the presence of)

day of

— jSEAL.] [SEAL.]

QUITCLAIM DEED.

A B, grantor, of County, Wisconsin, hereby quitclaims to C D, grantee, of County, dollars, the following tract of land in County, Wisconsin, for the sum of (

Here describe the premises )

Witness the hand and seal of said grantor this In presence of

day of

—

ZZIZZZj

[Sal:]

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

-<4

Such deeds, when executed and acknowledged as required by law, shall, when of the first of the above forms, have the effect of a conveyance in fee simple to the grantee, his heirs and assigns of the premises therein named, together with all the appurtenances, rights and privileges thereto belonging, with a covenant from the grantor, his heirs and personal representatives, that he is lawfully seized of the premises has good right to convey the same that he guarantees the grantee, his heirs and assigns in the quiet possession thereof that the same are free from all incumbrances, and that the grantor, his heirs and personal representatives will forever warrant and defend the title and possession thereof in the grantee, his heirs and assigns against all ;

;

Any exceptions to such covenants may be briefly inserted in such

lawful claims whatsoever.

deed, following the description of the land; and when in the second of the above forms, shall have the effect of a conveyance in fee simple to the grantee, his heirs and assigns, of all the right, title,

interest and estate of the grantor, either in possession or expectancy, in and to the

ises therein

prem-

described, and all rights, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging.

MORTGAGES. A mortgage may be substantially in the following form

_'209.

A B, mortgagor, of

— County, Wisconsin, hereby mortgages to C D, mortgagee, of County, Wisconsin, for the sum of dollars, the following tract of land in

County. i

Here describe the premises )

This mortgage is given to secure the following indebtedness

'Here slate amount or amounts and form of indebtedness, whether on note, bond or otherwise, time or times when due. rate of interest, hij and In whom payable, tie. ,

The mortgagor agrees to pay

all

taxes and assessments on said premises, and the sum of

dollars attorney's fees in case of foreclosure thereof.

Witness the hand and seal of said mortgagor this

day of

—

In presence of

[SEAL.] [seal.]

when executed and acknowledged according

have the effect of a conveyance of the land therein described, together with all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging in pledge to the mortgagee, his heirs, assigns and legal representatives for the payment of the indebtedness therein sit forth, with covenant from the mortgagor that all taxes and assessments levied and assessed upon the land described during the continuance of the mortgage shall be paid previous to the day appointed by law for the sale of lands for tax<>s. ;is fully as the forms of mortgage now ami heretofore in common use in this State, and may be foreclosed in the same manner and with the same effect, upon any default being made in any of the conditions thereof to

law

shall

as to payment of either principal, interest or taxes.

ASSIGNMENT OF MORTGAGE. Sec.

An assignment of a mortgage substantially in the following form:

i2l'10.

For value received

—

I!.

o\'

— Wisconsin, hereby assign C D, of Wisof by E F and of the Register of — and recorded the to

consin, the within mortgage (or a certain mortgage executed to

18 — day of County, \\ isconsin, the Deeds of County, Wisconsin, in Vol. the and indebtedness therein mentioned. Witness ray hand and seal this day of

—

fn presence of

wife,

office

of mortgages, on page

together with

— A B. [SEAL.]

ABSTRACT OF LAWS

275

be sufficient to vest in the assignee for all purposes all the rights of the mortgagee under the mortgage, and the amount of the indebtedness due thereon at the date of assignment. assignment, when indorsed upon the original mortgage, shall not require an acknowledgSuch ment in order to entitle the same to be recorded. shall

Sec. 2270.

TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY BY DESCENT. When any person shall die, seized of any lands, tenements or hereditaments, or

any right thereto, or entitled to any interest therein in fee simple, or for the life of another, not having lawfully devised the same, they shall descend subject to his debts, except as provided in the next section, in the manner following: 1.

In equal shares to his children, and to the lawful issue of any deceased child, by right of representation; and if there be no child of the intestate living at his death, his estate shall descend to all his other lineal descendants; and if all the said descendants are in the same degree of kindred to the intestate, they shall share the estate equally, otherwise they shall take according to the right of representation. If he shall leave no lawful issue, to his widow if he shall leave no such issue or widow, and if either shall not be living, the survivor shall inherit to his parents, if living If a woman shall die, leaving no issue, her estate shall descend to his said estate. her husband, if she shall have one at the time of her decease, and if she shall leave, surviving her, neither issue nor husband, to her parents, if living and if either shall not be living, the survivor shall inherit her said estate. If he shall leave no lawful issue, nor widow, nor father, nor mother, his estate shall descend in equal shares to his brothers and sisters, and to the children of any deceased ;

;

brother or sister, by right of representation. If the intestate shall leave no lawful issue, widow, father, mother, brother nor sister, his estate shall descend to his next of kin in equal degree, except that when there are

two or more collateral kindred in equal degree, but claiming through different ancesthose who claim through the nearest ancestor shall be preferred to those claiming through an ancestor more remote; provided, however, 5. If any person die leaving several children, or leaving one child, and the issue of one or more other children, and any such surviving child shall die under age, and not having been married, all the estate that came to the deceased child, by inheritance from such deceased parent, shall descend in equal shares to the other children of the same parent, and to the issue of any such other children who shall have died, by right of representation. 6. If, at the death of such child, who shall die under age, and not having been married, all the other children of his said parent shall also be dead, and any of them shall have left issue, the estate that came to said child by inheritance from his said parent, shall descend to all the issue of the other children of the same parent and if all the said issue are in the same degree of kindred to said child, they shall share the said estate equally; otherwise they shall take according to the right of representation. 7. If the intestate shall have no widow nor kindred, his estate shall escheat to the State. and be added to the capital of the school fund. Sec. 2271. When the owner of any homestead shall die, not having lawfully devised the same, such homestead shall descend free of all judgments and claims against such deceased owner or his estate, except mortgages lawfully executed thereon, and laborers' and mechanics' tors,

;

liens, in

the manner following

If he shall have no lawful issue, to his widow. If he shall leave a widow and issue, to his widow during her widowhood, and, upon

marriage or death, to his heirs, according to the next preceding section. If he shall leave issue and no widow, to such issue, according to the preceding section.

If he shall leave no issue or widow, such homestead shall descend

ceding section, subject to lawful liens thereon.

her

under the next pre-

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

276

OF WILLS. Sec. 2277. Every person of full age, and any married woman of the age of eighteen years and upward, being of sound mind, seized in his or her own right of any lands, or of any right thereto, or entitled to any interest therein, descendible to his or her heirs, may devise and dispose of the same by last will and testament in writing; and all such estate not disposed of by will, shall descend as the estate of an intestate, being chargeable, in both cases, with the payment of all his debts or her debts, except as provided in the next preceding chapter, and in section twenty-two hundred and eighty. Sec. 2278. Every devise of land in any will shall be construed to convey all the estate of the devisor therein, which he could lawfully devise, unless it shall clearly appear by the will that the devisor intended to convey a less estate. Sec. 2279. Any estate, right or interest in lands acquired by the testator, after the making of his will, shall pass thereby in like manner as if possessed at the time of making the will, if such shall manifestly appear, by the will, to have been the intention of the testator. Sec. 2280. When any homestead shall have been disposed of by the last will and testament of the owner thereof, the devisee shall take the same, free of all judgments and claims against the testator or his estate, except mortgages lawfully executed thereon, and laborers' and mechanics' liens. Sec. 2281. Every person of full age, and every married woman of the age of eighteen years and upward, being of sound mind, may, by last will and testament in writing, bequeath and dispose of all his or her personal estate remaining at his or her decease, and all his or her rights thereto and interest therein, subject to the payment of debts and all such estate not disposed of by the will shall be administered as intestate estate. Sec. 2284. All beneficial devises, legacies and gifts whatsoever, made or given in any will to a subscribing witness thereto, shall be wholly void, unless there be two other competent subscribing witnesses to the same but a mere charge on the lands of the devisor for the payment of debts, shall not prevent his creditors from being competent witnesses to his will. Sec. 2285. But if such witness, to whom any beneficial devise may have been made or given, would have been entitled to any share of the estate of the testator, in case the will was not established, then so much of the share that would have descended or been distributed to such witness as will not exceed the devise or bequest made to him in the will, shall be saved to him, and he may recover the same of the devisees or legatees named in the will, in proportion to and out of the parts devised or bequeathed to them. Sec. 2286. When any child shall be born, after the making of his parent's will, and no provision shall be made therein for him, such child shall have the same share in the estate of the testator as if he had died intestate and the share of such child shall be assigned to him, as provided by law, in case of intestate estates, unless it shall be apparent from the will that it was the intention of the testator that no provision should be made for such child. Sec. 2290. No will, or any part thereof, shall be revoked, unless by burning, tearing, canceling or obliterating the same, with the intention of revoking it, by the testator, or by some person in his presence, and by his direction, or by some other will or codicil in writing, executed as prescribed in this chapter, or by some other writing, signed, attested and subscribed in the manner provided in this chapter, for the execution of a will ; excepting, only, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent the revocation implied by law, from subsequent changes in the condition or circumstances of the testator. The power to make a will implies the power to revoke the same. ;

;

OF THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. Sec. 4021.

Any inhabitant of this State may petition the County Court, in the county of

his residence, for leave to adopt a child not his own by birth; but no such petition made by a married person shall be granted, unless the husband or wife of the petitioner shall join therein

ABSTRACT OF LAWS.

277

nor shall any such petition he granted, unless the child, if of the age of fourteen years, or more, shall consent thereto in writing, in the presence of the court. Sec. 4022.

No such adoption shall be made, without the written consent of the living

parents of such child, unless the court shall find that one of the parents has abandoned the child, or gone to parts unknown, when such consent may be given by the parent, if any, having the In case where neither of the parents is living, or if living, have abandoned care of the child. the child, such consent may be given by the guardian of such child, if any if such child has no guardian, such consent may be given by any of the next of kin of such child, residing in this State, or, in the discretion of the court, by some suitable person to be appointed by the court. 2. In case of a child not born in lawful wedlock, such consent may be given by the mother, if she is living, and has not abandoned such child. ;

Sec. 4023. If upon such petition and consent, as herein provided, the County Court shall be satisfied of the identity and the relations of the persons, and that the petitioners are of sufficient ability to bring up, and furnish suitable nurture and education for the child, having reference to the degree and condition of its parents, and that it is proper that such adoption shall take effect, such court shall make an order, reciting said facts that, from and after the date thereof, such child shall be deemed, to all legal intents and purposes, the child of the petitioners and by such order the name of such child may be changed to that of the parents by adoption. ;

Sec. 4024. child so adopted, shall be deemed for the purposes of inheritance and succession by such child, custody of the person and right of obedience by such parents by adoption, and all other legal consequences and incidents of the natural relation of parents and children, the same to all intents and purposes as if such child had been born in lawful wedlock of such parents by adoption, excepting that such child shall not be capable of taking property expressly limited to the heirs of the body of such parents. The natural parents of such child shall be deprived, by such order of adoption, of all legal rights whatsoever, respecting such child, and such child shall be freed from all legal obligations of maintenance and obedience to such natural parents

INTEREST. The legal rate of interest is 7 per cent. A higher rate of interest, not exceeding 10 per cent, may be contracted for, but the same must be clearly expressed in writing. If a higher rate than 10 per cent is collected or paid, the party so paying may,

by himself or his legal repamount so paid above the 10 per cent, if the action is brought within one year, and all bills, notes, or other contracts whatsoever, whereby a higher rate than 10 resentative, recover treble the

per cent is secured, shall be liable for the principal sum, but no interest shall be recovered.

JURISDICTION OF COURTS. The Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal actions within their respective circuits, subject to a re-examination by the Supreme Court. The County Courts shall have jurisdiction over the probate matters in their respective counties, and shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction in the counties of Brown, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee and Winnebago in all cases of appeals from Justices of the Peace in civil commenced in Justices' Courts therein, there shall be an answer put in, showing that the title of lands will come in question. And such Courts shall have concurrent and equal jurisdiction in all civil actions and proactions, and all cases

ceedings with the Circuit Courts of said counties to the following extent respectively The County Court of Brown, when the value of the property in controversy, after deducting all payments and set-offs, shall not exceed five thousand dollars. :

The County Court of Dodge County, when such value shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

278

The County Court of Fond du

Lac, when such value shall not exceed twenty thousand

dollars.

The County Court of Milwaukee, when such value does not exceed five million dollars. The County of Winnebago, when such value does not exceed twenty thousand dollars. They shall have jurisdiction of all actions for foreclosure where the value does not exceed the above amounts, and of all actions for divorce or for affirmation or annullment of marriage contract. Justices of the Peace have jurisdiction in civil matters where two hundred dollars or less are involved. The criminal jurisdiction of Justices extends to all cases where the fine is one hundred dolor the imprisonment six months.

lars,

JURORS. All persons who are citizens of the United States, and qualified electors of the State shall be liable to be drawn as jurors, except as provided as follows: The following persons shall be exempt from serving as jurors: All officers of the United States, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Superintendent and Treasurer all Judges, Clerks of Courts of Record all county officers, Constables, attorneys and counselors at law, ministers of the Gospel of any religious society, practicing physicians, surgeons, dentists, and the President, professors and instructors of the University and their assistants, and of the several colleges and incorporated academies all teachers of the State Normal Schools, one teacher in each common school, the officers and employes of the several State institutions, one miller in each grist-mill, one ferryman at each licensed ferry, one dispensing druggist in each prescription drug-store, all telegraph operators and superintendents, conductors, engineers, firemen, collectors and station-agents of any railroad or canal, while in actual employment as such all officers of fire departments, and all active members of fire companies organized according to law all persons more than sixty years of age, and all persons of unsound mind or subject to any bodily infirmity amounting to disability all persons who have been convicted of any infamous crime, and all persons who have served at any regular term of the Circuit Court as a grand or petit juror within one year, except he shall be summoned on a special venire or as a talesman. ;

;

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Capital punishment has been abolished in this State.

WOLF SCALPS. A bounty of five dollars

paid for each wolf scalp.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Whenever either of the articles, as commodities hereafter mentioned, shall be sold by the bushel, and no special agreement as to measure or weight thereof shall be made by the parties, the measure shall be ascertained by weight, and shall be computed as follows: Sixty pounds for a bushel of wheat, clover seed, potatoes or beans. Fifty pounds for a bushel of green apples; fifty-six pounds for a bushel of rutabagas, flaxseed, rye or Indian corn studied, and seventy pounds of Indian corn unshelled; fifty pounds for a bushel of rape seed, buckwheat, beets, carrots or onions; forty-eight pounds for a bushel of barley ; forty-five pounds for a bushel of timothy seed-; forty-four pounds for a bushel of parsthirty-two pounds for a bushel of nips ; forty-two pounds for a bushel of common flat turnips oats and twenty-eight pounds for a bushel of dried apples or dried peaches. ;

ABSTRACT OF LAWS.

279

No person shall sell, buy or receive in store any grain at any weight or measure per bushel other than the standard weight or measure per bushel fixed by law; and, for any violation, the offender shall forfeit not less than five nor more than fifty dollars.

DAMAGES FOR TRESPASS. Any person who shall willfully, maliciously or wantonly destroy, remove, throw down or any fence, hedge or wall inclosing any orchard, pasture, meadow, garden, or any field whatever on land belonging to or lawfully occupied by another, or open and leave open, throw down, injure, remove or destroy any gate or bars in such fence, hedge or wall, or cut down, root up, sever, injure, destroy or carry away when severed, any fruit, shade, ornamental or other tree, or any shrub, root, plant, fruit, flower, grain or other vegetable production, or dig up, sever or (any away any mineral, earth or stone, or tear down, mutilate, deface or injure any building, sign l»>ard, fence or railing, or sever and carry away any part thereof, standing or being upon the land of another or held in trust, or who shall willfully, maliciously or wantonly cut down, root up, injure, destroy or remove or carry away any fruit, ornamental or other tree, or any shrub, fruit, flower, vase or statue, arbor, or any ornamental structure, standing or being in any street or public ground in any city or village, in any private inclosure or highway, or destroy, remove, mutilate or injure any milestone or board, or any guide-post or board erected in any highway or public way, or on any turnpike, plank-road or railroad, or deface or obliterate any device or inscription thereon, or cut down, break down, remove, mutilate or injure any monument erected or tree marked for the purpose of designating the boundaries of any town or tract of land or subdivision thereof, or deface or obliterate any figures, letters, device or inscription thereon, made for such purpose, or break, remove, destroy or injure any post, guard, railing or lamp-post or lamp thereon, erected or being on any bridge, street, sidewalk, alley, court, passage, park, public ground, highway, turnpike, plank or rail road, or extinguish or break any lamp on any such lamp-post, or tear, deface, mutilate or injure any book, map. pamphlet, chart, picture or other property belonging to any public library, or take and carry away the same with intent to convert to his own use, or shall injure or destroy any personal property of another, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not more than six months, or by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. Any person who shall willfully, maliciously or wantonly kill, maim, mutilate, disfigure or injure any horse, mule, cattle, sheep or other domestic animal of another, or administer poison to such animal, or expose any poison, with intent that the same may be taken or swallowed by such animal; and any person who shall overdrive, overwork, overload, maim, wound, torture, torment, cruelly beat or kill any such animal belonging to himself or another, or being the owner or having the care or charge thereof, shall fail to provide necessary food, water or shelter for any such animal, or who shall turn out and abandon, without proper care and protection, or cruelly work any such animal when old, diseased, disabled or unfit for work, or shall carry or confine any live animal, fowl or bird, in a cruel or inhuman manner, or who shall cause, procure or abet any cruelty above mentioned, or the fighting or baiting of bulls, dogs or cocks, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not more than six months or by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. injure

ESTRAYS. No stray, except horses and mules, shall be taken up by any person not a resident of the town in which it is found; nor unless it is found upon land owned or occupied by him. Every finder for a stray must notify the owner, if he is known, within seven days, and request him to pay all reasonable charges and take the stray away. If the owner is not known, he must file a notice with the Town Clerk within ten days, who shall transmit a copy thereof to the County Clerk. If the stray is not worth five dollars, the finder shall post a copy of such notice in two public

places in such town; if

exceed

five dollars in

value, ne shall

publish such notice four

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

280

successive weeks either in some newspaper published in the county or in an adjoining county, if one but if no newspaper is pubbe published nearer his residence than any published in his county lished within twenty miles of his residence, then he must post such notice in three public places ;

Such notice shall describe the stray by giving its marks, natural or artificial, as near as possible, the name and residence of the finder, specifying the section and town, and the For neglect to post up or publish as required, the finder time when such stray was taken up. For neglect to post or shall be liable to double the amount of damages sustained by the owner. in his county.

publish for one year, the finder shall be liable for its full value, to be recovered in the name of the town, and the amount recovered to be added to the school fund of such town.

The finder shall, within one month, cause the stray to be appraised by a Justice of the Peace and a certificate of such appraisal signed by such Justice filed in the Town Clerk's office. The finder shall pay the Justice fifty cents for such certificate, and ten cents per mile for each mile necessarily traveled to make the same. The owner may have the same restored to him any time within one year after such notice is filed in the town Clerk's office, by proving that the stray belongs to him, and paying all lawful

charges incurred in relation to the same. If the owner and finder cannot agree as to the charges, either party, on notice to the other, may apply to a Justice of such town to settle the same, who, for that purpose, may examine witnesses upon oath, and the amount found due, with the If no owner applies for the return of such stray, as procosts, shall be a lien upon such stray. vided, and the same is not worth more than ten dollars, it shall become the absolute property of such finder; but if the appraisal shall exceed ten dollars, it shall be sold at public auction by the Sheriff or any Constable of the county, on the request of the finder, and he shall be entitled to one-half the proceeds, and the other half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the town within If the finder shall neglect or refuse to cause such sale, he shall pay to the town the ten days. value of such stray, to be recovered by the town. If any person, without the consent of the owner, shall take away such stray, without first If the finder paying the lawful charges, he shall be liable to the finder for the value of such stray. shall neglect to do any act prescribed above, he shall be precluded from acquiring any right in such stray, and from receiving any charges or expenses relative thereto.

FENCES. The Overseers of Highways in

their

respective towns, the

Aldermen of cities

their

respective wards, and the Trustees of villages in their respective villages, shall be Fence Viewers, and in towns having less than three road districts, the Supervisors shall be Fence Viewers. All fences four and a half feet high, and in good repair,' consisting of rails, timber, boards or stone walls, or any combination thereof, and all brooks, rivers, ponds, creeks, ditches and hedges or other things which shall be considered equivalent thereto, in the judgment of the Fence Viewers, within whose jurisdiction the same may be, shall be deemed legal and sufficient fences. Every partition of a fence, or line upon which a fence is to be built, made by the owners of the adjoining lands, in writing, sealed and witnessed by two witnesses, or by Fence Viewers in writing, under their hands, after being recorded in the Town Clerk's office, shall oblige such owners and their hens, as long as they remain owners, and after parting with the ownership, until a new partition is made. A division of a partition fence, or line upon which a partition fence between adjoining lands shall be built, may be made by Fence Viewers in the following cases 1. When any owner of uninclosed lands shall desire to inclose the same, he may have the and the adjoining land of any other person divided, and the portion upon which the respective owners shall erect their share of the partition fence assigned, whether such

line between his land

adjoining land be inclosed or not. 2. When any lands belonging to different persons in severalty, shall have been occupied in common, or without a partition fence between them, and one of the occupants shall be desirous

ABSTRACT OF LAWS. to occupy his part in severalty,

281

and the others shall refuse or neglect, on demand, to divide

with him the line where the fence ought to be built, or to build a sufficient fence on his part of the line, when divided, the occupant desiring it may have the same divided, and the share of each assigned. 3. When any controversy shall arise about the right of the respective occupants in partition fences, or their obligations to maintain the same, either party may have the line divided, and share of each assigned. the In either case, application may be made to two or more Fence Viewers of the town where the lands lie, who shall give reasonable notice in writing to each party, and they shall in writing under their hands, divide the partition fence or line, and assign to each owner or occupant his share thereof, and in the second and third cases direct within what time each party shall build or repair his share of the fence, having regard to the season of the year, and shall file such decision in the Town Clerk's office. If either party shall neglect or refuse to build or repair within the time so assigned, his part of the fence, the other may, after having completed his own part, build or repair such part, and recover double the expense thereof. Where the whole or a greater share than belongs to him has been built by one of the occupants, before complaint to the Fence Viewers, the other shall be obliged to pay for his share of

such fence.

Where uninclosed land is afterward inclosed, the owner shall pay for one-half the partition fence upon the line between him and any other owner or occupant. If any person shall determine not to keep inclosed any part of his land adjoining any partition fence, and shall give six months' notice of such determination to all adjoining occupants, he shall not be required to maintain any part of such fence during the time his lands shall lie open.

LANDLORD AND TENANT. The common law right to destrain for rent is abolished. The atonement of a tenant to a stranger shall be absolutely void, and shall not in anywise effect the possession of his landlord, unless it be made 1.

With the consent of the landlord; or

Pursuant to, or in consequence of, a judgment or order of a court of competent juris-

diction; or 3.

To a purchaser upon a judicial sale, who

shall

have acquired

title to

the lands by a

conveyance thereof, after the period for redemption, if any, has expired. tenancy, a will or sufferance may be determined by the landlord, giving one month's notice to quit, or the tenant giving one month's notice of his intention to quit, or if the terms of payment are for less than a month, notice equal to the time between payments, or for non-payment of rent, fourteen days' notice to quit. Such notice shall be served by delivering the same to such tenant, or to some person of proper age residing on the premises, or if no such person can be found, by affixing the same in a conspicuous part of the premises, where it may be conveniently read, and, at the expiration of the time required after the service of such notice, the landlord may re-enter, or maintain an action for the recovery of the possession thereof, or proceed in the manner prescribed by iaw to remove such tenant without further or other notice to quit. If, after giving notice of determination to quit, the tenant neglects or refuses to deliver up the premises, he shall be liable to double the rent agreed upon, to be collected the same as single rent.

MARKS AND BRANDS. Every Town Clerk shall, on application of any person residing in his town, record a description of the marks or brands with which such person may be desirous of marking his horses, cattle, sheep or hogs but the same description shall not be recorded or used by more than one resident of the same town. If any person shall mark any of his horses, cattle, sheep ;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

282

or hogs, with the same mark or brand previously recorded

by any resident of the same town, and while the same mark or brand shall be used by such resident, he shall forfeit for every such offense $5 if any person shall willfully mark or brand any of the horses, cattle, sheep or hogs, ;

of any other person with his mark or brand, he shall forfeit for every such offense $10 ; and,

any person shall willfully destroy or alter any mark or brand upon any of the horses, cattle, sheep or hogs of another, he shall forfeit $10, and pay to the party injured double damages.

SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS A County Surveyor is elected every two years. The surveyor may appoint and remove deputies at will, on filing a certificate thereof with the County Clerk. He shall be responsible on his bond for the faithful performance by every deputy of his duties. It shall be the duty of the County Surveyor: To execute, himself or by his deputy, any survey which may be required of him by (1.) order of court, or upon application of any individual or corporation. {-.)

To make a record of the plat and field

notes of each survey made by him or his same as to be easy of

deputies, in record books kept therefor, and to so arrange or index the

reference, and to file and preserve in his office the original field notes and calculations thereof. (3.) office ;

To safely keep all books, records, plats, files, papers and property belonging to his

afford opportunity to examine the same to

any person

desiring, and deliver the same to

his successor in office.

To furnish a copy of any record, plat or paper in his office, to any person on demand (4.) and payment of his legal fees therefor. To administer to every chainman and marker assisting in any survey, before com(5.) mencing their duties as such, an oath or affirmation faithfully and impartially to discharge the duties of chainman or marker, as the case may be and the surveyor and his deputies are empowered to administer the same. ;

(G.)

To perform such other duties as may be required by law.

The surveyor and his deputies may demand and receive the following fees, except it be otherwise agreed upon with the parties employing them, to wit For each day's service, $3. For each mile traveled in going from his office to the place of rendering service and returning,

10 cents.

For plat and certificate, except town plats, 50 cents. For recording a survey, 50 cents. For each chainman and marker necessarily employed, $1.50 per day, unless they be furnished by the person for whom the survey is made. For making a copy, 10 cents a folio, and 25 cents for his certificate.

SUPPORT OF THE POOR. Every town shall relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully settled therein, whenever they shall stand in need thereof, excepting as follows: The father, mother and children, being of sufficient ability, of any poor person, who is blind, old, lame, impotent or decrepit, so as to be unable to maintain himself, shall, at their own charge, relieve and maintain such poor person in such manner as shall be approved by the Super visors of the town where such person may be, and, upon the failure of any such relative so to do, the Supervisors shall apply to the County Judge for an order to compel such relief. Legal settlement may be acquired by one year's residence in a town of this State.

ABSTRACT OF LAWS.

283

MARRIED WOMEN. Wisconsin, the marriage of a femme sole, executrix or administratrix, extinguishes her authority and of a female ward, terminates the guardianship as to custody of person, but not The husband holds his deceased wife's lands for life, unless she left, by a former as to estate. Provisions exist by which powers may be husband, issue to whom the estate might descend. If husband and wife are given to married women, and regulating their execution of them. impleaded, and the husband neglects to defend the rights of the wife, she applying before judgment, may defend without him and, if he lose her land, by default, she may bring an action The real estate of females married before, and the real and perfor ejectment after his death. And any sonal property of those after February 21, 1850, remain their separate property. married woman may receive, but not from her husband, and hold any property as if unmarried. She may insure the life of her husband, son, or any other person, for her own exclusive benefit. The property of the wife remains to her separate use, not liable for her husband's debts, and not subject to his disposal. She may convey her separate property. If her husband desert her, or neglect her, she may become a sole trader; and she may insure his life for her benefit. Her husband is not liable for her debts contracted before marriage the individual earnings of the wife are her separate property, and she may sue, and be sued alone, in regard to the same. She may make and hold deposits in savings-banks. She may, by a separate conveyance, release In

;

her dower in any lands which her husband has conveyed. and while If a woman has authority, she can transact all her husband's business for him they live together, the wife can buy all family things necessary for the support of the family, ;

and for which he is liable. The husband is responsible for necessaries supplied to his wife, if he does not supply them himself and he continues so liable, if he turns her out of his house, or otherwise separates himself from her without good cause. But he is not so liable, if she deserts him (unless on extreme provocation), or if he turns her away for good cause. If she leaves him, because he treats her so ill, that she has good right to go from him, this is the same thing as turning her away, and she carries with her his credit for all necessaries supplied to her but what the misconduct must In America the law must be, and undoubtedly is, that the be, to give this right, is uncertain. wife is not obliged to stay and endure cruelty and indecency. If a man lives with a woman as his wife, and represents her to be so, he is responsible, the same as if she were his wife, even if it is known that she is not his wife. ;

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ACTIONS. All distinctions have been abolished, and there is now but one form, which must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest, except in case of executors, administrators and trustees, and which is begun by the service of a summons on the defendant, to be answered within twenty days.

ARREST. In an action to recover damages not on contract, where the defendant is a non-resident, or is about to remove from the State, or where the action is for injury to the person or character, or for injury to, or wrong taking, detaining or converting property, or in an action to recover damages for property taken under false pretenses. In an action for a fine or penalty or for money received or property embezzled or 2. fraudulently misapplied by a public officer or attorney, solicitor, or counsel or officer of a corporation as such, or factor agent or broker, or for misconduct or neglect in official or professional employment. 3. In an action to recover property unjustly detained where it is so concealed that the Sheriff cannot find the same.

Defendant may be arrested

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

284

Where the defendant was guilty of fraud in contracting

the debt, or in concealing or

sing of the property for the taking, detaining or disposing of which the action

brought.

An affidavit must be made on the part of the plaintiff, stating the cause of action and one of the above causes.

ATTACHMENT allowed on an affidavit that the defendant is indebted to plaintiff, and stating the amount and that it is due on contract and, That defendant has absconded, or is about to abscond, or is concealed to the injury of 1.

;

his creditors. 2. That defendant has assigned, disposed or concealed his property or is about to do so with intent to defraud creditors. 3. That the defendant has removed, or is about to remove, his property from the State with intent to defraud creditors.

That the debt was fraudulently contracted. That he is a non-resident.

4. 5. 6.

Or a foreign corporation.

That he has fraudulently conveyed or disposed of his property with intent to defraud

creditors.

The amount sued for must exceed $50.

GARNISHMENT allowed on an affidavit on behalf of the creditor, that he believes that any third person (naming him) has property effects, or credits of defendant, or is indebted to him, also in execution, on a

similar affidavit.

JUDGMENT a lien on real estate in the county where rendered from the date of docketing, and in other It bears counties from the time of filing a transcript, and the lien continues for ten years. interest at 7 per cent, or as high as 10 per cent if stipulated for in the contract. is

STAY LAWS. In Justices' Courts, on giving bond with surety within five days after judgment was rendered, stay of execution is allowed, as follows On sums not exceeding $10, exclusive of costs, one month between $10 and $30, two months between $30 and $50, three months over $50, four months. ;

;

EXEMPTIONS.

A homestead not exceeding forty acres, used for agriculture and a residence, and not included in a town plat or a city or village or, instead, one-quarter of an acre in a recorded plat, city or village. Also, 1, Family Bible 2, Family pictures and school-books 3, Private library; 4, Seat or pew in church: 5, Right of burial; 6, Wearing-apparel, beds, bedsteads and bedding, kept and used in the family, stoves and appurtenances, put up and used, cooking utensils and household furniture to the value of $200, one gun, rifle or fire-arm to the value of $50 7, Two cows, ten swine, one yoke of oxen and one horse or mule, or, in lieu thereof, a span of horses or mules, ten sheep and the wool therefrom, necessary food for exempt stock for one year, provided or growing or both, one wagon, cart or dray, one sleigh, one plow, one drag and other farm utensils, including tackle for the teams to the value of $50 8, Provisions and fuel for the family for one year 9, Tools and implements or stock-in-trade of a ;

town

;

ABSTRACT OF LAWS. mechanic or miner, used and kept, not exceeding $200

285

in value, library and

implements of a

professional man to the value of $200 10, Money arising from insurance of exempt property destroyed by fire 11, Inventions for debts against the inventor; 12, Sewing-machines; 13. Sword, plate, books or articles presented by Congress or Legislature of a State ; 14, Printingmaterial and presses to the value of $1,500; 15, Earnings of a married person necessary for family support for sixty days previous to issuing process. ;

;

LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS. Real actions, twenty years ; persons under disabilities, five years after removal of the same.

Judgments of Courts of Record of the State of Wisconsin and sealed instruments when the cause accrues within the State, twenty years. Judgments of other Courts of Record and sealed instruments accruing without the State, ten years. Other contracts, statute liabilities other than penalties and forfeitures, trespass on real property, trover detinue and replevin, six years. Actions against Sheriffs, Coroners and Constables, for acts done in their official capacity, except for escapes, three years. Statutory penalties and forfeitures, libel, slander, assault, battery and false imprisonment, two years. Actions against Sheriffs, etc., for escapes, one year. Persons under disabilities, except infants, may bring action after the disability ceases, provided the period is not extended more than five years, and infants one year after coming of Actions by representatives of deceased persons, one year from death age. against the same, one year from granting letters testamentary or of administration. New promise must be in ;

writing.

COMMERCIAL TERMS.

—

$ Means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now, United States currency. £ Means pounds, English money. Stands for at or to lb for pounds, and bbl. for barrels for per, or by the. Thus Butter sells at 20(«j30c f lb, and Flour at $8(« 12 bbl. % for per cent., and # for numbers. May 1. Wheat sells at $1.20(ai$1.25, " seller June." Seller June means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of June. Selling short is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or stock at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling short to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the "shorts " are termed "bears." Buying long is to contrive to purchase a certain amount of grain or shares of stock at a

—

@—

;

fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, expecting to make a profit by the rise in prices. The '• longs " are termed " bulls," as it is for their interest to "operate " so as to " toss " the

prices upward as much as possible.

SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. The business of publishing books by subscription having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possible, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is made: subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the prospectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before subscribing, as they are the

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

20b

basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of

the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they cannot be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but, if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract. Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They cannot extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business. It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument, would examine carefully what if they cannot read themselves call on some one disinterested who can. it is :

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN CONDENSED. PREAMBLE. We, the People of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom ; in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquillity, and promote the general welfare,

do establish this Constitution.

Article I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS. Section

All men are born free and independent, and have, among other rights, those

Governments are instituted to secure these rights. of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Sec. 2. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except for the punish-

ment of crimes. Sec. 3. Sec. 4.

Liberty of speech and of the press shall not be abridged.

The right of the people to peaceably assemble to consult

for the common good

shall never be abridged.

Sec. 5. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate. Sec. ti. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted. Sec. 7. In criminal prosecutions, the rights of the accused shall be protected. No one Sec. 8. Criminal offenses shall be prosecuted on presentment of a grand jury. shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, nor be compelled to be a witness against himself. Every one shall have the right of giving bail except in capital offenses and the writ of ;

habeas corpus shall not be suspended, except in case of rebellion or invasion. Sec. 9. Every person is entitled to a certain remedy for all injuries or wrongs. Sec. 10. Treason consists in levying war against the State, or giving aid and comfort to its

enemies. Two witnesses are necessary to convict a person of the crime. Sec. 11. The people are to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures. Sec. 12. Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, or laws impairing obligation of contracts,

never be passed. Sec. 13. No property shall be taken for public use without compensation. Feudal tenures are prohibited. Sec. 14. All laws in the State are allodial. Sec. 15. The rights of property are the same in resident aliens and citizens. Sec. 16. No person shall be imprisoned for debt. Wholesome exemption laws shall be passed. Sec. 17. Sec. 18. Liberty of conscience and rights of worship shall never be abridged. public money shall never be applied to sectarian uses. Sec. 19. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office.

shall

287

The

;;

HlSTOKY OF WISCONSIN.

288

The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power. Sec. 20. Writs of error shall never be prohibited by law. Sec. 21. free government can only be maintained by adhering to justice, moderation, Sec. 22. temperance, frugality and virtue.

Article

II.

BOUNDARIES. 1. The boundary of the State, beginning at the northeast corner of the State of runs with the boundary line of Michigan, through Lake Michigan and Green Bay, to

Section Illinois,

the mouth of the Menominie River: up that stream and the Brule River to Lake Brule; along the southern shore of that lake to the Lake of the Desert ; thence in a direct line to the head

down the main channel of that stream to the middle of Lake Superior of Montreal River thence through the center of said lake to the mouth of St. Louis River up the channel of that stream to the first rapids thence due south to the main branch of the St. Croix down that river and the Mississippi to the northwest corner of Illinois thence due east with the northern boundary of that State to the place of beginning. Sec. 2. The propositions in the enabling act of Congress are accepted and confirmed. ;

;

Article III. SUFFRAGE.

The qualified electors are all male persons twenty-one years of age or upward, (2.) who are white persons of foreign birth that have declared their intentions, according to law, to become citizens (3) who are persons of Indian blood and citizens of the United States and (4.) civilized Indians not members of any Section

who are (1.) white citizens of the United States

;

tribe.

Persons under guardianship, such as are non compus mentis or insane, and those Sec. 2. convicted of treason and felony and not pardoned, are not qualified electors. All votes shall be by ballot, except for township officers when otherwise directed Sec. 3. by law. No person shall be deemed to have lost his residence by reason of his absence on Sec. 4. business for the State or United States. No person in the army or navy shall become a resident of the State in conseSec. 5. quence of being stationed therein. Persons convicted of bribery, larceny or any infamous crime, or those who bet Sec. 6. on elections, may be excluded by law from the right of suffrage.

Article IV.

LEGISLATIVE. Section 1. The Legislative power is vested in a Senate and Assembly. Members of the Assembly shall never number less than fifty-four, nor more than Sec. 2. one hundred of the Senate, not more than one-third, nor less than one-fourth of the members of the Assembly. Census shall be taken, every ten years, of the inhabitants of the State, beginning Sec. 3. with 1855, when a new apportionment of members of the Senate and Assembly shall be made also, after each United States census. Sec. 4. Members of the Assembly shall be chosen on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November of each year. Sec. 5. Members of the Senate shall be elected for two years, at the same time and in the same manner as members of the Assembly. ;

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

28b>

No person shall be eligible to the Legislature, unless a resident of the State one Sec. 6. year, and a qualified elector. Each House shall be the judge of the qualifications of its members. majority Sec. 7. shall be necessary to form a quorum. Each House shall make its own rules. Sec. 8. Each House shall choose its own officers. Sec. 9. Sec. 10. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings. Sec. 11. The Legislature shall meet at the seat of government once a year. No member shall be eligible to any other civil office in the State, during the Sec. 12. term for which he was elected. Sec. 13. No member shall be eligible to any office of the United States, during the term

for which he was elected.

Sec. 14.

Writs of election, to

fill

vacancies in either House, shall be issued by the Gov-

ernor.

Except treason, felony and breach of the peace, members are privileged from arrest in all cases; nor subject to any civil process during a session. Sec. 16. Members are not liable for words spoken in debate. Sec. 17. The style of all laws shall be, " The people of the State of Wisconsin rep" resented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows Private or local bills shall not embrace more than one subject. Sec. 18. Bills may originate in either House, and a bill passed by one House may be Sec. 19. amended by the other. Yeas and nays, at the request of one-sixth of the members present, shall be Sec. 20. entered on the journal. Sec. 21. [Each member shall receive, as an annual compensation, three hundred and fifty dollars and ten cents for each mile traveled in going to and returning from the seat of govSec. 15.

ernment]. As amended in 1867. Sec. 22. Boards of Supervisors may be vested with powers of a local, legislative and administrative character, such as shall be conferred by the Legislature. Sec. 23. One system only, of town and county government, shall be established by the Legislature. The Legislature shall never authorize any lottery, or grant any divorce. Sec. 24. Sec. 25. Stationery, for State use and State printing, shall be let by contract to the lowest bidder. Sec. 26. Extra compensation to any public officer shall not be granted after service is rendered, nor shall his compensation be increased or diminished during his term of office. Sec. 27. The Legislature shall direct, by law, in what manner and in what Courts suits against the State may be brought. Sec. 28. Public officers shall all take an oath of office. Sec. 29. The Legislature shall determine what persons shall constitute the militia, and may provide for organizing the same. Members of the Legislature shall vote viva voce in all elections made by Sec. 30.

them. [Special legislation is prohibited (1) for changing the names of persons, or conSec. 31. stituting one person the heir-at-law of another (2) for laying out, opening or altering highways, except in certain cases; (3) for authorizing persons to keep ferries; (4) for authorizing the sale of the property of minors; (5) for locating a county seat (6) for assessment of taxes (7) for granting corporate powers, except to cities; (8) for apportioning any part of the school fund and (9) for incorporating any town or village, or to award the charter thereof]. Added by amendment, in 1871. Sec. 32. [General laws shall be passed for the transaction of any business prohibited by Section 21 of this Article.] Added by amendment, in 1871. ;

;

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

290

Article V.

The executive power shall be vested in a Governor, who shall hold his office A Lieutenant Governor shall be elected at the same time and for the same term.

Section 1. two years. Sec. 2.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor must be citizens of the United States, and

qualified electors of the State.

Sec 3. Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected at the times and places of choosing members of the Legislature. Sec. 4. The Governor shall be (1) commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the State; (2) he has power to convene the Legislature in extra session (3) he shall communi;

cate to the Legislature all necessary information ; (4) he shall

transact all necessary business with the officers of the State and (5) shall expedite all legislative measures, and see that the laws are faithfully executed. Sec. 5. [The Governor's salary shall be five thousand dollars per annum.] As amended in 1869. Sec. 6. The Governor shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons. Sec. 7. The executive duties shall devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor when, from any cause, the executive office is vacated by the Governor. Sec. 8. The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate. The Secretary of State shall act as Governor when both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are incapacitated from any causes to fill the executive office. Sec. 9. [The Lieutenant Governor shall receive a salary of one thousand dollars per ;

annum.]

As amended in 1869.

Sec. 10. All legislative bills shall be presented to the Governor for his signature before Bills returned by the Governor without his signature may become laws by they become laws. agreement of two-thirds of the members present in each house.

Article VI. ADMINISTRATION.

Section 1.

A Secretary of State, Treasurer and Attorney General shall be elected at the

times and places of choosing members of the Legislature, who shall severally hold their

offices

for two years.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of State shall keep a record of the official acts of the Legislature He shall be ex officio Auditor. and Executive Department. The powers, duties and compensation of the Treasurer and Attorney General Sec. 3. shall

lie

prescribed by law.

Sec. 4. Sheriffs, Coroners, Registers of Deeds and every two years.

Article

District Attorneys shall be elected

VTL

judiciary.

Section 1. The Senate shall form the Court of Impeachment. Judgment shall not extend further than removal from office but the person impeached shall be liable, to indictment, trial and punishment, according to law. The judicial power of the State is vested in a Supreme Court, Circuit Courts. Sec. 2. Municipal courts, also, may be authorized. Courts of Probate, and in Justices of the Peace. Sec. 3. The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction only. Trial by jury is not allowed in any case. The Court shall have a general superintending control over inferior courts. and power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo warranto, certiorari, and other original and remedial writs. ;

293

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. SEC. 4.

[The Supreme Court

shall

Justices, each for the term often years.]

Sec. 5. Sec. 6. Sec.

one Chief Justice, and four Associate As amended in 1877. consist

The State shall be divided into five Judicial Circuits. The Legislature may alter the limits or increase the number of the circuits. There shall be a Judge chosen for each Circuit, who shall reside therein;

his

term of office shall be six years. s.

The Circuit Courts shall have original jurisdiction

all

matters civil and crim-

excepted in this Constitution, and not prohibited hereafter by law, and appellate jurisThey shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus, maninjunction, quo warranto, certiorari, and all other writs necessary to carry their orders

inal, not

diction from all inferior courts.

and judgments into effect. nor.

Vacancies in the office of Supreme or Circuit Judge sh%ll be filled by the GoverSec. 9. Election for Judges shall not be at any general election, nor within thirty days before or

after said election.

Judges of the Supreme and Circuit Courts shall receive a salary of not less than Sec. 10. one thousand five hundred dollars, and shall hold no other office, except a judicial one, during Each Judge shall be a citizen of the United the term for which they are respectively elected. He shall also be a qualified elector within States, and have attained the age of twenty-five years. the jurisdiction for which he may be chosen.

Sec. 11.

The Supreme Court shall hold

least

Circuit Court one term annually. State organized for judicial pur-

shall be held at least twice in each year, in each county of this

poses.

Sec. 12.

There shall be a Clerk of the Circuit Court chosen in each county, whose term The Supreme Court shall appoint its own Clerk.

of office shall be two years.

Sec. 13. Any Judge of the Supreme or Circuit Court may be removed from office by vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to both Senate and Assembly. Sec. 14.

A Judge of Probate shall be elected in each county, who shall hold his office for

two years. Sec. 15.

Justices of the Peace shall be elected in the several towns, villages and cities of

the State, in such manner as the Legislature may direct, whose term of office shall be two years. Their civil and criminal jurisdiction shall be prescribed by law.

Laws shall be passed for the regulation of tribunals of conciliation. These may Sec. 16. be established in and for any township. Sec. 17. The style of all writs and process shall be " The State of Wisconsin." Criminal prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by authority of the State shall conclude against the peace and dignity of the same.

Sec. 18. tax shall be imposed by the Legislature on all civil tute a fund, to be applied toward the payment of the salary of Judges.

Sec. 19.

Testimony in equity causes shall be taken the same as Chancery is prohibited.

;

suits,

and all indictments which shall consti-

in cases

law.

The'

office of Master in

Sec. 20. Any suitor may prosecute or defend his case in his own proper person, or by attorney or agent. Sec. 21. Statute laws and siych judicial decisions as are deemed expedient, shall be published. No general law shall be in force until published.

Sec. 22. The Legislature at its first session shall provide for the appointment of three Commissioners to revise the rules of practice in the several Courts of Record in the State.

Sd 23. The Legislature may confer judicial powers on one or more persons in each organized county of the State. Power- granted to such Commissioners shall not exceed that of a Judge of a Circuit Court at chambers. .

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

294

Article VIII. FINANCE. Taxation shall be uniform, and taxes shall be levied upon such property as the

Section 1.

Legislature may prescribe.

Sec. priation

[No money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of an appro-

by law. Claims made against the State must be filed -within six years after having As amended in 1877. 3. The credit of the State shall never be given or loaned in aid of any individual,

accrued.] Sec.

association or corporation.

The State shall never contract any public debt, except in the cases and manner Sec. 4. provided in this Constitution. Sec. 5. A tax shall be levied each year sufficient to defray estimated expenses. Sec. 6. Debts not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars may be contracted by the State, which shall be paid within five years thereafter. The Legislature may borrow money to repel invasion, suppress insurrection or Sec. 7. defend the State in time of war. All fiscal laws in the Legislature shall be voted on by yeas and nays. Sec. 8. Sec. 9. State scrip shall not be issued except for such debts as are authorized by the sixth and seventh sections of this article. Sec. 10. No debt for internal improvements shall be contracted by the State.

Article IX.

eminent domain and property of the state. Section 1. The State shall have concurrent jurisdiction on all rivers and lakes bordering on Wisconsin. Sec. 2. The title to all property which has accrued to the Territory of Wisconsin shall vest in the State of Wisconsin. Sec. 3. The ultimate property in and to all lands of the State is possessed by the people.

Article X. education.

SECTION 1. The supervision of public instruction shall be vested in a State SuperintendThe annual compensation of the ent and such other officers as the Legislature shall direct. State Superintendent shall not exceed twelve hundred dollars. Sec. 2. The school fund to support and maintain common schools, academies and normal schools, and to purchase apparatus and libraries therefor, .-ball be created out of (1) the proceeds of lands from the United States; (2) out of forfeitures and escheats; (3) out of moneys paid as exemptions from military duty: (4) out of fines collected for breach of penal laws; (5) outof any grant to the State where the purposes of such grant are not specified: (6 out of the proceeds of the sale of five hundred thousand acres of land granted by Congress Sepand (7) out of the five per centum of the net proceeds of the public lands to tember 14, L84 1

;

which the State shall become entitled on her admission into the sent to such appropriation of the two grants last mentioned.

Union (if Congress shall con-

Sec.

District schools shall be established by law which shall be free to all children be-

No sectarian instruction shall be allowed therein. tween the ages of four and twentj year-. Sir. 4. Each town and city shall raise for common schools therein by taxation asum equal to one-half the amount received from the school fund of the State.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF Wisconsin.

29i

Provisions shall be made by law for the distribution of the income of the Bchool fund among the several towns and cities for the support of common schools therein but no appropriation shall be made when there is a failure to raise the proper tax, or when a school

Sec.

•">.

;

have been maintained at least three months of the year. Sec. 6. Provision shall be made by law for the establishment of a State University. The proceeds of all lands granted for the support of a university by the United States shall (•(institute "the University fund," the interest el' which shall be appropriated to the support of the State University. No sectarian instruction shall be allowed in such university. The Secretary of State, Treasurer and Attorney General shall constitute a Board Sec. T. of Commissioners to sell school and university lauds and for the investments of the proceeds shall not

thereof.

School and university lands shall be appraised and sold according to law. The Sec. 8. Commissioners shall execute deeds to purchasers, and shall invest the proceeds of the sales of such lands in such manner as the Legislature shall provide.

Article

CORPORATIONS.

Section 1. Corporations without banking powers may be formed under general laws, but shall not be created by special act, excepl lor municipal purposes, and in cases where, in the judgment of the Legislature, the objects of the corporation cannot be attained under general laws. Sec. 2. No municipal corporation shall take private property for public use, against the consent of the owner, except by jury trial. Cities and incorporated villages shall be organized, and their powers restricted by Sec. 3. [No county, city, town, village, school district, or other municipal law so as to prevent abuses. corporation, shall become indebted to exceed five per centum on the value of the taxable property therein.]

As amended in S 7 Banks shall not be created except as provided in this article. The question of " bank " or "no bank " may be submitted to the voters of the 1

Si C.

Sec.

State; and if a majority of all the votes cast shall be in favor of banks, the Legislature shall have power to grant bank charters, or pass a general hanking law.

Article XII. Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposedin either house of the LegisIf agreed and referred to the next Legislature' and published for three months previous. to by a majority of all the members elected to each house, then the amendment or amendments shall submit them to the vote of the people; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, they shall become a part of the Constitution. Sec. :!. If a convention to revise or change the Constitution shall be deemed necessary by the Legislature, they shall recommend to the electors of the State to vote at the next general lature,

the same. If the vote shall be for the calling of such convention, then the Legislature, at its next session, shall provide tor the same.

election for or against

A:: in

l.i:

XIII.

MISCELLANE01 S PROVISIONS. PION

uary in each year. in

The political year for Wisconsin shall commence on the first Monday in JanGeneral elections shall he holden on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday

November.

SEC. 2. A duelist shall not be qualified as an elector in this State. Sec 3. United States officers (except Postmasters), public defaulters, or persons convicted of infamous crimes, shall not be eligible to office in this State.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

296

A great seal for the State shall be provided, and all official acts of the Governor Sec. 4. (except his approbation of the laws), shall be authenticated thereby. Sec. 5. Residents on Indian lands may vote, if duly qualified, at the polls nearest their residence.

Sec.

Elective officers of the Legislature, other than the presiding officers, shall be a

Chief Clerk, and a Sergeant-at-Arms, to be elected by each House. No county with an area of nine hundred square miles or less, shall be divided, Sec. 7. without submitting the question to the vote of the people of the county. Sec. 8. [The Legislature is prohibited from enacting any special or private laws, for locating See amendment adopted in 1871, as Sec. 31 (Subdivision 5) of or changing any county seat.] Art. IV. Officers not provided for by this Constitution shall be elected as the Legislature Sec. 9. shall direct.

Sec. 10.

The Legislature may declare

the cases in which any office shall be' deemed

vacant, and also the manner of filling the vacancy, where no provision is made for that purpose in this Constitution.

Article XIV. SCHEDULE. All rights under the Territorial government are continued under the State government. Territorial processes are valid after the State is admitted into the Union. Existing laws of the Territory of Wisconsin not repugnant to this Constitution Sec. 2. shall remain in force until they expire by limitation or are altered or repealed. Sec. 3. All fines, penalties or forfeitures accruing to the Territory of Wisconsin shall inure to the use of the State. Sue. 4. Territorial recognizances, bonds and public property shall pass to and be vested in the State. Criminal prosecutions, offenses committed against the laws, and all actions at law and suits in equity in the Territory of Wisconsin shall be contained in and prosecuted by the

Section 1.

State. Officers holding under authority of the United States or of the Territory of WisSec. 5. consin shall continue in office until superseded by State authority. Sec. G. The first session of the State Legislature shall commence on the first Monday in June next, and shall be held at the village of Madison, which shall be and remain the seat of

government until otherwise provided bylaw. Sec. 7. Existing county and town officers shall hold their

offices

until the Legislature of

the State shall provide for the holding of elections to fill such offices.

Sec. 8. copy of this Constitution shall be transmitted to the President of the United States to be laid before Congress at its present session. Sec. !'. This Constitution shall be submitted to the vote of the people for ratification or If ratified, an election shall be held for on the second Monday in March next. Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, members of the State Legislature ami members of Congress, on the second Monday of May next. Sec. 10. [Omitted. See Section 1, Chapter 3, Acts of Extra Session of 1878.] Sec. 11. The several elections provided for in this Article shall be conducted according to thei existing laws of the Territory of Wisconsin. Sec. L2. [Omitted. See Section 1, Chapter 3, Acts of Extra Session of 1878.] Sec. L3. The c mon law in force in the Territory of Wisconsin shall continue in force in the State until altered or suspended by the Legislature. Tlie Senators first elected in the even-numbered Seriate districts, the Governor, Sec. 11. Lieutenant Governor and other State officers first elected under this Constitution, shall enter upon their duties on tin- first Monday of June next, and hold their offices for one year from the Srst Monday of January next. The Senators first elected in the odd-numbered districts and the I

CONSTITUTION OF THE L'XITED STATES.

297

members of the Assembly first elected shall enter upon their duties on the first Monday of June next, and continue in office until the first Monday in January next. The oath of office may be administered by any Judge or Justice of the Peace, Sec. 15. until the Legislature shall otherwise direct.

We, the undersigned, members of the Convention to form a Constitution for the State of Wisconsin, to be submitted to the people thereof for their ratification or rejection, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the Constitution adopted by the Convention. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our bands, at Madison, the 1st day of February, A. D. 1848.

Morgan

Martin,

President of the Convention and Delegate from Brown

'ovnty.

Thomas McHugh, iSS

crt tor//.

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. CONDENSED. PREAMBLE. We, the people of the United

States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestie trampiitlity, -provide fir the common defense, promote the general welfare,

and serin;- the

blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain

this Constitution for the

ARTICLE Section 1.

and

establish

United States of America. I.

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress, which shall

consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the States, and electors shall have qualifications for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. Representatives must be twenty-five years of age, and must have been seven years citizens of the United States, and inhabitants of the State in which they shall be chosen. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States according to population, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including apprentices and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of Congress, and every ten years thereafter in such manner as Congress shall by law direct. States shall have one Representative only and until such for each thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative enumeration shall be made, New Hampshire shall choose three; Massachusetts, eight Rhode Island, one; Connecticut, five; New York, six; New Jersey, four Pennsylvania, eight DelSouth Carolina, five, and aware, one; Maryland, six; Virginia, ten; North Carolina, live :

;

Georgia, three. Vacancies in the representation from any State shall be tilled by elections, ordered by the executive authority of the State.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

£98

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Sec. 3. The Senate shall be composed of two Senators from each

State, chosen

by the

Legislature thereof for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. Senators shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes immediately after assemThe first class shall vacate their seats at the expirabling, in consequence of the first election. tion of the second year; the second class, at the expiration of the fourth year, and the third the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and vacancies happening by resignation or otherwise during the recess of the Legislature of any State may be filled by temporary appointments of the Executive until the next meeting of the ,

Legislature.

All Senators shall have attained the age of thirty years, and shall have been nine years United States, and shall be inhabitants of the State for which they shall be

citizens of the

chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President, The Senate shall have the sole power to try impeachments, When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside, and concurrence of two-thirds of the members present shall be necessary to conviction, Judgment \n cases of impeachment shall be limited to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office under the United States but the party convicted shall be liable to trial and punishment according to law. Sec. 4. The Legislature of each State shall prescribe the times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, but Congress may make or alter such regulations, except as to the place of choosing Senators. Congress shall assemble annually, on the first Monday in December, unless a different day ;

be appointed. Sec. 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel attendance of absent members, under ;

penalties. .

House may determine its own rules of proceeding, punish its members, and, by a two-

thirds vote, expel a member.

Each House shall keep a journal, which shall be published at their discretion, and one-fifth of those present may require the yeas and nays to be entered on the journal. Neither House shall adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other, nor to any oilier place than thai in which they are sitting. The compensation of Senators and Representatives shall be fixed bylaw, and Sec. 6. They shall be privileged from arrest during paid out of the Treasury of the United States. attendance at the session of their respective Houses, except for treason, felony and breach of the peace, and shall not be questioned in any other place for any speech or debate in either I

use.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed under the United States winch shall have been created or the emoluments have been increased during such time; and no person holding office under the

ivil office

whereof shall (

nited States shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but Sec. 7.

may be amended by the Senate. Every bill passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President but if not, he shall return if he approve, he shall sign it ;

;

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

;

299

with his objections, to that House in which it originated, who shall enter the objections on If, after reconsideration, two-thirds shall agree to their journal and proceed to reconsider it. pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other House, and, if approved by twoBut in all such cases, the yeas and nays shall be thirds of that House, it shall become a law. Any bill not returned by taken, and entered upon the journal of each House, respectively. il

the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, shall be a law. as if he had signed it, unless Congress, by adjournment, shall prevent its return, in

which case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution or vote requiring the concurrence of the Senate and House of Repa, question of adjournment), shall be approved by the President before takor, being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by a two-thirds vote of each House, ing effect resentatives (except ;

as in the case of .

a bill.

Congress shall have power

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States but all duties, imposts and excises ;

shall lie uniform throughout the

United States

;

To borrow money on the public credit; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several

States and with the

Indian tribes;

To ruptcies

establish a uniform rule of naturalization,

and uniform laws on the subject of bank-

;

To coin money, regulate the value thereof and foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States ;

To establish post offices and post roads; To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against ;

the laws of nations

;

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years To provide and maintain a navy To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrection and repel invasions To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such parts of them as may be employed in the service of the United States the several States to appoint the officers and to train the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases, over the seat of Government, and over all forts, magazines, arsenals, dock -yards and other needful buildings; and To make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution all powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. Sec. 9. Foreign immigration or the importation of slaves into the States shall not be prohibited by Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a, tax or duty may be imposed not exceeding ten dollars for each person so imported. The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless required by the public safety in ;

;

—

cases of rebellion or invasion.

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

300

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be made. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. In regulating commerce or revenue, no preference shall be given to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to or from one State be obliged to enter, clear or

pay duties in another.

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury unless appropriated by law

and accounts of

;

the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States and no person holding any office under them shall accept any present, emolument, office or title from any foreign State, ;

without the consent of Congress. Sec. 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin payment of debts; pass bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, or law impairing the a tender in obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except for the execution of its inspection laws; and all such duties shall be for the use of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of Congress. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another State or with a foreign power, or engage in war unless actually invaded or in imminent and immediate danger. ;

Article II.

The executive power shall be vested in a President. He shall hold office for four years, and, together with the Vice President chosen for the same term, shall be elected as Section

follows

Each State shall appoint in the manner directed by the Legislature, a number of electors equal to the whole number of its Senators and Representatives in Congress; but no Senator or Representative or person holding any office under the United States shall be appointed an elector. [ The third clause of this section has been superseded and amended by the 12th Amendment.]

Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes, which day shall be the same throughout the United States. natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, only shall be eligible to the office of President; and he must have attained the age

of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. If the President be removed from office, die. resign, or become unable to discharge the duties

of his office, the same shall devolve upon the Vice President, and Congress may provide by law for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability of both the President and Vice President,

declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be

removed or a President elected.*

The President shall receive a compensation for his services, which shall be neither increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been electedf and within that period he shall not receive any other emolument from the United States or from any of them. Before entering upon office he shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) thai will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United 1

States." *

By act of Mun-h

17''.;. e, ,ri LT.

ss pp.vni.-il f >r this coritinc;f'n<-y, .IcHignfl i..

tti.-

chiff Kxi.utiv

salary was fixed February 18, 1793, at $26,

ami was increased March 3, 1873, to $50,1

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

301

Sec. 2. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the army anil navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States, when in actual servh f the United States; lie may require the written opinion of the principal officers of the several executive departments upon subjects relating to the duties of their respective offices, and shall have power to nited States, except in cases of impeachment. grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur, and shall nominate to the Senate ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls. Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointment is not otherwise provided for; hut Congress may vest the appointment of inferior officers in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. The President may fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. He shall, from time to time, give Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend measures to their consideration he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses or either of them, and, in case of disagreement between them as to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. Sec. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 1

;

Article III. Section 1.

The judicial power of the United

States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as Congress may establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall receive a compensation which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, treaties, cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; controversies between two or more States between a State and citizens of another State; between citizens of different States between citizens of the same State claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State or the citizens thereof ;

;

and foreign States, citizens or subjects. In all cases affecting Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State is a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all other cases mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, subject to exceptions and regulations made by Congress. All crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be tried by jury, and in the State where the crime was committed but Congress shall fix the place of trial for crimes not committed within any State. Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open ;

court. shall

Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason work corruption of blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted.

A Section 1.

;

!LE

IV.

Each State shall give full faith and credit to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other State, and Congress may prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

302 Sec.

The citizens of each State

shall

be entitled to

all

privileges and immunities of

citizens in the several States.

Fugitives from justice in any State found in another State, shall, on demand of the Executive, be delivered up and removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime. No person held to service or labor in one State under the laws thereof, escaping into another,

consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. Sec. 3. New States may be admitted to the Union, but no new State shall be formed within the jurisdiction of any other State; nor by the junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of Congress. Congress shall have power to dispose of and to regulate and govern the territory or other property belonging to the United States and nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prejudice any claims of the United States, or any particular State. Every State shall be guaranteed a republican form of government, and shall be protected and on an application of the Legislature, or of the executive (when the Legisagainst invasion lature cannot be convened), against domestic violence. shall, in

;

Article V. Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on application of two-thirds of the Legislatures of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article and that no State, without its consent, shall '"' deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. ;

;

Article VI. All existing debts and engagements shall be valid against the LTnited States under this Constitution.

This Constitution and the laws of the United States made in pursuance thereof, and all made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. Senators and Representatives, members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath but no religious test shall ever be required as a or affirmation, to support this Constitution qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. treaties

;

Article VII.

The ratification of the Convention of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of between the States so ratifying the same. Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the States present, the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independem f the United States of America the twelfth. \ u \ ess WHl REOF we have hereunto subscribed our names. ibis Constitution

EORGE WASHINGTON,

President and Deputy from

[Other signatures omitted.]

Virginia.

CONSTITUTIONS OF

THE

NTTED STATES.

303

Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. Proposed by Congress and

by the Legislatures of the several Slates, pursuant to

ratified

the Fifth Article of the original Constitution.

A R.TICLE

Congress shall make no law respecting religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Article

II.

A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to 'keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Article

III.

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Article IV.

The right of the

people to be secure in their persons and property against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

Article V.

No person shall be held to answer for any infamous crime unless on an indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger nor shall any person be twice put in jeopardy of life or limit for the same offense nor shall he be compelled, in any criminal case, to In' a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor ;

;

shall private property

be taken for rjublic use without just compensation.

Article VI. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation to be confronted with the witnesses to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the against him ;

;

assistance of counsel for his defense.

Article VII.

common

law, when the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the by jury shall he preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rides of the common law.

In suits at

right of

trial

Article VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

304

Article IX.

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article X.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively or to the people.

Article XI.

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign State.

Article XII.

The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; distinct ballots shall be made for President and Vice President, and distinct lists made of such ballots and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify and transmit sealed to the seat of government, addressed to the President of the Senate ; the President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates,

ami the votes shall then be counted the person having the greatest number of votes for President shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed ; if no person have such majority, then from those having the highest numbers, not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immeBut, in choosing the President, the vote shall be taken by diately by ballot the President. States, each State having one vote a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. If, whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, the House of Representatives shall not choose a President before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice President shall The person having the act as President, as in the case of death or disability of the President. greatest number of votes as Vice President shall be the Vice President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States. ;

;

Article XIII. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime Section 1. whereof the party shall have bem duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Sec.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Article XIV. All persons burn or naturalized in the United States, or subject to the jurisNo citizens of the United States, and of the State wherein they reside. State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens without of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property

Section

diction thereof, are 1

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. due process of law, nor deny to any person within

its

jurisdiction

305

the equal protection of the

law.

Representatives shall be apportioned among the States according to population, Sec. 2. counting the whole number of persons in each State, including Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote is denied to any of the male inhabitants of a State, being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twentyone years of age in such State. No person shall hold any office under the United States or under any State, who Sec. 3. having previously, as an officer of the United States of any State, taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid and comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of twothirds of each House, remove such disability. The validity of the public debt of the United States, including pensions and Sec. 4. bounties, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Sec. 5. Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions ;

of this article.

Article XV. Section States, or by

SBC. 2.

The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United

any State, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

306

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COUNTIES AND CITIES WITH GUBERNATORIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL VOTES.

—The Republican or Democratic majority

in each county is given as between Smith and Mallory. back majority is only given when the vote for Allis exceeds the others, and is taken from the highest vote.

Note.

Adams Ashland Barron

Bayfield Bn'.wn Butialo

Burnett Calumet

Chippewa Clark

Columbia Crawford Dane Dodge Door Douglas

Dunn Fond du Lac Grant

Green Lake

La Fayette Lincoln

Ma rath' hi... Milwaukee.

Monroe

....

Outagamie.. IV l'i" Pierce

Green-

Gubernatorial and Presidential Vote

—

L877

L876— Continual.

Maj

Richland ....

1201

Rock

729 1620

Sauk

isit.

922

Shawano....

269 1598

L737

254

S I

Trempealeau Vernon Walworth

167 2'.

'Ol

994

Waupaca. ...

Waushara .. Winnebago .

Wood

Appleton Beaver Dam

1775

Berlin

246

731

416 1374 2187

17::

ft.

126:

1531

483 1025 170 354

1282

257

lines

22:1*

247

196

111".

4212

1970

1-:

304'

26 12

2080

1592 54

41:

"475'

Lac...

Fort Howard....

La Crosse

671

Madison Manitowoc

1057 284 311 5027 249 146

146

Neenah

L15

Oconomowoc

...

Ocon Oshkosh Plymouth i

In.

Racine Ripon Shawano.. Sheboygan Stevens Point...,

Watertown Waupaca Wausau

84 172 27(i

125 167 311

724

954 127

Portage Prairie du Prescott

4816 260

240 155 87

1052 270 55 248 252

572 212 1013 1542

121

333 207 605 314

Kenosha

Mineral Point ....

;*2

85 42

Janesville

Menasha Milwaukee

254 1205

459 884

Grand Rapids..., Green Bay Hudson

1194

696 250

km; 351 13 17

1050 21

514 10S5 I

291 82 IS

544 1549 125:

109

I).

1570 1647

2242 1726 206 R. 1050 R. 1532 666 R. 4). 87 R. D. D.

745 456

Centralia Chilton

Chippewa Falls. Columbus Eau Claire

Buffalo

1736

320 377 219

Beloit

447 2893 39

2484

II.

POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. States and Territories.

THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN

BARABOO VALLEY.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. CHAPTER

Indian Occupancy—The Mascoutins, Kickapoos, Miami-, I'ci\i:n, sws ani> Winnebagoes— Early Government—First "White Men in Sauk County—Earl-* Visits to Satjk County — How Sauk County got its Name—Sauk County on Early Maps—"The Winnebago War"—United States Land Surveys and Land Districts.

indian occupancy.

Modern scientific research has demonstrated

to an almost absolute certainty the fact that the first inhabitants of this Western territory were the ancestor of "our noble red men," the North American Indians. And, this being the case, the fifty millions of people calling them-

selves

"the white representatives of a boasted civilization" are simply the progeny of foreign

invaders.

In applying the principles and results of these acknowledged truths to the territory whose history falls within the province of this work, we cannot consistently overlook the character of It is very properly termed prethis pre-historic occupation, so far as the evidence of it exists. /listnn'f occupation; for, unlike our more fortunate brethren of the Eastern Hemisphere, no inscribed tablets of aborginal times have been preserved to us, and we have been left to grope in the dark in search of something tangible upon which to base the logical conclusions so recently arrived at. True, a variety of testimony presents itself in proof of the generally accepted theory, that a very powerful race of no ordinary degree of intelligence once held possession of these hills and valleys; their implements of agriculture, of war and of commerce, are yet quite numerous, and are highly prized by archaeologists; their battle-walls and mound-like tombs time and the ravages of civilization have not yet obliterated. But among all these mysterious evidences of ancient habitation, no traces of a written language arc found to establish the date of such occupation or the origin of the occupants. The theory that they were the ancestors of the present race of Indians is founded upon the hypothesis that the habits and customs of the so-called Mound-Builders, as is shown in the pattern of their unique instruments, were not materially different from the habits and customs of the inhabitants of this country at the time of the first visitation of the French Jesuits. There is no convincing reason in the argument that the ancient earthworks, so numerous in Wisconsin, were built ami utilized by the Aztecs, and many able writers upon the subject have long since abandoned the ground taken in defense of this theory. The indolent ancl predatory habits of most of the Indian tribes now in existence cannot be held in contrast with the habits of the first occupants as an argument against their identity for we do not know that they were not similarly disposed. Ami. though it may be true that the designers and builders of these ancient fortifications and queer-shaped mounds were uniformly industrious, it is also historically true that races degenerate ami it is further of historical record that in the past century " Poor Lo's" tribulations have been of a nature calculated to speed him on his downward course ;

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

310

Upon this subject the late Dr. I. A Lapham, who was a close student of the Indian character, says: "The inhabitants of Egypt have ceased to build pyramids and sphinxes; the Greeks have ceased to erect temples, and yet we have reason to believe that their descendants occupy the same country. Is it more strange that the ancestors of the present Indians should have erected mounds of earth than that the aborigines of any country should have had habits differWe need not, therefore, look to Mexico, or to any other country, for ent from their posterity ? We probably see them in the present red race of the the descendants of the Mound-Builders. same or adjacent regions. If the present tribes have no traditions running back as far as the times of Allouez and Marquette, or even to the more recent time of Jonathan Carver, it is not strange that none should exist in regard to the mounds, which must be of much earlier date. It is by considerations of this nature that we are led to the conclusion that the Mound-Builders of Wisconsin were none others than the ancestors of the present tribes of Indians." Dr. Lapham thinks the relative ages of the different works found in Wisconsin are probFirst and oldest, the animal-formed mounds still to be seen in many parts of ably as follows second, the conical mounds the State, and the famous works at Aztalan, in Jefferson County built for sepulchral purposes, which come down to a very recent period; third, the indications :

;

of garden-beds, planted in regular geometrical figures or straight lines ; fourth, the plantations of the present tribes, who plant, without system or regularity, in small hillocks.

Within the boundaries of Sauk County are found many notable and interesting evidences The geographical position of the county is such as to of pre-historic occupation and existence. intimately associate it with some of the important chains or series of earthworks that are found extending along most of the favorable routes for primitive transportation between the great lakes and the Mississippi River. The county in this regard seems to confirm the generally accepted theory that primitive man existed in greatest numbers along the borders of lakes and rivers and the more prominent these bodies of water and the position occupied appear with relation to the great problems of transportation and subsistence, the more numerous are these ancient artificial works. The importance of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers and their navigable tributaries has been recognized by all nations and tribes in this region that have a written or traditional history. This and the numerous evidences of a pre-historic occupation found along their entire course, would seem to warrant a conclusion that these rivers have furnished a medium of transportation In this great from the days of primitive man's unrecorded existence down to the present time. thoroughfare of ancient and modern times, the ''portage" occupies a central position, and, pre-historic occupation, Sauk County was once the many evidences of a favorite judging from He was presumably nomadic and war-like in his nature, and the abode of primitive man. causes which led to his departure from this region are shrouded in a mystery as deep and indefinable as are the particulars of his advent.

THE MASCOITTINS, KICKAPOOS, MIAMI?. FOXES, SACS AND WINNEBAGOES.

The first positive knowledge we have of his successors comes to us through the medium of

We are told that as early as the year 1615, Samuel Champlain heard of a tribe of Indians living many leagues beyond Lake Huron, called the Fire Nation, better known at a later date as the Mascoutins. Their homes were upon the Fox River at that time, as it is believed, and here they were visited by civilized man a little less than a score of years after. It is presumed French Jesuits.

that their villages were located within the present limits of

Green Lake County, somewhere on

Fox River, between Berlin and Lake Puckaway, and that they claimed as their hunting-grounds, among much othi that now included within the boundary lines of the county of Sauk. The nearest tribe to the Mascoutins down the Fox River was that of the Winnebagoes, whose homes wire at the mouth of that stream. To the south, extending perhaps well up Rock River, In the immediate neighborhood of the Mascoutins (but in what, was the territory of the Illinois. The Illinois, who lived in a. direction is uncertain), were the Kickapoos and the Miamis. country "where there was a quantity of buffaloes," were afterward driven beyond the Missis-

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311

subsequently returned to the river which still bears their name. Meanwhile, there commenced an emigration of the Mascoutins and their kindred, the Kickapoos and Miarnis, to Their place was taken by the southward, as far at least as the south end of Lake Michigan. the Foxes and their relatives, the Sacs, and, in time, these also emigrated, but not to the southward the course taken by them was to the west- and southwest. It is certain the Foxes claimed for a time the country now forming Sauk County, as well as much other circumjacent Then came the Winnebagoes from below that is, from the head of Green Bay territory. moving up the Fox River by degrees, having outlying villages on the shores of Winnebago Lake They finally reached the "portage," and their territory and in the valley of Rock River. This brings us to the time when the United Stares began extended down the Wisconsin. making treaties with them. The first of these was held at St. Louis, June 3, lSHi, with that portion of the tribe residing on the Wisconsin. This treaty (soon after the war with Great Britain, in which the Winnebagoes engaged on the side of the British) was one for peace only, no cession of land on the part of the Indians being made to the United States. In 1820, the Winnebagoes had five villages on Winnebago Lake, and fourteen on Rock River. The claim of this war like tribe was very extensive, so far as territory was concerned. Its southeast boundary stretched away from the sources of Rock River to within forty miles of its mouth, in Illinois, where they had a village. On the west, it extended to the heads of the small streams flowing westward and southwestward into the Mississippi. To the northward, it readied as far as Black River and the Upper Wisconsin in other words, to the Chippewa territory but did not extend across the Fox to the lands of the north side, although they contended for the whole of Winnebago Lake. Within their territory, then, in 1825, was the whole of tlie present county of Sauk. By treaties held with the Winnebagoes in 1829 and 1832, all their territory south and east of the Wisconsin River was acquired by the General Government. West of the Wisconsin, including the whole of the present county of Sauk was still a part of Winnebago territory but, in November. 1837, this nation ceded to the General Government all their lands east of the Mississippi River. Not an acre was reserved. So the Winnebago title to all of what is now Sauk County was extinguished, and the whole was ready for the surveyor. sippi. but

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EARLY GOVERNMENT. The first civilized claimants to the territory now included within the boundaries of Wisconsin were the French. The whole of the Northwest was claimed by France from 1671 to 1763, when it was surrendered to the British. By the " Quebec Act " of 1774, all of that region was placed under the local administration of Canada. It was, however, practically put under a despotic military rule, and so continued until possession passed to the United States. Before the last-mentioned event, and during and after the Revolution, the conflicting claims of Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, to portions of the country, were relinquished to the General Government. All these claims were based upon supposed chartered rights. Virginia adding to hers the right of conquest, as she contended, of the " Illinois country," during the Revolution. As early as October, 177S, Virginia declared by an act of her General Assembly, that all the citizens of that commonwealth who were then settled or should thereafter settle, on the western side of the Ohio, should be included in a distinct county, which should be called Illinois. No Virginians were then settled as far north as the southern boundary line of what i- now Wisconsin, and, as none thereafter located so far north before Virginia relinquished to the United States all her rights to territory on the western and northern side of the Ohio, it follows that no part of the territory which afterward became Wisconsin was ever included in Illinois County as a part of Virginia; nor did the last-mentioned State ever exercise any jurisdiction over the territory of this State, or make claim to any part of it by right of Wisconsin was never a part of Virginia. Notwithstanding the passage of the ordinance of 17s7. establishing a government over the territory northwest of the Ohio River, which territory was acquired by the treaty of 17 s from i

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

312

Great Britain, possession only was obtained by the United States of the southern portion, the Arthur St. Clair, in Februnorthern part being held by the British Government until 1796. ary, 1790, exercising the functions of Governor, and having previously organized a government for the country under the ordinance above mentioned, established in what is now the State of Illinois, a county which was named St. Clair. But, as this county only extended north "to the mouth of the Little Mackinaw Creek, on the Illinois," it did not include, of course, any part of the present State of Wisconsin, although being the nearest approach thereto of any organized county

up to that date. In 1796, Wayne County was organized, which was made to include, beside much other terwhat is now Wisconsin, watered by streams flowing into Lake Michigan. From 1800 to 1809, what are now the limits of Sauk County were within the Territory of Indiana, and in the year last mentioned passed into the Territory of Illinois. It is probable that Indiana Territory exercised jurisdiction over what is now Wisconsin, at least to the extent of appointIn the year ing two Justices of the Peace, one for Green Bay and one for Prairie du Chien. 1809, the Illinois Territorial Government commissioned three Justices of the Peace and two militia officers at Prarie du Chien, the county of St. Clair having previously been extended so as to include that point, and probably Green Bay, thereby bringing into its jurisdiction what is now Columbia County. In the course of time, other Illinois counties had jurisdiction, until, in 1818, what is now Wisconsin became a portion of Michigan Territory. By a proclamation of Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan Territory, of October 26, 1818, Brown and Crawford Counties were organized. The county of Brown originally comprised all of what is now Wisconsin east of a line passing north and south through the middle of the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, except a small portion of the Door County peninThe limits of the county extended sula, which was included in the county of Michilimackinac. north into the territory of the present State of Michigan so far that its north line ran due west An east and west line, passing near the northern limits of the from the head of Noquet Bay. present county of Barron, separated the county of Crawford from the county of Michilimackinac on the north on the east it was bounded by the county of Brown on the south, by the State The present county of Sauk was thus of Illinois, and on the west by the Mississippi River. By an act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of included in the county of Crawford. Michigan, approved October 29, 1829, to take effect the 1st of January following, the county of Iowa was established, embracing all the present State of Wisconsin south of the Wisconsin River and west of Brown County; in other words, it included the whole of what was previously This left the territory now comprising Crawford County lying south of the Wisconsin River. Sauk County still remaining in Crawford County. On the 6th of September, 1834, the county of Milwaukee was set off from Brown County, embracing all of the last-mentioned county south of a line drawn between Townships 11 and 12, in all the ranges east of Range 9. By an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved December 7, 1836, Township 10 north, Range 6 east, and Township 10, Range 7, were included in the then newly organized Portage County, which embraced all the territory of the present Columbia County, and the western tier Upon the formation of Sauk County, in January, 1840, the above-deof towns in Dodge. From this date to the scribed territory was set off from Portage County and attached to Sauk. spring of 1844, Sauk County was attached to Dane County for judicial purposes. In this year ritory, all of

;

was fully organized. FIRST WHITE

MEN IN SAUK COUNTY."

John Talon, intendant of Canada, labored assiduously to develop the industrial resources of New France. In 1670, he ordered Daumont de St. Lusson to search for copper mines on Lake Superior, and at the same time to take possession, in a formal manner, of the whole interior St. Lusson set out accordingly, accompanied by a small party country for the King of France. of men and Nicholas Perrot, a Canadian voyageur, as interpreter, who spoke Algonquin fluently Bj

Butterfi. ld,of

U u

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313

and was favorably known to many tribes of that family. It was arranged thai St. Lusson should winter at the Manitoulin Islands, while Perrot proceeded to invite the tribes to a general '"lifer. nee at the Sault Ste. Marie, in the following spring. The interpreter, having first sent mesthe different tribes of the North, proceeded to Green Bay to urge the nations upon its waters to the meeting. St. Lusson and his men, fifteen in number, arrived at the Sault more than a month in advance of the day set for the meeting: When all the Indians hail reached the rapids, the A large cross of Frenchman prepared to execute the commission with winch he was charged. wood had been made ready. It was now reared and planted in the ground. Then a postof cedar " In the was planted beside it with a metal plate attached, engraven with the royal arms. name." said St. Lusson, " of the most high, mighty and redoubtable monarch. Louis, fourteenth of that name, most Christian King of France and of Navarre, I take possession of this place, Sainte Marie du Sault, as also of Lakes Huron and Superior, the island of Manitoulin. and all countries, rivers, lakes and streams contiguous and adjacent thereunto both those which have been discovered and those which may be discovered hereafter, in all their length and breadth, bounded on the one side by the seas of the North and of the West, and on the other by the South Sea declaring to the nations thereof, that from this time forth they are vassals of His Majesty, bound promising them, on his part, all succor and protection to obey his laws and follow his customs against the incursions and invasions of their enemies declaring to all other potentates, princes, sovereigns, states and republics to them and their subjects that they cannot and are not to seize or settle upon any parts of the aforesaid countries, save only under the good pleasure of his most Christian majesty, and of him who will govern in his behalf; and this on pain of incurring his resentment and the efforts of his arms." Thus passed, so far as words and shouts could effect it, the Northwest, including the present State of Wisconsin, under the dominion of France. And why not ? She had discovered it had to a certain extent explored it had to a limited extent established commerce with it and her missionaries had proclaimed the fait!: to its wondering savages. But none of her fur-traders none of her missionaries none of her agents had yet reached the Mississippi the great river, concerning which so many marvels had been heard. Now, however, the hour was at hand in which would be solved the problem and be revealed the mystery of the "great water" of the savages. The Governor of Canada was resolved that the stream should be reached and explored. He made choice of Louis Joliet, who was with St. Lusson when the Northwest was for the first time claimed for the King of France, and who had just returned to Quebec from Lake Superior. This was in the year KiTi!. Said the Governor on the "2d of November: " It has been judged expedient to send Sieur Joliet to the Maskouteins [Mascoutins], to discover the South Sea, and the great river they call the Missis" He is a man," consippi, which is supposed to discharge itself into the Sea of California." tinued Frontenac, " of great experience in these sorts of discoveries, and has already been almost at the great river, the mouth of which he promises to see." Joliet passed up the lakes, and, on the 17th of May. 1673 (having with him Father James Marquette and five others), started from the mission of St. Ignatius, a point north of the Island of Mackinaw, in the present county of that name in the State of Michigan, journeying in two bark canoes, firmly resolved to do all and to suffer all for the glory of re-discovering the Mississippi. Every possible precaution was taken, that, should the undertaking prove hazardous, it should not be foolhardy so, whatever of information could be gathered from the Indians who had frequented those parts, was laid under contribution before paddling merrily over the waters to the westward, and up Green Bay to the month of Fox River. The first Indian nation met by Joliet was the Menomonees. He was dissuaded by them from venturing so far into ulterior regions, assured that he would meet tribes which never spare strangers, but tomahawked them without provocation; that thewar which had broken out among various nations on his rout. him and his men to another evident danger that of being killed by the war parties coi in the path that the " great river " was very dangerous unless the difficult parts were known; that it was full of frightful monsters who swallowed up men and canoes together that there was. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

314

even a demon there, who could be heard from afar, who stopped the passage and engulfed all who dared approach and lastly, that the heat was so excessive in those countries that it would Nevertheless, Joliet determined to persevere: so he ascended Fox infallibly cause their deaths. River to the portage. It was Joliet found the Fox River very beautiful at its mouth, having a gentle current. full of bustards, duck, teal and other birds, attracted by the wild oats, which were plentiful, and of which they were very fond. As the party advanced up the river a little distance, it was found to be difficult of ascent, both on account of the currents and of the sharp rocks which cut their Nevertheless, the rapids of the stream were passed in safety, when the party not long canoes. In their village were also gathered two other tribes after came to the nation of the Mascoutins. Miamis and Kickapoos. The Miamis were found to be civil in their deportment. They the They had the name of being warwore two long ear-locks, which gave them a good appearance. They were found very docile, disposed to listen riors, and seldom sent out war parties in vain. The Mascoutins and the Kickapoos, however, were rude and quietly to what was said to them. more like peasants, compared to the Miamis. Bark for cabins was found to be rare in this village, the Indians using rushes, which served them for walls and roof, but which were no great The advantage shelter against the wind and still less against the rain when it fell in torrents. of that kind of cabins was that they could be rolled up and easily carried whenever it suited these Indians in hunting-time. The view from the Indian village was beautiful and very picturesque, for, from the eminence on which it was perched, the eye discovered on every side delightful prairies, spreading away beyond its reach, interspersed with thickets or groves of lofty trees. The soil was found Plums, also, and grapes were gathered in the autumn to be very good, producing much corn. ;

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in quantities by the Indians.

The arrival of Joliet and June: '•

his

party at the village of the Mascoutins, was on

the 7th of

their departure was on the 10th.

We knew," wrote Father Marquette, '-that there was, three [thirty] leagues from Mas-

we knew, too, that the point of koutens [Mascoutins], a river entering into the Mississippi the compass we were to hold to reach it was west southwest, but the way is so cut up by marshes and little lakes that it is easy to go estray, especially as the river leading to it is so covered Hence, we had good need of our two with wild oats that you can hardly discover the channel. Miami guides, who led us safely to a portage of twenty-seven hundred paces [the site now occupied by the city of Portage], and helped us to transport our canoes to enter this river Wisconsin], after which they returned, leaving us alone in an unknown country in the hands nf Providence. • We now leave," continues Marquette, " the waters which flow to Quebec, a distance of four or five hundred leagues, to follow those which will henceforth lead us into strange lands. Before embarking, we all began together a new devotion to the Blessed Virgin Immaculate, which we practiced every day, addressing her particular prayers to put under her protection Then, after having encouraged one another, both our persons and the success of our voyage. we got into our canoes. The river on which we embarked is called Meskousing [Wisconsin] it is very broad, with a sandy bottom, forming many shallows, which render navigation very It is full of vine-clad islets. On the banks appear fertile lands diversified with wood, difficult. Here you find oaks, walnut, whitewood, ami another kind of tree with prairie and hill. branches armed with thorns. We saw no small game or fish, but deer and moose in considerable numbers." In passing down this river they entered upon territory now included within the limits of Sauk County the first white men who ever looked upon its hills or valleys, who ever floated along its southern border, or ever, perhaps, set foot upon its soil. On the 17th of June, with a joy that was inexpressible, Joliet and his party entered the Mississippi. After dropping down the "great river" many miles, Joliet returned to Green Bay, thence to Quebec, to report his discovery ami explorations to the Governor of New France. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

315

EARLY VISITS To SAUK COUNTY. Not many years elapsed after the voyage of Joliet and his companions down the Wisconsin, Louis Hennepin, a Recollet friar, and before the river was again navigated by civilized man. from La Salle's expedition to the Illinois, reached the portage in 1680, on way from the Upper Mississippi to the great lakes, passing up the Wisconsin and down the Fox River to Green Bay. He says •' After we had rowed about seventy leagues upon the river Ouiseonsin [Wisconsin], we came to the place where we were forced to carry our canoe for half a league. We lay at this place all night, and left marks of our having been there by the crosses which we cut on the barks of the trees. Next day, having carried our canoe and the rest of our little equipage over this piece of land [the portage], we entered upon a river [the Fox] which makes almost as many his party, as a detail his

meanders as that of the Illinois at its rise." Le Sueur and his party made the portage in 1683, on their way to the Mississippi. " About forty-five leagues up this river [the Wisconsin], on the right, is a portage, of more than a league in length. The half of this portage is a bog at the end of this portage, there is a little river [the Fox] that falls into a bay called the Bay of the Puans [Green Bay], inhabited by a great number of natives that carry their furs to Canada." In 1766, Jonathan Carver made a voyage to St. Anthony's Falls, by way of the portage, from the East. Of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and the carrying place [the portage], he ;

wrote •'The Fox River, from the Green

Bay to the carrying place, is about one hundred and From the Winnebago Lake to the carrying place, the current is gentle, and the depth of it considerable notwithstanding which, in some places, it is with difficulty that canoes can pass through the obstructions they meet with from the rice-stalks, which are very large and thick, and grow here in great abundance. The country around it is very fertile, and proper in the highest degree for cultivation, excepting in some places near the river, where it is rather too low. It is in no part very woody, and yet can supply sufficient to answer the demands of any number of inhabitants. This river is the greatest resort for wild fowl of every kind that I met With in the whole course of my travels frequently the sun would be obscured by them for some minutes together. '•About forty miles up this river from the great town of the Winnebagoes, stands a smaller town, belonging to that nation. Deer and bears are very numerous in these parts, and a great many beavers and other furs are taken on the streams that empty themselves into this river. The river I am treating of is remarkable for having been, about eighty years ago, the residence of the united bands of the Ottigaumies and the Saukies, whom the French had nicknamed, according to their wonted custom, Des Sacs and Des Reynards the Sacs and the Foxes. About twelve miles before I reached the carrying place, I observed several small mountains, eighty miles.

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which extended quite to it. These, indeed, would only be esteemed as mole-hills when compared With those on the back of the colonies but as they were the first I had seen since my leaving Niagara, a track of nearly eleven hundred miles, I could not leave them unnoticed. " The Fox River, where it enters the Winnebago Lake, is about fifty yards wide, but it gradually decreases to the carrying place, where it is no more than five yards over, except in I cannot a few places, where it widens into small lakes, though still of a considerable depth. recollect anything else that is remarkable in this river, except that it is so serpentine for five ;

miles as only to gain in that place one-quarter of a mile. " The carrying place, between the Fox and Ouiseonsin Rivers, is in breadth not more than

a mile and three-quarters, though in some maps it

so delineated as to appear to be ten miles.

Near one-half of the way between the rivers is a morass overgrown with a kind of long grass the rest of it a plain, with some few oak and pine trees growing thereon. I observed here a great number of rattlesnakes. I observed also that the main body of the Fox River came from the southwest, that of the Ouiseonsin from the northeast: and, also, that some of the small branches

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

316

of these two rivers, in descending into them, doubled within a few feet of each other, a little to That two such rivers should take their rise so near each the south of the carrying place. other, and, after running such different courses, empty themselves into the sea at a distance so

amazing (for the former, having passed through several great lakes and run upward of two thousand miles, falls into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the other, after joining the Mississippi and run an equal number of miles, disembogues itself into the Gulf of Mexico), is an instance I had an opportunity, the scarcely to be met in the extensive continent of North America. year following, of making the same observations on the affinity of various head branches of the and the Mississippi to each other, and now bring them as a proof waters of the St. Lawrence that the opinion of those geographers who assert that rivers taking their rise so near each other For I perceived a visibly distinct separation must spring from the same source, is erroneous.

them, notwithstanding, in some places, they appeared so near that I could have stepped from one to the other. " On the 8th of October, we got our canoes into the Ouisconsin River, which at this place and the next day arrived at the great town of the Saukies. is more than a hundred yards wide It contains about ninety houses, each This is the largest and best-built Indian town I ever saw. These are built of hewn plank, neatly jointed and covered large enough for several families. Before the doors are placed with bark so compactly as to keep out the most penetrating rains. comfortable sheds, in which the inhabitants sit, when the weather will permit, and smoke their The streets are regular and spacious so that 'it appears more like a civilized town than pipes. The land near the town is very good. In their plantations, which lie the abode of savages. adjacent to their houses, and which are neatly laid out, they raise great quantities of Indian corn, beans, melons, etc., so that this place is esteemed the best market for traders to furnish themselves with provisions, of any within 800 miles of it. " The Saukies can raise about three hundred warriors, who are generally employed every summer in making incursions into the territories of the Illinois and Pawnee nations, from whence But those people frequently retaliate, and in their they return with a great number of slaves. turn destroy many of the Saukies, which I judge to be the reason that they increase no faster. " Whilst I stayed here, I took a view of some mountains that lie about fifteen miles to the I ascended one of the highest of these, and had an extensouthward, and abound in lead ore. For many miles nothing was to be seen but lesser mountains, which sive view of the country. Only a few groves of hickory appeared at a distance like hay-cocks, they being free from trees. and stunted oaks covered some of the valleys. So plentiful is lead here, that I saw large quantities of it lying about the streets in the town belonging to the Saukies, and it seemed to be as good as the product of other countries. " On the 10th of October, we proceeded down the river, and the next day reached the first This town contained about fifty houses, but we found most of them town of the Ottigaumies. deserted, on account of an epidemical disorder that had lately raged among them and carried off inhabitants. The greater part of those who survived had retired into the more than half of the woods to avoid the contagion. " On the 15th, we entered that extensive river, the Mississippi. The Ouisconsin, from the carrying place to the part where it falls into the Mississippi, flows with a smooth but a strong current the water of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may perceive a fine and sandy In it are a few islands, the soil of which appeared to be bottom, tolerably free from rocks. good, though somewhat woody. The land near the river also seemed to be, in general, excellent but that at a distance is very full of mountains, where it is said there are many lead mines." The Wisconsin River was visited by Maj. S. H. Long in 1817, and again in 1823. He " The Wisconsin River, from its magnitude and importance, deserves a high rank among says the tributaries of the Mississippi. When swollen by a freshet, it affords an easy navigation for boats of considerable burden through a distance of more than one hundred and eighty miles. Its current is rapid, and, like the Mis[The actual distance to the portage is but 118 miles.] In a low stage of water, its navigation is obstructed sissippi, it embosoms innumerable islands. in all of

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

317

At the distance from its mouth above mentioned which by numerous shoals and sand-banks. is too great an estimate by over sixty miles], there is a portage of one mile and a half across a flat meadow, which is Occasionally subject to inundation, to a branch of Fox River of Green Bay, thus affording another navigable communication which boats have been known to pass." In 1819, the Fifth Regiment of the United States Infantry made the voyage from Fort Howard, near Green Bay, to Prairie du Chien, by way of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, cross" The Fox River, from Lake Capt. Henry Whiting, of that regiment, says ing the portage. Winnebago to the portage, has always a strong current, and is often entirely overgrown with grass and wild rice, but presents no other impediments. It winds through a narrow prairie, bordered by oak openings and undulating lands, generally of a beautiful appearance, but probably not remarkably rich in their soil, which, wherever the river washes them, seems to be a The portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers is about two thousandy, reddish loam. There is a Frenchman (Francis the road runs over a marshy prairie. sand five hundred yards Le Roy) residing on the rising ground between the rivers. He keeps the proper transportation The limestone bluffs and highlands begin on the Wisconsin about eight for boats and baggage. Just above Prairie du Sac appears to be the apex of the highland of miles below the portage. that river, and the head of the great valley through which it winds." Ebenezer Childs records making the same trip in a bark canoe, in 1821. He conducted the first Durham boat that ever went up the Fox and over the portage. In 1826, a flotilla of thirty-five boats carried the Third United States Infantry from Green Bay to St. Louis, by the same streams and crossing. In 1827, Gen. Pass passed over this route to ascertain the feeling among the Winnebagoes toward the United States Government. [

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Ih'W

SA1 K

COUNTY GOT

ITS

NAME.

county hears was suggested to the minds of those upon whom the great responsibility of christening it devolved by the traces they found of an Indian village, once located on the Wisconsin River, in the present town of Prairie du Sac. History, both written and traditional, tells us that the tribe to whom the village belonged called themselves the Having searched the vocabulary of Indian appellations in vain for the root of the Saukies. word, the writer addressed a professional friend (who is an adept in Indian nomenclature), holding a high position in the Smithsonian Institution, requesting a scientific explanation. The

The name

this

following rei)ly sheds electric-light luster upon the subject

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Dkai! Sih Sacs, Sauks and Saukies are synonymous all being the names applied to the Indians closely The Jesuit missionaries wrote " Saukies," which was afterward cut short into " Sauks " but allied to the Foxes. the French, finally, wrote las more in harmony with their language) " Sacs," the identical pronunciation being ;

retained. The latter orthography is the one usually adopted by I'.nglish and Americans: hence we find almost universally in nor printed books ' Sacs and Foxes." Now, the county got its name from " IVairie du Sac " but in the use of the word, the old adage of being " more nice than wise " was reversed it was " more wise than nice" to call it Sauk County" instead of "Sac County." The meaning of the word as applied to the village, is, of course, the Sauk meadow, or, as (lie French prefer to write it, the Sac meadow; that is. •• I'rairie du Sac." Yours, P. S. I forgot to say that the meaning of the word Sauk is unknown. ;

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Concerning the settlement of the Sauk Indians at this point, Augustin Grignon,* in his "Recollections," says: " As the details of the war which eventuated in the expulsion of the Sauks and Foxes from the Fox River Valley, in 1746, are of much interest, I shall give them as fully as I have learned them from the lips of my grandfather, Charles De Langlade, who took an active part in some of the occurrences narrated, and from other ancient settlers and Indians. " The Outagamies or Foxes were at this time ocated at the Little Butte des Morts, on the western bank of Fox River, and some thirty-seven miles above Green Bay. Here they made it a point, whenever a trader's boat approached, to place a torch upon the bank, as a signal for the * Augustin Ori-nwi was mice the posxrssnr of the 1.11111," ti]n.n which a large portion of 1 1 city of stands. Hecamehy tin- i.in|.i.]ty thriaiL'h Kmyer. wl,., lipid it mid, r French title, and deeded it to Grignon in 1832; being, of course, a I'nitei! Mat.- patent, wa, -i-n.-.t hy Ami:, v, tael^nn, I'p-i.lent Kl>.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

318

To refuse traders to come ashore, and pay the customary tribute which they exacted from all. this tribute, was sure to incur the displeasure of the Foxes, and robbery would be the mildest punishment inflicted. This haughty, imperious conduct of the Foxes was a source of no little annoyance

to the traders,

who made their complaints to

the

commandants of the Western

posts, and in due time these grievances reached the ears of the Governor of

" Capt.

Canada.

De Velie was at this time commandant of the small garrison at Green Bay.

was relieved by the arrival of a new officer, whose name I have forgotton. and the new commandant brought with him demands for the Sauks of the village opposite the fort, who had hitherto demeaned themselves well, to deliver up the few Foxes living among them, in consequence of inter-marriage or otherwise. All were readily given up, except a Fox boy, who had De Velie and his successor were dining together, and, becombeen adopted by a Sauk woman. ing somewhat influenced by wine, some sharp words passed between them relative to the tardiwhen De Velie arose, and taking his gun and a ness of the Sauks in rendering the Fox boy negro servant, crossed the river to the Sauk village, which was surrounded with palisades or was met by the Sauk chief, of whom he demanded council, and He found the Sauks in pickets. The chief said he and his principal men the immediate surrender of the remaining Indian. had just been in council about the matter, and thought the adopted mother of the youth was loath to part with him, yet they hoped to prevail upon her peaceably to do so. The chief proceeded to visit the old woman, who still remained obstinate, and De Velie renewing his demands for immediate compliance, again would the chief renew his efforts; and thus three times did he go to the sturdy old woman, and endeaver to prevail upon her to give up the boy, and returning each time without success, but assuring De Velie that if he would be a little patient he was certain the But, in his warm old squaw would yet comply with his demands, as she seemed to be relenting. blood, the Frenchman was in no mood to exercise patience than he at length drew up his gun and shot the chief dead. Some of the young Sauks were for taking instant revenge, but the older ami wiser men present begged them to be cool, and refrain from inflicting injury on their French father, as they had provoked him to commit the act. By this time De Velie, whose anger was yet unappeased, had got his gun reloaded by his servant, and wantonly shot down when a young Sauk, only twelve years of age, named another chief, and then a third one Ma-kau-ta-pe-na-se, or the Black Bird, shot the enraged Frenchman dead. " The garrison was too weak to attempt the chastisement of the Sauks, but upon the arrival of a re- enforcement, joined by the French settlers, Charles De Langlade among them, the Sauks were attacked at their village, where a severe battle occurred, in which several were killed on In this Sauk battle, two of my father's uncles both sides, and the Sauks finally driven away. The Sauks now retired to the Wisconsin were among the slain on the part of the French. River and located themselves at Sauk Prairie, where they still resided, and had a fine village, with comfortable houses, and were apparently doing something in mining lead, when Carver visited the country in 1766, but which appeared to have been several years deserted when I first saw the place, in 1795, as there were then only a few remains of fire-places and posts to be seen. The brave young Sauk, Black Bird, became a distinguished chief among his people, and Mr. Laurent Fily, an old trader, told me many years since, that he knew Black Bird well at the Sauk village at the mouth of Rock River, and that he lived to a good old age, and Fily added, that he was the same person who in his youth had so fearlessly shot De Velie." ;

;

SAUK COUNTY ON EAKLY MAPS.

As early as the year 1632, Samuel Champlain, then at Quebec, drew a map of the Valley

—

the first attempt of the kind. of the Saint Lawrence, and of the region of the Upper Lakes His delineations of the country to the westward and northwest ward of Lake Huron were wholly from Indian reports. Upon this map, Fox River is placed to the north of Lake Superior, and the Wisconsin

rudely given as leading into a northern sea.

There is a narrow space between

the two rivers, and, possibly, it had been described to him by the savages.

HISTORY

OF SAUK COUNTY

319

But the first map of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers and the portage, made with any degree of accuracy, was by Father James Marquette, who accompanied Louis Joliet up the first-menThe portage is distinctly traced, and the general tioned stream and down the last, in 1673. course of the two rivers given. Other maps were published at subsequent periods, down to L768, when the one by J. Carver appeared, attached to his " Travels." This one is, considering the " circumstances under which it was made, exceedingly creditable. It locates the " carrying place and has a representation of Swan Lake, besides a pretty accurate delineation of the portage the Baraboo River. On the south side of Lake Puckaway is the Winnebago Upper Town, and on Sauk Prairie, down the Wisconsin, is located the " Saukies Chief Town." The Portage, then, in 1766, was about the boundary line between the Sacs upon the AVisconsin and the Winnebagoes upon the Fox River. In 1830, John Farmer, of Detroit, published a '"Map of the Territories of Michigan and Ouisconsin." Fort Winnebago appears as if situated between the Fox and Wisconsin, while " Etoi's " [Le Roy's] house occupies the site where the fort was, in fact, located that is, on the east side of the Fox. Pauquette's place is designated farther down the last-mentioned stream. but on the west side. The Baraboo River is noted as " Bonibau's Creek." Winnebago villages are represented down the Fox and the Wisconsin, and upon the Baraboo. Farmer's revised map of 1836, has Fort Winnebago in its correct position, on the east side of Fox River. The whole of the territory now constituting Sauk County is a complete blank, except as a part of Crawford County. There is, however, a rude representation of the Baraboo Bluffs, but the Baraboo River is wholly wanting. The first '• Map of Wisconsin Territory, compiled from Public Surveys," has upon it, correctly located, the village of Prairie du Sac. There is also represented, immediately opposite Arena, the village of Ozaukee, located on the north side of the Wisconsin River, and upon its immediate bank. On Mitchell's "Map of the Settled Part of Wisconsin and Iowa." of 1838, the territory now constituting Sauk County is correctly represented as constituting a small part of the territory north of the Wisconsin River, belonging to the Winnebago Indians. On a manuscript " Map of Wiskonsan, drawn by Charles Doty and Francis Hudson, 1844," now preserved in the archives of the State Historical Society, the boundaries of Sauk County are correctly delineated, and so much of the Government survey as was then completed is indicated. But the first published map upon which Sauk County appears, is that of Morse & Breese, of 1847. Upon this map, the townships and ranges are indicated, also the Baraboo River. The next published map upon which Sauk County is represented, was Farmer's map of Wisconsin and Iowa, in 1848. Honey (.'reek and the Baraboo River are pretty correctly delineated, while Prairie du Sac and Ozaukee occupy the same positions as in previous maps. Sauk County, upon the admission of Wisconsin as a State into the Union, was so frequently represented upon various maps that farther notice is unnecessary.

—

;

"TIIK WINNEBAGO WAR."

Though this memorable conflict did not take place in Sauk County, an account of it will be interesting, as showing the causes which usually lead to Indian wars In the early part of the year 1827, a party of twenty-four Chippewas, being on their way to Fort Snelling, at the mouth of St. Peter's River, were surprised and attacked by a war-party of the Winnebagoes, and eight of them were killed. The commandant of the United States troops at the fort took four of the offending Winnebagoes prisoners, and (certainly with great imprudence) delivered them into the hands of the exasperated Chippewas, who immediately put them to death. This act was greatly resented by the chief of the Winnebagoes, named " Red Bird," and in addition to this source of enmity was to be added the daily encroachment of the whites in the lead region for at this time they had overrun the mining country from Galena to the Wisconsin River. In the spirit of revenge for the killing of the four Winnebagoes, Red Bird led a war-party against the Chippewas, by whom he was defeated, and thus, having been disappointed, he turned the force of his :

;

320

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

resentment against the whites, whom he considered as having not only invaded his country, but as having aided and abetted his enemies in the destruction of his people. Some time previously, a murder by the Winnebagoes had been committed in the family of It was appara Mr. Methode, near Prairie du Chien, in which several persons had been killed. and, ent that a spirit of enmity between the Indians and the whites was effectually stirred up for the first time since the war of 1812, disturbances were daily looked for by the settlers and ;

miners.

On the 28th of June, 1827, Red Bird, We-Kaw, and three of their companions, entered the house of Registre Gagnier, about three miles from Prairie du Chien, where they remained several At last, when Mr. Gagnier least expected it, Red Bird leveled his gun and shot him hours. A person in the building, by the name of Sip Cap, who was a hired dead on his hearthstone. man, was slain at the same time by We-Kaw. Madame Gagnier turned to fly with her infant As she was about to leap through the window, the child was torn from of eighteen months. her arms by We-Kaw, stabbed, scalped, and thrown violently on the floor as dead. The murderer then attacked the woman, but gave way when she snatched up a gun that was leaning against the wall, and presented it to his breast. She then effected her escape. Her eldest son, a lad of ten years, also shunned the murderers and they both arrived in the The alarm was soon given but, when the avengers of blood arrived village at the same time. at Gagnier's house, they found in it nothing living but his mangled infant. It was carried to the village, and, incredible as it may seem, it recovered. Bird his companions Red and immediately proceeded from the scene of their crime to the rendezvous of their band. During their absence, thirty-seven of the warriors who acknowledged the authority of Red Bird, had assembled, with their wives and children, near the mouth They received the murderers with joy, and loud approbation of their of the Bad Axe River. exploit. A keg of liquor which they had secured was set abroach and the red men began to drink, and, as their spirits rose, to boast of what they had already done and intended to do. Two days did they continue to revel and on the third the source of their excitement gave out. They were, at about 4 in the afternoon, dissipating the last fumes of their excitement in the scalp-dance, when they descried one of the keel-boats, which had a few days before passed up the river with provisions for the troops at Fort Snelling, on her return in charge of Mr. Lindsay. Forthwith a proposal to take her, and massacre the crew, was made, and carried by acclamation. They counted upon doing this without risk; for they had examined her on her way up, and supposed there were no arms on board. Mr. Lindsay's boats had descended the river as far as the village of Wabashaw, where they expected an attack. The Dakotas on shore were dancing the war-dance, and hailed their approach with insults and menaces, but did not, however, offer to obstruct their passage. The whites now supposed the danger over and, a strong wind at that moment beginning to blow up stream, the boats parted company. So strong was the wind that all the force of the sweeps could scarcely stem it; and, by the time the foremost boat was near the encampment at the mouth of the Bad Axe River, the crew were very willing to stop and rest. One or two Frenchmen, or half-breeds, who were on board, observed hostile appearances on shore, and advised the rest to keep the middle of the stream Most of the crew but their counsel was disregarded. were Americans, who, as usual with our countrymen, combined a profound ignorance of Indian character with a thorough contempt for Indian prowess. They urged the boat directly toward the camp with all the force of the sweeps. It m?y be well There were sixteen men on deck. to observe here, that this, like all keel-boats used in the Mississippi Valley, was built almost exactly on the model of the Erie and Middlesex canalboats. The men were rallying their French companions on their apprehensions, and the boat (named Oliver II. Perry) was within thirty yards of the shore, when suddenly the trees and rocks rang with the blood-chilling, ear-piercing tones of the warwhoop, and a volley of rifle-balls rained upon the deck. Happily, the Winnebagoes had not yet recovered from the effects of their debauch, and their arms were not steady. One man only fell from their fire. He was a*. ;

;

HISTOEY OF SAUK COUNTY. negro, named

321

His leg was dreadfully shattered, and he afterward died of the wound. A second volley soon came from the shore but, as the men were lying at the bottom Encouraged by the nonof the boat, they all escaped but one, who was shot through the heart. The whites, having resistance, the Winnebagoes rushed to their canoes, with intent to board. recovered from their first panic, seized their arms, and the boarders Were received with a very In one canoe, two savages were killed with the same bullet, and several were severe discharge. The attack was continued until night, when one of the party, named Mandeville, wounded. who had assumed command, sprang into the water, followed by four others, who succeeded in setting the boat afloat, and then went down the stream. Thirty-seven Indians were engaged in this battle, seven of whom were killed, and fourteen wounded. They managed to put 693 bullets into and through the boat. Two of the crew were The presence of mind of Mandeville killed outright, two mortally and two slightly wounded. Mr. Lindsay's boat, the rear one, did not undoubtedly saved the rest, as well as the boat. The Indians opened fire upon her which reach the mouth of the Bad Axe until midnight. was promptly returned, but, owing to the darkness, no injury was done, and the boat passed on

little

Peter.

;

safely. at Prairie du Chien when the boats arrived there. The people left the dilapidated fort. An express was immediately Galena, and another to Fort Snelling, for assistance. company of upward of a hundred volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and the minds of the inhabitants were quieted. The consternation of the In a few days four imperfect companies arrived from Fort Snelling. This portion of the people of the lead mines was great, and in all the frontier settlements. A great many of them country then contained, as is supposed, about five thousand inhabitants. fled from the country. On the 1st of September, 1827, Maj. William Whistler, with Government troops, arrived at the portage and, while here, an express arrived from Gen. Atkinson, announcing his approach, and directing the former to halt and fortify himself at the portage and wait his arrival. The object of the joint expedition of Gen. Atkinson from Jtfierson Barracks, below St. Louis, and of Maj. Whistler from Fort Howard, on Green Bay, was to capture those who had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien, and put a stop to any further aggression. At the opening of the council at the Butte des Morts, between the Government and the Indians, the Winnebagoes were advised that the security of their people lay in the surrender of the murderers of the Gagnier family. While Maj. Whistler was at the portage, he received a call in a mysterious way. An Indian came to his tent and informed him that, at about 3 o'clock the " In reply to the question, "Who will come in?" he said, next day, they will come in." "Bed Bird and We-Kaw." After making this answer, he retired by the way he came. At 3 o'clock the same day, another Indian came, and took position in nearly the same place and in the same way, when, to like questions he gave like answers; and at sundown a third came, confirming what the two had said, adding that he had, to secure that object, given to the families of the murderers nearly all his property. There was something heroic in this voluntary surrender. The giving away of property to the families of the guilty parties had nothing to do with their determination to devote themselves for the good of their people, but only to reconcile those who were about to be driven to the dreadful expedient. The heroism of the purpose is seen in the fact that the murders committed at Prairie du Chien were not wanton, but in retaliation for wrongs committed on this people by the whites. The parties murdered at the prairie were doubtless innocent of the wrongs and outrages of which the Indians complained; but the law of Indian retaliation does not require that he alone who commits a wrong shall sufl'er for it. One scalp is held due for another, no matter whose head is taken, provided it be torn from the crown of the family, or people who may have made a resort to this law a necessity. About noon of the day following, there were seen descending a mound on the portage a body of Indians. Some were mounted and some were on foot. By the aid of a glass it could

Great was the alarm

their houses and farms, and crowded into

sent to

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

322

They bore no arms, and Whistler be discerned that the direction was toward Maj. Whistler. was at no loss to understand that the promise made by the three Indians was about to be fulfilled. In the course of half an hour they had approached within a short distance of the crossing of Those who were familiar with the air said, Fox River, when, suddenly, singing was heard. "It is a death-song." When still nearer, some present who knew him said, "It is Red Bird The moment a halt was made, preparatory to crossing over, two scalpsinging his death-song." yells were heard.

The Menomonees and other Indians who had accompanied us, says an eye-witness, were "

but when the " scalp-yells lying carelessly about the ground, regardless of what was going on were uttered they sprang as one man to their feet, seized their rifles, and were ready for battle. They were at no loss to know what these "yells" were; but they had not heard with sufficient accuracy to decide whether they indicated scalps to be taken or given, but, doubtless, inferred ;

the first.

Barges were sent across to receive, and an escort of military to accompany, them within The white flag which had been seen in the distance was borne by Red Bird. Whistler's lines. And now the advance of the Indians had reached half up the ascent of the bluff on which Arriving was Whistler's encampment. In the lead was Kar-ray-mau-nee, a distinguished chief. on the level upon which was the encampment of the Americans, and order being called. Kar-ray" them as braves ; They are here. Like braves they have come in ; treat mau-nee spoke, saying,

The latter told him he This address was made to Col. McKenney. do not put them in irons." His talk must be made to Maj. Whistler, who would do what was was not the big Captain. right. Mr. Marsh, the sub-agent, being there, an advance was made to him, and a hope expressed that the prisoners might be turned over to him. The military had been previously drawn-out in line. The Menomonee and Wabanackie On the right was the (Oneida) Indians were in groups, upon their haunches, on the left flank. In front of the center, about ten paces distant, band of music, a little in advance of the line. On their right and left were those who had accompanied them, forming a were the murderers. semi-circle; the magnificent Red Bird and the miserable-looking We-Kaw a little in advance of In height, he is about six feet, straight, but All eyes were fixed on the Red Bird. the center. His proportions were those of most exact symmetry and these embraced the without restraint. entire man from his head to his feet. He and We-Kaw were told to sit down. At this moment the band struck up Pleyel's Hymn. Everything was still. Red Bird turned his eyes toward the band. The music having ceased, he took up his pouch, and, taking from it kinnikinnic and tobacco, cut the latter in the palm of his hand, after the Indian fashion then, rubbing the two together, filled the bowl of All sat his calumet, struck lire on a bit of punk witli his Hint and steel, lighted, and smoked it. The substance of what they said was as follows: except the speaker. They had no power over any except two; They were required to bring in the murderers. and these had voluntarily agreed to come in and give themselves up. the third had gone away They hoped their white brothers would agree to As their friends, they liad come with them. the meaning of which was. to take them accept the horses, of which there were perhaps twenty They asked kind treatment for them, and in commutation for the lives of their two friends. earnestly besought that they might not be put in irons, and concluded by asking for a little tobacco and something to eat. They were answered and told in substance that they had done well thus to come in. By They were affmonished having done so. they bad turned away our guns and saved their people. against placing themselves in a like situation in the future, and advised, when they were aggrieved, not to resort to violence, but to go to their agent, who would inform the Great Father of their complaints, and he would redress their grievances; that their friends should be treated kindly, ami tried by the same laws by which their Great Father's white children were tried: that, for the present, Red Bird and VVe-Kaw should net be put in irons; that they should all have something to eat and tobacco to smoke. ;

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. Having heard

this.

Red Bird stood up;

the

323

commanding officer, Maj.

Whistler, a few After a moment's pause and a quick surpaces in front of the center of the line, facing him. Then, advancing a step or two, tie paused, vey of the troops, lie spoke, saying, " / am ready." Let me be free. I have given away my life; it is saying, " I do not wish to be put in irons. gone" (stooping and taking some dust between his linger and thumb and blowing it away) " like

"I would not take it back hands behind him and marched up to Maj.

that," eyeing the dust as it fell and vanished from his sight, adding, it

is gone."

Having thus spoken, he threw

Whistler, breast to breast.

his

A platoon was wheeled backward from the center of the line, when,

the Major stepping aside, Red Bird and We-Kaw marched through the line, in charge of a file of men, to a tent provided for them in the rear, where a guard was set over them. The comrades of the two captives then left the ground by the way they had come, taking with them

Maj. Whistler's advice and a supply of meat, flour and tobacco. We-Kaw, the miserable-looking being, the accomplice of the Red Bird, was in all things Never were two persons so totally unlike. The one seemed a prince, and as if born to command, and worthy to be obeyed the other, as if he had meager, cold, dirty in his person and dress, crooked in form like the born to be hanged been his entire appearance indicating the presence of starved wolf, gaunt, hungry and bloodthirsty The prisoners were admitted into safe-keeping at Prairie a spirit wary, cruel and treacherous. du Chien, to await their trial in the regular courts of justice for murder. The next spring, Red Bird, We-Kaw and another Winnebago prisoner were tried at Prairie du Chien, before Judge J. D. Doty, who went from Green Bay, by way of the portage, for that purpose, convicted and sentenced to death. Red Bird died in prison. deputation of the tribe went to Washington to solicit the pardon of the others. President Adams granted it on the implied condition that the tribe would cede the lands then in the possession of the miners. The Winnebagoes agreed to this. Mine. Gagnier was compensated for the loss of her husband and the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty held at Prairie du Chien in 1829, provision was made for two sections of land to her and her two children and the Government agreed to pay her the sum of $50 per annum for fifteen years, to be deducted from the annuity of the the opposite of that unfortunate brave.

;

—

;

Winnebago Indians. In closing this account of the " Winnebago war," we give an anecdote which places the Winnebago character in an amiable light The militia of Prairie du Chien, immediately after the affair of the boats, seized the old chief, De-kau-ry, and four other Indians and he was informed that if Red Bird should not be given up within a certain time, he and the others were to die in his place. This he steadfastly believed. A messenger, a young Indian, was :

;

sent to inform the tribe of the state of affairs: and several days had elapsed and no information was received of the murderers. The dreadful day was near at hand, and De-kau-ry. being in a

bad state of health, asked permission of the officer to go to the river to indulge in his longaccustomed habit of bathing, in order to improve his health upon which Col. Snelling told him if he would promise, on the honor of a chief, that he would not leave town, he might have his liberty and enjoy all his privileges until the day appointed for his execution. Accordingly, he first gave his hand to the Colonel, thanking him for his friendly offer, then raised both hands aloff and in the most solemn adjuration promised that he would not leave the bounds prescribed, and said if he had a hundred lives he would sooner lose them all than forfeit his word. He was" then set at liberty. He was advised to flee to the wilderness and make his escape. " But no said he. "do you think I prize life above honor?" He then remained complacently until nine days of the ten which he had to live had elapsed, and still nothing was heard promising the apprehension of the murderers. No alteration could be seen in the countenance of the chief. It so happened that, on that day. Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troops from Jefferson Barracks, ami the order for the execution was countermanded and the Indians permitted to return to their homes. ;

IIISTOUY OF

324

SAUK COUNTY.

UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS AND LAND DISTRICTS.

As soon as a considerable tract of country south of the AVisconsin was secured from the Indians by treaties, the General Government commenced the survey of it. The following is a tabulated statement of the surveys made in Sauk County, with the date of survey and name of surveyor': TOWNSHIPS

Surveyor's Names.

Township Lines.

Township 8, Range 3 East

\ Subdivisions Township Lines.

Township 8, Range 4 East

Subdivisions

Township

Township 8, Range 5 East

Township

TowNsmr 9, Kanue 3 East Township 9, Range 4 East

Subdivisions

Township Lines. Subdivisions

Township Lines.

Subdivisions hi nsliip Lines. Subdivisions

Township Lines.

Township 9, Hange 6 East Township 10, Mamie 3 East

Subdivisions

Township 10, Range 4 East

Township lo, Range 6 East Township 10, Range 7 East

Township Lines.

Subdivisions

Township Lines.

Subdivisions

Township

Subdivisions

Township Lines.

Township 11, Range 6 East.... Township 11, Range 6 East....

Range 7 East....

Subdivisions

Township Lines.

(

Subdivisions

12, Range 4 East....

;"»

East....

Subdivisions

Township Lines.

Subdivisions

)

Township Lines

Range

Township Lines.

\ Subdivisions Township Lines. i

Township 12, Hanoi: 3 East....

Toll NSHIP 12,

Township Lines.

\ Subdivisions Township Lines.

Township 11, Range 4 East

!'.-« \s|| II'

Lines.

)

\ Subdivisions

Township 11, Range 3 East

l'ow NSHIP 11,

Township 10, Range's East

Lines.

Township 9, Range 5 East

Lines.

Subdivisions

Township Lines

\ Subdivisions Township Lines Subdivisions Township Lines Subdivisions i

Tow \siiir

6 East....

Township 12. Range 7 East....

L3,

Range 2 East....

( '(

I :

3 East.... I

13,

Rangi

East.

.. i

13,

Hanoi: 6

East.... I

Range 7 East....

Township Lines Subdivisions Township Lines Subdivisions Township Lines Subdivisions Tow uship Lines Subdivisions Township Lines Subdivisions Township Lines Subdivisions

Date Of Survey.

1st

(

DECEASED,'

BARABOO.

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

327

The northern boundary line of the State of Illinois, fixed April 11, 181s, on the parallel of 42° 30' north latitude, became, properly enough, the base line of these surveys. A principal north-and-south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior, at right angles with the last-mentioned line. The Fourth Meridian is west of the territory of Sauk County, running on the east boundary of what is now the county of Grant, and on the west boundary of La Fayette and Iowa Counties, and thence onward due north, a distance west of the most westerly point of Sauk County of six miles, striking Lake Superior a short distance west of the mouth of the Montreal River. Parallel lines to the Fourth Meridian were run every six miles on the east and west sides of it. The intervening six miles between these lines are called ranges. Range 1 east is the Range 2 east is the second six first six miles of territory east of the Fourth Meridian Sauk County lying in Ranges "J. miles, and so on to Lake Michigan 4, 5, 6 and 7 ;

—

•">,

east.

Parallel lines north of the base line (the north boundary line of the State of Illinois) were run every six miles, which, crossing the ranges at right angles, cut the whole into blocks six

miles square, called townships. the

These are numbered by tiers going north from the base line,

tier being known as Township 1 north, the second tier as Township - north, and As the most southern boundary of Sauk County is distant from the base line seven town-

first

so on.

ships, of course the first or most southern tier of townships in the county

numbered 8 north

;

and as there are six tiers, they are numbered consecutively Townships 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 north. But the county does not include the whole of Townships 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 north, of Ranges 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 east, as a considerable portion is included in the Counties of Columbia, Dane. Iowa and Richland. By the end of 1833, a large amount of public land in Wisconsin, south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, had been surveyed and, the fact being reported by the Surveyor General, two land districts were erected by an act of Congress, approved June 26, 1834. These districts embraced all the land north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, included in the then Territory of Michigan. The area was then divided by a north-and-south line, drawn from the base line to the Wisconsin River, between Ranges 8 and 9. All east of that line was called the Green Bay Land District A land office of the eastern district was established at all west, the Wisconsin Land District. Green Bay of the western district, at Mineral Point. The public sales of the surveyed lands in the two districts were held in 1835, at Green Bay and Mineral Point. It was provided in the act of Congress creating the Green Bay and Wisconsin Land Districts, that they should embrace the country north of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, where the Indian title to the same had become extinguished. On the 1st day of November, 1837, the Winnebago Indians ceded to the General Government all their lands east of the Mississippi River. By this treaty, the United States came in possession of lands north of the Wisconsin, of which that portion now constituting Sauk County was a part; so this territory (with much other) was ordered surveyed, which survey, as before stated, was finished in 1845. The two land districts the Green Bay and Wisconsin were then extended north, Sauk County falling in the Wisconsin District, the land office being at Mineral Point. An old settler who witnessed the sale of lands in the Milwaukee District, says: "Each Register and Receiver of a land office had a salary of §500 per annum, together with 2 per cent upon all sales, until the whole amounted to $3,000 a year. During 1835-36, most of the land between Rock River and the Mississippi and Wisconsin were offered for sale. Eight hundred and sixty-three thousand acres and more were sold, a large portion of which fell into the hands of speculators, which greatly retarded the settlement, of the country. Most of those lands remained unoccupied for many years. The Milwaukee Land District embraced the southeast portion of the territory as far north as Manitowoc. The Green Bay District was north of it, and Mineral Point west. The first officers of the Milwaukee District were Col. Morton, ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

328

The first sale was advertised to take place November Register, and Rufus Parks, Receiver. They therefore 18, 1838, and found the settlers generally unprepared to purchase their claims. It was granted petitioned to President Van Buren for a postponement of the sale for one year. months only, and commenced February 19, 1839. The settlers were afraid of having their lands bid upon by speculators at the sale, and formed combinations to protect each other

for three

To effect their purpose, one man in each township was previously chosen to bid oft" each man's land and give his name to the clerk of the register. prevented, confusion was and each man obtained his claim. The sale in the Milall Thus waukee District was conducted in this manner. It commenced on the south line of the Territory, near Lake Michigan, and proceeded to the north line of the district, when they offered the next range west, and so continued until the whole was passed over, making about 132 townships In offering a township for sale, the register began at in all, and nearly 27.000,000 of acres. Section 1, and went through each section in regular order until he reached Section 36, except Each section was offered for sale in 80-acre Section 16, which was reserved for school purposes. lota, beginning at the northeast corner and going through in regular order, making 228 offers Each purchaser had his name taken down by a clerk of the register, with in each township. in obtaining their lands at $1.25 per acre.

number of acres purchased, together with the price paid.

the description of his land, the

the close of each day's sale a copy of these sales was given to the Receiver, who took the money The duplicate of each purchaser and gave him a receipt therefor, which was called a duplicate.

was by act of Legislature made evidence of title upon which deeds could be made, until the The patent was a deed from the United States issue of the patent from the General Land Office. to the purchaser, made upon parchment and signed by the President of the United States and At the close of each public sale, the office was the Commissioner of the General Land Office. closed for three months, to give time for the land officers to make their report to the General Land Office, and prepare plats of each township, showing that lands had been sold. When the land office was opened for private entry then land could be purchased in lots of 40 acres, which At the sale of lands in the Milwaukee District a very small could not be done at public sale. amount was bought for speculaton, the experience of 1835-36 not having been fo'rgotton, when immense sums were lost in the purchase of wild lands during the terrible speculative mania of that period so that nearly all the lands not taken by actual settlers were left open for private It was the unfortunate policy of the United States Government in the entry of actual settlers. earlier period of its history to discourage the settlement of its hinds previous to their sale, and After a time this policy was changed, permitto sell, when they sold, in very large tracts. ing persons living upon the public lands at a given time to buy 160 acres previous to the sale, at They also changed the law in regard to the sale, so that the minimum price of $1.25 an acre. they were offered in 80-acre lots at the public sale, and could be bought at private sale afterward in lots of 40 acres. The early land surveys in Wisconsin were made under the direction of Micajah T. Williams, Mr. Williams was of Cincinnati, the father of Maj. Charles H. Williams, now of Baraboo. appointed Surveyor General of the Northwestern Territory by Andrew Jackson. The number of acres contained in each of the townships in Sauk County is as follows Township 8 north, Range 3 east, 10,851.53 acres Range 4, 6,485.46; Range 5. 2,601.36. Township 9 north, Range 3 east, 23,059.87 acres; Range 4, 23,059.32; Range 5, 22,850.29; Range 6, 13,106.91. Township 10 north, Range 3 east, 23.071.26 acres; Range 4, 23,034.59; Range 5, 22,713.25; Range 6, 22,489.38 Range 7, 5,626.83. Township 11 north. Range 3 east, 22,960.75 acres; Range 4, 22,991.89: Range 5, 22,754.56; Range 6, 22.399.36; Range 7, 22,812.87. Range 5, Township 12 north, Ranse 3 east, 22,737.85 acres; Range 4, 23,066.96 22,651.22; Range 6, 22.s04.47; Range 7, 22,703.31. Township 13 north, Range 2 east, 23,242.44 acres; Range 3. 23,079.65; Range 4 V Range 7, 2,187.26. 22,894.11; Range 5, 22,480.42 Range 6, 16,885.01 ;

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EISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

329

CHAPTER II. The First Permanent Settlement— County Officers from 1844 to 1880—Laying Out the Towns— Territorial, State and Coxgression w. Representation— Tj rritoki m District Court and State Circuit Court— County Judges—Political Parties in Sauk Coi nty. the first permanent settlement. Early in the spring of 1838, Berry Haney, who was then engaged in staging between Mineral Point an.l Fort Winnebago, now Portage City, received information of the ratification of the treaty with the Winnebago Indians for the purchase of their lands in this region, and on his next trip to the fort took with him Jonathan Taylor and Solomon Shore, for the purpose o making a claim on Sauk Prairie. Taylor was left opposite the prairie, while Shore accompanied Haney to the fort, and returned to him with a skiff, in which they crossed over the river. They marked out a claim for Haney on the present site of Sauk City. Taylor made a claim on an adjoining tract above, and Shore took a third claim still farther up the Wisconsin River. In the month of June, 1838, Haney employed James Ensminger and Thomas Sanser to break When these men came to perform their work the Indians threatened to burn their ten acres. They therefore dug a pit, walled it with logs, and protected it with a covering of earth, camp. These were the first permanent locations and improvements made by as a fire proof dwelling. white men on the soil of Sauk County. There had been an attempt made in the fall of 1837 by Archibald Barker and Andrew Dunn to pre-empt a piece of land at the Winnebago corn-fields near Baraboo, but the Indians destroyed their shanty and compelled them to leave the country. Mr. Barker subsequently returned and became a permanent resident, and still resides in the county.

James S. Alban, December 20, 1838, moved with his family to the south end of Sauk wherehe built a cabin in the midst of a small cluster of trees. His was the first white Mrs. Alban survived but family in the county. few years. The beauty and fertility of Sauk Prairie soon attracted others hither. In December, 1838, Albert Jameson, accompanied by Andrew Hodgett, Alexander Bills and Nelson Lathrop, came and located claims on the prairie, farther back from the Wisconsin, near the present southern boundary of the town of Sumter. William Johnson arrived soon afterward, from Belmont, crossing the Wisconsin River on the ice, and established himself near Jameson, in the valley of Prairie,

Honey Creek

erecting a cabin, he engaged, during the winter, in getting out rails to fence an Jameson and Johnson brought their families about a year later. Early in April, 1839, Charles 0. Baxter came to the prairie and purchased the claim of A short time previously, the site of Prairie du Sac A'illage was claimed and Solomon Shore. occupied by David P. Crocker; and about the same time, Albert Skinner and John Wilson brought the second and third families into the county. Other claims were occupied during the spring by H. F. Crossman, Burke Fairchild, William Billings, William May, E. B. Harner, a person by the name of Hunter and another named Parks, with his family. :

inclosure.

In the course of the spring, also, Berry Haney

moved in with his family and occupied his His son, Charles B. Haney. was bom here November 30, 1839. he being the first white The 4th of July was this year celebrated at the site of Prairie du Sac, by twenty-five persons, among whom were foui females Mrs. Alban, Mrs. Skinner. .Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Haney. Jonathan Hatch. Cyrus Leland and George Cargel. with families, became residents of the prairie during the summer. The German settlement at Sauk Prairie, was founded in 1840, by Count Augustine Haraszthy, and his cousin, Charles Halasz, who set out from Hamburg, in March, 1840 panied by a considerable number of German and Hungarian followers. They found the most claim.

child born in the county.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

330

desirable portion of the prairie occupied by the Americans, but here they decided to establish The Count bargained with Fairchild for a portion of his claim, thirty rods in width themselves.

He then made a upon the river, and extending a mile into the interior, for the sum of $400. While visiting Milwaukee again in the fall, he made the trip to Milwaukee for supplies. A partnership acquaintance of an Englishman of rank and wealth, by name of Robert Bryant. was formed between them, and together they purchased Haney's claim. Upon this tract of land, in the summer of 1841, they laid out a village, which was at first named Haraszthy, subsequently Westfield, and still later, Sauk City. In the fall of 1840, Edmund Rendtorft', a prominent citizen of German birth, became a resident of Sauk City. The village of Prairie du Sac was laid out by David B. Crocker, Calvin Frink and John La Mesuere, in 1840, two miles above Sauk City. This village was settled chiefly by Americans, and when Crocker came here, in 1839, he brought with him a stock of goods, and opened here The location of these two villages so near together engendered a the first store in the county. spirit of rivalry, which was maintained for many years. The first saw-mill in the county was erected by Robert Bryant, on the site of the present Sauk City Mills, on Honey Creek, in 1842. William H. Clark, the first lawyer in the county, The first physician was Dr- J. B. took- up his residence at Sauk City in the spring of 1842. Rev. John Cramer, an itinerant Methodist Woodruff, who located at Prairie du Sac in 1843. minister, preached the first sermon in the county, at the house of Henry Teel, in May, 1840. The first wedding ceremony occurred at the same place, August 15, 1841, in the union of the In January, Rev. James G. Whitford and Mrs. Sarah Sayles, a widowed daughter of Mr. Teel. 1841, a Presbyterian society of nine members was organized at Prairie du Sac, by Rev. S. Chafee, and about the same time a Methodist class was formed at Teel's house by Rev. James G. Whitford. John Wilson, who has already been mentioned, came with his family from Helena. Iowa County, and located by the creek which bears his name, near the line between the present towns A little later, a man by the name of Turner located still further of Troy and Spring Green. down the Wisconsin River Valley, near the site of Spring Green Village. They were the pioneer settlers in this portion of the county. From Sauk Prairie the settlement of the county extended in radiating lines up the labyrinthian valleys of the Honey Creek region, and over the hills into the broad basin of the Baraboo River. In the summer of 1839, Alban, while reconnoitering the highlands north of Sauk Prairie, came suddenly upon a singular miniature lake, cradled far below his feet between preciThe pices, against whose wild, towering rocks tall, clinging pines appeared like mere dwarfs. opening through its lofty barriers upon the north side disclosed to Alban a, glimpse of the Baraboo Valley. While at Madison, soon afterward, he related what he had seen to Eben Peck, Arriving near the at whose suggestion the two immediately set out to explore the country. present site of Baraboo Village, they found upon the north side of the river, near the lower Here Peckpart of the rapids, the village and corn-fields of the Winnebago Chief, Caliminee. proceeded to mark out a claim, including the fine water-power at the lower ox-bow or great bend of the stream, at which the Indians manifested strong displeasure, and obliged the intruders In the fall, Peck visited his claim, accompanied by his wife, Roseline, on to re-cross the river. horseback, and while here they met Abraham Wood and Wallace Rowan coming up the valley from Fort Winnebago, who immediately laid claim to the water-power at the upper great bend There was a second Indian vilof the river, in the western outskirts of the Baraboo Village. but there lage at the time near Wood and Rowan's claim, at the site of the village of Lyons were no longer any hostile demonstrations from their occupants. Wood was living with a Winnebago woman, said to be a daughter of the chief, Dekaury, and remained during the winter, making preparations to build a dam and saw-mill; their mill was completed during the winter ;

of 1841-42.

About a month later. James Van Slyke came to the Rapids, concluded to "jump" Peck's He enlisted in his the winter in constructing a dam.

claim, and likewise engaged during

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

061

enterprise James A. Maxwell, of Walworth County, who furnished teams, provisions, mill-irons Thus equipped, Van Slyke, early in the spring of 1840, comto pay the men. menced vigorously prosecuting the work. In the month of June, however, high water carried Meanwhile, Peck had commenced proceedings in court at away the greater portion of his dam,

and means

Madison to maintain his right to the claim, resulting in a decision in h is favor. Van Slyke. thus doubly discouraged, sold his mill-irons to Wood and Rowan, returned Maxwell the remainder of his In tl arly part of the fall of 1840, and abandoned his undertaking for the time being. Peck moved on with hisfamily, but for want of means never undertook to improve the water-power.

outfit,

Joseph H. Finley was the first man to ascend further up the Baraboo Valley and select a He began opening a farm in L839, about six miles above the Rapids, within the Though the present town of Excelsior, near the village of the Winnebago Chief, Dandy. They were removed Indians were in general hostile to such intrusion. Finley was not molested. of that year, the site and in March out of the country by United States troops early in 1840; of their village was claimed by .lames Christie, a Scotchman, who became a prominent and much respected citizen. He removed from the county in 1852. When he came, two lodges were all that remained of the deserted Indian village, one of which he occupied as a dwelling

location.

for his family until a better could be constructed.

was several years from that

time before

Prominent among the early settlers of this part of the county began to be rapidly settled. Excelsior were A. W. Stark, a descendant of Gen. Stark, of Revolutionary fame, who came to the town in 1850, and S. A'. R. Ableman, now deceased, who came in ISIS, and after whom the village of Ableman was named. In the fall of 1844, Don Carlos Barry, who then resided at the Rapids, in inspecting the of the present town of country farther up the valley, discovored a lode of copper in Section Reedsburg. He occupied the place the following spring, and, with the assistance of two miners It was from the lead region, proceeded to test the value of his discovery. quickly exhausted however, yielding only about two tons of ore. In May. 1845, James W. Babb settled upon the prairie which bears his name, just west of the site of Reedsburg. He erected a hewn-log house, and in the fall, leaving his house and chattels in charge of some Indians, returned to bis family in Ohio. His His son, John Babb, and family, accompanied him hither the following spring. own family and a son-in-law, Stern Baker, joined him in 1*47. The settlement of the county extended up Wisconsin River to the northeast part of the county in 1841. In the spring of that year, John Mead, J. B. McNeil and Samuel Bradley In located at or near the mouth of Dell Creek, where the village of Newport was laid out. 1852, Edward Norris and a man by the name of Marshall built here a saw-mill and laid out the village. It had a rapid growth; nearly a dozen large stores were erected and heavily stocked that in 1856 the in 1854, lots were held as high as a $1,000 apiece; and it is said place numbered nearly one thousand inhabitants. The La Crosse line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was to have crossed the river at this point, but th# crossing was afterward located where Kilbourn City now stands; consequently, Mr. Norris and eight or ten other families are all that remain of that once flourishing village. In 1841, the Dell House was built in this section of the county by Robert Allen, a bachelor it was first occupied by J. B. McEwen and family. The present site of the village of Delton was selected, in an early day, by Edward Norris. In 1847, he associated with himself Jared Fox and Henry Topping, and commenced the erection of a fine flouring-mill, which was completed in 1849. During the latter year, Fox & Topping brought here a large stock of goods for sale, and, the following year, erected a fine 1

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block of stores.

Immigration, following close upon the steps of the pioneers, spread rapidly over the adjacent country, and, in a brief time, every township in the county received a thrifty and enterprising population.

COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1844 TO 1880. At an election held at the house of Samuel Shaw, in Sauk Prairie Precinct, in the county Sauk and Territory of Wisconsin, on the 11th day of March, 1844, the following-named

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

66-Z

number of votes set opposite

their respective names for the followingFor Sheriff', Joshua E. Abbott received 39 votes, and Burke Fairchild, 1 vote County Commissioners, John Hoover, 43 votes, Levi Moore, 44 votes, William G. Simons. 46 votes, Arba M. Seymour, 1 vote, Thomas B. Cowles, 1 vote for Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, Burke Fairchild, 38 votes, and William Eikey, 1 vote; for Register of Deeds. Eben M. Hart, 4(5 votes, and Samuel Riggs, 1 vote; for Treasurer, Nathan Kellogg, 38 votes, and William Eikey, 1 vote; for District Surveyor, William H. Canfield, 44 votes: for Coroner, John C. Kellogg, 44 votes, and H. P. Kelsey, 1 vote for Collector, James I. Waterbury, 46 votes; for School Commissioners, Cyrus Leland, 4(3 votes, AY. H. Canfield, 45 votes, and A. M. Seymour. 43 votes: for Assessors. Harris Searle, 45 votes, Jonathan Hatch, 46 votes, Luther for Justices of the Peace, C. Pock. 13 votes, George Williams, 2 votes, A. M. Seymour, 1 vote Cyrus Leland, 43 votes, Prescott Brigham, 43 votes, Alvin Crane. 24 votes, Burke Fairchild. 1 vote. A. M. Seymour, 1 vote, and Daniel B. Crocker, 1 vote; for Constable, John B. Skinner. 38 votes, A. M. Seymour, 1 vote, Samuel Kelsey, 1 vote, and John Hoover, 1 vote; for Judge of Probate, Prescott Brigham, 14 votes, and Samuel Kelsey, 1 vote. The Judges of Election on this occasion were Lyman Crossman, Prescott Brigham and Daniel R. Baxter Clerks, George H. Howard and Henry Wagner. There wee 47 votes cast in all. On the 23d of September. 1S44. a second election took place for county officers, resulting Sheriff', John B. Woodruff; County Commissioners, Prescott Brigham, John Rusas follows sell and Levi Moore; School Commissioners, Wallace Rowan. Don C. Barry and Abram Crane Assessors, Jonathan Hatch. Abraham Wood and Harris Searls Collector, James J. Waterbury Register of Deeds, E. M. Hart: Treasurer, Charles 0. Baxter; County Surveyor, W. H. Canfield; Clerk of the Board. Andrew Garrison Judge of Probate, Lorrin Cowles Coroner, Thomas L. Clarke; Road Supervisors, Isaac Gibbs. McC. Thacker and Adam Dunlap. These officers entered upon the discharge of their duties on the 1st of January, 1845. At an election held September 22, 1845, the following officers were chosen: County Commissioners, Alexander Crawford, Prescott Brigham and John Russell; Clerk of Board, Edmund Rendtoff; Register of Deeds, Prescott Brigham; School Commissioners, Jonathan Hatch, Albert Jameson and Harvey Canfield; Assessors. .John Gallard, Isaac Gibbs and Valen-

persons received described offices

the

for

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Hill; Collector, Harris Searle; Coroner, Richard (.'lark: Surveyor. Charles <>. Baxter; Treasurer, Charles 0. Baxter. 1846 Sheriff, II. F. Crossman; Register, Prescott Brigham Treasurer, Curtis Bates Commissioners, James Christie, A. Jameson and Egbert Cary Clerk, R. II. Davis; Judge of Collector. James II. Haines: Coroner, Lewis Benson: Surveyor. Probate, George Cargel Charles O. Baxter; Assessors. Edward Cadwell, .1. B. Crawford and Francis Webster ; School Commissioners, II. Canfield, Hiram Bailey and William II. Hibbard. 1847 County Commissioners. Jabish T. Clement. .lames Christie and Curtis Bates; Clerk, I.'. II. Davis; Register. Prescott Brigham; Treasurer, .lames Maxwell; Collector, Charles Halasz; Coroner, Andrew Hodgett; School Commissioners, John II. Shearer, Cyrus Leland and Silas Remington Assessors, .1. II. Haines. Uriah Kendall. Cyrus Hill and J. B. At this election a voie was taken upon two important subjects the new constitution

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and negro suffrage. There wen- 111 votes cast in the countj for the ratification of the (first constitution, and 157 for its rejection. There were fifty-eight voters who east their ballots in favor of giving the colored man equal rights, while 143 i'yc^ and unfettered American citizens exercised their privilege against the proposition.

1848— Sheriff, William Dunlop; Treasurer, Harvey Canfield: Commissioners, Charles Kearns, Charles Halasz and Jacob Slentz; Clerk. U. II. Davis; Judge of Probate, William II. Clark: Clerk of Circuil Court, Boswell li. Clement; Register, E. P. Spencer: District Attorney. C. C. Remington; Surveyor, Charles (.). Baxter; Coroner. Philip Slaymates School Commissioners, Harvey Canfield, A. Haraszthy and J. B. Crawford. There were 245 votes cast for and twelve against the new constitution. The vote for President and Vice President was as follows: Van Buren and Adams, 159; Cass and Butler. 158; Taylor and Fillmore, 149. ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

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3:33

[849 The county having been divided into six townships, elections were held on the 3d three Supervisors, a Clerk, Treasurer, of April in ouch for the purpose of choosing town officers the Chairman of the Town Board being a sitting member of the County Board. Assessor, etc. The following persons composed the County Board, which met for the first time in special sesJames Christie, John B. Crawford, James Cass, James J. Watersion on the 13th of August On the 13th of November, an election took place bury, Nathaniel Perkins and David C. Reid. for county officers, resulting in the choice of Alexander Ostrander for District Attorney, Charles Halasz for Treasurer, George Cargel for Clerk of the Board and W. H. Canfield for Surveyor. At this election, twenty-six votes were cast for and eighty-one against " equal suffrage for colored persons." 1850 Board of Supervisors (elected in April) Lewis Butterfield, Ebenezer Martin, Joseph Davis, Harvey Hurlbut, Diah Remington, * Lyman Clarke (Chairman), Calvin Danforth, and Leonard Thompson. County officers (elected in November) Sheriff, David F. Baxter Clerk of the Court, Boswell Register, E. P. Spencer; Clerk of the Board. James T. Moseley Surveyor, W. H. Canfield Coroner, R. Clement District Attorney, Alexander Ostrander

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John Marshall. 1851 Board of Supervisors (elected in April) James B. Avery (Chairman), William Huntington, James Christie, Solomon Soule, G. F. Albertus, Samuel Shaw, Diah Remington, County Treasurer, Richard H. Davis. Joseph Lester, John H. Rork and Daniel B. Young. 1852— Supervisors (chosen in April) Bela Warner, Patrick Hickey, James Heany, Solomon Soule, James Waddle, Henry Myres, Ransom E. Stone, Chauncey B. Strong, Reuben County officers Thornton. John Marshall, Joseph Lester, John H. Rork and John Wilson. (chosen in September) Sheriff, Daniel W. Wheeler; Treasurer, Curtis Bates; Clerk of the Board, James S. Moseley; Register, Edward P. Spencer; Clerk of the Court, George MorCoroner, Royal C. Gould. tens District Attorney, J. B. Quimby Surveyor, W. H. Canfield At this election, there were 1,013 votes cast for and 150 against the business of banking. R. H. Davis, Lemuel Thompson, Putney Fuller. L 853— Supervisors (chosen in April) Diah Remington, Samuel Northrop, Ebenezer Martin (Chairman), E. G. Wheeler, Ezra Gregory, A. H. Brownell, J. I. Waterbury, G. F. Albertus, Alexander Stewart and Joseph Lester. l s '"4 Charles Armstrong, Caleb Cook, Ebenezer Martin, Supervisors (chosen in April) Putnam Fuller, Isaac Palmer, G. F. Albertus, John Dennett, A. H. Brownell, Solomon Brown, Charles 0. Baxter, E. G. Wheeler, Alex. Stewart, Ezra Gregory. County officers (chosen in November: Sheriff, Ebenezer Martin; Treasurer, G. F. Albertus; Clerk of the Board, J. S, District Attorney, Moseley Register, Edward P. Spencer Clerk of the Court, John Bear

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Quimby; Surveyor, G. Stevens; Coroner, Charles Halasz. 1855

— Supervisors (chosen

— James A. Maxwell, Samuel Northrup, Harvey

April)

Chapman, Nathaniel Mitchell, Lemuel Thompson. William Benham, John Dennett, A. II. Brownell, S. W. Hovey, E. B. King, J. B. Woodruff, John II. Rork. Evan Evans. Ezra Gregory and James A. Thompson. 1856 Supervisors (chosen in April) C. C. Remington. W. F. Longley, C. Christie, Benjamin Teel, John Bear, H. Bailey, J. F. Grone, Eli Denis. P. Fuller, M. G. Todd, S. Brown, Charles Halasz, J. S. Strong. 0. Thomas, B. Gregory, J. K. Thompson and D. H. Borland. County officers (chosen in November) Sheriff, John E. Donavan Treasurer, Henry Ochsner; SurRegister, James M. Clark Clerk of Hoard. E. W. Olinf Clerk of Court, G. Mertens veyor, Josiah Dart District Attorney. N. W. Wheeler Coroner, E. P. Newell. Matthew Northrup, 1857 E. Martin. S. P. Chapman, Supervisors (chosen in April) Hill, N. Mitchell, H. Bailey, J. I. Waterbury, II. S. Archer. M. G. Todd. S. Brown, C. 0. Baxter, H. W. Andrews, E. Evans, N. Wheeler. II. Pelton. W. L. Clemons, F. Lickam and S. N. Kinsley. Lippitt, P.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

334 1858

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— Supervisors (chosen

in April) E. Martin, M. Temple, J. Monroe, J. S. Tripp, John Bear, G. Nippert, W. Palmer, C. H. Rice, A. W. Starks, J. Cottington, C. Root, J. G. Blakeslee, Alexander Stewart, N. Wheeler, R. E. Stone, E. Evans, A. R. McCoy, P. Chapman, A. B. Bradley and H. W. Andrews. County officers (chosen in November) Sheriff, Ebenezer Martin Register, James M. Clark; Treasurer, Thomas D. Lang; District Attorney,

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Wilkinson SurClerk of Board, J. J. Gattiker Clerk of Court, F. M. Stewart veyor, E. Norris Coroner, B. W. Strong. 859 Supervisors (chosen in April) Hiram Cook, J. G. Blakeslee, George Hufnail, S. J. Seymour, Marsena Temple, P. Chapman, Otis Ryder, H. W. Andrews, John Monroe, Charles Armstrong, A. R. McCoy, William Palmer, D. H. Boland, J. G. Train, R. E. Stone, Henry Ochsner, Eli Jones, D. D. Thompson, J. S. Tripp, H. McKenna, Alexander Stewart and W. Hayes. I860 Supervisors (chosen in April) Evan Evans, James A. Taylor, C. 0. Baxter, G. C. Bancroft, Eli Jones, George Nippert, R. E. Stone, N. Furst, D. H. Boland, William Palmer, James C. Lamb, D. K. Noyes, John Monroe, William All, Elijah Gleason. E. C. Watson, J. W. Luce, Hiram Cook, J. G. Blakeslee, George Hufnail, S. J. Seymour and Marsena Temple. County officers (chosen in November) -Sheriff, R. M. Strong Register, Charles Armstrong Treasurer, T. D. Lang Clerk of Board, J. J. Gattiker District Attorney, N. W. Wheeler Coroner, N. Peck. Clerk of Court, F. M. Stewart Surveyor, D. Woodward 1861 Supervisors (chosen in April) Edward Sumner, J. D. Dewey, S. J. Seymour, William C. Cody. P. Chapman, J. B. Carpenter, A. R. McCoy, L. Thompson, G. F. Albertus, W. W. All, 0. S. Knapp, W. P. Cobb, Norman Wood, M. Temple, J. S. Tripp, Austin Seeley, W. <i. Spencer, Orison Thomas, D. H. Boland, W. Palmer, Ezra Gregory and N. C. Harvey. County Judge, J. B. Quimby. 1862 Supervisors (chosen in November, 1861, in accordance with an act of the Legislature providing for the division of the county into three districts, and the election of a SuperAt this J. I. Waterbury, B. U. Strong and Jonas Tower. visor from each to serve two years) election, J. W. Morley was chosen Superintendent of Schools. County officers (chosen in NovemClerk of Treasurer, T. D. Lang Register, J. G. Train ber, 1862)— Sheriff, N. Stewart Clerk of Court, F. M. Stewart District Attorney, S. S. Barlow SurBoard, J. J. Gattiker Coroner, B. L. Brier. veyor, Josiah Dart 1863 Supervisors (chosen in November) First District, B. TJ. Strong Second District, County Superintendent, J. W. Morley. Third District, Jonas Tower. J. I. Waterbury 1864 County officers (chosen in November) Sheriff, S. M. Burdick Register, J. G. District Attorney, S. S. Barlow; Clerk of Board, J. J. GattiTrain; Treasurer, T. D. Lang ker; Clerk of Court, W. F. Carver; Surveyor, D. B. Hulburt Coroner, A. West. 1865 County Judge (chosen in April) J. B. Quimby. Supervisors (chosen in November)— First District, C. C. Kuntz; Second District, J. I. Waterbury: Third District. S. J. Seymour; Clerk of Court, F. M. Stewart; County Superintendent, R. B. Crandall. 1866 Supervisors (chosen in November) First District. J. S. Walser Third District. J. District Treasurer, R. M. Strong Sheriff, Eli Jones Register, M. Pointon G. Blakeslee. Surveyor, J. Dart Coroner, N. Attorney, S. S. Wilkinson Clerk of Board, Anton Fischer Wheeler. 1867 Surpervisor, Second District, T. D. Lang School Superintendent, R. B. Crandall Clerk of Court, J. J. Jenkins. All chosen in November. District Attorney, W. N. Wheeler 1868 Supervisors: First District, .1. S. Walser; Third District, George B. Swain. Sheriff, Treasurer, R. M. Strong; Clerk of Board, A. Fischer; N. Stewart; Register, M. Pointon All chosen in November. Surveyor, H. Muehlberg Coroner, N. Wheeler. 1869 County Judge (chosen in April), C. C. Remington; Supervisor (chosen in November) Second District, T. D. Lang District Attorney, N. W. Wheeler Clerk of Court, J. J. Jenkins School Superintendent, C. F. Viebahn.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY,

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1870 Supervisors (chosen in April, in accordance with an act of the Legislature providing for the election of one County Supervisor, Chairmen of the Town Hoard from each town) —George Mertens, D. D. Thompson, Thomas Timlin, Charles H. Williams, I). Felt, William Hudson, A. R. McCoy, Amos Johnson, Henry Ochsner, William All, William Rathbun, Hiram Bailey, J. N. Vanderveer, J. I. Waterbury, Austin Seeley, James A. Taylor, W. W. Perry. Alexander Stewart, R. S. Inman, William P. Noyes, Nicholas Rossiter, Uriah Gregory. VilBaraboo, T. D. Lang Sauk City, J. S. Tripp Reedsburg, lage Representatives in the Board County officers (chosen in November) Sheriff, Spring Green, B. U. Strong. T. S. Mackey Benjamin G. Paddock Register, M. Pointon Treasurer, R. M. Strong Clerk of Board, Coroner,. A Surveyor, H. Muehlberg Anton Fischer Clerk of Court, Philip Cheek, Jr.

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West.

1871— Supervisors (chosen in April)— E. Walbridge, D. D. Thompson, T. Timlin, S. W. Rudd, Royal Ayers, William Hudson, N. Stewart, Amos Johnson, George Nippert, Peter Crook, S. P. Burney, Norman Wood, J. N. Vanderveer, J. B. Quimby, Alexander P. Ellinwood, James A. Taylor, W. W. Perry, John Young, R. S. Inman, W. P. Noyes, A. Cottington, Nathan C. Village Representatives— Baraboo, J. G. Train Sauk City, J. S. Tripp Reedsburg, Harvey. Superintendent of Schools and District Attorney S. Mai-key; Spring Green, B. U. Strong. (chosen in November) Moses Young and H. J. Huntington. 1872 Supervisors (chosen in April) E. Walbridge, George I. Bancroft, Caleb Cook, David E. Welch, S. W. Rudd, Royal Ayers, William Hudson, Charles Hirshinger, Amos Johnson, Henry Ochsner, Peter Crook, Thomas Wilcock, N. Wood, Adam Class, A. P. Ellinwood, E. W. Evans, R. E. Stone, John Young, James Lunn, W. P. Noyes, S. T. Houghton, N. C. Village Representatives— Baraboo, J. G. Train Sauk City, J. S. Tripp Reedsburg, Harvey.

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John Kellogg; Spring Green, B. U. Strong. County officers (chosen in November)— Sheriff, Alexander McGinnis Register, M. Pointon; Treasurer, R. M. Strong; County Clerk, Anton Fischer: Clerk of Court,"Philip Cheek, Jr.; Surveyor, George Welch; Coroner, A. West; ;

School Superintendent, J. H. Terry. Is7:i— County Judge (chosen in April), James W. Lusk. Supervisors (chosen in April) George I. Bancroft, D. E. Welch, Caleb Cook, Newton M. Burt, P. Chapman, William Hudson, Charles Hirshinger, John M. True. W. Denzer, N. Stowe, W. W. Rathbun, X. Wood, George Owen, A. P. Ellinwood. B. U. Strong, W. W. Perry, John Young, James Lunn, D. B. Hulburt, H. A. Darrow, Caleb Corgell. Village Representatives— Sauk City, School Superintendent and District Attorney (chosen Reedsburg, W. I. Carver. J. S. Tripp E. Walbridge,

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in November)

—James T. Lunn and John Barker.

1874— Supervisors (chosen in April)— E. Walbridge, R. H. Thurber, D. E. Welch, Caleb Cook, James Hell, P. Chapman, William Hudson, John Dickie, John M. True, II. Ochsner, N. Stowe, F. P. Sanford, N. Wood, George Owen, A. P. Ellinwood, James A. Taylor, H. B. Knapp, John Young, A. C. Harris, John Nepham, Albert Hawkins, Caleb Corgell. County officers (chosen in November)— Sheriff, William Hudson; Register, John M. True; Treasurer, County Clerk, Anton Fischer; Clerk of Court, Philip Cheek, Jr.; Surveyor, Alfred L. Slye ;

D. B. Hulburt; Coroner, A. West.

1875— Supervisors (chosen in April)— James Dykins, R. II. Thurber, D. E. Welch, PatFred Baringer, Royal Ayers, Anthony Rick, John Dickie, A. F. Kellogg, H. Ochsner. N. Stowe, John Tardoff, Levi' Wright, George Owen, A. P. Ellinwood, John R. Lewis, H. B. Knapp, Peter Schneller, A. C. Harris, D. B. Hulburt, Amos Cottington, Clir. Meffert. James T. Lunn and John School Superintendent and District Attorney (chosen in November)

rick Timlin,

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Barker.

1876— Supervisors (chosen in April)— George Mertens, R. H. Thurber, H. P. Barlow, Patrick Timlin, Fred Baringer, P. Chapman, J. H. Carpenter, John Dickie, Jr., Amos Johnson, H. Ochsner, N. Stowe, W. H. Rathbun, M. M. Cooper, George Owen, W. H. Young, John R. Lewis, H. B. Knapp, Peter Schneller, David Row, E. G. Christman, Amos Cotting-

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

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A. J. Corgell. Village Representatives Baraboo, J. J. Gattiker Reedsburg, S. Mackey Sauk City, J. S. Tripp; Spring Green, E. W. Evans. County officers (chosen in November) —Sheriff, R. A. Wheeler Register, John M. True Treasurer, A. L. Slye County Clerk. John P. Witwen Clerk of Court, D. E. Morgan; Surveyor, D. B. Hulburt; Coroner, 0. L. ton,

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Glazier.

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1877 County Judge (chosen in April), Giles Stevens; Supervisors (chosen in April), Matthew Hill, R. W. Cunningham, H. B. Barlow, Caleb Cook, Fred Baringer, Davis Hackett, J. H. Carpenter, Charles Hirshinger, Amos Johnson, Frank Magerlein, N. Stowe, William Young, Levi Wright, George Owen, H. J. Smith, S. F. Nickey, H. B. Knapp, Albert Sprecher. D. Rowe, E. G. Christman, A. Cottington, A. J. Corgell, Village Representatives Baraboo, J. J. Gattiker Reedsburg, H. C. Hunt Sauk City, J. S. Tripp Spring Green, E. W. Evans. School Superintendent and District Attorney (chosen in November) J. T. Lunn and John

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Barker.

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1878 Supervisors (chosen in April) Matthew Hill, James L. Ward, William Hayes, J. T. Huntington, Lawrence Watson, A. Christie, J. H. Carpenter, E. Maxham, A. F. Kellogg, F. Magerlein, N. Stowe, Lyman Beery, N. Wood, G. Owen, J. B. Clark, S. F. Nickey, J. M. Highland, A. Sprecher, A. M. Lee, E. G. Christman, L. G. Grover, S. W. Sherman. Village

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Representatives Baraboo, J. J. Gattiker; Sauk City, J. S. Tripp; Reedsburg, H. C. Hunt: Spring Green, E. W. Evans. County officers (chosen in November) Sheriff, John Young Register, John M. True; Treasurer, A. L. Slye; County Clerk, John P. Witwen; Clerk of Court, D. E. Morgan; Surveyor, R. G. Evenden Coroner, 0. L. Glazier. 1879 Supervisors (chosen in April) Robert Wood, Abijah Beckwith, Thomas Timlin, J. T. Huntington, Lawrence Watson, A. Christie, Joseph Bandel, Gustav Scharnke, John Munroe, F. Magerlein, N. H. Austin, Lyman Beery, N. Wood, S. Kleimer, John Hagenah, SF. Nickey, H. B. Knapp, Samuel Babrington, C. J. H. Erffmeyer, E. G. Christman, L. G. Grover, S. VV. Sherman. Village Representatives Baraboo, George Mertens; Reedsburg, Paul Lachmund; Sauk City, Paul Bishop; Spring Green, E. W. Evans. School Superintendent and District Attorney (chosen in November) J. T. Lunn and Philip Cheek, Jr. 1880 Supervisors (chosen in April) J. J. Gattiker, Andrew Dwyer, Patrick Timlin, J. T. Huntington, Lawrence Watson, Royal Ayres, E. M. Davies, E. Maxham, John Munroe, William Denzer, Charles Sands, Lyman Beery, N. Wood, Samuel Kleimer, A. P. Ellinw 1, S. F. Nickey, II. B. Knapp. George Bonham, C. J. H. Erffmeyer, J. H. Reighard, A. Cottington, J. H. McNees. Village Representatives Baraboo, G. Mertens: Sauk City, J. S. Tripp; Spring Green, E. W. Evans: Reedsburg. 11. C. Hunt. County Officers for 1881 will be chosen at the coming November election. The Republican nominees are, for Sheriff, 0. H. Perry; Register, F. N. Peck; Treasurer, A. L. Slye; County Clerk. J. P. Witwen; Clerk of Court, D. E. Morgan; Surveyor, R. G. Evenden; Coroner, 0. I.. Hazier. For the past quarter of a century, a nomination by a Republican Convention in Sauk County has been equivalent to an election.

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LAYING OCT Till: TOWNS. At

meeting of the first Board of County Commissioners, held at the house of Joshua E. Abbott, in the town [village] of Prairie du Sac (the county seat of Sauk County, as located by Commissioners appointed for that purpose), on the first Monday in April, 1844, there were present Commissioners John Hoover, William G. Simons and Levi Mbore. The laving met pursuant to an act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin, organizing the county of Sank, proceeded to the election of a Chairman, and John Hoover was chosen to till that position, liurke Fairchild, who was elected as Clerk at the first general election for county officers, not having appeared. Andrew Garrison was unanimously appointed to till the vacancy. He thereupon took the oath of office before A. M. Seymour, Supreme •

'oiirt

the

Erst

'oinmissioner.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNT!

337

The first business of importance that came before the board, was the organization of road The county was divided into five districts, districts and the appointment of Road Supervisors. as follows District No. 1. :

—Beginning

at the north line of Town 9, extending west to the county line

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thence south to the south line of said county; thence east to the county line, along the Wisconsin Jonathan Hatch was appointed Road Supervisor. River to the place of beginning. Beginning at the line of Town 9, running due west to the line between District No. Sections 34 and 35, in Town 10 thence due north into Town 11, three miles thence east to the Philip Blodgett was appointed Road Supercounty line, and south to the place of beginning. .'.

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visor.

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Beginning on the section line between 34 and 35, Town 10, running west to District No. •>'. the bounds of the county line thence north along the county line three miles into Town 11 thence thence south to the place of beginning. William Johnson was appointed Road Supervisor. Beginning half a mile east of the northeast corner of District No. 3. runDistrict No. .{.. ning due north alcng said line until it strikes the county line; thence east to the county line thence west to the place of beginning. Chester P. thence south until it strikes District No. 2 Matson was appointed Road Supervisor. Beginning half a mile east of the northwest corner of District No. 2, runDistrict No. ning north to the county line; thence west to the county line; thence due south to the norththence east to the place of beginning. McCager Thacker was west corner of District No. 3 appointed Road Supervisor. It was then ordered that Sauk Prairie Election Precinct consist of Road Districts No. 1, 2 and 3. and that the judges thereof be John Hoover, John Mann and W. II. Hubbard, elections to be held at the house of Joshua E. Abbott, Prairie du Sac; that Baraboo Election Precinct comprise Districts 4 and 5, elections to be held at the house of James Webster, Baraboo; judges. Abraham Wood, Luther Peck and Orin Hudson. Jonathan Hatch was appointed Assessor for District No. 1, Harris Searle, for Districts 2 and 3, and Luther Peck for Districts 4 and 5. The first county order was issued in favor of Charles Hart for 827, being in payment for services in " locating the county seat." Noah Phelps and John Morrison were allowed 842 and ;

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east on said line to the corner of District No. 2;

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821 respectively for similar services. The Clerk of the Board was directed to procure a seal, from Milwaukee or elsewhere, for the use of the Board of County Commissioners, " the design of which shall be an engraving of a breaking-team, with one or more yoke of oxen and plow in the foreground, with the words surrounding the margin Seal of the Board of <_~'<>un/j/ Cnnuiiissioncrs. .Sunk County, Wisconsin Territory.' " Upon the introduction of the Board of Supervisors system in 1849, the county seal was remodeled. It is now the exact size of one of the "dollars of our daddies," the design sheaf of wheat, a plow and a grain rake, the whole being surrounded by the words '

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Board of Supervisors of Sauk Count//. Wisconsin."

Lyman Grossman, Cyrus Leland and Daniel B. Crocker, as principals, and John L. MessM. Seymour. William H. Hubbard and Joshua E. Abbott, as sureties, having erect and build a good and substantial frame building. 20x30 feet, two stories high, in form suitable for a court house, were requested to place the said building on the public square of the county seat. At a subsequent meeting, it was ordered that "a gaol be erected and built, to be paid out of the funds of the county from the sale of town lots, or the same to be given in exchange at a imer,

Arba

entered into a. bond with the County Commissioners to

It was provided that the building should be completed by the 1st of the following December, but at a later meeting the order was rescinded. At the July meeting of the board, the Clerk was directed to issue county orders to the three County Commissioners, for services rendered as such, at the rate of 7.~> cents per day, which amounted in the aggregate to $18. P. C. Hale was allowed $85 for books for county purposi 5, and S. F. Blanchard 811 for transportation of the same from Milwaukee. Arba M. Seymour

fair valuation."

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

338

was authorized to make, for the use of the Register of Deeds and the Clerk of County Commissioners, two pine tables three and a half feet wide and four and a half feet long, " to be stained with Venetian red, one large drawer in each." On the 26th of August, the board discovered that the time had arrived for the appointment of a District Attorney. William H. Clark was honored with the choice of the board, and was directed to " enter upon the duties of said office at the present term of the District Court." On the 30th of September, the Clerk, under instructions of the board, reported on the taxable property of the county, as follows Assessed value of farming lands, with all the improvements thereon, $38,736 assessed value of town lots, with improvements, in the village of Prairie du Sac, $4,675 assessed value of merchandise and personal property in the county, Upon the total amount ($57,907) a tax of nine mills on the dollar was levied. $14,496. :

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DIVIDING THE TOWNS.

The territory now included in Sauk County once composed has been

a single election precinct, as

shown, and that it was afterward organized into five road districts, or two election pre-

A third election precinct was created April 5, 1848, called Bluff Precinct, bounded as fol-

cincts.

Beginning at the town line between Towns 10 and 11, running south two miles; thence commencing at the county line and running west to the west line of Towns 10 and 11 thence north five miles; thence east to the easterly line of Sank County, agreeable to the petition signed by thirty-five electors in said county A. Jameson, George Jeele and John Hoover, Jr., lows

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being appointed Judges of Election. It was also ordered " that the county of Adams shall be an election precinct called the County of Adams Precinct, J. H. Finlay, Andrew Dunn and Baird to be Judges of

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Election."

On the 10th of January, 1849, Sauk County was divided, by order of the County Cominto six towns Honey Creek, Prairie du Sac. Kingston, Eagle, Brooklyn and Baraboo. the boundaries being as follows Honey Creek. Commencing on the Wisconsin River, on the town line between Ranges 5 and 6 running thence north to the northeast corner of Town 9. Range 5 thence west on the town line four miles thence north on the section line, six miles to the town line thence west on the town line to the western boundary of the county thence south on said boundary line to the Wisconsin River thence up said river to the place of beginning the whole being the territory now embraced in the towns of Spring Green, Bear Creek, Franklin, Troy and the four western tiers of sections (the west half) of the town of Honey Creek. The house of Jonathan W. Harris was designated as the place for holding the first election, which took place on the 3d of April, 1849, with the annexed result Supervisors, James Cass (Chairman), Dewitt Houghton and Joseph Davis Clerk, H. B. Stames Treasurer, J. A. Taylor Assessor, Henry Keifer Superintendent of Schools, J. N. Cassel. Prairie <ln Sue. Commencing on the Wisconsin River on the town line between Ranges 5 and 6; thence north on the said line to the northwest corner of Town 9, Range 6 thence west on the town line four miles thence north on the section line, six miles to the town line between. 1<> and 1 1. Range 5 thence east on the town line four miles; thence south on the town line, between Ranges 5 and 6, four miles; thence east on the section line to the Wisconsin River; thence along said river to the place of beginning the whole being the territory now embraced in the town of Prairie du Sac and the four eastern tiers of sections (the east half) of the town of Honey Creek. It was stipulated that the election should be held at the schoolhouse in the upper town. That event occurred on the 3d of April, 1849, with the following result: Supervisors, Nathaniel Perkins (Chairman), Samuel Kelsey and Charles Halasz Clerk, Cyrus Leland Assessor, Archibald Hill Treasurer, P. B. Staymates School Superintendent, J. B. Woodruff. Commencing on the Wisconsin River on the section line between Sections 24 Kingston. and 2">, Town 10, Range 6; running thence west on said section line to the town line be

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HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY. Ranges 5 and 6

339

seven miles on the town line; thence east on the section line twelve miles to the eastern boundary of the county thence south on said boundary line to the Wisconsin River thence down said river to the place of beginning, embracing what is now the towns of Merrimack and Sumter, and Sections 19 and 20 of the town of Freedom, and Sections 23 and 24 of the town of Baraboo. The first election was held at the house of John Hoover, resulting in the choice of J. I. Waterbury (Chairman), Samuel Shaw and Isaac Gibbs for Supervisors Prescott Brigham for Town Clerk S. Mather for Assessor Cyrus Hull and David Randall (both receiving 34 votes), for Treasurer R. E. Stone for School Superintendent, and James Moreland for Sealer of Weights and Measures. Eagle. Commencing at the southeast corner of Town 11, Range 5; running thence wesl on the town line to the western boundary of the county thence north on said boundarv nine miles thence east on a section line through the center of Town 12, eighteen miles thence south between Ranges 5 and 6, nine miles to the place of beginning comprising an area of territory now embraced in the towns of Washington, Westfield and Freedom (except Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18, Town 11, Range 6), and the south half of the towns of Ironton, Reedsburg and Excelsior. The first election in the town of Eagle was held April 3, 1849, with the following result: Supervisors, James Chrystie (Chairman), J. W. Henthom and Reuben Ward: Clerk, L. B. Swallow Treasurer, Hiram Hubbard School Superintendent, Josiah Hunter Assessor, George Randall. Brooklyn. Commencing on the eastern boundary of the county on a section line between Sections 13 and 24, Town 11 thence west on said section line twelve miles to the town line between Ranges 5 and 6 thence north on said town line to the northern boundary of the county thence east on said boundary to the Wisconsin River thence down said river to the eastern line of the county thence south on said boundary to the place of beginning embracing what are now the towns of Baraboo (except Sections 23 and 24), Greenfield, Fairfield and Delton, and Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18 of the town of Freedom. The village of Baraboo is indicated upon the plat of the town of Brooklyn as " Adams," then the county seat, and it was ordered ;

thence north

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by the Commissioners that the first election in the town of Brooklyn be held at the court house, and it was so held April 3, 1849, resulting in the choice of John B. Crawford (Chairman Sol,, mon Soule and Lyman Clark, for Supervisors; D. K. Noyes, Town Clerk; William Griffiths, Treasurer A. A. Noyes, Assessor, and Harvey Canfield, School Superintendent. Baraboo. Commencing on the town (12) line between Ranges 5 and (J thence running west on the section line between Sections 13 and 24, Town 12, to the western boundary of the county thence north to the northern boundary of the county thence east on the north boundary eighteen miles, between Ranges 5 and G thence south nine miles to the place of beginning comprising the present towns of Lavalle, Winfield and Dellona, and the north half of Ironton, Reedsburg and Excelsior. The house of D. C. Reed was designated as the place for holding the first election, which occurred April 3, 1849, resulting as follows: Supervisors D. C. Reed (Chairman), William Adams and Lewis Butterfield Clerk, William McClung Assessor, Don Carlos Barry School Superintendent, Patrick Hickey Treasurer, Thompson Shepard. At the same sitting of the board, it was further ordered that " the county of Adams, now attached to Sauk County for judicial purposes, be- a town called Lemonweir. On the 8th of January, 1850, a new town, called New Buffalo, was created out of territory somewhat vaguely described as follows: "Town 13, Range 6, as far north as the petition calls for; no further east, nor west, than the range line, and commencing at the southeast corner of Town 13, Range G thence one mile west and three miles south thence west to the range lines between Ranges 5 and 6 thence north to the northwest corner of Town 13, Range G thence west and north to the limits of Sauk County." At the same sitting of the board, the town of Flora was created. Its boundaries were as i,

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Commencing on the Wisconsin River on the county line ; thence south on said line to the southeast corner of Section 24, Town 12, Range 7 ; thence west on the section line seven miles thence north to the line between Towns 12 and 13 thence east one mile thence north follows

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

340

River thence down said river to the place of beginning, including what is now the town of Fairfield, with the exception of Sections 2, 11 and 14. Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32 were also set off from the town of Brooklyn, and added to the town of Eagle. In November, 1850, the remainder of Town 10, Range 5, was added to the town of Honey Creek, in accordance with the prayer of residents therein, and, at the same sitting of the board, the town of Honey Creek was divided, and the town of Spring Green created, the latter being "Commencing two miles north of the south line of Town 9, running thence set off as follows west to the west line of the county, and all that part of said town lying south of said line shall be a town called Spring Green." Out of the town of Baraboo was also created the town of Dellona, by setting off all the north half of Town 12, Range 5, and the whole of Town 13, Range 5. On the 11th of December, 1850, acting upon the petition of interested residents, the board, by a vote of five ayes to three noes, agreed to the formation of a new town out of parts of Baraboo and Eagle, to be known as the town of Reedsburg. On the same date, an alteration of the boundaries of the town of Brooklyn was authorized, the town of Eagle being wiped out, and the town of Freedom created. In August, 1851, it was ordered by the board that '• all that portion of the tract of country lying north of the north line of Town 13, Range 6. be embraced in a new town, to be called Lemonweir." During the same session of the board, it was ordered that Town 13, Range 2 (now the Town of Woodland), be annexed to the Town of Reedsburg. Also, that a new town to be called Marston be organized out of the territory embraced in Town 12, Range 3, Town 13. Ranges 2 and 3. and Town 11, Range 3. Section 36, Town 13, Range 6, was taken from the Town of Flora and annexed to the Town of New Buffalo. In December. 1851, the Town of Dells was organized out of territory embraced as Smith half of Town 15, Range 5, and Town 14, Range 5 also Sections 6, 7, 17, 18, follows The boundaries of the town of Lemonweir 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, Town 14, Range 6. were changed so as to comprise Town 14, Ranges 2, 3 and 4, and the south half of Town 15, Ranges 2, 3 ami 4. In September, 1852, in accordance with the prayer of the citizens of Brooklyn, the town of Greenfield was organized, composed of territory described in the Supervisor's journal as follows " All that portion lying east of the range line between Ranges 6 and 7, the west line of which to be the line above mentioned." At the same session of the board, all that tract of country lying upon the east side of the Wisconsin River, consisting of Town 14, Ranges 6 and 7, and Town 15, Ranges 5, '» and 7 (now Juneau County), were organized into a town called Jackson. Also, Towns lti and 1 7. Ranges 4 and 5 (now Juneau County), were set off as a new town called Quincy. The northeast boundary line of the town of Dells was altered so as to make the main channel of the Wisconsin River its northeastern boundary, and the order of December, 1851, It was also ordered that organizing the boundaries of the town of Lemonweir, was rescinded. all of that portion of Adams County lying upon the cast side of the Wisconsin River and not being within the town of Quincy, be attached to the town of Jackson and all that portion of the same county lying west of the Wisconsin River, including Town 18, Range 4, be attached to the town of Quincj In November. 1852, Town 13, Range 4, was set off as a new town called Winfield. The name of the town of Dells was also changed to that of Kildare. Sections 19 and 20, Town 11, Range 0. were attached to the town of Freedom. One of the most animated scones in the history of the board occurred at this session over a proposition to divide the town of Prairie du \ rote was taken by towns, on a motion to postpone action on Sac. the petition, resulting in eight noes and five ayes. The vote on the question of division stood the same. In December. 1852, Sections 2, 11 and 14, Town 12, Range (then belonging to the town of New Buffalo), were annexed to the town of Flora. The order providing for the division of the town of Prairie du Sac was also taken up, and a vote to reconsider was carried. A to the Wisconsin

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HISTOET OF SAUK COUNTY.

311

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ayes, five, noes, eight. A petition from subsequent motion to rescind the order was voted down The terricitizens of the " Lemonweir " for a new town, to be called Hillsdale, was granted. tory now in Sauk County, then included in the town of Hillsdale, was that comprised in the The greater portion of the town, however, north half of the towns of Lavalle and Woodland. It was at this session of the board that the name of the lay in the present county of Juneau. town of Brooklyn was changed to Baraboo, and the southern division of the town of Prairie du Sac was christened Lower Prairie du Sac. In December, 1853, the name of the town of Flora was changed to Fairfield. In November, 1854, the town of Reedsburg was divided, and the new town thus created It was also the wisdom of the board that the town of Kingston be likewas called Westfield. wise severed, ami the name of .Merrimack given to the new town. The action of the board in this regard was prompted by the result of the elections previously held in the towns of ReedsIt was during this burg and Kingston, at which the citizens voted in favor of a division. session of the board that the town of Honey Creek was divided, and the town of Franklin created.

In December, 1855, so much of the town of Marston as was then included in Town 11, and Sections 25 to 36, inclusive, in Town 12, Range 3, was organized into a new Range town, called Washington. In January, 1857, Town 13, Range 2, was set off from the town of Marston, the new town being called Woodland. In December of the same year, the town of Troy was organized The organization of the town of Excelout of the towns of Honey Creek and Spring Green. sior bears the same date, it having been formed out of the towns of Dellona and Freedom. The territory of the town of Freedom was further abridged, about this time, by Sections 19, 20. 2'.', 30, 31 and 32 being attached to the town of Baraboo. In September, 1858, the town of Bear Creek was created out of the town of Franklin. In November, 1859, the towns of Marston and Washington were divided, by setting off from the former all that part lying south of the town line between Towns 12 and 13, and from the latter all that part lying north of Towns 11 and 12. Out of the portions thus set off, the town of Ironton was created. ''>.

In November, 1861, the name of the town of Kingston was changed to Sumter, and the town of Marston was also changed to Lavalle. There have been other slight changes from time to time in the boundaries of towns. No new towns have been created, however, and for the past twenty years the number of towns in the county (twenty-two) has not been increased or decreased

TERRITORIAL, STATE, AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.

The First Legislative Assembly under the Territorial Government of Wisconsin, convened at Belmont, La Fayette County, in October, 1836. The counties of Brown, Crawford, Iowa and Milwaukee, then embraced the whole territory of what now constitutes Wisconsin. Until 1840, Sauk County was a part of Crawford, and was so represented in the Territorial Legislature, at the first session of which James H. Lockwood and James B. Dallam sat as Representatives. Thomas P. Burnett claimed a seat in the Council, but was rejected by that body, as the appointment of members belonged exclusively to the Executive of the Territory. At the second session (1837—38), the Representatives were Ira B. Brunson and Jean Brunet no member of Council. The first session of the Second Legislative Assembly convened at Madison November 26, 1838, and adjourned December 22. Council, George Wilson Representative, Alexander Mc;

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Gregor.

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Second Session (1839) Council, George Wilson; Representatives, A. McGregor and Ira B. Brunson. Third Session (1839-40) Council, Joseph Brisbois Representatives, Messrs. McG and Brunson. ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

342

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Fourth (extra) Session, 1340 Council, Charles J. Learned Representatives, Messrs. McGregor and Brunson. Council, C. J. Learned First Session, Third Legislative Assembly. 1840-41 Representatives, Alfred Brunson and Joseph R. Brown. Council, Ebenezer Second Session, 1841-42 [Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson and Sauk] Brigham Representatives, Lucius I. Barber and James Sutherland. Council, Lucius I. Barber; RepreFirst Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly, 1842-43 sentatives, Isaac H. Palmer, Lyman Crossman and Robert Masters. Second Session, 1843-44 Same as previous session. Council, John Catlin Representatives, Charles S. Bristol, Noah Third Session, 1845 Phelps and George H. Slaughter. Council, John Catlin Representatives, Mark R. Clapp, William Fourth Session, 1846 M. Dennis and Noah Phelps. Council, AlexFirst Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly, 1847 [Dane, Green and Sauk] ander L. Collins Representatives, Charles Lum, W. A. Wheeler and John W. Stewart. Second Session, 1848 Council, A. L. Collins Representatives, E. T. Gardner, John W. Stewart and Alexander Botkin. ;

—

;

—

;

—

— —

—

;

—

;

—

;

Constitutional Conventii ins.

The first Constitutional Convention assembled at Madison October 5, 1846, and adjourned December 16, having framed a constitution, which was submitted to a vote of the people on the Sauk County was represented in the first Tuesday in April, 1847, and the same was rejected. convention by W. H. Clark. The second convention met also at Madison December 15, 1847, and adjourned February It 1, 1848, having framed a constitution which was ratified by the people in March following. does not appear of record that Sauk County was represented in the second convention. State Government.

The First Session of the State Legislature convened at Madison June 5, 1848, and Sauk County, together with Columbia, Marquette and Portage, was adjourned August 21. represented in the Senate by Henry Merrell, of Fort Winnebago, who was chosen for two years. Delando Pratt represented the county

These counties comprised the Second Senatorial District. in the Assembly.

— — Baraboo. 1851 — Assembly, Nathaniel Perkins, Sauk Fourth Alban, Plover Assembly, Jonathan W. Fifth Session, 1852 — Senate, James Prairie du Sac. 1853 — Senate (Twenty-third David Vittum, Baraboo; Sixth Assembly (Adams and Sauk), Charles Armstrong, Baraboo. Seventh Session, 1854 — Assembly, Cyrus C. Remington, Baraboo. Eighth Session, 1855 — Senate, Edwin B. Kelsey, Montello; Assembly, R. H. Davis, Baraboo. 1856 — Assembly, D. K. Noyes, Baraboo. Ninth T. Kingston, Necedah; Assembly 1857 — Senate (Ninth Tenth Second Session, 1849 Assembly, Cyrus Leland, of Sauk City. Senate, G. De G. Moore, Prairie du Sac; Assembly, Caleb CrosThird Session, 1850

well,

City.

Session,

District created),

Session,

Fyffe,

;

Session,

District),

Session,

(Adams County detached and Sauk divided into two districts), James G. Train, Merrimack, and Abram West, Reedsburg.

— Assembly, —

Eleventh Session, 1858 rup, Dellona.

H. Bassinger, Prairie du Sac. and Samuel North-

Senate, H. W.Curtis, Delton Twelfth Session, 1859 aboo, and E. 0. Rudd, Reedsburg.

;

Assembly, Nelson Wheeler, Bar-

<^Zc^ y&T^^?^-~if/^*^ (

DECEASED )

BARABOO

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

345

— Assembly, Ephraim W. Young, Prairie du Sac, and Edward Fourteenth Session, 1861 — Senate, John T. Kingston, Necedah Assembly, John Bear, Franklin, and Marsena Temple, Newport. Tripp, Sauk City, and A. W. Starks, Baraboo. Fifteenth Session, 1862 — Assembly, Sixteenth Session, 1863 — Senate (Fourteenth Wilkinson, Prairie du Sac

Thirteenth Session, 1860 Sumner, Baraboo.

;

J. S.

District), S.

;

Assembly, Alonzo Wilcox, Spring Green, and A. W. Starks, Baraboo. Seventeenth Session, 1864; Assembly, same as in the previous session. Senate, S. S. Wilson, re-elected Eighteenth Session, 1865 Assembly, William Palmer, Logansville, and A. W. Starks, Baraboo. Senate, A. W. Starks, Baraboo Nineteenth Session, 1866 Assembly, William Palmer, Logansville, and R. M. Strong, Reedsburg. Twentieth Session, 1867 Assembly, James I. Waterbury, Prairie du Sac, and Stephen S. Barlow, Delton. Senate, S. S. Barlow, Delton Assembly, J. I. Waterbury, Twenty-first Session, 1868 Prairie du Sac, and John Gillespie, Dellona. Assembly, Carl C. Kuntz, Black Hawk, and John Gillespie, Twenty-second Session, 1869

—

— — — — — Dellona. Twenty-third Session, 1870 — Senate, B. U. Strong, Spring Green Assembly, C. C. Kuntz, Black Hawk, and George C. Swain, Kilbourn City 1871 Twenty-fourth Session, — Assembly, same previous 1872 — Senate, John B. Quimby, Sauk City Assembly, William W. Twenty-fifth Perry, Prairie du Sac, and George C. Swain. Young, Black Hawk, and John Kellogg, Twenty-sixth Session, 1873 — Assembly, J Reedsburg. Twenty-seventh Session, 1874 — Senate, Johr B. Quimby, Assembly, Carl C. Kuntz, Black Hawk, and David E. Welch, Baraboo. Twenty-eight Session, 1875 — Assembly, Thomas Baker, Prairie du Sac, and E. D. Welch. 1876 — Senate, David E. Welch, Baraboo; Assembly, David B. Twenty-ninth Hurlburt, Logansville, and Seymour, Reedsburg. Thirtieth Session, 1877 — Assembly, same previous 1878 — Senate, David E. Welch, Assembly, A. P. wood, Reedsburg, and D. B. Hurlburt. 1879 — Assembly, Ulrich Hemmi, Black Hawk, and A. P. Thirty-second wood. 1880 — Senate, E. E. Woodman, Baraboo; Assembly, Ephraim Thirty-third ;

;

(?).

session.

Session,

;

re-elected ;

Session,

Silas J.

session.

Thirty-first Session,

Ellin-

re-elected ;

Ellin-

Session,

Blakeslee and Thomas Gillespie. If previous Republican majorities in Sauk County indicate anything, the thirty-fourth session will witness the attendance of the same gentlemen from this county who took part in the Thirty-third

Assembly.

Congressional Representations. The act of Congress, approved April 20, 1836, organizing the Territory of Wisconsin, conupon the people the right to be represented in the National Congress by one delegate, to be chosen by the votes of the qualified electors of the Territory. Under this authority the Territory was represented by the following delegates George W. Jones, elected October 10, 1836: James Duane Doty, September 10, 1838 James Duane Doty, August 5, 1840* Henry Dodge, September 27, 1841 Henry Dodge, September 25, 1843; Morgan L. Martin, September 22. 1845, and John H. Tweedy, September 6, 1847. By the Constitution adopted when the Territory became a State, in 1848, two representatives in Congress were provided for by dividing the State into two Congressional Districts. ferred

;

Doty afterward regi-neil, he having be.n ai>|">iiite.l

iu\ ,•<

uomf the Territory hy I'reMihnt Tyler September

!;',.

lstl

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

3-46

the First District being composed of the counties of Milwaukee,

Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green; the Second District, of Washington,. Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa, La Fayette, Grant, Richland, Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe. Under this authority, an election was held May 8, 1848, and William Pitt Lynde was elected member Mason C. Darling, of Fond du Lac, for the Second Disof Congress from the First District trict. The people, therefore, then residing within the limits of Columbia County, were represented in the Thirtieth Congress by Dr. Mason C. Darling. At the first session of the State Legislature, which continued from June 5 to August 21, 1848, the State was divided into three Congressional Districts, Sauk County falling in the This appointment continued unchanged until 1861. second. The district was represented during that period as follows Thirtv-first Congress, 1849-51, Orsamus Cole Thirtv-second, ;

;

1851-53, Ben C. Eastman Thirty-third, 1853-1855, Ben C. Eastman Thirty-fourth, 1855Thirty57, Cadwallader C. Washburn ; Thirty-fifth, 1857-1859, Cadwallader C. Washburn ;

;

1859-1861, Cadwallader C. Washburn Thirty-seventh, 1861-63, Luther Hanchett.* At the Fourteenth Session of the Legislature of Wisconsin, continuing from January 9 to

sixth,

;

May 27, 1861, the State was divided into six Congressional Districts, Sauk County falling to Under this appointment the district was represented as follows Thirty-eighth Congress, 1863-65, Amasa Cobb. Mr. Cobb was thrice re-elected, and was succeeded by J. Allen Barber, who served until 1873. The present Congressional apportionment was made at the twenty-fifth session of the Legislature of Wisconsin, continuing from January 10 to March 27, 1872, when the State was divided into eight districts, Sauk County again falling into the Second District, composed of the Counties of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk and Columbia. In the Forty-third Congress, 1873-75, the district was represented by Gerry W. Hazleton in the Forty-fourth, 1875-77, by Lucien B. in the Forty-fifth, 1877-79, by Lucien B. Caswell Caswell in the Forty-sixth, 1879-81, by Lucien B. Caswell. the Third.

;

TERRITORIAL DISTRICT COURT AND STATE CIRCUIT COURT. Until 1823, all that part of the Territory of Michigan now forming the State of Wisconsin had no separate courts, except County Courts of very limited civil and criminal jurisdiction, and Justices' Courts. All important civil cases and all criminal cases, except for petty offenses, were tried by the Supreme Court at Detroit. Here the judicial power was vested in three judges appointed by Congress, originally to hold the office during good behavior, but subsequently limited to four years. In January, 1823, an act of Congress provided for the appointment of an additional Judge for the counties of Brown, Crawford and Michilimackinac. That court had concurrent civil and criminal jurisdiction with the Supreme Court of the Territory. The law provided for holding one term of court in each year, in each of the counties named in the act. Hon. James D. Doty was appointed Judge of this court at its organization, and held the office until May, 1832, when he was succeeded by the Hon. David Irvin. This court continued as organized until 1836, when it was abrogated by the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin,

what is now Sauk County being then a part of Crawford County the jurisdiction of Judges Doty and Irvin.

;

consequently came under

The terms of the District Court for the counties of Michilimackinac, Brown and Crawford, which was established by the act of 1N23, were held once in each year in each of those counties, Bay in dune, ami at Prairie du Chien in May. Although Judge Doty had received his appointment in 1823, yet he did not arrive in the district until midsummer, and no regular term of the court was held that year. In October, 1824, he appointed and held a special term for the trial of criminal cases at Green Bay. At this term the first grand jury was impaneled in Brown County, and the Hon. Henry S. Baird, who was the pioneer lawyer of Wisconsin, was appointed District Attorney. A large amount of criminal business waa at Mackinac in July, at Green

Died November 21, 1862

;

WalL-r IV Mclndoc chow.Mi to fill vacancy.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

347

Forty-five indictments were found and presented to the court, brought before the grand jury. one for murder, on which there was a conviction, some for assault and battery, larceny, selling liquors the Indians, and last, but not least, twenty-eight cases for illicit cohabitation. spirituous to The large number of the latter arose from the reprehensible practice adopted by the traders and French inhabitants of taking Indian women as wives, according to the custom of the natives. Those cases were generally disposed of by the defendants being brought into court on a warrant. Most of them pleaded guilty, when the court suspended sentence until the close of the term,

with the intimation that all who presented the court, in the interim, certificates of legal marwould be let off by paying a nominal fine, which fine was afterward fixed at $1 and costs. Some of the delinquents refused to marry, and were fined $50. In 1825-28, Judge Doty and H. S. Baird, Esq., traveled from Green Bay to Prairie du Chien in a bark canoe, by way of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, with a crew of Canadians and Indians, the time required for the journey being from seven to nine days. In May, 1829, Judge Doty. M. L. Martin, Esq., and H. S. Baird. Esq., made the trip from Green Bay to Prairie du Chien on horseback, accompanied by a Menomonee Indian guide. They were the first white men to attempt and accomplish the land journey from Green Bay to the Mississippi. After the organization of Iowa County in 1830, the county of Crawford was attached to [owa County for judicial purposes, and remained so until Wisconsin Territory was organized in 183G. the term of court that had theretofore been held at Prairie du Chien being thereafter held at Mineral Point. When the Territory was organized in 183p, it embraced the present States of Wisriage,

Iowa and Minnesota and a part of the Territory of Dakota. The judicial power of tinTerritory was vested in a Supreme Court. District Courts, Probate Courts' and Justices of the Peace. The Territory was divided into three judicial districts, and Justices Charles Dunn, David Irvin and William C. Frazer, composing the Supreme Court by Presidential appointment, were assigned to the districts ; Chief Justice Dunn to the First District, composed of the counties consin,

of Iowa and Crawford (to which latter county

Sauk County then belonged); Justice Irvin to and Justice Frazer to the Third DisMilwaukee and Brown Counties. The Territory of Iowa having been organized July 4, 1838. embracing that portion of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi River, the Legislative Assembly of Wisconsin, at its session in 1839, made a new division of this territory into judicial districts; the counties of Iowa, Grant and Crawford, constituting the First District, to which Chief Justice Dunn was assigned the counties of Dane (to which Sauk had but recently been attached for judicial purposes), Jefferson, Rock, Walworth and Green, constituting the Second District, to which Judge Irvin was assigned; and the counties of Brown, Milwaukee and Racine, constituting the Third District, to which Judge Miller, the successor of Judge Frazer. upon the death of the latter, was assigned. Upon the admission of Wisconsin as a State in the Union, it was divided into five judicial circuits, Sauk County, together with the counties of Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette and Portage, being in the Third Circuit. At an election on the first Monday in August, 1844, Charles II. Larrabee was chosen Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, his term expiring December 31, 1854. At the previous April election, in 1854, he had been re-elected for a full term of six years, commencing January 1. IS.",.",, ami to endat the close of the year 1859; but. Sank County having been taken from the Third Circuit in April, 1855. and attached to the Ninth, it came into the jurisdiction of Judge Alexander L. Collins. In the meantime, in accordance with a constitutional provision, Circuit Judges had been relieved of the duties devolving upon Supreme Justices, or. in other words, the Supreme Court had became an entirely separate the Second District, Dubuque and Des Moines Counties

;

trict,

;

tribunal, presided over by Justices especially chosen for that purpose.

On the 5th of September, 1858. Judge Collins resigned as Judge of the Third Circuit, and Luther S. Dixon was appointed in his place until a successor was elected and qualified. Before Judge Dixon resigned, having been elevated to the Supreme Bench, and Harlow S. Orton was elected Judge of the Ninth Circuit to fill out the full term for the next April election, however,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

348

On the 3d of April, which Judge Collins had been elected, which expired December 31, 1860. 1860, Judge Orton was elected for a full term of six years, but he resigned January 28, 1865, when Alva Stewart was appointed to hold until the next April election. In April, 1865, Judge Stewart was elected to fill out the full term of Judge Orton, which he did, and in April, 1866, he was a» ain elected, but this time for a full term of six years, which began January 1, 1867, and In April of this year, he was re-elected for a second term. ended at the close of the year 1872. However, on the 2d of April, 1877, upon the increase of the Ninth Circuit by the addition of Juneau, Adams and Marquette Counties, Judge Stewart resigned, but was appointed on the 5th In April, 1878, he was reof the same month as his own successor to fill out his full term. elected for another full term, which will close December 31, 1884. COUNTY JUDGES.

On the 11th of March, 1844, the qualified electors of Sauk Prairie Precinct, which then embraced, together with other territory, all that now contained in Sauk County (then belonging Dane County, for judicial purposes), came together and cast their ballots for a complete set This office Prescott Brigham* was chosen to fill. of county officers, including Probate Judge. In the fall (September 23) of the same year, the county having been organized and another election precinct (Baraboo) created, a second election took place in pursuance of the provisLorrin Cowles,* father of Dr. Charles Cowles, of Baraboo, was elected ions of the organic act. It is the belief of an old settler that Judge Cowles' successor to the office of Probate Judge. Maj. W. H. Clark* was then elected to the office, and, at the expiration was George Cargel. Judge Clark of his term, he was succeeded in 1849 by James M. Clark, who was re-elected. resigned before his second term of office expired, and R. G. Camp* was appointed to fill the E. G. Wheeler was chosen to the position in 1853, and served till 1857, when vacancy. John B. Quimby succeeded to the office in 1861, S. S. Barlow was elected as his successor. Judge Remingand, being reelected in 1865, retired in favor of C. C. Remington in 1869. ton resigned the position in 1872, and John Barker was appointed by the Governor to fill the James W. Lusk was elected in 1873, and Giles Stevens, the present incumbent, in vacancy. to

1877. In the early history of " Old Sauk," County Judges (by which title these dignitaries are now most generally known) had jurisdiction, as now, over probate matters only. Early in the This fifties, an act was passed by the Legislature giving them jurisdiction also over civil cases. law was subsequently repealed. " " individuals who have served The oldest inhabitant recalls some pleasant memories of the

He recalls their characteristics, their manner and the people of Sauk County in this capacity. Judge Cowles (who is entitled to the distinction of having been the their dignified bearing. County Judge in Sauk County, after its organization), he remembers as a sturdy, honest

first

and likewise Judge Cargel both fully competent to handle the affairs of the office graduate of Hamilton Maj. Clark was a native of Madison County, N. Y. On account of his skill in his profession College, he was a fine scholar and an able lawyer. Territorial Legislabeen a member of one of the and his ability in the Legislature (he having An amusing incident is related concerntures), he came to be known as the " Lion of Sauk." old farmer,

;

at that date.

ing the Judge, who, being engaged in the prosecution of a case of theft, in which the prisoner was charged with having stolen a light wagon, replied to the Latin phrase, falsus in uno, falsus in omnibusf, used by counsel for defense, by saying, sotto voce, " Yes, a man that will lie about a one-horse wagon will lie about an omnibus."

Judge James M. Clark was a graduate of an eastern law school. He was a sociable genHe went from here to Tennessee, and later removed to Greeley, where he now lives. Judge Wheeler, now of Sioux Falls, Dak., bore his honors His successor, Judge Barlow, made a good Judge. c;isv and had the confidence of the people. tleman, thoroughly competent. Colo.,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

849

He lias also distinguished himself as District Attorney, member of the Assembly several terms, and Attorney General of the State. Judge Remington was a man of strong convictions, and, Judge Lusk holds a high position among the like most men of mark, had some enemies. He leading barristers of the State as a gentleman endowed with superior legal attainments. Judge Stevens, filled the office of County Judge with credit both to himself and to the people. has a clear legal his profession, read in office, is well the present amiable incumbent of the mind, and is regarded as a correct and conscientious official. POLITICAL PARTIES IN SAUK COUNTY.

For the past twenty-four years, Sauk County has been largely Republican. Prior to 1856 The and subsequent to the organization of the county in 1844, it was under Democratic rule. change of front came in November, 1856, at the Presidential baptism of the Republican party. years, the followthirty-two As an index to the political complexion of the county for the past ing figures will be interesting

1848— Zacharv Taylor, W., 149; Martin Van Buren, F. S., 139; Lewis Cass, D., 158. 1 S.V2— Franklin

Pierce, D., 681

;

Winfield Scott, W., 622; John P. Hale, F. S., 156.

1856—John C. Fremont, R., 2,014; James Buchanan, D., 993; Millard Fillmore, A., 4 Is,;.

(—Abraham Lincoln. 1!., 2,309

;

Stephen A. Douglas, D., 985; John Bell, U., 2.

1864— Abraham Lincoln, R., 2,076 George B. McClellan, D., 985. 1868— Ulysses S. Grant, R., 3,262 Horatio Seymour, D., 1,366. 1872—Ulysses S. Grant, R., 2,702; Horace Greeley, L., 1,354. 1876— Rutherford B. Hayes, R., 3,395; Samuel J. Tilden, D., 2,201 ;

;

Cooper, G., 16.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

CHAPTER III. Locating the County Seat— Court Houses— Railroads— Agricultural Industries, Soil, etc.— Sauk County Agricultural Society— Blood Cattle— Stock Breeders' Association Dairying— Statistical— Hops, and the Panic of 1868 -Nature's Provisions. locating the county seat

— court houses.

In 1843-44, the people of Prairie du Sac petitioned the Legislature to fully organize Sauk County. The residents of the Baraboo Valley remonstrated, on the ground that there were not voters enough in the county from which to draw a jury-list, and fill the county offices; and, furwas not politic, at that time, to burden themselves with the expense of a fully or-

ther, that it

ganized county.

But this remonstrance availed nothing, for the Saukites had made up their minds to lose no time in which to allow Baraboo to gain strength, and a bill was pushed through the Legislature and approved May 10, 1844, under the provisions of which Noah Phelps, of Green County, John Morrison,* of Jefferson, and Charles Hart, of Milwaukee, were appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice. They were instructed to make a thorough examination of the whole county, and make the location "with regard to the future as well as the present population." They finally decided to locate it at one of the Sauk villages the one which would make the largest donation. Sauk City, or Lower Town, offered the BryantHaraszthy House, estimated to be worth $3,000. Prairie du Sac, or Upper Town, offered a certain number of village lots, supposed to be worth more than the Lower Town offer. The Commissioners accepted the Prairie du Sac offer, and the seat of justice was located accordingly. Some months later the people of Prairie du Sac offered the deeds of the donated lots to the County Board. It was then discovered that they contained a clause making the lots revertible to the original donors in case of the removal of the county seat. This excited great indignation among the residents of Sauk City, Baraboo and the region known as the Bluffs, and several public meetings were held at which the matter was discussed. In the summer of 1845, at one of these meetings, a committee was appointed, consisting of Count Haraszthy and Edmund Rendtorff, of Sauk City, and Levi Moore, Abram Wood, Thomas Remington and William H. Canfield, of Baraboo, to make an exploration of the interior of the county, and ascertain whether the land was fit for settlement and cultivation. The committee started on this exploration on the 10th of November, 1845. Count Haraszthy's mare and a week's provisions, a shot-gun, two rifles and a bird-dog constituted the outfit. They took the pinery road to Seeley's Creek, and camped that night in a pinery shanty. In the morning, the Count took the halter off the mare and told her to go home to her colt, and, taking one

—

day's provisions, the explorers started for the primeval forests. The next day, Wood shot a deer, but ilid not get it, and a partridge, which the Count bagged, had to suffice for dinner, supper

and breakfast, for six stalwart men. Another day was passed with nothing but water to drink, and the next breakfast and dinner, also, were a blank. It was proposed to shoot the dog that night for supper, but Capt. Moore's trusty rifle brought down a fine yearling buck, and the fast was soon terminated. The committee crossed over the head-waters of Honey Creek, passed on to Bear Creek, thence down Narrows Creek to the Baraboo River, and thence to Baraboo. They eubsequently reported to a mass meeting that the interior of the county was not only fit for cultivation, but would make a fine agricultural district. In the winter of 1X45-41), the Legislature was petitioned to re-establish the seat of justice by a vote of the people. The petition was granted, and on the 7th day of April, 1846, an election was held, resulting in the removal of the county seat to Baraboo. The county board

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

351

They made an appointed twelve Commissioners to designate the point for county-seat purposes. arrangement with the school district for the southeast quarter of Section 35, which quarter the Government land sale, which the day of the claimed. On previously district had school occurred soon afterward, Prescott Brigham, then a County Commissioner, purchased the said no funds in money, there being the county quarter-section in his own name, and with his own The County Commissioners platted it into treasury, and subsequently deeded it to the county. a village, and called it Adams, in consideration of Mr. Brigham's high regard for the renowned The survey was made by Charles 0. Baxter, and the recMassachusetts family of that name. The name was changed to Baraboo in 1852. The block ord of it bears date of April, 1847. upon which the old Western Hotel was afterward built was purchased by Sumner & Maxwell Harvey Canfield and C. C. Remington were appointed before a public sale of lots was held. Commissioner and Clerk, respectively, to conduct the sale of lots, and about $4,000 was realized With this money a wooden court house and jail were subsequently put up on the therefrom. The courthouse was two stories high, north side of Fourth street, facing the public square. and was completed in April, 1848, by Col. Edward Sumner, the contractor. The jail, it is said, Abe Wood was resembled a huge dry-goods box, and was surrounded by a high wooden fence. among the early inhabitants of this "jail." He had been incarcerated for attempting to shoot Henry A. Chapman, and, soon after being locked up, raised a portion of the loose floor and dug his way out.

But Baraboo did not long enjoy her county seat laurels in peace and quiet. About 1850, Reedsburg became an aspirant for county seat honors. The contest waxed warm for some time, and finally reached a climax in the spring of 1851, when the citizens of the "burg" took the The services of a position that no rafts or logs should pass over their dam en route for Baraboo. United States Deputy Marshal were called into requisition by the Baraboo people, and the Reedsburg dam was partially cut away. This event has since been referred to as the "Reedsburg war." In 1852, the leading residents of Reedsburg petitioned the Legislature to have a nine-mile strip stricken from the southern portion of Juneau County and attached to the northern part of Sauk County. The petition was granted, and the strip added in accordance with the prayer of the petitioners. This brought Reedsburg nearer the geographical center of the county. In 1853, through the efforts of Charles Armstrong, member of the Legislature, the strip was set back. But Reedsburg was not yet prepared to relinquish its claim, and, in 1855, they again came before the Legislature with a petition, praying that the county seat question be submitted to a vote of the people. The petition was granted, and in April, at the spring election, the question being submitted, Baraboo came off victorious. The necessity for a new and better court house becoming apparent, the County Board at once took steps toward building. Sixty of the prominent citizens of Baraboo came forward In the fall of 1855, a contract with a $3,000 subscription to defray a portion of the expenses. was let to P. A. Bassett for the erection of a two-story brick building, 40x60 feet, in the center of the public square. The structure completed, was formally accepted by the board on the 1st of January, 1857. On the night of the 4th of July, 1857, the old court house (then the property of Peter Van Wendall) was destroyed by fire. A local writer thus sums up the history of this ancient landmark. " The remorseless fire on the night'of the 4th inst., destroyed the last vestige of this venerable edifice. As we stood and saw the fire-fiend wrapping it in his lurid glare, and as one by one the old timbers dropped to ashes beneath his fiery embrace, we could not help letting our thoughts wander back to the past, when the old court house was the pride of our village, the best building in all Sauk County. Erected in 1847, when Baraboo was scarcely a hamlet, and this county numbered its inhabitants by scores instead of by thousands, its construction was a work of no small magnitude. When completed, no wonder that the pioneers, long used to the hut and wigwam, should gaze upon it with honest pride. A year or two after the building

352

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

was put up, we well remember how a new acquaintance volunteered

to show us the sights, and The took us the first thing to see the new court house, then the elephant of the place. second story was not only the court-room, but the schoolroom, the church, the lecture-room, At last the wants of and, in fact, the only place for the accommodation of public assemblages. the people, growing with the increased population, demanded a new court house, and ere a larger and more showy building could be completed, the old court house was left deserted, for a time, when its upper story was let for a printing office to D. K. Noyes, then the proprietor of the At last, neglected by man and abused by the elements, it was not fit for a printing Republic. '

even, and the Republic changed its quarters. After that it stood empty and forlorn until about two years ago, when it was bought by P. Van Wendall, and moved a short distance to the east, when a new front was built for it and, being otherwise- rejuvenated, it presented an entirely different appearance. It was then turned into a saloon, and no doubt felt the degradation deeply. But it was not long to endure this humiliation. The fire came, and as the flames seethed, hissed and roared in, around and about it, it was cleansed of all impurities, and its ashes sank to earth as pure as nature herself." In 1857, a hexagonal stone jail was built near the corner of Second and Broadway, overCol. Sumner was the contractor. looking the river and the picturesque hills and vales beyond. In 1864, an addition, or rather a new wooden jail, was built in the rear of the stone structure, which had come to be considered unsafe. The construction of this latter building was superintended by Jonas Tower, of Ironton fame. New floors were laid, partiIn 1867, the interior of the new court house was remodeled. tions altered, two fire-proof vaults put in to accommodate the records of the County Court and office,

;

Register of Deeds, and a Sheriff's office added. When the question of a permanent location for the county seat was finally settled, and Reedsburg ceased to be an aspirant, the citizens of Baraboo turned their attention toward the improvement of the public square. large number of the principal kinds of shade and ornamental trees were planted throughout the park. Many of them have grown to be full size, and now spread their cool branches above the heads of a new generation.

RAILROADS.

About 1850, leading citizens of Sauk County obtained a charter for a railroad through the Baraboo Valley. The corporate title was the Fort AVinnebago, Baraboo Valley & St. Paul Railway Company. At that time, A. Hyatt Smith, Robert J. Walker and others were engaged in building (chiefly on paper) a line of road from Chicago to Janesville, and from there, it was understood, the main line was to pass through Madison and the Baraboo Valley to St. Paul, Messrs. Smith & while a branch was to lead via Fond du Lac to the Lake Superior region. Walker had organized a company for this purpose, under the statutes of Illinois and Wisconsin, known as the Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company, and later as the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Company. They had a charter from Janesville to Madison, and had laid considerable track between Chicago and Janesville. The scheme had every element of apparent success in its composition, and the citizens of Sauk County, fearing the road from Madison to St. Paul might be located at a point too far south to be of any benefit to them, procured the charter referred to, and subsequently obtained amendments to it securing the right of way from Madison to Baraboo, and thence northwestward to La Crosse or any other point on the Mississippi River. They stood ready to deliver this charter to Messrs. Smith & Walker, and also to furnish finanmanifested their ability to put the road through. In 1852, a bill was introduced in Congress granting to the Chicago, St. Paul k Fond du Lac people the alternate sections of land for six miles on either side of the proposed routes to aid in the construction of the roads. clause in this bill provided that, in case the lands which would so fall to the company had been settled by private entry, an equivalent should be given them from The bill passed to a third reading, and the then unoccupied lands in other parts of the State. Opposition to it came was defeated by one vote, when its friends were confident of its success. cial aid, just so soon as those gentlemen

HISTORY OK SAUK COUNTY.

353

chiefly from Milwaukee, from parties then engaged in directing the affairs of the La Crosse & Milwaukee road, now the La Crosse Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. They fought it vigorously from the very beginning, but, having twice met with defeat (in the first and second readings), had withdrawn from the contest, and openly conceded its ultimate success. The " was comas well as the enemies, of the grant, were very numerous. The "third house

friends,

posed almost entirely of Wisconsin men. Smith & Walker had opened regular headquarters, and it is said the former expended §80,000 in the one article of wine during the two winters that the P. A. Bassett and Col. James Maxwell, of Baraboo, went to Washington at difcontest lasted. ferent times in the interest of the grant, Mr. Bassett being present when the final vote was taken.

The defeat of the grant bill, of course, left the managers of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac

Company without prospective resources, and they were compelled to let the project rest. In the winter of 1856-57, negotiations were opened with the Chicago & Northwestern P. A. Bassett, of BarRailroad Company, of which William B. Ogden was then President. aboo, having been delegated by the citizens to consult with Mr. Ogden, proposed to him that if the company would take the matter in hand and build a road through the valley, Sauk County would give in bonds and securities the sum of $450,000, and that the city of Madison would Mr. Ogden promised that the route should be surveyed the increase the amount to $600,000. The crash of 1857 following spring and work commenced as soon thereafter as possible.

ruined the company's calculations in this regard and postponed further consideration of the subject.

corporation known as the Milwaukee & Western Railroad Company also enjoyed the favorable consideration of the people of Sauk County at an early day ; but before any company toward locating a line, the corporate name was changed Judge S. L. Rose, of Beaver Dam, becomto the Milwaukee, Waterto^n & Baraboo Valley. ing President of this company, secured an amendment to the charter, and called it the Mil-

action was taken by the

The sum of $100,waukee, Watertown, Beaver Dam & Baraboo Valley Railroad Company. 000 was named as the amount Sauk County would be required to raise to aid in its construction, and Judge Rose made a tour through the Baraboo Valley for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions. Special elections were held in some of the towns through which the proposed The town of Merrimack line was to have passed, and money voted to aid in its construction. pledged itself to raise $50,000 should the line cross the river at that point before the bonds The inducements. similar out held were issued. Other towns along the contemplated route company was thus thrown upon its own resources to commence the work, and for the want of means the project was abandoned. It remained, however, for that great railway genius, Byron Kilbourn, to successfully enlist the support of the citizens of Sauk County in favor of a railway scheme calculated to make the "poor rich and the rich richer." The agents of Mr. Kilboum's enterprise invaded the county from the direction of Milwaukee and induced numerous farmers to give their notes, secured by mortgages upon their property, for the stock of the then comparatively unknown La Crosse k Milwaukee Railroad. In many parts of the county they found but little difficulty in securing The advantages of a road running in front of every stockholder's customers for their paper. Then there was something door were pictured in attractive colors and eloquently dwelt upon. irresistibly enticing in the prospect of forthcoming dividends upon the stock, which would been completed. have should the road its 100 cent the time enhance value per by surely Meetings were held at all the principal points in Sauk County, at which enthusiastic speeches was present in Kilbourn Mr. were made in favor of subscribing to the stock of the road. An old person at many of these gatherings, and frequently harangued the assemblage. settler of Baraboo remembers hearing him, on one occasion, state that the road would in all at any rate, " Baraboo stood as good a chance as any other probability pass through Baraboo That same evening a meeting was in progress at Newport, at which the point in the county." speakers assured the citizens of that pretentious place that the road would certainly cross the river there. These promises, though glaringly inconsistent, served the desired purpose to keep ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

354

up the excitement, and farm mortgages continued to be given with the utmost confidence in the in fact the granting of mortgages became a mania which declarations of the railroad men It is a lasted so long as there were unencumbered farms and confiding farmers in the county. remarkable fact that farms with mortgages upon them were considered worth more than those that were unmortgaged, so earnest were the people in the belief that the stock of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company would appreciate in value and pay handsome dividends to the Not to be the possessor of shares of this company was for a time considered a holders of it. social disqualification, and, it is said, not a few neighborly feuds occurred between holders and ;

non-holders on account of a manifest feeling of superiority on the part of the former over the latter. But there finally came a revelation which, at this late date, seems almost cruel to refer to. The first intimation the people had of the " true inwardness " of the scheme was contained in the announcement that the company had decided not to cross the Wisconsin River at Newport On the contrary, the managers had neither would the line pass through the Baraboo Valley. Still the holders of stock concluded not to penetrate any part of Sauk County with their road. Passing over the question of anticipated dividends, the stock, they thought, remained hopeful. Then came the inwould certainly be redeemed at par, and in this way they would escape loss. telligence that the road had passed to other hands, and that the individuals composing the original company, were no longer responsible to the mortgagors for the redemption of the stock they held. Following close upon this astonishing information, came still more tangible evidence of duplicity, It had been stipulated bein the form of interest-bills upon the bonds of the defunct company. tween the farmers and the railroad men that the interest upon the bonds should be paid by the latbondholders naturally pounced the ter, but now that the company had ceased to exist in name, Recourse has since been had to upon the grantors of the mortgages for interest satisfactions. the courts, decisions being rendered in favor of the bondholders. In the meantime the road was rapidly approaching the Wisconsin River from the east. Apparently nothing definite had been determined upon as to the point of crossing, and the citizens of the village of Newport, though sadly disheartened over the prospect before them, resolved The village had been built up principally upon the verbal to press their claims to the last. promises of the officers of the La Cross & Milwaukee Company that the road should cross the Soon Wisconsin River at that point, and in anticipation thereof, lots rose to a very high price. afterward, however, the company purchased land a mile and a half up the river, and procured a new location for the crossing. Many of the Newport citizens were stockholders in the road, Finding themselves unable Imt had no power to remedy the great wrong inflicted upon them. to obtain redress, they next endeavored to secure a depot on the line of the road opposite their In December, 1858, the company's Board of Directors granted a memorial, signed by place. the most prominent business men of Newport, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Delton, and the surrounding country, to allow Newport to erect a depot, on the east side of the river, at her own expense, and have the trains stop there. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and forthwith was heard in the then almost deserted village, the busy sound of ax, saw and hammer, and within ten weeks one of the handsomest depots on the line of the road stood erect and ready for use. On the '25th of February, 1859, a grand festival was held to celebrate the event, and the next Some of the day the first passenger train stopped there. And Newport was " resurrected." toasts on that festive occasion were very appropriate.

For instance: "The Resurrection

—

—New-

may they port on theright, Kilbourn City on the left." " The citizens of Newport and vicinity never be obliged to go to Kilbourn City to get on a train." And this one, aimed at the heads of the railroad managers "The La C. & M. R. R., from Lone Rock to the head of the Dells :

" A serpent once roamed in a garden, 'tis said,

With deception and lies as bis theme;

And engulfed in corruption our primitive head. ISy his false and

fraudulent schemes.

" So his offspring can now, in all they may do, lie known by the manner they travel

The serpentine course this railroad pursues, Will their origin fully unravel."

HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.'

355

But the confiding people of Newport were not permitted long to enjoy the privileges and Mr. Kilbourn soon pushed his road up the east benefits accruing to an ordinary way station.

crossing was there which bears his name. energy, Mr. Kilbourn completed his road to the Mississippi River, about one mile of the line passing through Sauk County. The feeling against the company was very intense, not only in this county, but in other parts of the State where the people had been hoodwinked. In order to quiet the deceived mortgagors, Sales the La Crosse & Milwaukee Company finally signed over to them their State land-grant. of this grant have since been made, and the proceeds distributed pro rata among the mortside of the river to the present site of the city

effected, and, with

characteristic

About 20 per cent has so far been realized upon the original amounts invested. The facts concerning subsequent movements to obtain a road through the Baraboo Valley

gagors.

are very meager, though the citizens did not pause in their efforts to secure this long-desired outlet. In the fall of 1862, the Chicago & North- Western Railroad Company made a preliminary

examination of a route from Madison to La Crosse, and, in March following. Vice President " The route is an exceedPerry H. Smith, of Chicago, wrote to Gen. Starks, of Sauk County Our Board of Directors ingly feasible one, though some portions of it will be quite expensive. uncertainties of the times, although, with the have determined to extend their line to the river, I can make no positive promises of an immediate commencement of the work." At a meeting of citizens held July 23, 1863, the Baraboo Valley Railroad Association was organized with P. A. Bassett as President, and correspondence was at once entered into with various railroad companies, setting forth the advantages of the route and the extent to which the people of the county would lend financial aid. In September following, the Chicago <& NorthWestern Company made a survey from Madison to La Crosse, through the Baraboo Valley, Col. Van Meenan, the surveyor, reporting favorably upon the route. Here the subject appears to have been temporarily dropped. The next railroad movement was made in January, 1865, when Gen. Starks introduced a The bill into the Legislature to incorporate the Portage City & Baraboo Valley Railroad. measure passed, and under this charter meetings were held in Baraboo and Greenfield, the latter town pledging $15,000 in aid of the road. In Baraboo, a resolution was adopted pledging $100.000. In June of that year, Gen. Starks, R. H. Strong and A. A. Avery had a conference with the Directors of the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, and a re-organization of the Baraboo & Portage City Company was effected. In September, a route was surveyed by Chief Engineer Sill to Pine Island, above Portage. It was the original purpose of the company to continue the survey to Baraboo through the Lower Narrows, but the changing interests of " Mitchell's road " put a check upon further progress in this direction. On the 11th of October, 1865, a meeting of the Directors of the " Madison, Lodi & Baraboo Valley Railroad Company " was held at Madison, Baraboo being represented by Messrs. Starks, Thomas, Sumner and others. The company thus named was formally organized on the Noth6th of .March following, 500 shares of the stock being taken, and $5 per share paid in. ing tangible grew out of this movement, and it was not until 1869 that the people of Sauk County, heartily disgusted with the coquettish managers of the great lines from whom they had In October of cause to expect something, resolved to go into the railroad business themselves. that year, Col. S. V. R. Ableraan expressed the popular sentiment in a communication signed '' Locomotive," published in the local papers. The article, the caption of which was " Shoulders to the Wheel," argued the ability of the citizens to construct a line of road through the valley, and thus place themselves in a position to dictate terms to either of the companies operating in this State who desired to make connection with them. This opening gun, as it were, was followed by a broadside from the pen of J. C. Lusk, in which was expressed the intense feeling stirred by Col. Ableman's eloquent appeal. The first meeting was held on the 19th of NovemAn executive committee was ber, 1869, and was attended by delegates from far and near. appointed, headed by Col. Ableman, and it was resolved to apply for a charter. An instrument, A covering the ground, was accordingly drawn up and passed by the next Legislature. :

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

356

permanent organization was effected July 1, 1870 (the Baraboo Air Line Railroad Company) by the election of the following officers: President. T. Thomas; Vice President, J. Mackey; Secretary. T. D. Lang Treasurer, R. M. Strong Directors, S. V. R. Ableman, J. F. Smith, Moses Young. S. P. Barney and Jonas Narracong. At this meeting, 500 shares of the stock were taken, $5 on each share being paid in. In the meantime, propositions had been received from various railroad officials, which gave great strength to the undertaking and encouraged the managers to use every energy they possessed in the interest of the project. About this time, a public statement was made by Messrs. Tracy and Dunlap, of the Chicago & North-Western, that that company proposed to undertake the construction of a line through the Baraboo Valley. Holding the charter for a route through the "lake gap," it was evident the Air-Line people occupied a strong position. The Michigan Central road, through James F. Joy and George E. Easterly, also made a proposition to build the road, but the North- Western managers seem to have held out the best inducements, and arrangements were finally made with them. On the 12th and 13th of July, the Directors of the Air-Line road had a conference with the Directors of the Chicago & North-Western, at which a basis of agreement was accepted by both parties and reduced to writing. Under this agreement, a re-organization of the Air-Line directory was effected, five of its members retiring and being succeeded by George L. Dunlap, James H. Howe, Henry H. Porter and John B. Turner, of the North-Western Company, James L. Hill ;

;

being jointly chosen on behalf of both companies. The history of the enterprise from that time to the present is unattended by events of a nature demanding exhaustive consideration in these pages. It is sufficient to say that the basis of agreement has been strictly adhered to by both parties. Sauk County, so long in a position to aid in the building of a road through her fertile valleys, came promptly forward with the amount stipulated in the agreement. Work upon the road was commenced and vigorously prosecuted to the end. The results have been of a character beneficial to both the people and the company.

The road was completed to Baraboo on Friday, September

1871, and on Tuesday, the

12th, a grand celebration took place, such a one as was never before held in these classic preIt is There were music, speaking, cannon-firing and great rejoicing generally.

cincts.

estimated that 10,000 people were present. One of the remarkable features of the occasion was the great arch erected over the track. On either side of the track a circle of hop-poles had been formed. Through the spaces between the poles, hop-vines were wreathed until the poles were entirely clad with green. On the top of the columns rested a broad arch, surmounted by a large keystone, upon which were piled immense golden pumpkins, strings of red-cheeked apples, sheaves of wheat and stalks of corn. In the center stood a flag-staff, from which floated a banner.

The iron-horse reached Reedsburg on New Year's Day (1871-72), but, on account of the unfavorable season for outdoor celebrations, the observance of the event was postponed. The material interests of the county have undergone a greater degree of development in the past nine years than during the entire period of its history preceding the advent of the railroad and the permanent location at Baraboo of the company's roundhouse, workshops and business headquarters for the Madison Division, contributes almost immeasurably to the importance of the road to every part of the county.

Passing through the southwestern portion of the county, with stations at Spring Green and Lone Rock (the latter just over the line in Richland County), the Prairie du Chien Division of Milwaukee .V St. Paul road furnishes a convenient and valuable outlet for the people of that section. Chiefly in consequence of the advantages thus afforded, Spring Green has grown to occupy the third position in the list of prosperous villages in Sauk County. The total amount of farm mortgages given in Sauk County to different railroad companies was $120,100, as follows: La Crosse k Milwaukee, $87,200; Watertown & Madison, $4,020 Madison, Fond du Lac & Michigan, $27,300 Milwaukee, Watertown & Baraboo Valley, $600; Milwaukee & Horicon, $1,000. the Chicago,

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HISTORY

OF SAUK COUNTY.

AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES,

357

SOIL, ETC.

Almost every known Sauk County presents productive features of remarkable diversity. There are large areas of prairie, which, it kind or quality of soil is found within its borders. with small valleys the raising of hills dimpled especially adapted nature to corn seems, were by and surmounted by table-lands, where the best winter wheat in the State is grown, and marshes calculated for meadows, both wild and tame. Beginning in the northwest portion of the county, in the town of Woodland, we find, in the valleys, a soil of rich loam, and on the ridges the quality of clay in which winter wheat thrives and yields abundantly. This town, however, is more particularly noted for its timber in fact, is the great lumbering region whence, in early days, came all the rafts of pine logs that were gathered and floated down the Baraboo into the Wisconsin, and thence to the Mississippi. It was here also that the Wonewoc Wagon Company got their timber until that institution ;

;

closed down

Passing west into the town of Lavalle, we find the diversity of soil and the variety of productions more marked, though the features west and south of the river are very similar to those Wheat and corn are raised in this described in Woodland. East of the river, the soil is sandy. region in about equal proportions. Dairying is the principal industry in the southern part of the town. The town of Winfield is very bluffy, and the soil sandy, though a few of the best farms in the county are situated in this town. In Dellona, the characteristics are very much the same as in Winfield. The town is largely devoted to corn. The town of Delton may be fitly described as poor and sandy north of the two southern tiers of sections. The extreme southern tier comprises the best soil in the town, though there is a strip of very productive land along the Wisconsin River. Webster's Prairie is particularly noted for its sand and unproductiveness. Corn is the principal product in the town. The best In the town of Fairfield, the cultivated portions are devoted chiefly to corn. lands are in the north part of the town. An extensive marsh, covering some seven or eight sections, exists in the southeast portion.

The south half of Greenfield is very broken and sterile, though there are occasional valleys of fair soil. The north half consists of good prairie soil. A large part of the famous Baraboo Dairying is Valley is in this town. Corn, wheat and oats are grown here quite extensively. one of the substantial interests of the town. Turning westward, we pass into the town of Baraboo, and find two distinct soils, with the river as the dividing line. North of the stream are the "oak openings " and sand; south of it, the clay and maple groves, where winter wheat of the very best quality is raised, samples of it having taken the first premium at a recent State fair. Here, also, are many sugar orchards, The northwhile north of the river not a maple is to be seen, except those transplanted there. west portion of the town is largely devoted to corn. In the town of Excelsior, the best lands lie between Baraboo and Ableman, though there are patches of good land in other parts. Corn predominates. Within the boundaries of the town of Reedsburg is contained some excellent soil especially is this true of Babb's and Narrows Prairies. The town is especially noted for the great quantiHopties and superior quality of potatoes raised there and shipped from the railway station. raising also forms one of the leading agricultural pursuits. The north part of Ironton is formed of similar soil to that of the two prairies in the previously described town. The southern portion of the town is broken and hard to cultivate. Corn and wheat are raised in about equal proportions, while stock-raising and dairying receive considerable attention. This town is noted for its iron mines, from which it derives its name. The town of Washington is or was before advancing civilization bore down upon it very heavily timbered throughout. The soil is very strong, and it has the reputation of being probably the best winter wheat section in the county. ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

358

The agricultural characteristics of the town of Westfield are not unlike those of the town Winter wheat and hops are the chief productions. Winter wheat also forms the principal production of the town of Freedom, which is almost wholly a timber region. Two-thirds of the town of Sumter is prairie land, which is almost exclusively devoted to The famous Kirk vineyard is situated in the northeast corner of this town'. corn. The south and southwest portions of the town of Merrimack are considered the best lands The north and northeast parts are sandy and unproductive. Corn predomiin its borders. of Washington.

nates.

The only town

in the county exclusively prairie, and therefore a good corn region, is In the northern portion of the town the soil is rich and heavy, but it grows enormous sand beds taking its place. The town of Troy is considerably broken, with a large area of sand in the southern porThere is some excellent land in the Honey Creek Valley. tion. Corn is the leading agricult-

Prairie du Sac.

thinner as we pass south, and finally disappears entirely,

ural feature.

Honey Creek is devoted to wheat, and has some very good land in

borders.

its

Its hills

are well, wooded and valleys fertile.

In the town of Franklin, corn and wheat are raised in about equal proportions. The southern part of the town is prairie, the north being heavily timbered. Crossing into the town of Bear Creek, we find ourselves in a region of naked bluffs and fertile valleys, where the dairying interest takes the lead of all other industries. There are two cheese factories in this town, and there is probably more of this article manufactured here than Wheat and corn receive considerable attention. in any other town in the county. The town of Spring Green, the last in the category, is largely prairie, interspersed with Corn and rye are the principal products. sand beds.

SAUK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The organization of this society took place in 1855.

The first meeting of which there is any record was held on the 22d of February (an historic day) of that year, at Taylor's Hall, in the village of Baraboo. Due notice of this meeting had been given, and the attendance was large, considering the very primitive state of agriculture at that date. Alexander Crawford was called to the chair and James S. Moseley was appointed Secretary. A twelve article constitution was presented and adopted. The first article declared the objects of the society to be the "promotion and improvement of the condition of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical, manufacturing and household arts." The remaining clauses set forth the obligations and duties devolving upon the officers of the society, and included specified rules for governing the management of fairs. Then followed the election of officers for the ensuing year James M. Clarke was chosen President; Daniel Pound, Vice President; James S. Moseley, Secretary and R. H. Davis, Treasurer. An invitation being extended to those present to become members by signing the constitution and paying into the treasury the sum of $1, the following-named individuals James M. Clarke, William J. Huntington, R. R. Remington, Benjamin L. Brier, responded Isaac W. Mm lev. Charles A. Clarke, B. B. Brier, William Stees, Francis K. Jenkins, John B. Walbridge, B. F. Mills, Rufus N. Flint, Alexander Crawford, John B. Crawford, S. V. R. Ableman. Charles II. Williams, Moses M. Chaplin, Ebenezer Martin, Stephen M. Burdick, Samuel Northrop, Oliver W. Thomas, James S. Moseley, Daniel Pound and John Acker. An Messrs. Morley, Remington, Williams, Jenkins, Executive Committee was chosen as follows Acker and E. 0. Rudd, A. F. Kellogg, Zoeth Eldridge, Henry Ochsner, Alexander Stewart, William Andrews, E. G. Blakeslee, Albert Kelley, Ransom E. Stone, James K. Thompson and John Young. A premium list was arranged, and October 16, 1855, set for the date of the first fair, to be held in the village of Baraboo but unfortunately there is no record of such fair having been :

;

lull.

The last meeting of the Executive Committee, prior to the date appointed for holding the

HISTORY OF SAUE COUNTY.

359

At this meeting, James M. Clarke tendered his place on the 15th of September. resignation as President of the society, and R. G. Camp was appointed to fill the vacancy. The next meeting was held on March 15, 1856, when Mr. Camp was elected President; I. fair,

took

W, Morley, Vice President; R. H. Davis, Treasurer, and M. C. Waite, Secretary.

An Execu-

Committee was also chosen, composed of one representative from each of the seventeen towns Nothing of consequence appears in the proceedings of this meeting in referthe county. are informed, however, that there was a balance ence to the fair held the year previous. tive

the treasury of $135, which is conclusive evidence that the first fair of the Sauk County At this meeting a premium list for the Agricultural Society was at least a profitable one. next fair, to be held at Baraboo on the 1st and 2d of October, 185G, was presented, aggreThe names of eighty-six members appear on the roll. gating $249.50 in cash. In the fall of 1856, there seems to have been a re-organization of the society, as appears in

from a minute in the proceedings of a meeting held on the 1st of October, to wit: "On motion, the funds of the old society were passed over to the present organization." Officers President, R. H. Davis Vice President, J. B. were elected on the same date as follows Crawford Treasurer, I. W. Morley Secretary, E. Martin. Among the seventeen Directors chosen at this meeting appear many new names, indicating a complete revolution in the management. At the July (1857) meeting of the Executive Board, President Davis presented his resignation, which was accepted, John W. Powell being appointed to fill the vacancy. The TreasOn the 19th of September, Mr. Martin resigned the urer's report showed $23. '.'7 on hand. secretaryship, and was succeeded by William H. Joy. Five days later, the annual meeting for the election of officers was held, resulting in the choice of John B. Crawford for President, R. R. Remington for Vice President, John W. Powell for Treasurer, and James M. Clarke for Secretary. No reference is made, in the proceedings of the meetings held this year, to the fair of October, 1856. On the 28th of August, 1858, the Executive Committee met, and adopted the report of the Committee previously appointed on premium list. Premium money to the amount of $244 was voted to be distributed at the approaching October fair, which, it was subsequently resolved, should be. held at Reedsburg. October 14, at the close of the fair, the annual election for officers was held, with the following result: President, J. B. Walbridge Vice President, A. W. Starks Treasurer, William H. Thompson Secretary, H. H. Peck. August 12, 1859, the Executive Committee met, and elected A. M. Starks, President, and A. B. Bradley, Vice President. It was also decided that the next fair and cattle show should be held at Baraboo, on the 21st and 22d of September. A resolution was passed to the effect that "a diploma be considered the highest possible testimonial of approbation this society can bestow." Henry Getchell and R. Jones were appointed a committee " to make inquiries as to the cost of leasing grounds and erecting suitable buildings for the convenience and accommodation of the society." The Committee reported in favor of accepting the offer of a site made by John B. Crawford, with whom they were further instructed to make a written agreement, and also to mature plans for a building. Mr. Peck resigned the secretaryship. M. C. Waite was appointed to fill the vacancy, and the board adjourned. In January, 1860, it was resolved to procure material, and fence the ground leased of Mr. Crawford. In March, contracts were closed with P. A. Bassett for boards, and with Metcalf & Paddock for posts, and Messrs. Lee & Lemeroux were employed to build the fence. The fair this year was held at Baraboo, on the 19th, 20th and 21st of September. The records show that there were 150 exhibitors and 801 entries. Premiums were awarded to the extent of $277.50. while the receipts from all sources amounted to $398. At the close of the fair, A. W. Sturks was elected President: F. K. Jenkins, Vice President John B. Crawford, Treasurer, and M. C. Waite, Secretary. The Board of Directors this year was composed of twenty members, and the membership of the society was 140. The financial report showed that there had :

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUXTY.

3bO

been paid $297.23 for work and material on the fence inclosing the grounds, and $548.60 on the building.

The annual fair for 1861 was held at Baraboo on the 16th, 17th and 18th of September. There were two diplomas awarded Mrs. C. A. Hutchins for best lace cape, and Mrs. F. LongThe sum of $142 was disbursed in premiums. The highest premium The business meeting of the ($5) was given to F. G. Staley for the best-conducted farm. society, held on the second day of the fair, resulted in the election of Harvey Canfield for PresiRemington for Treasurer and H. H. Potter for Secretary. The receipts of this dent, R. R. fair were $253.23. In January, 1862, Peter Cooper was chosen President of the society in place of H. CanF. G. Staley was elected Vice President to supply the omission made at the Held, deceased. No record of the fair held this year is to be found. preceding annual election. In 1863, there were 298 entries and $203.40 paid in cash premiums. The receipts amounted to $285.55, and the total expenditures to $291.79. The old board of officers was :

ley for best sofa pillow.

re-elected.

No record exists for 1864. The regular annual meeting of the Executive Committee was held January 21, 1865, at which Charles H. Williams was chosen President; E. Walbridge, Vice to hold business meetings in June, but failed on account of a quorum not appearing. Two attempts were made President; R. R. Remington, Treasurer, and J. J. Gattiker, Secretary. to hold business meetings in June, but failed on account of a quorum not appearing. The next record of the society is dated the 18th of February, 1866.

At this meeting, it

was decided to hold a fair on the 10th and 11th of October, and $235 were offered in premiums according to the Treasurer's report, however, only $127 was disbursed for this purpose. This The receipts from all sources was the most profitable fair held by the society up to that date. amounted to $533.91, while the expenses were but $289.21, leaving a balance of $244.77. H. H. Potter, J. Charles H. Williams was re-elected President and J. J. Gattiker Secretary. B. Crawford and F. G. Staley were chosen Vice Presidents, and Henry Cowles Treasurer. The records for 1867 are somewhat brief. The fair took place in October, but we are left A resolution was passed at the business meeting that in the dark as to the financial result. also one followed, extending thanks to John Y. Smith for an address delivered on the occasion " diploma offered in place of any first premiums to those who effect that in future a be to the The following officers were chosen President, II. H. Potter; shall prefer it to the money." Treasurer, Henry Cowles Vice Presidents, J. B. Crawford, J. G. Graw and D. D. Lee ;

;

Secretary, J. J. Gattiker.

On the 18th of September, 1868, in pursuance with a previous

a meeting of the Executive Committee was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of holding the usual annual fair. A majority of the six gentlemen present favored a proposition not to hold a fair, and it was so determined, though the reason for this action does not appear. It certainly could not have been for lack of funds, for the report of the Treasurer showed that there was $676.10 on hand. The record of 1869 is also dated the 18th of September, and is very much to the same effect as the preceding. "The meeting was called for deciding whether it It reads as follows: would be advisable or not to hold a county fair. There was no quorum present, but those in attendance were decidedly of the opinion that, under the present circumstances, it would be The lease on the Crawford ground had expired, the building best to dispense with the fair. had been taken down, and there was no place to be had except Emery's race grounds, for which The officers thought it to the he would charge for two years at the rate of $100 per year. advantage of the society to find a piece of ground which could be bought for a permanent call,

location."

In May, 1870, it was decided to hold a fair on the 6th and 7th of October, and a list was made up offering $455 in cash premiums, $84 being for trotting and running. Four hundred articles were entered for exhibition, upon which there was paid $304. Forty acres of land

^^y. BARABO

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNT V.

363

were purchased this year from Adam Nixon for $1,5-10, twenty acres of it being sold afterward for §600. At the close of the fair the society found itself in debt .$779.59. Officers were chosen as follows: President, H. H. Potter; Vice Presidents, J. M. True, J. G. Grow and I. W. Morley Treasurer, Henry Cowles Secretary, J. J. Gattiker. The fair of 1871 was held in the society's new building on the 20th, 21st and 23d of September. There were ninety exhibitors and 326 entries in the different departments. The old board of officers was chosen, with the exception of I. W. Morley, who was succeeded as one of the Vice Presidents by John B. Crawford. Owing to the heavy expense attending the construction of a new building, the financial condition of the society this year was not favorable, though the prospects were bright. The receipts from all sources were $1,070.70, but the expenses were sufficiently large to make the indebtedness $1,155. The result of the fair of 1872 composes no part of the very brief record of that year. A meeting was held on the 23d of March, at which it was decided to hold the fair on the 17th wnd 18th of September. A very extensive premium list was adopted, amounting to $749.50. There is no record of the officers elected this year; and, for the following year (1873), while we have a list of the officers, there is no record of the fair. The officers for the latter year were President. H. H. Potter Vice Presidents, James Morey, H. Ochsner. John Dennett, P. J. Parshall, I. W. Morley, J. W. Wood; Secretary, John M. True; Treasurer, T. T. English. In 1874, the officers were: President, H. H. Potter; Vice Presidents, J. B. Crawford, D. E. Welch, W. C. Cady, P. J. Parshall, A. Hoage, W. Thiele, J. B. Clark, B. U. Strong, N. H. Briggs, G. I. Bancroft, T. Gillespie, T. J. Morgans, E. Kimball, H. Ochsner, William Dennett, Isaac Gibbs, John Young and A. Cottington Treasurer, T. T. English Secretary, John M. ;

;

True. In 1875, John True was chosen President a Vice President was chosen from each town Henry Cowles was Treasurer, and Philip Cheek, Jr., Secretary. In 1876, H. H. Potter was elected President, H. Cowles Treasurer, and John M. True Secretary. The receipts this year were $1,032.08, the fair being held on the 19th, 20th and 21st ;

;

of September.

Charles H. Williams was chosen President in 1877, J. M. Highland, Treasurer, and G. A. Pabodie, Secretary. The fair was held on the 26th, 27th and 28th of September. Receipts,

$790.25. In 1878, John M. True was President, John M. Highland, Treasurer, and George A. Pabodie, Secretary. The Vice President representation by towns was changed this year, two Vice Presidents being chosen J. W. Wood and H. B. Knapp. The officers for 1879 were the same, with the exception of O. H. Cook being chosen as Vice President in place of J. W.

—

Wood. The present officers are John M. True, President Presidents

;

J. B.

Duncan, Treasurer

;

; O. H. Cook and J. W. Wood, Vice F. N. Peck, Secretary. The receipts of the last exhi-

bition were $536.84.

For the past six or seven years, the winter meetings of this society have been full of interest.

The attendance is very large from all parts' of the county, while not a few practical men from other parts of the State take interest enough in them to be present. The meetings are chiefly devoted to the reading of papers on various topics pertaining and the discussion of those papers.

agriculture, horticulture, etc*.

BLOOD CATTLE.

The rearing of blood cattle has become one of the leading industries among Sauk County farmers, whose tastes have a tendency in that direction, and this feature of the farmyard, to all appearances, results in financial returns quite as satisfactory as many of the leading branches of The ample area of lands in the county which produce sweet and nutritious grasses

agriculture.

also makes the dairying interest a profitable one,

and dairymen have not been slow in seeing the

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

364

Hence the demand for short-horns, Jernecessity for improving the breed of their milch cows. seys, Ayrshires, etc., and the consequent new departure of a few farmers who have turned their Probably the first to take the lead in this industry in Sauk attention entirely to rearing them. County was C. H. Williams, whose farm, near the village of Baraboo, is well adapted to stockraising.

He brought the first short-horns into the county about twenty-seven years ago. and

has now something like thirty head. The Major is the most extensive breeder of fine cattle in the R. A. Morley and John M. True come next in point of numbers, though there are county. others, among whom may be mentioned W. T. Kelsey, of Prairie du Sac, G. W. and A. S. Waterbury, R. E. Stone and James Grisim, who have probably been longer in the business. Of Ayrshires. Mrs. C. C. Remington has eight or ten head, while A. G. Tuttle is the owner of half a dozen fine Jerseys.

STOCK BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

* On the 13th of June, 1874, Charles H. Williams, H. H. Potter, John M. True, John B. Crawford, R. J. Wood, J. W. Wood, J. H. Vrooman, William Fessler, Melatiah Willis. P. W. Carpenter, H. J. Farnum, Charles Teel, G. C. Astle, A. J. Sears, R. Johnson, Charles Payne, S. McGilvra, S. W. Emery, Ryland Stone, R. E. Stone, J. R. Hall, N. W. Morley, James Hill, William Christie, H. H. Howlett, R. A. Morley, Levi Cahoon, Amos Johnson and 0. H. Cook, met in the Court House, Baraboo, and organized " The Stock Breeders' Association of Sauk County," a joint-stock company with a capital stock of $4,200, having for its purpose " the procuring and keeping of imported and thoroughbred horses and mares for breeding purposes."

On the 10th of February, 1875, II. H. Potter, M. Willis, Amos Johnson, John B. CrawCharles Teel were chosen Directors of the Association, and on the 13th of the same month, H. H. Potter was elected President, J. B. Wood, Treasurer, and John M. True, Secretary. The officers for 1876 were H. H. Potter, President; J. J. Gattiker, Treasurer, and John M. True, Secretary. Directors Ross Johnson, H. J. Farnum, A. Johnson, H. H. Potter and J. B. Crawford. The Directors for 1877 consisted of R. Johnson, P. W. Carpenter, H. H. Potter, Robert Wood and Amos Johnson. The others officers were the same as in 1876. On the 12th of January, 1878, R. H. Strong was chosen President, E. Walbridge. TreasDirectors, P. W. Carpenter, R. Johnson, R. H. Strong. F. urer, and J. M. True, Secretary. Baringer and 0. H. Cook. In 1879, R. J. Wood was made President, Messrs. Walbridge and True being re-elected Messrs. Johnson and Strong were succeeded in the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. directory by H. J. Farnum and R. J. Wood. President, John B. Crawford Treasurer, E. Walbridge SecreThe present officers are Directors, George C. Astle, R. Johnson, J. B. Crawford, O. H. Cook tary, John M. True. and Fred Baringer. ford and

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;

DAIRYING.

Sauk County has become somewhat distinguished for her dairy products, one of her citizens having secured the highest prize awarded at the National Dairymen's Fair held in New York in 1S79. The principal dairymen in the county are A. & D. Beckwith and Aaron Southard, of J. A. Morley the town of Bear Creek, who manufacture cheese on quite an extensive scale. and Archibald Barker, of the town of Baraboo, are the next most extensive dairymen, butter John Tordoff, Lavalle, cheese; Amos Johnson, 0. K. Cook, H. bein^ their chief prodnct Bradbury and John Monroe, Greenfield, butter and cheese; Peter S. Young and Henry Hills, In 1879, J. A. Morley prepared an exhibit of butter and sent it to the Sumter, cheese. This National Dairymen's Fair, where it took the first premium ($50) in the Wisconsin Class. entitled it to compete for the sweepstakes, for which no butter could be entered that was not the also took, it being pronounced the The sweepstakes prize ($100) it best of some State class. ;

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

3(55

Then, again, it took the conditional prize of $100 offered by the Higgins Salt Company, which that company agreed to pay to the winner of the sweepstakes, should it happen that the winning butter was salted with the Higgins salt, as was the case with the Morley butter. best butter in

the Fair.

STATISTICAL.

The following tabulated statement of the agricultural productions in Sauk County for 1878 is taken from the records of the County Board, and will furnish a fair idea of the productive wealth of the county

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

360

and supply, there was no falling-off in prices; on the contrary, hops advanced steadily, and in 1865, i eached the extraordinary figures of 50, 55 and even 60 cents per pound, with fair prosBy this time, the cultivation of other farm products was almost pects of going still higher. Preparations had been made throughout the county to plant almost every entirely abandoned. -

Producers purchased from outside sources the necessary small grains required for feed and flour, and turned their undivided attention to hop-raising. The excitement ran high. Speculators, with pocketfuls of money, were plenty, and anxious to Hundreds of farmers, with but very few acres of land, who had hitherto been considered buy. man needed no higher indorsepoor, and in fact were poor, suddenly became reputably rich. ment than to have it said of him, " He has a hop-yard." His credit was good at any of the available acre of tillable land into hops.

" I'll pay when I sell my mercantile establishments in the villages where he did his trading. It was a day of liberal dealings, hops," was a sufficient guaranty for almost unlimited credit. The man with a hop-yard never stopped to say "It's too high not of sharp bargains, as now. I'll give you so much," and he seldom inquired the price of an article he sought to purchase. It went on the books, and much depended upon the conscientiousness and fair-dealing qualities Farmers' daughters wore silks and attended universities sons went to colof the merchant. There were evidences of wealth on lege, clothed in broadcloth, and the airs of opulence. great many men became comparatively wealthy. The every hand, and not without cause. farmers in a radius of ten miles who had made $10,000 in three years, could not be enumerated Enormous hop-houses of fantastic shapes were built fine upon the fingers twice touched. family carriages, phaetons and fancy harness found ready sale blood horses were purchased " If you'll wait till my hops get ripe ;" though toward the latter part of the period of excitement But the end the cash was paid in most cases, and a great many old accounts were squared. came, finally, and at a very inopportune time, when the acreage had been largely increased. 30 Most of the crop of 1867 was held for higher figures Prices fell, and with a crash, too. and 35 cents was not enough. "They'll be worth more next year," said the hop-grower; but his prophecy was shorn of its wisdom the following season, when the bottom of the market dropped completely out, and hops became a drug, commercially, worth from 3 to 5 cents, with The old crops on hand were, in many instances, more than a dead loss the but few buyers. pickers had been paid half the value of a pound of hops per box at the date of picking, which, a year later, amounted to more than the market price, and about the only profit left the producer, One good result, however, of was contained in the conversion of his hop-poles into stovewood. ;

;

The this hop excitement, was the substantial farm improvements made during its existence. Hop-raising, however, was not entirely large and costly hop-houses now make good barns. abandoned after the panic some farmers still continue to grow them quite extensively, and to ;

some degree of profit. nature's provisions. Thirty years ago, when farms were small, owing to the great length of time required to clear away the heavy growths of timber, many of the settlers in the western portion of the county found themselves in straitened circumstances and were compelled to fight starvation at great disadvantage. But nature seems to have provided a way for those who persevered in their efforts to gain a livelihood. John Jessop, of the town of Ironton, had but recently taken a claim of forty acres. He strove for a time to feed and clothe his family from the product of a few acres, but the period was drawing near when he would be called upon by the Government to pay At that date wild honey was very plentiful. The woods for his land, and money he must have. Relinquishing his farm labors, Mr. Jessop turned his echoed with the buzz of the busy bee. When he had accumulated a wagon load of the entire attention to the gathering of honey. "native sweet," he set out with his ox team for Baraboo, Portage and intervening commercial points, where he peddled it out to the citizens by the pound, for cash, provisions or anything else useful he could get. In this way. after making several trips, he paid for his land and supplied his family with the necessaries of life.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

30(

Another of the natural products of the western portion of the county, which indirectly furnished food and raiment for a large number of settlers in early days, was ginseng root, so highly In some localities, the root was very plentiful, prized for medicinal purposes by the Chinese. and for a time the people generally devoted their attention to digging and shipping it to market, where they received as high asftl per pound for any quantity it might be their good fortune to gather. A widow lady, in the town of Washington, earned enough money in this way to pay off a considerable mortgage on her farm, which the previous hard times had compelled her to negotiate. With them it is the Ginseng, so common with us, is a rare herb among the heathens of Asia. panacea for all ills, and after it has undergone a process known to the Cantonese as leong-tsue, Large quantities of the article arc transhipped to Australia, the it enhances greatly in value. Hawaiian Islands and that other Chinese province, California, where it finds ready sale among It. is said to derive the nations of the Orient at the exorbitant figures of $25 and $30 an ounce. its great value in their estimation from having cured a former emperor of the colic. The cutting of hop-poles furnished profitable employment to many during the great hop One of the principal industries in the towns of Ironton and excitement from 1S65 to 1872. Lavalle at the present time is the cutting and hauling of stave timber to the mills of Messrs. Paddock & Keith. The burning of charcoal and smelting of iron ore also furnish employment In the southernpart of the county, where to a large number of the residents of the same towns. there is less soil than sand, the raising of melons has become a profitable industrial pursuit. Berries and grapes (wild and tame) and the stronger varieties of tree fruits flourish in every part of the county. Only about one-third of its broad and fertile acres are now under cultivation. With its great diversity of soil and peculiar adaptability to almost every variety of useful products, who can estimate the future importance of Sauk County ?

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

CHAPTER IV. SAUK COUNTY'S WAR RECORD. The First Note of Alarm— Rallying of Patriots—Where they Fought and Died—Sauk County's Contributions—The Draft— The Roll of Honor— What it Cost. Treason, always despicable, even unto the eyes of traitors, never became more intensely odious than in 1861, when the climax of a conspiracy, long brewing, was reached, and the best government under the sun found itself face to face with an unholy and unrighteous civil war. The object of the South in attempting a separation of the Union was the erection of a great slave empire, encircling the Mexican Gulf; the duty of the North was clearly to prevent the success of a scheme so monstrous and inhuman. The first movements of the confederates were made under very favorable circumstances. They were in possession of many of the chief national offices, and they very largely controlled the army and the navy. Their military plan embraced three principal objects the seizure of the forts and coast defenses, the capture of the national capital and the possession of the Mississippi River. The South was, nevertheless, thrown upon the It was the defensive from the beginning of the struggle, and very soon effectually beleaguered. unfaltering aim of the North to bring the war to a close, with as little bloodshed as possible, by terminated almost the capture of Richmond, the rebel capital but the first forward movement disastrously at Bull Run on the 21st of July, 1861. This battle, how ever, was without military significance, since it did not secure the seizure of Washington by the rebels. It taught the North the real nature of the terrific struggle in which they were engaged. On the day after the battle. Congress voted $500,000,000 and called for 500,000 volunteers. From that moment, the rebellion was doomed. This act of President Lincoln and his patriotic Congress increased the nation's confidence in them to deal the righteous blow, and, at the same time, struck terror to the hearts of the secessionists.

—

;

The responses to the call were immediate and of the most encouraging character. Already a previous call for three months volunteers had been filled. No State in the Union was more prompt in sending forward volunteers than was Wisconsin, and no part of Wisconsin responded with greater vigor than did Sauk County. Twenty-six of her sons volunteered under the first call for 75,000 men, and joined the Madison Guards. The following from the Baraboo Republic of April 25, 1861, fairly illustrates the depth of interest in the preservation of the Union at that time: " The events of the last few days in this village will never fade from the memories of those who witnessed or bore a part in them. Our commonly sedate population have been elevated to a most unbounded pitch of enthusiasm for their country, on the one hand, and of intense indignation toward those, on the other, who have proved traitors to it. On Friday, Mr. Nash, of the Madison Guards, arrived here after having enlisted fourteen names in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac !. E. G. Horn, Julius Schroeter, David A r eidt, Robert Mettler, August Wandrey, Arthur Cruse, Samuel F. Clark, Anton Fischer, Ed Studelman, Ed Carl, William Bartholdt, Peter Jacob, John Jenewein and Richard Smith Peter Jacob twelve Germans and two Americans. has served in the Crimean war. Forthwith recruits began to fall in, and the martial sound of drum and fife, unheard in our streets this many a day, inspired all hearts with patriotic enthusiasm. Among the Baraboo volunteers to the Madison Guards were two sons of a lady who depended upon them and one other for her support. She gave the other permission to go also when he should have replenished her wood pile! On Saturday, they were initiated into military drill by A. G.'Malloy,* also a volunteer, who had served in the Mexican war and was an Orderly on Gen. Worth's staff. In the evening, a meeting was held to organize a home company to

—

Now V. S. 1:,.%,. mi..

-II.

I..1

.il

ll.T-uM, 1V.XHM.

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

369

F. K. Jennings was called to the offer themselves to the Governor in the service of the Union. Speeches full of feeling were made by D. K. chair, and D. D. Doane appointed Secretary. Noyes and others, and a temporary organization effected by choosing A. G. Malloy Captain and On the Sabbath morning, the strange sound of the drum, beat D. K. Noyes First Lieutenant. by the expert hand of Rev. W. H. Thomson, to the tune of Yankee Doodle,' announced that very large concourse of citizens met in front of the court the volunteers were about to leave. Rev. house to do honor to the noble hearts that so promptly responded to their country's call. and delivered an address eminently appropriate Chaplain, invitation, acted as E. by C. Weirich, A national hymn was then sung, and, after the benediction, the friends of those to the occasion. During about to encounter the dangers and hardships of war were invited to bid them adieu. Men the exercises many eyes were moist, but at this juncture every face was wet with tears. whom we had never suspected could be touched with tenderness, stood with flowing eyes, as sisters, mothers and wives came up to give the parting kiss. After taking their seats in the wagon, E. N. Marsh, in behalf of the volunteers, made a brief but touching address to those assembled. '

with flying colors and to the sound of the drum and fife, under a banner The Union Forever,' and on the other Baraboo Volunteers to the Madison Guards,' they drove out of town, followed by a procession of wagons and numerous friends on foot. Following is a list of the Baraboo volunteers Lafayette Lock, Augustus D. Kimball, Charles VV. Porter, Albert B. Porter, John J. Foster, F. D. Stone, Edward N. Marsh, Oscar Allen, Harvey Ames, R. S. Hill, A. Sutcliffe and David Dewell. These twelve volunteers were

half-past

inscribed on one side

among the Madison Guards, and left Madison yesterday (April 24) for Milwaukee. They have unanimously resolved not to taste a drop of liquor until they get back to Baraboo." The particulars of the organization of the " home company " referred to in the foregoing,

enrolled

"At the Methodist Church that are given herewith, as they appeared in the local newspaper: morning, after the departure of the Guards, Mr. Weirich spoke upon the duty of maintaining the Government, and the impression made will never be effaced from the minds of those who heard him. On Monday, the recruiting continued, and at night, with no call but that of the drum, there was a spontaneous gathering of the ladies, as well as of the more war-like sex. The court house was fairly jammed, and the feeling was such that one might put out his hand and almost feel the electricity in the air. J. B. Avery was called to the chair, and E. Wyman chosen Secretary. Several items of news, just received, were read by T. Thomas, and the same gentleman proposed a fund for the support of the families left, offering to give $25 per month. The announcement was greeted with tremendous cheering. 0. W. Fox responded with $5 per month, and Job Barstow, the same. The following committee of ladies was appointed to solicit Mrs. R. Jones, Mrs. J. F. Flanders, Mrs. C. A. Sumner, Mrs. Avery and Mrs. B. F. Mills. N. W. Wheeler, C. C. Remington, Mr. Crawford. Si.. Timothy Kirk, W. H. Thompson, Mr. Blackett and others made eloquent and patriotic speeches. Maj. Rowley and other "drummers from Narrows Prairie, had just come in time, and the thunder heard in that court room, to the tune of Yankee Doodle was never heard there before. A. G. Malloy was then chosen Captain without opposition, and A. N. Kellogg came forward to say that the Republic office claimed the privilege of furnishing one volunteer Joseph The meeting then adjourned. I. Weirich and of equipping him with a Sharp's rifle. • On Tuesday, the recruiting continued, and in the evening another meeting was held, After various patriotic speeches, the with 0. W. Fox, Chairman, and E. Wyman, Secretary. following resolution, introduced by C. Armstrong, was adopted subscriptions for the purpose

J. B.

—

" Whereas, It is reported that some one or two citizens of this town are in the practiceof utteringsentiments of approval of the course pursued by the Southern States in making war upon our Government, and, while we tolerate full freedom of speech and of the press in time of peace, we cannot nor will not. now that civil war lias been commenced, submit lo hear piracy and murder approved, much less witness the United States Constitution violated and traduced by any resident of Sauk County, in their either directly or indirectly giving aid or comfort to the enemy. Therefore. Re otved, thai the presence of traitors is of itself sufficiently burdensome, and that, if they value the privilege of remaining among us. they must be quiet. •

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

370

"For several seconds after its reading not a whisper was heard, then the whole audience at once sprang to their feet and sent up three of the lustiest cheers ever heard in Wisconsin. " On Wednesday morning, Hon. Moses M. Strong being in town, the citizens called for him, when he appeared on the court house steps and made a Union speech, half protesting against the policy of the administration, but deeming it the duty of every good citizen to support After his speech, the recruits started for Reedsburg to enlist accessions to the Government. Flags, meantime, have been put up in a dozen or more conspicuous places, and the their ranks. enthusiasm for red, white and blue emblems is constantly increasing." Arrived at Reedsburg, the Sauk County Riflemen (for such was the name by which these first recruits were known) stopped at the Alba House, where a grand reception awaited them. Speeches were made by prominent citizens, including William Miles, N. W. Wheeler, F. K. Jenkins and Rev. W. H. Thompson. Ten recruits were there enrolled, and "the boys" returned to their homes to await the call of the Governor, to whom their services had previously been offered.

From this date forward, a blaze of excitement pervaded Sauk County.

Impromptu meet-

ings were held in every village and settlement, at which recruits were raised and funds voted for the relief of those left in dependent condition by the enlistment of fathers, brothers and hus-

The ladies were notably active in forming societies with relief ends in view, and making bandages and picking lint to be used on the field of battle in case any of their dear ones were In Baraboo, the school children, some 200 in number, paraded so unfortunate as to be wounded. C. A. Sumner & Co. displayed a large flag the streets beneath the folds of the American flag. with eight black stars, representing the disloyal States, surmounted by twenty-six white stars. On the 4th of May, squads of volunteers from different parts of the county came into Baraboo, and a grand parade took place, winding up with a presentation of red, white and blue badges to The Sauk County Riflethe volunteers, Mrs. C. A. Sumner making the presentation address. men, while awaiting a call from the Governor, visited Reedsburg, where Capt. Malloy was preIn anticipation of this event, the Reedsburg boys went over to sented with a handsome sword. Ironton to borrow a cannon, but, being refused by the owner of the ordnance, it became necessary The following Saturday a visit was made to Dellton, and later, to to take the weapon any w ay. Sauk City, but this sort of jollification was cut short on the 28th of May, when an order was Utley, commanding them to report for duty. Before departing for the Adjt. Gen. from received front, the company (after being sworn in by Lieut. Col. Atwood, of the Sixth Regiment), was presented with a stand of colors by the ladies of Baraboo. The departure for Madison was taken The June 25, the occasion being one long to be remembered, by citizens and soldiers alike. volunteers marched slowly along the streets to the court house square, followed by the Hook and Ladder Company and Mr. Thomson's singing-class, consisting of thirty young girls, dressed Reaching in white, heads uncovered, and sheltered from the sun's rays by the stars and stripes. the position assigned them, they sang a touching national hymn, written by Emeline S. Smith bands.

" Who saiii that the stars (in our banner were dim That their glory had faded away'.' how bright through each fold Look up and behold They are flashing and smiling to-day. A few wandering meteors only have paled They shot from their places on high; But the jijcul and the true still illumine the blue, And will while all ages go by. !

Heaven's blessing upon it Its stars never shone With a luster so pure and so warm; !

Like a beacon's calm ray, pointing out the safe way. They gleam through this gathering storm. Their heart-cheering light led our fathers aright Through all the dark perils they knew; The same magic glow shall lead us to the foe, " And guide us to victohy too !

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

371

County Bible Society, Rev. C. E. Weirich and S. P. Kezerta pre-

On behalf of the Sauk sented each member of the company with a neat pocket testament; and Sauk County's first The company rendezvoused at Madison for complete company took its departure for the front. Being assigned as Company A, the extreme right of the a time, under rigorous discipline. With them went Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, they left for the scene of conflict July 28, 1861. the heartfelt sympathies of the citizens of Sauk County for the integrity of the Government.

was the substantial result of their first patriotic efforts toward maintaining that Government. Volunteers continued to go forward until the serpent-twined palmetto But they did not pause. slavery was entombed, never again to exist had ceased to wave, and the" peculiar institution" in a free and enlightened country. The following names appear upon the company's description book as those of the persons sworn into the United States service: A. G. Malloy, Captain; D. K. Noyes, First Lieutenant; J. A. Schlick, J. A. Coughran, J. C. Miller, T. C. Thomas, Second Lieutenant; Sergeants Corporals H. A. Lee, J. F. McLoney, J. I. Weirich. II. J. Albert Fox and H. F. Pruyn T. Iluiitinton, A. F. F. Jensen, John Starks, C. H. Foote and George M. Jones; Musicians .1. Johnson and A. G. Johnson. Privates R. H. Avery, R. Atridge, E. D. Ames, J. Alexander, T. Anderson. W. P. Black, E. Birum, T. B. Butterfield, E. A. Broughton, J. Brecher, F. H. Bunker, F. M. Crandall, H. H. Childs, H. L. Childs, Philip Cheek, Jr., W. H. Copeland, W. H. Clay, A. Darrow, W. S. Durlyn, J. M. Foster, S. Fort, J. T. Flowers, C. W. Farrington, A. Fancher, D. C. Fenton, F. Fletcher. II. D. Fordyce, J. B. Fowler, L. D. Finton, I. Fort, A. Fowler, C. M. Fesendon, F. Gerlaugh, F. Graham, W. H. Groat, G. A. Harp, S. J. Hutchens, P. Hoefner, J. Hill, J. Hedges, D. Hedges, J. Hall, J. G. Hodgedon, I. Inman, R. Jones, B. H. Jones, T. Joy, H. D. Jones, T. A. Jones. J. J. Jenkins, T. L. Johnson, F. K. Jenkins, A. P. Johnson, J. 0. Keyes. A. Klein, C. Kellogg, W. Klein, S. W. Keyes, C. Loit, J. C. Langhart, S. M. Long, W. L. Livesley, J. H. Moulon, H. C. Mattison, N. Moore, G. C. Miles, M. T. Moore, P. Nip>. pert. »dell, M. Pointon, J. Pearson, W. Palmer, U. Palmer, W. Pearson, W. B. Ryder, E. H. Richmond, G. W. Russell, C. Reed, G. Rosser, G. Rice, I. Scott, W. W. Spear. W. Soare, E. F. Smalley, P. Stockhouse, W. B. Thomas, L. B. Van Luven, E. Wyman, C. J. Weidman. C. A. Winsor, H. Williams, P. Will. J. Whittey and H. H. Young. 1 1

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WHERE THEY FOUGHT AND DIED.

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This was the first regiment organized in Wisconsin in compliance with First Regiment. In it was Sauk County's first contrithe President's call for 75,000 three-months volunteers. list of those enlistbution df men, who went forth to vindicate the right and punish- treason. ing in the Madison Guard (which formed one of the companies in the First Regiment) from this The description book of the county has already been given, but they were not all accepted.

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From Baraboo Oscar company shows the names of those who were accepted, as follows Allen, II. B. Ames, L. F. Locke. A. I). Kimball, E. N. Marsh, A. B. Porter, C. W. Porter, D. W. Dewey, R. S. Hill, F. D. Stone, H. Sutcliffe, J. J. Foster. From Sauk City and Prairie du Sac— S. F. Clarke, E. Carl, J. Jenewine, P. Jacob, Anton Fischer, C. E. G. Horn, D. Viedt, H. Wandrey. The three months having expired, they were mustered out August 21, 1861. Upon the re-organization of the regiment, quite a number of the Sauk County boys had joined other :

regiments, then forming, the history of which will be found in subsequent pages of this chapter. The Iron Brigade. Sauk County was well represented in the famous Iron Brigade, which was composed of the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin Infantry Regiments and the Nine-

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The

representation from this county in the Second and Seventh Regiments, though small, was in fair proportion with that of other counties of greater population it was in the ranks of the Sixth Regiment, however, that the patriots of " Old Sauk " were most numerous. teenth Indiana.

;

due to the memory of those who fell at the Wilderness, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and to those who lived through the greatest battles of the It is

372

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

rebellion, that at least a partial record of the attendant events of their services should be given in

The Second Regiment was originally enrolled under the President's call for these pages. 75,000 three-months volunteers. Under orders to rendezvous at Camp Randall, the various companies were organized early in May, 1861. Meanwhile, the General Government had decided to accept no more troops for this short term of service, and, accordingly, on the 16th of May, the regiment was called upon to re-enlist " for three years or during the war." With On the 11th of the exception of one company, the entire regiment complied enthusiastically. June, the Second Regiment, thus organized, was mustered into the United States service, being the first Wisconsin organization so mustered. On the 20th of the same month, the regiment left for Washington, and was the first body of three-years men to appear at the capital. On the 2d of July, they were ordered to Fort Corcoran, on the Fairfax road, where they were brigaded with three New York regiments, under Col. (now Gen.) Sherman, and, on the 16th, when the movement on Manassas was made, were attached to Gen. Tyler's Division, by whom the enemy was engaged at Blackburn's Ford, on Bull Run. On the 21st, the Second Regiment was ordered to assault one of the enemy's batteries. They moved up, under a terrific enfilading fire of shell and canister from other batteries, formed in a line at the foot of a hill and charged up, driving back the rebel infantry, which had emerged from a cover in pursuit of a body of our troops just repulsed in a similar assault. Here they fought against enormous odds for over an hour, but, the enemy being re-enforced, were compelled to fall back, having suffered a loss of 30 killed, 105 wounded and 60 prisoners. On the 23d, the regiment went into camp near Fort Corcoran, where they remained until August 27, when they were transferred from Col. Sherman's command to that of Brig. Gen. Rufus King. The subsequent history of the regiment was identified with that of the Iron Brigade until May, 1864, when they were engaged with the Army of the Potomac in the advance upon Richmond, under Gen. Meade. The several companies composing the Sixth Regiment were ordered to rendezvous at Camp Randall about June 25, 1861. Under the direction of Col. Lysander Cutler, the regiment was mustered into service on the 16th of July, and on the 28th they left for Harrisburg, Penn., where they remained until the 3d of August, at which date they moved by rail to Baltimore, Md. Proceeding to Washington on the 7th, they encamped at Meridian Hill, joining at that place the command of Gen. Rufus King. The Seventh Regiment rendezvoused at Camp Randall in August, 1861, and was organized under the direction of Col. Joseph Van Dor, being mustered into service September 16. They left the State for field service on the 21st, and reached Washington on the 1st of October, joining Gen. King's command at Camp Lyon. It is here that the history of the Iron Brigade properly commences, though its organization took place in August previous, being composed of the Fifth and Sixth Wisconsin and the Nineteenth Indiana. The brigade marched on the 3d of September, occupying a position at the They crossed the Potomac on the 5th of Septemchain bridge, five miles from Meridian Hill. ber, and, after assisting in the construction of Fort Marcy, recrossed the river, and, October 5, went into winter quarters at Fort Tillinghast, on Arlington Heights, Va. Here they remained until March 10, 1862, when they took part in the advance upon Manassas. Nothing of starthaving been ling importance occurred until the forenoon of the 28th of August. brigade The assigned a position in the advance line of the Army of Virginia, they proceeded slowly on the left of the army, via Gainesville, to Groveton, where they turned to the right on the Bethlehem Church road, and lay under arms until 5 in the afternoon, when they returned to the Warrenton pike, inarching toward Centerville. While moving by the flank, the Second Regiment was attacked by a battery posted on a wooded eminence to the left. The regiment promptly While awaiting the advanced upon the battery, and soon encountered the enemy's infantry. arrival of the rest of the brigade, this regiment sustained and checked for nearly twenty minutes the onset of " Stonewall " Jackson's entire division, under a murderous concentric fire of musketry. When the brigade arrived, the battle was continued until 9 in the evening, when

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

6(6

About midnight, Gen. the enemy was repulsed, although he continued to hold his own line. King, who had been promoted to Division Commander, ordered a retreat by the Bethlehem road to Manassas Junction, where they arrived next morning, having been compelled to leave a number of their wounded and hospital attendants to fall into the hands of the enemy. August 30, the Second, having been temporarily consolidated with the Seventh Wisconsin, moved with the brigade in the second line of battle, to assault the enemy's left, posted in a thick wood. While engaged in assaulting this position, the success of the rebel attack upon the left flank of our army made it necessary to fall back. The "Iron Brigade " formed in line of battle, and retained the position until the entire army had passed in safety on the road to Centerville. Concerning this movement an eye witness writes: " Gibbon's* brigade covered the rear, not leaving the field until after 9 o'clock at night, gathering up stragglers as they marched, and showing so steady a line that the enemy made no attempt to molest them." The brigade also participated in the movements of the army under the command of Gen. McClellen. and, on the 14th of September, was assigned the duty of storming Turner's Pass, The assault commenced of South Mountain, where the rebels were strongly posted in a gorge. about half-past 5 in the afternoon, the Second Regiment leading on the left of the road, and the Sixth and Seventh on the right. At 9 o'clock, the enemy was routed and driven from the Pass. On the 15th, leading Hooker's division, in advance of the entire army, they pursued the retreating rebels through Boonsboro to Antietam Creek, where a skirmish ensued. This movement led them to take a prominent part in the battle of Antietam, which commenced the following day. Early in the morning, the brigade became hotly engaged, dislodging the enemy in their front and occupying his position for two hours, until relieved by fresh troops. On the 19th, they marched to the Potomac and went into camp at Sharpsburg. On the 20th of October, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was added to the brigade. After many severe marches, the brigade reached Brook's Station, Va., November 5. In the meantime, Gen. Gibbon having been placed in charge of the division, Col. Cutter of the Sixth took command of the brigade, but was soon succeeded by Gen. Meredith. Taking part in the general movement of the army, ordered by Gen. Burnside, they left Brook's Station on the 9th of December, and crossed the Rappahannock on the 12th, under fire of the enemy's artillery. In the great battle of Fredericksburg on the loth, the brigade held an exposed and very important position on the extreme left. During the two days following, they were constantly under arms, retiring safely on the evening of the 15th to the north side of the river. They went into winter quarters on the 23d, near Belle Plain, Va. On the 20th of January, 1863, they broke camp, and took part in the movement known as the •' Mud Campaign." On the 12th of February, the Second and Sixth, under command of Col. Fairchild, proceeded down the Potomac and made an expedition through Cumberland County, Ya., capturing a number of horses and mules, seizing a quantity of rebel stores and taking prominent secessionists prisoners. second expedition, with similar results, was made

in March.

The command of the Army of the Potomac having been transferred to Gen. Hooker, the brigade took part in the forward movement toward Fitz Hugh Crossing on the 28th of April.

The engineers, with the sharpshooters stationed for their protection, having been discovered and driven back by the enemy, the brigade was formed for the purpose of forcing a passage of the Rappahannock. Companies B, D and E, of the Second, manned the ponton wagons and ran them down to the river, when the whole line advanced on the double-quick under a galling fire from the enemy's rifle-pits. The pontons were launched and instantly filled by men from all the regiments, who pushed across, and, led by the Sixth Wisconsin and the Twenty-fourth Michigan, charged up the heights, carrying the rebel rifle-pits by storm and capturing several

hundred prisoners.

series of rapid movements through Maryland, with unimportant results, then followed, and, on the 30th of June, the brigade formed itself at Marsh deck. Adams Co., Penn. At '"'i

'iil'l'uu lui'l

api'uinted Hriiaute

'uiiimitiider in M.i\

374

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

When within an early hour on July 1, they moved cautiously in the direction of Gettysburg. a mile of that place they turned to the right, under orders to advance to the support of Gen. The Second, having that day the lead of Buford's cavalry, then hard pressed by the enemy. The regiment came into line on the the marching column, first met the advancing enemy. double-quick behind a slight elevation, and, without waiting for the rest of the brigade to form, advanced over the crest, receiving a volley which cut down over thirty per cent of the rank and With true Wisconsin bravery, they dashed upon the enemy's center and crushed it, thus file. After a conflict of half an hour's duration, the rebels abandoned checking the rebel advance. the field, leaving over 800 prisoners, including Gen. Archer and the Second Mississippi, with its They stubbornly resisted the re-enforced assaults of the colors, in the hands of the brigade. enemy that soon followed and pursued him from Gettysburg, on the 6th, toward the Potomac, camping at Warrentown Junction, Va., on the 25th. The Iron Brigade was employed in picket and guard duty on the Rappahannock and Rapidan until the 10th of October, when they took part in the vigorous campaign that followed, freOn the 28th of December, the quently meeting and repulsing largely superior forces of rebels. Of these, 211 total number of men belonging to the Seventh, present with the army, was 249. re-enlisted as veterans. On the 21st, 227 of the Sixth also re-enlisted, and at various dates The veterans of the Sixth during the month forty members of the Second had done likewise. and Seventh were mustered into service January 1, 1864, and those of the Second soon afterward. The veterans of these regiments were then allowed short furloughs to visit their homes, and in March were assigned to position as First Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps. Accompanying the grand forward movement of the army of the Potomac, under Gens. Grant- and Meade, the Iron Brigade, commanded by Gen. Cutler, broke camp at Culpeper on the night of May 3, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford and marched in the direction of Chancellorsville. On the morning of the 5th, a line of battle was formed in the Wilderness. They advanced by companies through a heavy growth of pine and underbrush and soon encountered the enemy's line. At a distance of forty paces, the enemy, directly in front, poured in a Our terrible fire, which was returned with such effect as to throw the rebels into disorder. troops immediately charged with the bayonet, and at this point Corporal George A. Smith,* Company H, Seventh Regiment, rushed forward and captured the battle-flag of the Forty- eighth Virginia. The brigade continued to advance, driving the enemy to his second line, which was also After drivrouted, " the severe fire from our ranks, strewing the ground with dead and dying.." ing the enemy a mile and a half through the timber, he was re-enforced, and the Iron Brigade At dusk they compelled to fall back to its original position, where the line was re-formed. advanced to within seventy-five yards of the rebel lines, where they lay on their arms all night. At daylight next morning the battle was resumed, and the brigade participated in the grand charge upon the rebels in front, forcing them steadily back until re-enforcements reached them, when another retreat became necessary. During the day, after two unsuccessful attempts to break our lines, the enemy, having massed his troops and made a determined assault, was again repulsed with great slaughter. During this assault, Gen. Wadsworth, division commander, was killed. The command then devolved upon Gen. Cutler, Col. Robinson, of the Seventh, assuming command of the brigade. On the 10th of June, Col. Bragg, of the Sixth, became brigade commander. On the 8th of May, while preparing breakfast near Spottsylvania Court House, the brigade was ordered forward. After a severe contest, they were compelled to fall back a mile, when they rallied and drove the enemy over the ground where they had just fought, and. taking a strong position within three hundred yards of the enemy's works, successfully resisted several attempts to dislodge them. On the evening of the 9th, the enemy drove in our pickets and established a body of sharpshooters within fifty yards of our breastworks. Sixty men from the Seventh volunteered to drive these sharpshooters out, and did so. The next day was spent in attempting to The 11th was occupied charge the enemy's works, but the brigade was driven back each time. ,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

S75

skirmishing on both sides. On this day, the Second, having been reduced to less than one hundred men, and having lost both field officers, who were wounded and in the hands of the enemy, was detailed as provost guard of the Fourth Division, thus severing its connection with the Iron Brigade. On the morning of the 12th, the brigade again took part in an unsuccessful assault, shortly after which they moved about three miles to the left, to the support of the Second Corps. Eere they occupied a position on the right of Gen. Hancock's troops, standing in deep mud and keeping up a constant fire for the protection of the troops who were at work on the fortifications. From constant firing, their guns became so foul that it was necessary to send details of men to wash the guns while their comrades kept up the fire. In many instances, the weariness of the men was so overpowering, having been under fire day and night since the morning of the 8th, that they lay down in the mud and slept- under the enemy's fire, notwithstanding the exerEarly on the following morning the brigade was tions of the officers to keep them awake. in shelling and

relieved.

Participating in the movement of our army to the left, they marched from this place late in the evening. Their next fight occurred near Jericho Ford, on the Po River, where, after a two hours* engagement on the evening of the 23d, the rebels were driven from the field in disorder. The conduct of the brigade in this action was highly complimented by the officers of the

army. Similar scenes were enacted and like hardships endured by this gallant body of men, now whittled away by death and disease to a mere corporal's guard in comparison with its former proAfter this, they participortions, until the final and death blow to rebellion had been dealt. pated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Five Forks,

Under orders and, when Richmond had fallen, took part in the grand review at Washington. to report to Gen. Logan, commanding the Army of the Tennessee, the Sixth and Seventh moved by rail and steamer to Louisville, Ky., arriving on the 22d of June, 1865, where the Seventh The Sixth was was mustered out of service on the 3d of July, and reached Madison on the oth. mustered out on the 14th of July. On reaching the capital of the State, they were the recipients of an enthusiastic reception. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the words of command were given, the bronzed veterans wheeled to the right, drums and fifes struck up their stormy music, and, with guns at right shoulder shift, and bayonets beaming in the slant sunbeams under the green arches of the summer trees, the last organized fragment of the old Iron Brigade, bearing the rent and shot-torn banners on which are inscribed the names of such historic battles as South Mountain. Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Cold Harbor. Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Five Forks, passed on, to dissolve and disappear from men's eyes forever, but to live immortal in history and in the memory of a grateful people. Who faltered or shivered ? Who shunned battle-stroke? Whose fire was uncertain? Whose battle-line broke? Go ask il of history Tears from to-day,

And he record shall tell you Not Company A. I

The record shows that there were but nineteen members of the Second Regiment who were residents of Sauk County. Of these, three Thomas Bever, Conrad Piatt and Hermnn Hoppe died from the effects of wounds received in battle. The initial company (A) of the Sixth Regiment was made up entirely of residents of Sauk County, mostly citizens of the towns of Sumter and Baraboo. The list of deaths in this company is as follows: Killed in action First Lieut. Howard F. Pruyn, Laurel Hill, Va.. May 8, 1864; Sergt. A. Fowler, Hatcher's Run, Va.. February 6, 1865; Corp. John Alexander. Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862; Corp. L. D. Fen ton, Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864.

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Privates

— William

Blake, Antietam; Fred. Bunzel and Fred. Bauer, Gravelly Run. Va..

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

376

March 31, 1865; Henry Bodecker, Hatcher's Run; W. H. Copeland, Sylvester Fort and Frank John Hedges, Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864 R. M. Jones. GettysGarlaugh, Antietam burg Penn., July 1, 1863; James 0. Kyes, Antietam; William J. Kitner, Petersburg, Va., August 19, 1864; Charles Kellogg, Wilderness; Jacob E. Langhart and G. C. Miles, South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862; William Pierson, Gettysburg; John C. Whitman, South Died of wounds Corp. Richard Artridge, received at Fredericksburg, Md., SepMountain. Privates— Ashbury Bales, William Kline, Uriah Palmer, Levi Pierson, tember 14, 1862. George Rice and Henry Stults. Died of disease: Privates H. D. Ames, Frank M. Crandall, J. G. Hodgedon, James Hill, Israel Inman, Thomas A. Jones, Dennis W. Johnson. Marshal E. Keyes, John Voss and Harry Williams. William L. Johnson, Company H, Sixth Regiment, resident of Sauk County, died of dis;

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ease in Andersonville, October 21, 1864. There's a cap in the closet, Old, tattered and liluo. Of very slight value. It may be, to you But a crown, jewel-studded, Could not buy it to-day, With its letters of honor Brave "Company A." ;

Though my darling is sleeping To-day with the dead,

And daisies and clover Bloom over his head, I smile through my tears

As I lay it away The battle-worn cap. Lettered "Company A."

Those of Sauk County's patriots who lost their lives while serving in the Seventh RegiCorp. George J. Dewey, Company E, killed at Laurel Hill, Va., May 10. 1864 ; ment, were Edwin Wheeler, Company B. Antietam; Sanford Frost, Company B, Gainesville (Bull Run); W. 1'. Carter, Company A. died of disease October 14. 1862; George W. Root, Company E, Homer Newell, Company 15, died of disease, August 18, died of disease February 2:1. 1862 1864: A B. Frost, Company B, February 8, 1865. tit Andersonville. The commissioned officers of Company A, Sixth Regiment, were Capt. Adam G. Malloy, promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment early in 1862; David K. Noyes, wounded at Antietam, September 17, 1862, necessitating an amputation of the right foot disFirst charged July 2-'!. L864; Lewis A. Kent, mustered out with regiment July 14, 1865. Thomas C. Thomas, resigned SepLieutenants— David K. Noyes, resigned October 30, L861 tember 2-".. 862 John A. Coughran, resigned December 3, 1862 Howard F. Pruyn, killed in Howard J. Huntington, discharged July 15. 1864: Mair Pointon. musaction May 8, 1864 tered out with regiment. Second Lieutenants T. C. Thomas, John A. Coughran, H. F. Pruyn, Nelson Moore, mustered out II. J, Huntington (wounded in action June 18, 1864). promoted :

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with regiment.

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the members of Company D. of this regiment, were residents Nearly Ninth Regiment. of the towns id' Honey Creek and Prairie du Sac, the towns of Sumter and Troy also contributing. The regiment was raised under an order authorizing the organization of an exclusively

German regiment.

all

They rendezvoused at camp Sigel, Milwaukee, and were mustered^ October

26,1861, with Frederick Solomon as Colonel. They left the State for Leavenworth, Kan., January 22. 1862, crossing the Mississippi ami Missouri Rivers on the ice and becoming a part of the great "Southwestern Expedition." which commenced operations in Kansas and Southwestern Missouri with a view of reducing to allegiance the Cherokee and other Indian tribes, working In this respect the expedition was successful, under the influence of Confederate emissaries. The heat was intolerable, rising to but the climate proved fatal to the health of our troops.

EISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY. 118° in the shade.

377

During this time, some most remarkable forced marches were made through

the rebel-infested portions of Missouri. The first battle of importance in which the Ninth Regiment was engaged was at Newtonia, Here Companies (the Sauk County boys) and G, Mo., on the 29th of September, 1862. with a section of artillery and a squadron of cavalry, under command of Lieut. Col. Jacobi, advanced upon the fortified position of the enemy for the purpose of ascertaining his strength.

The rebels, numbering 3. 00(1 men, with four pieces of artillery, were concealed in the vicinity When our troops had advanced within thirty of a large stone barn and behind stone fences. Meanpaces of the enemy, he arose in his sheltered position and delivered a murderous fire. time a large number of rebel cavalry came up on both flanks, cutting off and capturing our second expedition against Newtonia was organized, but the rebels had fled, leaving infantry. The line of march was then taken up. and the First Division, to which one wounded behind. the Ninth belonged, crossed the Arkansas line, encamping at Pea Ridge on the 17th of Novem-

ber. In the 7th of December, the rebels under Gen. Hindman were engaged, and the bloody After much privation and many forced marches through God-forsaken country, the Ninth Regiment, with portions of the brigade to which it belonged, reached St. Louis early in July, 1863, where it remained on guard duty until the 12th Here they remained of September, when the entire command was ordered to Helena, Ark. until October 10, when they set out for Little Rock, reaching that place on the 22d, when the Ninth was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Seventh Army Corps, under Maj. They In January, 1864, 213 members of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. Gen. Steele. left for Shreveport, La., on the 23d of March, to take part in the Red River expedition. While at Terre Noir, La., on the 2d of April, the rear of the advancing column was attacked by Shelby's cavalry, but succeeded in routing the enemy after a loss of ten killed in the regiment. Resuming the march, they were joined on the 9th by Gen. Thayer's command, and on the folOn the 15th, they encountered the lowing day encountered the enemy, who was driven back. On the rebel forces, under Marmaduke. at Poison Springs, and a brief engagement followed. 26th, it having been determined to abandon the Red River expedition, the return march toward preparing our forces were the 30th, as On the morning of Little Rock was commenced. to cross the Saline River, the rear of the column was assaulted by the enemy in greatly superior numbers, and the battle of Jenkins Ferry was commenced, in which the Ninth lost fourteen killed and seventy wounded. During this assault, while Gen. Rice was in the act of complimenting the regiment for their gallant behavior, he was instantly killed, when Col. Solomon took command On the 1st of May they were of the brigade, leaving Maj. Schlueter in charge of the regiment. (

battle of Prairie Grove was fought. this

again in motion, reaching Little Rock on the 3d. November 17, 1864, the regiment was consolidated into four companies of veteran volunteers under Lieut. Col Jacobi, and January 22, 1865, a second expedition to Saline River was They returned to Little Rock on the 5th of February. Embarking on the 4th of undertaken. June, they moved down the Arkansas and Mississippi, and, ascending the Red, Black and Here they remained until August 3. returning Washita Rivers, landed on the 13th at Camden. The Ninth was mustered out on the 30th of January, 1866, and on the 14th to Little Rock. of February was disbanded.

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The losses in Company D were:

Sergt. Julius Dobezensky. Newtonia. Killed in action PriCorps. Casper Boul, Sarcoxie, Mo., Arthur Cruse and Max Crasher. Newtonia. vates Benjamin Anderson, Jenkins Ferry, Ark. Gustav Baumgarth and Christian Baumgarth, Newtonia; Emanuel Bieneck and John Lohr, Jenkins Ferry Christian Lambrecht and Herman Andrew Sauter and Frederick Schleuke, Jenkins Ferry. Roediger, Newtonia Died of wounds Corp. Preissner Marzel, Princeton, Ark. Privates, Fred. Bidenstein,

Mo.

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Jenkins Ferry; Jacob Kuntz, Fort Scott, Kan.; Julius Kohn, Springfield, Mo.; Charles Kuehne, Spoonville, La.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

378

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Died of disease Privates George Accola, John Boul, Peter Bettler, Edward Dischler, John Grossmeyer, Christian Haidle, Franz Jesse, Charles Jaedick, Lovien Kingsley, Gottleib Lautenbach, Michael Pingo, Julius Raedel and John Rufe. Company D's commissioned officers were Capt. Charles Buckenen First Lieuts. Charles E. G. Horn, promoted Captain of Company A April 30, 1862. and promoted Lieutenant John Gerber, transferred to Company F and afterColonel of Second Missouri in May, 1864 ward promoted Captain of Company K and transferred to Company H Jacob Bohn, resigned Second Lieutenants Jacob Bohn, promoted to ComFebruary 6, 1863 Herbert Pfotenhauer. pany B, transferred to D and resigned as above Detler Heick, resigned August 13, 1862 William Schulten, promoted to Company B and afterward promoted to Company D, IndependHugo Koch, promoted to Company H and transferred to Company I Louis ent Battery and promoted to Company E Richard Kempter, resigned Schuetz, transferred to Company May 21, 1863 Gerhardt Zucker, resigned July 3, 1863 Anton Fischer. In this regiment there were representatives of Sauk County in ComEleventh Regiment. The panies B, D, E, F, G, H and K, the representation being comparatively small in each. Eleventh Regiment was attached to the Second Brigade, under Col. Hovey, in Gen. Steele's through Missouri into Arkansas. The command, and under orders to proceed South, passed first engagement of any note was at Bayou Cache, on the 7th of July, when Companies D, G, H and I held in check a vastly superior force of rebels until re-enforcements arrived. The They arrived at Helena on the 13th. Eleventh's losses were four killed and twenty wounded. In October, they returned to Pilot Knob, Mo., and remained in that State during the winter. On the loth of March, 1863, they embarked at St. Genevieve for Memphis. From there they proceeded to Milliken's Bend, La., and took position in the Second Brigade, Fourteenth Division The 1st of April dawned upon the Eleventh Regiment leading of the Thirteenth Army Corps. the advance at Anderson Hill, near Port Gibson, Miss., where the rebels were driven back in May 15, the brigade took part in the battle of Champion Hills, and the next day confusion. cut off the retreat of the enemy at Black River Bridge, the Eleventh Regiment taking upward On the 19th they were in the trenches of 1,000 prisoners, with a regimental stand of colors. They were actively before Vicksburg, and participated in the terrible charge of the 22d. Immediately employed in the siege that followed, and were there when the place surrendered. after that event, the Eleventh joined the expedition to Jackson, and took part in the '• Second Teche Campaign," going as far as Opelousas. Returning over almost impassable roads, they embarked at Algiers on the 19th of November for Brazos Santiago, Tex. There they received orders to re-enforce Gen. Banks at Aranzas Pass, and afterward to proceed to Fort Esperanza, where they arrived too late to assist Gen. Washburn in reducing the enemy at that place. Three-fourths of the regiment having re-enlisted, they were relieved from duty on the 11th The non-veterans were temporarily of February, and mustered in as veterans on the 13th. The re-enlisted portion reached transferred to Col. Guppey's regiment (the Thirty-third). Madison March 21, and were received in splendid style by the State authorities and citizens. April, and proceeded to Memphis. They afterward of They again left the State on the 25th participated in the various expeditions in Northern Mississippi and Alabama, doing good service, for which they were highly commended by the commanding officers. The regiment was mustered out in Mobile September 4, 1865, and reached home on the 18th. The death losses among those from this county were: Died of wounds William E. Samuel Henry Brill, Company F Died of disease Stearns, Swerin Mather, Company F. Abraham Kondrickson, Almv, Hiram Porter, Company H Peter Alexander, Company F Company E Amos Colborn, Company H George Parsons, Sergeant, Company H Andrew Ernest Hodgett, Company F; David A. Hesford, Company F; John Anderson, Company K :

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Black,

Company F.

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Company B of this regiment was composed almost exclusively of Regiment. residents of the towns of Reedsburg, Lavalle, Ironton and Westfield. while the towns of Dellona There were also and New Buffalo furnished about one-third of the members of Company E. Twelfth

oriS^M?*

(

ioaj,

fpc^cj /A J7 p

BARABOO,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

381

Sauk County in A and K.

The Twelfth Regiment received their first military They left the State for Weston, instructions at Camp Randall, under Col. George E. Bryant.

residents of

Mo., on the 11th of January, 1862, reaching there on the 16th with frozen rations and forty February 15 they inarched to Leavenworth, On the 2d Kan., and on the 1st of March they left for Fort Scott, reaching there on the 7th. of April they found themselves in Lawrence, and after a short rest started /or Fort Riley to join Here they were joined by the Thirteenth Infantry the projected expedition to New Mexico. On the 18th of May, the expedition scheme having been and Eighth Battery of Wisconsin. abandoned, the whole force returned to Leavenworth, the Twelfth proceeding to St. Louis the June 2 the regiment reached Columbus, Ky., ami, after repairing next day after their arrival. the railroad and building several bridges, moved to Humboldt, Tenn. On the 1st of October, the regiment was moved to Bolivar, Tenn., and attached to the They formed the reserve at the Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. battle of the Hatchie on the 5th of this month, and November 3 commenced the march southward with the Army of the Mississippi, under Gen. Grant. Subsequent movements antedating On the afternoon of this day, they the 18th of April, 1863, were of no particular consequence. met Gen. Chalmers' infantry in force at Hernando, Miss. The rebels were routed after seven The next day the enemy's main body of their officers and sixty men had fallen into our hands. These expewas found near Coldwater River, but our efforts to dislodge him were of no avail. ditions served as the decoy which enabled the gallant Col. Grierson to reach the heart of Mississippi in his famous raid through that State. On the 11th of May, the Twelfth embarked at Memphis and made the well-known land On the 9th of June, they proceeded up the river to Warand water voyage to Grand Gulf. renton and rejoined their division, taking a position in the trenches on the left of the army After investing Vicksburg. Their loss during the siege was one man killed and five wounded. the surrender of Vicksburg, the regiment joined the expeditionary army under Gen. Sherman, and marched toward Jackson, then in the hands of the rebels under Jo Johnston, and took part After the rebels had fled, the regiment returned to Vicksburg. in the assault on that place. On the loth of August they embarked at Natchez, and took the advance in the expedition to movements of no particular moment were continued until the 25th La. Similar Harrisonburg, of January, 1864, when the Twelfth was re-organized as a veteran regiment, 521 of the 667

men disabled by the intense cold and exposure.

members then

present, re-enlisting.

On the 3d of February they accompanied Gen. Sherman on his famous Meridian expediand took part in the action at Bolton, Miss., with a loss of three killed and four wounded. On the 13th of March, the veterans of the regiment returned to their homes on furlough. Rejoining the command May 3, at Cairo, 111., having been transferred to the First Brigade, they accompanied Gen. Gresham up the Tennessee River, thence through Alabama and Georgia, On the 11th, they formed in line ami joined the Army of the Tennessee on the 8th of June. of battle and charged two miles through the timber, capturing the skirmish line of the enemy in front of Kenesaw Mountain, before which the regiment were constantly employed during the remainder of the month, sustaining a loss of thirty-four men in killed, wounded and missing. On the 5th of July, forming a part of our line, they advanced toward Nickajack Creek. driving the enemy from a strong line of rifle pits, and forcing him across the stream to his main works. Fortifying the point thus gained, on the 8th and 9th they built bridges and established During the night of the 9th, lie enemy abanthemselves on the enemy's side of the stream. doned his works. At this time the regiment was transferred to the First Brigade, Third Division tion,

of the Seventeenth Corps. On the 17th of July they were again put in motion, and on the 21st, as part of a storming In this action, the Twelfth captured fortyparty, carried a fortified ridge in front of Atlanta. eight prisoners and 500 stands of arms, sustaining a loss during the day of 154 in killed, wounded and missing. The next day they aided in capturing nearly the entire attacking for ;e In the general movement of the army as the Twelfth losing thirty-four in killed and wounded.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

closed upon Atlanta, the Twelfth was highly commended for its part in the desperate struggle. They were engaged in all the battles of that campaign, and in November joined with Sherman's

forces in their celebrated "march to the sea."

They commenced the joyous homeward journey From on the 1st of May, reaching Washington in time to participate in the grand review. there they went to Louisville, Ky., where they were mustered out on the 16th of July, 1865. Henry, in Company B were Killed action Sergt. Frank Atlanta, death losses in W. The Luther B. Cornwell, Atlanta Andrew Dowden, Atlanta Amos July 22, 1864 Privates John E. Wickersham, Atlanta. Died and George Ford, Atlanta Evert H. Hagaman, Atlanta Sergt. Spencer S. Miles, Marietta, Ga., Oct. 7, 1864; Corp. William Richards, Atlanof wounds Privates Nathaniel Camp, Kenesaw Mountain. June 14, Corp. George W. Bell, Marietta ta 1864 Ralph Hoyt. Rome, Ga., August 19, 1864 Mark B. Long, Chattanooga, Tenn., November 23, 1864 Charles Riefenrath, Kenesaw Mountain James Sammons, hospital steamer, Died of Disease Privates James T. Allen, Charles L. Campbell, Horace Curtis, July 3, 1864. Malachi Conklin, George Curtis, Henry Dearholt, Hamilton Duddleston, Alvis Hobart, Jehiel D. Hagaman, Anderson Hobart, Daniel Lane, James B. Mason, James B. Meade, Watson C. Osborn, Charles T. Pollock, James Palmer, Thomas Settle, Elijah Seymour and F. C. Wood. Company E Killed in action Corps. John Stultz and Charles Fields, Atlanta Private Died of wounds Second Lieut. James H. Thayer, Marietta Daniel A. Titus, Atlanta. Henry A. Fluno, J. L. Boyd, David's Island, N. Y. Privates C. A. Boughton, Atlanta Died of disease Privates Amund Nickajack, Ga., July 6, 1864 William Stowell, Atlanta. Annunson, E. W. Barton, G. W. Bailey, James H. Clement, J. C. Edmonds, W. H. Fisher, J H. Freeman, C. L. Gloyd, Wesley Harbaugh, Enos Johnston, A. Knapp, G. W. Marshall, G. C. Montague, Horace Ostrander, Henry Rockwell, Laredo S. Smith, Harlan A. Squires and

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John W. Velvick. The commissioned officers of Company B were Captains Giles Stevens, mustered out October 30, 1864; Chester G. Higbee, mustered out December 2, 1864; Jonathan W. Root, mustered out with regiment, July 16, 1865. First Lieutenants Benjamin F. Blackmail, musSecond LieuHarrison P. Ballard, mustered out with regiment. tered out October 30, 1864 James W. Lusk, promoted First Lieutenant in Company A, April 10, 1862, and tenants Chester G. Higbee, wounded at Marietta, Ga., August 22, 1864, and resigned April 7, 1863 promoted as above Stephen J. Davis, mustered out with regiment. There were members of this regiment in Companies A, H, I and Fourteenth Regiment. K from Sauk County, the largest number being in the latter company, from the towns of GreenThe Fourteenth Regiment rendezvoused at Camp Wood, Fond du Lac, and field and Baraboo. was mustered into service, under the supervision of Col. David E. Wood, January 30, 1862. They left the State on the 8th of March, and reported to Maj. Gen. Grant, at Savannah, They entered at once into active Tenn., on* the 28th, being assigned to the Sixth Division. They afterward participated in the battles of Shiloh, service, their first fight being at Corinth. Vicksburg and Atlanta, and passed through the different campaigns with Grant and Sherman. They were mustered out at Mobile, Ala., on the 9th of October, 1865. The percentage of casualties among those from this county who were members of the regiment was very large. In Company K, Rufus Billings was killed at Corinth, October 3, 1862 Charles A. Brier and Joseph Covenstance died from the effects of wounds, and Sergt. Charles A. Cowles, John and Michael Aukerbrand, Edward L. Mott and John F. Wilson died of :

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disease.

The Captains of Company K were Edward W. Cornes, James W. McCall, Ogtlen W. Fox, John N. Price and John J. Postel.

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of this regiment was composed of Sauk County Company Regiment. Their organization was effected at Camp Randall, and the regiment mustered into John L. Doran, March 15, 1862. They left the State on the 20th of the same month, and on the 14th of April went into camp at Pittsburg Landing. Ten days later October 3, they removed to Shiloh, and soon afterward participated in the siege of Corinth. Sevent.rn//,

patriots.

service under Col.

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

383

found the Seventeenth on the crest of a hill, near Corinth, awaiting an attack from the enemy, which soon came, and the regiment made a gallant charge, driving the rebels from the field. On the 5th they Their loss during this action was forty-one killed, wounded and missing. At Grand Junction, Miss., November 6, they were joined in the pursuit of the enemy. transferred from the First to the Second Brigade, commanded by Col. Bouck, of the Eighteenth. Col. Doran having been placed under arrest, Lieut. Col. Malloy took charge of the regiment

November 22. They found themselves before Vicksburg on the 18th of May. in time to take part in the charge of the 19th, obtaining position within seventy-five yards of the enemy's works, which Their loss was they maintained under a heavy fire of shot and shell for nearly two hours. In the grand assault of the 22d, the Seventeenth lost twentyforty five in killed and wounded. After the surrender, the regiment camped within the enemy's works three killed and wounded. On the 27th of August, until the 12th of July, when they moved by transports to Natchez. they were furnished with horses, and for some time thereafter were employed as mounted infanSeptember 1, they captured a Black River steamer, after a brisk skirmish. try. On the 5th df September they encountered the enemy near Trinity, and after a running tight of nine miles, during which they captured twenty-five prisoners, they entered Fort Beauregard, the flag of Returning to Natchez, they remained until the latter part of Octowhich fell into their hands. ber, when they moved to Vicksburg. In January, 1864, about seven-eighths of the regiment re-enlisted for three years, and oa April 22, they were the 8th of March the veteran Seventeenth left for home on furlough. At Huntsassigned to the second brigade at Cairo, 111., for an expedition through Tennessee. ville. Ala., the regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Division, and on the 22d of June took part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. On the 20th of July they were in the From this time forward they were employed with Gen. Sherman's trenches before Atlanta. After attending the grand review in Washington, the Seventeenth forces in their famous march. moved to Louisville, where they were mustered out on the 14th of July, 1865. The death-losses of Company H, during the war, were as follows: Died of wounds Died of disease Privates Ira L. Ames, N. A. Privates James Flanders and John McMahon. Burgess, Gottleib Bantling, Daniel Carmichael, Joseph Herman, Joel Hamblin, John McNulty, John McClure, Thomas Nelson, Frederick Ordman, John Power, Charles Plum, Walter P. Scott ami James P. Watson. Commissioned officers of Company H Captains Charles Armstrong, mustered out May 21. and reappointed September 2, 1862; resigned March 24, 1863; Samuel R. Apker, musFirst Lieutenants Samuel R. Apker, promoted; tered out with regiment, July 14. 1865. Darius E. Palmer, mustered out January 24. 1865; HeniyA. Nolf, mustered out with regiment. Second Lieutenants Richard Rooney, resigned April 16, 1862; Miles Joyce, resigned November 27, 1862; Darius E. Palmer, wounded at Vicksburg, May 19, 1863, and promoted as above; James B. Fowler, mustered out with regiment. Ninetciuth Hcijiment. The initial company of this regiment was recruited in Sauk County, principally from the towns of Reedsburg, Baraboo, Winfield, Woodland and Westfield. They were mustered into service at Camp Randall, April •"><>, 1862, under Col. Horace T. Sanders, and left for the Potomac on the 2d of June. Going to Norfolk, Va., soon afterward, they remained there until April, 186:!. and thereafter did outpost and picket duty in Virginia and North Carolina. They were engaged for the first time at Newbern, N. C, on the 1st of February, 1864. On the 12th of May, a portion of the regiment participated in the movement upon Fort Darling, and on the 16th, in attempting to dislodge a party of rebel skirmishers, In June, they accompanied the advance of Gen. lost twenty-five men killed and wounded. Grant's army upon Petersburg, and participated in the celebrated assault upon the enemy's works. In August, the re enlisted men of the regiment, 250 in number, received .eteran furloughs, and reached Madison on the 22d of that month, returning in October, and proceeding at once to the trenches before Richmond. On the 21stof October, they took part in the battle of

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

384

Fair Oaks, leaving on the field 7 officers and 136 enlisted men, most of whom were wounded and captured. The regiment returned to Camp Chapin, before Richmond, with eighty men, On the where they were joined by the non-veteran portion, who had been on duty at Norfolk. 3d of April, 1865, they were ordered to assault the enemy's works, and, meeting with but little hall. Their upon the city colors the regimental city and planted into the marched opposition,

They were subsequent movements were unimportant, save that which brought them home. mustered out of service on the 9th of August, in the rebel capital, and reached Madison on the 15th.

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Sergt. Ferris B. Palmer, Fair Oaks, Killed in action were The fatalities in Company Va., October 27, 1864; Corp. John Fuller, Fair Oaks; Privates Robert Cheek, Petersburg, Died of wounds Corp. Alvah RathVa., August 7, 1864; Sylvester Searles, Petersburg. bun, Fort Monroe, Va., Nov. 5, 1864; Privates Charles Day, Hampton Va., June 6, 1864 Ephraira Hanes, Portsmouth, Va., July 5, 1864; William Miller, Richmond, Nov. 1, 1864: Died of disease— Sergt. James Smith. Daniel Sanborn, Jr., Annapolis, Md., March 20, 1865. Sergt. Albert P. Steese, John Casey, W. B. Hobby, William Horsch, Jesse Mallon, James :

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Markee, Newman W. Pitts and Samuel Street. Rollin M. Strong, promoted Major October Captains The officers of Company A were promoted Lieutenant Colonel December 29, 1863 wounded and taken prisoner at 10, 1863 Fair Oaks, Va., October 27, 1864, and discharged from service April 11, 1865 Henry A. Henry A. Tator, promoted AlexFirst Lieutenants Tator, mustered out April 19, 1865. promoted ander P. Ellinwood, transferred to Company A, Independent Battery, May 1, 1865 Second Lieutenants A. Captain Company E, May 23, and mustered out August 9, 1865. Charles A. out February 1865 mustered 22, Emory Wyman, P. Ellinwood, promoted Chandler, transferred Captain Company A, Independent Battery, June 21, and mustered out :

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August 9, 1865. Company K of this regiment was recruited in the towns of Prairie Twenty-third Regiment. du Sac, Spring Green, Franklin, Sumter, Bear Creek, Troy and Westfield. The principal part of Company F was also composed of Sauk County men, from the towns of Baraboo, Dellona, Excelsior, Greenfield and Merrimack. The regimental organization was perfected at Camp Randall, under the superintendence of Col. Guppey, and left for active service September 15, Passing 1862, under orders to proceed to Cincinnati, then menaced by Kirby Smith's forces. through Cincinnati, they crossed into Kentucky, and were assigned to position in Gen. Green Clay After marching through various parts of the Blue Grass State, they proSmith's Division. The regiment was ceeded to Memphis, Tenn., by water, arriving on the 27th of November. there assigned to the First Brigade, Tenth Division, and at once took position in the army

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destined for the reduction of Vicksburg. On the 28th of December, the regiment moved forward to within a mile of the enemy's From this date to January 1, 1863, they were exposed to rebel shot and shell without works. January 2, the Army of the Mississippi proceeded up the river to Milsuffering material loss. Embarking on the 9th, the Twenty-third ascended the White River to the liken's Bend.

" Cut-off," where they crossed to the Arkansas River and moved up that stream to Fort HindAt noon on the 11th, the investment man, which they proceeded to invest the next day.

While moving forward, the Twentyhaving been completed, a general engagement commenced. Companies B, third was assailed by an unexpected enfilading fire from the enemy's rifle-pits. G and K were thrown out as skirmishers, the remaining companies attacking the rifle-pits. the charge anticipating when the rebels, hours, three fury for The conflict continued with great

The regiment which had been ordered, raised the white flag and surrendered unconditionally. received many congratulations for their conduct from the division and brigade commanders. The regiment then returned to Young's Their loss was four killed and thirty-four wounded. Point, near Vicksburg, but the malaria of the Yazoo swamps came near accomplishing what the rebels had failed to do, and of 700 men in line of battle, three-fourths were under the surgeon's care.

The health

of the regiment

improving, their next active work was at Cypress Bend,

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

385

Ark., on the 18th of February, when a body of rebels were driven through the native swamp, March 30 found them on the battle-field at some prisoqers and munitions of war being taken. On the 15th, Port Gibson, Miss., and on the 2d of May were the first to enter that village. the line of march was resumed, and the loth witnessed the battle of Champion Hills, in which the Twenty-third participated with such ardor and effect as to receive the congratulations of the commanding General. The next day, they pushed forward to Black River Bridge, capturing The 18th brought them to within three miles of Vicksthe Sixtieth Tennessee, with its colors. burg, and on the 22d they took part in the general assault on the enemy's works, pushing forward to the base of one of the forts. At the close of the siege that followed, the Twenty-third numbered but 150 men for duty. August 24, they proceeded south, in transports, to Algiers, opposite New Orleans. After an extended expedition through Mississippi, the brigade to which the regiment was attached was attacked, at Carrion Crow Bayou, on the 3d of November, by a The Twenty-third stood firm, doing effective work, until Hanked on both vastly superior force. This movement was executed without panic, and sides, when the order was given to fall back.

upon the arrival of re-enforcements, they again advanced in line, forcing the enemy back and gaining possession of the field. The regiment, at the beginning of the action, numbered 220 officers and men, of whom 128 were killed, wounded or taken prisoners, the latter including The regiment thereafter engaged in the Texas and Col. Guppey, who was severely wounded. Red River expedition. On the 8th of April, 1864, occurred the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, in which the Twenty-third lost seven killed, fourteen wounded and forty-three taken prisoners. The last general engagement in which they participated was at Mobile, Ala. In the meantime,

They were they had performed some wonderful marches and engaged in numerous skirmishes. mustered out of service July 4, 1805, reached Madison on the 16th, and were disbanded on the 24th.

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Company K's loss was as follows; Killed in action Sergeant James Hilliard, Carrion Crow, La., Nov. 3, 1863 Privates Benjamin F. Lindley, Fort Hindman, Arkansas, January James McKeever, Carrion Crow. Died of 11, 1863 Samuel McCready, Fort Hindman wounds First Lieut, Andrew James McFarland, July 4, 1863; Corporal William Jones, Lewis Meson, January 12, July 17, 1863 Privates William M. Ballard, November 4, 1863 1863. Died of disease— Capt. Nathaniel S. Frost, December 18, 1862; Sergeant Orson Corporal Thomas Patchin, November 23, 1862 Corporal Henry Jacobs, January 23, 1863 Hardy, September 17, 1864 Privates N. B. Aldrich, Robert Blakely, James Burnham, Joel W. Douglass, John Getty, Stephanus Dudley M. Campbell, Henry Clements, Moses Dewey, Hines, Nelson Hines, Hugh Hughes, David E. James. Henry Mather, P. S. May, Alexander Murray, John F. Nichols, James Oakley. Thomas Phegley, M. S. Parker, Charles Rouse, Frederick Schluckebier, A. M. Thompson, A. D. Thornburg, E. R. Thornton, J. W. Thomas, L. Wanzee and Frederick Waffenschmidt. Company F Killed in action Privates John Hague, Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1*64: Erastus D. Miller, Blakely, Ala., April 8, 1865. Died of wounds— Private John W. Kezartee, August 20, 1863. Died of disease— Christian E. Weirich (Chaplain), First Lieut. Elisha L. Walbridge, Serg. Oliver W. Thomas, Serg. Ezra G. Seamans, Corporal William H. Hamilton, Corporal F. M. Crawford, Privates L. J. Bailey, Z. E. Bailey, Charles Bates, C E. Blivin, E. W. Case, Edward Delap, J. M. Densmore, E. R. Freeman, P. H. Kipp, P. Knowles, William Lippitt, James W. Mason, Andrew J. Miles, C. K. Newell, William Pollock, Jacob Piatt, Marcus Remington, James D. Roberts, E. C. Spear, B. B. Spooner, John Staley, George Stowell, G. H. Smith, C. L. Stoner, John Shearer, Marvin Van Orman and ;

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John Waltz.

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Nathan S. Frost, died in hospital at Memphis DecemOfficers of Company Captains John Starks, discharged May ber 18, 1862 Ephraim S. Fletcher, resigned July 30, 1863 A. J. McFarland, died at Ephraim S. Fletcher, promoted 20, 1864. First Lieutenants Second LieutenPortage July 4, 1863 Joseph W. Richardson, mustered out with regiment. ants John B. Malloy, resigned January 28, 1863 Basil Smout, resigned December 24, 1864. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

38b

The officers of Compmy F were 29, 1862, and resigned February First Lieutenants July 4, 1865.

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Captains Charles H. Williams, promoted Major August 25, 1863 ; Jacob A. Schlick, mustered out with regiment Elisha L. Walbridge, died May 31, 1863, while on his way :

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Daniel C. Stanley, wounded and taken prisoner at Carrion Crow leave of absence Bayou, La., November 3, 1863, and exchanged December 26, 1864 mustered out with regiDaniel C. Stanley, promoted ment. Second Lieutenants Robert E. Crandall, taken prisoner at Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864, and exchanged June 12, 1864; mustered out with

home on

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regiment. Twenty-sixth Regiment. were recruited in the towns of

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About one-half the members of Company K of this regiment Honey Creek, Prairie du Sac and Troy. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, September 5, 1862, under the management of Col. W. H. Jacobs, and was mustered in on the 17th. They left the State October 5, and proceeded to Washington. On the 15th, at Fairfax Court House, they were assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Eleventh Army Corps. Their first battle was at Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, Their total loss and proved very disastrous, nearly 200 of their number being left on the field. The 1st of July found them here was 37 killed, 117 wounded, 20 prisoners and 3 missing. The rebels. force of largely superior Gettysburg, where were again overwhelmed a at they by loss in this engagement was 41 killed, 137 wounded, 26 prisoners and 6 missing, but four of their officers escaping unhurt. On the 2d of October they joined the Army of the Cumberland at Bridgeport, Ala. On the 22d of November they participated in a movement against the enemy on Mission Ridge, Tenn., and did effective work. During this short campaign, they sustained no loss, but the hardships they endured were unusually great. Many of the men were destitute of shoes and blankets. On the April 23, they were assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Corps. 14th of May, 1864, the regiment took a position before the enemy's works at Resaca, and

him hence, sustaining a loss of 6 killed and 40 wounded. May 25, In they took part in the battle of Dallas, 5 of their number being killed and 32 wounded. pursuing the enemy they captured a battle-flag, and on the 19th of June found themselves before the rebel works at Kenesaw Mountain. Here, on the 22d, an attack was made, the enemy being driven within his works. In this action, the regiment lost 9 killed and 30 wounded. At Peach Tree Creek, on the 20th of July, the Twenty-sixth captured the battle-flag of the Thirty-third Mississippi, together with forty prisoners Their loss in this action was 9 killed and 36 wounded, duly 22, they were before Atlanta, and August 3, were placed in the front line. The 10th of December brought them in front of Savannah, where siege operations were commenced. After the abandonment of that place by the enemy, they commenced their movement northward through the Carolinas. On the 15th of March, 1865. they were at Averysboro, N. O, and participated in the Their loss at this place action near that place, routing the enemy and occupying his works. was 7 killed and 10 wounded. March 18, they arrived on the field at Bentonville, and took a position us a part of the reserve. The homeward march was commenced April 30, after the declaration of peace. They were mustered out in Washington June 13. The death loss in the Twenty-sixth was unusually large. The official figures place it at Killed were: 249. )f this number, 12s were killed in action. The casualties in Company in action— Capt. August Schueler. Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863; Sergt. Otto Bernhard, Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864; Corp. George Regenbrecht, Gettysburg, July 1, 1863; Corp. August Efleck, Chancellorsville; Privates John Hermann, Gettysburg; Jacob In'dermauer, Chancellorsville; Jacob Klink, Burnt Hickory, May 25, L864; Martin Mengelt. Chancellorsville; Fred Roell, Burnt Hickory; Michael Rausch, Chancellorsville; Fred Roehrich, Gettysthrice attempted to drive

burg; David Rothacker, Gettysburg.

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Died of wounds

— Fred Steinhoff and Fred Sonnen-

Sergt. Fritz Laisch, Fred Balk. Frank Gotthardt, John Mueller. Died of disease Company K was officered as follows: Captains Louis Pelosi, resigned March 12, 1863; August Schueler. wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863, his leg being amputated on

schein.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. the field, from the effects of which he soon died ;

387

Edward Carl, resigned September 26, 1864

Casper Buechner, mustered out with regiFrederick Koerner, discharged November 4, 1864 ment, June 13, 1865. First Lieutenants Jacob Heip, resigned November 19, 1862; H. J. Berninger, wounded at Chancellorsville, losing his leg above the knee; resigned February 26, 1863 Charles H. Doerflinger, discharged February 25, 1864 F. Koerner, wounded at New Hope Church, Ga., May 25, 1864, and promoted a3 above. Second Lieutenants Edward Carl, promoted from Company D Henry Greve, promoted from Company E Christian Phillip, promoted from Company F afterward promoted as Captain of Co. I, and killed at the battle of Resaca, May 15, 1864 a brave man. Tin Forty-ninth. Though the representation from Sauk County in this regiment was small, it nevertheless has a history of local interest, which is given as follows: The Forty-ninth Regiment, Col. Fallows, left the State on the 8th of March, 1865 moved direct to Benton Barracks, Mo. Remaining there only a few days, it removed to Rolla, arriving at that place on the loth of March. Maj. Noyes had command of the regiment until the 8th of April, when Company E was stationed in the town for Lieut. Col. Coleman arrived and took command. patrol duty. Other companies and detachments were sent in different directions to keep bushwhackers and guerrillas in check. On the 14th of April, Maj. Noyes was detailed on courtmartial and military commission duty in St. Louis, remaining there until the 18th of September. The regiment having previously been ordered to St. Louis, Maj. Noyes was placed in command. On the 7th of November, Col. Fallows and all the staff-officers reached Madison and were mustered out, and a week later Lieut. Col. Coleman and Maj. Noyes, with the other seven companies, were likewise discharged. On this occasion, among other promotions, Maj. Noyes received a Lieutenant Colonel's commission. First Cavalry. Company F of this regiment was recruited in Sauk County. The regimental organization was perfected at Camp Harvey, Kenosha, by Col. Edward Daniels, the last company being mustered on March 8, 1862. They left the State March 17 for St. Louis, and until May. 1863, remained in Missouri. On the 31st of that month they reached Nashville, Tenn., and were assigned position in the cavalry corps of the Army of the Cumberland. Their first engagement was at the battle of Chickamauga. October 2, 1863, they distinguished themselves in an attack upon the rebels under Gen. Wheeler, near Jasper, Tenn., killing and wounding seventy-nine of the enemy, and taking a large number of prisoners. The loss to the regiment was but four wounded, one prisoner and three missing. They remained in Tennessee until early in 1864, participating in numerous skirmishes. On the 17th of January, they took part in the battle of Dandridge, sustaining a loss of thirty-two men killed, wounded and missing. On the 9th of March, they again encountered Gen. Wheeler's forces, but were compelled to fall back. Thenceforward the regiment, with the First Cavalry Division, accompanied the march of Gen. Sherman's forces, taking part in daily actions with the enemy. May 26, five companies, with a portion of an Indiana regiment, attacked a brigade of rebel cavalry near Burnt Hickory, routing the enemy with great loss, and capturing three officers and forty-four men. They were subsequently engaged at Big Shanty, Lost Mountain, Chattahoochee River and Beechtown Creek. Toward the latter part of July they encountered the forces under Gen. Armstrong, and after a loss of thirty-one men were compelled to withdraw. On the 4th of November they left for Louisville, where they were remounted and attached to the Second Brigade. Col. La (Jrange commanding. Marching thence to Hopkinsville, Ky., they drove the enemy from the place. The enemy was also put to flight at Elizabethtown. A vigorous campaign then followed in Tennessee and Alabama. They were present at the surrender of Montgomery, and on the 16th of April, 1865, aided in the capture of Fort Tyler, where they lost seven killed and fourteen wounded. The history of the First Wisconsin Cavalry is particularly interesting and important, from the fact that they were instrumental in the capture of Jeff. Davis, and, had it not been for the unsoldierly conduct of Col. Pritchard, of the Fourth Michigan, they would have accomplished

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

388

Leaving Macon, Ga., May 24, they reached Edgefield June 15, where they were mustered out on the 19th of July. The death losses in Company F during the war were Private Edward Ochsner, killed at L'Augville, Ark., August 3, 1862. Died of Disease— Lieut. H. W. Getchell; Privates Franklin V. Angel, George Boundey, Henry Bray, Ira W. Clark, W. W. Crawford, James Coinbest, John Farmer, C. R. Foster, Austin Fowler, Jonas Fuller, H. J. Greiber, M. B. Gallagher, John Hetz, George Harris, E. H. Knowles, C. C. Kimball, C. B. Kimball, F. F. Leonard, John Lemler, Erastus Moore, J. C. McMillen, J. M. Moorehead, Squire Mounce, Nels Oleson, M. A. Pease, D. C. Roberts, A. Sattler, K. Swenson, G. W. Seager, J. Vosburg, J. W. Wilder and Ludwig Wurl. Company F's officers were Captains John Hyde, resigned April 30, 1863 James M. Comstock, mustered out Sept. 31, 1864 Milton Martin, mustered out with the regiment July First Lieutenants Newton Jones, promoted from Company Peter J. William19, 1865. son, mustered out October 31, 1864 Milton Martin, promoted Charles F. Perry, mustered out with regiment. Second Lieutenants Henry W. Getchell, died at Little Rock, Ark., September 13, 1862; John L. Church, mustered out October 31, 1864; William E. Lamb, musthis pleasant duty themselves.

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tered out with regiment.

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Third Cavalry. Company F of this regiment was recruited in Sauk County, principally The regiment was mustered in at Camp Barstow, Janesville, January under While on 1862, Col. W. A. Barstow, and left the State March 26 for St. Louis. 31, the way, 12 men were killed and 28 injured by a railway accident near Chicago. May 27, under orders, they reached Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where they were moui.ted, and on the 17th of June, Companies C, F, I and arrived at Fort Scott, in the vicinity of which they were engaged in the pursuit of bushwhackers. Early in August, they encountered the enemy, under Col. Shelby, near Montevallo, Mo., without definite results. November 30, they engaged in May the battle of Cane Hill, and December 7, took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. 30, a portion of the regiment were attacked in the Cherokee Nation by Gen. Cooper's Indian and Texan troops, whom they repulsed with great slaughter, the detachment losing five men, killed and wounded. On the return from Fort Blunt, the rebels again attacked them, and were again repulsed. July 17, they took part in the battle of Honey Springs, aiding in the capture of all the enemy's artillery and a large number of prisoners. October 16, in a raid upon Waldron, Ark., the rebels were routed. The next day a force of rebel Indians was repulsed. Making Van Buren their headquarters, they engaged in numerous successful raids in that section, and rendered important services in guarding the telegraph and escorting trains thrpugh the enemy's country. October 6, 1863, Company I fell into a trap at Baxter Springs and lost 22 killed and 4 wounded. The prisoners taken on this occasion by Quantrell's gang were first robbed and then murdered, many of the bodies being burned. 1S64, Early in three-fourths of the regiment re-enlisted, and in April, while in Little Rock, Ark., received veteran furloughs. Thereafter, Company F was stationed at Fort Insley, Mo., and mustered out at Fort Leavenworth September 29, 1865. The death losses in this Company were mostly from disease, the only deaths on the battlefield being those of George R. Kelley at Battletown, Mo., October 10, 1863, and Nathan Janney, Van Buren, Ark., September 25, 1864. Those dying from natural causes were Sergt. Claghorn K. Robinson, Privates John C. Hutchins, E. R. Hall, S. D. Jarvis, J. H. Johnson, Henry Manke, George Priest, George Richards and Charles M. Tinker. William H. Gardner lost his life in an aifray at Fort Scott, Kan., July 28, 1863. The officers of Company F of the Third were Captains David S. Vittum, promoted Lieut. Col., March 9, 1865, and resigned July 17 Charles W. Porter, resigned June 19, 1865 Leonard P. Luce, mustered out with regiment, September 29, 1865. First Lieutenants Asa Wood, resigned May 5, 1862 W. J. Plows, resigned December 8, 1862 Clark B. Wilsey, resigned August 10, 1864; W. Porter and L. P. Luce promoted; Quimby Loveland, mustered out with regiment. Second Lieutenants Charles O. Ferris, mustered out April 9, 1862

in the town of Baraboo.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. Seth H. Craig, transferred to Company Cooper, mustered out February 7, 1865

K ;

;

C. B. Wilsey and C.

Q. Loveland, promoted

38&

W. Porter promoted ;

M. Henry Southard, mustered ;

Eli

out with the regiment.

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Sixth Battery. Recruited chiefly in Sauk County, in the town of Spring Green ;J mustered United States service at Camp Utley, Racine, October 2, 1861, and left the State March On the 19th they embarked for New Madrid, where they were placed in charge of a siege battery, during the siege of Island No. 10. After its surrender, they proceeded up the Tennessee River, and May 26 took position in the reserve of the besieging forces before Corinth, and on the 3d and 4th of October were engaged in the celebrated battle of that name, losing four killed and twenty-one wounded. From here they moved in a circuitous direction toward Vicksburg, as a portion of the army destined for the reduction of that place, participating in the battle of Champion Hills and numerous sharp skirmishes en route. Reaching Vicksburg May 19, they took position in the trenches, and were constantly engaged in the duties of the siege until the surrender. September 27, 1863, found them at Memphis, Tenn., and October 6, at Glendale, Miss. Here they joined the celebrated expedition under Gen. Sherman across the Cumberland Mountains. November 24, they planted two guns at Mission Ridge, and were engaged in the assault the following day without loss. From this date until the close of the war, they were almost continually on the move, but without being engaged in any actions of note. They were mustered out July 18, 1865. The death losses in the entire battery, which of course included other than Sauk County men, quite a number being from Richland County, are herewith given from the official records Killed in action Second Lieut. Daniel T. Noyes, Corinth, Miss., October 4, 1862; Corp. L. B. Honn, Corinth; Corp. Alva B. Page, Vicksburg, July 3, 1863; privates G. W. Barney. G. D. Brown, Gilbert L. Thomas, Corinth died of disease, John G. Haskins, Edwin R. Hungerford, Benjamin I. Johnson, V. A. Bennett, B. Benson, R. E. Banks, William Calborn, C. Campbell, W. A. Gordon, A. Hauxhurst, Enoch Johnson, P. B. Moss, M. W. Murphy, J. G. Marden, E. J. D. Perry, H. B. Phillips, John Rodgers, Menzo Tennant, S. F. Wheeler and M. Weaver; died of accidents, S. J. Gould and Franklin King. The officers of the Sixth Battery were Captains Henry Dillon, mustered out October 10, 1864; Thomas R. Hood, resigned May 17, 1865 James G. Simpson, mustered out with battery, July 3, 1865. Senior First Lieutenants Henry Dillon, promoted; Samuel F. Clark, mustered out October 10, 1864 John Jenewein, mustered out with battery. Junior First Lieutenants Thomas R. Hood, promoted; Alba S. Sweet, mustered out with battery. Senior Second Lieutenants, John W. Fancher, resigned August 3, 1863; James G. Simpson promoted; Sylvester E. Sweet, mustered out with battery. Junior Second Lieutenants Daniel T. Noyes, killed October 4, 1862; J. G. Simpson, promoted; John Jenewein, promoted; S. E. Sweet, promoted Lucius N. Keeler, mustered out with battery. Surgeon, Clarkson Miller, resigned January 16, 1865. into the

15, 1862, for St. Louis.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

!90

ROSTER. SAUK county's contributions. There were Sauk County men in various other military organizations not mentioned among Their names, companies and regiments or batteries will be found in the the foregoing sketches. It following list, compiled from the records on file in the Adjutant General's office at Madison. Sauk County, during the war, now in existence. is the most correct list of soldiers accredited to Besides being copied from official documents, a large part of it has been revised by competent parties, familiar with the names of those in this county who laid their lives upon their country's altar

TOWN OF BARAB00.

K—

Jerome Miner. First Kan.) Infantry— Co. Co. H William H. Langdon. Second Infantry— Co. John Wrightmire. George W. Russell, George Sixth Infantry—€o. Rice, Ira Scott, Elon Wyman, Jacob Schlick, Howard F. Pruyn, Thomas Corwin Thomas, Joseph I. Weirich, Charles Kellogg, John Miller, D. K. Noyes, E. Neudick, Mair Pointon, E. Richmond, Waldo Rider, Frank Graham, Howard J. Huntington, James Hill, George Harp, Frederick K.Jenkins, John J. Jenkins, Ralph H. Avery, Edward D. Ames, Kner Birum, Frederick H. Bunker, Francis M. Crandall, William H. Copeland, Edward Calkins, William Kline. Delos F. Feegles, George MaTenth Infantry— Co. |

D— A—

—

ards, Norman SimonJs, William Stronner, D. S. Vittuin, Clark Wilsey, James Wright, Morris Waite, George Kelley, Augustus Kimball. Charles Porter, Walworth Porter, Charles Pratt, John Dennis, Charles H Davis, Royal

Dennison, C. 0. Ferris, C. E. Foster, William Gardner, Schuyler R. Hill, Robert Kelley, Martin Cummings, Edwin C. Clark, James Colton, Eli M. Cooper, Harrison J. Case, F. A. Copeland. William R. Jones, Griffith R. Sixth Wisconsin liatlery Jones, Lucius M. Keeler. lohn Aron, William Fuller, Twelfth Wisconsin Battery William P. Harvey. Ninth Illinois Cavalry— Hamilton Wells.

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H—

son.

Infantry—Co. F— Frank Lawdy, William Eleventh Stearns. F. D. St. me, George W. Wing, La Fayette Locke, George Moag, Harvey Ames, George W. Brown, Henry Brill.

Fourteenth

Infantry—Co.

Hurlbut, Henry Bl'ackett, Cowles, Ira E. Sweetland.

—

K— 0. W. Fox, Martin W. Charles A. Brier,

Charles

—

James Watson, Adam G. Co. H Seventeenth Infantry Malloy, William' (I. Morron, Albert Porter, William Powers, William Hoxie, John Hamilton, Charles Armstrong, Theodore Armstrong, Samuel Apker, Ira L. Ames,

Betts, Elliott B. Calkins.

A—

Hamor Sutcliff, Sylvester Nineteenth Infantry— Co. Searls, R. M. Strong, Edson Wheeler, Emery Wyman, Giles Livingston, Walter 1'ietzsch, G. A. Paddock, Orlando Rhines, John Fuller, Robert Cheek, George Gibbons, Thomas -l. Johnson, A. G. Johnson. Joseph H. Rhodes. Twenty-third Infantry— Co. Elijah C. Spear, Charles l.ecker, Thomas B.Scott, Joseph S". Savage, Charles A. Thomas, George Van Ormen, MarWilliams, Elisha L. Walbridge, II. II. vin Wiggins. Langdon, Argalus Langdon, William Lippet. Edwin N. Marsh, Charles Monro, .lames ff. Meason, Sainuel Maxhara, Jesse Morley, Zepheniah Palmer, Adam Richards, William Quackenbush, Jacob ('line. Russell

F—

Dyer W. Hitchcock, Peter Kipp, Edward Kingsbury, John 15. Alexan,rge

der, William

Dustin,

Elisha W.

Ellis.

Brill, Jasper N. Babcock, 11.

H. Baldwin,

Infantry— Co. 11

MeCati

Elerentit /ilfariln/—l\nhen

B—

Infantry—Co.

Twelfth

11.

0. Field,

Daniel L. Tal-

C— William C. Haskins, Abner

Nineteenth Infantry— Co.

Harriman.

—

Infantry Richard Cunningham, Andrew J. Williams. William H. Bowers, Lyman H. Hayden. Alexander M. ThornpTwenty-third Infantry Co. K son, Edwin R.Thornton, Joel Campbell, Jefferson Dagget, Willis Campbell. William Ballard. Welcome Phetteplace, Haskins, John G. Sixth BatteryGeorge D. Dalrymple, Edgar J. Burdick, Oliver J. Burn-

—

ham, Sylvester Sweet, Albe Sweet, John McCan Unknown Byron Reynolds.

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',/

TOWN OF 1IELL0NA. Fourth Peck.

Infantry

— Co. D — Marshall Newell, Jackson

Co. E— Twelfth Infantry—Co. B— Elijah Seymour. James Camp. Lewis T, Linnell, John Galespie, Henry Stutson, Isaac Henry, William A. Vincent, Leander Tiffany, William Whorry, Alfred W. Stark, Erastus Casper, Jameson, Uura Stowell. \ John Erwin. Co. Co. A Seventeenth Infantry '.[

—

H—

Nicholas Stein. Jacob Vanderburgh, Infantry Co. F Twenty-third George Stowell, John Fuller, Seymour J. Fuller, Lucius A. Crosier, Phil.. Stutson. John Guwan, Eli ha II. Catlin,

—

Co. J

liitt.

— William Austin.

r—Hiram Huggins.

John I'.urkly, Peter Schlick, Co. First Cavalry John M. Mnreiiead, Krastus Moore, Edward I'. Ochsner, mlei Henry Getchell, John Gilliam, Jasper I'

— Calvin H. Woodcock.

bott.

Thomas P. 'ke, Chauncj M. Blake, Robert P.. Crandall, Charles Klumpp, Charles l'. Cook, A. M Case

Knowles. William 'raw ml Second Cavalry—Alberl P. Catlin. Co I' -Ethan Wyman, Ami.* Letcher, rinr.l for,, l,„ Abram Minot, Levi Jin Id, Hiram H. Rice, George Rich-

BEAR CREEK.

row N OF Fifth

—James ..1

Riley.

EXCELSIOR.

I',

Fourth Infantry »The in>.t soldier fro

Co.

—

fulius Hubbard.*

391

HISTOUY OF SAUK COUNTY.

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II. 1>. Jones, T. L. Johnson, Infantry Co. A Daniel Odell, John Starks, W. 15. Thomas, John M. Foster, Philip Cheek, Jr., T. A. Jones, B. H. Jones. Seventh Infantry W. P. Carter. Co. A lohn Caddies, Samuel A. Twelfth Infantry— Co. E Burhans, William II. Harrison, John C. Montaney. \ George Mead. Infantry Co. A Jasper Udell, G. B. Twenty-third Infantry— Co. F Paddock, J. F. Gorgus, Charles II. Williams, William G. Clark, Marvin K. Jopp, Isaac Fry, 0. W. Sutton, Israel Greeny, Henry Weller, 0. W. Thomas, G. B. Pearl, John Staley, Edgar Case, W. G. Braley. G. W. Huntington. Twelfth Battery Henry C. Waltz. First Cavalry—Co. Third Cavalry Co. F Thomas Chamhers, William Ableman, M. Malone, Charles I'orte, Thomas Rothwell. Co. J Alphonzo E. Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry

Sixth

—

F—

—

Jopp.

—

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—

Robert Hanly.

H—

Eleventh Infantry— Co. Truman Newell, Titus Chapman, H. 1'orter, Samuel Almy.

A—

E—

Twelfth Infantry—Co. J. Johnson. Co. A. E. Kinney, Freeman Hurlburt, Milton, M. Hildreth, Charles Coleman, James Cornish, Henry Marston. Fourteenth Infantry— Co. II— M. W. Hurlburt, George Hurlburt, Richard Myres. Seventeenth Infantry Derius Palmer, Andrew Co. H Byron. Nineteenth Infantry Newton Hopkins. Co. A Tweni / fantry Co. F—Jack Miles. Harrison

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Morrall.

Sexton, 1'. G. Crandall. A. G. Cooper, Henry Vroman, -Co. F Herkermer Fuller, Wyman Getchell, Lyman Inman. Foster's Battery— Henry C. Ilackett, Ephram Hackett. Reyiment Unknown— L. H. Wells, Charles Hildreth. Hiram Norton, Andrew Norton. La Payette Atkinson. L

—

Cat

William Carl.

Town OF FRANKLIN.

A— B— B—

Second Infantry—Co. Thomas Bever. ry Co. II— William L. Johnson. Seventh Infantry—Co. Charles Walker. Twelfth Infantry— Co. Joseph Robinson. v "'"< Infantry William P. Harvey. >

•

Seventeenth Infantry— Co. Nineteenth Infantry— Co. Twenty-third Infantry—Co.

iam Sproul,

B. P.

Palmer.

First Wisconsin Cavalry— Henry Nippert. Wilder Jacobs. Sixth Wisconsin Cavalry

—

TOWN OF GREENFIELD.

A—

Charles Reed, Frank Fletcher. Sixth Infantry— Co. Rufus Billings, George Fourteenth Infantry— Co. Beardsley, John Aukerbran Michael Aukerbran, Joseph Covenstance, Edward L. Mott, Henry Simonds, Ebenezer Dawley, Charles Tucker, John

K—

Winters, Sanford

—

— — Co. A —John Hudson. Twenty-third Infantry — Co. K — James Laitx, Thomas '

Nineteenth Infantry

Wilcox. Alexander Murrey, Adam Cramer. John Rover. Frederick Bever, George Morgan, Jacob Henry. Tin nty-xi..'ih Infanti Christian Wintermantel, y Ninth Illinois Cavalry— Hamilton Wells. s ,,„,,„ II', ISatterij— Sampson Bever, Martin

—

Weaver. Twelfth

—

Battery— Charles Sweet.

K—

Serum/ Infantry -Co. John Stair, Man Kyle. GottKyle. Jacob Zimmerly. C. A. Piatt, Conrad Piatt, bchminschnider, William Maekler. Sixth Infantry— Co. A Gottlieb Roser, Philip Nippert, Frank Gerlaugh, Eli A. Rroughton. William P. Black, John Alexander, Philip Hoefer. Eleventh Infantry— Co. Peter Alexander

fried 1

—

F—

—

HONEY CREEK. id Infantry— Co.

.ban Ri Third Infantry Sixth Infantry

icy

K— Herman Hoppe, Augus Wan-

— Co. —Ludwig Sawal. — Co. A — Augustus Klein. I

— lohan lorbryansky,

Ninth Infantry— Co. D Bogshart, Peter Leiken.

Gottfried

Johan Riks, Max Kroscher, Johan l.ohr, Ferdinand Keller, Carl I.ehmaun, Carl .lacdike. Peter Gudeyan, Michael Gudeyan, Christian Ahorn, Franz Jesse, Joseph Mueller, August Radel, Julius Radel, August Hildebrand. Heinrich Sorg. Vicens Heck. Michael Hoefer. Nineteenth Infantry— Co. A Johan Gaess, Michael Co. K 'Twenty-sixth Infantry Bausch, G. Pfeifer, lohan Mueller, Wilhelm Pimler, Christian Heldstab, Albert Hertner, Heinrich Nold, Mar-

—

tin

—

Meng el, George T aescher, Fourth U.S. Battery— Sylvester Fort, Isaac Fort. lohn Jen'ewin, Leonard Schueler. /lattery Twelfth Illinois Reyiment— Carl Harter.

Si-rih

—

TOWN 01 IR0NTON. Sixth Infantry—Co A— S. M. Long, D. C. Fenton, 'e Chauncv Winsor. William Croat, Nelson M Seventh Infantry— Co. D— Isaac Frost, Edward Wheeler. George J. DeSeventh Infantry— Company unknown

—

wey. Wisconsin

H—

Albert Deveraux, George Sev.nteenth Infantry—Co. Rhinehart, Henry Loos, Wesley Loos, Homer, Peter Braintes. Nineteenth In fantry— Co. A— E. L. Palmer. Twenty-third Infantry—Co. F— T. M. Crawford, Henry Fussier, Zoeth Bailey, B. W. l'ryne, Henry H. Johnson, M. Van Ornian, Lewis Stonner. Abram Lazert. Reyiment Unknown I. W. Jackson. Tenth Battery First Cavalry— Co. F— Milton Johnson, Morton Van (Irinaii, Maxwell Clark. A. S. Baker. Third Cavalry—Co. F— George W. Montgomery.

Winke,

D— Eli Norton.

Charles Loit, John Breker, Infantry Co. A V. Sayraft, William H. Johnson. Seventh Infantry Homer Newell, Leroy NewCo. B Sixth

F.r

K— H— Edward Kellev. A— M. Hofer. K— Charles Bender, Will-

Hill.

Letcher.

TOWN OF FAIRFIELD. Fourth h.fantry— Co.

ell,

—

Infantry— Co. E George Armstrong, Jacob Auble, J. C. Knapp, Abram Knapp. Newton Clark, Edward K. Fourle.nth Infantry—Co. Twelfth

E—

Abraham Hendrickson. Eleventh Infantry— Co. Twelfth Infantry— Co. 1'.— Anthony Benson, Elias Robinson, IS. F. Blackmail, Lucius Carr.Matson C. Osbourn, Samuel Barnet, Constance Beuchat, Albert Sprague, Fernando C. Wood, Gil Spicer, Archibald Mellon, James Simon, H.J. Groat, Charles Pearson, Hiram Hawkins. John Kinneman, Jr., William Richards, M. B. Long, Henry Ramo, J. C. Wickersham, N. Camp. Fourteenth Infantry— Co.

Green.

A - L. Jones.

Co.

I— Chester

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

—

Hugh Harper. Seventeenth Infantry Co. II H. E. Stowe, John Mellon. Nineteenth Infantry—Go. Julius Sparks, Lewis Calhoon. Co. G Third Cavalry Co. F C. K. Robinson, Anthony Holbert, Jesse Bailey, Charles M. Kester, William Stans-

—

A—

—

Daniel Wright. Regiment unknown

field,

nolds.

— George Keworthy, Ezra B. Rey-

Edward Woodworth, John Maucka.

A—

—

F—

Weidman.

William Pierson, Reuben Sixth Infantry— Co. Co. K lohn Holden. Jones. John Juta, Henry C. Palmer, Twelfth Infantry Co. B John Sanborn, John Oliver, George W. Bailey, William Dowell, Ephram ISlakeslee, Harrison P. Bollard, William

—

H—

Seventeenth Infantry— Co. Samuel D. Crates, George Siyys, Thomas Hannon, Stephen St. John. James T. Flowers, Nicholas Jerret, Esquire Baker. Patrick Kelley, Austin Burgess. Twi nty-third Infantry— Co. A. S. Colburn, William H. Hamilton, Henry R. Ketchum. Co. F»-L. J. Bailey, J. M. Densmore, Charles E. Dennett, A. M. Ritter, John

Buudy, Elwood Mason, Jehial D. Hagaman, Ebert H. Hagaman, Levi Seeley, George W. Dickins, FraDk CuliInfantry— Co. F— Charles A. Norton, Ole Nel-

son. Nineteeth Infantry

—Co. A — Daniel Lanbutn, Sidney A. Howard, Alvah Rathburn, James Curtis. Regiment unknown — Alfred A. Mathews, William BaiJoseph Fisher. Fletcher Gardner. John Holden, Twelfth Wisconsin Battery — John H. White, Eliacum Perry. Cavalry — Co. H — Alexander Wilkinson. Jr.,

ley.

First

Second Cavalry— Co. Third Cavalry— Co. I

F— George H. Sterner.

E—G. M. Taylor, [saac Van Sice.

OWN OF

BIFFALO (DEI.TON).

G— Thomas Kelley.

First Cavalry—Co.

Second Cavalry

— Co. E — Isaac Walters. N. Kennison,

Edwin Pierce, Joseph G. Dean.

TOWN OF PBAIR1F. DU SAC. antry— Co. D— John Jansen.

gan. Sixteenth

—

Regiment unknown Charles M. Fessenden, Edward D. Fessenden, Amos S. Colburn, Elisha Nettles, Byron J. Odekirk. Sixth Battery— William Colborn, Fred Schwarz, Christian Burgen, Alfred Rich.

Dillsy. E. S. Fletcher.

II.

Sixth Infantry— Co. L, Childs.

Ninth Infantry—Co.

Co.

1— G. W.

A — A. Fancher, Richard Attridge,

D— John Schneider, William Carl,

Herman Rudiger, Karl Such, Jacob Bohn, I. Heick, Michael Egger, C. H. Rendtorff, C unrade Kuoni, David Veidt, Anton Fischer, Richard Wehr, Joseph Bulleshach, August Sperling, Fred Schneider, Julius Kohn, C. C. Buchannan, Otto Stadelman, Edward Stadelnian, T. Helm, C. E. G. Horn, J ohn Stiefenhafer, I. Zimmerman, John Co. D Jacob Thuny. Casper Kehl. Jr., Peter Llurisch. Buhl, Christian Kindschi. Arthur Kruse, ETfiard Kind-

—

sclii.

Third Michigan Infantry—-Co. I— William H. Kirkland. Fourth Infantry— Co D Alonzo Woodford. Albert Fox. James F. McLonSixth Infantry— Co. ey, Charles H. Foot. Isaac Tucker, Herbert A. Lee, Harry Silas Co. Williams, William II. Clay, Jarvis Hall. W. Temple. Seventh Infantry— Co. I! Gustavus P. Briggs, George Gaymon, Sanford Frost. George Freer, Justus Freer, Twelfth Infantry— Co. William Wharry, Lorenzo Clement, Madison Clement, William H. Fisher, Harvey Canfield, John Bromley, Wesley Ballis, ChaunMontague, George Lanshae, John cey R. Richardson, H. A. Squires, William Hanser, SamWilliam H. Denham. Co. uel Campbell. Fourteenth Infantry—Go. John Wilson, Edwin Hall. Seventeenth Infantry— Co. Charles Barens, A Bates, Andrew F. Washburn, William H. James, M. T. Blake. Twenty third Ohio Infantry John .1. Welch. Elias W. James Dunlap. Co. First Cavalry—Co. Ira W. Clark, Holden Smith. Kirkland. Third Cavalry— Co. Samuel Welch, David Morrison. Regular Army Alonzo Blake.

—

A—

K—

—

E—

K— H—

D—

—

F—

TOWN OF MKRHIMACK.

A—

J. G. HodgeCo. Sixth Infantry—.Sweden Rich. don, Lawson D. Finton. Dewit C. Finton, Thomas B. Buttertield, Henry II. Childs. William Theile. Ninth Infantry— Co. Michael Donahue. Co. F Eleventh Infantry Co. A Royal Edward Baker. Co. Anthony Dever. Co.

D— — — G—

H—

Ehrenth Infantry— Co. Baltiser Braun. Thirteenth Infantry

Fourteenth

Fourteenth EI well.

Infantry— Co.

— Henry

Shane,

Jesse

Co.

K—

— Co. K — William A. Wyse.

Infantry— Co.

K— Charles Davis, Andrew

A. Boy n ton.

— Company unknown- -Robert MetSeventeenth Infantry — Henry McKennan, Surgeon. Illinois Cavalry — Car) Lachmund. first Cavalry — John Church. Srronil Cavalry — Co. E — Jerry O'Larry, R. W.Sawyer, William Ellsworth, A. Margueth. Seen,/ Wisconsin Battery — Edward Neudick. Fifteenth Infantry

tler.

Sixth Wisconsin Battery— C. B. Worthington, Charles Richardson. B. Jackson. Andrew Howe, J. W, Fancher, Dilley, I. F. Clark, C. A. Trowbridge, Hiram James, Fred Baker, A. B. Page, H. P. Dunning, Levi Venneps, E. I. Williams. Twenty-thud Infantry Co. K Rudolph Braun. George Steil, Henry Clemens, Dudley Duglas, Martin Kanen, James Bnrnham, Phillip Steuben. N. I. Troser, John 0. Link, John W. Gelty, Philander I. May, Edwin Morrill, Arthur Ettridge, Homer Wardwell, Bartholomew Malloy, John Malloy, Hartson I. Thomas, Chauncey Thomas, John M. Thomas. Basil Smart, Henry Jacobs, George M. Davis, E. Mclnnis, Jacob Eluse, Audon Bartsch.

August

—

— Edward Carl,

Co. K Twenty-sixth Infantry sen, Leonhard Von Wald, Smith

David Rothacker, Albert

L. Schlos-

Freeman, Gottlieb Pfeil, Morsbach, Conrad Hartmann,

Christian Philip, Lutzius Philip.

Randall, Amos Colburn, George Parsons, John Dever,

Fred Barns.

H— Henry Turner.

TOWN OF EEEnSBFRO. Sixth

— Co. A — G. M. Jones, Theodore Joy,

Infantry

A. Coughran, John W. Dickins, Leroy D. Dickins, Alfred Darrow.

George Miles,

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY Seventh Infitntrii

E—

— Co. A — llufus Hodgeman, A

11.it!

(

George W. Root. Co. Eighth Infantry Samuel Fausnaught. Co. D 1!— Edward Buelow, F. W. Twelfth Infantry—Co. Henry, Augustus H. Johnson, l'hilo Lane, Spencer L. Miles, .lames W. Lusk, .lames Miles, Ellis Pond, C. F. Pollock, Charles Reifenrath.fi. 1). Spicer, Milo E. Seeley, Giles Stevens. Henry 11. Rennet. Co. W. Co. W. Winchester. Jacob Auhle, Peter IiradCo. \ Infantry dy, J. W. Benjamin. Ezra Burton, Hugh Collins, John Carry. II. C, Cole. Julius Castle. James C. Castle, C. A. Chandler,!'. A. Dwinnell, 0. H. Dwinnell, C. A. Danforth, Charles Day, Albert E. Dixon, Peter Empser, A. P. Ellinwood, John Fosnot, Martin Gatinstet, Giles Craft, Nelson GarJner, Charles Holt. Ephraim Hinds, A. Harsk, Edward Harris, James Hobby. William Hobby, Jacob Herbel, Edward Leonard, E. D. Milder, James L. Marker. Hunt.

—

K—

E—

—

A—

W. Pitts, Amos Pettys, Frank Pettys, l',u--el Kediield.Dwight R William Since, N. P. Stuce, Martin Seeley, H. V. V. Seaman, Charles Stone, John Thorn, Richard Thorn, Henry A. Tator, Henry Waldron, Orson Ward, George Wattenberger, Menzo Winnie, F. S. Winchester. Co. Holden Miller. Co. I— Amos 0. Rowley. Twenty-third Infantry—Co. F— Peter Knowles, W. W. Pollack, John Waltz. Company unknown Smith Deurreaux, Ira J. Hall, Thomas Holton, Jason Shaw, Robert Robatham. Tenth Wisconsin Battery—A.. Day. E. T. Shepherd. Twenty. sixth Infantry—Co. William H. Kipp. R. S. Pitts. Newton

G—

—

K—

Twelfth Wisennsm Halt, r„— John Collins, John Downing, George Flaut, M. L. Jewett, Jay Jewett, William .Miles,

John White.

First /•

G—

Wisconsin Battery—Co. Dexter Green. Co. F Amos Knowles, E. H. Knowles.

Ninetei

—

(

II. J. Gardner, George Priest, Co. Moses Van Camp, Henry Buelow. I

TOWN OF SPRING GREEN.

—

— —

Second Infantry Co. K Rosselus Davidson. Tenth Infantry— Co. G Harvey Devol. Twentieth Infantry Alexander McCarty. Co.

—

K—

Twn y-third Infantry—Co. K—Thomas Loosee, Addi-

son Thornburgh. Granville Parton, Charles W. Thin, Morris Parks, Thomas J. Pagely, Benjamin Rhodes; Lewis Olson, Milton Campbell, Hans Anson, Moses Dewev, Jessie J. Fuller, Hugh Hughes, David B.Jones, William Jones, David .lames. Smith Love. Twenty-,

Infantry

(

— Co. A — Amandus Silsby.

—

> •• Battery Joseph Lester, Armstrong Noyes, George M. Spencer, Thomas H. Moore, Daniel Shelden, Asa A. Shell. -n, Jacob P. Seiders, Thomas Griffith, Menzo W. Tenants, John Proctor, Richard Proctor, Ephraim J. D. Perry. Horace I'heltyplaee, Riley 0. Allen, George W.Benedict, James M. Bailey. William II. Bailey, Lorenzo Beckwith, Byron Babcock, Daniel J. Davi", Silas 0. Davis, Evan W. Evans, David Evans, Thomas H.Grinell, Thomas Goodman, William Hamilton, Nathan I'.. Hood, Thomas .1. Hungerford, Watson F. Hare, Thomas B. David B. Hood. Joseph M. Hood, Alexander J. II 1, Hood, Edwin R. Hungerford, George Jones. II

li'Xi

John Hedges, Jacob Langhart, James

B. Fowler, L. B.

Van Luven, Uriah Palmer, William Palmer, Edward F Smalley, Christian Chriss. Xinth Infantry Co. D lohn Weir, Florran Clement,

—

Herman

Albrioht, Jacob Tenney, Jacob

Nolt, Christian

Hart man.

F—

Eleventh Infantry— Co. 15— Charles White. Co. Joseph Fauman, Frank Kern, Andrew Hodget, Augustus Michael, David llesford, James Lenox, Rodney Hurlburt, William A. Johnson, Swerin Mather, Reuben King, William Divine. Co. H Alexander Furbur, Henry Bluker,

—

Eugene Davis. Sixteenth Infantry— Co. D— Mathew Clark.

—

Twenty-third Infantry Co. K Levi Schnell, William Renley, Harlon Baxter, Chester Ricker, Thomas Harter, Henry Mather, James Hilliard, Stephanus Hines, Nelson Hines, Elish Palmester, W W. Rose, Henry Rose, G. W. Johnson, John Batch, James Oakley, Conrad Coon, John Rooney, Frederick Woffensmet, Charles Rowse, Henry Steele, Frederick Sloguber, Lewis Wanckee, Alexander

McGinnis,

.1.

Damon, Jerome Hugerboom,

Perry.

—

Wisconsin /lattery Edwin Ricker, John Camp James Brat, John Keller, Victor Bennett, Third Cavalry Co. F Benjamin Johnson^ David

Sixth bell,

—

Dewel.

TOWN OF WASHINGTON. Infantry—Co.

Sixth

A— Israel

Inman,

II.

Inman. Seventh Infantry— Co. B-Abram B. Frost, Henry H. Warren A. Hart. Travis. Co. Lewis Bitney, Lursis TownTwelfth Infantry— Co.

G—

B—

ser.

Infantry— Co. A— Elias White. Nineteenth Infantry Co. G lames Upham. Twentieth Infantry Co. B Horace Herten. Company unknown Campbell Miller, Alexander Miller, Robert J. Eighteenth

— —

—

Pewell, John Lee. Twenty-second Infantry D.

—

— Company unknown — Edson

Twenty-third Infantry—Co. F— H. D. Newell, Theodore Guim, Charles Bates. Co. 1- William II. Wood. Co. Andrew Baker, Addison Thornburg.

K—

First Battery-

Sixth

-Nathan Frosl

Wisconsin Battery— Henry W.

Miller,

Peter

Grim. Twelfth Wisconsin

Grever. Second Cavalry

Battery— Frederick Rowe, Henry C.

— Co. M — Clark R. Buell, James A.

Buell.

TOWN OF TROY.

—

Ninth Infantry Co. D Flonan Schroper, Gustav Baumgarth, Christopher Baumgarth, George Luck, Valentin Sutter, Henry Bick, Jacob Kuntz, Conrad Kuone, Peter Jacob. lifer, ith Infantry lohn By water, Jacob l.angeCo. G neckhaid, William S. McCready, John Anderson. Seventeenth Infantry— Co. II— John Kelly, Anton Plon Washington Ambler, Twenty-thud Infantry— Co. as. Orson Patchier, Benjamin Linley Phillip A. Th William H. Harris, Henry Boch. Co. PeierSchuetler, Gilbert Walser, George Dascher, Jacob ludunianer. B ernhard Ott, Daniel Baker, Andrew Baker. John Davis. Samuel McCready, Anton Bartsch.

—

K—

Sixth

Alison

Infantry— Co. A -Sylvester Fort, Isaac Fort, Fowler, Charles W. Farrington. Dayton Hedges,

— ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

—

Twenty-sixth Infantry Jacob Hauser, Theobald Fuchs, Christian Diehl, Jacob Gasser, John I'. Witwen, Gubert

Walser. Sixth Battery

Berdan's

Sharp

Shooters

—

TOWN OF WINFIELD.

Sixth

N'ippert.

F—

Infantry—€o.

F— Earnest

Black,

William

G— Leslie Graves. Co. K— William Stackhouse. Infantry— Co. B— Frederick Giles, George Twelfth

—

— —

—

— —

F—

Franklin .Fosdick, Henry Sargant, Sylvanus Richards, John Selden, J. W. Root, Charles Gulliford,

Mead,

pany unknown

—

Co.

Henry Deerholt, John Kyle, Thomas Little. Co. A Lucius M. Jones Fourteenth Infantry

—

ards. Ira Wiiislow, Jacob Apple. Earnest Brandt. Ninth Infantry— Co.

Eleventh Black, Sr.

Infantry— Co.

Co. B Twelfth Infantry John Fessey. Horace Curtis, George Curtis, Dennis Curtis, Lewis Curtis, L. B. Cornell, Jonas Salmon, Alfred Darrow, John Kird, James Lamsbury. Charles Camel. Co. E Judson Cruker. Co. A John Seaman, John Seymour. Nineteenth Infantry Co. A Frederick Barber, Eleazer Millard, William Millard, William Reynolds, Henry Grotta, Michael Keril. L. D. Ford, William Swcatland, Seth Sweatland, Patrick Garrigan, Timothy Hasley. Co. Eagon. E John Tw.iiti, third Infantry— Co. F— John Hayne. Herkimer Fuller. First Wisconsin Cava'lry— Co. Third Wisconsin Cavalry— Co. II— Bradley Fuller, Co. F M. Kevil, George Kelley.

Co.

D— A— James Whitiy.

William P. Stittock, William P. Cott.ington, George Foyles, George Underwood.

—Co. K— Henry Infantry — K— Charles Fosdick, Iowa, John Fosdick, Iowa. A — lohn Weidman, Henry Infantry — Saare, George Moog, M. Moore, Peter Stackhouse. Eighth Infantry — Co. D — Joseph Palmer, James RichFifth

Jonah

Fourth Infantry— Co.

TOWN OF WESTFIELD.

Sixth

Edward,

F—

Third Cavalry— Co. Daniel Waltz. Navy Arend Benkers.

Franklin Wheeler, William Runyan. George Trey. Missouri Swiss Regiment

Second Infantry

— Charles

El wood.

— lohn William Robson, Solomon Wheeler,

—

— Com-

G. F. Jones. Nineteenth Infantry Co. A Alexander Wiedman, John .lames B. Taylor, Dwelton Shelden, Charles Shelden, .lames Fosdick. Harlow Shelden.

—

Sixth Infantry

—

TOWN OF -Samuel

Hutchins.

Co.

I—

Werron

William H. Nichols.

Twenty-third Infantry— Co. F— H. D. Snell, Molby ler, William Sallade, Samuel Emery, Culvin, Beaman S] Cephus K. Newell, N. B. Aldrich, Calvin Bliven, Philip Stackhouse, George \b»>g, John Shear, Henry Black, John Hinds, E. (i. Seamans, A. A. Wescott. Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry—Co. B— Riley Mead.

Oscar Tabor, Stephen Infantry—Co. Twelfth Davis. Jonathan Stanley. Co. H Seventeenth Infantry James R. Apker, Je Nineteenth Infantry Co. Mellon, George \V. Cooper, .lohn Ilollingshead. Adolphus Mellon. Sixtieth Ohio— Co. Nicholas S. Chambers. Co. II First Cavalry Frederick Reincke. Third Cai-airy— Co.

B—

—

A—

C—

—

F—

THE DRAFT. Under

the call of the President, dated October 17, 1863, for 300,000 volunteers to serve quota of Sauk County was 197, divided among the towns as fol-

for three years or the war, the

Fairfield, 6; New Buffalo, 9; Dellona, 5; Excelsior, 8; Winfield, 7; Reedsburg, 14; Freedom. 6 Baraboo, Woodland, 7 Ironton, 12 Washington, 8 Westfield, 7 Franklin, 7 Bear Creek, 8 24 Greenfield, 7 Merrimack, 8 Sumter, 7 Honey Creek, 10 The 5th of January, 1864, was fixed as Troy, 8 Spring Green, 8 and Prairie du Sac, 15. the date the draft should take place in case the quotas were not filled, but volunteers came forward in sufficient numbers to obviate a "last resort." Under the President's call for 500,000 volunteers, dated July 18, 1864, the quota of Sauk County was 437, divided bv towns as follows: Fairfield, 12; New Buffalo, 9; Dellona, 11; Excelsior, 15: Winfield, 8;" Reedsburg, 27; Lavalle, 18; Woodland, 12: [ronton, 25; WashGreenfield, 18; Merrimack, 19; Sumter, ington, 30 Westfield, 13 ; Freedom, 9 Baraboo, 42 Troy, 23; Prairie Franklin, 20; Spring Green, 16 16; Honej Creek, 30; Bear Creek, 18 du Sac. 16. On the 1st of October, 1864, Deputy Provost Marshal Philip Cheek, Jr., was compelled to He said: remind the citizens of Sauk County that there was still a deficiency in their quota. 'The draft will commence in Sauk County on the 3d of* October, and those drafted will report The towns that have not filled their quotas up to this date by at Prairie du Chien on the 19th. Reedsburg, 7; the record of my office are as follows: Dellona, 4: Excelsior, 6; Winfield. 1 Honey Ironton, 4 Lavalle, 11; Woodland. 6; Washington, 19; Westfield, 4; Freedom, 5 Creek, 17; Sumter. 3; Franklin, 14; Bear Creek, 8." Washington, Bear Woodland, Accordingly, the draff took place in the towns of Lavalle, Creek and Franklin. In some a supplemental draft was necessary, owing to quite a number of those enrolled having business and being absent in Canada when the drawing took place.

lows

Lavalle, 6

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. In March, 1865, the last draft took place, but the fall of Lee happily made its enforcement unnecessary.

395

Richmond and the surrender of

In connection with the subject of the draft, the following from N. V. Chandler, of Reedsburg, concerning local credits and bounty money, will be of interest. " I had held aloof from enlisting from a conviction, that, so long as there were still tens of

thousands of single men who had not entered the service, there was no pressing call of duty for I realized one situated as I was, to sacrifice the comfort of those depending on me by doing so.

and constantly rising scale of prices for the necessaries of life, the pittance of SI?, per month, with all the bounties then offered by the National and State Governments, would be entirely inadequate to the comfortable maintenance of my wife and six children during my

that, with the high

Nevertheless, I foresaw that the time would come when it would become a duty to enlist, and I settled that time to be whenever the That time had now needs of the Government should require it to levy and enforce a draft. A draft had been ordered, and the time for it to take place fixed. I left my home in come. Reedsburg on the evening of December 25, 1863, to go to Clinton Junction, Rock County, on While there, a rousing war meeting was held in the evening, and a local bounty of business. $300 was offered to every man who would enlist and be credited to the town. I was urged to I stated my willingness to do so, but questioned whether my credit enlist and take the bounty. to the town of Clinton would stand in view of the fact that I was a resident of another county. There was a division of opinion upon the question, no authoritative decision upon such a case ever having been promulgated, so far as any one present knew. I finally offered to telegraph to Lieut. Col. Lovell, in command at Camp Randall, Madison, stating the case, and if he decided that I could be credited to their town I would enlist and pay the expense of the telegram, otherwhich proposition was accepted, and I wise the town should pay the cost of the message telegraphed at 11 A. M. of December 28, I think, about as follows absence, even should I be so fortunate as to return at all.

;

"Lieut. Cm.. Lovell, Camp Randall, Madison, Wis.: Vm resident of Sauk County. Can I be credited to Clinton, Rock County, and take local bounty? " N. V. Chandler.

" On sending the dispatch, I stated to the town authorities that I would wait, if necessary, for an

answer, until the arrival of the passenger train from the north at 12.5 A. M. of the 29th,

Frequent thirteen hours, when, if no answer came, I would proceed homeward via Chicago. visits to the telegraph office during the afternoon and evening gave no answer, and it was within ten minutes of train time, and I had given up all expectation of one, when the following came rattling over the wires :

" N. V. Chandler, Clinton Junction: " A man will be credited to the town whose bounty he takes. " Lovell, Lieutenant Colonel, commanding Camp Randall, Madison, Wis.

me or to any one with but recognizing the imporhighest authority, he had tance to the recruiting service of an official decision of the point by the at once forwarded my message to the Secretary of War, by whom it was kid before the full Cabinet, a decision arrived at, and that decision telegraphed back to Col. Lovell in season to hold me. The next morning's dailies throughout the North contained the following telegraphic announcement: It was decided in full Cabinet, yesterday, that a man will be credited to the town whose bounty he tak£s.' The decision had undoubtedly been made in my case." " It seems that the question was as

new

Col. Lovell as to

whom I conversed at Clinton Junction, and he could not answer it

THE ROLL OF HONOR. How sleep the brave who sink to rest. By all their country's wishes blest. When Spring, with dewy fingers cold. Returns to deck their hallowed mold, She there shall dress a sweeter sod TIimi Fancy's feet have ever trod.''

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

«ye

The decoration of the graves of those who fell in the cause of the Union was extensively In Baraboo, the citizens generally participated in throughout Sauk County, in May, 1868. laid aside business cares and joined in the solemn procession that proceeded to the cemetery on The heroes who sleep their last sleep, or whose monuments are in this home of that occasion. the dead are twenty-or.e in number. They are but a platoon of the regiment of the county's slain far greater number lie on the fields where they met death in their country's cause, or in unknown graves where the dead of the battle-field, the hospital or the prison pen, have been

Of these nineteen, a brief record is given gathered together. Harlan B. and Burrett C. Cochran the former killed at the battle of Falling Waters, on the Potomac, July 14, 1863; the latter died suddenly at home July 27, 1865, eight days after leaving his regiment, and one day before he was to have been discharged from service. Robert Crawford, one of the earliest and most esteemed settlers. He was a member of the Third Cavalry, and died January 30, 1868, from the eifects of exposure in the south. Francis Marion Crawford, son of the preceding a member of Company F, Twenty-third :

;

Regiment

died at Greenfield, Miss., where his body rests.

Henry R. Ketchum, Company F, Twenty-third; died from disease contracted in the service. Henry W. Getchell, Lieutenant Company F, First Cavalry died at Little Rock, Ark., in ;

a rebel prison.

Charles Cowles. First Sergeant, Company K, Fourteenth Veteran Volunteers; died September 20. 1864, at Brownsville, Ark. Elisha L. Walbridge, First Lieutenant Company F, Twenty-third died March 31, 1863, while on his way home. Howard H. Baldwin, Company F, Twenty-third returned home sick at the close of the Vicksburg campaign, and died some two months after his return. Charles A. Brier, Company K, Fourteenth; mortally wounded at Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862; died 26th of the same month at Mound City Hospital. Rev. John M. Springer, drafted September 1863 assigned to the Third Infantry, he was soon afterward made Chaplain right knee fractured at the battle of Resaca, from the effects of which he died in the hospital at Nashville. John Starks, Company A, Sixth Regiment (Iron Brigade) severely wounded at Gainesville on the 28th of August, 1862 received a mortal wound at Vicksburg, "with a manifestation of a chivalrous and soldierly spirit scarcely ever surpassed," wrote Col. Vilas, after the battle. Charles A. and Oliver W. Thomas, sons of Mrs. Joanna Thomas, who gave four of her five sons to the defense of the Union; Charles died at Milliken's Bend, and Oliver at Memphis. Frank H. Crossman, Fortieth Regiment; died May 17, 1867, aged 21 years. W. G. Fuller, Captain in the Sixteenth Michigan Volunteers; killed by guerrillas inOct. 1864. Warren A. Brown, Forty-sixth Infantry; died at Athens, Ala. George W. Wing, Eleventh Infantry; died from diseases contracted in the South. George Turner, died while in the Navy. Edgar Ames, enlisted early in 1861, in Company A, Sixth Infantry; died at Arlington Heights his was the first deatli in the company. His father belonged to the Seventeenth, and ;

;

also died in the service.

David S. Vittum, Third Wisconsin Cavalry died in Baraboo, April 10, 1880. Reedsburg'g Roll. Capt. II. A. Tator, Sergt. F. W. Henry, Corp. Alvah Rathbun, Sergt. Spencer S. Miles, Henry Bulow, Jason W. Shaw, Lafayette Ackerman, James Markee. John Hines, G. W. Priest, Harrison Root, George W. Root, George C. Miles, Lewis Curtis. John Collins, Hugh Collins, and John Mcllvaine. What it Cost. The amount of money paid by the several towns in Sauk County fur war The county raised $12,000 by tax for the purposes during the rebellion was about $100,000. In addition to this, for the same worthy purpose, the town of support of families of volunteers. Franklin raised $300 Reedsburg, $800; Washington, $3,600, and Woodland, $1,800. There is no measure by which can be calculated the amount of human suffering and self sacrifice resulting from the unhappy strife. Col.

—

;

BAR AB

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

CJHAPTEE V. NATURE'S WONDROUS WORK. Devil's Lake— The Dells of the Wisconsin— The Peewit's

Nest— The Upper and Lower Narrows—Parfhret's Glen—Doeward's Gorge—Mirror Lake— The Devil's Post Office—Echo Rock— The Bee-Hive—Fern Dell—Congress Hall. devil's lake. " Nestled close down between wild, rocky bills.

Feeding no rivers and fed by no rills. Devil's Lake lies, like a jewel rare, Dropped from the Oceans casket there."

Strangers coming to this delightful spot for recreation and pleasure or a brief surcease of " Blast me heyes,"

business cares, are seriously perplexed to know why it is called Devil's Lake.

said a discerning English tourist, after returning from a trip on the " Minnewaukan,"

"hi caan't hanything that looks like the devil, you know." Nor can any one explain the reason for opprobrious applying to it so a title. When the lake was first discovered by the whites, they called it Spirit Lake, because they were told by the Indians whom they found here that the daughter of one of their chiefs had drowned herself in it on account of a love affair, and that at certain stages of the moon her spirit could be seen floating over its smooth surface. From Spirit Lake, they say, it " degenerated " into Devil's Lake but the two words are so far from being synonymous that this explanation can scarcely be accepted. There is certainly nothing about the lake or in its vicinity that suggests the devil or his handiwork. On the contrary, there is everything to suggest something nearer heaven for here nature has toiled with a divine hand. The place is less romantic than picturesque. It is almost devoid of cozy glens and wild nooks arched "with moss-covered rocks from which ooze springs of clear, cool water; but there is something sublimely grand in the view obtained from almost any point. It is a perpetual object of interest, full of strange, inspiring beauty a home for poets and artists a retreat for lovers and see

;

misanthropes. A current of fiction seems to pervade the surcharged atmosphere, and it is not surprising that love-tragedy tales are willingly related to those who will listen, by the few inhabitants thereabouts. It is said and of course no one will dispute the authority that in very early times, before white men came to till the lands, there was camped on the lake's shores for awhile, a roving Indian band. The dusky chief of the tribe had a bright-eyed daughter named Ke-she-ahben-o-i|ua, which in our language means the "early dawn." She is described as having been beautiful as dawn, with a slender form of swaying grace, and dark, sweet eyes, full of love. It was in the queen month of summer, splendid June, when the Indian band lit their camp-fires in the woods just back from a grassy slope near Devil's Lake. And by strange chance a hunter. who had strayed here from vine-wreathed France, strolled, weary and woe-begone, longing for sight of some human face. He discovered the lake, and, well-pleased with so beautiful a picture, wandered down to its shore. But Ke-she-ah-ben-o-qua had preceded him to that wild nook, for she loved the sky and its twin-sister in the water. So when Pierie's eyes caught sight of her. they were magnetized and spell-bound by her wonderful beauty. The shy Indian maiden was startled by the unusual presence of a white hunter, and she vanished among the trees like a Site was not averse to the stranger's face, and for a long tune she pondered the scared bird. mystery in her heart; but at night she found the pale-faced hunter in her father's tent, smoking the pipe of peace. blush of recognition and a downward glance of the sweet eyes Ke-she-ahben-o-qua gave in return for Pierie's admiring look. From this their acquaintance grew and ripened into love. For months the French hunter camped with the Indian braves, and when the

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

400

corn was ripe and rustled on its stalks, and the moon hung full in the sky, Pierie went to the and Windago, a young brave who had jealously watched Chieftain to ask of him his daughter The old Chief gave a strange Pierie and loved Ke-she-ah-ben-o-qua from afar off, went also. Actuated by pride only, he led the rival lovers to the side of Devil's Lake, and pointed reply. in crags of the opposite shore, high up the in the topmost branches of which he to a pine tree, had seen an eagle seek her nest. He said, " The chosen suitor shall be he who can first bring Windago and Pierie were in their canoes and to me from yonder tree, an unfledged eaglet." They were pretty nearly even in scaling the almost insurmountable across the lake in a trice. rocks to the base of the tree, but here Pierie gained upon Windago, and climbed the tree first. victory clasped the eaglet in his hand. But fierce Windago, seeing He went up, up, and his adversary triumph, threw a glance of wicked hate upward, and gave the branch of the tree whereon Pierie's foot rested, a wrench that sent poor Pierie headlong, bleeding and lifeless on wild cry, in falling, like the cry of a broken heart, the pale French hunter the rocks below. And Ke-she-ah-ben-o-qua. Ah she saw it all from the opposite shore of the sweet little gave. lake, and, with a wail of despair, threw herself into the water, and her spirit went to meet her It is said that on moonlight nights, the shades of the lovers may lover's on the Shadowy Plain. So it was named at first Spirit Lake. be seen floating over the water. ;

—

Woe to the warrior, maid or child, That meets the specter, weird and wild, lr hears the notes of the vengeful cry " That fills the air as it passes by i

Notwithstanding the persistency of these ever-present "spirits" in flitting from rock to rock and hill-top to hill-top and skipping over the water at all hours of the night, regardless of the weather, Devil's Lake has become a favorite summer resort for large numbers of people Its popularity is increasing from year to year, and its convenient from almost every clime. situated on one of the principal railway lines running northwest from the great city location Visitors, to the number of brings it within easy access. of Chicago, the entrepot of America a structure built seventy or eighty, can find first-class hotel accommodations at the Cliff House in Swiss style, with ample wings and verandahs, and surrounded by groves and walks, bo*th natnow under the management of W. B. Pearl, an experienced landlord. At ural and artificial the south end of the lake N. C. Kirk has erected a row of summer cottages with all the appurEach cottage will accommodate six of eight persons, and, as an tenances to housekeeping. evidence of their popularity, they are in constant use during the summer months usually devoted to quiet vacations by "city folk." Bathing, boating and fishing occupy the time of the pleasure seeker, either of these recreative pursuits being conducive to good health and amiable dispositions. In 1868, a small steamboat, the " Capitola," was placed on the lake, but it soon proved to be too small a craft for the accommodation of visitors, and, in 1873, Capt. Thompson, who has an eye to the comfort of every one, built a larger boat, the " Minnewaukan," capable of A trip around the lake on the " Minnewaukan " is one of the most conveying 150 passengers. pleasant features in the long list of pleasant things with which the visitor meets. The particular points of interest about the lake can be better seen and more thoroughly though the most striking objects are pointed appreciated by a pedestrian tour over the bluffs The curiosities of the east bluff, aside from the out from the deck of the "Minnewaukan." Rock. Elephant The Doorway is situated over the Devil's Doorway and magnificent view, are !< hi feel above the lake's level, and is in the form of two well-defined columns of bowlder stone The top sto.ie of each standing side by side, and reaching probably forty feet above the base. column appears to have fallen at the same moment, and, meeting each other over the aperture between, formed an arch or lintel. Elephant's Rock is a large sandstone bowlder, some fourteen feet long and eight feet high. It is In form, if represents an elephant lying upon one side, with well-shaped head and ear. said that Capt. Thompson appropriated the ivory tusks, and that a Chicago traveling man There tire many other fantastically shaped rocks on the east bluff, which a secured the trunk.

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;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

1 ( »1

well-developed imagination might form into various things, from a dry-g

box

to a

locomo-

tive.

The especial features of the west bluff' are the Turk's Head and latter being about fifty feet high,

Cleopatra's

Needle, the

and standing out from the face of the bluff'-wall in an attitude

The Needle can scarcely be called an obelisk, which literally means The Supreme Architect has used many stones in the a high, slender monument of one stone. Needle. Therefore it would not be a convenient article to transport, and when of the of perpendicular security.

Should Chicago become ambitious for an transported would be very difficult to reconstruct. to perpetuate the memory of a wicked woman, as did Gotham, she may go elsewhere

obelisk

than Sauk County for it. The Turk's Head is a rocky promontory which stands a short distance north of the Needle. The rocks comprising it appear to have been piled one upon the other, or left there when the At a distance the huge mass has the outline bottom of the adjacent territory "dropped out."

The facial complexion is also of the Ottoman hue. appearance of the turbaned head of a Turk. The tall pines in front so obstruct the view that we are left in the dark as to whether this parAfter all, it may be only ticular Turk occupies a sitting posture and smokes the serene nargile. the head of a Turk severed from the offending body by a God-fearing Russian, or a gory-handed Circassian.

The impressions left upon the minds of those who visit Devil's Lake are naturally very The awe-inspiring hills, witli great quartzite bowdders clinging to their sides, and

marked.

massive piles of sandstone heaped high above the soil-level of the adjacent peaks, are silent By what process did the result we see though eloquent witnesses of Nature's wonderful work. come about'.' Let us consult the scientific mind. James 11. Eaton, A. M., in a report on the Running east and west through the center of Sauk County are two geology of this region says parallel ridges, with an average elevation of 400 to 500 feet and a base of two to four miles. The distance between them is three to four miles. The Baraboo River runs in this valley, and empties east into the Wisconsin. A north-and-south valley cuts half-way through the end of the In the north end of this southern ridge, and trends east toward the valley of the Wisconsin. valley lies Devil's Lake. The ridges are compact, crystalline sandstone, without cement, or The predominant colors are pink and red. often banded with straight or contorted quartzite. :

In some places, the rock is a homogeneous wdiite Both the nature of the rock and its position give evidence that it is metamorphic Potsdam sandstone. The rock presents all gradations, from the The Potsdam sandstone consists of snrdl, simple sandstone to the perfectly crystallized quartz. of quartz, grains and is very loosely cemented. It can easily be crumbled with the round Pieces of the quartzite may be obtained in all stages, from this friable sandstone to that fingers. where the grains are apparent and the rock is less friable, to that where the homogeneoi! here nearly approached, but the small grains can still be seen, and finally to the perfect homogeneous quartz. No sharp geographical line of demarkation between the sandstone and quartzite. and no gradation in any direction, is observed. The homogeneousness of the colored quartzite it is nut as perfect as appeal's. Whenever a. surface has been subjected to the weather, the

parallel lines of lighter or darker colors.

quartz with distinct and well-formed crystals.

rains come to view again. The bandings of the quartzite are very similar to those in the Some undisturbed sandstone. These bands sometimes consist of layers of fine grains of sand. of the great blocks of quartzite, winch have fallen down the sides of the valley, arc mostbeautirered with regular ripple-marks. They must have been first made in the moving sands. The layers are nearly as perfect as in the sandstone, and have a dip equal to the inclination of The anticlinal The dip on either side can be seen best from the opposite aide. the ridges. ridge on the east side "f the lake is removed by the valley, which trends to the east, and on the

Vertical joints also lead to th west by another valley, which comes down to the lake. The sion that the ridge has been formed by the upheaval of the horizontal layers of sandstone. layers were not traced north and south to determine whether they are continuous horizontally.

Both the nature id' the rock and its position forbid the idea of aqueous

fusion

or active volcanic

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

402 agency.

The change must have taken place by the purely wet way of partial solution and crys-

degree of heat, working for a long series of years, through the moisture in If the latter, the change the sandstone, probably aided by the pressure which lifted the ridges. and elevation of the rock took place at the same time, and both effects were produced with

tallization, or by a low

extreme slowness.

The ridge must have been raised before the glacial epoch.

Abundant proofs

of the movement of glaciers over the rock since it has been metamorphosed have been disIn many places on the elevated portions, smoothly polished surfaces of quartz of great covered. Before the glacial epoch, there seem to be no extent have been exposed by removing the soil.

There has, therefore, been data for fixing the time of the elevating and metamorphic action. ample time for metamorphic action of the most extreme slowness. Dr. Lapman has advanced the view that the Baraboo River once ran through this valley on its way to the Wisconsin, and was turned from its former course into its present one by glacial If this view is correct, as the facts seem to warrant, this valley may have been made at drift. any time from the Lower Silurian up to the glacial period. It is not necessary to introduce any The regularity of the layers would forbid any sudden and violent upheaval great convulsion. and cracking of the i-ock. The slowly-acting agencies of the atmosphere and of water can have thrown down the great mass of debris which" lies on the south of the valley. The valley The ridges slope up from two hundred to three hundred feet, is about half a mile wide. as steep as the large blocks will lie upon each other, and the remaining height is a perpendicular wall cut by vertical fissures into most fantastic shapes, with natural fortifications and castles, turrets and towers, making one of the most charming bits of landscape in A word in evidence that the Baraboo River formerly ran through the valley our State. The surface of the lake is thirty feet above and was turned aside by the glacier drift: the court house at Baraboo, and one hundred and sixty feet above the Wisconsin River to the south. The lake is more than thirty feet deep, and has a bottom of sand. There is, therefore, a sufficient descent. The valley is a natural course for the river, and running water would have In the valley, both north and south of the given it some of the features of its present form. In a few hours, a large variety of northern rocks was collake, there is an abundance of drift. granite, syenite and Lake Superior rocks. They, with sand, have filled up a deeper allected

—

ley to such a height that the river finds a new course to the Wisconsin. There is another point of great interest in this region, which does not appear to be easy of solution.

On the top of the ridge, and in lines running north and south, are conglomerated bowl-

They consist These are local, and do not extend far to the south of the southern ridge. ders. of rounded, water-worn pebbles, and large bowlders of quartzite imbedded in friable sandstone. Some of these conglomerated bowlders weigh many tons. They are evidently deposited at a Evidently, in this immediate neighborhood, very little distance from the place of their origin. pieces of quartzite have been for a long time subjected to running water, and have formed themwhich has been hardened, and some moving cause has carried them into The place and time and agencies which have produced these effects their present position. demand a more careful and close study. There are also signs of a secondary metamorphic A number of specimens were obtained, which were homogeneaction in some of the quartzite. selves in a bed of sand,

ous, but contained large numbers of rounded pebbles, of the same quartzite, or of white quartz,

firmly imbedded in them. It is the opinion also of the State Geologist that this valley has been at some time the passage of a large stream. The large size of the valley, he thinks, suggests that it may have been the passage of the Wisconsin River, which at the close of the glacial period found Its ancient If this is a correct channel obstructed by the great drift heaps that are now to be seen in it. view, he says, the river (the Wisconsin) must have had a passage through what is now known as the Lower Narrows of the Baraboo, "a much wider channel than is needed by that small

stream."

The Narrows spoken of by the State Geologist bear a close resemblance to some parts of the Dells of the Wisconsin, and this gorge, like the Dells, was in all probability cut through by

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. the action of water forcing itself down from the north and west

—

-103

first

finding an outlet through

the smallest imaginable crevasse, and gradually wearing away the rocks until the entire stream The State Geologist offers this explanation of water flowing in from above could pass through. Lake as a suggestion only- The Baraboo, he says, may be the stream to which the work should be allotted, " but, if so, we must imagine it to have been

of the origin of the valley of Devil's

now." Very true and in all probability it was a much larger stream than now. There is pretty good evidence that at one time the Baraboo River was a much larger stream than the Mississippi is now, ami that it covered the entire area now known as the Baraboo Valley. This being true and the proposition is not only reason-

a much larger and more powerful stream than

;

—

ably plausible in the very nature of things, but is substantiated by the testimony of a very we must accept the large number of learned men in regard to the former size of other rivers theory advanced by Prof. Eaton that the Baraboo did pass through the valley of Devil's Lake, Accepting this theory, then, and. further, that the valley was none too large to accommodate it. leads also to the conclusion that the valley between the point where is now located the village of Baraboo, and what is now the Lower Narrows, was once an inland sea, so to speak, and remained so until the pressure of the water forced an outlet through the rocks (the Narrows). The course of the river then changed from the valley of the Devil's Lake to its present channel.

—

THE DELLS. About two miles north of the south lines of the counties of Juneau and Adams, the Wisconsin River, which for many miles above that point is very broad and flows lazily along, metaphorically turns upon edge and rushes with a deep and sometimes deafening roar through a narnow, crooked gorge seven and one-half miles in length. This narrow passage is cut through high grounds (or, more properly, through a mountain of sandstone), which, after bounding the river valley on both sides for a great distance northward, gradually approach and join. The lower or south end of this gorge terminates a short distance above Kilbourn City, at a point where the north line of Sauk County strikes the Wisconsin River. The stream flows on across the north line of Section 4, in Township 13 north, of Range 6 east, with a course bearing to the eastward, crossing into Section 3, but soon turning back again into Section 4. Here a dam crosses the river. All above this point is known as the " Upper Dells." From this dam is seen

Columbia County and the village of Kilbourn City, in the town of Newport, on the right Sauk County and the town of Delton, on the left the river forming the boundary between the two counties. Below the dam or, what is specific enough, below Kilbourn City are the "Lower Dells," where the river again turns upon its edge, but less ferociously than before, and continues in this peculiar attitude for another seven miles, the east side being in Columbia County and the town of Newport the west side in Sauk County and the town of Delton but the general trend of the Wisconsin is toward a southeast course, in the '-Lower Dells." At the point where the river loses its characteristics of a gorge, it is called "the Foot of the Dells-" Just how long the "Old Wisconse " has been traveling through these gorges, no one will pretend to say. There are good reasons for believing, however, that this rock-walled pathway is not very ancient in comparison with the age of the earth. The river, which is believed at one time to have passed to the east of the high grounds referred to, doubtless forced its way through the soft sandstone of these hills by degrees, something after the manner of the Baraboe's passage

—

;

—

;

through the Narrows.

Throughout the whole length of the narrow passage, from the " Upper Jaws " to " the Foot of the Dells," fanciful names have been given to the most striking objects and places. Beginning at the dam and traveling up the river, the first striking feature of the gorge is Angel Rock, situated about one-half mile from the steamboat landing in Kilbourn, on the right-hand side of the river. It is a rugged projection, curiously shaped. This lofty crag a lively imagination can easily transform into a huge angel with outspread wings

Rock, from the peculiar below.

little

hence the name. It is also called Marble round lumps of sandstone found on the ledge and in the river ;

——

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

404

In Swallows' Rock, or where the swallows live, is a little further along on the same side. early spring and summer, thousands of beautiful little swallows may be seen here in the brown cliffs, occupying innumerable holes in the rock, safe from danger, and the happiest family to be Their jolly twittering can be heard far out upon the water. found anywhere. The Jaws of the Bells, or entrance to the Dells proper, are guarded by two immense rocks High Rock and Romance Cliff standing like sentinels on duty and sternly looking down in their stately grandeur, as if disputing the right of man to explore the intricate passage beyond. It presents High Bock, on the right, rises from fifty to seventy-five feet above the river. a rugged, rough aspect, with curiously shaped sides, and has a meager growth of stunted pines,

—

and other trees and foliage.

birch,

Romance Cliff, on the left, is a grand old pile of stately rocks, covered with a dense growth It is somewhat higher and more stately than its vis-a-vis, High Rock, of trees and shrubbery. It is and lias much more of the curious and wonderful in its makeup and general appearance. suggestive of the stately crags and beetling

cliffs

of the weird and grand scenery of the Rocky

Mountains.

Chimney Rock is one of nature's singular freaks, left standing for innumerable ages, formed by the action of the wild waters, looking like the old-fashioned stick and mortar chimney of the Standing out from the cliff behind, it looks as if the touch of a child's days of the forefathers. It is on the right, just beyond High Rock. finger would topple it into the river. A most pleasing echo can be heard here. It repeats everything, and is a Echo Cove. beautiful place for bathing and enjoying a quiet hour in a cool, pleasant retreat. The Bell Souse, "a wild, rambling old rookery," on the left, is one of the first frame It was erected in the year 1837-38, by Robert houses ever built on the river above Portage. V. Allen, and for many years was used as a tavern. It 'hapel Gorge is the next point on the right hand, and nearly opposite the Dell House. is a beautiful, shaded glen, and is named from the peculiarly shapen rock at its entrance, resembling The Gorge is pleasant and shady. a chapel or place of worship. Boat Cave is just beyond the Chapel, on the same (east) side of the river. It should always It is be visited to be appreciated, although a general idea may be had from the steamer's deck. cin' of the most peculiar formations, showing the action of the water upon the soft sandstone. Beginning with a perfectly arched doorway, only large It can (inly be traversed in a small boat. enough to admit an ordinary skiff, it opens out in a vaulted chamber in the solid rock of the cliff, then turns at right angles and, through another hall with a water floor, ends in a large door far-

—

(

ther up the river. Circle Bend is the next place of interest in ascending the stream, where the river and rocks half-circle. The rocks are high and bold, presenting a cliff of solid masonry, formed and form Its top carved ami hewn anil worn into a wall of adamant by the action of the whirling waters. is covered with a dense growth of cedar, hemlock, pine, birch, oak and all the many varieties of ferns and shrubbery that so abundantly abound throughout the Dells. Here w^e Sturgeon Rock, mi the left, is a bold, projecting rock, resembling a sturgeon. :i

enter upon the looked-for wild grandeur of the Dells. Navy Yard is on the left of Sturgeon Rock, and is one of the most picturesque and wonHere the imagination pictures huge stone vessels of war, with derful formations on the river. prows and sides and ribs so solid and stanch that for ages they have withstood the battles and

warring of the waters, and. as time has rolled on, they have become more complete and shapely in form and build. Bold guardians are they of the Narrows. Eaton Grotto is a long, deep opening a rift in the face of the cliff from top to bottom It is on the opposite side from the extending back some forty feet into the rugged wall of rock. Navy Yard. Gates' Ravine,dXhO on the right, is a few hundred yards further up the stream, and extends back from the river nearly a, mile. It is a delightful place for a ramble, and is filled with beau-

—

tiful

ferns

and flowers, tall cliffs, rugged crags and sparkling streams.

405

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Skylight Cave is a very similar opening to that of Eaton Grotto, and is just at the head of Here, with a small boat, one can the Navy Yard, on the same side of the river as the latter. seek the deep recess of the rock for upward of a hundred feet, lighted only by a little rift in the rocks overhead.

It is a delightful place to visit.

—

The Narrows. Here the river suddenly narrows to the width of only fifty-two feet, and the The river is now running upon its edge, hemmed in on either water is eighty feet in depth. In low water, the current is nearly as calm and placid as at any point side by ponderous rocks. on the Dells, but when the river is up, the raging waters come pouring through this narrow gorge with groat force. The Old Bridge.— In the year 1850, Schuyler S. Gates erected a substantial bridge across the Narrows. This was the first bridge ever built across the Wisconsin, and was used for a numIt was carried away by the ber of years. Thousands of teams and passengers paid toll here. high water of 1866. The. Devil's Elbow is the point where the river makes an almost square turn, just at the

entrance of the Narrows. Black Hawk's Cave can now be seen on the left hand. It was here (the legend hath it) where the old chief hid safe and secure in the days of the Black Hawk war. Notch Rock.—This is (to raftsmen) the dread of the Narrows. It is a square, bowlderlooking rock, on the left, and is known as Raftsmen's Terror, on which in high water, rafts are

sometimes broken, and lives lost. It can be seen close down to the water's edge. Rattlesnake Bock is the high crag or solitary-looking rock on the left, just back of Notch Rock. It is covered with, shrubbery. It is on the right, Artist's Glen. This is one of the most beautiful ravines on the river. nearly opposite Rattlesnake Rock. This glen is delightful for picnic grounds, and has a large

—

number of fine butternut and other trees, affording an elegant retreat. Sliding Rocks are here upon either side of the stream, and are so called from their peculiar formation, the sides being oval-shaped and sliding inward, throwing the water to the center of the stream.

The Ancient River-Bed is seen as a sand bank on the left. In an early day, the river divided here, and a part ran around, coming out and uniting with the main river at or below the Dell House, forming a large island. Cold-water Canyon.— This canyon requires a full half-day to explore thoroughly. It is one of the grand features of the Dells. You proceed through a rocky defile and under frowning Here one crags Far-distant archways are seen overhead. a glory of cavern and valley. scrambles and slides, between towering chasm walls so near together that both sides can be reached including one that is found, are at once by the hands. In this canyon fourteen varieties of ferns

—

Finally, you come to the Devil's Jug. In a moment you reach a deep, wild, narrow gorge, walled in with rocks, which are in some places almost vertical, and in others overhanging the pathway. The gorge is 80 narrow that we do not see the Jug until we step inside of it, and look around with wondering It is, of course, a broken jug, curiosity upon its splendid curves and magnificent proportions. the ravine extending through and beyond it for a considerable distance, and on one side the lines

fragrant.

—

but the other side is holare imperfect, owing, doubtless, to the unusual hardness of the rocks lowed into a perfect resemblance of the inside of an immense jug, as smoothly fashioned as if turned upon a potter's wheel. The entire width of the jug is about thirty-five feet at the bot;

tom, and its height is not far from seventy feet.

The rift at the top is quite narrow, admitting

light enough to see with tolerable distinctness, but leaving the upper part of the

cavern in twi-

The gorge beyond the Jug is passable for some distance. A ramble through this All the many varieties of vast canyon, and a visit to the Jug will afford a world of pleasure.

light gloom.

ferns and mosses may be gathered here.

—

The Devil's Arm Chair. You will wonder why his Satanic Majesty should perch his chair It is on the left and but is an admirer of the wonders of nature. The next place of note is the a short distance up the river from Coldwater Canyon. in such a place, unless he, too,

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

406

Clam Banks, in which nothing is to be found except the name to remind us of the delicious bivalves gathered on the shores of Narragansett Bay, unless, in imagination, a collection of prodigious stones is converted into clams.

Ruffle Rocks are upon each side of the stream, and would look well on the shirt fronts of They adorn with becoming grace the river's sides for a long distance. the giants of olden days. Chameleon Cave is a seam in the bank, and can only be visited by climbing a ladder from the You will need the light steamer's deck, going to the high bank, and then down into the earth. It contains beautiful changing mosses. It is on the of a lantern and guide to reach the bottom. right just above Steamboat Rock. Steamboat Rock challenges especial attention. It stands on an island in a curious circular cove, and resembles, from some points, a huge ocean steamer, without smoke-stack and wheel-house. It is about 250 feet long by 100 feet wide and some 40 to 50 feet in height, with perpendicular,

rugged sides and covered with pine, oak and shrubbery. This- is just beyond Steamboat Rock, on the right. It is a large cavern, and Rood's Glen. if it were near a large city would be made useful as a lager-beer hall. Honey Bee Spring is on the left, just above. The rock is shaped like an eagle's beak. Arch Cove is a delightful place for picnic parties. It is here one can get the best view of The Cove is a the many islands at the head of the Dells, and of the river for a long distance. It is on the leftbeautiful, shady recess, and contains an elegant spring of pure, fresh water. hand side of the river. Nearly opposite, on the right side of the river, at the upper jaws of the

—

Dells, is the Witches' Gulch. At the head of the Dells, on the right, extending three-quarters of a The precipitous rocks tower aloft on mile from the shore, will be found this remarkable gulch. either side to the height of perhaps a hundred feet, their sides being worn smooth and their water. action of the One can almost touch with long-continued ragged edges rounded off by the outstretched arms both sides of this gloomy gorge, which surpasses in grandeur anything hitherto The rocks overhead are in many places shelving and rounded into immense seen in the Dells. scallops. The stream through this wild pass is in many places waist-deep. It contains many curious points a miniature waterfall, Phantom Chamber, Fairy Grotto, and hundreds of other

—

remarkable features.

—

The Islands. From the head of the Dells, or " Upper Jaws," a fine view of the river, bluffs and islands, is had for a long distance. This view is often compared to a similar scene in Lake Above the Dells the river " spreads itself" all over the country, as it were, and is full George. one-half mile in width and very shallow, the water in summer being not over one or two feet in depth. About three-fourths of a mile above Witches' Gulch, are seen on the left bank, a number of interesting points. Hornets' Nest has the shape, and at a short distance the general appearance of an immense hornets' nest, [t serves as a pillar in front of a natural portico, the rock having in the course of time been washed out, leaving a flat roof overhead, with the Hornets' Nest as its principal support. Passing through the archway formed by this singular rock, we ascend and follow the hillside for a few rods,

and presently stand in

— The waters have

at some remote period swept through here with great wearing a passage through and under the rocks, and leaving the flat rocks which formerly stood at the " top of the heap," as a natural roof for the hall, which is of considerable extent. The roof has a single break, a few inches wide otherwise it is perfect and the rocks Located on the top of a ridgb, the hall which support it furnish convenient seats and tables. presents a grand appearance to the spectator at a distance, and commands a fine view of the river. Once within its massive portals, awe gives place to curiosity, and the visitor finds pleasure in observing the odd shapes which the rocks have assumed under the slow but persistent action of the current which once swept the Wisconsin Valley, leaving its impress on every hill, and cut-

Luncheon Hall.

force,

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

407

ting its way through the rocks until it formed the romantic channel through which the river now

short distance from Luncheon Hall, is found the wonderful runs. Stand Rock. To reach this, one must ascend the bank a short distance and follow along the edge of the ridge, coming to the rock upon the upper side. The top of the rock a large sandstone slab is nearly as level as the floor, and its superficial area is about 18x24 feet. pathway leads to the foot of it, and the view from below is more interesting than that from above. The water-rounded column which supports the super-poised tablet is of rather irregular shape and is sixty-two feet high. With the neighboring rock, a sort of arch is formed, somewhat resembling the cavernous opening at Luncheon Hall. All around is a scene of beauty. The hills are covered with trees clothed with magnificent summer foliage; a fine farm, trees and shrubs spread out up-riverward, and the glen is full of ferns and flowers in great profusion.

—

THE LOWER DELLS. The river here is broader and the banks present a greater diversity of bluff and bottom than in the Upper Dells, but the character of the rock composing the banks is the same, and a similar, though varied, succession of curious and pleasing forms is presented. The rocks have been worn and hollowed and rounded into every imaginable shape. In some places, great shelves, with stalwart ycung pines growing upon their very edges, overhang the dark waters ; elsewhere, perpendicular walls loom up like the front of some vast fortification, and, a little further on, a similar wall is supplemented with coigns, bastions, projecting towers and covered archways again, the rocks are rounded at their bases, so as to resemble the stems of small much inferior in size and appearance to the ponderous hulks at the Navy Yard in the vessels Dells above. Then the rocks slope gently downward to the green, grassy vale, where a pretty farm gives charming variety to the panorama, and on the opposite side to the broad bottom, where the village of Newport once stood in her pride, now interesting in her remarkable decay. Farther down the river are more noted objects. The lofty banks here, as above the dam, are crowned with a luxuriant growth of trees, shrubs, plants and grass. The first attraction after leaving the dam, going down the river, is Taylor's Glen, on the left a wild half-cavern and half-vale, which winds around and under the village of Kilbourn City. Echo Point. Standing upon the rocky cliff where the tunnel from Taylor's Glen comes out under the railroad, any unusual elevation of the voice brings a prompt and distinct response from the massive, smooth-faced cliff opposite, every word and tone being repeated with surprising clearness and accuracy. Persons curious in such matters (and who is not ?) may easily reach Echo Point by walking a few rods down the railway, to the river bend, and descending the pathway to near the mouth of the tunnel, where the benches of the rock afford good standing-places. Bear's Cave is on the same side, a few rods below, and is a hole in the rock, with a cleft extending out to the edge of the cliff, and thence downward to the water's edge, the cave form-

—

;

—

ing a recess near the top.

Chimney Rock is a little further down, on the same side, and in size is less than the one up the river, but greatly resembling it in situation and appearance.

Then comes the Pulpit, standing near the water's edge, and shaped like the sacred desk in some sanctuaries. Below this on the river, but above it in height, is Observation /'<>int, standing upon which you can see a magnificent landscape. On the opposite side Stultz Rock, a terror to raftsmen, whose rafts are sometimes drawn into the eddy and whirled to destruction thereon. Steering clear of this treacherous place, and turning a point, we have in front of us Peak, upon which Signal the red man, it is said, used to light his signal fires to warn his brethren up and down the river when there were enemies around. Swinging around the bend, we soon come to the Sugar Boivl. which stands out in the stream, as cleverly molded as one could wish. The shape of this singular freak of nature is as true to its name as that of anything up the river, though it is hardly so striking as the interior of the Devil's Jug.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

408

The Inkstand next claims attention. At first first view it seems a counterpart of the Sugar Bowl, but we soon perceive a difference. The rock, entire at the top, parts a little way down, and the passage, tapering gradually, is at the water wide enough to admit a small canoe. It bristles on the top with small pines.

Lone Rock stands in massive majesty mid-river, smiling with its summer chaplet of verdure upon the tawny flood that washes its feet.

It is a broad oval in shape. As we approach we find that its sides are perforated with caverns, into the largest of which, the

Cave of the Bark Waters, or, as the Indians call it, the place of the Nah-huh-nah, we push our boat and rest awhile. From the other side, a few straggling gleams of light reach us through Nothing in this vicinity is more curious and wonderful than this rock, Reflection Arch. the outer walls and internal caverns of which show the abrading effects of different currents and eddies of water. Leaving this romantic spot, we head up stream along the south side of the

—

river, to

—

Grotto Rock. This is formed by an immense flat rock, and is supported by massive jambs It is quite spacious, and is surmounted and surrounded by the luxuriant arborescence and verdure, which throw a graceful charm over all the scenery oft his region, and

of the same material.

form a lovely setting for many a striking or quaint and curious picture. Places of interest in the Lower Dells besides those already mentioned, are Falls of the Dam, Coldwater Spring, Earle's Cave, The Ovens, Hawk's Bill, Bald Hill, Cobble Stone Cove, and many others.

MINOR PLEASURE RESORTS.

—

The Peewit's Nest. Two and a half miles west of Baraboo is located the romantic Skillet Creek Falls, better known, perhaps, as the " Peewit's Nest." Skillet Creek derives its name from a skillet-shaped rock which exists near the falls. The name of Peewit's Nest is attached to the place for the reason that large numbers of the species of bird commonly known as peewit, or pee-

wee, build their nests among the rocks. road leads within a few rods of the spot, which is a gorge but a few feet in width, but of great depth, comparatively, formed by Skillet Creek in

passing through rock of different degrees of hardness. For a quarter of a mile above the " Nest the water is still and deep, imperceptibly moving in a channel probably twenty-five feet wide. Then comes the dam, a structure half-natural, half-artificial, of twelve or fifteen feet span, but hanging thirty-five feet above the water below. Before the dam was built, the water, after collecting to a depth of twenty feet or more, ran in a trickling stream over the thin rock which formed *the foundation for the artificial portion, erected in 1856 by John R. Shoards. No swelling flood will ever carry out this dam until rock shall rot and mortar mold, for it is literally " dovetailed " into the solid rock, extending fully fifteen feet higher than water has ever flowed. Immediately below the dam, the gorge opens, and on the north side is the Peewit's Nest proper. It consists of a perpendicular opening, shaped like a horseshoe, about fourteen feet the longest way, with its open side nine or ten feet across, the walls on the side opposite the stream being slightly overhanging. Across its throat, some twelve feet above the water, rests a sill, the remnant of the flo.tr of a retired blacksmith's shop, commonly believed to have been of the bogus order, which was in full blast as early as 1845. William Brown, of Baraboo, at that time having a plow which needed mending, took it there for repairs, and only succeeded in landing it in the shop by letting it down with a rope from the overhanging cliff forty feet above. From this circumstance, the extent of the blacksmithing operations there maybe guessed. Ill-natured persons surmised that the building was thus peculiarly located, being over a pool twenty-five feet deep, in order to scuttle any disagreeable-looking dies or molds in case of a sudden visit from " the powers that be," or, rather, that were. Below the " Nest," the stream speedily contracts to a width of about eight feet, and here, probably, is the only mill-wheel in the world whose axles rest in sockets of solid rock. The wheel is itself thirty-four feet in diameter, with a face of about four feel breadth, and bearing on a five-inch axle. This wheel once furnished power

HlsTOltV

409

OF SAUK COUNTY.

for a small saw-mill, situated at the mouth of a gorge, and admirably contrived so that one man Here, in early times, Mr. Shoards sawed performed all the necessary labor for running it. This wheel utilized 99 per cent of the force of the about 200,000 feet of lumber per year. and the necessity for this water, a greater portion than any other pattern then in existence economy in force is apparent on looking at the stream a little lower down, where it trickles no faster than a thirsty cow could drink. Yet this little stream has performed the wonderful work of cutting its way through the solid rock to a depth, in places, of seventy-five feet. While upon the subject of counterfeits, it will be in place here to say something of another mysterious spot, said to be located in Section 33, town of Franklin. Ine arly times, it was known as "Bogus Camp," and is thus described by a gentleman who visited it over twenty-one "'It is situated in a sly-looking pocket of natural formation in the rocks, overhung years ago. In front is located a pretty grove of oaks and maples, and near by a refreshwith high bluffs. When I visited the place in 1858, in company with several ing spring leaps from the hillside. gentlemen, we found an old trough, about thirty feet long, which conducted water into a log cabin, which was then partially decayed. Within the cabin was a dilapidated forge, and, it is Near by was a powerful said, an old pistol and other trinkets had been found there before. rock maple, eighteen inches in diameter, had been felled in front press, constructed of trees. of a sturdy old oak. The maple, for a space of six feet opposite the oak. had been hewn down, and in the flat surface was sunk a groove two inches wide, three inches deep, and about six In the standing feet long, intended probably to receive a bar containing counterfeiting dies. oak had been mortised a hole, perhaps six inches square, and deep enough to receive the end of a lever and near by we found the lever, a red elm, seven inches in diameter and seventeen feet Here, doubtless, fifty years ago, a gang of outlaws carried on their nefarious work uninlong. ;

;

terrupted."

—

The Upper and Lower Narrows. Near Ableman Station, in the town of Excelsior, the Baraboo River has cut through the high range of bluffs, making a wild and ragged gorge nearly a mile in length. For most of the distance the revine is just wide enough to admit of the passage of the river, railroad and a wagon road. At some points the overtopping walls are 200 feet high. The place is known as the Upper Narrows of the Baraboo, and is an interesting spot, very convenient of access. It was at the south end of this gorge that Col. S. V. R. Ableman, recently deceased, finally decided to locate, in the belief that it was the only place a railroad could pass up the Baraboo Valley. And he was right. Here can be procured the finest specimens of the quartzite rock and the most beautiful conglomerates found in the State. On Section 31 of the town of Excelsior is another gorge, known as the Narrows of Narrows Creek. In its structure and rock occurrences, it is similar to the Narrows of the Baraboo, the veined quartzite, however, being less developed than at the latter place.

The Lower Narrows has its romantic features as well, and must be seen to be appreciated. Prof. Daniels thus wrote of it twenty-two years ago " The lower part of the Baraboo Valley is one of the most interesting portions of the State. In Geologically, it is an interesting locality.

picturesque beauty of scenery it cannot be surpassed in the West. The Potsdam Sandstone has here been violently disturbed, and in some cases changed from a soft, crumbling banded with red and white. Manges of this quartzite extend often several miles, and form lofty hills with precipitous escarpments. The high bluffs of the Baraboo at the Narrows, at Spirit Lake and at Garrisonville, are mainly composed of quartzite. At the latter place, just back of Mrs. Garrison's house, the quartzite forms the top of the bluff", wdiile at the base the sandstone seems only slightly changed, and furnishes a building material of excellent quality. On the opposite bank of the river the rock is unchanged, but a band of limestone occurs in it so pure and extensive as to be quarried and burnt for lime. This is located on land owned by Mr. Eiky, and is the only instance of the discovery of good lime in the Potsdam Sandstone of this State.'' Parphrep's trim. Eastward fn»m the mouth of the valley of Devil's Lake, Section 29, town of Merrimack, the southern face of the quartzite range continues high and bold. On Mr. variety and

state into a very hard quartzite, usually of a red color, but often gray, or

—

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

410

Fitzsimmons' place in Section 22, near what is known as Parphrey's Glen, a favorite resort for pleasure seekers, one of the highest points on the whole range of bluffs occurs. This point is in use by the United States Coast Survey as a signal station. Parphrey's Glen is the objective point for tourists and others seeking a view of nature's beauties. There was once a grist-mill at this place, and the oldest settlers whisper that previous to that time a distillery nourished there and corn was made up into juice but of course no one will believe such a slander. The ruins of the pond and mill now form a romantic place of special interest. The dam was built across the mouth of a canyon which is walled in by sandstone, some fifty to seventy-five feet in height, worn out far back into the rock at the lower side, walls nearly touching at the top. After proceeding up this channel some thirty rods, you are surprised and pleased on turning a point to see a series of beautiful cascades. Very fine ferns and mosses abound here in profusion. After you have taken your picnic lunch, you can drive two miles farther and visit Dorward's Gorge, in the town of Caledonia, Columbia County. This beautiful dell is the ancient bed of a small lake, no doubt. The different stages of water are marked by the erosions in the rock and the terraces washed up at the several boundaries. At one point, the creek has worn a bed through solid rock, and the south shore is a perpendicular wall, most beautifully covered with mosses, kept continually moist with the drip from a spring at the top of the bluff. ;

It is culled

"Weeping Rock."

—

Mirror Lake. Situated between the Dells and Devil's Lake, as connecting links, as resting-points on the way, are several beautiful scenes. They are located upon Dell Creek, a small river emptying into the Wisconsin

at the ruins of Newport.

The water is very pure, conse-

quently shadow pictures are one of the principal features of this pretty locality. Mirror Lake isthe name given to about three miles of Dell Creek, along whose shores are glimpses of a nar-

row canyon with its moss-covered walls from seventy-five to one hundred feet in height; the beautiful fern-clad Dell, with its sparkling spring brook, and shady seats; the mossy grotto to whose ragged out-lines cling the exquisitely tendriled vine, and ever-varying shaded lichen the overhanging crag, bare of all foliage, as if fearing to risk its life at such a dizzy height. On the left as you go up the creek you find The Devil's Postoffi.ee, situated at the outlet of a small ravine; the shelving letter-boxes, deliveries, etc., are all there. Imagine the Postmaster and call for your mail. Next, on the same ;

side,

Echo Rock, a high promontory at a bend in the stream, composed of a light yellow sandstone.

A very distinct echo

heard from the top.

The Bee-Hive is on the left. It resembles an old-fashioned bee-hive, the base about half way to the top of the bluff, the apex reaching to the top. At the terminus of the creek is situated

Fern Dell.

— This —

one of the neatest

little

places in this whole region.

a valley

hemmed in by overhanging rocks, about seventy feet high, a mass of verdure clinging to their sides. Congress Hall. This is on the east of the village of Delton, a short distance from Mirror Lake. Is evidently an old bed of Dell Creek. At ordinary times, but little water is found in the shape of a small rivulet formed by springs, which winds its way through. The Hall is an eroded canyon, in the soft yellow sand-rock, wildly broken and distorted in its windings. Some places where the rock is harder, the passage is quite narrow, and then widens into large, spacious rooms. These views as they develop are quite pleasing and somewhat different from all others in this section. It is well worth a visit. The Dell Creek is noted for its excellent fishing mostly pickerel and black bass. It is confidently believed that no county in the State, or any section of equal size in the State, can successfully compete, in point of variety of scenery, with " Old Sauk " as a pleasure resort. And there is certainly no part of Wisconsin that approaches it as a vast schoolroom for thestudy of nature's wonders.

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

411

CHAPTER VI. The Sauk County Press—Some of Sauk County's Illustrious Dead—First and Last Census i\ Sai k Coi nty— The Old Settlers' Society— The County Poor— Ornithology. the sauk county press. BARABOO.

Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1850, Cyrus II. McLaughlin,* a practical printer, found It is believed that Mr. himself in Baraboo with a few eases of types and an ancient hand-press. McLaughlin came from Madison, where he had been engaged in the mechanical department of He was soon joined by another journeyman typo, one II. A. McFadone of the Capital papers. The vacant loft of Morehead's tin and den, who, it is said, hailed from Monroe, Wis. hardware store was secured for an office, and, on the 25th of June, 1850, the first; number of the San k C'linit// Standard was issued therefrom. Politically, the Standard advocated the principles of the Whig party, but the convictions of its editors soon changed, whether from a righteous regard for " political purity," or from causes of self-interest, will probably never be known. The change of front occurred in February, 1851, and, about the same time, Mr. McFadden In May of the same year, retired, his interest having been purchased by M- C. Waite. Duncan C. Nevin, of Albany, N. Y., succeeded Mr. Waite, and, at the close of the first volume of the Standard, George R. Clarke, now of Chicago, and John H. Wagoner, became the proprietors. This partnership lasted until the 10th of March, 1852, when Mr. Wagoner sold out to R. H. Davis. t N. V. ChandlerJ then became the virtual publisher of the paper, he agreeing to perform the mechanical duties of the office for a stipulated sum per week, which must have been a great relief to Messrs. Clarke & Davis, for neither of them knew anything of the " art " preservative of all arts." When Mr. Chandler took charge of the office, the position of " devil •.

was being

filled

by H. A. Perkins ;§ John W. Blake|| was "first imp."

Mr. Chandler held

the position of publisher until September, 1852, when David S. Vittum purchased Clarke's interest. On the 22d of December, Cyrus H. McLaughlin, one of the founders of the Standard, and the undisputed Nestor of journalism in Sauk County, bought into the concern, becoming the partner of Mr. Vittum, and, at the close of the Standard's third volume (June 8, 1853), his name appeared as sole owner. In the early part of August following, R. C. Gould became the associate of Mr. McLaughlin, and, on the 30th of August, 1854, they both retired in favor of Andrew C. Holt, who conducted the paper alone until May 30, 1855, when Victor E. Peck and

James I. Dennis became the publishers and proprietors. On the 6th of August following, the more appropriate title of Democrat was substituted for Standard, and, in December, the name

W. Phelps appeared at the editorial

masthead, indicating that individual as the political In March, 1856, J. H. Wells, the warm supporter of " Barstow and the balance," and member of that historic and politically-renowned band known as the " Forty Thieves." succeeded to the interest of Mr. Dennis in the Democrat, and took the editorial seat of Mr. Phelps. The paper was then enlarged from twenty-four columns, its original size, to twentyeight columns. But circumstances over which the editor had no control caused the suspension of this much-managed paper in November, 1856. The Baraboo Republic. In December, 1851, Silas Noyes, In-other of Col. D. K. Noyes, of Baraboo, established a Whig paper in Portage called the Northern Republic, which he conducted with fair success, considering the tribulations which beset the party whose cause it championed. Both the party and the paper finally went down together, ami the material of the latter was removed to Baraboo, where, in January, 1855, the proprietor having associated with him his

of J.

editor.

a reputed

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

412

brother D. K., the Baraboo Republic was established, with the latter as political writer, and the former as miscellaneous editor. It was the exceptional good fortune of the Republic to have been born and reared in the sunlight of Republicanism, and it seems to have-been received with as great favor locally as was the party whose principles it chose to expound, though there were, at first, occasional omissions in its weekly issue which could not be avoided, however great the disappointment to its patrons and well-wishers. The first change in the management occurred October 13, 1855, when Silas Noyes withdrew, and his name as " miscellaneous editor " was "lifted from ehe form." In the following number (October 20), Henry A. Perkins and John Blake appear as the publishers, "office in the old court house " and in January, 1856, D. K. Noyes, the editor, having been chosen to represent his district in the Assembly, N. W. Wheeler made his bow to the public as the temporary perpetrator of editorial pabulum and local ;

jokes.

In September following, Ansel L. Kellogg* became associated with Mr. Noyes as contributing editor, and, in October, the names of Mr. Kellogg and H. A. Perkins appear as publishers, with the former as editor-in-chief. Mr. Noyes, after nearly two years of editorial labor, bade adieu to his friends and supporters in the following words :

" We have labored nearly two years, as far as we have been able, to build up a good Repubpaper in Sauk County. We have never claimed to be the gifted, the eloquent, the statesman we claim to be a patriotic pupil, willing to learn the politics and the history of our country. We can say to the friends of the Republic that we leave it in a prosperous condition, our hopes have been fully realized, the Republic is a living paper, and we leave it lican

;

content."

The new proprietors thus saluted the public: "Having been thus favorably introduced to the readers of the Republic, we are, of course, expected to make our bow and deliver a set speech. The former we do with a diffident pleasure ; against the latter, however, we shall have being unable, in these exciting times, f to offer anything better than an impromptu expression of our hope to serve the right and to meet the approval of our readers in so doing. to protest,

We contemplate many improvements, not the least of which is the moving of our charters to Mr. Taylor's bank building, south of the new court house."

The editor's promise of many new improvements was carried out at once, the leading being a complete new dress of type. The Republic soon obtained a high rank as a leading party organ. The copartnership between Messrs. Kellogg & Perkins was dissolved January 5, I860, and on the 4th of June, 1862, Mr. Kellogg's connection with the paper ceased, ami John W. Blake and C. E. Stuart became the proprietors. In August, 1863, Mr. Stuart withdrew, leaving Mr. Blake sole owner, in which capacity he continued until the 12th of April, In the meantime (August, 1864), the subscription price of the paper, owing to the 1865. advance in the price of paper, etc., was increased from §1.50 to §2 per annum. William II ill: was the successor of Mr. Blake. Mr. Hill was fresh from Southern battlefields, and, being an old ami experienced journalist, the Republic, under his management, lost nothing in loyalty or business prestige. In August, 1866, the proprietor dispensed with the "patent outside" system, which, even then, had become chronic in interior journalism. The appearance of the paper was further improved by providing it with a new dress of type. April 15, 1868, the form of (In Republic was changed by the addition of a column to each page, the columns also being made narrower.

On the 28th of August, 1872, Mr. Hill penned his valedictory, announcing his withdrawal from the proprietorship of the paper in favor of Joseph I. Weirieh. He said: "However *

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Hrpuhlir was thus run, In it,', mill

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Mr K, 11,--

acquired

paper colli, with war news,

fllli

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large fortune

"patent" side

]

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. much I might say in

41?.

acknowledgment of the steadfast support which has been given the Republic, and myself, personally, in these past eight years, I feel that mure should be left unsaid. Let me, then, briefly, since more avails not, return my deepest thanks to the many grateful

friends who have thus until now made my labors light.

Mr. Weirich made his bow to the public in a few well-chosen words, complimenting his predecessor upon having doubled the subscription list of the paper, and promising fealty to the Republican party. In April, 1874, Edwin E. Woodman took an interest in the Republic, the announcement being made in a simple copartnership notice, signed by the parties to the agreement. May 1, 1878, after the death of Mr. Weirich, the name of the remaining partner appeared as sole proIn January. 1880, J. H. Powers, a veteran typo, renowned for the fluency with which prietor. he wields a composing-stick, became the partner of Mr. Woodman. The Re public is under the immediate editorial supervision of the senior proprietor it holds an honorable place among its contemporaries. The subscription price is $1.50. The Independent. In July, 1866, Col. D. K. Noyes, but recently returned from the war, and having so well performed his part in putting down the rebellion that there was little likelihood of his being again called to the front, sought out some peaceful occupation. His impulse and talent tended toward journalism, and, previous experience having demonstrated his fitness for the business, he at once engaged in it. On the 17th of July, of the year above mentioned, the first number of the Independent was issued. Politically, it was supposed to be what its name indicated, but the strong Republican proclivities of the editor brought it within the category of a party organ. Col. Noyes, in his salutatory, said he felt no bitterness of partisanship, "We believe this to be the time for pacification, for toning down political excitement, and cultivating a more friendly feeling among our citizens, especially among the people of Sauk County." The Colonel published the hide/*, nd, nt one year, and then sold it to W. II. Canfield, M. J. Drown and I). S. Vittum, the two latter taking a fourth interest each. The office was soon afterward rented to Peter Richards and J. C. Chandler, who published the paper about three months, when Mr. Chandler was succeeded as editor by Mr. Canfield. The politics of the paper then became Democratic. In August, 1868, editor Canfield disposed of his interest to Messrs. Vittum & Drown, but continued as editor pro tern, until after the Presidential election. F. E. Everett succeeded Mr. Canfield. and in June, 1869, the Independent ceased to exist. The Sauk County Herald. Upon the ruins of the Independent, however, was soon founded another paper, the Sauk Count// Herald, the first number of which was issued January 6. 1870. J. C. Chandler was the responsible editor, and for a short time he made of the Herald probably the liveliest paper ever issued in Sauk County. Though brilliant, its career was brief. Poor "Shanghai " was appointed to take the census of Sauk County, and his zeal in the work led him to visit Juneau County for the purpose of " enumerating" old and convivial friends he had therein the meantime the Herald suspended. The material upon which it had been printed was used for a short time by Powers & Richards as a jobbing office. It was afterward taken to Elroy and used there in the Union office. From Elroy it was shipped to Lodi, in Columbia County, where, on the 22d of April, 1874, Peter Richards established the Lodi Valley News. The Sauk County Republican Established December 23, 1879, by Walter Noyes and C. W. Dykins, as a Republican paper. At the end of two months, Mr. Noyes withdrew from the concern, and Mr. Dykins was joined in the publication of the paper by Lis father. James Dykins, the style of the firm being James Dykins & Son. The Republican is an eight-column paper, devoted largely to local news. The office is well equipped with new material, including a Prouty press,* the only power press in the county at the present time, and the fir believed, ever u.<ed in the county. The Republican is issued on Tuesday of each week, at ;

—

>'l .50 * Tin' 1

per annum. Prouty pp-t

\v.<-

|ai. nt. <]

about tt

yi'.irs a _-.> ;

!: v

-ui ,.lry of W. F. Wuoklrr, and i- now in nso in Mazo Manio. interior pap-o-. a th - pr -.f Tin' inanufa. tun

used in tin- officos '

ylinder the bed of tl

1'r-mty, of M:i/.' Maul.Th.> first 'tie was Otiito :i miinOor >f tlnnn w. rr nnoP in tin- ~ ;'

manufactured f.

'.\

trri.-ij

ui in

Malison.

lYuity'-p

' 1

-molry

in Bara.

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

414

—

The Sauk County Democrat An eight-column weekly newspaper, issued at Baraboo on The Democrat, which in politics is all its name indicates Saturdays, by Joshua G. Ford. being, in fact, nothing if not a Democratic organ was established January 31, 1880. Mr. Ford is a veteran newspaper publisher, having been almost continuously in the business for the He published the Southern Shield at Owensburg, Ky., for many years subpast thirty years. The Democrat is a good local paper. Price, $1.50 per annum. sequent to 1856. The Wheelbarroiv Express. Was the title of a seven-by-nine sheet perpetrated by Cyrus H. McLaughlin in the fifties, after his return from the West. The little nondescript bristled with spice and jokes. McLaughlin, like many another man, had his enemies, and he made vigorous use of the Express as the whip or mentor, wielded in the form of ridicule, with which he The paper was short-lived. punished them.

—

•

—

SAUK CITY.

—

Pioneer and Wisconsin. The initial number of this paper was issued November 23, 1853, L. Joachime & Co. being the publishers, with C. Duerr as editor. It was located at the commencement of its existence in the place, Sauk City, where it yet remains. The first issue, and many subsequent issues, were five-column and quarto in size. In the salutatory, the editor speaks at large of the difficulties besetting the enterprise at such an early day, and alludes to the toils and deprivations of the pioneer as an illustration applicable to the character of the undertaking and position of the paper. He announces that the paper " will be Independent in politics, siding with parties only according to the demands of justice and the necessities of the times, and shall maintain the same position with regard to all other topics." The paper was edited in a fairly vigorous style from the first, and took sides strongly against slavery and pro-slavery laws, although leaning clearly to the side of Democracy and general Democratic interests. April 21, 1855, the paper became the property of C. Kuntz. The new editor announced to the people that he would maintain the principle of independence in politics that he would oppose slavery with might and main, and go against temperance fanaticism and Know-Nothingism with all his strength. He also speaks of the paper as the first publication on the banks of the Wisconsin, and further says that " it will doubtless have to fight for existence, like everything else in a new country." The paper, having been enlarged to six columns, with four columns printed in English, June 1, 1854, previous to Mr. Kuntz's ownership, was continued the same in size, but without anything printed in English. Messrs. Kohn & Baumann bought out Mr. Kuntz January 19, 1856, and immediately reduced the paper to its original size, five columns. During the time the paper was in the hands of these gentlemen, it maintained neutral ground, with a manifest preference for the Republican

—

party.

October 2, 1858, L. Crucius and H. Kleinpell bought the paper and effects, and very soon Republican in politics, the position which it now maintains. its earnest support to the Government, and loudly rejoiced when the slaves were liberated; consequently became very unpopular among Southern sympathzers, large numbers of whom then lived across the river in Dane County; so much so, indeed, that during Shrovetide festival, in February, 1863 (a festival that was then largely celebrated by the Catholics in this vicinity), and while the maskers from " Destroy the over the river were parading the streets of Sauk, some one cried out A rush was almost simultaneously made for the office, and, doubtless, it would Pioneer!" have come to grief had not the home-guards and citizens generally rushed to the rescue. In iN'>7. it was enlarged to six columns in size again. March 1. 1878, II. Muehlberg purchased Mr. Kleinpell's interest and assumed the editorial Mr. Muehlberg came into the position thoroughly fortified and prepared to mainmanagement. tain and improve the excellence of the paper, from having been connected with it for many years as foreman. The new (inn briefly announced in their salutatory that the paper would be conducted much as before, being independent upon all topics, and that it would be their chief aim after it became thoroughly

During the war, the Pioneer gave

REEDSBURG.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

417

advance the general interests of the community and to improve the former high standard of In 1879, the paper was enlarged by a weekly supplement, patent-sheet, called " The the paper. The Pioneer and Wisconsin is now the oldest living paper Story Teller," issued every week. in Sauk County, and is said to be the oldest paper in the State printed in the German language. It is ably edited and has a large circulation. to

Keedsburg.

—

Made its first appearance on the 21st day of October, 1856, publieedsbun/ Herahl by C. Lowman and P. Ruge, in the west wing'of the Reedsburg Hotel (L. Ordway's building), $1.50 per annum, " invariably in advance." The Herald was a seven- column quarto, filled with interesting reading matter and local advertisements, and, if we are to judge from the character of the selections on the first page, its "scissor editor" was brimful' of the tender passion, for there we find two pieces of poetry ''Think Not, Sweet One," and "True Purpose of Woman's Lips," the latter containing all the words in the vocabulary that would rhyme with •Kiss." These were followed by a story from Putnam s Monthly, entitled " How I The first column of the first page was devoted to profesCourted Lulu," in seven tableaux. sional and business cards, among which we find those of " E. G. Wheeler, attorney and counselor at law, County Judge and general land agent;" " J. Mackey, attorney and counselor at law, and Commissioner for the State of New York ;" " E. W. Olin, attorney at law and Notary Public;" "William Miles, attorney at law, Notary Public and land agent;" " G. Stevens, " Dr. Ramsey, office at post office." civil engineer and County Surveyor;" Among the business cards were the announcements of J. B. Gregory, brickmason, and W. Warren, blacksmith; and Alba B. Smith and J. and A. Smith carried on the Alba and Mansion Houses, respectively. Turning to the second page of this the first copy of the Herald, we find, in large, black campaign type, the names of James Buchanan, for President of the United States, and John C. Breckenridge for Vice President. Samuel Crawford was the choice of the Herald for Congress, and J. II. Wells and M. C. Waite for Senator and Assemblyman. E. C. Watson headed the county ticket for Sheriff, followed by E. P. Spencer for Register of Deeds, Charles Halasz for Treasurer, H. Nickerson for Clerk of the Board, William H. Joy for Clerk of the Court, William J. Huntington for Coroner, Giles Stevens for Surveyor and J. S. Tripp for District Attorney. Just how the Herald came to be Democratic in politics, we propose to let its editors tell in their own language. The " To the Public " or salutatory was signed by J. Mackey, E. G. Wheeler and S. Ramsey, who, after a brief appeal for public patronage in the measure of their merit, say " In coming before you to make our editorial bow, and ask your aid in carrying forward an enterprise, we shall depart somewhat from the path usually marked out by our predecessors, and shall confine ourselves to a brief statement of the facts connected with the origin of the Herald, and which have led to its publication, and given it the character in which it now appears. Some two months ago one of the publishers of this paper came here with the greater part of type and other printing materials, wishing to establish a paper in our village, and sought the aid of outcitizens in the enterprise. The proprietor met witli encouragement the people were anxious (or seemed to be) to have such a channel of communication. Subscriptions were made and money raised to prosure a press, and it was agreed by those mostly interested i.i the matter, that the paper should be devoted to home and foreign news- agriculture, literature, science, local information, etc., and independent in politics, and a prospectus was issued accordingly. In the meantime, a variety of causes, incident to ajirojectof this nature, conspired to delay its publication for •-in,' weeks longer than was anticipated, ami it was finally ascertained, that in order to bring the paper out at all, and give it such a character for stability and permanency as is necessarj to secure the public patronage, the individuals whose money and credit bad procured the pre-, etc.. should take the conduct and management of the paper into their own hands. With that view, a meeting of the stockholders was called, and the subject freely discussed, resulting in the Tin-

lished

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

418

appointment of the undersigned* as editors of the paper.

The offer had been freely made to all

classes of our citizens to take stock in the press at $5 a share, thus bringing it within the reach of all, and, though this offer had been before the public for nearly two months, and this, too, with

the understanding that the paper should be independent in politics, yet when the stockholders were called together, it was ascertained that, out of 120 shares, only three were owned by RepubIt was therefore the Republican party thus giving the project the cold shoulder.' licans agreed, that, inasmuch as the Democrats of the village were obliged to take the whole burden that the paper should adupon their own shoulders, justice and sound policy would dictate

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It was with this understanding vocate the sentiments of the Democratic party of the country. have accordingly that the undersigned accepted the appointment of the chair editorial. the Democratic national, State and county tickets, and shall mast head to our float them there and battle for their success, until their final ratification by the people on the

raised

4th of November next."

Following this was an editorial article, addressed " To the Electors of Sauk

County," set-

ting forth the rare and righteous principles then claimed for the Democratic party, and perforatAn account of the troubles in Kansas, ing the Republican platform with virtuous anathemas.

Democratic victories in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and an article on the early settlement and commercial advantages of Reedsburg, completed the a telegraphic dispatch conveying the news of

contents of the second page. On the third page were the marriage notices of Walter Bates and Isaac Flinn. of Baraboo, Stephen A. Greenslitt to to Miss Ruth Bunker and Miss Emily L. Bunker, of New Buffalo Miss Minora Loomis, both of Dellona Moses Young, of Reedsburg, to Miss Catharine Amelia Medberry, of Troy and Jonathan Knoles, of Freedom, to Miss Lydia Burnard, of Washing;

;

a list of letters remaining unclaimed in the post office of Reedsburg (E. W. Young, P. M.); L. H. Jewett, variety the advertisements of Green & Waterman, dry goods, groceries, etc. store A. Petty, jewelry M. & E. W. Young, staple and fancy goods; T. Lichtenhein & Co., dry goods and ready-made clothing; M. Finch, harness and saddlery; J. & A. Smith, stage ton

;

Ring & Demerest, market, eating saloon and groceries Clark k Sanburn, livery stable George Meyers, furniture and hardware, and numerous smaller notices of farms for sale, etc. The fourth page contained a few short selections, and most of the third-page advertisements already mentioned, which the editors were compelled to duplicate to " fill up." " Three Number 3 of the Herald announced the result of the election as follows They have done nobly. Within the last year, they cheers for the Democracy of Reedsburg have increased their vote from 46 to 110, while the Shanghais have increased theirs since last fall but 8. So much for a full discussion of our principles they have but to be understood to Our opponents, who counted on 150 majority, have but 34. be embraced. " P. S. Just as we are going to press we have returns showing that the Republicans have carried the county by not far from 900 majority." On the 5th of March, 1857, a dissolution of copartnership took place between Messrs. Lowman & Ruge, in the publication of the Herald, Mr. Ruge retiring from the firm and Mr. Lowman remaining as sole publisher. In April, there having arisen some dispute between the Herald and a Baraboo cotemporary, as to the authorship of a certain article. Mr. Lowman's name was placed at the head of the local columns, with the announcement that he would be and a month later (June 4) the Herald responsible for all that appeared therein in the future passed entirely to the management of Mr. Lowman, he having purchased it from the stockholders. Messrs. Mackey, Wheeler and Ramsey also withdrew from editorial responsibility, and Mr. Lowman's name appeared as sole editor and proprietor. But the struggle for existence, though manful, was without avail, and on the 21st of November, in Number 4 of Volume II, the editor made an aide appeal to his patrons, pointing out to them their duty toward their adopted party organ. The appeal, however, had not the desired effect of bringing a sufficient number of the delinquents to time to encourage Mr. Lowman's further publication of the Her-

line

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*MeBsrB. Muok'-y. "Wheeler and B

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

410

and the property was turned over to its original editors, Messrs. Wheeler, Ramsey and Mackey, who, after a delay of about a month, brought it out reduced in size to a six-column quarto. The editors acknowledged that they were not surprised to sec, • notwithstanding the three week -' The old year had gone, and the repose of the Herald,'' that the world had continued to wag. new arrived Kansas had not failed to bleed the Wisconsin Legislature had assembled in anaid,

;

nual session, ostensibly to make laws, but, as the editor feared, only to do mischief; the President had not changed his Kansas policy and still the Herald had actually been in a state of The new management was very brief. Retrenchment became suspension for nearly a month so urgently necessary that N. V. Chandler, who had removed hither but a short time previous, was employed to get oul the paper at a stipulated price per week, which he continued to do until some time in February, 1858, when, on consultation of the managers, examination of ks, etc., it was demonstrated that every number published involved a positive loss; under these circumstances, it was resolved to suspend publication forthwith, and the Reedsburg Herald

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was numbered among the things that were. The lu-cdaliiiri/ Free Fress. The life of a country editor, as we all know, is not an easy one; even after he becomes permanently established his trials do not cease. He still continues to be the ill-paid subject of merciless criticism, unless it so happens that within his composition is found that anomalous quality fitting him for the exceptional position of one who knows how to run a paper to suit everybody. But rarely have we encountered a recital of tribulations so vivid as the following from the pen of N. V. Chandler, the founder of the Free Press. For genuine perseverance and perpetual disappointment, the case, we believe, is without a parallel. "After the suspension of the IFerahl," says Mr. Chandler, "upon the publication of which I was employed by the Herald Printing Company, after the Lowman fiasco,' I busied myself as best I could, doing such jobs of printing as I could obtain to do, using the material of the defunct Herald, which I rented for that purpose, and, to eke out a subsistence, doing any other kind of work that offered, and even going to Baral and other points to work at my trade, when work could be procured. Sometime in the fall or winter of 1859-60, E. G. Wheeler, who had acquired a controlling interest in the stock of the company, sold the material of the Herald to a Mr. Wells, of New Lisbon, and I was thus deprived of my chief source of income. Business of all kinds, all over the country, was at a very low ebb, and the prospect of success in the newspaper business was far from flattering, even if I had possessed capital to embark in it. One day was remarking to a friend, Mr. Willard Shumway, the low condition of my finances, and despondingly inquired how I was to obtain the means of supporting my family, when he said tome Why don't you start a paper here?' Start a paper !' said I. 'Wha1 have got to start a 'Circulate a subscription,' said he, 'among the business men.' paper with? 'How much will you give?' said I, somewhat amused at the idea, which at the moment I did not entertain at all. Oh, I will give something,' said he. And so the conversation terminated. But the idea remained with me. I had canvassed almost every other scheme for obtaining an honest livelihood, and the prospect looked gloomy enough. After thinking the matter over for a day or two, I came to the conclusion that it could do no hurt to try the experiment. I had heard of a second-hand press I could buy at Richland Center for $50, and 1 believed that for $200 I could get together enough second-hand material to print a six-column paper. • Accordingly, I drew up a subscription paper, setting forth my intentions, and promising that if the sum of 8200 was raised. 1 would establish a paper and publish it one year, refunding the amount in advertising, job work or subscription no portion of the monej to be paid to me until the first number appeared. Notwithstanding the liberality of this proposition, after two weeks of persistent canvassing (during which 1 exhausted my powers of rhetoric and persuasion, and after demonstrating over and over again to my own satisfaction, at least, that if the amount was forthcoming, the paper would be also, and that for one year, at least, Reedsburg would be represented among the newspaper towns of the State), I had only obtained the pledge of In a fit of desperation, I went to J. F. Danforth, who was known $165, in sums of $5 to $20. to have some money, and proposed to him that if he would put down his name for the balance,

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

420

$35. I would give him a mortgage on the material of the office, when procured, before demanding the money, and would repay the loan in cash, with lawful interest, which was then, I think, After thinking the matter over two or three days, and after much urging, and 12 per cent. after taking counsel as to the binding nature of the agreement, he finally signed the subscription. looks very ridiculous at this distance of time, and in the light of the recent finan"All this Like but it was all dead earnest then. cial prosperity of the town and surrounding country the boy engaged digging out a wood-chuck by the roadside, when asked by a traveling preacher I've got to Get him ?' said the boy, who came along, if he thought he would get the animal. we're out of meat, and the minister is to be at our house to-night !' I was out of meat, get him ;

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and something had to be done. " Well, the amount of $200 being subscribed, the question arose as it available

purchase material.

how I was to make

By its terms, no part of the subscription was to be paid until

whole available capital was §5 the appearance of the first number. was in debt to the various merchants for the means of previous subsistence.

gold,

while

But faith in my

whatever I undertook was then strong within me, and, nothing daunted, I I left Reedsburg set out for Richland Center to secure the press, walking the entire distance. about 11 A. M. of a hot day in the beginning of May, and traveled through the woods, over mads entirely new to me, a considerable part of the way, to everybody else, also, as I could I stayed all night at a farmblazed trees. scarcely distinguish the track, and only went by house six miles this side of the Center, and the next morning walked in, through a drizzling terms which were that I should agreed upon and quickly its owner, I saw the press and rain. pav $50 for the press, and 15 cents a pound for about a hundred pounds of nearly new minion the type a condition of sellhe making the purchase of type, which was in a pied condition ability to accomplish

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But when the question of pay came to be discussed, a difficulty arose that ing me the press. He knew nobody in Reedsburg I was known by nothreatened to be fatal to the enterprise. I offered a note signed by myself and two citizens of Reedsburg, paybody at Richland Center. Finally, he bethought him that he hail a slight acquaintance with George able in two months. :

Flautt, then a law student at Reedsburg, and wrote him a letter, in which he stated that if 1 immeGeorge would certify to the responsibility of my indorsers, lie would sell me the press. diately started for home, where I arrived the same night, having walked thirty-six miles, and

made the bargain that day. " George Flautt having signed a statement that the indorsers of my note were good, I After resting procured a team and went for my press and my hundred pounds of minion type. a lew days, I started for Milwaukee and intermediate points, to hunt up the balance of the type I walked to a point fourteen miles beyond Portage, forty-four necessary to get out a paper. and the next morning walked four miles further, to Cammiles from Reedsburg, the first day I went to the bria Station, and took the cars for Beaver Dam, where I had acquaintances. He said Citizen office and inquired of the proprietor if he had any second-hand type for sale. lying in town, he had not, but, after a few moments' thought, said there was an old disused office I went to Stewart, who at first refused and that George Stewart was agent for the sale of it. but finally he acted to sell a part unless he could sell the whole, which included a power-press This gentleman, upon upon my suggestion that he ask the advice of Mr. Wells, of the Citizen. being consulted as to what he would do with the material in question if he owned it, replied 'Box it up and send it to the foundry for old type, as quick as I could.' This decided Mr. I told him I would give him Stewart to -ill. ami lie asked me what proposition I had to make. 50 per cent of the type-foundry price for everything I selected, which Mr. Wells tolcl him was Then came the question of pay, and I had a much harder time to an exceedingly liberal offer. convince Mr. Stewarl of the safety of selling me $2(H» worth of material than I hail the RichHe was not convinced of the responsibility of my sureties, and one propoland (enter man. sition after another was rejected, until finally I proposed to re-enforce the note signed by myself and the two Reedsburg men (one of whom was John Kellogg, whose unindorsed note would now he good for thousands of dollars) with a mortgage upon the materials purchased, and upon ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

This proposition was accepted, and I succeeded in selecting the press which I had at home. type, -cases, sticks, rides, dashes, etc., to the amount of $225, which I boxed up and shipped to Eight miles from Beaver Dam, I had two brothers living, Reedsburg without further delay. and one of them, Charles A. Chandler, who was a mechanic, accompanied me home to assist me in getting the office running. In the course of a month, on the 25th of June, 18(30, 1 got out my first paper upon this condemned, second-hand type, which an excellent printer, Mr. Cullaton, had pronounced utterly unfit for use, and upon the $50 press, which, when 1 bought it, was so utterly out of joint that the seller had no idea that it could ever be used and so well did I use my knowledge of presses and type that, when it appeared, the paper was ;

highly complimented by the State press, and the Milwaukee Sentinel, in noticing it, went so far :i- to say, 'printed from new type.' Upon the issue of the paper. I realized upon my subscription paper which I had previously circulated, §160, not availing myself of the arrangement with Mr. Danforth and. as the number of cash-paying subscribers was very fair, I was at once able to liquidate the indebtedness, and put the paper, which I had christened the Free Press, ;

upon a paying basis. " I fulfilled my agreement with the citizens of Reedsburg, continuing the paper until the 7th of September, 1861, when, the war being then in progress, the people of this community, like those of every other throughout the nation, were greatly exercised over the heavy taxation, expected to ensue, and could give no positive assurance of support, though they professed themBut Mr. Wells, of selves satisfied with the paper, and would do what they could to support it. New Lisbon, having lost his press, through inability to pay for it, made me what I regarded a Argus until the 'ounty I run the Juneau good offer, to move my press up there, which I did. fall of 1802, when, the county having gone Democratic and elected a county ticket in the interest of Mauston, thus depriving me of the county printing, I suspended publication, and in February following moved my family and printing material back to Reedsburg; but I did not engage in publishing a paper, because of the unsettled and embittered state of public feeling. In the last days of that year 1863, 1 entered the military service, where I remained until June, 1866 more than a year after the close of the war. Upon arriving home, I found that my press and material had been sold, to go to Mazo Manie, and I therefore turned my attention to other <

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pursuits."

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Mr. Chandler has neglected to mention the fact which of course every one then knew, but which every one would not know a hundred years hence should we now fail to record it that the Free Press was a stanch Republican paper, and its first number was issued just in time Abraham Lincoln and to announce the nominees of the Chicago Convention of June, 1860 Hannibal Hamlin. In his indorsement of the nominees, the editor said: " As to our political

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course, we need only to refer our readers to the flag which we carry at the mast-head, inscribed

with the names of the gallant rail-splitter of Illinois and the printer-lawyer of Maine, and to the declaration of principles as set forth by the Republican National Convention. And now up to the ceiling goes the editorial felt, while we hurrah for Old Abe. the giant of the

West."

The motto of the Free Press

Typowas, "Pledged but to truth, to liberty and law." was probably the neatest paper in the Northwest. In its first number we find the of A. O business cards of Stevens & Miles, J. Mackey and E. G. Wheeler, attorneys at law Hunt and A. West, Justices of the Peace; of Dr. S. Hall, physician and surgeon of J. Barnhart, wagon and carriage maker; of M. Finch, harness-maker; of A. Pettyes, fashionable tailor: of William A. Pixley, watchmaker and jeweler; F. A. Weir, advertised the Alba House, and Perley Sargent the Western Hotel, while Justus Freer appeared as the landlord of Cottage Inn, at Delton. Sanford & Son sold sufficient dry goods to enable them to employ a column of the Free Press to tell the people about it, while J. L. Green was not far behind in the same line of business. John Kellogg sold plows and ice cream and lemonade and anvils, and anything else in any other line to be thought of. Dr. Ramsey sold drugs, paints, highwines, etc.; Volney Ayres did blacksmithing, and Electa Ayres had a farm for sale I! C. Lewis graphically

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

*-!>

D. R. Kellogg took pictures J. W. Lusk and H. M. Haskell, issued insurance policies, and M. Shumway sold ice; Murray & Jones, Baraboo, kept hardware, while Moritz Pietzsch bound books G. H. Stewart & Co., of Beaver Dam, advertised the product of their woolen mill and altogether the Free Press was well patronized. As has been stated by Mr. Chandler in his reminiscence, the Free Press was suspended in September, 1861. After a sleep of nearly eleven years, it was resurrected. The first number of the new series appeared March 22, 1872, and the success of the enterprise, it is said, was marked and immediate. Mr. Chandler continued its publication until July 1, 1878, when he disposed of what he had made a very good property to John W. Blake, a veteran typo and publisher, and John H. Powers, the latter now being one of the publishers of the Baraboo Republic. In November, 1879, Mr. Powers sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Blake, who is at present the sole proprietor. The Free Press is the largest paper published in Sauk County, being a nine-column quarto. On political propositions it has always been soundly Republican locally, it is a fair specimen of what a local paper should be. The Sauk County Herold Printed in the German language, is the title of the only other newspaper published in Reedsburg. It was established in 1876, the first number being issued on the 22d of December of that year, by William Raetzmann and Richard Porsch. It is an eight-column quarto, ably edited and carefully printed. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Raetzmann purchased his partner's interest and is now the sole publisher and responsible editor.

was the

village tinner, and

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Peaieie du Sac. Sauk ('utility News. This paper was established by the firm of Burnett & Son, of Black It Earth, Dane County, and G. W. Ashton, of Prairie du Sac, on the 21st of October, 1876. was a six-column quarto, with E. W. Ashton as responsible editor. The News was printed at

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Black Earth and published at Prairie du Sac. Mr. Ashton conducted the paper until Nov. 1877, when his interest passed into the hands of S. W. Corwith, who enlarged it, adding one column to each of its four pages. Politically and socially, let the News speak for itself, in a prospectus issued by its present editor, Mr. Corwith, soon after mounting the editorial tripod " It will advocate good government, independent of party lines. Principles first, men and parties afterward. The News will labor for the interests of this town and the county in particular, and the world in general. It will appreciate kindness from its friends and kicks from its enemies, if any there be. For every dollar it receives it will give value in the very best service that The News will always exercise the broadest charity concan be rendered through its columns. sistent with right and justice; it will not censure without cause, or approve that which has no merit." The circulation of the News has increased from 150 copies, under former management, :

to 600.

Spring Green. In December, 1877, J. F. Morrow, of Spring Green, established the Dollar Times, a weekly journal with greenback proclivities and patent outside, printed at Black Earth. Dane Robert T. Warner was the County, and dated and circulated in Baraboo and Spring Green. The editor of the Baraboo edition, while Mr. Morrow conducted the Spring Green issue. Dollar Times was a sprightly local paper, but seems to have espoused an unpopular political

The Baraboo issue was suspended under a postal regulation' relative to rates of postage. About this time the name of the paper was changed to the 1 at, r-County Times, and under this

cause.

suspended publication in the spring of 1880.

title,

SOME OF SAUK COUNTY'S ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD.

The compiler of this work has been only partially successful in his efforts to secure for its pages sketches of the lives of the leading actors in this historical drama. Not a few of the early settlers

lives

;

and others prominent in the county's history have passed away, leaving no record of their and, in some instances, there are no relatives, at this late date, to furnish the desired infor-

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

-423

Jonathan Hatch was born in Milton, Conn., September 14, 1793 he died in the village of Lyons on the 14th When quite young, his parents moved to Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and of January, 1879. at the age of eighteen he left his home and went to the head of the Alleghany River and engaged in In 1813, he spent ten months in the army and lumbering, rafting on that and the Ohio River. helped to build Fort Stephenson, on the Lower Sandusky, being engaged meantime in several ;

skirmishes with Indians. In 1835, he came to Wisconsin, and in 1836 first saw the soil of Sauk County, being of a party of surveyors that platted " Superior City," on the Wisconsin River, opposite what is now Sauk City. In June, 1839, he moved to Sauk Prairie, and there raised the first oats, corn,

He was married in 1818, and wheat and potatoes ever brought forth from Sauk County soil. He became a widower, and in due eight daughters and one son was the result of this union. course of time June 12, 1845 married a sister of William Johnson. By her he had one child, a daughter, now the wife of J. B. Duncan. The daughters of his first wife grew to womanhood Jonathan Hatch was highly respected. the son died young.

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James S. Alhan was one of the very first pioneers of Sauk County, Mrs. Alban being the first white woman in the county. He located on Sauk Prairie in January of 1839, and afterward engaged in the practice of law at Sauk City. He was well read in his profession. About 1850, he removed to He Plover, where he was subsequently chosen to represent his constituents in the Legislature. also served as County Judge, and, when the rebellion broke out, entered the Union army as Colonel of the Eighteenth Regiment. He lost his life on the battle-field at Shiloh.

Peescott Brigham emigrated from the town of Shrewsbury, Worcester Co., Mass., to Blue Mounds, Wis., in 1838 thence to Sauk County in June, 1840. Mrs. Brigham died October 20, 1846, and is remembered as a most excellent woman. Their house was like an oasis in the desert, ever open to strangers and neighbors. Mr. Brigham's last days were spent with his son-in-law, T. B. Cowles, in the town of Sumter. At an early day, he was an advocate for locating the county seat at Baraboo Rapids, as it was then called, and loaned to the county the money with which to purchase from the Government the quarter-section of land upon which the village now stands. Out of respect for Mr. Brigham, the place was first called Adams, by his request, from the great esteem in which he held John Quincy Adams. Mr. Brigham was elected to the office of Register of Deeds in 1845, serving two years. He died on the 28th of May, 1862.

Eben Peck Shoreham, Addison Co., Vt., in 1804, and was taken to Middlebury, Genessee, now Wyoming County, N. Y., by his parents when quite a child, and on his return to Vermont in 1827, he established himself in business in Middleton, Rutland County. There he was married February 24, 1829, to Miss Roseline Willard, whose mother was Julia Ann Burnham, and her grandmother Burnham (wife of John Burnham, an able member of the Bennington ban was a sister of Gen. Isaac Clark, of Castleton, Vt., a soldier of the Revolution, who also commanded a regiment in the war of 1812, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention and Judge of the County Court; died at Castleton January 31, 1822. Gen. Clark was the grandfather of Satterlee Clark, a Wisconsin pioneer of 1830. Miss Willard was born February 24, 1808, at Middleton. She was married in the house in which she was born, her parents, grandparents ami others being present. In 1832, they removed to Middlebury, N. Y., and thence, in 1836, to Blue Mounds, Wis. Mrs. Peck was the first white woman to cross the Baraboo Bluff's. She now resides on her farm near Baraboo, in the enjoyment of good health. Mr. Peck started for California in 1844, and, though since reported as in Texas or New Mexico, is supposed to have been massacred by savages on the plains.

was born

424

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY AiinsTON HARASZTHY,

more familiarly known as Count Haraszthy, was born in 1812, in the Comitat of Bacska, Hungary. His family was one of the oldest and most influential of the old nobility, the name appearing frequently in the history of that country extending over a period of seven hundred He was educated to the law, as was the custom there, and at the age of and sixty yeai-s. eighteen was a member of the body-guard of the Emperor Ferdinand, which was composed of After filling the office of Chief Executive of State for a period, he became the Private nobles. Secretary of the Viceroy. When the Liberal movement began in 1839-40, he at once took the lead of that party, but was afterward, through the failure of the movement, compelled to leave He came to New York, and, after traveling over the United States, he wrote and his country. published a book upon their resources. The work was designed to invite emigration from Hungary, and was the first work upon that subject ever printed in the Hungarian language. About 1S40, he made Wisconsin his home, purchasing large tracts of land, founding several settlements, building bridges, constructing roads and establishing ferries. Having in his possession valuable State papers, the Austrian Government opened negotiations for their surrender. The question was referred to Lewis Cass, who succeeded in gaining permission for Havaszthy to return to Hungary and remain for one year. This he did, settling up his affairs, and, although his landed estates were confiscated, he succeeded in saving $150,000, which he brought with him to this country, together with his family and a large portion of the family plate and paintings. Returning to Wisconsin, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1842, after having, through the perfidy of a land officer, lost $5,000 in attempting to establish a colony, he came to the beautispot where now stands the village of Prairie du Sac. Here he founded a new colony, calling by his own name (Haraszthy), and had it incorporated. He started a horse ferry across the and subsequently ran a steamboat down the Wisconsin and Mississippi to St. Louis. But yearly recurring prairie fires destroyed his crops and many of his buildings besides, the commercial crisis of 1847 crippled him severely. His family joined him in 1844. and in 1846 he succeeded in having his place selected as the county seat of Sauk County, building a court house at his own expense. Still, the many losses between that year and 1849 told heavily on his finances, and, with a long train of over fifty associates, he started overland for California. He settled at San Diego, was elected Sheriff of the county, afterward laid out '' Middle San Diego," and, in 1852, was elected a member of the Legislature. From San Diego, he removed to San Francisco, thence to the adjoining county of San Mateo, devoting himself to agriculture. President Pierce appointed him Assayer in the United States Branch Mint in San Francisco, and at a later period he was made melter and refiner. In 1856, he removed to Sonoma County, and engaged in viniculture. He was the first to employ Chinese labor in his vineyards. In 1861, he was appointed by the Governor of California as a Commissioner to visit the wine countries of Europe, which resulted in the importation of four hundred different varieties of grapevines. A year later, he was chosen President of the California State Agricultural Society. In 1863, he organized the Buena Vista Vinicultural Society, to which he conveyed his four hundred acres of vines in Sonoma County. In 1868, he went to Nicaragua, where he became interested in sugar plantations, and erected an extensive distillery for the manufacture of spirits. In 1869-70, he returned to California to charter a vessel with which ti> open trade between San Francisco and the ports of Nicaragua. Upon his return to Central America, he was drowned while attempting to cross a stream of water by means of a fallen tree which reached from bank to bank. His body was never found, and it is suoposed to have been devoured by crocodiles or carried by the swift current to the ocean, four miles distant from the scene of the tragedy. Count Haraszthy will long be remembered as one of the substantial pioneers of " Old Sauk." James Maxwell ful it

river, mape excellent roads, established mills and stores,

;

was born at Guilford, Windham Co., Vt., May 1, 1789. Removed to Walworth County in 1837, which county he represented in the Territorial Council for six years, being President

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

*25

In the spring of that year, he crossed the Baraboo Bluffs and began ai of that body in 1840. Manchester the improvement of the water-power, but soon after he returned to Walworth County, where he continued to reside until 1840, when he came to Baraboo the second time, and made a

permanent settlement. In the same year, he erected the first building upon the public square, The only other building in Baraboo proper at that time, the once well-known old corner store. In 1851 and 1853, he was a prominent candidate in the Whig conwas the log schoolhouse. ventions of the State, and at one of those conventions was nominated for Secretary of State. The decline of that party worked Mr. Maxwell's defeat. In 1856, he removed to the western At the date of his death the part of Nebraska and opened a large farm on the Platte River. he was residing at the home of his son in Baraboo. 16th of December, 1869

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Stephen Van Ranssalaek Ablejian was born December 25, 1809, in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County. State of New His father,' Christian G. Ableman, lie died July 10, 1880, at Ableman, Wis. York. was born in Prussia, liermany. He was a soldier of our Revolution. His mother, Reirina Kanier, was born in Claverack, Columbia Co., N. Y. In a few months after, her parents arrived from Bordeaux, in France. In 1820, his parents moved to Albany. Stephen for two years was sent tn the Laneastarian School in that city. In May, 1822, he was bound an apprentice during his minority, as the old indenture reads, " to learn the art, trade and mystery of a carpenter and joiner, after the manner of an apprentice, for and during the full end of the term, during all which the said operative, his said masters, faithfully shall serve, their secrets keep, and their lawful commands everywhere readily obey. He shall do no damage to his said masters, or see it done by others without letting or giving notice thereof to his said masters, nor waste his masters' goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any person. At cards, dice or any other unlawful game he shall not play. Whereby his said masters may have damage with their own goods or He without license from his said masters, he shall neither buy nor sell. the goods of others shall not absent himself day or night from his masters' service without their leave; nor hauntought operative ale-houses, taverns or play-houses, but in all things behave himself as a faithful during the said term; and the said masters shall use the utmost of their endeavors to teach or cause to be taught or instructed the said operative in the art, trade and mysteries of a carpenter and joiner, and promise to provide for him sufficient meat, drink, boarding, mending, lodging and washing, fitting for an operative during said term of time, and pay him in cash the sum of Signed and sealed." $25 per year, to be advanced and paid as his necessities may require. This indenture was canceled December 25, 1830. In 1825, by the consent of his masters, he enlisted as a drummer in the National Guards, He was Ninth Rifle Regiment, and served in all their drills in this capacity for four years. then rhosen Ensign, and rendered this service for three years, until elected Captain of the same company. He then took his discharge. It reads, "Thirty- first Brigade, Ninth Rifle Regiment. S. V. R. Ableman has paraded in the said Ninth Rifle Regiment, uniformed and equipped according to law, and has performed all such military duty as has been required of him for the space of seven years last past, and is, therefore, free from military duty, except in cases of insur;

rection or invasion, or when called into actual service."

May 4, 1831, he married Elizabeth Bolt Jarvis. She was bom October 25, 1812, and died May 19, 1800. She was confined to her bed for the last eleven years of her life, a great sufferer from neuralgia and rheumatism. The issue of this Nearly all her joints became ossified. marriage was two children a son who was born June 14, 1832, ami drowned in the Bay of San Francisco March 24. 1853, and a daughter, Laura Elizabeth (now Mrs. E. C. Watson), burn September 7, 1835. After Mr. Ableman's marriage to Miss Jarvis, he immediately opened a carpenter shop on Water street, Albany, and has since performed many heavy contracts. July 2'.'. 1833, Ensign Ableman was elected Captain, with rank from date, of the National Guards, Ninth Rifle Regiment, Thirty-first Brigade, commissioned by Gov. William L. Macy, Levi

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426

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

In 1838, he was elected Colonel of the Two Hundred and FortyHubble Adjutant General. ninth Regiment, New York State Militia, and duly commissioned. In 1843, Col. Ableman was elected Alderman of the Eighth Ward, Albany, N. Y., and served as such, and was subsequently He was also appointed Commissioner of the Poor of said county, and keeper of the re-elected. almshouse for 1842 and 1843. In the spring of 1845, he came to the broad West, arriving with his family in Milwaukee He established there the first Woodworth Planing Mill, and, in 1848, he on the 17th of June. This built a steam planing-mill, and a sash, door and blind manufactory on West Water street. season he located lands in Sauk County, in Excelsior. In 1850, he sold his mills and moved Baraboo, and commenced improving his lands. After a few months' residence temporarily to here, he moved to the point that afterward became his permanent home. In 1853, Col. Ableman was appointed United States Marshal for the State of Wisconsin, by Franklin Pierce, and served as such until Buchanan's administration, in June, 1858. While in this capacity, he arrested the slave Glover, whose case, it will be remembered, caused so much excitement and agitation. November 30, 1865, he married Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Capt. Watson, and widow of the late Capt. Adam Gilmore. In 1869, the Colonel wrote and published several articles, over the signature of " Locomotive," urging the people of the Baraboo Valley to organize for railroad purposes, and laid down a plan of operation. The force with which these letters were written caused an organization to be made, which was entitled the Baraboo Air Line Railroad Company. The Colonel was chosen President of this company. The commencement of the work, and then the sale to the Chicago k North-Western Railroad Company, and the construction of the line through the county within one year's time, was viewed with inexpressible satisfaction by the Colonel. The Chicago & North-Western Railroad Company, out of esteem for him, named the station at the village then known as Excelsior, "Ableman." The post office and village have since received the same name. Col. Ableman built the well-known hotel, the Delavan House, in Albany. He also built the Methodist Church in Baraboo, on coming here, and before settling on his lands at Ableman. When he selected those lands, he drove across the country from Milwaukee. The belief then was that the first railroad west would follow the Baraboo Valley. The Colonel looked along this valley, and, coming to the Narrows near Ableman, readily decided that a railroad never could miss that point, and so purchased lands there. It was many years before his hopes of a railroad were realized, and he was then past active life. His sole remaining ambition was to sit on his porch and see a train go by. He lived a number of years after the present road fulfilled his desire. Col. Ableman was a man of strong characteristics, but one of the best-hearted and most genial friends in the world. He was a giant in size and strength, but never used his physical power but usefully.

Cyrus Clark Remington was born in Sheridan, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., November 10, 1824, and died in Baraboo, October 13, 1878. He came to Wisconsin when 16 years of age with his parents, who settled in Waukesha County. All imaginable hardships in pioneer life were the lot of the Remingtons in their new home, and the subject of this sketch was compelled to apply himself vigorously to the toils incident to farming. His few leisure hours, however, were devoted to study, and he soon became competent to instruct the youth in his father's neighborhood, and was for several terms engaged as teacher. He remained in this capacity farmer-teacher tor nearly six years, when he went to study law in the office of Alexander Randall, of Waukesha, afterward Governor of the State. He subsequently went to Milwaukee and finished his professional reading with Messrs. Finch A Lynde, being admitted to the bar February 16, 1847. In May following, he entered the county of Sauk, en route for Baraboo, with his wardrobe and library upon his back in a carpet bag, and with 25 cents in his pocket. At that time, Lyons was the Athens <4' the Baraboo Valley, and here young Remington paused in his westward march, and

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HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

427

In 1852, he was married to Maria S. Train, took board at the house of Alexander Crawford. In 1854, he represented in the Assembly, the district com prisby win mi he had six children.

ing Adams and Sauk Counties, and he was County Judge of the latter from 1870 to 1873, when he resigned. As a lawyer, Mr. Remington stood at the head of the Sauk County bar. lie never sullied his professional character by a questionable, much less a dishonorable, act. As a wise counselor, he was the reliance of many business men, who had implicit faith in him. As a citizen, he was honorable, patriotic and public-spirited. It is worthy of record, that, when the war of the rebellion broke out, he loaned the United States Government $1,000 to help the cause along, and did it from a pure sense of duty. This act was characteristic of his citizenship.

Albert Jameson, one of Sauk County's earliest settlers, died at his home, in the town of Sumter, November 17, 1875. He was born in Wilkesbarr, Penn., August 15, 1809. Removing to Ohio in 1834, he spent two years in that State, and then went to Rockford, 111., where he married Miss Elizabeth Hoover, November 25, 1837. From Rockford he soon removed to Belmont, Wis., and, in December, 1838, in company with three others, he came to Sauk County, crossing tho Wisconsin River on the ice. The following season, the four pioneers made claims on Sauk Prairie, where Mr. Jameson lived until his death, with the exception of a few years he spent in California, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho. He was an enthusiastic lover of the sublime and wonderful in nature, and was always entertaining and happy in his descriptions of what he had seen. He had collected many rare minerals and curiosities in his travels in the wonderful West.

IIenuy Howard Potter, was born November 6, 1824, at Hartsville, Onondaga Co, N. Y. He came to Baraboo in Returning to Pennsylvania (where 1849, remaining a year as clerk for James A. Maxwell. his parents made their home soon after his birth) he remained five years, returning to Baraboo permanently in 1855. In the fall of 1856, he was married to Emma A., eldest daughter of James A. Maxwell. Five children were born to them. Mrs. Potter survived her husband, and is still a resident of Baraboo. Mr. rotter possessed traits that gave him many warm friends. He was warm-hearted, charitable, trustful, candid. His influence was powerful through his large accpuaintance with men, but he never used that influence unworthily.

Alexander Crawford In 1830, be removed to Ohio, and there Delaware County, N. Y., in 1798. resided until 1839, when he removed to Michigan. In 1844, he came to Wisconsin, and in February, 1845, settled in Baraboo. The public lands were not then in market, but a claim of an acre was bought from Moore & Wood, on which Mr. Crawford erected a log house, occupying the spot upon which he lived until his death. For many years, his was a favorite stopping-place for travelers. Count Haraszthy was numbered among the transient guests. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford celebrated their golden wedding on the 23d of September, 1869, and on the 13th of September, 1870, Mr. Crawford was relieved of his earthly cares by death.

was born

Robert Cram ford was born in Greenfield, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1820. He came to Wisconsin, and settled in Baraboo in 1845. He helped to erect the old Maxwell Mill, and w as a partner with B. L. Brier, in the erection of the first carding-mill northwest of Madison. In 1863, Mr. Crawford enlisted in the Third Cavalry, in which he served three years. During this period his health was undermined, and after his return he failed rapidly. He was of the mold of men through whose energies the young territories have grown great honest, neighborly, of sound judgment, enterprising and public-spirited. He died January 31, 1868. T

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

428

Harvey Canfikld was born in New Milford, Conn., July 4, 1794, and removed with his father's family when a He came to Wisconsin in 1844, boy to the then wilds of the West, Onondaga County, N. Y. and settled in what was afterward known as the village of Lyons. He was an energetic business Before coming to Wisconsin, he was a contractor on the man, speculative and enterprising. then a farmer, salt manufacturer and merchant then a gold digger Erie Canal at Little Falls afterward a contractor on the Oswego Canal, and also on the Auburn & Syrain the Carolinas He died, it is supposed, of heart disease, while cuse Railroad and the Genesee Valley Canal. plowing on his field near Baraboo, on the 18th of October, 1861. He was buried with Masonic honors, of which order he was an active member. ;

;

Daniel Schebmeehoen. fails to reveal the birthplace of Daniel Schermerhorn. He was born August 27, 1793, and died in Wonewoc August 26, 1875. The following tribute to his memory " And so the pure, grand, peculiarly appeared in the local papers at the date of his death Old Judge has at length been admitted to the Grand Lodge eccentric, widely-known, honest The patriot soldier, the first magistrate, and the ever-esteemed citizen, the pioneer above.' whose name all pioneers loved to hear so well, very ripe in the harvest time, is gathered in by A remarkable man, whose sterling, positive qualities commanded such the Mighty Reaper. respect that most of the time for fifty-four years he was in public life, a sworn officer of some sort, although he never attended school six weeks in his life yet he had a great understanding of very many things of the world, and not a narrow view of any question whatever. His ideas were as ennobling as his once towering, noble form and features in every way a self-made man His life was indeed a grand success from boyhood to manhood." aye, every inch a man.

Diligent search

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Daniel Baxter

He came to Wisconsin Territory in 17S7 in one of the New England States. in 1837, settling in Green County. He moved to Prairie du Sac at a very early date in the county's history. Mr. Baxter held an honorable place in public life in the Empire State, having been a member of the Legislature in 1828 and 1829, in which capacity he served with Silas He was a member of both of Wisconsin's ConstiWright. Millard Fillmore and other noted men. tutional Conventions. He was also one of the contractors who built the old Territorial Capitol, for his part in which, it is claimed, he never received his full pay. He died at Prairie du Sac on was born

the 18th of September, 1867.

James W. Babb was born about three miles from Winchester, Frederick Co., Va., September 26, 1789. He remained in Virginia until the fall of 1810, when he was about twenty-one years old. removing at that time, with his father, to Greene County, Ohio, where he remained for a year or two before returning to Virginia, to bring thence as a bride, Rebecca Scarft", whose acquaintance he had formed before moving thence. He ultimately received from his father 400 acres of valuable land, which he improved, and became one of the substantial men of his section. But, having frequently become security for other parties, and generally having the debts to pay, he found himself, in the year 1845, seriously embarrassed, and determined to sell his property in Ohio, and Accordingly, he disposed of his real remove to the " Far West," and make himself a new home. estate, and early in April, 1845, started for Wisconsin Territory, in company with two persons named Kilpatrick, distant relatives of Mr. Babb's, one of whom lived near Janesville. and had been East on a visit. This person gave Mr. Babb a glowing description of a beautiful prairie, with rich, deep soil, lying in the valley of the Baraboo River, above Baraboo, which he had crossed in one of his hunting tours, and which had rarely, if ever before, been trodden by the foot He of civilized man and it was to sec and claim this prairie that Mr. Babb started from Ohio. was also accompanied by his son John. The journey was made with a horse team across the ;

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

429

Indiana and Illinois, and with a short tarry at Kilpatrick's house in Rock Arrived at Baraboo, then a mere hamlet, County, Wis., the party pushed on to this place. the party was augmented by several persons, among others by a Mr. Clark, who knew the way. They probably came through the Narrow Creek Gap, as the first view they obtained of the prairie was from the bluff back of the Dixon place, on the 1-th day of May. Mr. Babb was then upward of fifty-five years of age, in the very prime of his manhood, of strong physical frame, robust health and iron will, and the difficulties and hardships of such an undertaking as he contemplated, and which would-be sufficient to appeal to one of less courage and powers of endurance, Sticking his claim stake, he proceeded at once to improve, employing had no horrors for him. parties upon Sauk Prairie to come up and break seventy acres of land, upon a' portion of* which lie raised, the same season, a crop of buckwheat, potatoes, etc. He built a double log house, after the Southern style, two stories in height, consisting of two buildings sixteen feet square, separated between by an open space twelve feet wide, but with the upper story extending the The front of the building faced the south. Upon the north side, whole length, forty-four feet. the alley between the buildings was extended twelve feet by an addition of logs, and closed at the north end, making a room twelve by twenty-eight feet, one story high. The whole was covered with shingles, obtained from an adjacent pine grove, where there were already hardy lumbermen engaged in converting the timber into lumber and shingles. To raise this house the logs having been prepared by Mr. Babb and his son, and perhaps some other persons it was thought to utilize the labor of the friendly Indians; but after getting the building up some distance, Mr. Babb became afraid that the reckless way in which they handled the heavy timbers would result in seriou3 injury to them, procured help from Baraboo and Sauk, respectively sixteen and twenty-eight miles and thus the building was raised. The same summer he went to Baraboo, purchased lumber, built a flat-boat, loaded it with provisions and other useful articles, and poled it up the river to his place. The boat was afterward used as a ferry-boat to cross Some time in December heteams at Reedsburg, when the river was too high to be forded. Early in the spring of 1846, accomreturned to Ohio, where he remained during the winter. panied by his sons John (and his wife) and Strother and Wash Gray, he started for Wisconsin again, bringing some household stuff and a set of blacksmith's tools, which Strother knew how to use. They arrived here in time to get in a crop that season. Early in the fall, Mr. Babb returned alone to Ohio for his family, and w as somewhat hurried up in his preparations for moving by the intelligence that the land sale in this district would take place on the 1st of December. In the 30th day of October, he started on the return journey, with his wife, his son Philip, his daughter Betsey, and her husband, Stern Baker, bringing the remainder of his worldly goods, It took nearly a whole month to reach Whitewater, and there the weather was so cattle, etc. cold that the party halted for a couple of days, and Mr. Babb left them to go to Mineral Point to enter his land, which he did, entering 000 acres in a body at that time. Journeying onward, the party reached Portage City, then Fort Winnebago, on the 28th of November, where they found considerable anchor-ice running, and a high wind prevailing, and they were obliged to camp eight days before they could prevail upon the ferrymen to cross them over. Upon this sid they were rejoined by Mr. Babb, who was accompanied by Don C. Barry, and they made the home stretch inside of two days, arriving at the Prairie on the 8th day of December, 184(3. For years, Mr. Babb and his family were constantly surrounded by Indians, and for some time they were almost his only neighbors; and it speaks volumes for his justice and generosity, that he and his were always upon friendly terms with the aborigines: ami that, throughout the whole period of thirty years which elapsed since his first settlement, neither he nor any of his family ever lost $5 by the depredations of their red neighbors, shows that they fully appreciated tinjustice and generosity. Mr. Babb died on the 14th of May, 1ST"), and was buried according to oft-expressed wishes, without religious ceremony. •' Babb's Prairie " will probably be known as such to future generations. It is the garden Mr. Babb made acquisitions to his original claim until his farm comprised apol of Sauk County. 1,800 acres, almost all of it being at one time or another under cultivation. The productions of >i,iiis

of Ohio.

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(

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

430

In 1860, there were raised upon it, 17,500 bushels of grain. 900 bushels of potatoes, 160 tons of hay, and a proportionate amount of vegetables. Philip Babb. the eldest of the sons, still resides upon the homestead. this

farm were very large.

Alfred Avery was born near New London, Conn., on the 9th of March, 1797. He was descended from an ancient and honorable family that settled early with the Massachusetts colony. From the early settlement of New London and Groton, his ancestors, the Averys and the Allyns, on the mother's side, held a prominent place in society. The first thirteen names on the Groton monument to those murdered at Fort Griswold were his immediate relatives. His father was one of the few picked men whom " Mad Anthony " Wayne led that dark night to take Stony Point. In 1805, his father, with his family, formed a part of a colony which emigrated from Granville and Granby, in Massachusetts, to Central Ohio. The new Granville that they built soon became a marked educational center. When he was but nine years of age his father died, and he was thus thrown early in life upon his own resources, and, when only twelve, engaged to chop and clear a piece of land. He was but a mere lad when he supported his mother and two sisters. A youth of fifteen, he served in the war of 1812, after which he engaged in the mercantile business, driving the hogs and cattle which he took for pay, over the mountains to Baltimore, and carrying provisions to New Orleans on flatboats. Before the advent of railroads, he had crossed the Alleghany Mountains eighty times, and when there were twenty-six States in the Union, he had visited all of them on business. He helped build the Ohio and Maumee Canals; established one of the first iron foundries in the State and was President of the first bank in Granville. He removed to New York in 1846, and engaged in the wholesale dry-goods business, in which he continued until 1854, when, having established his eldest sons in the same business, he ceased to be an active partner. In 1868, he came to Baraboo, where he lived and enjoyed the respect and confidence of the community, until xApril 11, 1880, when he died, in the eightyfourth year of his age, mourned by all who knew him. Mr. Avery married Jane Mower in 1823, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. In 1836, he became a widower, and, in 1843, he married Lavinia Dexter, by whom he had one daughter. ;

"William

Lt/sk

was born in Union, Broome Co., N. Y., January 19, 1802, and died the village of Reedsburg,

Sauk Co., Wis., June 8, 1ST'.

at his

residence in

During his early childhood his father died, and he was left to the care of his grandparents, who resided in Canaan, N. Y. From them he received a faithful religious education, and when seventeen years old he was converted and united with the church. He fitted for college in Lenox, Mass., a pupil of Dr. 'Jonas King, the distinguished missionary to Greece. After graduating at Union College, at the age of twenty, he taught, for one year, the academy at Springfield, Mass., and then entered the Seminary at Princeton, where he completed his theological course. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Columbus in 1826, and ordained by the same body April 23, 1829, and entered at once upon the work of the ministry, with the energy and devotion which has characterized his whole life, and continued in the service until he was obliged to relinquish it on account of ill health. He had as classmates in the Seminary Revs. Dr. Bethune and Erskine Mason, and while they lived was on very friendly and intimate terms with them. Mr. Lusk's mind was an unusually active one, and by constant reading ami correspondence he kept himself well acquainted with the events of his time. He gathered a valuable library am! was a great reader, and no new work from the press escaped his attention. Mr. Lusk has labored in various fields, the most prominent being the churches in Cambridge, Saratoga Springs, Nunda, Cherry Valley, Batavia and Huron, in the State of New York. Williamsburg, Mass., ami Piqua, Ohio. He became stated supply of the Presbyterian Church of this village, which had been recently organized, remaining until the spring of 1860, when he removed to Piqua, Ohio. In November. L869, he returned to Reedsburg and resumed his work

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

431

Presbyterian Church, in which he continued until October, 1874, when the infirmities of old age obliged him to give up his charge. He was genial and attractive in social life, instructive and earnest in the pulpit, and greatly endeared to his family and all the people among whom he labored. He left three sons and one daughter. One of his sons, bearing the same name as his father, is an alumnus of Princeton Seminary, now connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and resident at North Haven, Conn. as stated supply of the

Marcus Warren. one of the oldest and wealthiest citizens of Sauk County, died at the residence of his brother, in Baraboo, on Sunday, February is, 1872, aged sixty-two years. The deceased settled where Sauk City is now located, in 1845 or 1846. He brought with him a heavy stock of goods, the first stock of any importance brought into the county. At that time the few residents on the Baraboo did their trading with him. He soon purchased what was known as the Bryant residence, which he converted into a hotel, at the same time buying the Bryant interest in the village, thus becoming one of its leading proprietors. He was afterward joined by his brothers, of whom, however, only T. M. Warren became a permanent resident of the county. Mr. Warren soon became the leading moneyed man of Sauk City, and was largely interested in real estate. When he died his fortune was estimated to be worth about $300,000. J. F.

Smith

At the age of thirteen, he was left alone in the concerned, but, by indomitable energy and perseverance, he acquired a liberal education, and entered business relations of life in the employ of the Messrs. Hammonds, of Crown Point, N. Y. Later in life, he was engaged in the lumbering business in Pennsylvania, but not finding it lucrative, he went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and was connected with the iron manufacturing interests of that place. From there he removed to Chicago, where he became identified with the banking business until 1858, when he removed to Ironton, Sauk He was first in the employ of Jonas Tower, in the iron mines, and afterward a partCounty. ner, until the death of Mr. Tower, in 18G8, by whose will he was made equal heir with others in the estate, and eventually became sole proprietor of the iron mines. In later years, he turned his attention to land matters, and at his death was considered the richest, and perhaps the most extensive, farmer in the county. was born in Irasburg, Vt., February 1, 1822. world, so far as paternal

care

W. Starks.

He was He was for a time a resident of Jefferson

Knowledge of the early life of this well-known pioneer is unfortunately very limited. born, it

believed, in Williamsburg, Mass.. in 1801.

County, N. Y., and at a later period lived in Albany and became one of the Aldermen of that He came to Wisconsin early in the forties, and in 1844 or 1845, was Marshal of the then young city of Milwaukee, where he continued to reside until 1852. when he removed to Sauk In 1853, he was elected State Prison Commissioner on the Democratic ticket. County. The honesty with which he discharged the duties of the office, and his refusal to be influenced by partisan considerations, drew upon him the hostility of political factions, and charges were preferred against him, which, after strict investigation, were disproved. At the expiration of his term he returned to his farm in Sauk County, and when the war broke out he took a position against the secessionists, which wholly identified him with the Republican party. In the movement in 1861, to unite the loyal masses of both parties, in the support of the Government, Mr. Starks was brought forward as a Union candidate for the Legislature. He received unanimous support, and thereafter served five successive terms in that body. He died June 20, l s 7^. city.

Joseph Mackey

May 17, 1822, in the town of Broome, Schoharie Co., X. Y., and died October He received academic instruc22, 1879, at Minneapolis, Minn., in the 58th year of his age. was born tion

Schoharie Court House, and in 1842, commenced the study of law.

1845, after

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

432

admission to the bar, he removed to Gilboa, N. Y., where he practiced his profession till 1848, when he removed to the county seat of Schoharie County, and was elected District Attorney. In 1854, he came West and settled in Reedsburg, where he resided about a year before his He entered immediately in the pursuit of his calling and continued to practice law until death. He removed to Minneapolis in 1878. The leading about 1870, when he engaged in banking. traits of character developed in Mr. Mackey were the energy and thoroughness by which he accomplished everything he undertook. As a lawyer he was particularly noted for the complete At the age of twenty-five, he married Cornelia, daughter and perfect preparation of his briefs. The result of the union was three children, two of whom. of Daniel Mackey, of Gilboa. with their mother, survived their father.

Joseph I. Weirich* was born at Mooresville, Harrison Co., Ohio, April 14, 1837. He was the second son and third child of Rev. Christian E. and Maria Weirich. His father, a Methodist preacher of ability. and a man of eminent Christian character, was also at several periods an editor and publisher and here we have a key to the life of this sou, who drew his moral inspiration and acquired his love of the editorial profession from the same paternal source. When but fifteen years old, young Weirich was accepted as an apprentice in the office of the Washington (Penn.) Examiner, where he served three years with creditable acceptance. In the meantime his father had joined the Wisconsin Conference. So, on completing his apprenticeship, Joseph came to this State, During the next two or three years, we find him in 1856, with the rest of his father's family. engaged as a compositor in Madison, first on the State -Journal, where he was associated at the case with A. J. Turner and Peter Richards afterward on the Patriot, where he was the immediate associate and friend of S. S. Brannan names honorably connected with the history of Wisconsin journalism. At a later date, he was similarly employed on the Richland Democrat and, partaking of the itineracy of his father, who was assigned to Baraboo as preacher in the fall of 1859, the son, in 1860, first went to work as a printer upon the paper which eventually he was to own and edit. In January, 1861, he had an attack of lung fever which came near proving fatal. The crisis past, he rapidly recovered his strength, and renewed work in the ;

;

—

continuing in that employment until the President's first call for three years' men to susUnion, when he enlisted as a private in Company of the Sixth Regiment, Iron Brigade, of whose original muster only about twenty-five men survived the war. He was wounded in the breast at the battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862, and was honorably discharged as Sergeant at the expiration of his term of enlistment. He now rejoined the family circle, which during his absence had centered at Monroe, and renewed his occupation as a printer* During the next four or five years, he was mostly employed on the Monroe papers, the Sentinel, Republican and Vindicator, being foreman of the last two offices; and during this period, also, it was his happy fortune to be married to Miss Rebecca Ball. In 1869, he removed with his family and a number of kinsmen and friends, forming a colony, to Eden, in Dakota Territory; but. severe experience during the succeeding winter causing him and others to abandon their agricultMonroe and resumed his former work. ural adventure, he returned with his family t In August, 1872, he purchased the Baraboo Republic, which ho conducted alone till the spring of So passed away, on the L 874, and afterward, till his death, jointly with the present writer. Beneath flowers in the sunny cemetery at Monroe, 21sf of December, 1877, this dear friend. near the bed of "The Best Chaplain in the Army," from whom he inherited so much of the best thai was in him, and of whom he lias written as his Sainted Father, sleeps the mortal part of Joseph I. Weirich. Ii Xi. IBOD C office,

tain

the

was born

Oneida Co., N. Y.. September 26, L810. At the age of seventeen, he entered the the academy a1 Canandaigua, where he remained three years in the capacity of |ni|iil and teacher. While there, lie had for fellow-student Stephen A. Douglas, whom he in at

Bristol,

ri:il

;illi- l.j

25.

ISTv

4&&**£T DECEAS E D

[

)

RONTO N.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

435

On leaving the academy, encountered in political debate on the prairies of Illinois. he entered Middlebury College, and, while there, commenced his career as an Anti-slavery lecturer, and in so doing incurred the displeasure of those in authority in that institution, on account of which he voluntarily left without completing the course. After that, his persecutions in that behalf came fast and more trying, until he had received violent treatment at the hands of pro-slavery mobs on no less than forty different occasions. He early espoused the temperance cause, and delivered nearly one hundred lectures on that subject before arriving at the age of At this time, the doors of the churches were closed against the temperance lectwenty-one. turer, and. to use Mr. Codding's own expression. " the pioneers in the temperance cause had to get their hearing in the churches by printing pamphlets and throwing them over the walls of A great deal of light has since been infused into the church after simZion from the outside." After leaving college, he was employed by the Anti-Slavery Society to lecture in ilar means. the New England States. He came West in 184o. stoutly maintaining his opposition to slavery. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church at Waukesha in 1846, Owen Lovejoy officiating as one of the ministers on that occasion, in whose behalf Mr. Codding afterward had Mr. Codding also declined a like nominathe honor of declining a nomination for Congress. His extensive researches and investigations soon led him to change tion on another occasion. As a religionist, his religious views, and placed him outside the so-called orthodox churches. He he may be classed among that branch of the Unitarians represented by Theodore Parker. held, like Thomas Paine and many other men of deep thought, that there is a religion arising The onefrom man's relation to God and his fellow-man not dependent on written revelation. ideaism of his life was to plant himself on the broad platform of eternal truth and justice, and defend it against all assailants. His discourse was argumentative, sometimes eloquent. Although not a politician, the Republican party had no aider advocate than he, and he especially endeared himself to the thinking people of Baraboo during his four years' residence among them for his His death occurred on the 17th of June, 1866, upon the righteous denunciation of secession. eve of his intended departure for Bloomington, 111., where he was under engagement to preach. To Ichabod Codding, Chief Justice Chase once paid this tribute: " I have heard Webster, Clay and most of the great orators of this country, but none of them could equal Codding. When I say Many may be ranked higher by the usual greatest orator, I wish to qualify the expression. that of standards, but by the standard which, after all. should measure the power of oratory Codding surpassed any speaker I ever effect produced upon a large and promiscuous audience later life

—

heard."

David P. Chandall

—

He was twice married in was born at Austerlitz, Dutchess Co., N. Y., November 24, 1802. 1828 to Catherine Bradt, and in 1838 to Priscilla East, who survived him. By the latter he had In 1831, he went from of whom, are still living. two Robert and Mary C, B. three children, his native town to New Orleans, and remained South till 1846, when he removed to St. Charles, Here the first home of the family was a room ten feet square 111., and the next year to Baraboo. in Brown's saw-mill. In 1851. Mr. Crandall with his family returned to Mississippi, where they Mr. Crandall was a man of mark and remained until 1856, when they came back to Baraboo. was famous for his endurance. He was one of the first members of Rev. Ichabod Codding's church in Baraboo, and was also a prominent Mason, being the first Master Mason made by the Baraboo Lodge of that order. His character was marked by noble and admirable traits. 1!

The subject of field.

Conn.,

IT'-

II.

('AMI'.

He was born in Litchin Baraboo. November 5. 1872. he studied law. and was Judge of Probate a number of He came to Wisconsin and located at Baraboo in the fall of 184S.

sketch died

this 1

Early in

years in his native State.

life

He also held the office of County Judge of Sauk County for a short time at an early day. He was always a firm opponent of slavery, and during the war was a zealous friend to the soldier. He was strictly honest and upright in his dealings, and was frequently honored by his fellow-men with positions of trust and responsibility.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

436

Newman Peck was born in the town of Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn., on the 24th of December, 1796. He came to Wisconsin in 1841 and settled in Racine County. In 1856, he came to Sauk County Mr. Peck and located in the town of Excelsior, where he continued to reside up to his death. was the first Deputy Sheriff that his native county in Connecticut ever had. He was one of the He first Assessors in Racine County, and the first Justice of the Peace in the town of Excelsior. was loroner of Sauk County one term. He was a man that had read very extensively, and his memory of men and events was very remarkable. <

John C. Young was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., November 10, 1790, where he lived till March, 1834. removing thence to Otsego County. From there he went in 1848 to Jefferson County, and in May, s -~>(>. he settled on Section 5 in the town of Reedsburg, where he died on the 17th of February. 1878. Mr. Young was particularly illustrious in having, been a soldier of 1812, and also a Mason of over sixty years' standing, having received all the degrees of the order obtainable in America. R. A. Orvis 1

He came to Baraboo in April, 1857, and engaged in business as a merRansom Jones, afterward entering into and for six years continuing in partnership with H. A. Peck. Later, he was associated with Messrs. Lang & Camp. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Orvis sold out his business in Baraboo and removed to South Bend, Ind., Soon after his departure, the with a view of forming a more important business connection. construction of a railroad to Baraboo being assured, he made frequent visits to his home his and, had not his untimely death occurred, he would, doubtless, wife still living in Baraboo was born in 1827.

chant, with his uncle,

—

have made his permanent home here. ber.

He was drowned at South Bend on the 13th of Decem-

1870. J. II.

ROKK

County, N. Y., August 12, 1811. At the age of 14 he removed, with his parents, to Sheridan, Chautauqua County, N. Y., where, on the 15th of September, 1830, he was married. In 1837, he removed to Racine, and from there came to Sauk County, settling in Six months previous, he had been here and Reedsburg, on the 11th of February, 1848. He continued to reside in the had erected a log-house half a mile east of the present village. town and village until his death. He had filled numerous minor offices, and at the time of his He was the father of nine children, six of death was a member of the Board of Trustees. whom survived him. Mr. Rork was a highly respected citizen, and was particularly noted for having been one of the very first settlors in Reedsburg.

was born

in Essex

Ai.oxzo

Wilcox

18, 1810. When twenty-one years of age, he removed to .Medina, in the same State, ami from that place he went to Chicago in 1835, where he purchased and partly improved forty acres of land now included in the corporate limits of that city. In 1837, he became a merchant in Joliet, 111., where he became deeply interested in the political issues of the day. taking a decided stand with the Abolitionists about the time of the assassination of Lovejoy, and in consequence he lost many friends, and, with the rest, his business. In 1840, he went to Warsaw, Wis., ami, in 1843, to Madison, where, the following year, he married lie filled several minor local offices, Miss M. F. Toffelmire, by whom he had seven children, and. in 1848, Was a Free-Soil candidate for State Senator. Iii 1849, he was nominated for In 1854, he resui Congress by the same party, but declined. the study of medicine at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, he having studied a brief period in 1839 for the profession of a physician. He graduated, but never offered himself as a practitioner. In 1856, he identified himself with the interests of Sauk County, settling in the town of Honey Creek. i

at Edmeston, N. Y.,

March

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

437

Spring Green, and represented his district in the Assembly during the He was Sergeant-at-Arras in that body in 1865. He died at his home in winter of 1863-64. Spring Green, March 25, 1878. in 1862, he removed to

David Sands Vittum, David and Dolly Vittum, was born at Sandwich, N. II., October 21, 1820, where he resided till his tenth year, when his parents removed to He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1845, and Meredith Village in the same State. On being admitted to the bar, he pracsubsequently read law for two years at Laconia, N. H. ticed as an attorney in company with a Mr. Lyford for two years, and then for two years more In 1851, he came to Wisconsin, first in partnership with George S. Stevens, of Meredith. Although a member of stopping in Milwaukee, and in August of that year came to Baraboo. many years, it was for only in the early part of life here that he was known the Sauk County bar For a time, he edited the Sauk County Democrat, one of the first as a practicing attorney. But he may be said to have devoted most of the years newspapers published in the county. previous to the war to business operations, making speculative ventures chiefly in the way of He was State real estate and land warrants, in which he laid the foundation of his fortune. Senator in 1853-54, then representing the counties of Sauk, Juneau. Adams and Marquette. In 1861, he raised, in Sauk County, Company F of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, which was mustered into the United States service in January, 1862, and served with the regiment until it was mustered out in 1865, when he came home with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the He took an interest in the Island Woolen war, Col. Vittum returned to his business pursuits. Company, which he held for a number of years. In 1873. he organized the First National Bank, subsequently buying out the Sauk County Bank, of older existence, and consolidated its He continued at the head of this bank till his death. In business with that of the new bank. Ins social character, Col. Vittum was a dignified and polished gentleman, of tender sensibiliHe was very exact in his business habits, but liberal and accommodating ties and warm heart. the

fifth

to those

child

a family

of eight of

whom he could favor. II.

Tatoe

At the age of ten years, was born in Lysander, Onondaga Co., N. Y., April 23, 1826. he removed with his father's family to Delavan, Walworth County, where his father died October In 1854, Capt. Tator removed with his mother and sisters to Reedsburg. In 20, 1836. November. 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Nineteenth Infantry, and was soon after commissi, ,ned as First Lieutenant of his company. Three years later, he veteranized with his regiment and served to the close of the war, succeeding to the command of the company on the promotion He returned to his home in September, 1865. In August, of Capt. (now Colonel) Strong. 1869, he went West for his health, but died on the 24th of September, at Brigham, Utah. S.

Dwinm

I.I.

At the was born in Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., and was the eldest of a family of ten children. age of nineteen, while attending school at Springfield, Mass.. he was converted and began a The next year, he entered life of Christian service which was decided and steadfast to the end. Phillips' Academy at Andover, Mass., and while there united with others in forming a society called "The Missionary Fraternity," for the purpose of gathering information about the conAmong the memdition of heathen nations, and of preparing themselves for missionary work. bers "f this society were Champion and Grout, afterward pioneer missionaries to the Zulus in account health, Dwinnell On of ill Mr. was compelled to leave school and give South Africa. up his purpose to preach the Gospel. Some time previous to this, he had become convinced that total abstinence was the true ground to be taken against the evils of intemperance, and so he signed the temperance pledge, although he stood entirely alone among his companions in doing it. In 1834, after a careful and candid examination of the subject, he came to the conclusion that slavery, as it existed in the United States, was a sin against God and a great wrong to the

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY;

438

From that time, he cast his lot with the band of reformers who were called Abolitionists, and with tongue and pen advocated the In 1835, he came West to Indiana, and three years later moved to cause of emancipation. Walworth County, in this State. While residing there, Mr. Dwinnell organized the first Sabbath school ever held in the county, held religious meetings at his own house, and when called upon conducted funeral services he also spoke frequently upon the subject of temperance. On his first visit to Reedsburg, in the fall of 1848, he gathered together the entire population of the village (twenty-nine in all), on the evening of the Sabbath, and spoke to them upon the Two years after this, he sold his farm in Walworth County, duty of obeying the law of God. and became a citizen of Reedsburg, then a little hamlet of twenty-five families. Here his interest in the cause led him to active work, and as a result the Congregational Church of the village invited him to become their Pastor, and he was licensed by a council of ministers, called together at Baraboo, in August, 1852, and a year later he was ordained to the Gospel ministry. Mr. Dwinnell's work as preacher extended through about fifteen years, ten years of which time His labors were abundant. he was installed Pastor. He preached in the schoolhouses far and near. During the period of his ministry he delivered over sixteen hundred sermons, attended about nine hundred other meetings, conducted 122 funerals and traveled 13,545 miles. In all these years, he left his people but five Sabbaths without providing for the supply of his pulpit. As a preacher, Mr. Dwinnell was plain and practical, dealing faithfully with the evils of the He spoke boldly against Sabbath-breaking, profanity, intemperance and slavery. No day. consideration of self-interest, no fear of pecuniary loss, ever kept him silent when he felt that he ought to speak, or made him endeavor to soften the repulsive features of what he believed to be a wrong. enslaved, and

that

ought

to be abolished at once.

little

;

" A man of thoughtful mind and courage strong, And conscience keen to feel the force of right He struck hard blows 'gainst every form of wrong, Doing whate'er he did with all his might." ;

During the war he taught the duty of supporting the Government in its struggle for existence and when the war was finished, he rejoiced that the shackles were stricken from the limbs of the slave, and that our land was free in fact as well as in name. He preached his last sermon in 1867. Since that time, though laid aside from active work, he did much with his pen, writing sketches of the pioneers of the State, and tracing the growth of her towns and cities. :

The last two years of his life he was confined mostly to the house, and at times suffered intense pain but he bore his sufferings with Christian patience, and, when the hour of death came, he asleep in the full assurance of a blessed immortality. He left behind the faithful wife, who ;

fell

had been his companion for more than forty years, three sons and three daughters.

John Starks was born

While very young, he came to Wisconsin with his When the war broke out, young Starks was attending the Collegiate Institute in Baraboo. He laid aside his books, and became a member of Company A, Sixth Regiment, going out as a Corporal. At the battle of Gainesville, he was wounded in the knee, and carried the leaden missile to his grave. When wounded, he had in his pocket a commission as Adjutant of the Twenty-third Regiment, and, upon recovering, joined that regiment at Paris, Ky. He was at the battles of Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge and the storming of Vicksburg. At the latter place, he was wounded in the In-cast, and never wholly recovered. The office of Adjutant of the Twenty-third had been filled when Capt. Starks reached the regiment, and he was given a lieutenancy in one of the companies. He afterward received a Captain's commission, and died at his home in parents,

Albany, N. Y.,

1841.

who finally settled in the town of Excelsior.

Excelsior March 16, 1865.

439

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. James

Flanders

was born in Enfield, N. H., in 1813, and came to Wisconsin in 1838 as an accredited minister His first appointment was on the Troy Circuit, in Walof the Methodist Episcopal Church. He became identified with the interests of Baraboo at a very early date, and worth County. was the leading spirit in the organization of the first Methodist society in the place, being the This was a building composed entirely of first to preach the Gospel in the little " slab church.'' Mr. Flanders' little flock used mother earth as a floor and sawdust slabs from the lower mills. for carpeting around the desk.

He died at Marietta, Ga., on the 12th of September, 1864, of

dropsy of the heart.

ML' >.\ NO! ES, the founders of the Baraboo Republic, died at Mason City, Iowa, on the 18th of Janus7o. ary. He was born in Chelsea, Orange Co., N. Y. in 1833 came to Wisconsin in 1844. In 1855, he engaged in the publication of the Baraboo Republic, in conjunction with his brother, i

oi 1

;

W. W. Noyes, having previously been connected with the Portage City press.

He removed to

Iowa in 1857, and for a few years engaged in farming, but, being a practical printer, his love for his chosen profession led him again to engage in it, and he purchased an interest in the Cerro Gordo Republican. This he retained, with, perhaps, an intermission of a few months, until his death. As a mark of appreciation of his services to the county as its pioneer editor, about a He left a wife and three children. year previous to his death he was elected County Auditor.

Joseph Gaylord Blakeslee was born at Paris Hill, Oneida Co., N. Y., February 12, 1805, and died at Ironton December His parents were pioneers in that part of New York, in which he found much more 26, 1878. In the absence of canals ami railroads, the usual hard work than opportunities for educationroutine of his rural youth was mostly varied by trips with sleigh to Albany, 140 miles, with farm The fashion and economy of those early days are illusproduce and return with merchandise. trated by his taking from home enough cooked provisions for the round trip of ten days to two weeks, in order to clear anything by such hauling. Experiences in trading on such trips caused him, when of age, to engage in peddling through most of the New England States, in which he

During several years following, he alternately acquired more of experience than capital. formed, ran a saw-mill and essayed a wagon and blacksmith shop, employing several hands. Soon after being married, January 1, 1835, to Ruby Bliss, who survives him, he had the misfortune to have his shop, tools and stock consumed, which led him to give up all his remaining property to his creditors. With several long-time acquaintances, he then determined to abandon New York, and make a new start in Wisconsin, in which Territory he settled, near Salem, Kenosha Comity, in 1844. One drawback after another, including sickness, induced him to desire a new location, and, hearing of the Baraboo country, he, with several friends, made no less than seven prospecting and hunting tours between 1848 and 1852. during which, by means of cash and warrants, he entered several hundred acres of excellent land lying about one or two miles northwest and west of Ironton Village. On this land lie settled in the spring of 1852. Much of this land he soon disposed of, but retained enough for a good farm until about ten years ago. This farm being situated in Lavalle (then Marston, including what now is Woodland, Lavalle, Ironton and Washington), he was soon chosen Chairman of In these early days he of Supervisors, and many times represented it in the old county boaid. was also a noted Justice of the Peace, and thereby acquired the title of " Squire." which clung to him through life. After the death of .lames Tower, founder of Ironton. who was one of the members of the County Board, he was appointed and then elected to the position, which he retained Having a good offer about four years, and gained the respect and good will of his colleagues. il

he disposed of it in the spring ol 1868, and purchased a comfortable home in the Throughout his Sauk County career, he where he resided until his death. was one of the landmarks of Republicanism, never wavering in its support, and contributing

for his farm,

village of Ironton,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

440

He was specially noted for the persistence with which he insisted that his town should always be represented in county convention, whose every session he has attended for a generation. The massiveness and shape of his head betokened, what he really possessed, much more than average mental endowments, which, had they in youth been fairly cultivated, would have raised him to much more important stations in life While observation and keen analysis, with sound reasoning and considerate than he occupied. judgment, guided by justice, insured him a fair measure of social, official and financial success without wronging another, and placed him on the right side of most public questions, and caused his opinion to be respected and frequently consulted; wealth and station, however, were but secondary with him, for he distributed the one and waived the other more than is generally known. He was for many years an Odd Fellow, but gradually communed more and more with He also worked with the Free Masons, with whom be remained in good standing to his death. In all these organizations, he was an active and the Good Templars for a number of years. In the pioneer influential member, and frequently held important official positions in each. days of the Little Baraboo, many were those who were freely welcome to his bed and board, and a seat about the old-style fireplace and often did the capacious old log house contain a merry company whose down-right old-fashioned sport and ready wit caused the walls to fairly ring again; and often do his children refer to the endearments of the old farm home. freely of his money, time and labor for its success.

;

John Metcalf was born in Rhode Island in 1786.

He came to Wisconsin in 1831. and commenced the build-

company with Mr. Ilambleton and Capt. Terry, but the Sac hostile, the work was abandoned. In 1832, and until 1835, lie was Whitney (the first American owner of the present site of Portage), who

ing of a shot-tower at Helena, in

and Fox [ndians becoming in the employ of Daniel

had obtained permission of the Menomonee Indians to make shingles on their lands lying along the Wisconsin River. He and Mr. Whitney took into the pinery a whip-saw, and sawed by hand a, raft of lumber, which Mr. Metcalf ran to the Portage. Therefore, he was the pioneer raftsman of Wisconsin, having, of course, the honor of running the first raft through the Dells. His account books show that he had dealings with Augustin Grignon, from whom Mr. Whitney purchased title to the land Portage now stands upon. Grignon held the land by a title from the French Government, and the deed from him to Whitney is signed by Andrew Jackson, then President of the United States. After peace was concluded with Black Hawk, the tower at Helena was finished. Gradually failing, however, in business prospects at that place, Mr. Metcalf purchased, in 1849 or 1850, one-half of the "Upper Mills" in Baraboo, where he remained until death snapped the brittle thread, if indeed it was* not unwound to its natural end, on the 22d of January, 1864. Mr. Metcalf was never married, and had at his death no known relatives.

James Steele was particularly illustrious for having reached the great age of one hundred and thirteen years six months and eleven days, as claimed by his son William Steele, of Delton, at wdiich place the elder Steele died April 23, 1872. He was born at Harper's Ferry, Va.. and settled in Sank Countyal a very early day. He was one of the leading citizens of Newport. The old gentleman claimed to have borne a part in the Revolution, and later to have participated in tin of Maumee. under Mad Anthony Wayne," of whom he spoke in terms of enthusiastic eulogy. He was married a second time when ninety-eighl years of age to a Canadian-French woman who was ninety-one. She died November 12, L873, aged one hundred and two years four months and fourteen days. ;

William Palmek was born at Acquia Creek, Md., in 1805, and died at his residence in the town of Westfield, September 20, 1873, in the sixty-eighth year of his ago. Mr. Palmer learned the trade of a carpenter in his native State, and soon became a master builder. In 1828, he went to Philadelphia, where he remained six years, and where he was married. In 1884. he removed to

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

441

Here he acquired considerable property, but meeting with subsequent financial reverses, he wenl to California in L850, returning in two years with means to Tree his In L854, he removed to Wisconsin, arriving in Reedsburg on property "f its incumbrance. He soon afterward purchased 160 acres of land near Loganville, of King the 16th of May. In 1855, in company with Thompson, and entered 600 acres more lying adjacent thereto. Chauncey P. Logan, he built a saw-mill, and. with J. D. Mackey, in 1861, a flouring-mill at Loganville. In 1864, he was elected to the Assembly from the south district of the county, and re-elected the next year. At the expiration of his second term and until his death, InBelmont Co., Ohio.

devoted his attention to the management of his farm, retaining a lively interest in town politics. He was Chairman of the Town Board when he died. A wife and five children survived him.

Herbert

Huntington

While was born in Connecticut April 'J, 1807, and died in Baraboo January -. 1878. quite young, he removed with his parents to Mexico. Oswego Co., X. Y., where be was educated. He married. February 'l. 1836, Miss Amanda M. Steele, the schoolmate of his youth. Two The other is now Mrs children were the result of this union, one of whom died in infancy. William Staley, of Baraboo. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Huntington removed to Scriba, N. Y.. where they resided till 1851, when they came to Wisconsin, settling in Baraboo, He was a careful, sober and industrious busiand Mr. II. engaging in the mercantile business. ness man, with a sound and reliable judgment. Julius Converse Chandler was born in West Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., August _ 1833. The disease of which was dropsy, induced by cirrhosis of the liver. He was the fifth son of William B. Chandler, in a family of thirteen children, all of whom possessed strong characteristics, and several id" them Julius entered cupied important and responsible positions, both in civil and public life. as an apprentice to the printing trade at an early age in the office of the (Irrrn M»iuit,i. On completing man, published at Montpelier, Vt., which was the leading paper in the State. In his apprenticeship, he set out as a journeyman, his first stopping-place being Quincy, Mass. 1853, he went thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where his brother William then resided, and worked for a time as a compositor on the Leader. In the fall of the same year, he went back to Quincy, and was married to Miss Helen W. Adams, of that place. Returning to Cleveland, he continued his work there until August. 1854, when he removed to Janesville, in this State, where he From Janesville he went to worked on the Democrat, of which Judge Armstrong was editor. John withdrew at the Portage, where he and his brother, John A., started the I'lidi'/icinicnt. end of nine months, and after the paper had lived two years, Julius sold to Robert B. Wentworth. He continued a year longer in Portage, out of business, and then went to Friendship ami started the Adams County /ni/fpi-mleiil, which he published till the war broke out, when he enlisted in the Second Regiment. In the first battle of Bull Run, he was disabled so that he was discharged from the service. He then returned to Friendship and continued the In ent irregularly till May. 1864, when he again enlisted, this time in the Fortieth, a 100-day reg:> ..

iment, serving

till

October.

In December of the same year, he entered

the service of his

brother. William W., as traveling agent of the Star Freight Line, and so continued for about two years and a half, in the meantime selling his office at Friendship. In 1867, he removed to Baraboo, and soon afterward established the Sauk County Herald. Still later, he made newspaper ventures at Augusta, Hau Claire and Elroy, and. in 1877, he edited a paper called Frontier

Business,

Morris. Minn.

The sobriquet " Shanghai " was given

him by the

local

Democratic

politicians, as

the

representative of the Republican or " Shanghai " party, as it was called by the Democracy in 1854-55. The new species of Shanghai poultry was introduced into the State about the time the Republican party was in the period of incubation. When it finally made its appearance, it was dubbed the " Shanghai party," because it was a new species of fowl in the political bam-

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

442

yard. Mr. Chandler's ardent advocacy of the principles of the new party, as well as his personal appearance, obtained for him the cognomen of " the Shanghai ;" he accepted it and used it

nom de plume in some of his correspondence, and by it he ever

as his

still

after was generally

He died at Baraboo, August 28, 1878, aged forty-five years and five days.

known.

His widow

resides in Baraboo.

FIRST AND LAST CENSUS OF SAUK COUNTY. In the spring of 1842, Sheriff A. A. Bird, of Dane County, to which Sauk County then belonged, under official instructions and in accordance with an act entitled "An act to provide for the taking of the census of the inhabitants of the Territory of Weskonsan, approved February 18, 1842," returned the names of the following persons, as "heads of families," then

voiding in the county. The figures set opposite the names indicate the number of persons belonging to each family, though they really included others Sauk Prairie. Prescott Brigham, 4; E. P. Brigham, 4; Josiah E. Abbott, 7; J. Waggoner, 5 Andrew Garrison, 2 Nathan Kellogg, 6 William G. Simons, 5 H. F. Crossman, John Gallard, 3; A. Morgan, 6; John La Messeure, 15; W. Langdon, 3; Calvin Frink, 11 4; George Dunlap, 3; Jonathan Hatch, 9; Albert Skinner. 7: J. Havden. 8; Adolph Rendtorff, 6; James S. Alban, 8. Total, 116. Baraboo. M. Grain, 2; Robert V. Allen, 2 Levi Moore, 5; Moses Nulph, 4 John Meads. 1 M. Gillson, G Orrin Hudson, 1 Peter Manaar, John Rainey, 2; John de la Rond, 1; Thomas Kelsey, 1 Henry Lewis, 6; Milo Blood, 5; Don Carlos C. Randall, 7 Barry, 6; .lames Christie, 6; D. Gilson, 7: Edward Kingsley, 5; Mrs. Y. B. Hill. 6; Abram Wood, 3; Wallace Rowan, 11; John Draper, 5; Lewis Branson. 5; William II. Canfield, 3; Simeon Griffith, 5; Richard Clark, 1; Thomas Clark. 3; Solomon Shaffer, 3; Edward Johnson. 5; Daniel Brewster, 3; Eben Peck, 5; William Stephens. 1 S. Knox or Traux, 5. Total, 134. Helena. [The name of the census district which is supposedto have included a strip of territory south of the Wisconsin river. It is well known that Charles Halasz, Robert Bryant and others whose names are familiar in the history of this county, lived on the lower end of Sauk Prairie, north of the river, but, as the taking of this census occurred two years before the organization of the county, and while it belonged to Dane County, it may be that Helena census district lav on both sides of the Wisconsin. Such is the opinion of an old settler of Baraboo. Ed.]— P. M. Nichols, 4; Charles Halasz. 13; Robert Bryant, 10; Birosch, 8; Alvin Crane. 8; II. B. Staines. 9; E. Brown, 1 Cyrus Leland, 10 John Russell, 2 Henry Tin!. 6; M. Blodget, 1 John Hoover, Jr., 3; John Hoover, Sr., 4; Zenas Herrington, 8; Albert Jameson, 5 Albert Myers, 4 John Kellogg. 4 Andrew Hodgett, 1; William Johnson. 9; Samuel Mather. 3; D. I!. Baxter. 4; George Cargill, 5; Samuel Woodruff, 9; William Tanner, 1: John Wilson. 7: Frank Pravoncil, 5. Total, 146. This census was by no means a correct one. It is the only one in existence, however, taken at that early day. It is known to be incomplete for the reason that the names of several of the first settlers in the county who were heads of families wore omitted. The census-taker seems to have contented himself with the names of those at the head of families, and those engaged in business, overlooking many persons then engaged as " hired hands." For instance, it will be observed that there were thirteen persons, in the ••family " This of Charles Halasz. doubtless included ten or a dozen men then in the employment of Mr. Halasz. The same may :

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;

''<

;

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also be san] in reference to the figures opposite the

;

names of many

others.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

443

County was 23,060; in 1875, 26,932, an increase in five The population for 1880, by towns, is as follows

In 1870, the population of Sauk

years of 3,872.

Merrimack

829

444

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

same sitting of the board, J. I. Waterbury, G. Stevens and Enos Kimball were chosen Superintendents of the Poor. A Superintendent is chosen annually, one going out' each year, and three being continuously in office.

While the new poor house was being built, and during the prevalence of a wind storm September 26, 1872, a portion of the north wall was blown down. Two young men, named Thorn and Knowles, were unloading brick at the time at the base of the wall, and the former was considerably bruised. The heaviest portion of the falling mass overreached them, however, but their escape from instant death was almost miraculous.

A separate structure was erected for the safe-keeping of the county's insane, or that portion unfortunate class who are returned from the State asylums as incurable. During the 1879, there were cared for at this institution sixty-one paupers and fifteen cases The present Superintendents of the Poor are Anton Fischer, 0. Thomas and N. Stowe. of tins

year

of insanity.

"l:\lTllnl, ntiY.

One of the most peculiarly interesting evidences of home talent and industry to

be found

county is a collection of birds, animals, insects and minerals, gathered and prepared by Mr. Charles Dininger, of Sauk City, taxidermist and ornithologist. "This splendid collection", large in number and numerous in variety, is the result of nearly half a lifetime's labors twentynine years of hard work and study having been almost uninterruptedly devoted to the work of collecting and preparing these specimens for permanent preservation. The amount of perseverance, enterprise, talent, strength and time, that it takes to accomplish anything really appreciable in such a field of effort, can hardly be overestimated, and is seldom ever fully appreciated. A man, to be successful in such work, must not only be imbued with a love and engrossing admiration for nature and her productions, but he must be willing to give the best energies of his life entirely to his pursuit for thus, and thus only, have the varied mysteries of nature been solved, and her paramount beauties exposed. Although but few may ever look at this collection with aught save the interest created by curiosity, yet that few will give Mr. Dinninger the credit which is due to his fine intelligence, and unusually excellent achievements, in placing before them, from field, forest and stream, so much that is graceful and beautiful, as well as being, in many cases, exceptionally rare and remarkable. in this

;

The number of birds, of various species, indigenous to tins part of the country, is very large, and includes many of exquisite beauty of plumage as well as perfection of form. Of these, and those also that come to this county annually (migratory birds), Mr. Dininger has succeeded in getting specimens, there now being several hundred in the collection, and all being very perfrom the wee young ones of our red-throated humming-bird in their nest, to the monster

fect,

gray eagle, sitting in native majesty on his perch, and that measures 8 feet 4 inches from tip to si novel The albinos (odd specimens of regular species) are. perhaps, the appearance of any kind here, and, though being almost unknown, are worthy of careful menThere are a pair of beautiful white quail a yellow-breasted white robin; a black robin, tion. a variegated robin, being white, brown and with white-mottled head and white-tipped wings a white pheasant, with beautifully tufted head and heavy brown ruff; a white specimen yellow white redwing starling very rare), and female of the specie purple crakle, or blackbird: a starling, with red on wings a snowy owl, with mottled plumage, and ears like the great horned Among the others there are large numbers of exc lingly owl (not mentioned in any work). A pair of pilated woodpeckers, now very rare a imens, of which may be mentioned pair of Bohemian waxwings, or wanderers, a bird which, it is said, roams through, the cold regions of the entire globe; a yellow-headed crakle, indigenous to California; a yellow-breasted heron, of magnificent plumage, and a corchat, strayed hither from the Sunny South a greal morant, with greenish Mack body and neck, beautifully mottled crest, and mottled, dark bronzecolored wings a most superb specimen. The description could be continued to almost any length, so many and worthy are the various specimens: but the above is sufficient to give a fair idea of the character and merit of tip of his wings. in

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. the collection, which, be it remembered, has been

445

made entirely in this county.

Below is given the county, with their common names, nil of

a catalogue of the different birds that abound in which are represented in Mr. Dinninger's collection

Bald eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, pigeon hawk, sparrow hawk, marsh hawk, whitebreasted hawk, broad-winged hawk, rough-legged hawk, goshawk, cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, black-belted hawk, American fish-hawk, great horned owl, snowy owl, snowy owl (or a very light-colored mottled, with cars; not found in books), mottled or screech

hawk owl. long-cared owl. brown wren, golden-crested wren, red-crested wren, black-billed cuckoo, blue-jay, red-headed woodpecker, golden-winged -woodpecker, yellow-bellied owl. barred owl,

woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, whippoorwill, night-hawk, belted kingfisher, great northern Phoebe bird, ruby-throated humming-birds,

shrike, white-bellied nut-hatch, kingbird, peewit or

Maryland yellow-throat, black -throated blue warbler, yellow-rump warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, black and yellow warbler, black-throated green warbler, black-burnion warbler, bay crested warbler, black-poll warbler, lesser red poll, brown thrush, water thrush, wood thrush, green black-cap flycatcher, American redstart, scarlet tanager, purple marten, barn swallow, bank swallow, chimney swallow, white-bellied swallow, cat-bird, cedar bird, Bohemian chatterer or waxwing, purple finch, siskin, snow bunting, the American creeper, black-cap titmouse, American skylark, goldfinch, bluebird, song-sparrow, fox-colored sparrow, tree sparrow, indigo bird, red crossbill, rose-breasted grossbeak, ground robin, bobolink or rice bird, redwinged starling, rusty blackbird, swamp blackbird, purple crakel or crow Jblackbird, cow bunting, meadow lark, Baltimore oriole, turtle dove, passenger pigeon, pinnated grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, quail, sandhill crane, bittern or stake driver, least bittern, great heron, snowy heron, green heron, night heron, golden plover, kill-deer, king plover or semipalmated snipe, Wilson's English snipe, field plover, parrie plover, yellow-legs, prairie plover, sandpiper, woodcock, clapper rail, sara or common rail, coot or mud hen, hell diver, Canada goose, snow goose, white-fronted goose, brant, black duck, ruddy duck, redhead duck, pentail duck, wood duck, mallard duck, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, buffel-headed duck, spoonbill duck, scaup duck. American widgeon, sheldrake, goosander, hooded merganser, common cormorant, double-crested cormorant.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

CHAPTER VII. REMINISCENCES. Pioneer Days—Early Visits to Sauk County— A Tribute to some of the First Pioneers —The First White Woman in the Baraboo Valley—A Tilt with Redskins— The Indian Scare of 1844— Early Christian Effort in Sauk County.

PIONEER DAYS.* Early in the spring of 1838, Berry Haney received private information from George W. Jones, who was then Delegate in Congress from Wisconsin Territory, that the treaty with the Winnebago Indians, for their lands north of the Wisconsin River, had been ratified. Haney, at that time, was engaged with Col. Abner Nichols, of Mineral Point, in staging between Mineral Point and Fort Winnebago. They had two men in their employ by the names of Jonathan Taylor and Solomon Shore. Haney lived on Black Earth Creek, at the place now called Cross Plains. On the receipt of the intelligence of the ratification of the treaty, he sent Taylor to the Wisconsin River, opposite Sauk Prairie, there to await the coming of Shore, who went with Haney to Fort Winnebago, to purchase a skiff to take down the river to Sauk Prairie, in order to get across. They met at that point according to previous arrangement, crossed over, and proceeded to mark out their claims. The first one marked out by them was for Berry Haney, on what is now Sauk City. Taylor claimed the next above Haney, and Shore the next, which claim I afterward purchased and own at this time. Haney, I believe, had the first land broke in Sauk County. In June, 1838, he employed James Ensminger and Thomas Sauser to break ten acres, for which he paid them $100. The first place in the shape of a dwelling, on Sauk Prairie, was built by Ensminger and Sauser. They dug a pit in the ground, about four feet deep, twelve by sixteen or eighteen feet square, logged it up, and covered the hole with hay and earth, making a sort of root-house. This they did for the purpose of preventing the Indians from burning them out, as they had threatened. James S. Alban (who was afterward Judge of Portage County) and family moved on to Sauk Prairie in January, 1839, being the first family, 1 believe, in Sauk County, or what is now Sauk County. I believe it is claimed by John Wilson, of Wilson's Creek, that he and family were the first. However this may be, I cannot say have always understood, until a few years since, that Alban and family were the first. I left 1 Rock Island for Wisconsin about the 1st of April, 1839, on board the old steamer Fayette. I arrived at Galena in due time, and there took stage The or rather wagon for Mineral Point. proprietor was John Messersmith. We arrived at his place at Elk Grove, at noon, where we were very politely entertained by the Squire and his family, and after an excellent dinner we proceeded on our way. We arrived at Mineral Point in the evening of the same day. I there lay over one day for the stage to Madison. At Mineral Point, I met or rather wagon, again Berry Haney. who introduced me to A. A. Bird, of Madison, who was also waiting for the stage, and to many prominent citizens of the Point. We were one day in going from the Point to Haney'a place in Black Earth Valley, where I arrived, I believe, on the 6th of April. A few days after I arrived at Haney's place, Haney, Joseph Denson, from Iowa Territory, and myself, started for Sauk Prairie. We followed a dim trail to the river, left our horses on the south side and crossod over in an Indian canoe. We visited several of the cabins and claimshanties, among others, that of D. B. Crocker, which was situated where the village of Prairie

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

447

While there, a little incident occurred that may be worth relating. Sac is now situated. The day was pleasant, and we were all seated out in front of his cabin, admiring and conversing upon the beauties of the country, when some one of the company discovered an animal of some kind approaching the grove below us, from the prairie. Some supposed it to be a deer, others thought it was a wolf. Denson, being an old hunter and a good marksman, proposed to go down and try to get a shot. He took Crocker's gun and went down to the grove, where he soon disappeared. Presently we heard the report of the gun, and very soon saw Denson with his hat oft', running with all his speed toward us, making signs to us to come to him. We all ran as fast When we came up to him he told us he had shot an animal, the like of which he as we could. had never before seen. He said when he fired, it leaped into the air about ten feet, and then he thought it was making after him, which was the cause of his running and giving us signals to come to him. After reloading his gun, we cautiously advanced to the spot, and there found a monster lynx pierced through the heart. The only families that were then settled in what is now Sauk County, were those of James S. Alban, Albert Skinner and John Wilson. Wilson was living at Wilson's Creek at the time. There were several young men making and improving claims when I came. They were H. F. Crossman, Burk Fnirchild, D. B. Crocker, William Billings, William May, Nelson Lathrop, E. B. Harner and an old bachelor by the name of Hunter. The third family that moved in was named Parks, and the fourth, Jonathan Hatch. Some time in October, 1839, five of us, Berry Haney, Burk Fairchild, Solomon Shore, Samuel Taylor and myself, crossed the bluff's over to the Baraboo Valley. The trail led us over the bluff's immediately back of what is now known as the Teel place, the highest peak, I think, in the center range between the prairie and Baraboo. The trail led us directly to the Baraboo River, at the place where Maxwell's mill-dam now stands. Here we forded the river and entered the village of the Indian Chief, Oaliminee, where we were very ilu

warmly ami hospitably received. We rested and refreshed ourselves and horses, and were very much amused in seeing the Indians playing at cards and horse-racing. Some of them would stake their last string of " wampum " on a single chance at cards. The game we could not understand. After spending about two hours at this village, we started to " traverse the river above, which we did, whenever it was approachable, as far up as " Dandy's village, which was five or six miles above. At this village we were received with marked displeasure by the Indians, many of them gathering around us, and making much noise and conThey made signs and gesticulations for us to leave. fusion. After some parley with them, however, we succeeded in restoring quiet, and afterward purchased some corn to feed our horses for the night, and left them in peace. We encamped about two miles above the village, where I spent the most disagreeable night of my life. It was very chilly and dark, and rained the entire night. We had no shelter except that afforded by our blankets, which was but little, and we were drenched to the skin in a short time, through blankets and all. After much trouble we succeeded in making a fire, which somewhat relieved us from the cold. The next morning the After drying our clothes, and taking breakfast in the Indian style, we prorain ceased. ceeded up the river to the Narrows, from which point we returned on the direct trail to the lower village, where we had the honor of dining with the Chief. We spent several hours at this village, and then went down the prairie to the Narrows below, from which place we returned home. After a very tedious and tiresome journey across the bluffs, we arrived at Sauk some hours after night, and lodged in the primitive house (or dugout, as we used to call it), which was a very agreeable change from the night before. We saw no visible signs of white men in the Baraboo Valley. I think in all probability we were the first white men that ever crossed the bluffs between the prairie and Baraboo Valley. Some time in the after part of the summer of 1839, Cyrus Leland and George Cargel moved their families to the prairie, being the fifth and sixth families who came and a little later in the On season of the same year. Berry Haney moved his family to the prairie, being the seventh. the 30th of November. 1839, Charles B., son of Berry and Anna Haney was born, being the ;

448

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

white child born in Sauk County. There was nothing further of importance transpired during the winter of that year. The winter was very cold, with much snow, which covered the This ends my first year's stay in Wisconsin. ground until spring. first

EARLY VISITS 'TO SAUK COUNTY.*

set out from my home at Spring Prairie, Walworth County, for my first visit to the valley of the Baraboo, of which I had heard, for the first time, A young man whose father's farm adjoined that of my father only four or five years previous. in Massachusetts, had spent the preceding winter with us. During that time, the land warrants which Congress had granted to the soldiers of the Mexican war, began to come upon the market. My friend sent to a New York broker and bought one for 160 acres for about $120, and wished me to assist him in its location. Sauk County at that time was regarded as the best portion of the

the 1st day of

May, 1848, 1

State accessible to us for obtaining Government lands.

For that reason we directed our jour-

ney here. Friday morning, May 3, 1848, found us at the little village of Prairie du Sac, the guests of Rev. Warren Cochran, who then resided there. He had removed the autumn previous from the vicinity of our home in Walworth County, and was preaching alternately at that village and We found him at the time too feeble in health to ride to Baraboo to preach on the at Baraboo. next Sabbath, and he wished me to hold meeting in his place. He was then in the vigor of early manhood, of strong physical powers, a towering intellect and a benevolent heart such a giant intellectually and morally as is seldom found on the frontiers. He came to Wisconsin with the intention of founding a college. Although he failed in accomplishing that object, he did establish a school of elevated character, which became the Baraboo Collegiate Institute, and which continued to educate for usefulness large numbers of youth, until it was supplanted by the present graded school. Mr. Cochran went everywhere preaching the word with the zeal of an Apostle, there not being a village or schoolhouse in the county in which his voice at one time or another was not heard. At 8 A. M., we set out for Baraboo upon substantially the same road now traveled over Sauk Prairie, which then was but partially under cultivation. About midway of the prairie we met Maj. James A. Maxwell and family on their way to Sac Village to attend a quarterly meeting of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had removed with his father from Walworth County the year previous and purchased the lower water-power on the Baraboo, now known as the village of Manchester. As we passed up the southern slope of the Baraboo Bluff's, we were presented with the finest landscape view we had ever beheld. Sauk Prairie for a dozen miles, dotted all over with fields of growing grain, was presented to our vision. It was a scene worth a hundred miles' travel to look upon. For six miles across the bluffs there was aj that time not a house to be seen, and the road was filled with bowlders. In the vicinity of Devil's Lake, the scenery was more Alpine than anything I had before seen west of New England. We found Baraboo to be a pillage of some three hundred inhabitants, lying mostly near the river on both sides. On the south side was a saw-mill, which was converting logs from the Baraboo pinery into lumber, most of which was rafted down to the cities .•ml villages on the Mississippi The largest hotel in the place was kept by Lyman ('link, now of Windom, Minn. River. It was situated just north of where the present railroad depot stands, and has since been converted into a brewery. There were also a dozen to a score of dwellings, mostly small, on the south side. The river was crossed by a bridge. On the north side ran a street parallel with the river. upon which were two or three stores and several houses. A small unfinished grist-ir.'lt of run of stones stood upon the site of the present large flouring-mill of R. H. Strong. The proprietor, whose name was Brown, had been killed by the fall of a timber in raising an addition to it, a few weeks previous. The county seat had been removed from the village of Prairie du Sac the year previous and located upon a square quarter-section composing a part of the land between the first and second bluff from the river, the present court house standing somewhere

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writing nf S A. Divinm-ll.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

449

The village was named Adams, and this strange anomaly in namea was near the center of it. presented to a stranger. The post office was Baraboo, the village was named Adams, the town was Brooklyn, while the only town in the county named Baraboo was what is now Reedsburg, The County Commissioners had caused a village to be platted with some adjacent territory. the previous summer, and m order to raise money to build a court house had sold a large numA court house, in size about 26x36 and two ber of lots at public sale, at from $4 to $8 a lot. stories high, hail been erected on the north side of the public square. Col. E. Sumner was proprietor of a small, unpainted, two-story hotel at the northeast corner of the public square, which forms a part of the present Western Hotel.* Col. James Maxwell bad built a small store at the southeast corner of the park, since known as the " Corner Store." Besides these, there were ;i

few board shanties occupied by families.

The village site was covered with a sparse growth

small oaks.

Mr. Cochran had directed us to the house of Dr. Charles Cowles for entertainment and He then lived on Peck's Prairie, four miles down the river. We found him at We introduced ourselves, and, when he came out to care lor our team he peered anxiously into our wagon, and, seeing a quantity of oats there, said: " am glad you have brought provender, for there is not a bushel to be bought in all this region." Dr. Cowles informed me that I would be expected to officiate at the funeral of a young man at the court house on the coming Sabbath. I spent Saturday in preparing a discourse and in assisting my friend in exploring On Sabbath forenoon, we proceeded to the court bouse, which we found filled with the country. some 200 people a very fine-appearing congregation for a new country only one of whom. Col. Alexander Crawford had charge of the funeral Col. Maxwell, bad I ever seen before. The congregational singing was good. I informed the congregation that was arrangements. not a preacher, either lay or clerical, and was not much used to public speaking, but, in consequence of the illness of Brother Cochran, I had consented to try to officiate on that occasion. I addressed the people from James: "For what is your life V It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." The body was buried about forty rods northwest of the court house, where quite a large number of graves had already been made, and the whole entirely unprotected. In the afternoon, I gave a lecture in the court house, on temperance, in connection with Dr. Sewall's plates of the human stomach, which I had brought with me. Those plates showed the condition of the stomach in a healthy state, and also in the various stages of disease, from the moderate and the immoderate use of alcoholic liquors. Monday, May 7. 1848, was spent in assisting my friend in selecting land on which to make a home, which we found about two miles northeast of the village and a short distance north of where the cemetery is now located. A large portion of the land in Sauk County was then open for entry, although it had been in the market two or three years. The principal settlements in the Baraboo Valley were on Peck's Prairie, below the village, ami at Christiehood, named for a Scotchman who was a pioneer settler on a prairie some miles above the village, on the north side of the river. There were a few families on Webster's prairie, so named for the first settler there, and a few also on Babb's and Narrows Prairies. On Tuesday forenoon, we returned to the village of Baraboo, where the people had assembled at the first election for State officers, consisting of executive and legislative officers and Judges of the Circuit Court, which at first acted as Judges of the Supreme Court also. The grist-mill there was the only one in this valley, and the only one in the county except Leland's, on Honey Creek, two miles or so northwest of Sauk City. On Tuesday afternoon, we set out for the land office at Mineral Point, and spent the night at Prairie du Sac. The first settlement in the county had been made at that place in the years 1839 and 1840. Some men, having viewed the prairie from the highlands on the south of the Wisconsin, swam across upon their horses, and made claims for farms at or near the sites of the present villages of Prairie du Sac and Sauk City. During two years, eight men settled there with families, together with four single men. Among the settlers of 1839 were two lawyers, Cyrus Leland, afterward a member of the Legislature, and James information.

home.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Alban, some time after a Circuit Judge of the Stevens Point Circuit, and Colonel of the Eighteenth Regiment of Infantry, who fell at Pittsburg Landing in April, 1862. Hans B. Crocker, who came during that year, opened the first store in the county in 1840, with a stock of $200 or $300 worth of goods. Among the settlers of 1840 was R. H. Davis, for many years Treasurer of the county, who taught the first school in the county in a framed room, 18x24, which stood on the present site of Sauk City. It was a private school of twenty pupils The teacher was promised $20 per month for three months but a number in the fall of 1841. of the bills of poor families were never paid. Berry Haney opened the first, public house in 1840, and, building a ferry-boat, combined, the business of innkeeper and ferryman. Maj. W. H. Clark, a lawyer, settled there in 1841, and, with the assistance of his wife, taught the second school, in 1842. The first regular preaching in the county was by Rev. P. W. Nicols, in 1842, at the log cabin of Jonathan Smith. Among the settlers of 1840 was Augustus Haraszthy, an Hungarian Count, and his cousin, Charles Halasz, who were the pioneers of the German seltlement at Sauk City, and of all those Among the settlers of 1840 was also a German by the name of Lueders, who of Sauk County. some years after planted the pioneer vineyard of Wisconsin, on the steep bluff on the south side of the river, and at the time of his death, a few years ago, was the most extensive grape-grower in the State. Several of the single men dug a room into the river bank, and there for a season kept bachelor's hall, in the only dugout I ever heard of in Wisconsin. On Wednesday morning, May 9, we crossed the river, and, after proceeding some miles through sparsely settled openings, we entered the valley of Black Earth Creek. It consisted of prairie from eighty rods to half a mile in width, with thin openings on each side as far as we could see. We soon discovered a peculiarity in the settlement which we had noticed nowhere else in the West. The houses built were all of logs, about 18x20 feet in size, and two stories high, in connection with each of which was a field of three or four acres, fenced and broken. We also noticed that many of the houses were unoccupied. At noon we stopped upon the banks of the creek to feed our team I suppose it was somewhere near where the village of Mazo Manie now stands. and ourselves. The current of the stream was quite rapid at that point. There came from a neighboring house two women to get water, of whom we inquired concerning the settlement. We found them to be good talkers and quite intelligent. They were disposed to give us all the information we sought. They informed us that some five or six years previous to that time a project had been formed among the operatives of a certain manufacturing city in England to form a colony and emigrate to the frontier of the United States to engage in farming. For this purpose, 200 men, with families, entered into a written compact, by which each was to put a certain sum of money into a common treasury and send out two men as agents to enter land, build houses, and fence and break a small field for each family before they came over. Each family was to have 80 acres of land, and the settlement to extend along the creek for the distance of twelve miles. Many of them had large, not to say wild, expectations. As one of the women remarked, they thought if they should only get upon a farm in America they should live on strawberries and cream. They seemed to imagine, that if they could only become the possessor of a farm, a house and field on the rich prairies of the great West, they would have all the fortune they needed for this life. >!' the inconveniences and trials incident to settling in a new country, they knew nothing and anticipated nothing. When they found themselves from right to twelve miles from a physician, a store, or any of the conveniences to which they had been accustomed in England, and engaged in a business of which they knew absolutely nothing, many of them became homesick and discouraged. One after another left for other places to find business by which they could support their families, until one-half of them had deserted their homes. think it was not true, however, that in the final result they regretted their emigration to the United States. At that time n seems that none of them had returned to the land of their birth. On Tuesday, the 24th day of October, 1848, set out from my home in Walworth County on my second journey to the Baraboo Valley. bad three passengers, all of whom, like myself, were looking for homes. 1 had unexpectedly and providentially come in possession of several S.

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SAUK CITY

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

T-

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Our journey was through the land warrants, and came to find land upon which to locate them. villages of Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, Aztalan, Lake Mills, Waterloo, Columbus, Fall River on Thursday evening. On reached Portage Friday forenoon. October "27, We and Wyocena. we visited Fort Winnebago. We crossed the Wisconsin River by ferry, owned and tended by a Frenchman*. At the landing on the south side was a wind grist-mill,f the first I As the Wisconsin overflowed its banks, we found no settlers for three or had seen in the West. four miles, after which our way was through openings, where we found an occasional dwelling In the afternoon we reached Baraboo, and put up with Col. Sumner, where and a small farm. we unexpectedly found a company of four who had arrived there the evening previous, from the Soon after we arrived, a heavy rain set in, same town in which we lived in Walworth County. As we learned that a man by the name of David which continued until 9 A. M. on Saturday. C. Reed was building a mill and founding a village on the river sixteen miles above, we resolved After leaving Lyons, there was no house on the way except the beard to proceed thither. shanty of Thompson Shepherd, on Copper (.'reek. In what is now Reedsburg, we found the frame of a saw-mill, and five log shanties which stood in what is now Main street, just in front of where Reineke's hotel and Roper's eating-house now stands. The west shanty was occupied as half-breed

It had an outside stone a sleeping-room, with berths one above the other in steamboat style. chimney so poorly made that much of the smoke found its way into the room and rendered its

The second cabin was used as a storeroom, and the third, quite uncomfortable. fifth, by the families of Powell, William McClung, the millwright, and Elder A. Lock. On Sunday morning, our company engaged Mr. Reed to go with them to look for land, Mr. Reed on the plea of necessity that he could not leave his work to go on a week day. I told him I was not that I was intending to come inquired of me if I was going with them. I clean hands, so could reprove the people for Sabbathhere to settle, and I was coming with He laughingly replied that they were not going to break the breaking and other wrong-doing. I told the company that sooner than look for Sabbath, but only intended to bend it a little. I induced one man to remain with me. land on that day I would return home without any. At the breakfast table I gave notice that, with the permission of Mr. Powell, I would give a During the day, I took a stroll by myself, on the only lecture in that room in the evening. road that led into the place from the north, crossing a part of what is now the Greenwood CemeNear where Smith Devereaud now lives, the track turned west to the creek on tery. which Reed and Powell had cut a quantity of hay during the summer, from which circumUpon the rocks, under the pines, I sat down stance the stream was named Hay Creek. and prepared my lecture for the evening service. In the evening, twenty-nine persons assem bled in Mr. Powell's cabin, when Elder A. Lock offered prayer and 1 gave a lecture upon law. not arbitrary, as many supposed, but was founded in the nature of I remarked that law was things that moral law was founded in the nature of moral beings, and grew out of the relation angels with angels, men with men, and the whole with God, their the) sustained to each other maker. I then spoke of the Sabbath law, showed the necessity for rest one day in seven, and I then presented the law which bound the citizen the reasonableness that men should obey it. to the Government, and his duty to cast his vote for rulers who would sustain correct principles. I This was just previous to the Presidential election at which Taylor was chosen President. It is worthy of mention that not one dwelt also upon the application of law in other matters. of the five men who went out to look for land on that Sabbath settled in the county, although One of them, who was a Sabbath-keeper all professed to be searching land for that purpose and sanctuary-goer at home, made a pool- selection, and in the sale of it. some years afti

occupants

fourth and

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mitted a State-prison offense.

Five of the eight men who reached Reedsburg on Saturday the 28th of October, s 18, went hunting land the next day, and one of the others let his horses go, with the agreement thai I

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HISTORY OF SAUK COT NTY. T

454

David C. Reed took them nearly ten miles from they should make a good selection for him. home before he showed them any vacant land. They made claims on three quarter-sections that dav. two of them very good ones, the best of which I entered after all the others had obtained At that time there was not a family settled in the present towns of Westfield, their lands. I think there were three or four families near where the Washington, Woodland or Winfield. There were five on village of Ironton now is. and two or three near by. in the south of Lavalle. Babb's Prairie and five on Narrows Prairie, a small Irish settlement, known as Sligo, in what is now Dellona. the Butterfield settlement in the north part of Excelsior, of about a dozen families. Christihood, near where Ebenezer Church now is, and a community on Seely Creek, now Of all the fifty families or so then living in the present ten towns in the northNorth Freedom. west part of Sauk County, I think not more than five or six now (1876) remain, and some of them are depleted of a part of their numbers. Mr. Reed informed us that a fine, large prairie, surrounded with heavy timber, could be found to the south of Narrows Creek, near its head. Several of us made an ineffectual attempt to find it on Monday, and returned to the settlement On Tuesday morning, four of our company, including on Narrows Prairie to spend the night. After traveling myself, started out again with the determination to find the coveted prairie. several miles up the creek, we crossed to the south and struck into the timber to find a section found section corner, we when we a line and followed it to a line. The day was cloudy, and north to us was south, and east was discovered that each one of us was completely turned about west. In this bewildered state we passed the rest of the day. tracing the section lines near the The country was covered for the most part with center of what is now the town of Washington. a fine growth of young oak timber, with small streams of water each half-mile, along some of When night came, we kindled a fire by a large log, in front of which were strips of prairie. which we built a bower, and, covering the ground with dry grass, which we pulled for the purpose, we slept comfortably till morning, although it snowed quite freely during the night. None of the company, except myself, were accustomed to the woods, and all gave up to me to which on that day pilot them out. Fortunately, I had with me a sectional map of Wisconsin I would not have lost for $50 by means of which I discovered that the stream upon which we We resolved to follow it down, and had not gone far camped emptied into Narrows Creek. before we were delivered from our bewilderment, and the points of the compass were all right again, much to our satisfaction. We proceeded to the house of Mr. Pitts, near where the Parker Schoolhouse now stands, and, taking my team and buggy, which had been left there, we came After dinner, I informed Mr. Reed of our directly to Reedsburg, which we reached at noon. inability to find the large prairie surrounded by heavy timber, of which he gave us such a glowTo our chagrin, he informed us that the ing description before we set out on Monday morning. prairie was in the valley of Narrows Creek, which at that time consisted of only a small piece of open land. He had sent us upon a "wild-goose chase." He evidently feared that we were all of us a set of speculators, and wished us to locate our warrants as far from the village as possible. Mr. Reed was the only man in this part of the country who could give information a- to vacant hinds in this region. T said to him that T wished to hire his services for a day to show me land, and would pay him any price he should demand. Making very little objection on the score of his own business, he went with me. The first quarter-section he showed me as vacant whs the one upon which I now live. He said that his millwright had claimed one eighty of it, and he had promised to enter it for him. but had been disappointed in respect to money to do it; This I promised to do, that if would enter it and give him one forty, it would be satisfactory. and at the same time told Mr. Reed that I should need a quarter-section of timber to go with it, and he gave me a descriptions of one adjoining his land on the south, which I entered. We traveled northeast over lands now owned by the Messrs. Sparks, Pelton, Montross and Charles

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took descriptions of all the best locations on the route, none of which I entered, Pelton, and Soon after we set out, a however, as there were more valuable ones to be found elsewhere. In the course of the severe northeast snow storm set in. which continued for thirty-six hours. afternoon, Mr. Reed gave me an interesting account of his life, and remarked with special I

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. e to

the

455

manner in which he had spent the preceding Sabbath, "

know far better than

" was brought up by a Baptist minister, ami well instructed by him and his took them home and cared for was married and they became superannuated, How many id' us air comknow my duty better than 1 do it." I them as long as tbey lived. I

do," he said After 1

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wife.

pelled to make the

same acknowledgment On Thursday, November 2, we looked over land near Babb's

section to enter

tor

Mrs. Pamolia Tator, then living at Delavan.

Prairie to find

quarter-

The storm still continuing,

and the bushes being covered with damp snow, we were nearly as wet as though we had been I passed an uncomfortable night, hut. fortunately, out in a rain-storm without an umbrella. took no cold. The whole company, having made satisfactory selections, proceeded to Baraboo on Saturday, where we spent the Sabbath. On the 20th of February. L849, 1 set out on my second journey to Reedsburg for the purSince our last visit, in November, On Friday, March 2, we arrived. pose of entering land. the dam had been finished and the" saw- mill put in operation, although it was without roof or

One family bad been added to the population, that of Austin Seeley. He had put up the frame to the L part of what has since been known as " the old mill-house," and covHis family had recently removed from Delavan, and they ered it with green, rough hoards. were living in it. We obtained dinner here, but found the people quite short of provisions. In On the afternoon we proceeded to Narrows Prairie, and found lodgings with William Pitts. Saturday we spent the entire day selecting a quarter-section of land for myself, ami were well It was a mile or more north of where Loganville is now built, and consisted paid for our labor.

other covering.

of rich prairie with a fine stream of water running through it, and sixty acres of heavy timber It has been since converted into a farm, which for several years past has been on one corner. owned and occupied by H. B. Dornick. On Sabbath, March 4. we rested, according to the

On Monday we looked out a quarter-section, with a mill-site upon it, on Narrows Creek, for the young man who accompanied me. but he was cut down by death before he improved it. A mill'was afterward built upon it by D. 0. Sheldon. That was the day Zachary On Tuesday, March <i, I reviewed Taylor was inaugurated President of the United States. my selections of lands on Copper Creek, examining the soil, which was not frozen, by boring over Baraboo, we proceeded to Matt's Ferry Stopping night at through the snow with my staff. There was a the next day, only to find the river open and no man at home to set us across. We traveled down to family there, living in a part of a storehouse erected on the river hank. Sauk City and put up with Marcus Warren, a wealthy bachelor, and proprietor of the United States Hotel. During the evening, Augoston Haraszthy, the Hungarian Count, came in and He was a very intelligent man, of fine colloquial powers. I was much interspent an hour. He, with his cousin, Charles Halasz, sailed from Hamburg in ested in his conversation. March, 1840, with the intention of settling in the territory of Florida, glowing accounts of w Inch Before leaving port they had purthey had read in their native land, as a new-found Eden. chased some of Maryatt's books of travels for the purpose of whiling away their time on shipboard. His description of the country between Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, together with the account given by some English fellow-passenger who had been at Mineral Point, of the beauties of Wisconsin, induced them to change their destination. Upon landing in New York, they proThey purchased ceeded at once, by the way of the Erie Canal and the lakes, to Milwaukee. commandment.

horses, employed* a guide and interpreter, and explored the country until a satisfactory spot to There they set to work on Rock River, was found at the head of Lake Koshkonong. vigorously to make improvements, until they lost nearly everything by the burning of their tem-

settle,

Desolate and half discouraged, they resolved to abandon their claim. PiekiiiL' porary dwelling. up what few '• traps " they had saved from the fire, they proceeded by way of Madison to PraiThey were enchanted with the rie du Sac, where they arrived about the middle of duly, 1840. beauty of the country and found it equal to the description given by Capt. Maryatt in his travvillage of Prairie du Sac. and below the on river, the els. The Count purchased a claim to lands the next season employed Charles 0. Baxter to lay out a town, which was named Haraszthy.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNT\.

456

In the spring of The name was afterward changed to the one it bears at present, Sauk City. 1842, the Count returned to Hungary, and came back in the course of the summer with his wife and children, and with his father also, who was known as the " Old General," who was an excelThey soon drew around them a large German settlement, which spread to other lent chemist. parts of the county. The Count occasionally visited the Territorial Legislature when in session at Madison.

On such occasions he dressed in the livery he was accustomed to wear on court

He always attracted occasions in Europe, deeming it an act of respect due a legislative body. few weeks after I saw him, the family removed overland to Califora good deal of notice. nia, where the " Old General " was appointed Assayer of the mint at San Francisco, and the

Count received the appointment of Clerk. Charles Halasz, who recently died at Sauk City, had at various times been elected to town and county offices, which he satisfactorily filled. On Thursday morning, March 8, we found a bridge of ice at Sauk City about four roils Taking with us heavy clubs, wide, between the swift-flowing currents, above and below. Making our way to with which we pounded on the ice in front of us, we crossed in safety. Lodi, we took our horse and cutter and started for Madison, which we reached at night in the The next day, through mud, snow and running water, we reached midst of a severe rain-storm. On Saturday morning the snow was all gone. Leaving our sleigh, and taking Cambridge. turns in riding and walking, we reached home, forty miles, Saturday evening, thoroughly I succeeded in entering, through the mails, every piece of land exhausted by our journey. which I had selected, and was well satisfied with my two weeks' work. Early in November, 1849, I set out with two passengers on my third trip to Reedsburg, We pursued essenhaving been employed by several of my friends to enter lands for them. tially the same route as I did the spring before, except that we left the Madison road at Cottage Grove, and came through the American settlement on Sun Prairie, and the Scandinavian at Norwegian Grove, and then through Hundred-Mile Grove to Lodi. It was a splendid portion of The grove was said to be named Hundred-Mile from country, much of it improved by settlers. its being just 100 miles from Galena, and the same distance from Green Bay on the old traveled road through the Indian lands, before any portion of Wisconsin was purchased of them by the We found that several families had been added to the population United States Government. The mill was covered, and a bridge constructed over the river. The east porof Reedsburg. tion of the mill-house had been built and occupied by A. C. Reed and family, who kept a house Austin Seeley had put up the main part of a house now owned by J. F. of entertainment. William Danforth, and used the lower part for a cabinet-shop and the upper as a dwelling. McClung had built the L part of the house now owned by Robert Greenwood. Rev. J. S. Saxby had erected a part of what was afterward the Green Tavern, standing where Henry Dewey now lives. It, was afterward enlarged by II. II. Treadwell, and used for many years as It was at length removed by R. B. Percival to his farm on pJabb's Prairie, and a public house. Proceeding to Narrows Prairie, we found some still occupied as a dwelling by A. S. Winckler.

On our previous visit, L. M. Swallow's was the farthest house, Old Mr. Daniel ('lark had built a and he lived on Bear Creek, where Levi Craker now lives. Ion house where Maj. McClure now lives, and was removing his family into it from Big Foot Horace N. Smith and A. I!. Sprague had just settled in log Prairie, in Walworth County. cabins as the first families in what is now Westfield, two miles north of where Logansville is spent two days in making careful selections of lands just south of the present situated. I village of Logansville, and also in the prairie valley west of it on the line of the present town of Washington. The selections were all valuable, and succeeded in entering each one of them Most, or all of them have since been fur the several men fur whom they were intended. returned to Reedsburg to spend the Sabbath, and improved and are now valuable farms. listened to a sermon by Rev. Mr. Saxby, at the house of Eber Benedict, which ho had just built, a little east of the mill-house. This was the first regular preaching in this valley west of Baraboo, excepl the appointment of Elder A. Lock, on Narrows Prairie and on the Little BarMr. Saxby These were made a few months earlier. aboo, near where [ronton Village now is. increase of population there.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

457

had removed here with the intention of settling upon a tract of land upon Copper Creek, which He thought it best, however, to make his first sethad entered for him the previous spring. tlement in the village, but soon sold and removed to his farm, which he improved, and event1

ually sold to Joseph Osborn, who resided upon it until his death, a few months ago. ' Mr. Dwinnell came to Reedsburg with his family and settled permanently, in July. 1852.

TRIBUTE To SOME OE THE FIRST PIONEERS.'

Thirty years have now elapsed since he who now addresses you first became acquainted with a few", less than one out of a hundred, of your number present, who were then each of them They had severed the strong ties of kindred and of home in the hearl of a pioneer of pioneers. civilization to seek new homes at its furthest extremity on the prairies of the West, where the I speak now of the pioneers trail of the savage had been uncrossed by the foot of a white man.

who preceded my arrival in 1842, and of them I need not say, sinee it is a self-evident proposiBold, hardy, industrious, with a zeal tion, that they were and arc men of no ordinary mold. that never abated, and witli hearts that never faltered, they encountered all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, broke the virgin soil and plowed the furrows deep, fatted the pork and stall-fed the beef, sowed the grain and planted the corn that fed not only themselves, but also

When, in 1S4"2, 1 first supplied the wants of the straggling hundreds who followed them. became a resident of Sank County, all the necessary comforts of life were cheaply furnished and to that old herculean toil and efforts To their untiring patience, unremitting easily obtained. They thus laid the foundation of almost pioneer plowf is this consoling fact to be attributed. But Largely, these men were of American birth. an empire in this broad territory of ours. It is a singular fact that in that early there were other pioneers here not of American birth. day most of the nations of Europe were represented among the few inhabitants of Sauk Prairie. There were one or more immigrants and estrays from England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Ger" many, Poland " the furious Frank," "the fiery Hun," and even one of " Afric's dusky sons

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were there. On the evening of the 4th of July, 1S4'J, at a ball held in the lower town, where " music arose with its voluptuous swell" and "Hying feet" kept, time to its harmonics, the favorite dance of each nationality (the last excepted) succeeded the other in regular order. The music was that of a piano, the keys of which were touched by the fingers of a lady recently from London, and again by a "wee Scotch lassie," not then in her teens, since known as one of the most gifted vocalists and accomplished musicians of the State, now a. resident of Madison. This occurred at a time and to whom we of Baraboo had recently the pleasure of listening. when the wigwam of the Indian was still in view, and before his moccasined feet had made their Full well do I remember the tall and graceful form of last indentation on his war-worn trail. the Indian Chief, " De-ko-ra," who was looking on, and hearing him exclaim, ''Heap dance :

lift/i i/iuxir

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s'/th//r.'"

A number of the Hungarians and Germans were co-immigrants with, and formed part of. Hungarian nobleman, in many respects a very remarkable man. ami probably the first pioneer of foreign birth to set foot on the soil of Sauk Leaving his In person and mind, he fully typified "the fiery Hun " of Campbell. County. a home surrounded by every luxury native home, amid the vine-clad hills of far-off Hungary which extravagance could desire, and which had descended from father to son through a long line having resolved to become a citizen of Republican America, he visited many of its of nobility famous localities for the purpose of selecting (as he told me) a new home which, to himself and his family in Hungary, should prove not less attractive in its natural characteristics than the He wandered from place to place, from village to city, and home they were to abandon for it. Many places were beautiful, but not through the rural districts of many States in the Union. the retinue of Count Augoston Haraszthy, an

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'Address of W. II. Clark l...f..rr- 01,1 Seal, t-' s« i.-iv. 1-7-. Nice.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

458

altogether what he sought, until chance led him to the banks of the Wisconsin River. Ascend" ing to the top of the nearest bluff, opposite to where is now Sauk City, his delighted eye gazed

on the unrivaled landscape which lay outstretched before him "Eureka! Eureka!" he exclaimed. " Italia! Italia!" Without going into the particulars of his remarkable career, filled with adventures stranger than fiction, or relating any of the numerous anecdotes concerning him, I will only say further, that soon after the discovery of, and settlement upon, his miniature Italy, he set out for his native home, and, on his return, was accompanied by his wife, a lady of Polish origin, of great beauty and rare accomplishments, by their two children, and by his father and mother, lint his mercurial activity unfitted him for a quiet life. Now the owner and captain of a steamboat on the Lower Mississippi then again, at home tilling his many acres; now a merchant dealing out to customers (whom he always trusted) large quantities of merchandise then a lumberman on the Upper Wisconsin now at San Francisco, a member of the Legislature and Assayer of the United States Mint, or in the interior of California, carrying on, perhaps, the largest vineyard in the world now again in the Old World finally, while pursuing another avocation in the heart of Central America, his restless spirit was forever quenched in its murky waters. Death accorded to him a fate as strange as his life, and his body was devoured by alligators. Who that ever knew can forget the " Old General," the father of the Count? Father and only son and child in the structure of their minds, in their habits, tastes and dispositions, they were the very antipodes of each other, as unlike as ever could be. Nevertheless, their attachment for each other was unbounded. Naught but deatli would separate them where went the son, there accompanied or followed the father. In sunshine and in storm, through good and evil report alike, lie cherished "mein son Augosta," as he called him. He was probably the best-educated man who ever came to this country from abroad, having studied and mastered all the sciences through the medium of the Latin language, which was lisped by his infant tongue before that of his native laud. lie soon became a proficient in the English language, which he constantly made his study. After he had mastered it sufficiently to commu:

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nicate his ideas intelligibly, a more entertaining and agreeable companion could not be found.

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have thus briefly alluded to the character of these two men father and son not only because they were among the first settlers of our county, and had great influence in attracting foreign population hither, but because, also, they are now among, the number of those who have passed away, being one of the duties of this association, and its most sacred one. to extol the virtues of its dead pioneers. Another of the favorite and distinguished pioneers of our county, whom not to mention and commemorate on this occasion and in this connection, would be an omitted duty and a criminal neglect, is also now among the lamented dead. .lames S. Alban was the first white man who ever pitched In- lent and erected his cabin in our county. We all knew him well, and loved him much. Nestled among a cluster of trees that grew in the southern extremity of the prairie, was his cabin home, which, though rudely constructed and scantily furnished (as a mat ter of course in those days), yet sheltered from the storm ami protected from tin' >mi as happy a family as an} other. Having been a boarder in his family for many months, [ am a good witness to the fact that hi- wife, the •" Amanda " of his boyish love and the mother of his children, was as tinea specimen of a pioneer matron as ever administered to the necessities of way-faring humanity. When the latch-string of the cabin door was pulled by either friend orstranger, the incomer With few of the saluted with a kind " Come in " and greeted with a -mil.' of welcome. accomplishments of the modern lady, and with none hut a common education, she was adapted to the situation in which Provi lence had placed her. and her cabin home was as happj a- industry, cheerfulness, gentleness and truth could make it. When, blown by the the fell destroyer the lamp went out. and her gentle spirit ascended from her paradise on earth to the paradise above, and her body was consigned to the sepulcher at Prairie du Sac. ling tears burned n the cheeks of all alike husband, children, friend and neighbor! This sad occurrence broke the family up, and the children were sent to Ohio to be reared and educated by a kind old uncle. He must have discharged his duty well, for the only son of il

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Amanda is now a prominent young lawyer at Stevens Point, this State, and the eldesl girl became Mr. Alban, after the dea^h of Ins wife, became a lawyer, the wife of a member of Congress. then County Judge, Assemblyman and Senator from the same county, and when the war of the broke out became the Colonel of a regiment of volunteers and fell at its head on

late rebellion

the bloody field of Shiloh. "Green be the grass aben Friend of my early days

None knew thee but to love thee. None named thee but to praise.

THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN THE BARABOO

ALLE1

Our nearest white neighbors here were In the autumn of 1840, we arrived at Barahoo. Land on this side of the Wisconsin River was not as on the other side of the Bluffs, six miles. yet in market. We made a claim of a mill privilege, and settled near it on one side of the Baraboo River, and claimed a piece of fanning land on the other, and got it fenced and a larger part improved then my husband left, under the pretense of going to Oregon, and claiming the From that time, 1 have struggled alone offers of Government then held forth to actual settlers. to bring up my little family. Other settlers soon began to come into the place; 1 received numerous families into my house, sometimes with seven and eight children, until they could hunt claims, and frequently sent our teams to assist in erecting their house.-,, all without charge too glad, you see, to get neighbors. Well, it was a hard place, and we strove hard to live for seven long years, and then the land was thrown into market, and, no money to be got, a great many were deficient m the means to enter their land finally, the null privilege and land that we were residing on was entered from under us by a speculator, and then a drunken man broke into the house and drove us out, and destroyed everything in it that he could, and threw the rest out of doors. I took my children and went to the neighbors, and never lived in the house again. I soon got a board shanty put up on the opposite side of the river, near our improved part of the claim and moved into it. I then went to the land office to try and get a pre-emp:

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tion on my improvements, but was informed that 1

must bring proof of my husband's death, or

I immediately wrote to my parents, residing in York State, have no pre-emption. They sent it, but while on its way hither, a requesting them to send money to enter my farm. man named Brown, then residing at Whitewater, came here to visit his parents, and, my larm The settlers^ had taking his fancy, he immediately went to the land office and entered it. Esquire Crawford, Presipreviously formed a claim society, and had their officers all elected •• that if any actual dent and a constitution framed and published. One of its articles was, settler had his improvements entered from him, there should be a committee appointed to wait on the purchaser, and endeavor to repurchase." Finally Brown returned to Baraboo, and I had an interview with him. He said I could have it hack by paying him $60 more than he gave. I informed him that my money had arrived; this being Saturday, he said he would call on Monday morning and complete a settlement with me and so that same morning our claim society met and chose their committee to wait on him, provided he did not.settle with me. I he committee waited for him to fulfill his promise until noon, and, learning that he had not called, they went to see him, and found that he had -one to the land office, as was supposed, to enter another claim. They followed and overtook him at Sauk Prairie and brought him hack two

1 could

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He finally voluntarily intending to have him fulfill his promise. They concluded proposed to go hack to Sauk Village, take his money and deed the land over. to let him do so. Two or lime of the committee went back with him for that purpose the rest returned to Baraboo. Brown and the tWOOr hree witnesses went before Esquire Leland and got the deed executed. He said yes. If it had not been, Leland asked Brown if it was his own voluntary act.

or three miles toward Baral

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he could have just as well said uo, as he was before power legally authorized 'Written

Urs. Rosaline !' ck, ol

command the

460

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

peace

supposing that they had previously had him in duress, there was no compulsion at that time. The witnesses paid my money over to him, and he authorized Leland to take charge of it until he (Brown) called for it but he never called. Brown wrote to me to go to Leland and get my money, as I could not have the land. He waited two years, until two witnesses to the deed had gone to California, then threw it into chancery to make a forced deed of it and after adjournments and appeals for four or five years, our beautiful "Court of Equity" at Madison pronounced it all Brown's fences, improvements, everything and mulcted me in the cost of some hundreds of dollars. Now, according to Leland's testimony, there was no force. Their other point, or quibble, was, that he had never received the money. Then, what business had he to put my money into another's possession ? True, Brown had a right by United States" law to enter the land he had also a right to deed it. After Host my improvements, I sold my last cows, at the rate of 812 and $15 apiece, and thereby raised money and bought the piece of land I now live on, and afterward entered some more; but it was a long time before I got ahead far enough, besides supporting my family, to make improvements on any part of it. But the robbing is not all done yet, for within the last year I owned a delightful little grove of timber, consisting of about three hundred trees, mostly large forest shades, situated on a beautiful elevated building-let in town, near the banks of the Baraboo River, reserved for my own use, where, if my life was spared long enough, I anticipated building a snug little residence to die in. And during a freshet one spring, some two or three hundred citizens, with twenty or thirty teams, cut the whole of it down, and. without saying " by your leave," hauled and rolled them into the Baraboo River to save a flouring mill, valued at $25,000 or $30,000, owned by some of our rich capitalists and they saved it, and do you think that either of the propri" etors, or those who committed the trespass, have called on me to say, " Thank you, madam ? Not a bit of it. If they had offered me their mill, water privilege and all, at that time, I should have been reluctant to make the exchange, for if I owned a mill, somebody would be sure to steal the grist and toll both. Now this was robbing Peter to pay Paul, with a vengeance. And so my whole life, it seems, thus far has been spent in striving to accumulate for others' benefit and if I am taxed in future as formerly on what little I do possess, I think, when I leave the world, I shall leave the young Peck quite independent. ;

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A TILT WITH REDSKINS.*

Blue Mound, we ascertained, was not the permanent home of my uncle* He had, during the summer previous to our arrival, determined to locate in Sauk County, and had abandoned a long, dark hole in the ground that for years had absorbed every surplus dolattempts to secure the leaden treasure which he believed to just beneath the last stroke of pick and gad. Sauk County was, at this time, only a county in name. Its territorial limits had been fixed; to use a Western phrase, it had been ''staked out." hut there were scarcely white men enough to fill the usual county offices. Of Indians, there were enough and to spare. Their title to the land had been extinguished, but it was not yet surveyed. Each emigrant selected such portion of the public domain as seemed to him good, and either staked out the boundaries or marked the dimensions of his claim by " blazing " the trees. Tn case of dispute between claimants, the matter was settled by a squatter's court, acting under a code of laws adopted by themselves in mass meeting, from whose decisions there was no appeal, for the unhappy man who attempted to evade a decision of that court had better n°ver have been born. My uncle had made a claim at what is now called the Bluffs, seven miles west of Prairie du Sae. The latter was then a village containing one log store, wherein was also a hotel, one blacksmith-shop, one cabinet-shop and four log dwelling-houses. One mile south was Sauk City, then called Ilaraszthy, named after the principal proprietor, an Hungarian refugee Count. It was a rival village of Prairie du Sac, containing about the same number of inhabitants. The lar and the best years of his life in

lie

Qen John

Kellogg

HISTORY

(>F

401

SAUK COUNTY.

principal business of these two villages was to fight each other, the residents of each believing that all which prevented their village from rivaling New York City was the close proximity of the other,

and the inhabitants of each seemed fully convinced that, to attain greatness and prosperity, the first step was to destroy its rival. A more beautiful site upon which to build a city, so far as natural beauty of location is concerned, than that upon which Prairie du Sac is built, is hard to find. In 1S40, was confidently believed that at nodistant day the Wisconsin River would bear upon that at Prairie du Sac, or Haraszthy, would be the grand its bosom the commerce of the West outlet and market for all that vast and beautiful farming country lying for thirty miles on either sub- <,f the river. It was considered very doubtful whether either Madison or Milwaukee would Baraboo, the present flourishing village and county seat, was then ever amount to much. unthought of. It consisted of one saw-mill and two or three shanties. As I have before stated, Indians were numerous they were not only numerous but Their visits to the settlers were made without reference to the rules of etiquette, troublesome. the night being generally selected as the time to make them, and they were usually successful in carrying away with them as souvenirs any little useful articles found lying around, especially '• If the man of the house was temporarily absent, kokcosh," " wahampra " and " washcobra."* At the time of which I am the family were sure of receiving a visit from one or more of them. writing, the Black Hawk war had so recently taught them lessonsof prudence that they did not dare make any open attack upon the settlers. Still, their numbers so greatly predominated over the whites that they plundered us whenever occasion served, believing we would submit to little annoyances rather than attempt to punish them, and by so doing provoke hostilities. And, upon i't

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general principles, they reasoned correi tlv. Our nearest neighbor on the north, or up the river, was Mr. Garrison, whose family conThe latter belonged to one of the first families in New Brunswick, sisted of himself and wife. Mr. Garrison had been compelled to leave his wife and had been accustomed to good society. The Indians soon discovered that alone while he made a visit to Mineral Point on business. there was no man about the premises, and determined to take advantage of the situation. Durinu the first night of Mr. Garrison's absence, they visited the cabin used as a storeroom, which was adjoining the dwelling-house, and carried away the major part of the provisions intended to r

supply the family during the summer, or until they could harvest the first crop. The next morning, Mrs. Garrison discovered her loss, and in the flour the Indians had spilled upon the floor moccasin tracks were plainly discernible. Unlike many ladies, who. in her situation, would have abandoned all and fled to the nearest neighbors for protection, Mrs. Garrison determined to stay There was a, double-barreled shotgun in the house, and plenty of and defend her property. a Bob,"f then a Fortunately, about this time ammunition, but she lacked the skill to load it. thirteen years, came along upon his regular morning errand of hunting the cows. Mrs. boy of She told him of her loss, and Garrison called him in and showed him the tracks in the flour. asked him to load the gun for her. •• Why. Mrs. Garrison, you won't shoot them, will you ? " '•Yes, I will, if they come around here again while Mr. Garrison is gone." "Well, I'll load the gun for you, but I wouldn't shoot them, for I'm afraid they would rise

and murder us all." " I don't care; we might as well be murdered outright as to starve for want of provisions Put in a good big load, Bob," she continued. they steal from us. Accordingly, Bob loaded the gun heavily with powder atid "bouble B" shot, and, having He had been gone about an hour, finished the operation, wended his way toward the prairie. when, just as he came in sight of the house upon his return, he heard both barrels of the gun discharged almost simultaneously, and at the same instant saw an Indian, near the house, spring into the air and fall upon his face in the road, evidently badly wounded if not killed.

Indians, his companions, caught him up and ran with him toward their camp.

Two other

To say that B >b

462

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

was frightened, was no name for it. He full)' expected that the Indians would retaliate, and perhaps destroy the settlement before night. He ran at once to the house, and upon his arrival found Mrs. Garrison just struggling to her feet, rubbing her shoulder and moaning with pain. recoil of the gun had thrown The her violently to the ground, and almost dislocated her shoulder. "Good heavens," exclaimed Bob, "what have you done, Mrs. Garrison? " " I really don't know. I wish he had been at my end of the gun. I believe my shoulder is

gone."

" Never mind your shoulder where is the gun ? Let me load it for you at once," said Bob, "they may come back here and kill you." "Yes, that is right, Bobby, load it up again. But don't put in so much next time it shoots ;

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both ways." --

Why. Mrs. Garrison," exclaimed Bob, "I believe you have killed that Indian."

" I hope so," she replied " I'll teach them to steal my pigs." " What were they doing ? " queried Bob. " Why," said she, " I had started to the pig-pen with a pail of swill, and what should I see but three great strapping fellows in the pen taking out one of my best shoats. I called to them to puckachee [go away], but they called me a squaw ami laughed at me. I dropped the swill and brought the gun. When they saw me coming with that in my hand they dropped the pig and ran around the stable. I ran to the upper side, and, putting the gun over the fence, got a good rest, and when they came in sight, I took the best aim I could and pulled both triggers at once I was afraid one barrel might miss ajid the recoil of the gun knocked me nearly a rod, " I should think, by the way my shoulder feels. But, Bob, do you really think I killed him ? " I am afraid you have, Mrs. Garrison, and you must go away from here at once they will come back and murder you." " What go away and leave all these things to be stolen, and the animals to die of starvation ? I shall do nothing of the kind and if they come, the dogs and this gun will hurt some ;

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of them.

don't believe they will trouble me again.'

THE INDIAN SCARE OF 1844. I was. at the- time, living with William Farnum, Sr., on the prairie near the Bluffs. Some time in the night, Albert Jemison waked us up and told us that Mrs. Brewster, who lived between Baraboo River and the Bluffs, had come over the Bluffs barefooted and out of breath, bringing the news that old Richard Clark had been killed by the Indians, and his house burned, ami that the savages were coming this way. We asked him what we should do. and he said that every one must take care of himself. Then he left, ami I, wishing to do something for myself ami country, went to John Hoover's, near by, am! told him that the Indians were coming, and that we must do something for the people. took a small pony of his and started over the So prairie to give the alarm. 1 called first mi Uncle Bill Johnson, telling him the story as Jemison had told me. lie asked me what wo were to do. and said, a- Jemison had done, that every one must take care of himself. then called on Philo Barber's brother, waked him up ami told him that the Indians were upon us. The strong man trembled lil e an aspen, and faltered. "What shall 1 do?" Again [ gave Jemison's advice "' Take care of yourself.' " I next called on Thomas Tab in hi sal [uestion was asked. " What shall we do?" with the same response given. I had now reached the lower part of the prairie settlement. The Tabor luded that discretion was the better part of valor, and asked to go with me back to the Bluffs. There was a terrible confusion by this time. Wagons could be heard going in every direction, ami voices everywhere were asking, " What, shall we do?" Thomas Tabor made some provisions for his wife to make her escapt in some wagon, I think to where they were thinking of making a place of defense. Then one of the Tabors got on that wee pony behind me. ould have done so had there been room on its hack, hut two were all that could squeeze I

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t, [ir.ivi..i

I'.y |

.limn -

married Dr. \ Taylor

tli.>

»-i».|..n

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ith of her husband, and, In due

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. When we got to the Bluffs, we learned that all

-It;:!

people were collecting at Uncle Bill Some came in wagons, some on horseback and cithers cm foot. Johnson's for self-protection. Thev brought all the old guns and pitchforks that they could get in the hurry, and such treas-

on.

the

There were about ures as they possessed. believe that Uncle Teel brought his cook-stove. It was arranged that the women and children should go one hundred and fifty persons in all. While waiting for the attack, the women were running into the cellar, and the men stand battle. * bullets, and all was bustle and confusion, some asking and others advising what to do. We had been in suspense all night, and still no signs of the Indians: and we held a council of war, and concluded to send a scout to reconnoiter the grounds in the neighborhood of He took a horse But not a soul dared to act as scout except John Grey. Uncle Clark's house. An hour and a half passed, and he did not return. (a gray one) and started alone cm his mission. whereupon we became more and more alarmed, and a company of men, headed by David Baxter, started out to find what bad become of him. They went about a mile and met Johnny returning. They heard his story, and then put spurs to their horses and rushed back, crying "The The women and chilIndians are upon us !" What a consternation and confusion they created But from John Grey dren fled to the cellar, and stout hearts st 1 still in terrible anticipation. we learned the true story. He had been to Uncle Clark's house. It was not burned, and Uncle or heard no Indians. In fact, he had seen had having been massacred. Clark no remembrance of The people now conBaraboo slept peacefully, undisturbed by the war-whoop of the savage. But, to our cluded to disperse, and. as a closing scene, word was given to take aim and lire. By the time daylight began to amusement, and consternation likewise, only one gun went off. break, the fort was vacated. It seems, from what I can learn, that Mrs. Brewster had started barefoot over the Bluffs to Sauk Prairie on business, and had met an Indian, wdio frightened her. Uncle Clark bad that day been burning some brush heaps, and the great smoke led Mrs. Brewster to believe that the house was burning. Her imagination did the rest. I

EARLY CHRISTIAN EFFORT

SAUK COUNTY.

was my privilege to be one of those inevitable men on the frontier, a Methodist itinerant preacher, as early as the spring of 1841. I was not, however, the first of my class to visit Sauk County. That honor, I think, belongs to Rev. James G. Whitford, now of Volga City, Iowa. It has been suggested to me that, possibly, Rev. John Crummer preceded him. but of this 1 have no knowledge sufficient to form a belief. Mr. Whitford. after spending a number of years of widowerhood, part of them near St. Paul, as an Indian and frontier missionary, very naturally desired to find a fellow-sufferer of the gentler sex. hoping, as many do, that by uniting their sorrows they could bear them more joyfully. Mrs. Sarah Sayles. the widowed daughter of Henry During his visits Teel, who had removed to the Bluffs <m Sauk Prairie in 1840, attracted him. here, he preached to the few settlers that gathered for the purpose, and, 1 believe, formed the The ehiss first class in Sauk County: but of the date, and of all the names, he has no record. was formed ;it the house of Father Teel. still standing at the foot of the Iduffs, which, for several years, was the place of meeting. Mr. Whitford and Mrs. Sayles were united in marriage by Rev. Mr. Simpson on the 15th of August, 1841, and this was probably the first marriage in Sauk County. My first record relating to this county mentions meeting Rev. Henry W. Reed, nov of Epworth, Iowa, Presiding Elder of the Dubuque District, and J. G. Whitford, on their way Mr. Reed was then Presiding Elder to Sauk Prairie. May. 1841, to hold a quarterly meeting. of the Platteville District, Rock River Conference, which embraced all this region of country, associated with this County Circuit. 1 was and Mr. Whitford was stationed at Mineral Point, his assistant. They left an appointment for me a few weeks from that time, and promised the The people a preacher for the next year. I reached the Prairie on the 23d of June. 1841. only road therefrom Mineral Point was by way of Blue Mounds, and the only vestige of habitation It

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

464

between Brigham's tavern and the river at about where the Lower Bridge now is, was Mr. Thomas' Station, near Cross Plains. All the supplies for the Upper Wisconsin pioneers were drawn on the military road leading to Fort Winnebago, now Portage City. Mr. Thomas had established a way station for teamsters and travelers. From this road, a way was opened from about the present Alden Corners to the river. The crossing at Lower Sauk Village was the only ferry then between the Fox River and the shot-tower at Helena. I copy the entry in my journal, as made on my first visit on the above dale After riding through a heavy rain-storm on a very bad road, I crossed the river and got to Father Teel's, at the Bluffs, just at dark. I have often heard of this prairie, but, like the Queen of the South, I can say The half has never been told me !' It is on the west bank of the Wisconsin River, eight miles long and four wide, being about eighty-dive miles from the mouth of the river. The lower part of it is about ten feet above high- water mark, and it gradually rises until the northern part is fifty or more feet high. The soil is in places sandy, but very productive and all adapted to cultivation. This was once the great headquarters of the Sac nation of Indians, and large fields of their corn-hills are yet plainly visible. These were driven hence by the Winnebagoes, and subsequently they gave place to the whites, some of whom first settled here about two years ago. There are now about two hundred and seventy inhabitants on the prairie. A flourishing little village is commenced on the river." To show what sad havoc thirty years will make with a man's opinions of taste, and, if you :

look at me as I read this, with his personal appearance, I continue the quotation:

" There is here an Hungarian Count

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who claims to have large quantities so he calls himself There is also an Englishman here who have been a lord in the old country. He is in partnership with the Count. They both look like savages, wearing a long beard above as well below the mouth. And they are the great men of the place, and others adopt their customs and make themselves as ridiculous as of money, and is expending it liberally in improvements.

claims

possible."

On Thursday evening, June 24, I preached at the Bluffs, from 1 Cor., xiii, 13; Friday evening, at the Lower Village, in an unfinished schoolhouse, from Rev., iii, 20; Sunday, A. M., at the Bluffs, and in the evening, again at the village. At the Rock River Conference held at September 2, 1841, I was appointed to Muscoda Mission, in Platteville DisReed. Presiding Elder. The mission embraced all the settlements mi both Winnebago. Before the close of the year, I had appointments at Muscoda, Blue Mounds, then known as Centreville, near Meeker's lead furnace, Helena, (Highland, lour miles north, was not even thought of then), Ridgeway, Blue Mounds, Sauk Village, Honey Creek Mills, Bluffs and Baraboo. It required three weeks to make my round, involving a travel of over 200 miles, for there were scarcely any roads. My first appointment at Honey Creek Mills, where several families had settled, was September 16, and the text was James, iv. 8, the ting being at Mr, Gould's, and there were eighteen present. At this point we afterward held the meetings at a Mr. Crain's, wdiose wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Finding the distance so great to go and return by way of the Mounds, I crossed the river at Helena (Mr. Alva Culver, who boar-led the shot-tower men, keeping a scow for the purpose), on the 30th of September, and went up to Sauk on the old Indian trail. This route 1 traveled eight or ten times during the year. The trail was circuitous, bearing out from the river and crossing several wet marshes, where my little Canada pony could not bear me up. To avoid the inconvenience of dismounting in a quagmire nearly knee deep and wading twenty rods, as I often did. I sought a better route. Sometimes I went up the river bank, buu logs and I gorges, to say nothing of the bluffs, coming to the water's edge, made that a difficult road. tried several times to vary the former track, to split the difference between the impassable rivetbank ami the swampy trail, but, like almost all bargains on splitting the difference, I found myPlatteville, closing trict.

Rev. Henry

VY.

sides of the river, from Muscoda to Fort

badly sold. I settled down at last to the conviction that it is safe to follow the trails of Indian- until civilized highways are made. There were no settlers in this country, west of

self

Honey Creek, till the fall of 1841 or the spring of 1842. Mr Wilson, the shot-tower cooper, moved

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

465

Wilson's Creek in the latter part of 1841. He was a well-informed Scotchman, and had a family of well-posted children. I stayed with him one night, when I was informed it was an established family order that, by turns, one should read history or some other each night, while all the others worked and lisof which he had a good library solid work tened. Hence, the intelligence of the children was remarkable for a frontier family. Soon after. a Mr. Turner settled about where Spring Green now is. and several young men took claims on tlir prairie. On the J0th of May, 1842, I preached in Mr. Turner's house to the family and My text was. " The time is short " 1 Cor., vii, 29. That, was three young men who came in. In 1.841. there was a temporary undoubtedly the first attempt at preaching in Spring Green. Before that, I had made bridge built across Honey Creek at the mill, which saved me trouble. my pony swim the creek at the crossing of the trail, and had taken my baggage across on a log. Sometimes my pony concluded it was as easy for me to walk and carry my luggage as it was tor Once I walked immediately behind him for about seven miles. him to carry that and me too. J West of this bridge a Canadian, Mr. Brisset. with a young Yankee wife, settled in 1842 cabin. Still west of him a mile or two. in a beautiful valley, after night in their little spent one the burning of the grass, I saw a field of several acres of parallel ridges, about five feet apart, very nearly straight, that must have been used many years before, for large white-oak trees grew They were more artistic than any remains of Indian cultivation I have ever all among them. his family to the mouth of

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seen.

My first visit to Baraboo Mills was October 5, 1841.

Notice of my coming had not been

At that time, the saw-mill had been repaired, a new old man. Mr. Draper, a member of the Baptist dam put in and some men employed. He invited me to Ihurch, was some way interested in the mill, and it was called Draper's Mill. come and establish meetings there. A Mr. Hill, from one of the New England States, had given, and we therefore had no meeting.

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boarded Mr. Draper and the hands. On the 16th of This mill was not far from half a mile above the ford on the Baraboo River. October, Tuesday evening, I preached in Mr. Hill's house to eleven persons, from 2 Cor., v. 2d None of which was certainly the opening of the Gospel for the first time in Baraboo Valley. After that, my appointments were those present professed to be Christians, save Mr. Draper. regularly filled there, except once, when the roads were impassable. On Sunday, February 6, s 12. 1 formed a Methodist class at Baraboo Mills, consisting of Solomon Shaffer, leader, Ollie I Mr. Shaffer and Parmelia Gibson, all of whom were Methodist immigrants, recently arrived. Mrs. Gibson Shaffer was the mill blacksmith, and lived in a house newly built south of the mill. and family had settled about a mile above the river, on the north side. Before I left the circuit, there were one or two families moved in above the Gibsons. I think about, five miles up the river. I visited them once, but have no record of the names. My impression is that one of them was Jones. On the 10th of April. Mrs. Mary J. Hill, the woman of the house where our itings were held, joined the class. She was the first convert to religion in the valley, having made a profession in the early spring of 1843. The unfinished schoolhouse at Lower Town, as Sauk City was then called, was very uncomfortable as a place of meeting; besides, the people therewere chiefly Germans, and iiad little sympathy with our forms of religion. Early in the winter of 1841-42, we got the privilege of holding our meetings at the house of Mr. Skinner, and thereafter had no services at Lower Town. of April. 1842, Rev. Phillip W. About the 1st Nichols came with his family to Upper Town as a Presbyterian Home Missionary, under the auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for the Home and Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. He had formerly been a Methodist itinerant preacher, but, for reasons lie had satisfactory to himself and his church, his connections with that body was dissolved, connected himself with the Congregational body: but at that time in Wisconsin Territory, under what is known as the " Union," a minister of either the Congregational or Presbyterian Church could serve the other without change of ecclesiastical relations. So he was a Presbyterian Pastor, but a Congregational minister. The scattered Presbyterian friends here hail received him as a missionary, with an appropriation from the mission fund of $400, they agreeing to furnish him built a log cabin about ten or fifteen rods east of the mill, and

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

466

He was the first regular Pastor for a dwelling, fuel and provisions for one year as their part. Sauk exclusively for, although I preceded him, ray parish embraced Grant, Iowa, Dane and Again, his salary equaled Richland Counties, besides Sauk, and all the settled regions beyond. ;

$700 or more, while mine could, according

to our law,

be no more than $100.

He had $100

I but $50, aside from which I only received during the whole year 92 cents. missionary funds He had a pleasant home with his family I boarded round like the schoolmaster of the times. He was a man of years of experience in the ministry, and knew the inconveniences of Methodist It is therefore no wonder at our first interview at pioneering: I was inexperienced in both. the house of Mr. Skinner after I had preached and called on him to close, he gave me and We first met tin- audience to understand that he thought I had vast room for improvement. My principal home April 13. after which we alternated in holding meetings at Upper Sauk. I spent nearly a week there once in three weeks, and during the year was at Father Teel's. The family consisted of two old persons and George, myself and horse shared the best they had. Mother Teel was more than a mother to me, for about seventeen, and Charles, about twelve. No she saved my life once, at least, by her skill in treating a dangerous disease successfully. poor itinerant ever met with more generous hospitality than I did at that " Methodist Tavern," and my home there is among the most cherished memories of my life. I finished my year on July "20, having traveled about 3,500 miles, besides visiting generally about the settlement, preaching nearly 200 times to congregations ranging from two, the lowest, I could count my congregation every time for the whole to thirty, the highest, averaging eight. The people were generally poor, consisting in most instances year without making a mistake. But they were exceedingly kind, of newly married couples, just beginning life for themselves. and I may add. patient, for I was often ill, and at best, could poorly interest, much less profit But it was a valuable year to me, rich in privations, trials and opportunities, and one I them. At the Conference of 1843, held at Chicago, Seycan never forget, because of its pleasures. mour Stover succeeded me on the Muscoda Mission, while I was sent far hence to the Gentiles: Mr. Stover is still living that is, among the Chippewa Indians at the head of Lake Superior. At near Chicago. His connection with the Sauk County people did not prove very happy. In 1844, it was again favored with the end of his year, the mission was left off the minutes. mention, but not called " Sauk Prairie " and left " to be supplied," being yet in Platteville Being far away, I have no knowlDistrict. Benjamin T. Kavanaugh being Presiding Elder. edge as to who was the supply for that year, but he probably was a Badger. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK

COl VI V

CHAPTER VJII. TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. Physical Feature

—-Elevations—The Baraboo Quaktzite Ranges— Wisconsin's Amazon —Flora and Fauna. physical features.

Sank County is situated midway between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, in the center of the south half of the State. Upon its south, southeast and northeast sides, sweeps the rapid current of the Wisconsin Liver, one of the largest tributaries of the " Father of Waters," into whose channel every stream in the county eventually finds its way. The county is bounded on the north by Juneau, on the west by Vernon and Richland, on the south by Iowa, southeast by Dane, and east and northeast by Columbia. County. The soil embraces every variety, found frequently in strangely close proximity. Stiff clays are sometimes found terminating abruptly in beds of sandy loam, or gradually intermixing with them, so that a single farm often embraces many varieties. Marshes occur along the watercourses, sometimes of considerable extent, though rarely of a swampy character. Rich bottom lands occasionally hem in the streams, while fertile prairies, for the most part of quite limited dimensions and skirted with timber available for farm purposes, greet the eye of the traveler in nearly every portion. The largest of these is Prairie du Sac. But one of the greatest glories of Sauk County is her extensive and heavily timbered lands, lying nearly midway between her northern and southern limits, and running the entire length from east to west. The largest branch but one of the Wisconsin River is the Baraboo, a stream of perhaps one hundred miles in length and running through the county from east to west. Directly south of this stream lie the famous Baraboo Bluffs, a range of hills with occasional subranges shoot# ing off. which also stretches entirely across the county. Upon this range, and its offshoots, are located the large supplies of timber. The east end of the Baraboo Bluffs is geologically very interesting. Here nature has cut many freaks. The bluff is from three to four miles wide, and for this distance has but few spurs, but is indented here and there with small streams, in the valleys of which there seems to have been a general tear-up. The redeeming feature of this locality is the abundance of timber. Passing from this mountain-like end of the Baraboo Bluff, which averages from four hundred to six hundred, and at ^ome points eight hundred, feet above the Wisconsin River, to the line of Range 4, we leave the flinty or vitrified sandstone and come upon the Lower Magnesian limestone and the lower sandstone. Here the top of the divide softens down to good farming land of a clay loam white-oak soil. The top of the ridge, being wide enough for a farm and in some places two abreast, thus forms a solid chain of farms, not only on the main ridge, but for some distance on the spurs. As we pass into Range 3, in Town 11, the Baraboo Bluff meets and unites with other ranges, which radiate off to the south, northeasl and north, the main bluff passing out of the county to the northwest. These " divides " form broad. elevated tables of excellent lands, well timbered with red and white oak and poplar. There is but little rough land. The basin of the Baraboo River has an area of over six hundred square miles, extending. of course, without the county. The stream itself is about two hundred feet wide at its mouth, ami has a volume of water, made up mostly from the flow of springs, of between 15,000 and 20,000 inches, as calculated on the edge of a dam. It passes through two ranges of bluffs, forming the Upper anil Lower Narrows, the latter being an opening in the Wisconsin River bluffs

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468

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

At this point, the valley is but sixty to eighty about ten miles from the mouth of the Baraboo. rods wide, and upon either side the bluff is from three hundred to four hundred feet high, presenting, in some places, a face of perpendicular rock, and, in others, rugged slopes covered with pine, red cedar and oak firmly rooted in the broken debris. This pass, or gorge, is half a mile in It was a favorite fording-place for length, the river being very shallow along its entire extent. Indians in primeval times. Below the Narrows, the Baraboo and Wisconsin River bottoms soon variegated soil. The Wisconsin River being the most rapid tract of a large unite and form In these bottoms. stream, the floods that collect here soon discharge through its broad channel. From there are patches of marshes, but a good share of it can be plowed and cereals grown. the Upper to the Lower Narrows, a distance of fifteen miles by six or seven wide, the country is interesting from its peculiar geological features, which are referred to in another part of this It contains about It forms a distinct basin from the other part of the Baraboo Valley. work. one hundred square miles, and the Baraboo Rapids seem to have been designed as its business poor land in it, and the river is the dividing line very little between two There is but center. That upon the south side is mostly a heavy clay subsoil, with a vegetable loam distinct soils. with lime, maple, oak, elm, walnut, hickory, ash and That cherry. surface soil, being timbered In contradisupon the north side has a similar subsoil, but more sand with the surface soil. tinction with the cherry timber of the south side, the north side comprises openings, marsh and The rapids are some two miles and a half in length, and have prairie, nearly equally divided. The land being so well divided between timber, oak openings, prairie and a fall of fifty feet. marsh, well watered with springs and runs, and very healthy withal, time will give it credit for more advantages than are here rehearsed. Narrows Creek breaks through the Baraboo range about two miles west, and flows at its The gorge is very narrow, having a little more than enough width for the base to the river. Here there is a natural fall over rapids of about ten or twelve feet, makcreek bed and a road. The opening for the ing a good water-power with from five hundred to one thousand inches. The quiet stream in this narrow dell, with rocks wildly arranged to the river is still narrower. height of three hundred to four hundred feet, the absence of sunshine, the hemlock and pine. Above this with their " music of a thousand harps," lead us to thoughts of nature's wonders. range of bluffs, the basin of the Baraboo River is in unison with the country previously described, The great physical features of the Upper Barawith the exception of some variations in soil. The area of these prairies boo country are the prairies dotting the heavily timbered districts. Some of the largest have names such as Narrows, Ball's, is from one acre to several hundred. Narrows Creek Valley is quite Blakeslie's, IlubbeH's. Kerstetter's, Stead's, Ribock's, etc. It lias a large basin of country, containing equally divided between timber, marsh and prairie. from forty-five to fifty square miles, and is a rich valley of land. Passing from Narrows Creek over a divide capped in several places with limestone, we come into the valley and basin of Babb's Creek, which is the largest of the timber-inclosed prairies The arms of the prairie extend in above described, and lies thirty to fifty feet above the creek. several directions into the heavy timber, and upon the main body there are several " timber Upon its east side is the Baral islands," making the whole aspect a very pleasant one. River, and here, in early days, was an Indian ford, the bottom of the river for a short disNow upon this rock bottom the river is dammed, and near by is the village tance being rock.

—

of Reedsburg.

Seven or eight miles further up, we come to the beautiful valley of the Little Baraboo, con3*he Little Bartaining nearly forty square miles, one-fourth of which is in Richland County. aboo River furnishes, at its mouth, probably 12,000 inches of water, and is a very permanent Further on is the valley of the main river, which, upon the southwest side, is rather Next come the Kerstetter, Stead and Ribock and then we find ourselves in the Plum Valley, which is about one-third the size of the Across the river, on the northeast side, are the Little Baraboo, with similar characteristics. remains of the famous " Old Pinery," whence came so many " drives " of logs in the early

stream.

rolling, but not rough, the soil being very rich.

PRAIRIE DU SAC.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. history of this wonderful valley.

471

especially the Ox and Big Creek Turning southward into the town of Winfield,

The town of Lavalle, and

Valleys, is not inviting to the lover of prairie land. we enter the narrow valley of Twin Creek, surrounded by rich-soiled table-lands, which lie from In seventy-five to one hundred feet above the creek bottom, and are well timbered with oak. the eastern part of Winfield, there is an excellent country, in the edge of the Irish settlesoil is light Valley, the Copper Creek in the Nearer Reedsburg, Sligo. called formerly ment

Not far from the mouth of Copper Creek is a copper mine, which at one time creThe ore was rich, and several tons were taken out, but it seemed ated considerable excitement. In sinking shafts or making excavations anywhere in this to run out and was abandoned. region, a sheet of clay is found strongly impregnated with verdigris. Dell Creek enters the Wisconsin River near the foot of the Little Dells, and furnishes about and sandy.

The area of this basin is sixty-five square miles. This is very one thousand inches of water. large for the size of the stream, owing, probably, to there being but few hills or elevated lands, With the exception of some country in the neighwhich always furnish an abundance of water. borhood of the Dells, and a few isolated mounds, such as Hay Rick, Rattlesnake Bluff, HayThe lower part of the basin is of a stack and Prospect Hill, the basin is an unbroken level. light,

sandy soil, with black-oak openings and pine groves.

There are, however, places in this

region, equal to about a third part of it, that have a stiff clay soil, with white-oak openings. In the upper part of the valley, Interspersed through this light soil are occasional marshes. and lying at the foot of the ridge that divides it from the Baraboo Valley, is a strip of country

The equal to about half a township, which is second to none in the county in productiveness. soil is a deep, rich clay loam, lying on a shelf about fifty feet higher than the rest of the valley. This vicinity is well supplied with timber. Leaving Harrisburg and passIn the southern portion of the county the aspect changes. ing in a southwesterly direction, the traveler finds himself in the little valley of Wilson's Creek, In passing down so called in honor ofJohn Wilson, a Scotchman, who settled there in 1840. the Wisconsin River, about four miles from Wilson's, the bluffs recede from the river at Sauk, and for the first two or three miles the basin is timbered with white and burr oak openings, and From this we pass to a prairie dotted with patches of sand. About three has a very fair soil. miles from Spring Green and five miles from Lone Rock, Big Hollow opens out upon the prairie. This hollow, or canyon, is about three miles long, and its soil is an excellent clay loam. Honey Creek empties into the Wisconsin River some two and a half miles below Sauk It flows along the south end of Sauk Prairie four or five City, and is nearly forty feet wide. miles, above which it has the appearance of being lost among the bluffs, or rather coming These high and formidable-looking bluffs, preabruptly and almost mysteriously out of them. senting in very many places perpendicular faces to the south anil capped with red cedars, are mere walls for their base is as nothing compared with their height that stand from 100 to

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The valley of Honey Creek is 150 fret high, and scarcely thick enough to support themselves. It is divided up between marsh, prairie, openfrom two to three miles wide, and almost level. It is emphatically a valley of "pockets," ings, tamarack swamp, thickets, oak brush, etc. varying from ten acres to a section of land in size, nearly inclosed by these high bluff walls. The soil has a clay base and is generally of a durable nature. Excellent quality of buildingThis locality is somewhat famous tor its caves, which, in cold stone is found in the foot-hills. They are penetrated with considerable difficulty. In one weather, emit steam like furnaces. of these caves have been found some very beautiful stalactites. Bear Creek Valley, with its branches, is properly a grazing country, as there is more meadow or marsh land than grain land. The soil is considered rich, and is well watered by There are no bold-faced rocks and picturesque little rivulets coming from the adjacent rocks. The narrow ravines hills here as in Honey Creek Valley, though the bluffs are equally high. near the heads of the streams wind around in a most singular manner, and those unacquainted

with the face of the country thereabouts will do well to take along a guide when they make exploring expeditions.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

472

Taken altogether, the surface

features of

Sauk County present an

interesting study and

are the most remarkable in the State.

ELEVATIONS.

The unevenness of the surface of Sauk County has frequently attracted the attention and

Among

the most instructive minor characteristics of the topography of the county are the elevations of a number of different points of its surface above the water-level of Lake Michigan. These are given in feet. By adding 589 feet to those of any given point, the result will be the elevation above the ocean. Following are the highest and lowest topographical points in the various towns mentioned Spring Green depot, 144 feet above Lake Michigan top of bluff, northwest quarter Section scientific observation

of geologists.

;

465 feet.

Town of Troy, northwest corner Section 2, Township 8, Range 4, 130 feet; top of bluff, northwest quarter Section 14, Township 9, Range 5, 500 feet. Prairie du Sac, base of bluff at southwest quarter Section 21, Township 9, Range 6, 166 feet top of bluff in Section 17, 490 feet. Town of Franklin, Section 2, Township 9, Range 9, 195 feet; Section 19, 490 feet. Honey Creek, Section 31, Township 10, Range 5, 200 feet; Section 2, 610 feet. Town of Sumter, Section 15, Township 10, Range 6, 230 feet; road-bed on Section 26, ;

Township 11, Range <>. 625 feet. Town of Merrimack, Section 28, 260 feet; Section 23, 580 feet. Town of Westfield, Logansville, Section 17, 330 feet Section 11, 660 feet. Town of Freedom, bridge on east half of Section 2, 268 feet Sections 23 and 26, 830 ;

;

feet.

Town of Baraboo,

280 feet

on middle west line of Section 24, 850 feet. Town of Greenfield, road-bed on Section 26, Township 12, Range 7, 215 feet; point near the middle west line of Section 15, Township 11, Range 7, 900* feet. Town of Reedsburg, surface of creek, Section 35. 280 feet; highest points on Sections 29 depot grounds, Section

;

cliff-top

and 30, 580 feet. Tov\n of Excelsior, middle north half of Section Section

290 feet

;

bluff-top in east half of

575 feet.

Town of Fairfield, bridge, center Section 23, 225 feet

;

bluff-top, southeast quarter Section

22, 590 feet.

Town of WinSeld, southeast corner 468

Section 27,

280

feet

;

southeast corner Section 24,

feet.

Town of Dellona, Section 5, 300 feet; TIIK

Section 19, 390 feet.

BARABOO QTTAKTZITE RANGES.

be interesting to consider those isolated areas of Archrean rocks which are found protruding through the surrounding horizontal Silurian strata, at points widely scattered over the Central part of the State. Besides doubtful isolated areas, which may be somewhere connected with the main Archaean region without intervening horizontal strata, there are many others which occur as'much as fifty or one hundred miles within the region of the Lower Silurian rocks. All .if die scattered patches are but points of the universal Archiean basement, upon which all the later strata are built, having earned their especial immunity from complete burial by virtue of the resistant nature of their materials. They are, properly, buried mountains, and were high islands and reef-ledges in the early Paleozoic seas. All the areas, except the one, or rather the group, including the Baraboo ranges in Sauk County, are of small size, generally occupying much less than a Bquare mileofarea. With the same exception, they are all mound-like in form, rising, usually, somewhat abruptly from the surrounding country, which is frequently level, and It will

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

473

showing, always, considerable rock exposures on the Hanks and summits, being often almost all They reach heights of from 50 to 250 feet, but are usually lower than the surroundbare rock. ing outlying bluffs of the horizontal strata. The Baraboo group, unlike the others, constitutes a series of bold ridges, one of which reaches elevations of 800 and 900 feet above Lake Michigan, and a length of over twenty miles. The nature of the rocks composing the several areas is not always the same. The large areas in Sauk County, and a few others, are chiefly of quartzite; a number are of quartz porphyry; still others of granite, which is different in different cases andyet others, occurring in Jackson County, and close to the main Archaean area, .nc of ferruginous quartz schist. Except in the eases of the granitic areas, these rocks are generally quite distinctly bedded, and are usually tilted at high angles. The Baraboo quartzite ranges occupy much the largest extent of territory, and are at the same time much the most striking and most important as influencing the topography of the State of any of the isolated Archrean areas that occur within the region of the Silurian rocks. Their bold character, and the dissimilarity between their rocks and those of the country around, have drawn to them the attention of the State Geologists as well as of other scientific men. Percival regarded the quartzites composing the ranges as resulting from a metamorphism of the Potsdam sandstone of the surrounding region. Hall refers them, correctly, to the Archaean, making them Huronian, but his detailed examinations were not published. Alexander Winchell calls them "Lower Potsdam," on the evidence of some fossils belonging to the Middle Potsdam, and found " in the sandstone lying against the quartzite. This he regards as proving the " Lower Potsdam age of the quartzite, losing sight of the fact that the latter is unconformable with the sandstone, and projects upward into the horizon, not only of the Middle Potsdam, but even far above, into that of the St. Peter's. The Archaean age of the quartzite was first definitely proved by the State Geologist in 1872, and this conclusion has since been abundantly confirmed by the work of other geologists, and also by his own further researches in the region. The Baraboo Bluffs constitute two east-and-west ranges, extending some twenty-five miles in length through the towns of Caledonia, in Columbia County, and Greenfield, Merrimack, Sumter, Baraboo, Honey Creek, Freedom, Excelsior and Westfield, in Sauk County. The southern one of the ranges is much the bolder and more continuous, and the two are not exactly parallel, but diverge as they are traced westward. At their eastern ends, in Columbia County, they unite in a bold point, rising abruptly from the low ground of the Wisconsin Iliver, at the easternmost point of the great, bend which the quartzite ranges compel it to take. Tracing them westward, we find the two ridges, about midway in their lengths, some four miles apart, and at their western ends a mile or so more than this. Here a bold, nearly north-and-south cross-ridge, also with a quartzite core, unites the two, thus finishing an entire cordon of bluffs around a depressed interior. All around the outside of this circuit of hills, except beyond the western cross-ridge, the country is comparatively low, and often quite level, so that the ridges rise very boldly, forming, for a non-mountainous country, quite a striking feature of the landscape. The southern quartzite range is broken down in only one place, the gorge in which lies the Devil's Lake, and, as seen from the low ground of the Wisconsin River on the south, presents a continuous wavy crest, often with large areas of bare rock, and with elevations of from 500 to 70(1 feet above the river, and of 700 to 900 feet above Lake Michigan. Its higher portions have a width of from one to four miles, the outline being quite irregular on account of the deep and very anciently eroded valleys that indent its sides. The great antiquity of these valleys is evinced by their showing, on their sides and bottoms, layers of horizontal sandstone, clinging to the underlying quartzite. The sandstone has evidently been deposited in valleys which were originally formed long before its deposition, ami have been carved out anew in the same places, on account of its friable and non-resistant nature. The country on top of the range is heavily timbered, presenting, in this regard, as also in its almost universal heavy clay soil, a marked contrast w ith the lower country around. This clay soil has caused the making of many excellent farms on top of the range. It occurs alike on the quartzite and the high-level sandstone. In the eastern extension of the Bluffs, it might be regarded as of glacial origin, but to the ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

474

westward, the glacial drift-limit is reached about midway in the length of the range, and some other origin must be sought. The northern range is much less pronounced than the southern. For about seven miles west from the junction of the two, in Columbia County, it forms a continuous ridge some 300 or 400 feet in height, but generally much less than a mile in width. Further west, its height lessens for long distances, the Archaean rocks forming its core, at the same time becoming covered by the overlying horizontal sandstones, through which they appear here and there in small outcrops. Further west still, this range rises again, and where it joins the cross ridge at its western extremAlthough thus indefinite in its ity has become again bold, with a height of 200 to 300 feet. middle portions, the higher ground never entirely disappears along the line of the range, except at the three points where the Baraboo River and one of its tributaries cut through in deep gorges. The depressed area within the circuit of quartzite bluffs is, for the most part, somewhat higher than the surrounding outside country, and toward its eastern and western extremities rises rather rapidly up to the inclosing ridges. In Columbia County, much of the area between the ranges is as high as the northern range itself, and is underlaid by a great thickness of sandstone, which fills in the canoe-shaped trough of the uniting quartzite belts. At one time, the rest of the valley between the ranges was filled in a similar manner, and has since been partially recarved This valley is now traversed longitudinally in the friable sandstone which still forms its bottom. by the Baraboo River, which enters and leaves it, by deep gorges, through the northern ridge, having a fall between the gorges of about seventy feet. The rock constituting the great body of the Baraboo ranges is a quartzite of a non-granular (usually flaky) texture, and of a color from nearly white, through gray, pink and amethyst, to purplish-red and even brick-red, the gray and deep red being the most common, the white the least so. Very rarely a distinct granular texture is seen. The quartzite is frequently very distinctly laminated, the lines of lamination being contorted in a remarkable manner, and marked There is never any cleavage parallel to the by alternating light-colored and dark-colored lines. lamination lines. Next in abundance to the regular quartzite. and merging into it, are heavy beds of a fine metamorphic conglomerate, usually of a grayish to amethystine color, in which the matrix and pebbles are alike quartzite, and not always very well defined from one another. Forming thin layers between the thick layers of quartzite, is in many places to be seen a peculiar greasy-surfaced quartz schist, the laminae of which are composed of quartzite like that of the regular quartzite layers, seamed and covered on the surface with a soft, lilac to white, tale-like Tins slate or schist usually exhibits the true slaty or transverse cleavage. mineral. The soft mineral pervading it is suspected to be always, as it certainly is sometimes, aluminous rather than magnesian. It occurs occasionally, forming slaty layers with but little quartz admixture, It then lias rather the physical characteristics of a and, in small seams, even entirely pure. compacted clay, and this appearance is borne out by the analyses given beyond, which show that clay-like kinds are probably not distinct minerals, but rather a mixture of a clayey subthe pure stance with fine silica. In both physical properties Mini chemical composition, this material is closely allied to the pipestone of Southwest Minnesota, from which it differs only in color. Other quartz schists of quite a different character have been observed forming the lowest layers of the north quartzite range, both at the Lower Narrows of the Baraboo and at the Upper Narrows oi the same stream. These are white to straw-colored, distinctly granular in texture, the quartz grains being of translucent, glassy quartz. The whole rock is more or less pervaded by a soft,

clayey material, and splits out in large thin sheets. On the northernmost portions of the north range, at. the Lower Narrows, and also for a short distance to the westward, a great thickness of This porphyry resembles that of the several small quartz porphyry is also to be observed. porphyry areas of the adjoining portions of Columbia, Marquette and Green Lake Counties, and proves at once that, we must regard these areas as part, of the same formation that appears in the

Baraboo ranges. the quartzite, milk-white veins and nests are frequently to be seen. In some places, as Upper Narrows, the white quartz veins show, frequently, geodic cavities lined with quartz

Iii

at the

475

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

crystals of great clearness and beauty, and not unfrequently of very largo size, though usually In the veins at the Upper Narrows, such crystal-lined cavities are exceedingly numerous. small.

Along with the crystals, sometimes compacted over them, sometimes loose in the cavities, and This is often pulverulent, at again in thin seams by itself, is to be seen a soft, white mineral. times gritty, at others a nearly impalpable powder, and is shown by analysis to be essentially a With the white quartz, in nests of some size, is often to be observed brillsilicate of alumina. It occurs also in some of the layers of quartzite iant specular iron in largo crystalline surfaces. Titanic iron is' also reported. These, with the peculiar aluminous silicate alluded in fine scales. to in

connection with the quartz schists, are the only minerals known

:cur in the

Baraboo

rocks.

The quartzites and associated rocks are quite distinctly bedded, though the bedding is not The unfrequently obscured by cross-join tjng, which is often to be observed on a grand scale. dip, wherever observed, is toward the north through the whole extent of both ranges, but varies much in amount. In the southern range it is usually quite low, as low sometimes as 15° in the middle and broadest portions. In the northern range, the dips are always much higher, running The rocks of the two ranges appear, however, to be parts of a continuous from 55° to 90°. series, the quartz porphyry beds of the northern range constituting the uppermost layers. Beginning the detailed descriptions at the best known, and at the same time one of the most remarkable, points about the quartzite ranges, we note, first, the occurrences in the vicinity of Here the southern range is cut entirely through Devil's Lake, in Township 11, Ranges 6 and 7. by a deep quartzite walled valley or gorge, 500 feet in depth, and three-fourths of a mile in In its northern portion, this valley trends due north and south for about a mile; turnwidth. In the north and ing then abruptly at right angles, it extends eastward two miles and a half. south part lies Devil's Lake, with a length of something more than a mile, and a width onefourth less than this, its surface being about one hundred feet above the valley surface at the eastern end of the gorge, more than one hundred feet above the Baraboo River at Baraboo, and more than two hundred above the Wisconsin at Merrimack. It is held in this elevated position by two immense morainic heaps of glacial drift lying at either end of the lake, and rising more The lake has a nearly level sandy bottom, except near than one hundred feet above its level. It has no outlet and but the shores, and is, over most of its area, some thirty feet in depth. It is thus, probably, fed chiefly by springs, and maintains its one small stream running into it. level by evaporation and by filtering through the heaps of gravel and sand which hold it in place. Near the northwest corner a small stream, running into the Baraboo, passes within a few rods ol On its west and south sides, the the lake, and, possibly, carries with it some of the lake water. Both east and west cliffs are highest lake washes the bases of the bounding cliffs of the gorge. near their southern ends, toward which they rise gradually from the north, following, roughly, the dip-planes, which also rise southward, and the edges of which can be seen, quite well marked, By aneroid measurement, the highest point of the west bluff is 475 on either wall of the gorge. feet above the lake level, or 800 feet above Lake Michigan, and the southern portion of the east In their upper portions, the cliffs are vertical, sometimes for as much as bluff but little lower. two hundred feet or more, but their lower parts are clothed with a heavy talus or "ankle," comThese masses are posed of great blocks of the quartzite that have fallen from the cliffs above. often as much as twenty feet on a side, with a somewhat regular shape imparted by the powerful ioints that everywhere traverse the quartzite, and cut it into blocks only needing to be slightly For the greater portion of their lengths both east and dislodged in order to fall down the cliff. The northern west bluffs are quite narrow, being backed by deep ravines opening northward. crest, having behind it one of the ancient, sandstoneespecially, is mere bluff, a of the east end lined ravines that have before been mentioned. In its east and west extension, the valley preserves the same characters as above described, the cliff on the north side being the highest and boldest, and retaining for a long distance the Along the face of this cliff, the heavy height it attains at the corner where the valley bends. quartzite beds are seen on the strike, and present, therefore, an appearance of horizontality when

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

476

viewed from the valley below. At the mouth of the valley (southeast quarter Section 20, Township 11, Range 7 east), the northern cliff' is of horizontal sandstone, behind which the quartzite passes, while the south cliff terminates in a sharp, rocky point, known as the Devil's Nose. Doubling the Nose, we are on the south side of the range, with Sauk Prairie in front, and the high bluff with its roches-montonees surfaces of quartzite behind. These surfaces rise in rude steps, which are due to the gradual northern dip. Near the top of the sides of the ravine, on the southwest corner of the lake, horizontal sandstone and coarse conglomerate occur, the pebbles of the conglomerate coming from the quartzite against which it lies. Nowhere else along the sides of the valley, until we reach its eastern end, are there any indications of its ever having been filled with sandstone, and, consequently, of its equally great antiquity with other ravines about the quartzite ranges. This occurrence itself is not, necessarily, any such indication, for the sandstone is found only at a high level, and may, therefore, have been introduced from the northward, quite independently of the valley of Devil's Lake, which, we are thus led to believe, is of more recent origin than the Potsdam period. This valley has evidently been, at some time, the passage of a large stream. We cannot suppose that it has been produced by any other process than that of erosion, and such an erosion as could only be effected by the agency of running water. Confirming this view, we find, high up on the cliff sides, within 150 feet of the summit, remnants of large pot-holes, several feet in diameter, presenting smoothed surfaces, and having about them many small pebbles and smoothed bowlders, which may have been engaged in the work of their formation. The large size of the valley suggests that it may have been the passage of the Wisconsin River, which, at the close of the Glacial period, found its ancient channel obstructed by the great drift-heaps that are now to be seen in it and was forced to find its way eastward to the valley of the great river that for long ages before the Glacial period drained the whole basin of the Wolf and Upper Fox, through the valley of the Lower Wisconsin to the Mississippi. This valley, which the deflected river reached at Portage, and which it subsequently appropriated as its own, passes altogether to the eastward of the eastern extremity of the quartzite ranges. If this is a correct view, the river must have had a passage through the northern range also, and this passage would be found in the Lower Narrows of the Baraboo, a much wider channel than is needed by that small stream. This explanation of the origin of the Devil's Lake Valley is offered as a suggestion only. The Baraboo may be a stream to which the work should be allotted, but, if so, we must imagine it to have been a much larger and more powerful stream than now. Only ten miles above on its course, the gorge through which it passes the northern range presents no such proportions as seen about the Devil's Lake Valley.

The rock in the vicinity of Devil's Lake, omitting reference now to the Silurian conglomerate and sandstone,

is nearly altogether the typical quartzite of the region, as above described. On the weathered surface of some of the large fallen masses in the edge of the lake, a distinct tendency to a granular texture is perceptible, while a fresh surface shows generally no traces of it. Fine lines of lamination are nearly everywhere to be seen, and are generally quite strikingly marked, but there is never any structure parallel to them. They are nearly always bent into sharp angles, or curved and contorted, presenting often the irregularities seen in the bedding of sandstone. While many of the bendings in these lines may be due to original irregularities of deposition, or to contortion at the time of disturbance and alteration, there are surfaces where they present such a peculiar knotty and concentric appearance as strongly tn suggest a concretionary origin. The lines are alternatingly ligl't and dark In a few places white quartz veins with geodic quartz crystals are seen, but these do not red. characterize any considerable portion of the rock. All about the Devil's Lake Valley the bedding of the quartzite is quite distinct, and is made apparent by the existence of large dip surfaces, often beautifully ripple-marked. At the northern ends of both east and west bluff's of the lake many such surfaces occur. Others are seen on the sides of the railroad track about midway the length of the lake. These all give an inclination to the north of 15° to 25°, the higher figure being seldom readied, and a strike of north 80° east. The quartzite layers are

It generally shows some shade of red.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

477

many feet in thickness, showing no internal structure whatever parallel to the general dip direcBetween the tion, but being affected everywhere by the curved and bent lamination alluded to. Such a quartzite beds occur layers of greasy quartz slate, usually but a few inches in width. layer is well exposed on the side of the railroad track on the east side of the lake, the lamina' The slate is quartzite, like that of the dipping north 37°, or transverse to the bedding planes. but is penetrated by a soft, greasy mineral, and affected by slaty cleavage. As the cleavage planes of the slate approach the surface of the adjoining quartzite, they curve Large surfaces of quartzite, which have had one toward and penetrate it to a short distance. of these slaty layers removed from above them, show a peculiar ridgy appearance, evidently due to the passage into them of the slaty cleavage planes. At the summit of the east bluff, near its southern end, indications of a somewhat lower dip than elsewhere are seen, while at Devil's Nose, surfaces occur slanting as much as 29° northward. At the latter place, many cross joints oliseure the bedding, nearly all of the planes, however, sloping northward. Some very large ones were noted, with as high an angle as 82°, covered with a shining, soft, greasy film. In seams and nests in the quartzite, in this vicinity, occurs a compact, but soft, clay-like substance of a, lilac color, which is penetrated by fine white strings, and contains: Silica, 62.16 alumina, 29.67 iron oxide, 4.17 lime, 0.16 water, 2..~>0 99.36. This substance appears to be the same as that which pervades and gives character to the quartz schists of the region, and is closely allied to the red " pipestone," that occurs with the quartzite of Barron County, and again in southwest Minnesota. On the summits and sides of all the cliffs about the lake and valley, two sets of very marked vertical cross-joints are to be seen, the more prominent and persistent set trending north 45° west. These joints have produced, on the upper portions of the cliffs, a striking columnar appearance, the separate columns of quartzite, twenty to forty feet in height, often standing entirely detatched by joint cracks from the main cliff. In some cases, intervening masses of quartzite have fallen, and left entirely isolated needles at a distance from the cliff face. As in the ravine at the southwest corner of the lake, so also in many other places on the north bank of the ridge, horizontal ledges of sandstone and very coarse conglomerate occur, abutting against, and unconformably overlying, the quartzite. At the northern point of the east bluff, the contact of the two formations is beautifully exposed. Here the ends of columnar, joint-detached masses of the quartzite are surrounded and filled between by the horizontal sandstone, the whole capped with a heavy layer of a conglomerate composed of angular, subangular, and rounded masses of quartzite, embedded in a coarse, friable, sandy matrix, which is occasionally cemented by the brown oxide of iron, and is not unfrequently almost altogether excluded by the included bowlders. The quartzite of the bowlders and pebbles is the same as that of the ledges further up the bluff. Places also occur where the sand and quartzite pebbles are wedged

surrounding beds,

;

down into the joint-cracks of the quartzite. Eastward from the mouth of Devil's Lake Valley, in Section

29,

—

Town 11, Range

the

southern face of the quartzite range continues high and bold on the right hand, as far as Section 25, Town 12. Range 8, in Columbia County. On Mr. Fitzsimmon's place on Section 22, Town 11, Range 7, Sauk County, near Parphrey's Glen, and only a short distance from the south slope of the ridge, one. of the highest points on the whole range of bluffs occurs, the elevation being nearly one hundred feet greater than that of the Devil's Lake bluffs. The point is in use by the United States Coast Survey, as a Signal Station. North from the Signal Station, the quartzite range has a width on top of nearly three miles. As far as Section 3, Town 11, Range 8, Columbia County, the south face of the range, except at the higher levels, where large surfaces of bare quartzite occur, is composed of sandstone, with some coarse conglomerate, which flanks the quartzite in horizontal layers. These flanking sandstones are well exposed at the mouth of the Devil's Lake gorge ;„in Parphrey's Glen, on the line between Sections 2:! and 22, Town 11, Range 7, and again in Dorward's, or St. Mary's Glen, on the line of Sections 18 and 7. Town 11, Range 8, Columbia County. In all these places, the sandstone layers appear to possess a small dip, about 5° away from the quartzite core. At Dorward's Glen, the quartzite

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

478

be seen at the north end of the gorge, and lying upon and against it sixty feet of horizontal sandstone and bowlder conglomerate. These are exposed on the wall of the gorge, the conglomerate forming the base of the cliff and the stream-bed, with a thickness seen of four feet. The bowlders of the conglomerate are largely irregular, angular masses, reaching up to eight inches in size, and are almost entirely without surrounding matrix. The quartzite at the head of the glen is non-granular, pinkish-gray to red, and without plain bedding. East of Section 3, Town 11, Range 8, as far as the end of the range, the flanking sandstone appears to be wanting, outcrops of quartzite in places extending from summit to base of the southern face of the range. Such a place occurs on the northern side of Section 3, and southern side of Section 31, Town 12, Range 8, near Mr. Fleming's house. Here the quartzite bluff rises immediately from the north side of the Portage road, showing for the first steep ascent of 250 feet, large loose masses and rough exposures cf a metamorphic conglomerate, in which matrix and pebbles are both of quartzite; the pebbles being very small, and in no way different from the matrix. From the top of this slope, a gradually rising wooded steep is crossed for about a third of a mile to a second nearly precipitous rise of over a hundred feet. The summit is of bare rock, ami is a mere crest, others similar to it occurring east and west along the range. The bedding of the quartzite is distinct, the strike being north 63° east, and dip 60° north. On Sections 31, 35, 26 and 27, Town 12, Range 8, numerous other large quartzite exposures occur. On the southeast quarter of Section 27, large outcrops on the road-side show pinkish-gray opaque quartzite with very fine greenish-black streaks (mica?). The eastern end of the quartzite range is on Section 25, Town 12, Range 8, where the two ranges unite in the bold point that has been heretofore alluded to. On the north side of the point, the horizontal sandstone begins again to flank the quartzite. On the northwest quarter of Section 25, the road ascending the bluff shows sandstone, with a slight slant eastward, nearly to the top. Near by, on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 2(3, are large rounded exposures (roches-montonees) of quartzite, showing on the top glacial furrows and scratches, and also several large smoothed pot-holes, the largest two feet wide and one foot deep, with connecting furrows. Occurring where no stream could now possibly run, these pot-holes are of interest, as showing the great erosion the quartzite must have undergone since their is to

formation.

Along the northern side of the north range and westward from the eastern extremity, the flanking sandstone continues nearly to the county line. On the south side of Section 23, well up on the bluff', a steep ravine has laid bare the sandstone and quartzite nearly in contact. The quartzite here is a Hue metamorphic conglomerate, in which the matrix of pinkish-white quartz embraces darker-hued pebbles one-sixteenth inch to one-quarter inch in diameter. The pebbles are very firmly attached to the matrix, and are not always well defined from it. Nests and veins of white quartz occur in this rock.

On the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 12, Range 8, a deep ravine shows a great thickness of sandstone, with a bed of bowlder conglomerate, dipping northward, or away from the quartzite.

Further westward, along the road from Portage to Baraboo, which follows the tout of the bluff, sandstone is seen in numerous places. On the northwest quarter of Section 21, high up on the bluff', a well goes through ten feet of sandstone and then into quartzite. It is quite probable that the quartzite core is in places along here entirely covered by sandstone.

The core does not extend, however, beyond the southern line of Sections 19, 20 and 21, for here wells pass through over 170 feet of sandstone. After passing the county line, the north slope of the quartzite is again free from its sandstone mask, and is to be seen in small outcrops dipping north t',n On Sections 23 and 26, Township 12, Range 7, the Baraboo River passes the north quartzite range in a gorge known as the Lower Narrows of the Baraboo. The passage is nearly half a mile in width, the level bottom extending to the foot of the cliffs on either side. The cliff's rise 10(1 feet above the river, and show finely the great beds of quartzite and associated strata. The gorge is much wider than needed bv the small stream that now occupies it, and .

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY

479

may, as already suggested, have been at one time used by the Wisconsin, as the valley of Devil's Lake seems to have been. It is unlike the hitter valley, in having been in part, at least, formed first before the Potsdam period, as indicated by (he way in which horizontal sandstone and conglomerate ledges occur around the heads of steep ravines that extend down the cliff toward the main gorge. It is a combination of a, paced section made along the west line of Sections 23 and 26, and of another not so carefully measured, made about forty rods further west. The first follows closely the edge of the cliff, where the quartzite beds are exposed, to the southern edge of the the other runs a little west of north from the Garrison place, in the northeast quarter of Section 27, and passes for a long distance over horizontal sandstone and conglomerate layers filling an old ravine in the quartzite. Beginning with the north end of the section, we find, forming the north face of the range, This porphyry is in bold, northward-sloping ledges, quartz porphyry about 600 feet in width. for the most part dull red to pinkish on the weathered surface, which is a good deal altered, often The least-altered specimens show a iron-stained, and has generally a whitish undercrust. brownish-pink matrix, through which are scattered, very thickly, large facets, up to an eighth of an inch in diameter, of bright-red cleavable feldspar, and, more sparsely, minute facets of a

ridge";

white kind. In nearly all specimens a few small greenish-black blotches, apparently composed of fine mica scales, occur, as also small iron stained cavities, which often show linings of minute quartz crystals. The porphyry is very distinctly bedded, showing an east-west strike, and a dip Toward' its lowest portions, and higher up on the bluff, it becomes gradof 58° to 60° north. ually more slaty in character, the feldspar facets, though very numerous, becoming at the same time less well defined, and the surface of the laminre becoming covered with a soft, greasy This finally changes to a distinct schist, about eighty feet wide, containing a large mineral.

proportion of the soft mineral, and allied to the greasy quartz schists occurring at Devil's Lake, Continuing the ascent of the bluff southward, quartzite is but without transverse cleavage. seen lying immediately underneath the schist, and forming the body of the ridge to the foot of its southern slope. At first this quartzite is much veined and seamed with reticulating veins of At the summit of the hill, white quartz, in which fine specular iron is occasionally to be seen. this character is less marked, and the rock is a dark reddish-purple quartzite, with a distinct tendency to a granular texture, the individual grains being vitreous and translucent, but the rock

opaque appearance. The bedding of the quartzite is not everywhere Toward the north the layers appear to conform to the directions noticed in the oververy plain. lying porphyry, but further southward the inclination is much steeper, and on the south slope, Interstratified near the end of the ridge, beautifully ripple-marked vertical surfaces are seen. At the foot of the hill, with the quartzite in places are some greasy-surfaced schistose layers. near the Garrison piace, the lowest member of the series is seen in a peculiar white to strawcolored quartz schist or slate. This slate occurs in regular smooth-faced, brown-tinted layers, one-sixteenth inch to three or four inches in thickness, and has a fine granular texture, the grains Surrounding the grains and pervading the mass is a fine being of more or less angular quartz. white pulverulent matrix, which renders the rock soft, and has a highly argillaceous odor when The northward dip is very breathed upon. Only about fifteen to twenty feet are exposed. plain, the edges of the layers in places being much bent out of the true inclination, which, as The whole thickness of the metamorseen in the old shaft near by, is as much as 60° to 70".

as a whole having a dull,

phic rocks represented in this section is not far short of "j,000 feet. short distance westward, and a few feet above the quartz schist just described, horizontal sandstone is quarried. Further up the bluff, this is succeeded by a great thickness, probably a hundred feet, of a horizontally bedded, coarse bowlder conglomerate, the bowlders chiefly of red

The conglomerate summit of the ridge. The east bluff of the Narrows does not present so fine a section as the one just described the exposures are, however, very large. At the south point of the cliff, the elevation is 310

quartzite from the rocks near by, and the matrix usually a loose, friable sand. rises nearly, or quite, to the

;

feet above the

Baraboo, and the rock a very compact, red-tinged, slightly vitreous quartzite.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

480

On the south side, and around a very steep ravine indents its face. Near the middle of the head of the ravine, are horizontal ledges of a conglomerate of quartzite pebbles up to six What matrix is present appears in many inches in diameter, for the most part without matrix. places to be almost as much of a quartzite as the pebbles themselves, though in others it is sandy and friable. On the north side of the ravine, semi-translucent, amethystine quartzite is seen, Further northward, the steep north 70°-dip of the quartzite is unconcealed by conglomerate. very plain, the dip surface being often laid bare for a great distance, and giving a very steep ridge. The east cliff of the Narrows does not extend so far north north side of the slope to the the cliff,

as that on the west.

West from the Narrows, for about two

miles, the north face of the range trends north of

west, continuing to show all along beds of quartz porphyry.

Since the strike throughout is east-

west, the existence of a very much broader belt of porphyry than shown in the Narrows section On the south side of the southeast quarter of Section 16, the porphyry reaches its is indicated.

The rock hert presents a dull, northernmost point, showing in a bold, rocky projection. brownish appearance mi a weathered surface, and is much fissured by weathering, the surfaces A schistose structure is apparent in of the fissures showing generally a brownish iron stain. A fresh fracplaces, and the bedding is plain, with an east-west strike, and dip of 55° north. ture shows a compact, flaky matrix, of dark-brown to nearly black, sometimes grayish, color, the The color is not quite uniform, but is mottled with last being characteristic of altered portions. This matrix fuses fine strings and specks of whitish or pinkish color, and of indefinite outline. In altered specimens it is easily scratched by the knife in unaltered easily to a black glass. scattered through it are minute white and almost impression. Sparsely knife makes no the ones pink feldspar facets, and still fewer large brick-red ones. In this regard the rock is quite different from that of the Narrows section. About one eighth to one-fourth of a mile eastward from this rocky point, in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 21, the porphyry is seen again in a large exposure, Specimens from this place showing the same weathered appearance and bedding structure. resemble the rock last described, having somewhat more numerous feldspar facets, and containing iron protoxide, 5.44; lime, 0.98; magiron peroxide, 1.71 silica, 71. "24; alumina, 12.20 The water, 0.81— 99.63. manganese oxide, 0.97 soda, 4.29 nesia, 0.13; potash,J..86 large content of soda, as compared with potash, is noteworthy. The quartz porphyries have thus been traced along the north flank of the range from the Baraboo Narrows, in Section 23, to the south side of Section 16. Judging from the bedding directions, their whole width cannot be less than three-fourths of a mile, nor their actual thickThey arc found nowhere else in the Baraboo region. From the ness short of 3,200 feet. description and analysis given, it will be seen that these rocks have a matrix too silicious to be purely feldspathic, through which are scattered crystals of orthoclase, possibly also of a soda feldspar, the porphyritic quartz crystal generally characteristic of quartz porphyry being absent. They are evidently nearer to true quartz porphyry, however, than to the non-silicious porphy;

—

;

rites.

Further west again, and until we reach the Upper Narrows of the Baraboo, in the town of Excelsior, the quartzite exposures along the north range are only occasional, as on the low ridge north of Baraboo, and on the northeast quarter of Section 23, Township 12. Range 6. On Sections 28 and 29, Township 12, Range 5, in the town of Excelsior, the Baraboo River breaks southward through tlie north quartzite range in a narrow gorge, 201) feet in depth and something more than half a mile in length, known as the Upper Narrows of the Baraboo. For most of its length the ravine is just wide enough to admit of the passage of the river, railroad and wagon road. Here the quartzite core of the north range is finely shown, flanked on and conglomerate. either side, and even overtopped by the horizontal sandsi At the southern end of the 3ection the jaws of the Narrows horizontal sandstone layers, alternatingly hard and quartzitic, and soft and friable, are seen abutting against and overlying The heavy beds of northward sloping, pinkish-gray, dark gray and purple, vitreous quartzite. a.

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

481

exacl contact of the two formations is finely exposed, the sandstone filling the cracks between A short distance the layers of qaartzite and including large detached masses of the latter rock.

northward, along the wall of the gorge, this quartzite is terminated by a steep ravine, on the north side of which comes in the veined quartzite that forms the body of the ridge. This curiously veined rock may be described as a light to dark-reddish, sometimes purple, usually somewhat vitreous quartzite, which has been shattered throughout into small, sharply angular fragments, and these cemented together again by milky- white vein quart/., the numerous cavities in which The extensive Assuring to are lined with small, brilliant, and very perfect quartz crystals. which this rock has been subjected is indicated not only in the interlacing veins of white quartz, which often make up half the mass, but also in the frequent juxtaposition of different-looking fragments of the quartzite. Certain portions of the rock are more fissured than other neighboring portions, and then appear like wide veins into which numerous fragments of the wall rock In some of the crystal-lined cavities, a soft white coating is noticed in the crystals. have fallen. The same material is seen sometimes lying loose in the cavities, and again tilling cracks in a more compact condition. According to Prof. Daniels' analysis, it contains silica, 53.15 per cent, and alumina. 45.09 per cent, the balance being water. The bedding of the veined quartzite is indistinct. It appears to stand at a high angle to the northward. North of and overlying the veined rock is another belt of quartzite without veins, of a pinkish color, and containing much of the greasy, talc-like mineral, which, in places, imparts a highly In these cases, the schistose character to the rock, sometimes predominating over the quartz. slaty laminae incline westward 15 while the whole rock is intersected by east and west planes, The schistose layers are only in the upper portion of the belt which standing at nearly 90°. The quartzite is overtopped further south is purer quartzite, with an evident northward dip. for nearly the whole length of the section by horizontal sandstone and conglomerate layers. The conglomerate capping the bluff in its highest portions, and overlying the veined quartzite, shows a mass of pebbles and small bowlders of the veined rock, compacted together without A fine matrix, or with one that is very hard ami quartzite-like, and of a brownish color. ,

exposure of this conglomerate is to be seen at the top of the cliff, at a point just east of the southernmost of the two railroad bridges within the Narrows, anil on the south side of the bend At the top of the cliff, on the north which both gorge and river here make to the eastward. side of the bow, 140 feet above the railroad track, sandstone, partly hard and brownish, with a vitrified appearance, and partly friable, is underlaid by horizontal ledges of conglomerate, having Twentya hard quartzite matrix, and including red quartzite pebbles and bowl lets of all sizes. five feet below the top of the cliff, the junction of the conglomerate with the underlying vertically As viewed from the track below, the unconformability is very strikbedded quartzite is seen.

The conglomerate extends northward from this point, and down the side of the ravine Its lower portions next north of the bend of the river, to within thirty feet of the railroad track. show a loose, friable, brownish matrix of coarse sand, the quartzite pebbles running up to a toot Below the conglomerate, and abutting directly in diameter, but being usually smaller than this. upon the railroad track, is a cliff, twenty to thirty feet high, of coarse, brownish, friable sandNorth of the ravine, a low stone, without pebbles, showing cross-lamination on a grand scale. ing.

sandstone ridge is capped by the lower layers of bowlder conglomerate. On Section 31, of the town of Excelsior, is another gorge, known as the narrows of the Narrows Creek. In its structure and rock occurrences, this gorge is similar to the narrows of the Baraboo, the veined quartzite, however, being less developed than at the latter place. Between the two gorges the summit of the range is quite level. Westward from the passage of Narrows Creek the north quartzite range curves southward to meet the north-and-south ridge that connects it with the southern or main range; in the road, near the center of Section 36, Town 12, Range 4; Reedsburg, well up on the ridge, quartzite This is its northern limit, and the is exposed with an east-and-west strike and dip of north 70°. western end of the range, for just west of the road a rocky ravine, over one hundred feet in depth, shows the quartzite flanked on the north by heavy beds of coarse conglomerate and friable

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

482

sandstone, the quartzite occurring only on the eastern wall of the ravine, the western side being altogether of sandstone. South from the center of Section 86, along the connecting ridge, the ground rises steadily For the first mile, horizontal sandstone ledges are seen rising to an elevation for several miles. In the north part of Section 13, Town 11, Range 4, Westfield, elevations of of 520 feet.

In this vicinity, and over a considerable area in Sections 11, 12, 13, over 600 feet are reached. 14, 23 and 24, low outcrops of quartzite occur, the area including them being all very high, and constituting a rounded swell above the general level. long, low outcrop, near the Lutheran

Church, in the southwest quarter of Section 13, shows dark, purplish red, flaky-textured quartzite, which is plainly bedded and laminated, and dips 57° northwest, the strike being north 47° east. Southward from the quartzite outcrops, the elevation continues to be between 500 and 600 feet in Sections 23 and 26, but the only rock to be seen is horizontal sandstone. Westward from these sections the elevation remains about the same, and one passes insensibly on to the Lower Magnesian limestone. Eastward, in Sections 24 and 25, the descent of 200 feet to the headwaters of Seeley Creek is very rapidly made, and sandstone is exposed through nearly the whole vertical distance.

On Section 35, a large exposure of reddish glassy quartzite occurs in a ravine at an eleva-

A few rods up Taken together with the construction of the high country all through the east side of the town of Westfield, this outcrop is believed to indicate the existence throughout of a quartzite core only slightly covered with sandstone layers. The outcrop just referred to is on the slope downward toward the valley of the Wisconsin, and is really the western end of the southern quartzite range. From here eastward to Devil's Lake, we find this range as bold and wide as it is east of the lake, and characterized by the same heavy timber and clay soil. In Town 10, Range 5, Honey Creek, the southern slope of the range is in the northern row of sections. On the south side of Town 11, Range 5, Freedom, are very high-rounded swells, some of which are among the highest points on the range. On the northern slope, in this town, the streams flowing north into the Baraboo set back into the ridge in deep ravines, about which sandstone sometimes occurs at high levels. On the northwest quarter of Section 22 the quartzite shows in two blufl's, 150 feet high on either side of the creek, witli a distance between of about one-eighth of a mile. The rock here is for the most part closely like that at Devil's Lake, but portions are unusually light-colored, showing a light brown weathered surface, and a nearly white, slightly granular fresh fracture. Regularly interbedded is a soft, light gray, greasy, finely laminated clay slate, containing, according to analysis by A. C. Prescott, silica, 59.84; alumina and iron oxide, 35.39; magnesia, 0.10; water, 4.67 100, the iron oxide being in a very small amount only. Both quartzite and slate are plainly bedded, the strike being north 23° west, the dip 16° north.

tion much below that of the country occupied by sandstone to the northward.

the ravine sandstone ledges occur at a higher level.

—

On the road extending southward from Bloom's Station across the range into Honey Creek, horizontal sandstone ledges are seen, as far as the northwest quarter of Section 23, at an eleva530 feet. In the southern part of the same section, quartzite is exposed at an elevation 700 feet, and along the east side of Section 26 an elevation of 830 feet is reached. In the southern row of sections of Town 11, Range 6, Sumter, the south slope of the range is very bold and prominent, owing to the low ground of Sauk Prairie, which stretches

tion of

from the foot of the bluffs for eight or nine miles to the southward. All along the slope toward the prairie are large rough exposures as, for instance, on the west Sauk road, on Section 31 in the ravine mi Section 27 mi the east Sauk road, in Section 35, and all along the range eastward from here to the Devil's Nose. On the north slope of the range in the northeast quarter of Section 15, Town 11, Range 6, dark-grayish, somewhat granular quartzite shows in a large

—

;

•

exposure, with a dip of 26° north.

Within the circuit of the quartzite ranges are a few isolated points of quartzite and schistose rocks, which rise through the sandstone that forms the basement of the valley. One of these on the south line of Section 29, Town 12, Range 7, on Peck's Prairie,

a low, rounded

HISTORY OF SAUK COITNTY.

The rock hero is a light pinkish-gray metamorphic conglomerate, ridge seventy-five feet high. composed of small rounded pebbles of quartzite l-16th to l-8th of an inch in diameter, imbedded in An obscure north 70°-dip is to be seen at a few a finer-grained matrix of similar character. points, and veins of milky quartz occur, carrying nests of large-surfaced, brilliant specular iron.

One of these veins is seventy-five feet long and two feet wide, with nests and seams of specular

A few rods west of the quartzite, at the center of the north line

iron, one to three inches wide.

of the northwest quarter of Section 32, horizontal sandstone ledge3 are seen. Other areas showing quartzite and slate occur on Section 5, Town 11, Range 6 ; Section 4, The two former are high, rocky Town 11, Range 5 and Section 2, Town 11, Range 5. Still another occurs on the southeast quarter points, the latter a low outcrop on the river side. '

;

Here a railway cutting passes through the At the west end of the cutting, point of a ridge, near the north bank of the Baraboo River.

of Section 33, Town 12, Range 5, near Ableman's.

coarse white sandstone, in horizontal ledges, lies against a craggy cliff of light-colored quartz schist, resembling that at the south side of the section at the Lower Narrows of the Baraboo, At the junction of the two rocks, large bowlders of quartzite are inbut less regularly slaty. One huneluded in the sandstone, which itself fills in the cracks between the layers of schist. dred and thirty feet from the west end of the cutting, the light-colored schist gives place to a with marked in color, and green bright Some of the layers are gray or greenish clayey rock.

These layers are apparently quite silicious. Seventy feet further, very fine lines of lamination. The exposures throughout the cutting, pinkish granular quartzite is indefinitely exposed. The position near the though in places forty feet high, are very much jointed and confused. There is evidently a high dip, apend of the ridge has caused much weathering and alteration. parently to the north. Geologically, the quartzite ranges passing through Sauk County are the and most interesting formations of the kind in all the Northwest.

most

important

Wisconsin's amazon.

Much the most important stream in what geologists have been pleased to term the Central Wisconsin District, is the Wisconsin River, which, with its valleys, constitutes the main topographical feature of the region comprising the greater part of eight counties. As this river washes The total the eastern border of Sauk County, a scientific description of it will be interesting. length of the river, from its source to its mouth, is about 500 miles. Rising in Lac Vieux Desert, on the summit of the Archaean water-shed, at an elevation of 951 feet above Lake Michigan, it pursues a general southerly course for 300 miles over the crystalline rocks, and then, passing on to

the sandstones which form

for some eighty miles more.

its

bed for the remainder of its course, continues to the southward

Turning then westward, it reaches the Mississippi within forty miles

Like of the south line of the State, at an elevation of only thirty feet above Lake Michigan. all the other streams which run to the south, southeast and southwest from the crystalline rocks, In the ease of the Wisconsin, however, it has its quite distinct upper or crystalline rock portion. we may conveniently regard the river as having three distinct sections: The first including all that part from the source to the last appearance of crystalline rocks in the bed of the stream, in the southern part of Wood County the second, that part from this point to the Dells, on the south and the third that portion from the Dells to the mouth of line of Adams and Juneau Counties the stream. The first of'these divisions is broken constantly by rapids and falls, caused by the ;

;

descent south of the surface of the Archaean area, and by the obstructions produced by the inThe second and third sections are alike in being clined ledges of rocks which cross the stream. almost entirely without rapids or fall?, anil in the nature of the bed rock, but are separated by the contracted gorge known as the Dells, which, acting in a measure as a dam. prevents any considerable rise in the river below, the water above not unfrequently rising as much as fifty feet in The total lengths flood seasons, while below the extreme fluctuation does not exceed ten feet. of the Archaean, upper sandstone and lower sandstone sections of the Wisconsin are, respectively,

300. G2 and 130 miles, the distance through the Dells being about seven miles.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

484

For a description of the course of the river more in detail, we begin with its entrance into From here, where the width, according the district in the northern part of Marathon County. to the Land Office plats, is from 300 to 500 feet, the river pursues a general southerly course through Towns 29, 28, 27. 26, 25 and 24, of Range 7 east, and Towns 24 and 23, of Range 8 part of Portage County. In this part of its course, the Wisconsin flows through a densely timbered country, and has, except where it makes rapids, or passes through rock gorges, a narrow bottom land, which varies in width, is usually raised but a fev;' feet above water level, and is wider on one side than the other. Above this bottom, terraces can often be made out, with surfaces in some cases one or two miles in width. Above, again, the country surface rises steadily to the dividing ridges on each side, never showing the bluflf edges so charHeavy rapids and falls are made at Wausau (Big acteristic of the lower reaches of the river. Bull Falls). Mosinee (Little Bull Falls), Stevens Point, and on Section 8, Town 23, Range 8 All but the last named of these are increased in height by artificial dams. (Conant's Rapids). Two miles below the foot of Conant's Rapids, just after receiving the Plover River on the east, the Wisconsin turns a right angle to the west, and enters upon the sparsely timbered sand plains, At the bend, the river is quiet, with high banks of through which it flows for a hundred miles. sand and a few low outcrops of gneiss at the water's edge. From the bend, the course is westward for about nine miles; then, after curving southward again, the long series of rapids soon begins, which, with intervening stretches of still water, extend about fifteen miles along the river to the last rapid, at Point Bass, in southern Wood County. East of the river line, between the city of Grand Rapids and Point Bass, the country rises gradually, reaching altitudes of 100 points or ten fifteen miles distant. On the west, the surface is an almost feet above the river at At Point Bass, the gneissic level plain, descending gradually as the river is receded from. rocks disappear beneath the sandstones, which for some miles have formed the upper portions of east, in the southern

the river banks, and now become in turn the bed-rock, and the first division of the river's course The main tributaries which it receives down to this point are, on the left bank, the Big

ends.

Eau Claire, three miles below Wausau; the Little Eau Claire, on the north side of Section 3, Township 25, Range 7 east, just south of the north line of Portage County; and the Big On the Plover, on Section 0, Township 28, Range 5 east, just at the foot of Conant's Rapids. right bank, the Placota, or Pig Rib, about two miles below Wausau; the She-she-ga-ma-isk, or Big Eau Pleine, on Section 19, Township 26, Range 7 east, Marathon County; and the Little Eau Pleine, on Section 9, Township 25, Range 7, in Portage County. All of these streams They all make much southing in their courses, are of considerable size and drain large areas. so that their lengths are much greater than

the actual distances from the sources to the Wisconsin at the nearest points, and all of them have a very considerable descent, making many over tilted schistose and gneissic rocks, even down to within short the edges of and falls rapids The streams on the west side head on the distances of their junctions with the main river.

high country along the line of the Fourth Principal Meridian, about forty miles west of the WisThose on the east, head on consin, and at elevations from 200 to •'!<•!) feet above their mouths. tin' divide between the Wisconsin and Wolf, about twenty miles east, at elevations not very much less. Reaching back, as these streams do, into a country largely timbered with pine, and descent, they are of great value for logging and milling purposes. having so large The second section of theWisconsin River begins at Point llass. with a width of from 700 to 900 'l'h'- next sixty miles of its course, to the head of the Dells, is a southerly stretch, with a feet, wide how to the westward, through sand plains here and there timbered with dwarf oaks and These plains stretch away to the cast and west for twenty miles from interspersed with marshes. Scattered over them, at intervals of one the river bottom, gradually rising in both directions. to ten miles, are erosion peaks of sandstone from 50 to 300 feet in height, rising precipitously Some of these are ne;ir and on the bank of the river, which is also, in from the level ground. place-, bordered by low mural exposures of the same sandstone. The river itself is constantly :i

obstructed by shifting sand-bars, resulting from the ancient disintegration of the sandstone, which in the vicinity everywhere forms the basement rock, but its course is not obstructed by rock rap-

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. ids.

As it iiears the southern line of Adams and Juneau Counties, the high ground

185 that limits

the sand plain on the west, curving southeastward, finally reaches the edge of the stream, which,

by its southeasterly course for the last twenty miles, has itself approached the high ground on the east. The two ridges thus closing in upon the river have caused it to cut for itself the deep and narrow gorge known as the Dells. In the second section of its course, the Wisconsin receives several important tributaries. Of those on the east, the principal ones are Duck Creek and Ten Mile Creek in the southern part of Wood County, and the Little and Big Roche a Cris Creeks, both in Adams County. The two former head in a large marsh twenty-five miles east The two latter head on the high dividing of, and over one hundred feet above, the main stream. ridge on the west line of Waushara County, at elevations between 150 and '200 feet above their These streams do not pass through a timbered country, but. have very valuable waterthe Yellow and Lemonweir Rivers. Yellow River heads in Township 25, in the adjoining corners of Wood, .Jackson and Clark Counties, and runs a, general southerly course nearly parallel to the Wisconsin for over seventy miles, the two gradually approaching one another, and joining in Township 17, Range 4 east. The Yellow bus its Archfean and sandstone sections, the former exceedingly rocky and much broken by rapids and falls, the latter comparatively sluggish and without rock-rapids. The upper portions of the river extend into the pine regions, and much logging is done in times of high water. The water-powers are of great value. The Lemonweir is also a large stream. Heading in a timbered region in the southeast corner of Jackson County, it flows southward for some distance through Monroe, and, entering Juneau on the middle of its west side, crosses it in a southeasterly direction, reaching the Wisconsin in Section 24, Township lf>, Range 5 east, having descended, in its length of some seventy miles, about two hundred feet. The Dells of the Wisconsin, as already said, is a narrow passage cut by the river through the high grounds which, after bounding its valley on both sides for many miles, have now gradually approached and joined. The total length of the gorge is about seven and one-half miles. At the upper end, about two miles north of the south line of Juneau County, the river narrows suddenly from a width of over one-third of a mile to one of not more than 200 feet. Throughout the whole length of the passage the width does not much exceed this, while in one place it is only fifty feet. The water in the gorge is very deep, although immediately above it there are broad sand flats, with scarcely enough water at low stages to float a canoe. The perpendicular sandstone walls are from fifteen to eighty feet in height, the country immediately on top of them being about one hundred feet above the river. From this level, about midway in the passage, In sevthere is a rapid rise in both directions to the summit of the high country on each side. These are, evieral places, branch gorges deviate from the main gorge, returning again to it. The streams entering the river in this dently, old river channels, ami are now closed by sand. portion of its course make similar canyons on a smaller scale. At the foot of the Dells, the Wisconsin enters upon the last section of its course, and also From a nearly southerly course, it now upon the most remarkable bend in its whole length. turns almost due east, in which direction it continues, with one or two subordinate turns, southward for about seventeen miles, through low sand-banks, as far as Portage. Here it bends abruptly south again, and, reaching its easternmost point at the mouth of the Baraboo, soon The cause of this long swerves around into the final southwestward stretch to the Mississippi.

mouths. powers.

Of those on the west, two are large and important

—

detour to the east is sufficiently evident. As the river leaves the Dells, it finds, lying directly athwart its course, the two bold quartzite ranges which extend east and west through Sauk County for upward of twenty miles, and, crossing into Columbia, finally unite about eight miles east of the county line, in a sharp and bold, eastward-projecting point, which rises 400 feet Above Portage, where the Wisconsin forms the southern line of the above the river bottom. town of Lewiston, the ground immediately north is lower than the water in the river, the heads In times of Neenah Creek, a tributary of the Fox. rising within a short distance of its banks. of high water, the Wisconsin overflows into these streams, and thus contributes much to a totally different river system. At Portage, the Fox, after flowing south of west for twenty

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

486

coming from the opposite direction. Where the two streams are nearest, they are but two miles apart, and are separated by a low, sandy plain, the water in The greater part of the Fox being five feet below that of the Wisconsin at ordinary stages. this low ground is overflowed by the latter stream in times of high water, and to this is chiefly miles, approaches the Wisconsin,

After doubling the eastern end of the quartzite ranges, as rise in the Fox. already said, the Wisconsin turns again to the west, being forced to this by impinging on the north side of a high belt of limestone country, which, after trending southwest across the eastern part of Columbia County, veers gradually to a westerly direction, lying to the south of the Soon after striking this limestone region, the river valley river along the rest of its course. assumes an altogether new character, which it retains to the mouth, having now a nearly level, bottom, from three to six miles in width, ten to thirty feet in and, for the most part, treeless height, usually more on one side than on the other, and bounded on both sides by bold and often Immediately precipitous bluff's, 100 to 350 feet in height, of sandstone capped with limestone. along the water's edge, is usually a narrow timbered strip, rising two to four feet above the The line of bluffs along the south side of the valley river, which is overflowed at high water. is the northern edge of the high limestone belt just mentioned, which reaches its greatest elevaIn front of the main bluff face, especially in its tions ten to fifteen miles south of this edge. eastern extension, are frequently to be seen bold and high isolated outliers of the limestone On the north bank of the bluffs are at first the edges of similar large outlying masses, country. but further down they become more continuous, the river crossing over the northwestward trending outcrop line of the Lower Magnesian limestone. In this last section of its course, the Wisconsin is much obstructed by bars of shifting sand, derived originally from the erosion of the great sandstone formation which underlies the whole region, and to whose existence the unusual amount of obstruction of this kind in the river The peculiar instability of these sand-bars, and their liability to form and disappear is due. In view of the enormous quantities of within a few hours, renders their control very difficult. this already disintegrated sand in the region drained by the river and its tributaries, many of which have their entire course through sand districts, the construction of a continuous canal

due the spring

along the Wisconsin River, from Portage to its mouth, would appear to be the only way to utilize the natural highway from the lakes to the Mississippi, which is offered by this and the Fox Rivers. In the last section of its course, the Wisconsin receives within the limits of our district only one stream of importance, the Baraboo, which enters the river near the easternmost point Heading in the adjacent corners of Monroe, Vernon and Juneau Counties, of its great bend. at an elevation of about 400 feet above its mouth, the Baraboo runs southeastward into Sauk County, where it breaks into the valley between the two east-and-west quartzite ranges already Turning then eastward, it runs alluded to, through a narrow gorge in the northern range. along the middle of the valley between the two ranges for about fifteen miles, and then, breaking again northward through the north range, follows its northern side east to the Wisconsin. The Baraboo is a stream of very considerable size, and yields a number of excellent waterpowers in the valley between the quartzite ranges, having a fall on this portion of its course of The tributaries on the south side of the Wisconsin, in tiiis section of its course, seventy feet. The most noteworthy are of little importance, owing to the nearness of the limestone divide. is Duck Creek, which, with its branches, drains a considerable area in the towns of Pacific, Springvale and Courtland, in Columbia County, cutting a long way back into the divide.

FLORA AND FAUNA.*

On a bright July morning, of the year 1841, a keelboat, freighted with furs, floated down the Wisconsin River from Fort Winnebago.

Besides its crew, it harbored two passengers, Mr. J. Grapel, the brother-in-law of Mr. E. Rendturff, and my person, both intending to land on the western bank of the river, at a point •

lulv ,.t.«.rvati..u»..f K

I, ii.

iIit-

SAUK CITY

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

48U

About noon the same day, the craft cast anchor at the coast of Prairie du The obliging boatmen, being French Canadians, voluntarily carried our Sac, in shallow water. persons on their backs through the surf, and soon after we received the welcome of Messrs. Rendturff and a few other persons, who had noticed the arrival of two new-comers. My object at that time was not to settle in the Wisconsin Valley, but to study the flora and Forty years ago, all the fauna and make general observations connected with natural sciences. country west of the Wisconsin River up to the Rocky Mountains was left blank on the maps, Therefore, on of the first proceedings I engaged in was to and styled Wisconsin Territorium. This was near the present Sauk determine by astronomical observation the point of landing. City bridge, in latitude 43 degrees and 15 minutes north, and about 89 degrees 38 minutes west After knowing where I was, the counting-up of the houses near the longitude from Greenwich. The footriver bank in the village of Westfield, the present Sauk City, was easily performed. ings of all the streets added together amounted to one frame building occupied, one frame school and meeting house, one two-story frame building in progress of finishing, and a few log cabins. mile north of Westfield, near the river bank also, the present village of Prairie du Sac, another settlement, was located, the buildings of which did not outnumber those of the lower town. The settlement west from the river had extended to a distance of three miles, and amounted to about four families. To the northwest, in the present town of Sumter, near the Baraboo Bluffs, a settlement of about six families had located. And last, further north, on the

styled Sauk Prairie.

Baraboo, a saw-mill was in operation. After having been introduced into almost every log cabin, and having shaken hands with we may be permitted to direct our attention for a short time to the scenery that surrounds us, near and distant, and strive to catch a slight impression of the contours of the landscape. Nature had then entered the zenith of the summer season. To the north, about six miles distant, rising abruptly from the prairie, extending east and west, lay the Baraboo Bluffs, densely to the west, the outline was indented with outlyers of clothed by a luxurious growth of timber bluffs, which served in a great measure to relieve the monotony, while the southern margin of the prairie was girded by a belt of oak openings that divided in a marked line the prairie from At a distance of about fourteen miles could be seen the Blue the lowlands of the south. Mounds, the highest landmarks of the Northwestern plains, while on the east the Wisconsin River coursed, its banks garnished by a narrow belt of timber, and the stream itself being interspersed by a series of islands, which sustained a most luxuriant vegetation of mixed forest trees; and now last, but not least, a beautiful green prairie carpet, dotted with innumerable flowers of great variety, lay beneath our feet, and stretched away beyond the verge of the horizon. Suffice it to say, the landscape of Sauk Prairie, in its uncultivated aspect, was appropriate Therefore, to leave a very favorable impression on every mind susceptible to Nature's charms. it is not surprising that a spot on the earth, where nature offered so many inducements for homeinvitation stop and accepting the to was not passed by pioneer without seeking men, over the build up a home. The latter remarks apply to some extent to myself, for extensive journeys afterward over the Western Continent, and by sea and land in both hemispheres of the globe, did not expunge the impression left by the lovely spot above considered. But there was much else to be considered that contributed to the rapid settlement, and prosThe topography of the perity of Sauk County, the productivity of the soil ranking foremost. county sustains the suggestion that the soil of the area covered by the county is of very diverse to furnish the adapted is therefore composition and of variable chemical combinations, and If we study the various ingredients of life necessary for a great variety of agricultural plants. flora of the twin range of the Baraboo Bluffs somewhat close, and compare the result of our investigation with the variety of trees and shrubs that are indigenous to the whole State of Wisconsin, we gain the information that a relatively large percentage of the inhabitants of the The majority of vegetables forforests and fields of the State are represented in Sauk County. eign to Sauk County favor either particular localities or else the border of the great lakes.

.the polite and obliging pioneers,

;

HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

490

The range of the Baraboo Bluffs is for a great extent covered by glacial drift, the progressive disintegration of which furnishes a soil that contains an abundance of food for plants in The dissolution of the magnesian limestone formation generates a productive soil for general.

but where the deposits of the Potsdam sandstone predominate, the soil is of inferior Yet this, in its -natural state, furnishes nourishment for some shrubs and herbaceous Luckily the greater part of Sauk County is not desolated to any extent with the lastmentioned unproductive soil. In connection with the cultural development of the county of Sauk, we return once more more to Sauk Prairie, as the principal treeless area of the county is termed, which is occupied by the town of Prairie du Sac and by the greater part of the towns of Sumter and Merrimack. Sauk Prairie is the cultivated starting-point of Sauk County. What the nursery is to the orchard, that has Sauk Prairie been to the county. The people here, favored by an area of productive land where scarcely a single root obstructed the plow on sixty and more square miles, and where timber for log cabins and all farm purposes lies close at hand in every direction, were enabled in a few years to supply the new-comers with the necessities indispensable to starting new farms. The basin of Sauk Prairie, now closely dotted by neat farmhouses and barns, was in ancient times intersected by rambling water-courses, for in some sections the subsoil reveals a layer of clay of equal composition for many square miles overlying pebbles and gravel. Granitia and gneisoidic bowlders of three feet in diameter, lying near the surface, are sometimes met with from four to seven miles distant from the bluffs and several miles west of the present river bed, and a sandy ridge, the backbone of the prairie, strikes from east to west to the length of six miles. Not unfrequently we meet, by penetrating several feet deep, within the square of a few acres, the evidences of a stream bed covered by brick clay. All these prehistoric evidences prove that the ultimate condition of the prairie basin depended on the diminution of water flowing from north to south. Now, having related a few facts concerning the variable condition of the subsoil of Sauk Prairie, it may be easier to account for the great variety of plants in some sections of the whilst another tract of land, having the same surface soil, produces a relatively small country The topography of a country largely influences the climate variety of indigenous plants. and this is in a limited degree the case in the area of 800 square miles, which is covered by Sauk County. On the northern slopes of the Baraboo Bluffs, crops may be grown to advantage that would not yield a remunerating harvest on the prairie, and yet the soil in both locations may be the same. Favored by the configuration of the ground occupied by the county, and also aided by a productive soil, the flora of Sauk County is exceptionably numerous in variety. Of the prominent forest trees, we mention only the oak in six and more varieties, the maples (soft and sugar), the ash, elm, poplar, birch, linden, hickory, butternut, cherry, mountain Trees of the pine order ash, crab apple, tamarack, and a variety of trees secondary in value. Of indigenous plants, collected by present themselves occasionally, but in small groves only. inclination to study natural objects) his father the from inherited my youngest son Herman (who Of these, in the town of Prairie du Sac, the variety of species numbers nearly six hundred. twelve seventeen species are ferns ninety-five species belong to the grass and sedge tribe the remaining varieties of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are shared species are orchids by different species. But the above number foils far short of representing the variety growing forty years ago in this section, before the plow invaded the prairie and oak openings. I herewith submit the result of my observations on the rain-fall in Sauk County, taken I have in that time made observations on the weather and aurora borealis phesince 1859. nomena six times a day, and will soon publish a work of 500 pages on the subject 1860, 32.09 inches; 1861,40.89; 1862, 45.52; 1863, 32.37; 1864,28.36; 1865, 30.88; 1866,24.50; 1ST I, 30.47; 1872, 19.05; 1873, L867, -".1.28; 1868, 19.36; 1869, 35.80; 1870, 25.21 26.77; 1874, 21.67; 1875, 24.55; 1870, 27.63; 1877, 28.22; 1878, 38.56; 1879, 27.47. all cereals,

quality. plants.

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

491

CHAPTER IX. BARABOO. forty-three years aoo— advent of the pioneers—the first village surveys—baraboo in 1847— The Baraboo Claimants' Association— Substantial Improvements— The Railroad and its Beneficent Results— The Busy Baraboo— The Post Office— Government — Organized as a Village — The Baraboo Whisky War— The River on a Rampage— Origin of the Name "Baraboo"— An Immortal Brotherhood Destructive Fires in Baraboo—Banks— A President in Baraboo— Educational— Religious— Hotels— The Tom Paine Anniversary—Secret Societies—Temperance .Esthetic and Social Life— The Cardiff Giant— The Home of the Dead— Olla-Podrida— Lyons—Manchester. FORTY-THREE YEARS AGO. Wisconsin having been organized as a Territory in April, 1836, its first Governor, Henry Dodge, after perfecting the arrangements for its government, took the initial steps toward securing a cession to the United States of the remainder of the Winnebago territory. By treaties held with this Indian tribe, in 1829-1832, all their lands south and east of the Wisconsin River the had been acquired by General Government. large area of territory west of that stream, including the whole of the present county of Sauk, still belonged to them. In the summer of 1837, Gov. Dodge, having consulted with the principal Winnebago chiefs and ascertained their views, proceeded to the national capital to perfect arrangements for a second treaty. In this Even at that early date, a large number of adventurous individuals, anxious he was successful. to lay claim to the fertile lands of the Winnebagoes when they could legally do so, impatiently awaited the result of Gov. Dodge's negotiations. Henry Dodge, Jr., a son of the Governor, was then located at Mineral Point, at that time a scene of much activity in consequence of the recently discovered lead mines. Being in communication with his father in Washington, he occupied an important position as one naturally

calculated

receive the

first

information relative to the success or failure of the

negotia-

Among the few individuals enjoying the confidence of young Dodge were two Milesian miners Archibald Barker and Andrew Dunn—names not unfamiliar in the subsequent history of Sauk and Columbia Counties. When, in November, 1837, the last treaty with the Winnebago Indians had been signed, ceding to the United States Government all their lands east of the Mississippi River, Gov. Dodge at once conveyed the intelligence to his son in advance of its public announcement. Messrs. Barker and Dunn were not disappointed in their anticipated receipt of information upon the subject but the sequel illustrates the proverb tions then pending.

—

;

that '"haste makes waste."

Taking their departure from Mineral Point, they proceeded northward in the direction of the Baraboo Valley, of which they had already heard favorable reports from roving Indians. They reached the Wisconsin River at a point a few miles south of the present site of Sauk City, constructed a light raft and were soon across the stream. They passed over the sand plains of Lower Sauk Prairie, and pushed on through the more inviting region further north. A deep worn Indian trail led them through the dark and lonesome ravines and over the grand old hills east of Devil's Lake, and, finally, to the banks of a considerable body of water, which, from its sluggish appearance, they supposed to be a bayou belonging to " the sand-island stream," the Wisconsin. Following the trail toward the West, in search of a convenient crossing (Mr. Barker says he then believed the end of the bayou could not be far away, and that they would soon pass around it) they discovered that the water moved, almost imperceptibly, in the opposite direction

—

HISTORY OP SAUK COUNTY.

492

were traveling. Soon they came to a place where the water was more shallow, and they saw that it was a living, moving stream, and, for the first time, discovered that It was the Baraboo, the stream that they were on a river, of considerable width and volume. A low, rumbling sound, which threads the center of the valley of which they were in search. become more and more distinct to their expectant ears as they pursued their journey, told of The winding trail rushing waters, and sped them on in eager anticipation of new disclosures. soon brought them again to the water's edge and here they beheld the famous Baraboo Rapids, now so dextrously harnessed to turbine wheels. Near by, they found a rude log bridge, partially the work of man, but chiefly the result of floods, which had carried the drift-wood from above and lodged it upon the rocks, over which the translucent waters of the Baraboo leaped in Crossing to the opposite shore of the stream, the adventurous explorers apparent ecstasy. again struck the Indian trail and continued their westward course, passing over ground now included in the village limits of Baraboo. Rounding a heavily wooded hill and turning slightly to the north, the trail led them to a large open space almost surrounded by forest trees and underIt proved to be an abandoned Indian corn-field, and, to the agricultural mind, was growth. for here were several acres of land almost ready for the plowshare. like an oasis in a desert The merits of the stream for water-power purposes having previously been discussed by the claim-hunters, they resolved to go no farther, and at once made preparations to camp for the night; for the shades of evening had overtaken them, and the chilly November atmosphere was Here, beneath the protecting a sufficient admonition that nature's shelter must be sought. branches of a stalwart oak, the weary men were soon lost in sleep, dreaming, mayhap, of happy homes and plenty for, although they were in a new and strange region, far away from friends, their hopes were bright, their slumbers golden-visioned. The next morning, the two hardy miners set about the task of building a cabin, having During the following day, while Barker and Dunn were brought with them the necessary tools. busily engaged at work, having reared the walls of their prospective shanty to a height of five or six feet, their progress was suddenly arrested by the appearance of a band of Indians, who, in angry tones and with threatening manners, interposed their objection to further proceedings, and demanded that the new-comers leave the premises immediately. The irate natives emphacised their expressed disapprobation by tearing down the unfinished cabin. The two white men and on that occasion they were unusually white attempted to explain matters, telling the Indians of the recently matured negotiations between their leading chiefs and the "Great Father," The information was not official. The great chiefs had not yet notified but all to no purpose. their people of the fact that a treaty had been made, and, until such notification came from the proper authorities, no pale-faced pre-emptor of Indian corn-fields would be permitted to live upon the west side of the Wisconsin River, unless at the peril of his life. Such was the import of the red man's wish, clearly expressed in his repeated ejaculation, /n/cJatcfiee, and the two white to that which they

;

—

men knew too much of the Indian character to disobey.

Gathering their little stock of provisions, their blankets and axes, they quietly withdrew, Following the Baraboo River along its north bank, they leaving the Indians in possession. The next morning they pushed on up that reached the Wisconsin and camped for the night. stream until they came to a point opposite "the Portage." Crossing to the opposite shore, they visited Fort Winnebago, where they remained a few days, undetermined as to future movements. During their stay at the Fort, Hugh McFarlane, with whom they were acquainted, came up from Mineral Point. He, too, had been favored with special information concerning the treaty with

McFarlane said he had good reason to believe the Winnebagoes, and was in search of a claim. A3ide from the Fort a city would some day be built near the "carrying-place" (the Portage). buildings, there were then less than half a dozen houses within a radius of fifty miles, but there were indications that the interest then centering about Fort Winnebago would result in a large permanent settlement in that vicinity. Procuring a stock of provisions, Barker, Dunn and McFarlane crossed the Wisconsin River and made a joint claim of the land opposite the west end of the portage, in the belief that this would prove to be the most favorable point for the loca-

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

*v°

Here they constructed a cabin of logs, chinking the cracks between tion of the prospective city. but, soon after its completion, the grass took fire in the with a composition of mud and grass middle of the night, and the entire structure was destroyed, together with the effects of the occucoats, the occupants themselves barely escaping with their hats and pants, including their boots, In this sad plight the three men crossed the river on the ice and reached the Fort early lives. the next morning, their feet sore and bleeding, having walked nearly two miles over the frozen As soon as convenient, they returned to Mineral Point, making the trip on foot, wrapped earth. in blankets, their pedal extremities encased in Indian moccasins. Barker returned to Baraboo Valley in 1841, and, with a party of loggers, proceeded to the head-waters of the Baraboo River, where he superintended the cutting of the first "run" of ;

The logs were sawed at the mill of Wood & Rowan, down this stream. and Mr. Barker floated the lumber down the Baraboo and Wisconsin Rivers to Dekorra, in Columbia County. In the winter of 1842-43, he again went up the river with a crew of six men and four teams, for the purpose of cutting and launching another " run " of logs. The snow was two feet deep on this occasion, and the party were nine days traveling thirty miles, being comMr. Barker declares that to pelled to cut roads and bridge the streams along the entire route. Before reaching the pinehave been the coldest winter he has ever experienced in Wisconsin. have medical attendance. for him to ries his feet were so badly frozen that it became necessary Being unable to walk, lie proceeded to Fort Winnebago in a wagon and remained there under treatment until early in the spring, having suffered the loss of all the toes of his right foot. Returning to the pineries as soon as he was able to travel, he succeeded in getting together a large number of logs, and, when the river opened in March, ran them to Wood & Rowan's mill. Here they lay awaiting the sharp tooth of the saw until June, 1843, when, during the great freshet of that spring, they went over the dam, and, together with the saw-mill, were carried to After this calamity, which also worked untold ruin to many others, Mr. the Gulf of Mexico. "a very sorry Barker, in casting up accounts, found that he had but five toes and one horse The latter he soon traded off, for fear of accidents, obtaining therefor the land he now nag." The Since then his experience has been varied. lives upon, in Section 29, town of Baraboo. first wheat he raised he hauled to Hecock's mill, near Dodgeville, Iowa County, giving half of Wisconthe over cash for ferriage paying his crop to have the other half ground into flour, and sin River. And yet he was more fortunate than most of his neighbors, who, having neither money nor teams, were compelled to grind their grain in coffee-mills.

logs that ever passed

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ADVENT OF THE PIONEERS. The first settlement at the Baraboo Rapids resulting in permanent location commenced in 1839, with the coming of Eben Peck, Wallace Rowan, Abram Wood and James Van Slyke. Mr. Peck was probably the first of these to make a claim to any portion of the territory in this The region. Messrs. Rowan and Wood came about the same time, or very shortly after. particulars of the settlement of these parties will be found in a subsequent article of this chapter, Wallace Rowan is accredited with having been the first devoted to the different water-powers.

Columbia County. He lived near the present site of Poynette, and kept a sort of half-way house between Mineral Point and Fort Winnebago, where he numbered among his guests many persons whose names have since become eminently connected with the history of He came to Sauk County in company with Abram Wood in 1839. The two made Wisconsin. a claim of the land and water-site at the " Upper Ox-bow " of the Baraboo River, and built a Rowan had a large family he lived with them saw-mill thereon, the first mill on this stream. near the Upper Ox-bow. Wood was also a man of family, his wife being a squaw, the daughter of chief De-ko-ra. She is represented as having been a superior woman, considering the Indian

settler in

;

He was a very large man, while Wood is remembered as the terror of the country. of dauntless energy, fearless and daring ; a hard drinker, rough and profane, and most terrible few anecdotes may serve to illustrate the when angered, if under the influence of liquor. He was peaceable enough when sober, but when tipsy he went prowling character of the man. this fact,

494

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

around the country in a lawless way, helping himself to anything he desired, and taking venOne night he entered the cabin of one of his neighbors geance on those whom he did not like. He was discovered in that act by the lady of the and deliberately carried off a keg of beer. grabbed him in the back by his shirt, he being coatless, and demanded that he house, who This he showed no disposition of doing, and, her grip being a firm should relinquish the beer. one, he dragged her a considerable distance, bawling out the while at the top of his voice, " Keep " 1 His taking of a Mississippi River fast hold, madam, and I'll take you straight to h He steamboat at an early day is quite amusing, and shows the fearlessness of the man's nature. and three others who styled themselves the " Baraboo Rushers," took passage on a steamboat On the way, one of the boatmen took ill with the cholera, which was raging at for Saint Louis. The idea of the cholera on board caused much consternation, and it was decided to the time. But none of the crew would venture near him, so great was their leave the sick man on shore. Then up spoke Abe: "Give us a blanket, and we, the Baraboo Rushers, fear of the disease. will take him ashore. We ain't afered of man or devil, much less a gripe in the stomach." A blanket was furnished, and at the next landing the four men took the victim off, carrying him " Beds all " We want a bed for a sick man," said Abe to the landlord. straight to the hotel. " Show me one, I'll empty it d But the landd quick," retorted Abe. full," was the reply. Meanwhile, the captain, considering that the " Baraboo Rushlord was not disposed to do so. and ers " were exposed to the infection, concluded that then was his time to get rid of them The without a touch of the bell put the boat out from the landing and continued the journey. "Rushers," seeing the state of affairs, dropped the sick man on the 'hotel porch, and started after the boat. They were all good swimmers, and in a very short time they " overhauled her." To say they were angry does not half express what their feelings were. As soon as he touched He the deck, Abe began to swear, and such swearing even those boatmen had never heard. At last, cursed all of the crew from the highest to lowest, up and down and every other way. This was the signal for a row. The "Rushers" the captain threatened to put him ashore. Flourwere armed after the manner of backwoodsmen, with tomahawks, knives and revolvers. The suddenness of the attack and the daring of ishing these, they sprang forward for a battle. When he the men, so surprised the captain and crew that they surrendered without a struggle. had them completely at his mercy, Abe flourished his tomahawk over the captain's head and cried: " We don't want your d d old rickety boat, but we intend to teach you that the BaraThis craft never lands again until we say so, nor starts boo Rushers are not to be trifled with. The captill we get ready. If that don't suit you, we will run her to h 1 in spite of you." " tain was very willing to agree to the terms, and for the remainder of the trip the " Rushers had things their own way. Some years later Abe Wood was killed, not far from Baraboo, by being pitched backward in a wagon, and thus having his neck broken. Rosaline Peck* was the first white woman who ever looked on Baraboo Valley. She came here with her husband, Eben Peck, and his brother Luther, in the fall of 183!). They made the trip From thence they were obliged to travel on horsefrom Madison to Sauk Prairie in a carriage. back, following an Indian trail to the Baraboo River. The water was very high, and Mr. Peck advised his wife not to cross the river, but she was determined to see the claim made by Mr. Peck a few months previous, and so swam her horse across at the expense of a thorough wetting. Capt. Levi Moore'" looked in on this part of the world in 1840. He at first thought that he could not live in so wild a country, and was about turning his face in another direction, when he accidentally met Mrs. Peck. Her bright, hopeful face caused a re-action of feeling, If a little woman like her could endure the hardships, he certainly could. So he remained. What is known as the middle mill-power was claimed in June, 1844, by George W. Brown, a resident of Whitewater. The land was pre-empted in 1846, at the land sale, by William Brown, f a brother of George, who deeded it for the claimant. George W. Brown, upon his

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495

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

arrival in 1844, immediately set about improving the power, and, in August of the same year, Marvin Blake, a brother-in-law of the Browns, George Grant and several workmen made their

While exadvent here, for the purpose of assisting in the erection of a saw-mill at that point. cavating for the mill, the workmen found the remains of a mammoth, some eight feet from the thirty-six feet long. some to have been surface. The position of the bones showed the animal The bones, though apparently well-kept, on being taken from their resting place, gradually airThe mill was in running order the next spring, but, in 1847, it slacked and became dust. proving insufficient for the amount of work to be done, a better and larger mill was erected on the same power.

A few months previous to the erection of the saw-mill, its proprietors had

river, and this was the first grist-mill on work with one run of stone. W. H. Canfield came to this part of the country in 1842. He found his way hither from Madison by means of marked trees, the road having been surveyed, but not improved. He took up some land near Ski'.let Falls, some three miles from Baraboo. Himself and wife lived in a Hiram Webdry-goods box for six weeks, and until the erection of a log house was effected. ster, now a blacksmith on Third street, was also one of the comers of 1842. The building of the mills of course brought many new-comers, and as early as 1845, quite a village had sprung up. Previous to this, times had been hard for the settlers. People pounded Capt. Moore had a handthe wheat and corn they used for bread, or ground it in hand-mills. mill which for a time served the whole country. Money was not to be had, and people had great trouble in securing their lands from parties who went about "jumping claims," the settlers, in many cases, not being able to make the necessary improvements to hold them, and having no means to defend their rights. Even when the land came into market, in 1846, few if any were prepared to attend the sale. But at or near that time, Maxwell purchased from the Government the mill claim held by Eben Peck, and in 1848 moved here with his family. The Pecks had previously let a portion of their claim pass into the hands of Augoston Haraszthy, and he had erected This building the Maxwells a small frame house near the dam, and had opened a store there. purchased in order to obtain an undisputed title. They then built, on what is now the east side This was for a long time of the square, the first frame building on the north side of the river. known as the "corner store." The same year, 1847, the Western Hotel was erected by Col. the Western in process of Sumner. D. K. Noyesf came to town the same year, and found building on his arrival. This hotel was kept for a time by Col. Sumner, and later was many years under the supervision of William Wallace. In 1845, Lewis Hayes, Delando Pratt and Josiah Hayes bought a portion of the middle Philarmon Pratt,* in 1847, power and erected a shingle and lath mill, and a chair-factory. bought the saw-mill and a half-interest in the water-power. The next year he settled with his

built a grist-mill on the opposite or north side of the

the Baraboo.

It began

family at this place. The first physician in Baraboo was Dr. Charles Cowles. He came from Ohio to Milwaukee in 1846. Milwaukee at that time had less than two dozen houses in it. Leaving his wife and child in the Milwaukee woods, he went to Baraboo, or rather to the residence of his father, Judge Lauren Cowles, a short distance below Baraboo. The Judge started immediately after his son's wife and child, but, owing to the bad state of the roads, it took two weeks to make the trip. The Doctor began to practice at once in this part of the country. But that was up-hill work in those

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In January, 1847, he showed, on one occasion, a most remarkable endurance going and stopping

days.

after supper to see a patient a distance of sixty-four miles, facing a keen north wind,

The next year, the Doctor came to Baraboo and purchased the two lots where his residence now is. The total cost of the lots was $7. He still for neither rest nor refreshments of any kind.

continues to practice here.

David, Samuel and Simeon Crandall, brothers, in company with Ira Angle and G. W. Knapp, came to Baraboo in 1846, and the five and their families moved into the log schoolhouse on the south side, where they remained until buildings could be erected. *

Now residing in Baraboo.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

4yb

Another arrival of 1846 was the Walbridges, Elisha and Eleazer, brothers. The former Eleazer Walbridge is a real estate and insurance agent, still residing here. died in the army. Mr. Herschinger came to town the same year.

THE FIRST VILLAGE SURVEYS.

At the land sale which took place in 1846, one of the County Commissioners, Prescott Brigham, purchased the quarter-section of land now included in Baraboo proper, with his own money, for the county. The Commissioners platted a village, having the court house square in the center, and named it Adams, at the suggestion of Mr. Brigham, who held the Adams family, of Massachusetts, in great esteem. This was done in April, 1847. The village of Adams is " Commencing at the described as follows in the field-notes of Charles 0. Baxter, the surveyor :

northwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 35, Town 12, Range 6; thence east forty chains to the quarter-post between Sections 35 and 36 thence south thirty-nine chains sixtyfour links to the section corner on the town line thence west on said line thirty-one chains fifty links to the Baraboo River thence north forty-one and west four chains thence north seventy-eight and west six and eight one hundredths chains to an open line through Section 35 thence north thirty -five chains fifty-five links to the place of beginning the plat covering the southeast quarter of Section 35, Township 12, Range 6. except a small fraction on the south side of the river." About the same time. George Brown caused a survey to be made of his property, the greater portion of which lay south of the river. He called his plat Baraboo. From the field-notes of the surveyor, we find the boundaries of the plat to have been as follows Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 2, Town 11, Range 6 from thence south six chains thirty links to the Baraboo River (eight chains fifty-eight links to the south bank of the river) ; thence south twenty-two chains seventy-five links thence west twenty chains thence north thirteen chains thence east twenty chains to the east line, one chain seventeen links south of the river the plat covering forty acres, a strip equal to about thirty lots lying along the south side of the river, being "reserved for private use " by Mr. Brown for mill and other purposes. The plat extended north of the river to the extent of thirty-four lots, 62x132 feet in size. On the 14th of January, 1849, the Board of County Commissioners ordered that the name of the village plats of Adams and Baraboo, as they then (and do now, in fact) appeared upon record in the Register's office, be changed and known by the name of Brooklyn. The villages continued to be separate, however, until the village charter, which was obtained in May, 1866, united them under the name the place now bears. At the suggestion of the postal authorities in Washington, in 1852, the name of Adams was dropped. The post office was thereafter known as Baraboo. The following additions have been made to the original plats: Mrs. Peck's First Addition, June 15, 1849 Wallace's Addition, August 9, 1849 Mrs. Peck's Second Addition, July, 1855; English's Addition, November, 1856; Moore & Drown's Addition, April, 1860; Thomas' Addition, May, 1873 Camp's Addition, September. 1873; Brown's Addition, October, 1873; Langdon's Addition, July, 1874. In July, 1855, R. G. Camp laid out an addition east of Mrs. Peck's Addition, which he called the village of Litchfield a favorite name with the Judge, he having been born in Litchfield, Conn. and his son Arthur made an addition to the village of Litchfield in September, 1873. These two last additions are not incorporated with ;

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the village.

BARABOO IN 1847.*

my wife and family at the village of where my wife's sister, with her husband, John Lock, and The fever and ague prevailed everywhere in the West that season. To a new-comer it was discouraging. Mr. Lock had gone to Baraboo with his son Lafayette, and his wife (now Widow Nelson), who with his daughter still reside in Baraboo, was waiting the result of his exploration. I was introduced to Mr. Eber Crandall, who had been to In the spring of the year 1847, I arrived with

St. Charles, in the State of

Illinois,

family, had taken up their residence.

Ity

liiu I'--

Aiin-trMTi'_'.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

497

Bamboo, and bad entered lands upon wliicli lie intended to locate as soon as possible. His three brothers (David, Samuel and Simeon) and two sisters, with their husbands and families, had Seeing that the ague prevailed in St. Charles, and, already taken up their abode at Baraboo. as far as I could learn, everywhere throughout Illinois, I concluded to start for Baraboo, where Eber Crandall assured me that the disease did not prevail. I accompanied a man from Canada, At that time, corn was one whose name I cannot recall, he having a team and covered wagon. We went by the shilling and oats 10 cents per bushel hence our supplies did not cost much. way of Sun Prairie, my fellow-traveler having a desire to visit an acquaintance who had the We stopped at Waterloo overnight and previous year taken up his residence on that prairie. in the morning struck Sun Prairie, which at that time included all the prairie between Waterloo We drove all day and met only one person, from whom we could get no and Mineral Point. information. Fearful of getting lost and night coming on, we struck for the timber, and, forWe started tunately, right to the shanty of my comrade's friends, where we stayed all night. early in the morning for Dekorra, on the Wisconsin River, at which place we found a deserted We perceived a ferry-boat on blacksmith shop and other marks of an abandoned settlement. the other side of the river, and by waving our handkerchiefs, at length persuaded the boatman to come over, and we were landed safe on the west side of the Wisconsin River. We then drove over I remember one, named the bluffs, on the summit of which there was here and there a settler. Lewis, an Irishman, who had served in the United States Army and received his discharge at Fort Winnebago. Descending the bluffs to the Baraboo River, we found no habitation in sight, but discovered a rope fast to a tree and extended across the river, and on the opposite bank was We yelled and hallooed, and, at length, discovered a tin horn suspended on a small a ferry-boat. burr oak tree. Finally, after repeated blowings by first one and then the other, we perceived a woman running, who jumped into the boat, took hold of the rope and pulled the boat across to There was quite a rapid current in the river, and in her efforts to get the boat across the us. woman blistered her hands. Imagine our surprise on finding her a most intelligent lady. She informed us that her husband, Andrew Garrison, had gone over to their former home on Sauk Mrs. Garrison (afterPrairie, and that the hired help was with William Eiky, at the limekiln. ward Mrs. Dr. Taylor) directed us where to find feed for the horses, and prepared for us an excellent dinner As we passed up and, after partaking heartily, we started for the county seat. the Baraboo Prairie, we saw here and there a breaking-team turning over the virgin soil. We passed Mrs. Peck's place. She was at that time engaged in having a house built, while she and her family occupied a shanty in the rear of her present residence. Opposite here, Frederick Stanley had erected a shanty, which he and his family occupied. I expected to see something of a town, but on we drove, and just as the sun was setting we came up to a log house, over which and, the door of was a buck's horn. the door being open, I jumped out of the wagon, entered. The house consisted of one large room, in the middle of which, seated around a table, were some half-dozen men in red shirts, playing cards. Finding I was not observed, I started ;

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back to the wagon, feeling alarmed for our ladies. At a short distance, I perceived a tall, stoutbuilt man, and, stepping up to him, I said, " Sir, is there no other place that a stranger could I discovered in his get accommodations over night, only there?" pointing to the buck's horn. He opened his features an open, manly expression, and intuitively felt that we were safe. broad, frank mouth, and said, "Yes, if you will take up with such accommodations as I have in

my little house, you are welcome," at the same time starting with me toward the house.

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in fact, one of the cleanest I ever had my This was the home of Alexander Crawford. Here he lived with his wife and his son John. Although the couple were somewhat advanced in years, they seemed to be perfectly happy. Here I met my brother-in-law, John Lock, who was boarding with them. He had located a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and sent his son back to St. Charles after cattle, intending to break up and improve the land, and move up his family as soon as possible but when his son Lafayette arrived at St. Charles, he found a recruiting rendezvous bidding up for volunteers for the Mexican war, and he enlisted. His love for army life never forsook him. He

entering, I found a house unsurpassed for cleanliness foot in.

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498

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

was among the first to enlist in the three-months service of the late war, and soon after being discharged, on the expiration of the time of his enlistment, he re-enlisted, and was Orderly SerSo he was in the first and in the last batgeant of Company F, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. Mr. Remington, then a young attorney, was boarding at Crawford's, and tle of the rebellion. acting agent for the County Commissioners in disposing of lots at the county seat, then called the I bought some three or four, not intending that I would ever settle on them. village of Adams. I looked around for a day or two, but it was such a wilderness of a country that I could see no I could not see where customers were to be prospect of making my business at all profitable. I started back for St. Charles, stopping on found that would sustain a tailoring establishment. the way at Madison, Janesville, Beloit and other villages, in all of which business was dull and I returned to St. Charles, not knowing or having determined where I would ague prevailing. Eber Crandall assured me that in a very short time Baraboo would be a large town. I locate. finally hired teams, and, with wife and two children, started thitherward. The last day of our journey we reached the foot of the bluffs about sunset, and put up at the Hoover tavern. It was Mr. Barstow piloted us in the morning over kept by Mr. Hoover's son-in-law, Job Barstow. On the way, we met people who were returning from the Fourth of July celebration, the bluffs. which, I learned, had been held at the house of Mrs. Peck, at Baraboo. We passed over what was called the west road, and crossed the river near Wood & Moore's mill. We passed near the the saw-mill known as Moore's & Wood's mill. house occup ied by Abraham Wood and The village of Lyons had the same year, or previously, been laid out, but, owing to the enterprise of George and William Brown, who had that season selected the quarter-section of land adjoining for a county seat, the few settlers at Lyons felt somewhat jealous at the superior prospects and advancement of Baraboo. We drove on down to Brown's mill and crossed a rude bridge which spanned the river near where the present bridge stands. Erastus Langdon had built a house He kindly proffered us shelter, and his kind lady prepared for (i. e., had an inclosed frame). us a good dinner. Dr. S. P. Angle at that time occupied a shanty near where John Loy's shop now stands. He introduced me to Col. Maxwell, who was then engaged in the framing of a building which was afterward known as Maxwell's store, and stood on the corner where the Burrington I was greatly discouraged, but the old Colonel, who most Brothers afterward built a better one. He told me that Col. Sumof his life had pioneered it, gave me every encouragement possible. He introduced me ner had gone east to Ohio after his family, and would build a good hotel. to old Mr. Canfield, who was a generous, good, kind-hearted man, who proffered me house room My family, in the meantime, was at the house of free of expense till such time as I could build. Erastus Langdon, who kindly proffered to shelter us until we should conclude what we would do. finally purchased Mr. Langdon's Daniel Kelsey, then a young man, was boarding with them. Marvin Blake, a brother-in-law of Mr. Langdon's, house, and he moved out and into a shed. The house which I bought from Mr. lived in a shanty near where his present residence stands. Langdon was neither lathed nor plastered, and it had a shake roof. Jeptha Jackson occupied a small house which stood in the street near where the American House now stands, owned at present by Mr. Peck. George and William Brown hail, some two years previous, made claims to the land embracing the water-power, and which at that time constituted the village of Baraboo proper; William had sold his interest to George, and George soon sold a portion of the waterGeorge intended fully to improve the north-side power to Philarmon Pratt, with the saw-mill. grist-mill. In raising au addition to it, a timber fell on his head and killed him. Delando Pratt had some two years previous purchased from the Browns a portion of the water power, and commenced the manufacture of hubs and bedsteads. Owing to the sudden death of George W. His father, Cliauneey Brown, was his legal heir, Brown, business became somewhat suspended. They proceeded to complete the mill. and he with his son William, administered on the estate. Philarmon Pratt and the Browns became involved in law. and for years they kept up the fight, so Delando that every term of the court Pratt vs. Brown and Brown vs. Pratt filled the calendar. Pratt sold the portion of the water-power he owned to John Seaburn, and joined his father-inI

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

499

Both of those establishments in a short time law, Mr. Schermerhorh, in the tanning business. The Browns had completed the mill, and afterward that was burned. were destroyed by fire. Such were the circumstances that myself and a few others were fully satisfied in our own minds that it was the work of an incendiary, and we believed we knew who he was. The dam went out, and for a long time Baraboo proper was at a stand-still, no business being done. Finally, Joseph F. Sanford and Patrick A. Bassett bought it and built the present mill, now owned by R. H. Strong. Lyman Clark came to Baraboo in the spring of 1847 and pre-empted forty acres directly But, anxious to build a hotel, he disposed of it to southeast of the original village of Baraboo. Judge Camp for a mere trifle. Lyman built the Baraboo House. He never turned any one away, money or no money, and frequently would apply to me to lodge some of his guests, and

he would often consult with me as to the best means to help some new arrival. I remember one morning he came to my house and said that there was a family, consisting of a man and wife, with two children, that had been stopping at his house for some days, and were out of money that he had a span that the man was sick, and the woman was a tailoress and willing to work of young horses and a wagon. The day previous, Clark said he had killed his only cow for meat, I went over and found the family greatly discouraged. and had not feed for this man's horses. On consulting with I owned a shanty and lot near where Mr. Patrick Dougherty now resides. him, they concluded to move into it. Soon the man recovered his health, and in a short time he purchased land north of Baraboo and the Wisconsin River, where, 1 believe, he still resides. His name is His family are grown up, and I understand all are in comfortable circumstances. After he had become prosperous, I joked him relative to his feeling so disGardiner Myers. couraged on his first arrival. Col. D. K. Noyes, then a young man, came the same year, and, I think, taught school one quarter. He then engaged in land agency, pre-empting and entering for settlers. As there was no room in the tavern in which to transact business, he would run over to my house, which consisted of one room with a shed in the rear. In that room I carried on tailoring, had my workbench, the cooking-stove, table, etc. Sometimes a half-dozen of neighbors, besides him, would come over with two or three new arrivals and make out their pre-emption papers or contract to enter lands for them. It was fun for us men, but pretty trying for the women, who at times were greatly bothered to get along with the housework. It soon became evident that David's mind was not. settled. He hurried up, the next season, a little house near where Daniel Kelsey lives, and then started for Vermont. In a few weeks, he returned with his better half and went to housekeeping. She The first political meeting I attended in the West was held at Widow Peck's house. had built her house that year. The upper part was a hall, where Harris Searl, who was Justice of the Peace, and resided with Mrs. Peck, held his court. Being the only large room in the vicinity, it was used for public meetings, balls, etc. In the fall of 1847, Col. Batkin, then a lawyer, who, by the way, was a great practical joker, residing at Madison, was a candidate for member of the Territorial Council. The Colonel was a Whig, and his competitor, whose name I have forgotten, resided in Marquette County. It was agreed that they would jointly canvass Public notice having been the district hence, they were to hold a joint discussion at Baraboo. By agreegiven, nearly all the inhabitants turned out, so that Mrs. Peek's hall was well filled. ment, it was Col. Batkin's privilege to open the discussion. He commenced by complimenting the intelligence of his auditors, whom he flattered up to the highest notch, and in eloquent and glowing terms, eulogized the beautiful valley of the Baraboo, dwelling on its magnificent advantages, its water-power, its great manufacturing privileges, its romantic scenery, its productive soil. Then he paused, and at length exclaimed " One thing you especially need, and you are justly entitled to it; and that is, a good road over the bluffs. How can you procure it ? How can that most desirable end be attained ? If, through your sufferance, I I will tell you how have the honor to represent you in the Territorial Council, send me your petition to organize a company for the purpose of macadamizing the highwav over the bluffs. You don't desire to subject ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

500

Sauk

pay toll on the way to your mills, nor persons coming to Hence, I shall endeavor to get an appropriation from the Of course, cheers rolled up for Col. Batkin. His competitor hemmed and hawed, and assured them if they voted for him, he would do all for them that Col. Batkin could do or had promised to do. The meeting closed with a speech from Hon. William Welsh, of Madison. Then Jim Badger struck up the violin, many joined in the dance, and did not go home till morning. The next discussion between these two gentlemen was at Prairie du Sac. The Colonel's competitor led off; so he thought he would take all the wind out of the Colonel's sails. He started in, deprecating their condition, being shut out from communication with the beautiful valley of the Baraboo, and having to pass over such a miserable, dangerous road. If he should be elected, he would put a bill through the Legislature appropriating a sum toward macadamizing the bluffs. At that time, Prairie du Sac was smarting under the removal of the county seat, and hoped to get it back again hence, anything that would contribute to the advancement of Baraboo, Prairie du Sac was decidedly opposed to. The Colonel rejoined "Fellow citizens I am astonished at the diabolical proposition made by the gentleman. What is that he proposes ? Why, that you shall be taxed to build up a town in a barren, worthless, rocky, stone-bound region, where there is no town, nor never ought to be one When I look upon your beautiful, rich prairie, your magnificent river, the trade and business which must necessarily center here, I think with indignation of the proposition made by my opponent, that you should be taxed to help build up a competing town, where neither God nor sensible man ever intended there should be one." The Colonel was overwhelmingly elected. He car-

the inhabitants of

Prairie to

transact business at the county seat.

Territorial treasury to macadamize that road."

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ried both sides of the bluffs.

The following year, George Hiles built a rough building, directly west of the Baraboo House, for a store. He procured some whisky and a few groceries. Soon after, William Hoxie came from McHenry County, 111. He brought with him a remnant of an old stock of goods, and went into partnership with Hiles. In a short time Samuel Hiles came. Mr. Hoxie was elected Justice of the Peace. W. H. Clarke, known as " Mayor Clarke," also as the " Lion of !?auk," at that time resided at Sauk City, but soon after removed to Baraboo. He was considered the best counselor at law the county afforded. Among the first cases which were tried before Esquire Hoxie, a motion was made to dismiss. It was argued pro and con. The court seemed perplexed hesitated. Samuel Hiles was present he watched earnestly the countenance of the Justice. His sympathies evidently prompted him to assist the court. At length he exclaimed: " " Sqaush the d d thing, Bill squash it In 1849, Rev. Warren Cochran came. He was a man of very decided, positive character. He thought his mission demanded that everything should move under his dictation, and yet, I presume, he was sincere. He was opposed to every kind of amusement. He had great powers of invective. 1 remember once hearing him preach, in which he denounced and ridiculed dan" Some," said he, " hold that it teaches them to be graceful in their movements, and cing. " Well," said he, " in this Ideality, they have a quadruped to really teaches them gentility. teach them manners." James Badger was the fiddler. On the day following this sermon, William Dunlap, who was then Sheriff of the county, met Badger and told him that Cochran had " Why, he called you the worst oame that could possibly be applied outrageously abused him. to any one, a quadruped!" "What is that? "says Badger. •• Why, it is the worst name that could be given any person. I would prosecute him Right out before the whole congregation he called you a quadruped." Neither Dunlap nor Badger knew what the term meant, and Badger was for some days in dead earnest in his threats to prosecute Cochran for slander. Judge Camp came, I think, in 1848 it may have been 1849. There were several from Litchfield County, Conn., who came about the same time, among whom were Mr. Tuttle, now in the nursery business, and who was for a time partner with David Munson in the mercantile business Deacon Clark and family and others Lodge Brier came from Indiana, but was a brother-in-law of Judge Clark and also of James Maxwell Brier, was a millwright and built the

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mills known as the

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Maxwell Mills.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

>01

Warren Cochran sought to make Baraboo just what a quiet New England village was, not But such was his considering that our population was cosmopolitan, and could not all be alike. However, he saw the necesorganization that every one must submit to what he deemed right. Being himself a many of the religious elements in one body as possible. Congregationalist, he sought to unite the Presbyterian element with the Congregational. For a time it seemed to progress favorably, but there was Deacon Lodge Brier, a Hoosier possessed of Judge Camp and Deacon Clark also, all the rigid prejudices of the old Scotch-Irish character who had come from Litchfield County, Conn. Then, there was Dr. Cowles, who taught the choir. The discordant elements, of course, could not long remain united. Disagreement and Elder Cochran would not yield a hair's breadth. Judge Camp difference of views sprang up. was the leader of the opposition Deacon Brier sided with the Judge Deacon Marvin Blake They had a very angry discussion at a stood in the breach, trying to conciliate both sides. Dr. Cowles, laughing in his sleeve at church meeting held on a certain Saturday afternoon. the whole performance, sided with the Elder. Elder Cochran preached the next day, and took He eloquently portrayed the various manifestations of prejudice, for his subject '•Prejudice." and finally exclaimed " There are those in the congregation who, if they were transferred to heaven in their present condition, would walk the gold-beaten streets of the New Jerusalem, and gaze on its pearly walls yes, they would walk up to those walls and pick those pearls, and We have got as good an article as these in Litchfield!' " deliberately turn around and say That was the hair that broke the camel's back. No more union of Presbyterians and Congregationalists in Baraboo. The Elder next attacked secret societies, Masonry and Odd Fellowship. Well, we had neither then at Baraboo, but the boys had a society known as the " One Thousand sity of combining as

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and Ones." It was a burlesque on all secret organizations. But the Elder, in his sermon, after denouncing Masonry and Odd Fellowship, said " I don't know what that order is, but I believe it consists of one thousand rascals to one decent man. We organized a lyceum and debating club, and invited some of the ablest lecturers of the times, among whom was Ichabod Codding. Mr. Codding was pleased with the liberal sentiment of Baraboo. He did much to elevate the standard of free thought, and divested orthodoxy of some of its more odious features. The result of his labors was the organization of the Unitarian or Liberal Christian Church, and the erection of their meeting house. But there was still a more liberal element prevailing in that community a class who demanded the reasons, the why and wherefore, of every doctrine. But the war commenced and absorbed every consideration. Hardly a regiment left the State for the seat of war that had not a representative of Sauk County in its ranks. Sauk County was patriotic. :

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THE BARABOO CLAIMANTS' ASSOCIATION. Great excitement existed in the Baraboo Valley at the time of the Government land sale, and for some time afterward, regarding the claims of early settlers. The people, unable to hold their lands by law, banded together for mutual support until such a time as they could get the money to make their payments. The Baraboo Claimants' Association was organized September 7, 184(3, as a means of protection of the rights of first settlers, Alexander Crawford being appointed chairman of the meeting held at that time. An extract from the constitution will show the purpose of the organization. " Whereas, Congress has from time to time passed pre-emption laws for the purpose of encouraging the settlement of the public domains and securing to settlers the benefit of their improvements, and, whereas, under a full belief in the protection afforded by these laws, many enterprising, industrious and worthy citizens have embarked their all, and been induced to settle on Government land in this section of the country, thereby spending labor and means, and undergoing all the privations incident to the settlement of a new country and whereas, Government has recently proclaimed these lands for sale on the 20th of November next, without giving the usual notice of six months, as has always been done, thereby depriving the settlers of timely notice, and placing it out of their power to procure means to purchase their lands at the public ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

502

therefore, for the purpose of securing to ourselves our just rights,

and to protect our improvements, it is unanimously resolved that we will be in readiness to protect each other in our respective claims to the utmost of our power and that a claim shall consist of not more than 320 acres, in two legal subdivisions, for the purpose of farms or settlement only, and not sale ;

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for speculation."

The officers of the Association were Harvey Canfield, President Abe Wood, Vice President, and John B. Crawford, Secretary. The resolutions were signed by fifty-six persons, residents of the precinct of Baraboo. The following were within the limits of what is now the town :

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of Baraboo, and will show who some of the early settlers were : Harvey Canfield, Ralph Cowles, Andrew Garrison, Andrew Washburn, Job Barstow, Jr., Nathan Dennison, Hiram Webster, J. T. Clements, G. Willard, Andrew Paulson, Chester Matson, E. G. Williams, James Christie,

Alexander Crawford, John B. Crawford, Dr. C. Cowles, Luther Peck, A. F. Washburn. Marvin Blake, J. H. Jackson, Job Barstow, Chauncey Brown, J. Lamar, W. B. Clement, Edward Johnson, W. H. Canfield, Erastus Gilson, James Waddle, Levi Moore, Abe Wood and H. P. Van Valkenburgh. Notwithstanding the organization of this society, the lands were in some cases entered from under the settlers. From the Madison Express, of August 24, 1847, something more respecting " Previously, Eben Peck had started for California, and the society and its work is learned had probably been massacred by the Indians, as nothing was ever heard of him afterward, and nearly all of his party are known to have suffered such a fate. This left Mrs. Peck to fight her battles alone, and to support herself and her two little children. A meeting of the Claimant was held August Society 10, 1847, with James Waddle in the chair. Count Haraszthy, an Hungarian, addressed the meeting, and pictured out their wrongs in glowing terras. A committee of five was then appointed to draft new resolutions, the substance of which was as :

follows :

" ' Whereas, certain persons not residing in the county, unjustly and in defiance of the rights of early settlers of the county, have entered the claims of those, who, from unseen and unfortunate circumstances, have been unable to protect themselves, and as Chauncey Brown has to seize upon, and enter lands, embracing all the improvements of Widow Peck it is resolved that we will defend and protect each other; that we will prevent any and all persons

chosen

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from taking possession of the lands thus entered by Chauncey Brown, Jr., one Esterbrook and Simeon Crandall, and use our best endeavors to punish any person or agent of such person who " shall attempt fo take possession of or improve such claims.' The fourth of July had been celebrated for the first time that year, and the table was still standing in the grove. After the resolutions had been drafted, a meeting was held at that place, and it was resolved that Simeon Crandall should listen to the reading thereof. He refusing to come peaceably, they carried him to the spot and laid him out on the table. But as soon as an opportunity occurred he made an attempt to escape, and would have done so had not an enthusiastic dog, that had the rights of old settlers at heart, seized and detained him until his captors could again get possession of him. He was therefore obliged to listen to the reading of the resolutions and he afterward made a satisfactory settlement with the claimants of the land. But Chauncey Brown, Jr., held on to his newly acquired property, refusing even to sell it. The enraged settlers followed him finally to Sauk, where he had taken refuge, taking him from his bed one stormy night, and forcing him to begin with them, on foot, a return journey to Baraboo. On the way, after repeated threats of hanging, they rolled him in a mud-puddle, and that brought him to terms. He agreed for a certain amount of money to deed the land to Mrs. Peck. To consummate this all parties went back to Sauk, where the deed was made out and the money paid into his hands. The money he gave for safe-keeping to the official by whom the business was transacted. But the matter did not end here. The deed, having been obtained by force, would not stand in law, and by taking the matter into the courts Brown won the case. The land suit was in law five years, and cost Mrs. Peck several hundreds of dollars. Besides all this, not being able to prove her husband's death, she did not have the same advantages in entering lands ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

51M

In order to secure herself a home, she borrowed money at 50 per cent as interest, and purchased an 80-acre piece, upon a part of which she now resides. There were other similar cases in which the association participated as the defenders of old settlers' rights the foregoing, however, will suffice to show the character of them. the others had.

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SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The growth of Baraboo has been of the cautious character, and what it is to-day is the result This speaks well for the frugality and bank accounts of its citizens, though of mere necessity. Let us in the past five or six years there has been a more general unloosing of purse-strings. " The In April, 1856, a local correspondent wrote review the various stages of its growth. :

village and vicinity are rapidly increasing in

In the village there are six churches population. Baraboo has a populaorganized three of them have good houses built, and stated preaching. tion of about 2,000, and is the most healthy, as it is the most beautiful, village in the State. We Baraboo has a prosperous condition. have a first-class female seminary, and it is in a very On what is known as the Baraboo water-power superior to any within a hundred miles of her. Rapids, within a distance of less than two miles, four dams have been built, and there is a chance At the lower mills, known as Manchester, there is a large flouring-mill, a saw-mill, for another. and a carding and cloth-dressing establishment. At the next dam above, which is situated centrally in the village of Baraboo, there is a large grist-mill built the past season a saw-mill, a lath, picket and shingle machine, an extensive cabinet and planing establishment, and other machinery. At the next dam above is a saw-mill and at the next above that is another sawmill, doing the best business of any mill on the river also an extensive machine and cabinetware establishment, which gives employment to a large number of hands." year later, the editor of one of the local papers set forth the advantages of the place in " We have one bank, one banking-house, eight dry-goods stores, five grocery the following terms ;

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hardware and stove stores, three drug stores, two flouring-mills, three saw-mills, one carding-mill, one tannery, two furniture factories, one sash factory, one pottery, one jewelry store, one book store, five hotels, a livery stable and two markets. We have besides half a dozen physicians, as many lawyers, the same number of clergymen, two dentists, two daguerreans, five or six painters, as many shoemakers, half a dozen blacksmiths, five cabinet and wagon makers, two gunsmiths, and as many harness-makers." In 1862, the institutions were thus reckoned up: One bank, three boot and shoe stores, one bakery and confectionery, six blacksmith-shops, two cabinet warerooms, three cooper-shops, five dry-goods stores, two drug stores, two dentists' rooms, one daguerrean gallery, two flouring-mills, three grocery stores, one gunsmith shop, two hardware stores, four hotels, one harness-shop, one hub-factory, one jewelry store, one millinery and book store, one music store, two meat markets, one mill for grinding corn, one pump factory, one sash and blind factory, three saw-mills, two tailor-shops, three wagon-shops, one woolen-factory, one college and one female seminary. " It is a perfect New England town," says a writer of 1863, " transplanted to a new country, with its wide streets, shaded by beech, locust, elm and maple trees, its clean, fresh-looking white-painted homes, embowered in shrubbery, roses and trailing vines its gardens, fruit orchards, pleasant walks and that general air of refinement denoting a population intelligent, cultivated and independent. Baraboo, although the shire town of Sauk, one of the oldest and richest farming counties in the State, is more especially noted for its manufactures, to the development of which it has brought a genuine Yankee skill and perseverance. The beautiful Baraboo River, gracefully winding through the valley about a stone's throw from the court house square, is the archimedean lever that turns numberless mill-wheels, and offers a cheap, immense and inexhaustible motive power to future mills and factories that must sooner or later arise upon its banks. The beauty of the scenery in the vicinity, differing from that of other parts of the stores, three

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State in its larger variety, is the universal remark of travelers and tourists. The residents themselves pay but little attention to it and frequently go abroad for "a change of scenery." The somewhat renowned Baraboo Bluffs lie but two miles distant, in view of nearly every part

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

504

.and the steep declivities of the " lake gorge " are likewise visible. Overhangof the village ing the north side, is a beautiful hill known as Mount Mercy. The village itself is adorned with many fine oaks of open forest growth, and the surrounding knolls and valley-dimpled plains are covered with handsome groves and shrubbery." ;

THE RAILROAD AND

ITS

BENEFICENT RESULTS.

When the Chicago & North- Western Railroad had been completed to Baraboo, the company very wisely selected this place as the grand central distribution point for what is known as the Madison Division, and temporary workshops, roundhouses, etc., were erected with all the speed The effect upon the business consistent with the uninterrupted progress of the road westward. There was a general revival in trade, and a interests of Baraboo was immediately perceptible. noticeable activity in real estate. South Baraboo, especially, became the scene of renewed enterThere seems to have been an awakening of the progressive spirit that predominated in prise. pioneer days, when mills and dwellings, schoolhouses and churches, were completed in a fortlikewise, brick, lumber and Building lots were in greater demand at advanced prices night. there was no longer Mechanics and common laborers were less plentiful than formerly stone. Handsome brick stores and hotels and neatly finished dwellings was any excuse for idleness. Baraboo long since took on the airs of a city, and the gradual and substantial the result. increase in population during the past ten years entitles her to recognition as such. In 1879, the railroad company enlarged their shops and increased the capacity of their roundhouse to twenty-five stalls. The total amount expended in improvements of this character large portion of this was paid to residents of Baraboo for was from $40,000 to $50,000. The average number of men employed in connection with the company's material and labor. The estimated disbursements on the division will shops at this point is about one hundred. Of course, this amount is not all disreach nearly $60,000 per month, or $720,000 per annum. For instance, the aggregate of the monthly salaries paid to agents, telebursed in Baraboo. line of the division will reach about $4,000. and clerks distributed along the operators graph It is estimated that $12,000 per month is paid out to " train men " (conductors and brakemen), $4,500 to section men, and at least, $10,000 for extra men employed in connection with the conThe monthly salaries of engineers and firemen approximate $8,000; struction department. $5,000 per month, is considered a fair estimate of the average amount expended in the construction and the repair of bridges, and a like amount is disbursed every month among the employes of the company who are stationed permanently in Baraboo. Supplies and ordinary Here we have nearly three-quarters of a million repairs cost $10,000 per month on an average. dollars for operating expenses alone, expended annually on the division running from Belvidere Baraboo, being located midway between the two points, and to Winona, a distance of 219 miles. being the division headquarters, necessarily reaps vast benefits from the road, other than the advantages arising from its favorable situation. It is claimed that about $200,000 of this amount it is considered, however, a very This may be a slight exaggeration is expended in Baraboo. ;

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speaking in round numbers. no denying the fact that the permanent location of the division headquarters at this point, combined with the ordinary advantages of the road, has placed Baraboo in the front few years ago, the place was scarcely known outside a rank of interior cities in Wisconsin. now it has become renowned, wherever civilization has penetrated the radius of fifty miles Western Hemisphere. This very desirable condition of tilings has been brought about chiefly through the energy of its own citizens in striving to secure an outlet by rail. A great many earnest efforts were made in this direction at an early day, but the citizens were deceived in the promises made them by the managers of Milwaukee's railway interests. It was not until they "put their own shoulders to the wheel " that outside capital saw a safe investment in the construction of a The road completed, Baraboo's advantages as a business road through the Baraboo Valley. place, as a permanent home, and as a summer resort, became known. fair estimate,

There

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y BARABOO.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

507

THE BUSY BARABOO. The hum of a thousand wheels now greets the ear, where, forty years ago, no sound of progress was heard. The Baraboo River has been made the patient servant of commerce, and the torrent, subdued to man's service to drive the complicated machinery invented by his ingenuity, has been taught to leap forth in the morning to its toil, and to glide away at evening to its rest. The bark canoe of the savage no longer ruffles its glassy surface the voice of the savage has been hushed, and his canoe turned adrift. Civilization now casts its resplendent rays athwart this ancient stream. Science and industry have measured and 'utilized its powers. Let us see to what extent and to what purpose. The Middle or Island Woolen-Mill Power.—In the fall of 1839, Abram Wood and Wallace Rowan, while penetrating the wild Baraboo Valley from the east, in search of a water site, made a claim of the land on the river where now is situated the Island Woolen-Mill. Rowan soon returned to his home, near the present site of Poynette, in Columbia County, where he kept a hotel. Wood remained and engaged in making improvements, building a dam the first on the Baraboo River and getting out mill timbers. The erection of the mill was commenced the following spring, but very little progress was made that year. The next fall, Levi Moore came to the place and made a claim of half a section of land near Skillet Falls. The Captain, as he is generally called, built himself a hewn-log house on his claim, and when this was finished he was employed by Wood & Rowan to work upon their mill, he being a mechanic and the possessor of a kit of edged tools. The mill was soon finished and put in working order. In 1843, Capt. Moore purchased the half-interest of Rowan, Wood selling about the same time to Henry Perry and Moses Nuff. In the spring of 1844, the dam and mill were swept away by a freshet. This calamity was as unexpected as it was serious. It had been the intention of the hardy pioneers to manufacture a large amount of lumber that year. Numerous rafts of pine logs lay above the dam, awaiting the sharp tooth of the saw but now all was lost. The torrents had carried almost every vestige of the results of the millmen's labors. The misfortune bore so heavily upon Perry and Nuff that they relinquished all interest in the claim. But the Captain, though disheartened, went bravely to work, and Abe Wood having come into possession of one-half of it, through the action of Perry and Nuff, joined him in the herculean task of putting up another building not far from the site of the one that had been carried away. four-foot dam was constructed across the west arm of " the ox-bow," and a race about five hundred feet long cut through the narrow neck of land, thus securing to them a good fall of water. The mill was soon finished, and the rattle of the old " up-and-down ;

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saw " was again heard in the land. It is worthy of remark that, though Wood was acknowledged to be a fair specimen of the genus belonging to the family of " hard cases," the Captain avers that such a thing as a harsh word never passed between them during their six years' partnership. In 1848 or 184'.*, Wood, becoming involved, was succeeded in the business by J. B. Clement. In 1851, the mill was closed, and it remained idle until 1858, when M. J. Drown became the owner of a half-interest in it. The other half was soon afterward purchased by George H. Stewart, of Beaver Dam. The purpose of this partnership was the building of an extensive woolen-mill. But before the project was entered upon, Mr. Stewart disposed of his interest to Mr. Drown, who immediately set about carrying out the original design. Work was commenced early in 1863, and, in just one hundred and ten days from the date of the hammer's first stroke, the machinery was in operation. In 18G5, Mr. Drown disposed of an interest to William Andrews and D. S. Vittum, and soon afterward Messrs. Drown & Vittum bought Andrews out. They ran it until 1807, when it was turned into a joint-stock company, the stockholders being Messrs. Vittum, Drown, Andrews and Henry Rich. Two or three years later, Andrews' stock was purchased by Alfred Avery, who, in 1873, together with Mr. Drown, sold out to Messrs. Rich & Vittum. The concern then ceased to be a stock company. On the 10th of May, 1875, J. A. McFetridge, an experienced manufacturer of Beaver Dam, purchased of Mr. Vittum a one-fourth interest in the establishment, and in January, 1876, Mr.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

508

Rich and his brother, Willis B. Rich, bought Mr. Vittum's remaining interest, the firm becoming In the fall of 1879, Henry Rich purchased his brother's interest. Rich, McFetridge & Rich. Messrs. Rich & McFetridge are now carrying on the business under the name of the Island Woolen Company. Their goods, mostly fancy cassimeres, are manufactured from the fine-blood The annual product of their looms is wools of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. between ninety thousand and one hundred thousand yards, and they give employment to about thirty-six hands. Sales are made throughout the Northwest. In 1867, M. J. Drown and others organized the Baraboo Manufacturing Company with a The company had for its purpose the building of an extensive furcapital stock of $35,000. The project was soon perfected, and the factory niture factory on the Island Woolen-Mill dam. In 1876, the personal property of the company passed to the put into successful operation. The concern was First National Bank of Baraboo, and the real estate to William Andrews. subsequently transferred to the Island Agricultural Works, whose managers recently turned their attention to the manufacture of Maj. A. McNaught's " Challenger Threshing Machine," The Agricultural ten of which were turned out and put in use during the season of 1879. Works Company now have a contract with Minnesota manufacturers to put in use in that State a number of " Challengers " equal to any other machine of a similar character. The Lower Water Power. In the summer of 1839, Eben Peck and James Alban crossed the bluffs from Sauk Prairie, for the purpose of exploring the Baraboo Valley, a glimpse of They which Mr. Alban had but recently seen from the high bluffs east of the Devil's Lake. struck the Baraboo River at a point since known as the Lower Ox-bow, about one mile below the Crossing over the stream, they came upon two small Indian vilpresent village of Baraboo. The two white explorers, lages, the inhabitants of which met them with frowns of disfavor.

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regarding discretion as the better part of valor, recrossed the river as if to return over the bluffs but, instead of doing so, they camped for the night near the stream, upon the land that Mr. Peck had pre-determined should be his claim. Returning to Madison, Mr. Peck's home, he gave a glowing description of the region he had visited, and he announced his purpose soon to make a home at the foot of the noble rapids. In the fall, he, in company with his wife, Roseline, and brother Luther, again visited the spot, crossing the bluffs on horseback, Mrs. Peck They met with no opposition from the Indians, and, while passing riding upon a man's saddle. through the fertile precincts of what is now known as Peck's Prairie, they met Wallace Rowan The Pecks returned and Abram Wood, who were on their way to examine the Baraboo Rapids. to Madison, and Wood and Rowan soon afterward made a claim further up the river. month later, James Van Slyke and Chester Matson visited the Baraboo Rapids, and, ;

It is not quite certain concluded to locate on the Lower Ox-bow. whether they knew at that time that the land had been previously claimed at any rate, they commenced work upon it, and, being short of money, they acquainted James Maxwell, then of Walworth County, and Berry Haney, of Dane County, with the facts concerning the advantages Upon this subject Mr. of the location, and from them obtained means to improve their power. Maxwell says " Van Slyke returned to Walworth County in the early part of the following winter (1840) and induced me to take a half-interest witli him in building a saw-mill, he to do Hence, in the early spring of 1840, I let him have two yoke the work, I to furnish the means. of oxen, chains and wagon, loaded them with a set of saw-mill irons, pork, flour and beans, and

after a careful inspection,

he set out for the Baraboo Valley with four or five hired men." At what date they commenced work upon the dam is not positively known it is the opinion of a few old settlers that Wood and Rowan preceded them in making the first improveWork progressed rapidly, however, until Van Slyke & Co. were ments on the Baraboo River. summoned to Madison to prove their title to the property. This they failed to do. " The suit with Peck," continues Mr. Maxwell, " dampened Van Slyke's ardor, and, the June floods sweeping away what improvements had been made, he sold the mill-irons to Wood k Rowan, disposed of the provisions, and drove the train back to me, I think some time in July, 1840." ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

509

In the fall of 1840, Mr. Peck moved his family from Madison and took up his abode on his But he, like other pioneers of a new country, was kept busily engaged earning the claim. In 1846, when necessaries of life for his family, and had no time to devote to improvements. the land was ready for market, Van Slyke again put in an appearance and entered the land Mr. Maxwell furnished the means to enter it, for a under the pre-emption act of June, 1840. Van Slyke executed the deed to half-interest, and afterward purchased the remaining half. Maxwell August 14, 1846, but did not himself receive a deed from the Government until 1848. In the winter of 1846-47, Col. Maxwell, his son James and a man named Esterbrook came They found Count Haraszthy upon the premhither and ran the lines of the Van Slyke claim. " to cover the ises with a stock of goods, and found also that they should require another " forty entire water-power. Esterbrook, by agreement, went to Mineral Point and entered the requisite " forty." This he deeded over to the Maxwells November 17, 1848. In the spring of 1848, the dam and race having been completed, work was commenced upon the saw-mill. The subsequent transfers of the present grist-mill property, as they appear from a recent deed made of it, are as follows July 18, 1849, Col. Maxwell sold to his son James, and Benjamin L. Briar; in November, Benjamin McVickar purchased a quarter-interest, and, about the same September 25, 1850, Maxwell and Briar date, James T. Flanders purchased another quarter deeded the remainder to McVickar & Flanders April 1, 1854, McVickar sold to Mr. Flanders Sarah Jane Cook ; September 25, 1857, John and January 27, 1857, Mr. Flanders deeded to S. J. Cook to John Woodruff; October 21, 1859, the Sheriff, under foreclosure, to Walter P. Flanders and Ebenezer Lane Lane immediately sold to Flanders, who in October got a deed of the Sheriff; December 22, 1866, W. P. Flanders to Charles H. Wheeler and Olivet W. GunniOctober 5, 1874, Mr. Grubb to B. son ; August 19, 1870, they conveyed it to W. S. Grubb M. Jarvis and J. C. Spencer a year later, Jarvis sold his interest to R. H. Spencer. Of the improvements which have been made upon this water-power, a great deal might be written. The old Maxwell grist-mill (now the woolen-mill) was built under the supervision of B. L. Brier, now of Jamestown, Tenn., and, the saw-mill having burned down, a new one was erected upon the ruins of the old, in 1857, by the Cooks, whose names appear in the foregoing They also built a tannery, and purchased of L. Brier a cardas purchasers from Mr. Flanders. ing machine, and from other sources obtained one set of woolen-mill machinery, and put it into This property having passed back to Mr. Flanders, he operation in the saw-mill building. :

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rented it in 1858 to John Dean, who added new looms, and, assisted by his brothers, James and In the meantime, the Maxwell gristWilliam Dean, carried on the business until about 1865. mill, which had been doing good service, was leased by the proprietors of the Baraboo Flouring " The machinery was subsequently purchased dam, and closed down. Mill, on the " Central The empty mill and placed in the Honey Creek Mill, now the property of Koenig & Fagel. building and the water-power were then purchased by Mr. Dean, and utilized by the removal of partners of Mr. becoming the Henry Rich Andrews and his woolen machinery thereto. Andrew It Dean, the institution was conducted for a time under the firm name of John Dean & Co.

Humphrey and G. H. Bacon. The latter sold 1873 to M. J. Drown. Under this management, operations were suspended in Levi Crouch subsequently became the purchaser of the Ellis interest. During the fall of 1874. the early part of the summer of 1880, Edmund Brewster purchased the property, and is now The old woolen-mill will be devoted engaged in erecting extensive buildings for a paper-mill. then passed to the hands of Joseph Ellis, Ira L. his interest in

to the manufacture of yarn.

For the past six years, the old saw-mill building has been run as a grist-mill, having been The mill has two runs of stones, with a comup for that purpose by Spencer Brothers. bined capacity of forty barrels per day. The Central Mill Privilege. —In 1844, George W. and William Brown came to Baraboo from Whitewater, the former in June and the latter in July, for the purpose of locating permanently. They laid claim to the land upon which South Baraboo now stands, including the water site now known as the " Central Mill Privilege," and commenced building a dam across the fitted

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

510

The dam completed, a saw-mill was erected and put in operation.

In 1847, William Brown sold his interest to his brother George, and the latter soon afterward disposed of half the About this time, Delando Pratt, brother of the preceding, property to Philarmon Pratt. having purchased 200 inches of the water, built a mill on the same dam and fitted it with machinery for sawing lath and shingles. It was used for this purpose only two or three years, when it was sold to John and Thomas Seaborn. From that time, the building was known as The Seaborn brothers put into it machinery for the manufacture of bedthe "cabinet-shop." steads, chairs and cabinet furniture, and continued to occupy it for that purpose for fifteen years, when it was consumed by fire. Previous to this unfortunate occurrence, J. N. Savage had become a partner in the business, and was a large sharer in the loss, as was also M. Partridge, who was at the time conducting exclusively the chair department. part of this building, together with an addition built for the purpose, was at one time occupied as a foundry and and considerable in machine shop, this line was accomplished. Among other works, a steam engine was constructed, which was set up and run at Prairie du Sac. The enterprise was finally abandoned. short distance east of the old cabinet-shop, a building erected by D. Schermerhorn and P. Pratt was occupied for a time as a tannery. Mr. Pratt afterward used lath-mill the shop as a hub-factory. The structure, with the cabinet-shop, ended in smoke. was also built by Mr. Pratt in connection with his saw-mill, and the upper story was used as a sash and blind factory. The building was afterward occupied by Mr. P. A. Bassett, who did an extensive business in the manufacture of staves and headings for flour barrels. The building fell a prey to the devouring element, involving a heavy loss to Mr. Bassett and also to Mr. Heylman, who was at the time engaged in the sash and blind business in the upper story. The stave mill was immediately rebuilt and put in operation by its founder, Mr. Bassett, who ran it until about 1863, when his son, William P. Bassett, having obtained control of it, moved the machinery to a point five miles west of Baraboo and there continued the business until 1875. Returning to Baraboo with his apparatus, he re-established himself on the north side of the river, two blocks east of the "Central Mill Privilege," where he has since continued the manufacture of staves and headings, which are shipped to principal points in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. Mr. Bassett also manufactures flour barrels for the local market. During the busy season, the institution requires the services of a fifty-horse-power engine and about twenty men. Baraboo Flouring Mills. In 1846, a grist-mill was erected by George W. Brown on the north side of the river, upon the site now occupied by the Baraboo Flouring Mill. It was furnished with two runs of stone, and did the custom work for the then sparse population inhabiting an area of some forty or fifty miles' radius. During the construction of an addition to this mill, December 15, 1847, Mr. Brown was instantly killed by a falling timber. The property then reverted to Chauncey and Carissa Brown, father and mother of the deceased. In 1852, this mill shared the fate of the three across the river, being destroyed by fire. In 1855, P. A. Bassett and J. F. Sanford purchased a half-interest in the water-power and the north-side mill site, and erected a four-story building, about 40x50 feet in size. Four runs of stone were put into this mill, and were kept busy day and night to supply the demand. The next year, Mr. Bassett, having bought out his partner, erected a separate mill for custom grinding, converting the original one into a strictly merchant mill. Finding a want of room for the storage of wheat and flour, Mr. Bassett, the same year, erected another building of the same size and height as the first, filling the space between the two mills and thus connecting them. Thus matters progressed until 1862, when the property passed to the hands of R. H. Strong and L. H. Kellogg, commission merchants of Milwaukee. Mr. Strong soon afterward became the sole proprietor, and has ever since carried on the concern. There are eight runs of stone in the merchant mill, with a combined capacity of 125 barrels per day; the custom mill has two runs. The machinery of both is entirely new. An excellent brand of flour is made, which finds ready sale in all the leading markets, shipments being made to Norfolk, Va., New York, Pittsburgh, Boston, Cincinnati, Portland, Me., and the lumbering stations of the Lake Michigan shore. stream.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

511

—

The Upper Water Power. In 1844, George and Edward Willard came to the Baraboo A Valley and made a claim on the river about two miles above the present city of Baraboo. dam and saw-mill were constructed and put into successful operation. The proprietary interests of the Messrs. Willard soon passed to Culver & Conkey, who, a year or two later, sold to Metcalf & Crossman. In 1850, Nathan Paddock and Martin Waterman purchased Mr. Crossman's interest, and for thirteen years the firm remained unchanged. But sharp competition, aided by the depressing effects of the war, resulted in financial embarrassments which led the creditors In 1863, Capt. Levi Moore took charge of to take measures that would secure them from loss. the property as legal creditor. The firm had previously built a second structure, and placed in it the necessary machinery for the manufacture of furniture, which was rented and operated by Ryan & Hollenbeck. In 1866, Thomas, Claude & Thomas purchased the entire property, and established, in the furniture department, a hub and spoke factory, the furniture machinery being removed to the shops of the Baraboo Manufacturing Company on the island. In 1874, a Mr. McDonald, of Chicago, purchased the institution. By him it was sold in 1875 to Jacob HesThis dam peler, of Ontario, Canada, and, in 1878, M. J. Drown became and is now the owner. furnishes seven feet head of water, which sets back over thirteen miles.

—

Miscellaneous.

The Baraboo Foundry. In 1867, Nathan Starks purchased 200 inches of the " Central Power " water, and established on the south bank of the river, an iron foundry, engaging largely in the manufacture of hop-stoves, an article in great demand at that date. The hop panic which followed soon afterward seriously involved Mr. Starks, and he was compelled to suspend operations. The property then passed to Gen. Starks, brother of Nathan, who rented the establishment to William E. Kittredge. Upon the death of Gen. Starks, the property was inherited by his daughter. She rented it to W. F. Wackier, who in 1870, purchased and now conducts it. Tub and Barrel Factory. In 1877, Langdon Bros, commenced the manufacture of barrels, tubs, churns, etc., on the lake road, south of Baraboo. In 1879, they removed to the village and established themselves on the north side of the river, opposite the railroad workshops. Here they manufacture by steam almost all kinds of cooper's ware, such as pork and pickle barrels, making a specialty of butter and pork packages. They also make the body of a patent churn, sold largely in Ohio by the patentees, and manufacture churns of their own design. Sash, Doors ami Blinds. George Reul & Sons have been engaged in the manufacture of these and other articles used by builders since 1876. Their machinery is propelled by a thirtyfive-horse-power engine. Besides supplying a large demand in Sauk County, they make shipments to different parts of the Northwest. Breweries. The manufacture of beer in Baraboo has grown to be quite an industry. The first brewery in the place was located on the north side of the river, and was burned down, with other property, at an early day. The In 1866, George Ruland established a small brewery on the south'side'of the river. capacity of the concern has been increased from time to time to accommodate local custom. In 1867, George Bender and Frank Miller embarked in a similar enterprise, just east of Ruland's brewery. Miller soon withdrew from the firm, and Bender conducted it alone until his death a few years ago. The business is now carried on by his widow, who, in 1876, added

—

a two-story brick hotel.

An ale brewery was established by Parrish Brothers, also in 1867, on the north side. In 1868, L. Parrish sold to E. R. Bow, and, in 1870, business was suspended. Tanneries. In 1850, Squire Schermerhorn established a tannery in a building put up by Mr. Pratt on the south side of the river. In 1856, Baldwin & Densmore built a tannery on the lower water-power. Both enterprises were unsuccessful, and the business was abandoned

—

after a short time.

The Baraboo Tannery was founded in the early part of 1866, by D. H. Daniels & Co., D. Munson being the silent partner. In 1867, W. S. Grubb became associated with the original

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

512

The late Andrew founders, and the firm name was then changed to Daniels, Munson & Co. Andrews succeeded to the management of the institution, which finally proved unprofitable, and The buildings were located on the river, about one block below the business was suspended. main bridge, and covered some 450 square feet.

THE POST OFFICE. The first settlers of Baraboo had but little time to devote to letter-writing, and, correspondence between they and their friends in far-off Eastern homes being limited, a post office was It was not until the winter of 1846-47 that serious thoughts not among the first requirements. of having a' post office in the then embryo village were entertained. Prior to that time, the pioneer citizens had received their mail matter from Prairie du Sac, and it is needless to say that, the country being naturally in a wild state with few roads, there must have been considerable post office was finally established, early in 1847, Dr. Seth P. Angle being the irregularity. Prescott Brigham, having loaned money to the county with which to purchase first Postmaster. the land for a county seat, insisted upon his right to give the place a name, and, out of his great admiration for the abilities of certain members of a renowned Massachusetts family, he chose to The mulcall it Adams, and it was so recorded in the Post Office Department at Washington. titude of post offices in the United States similarly named, however, soon convinced Government The officials that the name must be changed, and the citizens were officially notified of the fact. And, as is usual in cases of this kind, there was a next question was, What shall we call it ? An effort was made to call it Brooklyn, the name of the town in which the division of opinion. but opposition to this proposition soon became so violent that the Brook village was located Finally, in 1852, lynites were compelled to abandon the ground they had taken in favor of it. the name Baraboo having been substituted for Brooklyn, as it applied to the town, the villagers agreed upon the adoption of the same name, and the momentous question was settled, once, and doubtless, for all time to come. When the post office was first established, Mr. Brigham, who lived on the road leading north During fair weather, he made regular weekly from Prairie du Sac, contracted to carry the mail. but in the fall, winter and spring, the seasons of bad roads, he rarely came through trips A remedy for inconveniences of this character finally came oftener than once every fortnight. in the form of better roads, and, at a memorable period in the later history of the county, the iron horse came snorting through the great Baraboo Valley, distributing epistolary favors and the great dailies, fresh from the lightning printing presses, to all classes The office was first located " under the hill," on the north side, near the present site of Mr. Kelsey's residence. Dr. Angle soon afterward built the house now occupied as a parsonage in In the spring of 1848, connection with the Catholic Church, and moved the post office thereto. Eber W. Crandall was appointed to succeed Dr. Angle, and the new incumbent removed the

;

the real-estate office of D. K. Noyes, "under the hill," where it remained until Mr. Noyes wearied of the duties thus imposed upon him in the absence of the Postmaster. The Colonel still has the twelve pigeon-holes which, over thirty years ago, accommodated all the Before the expiration of Postmaster Crandall's term, he mail matter that came to Baraboo. located the office in Tuttle & Munson's store, which stood near the present site of Fisher's drug store. Here it remained until B. L. Purdy became Postmaster, who removed it to the corner of Second and Ash streets, within a few feet of the spot where now stands the residence of J. C. Spencer. Mrs. Lucy F. Perkins, now of Sioux Falls, Iowa, was the successor of Mr. Purdy. She removed the office to the present residence of H. N. Souther, just east of the high school building. There it remained until 1857, when James Buchanan, in pursuance of the DemoMr. cratic doctrine, " to the victors belong the spoils," appointed James H. Wells to the office. Wells was or had been the editor of the Sauk County Democrat, and, being one of the " victors office to

He located the office in a small building opposite the present Republican. In 1859, T. J. Wood succeeded Mr. Wells, and he In the grand distribution of places that occurred early

of 1856," was thus rewarded. office of

the

Sauk

Count//

remained in the position until 1861.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

513

was drawn by Samuel Hartley. It was he who erected the frame building that now serves as an office for the Republican, for post office, placing therein 472 and fitted it up a boxes and seventy-six drawers. In May, 1867, Col. D. K. Noyes succeeded to the position and has held it continuously to the present The Colonel has been assured by his Democratic friends that, as a reward for his faithful time. services, he will be permitted to enjoy an extended vacation after March 4, 1881. When Col. Noyes took charge of the affairs of the office, he purchased the building erected by Mr. Hartley, and remained in it until January, 1872, when, having previously built a substantial brick on the corner of Ash and Third streets, he removed the office thereto. The office has all the modern conveniences, including 200 Yale lock boxes, 392 glass boxes and eighty-three large drawers. The office became a money-order office in 1867, the first order being issued to A. Lory, of Baraboo, in favor of Otis T. Garey, of Biddeford, Me., for .$1, on the 9th of September of that year. The first week's business amounted tj $130.25. Upward of 27,000 orders have been issued to date. D. W. K. Noyes has filled the position of Assistant Postmaster for the past five in

this

memorable year, the Baraboo Post

Office prize

or six years.

GOVERNMENT. The original town of Baraboo did not include the present village of Baraboo, but comprised the territory now embraced in the towns of Lavalle, Winfield and Dellona, and the north half of the towns of Ironton, Reedsburg and Excelsior. The first election in the town thus bounded and described, occurred April 3, 1849, at the house of D. C. Reed, situated in what is now the village of Reedsburg. The town was subsequently divided, from time to time, until the name Baraboo was dropped entirely, so far as it related to the territory mentioned. The village of Baraboo, until the winter of 1852, was located in the town of Brooklyn, which its limits the territory now comprising the towns of Delton, Fairfield, Greenfield, Baraboo, and parts of Freedom, Excelsior and Dellona, or about one-fifth the entire

originally embraced within

area of the county.

The first town meeting for the town of Brooklyn was held at the court house in the village F. C. Webster, William Babb and David Vanalstein were the Judges of Election, while D. K. Noyes and F. G. Stanley acted as Clerks. The ticket chosen was as follows: Supervisors, John B. Crawford (Chairman), Lyman Clark and Solomon Soule; Town Clerk, D. K. Noyes; Town Treasurer, William Griffith Assessor, A. A. Noyes; Justices of the Peace, D. Vanalstein, R. H. Davis, W. H. Canfield and D. K. Noyes Superof Baraboo on the 3d of April, 1849.

;

intendent of Common Schools, Harvey Canfield; Constables, E. W. Piper, F. C. Webster and The town having been divided into thirteen road districts, the board at its first C. A. Clark. meeting appointed a Road Overseer for each district and apportioned the taxes of the town, which amounted to $473.30. The next town meeting was held on the 2d of April, 1850, town officers being chosen as fol lows: Supervisors, Lyman Clark (Chairman), John Metcalf and Leonard Thompson Clerk, D. K. Noyes Treasurer, Peter Folsom School Superintendent, John D. Perkins; Justices, W. II. Canfield and John D. Perkins Constables, C. A. Clark, James S. Badger and Joshua Delap Sealer of Weights and Measures, D. Munson. The new board came together on the day of their election and voted to raise $400 taxes to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year. The following was the result of the spring election in 1851 Supervisors, James B. Avery (Chairman), Harvey Canfield and Isaac Palmer; Clerk, Joseph H. Waggoner; Treasurer, J. D. Perkins Assessor, James A. Maxwell Superintendent, Josiah Dart Justices, R. H. Davis and Peter Cooper; Constables, Royal C. Gould, L. Parrish and Samuel Hartley Sealer, -

;

W. Andrews. Supervisors, Bela Warner (Chairman), John Monroe and Jabish T. Clement; Clerk, Mark Shepard Assessor, M. C. Waite Treasurer, J. H. Pratt; Superintendent, Peter Conrad Justices, Isaac Palmer and A. B. Dearborn Constables, C. H. McLaughlin, J. G. Wheeler, G. W. Tucker and R. T. Tinkham Sealer, James Dykins.

In 1852, the officers were

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

514

In December, 1852, the County Board voted to change the name of the town of Brooklyn Superto that of Baraboo, and at the spring election of 1853 the following officers were chosen visors, R. H. Davis (Chairman), A. P. Dearborn and H. D. Evans: Clerk, E. L. Walbridge Assessor, M. C. Waite Superintendent, D. S. Vittum Justices, D. Treasurer, J. H. Pratt Schermerhorn, C. Armstrong, W. H. Canfield and R. M. Forsythe Constables, L. Parrish, C. H. McLaughlin, E. Hart and R. C. Gould Sealer, James Dykens. 1854 Supervisors, Charles Armstrong (Chairman), R. C. Gould and H. H. Webster; Clerk, E. L. Walbridge; Assessor, M. C. Waite; Treasurer, J. H. Pratt; Superintendent, J. Constables, John Miller, Daniel B. Avery Justices, William Brown and Martin Waterman Sealer, R. Parrish. Smith, R. T. Tinkham and Hiram Langdon The record of the election for 1855 is incomplete, and only shows that James A. Maxwell, Charles J. H. Haines and B. B. Brier were chosen Supervisors, and L. F. Cook, Town Clerk. In 1856, the result of the election appears to have been as follows Supervisors, C. C. Remington (Chairman), C. A. Clark and S. M. Burdick Clerk, N. W. Wheeler; Assessor, R. G. Camp Treasurer, B. L. Purdy Superintendent, Warren Cochran Justices, Lyman Clark :

;

— ;

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and G. B. Crawford Parrish.

;

Constables, Lyman Messenger, Daniel Smith and P. Burdick

;

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Sealer, R.

Clerk, 1857 Supervisors, E. Martin (Chairman), C. C. Barnhaus and D. D. T. Perry N. W. Wheeler Assessor, R. R. Remington Treasurer, B. L. Purdy Superintendent, Warren Cochran; Justices, E. W. Olin, E. Martin, R. R. Remington and B. B. Brier; Constables, D. Smith, H. H. Webster and D. Chamberlain Sealer, R. Parrish. 1858— Supervisors, E. Martin (Chairman), D. D. T. Perry and A. Christie; Clerk, N. W. Wheeler: Treasurer, W. H. Thompson; Assessors, R. G. Camp and R. R. Remington; SuperJustices, D. K. Noyes, W. H. Thompson, A. Christie and C. Armintendent, H. A. Peck Sealer, R. Jones. Constables, D. Smith, E. L. Walbridge and John Miller strong 1859 Supervisors, Charles Armstrong (Chairman), Daniel Brown and George Holah Treasurer, W. H. Thompson Assessors, R. G. Camp and J. B. Avery Clerk, A. L. Slye Superintendent, H. A. Peck; Justices, A. Christie and Charles Armstrong; Constables, G. Gibbons, E. Martin and C. Messenger Sealer, R. Jones. 1860 Supervisors, D. K. Noyes (Chairman), F. G. Stanley and A. Allen; Clerk, B. L. Purdy; Superintendent, H. A. Peck Treasurer, C. A. Clark; Assessors, R. G. Camp and A. Christie Justices, George Mertens and F. K. Jenkins Constables, G. Gibbons and W. W. ;

;

—

;

—

;

Wolcott

;

Sealer, G. Gibbons.

;

1861

Doane

;

— Supervisors, E. Sumner (Chairman), E. Walbridge and A. Allen; Clerk, D. D. JusAssessor, R. G. Camp Superintendent, H. A. Peck and A. Christie; Constables, J. C. Dockham, W. B. Boutwell and A. Wilder;

Treasurer, C. A. Clark

tices, D. K. Noyes

;

Sealer, G. Gibbons.

1*62— Supervisors, E. Walbridge (Chairman), A. Allen and F. G. Stanley; Clerk, D. D. Doane

;

Treasurer, Bela Warner Assessor, R. G. Camp Justices, B. L. Purdy, George MerSealer, Constables, J. C. Dockham, Joseph Scott and Henry Holah ;

;

tens and E. Walbridge

;

William Brown.

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1863 Supervisors, F. G. Stanley (Chairman), A. Christie and A. R. Case Clerk, D. D. Doane Treasurer, C. A. Clark Assessors, R. G. Camp and E. Kimble Justices, A. Christie and J. S. A. Bartley Constables, J. C. Dockham, John Miller and Robert Lott; Sealer, B. L. ;

;

Poundmaster, P. Pratt. 1864 Supervisors, R. G. Camp (Chairman), William Andrews and A. R. Case; Clerk, D. D. Doane Treasurer, George Holah Assessor, R. G. Camp Justices, G. Mertens and B. L. Purdy Constables, J. C. Dockham, Peter P. Calhoun and Orin Huyck Sealer, B. L. Brier. 1865 Supervisors, F. G. Stanley (Chairman), George Hall and David Munson; Clerk, A. C. Tuttle; Treasurer, D. D. Doane; Assessors, R. G. Camp and E. Kimble; Justices, J. S. A. Bartley and A. Christie Sealer, Constables, J. C. Dockham, Robert Lott and H. Calkins John Caldwell Poundmaster, P. Pratt.

Brier

;

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—

;

IIISTOHY OF

515

SAUK COUNTY.

— Supervisors, George Mertens (Chairman), David Munson and

Harris Clerk, Mair Pointon Treasurer, D. D. Doane ; Assessor, F. G. Stanley Justices, B. L. Purdy, D. Pfannstiehl and George Charles Dockham, K. Noyes and J. J. Gattiker Constables, J. C.

1866

J. II.

;

Caldwell.

full complement of town officers has been elected each year, but since the spring of 1867 they have exercised no authority in the management of municipal affairs in Baraboo.

ORGANIZED AS A VILLAGE. The Legislature of 1865-66 passed an act incorporating Baraboo as a village. Section 1 of The southeast quarter the incorporating act provided for the boundaries of the village as follows :

and the south half of the northeast quarter, and the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 35, and the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 36, in Township 12 north, Range 6 east, and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and the north half of the northeast quarter of Section 2, in Township 11 north. Range 6 east, in Sauk County, shall hereafter be known and designated by the name of the village of Baraboo. Section 2 provided that the management of the fiscal, prudential and municipal concerns of the village should be vested in a President and six Trustees, one Clerk, one Treasurer, one Constable (who shall be ex officio Marshal), one Attorney, one Surveyor, and such other officers as the Trustees might see fit to appoint. Section 51 of the charter related that the first election for officers should be held on the second Monday in April, 1866, "in case this act shall take effect on or previous to that date and in case this act shall not take effect on or previous to that day, or in case no election shall be held on that day, then such first election of officers may be ordered and appointed by any ten ;

freehold voters."

The first record, however, of any election held under the provisions of this act is dated April 2, 1867, when the qualified electors residing within the boundaries of the village assembled at the court house and proceeded to cast their ballots for a village President and the required

number of Trustees. The record informs us that " the whole number of votes cast for PresiPresident and Police Justice was 104, of which number S. M. Burdick received 83 and William H. Clark received 21; that the whole number of votes cast for Trustees was 104, of which B. F. Mills received 103, A. Andrews, 101 T. D. Lang, 96 J. R. Hall, 104 B. L. Purdy, 103; C. C. Remington, 80; J. R. Dibble, 2; M. J. Drown, 11; and T. Thomas, James Dykins, William Marrah and D. K. Noyes, 1 vote each. Consequently, Mr. Burdick was elected the first President, and Messrs. Mills, Andrews, Lang, Hall, Purdy and Remington the first Trustees of the village of Baraboo, which, up to the present writing, has been under ;

;

village government.

The first meeting of the first Board of Trustees was held April 5. The officers elect, with the exception of Mr. Remington, took the oath of office, and the vacancy created by the declination of Mr. Remington to serve was filled by the appointment of C. A. Sumner. The appointive offices were then filled as follows Clerk, John Barker Attorney, C. C. Remington ; Treasurer, R. M. Strong Constable, J. C. Dockham Surveyor, W. H. Canfield Fire Warden, M. C. Waite. The village attorney was instructed to draft suitable ordinances for the guidance of the board and the government of the village, and the first meeting of the first Board of Trustees was adjourned for ten days. The second charter election was held March 9, 1868, and resulted in the choice of M. Mould, President and Police Justice, and E. Walbridge, C. T. White, T. D. Lang, James Dykins, Will:

;

iam Powers and Andrew Andrews, Trustees. The appointive officers this year were Anton Fischer, Clerk; R. M. Strong, Treasurer Frank Fletcher, Constable W. II. Clark, Attorney W. H. Canfield, Surveyor; M. C. Waite, Fire Warden, and James Goodwin, Poundmaster. In I860, J. R. Hall was chosen President; M. C. Waite, Police Justice, and N. W. Wheeler, Frank Avery, W. Burrington, T. T. English, William Moore and B. Frank Brown, Trustees. Officers appointed Anton Fischer, Clerk; R. M. Strong, Treasurer; C. C. ;

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;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

516 Remington, Attorney Goodwin, Poundmaster.

Dockham, Constable

;

1870— President, J. R.

W. H.

;

Canfield,

Surveyor, and James

Hall Police Justice, M. C. Waite Trustees— N. W. Wheeler, Frank Avery, J. C. Chandler, Thomas Oates, T. T. English and B. F. Brown. Officers appointed Anton Fischer, Clerk R. M. Strong, Treasurer W. H. Clark, Attorney D. E. Kelsey, Constable; E. Barstow, Street Commissioner; James Goodwin, Poundmaster. 1871— President, J. R. Hall ; Police Justice, M. C. Waite Trustees—J. G. Train, D. Munsou, B. F. Brown, A. Andrews, George Mertens and G. W. Merchant Supervisor, J. G. Train. Officers appointed Anton Fischer, Clerk ; Mair Pointon, Treasurer C. C. Remington, Attorney B. J. Paddock, Constable Daniel Pruyn, Commissioner Abram Hunt, Pound;

—

;

—

;

master.

—

;

—

1872 President, James Dykins Police Justice, M. C. Waite Trustees Frank Avery, William Hoxie, T. T. English, M. Mould, J. J. Gattiker, and J. G. Train ; Supervisor, J. G. Train. Officers appointed Philip Cheek, Jr., Clerk J. J. Gattiker, Treasurer; John Barker, Attorney A. Andrews, Constable M. C. Waite, Fire Warden S. W. Emory Commissioner Thomas Oates, Poundmaster. 1873 President, Samuel S. Grubb; Trustees J. M. Haines, F. Barringer, William Hoxie, T. T. English. T. D. Lang and H. H. Webster Supervisor, William Stanley. Officers appointed Philip Cheek, Jr., Clerk T. D. Lang, Treasurer H. J. Huntington Attorney A. Wistans, Marshal; George Nelson, Poundmaster. 1874— President, M. Mould Police Justice, Eli Jones Trustees— T. T. English, T. D. Lang, James Dykins, John Barker, P. Pratt and A. Andrews Supervisor, William Stanley. Officers appointed— Philip Cheek, Jr., Clerk; John Barker, Attorney J. R. Davis, Marshal; Andrew Patrick, Poundmaster. 1875— President, M. Mould; Police Justice, J. W. Blake; Trustees— T. T. English, T. D. Lang, William Hoxie, John Barker, James Dykins and Gustavus Scharnke Supervisor, W. Stanley Justice of the Peace, S. Hartley. Officers appointed Philip Cheek, Jr., Clerk, Fred Johnson, Treasurer J. R. Davis, Marshal and Commissioner; W. C. Hatch, Poundmaster. 1876— President, Frank Avery Police Justice, J. W. Blake Trustees G. W. Marchant, P. Pratt, G. Scharnke, John Thatcher, W. Stanley, and J. H. Halstead Justice of the Peace, R. T. Warner Supervisor, George Mertens Constable, L. 0. Holmes. Officers appointed— Philip Cheek, Jr., Clerk W. Stanley, Treasurer Henry Cowles, Marshal William Hatch, Poundmaster M. Hoffman, Commissioner. 1877— President, D. S. Vittum; Trustees— W. Stanley, D. E. Welch, Isaac Green, W. Scharnke, W. Hoxie and J. Thatcher Clerk, Philip Cheek, Jr. Treasurer, Henry Cowles Police Justice, R. T. Warner Constable, L. 0. Holmes Assessor, E. Walbridge Supervisor, J. J. Gattiger Attorney (as appointed by board), John Barker Street Commissioner, (appointed), George Claus. 1878 President, D. S. Vittum Trustees William Power, Isaac Green, W. Hoxie, A. Fischer, J. G. Train and E. A. Watkins Clerk, Philip Cheek, Jr.; Treasurer, L. 0. Homes; Police Justice, R. T. Warner Commissioner (appointed), M. Supervisor, J. J. Gattiker Hoffman Marshal (appointed), L. 0. Holmes Poundmaster, W. Hatch. 1879 President, D. S. Vittum Trustees William Hoxie, William Powers, J. G. Train, •

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—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

A. Fischer, W. Schranke

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Police Justice, Treasurer, M. Hoffman Clerk, Rolla E. Noyes Jasper A. Dibble Justice of the Peace, T. C. Thomas Marshal, L. 0. Holmes Constable, J. Prethero Supervisor, George Mertens; Commissioner (appointed), M. Hoffman; Attorney (appointed), John Barker Poundmaster (appointed), M. Hatch. 1880 President, William S. Grubb Trustees George Nicholson, W. Dower, J. Dykins, W. Stanley, Ira L. Humphrey and Frank Avery; Clerk, R. B. Griggs Treasurer and Commissioner, E. 0. Holden Police Justice, J. A. Dibble Justice of the Peace, T. C. Thomas Su;

;

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;

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;

pervisor,

Barker.

;

George Mertens; Poundmaster (appointed), F. N. Ross; Attorney (appointed), John

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. Baraboo has about outgrown her village garments, and must necessarily become a within the next two or three years.

517 city

THE BARABOO WHISKY WAR. "Alas the depths of sin anil shame That Bacchus' devotees have found Their hopes can now but. live in name, Their joy is but an empty sound. Their manood has departed hence, For which they find no recompense. !

;

"Despairing Hope to frenzy driven In drunkards' wives and children too

Has roused the strength to woman given

And urged such deeds as they can do. Their votes go not in ballot-box, So more direct they slay the ox. " With aching hearts, but purpose true, They make their way to hell's dark door, From which the flames of wrath do spew; King Alky feared ne'er thus before But with such blows as woman gives They struck him hard " right where he lives."

"And lest his imps with lawyers bound Should bring him back again to life. They put him deep down in the ground Without the aid of drum or fife. His mourning friends look sadly on, While all his foes rejoice 'twas done."

Thus sang the local poet. if given in prose.

withal a good Tavern " bar.

The cause that inspired his muse will perhaps be better understood

1854. A resident of Baraboo, a hard drinker, but his cups," became an habitual patron of the "Brick His appetite for liquor led him to neglect his family, and finally resulted in his It was in the spring of

citizen,

when not "in

attempting to take the life of his wife. The neighbors of the unfortunate woman, knowing the facts, and very naturally deprecating the cause, had more than once beseeched the proprietor of the rummery to refuse liquor to those of his customers whose thirst for it led them to deeds of violence but their appeals, being in opposition to the successful pursuit of his nefarious business, The wife, acting under the impulse of her despemte situation, had also sought were not heeded. to arouse the blunted sympathies of the rum-seller by personal interviews in her own behalf but all to no purpose. Death finally intervened, and the family of the poor inebriate saw the grave close about the form of the husband and father. In the meantime, the dispensation of intoxicating drink went on unmolested in all the ante-rooms of hell then flourishing in Baraboo. Sympathy for the widow and orphans was very deep throughout the village, and a quiet though earnest determination to put an end to such sad and disgraceful affairs in future seemed to take possession of the better classes of citizens. Especially was this feeling noticeable among the ladies, who were naturally the first to appreciate the situation of their grief-stricken sister. The painful subject furnished an excellent theme for the pulpit, and nearly all the ministers in the place referred to it in their discourses. The Sabbath succeeding the funeral, W. II. Thompson, Pastor of the Methodist Church, became particularly eloquent in denouncing the political system which permitted the sale of liquor, and said he wished " to God the thunderbolts Lawyer of heaven would shiver the brick tavern and its contents, animate and inanimate." Pratt, in private conversation a few days later, said he would like to see all the liquor in the village poured into the streets. In this expressed wish, a large number of the indignant citizens of Baraboo discovered a suggestion for summarily solving a difficult problem. At an impromptu ;

;

— 018

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

meeting of a few stalwart

mined upon.

ladies, the

subject was discussed and a line of action quietly deter-

As the local poet tells us " The drunkard's threat, the midnight shriek

;

The cracking whip, the loaded gun,* The fruits of Rum and Rummy's votes All plainly show what must be done— '

Destroy the fiend !'

The word, the blow; the last came first. " They came with resolution fixed, Some forty matrons less or more And daughters, too, with earnest look, In all perhaps about threescore. ;

Blessed prospect,

Something now is surely meant."

Hark

—

There's a sound of devastation The bara sudden unloosing of liquid devils. room of the Brick Tavern is in the process of female invasion. Fumes of liquor infect the air. " Rye," " Bourbon " and " Fine Old Tom " meet a common fate, and are rapidly absorbed by !

the parched earth in front of the hotel.

The whilom dispenser of these evil spirits is wrapped

slumber; for it is early morn, and none but sober citizens are* abroad. The righteous work of destruction proceeds so quietly that his repose is not disturbed. In disposing of the empty in

" Schnaps " is deposited in an adjacent dry goods box in which a reveler of the previous night has taken lodging. The breaking of the falling bottle does not molest him,

bottles, a corrugated

but there is a familiar smell about it which brings him to his feet with all the alacrity of a toper invited to drink and he looks out upon the strange scene and weeps. Across the street a grocer, " who keeps a little to accommodate his customers," has just ;

opened his establishment, after having taken one of his own "eye-openers." Thither the earnest band of women go, but before reaching the place the door is locked. The ladies make the liquor-seller a proposition to buy his stock that they may destroy it, but, while he hesitates to set a price, an entrance is effected from the rear of the house; and the quiet turning of faucets

and drawing of stopples is not molested until the "wrath of the casks" has flooded the floor, and the "silent workers " are on the march toward " French Pete's." By this time the news of the revolution has spread to all parts of the village. Rumors of a The populace is alarmed. general uprising are abroad, and the people crowd upon the scene of action only to learn the facts, and calmly watch the result. There are many loud and earnest exclamations of acquiescence in the proceedings there are also murmers of disapproval. The report of a gun is heard The keeper of the bagnio that is now being attacked, after uttering murderous threats against the Amazonian brigade, has discharged his shot-gun in the air, intending to scare them away but the ruse avails nothing. " While the earth drinks in the rum !

;

The throng around exclaim,

Hurrah!

A glorious jubilee has conic We are ahead of Maine afar.' " ;

It is the most vigorous temperance movement ever witnessed by the people of Baraboo temperance with a vengeance. Elder Cochran is present, his face wreathed in smiles. To him it is a pleasing sight to see the poisonous stuff mingling.with the dust. The keeper of the saloon has joined the crusaders and is also emptying the bottles of their contents. He has irrigated his parched throat with the best in the house, to give him courage, and is now hurling beer glasses through mirrors and windows and creating a general havoc. The excitement is intense. Sheriff Munson commands Elder Cochran to disperse, but the Elder assures that high official that such a thing would be a physical impossibility. Another crash within the drunken saloon-keeper has fallen through a glass door. Tim Kirk mounts an empty beer barrel, and in supplicating tones beseeches the ladies, in the name of the forefathers and free institutions, to desist. He ;

•The inijiti'MK'iitM mill which tin- ilw-wcl inc-l.rintv hud nuiiulit In " rhu."ti»r " hi* wife.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

519

promises them that within thirty days every rum-seller in Baraboo shall be driven from the The ladies quietly withdraw and go to their homes the crowd gradually melts away, place. and peace once more hovers about the scene. A week or ten days later, warrants of arrest are issued for the ladies who are alleged to have been the ring-leaders in the crusade, and whose husbands are reckoned to be responsible They are taken to Lower Sauk for an for any damages that may be adjudged against them. impartial trial (the officials probably fearing that a Baraboo jury might hang them !) The TeuCircuit Judge, anil remands them to the protonic Justice holds them to answer before the tecting care of the Sheriff, who returns with them to Baraboo, but does not find it within his At the next term heart to lock them up, and they are released on their own recognizance. of the Circuit Court Judge Wheeler assesses the total damage at $150, which is immediately paid. And thus endeth the Baraboo whisky war. ;

THE RIVER ON A RAMPAGE.

On the night of March 14, 1859, the Baraboo River, greatly swollen by the spring rains and melting snows, burst through the north wing of the boom, just above Bassett & Pratt's dam, carrying down a large "drive" of logs with great force against the upper dam timbers, which This increased the flow of water in that direction, and hurried thither hundreds of gave way. other logs, which, like so many battering rams, soon beat a large hole in the dam, and, within thirty minutes' time, a torrent of water four feet in depth, poured through the chasm with The immense volume of water, as it poured through the opening, struck the irresistible force. bank just above the flouring-mill, and was rapidly undermining it. As piece after piece of the dam gave way, the current gained force and volume, and at daylight beat so furiously against the bank, which kept dropping into the insatiable flood, as to oblige Mr. Bassett to look to the Several teams were employed to security of the large quantity of Hour then stored in the mill. This task about finished, it occurred to the transport the flour to the neighboring buildings. assembled citizens that something should be done to stem the ravages of the stream, and repair Great confusion reigned, some proposing one method, some another, but all agreeing the break. Finally, William Brown took the lead. Parties were sent off to that something must be done. fell trees,

and others were dispatched for teams to draw them to the spot.

In a very short time

Large trees, secured by cables, were deposited where the progress of the water was checked. Brush, logs and stftnes were gradually added to the mass the current struck the bank hardest. But the current It is said there were nearly 500 men engaged in the work. to give it weight.

was not wholly checked until some 6,000 cubic yards of earth had been washed away. By this The immense flood of water passing down broke away time, one-third of the dam was gone. some twenty or thirty feet of the lower or Maxwell dam. The excitement had scarcely died A large part away, when, early the following morning, the bells in the village rung for help. of the artificial bank, made the previous day, had been carried off", and lodged against the bridge. The foundation of the mill was again being attacked by the relentless and obdurate current. A force of men and teams was soon on the ground, and two or three hours of unremitting labor warded off the threatened danger. The loss on this occasion was estimated at $2,000; but the citizens considered themselves fortunate in having saved the Bassett-Pratt Mill from destruction, as it was then the largest institution of the kind for many miles around, and about it centered the interest of the entire community. ORIGIN OF THE NAME "BARABOO."* In introducing the following letter from Prof. Henry, it is due also to other gentlemen who have sought to assist me in ascertaining the origin of the name " Baraboo," that I should express In answer to my own letters of inquiry upon this question, I have received to them my thanks. letters from Mr. Draper, of the State Historical Society Mr. Tapley, of the Green Bay ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

520

Gazette; the Rev. Father in charge of St. Mary's Church at Green Bay at the time of its bi-centennial celebration some years ago and Gen. Cobb and Hon. J. Allen Barber, RepreI have also conferred with and am indebted to several sentatives in Congress from this district. with the press of the State and of Chicago, familiar with the early history gentlemen connected That these latter gentlemen failed of Wisconsin, certain of them translators from the French. to hit upon the natural solution presented by Prof. Henry, is perhaps due, in part, to the fact that, with the main question, I submitted to them also all the theories which had been advanced in respect to the name, and that these theories had a tendency to mislead them. Generally it was assumed by those whom I consulted, as it had been assumed in all instances Other to which their attention was called, that Baraboo was derived from a French surname. theories were advanced, but only to be finally rejected by those who made them. Aside from the name of the mythical old Frenchman, "Barabeau," to whom legend assigned a shanty at the mouth of the river in days prior to the settlement of the valley, a number of names of real perThe Barbou family were, perhaps, the most celebrated sonages give hints of the name Baraboo. Jean Louis de la Bruyere printers of France from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. Barbeau in 1759 published, under the title of Mappemonde ffistorique, an ingenious map, then entirely new, in which geography, chronology and history were simultaneously presented. Royer P. F. Barbault (pronounced Barbo), a native of St. Domingo, of African descent, took part with his countrymen in the insurrection of 1792, and was honored with a mission to France, where He was an author, an editor and lawyer of some repute, and he afterward continued to reside. held a place of importance in the French Bureau of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Tapley suggested the name of " Gen. de la Barre, Governor, resident at Montreal, of There is no mention of a Governor de la Barre in the French Possessions of the Northwest." the outline histories of Canada contained in Appleton's Encyclopedia or the Conversations Lexicon, though I find a reference to a Lieutenant General of that name who was in the French service in the latter part of the seventeenth and the commencement of the eighteenth century. There was also a Col. Isaac Barre (descendant of a French refugee) in the English service, a friend of Wolfe, and wounded at the siege of Quebec by the side of his chief, whose death he witnessed. He was one of the many to whom were attributed the letters of Junius, and of him it was said " His name will always be connected with the history of America." I took no especial pains to assure myself as to the correctness of Mr. Tapley's citation, because, while the idea was in itself plausible enough that some one of the personages thus named high in the French and English service in the early history of the. Northwest, or in the French Bureau of Foreign Affairs, or in the invention of charts of the world, or in printing should have held such relation to some one of the early explorers as that the name of the former should be bestowed by the latter upon one of his discoveries, still there is an inherent probability that a name thus conferred would have been recorded and perpetuated. For this reason I was led to favor the theory that the name might have been derived from the name of some American officer of French descent and name, connected with some of the early army expeditions, or with the first garrisons at Fort Winnebago. This suggestion, together with ;

—

my letter to Mr. Barber, referred to Prof. Henry. I record them here, realizing how far "out of the way" they are, especially when contrasted with Prof. Henry's solution of the question, as a matter that may be of curiosity to some, and as show-

others made in the premises, I made in

ing that I have neither overlooked nor ignored any suggestion made to myself.

Recently, in a letter upon this subject, Hon. J. Allen Barber wrote to me

" Mr. Hoar,

a gentleman versed in the "curious in literature," has expressed the opinion that Prof Henry, of

any one, can find out the facts in the case." Accordingly, my previous letter to Mr. Barber was referred to Prof. Henry, and the following is his reply, received through Mr. Barber. The letter (copied) is without date or signature, as below appended " I have received a communication from Mr. Hill, inquiring as to the origin of the term Baraboo given to the river, town and village in Sauk County, Wis. Of the history of the name the Smithsonian Institution,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

521

It is not impossible it is, as your correspondent suggests, a corruption of some I know nothing. French or English officer's surname but it seems to me much more probable that it came either from the French Barbue cat-fish a not uncommon designation of rivers and creeks by the ;

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What is now Putnam's Creek in Essex carp, or sucker. early voyageurs; or from Barbeau County, N. Y., running into Lake Cliamplain from the west, south of Crown Point, was Riviere a la Levy's map of 1748, and in Pouchet's MeM. de down on is set of the French, and so Barbue '

On Russell's map, 1783, Barbe R. (Riviere a la Barbue of moir of the war of 1756-60. Morse's Gazetteer, 1797), enters the lake from the northeast, 'forty miles W. N. W. from the A third R. a la Barbue is mentioned in the same extremity of Long Point in that lake.' gazetteer, and by Alcedo, and is laid down on the maps of the last century, flowing westerly now known, I believe, as the (South) Black River, between Ottawa and into Lake Michigan 'Catfish River,' the outlet of Four Lakes in Dane Co., Wis., still Allegan Counties, Mich. I might add other examples of streams bearing the French or English retains that name. name of this fish. The transition from Barbue to Baraboo is easy, and Riviere a la Barbue comes to be Baraboo River, as naturally as Point au.v Bales to point Abbaye, or Bale de la Bete grise to Bay Degrees,' or Baie des Noquets to Bay de Nock.' "Though the French in America uniformly gave the name of barbue to the cat-fish (Pimelodus), all the French-English dictionaries into which I have looked, restrict it to a marine fish This has occasioned some the 'brill,' 'dab' or 'sandling.' of the turbot and flounder family For example, in the English translation of Labouton (London, 1703, Vol. I, curious mistakes p. 246), where the great cat-fish of the western rivers are described as 'lake dabs or sandlings.' The latter was Occasionally, too, translators confound barbue into barbeau (carp or sucker). described by Sagard, in 1631, under its Huron name, Einehataon, as somewhat resembling the Barbeau of Europe. There are two pr three of these Carp Rivers entering Lake Superior from Northern Michigan, and ' Point Barbeau is named in Foster and Whitney's Report (Part It would be nearly as easy to 2, p. 395) as an important fishing station on Lake Michigan. make Baraboo from Barbeau, as from Barbue if the river, on examination, proves to be richer

—

in suckers than in catfish."

Referring to French and English dictionaries for the term Barbeau, in like manner as Prof. the term Barbue, I find that it is synonymous with Barbel, which

Henry has referred for

"the small vermiform procappended to the mouths of certain fishes." The barbel proper (or barbeau) is described as " a large, coarse, fresh-water fish found in European waters, having several barbs or beard-like

applies, not only to a particular kind of fish, but (vide Webster), to ess

It grows to the feelers pendant from its leathery, sucker-like mouth, which give it its name. Old Izaak length of three feet, and attains to a weight of from eighteen to twenty pounds." Walton speaks of "the barbel, so called by reason of his barbs or wattles." Barbue has a like Fish of the turbot family are unlike the cat-fish, in that the former are round, flat, signification. I infer that the terms with small heads, while the cat-fish is large-headed, long and tapering. barbue and barbeau or barbel were applied by the French voyageurs to the fishes of American waters, not from any resemblance in their form to the European barbue or barbeau, but from It would follow that within their having the same head-like feelers pendant from their mouths. this category should be included the sturgeon, our native variety of which, as well in respect to

sucker-like mouth, its general form and coarse flesh, bears a resemblance to the barI place the more stress upon this distincThe sucker has no wattles. beau or barbel proper. tion that, while the Baraboo is rich in suckers and cat-fish (the former being the most numerous), Archibald Barker, a very remarkable of earliest settler, Mr. have in a reminiscence Baraboo's we account of a shoal of sturgeons encountered by him in running, in the spring of 1841, the first Mr. Barker says raft which left the Baraboo. " In Company with Ed Kingsley, going down [the Lower Baraboo Rapids], each on a that somebody seemed to have made a dam of stones across the crib, I halloaed to him to look We were soon among river. As we approached we saw it was the backs and tails of fishes. In jumping into the I killed three with my handspike. them, and found they were sturgeons. its barbs, its

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HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

522

water to get them I was knocked down by others running against my legs. Forja short distance, the river seemed to be jammed full of them." I incline to the opinion that " Riviere a la Barbeau " should in the case of the Baraboo be interpreted "Sturgeon River." But, whether we apply the term Barbeau to sturgeons or suckers, it gives us a solution which we believe will be accepted as conclusive and satisfactory of the It strengthens this conclusion that the Winnebago name of the origin of the name Baraboo. It is further in favor of the French derivation of river, Ocoochery, signifies " plenty of fish." the name Baraboo that the French gave to the river the first name under which it appears in any record that of the Belle *Chasse, and names bestowed by the French upon bay, river, hill and In prairie, abound, from Depere, by the " Portage" and Prairie du Sac, to Prairie du Chien. speaking of the transition of the term Barbeau to Baraboo, we have also to take in account the thus Bar-r-r-beau and we have, with scarcely a transition familiar roll of the French "r" even, the name of our river, town, village and valley. Believing, as I have already in other words said, that we have here the derivation of a name for which until this time no derivation has been found, I have but to add that whatever thanks the discovery is entitled to are due mainly to Prof. Henry, while it is not less due to Mr. Barber that I should reiterate my thanks to him. Following is an extract from a letter addressed to Mr. Hill, by Louis Claude, dated March " The name Baraboo is now up for final judgment, and although the abundance of 12, 1872 'suckers,' both aquatic and terrestrial, which it appears has always distinguished this valley, lends so great a weight to the Barbeau theory that I will not carp at it, still I beg to offer viz. it can hardly be called information Fifteen years ago I the following mite of suggestion brought here a map, of the date of about 1837, which a small but dishonest boy sold me (emphatBarivaut's ically) on the cars for one of 1857. On this map the Baraboo River was marked as I had always believed the above to be the correct derivation." or 'Baribaut's' Creek. Concerning the name Baraboo, the Hon. J. Allen Barber writes " It seems probable that the name is a corruption of some French word or phrase, as it does not appear like an Indian term. The place is at or near the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, on the route from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi, and in the ordinary line of communication between the two by means of canoes. In 1649 and 1650, the Hurons and their allies, who had been converted to Christianity by Father Brebeuf, were overthrown by the Iroquois, and part of them fled to They were met and driven back by the Sioux. Wisconsin on their way to the Mississippi. They were found by some French traders, in 1659-60, stationed about six days' journey southwest of Lake Superior, or not far from what is now called Baraboo. Very soon after that period, As they were all Christians, may they not have given the they had returned to Green Bay. name of their religious teacher, whose memory they would honor, to their temporary residence near the portage? The word Brebeuf might possibly leave its shadow behind it in the form of Brabo or Baraboo. The phrase bois brule was not infrequently applied to localities by the It may also have been applied casually to voyayeurs.' It is the name of a river farther north. the small stream near the portage, and have been converted into Baraboo by some rude pioneer These conjectures, of course, have very little or hunter, who had no knowledge of French. value, but such possibilities sometimes serve a purpose when positive information is wanting. The fact that the intelligent people who now live in Wisconsin, and very near to the locality in question, have no record or tradition respecting the name, gives force to the supposition that it was Barbaroux is a not uncommon casually applied, and has been corrupted into its present form. French name, and if left behind by some trader with the Indians would very easily become " 'Baraboo.' The suggestion that the last syllable of the name of Brebeuf might have been corrupted into

—

by the fact that in certain French words ending in was submitted to the Rev. Father of St. Mary's Church of

a guttural with the/ silent (perhaps favored

f—clef, for instance

—the/

silent)

m:i|j pul.liahort (an a|>|"'ftrH

from iu i;.-ograi>liy) in 1H17, now in the possession of

Mr.

y^^/^^t BARABOO;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

525

Green Bay, himself a French scholar, and acquainted with the patois of the voyageurs and their

He thought such a corruption improbable. Here, however, the theory is that the name was transmitted through Indians to those who succeeded them, and in this light the supposition has more weight; while the objection that there should be some record of the fact in the event of a river being named after a discoverer of the prominence of Brebeuf, is at the same descendants.

time removed.

AN "IMMORTAL" BROTHERHOOD.

memory of the "old boys " of Baraboo not to say somethe early settlers of the West were They enjoyed a good joke, and the They would go further to witness the rougher the joke the more enjoyable it became to them. It would be an injustice to the

thing in these pages concerning their pioneer amusements, thoroughly honest, but not always amiable.

a hardy set,

perpetration of a practical joke upon some unsophisticated individual than to attend an election, or take part in devotional exercises ; and this is saying a great deal within the bounds of truth; for the old settler, or, rather, the new settler then, besides understanding and always exercising

He has been known to drive the duties of a freeman at the ballot-box, was exceedingly devout. a yoke of wicked oxen fifteen miles to church, and then lead in prayer and it is proverbial that none but those who can successfully resist the temptation to swear at an ox, can pray with any degree of Christian fervor. All the " old boys " of Baraboo could pray, but some of them In the perpetration of jokes, however, they all took a didn't make a regular business of it. There was a surpi-ising unanimity of feeling in this regard there was always a quorum hand. ;

;

present.

A branch organization of the then extremely popular "brotherhood " known as " the 1001

was effected in Baraboo at an early day, over a quarter of a century ago, probably. Neither the Elder Cochran once threw origin nor meaning of the title of this " fraternity " are known. some light upon the subject when he said he supposed it meant " one thousand rascals and one good man ;" but it has been vaguely hinted that the Elder was not entirely free from a peculiar The obligations of this mysterious "order" were so prejudice against secret organizations. strict that its members

never revealed the particulars of the Elder's initiation

;

in fact,

it is

not

positively known that he ever was initiated.

Could the walls of the old Sanford store, under the hill, unbosom themselves concerning It was here the scenes witnessed within them, it would be " fun for the millions " to listen. It that the members of the order gathered in the early history of their " missionary work." was here that the new-comer, anxious to win immediate business and social prestige in the comIt was here that the patent-right fiend found the true source of munity, was accommodated. influence, and the young limb of the law, fresh from an Eastern college, and full of " technical The manual of the order being an inspiration," learned points in backwoods jurisprudence. unwritten one, there is no record showing the modus operandi of the initiation, or giving the names and purposes of the utensils employed in the "work." It is said by those who have seen initiates soon after their escape, that the "form " must have been in the nature of something long to be remembered by the candidate. Taylor's Hall became the headquarters of this " illustrious brotherhood" in after years, and here more than one initiate swore "by the great toe of Confucius" to practice the teachmore than one initiate experienced the exhilaings and keep secret the obligations of the order rating effects of a stuffed club, and, at the close of the ceremonies, was cooled off on a cake of ice. Finally, the Baraboo branch of the order developed into an "Ecclesiastical Court" for the Cincintrial of cases which the short-sighted framers of the statutes had not contemplated. nati safe agent came hither some years since, and it was plain, from his general demeanor and mode of doing business, that the " Ecclesiastical Court" had not been created in vain. Fearing that the Cincinnati man might inflict himself upon the good people of Reedsburg (ungrate;

Reedsburgers), charges of an awful nature were preferred against him, and he was brought He pleaded not guilty, and requested judge of this august body. Judge that the court appoint counsel to defend him, he being a stranger in a strange land.

ful

into the presence of the just

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;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

526

Bilhox said he heartily sympathized with the prisoner, and would endeavor to secure for him a fair and impartial trial by appointing the most learned and dignified Ecclesiast in the room to The kind heartedness of the court had a softening effect upon the burglar-proof plead his case. safe man from Cincinnati, and he was deeply moved. His contrite manner won for him many friends. The most touching scene that occurred during the entire proceeding took place when adjusting his Mr. Colslye glasses, arose and informed the court in a few choice words that, recognizing the compliment paid him in having been mentioned by His Honor in connection with counsel for defense, he_would accept the responsibility and take charge of the case though, when he took into consideration the giant intellect of the gentleman who appeared for the people, he could not help feeling apprehensive as to the result. When Mr. Colslye sat down, ex-Judge Johnbark arose and bowed his recognition of the tribute paid his genius, and the Court with the sleeve of his judicial ermine, wiped away a tear. There wasn't a moist eye in the house. Through the superior legal skill of prisoner's counsel, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, but he was allowed to go on his own recognizance, Lucholmes being instructed to keep his official The dignity maintained by Judge Bilhox during the trial furnished a theme for eye upon him. general comment. His decisions on points of evidence were of the profoundest character, and left a lasting impression upon the minds of those of the legal fraternity who were fortunate enough to be present. Ex-Judge Johnbark and Mr. Colslye also asquitted themselves with ;

great credit. " I'm Judge now," said His Honor, greeting his wife upon his return home that night "and you must hereafter address me as such."

" Indeed," replied his wife, " and who am I, pray ? Mrs. Judge " No, you 're the same blamed old goose you always were." But, alas for the Ecclesiastical Court The next day warrants were out for the arrest of His Honor, the jury, counsel and spectators, and about forty of Baraboo's citizens had urgent business in Reedsburg. It was a splendid opportunity for the citizens of the "burg " to show !

and eleven of the jury held out for heavy fines, but Capchase was there, and the culprits were let off with the nominal fine of $5 each. It was a clear case of the biters bitten, though, and the calendar of the Ecclesiastical Court has not since been overcrowded with cases. Since the Reedsburg affair, His Honor has treated his wife's allusions to his being an "old goose" with silent and dignified contempt. The prevailing spirit for eccentric amusement took new form a few years ago, in an organization known as the "Grand Quorum of Sages and Knights of Spirit Lake." Three annual feasts are held the " Feast of Open," the " Feast of Yonder " and the " Feast of Shut," usually in Kirk's Pavilion, Devil's Lake. The sages prefer this place on account of the close proximity of a large body of pure and wholesome drinking water. The form of invitation their love of justice,

—

issued to visiting statesmen is as follows

in the twenty-seventh rising of the 8th Moon, at hour of li.] 1'. M., you will be expected to meet Deab Sir the Grand Quorum of Sages and Knights of Spirit Lake, at the Passenger Depot of the Chicago i Nnrlh-Western Railway, there to take passage to the classic shores of Minnewaukan, and, with the Sages assembled, partake of the Joys and Festivities of their annual Keast of Yonder. An early reply to the committee of your acceptance or nonacceptance of their Ukase, is respectfully requested and desired. :

Committee of Sages.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN BARABOO.

The first conflagration of note in Baraboo occurred at tin early hour on the morning of The fire originated in Wood's store, and, there being no means at hand

the 5th of July, 185'J. for checking

it,

the most that

could be done was to save the goods in the adjoining building.

The flames made a clean sweep from the small brick structure formerly owned by the county, to Oak street, consuming in all, seven buildings, as follows: Van Wendall's building, occupied by Peter Van Wendall, as a saloon and residence. The contents were mostly saved, but the loss was about $1,500, of which $1,000 was insured in the Franklin Company of Fond du Lac, which had recently failed in making good its losses in the Oshkosh fire. Then came a one-story

HlvroKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

527

It was unoccupied at building formerly occupied by D. J. Baldwin, and owned by Mrs. Bow. Wood's store, owned by L. C. Stanley, and occupied on the first floor loss, $500. the time by Van Patten & Swetland, painters, who lost a greater part of their stock, valued at $125. The upper story was occupied by W. Powers as a tailor-shop, none of the contents of which Stanley's building, owned by L. C. Stanley, the first floor of which was used by were saved. him as a store, and the second story by Dr. Miles, dentist, whose loss was $60. The remaining One three buildings on the " Garrison Corner," owned by C. A. Sumner, were of little value. loss estimated at $300. of them was occupied by Dr. Slye as an office, the other being empty By tearing down the corner building, the store known a* the " Bee-Hive " was saved. The cause of the conflagration was attributed to the careless use of the frisky fire-cracker. On the 3d of December, 1871, another serious conflagration visited Baraboo. The flames Within started in the store of Bower, Obert & Co., on the south side of the public square. three hours the following places of business were totally destroyed: Lang, Camp & Co.'s drug store, Avery & Green's boot and shoe store, Draper Bros.' meat-market; Bower, Obert & Co's store, Mrs. Sharpe's millinery store, William Scharnke's jewelry store, and Lang, Camp & Co's dry-goods store. The total loss was estimated at $30,000. On the night of November 26, 1872, a fire broke out in a building owned by T. B. QuigThe flames could not be checked, ley and occupied by Charles Sears & Co. as a meat market. Building The losses were and when they had spent their fury seven buildings were in ashes. occupied Crouch and by Frank McGinnis, loss Levi corner Oak and Fourth streets, owned by $1,000; building owned by J. Udell and occupied by R. Kingsland, loss $3,000; Quigley's building, where the fire originated, loss $1,200, insured for $1,000; August Sperling's billiard hall and dwelling, loss $3,000 L. Wild's furniture store and factory, loss from $5,000 to $6,000 H. Moeler's wagon-shop, loss $700 G. G. Gollmar's blacksmith-shop, loss $1,000. The foregoing figures are estimates, and are probably somewhat exaggerated. On the morning of the 6th of November, 1878, a fire broke out in a building on the east Phannsteihl's bakery was the second building to side of the square owned by Charles Summer. The Western Hotel was soon wrapped in flames. take fire; then followed Gattiker's building. While these structures were burning, the citizens tore down the stores of R. and C. Burrington, Nearly all the This checked the flames in that direction. grocers, and C. E. Ryan, jeweler. personal property, goods, etc., in these buildings, were saved. The Western Hotel was the prinThe entire loss was something like $15,000. cipal building destroyed. On the night of April 13, 1880, a fire occurred at the corner of Oak and Third streets, and The losers were Dr. B. F. Mills, druggist, insured swept away nearly one-fourth of the block. John Saare, barber, Dr. Kezenta, dentist, insured for $250 on building and stock for $8,000 Fred Lang, express agent and confecloss trifling Louis Piatt, harness-maker, loss $150 tioner, loss $100; Joseph Udell, household effects; Mrs. Slade & Co., dressmakers; J. G. Train, frame building insured for $1,000, contents, not insured, $500; D. T. Desmond, J. H. Brewer, billiard hall, insured loss $200 J. G. Train, brick building, insured Claud Heron, barber, loss trifling. There were other slight losses, covered by insurance. ;

;

BANKS.

The Sauk County Bank was the first institution of the kind established in Baraboo.

The

date of its organization was July 1, 1857, a year ever memorable as one of general distrust and financial embarrassment. Its officers were Simeon Mills, President, and T. Thomas, Cashier.

The circulating medium in Baraboo at that time was the issue of a Niantic (N. J.) bank, the solvency of which was somewhat doubtful, and the managers of the Sauk County Bank, being in a position to float a home issue of unquestioned stability, fortunately succeeded in making Niantic scrip exceedingly scarce by the time the New Jersey concern failed, which it did (like many other banks throughout the Union at that date) "without previous notice." The capital of the Sauk County Bank was $50,000. In 1861, Mr. Thomas purchased the interest of Mr. Mills, and conducted it on his own account until 1873, when it was merged into

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

528

the present First National Bank of Baraboo. It is a remarkable fact that the' Sauk County Bank weathered the storm in the series of panics which occurred before and during the war.

While other State banks were failing on every hand, it maintained its credit. The First National Bank was organized January 31, 1873, with a capital stock of $50,000, and the following officers: D. S. Vittum, President; George Mertens, Vice President; W. B. Rich, Cashier. The Directory was composed of the officers named and T. T. English and Henry Rich. The present Directors are R. H. Strong (who is also Vice President and acting President since the death of Col. Vittum), T. T. English, W. H. Vittum, Mrs. A. P. Vittum, and J. Van Orden, Cashier.

A PRESIDENT IN BARABOO. For the benefit of future generations and those now living who may forget the important fact, it is herewith recorded that the village of Baraboo was once honored by the presence of a President of the United States R. B. Hayes. The distinguished individual was accompanied by his family, Attorney General Devens, Secretary of the Navy Thompson, and Commissioner of Agriculture Le Due, the party being en route to Minnesota and Dakota. They arrived at 6 o'clock in the evening, and took supper at Capt. Cowles' eating-house. A large number of the ladies and gentlemen of the place were present, with Spirit Lake Band, and assisted in the reception. The eating-house tables were beautifully decorated, and fairly groaned under the weight of good things. On returning to the train, the President appeared on the platform and

—

shook hands with as many as could reach him, but did not make a speech. He also gave his autograph to quite a number. The kind face of Mrs. Hayes won for that lady the respectful affection of all who looked upon it.

EDUCATIONAL.

The cause of education found an abiding-place

in the Baraboo Valley as early as 1844, and, as is generally the case on the borders of civilization, the first temple of learning was con-

The building stood in the northwestern portion of the village. Notwithstanding the abundance of timber in the immediate vicinity, it is said the structure was put up on the most economic plan. An old settler, whose stature is not remarkably great, remembers being compelled to stoop uncommonly low when entering the door, " and you could throw a cat through the cracks without touching a hair." The names of the pupils who first sought the benefits of primary instruction in this rude contrivance called a schoolhouse, would appear to great advantage in these pages, had their teacher carved them upon something imperishable but the little roll of honor has been destroyed, and no record can be found of who they were or what their progress was. It is only from hearsay and other equally vague and fragmentary evidence that the compiler is enabled to give the merest outline of the history of this school. It seems that E. M. Hart was employed as teacher, and was therefore the first to organize a school in the Baraboo Valley. This was before the district system had been established in these parts, and Mr. Hart's school was therefore a private one. It was late in the spring of 1844 that the first measures were taken looking to the establishment of a school. meeting of citizens was held, and a committee of three Wallace Rowan, W. H. Canfield and Lewis Bronson appointed to select a site for a schoolhouse that would be most convenient to the community at large. After some delay and considerable discussion on the part of the committee, it was finally decided to build on the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 35, and the log structure referred to was the result. I\. P. Clement, l». K. Noyes and William H. Joy were also among the early teachers who worried with the ''young idea " in the primitive log schoolhouse. After the building of the new schoolhouse the one which in 1869 was removed to the northwest corner of Ash and Fourth streets, and is now occupied as a dwelling the school records seem to have been more carefully kept, and show the names of teachers as follows 1851— M. Mason, M. A. Noyes, E. Howard, F. Canfield, IT. J. Van Valkenburg. 1852— D. G. Moore, Mrs. George R. Clark, Miss E. S. Camp, T. M. Morley. structed of logs.

;

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

529

1853— George R. Clark, Adelaide Clark, Sophia Munroe, Louisa Wheeler, E. Crandall, Louisa Packer, Frances Ames. 1854 Nancy Wyman, Mrs. Wheeler, E. Crandall. 1855— Mr. Smith, Miss M. M. Nethaway, Miss E. Chapman, Mrs. Little, Miss Hill.

—

1856—J. Lovell, H. J. Lovell, Eliza Chapman. 1857—J. S. Hart, A. L. Burnham, Miss M. M. Nethaway and Miss E. L. Chapman. 1858— Prof. Burnham. William 11. Joy, Misses Nethaway and Chapman, and Miss M. Sprague.

1859 isiii)

—

Prof.

Burnham, Miss Nethaway, Miss M. J. Martin and Mrs. S. A. W. Pearson,

— Prof. Burnham, Mrs. Pearson and Misses Nethaway and Chapman.

1861— Mrs. 0. W. Fox, Mrs. Helen Hoadley, Misses Nethaway, E. Atkinson, Mattie Sanford and E. A. Thomson. 1862 D. N. Hitchcock, Mrs. Hoadley, Misses Atkinson, Nethaway, Sarah Flanders and Sarah Stewart. L863-64 The names of teachers do not appear, though the record for the latter year says that seven different teachers were employed, " all of whom had taught previously." |stir,_John Barker, Misses Chapman, M. J. Vail, M. F. Flanders and M. J. Perigo. 1866. Ten different teachers employed, the names of those teaching the first term only Misses E. M. Park, G. H. Denison, L. A. Flanders and Ella E. White. being given 1867— Martha A. Shepard, Louisa Meyers, Lucy A. Flanders, Ella E. White, Mary F. Flanders, Belle Hurlbut and Lilian D. Park. 1868— The Misses Flanders, Ella E. and Maria H. White, James T. Lunn, Miss Hurlbut

—

— :

and Fannie C. and Alice J. Quiner. 1869 John M. True, Lucy Flanders, Miss Nethaway, Clara Yocum, Eva Slye, Mary Haines, Eleste Palmer, A. N. True and Gertrude Denison. 1870 Isaac A. Sabin, Mrs. Hoadley, Miss Nethaway, Miss Palmer, Roxie C. Tyler, Ida Meyers, Hattie H. Brown, Mrs. L. L. Cochran and Clara G. Newson. 1871 Prof. Sabin, Mrs. Cochran, Mrs. Hoadley. Jennie Sprague, Anna Taylor, Mrs. M. Dennett, Mary J. Cooper and Misses Nethaway, Tyler, Palmer, Newson, Meyers and Brown. 1872 C. A. Hutchins, Mrs. Cochran, Mrs. Dennett, Miss Martha Lawson, Jennie Dodd Miss C. Sheldon, and Misses Newson, Tyler, Sprague, Taylor, Palmer and Cooper. 1873 Prof. Hutchens, Mrs. Dennett, Mrs. Cochran, and Misses Dodd, Newson, Palmer, Lawson and Cooper. 1874— Prof. William A. Willis, Miss Newson, Mrs. Dennett, Mrs. Clark, Miss M. Gattiker, Miss Dennison, Mrs. B. Blachley, Mis3 Belle Bacon, Miss Maggie Moore, Miss Sprague, Mrs. Briscoe and Joseph Luce (music). 1875 Prof. Willis, Nettie Salisbury, William Eaken, Mrs. A. Noyes, Miss Dennison, Miss Newson, Alice B. Crawford, Clara Martin, Miss Gattiker, Mrs. Clark, Miss Ella English, Miss Alice Sears. 1876 Prof. Wdlis, Miss Dennison, Miss Newson, Miss H. M. Remington, Miss Crawford, Miss Randall, Miss M. Grout, Miss Sears, Miss Cottington. 1877-78— Prof. Willis, Miss Crawford, Miss M. Gillispie, Miss Dennison, Miss Newson, Miss Remington, Mrs. G. Fallon, Miss H. Terrill, Miss S. Holden, Miss E. Warner. Miss

— — — — —

—

Gattiker, Miss Bacon.

—

1878-79 Prof. Willis, Miss Remington, Miss Holden, Miss Bacon, Miss H. Huntington, Miss L. Little, Miss Terrill, Miss Gillespie, Miss Dennison Miss Newson, Miss Rheull. 1879-80— Prof. Willis, S. Williams, Misses Holden, Little, Huntington, Bacon, Terrill, Dennison, English, Mrs. Fallon, Miss A. Blachley, Miss A. Schultz and Miss Willett. As has been shown, the first schoolhouse erected in Baraboo was a small and unpretenThis structure, in its time, served tious log, with a low doorway and enormous cracks. the purposes of court-room, town hall and general meeting-house, and, until about 1849, for that gatherings. By this time, however, ample room character afforded of have seems to

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

530

the village commenced to assume proportions of a more metropolitan nature, and a larger schoolAfter several protracted discussions of the question, the popular house became necessary. union school system was adopted, and in 1850, a two-story frame house; thirty-five feet square, was erected on part of Block 38, north side. The building contained three large apartments, and served the purposes of the district for nearly twenty years, when, from causes which necessitated the original enlargement of school facilities, the need of still more commodious quarters became apparent. The first movement with a view to this end was taken on the 13th of July,

1868, when, at a special school meeting, a committee of five was appointed to select and report, Two weeks later, the committee reported in favor of purchasing the Baptist on a school site. Church building. This proposition was rejected, and the School Board authorized the purchase Before the end of of the Fox and Walbridge properties, at $1,900 and $2,200, respectively. the month, the Walbridge property had been secured and paid for, and on the 18th of August, At a subsequent joint meeting of the the Fox property became that of the school district. board and citizens, it was unanimously agreed to sell the recent purchases and buy additional lots on Block 38, and erect a school edifice thereon. District Clerk A. L. Burnham, in his report for 1870, gives the following interesting particulars concerning the new building which now graces the north bank of the Baraboo and " The excavation for the foundation of our new school overlooks the animating scenes below On the 24th of the same month, the cornerbuilding was begun on the 9th of April, 1869. It was completed on the 10th of October, stone was laid, and, on the 30th, the first brick. 1870, at a cost of $33,000, formally accepted from the contractors and opened for school the :

same day.

The seating capacity of the building is as follows

The 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th and 6th

departments are furnished with sittings for seventy-two pupils the 4th, 7th and 8th departments with 84, 60 and 48, respectively, and the south side or mixed department, has sittings for This number can be increased without inconvenience in the 1st, 2d and forty-eight pupils. 4th departments, by fifty more, while the assembly hall can be seated to accommodate 220, making a total of 870." The history of school buildings on the south side is somewhat meager, though the rapid The first growth of the village in that direction brings it within the pale of importance. schoolhouse on that side of the river Col. Noyes remembers to have been a board shanty, which The Colonel taught a class there during two stood near where now stands the Pratt House. months of the winter of 1847-48. In 1868, the district built the present frame structure which stands just south of the railroad track. This building has about outlived its usefulness, and now, as the work of compiling the " History of Sauk County" is in progress, arrangements are being perfected for the erection of a two-story brick-veneered building on Lots 3, 4 It is to be 52x44 feet in size, with four rooms for interand 5, Block 4, of Brown's Addition. mediate and primary departments, and will cost about $4,000. On the 17th of April, 1877, the School Board— James H. Halstead, H. Cowles and T. D. ;

Lang

—

passed the following resolution Whereas, ho Legislature of he State of Wisconsin, at its annua] session of 1877, passed a law authorizing the Commissioners of School and University Lands to loan a portion of the trust funds of this State, not exceeding $S.ouO, in School District N.i. V. of the town of Baraboo, county of Sauk, and authorizing the said school district to borrow a sum not exceeding the above amount of said Commissioners, and to issue to said Commissioners certificates of the indebtedness so contracted, said indebtedness to bear interest at the late of 7 per cent per annum, said interest to be paid annualh the first day of March of each year, and said principal to be paid, $2,000 on the first day of March, issr, $2,000 on the first day of March, 1SS7 $2,(100 on the first day of March, 1888, and $2,000 on the first day of :

;

March, 1889— therefore, be it Resolved, that we, the School Hoard of said School District, in special session duly assembled, according to law, do hereby accept the provisions of said Act, and the terms and limitations therein provided.

Committee on High School was subsequently appointed, and on the 13th of August following it was decided to organize a Free High School, $1,000 being appropriated to defray the attendant expenses; $1,000 has been appropriated each year for high school expenses. Quite a number of graduates have gone out from this institution, not a few of them having since passed through the branches of the State University or other academic curriculum, and settled

HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

531

down in business amid the scenes of days consumed in elementary studies and boyish and girlish The citizens of Baraboo certainly have reason to feel proud of their public schools. The following tabulated statement, compiled from Baraboo's school records, which, in many

games.

instances, are incomplete and disconnected, will give an idea of the growth of the schools in the

past thirty years

1850

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

532

grew what was known as the Baraboo Collegiate Institute, an institution whose day is also of the The institute was formally established in the fall of 1858, being located in " the old feed past. It was regularly incorporated, though store," now occupied as a harness-shop by A. Ringting. Section 1 of the the act of incorporation is not dated until four years later (March 2-3, 1863). act provides that " D. P. Crandall, Herbert Huntington, Terrell Thomas, C. A. Clark, C. C. Cowles, E. Martin, and their successors, are hereby created a body corporate under the name and style of the Baraboo Collegiate Institute, and shall be trustees of said corporation for the * * * to appoint the purpose of maintaining and conducting an institution of learning requisite professors and teachers, and to grant such literary honors and degrees as they may deem proper provided that the advantages and honors of the institution shall be alike attainaIt was further provided that the property of the institution and the lands, able by both sexes." not exceeding twenty-five acres, should be exempt from taxation, and that no test of a sectarian character be required of any officer, professor, teacher or student connected therewith. The Collegiate Institute opened under auspices of the most flattering nature, and at once Mr. Cochran assumed charge as took rank among the educational institutions of the country. Principal, while Miss Savage, now Mrs. A. B. Benham, of Kansas, filled the position of PreMiss Savage had but recently taught a select school for girls, established and mainceptress. She came to Baraboo from Vermont, through the medium tained by the Presbyterian Church. of an educational society formed in that State, for the purpose of sending teachers into the wilds of the West, to instruct the children of frontiersmen. A. L. Burnham was also one of the ;

;

original

teachers in the institute, occupying the position of Professor of Mathematics.

Prof.

Burnham remained one term. The trustees, encouraged by the liberal patronage bestowed upon purchased ground and built upon it an edifice* better calculated to meet the requirements of students and teachers. About the time of its first occupation, Principal Cochran was succeeded by Prof. Pillsbury, who soon after fell heir to a fortune through the death of a Prof. Hobart, now in the school-book and school-furniture brother, and returned to New York. business in St. Louis, then became the Principal, and held the position until 1866, when Prof. J. S. Kimball, a graduate of Dartmouth College, took charge, and soon afterward purchased the The school continued to institution of the Trustees and carried it on as a private enterprise. flourish and was well patronized until the opening of the present free high school, when parents, for obvious reasons, naturally withdrew their children from the institute, and it gradually In its time, howpassed away, being now numbered in the vast category of things that were. ever, it served an excellent purpose, and many of the citizens of Sauk County have cause to the

institute,

remember it with pleasure. Miss Crandall's Select School.

— In 1875, Miss Grace Crossman opened a

select school for

children in Mrs. Elliott's dwelling, and introduced some of the minor features of the kindergarten The school was the natural outgrowth of the oversystem so common and popular in Germany.

crowded condition of the primary departments of the public schools at the time, and soon became At the end of a year, Miss K. M. Crandall joined Miss Crossman as an well patronized. assistant. The latter subsequently retired, leaving Miss Crandall in charge. The school was soon afterward removed to the institute building, and now has an average attendance of twentyfive pupils. Aside from the kindergarten features, the course of study is not unlike that in vogue in the public schools. Children between the ages of four and eleven years are eligible to admission as pupils at the very moderate tuition of $4 per term often weeks. In 1864, Miss M. M. Nethaway, whose name, it will be observed, frequently appears in the roll of teachers already given, opened a private school for primary pupils, and taught with marked success until the opening of the graded school. In the fall of 1867, Miss Rose P. Thrall, an Ohio lady, came to Baraboo and opened a school in Taylor's Hall, then being occupied by the Episcopalians as a place of public worship. The Rev. Mr. Hudson, of the Episcopal Church, took an active interest in this school, teaching In March, 1869, Miss a class in Latin and music and conducting daily religious exercises. *Tbe

orn'

n -w

.m upi.,1 hv Mis*

Ciati'lull's

private school.

HISTORY

OF SAUK Cor X'l'V

Thrall withdrew from the school, Mr. Hudson and his wife taking charge of it. then removed to one of the buildings purchased by the church in 1868.

533

The school was

The first sermon preached in the Baraboo A alley of which there is any record, was by the Rev. T. M. Fullerton, a Methodist itinerant, on the 16th of October, 1841, in the log cabin of William Hill, which stood ten or fifteen rods east of what was then known as Draper's Mill, " located half a mile above the ford on the Baraboo River." The sermon was from 2 Corinthians, V, 20, and there were eleven persons present, none of whom professed Christianity except Mr. Mr. Fullerton formed a Methodist 1842, Draper, who was a Baptist. On the 6th of February, On the 10th class, consisting of Solomon Shaffer (leader), Ollie Shaffer and Parmelia Gibson. of April following, Mrs. Mary J. Hill joined the class, and was therefore the first consecond class of this denomination appears to have been the valley. organized in 1843. It consisted of six members, four of whom were Lorrin Cowles, Ralph Rev. A. M. Badger, who had but recently been Cowles, and Solomon Shafer and wife. appointed to the Sauk Prairie Mission, officiated on this occasion, and for some time thereafter Services were first held in private houses, and afterward in the held stated meetings here. court house. In 1848, James A. Maxwell, Peter Losey and A. Crawford were elected a Board of Trustees, and a year later Baraboo was set off from the Sauk Mission and made a separate charge, under the name of the Adams Mission, the Rev. Asa Wood being appointed Pastor. Mr. Wood received for his first year's services $117.91, including $50 donated by the Missionary

vert to religion in

The number of members at its organization into a mission was sixteen, as followr Alexander Crawford and wife, James A. Maxwell ami wife, C. A. Clark and wife, E. Langdon Clark and wife, Mrs. Chauncey Brown, B. L. Purdy, Charles Stanley, Ralph and wife, J. About this time, it was decided to Cowles, Mrs. James Crawford and Mrs. C. M. Adams. It was in build a church edifice, and the society at once took measures with that end in view. Clearing midwinter, but cold weather had no terrors for this little band of Christian workers. away the snow from the ground, they erected a rough board building, 24x36 feet, sheathed both rough A sawdust. with inside and outside with unplaned inch boards and filled in between board pulpit and seats were also improvised, and in less than three weeks from the day they first cleared the snow away they were holding a protracted meeting in their primitive house of worIt stood on the corner of the lot now occuIt was the first church building in Baraboo. ship. In 1851, the name of the mission was changed pied by the present Methodist Church edifice. church edifice, which was completed in and steps were taken toward. building a new Baraboo, to 1853, being dedicated August 26, of that year, by the Rev. Bishop Levi Scott, of Wilmington, In 1864, it was enlarged to its present dimensions, 36x74 feet. Del. There have been three annual conferences held in Baraboo the first in 1853, Bishop Scott This conference included all of the State of Wisconsin and the then Territory of presiding. There were present one hundred and twenty-five ministers. The second conferMinnesota. ence was held in 1860, Bishop Scott again presiding, and the third in 1873, Bishop Merrill preSociety.

—

siding.

The pastors of this church since the time of the Rev. Mr. Badger have been the Revs. P. S. Richardson, Edrich Holmes, Joseph Williams, Asa Wood, Nelson Butler, C. P. Newcomb. W. H. Thompson, Augustus Hall, W. B. Hazletine, I. A. Sweatland, W. M. Osborne, C. E. Weirich, W. H. Kellogg, Washington Wilcox, J. E. Irish, J. B. Bachman, Elmore Yocum, J. H. The membership Whitney, James Lawson, James Evans, Joseph E. Irish and S. W. Horner. is given at 250. Prairie du Sac, at residing In then the fall of 1845, the Rev. P. Conrad, The Baptists.— commenced his labors in the Baraboo Valley as a missionary preacher. Meetings were held in the pioneer schoolhouse. The Baptist Church of Baraboo was organized by Mr. Conrad on the 17th of July, 1847, and consisted of five members— Geo. F. Nelson, Mary Ann Clark, Warren

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

534

The following day, two more memBrewster, Robert Crawford and Annis C. Crawford. Simeon and Ruth Crandall. Elder Conrad moved his family to Baraboo bers were received continued his pastorate until September, 1852, at which time forty members in May, 1851, and The had been received (mostly by letter from other churches) and twelve had been dismissed. first baptism in this church is said to have been that of Harriet J. Smith, December, 6, 1851. The church was incorporated, under the laws of the State, as the First Baptist Church of On the 8th of October, 1857, it was voted to build a Baraboo, on the 8th of September, 1860. church edifice, which was completed and occupied in January, 1858. The structure was originally 24x36 feet, and cost about $500. In the summer of 1872, an addition was built in the rear, doubling the capacity of the church, at a cost of $500. The pastors since the time of Mr. Conrad have been the Revs. Thomas Harwood, N. Wood, J. B. Patch, A. A. Drown, E. B. Edmunds, Spencer Carr, L. M. Newell, S. F. Stimpson, Levi Parmley, J. B. Mann (died in New Woodstock, N. Y., May 20, 1877), A. Gibb (who served as Pastor pro tem. for some three months with great acceptance and success) and E. J. Stevens (called October 30, 1877, and succeeded in June, 1878, by the present Pastor, A. A. Drown). The whole number of persons who have been members of the church is 392 present member-

—

;

ship, 90.

The record-book of the Baptist Church is a curiosity in its way. The first part of it was written by Lewis N. Wood, and in it is revealed the genius of the man. As an illustration of what this record contains, the detail in which it is given and as a matter of history as well, the " In the early history of the church, a burial-place following items have been selected from it: was purchased on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 35, Town 12, Range It formerly belonged to Ira S. Angell, whose mother, a member of this 6, for that purpose. She was about sixty-six years of age, and was named church, was the first one buried there. The dead, however, were Mercy, from which the cemetery took the name of Mount Mercy. subsequently removed to another burying-place, on the southeast quarter of Section 26." Another remarkable entry in this record book is the account of the conversion of Curtis F. Shipman, " the Kickapoo hunter." This event occurred during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Conrad, " On the evening of March 8, 1852, during a heavy fall of rain, while and is thus described: the Pastor was in his study, a man by the name of Curtis F. Shipman, dressed in deerskin coat, moccasins, came to the door and was admitted. He said he was from the headpantaloons and What waters of the Kickapoo River, where the Lord had found him out, and asked the Pastor, must I do to be saved V After ascertaining his former advantages for religious instruction, Elder Conrad gave him the advice which he deemed adapted to his case, and held a family prayer meeting on his behalf. He tarried through the night, but seemed on the verge of despair and would not believe, but on the 10th of March he went into the woods alone and poured out his heart before God, when it pleased God to reveal His Son in him, and he returned to the house with a heart full of joy, which was manifest in his whole appearance. He took part in all the prayer meetings and remained in Baraboo two weeks, attending divine service and relating on one occasion He was duly received and baptized, before the church a reason for the hope that was in him. and when he left for the Kickapoo country, took with him a Bible, hymn book, and a bundle of religious tracts, resolved to become a missionary." There is also of record in this book an account of the singular sight of three denominations baptizing at the same time and place, and many other interesting incidents which go to make it a remarkably well-kept record, of which the church should feel proud. The Congregationalists. Warren Cochran was the avant-courur of Congregationalism in Baraboo. His first visit to the place was in August, 1847, when he preached a sermon in the log cabin of Marvin Blake. On the 18th of December of the same year, he came again to the place and organized the First Congregational Church of Baraboo, with nine members, as follows Dr. Charles Cowles and wife, Marvin Blake and wife, B. L. Brier and wife, and Brazillia Hickok, wife and daughter. The organization took place in the little log schoolhouse, Baraboo's '

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cradle of learning.

535

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

When the first court house was completed, the Congregationalists, in common with the Baptists and Methodists, occupied the court room for religious worship. In 1852, a church ediWhen the proposition to build was first made, fice was built at a cosl of $1,200, including lot. there was much opposition to it, many of the members believing it premature as well as expensive; but Elder Cochran was firmly in favor of the project.

He said to his parishioners, " We

can build a meeting-house of our own," and with assurances of support from a few of his followers, he set about the work in earnest, helping to scrape the clay from the hillside and mold the brick, and when they had been burned, he aided the teamsters to load and unload them. The structure still stands on Second street, just west of the public schoolhouse. This house was subsequently sold and a larger one built at a cost of $4,000. The new church was dedicated on the 10th of December, 1867, the discourse being delivered Prof. Hutchins announced that the debt bv the Rev. William De Loss Love, of Milwaukee. He made an appeal to the liberality of trfe congregation, resulting in of the church was $550. offering to Z. Lee, F. B. Baldwin, B. B. Brier and L. L. Lee four members of the church make up one-tenth of the amount. Mr. Burnham, of the Methodist society, pledged that church Deacon In addition to this, the Methodists present subscribed $100. to contribute $25. Cowles gave $20, and, with other subscriptions, the entire debt was there and then wiped out. Elder Cochran, who remained at the head of the church until 1864, with the exception of three years, during which time he resided at Brodhead, the pulpit being filled by the Rev. Henry Hutchens and the Rev. E. D. Seward, thus writes concerning his congregation " The

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members from the beginning have all been pledged, especially to some principles of reform. Prominent among which were temperance and anti-slavery, the advocacy and practice of which

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were not always met with popular favor sometimes with persistent opposition." In April", 1869, forty of the fifty-six members of the Congregational Church withdrew and formed the "Second Presbyterian Church," but soon afterward united with the First The forty members thus withdrawing, having aided in the building of Presbyterian Church. the new Congregational Church edifice to the extent of about $2,200, proceeded to install The sixteen individuals who had themselves therein under the banner of Prcsbyterianism. remained faithful to the Congregational creed, turned the other cheek by causing a writ of The matter was finally comejectment to issue, and the Presbyterians were dispossessed. promised by the Oongregationalists paying the Presbyterians $500 in consideration of their interest in the building, and the latter denomination went back to their own house of worship, leaving the faithful sixteen in undisputed possession. Upon the resignation of Elder Cochran, in 1864, the Rev. E. D. Seward supplied the He was succeeded in pulpit until the spring of 1865, when Mr. Cochran again took charge. Smith Norton was the next Pastor, and it was November, 1867, by the Rev. H. H. Hinman.

The Congregationalists during his incumbency that the division above referred to occurred. were then without a Pastor for a year or more, but finally secured the services of the Rev. A. J. and O. G. May, Prof. W. Fairchild,* Revs. F. Smith. The Pastors since then have been the Butler of the State University, the Revs. J. B. Bidwell, N. T. Blakeslee ami M. B. Harrison. The membership is given at fifty-one. The Rev. Maxwell Gaertner was the first priest who officiated in that The Catholics. capacity in Baraboo. He came hither from Sauk as early as 1850, and said mass in the Wisconsin House, but, the accommodations here proving too limited, the place of meeting was soon transferred to the house of Mrs. Gray, which now forms a part of the Lavoo Hotel, on the south side of the river. Father Gardner visited the place once a month, and performed the rites of

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the church

until

his

return to Austria about 1851.

He traveled on

foot through

snow and

mud, and put in an appearance with remarkable regularity for one of his age. He was about sixtyIn 1858 and 1859, the Catholics he closed his labors and returned to his native'land. It purchased, for $500, the little brick church originally occupied by the Congregationalists. a house of worship until 1877, purpose as their and served was dedicated in October, 1862, five when

Since Professor of Languages in tin' II. wind rnivi-rsity, Washington.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

536

when their present church edifice was completed, at a cost of nearly $5,000. The old property was sold to J. J. Gattiker. The priests who have supplied the parish since the time of Father Gardner are Fathers Montague, Weinhart, Nassau, Heiss, Eitchman, Schriner, White, Coghlan (who died here), Burbach, Lineal, Gungel, Michaels and Lavin. The membership is between ninety and one hundred families. The Presbyterians. This denomination date the organization of their church from the On the 26th of February of that year, a meeting was held in the Methodearly part of 1851. house of worship by a number of former members of the Congregational Church, and an ist Rev. Dexter Clarey, organization perfected, styled the First Presbyterian Church of Baraboo. agent of the American Home Missionary Society, of Wisconsin, preached from Matthew, xvi, 18 " Upon this rock I will build my church." Letters were presented by the following persons: John D. Perkins, Lucy Perkins, Ralph G. Camp, William Griffith, Hannah Griffith, Benjamin L. Brier, Eveline Brier, George W. Cook, Catherine Cook, Elizabeth F. Tuttle, Lucinda Noyes and Anna Wood, all from the First Congregational Church of Baraboo Jane F. Camp, First Congregational Church of Bristol Conn. Albert G. Tuttle, Third Congregational Church of New Haven, Conn. A covenant and thirteen articles of faith were adopted, the thirteenth " We believe that the soul is immortal, and that at the last day, Christ article being as follows that all who die impenitent will go will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous be received to heaven to enjoy eternal

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felicity."

The following interesting resolutions were also adopted

" That in the view of this church,

American Slavery is a sin of great magnitude; that while we deprecate all harsh language, and rash measures in the removal of this evil, we will, nevertheless, avail ourselves of all suitable measures to enlighten and correct the public mind in regard to the sin of slavery, and that we will use all the measures within our power to banish it from the land." John 1). Perkins was chosen Elder, and R. G. Camp, Clerk, and the first meeting of the

Church of Baraboo adjourned. In August, 1851, the Rev. James Kasson preached to the society in the schoolhouse, and in During that winter and fall, a frame church ediOctober, he became their Pastor for one year. The structure still stands fice was erected, and occupied for the first time February 22, 1852. school building. on its original site, opposite the public In August, 1854, the Rev. Charles M. Moorehouse, having been invited to take spiritual Mr. Moorehouse was succeeded in October, charge of the church, assumed the duties of Pastor. 1855, by the Rev. George Spaulding, the latter being followed by the Rev Sidney H. Barteau, in October, 1856. In May, 1857, the Rev. Hiram Gregg became Pastor, and remained as such The Rev. E. B. Tutuntil May. l*t> *, when he was succeeded by the Rev. James A. Hawley. hill became Pastor in March, 1861, and in August, 1*6-J, was succeeded by Rev. E. B. Miner. Mr. Miner resigned in July, 1864, and was followed by Rev. H. S. Clark, and he in July, First Presbyterian

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1865. by the Rev. F. Z. Rossiter. In March, 1870, the Congregational Church having proposed uniting by letter with the the morning Sabbath Presbyterian Church, it was agreed that joint-meetings should be held service and Sunday school in the Congregational Church, and the evening Sabbath service and " the arrangement to be entirely informal, and week-day meetings in the Presbyterian Church At that date, there to continue one month, in the hope that it will expedite an organic union." were ninety-two names of members on the roll of the Presbyterian Church, and one hundred Sabbath school pupils. This attempt to unite the two churches was not entirely successful, a few of the Congregationalists withholding their presence, the united portion, however, occupying the Congregational Church for nearly one year, when they went back to the old Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Mr. Rossiter was, soon after this event, succeeded by the Rev. George F. Folsom, and during the second and third year of his pastorate the present Presbyterian Church edifice was built at a cost of something over $12,000. For about a year prior to May, L879, the church was without a pastor, the Rev. R. L. Williams, the present incumbent, begin.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. ning his labors on that date.

The present membership of the church is given at 175.

537

The con-

gregation is usually very large. The Elders of the church, since its organization, have been John D. Perkins, Merritt Clark, Eliphalet Dustin, B. L. Brier, Marvin Blake, Chauncy Hall, Darwin Hill, Leonard Newcomb, Harper T. Savage, Jedediah Hubbard, Miller Blachly, Ezra 0. Holden, John B. Crawford,

Henry Cowles and Ira L. Humphry. The organization known as the Free Congregational Society was accomUnitarianism. The founder of the society, Rev. Ichabod Codding, who had beplished February 16, 1860. come widely and favorably known as a powerful advocate of liberty and reform during the Presi-

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dential canvass of 1860, preached

court house October 28 of that year and on several

the

Mr. Codding at occasions thereafter, taking charge of the society's destinies May 18, 1861. The congregations were once drew about him a large circle of warm friends and supporters. the local sanitary cause and Anti-slavery for the large, and the efforts of both society and pastor Mr. Codding, on account of ill commission, showed that they could both preach and practice.

The Rev. Baraboo June 17, 1866. A. A. Roberts was settled in October, 1865, and ordained February 13, 1866, as Pastor of the This charge was partly which now became generally known as the Unitarian Church. brought about by the generous aid of the American Unitarian Association in building the church Mr. Roberts closed his pastorate edifice, which was dedicated on the 11th of December, 1867. in September, 1868, and was succeeded in October following by the Rev. Fred May Holland. Since the pastorate of Mr. Holland, the society has had no regular minister. The Rev. Mr. Albee, For the past six or seven years, the church of Sparta, favors them with an occasional lecture. in fact, it is about the only hal in has been used for theatrical and other similar purposes Baraboo that will accommodate entertainments of this character. amusing incident, implicating a wellrather history of this society, a with the In connection known citizen, is related. During the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Roberts as Pastor, an effort At a meeting at which the matter was diswas made by a few of the members to oust him. cussed, and after the disgruntled members had given their reasons formaking"a change, the aforesaid well-known citizen arose and opposed the proposition to dispense with Mr. Roberts' services. He cited, in defense of his position, the fact that the pastor had done a great deal toward building the church and bringing the society up to its then prosperous condition; " and," he contind if I ued, warming up to a moderate degree of earnestness, "if you turn him out now, d don't quit this church and go over to the hell-fire and brimstone fellows at once." The German Methodists. The pioneer German Methodists in Baraboo were Frederick Filbert and wife and George Wolf and wife. Meetings were held as early as 1865, in the basement The first Pastor of the little congregation was the of the English Methodist Church building. The sucRev. Charles Mueller, who was accidentally drowned in the Missouri River in 1866. cessors of Mr. Mueller have been the Revs. G. A. Saultzer, Mr. Wentz, Conrad Hedler and Church Presbyterian the old for In 1868, the society purchased, $1,300, Frederick Griekmann. building, opposite the public schoolhouse, where they have been permanently located ever since. The society had grown to considerable proportions in 1874, when a disaffection occurred and onehalf '! members withdrew and joined the Alb'rechts. The original organization still continues

health, resigned his charge in March, 1865, and died* in society,

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pother.

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77/. Episeojiidiuns. On the first Sunday in dune, 1867,' a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church began services in a small upper room on Oak street, Baraboo, then used as a Good Templars' Hall. Taylor's Hall was soon afterward rented and transformed into a house of worship. A few months later, a parish, under the name of Trinity Church, was duly organized according to the canons of the church, and became an incorporated body, according to the In September, 1868, it was resolved to purchase the property on the northlaws of the State. east corner of Oak and Sixth streets, known as the seminary property, then owned by P. A. Bassett, and $1,000 was the amount of purchase money agreed upon, one-fourth of which was raised '

Sir article on " Illustrious Dead " of Sank County for

mid servii'i-n of Mr

(.'milling.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

538

in Milwaukee and the balance in various Eastern cities. deed for the property was executed in June, 1869. Mr. Hudson remained as Rector of the church until April, 1873. His successors have been the Revs. Ritchie, Lemon and Cowin local subscriptions, one-fourth

drey.

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The Lutherans. In 1870, the Rev. Baumbach, of the town of Honey Creek, came to Baraboo at the solicitation of a few German citizens desirous of forming themselves into a religious society. Meetings were held in the institute building, and an organization perfected with the following constitutional members Dr. Koch and wife, William Schultz and wife, Mr. Curtis and wife and Mr. Alpeter and wife. In 1878, a church edifice was built on East Fourth street, at a cost of $2,000. The stated Pastors have been the Revs. Giesel and Shaffelman, the latter now being in charge. The membership is given as thirty-seven. The Albrechts. "Emmanuel Church of Baraboo of the Evangelical Association of North America " is the title of a religious organization perfected in 1875, having for its purpose the dissemination of the quasi-Methodist doctrines of Jacob Albrecht, who, about 1790, established :

—

this form of religion

Pennsylvania.

Among the leading names of those who figured in the

William Scharnke, George Wolf and wife, GusTobias Clavadatcher and Peter Sprecher. David Wolfs wagon-shop was subsequently rented and fitted up for the accommodation of the society. In 1879, a neat brick-veneered church edifice was built on Second and Broadway, at a cost of about $2,500 The Rev. C. F. Finger was the minister who first had charge of the organization. In the spring of Conrad 1876, the Wisconsin Conference sent the Rev. Mr. Reichert as permanent Pastor. Wiegand was Mr. Reichert's successor. The present Pastor is the Rev. Peter Massueger. The membership of the church is about 100. early history of the society are the following tave Scharnke and

wife,

Leonard Smith and

wife,

Services were first held in what was then known as Post Office Hall.

HOTELS.

The early pioneers of Baraboo and vicinity took lodgings in Nature's vast chamber, with the star studded canopy for a roof; and, though their couches were hard, their consciences were clear and their repose sweet and unbroken.

remember

Not a few of the old residents, who are still living,

the luxury of a night's rest in the log schoolhouse

north of the river, after the some kindly neighbor on H. H. Webster, of Baraboo, completed a frame building in Lyons and accommodated new-comers. This was the first house in the Baraboo Valley approaching the hotel order. Early in 1847, Col. Edward Sumner purchased of the county a lot at the northeast corner of the court house square, and put up a small one-story frame. He also took boarders, and " slept " sonic of the strangers then coming to this region " looking land." This was known as the Adams House. It was twice enlarged, being raised from two to three stories at the second enlargement. Col. Sumner went to California in 1849, renting the Adams House to a man named Watson, who kept it until the return of the Colonel from the " land of gold " in 1852. In the meantime, the name of the village having been changed from Adams, for which the Adams House was named, the latter had been christened the Western Hotel. It was then the principal public house in the place, and as such was the headquarters for all classes of people, the bureau of information and the nucleus of village gossip. It was here, in later years, that Maj. Clark, "Jim" Brown, Levi Crouch, "Charley" Sumner and several others, familiarly known to the residents of Baraboo, were wont to stretch their legs beneath the mahogany of the old Western and discuss religion, crops and politics. But it is remarkable what different effects the food had upon different persons. Look at Crouch, for instance, and then Sumner; look upon this picture and then upon that. The efforts of the old Western landlord to increase the avoirdupoise of one seemed to have taken unanimous effect upon the other, and vice versa. Maj. " Jim " Clark occupied the seat of honor at the table, and usually led off' in the diurnal jokes. Brown was always in a hurry. He kept a small stock of goods near by, the receipts from the erection of that structure in 1843, or in the rude 10xl2-cabin of

the south side.

Some time in 1843, James Webster,

father of

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

539

sale of which averaged probably 15 cents a day ; but he ate as rapidly as a merchant doing He finally " starved out " and went West, where he was business up among the thousands. successful. He is now one of the permanent guests of the Palmer House, and deals largely in

wheat. Dunn sold his interest at the In 1855, Col. Sumner sold the Western to Dunn & Davis. end of a year to William Wallace, Davis' interest being subsequently mortgaged to J. E. Wright. Wallace ran the house until 1870, when both interests were leased to a man named Campbell. He remained in control one year. The house was then closed. About six months afterward, William Pearl, now of the Cliff* House, Devil's Lake, rented the premises and conducted the hotel until a week previous to its total destruction by fire, November G, 1878. The Baraboo House, built by Lyman Clark in the fall of 1817, is another landmark. It now does service as a brewery on the south side of the river. The Wisconsin House, now the property of Herman Albrecht, was built in 1852 by a German named Cornell or Connell. The City Hotel, under the hill, also dates its existence from

about this period.

an increased demand for hotel In 1873, P. Pratt converted his residence, just west of the railroad depot, Mr. Pratt is one among the very few and still conducts it as such. men now living who have witnessed and been identified with the growth of Baraboo for the past

When the railroad was completed to Baraboo, there was

accommodations.

into a very neat little hotel,

thirty-four years.

In 1878, the North- Western Railway Company erected an extensive eating-house near their This house does a large transient busidepot in Baraboo, and placed B. K. Cowles in charge. ness and has a good reputation. Last, but by no means the least, may be mentioned the Sumner House, erected in 1877-78 It is 60x66 feet in size, (being opened in September of the latter year) by Charles E. Sumner. exclusive of kitchen and outhouses, two-stories high, and has seventeen numbered rooms, neatly and tastefully furnished. Its outer walls are built of sandstone blocks, uniformly sized and edged. The architecture, in style, is rustic, of attractive design, augmented by an iron front and large French plate glass in the lower story.

THE TOM PAINE ANNIVERSARY. The "29th of January, 1867, marked an important era in the history of Baraboo. The occasion was the celebration of the one hundred and thirtieth anniversary of the birth of Thomas Paine, by a few of the leading members of the " Free Congregational Church," of which A. A. Roberts was then Pastor. Efforts to secure the church building having failed, owing to the opposition of a majority of the members, the admirers of Paine repaired to one of the halls of the village, and there held their exercises, consisting of a lecture by Mr. Roberts and brief The affair created quite a stir in eulogies of the philosopher and statesman by others present. church circles, and was for some time afterward the subject of much discussion pro and con. Happily for those who took part in the celebration, there were no statutory laws prohibiting There were the expression of opinions that were not derogatory to the teachings of Paine. no pillories for the punishment of disbelievers there were no stocks for the hands and feet of The epoch of free-thinkers there were no branding-irons to scar the foreheads of " heretics." "religious" murders had passed away. Less than 150 years ago, when Tom Paine was a boy, a law was in force in Maryland, providing that, " if any person shall, within this province, willingly, maliciously and advisedly, by writing or speaking, deny our Saviour to be the Son of God. or shall deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead of any of the three persons or the unity of the Godhead, and shall therefor be convicted by verdict, shall, for And, the first offense, be bored through the tongue and be fined £20 to be levied of his body. for the second offense, the offender shall be stigmatized by burning in the forehead the letter B, and fined =£40. And that for the third offense, the offender shall suffer death without the ;

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benefit of clergy."

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

540

There has been a great change since the enactment of this barbarous law by the Christian The Christianity of Paine's day is not the Christianity of our time. gentlemen of Maryland. The preacher of that period who would have dared to deny the existence of a hell forty miles deep, filled with salamandrian devils, would have been roasted to a cannibalic brown and dished And so would have been the Rev. Mr. Roberts, J. J. Gattiker, Matthew out to soulless swine. Mould and Isaac Green, had they then lived and dared to eulogize a man who denied the inspiration of the Bible.

But what has this to do with the history of Baraboo, says an orthodox friend. It has much The history of the institutions of Baraboo has been given with all the attendant it. It would be a dereliction of duty not to say something of growth and improvement. the improvement of the mind, the expansion of the realm of thought, the intellectual developThe indorsement of the deistical doctrines of ment, and the progress of true Christianity. Thomas Paine in 1867, it seems, did not meet with the complete approval of the Unitarian Only a small minority stood firm and carried out their determination to Church in Baraboo. celebrate the birth anniversary of the man whom they believed had given utterance to their senA majority of the members, however, at first regarded the movement premature but timents. when the 29th of January came again, no objections were made to holding the exercises in the church building, and a full attendance resulted. Fred May Holland, the Pastor, delivered a lecHe is said to have been " very guarded in his utterances, and his most conservative listure. Since then, celebrations have been held annually, and the admirers of teners took no offense. " to do with details of

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Thomas Paine have lost nothing of their social standing or respectability. SECRET SOCIETIES.

Baraboo Lodge, No. 34, F. $• A. M.

— Organized November

6, 1851, under a

granted, on the 27th of October previous, to James Maxwell as W. M.;

dispensation

Harvey Canfield, S. W.;

R. M. Forsythe, G. Gollmar, J. D. John G. Wheeler, J. W. H. G. Jones and W. D. Truax were the only Masons Daniel Schemerhorn, Tiler. Sec. On the 8th of June, 1852, the Lodge received present, besides the officers, at the organization. The instrument was dated at Janesville, and signed by A. D. Smith, G. M. The its charter. James Maxwell, who held from the date of dispensation to the Worshipful Masters have been Edward Sumner, 1854; M. C. Waite, 1855-57 D. Rugend of 1852; W. D. Truax, 1853 Levi Crouch, H. A. Peck, 1860; F. M. Stewart, 1861-64 gles, 1858; W. H. Joy, 1859 1865; F. M. Stewart, 1866; T. D. Lang, 1867 T. C. Thomas, 1868; A. J. Cooper, 1869; John F. M. Stewart, 1870; M. C. Waite, 1871; T. C. Thomas, 1872-3; T. D. Lang, 1874 John D. S. Vittum, 1878 W. W. Andrews, 1877 Barker, 1875; D. S. Vittum, 1876 Barker, 1879-80. The present S. W. is R. Metcalf; J. W., W. B. Blachley. The membership i s 108— M. M., 88; F. C, 5; E. A., 10. Baraboo Valley 'hapter, No. 49. This is the only Masonic Chapter in the county. Its membership is not entirely confined to Baraboo, quite a number being residents of Reedsburg It was organized July 5, 1875, with George G. Swain. one of Ableman's and one of Lavalle. The J. E. Owen, Sec. ; T. D. Lang, T. Mair Pointon, Scribe II. P. E. A. Watkins, K. chapter was chartered February 16, 1876, with the following charter members, including those George S. Rockwell, William Fox, G. M. Rule, John H. Hull and mentioned above ;is officers The High Priests have been G. G. Swain, D. S. Vittum and John Barker. The S. H. Waldo. membership is given at thirty six, one of whom D. S. Vittum is dead. Baraboo Lodge, No. 51, L. O. O. F. This Lodge was first organized and chartered about At that early day, Odd Fellowship was not on so 1850, but was not successful financially. It has been substantial a basis as it is now, and the Lodge went down after a short existence. found impossible, after so many years, to obtain the names of the original charter members, but D. K. the following are known to have been connected with the lodge as charter members Noyes, Charles Wood, M. D. Evans, L. C. Stanley, Dr. S. Angell, T. Kirk and C. H. McLaughlin. The present Lodge (No. 51; was chartered Oct. 23, L871, with the following charter

George J. Miller, S. D.

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(

;

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BARABOO,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUHTY.

543

members: D. K. Noyes, E. M. Coon, H. H. Webster, H. D. Newell, James Dylans and W. 0. It lias now (1880) about 125 members. The Lodge owns its own building, 22x70 Stephenson. feet, with store below and lodge-room in the second story, which is neatly and appropriately furnished. The Lodge has seventeen Past Grands, and is entitled to three representatives to the Grand Lodge. Following is the list of the Noble Grands from 1871 D. K. Noyes, H. H. Webster, F. B. Baldwin, A. J. Gorman, A. H. Cowles, F. Barringer, Thomas Libbey, P. P. Palmer, L. 0. Holmes, J. M. True, H. D. Potter, H. D. Snell, J. W. Blake, Fred Baldwin, A. A. Roberts, W. H. White, T. Spellan, and Edwin R. Bow, the latter being the present :

incumbent. Was instituted at Reedsburg, Sauk Co., Northwestern Encampment, No. 20, I. 0. 0. F. on the 15th day of January, 1868, by P. G. M. C. C. Cheeney, of Janesville, with the followWheeler, Albert Spooner, Nelson Wheeler, ing charter members B. F. Blackman, Leander J. F. Hackett, C. M. Gaylord, J. G. Blakeslee, A. Mellen, J. B. Kastater, G. H. Flaut, John After two years' work, the lodge at that place Kellogg, E. G. Jackson, and R. A. Wheeler. On the 15th day of November, 1875, it having suspended, the Camp surrendered its charter. was revived, and located at Baraboo. The following were the charter members L. 0. Holmes, P. P. Palmer, II. D. Potter, Thomas Libby, A. C. Tuttle, A. H. Cowles and S. F. Smith. The Camp was instituted by Grand Patriarch Dr. J. H. Vivian, of Mineral Point. The first officers A. C. Tuttle, P. P. Palmer, S. W. elected were L. 0. Holmes, C. P. S. F. Smith, H. P. Scribe Thomas Libby, Treasurer, and H. D. Potter, J. W. The Camp now numbers about forty members. The present officers are A. A. Roberts, C. P. P. P. Palmer, H. P. George Bloom, S. W. H. D. Potter, Scribe; George Merriott, Treasurer Fred Baldwin, J. W. The Camp is entitled to one representative in the Grand Lodge. Both the Camp and the subordinate lodge are in a healthy condition, financially and otherwise.

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;

MUSICAL.

Baraboo has been musically inclined for a number of years. Dr. Charles Cowles might be He taught termed, with propriety, the father of music in this and other parts of Sauk County. singing-school in this village and neighborhood some twenty years, and many of those who Since his retirement might now be termed "old singers," received their first lesson from him. from the position of " singing master," several have attempted to fill his place, but have signally failed. On the 10th of June, 1867, after a musical convention held by Prof. H. R. Palmer, an association known as the " Sauk County Musical Society," was formed, who adopted a constitution and by-laws, elected Rev. Mr. Rossiter, President, D. D. Doane, Secretary, and 0. W. Fox, Conductor. This being a new experiment, it did not long survive, for we find by the records of the association that it did not exist subsequent to May 20, 1868.

The next attempt at a musical organization we find to have been made after a convention This organization was known as " The held in the Congregational Church on July 18, 1872. Baraboo Musical Union," with D. D. Doane, President, William Butler Secretary, and J. Hawes, Conductor. This association, like its predecessor, was of short duration, and gave up the ghost after running a few months. Two failures, following so close together, was rather discouraging to associated musical efforts, but after a few years the desire again found expression through Mrs. D. S. Vittum, who invited the singers of Baraboo to her house on the evening of This association was organOctober 23, 1878, for the purpose of organizing a musical society. ized under the name of the "Baraboo Choral Society," and, after effecting an organization by electing J. J. Gattiker, President, A. C. Tuttle, Secretary, and J. Hawes, Conductor, continued to meet at the residence of Mrs. Vittum until a suitable place for weekly rehearsals could be procured. This society is still in existence, having met in different places, but is now meeting on Tuesday evening of each week, in Gattiker's new block, in the room occupied by the Ladies'

Art Society. Baraboo can boast of one unorganized musical fraternity, which meets at the residence This gathering of the lovers of good of J. J. Gattiker on Monday evening of each week.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

544

was set on foot by Mr. J.

Hawes, in the year 1871, for the purpose of cultivating a taste With few exceptions, on each Monday evening can be heard overtures, duets, solos, etc., by the old masters and all musicians who visit Baraboo, always find a welcome at this hospitable home also the lovers of good music, whether performmusic

for a higher order of instrumental music.

;

ers or listeners.

TEMPERANCE.

As The cause of temperance has found many advocates and stanch friends in Baraboo. early as 1843, an organization known as the Washington Temperance Society was perfected here. It enjoyed quite a long and useful existence. Solomon Shafer will be remembered as one of the In 1850, this society was supplanted by the "Sons of Temperance," and "the Sons" leaders. The different Christian ministers of course took a deep in turn by the "Good Templars." interest in the success of all these movements,

and materially aided them by picturing from the abstinence. Elder Cochran was

pulpit the evils of intemperance and the good results of total

The agitation finally, in 1854, led to a wholsome uncorkThe ing of jugs and breaking of bottles by a large number of stalwart temperance women. Good Templar and other organizations have been constantly at work ever since emphasizing the In regard to the individuals who, in more recent vigorous work of their predecessors of 1854. particularly vehement in this regard.

times, have kept the importance of the work before the public,

would be impossible to particu-

All classes of citizens have manifested the attempt to do so, indeed, would be invidious. And, as a result, the sight of a drunken man on the streets of Baraboo is an unusual thing ; where thirty and even twenty years ago, it was not uncommon to

larize;

their feelings in this regard.

This is not alone true of Baraboo; the writer encounter half a dozen in an evening's walk. If this salutary finds the same condition of things to have existed in other parts of the State. change can be attributed to the efforts of temperance workers, there is indeed cause for congratulation.

ESTHETIC AND SOCIAL

LIFE.

While the various institutions pertaining to the growth and prosperity of Baraboo are being discussed, it behooves the historian not to forget or overlook the social and aesthetic side of life here for, nationally and provincially, it may be truly said that the condition of the home life, with its various social and aesthetic relations, is as certainly an evidence of the real intelligence, purity and power of a people, as aught else. The social and aesthetic life of Baraboo can claim marked excellence when contrasted with ;

that which exists in many other communities of equal age, opportunity and consequent experiIt is, in fact, far above the general average existing at large, and has been so, as far as

ence.

the better evidences prove, for

many

years.

What element

or class deserves the greatest

up and continually promoting this condition, it is not easy to good between male and female here, and because the prevailing sentiments, liberal and conservative, or religiously orthodox and divided But, considering the equally throughout society. radically heterodox, appear to be pretty particular means by which the social and aesthetic life here expresses itself, in the form of working clubs or organizations, especially, conducted by the women of every shade of opinion, thus These organiunited it can be said that they are justly entitled, as a class, to the mo3t praise. zations, although having in some respects special and different methods of working, are all devoted to the same general objects, viz., the cultivation of a liberal and high social status, and the dissemination and acquisition of knowledge upon all matters pertaining to the aesthetic culture in vogue and demanded as a part of our civilization. Probably the first literary ami debating society organized here under The Old Uexpi'riatis. a name, where essay reading or intellectual contest and disquisitions on " realization or anticipaThe society was formed tion " were indulged in, was the Hesperian Club of " auld lang syne." during the time the old Academy and Collegiate Institute were running, before the war, some time in the latter part of the " '50's," and was in its day a flourishing affair, and a power among the distinction or credit for building

decide

;

as there seems to be almost a balance of the forces for

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. young folks.

545

It probably received its name from the old legend of the sisters Hesperides, that

reside in the west, where the sun goes down, and that were connected with heaven and earth, and were great singers; and, taken all in all, were an unusually excellent set of girls, "so the story

goes." The society collected books and established a library, 'some of the old books of which are After running a number of years, the Hesperian still here in possession of the public school. Club, it is to be regretted, went up, where all good things are wont to go. May its shade rest in peace in the garden of the Hesperides, soothed to rest by the sweet refrains of the fairy sisters, its patron saints, and content in the memory of past well doing. The (loose Club. About seventeen years ago, while the great rebellion was at its height, a few of the leading women of Baraboo united in forming a reading circle, believing that they

—

had a right to, and should pay attention to what was going on in the world of science, the arts, The first steps taken in this direction and philosophy, as well as to the duties of housekeeping. by the little band of pioneers, bound upon exploring the world of aesthetics, supplied a capital theme for the sportive remarks of a few of the masculine wiseacres and wits of the place, who denominated the " reading circle " the " Goose Club ;" and, as the children were permitted to go the general conclusion being that to the club meetings, they, it was allowed, were the goslings they all met to gabble, and consequently would not last long.. The first meeting of the reading circle was held in the schoolroom of Miss Nethaway, a select-school teacher, and since that time they have met regularly every Saturday evening at the same place. They have no constitution or special mode of procedure, the meetings always being The matter for reading is furnished at will by the conducted in an entirely informal manner. members, and has been since the commencement; and almost everything under the light of the sun has been read about at these meetings, and perhaps discussed. As for gossiping, it was never done for if that sort of thing had been indulged in it is safe to say the Goose Club would have ceased to fioat long ago and further, it is presumptuous and ungenerous to suppose that these women had no higher aim than the indulgence of such a puerile diversion as talking about ;

;

themselves and neighbors alone.

One of the social habits of the Goose Club, followed from the first, has been the giving of annual dinner parties, each of the ladies taking turns as hostess at these fetes. At such times, of course, the ganders are invited ; and it may be easily believed that they are nothing loath to

come and enliven these festive occasions with their sublime cackle. The first members were the Rev. Mrs. Codding, Mrs. Dr. Slye, Miss Eva Slye, Mrs. Judge Remington, Mrs. J. G. Train, Mrs. Freeman Longly, Miss Nethaway and Mrs. Norman membership at various times, and withdrawals

Stewart.

There have been acquisitions

as well.

Of the original members, five only are now left, but the institution still exists, and is a

to the

credit to its founders and the village.

—

Literary Club of '76 So called from having been established in the winter of '76. This club was the successor of the Hesperians, being devoted to similar objects, and being made up of

The organization meeting was held at R. H. Strong's, the members being the representative young folks of the town. Much enthusiasm was manifested at starting out, and a both sexes.

determination expressed to raise funds and revive the old library and establish a free readingroom. Subsequently, the meetings were held at different private residences until September of 1877, when the society had, by giving lectures, readings, dramatic plays, concerts, etc., and by personal contribution, accumulated about $175. Then they decided to open a reading-room, and did so, making public announcement in the papers to that effect. The reading-room was supplied with periodicals and books contributed by various parties for library purposes in connection with the old books of the Hesperian library. It was kept open about a year then, as but few of the business men encouraged and aided the enterprise, it was closed, although it had been well patronized. The books contributed were returned to their former owners, and so ended the second ;

library enterprise.

—

Industrial Art Association. Fine art, as relates especially to painting, drawing, etc., had but few real working representatives, or even patrons, here ten years ago but now nearly every ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

546

house is adorned by landscapes and various sketches in oil and crayon work, besides other artistic embellishments too numerous to mention, a majority of these productions being the work of those This change is doubtless due, in large measure, to the influence exerted upon the living here. taste of the people by a resident artist, a Miss Maclure, who has been located here some seven or She has been engaged almost exclusively in the work of teaching painting and eight years. drawing since being here, and has been very largely patronized by young and old. In this connection it is but fair to state, in honor of this woman's influence and work, that she is a conscientious artist of superior abilities, having made Art the work of her life, and having kept up At different intervals, various and special teachers have been with the improvement of the times. here, and have always met with encouragement when there has been any real merit exhibited. The organization, the name of which heads this article, and which is really the slow outgrowth of the work of years, held its first meeting Feb. 25, 1880, at the house of George Mertens, and was attended by a large number of the prominent ladies and gentlemen of the place. After disJ. L. cussing what arts should be studied, the meeting proceeded to organize and elect officers. Claude was elected President Mrs. F. Longly, Vice President Miss Minnie Drown, Secretary. Subsequently, a constitution was drawn up and submitted by a committee, and indorsed by the " The general objects and purposes of said association are the society, Article 2 of which says the receiving of cultivation of the principles of art, and their application to industrial pursuits gifts, trusts and loans; and the having and maintaining such suitable establishment, and using of ;

;

suitable means, as the association may be able to acquire."

The association has a suitable room provided for their use, where they hold meetings, recepTheir regular meetings are convened once a month, and at these times everything pertaining to art, useful as well as ornamental, or for domestic or general use, whether in sculpture, painting, or the making of laces and doing fancy work, is architecture, the realm of

tions and art fairs.

open for discussion.

—

The Woman's Club. This club was organized April 23, 1880, by the following ladies as members Sarah Powers, Adele Cook, Addie Donavan, Lizzie Woodman, Ida P. Roberts, Emma Officers Train, Sarah Spence, Fanny Holz, Mary Donavan, Lucy Case and Emma P. Scott. The above Lizzie Woodman, President; Fanny Holz, Vice President; Lucy Case, Secretary. union was entered into by the ladies that they might better and more freely and kindly interchange thought and experience, and thereby become more mutually helpful to each other and :

According to their constitution, the objects the feeling of sympathy and fellowship among women, independently of and outside of the natural and proper affiliations of personal friendships, or and to discuss without personalities such theoretical and practical any existing organizations and also to extend our knowledge and questions as relate to the well-being of home and society broaden our culture by such reading and study as we shall deem best adapted to our needs. The Before it lies a broad field to be explored, and may meetings of the club occur semi-monthly. they long continue in the course they have blocked out. Many years ago, a Dorcas Society of elderly ladies was operating The [>t>n;ix Society. here, and under their direction what was called the " Little Dorcas Society " was set afoot, and met as children, but, as the years slipped by and the little misses grew to womanhood, the older It is almost needless ladies withdrew leaving the Little Dorcases now mistresses of the field. to mention the fact that this is a benevolent society, devoted almost solely to relieving the wants Words of praise given to of the sick and afflicted, whoever they may be in the community. such an institution as this, and so begun, can but feebly express the admiration which every Long may it right-minded person must feel for the noble and constant work of this society. They give suppers, theatricals exist, and may each member rear children to grow into another. and various entertainments to raise money, and many a dollar do they raise for the suffering Last year they raised about $200. ones. Magazine Club. There are now three magazine clubs here that operate on the inter-exchangeable system, each member of the clubs taking some periodical which is in turn changed for

society than they could be individually and alone.

are " to strengthen social

distinctions,

;

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

547

This is a others, with the various members, until at last it comes home well read if not worn. most excellent idea, and materially reduces the expense of the best of reading, while it stimulates each one to read and keep up with the times and neighbors.

There was a literary society of a social nature formed here during the past winter, which And in all probability these meetings will be met in the parlors of the Presbyterian Church. resumed next season. The club is composed of The Quintecem Club Organized in the latter part of 1879. fifteen members, as is indicated by its name, and has for its purpose the social enjoyment of its The members are A. H. Noyes, D. founders and the entertainment of their visiting friends. E. Morgan, Frank Strong, R. E. Noyes, Jacob Van Orden, George Rockwell, Fred Lang, Dr. W. II. Vittum, Walter Richards, Mark Warren, Lee Bohn, Ward Monroe, Will Warner, Cyrus They have a nicely appointed club room in Post Office Block, Brown, and Frank Eldridge. The floor is covered with a durable canvass, and the ceiling hung with gilt and black chandeliers, while in one end of the room stands a handsome piano and in the other a Monarch billiard table. Then there are chess, checkers and card tables, comfortable chairs and sofas, and all the appurtenances to a gentleman's club-room, the entire outfit rivaling similar institutions in the Each of the members is a host, and all are gentlemen, whom to meet is a pleasure. great cities. Hunting Clubs. Baraboo is the home of the members of three sporting clubs the Grampus Club, consisting of Charles H. Davis, J. W. Davis, Thomas Thompson, William Thomas, E. Blakesleeand Benjamin G. Paddock; the Skillet Creek Club, consisting of N. C. Kirk, George Mertens, Norman Stewart, A. L. Slye, T. D. Lang, C. A. Swineford, W. S. Grubb and John Hull and the Owl Club, consisting of Joseph Hawes, Sr., D. D. Doane, A. L. Slye, and T. D. Lang. These clubs make extended excursions into the game and fish regions of this and other Western States, and were never known to return with empty game-bags.

—

;

THE CARDIFF GIANT.*

The " Cardiff" Giant" controversy, instead of subsiding like a collapsed humbug, is growBelow we give the Chicago Tribune's version of the creation ing warmer and more mysterious. of " Old Cardiff"," which, if true, would seem to settle the question, and cause people to laugh loudly at one of the best-planned and most successful humbugs ever perpetrated, outrivaling the Mermaid, Joyce Heth or any of the rest of Barnum's best. On the other hand, we have before us a copy of the Onondaga (Syracuse) Standard, of February 2. containing ten affidavits and a copy of about as many freight bills, showing that the big iron-bound box which the Tribune assumes to have contained the gypsum giant, really contained tobacco manufacturing machinery and showing as of George Hull, our former townsman, packed with unmanufactured tobacco straight a tracer as ever lawyer or railroad man could desire for conviction, that the said mysterious iron-bound ton-and-a-half box was conveyed to a point on the Black River Canal, south of Remson, Oneida County, and there opened in presence of Orson Davis, a reputable affiant, and that its contents were tobacco machinery and tobacco, as aforesaid, and that said contents were then transferred to a canalboat in waiting. The supposition, on a review of this theory, is, that George Hull was smuggling his wares away from seizure by the revenue officers, he having been "confiscated" and proceeded against at Binghamton some weeks previous for having defrauded ;

While the erudite, keen, scrutinizing Syracuse detectives are out affidaviting Chicago cotemporaries, we, an unpretending countryman, well acquainted with George The box which they traced way they were fooled, as follows from Chicago to Black River Canal was not the box that started, but got duplicated by a box of similar dimensions, somewhere in the region of Cardiff"; and while the giant statue was being buried one night on Newell's farm, George Hull's machinery, boxed at the place of somebody in league with him, was trundled right along to the Black River Canal for the very purpose of the Government.

their

Hull, will suggest to them the

* From the firs

ducing the article i

much interested

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

548

The head or heads cunhaving this same tracer follow it as the same box which left Chicago. ning enough to originate the giant hoax are certainly shrewd enough to mystify a people by just The Tribune says such a trick as this. " In an article on the Cardiff Giant,' published in the Tribune about two months since, it was asserted that the ancient individual was made in Chicago. There was sufficient ground for making the assertion at that time, but the evidence necessary to prove it could not be It was known to exist, however, but those who possessed the facts were unwilling to obtained. divulge them, fearing that they might in some way compromise their reputations as honest men. They read the opinions given by learned scientists as to the antiquity of the piece of gypsum, They could not understand how people could be so easily humand laughed in their sleeves. This cannot be wondered at, because they were workers in marble and could not tell bugged. The majority of those who were whether the statue had been cut out by a workman or not. present when the last one of an extinct race was unearthed, did not know whether it was Hence the excitement which followed, and the interest taken in the stone or a petrifaction. The opinion of an eminent sculptor of New York, who giant is, in a measure, excusable. was called upon by the finder (?) to examine it, was not regarded, for the reason that he maintained that it had been chiseled out. Such a thing was impossible, they said. He did not know The learned scientists gentlemen who have devoted years of study to unravel the anything. They confirmed the statement of the unlearned were next called upon. secrets of antiquity There were some men who were incredulous, rustics, and said it was really a petrified man. and these endeavored to explode the theories advanced by the said scientists, but, as they were Every story started by them was circulated throughin the minority, they were unsuccessful. out the country, and so were the refutations made by those pecuniarily interested in the 'giant.' The latter individuals had the best of it, and many thousands of people in the country to-day firmly believe the Cardiff Giant is really a petrifaction, and that he, thousands of years ago, walked, talked, ate and slept. To prove that this is not true is the purpose of this article. The few men who were aware of the circumstances connected with the making of the image, have furnished the information. Their names are suppressed, but if the gentlemen now exhibiting the swindle to the people of the East want them, and the affidavit of the man who cut the figure out, they can be satisfied upon application. "In the latter part of June, 1868, two men, one of them at present a large owner in the They had some time considered the feasibility of inaugurating a giant, arrived in Chicago. humbug, and had determined upon having something ancient a statue so old that it would cause wonder and create such an excitement that before it subsided their pockets would be full, and their object accomplished. The work of cutting out the statue would have to be done They searched secretly, and none but a man who could remain quiet was competent to do it. for some time, and finally met a German who had been in this country about four years, then in the employ of a well-known sculptor of this city. He agreed to do the work for $75, down. A block of gypsum, twelve feet long, three feet wide and eighteen inches thick, was procured from Fort Dodge, Iowa, and placed in a gentleman's barn near Lincoln Park, on the North Side. The owner of the structure was let into the secret, as was another, an assistant to the German. These were the only persons, beside the two men mentioned, who knew anything of it. Even In the latter part the three did not know what was to be done with it when it was completed. In consequence of the thinness of the of July, the two commenced the work of chiseling. stone, about a foot and a half was taken off one end of the block, in order to hav^ a better proA model was necessary, so one of the men who made the arrangements Hull portioned man. by name who is himself a giant in size, with sufficient intellect to humbug the learned savans :

—

and wise men of the East, stripped and chose the peculiar position to suit the twisted and unfavorable position of the stone. The artist then inquired what was -to be made, and was instructed So, without to make anything a monkey, a baboon, or something that would represent a man. questioning the motives of his employers, he set to work. There was no necessity for his leaving At the close of the the bam for a drink when employed, as plenty of beer was supplied him.

—

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

54U

He did not work at it steadily every day, but eighteenth day the figure was nearly completed. whenever he got an opportunity during the daylight, also at night. His employers then came to look at it, but what was their surprise when they found that the artist had given the figure any quantity of hair. There were ringlets dangling from the head, lung beard and patches on other parts of the body. Hull said that would never do hair would not petrify. The German was puzzled, and knew not what they meant, but removed the hair at their request. In two days more the work was pronounced done by the artist, and his employers, after examining it, expressed themselves as satisfied. gallon of strong acid was proNow to make it look old. cured and put on him. It ate into the soft material, producing spongy-looking cavities. quantity of English ink was then applied, and this had the effect of giving the giant the appearance of venerable age. The next step was packing him in a box. During the next week the

—

box was carted to the Michigan Southern Railroad depot. It remained there for so long a time that the owners were notified to take it away, as it occupied so much room and could not be moved to make space for goods received and delivering. It was subsequently removed and placed aboard a schooner, which sailed for some Eastern lake port. The next heard of it was being unearthed on a farm in New York State, and an announcement of its antiquity. What has been done with it since, the public well know, and therefore repetition is unnecessary. " The artist, who is a very modest man, and whose name is yet unknown to fame, does not consider this his best effort. This is evidenced by a remark he made when told that it was a very poor piece of workmanship. 'Veil,' said he, they hurried me like doonder any baker

—

could make so goot a tings out of dough.'

He further said, in view of these hard times, that

he would be willing to take orders for duplicates from the admirers of antiquity and petrifaction at the same price, provided that the ten-acre quarry at Fort Dodge, which was purchased by Hull & Company to get the stone to make the giant, is not already exhausted by parties seeking specimens of this now celebrated stone for their cabinets. " If the owners of the giant who perpetrated the joke on the savans, and a goodly portion of the people of the country, find that their swindle is in any waynnterfered with by this expose, let them secure the services of some influential newspaper, and some more affidavits and opinions of the wiseacres of science, and they may be able to sell some more stock in their enterprise. If they do this, as stated before, the names of men in this community honest, responsible men, who are now acquainted with all the circumstances will be given, backed by their affidavits, and conclusive proof will be brought forward to show the Cardiff Giant to be one of the greatest

—

humbugs ever gotten up in this country." The "discovery " of the "giant" naturally excited a good the following

—

deal of interest, as is shown by

Syracuse, December 24, 1869. To tht Postmaster, Bamboo,

—

is.:

Dear Sir Has the man Hull alluded to in the inclosed slip ever lived in your town ? figured there as a manufacturer or dealer in tobacco, or both.

He is said to have

Any information you can give of him, the time he was there, his surroundings and conduct, will be thankfully received. Is there a Mr. obligations.

Henry Peck

living in

your town ?

By communicating early you will Yours, etc .,

place me under great A. Westcott.

Address Dr. A. Westcott, Syracuse, N. Y.

In reply to the above very polite note, Dr. Westcott, of Syracuse, is informed as follows George Hull came to Baraboo in the spring of 1867, from Binghamton, N. Y., he said.

He leased a shelly kind of a building, of the value of about $400, perhaps, and entered in on the manufacture of cigars, employing a couple of workers, and being associated with certain others as peddlers of his wares. His chief delight, socially, was to expound infidelity, bet on

Seymour's election, and advocate New York Democracy generally. His peddle-wagon movements were as mysterious, circuitous and nocturnal as characterized the four-horse teams toting " Old Cardiff." Consignments of cigars and tobacco sent to him from east and west, were known to have been deposited in unreasonable and unseemly places.

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

550

In the latter part of August (we think), of the same year, at about midnight, one night, the " cigar- factory," which stood aloof from other buildings, was discovered in a roaring blaze, Meanwhile, from sill to rafter, and from end to end and nothing was saved from the fire. George Hull was away, on one of his peddle-wagons. Next morning it was ascertained that many people there had recently been insurance on the stock, amounting to about $12,000; and And so thought the insurance companies; for out of all his said, "Nigger in that fence!" insurance, we are credibly informed that he settled, or compromised, or was allowed to slide,' on receipt of less than $1,000, after much blustering about heavy lawsuits, following the com;

panies to Federal Courts, etc. His family, we think, returned to Binghamton, the spring or summer following, and our community mostly supposed he was with them and the next heard of him by this public was that he was a brother-in-law or relative of the Newell who exhumed the petrified giant near the hamlet of Cardiff, twelve miles from Syracuse; and our villagers, who knew George well, all said " George Hull holds a good share of the trumps in that game !" And after it was ascertained that, although ostensibly having no pecuniary interest in " mummied relics of a race of giants," yet he had been known to receive a loan of $9,600 from Newell, and there's not a man who knew him here who could be made to believe that he ever intended to pay a cent of it. Since our community have all come to be interested in George Hull as a very wily fortune;

maker, whose name will go down to posterity famed as a humbugger whose genius Barnum may covet, it is natural that his peculiar traits of character and uncommon conduct should be closely A prominent official of this city, who is known to have been on terms of intimacy scrutinized. with him, has divulged the fact that Baraboo came near being decided upon as the scene of the wonders of petrifaction. Near our village, on every hand, are some of the most remarkable Haifa mile below the village, are several scores of the largest Indian mounds found anywhere. and highest of these conical tumuli that we ever saw and we have seen many thousands. One of the largest of these, a little isolated from the main group, on a slight elevation, near Judge Remington's house, George Hull selected, one Sunday, as a receptacle of a petrified something; he hadn't decided whether to chuck in a graven Indian, or gorilla, or mongrel rhinoceros crossed "'Twill sell fifty times as well as any cigars I can make!" declared with a hippopotamus. But circumstances changed his field of operations. George. This incipient idea, not bad, indeed, for a " sell," grew in George Hull's mind, until it assumed the proportions of the Cardiff giant, which was born of George Hull's wily brain, and has made the scientific men of the East as big a butt of ridicule as ever were takenjn and done for. We have before us a photograph of the Giant, taken by Gott, of Syracuse. He hath a high intellectual head with a phiz and expression resembling Bishop Simpson full as much as George Our District Attorney Hull. His right hand, open, rests on the abdomen, the left behind. has recognized a perfect type of that of one of our most prominent citizens in the ponderous proportions of another prominent feature, and openly charges him with being in complicity with Hull and standing with him for the model. The knees are a little cocked or bent, while the feet and toes are atwist and look as though "Old Cardiff" was laid out after he had got cold. Length of Though not a graceful form, it is well conceived for an idea of petrifaction. We gaze on it some as we should on the image body, 10 feet, 4.V inches, weight 2,990 pounds. of gold, 60 cubits high, which Nebuchadnezzar set up in the plain of Dura; and feel about as much like taking stock in it as Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego felt like'falling down to that

—

fellow.

We know by the peculiar twinkle in the small, keen blue eyes of George Hull's cranium that The first time we made his he would not scruple to humbug the world, nor any part thereof. acquaintance, those eyes looked right at us, and seemed to peer into us, and pry, and gimlet, and cork-screw their way clear down into the innermost recesses of our soul. And his giant sixfoot-three form, with his broad shoulders, and full but not obese person, straight as a glass bottle; with about one whisker per square barley-corn on his round face, and his ever-sleek hair,

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

551

made him a very remarkable-appearing person indeed. And yet how little we thought, when we punched amateur billiards with him, and discussed politics and the merits of cigars of his own manufacture with him, and stage-coached on the same seat with him, and glistened to his ingenious theological dissertations little we thought, we repeat, that our companion was so soon to surmount the tip-top round of Fame's ladder, apply his thumb to his nasal organ, and, taking a sight o'er his digits, defiantly pipe to a world of Science, History, Literature and Finance, the

—

mellifluous tune of " tweedle, deedle, dee!"

We have in our day seen crowned heads and princes, and mighty potentates we have seen the Japanese embassay have shaken hands with live Presidents, and in solemn awe beheld dead ones in their sarcophagi we have seen Daniel Webster eat, and smelt his breath after he had drank, and saw him lying in state at Marshfield we have seen Gen. Scott a-hossback and Lola Montez in swimming we have seen Henry Ward Beecher with a bile on his nose, and Tom Hyer, and George Hyer, and John C. Heenan and Blondin lugging a cook-stove on a rope across Niagara's yawning chasm we have seen a wax statue of the crucifixion in the largest cathedral in America, and heard Barnum lecture on Temperance, and gazed at Pat Wildrick when he couldn't wipe his nose we saw Andy Johnson swing around the circle, and met the Black Hoss Cavalry but insignificant on the tablet of our recollection shall be all these, when we consider that George Hull, with the ingenuity adequate to dupe, diddle, defraud and gull a whole continent, did nevertheless once lend us a dollar George, come back now and we'll pay you ? Yes, George come back You shall have the freedom of the village and a key to Bender & Miller's beer cellar. The President and Trustees will greet you with open arms, and every man in town will tumble down and do you homage. Women will peep from behind curtains at you as you pass, and grin benignantly. Children will shy away and twist around you and point at " Old meat Cardiff!" you and say, sotto voce The revival meeting might not commend your idea of the proper use of gypsum, but we warrant you a special prayer, if we have to pray it ourself. No Connecticut town ever waxed prouder of being the home of Barnum, than will Baraboo of having been the home of Hull. We'll erect a grand triumphal arch, on which shall be ;

;

inscribed

"The Hull Hog or None" and Joe Davis be your charioteer as you are drawn through it in a chariot formed of the Hull of Sam Hartley's steamboat, while the band plays Hull's Victory, and the procession shall Hull and eat peanuts, and the boys play no games but Hull-gull Hull shall be the watchword Hull the password Hull the countersign and the parole shall be Hull. We'll have the almightiest Hull-ibulloo in the Hull world and after you're gone there'll be more children named Hull than there were after you left t'other time or if there are not there ought to be ? " Come George, we cry unto you again Stand not on the oi'der of your coming, but come. You little imagine how much more you'd be lionized here now than you were in days of yore; and if you'd only strip and strike that twistified attitude you assumed for the Teutonic chiseler (for you to chisel the world by means whereof), why !

;

—

Silently we'd gaze on Hull, As on a lion loose !

[The "giant" was shipped from Chicago to Union, New York, and from there taken in the night by four-horse team to Newell's farm, in the town of Cardiff. There it was buried in Newell's barnyard, and when it was considered "ripe," Mr. Newell employed some men to dig a well, selecting the spot where the " gia.it " lay. When the workmen came upon it and reported the fact, the excitement in that community can well be imagined. Of course Hull and Newell were present, fully prepared to be greatly astonished. The well was abandoned, the giant being removed to the barn and placed on exhibition. Thousands and thousands of people visited and paid $1 each to look at it. When curiosity began to wane, a stock company was organized and the giant was disposed of to speculators at the small figure of $100 per share, Hull and Newell disposing of their interests. The last heard of the Cardiff giant it was in New York

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

552

Hull subsequently turned his attention to the manufacture of a stone giant, and running short of funds, enlisted the patronage of P. T. Barnum, who was furnishing the necessary funds to complete it, when a former employe of Hull in the cigar business threatened to expose the fraud unless he was paid $10,000. This amount not being forthcoming, he did expose it, and the scheme was abandoned. Hull is now living near Binghamton, N. Y., engaged in raising tobacco. He is as poor as a church mouse. Ed.] City.

THE HOME OF THE DEAD. The first death of a white person in the Baraboo Valley is said to have been that of Dr. John Morrison, a resident of Jefferson County. Dr. Morrison was one of a commission of three appointed to locate the seat of justice of Sauk County, and while in this official capacity, being in W. H. Canfield's "sugar bush," he was stricken with apoplexy and died suddenly on the The body was taken to the home of the deceased for burial. The night of March 15, 1844. next death was that of Fred Blabern, who was drowned in the river, below the Lower Narrows, during the July (1844) flood, which proved so disastrous to mills and dams throughout the country. The body was not recovered. In 1845, a man named Birdwell, employed by George and William Brown in constructing their dam, met his death by the caving of an embankment. William Brown His is believed to have been the first burial of a white person in these parts. thinks the body was interred in an old Indian burying-ground northwest of the village, on what The next death within the memory of the oldest settler was that of is now the Ruggles place. Wallace Rowan, one of the very earliest of early pioneers, who went to sleep on a little knoll near his rude abode, not far from the grave of the unfortunate individual who lost his life in the treacherous cave. Mr. Rowan died in the winter of 1845 or spring of 1846, leaving a large family. One of his daughters, the wife of James La Mar, now resides in the town of Fairfield. She was born in Platteville, Grant County, as early as 1830, and is probably the oldest living woman born in Wisconsin. In 1847, a part of Block 20, of the village of Adams, was set aside for burial purposes, and the body of George W. Brown, who was accidentally killed by the falling of a mill timber December 15, 1847, was the first buried in this plat. year or two later, the Baptist Church purchased of Ira S. Angell the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 35 for burial purposes. Mr. Angell's mother, a member of

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who died about this time, was buried in these grounds the first interment made in Her name being Mercy, the new cemetery took the name of Mount Mercy. It is a Quite a lovely spot, overlooking the Baraboo Bluffs and valley for many miles on either hand. number of the pioneers of Baraboo, of both sexes, were laid away on Mount Mercy when their earthly pilgrimage had closed. But the advance of civilization and progress soon caused their this church,

them.

remains to be disturbed. In 1855, the Baraboo Cemetery Association was organized; ground was purchased of John B. Crawford, in Section 26, and the bodies previously deposited in the three burying-grounds The first Trustees of the already mentioned were disinterred and removed to the new plat. Baraboo Cemetery Association were R. G. Camp, Ransom Jones, Irwin Crain, Thomas English, Edward Sumner, John B. Crawford and Benjamin L. Purdy, Mr. Camp being President, Mr. Purdy, Secretary, and Mr. Jones, Treasurer. Five of the ten acres of land purchased of Mr. Mr. Crawford received Crawford were surveyed by Josiah Dart, and laid out in burial-lot form. $400 for his land, $2u(i cash, ami the balance at the end of a year with 12 per cent interest. There seems to have been some misunderstanding concerning the transfer of title from lots in Mount Mercy Cemetery to the new grounds, as will appear from the following resolution, which appears on the records of the new association, dated September 12, 1855 :

Resolved, That this association accept no more certificates from Mount Mercy Association, and fill out no deeds to persons claiming lots in the same, until said association indemnify this association for lots thus deeded, or make

an assignment of their grounds to this association.

553

HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Mount Mercy

The difficulties were soon settled, however, and the bodies then lying ground were removed to the new plat. The receipts from the sale of lots, during the first year of the new association's existence, amounted to $373, but a very small portion of it being paid In the meantime, the ladies of the village had held a fair for the benefit of the association, in. The remaining five acres (the north division) of the original the proceeds amounting to $88.75. plat have been improved, and, in the spring of 1879, an additional ten acres were purchased of Mr. Crawford for $500. The present officers of the association are T. Thomas, President W. Louis Wild, Secretary. S. Grubb, Treasurer Catholic Cemetery.—-In 1872, the Catholic Church of Baraboo purchased four acres of The first land, situated on the Kilbourn road, and laid it out for the purposes of a cemetery. interment therein was that of the body of the Rev. Mr. Coghlan, who died while in charge of The cemetery belongs to, and is entirely under, the management of the church. the parish. in

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OLLA PODRIDA. Mrs. Peck was the first white woman in the Baraboo Valley. Capt. Levi Moore is the oldest living male settler on the Baraboo Rapids. Archibald Barker was the first white man who came to Sauk County with the intention of He is now a resident of the town of Baraboo. settling. The first bridge built across the river was at a point where the present bridge crosses on It was constructed, in 1846, of rough round logs, and was what the street leading to the depot. is known as a " crib bridge." Abraham Laezert was the pioneer Crispin in Baraboo. Daniel Schermerhorn also made boots and shoes here as early as 184S. E. M. Hart was the first school teacher. Dr. Charles Cowles was the first physician. In 1859, William Crawford and James Crawford, Jr., while fishing below the lower dam, A discussion of the caught a sturgeon which weighed 113 h pounds, and was six feet long. merits of this "catch " among old settlers brought out some pretty tough fish stories, one by Archibald Barker, who says that, in 1842, while running the first raft of lumber ever taken down the Baraboo, he saw in the stream, at a point just below the Lower Narrows, a very large They had, apparently, school of sturgeon plowing along, their backs being out of water. formed a line reaching from one bank to the other, and Mr. Barker says, when he first discovHe killed three very large ones with a ered them, he thought some one had dammed the river. hand-spike, and, while in the water trying to secure them, he was knocked down by others fully While upon the subject of fish, it may be well to state that P. A. as large as those he had killed. Bassett caught the first eel ever taken from the Baraboo River by any of the early white settlers. Thomas Fullerton preached the first sermon in the Baraboo Valley, at the house of Mrs. Mrs. Hill was the first person baptized in these Valentia B. Hill, in the winter of 1842. the latter parts, and her son, Ichabod B. Hill, was the first white child born in the same region event occurred January 9, 1842. on the stood which store, The first rat ever seen in Baraboo was found in Mrs. Garrison's The old lady called upon some of the boys, corner just east of the Sumner House, in 1858. Levi Crouch among the rest, to kill the rodent, which they did, with neatness and dispatch. It was a Baraboo Constable who, acting under instructions from the Sheriff, levied upon " I have some swine to satisfy a judgment, and, upon reporting the fact to the court, said ;

seized the hogs and have them in

my procession." LYONS.

The first village plat made of any part of the Baraboo Valley was that of Lyons, located It was recorded in April, 1846, and it was confijust west of the present village of Baraboo. dently believed by those interested that this spot was especially designed by nature for the future

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

554

James Webster built a hotel here in 1843, having become a resimetropolis of Sauk County. Mr. Webstefdied in 1853. Alexander Crawford came in 1844, and dent the year previous. He also kept hotel, and accommodated travelers and newerected a house near Webster's. Mr. Crawford departed this life in 1870. Thomas Morehead came in 1850. In this comers Diligent search in Lyons, which is now in School District No. 6. established was school year a ;

and inquiry have failed to unearth the early records of this institution of learning. George Holah, one of the school officers, has furnished documents showing the names of those who have taught school in the district from 1867 to 1876, as follows Francis Avery, L. M. Park, Delia Odell, Samuel F. Beede, Hannah Holah, Lina A. Flanders, Belle M. Flanders, J. M. Savage, Mrs. A. B. Savage, Mary Perigo, Jennie Dodd, Robert B. Crandall, William Barker, Prof. J. S. Kimball, Bertie Van Sice, Belle Remington, Emma J. Jones, F. T. Twist, G. A. Pabodie, W. B. Sprague, R. DeT. Evans, George A. Gross, Nellie Bacon and R. R. Remington, Jr. Mr. Holah came to Lyons in 1856 J. P. Atwood, Robert Lot, and J. W. Aldrich date Lyons succumbed to the inevitable, and gave way to the their settlement early in the fifties. more rapid growth of Baraboo, of which it is now a very lively suburb. It is to Baraboo what Brooklyn is to New York, and, occupying this position, it must be a consolation to its citizens to know that their village may some day receive the surplus population of Baraboo. The location With the more thorough improvement of its water-power privileges is all that could be asked. well, Lyons, as one of the wards will doubtless come additional population, and with the latter of the city of Baraboo, would be in a position " not to be sneezed at." :

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MANCHESTER.

The first claim made to any part of the land comprised in the Baraboo Valley was at a It was here, as has been point on the river known in early times as the " foot of the rapids." shown in the first part of this chapter, that Eben Peck, in the face of Indian opposition, and amid the surrounding solitude of a wild and unsettled country, determined to make his home, and soon afterward carried out that determination. The history of the water-power and the In May, 1850, a village survey manufacturing interests of this point has already been given. was made here, the field-notes of that survey as they appear in the Register's office being as follows

" This certifies that I have surveyed for Walter P. Flanders a town plat, called Manchester, situated on the northeast quarter of Section 1, Town 11, Range 6, with lots, blocks, All full lots are 66x132 feet; the streets are 66 feet wide, except that on streets and alleys.

At the northwest corner of the all alleys are 16h feet wide. the south side, which is 33 feet public square a stone is planted, which is 10 inches long, 10 wide and 5 thick, from which a white oak, 18 inches in diameter, bears south 37°, and east 91 links distant; and a white oak, 12 inches in diameter, bears north 29J°, and east 72 links distant. The southwest corner of Block No. 5 is 71 links northeast of a post in the center of said section, from which a white oak, ;

Fractional Blocks 1, 2 and 10 inches in diameter, bears north 24°, and east 85 links distant. 3, lying west of Front street, are in Brier and Maxwell's Addition." The foregoing was signed by Peter Folsom, Jr., Deputy Surveyor, and E. P. Spencer, The plat Register of Deeds, and acknowledged before John D. Perkins, Justice of the Peace. covered the entire quarter-section described, and in its time was among the most noted paper though in reality there were a few mills and dwellings to mark the spot. villages on record In fact, the place has by no means been lost sight of, but as a village it will probably nover prove Edmund Brewster will doubtless do his share toward rejuvenating it and should a success. the movement now on foot to establish a watch factory there result favorably, Manchester will at least hold its own with the pretentious little village of Lyons, which in early days competed for supremacy with Baraboo, and was distanced. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

555

CHAPTER X. REEDSBURG. A

gend—Early Settlement—Shanty Row— Manufactories— Schools— Churches—Post Office—Hotels—Banks—Eire Department and Fire Record—Ellinwood's Fair Grounds —Orders and Societies—Government—Bridges Over the Baraboo—The National Anniersart—First Criminal Trial— A Pen Picture— Cemeteries.

l.i

a legend.

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Far back in the misty past, before the dawn of civilization, two Indian hunters " noble red men " they must have been met in mortal combat in a grove of quivering aspens upon the banks of the Baraboo. Both were slain each died from the effects of the other's knife-wounds. Near their lifeless forms lay the carcass of a deer, punctured with arrows, its flesh still hot and jerking. deep silence pervaded the awful scene, but no explanation of the cause was needed. Over hills and crags, through thickets and across It was the result of a sanguinary chase. The anistreams, the lithe hunters had given pursuit to the deer, each bent upon its capture. mal finally slain, they quarreled over its possession quarreling, they fought, and, fighting, they Had they been wise men, they would have divided the spoils, one taking the meat and died. the other the hide but perhaps the smiles of a " dusky maiden " depended upon the result, and,

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this

being an Indian legend, such is presumed to have been the case.

The fallen braves were buried side by side on the crest of a large mound which stood where now stands the Mansion, or Sallade, House. Here for many years their sorrowing relatives and Among the mourners who came most frefriends were wont to gather and bewail their loss. and it was from the lips of one of these old quent were the mothers of the deceased hunters squaws that the story of the tragedy was obtained by the earliest white settlers in that vicinity. Recollections of the mothers' lamentations at the graves of their sons are yet recalled by residents of Reedsburg. In the center of the mound, it is related, stood a tamarack pole, fifteen feet high and five inches in diameter nearest the ground. On top of the mound, around the graves of the dead Indians, a trail several inches deep had been worn into the earth by the feet of the mourners, who often came in large numbers and walked in a circle about them, singing and crying piteously. It was a sad day for the faithful frequenters of this lonely spot, when the graves of the pick-ax and their honored dead were desecrated by the "implements of labor and liberty" The It seems but little less than vandalism. spade in the hands of their white brethren. bones of these scions of American aborigines, together with the gravel and sand that surrounded them, were finally consigned to the current beds of the Baraboo as a part of the dam which, in after years, David C. Reed was glad had washed away " For now I know what ailed it, and can build a better one; I'm glad on it." ;

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EARLY .SETTLEMENT. The Indian was the earliest known inhabitant of the region about Reedsburg, but his moc-

He left many evidences of his presence along the Baraboo, and when the first white settlers came they found his tribe in larger numbers than was The fall of 1844 saw the first white man in these parts, Don C. Barry, accompanied by a at least the first who came with the intention of remaining. man named Henry Perry, while exploring this part of the country in search of a lumbering locaA claim tion, discovered traces of copper in Section 1 of what is now the town of Reedsburg. casined footprints are no longer to be seen. at all times comfortable or convenient.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

556

covering the " find " was made and Perry left in charge, while Barry returned to his home. The next summer he came back, bringing with him from Mineral Point two experienced miners. In the meantime, James W. Babb and his son John came to the Baraboo Valley, reaching a point looking out upon the prairies from the Narrows Creek Gap on the 12th day of May, 1845. Proceeding further up the river, Mr. Babb and his son soon reached the fertile lands comprised in the tract since known as Babb's Prairie, and here they concluded to stop and make their claims. Mr. Babb, unlike most new-comers, was blessed with some means, and with it he employed parties then living on Sauk Prairie to come to his claim and with their teams break seventy acres He of land, upon a portion of which he raised, the same season, some buckwheat and potatoes. built a double log house two stories in height and sixteen feet square, separated below by an open space twelve feet wide, but with the upper story extending the full length, forty-four feet. The building was covered with pine shingles from the forests further west. During the summer, he went to Baraboo, purchased lumber, built a flat-boat, loaded it with provisions and In December, he returned to Ohio, and early in the spring polled it up the river to his place. of 1846, accompanied by his sons Stiother and John, the wife of the latter and Washington Early in the Gray, he returned to Sauk County, arriving in time to put in a crop that season. fall, Mr. Babb made another trip to Ohio for the remainder of his family, consisting of his wife, The party, after a long his son Philip, his daughter Betsey and her husband, Stern Baker. At the point where and tedious trip, arrived at "the Prairie" on the 8th of December, 1846. the village of Reedsburg now is, Mr. Babb soon ascertained that a magnificent water-power He did not have could be obtained, and he looked upon the section with a desire to possess it. money enough to enable him to invest in the enterprise at the time, but he hoped at some future day to lay claim to it. Before that day arrived, David C. Reed, then a resident of Walworth County, heard of the superior advantages for a mill site in this part of Baraboo, and, in the spring of 1847, he, in company with a Mr. Powell, came and laid claim to the land upon which In June, 1847, the the principal part of Reedsburg now stands, including the mill power. the construction of a dam and the building of a shanty first improvements were commenced in the work. In June, 1848, the frame of a for the accommodation of the men engaged saw-mill was put up, and during that summer a few accessions were made to the yet meager population.

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SHANTY ROW.

When Austin year that the famous " Shanty Row" was built. Seeley and family came in January, 1849, the inhabitants were Messrs. Reed and Powell, and the family of the latter; William McClung (the millwright) and family; J. L. Green and Keves Bishop (two single men). The snow was three feet deep and food was exceedingly scarce. few frozen potatoes and a short allowance of " cannel," with wild meat, composed the daily bill The weather being extremely cold, and the inhabitants thinly clad, hunger was, perof fare. haps, the least of their sufferings. The houses were of the rudest pattern, and afforded but little The rain and snow beat in on all sides, and during severe showers at protection from storms. night, the older members of families were compelled to protect their sleeping children from the torrents by holding over them umbrellas, and placing milkpans, buckets and other vessels on the The wind, at times, would whistle through the beds beneath the "leaks," to catch the water. apertures in the walls and almost blind the inmates with ashes and dust from the mud fire-places It was in the fall of this

and earthen floors.

The little log houses, five in number, composing "Shanty Row," were made of tamarack These poles had been cut by George and Edward Willard, of Baraboo, along the upper banks of the Baraboo, and had been floated down stream to where Reed and Here they were confiscated anil turned to building purposes by Powell were building a dam. the settlers, who were out of doors, without a roof to shelter them, ami had no time to wait for poles taken from the river.

Two apartments were erected under one roof; that is permission from the owners to take them. to say, two rooms, twelve by sixteen feet, were built twelve feet apart, tamarack poles of sufficient

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

557

length to reach across both structures being placed on top, thus forming a covered compartment The roof was made of elm bark, peeled horizontally from adjacent trees, and used in the same manner as shingles, two tiers of bark being sufficient to cover one side of the shanty. The cracks in the shanties were " chinked and daubed," with pieces of three-cornered wood and a liberal proportion of the native swamp mud, which, in soft weather, existed in generous quantities and, when this composition of bog and basswood dried, there was no necesProbably the most annoying feature of sity for windows for purposes of light or ventilation. one of these frontier dwellings was the basswood door, which, during damp weather, would grow much too large for the aperture. Mrs. Seeley remembers, on one occasion, when her door was " on a swell," having placed a large stick of wood against it on retiring. During the night, under the influence of a warm fire and drier weather, contraction set in, and the door "went to with a bang." The noise brought the sleeping occupants of " Shanty Row " to a sitting posture but, not hearing a second volley, their fears of an attack from Indians were soon dissipated. The houses in " Shanty Row " were numbered after the manner of more palatial residences

between the two.

;

large cities.

No. 1, which stood at the west end of the row, next to the river, was known as It was here that " the boys " came together and discussed the day's topics,

"Bachelors' Hall."

after which they joined in devotional exercises and retired to their respective apartments, to be

up with the lark in the morning. In No. 2, lived Mr. Powell and his family, consisting of a With Mr. Powell lived a young man named wife and four children, one boy and three girls. Brace, who afterward married the eldest daughter, a buxom girl of twenty years, and 210 pounds avordupoise. It is said that a gunny-bag, somewhat altered and revamped, figured as The third house, or No. 3, was the domicile of William an important part of the bridal trosseau. Mr. McClung was the millwright employed by Reed & McClung and his wife and daughter. In No. 4 lived Elder Locke, his wife and Powell, to superintend the building of the saw-mill. The Elder is said to have been six children John, Susan, James, Rebecca, Levi and Phoebe. His pulpit was a chair, and his temple the open the first to preach the Gospel in Reedsburg.

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The fifth roadway. He now resides on Hay Creek, a few miles northwest of the village. shanty in the row was the last one put up, and its first occupants were the family of J. H. Unlike some of the other settlers, they came Rork, who came in February, 184!', from Racine. They found the people in the shanties in moderately well supplied with provisions and money. and a state of destitution, the only eatable thing in the whole row being a shank of venison But a time came when they were as once shared their plenty with the less fortunate. they at Sickness and misfortune attended them they shared their provisions destitute as the others. Provisions could with the others until all were gone, and potatoes were all they had for food. not be obtained nearer than Portage or Madison, and there were neither teams nor time to haul them hither. There were seven members in the Rork family J. II. and Diena Rork, the father and mother L. E. Rork, A. R. Rork, Wealthy Elizabeth Rork, W. W. Rork and 0. 0. Rork, ;

;

the children.

Early in 1849, Mr. Powell sold out his interest in the mill to Caleb Croswell, a new-comer, and Mr. Croswell in turn sold to William Van Bergen the same year. In this year, also, the mill was put into operation, and the first lumber sawed was used to cover the mill and build a shanty, into which Austin Seeley and family moved temporarily, and which was afterward known as the " old mill house."

The completion of the mill marked an important era in the history of Reedsburg.

Its pro-

jectors met with many difficulties in the form of bad weather, scarcity of provisions, impassable

As already stated, work was first commenced in June, 1847. A upon which the dam was built. This must have been an agreeable surprise to the inhabitants, who, from the character of the ground upon which the village now stands, had about arrived at the conclusion that there was nothing but mud beneath them. The weather being cold, and working in the water a disagreeable task, a few of the many Indians in the neighborhood were employed to wade into the stream and deposit the material for the dam. They were paid for their labor in economical roads, sickness, etc.

feature of the work was the finding of a solid rock bottom in the river bed,

pleasing

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

558

quantities of whisky, which with poor Lo is a currency always above par, no matter how freely The mill building was raised in June, 1848, three days being devoted it may be " watered."

There were present representatives from all the then settled parts of the county, to the work. and it is of oral record that "a good time" was had. " The year 1849," says Mrs. French in her " Sketch Book," " brought a few other settlers. The latter So did Daniel Carver. Z. T. Carver and his wife and two children came that year. Mr. Vernoy and family, J. P. Mowers, Horace Carver and Samuel Chase located on a farm. D. B. Rudd and E. 0. Rudd, brothers, were among the pioneers, also settled here that year. They were single men, and they brought their mother and sister having arrived here in 1849. But Col. Strong, who came in the next year, finally coaxed that sister to keep house for them. The to accept the position of Mrs. R. M. Strong, and to make glad his home instead of theirs. The frost of Neither ever took another housekeeper. blow was a terrible one to the brothers. life's winter is gleaming among their dark hair, but no gentle hand ever strokes it away. Though wealthy and influential, they have turned from womankind, and live only to console Z. T. Carver, A. F. Leonard, Samuel Leonard, his father, John Leonard, and each other. George Huffnail, were also settlers in 1849." The first frame house, if we except the slab shanty known as the " Old Mill House," was It was built and occupied by Austin Seeley and family, and is put up in the fall of 1849. The next frame was erected by John C. still standing, being the residence of J. F. Danforth. Clark, on the present site of the Reineke House, and known as the Clark House, it being used It was one and a half stories high, and was regarded as a " bi^ thing," probably as a hotel. It was here that the first store in the place was located, a stock of second only to the mill. The goods were the property of goods being opened for sale in the bar-room by 0. H. Perry. The amount of merchandise on J. F. Sanford, now of Lavalle, who then kept a store in Baraboo. hand was small, and in order to prevent the annoyance of people asking for articles not on hand, a half-sheet of paper containing a catalogue of goods for sale was kept posted on the In the door, so that all might ascertain, without asking, if the articles wanted were there. spring of 1851, the store was removed across the street to a little frame built for that purpose. He kept a small stock of dry J. S. Strong was the founder of the next store in the place. The old gentleman's three sons assisted him. Two of the sons goods, groceries and crockery. are still residents of Sauk County. The territory of the present town of Reedsburg was formerly divided between the towns of Baraboo and Eagle. In 1850, a town of Reedsburg was established, named in honor of D. C. It comprised the present towns of Woodland, Lavalle, Winfield, and a portion of IronReed. The town articles were drafted in a ton, in addition to what is now known as Reedsburg. blacksmith-shop, and upon the top of James W. Babb's hat. The first officers of this town were John II. Rork, S. Kerstetter and W. P. Randall, Supervisors and Daniel Carver, Treasurer. Reductions of territory were made at intervals until 1854, when the town was included in its present boundaries. At this time, there was a great range for county seats. Every man, as soon as he built a house, marked out a court house square and expected his place to be the county seat. In consequence, there was a great deal of rivalry and jealousy between different portions of the county. The original village plat belonged to D. C. Reed and George H. Irwin, a relaThe tive of Reed's one owning the land south, and the other that north of Main street. additions to Reedsburg are Mackey's First, made August, 1853, and Dwinnell's Addition, made about the same time; Mackey's Second and Third Additions, Mott's three Additions, and Mrs. Titus' Addition. The village was laid out and platted in 1852. In the spring of 1851, occurred the somewhat famous saw-log war, or better known probably as the Baraboo war. It was then a common thing for early settlers engaged in the logging business to cut timber from the vast domains of Uncle Sam without his permission, and before the old gentleman surveyed and sold his hinds in that region, there was a wide expanse along the upper waters of the Baraboo covered with tall and graceful pines. Among others who cut The and rafted saw-logs from this section were George and Edward Willard, of Baraboo. ;

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y£7f.-J*/ (, eC^ /J?,(CX< t

REEDSBURG

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

561

building of a dam at Reedsburg seriously interfered with the successful pursuit of rafting, and it

soon became optional upon the part of Mr. Reed for rafts to pass over the darn. It finally occurred to him that it would be to his interest to prohibit further operations of this kind. In doing so, he would not only prevent the probable demolition of his dam, but it was in the natural order of things that the large number of logs then lying in the stream could be purchased at a low price, and made into lumber at his mill. But the Willards insisted upon their right to pass their logs over the dam, and when Mr. Reed, backed by the citizens of Reedsburg, positively refused them this privilege, they returned to Baraboo for the purpose of mustering a sufficient number of their friends to help them cut the dam and pass the logs over. In the meantime, the Reedsburg citizens dispatched a messenger to Madison for the United States Marshal, who, they supposed, would seize the logs, they having been cut from Government land. They were disappointed, however, when the Marshal appeared with a posse of men and ordered the'daui cut away and the logs released. An indignation meeting was called at once, and a large and excited crowd assembled in Sanford's store. Inflammatory, as well as conciliatory, speeches were made, but E. G. Wheeler finally convinced the crowd that it would be the height of folly to attempt resistance to United States authority. It is worthy of record that there was no recourse to violence and, although the cutting of* the dam was a vital blow at the then leading interest in Reedsburg, the citizens bore their misfortune with true pioneer fortitude. In July, 1852, when the Rev. S. A. Dwinnell came to Reedsburg with his wife and six children, he found upon the site *of the present village twenty-seven families and eight single men, 114 persons in all. This was the growth of three years. Following is a list of the inhabitants at that date, the figures indicating the number in each family J. S. Strong, 4 L. Gay Sperry, 4; Austin Seeley, 4; S. H. Chase, 2; Z. T. Carver, 6; 0. H. Perry, 2; Eber Benedict, 4; Peter Barringer, 4; Volney Spink, 5; A. H. Witherall, 2; P. B. Smith, 3; W. McClung, 3; A. C. Reed, 8; Dr. R. G. Williams, 7; Kindred Priest, 3; H. H. Carver, 4; J. Clark, 5; J. C. Bovee, 3; E. G. Wheeler, 6; W. W. Carpenter, 3; Garrett Rathbun, 7; Harry Bishop, 3; J. Mowers, 6; William Peck, 4; Aaron Hall, 4; Orlando Secor, 5, and David C. Reed, 5. To these must be added Mr. Dwinnell's family of eight, making the entire population, twenty-nine years ago, 122 persons. The business portion of the village was located in what was then a black-alder swamp. In the eyes of strangers, this was regarded as a drawback to the growth of the village. The people coining from Baraboo and all the region east, as well as those coming from what is now the town of Winfield and the settlement in the town of Dellona, known as Sligo, were obliged, in order to get to the stores, the tavern and the sawmill, to travel along a ridge of hard land from near " Kelsey's Corner " to the rear part of what is now the Central House, and around to the north of the Mansion House into Main street, near Strong's store, now the saloon and eating-house of William Roper. Main street, from "Kelsey's Corner" to Nelson Carver's saloon, was an impassable swamp. A ditch had been dug on the north side of it, which remained the only improvement upon it for two or three years. It was afterward so covered with sand that teams began to travel over it, but it was many years before it was rendered perfectly safe for teams to pass without getting " sloughed." In the summer of 1851, business was greatly depressed. It was a very hard time for the laboring man and the mechanic. Money and provisions were scarce. Lumber was the only article which was abundant. Mr. Dwinnell brought with him a large quantity of flour and a number of cows, which he exchanged with his neighbors for lumber, labor and hay, greatly to their advantage as well as his own. A deep gloom hung over the future of the place. With few exceptions, everything about the village looked '-slipshod, down at the heels, out at the toes." The exceptions were the new, commodious, painted Reedsburg Hotel, built the year previous, by John Clark also the two-story store and dwelling of J. S. Strong, which was also painted, and just west of it a large building being erected for stores and a dwelling by Volnev Spink. To these should be added the cabinet-shop, and a dwelling over it, of Austin Seeley, "near the northeast part of the park, now occupied, with more recent additions, by J. F. Danforth. This building was also painted white. The other houses were mostly small" unpainted and without cornice or ornaments. Most of them were covered with rough boards. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

562

The causes which led to the stagnation of business in Reedsburg and prevented its growth while other villages in the county were prospering, are numerous but a recital of them in these Bepages would only have the effect of opening afresh wounds that have gradually healed. ;

not the purpose of the publishers to revive sad recollections of the local feuds they There is enough to record that is pleasant, find to be a part of the history of every community. and, as it was not through the medium of personal differences that the village attained its present important position, but the result of liberal ideas and a close adherence to the mandates of the much-violated Golden Rule, it is proper that all save that which will impress future generTherefore we pass ations with the integrity of their ancestry, should be consigned to oblivion. over much that has been written concerning early personal strife in Reedsburg, and take up the This is ably set record of that which resulted for its good and bound lasting ties of friendship. He says " The first direct effort to save the forth in one of Mr. Dwinnell's pioneer sketches. It place from ruin was the organization of the Reedsburg Mill Company, in August, 1851. consisted of E. G. Wheeler, John H. Rork, Z. T. Carver, Daniel Carver, S. A. Dwinnell, D. The first five persons above named were conC. Reed, Eber Benedict and W. W. Carpenter. stituted a board of trustees, of which S. A. Dwinnell was chosen President and E. G. Wheeler Secretary. The design of the company was to purchase the property of Reed and clear it of incumbrance to put the flouring-mill in operation and give deeds of lots to such persons as were entitled to them by previous purchase of Reed, and sell lots to those who wished to erect buildIn order to effect this object, the stockholders gave a mortgage upon real estate to the ings. amount of the stock subscribed by them. In the month of November following, Messrs. Wheeler and Reed were sent as agents to the city of New York, to make an effort to raise money upon But Reed found In that intended negotiation they were unsuccessful. these farm mortgages. there an old acquaintance by the name of A. H. Irving, who loaned him sufficient funds to cancel the mortgage held by Van Bergen, upon the quarter-section south of Main street, and to Irving took a deed purchase of A. A. Mott,* of New York, the quarter north of Main street. of the property and gave Reed power of attorney to give deeds to such persons as had purchased sides,

it is

;

wish to do so. This delivered the place of the embarrassments which threatened to ruin it, and relieved the anxieties of those who had purchased lots of Reed and In the spring of 1852, Abram West, J. H. Rork and Z. T. Carver made an In order to raise the necessary arrangement with Reed to put the flouring-mill in operation. funds to effect this object, the farmers in the vicinity, as well as some of the inhabitants of the By this means the mill was runvillage, advanced money and agreed to take pay in grinding. It was a great convenience to the ning in season to grind the grain of the harvest of that year. people in this region, who had previously been obliged to go to Baraboo or Delton for all their milling. In the year 1854, J. and S. Mackey purchased the property of Reed, and the year The financial prosperity following they took in their brother, Dr. E. R. Mackey, as a partner. lots of him, or might

built upon them.

thus became permanently restored. Settlers began to come in rapidly. Money became plenty, and a large number of houses and stores were built. A. B. Smith erected the Alba House, and In 1856, Northrup & Young built a D. C. Reed and Dr. E. R. Mackey the Mansion House. About the same time came J. Johnson & Co. and J. V. large store and filled it with goods. The George Meyers opened the first furniture store. Kelsey, and opened dry goods stores. country around rapidly filled up with the population, and people came here to trade for a disReedsburg consequently became the center of a tance of twenty and thirty miles to the west. large business, and its commercial prosperity was from that time assured." A local writer, in the fall of 1856, speaking of the growth of Reedsburg, said " From forty to fifty good substantial buildings have been erected within the last eighteen months, some of which, for beauty of finish, will compare favorably with those of any inland town East or one 30x60 feet, three West. We have three public houses, one 40x62J feet, three stories We have thirteen stores and stories, with large and commodious outhouses attached to each. groceries, one ready-made clothing establishment, one cabinet, one shoe, one wagon and two :

;

Into whu-r hun. I* it htrl

( ;l

[|,

n tliro-

ynr- prrvk'n- I'V 11" nun fulMlliurnt ..[ the .uiulitiniin uf

bcmd between he and Mr. Reed.— En.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

r :] >

Two new stores are now in progress of erecblacksmith shops, all doing a successful business. Several large tion, and the building of two more large stores is contemplated the present fall. A saw, erection in different parts of the town. in progress of and elegant dwelling-houses are grist mill and sash factory are propelled by water, the former of which is surpassed by no mill The steam saw-mill is also in successful operation. Still, there is a great lack in the county. of machinery to supply the necessary wants." A year later, a local correspondent of a Baraboo paper, wrote " A grist and saw mill have been in successful operation for a number of years, and one steam saw-mill has been established more recently. We also have ten dry-goods and provision stores, two good hotels, one drug store, one boot and shoe store, one hardware store, one harness-shop, one gunsmith, one sash, door and blind factory, two blacksmith-shops, one wagon-shop, one cabinet wareroom, two churches and one seminary." In 1866, there were in the village seven dry-goods and two drug stoics, two groceries, three saloons, two furniture rooms, one hotel, one jewelry store, two boot and shoe shops, three blacksmith-shops, one harness and two stove and tin shops, with other minor institutions in proportion. Of professional men, there were three lawyers, three physicians and four clergymen. resume of the principal busiThe year 1873 was a very profitable one for Reedsburg. ness transacted that year was prepared by Mr. Chandler, of the Free Press, from which the following figures are taken Hops shipped, 2,837 bales, valued at $226,960 potatoes pur40 head of cattle, 270 chased by produce dealers, 20,029 bushels pork, 281,841 pounds of sheep, 25,000 pounds of poultry, 1,000 pounds of venison, 600 partridges, 11,000 pounds eggs, 33,000 pounds of wool, butter, 17,000 dozen of 10,000 pounds of of hides and 175 pelts, There was purchased by 13,000 barrels of Hour, 30,000 hoop-poles and 13,750 railroad ties. The books of the two hard and dry-goods and grocery dealers $214,025.98 worth of stock. About $10,000 was expended by tinware firms showed' transactions to the extent of $45,000. the ladies in the purchase of millinery goods; $8,000 went for jewelry, $14,087.99 for drugs ami medicines (and it wasn't a good year for the doctors either), $4,526 for musical instruments, :

;

and $2,615 for sewing machines. The growth of Reedsburg for the past five years has been of the most substantial character. It is now the second village in size and population in Sauk County, and, so far as the enterprise of its business men is concerned, has no superior, if indeed it has an equal, in the county. Its tasty brick business blocks give to it the character of a city in appearance, and remind one that the destruction by fire of the old-fashioned frames which formerly lined Main street was It is said the first brick building in the place was a small one-story conbut a temporary loss. It was occupied as a merchant^ cern which stood where now stands the Reedsburg Bank. Upon its ruins, in 1878, was built the bank tailoring establishment, and was burned down. Prior to this, however, the residence of A. L. Harris was erected by edifice referred to. William Dierks. Then followed Kelsey's store, Kreutzmann's saloon and Harris & Hosford's This brings us to the fire of 1878, after which Peter Byrne and J. S. Dearstore (veneered). holt put up bricks. The bank building was next, after which came Reineke's hotel. Barker's furniture store, Judge Stevens' red brick, Timlin's tin store and Brooks' hall and restaurant. The institutions of Reedsburg, however, have separate histories which must be distinctly All the sources of information have been exhausted to make the record complete and treated. reliable.

.MANUFACTORIES.

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As is already known, the improvement of the Baraboo River, at what is now Kellogg s Mill. Reedsburg, was commenced in June, 1847, by David C. Reed and Mr. Powell, and a year later, Some time in 1849, Mr. Powell sold out his interest in the frame of a saw-mill was erected. the mill to Caleb Croswell, who, in turn, sold to William Van Bergen the same year. In the meantime, a grist-mill had been commenced, but for the want of funds the work was often delayed, and for a long time the citizens procured their flour at Madison and Portage.

Mr.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

564

Reed becoming involved

in debt, Messrs. Garver,

Rork and West, who had been working for

They ran it for about a year. him, finally took charge of and completed the grist-mill. In 1853, J. Mackey, then of Schoharie County, N. Y., made arrangements for purchasing the grist and saw-mills, together with 320 acres of land adjacent to them, and 600 acres Mr. Reed, not being able of pine land, lying from eight to fourteen miles further up the river. In to raise the heavy mortgages on his property, was obliged to let it pass out of his hands. At possession of the mills. Mackey his brother Safford took of Joseph and spring 1854, the that time the grist-mill consisted of one run of stones, and the saw-mill of two up-and-down saws, The new proprietors put them in complete order, and imboth mills being much out of repair. mediately began to pay cash for labor and supplies, which gave a new impetus to the business and growth of the town. The nearest mills to the east were then at Delton and Baraboo and An additional run of stones was put in the grist-mill to to the west, on the Kickapoo River. ;

meet the increasing business. In 1855, the Mackey brothers associated with them in business another brother, Dr. E. R. In the winter of until 1861, when he returned to New York. 1861, the Mackey mills were destroyed by fire, and several thousand bushels of wheat were lost But the proprietors immediately began the erection of new mills at the in the conflagration. The grist-mill, thus rebuilt, is 40x60 feet on the ground, points where the others had been.

Mackey, who remained here

three and half stories high, and has five run of buhrs, two of which were put in when the mill was first and the others somewhat later, giving it a capacity for grinding of from eight hundred to a thousand bushels per day, or five hundred barrels of merchant work in a week, besides the regbuilt,

The property was purchased of Safford Mackey, in February, 1880, by John Kelular custom. The water-power is capable of driving more than twice the amount of logg, the present owner. The dam has been recently rebuilt, making one of the best watermachinery that it now runs. powers on the Baraboo River, affording in all from one hundred and sixty to two hundred horsepower. The manufacture of tight-barrel cooper stock (staves and headings) was inCooperage. augurated in Sauk County, in 1871, by E. A. Miller at Valton, and J. P. Stafford at Reedsburg, These parties continued the business, with some success, following the building of the railroad. up to 1875-76, since which time both concerns have been controlled by Charles Keith and B. The ReedsG. Paddock, with A. E. Miller, who holds a working interest, as superintendent. burg factory is the largest and most complete institution of the kind in the State, cutting 30,000 The firm supplies the largest machine barrel manufactory in staves and headings annually. The Reedsburg factory was deChicago, or any other part of the Northwest, witli material. stroyed by fire March 7, 1880. A new one was finished on the 10th of May, and is now in comThe main building is 30x60 feet, with a boiler and engine room 30x36, in plete operation. Twenty-one hands are which is a sixty horse-power engine, and boilers double that capacity. employed in the Reedsburg factory, and twelve in the factory located at Lavalle. These factothe large supplies of white oak, basswood and ash, to be ries afford a ready market for

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found in almost any section of the county, and their central locations place them among the It is quite an advantage to farmers to be able to disleading institutionswithin its borders. pose of their timber for cash, instead of reducing it to ashes to get rid of it, as was the case in early times. The firm of Keith & Paddock dates back to June 3, 1858, when they were in busiThey still continue the mercantile business at Lavalle. ness, as merchant-t, in Ironton. Reedsburg Brewing Company. Frank and Florin Meckler built the first brewery in Reedsburg. It seems to have lacked the merit of success that was desired, and its founders, while endeavoring to bring it to a greater degree of perfection, were so unfortunate as to see it In the spring of 1877, Frank Meckler and Fred Schrader built a second destroyed by fire. brewery, and had put it into operation when, in the fall of 1878, Meckler failed, and the They took possession property was sold on a mortgage, Hagenah & Geffert being the purchasers.

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March, 187'J, and at once commenced the work of making additions and other improvements In June, 1880, William Dierks purchased a fourth interest, and the Reedson a large scale. in

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

565

burg Brewing Company was formed, composed of Mr. Dierks, Henry Geffert and John and The most important feature of the establishment is the summer beer vault, Peter Hagenab. It was perfected at a cost of nearly $5,000, and situated a few rods northeast of the brewery. Here the temperature is kept at 40° Fahrenheit, is doubtless, the best vault in the State. It is a only 10° above the freezing point, and this, during the hottest of summer weather. complete refrigerator, on a scale sufficiently extensive to accommodate nearly 10,000 gallons of Beneath the brewery building proper are two oblong vaults, formed in the solid rock beer. some ten feet below its surface, where the winter's product is stowed in enormous casks. The The product other parts of the establishment are in keeping with the features above described. of the brewery, at the present time, is sixty barrels, or -,400 gallons per week, which falls far The trade is almost exclusively local, but very little being sent

short of supplying the demand.

beyond the boundaries of Sauk County.

SCHOOLS.

The first school in the village of Reedsburg was a private one taught by Miss Amanda, a It consisted of seven pupils, and daughter of Rev. J. S. Saxby, in the winter of 1840-50. was kept in a shanty twelve feet square, lighted by a single window, and occupied by Mr. Saxby's family, consisting of seven persons. This was a case of teaching under difficulties. In the spring and summer of 1850, Miss Amanda Wheeler, now Mrs. S. H. Chase, taught the second school in the L to the mill-house and in the Saxby house, which was afterward the Green It consisted of about twenty pupils. In the fall of 1850, a school district having been Tavern. formed in the village, and a small house built on Walnut street, 15x22 feet in size, now a portion of the residence of Patrick Carney, the first public school in town was kept during the following winter by R. M. Strong, who afterward distinguished himself in the war of the rebellion. This small schoolhouse served the district for six years, and S. J. Brown, C. P. Sanford, Seymour Sage, Miss Esther Smith, now Mrs. J. J. Nye, and several others taught there. During the summer of 1856, the district purchased of J. and S. Mackey three-fourths of an acre of land, on the northwest corner of Sixth and Pine streets, for .$300, and erected a schoolhouse 30x40 feet in size, and intended for three teachers. Thomas Mobrey was the builder. In December, J. S. Conger and wife commenced school in it, assisted by Miss Emma Tator in the lower room. Mr. Conger and wife were good teachers and excellent disciplinarians, and continued the school for three years. They were succeeded by A. P. Ellinwood, who continued two years, until he entered the army in 1861. He was assisted by Miss Alma Haskell. Charles Newcomb had charge of the school for the next year, assisted by his wife, and the year following W. S. Ilubbell taught, assisted by his wife. After Miss Emma Tator left the lower department, it was taught by Sarah Shaw, Francis M. lams and perhaps others. In the fall of 1863, Miss Sarah Flanders was employed to teach in the upper department, and her sister Mary in the lower. After this, Mr. William Gillespie taught a year, succeeded by J. Bloomer and George Gregory, each for a year, during much of which time Miss Frances Smith, now Mrs. A. L. Harris, taught the lower department. In the autumn of 1867, Orsen Green took charge of the upper department and George Gregory the lower, until the burning of the schoolhouse in February, 1868. In the summer of 1868, a new schoolhouse was built upon the site of the old one, in size 40x50 feet, arranged for three departments and four teachers F. Green, of Wyocena, was the builder. It cost about $5,700, not including site or apparatus. Albert Earthman commenced teaching in October, and continued in charge of the grammar department for six years, much of the time without assistance in his room. He was assisted in the intermediate and primary departments by various young ladies, Miss Emeline Martindale in the latter. In the autumn of 1874, J. H. Gould became Principal of the school, and continued in charge two years, assisted the first year by Miss Jennie Little and the second year by Miss Roxa Taylor. During the principalship of Mr. Gould, some half a dozen of his pupils were graduated in certain branches, and entered the State University at Madison. In the fall of 1876, J. S. Thomas took charge

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

566

of the school for two years, assisted the first year by Miss Taylor, and the second by Miss Anna Sneathen and J. S. Ingalls. Mrs. Bell Sheldon succeeded Miss Martindale in the Primary room, and continued until 1877, when Miss Alice Greene took charge of it. The Intermediate

Department was taught in 1874-75 by Miss Lena Little; in 1875-76 by 0. G. Schonfeldt; in 1876-77 by Willis Stone, and in 1877-78 by Miss Carrie Peck and Miss Anna Sneathen. In the autumn of 1878, J. H. Boyle, assisted by Miss Mary Nelson, took charge of the school. Miss Mary Neeley also took charge of the Intermediate Department, and Miss Alice Greene the Primary.

At the beginning of the school year, in 1879, a new department was created, known as the Miss Mary Neeley also Second Primary, Miss Hannah Weinzierl being employed as teacher. succeeded Miss Mary Nelson as assistant to Mr. Boyle, Miss Nellie Neeley being employed to fill the vacancy thus created in the Intermediate Department. In September, 1879, the School Board took adequate measures for carrying out the provisAddiions of an act of the Legislature providing for the establishment of free high schools. tions were made to the schoolhouse for the accommodation of two extra departments, one of which was immediately organized. The school system of Reedsburg has reached a remarkable degree of perfection- The average enrollment is about 300 pupils, the percentage of attendance being very satisfactory. The cost of maintaining the schools, not including the expense of building and improvements, is in the neighborhood of $2,400 per annum, or about $8 for each pupil. There are seven frame schoolhouses outside the village, most of them good ones. The Carver Schoolhouse is two miles west of the village, and the Jones Schoolhouse about two miles There are four east of it, while the Safford Schoolhouse is in the south part of Babb's Prairie. In these country schoolhouses in the south part of the town, nearly on a line east and west. temples of learning, schools are usually taught seven months in the year, for the most part by female teachers. Elder Barbour's Select School. This is one of the institutions of the past, but it will be remembered by many still living who patronized it. Frances Dwinnell Elliott, daughter of the late S. A. Dwinnell, who was one of the pupils in this school, recently wrote the following remfinely bound iniscence of it: "It was taught in the fall, winter and spring of 1854-55. volume of Tupper that I received as a prize the last day of school bears date March 16, 1855. pleasant upper room over Danforth & Shumway's store was the Seminary building, and, there being no cloak room, our various wrappings disputed with the blackboard for the possession of the walls. The only ornament was a board placed conspicuously opposite the door, bearing the inscription, Order is the first law of Nature.' The Elder's patience was often sorely tried by our failure to observe the same. He was an excellent instructor. I shall never forget how, after Now, if there is one in the class a tedious explanation of a problem on the board, he would say, After teaching a few weeks, that doesn't understand this perfectly, I will go all over it again.' he realized that it was not good for schoolmasters to be alone, and secured an assistant in the How well all remember her, with her person of Miss Mary J. Strong, an aunt of the Colonel's. plain, freckled face, and bright auburn hair, but with such a sweet expression' of countenance Her character was one of the few in this world and grace of demeanor as to be really beautiful. To my youthful eyes she was perfection that can truthfully be denominated 'perfectly lovely.' Main street was then itself, and as one too good for earth she is yet inscribed in my memory. Wegirls, in in quite a primitive state, and the mud was appalling to behold and wade through. consequence, adopted the bloomer costume, and a gent by my side, who was one of the boys in I believe he never buys nineteen yards for a that distant period, says it was vastly becoming. But in the breaking of winter the mud grew dress without wishing we had never doffed it. unbearable, even with pants and one day, at noon, we grew desperate, and, going down to the mill, we confiscated each of us a slab, and, marching up single file with them on our shoulders, we deposited them with due solemnity on the mud. There were quite a lot of them, and, by It should be inscribed on the laying them end to end, they covered quite a length of sidewalk.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. archives of Reedsburg that select school." And so it is inscribed.

its

first

&b7

sidewalk was laid by the young ladies of Elder Barbour's

THE CHURCHES.

The civilizing influences of religion have done much for the welfare of Reedsburg. Elder A. Locke, who still resides near the village, was the first to preach the Gospel in the place. The 12th of July, 1848, was the date and "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" the text of

The people assembled in the shanty of Mr. Powell, which stood in what is now Main street, almost in front of the old Strong store, now Roper's eating house. He continued to hold services here and also at Ward's, in the eastern portion of Narrows Prairie, and on the Little Baraboo, near where Ironton now is, for a year or more before any other minister came.

his sermon.

He lived during the time in a shanty which he had built a short distance east of the Powell The next

place.

County.

resident

minister was

Saxby, a Congregationalist from Walworth

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The Methodists. The first church organization was effected by the Methodists in November, The congrega1850, at the house of John Clark, the Rev. N. Butler, of Baraboo, officiating. tion was very small, consisting of J. H. Rork and wife, John Clark and wife, Garrett Rathbun and wife, Zabina Bishop, Phillip B. Smith, Mrs. Willard Bowen, Mrs. A. C. Reed, Mrs. Volney Spink, and Mrs. Peter Barringer but the membership was largely increased, and, in In the fall of 1865, the church erected a tabernacle 1853, the society numbered sixty-three. It had a of boards, 20x30 feet in size, at the northwest corner of Fourth and Locust streets. In 1872, seating capacity of about 100, and served them as a place of worship for eight years. It a commodious church edifice was erected at the northeast corner of Pine and Second streets. It was dedicated February 16, 1873, the Rev. S. Fallows, of is B5x 5< feet, and will seat 225 persons. At Madison, officiating, the text of the sermon being " He musfneeds go through Samaria." this meeting a subscription of $630 was raised toward liquidating the $1,<>00 indebtedness of the Following is a list of the Pastors since the organization Nelson Butler, E. P. Sanford, society. W. P. Delap, J. Bean, E. S. Bunce, A. V. House, E. H. Sackett, J. Bean again, R. Rowbotham, John M. Springer, C. C. Holcomb, E. S. Bunce again, O. B. Kilbourn, B. L. Jackson, R. Pengilley, I. A. Sweatland, John Harris, R. Langley, N. Leach, J. B. Bachman, J. W. Bell and J. H. Whitney. The (Joni/ regat ii malists. The next church organization that of the Congregationalists took place in the village schoolhouse, February 8, 1851. The Rev. Warren Cochran and the There were present, composing the membership of the society, J. Rev. J. S. Saxby officiated. S. Strong and wife, J. S. Saxby, wife and daughter, I. W. and L. R. Morley and their wives, N. Cornish and wife and three others, to which number S. A. Dwinnell and wife and two others were soon added, making twenty-two in all. In 1855, a church edifice, 32x50 feet in size, and It was built by Abrarn valued at $1,600, was erected at the corner of Third and Pine streets. West and Volney Spink, and was dedicated on the 18th of October, 1855, Rev. Warren CochIt was the first church building erected in Reedsburg. At that ran preaching the sermon. date, the nearest structure of the character on the north was at Stevens Point, on the east at Baraboo, on the south at Dodgeville, and on the west at La Crosse. In 1871, the house was repaired and re-furnished at an expense of $1,200, and was re-dedicated on the 17th of December of that year, the Rev. M. Bennett preaching the dedicatory sermon. The Pastors have S. A. Dwinnell, from January, 1852, to Janbeen the Revs. J. S. Saxby, from 1849 to 1851 1868 Warren year, uary, Cochran one year, H. H. Hinman one M. Bennett four years, W. H. Hinckley three months, W. Mooney one year, and J. A. Bartle^tt, who came in the fall of 1879. The Baptists. On the 24th of January, 1852, Elder Peter Conrad, then engaged in missionary work among a few small and scattered congregations on this then sparsely settled frontier, succeeded in organizing a Baptist society in Reedsburg. The first communicants were William J. Bentley and wife, Z. Craker and wife, Ammon Vernoy, Mrs. Eber Benedict, Mrs. James ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

568

Vernoy, Mrs. Daniel Carver, Mrs. H. H. Carver, Mrs. L. G. Sperry and Mrs. J. C. Bovee. The members were by no means well to do financially, though their faith stood unalterably at The old schoolhouse, the Alba House, par, and until 1873 they had no settled place of worship. Union Hall, the Congregational Church and the basement of the Presbyterian Church were used alternately by the society. At one time during this long period, the erection of a church edifice was seriously contemplated a lot was purchased and some of the timber hauled upon the ground, but the stringency of the times prevented the consummation of the plan. In the spring of 1872 the project was renewed, and this time with better success. In June of that year, J. N. Parker, the architect and builder, laid the foundation, and during the summer and fall raised and inclosed the building, which was completed the following year (1873), at a cost of $2,000, and dedicated October 12, Elder Raymond, of Chicago, officiating, being assisted by Elders Fish and Seamans. It was shown by the report of the Treasurer, Elder Barbour, that the indebtedness of the church At the close at that date was $1,100, of which amount $400 was owing to the building fund. of the evening service on the day of the dedication, the remaining amount of the indebtedness, The Pastors of this church, since the time of Mr. Conrad, have been $700, was subscribed. the Revs. E. D. Barber, B. D. Sprague, W. J. Chapin, Mead Bailey, John Seamans, E. D. Barber again, G. W. Lincoln, J. Staley and F. Hill. The Presbyterians. This church was organized in what was then known as the new schoolThe original house, on the 22d of November, 1857, by the Rev. Hiram Gregg, of Baraboo. members were T. Tait and wife, L. Gifford and wife, Chester Buck and wife, and Miss L. Buck. A church edifice, 38x60, was erected during the following year, dedicatory services being held in the basement in December, the Rev. William Lusk, Sr., preaching the sermon. The house was It was dedicated in December of that year, the Rev. B. G. not wholly completed till 1870. The structure cost $5,200. The Pastors of the church have been Riley, of Lodi, officiating. William Lusk, Jr., T. Williston, S. A. Whitcomb, William Lusk, the Revs. William Lusk, Sr., Sr., again, D. S. White, H. L. Brown and J. A. Bartlett. The German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1868, St. Peter s Church. and August Rohrlack became Pastor in 1869. The church was composed mostly of families from Hanover, Germany. They soon made a purchase of an entire block, just north of the Congregational Church, upon which was a dwelling-house, which was fitted up as a parsonage and schoolhouse. In 1870, a church edifice, 40x70 feet, was erected at the southeast corner of Fourth and Locust streets. The most striking feature of the structure is its eighty-foot steeple, in which hangs a bell weighing 1,500 pounds. The dedication took place on the tenth Sunday after TrinA parish school was erected near the church in 1874. The Rev. Mr. Rohrlack ity, 1870. taught the first school connected with this church. He was succeeded by Julius Neils. Mr. E. Lussky is the present teacher. The size of the school ranges from sixty to ninety pupils. A second Lutheran society was organized in 1874, consisting of about St. Johns Church. Among the first members twenty-five families, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Woerth. wife, George Stolte and wife, John Meyer and wife, Fred Dangel and were William Stolte and wife, John Fuhlbohm and wife, Henry Kipp and wife, Fred Niebuhr and wife, and William Raetzmann and wife. Services were held in the English Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church until the fall of 1878, when the society erected a house of worship on Market street, in The edifice cost $1,500. The pastors have been the Revs. the northern portion of the village. Th. Jahnsen, George Woerth, Dr. Deichman, and G. F. Engelhardt, the present incumbent. The ;

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membership is about seventy families. About three years ago, the Rev. Father White, of Baraboo, visited ReedsThe Catholics. burg"at the solicitation of«a few Catholic families residing here, and held mass in private houses. A yearprevious to this, Mrs. E. F. Buelow took the initiative in starting a subscription for the purpose of building a church in Reedsburg. The object was accomplished in the spring of 1880, a $1,200 church edifice being erected. The subscribers to the fund and members of the parish are the families of Paul Bishop, Patrick Tierney, Peter Byrne, Stephen Timlin, William Horkan, E. F. Buelow, Edward Timlin, Mrs. Frank Ingalls, Win. Boehm, Frank Meckler and Mrs. Loselet.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. THE POST OFFICE. In 1849, Horace Croswell received an appointment as Postmaster of Reedsburg. The mail matter which then came to this point was not sufficiently cumbersome to necessitate the building of a special apartment for it, and Eber Benedict's slab shanty became the post office; though it is said that Lavina Reed carried the letters in her pocket during the first part of Horace's term of office, because she and Horace were both young and much inclined toward each other. Croswell, as a part of his contract with the Government, took the mail pouch on his back and made weekly trips to Baraboo, sixteen miles away, the schedule time being eight hours. L. Gay Sperry was his successor as mail carrier. He reduced the time between the two This he continued to do for a year. When the " Strong points to six and a half hours. " building (now Roper's eating-house) was erected, and a store established therein, the post office was removed thereto by Mr. Croswell. Caleb Croswell, brother of Horace, and also a brother of the founder and editor of the Albany (N. Y.) Argus, succeeded Sperry as mail-carrier, and placed on the route his team of white and brown mules. About 1851, the change in administration carried with it the usual decapitations in the Post Office Department, and whether or not Mr. Croswell's head fell under the political guillotine, or whether he resigned the office, is not of At any rate the office became vacant and E. W. Young was appointed. He remained record. in office until 1861, keeping it in the store of Young, Northrup & Co., and on the 16th of March of that year he was succeeded by J. L. Green, who removed it to his store, which stood where Finch's harness-shop now stands. In the spring of 1865, E. 0. Rudd succeeded to the position. The office was then located by Mr. Rudd in Henderson's store, where it was attended by his sister, Mrs. Col. Strong. When the Colonel returned from fighting the battles of his country, he and his wife took up their residence in the original Strong building, erected at an early day by the Colonel's father, taking the post office with them, where it remained until about 1869, when John Kellogg was appointed to the position. He remained in office till 1873, resigning in favor of A. L. Harris, the present incumbent. The office became a money order office July 1, 1869. The first order was issued on the 15th of that month the remitter was Horace F. Chace, Reedsburg, and of the payees Swale, Cameron & Co., Milwaukee, the amount being $23.63. Since then over 12,000 orders have been issued. C. F. Sheldon has been in the office as assistant for several years. ;

HOTELS.

The first hotel in Reedsburg was a " tavern," for it was by this somewhat antiquated appellation that the Clark

House, built in 1849-50, was known.

C. Clark

was the proprietor.

The structure was one and a half stories high, and the entire population pointed to it with feelings of pride as the first frame building of note in the place, the material of which it was constructed being the product of the greatest institution for many miles about the saw-mill of Reed

—

& Powell.

The Clark House stood wliere the American House (the property of Mrs. Reineke) There were many changes in the proprietorship and management of this house, and it is not in the power of the oldest inhabitant " to recall the names of those identified with its history. Thomas Ingalls, A. P. True, John Schaum and George Stewart are enumerated as having been among the individuals connected with its later management. It was for some time the property of J. D. Mackey, who sold it to G. Reineke. It was destroyed by fire in May, 1877, and rebuilt of brick. Upon the death of Mr. Reineke, his widow succeeded to the now stands.

•'

management.

The next hotel was built by J. S. Saxby, though it was used at different periods as a residence by Mr. Saxby, a man named Secor and A. West. The latter sold it to H. H. Treadwell, who converted it into a hotel. By him it was subsequently transferred to John Sanborn, who sold it to Jehu Seeley. A Mr. Clark then came along and purchased it. but soon sold out to one Percival, who removed it to a farm two miles west of the village, and it now does service as a farmhouse.

570

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

It was built in 1855 by Dr. The Mansion House came next in the category of hotels. Mackey, and was a part of the property of the Mackey brothers. It was purchased and carried on by Ransom Smith & Sons, but in 1859 reverted to the Mackeys on account of the inability

L. Gaylord then became the lessee, and he was succeeded It is said the by one Cooper, concerning whom there are many mysterious things related. Mansion House, under his management, became a rendezvous for bad characters who inaugurated an era of systematized plunder. Charley Hunt remembers having, in the capacity of an officer, searched the premises and found portions of stolen harness and other articles furnishing satisfactory evidence tending to justify the general belief that there was "something decayed in Denmark." It is also asserted that on one occasion a wagon with a small party of men aboard arrived at the house one dark night, and the hostler was instructed to care for the horses and have them ready to start at 3 in the morning, but he was threateningly warned not to use a lantern or go nearer the wagon than was absolutely necessary in the performance of his duty. After the last member of the suspicious crowd had left Reedsburg, the hostler ventured to relate what had happened, supplanting his story with the statement that he did make an examination of the wagon and found therein the body of a dead man. When Cooper left the country, G. W. Bellinger came into possession of the Mansion House and converted it into a private resiHe soon afterward sold to Thomas Ingalls, who opened it again as a hotel. dence. W. H. Finch, now of Kilbourn, succeeded Mr. Ingalls, and he sold to 0. E. Briggs, who conducted it until March, 1878, when Mr. Ingalls again took it. In February, 1880, Dr. N. W. Sallade bought the property and is the present manager. What is now the Central House was built in 1856-57, by Alba B. Smith. It was then known as the Alba House. Mr. Smith sold to E. G. Wheeler, whose son-in-law, Ruben Green, managed it until about 1859, when F. A. Weir became the proprietor. In 1861, it fell into the hands of one Woolsey, who, it is said, was in some way connected with the Cooper gang, and under whose management the Alba House fell into disrepute. Woolsey, it is said, was no better than he ought to be. In 1863, N. V. Chandler rented the house, and, as illustrating the low ebb of affairs at that time, Mr. Chandler relates that he only paid $5 rent per month for the entire establishment, livery stable and all. In November, 1863, Mr. Chandler retired in favor of George Mead, who kept it till May, 1864, when Daniel Clark purchased it of a Mr. Loveland, of New York, who came into possession by purchase from Mr. Wheeler. Clark sold to Schwecke k Stotte, the present proprietors, who closed it as a hotel and kept a store in the lower part, making dwellings of the upper. In November, 1876, it was remodeled and re-opened as a hotel by Frank P. Ingalls, whom no one can conscientiously say does not " know how to keep a hotel." of the Messrs. Smith to pay for it.

BANKS.

The first hanking business done in Reedsburg was by a Mr. Ege and H. M. Haskell, both of Portage. It was of the wildcat order, and, like many others of the same character, went to pieces when Southern securities began to depreciate. In the winter of 1868, a private bank was established by Mackey, Rudd & Co. (Joseph Mackey, E. 0. Rudd and J. W. Lusk). Messrs. Rudd and Lusk retiring soon afterward, Mr. Mackey conducted the business alone until about 1876, when he withdrew also and went to Minneapolis, Messrs. Rudd and Lusk and Henry Geffert, Moses Young'and H. C. Hunt, being his successors. In the summer of 1877, the Reedsburg Bank Building was erected, the institution being permanently located therein. The present officers are J. W. Lusk, President Henry ;

Vice President; George T. Morse, Cashier. In 1863, Dr. S. Ramsey engaged in the business of buying and selling foreign and domestic exchange, and has since devoted a large share of attention thereto. In 1875, he announced himself in gold letters as a full-grown banker, and from that date to the present time has received deposits in the regular way of other bankers. The Doctor is also considered an adept in diagnosing a hop-yard, and, in his time, has invested many thousands of dollars in the article. Geffert,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

571

FTRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE RECORD. In October, 1873, in accordance with a previous resolution of the Village Board, a Babcock fire apparatus was purchased, at a cost of $6f>0 for the complete outfit, consisting of a truck, four six-gallon extinguishers, provided with twelve chemical charges, four ladders, aggregating sixty-eight feet in length, ten fire-buckets, two axes, two pike poles, one hook and chain, five The equipment was temporarily housed in Mrs. Wheeler's lanterns and sixty feet of drag-rope.

On the 15th of November, a meeting of citizens was held, at which the Babcock Hook 1, of Reedsburg, was organized, with Moses Young as Foreman, James A. R. Rork, Second Assistant; W. A. Wyse, Secretary; W. Warren, Lake, First Assistant Treasurer, and A. W. Sallade and 0. H. Perry, Chemical Captains.

barn.

and Ladder Co. No.

;

In June, 1877, a hand engine was purchased of the city of Fond du Lac for $350, which is now in use. In the winter of 1879-80, the Village Board voted authority to build an engineW. W. Rork is Chief of house, and the fire apparatus of the village is now properly housed. the Department, while F. G. Rodermund and 0. E. Byington are Foremen of the engine and

hook and ladder companies respectively. Following is a record of the principal fires which have occurred in Reedsburg In November, 1852, the small store building of J. F. Sanford, in charge of 0. H. Perry, The took fire in the night, and burning through the floor was discovered and extinguished. goods were badly smoked, which was the principal loss. The fire was thought to have been caused by a coal from the pipe of a smoker. The second fire was the burning of W. Warren's blacksmith-shop, in May, 1855, caused by :

concealed fire in a load of charcoal left over night near the shop. In December, 1859, the store of L. M. Swallow, standing where Horkan's saloon now is, was burned in the night-time, evidently an incendiary fire. In 1860, the large frame house of Stern Baker, on Babb's Prairie, was burned in the day time, caused by a stove standing too near the plastered wall of the sitting-room. December 8, 1860, the saw-mill, flouring-mill and storehouse, with 2,000 bushels of grain

belonging to J. and S. Mackey, were burned. Loss, $7,000, with no insurance. Caused by coals carried by one of the workmen into the lower part of the saw-mill to warm a rubber belt. In August, 1861, the large log house and granary of J. W. Babb were burned with all their contents. It is supposed to have been caused by fire dropped from the pipe of one of the harvest hands. It was the first log house and the second dwelling erected in the town of Reedsburg. It was In 1862, a small house near Maj. McClure's, on. Narrows Prairie, was burned. supposed to have been caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp left burning through the night in the room of a sick person.

April, 1864, Northrup's drug store, which stood where Geftert's old store now is, and an unoccupied store building on the west of it, were burned in the night-time, and it was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. February 7, 1868, the schoolhouse was burned from hot ashes poured beside the building.

No insurance.

A hop-house belonging to a German by the name of Meyers, near Babb's Prairie, was burned, with its contents, in September, 1868. In 1871, the meat market of C. S. Hunt was burned in the day-time caused by a defective ;

flue.

In December, 1871, the dwelling of Benjamin Bost was burned, with no insurance; cause

unknown. January 22, 1874, the house of Levi Waltz, in the southeast part of the town, was burned. June 12, 1874, Mechler's brewery and the dwelling of F. L. Mechler were burned. Loss, $6,000, partly insured. September 30, 1874, the hop-house of A. F. Scoon, in the southwest corner of the town, Loss $1,100 insured for $600. was burned. ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

572

May 8, 1877, all the buildings on the north side of Main street, between Walnut and Market streets, except Kelsey's brick store, were burned by a fire which started in the north end of

Peter Byrne's saloon, on the corner of buildings and seven two-story buildings.

Walnut and Main Loss $20,000

;

streets,

consuming three one-story

well insured, as most of the goods were

saved.

May 21, 1877, Peter Byrne's saloon and Reineke's hotel, on the north side of Main street, near the river, were burned, the fire commencing in Byrne's saloon. On the 25th of November, 1878, a fire broke out in A. M. Sanders' blacksmith-shop, and soon the whole structure, including the adjoining paint-shops, was in a blaze. An account of this fire is worthy a place in history, from the fact that it was the first conflagration that found the village prepared to combat. The flames were extinguished in ten minutes. December 31, 1878, a fire occurred in Harris & Kellogg's building. The printing offices of the Free Press and the Herald had a narrow escape from total destruction. The damage was estimated at the time at $10,000. February 3, 1879, A. R. Rork's cigar factory took fire, and the flames spread to the residences of W. Barstow and F. Moritz, all being consumed. March 18, 1879, the carpenter-shop of Hackett & Buckley was destroyed ; loss $3,000 insured for $1,600. On the 7th of March, 1880, the stave-mill was burned the last fire of any consequence in Reedsburg. ;

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ellinwood's fair grounds. In the fall of 1872, A. P. Ellinwood conceived the project of converting a portion of his land north of Babb's Creek into a driving-park and fencing and otherwise improving the grounds with a view to holding annual fairs thereon, and accordingly, in furtherance of the idea, partially fitted up a track but circumstances rendered the immediate fulfillment of his plans impracticable. The work of putting the grounds in order was not relinquished, however, and the track was completed in 1874. On the 6th, 7th and 8th of October of the same year, the first fair was held, which proved to be a success even exceeding the expectations of those most interested. There were 550 entries, thirty of them being babies. Mrs. Barnhardt's took the first prize for beauty, while that of Mrs. Bishop carried off the prize for corpulence. There were fully 5,000 people present. The next gathering occurred on the 3d, 4th and 5th of July, 1875, the 4th falling on Sunday. The first day was devoted to prize declamations, there being two series of prizes, and the victors afterward coming together in competition for a third prize, which was won by Mrs. Nellie Seeley. On Sunday, the 4th, the features were patriotic sermons by the Rev. John Bascom, President of the State University H. Stone Richardson, a prominent Methodist divine, and W. Langdon Sanders, a Baptist minister of equal prominence. On Monday occurred the commencement exercises of the public schools, which closed with a lecture entitled " Backbones, " by the Rev. Mr. Sanders. The foregoing is a fair sample of the character of celebrations that have since been held on each recurring anniversary of the Nation's birthday. Mr. Ellinwood makes it a point to secure the attendance of " stars of the first magnitude, " and it will not be surprising if he succeeds some time or other in capturing a President of the United States, or a real live Prince, to edify the people of Reedsburg and vicinity. Thus far, his books reveal the names of the following distinguished individuals: Robert Collyer, Prof. Swing, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Will Carleton, Schuyler Colfax and Robert Marion La Fol;

;

lette.

Fairs are held in the fall of each year. Association, has entire management of affairs. exhibits in Floral Hall.

Mr. Ellinwood, in the capacity of President of the Mrs. Ellinwood superintends the arrangement of State, and receives the annual

The Association is recognized by the

appropriation of $100, usually given to like associations.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. ORHKKS AND

SOCLKTIEi?.

— In 1856, a Masonic Lodge was

organized, known as Reedsburg Lodge, No. In 1864, it was transferred to Ironton, and was The charter officers of this lodge were E. G. Wheeler, thereafter known as Ironton Lodge. W. H. Young, Senior Warden Moses Young, Junior Warden. In 1866, Worshipful Master The charter a charter was granted for a new lodge, known as Reedsburg Lodge, No. 157. members were Moses Young, W. M. Giles Stevens, S. W. Henry A. Tator, J. W., and S. Ramsey, J. C. Young, E. W. Young, A. E. Markee, W. Mackey, A. P. Ellinwood, R. M. Strong, W. H. Young, J. Mackey, J. W. Lusk, W. W. Warren, C. A. Chandler, and A. W. Sallade. The Worshipful Masters of this Lodge have been Moses Young, 1866, 1867, 1871 and 1880; Henry A. Tator, 1868 and 1869; Giles Stevens, 1870, 1874, 1876 and 1877; J. W. Lusk, 1872 and 1873 H. A. Chase, 1876 J. N. Parker, 1879. The present officers are Moses Young, W. M.; E. F. Seaver, S. W. W. 0. Pietzsch, J. W.; John Kellogg, Secretary; N. W. Porter, J. D. The present memberD. D. Russell, Treasurer E. 0. Byington, S. D. fourteen of these belong to Baraboo Valley Chapter, No. 29. ship of the lodge is sixty The lodge has a very convenient Meetings are held the first and third Fridays of each month. It was dedicated December 27, 1879, the and well-arranged hall, built at a cost of $2,000. The late Col. D. S. Vittum, of Baraboo, acting Grand Master, conducting the ceremonies. Tlie Masons.

79.

It worked under dispensation for a year.

;

Rev. J. A. Bartlett delivered an able address entitled, " Freemasonry Justified."

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The Odd Fellows. In December, 186.5, a lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted in ReedsW. O. Pietzsch, Dr. Gaylord, John Hagenah, as Reedsburg Lodge, No. 135. NorthGeorge 0. Pietzsch, S. F. Smith and E. F. Bulow were among the charter members. western Encampment, No. 21, was also organized at the same time, the charter members being In 1869, the charters were surrendered, and the camp the same as in the subordinate lodge. was removed to Baraboo. Gn the 5th of April, 1877, the subordinate lodge was re-instated, with The charter members of the re-instated lodge were authority to work in the German language. W. 0. Pietzsch, E. F. Bulow, Peter Empser, John Hagenah and Frank Meckler. The Noble Grands since then, have been E. F. Bulow, W. 0. Pietzsch (two terms), A. Boehm, William H. Stolte, William Raetzmann and G. Oehlers. G. H. Shultz is the present Vice Grand There are thirtyFanteck, Secretary; William Stolte, Treasurer, and William Henrich, P. S. six members, eight or nine of whom belong to and attend the meetings of the Camp at Baraboo. The lodge has a neatly appointed hall, over S. J. Dearholt's store, where it meeis on Thursday burg, known

;

evening of each week.

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The first load of goods brought to Reedsburg consisted of two barrels of Temperance. The wagon containing it took the lead, whisky, one barrel of pork and a few minor sundries. and its driver was the avant-eourrier of the little band of pioneers who arrived a few hours later and took up their temporary residence in "Shanty Row," which had been constructed the preOne of the shanties in the row was used as a storevious season by Messrs. Reed & Powell. house and it was here that the devil, in the form of intemperance, first developed the skirmish It must not be understood that the line of the grand army which destroys mankind with rum. Of course, a few of the men occupants of the shanties were intemperate just the reverse. abhorred the name of whisky, and the duty imbibed a little, but the majority of the community ;

;

of consuming the two barrels of liquor fell to the Indians, who were employed to assist in building the dam, being paid in "fire-water," a species of wampum always above par with poor Lo. In the spring of 1849, E. G. Wheeler visited Reedsburg, and was entertained by the citizens in In the " storeroom " was a keg of whisky on tap, and an extra their usual spirit of liberality. He mildly rebuked those glass was set out for the Judge ; but he would have none of it.

present for permitting the sale of liquor, and finally, in his indignation, remarked that he felt That was sufficient. In fifteen minutes every person in the village was Mrs. Seeley says she present, and the Judge was given the opportunity he expressly desired.

as if he could lecture.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

574

Singing followed, and every one felt good. And never, before nor since, heard such eloquence. Judge Wheeler's was the first temperance lecture in Reedsburg. The first temperance organization in the place was effected about 1850. The society was

Meetings known as the Washingtonian Society, and embraced a large number of the citizens. were often held in the little rude schoolhouse on Walnut street, which was afterward converted

When the Congregational Church was into a dwelling-house and occupied by Patrick Carney. There were many finished, in 1855, the society transferred its headquarters to the new edifice. stanch workers in the reform movement, and, though it would seem invidious to particularize, the name of S. A. Dwinnell should be mentioned in this connection. His opposition to the liquor traffic was characteristically earnest, and, though he had many friends he made not a few enemies. It was the recollection of Mr. Dwinnell that L. B. Swallow established the first saloon in ReedsSwallow carried on the business in burg, on the corner now occupied by William Horkan. defiance of the statutes, and, in the winter of 1853, he was indicted by the grand jury, but Finally, about 1856, after he had triumphed over his opponents eventually escaped punishment. for three or four years, he sold his business, joined one of the village churches, "and," says He took to preaching finally, but soon fell from Mr. Dwinnell, " became a respectable citizen."

grace.

Probably the most successful temperance organization ever known in Reedsburg was effected 1878, when the Blue Ribbon Band was organized, with Mrs. Austin Seeley as The band now numbers nearly 400 members. Olive Rork, Secretary. Enthusiastic meetings are held on alternate Sunday afternoons in the churches and public halls. The Sons of Temperance, Temple of Honor and Good Templars have also flourished in ReedsJames A. Stone, S. C. Chase, N. W. Porter and others have been and are active workers burg. in the spring of

President, and Mrs.

in the cause.

Grand Army of the Republic.

— On the 10th of April, 1880, a large number of the

tried

and true patriots of Reedsburg came together and organized H. A. Tator Post, No. 13, G. A. R. The post was instituted by L. O. Holmes, of Baraboo. The following are the charter members W. G. Hawley, W. I. Carver, O. W. Schonfeldt, W. A. Wyse, James Miles, C. F. Sheldon, H. P. Persons, A. S. Brooks, H. C. Hunt, W. 0. Pietzsch, E. F. Bulow, R. E. Nichols, Peter Empser, B. Rathburn, Philo Lane, J. H. Fosnot, George Lawsha, S. L. Miller, M. H. Medberry, M. E. Seeley, D. G. Spicer, E. F. Seaver, David Sparks, H. B. Turney, George H. C. Hunt, Post Commander William G. HawOfficers were elected as follows Swetland. H. B. Turney, SerE. F. Seaver, Junior Vice Commander ley. Senior Vice Commander A. S. James Miles, Quartermaster J. H. Fosnot, 0. D. W. A. Wyse, Chaplain geant Brooks, 0. G. 0. W. Schonfeldt, Adjutant W. I. Carver, Sergeant Major; M. H. Medberry, :

;

Quartermaster's Sergeant. Reedsburg Manner Turnverein. Organized March 17, 1875. Charter members Henry Kreutzmann, William Raetzmann, Henry Liessmann, Henry G. Shultz, Henry Westedt, William Gade, Henry Reineke, Henry Beushausen, R. Tansend, C. Gehle, Frederick Vorlop, William Riggert, William Stolte, William Pahl, Frederick Moritz, Emil Lanz and Frederick Berg. The first officers were William Raetzmann, President Henry Liessmann, Vice PresiF. William Stolte, Treasurer William Riggert, Assistant dent; William Pohl, Secretary F. Berg, Assistant; Henry Beushausen, Zeugwart Moritz, Assistant; Emil Lanz, Turnwart and supeating-house, in the rear of Roper's fitted up was A hall Reineke, Assistant. Henry Two evenings of each week are devoted to exercises under plied with gymnastic machinery. Business meetings are held once a month. The memberthe instruction of a regular trainer.

—

;

ship has been as large as thirty.

GOVERNMENT.

On the 29th of May, 1849, a special town meeting was held in the town of Baraboo, with Lewis Butterfield and William Van Bergen, Justices of the Peace for two the following result years Lewis Johnston, for one year ; Charles Minchin, Constable Jacob P. Mowers, Sealer :

;

of Weights and Measures.

;

— HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

575

The first regular town election was held at the house of D. C. Reed, April 2, 1850, sixtyThe successful candidates were For Supervisors, Lewis Butterfield two votes being polled. (Chairman), Eber Benedict and Samuel Northrup Town Clerk, Horace Croswell Assessor, Samuel Northrup and Eber Benedict received fifty-nine votes, according to the record Town Superintendent, Horace Croswell; Town Treasurer, John H. Ilork; Constables, Alex. Murry, Charles Minchin and Jacob P. Mowers Sealer, Horace Croswell. :

;

In 1851, the town of Reedsburg was organized, and on the 1st of April a town election was held at the schoolhouse, at which 102 votes were polled. The following officers were elected Supervisors, John H. Rork (Chairman), Sebastian Kerstetter and William P. Randall; SuperJustices, William Randall and Willintendent, Robert G. Williams Clerk, Oliver II. Perry iam Andrews Treasurer, Daniel Carver Assessors, Alanson C. Reed and John Randall Constables, Alfred Leonard, Amos R. Sprague and John Kerstetter Sealer, Horace Croswell. In the early records of the Town Board (1850), we find that a school had been taught in School District No. 2 for three months, the wages as agreed upon between the Clerk and the teacher being twelve shillings per week, or $18 for the term. Reedsburg continued under town government until the spring of 18G8, when it was incor:

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porated as a village according to a special act of the Legislature, sitting the previous winter. The first election under the charter was held on the 13th day of April of that year, 107 votes being polled as follows President and Police Justice, A. 0. Hunt, 105 votes, and C. M. Gaylord, 1 Trustees, Nelson Wheeler, 100 W. Warren, 105 Moses Young, 104 D. B. Rudd, 105; D. Schwecke, 105 O. H. Perry, 65; E. A. Dwinnell, 41; G. Bellenger,l H. Smith, 1; Clerk, Giles Stevens; Treasurer, H. C. Hunt; Constables, G. Bellinger and W. II. Root; Attorney, G. Stevens Street Commissioner, G. Bellinger Surveyor, G. Stevens. :

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Trustees Moses Young, Henry GefPresident and Police Justice, A. O. Hunt Clerk, G. Stevens TreasP. Ellinwood, W. Warren, M. Finch and E. G. Gregory H. A. Tator. 1870 President, John H. Rork Police Justice, J. D. Mackey Trustees E. Buelow, A. F. Leonard, R. C. Lewis, Henry Geffert, William Stolte, and N. W. Sallade Clerk, G. Treasurer, J. V. Kelsey. Stevens 1871 President, N. W. Sallade; Justice, A. O. Hunt Supervisor, S. Mackey Trustees Moses Young, W. Warren, W. Stolte, J. Barnhart, R. C. Lewis and A. F. Leonard Clerk, Moses Young Treasurer, J. Mackey. 1872 President, A. P. Ellinwood; Justice, A. West; Trustees Austin Seeley, W. Stolte, A. Barnhart, Thomas Ingalls, B. A. Barnhart and G. Stevens Supervisor, John Kel-

1869

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fert, A.

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urer,

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logg

Clerk, G. Stevens : Treasurer, W. Stolte. President, A. F. Leonard Justice, R. A. Wheeler ;

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Supervisor, W. Carver — Trustees — H. A. R. Rork, John B. Clark, James Lake and F. Danforth Clerk, F. Danforth Treasurer, William Finch. 1874 — President, W. Warren W. A. Wyse Supervisor, W. Carver Trustees —H. Smith, A. Ellinwood, Peter Dangel, H. Halm, Ramsey and W. Gale Clerk, A. P. Ellinwood Treasurer, M. Finch. 1875 — President, D. A. Barnhart; Carver; R. A. Wheeler; Supervisor, W. Trustees — W. G. Hawley,* Peter Dangel, Thomas William Roeckel, E. Leonard and W. Stolte: Clerk, W. G. Hawley;* Treasurer, W. 1876 — A. Ellinwood A. West Supervisor, Mackey Trustees

1873

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Geffert,

Geffert, J.

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Justice,

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Justice,

Ingalls,

Stolte.

President,

S. J. Dearholt, P.

Wyse

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Justice,

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Buck, A. L. Harris, W. Stolte, P. Dangel and W. Roeckel

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Clerk, W. A.

Treasurer, M. Finch.

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1877 President, Moses Young Justice, F. J. Mackey Supervisor, H. C. Hunt Trustees— F. G. Rodermund, N. W. Sallade, H. J. Smith, J. H. Rork, J. H. Hagenah, Fred Schroeder Clerk, W. A. Wyse Treasurer, W. A. Sallade. ;

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•Resigned as Trustee and Clerk April 12; W. A. WyBe appointed to fill vacancy.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

576

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Supervisor, H. C. Hunt Justice, W. G. Hawley 1878 President, Safford Mackey Trustees— J. Kellogg, H. J. Smith, E. F. Seaver, J. H. Hagenah, A. P. Ellinwood and P. Treasurer, Moses Young. Clerk, W. A. Wyse Dangel TrusJustice, J. M. Stewart Supervisor, Paul Bishop 1879 President, R. C. Lewis D. A. Barnhart, F. G. Rodermund, J. C. Young, W. Roeckel, John Buckley and Henry tees Krug; Clerk, W. P. Briggs Treasurer, A. R. Rork. Supervisor, H.J. Smith; 1880 President, Horace J.Smith; Justice, W. P. Briggs Trustees— J. B. Clark, George Hagenah, H. Geffert, A. S. Brooks, W. Stolte and J. W. Gale; Gale. Treasurer, J. W. A. Wyse Clerk, W. ;

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BRIDGES OVER THE BARABOO AT REEDSBURG.

The only place in the town of Reedsburg where the Baraboo River could be crossed before The water there was the erection of bridges was just below where Kellogg's mill now stands. Of course a flood about two feet deep at a low stage, and ran rapidly over a rock bottom. In the spring of 1858, some emigrant families, bound for Narrows Prairie, stopped all travel. After camping several days on the high grounds, near reached here at the time of the flood. where the Congregational Church now stands, the water subsided enough to enable them to They took over their household goods in a scow belonging to J. VV. Babb. Mrs. Stern cross. Baker, who was then living at her father Babb's, came down with her clothes-line and assisted. The line was tied to the horns of the cattle, and, one at a time, they were forced into the stream and swam across. No one knows the value of bridges like those who have settled a new counThe first bridge over the river was built in the spring or try in advance of their being built. summer of 1849, by D. C. Reed and others, as a volunteer effort. It stood two or three rods above the present bridge in the village, where the stream was then quite narrow. In the course of two or three years, the land on the west side of the river became so soft in the wet season of Therefore, in the year as to be unsafe for travel, and a new bridge was deemed indispensable. the winter of 1853, D. C. Spaulding and James Goodwin entei ed into a contract for building a new one. It was about the length of the present structure, and was placed upon the ground where it now stands. It was made entirely of wood, the posts of the piers being put down The third It cost $300, $75 of which was paid by the town. through holes cut in the ice. bridge was erected in the winter of 1861-62, by John H. Rork, at an expense of $1,200, which It was placed upon stone abutments and piers, about thirty feet apart. was paid by the town. The portion of the bridge between the piers was upheld by two piers of timber, placed at the center, in the form of a letter A, with an iron rod running from the top of the A to the bottom This proved to be an insufficient support, and the bridge fell in August, 1867. of the bridge. There were teams upon both the second and third bridges when they went down, but they A temporary bridge was built in August, 1867, some ten rods below escaped without injury. the mills, which was used until the following winter, when the present bridge, made in Chicago, was put in by John Kellogg and C. M. Gaylord at an expense to the town of $3,000. In the spring of 1851, the town voted an appropriation of $100 for two bridges over the During the ensuing summer, the Fordham and Cole bridges were river, below the village. They have since been rebuilt and kept in built, partly by volunteer efforts of individuals. repair at the expense of the town. -

THE NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY.

"The first Fourth of Mrs. Belle French, in her "Sketch Book." relates the following: There was little with which to make July celebration in patriotic Reedsburg occurred in 1849. The men determined to raise a liberty-pole on that occasion, and regretted that a celebration. But the women resolved that a flag should adorn that same pole, they had no flag to adorn it. The men wore blue denim clothes, and they set their wits to work in order to find material. and so did many of the women, but this, after much wear, was not very blue. Neither could

HISTORY TOF SAUK COUNTY.

577

they get a piece large enough for the ground-work of the flag, so it was resolved that the stars should be blue upon a white ground. The men wore buckskin patches on the seats and knees of their pantaloons, and, to economize as well as to get pieces that were of a brighter blue, the women cut out the half-worn denims under the buckskin and made it into stars. woman's under-garment furnished a square of white and some stripes, while, by a little shortening up of the men's shirts, some red stripes were obtained. But the women did not know how to cut a five-pointed star, and, in consequence, the stars on that flag all had six points. Horace Croswell was the ladies' man and general confidant at that period. To him the women confided the secret, 'That won't do,' he immediately declared. showing him the flag. The national star has only five points.' So the stars were all ripped oft'; and, as there was no material to make new ones, one point of each was cut off and the others twisted into shape. One young lady, Agnes McClung, embroidered on a piece of cloth that charming couplet

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The star spangled banner, long may it wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'

This was tacked on the flag, and the work was pronounced complete.

Then came the dinner to

Groceries and luxuries were few, but the combined possessions of the settlers formed quite an array of dainties, though no one person could have made even a pie, independent of her

prepare.

neighbors. Rev. A. Locke delivered the address. His only trouble was his forgetting the exact date of the Declaration of Independence and, no one being able to inform him, his hearers bade him proceed and never mind it.' Otherwise the lecture was pronounced a success. The dinner, the like of which had never been tasted in this part of the world before, was highly enjoyed, and the remains of it were given to the Indians, that they might make merry too. The celebration was held in the mill, which had neither floor nor roof. But some loose boards had been put down, and upon these the people danced that night, lighted by only a few flickering tallow-dips. It was the first dance in Reedsburg." ;

" The second celebration was in Elder Dwinnell tells us of the succeeding celebrations 1850. The day being rainy, the assembly convened in the west wing of the newly erected hotel of John Clark, near the bridge. An able address was given by E. G. Wheeler. :

" The third celebration was held on the public square, in 1852, the writer giving the address.

Many of his hearers were displeased with it because he arrainged our nation as inconsistent and wicked in boasting of being the freest and most enlightened nation on the globe, while holding 3,000,000 of its people in the most abject and degrading bondage. The objection was grounded on the position, which the speaker regarded as false, that nothing should be said on the Fourth of July in which all did not agree. A picnic dinner was provided by the ladies. " In 1853, a celebration was held in the park, the address being given by E. G. Wheeler. The procession marched to the music of a flute and a violin. The States were represented by thirtyone young ladies, each carrying a banner with the name of the State printed upon it, the two who led the procession being dressed in Bloomer costume, the first that had been seen in these parts. After a picnic dinner had been served, sentiments and toasts were in order. L. Gay Sperry gave the following, referring to the representations of the States Behold the lilies of the field, how they grow they toil not, neither do they spin and yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.' :

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" The fifth celebration was held in the park July 4, 1856. The assembly was large and the E. G. Wheeler was President of the day, and J. Mackey Orator, and Rev. E. D. Bunce Chaplain. A. B. Smith provided dinner at his newly opened Alba House, now the Central $100 was spent for fireworks, which were sent up from the southeast corner of the public

day fine.

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This was the first exhibition of the kind in this part of the county, and was witnessed by large numbers. Taken all in all, in its results and consequence, near and future, that was the most important celebration' ever held here. It was estimated at the time that it cost the square.

people $1,000.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

578

" In 1858, J. S. Conger and wife projected a picnic celebration for their pupils.

It was held The writer on the land of A. A. Mott, some thirty rods east of the Congregational Church. addressed the children, giving them an account of the cause of the separation of the United States from the British Crown, with the blessings which had accrued therefrom. " In 1860, the celebration was held on the public square. E. G. Wheeler was President of The Orator was the day, J. S. Strong, Marshal, and the Rev. William Lusk, Jr., Chaplain. Hon. S. S. Wilkinson, of Prairie du Sac, whose address was regarded as able and patriotic. There were fireworks displayed in the evening. " In 1864, the Sunday school of the Congregational Church, being the only one then in the village, with a large number of persons from this and other places, accompanied by a band of music, went to a grove near Andrews' mill, in the south part of the town, and celebrated the day. Rev. W. Shumway was Chaplain, and addresses were given by Rev. J. H. Roscoe and A picnic dinner was spread, and we had an enjoyable time. The whole proceedthe writer. were under the charge of J. S. Strong as Marshal, just previous to his lamented death. ings " The next celebration was on the public square on the 4th of July, 1870, Joseph Mackey and Rev. W. Lusk giving the addresses. Several illuminated balloons were sent up in the

evening. " In 1874, there was a celebration under the auspices of the Women's Temperance Union of They assembled on the park at 10 A. M. and marched to Ellinwood's Grove, where the place. they were entertained with music and addresses by Revs. M. Bennett, N. Leach, W. Lusk and Another was held at the same time in Sparks' Woods, where a good number W. Lincoln. G. attended. " In 1875, the 4th of July occurred on Sunday.

The day was celebrated under the direcRev. W. L. Sanders was Chaplain, and tion of Capt. A. P. Ellinwood upon the fair grounds. sermons were preached by President J. Bascom of the State University, and Rev. Stone Richardson, of Madison. " In 1876 and 1877, they were under the same auspices, upon the fair grounds, and the Rev. Stone Richardson and Rev. Robert Collyer were the Orators. " In 1878, the celebration was held on the public square. The expected Orator, Hon. C. Pope, of Black River Falls, being detained by sickness, impromptu addresses were made by Rev. J. W. Bell and H. L. Brown, which were regarded as well adapted to the occasion by the large audience which listened to them. " The celebrations of 1879 and 1880 took place at Ellinwood's Park."

THE FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL. " On The Rev. S. A. Dwinnell, in one of his numerous sketches, relates the following Sunday, October 5, 1851, two men, by the name of Judson Baxter and William M. Reynolds, attached to a from the State of Illinois, came driving into the village with a four-horse team :

M., and just at the time our people were assembling for on Walnut street. Such a team was quite a novelty and it attracted country as nearly all the people drove oxen very general attention. Putting up their team at the Reedsburg Hotel, kept by John Clark, they proceeded very soon to Jesse Leach's blacksmith-shop, now the building of George Mead, near the Central House, and got him to work for them, I remember quite well that the click of his hammer was very annoying to the worshipers at the schoolhouse. On Monday noon, the two men started west on the newly opened State road to La Crosse. It was soon discovered that they had paid Leach for his Sunday work, as well as their hotel bill, in counterfeit coin, and that they had stolen a nail hammer and a small vise from Leach's shop. The necessary papers for their arrest, having been made out by E. G. Wheeler, were issued from the office of L. B. Swallow, a Justice of the Peace, and put into the hands of Constable A. F. Leonard. Just as night set in, he, in company with Justice Swallow, set out on foot, to overtake and

lumber wagon.

It was-at 4 o'clock P.

divine worship in the little schoolhouse at that time in this part of the

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

579

Arriving at the cabin of Richards brothers, a few miles west of where Ironton now is, and making known their business, they found them ready to join in the pursuit, for they also had received bogus coin from Baxter and Reynolds, in change for a $5 bill, which they had paid them for whisky the day before. After a long search in the darkness, they finally found the men, about midnight, asleep by a fire, under an oak, not far from the prairie in the south part of what is now the town of Woodland. Each of them had a loaded Sharp's rifle and a large knife lying by his side. In accordance with a previous arrangement, two of the company seized the prisoners while the other two bound them with cords before they were fairly awake. Finding no counterfeit coin in their wagon, the officers made a long but unsuccessful search for it in the vicinity, and then, harnessing the team, started for Reedsburg, where they arrived Tuesday afternoon. The prisoners at once dispatched Constable Leonard to Baraboo to summon witnesses, and to engage attorneys for their defense. On Wednesday morning, October S, W. H. Clark and J. H. Pratt, two of the best criminal lawyers, at that time, in the county, appeared for the defense of the prisoners. There was no one to appear for the prosecution. The District Attorney resided at Prairie du Sac, thirty miles away. Lawyer Wheeler had been called away, and L. G. Sperry, who sometimes took charge of suits before a Justice, was also absent. In this dilemma Mr. Leach came to me, desiring that I would act as prosecuting attorney. I told him that I had never conducted a suit before a Justice in my life, and I did not like to undertake it. He said that there was no other person who could do it, and that, unless I would engage in the work, the prosecution must be abandoned. Under these circumstances, I told him I would do the best I could to convict the prisoners. I first arraigned them for theft a jury was called, and they were convicted. They appealed the case to the Circuit Court a young lawyer of Baraboo, by the name of Clark, giving bail for them. The bail was forfeited and Clark was obliged to pay it. They were next arrainged for uttering counterfeit coin. There was no difficulty in proving their paying out the coin which we charged as bogus but wc had trouble in proving it to be spurious. The lawyers for the prisoners got a decision from the Justice that each witness called to give his opinion as to the coin should first swear that he was an expert in the business of detecting counterfeit coin. Among other witnesses, I called J. S. Strong, who testified that he had been accustomed to handling coined money for thirty years and had never had a spurious piece passed upon him yet. As he was unwilling to say that he was an expert, his testimony was rejected. I then called Dr. R. G. Williams, who testified that he was a practical chemist, and that he could test the coin by the use of sulphuric acid. He applied the test in the presence of the court, and pronounced the coin, which had been passed by the prisoners, to be spurious. That point was then conceded by the prisoner's counsel. They then introduced a witness, who swore that he was a partner of George Hiles, of Baraboo, that Baxter and Reynolds purchased goods at their store, on Saturday previous, and that he passed upon them counterfeit coin to the amount which we had proved that they had passed upon others. Upon that testimony, the Justice discharged the prisoners. The trial lasted three days, and nothing was left undone, on the part of the prisoners, in efforts to bribe the witnesses and intimidate the counsel for the Government. The Justice evidently had but little confidence in his own legal ability to act in the premises, and was fearful, that, if he committed the prisoners, he should perpetrate some error whereby he would be liable to a suit for false imprisonment. He therefore made his decision as favorable to them as possible. I was well satisfied with that, my first effort in conducting a suit, but was deeply indignant at the discharge of the prisoners, under the circumstances, and so informed the court. The next day after the discharge of the prisoners, the two Richards brothers brought to this village a bag, containing about a peck of bogus 50 cent pieces made of Babbett metal, which they had found concealed in some brush near where the men were arrested. arrest the culprits.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

580

A PEN PICTURE/ " How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view."

It was the 2d of July, 1851, that my childish eyes first saw its towering sand-bank. I well remember following the cow-path that led from Prospect Hill to the edge of the village, and gazing upon the fifteen or twenty houses that composed it. Two of them, Mr. Strong's and Mr. The others Seeley's (now Mr. Danforth's), were conspicuous on account of their white paint. were tinted in various shades by the weather, whose taste seemed to run in the direction of slate color, the front of Squire Wheeler's house having evidently had the most time spent on it. But what would Reedsburg have been without a Squire Wheeler and Squire Wheeler's It was the dancing-hall of the place. My first entrance into society (which unfinished house ? happened to be at a candy-pulling) took place in that same hall. We enjoyed it a great deal more than if we had been in a parlor, for we were not used to parlors. Mrs. Strong dear woman owned the only one there, and that was on the second floor, and only used on great Her sitting-room, with its " bough ten " carpet and big lamp, was quite bewildering occasions. !

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accustomed to bare or sanded floors and tallow dips. The Strong mansion, indeed, gave us a glimpse of city life, for it contained kitchen, diningroom and sitting-room, in three separate apartments, while the rest of us combined them all in What a pleasure it was when the sewing circle met one, with sometimes a bedroom thrown in. Young faces now I can yet see the merry group that composed them. there, or the sing grown old bright eyes now spectacled and dim and the beautiful old face of our hostess, now lying beneath the sod. How much good one such refined, joyous Christian woman does in to most of us,

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the world

Another dear spot was the schoolhouse I don't know who occupies it now

must be a lively place. house

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but if

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that little old dwelling opposite Judge Wheeler's.

it is

haunted by the ghosts of its former occupants it and meeting

It was for a long time schoolhouse, lecture-room, town hall

different denominations occupying it once in two or four weeks.

There my good father preached his first discourses there Elder Conrad sermonized, and Mr. Locke held forth at 4 o'clock. There the first choir was organized. That day " the men set on the women's side and sang new-fangled tunes that old folks didn't know," as some one the Lyceum of which L. Gay Sperry was the life reported at the Lyceum the next week There the Maternal Association held its annual meetings, where long before the days of Women's Suffrage Conventions, a Mrs. President presided, and Madame Secretary presented a report, with the usual begged-leave permission, while we children and our papas looked on admiringly, feeling, like the newly elected Squire's wife, that it was a great honor to us all. It was held the only one worthy to be historic. There, too, was kept the writing-school The teacher, a at night, of course 'twould have been much less interesting in the day-time. pretentious youth, knew how to use the pen, and often spent the recess-time in sketching scrolls and birds to ornament our copy-books. One night he drew a graceful swan, and just above its A. H. B., when a young girl, the merriest of outstretched wings inscribed his own initials " " What's that ? Goose Oh, I see, A. H. B. the group, ran up, ami glancing at it said ;

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then, ducking her head in her peculiar style, received the shouts of laughter that proclaimed a telling hit. The poor fellow never outlived the name while she stayed in that locality. It stuck to him like wax. It was during the It was from the same building, too, that our first paper was issued. It was than whom we had few better teachers. school of S. J. Brown, if I remember right It was edited by the scholars, one of each called The Tattler, and did not disgrace its name. Messrs. R. Rork and W. I. Carver, and Mrs. Bellinger, gender being appointed for every paper.

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will

perhaps remember

filling in their turn

there was our first daguerrean gallery By Friuii't'H I>\* inn' II Kllh.tl

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the chair editorial of that interesting sheet.

that old square house that Mr.

Then

Sage commenced to

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

581

was the favorite resort for the young men and maidens; but whether the pictures or Certain it the picture-makers possessed the greater attraction, was never satisfactorily settled. " were made there that have never been effaced. It is pleasant to linger on is that " impressions build.

the past.

THE CEMETERIES. The first burial in the town was that of the body of a man named Farringtno, who died at Don C. Barry, on Copper Creek. Farrington was in the employ of the Government Surveyor, who was then (1846) subdividing the towns into sections. The body was enclosed in a coffin of rough boards, by Mr. Barry, James W. Babb and Dr. Woodrough, of Prairie da Sac. On the 6th of February, a young man named David D. Howard died at the house Reed gave a tract of land for the burial of the dead, At that time, David of John H. Rork. the house of

opposite the present residence of Mrs. S. A. Dwinnell, which was used for that purpose five years. In this solemn spot were deposited the bodies of five adults and six children. Upon the

completion of the present cemetery, the bodies were removed thither. On the 20th of June, 1854, the Greenwood Cemetery Association was organized, consisting of S. A. Dwinnell, E. D. Barbour, J. S. Strong, 0. H. Perry, W. Bowen, Eber Benedict, J. L. Green, E. W. Young, Volney Spink, A. H. Witherall, L. B. Swallow, H. H. Carver, Daniel Carver and S. H. Chase. On the 5th of August of that year, the Trustees of the association purchased five acres of land for the sum of $40, of S. A. Dwinnell, situated half a mile northeast of the village, and in the autumn the grounds were surveyed and platted by S. J. Brown. Two principal aisles were laid out through the center of the ground at right angles, the remainder of the plat being appropriately laid out in lots and minor avenues. The lots were offered for The first interments were the bodies of Mrs. sale at $2.50 to $4 each, with but few purchasers. Atwater, foster sister of David C. Reed, and her infant child, in the fall of 1854 James Cottington, February 12, 1855, and two children whose names are not remembered. The grounds were consecrated on the 9th of May, 1856, a touching and appropriate address being delivered by Elder Dwinnell. In May, 1868, the Trustees purchased of Mr. Dwinnell, an additional three acres of land for $150. The grounds were soon platted and the entire eight acres inclosed. A row of maples was planted along the entrance side of the tract, in April, 1869, and the place was otherwise cultivated and beautified. In 1873, there had been 360 burials, of which 189 were of adults. In May, 1868, the German Lutheran Society purchased of S. A. Dwinnell two acres of land adjoining the Greenwood Cemetery on the south, for the sum of $100, and the first interment was made in November of that year. Among the first burials was the body of D. Schweke, in April following. He was a leader in the society, and was deeply interested in the purchase of the grounds. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

CHAPTER XI. THE SAUK VILLAGES. Early History— Prairie dtt Sac, or Upper Satik: Early Settlement and Subsequent Growth— The Old Court House— The First Staging— General Notes— The Bridge— Postoffice and Postmasters— Schools— Manufacturing— Hotels— Societies— Churches. Sauk City, or Lower Sauk: Early' Settlement and Growth— Causus Celebre— The Old Military Company— A Murder— Comparative Notes— Government— Hotels— Manufactories— Post Office— The Bridge— Public School— Fire Company and Fires— Socie. ties and Churches— Saukyille, or Middle Sauk. This locality, including the above villages, or village and burgs, with their euphonious titles, for here the first emigrants pitched their tents, in 1838 and 1839, and here the first improvements that amounted to anything were made, and for many years these points were a sort of commercial metropolis or center for the entire adjoining county. When the surveyors for the " Superior City " fiasco came to the old tramping-grounds of Black Hawk, on the bold and imposing bluffs extending along the east bank of the Wisconsin,

may be justly called the site of the parent settlement of Sauk County;

they beheld spread out before them to the west, as far as their vision could reach beyond the river, one of nature's most beautiful panoramas; a land to them then denied, which gave promise, through the perfection of its natural resources, of a future that would some day become excellent in every detail of civilization, if not celebrated in the annals of history. That condition, then only so dimly foreshadowed, has at last been realized scarcely half a decade has passed by, and the scenes that then only resounded to the savage cries of wild animals, and the blood-curdling yells of the aborigines, now re-echo the plow-boy's whistle, the faithful call of domestic animals, the constant whir of busy machinery, and the joyous shouts of happy school children, or the ;

laborer's voice.

Forty years ago, the wild flowers bloomed in countless profusion and variety on these prai-

and civilized man had scarcely invaded the precincts of virgin nature now all is changed the whole country teems with the fruits of peace and industry, and myriads of houses dot the What a marvelous transformation is this, and how landscape, the dwellings of happy families. ries,

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seemingly impossible and yet the country is almost aged already, so precocious has been its development and very many of those who began the work of taming the wilderness, and thus Fortunately for them gave the first impetus to the steps of infant progress, are now no more. and their successors, history comes to the rescue and furnishes a meed of praise, and perpetuates the record of their efforts and achievements for the instruction and entertainment of their ;

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posterity.

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When we pause to think that this beautiful country now completely conquered by the white man's hand, and yielding abundantly the various productions needed to supply the demands of his growth was but a few short years ago only a haunt for wild beasts and the unrestrained sons Neither can the efforts of those who first of the forest, we can scarcely comprehend the change. invaded the land and turned up the native soil to the sun's mellowing rays be understood by the young of to-day. Only those who have been here from the first, and seen the gradual progress that the passing years have wrought, can fully realize the change and appreciate the struggles Then, men here had almost to fight day by and sufferings of nearly half a decade in the past. day for the barest necessities while they were making homes for themselves and their successors, and paving the way for a future of successful effort, in the work of utilizing nature's resources,

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HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY

583

Of the men who first came here in adventurous youth, but few remain to tell the tales of living in a "dug-out," or lying down to sleep with the canopy of to supply

man's necessities.

heaven for a covering, and the howls of wolves to disturb their slumbers. All the past seems but a phantom of the mind, a creation of some idle moment when compared with the realities of to-day yet such is the history of progress and civilization almost everywhere; the scenes of the past forty-one years' growth here are but a repetition in the main of the vast work of development that has been going on for nearly three hundred years in this country, and that even now is coursing onward through the mighty West. Those who first stuck claim-stakes here were Americans, or Yankees, a restless, adventurous kind of people, who are ever fond of change and new scenes, and for whom a pioneer life is Many of these, disliking the restraints and incumbrances replete with a certain wild enjoyment. of an older civilization, as the country improves go on farther to the front, and finally end their Had they but located lives far from the place of beginning, perchance, in a wild, new country. permanently somewhere, and let the youths of their families do the advance work, they might have lived to see and enjoy the results of their early efforts. Yet, perhaps it is well that the country is large enough, and life broad enough, to allow every man at this age to select a place to suit his fancy and convenience, even though his nocion may not be productive of lasting good to himself, or those who may have to depend on him. ;

THE EARLY HISTORY. Jonathan Hatch, one of the Superior City surveying party, crossed over to Sauk Prairie, at or near this point, at the time the survey of that paper city was being made, on a prospecting expedition but, as the land had not been secured as yet by treaty from its Indian owners and occupants, he did not remain. However, nothing absolutely authentic relating to this matter is known, and, as Mr. Hatch is dead, nothing further will be known. Who the parties actually were who came here and made the first claims, it is not easy to decide, owing to different accounts but that none came here before 1838 seems very evident, for the treaty securing these lands from the Indians was not ratified before that time, and, consequently, any settler coming here previously would have been in danger of losing his life. It appears to be the prevailing opinion that James S. Alban with his wife and three children were the first family that settled here; they, it is said, arrived here in December, 1838, and crossed the river on the ice. Although they were, in all probability, the first white family who came, yet they were by no means the first white persons, for their advent was heralded by a number of young and old men, who had come, during the spring and summer of 1838, and made claims extending back from the banks of the Wisconsin, and who were living in a dug-out Perhaps a brief near the banks of the river, where the thrifty town of Sauk City now stands. description of this primitive habitation will not come amiss here. The dug-out is a mode of dwelling often adopted on the frontiers, when the people have little time and less money with which to put up a comfortable house, or where there is so little certainty of life and property being left unmolested by Indian depredations and prairie fires, that it does not appear advisable to erect anything more expensive they are usually made by digging a hole in the ground to the depth of three or four feet, then rolling up logs around and above this hole, and covering the whole with almost anything that will keep the water out. This sort of habitation is used almost exclusively on the plains, owing to the scarcity of timber, etc., but though it furnishes protection from sun, wind and rain, yet it is but a poor excuse for a dwelling, and is hardly to be tolerated by any but the hardy frontiersman and hunters, who can eat or sleep almost anywhere. The "dug-out" of our subject, is said to have been made by James Ensminger and Thomas Sanser, in June "or July, 1838, they having come here to do some breaking (the first done there) for a Mr. Berry Haney, who, 'with Jonathan Taylor and Solomon Shore, came to this point quite early in the spring of 1838. Haney laid claim to the land where Sauk City now stands, and Shore and Taylor made each a claim next above Haney's. During this summer It is said that

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

584

and the following winter and spring, H. F. Crossman, William May, D. B. Crocker, Burk Fairchild, I. B. Harner, N. Lathrop, Mr. Hunter and a few others came in. In the spring or summer of 1839, Albert Skinner put in an appearance with his family, Sauk, and built, or bought out J. S. Alban, and took the single men to This was the second family that settled here. Soon after, Charles Parks and family came and built, or moved into a house built by D. B. Crocker, on his claim, a part of which is now a part of " Prairie du Sac " Village. This was the first house erected at Prairie du Sac, but as to who really built it, that must remain unknown suffice it to say, it stood on the lot now occupied by Jacob Ochsner. About the last of June, Jonathan Hatch and family moved in, going at once into a large cabin which Mr. Hatch and H. F. Crossman had previously erected, where a house now stands, on the property of Miles Keyser, a little south of Prairie du Sac, or Upper Sauk. During this season, Charles 0. Baxter, Joseph Denson, William G. Simmons and Mr. Haney and family, and Cyrus Leland and George Cargel and their families moved in, with perhaps a few others, making, in 1839, a settlement on the present village sites and adjacent, of not more than forty persons, all told. However, considering the difficulties to be met and overcome by emigrants at that time, when the greater part of the entire State was unbroken wilderness, traveled by Indian trails alone, this may be regarded as a very good showing, and speaks volumes for the enterprise and push of the pioneers. Of those mentioned above, not a single individual now lives here, unless we mention Mrs. Judge Quimby, one of the family of Cyrus Leland, then a mere child, and Mrs. A. Hill, daughter of J. Hatch. The majority of the first comers are dead the others have moved away, and their places have been filled by new forms and faces during the constant changes which time is working everywhere. The first celebration and jollification in the county, according to the white man's idea, was indulged in here on the 4th of July, 1839, and probably every settler in the county participated in commemoration of the great national event. About twenty-five grown persons are said to have been present, including the few women in the community. That they had a glorious time cannot be doubted, although they had neither cannon nor fireworks, nor the present national plague, the small boy and firecracker neither did a brass band regale their senses, and, very likely, not even the military fife and drum stirred the patriotic pulse; yet it was an occasion of good-fellowship, and an expression of sincere patriotism. The demolition of baked beans and corn bread, together with the recounting of their various experiences, it may be supposed, constituted the chief business of the day.

and

settled at Lower

board, a blessing to them, as they would testify, were they here.

;

PRAIRIE DU SAC, OR UPPER SAUK. This village is one of the most naturally attractive, as well as pleasantly located, in the The streets are nearly all broad, and richly shaded with stately trees, the growth of forty years and the entire aspect of the place is one that Goldsmith would have delighted to describe, so quietly restful and peaceful is the scene, and so far removed from the restless and more pretentious activities of large commercial centers. To the north, east and south, the broad Wisconsin trails its lazy, tortuous way throughout the land, basking like a silvery serpent, beneath the sun's glorious beams, while to the west extends Sauk Prairie, the richest portion of Sauk County, presenting to the eye a most magnificent rural view. Any lover of nature will acknowledge the perfection and beauty of the whole picture, and, perchance, may indulge a sigh that all the world, and every place in particular, is not so happily conditioned. The inhabitants here are, with a few exceptions, of the stanch old New England stock, or are representatives of the Eastern States, all well known in our vernacular as Yankees, who have dropped out of the ever westward -flowing tide of their brotherhood, and settled down here. Some of them, but a few, however, came to the country previous to 1845, there being, all told, not more than four or five. They are Archie Hill, J. I. Waterbury, George Owens and D. K. county.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

5K.f>

Baxter. The remainder are recruits of a much later day. The intellectual and moral standing of the inhabitants are exceptionally good, there being, for a place of its size, excellent educational facilities, and besides, two flourishing churches, and one other church, now not in a

healthy condition. The amount of business transacted here, and goods sold, is equal to that of any place of its size in the county, and, in point of fact, it is claimed by many that the place has a more Almost every class of busiextensive trade by far than any other of equal size in the county. ness is represented and will be mentioned further on.

Early Settlement and Subsequent Growth. In 1839, D. B. Crocker, who first laid claim to the land where the principal part of the village now stands, laid out a part of his claim in village lots and streets, thereby taking the From this time forward, this point began to initial step toward the upbuilding of a village. assume proportions, and, for a time, was the leading burg on Sauk Prairie. In the fall of 1839 or the spring of 1840, Mr. Crocker, who, it appears, was quite enterprising, put up a log building and brought in a small stock of merchandise, this being not only the first store in the county, but the first one, according to all accounts, this side of Madison. Such an undertaking was then attended with a great deal of difficulty, for nearly everything had to be brought from Milwaukee over the most abominable roads imaginable. The store During building stood a little south of the Baxter House, and was torn down two years ago. the above-mentioned time, John LeMeassure and William Frink came and bought an undivided The winter of 1839-40 was very half of Mr. Crocker's claim, and proceeded to erect cabins. severe.

In 1840, Joshua Abbott came here, and, with Mr. Archie Hill, who also came this year, erected a frame building for a hotel, the land upon which it stood being donated by D. B. Crocker & Co. In the spring of 1841, Mr. Abbott moved his family here and opened the hotel,

The building was mainthis being the first frame building, as well as tavern, in the county. It tained in this capacity but a few years, it being converted, eventually, into a tenant house. now owned by Mrs. Drew, and occupied as a photograph gallery and the residence of Dr.

Whitford. In 1840, William Frink built and started that much-needed thing on the frontiers, a blackThe officiatsmith-shop. This shop stood where his successor, T. Kelsey's, shop now stands. Here, all the first ing mechanic was a man by the name of Axtell, who came about this time. settlers came to get their plows, chains, etc., mended, and, very likely, many of them received here their first introduction to the weight and virtues of a sledge-hammer, when it had to be wielded for a couple of hours or so. During this year, 1840, William Simmons went oft' and brought back a wife, then bought out Charles Parks, and went to keeping house this was the first marriage of any one in these ;

parts.

The first mail received in the county was brought here in 1840, from Madison, by William Frink, who carried it on horseback. It is related that, in coming through at one time, he lost the road and wandered over the hills, until finally, at night, he came to the banks of the Wisconsin, where he lay out in a terrible storm, not knowing where to cross. The mail was, at that time, distributed by

Cyrus Leland. In 1840, Lyman Crossman was appointed Justice of the Peace, and about two years after, having married two or three couples, he was married himself, his wife being the present Mrs. George Owens. About the time of his marriage, he was appointed Postmaster, and very soon This hotel after he went to keeping hotel in the building which had been Mr. Crocker's store. had been started the year before, by two new-comers, who bought out Crocker. Hubbard and Seymour they soon after disposed of it to a Mr. Shaw, from whom Mr. Crossman took it. Here the first regular post office was kept. The building, after passing through several hands, was finally demolished two years ago. ;

586

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

Previous to this, in 1840 or 1841, a Methodist itinerant preacher, a Mr. Fullerton, put in his appearance, and held the first religious services here, probably at the house of Charles Parks. Since those first devotional exercises, so very many years ago, various thriving societies have sprung into existence, and where once great difficulty was experienced in the enjoyment of religious privileges, now every opportunity is offered for divine worship; such are the present blessings, and such is the state of advancement. A wagon-shop was one of the first mechanical institutions of the place. It was opened by George Owen, in 1843, and to this gentleman belongs the distinction of having made the constructed on modern principles, made in the county. As in those days, first wagon, everything was made in a very thorough manner, of the best material to be had, this wagon was, doubtless, a first-class vehicle.

To trace out connectedly the various business developments as well as social conditions of however, the place from year to year as they came into existence, is almost literally impossible ;

the purpose of the work to give a fair index to the general early growth by tracing out submanner. Messrs. Hubbard & Seymour, when they came in, purchased a part of the Crocker claim, to which they added a wing, and continued the it is

jects, not individuals solely, in an impartial

store until they disposed of their interest.

After Hubbard & Seymour, it is said H. Chapman and a Capt. Esterly with him, came here from the West Indies, in 1844 or 1845, s\nd opened a small store in the house which Mr. LeMeassure built in 1839. This house was afterward sided over, and now stands on Front street, and is used for a warehouse. It is the oldest house that is of any value now in the county. The firm of Chapman was but short lived, as the founder had more money than experience. While Chapman kept store, he often, as most dealers did, sold liquor by the quantity, and, it was thought, at retail as well without a proper license. At any rate, it was known that he sold liquor, and George Skinner, of Lower Town, not being particularly friendly toward Chapman, determined, so to speak, that he would make the place too hot to hold him, and, to carry out this intention, brought suit against him for retailing liquor without a license. When the case came off, it was sworn away from this point by the defendants, and Skinner was beaten, proving that you are never sure of anything except costs in law. This circumstance is narrated particularly because it was one of the first, if not the first, of the kind in the county, and because a few parties in this locality labor under the impression that Chapman was beaten and forced to leave owing to the result of the suit.

The Old Court House. In 1843, the county seat was located here as the most desirable and accessible point in the county. The owners of the town site gave their interest in what is now the public square to the county for a court house square, and the people contributed from their slender means to build a court house and presented that also, on condition that the county seat should remain here, but their most sanguine hopes in this direction were eventually doomed and the county seat removed to Baraboo. Had this not occurred, the place would now have been a much larger town, the center of prosperous manufacturing industries and extensive commercial transactions, and would doubtless have had a railroad, and such advantages for development as ready outside communication brings would have been secured beyond a peradventure. During one of the first court sessions here, while Judge Irwin presided, a rumor came in that a large number of black bears were roaming around through the country but a short distance from the village. The Judge, being something of a sportsman, suspended the administration of justice, and Judge, jury, officers, prisoners and all, it is said, went hunting. The Judge, before starting out, told Mrs. Grossman (now Mrs. Owens) not to get dinner until they returned, for they would bring in bruin, and sure enough they did return with a monster bear, as black as jet, This that measured fifteen inches from the tip of his toes to the last joint above in the foot. illustrates the free-and-easy nature of judicial proceedings on the frontier. The jurymen, it is said, came in, in ringed, streaked and speckled attire, looking like a lot of bushwhackers bent

upon making a raid upon the village.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

In 1844, the

first

587

stage was run between this point and Madison, by Prescott Brigham as

man. Subsequently, the stage business became one of the chief necessities of the community, and lines were established running to Mazo Manie, Bara-

proprietor, jehu, and mail and express

boo and Merrimack, and, perhaps, at times

to other localities. Prescott Brigham was the first Register of Deeds in the county. Some time in the year 1844, the steamer Otter, Capt. Cook commanding, came to Lower Sauk, and finally pulled up at Prairie du Sac for repairs, as she could go no further. She was a rather old hulk, and had for load and ballast a cargo of Norway rats, the first ever seen here. These proceeded to unload themselves and disperse around town, to the great disgust and annoyance of the townspeople, immediately after the boat arrived. The people were then very much in need of some means by which they could get goods brought to the place cheaply, and were only too ready to listen to Capt. Cook, when he proposed, if they would assist him in rebuilding his vessel, to run the boat regularly between this and various points on the Mississippi River. Thereupon, the people took the matter in hand, and fitted him out in shape with a good boat. The Captain proved to be an unreliable and ungrateful wretch for, after making two or three trips, he was never seen again, and his benefactors were left to do as best they could, Capt. Cook having sailed for other shores with boat, money, good-will and all. About 1846 or 1847, Cyrus and Eleazer Leland erected a building, and Messrs. Howard and Leland put in a stock of merchandise, dry goods and groceries, and began keeping store, but did not continue business long before selling out. The parties succeeding them were Messrs. Baxter and William Hubbard, Mr. Baxter being the backbone of the institution. After running for a brief period, the store and goods either passed out of their hands, or the business was discontinued, and the building, after being the property of various parties, was at last converted to its present use as post office and book store. The firm of Keyser & Morrel started here about 1848, and continued for a few months only, when they were succeeded by the firm of Green & Morrel, who kept quite a large assortment of What other firms may have sprung into existence here before 1850, if there were any, goods. cannot be ascertained, and, as everything in the way of commercial enterprise seemed to spring into life here and pass away like mushrooms, it is not to be wondered at. disciple of St. Crispin located here at an early date, in the person of Mr. Crane, and, from that time to the present, the last and awl mechanic has been here, ever ready to supply feet coverings or soles for the wayfarer. Various other mechanics doubtless came in before 1850. In the spring of 1850, M. S. Moore came here from the East, and opened a store in the present post office building, which he occupied until he could erect a new building, the one which is now occupied by E. C. Moore, son of M. S. Moore, and successor in the business started by his father nearly thirty years ago. This establishment is one of the old stand bys, and the proprietor is one of the oldest merchants who began business in the county, and one of the most influential in his locality, having been responsibly connected with nearly all of the local enterprises of the village that have been on the tapis since he became a citizen. ;

General Notes. The land here was entered in 1843 by William Hubbard, for the settlers, and was afterward among them. M. E. Moore started a lumber-yard in 1851 he was succeeded by C. Obrecht, who has a yard here now. Mrs. S. R. Mathews conducted a store here as early as 1850, which had been established by her husband about where Congar Bros.' store now stands.

divided

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Dr. Bassenger started a drug store as early as 1853. A. F. Ansel had a store here in 1855. The firm of M. E. Moore & Smith was running here from 1854 to 1857, now M. E. Moore After Ansel, H. B. Stanes kept store for a time, when Mercer & Weight came, and subsequently, in 1860, Mr. Belle.

alone.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

588

In 1860, it is said there were five dry-good stores running here, one hardware and tin There store, two boot and shoe stores, three blacksmiths, one wagon-maker and four saloons. are now four general stores, two drug stores, one furniture store, one hardware and tin shop, one book store, four blacksmiths, four shoemakers, two harness-makers, one wagon-maker, three dressmakers, two milliners, one tailor, one broom-maker, one photographer, one marble-cutter, one meat market, one poultry dealer, one paint-shop and undertaker, one dealer in pumps and windmills, one dentist, one dealer in farm machinery, one dealer in organs and sewing machines, one The hotels and manufacturing interests are mentioned elsewhere. Of physicians, there saloon. are two There is also a newspaper, a spicy sheet, called the Sauk County News, conducted by S. W. Corwith. In 1850, D. Morrell started a tannery, a little west of the village, and did a good business for many years.

The Bridge. Previous to the arrival of M. S. Moore & Son, a bridge charter, securing rights and probridge visions for building a bridge, had been obtained, but nothing further had been done. across the Wisconsin at that early day was a very great desideratum, as the difficulty and slowness attending a ferry-boat passage over was very great, and retarded a great many from coming here to trade, besides being a great hindrance and annoyance to the inhabitants of the village, who had to go and come over the river when they made trips to the cities for supplies. But, notwithstanding this condition of things and the charter privileges, nothing was done, no one having been found ready to take shares and advance money enough to push the thing through until Mr. Moore came. He at once took hold of the matter, for if anything was to be done it must be done without delay, as the charter would soon expire and owing to the rivalry existing between Upper and Lower Town at that time, the chances were that they could not get another charter therefore, without delay the enterprise must be, and was, started during the fall of 1850, under the direct supervision of Mr. Moore, the engineer or chief mechanic being Thomas Worthington. Very little was done this year, but in 1851 the work was begun in good earnest. At first spiles were driven into the hard-pan about twelve feet beneath the bed of the stream or sand surface, and on these the bridge was built, there being no other foundation. The result was as had been predicted the ice and spring freshet nearly swept the entire bridge away so the stockholders could do nothing but start the work again in the spring. This time the foundation was supported by putting in stone piers at convenient distances, and making the bridge as strong as possibly can be done when wood is the material used. The bridge was about eighty rods long, with a suitable draw, and originally cost about $1,500. It has been repaired occasionally, owing usually to the effects of ice or a lumber raft striking the piers, which has been by no means unfrequent, for the raftsmen at first seemed not to care to avoid a collision with the bridge and even at the present time it occasionally occurs. The bridge, it is estimated, has never been a paying investment for the stockholders, although a liberal toll is asked. In conclusion, it may be added that this bridge was the first crossing over the Wisconsin, and remained so for several years.

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One of the most interested parties in the bridge was E. B. Crane, now dead. He was a A. M: Morell was the first President M. S. Moore, first Vice and Secretary A. Ostrander, first Treasurer. In 1852, E. B. Crane was President Thomas B. Worthington, Vice President end Secre-

resident of Bloomfield, N. J.

;

S. B. Bassenger, Treasurer. 1853— E. B. Crane, President E. P. Taylor, Vice Bassenger, Treasurer. 1854— E. B. Crane, President; E. P. Taylor, Vice; Bassenger, Treasurer. 1855— E. B. Crane, President; E. P. Taylor, Vice;

tary

;

jr,

Treasurer.

;

S. Moore, Secretary;

Moore, Secretary;

Moore, Secretary ; S. H.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

1856—E. B. Crane, President

E. P. Taylor, Vice

;

589 S.

Moore, Secretary

;

Treasurer.

— — — — — —

1857 Elisha P. Tabor, President John Dennett, Vice A. N. Seymour, Secretary M. S. Moore, Treasurer. 1858 S. H. Bassenger, President; John Dennett, Vice; D. T. Noyes Secretary; M. S. Moore, Treasurer. 1859 S. H. Bassenger, President; John Dennett, Vice; I. F. Smith, Secretary; M. S. Moore, Treasurer. I860 S. H. Bassenger, President John Dennett, Vice I. F. Smith, Secretary M. S. Moore, Treasurer. 1861 S. H. Bassenger, President John Dennett, Vice I. F. Smith, Secretary M. S. Moore, Treasurer. 1862 Henry Rowell, President John Dennett, Vice I. F. Smith Secretary M. S. Moore, Treasurer. 1863— John Dennett, President J. P. Wiswell, Vice I. F. Smith, Secretary M. S. Moore, Treasurer. There has been no change in the above officers since, with the exception that E. C. Moore was elected Secretary in 1868 and J. I. Waterbury President in 1878. The Directors at various times since the organization of the Bridge Company, have been J. P. Wiswell, Hiram Perkins, W. H. Hubbard, P. B. Stamatz, Isaac Morehouse, J. I. Waterbury, A. J. Lewis, 0. Morehouse, E. B. Crane, E. P. Taylor, John Dennett, A. M. Moore, Cyrus Hill, William Dunlap, John Whitehead, D. T. Noyes, Thomas Ambler, N. H. Drew, S. H. Condit, C. R. Akers, A. M. Baldwin, Fred Harris, H. C. Beach, S. S. Mather, the ;

;

latter being the present Director.

PostOffice \m> Postmasters.

Frank Grossman, as has been stated, was the first Postmaster here

he was considered a very The Germans of Lower worthy man, and was a member of the Territorial Council at one time. Town held him in high estimation, so much so, in fact, that on a Fourth of July, about 1840, a large number of them turned out early in the morning and marched up to Prairie du Sac and gave him a rousing salute of musketry and "three cheers for 'Squire Crossman," with a "long life and many blessings." He has been dead these many years. George Cargel succeeded Mr. Crossman, and held the office until his death, having performed in a faithful and satisfactory manner the duties of his position, and was succeeded by his widow, an amiable and worthy woman, who conducted the affairs of the office until 1851 or 1852, when, Simeon Dean, of Lower Sauk, was appointed to the office. The office was then removed to Lower Sauk, and the Upper Sauk people were obliged to go to Lower Town for their mail for about six months when a new office was established, and G. A. Ostrander, a lawyer, was appointed Postmaster. Mr. Ostrander held the office but a short time, then resigned and went to New York, where he has become signally noted in his profession. After him, in 1853, J. D. Evans was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was a tailor by trade, and kept a shop and bookstore where the post office now is. His was quite an eventful career, and ended in a most deplorable manner. He was a drinking person when he came here, and probably never would have received the position had it not been that one of the churches took him up, believing it to be an act of charity to endeavor to save him. Through their aid he took a start, and married a very estimable lady. He was elected to several town offices and was on a fair way to prosperity, but at last, for some unexplained reason, he shot himself. After his death, his wife held the office until August 1, 1861, when Thomas Baker, the present incumbent, and a representative man, was appointed to the position. Mr. Baker, since he has held the office, has repeatedly expressed a desire to resign, but to this his townsmen will not listen, believing that an old, tried and efficient officer is better than a novice. The feeling of respect which is almost universally expressed for him is a tribute of which any one may be proud. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

590

Schools.

The first teacher here was a Scotchman named Quentin Smith, who taught what would be called a select school, in a private dwelling, probably his own, as early as 1843.

There was at

that time no schoolhouse, and, indeed, so far as can be ascertained, the village did not have a public schoolhouse until the old court house reverted back to its builders. As is often said, "No

great loss without some small gain," so, although the place lost its prestige when it lost the county seat, yet the people had a building ready to their hand for a schoolhouse. Who may have been the first pedagogue to train the young idea in this first temple of law and learning remains to us unknown, as the early Secretaries' reports have disappeared. But Q. Smith was, in all probability, the teacher. The old court house supplied the educational needs of the burg until 1856, when the present neat and substantial stone structure was erected on the site of the old schoolhouse, that having been sold to F. Myers for $112 and converted into a workshop. It is

now used for a barn so has it descended from the topmost round of usefulness. The stone schoolhouse, 30x40, cost $1,200, I. Morehouse being builder. Nothing was added in the way of accommodations for pupils until the district purchased the old academy when the ;

academy organization suspended operations. This building was purchased for $1,450, and removed to its present site during the spring of 1871. The school is now divided into three departments, and is said to maintain a very fair standard of excellence. The Academy Association. This is one of the has beens, the absence or loss of which must be a source of regret to many, although in the loss of the academy the public school has been undoubtedly benefited, for, where private institutions of learning are maintained, the public schools usually suffer in direct proportion to their prosperity. The first movement toward starting an academical school was caused almost entirely by the severely felt want of a good school. A meeting was first held by the citizens of the place, at the schoolhouse, June 10, 1863. At this meeting twelve corporators were elected, and all the preliminary steps taken toward organizing a joint-stock company. The corporators were: S. S. Wilkinson, L. Tabor, R. Meriher, J. Werner, L. F. Smith, E. Watson, M. S. Moore, I. D. Evan?, J. Dennett, J. Perkins, J. Leverell and D. Conger. The corporation elected S. S. Wilkinson, President M. S. Moore, Vice; D. Conger, Secretary, and I. D. Evans, Treasurer. The Capital stock was put at $2,000, with shares at $25 each, the institution to be called Prairie du Sac Academy Association. Soon after, a committee was appointed to sell shares, and fifty were disposed of. A committee was also appointed immediately after this to select a site for building and report on same. When this committee reported, it was decided by the corporation to increase the stock $500. October 31, a meeting of the stockholders was held, and nine Trustees were elected, and subsequently a schoolhouse site was purchased for $100, from S. S. Wilkinson, Lots 1 and 2 and 8 and 9 in Block 12. A school building was completed in August, 1864, the property being mortgaged to raise the funds needed that were not supplied by the stockholders. The building cost $1,809.50. The compensation for teachers was not to exceed the tuition received. The first Principal was John Lovewell school commenced September 12, 1864. After the school had run a few years, it was stopped and the house sold to the district, as before stated.

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Manufacturing. M. S. Moore, as early as 1853, erected a building to be used as a warehouse. this building

steam-mill.

In 1860,

was fitted up and machinery put in by a Mr. Rowell, the same to be run as a The engine was twenty-five or thirty horse-power. Two or three runs of stone

were soon put in for grain grinding, after which it was run for a time, but, like all of the mills that have been started in this locality, it did not pay consequently the venture was not a success, and the mill had to cease operations. The machinery was subsequently sold and removed, and the building converted to its present use as a tin and hardware shop. Eureka Mill— This mill was built by J. Werner in 1864, for the firm of T. West & Co. It was started first as aplaning-mill, but in 1868 two sets of buhrs were put in and the milling ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

591

This continued for about two years, when the mill suspended operations. Nothing further was done for three or four years then 0. Burnett bought the establishment. He ran it until about 1879, then stopped it. Conger Brothers then bought the machinery, and soon after sold it to Mr. Bloom, of Bloom Station, who ran the mill for a short time, then removed the fixtures, leaving the mill as it now stands, vacant, waiting for some enterprising person to convert it to some useful purpose. The Christian Plow Manufactory. The plow-shop of James Christian was built in 1858, by the present proprietor. Mr. Christian is a practical workman and inventor, and deserves The machinery of the establishment, from the a wider field for effort than is here offered. powerful and novel horse-power to the drill, was all made by him, and usually differs very materially from what is generally used, and is also very ingenious, perfect and strong in He has ready at hand everything needed by a mechanic in his every detail of construction. There are from fifty to seventybusiness, besides mechanical appliances for various other uses. five plows a year made here, beside the repairing which is done, one man only, the proprietor, doing the work. The plows are all sold in this vicinity, and are said to be thoroughly good in every respect. Warehouse and Elevator. The largest grain warehouse and elevator in the county, and It was erected, in 1869, by the only one in this section, stands on the river bank at this point. M. H. Keyser k Co., at a cost of $10,000. The foundation is of stone, sixteen feet high, 40x40. Upon this is erected a massive frame about forty-four feet in height. One hundred and fifty thousand feet of the best lumber and over one hundred kegs of spikes entered into the construction of the building, besides the various other articles used. It has a capacity for the storage of about 50,000 bushels of grain. This being the only grain-shipping point in this part of the county, an enormous shipment is made annually, the amount sometimes exceeding 100,000 bushels per annum. The proprietors of the warehouse are also owners of the steamer Ellen Hardy, a boat of 150,000 tons. She is one hundred and twenty feet lcng by twenty-three feet beam, and draws but sixteen inches. Besides shipping grain, the firm ship annually about two hundred car-loads of livestock, both grain and stock being sent to market by way of Portage on the Ellen Hardy and the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Reaper Manufactory. The manufacture of reapers by J. Werner is one of the industries carried on at this point that will probably become very large in the future, although now only in its infancy. The machine manufactured is called the Challenge Harvester, and is, in its chief points of excellence, the invention of Mr. Werner, the same being covered by patents. These are principally a double adjustable reel with serrated beaters, an endless chain and slatIn ted platform, and a lever arrangement for raising or lowering the entire machine at will. addition, it may be said of this machine and for the inventor that it is said to be unexcelled by anything now in use in the general excellence of its mechanism and the material used. business begun.

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Hotels.

One of the

oldest hotels in the county is the Baxter House, D.

K. Baxter,' one of the pio-

The hotel was built neers and probably the oldest landlord in the county, being its proprietor. by the firm of Steinmetz & Fife, who kept the old hotel here for some years prior to that time. Of them, it may be said in this connection that they were, in their day, called the prime landlords between

Madison and Prairie du Chien.

purchased it and christened it.

Soon after the hotel was completed, Mr. Baxter commodious building, and is well managed.

It is a large and

Societies.

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The first meeting of the people for the purpose of organizing a Cemetery Association. After precemetery association here, was convened November 11, 1859, at the schoolhouse. Nath. Kenison, liminaries, an organization was effected and the following Trustees elected Samuel Kelsey, M. S. Moore, Samuel H. Bassinger, George Owen, J. E. Wright and I. MoreSix house. These Trustees were so divided that a portion of them could be elected each year. :

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

592

days after this, a meeting of the Trustees was called, and committees were appointed to select Nath. Kenison was elected President; I. Morehouse, Secretary, grounds and draft by-laws. and M. S. Moore, Treasurer. February 20 following, another meeting was held and arrangements made to purchase three acres of land, from Mr. Kenison for a cemetery, and to have the The lots were priced at $5, $7, same platted and laid out in lots each side of a central avenue. and $10, according to location. But little more than twenty years have passed since that time, and yet these grounds are now thickly studded with tablets reared to the memory of the The departed, telling us how rapid is the flight of time and how fleeting our existence. grounds are well kept and present an attractive appearance to the passer-by. Eureka Lodge, No. 113, A., F. £ A. M. This lodge of the ancient order received its charter in June 1858, there being at first but seven members, as follows: S. S. Wilkinson, W. M.; J. S. Tripp, S. W.; S. B. Dilly, J. W.; H. J. Turner, S. F. Amy, H. McKennan and Isaac Richardson. The lodge is now large and thrifty. The present officers are J. S. Tripp, W. M. Ed Ortell, S. W.; J. Werner, Jr., J. W.; George Grow, S. D.; J. N. Cole, J. D.; D. GrodoThomas Baker, Treasurer, and H. L. Page, Tiler. phorst, Secretary Was organized December 22, 1857, with twenty-two Prairie Lodge, No. 18, I. 0. G. T. This lodge has withstood the changes and incidents of twenty-three years, charter members. and has now a membership of sixty-six, but of the first members, one only is now left. The old standby of the institution, Charles Evans, has labored at all times, and many times successfully, to prevent the lodge from sinking, and has at intervals occupied nearly all of the positions of The first officers were Nath. Kenison, W. C; trust and distinction that the order has to offer. M. A. Wadsworth, W. V.: J. D. Evans, Secretary R. W. Sawyer, Marshal, and E. C. Miller, here on the temperance question, or with division of feeling arose At one time a Chaplain. regard to running the lodge, and a new lodge was organized called the Excelsior. It lasted but a few years. There was also a lodge of the I. 0. 0. F. here a few years ago, but it also sus-

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pended, and is now no more. Sauk Prairie Bible Society. The Prairie du Sac Bible Society, was organized on the 13th C. day of February, 1853. The first officers were Curtis Bates, President F. Jones, Vice In 1 854, officers were C. Bates, PresiRev. E. G. Miner, Treasurer. Stuzaker, Secretary Rev. E. G. Miner, Treasurer. In 1855, S. H. dent E. Kellogg, Vice J. S. Hart, Secretary E. Watson, Vice L. A. Cooper, Secretary ; I. D. Evans, Treasurer. Bassenger was President This year the name of the society was changed to Sauk Prairie Bible Society, and became an M. S.Moore, President; auxiliary to the American Bible Society. In 1856, the officers were Thomas B. Cowles, Vice I. Smith, Secretary I. D. Evans, Treasurer. 1857. M. S. Moore, President; R. H. Davis, Vice; I. Smith. Secretary; I. D. Evans, Treasurer; Rev. Noyes, 1859 The officers the 1858 There was no change made in the officers. General Agent. same, excepting S. H. Bassenger being elected Secretary instead of I. Smith, and the Rev. R. In 1861, M. S. Moore, President; J. S. Tripp, Vice; B. Seymour becoming general agent. I. D. Evans still retaining the office of Treasurer, and Rev. R. B. S. H. Bassenger, Secretary M. Seymour, General Agent. In 1862, the only changes made were in R. M. Merrihue being

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M. Seymour, Secretary. In 1863, I. F. Smith was elected SecreM. Seymour. In 1864, L. T. Stowell became Vice President, the balance of J.. I. Waterthe officers remaining as heretofore. In 1865, L. T. Stowell was elected President No change was made bury, Vice ; the balance of the officers retaining their former positions. E. C. Moore, until 1868, when M. S. Moore was elected President; Rev. D. C. Miller, Vice; There was no further change in officers until 1870, when Secretary I. D. Evans, Treasurer. elected Vice President, and A.

tary in place of A.

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Rev. B. F. McKinney succeeded Rev. D. C. Miller as Vice President. In 1871, Rev. W. H. In 1873, the only change made Blair became Vice President, and Thomas Baker, Treasurer. was B. F. McKinney, he being elected Vice President, In 1874, Rev. E. C. Hall was elected In In 1875, Rev. G. F. LeClere succeeded Rev. Hall as Vice President. Vice President. In 1878, H. Glarner was made Vice Presi1877, Rev. A. Reid was elected Vice President. dent. Since that time, no change has been made in the officers of the society.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

593

Churches.

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The Presbyterian Church of Prairie du Sac* Two brief extracts from the earliest " In the show the main facts concerning its organization. winter of 1841, Rev. S. Chaffee, by request of the few members of the Church of Christ who had emigrated to Prairie du Sac, and who were living without being organized into a church, " visited the place, preached one sermon, and organized a Presbyterian Church. " Prairie du Sac, January 22, 1841. At a meeting for religious purposes, after the sermon, the following members of the different branches of the Church of Jesus Christ were in due form constituted the First Presbyterian Church of Prairie du Sac, by Rev. Solomon Chaffee." These original members, eight in number, were Calvin Frink, Mrs. Lydia L. Frink, Mary E. Frink. Charles F. Parks, Burke Faircliild, John C. Kellogg, Nathan Kellogg and Mrs. Jane Axtell, None of them are now here. On November 29, 1844, the church was by unanimous vote, made Congregational. Arba M. Seymour (who joined the church December 4, 1842) was a leading mover in this change. On April 4, 18(34, the church was, by a large majority vote, made fully Presbyterian, and so remains. Martin S. Moure (who joined the church January 14, 1851) was prominent in this change. Till 1864, the church was connected with the Presbyterian and Congregational ConIt now bevention of AVisconsin. On October 8, 1864, it united with the Dane Presbytery. records of this church will best

longs to the Presbytery of Wisconsin River.

The list of The first minister of the church began to preach here in February, 1842. ministers is as follows: Philip W. Nichols, E. G. Bradford, W. Cochran, E. G. Miner, J. G. Kanouse, D. T. Noyes (who, some time after ceasing his ministry, became Lieutenant of artillery and is buried at Prairie du Sac), Henry Hutchins, J. Rufus P. Wells, John W. Densmore, Henry W. Woods, William H. Blair, Erwin C. Hull, George F. Le Clerc, Archibald S. Reid (now preaching here; September Elders (Presbyterian) prior to November, 1844, were Calvin Frink, Nathan Kellogg, 1880). Charles F. Parks, Burke Faircliild since April, 1864, Martin S. Moore, Arba M. Seymour. David Congar, Luther T. Stowell, Isaac F. Smith, Daniel Wells, Lavalette V. Tabor, John Wotring, David S. Congar, Richard L. Hand, E. Conway Moore. Deacons (Congregational) from 1844 to 1864, were Calvin Frink, Nathan Kellogg, Arba M. Seymour, Elias B. Crane, Martin S. Moore, S. H. Bassinger. Luther Keysar. Deacons (Presbyterian) before 1844, were Calvin Frink, Nathan Kellogg, Quentin Smith, John S. Mann; since 1864, Isaac F. Smith, George T. Moore. The first house of worship, quite a small one. of the value, probably, of $500, was built in It 1851, and dedicated in October of that year, Rev. J. G. Kanouse preaching the sermon. was afterward considerably enlarged. On May 30, 1867, it was sold for $200, to the Free-Will Baptists, and by them soon removed to its present site. The second house of worship, that now used (1880), was built just after a marked revival, in 1867, during the ministry of Rev. J. W, Densmore, and dedicated on February 14, 1868, Rev. Edward G. Read, then of Madison, It is preaching the sermon. It is in size 37x57, cost near $5,000, and seats nearly 300. comfortable, commodious, and attractive, and will probably suffice for many years to come. The whole numThe Sunday school has long been a very pleasant and flourishing one. The present member of church members received, including the original ones, has been 229. bership is fifty-two. The church lias passed through some trying and some very cheering phases of experience. It has exerted and still exerts a strong influence for good in the com Long may it munity. Like all persons and all institutions, it must be known by its fruits. produce those both good and abundant, showing itself faithful to God and to all His truth. The Union Unitarian ami Unirerxalixt Parish of Prairie Du Sac Was organized on the 25th of August, 1867, with E. W. Young, Joseph Keysar, John Dennett, John Werner, Miles H. Keysar and Joshua Perkins for Trustees. The names of the original members are as follows in the late war, was killed in the service,

Silsby, Charles Thompson,

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* Prepare.1 September, Issi.t. by the past...!

>>t

tie

ehurcli.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

594

Elisha P. Tabor, George Frost, E. H. Keysar, Charles Bunnell, Edward Oertel, Ophelia Frost, Hannah Tabor. Frances J. Coburn, Maria Werner, Betsy Wiswell, Elmeda Wiswell, Harriet E. Miller, E. \V. Young, John Werner, Joseph Keysar, Joshua Perkins, J. P. Wiswell, Stephen Coburn, M. H. Keysar, John Dennett, L. A. Perkins, J. M. Perkins, E. T. Perkins, Mary A. Watson, Nathaniel Perkins, Mary C. Morrell, S. D. Perkins, A. A. Perkins, Isaac Tabor, D. Tabor. church in connection with the parish was instituted April 30, 1871, with the following officers and membership: E. W. Young, Moderator; Edward Oertel, Treasurer; Elisha Tabor, Joshua Perkins. Deacons Rev. M. G. Todd, temporary Pastor and Clerk Isaac Tabor, S. M. Blake, John Werner, Elvin Wiswell, Mrs. M. A. Watson, H. W. Perkins, Hannah Tabor,

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Cynthia Cummings, Fanny Coburn, Mary D. Benton, J. Werner, Mrs. Young, Miss M. C.

Mina Perkins, Emma' Miller, Elmeda Wiswell. Universalism was first preached in Prairie du Sac, by Revs. M. G. Todd and J. C. Crawford. The first settled minister was Rev. J. M. H. Smith, who, after a brief pastorate, was succeeded by Mr. Todd. In 1873, Rev. B. F. Rogers became the minister of the parish, but resigned his office after one year's service. During the succeeding years until 1877, it had no minister, and only an occasional supply of its pulpit by Rev. Mr. flesselgrave, of West Point. In this year, Rev. A. Constantine Barry, D. D., was called to the vacant pastorate, and under his judicious labors the broken fortunes of the parish have been gradually repaired, and something of the old prosperity restored. It is free of debt, owns a neat and commodious house of worship costing $5,000 is turning attention again to abandoned or neglected enterprises, and equipping itself anew for the Master's work. Morrell,

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Sai K City (in Lowei: Sauk.

One would scarcely think, upon a cursory glance when first visiting this thriving village, that here was the first site of any permanent habitation for a white man in the county, and still would he realize that more than forty-one years have since come and gone, " like birds in Time and so lightly has he touched each spot with And yet the town and county are old old in civilization as a part of the white man's domain, and old in the history of its former tenants, the aborigines, who, it is said, had Their history, though for them unpenned, is told in the once a large village just at this point. legends of hunters and travelers, and their unique mound farms, and the relics of a rude architecture, and by the weapons and various utensils left, that mark, with unerring certainty, their less

the night," so quiet has been the passage of his aged fingers.

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condition before the white man came.

Those who have virtually made a success of the growth of this place and given it its present stability are principally Germans, the community to-day being essentially Teutonic, and expressive, in

operations, of the German life, feeling and intelligence, and embodying the various domestic and social institutions that are necessary to the happiness of this home-abiding, home-loving peoall its

Of the inhabitants here, more than one-tenth are solid, jolly, fun-loving, joyous, generous, German people, and they are prosperous, too a condition that need The Yankees are wont to say the Germans will thrive where any other class of people would starve, so well understood is their thrifty way of getting on in the world in spite of all obstacles. And this is essentially true, and is a remarkable feature among this people, (>! they will undoubtedly get on, and get on well and happily, where many other classes To attempt to account for this is useless it is on? of the pecuwould be discouraged and fail. liarities natural to the German constitution, and thai is good thing to inherit. The village site is such that, at any time in the future, should the tide of coming events The streets are bring a railroad, the town could be built up and extended almost ad libitum. ple.

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honest and industrious scarcely be mentioned.

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broad Mini well kept, being lined with pretty cottages and fine dwellings, ami are beautifully Socially, religshaded by fine, wide -spreading old trees, the growth of thirty or forty years. iously and politically, there exist here the same differences that are found almost everywhere, and, in some things, more extreme differences than in many localities, especially in religious

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

595

sentiment; yet the German character, fortunately, ance and forbearance prevails, and a general harmony of interests seems to obtain, which is doubtless in great part due to the high order of intelligence existing here, and to the liberalizing sentiment that prevails largely everywhere throughout this favored land. The management of public affairs, while being just and sufficiently generous, in maintaining the interests of all, is withal conducted in a very prudent and economical manner, the system evidently being founded upon the necessities of the whole, and having grown into perfection as the town has grown. The public schools are an honor to the community, everything obtainable by this method of education being provided to the utmost limit of the law, from the infant department to the high school. Commerce and general business in this village are thrifty and well up, and, considering the location, very large amounts of goods are sold annually. There are now eight general stores, three hardware stores and tin shops, two drug stores, three notion, grocery and confectionery shops, two furniture stores, three harness-shops, two tailors, two milliners, one jewelry store, five wagon-shops, five blacksmith-shops, five shoe-shops, three meat markets, one photographer, one barber-shop, one livery stable, one tobacconist, eleven saloons, two dealers in agricultural implements, and two lumber dealers, the last-named business being carried on here very extensively, especially by C. Obrecht, the largest dealer in the county there is also a green-house here which has been in operation for some time. The manufacturing interests are represented by the above-mentioned mechanics' shops, and more especially by four breweries and two mills, which will be spoken of hereafter. is

such that the happy mean of mutual toler-

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Early Settlement and Growth. Although the first-comers (mentioned elsewhere) in the county made claims here as early Winnebagoes was ratified, and did something in the way of starting, as making the dug-out spoken of, getting some land broken, and building a house or two before 1810, yet it remained for Count Augoston Haraszthy and William Bryant to give the town the starting impetus' in growth that has made it what it now is. The name of the Count and many of his exploits is yet familiar to most of the Germans here. Owing to political troubles, and a certain youthful ambition which stimulated him to come out and see the new world, he embarked in March, 1840, for America, accompanied by his cousin Charles Halasz. Their intention at starting was to go to Florida, but they were diverted from their purpose through seeing one of Capt. Maryatt's novels while on board the ship, which contained descriptions of a trip on the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and through hearing that the country adjacent abounded in rich mineral deposits, and was so healthy that one could hardly die. So on they came for Wisconsin, and, after employing an interpreter, and buying horses and camp equipage, they started on a prospecting expedition. Suffice it to say of this, they first went to Rock River, near Lake Kosbkonong and located, but finding they had taken land already claimed, and after getting burned out, they picked up their traps, such as were left, and started as 1838, immediately after the treaty with the

Wisconsin River. After going safely through the various unpleasant as well as the pleasant features attending tramp through the wilderness, they came, at last, in July. 18-10. to the scenes portrayed to them by fiction. The desirable portions of the country being already taken, the Count, if he would stay, where, as he was wont to say, " everything was very splendid," must needs buy a claim. This he did, buying at Srst a claim made by Burk Fairchild. In the fall he went to Milwaukee and remained there during the following winter. During this time, he became acquainted with an Englishman by the name of Robert Bryant, who hail just come to Milwaukee, The Count, by giving glowing descriptions of the and who was well supplied with the needful. country here, and showing how an immense fortune could be made by building up a town, induced Bryant to embark with him in the scheme. In the spring of 1841, they came out to Sauk, and immediately purchased a claim of Berry Haney, the first one made here, for $1,000. Very soon after, a force of laborers and mechanics were employed to come here, ami the upbuilding of the place began in earnest. for the

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

596

During this year, the village was platted by Charles 0. Baxter, under direction of Haraszthy and Bryant. It is said that the only house worth mentioning that stood here before 1841 was a large log building that was burned about 1845 here Albert Skinner lived and kept boarders the workmen of the Count and Bryant. In 1841, a number of buildings were erected and several ;

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fresh arrivals heralded.

The first frame, it is said, was

built

by a man by the name of Morgan, for Haraszthy or

Bryant, and which is yet standing here in town, a small affair, owned by Mr RendtorfF, and in which he lived for several years. However, at that time, the different houses were built so nearly at the same time that it is difficult to say, after the lapse of so many years, to which distinctly and beyond doubt belongs the right of first. The large house on Water street, now owned by Charles Deinnger, was erected in 1841, and at that time was considered a grand affair for the frontier, and even at this time is a handsome and commodious structure. It was intended, at the first, as a dwelling for Mr. Bryant. While it was being built, he lived in a log cabin in the north part of the village. This building was eventually used for a store and hotel kept by Marcus Warren, and finally was purchased by its present owner especially to accommodate his collection of birds, animals, insects, etc. (spoken of in the general history). After the above house was finished, one of the social customs called house-warmings, peculiar to all new countries, was indulged in, in honor of the new acquisition. The warming took the form of a grand banquet and dance, and nearly everybody in town was present from far and near. Speeches were made and toasts drank, to the echo of cheers and laughter and hilarity, and such a sumptuous repast delighted the senses and regaled the appetites of the sturdy frontiersmen as may never be forgotten by those who participated. When evening came, the dancing was ushered in, young and old, if there were any old, taking a hand, and " they danced all night, till broad daylight, and went home with what girls there were in the morning." Although this jollification occurred at so early a day, yet it was not the first one, for Albert Skinner, on the 4th of July previous, had given what in all probability was denominated a grand ball, the first in the county. In 1841 or 1842, Francis Halbleib erected a house and opened a tavern, and kept liquor. This was the first inn and saloon in the place, and was the only regular public house in the village for several years subsequently. It is now used for*a store and photograph gallery by P. J Schadde. During tnatyear, the Count had a house built, and various other parties alse built, and some say that the Count opened a store here this year, Ed Rendtorff, who came in the fall of 1840, being the clerk. At about this time, a young man came here and opened a store. This is said by many to have been the first one in the place, and where the Count afterward kept store for a time. The winding up of this person's life and business occurred soon after, and illustrates how wholly uncertain life is, and how easily our brightest anticipations of success and our various schemes for personal benefit may come to nought. He had been here but a few weeks, and had just got his little stock arrange'! and the opening work done, when one night himself and his establishment were struck by lightning. He was instantly killed, and the store literally disemboweled. This was a sail catastrophe, and was keenly felt by the little community. In all probability, this person's death was the first that occurred in the town or village. At this time, a great strife for pre-eminence existed between Haraszthy and its rival above, the little village of Prairie du Sac, in which the latter got rather the best of the bargain, seemingly, when the county seat was located there. However, in after years, a change came over the scene in many respects. In 1841 or 1842, the first marriage between parties living in both villages was solemnized, and John Gallard, of Lower Sauk (or Haraszthy), and Miss Caroline Hatch, of Upper Sauk (or Prairie du Sac), were married. Mr. Gallard still lives in the north part of Sauk City, in the enjoyment of a comfortable home, and can tell many a tale of the first days and people of Sauk Citv.

HISTORY OF SAUK CiU'NTY.

597

One of the early enterprises of the founders of the village was in steamboating, they having an interest in the Rock River, which, under their management, made several trips to various points on the Mississippi. In 1842, Count Haraszthy went over to Europe and brought out his family, one of whom was the old General, his father, said to have been a man of very fine qualities and great executive abilities.

Some time after the Count's return, about 1844, a brick building was erected by him and Bryant, or by Bryant, who was really the moneyed man of the firm, as when he came to Milwaukee in 1840, he had $90,000, which he proceeded to spend here right and left. The brick for this building were made by Jacob Rasche, in a small yard where a part of C. Obrecht's lumberyard now is. After the building was finished, it was filled with a stock of goods, some say by Marcus Warren, others by Haraszthy. Be this as it may, they both started stores here at about the same time, one in the brick and the other in a building erected by John Gallard in 1843, for a shoemaker named Daniels. This man Daniels became discouraged while building, it is thought, as he could not get it done, and at last ended his melancholy and dejection by hanging himself. The building stands on Water street, and is now occupied for a private dwelling but, whether it is visited by the spook of its former owner, and whether the walls sadly resound at the midnight hour, to the rattle of the last, or the tap of his hammer, tradition saith .

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not.

Marcus Warren had not been here a great while before he bought out Mr. Bryant's interest Bryant then went to Milwaukee and sold it is said, for about $5,000. property which he had there, and then went to California, having only a little more than enough left of his handsome fortune to get him there. So ended his speculation in building up Sauk in the town property,

City.

The land at this point was entered at the land sale, by Gen. Haraszthy, and it is said that Bryant was so confiding, and unknowing of the tricks of land buying, that he came near losing everything, and would have lost his claim, had it not been for one of his workmen, who, seeing how his money was going, and how things were going generally with him, interfered in his behalf. One of the first things was a blacksmith-shop, as a matter of course, for nothing is more needed in a new place. The first smith to open here, according to most accounts, was a sturdy German by the name of Harter soon after, another blast and forge were running in opposition, A. Maunk being the operator. The Count, after having had a hand in nearly every speculation set afoot in the place, from running a steamboat to keeping store, finally, after the advent of Marcus Warren, toward whom the town property seemed to gravitate, as if by mutual attraction, determined to close up his business and go forth to new scenes. This he did, about 1848, and so the town lost its most enterprising citizen of early days. His experiences there (many of these are given in his biography) and hereafter savor almost of the character of romance, so peculiar were they. Charles Halasz, who came with Haraszthy, remained here until his death, which is supposed by many to have been caused by grief over the death of his wife. He was the first regular lumber merchant here, having opened a yard in 1846, and was also one of the first Justices of the Peace. He was a good-natured man and a great story teller, and was wont to beguile the hours for his friends by relating the novel experiences of the early days in Sauk City. Squire Halasz also built the first warehouse here. He was succeeded in his business by Paul Lachmund, his son-in-law. The name of the place Haraszthy, was at quite an early day changed to that of Westfield, as being more short and appropriate. Then a few years after it was again changed, to be called Sauk City, after the name of the county principally because this was the first settlement in the county, and therefore entitled to that distinction. It may be asked what is in a name ? In reply it may be said: Everything! to those who have a right to a name and are worthy of it. Dr. Woodruff came about 1847, and opened a store in the building now occupied by the United Workingmen. This store, it is said, did not continue long, the proprietor becoming involved, ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

oaa

partly through trusting out goods to the workingmen of Bryant and Haraszthy, and partly through inattention to business and poor management.

At about this time or soon after, two or three brick buildings were erected or were being erected, and the town generally was growing quite rapidly.

In 1850 or 1851, the old Astor House was built, also the present United States Hotel, and Charles Noble's old store, which burned in 1877. The first drug store is said to have been opened here by R. Winter about this time. Previous to 1850, one of the principal industries of Sauk City was commenced, an industry that has since grown very large in dimensions, and that always flourishes among such social and easy-going people as the Germans. Beer-brewing was begun here in a very primitive manner by Mr. Leinekugel, who, for want of better means, had to begin the work by boiling the materials in a big kettle. How the product of this first process tasted, tradition saith not, but that it was welcome, and not discarded by any, may be well believed. But that it was up to the standard of the article manufactured here at present is not probable yet when it came fresh from the old iron kettle, who can say that it was not as sweet and pleasant to take as any, and, withal, what better means of brewing the foaming beverage were in vogue a century or two ago anywhere. One of the chief features of the olden time which should have been maintained, but that was only introduced for a brief time, and then, like the Arabs, silently took its leave, to be eventually consigned to oblivion, was the telegraph line of the Milwaukee, Green Bay & Madison Telegraph Company, that ran their wires through here in 1850, and established an office in the old store of Marcus Warren, where Van Eschen's furniture store is now kept. The operator was Mr. Conradi, who had but just come here, and was employed by Mr. Warren as clerk. The line did so little business, and paid so poorly, that it was abandoned in two or three years, the operators being paid oft' in large part by worthless company notes. telegraph connection with this point to-day would doubtless prove a more profitable investment, and is one of the things that must come here sooner or later, for in the two places, Upper and Lower Towns, there is as much a necessity for the means of quick communication with the outside world as there is ;

for a railroad.

In 1852, a Dr. Wolff" came and started a drug store where Mrs. Caspar Leman keeps. Also about this time, or soon after, J. J. Heller started in business here by keeping a small hardware and tin store. From this beginning, lie has gradually grown into his present business, which is one of the best in this part of the country. In 1857, he built his present large double store and dwelling-house, which is one of the most substantial structures in the town, and is stocked with a complete line of general goods. Very soon after Mr. Heller began business, Mr. Conradi and E. Rendtorff opened a drug store, which is still being conducted by Mr. Conradi, who can now be regarded as one of the oldest permanent fixtures of the place, and who will deal out a dose of medicine or philosophy with equal readiness and precision. Mr. Rendtorff', one of the old firm, retired some years ago to rest on his laurels. He has been here since 1840, and it is a question if there are any living anywhere belonging to the German element of that early day that came before he did. He is yet hale, and enjoys the confidence of his friends and townsmen to an unusual degree, having held responsible public positions for many years. In November, 1853, the Pioneer am Wisconsin, said to be the oldest German paper The advent of the paper was hailed with delight, published in the State, was established here. for a town with a newspaper in it at that time was considered quite advanced, in fact much above the average in enterprise and go-aheadativeness. One of the most needed of manufacturing enterprises at an early date was the saw-mill or grist-mill. This need was supplied here by the erection of a steam saw-mill of a good capacity, a little south of the village, about 1851, by Garhart Wingen. In 1854, it became the property of the firm of Mann & Peasler, for whom it was enlarged and refitted by the millwright Martin Ludi, new machinery being put in. The mill was run but a few years, as the owners, failing to

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

599

get enough logs to saw to make it pay, were compelled to discontinue the work and abandon the mill to their creditors.

Another of the early manufacturing enterprises was a foundry by'Mr. John Rosche, estabThis institution was operated by him until 18b'8, and at one time, it is It passed from him very fine business, casting stoves and various other articles. into the hands of a Mr. Frezel, who converted the foundry into a machine-shop, and run it until L872, when it was abandoned. There was also a distillery established here as early as 1854, by Robert Hantzsch, which, It subsequently passed into the hands though small, did a very good business for several years. of Mr. C. Obrecht, who run it until the Government placed the tremendous revenue on distilled liquors. The law permitted the stock on hand at the time it was passed to be exempt from tax, after this was used up the still was abandoned. In this connection, an account of an occurrence at the time this still was started will doubtless interest many

lished in August, 1854. said, did a

Causus Celebre.

Some of the incidents connected with the war against saloon-keepers made by the women May, 1854, may yet be fresh in the memories of a few here; but after the lapse many years, it will not be at all singular if those occurrences have been nearly forgotten,

of Baraboo, in of so

although at the time, a prodigious excitement was created here by the affair, and throughout It appears that the women of Baraboo, having become the entire county and country at large. thoroughly incensed at the social condition existing there among the men through intemperate So one morning, without habits, determined at all hazards to drive out the saloon-keepers. previous warning, they turned out, some fifty or sixty strong, and marched to the attack. They Connell, and went the Wisconsin House, one Cornell or first to kept by demanded his liquor. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell and Miss Fanny Heller, who was present, remonstrated, but without avail in went the women, and out came whisky barrels, beer kegs, bottles and all, pell mell, the heads of kegs and barrels were knocked in, the belligerents being armed with axes, spades, shovels, hoes, sticks, etc., which they used without ceremony, and the liquor was allowed to "gush." In the melee, the landlord's wife had her arm cut with an ax or hatchet. From this place they went to a grocery store kept by a Mr. Warner, and proceeded to enact the foreMr. Warner met them at the front door and declared that he was going to defend going scene. his property to the last, but while he was parleying at the front with some of the women, the others went in at the rear, and gave vent to whatever they could find in the way of whisky or beer. After having achieved two victories, the women felt strong enough to go through the whole town, and thereupon proceeded to storm the principal stronghold of the enemy a saloon kept by a man called French Pete. Peter, when he saw the female brigade coming, knew what to expect, and stood prepared to receive them with an ax in hand, but, not feeling this to be sufficient protection, he dropped the ax and run for a gun, then went and got a huge bowieknife, and rushed about like a lunatic, threatening the lives of the whole party. At this, the women became somewhat frightened and called upon the men to help them, but the men refused to have anything to do with the battle. Thereupon the women plucked up courage and sailed in, determined to carry the day at all hazards. One of them gave Peter a tremendous whack on the head with a spade, and fairly knocked him out of time, while another hit him on the arm. A young man who went to the rescue of Peter, was seized by the collar by one of the invaders owing to the bursting of a button, he was It ft like Adam in Paradise, in less time than it takes to tell it, and within a short titne. the entire stuck in trade was demolished, and the interior and exterior of the institution left smelling worse than a still. The women, being satisfied by this time, ceased operations, and retired. The news spread like wild-fire through the county, and was for a time the chief topic of conversation the people of Sauk City sent messages of condolence, and there seemed to be about an equal division of feeling on the subject in various quarters. Complaint was entered before Squire Ilalasz, of Sauk City, and six of the women ringleaders were sued. They arrived in Sauk on the 2d day of June, 1854, under charge of Constable Robert Morsback, ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

600

trial, Mr. Remington, of Baraboo, now dead, and J. The trial lasted being their defense, with J. B. Quiraby as Prosecuting Attorney. two days, when the women were bound over to the Circuit Court in the sum of $200, but, not furnishing the same, they were handed over to Sheriff Munson to be lodged in the county jail. The defense then issued a writ of "habeas corpus," and secured their liberty until next court session. They appeared at court July 3, 1854, and were tried before Judge Wheeler, who, So after listening to the pros and cons of the case, sentenced the six to a fine of $30 each. ended the case. At this time, 1855, there was a population in the village of 700 all told, 390 of whom During the fall of this year, a flatboat-load of potatoes was were males, and 310 females. shipped from here, but did not get far on its way down the river before it ran on a sand-bar, thus the bed of the Wisconsin was sowed and, being very heavily loaded, went to the bottom with more than 2,000 bushels of potatoes.

and were arraigned before the Justice for S. Tripp

;

The Old Military Company. In the spring of 1854, one of the institutions that have long ceased to be, the old Sauk City Rifle Company, was organized, having about sixty-four members when in thorough running one Bentine, First Lieutenant, and Jacob Bohn, order. Robert Hantzsch was Captain Second Lieutenant. There were four Sergeants and Corporals, and a brass band of seven During the winter following, they received their guns instruments besides a drummer. and accouterments, Martin Loddi going after them, by order of the Governor, to Mayville, and bringing them through. On the 15th day of April, 1855, they appeared in uniform for the first time. The riflemen, dressed in gray pants, green coats and glazed caps, being led by their gallant Captain and the brass band, must have presented a novel and striking appearance. The company continued to be one of the prominent organizations of the place until 1861, when, after the three months' service was over, they enlisted, becoming Company D of the Ninth Volunteer Infantry, Charles Buchenau being Captain, C. E. G. Horn, First Lieutenant, and Jacob Bohn, Second The evening before starting, the Lieutenant. There were then sixty-five members, all told. Patriotic ladies of the town prepared a grand banquet for them at the Astor House Hall. speeches were made, and the whole affair wound up with a grand dance, the last for many a brave The next day, they left in grand style in a train of fifty-eight wagons, being led on the fellow. way to Mazo Manie by the band. They first went into camp at Milwaukee. When they They were mustered in, they were pronounced the finest company in the gallant Ninth. afterward did splendid service, and won laurels for themselves and honor for their country;

men.

A Turners' society and theatrical society, two of the social orders common among the Germans, were at one time prominent features here, each having a goodly membership and being in They have long ceased to exist. a thriving condition during their best days. One of the worst crimes ever perpetrated in the county was committed here, in the summer of 1856, by William Millard, who shot James Davis, on the ground that Davis had threatened his life and was too familiar with his wife. Millard, from a concealed position, discharged a heavily Millard was tried and sentenced to the loaded shotgun into Davis' person, which killed him. penitentiary, from which he was pardoned by the Governor on the 3d of December, 1858. In 1856, the Sauk City Bank was established, with M. D. Miller as President and G. B. Burrows as Cashier. The following year, a counterfeiter issued a bill on the ban!' for $5, but, After running a few years, the as the bank did not issue any $5 notes, he was soon caught. bank discontinued. Its place is now supplied by J. S. Tripp, who for the convenience of his patrons and the people at large, does a banking business in connection with his legal practice.

Clippings from Old Files or the " Pioneek \m Wisconsin."

During 1859, the boats ran very freely. river carrying adventurers to Pike's Peak.

Early in the spring, a two-master sailed down the

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY The one hundredth anniversary of Schiller's birth was celebrated

601 this year (November 10;

grand style, Mr. Schroeder, the leader of the Liberal element here, being the speaker. In December, 1859, Mrs. Beller threw herself into the river and was drowned. Her body was found eight days after. In 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was elected, a grand demonstration was indulged in, nearly all the people exerting themselves to show their appreciation of the circumstance. Van Amburgh's show here this year was the first circus on record. A Democratic Club formed here this year, called the National Hickory Club, used to hamin

mer the Republicans. During this year, Peter Kohl was awarded first premium at the State Fair for grapes raised here.

The Sauk County oil excitement raged this year, and culminated in a meeting on the 3d of April, 1861. There are plenty who have stock now laid by to show for that meeting. In August, 1862, two large squads of men were enlisted, one of ninety men and one of forty-six.

A Home Guard was organized in September of this year, under command of D. Heick. During this year, the Sauk County Rifle Company met with a severe loss. February 3, 1863, the Pioneer am Wisconsin office was threatened by maskers celebrating Shrovetide, but they were not permitted to do any harm, the office being defended by the Home Guard and citizens generally. " In July, 1841," says Mr. Lueders, " there were at Sauk City the

following buildings

One frame school and meeting house, one small frame building occupied, a two-story frame partly finished, and six or eight log houses. The pioneers were exceedingly kind and obliging to strangers who came there and to each other,

and the whole appearance of the country was charmingin nature's garb." The Pioneer am Wisconsin in an editorial of 1854, says: "Sauk City is a flourishing town on the banks of the Wisconsin, ninety miles from Prairie du Chien, and forty miles from Portage City. There are two saw-mills here, one saw and planing-mill and one saw and grist mill, besides a distillery, a brick-yard, a printing office, ten stores, hotels, and saloons. There is a Humanist society, and one Catholic, one Lutheran and one Methodist Episcopal Church a singing society, a theatrical society and a military company. The population here and in this vicinity are principally German, the most of whom are farmers. Wild land can be bought for from $2 to $5 per acre." The principal business firms here now are J. J. Heller, Kouni & Co., Mr. Conradi and Mrs. Anna Hamburger. ;

Government.

The

village

corporation was

approved March 30, 1854.

organized, and a charter secured, by act of Legislature This charter provided that the voters should meet at the District

Schoolhouse, in the village, on the first Saturday of April, 1854, at 10 o'clock A. M., for the purpose of electing officers. Two Judges of Election and a Clerk were to be elected viva voce these to superintend the regular ballot election of officers. According to the provisions of charter these officers were, one President, ex officio Trustee, and five Trustees, a Clerk and a Treasurer. Annual elections for ensuing years were to be held on the last Monday in March, for which the Trustees must give ten days' notice, together with place of election. This charter, it appears, was designed and secured principally for the purpose of enabling the village to obtain funds for the construction of a levee or causeway, from the cast shore of the Wisconsin River to and across the island opposite to Sauk City." The President and Trustees were authorized to raise any sum of money not exceeding $2,500 on the credit of the corporation, and secured by bonds against the corporation, to be expended on said causeway or levee, and in providing such boats and tackle as might be deemed necessary to connect the causeway with the west shore of the river or Sauk City. The rates of toll allowed for crossing were 25 cents for team of horses or cattle and wagon; 15 cents for ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

602

single horse and wagon or buggy if not in

droves

;

if in

;

10 cents for man and horse

droves 3 cents each

;

5 cents each for horses or oxen,

for foot passengers the same.

On March 9, 1857, an act amendatory to the charter was granted by the

Legislature in

There being no prudential provisions compliance with a petition of the people of Sauk City. in the draft of the first charter, such measures as were deemed obviously necessary, were demanded and incorporated in the charter, by this act. Among the various ordinances adopted, one for the establishment of a fire department may be especially mentioned, as it indicates particularly the prudent character of the people at that early date, for many villages in adjacent localities of equal pretensions to advancement, had nothing of the kind then, nor for many years after. April 26, 1858, an additional act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the President and Trustees of the town to borrow any sum of money not exceeding $20,000, secured by bonds on the credit of the village, for the purpose of building a bridge across the river from the causeway or levee to the village, providing a majority of the legal voters should indorse the raising of The money not to be borrowed for a term of years under two nor exceeding such a sum. twelve, nor at a rate of interest over 12 per cent per annum. In March, 1866, another act was passed providing for the maintenance of the bridge.

March 4, 1868, an act was passed remodeling and amending the preceding acts of the At this time, a police or municipal court was established, the President being Police The establishing of streets, grades and and the Marshal being constituted Constable.

Legislature. Justice,

walks was then particularly provided for, the tax-payers being permitted to pay the road tax in money or material at will. J. S. Tripp drafted this amended charter. March 8, 1870, another amendatory act was passed, by which the President and Trustees received authority to use the money received from the payment of village licenses for village as the money thus obtained purposes. This last act has proved a capital one in every respect is more than sufficient to pay all the expenses of the village government, and laying cross walks, After having fairly run the gamut of amendments, the town has at last got digging drains, etc. labor,

;

a good government.

April 1 B. Quimby.

1854, the Judges of first election were Charles Nebel and Simon Snyder

;

Clerk J.,

The first village officers elected by ballot were as follows Simeon Dean, President; J. B. Quimby, Clerk Marcus Warner, Treasurer; Charles Nebel, J. H. Hantasch, Thomas Cook, F. :

;

Halbleib and A. Class, Trustees. March 26, 1855 J. H. Hantzsch, President; C. Leland, Clerk; Marcus Warren, Treasurer Charles Halasz, Aug. Scharff, Charles Deininger, Robert Conradi and James J. Heller,

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Trustees.

March 31, 1856— Charles O. Baxter, President Robert Morsbach, Clerk Robert Conradi, Charles Halasz, W. H. Guett, Max Stingelhammer and J. B. Quimby, Trustees. March 30, 1857— Charles Halasz, President; R. Morsbach, Clerk Robert Conradi, Treasurer F. Siebenmann, Thomas Burnett, Curtis Bates, W. Nebel, W. H. Guett, Trustees. March 29, 1858— Charles O. Baxter, President Robert Morsbach, Clerk J. H. Hantzsch, ;

Treasurer

;

Treasurer

;

A. Gilmore, C. Spiehr, W. Lenz, J. S. Tripp and J. J. Heller, Trustees.

March 28, 1859— J. S. Tripp, President Robert Morsbach, Clerk; W. H. Guett, Treasurer; A. Gilmore, J. J. Heller, J. Veidt, A. Class and J. Gallard, Trustees. March 26, 1860—J. S. Tripp, President; Robert Morsbach, Clerk; C. C. Buchenau, ;

Treasurer; A. Gilmore, J. .1. Heller, C. H. Deininger, A. Class and Ch. Spiehr, Trustees. I. March 25, lstil S. Tripp, President; Dr. H. McKennan, Clerk; C. Buchenau, Treasurer; A. Gilmore, A. Class, Charles Deininger, J. J. Heller and Ch. Spiehr, Trustees. J. March 31, 1862— S. Tripp, President; Robert Conradi, Clerk F. Schlungbaum, TreasA. Gilmore, A. Class, Ch. Spiehr, J. J. Heller ami Charles Deininger, Trustees. urer March 30, 186:!— J. B. Quimby, President; J. B. Kehl, Clerk; G. B. Burrows, Treasurer J. J. Heller, A. Class, A. Gilmore, Charles Nebel and M. Derleth, Trustees.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COl March 28, 1864— J. B. Quimby, President

603

Kehl, Clerk G. B. Burrows, Treasurer J. J. Heller, A. Class, M. Derleth, Martin Loddi and J. Veidt, Trustees. March 27, 1865— J. B. Quimby, President J. B. Kehl, Clerk G. B. Burrows, Treasurer; A. ('lass, C. Deininger, M. Stingelhauimer, J. Veidt, C. Obrecht, Trustees. March 26, 1806— J. B. Quimby, President; H. Kleinpell, Clerk; C. Bates, Treasurer; A. Class, M. Stingelhammer, C. Obrecht, L. T. Stowel, and B. A. Jacobs, Trustees. March 2.".. 1867 J. S. Tripp, President; Curtis Bates, Treasurer; II. Kleinpell, Clerk William 11. Guett, S. llaniard, Charles Halasz, John Buerke and Ch. Spiehr, Trustees. March 3, 1808— J. S. Tripp, President and Police Justice; H. Kleinpell, Clerk; John Buerke, Treasurer; William H. Guett, A. Class, Charles H. Ross, Ch. Spiehr and Stephen Bernard, Trustees. March 29, 1869— J. B. Quimby, President and Police Justice; J. S. Walser, Clerk: Ed William H. Guett, Ch. Spiehr, Stephen Bernard, A. Andres and C. Rendtorff, Treasurer Nebel, Trustees; Val Sutter. Constable and Marshal. March 28, 1870— J. S. Tripp, President and Police Justice J. S. Walser, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer; Ch. Schumm, A. Billiter, K. Derleth, Stephen Bernard and A. Class, Trustees S. Amberg, Marshal and Constable J. S. Tripp, Village Representative in County Board. March 27, 1871— J. S. Tripp, President and Police Justice; John S. Walser, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer; Adam Class. Stephen Bernard, K. Derleth, Phil Hoefer and J. J. Heller, Trustees Martin Leikem, Constable and Marshal Supervisor County Board, J. S. Tripp. March 25, 1872— Charles Naffz, President and Police Justice J. S. Walser, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer Nick Truckenbrodt, A. Class, William Lenz, J. Thiehle and John Buerke, Trustees; Martin Leikem, Constable and Marshal; J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. March 31, 1873— Charles Naffz, President and Police Justice J. S. Walser, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer; William Lenz, Phil Hoefer, N. Truckenbrodt, John Buerke and J. Thiehle, Trustees Martin Leikem, Constable and Marshal J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. March 30, 1874—Phil Hoefer, President and Police Justice; J. S. Walser, Clerk; Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer; Ch. Schumm, L. Clement, J. J. Heller, J. Buerke and F. Derleth, Trustees J. S. Tripp. Supervisor County Board. March 29, 1875— Phil Hoefer, President and Police Justice; J. S. Walser, Clerk; Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer C. Schumm, L. Clement, J. J. Heller, J. Buerke and F. Derleth, Trustees; Andrew Williams, Constable and Marshal; J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. March 27, 1876 Charles Naffz, President and Police Justice J. S. Walser, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer; C. Boiler, F. Derleth, F. Commans, William Dresen and John Buerke, Tiustees; M. Leikem, Constable and Marshal; J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. March 26, 1X77 K. Derleth, President and Police Justice; J. Bach, Clerk; Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer William Dresen, A. Class, J. Commans, Ch. Spiehr and C. Schumm, Trustees J. Derleth, Constable and Marshal; J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. March 1878— K. Derleth, President and Police Justice J. Bach, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer William Dresen, J. Commans, A. Class, Ch. Spiehr and C. Schumm, Trustees J. Derleth, Constable and Marshal J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. March 31, 1879— P. Lachmund, President and Police Justice; J. Bach, Clerk Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer; H. Muehlburg, J. Weisenborn, William Dresen, C. Kouni, C. Schumm, Trustees; J. Derleth, Constable and Marshal; P. Lachmund, Supervisor County Board. March 28, 1880— Phil Hoefer, President and Police Justice; J. Bach, Clerk; Ed Rendtorff, Treasurer N. Truckenbrodt, George Roeser, M. Molitor, C. Spiehr and William Dresen, Trustees A. Morsbach, Constable and Marshal J. S. Tripp, Supervisor County Board. ;

J. B.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

604

The present hotels here are the United States Hotel and the Astor House, the latter successor in name to the old Astor House, which is now occupied by N. Truckenbrodt, saloon, which was built by M. Loddi, for C. Schreiber & C. Schneider. The United States Hotel was built by A. Wilde, in 1850; he previously kept a sort of tavern and boarding house. After passing through various hands, it at last, in 1877, came into the hands of the present proprietor, Fred Meyer. The hotel is built in a substantial manner, and there are ample accommodations for about forty guests. McFarland, the man who became notorious through killing Richardson, kept a select school, or sort of academy, here, about 1854, in the upper story of the United States Hotel. This is Besides the United States Hotel, there is but one other in the place, the Astor House. It is now kept in a which has been built for several years. very satisfactory manner by Chas. Weissenborn

also a substantial brick structure,

Manufacturers. Although several of the old establishments are gone, there are a few left yet, with plenty of for more. The breweries date back farther than anything else, and of those there are at present four. The oldest of these is Linekugals, which was in operation as early as 1850. At present it has a capacity of about 1,000 barrels per annum, but not more than 500 are manufactured. The next one built was by Charles Deininger, who began operations as early as 1851. This brewery was purchased by William Lenz, in 1868. He has enlarged and improved it until it has now a capacity of about 1,200 barrels per annum, but not more than 500 to 800 are made each year. Max Stingelhamraer's brewery was built next in 1852, and run by him until he bought the bridge. Since that time it has been run by various parties; George Kazer now owns it. It has a capacity of from 500 to 800 barrels per annum. Joseph Shor built a brewery a little west of the village in 1866. About a year after, Nick Dropon bought in, and within five years was the owner of the institution. His widow now runs it. It has a capacity of from 500 to 800 barrels per annum. The entire product of these breweries is sold here and in this vicinity, and besides, some years there are as many as 500 barrels more brought in from abroad to supply the demand. Sash, Door and Blind Factory and Planing Mills. room

The fine establishment of Philip Hoefer was begun in 1867, the first part, 24x40, being Tarnutzer at that time. In 1870, Mr. Hoefer became owner, and, between 1872 and 1874, he made improvements on. the building by adding another story and putting up an built by J. P.

addition.

His business from the first having been prosperous, he finally determined to increase

the capacity of the mill very largely, by putting up a large building and adding the latest and

machinery to be had. Having perfected his plans, he began the first of this year and erected a large building, in addition to what he already had, 40x80, with lean-to 18x40. The machinery, which is very complete in every particular, is driven by a thirty-horse-power engine, best

II. says is the best he ever saw. The engine is thoroughly protected by a substanstone house, 28x32, erected in 1876. The mill has a capacity of fifty doors or 100 sash or

which Mr. tial

Mr. Lachmund blinds per day. This is said to be the finest factory of its kind in the county. has a planing-mill here, established by him in connection with his lumber-yard in 1877. This mill is used exclusively for planing and making molding, and is completely fitted throughout for its work. Physicians and Attorneys

The following physicians have resided in Prairie du Sac: Dr. Nichols, A. P. Cummings, Stephen Coburn, Corydon Farr, Samuel Bell, Fred H. Conger, D. H. Whitford, Dr. Hooper, Samuel II. Bassenger, Samuel M. Blake, Jonathan Watring and Charles P. Reily. Attorneys resided in Prairie du Sac: A. Eastland, Alexander Ostrander, R. J. Harvey, Smith S. Wilkinson, II. J. Kelsey, George DeGrow Moore, J. H. Northup, R. K. Wilkinson, William T. Kelsey.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

605

Post Office.

The post office was established here in rather an

original manner.

At the time Simeon

Dean was appointed, about 1851 or 1852, the office was at Prairie du Sac, and had been there always before that time, but, as Mr. Dean was a resident of Sauk City, it was proposed to move Accordingly the office down there rather than have the Postmaster move to Prairie du Sac. twenty or twenty-five men from Sauk City went up to Prairie du Sac one day and took the office and moved it to Sauk City. The office was kept in Mr. " will you, nill you ? " paraphernalia It was then moved into a stone wareDean's store until about 1854, when the store burned. house, now a part of Mr. Schoenfeldt's store. In 1854, Mr. Dean resigned, and F. A. Hoffman was immediately appointed. The people were very much displeased at this change, and requested Mr. Dean not to relinquish the office until they could send a petition to the Postmaster A petition was circulated, and all but seven of the General to have some one else appointed. Mr. Watson did citizens signed it, to have E. C. Watson appointed, which was done soon after. not hold the office long before J. S. Tripp was appointed, who kept post office in his present section held a meeting and the Republicans of this office. In 1861, after Lincoln's election, this vote resulted in the election took a vote as to whom they would like to have for Postmaster of William H. Guett, who, being appointed, kept the office where Mrs. Lemm's millinery store now is. Mr. Guett held the office until 1866, when Conrad Kuoni succeeded him. At that time, C. Obrecht put up a small room, an addition to the store he was then keeping, to be used EventuThis store is now a tin-shop and the post office room a barber shop. as a post office.

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;

ally,

Mr. Kuoni, who still holds the office, moved it to his store, where the office now

is.

The Bridge. The first method of crossing the Wisconsin here was on a sort of flatboat, built by B. Hany Tins institution, with rights and privileges, was pur1839, which had to be poled over. This method of transportation was largely chased by Count Haraszthy after he came. improved by him, but was not then, or for many years subsequent, satisfactory or desirable. But when the first charter was granted, in 1854, a radical improvement was made by constructing a levee from the east bank of the river, and by running a convenient ferry-boat from the island This method of transportation satisfied the people for over the principal channel to the town. This the Upper Town folks a time, but, as Prairie du Sac had a bridge, they wanted one also. opposed, but at last, by the amendment of 1S5S. they secured the right to raise funds and build was Legislature, bids for building were granted by the Immediately after the right a bridge. advertised for by the town authorities, ami within a short time the contract for doing the work was let to J. B. Woodruff. Mr. Woodruff went to work and succeeded in getting two spans done The bridge interest then passed into the hands of Marcus next the west bank, then failed. After Warren, II. Miller and Mr. In Augusl of L860, the bridge was finished. Warren. Worthington had control of it, and eventually Miller became sole proprietor. He soon after sold Mr. Nabel had had the bridge but a few weeks, when on came a freshet and to Charles Nabel. Soon after this, in July, 1866, Max Stinswept out two spans he then sold back to Miller. gelhammer bought in; they then rebuilt the two spans, and also replaced the draw. The followIn 1878, a terrible storm came, and so ing year, Mr. Stingelhammer bought out Mr. Miller. This time they were built of affected the draw and two west spans that they had to be rebuilt. iron by a Milwaukee firm, the cost, with repairing of piers, etc., being about $9,000. The village work. The whole cost of repairing toward this bonds, and gave $1,000 advanced $4,000 on and rebuilding since Mr. S has been connected with the bridge has been $32,000. The old part The rates of toll are provided by the charter. of the bridge will be replaced by iron eventually. The bridge paid from $5,000 to"$6,000 per annum at one time, but does not now pay more than The village furnish the funds necessary to maintain it in part and take security on the $3,000. bridge. At some future day it may become the property of the corporation then it will probain

;

bly be a free bridge.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

606

Prijuc School.

The records

of this school (District No. 5) date back to 1847 only. But, as previously stated, there was a school here as early as 1841. Who the first teacher was, or what the num-

ber of pupils, remains unknown. The first male teacher, recorded as having been employed The schoolhouse at that time was valued at $500, with here, taught in the winter of 1850-51. It had two rooms, with entry. half an acre of land on which it stood. In 1860, a committee of carpenters and masons was appointed, at the annual meeting, to draft a plan for a new schoolhouse and make an estimate of costs. This being done, and the tax-payers approving, a contract was let to Charles Nabel, Jan. 27, 1861, to build according to plan. The house is a substantial structure, built of brick, having two rooms and entries. It was finished in 1860, and cost, when completed, $2,096.2*2 In January of 1862, it was consecrated by a celebration in honor of educational interests, on which occasion F. G. J. Lueders was principal speaker. In 1871, and in 1874, additional frame buildings were erected. The one erected in 1871 cost about $750 the other, with hall, cost about $650. In 1877, a high school department was established, the Principal having supervision over the lower departments, which are three. The estimated value of the property is at present $3,825, besides a school library containing 326 volumes. The first recorded treasurer's bond was $200, now it is $6,000. Total money raised in 1850, for school expenses, was $250.17 on the other hand, the sum expended on the school this year (1880), amounts to $2,123.68. The number of male school children in 1850 was 85, females 88; the average attendance 97. Now the number of school children in the district is 185 males and 217 females, with an average attendance of 262. The first male teacher received $50 for teaching the winter school in 1850. Now the Principal here commands from $800 to $1,200 per .annum. Several meetings were held this year (1880) for the purpose of making arrangements for erecting a commodious new school building. However, nothing has been accomplished thus far. It should be mentioned that a French and English boardingschool was opened here in the spring of 1854 by H. J. Turner, which run a few years, accommodating not more than thirty pupils at any time. ;

;

Fire Companies and Fires. Previous to 1854. there was neither a fire extinguisher nor fire company in Sauk City, much may have been needed, and then, in all probability, there would not have been either, had not J. J. Heller, on realizing the unprotected condition of property, had a small hand-engine constructed, during the early portion of that year, for his individual use. This extinguisher though small and somewhat rude in construction, was, nevertheless, quite ingeniously gotten up, embracing the salient principles embodied in the best of engines, and was vastly superior to no engine at all. On the Fourth of July, 1854, the oldest house in town caught fire, while the tenants were away celebrating, and before it was discovered, it had so far advanced, that, had not the little engine come to the rescue, it must needs have perished. Thus to the work of this primitive affair is Mr. Rendtorff indebted for the preservation of this relic of by gone days. It is said that troubles never come singly, and sure enough, again this year, on November 21, there was another fire. This time Simeon Dean's store, tin-shop, barn and four horses were destroyed, and Charles Nabel's house and store and Mr. Klutch's cooper-shop were also burned. This fire, for so young a town, was a very large one, and caused the men of the place to think it about time that they should prepare some sort of a defense against this common enemy. Accordingly, a public meeting was held December 26, 1854, to consider the question. Charles O. Baxter and Cyrus Leland were elected President and Secretary, and a committee was appointed to consider a plan of action. The committee, after due deliberation, recommended an organization consisting of four departments first, an engine corps second, hook and ladder; third, bucket company fourth, rescue and protection, with a Captain of entire company, and Captain to each department. The second meeting was held January 2, 1855, when the previous recommendations as they

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

607

John A. Ilantzsch was elected were acted upon, and the company permanently organized. provisional Captain of the company; J. J. Heller, Captain first department; W. Cook, Captain The fourth department was filled second department; F. Frenzel, Captain third department. by the rihV company, who volunteered to supply the place. Soon after this the company, out of September 20, 1857, the company personal funds, provided hooks, ladders, and tin buckets. was recognized, and incorporated by the town authorities, in conformity with the provisions of In August, 1859, a hook and ladder wagon was purchased. the amended charter of that year. With tli ese few appliances the company got along for nearly three years more, then $225 was This was bought in Milraised, partly by subscription, to purchase a small hand-engine. Then the company for the waukee, anil arrived here on the 21st of April, 1862. The balance were prepared to render really efficient service. first time felt that they of the money needed to pay for the engine was raised by giving a picnic in StingleThe company also purchased a lot for their use this spring (1862), hammer's grove. A few years and succeeded in persuading the town authorities to build an engine-house. subsequent, the village purchased a large hand-engine, and various equipments, from the Madison Kire Department, costing about $1,200, so that now, considering the needs of the

The company has on all occasions given eviplace, the company is very fairly provided for. dence of willingness to do and has, through its exertions, has saved a good deal of valuable In About the first house saved was J. J. Heller's, in May, 1862. property at different times. 1867, Mr. Hoffman's house, now the Catholic priest's dwelling, was saved. Very soon after the company succeeded in putting the fire out at Lenz's brewery. While Viedt & Lachmund were keeping store where Van Eschen now is, on May 2, 1875, the building caught on fire and was saved. When the fire of June 3, 1877, broke out, and burned Charles Nebel's store, erected in 1851, and William Phillips' and Nick Truckenbrodt's buildings, south of the old Astor House first known as the Leibig house, the fire company managed to save the hotel, which is yet standing, Taken all in all, the record of the company is first-class. and Mr. Conradi's drug store. Societies and Churches.

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German social life is never complete without social singing, or singing Singing Society. and nothing conduces more to harmony of feeling than engaging in evoking the almost divine harmonies of sound that have been evolved by the master minds in music during Germany is the land of great composers, and where the people are all lovers of the past ages. sublime art, and her sons and daughters, wherever we find them, still maintain the national When the first gathering for social singing was convened here, no excellence in this particular. one can tell, but doubtless at a very early day and even the exact date when a permanent organization was formed, cannot be given, as the Secretary's books were burned in TruckenHowever, the society is about twenty-six years old, being brodt's fine hall three years ago. The first members were, as nearly as can be ascertained, Robert one of the oldest in the State. Max Stinglehammer, II. Schlegelmilch, Edward Klutch, Edward Rendtorff. Morsback, John Kuehn, Theodore Schramm and I). Heick. Robert Morsback was Leader. There are now forty-six members, twenty-five of whom are singers, the remainder being passive members.

societies

;

The present officers are II. Schlegelmilch, President; Max StingelCharles Naffz is Leader. hammer, Vice President John Buerki, Secretary Edward Rendtorff, Treasurer Edward Stadelmann, Librarian II. W. Thede, Standard Bearer. The officers are elected annually. The ;

;

Last New Year's the society celebrated for standard was presented by the ladies in 1862. their twenty-fifth anniversary. Benevolent Society. The Sauk City Benevolent Society was started in 1874, the first The first meeting was held at movers in the matter being Andrew Kahn and John Buerki. They then Truckenbrodt's hall, March 4, 1874, there being about twenty persons present. organized, ami elected John Buerki President; John Baertsch, Vice President; Andrew Kahn, Secretary Henry Trueb, Treasurer; Gasper Steuberand Edward Neidiker, Bysiters. Of the first members five or six have withdrawn, but, on the other hand, new members have come in, until now first

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;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

608

The society is strictly a mutual protective organization, If a member is not able to work he gets a regular appropriation with no secrets or password. In case of the death of a man, the heirs get $30 from the treasury and 50 of $3 a week. When a man's wife dies, he gets $15 from the treasury and 25 cents each from the members. A man cannot be over fifty-five to join, and must be in good cents each from the members. The membership fee is $3. The meetings of the society are held once a week. health. City Brass Band. A brass band was first organized here at about the time the old Sauk John Junge, D. Schramm, military company was formed. There were at first but five members A. Vogel, Ed Kuehn and Henry Schegelrailch, J. Junge being the leader. In 1856, the band number was augmented by the addition of Samuel Kleiner and Peter Bernhardt. With the exception of a few changes, the band continued until 1868 or 1869, when it broke up, never having been more than nine or ten strong at any time, and seldom more than the first seven. In Samuel Kleiner, leader, the present band, organized but a short time, there are ten members and V. Wuerth, E. Van Eschen, Rudolph Kleiner, Nic Muller, A. Marguart, M. Bohnsak, membership of thirty-two.

there is a

—

Charles Schlungbaum, Ed Stadelmann and John Meyer.

—

The Sauk County Cemetery Association was organized at the Cemetery Association. schoolhouse, July 27, 1852. The Trustees elected were Henry Wild, Thomas Cook, L. Accola, On the 6th of September following, the land of the cemetery T. Hitzmier and Curtis Bates. At present, lots sell for was purchased from John Gallard for $50, and soon after was platted. from $8 to $10, according to location. At present, P. Lachmund is President F. G. J. Lueders, Mr. Rendtorff has been Secretary of the society for Treasurer Ed Rendtorff, Secretary. Mr. Lueder is now Superintendent of the grounds, which are tastefully laid twenty-four years. off and ornamented with shrubbery. A. O. U. W. Society. The only secret society now in Sauk City is the lodge of United Workingmen, No. 62, A. O. U. W. This order was organized here May 1, 1879, with eighteen The charter officers were H. charter members, which have since increased to thirty-eight. Muhlburg, P. M. W. John Bach, M. W. A. Fischer, V. J. Shaddi, G. F. ; H. Meyer, Secretary M. Loddi, Treasurer J. Just, Financier. The officers now remain the same, with the exception that A. Ferber is now G. F., and Samuel Kleiner, Secretary. The society of the " Free German Association " held their first meeting, acHumanists. cording to various accounts, as early as 1842, at which time they styled themselves "Humanists," Charles Duer, now deceased, was their first the name which is now commonly applied to them. speaker, but the society was not regularly founded until the 24th of October, 1852, after Mr. Edward Schroeder became speaker. The society was incorporated June 3, 1853, as the " Free German Association of Sauk County." At first the organization met with strong opposition from church The congregation has no settled people, which has become modified during the passage of time. dogma, neither do the members recognize any authority as being infallible, and to be explicitly followed. The works of nature, and the revelations of human experience in history, serve as foundations for whatever opinions may be entertained, subject to the analysis and conclusions arrived at by ;

;

—

;

—

The chief principles acted upon are for the advancement of general intelligence, and the maintenance of sincerity, honesty and truth in all things, as opposed to hypocrisy and falsehood. All members stand on a footing of perfect equality, without regard to sex. The speaker is the teacher of the old and young, and the general exercises consist in lectures, singing, declaThe congregation mation and the instruction of the children in morals, under his supervision. belongs to the Wisconsin Union of Free Congregations, and to the Union of Free Congregations of reason.

The society owns two halls, one at America, and to the North American Union of Radicals. Sauk City and one at Honey Creek. Their speaker, Mr. Edward Shroeder, has recently gone to Europe as the Delegate for the German Free-Thinkers of America to the Free-Thinkers' Congress at Brussels.

—

Sauk City St. Moysius Congregation is the oldest The Catholic Church and Society. It was Catholic congregation in Sauk County, and one of the oldest in Western Wisconsin. The first baptism recorded is that of Catharina Holbleib, baptized founded in the year 1*44.

HISTORY OP SAUK COUNTY. 2d of October, L844.

The first Catholic

priesl

609

was Rev. Albert Inama, of the order of the

Prsemonstratensians, of the Convent Welten, near Innsbruck, Tyrol, who died 1879, in Roxbury It was Town, Dane County, Wis. The first Catholic Church was built in Sauk City in 1845. During that a small frame building, and was burnt down by an accident in the following year. year Count Haraszthv, an Hungarian nobleman, gave lots to the Catholic congregation for buildIn the same year. Rev. ing purposes, the deed of said lots being dated 17th of February. lS4(i. .Maximilian Gaertner, of the same order as Rev. Inama, arrived and took charge of the congregation remaining until 1858, when he retired to his home country, Tyrol, where he afterward 1851, the 29th of May. Brst steps were t iken to erect the new Catholic Church buildCatholics and non-Catholics united for this purpose, and $880 were is now in use. On the '21st of July. 1851, the corner-stone was laid, and Mr. Stingelhammer did The rear or Messrs. Werner. Kraus and Mortens were building committee. the mason work. In

died.

ing which

subscribed.

In 1853, work was rebrick part was first finished, then the work stopped because of lack of funds. commenced, and the church finished under the supervision of Rev. Gaertner and Rev. WeinThe building is 103x50 feet and thirty feet high (walls inside clear thirty-nine feet), and hardt.

The Rev. Weinhardt left in 1861. Hissu is now paid. Since then several priests have bad Rev. Voessem, finished the plastering and left in 1865. the congregation, which consists of about 130 families, of which twenty-five are Irish. There is also a misA Catholic school is attached numbering about seventy Catholic children. sion belonging to this congregation situated in town of Honey Creek, consisting of about forty feet high; eighteen Catholic families. They "have just finished a stone church 50x28 feet, The Rev. Herman Grosse is now the steeple, seventy-six feet, at a cost of about $1,800.

cost about $13,000, all of which

Priest.

—

The first preaching of this society was held in the old in Reformed Congregation. He continued here schoolhouse as early as 1850, the Rev. Mr. Snangler being the minister. After him in 1858, the Rev. Etter was minister. until 1856, when Rev. Mr. Knoepfel came. Then in 1859, Rev. R. Ruetenick became Pastor. During Mr. Ruetenick's time the society was regularly organized. He was succeeded by Rev. A. Winter, in 1860. The church was built in 1861, at a cost of $2,000, during the pastorate of the Rev. Winter. In 1864, the Rev. J. Brecht became minister. He remained until 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. Herpjd, After him in 1869, came the Rev. F. Kuenzler, who served until 1*77. when the Rev. J. G ruenigan .superseded him. In 1875, the Rev. S. S. Thalers, the present Pastor, was installed. At first there were but five members, C. Obrecht, J. L. Accola. J. Buerki, (1. Schaefer and C. Shultz, these being Swiss and German] There are now 250 members of the same nationalities.

Ennojflirnl Axxoeiatuni.

— The

first

services of this denomination were held here in

the

schoolhouse in 1844, by Bishop Johannes Seybert, the first Bishop of the German Evangelical Association of America. With him came the Rev. Mr. Miller, who afterward came out here for some time A few years after their services were held every Sunday, the place of meeting every four weeks. The church was built in 1871. changed to the house of Mrs. J. E. Wright, at Saukville. being The society here is a branch of the by John Thilke, and was consecrated by Bishop Escher.

Salem Church,

Honey Creek, and

supplied by

their

minister.

There arc

fifty-live

members here. ATTORNEYS AND PHYSICIANS.

The following is a list of attorneys that have practiced here: William H. Clark, James Cyrus Leland, J. Stephens Trip]), John B. «Juimby and J. W. Johnson. John B. Woodruff, William Wolf, George H. Briggs, Henry McKenna, H. Physicians

S. Alban,

Lachmund and A. F. Jonas. SAUKVILLE, OH MIDDLE SAUK.

This little village lies midway between Upper and Lower Town. The most thai has e\ done here toward erecting a village is the work of J. E.Wright, now deceased, but, owing to the unfa-

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY".

610

vorable location, just between the villages of Prairie du Sac and Sauk City, very little more than making a fair start has ever been accomplished, for, as the trite old saying expresses it, " that which It is not beyond the possibilities that at stands between two stools must needs fall to the ground." some future time a railroad may pass directly through here; then who can say but that that

which has heretofore shown small vitality may suddenly take new life unto itself, and withal outAt least, whatever may occur, it is always well to look on the strip its more favored competitors. bright side, and hope for the best. And furthermore, that the village of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac may some time be united by the growth of a village here, is to be devoutly desired, for then the interests of the two places may become identical, and correspondingly strong and influential abroad.

A huge brick chimney and a dilapidated wooden structure now mark the spot where, in 1852, .1. E.Wright, in company with P. Tinker, a practical machinist, began the erection of a steam saw and grist mill combined. In 1853, Soreno Wright came on from the East and purchased J. The mill E. Wright's interest in the mill, and, with Mr. Tinker, went on and completed it. began running in 1854, and for that early time was a large institution and did an extensive busiThe mill continued in active operation until October, 1858, when it was burned (cause ness. unknown), with a loss of $5,00.0. After the building of the mill, in 1854, J. E. Wright, Sr., put up a large store building, which is yet standing near the road on the handsome property of his estimable lady. This store was first occupied by a Mr. Forbes, of Portage City. Subsequently, after having been used several years as a store, it was converted to its present use as a private dwelling. Shortly after the buildnig of the mill and store, blacksmith-shops, wagonshops, etc.. were started. Of those that were started early, none are left, and, to sum up, the business of the place is now represented solely by the blacksmith and wagon shop of Mr. Habermann. After the burning of the mill, Soreno Wright immediately began building a steamboat, for She was boat with a special home interest at this point was then very much needed. ninety feet long, twenty-two feet beam, and eighteen inch draft when loaded, being constructed A large part of the machinery was made at the old especially for navigating the Wisconsin. The boat was launched in July, 1859, and made her foundry and machine shop of Mr. Rosche. She was first trial trip in a satisfactory manner, with about two hundred and fifty on board. called the Wisconsin Pioneer, but the name was subsequently changed to the Sauk City Entera good

prise.

This boat was for many years one of the principal craft on the river, as well as the repre-

sentative boat of this section.

The church

of the

German Evangelical Association

located a short distance south of

Saukville. Tin:

SAI K

BATTLE.

At a very early day, in the career of Sauk City, the raftsmen made a practice of tying up here at night when they could, and going up town en masse to rampage and bum, perhaps the whole night through, constituting themselves a law unto themselves, to the terror of the saloonists and the law-abiding citizens, ft was but the common turn of affairs for them to run the saloon-keepers out of their places, and to bill defiance to all restraints, and to indulge in the most indecent routs conceivable. This sort of thing could not last always; so, after long suffering, the Germans, who are slow to anger, bul determined when they gel started, turned nut in strung numbers one night, .ami. armed with cudgels, attacked a large gang of raftsmen. The engagement was a hotlywould In- hard ed and bloodj one, but a worse whipped ami used up ct iwd of rowdies Some of to find bloody noses, cracked skulls and broken bones was their condition generally. lor worst the when the it came to be injured ones brought suit against Germans damages, but tried, the lawyer who acted for plaintiffs was chased from Lower to Upper Town by the infuriated They had defendants, ami SO ended this affair as well as any further abuses by the raftsmen. had enough. it

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AIK COUNTY.

CHAPTER

XII.

Town \m>\im \>-i oi Lavalle—Town of Washington—Town of "Winfield—Loganvillf. \m> Town oi Westfield- Town oi Dellona— Town oi Freedom and Village North Freedom— Town oi Greenfield— Town and Village of [ronton- Town oi Exi'klsiok LBLEJIAN— VILLAGE AND TOWN 01 DeLTON—NEWPORT— TOWN "I WOODAND Vn VG LAND Town of Fairfield. <>i

TOWN AND

VII. LACK

OF LAVALLE.

The town of Lavalle is formed of Township 13 north, Range east, lying in the north tier of towns of Sauk County, and, were it not for the town of Woodland, which stands by itself on ''•

the west, would he the northwest corner town of the county. It is hounded on the north by Juneau County, on the east by the town of Winfield, on the south by Ironton, and on the west

The surface of the town is uneven, hut well watered by the Baraboo River and by Woodland. its tributaries. Good wells are easily obtained springs are abundant. Timber is plenty and of good quality, principally oak. of several varieties. Railroad ties, hardwood timber and staves are made in large quantities. Considerable pine was found here at an early day. hut it is nowscarce soil is The sandy loam very clay and black ami rock, principally sandstone some limestone is found, of good quality for building purposes. Adjacent to the streams are found some picturesque masses of perpendicular rock, from fifty to two hundred feet in height, decked out with vines, mosses and shrubs, adding greatly to the beauty of the landscape. Wild fruits common to this latitude are abundant in season. In early days, wild bees were so common that wild honey was obtained with but little trouble. Bee-trees are frequently found at this time by those who know how to trace them. Several good water-powers exist in the town one at Lavalle. on the line of the Madison Division of the Chicago & North- Western Railroad, which crosses the town from the southeast to the northwest another is found on Section '24, where William Rathbun has a good saw-mill in operation and another on Section 1, on Big Creek, where Harvey Gifford lias a fine saw-mill in operation still another mill is doing a flourishing business at a switch on the railroad, called Podunk, owned by a Milwaukee man. Large quantities of railroad ties, wood and timber, are bought here. A store, boarding-house and blacksmith-shop :

;

are in operation at this point. The first white man to locate in the town was Samuel Karstetter, who built a shanty on Section 28, in L847. Mr. Manelious Pearson, a native of England, came in L 848, and, in .Inly of that year, erected the first substantial house, situated on Section .'14. Mr. Pearson first choice. His daughter Mary Ann, now Mrs. George Inman, September 21, 1850, was the first white child horn in the town. Among the very earliest to in addition Karstetter and Pearson. George Harrison, who came in L848, Jabez Inman. in 1849, Ansel II. Brownell in 1850, John Tordoff in 1851, Edmund Tordoff in 1851, A. I>. Potter in 1853, W. S. Hubbellin L854, George W. Dickens in 1854, am! John While in 1854. The territory nov embraced in the town of Lavalle was originally in the town of Bai and subsequently in the town of Marston. The first It became the town of Lavalle in 1861. town meeting was held in the village of Lavalle April 1, 1862. ,1. G. Blakeslee was elected Chairman: E. B. Hageman md J. II. Douglass. Supervisors; C. K. Christnot, ('Ink: II. G. Howard, Treasurer; II. A. Sturgess, Assessor; David Beery. II. A. Sturgess and Calvin Gardstill

resides on the farm of his

horn

settlers should

ner, Justices.

The first school dis rid V, as organized w the town was a pari of Marston. in 1851. A schoolhouse was commenced that year, situated on the north side of Section 33, near the Ironton and Lavalle load. Owing to a lack of harmony among the people, work tva .

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

612

completed in February, 1853. This is said to have been the first school in the When the schooltown of Marston, of which the present town of Lavalle then formed a part. house was completed, W. S. Hubbell was Clerk, William All, Treasurer, and Samuel Hoskins. The first teacher was William II. Brown. Director. The first religious meetings were held at the house of the Rev. Mr. Hamlin also a Sabbath school, with Mr. Hamlin as Superintendent in the summer of 1851. Mr. Hamlin was a Free-Will Baptist minister. The early what is now the village of settlers in the vicinity of Lavalle were J. Village. F. Hamlin, Solon Rushmore, A. H. Brownell, Elisha Potter, Ezra Hagaman, Sebastian Karstetter and M. A. Matthews. Mr. Hamlin made a claim of the land upon which the village is He built a situated, and commenced the improvement of the water-power in the year 1849. temporary board shanty, in which to live, on the south side of the Baraboo, opposite the point he decided upon as the most feasible one for the construction of a dam and mill. He was soon The year of 1849 afterward joined by Solon Rushmore, who took an interesl in the enterprise. was spent in making a dam and building the frame work of a mill, and, in the spring of 1850, The mid irons were manufactured in Baraboo by Sanford (.!. F. the machinery w^as put in. & Becktel, who were then carrying on a foundry at the county seat, the former being engaged Mr. Sanford settled in Baraboo in 1848, and owned the first in the mercantile business also. stock of goods ever taken to Reedsburg for general sale. The saw-mill was put into operation in the summer of 1850, the first lumber turned out being used, it is believed, in the framewwk It is still standing as a part of the residence of a more substantial dwelling for Mr. Hamlin. of Mr. Hunneberg. In 1864, the mill property passed to the hands of .1. F. Sanford. who removed to Lavalle A flour-barrel factory was soon established in connection and took immediate charge of it. Both institutions were carried on successfully for a few years. witli the saw-mill. The manufacture of broom-handles also became a part of the enterprise. In 1869, Mr. Sanford turned Ins attention to the building of a grist-mill, to lie propelled by the same water-power employed A large three-story building was erected just in running the saw-mill, barrel factory, etc. below the dam, and, the necessary machinery being procured, the citizens of Lavalle were soon The grist-mill is now the property of Lyman Beery and Theoenabled to use home-made flour. It has three run of stones, which are employed principally on custom work. dore Yager. In 187 4, the old machinery in the saw-mill was taken out and the establishment fitted up for the manufacture of staves, by Stafford & Co., of Reedsburg, who had rented the building and a certain portion of the water-power for a term of three years. In 1876, Messrs. Keith \ Paddock, who also own and conduct the Reedsburg stave-mill, obtained control of the concern. In In it were the fall of the same year, a building was erected a short distance above the dam. placed a steam boiler and engine and other necessary machinery for the manufacture of staves. Work was commenced and carried on until the L5th of June, L878, when the establishment was Immediate preparations were made for occudestroyed by fire, at an estimated loss of $1,200. pying the old saw-mill building, and, in due course of time the buzz of busy saws again echoed in the cpiiet precincts of Lavalle. The capacity of this mill is about 500 staves an hour. In L879, the combined product of Messrs. Keith & Paddock's Lavalle and Reedsburg Mills was A. E. Miller is Superintendent of both establishments. The surrounding 1,500,000 staves. country, being heavily wooded with oak and basswood, furnishes an inexhaustible supply of it.

It was finally

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The manprofitable employment to large numbers of industrious citizei^. ufacturers find a ready market for their work in the leading cities of the West, the major part of

being shipped to Chicago, where.it is made into pork and Hour barrels.

In 1*74. the Northwestern Hoop-Pole Company, of Chicago, put up a steam mill in the eastern part of Lavalle, in which machinery for the manufacture of hoop-poles and dressing of staves was placed. The business has been conducted with varied success up to the present time. In 1878, F. Itickeii set up a carding machine in the upper part of the stave-mill, where he does local carding on a small scale.

HISTOID OF SACK COUNTY.

013

The early growth of the place was So much for the manufacturing interests of Lavalle. necessarily slow, situated as it was in a dense wilderness, scarcely accessible to ordinary road wagons. But the pioneer's first pathway is always rough, and he is thankful if he can but disNew-comers gradually found their way inti cern the outlines of even an Indian trail. A school was established in the hills and valleys, which weresoon settled upon and cultivated. just north of the present residence of I! <i. Padshanty It was held in a little tall of 1855. [n 1859, the district built There are no records of this school prior to 1865. dock. spacious schoolhouse, which was occupied until 1875, when the present very creditable temple of learning was constructed, at a cost of S .son. the old schoolhouse being converted into a town hall. At the end of the school year of 1879, there were 127 pupils in the district over four and There are two departments, Marion Groat under twenty years of age who had attended school. and Charlotte Beauchat presiding over them as Principal and Assistant respectively. It spring of 1856, with S. I'. Harney as Postmaster. A post office was established in the was what was then commonly known as a special office, the mail being carried from Reedsburg " to drawing cuts by the citizens, who at first were in the habit of having a meeting anil W. II. Young is said to have been decide who should carry the mail for the next two weeks. Finally a subscription was taken up and a regular mail the first victim of the • cut system." Mr. Barney This continued until the railroad reached the place in LS72. carrier employed. It then became what Mr. Barney aptly terms a "a political office," held the office until 1864. and more or less individual with strong party leanings requiring the special attention of an William P. <.'obl> was selected to supplant Mr. Barney, but he lived only a political influence. few months, and upon his death J. F. Sanford, one of Mr. Cobb's sureties, was appointed. Mr. Sanford held it ten years, and resigned in favor of William 11. Croft, who. in the spring of L876, withdrew in favor Mr. B. G. Paddock, more commonly known as " Ben," who is the present incumbent. While the people of Lavalle are all law-abiding Christians, their religious enthusiasm has never led them to erect extravagant temples. Methodist meetings were held in the place as early Stated services have been of as f the " shanty schoolhouse." 856, soon after the construed 1

The Adventists, existing in very limited numbers until recently, frequent occurrence since. Sanford's Hall. Field's Hall and Odd Fellows' Hall have been used by have also held meetings. Among the subboth denominations. In 1*7 S the Adventists built a neat church edifice. scriber- to the fund were Elder Groat, of Ironton ; J. Abbott Douglass, Robert White, W. 11. .

Elders Graves and Hitchcock have supplied the pulpit. Douglass and J. 'N. Nye. was chartered, with Lavalle Lodge, No. 244 In December. l s 75. a lodge of Odd Fellows II. A. Sturges, H. P. Apker, Wenz Mihlbauer, Asa Gale, R. W. Clarke and Frank P. Sanford The P. G.'s in the lodge tire Messrs. Sanford, Apker', Muhlbauer, Sturges, as charter members. There are about thirty members. dale. A. Found. F. Myer and B. Douglass. Probably the The temperance cause has received considerable encouragement in Lavalle. most effective organization of this character in its history was accomplished in August, 1879, when a Good Templar's Lodge was instituted. The charter members were Mary. Fannie and Parker Apker, W. Bierd, A. Clement. II. W. Douglass. J. A. Douglass, Henry Eger, Alice Graham, Annie Head, Seth Kingsley, W. Marden, II. Paddock, Dell Sanborn. Charles Sander-;. the II. W. Douglass was the first W. C. T. Milo Seeley, Mrs. A. Pound and Robert Wilkie. working condition. present is Herbert Paddock. The lodge is in g Before the railroad reached Lavalle the traveling public were accommodated by C. IlenneUpon the completion of the railroad in 1872, J. F. Sanford enlarged his residence, ate; berg. converted it into a hotel. W. X. Carver is the present lessee of the Sanford House. The town of Lavalle was formerly a. part of the town of Marston, in which was also included The two former the territory of what is now the towns of Woodland, Washington and Ironton. were set off as separate towns, leaving what are now Ironton and Lavalle, the town of Marston. A petition was -cut to the Hoard of Supervisors, praying for a change in mime from Marston The inhabitants of the smith end of the town then to Lavalle, but the prayer was not granted. Field.

('.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

614

To this, the citizens of the north end, for some petitioned to be set off as a separate town. reason best known to themselves, demurred, but the Ironton people succeeded in carrying This naturally left the records through the project, and the town of Ironton was the result. of all the territory in question in possession of the town of Marston (now Lavalle), and it was considered a pretty good joke when the town of Ironton found itself compelled to make a tranMarston soon after became, as it is now, the town of Lavalle, script of them at its own expense.

and every one was happy.

The village of Lavalle now contains three general stores, one hardware, one drug, and one hardware and grocery store one hotel, two blacksmith-shops, one wagon-shop, one livery-stable, one shoe-shop, millinery store, one saloon, one stave-mill, one hoop-pole factory, one gristmill, one carding-mill, one graded school, one church, one Odd Fellows' Lodge, one Good Templars' Lodge, and has one doctor. ;

TOWN OF WASHINGTON. This town is situated in the western tier of towns in Sauk County, and twelve miles south The territory included within the limits of the town was originof the north line of the county. ally a part of the town of Eagle, subsequently was organized as the town of Marston, in connection with the townships now known as [ronton and Lavalle, and, on the 1st of April, 1856, The town boundaries included the present territory. the town of Washington was organized. Town 11 north, Range 8 east, together with the two tiers of sections lying directly on the north, being a part of Town 12 north, Range 3 east, making the town eight miles north and south, and six miles east and west, in extent. The first election was held in the schoolhotise. on Section 15, April 1, 1856. The inspectors of election were II. W. Reeve and Nelson Wheeler. The whole number of votes cast was seventy-five. The officers elected were D. II. Roland. Chairman; Arva Frost, Joshua Holmes. Supervisors; E. S. Drake. Clerk; H. W. Reeve, Nelson Wheeler, Ira Jones, Assessor Superintendent of Schools G. W.Gray, Treasurer Thomas J. Gray, Justices of the Peace: <!. V. Ostrander, Thomas DeVoe, Samuel Drake, Con:

stables.

Subsequently, the two tiers of sections from Town 12, Range -\ were cut off and annexed Town of Ironton, leaving the town in its present form, that of a Government township

lie

of thirty-six sections.

The surface features are generally of an uneven character. One wide ridge extends north and south, through the western part of the town, on a line north from Sections 32 and 33, This ridge varies in width, being from two swinging slightly to the west on Sections ii .and 7. Originally, it was heavily timbered, but at this time it contains many Another wide ridge extends eastward from Sections 2'.' and 32 to the The main ridges form the division widening out on Sections 26 and 25. between the bead-w at'ers of several streams. From these ridges extend lateral ridges or spurs, generally at righl angles, ^uitc an extensive and rich valley sets in near the northeastern part of the town, and extends in a southwesterly direction to Section 21. On the uplands, the soil is a strong clay loam, and in the valleys a rich black loam, well adapted, in both localities, to all products of this latitude. Tame grasses grow luxuriantly on both uplands and valleys. A large portion of the town was originally heavily timbered. The exceptions were portions of the south ridge and the valley mentioned above. A second growth of timber now covers The timber throughout the town is such portions ,,f that territory as are not under cultivation. wry thrifty, and, in many places, large and clear. Trees two feel iii diameter and clear of limbs Stave bolts and wagon lumber form quite an imami knots for the first fifty feet, are common. The variet ies of timber consist of oak, in its several portant part of the products of the town. kinds of white, black and red: white ash, hickory, hasswood. elm, hard and soft maple, butternut, ironwood ami cherry. The several varieties of oak constitute a large proportion of the to three

miles wide.

well cultivated farms.

east line of the town,

timber. In The town is remarkably well supplied with water by its numerous creeks and springs. Their number exceeds the valleys, at the base of the ridges, tine springs of cold water abound.

HISTORY OF SAUK

COUNTY.

615

hundred. These springs form clear brooks of never-failing water, which area greal conWindmills are almost unknown. On the highest e to the farmers for the watering of stock. good is water ridges, obtained at an average depth of seventy-five feel. Narrows 'reek and its tributaries flow through the northeastern part of the town, and tributaries of Honey 'reek through the southeastern, of Hear Creek through the southwestern, and of Willow Creek through the northwestern part. Speckled trout were once quite plenty in the latter streams in early days. At this time, they are not found in numbers great enough to satisfy the lovers of the rod and line. The rock is composed of lime, flint and sandstone. One large limekiln is in successful operation on Frederic Rowe's farm, on Section li. and another has been recently started by Gr. L. Sebring, on Section 2. There are two posl offices in the town. The Sandusky Post Office was established in the The first Postmaster was William Dano. and the present is II. W. Reeve. The fall of L855. office is situated at the northwestern corner of Section 33. For the past fifteen years, the office has had four mails a week. Arrangements have been perfected by which it is expected soon to have a daily mail. The second office was established February. 22, 1880. It is called Tuckerville, and is situated on the north side of Section 14. John T. Pollock is Postmaster. Mails arrive and depart on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are ten school buildings in the town: all frame but one. which is of logs. The first mse was built on Section 2, in 1854. School was taught by Miss Jane Wheeler. R. 0. Myers was Clerk of the district, and Nelson Wheeler, Director. The first store was opened and kept by William Dano and J. Holmes, at Sandusky, in the L855; the second by Robert Hawke, and the third by II. W. Reeve, opened in the spring 1861. Mr. Reeve is still in business at this writing (1880). Another is kept by Fred Zweig, also at Sandusky. The two latter are all that are in operation at this time. Tb sre are four churches in the town. The first was built by the Sandusky Society of the Evangelical Association of North America. The building was erected on land donated by Mr. C. -I. II. Erffmeyer, on Section 27, in October, 1864. Cost of building, $400. The society anizcd at a meeting held at the house of Charles Schluter, June 5, 1862. Trustees were elected Frederic Schoephoister for one year, Henry Ties for two years and Charles Schluter for three years. C. J. H. Erffmeyer was Chairman of the meeting, and the Rev. Joseph Harlacher, Secretary. Mr. Erffmeyer donated one acre of land in the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 27 for church and cemetery in consideration of which, he was voted lots free for a family burying-ground. Rev. Joseph Harlacher was the first Pastor. Among the first members were Charles Schluter, Fred Schoephoister. Henry Ties. 'hris Schluter, C. J. H. Erffmeyer, John Schoephoister. Christian Uphoff, Ernest Biernhiet and Chris Gieseke. The present membership is about forty families. The present Pastor is the Rev. St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is situated on the north side of Section 26. This society was organized about 1864. The first regular Pastor was the Rev. A. Susner. Six years to this, meetings were held in private houses by various traveling ministers. The first meeting was held in the log cabin of Mr. Charles Brandt, in 1858; the old house still stands. Among the first members were Charles Brandt, Frederic Brandt, Henry Brandt, John Wise, Chris Krueger and Mr. Westedt. The church was built in October. 1871, at a cost of about The membership was thirty-one families: Trustees, Charles Muchow, Aug Krueger and 8400. William Krueger: Pastor, Rev. M. (.'bins. The society known as the United Brethren was organized about 1868, and meetings were held in private houses. The first Pastor was the Rev. George Hickey. In 1876, a very neat and roomy church was built at a point known as Tuckerville, on the north side of Section 14, and dedicated the last Sunday of June, 1877. The Pastor at that time was the Rev. .lames Aldricli. The cost of the building was about 81,100. Among those who contributed toward the building of the church may be mentioned John Shoup, Nelson Blood, William Blackburn, Levi Purdy and Philip Apple; Adam Tucker donated the site. The present Pastor is Rev. J. Good. The first Baptist services were held in the schoolhouse on Section 27. about 1869, <

it'

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•

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

616

Mr. John Seamans officiating. About 1872, the society was organized, the first regular Pastor being Rev. Harvey Bacon. In 1875, a building was bought, situated on Section 34, that is used The present membership is fourteen, and Mr. A. L. Prouty is Pastor. as a church. The Methodists have no church building within the limits of the town of Washington. They are connected with the Ironton Church, a history of which is given in that of the town of The first Methodist services held in the town of Washington were conducted at the Ironton. schoolhouse on Section 2, in the summer of 1855. Preaching was by the Rev. Mr. Hall. The church at Ironton was built in 1863, and the present Pastor is Elder George Tyake. Forest Lodge, No. 106, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted about 1863, J. G. Blakeslee, D. D. Cj. The lodge was instituted in Reeve's Hall, Sandusky. D. B. M., of Ironton, doing the work. Marah was elected N. G., and H. W. Reeve, R. S. The lodge had a membership of thirty-five. About 1873, the charter was surrendered by consent of the members. The Good Templars had an organization in this town in 1867. Meetings were held in the Sandusky schoolhouse at first, and subsequently in Reeve's Hall. The lodge was organized by It only existed about three years. Miss Emery (State Lecturer). There are several steam saw-mills, one water-power grist and flouring mill and one cheese In addition to these should be mentioned several cooper-shops and a few factory in the town. Mr. William Schoephoister is rebuilding his steam saw-mill on Section 22. blacksmith-shops. Hardwood is the principal timber in use much of it is Its capacity will be 6,000 feet per day. worked up into wagon material shipping-point, Reedsburg. E. & H. Staples have a steam Another is run by Charles Nebel on Section 31. John saw-mill in operation on Section 33. capacity, 100 Williams has a new grist and flouring mill on Section 14, run by water-power A cheese factory is in operation at Tuckerville run by Edwin Booker, bushels per day. capacity, 400 pounds per day. A cooper-shop at Sandusky is owned and run by lessee Thomas Lyndon, and doing a good business. Several others are operated in different parts of the town by various parties. The first white settler in the original town of Washington was Washington Gray. He built his log cabin on Section 35, Town 12, Range 3, in the spring of 1850. He was followed in November of the same year by R. O. Myers, who located on Section 3, Town 11, Range 3. As that portion of Town 12 on which Gray settled was subsequently set off and attached to Ironton, Mr. Myers is left the first settler in the town of Washington, in its present form. The next settler after Mr. Myers was Sevyer Selden, who located on Section 2, Town 11, Range 3, where he still resides. Nelson and John Wheeler followed, settling on Section 35, Town 12, Range 3. From 1852 to 1856, the town settled very rapidly- Among those who came in about this time may be mentioned Clark Miller and family, 1852 Campbell Miller, L852; Lewis Lumery, 1852; E. S. Drake, 1853; D. H. Boland, Doc and Edward Davison, Staples, the Strouds, William Dano, J. Holmes, H. W. Reeve, Gilbert Wheeler, Jeremiah k C. 1!. Buel, Addison Hale, A. C. Harris, Philip and George Apple, Samuel Thompson, Timothy Chapman. The first German settler was Charles Schluter, coining in 1856. Tin- raising of log houses was the order of the day. In fact, it became quite a tax on the time i.if the lirst settlers. Some weeks they were away from home at raisings five days out of Mr. n but, as they were glad to get neighbors, the service was rendered cheerfully. Myers says the first time lie saw an assessor was when a gentleman came up from Sauk City, He was warned out to do road work on a slough five miles assessing the town of Reedsburg. from his home, by the Pathmaster of his road district, and who was living at Ca^enovia, eight ;

;

'/,.

;

miles distant. Tin' first frame house in the town was built by Gilbert Wheeler on Section 14. The first mill was built by William Cobb and II. W. Reeve, a steam saw-mill, situated

sawing commenced January 1, 1857. The first grist-mill was built in 1*79, on Section 14, by John Williams (water-power). The first post office established was the Sandusky office; William Dano, Postmaster,

near Sandusky, on Section 32

appointed in the fall of 1855.

;

— HISTORY OF SAUK COUNT'S

617

1854; Miss Jane Wheeler was the first teacher. Previous to this, in L853, Miss Laura Tucker had taught school in a private house. The first church was built on Section 27, and dedicated October 2, L864, by the Sandusky of the Evangelical Association of North America; Joseph Harlach, Pastor.

The first schoolhouse was built on Section

2, in

The first religious meetings are believed to have been held by the Methodists, in the fall of Rumors of meetings held in Rev. Mr. Hall officiating.

lS.r>4. in the schoolhouse on Section 2;

private houses, prior to this date, may have some foundation, but nothing positive is known. The first deatli of a white person is believed to have been that of a young boy named Willie

Beman, which occurred in the fall of 1853. A daughter of Mr. Aden Tucker died in August, 1854, and a daughter of Samuel Welch September 11, L854. The early marriages were Isaac Frost, to Mary Wheeler, in the spring of 1S55; L. Ackerman, to Jane Wheeler. The first white child born in the town was of the family of Washington and Frances Gray, born in 1852. In the spring of 1865, indications of carbon oil were found on the surface of a spring, on Two companies were at once organized, with the farm of J. C. Piper, Section 36, Washington. Each of them leased about a thousand acres a view of developing the oil business in this town. One was composed mostly of parties from Sauk City of land in the vicinity of the discovery. The Sauk City Oil Comthe other from citizens of the town and other parts of the county. pany procured an engine and boiler and drilling apparatus; an expert was employed, and the drilling commenced. Excitement ran high. Fabulous prices were asked for land in the vicinity. Parties by the name of Long & Perkins" built a hotel near the proposed well. Shortly afterThe drilling progressed to the depth of 138 feet, when the drill was lost. ward the work was abandoned. The excitement abated, and the citizens of Washington awoke from their dreams of sudden prosperity to the fact that they were only an agricultural people. )n a Saturday evening, shortly after the New Ulm massacre of Minnesota, when the people living on the frontier were excusably nervous on the subject of Indians, a Mrs. Stambaugh, living a mile and a half northwest of Sandusky, seeing, as she supposed, a party of Indians pass is near her place, took her little ones and tied to Mr. Hart's, one of her nearest through the w neighbors, and sought protection. On hearing her story, the news soon spread, and, by common consent, the neighboring settlers gathered with their wives and children at the Hart place, taking with them only such weapons and household goods as they could conveniently carry. Here they made a stand, determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible. Fort Hart was soon in order to resist an attack. Windows and doors were barricaded; weapons, from a rifle to a pitchfork, put in order. A young man living further south, and who On the way, he happened to be at Hart's, mounted his horse and made a bold push for home. As he passed Mr. Reeve's place, on spread the alarm without stopping to enter into particulars. " tin- woods are full a dead run, he made out to shout, Oh, Harvey, tin Indian* <ir<- rumiiuj And This very naturally excited Mr. Reeve's fears. of th< in." and passed on like the wind. he prepared to put his cabin on a war footing. corn knives the rifle loaded Bullets were run and scythes placed at hand. Barricades were erected, and things began to look as though no small hand of Indians would have any business with that ranche. About this time, neighbor He and Mr. Reeve determined to Joseph Powell put in an appearance at the Reeve fortress. reconnoiter Fort Hurt. At great risk of being shot for redskins, they made out to gain admission to this formidable place. Here they found about, thirty men, women and children crowded into one small room, the floor covered with bedding and such household goods as the refugees in their flight had brought with them; women and children, pale and trembling; men evidently nervous, yet pretending to be cool. All sorts of weapons hail been pressed into the service, from a flint-lock rifle to a brush scythe. It was certain that no scalps would he taken here without a desperate struggle. One old man with considerable bravado opened the door and called out "Come on, ye blood-thirsty savages." but shut it very hastily for fear of being taken at his word. ;

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

618

Capt. Reeve and the veteran Powell watching an opportunity when no painted warriors were in sight stole quietly back to the protection of their families. Greatly to Mr. Powell's alarm, he

found his home deserted.

It was plain the wife and little ones were prisoners in the hands of In fear and trembling he made a closer search of the premises, expecting every moment to stumble upon the murdered remains of some of his dear ones. Finally, a faint voice from the log barn-loft reached him. Greatly to his relief he found them all safely

the merciless savages.

hidden away under the hay. Mr. Reeve, in order to allay the fears of his family, pretended to doubt the actual presence of any Indians and went to bed, hut >/>,/ to sleep. His wife, not satisfied witli this arrangement, spent the long night in anxious watching. She was very positive that, if they were permitted to live till another day, they should go back to Ohio at once. The long night passed without an unusual sound. The clear light of day brought with it confidence and hope. The garrison at Fort Hart ventured on an investigation. It was then discovered that Mrs. Stambaugh's ferocious Indians were only three innocent neighboring hunters, who, in passing her place in the dusk, by their bronzed faces and buckskin suits, had caused her to mistake them for Indians. Thus ended the great Indian scare of Sandusky.

When the settlement was young, one summer evening, as one of Sandusky's fair mothers was wending her way home from a neighbor's, accompanied by her son, a hopeful of perhaps years, they suddenly discovered a large black animal approaching them. Black bears were quite common in those early days, and, recognizing Bruin at once, they took to their heels safety, for the animal lumbering along behind them. The mother, finding that she was likely to be left behind by her stalwart son, seized him by the coat-tails, to help herself to escape from the savage brute in pursuit. Imagine her feelings when the boy tried to shake her off, very coolly observing, " What is tin- use of us both being </t *//< " but the mother wouldn't let go, and together they reached their gate, only a few steps in advance of not a great hungry bear, but

fifteen

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of a pet black calf.

The

]

[ile

of Washington, like their neighbors in other towns of Sauk County, date many

of their financial troubles back to the hop crash of 18(38. For a few years previous to that year, the growing of hops had been very remunerative. The yield was so good and prices so fair, that very large profits were realized. Men could count their money by thousands who had only before. It got so that a man who was known to have a hop-yard was counted financially solid, no matter how small the yard. An extravagant credit was given the hopgrower, which in many eases was injudiciously used. The clearing of land and general farming were neglected many spent their large profits lavishly and went deeply in debt on the strength of their expectations. Suddenly the collapse came, as it always does, sooner or later, in such eases. Good crops in other hop-growing districts, and a general increased production throughout the country, caused prices to tumble. The crop of 1868 was picked on the expensive prices of previous years, and, when the hops should have been marketed, they were so low that many held on. hoping bo- a raise. This was going from bad to worse, as the prices still declined ruin followed: mortgages and executions were uncomfortably common. Many have never recovered from the effects of the disasters of that time. The planter did not suffer alone; all classes, merchants and mechanics, werecrippled alike. To redeem their fortunes, people turned their attention again to legitimate farming. Lands were cleared, staple products cultivated, more attention given to stock and dairying, and to-day, Washington is prosperous, and safer by far than she was in the palmy days of hop-growing.

had hundreds

TOWN OF WINFIELD i- formed of Township No. 13 north. Range east, and contains thirty-six sections. situated on the north line of Sauk County, the third town west from the Wisconsin River. I

territory comprising

this

town was

town of Winfield in whs Ezra Gregory; <'lcrk, Hiram Pelton.

organized as the

It is

The

organized as n pun of the town of Baraboo, and was The first Chairman of the Town Board November, L852.

first

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

619

The surface of the town is formed of ridges and valleys, with stretches of table-land on the and uplands, clay loam. bluff; soil, black ami sandy loam in the valleys Water is abundant and of good quality. Good springs are numerous. Twin Creeks and tributaries How from the northern part of the town to the southwest, emptying into the Baral >n Section 31. The The rock is principally sandstone. head-waters of o her streams form in tins town. ;

Many picturesque masses of Rock, forming bluffs of considerable height, add greatly to the beauty of the scenery. The town contains many well-improved farms, tasty residences and good outbuildings. The population in the wesl and northeastern parts of the town is mostly Irish. and central, mostly English and American. There are seven school buildings generally good structures. On the northeast corner of is a fine Catholic Church, situated on a tract of four acres given by Mr. Martin Conway for church purposes, being the only church in the town. People of other denominations either hold services in the schoolhouses, or go to Reedsburg, which is not far distant. The Catholic society was formed in 1867. The Trustees were Patrick Dailey, Patrick Whitty and Martin Conway. A wooden church edifice was built in the fall of 1868, at a cost of over $2,000. The Rev. John Conroy was the first priest. lie was succeeded by the Rev. B. DeGoy, and he by Rev. C. Van Droste, who is in charge at this time. The membership numbers about seventy families, representing the towns of Winfield, Lavalle and Seven Mile Creek. Service is held in the church every alternate Sunday. This town has the credit of being the first in which hops were grown in Sauk County. In the spring of 1852, Mr. Jesse Cottington (one of the pioneers of Winfield, of whom a biographical sketch is given elsewhere in tins work ordered a lot of hop roots from the yards of C. I». Palmer. Waterville, Oneida Co., N. Y., where he had been for several years overseer. The roots were shipped to Milwaukee by boat, ami brought from Milwaukee by wagon to Reedsburg. Mr. Amos Cottington brought them to his father's in Winfield. Section ^<>. in a home-made wagon, composed of a dry-goods box. supported on running gear, the wheels of which were formed of sections saw ed from the end of a log. Mr. C. planted about an acre of hops from these roots, but. from being so long on the way, many of them had become damaged, and failed to grow. He built a hop-kiln of logs, size li'x-Jd feet, without windows or stove. By burning a pit of charcoal, he procured fuel with which he could dry his hops. The charcoal was burned on the ground floor, in such a manner as to produce the desired effect. As he had no press, the Imps of the first picking were stamped by foot into a sack, the first crop yielding only 150 pounds. Tin- sack of Imp- was marketed in Columbus, Columbia Co., Wis. The transportation is worthy of mention. A friend, Mrs. Van Camp, was going to Columbus on a visit her conveyance, one horse and wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Cottington, with the sack of hops, accompanied her. After various mishaps, capsizes and breakdowns, the party reached Columbus, where the hops were sold for 30 cents per pound. So the receipts of the first Sauk Co. hop crop were $45 in gold. In the spring of the year following his first planting, Mr. Cottington, at the request of Harvey Canfield, of Baraboo, sent for some roots for him, and in the same box had some sent for himself to complete his yard. His second crop amounted to 2,000 pounds. These were sold at Madison for 25 cents per pound. Mr. Cottington supplied roots to his neighbors and neighboring towns, and thus was inaugurated a business that, in a few years, caused almost a revolution in the agricultural interests of the county. It was a rival in a small way to the gold excitement of California. During the year 1867, the receipts for hops in this countj reached In the year Mr. $2,000, Cottington's crop sold for $8,000. He became a' dealer in (1867). hops, and handled that year about $200,000 worth. It is not positively known who was the first actual white settler in Winfield. It is reported that a man by the name of Bowen made a claim in the southeastern part of town in the year 1848, ami built a shanty. Mr. Alexander Locke claim- to have built the first shanty in the town. He came to Town 13, Range 4, now Winfield. in April, 1849, and built a shanty. 12x12 feet, on the southeast quarter of Section 34, he having taken that tract in IMS, by land warrant. Mr. Leonard and George Ilufl'nail built a shanty together, to the north of Mr. Locke, ami In the southeastern

Section 21

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

620

the same spring that he built his shanty. Mr. S. J. Seymour, of Dellona, says, in regard to the early settlement of Winfield, that he was on Section 24, of this town, on the 13th day of June, 1849, looking land; that he found Mr. William Andrews with his two sons and his son-in-law, named Mills, eating their dinners by a log fire, on the tract of land now owned by Mr. Silas Fish. The

party had come up from Baraboo, with D. K. Noyes, the day before, who had shown them the They had not. as yet, built even a shanty. They shortly after did build one on this And in the fall of that year, Mr. Seymour helped them raise a log house, in which Mr. tract.

land.

Andrews made his home. Mr. Seymour further

says, that, about the first of June of the same year, he found some land newly broken on the northwest quarter of Section 36, on the tract of land now owned by Mr. Powell that he was informed that the improvement was made by a man named Duncan. He was not aware of any other improved claim in the town at this time. He afterward helped Mr. Duncan raise his house, but cannot remember whether it was prior to raising the Andrews house or not. He also states that Mr. Mills commenced a log shanty on the place now owned by Mr. Carlisle, and that after cutting a few logs, Mr. Mills met with a serious This caused him to leave his claim and go East, to his accident, cutting one of his legs badly. Mr. John Carlisle came in 1849, and bought this tract, whether from the original claimhome. ;

ant or not does not appear.

Among the early settlers may be mentioned John Pelton and his sons, who came in 1850 Robert Greenwood and sons, in 1851 ; Lachlan and Joseph Mcintosh came in April, 1851 Edward Hemingway in 1851 George F. Lawson, in the spring of 1851 Samuel Montross, in 1852 Jesse and Amos Cottington, February, 1852 Thomas Senogles, July, 1852 Peter Golden, John Flynn, in 1850. in 1850 ;

;

The

sehoolhouse was built in the spring of 1852, and was situated on the northeast quarter of Section 34, near the road, and just south of where Mr. Ransom's house now stands; Mr. Jesse Cottington remembers helping to build the sehoolhouse, for this was District No. 1. his assessment for the payment of glass, sash, etc., was §1, and, not having that amount of money by him, he walked to Lyons and borrowed it of a member of his family. The first teacher was Miss Esther Smith, now Mrs. Jonathan Nye. Previous to this, a school was kept, for a short time, in

first

Mr. A Locke's house, by a Miss Cole.

Andrews, Clerk T. C. Safford, The sehoolhouse was built that fall, and school comDirector; Thomas Senogles, Treasurer. Her contract provided for twelve menced in December, with Miss C. D. Hastings, teacher. weeks' school, at $2 per week. The sehoolhouse was built on the northeast quarter of Section 24. The new house was built in the summer of 1875. on the northeast quarter of the same District No. 2 was organized October 7, 1852, with William

;

section.

Religious services were first held in Mr. A. Locke's house, next in William Andrews'. Catholic Church was built in 1868, being the only church building in the town.

The

white child born in this town was Harriet Locke, daughter of Mr. A. Locke (so says Mr. Locke). The first death was that of a Mr. Barber, who died about 1851. Mr. LeonMr. James Cottington, who came to the town in 1850, died Febard also died at an early day. ruary II. 1855. Among the notable features of the town, may be mentioned the large apple tree in the orchard of Mr. C. R. Kelley. The variety is the Pennsylvania Red Stripe ; age, twenty-eight

The

first

years ; circumference, sis fort east

feel

ten inches

near

the ground ; area covered by the top, forty-six The tier is healthy, and the fruit large

and west, ami forty-eight feet north and south.

Mr. Kelley also has a curiosity in the It bore twenty-six bushels of apples last year. The tree was discovered i>\ Mr. Golden, who entered the land in shape ofa native apple tree. It was was then about fifteen years old. It bearing a yellow, sweet apple, about the L850. Mr. Kelley has cultivated it. ami the fruit is much improved, size of a Transcendent Crab. The flavor is sweet and the color yellow. being now as large as an average Golden Russet.

and fine.

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY. The wood resembles the wild crab somewhat. The tree and has borne, this year, about eight bushels of fruit.

621

now nearly ten inches in diameter,

The question is. how came it there fifteen years in advance of civilization 1 LOGANVILLE AND TOWN OF WESTFIELD. This town is six miles square, Town 11, Range 4, and is situated six miles east of the west line of the county, and twelve miles south of the north line. The territory comprising it was originally a part of the township of Eagle, and was set off from the town of Reedsburg, to which it subThe first town officers were J. K. sequently belonged, and was organized as Westfield in 1854. Thompson, Chairman Martin JJavey and Henry Nippert, Supervisors; William Baird, Clerk; R. B. Balcom, Treasurer; Chancy P. Logan, Justice of the Peace; Lyman Twist, Assessor; N. H. Briggs, Superintendent of Schools R. T. Root, Constable. The town is composed of hills and valleys, ranging north and south in the central and The soil is clay loam on the uplands and a western parts, and east and west in the eastern. black loam in the valleys. Strong' and fertile, even to the summit of ridges, tame grasses and all products common to this latitude are grown very successfully. The rock is composed of lime and sand stone. In the western part of the town several lime:

;

kilns are in successful operation.

principally of the different varieties of oak (white, red and There are no Maple, hickory, basswood and elm are found in considerable quantities. large marshes. The town is watered by Narrows Creek and its tributaries. A great number of natural flowing springs are found. Good well water is obtained at an average depth of forty feet. The advantages of water, while both valleys and uplands are so productive of grass, makes the growing of stock very profitable. Fully three-fourths of the inhabitants are German the balance is made up of Americans, Irish and English. The market towns are Ableman and Reedsburg. A good water power is found at the village of Loganville, where Mr. Frank Dorn has a grist-mill in operation. Iron ore has been found in the town in quantities that promise to pay for working. Work has been commenced with a view to develop the mines. There are many good hop-yards in cultivation in this town, and some of the old hop-growers are hopeful of striking it rich again some day. The experience with hops has been the same in this town as that already described in neighboring towns.

The timber is abundant, and

black).

;

A German Lutheran Church was built in the spring of 1865, on the north side of Section Among the first members should be It is a frame structure Rev. A. Rohrlack is Pastor. named Henry Licht, Henry Giflfert, Sr., Henry Giffert, Jr., Fred Tilker, Fred Horstmann, Henry Luhrsen, Nicholas llasz, Nicholas Luhrsen, William Funte, Fred Gade. William Krueger, 15.

;

Christ Kcenecke and Fred Darger. A. E. Winter is the present Pastor. The German Lutheran (Zion's) Church was organized in 1865. The same year the church was built at a cost of about $2,300. It was built of stone, and is situated on the north Among the early members were Caspar Section 23. Rev. Christopher Kessler, Pastor. Luckensmeier, H. Schmidt, Fred Schulte, William Schulte, Carl Uphoff, H. Behn, Johan Halm. Heinrich Schewe, H. Burmeister, H. Shrceder, II. Baumgarten, William Kopf, Peter llasz and 1. C. Luhrsen, and their families. The present membership number sixty families. There is a good school in connection with the church. St. Peter's German Lutheran Church, Loganville. was organized in 1874; Mr. C. Kesler, \niong the early The church was built the same year at a cost of about $1,500. members were Henry Niemann, John Williams, August Meyer, Christian llasz, Nicholas Hasz, Fred Tilker, Henry Licht, Aug. Marquart, George Kruse, Aug. Schacker, Charles Behn, William Behn and Henry Jacobs. George Worth Present membership, about fifty families.

Pastor.

the present Pastor.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

622

The first Methodist meetings were held in what is called the Bacon Schoolhouse, about 1853, The first organization was in the Loganville by the Rev. Mr. Butler, the circuit preacher. Among the early members were Schoolhouse, about a year later. Rev. Mr. Bean presiding. Daniel Gulliford and wife, David Wise and wife. Samuel Bliven and wife, and Mrs. Sarah In 1876, a. log church was built on Section 28. Newell. The German Methodists built their first church in 1859. The building was made of logs, This is a line, and was used till 1877, when the present church was built, at a cost of $1,800. The first Pastor was the Rev. Adam Salzer present Pastor, Rev. brick-veneered building. Among the active members are Henry Faller, John Werron, Philip William C. Krueckmann. Grubb, George Moag, Peter Stackhouse, N. Haefer, and Chris. Moag. The Presbyterians organized a society in 1855. Rev. Mr. S. Uhlfelder, Pastor. The Baptists organized in 1855. The work was commenced by the Rev. D. B. Barker, and finished by the Rev. John Seamans, now of Lime Ridge. He located here in R. Sprague is said to have been the first white settler in this town. Martin Davey, Lyman Twist, John Moplie was followed by Horace Smith, in 1851. L850. The next three years brought large numbers of ham, John Selden and others came in 1852. Among these we find Chancey P. Logan, Stephen N. Kinsley. William Palmer, R. settlers. Daniel Gulliford came, in 1854, from Sumter, B. Balcom and James Davis, all of Loganville. Sauk County, where he had been a resident since 1846. Among the early German settlers were John G. Schaum (1851), John Werron (1852), John Moag (1853), and H. W. Kept ;

(1854). In February, 1854, Mr. Chancey P. Logan built a log cabin in the southeast corner of Sec-

The old log house still This was the first improvement, and Balcom joined Mr. Logan, and the two, with together for several years. In the summer following, S. N. Kinsley, A.

tion 8, on the site of the village of Loganville, near Narrows Creek.

stands,

but

their

has not been tenable for of the

the origin

Mr.

village.

families, lived

many years.

Bosw >itli. It. T. Root, Truman Parker. William Palmer and others located here. William Mr. Kinsley afterPalmer elected the first frame house in the village in the summer of 1854. Mr. Logan and Mr. Kinsley at once commenced work ward bought it and made it his home. on a dam anil saw-mill. By tapping the Narrows Creek across a narrow neck, a good brad of water was obtained. The mill was completed and sawing commenced early the following spring. II.

The old mill stood till about 1877. In the spring of 1855, a post office was established, called Loganville. S. N. Kinsley was appointed Postmaster. The office was held in the first frame building mentioned above. The first schoolhouse was built by Logan and Kinsley, at, their private expense, on the c; but the district afterward bought it. S. X. Kinsley was the first teacher. When the present schoolhouse was built, in 1869, the old one was moved down street, and is now used by Adam Leischer for a wagon-shop. The first religious services were held in the log cabin of Logan in May. 1 854, and were conducted by 8. A. Dwinnell. a 'onvregationa.] minister of Reedsburg. Meetings were held about every alternate Sunday. The people were scarcely ever without a minister. In the pioneer The Baptists organized a society in 1855. lays, ministers were far more plenty than churches. Barber and Rev. John Seamans were the leaders. Rev. D. The Presbyterians organized in The firsl Pastor was the Rev. S. Uhlfelder. 1859. The first, store was opened l>\ A. I>. Gibson, now deceased. The second store was opened by E. P. & E. II. Newell, in a building erected by Logan .V Kinsley, who gave the rent free The firsl wagon-shop was kept by for one year to encourage the parties to locate with them. Logan John Putnam was William the first blacksmith shop by A. Lennox and 1. Richards. the was built in A grist-mill cabinet-maker. summer of L861 by D. .1. Mackay and William Palmer. At the present, the village has a population of about 200. It has a good water-power, one Two general stores, one kept by J. C. Luhrsen, lill, owned and run by Mr. Frank Dorn. (

l'>

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

623

Two hotels, one kept by Adam Leischer, and the other by George by John Williams. Raetzmann one harness-shop, one wagon-simp and three blacksmith-shops. Oneof these is a new shop, kept by Henry Heitkamp. One shoe-shop; one wagon-shop, kept by Adam and our milliner-shop, kept by Mrs. Adam Leischer. There are Leischer; one cooper-shop Dr. E. G. Cristman has been in practice in Loganville about thirteen years, two physicians. and is favorably known throughout the county. Prairie Lodge, No. L08, 1. 0. 0. F., was instituted July 21, L865, D. I), G. M. I>. .. Marsh doing the work. W. W. Kester was elected N. »;.; C. W. Kester, V. G. N. Wheeler, Thomas Allen, Treasurer. Samuel Forest and Samuel Aton were eleeted to memberI!. S. The lodge opened under the name of Westfield Lodge, No. ship and initiated January -1, 1866. 10s. ,],,. charter and seal having been obtained: <'. M. Kester, N. G. N. Wheeler. V. <i. April 3, 1*1'2, the hall and contents, with the exception of the SecreGeorge Stewart, R. S. The lodge re-organized September 28, 1ST.!, 1']. G. Cristman, tary's hooks, were burned. N. G. Present membership, twenty. The Westfield Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company was organized March 4. 187(j Henry Meyers. President; Nicholas Hasz, Secretary. The present officers, 1S80, are: J. C. Luhrsen, President; Nicholas Hasz, Secretary; Henry Niemann. II. W. Kopf, William Behn, Assessors. The company does business in the towns of Westfield, Freedom, Excelsior, Reedsburg and i

;

—

Washington.

TOWN OF DBLLONA. The territory now included in the town of Dellona originally belonged to the town of BaraLavalle and Winfield and the north half of Ironton, Reedsburg and Excelsior. In November, 1850, the north half of Townwas set off from the town of Baraship 12, Range 5, and the whole of Township 13, Range In January. 1857, the town of Excelsior was organized from the town boo and called Dellona. of Freedom and that portion of the town of Dellona, lying south of the line between Townships 12 and 13. making the boundaries of the town of Dellona the same as at present. boo, which also embraced the territory composing the towns of •">,

The first settlement upon the territory now included in this town was made by Patrick Hickey in the year 1845, when Sauk County belonged to Dane County, and had less than 300 inhabitants within its borders. Mr. Hickey was followed by Peter Haskin, Patrick Mulligan, James Slaven, John Timlin and S. J. Seymour. In 1*17 occurred the first birth in the town, that of Bridget Slaven, and the 11th of February, 1850, witnessed the tying of the firs! lmneuial knot. Patrick Hickey was the happy brideMichael lliekey's is believed to have been the first death of a white person in the This sad event occurred on the 4th of June following the first marriage. a log schoolhouse was erected on Section 20, and a district school established, a Miss Wheeler being the first teacher. A post office had been established the year previous called Dellona. Samuel Northrup, one of the pioneers of the county, was the first Postmaster. A Roman Catholic Church was built in 1858, the pulpit being at first supplied by an itinerant

groom. town.

In 1851,

eh rg Yman.

The town of Dellona is Largely devoted to agriculture. A cheese-factory was established in -I. L. Dwyer, and carried on about two years, when

the town a few years ago. by

operations.

TOWN or FREEDOM AND VILLAGE OE NORTH FREEDOM. The

present town of Freedom was originally embraced in the towns of Brooklyi On the 11th of December, L850, an alteration of the boundaries of the and Prairie du Sac. town of Brooklyn was authorized, the town of Eagle being wiped out and the town of Freedom created. A complete set of town officers seems to have been chosen April 3, 1849. The Su-

pervisors were B.

Swallow; A

Jane- Christ (Chairman), -1. W. Hentham and Reuben Ward: Town Clerk. e Randall; Treasurer, Hiram Hubbard: School Superin

!..

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

624

W. Peck and J. W. Henthara Justices of the Peace, N. E. Guile, S. B. Swallow and W. B. McEwen. The first settlement made on any part of the territory now included in the town of Freedom was in 1846, by R. N. Kingsley, on Section 2. Samuel D. Sleutz settled soon afterward, in The Rev. James Waddell entered the south half of the norththe same year, on Section 7. east quarter and the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 12 on the 11th of February. William Sproul and George Nippert were the next settlers. 1847. Then followed the gradual Hunter

;

Constables, R. N. Kingsley,

;

occupation of all the available cultivatable lands in the town. Mary Waddell was the first white child who first saw the light of day in the town of Freedom July 16, 1848, occurred the first death, that of Elizabeth Harrishe was horn May 17, 1847. son. A district (No. 4) school was established in the winter of 1849-50, J. R. Guile being the first teacher. A private school had been taught previous to this, by a young lady whose name is not now recalled. The first religious services were held at the house of Mr. Hirschinger, in the fall of 1847, the Rev. James Waddell officiating. Nicholas Guile built a saw-mill on Seeley Creek at an early day, and in 1878, Gustavus Scharuke built a grist-mill on the same stream. The year 1856 witnessed the building of the first house in what is now the village of North Freedom. John Hackett was the builder and owner. In 1867, Bloom & Kimball erected a ;

saw-mill, which was soon afterward destroyed by fire. They now have two saw-mills. There are now in the village eight stores, including a drug store ; three blacksmith-shops and a wagon post office and paint shop, and three churches. John Ladd opened the first store in 1871. was also established this year, with J. M. Haines as Postmaster. The village of North Freedom

was surveyed and platted by W. C. T. Newell in 1873. In May, 1871, G. W. Bloom purchased a tract of 27 acres of land in Section 2, and in 1872 it was surveyed and platted and called the village of Bloom. The depot buildings of the Chicago & North- Western Railroad Company are located on Mr. Bloom's plat. There are also a store and several dwellings on the plat. The people of these villages are particularly proud of their temperance record, there not being a saloon in either of them. Two temperance organizations exist as follows

Maple Hill Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. of G. T., was instituted by John Rooney, on the 18th day of March, 1872, with twenty-four charter members. It has stood the test for over eight years, and much good has been accomplished. The following are the present officers E. Maxham, W. C. Maxham, W. V. T. J. Q. Haines, W. 1!. S. George Turnhara, W. F. S., Allice :

;

'Turnham, VV. T.. Charles Hanley, W. M., L. Lyon. VV. Chap., Ella Lamport, W. I. G.: John Rooney, W. 0. G. ; John Rooney, L. D. The lodge numbers at the present time, thirty-two members in good standing. 4S2, :it I. 0. G. T, was organized Earnest Lodge, No. the Methodist Episcopal Church, under the management of Miss Genie F. Nash, January 31. isT'.i. There were twenty-five charter members from that time to May 25, 1880, when there were eighteen initiated into the lodge. The officers for the quarter ending April 30, L880, were: W. C. T., J. M. Blachley VV. V. T.. Mary Trumble; W. Chap., Mr. Sedgwick; W. I!. Sec, Tracy Ellas; W. F. Sec, E. N. Trumble: W. Treas., Cora E. Wood: W. M.. Stacy Ellas; W. 0.*G., Day Means; W. 1. G., Samuel Carpenter; 1'. VV. C. T.. G. W. Bloom; D. M., P. 1'. Wood: L. D., E. Rich; Trustees, G. VV. Bio E. Rich and P. P. Wood; for the quarter ending July 31, 1880, VV. W. Y„ Mary Trumble; VV. 1!. Sec, Wesley Hackett; 'W. F. Sec, E. C. T.. .1. M. Blachlej N. Trumble: VV. Chap., E. Rich ; W. M., Charles Walrath; W. Treas., Cora Wood: VV. W. G., Rosa Rice; P. VV. G. T., Brother Ellas. For thequarter ending Sent., George Gray L879, tin' same officers as in the previous quarter. For thequarter ending January VV. 31, L880, W. C. T., Tracy Ellas; VV. V.. Mary Trumble; W. R. Sec. Wesley Hackett W. Senn, Dav MenuVddie Ellas W. V. See., E. N. Trumble; W. M.. Fred Black W. <;.. Rosa Rice. For the quarter ending April 3d, 1880: VV. C. T., E. N. Trumble: W. \\. Emma Brown; W. I!. Sec, Wesley Hackett; VV. Chap., Roberl Smith: W. F. See.. Rosa W. G., Lydia Itice; VV. Treas., Addie Elks; VV, M., George Hackett; VV. Senn, F. Rich :

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

625

For the quarter ending July 31, 1880: W. C. T., Tracy Ellas; W. V.. Alice Treas., Rosa Rice W. R. Sec, Wesley Hackett W. F. Sec., James Blachley Newell W. Chap., Robert Smith W. M.. George Hackett W. Senn, Mary Trumbull; W. G., Lydia Their night of meeting was Tuesday, and they met in Hackett's Hall, over the store Hackett. of T. Hackett & Son. There are three churches in the village, one of which is known as the " Mormon Church." Mormonism, however, is not practiced by the members of this church to the extent to which it Hackett.

;

Lake saints. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by S. 0. Browne. Pastor, in the fall of The Board of Trustees at the organization was as follows: H. G. Jones, M. Petteys, <!. W. Bloom, W. C. T. Newell, J. C. Lamb, William Christie, Royal Fisk, Elijah Rich, Jonathan The pastors have been S. 0. Browne, three years Thomas Evan, one year; W. E. Wiggins.

carried by the Salt

L873

;

one year

;

G. B. Haseltine, one year;

Robert Smith, one year.

The German Baptist Church of this place was organized in 1858, but not incorporated until 1^75. The first Trustees elected were L. Ristan, H. Egerer and II. Lange. The Pastors of the from 1*64 to 1865, II. Tilvner 1865 church have been, from 1858 to 1864, T. G. Werthner 1875 to 1877, to L873, K. Manthey; 1873 to 1874, K. Roos; 1874 to 1875, K. Manthey 0. F. Zeckser; 1877 to 1878, K. Manthey 1878, H. J. Miller. :

;

TOWN OF GREENFIELD. The first settlement on any part of the territory now included within the boundaries of the town of Greenfield was made in 1<S41. by Edwin Johnson, who came with his family, consisting Mr. Johnson of a wife and three children, and located in the southwest corner of the town. The next settler was Thomas Clark, who came in 184"2, resided in the town until his death. and, two years later, built a grist-mill on a small stream in the southwest corner of the town,

Mr. Clark purchased a couple of small millnear what is now known as the Red Schoolhouse. buhrs from some one who had been unsuccessful in operating a mill on Honey Creek, and There was no bolting apparatus attached them in the usual way to a centrifugal water-wheel. in this mill, and the early settlers who patronized it took their flour or meal with the bran in it. R. G. Cowles remembers having carried upon his shoulders to this mill a bag of corn to be ground, and, not finding the miller at home, he poured his grist into the hopper, turned on the He don't remember whether or not he left the usual toll, but water and ground it himself. In 1843, there came to this section believes he took the toll for his labor in grinding the grist. Lorrin Cowles. Sauk County's first Probate Judge; ft. G. Cowles, son of Judge Cowles, and 1S44. It is believed no new settlers came in tn Solomon Shaffer, son-in-law of the Judge 1845 came Aaron Nelson and Moses Nulph 1846, Job Barstow, Sr., and Dr. Charles Cowles, the latter now of Baraboo. The year 1S47 brought Simeon Crandall, senior and junior. The former is dead, and the latter is now a resident of orange-groved. alligator-inhabited and politialso Thomas Risner, who afterward moved to Missouri, and, when the cally-doubtful Florida rebellion broke out, was pressed into the rebel army, and lost his life fighting, in opposition to John Sanborn came also in this year. his wishes, against the Union. Andrew Garrison, John McGee, Abram Hoag, Thomas Jones, Mr. Dennison and Mr. Stevenson came in L848. Jones and Hoag still reside in the town: McGee went to Colorado, and Garrison died on the plains, en route for California. Mr. Garrison dammed the Baraboo River at the Narrows, and built a saw-mill, which he operated for a short time, sawing a quantity of lumber, when a spring Hon, took a portion of the dam away. The opposition of the settlers whose lands had been flooded with the back-water from the dam, prevented Mr. Garrison rebuilding. The saw-mill was abandoned, and now passes into history. The year 1849 brought quite a number oi settlers, among them John Munroe. Peter Cooper, Austin Tucker. Aaron ami Joseph Wilkinson and William Fessler. Messrs. Munroe and Fessler and Joseph Wilkinson are still living in the town; Aaron Wilkinson, Austin Tucker and Peter Cooper are dead, the latter having taken :

;

his

own life.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

626

In early days the citizens of the town of Greenfield went to Blue Mounds to mill. There is now a good grist-mill in "the Eikey district," owned by Andrew Prentice. A saw-mill, the property of William Eikey, formerly stood upon the site of this institution. 'Flic first birth in the town of Greenfield occurred in October, 1843, that of Mary Shaffer. Ollie Shaffer's was the first death, March, 1844. The first school was established in 1850. It was kept in the house of Job Barstow, District No. 1 having been organized, a schoolhouse and taught by a Miss Vanvalkenburg. A second is the one known as the Barstow Schoolhouse. was built on Peek's Prairie in 1851 The town has been divided from schoolhouse (Dennison's) was built in the winter of 1851. nine districts schoolhouses. time, until there, are and as many time to An auxiliary branch of the Baraboo Congregational Church was organized in the eastern Warren Cochran favored the church with occasional visits. part of the town in 1851. In 1875, Amos Johnson, John Munroe, 0. H. Cook, Seth McGilvra, 0. F. Kellogg, C. W. Kellogg, Joseph Palmer, Henry Bradbury, Peter Wilkinson and John Dean, organized themThe capital stock was selves into a stock association for the purpose of manufacturing cheese. The institution has proved successful, and is still in existence. $2,200. The town of Greenfield originally belonged to the town of Brooklyn, and was set off as a Lemuel Thompson is believed to have been the first Chairman of separate town about 1853. the Board of Supervisors in the town. :

it,

TOWN AND VILLAGE OF IRONTON. This town is situated on the west line of the county, being the second township from the At one north, is formed of Town 12 north, Range 3 east, and contains thirty-six sections. By act of the time, the two south tiers of sections were attached to the town of Washington. County Board they were set off and now form a part of Ironton. The territory comprising this town was originally a part of the town of Marston. Ironton was organized in November, 1859. The records of the town are so defective that a fair history of its organization is not obtainable. Like many other towns of Sauk County, the town of Ironton is composed of hills, valleys and It is well timbered. The rock is prinsoil variable-black, sandy and cky loam. table-land's Numerous brooks and springs furnish plenty of water. The Bamboo River cipally sandstone. Iron exists in large The John F. Smith of town. quantities. northwest part the crosses the The making Iron Company has about 6,000 acres of land in the vicinity of Ironton Village. is one of the important industries of the town, of charcoal for the use of the furnace at Ironton and has been the cause of much larger clearings having been made than otherwise would have About the year 1859, when times were hard, and many of the settlers found it happened. difficult to supply their families with the necessaries of life, a way was opened to them almost as A root, known as ginseng, called unexpectedly as the rain of manna to the children of Israel. by the settlers " sang," was found growing in large quantities in many parts of the town. This It afterward fell to 50 l'oot. when dug and washed, was merchantable at first at 81 per pound. Thousands of pounds of it were dug. and the proceeds brought food and comcents per pound. fort to many a suffering family. >ne poor widow woman, with the aid of her children, procured When the ginsing an amount that, when sold, enabled her to pay the mortgage on her place. The young hickory failed, a new source of revenue was presented, in the hoop-pole business. Saplings that were so much in the way of the settler, when clearing, were found to have a market More than Si oi MM worth of hoop -poles were sold Large quantities were cut and sold. value. in the western towns of the county in the winter of 1868 and 1869. Of course. Ironton had a The credit of originating the popular touch of the hop fever, and suffered like her sister town-. seedling, called the Humphrey, is due to this town and Mrs. George Humphrey. :

if I

One successful bee-hunter Wild honey was very plentiful in the woods of this section. to market 1,500 pounds of honey, the result of his labors, from the proceeds

hauled at one load

of which he paid for his land.

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY. The first white

627

town was William Cochran, who built a shanty to the southeast of the village site, in 1846. Cochran never made much improvement, us he devoted the most of his time to hunting. In 1848, theJessops (Joseph and John) settled on Section 3. Reuben Thornton and family came in September, 1849 In the spring of 1850, G. Washington Gray made a settlement on Section 36. In the winter of L850, Dennis Clasey and George Humphrey settled on Section 23. William All. C. II. Sands, Abram Stansfield ami others came in L853. For tin- nexl few years the town settled very rapidly. The first white child horn in this town was Elizabeth Jessop, daughter of Joseph and Ann The first marriage was that of Philip Babb to Anna Jessop, horn in the summer of 1849. Mrs. Babb is a daughter of Reuben Thornton. Thornton. They were married April 2, 1851. The first death was thai of Mrs. William Cochran, which occurred in April, 1850. During her sickness. Mr. Karstetter's family used to visit her in a boat. The river being at a high stage of water, and there being no bridges, this was the only means of communication. There were just thirteen people at the funeral, and those represented three townships. The grave was made near where the iron-ore lied is situated. settler

the

territory

comprising

this

The first Baptist services in this town, were held in a stone building in Ironton, in process of construction, by Elder Conrad (a missionary), m August, 1855. Meetings were held in the basement of the same building the nexl year by Rev. Mr. John Seamans. The society was organized February L2, 1859, at a meeting held in the schoolhouse at Ironton. Rev. A. 1». Barber conducting the services, and acting as Pastor till the fall of that year. There were twelve constituenl members. In the fall of 1859, Rev. E. Chapin was chosen Pastor, and was retained till January 28, 1865, when the Rev. John Seamans succeeded him, and has held that position to this date. September, 1880. The society numbers twenty-three. The first schoolhouse was built on Section 2:'.. in 1854. The' Hist teacher was Miss Mildred Barnes. This house was afterward moved t the west side of the same section. March 17. 1860 (St. Patrick's Day), it was burned. The next winter, school was kept in the house of Mi-. George Humphrey, and the next three terms at the house of Dennis Clasey The new use was built in 1 862. The town of Marston included the present towns of Woodland, Lavalle, Ironton and Washington. The first town meeting was held at the house ol Reuben Thornton. Town 12, Range 3, April 6, 1852, in pursuance of an act of the County Board. The appointed officers were: Reuben Thornton, Chairman: Peter Millard. Allen B. Horton, J. F. Hamblin, Inspectors of Election. The officers elected were: Reuben Thornton. Chairman; Manelious Pearson. Peter Millard. Supervisors; J. F. Hamblin, Clerk John Tordoff, Treasurer A. II. Brownell, W. Cray. Assessors; James Harrison. A. Mallon, Henry Voss, Constables. This town lost its identity in the formation of Washington, [ronton, Lavalle ami Wood;

land.

—

The Iron Mine. There is a wide diversity of opinion a- to the real discover of the enormous bed of ore from which the village and town of [ronl lerive their name. It is believed in fact it is quite certain that the discovery was made as early as 1849. By some it is said the discoverer was Henry Perry, who came to' these part- in 1844 with Don' C. Barry, the individual who per mine in Sec own of Reedsburg. The fact that

—

Perry died the following spring would seem to dissipate the belief that he was the individual. Others say that the disc verer was a man whose name is now unknown, and who also died, soon after his return to Walworth County, hut not until he had made known the fact of the dis t" David C. P. nt Reedsburg fame. Mr. Meed, it is claimed, started at once from County for the purpose of laj He arrived at what is now Reedsburg in the spring of 1847, bu on of the land upon which is located, the ore-bed in question until the 6th day of August, 1849, as appears of record in the Ri at Baraboo nor was claimant of this hind, as has own, also, by the record, that the southwest quarter of Section 10, Town 12, Range 3, was the property of C. C. Washburne, from whom Mr. Peed purchased. ;

;

628

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

On the 8th of February, 1850, Messrs. Reed k Van Bergen, the latter having become a partner of the former in this as well as other possessions, mortgaged the property to George Tibbitts. Whether or not Mr. Washburne knew of the existence of iron on this quarter-section before disIt is evident, however, that Mr. Reed must have had a posing of it to Mr. Reed, is not known.

knowledge of the fact, else he would not have been tempted to make a land purchase at that for there was certainly little beside the iron mine itself to early day, so isolated in situation Be that as it may, Mr. recommend this particular quarter-section as a desirable property. As has been shown, Reed was not so fortunate as to reap profit in the ownership of the land. and here again we are at a loss to know for diligent search it was mortgaged to Mr. Tibbitts whether Jonas Tower, the indihas failed to discover any record to set us right on this point ;

;

—

vidual who. in 1855, came into possession of the property, did so through the medium of a Sheriff's execution in favor of Mr. Tibbitts, or whether the mortgage given by Mr. Reed was

duly raised by that gentleman, and a subsequent sale made of the land by him to Mr. Tower. It is said that Mr. Tower came into possession of the property some time in 1855, alter becoming satisfied that iron of a superior quality existed there in abundance. The opening of the mine and preparation for working it entailed a vast amount of labor, and required an outlay It is not surprising, then, that a period of nearly three years elapsed before of no little capital. The water-power for the a furnace could be constructed and placed in successful operation. blast was formed by damming a small stream, which runs northward through the valley and This power, however, was soon found to be too limited, ami a empties into the Little Baraboo. steam engine took its place for furnace purposes, the water-power being used exclusively in the The furnace is located one mile north of the main ore-bed. To those who do machine shop. not comprehend the condition of things as they exist at Ironton, this appears to be an awkward arrangement, for it is natural to suppose that the furnace should have been built as near the mine In the first as possible; but there is evidence that this was. after all, a judicious arrangement. place, the choice of a site for a furnace was regulated by the fall of water by which it was origiAgain, a location was sought which would be most convenient of access to the nally operated. numerous teams which Mr. Tower foresaw would lie required in the work of drawing fuel from The hauling of ore comprises but a very small the surrounding country for smelting purposes. proportion of the team-work necessary to carry on the enterprise, for, of the one hundred and lit'rv men employed, about four-fifths of the number are engaged in burning and hauling charcoal. Over $12,000 worth of fuel of this kind is used each year. Upon the death of Mr. Tower, in I860, the property passed to the control of John F. Smith. His will was filed for probate September 14, 1863. The estate, which was worth $101,150.44, and included a large amount of real estate, was divided unequally between Martha Tower (his wife), Albert Tower (his son), Sarah 1. Blackman, Mary Tower and Ada B. Shriver Cooper and his friend John F. Smith. (his daughters), E. M. Tout, John H. Tout, Ellen M Albert Tower and John F. Smith were appointed executors. Under Mr, Smith's management, the property increased largely in value and extent, and. The original will is drawn in when he died, in 1878, the estate was probated af $170,960.82. Mr. Smith's own hand, and is a fair specimen of his accurate and methodical manner of doing The legatees mentioned in the instrument are Frank Byrne (who has been one of the business. superintendents of the vasi estate for nearly twenty years), Orvin C. Blanchard, Mary Tower. Emily Currier, Ella J. King, Mary A. Thro,. p. Sarah Bennett, M. L. Cooper, C. F. Hammond. Henry Grannis, Emma Macklin, the two children of Chester P. Smith (uncle of the deceased), A. I,. Slye, Col. K. M. Strong, Philip Warren. Moses R. Doyon (son-in-law of the deceased, ami present superintendent of the mine), the Methodist Episcopal Church of Ironton, the village of Ironton (a liberal sum for library purposes) and Janette S. Herrick (spelled Harick in the M. R. Doyon and will), only sister of the deceased, to whom fell the larger part of the estate. Peter Crook were the executors. Concerning the geological features of this mine. Prof. Daniels wrote, in 1858, only a short time after the smelting of the first ore .

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. " The brown hematite, of [ronton,

629

located on Sections 9 and 10, Town

:> 1

Range 2.

Its

is in the potsdam sandstone, which occupies most of the surrounding country, 'The ore presents itself on the cast bank of Tower's capped "ii the highesl points by limestone. and extends from the brow of the hill down its slope, and sonic distance into the valley. Creek, The surface is covered with fragments, generally small, but sometimes attaining a ton's weight. Large masses of sandstone lie upon the surface, in the fissures and cavities of which veins of The valley of Tower's Creek, in which it occurs, has Kith worn out of fibrous hematite occur. the sandstone, which rises on either side over 300 feet. The ore was, no doubt, formed in the sand-tone previous to the wearing down of the valley, and, by the removal of the rock, in which it was once contained, has been left scattered upon the surface or mingled with its rubbish. No marks of volcanic action are seen in the vicinity. The ore is clearly a hydrated brown oxide,

geological position

quite pure, generally massive. It will yield 4.~> per cent of metallic iron." This, it appears, is the accepted belief of other geologists concerning this locality. scientific estimate

has ever been made of the supposed quantity of ore in the bed.

Evidences of

many miles around, and it is safe to say that the next century will have passed away before the mine is exhausted. The meadow lands on either side of the village are rich in " bog it

exisl for

ore," which

found in convenient form just below the drift.

The manufacture of iron at this [dace has grown gradually to be the chief industry in the A large foundry was established some years ago in connection with the furnace, and large quantities of the ore taken from the mine is now shipped in the form of improved neighborhood.

Among the articles manufactured here may be mentioned sleigh-shoes, plows, cauldron

castings. kettles,

holster plates, blacksmiths'

wagon

skeins, scrapers and

tryeres,

wagon

irons, thrasher castings, sledges, hop-Stoves,

These articles are shipped

minor small castings of every pattern.

direct to dealers in almost every direction, principally to the Western and Northwestern markets.

—

The Village. Among the early settlers in this locality were F. J. Groat, R. B. Thornton, A. II. Brownell,* J. G. Blakesleo,* S. Karstetter and M. Pearson. Although not settlers on what is now the site of Ironton, yet they may he mentioned in connection with its history, as they were of the advance guard of the grand old army of pioneers who have made Old Sauk '• blossom as the rose." Theirs is the usual tale of pioneer life few neighbors or conveniences, long distances to travel going to mill, or to help some new-comer raise his cabin. The greater part of the present site of Ironton Village was then covered with a forest growth. among which the second growth stood so thick as to make its penetration almost impossible. There does not seem to have been any idea of a village being started here until the summer of At that time, Jonas Tower, now deceased, came upon the scene to examine the iron 1855. deposits in the vicinity, with a view to turning them to some account. Finding the project feasible, he at once purchased the tract on which the iron beds are found, and also from a Mr. Hubbell, the site of Ironton, with the intention of laying out a village, and erecting suitable buildings for mills, furnaces, etc. At the time, there were associated with him, as a firm, R. Dickinson, J. ami E. Tout, C. Keith and P. Fuller, all of whom afterward withdrew, leaving Mr. Tower to prosecute his enterprises alone. They proceeded at once to erect a saw and grist mill on the Little Baraboo, and the forwarding of these works naturally brought around quite a number of people. In a short time, a flourishing community, composed of moral and industrious citizens, was established. During the summer of IS.",!',, the saw and L'rist mills went into operation. The first frame building was raised August 6 of this year, by Ezra Ilagaman. it being the property of .1. Sandgren. During the next two years, the greater part of the houses were built. The first store in [ronton was opened by Tower & Co. The goods wen kept " Store pay " was then as mostly to accommodate the employe,- connected with the mines. ash. The first building erected for the exclusive purposes of a store was by 'font .v

—

Fuller. hi

April. 1861, the saw and grist

about $6,000. *

Dead.

nulls

were burned, entailing

loss

on the proprietor of

A subscription was taken up among the citizens, who had learned the value of

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

bdU

convenient mills, and both structures Boon arose from their ashes more substantial and bettor adapted to business than ever. Five years ago, a set of new (Houston) wheels were put in, The grist-mill has four run of stone. The old saw-mill is still greatly increasing the power. running. It is one of the very few institutions of the kind to which Sauk County owes its early greatness that has been kept in permanent repair. Most of these "first tilings " have been supplanted by something better. post -'special was A office" established in Ironton in 1855 or early in 1856, with N. H. AuEtin as Postmaster. The "special" feature of the office developed itself in the citizens having to carry the mail from Reedsburg, most of the time on foot. Ben Paddock, now of Lavalle, was the successor of Mr. Austin, and remembers something of the "special" duties. 1>. F. Blackmail succeeded Mr. Paddock. Peter Crook is the present Postmaster. A district school was established in 1857. The first record of the district is dated September 29, of that year. The officers were Putnam Fuller, Director; W. W. All, Treasurer; It was voted that a tax of $50 be raised for school purposes, and that N. II. Austin. Clerk. "the site of the schoolhouse be removed." by which it is understood there must have been a schoolhouse prior to the date of the record. An old settler remembers the existence of one on Brownell's Hill, and another described as " Pearson's," which "stood a mile away." Whether or not these were maintained under the district system, be is unable to say. At the next meeting of the hoard, it was resolved to purchase of Jonas Tower a schoolhouse site in the village for Upon tins site an educational edifice was subsequently built, of brick, at a cost of $600. $150. Prior io tins action of the board, E. M. Tout taught a class in a dingy apartment under Fuller i Keith's store, and Sarah A. Bailey, of Reedsburg, gave instructions to a limited number of pupils in the carpenter-shop of Mr. Johnson. B. F. Blackman and John F. Wilcox seem to This was in 1859. have been the first to teach in the brick schoolhouse. Since then the folMiss V. Long. Miss Alma Wier, Nellie Davis, Rosa lowing-named persons have taught: Glass, 0. T. Green and wife, Jabez Brown, Frances E. Danforth, Ella Kieth, Miss Meyers, Miss Ellinwood, Phoeba Bates, Lorenzo Brown, Miss Sprague, Miss Walker. J. T. Lunn (now County Superintendent), Mary A. Wood, F. M. Croat. W. T. Cortleyon, D. E. Morgan ent Clerk of the Court Frank Twist, Mary 1. Katie Fitzgerald. Hannah Mann. Lizzie Stowe and II. M. Johnston. The roll shows the attendance of 134 pupils. When the village was laid out, Mr. Tower set aside a spacious lot for a church and parsonMrs. Tower, who inclined to Methodism, took the initiative in securing temporary minisage. trations by itinerant preachers, and, after the schoolhouse was completed, meetings were frequently held therein. A regular organization did not take place, however, till 1873, when a church ed fice was built, costing So, (Mill. Since the organization, the ministers in charge have been he Revs. Walker, Dudley. Thomas. Holcomb am' Tyakc. The Catholics in the neighborhood organized a parish and built a church in 1862. James Douglas, Frank K email. Henry Martin and their families and Frank Byrne were among the first of the parish. The church edifice cosl about $300. Peter Montague was the first Pastor. He came from Linden Station twice each month, on an average. Alter he came ll. Steeley, who presided over a charge in the town of Westford, Richland County, from which place the pulpn has since been supplied. The Revs. Bow, Bernard and Meizler have officiated for stated terms in the order in which [heir names appear. There are about sixty families belonging to the parish. In December, 1864. Reedsburg Lodge. No. 79, A.. F. & A. M.. resolved to remove to [ronton. Meetings were held in Ironton. the old officers of the lodge officiating, until June 'J, ]>>i.">. when the name was changed to [ronton Lodge, No. 7:». Charles Keith, F. M. Tout. B. The present officers are G. Paddock and B. F. Blackman were among the original members. James Harrison. W. M.; S. Andrews. S. W.; Charles Sands. J. \\\: A. Blakeslec. Secretary; <

about thirty-five members. E. J. Lewis, Treasure) r [ronton Lodge. No. 130, I. <). 0. F.. wa 1867, the charter being granted earl} in 1868. The first members were W. W. Kester, J. Karstetter, II. A. Sturges,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

681

M. Pearson, M. Kester, Archibald Mallon, John Atkinson and J. (J. Blakeslee. There are now twenty-five members. W. W. Kester was the first Noble Grand; Fred Rabiiek is the present.

Besides the institutions already mentioned, there are in [ronton two general stores, one hardware store, one boot and shoe store, one drug store, one milliner's store, one hotel and three wagon and blacksmith shops. The village is delightfully situated on the Little Baraboo, overig beautiful valleys and overlooked by picturesque hills.

TOWN OF EXCELSIOR AND VILLAGE OF ABLEMANS. In December, Originally, the town of Excelsior was included in the town of Baraboo. L857, the town of Excelsior was formed, as it exists at present, from parts of the towns of Free-

The settlement of the territory now included in the town commenced as early E. II. Hubbard, William. James is 1846 or 1847, with the coming of the following individuals: and Archie Christie, Edward KingsleyJ Jacob Vanloon,* Winslow Braley, Joseph Vanloon, A. W. Starks,* Ilattle Braley, Alexander Finley,* Daniel* and George Paddock, John Foster, Charles Riflerod,* L. M. Burt. George and Alexander Douglass. Nathaniel Chapman,* Isaac Morley, William Hudson, Isaac and Thomas Metcalf, Joseph Pimley (now of Baraboo), William Philip Cheek, Sr., Joseph Rothwell, Ike Britton, John Johnson," William Mai tin, Ruben Kipp,* Horatio Jones, John Sanborn,* Col. S. V. R. Ableman,* Levi Colton. Maj. Don Charles 11. Williams (now of Baraboo), Messrs. Wetherby, Davis, Sheppard and others. Carlos Barry,* who is accredited with having been the first settler in the town of Reedsburg, is said to have had a claim on Section 7, in the town of Excelsior, and was engage.! in copper The section upon which Mr. mining when the land in this locality was being first surveyed. George Handy* Barry was located was returned by the Government officers as mineral bind. a He built large frame house just east of was also an early settler in the town of Excelsior. Mr. Handy was a where Athenian's Station is now. and called it the Massachusetts House. Massachusetts man. Jonathan Knowles, now a resident of Ableman's, deserves especial mention as a pioneer of Excelsior. He came to the town in 1847, anil, in 1848, while living on a Hers was the death of the first white farm on Section 21, had the misfortune to lose his wife. woman in this region. A man who was engaged with the surveyors the year previous (1846), and whose name is not remembered, is said to have died on this section, near a spring, which was afterward known as Dead Man's Spring, so named by James Babb.

dom and Dellona

—

In 1851, Col. S. V. R. Ableman, having made an examination of the Ablemans. country, arrived at the conclusion that, when the iron horse penetrated Sauk County, the most natural outlet to the Northwest would he through the Upper Narrows of the Baraboo Valley,

Acting and that this point would be a favorable location for a village and a permanent home. in accordance with this belief, he settled on the east side of the Baraboo River, and commenced He first put up the work of building a frame house, hauling the timber therefor from Baraboo. a log shanty on an elevation near the site of the railroad tool-house, and here his family resided for seven weeks, this rude edifice also furnishing shelter for half a dozen carpenters and others employed by the Colonel upon his frame building, which, when finished, was the third house on the road fro'm Baraboo to Reedsburg. Gen. A. W. Starks soon afterward built a house a mile west. ami. in 1853, Maj. Charles II. Williams made a location and put up a house a few rods east of the Colonel's. E. C. Watson (who afterward became the son in-law of Col. Ableman), Peter Mattheys, John Moistard, William Wademan and Stephen Pearl were the earl in Ablemans. Mr. Mattheys' was the first house built on the west side of the river on land William Wademan and Hannah Moistard within the present limits covered by the village plat. were the first persons united in marriage in the village. In L857, Col. Abelman built a saw-mill In 1861, he on Narrows Creek, a few rods above the junction of that stream with the Baraboo.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

632

enlarged the building and added machinery for a grist-mill, hauling the apparatus over bad roads from Kilbourn, which place the La Crosse road had just reached. The Colonel carried on these mills until 1875, when the management of them passed to Alexander McDonald. From McDonald, the property passed to E. W. Gilmore and N. W. Dean, who continued to run the mills until the beginning of the present year. district school was organized in Ableman about 185(3-57. Maria Welton was the first teacher, and the cabin built by Col. Ableman to accommodate his workmen during the construction of his frame dwelling, was converted to the purpose of a schoolhouse, being therefore not only the first house in the place, but also the first temple of learning in these parts. It was here that Philip Cheek, Jr., the present efficient District Attorney of Sauk County, was wont to exhort his fellow-students in the Sabbath school class that assembled here on Sundays, and point out the moral way to them; and it was here, also, that in later years, he expounded theological doctrines to older people, and, they say, did it in a manner creditable to the cloth. In 1871, a new schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $650. There are about 100 children in the district. The old schoolhouse was in use for many years, and for a long time was church and hall as well.

There are two church organizations in the village the German Baptists and the German The former was organized some twenty years ago, it is believed, at the house of old man Stackmann, who was a leading member. Among the first members of this church besides Mr. Stackmann, may be mentioned Charles, Henry and William Man they, August Marquart, Fred Luepke, Jacob Schmeltzer, M. Rindfleisch, Christ, Graetzka, Jacob Felske, Adam Oegel, and others. The society was formed in connection with a similar organization in North Freedom, from which place it is now regularly supplied. In 1874, a church edifice was built at a cost of $700. In 1872, the German Lutherans organized a society with the Rev. C. Kessler as Pastor. Mr. Kessler belonged in the town of Westfield and made stated visits to Ablemans. H. Heitmann, Adam Schuster, E. Bender, J. Pfoff and William Bartenbach were among the first members. The Rev. Mr. Brueckner is the present Pastor. The membership is given at twenty-five families. Meetings are held in the public schoolhouse. ;

Lutherans.

The English Methodists have a church building about two miles west of the village. In the way of hotels, Ablemans is particularly well-supplied. The history of these instituwhen M. B. Waltz built the first house entitled to recognition as a hotelThen came the Charter House, built by Col. Ableman in 1868. It was christened in 1870, at a memorable feast held within its walls, the occasion being the celebration of the success of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad line, which was then approaching the place. Col. Ableman, it is known, took an active part, with others, in securing the charter for the Baraboo Valley Air Line road, and, as is also known, the present line of road had its inception in this charter. The Charter House was therefore appropriately named. It is the principal hotel in the place, having twenty-three guests' rooms, and one of the most amiable landladies in the land. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are perfectly at home in Ablemans, and succeed admirably in making others so at tions begins in 1864,

tin-

lharter House.

The Schulte llous<' also stands above the average village hotel. It was built ten years ago by Edward Duschades, who soon sold it to Henry Wested, and Mr. Wested in turn sold to the present proprietor, K. C. Schulte. The house contains fifteen sleeping-rooms. In 1*74. William Ilinrichs built a small hotel and saloon opposite the Schulte House, and dors something in the way of entertaining the public.

The post office was established in Ablemans in the fall or winter of 1871, soon after the railroad reached the place. Prior to that time, Col. Ableman was provisional Postmaster; that is to say. the mail was brought from Baraboo, perhaps twice a week, and deposited in a large box the Colonel's home. The citizens came and helped themselves. Samuel Carpenter, now Postmaster al North Freedom, was the first Postmaster here. He kept the office in his tinWilliam shop. Sallade succeeded Postmaster Carpenter, and removed the office to his store.

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

633

The office is located in the store of Fey & Co., A.

Louis Goedecke is the present incumbent. Fey being Deputy Postmaster. One of the leading institutions in Ablemans is the steam stave factory of Abram Walton. established in the fall of L874. The product of this factory is what is known as "tight work," The principal shipments arc made to Wmterbottom & Son. that is. material for pork barrels. Joliet,

111.

Another industry, although not peculiar to the village of Ablemans, but which furnishes employment to a large number of men. and ultimately increases the prosperity of both, is the quarrying of sandstone from the imposing heights north of the place, for use in railway construction.

Two miles west of the village, on Narrows Creek, is located a first-class flouring-mill, owned by N. Carpenter, and built in 1879. It is located on the site known as the " Rocky Rice" place. It was here that Joseph Rice built a saw-mill in 1853, in a narrow, rocky gorge, through which Narrows Creek flows. The plenitude of rocks in the vicinity was perhaps the means of suggesting an alliterative title for Mr. Rice. The old saw-mill was destroyed by fire in 1800.

Ableman & Watson built and conducted the first store in the village. John G. Stein was The firm of Fey & Goedecker was the next the next merchant who established a store here. Then came the firm of Salmercantile establishment to solicit a ••share of public patronage." Son & Pearl (Dr. Sallade, now of Reedsburg, his son William and William Pearl). E. S. The business portion of the village now consists Pierce is the latest acquisition in this respect. of two stores, three hotels, one stave-mill, one grist-mill and one saw-mill (not in operation), two blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, two religious societies, one public school, one post office, one The village was platted by Col. meat market, one shoe-shop and one grain and produce dealer. Ableman in 1853, ami re-platted in 1879 by E. W. Gilmore, the latter being the only plat lade.

recorded.

The place is beautifully situated at the base of the famous Baraboo quartzite range, in full The surroundings are view of the romantic and wonderful spot known as the Upper Narrows. cheerful and grandly picturesque. VILLAGE AND TnWN OF DELTON

— NEWPORT.

The village of Delton is admirably situated within convenient access of some of the mos Congress Hall and remarkable and awe-inspiring natural wonders to be found in the State. Mirror Lake are already renowned far beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Both of these places are fully described in a preceding chapter. settlement of the village of Delton commenced The over thirty years ago. with the coming of Levi Huntington, Edward Norris,* Jacob Adams, .Tared Fox.* Alexander Vosler and the Toppings (Elijah IF. Eber and the Rev. Henry*). Mr. Huntington built the first frame house in the place. Prior to this, Mr. Vosler put up a board shanty to shelter a few men engaged upon the first mill building. The list of first settlers here may be continued as follows Rufus Orne, Jerome Marble,* James Rickon, Diah Remington, A. II. Thomson, C. H. Foote, Jacob Rice,* Harvey Bowman, Charles Young.* James Vail, Thompson Wallace, George Morehouse." E. B. Bullis," Darwin Woodward, * S. S. Barlow, D. B. H. Wilder. John Leach," Roderick Coe," Charles Duval, Norman Nickerson, the Pearsons. Carlos Could. Jonathan Bowman, Dr. G. W. Jenkins, Horace Duryea, C. M. Ashley, Herrick Bailey, Elder Dickens and many others whose names arc not remembered. The people of the village and town of Delton are particularly proud of their longevity, and the community boasts of a greater number of persons who have passed fourscore years than can be found in any other section of the country of equal size and population. As Squire Keyes tersely expresses it. •• the people never die; they dry up and blow away." The nocturnal '• blizzard " has no terrors for the Squire, however, and' he is in good condition to withstand, for some time to come, the violence of the gale. :

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

t>34

In considering the institutions of Delton, it is proper that we should begin with the lower mill power. dam and saw-mill were constructed here, in 1850, by Fox & Topping. grist-mill was erected the following winter, and put in operation in March, 1851. Messrs. Fox & Topping carried on both these institutions until about 1861-62, when they sold to John L.

Ward. Two years later, Mr. Ward died, and the administrators of the estate sold to Jacob H. Adams, one of the substantial pioneers of Delto'n. Mr. Adams ran the mills probably two years, and sold to John E. Winkenwerder. Under an execution of the Sheriff, it soon afterward passed to the hands of T. M. Warren, and, in 1877, Mr. Adams purchased the property and is its present owner. The " Upper Mill," located on one of the best water-powers in the State, was built in 1860 by Labar & Boorman. Under their management it was run until 1*72, when F. Dorn became the purchaser, Boorman having previously sold to Mr. Labar. Dorn ran it a year, when he traded it to J. H. Adams, the present proprietor. It is one of the finest grist-mills in the county. In 1858, J. 11. Adams and Charles Clement built a machine-shop and foundry on Spring Brook, and carried it on about five years, when Adams sold to S. Clement, a brother of Charles. They soon afterward took in E. G. Chase, who, at the end of a year, bought out the Clements. In 1871, Mr. Chase sold to J. H. Adams, who, in turn, traded it to William P. Harvey. In the meantime, the foundry portion had been suspended. The next proprietors were Peter Flickner and S. K. Ayers. It is now owned by Frank Hulbert. Mr. Hulbert now manufactures fanning- mills and does planing.

In 186*2, J. II. Adams built a second foundry, this time on the Lower Dam. added a machine-shop, and both concerns are in successful operation. I>:i>t,

bul not least, of the industrial institutions of Delton.

He lias since

the steam sorghum mill oi J.

T. Huntington.

It is the largest concern of the kind in the county, and, probably, in the State, having a capacity of 250 gallons per day. A large area of the surrounding country has, of late and the capacity of Mr. Huntington's mill is severely tried. At the present writing (October, 1880), the mill is being run day and night. The necessity for this is manifest in the constant arrival of material to be worked up. Mr. Huntington intends attaching sugar-refining machinery to the institution, and a portion of next

years, been devoted to the raising of sugar cane,

year's crop will be

made into

sugar.

post office was established at Delton in 1850, with Jared Fox as Postmaster. It was called Lorretto, in honor of the wife of Edward Nonas, whose given name was Lorretto. Mr. -V

Norris was a prominent and highly respected citizen. It was he who first platted the village. Postmaster Fox kept the office in his bedroom in Norris's house, and, when Topping \ Fox established a store in the village,

was removed

to their place of business.

The successors of

Mr. Fox have been Elijah Topping, .1. X. Vandervear, Charles Topping and Levi Huntington, the latter being the present incumbent. Mr. Huntington was appointed to the position in May. 1855, and has held the office almost continuously. He was out about twenty months, having been deposed by that " political calamity " who occupied the Presidential chair prior to the inauguration of the martyred Lincoln. S. F. Newman was the choice of Buchanan. Mr. Huntington was re-appointed in 1861 the village was established in L850, m a building put up by subscripStood on the north side of Adams street, and is n>'V, a part of the residence of 1,. D. The old house Clements. Philander Fenton was the first teacher in this temple of learning.

The Erst school in

tion.

answered the purpose lor which it was built for five or six years, when the district erected a To tins a wing was added in 1867. Two departments brick schoolhouse, the one now in use. are now maintained in this school, there being, at present, ninety-one pupils on the roll. The town of Delton l- D.OW divided into ten districts, each having a good schoolhouse. There are 323 pupils in the town. One of the scholastic institutions of the past in Delton was the Acad-

emy, built

1853.

suspended in 1865, and the building is now used as a Methodist Church.

IIISTOKY

<H'

SAUK COUNTY.

,i;:'

The first bote! in Delton was a board shanty built in 1849, by Alexander Vosler.

In the

L850, Mr. Vosler built the Delton House, and soon afterward traded it to .Justice Frear Frear sold it to Fox & Duval, and, after passing through several hands, it was purMr. Montanyedied about four years ago, and the house chased, in 1872, by E. D. Montanye. fall

forafarm.

now managed by his widow. The Baptists organized the first church in Delton, about 1850, with the Rev. Henry TopThis denomination was very powerful until about 1865, when the organization pingas Pastor. went down. The society built the Delton Academy and carried on a good school for a number of The Rev. Mr. Conrad succeeded Mr. Topping years, with Prof. James Haskell as Principal. as Pastor of the church, and was himself succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Green, the last Pastor in is

charge.

The Methodists organized at an early day. and held meetings in the primitive schoohouse. In 1865, they purchased the Delton Academy building, and occupy it at the present time, havThe Rev. A. F. Thompson is the Pastor. ing made improvements in the structure. The Advent ists organized a society about a year ago, with the Rev. L. II. Cook as Pastor. They hold their meetings in the Masons' Hall. The Wesleyan Methodists had an organization here at an early day. They were wont to assemble in the schoolhouse and listen to Elder Magee, whose stentorian voice penetrated the house in the village and came back in echo from the walls of Mirror Pake Physically, the Elder was immense. It was then known In 1857, a Masonic Lodge was instituted in the village of Newport. Upon the decline and fall of Newport, the lodge was removed to Delas Dells Lodge, No. 78. .1. T. HuntThere are twenty-three members. ton, where the order have a hall and building. ington is the present Master C. H. Foote, S. W. G. E. Adams, J. W. J. R. Lawsha, Treasurer and J. C. Vosler, Secretary The Good Templars have a lodge of seventv-four members (Eureka Lodge, No. 425), with walls of every

like blasts from the horn of Gabriel.

Mary Fickner, V. W. C. Temple of Honor in Helton. P. Fickner as

'1'.

0." T.,

;

and J. C.

Vosler, L.

1>.

There is also a

Although the citizens of Delton have but little use for a cemetery, they tire, nevertheless, The first death in the vicinity is said to have been that of a man named Bushkirk, who was killed in an altercation with a man named Osborne. The locality is

supplied, in case of accident.

an extremely healthy one, and death is a rare visitor.

The tourist who fails to '-take in" all the natural wonders of the place, will have lost an Congress Hall is near at hand, and Dr. Jones opportunity to witness some remarkable sights, will pilot you through if he has to swim. And if he should be fortunate enough to escape being drowned, he will get up steam on the "Fleetwood " in the afternoon, and you may behold the beauties of Mirror Lake and visit Fern Glen, a natural amphitheater and a charming resort. V

place

correspondent for a Milwaukee paper, who visited

Delton

m 1866, thus spoke of the

It lias a voting This is a small but pleasant village some three miles south of Kilbotirn. population of about 300. Of these, there were only four votes cast lor the Democratic ticket at ••

When the St.

Paul road was being constructed through this region, it was this place, but failed to do so, and Kilbourngot the prize If the inhabitants were instead: consequently, the village has increased but little of late years. the last election.

expected

would pass through

disappointed in the railroad matter, they are in part compensated in being free from the mixed Two small streams run through the and Boating population a, railroad always brings with it. town, which afford water-power facilities. These are improved by a machine shop and foundry owned by Messrs. Clement & Chase, who manufacture heavy and light castings, cooking, parlor. office and hop stoves, fanning mills, plows, sleigh-shoes, castings lor woolen mills, etc.. ami do a deal of job work in their line. overshot wheel of nine horse-power.

great

They have a fall of water of twenty feet, and use an They also manufacture Ay ers & Wilder's fanning-mill

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

bbb

and the Ladde water-wheel, a small but very effective cast-iron wheel, designed

to work

under

water.

" The other is the Dell Creek, on which is the flouring-mill of Horace La Bar, who operates three runs of stones, and manufactures 200 barrels of flour per week, which he ships to Chicago. On the same stream is the flouring and grist mill of J. 11. Adams & Co., who have three runs of stones,

and put up flour at the rate of 100 barrels per week

Adams also has a foundry, which he opened last spring. ufacture of hop stoves.

for the

Milwaukee market".

Mr.

manMr. Adams and Mr. A. G. Low,

It is devoted, principally, to the

With him is associated J. D. Grout.

have just erected a two-story building for a woolen-factory, which they intend

to have in operanext year's clip of wool. " There are here, also, a drug store and post office, kept by Levi Huntington, who has held

tion for the

the office for ten years, with an interim of ten

months during Buchanan's administration.

Shaw has the largest store in the place, purchasing a portion of his goods in Milwaukee. The only other store is kept by J. M. Clement, who purchases wholly in Milwaukee. Mr. Clement was, for four years of the war, in the 12th Regiment, and is now a cripple from wounds received at Atlanta. A. H. Thompson carries on the manufacture of farm wagons. He is an old settler and a reliable citizen. W. P. Thatcher is the village blacksmith. The public house is kept by T. Frear as the Union Hotel.

E. B. Bullis is the Justice of the Peace. Judge S. S. Barlow and is the member of Assembly from this district. There is one meeting-house, which is occupied by the Methodists, with Rev. Mr. McGinley as Pastor. The Unitarians have a society, under the charge of Rev. H. Norton. The Advent believers also hold a Sabbath meeting. The village is situated in the midst of a hop-growing locality. Many farmers whose places were under railroad mortgage, have been enabled to get out of their embarrassment through the profits on their Imps." Newport. The glory of Newport will ever live in the memory of those who participated in the unequal struggle which resulted in its rise ami fall. The hopes of the people who made investments here twenty-five years ago were blasted in an over-abundance of confidence in the integrity of Byron Kilbourn. Dr. Jones, now of Delton, was one of the sufferers. He states that at one time there were 1,200 people living in Newport ami the little settlement over the river, all anxiously and confidently awaiting the advent of the iron horse, having received positive assurances from the railroad managers that the Lit Crosse k Milwaukee road would cross the river at that point. lintel-, stores, schools, churches and dwellings were reared and occupied, village lots sold fin- from $200 to $300 each, and everybody was happy. The citizens got a charter for a dam, and were about to harness the old " Wisconse " to turbine wheels, but they were induced to make over the charter to the Wisconsin Hydraulic Company, composed chiefly of railroad directors, who immediately obtained an amendment permitting them to remove the site to Kilbourn. Newport went into a decline, from which it never This was the beginning of the end. resides here,

—

recovered.

The pioneers of Newport were John Marshall (the founder of the place), Dr. Ambrose Edward Nonas. William Steele, Joseph Bailey and .lames Christie the two latter being Frank Darrow established there the first store. settlers on the east side of the river. There were nine mercantile establishments when the plan' was in its prime. Tin' Mary Lyon

—

Jones, the

first

Female Seminary was founded here in 1856, a building being constructed at a cost of $3,000 or This institution was carried on about two years. The managers issued finely printed them broadcast over the land to induce patronage and they wei" not entirely

$4,000.

circulars and sent

We quote the following from one of these circulars giving a description of the without avail. place: '-The location is selected at a point approaching the center of the State, north and west, upon a system of railroads that will soon give access to all parts of the State. It is above The location the latitude of bilious diseases, in a climate favorable to vigorous mental effort. being in a region whose base is sand rock, anil not lime, insures health. The site proffered for building is about one mile from the depot at Killioiirn City, upon the l.a Crosse Railroad, where it crosses the Wisconsin The road will be in running order to this point before the semRiver.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. inary opens, in September.

«oi

and vale, mingled with The bluffs upon the river and the dells of

The region around has the diversity of

lull

wildness, calculated to interest the lover of nature. the Wisconsin (a miniature Niagara), with several wild gorges, furnish places of resort for hours The people are mostly of Eastern origin; the moral state of society is elevated; of pastime. its influence not only desirable, but equal to that of more favored Eastern communities." societies William Steele built a large hotel in the place, and a Mr. Clark did likewise ;

became numerous; the Presbyterians had a splendid church edifice (since removed to Kilbourn) and Freeman Longley put up a hexigonal house. William 8. Grubb now lives in it in Baraboo. Among other early settlers in Newport may be mentioned Frank and Norman Stewart. Joseph Kendrick twin, kept the first hotel). E. B. King (a lawyer), Marcena Temple, Ephraim Kingsbury (who built a big steam saw-mill), Abraham Vanderpool, T. Hoffman (who risked his means Let their names be in a brewery), Dr. G. W. Jenkins and Amyntus Briggs and others. recorded. office

The post In April, 1868, the last traces of the former glory of Newport were wiped out. was discontinued, and the County Treasurer ceased to advertise Newport lots for the non-

payment of taxes.

Vale, Newport.

The following persons deserve recognition as the pioneers of the town of Delton Joseph Sanders, who came in 1*4'.) and located where the Shaw place is now; Daniel T. Clay. C. M. Fallen, Hiram Mason, William Bell, Solomon, George, Frank, Orange, Edson, Erastus and Daniel Brown, Henry House, Simeon Freeman, I. K. and Harvey Ainsworth, Roderick Hill, Simon Cobleigh, A. F. Washburn, Rev. W. 15. Putnam, Walter Woodmancy, Moses Nulph, Freeman Comfort. John Lousy. Samuel Gilson, Antoin Prevoncil, the Rev. Vanalstein, Thomas Bell, 0. W. Spalding, -Mr. Cheesebrough (an old bachelor). F. K. Jenkins, Nelson Welch, William Hill, Jacob Frear. Frank Roberts. Jacob Flickner. John Lawsha, J. P. Shults, Thomas Marshall. Messrs. Wood. McCoy, Gray and many others. :

TOWN OF WOODLAND. This town is formed of Town 13 north, Range 2 east, being the extreme northwest town of Sauk County. It lies west of the general west line of the county, forming a jog by itself. The It is bounded on the north by Juneau County, township is full, containing thirty-six sections. on the east by the town of Lavalle, on the south by Richland County, and on the west by Vernon County. The surface is uneven, consisting of ridges, table-lands and valleys. The soil is generally good, and may be classed as variable clay and sandy loam. Many of the valleys are natTimber consists principally of oak in its various ural meadows, where not heavily timbered. forms, interspersed with butternut, elm. basswood, hickory, soft and hard maple, ash and some

Water is abundant; the North Branch of the Little Baraboo takes its rise in other varieties. the southwest part of the town, flowing southeasterly, and leaving the town on Section 36. There are two mills on this stream; a sawmill on Section 32, built in 1863 by Caleb Harvey another saw-mill is in operation on the same stream, at Valton, a small village situated on the It was erected by William east side of Section 29. This was the first mill built in the town. Mann in 1857. Dr. John Thompson bought this mill in 1868, and put in a run of stones, making a grist-mill of it. On the north, a fine stream flows through Plum Valley, emptying into the main Baraboo on Section 2. The Baraboo Hows through Sections 2 and 1. Numerous brooks and fine springs furnish a good supply of water for stock. A large saw-mill was erected ;

on the Plum Valley Creek in 1875 by J. T. Heath. In an early day, this section of the town contained considerable pine. At one time, it was Now, only a few straggling pines are to be seen, too the scene of active lumbering operations. poor to tempt the lumbermen to destroy them. They mournfully whisper to each other, in the freshening breeze, of happier days long past, when their family held their heads the highest and represented more wealth than any other in the valley. The Madison Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad crosses the northeastern part of the town, and just north of Section 2, with its suburbs touching Sauk County, lies the

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

638

As this is one of the principal market towns of Woodland, it is proper that it should be mentioned in connection with a history of the town. Thousands of dollars are paid annually to Woodland people at this station for railroad ties, Among the mamy industries of staves, wood timbers of all sorts, live stock and farm produce. Woodland is one that is fast growing into prominence; that is. the growing of amber sorghum 'flic high ridges, with their rich, warm soil, and immunity from early frosts, seem pecucane, liarly adapted to the growth of this product. One factory at Valton (Jones & Mortimer's), by the close of the season (1880), will have Their evaporator is twenty by ti ye feet, while the grindmanufactured 4,000 gallons of sirup. They make at the rate of 110 gallons per day of ing is done by a four-horse-power machine. The sirup is of fine quality, ami sells readily for 50 cents per gallon. twelve hours. Michael Truher has a factory on Section ^7. where lie manufactures 100 gallons per day of He will make this season 2,000 gallons. The business was established in twenty-four hours. Mr. Solomon Cook, Section 36, 1876, by S. G. Yeo, who sold to Truber. September, 1880. Last year he made 1,'iGS gallons. S. W. Sherman has manufactured S27 gallons this year. The whole product of the town will reach and a few others are making sirup on a smaller scale thriving village of

Wonnewoc, Juneau County.

8,000 gallons. The town

pos-'csses four buildings used exclusively as churches. The first church estabThe society was organized on "Ironton Monthly Meeting of Friends." It opened day of January, 1860, in the dwelling of Fielder Brown, on Section 36. with sixteen members, who emigrated to this State from Hamilton and Grant Counties. End. Solomon Cook, Mary Cook, Nathan Cook, Martha Brown, Thomas Their names are as follows Mason, Mahala Mason, Jesse Dennis. Rachel Dennis. Antoinette Cook. Martha E. Cook, Benjamin Pickering. Sarah Pickering, Isaac Jay, Ruth day. Charlotte Brown and Francis Jones. The meeting now enrolls 128 members, embracing eighteen entire families and seventeen parts

lished was that of the

the

L8th

of families.

Services are held regularly twice every week, besides the regular monthly church meetings

There are two "recorded" ministers, James Stanley and Mary In the year 1860, the society built a small log building for a meeting-house, arid, in 30x50 feet, with a large room above for school

for the transaction of business.

A. Cook.

the year 1867, they built a new church building.

This meeting. purposes, though this last-mentioned room has never been finished and occupied. " with a small subordihate tributary at Valton. in this town, is the only organized " Friends' Church in the State of Wisconsin, and this, with its above named branch, is subordinate to the

Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends.

The members who petitionedthe Iowa Yearly Meeting lor an

organization here all lived to see their petition granted and the meeting permanently established, The subordi but many of them have since passed over the river, to lie seen of men no more.

nate bra n eh of the In m ton Monthly Meeting of Friends of Valton was established June 18, s 7o. James Stanley, "recorded" minister. The United Brethren have a new church at Valton thai they are just completing, and the I

Catholics have a small church at the southeasl corner of Section 11. structures. The best appointed. There are eight school buildings in the town, mostly g judging from the exterior, is the Marsh Schoolhouse, District No. 1. The southeastern of the town has furnished many of the teachers. The territory comprising this town had its first political organization in connection with three other townships now Lavalle, Ironton ami Washington), under the name of Macston. The Reuben ition was effected al the house of Reuben Thornton, of Ironton. April 6, 1852'. The organic election of the town Thornton was elected Chairman by act of the County Board. Walter L. Clemons was elected 'if Woodland was held in Town 13, Range 2, April 7, 1>C>7. Chairman; B. Pickering and E. R West. Side Supervisors; George F. Wood, Clerk John Fessey, Treasurer; Isaac 11. Stultz, Assessor; James J. Duro, Superintendent of Schools; J. B. Tennell, Peter Apker, Mark Davis and Samuel feeder, Justices; W. II. Davis, David Resolutions were adopted to raise $150 for Swooveland and Truman Joiner, Constables. I

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. town expenses, $200

for

school purposes and

$50

for p

expenses.

Whole number of votes

cast, 43.

The lii'- white settler in the territory comprising the town of Woodland is supposed to have John Rice was probably the first been William Richards, who settled on Section 36 in 1849. to enter land. He look up the southeast quarter of Section 36 early in 1849. J. D. R. Mitchell He was followed by a Mr. Kingsley the same was the second settler, who came in L850. vear. Then came [saac Jay and Mark Davis, who settled in the southeast part of the town '

Alexander Camp settled in Plum Valley in 1850, James Burwell in July, 1851, Richard Mann settled in the Jesse Mallows in L853 and J. 11. Horine in L853, Section 35. southeast part of the town in 1854. William Mann was the first settler tit Valton, 1856. From Of those who came in 1855 may he mentioned 1854 to 1856, the town settled up very rapidlysoon after.

J. E. Wallace.

M. Hansbury, James Canon, Simeon Mortimer, Solomon and Hiram Cook and

W. C. Broas. The first

store

was established at Valton, in 1857, by Samuel Mann. The next year, This firm wits succeeded by McKoon & another was opened by the Davis Brothers & Benson. Shortly after, McKoon bought out Benson and continued the business till his death, Benson. which occurred in 1871. In the spring of this year. Mr. Lester Clemons started the store where he is still in business. The first post office was estahlishsd in the spring of 1857, and called " Daks." Hiram Cook was the first 1'ostmaster. A few years ago. the office was discontinued, and re-established Eli D. Horton was appointed Postmaster of Section 26. About 1866, a in October, 1879. Alonzo McKoon was the first Postpost office was established at Valton, called " Valton." He was After McKoon's death, William H. Bedell was appointed in 1872. master. succeeded by William Craig, and, in January, 1876, Lester Clemons, the present incumbent, was appointed. The first school was taught by Mrs. Jane Gill in the summer of 1855. She began the term This in the dwelling of Mark Davis, and completed it in the new schoolhouse in Section 35. was the first schoolhouse built in the town. The first church was built by the Society of Friends in 1860. It was built of logs, and was situated on Section 36. The first wedding was that of David Fancher to Mrs. Jane Gill, in October. 1855, Squire Blakeslee officiating. The first white child born in the town was James Mitchell, March 7. 1853, son of J. D. 1>. ami Catharine Mitchell, Section -".li. The first death was that of Ameda Kingsley, a girl about eight years of age. She 'lied in the summer of 1854, on Section 36. Mr. J. D. 1!. Mitchell brought the first stove into the town in the fall of 1850.

Town OF FAIRFIELD. It is twelve mileThis town is of irregular size, containing in all about forty-five sections long by about five wide at the widest point. The country is largely rolling and bluffy in conThe soil is good in patches and bad tour, and in the southeast part quite marshy or swampy. the same. Often, in going a distance of ten rods, the traveler will pass from the poorest of sunbut, on the average, thendried yellow sand to a heavy loam or clay soil, of excellent quality is more of sand than is needed or desired. Nature scattered a large quantity of stone and glass making material here that the people would gladly dispense with. There are but two or three small streams of water in the town; considering its size, it is the poorest watered of any town in the county. It is very well timbered in the main. The inhabitants are principally Americans. They are One will find sober, industrious, frugal, and, morally, somewhat above the general average. here representatives of nearly every religious denomination commonly found in this country, The products at from the free-thinking Universalis! to the conservative Presbyterian. ;

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

640

grains, fruits, bops, sorghum, etc., pretty equally divided, there appearing to be no special lean-

—

only their actual relative merits are considered. This is ing toward one more than another Nothing that mother earth will produce, that it will pay the true way to pursue agriculture. to raise, should be ignored, for, as is generally the case, some one or more products will usually

The town is bounded be poor each year but which they may be, none can ever tell certainly. on the north by Delton and the Wisconsin River, on the south by Baraboo and Greenfield, on the east by Columbia County, and on the west by Excelsior. ;

Early Settlement. The first settler in the town of Fairfield was Anion Anderson, a Norwegian, who, according to the most reliable authorities, came here in 1843, and settled on the Wisconsin River, in He then set to work and prepared the ground ready for sowing the the north part of the town. The next year he raised a snug little crop, and from that time ensuing year, and built a cabin. on until his death, several years ago, was regarded as a prosperous farmer. He left a fine farm A little more than a year and to Ins son, which has since passed into the hands of John Lamar. then Benjamin Teel put in an a half elapsed after this before any other permanent settler came appearance, and located a claim on Section 7, Town 12, Range 7, and began work. Shortly after this. Mr. Teel moved on to Webster's Prairie, but the absence of wood and good water soon He and his drove him back to his first claim, where he has since remained and reared a family. eldest son are now owners of 400 acres of land in the town, the most of which is excellent in ;

quality. .Mr. Teel has been in the town n'ow longer than any other settler, having been in the During country and seen its growth from its earliest infancy of improvement until the present. this time, he has always voted a straight Democratic ticket, win or lose. Below are given the names of a majority of the settlers who came before 1850, ami. as

T. M. Adams, 184o nearly as can be ascertained, the dates of their arrival S. Soule, 1845 S. W. Harvey Hurlbut, 1846; L. L. Lee, 1846; Jesse Bushnell, 1847 M. Newcomb, 1847 Turner, is 17; A. Poison, 1846; J. B. Russell, 1846; D. G. Hunter, 1846-47; C. Wells. :

;

Robert Hornby, 1846-47 Milton Newell, 1847-4S 0. II. C. L. Peck, 1847-48 1847-48; Hiram Bushnell, 1847; J. H. Bennett, 1 848-4 9 II. Greenslit, 1848-49; 1848II. C. Wilcox, 1848; Benjamin Brown, 1848-49; Job Benton, 1848-49; J. Brown, A. Fuller. 1848-49 P. Fuller, 1848-49; C. 49; P. G. Pearshall, 1848; F. Clark, 1S49 William Little, L849 A. Norton, 1848-49; O. A. Holmes, L849; William Hill, L849 Charles Robinson, 1849; W. Woodmansel, 1849 Newell, 1848-49; D. B.Norton, 1848-4'.) Samuel Williams, L849 E. Heath, 1849. Aside from others whose names and the dates of

1846-47

;

Battles.

;

Robert Bushnell, Ed. Delang, Ira Norton, 0. Spalding, Charles Thatcher, Levi Thompson, ami J. Xoonan, who came before 1850. The first death iii the town was that of Mrs. Anderson, in 1845. Amora. daughter of P. J. and Anna Parshall, was the first white child born in the town of Fairfield. She was horn in January, L848, and is now the wife of J. H. Vrooman. of Baraboo. The first school was taught at Russell's Corners, David Felt being the teacher. The first blacksmith -shop was opened by Stephen Inman at Russell's Corners. Tlie first religious meeting was held at T. Adams' about Ls 47. the Rev. D. Van Alstine, a Universalist. being the preacher. Who were the first to tie the hymeneal knot or have it tied here, is not easy to ascertain. Howas there are none who are ready to stand forth and plead guilty to the charge of first. ever, it is thought that David Hunter and Betsy Fuller were the guilty parties, and that Justice T. Adams spliced them before L850, but how long before cannot he proclaimed. \t lirst the town was called Flora, after a town down East, or one of the mythological beaunation of the far Last. The sturdy frontiersmen, thinking the name rather too fanciful, changed it to Fairfield after two or three ycar>. Fairfield has a good cemetery, mentioned below, together with the cost and location.

arrival can not be learned, are

it.

HISTORY OF SACK COUNTY.

041

There are two churches in town, the Advents and Methodist, which have been in operation Twelve or thirteen years ago, they used to hold their meetings alterFor good many years. nately in the schoolhouse of District No. 5; then they each wanted to hold protracted meetings, and finally a misunderstanding arose and the house was closed against the Methodists. The Methodists then went at it. and built what is known as the basswood shanty. This proved a very cold investment during the winter, for hardly any one's religious enthusiasm was strong enough to take them to that little church at Russell's Corners very often during cold weather. It is said that, the lumber being green when it was built, it shrank so that it was almost as open as a sieve. When the Methodists purchased the Templars' Hall (Section 5), James Halsted bought the basswood building. The Advents also have a church on Section 17, so the schoolhouse is now free from denominational encroachments. The first meeting of the Fairfield Lodge. No. 264, was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church. April 16, 1878. After the granting of the charter, the following officers were elected and installed: II. Porter. W. C. Mrs. N. M. Herrick, W. V. M. L. Dame, R. S. William Kinney, Treas. A. Norton, W. C. J. Wrightmyre, W. M. F. B. Thomas, F. S. II. Bunker, P. W. C. T. Mrs. F. B. Thomas. R. II. S. Mrs. H. Porter, L. II. F. Carrie Agers, A. S. Anna Deval, D. M. H. Bunker, L. D. Lizzie Thayer, I. G. Perry Porter, 0. G. This lodge is the only secret society that has headquarters in this town. It is the successor to the old Lincoln Lodge that was started here many years ago. Owing to some difficulty between the members, it was broken up. Lincoln Lodge was, at one time, quite influential, and succeeded in building a hall to hold their meetings in. After the difficulty, however, the hall was sold to the Methodist Episcopal Society, and it now- serves a very good purpose as a church or place to ;i

;

hold religious services.

Town Organization and Notj The first town meeting recorded was held at the schoolhouse, near Russell's Corners, pursu•

ant to previous notice, on the l")th day of April, 1850, and the town organized into an independent precinct. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year Chairman of Town Board, Harvey Hurlbut Side Supervisors, Benjamin Teel and John Inman Town Clerk, T. M. Adams Assessor, Benjamin Teel Treasurer, John B. Russell Superintendent of Schools, Justices of the Peace, Jesse Bushnell, Edwin Plummer, T. M. Adams and Ben Jesse Bushnell Clark; Constables, Peter Parshall and John II. Bennett; Sealer of Weights and Measures, David B. Norton. The whole number of votes cast did not exceed thirty. At a special meeting, held the 14th day of May following, a vote was taken and carried to raise $150, to pay the town expenses for the ensuing year. At the end of the first fiscal year, there was left a balance of $70.79 uncollected taxes in favor of the town. At first, but $100 was appropriated to defray the expenses of public schools. In 1852, at annual town meeting, April 0, the chief question of interest to the electors was the moving an appropriation of money to build a bridge over the In response to motion made. $50 was voted tor this purpose. Baraboo River. This included all charges to he made against the town. The bridge was built near Mr. Butterfield's, being the :

;

first

road

public work of that kind that the town had engaged in. The town was divided into seven districts at the first, which in the progress of time have increased slowly until there

are now thirteen.

During the first five years or more after the town had been organized, cattle and swine were allowed to roam on the commons, excepting uncastratcd males. At the annual town meeting in 1855, there were forty seven voters, there being an increase of seventeen in five years. At this meeting 8250 were voted for school purposes. At the town meeting, April, 1858, voted to purchase a certain piece of land at Russell's Corners for a burying-ground. to pay for which the sum of $12 was appropriated, anil this is the only cemetery in town. In 1860, the town electors had increased to ninety-six, and the Superintendent's report shows $218.74 used for educational purposes. During the year 1862, a fence was built around the graveyard. November 17, 1862, a special meeting was called for the purpose of raising money to pay the volunteers enlisted from this town, by L. H. Wells. After the

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

642

motion put, and lost. It meeting was called to order, it was at first proposed to raise $361 was then moved that the above sum be raised by a tax on the next assessment roll. This motion, On the 1st day of December, 1863, pursuant to being agreeable to the voters, was approved. a call of twelve electors of the town, a special meeting was held for the purpose of raising more money to pay volunteers. At this meeting it was decided by vote to raise and pay $200 each Again, on the to six men, required to fill out a town quota of men demanded for the service. 27th of February, 1864, a special meeting was held, and a vote taken to pay $200 each to every On the 16th of August of the above year, another meeting was held volunteer from this town. pursuant to a special call, and a vote was taken to levy a tax to raise $2,400 bounty for twelve volunteers. At this meeting, seventy-two votes were polled, fifty being for the tax, and twentyPursuant to call, another meeting was convened soon after the above, namely, two against it. in January, 1865, when $2,400 more was appropriated to pay more men for going to the war. July 29, 1865, another special meeting was called to raise money to pay for destroying a different foe, the enemies in this case being wildcats and wolves, which had become exceedingly The bounty voted was $10 for every wolfskin, and $5 for every wildcat or lynxtroublesome. This was eventually reduced to $5 and $3. skin. Amount of money used for education in town in 1865, was $311. At the town meeting, on the 2d of April, 1878, the voters denounced the action of former Town Board, and declared they had been acting fraudulently and deceptively in collecting a larger amount of money than had been voted at the annual meeting. (For number of voters now in the town, consult census ;

reports.)

The Franklin Mutual Farmers' Insurance Company was organized in the town of Franklin, January 6, 1877, and at first included only the towns of Franklin, Spring Green and Bear Creek. James Bandel was elected President at the time of organizing, and holds the position still; Richard H. Douglas, Secretary. The Directors were George G. Morgan, Richard H. Douglas, James Bandel, Edward Lester and James Ochsner. In 1879, the company embraced the town? of Ithaca, Buena Vista, Sylvan, Richland, Willow and Rockbridge, in Richland County. The amount of property now insured by them is $158,886 their losses thus far have amounted to only $62, and no assessments have been made. The rate of survey and policy for the funds obtained in this way have thus far been enough to pay all each individual is $1.50 running expenses, and leave a surplus on hand sufficient to pay any small losses. Nearly all The officers are now the same the leading farmers in the towns enumerated above are members. The Assessors are George Morgan, Edward Lester and James Ochsner as mentioned at first. to the efforts of James Ochsner, James Bandel and principally indebted The community are Richard H. Douglass for getting the company established. ;

;

i)F

SPI!

SAUK COUNTY

CHAPTER

XIII.

R E EN

L L AC E.

Sketch— Government- The General Developement- Village Hall—Temperance [ssues, Past wi> Present— Downy—Educational—Post Office— Express Company Seculak Society and Churches.

[ntroductor's

[NTRODUCTOR'S

The above o

title,

sketch.

any case, will prove to the visitor to this thriving town, a happy intro-

what follows in the pleasant surrounding scenery, "Of inviting tit-Ms anil meadows green, With charming woodlands interspersed between, That greet the eye mi every hand, And supply man's wants and adorn the land."

The village is located about one and a half miles north from the Wisconsin River, on the i>( the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad, to the coming of which it is really as much indebted for its existence and presenl prosperity, as to the condition of the surrounding country, from which it derive its chief support. When the railroad passed through here in L856, line

the land where the village now stands was

in a

completely natural condition, being covered with

weeds and grass, and could not even boast a squatter's cabin, with the accompaniments of children, pigs and chickens, to enliven the scene. The first cabins were those of the railroad workmen, two of which were afterward occupied by Thomas D. Jones and Mr. Holmes, the very first comers that settled in the village. For some time previous to the building of the trees, brush,

railroad bridge over the Wisconsin, parties of settlers bound for this part of the ountry or further west, were brought by rail to the other side of the river, from which point tiny were privii

The last party of emigrants to disembark at the continue on as best pleased them. then terminus of the route arrived mi Sunday, August 1856. The next day the brid tried, and an engine for the first time passed over it and through the future village ^\' Spring i

•"..

Green. Since that time, how great the change here! One of the must attractive villages in the county litis sprung into existence, and almost till of the hind in the immediate vicinity, except woodland, is under a fine state of cultivation, where but a few shortyears ago it was lving useless. «ild, and unfruitful of ought stive nature's must common products. >f the vilkge proper, it can be truly said, it is one of the best laid-oul pit s in the county, and when one impartially observes its straight, level and well-shaded streets, with the neat dwellings ami tidy lawns and gardens on either side, besides the freedom from noise and disturbance which is particularly noticeable, he can but acknowledge that in general excellence of appearance and condition, Spring Green now has few superiors in the country at large. Tin- amount of business done here in past years, especially during the Hush Imp times and during the war, was something remarkable tens of thousands of dollars came in through this channel to the farmers of the surrounding country, and were expended here again in huge part, affording a trade, considered comparatively, of enormous proportions. The very Hush times have taken wii mselves and departed, or like the Arabs, have ••silently stole away," yet the town is prosperous the business men, mechanics and laborers are kept constantly busy, and enough is made to live well and to spare, as is evidenced by the large school building erected here four years ago, and by the best town hall in the county, none excepted, that was built last year. An air of life and thrift pervades everything, and nearly every year new additions are made to the place in some direction, whether in the increase of building and business, or inhabitants, dues <

;

; ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

644

not signify, as one is but the concomitant of the other. Of the future it is safe to predict, accidents and casualties aside, that the place can but maintain its present prestige. The inhabitants at present are chiefly Americans, although there is a fair sprinkling of other nationalities.

VILLAGE GOVERNMENT. Spring Green was incorporated by act of Legislature, published March 29, 18(19, per Chapter 365, P. and L. laws: •• The southwest quarter and the west All that district of country described as follows: half of the southeast quarter of Section 7, and the northwest quarter of northeast quarter, and the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 18, Township 8 north, of Range 4 east also, the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 1-!, and the northeast quarter of the northeast east all being in the town of Spring quarter of Section 13, Township 8 north, of Range Green, Sauk Co., Wis." The above act provides that the fiscal, prudential and municipal concerns of the place shall be vested in a President, ex officio Trustee, and four Trustees, and such other officers as might be afterward ordained, as one Clerk, one Treasurer, and one Constable, who was ex officio Electoral methods and provisions, similar to those usually provided, were secured by Marshal. this charter. The money received for license was to be used for village purposes, providing the amount be not less than that fixed by law. The Village Board were authorized to make and provide penalties, and to change or add to ordinances, as they might deem expedient; also proProvisions for visions for a fire department and for preventing fires generally, were made. levying taxes to pay for grading streets and sidewalks were also made, to be paid in labor, money or materials. The President, Trustees and Police Justices were to be elected, the others The village was re-incorporated in Election to be held the first Monday in May. appointed. According to this chapter, there is a President, six Trustees, a 1878, under the general law. Clerk, a Treasurer, a Supervisor for County Mi. aid. a Police Justice, a Justice of the Peace, a Marshal and a Constable, elected by the people, the Street Commissioner being appointed. The various specifications of this charter may be seen by reference to Chapter 40 of the General :

—

•">

Laws for L878. Offk

1869

— Whole number

of votes cast. si.

a i.

Roster.

C. B.

Pearson, President;

M. F. Hurley, Henry

W. Runyon, C. W. Farrington, Trustees C. E. Brainerd, Police Justice; Goedecke, Clerk C. W. Finn, Treasurer; George B. Van Orman, Constable. Kifer, P.

Louis

;

1870—J. C. Brainard, President; 0. Roth, IL Kifer. E. W. Evans, E. P. Newell, TrustW. A. Wyse, Clerk; C. W. B. N. Strong, Supervisor: E. C. Brainerd. Police Justice Finn. Treasurer: J. R. Lewis, Constable and Street Commissioner. 1871 I. G. Pelton, President: M. F. Hurley, .lanes Dickson, C. L. Harlocher, G. W. Thompson, Trustees; B. U. Strong, Supervisor; E. C. Brainerd, Police Justice W. A. Wyse, Clerk; J. N. Finn, Treasurer: E. F. Maher, Constable; J. A. Taylor, Street Commissioner. L872—E. P. Newell, President; M. F. Hurley. James Dickson, 0. Roth. 11. Kifer, W. A. Wyse, Clerk; J. Trustees; B. U. Strong, Supervisor; E. C. Brainerd, Police Justice N. Finn, Treasurer: E. F. Maher, Constable; E. George, Street Commissioner. L873— M. F. Hurley, President; N. Schoenmann, II. Kifer, J. G. Pelton, John Reely, Trustees; B. U. Strong, Supervisor; E. C. Brainerd, Police Justice S. P. G^jjrge, Clerk: J. X. Finn, Treasurer; C. Goodwin, Constable and Street Commissioner. 1874— C. D. Pearson, President; John Reely. J. Witzel, 0. Roth, James Dickson, TrustJ.N. ees; E. W. Evans, Supervisor; E. C. Brainerd, Police Justice; S. P. George, Clerk Finn, Treasurer; 11. M. Hungerford, Constable; C. Goodwin, Street Commissioner. is:.-, ». Davies, 0. Roth, J. Witzel, Trustees c. B. Pearson, President; John Reds. D. !•:. W. Evans, Supervisor; .1. R. Louis, Police Justice; A. Gill, Clerk: J. N. Finn, Treasurer ees

;

—

;

—

I,.

Talbot, Constable;

William Reely, Street Commissioner.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

645

L876—M. F. Hurley, President; J. Witzel, J. J. Nickey, G. M. Whiteis, William TunD. stall, Trustees; E. W. Evans, Supervisor; E. C. Brainerd, Police Justice; A. Gill, Clerk 1>. Davies, Treasurer; E. F. Maher, Constable; W. M. Austin, Street Commissioner. L877— C, B. Pearson. President; 11. Kifer, G. A. Sweet, A. M. Hungerford, J. E. McKenna, Trustees; E. W. Evans, Supervisor; E. C. Brainerd, Police Justice A. Gill, Nickey, Street ComClerk; I). 1). Davies. Treasurer; William Reely, Constable J. J. ;

;

missioner.

IsTs^J. E. McKenna. President; A. M. Dye, G. W. Whiteis, S. F. Nickey, H. B. Dewey. Trustees; E. W. Evans. Supervisor; J. R. Lewis, Police Justice: J. N. Finn, Clerk: D. D. Davies, Treasurer; H. J. Jones. Constable; Gr. A. Sweet. Street Commissioner. L879— H. B. Dewey. President; A. M. Dye, C. Zilg, L. D. Ellsworth, A. M. Hungerford, A. C. Scheble, J. G. Pelton, Trustees; E. W. Evans, Supervisor; J. N. Finn, Police Justice; M. F. Hurley, Justice of the Peace; J. N. Finn, Clerk; D. D. Davies, Treasurer; E. P. Noves, Marshal: D. L. Talbot, Constable; G. A. Sweet. Street Commissioner. 1880— M. F. Hurley, President; J. Bettinger, J. J. Nickey, M. Ilutter, William Tunstall, C. Scholl, J. N. Schoenmann, Trustees; E. W. Evans, Supervisor; J. N. Finn, Police Justice and Clerk; D. D. Davies, Treasurer; M. Hutter, Marshal and Constable; H. Kifer, Streel Commissioner. THE OENERAL DEVELOPMENT.

The south half of the southwest quarter of Section 7, Town 8, Range 4, upon which Spring Green village is located, was entered from the Government by William Barnard, from whom it In 1856, it was purchased by A. passed into the hands of E. B. Evans, who paid $600 for it. C. Dairy, who, in order to secure assistance in building up a town, and to render the property more valuable, sold an undivided quarter to B. F. Edgerton and one-third to A. G. Darwin, In reserving the remainder for himself. These were the original owners of the town property. the spring of 1857, the village was platted by Mr. Putnam, Surveyor, the entire eighty being laid out in streets and blocks in a square, all of the streets being sixty-six feet wide, excepting Jefferson street, which is eighty feet wide, and the blocks being uniformly three hundred feet square.

The first persons to come here and settle, after the village was started, were a Mr. Holmes and Thomas D. Jones, who lived for a short time near the railroad, and B. U. Strong, who came in April, 1857. The latter purchased half of Block 10, facing south on Jefferson and west on Immediately after purchasing, he erected a Lexington street, where his hotel is now located. small frame on the corner, this being the first hotel and one of the first houses in the village. He soon after moved his family in, and also put up a small building near the railroad track, and brought in a stock of goods and opened a store the first in the village and one of the first in this section of the county. This building was afterward converted into a warehouse and event-

—

ually destroyed.

During the early part of the summer, the railroad company built a depot, and trains began When the depot was completed, P. West came on and took charge of it Soon after this, Dr. Hubbard, the first physician in this section, came in with his pills ami potions, prepared to grow up with the country, if to

make regular stops.

as agent, he being the next man to locate here.

the people should get sick

;

not, to leave.

In the fall of 1857, an acquisition was made to the business element by the coining of <. Pound and Thomas Worthington, who purchased a lot on Block 10, and, soon after, had a

building under headway. When it was completed, a stock of goods was put in, and tin' second store in the town was thrown open for purchasers. This building long since passed into other hands, and is now known as the Blue Store, and is owned by Mr. Warren, of Baraboo. Benjamin Bailey, a disciple of Vulcan, also struck the town this fall and put up a shop, and, very soon after, the ringing music of the anvil and hammer woke the morning echoes and ushered in the quiet of evening.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

<->4t>

About this time, the little place and surroundings were caught, with the rest of the county, in the toils of the panic of 1857,

which effectually checked its growth at the time, for but very

few came in during the remainder of the year, and not much of anything was done until the autumn of 1858 had partially restored the country to its pristine vigor. The Wigginton brothers came this. fall (1858), and built on Block 19, facing north on Jefferson street, and opened a general store. They soon alter sold out to W. G. Spencer and

removed.

G. F. Pound and T. B. Worthington dissolved partnership this year, and Mr. Pound built the store now standing, facing east on Block 18, corner of Jefferson and Lexington streets, and Subsequently, about 1859, C. L. Daley, brother of the original owner opened a general store.

They built a warehouse this year. This firm continued until some time after the war, doing a good business. In 1857 or 1858, Garwood Green bought Egerton's share of the town plat, and a division of the property was made, one party taking three lots, one four lots, and the other five lots, in each block of twelve lots that remained unsold. In the fall of 1858, Joshua Simpson came here from Richland City, and also moved up a hotel from that place, settling on the southeast corner of Block 11, where E. D. Davies' saloon of the town plat, went into partnership with him.

now stands. Very little else than

the above mentioned occurred this fall in the way of building up or improving the place. In 1857 or 1858, the first death that of a child of F. Gill occurred here. In 1860, J. T. Barrium and Leman Bartlett bought out Mr. Spencer and opened a wellfilled store. They remained here about six years, doing a very extensive business, selling goods and buying and shipping produce of all kinds. About 1860, S. H. Vedder put in an appearance here and bought out Mr. Worthington, then Worthington went to Madison, where his son Worthington afterward distinguished himself as the finest penman in the United States. Within a year or two, Mr. Vedder moved his goods and set up in a small building just west of the Simpson Hotel, where he remained until he sold

—

and left. About this time, Mr. Spencer, who sold to Barnurn & Bartlett, opened a cabinet-shop the first in town. This business he continued a few years, then sold and departed like the rest. lames Simpson, son of the proprietor of the Simpson building, brought in a few goods at one

—

•

time, probably about 1862, but did not continue long in

trade, either because goods or buyers were wanting. In 1865, W. II. Hamilton bought out Mr. Vedder, before mentioned, and enlarged the former business by taking A. Wilcox in partnership with him. They conducted the business together until November of the above year, then dissolved, Mr. Wilcox coming out (so to speak) at the small end of the horn, for, in return for. the SI, Mill which he invested, he had to take decayed obligations against worthless parties, and such materials as he could squeeze out of the failing institution. His experience but illustrates the efforts and failures of scores of men who think they have but to invest money to get a return. That they always do get returns is certain, but, alas, how sold. nil do they inert heir e\:pecta tiolis. n >ecember of the above \ ear 865 D. >. >a\ ies. who began bis business career here as a clerk, ami who had worked for both Vedder and Hamilton, bought oul the latter, taking a brother into partnership, and launched his first mercantile crafl as commander and salesman. They opened in the old Simpson House (before mentioned), where they carried on the business, receiving a good patronage, until the night of the 11th and 12th of March, 1867, when they were burned out, at a considerable loss, and bad their worst experience of the uncertainty of preserving combustible material from the rapacity of the fire fiend. The goods that were saved were moved temporarilj into a shoe-store, but recently built by Mr. Hurly, where they did business This was commenced immediately after the fire, and was until the present store was erected. pushed rapidly to completion, being finished ready for occupancy by July of 1867. During that t

SAUK COUNTY.

1IISTOKY OF

647

were moved in, and hero D. D. Davies, who purchased his brother's interest Mr. Davies is now the oldest regular merchant January 27, 1870, continues to do business. here, having dealt out goods constantly for about twenty years, and having won the goodwill majority of the people in this vicinity. extensive from, the patronage of, and an In 1867, B. D. Strong built the present hotel, the Park, which tonus an addition to the Wind, original building, and far outrivaling ils predecessor in size, convenience and good looks. fire and flood aside, this is undoubtedly, with its landlord, one of the permanent fixtures of the place, and indeed, Spring Green without B. V Strong would be like France without the French, the wag would be missed. or a dog without a tail An anecdote or two connected with Mr. Strong's career, as a representative man in this was section, when he the first business man, ami where he has lived so many years, must not be omitted, tor the history of the village could not otherwise be considered complete In 1872, he was 'elected member of the State Senate, and, during the winter following, on the very .last day of the session, a bill, making certain appropriations for use on the Chippewa tnc nth. their goods

—

River at Eau Claire, came up before the House of Representatives just previous to the bill on necessary general appropriations; consequently, it had to be acted upon at once, and was passed, The to give time for appropriations, the House deciding to let the Senate kill it, if it must die. Senate were considerate enough to pass the bill on appropriations first, then proceeded to net on This bill was, for various reasons, objected to by several of the Senators, who were the other.

When it came before the chamber, who determined to stop it, but they were in the minority. acted as a committee of the whole, four of the opposing party decided, as there was only five or So one after another spoke, until the last man, six hours remaining to the session, to talk it out. He began, and B. U. Strong, took the floor, with about one hour and a half of talk before him. gently discussed the question, diverging solemnly as the theme progressed, until one could hardly have told whether the speech was about the pyramids of Egypt, the dells of the Chippewa, the raising of hoop-poles, the curing of the epizootic, getting out sawdogs or what-not; yet on. and irresistibly on, it went, slowly but surely beating time all to flinders, and as surely beating the fir stop him they could not." and, as lie had the floor fairly, they could not rule him opposition down. While the big talk was yet deluging them, in fully rounded periods, without cessation or So the bill went diminution, the hour of midnight arrived, and the session must needs close. :

quietly to rest (for a time), and thus ended one of the moat celebrated speeches ever

made

Madison. Mr. Strong is as hearty a landlord as one needs to meet, but, nevertheless, he does not care to entertain drunken persons. Not very long ago a chap, several seas over, came in and asked to be shown the washroom of the hotel. Mr. Strong said, rather gruffly, " This is not a hotel, I '." !" " Well, it's a " if it ain't a hotel, then what is it ?" " Not a hotel reckon the fellow asked schoolhouse, I guess, and there (pointing to Prof. De La Matyr) is the school-teacher," said Strong. The man withdrew, squinting at the " Park Hotel " sign, and loath to believe his eyes eived him. or that one could call a hotel a schoolhouse. In 1866 or 1867, Ed McMahon erected a small building on Block 11, facing Jefferson He continued to do business here until his death. This was ind opened a tin J shop. probably the first tin-shop in the place. During the above time, H. Whities put up a building on Block 11, as above, to be used as a saloon. In 1868, it passed into the hands of William Austin, who shortly after purchased a stock of auction goods and opened a store, which he operated until 1877, then removed to Holland. The building has since been used for various purposes; at present, it is occupied by ;

George Harrison for a harness-shop. In 186b', Alonzo Wilcox built on Block 11, fronting on Lexington street, and opened a shoeIn 1870, he closed out his business ami rented the building; then, about a year after, sold it to E. II. Newell. Mr. Newell opened with a stock of dry goods and groceries, hut did not flourish, so to speak, for we find that, about two years since, the business came to an untimely end. The stock had been absorbed, while debts were accumulating, which is but the common store.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

64*

history of business ventures, and, as is generally the case, the business was closed

by creditors.

Mr. Newell is now in Nebraska. In 1866, the firm of Farington & Kifer bought out Barnard & Bartlett, and, in 1872, erected the only brick edifice in town, on the northwest corner of Block 19. Subsequently, Kifer became sole proprietor of the business and property, which he sold to J. D. Phelps in*1875. In the spring of 1879, the property passed into the hands of S. M. Harris. This purchase included the lot, stores and warehouses. In October, 1879. the old store burned down, and with it was destroyed a quantity of tin and hardware, stock and fixtures, the property of H. B. Dewey, who was thereby incontinently cleaned out of a good business. The spot is marked by the remains of the old cellar wall, the only evidences of a fire to be seen in the place. E. P. Newell and D. R. Phelps erected a fair-sized building in 1865 or 1866, on Block 19, facing Jefferson street, and opened a general assortment store. Two years after, finding they had not enough room, they enlarged the building, making it much larger. At present, it is the third in size among the business houses in the place. Soon after the building had been enlarged, Mr. Phelps sold his interest to E. H. Newell, brother of E. P. Newell. The new firm did not run long together before another change was made, E. B. Newell becoming sole proprietor. He continued the business successfully until his death, in 1872 or 1873, then Thomas Hill, his sonin-law, became administrator. Under his management, the business was unprofitable, and finally, in 1877, matters came to stand, the creditors of the institution demanding a settlement a settlement was effected by E. H. Newell, who re-opened the store, only to close out the business within a year. The building was soon after engaged by D. H. Finkleston, who is now conducting a general business. In 1867, J. N. Finn and C. W. Finn built on Block 11, fronting Lexington street, and opened a grocery and confectionery stoi e. In 1872, J. N. Finn purchased his brother's interest, and has continued the business up to this date, this being the second-oldest establishment in the village. Mr. Finn is a very respectable citizen, having held some position of public trust regularly since the incorporation of the village. The Town Clerk's office is kept here by him at ;

present.

During the above year, M. F. Hurley erected his building in Block 11, facing Jefferson and opened a store and shoe-shop, which he still continues. Mr. Hurly, it appears from the village record, is a man whom the people respect and largely trust with the management of

street,

public affairs, he having been President of the board several times, and important offices repeatedly.

having held other

Some time during the war, probably about 1864, John Whiteman built on the southwest corner of Block 11, and opened a confectionery store or something of the kind. This he conducted until 1868, when Conrad Zilg bought him out, and enlarged the building and converted it into a hotel, running it as such for nine or ten years. It is now used by him for a private dwelling. In 1*67. John Hollenback came here and built on Block 11, fronting on Lexington street, and started a grocery and confectionery store. About two years after, he moved away, and,

subsequently, M. Zangle purchased the property and opened a saloon, which is yet in operation, M. Xonker being the present owner. During the above year, on July 4, the village indulged in a grand celebration, which, although not the first, was by far (according to all the reports) the biggest genuine demonstration of the kind ever gotten up in this part of the county. The sum of $125 were expended to hire a band to come from Madison, and other tilings in keeping were provided, and Spring Green fairly reveled in the delights and glories of our national anniversary. Fathers, brothers and sons felt gallant and lirave; mothers, sisters and daughters happy and proud, while that youthful cion of liberty, the small boy with torpedo and cracker, vindicated the cause of

independence to his heart's content. The harness-shop on Block 18, facing on Jefferson street, was built about 1868. It is the property of A. C. Daley. It has been occupied by several different parties at various times, and is at present used by A. C. Scheble.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

— During

649

which was This may be considered the first, regular furniture and undercompleted and stocked by 1879. taker store located here. The establishment is now conducted under the firm name of E. George & Son. Mr. George had a lumber-yard at one time also. The Gerber Brothers bought out and carried on the old Pound & Dike store from 1869 Since to 1871, then S. M. Harris carried on business in the old place from 1*72 to 1879. In this conthat time, it has been occupied by Miss E. Macklin for a millinery establishment. nection it may be mentioned that Mrs. Wyman was the first one to carry on a regular millinery

1868

George came here and began

this year. E.

his present building,

establishment, that is so necessary to the happiness, if not comfort, of the fair sex. Miss James has done a millinery business here for about ten years.

Also, a

This afterWitzel built a wagon-shop on Block 18, facing on Jefferson street, in 1876. ward passed int.. the hands of Christopher Scholl, who fitted it up for a shoe-shop. The liberty-pole was erected during the above year. It stands near the center of the vilJ.

looming up to a height of ninety-five feet, and is, beyond a doubt, the straightest and handsomest pole in the county. In fact, it is very seldom that one will meet with anything like as perfect a pole for one so tall. The people are justly proud of it. Dr. Pelton's Hotel, that stands facing the south end of Lexington street, is ons of the old stands, the doctor having been here operating in the capacity of physician and mine host for lage,

nearly fifteen years. to anything until after the village charter was The chief object of the people in getting the charter was to so arrange their and judicial affairs that they could receive the benefit of the taxes paid for road purposes, by applying the money to the village streets and walks. Now. good walks are to be found on the business streets, and many of the side streets are also provided with walks. In 187'.'. S. M. Harris, one of the most energetic of the business men here, opened in the brick store previously spoken of. This is a well-kept store, and its proprietor does a large business, especially in shipping. The following report shows the amount of his last year's shipments Wheat, 27. ODD bushels: rye, 6,400 bushels: oats. 9,600 bushels; butter. 13,890 pounds poultry, 4,500 pounds egg's, 9,890 dozen; hoop-poles, 136,000. Paid the railroad freight bills to the amount of $7,300. Mr. Finklestine also buys large quantities of produce. His shipments for last year were rye, 2,400 bushels; oats, 3,000 Wheat. 17,600 bushels There is not much bushels; butter, 31,029 pounds; eggs, 10,710 dozen; hoop- poles, 65,000. buying and shipping outside of these two firms, unless it be hops, hogs and beef cattle, which are purchased partly by non-resident buyers. The amount of sales of merchandise made here now annually will probably average about $100,000, and perhaps more. The above representation is certainly as fair a showing of prosperity as can be made by anyplace of eipial size in this vicinity, and it is only to be wished for all concerned that the place may live long and prosper more and more. In 1876, George Sweet and Byron Pelton erected a building for a planing-mill and grinding feed. It was moved, about three years since, from its first location to its present situation. This is the only mill, either for planing or grinding, that has ever been built here, and the amount of that kind of business to be done here does not warrant the erection of another. After Mr. Zilg closed the hotel, J. Zilg & Co., the present firm, was formed, and in 1880, This is their huge double store, which stands on the northwest corner of Block 1*. was built. the largest store building in town, and is stocked exclusively with a fine assortment of hardware. Previous to the above, in 1877. A. P. McDonald purchased the vacant corner where the old Simpson Hotel stood, which was burned in 1867, and put up the present building and opened

There were no sidewalks here to amount

secured in 1869. fiscal

;

a saloon.

A. M. Dye opened the first watch-maker's and jewelry establishment, during the above Before that time, the general stores kept whatever was to be had in the line of gold, silver, plate or pinchbeck, and. probably, clocks and watches as well. How a village so well reg-

year.

ulated could have gotten on so long without a watchmaker, remains a mystery.

A large wagon,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

650

blacksmith and paint shop was erected in 1879, on Block 18, facing Jefferson street, by J. Bettinger, where the principal business in those lines is now done.

VILLAGE HALL.

The elections were held here

rented from B. U. Strong, until 1869, when the Village Hall scheme, which had been discussed for some time, came to the point where the building was started and completed. The building is of frame, 26x60 feet, and two stories high. The lower story is divided into Police Justice room, ante-room and two cells for criminals, which seem to be strong enough to hold the most desperate of characters. The upper story, which is reached by a flight of stairs winding up through a graceful tower, is fitted up in a very tasty manner for all general public gatherings. The building is finished and furnished throughout in a very thorough manner. It cost, complete, about $2,575, and is especially noticeable on account of its architectural beauty and perfect adaptation to the use for which it is intended. The most casual observer cannot escape observing this building, and instituting comparisons between it and buildings devoted to similar purposes in other portions of the country, in places of even greater pretensions than this. in a house

The lumber yard was started here as early as 1858, by a Mr. Mears, and about this time, H. Celleyhan had a yard. Soon after, A. Walrath was engaged in the business. Then King & McKutchen took hold of the business, in connection with their produce buying. In 1865, Wilcox & Hamilton were engaged in the trade, and. two years after. E. George and C. L. Daley took hold of it. Mr. George withdrew from the business and left Mr. Daley sole possessor of the field, which he still remains. Mr. Daley is one of the oldest business men in the place, having been engaged in trade here since the village was in its infancy. also,

TEMPERANCE

[SSUES, PAST AND PRESENT.

At an early day. the temperance sentiment in this section, among many of the people, was very strong, while, on the other hand, liquor-drinking proclivities with some were exceptionally strong. The first one to open a shop for the sale of forty-rod killer copper-distilled dew, was a chap by the name of Jacob Comeen, who came here about 1856 or 1857 and opened up near the Jake, as he was called, rapidly developed a first-class groggery, which became the nightly and Sunday rendezvous for every loafer in the locality. From being had at first, it soon became a perfect nuisance, until, finally, the better class of people in the village ami country decided to end the business. An opportunity to carry out their designs was soon offered, by the coming of a two penny jack-o'-lantern show, winch Jake went to see, leaving an open tield for operations. When Jacob returned, the metamorphosis that met his eyes must have given his nerves a greater shock than the biggest dose of fusel oil, strychnine, stramonium and the like, that he had ever swallowed, for there, without a good or sufficiently apparent reason, was Ins liquor being licked up. house and all. by lire the thirsty flames fairly dancing over the destruction, with the eager fury and delighf thai is supposed to possess the spirits of demons when the ruin of some poor human soul is accomplished, and he becomes the willing eastern railroad crossing.

slave of alcohol.

With the destruction of his stock. Comeen took his departure, ami. for a time.

were tree from the whisky evil-. This immunity did not hist long, however, for man by the name of Mullen erected another temple to Bacchus in the village, ami very soon the former condition of things wa s re-established, and. perhaps, even to a 'hi. \i anj rate, the nuisance soon became intolerable to a large portion of the lawabiding inhabitants, and. of course, the next step was to give the institution the grand bounce. This was effected one night while the proprietor was out. hut the means taken were not quite so although fully as effectual. The business was upset by upsetting the shop. It was unceremoniously laid on its side, like a trunk ticketed to leave on the next train, or waiting to be moved. The invitation to subside was duly heeded by the dispenser of lightning nectar, and thus ended the second saloon. the

people

within a

veai- after, a

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

,;:'l

For many years subsequent to this, a majority of the people kept up a high temperance But, as the years multiplied, sentiment, and maintained a nourishing lodge of Good Templars Also, saloons have long been in operation, the interest subsided, until now there is no lodge. \ but the business is now conducted according to law, and in a comparatively quiet manner liberal license is exacted, which is used, when obtained, according to certain charter provisions, by the village authorities for making and maintaining street improvements and such Other village purposes as may be deemed necessary. Spring Green has had its newspapers, and the newspapers have had their day of shortAs for the lived mediocrity, unfortunately for the place, for a good paper is needed here. Suffice it to say. he is almost tun editor, the annals of ihis history ran scarcely do him justice. well known here and elsewhere to need mention.

Spring Green has a couple that, it is supposed quite naturally, are not very happily united, considering developments. Doubtless, any one who witnessed the division of a feather-bed, in the hands of said parties, not so very long ago, just outside of the door on a windy day, must have been struck with surprise to see that which floated away so lightly, remain down, and. further more, it is solemnly asserted that at one time in the fracas, a knock-down or pull-down was highly imminent.

However, the feathers were ventilated and that downy bed is now no more forever.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school of District No. '2 was taught in the old log schoolhouse on Section 7. long Many years before the previous to the residence here of any of the present townspeople. first graduates of the present excellent high school had learned their a-b abs, the old loghouse, with us high wooden benches ami knife-hacked desks, had turned out its graduates in readin', Then Sander's. Maguffy's or the old English Reader and the Pennsylvania ritin' and spellin'. or Cobb's Speller, furnished literary pabulum for the minds of ambitious or lazy tyros in the field of literature. All the world was then described by Olney's. or some other ancient geography, that told big stories about the unexplored portions of this country, and the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Chocktaws, Sioux, Seminoles, etc.; then Papa Murray's syntax and prosody (the first really scientific grammatical production) was freely ground into the rebellious craniums of the unappreciative youth, who liked the good old way of saying, " 1 seen.'' rather saw." and when it was. as now, much easier to understand the verb love, with the prothan " noun prefixed, than in any other form. Ami who among the old folks can forget the peculiar vocal struggles that, were then required, when words of six or seven syllables were spelled, and and every syllable pronounced, and added on to the string consecutively like a row of buttons Oh shades of Archimedes, Euclid and Cocker How far thy mighty the terrible rule of three. thoughts have penetrated, and how many weary hours have been spent over thy problems. The old log house is gone, and the system of education then followed is now a thing of the past. So the old continually gives place to the new. as the sands of time run out. After the village had gotten fairly started on its course of development, the first schoolhouse was built on the lot occupied by the present building, which was presented to the public for this purpose by the proprietors of the village plat. In 1862, the roof of this building was raised, another full story being added to furnish the room nece-san to accommodate the largely This schoolhouse was the only public school building in the vilincreased number of pupils. lage until the erection of the present commodious edifice, hut. according to the arrangements made with the preceptor in the old academy, a certain number were taken in there from the district school, each year, for instruction in the higher branches of education. In ISTA. the academy having closed and the means of instruction being totally inadequate to the demands of the place ami locality, a proposition was submitted to the voters of tin- town 1

of Spring Green

the meeting, to make an appropriation of funds for the purpose oi erecting

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

652

such a high-school building as would furnish ample educational facilities for the entire surrounding country. majority of the voters, upon ballot, were in favor of entering into the enterprise, but the town authorities failed to comply with the requirements of the law in such premises, and, consequently, the action was lost. District No. 2 then took up the matter, and, going vigorously to work, soon perfected arrangements for erecting the present fine structure. The building was constructed by Mr. Cory, of Madison, and cost, when finished complete, the snug sum of $5,500. It was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1876, and opened under the best of auspices and with a large number of outside pupils. Architecturally considered as a school building, there appears to be nothing lacking the rooms are large, lofty, well lighted and well ventilated, and the exterior, in simplicity and elegance of design, is in perfect keeping with the interior. There are three departments, each being supplied with appropriate recitation rooms

;

and first-class modern furniture.

The people in this vicinity hold this school any public school in the State

high estimation, believing it to be the equal

and not without good reason, for, according to reports on of any other in the amount of outside patronage which it has received from the very start. The first year's receipts from outsiders were $582.58 the second year, $540.37 the third year, $588.67. The price of tuition is 50 cents per week, or $6 a quarter, what is usually charged by academical schools. Prof. De La Matyr, the principal now in charge, has been teaching here since the high school was opened, and the real excellence and popularity of the school is doubtless due more to his excellent management and instruction than to any other cause. The salary of the Principal is $1,200 per annum, nearly half of which is paid by the regular outside receipts. The old academy was in its day a flourishing institution here, around which lingers yet, in the memories of old pupils, many a kindly recollection. It was located at first at Richland City, and to the fall and decay of that emporium of a sister county. Spring Green was chiefly indebted for the establishment of the academy here. Prof. Silsby commenced the school in 1861, in the old blue store built by Worthington and partner, but, very soon after, it was removed to another unused building, standing on Block 10, facing Lexington street, now used for a harness-shop. In the meantime, several of the prominent citizens had interested themselves and furnished cash and help, and had taken down and moved the academy building from Richland City, and re-erected it where it now stands, at an expense of about $500. With this favorable send-oft", and with a liberal patronage, the school " started, but did not continue long under Mr. Silsby 's direction, for the sound of " To arms! that was then ringing through the land, started the war fever to raging in his veins, and. like thousands oi other brave fellows, he left home, friends and everything, to espouse bis country's cause. The school district then purchased the building from him, paying him $700 for it. They then employed J. II. Turvey, who was subsequently County Superintendent of Schools, to teach, paying him a certain sum for teaching district scholars and whatever he could get foi teaching others. After be had been here four years, another arrangement was entered into with him, by which he was bound to keep the academy running a certain number of years, and by which lie became the owner of the institution. Mr. Turvey continued the school about ten years, then closed it, owing to want of proper patronage. It is now occupied for a private dwelling-house, and probably will never more resound to " Veni, vidi, vici," and •' "I'is education makes the common mind." of

;

public schools, this institution is the equal

;

THE POST OFFICE. The post office »:is first kept by Mr. West, then by Garwood Green, in the depot, and was opened as early as L856-J 57. In 1859, it passed into Worthington's charge: then, in 1860, S. II. Vedder came and took the office, holding it until 1864-65, when \V. II. Hamilton became Postmaster. From him it was transferred. December 23, 1865, to D. 1). Davies, who has since held it.

HISTORY OF sack col Xl'V.

653

EXPRESS COMPANY. M. Vedder was the first express -men t here when he left, F. Lacy was appointed then, The first express company was the United 1868, it passed into the hands of D. D. Davies. States. But, soon after Mr. Davies' appointment, a competitor appeared in the field in the perAfter running opposition for a short son of G. F. Pound, as agent for the Merchants' Union. II. 11. Johnson, who is now agent, succeeded Mr. time, the United States Company withdrew. Since he 1ms been in office, a change lias been made, the United States Company taking Pound. this station and the Merchants' Union going to another. S.

;

3EC1 LAB

Masons.

— A dispensation was

the officers being as follows:

first

SOCIETY

USD CHURCHES.

granted to Lodge No. 212. F.

& A M., in May. l^T'-

B. Dewy, W. S. M. Harris. S. W.. and P. II. Parsons, under dispensation until June, 1880, when a charter was granted. 11.

The lodge contii W. There were fifteen charand the lodge regularly organized by P. A. Daggett, Acting G. M. ter members, who elected the following officers: S. M. Harris. W. M.; P. II. Parsons. S. W.; H. R. Johnson, J. W.; J. G. Slyter, Treas.; J. 1!. Mabbett, See.: W. A. De La Matyr, S. !>.; The lodge has a good hall, well furnished, and is in a J. S. Slyter. J. D.; S. L. Davis. Tiler.

flourishing condition.

—

'''i)</rr</ii/i<i)iiif Church. A society was first organized here February 15, 1859, in the old schoolhouse, Rev. Mr. Benton, of Richland City, and the Rev. D. L. Noyes, being the officiating ministers. The first members were D. L. Noyes. 1!. V Strong and wife, Dr. C. T. Hubbard, .

wife and two daughters. P. West and wife. M. B. West and W. C. Spaulding. Dr. Hubbard The Rev. Noyes remained with was elected Deacon, and P. West Secretary and Treasurer. the society until December, 1862, when the Rev. J. Silsby took the pastorate, lie was sucHe was followed by the ceeded by the Rev. Jonathan Jones, who came October 22, 1864. Rev. Mr. Cochran, who entered upon his duties December 4 of the above year. During his pastorate, in the year

s <>7. the

church was built, at

a cost

of $1,200.

After the Rev. Cochran,

came the Rev. .Mr. Pullen, in 1872. 1^T.">. when the Rev. He remained until December II. Smith was called. The pulpit is now supplied by the Rev. Mr. Stoddart, of Boscobel. Of the first members, none but B. U. Strong and wife are left. There are now about forty members. lliplist Society. The first meeting of the Baptist denomination was held at the schoolhouse in 1869, the Rev. William Phillips, a Welshman, being the preacher. This preacher, who lived at Wilson's Creek, came regularly afterward for about a year before a society was formed: then a regular class was organized, consisting of thirteen members. In 1871, Rev. Enoch Prouty and family came. After they had been here about a year, the little society set to work to build a church. The church was built in 1872, but not completely finished. In the spring of L873, Dr. William H. Brisbane was called to the pastorate. During this season, the •">.

(

—

church was finished all but painting, at a cost of $600. Dr. Brisbane remained until his death. in 1878. Since that time, services have been held irregularly, students from Madison and itinerant ministers being the supply. The church is free from debt. MethoJisI /•J/i/si-o/>iil Church. The first class of the Methodist Episcopal Church here was organized by John J. Walker, as nearly as can he learned, about 1861. The first membership was fourteen souls, all told. They began by holding their meetings in the schoolhouse. Rev. Walker served one year; then Rev. J. C. Brainard came and remained two years. During his pastorate a revival was held, which resulted in making five converts, who were admitted to "\' full membership. The parsonage was built while he served, at a cost about $900, $200 of which was paid oft' only this last year. The next preacher was Rev. R. Could, who served but a year, with no material advancement shown. After him. Rev. A. G. Cooly came and remained a year, two additions being made to the society while he was here. He was followed by J. Thomas Pryor, who served two years. During his time revivals were held at different points, and large numbers were converted and joined the church here and elsewhere. The succeeding

—

654

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

After he came, in 1868, the organiPastor was Rev. William R. Irish he served two years. zation was forbidden to use the schoolhouse any longer, and, to supply a temporary place of Quite a worship, a rough board shanty, capable of seating about 150 persons, was erected. number were taken into the church at this time. Rev. Henry J. Walker came next, in 1870, During his pastorate, in 1871, the present church was erected and and remained two years. The church finished, and was dedicated on the 4th of February, 1872, by Rev. D. VV. Couch. is 36x54, without entries and recess; it is a frame, veneered with white brick and built on stone has windows. It and stained-glass handsome foundation. It is very neatly finished and seated, has also belfry and good bell. The parsonage and barn are in a good state of repair, and, taking The cosl of the whole church property here into account, it is one of the best in the county. During the time the church was being built, a diffithe church is $4,500, as it stands to-day. culty arose between the principal members ami the Pastor with reference to the building, which This moveultimately caused an open rupture, and about fourteen of the leading members left. ment so crippled the resources of the church that, at the dedication, there was an indebtedness time were taken, purporting this subscriptions to At against the church of $2,200. standing be enough to pay the debt, but, in the event, many of the parties failed to pay, there ben Extension Eventually, the Methodist Episcopal little more than one-half of the $2,200 paid. But, notwithstanding this aid and Society gave $400 toward paying the debt and loaned 8:10(1. what was paid by subscribers, in 1879, through the accumulation of interest and the mismanagement of funds, the church was yet in debt $2,00(1, hut finally, during that year, under the managemenl of the Rev. D. Clingman, the whole amount was canceled, leaving the property The three lots, a 'quarter of Block 4, were donated by the original entirely free from debt. ;

owners of the village plat. Rev. Robert Smith succeeded Rev. H. J. Walker in the fall of 1872, and served one year. He was followed by James T. Bryant, who served from L873 to 1875. After him, Rev. E. T. Then Briggs was appointed and served one year, a few additions being made to the church. Rev. S. W. Haigh served from 1876 to 1878, without any material change being made in the He has succeeded, during church affairs. In L878, the Rev. D. Clingman came to thecharge. his service, in restoring order where confusion prevailed, and has left the church in a healthy There are now thirtyfinancial condition and also made various improvements in the property. There are, besides, at the two members in good standing in connection with the chinch here. present time, six regularly organized classes in connection with this charge, located in various parts of the county adjacent to this point.

TORY OF SAUK COUNTY

CHAPTER

XIV.

Town of Spring Jreen—Tov x 01 Troy—Town of Bear !reek—Town 01 Franklin -Town Honey Creek- Tow n of Merrimai k—Town of Prairie dtj Sa< Town oi Sumter. <

town of spring green. Spring Green is located in the extreme southern part of the county. On the smith, it is bordered by the Wisconsin; on the north, by the towns of Bear Creek and Franklin; on the West, by Richland County, and on the east by the town of Troy. This town is, in great part, one of the best farming districts in the county, a large portion of the lands being well adapted, in every respect, to gram and stock raising. The south half is almost entirely level, while the northern portion is very bluffy, and, on the southern face, very sterile. The bluff district is intersected by numerous valleys, which are usually occupied by farms. The prinThe soil is varicipal of these are the Wilson Creek Valley, Big Hollow and Mondago Valleys. able through the town near the river it is generally sandy, but, as we approach the bluffs, passing north over what by many is considered the head of an ancient mammoth stream, we come to a very Tin' town ot

;

fertile soil, consisting chiefly

and sand, and, in the

of rich alluvial deposits.

valleys, a rich,

The soil of the hills is principally clay

dark loam, mixed, in

many instances, with sand washed

The various farm products common to this county, excepting fruits, are raised

from the hills. here in abundance.

but corn and In the more sheltered districts, winter wheat is largely sown raising spring grains are chiefly raised. An industry which is yet comparatively in its infancy being largely pursued here, and, as the soil and climate are well adapted to its is sorghum ;

—

growth and perfect maturing, the probabilities are that

this will

—

become one of the chief indus-

Hop-raising is also followed here, but to a limited extent only, as the general low price of the article at present and excessive fluctuations in value which are constantly liable to occur, beside- the cost of raising a crop, prevent anything like extensive investments in this work. The

tries.

time has been when hop-raising was the great thing to engage in to make money; then, afterward, as nearly all of the farmers too well know, it became the great avenue for losing money, and. as a result, nearly till of those who made money in them lost what they made, and more too, before they were satisfied to stop. The town is not so well watered with small streams as some of the adjacent towns, but among the bluft's there may be found a good many choice springs. On Spring Green Prairie there are to be seen evidences of a former stream that flowed from east to west, and which would add greatly to the value of the adjacent lands .and lie materially beneficial if it were here now. During the summer, the channel that this stream pursued can be easily traced by the crops growing on it and along its border, as in the center of the channel the growth is but little more than half as strong as on the borders and beyond. The town is well supplied with prehistoric remains and various geological features interesting alike to the archaeologist and scientist, and that must be seen to be fully appreciated. One rather singular discovery or development we particularly mention, as it shows how enormous must have been the changes that have been wrought in the condition and topography of the country within a few hundred years: Mr. X. Mood, of Hood's Valley, while digging a well, These found fallen timber and shell at a distance of fifty or sixty feet beneath the surface. remains were so old that when brought to the surface they immediately resolved into dust. The timber supply is very fair, although not so good as in some localities. There are no creameries or butter factories in town, and probably no regular dairies, although the country is

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

656

There is some fine stock well adapted to stock-raising, for cheese and butter-making purposes. being bred here, but the majority raised are hogs and cattle, solely for the butchers' market.

Settlement and Development. The first settler to come into this section of the county was Charles Wilson, who settled in The first one to locate in this town, according to the what is now known as the town of Troy. best accounts, was a Mr. Turner, who came about 1841 or 1842 and laid claim to what has long Reports regarding Mr. Turner been known as the old Thomas Williams place, on Section 18. It is only known that he came at that time, and that are very meager of reliable information. ho died soon after from the effects of sunstroke. This was probably the first death in town, and His occurred before any of the present residents had come, so many will know nothing of it. wife was the first woman in town, and, when he died, was left alone among the Indians with a sin, .11

child to care for.

Very soon and we learn

after

Mr. Turner's death, Thomas Williams came, probably as early as 1*42. many months had passed, he had wooed and won the widow Turner.

that, ere

What sort of a marriage ceremony was performed, or how many presents were given, and guests Whether the traditional broomstick came into play, or what was present, remains unknown. done, conjecture only can explain. Shortly after Mr. Williams' arrival, Evan Jones and family of two sons and two daughters settled here on the banks of the river, a little southwest of where the village of Spring Green At stands. Mr. Jones started in with the intention of building up a town, but signally failed. one time, three men from the East came here on a prospecting expedition, and proposed to purThe place, such as it was. was chase Mr. Jones' claim and start a place, but he would not sell.

A very sad calamity befell a portion of Mr. Jones' family not long after A son and two daughters were out riding one day in a canoe on the Wisconsin, when, through some unexplained cause, the frail vessel upset, and they were drowned. Mr. Jones remained here several years, and his remaining son, Thomas, afterward opened This was the first store in this section of the a store, probably as early as 1846 or 1847. Before, the people had either to go to Prairie du Sac, Richland City, or over into countv. known as Jonesville. their coming.

Iowa County I'm' needed commodities. \lioui 'thi- time, the first post office

was established there, with Mr. Thomas Jones as Post-

master. T. J. Morgans came into the town as early as |s| I. an d settled. Mr. Morgans now lives in the town of Franklin, ami is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, settler in the southwestern part of the county.

Another of the early settlers was E. Goodell, a hunter, who made a claim on Section 7, Goodell, like the majority of hunting characters, was not a person near Spring Grei a Village. in gather moss, consequently be went West with the tide of emigration. is said It The Davidson family, Ed, Oramel and William, came in as early as 1846. that one of these brothers supplied the early settlers with the first blacksmith-shop, but, as a he much iron" fortune ••from the forge out a not did he say, cotemporary historian might

hammered. To enumerate consecutively all of

the different early settlers, ami give the dates of their would be next to an impossibility, ami. besides, it is nol necessarily some essential or proper, as very many of the first comer- left very soon after their arrival, going farther West ami others returning to Eastern homes thai they deemed themselves foolish \| w hen the country was new, miasmatic conditions prevailed largely on the prairie, "('hills ami lever are always a sure source of misery to the most determined and hope so ii is not to be wondered at that people were fi,]. and will quell tie- most ardent enthusiasm

arrival

entirely

correct,

;

coming and going constantly, and I

went.

that but

feu Btayed

proportion to the total

number that

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

t>57

An old assessment roll of 1850 furnishes the following names, some of whom are yet living on the prairie, and nearly all of them enjoying the fruits of early industry ami economy, as is There were, besides some of those already attested by their large farms ami comfortable homes. mentioned, Amos Mercer, James Watson. Smith Love, James Cass. Samuel Huntly, Evan Evans, Daniel Williams, .1. Dalley, J. R. Louis. William Parry, William Bower, II. Anderson,

John Oleson, Daniel Evans, William Barnard. J. Y. McKee, Andrew Bear, Thomas E. Jones, D. B. Young, John Jones, Robert McCune, William Ecker, Alvin Parton, D. Jones. Isaac Blake, George and James Coon, Andrew Rutherford, James Thomas and James Werden. This gives about all that were residents of the town as early as 1850.

To describe fully the extreme deprivations that were endured by many of the people here at an early day, would require a volume of no mean size and that would be intensely interesting, In a general way, none were exempt from bitter experiences, which the following account of Mr. Amos Mercer, if true as given by others, will fully illustrate. It is said, after he had planted some potatoes one season, probably the first, he was obliged to dig them up again for food. At another time, a letter came to Richland City for him, but he had not money to pay {'or bread, aside from the 25 cents postage, and, had not one of those generous souls that have brightened the earth in all ages, lent him $5, he might have been reduced to a worse condition than having to dig up potato seed. These early struggles were but the clouds of the past, that obscured the sun of to-day, and that have served a useful purpose in creating a thorough appreciation of present blessings.

The

first

physician here was a Welshman, Dr. Evans, who came before 1850, and, it is After him came Drs. Hubbard and Davies. James Coon (given abov He came at a time when the horses were principally of the horned

said, died not long after.

was the first horse doctor. variety.

As before mentioned, Thomas Jones kept the first post office. After him the brothers Alfred and Fred Gill, who started a store at Jonesville very early, kept it. Then in the spring of 1855, the Rev. J. Davies took it. ami from here it was transferred to the village Thomas Williams and a man by the name of Teuton also opened a store in the town about This establishment afterward broke up in a row, which eventually had to be settled by L850. the neighbors, who met at Dr. Davies and smoothed out the ruffled feathers. as

A saloon was started by a man by the name <>f Anderson, on corner of Section 7. as early This institution furnished liquor to the county until Spring Green Village 1850 to 1851.

came to the rescue, then it subsided. The first road over the prairie ran from Helena Ferry to Richland

And

ferry that

Aha Culver,

as earl\ as

crossed

City. the river in this section of the county was a scow boat, run by

1841, between Helena and this town.

Mr. Culver also boarded die hands of the

shot-tower.

A schoolhouse was built

the town as early as 1848 or 1849, on Section 7, nearh lives. The first teacher was. as nearly as can be ascertained.

where E. W. Evans now Miss Millie Cass; the next, Thomas Watson. The summer of 1850, there were twenty-eight pupils going to this school, Mrs. S. Love being the teacher. The early settlers throughout the county were as often in an early day the victims id' various swindling schemes, as now. Cue of the child' methods pursued by rascals was to claim the improved farms of settlers, stating that they had first purchased them." In some instances took well, but in others it failed most completely, as the following show g )ne day, about 18.37, a nicely dressed chap drove through the county making inquiries for lands, and showing certain numbers on ivory tablets, and among the rest the numbers of Mr. Mercer's tine farm were shown. Mr. Mercer, hearing of this, prepared for war. declaring if he showed his face on his premises, he would kill him. The fellow, learning how kind a reception awaited him. site to

;

quickly

slid out.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

658

Nearly all localities have at some time had their literary characters. Spring Green had He was genial and often one one time in the person of a Mr. Beckwith, long since departed. invited his neighbors in to inspect his library of 300 volumes. So one day, James Watson, one of the oldest settlers here, an educated man and son of the Emerald Isle, called to see the library, when lo the 300 volumes consisted of a collection of 300 almanacs. Miners from Iowa County came here in large numbers, from 1845 to 1850, prospecting for ore, but, owing to the absence of such mineral deposits as they sought, they went away emptyhanded. Spring Green has had one suicide, which occurred ten years ago. John Evans hanged him!

self in his stable for fear of coming to want.

Also, at a very early day, there was an attempted murder, that caused the first law-suit in A Mr. Louis, who came before 1850, was shot at with a musket, the ball passing He accused a man by the name of McReady of the deed, and had him tried through his hat. before Squire O'Meara, but could prove nothing against him. The first cemetery here was opened on the old Thomas Williams place. The first one Now there are three, but one only is in use, buried here being, in all probability, Mr. Turner. It is located on Section 6. In a few years this will the others having been long abandoned. be filled also by the ashes of the departed. There is a good stone quarry in town, owned by John Beaver. It is said to be the best in

the town.

this vicinity.

About the only manufacturing pursued in town, aside from ordinary mechanical business, One, owned by J. Mann, is located about five miles west from Spring Green, and has been in operais

the making of sorghum molasses by evaporators, two of which are located in town.

for fifteen or sixteen years. The apparatus is not large, but the quality of molasses made is said to be very good. E. P. Ailing owns the other evaporator, which is situated This apparatus was only set up last year, but about a quarter of a mile south from the village. It lias a capacity for making about 100 galit is, notwithstanding, doing a very good business. This season it will run off about 2,000 gallons. lons per day. The following anecdote illustrates how the poll-tax was paid twenty-five years ago: About 1 858, a large party met in Big Hollow [now occupied by Norwegians, principally] to work out their poll-tax. The first thing the party did was to chip in and make up enough money to buy This was then scut for and brought, and also cards. When the a couple of gallons of whisky. cards and whisky came, then the labor began, which consisted in drinking, wrestling, running, jumping, boxing, card-playing, etc., until the day's work was done. A United States Coast Survey party came on to the prairie two years ago, and were stationed here several months, establishing base lines for altitudes, and also erecting signal stations, of which there are three, located at different points about three miles apart, and in the form of a

tion each season

triangle.

The first religious services were held here by the Rev. Fullerton, a Methodist itinerant, in There were but three or four young men besides the family present. The oldest religious society now existing in the town is that of the Welsh Congregational

Mr. Turner's cabin.

Church, which was organized

1850 by the Rev. William Parry,

a native of Anglesea,

North

The first membership was eighteen. The Deacons were Daniel Williams and Thomas The early meetings were held in private dwelling-houses. In the year 1855, they A Sabbath school was started during built their church, which is 30x40. and which cosl $600. The ministers that have supplied the church at difthe same vear the society was organized. ferent times were, alter Parry, Revs. John Davies, Jonathan Jones, John Jones, and now the Wales.

Williams.

Rev. William Harrison.

There are no other churches in town outside of Spring Green Village. Elections ami Management, Etc. of Honey Creek, in connection independent precinct by the County Board in 1850,

The town of Spring Green was at first a part of the town with other towns, but was set off into an

HISTOKY OF SAUK COUNTY.

659

and ut that time included a pan of the town of Troy within its limits, being about eighteen miles long by five wide. The first town meeting was convened on the 1st day of April, 1851, wlum James M. ('as-. Thomas Pound and Alex Stewart were chosen Inspectors, and .lames and Watson Thomas Wilson Clerks. Then the polls were declared open and officers elected. A tax of $150 was voted for town expenses, and 3 mills on a dollar of all taxable property for roads and 3 mills on a dollar for public schools. A road district was formed on the east end of the town [now Troy], extending east from the range line between Sections 4 and 5, and from the river to the town boundary on the north, Orison Thomas being appointed Roadmaster this meeting, that Thomas Williams should open a road It was also decided at of the same. from Helena to the big hill on the old road running up from the ferry that connected with the State road on the Iowa County side. effect

At the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors, July 5, 1851, by-laws to the following were passed, viz.: That a fence was legal, constructed of any durable materials, four and

a half feet high, with no holes through it over six Stallions were also restrained from running.

inches within

thirteen

feet of the

ground.

It is noticeable that at that tunc the principal demand of the farmers was for roads, no less than four petitions having been presented to the board at its first session for the laying-out of ones. It was a hard struggle to know who should get a road first,

new roads or changing old

and no little wire-pulling was the consequence.

In-]

The total amount of tax collected in the town this year was $528.47. The first order recorded as drawn on the town, was by Thomas Pound for $1 for serving as tor. The other Inspectors and Clerks also received pay. At the second annual meeting, held April ti. 1852, the same amount for roads and schools as at the first election, while $75 only was voted to pay town expenses. i

A road from the Wisconsin, opposite Helena, in Iowa County, was laid out to Baraboo The tax collected this year amounted to $524.70. ar. At the third annual meeting, held April 5, 1853, the taxes were put at $100 for town puriiool

tax four mills on the dollar, road tax three mills on

the dollar.

This year, a road

The town tax this year was $598.67. At the fourth annual meeting, held April 4. 1854, $200 was raised for town purposes; five mills on a dollar for schools and three mills for road also a special tax was levied to raise $100 to I'lp build a road from Madison to Prairie du Chien. At thegeneral election held October 16, 1854, there were thirty-seven votes cast $1,318.81 tax recorded this year, and the first license granted, for §10. In the evening, At the fifth annual meeting. April 3, 1855, sixty votes are recorded. after the polls were closed, eight or ten Irishmen, who were working on the railroad, came to The inspectors said the polls and demanded to vote, declaring that they should vote any way. they should not, and prepared for battle. But the foe withdrew, satisfied that it was no go. scraper was first purchased.

;

Tax raised this year, $1,298.04. At the sixth annual meeting. April 1, 1856, there were fifty-four votes cast. The taxes war were put at $125 for town purposes; road tax, seven nulls on the dollar, and ix, six mills on the dollar. At the Presidential election, 15 votes were east, of which ccuntv tax, J. C. Fremont received 97. The tax-list for 1856 stood: State tax. S-'lo:',.:;.", $325 32; school tax. $86.67; town and local taxes, $1,300.95— total, $2,016.29. At the seventh annual meeting. April 7. 1857, the number of votes cast was eighty-six: taxes voted for the ensiling year town. $125; road, three mills on the dollar, and school, seven mills on the dollar; also, $50 additional road tax to be collected in order to obtain a grant of f.r thi~

;

—

$100

from the county for said purpose.

of unruly cattle,

At the election held November year.

This year, two pounds were established for the restraint

and poundmasters elected for each. 3, fifty-one

votes were cast:

$2,159.89 tax recorded this

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

660

At the eighth annual meeting, April 6, 1858, ninety-five votes were cast.

It was voted

that three Constables be elected for the ensuing year, and that the township be divided into two At the general election held November 2, 108 votes were cast. At a meeting road districts.

of the board, November 30, it was voted that no license be granted to any one for the sale of intoxicating liquors until they have a good, substantial house for a tavern to accommodate travelers. The total amount of tax this year was $1,867.77.

Number

The ninth annual meeting, April 5, 1859, was held in Mr. Simpson's bar-room.

An appropriation of $57.74 was made for paupers. The taxes voted were of votes cast, 147. $200 for town purposes, $300 for school purposes and three mills on the dollar for roads. The tenth annual meeting, in April, 1860. Taxes voted $100 for town purposes, $300 for

—

schools,

Stamps were this year procured for the regisSeven dogs licensed

and three mills on the dollar for roads.

tering of dogs, and notice was also given that all dogs must be licensed. this year.

—

The eleventh annual meeting, April 2, 1861. Taxes voted $150 for town purposes $300 At general election, November 5, 1861, three mills on the dollar for roads. for school purposes number of votes cast for State Governor was eighty-six. At this election, seventy-four votes were cast to amend the banking law. The twelfth annual meeting, April 1, 1862 108 votes were cast at this meeting. Taxes $300 for school purposes, two mills on the dollar for roads. At general election, held Novemvoted On the question of the proposed amendment to Constitution, ber 4, number of votes cast, 113. On the amendment to banking law, sixtytwenty-seven votes were cast for and none against. ;

;

—

three were cast for ami none against. Taxes The thirteenth annual meeting, April 7, 1863. Number of votes polled, 108. voted as follows: $300 for school purposes, 1A mills on dollar for road tax, and $200 for town At a meeting held December 26, 1863, to raise money for soldiers, the whole number purposes. of votes cast

was ninety -nine, of which

fifty-five

were against raising said tax, and

fifty-five

for raising the

February 24. 1864, a special meeting was held for the purpose of raising $1,400 to pay The whole number of votes cast was 106, of which number seventy-two were for the ami thirty- four against. On the 26th day of March. L864, a special meeting was called for Whole number of votes east was the purpose of raising a tax of $1,600 to pay volunteers. ninety-six, of which fifty were against the tax, and forty-six were for the same. The fourteenth annual meeting, April 5, 1864. Taxes voted were $500 for school purNumber $150 for town purposes, $50 for pauper purposes and $25 for road purposes. October 17, special meeting for the purpose of voting to raise a tax of of votes oast. 111. $1,500 to pay volunteers. Whole number of votes. HI, of which seventy-four were for the tax At the Presidential election. November 8, number of votes cast. 16, and forty-two against it. of which William Field, etc., received 113. 1865 Special meeting, January 16, 1865, for purpose of voting on tax of$l,600 to pay Whole number of votes, volunteers to fill the quota of town under the last call of President. sixty-eight, of which sixty were for the tax and eight against. annual April Taxes voted: fifteenth meeting. 1865. The $300 for school purposes, 4, September 10, dog fund appormill on dollar for road taxes. $150 for town purposes, and volunteers. tax,

—

\i the general election, November 8, eighty-two votes were cast tioned to school. The sixteenth annual meeting, April 3, L866. Taxes voted $15<l lor town purposes, $300 Number of votes east, thirty-seven for school purposes, and three mills on dollar for road taxes. :

Taxes voted $175 for The seventeenth annual meeting, April 2. 1867; 150 votes cast. town purposes, $450 for town indebtedness. $250 For school purposes, and one mill on dollar for road tax. At general election, held November 5, Dumber of votes cast for Governor, 163, of :

which L. Fairchild received

27.

Taxes voted: The eighteenth annual meeting was held April 7. 1868; I'M votes east. $200 for town expenses, three mills on dollar for roads. $800 for schools and $100 for poor fund.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

661

The nineteenth annual meeting, April 6, L869 204 vo tes were cast. Tuxes voted: $203 for town purposes, $300 for school purposes. SOnu tor road purposes and $150 for support of April til, S_'7t> granted B. IT. Strong for pauper claim. At general election held poor. November 2. L83 votes wen' east for Governor, of which L. Fairchild received 134. The twentieth annual meeting, April 5, I S7< . Taxes voted as follows: $300 for school purposes, $150 for support of the poor. $600 for road purposes and $200 for town purposes. A the general election, November 8, 1870, there were 133 votes cast. The twenty-first annual meeting, April 4, 1871. Taxes voted were X-'5<HI tor school purposes, $125 for pauper fund, §175 for town purposes and $400 for road purposes. The law that ;

hogs be restrained from running at large was passed this year, being the third time the question had been up before the town meeting. At a general election, November 7, the whole number of votes east for Governor was 154, of which C. C. Washburne received 106. The twenty-second annual meeting, April 2, 1872. A motion was adopted to the effect that $200 of the special road tax then on hand be appropriated for town purposes for the ensuing year, $300 voted for school purposes, and a road tax of one mill on the dollar. Voted that $150 of the special road tax of last year be applied as a part of the $301) for school purposes. At the general election, November 5, the number of votes east for the elector of President and Vice President was 180, of which 133 were cast for W. E. Cramer, Elector. The twenty-third annual meeting, April 1, 1873. Taxes voted, §300 for school purposes, and two mills on the dollar for road purposes. The twenty-fourth annual meeting, April 7, 1874. Taxes voted, $250 for town expenses, school purposes and three mills on the dollar for road purposes. On motion, the Clerk's salary was fixed at $75 per year. General election, Nov. 3. 1874. Number of vote-. i

cast, 171.

The twenty-fifth annual meeting, April 6, 1875. Taxes voted were three mills per dollar road tax, $300 for school purposes, and $500 for outstanding and current expenses of town. Number of votes cast, 159. December 4, 1875, the board passed an order for a tax to raise satisfy

for

awards and damages in opening certain roads.

The twenty-sixth annual meeting, April 4, 1876. Taxes voted, three mills on the dollar tnad purposes, $300 for school purposes, §250 for town expenses, $150 for special road- work,

$36.80 to pay a road overseer, $100 for purchasing additional ground for cemetery, and a com mittee was appointed for said purposes. A motion carried to establish a free high school in the town. At the Presidential election, November 7, the whole number of votes cast for electors of President and Vice President was 331, of which number T. \V. Weeks received 151. February 7. 1ST". S. P. George was appointed Treasurer, to fill the place of A. Gill, who was disqualified on account of sickness. The twenty-seventh annual meeting, April 3, 1877. Taxes voted were, $300 for school purposes, three mills on the dollar for road purposes ami $250 for town expenses. At the general election, November 6, 1877, the number of votes polled was 146. The twenty-eighth annual meeting was held April 2, 1878. Taxes voted. $250 for town expenses, $3 for school purposes, three mills per dollar for road purposes, Sl5.sJ to liquidate the indebtedness of the town. At the general election November 5, number of votes cast, 185. The twenty-ninth annual meeting was held April 1, 1870. Taxes voted, $262.50 for town expenses, $3 for town school fund, $54.91 to pay indebtedness of Road District No. -J. At the general election November 4. 1879, 151 votes were polled. The thirtieth annual meeting was held April 6, 1880. Taxes voted. $250 for town purposes, SI 1.86 special tax for road in District No. 2. $300 for school purposes, three mills on the dollar road tax, $500 to be applied to the road running south from the village to the river. $150 for purchasing additional ground for a town cemetery. Total amount raised by the town to pay volunteers in the civil war, $4,600. Special taxes for road purposes, that have been raised frequently, are not given.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

662

Town Officers.

—

D. B. Young, Chairman Andrew Bear, E. Cad well, Side Supervisors; E. In 1851 Evans, Clerk; D. Williams, Treasurer; A. Stewart, Assessor; T. Williams, Road Overseer; R. McCune, Superintendent; J. M. Cass, Seale.r of Weights; T. Pound, F. L. S. Ausdell and E. Davidson, Justices of the Peace; W. Davison, R. T. Bentley and W. Ecker, Constables. In 1852 J. Wilson, Chairman; S. Corwith and J. Rogers, Side Supervisors; E. Evans, Clerk; J. Williams, Treasurer; A. Stewart, Assessor; A. Stewart, Road Overseer; E. Evans, Superintendent; J. Watson, Sealer of Weights; A. Rutherford, F. L. S. Ausdell and J. O'Meara, Justices; J. Dalbey and E. B. Plumb, Constables. R. T. Bentley and S. Richards, Side Supervisors In 1853 A. Stewart, Chairman E. Evans, Clerk: M. O'Meara. Treasurer; J. Rogers, Assessor; J. Dalbey. No. 1. R. C. Stephens, No. 2, W. Bo wen, No. 3, Road Overseers, E. Evans, Superintendent; A. Bear, Sealer of Weights; W. L. Talbot, D. Gwin and D. W. King, Justices; J. Dalbey and (). ;

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Thomas, Constables. Alex. Stewart, Ch. S. Richards and \V. li.Tatchen, Side Supervisors; A.Gill, In 1Si4 Clerk; E. Evans, Treasurer; J. Rogers. Assessor; J. Anderson, No. I, II. Lorpabel, No. 2. E. D. Jones, No. 3, Overseers; J. O'Meara, Superintendent; T. Williams, Sealer of Weights; J. O'Meara, F. Gill and A. Nickey, Justices; J. Barker, J. Watson and S. Huntley, Constables. In 1855 E. Evans, Chairman; S. Corwith and A. Nickey, Side Supervisors; A. Gill, Clerk; F. Gill, Treasurer; S. Corwith, Assessor; E. Cadwell. J. Rogers and G. Reely, Road Overseers; S. Richards, Superintendent; T. Williams, Sealer of Weights; W. L. Talbot. W. W. Minor and E. Evans, Justices: 0. Thomas and ]. D. Jones, Constables. ). Thomas, Side Supervisors A. Gill, S. Richards. Chairman J. Throne and In 1856 S. Corwith, Assessor: J. W. Harris, P. Booker and E. Patchen, Clerk T. Jones. Treasurer J. Stewart. Sealer of Weights; J. Rogers and Overseers: Superintendent; A. Davies, Road J. Watson, Justices; J. Crook and E. S. Talbot, Constables. In 1857— G. McFarlin, Chairman; E. B. Plumb and I). Helt, Side Supervisors; J. Decker, Clerk; T. D. Jones. Treasurer; 0. Thomas, J. Guime and S. S. Munday, Assessors; S. CorS. Huntley. W. Reely and S. Corwith, Road Overseers; J. Lester, Sealer of Weights with. A. Peck and E. Evans. Justices; E. Cadwell. T. Hood and A. Stewart, Constables. E. Evans, Chairman; J. Throne and J. Siders, Side Supervisors; Phillips, In 1858 Clerk; D. Williams, Treasurer; J. G. Thomas, Assessor; S. S. Munday and T. Peck, Road Overseers; J. Davies, Superintendent A. Peck, T. 15. Worthington and T. Ersly, Justices A. Gill and P. Booher, Constables. In 1859 C. W. Hayes, Chairman; E.Jones and W. Ecker, Side Supervisors; T. L. P. Ersy and E. Evans, JusJones, Clerk; II Ersly, Treasurer; J. Davies, Superintendent tices; 1'. Thornton. D. W. Bliss and D. I>. Jones. Constables. In 1860 E. Evans, Chairman; T. C. Reck and J. Throne, Side Supervisors; T.L.Jones, Clerk: R. C. Ersly, Treasurer: P. Booher, Assessor; II. (Vlleyhain No. 1, D. Jones, No. "J. F.Gill, No. 3, M. Sherwood, No. 1. Road Overseers; S Spiker, Superintendent; A. Peck and W. O. Spencer, Justices; A. R. West. D. B. Allen and Thomas Hood. Constables. In 1861— W. <!. Spencer, Chairman; W. Ecker and A. Nickey, Side Supervisors; F. R. C. Ersly, Treasurer; A. Gill, Assessor; II. (). Cass, No. 1. W. Jones, No. -'. Gill, Clerk five-. No. I, Road Overseers: S. Spiker, Superintendent; K. Evans and F. Gill, No. ::, ('. \V. E. Chapin, Justices; li. ('. Ersly, R. Allen and T. Hood, Constables. W. (i. Spencer, Chairman; A. Nickey and \V. Ecker, Side Supervisors; F. In 1862 Assessor; W. G. Spencer, M. Parker and J. Hollenbeck, Treasurer; A. Gill, Gill, Clerk G. Herrinuton. Constables. E. Evans. Justices; J. Hollenbeck, J. Holmes and I. Strong, Chairman A. Nickey and W. Ecker, Side Supervisors; F. Gill, In 1863 Assessor: Haves. (Jill. E. Evans, E. Chapin and A. Peck. Justices; Clerk; J. Treasurer; A.

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

I'..

.1.

Hollenbeck,

;

Davies and D. B. Allen. Constables.

;

OF SAUK COUNTY.

HISTORY

663

—

B. U. Strong, Chairman; A. Nickey and E. Jones, Side Supervisors; F. Gill, In 1864 Clerk; D. R. Phelps, Treasurer; A. Gill, Assessor; A. C. Daley, No. I, B.James, No. 2, D. K. Phelps. No. 3, J. Holmes, No. 4, C. Hayes, No. 5, Road Overseers: B. !". Strong. A. 8. Davis, A. U. Gardner, J. Ecker and L. Burroughs, Constables. Peck and A. Wilcox, Justices B. U. Strong, Chairman; A. Nickey and W. Ecker. Side Supervisors J. Temby, In 18(35 Clerk; E. W. Evans. Treasurer; G. G.Nick, Assessor; E. W. Evans, B. James, A. Wilcox, J. Holmes and F. Booher, Road Overseers; .1. G. Thomas and A. Nickey, Justices: A.J. Hood, B. F. Bailey and J. Ecker, Constables. In 1866 B. U Strong, Chairman C. B. Pearson and I. Burroughs. Side Supervisors C. B. Pearson, Peter E. W. Evans, Treasurer G. G. Nickey, Assessor F. Gill, Clerk B. U. Strong, J. T. Temby and Beaver, A. Gill. T. Peck and F. Booher, Road Supervisors E. Chapin, Justices; G. Van Orman, Constable. J. In 1867 T. D. Jones and C. W. Hayes, Side Supervisors B. U. Strong, Chairman R. Lewis, Clerk: E. W. Evans, Treasurer; J. C. Brainerd, Assessor; J. R. Lewis, J. G. A. Wilcox G.Thomas, and Jones, Road Overseers; J. Thomas, J. L>. J. Holmes and N. Hood, T. R. Hood, Justices J. R. Lewis, D. D. Jones and F. Booher, Constables. In 1868 B. U. Strong, Chairman C. W. Hayes and J. G. Pelton, Side Supervisors J. H. Terry. Clerk: T. D. Jones, Treasurer; G. G. Nickey, Assessor; B. U. Strong, B. H. Hayes and E. W. Evans, Justices T. J. Hungerford, J. R. Lewis, J. D. Jones and D. D. ;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

Jones. Constables. T. Hill. In 1869 F. Gill, Chairman E. W. Morgan and A. Nickey, Side Supervisors S. S. Munday, T. Hungerford, Jr., Clerk: G. M. Spencer. Treasurer; E. W. Evans, Assessor J. D. Jones, W. M. Gridley and S. Huntley, Road Overseers; J. M. Hood and T. Norton. Sr., Justices J. J. Nickey. E. Norton and G. B. Van Orman, Constables.

—

;

—

W. In 1870 J. A. Taylor, Chairman; A. Nickey and E. P. Morgan, Side Supervisors A. Wvse. Clerk G. M. Spencer. Treasurer; E. W. Evans, Assessor; T. D. Jones, P. Beaver, J. D.Jones, T. C. Peck and F. Booher, Road Masters; C. N. Finn, Sealer of Weights; E. C. Brainerd, E. W. Evans, B. H. Hayes and J. G. Thomas, Justices; W. Logan, D. D. Davies, D. D. Jones and J. Fulcomer, Constables; J. Dickson, Pound Master. :

;

—

In 1871 J. A. Taylor, Chairman; T. D. Jones and T. C. Peck, Side Supervisors; W. A. Wyse, Clerk; J. N. Finn, Treasurer: E. W. Evans, Assessor; T. D. Jones, B. James, J. D. Jones, E. B. Evans, L. Tracy and C. W. Hayes. Road Masters; J. G- Thomas and J. M. Hood, Justices W. Stewart. J. J. Nickey, E. F. Maher and D. D. Jones, Constables. :

In 187^— E. W. Evans, Chairman T. D. Jones and C. W. Hayes, Side Supervisors; W. A. Wyse, Clerk; J. N. Finn, Treasurer; F. Gill, Assessor; T. D. Jones, D. D. Jones, J. D. done-.' E. B. Evans, N. B. Hood and C. W. Hayes, Road Overseers; E. C. Brainerd and E. W. Evans, Justices W. M. Austin, D. D. Jones and E. F. Maher, Constables; J. Dickson, Pound ;

;

Master.

1873

— B. U. Strong, Chairman E.

P. Morgan and T. D. Jones, Side Supervisors S. P. George, Clerk; J. N. Finn. Treasurer; E. W. Evans, Assessor; T. 1>. Jones, E. Lester, J. D. W. II. Harris, G. Dike and D. C. Reed, Road Overseers; H. R. Johnson. Sealer of Weights; T. Hungerford and C. W. Hayes, Justices; E. Lester, E. F. Maher and W. H. Harris, Constables J. Dickson, Pound Master. ;

;

Jones.

;

In 1874

—

-I. A. Taylor. Chairman; P. Bridgman and S. S. Munday. Side Supervisors; Clerk: J. N. Finn, Treasurer; E. W. Evans, Assessor: W. 1). Jones. J. D. J. Davis, D. Jones, E. B. Evans, H. Layton and C. W. Hayes, Road Overseers II. R. Johnson, Sealer of Weights; G. G. Reely and C. W. Hayes, Justices; W. H. Harris, E. James. P. R. Pelton, Constables J. Dickson, Pound Master.

P. George,

;

—

In 1875 J. R. Lewis, Chairman E. Mercer and F. Booher, Side Supervisors A. Gill, Clerk J. N. Finn, Treasurer E. W. Evans, Assessor C. Jones. J. Davis, J. Jones, H. Harris, E. V. Thornton and J. Hayes. Road Overseers: H. R. Johnson. Sealer of Weights .1. Watson ;

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

664

and J. Reely, Justices; J. R. Lewis, G. Stewart andE. James, Constables;

Dickson, Pound

Master. J. R. Lewis, Chairman E.Mercer and J. Hayes, Side Supervisors; A. Gill, In 1876 J. N. Finn, Treasurer; E. W. Evans, Assessor C. Jones, J. G. Thomas J. J. Jones, Clerk H. R. Johnson, Sealer of Jr., A. Mercer, S. V. Thornton and D. C. Reed, Road Overseers Weights E. C. Brainerd and E. W. Evans, Justices W. H. Lewis and D. L. Talbot, ConJ. Dickson, Pound Master. stables A. E. Mercer and J. M. Hayes, Side Supervisors In 1877— S. F. Nickey, Chairman E. W. Evans, Assessor C. Jones, T. Fouchs, J. D. Jones, Gill, Clerk S. Jones, Treasurer E. Evans, J. Mercer and D. C. Reed, Road Overseers H. R. Johnson, Sealer of Weights B. U. Strong and W. H. Lewis, Justices; M. R. Hurley, D. L. Talbot and G. A. Sweet, Consta-

—

;

J. Dickson, Pound Master. In 1878 S. F. Nickey, Chairman; W. H. Harris and C. Jones, Side Supervisors; J. A. D. J. Davis, M. McPhillips, E. S. Jones, Treasurer; E. W. Evans, Assessor H. R. Johnson, Sealer of Weights E. B. Evans, J. Mercer and W. Hayes, Road Overseers W. Evans and J. McKeeme, Justices; H. J. Jones, E. P. Noyes, N. B. Hood, Constables J.

bles

;

—

Taylor, Clerk

;

Dickson, Pound Master E. George, Sexton. t 1879 S. F. Nickey, Ohairman W. H. Harris and C. Jones, Side Supervisors J. N. Finn, Clerk; J. T. Jones, Treasurer; E. Mercer, Assessor; D. J. Davis, J. Gasser, M. B. U. Strong and N. McPhillips, E. B. Evans, L. W. Hood and W. Hayes, Road Overseers B. U. Strong, Pound Master. B. Hood, Justices H. J. Jones and J. Howe, Constables 1880— S. F. Nickey, Chairman E. James and W. Hayes, Side Supervisors J. N. Finn, ;

—

;

Clerk; T. Justices

;

Hungerford, Treasurer; E. Mercer, Assessor; E. W. Evans, J. M. Hayes, W. Reymond, D. J. Davis, E. P. Noyes and W. B. Hayes, Constables.

J. I.

TOWN OF TROY. This town is the largest in area of any of the towns in the county, there being above fiftyLike the town of Spring Green, it is bordered on the south by the Wisthree sections in all. consin, on the north by the town of Honey Creek, on the east by the town of Prairie du Sac, The surface, in some portions, and on the west by the towns of Spring Green and Franklin. The belt of bluffs that courses along the northern boundary of Spring is exceedingly broken. Green, and which appears to be the boundary of some great body of water, continues its way from east to west, through the south central part of Troy, forming a prominent division between the

The soil south of these bluffs is generally quite northern and southern parts of the town. sandy or marshy, the marsh lands being, in many places, entirely impassable for teams, so much so, indeed, that a large part of the road from the town of Prairie du Sac to Spring Green, goes winding deviously along close to the bluffs in order !o avoid the marshy places. North of the In this bluffs, the soil is much better, it being composed principally of clay loam and black sand. These lands section are located some of the finest farms in the county, or to be found anywhere. are usually called the Honey Creek bottom lands, but, as in other localities, this town lias its One of the points that was first located, lies south of the bluffs different prairies ami hollows. and is considered very fertile. That is Cassell Prairie, named after Dr. Cassell, the first settler there. Numerous other points might be mentioned, but they possess a minor interest. The town, In in the north part, is splendidly watered by Honey Creek anil two or three small branches. Honey and Wilson's the south. Wilson's Creek and another small stream supply water. Creeks supply fair water-powers for milling purposes. Troy, like all of the towns, has its tumuli The timber supply, especially among the bluffs, is excellent. and various natural curiosities. These bluff's, with their pockets, are all owned principally by foreigners. The population is The people are sober, industrious and frugal mixed, the German element preponderating. ;

The they have good schools, and there are three churches, the latter being liberally supported. among the people is decidedly good and probably somewhat

general tone of feeling prevailing

above the average.

HISTOKY

(>F

SAUK COUNTY

665

:ai:i

The very first settler in this town was Thomaa Wilson, a Scotchman,

lie selected land in

Mr. part of the town, on a small stream. Wilson's Creek, called after him. Wilson was a somewhat restless and adventurous person in Ins youth, and had, before he Washthere. Gov. came here, in his more advanced years. "Keen about a good bit" here and burn and partner employed hira to come from St. Louis to Helena to work in their shot-tower, the southwestern

at a very early day, ami, being so close after the treaty with

the

Winnebagoes was concluded,

Upon seeing it, he determined to he must needs conn over the river anil examine the country. locate. How early it might have been when he first came over prospecting cannot be determined, but, possibly, in the spring of 1838. Afterward, as early as 1840, we learn he had moved in his family and was living here permanently. The old Government canoe that used to carry provisions up the Wisconsin to the forts, and that was cut out of a lug, and which was large enough to carry fifty barrels of flour and the men to row, was in Mr. Wilson's possession, and served him in navigating the river, after having served Uncle Sam. Mr. Wilson was a man of no mean ability and talents. He was something of a scholar, and could paint, draw and carve very artistically. Alexander Stuart has a Scotch highland scene, painted admirably, and there are many other relics of his genius scattered about the country. He has been dead a good many years. The first white persons to come into the north part of the town and settle permanently were J. A. Sprecher and Nick Darnutzer, two Swiss, who emigrated hither very early in the spring of 1846. They came in by way of Prairie du Sac, and hail to build a bridge over Honey Creek before they could reach the goal of their ambition. They came with a load of lumber to make a cabin, and. no sooner were they over the bridge, than they had their first experience in getting stuck, but. m all probability, not the last. There were three yokes of cattle hitched to the load, A hut they did not avail anything against the " set." so the load had to be carried by hand. new and splendidly fertile lot of land lay before them to pick from. That they were careful and 1

judicious in making their selection, is shown by their excellent farms. >ne day. after they had been here two or three weeks, Mr. Sprecher went out for a ramble, when, what should he discover, but the wagons of a party of new arrivals, camped on Section 18, on a branch of Honey Creek These were Thomas Wells, J. W. Harris, Dewitt Slauter and J. Kifer. They came from Ohio. J. W. Harris made a claim at what was considered an eligible point to start a village, and we learn he did not wait long thereafter before laying out a plat. The remainder of the new-comers drove their stakes in the immediate vicinity, and thus the little party were finally settled. Mr. Harris put up a comfortable house, and opened, within a year or two, as tavern-keeper. Of these four families, not a single one is living here now. as. the village project not proving a success, they sold and emigrated to another town. Besides those above given came, in or before 1850, A. Harrington, Robert McReady, Ed Mix, John Feller, H. B. Staines. William Young, George Bonham. Samuel Walster, Lem Cooper, William Hasheider, F. Stifer, C. Stifer, F. Darnutzer, S. Miller. L. Buechler, F. Nobis. II. Meyers, J. Schmidt, Daniel Held, J. Bear, H. Haiflisch, James Davis, Frishim M. Dohnson, II. Folkinstine, II. Bear, S. W. Corwith, John Loganfall, J. Young, Alex Stuart and others. Alex Stuart was one of the first settlers on the south of the bluffs as ear as 1841 saw him pocketed among the hills, where he yet lives. The first marriage in the town occurred March 1. 1*47, when James Taylor, now living in the town of Spring Green, was married to Phebe Harris. Charles 0. Baxter, who officiated at a good many early weddings, spliced them. The first one to see life first here was a granddaughter of Thomas Wilson, bom in 1846. A school was taught in town in a log-house just west of the Harris settlement, now known i- Harrisburg, in 1847 or 1848, Miss Laura Drew being the teacher. In the above schoolhouse, the first religious services were also held in is 17. a 'ongregational <

;

itinerant minister preaching.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

bbb

Tlie first child born in the north part of town was Joseph Harris, born December 15, 1847.

saw-mill was built on Section <S by John Bear, about 1850, the first in town; J. RanIn 1863, C. L. Harlacher ey next owned it, then Curtis Bates, who refitted it for a grist-mill. bought the property, and afterward enlarged it and added new machinery. There are now two runs of stone, operated by a turbine wheel. The water-head is 6i feet. In 1867, the Witwin Brothers built a mill in town. This mill also has two runs of stone and two turbine wheels, of about twenty five horse-power when under full head. Another mill in town, on Wilson's Creek, is but just finished. It has one run of stone, a turbine, and 18-foot water-head. The proprietors are Mr. Cropper & Son. A store was first opened in town at Harrisburg by J. W. Haws, in 1855. He purchased the Harris homestead. He probably kept the first post office in the north part of the town. William Young, who came in about 1850, was the first blacksmith. The first religious services were held in the log tavern of J. W. Harris, as early as 1846, by an itinerant Congregational minister. After the old State road was laid through Iowa County, a horse ferry was started to run from what was known as Hogarth across to Section 6. Mr. This was about 1852 or 1853. Alex Stuart was hired to erect a causeway out from the river across a bad marsh and slough to solid land. Mr. Barnard paid §100, and' the town authorities §100. The bridge was 14 feet wide, made of split logs laid on cribs. At that time this was the great thoroughfare into the county from the south. After the railroad came in 1850, the ferry was discontinued and the bridge removed. About the time the ferry was started, a road was built from Spring Green to Cassell Prairie. Another ferry was started before 1850, connecting with Arena on the Iowa County side. After It was started by Marcus Ashmore, and ran to Big Island, then from that point over. Ashmore, D. Brisbane run the ferry for several years, then abandoned it. Two years ago. the people formed a joint-stock company to help establish a permanent ferry. They built a boat on this side, and the Arena people bought a cable and paid a man to run the ferry. There was, it is said, a post office established at the old Barnard Ferry. The first one probably in town was kept by Uriah Peck, at Wilson's Creek, the mail being carried from Prairie du Sac to Prairie du Chien. A man by the name of Banks was the first mail-carrier. When the railroad came, the old route was suspended, and one established from Spring Green to Portage City. Alexander Stuart was the first carrier on this route, a man by the name of Patchen being the Postmaster in this town. Mr. Stuart tells a rather amusing anecdote of how they managed to collect money when the times were hard and money scarce. One Andrew Bear was owing him for a yoke of cattle and had neglected to pay. when Mr. Stuart and family were depending on it to get food. When Mi-. S. went for his pay, Bear told him he would not pay unless he was sued, giving for a reason that he would then have an excuse to collect from a man who was owing him, and hi' from one who was owing him and the next man from one who was owing him and so on. So the ball was set to rolling, but the Justice who was to do the business induced them all to pay up after a few days, and so tli dlection was effected. Another circumstance illustrates how hard it was for the pioneers to get along and howwary they were ul lending. Mr. Stuart had nothing for his family to eat, and he knew of only one place wh°re flour was to I"- found. So, taking his bag on his That was at James Watson's, in town of Spring Green. Thinking it would not do to back, wiih a heavy heart, he started on his borrowing expedition. state his business suddenly, he sat down and joked and sang with Mr. Watson and a younger brother, until finally, when the ice was broken, he waded in and told his errand. Mr. Watson. Si-.. declared he could not spare any flour. The younger brother hopped up and said. " Yes ye have, plenty and to spare." Mr. Watson, thinking his flour was gone never to return, had to yield, and Stuart triumphantly backed away a bagful, when the Hour was paid for, Watson, delighted, declared he would always accommodate Mr. Stuart. t

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

OUT

There is now a post office at Cassell Prairie, one at Riche's Corners and one at Black Hawk. The latter was established in 18(1(3 by C. C. Kuntz, former Editor of the Pioneer am Wis cousin, and County Representative to Madison on several occasions. Mr. Kuntz opened a store also at the time at that point. Tins is now owned by Harlacher's mill stands here. Etendtorff. who also holds the post office. An attempt was made to start a Swiss cheese-factory near here in 1877. It run for a short time ami then suspended operations, as it could not be made to pay. Probably the most disastrous enterprise that any of the citizens of Troy and Honey Creek ever went into was the forming of a company and building a large factory for the manufacture of beet-sugar. The first step^ were taken before 1870; beets were raised and the saccharine qualiThen, the experiments proving satisfactory, a company ties tested before anything was done. was formed, the shares being placed at S250 for each member and four acres of roots. A charter was secured through the instrumentality of Mr. Kuntz, then member of the House, in the year 1870. and the work of building was started about the same time or soon after. A practical beet-sugar maker came on from Germany, and everything looked fair, the members of the company being very sanguine of a grand success. The first year's crop of 1.3d acres was as perfect as could be asked, but, unfortunately, the mill was not in running order quite soon enough to manufacture the crop entire, and, consequently, it was nearly a dead loss. At first, there were but fifty shares, but the second year each took another share, this making $25,000 cash already invested. Some of the first year's manufacture was sent to Madison, where it was examined by the representatives, who passed an act exempting such enterprises from taxation one year in order to promote the business of sugar-making. The second year proved a deplorable failure, the crop being very poor, only about four tons per acre were produced, where there should have been from twelve to fifteen. The stockholders had to furnish ten cords of wood J. C.

apiece.

The wretched failure of this year put such a damper on the spirits of the stockholders that some were in favor of throwing up the whole business. However, it was decided to try again. As result, the third year's crop was even a worse failure than the others, as the frost came on ;1

before they were quite ripe, and nearly spoiled the entire crop. This last disaster broke the company up, after about $18,000 had been expended and wasted. Not more than L,500 bar-

manufactured altogether. Fifty hands had to be employed to run the mill, and women that were engaged in tending to the beets while The company affairs were left in a wretched condition, and, worse than all, the charter was so drawn up that one person was made responsible for all. So. in order that justice might be done, an amendment was obtained. In finally closing up and disposing of the various apparatus, nearly everything went at a tithe of its original cost. Machines that cosl $350 were sola at Slot* each, and other property in proportion. The company was formed, principally, of Germans and Swiss, who firmly declare they will never go into partnership again in any kind of enterprise with any one. That another sugar rels of sugar was

besides large numbers of children

they were growing.

factory will ever be started large and

really valuable

successfully

grown in

in the county, is scarcely probable, yet it is to be regretted that this building should be left standing unused, when sorghum cane ran It

this

climate,

which

makes

loaf sugar,

fine

grain and

excellent

quality.

Of the three churches in Troy, the Bethlehem Church of the Evangelical Association has the largest congregation, and is a really fine church. The society was incorporated February The church was commenced in June, 1866, and was completed October 11, ISO", 25, L848. when it was dedicated by Bishop Escher and Bishop Lang. It is built of stone, 34x65 in dimensions, and cosl $3,400. There are now two hundred members. At first, this church was connected with the Salem Church of Honey Creek, but now it is the head of a circuit, there being another church in the vicinity connected with this church. Since this church became the head of a circuit. Revs. E. P. Viel, C. F. Finger and J. Kahl have served here. There is also a comfortable parsonage in connection with the church.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

bbK

It is a comThere is a Reformed Lutheran Church in town that stands at Ilarrisburg. modious frame building, and there is a fair membership. The church is supplied by a minister from Prairie du Sac. Troy has a Grange Lodge, No. 271, which was established in 1873, with nineteen members, to which forty members have since been added. They have a purchasing agent in connection. This was the first Grange in the southern part of the county. Alexander Stuart was Master the first four years, then S. P. Hoxy one year, then G. W. Proctor. The first preaching on Cassell Prairie was by a Presbyterian. Elder Adams, in a private house, in the fell of 1850. About four years after this, Rev. Daniel Phillips came into this neighborhood and organized the first society, a Baptist class of twelve or fifteen members, several of whom were baptized at the time. Shortly after, he moved into the neighborhood and lived and preached here and in the vicinity. He served the society about four years, then removed After his departure, the organization continued to have preaching by different to Evansville. then it was merged into a society of Advents. ministers until 1864 This society was organized under the labors of Rev. George W. Turner and Rev. William Sheldon, to be called the Church of Christ, of Cassell Prairie, taking, by covenant, the Bible as the rule of faith and There practice, making a platform large enough for any creed or denomination to rest upon. were nineteen members in all seven from the Baptist society, and ten that were baptized at the time, and two from a church at Amboy, 111. 0. Thomas and A. C. Pierce were elected Deacons and ordained by the Rev. William Sheldon. Subsequently, there were enough names added to bring the membership up to twenty-four. At present, there are but twelve or fifteen active members ami services are held quite irregularly. The place of meeting lias usually been the schoolhouse of District No. 1. The Methodist Episcopal Society of Harrisburg was formed in 1849. Rev. Mr. Bunce preached the first sermon. The first teacher at Ilarrisburg was Miss Ursa True, in 1850. The German Reformed Church organized in 1858. Trustees -Fred Schumacher, William Schumacher, U. Schoenemann, H. Schulz, John Rieser. The first Pastor was Rev. Gustave Knoepfel. The church was built in 1868. Sorghum raising, which has become quite an extensive industry in the county, was first commenced in town by 0. Thomas and T. C. Chamberlain a tew years before the war. They sent to Washington at first to obtain seed, and each planted small patches. When the time came for the cane to be crushed, Mr. Chamberlain had a wooden roller mill made ready, and a generous yield of the saccharine fluid was squeezed from their cane. They then must needs boil the product before it could at the last the sirup was be eaten, and this was done in large iron kettles; but, alas not fit to eat, being black and impure. After this attempt, sorghum raising was abandoned as a failure, nothing further being done until the war; then the high price of sugar induced the people to try again, and, also, by that time, a regular method of boiling the sap had come into vogue, by which it could lie purified by using open pans which were manufactured expressly for ;

—

the purpose.

The first one to pin-chase a boiling apparatus or evaporator tor general use in the town, and At that time (1864), Mr. Thomas' neighbors probably in the county, was Mr. 0. Thomas. signed an article of agreement to raise each a certain amount of cane to place in his hands to be converted into sirup, enough being pledged to justify his getting the apparatus. This cost, with mill for crushing, $300. Since that time, a large amount of sirup has been successfully manufactured here cadi year, varying from 500 to 1,700 gallons per annum, the cane being brought from every direction. Charles Fox also has an evaporating apparatus

for miles

work

the southwest part of the town,

which does a very satisfactory business.

Sorghum molasses to f)0

sold as high as

$1.25 per gallon during the war here, but

now down

cents per gallon.

There is a Good Templars' Society in the north part of the town, organized recently. the first of its ilk that has sprung into existence in the town, it is said.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

669

At the time, Mr. 0. Thomas No. 1 was organized in the spring of 1851. purchased an old granary, and gave the district the use of it, this being the first schoolhouse. Miss Louisa Adams was employed for teacher, the money for first wages. Si' per week, being The school was raised by subscription, she. after the fashion of early days, boarding around. taught in Mr. Thomas' building for two seasons; then, in 1852, the district erected a log schoolThe log house burned a few years afterward, and the present frame was erected. house. ScI

District

Town Meetings and Officers. When Until 1858, this town was a part of the towns of Honey Creek and Spring Green. came to be set off and organized, a regular opposition to the move was made by a part of the Spring Green people, under the lead of Alex Stuart, to whom were particularly opposed the The east section eastern section of the Spring Green people, under the lead of 0. Thomas. The fight was rather a bitter and hotly contested wanted to be set nil', ami the west did not. being defeated. soreness west division, proves, The of as the sequel the conflict affected one, the some of them for a long while: but time is a balm that heals such wounds, and now all is peaceit

ful in the family.

—

The first town meeting was held April (J, 1S5S, at Harrisburg Officers: Alex Stuart, James A. Taylor and J. Sneller, Side Board S. W. Corwith, Clerk W. J. Hows, Treasurer; William Bonham, Assessor: J. Ramey, Superintendent of Schools; Theo Taylor, B. Etagatz, Justices; W. II. Harris, Ed Cadwell, Solomon Wheeler, Constables; L. W. Corwith, Sealer. A tax of $150 for town purposes, 5 mills on the dollar for schools, and 5 mills on the Tax to be collected, $2,456.08. dollar for roads. Alex Stuart, Chairman; J. Bethson, Second town meeting held April 5, 1859 Officers: H. Leopable, Side Board; Samuel Walser, Clerk; B. Ragatz, Treasurer; J. Sneller. Assessor W. K. Patchen, Superintendent. Tax. $2,459.75. Officers: .Tames Taylor, Chairman; J. Pattison Third town meeting held April 3, 1860 and H. Leopeble Side Board; J. S. Walser. Clerk; George Bonham, Treasurer; J. Keely, At the Presidential election. 112 votes Assessor; W. R. Patchen, Superintendent of Schools. were cast, the majority being Republican. Tax, $2,275.87. Third town meeting held April 2, 1 Sill —Officers 0. Thomas, Chairman; A. Sprecher, William Schafer, Side Board; J. S. Walser, Clerk; George Bonham, Treasurer; J. Sneller, Assessor; W. R. Patchen, Superintendent. Assessment, $2,483.33. Fourth annual meeting held April 1, 1862 T. Young. Chairman A. Sprecher, F. Gentsch, Side Board J. S. Walser, Clerk George Bonham, Treasurer J. Sneller, Assessor. Tax assessment. $2,791.12. Fifth annual meeting April 7. 1863 Officers: Alex Stuart, Chairman; J. A. Sprecher. James A. Taylor. Side Board J. S. Walser, A. Sprecher, Treasurers J. Sneller, Assessor. TaxJanuary 21, a special meeting was field, and a bounty of $200 voted assessment. $2,598.37. February 25, another meeting was held, and a rote to be paid to every volunteer of the town. was taken as above, with the additional provision that all enlisting above each regular recruit that were accredited to the town, should receive $12."). The town borrowed money to pay the bounties. Sixth annual meeting held April 5. 1S04 J. S. Walser, Chairman; J. A. Sprecher and E. P. Tabor. Side Board; C. C. Kuntz, Clerk; A. Sprecher, Treasurer; J. Sneller, Assessor. 'fax assessment. $5.0(10.55, ,,f which S2,4iii>.12 were for paying bounties. enth annual meeting April 4. 1865— Officers: C. C. Kuntz, Chairman; E. P. Tabor and Gustav Baumgarth, Side Hoard; J. T. Barker, Clerk; J. S. Walser, Treasurer; John Tax assessment, $9,875.78, of which $0, oils. 25 was a special tax raised to Sneller, Assessor. Chairman

;

—

;

—

;

—

pay bounties. Eighth annual election, held April 3, 1866 Officers: A. Tarnutzer, Chairman; G. Baumgarth and 0. Thomas. Side Board; P. Sneller, Clerk; J. S. Walser. Treasurer; J. Sneller, Assessor. Tax assessment, $5,590.22. of which $2,404.20 was a special tax to finish paying bounty money. Besides the amount raised by tax here, the fund, was increased bj about $2,500 private contributions.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

670

—

Officers A. Tarnutzer, Chairman 0. Thomas Ninth annual meeting, April 2, 1867 and G. Baumgarth, Side Board; P. Sneller, Clerk; P. A. Thomas, Treasurer; J. Sneller, As;

sessor.

Since 1867, C. C. Kuntz has been a Justice of the Peace, and has done the majority of Tax assessment, §3,220.84.

Justice business, in connection with Orison Thomas.

—

Tenth annual meeting, April 7, 1868 Officers: A. Tarnutzer, Chairman: A. Sprecher and J. Fulcomer. Side Board; P. Sneller, Clerk; George Bonham, Treasurer C. C. Kuntz, ;

Tax assessed, $3,936.92. William McCready, Chairman; Officers: Eleventh annual meeting, held April 6, 1869 A. Sprecher and J. Fulcomer. Side Board: P. Sneller, Clerk; George Bonham, Treasurer; J. Tax assessed. $3,708.99. Sneller, Assessor. A. Sprecher and Twelfth annual meeting, held April 5. 1870— Alex Stuart, Chairman James F. Barker, Side Board J. P. Witmen, Clerk L. Sneller, Treasurer J. Sneller. AsTax assessed, §1,964.18. sessor. In this connection, it may be stated that the Justices and Constables elected in the years Assessor.

—

;

enumerated are not given, because very many of them never qualified. The most of the Justice business of the town has been done by C. C. Kuntz and Orison Thomas.

TOWN OF BEAR CREEK. one of the largest towns in the county next to the town of Troy, it containing fifty It is five miles wide by ten long, extending north and south along the west edge of sections. north by Washington, south by It is bounded the county, and being in Townships 9 and 10. Bear Creek is splendidly Spring Green, easl by Franklin and west by Richland County. watered and traversed in all directions by roads, but the country is very rough, almost the entire This

surface being a succession of hills or bluffs and valleys. The Little Bear Valley, so called from a creek that inns through it of the same name, and where the first permanent settlement was made, is regarded as being one of the finest tracts in

from one to two miles in width, including outlying pockets, and extends north The well adapted to raising grain or stock. latter business has been pursued here quite extensively for a good many years, in connection In the extreme west part of town, the valley of the Big with dairying and cheese-making. Bear River extends along from north to south, it being divided between this town and Richland the town.

and south.

The farms here are excellent, being

County, lien' are also some very good farms and a grist and saw mill and two cheese-factories. In the north part of the town the surface is somewhat broken, being pretty fairly divided beTwo or three small streams rise in this part of the town. tween hills and hollows, or pockets. Of timber, there is more than enough, the various varieties indigenous to the county being generally found here, excepting pine. "The soil represents, in different parts, all of the qualities to be met with in the county, there being black muck, loam, sandy loam, marl, clay and gravelly soil. The inhabitants arc mixed, the foreign element preponderating. In the north part of the The educational, social aid moral standard is fair at the [rish settlement. Two or three parties who present time, but a feu years ago it is said to have not been good.

town there is a large had money, is

said,

disappeared among the lulls at different times long past.

However, this

not certain.

.Med with wolves, which by This town, especially m the north part, lias alv their depredations have rendered sheep-raising nearly impossible. The pockets and cooleys, with their heavy timber and underbrush, afford them ample protection and inviting runways. \u industry, followed to a considerable extenf in tins and adjoining towns, is the raising of As nearly all of the Germans and Irish, and the majority of the umption.

The Americans and English, use the weed, raising it at home saves a, really large expense general products arc staple, as winter ami spring grains, coin and vegetables, hops not being The facilities for fruit raising are good, especially in the grown to any considerable extent.

'171

pickets, where ample protection

afforded from

the winter blasts.

However, the people

not availed themselves largely of these favorable conditions.

SETTLEMENT.

Who the very first permanent settlers were, it is not easy to fully determine but il is generally conceded that a family of McClouds, William and Robert, were about the first to come into the town. They first laid claims in Hood's Valley, in the town of Spring Green, but, owing How early they came cannot be more readily to difficulties with Indians, remained nowhere long. determined than other points: but in all likelihood they found their way over the Wisconsin about 1840 or 1842, for as early as 1844 they were known to be rambling over the country hunting Indians. This was their chief occupation. The Indians, it is narrated, at one time slaugh;

tered a part of their family, and, as a consequence, they were their sworn enemies to the death. This feeling was fully reciprocated by the Indians, who spared no pains to hunt them, hoping to

As a matter of course, they had many a fight happy hunting-grounds. McClouds were not killed, or that the other early setThe Indians at last made it so hot for them that embroiled in the vendetta. thev emigrated toward the setting sun, about 1850. The first regular settlement was made in the Little Bear Valley by the Phetteplace family, father and sons, Jason Bancroft, George and J. and A. Stratton, M. R. Whelply, J. Seaman, L. .1. Hensel, and perhaps a few others, as early as 1850. Ilanchett. Subsequent to the advent B. of the above named, and those whose names cannot be ascertained, the influx of settlers was quite rapid, so that within ten years, or before the breaking-out of the rebellion, the town was

ticket

them

for

the

together, and the only wonder is that the tlers did not get

well settled up.

The first death was that of .Mrs. S. Phetteplace, in July, 1851. The first marriages were the double weddings of Josina and Lucy A. Bancroft, to John Harrison and David Clark. The first frame house in the town was built by Stephen Phetteplace, on what is now known as the Johnson stock farm, on the Little Bear. A frame schoolhouse was erected on this farm as early as 1852. Soon after M. R. Whelply came in, he, in company with another, went over to the Big Bear, and started to build a dam and saw-mill. After they had nearly completed the dam. and or did abandon it laid the foundations for the mill, they had to abandon the work the Indians were so troublesome. Nothing further was done at this point, and an embankment and a fewtimbers only are left to show the beginning and end of the first saw-mill enterprise in the town. In 1853 or 1854, when fears of the Indians had about subsided, Peter llaskins built a dam and saw-mill about half a mile above the Whelply dam, and went to work. lie lam the mill until 1864, then sold it to James Ochsner, who continued it for some time, then moved it over the stream and enlarged it, adding a muley saw. The saw-mill having ceased to pay, Mr. As a factory for Ochsner converted it into a cheese-factory, in connection with Mr. Beckwith. There is but one 5,000-pound vat. cheese-making, the building has again become profitable. The average amount of milk handled here per diem for seven months, will be 4.7« »«> pounds,

—

or seven 60-pound cheeses made per day.

The first one to begin and make a regular business of cheese-making was .1. Johnson, who 1860 with fifteen COWS, lie had no factory, but manufactured on the ordinary dairy plan until 1867, when lie quit the business. In 1868, A. and D. Beckwith came into the valley of the Little Bear and purchased a large This stock farm and erected the first cheese-factory in town, and one of the first in the county started in L859 or

At first, from 5,500 to 6,000 pounds of milk was used, now about 6,500 to pounds are handled per day. The factory, with eight-horse-power engine and fixtures complete, cost about $1,500. Ten men are employed through the season to make cheese and care for the cows, of which they keep 1 1- milkers. The bam provided for stalling and feeding these animals in is a model affair, and will accommodate ninety head. is

two-vat factory.

7,000

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HISTOEY OF SAUK COUNTY.

672

Ed Booker also has

a cheese-factory on Section 19, 80x40 in size, with one vat at present, but capacity for another. The factory now handles about 2,000 pounds of milk per season. There is a grist-mill on Big Bear Creek, near Mr. Ochsner's cheese-factory, built by Mr. It is 30x40, and accommodates three runs of stone, two for wheat and one Ochsner in 1869. The dam has an eight-foot head, and the water supply is ample. The machinery is for feed. propelled by Leffel turbines. In 1860, James llarriman built a small saw-mill on Section 19, which James Bodentine, who purchased it in 1874, is now operating. The manufacturing of sorghum molasses is not pursued here, although a good deal of the cane is

raised.

There

one religious society, the Catholic, which

They have a church

very large.

located in the north part of the town, and a resident priest.

Town Organization and Oi in eks. Bear Creek, with all of the southwest towns, was at first included with Honey Creek, where This town was set off and the first town meeting held April the first town meetings were held. 5, 1859, in the schoolhouse of District No. 6. There were ninety votes cast at this election, and the following officers were elected D. D. Thompson, Chairman James L. Wain, S. Giles, Side Supervisors A. G. Burnham, Clerk H. Giles, Treasurer; J. Johnson, Superintendent; R. H. Thurber and J. Johnson, Justices; M. Herriman, G. W. Giles, P. Donahue, Constables; Richard TalR. II. Thurber, Assessor $200 were voted to defray the town expenses for the ensuing year. One cent on bot, Scaler the dollar was voted and i-aised for road tax, and hogs were restricted from running at large. At Presidential election, sixty-five votes were cast. G. I. April 3, lXtJO, this town meeting held at schoolhouse, District No. 6. Officers elected Bancroft, Chairman; J. J. Boram, James Harvey, Side Supervisors; A. G. Burnham, Clerk; William Larkin, Treasurer; J. D. Dewey, Treasurer; J. Craul, F. G. Raynolds, S. A. PhetteD. C. Talbot, Superintendent F. R, Snow, G. I. Bancroft, C.Jones, Constables; place, Justices §200 raised to defray expenses of town, $50 included for the poor. A fund R. Talbot, Scaler of $50 raised for selmols. The third town meeting, held April 2, 1861, at schoolhouse, District No. 4. Officers .1. I>. Dewey, Chairman; S. A. Phetteplace and M. Sullivan. Supervisors; A. G. Burnham, Clerk; William Larkin, Treasurer; R. H. Thurber, Assessor; I). C. Talbot, Superintendent; James L. Ward and R. II. Thurber, Justices James Talmadge and G. I. Bancroft, Constables Richard Talbot, Sealer. Town expenses as before. The fourth town meeting held April I. L862, at same place as before $250 raised for expenses aiel $50 For the pom-. Officers S. A. Phetteplace and M. Sul1. D. Dewey, Chairman i. n Supervisors; A. <i. Burnham, Clerk; William Larkin, Treasurer; C. Jones, Assessor; <i. 1. Bancroft and M. Herriman, P. J. Randolph, John Phaler and F. C. Raynolds, Justices Constables Richard Talbot, Sealer. r fund as above The fifth election held April 7, 1863, as above town expenses and as above. Officers D.D. Thompson, Chairman; James L. Ward and M. Sullivan, Side Supervisors; A. G. Burnham, Clerk; William Larkin, Treasurer; R. II. Thurber, A A. Sweet. I!. 11. Thurber, Justices; I>- Miller, P. II. Haskins, and A. Hagderl, Constables; At a special meeting held this season, $1,200 were voted for army volunR. Talbot, Sealer. On the 17th of March, L864, a special meeting held, and $2,000 raised for volunteers, teers :

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allowing $200 each.

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The sixth town meeting held April A, 1864, as above. D. D. Thompson. ChairOfficers James L. Ward and M. Snlli\an. Side Supen isors A. G. Burnham, Jerk F. King, Treasurer; M. llarriman. Assessor: I'. J. Randolph and J. Phalen, Justices; J. King. A. Stratton and E. Pinch, Constables; J. I>. Dewey, Sealer; town expenses as above.

man

HISTOBY

SAUE COUNTY.

The seventh town meeting held April 4, 1865, as above

673

$350 were raised to defray town expenses. Number of votes, seventy-two. Officers D. D. Thompson, Chairman; M. Sullivan and A. 0. Williams, Side Supervisors; A. G. Burnham, Clerk and Treasurer; R. H. Thurber, Assessor; R. H. Thurber and A. Sweet, Justices; B. F. Hobart, A. Conally and G. I. Bancroft,

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;

Constables no Sealers. The seventh meeting held April 4. 1866, as above. Officers A. 0. Williams, Chairman; A. Phetteplace and William Larkin, Side Supervisors A. G. Burnham, Clerk L. E. Sweet, Treasurer; J. Johnson, Assessor; C. C. Bowers and J. Phelan, Justices; George Matheson, B. F. Hobart and A. J. Moss, Constables R. Talbot, Sealer. The eighth town meeting held April 3, 1867. Officers O. D. Thompson, Chairman M. Sullivan and B. F. Brown, Side Supervisors; A. G. Burnham, Clerk; L. E. Sweet, Treasurer; J. J. Bomm, Assessor; A. Sweet, L. Neimau, Justice; J. R. Hazzard and B. F. Hobart. Constables; S. A. Phetteplace, Sealer; town expenses about as during above years. The ninth town meeting held April 7, 1868, as above. Officers A. Sweet, Chairman William Rooney and J. Johnson, Side Supervisors; A. G. Burnham, Clerk A. Dwyer, Treaserer J. J. Bomm. Assessor; J. Phelan and Beekwith, Justices; D. Millane, J. Coen and J. M. Bower, Constables. The tenth town meeting held April 6, 18611. Ollieers D. D. Thompson, Chairman M. Sullivan and William Rooney. Side Supervisors; A. J. Burnham, Clerk; A. Dwyer, Treasurer R. H. Thurber, Assessor A. Sweet, G. I. Bancroft and L. Neiman, Justices M. Coyne and F. S. Warner, Constables. The eleventh town meeting held April 5, 1870, as above. Officers D. D. Thompson, Chairman M. Sullivan and William Rooney, Side Supervisors A. J. Burnham, Clerk A. Dwyer, Treasurer: J. J. Bomm, Assessor; L. Neiman, J. Phelan and W. H. Burnham, Justices B. McClosky, B. W. Reynolds and V. C. Young, Constables. Votes recorded this year amount to 146. TOWN OF FRANKLIN, ;

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geographically considered, is of the same dimensions and shape, and occupies the same relative position in Townships 9 and 10 that Bear Creek does. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Westfield and Washington, on the south by Spring Green, on the east by the towns of Honey Its physical configuration is Creek and Troy, and on the west by the town of Bear Creek. somewhat similar to that of its twin, Bear Creek, only Franklin has more good tillable lands. What is known as the South Branch of Honey Creek takes its rise in this town, it being made up of numerous small streams that flow from the springs among the hills, and go rippling merrily There is certainly no lack of good water. Along the Honey along to join the brimming river. Creek Branch, and the streams, and in the pockets that lead out from the bottom lands, may be seen splendid farms under an excellent state of cultivation. The soil is similar to that of Bear Creek, but with less of stone or gravel, the result of glacial drifts and streams. The products are principally agricultural. There is a good deal of stock raised here, but not so much for dairying purposes as is the case in some of the towns. There is also some fruit raised, but only to a limited extent. The inhabitants are principally foreigners, there being a very large German representation. The social and moral condition is similar to that of other localities made up largely of Germans. It is something after this fashion Work hard all the week and have a good time Sundays or whenever you can, for that matter. They have churches and schools that are very well supported and patronized in the main, although the people are not extravagant in their devotion to those things. Franklin does quite a large importing business in the way of luxuries, but in all probability there will some time be an end put to this by its manufacture at home, by some enterprising Teuton. Headquarters for the article is Plain Post Office, commonly called Logtown. where a thirsty individual can get ninety-two per cent of bitter water fuddled with eight per cent of alcohol, known as beer, on demand at almost any time.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

673|

Early Settlement. Dewitt Slauter, formerly a settler in the town of Troy, and one of the first there, was the first settler here, and came in the fall of 1849 and settled in what was known as Sugar Grove, a forest of hard maples on Section 36, taking half a section, but not the pick of the county so far as the lay of the land and quality of soil is concerned yet, on the other hand, he had splendid timber, and a fine spring burst out of the ground but a short distance from his cabin. Pie came originally from the Buckeye State, and brought in a family of eight to endure the hardships of a new country, and to grow up with it and improve it. He lived to see the county partially settled and improved then, in March, 1860, he died. T. J. Morgans was the second settler here. He first came to Spring Green Prairie in 1844, where he bought a claim of a Rev. D. M. Jones, one of the very earliest claimants there, and who left very early. In 1849, Mr. Morgans sold there, and. soon after, came up and located one quarter-section on the fertile bottoms of Sugar Grove Hollow, in the present town of Franklin, where he has since resided and developed one of the finest farms to be found in this section. Mr. Morgans is now the last and oldest of the first settlers here, and also is undoubtedly the oldest permanent settler in the southwest part of the comity. When Mr. Morgans came here, the county was a wilderness in toto, and gave little promise of its present condition. The land was covered thickly with brush, trees and grubs that were scarcely intersected by even an Indian trail, and the only road was a bee hunter's trail from Helena, on the Wisconsin, up through the Bear Creek country on the ridge. Mr. Morgans is a native of Wales. Thomas Wells, one of the early settlers in Troy, settled here in the fall of 1850, on Section We also find that a few others came 8, but subsequently sold and moved to the town of Westfield. in during the above year or soon after. They were R. A. Davidson, Samuel Richards, John Smith, Charles Lamb, John Noble, Andrew Cooper, Jerry, John and A. Cramer, William Ilarreman. X. Mitchell. J. Whiteis and sons (H. J. and G. M.), A. Moss L. Butt, and perhaps a few others whose names have not been ascer;

;

tained.

The first death in the town was Mary Morgans, a child of T. J. Morgans. ber 4. 1849.

The first birth is also recorded in

the above family

She died Octo-

— that of Phoebe Ann Morgans, born

June 23, 1851. The first religious services were held here as early as 1850, in Thomas Wells' house, the minister being a Rev. Mr. Bunce. He came only three or four times, as his patronage was not very he said, the people were not Methodistical enough for him, and, besides, they did not shell out the wherewithal, not having it to shell. His weekly presence, it is stated, was not considered a great loss, as his instruction was not of the quality to create a gap by its liberal, and, as

absence.

The schoolhouse

of District No.

was built in 1851.

The district included and drew its

The first teacher was T. J. Morgans, who also supplies from all the country around for miles. taught several subsequenf terms to the satisfaction of all parties, small hoys not excepted. The compensation

for a teacher at that time did not exceed $15 per month. In 1850 or L851, a notable event transpired til town in the marriage of James Davis and Catharine Wells. Davis was afterward, in 1856, shot at Sauk City by a man by ihe name of Millard, whom Davis had threatened to kill for being intimate with his wife. Davis was" shot dead, and Millard was sentenced to State Prison for life, bul was pardoned out, after twenty-two months' imprisonment, by the Governor. The wedding will he remembered as having been quite an affair for those days. A good dinner, consisting of chicken, etc.. was served, and. if they had no marriage hells, they wire at least merry. Mr. 'avis wrote out his wedding service, and Daniel Held, a new Justice, read it. While Daniel was tremblingly reading the ceremony, Andrew Cooper stood in the rear spurring him up to the scratch, not gently, with a pin. It is recorded of Held that he endured like a hero, neither running nor backing up. I

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. At first, the mail was

674

town by John Cramer, the neighbors taking turns in bringing it until a post office was established at White Mound, in 1859; then a Mr. Smith was appointed Postmaster, and Jacob Henry carried the mail. Jerry Carpenter is now Postmaster at that point. There is also a post office at Plain, called Logtown. that has been estab(about is now Postmaster here. ten) years. P. Stutz lished several distributed in

The blacksmith business was started here as early as the fall of 1850, by r. M. Whiteis. His first simp was mother earth for the floor and the skies for a roof. Before this, the settlers had to go either to Sauk or Richland City to get their work done. The first store was opened at Logtown, formerly called Cramer's Comers, by Mr. Perry, in He sold to A. Inter in 1873, who, in turn, in 1875, sold to P. Stutz, the present 1869. Then, in 1879, Alois Huter built on the corner and started another store. saloonist. There is also a blacksmith-shop at this point, which may be denominated the metropolis of the town. in one particular (before mentioned). The first road in here was from Prairie du Sac, via Honey Creek, hut, in 1856 or 1857, a pretty direct road was opened by which the people could get over the bluffs to Spring Green. Deer were very thick here in an early day, and the wolves went for sheep and poultry in a way which they have not yet gotten over, for even now they are troublesome to sheep. The first bridge in the town was one of nature's formation, a sod causeway over a branch of Honey creek, strong enough to bear the weight of a man. An elk was killed here in I860, the only one ever seen by whites in the town. The antlers may now be seen at Prairie du Sac. A store was started at White Mound a few years ago by Justin Carpenter, but there is none there now. In connection with the above, an anecdote concerning one of the carpenters will not come In an early time, when there were no good roads and settlers were few to direct a amiss. traveler, J. C. went to Sauk one day and did not start on his homeward way until quite late. Just in the dusk of the evening, when well on his way, he stopped at a settler's cabin to inquire the route, but the man, being a German, could not guide him. So he journeyed on awhile, then came to a house again. The proprietor was duly roused out and the way inquired. Again a German, so he must needs journey on. Two or three hours again passed in traveling in the dark, and at last, thank fortune, he came to another cabin. Again he pounded the owner up. who very reluctantly arose, and again be bad struck the wrong nation. Germany was still to the What should he or could he do? Nothing but journey on, evidently. A while later, fore. dawn broke over the wilderness, and lo before him a settler's cabin! lucky circumstance! Now he would surely learn where he was! But what do these numerous fresh wagon-tracks about the house mean? and who is it that comes out? Only his " Nicht verstane " of the night before. What Can it be ? traveled all night after himself? Such are the facts. During the winter of 1852, E. Mead and John Bear built a saw-mill at the junction of Morgan's and Honey Creek, on Section 5. They were assisted by the people in the vicinity, who, in order to get the mill ready for running as quickly as possible, turned in and helped them get out the timbers and erect it. It was started in the spring. They did a good business <

for two or three years, then sold out to T. Slinger,

who has

since run

it.

doing a poor business. a mill is needed

There is talk of building a grist-mill, as there is a good water-power here and

George Claridge, on Section 17. was sufficiently enterprising to rig up a mill several years bough it is a sort of original affair in the get-up, nevertheless, it does pretty fair grinding, and the farmers in the immediate vicinity get work done there. L. Cooper, in 1^77. opened a cheese-factory, which run a couple of years then, the property getting into litigation, the factory was closed, and, besides, it is said, that it did not pay. There is a sorghum refinery on Section 29, owned by G ge Morgan, established this year, which is doing a very fair business, which will probably be better the coming year. There are no other manufacturing establishments in town than these. ;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

674J

one a Catholic, at Logtown, that has a resident priest, and a Methodist Episcopal Church at White Mound, that has been established for some time, is auxiliary to the Spring Green Circuit, being supplied with a minister from and which

There are two churches in town

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that point.

Organization and Town Officers. Franklin was a precinct of Honey Creek until April 3. 1855, when, the town having been set off into a separate precinct, the first town meeting was held, and the town regularly organized and The meeting was held at School District No. 1. Officers as follows: N. officers clec id. Mitchell, Chairman; John Johnson and James Henry, Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk; J. B. Carpenter, Treasurer; Justin Carpenter, Assessor; T. J. Morgans. Superintendent of Schools; A. Sothard, George Matteson and G. E. Corbin, Justices; J. Bancroft, R. Remrard, A tax of $150 was voted to defray town expenses, and seven mills on the dollar Constables. There were forty-four votes cast at this election. for mad tax, the same as it yet remains. Sol Officers J. Bear, Chairman The second annual meeting was held April 1, 1856. Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk; J. B. Carpenter, Treasurer; A. Cramer and T. C. Peck, James Harvey, F. C. Reynolds and F. C. Reynolds, Superintendent E. Lindly, Assessor T. J. Morgans, Justices; G. P. Howard and M. Ott, Constables. H. The third annual meeting held April 7, 1857. Officers N. Mitchell, Chairman Dickison and A. Stuthard, Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk; Smith Phetteplace, Treasurer; Rennard Justices R. D. Thompson, T. Morgans, D. Superintendent; J. and Assessor Bear, J. i

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and A. Sweet, Constables. Officers— J. Bear, Chairman; D. D. The fourth annual meeting held April 6,1858. Thompson and Nat Mitchell, Side Board; A. G. Burnham, Clerk: Eli Jones, Treasurer; J. Burnham, James Harvey, Justices R. A. G. J. Johnson, Superintendent Bear, Assessor Rennard. P. Donahue, W. Williams, Constables. Officers— E. Jones, Chairman; George The fifth annual meeting held April 5,1859. Morgan and J. Weishan, Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk; Eli Jones, Treasurer; N. J. T. J. Morgans, James Catlin, Justices E. Jones, Superintendent Mitchell, Assessor Cramer, George Morgan and J. Robison, Constables. Officers E. Jones, Chairman; J. Cramer and Sixth annual meeting held April 3, 1860. ;

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George Morgan, Side Board

;

T. J.

Morgans,

Clerk

;

Treasurer

Bear,

;

Mitchell,

E. Jones, Superintendent; J. Bear and T. J. Morgans, Justices; J. Cramer and George Morgan, Constables William Henneman, Sealer. Officers— J. B. Carpenter, Chairman: Jerry" Seventh annual election held April 2, 1861. Cramer and A. Hutter, Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk; William Hudson, Treasurer; N.

Assessor;

;

no Superintendent B. V. Bunnell, William Hudson, Justices S. Beaver Mitchell, Assessor and J. Henry, Constables William Huneman, Sealer. election, about sixty votes were cast. at Presidential In L860, E. Jones, Chairman; J. Weisham and Officers Eighth annual meeting, April 1, 1862. William Hudson, Treasurer; N.Mitchell, Side Board; J. S. Curly, Clerk William Claridge, T. J. Morgans and .1. S. (Jul!, Justices; .1. Henry. William J. Herreman and T. J. ;

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Cooper, Constables.

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Officers T. J. Morgans, Chairman; H. Dickerson Ninth annual meeting April 7, 1863. and William .1. Henneman, Side Board: .1. S. Cully, Clerk; William Hudson. Treasurer: N. Mitchell. Assessor; B.V.Bunnell, William Hudson, Justices; -I. Cramer and ). M. Baker,

Constables. >fficers— E. Jones, Chairman George Morgan Tenth annual meeting held April 5. 1864. and J. Cramer. Side Board; ,J. K. Dunn, Clerk; William Hudson, Treasurer; N. Mitchell, T. I. Morgans and B. Calkins, Justices; J. Cramer and H. Dickerson, Constables. <

Presidential votes, 60.

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Officers E. Jones, Chairman; William Eleventh annual meeting held April 4, 1865. William Claridge, TreasDickerson, Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk

Henneman and J.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

675

Carpenter, Assessor; 1!. V. Bunnell and J. B. Carpenter, J. Cramer and Joseph Robinson Constables. Twelfth annual meeting held April 3, 1866. Officers— E. Jones, Chairman; Joseph Bandel and Joseph Robinson, Side Board; T. J. Morgans, Clerk: William Clarridge, Treas urer; Joseph Bended. Assessor: T. J. Morgans and E. Jones, Justices; James Murray and .1. urer;

Cramer,

1!.

(

lonstables.

Thirteenth annual meeting held April 2,

1367. Officers— Joseph Bandel, Chairman; J. J. T. Morgans, Clerk; William (darn,!-,.. Treasurer; William Hudson, Assessor: B. V. Bunnell. William Hudson, K. Kennard, Justices; J. B. Crawl, J, mics Murray. Constables.

Cramer and A. Riek, Side Board;

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Fourteenth annual meeting held April 7, 1868. Officers Joseph Handel. Chairman; A. Riek and George Gasser, Side Board T. J. Morgans, Clerk; William Clarridge, Treasurer; William Hudson. Assessor; T. J. Morgans and B. Calkins, Justices; J. Cramer and .lames Murray. Constables. Presidential election in November, 96 votes. loseph l'.endel, Chairman; Fifteenth annual meeting held April 6, 1869. Officers George Gasser and P. Luther, Side Board T.J. Morgans, Clerk: William Clarridge, TreasWilliam urer; Hudson, Assessor: B. V. Bunnell and William Hudson, Justices: .1. Cramer and James Murray, Constables. ;

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TOWN OF HONEY CREEK. This town

not equal in size to Bear Creek and Franklin, there being forty-eighi Sections 10. It is bounded north by Westfield and Freedom, south by Troy, east by is

Township Sumter and Prairie du Sac, and west by Franklin.

level than the southern tier of towns:

marshy.

The soil presents nearly all

but

is.

In physical formation,

generally more

nevertheless, quite broken in places and somewhat

the varieties to be found elsewhere in

the county, only dition is better than the average for farming purposes, being mainly composed of a sandy loam, very rich in quality, and deep. There are numerous striking natural objects or formations existing in this town, the result of nature's upheavals and glacial streams. The most noticeable of these is a natural bridge, which is really a wonderful and beautiful proWe quote from the description given by R. D. Irving, State Geologist: "On the duction. northwest quarter of Section 17. a narrow, precipitous spur from a higher bluff, is worn entirely through, firming a natural bridge of considerable dimensions. The arch is about ten feet thick, the under side being thirty feet from the ground, and the width of the archway thirty to forty feet. The upper portion of the rock is potsdam sandstone, containing the usual calcareous bands, and is highly charged with small pebbles of red quarf/.ite. hie thing in this connection, that may be regarded as peculiar in the light of history, is the fact that very many of the people living within a short distance of this beautiful object, have never seen it, and scarcely ki ther- is such a place. The town is magnificently watered by Honey Creek and numerous small streams that thread the land in all directions, and that flow southerly. How this principal stream ca led Honey <'reek is not positively known: but it is conjectured that it was owing to the large amount of wild honey that used to be found through this portion of the country, by the bee-hunters, who, at one time, made a regular business of gathering it for the market as elsewhere stated The obtaining of that kind of sweet cost less in experience, money and labor, than the subsequent manufacture of sweet by the people here, and paid better dividends in the end. The products of the town are very general, not being very exceptional in a ticular, unless it be in the absence of beets The inhabitants are largely Cenn.au and Swiss, ng enough of other nationalities to fill up the niches. The people seem to be in a uniform: condition, as is evidenced by their comfortable homes and well kept and well-tilled farms. The educational, moral .and religious conditions are excellent in every respect, although, religiously, a great diversity of opinion prevails. There is not much done in tl of manufacturing, but a good deal of good stock is raised here, the country being well adapted to that purpose. In conclusion of these observations, it may he justly said that this town and adjacent country is as good, in most respects, as any in the county. <

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

6751

Early Settlement. The settlement of the town began very early, compared with that of some contiguous towns. The very first comers here were Bartholomew Ragatz, and his sons, Christian and Thomas. They came in and settled on Section 36, where Thomas Ragatz now lives, in July, 1842. There were then no white neighbors on the west or south of them, except Wilson and Turner, at Spring Green, and none nearer on Sauk Prairie than V. Accold and A. Wolf. They immeproceeded to prepare outhouses and provender for their stock, as Mr. Ragatz brought fifteen head of cattle with him and as many head of hogs, his intention being to following stock-raising and dairying exclusively. At that time, raising pigs, when the woods were infested by famishing wolves, was a very risky undertaking, and one seldom attempted to such an extent by the early settlers. Nevertheless, Mr. Ragatz and sons had the good luck to get along all right wi.th the enterprise, for, within three years, they had fortv head of cattle and diately erected a cabin and

100 hogs. Mr. Ragatz made the first butter and cheese in the town in fact, cheese was made by him • years before any other was made here. The Ragatz family also built the first bridge, and run the first road into Honey The bridge over the creek stood where the present one does. The land in this town did not come into market until three years after Mr. Ragatz came consequently, before they could enter and pay for what they had claimed, they had made a large improvement. In 1846, Fred Rose and John Thilke, brothers-in-law, came into the town, Mr. Thilke having previously lived on Sauk Prairie. Before they came permanently, Mr. Thilke and wife went on a prospecting tour, to see what they could " find them out." In going in they met with no serious difficulties, but in coming out they decided to return roundabout. When they got to Honey Creek, over which they had crossed all right in the morning, they found themselves in something of a dilemma, the only ;

;

bridge they could find being a tree fallen over the stream. Mrs. Thilke protested that she could not walk the log, so John said he would crawl over on his hands and knees with his wife on his back. In this manner they started, but alas! when they were about half over, John slipped, and in they went, and were only able to get out with their lives. - Mr. Thilke will remember his most unwelcome bath in Honey Creek, to the end of his days. Very soon after this, the two families came in and settled on what was then called Thilke's Prairie, now known as Little Prairie, one of the choicest tracts of land in the town. The same Mr. Thilke, within a couple of years, sold his claim ami raised corn, potatoes, etc. moved to Sauk. Mr. Hose still lives here. About this time. A. Reedy and M. Luetscher and Andrew Suton came in to the town and settled permanently. In 1S4T, several families came in nearly together, the heads of said families being F. Haas, M. Tane, H. Clement, George Van Bschen, V. Nold, F. Nold. Besides those above mentioned, there were B. Carish, 11. Schneller, J. Saifer, <i. K. Crone. Mr. II. Ochsner and several more not known, who came in from L8 16 to L850. The first death thai occurred in town was that of Andrew Sutor in 1*16: he was the first one buried in Salem's churchyard. Christian Ragatz and Catherine Stifer were the first married, in 1844, Justice Grossman, I

of Prairie du Sac, performing the ceremony. The first birth in the town was that of Louisa Thilke. born April,

1847.

The lirst sehoolhousc built in town is standing yet on Mr. original

purpose.

Rosi farm, and yet serves the an odd-looking little affair, and not well adapted to modern educational

work.

A saw-mill was built in town in 1848 or 1849, by a Mr. Leland. It bad a large undershot wheel, and was altogether one of those groaning, squeaky old affairs thai used to slowly thrash out the lumber.

HISTORY OF s.UK COUNTY.

676

1ms two runs of li 1868, the firm ofKoenig& Pazel built a grist-mill at this point. stones, with water-head aboutseven feet. Turbine wheels are now used. It stands on Section 17. as early very many Ragatz brought in a horse-team as 1845 of the first settlers were Mr. in own any teams at all, and had to carry everything on their backs or go without. In

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The first regular breaking-team was run by the Ragatz family; the rig consisted of six They obtained for breaking from $2.25 to $2.75 yokes of cattle and a thirty-inch breaking plow. per acre. contrivances in vogue here at an early day the wagons made with wheels With these the from the ends of big logs, were, perhaps, the most conspicuous. would trundle Germans contentedly to town, asking no odds of anyone, only their share of the prairies and bluffs to travel on. Henry Ochsner, brought in a reaper about twenty-five years ago. Before that time, and even after, the ancient sickle, witli lame backs to back it, cut the grain, together with the more

Of the ancient

sawed

off

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modern contrivance a cradle. When the Ragatz family came into town, the Indians were very plenty, and had a village This lot of Indians hung of sixty or seventy families located on the land that they claimed. around until 1851, in the meantime having moved their village to what is known as Kohl's At that time, one night, the Bucks got hungry and tried to break into the cabin of Hill. Huerly's cries for assistance at. lass Christopher Utterly, a lame tailor, who hail no gun. At this, the Indiroused his neighbors, who went to his rescue, firing their guns as they went. ans withdrew, blowing their deer-calf signals. The morning after, fifteen or twenty men. armed with guns, went to the Indian camp and told the chief that he must leave. The next day they went and for good, never coming back, only in small parties, to hunt and fish, or to visit some of their white friends and their old homes. The last they still continue to do. occasionally. An adventure with a wolf, that occurred here, is well worthy of a description. It happened as follows: The Rev. Henry Esch. who was preacher for the German Methodists here in 1850, was almost as fond of hunting or adventure as of his Bible, and. being a man of bulk, brawn He was as fearless as a lion and al and intelligence, he was a power in either direction. powerful. One evening, after being out, he returned late to Father Ragatz's, as he is familiarly called, and hearing two large dogs barking fiercely, he thought he would take an ax and go ami interview the intruder. When he got to them, what should he find but a huge gray wolf, being assailed by the dogs. Tne wolf was so occupied watching the dogs that he did not approach of Mr. Esch, who managed to get near enough to givje the wolf a whack on the head. The blow staggered the wolf but did not lay him out. Esch then jumped a straddle of his back. ami. grabbing the animal by the nape of the neck, succeeding in beating his lira lie was a monster, measuring seven feet from the point of nose to tip of tail. Of the various deprivations endured here, it is almost useless to speak. Every one had a share in that kind of experience, and all know well enough what it is to endure hunger and want. The first religious services held in town were by the German Methi dists as early as l v 44.

Salem Church of the Evangelical Association of North America.

On the 28th of July, 1844, the first religious services of this sect were held in the frame schoolhouse in what is now Sauk City, by Johannes Syhert. first Bishop of this denomination cue and in America. With him came Rev. J. G. Mueller, who made an appo He came at intervals for two years, then the Rev. Mathias preach here once in four weeks. Ilauert took his place. Rev. Samuel Baumgartner was the Presiding Elder, after tin.' establishWhile the Rev. Hauert was in chi ment of the mission, for nearly four years. school was organized in the winter of 1846. The Rev. Ilauert continued in charge un when he was succeeded by the Rev. Christian Lintner, who remained but a year, then Rev. Henry Esch came, in, the L 2th of October, L850, a protracted meeting was commenced by him, under the auspices of Bishop Sybert and Rev. S. Baumgartner, at the house of Father Ragatz,

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

676|

of seventy or eighty persons. The Rev. Henry Esch remained but one year, until 1851, then the Rev. Christian Lintner came. Previous to this years, had the people time, for about two been preparing to build a house of worship, which was finally erected early in 1 S51, and was dedicated April 8, of the above year by the Rev. S. BaumThe land upon which thechurcU'Was located was six acres, a gift from Father Ragatz. gartner. In 1852, Rev. C. A. Schnake came to the charge. During that year, this mission was converted into a self-supporting circuit, the minister receiving no salary outside his charge. At that time, the Rev. J. J. Escher was Presiding Elder of the district. The first parsonage was completed during the summer of 1852, and on the 15th of September following, the Rev. Schnake and family moved in. The first camp-meeting of the society occurred in the summer of 1853, at which twenty persons were converted. In 1854, the Rev. J. Riegel was stationed here, then in 1855, the Rev. George Fleischer came. At that time, II. Rohland was Presiding Elder. In 1856, the Wisconsin Conference of this denomination was organized. In 1856, the Rev. C. A. Schnake was re-appointed, the Rev. J. George Escher then being Presiding Elder. In 1857, the Rev. C. Pfeil came. The Wisconsin Conference held its session here in the spring of 1858. Two ministers were then appointed to this, circuit, the Rev. 0. Ragatz and Rev. N. Sehiick. The Rev. I. Kuter came in 1859. C. A. Schnake was then Presiding Elder. Rev. Goerge Schafer was appointed in 1860 after him. Rev. James Harlacher and Rev. P. Jenny. In 1862, the Rev. Halacher and Rev. G. Schwantes. In 1863, Rev. F. Huelster and G. Schwantes August Huelster then Presiding Elder. In 186-1, Rev. Huelster and Rev. F. Stroebel. In 1865, J. M. Hammetter and F. Stroebel. In 1866, the Rev. J. M. Hammetterand Rev. F. Moser. In 1867, Rev. P. Held ami A. Etasch. In 1868, Rev. P. Held and 0. Kuederling. In 1870, Rev. C. F. In 1869, Rev. C. F. Finger and W. Kaun. Finger and II. Uphoff. During that year, the cirIn 1871, Rev. II. Guelich and II. Uphoff. cuit was divided into East and West Sauk Circuits. In 1872, Rev. II. Guelich. In l<S7o-74-75, Rev. T. Qmbreit. In 1875, the present fine church was built, of stone, with a basement, costi00; the present parsonage was buill in 1868, at a cost of Si'JHiO. This church is one

and which

resulted

the conversion

;

—

>f the best in the State. In 1879, I'. Speich, the present In 1876, the Rev. J. C. Brendel. east part of Pastor, cane' to the charge. ill Sauk. 56; There are 1 19 members in this society town, 62 members. Emanuel's Church, of the above denomination, in this town, was built in 1868, during the ministration of Rev. P. Held, of the Salem Circuit. In (Jet. Int. Bishop E. E. Escher dedicated the church. In l^T'A the congregation .if this church Were assigned to the ministrations of the minister of the Bethlehem Church of the town of Troy, which connection they still main:

tain.

iam

'C about $600. There are forty members. Zion's Kirche. built of logs, was erected ill LB59, at a cost of $350. It is located on WillDeuzer's land, in this town. The first minister was the Rev. Israel Kuter. There is also a branch station of the Sauk City Humanists in this town. They have a hall, .

II.

and are in a thriving condition.

Sauk

The membership is

For further information, see

The first election recorded for the town of Honey Creek, was held at .1. A. Stains' April J. M. Cass. Chairman; J. Davis and Hewitt 1849, when the following officers were elected Slauter, Side Board; II. 1!. Slams. Clerk; .lames Taylor. Treasurer: II. Kifer, Assessor; D. Capells, Superintendent of Schools J. Sprecher, J. Davis and J. Rogu, Justi#ss; A. HenNo appropriations were made at this nington, Thomas Wells and Daniel Meld. Constables. election, owing to the fact that the voters del not know what they could legally do unt they ; '>.

;

obtained a copy of the town laws I, it was decided to have a road from the At the first regular ting of Supervisors, May end of the Helena road, on log Hill, running northeast between Sections II and R) to Little i

Prairie.

Tax for town expenses was laid at "> mills on the dollar for town expenses. 2 A mills for sup-'•liools

and 5 mills for maintaining roads.

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

677

April 2,1850; election held al house of J. W. Harris. II. B. Stams, Clerk; T. Davis, Chairman; Officers D. Slauter and J. W. Harris, Side Board James L Taylor, Treasurer ; T. J. Morgans, Assessor $150 tax lor town expenses; 1 ] mills Tax collected. S:i71.18. on the dollar tor schools, and roads as above. Third annual meeting held April 1. L851. Officers G. Albertus, Chairman; J. Ragatz and A. Roll. Side Hoard: F. E. Watermeier, Clerk II. Ochsner, Treasurer: 1!. Ragatz; T. E. Watermeier, Superintendent; three Constables were appointed to keep the discordant elements at peace tax. $233.

Second annual

—

ting,

held

;

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;

Fourth annual meeting held April 6, 1852.

A. Roll, Side Board J. F. Grone, Town Clerk; James H. Taylor, Superintendent. ;

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.1. Rear and H. Meyer, Chairman H. Taylor, Treasurer; J. Bear. Assessor;

Officers J.

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Officers Fifth annual town meeting held April 5, 1853. G. F. Albertus, Chairman M. William Bonham. Treasurer Ragatz, Jr., Side Board J. F. Grone, Clerk B. Ragatz. Sr., Assessor; J. Bear, Superintendent. Sixth annual meeting held April 4, 1854. G. F. Albertus, Chairman -T Sneller Officers ami A. Roll, Side Hoard: .1. F. Grone, Clerk; U. Henry, Treasurer; J. Bear, Assessor.

Lycum and B. E

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Seventh annual town meeting held April 5, 1855. H. Ochsner. Chairman; Officers William Bonham and F. Leikham, Side Hoard; J. B. Lancamp, Clerk; U. Henry. Treasurer; D. Dahlen. Assessor. Eighth annual meeting April 7, 1856. J. F. Grone. Chairman G. F. Albertus, Officers and -T. A. Taylor, Side Board: J. B. Lancamp, Clerk; M. Leikham. Treasurer: A. Roll,

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;

Superintendent. Ninth annual election held April 7, 1857 J. F. Grone. Chairman Officers G. F. Albertus and F. Leikham. Side Board; J. B. Lancamp, Clerk: M. Leikham, Treasurer W. Klaes, Assessor; George Parker, Superintendent. (I. Nippert, Chairman Tenth annual meeting April 6, 1858. Officers N. Sneller and F. Ragatz, Side Board J. J. Gattiker, Clerk A. Roll, Treasurer D. Henry. Assessor A. Wilcox, Superintendent. Eleventh annual meeting April 5, 1859. H. Ochsner, Chairman; G. Jacobs and Officers L. Sneller, Side Board; A. Hill, Clerk: A. Roll, Treasurer: William Klaes, As Twelfth annual meeting April li. 1860. Officers George Nippert. Chairman; U. Henry and D. Dahlen, Side Board; A. Hill, Clerk; William Klaes, Treasurer: G. F. Grone, Assessor. Presidential votes :li>. Thirteenth annual election April 2. 1861. Officers— G. F. Albertus, Chairman William H. Deuzer and J. Leidig, Side Board: J. B. Lancamp. Clerk: William Klaes. Treasurer: J. F. Grone, Assessor. Fourteenth annual meeting April 1. l s <>2. Officers G. F. Albertus, Chairman; II. W. Deuzer and .1. Leidig, Side Board J. F. Grone, Clerk N. Buehler, Treasurer: William Klaes, Assessor. Fifteenth annual meeting April 7, 1863. Officers H. W. Deuzer, Chairman N. Sneller and C. Schumm, Side Board; J. F. Grone, Clerk N. Buehler, Treasurer: William Klaes.

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Assessi 'i'.

At a special meeting held the 7th of January, 1 si!4. it was voted to offer a b each person who should volunteer in the town, and, if the United States did not pay a bounty, thej would pay $300 to each person necessary to fill out the town quota. The hoard were authorized to borrow what money should be needed for this purpose. A special meeting was held January 23, 1864, for the purpose of raising money to aid in the support of the families of those who had paid $300 commutation money, and the sum of $25 was voted for each family also a motion was made and carried to raise $200 for each family, the head of which was drafted $2,000 were paid for bounties this year, besides personal subscriptions. Sixteenth annual meeting April 5. 186 1. L. Sneller. Chairman 0. Schumm and Officers A. Hageback, Side Board J. F. Grone, <.'lerk J. Schiess, Treasurer William Klaes, Assessor. This year $2,0011 were paid to volunteers. to

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

677i

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Seventeenth annual meeting April 4, 1865. G. F. Albertus, Chairman Officers G. Nippert and A. Hageback, Side Board; J. F. Grone, Clerk; J. Schiess, Treasurer; A. Roll, A volunteer fund of $6,883 was raised by special tax this year. Assessor. ;

TOWN OF MERRIMACK. Merrimack, being in the extreme east part of the county, was one of the first settled, and is therefore one of the oldest, towns in the county. It was at first a part of the town of Kingston, what is now known as Sumter. The town is irregular in shape and small in size, then' being not more than twenty-seven sections of land all told. On the southwest it is bordered by the Wisconsin, on the north by Greenfield, on the east by Columbia County, and on the west by Sumter. The surface is broken, and the soil highly diversified, from the richest alluvial to the poorest Along the northern boundary of the town extend the Baraboo Bluft's, quality of light sand. On the east, along the river, the prevailing character with their rough and uninviting surface. In the southwestern part, bordering on the river, of the soil is light sand, with uneven surface. Nature, in the soil is better, being made up largely of black sand and rich alluvial deposits. shaping this portion of the country, and in contributing a variety of qualities or properties to the The town soil, seems to have been unusually prodigal, if not thoroughly beneficial, inher bequests. is fairly well timbered with the various species indigenous to this portion of the country (as spoken of elsewhere) and, taking the general attributes of climate, soil, timber and water into account, The products are principally cereals and stock. Hops are there are many worse places t<> live. At one time and another there has been a good deal of also raised more largely, and sorghum. milling done, which covers the ground of manufacturing pursued here entirely, unless we except the minor considerations of sorghum molasses making, dairying and the various mechanical purThere is much to be seen hen- that is attractive to the tourist and curiosity suits followed. seeker, as the cavernous gulches and singular mounds of the prehistoric, which abound here as largely, perhaps, and which are as singular in appearance, as in any other portion of the county. One very peculiar natural formation is Porprey's Glen (named after an original owner) another it form, the creation of man, is a mound on Section !, doubtless intended to represent a bird, Other features might be mentioned in is very large, being 240 feet from tip to tip of its wings. ;

;

this connection, but it is scarcely necessary, as they are not sufficiently striking or unusual.

inhabitants

represent nearly

all

nationalities,

Americans in the north, to the Germans and

from the hardy Welsh, Scotch,

Irish

the south.

The

English and

social, intellectual

ami

although almost every shade ami difference of opinion prevails. Taking is good all things into account, the condition of the people is average. It appears from records that the town was not organized until April 3, 1855, then, according to previous notice, the qualified voters of the then town of Kingston, residing in Township 10 and 11. met at the hall of W. P. Flanders, in the village of Merrimack, at 9 o'clock A.

religious status

;

M., for the purpose of organizing a new town.

The town was named Merrimack by Mrs. J. B.

At election, E. G. Buck was ChairTrain, after the town of Merrimack in New Hampshire. man of Inspection, and Samuel VY. Ilovey and Luther Crosby. Inspectors. The first officers as follows: M. Quiggle, Chairman; L. W. W. Ilovey and M. Brindlur, upervisors; II. W. .Manly, Assessor; .lames (J. Train. Treasurer; Charles Naffy, Clerk Norman Wood. Superintendent of Schools; J. Quiggle, Samuel Shaw, and J. M. Haines, Justices of Peace; .1. M. Emerson, Constable. ;

At special town meetings held during the war. Sil. 100 was raised by the town, to be used as bounty

money for men who enlisted.

When the Baraboo Airline Railroad Company was discussing the project of running through the county, tin- property-holders and voters of the town convened August :i7. L870, and voted to bond the town to pay the railroad company $10,000, if the road was run through the town. The bonds were accepted by the company, and the railroad run through the town, but up to date they remain unpaid, although, according to some, the railroad has offered

compromise

for

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

078

The chances are now that there will he a suit instituted against the town by one-half the sum. What will he the termination of the affair cannot he suggested. the road, to get the money. The townspeople stiff"

are

largely

unanimous

repudiating the bonds, and will doubtless make a circumstances. When the bonds were voted.

fight for what they consider right under the

there were ninety-nine for giving them and sixty-six against.

Settlers Before

The

1850.

man to emigrate hither and settle permanently was George Wood, who came in In 1S47. D. B. Randall, who is now the him, in 1844, Zaeth Eldridge came in.

first

1^1:'.: after

came to Merrimack. Before 1850, as nearly as can lie ascertained, there were Chester Mattson, George Grant, Thomas Trott, W. P. Flanders, William Thile. C. Steidtman, Rohert Coulhorn, S. Hovey, N. Furst, L. Crosby, I. Emerson, Hiram Bailey, Herman Kuntz, George Fris and I), and T. Swartz. There were several more wdiose names cannot he ascertained, as they have mostly died or departed. The milling business spoken of is now a thing of the past, the several mills that have been erected having long since ceased to saw or grind; the first one was a grist-mill, built as early as 1844 or L845, by II. Searl, on Section 4, on what is known as Searl's Creek, it had not been up more than two months, when a freshet undermined the dam and swept everything to rack and ruin. It was not rebuilt. The next person to enter the field was David King, who, two or three years after the above disaster, bought whatever was valuable left of the Searl mill, and, building a mill near the bluff's, on the same stream, began operations. Two or three years subsequent the mill burned. He oldest settler in town,

soon after rebuilt a saw-mill, which, subsequently, after his death, in 1855, became the property of a Mr. Naragong. Mr. King also started a distillery, which passed into the hands of Fred Roper. Mr. Naragong put an engine into the old mill. Previous to this, undershot or overshot wheels hail been used here altogether. Mr. Naragong's enterprise proved a failure. In 1856 or L^oT. Fordice Roper built, which soon after passed into the hands of Fred Roper, who moved the still to the mill and refitted it. This institution run for a few years. until the tariff' on whisky stopped it. The Roper Mill passed into the hands of Mr. J. Gibbs about 1860, then afterward Roberl Porprey bought it. Before Porfrey got it, it had a forty-foot overshot wheel, which, with various other traps, cost about $3,500. Porprey put in a sixty-foot wheel and run it a while, then changed to turbine, or something similar, and run for a time; then like the rest, it went quietly to rest.

The

(gious

vxd Secular Societies.

Free- Will Baptists organized and held services as early as 1851. fifteen or sixteen members.

There were at first

The Humanist Society started here as early as 1848, with Carl Duer for speaker he was also connected with the Sauk City Society of the same name. They have a hall in town, hut :

the society

not very large.

The Methodists have held services here for a good many years, and have organized two difMerrimack in 1852, with but few members, and one at the Bluffs in L856, with five or six members. The class at the Bluffs erected a house of worship, 20x30, in I860, calling it the Chapel. The society at Merrimack erected one in 1*7(1. as subsequently de ferent societies, one at

Village oi Merrimack. The first actual settler here is said to have been a man by the name of Brown, wh and built a cabin, then soon after mysteriously disappeared. After him came Chester Mattson. the originator of the old State road scheme and ferry. He came in 1S47, and during the ensuing winter succeeded in getting a charter for a State road and ferry. Soon

as early as 184G.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

678i

regularly laid out, and very soon we find a stage making regular trips over it, and Mattson engaged in transporting teams and passengers over the river. The road was known as Mattti ferry road. Mattson started the second building in the place for a tavern, but did not finish it, although it was occupied by a man by the name of Grant for a brief time. after this the road was

Mattson was appointed Postmaster here as early as 1849, the place receiving the name of the Postmaster General in honor of the circumstance. In 1849, James Flanders came here and selected a quantity of land, and entered it for W. P. Flanders, his brother, who bought the land for the settlers who could not pay themselves, he taking bonds from them to secure the pay. Of this land, which extended over a large area, there is left, in this inmicdiate vicinity, about twelve hundred acres, a part of this being in a grain and stock farm of 500 acres. Very soon after the purchase of the land, W. P. Flanders came on. and within a short time after, purchased Mattson's interest in the town and ferry for $700. At first, a Mr. Flanders also made arrangements for building and starting a store. stock of goods was brought on, about 1852, and the store opened in the basement of a building now used for a dwelling-house, in Lot 7, Block 1. of the town plat. In 1852, a store building was started, but before it was entirely completed, it was burned, as was thought, by an incendiary. Not to be discouraged, however, Mr. Flanders immediately commenced another building, which, within a few months, was finished and stocked with goods. This was the first permanent store, with W. P. Flanders as owner, and J. M. Hanes as clerk. In 1854, .Mr. Flanders sold out to J. M. Haines, 1- Hodgson and Mr. Sturdevant. This linn continued but a lew years, and then sold to .lame- Seville, Jr. While Seville was in possession the .-tore burned up slick and clean so ended the first store. About 1853 or 1854, Mr. Flanders finished building the hotel, which had been started by Mattson. After the hotel was completed it was christened the Ferry House, the first landlord being Mr. Hartwig. This hotel is still running, Mr. Henry Bensens being the proprietor. During the staging days, and when the railroad was building, it did an excellent business. There was a warehouse built down near the river as early as 1851, from which the Sauk City enterprise used to transport various products to market, and bring back such supplies as were not hauled here from Madison and Portage by teams. A In 1855, Mr. T. Emery and Mr. H. Morey built a blacksmith shop for Mr. Flanders. man by the name of Thatcher was installed first smith, and after him a Mr. Pierce. Ansel True started a store here after Seville burned out. Soon after came C. C. Noise, then the present L. M. Smith began in trade here, and after him Mr. Tyler and Mr. Jones. A saloon was opened here first in 1870, liquors having been kept in the stores previous to -

that time.

The saw-mill and chair factory of II. M. .lone.-, which stands on

the extreme edge of the

The institution, which is now literally near the river, was built and started in 1858. rotting down, was gotten up quite elaborately, the building and machinery costing in the neighborhood of $5,000. Mr. .lone- conducted the mill about two years, at first: then, through village,

various involvements with a moneyed partner, it passed from hi- control, never having been At the present time, it is too used enough since to pay the interest on the money invested in it. far gone to ever he resuscitated. If manufacturing could he done here, it would he well for the

who then thought The depot which was built Mr. town. at that time is Flanders was very good one, it being unusually large largely instrumental' in getting the road run through here, he having paid $5,000 down in cash as an inducement to have the road are a Ill connection with cross the river at this point. <toek yard and warehouse, hut. OWing to the large amOUl -hipped at this point, which appears to he increasing voarly, the warehouse is considered, by many, not large enough, and tie ent, talk of building another, that the accommodations may be ample. From Lai to 200 car loads of stock, and from forty to fifty car loads of grain, are sent to mariint annually. This is n remarkable showing for sq small a place. In

L872, the railroad arrived

that, in all probability, the place

for a small

here, to the great delight of the residents,

would grow in size quite rapidly.

HISTORY OF SACK col XIV

679

It is The railroad bridge is one of the important and attractive features to be seen here. It an immense affair, made of iron, and extending a distance of 1,900 feel over the Wisconsin. stands was built by Fox, Howard & Co., of Chicago, in 1877, and directly in the path and on The piers on the same spot where the wooden bridge stood before, which was built in L871. which the bridge tests are supported by piles sunk in the bed of the stream, and which were These are of stone eut off' beneath the surface of the water at the time the piers were built. Alter the bridge was masonry, so built as to resist effectually the effects of the spring freshets. The completed, its strength was tested by running three or lour engines on one span. gate weig tes was much greater than that of the span, but, notwithstanding, they so tremendous is the strength of this netdid not settle it more than three-eighths of an inch, ron. Immediately after they were withdrawn, it returned to its former position, not It is regarded by good being affected in the least by the enormous weight placed upon it. judges as our of the very best bridges in the State, and, mechanically, is considered as being It is forty-five feet above low-water mark. The total cost was about Ssiiojhjo. aufait.

The first school was taught here in a log schoolhouse, which stood nearly opposite where L. M. Smith's store is now located. After this, about 1854 or 1855, a small frame building was In 1876, another house was built, and the old one was used for several years. dames II. Smith for adwelling house. In 1879, an addition was made to the last-menThe first it in size sufficient to accommodate two departments.

erected, which sold to

tioned building, increasing

irere burned, consequently nothing further etui be given relating to the early particuThere tire now 128 pupils registered. In 1879, the district was re-organized, as it was then discovered that this district, in common with all but one in the town, had been operating

lar-.

illegally.

Merrimack has a Good Templar's Lodge at present. For many years previous to the starting of this (or the second Iod^e), there was one in the town, which held its meetings in the chapel The second lodge. Riverside, No. 129, was organized in 1872, flourished finely tor a time, then gradually subsided. The present lodge. Riverside, No. 500, was established last year, by Jenny Nash, and is now in a flourishing condition and has a large membership. A Grange club also meets here, but, as the genius that instigated that movement has ceased to actuate the

farmers, this, like the majority of the

lodges, will probably soon be

numbered

among the have beens. having perished to give place to some equally injudicious and unnecessary movement. Merrimack has a fine church, erected by the Methodists in 1876, at a cost of about S:',. It is built of brick, and has basement for Sabbath school, etc. This is now used by the town for holding town meetings, there being no town hall. Religious services are not held here I,

regularly at the present time, there not being a settled minister at this point. In this connection may be mentioned the Park Hill Cemetery Association.

This organizawas founded and formed December 19, 1865, by the following persons: T. Ed Wheeler. S. Roby, L. N. Smith, L. Wright. William Butterfield, .Jame> Morey and George S. Shepherd. Subsequently, two acres of land were purchased, and laid out suitably in lots, which are sold at ST each. Mr. Wheeler was the first one buried in the cemetery, but already, since that time, numerous headstones rise from the ground to mark the Spot of the final rest. To sum up briefly, the village was lirst called Colamar after tin' Postmaster General who appointed Mattson Postmaster, but was subsequently changed to Merrimack, after the town. The village was platted at quite an early day by Mr. Flanders. The location is suitable for the building up of a handsome village, which may eventually be done. The different Postmasters have been, after Mattson J. M. Haines, L855 then .Messrs. Hodgson, Percy, Terril and True. In 1860, the present Postmaster, D. <i. Tyler, was appointed. The business of the place is represented now by four stores, two blacksmiths, one hotel and one saloon. tion

679|

•

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. TOWN OF PRAIRIE

S M\

Together with the villages, to this town belongs the distinction of having been the first place of settlement in the county. It is considerably below the average in size, it being only about thirty-one sections in area. It is bordered irregularly on the south and east by the Wisconsin, and on the north by the town of Suniter, and on the west by the towns of Honey Creek and Troy. The surface of the country is prairie, interspersed witli undulating and slightly hilly The soil is not above the average, although it is by no means of a poor quality in many tracts. localities, or so worthless as to preclude the possibility of a profitable cultivation. It may be generally described as a light, sandy loam, and excellently well adapted to horticultural purposes, it being naturally very warm and friable. However, all kinds of grain are grown here, corn considered the best average crop raised in the way of cereals. Of fruits, an abundance of wild and cultivated grapes, currants and berries, are raised, and stock both for marketing and dairying are grown here extensively. well watered by Honey and Otter The town is Creeks. The latter, a small stream, is entirely absorbed by a desolate sandy tract of land in the south part of the town, and the most worthless in town. Of timber, there is a somewhat limited supply, yet there is enough to supply the wants of the present generating, and, may be, one or two more. The inhabitants are principally German, although there is a liberal sprinkling of other nationalities. The social and moral status is good, and will compare favorably with that of adjoining towns. Churches and schools are liberally provided and well patronized. Of manufacturing in the town, it may be said, there is about all done in that direction that there is a legitimate demand for, from brewing beer to grinding grain, or from making plows to building reapers. Commercial pursuits are and always have been confined to the villages, which, with their early settlement, are fully described in another chapter.

The F.aki.i Settlement. The very early settlement, and events connected therewith, occurred at the villages, and However, of those who settled on the prairie at an early day. aside These were Louis from the village residents, we present such names as could lie obtained. AmiLi. Mr. Wollf, John McQuacker, Mr. Freeman, George Luetcher, Nat and Josh Perkins, T. Tah..r. J. Keyser, II. B. Staines, James Taylor, J. II.' Woodruff, R. H. Davis, Ed Tabor, II. Stiver, Mi-. Thatcher, the Waterburys, Capt. Watson, Mr. Bryant and a few others. The majority of the first-comers are dead, or departed have to other scenes. By 1850, the country in this section was pretty well settled, and continued to fill up very rapidly until all of the land was taken. In 1841, the first bridge was built over Honey Creek.

are thus fully mentioned.

The first religious services in town were held in the schoolhouse in Sauk, June 25, 1841, M. Fullerton. The first-born was a child of B. Haney's, born L838, in the dug-out at Lower Sauk. The Indian scare on Sauk Prairie, an episode of L845, caused some very funny exhibitions

by Rev. T.

of character and odd doings.

A brief allusion to .lames Taylor's experience at that time will

The first thai -lames Taylor heard of the matter " was Johnny Gray waking him up. crying, "The Indians are coming! Flee for your lives Taylor mounted an old black mare he had, ami generously Started to rouse the people. He first waked Ed Tabor. Then they went to Tabor warned to gel up behind, so Taylor took him on. Tom Tabor and roused him, and took him on. From this they went, as fast as the old mare could waddle with her load, to get the people out. and finally pulled up at Ben Johnson's and run bullets all night. No Indians came during the night, yet in the morning they all turned out and formed in battle line, determined to have a smell of powder if they could not win any glory. Aim! Fire!" At the last command one old Caylor commanded, "Make ready! muskel wenl off solemnly, like an -echo from a tomb, telling them what they had escaped. Since that time, Mr. Taylor has been known as the General. very aptly illustrate what happened generally.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY. |S4T,

Ed Juessen, who

now eminent

680

lawyer and speaker in Chicago, and brother-in-law to Car] Schurz, tended sheep with Charles Naffs on Sauk Prairie, for Count One day, either by accident or for mischief, they set fire to the prairie: and, the Haraszthy. whole condition of things being, as a result, too hot for the young chap, lie left, and thereby In

as a

made his fortune. There has been a mill on Honey Creek, in this town, since 1841. The original builder was man by the name of Roberl Bryant, who started a saw-mill. From him it passed into the hands of II. I! Staines. He bought some of the mill fixtures of an old grist-mill in .Merrimack, including an enormous overshot wheel, and began refitting the mill, but, before he was entirely dmie. sold to Mix & Wilson, who finished his work and made other improvements. J. K. Woodrass bought the property about 1856 or 1857, but soon after sold to II. Rowell. From him it passed into the hands of the lirm of Merrihew & Rowell, who in the winter of 1859 and I860 The mill property being involved, it was built a stone mill, which was burned five years after. Nothing further was done soon afterward taken on a mortgage by Morrihew's father-in-law. here until 1877 or 1878, when Martin Luddi bought and built the present large frame mill. This mill has three sets of four-toot buhrsj and one pony buhr. The dam has a seven-foot head, and three turbine wheels are used. This is the only mill in town. Berry Haney and Uberl Skinner were the first ones who, according to various accounts, attempted to settle their differences about an early claim, by fist and bludgeon. In the melee. Skinner came out second best he having been somewhat lame from wounds received in the Black Hawk war, as well as being under sized, could not hold his own. A thrashing machine was brought in here as early as 1843, by George Owens, of Prairie du Sac. and was said to have been the first in this county or Dane County at that time. He received one bushel in ten for thrashing. The first settlers had to go some thirty miles to mill, to what was then known as Hickox Mills, now Ruggles' Mills, in Richland County, this being the nearest point, in 1840, where they could get grinding done. The early settlers very often killed bears and wolves in this vicinity. The first brick were made in town as early as 1841, for Mr. Bryant, and were used to make chimneys and fire-places. In 1860, a grand Republican rally and mass meeting washeld at Reedsburg, to which about twelve wagon-loads of people went from Prairie du Sac Town. Republican town club was formed in 1860. a

;

One of the principal industries, among the Germans, especially, of this locality, is the raising of wild and tame grapes, the wild grapes being raised exclusively for the purpose of making a wine which very much resembles port wine in color and flavor. Tame grapes are raised in large variety for domestic use. and for making wine also. In 1860, Peter Bohn, proprietor of the Sauk City Greenhouse, received first premium for grapes at the State Fair. [uantities of sorghum are raised here for molasses-making. George hveii was the first person to make a business of hauling merchandise, as dry g Is, (

and liquors, into the town.

A Baptist minister. Elder Conrad, established a Baptist society at Prairie du Sac at a very early day.

He first held services in

the house of H. Page, then afterward in a schoolhouse, They were close communion. The was between Elder Conrad, and Elder Cavanagh. Methodist. The

until the society purchased the old Presbyterian Church. first

religious debate in town

church has no minister at present. There is an Evangelical, or Dutch Reformed. Church in the southwest corner of this iety wa< incorporated in the spring of 1851. The church is a neat-looking structure. 24x32 feet. On the map it is called Lutheran Church, which is an error. At the first town meeting, held on the •"»! day of April. 18 19, subsequent to organization of first towns, of which this town was then one, the following officers were elected:

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

680|

Chairman, Nathaniel Perkins; Charles Halasz and Samuel Kelsey being Side Supervisors; Town Clerk, Cyrus Leland Assessor, Archie Hill Treasurer, P. B. Stamatz Superintendent of Schools, J. B. Woodruff' Justices, Charles 0. Baxter, Lyman Crossman, John Kupell and Henry Myers Constables, II. K. Howard, Albert Mann and Archie Hill Overseers of Highways. E. 1'. Tabor, John Accola and Henry Myers Fence Viewers. B. Howe. J. Hatch and John At this election, it was decided that the town meeting should be held next at Prairie Gallard. ;

;

dil

Sac.

At the general election, November 6, 1849. the whole number of votes cast was 185. these, Nelson

Dewy received over three-fourths for Governor.

The tax collected for The amount of school tax collected here this year was $l!o!>.-">2. Expense during said year was Xlii5.2o. town purposes was 8/204. 10. The second town meeting was held April 2, 1850, at Prairie du Sac. when Cyrus Leland was elected Chairman, and George Cargill, Town Clerk. The third meeting was held at Westfield, April, 1850. Joseph Lester, Chairman Mertens, Clerk. At the general election this fall, the number of votes had increased to 220. Nothing special occurred in connection with the next town meeting, aside from the election of officers, and voting of funds for fiscal purposes, unless mention be made of §200 appropriated to build a bridge near the old mill of J. C. Wilson. At the general election held November 8, L853, 276 votes were cast, there being an increase At this election, the Prohibitory Liquor Law. subof 56 votes over the last general election. mitted by the Legislature, was voted upon, there being 192 votes against it, the balance for ;

the law.

This order In L855, swine were restrained, by order of the board, from running at large. was repealed soon after by a special meeting of the voters. But again, at the town meeting held April 1, 1856, the swine question again came up, and was definitely settled by their being restrained from running at large in the future.

OF SUMTER.

This town was called Kingston up to 1861, when, on account of the confusion of mails with The Kingston, Marquette Co., the name was changed to Sumter," in honor of Fort Sumter. town is somewhat irregular in shape, especially on the northern boundary, which makes it two It is bounded north by Baraboo and Freedom, south by sections larger than the regular towns. The surface of Prairie du Sac, east by Merrimack, and west by Freedom and Honey Creek. this town is as agreeable to look at as it is, in the main, available Tor the purposes of husbandry. nearly in the center of the Sauk- Prairie basin, and. therefore, embraces all of the best Along the northern pari of the town extend the Baraboo of surface contour and soil. from which'can be obtained a view of the bottom lands of the town, and of Sauk Prairie <»n the southwest may be seen generally, and as charming as fancy could suggest or desire. It lies

Bluffs,

narrow belts of bluffs, outlying and environing the ever recurring pockets, which break away on and east into undulating prairies, covered with well cultivated farms, margined and dotted with clumps of timber. Probably no more picturesque or truly beautiful scene than this is afforded unity. The bluffy portion of the country here, as elsewhere, is all taken up by the Of this there is a fair supply, but principally a farmers, to be used for pasturage and timber. young growth (except back in the Baraboo Bluffs), the larger trees, apparently, having been cut county. the The bottom lands are. principally, a The tillable soil is second to none in down. From this, passing on to 'lie bluffs, the soil bedeep, rich loam, occasionally mixed with sand. COmeS a -tony clay, which, although loth heavy and col-1. is highlj productive when well tilled. The town is very well watered, especially in the central and north part, where numerous small Anything that can be raised streams bead, and which ultimately unite, forming Otter Creek. :

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

681

advantage anywhere in the State, either for home use or the market, can be produced here. The cereals. vegetables, fruits, etc., of all kinds, indigenous to this climate, readily grow and mature here; while, for grapes and stock, no part of the county or country is better the geological formations, and prehistoric remains in tins town, present some exceedingly interesting especially fKe former. There are large beds of ealaferous sandstone located in some portions of the bluffs that are well adapted to building purposes, and, as though for an accompaniment, dolomite lies above ready to be burned into lime for cementing the stones into buildtn

One of the formations particularly valuable for geological research is the Mendota Mr. 11. E. Stone, a practical geologist living limestone, which abounds here in large quantities. in Stone's pocket, has found some very valuable specimens of trilobites here. One feature in ing wall.

found in this

which Mr. Stone has observed, is that specimens of these animals are sometimes lodged in the interstices of quartzite rock, two hundred feet above the Who can explain this'.''

locality,

level of their natural home.

Recently, Mr. Stone,

connection with the

State (ieologist, opened one

of the

Indian

mounds here, to find it occupied by the skeletons and implements of the former inhabitants. The most noticeahle features were, that the mound was built above the natural earth level, and that the bodies were covered by clay, brought from some other locality. Other notes in the above connection might be given, but these are sufficient to give a fair of the town. The inhabitants are mixed. But the American element The social, moral and intelpredominates, and has always done so since the first settlement. lectual status is above the average.

idea of the condition

This was one of the first settled towns of the county, the date of its first settlement being nearly cotemporary with that of Prairie du Sac. It is pretty generally conceded that the first were Albert Jameson, A. Bills, A. Hodgett and N. Lathrop, to come into the town

parties

who came here on a prospecting tour during the month of December, 1838; also John Hoover came in about this time, or soon after, and Uncle William Johnson, wdio is now the oldest of the first settlers living in the south part of the county. None except Mr. Johnson remained longer, that winter than was necessary to make their claims. lie and his help threw up a. cabin near where he now resides, and lived in it the rest of the winter. The next summer, Uncle William brought the first breaking-team into the town, and with them the old double-geared breakingIt now stands at the door of an plow that is said to have done the first breaking in the town. old tumble-down log cabin, a dilapidated memento of early days.

The first families to settle in the town were Charles Parks and Zena Harrington. They came in the summer of 1889. In November, of this season, A. Jameson moved in. In 1840, Henry Teel, John Hoover. Andrew Hodgett, Isaac Gibbs, Alex Johnson, Charles Teel, P. Brigham and William (Airy were here, some of them possibly having come during the fall or winter of 1839. During 1840, Uncle William Johnson brought in his family. There may have been more settlers here in 1840 than above enumerated, but nothing can learned of such I

persons.

No attempt will be made to trace the number of settlers who came in before 1850, only now living here who came in before that time will be given. William JohnMrs. Teel, Henry Tod, Isaac Gibbs, A. Waterbury, J. <". Payne, Freeman, George and II. Gatwinkle, II. J- Farnham, U. II. Kendall. J. W. Gordon, Samuel Ha-kins. Theodore Rock, Robert Colburn, 1». E. Stone. II. Durke and A. Stedman are about all that are left of the early comers, and they will soon move away to give place to Others. The first birth in the town was the second one in the county, Charles Parks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parks, who was born in February, 1840. The first deaths in town occurred during the above month and year, two children of Mr. the names of those

son, old Mrs. Jameson, old J.

Zera Harrington, with scarlet fever.

The first marriage, that of Phillip Blodgett, of New York, and Susan Harrington, daughter of the above-named

gentleman, was executed about Is hi.

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNT'S

681|

Another of the early marriages is worthy of mention. The Rev. James G. Whitford, who Mr. wanted a wife, came to town in 1840, to visit the Widow Sayles, a daughter of Mrs. Teel. Whitford held religious services and organized a class while the wooing sped, and finally, on August 15, 1841, they were married, the Rev. Mr. Simpson coming from a distance to perform the ceremony. It is the opinion of some that Mr. Whitford was the first minister who preached in the county, but Mrs. Teel avers that the Rev. John Crummer, a Methodist minister, came in May, 1840, and preached at John Hoover's, and Mrs. Teel certainly ought to know, considering that

The Rev. Thomas Fullerton was the first circuit the other minister was her own son-in-law. He came the 23d of June, 1841. rider to come here and fill stated appointments. school was taught here as early as 1843, by Mrs. Brooks, in a log-bouse on Section 34. tavern was opened in town on the east Sauk road, in 1843, by J. Hoover, Sr. post office was established here in 1850, named the Bluff office, with Prescott Brigham It was located afterward at what was called New Haven. There is now no as Postmaster.

A A A

post oflice in town.

The above-mentioned place was regularly laid out on Section 3. and platted as a village in There were at the spring of 1856, by Sol King; before that, it was called King's Corners. one time a tavern, store, several dwellings and mechanics' shops, and a church, here, but at this is thing of the past. time the village a William Wagner opened the first store in town, at New Haven, in 1856 or 1857, and Hoy

King the tavern.

A steam saw-mill was built at the foot of the bluffs, on Section 4, and near Otter Creek, in 1855. by II. J. i William Farnham and E. Kellogg. They also bad a small grist-mill attached. Two years after, the mill passed into the hands of Mr. Babcock, who afterward sold it, and then, about 1866, for want of business, it was discontinued. A short time after the above mill was built, a man by the name of Hedges laid out and Another saw-mill was also platted what was called the village of Otterville, near the mill. built near here about this time by Robert Baxter; but this, like its predecessor, has long since ceased to operate, and the village of Otterville is now no more forever. Daniels In 1866, Luther Daniels built and opened a store on the east road, in Section 2. The post office was also kept the post office here but the institution failed in about a year. then suspended, and the building passed into the hands of Isaac Gibbs. The first reaper was brought into town by Henry Teel, ami the first article that could grind anything from corn, cob and all. to small grains, was an overgrown coffee-mill, brought in by Uncle William Johnson. This mill is still in existence, and i- said to have done grinding for Like Uncle William, it is now rather too old to repair, and, with pioneers all over the West. the old plow, needs to lay on the shelf. came into market here Sections 6 The first land was entered by Mr. Johnson after and 15. L840 U Rev. Whitford, there were the fol[n the Methodist Church class, organized in el. George Teel, Lucy Brigham, Catharine Kellogg, Martha Brig ham. Thomas I!. Cowles and Andrew Hodget. After the Rev. Fullerton had been coming here for about a year, what was called the Sauk Pri VI ion \\u c lablisbed, e\ tending from Black Earth Creek, in Iowa County, to Dekorah, The second Quarterly Conference was held at Benjamin jrbhnson's, on in Columbia County. Sauk Prairie, December _ s L844. B. T. Kavenaugh was Presiding Elder qf the Mission. In L849, Blai k Earth and Dekorah were set off. The present Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in L862, and firsl stood at New Haven. Five years ago it was moved to its present location and repaired.

—

In the northeasl

pari of the

town,

there

society of

Evangelical

Association of

America:" they have a chapel on the northeast corner of the John Thilke farm, 24x30; the society was organized March 23, L863.

North

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

682

They have a There is also a Lutheran society in the town that was organized in 1862. chapel, built in 1862, situated on the cross muds, one mile north of the above church. There are a good many Germans that belong to the " Free German Association of Sauk County," who have their lecture-room in the town of Merrimack. There are some members of the Baptist Church, who attend service at Prairie du Sac where the society have a chapel. There is also a First- Day Advent society in town, that have no house of worship. The refining of sorghum is followed here each year quite extensively. Knapp & WaterThis was the first in this town, or adjacent towns. bury have an evaporator, bought in 1859. Henry Hill started one soon after. But, on account of wrong quality of cane, their work was nol satisfactory. There is also another one owned by John and George Weisch, and another man, which is in part the relics of an evaporator bought by sixteen or eighteen farmers in company, The cane used several years ago, but which, like all of them at that time, proved of no use. here is principally white amber. There is a cheese-factory in town, established by Peter Young and Henry Hill, which was This is the first anil only cheese-factory in Sumter. It opened to the public in May, 1878. Each year has a capacity for handling 3,500 pounds of milk per diem, there being one vat. they have made a large quantity of choice cheese, both for themselves and their patrons. The first town meeting was held April 3, lsd'd, at the house of .lames Moreland. Officers elected: J. S. Waterbury, Chairman; Isaac Gibbs and Samuel Shaw, Side Hoard: Prescott Brigham, Clerk: David Gulliford, Treasurer; Samuel Mather, Assessor; It. E. Stone, Super-

intendent of Schools; L. B. Smith, Alden Maynard and Samuel Shaw. Justices; Daniel BarWilliam Johnson. P. Blodgitt and William Farnhain, ber and David Gulliford, Constables Overseers of Highways: X. Cordon, Charles Kern and Samuel Dewey. Pence Viewers; James Moreland and Samuel Shaw. Sealers Weights and Measures. 1850 Calvin Danforth, William Farnam, John Thilke, Supervisors; D. R. Baxter, Clerk; Hiram Bailey, Assessor; R. E. Stone. School Superintendent; Albert Jameson, Treasurer. June W>, T. B. Cowles was elected Treasurer in place of A. Jameson, resigned. 1851 Samuel Shaw. John Dennett, Charles Kern, Supervisors; D. R. Baxter, Clerk; J. A. Jameson, Treasurer; 1!. E.Stone, School Superintendent. I. Waterberv. Assessor; 1852— R. E. Stone, Ira Ball, Michael Quiggle, Supervisors; Fred. S. Roper, Phillip B. "i's Calvin Johnson. Treasurer Samuel Shaw, School Superintendent. Philo Barber, Clerk; J. -J. I. Waterberry, Eli Davis, F. S. Roper. Supervisors W. Fyle. Assessor; George Gatwinkle, Treasurer. 1854 Eli Davis, Nicholas Furst, John Dennett, Supervisors; Charles Naffs, Clerk: Rob George Gatwinkle, Treasurer: Norman Wood. School Superintendent. John Dennett, David Shell, Peter Perry, Supervisors: Thomas D. Long. Clerk; L855 David Zimmerman, Treasurer; Ryland Stone, [saac Gibbs, John F. Stone. Assessors; R. E. Stone. School Superintendent. 1856 Eli Davis, Samuel Mather, William Farnam. Supervisors; T. D. Long. Clerk John Dennett, Treasurer; T. D. Long. School Superintendent Peter S. Young, Samuel Waterman, Charles Kern, Assessors. Thomas 1857— James I. Waterberry. William Johnson. George C. Bal David Zimmerman, Treasurer; William W. Perry, School Superintendent; D. Long, Clerk :

—

;

— —

—

;

Eli Davis, Assessor.

—

1858 Thomas D. Long, Hiram Houghton, A. Hall, Supervisors: (). S. Knapp, Clerk; D. X. Barber, Treasurer; J. I. Wat sor; C. S. Abbott, Superintendnet of Schools -R. E. Stone, A. L. Justine, C. Farrington, Supervisors; 0. S. Knapp, Clerk D. N. Barber, Treasurer; C. S. Abbott, J. I. Waterberv. Assessors: G. \V. Waterberry, Super;

intendent of Schools. 1860— R. E. Stone, John Dennett. Charles Kern. Supervisors; William W. Perry. Clerk; Harvey Durkee, Treasurer; Eli Davis, Assessor; L. B. Swallow, Superintend.!

;

HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.

682A

—

1861 0. S. Knapp. John Dennett, Charles Ryone, Supervisors William W. Perry, Harvey Durkee, Treasurer A. J. Sears, Superintendent of Schools William Johnson, Clerk ;

;

Assessor.

—

1862 S. M. Burdick, John Dennett, Charles Teal, Supervisors; William W. Perry, Clerk; H. Durkee, Treasurer; Eli Davis, Assessor. 1863— S. M. Burdick, Charles Teal, P. S. Young, Supervisors William W. Perry, Clerk H. Durkee, Treasurer Eli Davis, Superintendent of Schools Eli Davis, Assessor. 1864— M. Willis, J. B. Cowles, George Gatwinkel, Supervisors W. W. Perry, Clerk H. Durkee, Treasurer Eli Davis, Assessor. 1865— M. Willis, J. B. Cowles, George Gatwinkel, Supervisors W. W. Perry, Clerk ;

;

H. Durkee, Treasurer. 1866— M. Willis; W. W. Perry, Clerk; H. Durkee, Treasurer; R. Barber, Assessor. 1867 W. W. Perry, Thomas G. Francis, John Thilke, Supervisors Edwin Burnette, Harvey Durkee, Treasurer R. Stone, Assessor. Clerk Edwin Burnette, Clerk Harvey 1868 W. W. Perry, John Thilke, John Dennett Durkee, Treasurer; A. Jameson, Assessor. 1869 R. E. Stone, D. F. Denison, Joseph Lunich, Supervisors William A. Johnson, Clerk Harvey Durkee, Treasurer Ryland Stone, Assessor. 1870 William W. Perry, P. W. Carpenter, H. Gatwinkel, Supervisors W. A. Johnson, Ryland Stone, Assessor. Clerk; H. Durkee, Treasurer November 14, 1855, the Town of Merrimack was organized out of Kingston Territory. Sections 23 and 24 of Town 11 north, Range 6 east, was set off to Baraboo, 1862. ;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. B R. E V I A T I O N S

.V 15

Company or county .Wisconsin Volunteer Artillery Volunteer Cavalry

W. V.

Wisconsin Voln

P 0. -t |

CITY AND TOWN OF BARABOO. of the Wisconsin House, was born HERMAN ALBRECHT, one of the proprietors

Kl.

9th

came to America in 1849, and to Sauk City in 1852.

I~-.".o.

1861, he enlisted

W. V. [., and served three years and mx months; he was mustered out Dee. 9, 1864.

ried -June 26, 1865, to .Miss

Lina Schlang; she was born in Sauk Co. April 27, 1*44.

Prus-

Co.

1».

He was marIn polities, Mr.

Albrecht is a Republican.

JAMES W.

AlMHtH'll. wagon-maker, and is at the present time working for Mr. M. Renland; was horn in Chenango Co., N. V., Die. 16, 1812; eame to Sauk Co., and to Band Wis., in 1855, and lias worked at his trade ever since, lie was married, April 21, 1836, to Miss Esther Gowin born in Washington Co., N. 5T., and died duly 18, 1843; they had four children- Tl as J., A .one died in infancy, and Edgar M. He was married the second time to Miss Mary A. Boyd, Oct. 2, 845; she was hum in Canada they have had six children, viz., Gordon A., William R., one died in infancy, Maria, Elizabe'h deceased and Mary A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Aldricll ,

;

mil

Day Adventists.

SA JIUEE

In polities, lie is a Republican.

AMY,

F. contractor and builder; was horn in Sherbrook Co., Canada East, Feb. 6, 1^27; moved to the States with his parents in 1838, and itedin Vermont; learned the trade of carpenter I

;

bridge-building on the railroad

tip to 1848; he then shipped as carpenter, and followed the sea came to Sauk Co; in the fall of 1872 moved to Baraboo he has served al puty Sheri If siice he has been in the county. He was married May 10, 1857, at leaver Ham. is born in Sherbrook, Canada East; they have four children, viz., Allice J.. Ernest C, Merton S. and Arthur A. Mr. and Mrs. Amy and their two oldest children are ('the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is a Republican. i

six years;

June,

1S5i;,

;

ANDREW ANDREWS,

farmer, See. 11;

I'.

().

Baraboo;

a sou of William

and Rebecca

in the fall of 1849, locate,! in the village of Band and owns 10 acres of land; also in the village owns 8 i acres, three lots, shoeMr. Andrews learned the trade of shoe-making in England, and followed that occu\"ars in the village of Baraboo; was employed one year in the woolen-mill Manchesti iboo; went, to England in the fall of 1877, and returned the following spi the farm whir he was burn in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, I'YI -

Wisconsin

fears;

;

•

1849.

He married Lydia Gotheridge. about

1840, in Herefordshire,

had ten children, all of whom died married Mary Ann Mould, daughter of Matthew ami Jane Mould, in Baraboo, June 10, 1863; have; one child, Andrew 1\, who is now living with his father. Mrs. was born in Woodnewton, Northamptonshire, England, in 184s, and emigrated to America in it, Herkimer Co., N. V.; came to Baraboo, October, 1857, with her father and mother, who yet reside in the village engaged in the grocery business. ;

CHARLES

AMIIMS

S. (deceased) he was born in York State Nov. 7. 1830 Sauk Co. in 1858, and bought a farm. He was married Oct, 1. I860, to Mis- Mary J. Martin was born in Franklin Co., N. Y.-, they ba\ ne child Alma A. Mrs. Andrus is a membe Unitarian Church. ;

—

;

she

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

684

RAJISOX M. ANDRUS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. 0. Baraboo son of Edwin and Macena (Moore) ;

Andrus he came to Wisconsin November, 1S54, and located in Reedsburg, Sauk Co., the same year Sauk Co., December, 1875 he owns 80 acres of land near the village of Baraboo he located in Baral he was born Sept. 8, 1838, in Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio He married Mary Theresa Terrell, daughter of Gillaspie and Lucretia Tucker) IVnvll. at Chicago, 111., Oct. hi. 1867 Mr Andrus has one child— FredHe was oiigiged in the saw-mill business and connected with farming eight years; rick \V. Andrus. before coming. tn Wisconsin, Mr. Andrus sailed three years, and after remaining in Wisconsin four years, he returned and sailed five \aars more, after which time he settled in Wisconsin and remained here since; tiled on all the lakes. Mr Andrus is a member of the Masonic Order. ;

;

CLARENCE

APRER.

was born in Greenfield, Sauk Co., dispatcher at round-house A. he commenced railroading in 1872, for the ('. & X. W. R. R. Co. he has h Wis., Sept. 5, 185 ployed by them ever since. ;

;

W. ARXOLD, proprietor of the transfer teams; was born in Chenango Co., X. Y., June

in. 12, 1819, and came

to Sauk Co. Xov. 2, 1855 he lived in Dodge Co. nine years before he came to Barthey He was married, June 30, L857, to .Miss P. Marble she was horn in Madison Co X. Y Earnest B. In polities, Mr. Arnold is a Republican. have one child

aboo.

;

—

;

FRANK AVERY, dealer

in boots and shoes, on Third street

;

also manufactures to order

;

horn

came to America in is,"):',, and to Baraboo in 1856 has the county of Kent, England. Xov. IT. 1830 held the office of President of the village during the years of 1875-76, also been one of the Trustees for a He was manic, 1. May 31, 1859, to Miss Emily Andrus; number of years, and still holds that office. in

;

she was horn in the Stale of Ohm.

In politics, Mr. Avery

Republican.

ARCHIBALD BARKER, Sec 20; P. 0. Baraboo; born son of Thomas and Rebecca Barker;

Ireland;

to erect a

shanty near the present

December, 1816, at Tyrone,

came to Wisconsin in lS:i7, and in the fad! commenced

of Baraboo; but as fast as he and bis comrades could raise it the In 1850, Mr. B. went to California and was absent four years, he then site

Indians would pull it down. Mr. B. was married in L859, returned and located on the place where lie now resides; owns 200 acres. she was born Oct. 26, 1836 has eight children— William, born Aug. 26, I860 to Miss -lane Laniborn Thomas, Feb. II. 1863; Joseph, April 8, 1866; Sarah M., May 15, 1867; AlexJohn, Xov. 8, 1861 ander, March 13, 1870; Perry R., April 3, 1872-; Samuel, Feb. 25, .

;

JOHN BARKER,

attorney at law; born in the village of Sand Bank, Oswego Co., X. V., March 29, 1839; educated in Oswego and Jefferson Counties; engaged in clerking near Ironton, Ohio, studied law before and after going to Ohio, and then returned to Oswego Co., X. Y. from 1861 to 1865 was admitted to the bar at Syracuse, X. Y.. in October, 1S65, and came to Baraboo the Fame month, where ho engaged in the practice of his profession; taught school in the winters of 1865-66 has held Mr. Barker was various offices Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, County Judge and District Attorney. married in New Haven, Oswego Co., X. Y.. Xov. 29, 1870, to Alice A. Druse; she was bom in Oswego they have three son-- Ralph, born Xov. 27. 1872, and twins horn Aug. 7. 1880. Co., X. Y. ;

;

X. Y„ Mas 1838; JOHN F. BASSINUER, carpenter; born Lewis Baraboo 1866. he Republican, and CHARLES BFXDER, carriage manufacturer and general repair shop, on Fourth Co.,

moved to Fond du Lac Co., Wis

In politics,

1850,

is a

street

to Baral in is;,;. I, 1842; came to America He enlisted Aug. 11. 1862, K, 23d W. V. I., and served three years; was in fifteen battles; while in the ser< He was married. Dec. wounded twice, and was in the hospital at New Oilcans about lour weeks. she was bom in Germany; they have four children Mary, Emma. 31, 1868, to Miss Gretchscn Kugelman In polities. Mr. Bender is a Republican. [da. Was mar(deceased was bom at Nassau, Germany, May 31, 1819. ried May 31, 1848, to Miss Anna Ohnosorg; be came to America in 1848, stopped for a fro months in and engaged in the saloon and village hall Milwaukee, then to Sauk City in 1858; came to Baral nd ran it till his decease, which occurred ip to 1869, when be built the Baraboo City Brewery Mrs. Isabel Junk, Robert W.. Adolph, April 1, 1874. They have had nine children, six Sinci Frank, Albert .Land End. the death of Mr. Bender, the widow has built a fine brick hotel Bender House) on the corner of Bridge and Linn streets; she still owns the hotel and brewery; the business is all run and managed by her oldest sou, Robert W. Bender,

was born in Germany Oct

Co.

—

GEORGE REXBER

M. BENTEEY, lawyer

;

moved with his parents to Na Grange,

was born in Binghamton, N. Y., April 9, 1836; in L848, he and in 1855 to Columbia Co., Wis.; in 1861, his father enlisted

[nd.,

;

BARABOO. W. V. Co. E, 23d W. V.

685

was discharged July. 1862, and he then enlisted, Jan. 19, 1864, as a recruit to was taken sick sent to the hospital at New Orleans, and died March 31, 1864, M. Bentand his mother died the sum' Jay at her home in the village of Poynette, Columbia Co., Wis. "Heavy Artillery, and ley, the subject nf this sketch, enlisted Dec. 24, ISC,:;, in Co. K, 10th N. V. Mr. William K. Bentley. his onlyserved about six months, and was discharged on acounl of disability. He was married, Oct. 27, 1858, to brother, was in Co. G, 2d VV. V. [., and was killed at Antietam. had five children Alice K., Charles V., Prank K., Miss Susan \ Booth she was born in New York 1 time, April 18, His wife died Aug. 27, 1867 he married the see Addie B., deceased, and Clara A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bentley are members of the 1868, in .Mrs. Jennie Jenks have one child, Ernest R. Methodist Episcopal Church he isa Republican. in

Co. G, 2d

;

—

;

JEROME BEXTOX

(son of G. W. and Sophrone Van Curan Benton,; farmer, Sec. 11; P. Baraboo came to Wisconsin with his parents about 1859 owns 40 acres of land one and a half miles from tin; village of Baraboo; horn Sept. I'd, IS;")!!, in Erie, Penn. He married Ulrica Matthias, daughter of Peter and Mrs. Matthias, June 29, IS75, in Bamboo, Sauk Co.; had one child, who died Aug. 29, Father 1877. Father and mother of Mr. Benton are living in the town of Sumter, engaged in farming. nt Mrs. Benton is living in the town of Able-man's, engaged in farming. Mr. and .Mrs. Benton belong to the Free- Will Baptist Church. (t.

;

WILLIAM B. BLACHLY, born April 10, 1844, at Weathersfield,

village

Niles,

Trumbull Co., Ohio; moved to Dane Co., Wis., with his parents in 1S50. At the age of 20, he enlisted in Co. D, 16th W. V. [., and remained until the close of the war; at the age of 27, he commenced to learn the trade of blacksmith in 1873, he commenced work for the Chicago V North- Western Railroad Company in the town of Baral lie was married, in 1872, to Miss A. J. where he is at the present time. t

White.

In politics, Republican.

MARVIN BLAKE, fanner;

was born in Oswego Co., N. V.. May 5, 1814; P. 0. Baral then returned to he went with his uncle to Verm int, and lived there till he was of age she was born in Clinton Co., N. Y. Feb. 1 1, 1838, to Miss Lucy Brown they moved to Whitewater. Wis., Nov. 1843; he landed in Baraboo Aug. 11, 1844, with his famhe owns 50 acres of land near the village ily they are the first family that settled in the village of Baraboo he assisted in building the first dam that was built in the village; they have one child, Chauncey M., who is married and settled in Bamboo. Bmh Mr. ami Mrs. Blake arc members of the Presbyterian at

the age of

New York.

;

He was married

;

.">,

;

Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

(wEORdiE BLOOM,

boot and shoe store, and dealer in hides, pelts and furs, on Bridgi he was born Nov. 2, 1824, at county of Wurzburg, State of Bavaria.; came to America April 28, 1851, and located at Pittsburgh Nov. 11, 1855; he landed in Baraboo and started the shoe business in 1863; went on a farm, and on Aug. 17, 1864, enlisted in Co. D, 9th W. V. I., and served about one year. He was married. Dec. 18, 1861, to Miss Catherine Wild she was horn in Prussia, mi the River Rhine they have four children Robert G., Henry F., Edward K. and George P.; the second son. Henay :

;

—

l'\.

commenced work

tics,

Bloom

fireman

July,

1ST!',

and

intends

tit

himself for an engineer,

[n poli-

Democrat.

A. I). BREWER, fireman; born at Koshkonong, Jefferson Co., Wis., duly 3, 1859; cam,- to Baral.

May. 1875;

mmenced work for the Chicago & North-Western

Railr

Company in 1879,

where he is still eni] II.

BROWN, engineer on the Chicago & North-Western Railroad

Feb. 28, I848; commenced railroading, in 1869, as fireman ning on the road ever since. In politics. Republican.

DR. S. O. BROWNE, physician and surgi

;

his

horn in Windham Co., \ took an engine in 1873, and has been run-

practice

homoeopathic; he was born in

H., Sept. 23, 1821; he studied medicine and commenced practice in 1850, in Ware. 1868 came to Dunn Co., Wis., and in 1873 to Sauk Co. lie was married, May 1. 1844, to Hattie Whipple, and sin- died Sept. is, [847 he was married the second time, June 5, 1850. to Miss Mary M. Whipple; she was born m Worcester, Mass., Aug. I, L826; they have two children— Hattie The M., born in Springfield, Mass., D id Mary E., bom in Sutton, Mass., duly 25, 1862. Doctor and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

Sullivan

Co., N.

Mass., -and

;

WILLIAM BROWN, attorney \

at law; born in- Franklin Co., N. V.. duly 27, IS 1 I. 1842, and located in Walworth Co. was there about two years he moved 844, and has lived in the count} ever since, with the exception of about two years;

iseonsin Sept.

Baraboo in duly.

;

68b

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

he entered the first piece of land that was entered this side of the Bluff, which embraces the water-power now owned by Mr. Strong; he and his brother built a saw-mill on the place, and his brother built a gristmill, being the first one built in the county Mr. Brown has been engaged in the practice of law for about He was married, in 1856, to Nancy A. Wyman she was born in Maine; she died twenty- three years. he was married the second time, Nov. 19, 1877, to Mrs. Mary A. Merriam she was Feb. 22, ls.")S born in Jefferson Co., N. Y. Mr. Brown, in polities, is a Republican. ;

;

S. H. I

BROWN, conductor ou the 0. & N. W.

It.

;

he was bun, in Rock Co., Wis., Oct. 19,

357, and came to Baraboo in 1876.

BANIEL Bl'HJIEVER, proprietor of cigar factory; he was burn in Cologne, Germany America in 1853 with his parents, and to Baraboo in 1878; the business was He was married, Aug. 25, 1864, to Miss Mary Delany, and she In politics, Mr. they have four children, viz., Minnie, Carrie, Willie and Mamie.

June 14, 1840; came

established by his brother about 1875.

was born in

Illinois;

Buhmeycr is a Republican.

W. If. BLRXHAM (deceased); born in New York City March 17, 1818; he was a graduate he was in practice for about forty years he moved to Baraboo in 1865, and commenced practice he was taken sick the same year, and had to give it up; he traveled some and engaged in other branches of business he was Professor for two terms in one of the medical colleges He was married, Feb. 10, in^New York City, where he had located in 186!); he died Oct. 28, 1879. 185 1. to Mrs. C. A. M. Smith Mrs. Burnham has one child living by they have one child— C. W. II. her former husband. J. F. Smith Mrs. Dr. Burnham is engaged in manufacturing and sale of the Triumph Truss, also the retention and cure of hernia. of Berkshire Medical College

;

WILLIAM W.

HOICK,

of the firm of Chamberlin & Burdick, contractors and buildHI May 25, 1852, with Baraboo; was born in Clinton Co., X. Y., Nov. 6, 1825; he came to Baral He was married, April 25, 1850, to Miss Evaline C. Myers, daughter of Christian Myers; Mr. Burdick. in she was born in Clinton Co., N. Y.; they have two children— Geonre W. and Carrie M. religion, is a Liberal His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. in politics, he is a Republican.

ers,

his family.

;

LYMAN BI'TTERFIELB. fanner,

See. 16; P.O. Baraboo; son of Lyman and Tilda born March 24, 1S2S. in Syracuse. Onondaga Co., N. Y.; came to Wisconsin Pec. 1878, and located in Baraboo, Sauk ('<>. He was a member of Co. 1. 13th 111. V. [.; mustered in June, lsiil, discharged about July, 1862, on a unt of disability he participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. Mr. Butterthe tight at Wilson's Creek, and all other battles fought by his company while with them. ither's family consisted of four boys and four girls; one sister of Mr. Butterfield is married to lied in the spring of Jacob Hunt with whom Mr. Butterfield lives; they have had two children

Hooper

Butterfield

;

:mber of the Good Templars and

Mr. Butterfield has been L875, the other is still living. Suns of Temperance for some years. He owns H* acres of land.

LEVI CAHOON,

son of Wilbur and Tirza M. uiv Cahoon fanner. Sec'. 9; P. 0. Baral Delona, Sauk n in July, 1865, located in born June 2, 1834, in Won, Lorain Co. Ohio Co.. and remained there two years; located where he now resides in the fall of 1867. He was married .Sept. IT. 365 to Willie L, daughter of William and Ann Eliza Eaton Wells they have five in Baral Mr. Cahoon has held the offices of Town Clerk and Wells. Wilber, Nee. Paul and Roger. children Mrs. Cahoon belongs to the Baptist Church. Supervisor, Dictrict Clerk, Treasurer and School Director. He owns 173 acres of land, three and a half Mr. Cal n is a member of the A./F. & A. M. Lodge. miles from the village of Baraboo. i

;

JAMES CAMP,

farmer; 1'. 0. Baraboo son of John and Eliza Jones Camp hum near the Hamilton. Canada West; came to Wisconsin in April, 1854; wenl to Canada in April. L855; returned shortly afterward, and after being occupied in various parts of the county, and serving in the was tted where he now resides in 1871. He enlisted, Sept. 21, 1861, in Co. E, 12tn W.\ 1864; was wounded in the arm tege of Vicksburo and at the second battle of Corin in front of Atlanta; the result of this wound was the resection of a portion of the bone four inches ,,,. he is now managing length; although his arm was not amputated, yet i( has troubled him very much a farm. out of the servrce Sept. 20, 1864, having lain in Harvey Hospital, at Madison, ;

;

city of

;

He married Man \en Crook-Camp, daughter of John and Mary Martha V. Holden) Crook and. widow of Nathaniel Camp; they had four children— Almira, Katy J and Emma; before marrying James Camp, Mrs. Cam]- had two children, their father being Nathaniel Mr. Camp owns 10 acres of land, and resides on a J. Camp; thee were Mary Iv and Nathaniel J. Wis., awaiting the result ofhis wound.

—

BARABOO. farm of loo acres near the village of Baraboo. Treasurer and Director for a Dumber of years.

beautiful District

687

He has held the offices of Town Treasurer,

GEORGE CAPENER,

contractor and builder; born in London, England, July 29, 1829; came to America with his parents in 1836; they located in New York City May 11. 1850; he landed in Baraboo, where he has been engaged most of the time at his trade; he has built most of the churches, and a large number of the principal buildings in the town. He was married. Nov. II. 1849, to Miss Harriet J. Dunn; she was born in Meadville, Penn.; they had four children, all hern in Baraboo, Wis.— Emma J., Sarah A.. Win. A. and Geo. D. .Mrs. Capener died June 18, 1865. He married th time, Sept. 2, L866, to Louisa Shew; she was born in Baraboo, and they have two children living In politics, Mr. Capener is a Republican. Arthur and Leona May.

CABOW,

contractor and builder; he was born in Canada West Jan. 25, 1843; he came A. .1. S00, and to Baraboo in 872. s 7 o to Miss Martha L. M lie was married Augusi to the States in 'e she was hum in Wisconsin they have had six children Lottie Bell, deceased Frank A.. Ceo. W.. [rwin, Maud and Herbert T. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carow are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in 1

;

politics he

;

Republican.

DAN CHA.IIBEBLIN,

born Nov. 25, 1839, at Pittsfield, Mass.; moved to Belvidere, 111., lie commenced railroading as fireman. with his parents about Slil In 862, enlisted in Co. B, 95th 111. V. J I.; served three years, was at the siege of Yicksburg and other engagements; in 1S7. >, took an engine on 1

& N. W.K. R., and is still engaged there, He was married.' Nov. 26, 1867, to Miss Jessie Ball she was born in New York State; they have two children Adda and Dan he also has charge of two children of his sister, who is deceased, and is raising them up as his own their names are Mary and .lanes the

—

;

Hardy.

CHAMBEBliAIN,

contractor and builder, one of the firm of Chamberlain \ Burdick D. It. he was born in Franklin Co., N. Y.. April 17. 1826; he came to Baraboo June 8, 1852. He was married to .Miss Sarah A. Heath in 1S.">2 she was born in Franklin Co.. N. Y.; they have had two children Arthur A deceased, and Minnie. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in polities he is a Republican. ;

;

—

PHILIP CHEEK., Jr., attorney

law; son of Philip and Hannah (Gunningham) Cheek, settled on See. 27, both now residents of BaraMay 11. 1841 came to America with his parents May 1, 1852; lived two years at Newark, N. J. and two years at Pawtucket, R. I.; from there came to Wisconsin. Enlisted April 'Jo, 1861, in Co. A, 6th W. V. I. served in this regiment until Dec. 25, 1862; when he was wounded at Antietam, received appointment of Deputy Provost Marshal for Sauk County Nov. IT. L863 finally mustered out May 15, 1865; he settled in Baraboo, permanently, n appointed Clerk of Circuit Court on that day elected Clerk of the same court Oct 15, 1870, hi, in: in the fall of 1870, re-elected as Clerk until Jan. 1, 1877 elected District Attorney in the fall of 1879 be has been engaged in practice sinceJan. 1, 1877; was admitted to the bar in September, 1870. Was 1801, to Catharine, daughter of Henry and Mary (Horn) married in the town of Excelsior, July 2: Mrs. C. was bom May 24. Fuller, who came to the town of Freedom in 1855, and still reside there. Arthur W. and Jennie; lost one son, born 1840, at Pittsburgh, Penn.; they have two children living at

who came to Excelsior, Sauk Co., Wis., May, 1856, and boo;

Philip, Jr., was bora in

Silverton, Somersetshire, England,

;

—

Sep,. 28, 1864, and died April 14, 1880.

GEORGE COBDES, manufacturer of and dealer

in furniture. Bridge street born in Ilan many. March 12. 1826; became to America in the fall of 1869; stopped for three months in Raand the same year came to Baraboo and commenced work in the Island Agricultural Works for sixyears; he then moved to lteedsburg. went into the furniture business for about three years, then returned an man to Baraboo and started his present business. He was married, in May, 1857, to Miss Johanna she was born in Hanover, Germany, and cane to America with her husband they have had five childri d y. \V., Marie S. and Frieda L. (i Johanna, Henry deceased Mr. Cordes and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. ;

cine,

;

—

PHI LIT E. COSGBOVE, born in Adrian, Mich.. July 10, 1854; commenced to learn the moved to Baraboo in 1870, in the employ of the C. & N. W. R. I! Co trade of boiler-maker in 1870 He was married. Oct. 10, 1876, to Miss Sarah Lynch; she was born in Michigan City, Tnd. they have ;

— May. HENRY H. COWAN,

;

one child

Aug. 31, ls::0; came to Baral

& N. W. R

born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y He 1873; he lias been railroading for the last twenty-three year.-. iductor on the C.

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

688

1860, to Miss Mary E. Anderson; she was born in Chicago, III.; they have two Charles II. and Edith. In polities, Mr. Cowan is a Republican.

was married, Jan. children

—

R. A. COWAN, Assistant Train Dispatcher; born in Massachusetts July 20, 1845.

He was In politics, Mr. Cowan she was born in Boone Co., 111. he has been iu the employ of the C. & N. W. R. R. Co. about thirteen years; he cauie to Baraboo in 1872, and has held the position he now occupies ever since he has been'here; he took a pleasure trip to England, the present season, and returned. married, is

May 4, 180!*, to Miss Anna M. Willott

a Republican

;

DR. CHARLES COWLES, was born Oct. 5, 1815, in Geneva, Ashtabula Co., Ohio; his his father, Lorrin Cowles, was born in Norfolk, Conn. whose maiden name was Betsey Hulburt, was born in Northhampton, Mass.; he emigrated with his father, mother and a family of eight children, to Gull Prairie, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., in 1831; among the very first pioneer settlers of that part of the State; there being no schools at that time, he availed himself of the advantages of the evening tallow-candle and rainy days to acquire such education as circumstances would admit; went to Oberlin, in Ohio, in 1836, and prepared for college in view of the Christian ministry; was dissuaded therefrom, by an old Congregational Minister by the name of Knappen, who urged as a reason that he was too light and trifling in his make-up for so grave and dignified an office, which he subsequently and now regards as the first great mistake of his life; in the winter of 1811 and 1842, taught the village school at Battle Creek, Mich., at the same time prosecuting his studies in medicine in the office of Drs. Cos & Campbell; in the winter of 1843, attended a course of medical lectures at Willoughby, Lake Co., Ohio. In the spring foil. .wing, the 20th of March, was married to Miss Mary Cowles, daughter of Squire Adna Cowles, of Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio; entered Dr. Serwood's office in the further prosecution of his medical studies, where he remained one year and eight months; in the summer of 1844, taught school near Lexington. Ky., by which he obtained means to attend another course of medical lectures at Willoughby, in the winter of 1844 and 1845, and graduated in March following; he settled in the town of Saybrook, Ashtabula Co.. Ohio, for the purpose of practicing in May, 1846, he emigrated to Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis., where his lather and one brother his profession had settled three years previously there he has remained to the present time they have had six children, three of whom died in infancy, the remaining three are still living;; the two daughters and one son -no, Lucian C.,is a practicing physician and druggist at La Crosse. Wis.; Maria A. married Albert Dennett, Young Penned was a a graduate of tie- law school nt Ann Arbor, Mich., by whom she has a daughter. man of great brilliancy and promise, but death marked him for bis own, and he succumbed to phthisis-pulmonalis in Denver, Colo., whither he had gone in hopes of regaining his failing health his young widowami infant daughter returned to her father's house, where she remained the six subsequent years, being engaged as teacher in the graded school at that place; subsequently married James Crobly, of Cadillac, Dr. Cowles wis the Mich., where she now resides; Nellie, the youngest, lives at home with her parents.

parents were poor, but honest, respectable people

;

his mother,

;

—

;

first

regular physician in Sauk County, and was exposed to many perils in his long rides into the northern one occasion at sun-down, Jan. ''. 1st", was called to go sixty-four miles to visit a lumbero'clock the next morning on an Indian pony he rode that distance bj

pineries; on

man taken with pleuro pneumoni

;

dismounting, the thermometer being at 26° below zero; such a feal demonstrating a d endurance seldom seen in our time; he has followed the practice of his professsion thirty-four years in this county with indefatigable zeal, taking great interest in the different phases of diseases as they have appeared from ti if in anything he may be said to timi f our county excel it is in diagnosis, arriving at conclusions from facts ami observation, known as the inductive method, rather than a priori reasoning; his success as an obstetrician lias been, as far as he knows, without a parallel within of his observation; has had 1,386 cases, not one of which has died either proximately or is ps eases and fourteen of puerperal convulsion, all saved, the result of parturi commission from the Governmenl as Examin a record of which ho iing Surgi mined 3, 000 men for enlistment from this county in the la!e unpleasantness with our Southern bl the disabled soldiers since the war, who have applied for pensions within a circuit of twenty miles. he visited the Rocky Mountains, traveled In the spring of ISO 1,100 miles on foot in Colorado ind searching for new deposits; was the first one n mstrated the prai parating gold from the pyrites of iron by rusting the ores with tash or soda; was a Garrison Abolitionist the first vote be cast for President was for .lames ('.. d the Republican cause in its ineipieney, and is a firm believer in the universal natural •its of all men, without distinction of race or color always cheerful and happy given to bospi tlity, and in sympathy with is a firm believer in the Christian the oppressed of every race and dime without

physical

;

BARABOO.

689

human needs

than any or all religions know to mankind believes the United States of America the best country iu the world, and its government the besl on the religion, and

regards

adapted to

as better

face of the earth.

CAPT. R. K. COWL.ES, proprietor of the Railroad Hotel and Eating House

Baraboo

;

Franklin Co., Ohio; he took charge of the Cliff House in L876, and opened the Railroad He enlisted July, 1861, as a private in Co. K. 6th Iowa V. [. promoted (o 1st Lieutenant October, L861, and then Captain in the spring of lsiij. immediately after the battle of Shiloh; was then detailed as Acting Assistant Adjutant Ceneral on the Staff of Brig. den. John A. McDowell; served time of service, about three years. in that rapacity till his resignation, on aeeount of disability lis wife was horn in Licking Co., Ohio they have three children— H. L., Laura K. and Byron K., Jr. [n politics, Capt. Cowles is a Republican. >ni

House in 187.8.

;

JAMES CRAWFORD,

farmer. See. 1; I'. Baral son of James and Lucy Wallace Crawford; came to Wisconsin in the fill of 1st,, located where he now resides, in spring of 848 hnru near Columbus, Huron Co., Ohio emigrated from Ohio to within .six miles of Beloit, Wis., and remained Mr. Crawford enlisted in the army as a musician there until 1847, when he located where he now resides. James Crawford, father of subject of this sketch, was horn in and was stationed at fort Scott. Ivan. '['he mother of Mr. Crawford was born Delaware Co.. X. V.. and died Ann'. If. 1876, in Baraboo, Wis. in Vermont, and died Oct. 14, 1873, in Baraboo. Mr. Crawford has held the office of Supervisor belongs to the Temple of Honor, was a member of the Good Templars, always been a temperance worker he is a member of the Methodist Church. (

».

;

LEVI CROUCH; was born in the town of Cohocton, Steuben Co.. N. Y.. Feb. 29, 1836; came has keen engaged in practice of law, dealing in real estate and speculating, to Baraboo December 7 hat time he has also carried on stone quarrying extensively — owning two quarries — the only ones is.")

;

Married at Liberty. Steuben Co., X. ST., Sept. 17. 1861, to Julia Woodworth she of consequence here. Has horn near Cambridge. Washingt m Co., N. Y.. Feb. 29, 1840; they have one daughter. Minnie ;

Belle, born

June 23. 1865.

Lost one son, Francis Clark, aged a little less than one year.

SAMUEL CROUCH, one of the firm of Crouch

Bros., livery business, and sale stable, on Oak Sumner Housi; they keep a large stock, and have some of the finest turnouts in the the stable was built in 1878, of brick, two stories high, fifty four feet front, and sixty-six feel deep

street, opposite the

town

;

has ;i basement and stable room for twenty five bead of horses, has all the modern improvements for a first-

They also keep some first-class stallions, among them three head of young Hambletonians, grandsons of Rysdik's Hambletonian, and these are the first importation of that breed to Sauk Co.-

class livery.

ROSE DAVIDS, occupation, farming, Sec. 4 P. 0. Barahoo daughter of Isaac ;

;

II.

and Sarah

came to Wisconsin in the fall of L839, and located in Walworth, Walworth Co.; located in Barowns 40 acres of land four miles from the village of Baraboo; horn in Sauk Co., March, 1854 Warren, Wan en Co., I'eiiu.. March 5, 1816. Married Xov. L7, 1831, to Isaac Davids, Si f G Mitchell

aboo,

;

Davids ami Elizabeth Wells Davids.

Isaac Davids died Feb. 6, 1860. Mrs. Davids' family con children— Elizabeth, Castnda, Kutban. Louis \\\. Alfred II.. Francis M.. Emma, Isaac, Samuel W. and George W. Alfred, died March 26, ISC.S; Casmda, died Aug. 3, 1863 Louis W. was in the army and a member of 4th W. V. C. Father of .Mrs, Davids was in the war of 1812. Isaac Davids, hu-band of Mrs. Davids, was the first man who drove a four-horse team into the city ol Madison, Dane Co., Wis. Mrs. Davids belongs to the M. E. Church. ten

MOSES MITCHELL DAVIS

was born in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vt., August 27, 1820 was Moses Davis, a native of Methuen. Mas.-; his mother was Polly Chandler Davis, a native ol' he wa.- educated in the common schools, and at Norwich University, which institution he Pomfret, Conn entered in the spring of is: 17 while acquiring bis education, he was compelled for want of funds to tea h school during the winter months, and labor on a farm in the summer, attending to his studies in spring ;

his father

;

and autumn.

He commenced the study of medicine and surgery with Dr. D. C. Joslyn, of Wail

thesamsyear hi attended medical locturesal Dartmouth, the New Hampshire Medical College; ubsequently he atte two courses of medical lectures at the Vermont Medical College, at Woodstock, from which college he graduated in une, 1846; he at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Noi

in 1843

;

in L854, he removed to Portage City, Wis., where he was engaged in the practice of his promost of the time, until early in 1863, he removed to Appleton, Wis., to take charge of the landdonated by Congress, to rite State, to improve the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers audio conned the same bj a canal. This change of resi lence was made necessary by his appointment as Trustee of the property after

wich, Vt.

;

fession

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

690

the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers improvement, property was sold under a decree of foreclosure. He removed to Chicago, where he resided until a short time subsequent to the great fire of 1871, when he removed to Baraboo, where he has since been engaged in his profession. While a resident of Vermont, he was a memhe is a member of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, ber of the Connecticut River Medical Society and a member of the American Medical Association, and also a member of the American Public Health decided Republican in 1852, he was a delegate from Vermont to the has always been a He Association. National Convention held at Pittsburgh, Penn which nominated the late Hon. John P. Hale, of New ;

;

Hampshire, for President; in 1856, he was a delegate from Wisconsin to the National Convention which nominated li.ii. Fremont for President; in November, 1855, he was elected to the Assembly from the north half of Columbia Co.; in November, 1856, he was elected to the State Senate for two years, and he was re-elected to the same place in November, 1858; in 1860, he was elected President pro tem. of the Senate in 1858, in joint convention of the Legislature, he was elected Regent of the State University for on there-organization of the University he declined the appoint864, he was re-elected six years, and in ment of Regent from 1863 to 1870, he was a Trustee of Lawrence University while a Regent of the State University, he was mainly instrumental in the passage of a resolution in favor of the co-education of the sexes in 1862, he was appointed Trustee of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers improvement property, his in 1862, he was associates being Hon. Charles Butler and Judge Alexander Spaulding of New York in June, 1861, he was commissioned to take charge appointed Draft Commissioner for Columbia Co of the Indians residing in the vicinity of Green Bay after more than five years' service, he resigned. While a member of the as he did not choose to hold office under President Andrew Johnson. Legislature, the officers of the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railway Company used nearly a million of the passage of bill giving that company the lands granted by secure bonds to company of dollars Congress to aid in the construction of a railroad from Columbus or Madison, Wis., to Portage and thence northwesterly to the River or Lake St. Croix this bill did not secure the construction of the road, although it donated the lauds Dr. Davis opposed the bill, which passed and was vetoed by the Governor; a new bill was prepared, giving the lands to the same company and securing the construction of the road; in 1858, a joint committee of the Legislature investigated the transactions of the company in using it was proved that most of the memits bonds to control the action of the members of the Legislature Dr. Davis was numbered among the few the officials of bers took bonds, and a very few refused them they bought up two of the three Republican papers in the the company visited him with their displeasure countj and tried to defeat him for the Senate without notice, or offer of compensation, they entered upon and took possession of his lots and lands in Portage the result was a law-suit; the Doctor got an injunction against the occupancy of his property until it was paid for; the company refused to obey the order of the company sent a the court; alter two days' notice, the Doctor took up the track on a part of his land hundred men to forcibly take possession ami relay the track; the Sheriff arrested about ninety of the railand cars that land were dumped engines were Doctor's jail; the run on to the road men and lodged them in in the sand, and then the company paid the damages which had been proved in court, and thus this bit of railroad war ended. On the 3d of December, 184(1, he married Miss Eunice E. Dana, of Warren, Vt. three sons and two daughters one son died in infancy; the live children have been born in this family tin; sons are married and engaged in railway service eldesl daughter is married and settled in Chicago, 111. ;

;

—

;

Minnesota.

A. DIltKI.iFi, J. I*., was born in Danbury, Conn., May 2. ISJ2; came to Baraboo with

.1.

in I860, was elected Town Treasbe is engaged in tin- boot ami shoe trade July 16, L852 to lill an unexpired term, and in 879 was elected to fill the full L878, Justice of the Pet she was born in llichmondville. X. V. was married Nov. 22. L865, to Miss Mary A. Worth Both he and his wife are members Julia C, Mary B., Frank A. and Carrie M. hey have four children of the M. Iv Church, and Squire Dibble, in polities, is a Republican.

bis parents

nil.

If-

I>.

I).

;

urer, and. in

—

DOANF. dealer in fancy gr

;

ries

and confectionery, in connection with dining

hall

;

meals, bis bakery is lirst class, running up into a line of goods that are seldom found outside of large cities Mr. Doane lunches and ice-cream served at all hours; also a nice line of picnic goods always on hand. is a Vermonter by birtb, and has lived in Baraboo since 1856. "i f the firm of Draper Bros., proprietors of meat market, on Third street ;

.IOIIX DKAI'FK,

America in he was born in Welby, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. England, Jan. 27. 1S27 came to March. L856, with his family, and located in Philadelphia for one year; in 1857, moved to Madison, she Stevenson; Miss Rebecca July to L846, married was 3, He Wis., and in L868 moved to Baraboo. Mrs. was horn in Leicestershire. England, March 18.1827; they have two children— Mary C, now ;

BARABOO.

691

Mrs. Draper is a member of the Episcopal Church. Draper is Independent, and liis son. John J. H is a Democrat.

John J. H.

E. Noyes, and

Rolla

politics,

Mr.

CHARLES A. DYKE, N.

11.,

Nellie

telegraph operator for the C.

W. R. R. Co.

born

;

Was married Nov. 26, .March 22, 1853, and came to Baraboo, Wis., in 1874. In politics, Mr. Dyke is a Democrat. Palmer; she was born in Dane Co., Wis.

JAMES DYKIXS was born near Elmira, N. Y Jan.

Nashua

lS7(i, to

.Miss

1820; served an apprenticeship at New York: in 1S| I. went to Pittsburgh,

carriage-making at Williamsport, Penn., and then returned to the latter city he emigrated, in the summer of 1845, to Free Penn., and from there to St. Louis; fi port, III., where he was married, in 1,846, to Eleanor Thatcher; in 1849, he came to Baraboo, and has lived here ever sinee. engaged in wagon-uiaking. Mr. and Mrs. Dykins have four children John. Charles W., Emma -Jane and Eddie J., all living; the eldest son and the daughter resell' in Chicago. i

—

CHARLES W. DYKIXS was born

Baraboo July 31, 185*; received a common-school education, and commenced learning the printer's trade in 1*07 es<uMishod the Sunk County A'., in partnership with I). W. K. Noyes, in December, 1ST!'. in

CHARLES ERER; born

Haardt Palatine, Germany, Aug.

came

1852;

they stopped in New York City for a few months 1, 1870. with his parents he commenced railroading on the P. & R. R. R.; then on the I'. & E R. 11. then on the P.,C. & St. L.R.R.; then in 1ST J. moved to Baraboo, Wis.; went to work on the ('. & X. \V. R. 1! ..as brakeman then to firing up to .January. 1870 he then took an engine. He was married Nov. 9, 1875, to Miss Barbara Egerer; they have one child, Anna.

April

;

FRANK ELDRIDUE, telegraph operator

& N. W. R. R. Co. he was born at He was married Jan 1, 1880, to Miss Fannie

for the C.

Dupre, Wis., July 7. 1853, ami came to Baraboo in 1875. H. Tuner she was born in Utica, N. Y.

THOMAS

ENGLISH,

farmer; he was born in Virginia April 'Js. 1824 T. came to Sauk in 1852, and moved his family in 1853; since he has been in the county, he has followed farming, merchandising, etc.; he is one of he largest bee-raisers in the State; also one of the stockholders and a Director in the First National Bank at this place; he has served on the Village Hoard. is Trustee; has been elected Town Assessor two terms. He was married, July 27, 1848, to Miss Ann E. Powell she was born in Franklin Co., Va. they have four children, viz.. Thomas W., John E., Ella V. and Alice M. In polities. Mr. English is a Democrat. .

Co.

;

HEXRY

EVANS,

farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Baraboo; came to Wisconsin in 1837, arriving I>. Milwaukee in May; has been a permanent resident of Baraboo since 1846; lived in the village for eight where he worked at his trade, carpenter and joiner, when he removed to his present residence; was Doty Evans. born Dec. 16, ISIS; son of Abitha and Mary Was married, Nov. 30, 1845, to Miss Bridget H. McBride; Mrs. E. died April 6, 1874; has two children Abitha (deceased), [zro, now Mrs has been Supervisor and Clerk of School Board. T. VV. English at

years,

)

—

;

THOMAS FERRIS, proprietor paint-shop, over

he was born in 11. 1829; came to America and to Baraboo, Wis., June, 1852. lie was married March she died March. 1872; they bad three children, viz., Sarah, now 1852, to Miss Patience Stubbs married to 11. Hurlbert; Lorenzo J.; Nelson R. Mr. Ferris was married, the second time, Dec. 5, 1872. to Miss Cornelia M. Monroe; she was born in Madison Co., N. Y. [n polities. Mr. Ferris is a Republican. Grollmar's blacjcsmith-shop

;

England Sept. 12,

;

AXTOX FISCHER,

was born in Germany Nov. 5, 1833 came to America retired Sauk City November. 1851, and learned the tinner's trade, and wastheretill 1861, when he enlisted in Co. D, 9th W. V. [., and was promoted to Lieutenant was mustered out December. 1864; he wa County Clerk in 1866, and served ten years in that office. He was married. May 29, 1870, to Miss Lucy ;

;

Pold

;

she was born

the State of Wisconsin.

In politics,

Mr. Fisher is a Republican.

FISHER,

druggist, on Oak street east ol the court house was bom in Sauk A. F. 1857, and came to Baraboo. 1875; he was employed by Mr. Bacon, in the drug business, and in the fail of 1878, he bought the business out and moved into his present store Jan. 10, 1880. ;

10,

.1. in.

FORI), editor

Baraboo Democrat; was

OTHO OERLAIOH, farmer,

Sec. 11

;

bom in Princeton, Caldwell Co., Ky., in 1831. Baral son of Adam and Catherine Haines]

P.O.

;

Gerlaugh came to Wisconsin in 1846, and remained tie year when he returned to Ohio; again in l^.V:. he came to Wisconsin, and located in Freedom, now Excelsior, Sauk Co. purchased land where he now resides, in 1867, but did not locate on it himself until April, 1878; he owns U acres of land and one ;

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

692

Marhouse and lot in the village of Baraboo; born Aug. 28, 1812, at Beaver Creek, Greene Co., Ohio. ried Ellen Eirkpatrick, daughter of Samuel and Mrs. Kirkpatriok. June 10, 1840, in Ohio; had two Franklin, son of Mr. an infant died unnamed, and Franklin, aged 19, was killed in the army. children Gerlaugh, enlisted April 1, 1861, in Co. A, 6th W. V. I., when but IS years of age, and was killed at the battle of Anlietam Sept. 17, 1S<!2 participated in the battles of Gainesville. Smith Mountain, and Mr. Gerlaugh's first wife died in 1847; married again to Harother battles en-raged in by Ins company. had three children, all of whom died Culver Chapman rietl Chapman, daughter of William and Rodj May (I. 1850, Mr. Gerlaugh started from Ohio names of children were Eleanor, Corwin C. and Julia E. on an overland trip to California, in search of gold; the trip was made in four months; he returned Dec. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Gerlaugh are very liberal Free Congregalionalists. 1851.

—

;

'_'.">.

GIBBONS,

was born iu Kent Co., Engcarpenter, contractor and builder <wEOR4jcE B. Madison Co., N. Y. 1^1. 1S2S; came to America in 1832 with his parents; they located in came to Racine, Wis., May 9, 184"), and to Baraboo in April, 1850; he enlisted on hie, 19. 1861, in Co. A, 19th W. V. 1., and was promoted to Commissary Sergeant; was discharged Aug. 29, 1862, on account ;

land, Feb.

;

then enlisted in lid U. S. Cavalry. February, 1863, and was discharged Sept. '.». 1865, on ac of disability lie has served as Under Sheriff for two years and Constable about twelve years. He count of disability. she was born in Staffordshire, England; they have March was married, 29, 1862, to Miss Mary Pointon In polities, Mr. Gibbons is Lavina G., Francila, Philip EL, Charles L., Ida and George P. six children ;

;

—

a Democrat.

JOSEPH CwILLIAM,

dealer in flour ami iWd. Bridge street was born May 7, 1826 at Livingston. N. V. Slate; moved to Mercer Co., Penn., with his parents; resided there till he was married. he moved witli his she was born in Mercer Co.. Penn.. in 1851 April 20, IS 17, to Miss Jane Ilulby family to Omro, Wis was there one year, and his wife died, leaving iwo children, viz., George and Lauretta; he then returned to Greenville, Penn. Was married a second time, Oct. 30, 1852, to Miss Isadore Sterns; Phebe F. deceased Clara they have four children she was born in Sheridan. Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ;

;

—

;

Addie

E.,

and Frank.

Mr. Gilliam came to Baraboo in 18.">1.

In politics, he is a Republican.

(kOLLMAJR,

of the firm of Gollmar A Son, manufacturers of wagons and carriages, and (jr. ii. general repairing; be was born in Germauy Dec. ]-. 1823; came to America with his parents in L830, and located in Ohio; removed to Baraboo in L851. lie was married Nov. 25, 1846, to Miss Mary Julian;

—

Jacob ('., George J., CaroSarah (deceased she was born in France; they have had thirteen children line L., Ed, William 11., LillieM., Charles A., Benjamin F.. Fannie. Sarah (deceased), Frederick C. and Arthur II. In politics, Mr. Gollmar is Independent. .

IS. B. 4iiBIip}<iJS, of the firm of Jones & Griggs, dealers in ready-made clothing and gents' furIs, Third street, west of the post office; he was born in Lake Co., 111., Aug. 30, 1S4S; became Baraboo June 5, 1874. He was married, Oct. 11. 1877, to Mis- Addie F. Williams; she was born in Mr. Griggs, in polities, is a Republican. the State of Main,'.

nishing g to

WILLIAM S. iiitl BB. -.

1833

;

came from

The subject of this sketch was born at Wilmington, Del., Feb. took up a large here to Wisconsin in the spring of 1851 and located at Madison end of Mondota Lake, about one thousand acres, and improved the property to .

;

tract of land at the west

was -s on his farms, and in Madison until the fall of 1866 he resided eight y in L856 and 1857, and laid out- a large addition there; platted what was known as Turnei & Grubb's Addition. Married, at Sauk City. Dec. 12, 1856; his wife was born at Utica, Oneida Co., N. Augustine Grubb, they bave one daughter living. Lizzie S., born near Madison, hate Co., Wis. Y. The daughter of Augustine Grubb the first of his family to come to America, came with William Penn. was the first child born of Quaker parentage in Pennsylvania. The Penns were cousins of the Grubb Joseph C. Grubb, an uncle of William S. Grubb, was one of tic oldest, merchants of Philadelfamily. id Wisconsin Brigade, William S. was commissioned by Gov. Randall as General of the S< phia. Mayor of is at present .Mr. (!. and w.,s also appointed to the same position by Guv. Bashford. For the last ten years he has dealt extensively in hops, bring now one of the largest dealer- in Baral that product in Wisconsin. the extent of $30,000

;

WILLIAM S. HARSEIM, Sec. 23;

I'. 0. Baraboo; was born>t Winchester. Va., Nov. Augusta and Johannah Barseim; his father moved to Wisconsin when he was - years Milwaukee for sis years, when he removed with his family to North Freedom, Sauk Co.; Mr. II. remained with his parents until Oct. I, 1864, when he enlisted in Co. A. 19th W. \'. 1.. and his regiment raised the tits! flag in Richmond after the surrender. served his country until Aug. 9, ISii.'i

11. 1845, son of

old. stopping

;

BARABOO.

693

be owns 10 Mr. II. moved to Sec. 23, town of Baraboo, in the fall of 1865, where he lias since lived acres. He was married Jan. 9, IS68, to Miss Amelia ('.. daughter of Stephen M. ami Betsey Burdick Again married May 21 Mrs. II. died Aug. 13, 1869, leaving one child, Gussie B., born Dec. 21, L868. has two 1871, to Miss Belle E daughter of John and Sarah Capener, of Cal.Ml.niia. Columbia Co., Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Harseim are children Ernest \., born Jan. 30, 1874, and Alma I., born Aug. 22, 1876. members of the Second Advent Church. .

;

—

E. W. HART, farmer, See. 22;

P. 0. Baral born in Summit Co., Ohio, April 20, 1816 she died about to Sauk Co. in 1846; he was married in September, 1838, to Rachel Lattie Hattie Mr. Hart has three children by his first wife 1845; his present wife was Matilda Robinson. John ('. Mr. Hart is a Republican in George W. and Maria; has one child by his present will

;

—

politics.

PHIN C. HASELTINE,

son of Damah and Sophia 23; P. 0. Baral Newell Haseltine; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1846; located in the village of Baraboo, Sauk Co. located where he now resides in 1855 has held the. offices of School Director and District Clerk for sixteea years owns 60 acres of land three miles from the village of Baraboo; horn Oct. I, 1818, in the town ol Was married three tim.s; married first wife, Louisa Clements, in Middletown, Rutland Co., Vermont. the town of Wells. Rutland Co., Vt., .May 6, 1846; married second wife, Susan Hutchins, August, 1856: had two children Maria Lucretia, Jacob, who died about 1859; married third wife, Lydia Anna Hart, daughter of Josiah and Mahala Harrington Hart. Feb. 17, 1874, in the village of Baraboo; had one child Agatha Zaluka. Josiah Hart, father of Mrs. Haseltine, was horn March 6, 1802, in Paris, N. Y.. and di d Feb. 3, 1873 Mrs. Hart, mother of Mrs. Haseltine, is. with her son Phineas J., living with Mr. Haseltine. Having arrived in Wisconsin, Mr. Haseltine, the subject of this sketch, was mobbed by the land-claimers, who were hound to protect each other at the peril of their lives; but after giving him' a trial, he was acquitted and not molested afterward Mr. Haseltine belongs to the Odd Fellows and Sons of Temperance. Sec.

farmer,

;

—

;

CHRISTIAN HOLSINGER, foreman of Wackler's machine shop, where he has been he was born Nov. 27, 1855, in Sink Co., Wis. and in politics is a Republican.

Beven years

;

ROKERT HENDERSON, born Dec. to

America in

1ST:;,

and located in Chicago,

3, 1845, in the county of Durham, England; the same year he moved to Baraboo. in the He was married, February, 1869, to Miss England, and came to America with her husbat

111.;

came

& N. \V. R, R. Co., at his trade — blacksmith.

the C.

for

he is an attendant at the M. E. Church,

she was born in the county of Durham, Richey have three children, viz.. Charles R., Emily J., Robert A. ;

JOHN HEWITT, farmer, Sec 9;

Baraboo; so,, of Elisha and Catherine Benner P. came to Wisconsin in 1870; icated in the village of Baraboo, where he now resides, in July, horn in West the village farm well improved acres of four miles from land, of Baraboo 1877; OWUS S2 lie was married, in Baraboo, April 4, 1877, to Mary Waterloo Co., Canada, July 27, 1850. Freddi, Moglar, daughter of John and Caroline Kline Moglar; Mr. Hewitt has two children Mrs. Hewitl infant unnamed. Before he en aired in lannircj. he worked three years in a woolen-mill. Hewitt

(

;

—

;

—

the M. E. Church.

MICHAEL HIRE, mason, builder and stonecutter; born moved to Wisconsin in isiis. and to Baral V.

and served

I.,

born

till

the close of the war.

in Scotl

Co., Iowa.

Aug. 14,1840!

in 1873. He nlisted Aug. 13, 1862, in Co. K, 112th 111. He was married. Oct. 6, 1861, to Mi- Betsy Morna she was ,

;

England; they have one child — Jessie GEORGE HOLAH, contractor and in

It.

[n politics, Mr. Hit.

born in HuntingdonSec 27; P.O. Baral He was married, Dec 25, 1844, to Miss Hannah Finnigan came to America hire, England, July 10,1819. direct arriving in Milwaukee Ma;, 25, this year, he c; in 1849; lived in Cleveland, Ohio, until 1851 to Baraboo remained h, the village ten yens, when be removed to his farm residence, where he now lives, builder,

;

Mr. 11. has been an extensive contractor and builder, having built the public school building, b; n and all the brick business hous s in Baraboo, with one exception; was the architect of the eourl bouse; has had five children— Hannah I'... born Jubj II. 1846, died when 1 month old; Hannah. July 16, March 30, 1855. Amelia. Sept. 9, isis. died Jan. 9, 1854 Elijah A., duly 9, 1850; George II 1847 Mr. 11. has been Supervisor. Town Treasurer and a member of the School Hoard .

;

L. O.

HOLMES, Under Sheriff and Village Marshal, an

was bom in

office

he has tilled

foi

New Hampshire Oct. 29. 1844. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Co. E, rtb X

— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

<j!'4

V. I., and served about eighteen months, and was discharged on account of disability in Aug., 1863, he re-enlisted in the 3d N. H. B., and served till the close of the war. He was married, September, I860, to Miss Vira Johnson she was born in Baraboo Mrs. R. Peck, her aunt, is the first white woman that settled in Sauk Co. Mr. and Mrs Holmes have four children— Willie IT., Minta I., Guy E. and Attie L. In politics, Mr. Holmes is a Republican. ;

;

HENRY

HOWLETT,

seed-grower and farmer, oec. 10: P. 0. Baraboo; sou of Parley H. and Maria (Canfield) Howlett he came to Wisconsin February. -C>7. and located in Baraboo, Sauk Co. he owns 80 acres of land near the village of Baraboo; he was born Sept. 21, 1840, in the town of Onondaga, mondaga Co., N. Y. He married Josephine L. Strong, daughter of Argalusand Ann Eliza (Eaton) Mr. HowJosie May Howlett. Strong, March 26, 1872; bis wife died May 5, 1878; he has one child lett has been Treasurer of School District. He is a life member. of Sauk Co. Agricultural Society, and also df the Horticultural Society he has been President of the Baraboo Farmers' Mutual Insurance The father of Mr. Howlett was a Co. be lias been a member of the Baraboo and Sauk Co. Grange. minute man in the war of 1812, and one of the earliest, settlers in Onondaga Co. N. Y. he was engaged in farming, the manufacture of salt and the curing of beef and pork; and was the first man to 1

;

(

—

;

ship a cargo of salt into Ohio.

JOHN HAEBERT HILL, the subject of

this sketch was born in Greenbush. N. Y., 1834 he resided in Saratoga Co. from the time he was '2 years old until he came to Chicago, in 1855; he has been connected with the C. & N. W. R. R., ever since he came West, first as brakeman, and for a number of years passenger conductor, until a year or two prior to the Chicago fire; he was Jan. 17. 1874, he came to Baratrain dispatcher for five years, afterward for one year at Hudson, Wis. He was married in Chicago, June 10, 1858, and lias held the position of train dispatcher ever since. to Harriet J. Near; she was born in Ballston Spa, Saratoga Co., X. Y., Sept. 8. 1841; they have five children Ada M., now Mrs. John McCutchen, of Elroy, Wis.; Charles M., George H., John Henry, and Arthur.

Dec. 28

;

April,

;

— HERBERT N. HUNTINGTON (deceased) he was born

in New Haven, Conn., April 10, 1809. and moved to New York State with Ids parents when quite young be came to Baraboo with his family in 1851, and was a merchant at the time of his death he was one of the firm of Huntington & He marStanley the name of the firm has not been changed, as his widow is holding the same interest. they had one child ried Feb. 2, 1836, to Miss Amanda M. Steele; she was born in Oswego Co., N. Y. Louisa A., now Mrs. Stanley. Mr. Huntington died Jan. 2, 1878. Mrs. II. is a member of the Congrega;

;

tional

Church. I*.

JACOBS, proprietor of the City Hotel on Bridge St.

I*.

;

he was

horn in

Wyoming Co..

N V.. Jan. 6, 1837, and came to Sauk Co. in 1855, and followed farming and dealing in stock, etc. be Nov. 15, 1877, he took owns 40 acres of land in the town of Excelsior, on Sec. 24, which he rents oftheCity Hotel. He was married, Sept. 25, 1857. to Miss Lucinda Petteys she was born in Wayne Co.. N V.; they have one SOU— Fred W. In politics, Mr. Jacobs is a Republican. ;

;

SMITH JENNINGS,

Constable; was elected to that office seven years ago, and has been elected everj term up to the present time; be is also engaged in stone quarry; he furnishes fine stone for buildings and dimension work of all kinds; he was born in St an lord. Delaware Co., X. Y.. May 2, 1835 he ;

has one son. George B.

In polities, Mr. Jennings

Republican.

is a

H. I*. JONES, of the firm of Jones .V Griggs, dealers in ready-made clothing and gents' furnishhe was horn in Walworth Co., Wis., April 19, 1849; on Third street, west of the post office He was married, Sept. 2, 1874, to Miss came to Baraboo in 187:>, and established his present business. thej have two children- StacyS. and Margie C. Mar} E Sharp; she was horn in Manitowoc Co., Wis. ;

;

In politics, Mr.

Jones is a Republican.

AIGI'ST KAMRATII. meat market, on Bridge street

;

in Prussia, Germany, Sauk Co., Wis., and he came

he was horn

came to America with bis parents in 1858; they located Baraboo in March. 1879.

April 8, 1852 to

KAIM'ACIi,

gents' furnishing goods, tobacco and cigars, on Bridge street; was born in J. F. Austria Feb. 7, 1852; came to America with his parents in 1858; they located in Watertown, Jefferson where he is still engaged in business. Co., Wis., and in 1871 he came to Baral

JAMES SPENCER KIMBALL was born

in Stratford,

Orange Co., Vt

June 12, 1817;

!n~ early advantages Tor education were limited to the district school, in which be was an ornament in scholarship and deportment; at the age of 17. he left home without money or experience, but rich in a

BARABOO.

(395

conscientious determination to do right; this principle and a strong desire tor improvement lay at the foundation of his character and constituted his entire " stock in trade " by adopting the strictest princi;

his ples of temperance, industry and economy, he accumulated means sufficient for a liberal education academic course was taken at Shelburne Falls, Mass.; in 1843, he entered Dartmouth College, from which institution he graduated in 1847 subsequently, the degree of A. M. was conferred on him by .his alma mater immediately after graduating, he entered upon his chosen profession, that of teacher in 1847-48, in August, 1848, he, with fifteen other teachers, he was Principal of the high school at Woburn, Mass. On this tour to the " Far West," an left Boston for St. Louis to engage in their professional work. Here Mr. Kimball united his forimpromptu ? marriage was sprung upon the party at Niagara Falls. tunes with those of Miss Clara Partridge, of Templeton, Mass., one of the party; the ceremony took place on board the " Maid of the Mist," a gallant little steamer that plied her daily antics under the F'alls on her trip, Aug. 10, 1848, she ' missed the maid." On arriving at St. Louis, he look a position in the " English and Classical High School," of which Prof K. Wymau was Principal after four years' service in 1856, be in this school, he became Principal of the Wayland Female Seminary at Upper Alton, III. moved to Keokuk. Iowa, where, for ten years, he was engaged in teaching in public and private schools; in 1866, he moved to Baraboo, Wis., having been engaged as Principal of the Collegiate Institute; in this position lie lain. rod six years; during nearly all these long years of toil in the schoolroom, Mrs. Kimball was his faithful and efficient assistant his first term of teaching was in 18li!» and his last in 1878, extending over a period of just forty years, during which time in three cases only was he detained from the He and Mrs. Kimball became schoolroom a single day by sickness: he is now Town Clerk of Baraboo. members of the Baptist Church in 1842, and have been active and efficient members of that denomination Their children are three sons and one daughter, the latter of whom died in childhood and was ever since. the sons are all engaged in active busiburied on the banks of the Mississippi amid the (lowers of June ness. Prof. Kimball retains his mental and physical faculties in a remarkable degree, which he declares to be the result of sociability, absolute temperance, and loyalty to Republican principles. ;

;

X. C. lilljli. proprietor of Kirkland (at Devil's Lake) Vineyards, picnic grounds, wine cellar and cottages for guests, etc.; the extent of his grounds and his parks is about 250 acres; he was born in In politics, he is a Democrat. the eastern part of Ohio; came to Baraboo in the spring of 1850.

HUGH KELEEY,

born March 3, 1853, in Sheridan, N. Y. in 1858, he moved to Baraboo with his parents; at the age of 15. he went to learn the printer's trade, and continued work at that for about five years; in 1874, he commenced work for the C. & N. W. R. It. Co. as night foreman in their shops; in November, 1 879. he took charge of their engine in the machine shop. He was married, Sept. In polities, he is a Republican. 17, 1878, to Miss M. E. Ryan she was born in Columbia Co., Wis. ;

;

I>R. S. I*. KEZERTA, dentist; office on Third street; he was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio; Btudied dentistrj in 1838; came to Baraboo in 1856; he has lived here ever since, with the exception of about four years that he was in Illinois. He was married in February, 1857, to Miss S. S. Brown, of

Fond du Lac; she was born in the State of Vermont; both are members of the M. E. Church; he has In politics, he is a Republican. been a minister of that church for thirty-five years.

IMS. T. March 28, 1828

KOCH,

physician and surgeon; office at his residence; born in Prussia, Germany, lie graduated at the Medical College at Berlin he came to America and to Baraboo in He was married in February, 1856, to Miss Anna he has been in practice for twenty-six years. Palm; she was bom in Berlin, Germany; they have four children living Charles A. O., Richard T., Margaret T. A. ami Otto P. In polities, the Doctor is a Republican.

1871

;

—

SUMMER J. LAMBERT(K\, deceased, he was born

Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 20, 1823; died March 13, 1*71 came to Sauk Co. and to Baraboo in 1857 he was a merchant tailor, and was engaged in that business for about two years. Oct. 1!>, 1m;:;. be enlisted in Co. II, 17th W. V. I.. and served about eighteen months, and was discharged on account of disability, which finally resulted in He was married, Jan. 1, 1848. to Miss Ann Huntington she was born in Oswego Co., N. Y.; his death. Katie Dell ami Albert 8. both deceased), Clara Bell, Charles W., Laura C. they have had six children in

;

—

and Edith.

EAXtwDOX,

-s and blinds, also building dealer in lumber, lath, shingles pickets sash. .1 C. A. paper, on Bridge st reel, liarahoo; lie was born Jan. 11, 1843, in Franklin Co.. X, Y. came to Band J tin. 26, 1856. Enlisted in Co. F, 2:;d W. V. I., and served nearly three years; was in the battle at Yazoo

from 1868 to 1873, was building railroads in Minnesota and Iowa; in February, 1-75. started in the lumber business He was married. September. 18(5(1, in Miss Nellie Burnham she was born in the Stile of New York they have three children Wni. M., Emma L. and Dora.

Swamp, and others

;

—

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

bUb

LANtwDON BROTHERS, proprietors of tub and barrel factory, on Water street, Baraboo, Wis.; came when quite young, with their parents, and worked with their father at the same business for a number of years, and in 1S70 built the factory which they are now running; they make a specialty of but-

and pork packages.

ter

REV. P. J. LiAVOJ, priest of St. Joseph's Church, Baraboo; he was born in Ireland Aug. 1840

he graduated first at Carlow, then at Athlone then he studied at Maynooth, and was ordained Milwaukee; was then located at Madison, assisting Father Smith; after this, he established Dane Co. then he went to Mauston, Juneau Co. from Mauston to New Lisbon, Necedah, Lemonweir, Marion, Tomah, Union Center, Warnerville, Lynden and Greenfield; in 1871, he returned to his native county, made a visit of about six months when he came back, and resumed his labor in the interest of his church; located at, Black River Falls till May, 1872, attending several stations which were formed at that mission from there he went to Hudson, St. Croix Co., for a few months from that point to Erin Prairie, and was there till the spring of 1880; he then took charge of St. Mary's Church, at Baraboo, Wis. 14,

;

at St. Francis,

a mission in

;

GEORGE F. LODDE, butcher, market on Bridge Jan. 17, 1854

;

street,

Baraboo; was born in Milwaukee

moved to Sauk City with his parents, and in 1870 came to Baraboo, where he is still in

business.

PRESCOTT E. LONGJLEY; born parents,

Freeman and Millicent B.

(

Wood)

in Albany, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1843; when an infant, his Longley, removed to Massachusetts with their family and

New York and setCayuga Co.; remained there three years, coming to Newport, Sauk Co., Wis., in removed from there to Baraboo in 1861. Prescott E. enlisted 'in Co. F, 3d W. V. C, in 1862 mustered out in July, 1865, and engaged in mercantile business in Baraboo served nearly three years when he returned from the army; continued in this business one year, then clerked two years for ('. A. Sumner, then with Savage & Halsted two years, when he went to Dixon, 111., and remained there two years then traveled for the Victor Scale Company in Wisconsin; was (heir first salesman; then engaged resided there a few years, also a short time in Vermont, then returned to the State of tled at Sterling Center,

1854

;

dry-goods business for one year; has been in the livery business since January. 1880. Baraboo, Nov. 7. 1876, to Mrs. Mary Frances Sharp; she was born in Hartford, Conn. in the

THOMAS McCOY, conductor on the

& N. W. R. 11.; he was born in

Married at

Ireland Sept. 13,

work for this company in 1874, and he 1847 came to America with his parents in 18 18 he coramei came to Baraboo the same year. He was married, Sept. I, 1876, to Miss Margaret Henry she was hum Huron, N. Y. Mr, McCoy is a Catholic, and his wife is a Presbyterian; in politics, lie is an Inde1

;

at Port

pendent

MoRERHIT,

foreman of round-house and machine shop at this place. Baraboo, Wis., for T. J. &. N\ W. 11. 1!. Co., and had been engaged a number of years in the same business before he came Baraboo; he was born Oct. 2, ]<','.',, at Hampton Co., Penn. He married Arminta Troy; they have three children— George, Mamie and Kate. the

JAMES A. McFETRIDGE, born

in Koch 3ter, \. V.. June 20, L838; lived two years his coming to Wisconsin, where he arrived April 3, 1857, and engaged in the woolen-mill business there until 187(1, producing the lower power and establishing the woolen-factory now known as the Beaver Hani Woolen Mills came to Baraboo May 0, 1875, and has owned an interest in the woolen-mills here since then. Married at Beaver Dam, Oct. 2, 1 SOL', to Maltha G, Aiken; she was bom al Putney, Vt.: the} have four children— Mary Ella, Will Henry. Edward Parker and Georgiana. Mr. and Mrs. McFetridge and eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Sparta, Livingston

located

Beaver Dam

Co., N. Y.. prior to

;

FRANK

P. McttlBWIS, Sec. 22 P.O. Baraboo; born in Louth, Ireland, in 1844; came America with his parents in 1846; lived in Philadelphia, Penn for fourteen years, when hi L3th W V. I.. Aug. 29, 18tiS, and served Delavan Walworth Co., Wis, Enlisted as private of Co. his countr] three years carried his gun in the ranks one year and a half, when he was appointed AssistMarried Sept. ant Hospital Sic ward in the field, which position he held to the end of his term of service. 15, 1865, to Alice T.Carey, of Portage, Columbia Co.; has five children— M. Lottie, born July 10,1868; James F., Jan. 13, 1871; Gertrude, June 13, 1873; Anna. March 30, 1ST."); William J., April 20, Since coming to Baral 1879. Mr. M. has worked twelve years for the Islam! Woolen Mill Co. ;

;

H. Mi'KEWAX. physician born in

May, 1835; he

and surgeon; a native of Herkimer, Herkimer Co.. X. Y. Albany Medical College, and practiced a short time in

a graduate of the

;

— 697

BARABOO.

[n Western New Fork before coming West; came to Wisconsin in L856, and located at Sauk City. December, 1861, he entered the United States service as Surgeon of the 17th W. V. L, and served until to Chicago, went then until 1871; January, 1865, when he returned to Sauk City, where he remained Married in Sunk City, May 3, L859, to Marie and remained there until he came to Baraboo in 1876. they have two children— Hattie T. and Marie A. A. Turner, of Dtica, X. V. ;

McVEA,bornin Toronto, Canada West, August

.1 OKI-', I'll

1846; came

18,

United

the

they first located in Detroit, Mich. at the age of 15, he went to learn the was there about two years in 18615, c; from Detroit, he went to Nashville, Tenn. W. R. 11. at his trade. ls"!i, and engaged to work tor the C. & Nov. to Wisconsin, and to Baraboo Be was married, June 27, 1870, to Miss Mary McXallie she was born in Glasgow, Scotland they have

States

Will with his parents

trade of carpenter

;

.">.

;

Henry W.. Maud and four children — Frank CHARLES MAXXIX<;. engineer on the Eller.

A.,

& X. W. R. R.

in 1871 he commenced Co.,Penn., May 11, 1856; came to Baral engine June 22, 1878, and has been running on the road ever since. she was born in Sauk Co., Wis. Mis- Hattie Du Bois

;

born

Randolph, Crawford

railroad as

took an

fireman,

He was married. Jan. 6,

s >

;

MARRIOTT, dealer

and manufacturer of boots and shoes, Third street; he was born in Pmgland Sept. ::o, 1S..0; came to America Aug. 22, 1869, and to Baraboo Aug. -i the same lie was married May 2, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Kelley; she was bom in New York; they have year,

E. G.

one child

In — MATHEWS, Belle.

Mr. .Marriott

politics,

is a

Republican.

dealer in dry g Is, groceries, hats, caps, notions, crockery, etc., Third street, H. south side of the court house square; he was horn in Posen, Prussia, Germany, Sept. 22, 1847; came in 1873, he came to Baraboo and started his present to America in 1862, and located in Xew Orleans; He was married in February, 1874, to Miss Susan Schlag she was bom in Sauk Co.; they business. have one child Edward P. In polities. Mr. Mathews is Independent. ;

—

<wEOR<*E MERTEXS, was bom in Berlin, Prussia, Oct. 22, 1822; came to Sheboygan, Wis.,

HIT, where he remained until he came to Sauk City

the spring of 1849, where he was em-

came to Baraboo in .January. 1852; was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court while a Sauk City, which office he held for four years; since then he has been engaged in abstract and insurance business lias been Chairman of the Town and County Board of Supervisors Beveral terms; one

ployed as a clerk

;

resident of

;

Director and Vice President of the First National Bank, being connected with it at the time of its organization. He was married at Sauk City, in September. 1853, to Miss J. S. White, a native of the State of Xew York. Mr. Mertens is a member of the order of A., F. & A. M.

year and a halt

RICHARD METCALF, born Aug. 26, 1847,

in Dutchess Co., X. V.; in 1852, moved worked at farming till he was 20 years old then wont to work for Manufacturing Co. lor three years in March, 1873, commenced work for the C. & N. W. R. R. Co. as yardmastor, which posiiion he st'ill holds. He was married, Nov. 2, 1867, to Miss Mary B. BritLeWH E., Mabel and Uice, ton; -he was horn in the State of Rhode Island; they have three children 9 I'll I LIS KIL engineer on the C. & X. W. R. R. was born in Quebec, Canada, April Iroquois Co., 111. He enlisted parents they located in with his and ramI'nited States in 1851, 11, 1848; 1864, in Co. B, 156th 111. A'. I., and served till the close of the war; moved to Baraboo, Wis., in is?:;. IP- was

with bis parents to Sauk Co., Wis.;

;

—

MICH A

;

married, Nov. 20, 1866, to Mrs. Salina Michard ;-they have one child, Isaiah.

FRAXK MILLER;

restaurant on Third street; was horn in Germany Nov. 22, 1839; came II.' was married. Feb. 2, I860, to Miss M. C. SI America in 1853, and to Baraboo in 1864. ihildren was b.rn in Germany and came to Saul; Co. when quite young with her parents tl Car Miller in politics is Independent. Louisa. and Mr. Anna. Arthur, Augusta M. D.; was bom in Watertown, X. V.. Dec. 19, 1821 educated P. »hin, and the College oi Physicians and Surgeons, New York; at Castleton, Vt.. Willoughby University in ited in thespringof 1846 at Willoughby University and spent one summer at the South Clinton Corners; remained there until April. HIT, Bock Co.. Wis. in Nov., 1846 imenced practi ntinued the practice of medicine up to the then removed to Uni n in the same count has bom engaged in the drug business since is."!."), until his store was coming to Barabo in 1850 destroyed by fire the Doctor, was the oldest merchant of this place at the time of the fire which octo

;

BEX.IAMIX

MILLS,

;

for the last war and a half he has devoted hi- sole attention to his profession. curred in 1880 married at Beloit.Nov. 28, 1848, to Cordelia B. Goddard; she was born fob. 25, I--''; v. Y. they have one child, Nettie C, Mrs. Charles D. F. I ;

;

He was

;;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

—

they lust, four children Carrie F., born March 17, 1854; died Dec. 2, 1862; Anna G.. born Nov. 17, Clarence, born Aug. 6, 1863 died Aug. 14, 1863 Cbryssa S., born Sept. 28, 1858.; died Oct. 11, 1871 ;

;

1866 died Sept. 25, 1871. The Doctor is a member of A., F. & A. M. of the Ft. Winnebago & Baraboo Valley Air Line Railway Company. :

;

he was one of the corporators

HENRY MOELLER,

of the firm of Moeller & Thuerer, manufacturers of wagons, buggies and carriages of all kinds, on Main street; he was born in Prussia Feb. 17. 1828 came to America in 1852, and located in Milwaukee in 1856 he moved to Baraboo with his family. He was married, in 1855, to Miss Kate Julear; she was born in France and died June 21. L879; they have three children Mary, Henry and Carwin. In politics, Mr. Moeller is a Democrat. ;

;

—

LOUIS MAtiJLER, saloon on Bridge street; he was born in Wurtemburg, Heilbronn, Germany, April

1839, and came to America in 1862 located in Cleveland, Ohio, for nine months. Ohio V. I.; was taken prisoner at Dallas, Ga., on the 27th of May, and taken was then exchanged and taken to Annapolis Hospital was there for three months, then went to his command at Huntsville, Ala. served till the close of the war early in life, he learned the stone-cutter's trade, which he followed in Germany and in this country till 1875, when bis health failed, and he then went into the saloon business; he came to Barab.oo. Wis., in 1865. Was married, Dec. 25, 1869, to Miss Mary Johnson they have two children Louis E. and William F. In politics, he is a Republican. 8,

;

Enlisted in Co. E, 124th

to Andersonville Prison and kept there six months

;

—

;

NELSON W. MORLEI, farmer; P. 0. Baraboo; Sec.

was born Jan. 2, 1831, in the State of Ohio; son (if Thomas and Lillis Russel Morley; came to Wisconsin in 1853; arrived at Baraboo May 15. Was married, Sept. 29, L853, to Miss Adaline, daughter of Ambros and Chloe Fuller, of Springfield, Mass. Mr. M. has resided on the place which he now owns for the past fourteen years; in the spring of 1867, built a cheese factory, which he conducted, with a capacity of 300 to 4(10 pounds per day, until the fall of 1875, when it was christened the Cold Spring Creamery, and as such it stands without a peer. Mr. M. bad eight children William, John, Thomas, Joseph, Sarah M., Alexander, Perry and Samuel. (deceased (

20-;

)

— HENRY MORRELL, farmer; P. O. Baraboo; son of Tunis and Charity (Acre) Morrell i,

came to Wisconsin May 1, 1854; located in Fairfield, Sauk Co.; came to Baraboo in the fall of 1868 worked at the carpenter and joiner trade, which he learned at Lafayette. Onondaga Co., N. Y. He has ild the offices of District Treasurer and School Director; born in Oswego, Oswego Co., N. Y., Sept. 15, Married Flora Newell, daughter of Timothy and Filimla Wilcox Newell, at Lafayette, Onondaga 1819 Co., N. Y., July 17, 1842; had three children— Henry H, Clara Melinda and Millard. Henry H. was in the war of the rebellion, and belonged to Co. F, 23d W. V. I., and also 3d W. V. ('., Co. L; enlisted Aug. I, 1862, in 23d W. V. I., and discharged April 24, 1863; enlisted in cavalry Feb. 20, 1864; mustered out Oct. 2:;. 1865; was in first engagement at Vicksburg and Fort llynian. Is now married and living on a farm near the village of Baraboo. Mr Henry Morrell and wife belong to the Wesleyan i

M< thodist Church.

DAVID JII'NSON (deceased), was bom

Holbrook, Conn., Dec

15,

1801

;

came to Bara-

W is., in 848 built a store and commenced merchandising, winch continued for about four years, then closed out his business; he was then elected to the office of Sheriff, and served one term; in 1868, he was elected to the office of Town ( llerk, which he held up to his death, >ec. 11, 1876. He was married, J une I

L849, to Miss Martha Chatman; Bhe was horn in Middlebury, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1824; she came to Baraboo in 1*17. and engaged in leaching school up to the date of her marriage she is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

21,

MOSES M. MURPHY, fanner, See. 21

New Jersey Oct. he moved to Pennsylvania, then to Ohio, and to Rock Co., Wis., in !852,toSauk Co. in L854 has held several offices in his school district. He was married, May, 1836, to Miss Frances Smaltz she was bom in Pennsylvania; they have eight children Nicholas S., George W.. Patterson. Alex., Nancy, Mrs. Murphy died January, 1872. [n politics, Mr. Murphy is Independent Levina and Katy. he owns 50 acres of land. ;

P. O.

Baral

;

he was horn in

;

NEWELL,

horn Oct. 17, 1832, in Clinton Co., N. V.; in September, 1854, came to Sauk S. S. Wis., and in 1856 to Baraboo; in the years of 1857 and 1858 served as Deputy Sheriff and in 1874

commenced work for

the C.

& N. W. K.

Co. as carpenter.

He was

Helen A. Case; she wasbornin Avon, Ohio; they have five children Clayton S.

married, October, I860, to Miss -Case. Harrison C, Guy, Delia P.,

BARABOO.

GEOROE NEWSON,

he Aug. 5, 1811 came to America April 13, 1849, and to Baraboo in August the same year; he was elected one of the Town Board April, 1879, and 1880. He was married, April 7, 1833, to Miss Margaret J. Alexander; she stone mason, was born

Stafford

Co., England,

;

—

Priscilla, Alfred (deceased), Martha they have had seven children was born in Edinburgh, Scotland Mr. Newson was raised by the Society Jane, Man, Joseph deceased), Clara G. (deceased). deceased of Friends, and in polities he is a Republican; Mrs. Newson is a Methodist. born May 4, 1837, in Detroit, Mich., and at the age of 20 moved to T. Chicago and learned the blacksmith trade he remained there working at his trade till September. 1S75. then moved to Baraboo, Wis., and took charge of the blacksmith-shops of the ('. 4 N. W. R. 11. Co. at He was married, May 17, this place, where he stiil remains he was elected Town Trustee May 4, 1880. she was born at Syracuse, N. Y.; they are both attendants at the Presby1866, to .Miss Mary Sunnock ;

NICHOLSON,

GEO.

;

terian Church.

COL,. DA VID KNOX NO YES, was born

in the town of Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vt., Knox Noyes, who were natives of Tunbridge. D. K. son of Enoch and Mary Ann went to Dodgeville and other places in the lead-mining regions Num., came to Wisconsin Sept. 17, 1844 ;" in IS 15, he followed prospecting and making what they called "sucker holes of Soul hern Wisconsin They enlisted in a Wisconsin company for the Mexican war, Gen. Amasa Cobb was associated with him. year, the same December of or November but the company was not accepted. He went to Beloit in where he entered the law office oi Noggle & Spaulding and read law with them, and was admitted to the bar early in the year of IS 17; in June of the same year, came to Baraboo and engaged in the practice of' his profession and dealing in real estate, which business he followed lor many years, in conh farming operations, locating land, etc. In November or December, 1855, he brought lie JitjudMc newspaper to Baraboo and conducted it with a younger brother sold out the newspaper in 1857 enlisted was commissioned First Lieutenant when the Baraboo, in April, 1861 in Co. A, 6th W. V. I., at company was first organized, and was promoted to the captaincy of the same compauy in the fall of 1861 was in all the engagements his regiment participated in until he was wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17. was. in January, 1863, appointed to the charge of the State recruiting 862, when he lost his right foot corps, which position he held until July. 1864, when he took his discharge; in the following winter, he again entered the service, as Majorof 49th Wis. V I., and served until November, isr,.> having been commissioned Lieutenant Colonel prior to his discharge, from April to November. 18G5, was a member of the Military Court Martial Commission stationed at St. Louis; in 1866, he started the Independent newspaper, running it one year; has been Postmaster since 1867; was first Town Clerk of Baraboo, Chairman Town Hoard of Supervisors twice; elected member of the Legislature to represent Sauk and Adams Counties in 1856 was the first State Treasury Agent appointed in Wisconsin, and served until the order of President tii-aut. prohibiting uivernment officials from holding State or other offices. Married at Chelsea, Vt., June 18, they have four children— Clara L., now Mrs. Howard 1848, to Lucinda Barnes, a native of that place Col. Noyes has been a member J. Huntington, of Green Bay D. Walter K., Arthur H. and Rolla E. of A.. & A. M. and I. 0. <>. F. for nearly thirty years he is also a member of G. A. R. was born in Baraboo April 15,1853; was educated in the public H. f Baraboo and five years at the State University, four years in an academic course, and one in the

Oct. 28, 1820

)

(

;

(

;

!•'.

ARTHUR

;

NOYES,

graduated front both departments; commenced practice in October, 1878. in Baraboo July 18, 1855; spent five years at State Univerinstitution and commenced the practice of law at Baraboo, as a partner of Hon. Cyrus C. Remington, in June, 1878, and continued with him until his death, which occurred in Mr. N. was married In March. 1879, the firm of Noyes Bros, was formed. the same year. in Baraboo. Oct. 22. 1S79, Cordelia Draper, also a graduate of the State University; she was born in law department

;

ROLLA E. NOYES, was born i;

England.

WALTER K. NOYES, was born

I».

the time since.

in Baraboo May 6, 1851, where he has resided most of He was educated in the Baraboo Public School, and at the State University at Madison ;

the latter institution: was with his father. Col. D. K. Noyes, in the army during the is a printer bj trade, and was. for a short time, one of the time he was connected with the 49th Regiment He was married in Friendship, Adams Co., Wis.. May 6, proprietors of the Sauk Cumin/ lirpulil!, ,;,. Mr. X. is a member of the they have two sons— Walter 11. and Jessie 1'.. 1875, to Miss Nellie Hill i

;,ear- in

;

O.O. K.

JOHN O'CONNELL, fanner, See. lonnell;

born Dec.

23,

1823, at Castle

;

(

Island,

Baraboo son of Lawrence and llanorah l'rindiCounty Kerry, Ireland, emigrated to America in ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

700 1847

came to Wisconsin in 1855; located in Baraboo, Sauk Co.; owns 40 acres of land two miles from

;

He has been married twice, first at Battleboro, Vt., July 14, 1850, to Ellen the village of Baraboo. He married Shay; had three children Anna, William and Ellen; Mrs. O'Connell died Jan. 14, 1862. again, Oct. 1, 1865, at Lyndon, Juneau Co., Wis., to Mrs. McCauley, nee Mary Ann Hackett, widow of John McCauley, who died June 1, 1858, leaving one child Mary McCauley, who is now living in MilMr. and Mrs. waukee, Wis.; Mrs. O'Connell is the daughter of Patrick and Mary Ryan Hackett.

—

O'Connell are members of the Catholic Church

RITFUS A. ORVIS (deceased); born in Michigan Nov. 6, 1827; came to Baraboo in the spring of L857 mid engaged in the hardware trade, and continued that fur a number of years; then he changed his husiness to that of the drug trade, which he carried on till a short time before his death, which occurred Dec. 15, 1870. He was married Nov. 7, 1854, to Miss Caroline A. Casler they had ;

—

two children .Mrs. Orvis was married the second time to Henry D. Fred J. (deceased) and Carrie A. Evans, Feb. 17, 1876. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

PALMER,

plasterer, Baraboo; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Dec. 9, 1844; came to P. P. Sauk Co. Aug. 10, 1847, with his parents. He enlisted, Sept. 1, 1864, in Battery L, 1st W. V. A., and served one year. lie was married, Dec. 4, 1866, to Miss Mary McGilvra; she was born in Utica, N. Y.; In politics, Mr. Palmer is a Republican. they have two children— Martie M. and Mac M.

FREDERICK PARKS

is employed at the coal-shed of the C. & N.-W. R. R.; he was born in England Oct. 24, 1824; came to America in 1849 and located in Bufl'alo, N. Y.; in 1854, he came to Milwaukee, and was there till 1859, when he moved to Sauk Co. and followed farming till 1878, when he moved to Baraboo; he rents his farm, which he still owns, containing 200 acres, in Greenfield

;

she was born in Sussex Co.. EnButton have had eight children, viz.. George T., Charles II., Harriet J., Frederick B. (dei They attend the M. E. Church; in politics, E. (deceased, and Albert J.

He was married, March 8, 1845, to Miss Caroline

Township. gland

they

;

Caroline, Charlotte, William

Mr. Parks is a Republican.

PEARL,

proprietor of the Cliff House, northeast corner of Devil's Lake, near the C. & \\. B. Being a summer-resort hotel, the Cliff House is a handsome and comfortable N.-W. R. R., Baraboo. house of Mime fifty rooms; it is built in the style of a large Swiss chatelet, and contains, among other attractions, one of the pleasantest dining-rooms imaginable, commanding through its glass front a peculiarly lovely view of the hike; the billiard-room, dining-room and otlices generally are on a seal.' with much larger houses; a small steamer and numberless row-boats float ready for such guests as wish to sail, fish or row on the lake; there are also numerous bath-houses for the accommodation of guests, besides

way of billiards,

plenty of amusements in the nection with the Cliff House

ten-pins, quoits, dancing, croquet, archery, etc. ;

well-stocked

livery;

teams

will

furnished

in con-

guests at reasonable

good rigs for forward's Gorge, Peewitt's Nest or the Delia; there is a telegraph, ticket and baggage office at the Clin House the proprietor begs to inform all thai the above well known and popular summer resort has been entirely refilled and refurnished, and is ready to k, from $10 to $12; special rates for children. per w rales of hoard per day. $2 receive guests rates; excursion parties can he titled out with

;

PEABODY,

NICHOLAS

engineer al the water works for the C. &. N.-W. R. R. Co. S. Baraboo; was horn Jan. 5, 1813, at Middletown, R. [.; came to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1833, and in 1857 to Madison, Wis.; followed farming for three years, then went into the foundry business, and in 1S72 comHe was married, Feb. 17,1838, R. Co.; came to Baraboo'in 1873. menced work for the C. <& N.-W. she was hum in Lexington, N. V.. Nov, 4, L818; they have two daughters— to Miss Maria Volkinburg they have two children Nel\I;i,'\ married Henry J. Watson), Catherine (married .lames L Hccox Beulah C, John M., George P. and Henry lie and James I, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Watson have four children is Baptisl Church. Mrs. the Peabody a member of is Democrat In Peabody a politics, Mr. J., Jr.

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ROSELI\E PECK, was born

Middleton, Rutland Co., Vt., Feb. 21. 1808; her in Mrs. TVek was marher father was Samuel Willard. was Julia Ann Burnham Wisconsin in the fall ofl836, settling in February, L829, and togeth in the spring of 1837 she was the first white woman in Madison, and, coming to Baraboo with indin the hill of 1840, was also the first white woman to cross the Baraboo Bluff, and make her the valle\ north of them; Mr. and Mrs. Peek settled on their claim previously made on that he river known as the Lower Ox lens, since platted ami called Manchester; here 'hey lived for thej then moved to Mrs. Peck's present home, havrs,'when thej were dispossessed Vf their claim

maiden Eben Peck

ried to

;

farm;

,;,„

to a pari of th

r I

igion

now

irted

foi

knovt d

California

Peck's Prairie, and commenced the improvement of a Mrs. and while en route was massacred by Indians.

BARABOO.

TO]

d and her subsequent experience was sore Peek was thua lefi with two children to battle for a livelil enough various attempts were made to take her home from her under the pre-emption laws, and to save \Y. Babb. and pay Till per cenl interest in early days. it. she was compelled to borrow money from .lames before the coming of a physician, .Mrs. Peck treated the sick with great success; she remembers setting the broken leg of a neighbor's child who lived five miles away, she being compelled to ride behind ber busband along an Indian trail alter dark to reach the house, and when she arrived, there wasn't a candle in the house, the father of the child being cum). died to walk half a mile to a neighbor's who had some lard. from which a ' grease dip " was made the operation was successfully performed, and the child rapidly reMrs Peck says there were no deaths in this valley till " after the doctors came ;" Mrs. Peek's covered children are both alive: the eldest, Victor, was horn April 25, 1833, and now resides in Milwaukee, being in charge of the Johnson House, at the Union Depot: the other. Victoria W.. is the will of Nelson Wheeler. and now reside- at Chippewa Falls; she was the first white child horn in Madison, this important event 1. Mrs. Peck is mm 72 years of age. but is still vigorous and active; histori1837. taking place Sept. ;

;

she is an important character.

cally,

JAMES H. PE1RCE, born ST as fireman; byterian Church. 1

1877, he

Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 7, 1856

took an engine on the C.

& N. W. Ky.

;

commenced

railroading

an attendant of the Pres-

In politics. Republican.

POTTER,

widow of II. II. Potter, and daughfarming, Sec. P. O. Baraboo MIS*. E. A. James A. and Susan B. Clarke) Maxwell; came to Wisconsin in 184(1, located in Baraboo, Sauk Married to Henry II. Potter. Oct. 15, where she now resides; born in Rob Roy, Fountain Co., Ind. Carrie V., Ida A., Kate M., Mary B., Howard II.; owns 251 1856, at Baraboo; has five children acres of land, a part of which is platted off and termed the Potter Addition to Baraboo; Mrs. Potter ter of

;

Co..

—

resides on a beautiful farm near the village of

Bara"boo; farm

well improved.

Mrs. Potter belongs to the

husband of Mrs E. A. Potter was horn Nov. 6, 1824, at engaged as clerk for Jas. A. Maxwell, father in IS4H he returned to Pennsylvania in 1850, coming again to Baraboo in of Mrs. Potter, subject of this sketch Mr. Potter died Jan. 1855, and in the fail of 1856, married Emma A., daughter of Jas. A. Maxwell. CI. .lame- Maxwell, deceased, grandfather of Mrs Potter, was born at Guilfoid, Windham 28, 1878. Co Vt., May 1. ITS!) or 1790; removed to Chicago in 1836; from Chicago he went to Geneva Lake. Wis, and located there in 1837, and in the spring of is In came to Baraboo and engaged in improving he returned soon after the water-power at Manchester, where now stands the grist-mill of Spencer Bros to Walworth Co., Wis., and remained until IS It;, when, accompanied by his son Jas. A. Maxwell, again returned to Baraboo and permanently located; died Dee. 16, 1869. Methodist Church. Hartsville,

II.

H. Potter deceased,

Onondaga Co., N. Y.; came to Baraboo

;

ELIAS I>. POTTER, in charge of the rour.d-bouse for the C. & N. W. R. R. Co

Bara

boo he was born July 7, 822, in (swego, N. Y.; moved to Sauk Co., Wis., Town of Merrimack, in v He was married, July -t, 1855, to and followed farming for eighteen years; in 1873, moved to Baraboo. Miss Eliza Pierce; she was horn in Hillsboro, Co., N. II.; came to Sauk Co. in Will; taught school on. Mrs. term, then went to Columbia Co. and taught five terms; they have had five children, three living H. R. Palmer, Lyman H. and James; the two deceased were Aldiu A. and Viola, they were at play on the ice and broke through aud both were drowned. .">.">

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JOHN W. POWELL,

was born April 22, 1822, in Frankfarmer. Sec. 25 P. 0. Baraboo Mr. P. lived on his father's farm until he Newvill Powell. Co., Va., and son of William and Sarah reached the age of 18, when his father died; he then attended a select school for two year.-; went to Tennessee and worked two years in a picture molding factory, returning to Virginia in the fall of 1847, Married, Jan. 6, 1818, to Miss Harriet M., daughter of Stephen and Martha Kemp) Dudley; removed with his family to Wisconsin in 1851, arriving at Baraboo June 3; lived in the village for sixteen years. where he engaged in the real estate and lumber business with his brother-in-law, P. A. Basset! William S.. removed to the firm where he now lives, and owns 80 acres of land they have six children He born in Virginia; Katie M., Ashley B., John D., Charles J. and Samuel H., born in Wisconsin. Mrs. P., his wife and four children, Katie. has been Clerk of the School Board since its organization. Ashley, John and Charles, are members id' the Presbyterian Church. lin

;

JOHN

POWERS,

—

the fifth sun of Peter and Cynthia Powers; was born in the town of H. lunty of Compton, province of Quebec, Lower Canada, the 28th of July, 1844; he came to the United States in the fall of 1859, and settled at Derby Line, Vt., and commenced learning the printer's trade; in the snmmer of 1862, he went to Manchester, X. H., where he got employment on the Dollcr, Minor. Here he enlisted in the 4th X. II. V. I.. Co. D, and was in the service during the remainder of

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

702

the war; was at the taking of Morris Island, S. C, and in the sieges of Forts Waggoner, Grugg and Sumter, and in the Virginia campaign of 1864, and took part in nearly all of the principal battles of the campaign was wounded at the taking of the Heights of Petersburg, Va. the last hard-fought battle was was discharged from the United at the t iking of Ft. Fisher, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, N. C. ;

;

Aug. 23, 1865, and a few weeks later received final discharge from (lie T H.; he came to Wisconsin in November, L865, and arrived at Baraboo Feb. 22, State at Concord, N 866, and engaged at his trade in the Ilr/tn/i/ic office, and has been engaged with the press of Sauk Co. ever he also founded the Trempeleau since, except about two years, when he was connected with Durand Times Cmii, iii Journal and the Elroy Union; he was for a short time part owner of the Reedsburg Free Press. In December, 187!*. he became one of the proprietors of the Baraboo Republic, a stanch Republican journal. John H. Powers was married, Dec. 27, 1868, to .Miss Sarah A. Capener; Blanche, their ..oily child, was born Jan. 4, 1870. merchant tailor, Oak street; was born in Ireland Nov. 28, L828 came to America Sept. 15. 1850, and located in New York fur about four years in 1854. he came to Baraboo and worked as a journeyman at the tailoring business. He enlisted in 1861, in Co. H, 17th W. in 1st;:;, he established his present business; he is at present a member of V. I., and served one year He was married, Jan. 22, I860, to Miss Kate the Village Board, and has been for a number of years. Mitchell she was born in Ireland and came to America, in 1848. with her parents to Massachusetts they Both Mr. and Mrs. Powers are membsrs of St. have three children, viz., Mary A., Ellen and William. Mary's Church in politics, he is a Republican. came to Walworth Co.i retired; was born July 28, ISIS, in Madison Co., N. Y. P. Wis., June 12, 183!', and to Sauk Co. in the spring of 1848, and for twenty-nine years was engaged in he has the lumber business, and has done a great deal in building and improving the town of Baraboo Among the buildings that lie has erected is the hotel known as the held more or less of the town offices. States ser\iee, at Raleigh, N. C., .

;

WILLIAM POWERS,

;

PRATT,

;

Pratt House, and he has now in contemplation the building of a good bridge, so as to have another Btreet

Be was married, in 1842, to Miss Charlotte opened across the river. In politics, he is Independent. Emma, Ida, Charon^ they have bad six children, viz., Dodge she was born in Madison Co., N. Y. (deceased Capron C, Clarence (deceased), and Adin H. ;

;

JAY PROTHKRO, musician was born

he came to Barin Jennings Co., End., Nov. 6, 1839 aboo with his parents in 1853. He enlisted March 9, 1864, and was placed in Gen. Bluut's band, and served up to June, 1865. He was married, Aug. 21, 1864, to Miss Agnes Barter; she was born in Sl.ubensville, Ohio; they have four children living— Eva B., Belle M.. Maggie M. and Jay. ;

;

MARIA

REMIMiJTOX,

Baraboo; widow of C. C. Remington farming, Sec. 36 P. S. and daughter of .Marshall and Mary S. Greeley Train came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1848, locate. in the city of Milwaukee; came to Sauk Co. in the spring of 1850; located in village of Baraboo, and Born in New London, resided in the village lor eighteen years; located, where lie M"» resides, in 18(18, Merrimack Co., N. II Feb. 6, 1832; was married to Cyrus C. Remington, son of Silas and Margaret Clarke Remington, in the city ol Milwaukee. Wis.. Aug. 12, 1852; had eight children' as follows: Helen M Oeorge. who. lie. Aug. 30, L862; Maud E.; Mary B. Arthur; Hattie T. Tom M. and an infant, who resides on a beautiful farm of 65 acres nearthe village of Baraboo died unnamed. Owns 25 acres of land On this farm also are to be the residence of Mrs. Remington commands on.' of the finest views ill Sauk Co. found numerous Indian mounds, several of which have been opened and found to contain relics, etc. of C. C, Remington .deceased), husband of Mrs. Remington, the subject of this sketch, was ancient tribes. came to born N..v. 10, 1824, in Sheridan, Chautauqua Co., N. V.; educated in the law profession near Waukesha, Waukesha Co.; he remained Wisconsin with bis parents in the spring of 1840, local he farm here about six years, when he went to read law with Alexander Randall, of Waukesha, alter ward Governor of the State; he concluded his studies with Finch & Lynde, and was admitted to the bar from 18 17 until iff time of bis He practiced law in Baral Feb, 16, 1847, in the city of Milwaukee. As a lawyer. C C. Remington stood at the head of tne Sauk Co. death, which occurred Oct. 13, 1878. [n 1854, he represented in the Assembly the district comprising Adams and Sauk bar for many years, Mr. Cos., and he was County Judge of Sauk Co. from January. 1870, to April, 1873, when he resigned. Remington was a self-made man. and was possessed of rare raits .4' character, which rendered him honored and revered by his fellow man. The ancestors of Mrs. Remington emigrated to America in 1834. and Mrs. R. belongs to the Unitarian Church and society. were of Scotch descendants. ;

;

MATIIIAS RKLLAND, wagon and buggy manufacturer; does shoeing, etc.. on First street

;

be was born

iii

all

kinds of jobbing, horse-

Luxemburg. Germany, Oct. 17. 1846; came to America with

BARABOO.

703

at the age of 21, he went to learn his trade at Madison and to Sauk Co, was three years there; went to Minnesota, worked there three years, then returned to Madison, was there a few months. site was born in Pennsylvania. Married, May 21, 1S72. to Julia Derleth He then moved to Iowa, and in the spring of 1873, he moved to Bamboo and bought the building and lot where he carries on his pleasant business. They have four children, viz.. Gustave J., Elizabeth, George and Leo. A. ear and engine painter for C. & N". W. Railroad Co. was born Sept. 15, 1848, in E. A. Macoupin Co., 111. came to Bamboo in 1ST7 he ran a paint shop till 1879, when he commenced work for the Railroad Company, wherehe is still employed. He enlisted February, 1865, in Co. G, 150th 111. V. I., served till the close of the war. He was married June, 1ST'.', to Mi-s Theresa M. Torbert she was born in Columbia Co., Wis. They have one child— Mable. In politics. Republican. his parents in 1853,

;

RICE,

;

HEXRV RICH, son of Davis and

M. (Wright) Rich, natives of Vermont was born in Shoreham, Addison Co Yt.. Sept. 23, 1838, where he lived until fifteen years of age, when he removed to Burlington, in the same State, where he was for four years engaged in clerking. He entered thi 1861, and served until the close of the war; after leaving the service, he came to Wisconsin, arriving in Bamboo in September. 18i;">. and engaged in the woolen-mill business was in the Manchester Mills one year, and then became connected with the Island Woolen Mills. Mr. Rich was married at St. Louis. Mo., March 7, 18f>7, to Emma Leonard, a native of Orwell, Vt. they have four children Cora L., Paul D., Robert B. and Helen T. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are members of the Presbyterian Church. Affie

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RICHARDS, of the firm of J. Richards & Son, lumber dealers on Bridge street, near

all kinds of pine lumber, sash, blinds, and doors, building material of all descriptions was born in Florida. Aug. 21, 1858, and moved to Dane Co., Wis., with his parents, and to Bamboo in 1879.

the depot

;

GEORGE S. ROCKWELL, chief

clerk for the C.

W. R. R. Co.

;

was born in St.

Lawrence Co., N. Y.. Jan. 28, 1847; became to Bamboo in 1874 and took the position he now occupies. He was m irried, Nov. 15, 1870, to Miss Lucia A. Sibley; she was born in Rock Co., Wis., in April, 1847.

Rockwell, in politics, is a Republican.

E. 11. ROSS, proprietor of the Union Hotel, on Water street; was born in Scotland Jan. 1819; came to America in 1842, and worked at steam boiler-making about twenty-five years in New York City in 1869, he moved, with bis family, to Illinois, and in 1874, to Bamboo, and worked at his trade, being the first one here who had that trade he also owns a 120-acre farm in the town of Excelsior, in Sec. 16, and is worth about $2,500. He was married May 6, 1847, to Miss Isabel McKay she was born in Scotland they have tour children, viz., Nettie, Alexander F., Daniel and Margaret. In politic-. I'.,

;

he is Independent.

JOHX

ROWE\,

night foreman of the round-house for the C. & N. W. R. R. Co. R. born New York March 7. 1849; moved to Rami in 1879. He was married Feb. 5, 1866, to Miss Ellen Spencer she was born in Boone Co., 111. they have two children Cora L. and Albertis B. In politics, Mr. Rowen is a Democrat. ;

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HEXRY

RYAX,

farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Baraboo; son of Roger and Mary Dyer Ryan R. came to Wisconsin in October, 1853, and located at Portage, Columbia Co. located in Baraboo, Sauk Co., in May. IS")."); from IS.").") to 18(17, he was engaged in the manufacture of cabinol-waro. since which time he has been farming; owns 440 acres of land; resides on a beautiful farm near the village of Bar;

;

aboo; farm well improved; he has held the office of School Director. He was born Aug. 1, 1818, in the town of New Ipswich, Hillsboro Co., N. II. He was married in Smithville, Chenango Co., N. Y., to Abbie Gazlay, daughter of Joshua and Abigail Jones Gazlay he has four children George H.. Charles A., Abbie M. and Willis F. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan are members of the M. E. Church Mrs. Ryan has had charge of the primary department of the M. E. Sabbath school for a term of years.

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JOHX E. SAARE, proprietor barber-shop, on Third in

Watertown. Wis

street,

near the post office; he was bom

July 18, 1858; he came to Baraboo in 1874, and started his present business

for

himself in 187G.

L. W.

SAXDHERG: has charge of the water- works of the <\ & X. W. R. R. on

this division

;

he was born Sept. 11, 1838, in Sweden; came to America Aug. 24, 1864, and immediately enlisted in Co. I, 29th M. V. I. served till the close of the war; came to Baraboo, Wis., in 1875. He married, Dec. 7, 1878, Miss Bertha Lee; they have one child In politics, Republican. Gustaf A. ;

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SCHOEXFELD,

H. gun and lock smith, and dealer in that line of goods, Third street, Baraboo; be was bom Feb. 24, 184G, in Murchbjtrg. Prussia, and came to America in 1849, with his parents, r and to Baral July, 1878. W- was married Sept. 1 1875, to Mi- Erwinc Wiskocil she wa >

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

704

—

Ella and Erwine. Mr. and Mrs. Schoenfeld are both members they bave two children Wis. In politics, he is a Republican. of the Free Congregational Church.

Sauk Co

;

JOHN SCHLUNGRAUM, harness manufacturer, Bridge 1S7< 1855; commenced to work at his trade 1 and substantial goods. he makes g

City, Wis., Jan. 9,

street, Baraboo; was born in Sauk and came to Baraboo in 1877 and

started Ins business;

LES SECKER,

yard is located three miles from Baraboo brick-maker, Baraboo It I'll he commenced this business about ls.)5; his was the third kiln that was burned in the county. He was born in England Oct. 25, L837, and came to America about 1851 with his parents; his father. John Charles Seeker Seek, a-, is still jiving, at the advanced age >f S!l. and he make- bis home with his son. He was married, Aug. 17, 1865, enlisted August, L862, in Co. F. 23d W. V. I., and served three years. John T., Anienla C. they have four children to Miss Alumna Morehead.Swho was born in Pennsylvania In politics, he is a Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. Nellie E. and Carl M. ;

;

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Republican.

JOHN K. SHOURDS, farmer, Sec. 15

P.O. Baraboo; born in Macedon, Wayne Co., N. 1828; son of Joseph and Catharine Walker Shourds, formerly of New Jersey; came to Walworth Co. came to Sauk Co. Dec. 8, 1848, and located at Delavan, 1845, Wisconsin Married Fannie and located in the village of Baraboo; located where he now resides in the fall of 1863. they bad two children— Florence C. and Jessie Alleydon, in Waruervilie, Juneau Co., Wis., Oct. 27, 1861 E. Mr. Shourds built a saw-mill in 1858, and continued to run it till Sept. 1, 1864. Enlisted in 1st Wis. ;

Y., Aug. 11.

in the fall of

;

Heavy Artillery, stationed at Fort Willard, with headquarters at Fori Lyon, Sept. I, 1864, and served till was discharged July 14, 1865. Mr. Shourds went to Colorado March 12, 1866, and the end of the war engaged in the stamp-mill and mining business; after remaining in Colorado about four years, he returned own- L40 acres of land. Mr. Shourds bein limning; engaged io Sauk Co., Wis., and is now was a member of " Grange," Good Templars and Sons of Temperance. o the M. E. Church :

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WILLIAM SLADE,

Quartermaster in the Government service; was born in Vermont March He was married. Aug. 21, 1S64, to Mrs. Hamilton; she was born 1822; came to Baraboo in 1877. Mrs. Slade is engaged in she has one son by her first marriage, viz Samuel J. Hamilton. in Virginia millinery and dress-making business; she carries a good stock and keeps up with the times; she is a memPresbyterian Church. the ber of was born in Chenango Co., N. Y.. Aug. 21, 1815 came to Wisconsin deceased H. F. came to Sauk Co. in L849, and to Baraboo Township in 1864; he in 1836, and located in Milwaukee He was married, Dec. Is. s.'iil. to Miss he died March 16, 1868. was engaged in fanning all his life Lovina, Albert M.. Nelson II. and Albion born they have four children was in >hio Mary (linger she Mrs. E. the last-named son graduated at the State University, and then spent three years in Europe. Smith owns and lives on the borne farm of 160 acres in Sec. 30, Baraboo Township; she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. track-layer for the C. & N. W. R. IF Company; was born in Windham Co H. D. Conn., Jan. :;, 1833; he came to Sauk Co. in 1854. He enlisted in the fall of 1863, in Co. P, 23d W. be han a furlough sick, and was discharge! about one year, then came hoi was in the service V. I.; He was married July 3, 1856, to Miss n in the employ of the railroad company about seven years. b tb P E. Newell she was born in Essex Co., N. Y. came to Sauk Co. with her parents in 1852 16,

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SMITH

;

)

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(

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SWELL,

;

,,ne son,

;

P. Shell.

Iii

politics.

Snell is a

Eti

publican

HENRY SOUTHARD, farmer,

Sec. 11; own- 40 acres of land; was born in Lycoming 1, 1831; came to Baraboo October, 1850. He enlisted in Co. F, 3d W. V. C.,, ] He was married, July, 1852, to Miss Catherine Vanvalkenburg she 1863, and served till October, 1865. was born in the State of New York; they have six children, viz., Ruth, John V., Emmer J., Mary J., In politics, Mr. Southard is a Democrat. Robert B. and Henry V. Co., Penn.,

Fee

;

II.

X. SOI'THER, carpenter;

was born

Grafton Co., X.

II..

Oct.

12,

183$; he with his

moved to Vermont in 1836, and, in 1854, came to Portage, Wis. in L855, he moved to Baraboo. ihil He was married.. Ian. 20, 1862, to Miss Mary A. Horn; she was born in Germany; they have thr dn n- Sarah E., John E. and Nellie M. both Mr. and Mrs. Souther are members of the Methodist Episparents

;

copal Church,

[n politics, he

Republican.

JAMES C. SPENCER, owner of the Manchester grist-mill

P.O. Baraboo; son of Eli A. Anna M. Chilcotc Spencer; came to Wisconsin in April, 1858; located in Madison, Dane Co. came to Sauk Co. Nov. 9, 1874; located in Manchester, where he now resides; owns 5 acres of land and

;

BARABOO.

705

connected with grist-mill; born Aug. 18, 1845. at Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio. Married Sept. 3, 1867, at Cazenovia, Richland Co., Wis., to Sarah Jarvis, daughter of George and Sarah Brockelhurst Jarvis; has two children Willie and Mary. Mr. Spencer was in the army, a menlber of Co. F, 37th W. V. I.; participated in the battles ill' Ins company and was mustered out duly 15, mustered in March ID. ISti-l isti.'i. be engaged in the battle of Cold Harbor, and was also with Grant in his march through' the Wilderness; was mustered in tts 1st Lieutenant id' Co. F, and mustered out as Captain of Co. G, 37th Etegits wounded June 18, al Harrison's Creek. \'a., by the explosion of a shell. Was in the drug \ business during the years of 1867, 1868 and Siiii, at Sheboygan Kails, Sheboygan Co., Wis. Is al Cazenovia, ;ed in the manufacture of wagon v\ Richland Co., from 1870 to 1st:;, when he was burned out be rebuilt and sold out in 1874, and built the grist-mill in Manchester, which he still manages; he generally employs two men about the mill. Mr. Spencer belongs to the Masons and Grand Army of the Republic. .

;

HORRIS E. SPRING, farmer. Sec. 12;

P. o.

Baraboo; sun of Sidney and Caroline Pratt

nil.' to Wi>e his n in the fall of 1869, and located in Baraboo, Sauk Co., where he now resides Horn lire. 7, 1843, in Eat owns 90 acres of laud near the village of Baraboo; farm well improved. Madison Co., N. Y. Married .Mary E. Brown, daughter of Emerson and Margaret Douglas Brown, Oct. have had three children Effie A., who died in Baraboo, 29, L867, in Smithfield, Madison Co., V Y. April 7, lS7'd; Bessie M. and Nellie It. Mr. Spring has held the office of District Clerk; is a member of do Hooker Post. No. 9, G. A. R Mr. Spring was in the army, a member of Co. K, 176th N. Y. V. participated in the battles of his company, and was mustered out Nov. 8, I.; enlisted Nov, I. 1S62: 1st;:; Mrs. Spring is a member of the Methodist Church. ;

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STALLJIAS& WHEELER, dealers the corner of Oak and Third streets; established

hardware and household furnishing goods, near

1876

;

they carry a

full line.

WILLIAM STANLEY, of the firm of Huntington & Stanley, dry-goods merchants; son of Whiting Hay and Maria

came

to Wisconsin in 1847, when a boy of 111 years, and settled upon a farm in Dane Co., where he stayed until he attained his majority: in 1853, he cam.' to Baraboo and went into mercantile business with his brother, Lemuel Stanley, where he continued until 18.JS; he then retur dan. 15, 1859, he was married to Miss to the farm in Vienna, Louisa A. Huntington, the only surviving daughter of Herbert N. and Amanda M. Huntington, who was born in Scriba. OsWegn Co., X. V., Sept, L6, L839,but removed to Baraboo with her parents at the age of '1 years, and was educated at the Ladies' Seminary there. Mr. Stanley spent two years after his departure from Baraboo before he returned and entered again into the dry-goods trad!' with his father-in-law, mulcr the firm name of Huntington & Stanley, in which business be has remained until the present time. hitside of his large mercantile and other personal duties. Mr Stanley has been called upon to serve the town in most of its responsible offices, and he has ever ben regarded efficient in guarding all interests intrusted to hi- caro; he has been for some time upon the School Board, and very helpful in its management. Though not a member of the church, Mr. Stanley is a believer in Christ, and is zealous of good works; is an active Republican, and at the lead of the Temple of Honor. Mr. and Mrs, Stanley have had seven children Maria M.,born Jan. 26, 1861, died Oct. t. 1863; Ida Louisa, born April lilt, St;,:, died Oct. in. 1864; Herberl H., born June 6, 1866; Whiting Day, born Aug. II, 1868; William Nelson, bom June 21, 1872, died Dec. 22, 1872; Mary Grace, bom July 22, 1874 C, bom Sept. 6, 1879, iel died Nov. 2, 1879. i

Castle

Stanley, of Caiiandaigua, N. Y.

;

,,.-

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;

JOHN G. STEIN, farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Baraboo; was born

Holstein, Germany, Aug

son of J. 1'. and Anna S. Stein Mr. S. emigrated with his parents to America in July, 1848; Michigan seven years, and came to Milwaukee, Wis., duly 1, L856, remaining there five years. when he remove. 1 to Sauk Co. lived in the town of Dellotia eight years he then kepi store two years in the town of Excelsior, and was in trad.- three years in the village of Baral when he removed to the farm where he now resides, and owns 160 acres Mr, S. was married at Dellotia to Miss Dora S daughter of Henry and Mary Goerbing, of Ozaukee Co., Wis.; they have seven children— Mary A., Lilly A., Louisa I!., Frank M., Ida S.. Anna D. and George M. ]>:!,

;

resided

;

STEELE,

was born in Delaware Co., N. Y.. duly 1, 1824, S. F. patentee of Steele's drag saw and came to Wisconsin in 18 15 located in Iowa Co. in 1846 and came to Baraboo in 1868. He enlisted, February, 1865, in Co. G, 3d I. V. C, and served about nine months. He was married in January, 1850, to Miss Ruth Farwell; she was bom in Ohio; they have five children [ola. May, Emory, Ruth and ;

;

—

Millbum. crat.

Both he and his wife are members id the Congregational Church,

politics,

is a

—

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

706

R. H. STRONCw, bom in Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1820; when 16 years of age he went to Charleston, S. C. where he remained three years in the wholesale dry-goods house of was Clerk in Territorial Legislature in the winter of Miller, Ripley & Co., when he came to Wisconsin 1839 and 1840 in the spring of 1840, he went to Michigan and engaged in the fur trade, and remained in the spring of this year, went to Milwaukee and engaged in the forwarding and comthere until 1844 continued in this business for about four mission business, having an elevator in connection therewith at the time the railroad was completed, he received the first freight years prior to his removal to Baraboo (by special can that came over the road, to this place; has been connected with the First National Bank most of the time since its organization also carrying on an extensive flouring-mill, dealing in grain, etc. ;

;

she was born in Leroy, Genesee Co., Bertha L., now Mrs. Dr. 0. W. CarlX. Y., and died in Milwaukee; had three children by this union and Noonan, died in Kansas City in May, 1879 Emeline M.. the wife of Fred. Milwaukee: son, of Frank IL, now associated with his father in carrying on his business. Mr. Strong's second wife was Mrs. Edmund Sanderson she was born in Springfield, Mass. they have three sons and one daughter Warner B., Beebe H., Robert D. and Evelyn L.

Was married in Marshall, Mien., in 1845. to Emiline R. Ganson

— ;

;

HI.

;

STRONG, born in Bridgeport, Vt,, July 27, 1830; educated at Troy Conference

Academy, Poultney, Vt. October,

;

removed

Married Sarah E.

1850.

Wisconsin June

1850;

settled

Rudd February,1856, who was born

Hee.lsl.ur-,

Sauk

Co.,

Willoughby, Ohio. Oct.

R. M. Strong 14, 1832; E. O. Strong, son of above, was born April 5, 1857, died July, 1865. Recruited was elected Sheriff of Sauk Co. in November, 1860, and resigned January 1, 1861. promoted Major Co. A, 19th W. V. I., and was commissioned Captaiu of same Dec. 19, 1861 September 30, 1863; promoted Lieutenant Colonel December 29, 1863; took part in all the marches, ;

skirmishes and battles in which his regim. nt was engaged until October 27, 1864, when, in charging the rebel earthworks at Fair Oaks, Va., was wounded and afterward taken to Libby Prison, where his left leg was parolled Feb. 19, 1S65, sent to Annapolis, Md., and exchanged March 25, 1865 was amputated Was elected a member of the State Assembly Novemresigned and returned to Wisconsin in May, 1865. re-elected in 1868, 1870 and 1872, holding the office ber, 1865, and County Treasurer November, 1866 was Clerk of the Assembly Session of 1873 and 1874 was one of the original directors of eight years ;

;

the Baraboo Valley Air-Line Railway, and labored earnestly until the C. & N. W. R. R. obtained control Col. and completed the road is now a successful stock and grain farmer in Yellow Medicine Co., Minn. and Mis. Strong still continue to reside in Sauk Co., where they have near relatives and a large circle of ;

warm friends. C. J. STURDEVArVT, foreman and car repairer; born in Erie Co., Penn., Nov. 30, 1841 He came to Baraboo in 1876 has been in the employ of the C. & N. W. R. R. Co. nearly seven years. ;

;

Aug. 28, 1861, in Co. E, 27th N. Y. V. I., and served about two years, the term of his enlistment. He received a very serious scalp and skull wound at the battle of Gettysburg, an unhealed wound He was married Dec. 21, 1868, to Miss Tomah MeCarty she was born that he will carry through life. In politics, Mr. S. Nettie May, Sylvester and Bennie Burton. in Canada; they' have three children enlisted

;

—

Republican.

SIJINER

was bom in Akron. Ohio, then known as Middlebury, March 16, 1831, where V. A. in April, 1855 engaged in mercantile business; continued in general he resided until (•inning to Baral In 1866, be purchased the Warren farm, nursery, etc., and made the improvements in trade unlil 1874. 1867 sold the place t" Mr. Warren in 1878; completed his present hotel budding, ready for occupancy, in September, 1878. From July. 1876, to February. 1877, he carried on the crockery business in Chicago! when he removed bis stock to Baraboo. Mr. Sumner has boon enured in mercantile business since he was 17 years of age He was married in Galena. 111., Oct. 16, 1860, to Millie Van Hyde; she was born in Hadimarsen, Holstein, Nov. 30, 1841, and came to New Jersey in 1848; they have four children Anna Louise, Nov. 18, 1870, and Nellie living— Carl, born March 21, 1863; Julius I., May 12, L865 ;

;

.Minerva. Jan. 15, 1875.

C. A. SWIXEFORI), Division Superintendent of the

& N. W. R. R,

;

born in Ashland,

Ashland Co., Ohio, July 12, 1840; came to Wisconsin in August, 1863, and located at Fond du Lac, He was conductor for nine years on the Wisconsin Division of the where he remained about a year. C & N. W. I!, i; then went to Chicago, where he remained until coming to Baraboo. Jan. 1. 1874. ;

He has been connected with Since February, 1874, he has held the position of Division Superintendent. Before coming to Wisconsin, Mr. S. had been connected with railroad \V Et. 1! sin.. 1863. the C &

work tor about a year and a half.

BARABOO.

707

WILLIAM THATCHER was born Jan. 16, 1855,

Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis., where he the age of II; after he had finished lii.s in

commenced to learn the blacksmith trade at has always lived In 1878, lie commenced work for the C. & N. W. 1!. li. apprenticeship, he started a shop for himself. Co., at this place, where he is still employed. He was married, March 7, 1878, to Miss Ida M. Lezeart -he was bom in Sauk Co.. Wis.. December, 1855; n_\ have one child -Claud. ;

;

TERRELL THOMAS, sen of Benjamin and Joanna (Terrell) Thomas,

lather was a

his

his mother was horn near Richmond, Va. the subject of this sketch was horn al Ohio, Jan. 10, 1826; when 21 years of age, went to Baltimore, Md., and entered a- wholewhere he remained three years, then was engaged with his father in Ohio dry g Is Store, in dealing in produce ami pork packing husincss; in May, Is.", I. came to Wisconsin, locating at Madison and engaging in banking was Cashier of State Bank until January, IsfiT; came to Baraboo in July of that year; ensured in banking here: organized the Sauk County Bank in connection with Mr. Mills, of Madison; Mr. Mills retired two years later, then Mr. Thomas conducted the business alone until January, 1ST:;. Married at Cincinnati. May 26, 1857, to Sarah A. Williams; she was horn in Cincinnati May 12, 1831 have one daughter Hannah W. (now Mrs. Rev. Robert Ritchie of Quincy, 111.

native of Baltimore; Si

;

Clairsville,

sale ami retail

;

— CARLOS C. THOMPSON, horn March 27. 1849, ;

in Baraboo, Wis., and has lived here all went to railroading in 1868, on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Hallway, as brakeman in 1872, he commenced with the Chicago & North- Western Railroad as fireman till May, 1878, when he took an engine, where he is still engaged. In politics, he is a Republican.

his life

;

lie

;

W. THOMPSON,

superintendent of the bridge department of the Chicago & NorthD. Western Railroad, on the Madison Division; he was horn in Monroe Co., N. V.. Nov. 5, lsi_'7 he moved Chicago in October, 1859; had charge of the wood-work shop for twelve years; moved to Baraboo in lie was married Dec. 20, 1853, to Miss Sarah I'. Page; she was Horn in Canada East y, 1875. four children— Alphonso H., Efne T., Wesley 0. and Frances M. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. T. in politics is a Republican. ;

;

THOMAS THOMPSON,

carpenter and builder office ami shop on he was born >ak street England April 16, 1840; came to America in IS.")."! with his parents; they located in Philadelphia for two years, and. in 357, came to Sauk County located near Devil's Lake in 1862 moved into Baraboo, where he has followed his present business; he has also built a fine little steamboat, the Minniwakan, which he has placed on the lake, and it is a little gem, and is used by the visitors at the lake. He was married Dec. 24, 1866, to Miss Polley E. Warier; she was born in Connecticut they have three children Frank T.. Noble and Louis. <

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CHARLES THIRER, of the firm of Moeller & Thurer, on Main

street, manul he was born in Switzerland. May 15, 1846, and came to 1869, to Miss Annie Tarnutzer she was born in SwitzerGeorge, Christian. Maggie and Edward L. land they have four children living Mr. and Mrs. Thuerer are both members ofthe German Evangelical Church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

of wagons and carnages

;

repairing a specialty

He married, Nov.

America in May, 1866.

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1.").

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FRED TOKLER.-l

keeper on third street

;

he was hum in Switzerland Oct. 17, 1830, and 12, 1S53, to Miss Ursula

came to Sauk City in 1852, and to Haral in 1856. He was married, Jan. Smith she was born in Switzerland. In politics, Mr. Tobler is a Democrat. ;

JAMES <w. TRAIN,

March 2, 1830 he studhe first came to Baraboo in county ever since be followed farming up to 1863; he was elected to the Legislature in 1856, and served one term, and in 1863 was elected County Recorder, ami held the office two terms, and served on the Village Board for several terms. He was married let. 20, 1853, to Miss Emily K. Sheppard she was horn in Merrimack, N. II. tiny have three children living Arthur P., Aliceand Frank Marshal. Mr. Train and family are Liberal in religion, and in politics, he is Independent. ied

law with M.

1849, and in

retired

;

he was l»,rn

W. Tappan, and was admitted

tin- fall

of 1853,

moved here with

to the

Merrimack Co., N.

bar in October, 1853

II..

;

his family, anil has lived in the

;

—

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JOHN

M. TRl'E. the subject of this sketch, was horn in Moultonboro, Carroll Co., N. II.. from New Hampshire to Merrimack, Wis., in the spring of 1866, and engaged in farming and mercantile business; in the fall of 1866, he removed to Sec 32, town of Grei nfiel and engaged in farming and teaching, until he was elected Register of Deeds, in 1874 then sold his farm and came to Baral he is now fitting up a farm on See. 31, town of Greenfield, and Sec 36, town of Baraboo, having purchased the farm in 1877; he was re-elected Register of Deeds in 1876andl878; while living in Greenfield, he was Town Clerk for four years he was also member of the County Board for two Oct. 9, 1838, and earn,

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

708

Be was married at Moultonboro, held other minor offices, such as Justice of the Peace, etc. \|,ril 20, 1864, to Mary Annie Beede; she was born in Dover, X. II., Aug. I'li. 1845; thej have \ || Rodney Howard, Gordon Haines and Ernest Beede; Mr. T. is a member of the I. 0. three children

years and ,

Sol. ordinate ami Grand Lodges and Encampments lie has been President of the Agricultural Society for lour years, and Secretary of the Sunk Co. Breeders' Association since its organization. ().

;

I'.,

he was born .1. J. VALLIKETT, meat market on the corner of Oak and Main streets :

Montreal, Canada, March 15. 1845, and came to the States with his parents in 1846; they located in He was married Dee 9, 1866, to Miss M. L. Clinton Co., N. Y.. and ho came to Baraboo in April, 1855. Koons she was horn in Ohio the children are Walter C. Ellis, Morean deceased and one unnamed Mr. and Mrs. Vallikett are both members of the Congregational Church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

I>R.

W. H. VITTUM, physician and surgeon Bank Block

icated in the

;

In- graduated

;

he was born in Sauk

;

Co., Wis.

his office

March HI. 1875, at the Universitj of Louisiana, at New Orleans.

WILLIAM F. WACKLER. proprietor of foundry and machine shop on South

was horn in Wurtemhi rir. Germany, March Hi. 1842; came to America in October L866, and located in He was married, May Milwaukee, and, in May, 1ST-, came to Baraboo and started his present business. Katie II., Harshe was bom in Milwaukee; they have three children 1870, to .Miss Bartra Pierson In politics. Mi-. Wackier is a Republican. ald and Arno.

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COL. MARVIN C. WAITE was born

Mendon, Monroe Co.. N. Y., Dee. where he resided until 17 years of age; he then went to East Bloomfield and learned the trade of making from woolen cloth; remained there until the fall of 1828, when he went to Batavia, Genesee Co., X. V. East

lsjit io is.;:;, be was traveling on the road with a wagon, selling patent medicines; in L835, he went to in 336, be went to Tecumseh, Mich., and engaged in Darien, N. Y., where he lived a little over a year in 1838, he went to Pike's Peak; in the spring of 1839, he came back to the hotel business for over a year New Vork State ami located at Palmyra, Wayne Co. remained there until October of the same year, in the brick trade; went Io Mud Creek, Steuben Co.. N. Y., then, and went into the hotel business aiel he then bought a woolen and saw mill near Bath, in the trade, which he continued until the fall of 1 S 41 1

;

mnty, ran it ne year and a half, then went to Painted Post and kept hotel there until the fall of 1847; then came to Racine, Wis. was thereuntil the spring of 1848; then removed to Whitewater, where he engaged in the practice of law until November. IS I!), when he came to Baraboo and engaged in law. real estate and nursery business, giving considerable attention to horticulture since he came here; in 1st:;, he removed to Bloomington, 111., and engaged in abstract, loan and insurance business, but returned in October, L879; the Colonel was Court Commissioner twelve years he was appointed by to Baral Notary Public twenty year.- appointed Gov. Dewey lirst Appraiser of the University lands of this district lie was married, first in Medina. Orleans Co., the JTth Light Infantry. Colonel of Dewey Gov. by N. V., in 1834, to Elvira C. Sholes; she died in 1837, leaving one child— Helen E., now Mrs. Edson <

;

the Colonel married bis second wife tit Hornellsvillej Wheeler, of Valley Springs. Minnehaha Co., D. T. \. Y. in December, 1839; her maiden name was Emily A Robinson; she was born near Hornellsville, X. V.; one child living by this marriage— Clara Y.. now Mis. II. G. Ellis, of Cincinnati. Ohio; second in' 1808. he married Susie A. Tyler; she died in 1875; married again Oct. IT. 1879, wile died in L867 tic Colonel became a member of sic was born tit Augusta, Me. at Madison, to Mrs. Lydia C. Garliek i). Mason in is:; I. in Genesee Co.. X. V. joined the Baraboo Lodge >. in was made 1839 I. the in 1853; was educated at East Bloomfield Academy and al Hamilton College. ;

;

1-'.

(

;

\\. V.

WA RNER,

store

on Bridge

street, he also

carries on

a fruit

and vegetable farm; he

Rome, Xew York Stale, May 5, 1815; moved with bis parents to Erie Co., Penn., in 1817; in 1862, started for C, lorado with ox and cow in 1851, and in 1852 brought his family Baral a „, iking bis family with him; returned in 1864 when they arrived at Reynold's ranch, about 100 miles east of Denver, the] were attacked by Indians and two of their number were killed they lived in Colorado about two and a half years; he and his family then returned to Baraboo, where they have lived and still have their home, be had charge of the post office part of a year under Buchanan's administraMarried, Sept. 17, tion; be is now Treasurer of Sauk Countj Grange and of Horticultural Society. 1836, io Rothilda Atkins; she died in 1847; he was married to Miss Susan P. Patridge December, living Ellen, Edwin R. Wilber Anna E., live bey W., children born in England have HTs, she was was born

(

t„

;

and Frank A.

E. A. WATKIXS, born

went to Manchester to barn the Springfield. Vt.. .Iul\ L'.">. IS:!] ill look an engine on the N Y. & E. 11 R. in 1852, and 1862 he commenced on machinist trade in L848 c |; R and run for about eight years; was foreman of round house four years; in 1874, moved the ;

;

709

BARABOO. to

Baraboo, Wis., and took an engine on the C.

& N. W. K. I!.. the first

the shop, since thai has worked steadily in the shop. Married, July 5, 1865, to of Chester, Vt.; have two children— Frank E. and Ruth A.

WILLIAM WIIEELItHaiT.

and worked in Annette II. Davis,

year run extras .Mis-

W. II. K.. was born in Washengineer on the C. & ington Co., Vt., Oct. 25, 1844; he now lives ai Harvard, McHenry Co., 111. He enlisted Aug. 31, L861com Co. K. 1st W. V. [.; served three years and three mouths; he came to Wisconsin in L855 nicnivil railroading in ISi'.S, a s Inakeman for three years, then three years at firing, then took an engine in

;

L87] and followed the railroad into Baraboo, where lie is still employed, lie was married, Maj 6, 1865, to Miss Leonora she was born in Ohio; they have one child— Nellie M' His politics are Olcott Republican. in

;

H. H. WEBSTER blacksmith, on Third street

was horn July 14. 1822, in Vermont came to Baraboo in 1842 at that time the country was sparsely settled, not more than a dozen families in the town. He was married, September, is.")."), to Miss Ann E.Calhoun; she was horn in Nevt 5Tork Stati they have three children— Inez E., Fred E. and Bell P. Mr. and .Mrs. Webster both are active members ;

;

of the M. E. Church, and ho is also an old and prominent Odd Fellow, and has passed through the chairs, and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge he is also a member of the Encampment

all

;

DAVID E. WELCH was horn

Wayne Co., Ohio, Dee.

1835; received a common-school education in 1856, went to Bowen's Prairie, Jones Co., Iowa, where he remained until 1858i when he returned to Westtield, Medina Co., Ohio, to engage in mereantile business he was appointed Postmaster by President Lincoln, in 1861, which office he resigned to enter the military service in August of the same year. Enlisted as a private in the I'd Ohio V. C, but, upon the organization of his company, ted 1st Lieutenant subsequently, he was promoted through all the grades to Lieutenant Colonel was with his regiment during its service on the frontier of Kansas, Arkansas and the Indian Territory; then with the Army of the Tennessee under Gen. Burnside, and, after re-enlistment, with the Army of the Potomac under Gen. Sheridan alter the muster-out of his regiment, he was retained, by special order of the War Department, in the Cavalry Bureau until February, 1866 upon leaving the service, spent one year in Venango Co., Penn. He cam to Wisconsin in 1867, and settled as a farmer in the town of Del ton, Sauk Co., where he served as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors four years removed to Baraboo, in 1876, to en- age in the sale of agricultural machinery. He was a member of the Legislature in 1874 and is;.") was elected to the Senate for L876-77, and re-elected for 1878-7!', receiving :;,(is:i votes against Democrat,, and 784 for J. B. Potter (Greenbacker). Joseph Mackey Col Welch is still engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in Baral in

Milton,

;

•

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HEXKV

WILLARD,

horn in the town of Chittefarmer, Sec. L3; P.O. Baral F. nango, Madis. n Co., N. V.. Aug. 15, 1826 son of Rufus and Eliza (Warren) Willard'; came to Wiscon1852, and located in the village of Baraboo; located, where be now resides, in August, own- 58 acres of land two miles from the village of Baraboo. 1867 He has held the office of District Treasurer for eight years. He was married, Dec. 20, 1848, in Racine Co., Wis., to Abigail, daughter of ;

sin in the fall of :

—

Joshua and Eliza Parmerly) Marsh they have two children Emma and Ellen Emma is married to Nathan Sherman, and living at Mi. Tabor, Vernon Co., Wis., and has three childreu. For eight years, Mr. Willard was et:gi-ed in luinheriii": in Wisconsin in IS60, he went to Colorado and engaged in goldmining, returning to Wisconsin in the fall of 1862. Mr. Willard's mother died i„ 1856; his father died i

;

875, aged 75 years.

CHARLES

WILLIAMS,

son of Micajah and Hannah .Jones, Williams, was horn in II. Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 21, 1818; was educated in his native city, under the famous astronomer. Prof. VI. Mitchell, afterward Gen. Mitchell, a graduate of West Point Mr. Williams wont into service as civil :

in Indiana, in 1836 pursued this occupation about three years, when he accepted a position in the Ohio Life Insurance & Trust Co.'s Dank, at Cincinnati, of which his father was Presidenl in the spring of 1843, he went to Toledo, Ohio, and opened a commission house under the linn name of VVinslow & Williams, continuing in this business for three years. He was married Jan. 12, 1846, in St. Belmont Co., Ohio, Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Joanna I'eriell) Thomas; they had live children Micajah T., Benjamin (who died Jan. 29, L85] Charles II.: Samuel M. and Alice (died May 3. 1859 After the death of his father, in June, 1 844, he became the administrator of the estate Mr. W. first cam,- to Wisconsin in 1842. returning again in 1846, and locating in the city of Milwaukee, remained until the spring of 1853, when he settled on a farm in the town of Freedom (rrow where he now reside; in the fall of 1870. While in Milwaukee, he was appointed Receivei of the United States Laud Office by President Taylor, and served in this capacity four years: .

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—

;

710

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Common Council of the city of Milwaukee, and served one term £ was Treasurer of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad during 1858 and 1859; has been Chairman o was

also

member of

the

the Board of Supervisors also School Treasurer in the town of Excelsior for a number of years he is a life" member of the State and County Agricultural Societies, and for ten years a member of the Executive Com" mil tic of the former; served as President of the county society several terms. Has been engaged as a ;

;

farmer and breeder of improved stock in ibis county, in connection with other business, from 1853 to this devoted his time and farm largely to breeding short horn cattle, one of the most profitable branches time of farming —and laboring all these years to induce the farmers of the county and the State to engage in tlii- vi tv important branch of agriculture. Concerning the military record of the subject of this sketch, Gen. Guppey, of Portage, writes " Maj. Williams raised Co. F, 23d W. V. I.; was the first Captain of that company, was promoted to Major of the regiment before it was mustered into the service of the United States, and was on active duty in that position till Feb. 25, 1863, when he resigned on account of ill health,

—

lie was, in all respects, an excellent officer, brave in the field, and hard-working in the camp and on the march, to secure the comfort and efficiency of the command. His ability was rated so high that at our first attack on Vicksburg, in December. 1862, he was placed in charge of the construction of a portion of the earthworks thrown up in the night time to cover he approaches of our troops, and performed that duty with great skill and when the attack of Dec. 27 and 28 was made, Maj. Williams commanded the regiment Col. Guppey being in command of an attacking column of which the 23d formed a part, and Lieut. Col. Jussen being absent. At the capture of Post Arkansas, otherwise called Fort Hindman, Maj. Wilbams bore a distinguished part in the charge of the 23d, which drove the enemy from a cluster of cabins in front of his works, and forced him to flee to his intrenchments. This was the last battle in which Maj. Williams took part and soon after it was fought, the regiment, with other forces, returned to the vicinity of Vicksburg, where Maj. Williams' health soon became so impaired by the effects of hard service and a malarious climate, that he was compelled to resign, as before stated." t

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CHARLES

WILSON,

son of John and Emma J. farmer, Sec. 23; I'. 0. Baraboo W. came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1869 located in the village of Baraboo located where now resides, April 1, 1880; owns 7 acres of land; born Oct. I. 1S|I. in Salisbury, Conn. Married in the spring of IS7H. to Maria L Hazeltine, daughter of Phin. C. and Lydia A. Hart Hazeltine has three children— Nettie, Emma, Ettie. Mr. Wilson served in Co. C, 37th Mass. V. I., being mustered in in 1862; being a minor, only 17 years of age, his step-father, John Maston took him home, and refused to allow him to serve his country; but young Wilson, determined to fight the " Rebs " enlisted again in the 27th Regiment, under the assumed name of ''Charles C. Maston" and served until the

Surner Wilson

;

of the war. being mustered out July 2, 1865, as First Lieutenant; he participated in twentyseven battles among the rest were those of Spottsylvania, three battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Deep Bottom, dill Harbor, Petersburg. Sailor Creek and Shiloh in the battle of the Wilderness, be was wounded seven times, he was detailed on scout duty by Major Young. Chief of the scouts on Sheridan's stall', and remained with them the last eighteen mouths of service being in the Rebel lines, the scouts surrendered with Gen. Eee. Mr. Wilson by trade is a mason and wagon-maker. close

;

JOHN

1*.

WIT WEN. was born

Switzerland, Feb

1840; came

America

June.

Elizabeth Luetscher. both natives of Switzerland; lived. in 1851 is the son of John P. Witwen and dure until 1856 then moved on a farm Wateitowii, Wis., one year, then came to Sauk Cit\ ami lvmai in the town of Tro\ be lived tie re mini Vug. 15, L862, when lie enlisted in Co. K. 26th W. V. I.; :

;

served until June 13, lst',5, when be was mustered out was in all the battles his regiment participated in except Chanoellursville ami Gettysburg; returned to Troy, and lived there until Jan. 1. 1S77; In- was lected Countj Clerk in 1876 and holds that office at the present time; has conducted the Troy flour .

also Town Treasurer was Town Clerk in Troy liming the years of 1870 and L871 Was married in the town of Granville, Milwaukee Co., April 11, two years in 1873 and 1874. 1867, to Susan B, Leister; she was born in the town of Granville, Milwaukee Co., Wis-, Sept. 17. 1846; Feb. 19, lost one son. George, who was, born they have three children Lovina, Mary C and Emma S. 1871, and died Oct. 5, 1874.

ing Mills since 1867

;

for

WOOD.

;

son of Joseph and Sarah Wilton was born in North Freedom Was Chittenden Co., Vt., June 12, ISll'i; was engaged in the mercantile business at Burlington. V I. II., to Miss C D Vittum, daughter of David and I). married Nov. 16, 1847, al Meredith Village, -Louie Vermont came to N. and till then Caddii resided in 1852, B Vittum; they have two children Wisconsin, locating at Baraboo Mr. Wood was Postmaster of Baraboo during Buchanan's administration. Hi- Dr. Louie N Wood, was married to Lucy Blish December, 1879; is practicing his profession at

T. J.

P. 0,

;

REEDSBURG.

711

Mr. Wood's proper home is Baraboo

Wonewoc, Juneau Co., Wis.

;

temporarily stopping on a farm

Excelsior. Sec. 23.

WOODMAN

EDWIN

was born at St. Louis, Mo., June 1, 1838 received an academic E. and collegiate education; removed to Wisconsin in 1856, settling in Janesville lived at Monroe, Wis., litorship of the Baraboo from 1858 to 1874; in the latter year, removed to Baraboo, and entered on tl On the breaking-out of the civil war, in 1861, he assisted Republic, a work in which lie is still engaged. to raise Co. B of the 13th Wis. V. 1., ami was commissioned Captain; served ihree years, mostly on detached service was Post Inspector of Nashville on the staff of Brig. Gen. Robert S. Granger, and Topois by profession a civil engineer, and as such 1ms graphical Engineer on the staff of Maj. Gen. Rousseau was resident engineer had charge of some of the most important railway constructions in the Northwest lie was elected State at Tunnel No. 3 on the North-Western Railway, in charge of construction. the of Wisconsin in Civil Engineer from University degree of received honorary in the Senator 1879; ;

;

1880.

W. W. WOOLC'OTT,

contractor and builder and general commission dealer; he manushop on the corner of Oak and Fifth streets; be was born in Wyoming Co., N. \\. Oct. 8, 1827, and came to Baraboo May 7, 1854. Enlisted Feb. t, 1865, in Co. D, 46th W. V. I., and served till the close of the war in 1860, he was elected to the office of Constable and served one year. He was married. May 11, 1860, to Miss Katie B. Murphy; they have three In politics, Mr. Woolcott is a Republican. children living Ellen L., John L. and Al. factures and repairs all articles in the wood line

;

—

GEORGE W\ YOUNG,

was born in Vermont. June 22 engineer on the C. & N. W. R. R. 1840, and came to Baraboo in 1873. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. II, 13th I. V. [., and served three years; he was at (besiege of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, and numbers of other battles. He was married, in October, In politics, Mable P. 1876, to Miss Nellie Hatch she was born in Baraboo, Wis. they have one child ;

—

;

he is a Republican.

JOHN YOUNG, Sheriff of Sauk Co.; was bornin the town of Troy, Richland Co., Ohio, July 22, moved from there to Wisconsin, came to Sank Co., and settled on Sec. 13, town of Troy, in Novi ru1853, wit, re he resided until elected Sheriff in 1878 he still owns the farm where he first located. Married in Troy, Before he was elected Sheriff, he was Chairman of the Town Board for live years. they thio, Jan. 8, 1852, to Amanda L. Day. a native of the same place, who was born Jan. 30, 1830 Alvin L., Benjamin Day, Charley E., Orra Belle and Sarah have had seven children, five still living Elizabeth, died in July, 1867, and Jesse Edith was drowned Nov. 30, 1879. Eleanor; lost two 1826

ber,

;

(

;

—

VILLAGE AND TOWN OF REEDSBURC. R isburg; was born Glastonbury, Hartford EDWIN ANDRUS, farmer, See. 29 ;

(.).

806 he is one of a family of four children when about 7 years of age, he was sent to Berkshire Co., Mass., and bound out to a Mr. Sage; lived with him until 15 years of age, but was dissatthrough the kindly isfied with the treatment he received, ami had no opportunity for any education intervention of a friend, Mr. Smith, he was released by agreeing to remain until September of that year; afterward, he began to learn a trade at Winstead, Conn., but, desiring to have a sailor's experience, be shortly afterward started for sea; went to several towns, but found no chance for going out as a sailor; then went to Jersey City, at which point be paid out bis last shilling for crossing the ferry; he went to the nortl New Jersey, having nothing to eat on the way bul what he could pick up in the be worked thereat lumbering. w Is; when he reached Sullivan Co., N. Y. he hired oul on a farm At 1!* years of age. Mr. Andrus married his first wife. Mi-s Susan Gillet, by whom he had five children, all of whom subscq u atlj died of consumption he stayed in Sullivan Co., N. Y.. until 25 years of age, when, feeling discouraged there, he determined to secure a farm he started for Ohio with only S100, and here his first wife died Feb. 1837. Mr. Andrus improved his first place bought a farm of 50 acres Co., Conn.. Feb. 25,

;

Ohio ami afterward boughl 100 acres of wild land on the lake shore, near Cleveland, cleared it and built a house and barn upon he leased this place, and. coming West, settled, in 1854, upon his present place of 208 acres in Sec. 29, near Reedsburg; in 1855, be sold his place in Ohio; in politics, be is Mr. Andrus has spent much time in Republican; voted for Andrew Jackson when be was first elected. bee culture, and has now over H swarms. lie mat lied, for his second wife. Mrs. Maeena Moore Cahoon, in

;

—

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

712

who had three children hy her first husband;

Willard, her oldest son, was born Aug. 14, 1832: Celia May 25, 1834 and Marian, Nov. 4, 1835; her husband. Mr. Jesse Sweet Cain urn. died in Ohio Feb. 28, 1836, from the effects of hard work. By his present wife, Mr. Andrus has five children Ransom M.; Amelia, now Mrs. McClure, born Sept. 8, 1838; William, Oct. 21, 1840; Adelaide, Dec. 6, 1849; and Rosette, now Mrs. Sorge, Sept. 17, 1852. Mr. Andrus is a member of the Baptist Church. ;

—

WILLIAM ANDRUS.

farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Reedsburg; born in Lorain Co.. Ohio, Oct. 21. 1840; he came with his parents, in 1854. to Reedsburg. and settled on Sec. 28; in 1863, he bought his present place of 158 acres in See. 35. Mr. Andrus has been Assessor and member of Orange, and has acted as Church Trustee; he owns and r,uns the saw and feed mills which were built in 1856 he also owns the cheese factory bv Messrs. Edwin Andrus, George Waltenburger and Willard Cahoon now run by Mr. Bird H. Terrell. March 26, 1864, Mr. Andrus was married to Miss Adarene Terrell, who was horn in Ridgeville, Ohio, in 1844; Mr. Andrus' family consists of five children, viz., Mary Belle, born Jan. 27, 1865; Addie Amelia. Aug. 28, 1867; William 'Terrell, April 14, 1868; Frank Claude, Nov. 30, 1869; and Robert Colyer, May 2, 1877. ;

WILLIAM

BARRINGER,

farmer, Sees. 28 and 21; P.O. Reedsburg; born in II. Williamstown, Oswego Co., N. Y., July 17, 1819 his parents afterward removed to Ontario Co., N. Y. from New York, Mr. William Barringer went to Iowa in 1844, where he took up claims, worked some In Iowa, Feb. 19, time upon the land, and then sold out; be also owned two village lots, which he sold. 1846, he married Miss Lydia Goodwin, who was born in Pike Co., 111., Pec. 22. 1830; in June of L850, Mr. B. went to Reedsburg. Wis., where, in the fall of 1 852, he bought part of his present farm, making when he first went to Reedsadditions to it afterward, until he now owns 240 acres in Sees. 28 and 21 burg, there were neither stores nor grist-mill in the place, and Mr. B. was obliged to go to Baraboo for Mr. William trading and marketing. Mr. B. has a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living. lie belongs to the Christian Church. Barringer is the son of Henry and Abigail Barringer, ;

;

HENRY BLACK,

Sees. 14 and 23; P.O. Reedsburg; born in Newbern, Franklin Co., Ind., Aug. 23, 1839 in 1856, he went to the town of Westfield, Sauk Co., where he lived until 1862. when he was in two he enlisted in Co. F., 23d W. V. I. passed through the whole of the Vieksl.urg campaign battles at Jackson. Miss.; was also at the engagements of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Grand Gulf, Black River Bridge and Arkansas Post during the last year of army service, Mr. B. was promoted to \,rMr. 15. was married Aug. 25, 1862, to Miss Catherine poralof his company; he was discharged in 1865. George II. F, horn in Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 6, 365 Herbel; he has a family of eight children, viz William K born in Reedsburg Nov. 5, 1866 Philippine, March 13, 1868, at the same place [nez lv. in Excelsior, Wis.. April 2. 1870 Harvey C, Feb. 22, 1872; Sarah A.. July 17, 1874; Mary E., Jan. March 5,1870; the last four were all born in Reedsburg Wis 11), 1877; and Jacob, who was born and 23. The two families— Mr. Black's Mr. Black owns 80 acres of land in North Freedom, on Sees. Mr. Black is now (1880) residand Mr. Herbel's— are connected with the German Methodist Church. Mr. Herbel's -place. ing on bis fatherjn-law's ;

;

(

;

— — JOHN W. BLAKE, editor and proprietor of Reedsburg Free Press; was horn

Moulton, England, March 27. 1834

;

South

came to Columbus. Wis., with his parents, in June, 1848; remained

is the so:, of Philip and Mary May) Blake his there until August of same year, then came to Baraboo father lived at Baral about one year, then removed to Lemonweir, and there he. lied; his mother is still in living and resides in Baraboo. John W. commenced learning the printer's trade in the fall of 1851 ;

;

purchased the Baraboo A'- /.»/.//., and they 1862, in coin]. any with Charles H. Stuwart .now of Chicago continued the publication for about a year and a half, and, for one and a half years, Mr. Blake conducted it without a partner; he lived in [independence, Iowa, for a year and a half interested in the Bulletin then returning to Baraboo, connected with the Independent as long as D. K Noyes continued its publication. Mr. Blake has been in the printing business all this time except five years before coining to Reedsburg July 1. 1878, he purchased the Uee'dsburg Fm- Press, with J. II. Powers Nov. 6, L879, Mr. Bowers retire. 1. for five years, also Police Justice lor a time. lie was marMr. 15. was Town Treasurer at Baral .

;

ried in Baral

Mary

have had three children

EI>WARI>

Ambler, Nov.

Nettie M., Phillip

BLANK,

March 25, 1837; Ambler (died Nov. 7, 1874, aged 13 years), and Louis ('.

13,

1856; she was born

Hillsdale, Mich..

his father, born in Ced Co., Wis., Dec. 27. 1854 F. Mr. E. 1\ ing one of the oldest settlers there. is still livii Blank. Jr.. went to Kilbourn City about 1868, and went into general merchandise stove with Mr. G. J. Hansen ,v Co remaining there until 1872, when he went to Uoe.lsl.urg. Wis., and took the position he Mr. B. was married to Miss still holds as clerk in Hansen, dale & Co.'s hardware store, Jan, 31, 1878.

E. F. Blank,

;

713

REEDSBURG. Marj

Mr. B. is Town Clerk.

Mr. B. has one child, Genevieve, born Oct. 1, 1879.

Wheeler.

Repub

lican in politics.

GEORGE BOGENRIEE, farmer Mifflinburg, Penn., Jan.

1818

;

in Sec. 11 P.O. address, Reedsburg; was born in he came to Beloit, Wis., in the spring of 1848, where he lived for four year, he went to Madison, Wis., where ;

when he removed to Greene Co.; remaining there only one

years,

about the year 1857, he was engaged in machine business he is, by trade, a machinist Mr. R. came to Reedsburg since that time, he has owned and improved two farms, and sold them again present farm of 80 acres, in 1879. Mr. 6. was married, April 20, 1842, to Miss Sarah Taylor, who was horn March 6, 1825, in Lewisburg, Penn. Of a family of five children, bul one is living George W.. born June 30, 1851 he was educated at Reedsburg High School, and is now working at home on his lather's place. for four year-

;

he bought his

;

ALBERT BOEHJI, photographer and taxidermist, was horn

in Prussia Dec. 1. 1829, and, he came to America, and landed in Milwaukee. eaving his native land, studied for a druggist 1855; in the same year he went to Portage, Wis., where he was in the drug and photograph in 1874, he rebusiness until 1858, when he went to Juneau Co., Wis., where he remained five years moved to Reedsburg, Wis.; for nearly ten years. Mr. Boehm has been engaged in gathering together and he has birds from (iermany, and preserving a very extensive collection of birds, insects and small animals mens from nearly every section of the United States from the lakes to the gulf; be has also ;

;

—

illection of minerals, shells, etc., the whole comprising one of the finest collections in the State. Mr. B. was married for the second time, in 1875, to Miss Frances Wolf; by his first wife he has four children Bertha, Louise. Charles an Emma. Mr. B. is a member of Odd Fellows' Lodge.

—

A. S. BROOKS, proprietor of restaurant at Reedsburg. came to that town with his parents, in For two His father, Samuel Brooks, 1. ought land and located near the village of Reedsburg. A. S. Brooks was with the Maekeys in Reedsburg mill. and. for seven years previous to com-

1856.

seasons.

ing to his majority, lived in the family of II. W. Andrews. While working for the Government at Washwas mustered out in June ington, D. O, in 1864, Mr. I!, enlisted in I'd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery he of 1865. Mr. B. is a native of New York, born at Peterboro, Madison Co., N. Y.. Dec. 22. 1841 ;

;

business; for a time he was then he went to Jackson, Minn., where he took up a soldier's on Michigan Southern R. R. claim, and began farming, but. for four successive seasons, lie was eaten out by grasshoppers, after which he returned to P.eodshurj. at this place. Mr B. has just erected a new brick building, 34x82, bakery underneath and a fine hall overhead the first floor is occupied as a store and restaurant. in heighl Mr. Mr. B. was married March 28, 1867, to Miss Narcissus E. Cornish, who was born Feb. 23, 1840. Mr. Brooks is now a member of the Village Board, a B. has -me child. Mamie, born June 5, 1868. Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic; he belongs to the Fire Company of Reeds-

spent two years in Indiana, where he was associated with

fireman

Andrews in the ice

;

—

;

burg.

BENJAMIN W. BROWN,

horn in Maryland May farmer, Sec. 32 P. 0. Logansville old, his parents removed to Ohio, where he lived until he came they Oct, 21, 1847, he was married to Miss Mary Settle, who was horn in Ohio June 23, 1826 West. Sarah: Rosella, row Elizabeth, now Mrs. Warren; Lucy II., now Mrs. Fausnaught have nine children Mr. lb-own settled Mrs. Cross; William F., David L., Nancj I!.. Mary Emma, Benjamin W. and \da. on his present place, a farm of 40 acres, in the fall of 1855. In politics he is a Republican. ;

;

8,1823; when he was but 3 years

;

—

;

CHESTER BUCK, farmer, Sec. IT; P.O. R born 1>.

Isburg

;

fho was

son of R

Was married at Tunkhannock, Penn., Dec

the town of Great Bend, Penn.

Redfield, daughter of Russell and Betsey Redfield.

Mrs. Buck was horn

Bainbridge, N. \\: lived in

Wyalusing, Bradford Co., Penn.; came to Wisconsin in 1^55 settled in I; 7here they now reside; have three children— Lurancy, now Mrs. Dennis Bishop, Reedsburg; Porter, married to Susan Teal, living in Reedsburg Village. Mr.-. Porter Buck's people were among the first settlers of Sauk Co. The youngest, N. A. Buck, is a farmer living with his parents on Sec. 17: was born in Bradford Co.. Penn., Jan V. 1842: came to Wisconsin with bis parents in 1855 spent one year in the villageof Reedsburg; then D See 17 his 120 acres ; has been Director of his school district ten reside ;

;

E. F. 1

830

BI'EliOW. propri

came to America ill

tanning.

In 1861, Sep!

851

and, in

26, he enlisted

(

horn in Prussia Feb. 28, n and billiard hall, Reedsburg; etober of thai year, went to Sauk Prairie. Wis., and Co. B, 12th W. V. I.; he afterward 1

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

714

regiment, and, subsequently, promoted to head leadership of " quarter-band " of 17th Army Corps' under Gen. Howard Mr. B. was mustered out of service in August of 1865, and afterward went to Reedsburg, Wis., where he began his present business. Aug. 20, 1356, Mr. B. was married to Miss B. D. for

;

Hoobeen, who was born in Galway, Ireland, March 29, 1841 Mr. B. has had a family often children, of whom he has lost two his oldest sob, George, was born Dee. 13, 1859 Katie, July 20, 1862 Edward, December, 1865 Hattie, Jan. 20, 1868; Nellie, Sept. 13, 1870; Thomas, Dec. 16, 1873; Theresa, June 21, 1 376, and William, Aug. 10, 1878. Mr. Buelow is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge. ;

;

BURDICK,

engineer of stave-mill, etc. He was B. T. born in Vermont Oct. 4, 1835. married to Miss Sophronia Jackson April 28, 1861 this lady was born in the State of Pennsylvania Oct. 22, 839. Mr. Burdick's parents came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1843. and settled on Sun Prairie, where they remained for four years removing at that time to Sauk Co., they bought land in that county and settled there on a farm. In the year 1850, Mr. B. T. Burdick left the farm and went to work in a steam-mill at Richland City, Wis. was there for some time, and then went to Dane Co. For the greater part of the time since 1862, Mr. B. has had charge of an engine at various points in 1S63, he was in Jefferson Co., Wis. in 1864, had Government engineering in charge at Chattanooga, Tenn. Mr. B. came to Reedsburg in September, L878, and took his present position as engineer of the stave-mill. Mr. B. is a Methodist in religion, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Odd Fellows he has bad three children, but only one is ;

;

now living, a sou, Willie L., born Oct. 15, 1864.

NORMAN V. CHANDLER; was born

in Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 30, 1831;

came to

Wisconsin June 1,1851 had no particular home until the 29th of March, 1852, when he located at Barabooand took the contract to print the Sunk County Standard, and continued its publication for six months then going ;

;

Portage, where he remained afew weeks, when he went to Stevens Point and established the

HVscwis/u

Pinny Jan. 14, 1853; continued its publication for one year, and then sold out and engaged infarmingduring the summer of 1854, then went to Beaver Dam and established the Beaver Dam Sentinel; sold out in a few weeks and returned to Stevens Poiut engaged in various kinds <.i luisim ss there until the fall of 1857; ;

he then came to Reedsburg and worked in the Ihcihl office and printed it during its existence; then in other business until June 25, 1860, when he published the first number of the Free Press; continued its publication until September, 1861 then removed the printing materials to New Lisbon and published .In m mi ( 'mi in y .1 r./tis until November, 1862; in February, 1863, he returned to Reedsburg and was engaged in hotel business during the summer of 1863; Jan. 4. 1864, he enlisi d in the 1th W. V. C. served until the 19th of June. 1866, when he was discharged at Madison, doing service on the Rio Grande over a year previous to discharge then engaged in mercantile business here until February, 1867 then devoted his time to farming until February, 1872 then re-established the Free Press; published the first number of this paper on March 22, 1872, and continued its publication up to the time of selling out to Mr. Blake, July 1. 1878, and since then he has been looking after larm interests in Minnesota, until the spring of 1880, when lie engae-eil in the furniture business in Reedsburg, in company with B. F. Barker, under the firm name of Barker & Chandler. In the fall of 1880, moved to Minnesota .ml engaged in farming. Mr. C. was married in town of Wheatland. K n sha Co., Wis., March 3, 1852, to Matilda J. Parks she was born in Jersey City, N. J., Nov. 28, 1834, and cane to Wisconsin with her parents in an carl', day they have nine chi Ellen L., Feb II, A.., born March 16, 1853; Marcia J., Feb. 20, L855; 1857; Clara li Lula M., Jul) 13, 1864; Schuyler P., May Feb. 25, 1859; 1 na, Jan. 6, 1862 ">, 1868; Jessie J., .May 13, 1872; Norman V., March 29,1877, ;

;

I>.

CRAKER, farmer, Sec 34;

Reedsburg; wns born in Erie Co., N. Y., May 3,

v :!S; he came from New York, with his parents, to Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis., in the year 1848 His mother. Rebecca Barretl Craker, died in April. L849 shortly after this event he left home, and for tour years resided with John Bacon, Jr. at the end of this timi in 353, he went with his father, Mr. Z Craker, to Reedsburg. Sauk Co., Wis Mr. L. I>. Craker Inula must earnest desire I'm l

;

worked and attended school alternately, as opportunity i. tiered, until by dint of hard work he had gained sufficient education for teaching he ifterward tiiuirht school I'm- several terms, and at intervals during the time attended the aca lemj at ielton where he took high rank in his classes thus, teaching and studying, his time wa :upied ii] to the yenr 1863. July I. L863, he married Miss Lucelia Hurd, also a who was horn in Ohio Nov. 3, M"> they have a family of seven children Luther, born Aug. 28 1864 Alma, Aul'. 27, 1867: \ddic born March 1. 1870; Clarence, born Jul) 3, 1872; Francis, born Sept. 8,1874; Rubie, born May II, 1877, and Lester, born March 21, 1880. The family attend the Baptist From 186 in 1868, Mr. Craker was engaged in imp raising he then bought his present farm His father. Mr. Z. Craker, who is still living in of To acre- in Sec .'It. In politics he is a Republican. -ink Co., Wis., wis born in Englandin the year 1811. .

;

REEDSB1

RG.

Tl. )

MOSES L. CRASH, mason, Reedsburg; was born

Bloomfield,

July

2, 1846; iu his native State, for nine years; he settled on his was married to Miss Flizabeth E. Whitely March St IT tltis lady was born at Little Falls, N. .)., Dec. 10, 1845 they have four children living, and have lost two; Ada Anna, the oldest living, was horn Dec. 9, 1869; Moses L., born Dec. L6, L874; Samuel \V., horn Aug. L876, and [ra T., horn Feb. 26, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Crane belong to the Methodist Church.

learned

liis

trade in New Jersey, and worked at

present place of six or eight acres in L874. I

.).,

it,

lie

'J.~i

;

."),

AUGUSTUS DARRENOITGITE,

barber he was born at Estiales, France, mar the Pyre nees .Mountains. Jan. 3, 184] he learned his trade in France; in L862, he enlisted 111 the French Army and served five years; in the fall of 1867, Mr. D. came to America, and went immediately to Reedsburg, Wis. for three years, he worked on a farm, for one year at the jeweler's business, and for one year found employment on the railroad in 1873, he began business as a barber, in Reedsburg, and has added to this business a fine bath room, where steam and Russia vapor baths can betaken. July 23, 1874, Mr. >. married Miss .Josephine Mess; the family consists of two children Forest, bom Nov. 28, 1875, and Leon born March 16, 1877; Mr. D, is an adherent of the Roman Catholic Church. ;

;

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LUTE S. DEARBORN, farmer, See. 35; P.O. Reedsburg, Wis. Dodge Co., Wis.. Jan. spent one year

;

be was born in Neosho, where he lived until he was 14 years of age, when he went to Cowa, and he settled, with his parents, on his present location, a farm of 35 acres his ,

13, 1851,

July,

IStiti,

;

now in Baraboo, Wis. Aug. 23,1874, Mr. L. Dearborn married Miss Hattie 1> Knapp, who was horn Sept. 14, 1854, in New York, near Dauby they have two children Mary Ella, born May 15, 1877, and Merritt Slillman. horn Jan. 23, 1880 Mr. and Mrs. D. belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church in politics, Mr. D. is a Republican. father, S. Dearborn, lives

—

;

S.J. DEARHOLT,

merchant.

Reedsburg, Wis.; he was horn in Westfield, Morrow Co., Ohio, Feb. 18, 1844 he came to [ronton, Wis., with his parents, and was on a farm there about four years; then removed to the town of Westfield, Wis., where he lived fir about five years; he then removed to Reedsburg, and from 1867 to 1869, was raising hops near town, and running a blacksmith shop in the village in 1869, Mr. D. began mercantile business at Swede Point, Iowa, where he remained for two years, and then located, in the same business at. Reedsburg in the spring of 1871. He was married, Dec. 29, 1865, to Miss Adelaide Mackey his wife was horn in Albany Co., N. V., July 12, 1845 thi \ have two children— Lee, born Sept. 29, 1869, and Hoyt, born March 2,1879. ;

;

DERLETH, blacksmith, Reedsburg; born

Pennsylvania Oct. 23, 1845; marrie

13, 1873, to Miss Mary Andres, who was horn April 27, 1853; his family consists of lour children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Henry, born March 1, 1874 Englebert, Oct. 28, 1876 Josephine, Oct. 22, 1878, and Leon, Feb. 8, L880. Mr. Derleth is a blacksmith by trade; he came to. Sauk City, Wis., with his parents in 1852; his father, Michael, was a blacksmith, and from him Mr. D. learned the trade, at which he has worked for about twenty years, was, for nearly fifteen years, associated ;

witli Ins father in a

leth

;

blacksmith-shop; hut, after his father's death, which occurred in 1st;,"), Mr. F. Derbusiness. Mr. D. is an adherent of the

came to Reedsburg, built his present shop and located in his

Roman Catholic Church.

WILLIAM DIERKS, brewer

bom m Hanover, Germany, March 22, 1841 cane- direct to Reedsburg. Wis., June 7, 1866; his father, J. W. Dierks, died in the year 1876. Germany, Mr. William Dierks had learned the carpenter's trade, and for the first nine years afli r coming to America, worked as contractor and builder. In 1875, he opened a furniture store, and up to March, 1880, was engaged in that business he then sold out to Barker & Chandler, and bought an interest in Reedsburg Brewery. Mr. Dierks married Miss Lucy Gifford he has three childrenWillie, Ei and Eddie. Mr. 1). is a member of the New Lutheran Church; be also belon ;

;

from the eld country tving

;

(

Odd Fellows' Lodge.

HON. A. P. ELLLWVOOD.

This gentleman was born in Peterboro, N. V., Sept, 9, New \ lege at McGrawville, N. Y„ where he received his he afterward taught school for three terms in McGrawville teaching in the win attending school during the summers afterward, had charge nf Kishaeoipiillas Academy for a lime, Mr. Ellinwood came to Red-bur-. Wis., in 1858; taught scl in the vicinitj for one year, and then i

he age .^ 16, entered

—

position of Principal of ,„ School, which position he tided until December of 1861. month in Co. A, 19th W. V. I., and was elected Lieutenant of the company; through the campaigns of the Potomac and James, and belonged to the brigade, which was tin I

enlisted in this

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

716

Richmond after its surrender; was mustered out of service in 1865. Mr. Ellinwood was scut to the lias been Chairman of County Board for five years Legislature irj 1877, and re-elected the following year Mr E and is also President of Village Board has also been, for several years, Clerk of School Board. Ins property consists of about 3 "JO acres is a Mason, and also belongs to the Sons of Temperance Society; has grounds, improved and lumber-yard Mr. E. a in the town Reedsburg. his much of On land of enter

;

—

grounds, and here, every season, the meeting of the Baraboo Valley Agricultural is General Manager and Treasurer, is held. Fourth of July celebrations usually Mr. E.'s residence and surrounding land is known as " Mott's Second take place on these fair grounds. Dec. -1, lsils, Mr. E. was married to Miss Hannah Cottington, who was born in Madis id Addition." Since Co., N. V., May 27, 1846; they have an adopted daughter, Edith, who was born Aug. 16, 1870. Mr. E.'s house was built and improvements made, a number of other very fine residences have spuing up

arranged spacious

fair

Society, of which Mr. E.

about the place.

REV. GEORGE F. EXGELHARDT was born in Germany Aug. 16, 1843; was eduhe afterward spent some time in the miscated in the kingdom of Witteaburg, in the college at Ulm sionary school at St. Chrishona, near Basle, Switzerland, and still later, studied iu the Evangelical St. for a tiuie after Martin's Stif't at. Coblenz from this place Mr. E. came to America, in the year 1863 reaching this country, he was both student and teacher in the university at Watertown, Wis.; leaving ;

;

opened a private school at Richwood, Wis., and for two years gave his attention to that work; he afterward spent one year in Quincy. 111.; Mr. E. was twice located in Louisville, Ky.; once as German Principal of Public Schools, and, later, as assistant editor ol the Louisville Anszeiger; at a meeting of the German Protestant League of North America, held in Hamilton, Ohio, in the spring of 18t!7, Mr. E. was regularly ordained by the Rev. A. Kroell, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. Engelhardt has acted as Mr. E. was Pastor for the church in Pomeroy, Ohio, and also at New Richmond, in the same State. married. May 21, 1865, al Kichwood, Wis., to Miss Paulina Anders, who was born in Prussia Nov. 12, born Nov. children— Mary, Charles, bom 28, 1869 July 15, 1867; 1840; Mr. E. has a family of four Mr. E. went and Eliza, who was born Oct. S. 1878. (is now a vi dinist i; Arthur, born Nov. 22, 1875 Evangelical Church March 15, 1880. to issume the pastorate of St. John's German to Reedsburg, Wis

this position, he

SAMUEL AND B.

FAUSNAUGHT, farmers Sec. 31 P.

>. Reedsburg are sods of when about 9 years in New Holland, Lancaster Co., Penn., Jan. 25, 1804 he went from there with his parents to Milton. Penn.; for several years before coming West, he was overseer on canal and railroad, and for a number of years was a distiller; he bought bis present place of -o acres in See. 31, in the yeai 1856. Sept. 30, 1835, Mr. .1. Fausnaught married Miss Lydia A.. Smith, who was bum in Lycoming Co Penn., Aug. 18, 1817 ilc-\ have bail nine children, of whom living— Samuel G.. born Nov. !», ls:-;,S; Adam, born Sept. 22, 1840; Elizabeth, born Sept. 13, 1842; Delilah Ann, bom Feb. 2, 1844; George W., bom Dec. 22, 1846; Julia, burn Dee. 22, 1848; Benja-

ffl.

V John Fausnaught, who was born

;

(

;

old,

;

Mr. min, born Jan. 17, 1851 Nathaniel W. S., born Nov. 30, 1852; and Caroline, bom Nov 9, 1854. Samuel G. Fausnaught enlisted in lKlJl, in Co. D, 8th W. V. [., and served three years and four months; oi impaigns and all tl battle participated in Corinth, was the siege Vicksburg and in the of he in of the regiment; be was wounded in a skirmish on the Tallahatchie River; bis brother George W. also ;

eDlisted

FINCH,

harness-maker, Reedsburg: bom in Greene Co., N. V., April 8,1835; came to M. Milwaukee, Wis., in May, 1855 thence went to Baraboo, Wis., for three months, and in the fall of the same year settled in Kee.Kburg. where he has since resided, with the exception of one year that was spent ;

In January, 1857, Mr. F. Mr. F. learned bis trade ("that of harness-maker) in Brown Co. I. 1878 Sept. ,. 1879 he was was married to his first wife, Mjss Marian Goodwin, who died March Mr. finch is now in busiuess as a harness-maker, dealer in married again, to Miss Mary E. Morse. Republican, having been a member of that party ever in politics he a trunks, etc., iu Reedsburg. 1

;

sii

its

organizatioD.

GAL<E, dealer in hardware, machinery, etc. born al Quaker street, Schenectady Co., N. 3 1836; he came to Walworth Co., Wis., near Sharon, with his parents in 1850, and his father, Stephen B. Gale, died in Adams on a farm, engaged in farm work, till about 25 years of age Washington Territory, bul returned to in 1862, Mr. .1. W. Gale wei Co., Wis., about the year 187-1 Wiscousin in 863, and from there went to Idaho for two years in S65, returned to Wisconsin and went on. where he carrie on grain and commission business until 1871 afterward went to Reedsburg, Wis., where he opened business in hardware, machinery, hops, etc., but, io 1875, he went to California .1.

Y..

;

Dec.

;

prospecting, and,

376, iuteoding

to reside thi re,

moved his familj

to thai

State

;

but, not being so well

pleased as he had hoped, he returned to Reedsburg, where ho hassince resided;

returning, he resumed his

lm.-incss as hardware

merchant, etc.; bis firm i.- known as Hansen, Gale & Co. Mr. G. was married 1866, to Miss Lucy Mallory, who was born Sept. 13, 1848; they have two children Earnest, born June 20, 1869, and Gladys, May 13, 1ST!). Mr Gale has been twice a member of the Village B iard, In politics, lie is a Republican. ..Id

Sep!

LEWIS GIFFORD,

farmer. Sec 2 I'. ). Reedsburg born in Greenville, Greene Go., X. Y. July IS, IS117 before coming West, was a farmer, hut for several season*, since he has lived in the West, has worked at lumbering and en the railroad in 1845, he Came to Summit. Waukesha Co.. Wis. in the spring, about May of 1855, bought his present farm near Reedsburg, and also a lot in the town of Jan. 8, 1834, Mr. G. was married to Miss Reedsburg; the latter property, however, he soon alter sold. (

;

—

RosiuaSchermerhorn, who was horn Nov. 10, lS]t; Mr. G. litis a family of seven children Mary, who was horn April I.",. 1835; John, May 19, 1837 Frederick, May 25, 1841 Harvey, Feb. 17,1844; Jane. Dee. 28, 1847; Lucy, Oct. is, 1854, and Rose, April IS. 1859; their youngest daughter, Rose, ;

;

graduated from Wisconsin Slate University June. 1880, alterative-years course tit thai institution. Mr. Gilford has served on Town Board. farmer. Sec. 34; F. 0. Reedsburg; horn in Washington Co., N. V.. June J. 18. 14, 1812 he was brought tip there on a farm his father, Joseph rraham, died in Vermont in 1848 Mr. J. B. Graham went to the town of Reedsburg in IS.iil bought the' farm now occupied by Messrs. MeClure, Twist and others, and moved on to it in the spring of 1857, and lived there for three years then for two years on the Hamilton farm Sept. 1, afterward bought his present place of III acres in Sec. '.',[. 1836, Mr. G. married Miss Elizabeth Stone, who was born in Jackson, Washington Co.. N. Y.. Julj 26, 1815; Mr. G. has had a family of seven children, two of whom are now living Mary Jane, now Mrs. Vosburg, bom May 7. 1837; Julia Sanford Graham, bom June 27, 1842, died June 30, 1875 Jessie F., born Sept. 25, 1846 Emily, now Mrs. Tibbitts, born Jan. 9. 1850 and Hattie, now Mrs. Dorland, born June 22, 1858. The family belongs to the Presbyterian Church. In polities. Mr. G. is a member of the

GRAHAM,

;

(

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—

;

Greenback

;

party.

GREGORY,

firmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Reedsburg; son of Ezra and Eva Brakemen E. G. Gregory, bom in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, May 23, 1832; when 15 years of age, came with his parents to Whitewater, Wis. lived there five years, then came to Winfield, Sauk Co.; in 1865, moved to Lavalle remained there about two years, and in 1867 came to the village of Reedsburg. Was married Sept. 18, 1857, in Winfield, to Lizzie Greenwood, daughter of Hubert and Eleanor Greenwood. Mrs. Gregory was bom in England. They have four children Mattie, Robert E., James and Lou. Mr. G. was engaged in mercantile business in Reedsburg lately moved to his present farm, lias been Director of the Reedsburg School, and is the present Director of School District No. 6. ;

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—

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HENRY G ROTE, farmer,

Sec. 22 P. Reedsburg; bom m Hanover, Germany, Feb. 1 1 Mr. George Grnte, died several years ago. iii Germany Mr. H. Grote came to America, Keedsburg, in SCO. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 19th W. V. I., and became Corporal of the company; passed through all the campaigns of his regiment, and was mustered out in August of 1865. In October of 1867, he was married to Miss Dora Hieming, who was born in Hanover. G Sept. 6, 1849 they have tour children Levi, Bertha, Willie and Paulina. Mr. and Mrs. Grote belong to S( Peter's Lutheran Church. Mr. Grote has served on the Town Hoard. IS III

;

his father,

and direct

;

— GEORGE HAGEXAH, dealer ;

and dressed stock, poultry, game hides, and proprie-

in live

retail meat market of Heedsburg bom in Scholiseh, a province of Hanover. Germany, on the 25th of February, 1854; he received his education in the CnivorMty of Siade came to America in 1873 went directly to Reedsburg, Wis., where he located in his present business. Mr. II. was married March 14, 1875, to Miss Mina Mollenhauer, who was born in Ludingworth, in Hanover. Germany, on the 21st of September, 1855 Mr. H. has one child, Arthur William Christopher John, who was born Dec. 30, 1879. .Mrs. Hagenah came to this country with her parents in the year 1856.

tor of the wholesale and

;

Mr.

member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge, is

of the Trustees of the Village Hoard, and nected with the St. John's Evangelical Church of Reedsburg. If.

JOHN H. HAGENAH, hardware merchant, Reedsburg; he was bom

con-

Hanover, Germany, Is On the 28th of January. 1843 he came to America in 1866. and directly afterward found his way to R burg, Wis.; for the first year he was engaged in farming, but in the fall of 1867, went to Kilbourn City, and found employment until the following spring in a hold at that place in April, 1868, he Wi iii to Baryear in the Western lot el of that eii,\ aboo, Wis,, and was employed tinin the following year he went to Chicago, and was employed there until the fall of 1869, by the hardware firm of Elder & Taylor; in 1870 ;

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

718

he returned to Reedsburg, and finally, in 1874, established himself at that place, in his present business as hardware merchant, in the firm of Hagenah, Giffert & Co. On the 26th of April, 1878, Mr. Hagenah was married to Miss Catharine Meyer, who was, like himself, a native of Hanover, Germany; their first child, Clara, was born Feb. 16, 1879. Mr. J. Hagenah, was, for several years, member of the Village Board, ami Chairman of that board for one year, and Town Treasurer for two years; he is a member of St. John's Church of Reedsburg he is an Odd Fellow, and also belongs to the Masonic Brotherhood; he has beM all offices in the Odd Fellows' Society up to Noble Grand he has also filled several offices in the Masonic Lodge. ;

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PETER HAGENAH, hardware merchant, of the firm of Hagenah, Giffert & Co.; bom

in SchoHanover, near Hamburg, March 7, 1848 he came to America, and directly to Reedsburg, Wis. in 1867, six months later, he went to Milwaukee, where he found employment in a hotel he afterward went to Kilbourn City, and was employed in a hotel until the spring of 1868, when, in company with Mr. Dierks, be built and ran a saloon, in which he remained until 1869, when he left Wisconsin for Missouri, and while in that State he worked at Platte City Academy; he next went to Tennessee, and found emlisch,

;

ployment in Peabody Hotel, at Memphis thence he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained but nine months, after which he again turned his face toward Reedsburg, Wis., where he found employment with a butcher: in 1872, Mr. Hagenah went into a dry goods store, and finally in May of 1874, after having worked for a short time in Loganville, came back to Reedsburg, and. buying an interest in the hardware business, is still engaged therein. Mr. Hagenah was married to Dora Magaretha, who was born in Hanover, Sept. I, 1S52; he has four children, viz., George, born July 2, 1874 Meta, Dec. 24, 1875; Lily, March 5, 1877; Adolph, who was born Jan. 14, 1880. Mr. Hagenah is a member of the Lutheran Church lie belongs to the Odd Fellows' Lodge. Mr. Hagenah was in the German Army during the Austro-Prussian struggle, in 1866; he was taken prisoner, and, upon being released, came immediately to America. born at Fayetteville, N. C, March 10. 1829; his parents came to DR. Connecticul in 1832; Dr. Hall's father, Reuben Hall, was born Dec. 19. 1789, in Cheshire, Conn., and died Jan. s. 1869, al New Philadelphia, Ohio. The mother, Esther Hall, was born Aug. 27, 1789, in Stratford, Conn., and di d Nov. 2S. 1869, in Shanesville, Ohio both father ami mother were members of the Methodist Church for more than sixty years. Dr. Hall was educated at Starling Medical School, Columbus, Ohio; in the winters of 1841 ami 1842, he attended Roscoe's Academy at Canal Dover, Ohio he came to Wisconsin and settled at Delton in 1856, where be practiced medicine for about one year he removed to Reedsburg in 1859 and began the practice of his profession, in which, with intervals of absence from the place, he lias since continued in the winter of 1867, he went to Tomali, Monroe Co., Wis., to look after a hop-yard, which he then owned at that place; he was there for three years; lie then returned to .nee of nearly a year al Akron Reedsburg for a stay of about one year, which (thin. iret Steese, who was born in Union Co., Dr. Hall was married June 24, 1849, to Penn., Oct. 31, is:;:!; the Doctor has four children, whose names and dates of birth areas follows: Annette (V. born in Shanesville. Ohio, June 8, 1850; Abbie Ann, born at the same place, Sepl 16, 1853; Harriet I,. in Dellona, Wis., Jan. 23, 1856; ami Man Helen, born in Reedsburg, Wis.. Feb. Dr. Hoi. iti Medical Society of Wisconsin. 27,1861. From February, 1865, to Ma\ of the Same year. Dr. Hall was Assistant Surg of the ."list W. V 1. he is a member of tie Post ;

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SAMUEL HAEL,

;

of the Grand

;

Army of the Republic.

l.l.l

AH ii. HAWLEY, insurance, collector and

real

estate agent; born

Leicester

1846; came to America July of 1861, and went directly to North Prairie, Waukesha whose name was also William Hawley, died in England in 1856. Mr. Hawley, Jr., for a time after reaching this country, was employed as book-keeper, first b\ Mr. M. Leahy, of Milwaukee; then for E. Buckley & Co., of Manistee, Mich. November, 1864, he enlisted in Co. A, 28th W. V. I., ami saw army service. In 1872, he began business for himself at Manistee, Mich., but remained there only one year, leaving thai point for Madison, where he took the position of book-keeper for Alexander Findlay, of thai city in 1874, removed to Reedsburg, Wis., and began his presenl business of Insurance, Collector and Real Estate Agent. Mr. 11. was married Oct. 24, 1868, to Miss Carrie A. Evarts has a family of three children -Freddie W., born January. 1870; George Archer, born July, 1871 and Philip EvartS, born October, 1875. f the Peace for lour years, and still holds that Mr. II. has been .ln-.ii position; lias also .served as Town Treasurer is a Mason, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is Senior Vice Commander. Mr. Hawley represents the North American Insurance Co., Continental of New York. American of Chicago. London Assurance Co., as well as the Phoenix England, June

Co., Wis.

;

L6,

bis father,

;

ad several others.

—

REEDSBURG.

719

LOGAN II ARRIS, son of Jonathan W and Abigail C. Harris;

VltVI'lK

his father died

A. L, Harris was bom near Mans. Oct. 3, 1ST-'; his mother died in the town of Troy, Sept. 14, 1860. field, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1839; came from there with his parents to Wisconsin, locating on Sec. 18, in the town i<i' Troy Sank Co., in June, 1846. In I860, he left the farm, and was traveling salesman in ibis State and Iowa until the fall of 1862; then followed the army in sutler's department until the close of the After the war he was engaged in the war, with the exception ol a few months spent in Canada in 1863. returning to Troy be engaged in farming until 1867, then went grocery business in Mobile for a year into mercantile business at Loganville, where be remained until October, 1871, then came to Reedsburg, and went into partnership with John Kelloge, and they did business together until February, 1880, when Mr. Hosier was book-keeper for Mr. Harris five years previous J. H. Hosier became associated with him. n Postmaster since 1873. He was married in Reedsburg Dec. to entering in busin :ss as a partner; lias they have two 13, 1868, to Fran es Smith; she was born in Oriskany Falls, Madison Co., N. Y. ;

children

— Julia

P. and

.J.

Earl.

HOSLKR.

merchant, of the firm of Harris & Hosier; born in Morrow Co., Ohio., near J. H. 1844 must of bis early life was spent in Indiana bis father. Samuel 11., is still living Mansfield, Dec. 2 Mr. .1. H. Hosier came to Spring Green. Wis., in the spring of 1870, and was. for a at Brimfield. hid. time, associated in business with H. Kifer & Son, of that place; from then', went to Chicago in the spring of 1872, and for two years acted as book-keeper for a firm there; in January, 187."), came to Ueedsburg, In February, 1880, Mr. Kellogg sold out his and was with the firm ol Kellogg & Hairis, of that place. interest in the firm to Mr. Harris, anil, soon after, Mr. Hosier bought an interest in the business. Mr. H. was married to Miss Anna B. Gibson, Nov. 28, 1872 this lady died June 12, 1S77, leaving one child Mr. H. is a Mason, and a member of the Chapter at Baraboo, Wis. Grace, who was born Feb. hi, 1876. 1

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WILLIAM HUEBING, farmer, Sec. 32; P. 0. Reedsburg; born

in Hanover, Germany, June 26, 1843; came to America in 1861, and settled first in Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis.; in 1864, he removed to the place where he now resides a farm of 160 acres. March 2~ 1864, lie married MisCatharine Kipp, who was bom in Hanover, Germany, Dec. Hi, 1845 they have four children, viz., Eddie, born Kb. 11. 1865; Emma, born Aug. lit, 1SC>7; Albert, bom February of 1870, and Bertie, who was born Feb. 1. 1873. Mr. and Mrs. 11. are members of the Methodist Church. In politics, Republican. 'I'Ue brother of Mr. TV. Huebing. viz.. Mr. Henry Huebing, owns a farm of 80 acres in Sec. 22; hi- 1'. i- also Reedsburg; he was born in Germany April 22, 1826; came to America town of Reedsburg, in October of 1861 bought in that town a house and two lots, and for two years made bis home there; in 1867, be bought his present place, and moved upon it in 1868. April of ISIS, be was married to Miss Elizabeth Harms, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in October of 1S24; they have live children, viz., Mrs. Grote, born Sept. 12, 1849; Catharine, now Mrs. Canaris, born Feb. 11, 1858; William, born Aug. 14, 1859; Henry, born in Westfield. Sept. (I, 1802, and Anna, born in Reedsburg, Feb. 11, 1865; the first three children were born in Hanover, Germany. The family belongs to St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Reedsburg.

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C HINT, merchant. Reedsburg; was born

in the town of Bradford, McKean Co., Penn., Mr. Hunt came to Reedsburg when a boy of 14, and received his educaApril 21. lSill. be enlisted at Bloomington, 111., in Co. C, of 2lKh 111. V. I.; was Sergeant in the company; during the last two years of service in the army, was on detached service as clerk in Commissary Department. He saw active service in some campaigns in Missouri afterward participated in the battle of Port Donelson, at which time he was slightly wounded was. also, in lie en- eminent of Pittsburg handing; was mustered out of the service on June 24. 1 Mi 1. On the Kill of July. lSi;4, was married to Miss Mary J. Smith, who was born on Otsego Co., Nt Y.. on tie <.ili of March, 1843. Their two children Clinton W. and Mabel— were born Sept. :;. 1867 and April 4, 1875, respectively both were born in Reedsburg. Wis. Mr. Hunt began his present business, general merchandise, in IStiii. He has held the office of Town Treasurer, was County Supervisor for two years, and has recently I^Sll been appointed Chairman of the hoard of* Supervisors to fill vacancy he is a Mason; is Democratic in politics; is a member he is a member of the Board of School Directors of the Grand Army of the Republic; and commander of the Post at Reedsburg. Father of H. C. Hunt was Auburn 0. Hunt, who died in February, 1 S 7 7

on the 27th of January, 1840. tion at the Reedsburg school.

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]

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FRANK

ING ALLS,

proprietor of the Central House of Reedsburg, Wis. was born P. near Kenosha, Wis., Sept. l!-t, 1852. hi 1S57. his parents removed to Rock Co., Wis., and after the lapse of eight or nine years, removed to Reedsburg, Wis. The father of F. P. [ngalls, Mr. Thomas Ingalls, was born in 1806, and is still (1880) livinir in Reedsburg. Mr. T. I ngalls was, for thr r foul ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

720

years after settling iu Reedsburg, proprietor of the American House, ami afterward, for about six For a greater pari of this period of nine the Mansion House, now known as the Sallade House.

ten

years, the subject of this biography, Mr. F. P. Ingalls, was associated with his lather in the hotel-keepafter leaving Mansion House, however, Mr. F. P. was clerk in the Finch House at Kilbourn ing business In 1876, he leased the Central House, of Reedsburg. and still continues his busiCity for three years. ness there. born July 1, 1877. Mr. Ingalls married Miss Kate MeCabe. Mr, 1. has one child. Mary ;

Mr. [ngalls lias sample room- and good accommodations for the traveling public. T

\ I1

JOHXSON, tailor and cutter, for firm of Harris & Hosier; Reedsburg; was born in

he learned his trade in Norway, and afterward came to America, Flekkefjord, Norway, Feb. 10, 1851 For three years Mr. J. remained in Milwaukee, working landing in Milwaukee, Wis., in May of 1872. went to Berlin, Wis. Remained there about one year, when he went ti ;

at his trade, but afterward

burg, Wis., reaching there in Harris, now Harris & Hosier. -

ill

living in

May

Since then he has been cutter for the firm of Kellogg & 1876. Mr. Johnson is a Mason and belongs to the Chapter; his father. Johan-

Norway.

KELLOGG,

was bom in Tompkins Co., X. Y.. Dec. 5, photographer. Reedsburg 1>. R. 1840; lie came with his parents, in 1846, to Whitewater, Walworth Co., Wis., and lived there until 1857, when he came to luedsbnrg in ls.io. Mr. Kellogg learned photography at Reaver Ham, Wis., and immediately after coming to Reedsburg, began his present business as photographer, dealer in musical inMr. K. was married to Miss Lucy Kellogg in lXllO: she died in June, struments, sewing machines, etc. 1-74 Hattie, by bis first wife Mr. K. had four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows ben, Feb. 11, 1861 Bertie, born Feb. 13, 1865; Herbert, born Aug. 2, I869,and Archie, born Dec. 8. 1872. Mr. Kellogg was married, the second time, on July -, 1878, to Miss C. G. Saunders, who was born ;

;

July 3, 1856

;

he has one child by his present wife.

They belong to the Methodist Church.

CHARLES KEITH, manager of the stave mill

at Reedsburg; was bum in Fred mia. Chan Xew York State, and was a clerk for several years in a

tauqua Co.,N. Y., March 2S, 1828; he grew up in

afterward worked in a furnace in the same town; he came to Ironmercantile house of Clinton, N. Y ton. Sauk Co., Wis., in 1855, and for two years thereafter was in partnership with Jonas Tower and Feb. is, who laid out the town site, built a furnace, opened ore bed, built saw and grist mill, etc I. 1865, Mr. K. enlisted in 46th W. V. I., as Quartermaster Sergeant, and acted as such until the reg;

Mr. Keith was married Oct. 27, lSlio. to Miss Helen L. 'avis, who was iment was mustered out. he is a member of the Masonic brotherhood, and is now general born in Sauk Co., Wis., April 27, 1843 manager of the stave-mill at Reedsburg; he has one child, Mary E., born Oct. 30. 1866, I

;

JOHN KELLOGG, 1833.

miller, Reedsburg; born in town of Dix, ChemungCo., X Y., Dec. 11, On the 1st of January, 1856, he was mariicd to Miss Sarah .1. Chandler, who was born April 1',',

Mr. Kellogg came to Walworth Co., Wis., in May. 1850, and afterward went to Sauk Co., Wis., in the fall of 1856, lie a farm three miles east of Keedsburg, where he lived for live wars tinned moved into Reedsburg, and for two years carried on a brickyard lii 1858, wenl into trade, and upied until February, 1880; op to the year 1865, was alone in business, but in that year Mr. Chandler became his partner; he was followed by Mr. Wheeler, who in 1867 became Mr. Kellogg's partner, continuing with him until the year 1870, when Mr Harris was associated with him in the business, under the name of Kellogg and Harris, in February, l8Su. Mr. Kellogg bought the mill erected in 1861 10x60 and stands by S. Mackey & Co., and began bis present business; his mill is a large building S-e Keedsburg Flouring Mills, Mr, has five run of stone. three and a half stories above basement I

334.

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Kellogg has two children, both girls— Hetty M. was born Sept. 29, 1862, and her sister. Iva 11., April He was lor has been a member of the M. E. Church sine.- 22 year-' of age. some time connected with the Odd Fellows' Lodge, and is now a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. he is this year (1880 Siate Elector; has been Town Kelloge was o member of the legislature in s~'.', Clerk, and held for three years the office of Assessor. 1

\V. W.

;

KESTER. farmer. Reedsburg

son of Joseph and Sarah Bonnell) Kester; was bom \a. Dec. 5. 1819; al the age of 15, he left his native State with his parents and moved Delaware Co., Ohio. Here he was married September, L 841, to Rosette S. Washburn, daughter of Miles and Priscilla Washburn; Mrs. Kester was bom in the Slab' of Xew York; they have bad Charles M.. married to Julia A., daughter of L. D. Kin :. eight children, of whom all but one are living and living in [ronton Charlotte J. di Sarah I'., now Mrs. D. (i. Spicer, of Reedsburg Village was the wife of ex-Sheriff R. Y Wheeler; Olive E., now Mrs. L. V. Gleason. residing in the town of ;

in Harrison Co.,

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REEDSBUKG.

.21

Clara 1! now Mrs Harriet Alice, now Mrs. Robert Post, living in the town of Washington Reedsburg [mmediately after their marriage, Mr ami Mrs. Pet, living at home, [ra Cannon, living in Valton Kester moved to Tyler Co., 7a.; here Mr. K. was engaged in the asherj business; al'i -r thi settled on Section 36 Town returned to Ohio, and in June, 1855, came with teams to Sauk Co., Wis. in Dec ber, 1879, moved to the 3, now Ironton, whsre he still own* a fine farm of 1 20 acres villas.' of ll.'o.Uliui-o'. where he now resides. .

;

KNAPP,

farmer, Sees. 2-4 and 25; born in Collins. Brie Co., N. V.. Feb. 19, 1829 in C. H. June, 1854, he went prospecting to Reedsburg, Wis., and in 1855 moved West and bought neai Reeds Mr. K. was marburg; in 186-1, he went to Idaho, but returned in 1869 and bought his present place. ber 11 1848, to Miss P. M. Fisk, who was born in Danbury, Rutland Co., Vt., Mav IT. 1830. Mr. K. has a family of eight children— Merritt A.. Edwin L. and Hattie D., born in Collins". Erie Co., X. Y., on the following dates May 22, 1849, May 16, 1851, and Sept. 14. 1854; Frank C. born in Reedsburg March 16, 1858; Mary E., Boise Valley, Male.. Aug. 2, 1866; and Laura B., Walter R. and Alma B., all born in Reedsburg on following dates Nov. 3, 1869, Dec. 8, 1871, and April I. 1873. He owns 111 acres of land Mr. K. has been a member of the Town Hoard of Supervisors for two years. ;

;

the Rowley estate.

1>K. F. W.

KORDEXAT was born July

Germany; was educated in Univerwas also, for a time, in Koenitz Gymnasium, in West Prussia sity Albertus, at Koenigsburg, Prussia from the year 1847 to 1S66 was surgeon in the German Army; then, in private practice in Germany until 1874, when he came to America, and located in Newark, N. J., where he practiced medicine for IS. 1826, in

;

three years; then he went to Honesdale, I'enn., where he remained until his removal to Reedsburg, Wis.. Dr. K. has been twice married by his first wife, he had four children Sarah, bom July in May. 1880.

—

;

17.

1851, now Mrs. Oskwald Charley, horn Oct. 10, 1857; Martha, bom Aug. 15, 1860, and Leo, born time, in February, 1*07. to Miss Frances Roehl by this Dr. K. was married the see 1869. Dr. K. is a member of the German Evangelical there is one child George, horn Feb. ;

in April of 1866.

—

Church of Reedsburg.

Dr.

;

•"•,

i\.

was surgeon, in the army during the German-Austrian war, and

crippled from the effects of a wound received

now

lvienigsgratz.

KRA\Z,

une !.">, W>2; after laborer, was born in Hanover, Germany, near II esse Ca.-sel. X. years of age. then began life for himself with shovel America, Mr. K. worked at home until he was and hoe, and for some time, earned his living by burning lime he is now drawing stone, and. in the winters. works in the pinery. By hard work and persevering industry he has made a good beginning in life. He was married to Miss Lucelia Edwards she was born Nov. 9, 1857 they have had three children, but 1. 1*77, and Addie Bell, bom have lost one: the two living arc Jessie, horn April Feb. 7. 1878. • I

'I'.',

;

LEONARD,

jeweler and watchmaker: was born in Reedsburg, Wis., dune 5, 1856 he H. A. Old in the school at Reedsburg, and in Worthington's Business College, at Madison. Wis.; from time of beginning business, up to the year 1872, Mr. L. was with his father in a grocery stor. ward went to Elgin, 111., and, in the watch factory at that place, learned his trade, in 1878, Mr. L. returned to Reedsburg, and began his present business. He was married, dan. 13, 1*77. to Miss Ida A. Mrs. L. is a membei of the Congregational Bradley, who was born in Northville, Mich., dan. 31, 1856. Harry A., born Feb. 27, 379. 11 A. Leonard's father, A !'. Leonard, Mr. L. has one child Church. was one of the first settlers of Reedsburg.

lie

—

SAFFORI) HACKJEY, born

Co., N. Y., July 25, 1831; was on a farm until 16 years of age: then went to Catskill, N. Y.: was educated at Kingsl.oro. X. Y. afterward went back home and had a position in a store until his 22d year; in 1854, removed to Reeds burg, Wis., where he has been engaged in milling and lumber trade, and, for six or seven years, dealt quite largely in hops; hi- father. Solomon S. Mackey, was horn Jan. 1. 1793; went to Reedshurg in 1860, and died therein the fall of 1867. Mr. Safford Mackey was married July 8, L856, to Miss Harriet Mackey. who was born Jan. In. 1835. in

Gilboa, Schoharie

A. E. TIARItEE. merchant, of the firm of Xoyes \- Markee. Reedsburg; bom in Gu (' Ohio. June 2n. 1838; his father, Thomas Markee, is still living in Vernon Co., Wis.; Mr. Markee came to Reedsburg, Wis., in the spring of ls.V.1: previous to his engagement in mercantile business, was ...

Islmrg. but fin- the last ten years he has for the tear the town of R part of the time been engaged in mercantile pursuits. July 3, 18(12, Mr. M. was married to Miss M. Seeley, who was a native of Ohio Mr. Markee has a family of three children Fred, horn July HI. Mil.; Mina, born March 25, 1870 and Frank, who was born March 17. 1873.

for eight years a farmer, located

;

—

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

722

MARTIN H. MEDRERY, agent Singer Manufacturing Co., Reedsburg

son of

;

Hiram

and Nancy (Chambers) Medbery born in Fulton Co., N. Y., April 30, 1843; when 5 years of age went to Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., with his parents; lived there till 1860, then came to Reedsburg, Sauk Co. Was married at Reedsburg Feb. 10, 1867, to Angie Shurnway, daughter of W. and Sarah (Bushman) Shumway Mrs. Medbery was born in Rock Co., Wis. have four children Frank W., Stella, Emma and served till the close of the Mr. Medbery enlisted in the summer of 1864, Co. E, 1st W. H. A. Ivan. stayed made his hone in Reedsburg till after his marriage, then moved to Washington, Sauk Co. war comthere about three and a half years; and in 1870, came to Lavalle, made their home on Sec. 36 two in Vertowns in Sauk Co., has three Manufacturing October, Co., 1879; ii). in ad work for the Singer ;

—

;

uun and six in Juneau.

MEEKER,

This gentleman was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, June dentist, Reedsburg. H. 1857 his father's name was Mordecai Meeker he died in the army, during the war of the rebellion. Mr. W. II. Meeker came from Ohio to Lime Ridge. Sauk Co., Wis., in 1872 remained there until 1875, when he removed to Reedsburg, where he has since lived he studied his profession of dentistry with Dr. Sweathen, of Baraboo, and after with Dr. Andrew Sallade, of Reedsburg in March, 1879, he bought out He was married to Miss llatlie Dr. Sallade's office, and began there his present business as dentist. Greene Jan. IS. 1879 this lady was born Sept, 28, 1861 they have one child— Eva, born Feb. 8, 380. 27,

;

Sussex, England, born JOHN MEPHAM, farmer, Sees. 26 and 35 P. O. Reedsburg; was where he remained until in

;

March 7, 1819 came to America in 1840, and settled in Madison Co., N. Y., he came West in the fall of 1850, he went to Westfield, Wis., and settled on a farm which he had bought in May, 1848, from the Government; this was the first piece of land bought from the Government in in 1875, he left Westfield, went to Reedsburg, Wis., and bought his present place of 160 acres. that town April 1. 1840, he was married to Miss Mary Forward, who was born March 10, 1821, in Sussex, England they have had a family of eleven children, only five of whom are now living, viz., Maria (nbw Mrs. Palmer and living in Nebraska), who was born Dec. 22, 1S42 Ida, born March 25, 1856; Daniel, born there is one grandchild in July 13, 1857; Joseph, born Nov. 7, 1859; and Mary, born Nov. 23, 1861 Mr. M. has been Supervisor of the town of Westfield, William Ware, born March 6, 1866. the family His father, in politics, he is a Democrat, Wis., and served several terms as Chairman of the Hoard William Mepham, who is still living in the family of his son. Mr. J. Mepham, was born July 14, 1797. ;

;

—

;

FREDERIC MEYER,

farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Reedsburg; son of Henry and Dora Meyer; Was married in 1843 to Christina Soule, daughter of Christ was born in Hanover Dec. 14, 1822. they have four children— Thad (living in Dakota), Dora, Henry and Soule; she was born in Hanover then came to States in 1866, lived in Minnesota two years the United Mr. Meyer came to Willie. Reedsburg and settled on Sec. 4 he has 80 acres of laud. was born in Gilboa, Schoharie Co., cashier of the Reedsburg Bank <*EOR4*E T. became to Reedsburg in June, 1868, and in 1872 became assistant cashier of the N. V., June 17, 1852 old Reedsburg Bank, which position he held until 1875, at which time he went to Lincoln, 111., and took the position of assistant cashier of the First National Hank of that place, where he remained until the winter of 1870; he spent the winter of 1878 in Florida; in January. 1879, he returned to Reedsburg and took his present positii n (1880 in Reedsburg Bank. June 1, 1879, Mr. M. was married to Miss Mr. Morse's father, Hiram M., died in Belle Ward, of Dubuque; Mrs. Morse was born in troy, N. Y. ;

;

MORSE,

;

the army during our late war.

<*UOR<irE MYERS, was born in Northhausen, Saxony in Germany, May 8, 1S07; to

America

1*47

;

went

first

Chicago, where he spent two years

;

he came thence to Janesville, Wis., and from

Mr.Myers is a cabinet-maker by trade, but built lslmrg, where he has since resided. there he went to K in this house he began his the house now occupied by Mrs. Charles Hunt as a millinery establishment of cabinet-making, it being the first cabinet shop in Reedsburg, and for seventeen or eighteen years ;

he retired from business. On March 3, L840, Mr Myers was married to Miss Louise Newmyer this lady died Oct. 1,1864; they have hada living; their names and dates of birth are as folnow are if these family of eight children, but only thr Mr. M. is a regular attendant lows' Louis.-. Maj 5, 1846; Man. Dec. 6, 1848; Clara, Aug. 6, 1853. Democrat. he is a Church in politics Presbyterian of the his father, wh.. miller. Reedsburg; born at Auburn, N. Y., April 25, 1839 1>. Mr. Narracong learned hi- trade died in the fall of ISC.!), was a miller, and one of the oldest in New York In lather, and worked most of the time, until he came West, in a mill at Skaneateles Outlet, N. Y.

carried it forward at thi

rs since, ;

;

NARRACOX<;.

;

REEDSBURG.

723

1856, Mr. Narracong came with his parents to Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., where he perfected his trade as miller; for a time, Mr. Narracong had charge of a .mill in Union City, Marquette Co., Wis,, he then bought an undivided half of Uriggsville Mill, in which place he remained for four years from there he ;

went

Montieello, Wis., where he spent five years; after this, was one year at Beaver Poynett, Columbia (Jo., Wis., ami three years at Pardeeville, Wis.

Wis., four years at

Dam, Dodge Co About this time,

he laid aside regular business as a miller and invented the Centennial Buhr Dresser and the Badger State Machine for dressing mill-stones; finally, in February, 1880, he took his present position as foreman of In August, 1863, Mr. Narracong was married to .Miss Phoebe A. Stroud, who was the K Isburg Mill. born April 15, 1840; Mr. and Mrs. Narracong have two children William Arthur, horn Oct. 12, 1864, and Winfield Otto, July 8, 1868. Mr. Narracong is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

—

CHRISTIAN NIEMANN, fanner, Sec. 23; P.

Reedsburg; born in Hanover, Germany, July 12, 1855 he received his education in Germany, and came to America and direct to Reedsburg in 1870; in 1875, he went to Washington Territory and remained for three and a half years; returning to Reedsburg, he settled on his present place iii the fall of 1879. Nov. 2, 1879, he was married to Miss Katie Hah n, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 29, 1861, and emigrated to Westfield, Wis., ;

1867.

HENRY NIEMANN,

farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. It Isburg; hen in Hanover, Germany, Dec. Isburg, Wis., in 1870, and bought his present Mr. Niemann came to America and direct to I! farm of 90 acres his occupation in Germany was farming each year, for seven years, he pave n th's service to the army while he lived in his native land. Mr. Niemann has been tv ice married bis first wife t.

1- 10.

;

was Miss Margaret Schliekan, to whom he was married May lit, 1869; she died Feb. 3, 1879 Herman, born March 17, 1870, and Emma, July 11, 1872; Mr. Niemann was married the two children second time, Nov. 1, 1ST!', to Miss Kate Heferman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in May, 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Niemann belong to St. .John's Church of Reedsburg.

—

PARKER,

carpenter and builder; came to Reedsburg in I860; he was bom in JefferJ. N. son Co., N. Y., May 31, 1836; his father, Allen Parker, died .in 1870, in the State of Missouri; his mother, Mary Budlong Parker, died in the same year. Mr. J. N. Parker learned his trade in Ni and has made it a life-business. He was married Nov. !), 1856, to Miss Laura Iv Sparks, who was born Jan. Oct. 8, 1838. was discharged, on account of 1864, Mr. Parker enlisted n Co. F, 3d W. V. C. disability, March 3, 18(15 for two years he was Justice of the Peace in [ronton, Wis. he isa Masi n, and .">,

;

has hem .Master of Reedsburg Lodge

;

this year

(

880

employed to take the census of the town.

A. W. PERKY, lawyer and insurance agent. Reedsburg; was bom in Reedsburg Feb. I, 1854, and was educated in the public school of the same ['lace, he read law in the office of Judge Lusk, and was admitted to the bar in 1873, at Baraboo, Wis.; was admitted to the Supreme Court in the winter of \s~{\, at Madisnti, Wis.; in 1879, he became Village Attorney of Reedsburg He was married. Od. 31, 1*75, to Miss ,M. K. Gale, who was a native of the State of New York thev have two children— Willis, horn Nov. 2d, 1877, and Alice, horn July 25, 1879. ;

A. H. PERRY, overseer of county house and county farm, Reedsburg; was horn in Rutland Co.. Vt., Aug. 28, 1846; he came with his parents to Whitewater, Wis., in the spring of 1853, and remained there for five years; they then removed to Lavalle, Sauk Co., where he was engaged in farming later part of the time up to taking his present position in February. L878. In ISli.Y h. in Co. I, 50th W. V. L; was mustered out in June of the same year; he received his education at the Lavalle c. minion school. He married Miss Addie Warner, who is a native of the State of New York she was born Sept. 30, 1854; .Mr. P. is a Mason; in politics. Rcpub ;

W. O. PIETZSCH, manager for Singer Sewing Mac! ine Company, Reedsburg; was horn in Germany July

1844; he came to America in 1848, and lived at Watertown, Wis., for nine

13,

1858, he went

to Baral Wis., and clerked for the firm of Bassett .V. Brown. In January, 1862, he Co. A, I9th W. V. I.; Oct. 27, 1864, at the battle of Fair Oaks, be was taken prisoner, con Hried in Libhy Prison, and also at Salisbury was parol.. than four months' imprisonment. in

;

Oct. 7, 1873, he was married to Miss .Mary Shumway,

Mr. P. is a Mason Fellows' Lodge.

child.

J..

;

who beholds the position of Deputy

Grand

July 13, 1848 the Master of Distrii ;

W. PRIEST, far

May 15, 1845

r; P. 0. Reedsburg; is a son of Richard and Ellen Priest, and Madison, In.L. where hi but, in the sprinj ars to Dane Co.. near Madison. Wis.; about 1849, they removed to Reedsburg

his parents removed

;

Wis. ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

72+

Mr. J. W. Priest is, by trade, a carpenter, and has worked at his trade in many different parts of the country; has been in Kansas, Indian Territory. Illinois ami Michigan; he followed his trade for the March greater part of his time, until in 1878, when he began farming on his present place of 81) acres. 28, 1-7'-', Mr. P. married Miss Emily E Wheeler, who was born in Ohio Nov. 7. 1849; they have three Floyd Duane, bom Feb. 18, 1877, and Hugh Maxwell, children— Archie Reuben, born April 17, 1874 The mother of Mrs. J. W. Priest, Mrs. Warner Wheeler, Mr. P. is a Mason'. horn March 14, 1879. married Mr. Nelson Wheeler July 10, 1830; he died was bom inDutchess Co., -Y Y.. Sept. LO, 1811 Oct. 19, 1868. There were in the family nine children, six of whom are now living, viz., Henry. L andi r, Alonzo, Emily, Mary and Duane. ;

;

WILLIAM RAETZMAW,

the present editor of the Sauk Uounty Herofd, Reedsburg was born in Barum, Hanover, Germany, Sept. 9, 1847; Mr. R. came to America in October, 18(56, and went directly to Reedsburg, Wis. lie was, from that time until 1S76. engaged in mercantile business, but April 26, 1874, Mr. 1!. was married to Miss in this year began the paper of which he is now the editor. Mr. R. has three children— Ewald LuAmelia Licht, who was hom in Westfield, Wis., Sept. 30, 1855 Amandus Hugo Lothair, hom Aug. 8, 1876, and Meta Louise dolf Friedrich, born March 20, 1 875 He is a member of the Lutheran Church he has served as Justice of Frieda, bom Dec. 26, 1878. the Peace, and is now a Notary Public; lie is a member of the Odd Fellows, and holds the agency for Mr. liaet/.mann studied law in lS(!7_(.iS with Mr. Joseph Mackey. ami attended several steamship lines. North Western University at Watertown, Wis., in the winter of 1868-69. ;

;

1824

2 DR. SAMUEL RAMSEY; born in the township of Chester. Wayne Co., Ohio, Dec. J ;

resided

W ouster, Wayne Co., Ohio, for fifteen years prior to coming to Wisconsin in

November of that year he located in Reedsburg, where

18">: ,

;

engaged in the practice of medicine; after a year, he established the first, drug store in the place; drugs wore kepi by other merchants in connection In 1861, he abandoned general practice, devoting his attention principally with other business, however. to his drug business. He t unci, cod the business of brokerage and exchange about fifteen years ago, He was married at Congress. Wayne Co., which he still continues in connection with his other business. Callie E., 1853 to Sarah C Kline, a native of Pennsylvania; they have three children Sept, Ohio, 27, Mr. 1!. has been for many years a member and Virgil S. Mrs. Ramsey died Dec. 28, 1879. In 1846, he enlisted in the regiment of mounted Riflemen U. .8. A., now of the Presbyterian Church. known as the 1th Cavalry, ami served until the close of the Mexican war. In March, 1848, he was prolie

—

;

He acquire! his literary education at several Ohio moted to Lieutenant of the loth Regiment Infantry. His medical and at Alleghany College, spending three years at the latter institution. education was obtained at the Cleveland Medical College. I

seminaries,

WILLIAM H. RAMSEY, druggist, associated with

Dr.

Ramsey, of Reedsburg;

was horn

near Milwaukee, Wis, Dec. 18, 1850 first came to Reedsburg in 1864; Mr. R. graduated at Philacam.- to Reedsburg. and in the fall of 1879, formed delphia College of Pharmacy, in the spring of I87i> Mr. Ramsey was married, Dec. 3, 1879, to the partnership now existing, and began present business. ;

;

Miss Nellie J. Temple.

MRS. LOUISE RIENEKE,

proprietor of American House, Reedsburg; was bom in came to America in 1864; her maiden name was Schmidt; alter coming to Prussia Jan. 27, 1842 America, her home was, for two years, in Waukesha, Wis.; then lived for four years in Milwaukee; while Mr. there, was married May HI, 18117, to Mr. GuStaVUS Ricneke. who kept a bakery in that place. When Mr. and Mrs. Ricneke first came to Rieneke was born Jan. 29, 18:;:;, and died Nov. 2, L879. In 1873, they bought the Reedsburg, they bought and occupied the place now occupied by Mr. Roper. cation, and kept what is known as the old American Hole], which was burned down ill 1877 aftei the fire, they erected the present building, known as the new American Hotel, which is a two-storied Mrs. R. has three children house, with good sample-rooms, newly refitted. Bertie, born June 22, 1869; Emma, bom Oct. 1. 1871, and Louise, born Dec. 12. 187:;. Mrs. R. is a member of St. John's Church. ;

;

F. U. RODERDHIrVI), blacksmith, of the firm ol Rodermund & Tierney born in Madison, \pril 24, 1852; he learned his trade partly in Madison and partly at Reedsburg; while living ill Mr. R. settled in R Ishurg Sept. 15, 1*75. and Madison he worked for nine or ten years in the brewery has worked at present business ever since that date. Dec. 24, 1872, he was married to Miss Annie Veith. who was hom in February, 1851 Mr. R.'s father. John Rodermund, died June 22, 1875; Mr. R. is a member of Odd Fellows' Lodge and has been Village Trustee for two yens. ;

Wis.,

;

REV. AKilST ROHRLACK, Pastor of St. Peter's Church ol Nan Ruppin, Prussia,

Pee. 27. 1835;

R. received

his

educational

Reedsburg; born in he graduated in

Liepsic, where

REEDSBURG.

'-•>

858 after which event, he ctime in the same year to America, went al once to Madison, Wis., where he was ordained by the Rev. Mr. Deindorfer; Mr. R. has, since his ordination, had charge of churches at >u and assumed the pastorate of St. Bird City and Oshkosh, Wis.; in the fall of 1869, he went to R Peter's Church, where he has since labored in connection with the church, there is a parochial scl in charge of Mr Earnest Lussky, which numbers about 100 pupils; Mr. R. belongs to Missouri Synod, N .ri restern District, and is now Secretary for both the ieneral and District Synod since the year 1864, 1

l.-l

!•.•

;

he has made out the annual reports of both S3

Is.

;

Mr. I!, lias been twice married; his first wife, to whom

he was married in the spring of 1859, was Miss Caroline Thalacker, who died in August of 1868 by this the three surviving ones are John, horn Feb. 7. I860 wife he had tour children, one of whom is dead ;

;

and Peter who was born Sept. 23. 1866. Mary, horn May 28, 1864 Mr. R. was married again, April, 1869, to Miss Louisa Sehab, who was horn Dec. 12, 1843; by the second marriage there are four children— William. Dec. 9, 1871 Regina, horn July 5, 1870 Otto, March 15, 1874 and Esther, who was horn ;

;

April 25, 1880.

O. E. ROOT, lumber dealer of Reedsburg

born at Beaver Dam. Wis.. Oct. 19, 1847; a few years later his parents removed to Richford, Wis., where they lived until 1861, when they went to Reeds burg; for several years Mr. 0. E. Root ran a dray; afterward was. for one year, employed in Smith's lumber yard, and afterward was for two years m the employ of A. P. Ellinw 1. Mr. Root enlisted in the fall of 1864 in the 4th W. !?., which was a pan of the 24th Army Corps, and one of the first batteries to enter Richmond after iis capture; Mr. K.'s regiment was mustered out July 3, 1865. W. II. Hoot, the father of 0. Iv, was in Co. E, of the 7th W. V. I., and was wounded at the battle of Antietam the ball passed through the left arm, shattering it badly, and lodged in the sixth rib, within ihree quarters of an inch of the heart for eleven years he carried this ball thus, and finally died from the effects of it. Mr. (». Iv Root began business for himself, in his present line, August of 1879. He was married to Miss Mary F. Barnhart Aug. 9, 1870; this lady was horn Aug. 17, 1851 Mr. R.'s family consists of one child Florence, who was horn Aug.l, 1879. ;

;

O. K.

RYAN, .jeweler, Reedsburg, Wis.; horn

II., Jan. 1. 1856; came to fall of lSlJti, and remained there for nine years, working with an uncle, who was end of this time, Mr. 1!. went to Reedsburg, Wis., and from 1875 up to 1878 found employment thereat his regular business; in 1*7*. he began business for himself at Reedshui ".. Mr. Barhart Nov. 15, 1877; Mrs. Ryan was born in Rockford, III., Sept. Ryan was married to Miss Jessie Mr. Ryan is now 1880 Treasurer of the Sauk County Sunday School Association 18, 1858. he has one child. Feme, horn Nov. 15, 1879.

Baral

Deering, N.

Wis., in the

also a jeweler;

at the

I-'.

;

IMC. X. \\.

SALLADE

born in Dauphin Co., twenty miles north of Harrisburg, Penn., on ; the 5th ot September, 1*17. lie was married at Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Penn., on the 9th of February. 1*41, to Miss Sarah II. Stewart, who was horn at Bellefonte, Penn., Oct. 7. HI 7. Dr. Sal lade came to Wisconsin in 1854; decided upon Narrows Prairie, Wis., as a good location, and settled there in 1856. For tiye years, he devoted himself to farming and the practice of his profession. In 1861, he began mercantile business in company with Iv II. Newell, Esq., and. without abandoning his profession, continued in this business until the spring of 1862, when he sold out his interest in the firm. Almost immediately thereafter, however, he recommenced the same employment with Eleazer Newell, a half-brother of his In the winter of 1864, he bought property in Reedsburg, and, in January of 1865, former partner. 'mi. and began mercantile business there. thai In the fall of 1868, he opened a d in Reedsburg; in 1*77. this store was destroyed by lire, but he rebuilt and continued til tin' same place until the winter of 1878, when he sold out, and, buying the Mansion House from Mr. [ngalls, changed the name to that of the Sallado House; in company with his son. he is still carrying on this hotel Dr. Sallade's family consists of three children, all of whom were born in Lycoming Co., Penn.; bis eldest, William A., born April 2, 1842; Andrew \V. born Feb. 9, 1845; Mary Emma, born March 9, 1849. 1

Dr. Sallade is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which body he has held the position of Trustee; lie is a member of the Masonic brotherhooi. he was for some time Chairman of the Village Board,

SANDERS,

A. M. carriage-maker; born in Greene Co... Ohio. Nov. 9, 1*17; came to Reedsburg with Ins par- in- in September of 1*53; his father, John Sanders, located land near lore about 855, and Mr. A. M. Sanders lived with his parents on the farm until he was 18 years of age; lie afterward \rlin-ton Heights, 111., and learned the trade of carriage-maker, spending lour years in the above named place; he afterward return' d to Reedsburg and established himself, in 1*71. in his present business of manufacturer of carriages, sleighs, cutters and wagonhe now employs thn e business. Mr. S. was first married to Miss Louisa Williams, of Arlington Heights; but this lad 1

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

726

1872, leaving one daughter, Cora, bom May 6, 1872; Mr. S. married again on the 16th of June, 1877, Miss Clara Green, by whom he has two children, the oldest of whom is named Charles.

Id;i.l> Sl'HFLZE, Jr., farmer, Sec. 7 P. 0. Reedsburg; born in Hanover, Germany, Novcame to America with his parents in 18(18, and most of the time since then has lived in Reeds;

1850

;

He was married to Miss Augusta Schroeder he settled on bis present place in 1874. have two children Ida and Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Schulze are members of the Lutheran Church.

burg. Wis.

;

they

—

HEXRY SCHULZE,

fanner; 1'. O. Reedsburg; born July 20. 1853, and is the son of Mr. F. Mr. F. Schulze, Sr., was born in Hanover. Schulze, who is also a farmer in See. 7. near Reedsburg, Wis. Germany, April 24, 1824; lie is the son of Fred anil Mary Schulze; came to America and direct to In November of Reedsburg, Wis., in 1869; while in Germany, he served for three years in the army. is IV. Mr. Schulze manic. Miss Mary Ripka, who was born May 0. 1826; they have four children, viz.. and William, June 3, 1S62. Fred, bom Nov. 3, 1850; Henry, July 20, 1853; George, in August, 1858 ;

;

.Mr. F.

Schulze, Sr., belongs to the Lutheran Church.

ALFRED F. SCOOX, July 4, 1829

farmer, Sec. 31

I'.

;

0. Loganville

learned the cooper's trade in the East, and worked at

;

born in Washington Co., N. Y., Mr. Scoon came to Loganthere

;

was also 856, after which lie owned several farms and dealt considerably in real estate was muso.il c lop business lor a time. Jan. 15. 1864, he enlisted in Co. B, 12th W. V. 1. tered out ol service in July, 1865, as a veteran reserve; was with Sherman in bis march to the sea until he was in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Resaea and he reached Atlanta, when he was taken sick other minor engagements. Mr. Scoon was first elected Justice of the Peace in 1858, and still hold- that position, having held it continuously for the past twenty-two years, with the exception of one year, and ai.-o the time he spent in tlie army; he has been Assessor for two terms, and served as Constable for one

ville in

the

fall

;

He has been twice married he owns a farm of 190 acres in Sec. 31. Mr. Scoon is a Democrat Miss Kiiieliiie E. Strong March 10, 1851; she died March 27, 1865; by this wife there were whom are now living, viz Frances I'., now Mrs. Widget-, born Feb. 1. 1852; Lyman S., July 23, 1859; D. W., April 12, 1S62; and Emma E., April 3, 1864; Mr. Scoon was mar ried the second time, to Miss Louise ('. Seamans. Nov. 21, 1865; she was horn in Ashford Town. WindJohn Puane who was born Nov. 2, ham Co Conn., March 12, 1829. Mr. Scoon has an adopted son Mr. Seoon is a member of the Methodist Church. 1860. term

;

first, to

eight children, only four of

—

AX AND WILLIAM SEVEKE,

brothers, the former a farmer on See 22. P. >. 31 S,§MI Reedsburg, the latter, proprietor of saloon and howling alley in Reedsburg; are sons of Henry and Eliza<

their father was horn in June, 1S24. and died in September, 1877, in

beth Seveke;

Reedsburg. hi- death

rused from injuries received by the running-away of a team; the mother. Elizabeth, is still living. Mr. Herman Seveke was horn in Verzen, Hanover, Germany, Oct. 5, 1856; came from Hanover to He f 100 acres about seven years ago. Reedsburg, Wis., July 13, 1867; he bought his present pi Mr. William Seveke came with bis belongs to the St. John's German Lutheran Church of Keeil-hurg. he was born in Hanover June 29, brother to Reedsburg, Wis., from Hanover, Germany, in July of 1867 On 1852; until the spring of 1880, he was engaged in farming, and then began his present business. No 13, 1875. he was married to Miss Ella Card, win was horn April 13, 1S57, in Wiufield. Saul. Co Mr. William Herman, bom April L3, 1876, and Clara, Nov. 11, 1S79. Wis.; they have two children ;

—

Seveke is, 'like his brother, a member of St. John's Church.

CHARLES F. SIIELDEX, Assistant Postmaster in Reedsbunr; horn in Oneida Co.. N. 3 Icame to Walworth Co., Wis., with his parents in 1845 his father. Dewitl C. Sheldon, Jf., Sept. 2, for eleven years Mr. S.'a parent- remained on a farm at Elkhorn Spring. livin in Reedsburg, Wis. In January, 1862, Mr. C. F. Sheldon enlisted in Wis.; went from there to a farm n Nnrrows Prairie he was in the 18th Army Corps, under Gen. Butler at the siege of Petersburg Co. A. 19th W. V. I. On Pee. 16, 1868, f the service in June, 1865. and other contests in that vicinity was mustered alter Mr. Shelden has two chiretren Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Bell Hood, of Racine, Wi-. Shelden has held office of Town Clerk. the Mr. 1877. horn and October Feb. Mabel, 18, I>. 2, 1870, I

;

is still

;

—W

;

He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

BET. W. SHUMWAY was bom Jan. 24, 1815; he came to John-town. Rock Co.. Wis., during the past thirtya minister of the Christian Church Mr. S. has preached nearly every Sabbath, while Ld>ini: his attention during tin for a period of eleven years, Mr. S. filled an appointment on Narrows Prairie, Wis. he is now preaching al Excelsior, near Reedsburg; he lived for ten year- in in

184 I. and

the same year was ordained

liirtv-six .

vears.

the transaction of other business; ;

;

REEDSBURG.

727

then, in L854, removed to Reedsburg, Wis., where for two years he held a position in a after this, he opened a meat market and carried on that business for two or three years, when he store during this went out on a farm three miles to the southeast of Reedsburg, where he spent eight years

Rock Co., Wis.

;

May, 1876, he returned to town. Mr. S. was married she was born Di c. 29 Mrs. Shumway was, before her marriage. Miss Sarah Bushman April 10, 1836 1816; she died duly 1. s 7 7 leaving three daughters Hattie, now Mis. Sprague Angie, now Mrs. Medbury, and Matie, who is now Mrs. Pietzsh the dates of their births are; Hattie, born Nov. 18, 1842; Angie, July 25, 1845; Matie, July 13, 1848. time, he did a little in the hop-raising business; in

;

—

;

SIEFERT.

hardware merchant, Reedsburg; was born in Hessen, Germany, Aug I IwlST he came to America in 1ST.'!, and went directly to .Milwaukee-. Wis., where, tor one year, he 14, 1855 was employed in a grocery store in IS74, he went to Reedsburg, where be found employment in the firm of Hansen, Gale & Co. he now owns a partial interest in. and is book-keener lor, the same linn. Mr. S. ;

;

obtained his education in the city .schools of his native land;

his father, Friedrich Siel'ert, died in 1872.

SMITH,

of the firm of Rork & Smith, cigar manufacturers, Reedsburg; was born at S. F . Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., May 22, 1832; bis father, Timothy Smith, died in Watertown, N. Y., in his mother, Lucy Smith, died in 1S7:1. Mr. S. F. Smith came to Newport, Wis., in the spring of 1875 then spent two years in Dalton, Wis., nid was for several years engaged in the hardware business 85 after which, in 18(15, he came to Heed-burg and began his present business as cigar manufacturer. He He married his second wife, Miss Nellie twice married; by his first wife he had two children. the only child of tins mar Eggleston, at Fox Lake, Wis., on May 4, 1870; she was born Dec. 27, 1845 riage, Byrd L., was bom April 30, 1 S77. 1

;

STEKELBERCk A. HIDE, cigar manufacturers and dealers, Reedsburg.

This firm began manufactures about L'llil.iHMl cigars Mr. W. C. Slekelbcrg was born in Mechlenbiirg. Germany, Feb. 22, 857 came to America in 1868, and lived for seven years in Madison,Wis. where be loaned bis trade came to Reedsburg in 1875, and in 1S7G began his present business. April be belongs to the Odd Fellows' Lodge. Mr. J. F. Hide is. like 27, 880, lie married Miss Annie Parrott came to America in his partner, a native of Mechlenburg, Germany, where he was born Nov. IS. 1850 settled in Reedsburg in July of the same year; he was in various kinds of business until the fall of 1876, when his present partnership was formed. Oct. 11, 1877, he was married to Miss Rati. Berkman they have one child, Emil. born March 9, 1879. They belong to St. John's Church of Reeds-

its

present business in the town of Reedsburg in the fall of 1S7IJ

;

yearly, and keeps employed from four to six hands during the year. 1

;

burg.

WILEIAM STOFTE, merchant, Reedsburg; was bnrn

Hanover, Germany, March

833 lie learned the tailor's trade before coming to America he came to this country and direct to Reedswhere he remained burg. Wis., in the spring of I860 in the fall of that year he went to Madison, Wis for two years, working at his trade he then went to Kilbourn and opened a tailor-shop, remaining in this Is stoic with Mr. business until 18G5, when he returned to Reedsburg and opened a general dry-g 1

;

Schwekee, the firm being known as Schwekee & Stolte in 1869, his partner, Mr. Schwekee, died, since which time he has carried on the business alone. Mr. Stolte married Miss Dora Myer they have a family of eight living children Dora, Willie, Ada, Nana, Louise, George. Leda and Lena; they have lost one son. Henry. Mr. S. is a member of the Odd Mr. and Mrs. S. belong to tie- Lutheran Church. Fellows' Lodge; he has filled the office of Past Grand and is now Treasurer; he also belongs to the His Turners. lb' i- now on the Village Hoard, and has been on the Town Board for several years. Mis. Stolte's father, George Stolte, is still living on a farm near Reedsburg; his mother, Dora, is dead father was in the Russian war, and was for three years a prisoner. ;

;

—

;

MRS. PAMELIA STONE, Sees. Id and 9; P.O. Reedsburg; was born in Sniithfield. Co.. X. V .Oct. 25, 1827; came to Reedsburg and settled on her present place in February. Mrs. Pamelia lEllinwood) Stone married Mr James R. Stone March 29, 1849; he was born in lie enlisted. July. 1861'. in Co. F, 157th X. V. V. [.; Madison Co.. X. Y.. May '27. 1822. he raised the company, and was Captain of the same; be was in the Army of the Potomac, part in the battles of the Wilderness and at Gettysburg at the latter place, he was taken prist was sent from there to Macon, Ga., where he Prison, where he remained about eleven months 'lied Ati". 12, 1864. Mrs, Stone has five children Willis C, born April 21, 1855; .lane- A., born Dec. 1. 1856; Orna P., born Sept. 24, L858 Mina L., born April IS. I860 and <> Lincoln, born July Mr. Willis C. Stone is pursuing the full curs..' of study in the Oshkosh Normal School, and 24, 1861.

Madison 1870.

Smitltlield,

;

—

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

728 taught several

lias

this

Miss

;

Mina L. and Mr. James A. Stone have

terms;

also taught for several

Orna P. Stone is new employed in the Census Bureau, at Washington, D. C.

ORA B. TITIS, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Reedsburg; was horn

in Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio, has been engaged in farming and fruit-raising business for the greater part of his life. he enlisted in Co. I, 12Sth O. V. I., and served until June, 1864, when he was discharged on account of disability he eame to Reedsburg: in 1865, and in 1875 settled on his present place of SO acres in See. 35. Oct. 3, 1872, he was married to Miss Addie Andrus, wlio was born in Ohio Pee. 6, 1843; they have a family of three children, viz., Jessie Cahoon, burn July 22, 1873; Wilbur,

Aug. 23, 1846 In December,

;

lSi;:;,

;

born Dec. 19, L874, and Ora Andrus, born Dec. 24, 1878.

LEWIS TWIST,

farmer. Sees. 33 and 34; P. 0. Loganville, Wis; was born in town of Chenango Co., N. Y.. June 17, 1835. He eame. with his parents, to Sheboygan Co., Wis., in 1S47, where he was engaged in farming until March, 1865, when he bought his present place of 148 acres in town of Reedsburg May 5,1858. Mr. Twist was married to Miss Emma 0. Brooke, who was born in Cuningsby, England. Jan. 28, 1837. Mr. T. has four children liviuL', viz., Orloff Duane, born June 23, 1859, in Lima, Wis.; Elmer Lewis, born Feb. 13, 18(32; Mary Bell, born Jan. 13, 1867; and Emma Adell, who was born Feb. 22, 1869. Has lost one child, Maggie E. O., born June 5, 187 1. and died Feb. 28, 1875. Mr. Lewis Twist's father, Joseph, was born in Cambridge, N. Y., Aug. 31. 1800, and died April 17, 1875. He was married March 2, 1S23. to Miss Margaret Groesbeck, who was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y. The father of Mrs. Lewis Twist, Mr. Thomas Brooke, was born in Kirkstead, England, Jau. 10, 1807, and was married to Miss Mary Auckland Sept. 13, 1831. She was baptized when an infant in Bardney Church Feb. 1, 1814. They had five children— John, born Oct. 20, 1832; Frederick William, June 6,1835; Eliza O., Oct, 26,1838: Agnes, born about 1844; and Thomas A., June 4. 1853 Otselic,

SAMCEIi WEIDMAJf, farmer, Sees.

P. O. Reedsburg; was born 28, 27 and 21 In the fall of 1852, went 10, 1833; eame West with his brother Alexander. of Reedsburg; returned to Ohio in the following May. and remained there through the summer. In the fall, he went to Illinois, where he lived for one year, when he returned to Reedsburg, and for three winters worked in the pineries on the Wisconsin River. He settled on his present farm of 196 acres, in 1858. Dec. 13, 1857. be was married to Miss Celanda Graff: they have a family

Summit Co.. Obi... Oct.

the town

;

Mrs. Richards), born Nov. 9, 1858 Elmer, born May 5, 1861 born Aug. 10, 1868 Julia, born Aug. 6, 1871 Mr. W. is a and Hattie, horn Jan. 4, 1877. in polities, a Greenbaeker has been several times a member of Supervisors. of five children

now

Crittie

;

Bessie,

Mason ;

;

ABBAM WEST,

Reedsburg:

June

1805, in Grafton, Rensselaer Co.. N Y. he eame to Spring Prairie, Walworth Co.. Wis., in 1845, reaching that place on the 1st of October, after a journey of nearly one thousand miles from Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y. Mr. West and his family made this journey by horses .and wagon, in just one month's tine. I!eacbing Spring Prairie, he bought a farm, which he worked for six years. In November of 1851. lie eame to Kcedsburg. bought a farm near that place, but soon sold it and agreed with Mr. Reed to repair and run his mills in the town of Mr. Wist is, by trade, a carpenter, and built several houses which he afterward sold; he Reedsburg. built the Congregational Church of Reedsburg. Mr. West was married Sept. 5, 1826, to Mis- Susan who was born June 3, 1805. The two children of this marriage were Lueina, who was horn Feb. carpenter,

born

1(1.

;

This son, Sydney, engaged work as Government 1828, and Sydney, who was born Oct. 5, 1831. Carpenter, and went to Arkansas returning e from that State, he died when within forty-seven miles of the city of Chicago. The date of his death was Oct. 14, 1864. In 1852, Mr. West was elected the Peace, and, with the exception of about two year-, held the office continuously for twenty21).

;

four years.

In the

fall

Pining the year L875 and 1S7H, of 1856, was elected to the State Legislature. I! In politics, In' is a Republican; he voted lor John Quincy Jsburg. Before the formation of the Republican party,

Mr. West was Police Justice of

Adams; has voted for every President since that time. Mr. W. voted with the old Whig party. Mr. West's

father,

Benjamin, was horn

REV. .1. II. WIIITXEV: born at Sutton. Mass., Nov. 2

Connecticut. June

1834; is the son of David and Tyla greater part of his early life tit Ashhurnhain. Mass.; studied law with Judge In May. 1861, .Mr. W. enlisted for three months' service in Co. A. 4th Mass. Worcester, Mass. V. I. at the expiration of this time he re-enlisted in Co, G. 21st M. V. I,, as Sergeant of company, and was soon promoted to Sergeant Major of the same company, and. finally, became Second Lieutenant of the com]. tiny. Mr, W. was in the 9th Army Corps, in Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, and also with

Whitney; be lived for the ,i

;

7a9

REEDSB1 RG

In 1863, failing health made it accessary for Pope's army iii his campaign of Hull Run and other battles. Mr. W. to return home for a time; but, in 1864 he re-enlisted as a private in 1th Mass. II. A.; was Mr. promoted in In' S, tl' 'in Major of his company, which was mustered out in June, L865. W. studied for the ministry at the Biblical Institute of Concord, N. H., and afterward, at the theological he cam,- to New Lisbon. Wis., in lsus, ami preached there as a supply. department of Boston University Mr. \V. was ordained Deacon in the M. E. Church Oct. 2, 1870, and Elder of the same Sept. 22, 1872. i

He has been stationed at Baraboo, Wis., for two years at Sparta, for one year, and at sevi ral other points. he taught for a time the In 1875, Mr. W.'s health obliged him to leave ministerial work and go South Central Tennessee College at Nashville; returning North, he was stationed at New Lisbon; here his first wife, who was Miss Mary L. Hubbard, and to whom he was married Jan. 24, 1864, died, leaving one daughter—Tyla. Mr. W.'s first wife was horn at Hubbardton, Mass., Sept. 17, 1839, and died at New After the death of the first Mrs. Whitney, Mr. W. relumed to Nashville. Lisbon, Wis". April 17. 1877. ;

Tenn., where he remained until June of 1879, when he returned to Wisconsin and filled a vacancy at In October of the same year, was Tenia. In the fall of 1879, Mr. W. was stationed at Reedsburg, Wis. she has two children by a previous marriage; Mr. Whitney's lather died married to his second wife ;

Dec. 28, 1876.

IIER11 AX WISCHOFE, boot and shoe-maker, Reedsburg; came to Reedsburg in the spring lie is a native of Ger1 S 7 and lice.au his present business, in which he has ever since heen elected many, horn in Hanover Dec. 13, 1850 he came to America in 1868, and for seven or eight years after his worked at his trade, which he had learned before leaving Germany, in the city of He was married, in November, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Halbersleben they have three chilMr. and Mrs. W. belong to the Lutheran Church. Ida. ('aniline and Herman. dren

;

arrival in this country

;

W. A. WYS-E, attorney, Reedsburg; was born July 27, 18t4, in Claremont, N. between 5

d, his

parents came to Inland's Milis, a town on

after living there four or five years, removed to Sauk City

;

II.: when Honey Creek, Sauk Co., Wis., and.

the father, David A., died in August, 1844.

Mr.

education in common schools and at Madison University; he began teaching when only While at Madison University, in April. 1861, he enlisti K. 1st W. V. I., known as the Governor's Guard, or Fain-hild's Company; this enlistment was for the three months Bervice, and in the August following the regiment was mustered out, but Mr. W. re-enlisted 1

In-

14 years old, and taught for two winters.

W. V. 1.. Oct. 9, 1861 was appointed Corporal May 12, L863; March 1. 1865, he was re enlisted as a veteran Jan. 1864 was in the Army of the West, and participated in all the campaigns of the regiment was disSept. 25, 1867, he was married to Mary E., daughter of charged at San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 24, 1865. dead; his eldest, Dr. Sallade, who was born March 14. 1849; they have three children living and Belle E. was born March 16, 1876, and bis sou William II. was horn Lena L. was born Oct. 27, 1871 Co. K. 13th

;

made Sergeant of the company, and acted for some time as Sergeant Major; in.

;

Mr.

Oct. 22, 1878.

W. has been Justice of the

Peace

for

six

years; has also served as Town Clerk,

Commissioner and Village Clerk. He is a Mason, and a member of the Gratid \nuv of the Republic; he is of Universalis! faith, and in politics a Democrat. .11 ITOUBfG, druggist, Reedsburg; was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1822; 1S.">7. to Miss ('. A. r. his education at the Sarat igu Springs Academy. He was married, Sept. Mr. Young cam. to Medberry. of Troy, Wis.; this ladj was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1826. Troy, Wis., in 850 spent one year at that place, and went from there to Portage City, where he engaged here, in the spring Wis.; when removed Reedsburg, he to in the lumber business until the fall of 1854, of 1855, he opened a store, and continued in that business for about fifteen years; thereafter, for about in the summer of 1S77. lie aided in the erection of rs, lie was engaged in buying and selling bops the 1! Isburg Bank. and. for .me and a-half year- thereafter, held the position of Cashier in this Bank Mr. Young is a Mason, and is he then bought out Sallade's drug store and began hi- piv-ent business. lew Worshipful Master of the Lodge at l!eedshur_: he is a member of the Presbyterian Church he has I n tbr several years connected with the Village Board, and has also occupied the chair of thai b 1-7-'. be was elect d Superintendent of Public Schools in Sauk Co. Mr. Young has one child— Carrie E., born July 26, 1858. T. R. YOrXCr, merchant. Reedsburg; was born in West Troy, Albany Co., N. Y., July 12, 1848; his father. J. C. Young, is still livin- at lb .d.-bur--. Wis.; for a time, the family resided in Waukesha Co.. Wis., but about W>7 the] removed to Excelsior, where T. P. Young, the subject of this sketch, was engaged in farm-work; in 1867, he removed to the northern part of the' town of Excelsior, and coni-biirg, Wis and, in partnership with J. W. tinued farming until the fall of 1877, when he Went R Police Justice, Court

OSES

.">,

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

730

Kelsey, engaged in buying and selling grain in February of 1880, he began trade for himself by opening Mr. Young's wife, formerly Miss Mary A. Du Bois, Nov. a store for general merchandise in Reedsburg. the eldest, Edna, was born Aug. 28, 1876, 8, 1871, was born May 29, 1849; they have two children ;

;

In politics, Mr. Young is a Republican.

and Fred born Aug. 5, 1878.

YOUNG,

P. 0. Reedsburg; is a son of John C. and Hannah Dingman H. Young; was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., May 10, 1824; resided in his native county till about 10 years of age then went to Otsego Co., N. Y., and lived there till about 1847. He was married in Otsego Co. March 3, 1844. to Peggy A. House, daughter of Conrad and Margaret House; she was born in (tsego a separation and divorce occurred in 1846, and the next year Mr. Young moved to Jefferson Co., Co. He was married at N. Y.; remained there till 1854, and then came to Wisconsin; settled at Reedsburg. Baraboo, January, 1856, to Adeline Crawford, daughter of James Crawford she was born in Ohio there were two children by this marriage, Clarence, and Howard, deceased. Mr. Young came to his present farm in July, 1856 Mrs. Young died July 10, 1861. Mr. Young has been Chairman of Reedsburg one year, Supervisor four years, and District Clerk sixteen years. He was married Dec. 17, 1863, to Lydia Dewey, ised and George, Charles dt daughter of Henry and Mary A Dewey; they have had three children

farmer, Sec. 5

;

(

;

—

Winnie F.

(

Young has 200 acres of land.

Mr.

TOWN OF WOODLAND. WILLIAM C. BROAS, farmer, Sec. 36

son of William and Luanda P. O. Ironton Massachusetts and his mother of Connecticut William C. Cleveland Broas Was married Dec. 1, 1844, in was born in the town of Union, Broome Co., N. Y., March 27, 1820. Tioga Co., N. Y., to Emeline It. Shepard, daughter of Rohson and Polly (Burton) Shephard Mrs. Allen A., married to Emeline Thornton. Broas was bom in Cortland Co., N. Y.; have six children Hand; Burton B., married Mary Mohler, residence, Woodland Chancy T., Phoehe A., residence, .Mine to Wisconsin in 1S51 settled in Walworth Mary J., Lui v M John deceased Albert deceased Co.; stayed there two summers, then came to Sank County; settled in the town of New Buffalo now Sec. came on there; then to Woodland 1854 located 22; had 40 acres; Fairfield"; spent one year lived there eight years, then moved to his present home. See. 30; has now 315 acres, lying partly in Mr. B. has been Mrs. Broas is a member of the BaptUt Church Sauk and partly in Richland Co. Politics, Democrat. Clerk of the School District, No. 7, three years. )

(

;

his father was a native of

;

—

;

(

;

JABKZ BROWN, Wayne Co., Ind., Nov. I,

Was married in farmer and teacher; residence, See. 36; P. O. Ironton. Alonzo, Lorenzo (married 1849, to Sarah Durflinger they have nine children

—

;

Emma Hackett, residence, North Freedom, Sank Co

George J., Mary E., Fielder, Martha V. and Mr. Brown and familj came to Sauk Co., Wis., in June, and Viola C. and Orin. 1855; settled in Ironton July 4; remained there till 1861 then moved to their present home, Sec. 36, VV Hand, was twice elected Superintendent of Schools of the town of Marston, and each time was obliged to resign in order to pursue his business of teaching; lie has taught twenty-five winters and twelve summers in Wisconsin nearly all of his children have been teachers. Mr. B. and eldest daughter are to

Meli-sa

V. (twins)

;

members of the Society of Friends.

In politics, is Republican.

JAMES CANON, fanner. Sec 20; P.O. Valton; son of William N. and Lydia (Luce about

came to La Fayette Co., Wis., in 1847, and Feb. 5, 1852, in Jo Daviess Co., to Eunice Mrs. Canon was born in Iowa. Dubuque Co Ira R., have had eight children, five boys and three girls— William B., died when 3 years of age John W., died when years old; Awilda J., now Mrs. married to Clara B. Kostcr, residence. Valton Robert Skene, residence. Jo Daviess Co., 111.; Thomas H., died in childhood; Edgar J.. Ilattie Belle and Nora V. In November, 1855, came to Wisconsin; settled in Sunk Co.. town of Woodland, Sec. 20; Enlisted in February, 1864, in Co has 190 acres in Woodland and 100 acres in Buena Vista Co., Iowa. Canon

;

was bom

Mercer

Co., l'enn., Oct. 2,

year afterward moved to Jo Daviess Co

.ml' Bryant and Sarah

1827

;

Was manic,

111.

Nail)

Davis.

;

W. V. at the battleof Reeme'a Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864, was captured and taken to Libbj Prison, from there to Belle Isle. Va., then to Salisbury, X. C.J was exchanged the last of March, 1865; Politics, Republican. bas bee,, Supervisor four years, and Treasurer of his School Districi twenty years. A, 36th

Mrs Cat

;

member of the church of the

nited

Brethren.

— TOWN OF WOODLAND.

SAMUEL, CANON, farmer, Sec. 19; P. 0. Valtoa

731

son of William and Lydia Luce) Canon, He'was married, was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Aug. 7, 1825; moved to Jo Daviess Co., III., in 1845. Sept. Ill, 1848, to Louisa Sutton, daughter of George and Mary (Whiting) Sutton; Mrs. Canon wae born in London, England; her people came to the United States in 1837; they have nine children William 0., married to Eliza McCarthy, residing in Woodland; Thomas B, married to Phoebe Macy, ;

—

Sarah E., now Hand; Mary E, now Mrs. Gustave Anderson, of North McGregor, Iowa In L858, they Mrs John Mulholen, of Woodland; James H., Samuel W., Lucy C, Idell and Loella. moved to LaFayette Co., Wis., and in October, I860, to Sauk Co., and settled on Section 19; he has 162 Mrs. Canon is a member of the ni ed acres of land has filled all the offices of the school district. Brethren Church. Mr. Canon, in polities, is a Republican.

residing in

;

LESTER CLEJIONS,

Postmaster, merchant and stock-dealer, Valton son of William and in May, 1855, he came to Harriet (Lyman) demons; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 26, 1S.<7 Wisconsin and located on Sec. 30, town of Woodland, Sauk Co.; had, with his lather, 400 acres of land He was married. Nov. oil. 1865, at Richland Center, to Jennie S.Smith, daughter of Stephen ami Saran they have had four children— Hattie B., .Mrs demons was born in Windsor Co., Yt. Glasier) Smith Mattie L., Harry S. (deceased and Carrie. In May, 1870, he came to Valton, built the store ho now Is, groceries, provisions, boots and shoes and general occupies and commenced business as dealer in dry g market, Chicago. He has been Assessor tin merchandise; he also deals in live stock and staves and is serving bis third term as Treasurer; was Town Clerk one year; has twenty eight village lots ami Mo acres of land where he resides. Politics, Republican. ;

;

—

SOLOMON COOK,

son of Nafarmer, carpenter and cabinet-maker, Sec. 36 P. O. Irontou Anna Wickersliam Cook was born in Wayne Co., End., Aug. 20, 1821. He was married: Nov. 5, 1846, in Hamilton Co.. at Strawtown, to Mary A. Brown, daughter of Fielder and Martha Bundy Brown Mrs. Cook was horn in Wayne Co.. [int., Jan. 1, 1832; they have had seven children Antoinette, now Mrs. A. J. Coryell, living in Woodland: Ella C, now Mrs. Charles Veeder, of Richland Co. (near Hand); Sadie L., Charles O., Drusilla, Caleb E. and Alice, who died when 1 yearofage In July, 1855, Mr. Cook and family came to Wisconsin and settled in Richland Co., town of Westford, Sec. has 45 acres of land, a remained there till 1872, then moved to Woodland, Sauk Co., on See. 36 portion of which lies in Richland Co. was Assessor of Westford one year, and of Woodland one year; was Treasurer of School District No. 9. Westford, six years, and of Joint School District No. 9, WoodMrs. Mary A. Cook is the recorded minister of the " Ironton Monthly laud and Westford, six years. Meeting of Friends' Church," See. Illl. The daughters have all been teachers; Antoinette has taught loin years, Ella ('.. ten years, and Sadie L., six years. Mr. Cook litis manufactured sorghum sirup quite extensively in 1S7H. he made l.l'liS gallons, and litis year he has made 827 gallons.

than and

;

CHARLES GIBBINS, farmer, Sec. 29;

son of William and Rebecca Gib). Valton P. came to the United States in 1848, and settled in the town of (shkosh, Wis. lived there about three years then went to Oconomowoc. He was married, in September, 1S57, to Mary Ann, daughter of John and Jane Cuttrell) White; Mrs. Gibbins was bom in Henry, marEngland; they have four children William, married to Laura Frasier, living in Woodland ried to Allie Chamness, residing in Hand Janie, and Ezra. In 1860, moved to Sauk Co. and In on Sec. 29 have 100 acres of land served in the army about four months the last year of the war. politics, he is a Democrat. bins

was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1S27 I

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REV. JOSEPHLS <«OOD.

Presiding Elder of the East District of Wisconsin Conference, United Brethren Church residence Section 28, P. <>. Valton; son of John and Ann Davis) Good; wa< born in Preble Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1829; when about 12 years of age, went to Randolph Co., tnd. He was married in this county, March 31, 1855, to Sarah E. Stanley, daughter of Jesse and Annie Cox Stanley; Mrs Good was born in Indiana; Mr. Good followed the profession of teacher in various places across the State to K sciusko Co.; was licensed to preach in 1S60 by the Wesleyan Methodist Church; in ]si!2. moved to Wisconsin; settled mi See. 1'7. Woodland, Sauk Co.; about ISI',5, attached himself to the United Brethren Church and traveled in Northern Wisconsin as Presiding Elder of the East District of the Wisconsin Conferei Children in the family are Elizabeth A., now Mrs. Samuel Woolsey living Woodland; Josephine, now Mis P. Jackson, of Richland Co.; Heywood, died when in James V. Buldah, Willie B. and Wilbur. He has hen Assessor of Woodland term and Treasurer live years; has 280 acres of land. Polities, Republican. i

;

NATHAN C. HARVEY, farmer; Harvey; was barn in Indiana Dec. 28, 1831

;

Sec. 32; P. Valton; son of Caleb and Pen when 20 years of age. he came to Wisconsin and 1

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

732

Woodland. He was married Oct. 22, 1856, in Parke Co., Ind., to Mary A. Kersey, daughter of Stephen and Jemima Kersey; they have eight children Clementine, Wilson I!., George L., Anna L., Man Iv. Horace G., Edward S. and Jane C. Mr. H. enlisted, December. 1864, in Co. H, 12th W. V. I and served lill the (.'lose of the war; was in all engagements in which his regiment participated; was with Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea in 1870, moved to See 30. and took the contract for carrying the mail from Cazenovia to Mauston in 1873, moved to See. 32; has 240 acres of land; was Chairman of Woodland five years, Clerk two years. Assessor one year, and Town Superintendent of Schools one year was appointed Enumerator of 'en-ns for the town of Woodland for the year 1880.

See. 22,

—

;

JOHN HEI1VRICK,

farmer. Sec. 27; P. <). Oaks; son of Peter and Margaret (Angel) Heinrick, was horn in Switzerland, July 10, 1824; came to the United States in 1848, and settled in Kenosha, Wis. lived there fourteen years, then went to Wheatland, same county. Was married, Oct. 24, _

;

1862, at Wheatland, to Mary Premers, daughter of Bernard and Ann C. Bocker Premers they have had three children came to Sauk Co. November, 1866, Peter, Annie, and Dora t ha, who died in infancy ami settled on Sec. 27 has 205 acres of land. Mr. Heinrick's mother came to the United Stales some time after her sun did. and died at his residence at the age of s l years. Mr. and Mrs. II. are members of the Lutheran Church in politics, he is a Democrat. (

—

;

J. H. HORIXE, farmer, and proprietor of limekiln and grindstone quarry, Sec. 35; P.O. Oaks from 1,000 to 3,000 bushels of lime annually; Mr. H. was born in Mercer Co.. Ky., March ^27 son of J. X. and Mary (Dean) Horine; when 8 years of age, moved to Highland Co.. Ohio; 24, stopped there two years, then went to Delaware Co., Ind. when 18 years of age, moved to Howard Co. Was married in Grant Co., Ind., Feb. 24, 1848, to Rachel Davis, daughter of Mark and Rebecca (Osborn) Davis; .Mrs. II. was burn in Henry Co., Ind.; they have had nine children Mary A., new Mrs. Nelson Stickles, of [owa Ruth, now Mrs. ,1. Mullennix, living in Iowa; Enoch Nancy, new Mis. William Mann, of Nebraska; Stephen D., T. Jefferson, John M Rebecca and Julia M. Mr. II and family came to Sauk Co., Wis,, Oct. Ill, 1852 stopped in Sauk City awhile, and in 1853 came to Town 13, Range 2, now Woodland settled on Sec. 35 has 70 acres of land Mr. and Mrs. Horine are members ;

burns 1

;

—

;

of the Wesleyan Methodist Church

politics.

Republican.

;

HOItTOV

KLI

Oaks; son of Giirdon and Lucy (Davison. Horton.

farmer. Sec. 26 I>. P. was born in Oswego Co N. Y., Nov. 27, 1834; resided in his native county till 13 years of age, then removed with his parents Lo the Shaker community, near Albany when 211 years of age, moved to Jefferson Co., Wis Was married, March 2S, 1858, to Ann E. Sherman, daughter of Leonard and Anna Whit ford Sherman; Mrs. Horton was born in Onondaga Co., X. V. they have four children S.. Lucy A., Dell and George D. A. two and settled on Sec. 23 in October, 1860, came to Sauk Co years afterward moved to See. 32 lived there seven years, then moved to bis present farm, See. 26 has 45 acres. He enlisted, August, 1862, in Co. I. Isi W. Y. I. was severely wounded at the skirmish of Burnt Church, Georgia, June, 18li4 up to this time was in every engagement in which his regiment was engaged; was discharged \pril. 1X05; has been Clerk of Woodland from 1807 to the present time, with the excepti f two years; moved to Minnesota, April, 1^75, and returned in June of the same year; was appointed Postmaster of Oaks P. O., October, 1879, and is the present incumbent; politics, ;

( >.

;

Republican.

SIMEON MORTIMER,

Mary farmer. See. 29; P. O. Valton; son of Michael and Rogers) Mortimore, was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1826; was married September, lsl'.i, in Ento Sarah Mortimore, daughter of Ahram and Sarah Mortimer. Mrs. Mortimer was bom in they have had four children William (deceased John Iv. married to Rhoda Small, residence at Valton Mary E now Mrs, Charles Jordon, living in Vernon County Noah, married to Winnc Green, residence at Valton; Albert; came to the United Sta'es, January, 1850; lived in Waukesha Co., Wis. alien' five years; then came to Sauk Co. and settled on Sec. 29, Town 13, Range 2. now Hand; have 120 acres; served four months in the army during the las' year of the war. Mr. and Mrs. M. are

gland,

—

;

members of the Church of the United Brethren, of Valton.

SHERMAN,

farmer. See. 15; P. O. Wonewoc son of Leonard and Annie (Whitford) S. W. Sherman; was born in Chautauqua Co., X. V.. March 27, L828 when about 7 years of age, moved with his parents to Oswego Co.; came lo Wisconsin in 1853; located in Jefferson Co.; returned to Xew York and was married September 20, 1854, to Ann Eliza La-ton. daughter of Purdy and Hannah I. I'm I\ Horton Mrs Sherman was horn in Pittstown, llensselaer Co., X. Y.; Mr. and Mrs. Sherman returned to Jefferson Co., Wis ae< panied by Mr. Sherman's father's family, consisting often boys and two girls; of these boys, eight went into the army during the war two Were wounded, and one made a ;

•

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TOWN OF WOODLAND.

733

lu the spring of 1858, Mr. S. and family moved to Sunk County; settled prison*; all came out alive, on Sec. 15, where they now reside; have 80 acres of land; they have a family of nine children living one, Emmoarene, the eldest, died when 17 years of age; those livin » are George I*'.. Ma. J.. Lydia M.. n Chairman of WoodNellie M.. General -I Charles E, .Minnie J., Myrtle II :\nd William N.; has land two years, and Supervisor three years; served in the army during the last year of the war; politics, K. publii hi when he settled on his land he found it in a perfectly wild stair we often hear of men sticking their stakes under such circumstances; well, the first stake that Mr. S. drove happened to be a whitethat stake took runt and grew and now about two and one half inches thick and five feet high while sitting beneath measures three feel live inches in circumference, while its height is fully fifty feet of this splendid tree, which casts its shadow on his house, Mr. Sherman, with pardonable pride. ;

;

tells

the story of his

stake.

first

JAMES STANLEY, farmer and recorded minister of

" The Friends" Church, at Valton was born in Surry Co., N. ('.. >. Valton; son of James and At-nes Stanlej was mat tied at Springfield, about 18 years of age, moved to Randolph Co, ml Wayne Co., Ind., March 25, 1829, to Jemima Mills, daughter of Richard and Nancy Mills: Mrs. Stanley was born in Clinton Co., Ohio; they have bad six children Elmina deceased' was the wife of Charles Beson Nancy, died when 16 years of age; Martha, died when 23 years of age; Huldah. married to William Pickering, living in Clay Co., Iowa; Elkana, married to In 1857, Mr. Stanley and family came to Sauk Co., Wis., settled Catharine Wright, living in Woodland. Mr. Stanley has been the Recorded Minister of the Valhave 80 acres of land. on See. 22, Woodland ton Branch of the " [ronton Monthly Meeting of Friends" since its organization .June 18, 1873).

residence, Sec. 22;

;

Dec. 9, 1808; when Meeting of Friends.

—

;

RICHARD TENNANT, Jr., farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Lavalle; son of Richard and Agnes lb Thompson Tennant; was born in Manchester, England, May 1, 1843; came to the United States with bis parents in 1S.">(I stopped tw years in the town of Granville, Milwaukee Co., Wis. came to Sauk Co. in March. 1868, made his home in the town of Woodland, Sec. 13; has 665 acres of land, lying partly in Woodland and partly in Lavalle. He was married, .March 22, 1871, at Wonewoc, Juneau Co., at the residence of J. B. Frazell, to Hannah Jolls, daughter of Jeremiah Jolls Mrs. Tennant was born in Mrs. Tennant died Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.: they have three sons— Richard, Hubert T. and Harry A. Is a member of the April 13, 1880. Mr. Te at has been Clerk of School District No. 4 six years. Unitarian Church. Politics, Republican. i

;

DR. JOHN THOMPSON, physician and farmer, See. 33; P. 0. Valton; son of Samuel Thompson was born in Perry Co., Ohio, July 1. 1818; moved to Miami Co. lie was married in Howard Co., Ind., Dec. 29, 1844, to Celia Lamb, daughter of John (i, ,n L they have had six children and Lydia Mendenall Lamb Mrs. Thompson was born in Indiana VV. married to Mary A. Edgerton, residing in Fremont Co., Iowa), Lydia E., Samuel .].. David F.,John Dr. T studied medicine with Dr. Andrew Mathis, of the G. (died when two \ :ars of age and Susanna. Eclectic school at New London. Ind.; in lS.'il. be moved to Dallas Co., Iowa; practiced bis profession 'it settled on a firm nearlronton, five years, and then moved to Sauk Co., Wis., in June, 1859 and remained there till 1865; then located at [ronton Village, and, in ISliT, came to Valton, town of Woodland; bought the saw-mill at this place, and. in 1868, added a run of stone to the mill, making a combined saw and grist mill of it; in 1877, bought bis farm. See. 33, where lie now resides; has 1'iHi acres of land. District Treasurer two terms, and is the present Clerk of District No He has n Scl In polities, Dr. T. is a thorough 6. Dr. and Mrs. T. are members of the United Brethren Church. and Christiana (Harris i

now Clinton

;

Greenback er.

JOHN VORHEES,

farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Wonewoc; son of Albert and Catherine (Hoalts) Vorhees; was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, April 22, 1829. Was married at Cambridge, Ohio, Oct. :;. Mrs. A', was born in 1850, to Mary A. Struble. daughter of Abraham and Mary A. McClurg) Struble ieorge. residing in Woodland Elizabeth, now Mrs. Thomas ruernsey !o., )hio they have six children Alpl.eus" W.. married to" Melinda Griffe, also of Woodland; William A. Eliza ('., now Mrs. John Sperrier, living in Woodland, and David R. Mr. V. came to Wisconsin in Slit;, and settled on Sec. 'I'l. Wood land, Sauk Co.. lias 160 acres of land has been Supervisor of Woodland one year and Assessor live years has been Director of School District No. 2, fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. V. are members of the Christian Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. I

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JAMES

WALLACE,

farmer, Sec. 26; P, 0. Oaks; son of Nathan and Susanna (GalE. was bo,-,, in Otsego Co., N. Y. Dec. 12, 1816. Was married, June 1. 1847, to Chloe M. sbe was born in Otsego Co., N. V Crcgory, daughter of Uriah and I'hila Motlelt liregory they have

lup) Wallace;

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

i-U had five children

— Ellen (deceased), Lydia (deceased), Mary E. (now Mrs. Samuel Bailey, of Woodland),

L. In May, 1855, they came to Sauk Co., Wis., and settled on Sec. 26, WoodIn politics, is a Democrat. has served his school district as Treasurer. he has 135 acres of land

Edwin G. and Emily land

;

TOWN OF MERR MACK. BATHASER BOEGNER,

was a leading citizen and farmer. See. 5; P. 0. Merrimack burn in Bavaria, Germany, May 19, 1819 he remained in Bavaria until he was in his 15th year, then went to Austria, living there until 1849, then came to this country, and married in Roxbury, Mass.. Miss Margaret Qerstner; they came to Wisconsin in 1854, settling in the town of Merrimaek. Sauk Co., where Mr. Boegthey have since resided on their farm of 82 acres, which is finely improved and well located. ner, has been elected to many local offices, including that of Justice of the Peace, which position he fills at Politically, he acts with the Republican party. Religiously, he is a Free-Thinker. present writing. ;

;

ABRAHAM COLBFRN,

farmer, See.:;:; P. 0. Merrimack; born in Erie Co., N. Y.. in his parents removed to Canada, when he was 8 or 10 years of age. He was married to Mary Comborn in Canada. He came to Sauk Co., about 1854, and settled in the town of Merrimaek settled on his present farm in 1867; Mr. Colburn has six sons and three (laughters; his farm contains 1 T acres

1824

;

fort,

ADAM ESCHENBACH, farmer,

P. 0. Merrimack; is a native of Bavaria, Gerhe remained in Bavaria, until the year 1846, then came to this country, and Sec. 5;

born April 2, 1842 they resided in Boston until the autumn of 185 I. then married in Boston, Mass., Miss Barbara Gerstner came to Merrimack, Sauk Co., Wis., which has been their home since they have two children Frank and Alexander the former is married, and is engagedjin farming in Merrimack the latter carries on his father's

many

;

—

;

farm, and is a young man of much enterprise; Mr. Eschenbacb owns 12(1 acres of land, well improved; he has been a member of the Merrimack Town Board of Supervisors, and was School Treasurer of his district for

twelve years.

<iiEOK(iE FRESE, farmer, Sec. 17

P. 0.

;

Sauk City

;

is a

native of Germany; was born in

the village of Berndorf, in October, 1825, where he remained until the year 1851, then came to the United States, locating in the town of Merrimack, Sauk Co., Wis., and has been closely identified with the inter-

He married in Merrimack, Miss Nanette Goette they since, officially and otherwise. Christine, wife ofCharlesGrjf.nl' Merrimack; Bertha, George, Ida and Willhave five children, viz. At present writing, Mr. Frese is a member of the Town Board of Supervisors, a position he has iam In his he has been School Treasurer in the district where he resides eleven years. filled for three years native country, he served three years in the army. Himself and wife are members of the Lutheran Church he takes a lading part in the public affairs of his town, his farm consists of 90 acres, and is well improved and is a public spirited citizen.

est of that town

;

JOHN

GABER,

farmer, Sec. 5; P. Merrimack son of John and Barbara Gaber; he J. was born in Wiirteniberg, b.-rniauy, in 1846; came with his parents to this country in 1848; his lather Mr Gaber was married to Emma Burkhart they town of Merrimack, where he now lives. farm contains 5 have Paulina shild ;

(

settled in the

;

— CARL GRAF, farmer;

;

0. Merrimaek

was born in Waldeck. Germany, Feb. 2, 1842; he came to Wi ..,. -in in 1^68, and settled in Merrimack, Sauk Co.. and married then' in 1874, Miss C. Frese, they have three children Hilda. Charlie and Fresi daughter a leading citizen of Merrimaek Mr. Graf owns 100 acres of land. P.

;

—

;

JOH\ D. JONES, the leading merchant of Merrimack, was born in

1856, he

where

Bertie Vansice

;

Wisconsin, and in L872 engaged in business in ieii iii building up a large and lucrative trade. J. Claude.

thej have one child

—

HERMAN KTNZ, farmer: P.O.

Lebanon, N. H., in 1849; the village of Merrimaek. Sauk Co., Be married in Barabbt), Wis., Miss in

Prairie du Sac was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1828; in the town ot Merrimaek, Sauk Co., Wi»., the same year, where Merrimaek. Mi - Man Bauer; thej have three children -August, llattie Mr. Kiuizownsa well-improved farm of 2o acres, and is one of the well-to-do farmers isident for thirty-four years. He takes a of the town of Merrimack, in which town he has iffices. He trades fair. part in the educational affairs of the town, and has filled in

;

1846, he came to this country, locating i\.e

iii

n -riod.

—

iii

TOWN OF MERRIMACK.

WILLIAM LEISER. fanner; P. 0. Merrimack

735

was bom in Baden, Germany, Nov. 17, 1838 in 350, he came to this country with his parents, John and Caroline Leiser, both natives of Baden Wis., when' William, Sank the subject of this notice, remained Co., they settled in the town of Sumter, He until 1864 in which year he removed to the town of Merrimack, which has been his home since. Charlie, Willie, Susan, Louise, married in Sauk City. Wis.. Mis, Susan Mueller; they have eight children In polities, Mr. Leiser owns a finely improve! farm of L60 acres. ('aniline. George, Robert and Freddie. he is a Democrat. His father is still a resident of Sumter his mother is deceased. ;

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JIATHIAS LEUSER, stone mason and plasterer, Sec. 5 Leuser,

P.O. Merrimack; son of John who came to Sauk Co.. from Germany, in 1851 family lived iu Sauk City for a few months, then where his father now lives: the family consisted of seven children, only three ;

;

settled in the town of Sumter,

-nis of

whom are living.

Mr. Leuser was married to Maria E. Gate; has six children

— three boys and

prominent citizen of Merrimack, was born in Hampden. Geauga Co.. J. B. O^UItwIwLE, iu 1841, he removed, with his parents, to La Fayette, Walworth Co., Wis., where he Ohio, March 4, 1830 remained until about 1850, then came to Merrimack, where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock dealing. During the war of the rebellion, lie enlisted in Merrimack, in Co. C, I2d W. V. I.; was iu iu Merrimack, hi' has been elected active service, and was honorably discharged at Madison, Wis., in 1805 local offices. He married, in Merrimack, Miss Harriet, daughter of Michael Quiggle, an esteemed she was born in Hampden, Ohio; they have one son Eugene citizen, and an early settler of that town his farm is pleasantly located Politically, Mr. Quiggle is an earnest supporter of the Republican party E. His father, .lames Quisle, was a native of Pennsylvania he married, in Hampden and finely improved. Co., Hannah M. Bartholomew, a native of Connecticut; they .ame to Wisconsin in 1841, lived in Walworth Co. until 1850, then moved to La Crosse Co., Wis., where he died in about 1874; she is still a resident of that county; one of their sons. Nelson, a brother of the subject of this sketch, was a volunteer in the 8th W. V. I. in the war of the rebellion, was wounded at Corinth, and died of said wound at the home of his parents in La Crosse Co. the records of his company show he was a good soldier and a genial a

;

—

;

comrade.

MICHAEL QUIGGLE, farmer, Sec. 4

;

P. O. Merrimack.

Mr. Quiggle was horn in Penn-

1805; his parents removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, when he was 4 years of age he lived in Ohio till 1848, when he removed to Walworth Co., Wis., where he lived till 1S50, when he came to Sauk He was married, in Ohio, to Miss Olive Hall, of Ohio Co. and settled on the farm which be now owns Harriet, her parents removed from Connecticut to Ohio at an early day; Mr. Quiggle has six children be was born iu 1845 Henry, Lenora, Franklin, Delos and Harlow; Delos still resides at the homestead ted February. 1865, in the I'.Mh W. V". I., served till close of the war, and was mustered out of Lawservice November, 1865: he was married to Katie Stiver, of Sauk Co.; they have two children two other sons. Henry and Franklin, served during the rebellion iu the 2d W. V. rence D. and Candas

sylvania, in

;

—

;

—

;

Mr. Quiggle's farm contains 160 acres.

FRED REUSLER, farmer, Sec 8; P. O. Sauk City; was born

in Waldeck, Germany, in 1817 he came to this country in 1S48, settling in Wisconsin the same year; he has been a resident of they have four lie was married to Miss Matilda Seusner Merrimack the greater part of the time since. Mr. Reusler served in the army of his native country children, viz., Robert, Amanda, Selma and Fred about three year.-; he owns 120 acres of land, desirably located and well improved. ;

;

AMOS TODD,

Mr. Todd was born in the town of P. O. Merrimack. retired fanner. Sec. 23 when IU years of age, he removed to Friendship. Allegany V.. Oct. 2, 1804 where he whs married to Harriet Pratt (deceased), born in the town of Simmers, Tolland Co., Conn.; he lived in Allegany Co. about three years; he then removed to Covington. Cenesee Co.; he afterward returned to Homer, where he remained three years he removed to Michigan in 1828. where he lived several years thence to Geneva, Ashtabula Co.. Ohio, where he lived twenty years; he came to his wife died in the fall of 1805. Mr. Todd had Wisconsin in 1853 and settled on bis present farm seven daughters and three sons, five daughters and one son are still living Hiram J.; Mrs. Peninah Austin, in Ohio; Mrs. Harriet L. Coats; Mrs. Pratt, resides in Connecticut; Mrs. Mandura A. Almira A. Fisher, in Ohio, and Mrs. Vienna M. PremQ. Hiram J. was born December, 1829; he marDuring his life, Mr. Todd has made himself a ried Charlotte Coats; he now owns the homestead. heme in four States of the Onion, and planted an orchard in each State; he recently made a visit to each of these farms during that fall, he ate apples from trees that he had planted in four different States

Homer, Cortland Co., X.

;

Co.,

;

this

a fact that

but few men are permitted to realize.

—

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

736

D. C. TODD, farmer, Sec. 33; P. 0. Merrimack

son of M. G. Todd, a native of the State of to Dane Co., about 1854, and settled where his son now lives; his father now he was married to Miss Emma Crosby. Mr. D. C. Todd was born July 1'7. 1856 The homestead farm which Mr. Todd and his brother now conducts contains 170 acres. June, 1880. farmer, of Merrimack, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1819 (ierstin IS 111, he came to the Tinted States, locating in Boston, Mass., where he married Miss Theresa ner thev came to Wisconsin in 1854, settling in the town of Merrimack, Sauk Co., where they have manages parents and the Henry, who resides home with his have one son, at since thev made their home Mr. Weigand owns S3 acres of valuable land, finely improved and desirably located. farm.

New York, who lives in

;

rain.'

Columbus.

;

BERNARD WEICJAND,

;

NORJIAN WOOD, farmer, Sec. 28;

Mr. 1 was bom in Cave, Co 0. Merrimack. he cam.' to Wisconsin a child; Mr. Wood has been twice married he has eight children, three 1854, and settled where he now He is present Chairman of the Town Board, his farm by first marriage and five children by present wife.

N. Y.. in

( i

his

parents removed to

1'.

Tompkins Co., when he was

lives.

;

contains 80 acres.

TOWN OF HONEY CREEK. JAMES BUCKLEY, farmer, Sec. 25 P. O. Black Hawk was born ;

;

County Tipperary,

1825; when he was about 1 year old, his parents emigrated to the Quebec District. Canada, where he remained until 1856; in which year he came to Wisconsin, locating in the town oi Hone} Creek. Sauk Co., which has been his home since; he has held various local offices, including that of Town Super He married, near Quebec, visor; he owns a desirably located aud well-improved farm of 160 acres. Canada. Miss Elizabeth Crotty, a native of the city of Quebec; their children are Jeremiah A., James Thomas R William, Henry, Edwin, Cathrine, Mary J. and Elizabeth. Mr. Buckley, in politics, acts with he takes a deep interest in educational matters, aud is alive to everything tending to the Democrat party Ireland, in

».

;

enhance the public interests of his town.

HON. rERICH I1EMMI,

P. O. Black Hawk; was born in Churwalden, Canton Graubunden. Switzerland, June 14, 1829; lie came to Wisconsin m 1848. locating in the town of Honey Creek. Sauk Co.. which lias been his home since; he was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 187U has been several times elected a member of the board oi' Town Supervisors, in Homy Creek, and has held He married, in Honey Creek. K izabeth Joos. Children are Anna. the offices .if Assessor and Treasurer. Mr. Hemmi and wife are members of the Stephen II.. Martin, George, Caroline, John Ulrich and Peter, Evangelical Association ofNorth America; he owns a well improved farm of 137 acres ofland. In politics. ;

he acts with the Republican party.

FRANl'IJS JIAiwERLEIX, a prominent citizen of the town of Honej Creek, was born in in L 850, he came he recen ed a liberal education in early life 1855; then came to the town of Honey Creek, Sauk Co., and Chairman and member lit' public that since; he was interests of town various with the been identified lie married, in the Board of Supervisors several years, besides filling a number of other local offices. lolm. In politics. Mr. Magerlein acts with the Honey Creek, Miss Jane Quirk they have one child ]i He owns a well-located and valuable farm of 200 acres of land; is a public-spirited mocratic pan v.

liar-, Germany, June I, 1841 Milwaukee. Wis. residing there until

Meckl

;

],as

;

and enterprising

—

citizen.

HEXRV OCHSNER,

a leading citizen and farmer of the town of Honey Creek. Sauk Co., in Nanuikun. ('anion Zurich. Switzerland. Nov. 20, 1825; in early life, he received a libami read law in Cster. the countj seat of Zurich, where he practiced in the lower courts several years; in 1849, he came to Wisconsin, settling in the town of Honey Creek. Sauk Co., and has, Since that lime taken a leading part in all of its public interests; he was Treasurer of Sauk Co. ill the years 1857 58, County Commissioner on drainage in I860, Chairman of the Town Board a number of years, Town Treasurer several times, and has taken an active part in the educational interests, having, at In L853, offices, always working for tie- advancement of the school system. various times, tilled scl she was hom Mr. Ochsnei returned to the land of his nativity, and married there Miss Juditha Hot tiger

Wis., was horn u,

;

they have five children— Henry A., John Canton Zurich, Switzerland, July 13 L832 Mr. Ochsner owns over one section of land, finely improved. Louise, Edward and Emma J.

Richterweil,

.V.

;

in\V\

737

OF SUMTEK.

TOWN OF SUMTER. O W. CARPENTER,

son of John and Sarah P. 0. Prairie du Sac farmer, Sec. 14 I'll 1 1 Francis Carpenter; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1855 and located in Sumter, Sauk Co.; located on the farm where he now resides in the spring of 1865; owns 203 acres of land; resides on a heautiful farm well improved. Born farm of 120 acres, five and a half miles from the village of Prairie du Sac in Wales, Brie Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 183(1; remained in New York until he was 22 years of age, when he ;

;

went to Illinois and engaged in farming; after three years, he returned to New York, and, remaining one He married Eliza MuGinnis, daughter of William and Jane Kyle McGinnis, year, came to Wisconsin. He has held had one child— James. R., born July 1'-', ISCl: in Sumter, Sauk Co., Wis., Oct. 20, 1857 Mrs. Carpenter was born in Baragh, County Tyrone, the offices of Supervisor and District Treasurer. emigrated to America with her parents in 1847 and settled in Massena, St. LawIreland. July 27, lS'.Y.\ rence Co., N. Y. the father of Mrs. Carpenter was born Oct. 13, 1800, and died Sept. 7, 1876; the mother of Mrs. Carpenter was born about 1796, and died April 10, 1876; the father of Mr. Carpenter was born June 25, 1808, at Pompey Mill. Onondaga Co., N. Y., and died Nov. 28, 1S74; the mother of Mr. Carpenter was born Jan. 7. 1811, in Chenango Co., N. Y., and is still living in Wales, Erie Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter belong to the Free Will Baptist Church. farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Prairie du Sac; son of Fredrick and Mary I RLI>RI< I* Sanborn Coburn came to Wisconsin in August, 1855, and located in Kingston, now Sumter, Sauk Co. located on the farm where he now resides in 1867; owns 102 acres of land; resides on a well-improved Born in Greenwood, Oxford farm of 80 acres, two and a half miles from the village of Prairie du Sac. Married Harriet Verrill, daughter of Daniel and Eunice Cordwell Verrill, Jan. Co., Me Dec. 21, 1817. who is at home, and a memStephen Oscar— one child— Oxford had in Greenwood, Me. 1848, Co., 21, ber of the Good Templars' Society. He has held the offices of District Clerk three years and District Mr. and Treasurer three years; is a member of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Merrimack. ;

;

COBURN,

;

Mrs. Coburn attend the Universalist Church.

WILLIAM DEVINE, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Prairie du Sac; son of Bernard and Lucy came to Wisconsin about 1853 located in Baraboo, Sauk Co. located where he now Married Maggie E. Mather, daughter of James 1856; born Jan. 14, 1846, in Erie Co., Penn. Mr. Devine was in the army and Sarah B. Cox Mather, in Sumter; had two children— C. A. and Lulu. participated in all the battles of his as member of Co. F, 11th W. V. I. mustered on Oct. 2, 1861 company, particularly those of Jackson Champion Mills, and was wounded at Vicksburg May 22, 1S63,^ he also participated in battles of in left leg; April 9, 1865, was wounded in right groin at Fort Blakely Mobile Bay, Edward Station, Black River Bridge; was mustered out of service in October, 1865.

McCoray Devine

;

resides in

;

HENRY J. FAMIM, farmer, Sec. 10 P. O. Prairie du Sac

son of William and Lydia came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1843; located in Sumter, Sauk Co. located on farm Owns 236 acres of land resides on a beautiful where he now resides, in Sumter, also spring of 1867. Born July 31, farm of 176 acres, six miles from the village of Prairie du Sac; farm well improved. When 5 years of age, he, with his parents, mov«d to Stark Co., Ohio, where 1831, in Erie Co., Penn. David and Levina of daughter Married Elizabeth Keutner, he remained until he came to Wisconsin. Eddie J. Ketitner, in Sumter, Feb. 10, 1856 had five children— Ida L., who died May 17, 1865 the office of has held Mr. Farnum Jennie M. and Charles H Emma J., who died Aug. 14, 1868, District Clerk for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Farnum belong to the Methodist Church. ;

;

T. Randall;

;

ISAAC GIBBS,

farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Prairie du Sac; son of Gill and Polly (Moore) Gibbs; was born in Rutland, Worcester Co., Mass.. July 20, 1814; remained there until he was 26 years of age, engaged in farming and brick-making; came to Wisconsin in 1840, and located in Sumter, Sauk Co.; owns 440 acres of land resides on an excellent farm of 160 acres, seven miles frnm the village of Prairie du Sac; in 1849, he made an overland trip to California; was three and a half months making the trip; while in California he was engaged in gold mining; returned to Wisconsin about 1852. he carried the household goods across Mr. Gibbs dug the grave for the first person that died in Sumter the bluffs for the first white woman who located in Baraboo; he was Chairman of the first Hoard of Super;

;

visors elected in the township of

Kingston (now Sumter).

of Thomas and JOHN M. HIGHLAND, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Prairie du Sae; sonmonths when

Eliza A.

(Grow) Highland

;

born in

Pierpont, N. H.; remained

there until he was 6

uld,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

738

he went with his parents to Bradford, Orange Co., Vt., where he was engaged in farming till he became 20 years of age, when he went to Rutland, Vt., and engaged as clerk in the freight department of the Rutland & Burlington R. R. for two years was conductor of passenger train three years from Rutland he went to Dover Plains, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and was employed there as station agent was conductor of passenger train in New York for two and a half years, when he came to Wisconsin in July, 1867, and engaged in farming, locating where he now resides, in Sumter, Sauk Co.; he owns 120 acres of wellimproved land, six miles from Prairie du Sac. Dec. 10, 1861, he married Janet E. Harkness, in Rutland, Vt.; she died Dec. 1, 1865. Dec. 1, 1868, he married Mary L. Shell, daughter of David and Ada E., who was born Feb. Lovina (Kentner) Shell, in Sumter, Sauk Co., they have had two children Bevie L., born May 30, 1878. Mr. Highland has held the office of 8, 1871, and died May 16, 1877 Justice of the Peace six years, Town Treasurer four years, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one year. The following letter Mr. Highland received while railroading: "New York, May 24, 1864. To Whom it May Concern: During my connection with the Rutland & Burlington Railroad as Superintendent, the bearer, J. M. Highland, was employed on that road for several years as clerk of the freight department and conductor of passenger trains, and performed all his duties to my entire satisfaction. I cordially recommend him as a young man of good character and reputation, industrious, of good capacity, strictly E. A. honest and reliable, and well qualified to give satisfaction to any one who may require his services. Chapin, Supt. N. Y. & Harlem R. R. ;

;

—

;

—

JOHN HOOVER, deceased; father of Sigel R. Hoover; born Plain, Franklin Co., Ohio, located on his claim in Sumter, Sauk came to Wisconsin in 1836, located in Dane Co. Married Arietta Rutherford in entered 240 acres of land in 1848. had four children; his wife died about 1850, in Sumter. He was married again, to Sigel R. Hoover, a very Rosaline Jackson, about 1850, in Sumter had six children, two of whom died. The first 4th of July celebration enterprising young man, is now living in Sumter, engaged in farming. it was here also that the people of Sumter gave a dinner to in Sumter was held at John Hoover's farm the first company (Co. A, 6th W. V. I.) that went to the war from Sauk Co.

Aug. 24, 1812 Co., in

;

the spring of 1830; he

1840;

;

MRS. ELIZABETH JAMESON, widow of Albert Jameson, and daughter of John and Anna Smith Hoover; farming, Sec. 3

came to Wisconsin in P. O. Baraboo; owns 243 acres of land located at Mineral Point, remained eighteen months, then located where she now resides, in Sumter (at that time Kingston), in 1839 born in Plain, Franklin Co., Ohio, June 19, 1818 was married had six children Temperto Albert Jameson, son of John and Clarissa Barnes Jameson, Nov. 25, 1838 ance (who died in September, 1864), Orren, Isabel, Salmi. Wilbur W. (who died in infancy), and Blanche. Orren Jameson was in the army, in Co. K, 17th W. V. I. enlisted Nov. 4, 1863 was killed near Atthey had lanta Ga., Aug. 7, 1864. Isabel married James B. Fowler July 12, 1861, in Sumter, Sauk Co. Mr. three children Zaidie, an infant who died unnamed, and Lizzie J. Fowler, born Feb. 1, 1872. Fowler is the son of John and Susan Allison Fowler; born Nov. 9. 1840, in Hancock Co., Va. came to removed to Sumter in 1855. Enlisted in the Wisconsin in November, 1854, and located in Sauk City was mustered in Juue 16, 1861, and served till 1862, when army, in Co. A, 0th W. V. I., May 9, 1861 participated in all the battles of he was discharged; re-enlisted Nov. 2, 1863, in Co. H, 17th W. V. I. in 1864, he was promoted his company, particularly Sherman's campaign during the siege of Atlanta He belongs to the Freemasons. Blanche Jameson to Sergeant, and finally discharged July 26, 1865. married Mr. Campbell, at Kelton, Utah Ter., July 13, 1*79. Mr. Campbell is a merchant in Idaho TerriAlbert Jameson, deceased, husband of Mrs. Jameson, subject of this sketch, was born in Wilkestory. as he grew up, he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed barre, Luzerne Co., Penn., Aug. 15, 1809 he was one of the first settlers of Sumter, Sauk Co., havthis occupation more or less during his lifetime during ing located herein 1839. In 1851, he made an overland trip to California returned in 1852 his life he crossed the plains eight different times; he has held the offices of Town Treasurer, Assessor and District Clerk was one of the County Commissioners to locate the county seat, and chose Baraboo durJune, 1836

;

—

;

—

;

ing his lifetime, he was a very exemplary man, admired and respected by all; he died after a short illness Nov. 17, 1875, in the town of Sumter.

ROSWEEE JOHNSON,

farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Prairie du Sac son of William and Mahala (Thomas) Johnson; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1840; located in Sumter; located where he L858 owns 140 acres of land; resides on a farm of 100 acres, five and a half miles from the Married Mary McGinnis, daughter of William village of Prairie du Sac born in Ohio Sept. 15, 1834. and Jane Kyh) McGinnis, in Baraboo, March 13, 1857 had six children William A., James T., who died June 16, 1861, in Sumter, Sauk Co.; Henry J., John R., Kate M., Edmond G. The father and resides in

;

—

;

TOWN OF SUMTER.

739

mother of Mrs. Johnson, also Mrs. Johnson, were born in County Tyrone, Ireland emigrated to America from there went to Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where they rein 1M7 and settled in Canada mained until they came- to Wisconsin; the father of Mrs. Johnson was born Nov. 13, 1800; died Nov. 9, ISTii Mr. Johnson has held the mother of Mrs. Johnson was born July, 1788; died April 10, 1876. the office of School Director has been Director of Sauk Co. Stock Breeders' Association is also a member of the " Grange." Mr. and Mrs. Johnson belongs to the Methodist Church. ;

;

WILLIAM JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 15; P. 0. Prairie du Sac son of Koswell B. and ;

Mary Graves) Johnson came to Wisconsin in 1836 and located in Belmont, Grant Co. (

;

came to Sauk Co.

about 1840 and located where he now resides, in Sumter; owns -320 acres of land resides on a beautiful farm five miles from the village of Prairie du Sac; farm well improved; born in Troy, N. Y., Sept. 2, 1790 when 2 years of age Mr. Johnson, with his parents, moved to Pennsylvania; remained in Pennsylvania until he was 21, when he emigrated to Ohio, where he engaged in farming until he came to Wisconsin in 1836. Married Mary Tillberry September, 1811, in Luzerne Co., Penn. had four children Married again to Mahala Thomas, daughter his wife died about, 1828. Karv, Mary, Elizabeth, Ruthan John, who died .March of Michael ami Elizabeth Watz) Thomas, Dec. 18, 1829; had eight children ;

;

— 1864; Roswell George W.; Thomas, who died Mr. Johnson's sons were the army — William

(

in 1849; Will18, 1854; Benjamin, who died April 21, in iam A., Joseph D., James M. A., Co. F. 11th three of W. V. 1. George W., Co. K, 23d W. V. I. Joseph, 47th W. V. I. Benjamin, 3d Calvary. George W. was color bearer of his company was wounded in the knee, and is now farming in Storm Lake, Iowa. James M. Johnson, youngest son of Mr. Johnson, subject of this sketch, was born May 25, 1851, in is now Sumter; attended the Prairie du Sac Academy, and Northwestern Business College at Madison managing farm for his father. William Johnson, the subject of this sketch, assisted in the erection of the was a sub contractor he building occupied by the first Legislature of Wisconsin at Belmont, Granc Co. plowed the first furrow in the township of Sumter, and has the historic plow still in his possession. The mother of Mr. Johnson died in Pennsylvania in 1809 the father died in Sumter in 1850 the mother of Mr. Johnson has held the offices Mrs. Johnson died in 185") in Ohio; the father died in 1863 in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson belong to the Methodist Church. of District Clerk and School Director. ;

;

JOHN K Keller

;

son of Eugene F. and Maria Smith P. O. Prairie du Sac 1. 1. 1.r.K. farmer. Sec. 23 came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1857 located in Kingston, now Sumter, Sauk Co. located on ;

;

owns 135 acres of land resides on a beautiful farm the farm where he now resides in the spring of 1869 three miles from Prairie du Sac farm well improved born in Albany, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1841, where he Married Mena Thillkee, daughter of remained until he was 16 years of age, when he came to Wisconsin. ;

;

—

;

John and Mary Thillkee, in Sumter, Jan. 20, 1868 had seven children, viz., John, Olive, Ulysses, Eugene, Mr. Keller was in the army as Lawrence and Benjamin, who died in November, 1878; and Leo. member of the 6th Wisconsin Battery of light artillery was mustered out Oct. 2, 1861, at Racine, Wis. ;

;

participated in siege of Island No. 10; siege of Corinth, battles of Corinth, Jackson, Raymond, Hill and Rook Springs; was wounded at Champion Hill May 16, 1863, in the right hand and

Champion arm; was

discharged Oct. 10, 1864, when he went to Arkansas, in the Government employ, and remained until 1865, when he returned to Wisconsin and after spending one year in the saw-mill business at Chippewa, Mr. Keller is a charter member and Director of the Farmers' engaged in his present occupation, farming. Mutual Fire Insurance Co., of Merrimack, organized November, 1*72. and representing five townships, viz., Merrimack, Sumter, Stoney Creek, Troy and Prairie du Sac; has held the offices of Assessor, District ;

Mrs. Keller belongs to the Evangelical Church.

Treasurer, Clerk and Director.

Al'^wl'STI'S lil'NCE, farmer, Sec. 24 ;'P. O. Prairie du Sac

;

son of Frederick and Henrietta

Kunce; came to Wisconsin about 1852; located in Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co.; located where he now resides in the spring of 1877 owns 96 acres of land resides two and a half miles from the village of Married Mary Nettle, daughter of Gideon Prairie due Sac; born in Butler Co., Penn., May 3, 1835. and Sarah Shoe Nettle, July 4, 1859, in Merrimack, Sauk Co.; had two children Clara and William. Mr. Kunce learned the trade of wagon-maker in Prairie du Sac, which occupation he followed for fifteen Mrs. Kunce was born years; since 1877, has been engaged in farming, in connection with wagon-making. in Ohio; came to Wisconsin with her parents in 1854; located in Baraboo, then removed to Merrimack. The father of Mrs. Kunce died June 21, 1876, in Baraboo her mother is still living in Green Bay. The ;

;

—

;

father of Mr.

K. died

March, 1857,

Merrimack, where his mother

still

resides.

Mr. and Mrs.

Kunce belong to the Advent Church.

JOSEPH LANTCH, farmer, Sec. 22 (Morrison) Lanich

;

came

Wisconsin

May

son of Christian and Matilda 20, 1855, and located in Reedsburg, Sauk Co.; located ;

P. O. Prairie du Sac

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

740

where he now resides in Sumter December, 1868; owns 280 acres of land; farm well improved born Oct. remained in Virginia till he was 19 years of age, when he went to 15, 1822, in Rockingham Co., Va. Clearfield Co., Penn., and engaged in teaching school connected with farming, which he followed till 1855, when he came to Wisconsin. Married Constantia Orr, in Clearfield, Penn., in March, 1847 had one child, Cevessa, who died in October, 1849 wife died in January, 1850. Married Susan Collins, daughter of John and Anna (Smith) Collins, in Clearfield Co., Penn., in January, 1S54 had eleven children Allyn, Mary, Connie, Annie, Ulysses, who died Sept. 22, 1865 Joseph W., who died Oct. 12, 1865 Ada, Nina and Tina (twins) Tina died in infancy Bertha and Arthur. Mr. Lanich has held the offices of District Treasurer, Supervisor and Assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Lauich belong to the Methodist Church. ;

;

—

;

JAMES MATHER, farmer, Sec. 11

P. 0.

;

Prairie

du Sac; son of Jesse and Margaret

(Shively) Mather came to Wisconsin in April, 1853, and located in Jefferson, Green Co. came to Sauk located in Sumter Co. in the fall of 1853 owns 160 acres of land resides on alarm of 80 acres, six miles from Prairie du Sac; born in Greenwood, Columbia Co., Penn., May 27, 1825. Married Sarah B. Cox, daughter of William and Mary ( Battin) Cox, Dec. 16, 1847, in Greenwood, Columbia Co., Penn.; had ;

;

—

William H., Margaret E., Jesse A., Horace, Mettler, James E., who died Aug. 8, 1877 Mary A., John C, Carrie L., Samuel G., Prank M., and infant, unnamed, died Dec. 24, 1868. William twelve children

;

H. was in the late war with Co. G, 42d W. V. I.; enlisted Aug. 26, 1864, and discharged in June, 1865; is now in Minnesota, engaged in milling business. Mr. Mather belongs to both Masons and Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Mather are members of the M. E. Church.

CHARLES PAYNE,

farmer, See. 10; P. O. Prairie Du Sac; son of Scammons and Lucy (Stearns) Payne; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1847, located in Dane, Dane Co., and came to Sauk

March, 1849, and located in Sumter located where he now resides, in Sec. 10, in February, 1872 owns 644 acres of land, and resides on an excellent farm of 164 acres the farm is well-improved he was born in Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 16, 1*24, and remained in New York until he was 23 years of age, when he came to Wisconsin. He married Opha Squires, daughter of Ezekiel and Percy (Hoadley) Squires, in Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Dec, 25, 1840 William, had four children who married Percis Dennitt June 1, 1877; Jefferson, who married Betty Hedges Feb. 22, 1872; Isaac, who married Ida Barstow March 22, 1876; Elizabeth, who married Orren McGilvery Dee. 7, 1S75. The father of Mr. Payne was born in Massachusetts, in 178S, was in the war of 1812, and died in New York in 1865 the mother of Mr. Payne was born in Vermont, 1790 died in New York in 1858. Mr. Payne has held the offices of District Treasurer, School Director and Supervisor Mr. Payne belongs to the " Masons." Co.,

;

—

;

RACHEL POPJOY, farming,

Sec. 2; P. O. Prairie

Du Sac; widow of Daniel Popjoy, and

daughter of Heury and Catherine (Whitbeck) Rivenberg came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1855, and located in Sumter, on a farm where she now resides owns 80 acres of land, well improved she was born in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y. was married to Daniel Popjoy Oct. 1853, in New York City hag four children Henrietta, Jessie Josephine, Richard K.. Isaac Gr. Henrietta married Howard Mather June Mr. Pop5, 1875, in Sumter; has one child— Irvin; Jessie married Mettler Mather March 19, 1880. joy (deceased), was in the late war, connected with the navy mi the Mississippi served ten months in the last year of the war, and received, while in the navy, an injury, which finally caused his death Jan. 28, 1-878, in the town of Sumter Mrs. Popjoy is a member of the Baptist Church. ;

;

:'.,

;

—

;

JASON

S. SO,UIRKS, farmer, See. 8; 1'. 0. Prairie du Sao son of Ezekiel and Percy V.. lice. I, 1837, where be remained until he (Hoadley) Squires; born in Massena, St. Lawrence •'".. came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1850, ami located in Dane. Dane Co.; came to Sauk Co. in December, 1850, and located where he now resides in Sumter owns 1 l(t acres of land, and resides on a wellimproved farm, nine miles from Prairie du Sac. lie married Sarah E. Stone, daughter of Thomas S. and Sarah P. (Treadwell) Stone, March I, 1862, in Sumter: they have bad eight children Ulysses S., Sherman T., l'\, Nellie M Sheridan, Charles II., Rutherford and Sarah E. Mr. Squires has held the office ol' District Treasurer six years. Mrs Squires was horn in July. 1843, and died Nuv. 24, 1878, in Sumter. his mother is still living. The lather of Mr. Squires died Oct. 24. L864 ;

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GEORGE W. WATERRURY, farmer, See.

1'. I.",; () Prairie du Sac; son of SoloL831, in the town of Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.; came to Wisconsin in 1853, and located where be nuv resides, in Sumter. Sauk Co.; resides on a 1" tiful, well improved farm, six miles from the village of Prairie du Sac. Married, Sept. 25, 1860, at Fort Atkinson. Jefferson Co., Wis., Jane B. Frissell, daughter ol' Caliph and Sarah (Eaton) Frissell

mon and Hannah (Schofield) Waloilmrv; born May

TOWN OF SUMTER

741

—

Mr. Waterbury lias held they have six children Clayton, Charles, Judson, Edwin, Irwin and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Waterburj are uie rubers of the Baptist the office of Town Superintendent of Schools. 110 land. Owns acres of well-improved Church.

GEORGE WEIRICH, farmer, See. 12

P. 0. Sauk City; son of Peter and Anna Treiber August, 1849, and located at Kenosha; came to Sauk Co. in 1851, and owns 140 acres of land resides on a beautiful farm, six miles from the village of Prairie du Sac; farm well improved. Born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 1, 1833; came to America in 1848. Married Nina Kuehm, daughter of Edward and Austina Erber Kuehra, Oct. 24, Mr. 1859, at Sauk City; they have had five children— Anna M., Edward, Louis, Emil, Charlotte. Weirich is a member of the Farmers' Fire Insurance Co. of Merrimack has held the office of School Di-

Weirich; came

Wisconsin

;

located where he now resides in

Sumter;

;

rector a number of years.

JOHN WEIRICH, farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Prairie du Sac son of Peter and Anna Treiber ;

Weirich; came to Wisconsin in August, 1849, and located in Kenosha, where he remained two years owns ISO acres of land and then came to Sauk Co., and located where he now resides in Sumter in 1851 resides on a well-improved farm of 100 acres, five and a half miles from the village of Prairie du Sac. Born came to America in 1848, with his parents." Married Dolly S. Young, in Baden, Germany, Oct. 18, 1840 they have had five children daughter of Peter and Sabrina Young, Dec. 25, 1866, in Sumter, Sauk Co.

;

— John

P., Cora

M., Mertie

as a member of Co. D, 9th

A, Albert and Minnie. Mr. Weirich was in the army

discharged in May, 1802. the office of District Clerk three years. longs to the Free-Will Baptist Church.

WALTER

;

enlisted Sept. 23, 1861,

W. V. I.; was mustered into the United States service in October, 1861, and He is a member of the Farmers' Fire Insurance Co. of Merrimack; has held Mr. Weirich belongs to the Presbyterians and Mrs. Weirich be-

WELCH, son of Moses and Anna (Robinson) Welch

.1.

;

farmer, Sec.

— P. ;

He came to Wisconsin, Sept. 15, 1852, and located in Dane, Dane Co. he came to O. Prairie du Sac. Sauk Co., March 16, 1867, and located where he now resides he owns 240 acres of land, seven miles Born Oct. 24, 1806, at Stanstead, Lower from Baraboo and Prairie du Sao the farm is well improved. He married Lydia Huntington, daughter of Zebulon and Keziah Canada, now Province of Quebec. Daniel, (Nichols) Huntington, June 20, 1830, in Russelltown, Lower Canada; he had twelve children ;

;

—

Moses, Alma, Rhoda, Maria, Alfred. Rufus, Persis, Barnabus, Albert, Anna, and one died in infancy. Alfred was in the army, Co. E, 11th W. V. I.; he enlisted September, 1861, and was killed at Ft. Blakely, Mobile, Ala. Barnabus was in the army, Co. C, 27th Iowa V. I., also was in the Indian war, and Moses was married to Lydia A. Smith, in the town of Bridge Creek, Eau through Texas with Custer. the infant, unnamed, died Dec. 19, 1873 Alfred E., Claire" Co., Wis., Dec. 5, 1872 he had four children Willis, Winnefred; he owns 160 acres of land in Buffalo Co., Wis., but resides on and manages a farm of his father. He belongs to the Methodist Church. Mr. Walter J. Welch and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School and Missionary Society. ;

;

ALBERT

WISWELL,

;

son of Benjamin and P. O. Prairie du Sac farmer, Sec. 27 C. Susan (Sawyer) Wiswell came to Wisconsin March 15. 1868; located in Prairie du Sac, where he now born in Newton, Middlesex Co., resides; owns 00 acres of land, four miles from village of Prairie du Sac Married Catharine Morrison, daughter of John and Nancy (Morrill) Morrison, April 5, 1870, in N. H. Rolling Prairie, Dodge Co., Wis. Has held the office of School Director. Mr. and Mrs. Wiswell belong to the Free- Will Baptist Church. ;

;

PETER

YOUNG,

farmer, Sec 24; P.O. Prairie du Sac; son of James and Saloma S. owns 120 acres of (Corner) Young came to Wisconsin in October, 1850, and located in Sumter, Sauk Co land; resides on a well-improved farm of 80 acres, three and a half miles from the village of Prairie du Marrieda Sabrin Gilman, daughter Sac; born in Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence Co., N. V., July 5, 1819. had six children— Dolly. Lottie, who died Aug. 10 of I. and Dolly (Atwood) Gillman, May 15, 1S12 Mr. Young has held the offices of District L848; .Mary, Frank, I5urt and Delia, who died in Iowa. Was Deacon of first Free-Will Baptist. Clerk, School Director, Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. ;

;

Church in Prairie du Sac, organized in 1864, and is which he was Chaplain for two years.

still

a member

;

a member of Sauk Co. Grange, in

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

742

TOWN OF FREEDOM. L. T. ALLBE, proprietor of sawmill at North Freedom; manufactures lumber, box and barrel heading; he was born in Windsor Co., Vt., July 26, 1845; came to Sauk Co. in 186S has served one year as Supervisor and three terms as Town Clerk. He was married, Oct. 11, 1868, to Miss Louise S. Whitcomb she was born in New York they have three children Sarah L., Adelia A. and Cora E. In politics, Mr. Allbe is a Republican. ;

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;

CHARLES

ARMSTRONG,

farmer, Sec. 27; has 80 acres; he was born in Sauk" Co., E. Wis., July 29. 1857 he has lived in Minnesota for thirteen years, but has now returned to his native county and settled on his farm. He was married, Dec. 31, 1879, to Miss Amelia Schellenberger she was born in Sauk Co., Wis., and is a member of .the Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. Armstrong is a Republican. ;

;

JOHN

BIERLEEY,

P. farmer, Sec. 4 (has 120 acres) he was born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 3, 1844; came to America in 1853 with his parents; they first located in Ohio, and came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1859. He was married in January, 1865, to Miss Sophia Ode she was born in Germany they have six children— Anna, Joseph, John D., Augusta, Lizzie and Martha. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bierlein are members of the Latter- Day Saints in politics, he is a Democrat. ;

;

<w.

W. It ,<MM1 I

retired

;

his time is occupied attending to his different interests, as he has sev-

eral farms and other property that

consumes a]l of his time; he was born in Bradford Co., Penn., Dec. 1 1 1822; he came to Greenfield, Sauk Co., Wis., in 1850, then to Barabooin 1855, and to Freedom in I860; he had bought land in this town in 1856, and commenced farming; in 1868, he, in company with E. Kimbel, built a saw-mill, and the same year he bought his partner out he has been very active in business, and has done a great deal for the improvement of the village it was by his earnest work and business >

;

skill

that induced the C.

& N. W. R. R. Co. to locate the depot at his village, as there were no buildings

amount at that time, and as they had already located a depot at Ableman's, only three miles from Bloom when he first came to Wisconsin he was very poor, and he deserves a great deal of when he had been here only a few months, he met with a severe accident he was engaged in scoring timber for his father-in-law's house, with another man, when the ax in the hands of this man struck Mr. Bloom on his right arm and nearly cut it off, and in this condition he worked on his farm, with that arm in a sling, and when his crop was harvested he took wheat to Milwaukee and sold it for 50 cents a bushel, and that was the way he got his first money what to any

the village of

;

credit for what he has done for himself and family

;

He was married Jan. 20, 1847, to Miss Harriet Willkinson she was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., April 12, 1824; they have had five children Deborah J., born June 29, 1848, and died March 20, 1857; Selinda D., March 3, 1853, who married Charles W. Clark William H., Dec. 11, 1854; James E., May 10, 1861, died in November, 1861 Hattie F., March 29, 1868. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bloom are members of the M. E. Church, and have been for more than thirty years; in politics, Mr. Bloom is a Republican. a contrast between those times and to-day!

—

;

CHARLES

BROW\,

brick and stone mason, North Freedom; he was born in New R. York Dec. 21, 1850; came to Sauk Co. 1871. He was married, Feb. 22, 1873, to Mary A. Pease; she was born in Dane Co., Wis. They have three children Matilda F.. Lewis and an infant not named. Mr. Brown, in politics, Republican.

—

R. (jr. CARPENTER, farmer, Section

15; has 541 acres of land he was born in Madison Co., N. F., June 24, L816; came to Wisconsin in 1842, and to Sauk Co., 1866. He was married 1838 to Miss Jane Bead; she was born in Pork State. They have three children Rollin B Oscar D. and Washington J. Mrs. Carpenter is a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church; in politics, Mr. Carpenter is a Republican. „ ,

—

CRATSEXBERdi,

farmer, Section 20; has III acres of land; he was born in Lewis l>. ii. L848 came to Richland Co., Wis., in 1850 with his parents, and to Sauk Co., in 1872. He was married Dec. 24, 1874, to Miss Ma\ Welton she was born in Sauk Co., Wis. They have three children In polities, Mr. Cratsenberg is Independent. Tressie M., Sarah M. and Birdie D.

Co., N. V.. Sept. 10,

;

—

T. S. ELLAS, presiding officer of the lodge of Good Templars at North Freedom. J. L. 4>llt TO\, dealer in agricultural implements, organs and sewing machines, North Freedom;

lie

was burn

Lincolnshire, England, July 13, ISIS;

came

America with his parents

TOWN OF FREEDOM.

743

then the mother and 1850, and located in New York, then moved to Michigan, where his father died family moved to Walworth Co., Wis., in 1852, and September, 1856, moved to Sauk Co.; in the spring He was married of 1877, Mr. Girton was elected Justice of the Peace; re-elected to second term 1879. Oct, 11, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Powell; she was born at Loekport, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1848; they have four children Mary J., William R,, John L. and an infaut not named. Mrs. Girton is a member of the ;

—

Latter

Day Saints; in politics, Mr. Girton is a Republican.

FRANK

GRAY,

does all kinds of proprietor nf paint and repair shop at North Freedom B. work in that line. He was born in Richland Co., Wis., March 24, I860 came to Sauk Co. with his parents in 1862; he started business at this point last July. came to farmer, Sec. 2; was born in Boone Co., 111., July 24, 1841 Sauk Co., Wis., with his parents, in 1848. Nov. 16, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 3d W. V. C, and served He was married, Feb. 10, 1867, to one year, when he was discharged on account of disability. George W., James F., Samuel J., Joshua T., John M., Miss Ann E. Loomis; they have eight children Jacob A., Mary A. and Martha E. Mr. and Mrs. Hackett are both members of the Latter Day Saints' His father, Samuel Hackett, was born in New Jersey Church in politics, Mr. H. is a Republican. April 14. 1805; he married, July 27, 1825, Miss Dency Terry; she was born in Ontario, N. Y.; they came to Sauk Co. in 1848; lie followed farming after they came to the State they had fifteen children, Samuel Hackett died Feb. 18, 1873; the widow married, June 26, 1879, ten are living, five deceased. John Hackett they are living at North Freedom. When they came to the county it was sparsely settled, and the privations that they had to contend with were many, but they struggled on and raised a large family; he owns 38 acres of land. They were both members of the Latter Day Saints, in which the old gentleman took a very active part during the last years of his life. ;

;

I'UlMi HACKETT,

;

—

;

JOSEPH LAMPORT, farmer, Sec. 20; was born Nov.- 10,

in West Penard, Somersetshire, England, 1S14; came to America in 1819 with his parents; he came to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1843, and

followed the carpenter business there up to 1855, when he came to Sauk Co., and, in 1866, he, in company He was with Mr. Delap, built the saw-mill at this place, and afterward sold his interest to his partuer. she was born in Pennsylvania; they have'nine married, Jan. 20, 1840, to Miss Marietta L. Demuth

—

;

George T., Mary J., Hattie A., James A., Clark and Clara (the twins), Ella J. Their son George T. enlisted in the 3d W. V. ('.. and Mrs. Lamport died Feb. 10, 1880. served till the close of the war. In politics, Mr. Lamport is a Republican. He has 80 acres in the home children

Priscilla E.,

and Grant. farm.

HENRY MAERTSKE, —

farmer, Sec. 9 was born in Prussia, Germany, Sept. 5, 1837, and came to America and to Sauk Co. February, 1809. He was married in January, I860, to Miss F. Reke they have six children Henry, August, Charles, Ferdinand, Minnie and Antonia. Mrs. Maertske died March 12. 1871 Mr. M. was married the second time, July, 1871, to Elizabeth Kreger. He is a memHe has 40 acres of land. ber of the Baptist Church in politics, a Republican. ;

;

E. MAXHAJI, farmer. Sec. 21

he was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., April 6, 1837 he came Wisconsin in 1846, and to Sauk Co. in 1856; located in Baraboo, and moved into Freedom Township 868. He was elected that year one of the Board of Supervisors, and served one year in 1870, was elected Town Clerk, and was elected every year for that office for seven years then he was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and served one year, and, in 1880, was elected to the same office he has taken a great interest in the temperance cause, and is the present presiding officer of the Maple Hill Lodge of Good Templars. He was married, July 13, 1857, to Mi-s Sarah J. Seely she was born in New York she is a member of the M. E. Church. In politics, he is a Republican. He has 60 acres of ;

;

tu in

;

land.

JOH\

XELMOX.

fanner. Sec. 21; be was born in Illinois April 15. 1846; came to F. IS, 1862, in Co. F, 3d W. V. C, and served till the close of the war. Hewas married October, 18(17, to Miss Ellen A. Delapp she was born in New York they have four children Orinna, Arthur H., John D. and Ethna L. Mrs. Nelson is a member of the M. E. Church. In politics, Mr. N. is a Republican.

Sauk Co., Wis., 1852, with his parents. Enlisted July

;

—

;

W. C. T. XEWEIili, druggist, stationery, perfumery, etc., in North Freedom; he was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Dec. 13, 1833; came to Dubuque, Iowa, 1854, and to Sauk Co., Wis., 1855 has did considerable surveying; was by appointment, County Surveyor for about one year. He was married, May 1 1856, to Miss Temperance Waddell she was born in the State of ndiana, and is the daughter of James and Betsey Waddell her parents came to Sauk Co., Wis., June, 1847 her ;

followed farming, and

;

— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

744

father was a very prominent man in the county at that time, as farmer, preacher and doctor

;

by his life and

industry, he gained many friends; he was born in the State of Virginia Feb. 16, 1800, and he died Feb. '.I, lSC.Y He was married_in 1821 to Temperance Cunningham, and there are three children living by that

—

William G., James M. and Margaret A. After the death of his first wife, he was married the second Henry, time to Miss Betsy A. Coverstone, March 3, 1831 she was born in Ohio; they had five children Mary E., Clarissa, Temperance, James H., Julia A. and Mary. Mr. Newell and wife have six children Alice A.. Eliza E., George A. and Herbert L. Mr. and Mrs. Newell are both members of the M. E. Church. In politics. Mr. N. is Independent. wife

;

—

WILUAM ODK,

farmer, Sees. 9 and 10; has 120 acres; he was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Nov. 5, 1848; he came to America and to Quincy, 111., 18G4. Enlisted in the fall, and the next spring he enlisted in Co. E, (i5th 111. V. I., and served till the close of the war. He was married, August, Emma, Albert 1871, to Miss Albertaner Mateke she was born in Germany; they have three children Both Mr. and Mrs. Ode are members of the German M. E. Church. In politics, he is G. and William.

—

;

Independent.

JOHN QUABfDT,

farmer, Sec. 16 he owns 40 acres he was born at Mecklenburg, Germany, He was married August, 1865, to Jan. 12, 1841 came to America and to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1867. Miss Louisa Frien she was born in Germany they have seven children -Sophia, John, Charles, Henry, Eliza, George and Joseph. They both are member's of the Latter Day Saints, and their daughter is a memIn politics, he is Independent. ber of the same church. ;

;

—

;

ELIJAH RICH,

he came to carpenter; was born in Worcester Co., Mass., Oct. 21, 1830 Co., Wis., 1848, to Adams Co., 1849, to Sauk Co. in the spring of 1873. He enlisted Sept. 21, 1864, in Co. K, 42d W. V. I., and was commissioned First Lieutenant; resigned near the close of the He was war. He was elected to fill a vacancy for Justice of the Peace, in 1878, and re-elected in 1879. they have seven children married in May, 1853, to Miss Mary E. Freer she was born in New York Mr. Rich is a member Libbie M., George W., Jennie P., Katie B., Nellie C, Louise B. and Charles S. of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics, he is a Republican. ;

Rock

;

GUSTAY SCHARNKE,

proprietor of the Neptune Mills, on Sec. 17 he was born in PrusGermany, Oct. 9, 1847 came to America with his parents in 1849, and to Sauk Co., Wis., 1863i and in 1876, took possession of the saw-mill, and in 1878, built the first grist-mill that was built in the he has served as Chairman of the Town Board for the last year. township, in addition to his saw-mill He was married, Oct. 17, 1866, to Miss Wilhelmine Sahler; she was born in Wurtemburg, Germany they Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association, and have one adopted son Gustav. in politics he is a Republican. sia,

;

—

AUGUST F. SCHELLENRERGER, farmer on Sec. 25; he was born Germany, Dec. 16, 1850

—

;

Wurtemburg,

came to America and to Sauk Co., Wis., 1856, with his parents.

He was mar-

L875, In Miss Eveline Hersinger she was born in Sauk Co., Wis. they have two children Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics Charles E. and John F. April

ried,

;

he is a Republican.

ADOLPH SCHELLENRERGER,

proprietor of blacksmith-shop, located at Neptune Wurtemburg, Germany, Nov. 23, 1856; came to America and to Sauk Co., Wis., 1857, with his parents; he learned his trade in Baraboo, with Charles Bender; he does horseshoeing In politics, he is a Republican. and general repairing.

Mills; he was born in

JOHN

W. SEIUS, farmer, Sec. 24; owns 77$ acres; born in Pommern, Prussia, Germany, May 28, 1819; came to America and settled in Sauk Co., Wis., in 1868. He was married February, Minna, to Mi- Minna Milke; she was born in Prussia, Germany; they have seven children Both he and his wife are members of the Augusta. Matilda, Hannah, Lena, Theresa and Theodore. He has given his children a good education, and Baptist Church in politics, Mr. Seils is a Republican.

—

isi::,

;

some of bis daughters have taught more or less in the public schools. S. I>. SI.EXTZ, farmer, Sec. 7 P. O. Baraboo; born May 2::, 1^26. in Greene Co., Ohio; He was married Jan. IS, 1S76, to Miss Minnie Ronshousen she was came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1845. Marion, Samuel I). and Corwin. born in Pennsylvania they have three children He has held the office of Treasurer of the town, and has been its Assessor for a number of years; he owns 230 acres of land. In ;

—

;

Mr. Slentz is a Democrat.

politics,

A. Penn

;

SIVVIIK. dealer in tin, stoves and hardware, North Freedom, Wis.; born in York Co.,

March 12, 1831

;

moved

to Springfield, Ohio, in 1859.

He enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. A,

— TOWN OF DELLONA.

745

04th Ohio V [., and served till the close of the war. He was in the battles at Stone River, Tenn., Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Kidgc; was wounded at Resaca, Ga., and was transferred to tlio Invalid Corps at Camp Douglas, Chicago mustered out at Springfield, 111., at the close of the war; they have one came to Sauk Co. in L877. lie was married Feb. 18, 1877, to Mrs. Sarah A. Swetland child Eva, born November; 1878. Mrs. Spahr is a member of the M. E. Church; and in politics Mr. S. is a Republican. ;

— WILLIAM SPROLL, farmer, Sec. 11 has 157 acres northwest quarter, Township 11 Range 5 — splendid farm horn Indiana about 1829, Monroe Co., Ohio, March 12, 1822; moved in

;

and to Sauk Co. September, 1S48 located on what is called Bear Creek, and entered 40 acres from there he moved on to his present farm in 1849, where he has always lived like a great many of his neighbors, was poor, and had to make rails, and sell them for $1 per hundred to pay for his present farm, and his flour he bought by working for 75 cents per day his meat was procured by the use of his gun. He was married July 1, 1843, to Miss MaryStotser; she was born in Switzerland; they have had four children James, John W., Mary J., who is deceased, and Alice M. Mr. Sproul is a Republican in politics. The son James enlisted let. 5, 1864, in Co. A, 19th W. V. I., and served till the close of the war. He was at the capture of Richmond the flag of his regiment was the first that was raised on the rebel capital. ;

;

EDWARD

Jf. Co., N. Y.. Sept. 27, 1844

TRTJMBIjE, farmer, Sec. 2 ;

has 40 acres of land born in Montgomery came to Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1852; came to Sauk Co. in 1853. He enlisted ;

;

W. V. I., and served till the close of the war.

April, 1861, in Co. K, 6th

He was married May 26, 1867,

Miss Mary Waddell she was born in Sauk Co., and was the first white child born in the town of Freedom. In Politics, Mr. T. is a Republican. to

;

TURXHAM,

<.! OK4.I V. farmer, Sec. 27 has 80 acres of land; he was born in Illinois July 20, 1852, and came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1868. He was married July 2, 1879, to Miss Alice E. "Welton she was born in Ohio. Mrs. Turnham is a member of the United Brethren Church. In polities, Mr. T. is a Republican. ;

;

JOHN

WHjKjJLVS. carpenter, builder and contractor, also dealer in lumber, North Freedom he was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., July 4, 1841. He enlisted May 24, 1861, in Co. F, 16th 111. V. I., and was discharged May 20, 1862, on account of disability he enlisted second time Sept. 29, in Co. F, 3d W, V. C, and served two years he came to Baraboo, Wis., Dec. 11, 1851. He was married Feb. 19, 1865, to Miss Polly J. Moore; she was born in Dane Co., Wis. they have three children Eva B Luna M. and Volney H. Mr. and Mrs. Wiggins are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he ;

;

—

;

a Republican.

JACOB ZIMMERLY,

farmer, Sees. 25 and 26; owns 138 acres of land he was born in came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1851 with his parents. He enlisted Oct. 16, 1861, in Co. K, 2d W. V. I.; served about eight months; was discharged on account of disability he enlisted the second time Feb. 15, 1864, in Co. K, 45th W. V. I. served till the close of the war he has taken considerable interest in the public schools, and has served as Director more or less. He was married Feb. 19, 18(12, to Miss Caroline Schellenberger, she was born in Wurtemburg, Germany; they have six children Mary A., Charles R., John A., Alfred S. L Louisa P. and John R. he and wife were members of the Lutherin Church. In Politics he is a Republican.

Monroe Co., Ohio, Jan. 2, 1841

;

—

;

TOWN OF DELLONA. SAMUEL BROWN, farmer, 33 and 35 (has 160 acres)

Sees. he was born in Orange Co., came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1865 he has held the office of Town Assessor. He was married. Jan. 26, 1841, to Miss Sally M. Salisbury she was born in Oneida Co., N. Y. they have four children Addison F., Duane A., Cordelia E. and Orange H. In polities, Mr. Brown is Inde-

Vt,,

March 4, 1815

;

— STILLMAX BASS (deceased) was born

;

pendent.

came to in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1816 Sauk Co. in the fall of 1851, and was engaged in farming till his death, on Sec. 35 owned 1(11) acres in his home farm. He was married in 1837 to Miss Julia Butterfield she was born in Vermont they had twelve children Chester R. (deceased), Laura J. (deceased), Luconda L. (deceased), Charles W. ;

;

—

;

(deceased), Stillman O., Charles W., William A., Clarissa L., Mary F. (deceased), Melissa R., Hattie L.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

746

and Julia E. The two sons, Stillman 0. and Charles W., enlisted in Co. G, 49th W. V. I., and served Stillman 0. Bass was married Oct. about eight months they were discharged on account of disability. they have four children Marian A., Charles S., Oscar L. and Chester 26, 1868, to Miss Agnes Bass Mr. Bass owns 160 acres of land on Sec. 27. A. ;

—

;

ANDREW CAMP,

farmer, Sec. 17 born in Canada West Nov. 10, 1827; came to Sauk he has served two terms on the Town Board and one year as Town Assessor. Co. in December, 1849 He was married Jan. 1, 1852, to Jane E. Buck she was born in Canada they had four children John Mr. Camp was married A., James E., Francis H. and Freeman L. Mrs. Camp died in January, 1877. He has to his second wife Jan. 20, 1880, Miss Juliette Brown, a niece of John Brown, of Kansas fame. ;

;

—

;

160 acres in the home farm and other tracts of land in the township to the amount of 170 acres more. They both attend the M. E. Church. In politics, he is a Republican. farmer, Sec. 2 came to Sauk Co. born in Vermont March 9, 1819 C. P.

DAVENPORT,

;

in 1854 he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1862 and 1865, and served on the Town Board one term, Treasurer one term and Assessor three terms. He was married, Sept. 19, 1854, to Miss Mary Gillespie she was born in Scotland they have had five children Lawrence C. (deceased), Carrie J., Alice F., Anna M. and John W. Mrs. Davenport is a member of the M. E. Church, and he is an Adventist and in politics a Republican. For a number of years he traveled and practiced surgical dentistry. The son that died had just finished his second term of teaching he was a promising young man, the pride of his family and respected by all that knew him he had attended school at Baraboo, under the instruction of Fmf. Willis for some time Mr. he died March 24, 1876, aged 20 years 1 month and 6 days. D. has altogether 300 acres of land. farmer, Sec. 33 has 200 acres was born in Madison Co., N. Y., March 3, J. L. 1830 came to Sauk Co. in August, 1865, and located on his present farm at that time. He was married let. '_':;. 1S50, to Miss Adaline Richardson she was born in Tioga Co., N. Y. they have seven children ;

;

—

;

DRYER,

;

— Helen

;

Eta J., Bertha J., John W., Grant, Eva and George. In politics, Mr. Dryer is a Republican.

J.,

JOHN FOSS,

farmer, Sec. 28; he was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, June 3, 1839; came to America in October, 1850, with his father, Chris Foss, and located near Milwaukee came to Sauk Co. in 1863; he has 160 acres of land. He was married in L858 to Miss Minnie Springer; she was bom in Baden, Germany; they have four children Albert, Jonk, Paulina and Frank. Both Mr. and Mrs. Foss ;

—

members of the German Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. Foss is a Democrat; he has his father make his home with him, his mother having died some fifteen years ago. are

THOMAS

GILLESPIE, farmer, Sec. 2 P. O. Kilbourn City he was born in Wigtown, came to America in 1842, with his parents; they located in Vermont, then removed to New York State, and came to Sauk Co., Wis., in October, 1856, where he has lived ever since; ;

;

Scotland, Jan. 15, 1831;

November, 1879, he was elected to the Legislature of bis State for the term of 1880, on the Republican and at the convention of his party in the fall of 1880, he received the nomination For the same He was married Oct. 31, 1851, to Miss which is considered, in bis county, equal to an election. Martha Simpson she was born in the State of Vermont they have ten children -Marv J., William G., Hattie M., John T., Nellie M., Carra E., Thomas W., Bertie A., Earl L. and Ed. S'. Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie are members of the M. E. Church, and four of their daughters are members of the same church. In politics, Mr. Gillespie is a Republican; he has 280 acres of land.

ticket, office,

;

JOHN HEMER,

farmer, Sec. 16; was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 15, 1821; came to America in 1852, located in Ohio, removed to Dodge Co., Wis., in 1854, and to Sauk Co. in 1860, and located on his present farm, where lie has lived ever since; he 1ms 3SII acres in all, only SO acres in his home farm. He was married Oct. 16, 1854. to Miss Mary Knadler; she was born in Wurteniburg, Gerina:,v The whole family are members of the German they have two children— Josephine and George. Lutheran Church. Mr. Hemer, in politics, is a Democrat. ;

CHARLES LEIGH, farmer, Sec. 23 (he has 240 acres)

I' Helton. He was b->rn in Cheshire L815, and came to America in ISIJ'J be located in Krie, N. Y., and came to Wisconsin and lived there about four years, when lie moved to Sauk Co. in the fall of 1875. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Sarah N, Tease she was born in the State of New York they have

England, Jan.

1858,

tli,

;

''•.

;

n to Iowa,

four children

— Frank

the Methodist

;

II.,

John

D.,

Mary E. and Eugene A.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Leigh are members ot

Episcopal Church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

MONTGOMERY,

farmer, Sec. 32 P.O. Eteedsburg, Wis. He was born in CortI.. R. land Co., N. V., Feb. 22, 1835, and came to Racine Co., Wis., with his parents, in 1845, and to Sauk Co. ;

;

TOWN OF DELLONA. L849, He was married, Jan. 27, 1859, to Conn., March 9, 1836. In politics, Mr. M.

Miss Achsah B. is a Greenbacker.

Isabella

deceased

747

Peck; she was born

They have

four children

Hartford Co.,

— Lyman

B.,

Sarah and Charles L.

HENRY RADWELL. farmer,

He was born in Yorkshire, Englandi March 7. 1819, atid came to America in 1813, and to Sauk Co. in 1867. He was married, July, 1855, i" ret.

See. 26 (has 80 acres).

Rachel A. Abraham; they have six children His wife died in L875. Mi. Radwell

politics

— Edward, Joseph, Henry, Sarah is

J., Martha and Margaa member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in

he is a Republican.

RADWELL,

JOSEPH

farmer, Sec. 19 and 24 (he has LOO acres); P.O. Delton S. was bom in Kenosha Co., Wis., Feb. IS, L852. lie was married, Jan. 15, 1879, to Miss Jessie A. Gibson; she was born in Rock Co., Wis. In politics, Mr. Radwell is a Republican.

SILAS

SEYMOUR,

farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Reedsburg was born in Poiupey, Onondaga, J. Y, Feb. 21, 1S24; bis father moved to Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1828, and the subject of this sketch remained there till he was 14 years old then he left home and went to the State of Ohio, where he lived two years; be then returned to Covington, Wyoming Co., N. Y. (his old home), and remained there till bis i-<tli year; lie then went to his native place, in Onondaga Co.; after remaining there about ;

Co., N.

;

commenced teaching district school followed teaching in the winter and studying in summer atMaulius Academy for about four years, making his home at Manlius Square; he then returned to Wyoming Co. and remained there until he was 25 years old, teaching in winter and working on a farm in summer in May, 1849, he came to Wisconsin, and in the month of June of that year entered the quarter-section Since the town of Dellona was organized, he has repeatedly held the offices that lie -till makes his home. of Town Clerk, Assessor, Town Superintendent of Schools, Chairman of Supervisors aud Justice of the Peace; he was for one term County Supervisor, and one year Swamp Land Commissioner of Sauk Co.; he served his District in the bower House of the State Legislature in 1876-77 in 1879, he was appointed by the Governor Commissioner of the Wisconsin Railroad Farm Mortgage Land Company, which office he now holds for over twenty years of his resilience here, he practiced plain surveying as occasion presented his eyesight becoming impaired, he relinquished the business. He was married, Sept. 23, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Conine, of Perry, Wyoming Co., N. Y.; she was born in Windham, Greene Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1827 they have had five children— Ellen A., Ida J. (deceased), Merton E., Walter F. aud Arthur R. In politics, Mr. S. is a Republican. oik' year, lie

;

JOHN SLAVEN, farmer, stock-dealer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32 he has 240 acres ;

in his

home

May 27, 1845, and came to with his parents in 1840 his father, James Slaven, located at that time in the Town of Dellona, where the subject of this sketch has always lived he litis served as member of the Town Roard five terms, and has held some office in the school interests nearly all the time since he was of age. He was married, Feb. 6, 1S77, to Miss Sarah Timlin she was born in the town of Dellona, Sauk Co., Wis. they have two children James and Eva. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. In polities, Mr. and 80 acres in Sees. 14 and 20; he was born in Greenfield, Dane Co., Wis.,

Sauk

(

!o.j

;

—

Slaven

;

Independent.

THOMAS

TIMLIN, farmer, Sec. 29 (has 200 acres he purchased in 1868) he was born in Ireland let. 15, 1833 he came to America in 1842, and located in Oneida Co., X. V. he then came to Rock Co. Wis., and to Sauk Co. April 11, 1847, and located in the town of Dellona, with his father, who died Aug. 21 1874, at the age of 70 years his mother and the youngest brother occupy the home farm. He was married Jan. 8, 1860, to Mary A. Hayes; she was born in New Jersey; they have ten children —John W., James S., Kate, Winnefred, Mary A.. Thomas D., Joseph F., Daniel, Sarah E. and Francis V. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. Timlin has handled hops quite extensively, and has taken two tripsto England in connection with the hop trade, (

;

viz., 1869, and again in 1875 he litis arrangements there with commission men whereby he can ship at any time he was Chairman of the Town Board for three terms— 1869,1870 and 1871, also in 1879 he spent some time in the South before the rebellion. ;

;

D. C. WOOSTER, farmer, Sec. 2 (has 80 acres)

he was born in Hancock Co., Me. May 22, 1822; at the age of 19, he shipped before the mast on board the Pioneer, and next on a British brig called the Albion, and other ships, till he was 24 years of age; he shipped on the brig Wallace, and while on her he was promoted chief officer, aud for a number of years he served as si ond and first officer on differ tit boats, up to about L850, when he took command of the brig Charles that sailed out of Boston, and he contiuued in that business for about eighteen years, up to 1808 most of the ;

P. O. Kilbourn City

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

748

time he was engaged in the European trade. He was married, July 9, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Eakins she was born in Scotland, and came to America when quite young with her parents, who settled in Vermont they have two children Calvin M. and Josephine E. Mr. Wooster, in politics, is Inde pendent.

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TOWN OF DELTON.

GEORGE W. ADAMS,

miller, Delton born in Delton Aug. 24, 1853. Married Jan. 1, Mr. 1880, to Miss Grace A. Brown she is also a native of the town of Delton, born July 19, 1860. Adams is a Republican in politics. ;

;

ADAMS,

proprietor of the Delton City and Delton Mills, also proprietor of foundry and J. II. machine shops born in Upper Canada Feb. 21, 1823; in 1839, he went to Montgomery Co., N. Y., where he remained till 1850, when he came to Sauk Co., where he has since resided he has been actively engaged in business farming, manufacturing, merchandising, etc. he has done as much for the prosperity of the town of Delton as any other citizen of the township. He was married Jan. 26, 1840, to Miss Rachael Vanderveer, born in Montgomery Co., N. Y. they have had twelve children Eliza A. E. (deceased), Charles H., Emma E., George W., Henry (deceased), Mark E., Almira L., David M. (deceased), Frederick, Albert D. (deceased), Mary M. and John A. In politics, Mr. Adams is a Republican. ;

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K. AYRES, farmer and manufacturer of sorghum, See. 21

P. 0. Delton; farm contains born in Addison Co., Vt., April 9, 1826 he removed with his parents to the State of New located at Peru in 1848, he went to Watertown, and to Sauk Co. in 1857, and to Delton in 1865. He was married Jan. 5, 1853, to Miss Annie Clement; she was born in Montgomery Co.,N. Y. they have had twelve children George D. (deceased), MelindaO., Eli A. Julia A.,TiltonA., Ida E., Charles R., James M. (deceased), William E. (deceased), Libbe E., Wilbur J. and Martha L. In politics, Mr. Ayres is a Republican. His father had eight sons, the children of these sons have eighty children, an average of ten each. The eight brothers are all members of the Methodist Church they have made it a point to meet yearly for many years. Mrs. Ayres is the daughter of Stephen and Phebe Clement her father died at the age of 67 her mother is still living at the age of 86 years her mother has twelve children, and in 1875, they all met at the public hall in Delton, on the birthday of their mother.

150 acres of land

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York in 1830, and

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JOHN

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BENNETT,

farmer; P. O. Baraboo. This enterprising citizen, an early settler H. of the town of Fairfield, but now a resident of the town of Delton, was born in Madison, Lake Co., Ohio. Jan. 1. 1823. He married in his native county Clarissa M. Olds they came to Wisconsin in 1847 ;

;

Walworth Co. the first summer, then came to Sauk Co. entered Government land in the town of and set about making themselves a home in the wilderness; how well they have succeeded is amply shown by their large and well-cultivated fields, large and substantial buildings, surrounded by every advantage tending to promote comfort; their children are Albert J., now in Arizona; his wife was Fern Ranney Adelia is the wife of A. G. Cooper; he was a soldier in the 1st W. V. C. during the war of the rebellion Ella, wife of John Gillman. Mr. Bennett, in the town of Fairfield, filled various offices, including that of Town Treasurer, member of the Town Board of Supervisors, Town Clerk, etc. he also held various school offices; he has lived in the town of Delton since 1S79. Politically, he acts with the Republican party; his father. Lionel Bennett, served in the United States Army during the war of 1812; he died in Ohio his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Norton, is still living and is in the 85th year of her age. lived in

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Fairfield,

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ORANGE BROWN,

was born in Orange Co., Vt., Jan. 28, farmer, Sec. 33 P. O. Delton be came to Sauk Co. in 1851. and located 325 came t.. Wisconsin in 1849, and located in Rock Co. on his present farm he has served as a member of the Town Board lor several terms, and has held the office of Assessor of his town for the last three years. lie was married to Almira Follett Nov. 26, 1846 they have four children Mrs. Brown died April 8, 1856. Charles L., Ira F., Emmett and Emery H. Mr. Brown was married, )ct. 21, 1858, to Miss Mary A Lillie she was born in Lamoille they have live children Grace A., Clara J., Minnie E., Myron O. and Myrtle K. Mr. Brown is Independent in politics; ;

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has a farm of 240 acres.

SIDNEY COB LEIGH, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Delton; he was born in Larderdale, Miss., March

II. L8 12

I ;

ante to Sauk Co. in April, 1851.

He was married in November, 1 868, to Miss Jennie

Gafna; she was born in Ireland; they have three children he is Republican.

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Orril J., Mary B. and Leler B.

politics,

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TOWN OF DELTON.

W. P.HARVEY, millwright; P. 0. Delton

749

son of James and Esther (Foster) Harvey; was when 15 years of age, he moved to Sauk Co., Wis. (1852), and ;

horn in Tioga Co., N. Y., Aug. 3(», 1836 located in the town of Bear Creek. He was married in Franklin, Sauk Co., Sept. 30, 1858, to Hannah they have five children Slauter Mrs. Harvey was born in Kankakee, 111. Mary (now Mrs. F. Alfred, residence Lavalle. Mr. Harvey enlisted, February, 1S62. in the 12th Battery (Wis.), and served till Oct. was Hospital Steward of the regiment 8, same year he re-enlisted, February, 1804, in Co. H, 44th W. V. I. served till the close of the war came to Lavalle Jan. 1, 1880 leased the Rathbun mill, on Sec. 24 Mr. Harvey has a residence in Delton. to which he intends returning next year. Politics, Republican. Mrs. Harvey is a member of the United Brethren Church. ;

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HLNTIX^TON,

proprietor of the Delton Steam Syrup and Sugar Works, Delton Mr. J. T. Huntington has established the first steam tanks for the manufacture of syrup and sugar from sorghum in the county his building is 30x50 feet, two stories high, with engine room, 18x22 feet, with twenty-horse-power boiler and ten-horse power engine; he has evaporators and tanks for manufacturing 300 gallons of syrup per day of twenty four hours; he has one of Plymer's largest Victor Mills for grinding his cane; taken as a whole, it is one of the most complete institutions of the kind in the country. Mr. Huntington was born in Franklin Co., in the State of New York, Aug. 18, 1S43. He was married Jan. 7, 1865, to Miss Lois has one child Percy R. Mr. Huntington is the only child of Leon and Mary Huntington. E. Nicholas Father is Postmaster at Delton, has held that office for twenty-four years. In politics, Mr. H. is a Repub;

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lican.

AMBROSE JONES, physician and

dentist, Delton; also owner of the steamer Fleetwood, the Doctor was born in Montgomery he attended medical lectures at the Albany Medical College, and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the class of 1847-48 he was located at Waterloo, Jefferson Co., Wis., for a short time thence to Sun Prairie, where he was engaged in the practice of medicine until the spring of 1850, when he removed to Sauk Co., where he remained till 1862, when he removed to Packwaukee and engaged in the practice of his profession he enlisted, in August, 1864, in the 5th W. V. I., and was immediately promoted to the position of Assistant Surgeon of that regiment, and served in that capacity till the close of the war he removed from Packwaukee to Adams Co. in 1869, but returned lo Sauk Co. in The Doctor was married, in 1848, to Miss Sarah Moural, born in the State of New York he is 1879. a Republican politically.

that plies mi Mirror Lake for the accommodation of pleasure-seekers Co., N.

March 20, 1820

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L. L.

LEE, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Baraboo

he has 240 acres; he was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1823; came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1847. He was married, in the fall of 1848, to Miss Harriet 31. Gardiner; she was born in Madison Co., N. Y. they have five children Frank (}., Maria C, Mary E., Charles H. and Hattie E. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the Presbyterian Church in politics, he is a Republican. ;

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DAVID M. LEWIS, farmer, See. 21

born in Yates Co., N. Y., July 1, 1839; he removed to Kansas from the State of New York in 1867; he settled in Sauk Co. in 1873. He was married in December, 1861, to Miss Mary II. Spink she was born in Yates Co.; they have five children Lizzie, Carrie, Charles F., Manny and Adda. Politically, he is Independent. P.

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Delton

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— THOMAS H. MARSHALL, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Kilbourn City; has 71

acres, and it

one of the best-improved farms in the township he has a very fine bearing apple orchard his residence is commodious, and, being situated between the town of Delton and the Dells, it is a pleasant place for parties to spend a few weeks in the summer-time Mr. Marshall is a congenial gentleman his wife, amiable, a g housekeeper, and would make all feel at home that would favor them with a call. He is

;

was born in Hillsboro Co., N. H., Ausr. 12, 1845; he moved to Sauk Co., Wis., with his parents, in 1854. He enlisted, Feb 13, 1865, in Co. A, 49th W. V. I., and served till the close of the war. He was married Oct. 11, 1867, to Miss Eliza M. Smith; she was born in Milwaukee Co., Wis., July 24. 1848; they have had three children Alva B. (deceased). Charles La Forest and Leon A. E. all were born in Nashua, N. H. Mr. Marshall moved back to Nashua in 1869, and was engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods; returned to Sauk Co. in 1876, and, in the fall of 1877, bought his present home; both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church in politics, he is a lb-publican.

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HENRY D. MOIVTAIVYE (deceased); born

Montgomery Co., N. Y., April 19, 1813 he was a farmer by occupation till 1872, when he came to Delton and purchased the property known as the in

Delton House, which he kept as a hotel till his death, which occurred Jan 27. 1>77 June 21, 1840, to Cornelia Parslow, born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov 4, 1821

;

He was married, :

they have eleven

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

750 children

— Charles C, Mary, Cornelia

E., George J., John H., Frank. Dow, Ed. L.. William, Minnie A. She still keeps the hotel. Mrs. M. is a member of the Christian Church.

and Alfred A.

PALMER, farmer, Sec. 10; P. 0. Baraboo was born Windham Co., Vt. he He was married in Sauk Co., September, 1846, to Eliza Crandal removed to Sauk Co. in 1856. she was born in Oneida Co., N. Y.; they have three children — Charles E., Clementina and Effie L. J. G.

;

Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Presbyterian Church. farm of 80 acres.

He has a

Mr. Palmer, in politics, is a Democrat.

HENRY SARRINGTON,

farmer. Sec. 21; P. 0. Delton born in Northamptonshire, England, Dec. 25, 1835 j he came to America in 1856, and located in Oneida Co., N. Y.; he came to He was married, July 4, 1865, to Miss Susan Balderson, a native of England they have two children Eva and Henry L. Mrs. Sarrington is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. S. is He has a farm of 75 acres. a Democrat, politically. ;

Sauk Co. in 1867.

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JOSEPH

SHUETS,

farmer, Sec. 26 P. 0. Delton was born in Columbia Co., Penn.; P. 10 went to New Jersey, and in the spring of 1850 came to Walworth Co., and to Sauk Co. 1854, where he has lived ever since he came to the county poor, and by industry and good management has accumulated a fine property. He was married, Jan. 19, 1850, to Miss Mary N. Flickuer she Mr. was born in Hunterdon, N. J.; they have four children Jacob F., Asa S., Mary A. and Frank E. He has a farm of 560 acres. Shults is, in politics, a Republican. ;

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at the age of in

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OLIVER W. SPAEEDIN, farmer

P. O. Delton was born in Hartland, Windsor Co., 1848, when he came to Wisconsin, coming directly to Here he entered the southwest quarter of Section 6, Town 12, Range 5, now town of Mr. S. was married Sept. 7. 1841, to Ruth E. Pike. They Delton, and has made it his home ever since. Henry (deceased), Annette (deceased), Charles, Emma, Albert, Harriet, John and had eight children Frank (deceased). Mrs. Spauldin died Feb. 20, 1863. Mr. S. married again Nov. 3, 1864, to Mrs. Mary Mr. Spauldin was Supervisor of the town of New Buffalo (now Delton), in 1849, and has E. Luttle. The first brick chimney built in the town was made by Mr. Spauldin, held the same office two terms since. Vt.,

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May 7, 1815; raised in his native town till

his present home.

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The first school held in District No. 6, town of clay for mortar, and a paddle for a trowel. the schoolhouse then being completed, Delton was kept in Mr. S.'s house the first half of the term the term was finished there; the school was taught by Miss Lucretia Crawford, of Baraboo. Mr. S. has now

who used

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240 acres of land.

A. H. THOMSON, manufacturer of wagons, carriages, sleighs, etc.

Repairing also promptly

born in Portage Co., Ohio, Sept. 30, 1816; he came to Wisconsin in 1845, and located Walworth Co. In 1850, he came to Sauk Co., where he has since resided. He has served on Town lie was married Nov. 7, 1850. to Miss Board for one term has been Town Clerk for several years, Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics. .Maria L, Pitkin, born in Stark Co., Ohio.

done; Delton

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JOHN <i. TRAVIS, farmer, Sec. 36 P. O. Delton

born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., May 6, He was married in 1836 to Miss Eunice Rafinan; tiny have five children John D., Curtis, his second wife was Rebecca Rapp they have have one child AbraHenry, Eunice and Immogine ham his third and present wife was Mrs. Mary E. Eggleston they were married Dec. 14, 1874; she was the widow of II. A. Kgirliston, who died Aug. 28, 1S6S she had by her first husband six children Mary E., Florence C, Frederick (deceased) and Cora H. (deceased William R. (deceased), Ella His farm contains 80 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Travis are members of the M. E. Church. ;

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1811.

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WASHBl'RNE,

P. 0. Baraboo farm contains 120 acres; born in A. F. Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 4, 1826 heremo\,-d to Michigan <vith his parents about 1836, and to Sauk Co. in 1848. He was married, in October, 1850, to Cordelia McCoy, born in the State of New York they have Mr. W. is a had six children Delos, Charles (deceased), Alveretta, Leroy A., Laraty and Bertram F. Democrat in politics

farmer, Sec. 16;

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CITY OF GREENFIELD.

751

TOWN OF GREENFIELD. A. fir. ALBERT is a sun of Frederick ami Caroline Albert; his parents caine from Hanovei German)-, when he was but 1 year old, and settled in Waukesha Co. in 1846 after three years, the family removed to Dane Co.. where they resided till 1857, when they came to their home on Sec. 12, Greenfield, where they had a farm of 140 acres; Mr. Albert died of slow consumption in 1866, leaving four sons and Anna Sophronia, and his widow yet lives with her son, A. G., upon the home farm. Mr. one daughter Albert was married, Jan. 6, 1872, to Mary Jane, daughter of William and Mary Ann Taylor, born Sept. Mertie Rosetta, William Henry, John Lewis and Mary Maud 1851, by whom he has four children the farm is securely sheltered from the winds, is not troubled by late frosts, and is well adapted to fruit, having already a fine orchard of over one hundred trees; Mr. Albert is not enjoying good health, and, for He is a helpful member of the Republican that reason, could he sell, would remove to a milder climate. party, a member of the Town Board, and in every respect a useful citizen. ;

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RKV. .IOHX BE AX

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deceased |, came to Wisconsin in 1845, and commenced the work of an Milwaukee; in 1853, he came to Sauk Co. and entered 80 acres in Fairfield he held his place in the Methodist Conference, laboring at West Bend, Big Foot Prairie, East Troy, Watertown, Albion. Portage City, Reedsburg, Union, Mauston, Necedah, Black River Falls, Russell's Corners, Beetown, Jamestown, Washburn. Fennimore, Juda, Monticello and Middleton, until he became so crippled with rheumatism that he could not well attend to his pulpit and pastoral duties, when he came to Fairfield to live in 1870 in 1876, he removed to his place in Greenfield, where lie died of apoplexy, May 1, 1880. Mr. Bean was a son of David and Sally Bean, of Strafford, Vt., where he was born in (

itinerant missionary near

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still

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was educated in the academy at Newbury; was licensed as exhorter in the Methodist Church at the age of I s and was married at 22 to Miss Caroline Hayes, who, with very marked fidelity and rare Mr. Bean was an excellent revival helpfulness, shared his toils and cares through all his changeful life preacher and a shrewd business man, which made him successful in building up his churches, and helped him in laving by a competency for old age.

L816

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WILLIAM BREWSTER

came to Racine, Wis., in 1844, and removed to Sauk Co. in 1848; he came to hi> present home on Sit. 9, Greenfield, in 1855, where, in a beautiful basin, surrounded by the delightful Baraboo hills, he has one of the finest grain and grass farms in the town he cuts about one hundred tons of hay, besides his ample grain crop, which will be still more abundant when his 280 acres are all improved Mr. Brewster is brother of the gentleman who is just now erecting the paper-mill at thi- lower dam in Baraboo is a son of Samuel and Lucy Brewster, of Oneida Co., N. Y., where he was William A., born July 7, 1826. In 1845, he was married to Lavinia Fry, by whom he had four sons born in August. 1840, married to Elizabeth Nunser, of Cameron, Mo., where he now lives; George E., born Sept. 11. -US. married to Elizabeth Buck, of Greenfield, now residing at Vanville, Wis. one who died in infancy, and Charles E., born Aug. 28, 1S50, married to Emiline Prothero, who lives with his Charles E. has an only child, father and is engaged in looking after the large interests of the home farm a boy of 4 years. ;

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COOK,

is a fine illustration of Western enterprise, coupled with hard work ORAXfjrE H. and close economy. This son of Marvin and Clarissa Cook was born at Westfield, Medina Co., Ohio, December, 1825, and has in the composite of his blood the shrewdness of his Connecticut mother, and the comprehensiveness of York State men he came to Sauk Co. in 1845, walking from Racine, and living on half-rations until he found employment at Prairie du Sac; in 1S46, he claimed his present home in Sec. 32, but, for twelve years, spent much of his time lumbering upon the Wisconsin and its tributaries. Meanwhile, he was married, Sept. 26, 1853, to Lucinda T., daughter., of Asa Reed, of New Hampshire, who was born March 4, 1832, by whom he had a son, Edward M., born July 3, 1854, who died Sept. S, 1S67, and a daughter, Clarinda S., born August, 1856, who died Jan. 1, 1861. Mrs. Cook died of consumption Dec. 11, 1856, leaving her children in care of her sister, Clarinda F. Reed, whom Mr. Cook subsequently married, and by whom he has a daughter, Jennie I... born June 24, 1858 Frank S., born Dec. and on 19, 1859 Howard H., bom April 18, 1862 Ada, born Sept. 8, 1804, who died Feb. 11, 1865 the 21st of March following, Mr. Cook's home was again overshadowed by the death of his second most excellent wife, who, like her sister, fell a prey to hereditary consumption. The loss of these young children, and the sorrows and cares of their father were lightened by the tender and very efficient si the present Mrs. Cook, daughter of Frederick and Barbara Felber. born in Fairfield, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1842, ;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

752

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and married to Mr. Cook Nov. 12, 1865, by whom he has four children George 0., Alice A., Effa M. Mr. Cook has in his home farm, 406 acres of choicest land, with good barn, and upon and Archibald. which he is just completing one of the best farm dwellings in the county. He has no mood to go West, but contents himself with buying Greenfield farmsTrom those who do, having just combined the Briar and Warner places, making a farm of 240 acres (probably for Frank, who is one of the most industrious and These farms, with six forties of timber, make up Mr. Cook's land possessions, reliable boys in any town but his farms are heavily stocked with sheep, and about ninety horned cattle and sixteen horses. Mr. Cook is not one of those men who rusts out, living on money at large interest, which cannot be " resurrected " by the voice of any assessor, and for this reason his townsmen like to borrow his money. There is fresh life in it that is a tonic to the holder, which inspires the ability to repay it with use. formerly a Democrat, he has for many years faithfully adhered to the Republicans has held repeatedly the offices of Assessor and Treasurer, and been for several years upon the Town Board. ).

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RALPH G. COWLES, son of Lorrin and Betsey Cowles when a boy,

lo3t his mother at Kalamazoo, Mich., a windstorm blowing a tree across the wagon in which she was riding; in July, 1843, in company with his father, he crossed the Wisconsin at Sauk City, swimming their cattle, and on the 7th they came over the well-nigh impassable bluffs to Baraboo the Winnebagoes were assembled upon their council grounds, on the spur of high land south of Mrs. C. C. Remington's, and their corn-fields were green up and down the Baraboo they settled on Sec. 33, now in Greenfield, the second settlers in the town here Mr. Cowles' sister, Mrs. Peter Shaffer, gave birth to a daughter in October, 1843, the first white child born in the town, and Mrs. Shaffer's death, in the following March, was the first instance of mortality the father also having died, the land was entered by Ralph and his brother in 1847. In 1851, he was married to Lueretia A., daughter of James and Lucy Crawford, born in April, 1832, by whom he has had five children Lorrin H., born Sept. 3, 1852, married Sept. 16, 1874; Orpha, born Jan. 22, 1857, died Oct, 19, 1864 Elmer E„ born May 26, 1861, died Oct, 4, 1864 Fred M., born July 20, 1866, and Lulie E., born Oct. 29, 1872. Orpha and Elmer were taken away by dysentery, which was so widely prevalent and fatal in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Cowles are excellent neighbors, having a wide moral influence, and living intensely religious lives. Formerly, he was a member of the Methodist Church, of which his father was the first Class-leader, but now he is Elder in the Seventh Day Advent Church. He was an ardent. Abolitionist of the olden time; has been and is a radical temperauce man, and a Republican from before the organization of the party. ;

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WILLIAM

H. I'lKKV. deceased, came from Brunswick, Germany, to Wisconsin, in 1840, and stopped first at Madison, but about 1845 came to Baraboo, and settled on Sec. 26, in Greenfield, in 1847, where his widow now resides; he built the first limekiln in 1848, and in the fall of 1849 he built the first frame schoolhouse in Greenfield, yet known as the Eikey Schoolhouse in 1852, he put up, where the Prentice Mill now stands, the first saw-mill into which he also put machinery for sawing wagon stuff. Mr. Eikey was married, Feb. 18, 1849, to Miss Anna Umberger, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Umberger, of Wythe Co., Va., born in March, 1830, by whom he bad one daughter, Mary O, born 1 1th (if January, 1851, who was married to Mr. C. F. Moher, of Caledonia, June 30, 1872. Mr. Eikey was a good mechanic, and was much employed in early years as a stone and brick mason at Baraboo he had a fine mind, and is said to have received in early life a liberal education he was an active Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Eikey died Dec. 21, 1*70, aged 60 years 8 months and 13 days, leaving his farm of 23(1 acres to his wife and daughter. ;

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J. IK (wAXO came to Wisconsin in 1844, and his present home in Sec. 5. in 1867

;

from which place he removed to Mary Gano was born in Columbia, Herkimer

settled at Rio,

this son of. lames ami

May 24, 1822, where he was educated. In 1840, he was married to Emily L. Tidd, of Homer, N. Y., by whom he had four sons and two daughters Marion B., James A., Irvine D.,Theron A., Almira

Co., N. Y.,

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E. ami Sarah A., now deceased. Mrs. Gano died of dropsical affection in 1860, and in 1862 Mr. G. was married to Mrs. M. S. Hughes) Sharp, of Wales, by whom be has three children William D., Sarah, Etta and Olio .1., all now living. Mrs. Gano died of consumption in February, 1870, ami Mr. Gano has since married Mrs. Margaret A. Willey, of New York City, daughter of Mr. Bradbury, a soldier in the regular arm\ a son. Claud Bradbury, is the only fruit of this marriage. Mr. G. is a man who delights in his family, and has special gifts for training children under the power of fatherly affection. He has served the district seven years ami been twice elected Justice of the Peace.

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(

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JOHN

<wLIi\ is the Greenfield philanthropist; he was thoroughly educated for this calling in Scotland, but came to Wisconsin to carry out his mission of doing the greatest good lo the greatest number when he came to Greenfield, lie turned Mr. Prentice's mill into a sanitarium, thus founding the only ;

TOWN

<)K

GREENFIELD.

753

benevolent institution in Greenfield he has prevented sourness from entering many homes, giving light for darkness, so that far and near families eat their bread with gladness; he understands all the mysteries of ancient and modern milling, having run the second purifier ever operated in Milwaukee, in the mill of .1. B. Martin, but he believes the old process to be far better for the consumer than the new, and is doubtMr. Glen came to this planet in January, 1830, making less making the best family flour in Sauk Co. his entrance at Glasgow, Scotland, stopping at the borne of John and Elizabeth Glen, who kindly cared for and educated him after the straitest of the Scotch Presbyterians. At the age of 20 he was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of James and Susan Whitelaw, born at Glasgow, in 1837, by whom he has five ;

Forrest, children— James A., born in 1864 Charles J., in 1868 William M., in 1871 Mr. Glen is making up his mind on the political issues of this country. Robert in 1877. ;

;

1874, and

It !l V 1*11 V \. son of John and Ann Harman, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July bis father came from Wurteniberg in 1818; married a lady upon Long Island, but soon moved 18, 1831 was to Lycoming Co., Penn., from which place his son (i illicit came West, as far as Milwaukee, in 1852 married to Amanda, daughter of David and Maria Sutton, Dec. 23, 1855, who was born in Michigan June In 1855, Mr. Harman came to his present residence in Greenfield on Sec. 2, where he has 170 1, 1835. Mr. Harman has probably done more hard work acres of good clay soil, well adapted to wheat and fruit. than any man in the county, and as a result he has above 100 acres nicely cleared and the abundant crop He of stone made into fence which will be sound when the last history of Sauk Co. has been written. also bis excellent buildings, especially a barn, built at a large outlay of time and money, and good for one knows what apples than he to do with. Mr. gives him more orchard of 170 trees huudred years; a fine Harman has lust three children— Sarah Ann, William and Rosa E. C. and has two daughters, Laura Ann and Mary Melissa, living and at home. He drew a prize in the first draft, which be paid $300 to transfer His family worship at the Methodist Church be is himself a Democrat. to another man.

<> I I .151

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ABRAM IMH',4. E, came

Sauk Co., May, 1847, and bought the 80 where his house now has since added until he now has 240 acres, much of it

stands, in Sec. 28, March, 1848. to which he

He is one of the most thrifty farmers in the town is a very Republican, and recently united with Mr. Hoege, son of John and Elizabeth the Baptist Church, of which his wife has long been a member. Hoege, was born in 1819, on the Western Reserve at Mayfield, Ohio; his mother's father lived 104 years, and his mother 00. He was married Feb. 20, 1842, to Miss Abigail E., daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Elizabeth A., married to John Plummer Ellen Covert, of New Jersey, by whom he has three daughters highly improved, with valuable buildings.

;

quiet man, of sterling integrity, of strong convictions, a thorough

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Mrs. Hoege died in 1862, Jane, married to W. P. Thompson; and Rovelia 0., married to Allan Stewart. In the following year, Mr. Hoege having faithfully filled the office of wife and mother for twenty years. was married to Miss Eliza, daughter of Amyntas and Mary J. Briggs, of Rome, N. Y., who came West From this marriage there are two sons— Oron B., born July 24, SCI. in 1854, and settled at Newport. Alba Jay, born Aug 23, 1866 a daughter, Cora Elmina, born July 12, 1868. Mr. Hoege was the first .1 ustice of the Peace in Greenfield has been several years upon the board aud has in all positions proved I

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himself entirely trustworthy.

AMOS JOHNSON, son of Lewis and Nancy Johnson, was bom

in Plymouth, Conn., in 1822, In 1845, he married Betsey, daughter of Isaac and Rachel Baldwin, of Litchfield, who was born in 1826. He came to Sauk Co. in 1852, and settled on Sec. 32, Greenfield, where he now has 263 acres of Prairie and 85 acres on the great marsh. Mr. Johnson is of genial, free, hearty temperament having not a trace of Plymouth Rock in his face, or of Blue Laws in his constitution, or of the rebuking character of his ;

namesake, the Prophet in his manner, nature, anticipating his westward movement, made him in an elastic mold to expand with the empire. Mr. Johnson's eldest daughter died in infancy, and Ellen, born 1850, died of consumption in 1870; Lewis, born 1854, married Lucy Scott, and lives upon a part of the home firm Luther, born 1858, died in 1862 Wesley, born April, 1865; and Ellsworth, August, 1867, are promising boys, doing good work whether on the farm or in the school. Mr. Johnson is a respected citizen a member of the Republican party an efficient school officer, aud has been Chairman of the Town Board for eight years. His wite is a quiet woman of deep religious convictions, who is thoughtfully and prayerfully training her boys. ;

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THOMAS JONES,

Morgan Jones, was born in Cardiganshire, son of Griffith and Ann Wales, Aug. 10, 1S^7 his father was a mechanic, but Thomas had a taste for farming, and left home for America in 1847 he came directly to Sauk Co. and settled on See. 28, a part of his present farm, since which he has bought the 40 acres on which his residence now stands instead ol the two shillings which he had when he came to Baraboo, he now owns 200 acres of beautiful land, well-located and productive, i

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

754

160 acres under cultivation, with buildings that cost 82,500 where the herd of deer then pastured and the wolves prowled about for their prey, and the rattlesnake coiled ready for its deadly spring, he now counts his Mr. Jones was married, Sept. 4, 1848, to Anna Morgan, from his former home in Wales, varied stock. by whom he had two sons, David and John M., and a daughter, Elizabeth, who died of accidental burning Mrs. Jones died in confinement March 7, 1859. Mr. Jones was married to Miss Ellen, daughter in 1854 of Robert and Jane Owens, in Caledonia, in November, I860, by whom he has had eleven children, eight Robert, Evan, William, Jane, Nellie, Elizabeth, Margaret, Luella and Thomas of whom are still living Jane, Elizabeth and Kate, died in infancy. Mr. Jones' people attend the Calvinistic three daughters He is an advocate of free-trade, but left the Democratic party on Methodist Church and Sabbath school. account of slavery, and cast his first Republican vote for Lincoln. ;

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CHAIJNCEY

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KELEOGfw

was born Dec. 15, 1821, at Plymouth, Conn.; his father, W. Frederick Kellogg, was descended from the youngest son of the martyr, John Rogers, who was burned by Queen Mary in 1555 he was a wholesale and retail merchant in New York City for about fourteen years he subsequently came to Baraboo and died at his son's, in May, 1860. C. W. Kellogg was married, Oct. 4, 1846, to Mary Eliza, daughter of George and Eliza Bassett, who was born in Derby, Conn., March 3, 1826; one of Mrs. Kellogg's paternal ancestors held a Colonel's commission in the army of George III, Chauncey Kellogg came to Greenfield while it was and was sent to America to help subdue the colonies. ;

yet a part of Baraboo; helped organize the town, and was its first School Superintendent, which oifice he held many years, greatly advancing the interest of public instruction he served his own district as Clerk and ;

Director, helping to make it the best school

Mr. Kellogg was educated at the Cheshire he is a member of the RepubHis present residence on Sec. 32, where he has 135 acres of choice land, is one of the lican party. nicest sites on Peck's Prairie, and marks a home of intelligence and refinement, so pleasant that all his children two sons, George T. and Archibald, and two daughters, Mary A. and Kate, seem to prefer abiding of the town.

Academy, and adheres to the Episcopal Church, where his family worships

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there.

PATRICK U. KELLEY, born

in Kerry Co., Ireland, on the 17th of March, 1834; is the son of John Kelley, a tradesman, interested with his brother in coasting vessels, doing business along Mr. the shore of Ireland his mother was a Mary Goulding, descended from the Blennerhassett family. Kelley came to America Nov. 30, 1852, and, in 1857, married Miss Joanna Finnegan, daughter of Thomas and Mary Finnegan, of Kerry Co., Ireland, bom March 21, 1835; Mr. Finnegan was a farmer and fruit-raiser before became to America, and settled in Essex Co., N. Y.; two of Mrs. Kelley 's brothers ;

Mr. Kelley came to Barwere soldiers in the Union army, and Patrick Finnegan lost a leg at Antietam. aboo April 15, 1858, and worked for Claude & Gowan tour years, and, in 1862, he settled on his place in Sec. 30, Greenfield, where he now owns 55 acres of good land and buildings; he has taken unusual pains he has been trusted with responsible to inform himself, and is an intelligent and public-spirited gentleman offices of his town, being twice Treasurer and serving several years as Supervisor; he has a bias toward nine children have been added the Greenback party, and is a member of the Roman Catholic Church to the family, all born in Baraboo Mary E., John Thomas, Francis M., Ambrose Jerome, Daniel M., Jeremiah J., Margaret Jane, Patrick Paul and Hiram Henry. ;

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HENRY W. KOXKEL

was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., April 13, 1828, where he lived he was 22 years old; he came to Sauk Co. in 1850, and, in the following year, bought his farm of 160 aires in Sec. 36, Greenfield; after five years of hard labor and privation, he returned to his native county and married, Nov. 8, 1855, Mrs. Mary Wilkinson, a lady of English descent, who was born June they have seven children; the eldest, De Witt Clinton, was born Dec. 16, 1856, and has recently 9, 1834 Clara Ella, born April 7, 1858; Walter Howard, May 12, 1859 taken a homestead in Custer Co., Neb. Emily Alice, March 20, 1862; Henry W.. Jr., April 13, 1867; Reuben W., Oct. 28, 1868; Lila Bell, Jan. 8, 1874. Mr. Konkel has been a very industrious farmer, is much esteemed by the neighbors, be longs to the Republican party and is a public-spirited citizen. uutil

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KRAMER

was born in Bavaria Oct. 13, L830 son of Peter and Catharine Kramer; .1AC-OR was three years in the Peninsular war spoke his father was a soldier under Napoleon I for six years very fluently the Spanish, French and German languages; he died at the age of 89, in Waukesha Co. Jacob Kramer came to Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1846, where he remained ten years; in 1856, he removed to Waukesha Co., Wis., and farmed in New Berlin two years, at Vernon Center seven, and at Mukwonago ten then removed, in November, 1874, to Sauk Co., and settled on Sec. '., in Greenfield, where he has Mr. Kramer was married, in the fall an excellent stock and fruit farm of 110 acres, with a good orchard. Konrad, of 1845, to Christine, daughter of Mathias and Maggie Boss, by whom he has nine children ;

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TOWN OF GREENFIELD.

755

born Sept. 12, 1846; Eliphalet, Jan. 23, 1349; Jacob, Dee. 26, 1850; Jobn, Aug. 25, 1853; Susan, April 26, 1856; Kate, Oct. 26, 1S59 Peter, Dec. 28, 1863; Christina, Dec. 8, 1865; and Caroline, t June 25, 1ST0. ;

SETH T. McGILYRA, Sec. 30; P. 0. Baraboo; was born Jan.

8, 1824, in Herkimer Co., N. Y.; came to Wisconsin in 1856, arriving in Sauk Co. Sept. 16; purchased the place where he now He was married, Jan. 24, resides, and has made it his home since that time; owns 450 acres of land. Mrs. M. died Jan. 1. 1860, leaving 1849, to Miss Seviah C., daughter of Amos and Aurilla Ferrington three children Mary F., George B. and Albert D.; he married again, April 11, 1860, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Samuel P. and Sarah Huntington she also died, leaving four children Seviah S., Louisa H., Emma J. and an infant, deceased was married Aug. 1, 1872, to Mrs. Mary (Stuart) Cranson, daughter of tsaac and Huldah Stuart; have two children, Avis A. and Sarah L. Mr. M., since living in Greenfield, has been a member of the Town Board two terms. ;

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PETER NETCHER,

deceased, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Netcher, was born in Hessen, Germany, Feb. 22, 1822; he first immigrated to Wheeling, Va., in 1846, but removed to Sauk Co. in 1850, and in 1851 he settled on Sec. 1 1, where he had a farm of 160 acres of good land he assisted the surveyors in locating most of the public roads in the south part of the town, and had been prominent in all the improvements made upon the blurts especially was he interested in the public school work of his own district, discharging the duties of some of its offices most of the time, being Treasurer wheu he died. Mr. Netcher was Democratic in politics and belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. He was always respected in his neighborhood, greatly beloved by his family, and is truly mourned by a large circle of ;

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friends his last sickness was brief, but very severe he died May 18, 1880, in his 61st year, after an illhis greatly bereaved widow, to whom he had been married about twenty-six years, survives him but she lives in the past, upon the tender memories of one so faithful and kind. Her sorrows are shared and lightened by her six children Henry, who has charge of the farm Augustus, Barbara, Elizabeth, Charles and Rosa, wh. are living at home. ;

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ness of nine days, with inflammation of the bowels

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BENJAMIN SIMONBS came

to his present home

on Sec. 4, in company with his father, in October, 1849 he is the son of Joseph and Susanna Simouds, and was born at Fredonia, N. Y., Aug. both his grandsires were in service with the New York militia in the war of 1812, and four of 31, 1835 his brothers were in the civil war but Benjamin, the youngest, was needed at home and has tastes for other pursuits. He was educated at the academy at Baraboo, was Superintendent of Schools the last year of the town system, has been Assessor for two and Clerk for six years; this year (1880) he took the United States census; he has a good reputation as a teacher in the county, and has been efficient in maintaining the debating club in District No. 8. Mr. Simonds was married Nov. 26, 1868, to Helen E., daughter of Sheldon and Philena Thompkins, of the family of Daniel D. Thompkins, Vice President Mrs. Simonds was born at Waukegan, III., Nov. 8, 1841 Minnie Bell and Mabel she has two daughters Clair, aged 7 and 2 years. The farm of 120 acres is very pleasantly located at the foot of the bluff, giving it great value as a fruit farm there are about 200 trees, most of them loaded with apples. Mr. Simonds was once nearly drowned in the Baraboo River, but was rescued and resuscitated by his brother it was not his time to die he belongs to a long lived family his father, now healthy and active, is 83, and his grandmother died at 92. He has proved himself a very useful citizen is an earnest Republican, of feeble Greenback proclivities. ;

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ORSON SIMONDS

was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting in the 10th Battery of W. V. A. lie joined the army at Atlanta; the battery was under Gen. Kilpatrick's command, with L864 Gen. Sherman, on his campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas Mr. S. followed the fortunes of the war till it closed with the grand review at Washington May 25, 1865. This son of Joseph and Susannah Simonds was bom at Hanover, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1826 came to Two Rivers, Wis., in 1847, and worked three years in steam saw-mill came to Sec. 4 in Greenfield in 1854, where he now resides on a g fruit farm of 78 acres, having about 201) trees. Mr. S. married July 18, 1852, to Miss Evaline, daughter of Elisha and Polly Dolley, who was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 5, 1825, by whom he has seven children— Martin O., born June 5, 1843 Helen M., Aug. 14, 1854; Mary M., Sept. 1, 1855 Freeman W., Nov. 7, 1856; Martha J., July 1, 1858; Cyrus H., Feb. 6, 1S60, and Edwin Ray, Oct. 11, 1872. Mr. Simonds is a Republican; has served upon the Town Board; worships with the Congregational Church, and believes in soft money. Sept. 6,

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JOSEPH STOTLER, son of Roman and Lucinda 1S22

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Stotler, was born in Prussia Dec. 18, was a soldier in the Prussian Cavalry service for six years; came to America in 1854. and was marJohn, Charles, Sophia, Louis Lucinda Feter, by whom he has five sons

ried in Buffalo, N. Y., to Miss

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

756

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Mr. Stotlet spent one year in Madison, and in and Joseph and two daughters Alme and Lucinda. 1855 he removed to Greenfield, Sec. 14, where he now owns 256 acres of meadow and upland, with an When he first came to the Bluff's, orchard of 150 bearing trees, and buildings that cost about $1,500. one winter, when there was a there were many deer; sometimes they came in herds of twelve or twenty Mr. Stotler has been very fortundeep snow and a thin crust, they slaughtered great numbers of them. He is Republican in politics, ate in business and has a nice income aside from the proceeds of his farm. and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. ;

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TOWN OF WESTFIELD. HENRY BRANDT, dealer stock and sewing machines, in

Sec. 19

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P. O. Loganville

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son of

C. H. and Louisa H. (Wochmann) Brandt; was born in Prussia March 8, 1849 came to America in 1846, resided there till tlie fall of 1807, then came to the town of Washington, Sauk settled in .Madison, Wis. ;

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Was married March 20, 1873, at Reedsburg, to Amelia Werth, daughter of Gottlieb and Charlotta Co. In 1876, went to Milthey have three children Augusta, William and Charles. (Schilling) Werth waukee to live only remained there one summer and then came to Westfield, Sauk Co., settled on Sec.

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has 77 acres of land.

JOHN It

I ltKI.. farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Loganville; son of Thomas and Sophia (Rustine") was born in Maine June 4, 1829 moved to Nova Scotia while a child, and lived there till 14 years went to sea; followed the sea about six years, sailing in the ships of the Black Star Line, between New York and Liverpool then located at Quebec, Canada lived there three years then moved to New York, and from there to Ft. Ann, Washington Co., N. Y. in 1856, he came to Sauk Co., Wis., and Was married Dec. 25, 1851, at Ft. Ann, N. Y., to settled where he now resides; has 120 acres of land. Mr. Dorathy Green, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Connor) Green they have one child, deceased. Mrs. Burke's father, Mr. Peter Green, and Mrs. Burke are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. was born in Orange Co., N. Y., 1797 was married in 1*21 to Elizabeth Connor; they had five children, of whom two only are living. Mr. Green came to Wisconsin in 1856, and now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Burke.

Burke

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age, then

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CRISTMAN,

DR.

physician and surgeon, Loganville; son of John and CathaE. iiCristman; was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., .Ian. 20, 1839; resided in his native county till 22 years of age; is a graduate of Columbia University, New York in 1867, went to Minnesota and located in Winona Co.; then removed to Wisconsin and settled in Loganville, town of Westfield, Sauk Co., where he has continued to practice his profession till the present time, 1880. He was married, Oct. 20, 1869, in Westfield, to Martha A., daughter of William H. and Amelia (Brooks) Lewis; Mrs. C. was Frank P., Frances L., Ezra R., Edgar S. and a girl unnamed. Dr. C. born in Illinois; they have five children enlisted, in September, 1802, in Co. C, 152d N. Y. V. I., was appointed Assistant Regimental Surgeon, and was soon after placed on the medical staff of the 2d Division, 2d Army Corps, where he served till the close of the war. He lias 148 acres of land, beside bis two acres al bis residence in the village. He was elected Chairman of West Held four successive years. 1876-79, and has held the office of Town Clerk two rine (Shell)

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years.

FREDERIC DARKER,

farmer, Sec. 19; P. ). Loganville; son of Peter and Mary was born in Berum, Hanover, Nov. 11, 1821. Was married in the city of Hamburg. they have mi,, October, 1851, to Dora Behn, daughter of Henry and Charlotta (Wermann) Behn child, Louisa, now Mrs. Herman Riggert Mr. Darger and family came to America in June, 1855, and settled in the town of Reedsburg, Sauk Co., Wis.; they remained in this town till 1879, then came to Mr. Darger was Supervisor of ReedsWestfield, Sauk Co., and located on Sec. 19, where he now resides I

Becker) Darger

(

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burg one year, and was President five years of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. of Reedsburg. I>. and family are members of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Loganville.

HENRY

DORNECK,

Mr.

farmer; P.O. Loganville; son of John and Mary Palmer DorK. neck; was born in Perm., Sept. 12, 1836; when 11 years old, moved to Belmont Ohio; lived in the vicinity of Pittsburgh for several years. Enlisted in the 156th Ohio V. I. in 1863; was in the service and in 1865, came to Wisconsin; settled in >ix months; afterward went to Wheeling, W. Va., to live Sauk Co., town of Westfield, See. 'J after a residence of six years in this place, he bought the farm of 80 aires where be new resides. Mr. I>, was married in Reedsburg, in I860, to Temperance Dearholt, ;

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TOWN OF WESTFIELD. daughter of John and Lucinda (Aldrich) Dearholt. have three children Eva, Myrtie and Maud.

Mrs.

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GILES,

757

Domeck was born in Morrow Co., Ohio; they

farmer P. (). Loganville; sqn of William and Mary Ennis Giles; I |,'l 1)1 lil< came to the United States in 1851 setwas born in Kent, England, village of Hothfield, July 19, 1835 remained there about six years, and then removed to Sauk Co., Wis., town of tled in Oneida Co., N. Y. lived in the village of in 1865, sold out and came to Westfield Franklin, where he entered some land In the tall of Loganville about a year, and then moved on to the farm of lilt acres which lie now owns. was appointed Corporal; served till the close of the war. 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 12 th \V. V. I. Was married in Westfield. Jan. 1, 1868, to Mary E. Mead, daughter of John and Mary Mead they have John and William. two children ;

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DANIEL GULLIFORD, farmer. See. 29;

0. Loganville son of Samuel Gulliford, who was the son of William <!., who was the son of William Gulliford, a minister id' the Church of England, who preached in the city of Philadelphia, Penn., before the Revolutionary War; Daniel Gulliford was born I'.

;

his mother was Catharine Ball, daughter of Daniel and in Springfield, Erie Co., Penn., Dec. 1'-'. 1811 Catharine Ball; Mr. G. lived in his native county thirty-five years; was engaged in finning. Was married |)n\ _!5, 1SH1, at Springfield, Penn., to Melissa Johnson, daughter of Friend and Polly Perry John son; Mr. and Mrs. G. have had nine children, of whom six are living Catharine now Mrs. George now Mrs. John H. Gray), Charles Gattwinkel), Harriet M. (now Mrs. Simon P.Sutton), Rosanna W., married to Olive Tinker), Horace W. (married to Mary E. Sweesey), and Violletta, Loran. Anna and Ursula, deceased. Mr. G. and family came to Wisconsin in 1840; located in what is now Sumter, Sauk Co. resided there till 1K54; then came to Westfield; settled on Section 29 has 100 acres. Was Town Treasurer one year in Sumter, and Assessor two years in Westfield. ;

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NICHOLAS HASZ, farmer; P. 0. Loganville; son of Peter and Rebecca (Karstens) Hasz

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iu Hanover. Germany, Sept. 12,1836; lived in his native place till 1850, when the family moved to America. The fir.-t home was made at Madison, Wis., where they remained about six months, and then moved to Sauk Co., town of Westfield. Mr. Hasz was married at Loganville, Nov. 28, 1862, to Mary Luhrsen, daughter of Henry and. Annie (Liendhoff) Luhrsen they have seven children, three boys and four girls Henry, Auiie, Annie, Mary, Martin, Theodore and Henrietta. Mr. Hasz has been

was born

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Supervisor of his town one year, and Treasurer eight years;

the present Secretary of the Farmers'

Mr. Hasz and family are members of St. John's Lutheran Church

tual Insurance Co. of Westfield.

Muof

Westfield.

ROBERT HAWKINGS, farmer; P. 0. Loganville; son of Richard and Mary Powell Hawkings was born in East Kent, England, February 1827 resided in his native place till IS years of age came to the United States in 18-15 lived in Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., about ten years came to Wisconsin in 1855 settled in Washington, Sauk Co.; was engaged in farming seven years, and then came ;

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located on Sees. 20 and 21 has 100 acres of land, where he now resides. to Westfield Was married July 17, 1850, at Utica, N. Y., to Ann Port, daughter of William and Harriet (Buss) Port. Mrs. H. was born in England. They have had seven children Harriet R., Rhoda A., Charles R. and Willie L. those dei eased are Mary E., George W. and John W. George W. was a native of Loganville, and was 24 year- old at the time of his death Rhoda A. is now Mrs. Charles E. Brooks, of Reedsburg Harriet R. is now Mrs. Daniel Canfield, also of Reedsburg. Mr. Hawkings has been Justice' of the Peace four ;

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years.

HENRY HEITKAJIIV

son of William and Elizabeth blacksmith; P. O. Loganville; Heitkamp, was born in Prussia Feb. 9, 1853; in 1854, came with his parents to the United States; lived there about three years, then moved to Madison; in at Blooming Grove, Dane Co., Wis. 187S, came to Loganville and opened a blacksmith-shop, where he is now in business Was married March 20, 1879, to Mary Wise, daughter of Henry and Mary Wise.

settled

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DAVID B. HI LBl RT, farmer;

0. Loganville; son of James H. and Lydia (Peters)

Hulburt; was born in Portland. Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 8. 1829 passed his boyh 1 in his native place; spent three years in Buffalo, N. Y.; was connected with the R(:[>ulilir printing office; was also engaged in teaching in Chautauqua Co. Was married at Portland, in February, 1855, to Josephine M. ;

Van Scoter, daughter of Thomas and Abigail (Jones) Van Scoter;

they have eight children

— Alice M.,

Frank D., Hattie, Arthur D., Josephene M., Lena Belle, Harvey L. and Jessie M. Mr. 11. and family came to Wisconsin in July, 1857; settled in Loganville; has 170 acres of land; was town Superintendent of Schools six years; was Town Clerk one year Justice of the Peace eight years County Surveyor ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

758

Postmaster of Loganville four years was Chairman one term, and elected to the second, which he resigned on being elected to the Legislature; was elected member of the State Legislature in 1875 re-elected in 187(3 and in 1877; was enrolling officer during the war, and is at present enumerator of census for 1880; the first years of his residence in Westfield were engaged in farming and teaching; in 1870, he opened a general store in Loganville in company with E. H. Newell sold out in 1874, and is now engaged in farming. Politics, Republican.

six years;

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REV. CHRISTOPHER KESSEER, minister of the Zion German Lutheran Church, P. 0. Ableman

son of Christopher and Catharine Keisler) Kessler was boru settled at Platteville, Wis remained there about a was a graduate of the seminary of Henendetselsan, Germany was ordained a minister and served as a missionary four years in Wyoming Territory. Was married at Galena, they have eight children Carl, Maria, Heinrich (deceased), 111., Jan. 27, 1863, to Susannah Oberhein Theodore, Christopher, August, Eugenie and Frederic; in 1864, came to Westfield, and located where he Westfield, residence Sec. 13

in Prussia

June 2, 1829

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now resides

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came to America in 1859;

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year, and then went to Guttenberg, Iowa

has 20 acres of land.

STEPHEN N. KINSLEY, son of Cephas and Lucinda (Newell) Kinsley, was born

soon after reaching his majority, came to Wisconsin remained about Clinton Co., N. Y., July 16, 1828 two years, then returned to Clinton Co., and, in company with two other young men, built and run a carried on this business about three potato-starch mill, using about 2,000 bushels of potatoes a year years; then came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 1854, settled in Loganville, where he now resides; was a Was married, July 29, 1856, in the town partner of Mr. Logan in the saw-mill and plat of the village. they have had Westfield, to Lucy A. Seamans, daughter of Benjamin and Abigail ( Brown) Seamans four children— Frank D., Fred B., Charles H. and Burt (deceased). Mrs. Kinsley died April, 1S68. Mr. K. was married again October, 1869, to Elizabeth E. Seamans, daughter of Geo. B. and Matilda (HowHoyt S. (deceased), Martha M., Aimee. Mr. Kinsley was the ard) Seamans; have had three children was also the first Postmaster in the village, and is the present incumbent, has held the office six years was Supervisor three years Town Clerk two years, and Justice of the Peace first teacher in the village ;

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fifteen years;

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has 100 acres of land.

<*EORGE KONECKE,

farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 3 P. O. Loganville son of Joseph and Dorothy (Hovermann) Konecke; was born in Hanover March 11, 1827; came to America in 1868, arriving in Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis., May 22, and located on Sec. 3, where he has 84 acres of land. He was married in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 25, 1852, to Dora, daughter of John and Catharine (Meyer) Bless; Mrs. K. was born in Hanover they have one child, Hermann. Mr. K. has been Supervisor of Westfield Mr. and Mrs. Konecke are members of the German Lutheran three years, and Assessor two years. Church of Reedsburg. ;

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HENRY W. KOPE,

carpenter and mason, Sec. 26; Loganville; son of H. N. and Annie (Stone) Kopf; was born Oct. 28, 1829, in Hanover; came to the United States in April, 1852, and settled in Saginaw Co., Mich.; in 1854, he came to Wisconsin, and settled on Sec. 26, Westfield, Sauk Co., where he has 134 acres of land. He was married June 20, 1850, at Cottage Grove, Wis., to Eliza Dora, Henry N., daughter of Nicholas Lerenthal she was born in Hanover; they have four children living Mary (now Mrs. Henry Licht, Jr.), Louis and Hermann. While in Michigan, he was engaged in steamboating. He has held the office of Supervisor in Westfield three years, 1877-79. Mr. K. and family are members of the Zion Lutheran Church.

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HENRY

ECCKENSMEIER,

farmer. See. 24 P. O. Ableman son of Caspar and A. Maria (Eveler) Luckensmeier was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Nov. 27, 846 came to the United States when 7 years of age, with his parents; lived at Madison, Wis., a few months, then moved to Roxbury, Dane Co.; resided there about three years, then moved to Sauk Co. and located on Sec. 24, He was married in Westfield, June 10,1866, Westfield, where be now resides; he has 136 acres of land. they have four children to Johanna, daughter of August and Johanna Fingerhood Mary, Annie, Mena and Amelia. He was Supervisor of Westfield in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. L. are members of the German Lutheran Church. ;

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JOHN

LI1IRSEN,

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merchant and farmer, Loganville son of Nicholas and Catharine C. Rusch) Luhrsen; was born in Hanover, Sept. 22, 1822; came to New York City in 1851; remained a half years, then came to Dane Co., Wis., where he was engaged in farming; came to Sauk sold out in Co. in the spring of L857, and located on See. 35, Westfield, where he had 200 acres of land 1876 and came to Loganville, where he now resides; here he commenced business as a dealer in general ;

there three and

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TOWN OF WESTFIELD.

759

Mr. L. was married in L846, in Hanover, to Christiana Luback she died in New York, of he was married again, Aug. 6, 1856, in New York, to Christiana Ost she was cholera, Sept. 12, 1855 Louisa, Nicholas 11., Frederic W., born in Hanover; they have eight children, five boys and three girls Mr. Luhrsen has been Assessor four years, Annie C, Emma M., August H., Henry W. and Edward C. He has 92 acres of land. Supervisor six years, and Justice of the Peace one year. merchandise.

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;

UEORCSE

MOOCii, farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. Ableman son of Christian and Elizabeth Moog born in Hessen, Germany, Sept. 18, 1834; came to the United States in 1853 and settled in Ohio; about He ten months afterward, he moved to Sauk Co., Wis., and located where he now resides; lias 79 acres. was married Nov. 7, 1858, in Westfield, to Mary E. Schmidt, daughter of John and Klizabeth Kaps) Annie M Mary Iv, HenriSchmidt Mrs. Moo- was born in Prussia; they have seven children living Mr. Moog enlisted, in August, Louis H., deceased. etta \\\, Bena I!.. Peter V. George F. and Emil the daughter, 1862, in Co. F. 23d W. V. I., served eleven months and was discharged for disability i

;

(

—

;

Mr. Moog and family are members of the German M.

Annie M., is now Mrs. Charles Hammermeister. E. Church, Westfield.

HENRY

NIEMANN,

farmer; P. 0. Logauville; son of William and Margaret (Bredfeld) F. Niemann; horn in Holstein, Prussia, March 31, 1839; came to New York in 1856, and from there to Enlisted, in April, 1861, Iowa; stopped in the vicinity of Davenport till the commencement of the war. on the call for three-months men, and re-enlisted iu the twelve months volunteers for three years; was wounded at Vicksburg in the leg, by a gunshot; was in the hospital till (he three years expired, and then discharged remained about St. Louis till 1867 in 1868, came to Sauk Co. and located near the village of Loganville; has 23 acres of land was Assessor three years, and was elected Justice of the Peace in He was married at Loganville Nov. 25, 1871, to Annie Hasz, 1879, and is now serving in that capacity. Laura, Bertha and Henry. daughter of Peter and Rebecca Hasz; they have three children ;

;

—

WILLIAM PALMER, deceased; son of Richard and Casandra Palmer; born

Maryland

In 1833, he was married, at Philadelphia, to ElizMr. Palmer was a carpenter by occupation. abeth Myers, daughter of John and Elisabeth Brunner Myers; Mrs. Palmer was born in Pennsylvania they had nine children, of whom five only are living— Mary M., now Mrs. Francis Conroe, living married to Adelia Westenhaver and now in the Black Hills; Joseph S married to in Ohio; Jesse B Elizabeth Dougal, also in the Black Hills; Charles W., married to Sarah J. Bunker, residing in Walworth Co.. Wis.; Florence, now Mrs. E W. Bunker, living in Westfield; the deceased tire John R., Sarah E., William A. and William H. Mr. Palmer came to Wisconsin in 185-1 and located in Loganville, town of Westfield. Sauk Co. he built the first frame bouse in the village— the house now occupied by F. Dorn Mr. Palmer was interested with Mr. C. 1'. Logan in the building of the first saw-mill in the town finally sold out to Mr. Davis, and, in the fall of 185-1, moved his family to the farm on Sec. 6, where they now reside; was also interested in the building of the grist-mill, with Mr. Mackey, in 1861, at Loganville, and afterward sold out his interest to Mr. Mackey. Mr. Palmer was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature two terms; was Chairman of the town of Westfield three terms, and Justice of the Peace one term; his Joseph S. Palmer enlisted, in 1861, death occurred Sept. 21, 1873; the heirs have 320 acres of land. Charles W. enlisted re-enlisted as a veteran and served till the close of the war in Co. D, 8th W. V. I. in 1863 was wounded in the shoulder by the same ball that killed Mr. Richards, of this town the ball Mrs. Palmer's post office two years. Palmer he served passed through Richards' body before striking Mr. in

1806

;

Loganville.

JACOB H. KEIUHAKU, farmer and dealer

P. O. Loganville; son of in farm machinery; Simon Keighard born in Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Penn., April 24, 1824; resided in 1853, he went to Pittstill 22 years of age, then removed to Wheeling, W. Va. In November, 1861, he enlisted; helped to reburgh, Penn., ami engaged in the manufacture of glass. after cruit a company of cavalry of which he was commissioned First Lieutenant Co. G, 11th P. V. C. He serving two years, he received an injury from a fall of his horse while on duty; resigned in 1863. was married Oct. 4, 1811, at Lock Haven, Penn., to Caroline Dorneck, daughter of John Dorneck she and was born in Lancaster, Penn.; they had three children, of whom only one is living, named Kllis married to Addie Holmes, residing in Westfield. In 1855. Mr. Reighard purchased a tract of 240 acres of land in Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis., and in 1863, with his family, came to Wisconsin ami took of it Sec. 18 where he now resides has held the office of Chairman of Westfield by appointment once, and was elected, in the spring of 1881), to the same position.

Jacob and Lucy in his native

place

;

—

;

JOHN RICHARDS, farmer; ards

;

Carpenter RichP. O. Loganville; son of Joseph and Al. was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, June 27, 1838; when about 2 years of age, the family moved to i

)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

160

remained there till about 15 years of age, and in 1854 came to Wisconsin and setWas married has 80 acres of land, and is a farmer by occupation. tled on Sec. 5, Westfield, Sauk Co. Jan. 6, 1861, in the town of Washington, to Minerva I. Deerholt, daughter of John and Lucinda (Aldrich) Deerholt they had four children by this marriage— Mary Ella, Flora E., Cora E., and Walter I. (deceased ). Mrs. Richards died in May. 1867." Mr. R. was married again Dec. 12, 1869, in Westfield, to Sarah J. Gertrude, Westenhaver, daughter of Jonas and Sarah (Weary) Westenhaver they have four children Georgie, Verna and Ruby Madge. Mr. R. was chairman of Westfield in 1875.

Belmont Co., Ohio

;

—

;

HERMANN lCM.<.r,ltl farmer;

son of Henry and Catharine Marquart Riggert; was born in Hanover, March 29, 1854; came to America in 1873, and settled in the town of Was married, Nov. 9, 1875, to Louisa, daughter of Frederic Darger they Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis. .

have three children

—

P. 0. Loganville

;

Emil and Feide.

Elsie,

JOHN ii. SCHAUM, farmer, Sec. 11; P. 0. Loganville son of Louis and Mary Wolford ;

came with his parents to the April 23, 1822 United States in 1837; located at Pittsburgh, Penn. Was married in Pennsylvania, June 11. 1849, to Amelia now they have ten children living Margaret lloldenhauseii, daughter of Henry Holdenhausen Mrs. Fred Oetzman), Louis, Caroline, Lucelia, John G., Henry J., Frederic William, Altilena, Charles B. and Gertrude. Mr. Schaum, in 1851, came to Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis. took up 160 acres of land, where he now resides; Mr. S. was obliged to cut out a road to his farm, the country being almost an unbroken wilderness he was three years without a team, and for along time had to pack his flour and provisions on

Schaum; was born in the Province of Rhine, Germany,

;

—

;

his back from Baraboo.

HEINRICH SCHEWE, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Ableman (

Saunders) Schewe

;

son

of William and Catharine

He was married in 1853, in Hanover, to Cath-

was born in Hanover, April 16, 1828.

they have one child, Henry, now mararine Licht, daughter of Frederic and Catharine (Werner) Licht Mr. Schewe came to Wisconsin from Germany in 1862; ried to Dora Schultz, and residing in Westfield. ;

Mr. S. and family are members of the Zion German Lu-

settled where he now resides; has 120 acres. theran Church of Westfield.

JOHN W. SCHUETTE, farmer. Sec. 26

son of John and Catharine P. O. Loganville was born in Hanover March 31, 1849; came to America in September, 1863, and settled in the Was married Oct. 24, 1870, in town of Westfield. Sauk Co., Wis., on See. 26; has 1 13 acres of land. they have five children Westfield, to Dora Reinecke, daughter of William and Mary Neimann) Reinecke Mr. Schuette has been Supervisor of Westfield two Amelia, Henry, Elizabeth, William and Annie. Schuette and wife are 1S7S district five years. has been Treasurer of his school Mr. years 1877 and members of the German Lutheran Church. farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Ableman; son of John and Catharine El ic He Werron; was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, Nov. 1. 1819; left Germany in 1846, coming to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he remained about Jsix years; then came to Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis., in 1852, and located on Sec 12; has 79 acres. He" was married May 1, 1849, at Pittsburgh, Penn., to Phillipena Phillipena, Crasser, daughter of Sebastian Grasser; she was born in Bavaria; they have four children Phillipena is now Mrs. William Stacichouse, living in Westfield; CathCatharina, John W. and Anna M.

Schuette

;

—

;

JOHN WERRON,

(

—

;

arina is

now Mrs. ('. Black.

Mr. Werron enlisted in 1862, in Co. A, 19th W. V. I.; served three years and family are members of the German M. E. Church.

Mr. W WINTER,

and nine months.

P. 0. Loganville; minister of the German Lutheran Synod of Missouri, E. A. Ohio and other States; son of William and Henrietta Meisneri Winter; was born in Waldeck, Prussia, nited Stales in IS 14 the family located in Fairfield Co., l>ec. 27, 1838 came with his parents to the Ohio; in 1849, they moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., where Mr. Winter was educated in the seminary of the German Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States ('mm Fort Wayne he went to Minnesota, was located in Westfield, Sauk Co. living there fntir anil a half years, and in 1865 came to Wisconsin ordained a minister of the above-mentioned church in July, L861 and on coming to Westfield, became Chrisduly to married 18(12, at River, 23. He was Mequpn Lutheran Church, on Sec. Pastor of the Lever Posncr; Mrs. Winter was born in Silesia, Prustiana I'osner, daughter of Augustus and Therese August E. W., Daniel, Magdalena, Martin, Theodore and Martha. sia they have six children living Mr. W. has a farm of SO acres. «

;

.'!,

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TOWN OF WASHINGTON.

TOWN OF WASHINGTON. was born 0. Tuckerville APPLE, farmer, Sec. 11

I'll 1 1,1 1* came to the United States tn

Sauk

('".,

Wis.;

;

1'.

;

Bavaria, Jan. 22, L832

in 1845; made his home in Lycoming Cm. Penn.; in April, L855, he came made a short stay at Reedsburg, then wont to Loganville ami assisted Mr. Kinsley in

a year afterward he passed mi to the Wisconsin pineries, spending a year and a building the saw-mill having previously purchased a piece of land in half in the lumber camps, he concluded to settle down the town of Washington, Sec. 11, he built a cabin and commenced the foundation of his now pleasant one home. Dee. 31, L857, he was married at Loganvillo to Sarah Kyle, daughter of Andrew Kyle ;

;

was bom of this marriage— Frank W., Feb. 9, 1865, Mr. Apple enlisted in Co. E, 49th W. V. L; Mrs. Apple died April 13, 1866 Mr. Apple lias been Treasurer of his served till the close of the war Was married Oct. 5, 1867, in [ronton, to Mrs. school district three years, and Director five years. Mrs. Apple was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Almira Mead, daughter of Joseph and Lydia Harriman child

;

V; two children were born of this marriage— Minnie May and Rena A.; Miss Almira Harriman, now Mrs. Apple, was married No\. 11, L860, at Bear Creek, to Ezekiel Mead; they bad one child— Floyd E. Mead, now living with his mother; Mr. Mead served in Co. A, 36th W. V. I.; was wounded at PetersMr. Mead was from burg. .1 tine is, L864, and died in the hospital at Washington, July 5, following. Mr. Philip Apple died July, 1880. Pennsylvania, and settled at Lone Rock Prairie, Wis., in 1850.

BENNETT,

LINUS

farmer. See. 17.; I'. 0. Sandusky; son of John and Jane (Scott) F. years of age the family Bennett, was born in Pennsylvania, near Montrose, Feb. 6, 1818; when moved to Ontario Co., N. V.; remained there about eleven years, and then went to Medina Co., Ohio; was there about four years then went to Michigan spent seven years in Michigan and Indiana working Was married in St. Joseph Co., Mich., in 1845, to Marcia H., at bis trade, that of carpenter and joiner. Mrs. Bennett was born in New York; they have had three daughter of William and Lucy Estas in 1845, Mr. Bennett children, of whom two are living— Hattie A. and Frederic J. Edward L., deceased and family came to Janesville, Wis.; here he worked at his trade till 1850 getting the gold fever, he (i

;

•;

;

again, in went across the plains to California after a year spent in that State he returned to Janesville L855, making a change of base, be became one of the pioneers of Sauk Co., settling on Sec. 17, town of Washington, where he still resides. Mr. B. is now serving his third term as Supervisor of his town Present occupation, farmer. lias been Clerk of his school district five years. ;

;

EDWIX BOOKER, farmer and cheese-manufacturer; P. O. Tuckerville; son of James and came to the United in 1854, moved to Bacon, daughter of Freeman and children Mary they have three Mrs. Booker in Genessee Co., N.Y. was born Larkins) Bacon; Rebecca Ann. now Mrs. Robert II. Perry, residing at Otter Creek, Eau Clair Co.; Alice Isabel, now Mrs. Carlton

Mary

States

Milton.

Makeson

1849

;

Booker

;

was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, Jan. 1, 1832

;

located near East Troy. Walworth Co., Wis., ami engaged in farming;

Rock Co.

Was married there June 12, 1855, to Rebecca F.

;

Page, living at Wilson Creek, Sauk Co., and Rebecca Annie, living at home In L859, the family removed to Janes\ ill.' after a residence of six years in that city, they moved to Sauk Co. in 18(15, and settled in the town of Bear Creek, on See. oil here Mr. B. engaged in farming and the manufacture of cheese the factory was built in 1877; though small, containing only two rooms 12x26, and a curing-rnom 18x26, .

;

6,400 pounds of milk were handled daily during the summer of 1878; a new factory was built in the CI 75,0(1(1 se Factory; fall of 1878, size 40x34 feet, with sixteen-feet posts, called the Bear Vallej pounds of cheese are made annually the factory lias a capacity of 100,000 pounds a year. In the spring of 18S0, Mr. Booker leased the factory at Tuckerville, and leaving his farm and the Bear Valley factory m tbr care of a competent man, he moved to Tuckerville and conducts this factory himself; the capacity of this concern is 400 pounds of cheese daily. Mr. Booker enlisted Jan. I, 1864, in Co. F, 16th W. V. The farm of 82 acres I., and served till the close of the war; was with Sherman in his march to tin- sea. Mrs. Booker's parents were pioneers in and the factory at Bear Creek are still owned and run by Mr. B. Wisconsin they were natives of Massachusetts, but. came to Wisconsin in 1846, and settled in Rock Co. ;

;

EREDERIC BKAXDT,

wagon-maker and farmer, Sec. 2(3; P. 0. Sandusky son of Charles D. and Elizabeth (Brant) Brandt was born in Prussia Oct. Ill, 1833 came to the United States in 185 remained there about two years, and in spent the first year in Cincinnati; then went to Madison, Wis. He was marlias 56 acres. the fall of 1857 came to Sank Cm. settled on See. 26, (own of Washington ried in Westfield, Nov. 14,1862, to Lorretta Wise, daughter of John and Margaret Wis.-; Mrs. Brandt was ;

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

7C2

bora in Hanover they have had eight children, of whom five are living, viz., Mary E., Frederic William, Charles T., Albert 0, and Kate Elsa; the deceased are Charles Chris, John William and Louisa S. Oct. 19, 1864, Mr. Brandt joined the army, as a member of Co. A, 6th W. V. I., and served till the close of the war. The family are members of the Evangelical Church of Washington. Mr. Brandt and his father were among the German pioneers of Washington. ,

JOHN BROWN,

farmer, Sec. 9 P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of Luke and Mary (Butler) Brown was born in the town of Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., April 20, 1813; resided in his native town till 24 years of age, then moved to Licking Co., Ohio. He was married in 1833, at Stamford, Vt., to Lucy Phillips, daughter of Otis and Mary (Jinks) Phillips; Mrs. Brown was born in Stamford, Vt. they have four children Mary P., Wright H., Helen R. (now Mrs. L. II. Thomas, residing in Kansas), Amos .1. marI

;

—

Thomas, living in the town of Washington From Licking Co., Ohio, the family moved to Stamford, Vt. here Mr. Brown worked at his trade (the wheelwright business), until 1864, when they moved to Sauk Co., Wis., settling on Sec. 9, town of Washington, where they now reside in company with Mr. Phillips, he has 1 GO acres of land. Mr. Brown was Chairman of Washington one year; his two sons were in the late war; Amos J. was a member of Co. A, 2d Vt. V. I.; he enlisted in June, 1861 served two years, and was discharged for disability Wright H. enlisted in Co. K, 14th Vt, V. I., in 1862, and served about a year. ried tn Ellen E.

;

CLARK

BL'ELL,

farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Sandusky; son of Jeremiah and Beth iah (RobR. was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1834 traveled with his parents to various places; finally settled in the town of Washington, Sauk Co., Wis., in 1855. Was married May 12, 1861,

inson) Buell

;

Washington, to Emily M. Grover, daughter of Orin 1!. and Sophia Marsh Grover; Mrs. Buell was born in Greenville, 111.; they have one child— Ida M. Mr. Buell enlisted Jan. 6, 1862, Co. M, 2d W. V. C. was promoted to the position of Commissary Sergeant, and served in that capacity till the close of the war was mustered out Nov. 25, 1865. He located the land on which he now resides, the north half of the southwest quarter Sec. 16, in 1855. Was once Town Treasurer, and has been Clerk of his school district in

;

for six years.

.Mltl.ll I ,\ II Kl I.M.. farmer and blacksmith, Sec. 16; Lime Ridge; son of Reuben and Mary Cisco Buell

;

was born in Claremont, N. H., Sept. 7, 1802

;

remained only a few years in his native town,

when the family moved to Leicester, Addison Co., Vt., from there moved to Brandon, Vt., and at the age of 14, moved to West port, Essex Co., N. Y., where he resided till 25 years of age served his time at the ;

blacksmith and shoemaker's trades. Was married in 1831, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., to Bethiah Robindaughter of Isaac C. and Martha (Howe) Robinson they have four children Mary E., now Mrs. D.

—

sou,

;

T. Kenyon, of Jauesville, Wis. Clark R.. married to Emily M. Grover, and living in Washington; Jane A., now Mrs. A. It. Kingsley, of Milton, Rock Co., Wis, ami James A. Buell, married to Miss Malina E. ;

now deceased). settled in Rock Co., working at blackIn 1849, Mr. Buell came to Wisconsin smithing; in 1855, came to Sauk Co. settled on Sec. 16, town of Washington, where he now resides Marsh

;

has St

acres of land.

FELIX I). COSTERISAN, farmer. Sec. 3;

Loganville; son of Claudius and Margaret (Dubosc Costerisan was born in Lyons, France, Oct. LO, 181 came to the United States in 1826; when 14 years of age, went to sea sailed in the merchant service five years, and three years in the United States Navy, in the frigate Delaware; was discharged in 1836. Was married in the fall of 1S37, in Tiogo 1

(

;

to Rachel M. Seining, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Sebring Mrs. C. and parents were all Mr. ('. was engaged in mercantile business a unit three years, and afterward in farmthe spring of 1859, came to Wisconsin, settled on See. town of Washington, Sauk Co., where he now resides; has Ilitt acres of land; Mr. and Mrs. C. were blessed with thirteen children, eleven of whom are living; those deceased were named Margaret and Claudius the living are Sarah C, now Mrs. Alexander Miller, living in Richland Co.; Mr. Miller was three years in the late war; Robert G. served

Co.,

l'l'tin

natives of Pennsylvania

ing

;

:'»,

;

two years in Co. F. 3rd W. V. C, was married to Jane A. Traverse (deceased) Clara jt., now Mrs. George Hornbeck, living in Iowa, Harriet ('., now Mrs. Janus Kieliards, living in the town of Washington George P., an architect bj profession, was a member of Co. F, 3d W. V. ('..married to Rosa Powell, living at Eureka. Nevada; John J., married to Phebe Carson, living in the town of Washington EJenrj W., married to [da E. Peters, living with Mr. Costerisan Hannah ('., now Mrs. Benjamin Tyler, of [ronton; Michael Charles, married to Minerva May field, and living in Iowa; Rachel M., now Mrs. Joseph Hough, of Richland Co., and Francis M., at home. carpenter and joiner and farmer. Sec. 20; P. 0. Lime Ridge son of Caleb and Deborah (Knowlton) Chapman; was born in the town of Morgan, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, ;

;

TIMOTHY C HA PM AN,

;

TOWN OF WASHINGTON. April 17, 1824.

763

Was married, April, 1843, in the State Line House, between Pennsylvania and Ohio, to

Mary Gardner, daughter of John and Edith (Sisson) Gardner. Mrs. Chapman was born in Unadilla, N. they have three children Nancy, now Mrs. Jacob Runyon, of Belleville, Green Co., Wis.; Caleb, now a resident of Coffeeville, Kan. and Guy, married to Ann Powers, and living in Richland Co. In 1854, Mr. Chapman and family came to Wisconsin and located at Lone Rock two years after came to Sauk Co., and located on Government land in the town of Washington, where they now reside; he has 80 acres Y.

—

;

The country was so sparsely settled that he was only able

of land.

muster six hands to help raise his Mr. C. was Constable one year, Assessor one year, and was defeated the second time by only

log house.

one vote.

DANIEL L. CONSTANTINE, farmer and shoemaker, See. 32 P. 0. Sandusky

;

Daniel and Caroline (Stewart) Constantino

son

was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., near Utica, Jan. 15, 1839 1857, when he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he worked at his trade. March 16, 1865, he was married to Mary E. Piatt, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Lord) Piatt; Mrs. Constantine was horn in Rochester, N. Y. they have two children Chester W. and Cora L. Mr. C. enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in Co. E, 116th N. Y. V. I.; served two years and seven months; was in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Gettysburg, Baton Rouge and Ft. Hudson; was wounded at Ft. Hudson, June 14, 1863, ami sent home to St. Mary's Hospital, N. Y. when well enough for duty, was made Wardmaster ami Clerk of the hospital, and was afterward detailed on the secret service; was discharged March 9, 1865, for disability. From Oneida Co., he moved to Madison Co., and in 1S70, came to Wisconsin, located on has Si acres of land. Sec. 32, town of Washington, Sauk Co. Mr. C. has been Justice of the Peace five years, ami is the present Director of School District. No. 8. resided in his native county

;

till

—

;

OWEN" COONEY, deceased; was born in Ireland in 1820; came to the United States with his parents while a boy

;

the town of Bear Creek.

—

lived in

Michigan and Ohio till 1855, when he came to Sauk Co., Wis., settled in they had six children, of whom four

Was married about 1850, to Aon Graham

;

John E., Anna and Mary those lost bore the same names as the two last written, Anna and Mary. Mr. Cooney died at his farm on Bear Creek, in March, 1865. Mrs. Cooney was married to James Quinn in 1867 they resided on Sec. 35, Washington. Mr. Quinn died in 1875 Mrs. Quinn and her son John live on the farm still they have 120 acres. farmer, Sec. 35 P. O. Sandusky; sou of Owen and Ann (Graham) E. Cooney; was born in the town of Bear Creek, Jan. 14, 185(1; after the death of his father and his mother's marriage with Mr. Quinn, he made his home with them in the town of Washington. Since Mr. Quinn's death he has taken charge of the farm, making his home with his mother. are living

Eliza,

;

JOHN

COONEY,

;

JOHN COPLEY,

farmer, Sec."15 P. O. Tuckerville son of Harvey and Ruth (Emerson,) Copley, was born in Vermont, April 10, 1825, lived in his native county (Addison) till 17 years of age Was then went to Windsor Co., where he remained about five years and then returned to Addison Co. married in Windsor Co., Vt,, Jan. 1, 1852, to Lura Carlisle, daughter of William Carlisle; there were three children by this marriage Mrs, Copley died in July, William, Royal and Snphronia, all deceased. In 1*72, Mr. C. was married to Sarah Parker, daughter of Stephen and Betsey Parker, in Windsor 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Copley have two children Co., Vt, In 1872, Mr. Copley and family George and Jane L. moved to the town of Washington, Sauk Co., Wis., settled on See. 15, where they now reside. Mr. C. has ;

;

—

a well-improved farm of 120 acres he was he is just building a pleasant and roomy dwelling-house Supervisor and Assessor of the towu of Goshen, Vt. has been Supervisor of Washington two terms has served as Clerk and Treasurer of his school district, and is the present. Director. ;

;

DANIEL CORSON, farmer, Sec. 12;

P. (). Loganville; son of Cornelius and Phebe

(Tallman)

Corson; was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Nov. 2, 1809. Was married in Tioga Co., Penn., May 30, Mrs. Corson was born in 1837, to Hannah Sebring, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Corson Sebring Lycoming Co., Penn. they have two children Sarah E., now Mrs. John S. Miller, living in the town of Washington; Robert P., living at home. In 1837, Mr. C. and family moved to Illinois, and spent three and a half years near Ottawa, and then returned to Tioga Co. In 1856, came to Wisconsin, settled on Sec. 12, town of Washington, Sauk Co. Mr. C. has 120 acres of land; has been Supervisor one year, and Director of School District No. 5 tor eleven years. Mrs. Corson has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1839, and Mr. Corson has been since 1843; they belong now to the [ronton Church. ;

;

—

HENRY DEARHOLT, farmer, Dearholt

;

Sec. 24; P. O. Loganville; son of Henry and Ann Holer was born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 16, 1816 when quite young went with his parents to >hio f

;

764

BIOGRAPHICAL .SKETCHES:

after a residence there of a year

and a half, they returned to Maryland. Mr. Dearholt was married in Baltimore Co., January, 1839. to Ann Criswell, daughter of Richard and Jemima Criswell Mrs. Dearholt was born in Baltimore Co., Md. they have had ten children, seven of whom are living, viz., John W., married to Mary Lockwood, and living in the town of Lavalle, Sauk Co. Richard H., married to Miss Atwood Mary A., now Mrs. H. Baublits, living in the town of Washington George Rachel, now Mrs. Alonzo Thurber, living in Lavalle William and Samuel. The deceased are Elizabeth A., Eliza and Peter. In 1865, Mr. D. and family moved to Wisconsin, and located on Sec. 24, town of Washington, Sauk Co. has 79 acres of land. ;

;

CHARLES J. H. ERFFMEYER, farmer; P. O. Sandusky

son of C. E. and Elsabein Ernsting Erffmeyer; was burn near Minden, Prussia, -Tan. is, 1831 came to the United States Nov. 11, 1851; made his home near Schenectady, N. Y. He was married there, Feb. 27. 1855, to Caroline M, Schluter, daughter of Charles and Mary Schluter; Mrs. Erffmeyer was born in Hille, Prussia; they had nine children Charles F., married to Lisa Hoffsomer; he is a minister of the Evangelical Association of North America, residing at Newton, Kan.; Caroline A., Sophia A., Henry E., Samuel J., William E. (deceased), Amelia M., Benjamin E. (deceased), Silas J. In 1855, Mr. E. and family moved to the vicinity of Rockford, 111. after a residence there of two years, came to Sauk Co., Wis., in March, 1857, and settled on Sec. 27, town of Washington. He served in the late war, in Co. A. 6th W. V. I from Oct. 3, 1864, till the close of the war has 80 acres of land. Mr. E. has been Supervisor of Washington six terms, and is serving his second term as Chairman has served as Director <>f his school district nine years, and Clerk ;

;

— :

;

Is Republican in politics, and a member of the church of the Evangelical Association of North Mrs. Erffmeyer died Dec. 29, 1879.

six years.

America.

\IHHNO\ HALE,

farmer, Sec. 10 P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of Levi and Eunice (Downing) Hale was bum in Geauga Co Ohio, Sept, 27, 1815 remained in his native county till 24 years of age 1839, came to Wisconsin and located in Walworth Co. He was married there in 1843, March 20, to Olive Lavisa Bacon, daughter of Joseph S. and Rebecca (Sweaney) Bacon Mrs. Hale was bom in Erie Co., Penn. they have had seven children Alvina, now Mrs. Samuel Miller, living in the town of Washington Eunice L., now Mrs. It. 0. Myers, of the same town Alonzo A., married to Lizzie Brown, also of Washington La Fayette W., married to Nettie Halleck, they are about making their home in Dakota Melissa, deceased; rainier E. and Viola M., living at home. May 111, 1854, Mr. Hale moved bis family into the town of Washington, Sauk Co., and made his home on See. Ill; has 183] acres; at this time the whole town was a wilderness, there being but a few families in advance of Mr Hale in the settlement he has been Treasurer of his school district (No. 4) one term. :

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FiDWARI) IIVMtl). farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Sandusky; son of Mathias and Frances (Zimmerman) Hanko, was born in Austria, March 18, 1844; came to the United States with his parents in August, 1855; they settled in the town of Blue Mound, Dane Co., Wis.; in 1859, came to Sauk Co., town of Washington; settled on Sec. 19; has 200 acres of land. Mas married in Ithaca, Richland Co., Feb. 7, 1871, to Christina Weitzel, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Weitzel Mrs. Hanko was burn in Waukesha Co., Wis they have four children living the names of the living are Joseph M., Albert, ;

;

Fronica A. and Mary Elizabeth one died in infancy. Mr. Hanko has been Supervisor one term. family belong to the Catholic Church Mr. Hanko's father and brother live near him. ;

The

;

ARRIS,

son of Francis and Angeline (May) Harris P. O. Lime Ridge A. C. II was born in Stamford, BenningtQn Co., Vt., Nov. 27, 1827 Was married Nov. 28, 1846, at Stamford, Vt., Mary E. Potter; lias one son by this marriage Arthur E., now married to Elizabeth Walton, and living in the lown of Washington; went from Bennington Co., Vt,. to New Lyme. Ohio; residing in this place about three years; in 1S5I, came to Wisconsin settled on Sec. 9, town of Washington, Sauk Mrs. Harris died Dec. 4, 1863. Co.; has L60 acres of land. Mr. Harris has been Chairman of Washington two years and Supervisor two years; was married Dec. 17. 1865, to Mrs. .lane A. Jayne, daughter of Lyndon and Lucy B. Potter; they have one child Angie May. Mr. H. enlisted in February, 1864, in Co B, 36th W. V. I., and served till the close of the war. farmer. Sec. 9

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XATIIAXIEL HART, carpenter and farmer;

I'. O. Sandusky son of John and Elizabeth was married in his native county, Jan. 7, Eaton Hart was horn in Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 19, 1817 1843, to LydiaA. Newland, (laughter of Joseph .Vewland they have had five children Orcelia (now Mrs. Henry Grover), residing in Minnesota; Mary E., married to Charles Ward; Mrs. Ward died in December, 1874; Charles married to ]|Carrie Earle, they reside in Richland Co.; Ada, married to Lee Coan Mrs. Coan. died in July. S77 Marjia, now Mrs. William Webster, living at Sandusky. Mr. Hart i

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emir n, Washington, Sauk Co., Wis., November, 1856; settled on Sec. 20; has 80 acres of land.

TOWN OF WASHINGTON.

7f>5

\X. €. HOPl'liK. farmer, Sec. 5 P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of John and Jane E. (Kirkpatric) Hopper; was born in Morrow Co., 'Ohio, Nov. 2. lsif> when about 10 years of age came to Wisconsin town of Washington, Sauk Co.; has 80 acres of land; was married with his parents; located on Sec. Jan. 1, 1871, in the town of [ronton, to Betsey E. Hineman, dmghter of Daniel ami Margaret Hinemati Mrs. Hopper was born in Rock Co., Wis.; they have three children Burkie Alvira, Delia Miud .

;

•">,

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and Cora S.

REV. OKIN B. KILBOURN, Sec

Lime Ridge; has been

member of the West Wisconsin Conference for nearly seventeen years is the son of Erastus and Lydia Whetmore) Kilbourn born in Litchfield, Conn.. March 12, 1820; when 17 years of age, he left his native State, and located in Luzerne Co., Penn. He was married in January, 1841, at Carbondale, Perm., to Lavina M. Palmer, daughter of Gideon Palmer. Mrs. K. was born in Rhode Island; they had one child by this marriage Ann E., now Mrs. Julien Whitman, residing in Hudson, Wis. In 185(3, Mr. Kilbourn and family moved to Effingham Co., 111.; Mrs. Kilbourn died in 1857. Mr. K. married again in June, 1858, in Westerly. R. I., to Clara K. Palmer, halt-sister of the former Mrs. Palmer; her father was the father of twenty children; there were five children born of this marriage Lillian M., Otto 1!. (deceased], Theral B.. Linas B. and Kingston P. Previous to this marriage, Mr. K. had located in Wisconsin, at Janesviile. In 1858, he came to the town of Washington, Sauk Co., See. S; shortly afterward he moved to See. 9 where he now resides has L50 acres of land. He has served one term each as Town Clerk, Treasurer and P. 0.

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JOHN LlTiNLER (deceased

i; born in Germany in 1830; came to the United States in He was married here to Margaret Wachtmann Dee. 27, 1S50; 1845; settled in Morrow Co., Ohio. they have three children William and Henry, who live at home and manage the farm, and Catharine, now Mrs. Z. Stambaugh, living in Iowa. Mr. Luemler and family settled in the town of Washington, Sauk Co., Wis., in an early day; locating on Sec. 14, where the family still reside; they have 46 acres of land Mr. L. was drafted and died at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865. Mr. Luemler and family are members of the church of the United Brethren.

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JOSEPH

LUNiV, farmer and machinist; P.O.Sandusky; son of John and Easter Ebittson Lunn born in Yorkshire, England, near Huddersfield, Dee. 27, 1816 served a regular apprenticeship as a machinist at Ashton-Under-Lyne, near Manchester. lie was married in May, 1839, at the Parish Church ;

;

Ashton-Under-Lyne, to Ann Taylor, daughter of James and Mary Scofield Taylor. Her father was a radical reformer, and was imprisoned for his political acts. Two days after the' marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lunn sailed tor the United States. On their arrival, they made their home in Paterson, N. J. After at

three years' residence there, they moved to Wisconsin, and, in the summer of 1842, settled in German town. Washington Co., on Government land remained here about four years, and then removed to Mil;

Mr. Lunn spent eleven years in Milwaukee, working at his trade; then moved to Sauk Co., l".i. town of Washington; they have seven children John, James, Taylor, Lunn, born James T. was married to Mary J. Blakeslee. daughter of the late Squire Blakeslee, of I ronin Ni « Jersey James T enlisted in the 36th W. V. I., and was promoted to a lieutenancy; was elected Superinton. tendent of Schools for Sauk Co., in 1874, and has been re-elected twice since is" the preseut incumbent. The next son, Joseph, is living in Dakota Easter Ann, now Mrs. Conley, resides in Mason City, Iowa; Sarah Ann and Samuel are living at home. Mr. Lunn has 280 acres of land. He was Town Superintendent of Schools for one year Chairman of "Washington two years and Postmaster of Sandusky about sis months. waukee.

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settling on See

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THOMAS LYNHON, cooper, Sandusky residence and shop

son of James H. at Sandusky V., March 'J, 1819; when 5 years of moved with his family to Rochester, N. Y. After a twelve-years resident in lioehester, they returned to Utica. Mr. Lyndon was married in Onieda Co., N. Y., July 1, 1841, to Louisa M. Webb, daughter of Gould and Fanny (Parker) Webb; Mrs Lyndon was born in' Connecticut. .Mr. L. and family came to Wisconsin in 1848, and settled in Hustisford, Dodge Co. was there about two years, and then moved to Marquette Co. wasengaged in coopering in this county about two years, and then returned to Dodge Co. In August, 1855, moved to Sauk Co., town id' Washington remained here only a short time, and then went to Reedsburg, and from there to Excelsior; resided in Excelsior about six years, and then came to Sandusky, town of Washington, where he now resides. The Lyndon- have an adopted son, Prankie. Mr. L. was Supervisor of Washington one term, and Treasurer of his school district three years. Mrs. Lyndon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Chun ;

and Elizabeth (Roland) Lyndon, was born in the city of Utica, N. age,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

766

LEWIS MAXHAII, farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. Loganville; son of Asa and Cynthia (Sprague) Maxham was born at Sandy Greek, Oswego Co., N. Y., April 24, 1827 lived in his native county till 18 years of age, and then moved to Wisconsin located at Elkhorn, Walworth Co. Resided there about two years, then moved to Sugar Creek, same county. Was married in this town, Oct. 28, 1849, to Harriet J. Flitcroft, daughter of William and Polly (Parks) Flitcroft. Mrs. Maxham was born in Steuben Co., N. Alice E., now Mrs. Henry Stewart, of Loganville, Sauk Co. Y. they have five children Mr. Stewart is engaged in the insurance business, and is Town Clerk of Westfield Frances E., now Mrs. Vance Richards, residing in Westfield; Charles W. Lewis L. Henry L., living at home. In 1851, Mr. Maxham and family came to Baraboo, Sauk Co. resided there five years, and then moved to the town of Washington, Sauk Co.; settled on Sec. 13, where they now reside; they have 160 acres of land in Washington and 80 acres in Westfield. Mr. M. was Supervisor of his town one term, and Clerk of the School District three years, and Treasurer two full terms and part of a term. ;

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CAMPBELL MILLER, farmer, Sec. 22;

Tuekerville

P. 0.

;

son of Clark and

Matilda

(Wood) Miller; born in Fleming Co., Ky., July 30, 1830; when about 2 years of age, the family moved to Marion Co., Ind. in the spring of 1852, moved to Sauk Co Wis., locating on Sec. 27, town of Marstnn, now Washington. Mr. Miller was married, May 12, 18b'0, in this town, to Lois A. Copley, daughter of Harvey and Ruth Copley Mrs. Miller was born in Vermont they have two adopted children Addie and Richard. In 1875. moved on to the farm where he now resides, Sec. 22; has 120 acres. Mr. M. has been Supervisor two years and is the present Town Treasurer. In 1802, he enlisted in Co. E, 32d W. V. I., and served till the close of the war. Mr. Miller's family was one of the first to settle in this town his father purchased his land, 240 acres, from the Government. farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Lime Ridge; son of Oliver and Amy (Hall) O. Myers; born in Columbus, Chenango Co., N. Y.,Sept. 14, 1819 lived in his native town till 1850, then came to Wisconsin, settling in the township now called Washington, Sauk Co., on Sec. 3 entered 160 acres at Government price, aud afterward took up 80 acres more. Was married in Brookfield, Madison ;

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RUSSELL

MYERS,

;

Aug. 2, 1843, to Jane Mclntyre, daughter of Price B. Mclntyre; had two children by this marriage Byron L. and Daniel H.; Byron L. was married, March 1, 1868, to Margaret J. Johnson, daughter of George Johnson they are residents of Washington. Mrs. Myers died July 23, 1870, in the town of Washington. Mr. M. has been Assessor of the town fourteen years, and Clerk of his School District eight years. He was married Dec. 8, 1870, in the town of Washington, to Eunice L. Hale, daughter .if Addison and Olive L. Hale; they have two children, twins Russell O. and Eunice L. Mr. Myers was the first white man who made a settlement in this town, that is, in the territory now included within the boundaries of Washington Washington Gray preceded him a few months in the territory comprising the original town of Washington. Co.. N. Y.,

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M P. PALMER, carpenter and joiner; P. O. Tuekerville; residence, west of the

111

\\ I \ church, Tuekerville

is the son of Benoni and Eliza J. Denslo Parmer was born iu Orwell. Ashtabula 1850 when 3 years of age, the family moved to Wisconsin, settled in the town of Freedom, Sauk Co., in 1853 residedin Freedom nineteen years, and in 1S72, went to Neilsville, Wis., where he worked at his trade; went from there to Anamosa, Iowa. Was married in that city, March 17, 1873, to Rosetta Blood, daughter of Nelson and Malinda Blood Mrs. Palmer was born in Waukesha Co., Wis. they have four children, of whom three are living Bertie K., Clauda A. and Percy F. one died in infancy. Mr. Palmer is a stalwart Republican. (

;

Co., Ohio. Oct. 22,

)

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LITCIEN S. PHILLIPS, fanner. See.

;

Lime Ridge sou of Otis and Mary Jenks Phillips; was born in Bennington Co., Vt., July 27, 1831 lived in Bennington Co. till 1867, then moved 1. Wisconsin settled on Sec. I, town of Washington, Sauk Co. has 80 acres of land. Was married June 26 1853, at Hoosic Falls, N. Y., to Frances A. Winch, daughter of Luther and Eliza Winch; they have four children living Mary, now Mrs. Joseph Hoppel, residing in Nebraska; Arthur O, Francis A. and Walter C. 1

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JOHN T. POLLOCK, Postmaster, Tuekerville; son of John W. and Rachel Chapman) Pol(

lock

;

was born

the town of Brutus, Cayuga Co., N. V. when a boy. went to Oswego Co. 1S3S. to Harriet Annstrope, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Armstrong;

Was mar-

;

ried there Dee. 23,

luck was horn in the

Mrs. Pol-

town of Mexico, N. V in IS 17, Mr. 1'. and family came to Wisconsin settled in Jefferson Co. remained there till 1854, when they moved to Sauk Co., locating at Reedsburg, where he worked at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner from Reedsburg he went to Humboldt; was Postmaster there one year he then wenl to Loganville. and engaged in trad.' in company with G fiord afterward bought Mr. Gifford out was also Postmaster; resided there live years; from Loganville went to Lime ;

;

TOWN OF WASHINGTON.

ib7

Ridge, where he carried on a Btore for fouryears, and served aa Justice of the Peace; then went to Cazewas appointed Postmaster Feb. 22, novia was in trade there two years, and then came to Tuckerville Mr. P. was married, at Mrs. Pollock died April 14, 1S62. is the present Justice of the Peace; 1880 Reedsburg, to Mary E. Oohoon, daughter of James and Palmyra Baird Cohoon Mrs. P. was born in Ohio had eight children by his first marriage, and tour by the last; those the marriage occurred July 13, 1862 William R. and living are George E., Clinton A.. Mar)- L., now Mrs. H. J. Kirkpatrick, living in Ohio ;

;

Andrew W. 2th W. V.

;

W.. Stephen A., Charles T. (was a member of the ., John the deceased were named Rachel and died at Bolivar, Tenn. ), William A. (was a member of Co. F, 23d W. V. I., and died ..

Mississippi),

J. Riley, Violetta P. and Milo.

JOSEPH POWELL, shoemaker and farmer. Sec. 32; P.O. Sandusky; son of Robert Powell; was born in the County of Tipperary, Province of Minister, Elizabeth ^Ringwood April 9, 1814 came to the United Slates iii 1832 and made his home in Now York City, Feb. 1835, he was married to Esther, daughter of William and Esther Belcher working at his trade. those living are she was born in Ireland; they have bad twelve children, of whom four died in infancy member of William I. married to Lucy Powers and residing in O'Brien Co., Iowa), Robert 1. was South Carolina), Prank II. (was a mem died a in supposed have prisoner is to W. I., and V. Co. K, 32d ber of Co II. 36th W. V. I., is married to Emogene Smith and living in Sandusky), George A. (marEdward li. (married to Annie Maxwell and ried to Augusta Smith and living in O'Brien Co., Iowa living in North Freedom), Mary E. now Mrs. Joseph Gurton, also living in North Freedom), Rachel A. widow of Joseph Kennedy, living at Sandusky), Joseph B, (married to Ida Saulsbury and living in the town of Washington). After ten years' residence in New York City, Mr. Powell and family moved to Lockport, N. V., and lived there about ten years; moved from there to Beloit, Wis., where they spent one summer, and in 1854 came to Sauk Co., town of Washington, and settled on Sec. 32, where they now Mr. Powell is an Episcopalian. reside and have 120 acres of land.

and

Ireland,

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.">.

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LEVI PURDY,

P. 0. Tuckerville; son of Henry and Kaziah Purdy carpenter and joiner Was married at Galion, Ohio, January, 1861, to was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Oct. 10, 1832. Mr. Purdy enlisted in 1862, in Sarah J., daughter of Thomas and Fanny Miner; she was born in Ohio. Co. B, 43d Ohio V. I., and served one year and ten months; was with the regiment in the battle of Nashville. Came to Wisconsin in 1867, and settled in Sauk Co., town of Washington, locating on See. 14, where he now resides. Has two children living Frank and Captain four deceased Charles, Parley, Fanny and Lucy. Mr. Purdy and wife are members of the church of the United Brethren. ;

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HARVEY W. REEVE, Postmaster, loan agentand conveyancer, Sandusky son of Benjamin ;

and Martha (Sill) Reeve; was born at New Lyme, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 3, 1823; resided in his Was married July 4, 1848, at Rome, Ohio, to Elizabeth, daughter of native county till 31 years of age. Dora A. (now Mrs. I. W. Francis, Edward C. and Ursula (Willey) Dodge; they have eight children residing in Dakota), Ida V.. Rosa A. now Mrs. Charles W. Towsley, of Lone Rock), Emma O, Wesley farming; held the office of Town Clerk engaged in Mr. R, was Hubert L. and Georgie C. E Nettie N., received an academic education in Grand River Institute, Ohio; studied law with Mr. in his native town Oct 20, 1S.">1. he moved with his family to Wisconsin and settled in Sauk Co., E. Lee, of New Lyme. the family took shelter in an old log cabin on Sec. 31, called town of Marston, since called Washington the "Mansion House;" it had walls and a roof, and an opening for a door, but no floor in this one room the party, consisting of Mr. Reeve's family and three geutlemen friends, spent the night; the following day they moved into a similar house on Mr. Reeve's land here they lived ten days, till a commodious log this place, Mr. R. moved to Sandusky, a locality house was built on Sec. 17 after a year's residenc that was supposed to be destined at no distant day to develop into a thrifty village; the place has hardly Reeve, in company with Mr. William Cobb, built founders; here Mr. ambitious hopes of its realized the a steam saw-mill after about a year's experience in the milling business. Mr. Reeve sold out and went into the mercantile business, opening a general store at Sandusky, where he now resides. Mr. R. was appointed Postmaster in 1861; he has held the office over eighteen years, and is the present incumbent; he was

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Is, and has been re-elected three times; has been Town Clerk about ten years and Notary Public twenty-four years; he has 80 acres of land, and his wife 80 acres. Mr Reeve's grandfather on his father's side was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, and his father was his death occurred in 1879, at the age of 92. a soldier of the war of 1812

elected the first Superintendent of Sel

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DAVID ROWE,

farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Lime Ridge; son of Asa and Hannah Remar Rowe when li years of age, he moved with his family to Chemung born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1831 they have' three children He was married, Feb. 1857, to Mary B. Aber, daughter of Phillip Aber Co I

)

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)

768

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

—

Willis M., Ellen A. and Arthur G. In 1854, he came to Wisconsin; settled in the town of Spring Green, Sauk Co. came to the town of Washington in the fall of 1857 located on Sec. has 80

living

;

acres of land in Sauk Co. and 80 acres in Richland

was Chairman two years, Supervisor five years and Justice of the Peace two years. In 1864, he was a member of Co. A, 6th W. V. I. served till the close of the war; witnessed the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have lost three ;

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children Corel E., Milton M. and one unnamed. Mr. Rowe is developing quite a lire business; he has more than a hundred swarms humming their sweet songs around him. He is just completing a fine barn, supported by a stone basement the full size. It is one of the finest structures of the kind in the towu.

FREDERIC ROWE, farmer and mechanic, Sec. 6

;

Hannah Remar Rowe; born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Feb. 26, 1828;

P. 0.

Lime Ridge; son of Asa and

county till 1850. Mrs. Rowe died In 1852. Mr. Rowe moved to Wisconsin located in the town of Spring Green. Sauk Co. He was married in Spring Green, July 4. 1852. to Louisa Gwin, daughter of David and Mary James Gwin. Mrs. Rowe was born in Ohio their children are named respectively Philura, Silvia (deceased). Alvah P., Clarinda V.. Kate Bell, Herbert M., William T. S.. Frederic C. and Mabel. Mr. Rowe moved to the town of Washington in 1857 settled on Sec. 6; has 147 acres of land. He enlisted in 1862, in the 12th Battery Light Artillery; served three years. Mr. Rowe has a lime-kiln on his farm in successful operation, and has also utilized one of the magnificent springs that abound in his valley. By conducting the water through his fine stone milkhouse a constant stream of cold spring water is carried through wide troughs, in which the milk is set. A couple of beautiful speckled trout sport in the water and are so tame that they jump their full

He was married in Pennsylvania, Jan. 1, 1840

1851

they had one child

;

lived in

in 1850. he moved to

— Emma, now Mrs. Edward Lyons, ;

his native

Tioga Co.. Penn.

residing in Pennsylvania.

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length into the air to take food that is offered them

another, fully a foot in length, holds ins court in the

;

spring.

CHARLES D. SCHLUTER, born

Prussia; came to America in August, 1854, and remained there till the spring of 1856, when he came to Sauk Co., Wis., and located on Sec. 20, town of Washington. He was married in Prussia to Mary Maerhof they had a family of seven children Caroline M., wife of C. J. H. Erffmeyer, deceased Christian, living in Dane Co. Louisa, living in Buffalo Co. Charles F., living in the town of Washington, Sauk Co.; Henry also living in Washington Mary, now Mrs. William Schoephoister, and Minde, now Mrs. Fred. Kollmeyer; all of Washin gton. Mr. Schluter was the first German settler in the town of Washington, was an active leader in his church, and much respected by his fellow townsmen; he died in 1870.

made his home near Rockford, III.

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CHARLES

SCHLUTER,

farmer, See. 26 P. O. Sandusky son of Charles D. and F. Mary Maerhof) Schluter born in Prussia, Feb. 2, 1845; came to the Unitod States in August, 1854; stopped near Rockford, 111., about two years; then came to Sauk Co., Wis., and settled on Sec. 26, town lias 200 acres of land. Was married in this town Oct. 10, 1869, to Catharine Scherof Washington mann, daughter of Henry and Suebilla Sehermann Mrs. Schluter was born in Richland Co., Wis. they have five children Annie, Lydia, Henry, Clara and Martha. Mr. Schluter was a member of Co. K, 7th W. V. [., and served during the last two years of the war. His lather was the first German settler in the town of Washington. Mr. Schluter and family are members of the Church of Evangelical Association of North America. I

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WILLIAM SCHOPHOISTER,

proprietor of steam saw-mill, Sec. 22; P. O. Sandusky; Bon of Frederic and Louisa Schophoister born in Prussia Sept. 27, 1S47 the family came to the Tinted State- in IS51, settled near Sauk City, Sauk Co., Wis., lived there about four years, and then moved to Washington. Sauk (Jo. Mr. William Sehoplioister's steam saw mill is situated on Sec. 22 the timber used is principally hard wood capacity of the mill, 6,000 feet per day the manufacturing of wagon material forms the principal part of the work shipping point, luvil-'mrg. Mr. S. was married, Oct. Ill, 180S. in the town of Washington, to Mary Schluter. daughter of Charles D. Schluter Mr. and Mrs. S. have three children Mr. Schophoister has been Treasurer of Charles E., William and Frederic. ;

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his school district three years.

GEORGE

SE BRING,

farmer, See. 1. P. O. Tuekeiville son of Jonathan and Sarah L. horn in Tioga Co., Penn.. Aug. 9, S27 remained in his native county till 22 years of Corson Seining age then went to McEwingsville. Penn.. and made a stay there of one year. He was married in Lyco:

;

ming

Co.,

Thomas

;

Penn., Sept, 10, 1850, to Rebecca M. Thomas, daughter of William and Anna (McElrath Mrs. Sebring was born in Clinton Co., Penn. they have had four children, of whom three are T., married, Oct. 22, 1S76. to Isabelle Rockwell, they reside in the town of Washing-

living

— William

ion

Emma

;

died

May

1876 was the wife of Irwin

Baird;

Robert

II.

and Cora

Bell, living at

TOWN OF WASHINGTON.

769

home. From McBwingsville Mr. Sebring moved to Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Penn. then, in 1853, went to California, spent a year and three months in the re-inn, ami retur to Jersey Shore; leaving this place, he spent two years al his old home in Tioga Co. and returned to Jersey Shore; once more he is on the move, arriving in Wisconsin in April. 1867 he located on Sec. town of Washington, Sank L'o acres. Mr. Sehring and family 'are members of the M. E. Church Co., where he now resides; hahe has b ten Clerk of his school district sis years. Mr. Sebring's parents came to Sauk Co., Wis., in 355, Mr. Sebring, Sr., died at the advanced agi of 96 years 6 living on the farm now occupied by their son months and 6 days. ;

<_;-<

» I « 1

;

JAMES

SKIM; WICK,

cooper. Sandusky son of Calvin ('. and Harriet N. Webb SedgC. horn in Neosho. Dodge Co.. Wis.. S. pi 30, 1851 wick in 1856, the familj moved to Reedsburg, Sauk Co.; and. in 1861, came to the town of Washington, settled on S. in afew years changed to Excelsior 10. Mr. Sedgwick was married in Sandusky, June 26, 1868, to Nancy Waters, iter on See. daughter of Daniel and Caroline Walker) Waters; Mrs. Sedgwick was horn in Springfield, Ohio; they Nettie L. Mr. Sedgwick made his home in Sandusky in 1 Still, where he now have an adopted daughter re-ides; has 40 acres id' land in Sec. 9; he has served as Clerk of his school district one year, and Director ;

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three years.

W. THOMPSON,

farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. Loganville son of James and Margaret A. ThompI. son; was horn in Lycoming Co., near Williamsport, Penn.. Sept. 9, 1830; resided in his native county I860, when he came to Wisconsin; settled on Sec. 12; has 160 acres of land. Was married in Lycoming Co., Penn., in 1871, to Amy L. Hagerinan. daughter of Anson Hagerman. Mrs. Thompson was born in the State of New York; they have three children William J., Alice and Clyde. ;

till

— SAMUEL THOMPSON, farmer, Sec. 2;

Carotin rs

Thompson

;

was born in Lycoming Co.,

P. O. Reed,lu,rg; sou "of .lames

Pent).,

June 15, 1826

;

and .Margaret remained in Pennsylvania till

21 year- of age; then spent two years in traveling in Ohio. Indiana and Illinois; was married in Tioga Co., Penn., Jan. 31, 1850, to Harriet Sebring, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Sebring; Mrs. Thomp-

son was born in Tioga Co.; was the thirteenth child in her family 3Ir. and Mrs. Thompson h.e, children living (all boys Reese W., married to Ida King, they reside in the town of Washington; Royal 1'. Minion V.. Georgi S., Ernest W. and Otto G.; they have lost three Orlan 0., .lames L. and In 1854, Mr. T. and family came to Sauk Co.; settled on Sec. 2, where they still reside; have Phebe E. 30 acre- of land Mr. T. was Town Treasurer three years and a member of the board year 1879 i

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Mr. Thompson and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of [ronton.

HARRIET THORXBIT«;iI,

Sec. 6; P. 0. Washington; willow of William B. NltS. Thornburgh and daughter of Chauncy and Rhoda Hammond was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y was married in Morrow Co., Ohio, Dec 25, 1852 to William B. Thornburgh; the family moved to Wisconsin in June, 1856 settled on Sec. 6, town of Washington, Sauk Co.; there are lour children -Wellington B ;

;

Mary Sheble, and

the town of Ironton; Corington (.'.. Effie A. and Mem,. 1; ,n home. Mr. Thornburgh was a tailor by trade, and was engaged in that business previous to his settlement in Wisconsin after coming to this State he made farming his business till the time of his death, which Feb 26, 1869. Previous to his marriage to the present Mrs. Thornburgh, Mr. Thornburgh was married to Ursula Hammond, Jan. 18, 1844 three children were born of this marriage -Addison D., who was a member of Co. K. 28th W. V. I., and died in hospital near Memphis, Tenn Feb. 5, 1863 Adelia R., now Mrs. Isaac N. Settle, of the town of Ironton, and Ursula A uov, Mrs O. W. Schoonfeldt,

married

living in

;

Ree Isburg.

WALTER WALLIX<;

deceased was the son f Charles and Clara Walling was bom in Otsego Co., N. V.. in 1821 while unite young went with his parents to the town of Orwell, Ohio. Was married at Hartford, Ohio, in 1843, to Phebe Huntley, daughter of Selden and Lavisa Peek) Huntley; Mrs. Walling was born in the town of New Lyme, Ohio children S Maria (now Mrs. George Jaquish, living at Ithaca, Wis.!, Riley (living in O'Brien Co., Iowa), tiaus deceased Selden to Mary Donahoe, living in the town of Washington), Sarah L. (deceased), Bion II. Mr. Walling and family came West in 1862, settled on See. 30, town of Washington, Sauk Co., home). Wis., where Mrs. W. and her sons still reside. Mr Walling enlisted Feb 2 t, 1864, in Co. A. 36th W. V. [., and died in hospital at Petersburg, Va July 19, 1864. Mrs. Walling's P. 0. is San i

;

born

<'.

R. WKIilt. farmer. See. 28;

Oswego Co., N. Y

P. 0. Sandusky; son of Hiram and Eliza Beach) Webb; was March ">. 1837; resided in his native town till about 12 year- of to the adjoining town, where he made his heme till 1870, when he moved to Sauk Co., Wis., .

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

77n

Was married in Spring Green, April 8, 1873, to Hannah Griffith, town of Washington. Myrtie E., Charles Stanley daughter of William and Anna Morgan) Griffith they have three children Treasurer been of his school district six years. has Has 79 acres of land. Webb Mr E. Alma and settling in the

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GILBERT WHEELER, farmer. Sec. 14

son of William and Miranda Payne Wheeler; was born in Brown Co., N. Y., June 19, 1823; resided in his native county twenty He was married in Lycoming Co., Peun., June 9, 1846, to and then went to Bradford, Penn. Mr. Wheeler Eliza 1. Hulburt they have one daughter, Hattie, now Mrs. F. J. Reckon, of Delton, Wis. came to Wisconsin in June, 1847 stopped in Walworth Co. seven years came to Sauk Co. in 185 and Mr. Wheeler enlisted located on Sec. 14. town of Washington; has a well-improved farm of 160 acres. He has served one term in Co. M, 1st W. V. G. in October, 1864, and served till the close of the war. as Supervisor of Washington, and seven years as Clerk of his school district. ;

P. 0. Tuckerville

;

years,

;

JOHN

;

WISE,

farmer, Sec. 25 P. 0. Sandusky; son of Henry and Dora Wise; wa» H. He was married in Hanover, in the fall of 1858, to Dora Meyer, born in Hanover March 27, 1830. John H., daughter of John Meyer; Mis. Wis.' was born in Hanover; they have three children Mr. Wise came to the United States in August, 1867, and settled on Sec. William H. and John Henry. has 80 acres of land. Mr. Wise and family are members of the 25, town of Washington, Sauk Co., Wis. St. Paul's Lutheran" Church of Washington. ;

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WOOD,

DR. WILLIAM

firmer, Sec. 2.") P. (). Sandusky son of Abiel and Sarah A. Moulton) Wood; was born in Thetford, Orange Co., Vt., April 19, 1811 resided in his native town till 19 years of age; commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Burge, of Ellisburg, and concluded with commenced the practice of his profession in the town of ChauDr. J. B. Crawe, of Watertown, N. Y. niorit. X. V. Was manic. 1 in Jefferson County in December, 1836, to Betsey Ann Ball, daughter of Samuel (married to Frances Gray, residing at Eleazer and Mary Farlin Ball; they had seven children William (deceased, was a member of the Princeton, 111. ), Naomi deceased, was married to C. D. Spoon 23d W. V. 1.'. died in hospital at St. Louis), Albert (married to Ida Organ, residing on See. 25, WashDr. Wood and family moved to Rock Co., Wis., in ington), Mary, Francis F. and Jessie, living at home. >52 after a residence there of a year and a half, came lo Sauk Co. settled on Sec. 25, town the fall of Ha^ served as Chairman and Town Clerk, one year each, and is now Jushas 80 acres, of Washington ;

;

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tice of the

'eace,

TOWN OF IRONTON. WILLIAM W. ALL,

son of Peter and Mary All P. O. Ironton was born farmer, Sec. 4 Schoharie Co., N. V., March 25, 1818; while ijuite young, moved with his parents to Herkimer Co., and, when about 5 years of age, moved to Washington Co., X. Y.; here he was married, ill 1843, to Mrs. All was born in Orville, Vt. Mr. All and family moved to Dane Phebe, daughter of Zenus Hurd settled in the town of Albion in 1853, moved to Sauk Co., town of fronton !o., Wis., in L844 has a well-improved farm of 200 acres; ihey have eight children Peter 1!. was a member of on Sec. Co. E, 50th W. V. I.; was married to Lydia A. Davis, and now living in Ironton), Julia M. (now Mrs. Elizabeth now Mrs. John Markham, of Dale William A. Wright, living in the town of Ironton new Mrs. P. I'.urgcss, of Ironton), Chloe A.. Olive A. and Josephine E. Mr. vestei C, Lucretia If All was Chairman of Ironton si\ years, and Treasurer of his scl district two years. ;

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X. H. AUSTIN, Ironton

money -leaner and retired firmer-, son of Peter and Rachel Rogers) Austin: was born in Onondaga Co., X. V.. \u<j. I, L812; commenced teaching school when 17 year- of ;

met I, a Fayette on his second visit, to the age; taughl thirteen winters in succession in his native county came to Me Henry United States, and was present at the celebration of the completion of the Erie Canal Co., 111., in 1843; lived there eleven years; was engaged in farming, teaching and mercjfttile business. iviia (Cook) Mitchell; Mrs. Was married, in 1843, to Lucretia Mitchell, daughter of Samuel and ;

;

Mr. A u.-iin and family came to Sauk Co.. Wis., in Austin was horn in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn. Mr. Austin was 1851; settled on Sec, t, Town 12, Range 3 now Ironton; has 300 acres of land. appointed Postmaster of Marston bj Franklin Pierce; was the first Postmaster; the name of the office has been Justice of the Peace four years, rard changed to [ronton be held the office till 1861 and is now serving' in that capacity: was Chairman of Ironton in 1879; has served twelve years as P ilii -rat. Assessor. Dei ;

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TOWN OF [RONTON.

JAMES L. BENSON, farmer, Sec. 34

77!

P.O. Lime Ridge; son of Almeron and Lucinda was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., March I. 1833; while quite young, went with his

Stanton Benson pan tit- tn Morrow Co., Ohio. llemaii ami Sarah Martin. i

;

Was married in that county, Sept. 21, 1854, to Louisa A. .Martin, daughter

Mr-. Benson was born in Crawford Co., Ohio havi had ten children, of now Mrs. Martin Towner, living in Minnes Heman Emma, nov* Mrs Albert Fox, living at Rochester, Minn. Elizabeth V., now Mrs. William Helm, residing in Sank Co.: .lames I!.; Levi anil llattie. Mr, llonsoii came lo Sauk Co.. Wis in (Joseph and .lennie ilereaseil 1855; made his home in [ronton Village for two years, then came to his present farm, See. :;i has 120

el'

whom eight are living

;

-Ellen,

;

and two terms as Director of his school district. Mr. Benson was one of the pioneers of [ronton, and has not forgotten the advantages of digging eonsing root and cutting hoop-poles, diversions which aided greatly in keeping the wolf from the door in the early days in the woods. acres

;

has served as eonstable of

rot

E. BliAliESIiEE. merchant, [ronton Village, of the firm of E. & N. G. Blakeslee, dealers in son of J. G. and Ruby (Bliss) Blakeslee; horn in the town of Madison Co. X. Y., May 12. ISMS; when 6 years of age, he went with his family to Salem, Kenosha Co. Wis., and in the spring of lS.'il, moved to Stink Co., Wis settled on Sec. 32, Town 13 north, Range 3 east, now Lavalle. He was married, March 4, 1861, in the town of Lavalle, to Mary Ballard, daughter of Hiram Ballard they have three children— Eulella J., Charles (i. and Alfred J. Mr. general merchandise and farm produce

;

Fennel-,

;

Blaki -lie enlisted in the fall of 1861, in Co. B, 12th W. V. I. went into the service as a private, was to a Lieutenant's commission in Co. 11, and afterward to the Captaincy id' the same company; was in all the engagements in which his regiment participated, and served till the close of the war. On his return from the army, he followed farming for a few years SdS. commenced in the merin the spring of cantile liiisinessat Ironton. Mrs. Blakeslee died Aug. 27. 1872. Mr. B. was married, Sept. 14. 1873, to Mrs. Caroline A. Swift, daughter of Lodwick and Charlotte Smith) Huntley Mrs. Blakeslee was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio; was married. Oct. Id. 1854, to Charles Swift, and resided at Cazeiio\ia; the\ Mary L. and Lee C. Mr. Swift's death occurred Feb. (J, 1866. Mr. Swift was a had two children member of Co. F, 3d W. V. C. his death resulted from disease contracted while in the army he was Quartermaster Sergeant when discharged. In IST'.i. Mr. Blakeslee was elected on tin Republican ticket to the Wisconsin Legislature, and served during the session of lsso is the party nominee for the same office. ;

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NOAH

BLA KESEEE,

of the firm of E. & N. G. Blakeslee, Ironton, dealers in general ii. merchandise; this firm are large dealers in butter, eggs, fruit, fresh meat and farm produce; they have completed a commodious refrigerator, which enables them to handle perishable produce to great advantage; Mr. Blakeslee is the son of Joseph G. and Ruby (Bliss) Blakeslee; born in Kenosha Co., Wis., Jan. 2, 1848, and came to Sauk Co., in 1851, with his parents they located mi See. 32, Town 13, R now Lavalle. He was married, Aug. 25, 1872, at. Ironton. to Mary E. Blanchard, daughter of (>. C. and Hannah Kezear) Blanchard; Mrs. Blakeslee was boil) in St. Lawrence Co., N. V.; they have two children— Nellie E. and Orin G. In April, 1st:;, commenced his present business: has been Clerk District No. 2 for three years of Scl is the present Town Treasurer of Ironton. Mr. and .Mrs. B. are members of the Congregational Church. Politics. Republican. lately

;

O. C.

BEAXCHABO, cabinet-maker, undertaker and bee

culturist, [ronton; son of Henry and Mary Crosby) Blanchard: born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 19, 1820. He was married, January, 1850, in his native county, to Hannah Kezar, daughter of Luther Kezar; Mrs. Blanchard was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. V. Mr. B. and family came to Sauk Co Wis., in 1854, and settled in the town of Kingston, now called Sumter: was engaged in farming; in Hod, moved to Recdsburg, remaining ,

there till Sept. 30, 1858. when he removed to Ironton. and engaged in his present business. There are live children in the family— Mary E., now Mrs. G. Blakeslee Mr. Blakeslee is the junior partner of the firm oi' E. & S. (I. Blakeslee); Agnes A., Carrie M., William II. and Bertha L. Mr. Blanchard has

entered into the culture of bees qui

members of the Congregational Church. Ell (ill

Xtensively, having at .Mr.

ft,

publican

ITS swarms.

Mr. and

Mrs. B. are

politics.

H. BBENIZER, farmer, dealer in fanning mills, Sec. 33; P.O. Lime Ridge

Pacific Mill of Kenosha, Wis.; son of Adam and -lane I!.

Pec. 11, 1836.

this time

lie

and Eliza Wheeler W. and Rolvin C.

;

sells th.

Elliott Brenizer; was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, was married, Jan. 1, I860, in Morrow Co., to Elizabeth Wheeler, daughter of [Jptoi she was born in Baltimore Co., Md. they have three children— Orson W., Clarena ,

In 1871, he moved to Sauk Co., Wis., and settled on Sec. 33; has '.hi acres; he ia operating in the Western States and Territories. Mr. B. and wife are members of the United Brethren

Church.

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

772

P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of Adam and Enlisted in July, 1864, in Jane R. (Elliott) Brcnizer; was born in Morrow Co., Ohio. March 29, L845. He was married in Morrow Co., January. Co. A, 174th Ohio V. I., and served till the close of the war. Mr. B. and family 1S68, to Martha, daughter of Upton and Eliza Wheeler she was born in Maryland. came to Wisconsin in 1870, and located on Sec, 28, town of [ronton, Sauk Co. have 80 acres of laud Ada and Owen; he has been Clerk of his school district one year, and Director they have two children

WIIiL,IAJl H. It it I'A'IZK IS. farmer, Sec. 28;

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three years.

JOHN C. BRICE, farmer, See. 35; P. 0. Lime Ridge;

so,, of Robert and Mary (Crode) came to the United States in 1848, and made England, Dec. 2!>, 1828 then came to Sauk Co., lived there and in Walworth Co. till 1861 town of [ronton, Sec. 35 previous to this, in 1855, he had been here and entered the north half of southHe was married Nov. 22, 1862, in [ronton, to Permilla east quarter of Sec. 35, where he now resides. Henry daughter of James and Palmyra Cohoon there were six children born of this marriage Col Mr. B. enlisted, in January, L., Joseph T., Melvin U., James W. and Mary (twins), and Simeon B. 186 1. in Co. F. 3d W. V. C, and served till the close of the war was discharged in Mober, 1865. His He was married, May 3, 1878, to Emma ksburn. daughter of Joseph and Hanwife died Feb. 7, 1876. nah Nickerson) Osburn she was horn in Allegan y Co., -V Y. they have one child, Anna M.; he has Mr. B. and wife are members of the Christian school district for fifteen years. of his Treasurer been Church. In politics, Republican.

Brice

his

was born

in Dorsetshire,

home in Waukesha Co., Wis.

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(

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BAYID BRYDEX,

P. O. Ironton sot, of David and Jenet Lees) Bryden farmer, Sec. 5 was born in Scotland, >ct, 16, 1831 came to the United States in 1854, made a short stay in Waukesha 185."), settled on Sec. 28, [ronton. Was married April 26, and to Sauk then came Co., Wis., and Co., they Mrs. linden was born in the State of New York 1859 to Julia A., daughter of Lumen Swallow. Mr. Bryden was Justice of the David, Annie and Jessie three died in infancy. have three children Mr. Bryden has several hundred acres 'race one term, ami is the present Director of his school district, ;

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of land.

BlTMAJf,

VOIiNEY

was born at Rochesforeman of John Smith's iron works Ironton A. N. V.. .May IS, 1827; son of Benjamin P. and Mary (Cook) Batman; whet) 4 years of age went with Was now Oct. 25. at Milan, to LucreOhio, married, 1847, Erie to Milan, Co., Co. his family Hudson Mrs. Butman was bom in Lewis Co., N. Y. Benjamin. Root tia. daughter of Archibald and Agnes Francis M.. Mary (deceased), John S., Jennie (now Mrs. F. M. they have had live boys and two girls ;

ter.

—

Groat, living

Lavalle), Lewis. Jonas, William (deceased),

Minnie and Thomas.

About 1850, Mr. B.

aftei a few months moved to Waukogan, 111., stayed Michigan, established a foundry at Lowell settled in year, then returned to Ohio, remained live years, and in 1853 came to Wisconsin Politics, from there he went to Ironton and engaged in his present business. Aiken, Richland Co. Republican. carpenter and farmer. See. 33; P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of Thurston and Bethana Bailey Carr. was born Sept 26, 1812, in Susquehanna Co., Penn., and at o years of age, went with his parents to Ashtabula Co., Ohio remained in that county till 22 years of age, then went to Lake Was married there in 1836, Sept. 3, to Mary Trumbull, daughter of Luther Trumbull. Mrs. CanCo died in 1841. Mr. Carr was married in hake Co. Sept. 6, 1842, to Jane E. Genung, daughter of Amos Mrs. C. wa> born in Vales Co., N. Y. they have ten children the and Mary Belknapp Genung. is married to Mattie Brewster, ami is the Pastor ol'ihe regular Baptist Chmvh, .,, elde Rev. Lucius G

went

there

;

PELEGCARR,

;

Grocius L., livingal hoi, a- Arthur E., living in Black Hills; Mary 0., now Mr- Jeffei son Reynolds living near Lone Rock, Wis, ;Ozro F., living in the Black Hills; Oliva A., now Mrs. John H. CleIn 1846, Mr. all living at home. ment, livingin the town of Ironton Cary. Luther A., Gilbert 11. and Ada Cur and family came to Wisconsin settled at Palmyra. Jefferson Co.. Wis. remained there till May, 857, when lie moved to Sauk Co.; located at Ironton Village, where Mr. Carr worked at his trade; in the spring ok 1862, moved to his present farm, See. :;:;. Town 12, Range 3, now [ronton; has 40 acres of land. Lucius G. »as a member of Co. B. 12th W. V. L enlisted September, 18(11 re-enlisted as a veteran and served till the close of the war. Grocius L. enlisted in the fall of 1864, in Co. P. 35th W. V. P. and Mr. Carr was Chairman of the town of Washington one year, and Justice of the Peace served one year. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are members of the Of Ironton; has also served as District Clerk and Treasurer. Stillman Valley, 111.

;

I ..

;

Baptist

Church.

DENNIS CLOSEY, far Closey

;

was horn

Comity Kilkenny

r, .

Sec. 23;

Ireland, in

Kelley son of Thomas and Susan 0. Reedsburg 1813; came to the United States the year of tin' great

1'.

;

— TOWN OF [RONTON. New York City

773

remained there about pleven years. He was married al Hudson, July 22, 18 12, m Mary, daughter of Felix and Catharine McGregor) Donley she was born in the County of Antrim, L845, settled in the town of Lima, Rock Co., and in and family came to Wisconsin in Ireland; Mr. C. October, 1850, came to Sank Co., stopping a shorl time in the village of Eteedsburg he boughl 160 acres in Sec. 23, Town 12, Range 3, now [ronton; here the walls of a log house were erected, and Dee. 15 the as they depended on the lumber which family moved, without roads or bridges, to their new habitation formed the shanty at Reedsburg to complete, the house, they found themselves in a cold rain-storm in a house without roof or floor one corner was covered with loose boards; here the family took shelter till the lumber could be brought to finish the house; their nearest neighbor was G. W, Gray, living three and the first white pera half miles to the south, and the next one was Mr. S. Baker, living four miles east son whom tluy saw was Mr. Cray, in the April of the next year. Mr. and Mrs. C. have seven children to married Margaret Sammon, living on in Minnesota; John, living to Isabella Pine, Edward, married the same section as his father; Thomas, married to Margaret Welch, also living on the same section; William J., living at home; Felix 1).. living in Allegany Co., N. Y.; Catharine and Joseph, living in Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of n Clerk of his school district ten years. Mr. Closey has Chicago. the Catholic Church. son of James and Palmyra P. O. Reedsburg farmer, Sec. 26 fire in

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CORNELIUS COHOON,

;

Baird) Cohoon; was born in Illinois Get. 14, 1853; lived there till 3 years of age, then came to Sauk He was married Nov. 15, town of Ironton; is located on Sec. 26, and has 20 acres of land. 1875, at Ironton, to Alice, daughter of Harvey and Susan Lyons; she was horn in Wisconsin; they have

Co., Wis.,

liildren

— Daisy, Gertrude and Ralph.

JAMES COHOON, farmer. See. 25

lole Reedsburg son of Stephen and Margaret 1814; while quite young went to Erie Co., Pcnn.,

P. 0.

;

New York Sept.

•_'.

;

He was married March 2, 1835, to Palmyra, with his parents, and from there to Delaware Co., Ohio. daughter of Victor and Mary E. Potter) Baird; she was born in Orange Co., X. Y.; they have had William M.. deceased; Polly A., now Mrs. William 0. Horton, residing in the town of twelve children Washington; Henry L.. married to Sarah Wheeler, and living in Nebraska; Permilla, deceased, was the Mary E., now Mrs. J. T. Pollock, of Tuckerville Rebecca, deceased Amanda wife of John C. Brice ised, was the wife of Andrew Simmons. Cornelius, married to Alice Lyons, living in the town of Simeon B.. married to Martha Mallet, and living in Nebraska; Elijah, decease/; Ethel In 1847, Mr. C. and family Euphrasia, now Mrs. Fred Mois, residing at Lloyd. Wis., and Hezekiah. came to Dodge Co., Wis., and settled at Rubicon remained in this town about four years, then went to after a farther residence in that place of Illinois stayed there about ten years, and returned to Rubicon two years, the family moved to Sauk Co. and settled on See. 25, where they now reside; the} have 60 i

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enough clothing and provisions to last them three years not having lumber to roof their log house with, they covered it with hay one day in the following March the hay roof took fire, and the house, with almost its entire contents, was burned; Mr. C. was sick as he did not recover early enough to make any clearing or put in any crop that with a fever at the time year, the family had a hard struggle for existence; shortly after this, Mrs. Cohoon began to lose her eyedin a few years had become perfectly blind after several years of darkness, she recovered her this hopeful deliverance was almost immediately followed by a misfortune no less terrible; a cancer appeared on her face, which, though partially cured, will in any event leave her fearfully disfigured under all these afflictions Mrs. C. is cheerful and happy, in fact she is jolly; Dickens' Mark ] entirely eclipsed by her; if it is her religion that sustains her. it is a pity there are not more of the same Mr. ami Mrs. Cohoon are members of the Christian Church. sort in the land. acres of land

;

on eomii!": to Sauk

Co., they brought

;

CORBIN,

was bom Jan. 6, 1805, in Vermont. He was married in 1828, to Phillotta E. T. Ma\ I. Williams; had four children by this marriage, none of whom are living; Mrs. C. died in 1838. He was married. Aug. 3, 1845, in New York, to Mrs. France, 1832, Mr. C. moved to Toledo, Ohio. In 1859, Mr. C. and sister of bis first wife; they had two children, one of whom. Seneca, is living. family came to Wisconsin; settled in Fairfield, Sauk Co, and, in the spring of 1864, came to [ronton, Sec. 27, where he now resides. He has I" acres of land is a member of the Christian Church, and Republican in polities. When Mr. C. came to Toledo, there were only eleven white people there. ;

SENECA CORBIN, farmet S

O. Lime Ridge; son of E. T. and Esther (Williams) Corbin; born in Erie Co., N Y., Sept. 20 1846; while quite young he moved with his parents to Lenawee Co., Mich.; resided there till \l years of a ;e, then went to Iowa, and two years after cami boo. Sauk Co., Wis. Feb. 29, 1864, he L859); lived there about two years, and then went to Dellona. i

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

774

36th W. V. I., and served till the close of the War; was taken prisoner, .June 1. 1864 then moved to Savannahwas eight days at Libby Prison; three and a half mon'hs at Andersonville i,;i from there to Blackshear Station, and and held there about three weeks; from there to Mellen, Ga. from tlin-e to Charleston, S. C, where, with a number of other prisoners, he was exposed to the lire of the From Charleston, he was removed to Florence. S. ('., and. on the 13th of December, Federal vessels. He was married in the 1864, was paroled, and rejoined trie army about the time of her'.- surrender. Mrs. Corbiri town of Washington. Dee. 13, 1866, to Adelia M Emery, daughter of Harrison Emery. they have live girls and one boy Mary E., David E., Cora B.. Ada E., Maud M., was horn in New York Mr. ('. came to [ronton, and settled on his present farm, July 16, one unnamed and Ellas E. deceased lie has served as Supervisor four years, and is h s 80 acres of land, situated (iii Sees. 27 and 34. 1865 now on the fifth has been District Clerk one term, and is now serving the second was the United States Polities. Republican. Enumerator for [ronton for 1880.

enlisted in Co.

1!.

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M. RAXSOJI DO YON, Superintendent of the John F. Smith Iron- Works, Ironton

son of

;

John and Arvilla (Darling) Doyon born in Franklin Co., Vt., Dec. 18, 1845; when 20 years of age, He was married, Oct 19, 1869, to Amelia Herrick, daughter of Moses lie moved to Chittenden Co., Vt. they have three children Charles H, Mrs. Doyon was born at Milton. Vt. D. and Jennette S. lleniek. Mr. Doyon was engaged in the mercantile business in Vermont till 1878. Jennette II. and Bertrand H. when he came to Wisconsin; located at Ironton. and. after the death of Mr. John F. Smith, was made Superintendent of the Iron-Works. A sketch of the [ron Works and mine is <jiven in the history of ;

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the town.

V. FISCHER, fanner. See. 22;

P. 0. [ronton S f Joseph and Elizabeth Fischer; horn in 12, 1820; when lti years of age. he engaged in the stock business, and, in pursuit of lie was a soldier of the French army; through the principal countries of Europe, s rved eight years in Africa. On his return to France, he was married, in May, 1854, near Paris, to August, married to Malinda Loudez, daughter of John Baptiste Loudcz; they have seven children Alexander, married to Mary Hunt, and residing in the town of Bertha Danile, and residing in Appleton Ironton; Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Humphrey, living in Dakota; Mary, now Mrs. Enos Baldridge, living in Ironton Herman, Molina and Alfred are at home. Mr. Fischer and family came to the United States in 1857 made their home at Pittsfield, Mass. remained there till 1863, then came to Wisconsin spent a year in Bear Valley, Sauk Co., and then came to [ronton. Sec. 22, where he now resides; has 200 acres of land. The rst three years of his residence here was engaged in burning coal for the [ronton lias [00 acres under cultivation. He has served Furnace, since when lie lias applied himself to his farm i- Director and Clerk of his school district. No. 7, one term each. ;

Tans, Fr.nce. June his c.d'ing, traveled

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IjEEWELEYX

and carpenter. Ironton; son of Lewis and <». <jJRAV. bom in Waukesha Co., Wis., .June 13, 1853; moved to Juneau Co. while Elizabeth (Pulver) Graj quite young, with his parents; lived there till 1870, then Ciime to Sauk Co., Wis.: settled in the town ol [ronton. He was married, \pril 9, 1876, in the town of [ronton, to Elizabeth Mason, daughter of Nathan

wagon-maker

;

Mrs. (i was bom in Richland Co., Wis.; they have one child- Martin aid Elizabeth Meek Mason. He Mr. Cray came to lroiii.ui Village iii 1877; is now in the employ of the John Smith Iron-Works. i

has been

Town Clerk one year, and is now serving the second term.

AIMS A II AH <«K1FFR\. farmer. Sec. 16; P.

Politics,

Republican.

Mary Chapman

Ironton; son of John and

bom in Lincolnshire. England, Feb. 7. 1833; came to the United States in 1847 made his home Griffin lie was married there March 2. 1854, to Henrietta La Grange, daughter of Henry and hi Like Co.. 111. Mrs. Griffin was born in Cleveland. Ohio; they have seven children Elizibeth (Cross) La Grange. Henrj c. Willie W., living— George H., Rachel H., now Mrs. Arthur Hind, living in Kansas; Ida M settled In November 1861, came to Sank Co., Wis. John F. (deceased). Frederic L. and Clifford E. ;

;

Mr. Griffin ...listed, Feb. 23, 1864, in Co. K. 35th W. V. L. and on See. 16; has 120 acre- of laud. lie has served till the close of the war. tas ssor of [ronton two years, and Clerk of S.hooi District I

years.

FREDERIC

GROAT,

Sec. I; P.O. [ronton; has been a minister of the Chris REV. J. Church about twelve years; son of Frederic and Cornelius (Spun- Croat; born in Herkimer Co., V Y.. July 13, 1822; while quite young, he moved with his ...other to Columbia Co., N. Y when remained there about eleven years, then went age he moved to Berkshire Co., Mass He was married Oct 22, 1846, to Mrs. Claris-. a Groat Brown Co., N. Y., and lived there six years is of Cornelius and Rachel Newman) Spurr Croat the daughter Croat: Mrs. Jacob widow of his brother.

tian

(

;

775

TOWN OF [RONTON. by her first

marriagi

—

William II.; and died near

Mrs. Groal was born in Lenox, Berkshire Co., Mass.. ahe had one son he was a member of Co. A. 6th W. V. I., re-enlisted as a veteran in the 35th W. V. [., Mr. and Mrs. Groat remained in Brown Co about three years, and then came in D Vicksburg. Wis,, town of Lowell spent one year in tins town, then came to Reedsburg, Sauk Co., in the spring of they have sis children— Francis 15 acres of land 1849, ami to [ronton, Sec. 4, the following fall; have M. .married to Jenny Butman, residing in Ironton teacher by occupation), Camelia (now Mrs. Walter Mr. Roys, living in Lavalle), Esther (now Mrs. William Burchell, of Lavalle), Mary, Ella and Ina. Groat has been Justice of the Peace two terms; he enlisted, in September. 1861, in Co. B, 12th \\ \ :

;

I.;

and served in all four years, lacking a month

re-enlisted as a veteran,

;

Polities,

was a Sergeant.

In'

Republican.

RICHARD HAINSTOCK.

machinist, Sec. 16; 1'. 0. Ironton; son of John and ElizaHe was married in Canada, April 30, Hunt' Hainstock; born in Canada West Nov. 1, 1833. beth Mrs. Hainstock was horn in Dublin, Ireland; they have had eleven ehiklren 1859, to Catharine Dennon John. Mary J. (deceased), Charles (deceased), William, Elizabeth, Sarah docca.-ed . Rosa, Richard (deceased), Thomas. Cora and Lenora. Mr. Hainstock and family came to the United States in 1859 stopped at Reedsburg, Sauk Co., Wis., one year, then came to the village of Ironton in 1860; was emafter Mr. Tower's death, he was employed by ployed by Jonas Tower in the Iron-Works as machinist Mr. John F. Smith in the same capacity since Mr. Smith's death, he is still employed by Mr. Doyon, In 1878, he moved his family to his farm the present Superintendent of the John"]?. Smith Iron Works. of liiU acres. See. lb, near the village while acting as machinist of the Iron-Works, he still finds time to ;

—

;

superintend his farm.

Politics,

Republican.

JAMES HARRISON, farmer. Sec 3; P. 0. Ironton: son of George and Martha (Bottom, He was married in England, in born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, May 10, 1828. the fall of 1S4T, to Mary Chester; one child was bore of this marriage, who died in infancy; Mrs. Harrison died in 1848; the same year, Mr. Harrison moved to the United States; lived in Massachusetts one year, and then came to Sauk Co., Wis., and settled on See. 34, Township 13, Range 3, now Lavalle; Mrs. Harrison was born in was married, in 1856, to Martha Pearson, daughter of Manelious Pearson England; twelve children were born of this marriage, of whom eleven are living— Johanna (deceased ley) Harrison;

;

Amanda (now Mrs. Bert Lawrence, living in Wonewoc), Ambrozine, Isaac, Charles G., Sarah, Manelious, Edward, Bertha, Johanna, Minnie and George. In S68, he settled on his present farm, Sec 3, Ironton; has 77 acres; served in the war in Co. K, 18th W. V. I., from the fall of 1864 till the close of the war has been a member of the Town Board four years, and is now acting in that capacity. 1

MOSES

IK KICK.

Ironton village; son of Elijah and Polly (Davis) Herrick was born D. II Was July 17, 1820; engaged in mercantile business in early manhood. married in November, 1S46, to Janette Smith, daughter of Frederic and Janette (Strowbridge) Smith Amelia, now Mrs. M. R. Doyon, residing in she was born in Hashing. Vt. they have two children Ironton: Geneva S., residing at home Mrs. Herrick's brother, Mr. John F. Smith, made his sister and her daughters his principal heirs. Mrs. Herrick is sole proprietor of the John Smith Iron Works, of In 1879, Mr. Herrick and familyIronton, and of about 5,000 acres of land in the town of Ironton. moved to Wisconsin, village of Ironton, Sauk Co. Mr. H. was Postmaster of Milton, N't., fourteen years, For description of the Iron and resigned at the time of departure for Wisconsin. Politics, Republican. Works, see county and town history. ;

in Milton, Chittenden Co., Vt.,

;

—

;

MRS. NAXCY HUMPHRY,

widow of George Humphry, See. 23; P. O. Reedsburg; daughter of Felix and Catharine McGregor) Donley was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland came to the United States in is:;:,. Was married May 10, 1845, in Hudson, N. Y., to George Humphry; they moved at once to Whitewater, Wis.; after a residence there of five years, came to Sauk Co. in 1850, settled on Sec. 23, and bought 160 acres of land. Mr. Humphry was born in Yorkshire, England, in William, 1822 and came to the I'nited States when about 18 years of age; they had seven children married to Eliza Fischer, and living in Minnesota; Isabella, deceased; Mary, now Mrs. Oscar Dixon, ;

;

—

Nelson, deceased and Catharine, deceased. Mr. HumEsmerelda, dow Mrs. L. N. Larue, living in the town of Ironton phry died, and was buried Feb. 20, 1864, together with his youngest child, Isabella; another child had

living in Minnesota; George, married Miss D. Evans, living in the village of Ironton

;

family. — such was the havoc typhoid fever had wrought JOHN JESSOI\ fanner. S,c 3; 0. Ironton; son of John and Mary (Saville Jessop was in this

been buried only four days previous

born in Brairley, Yorkshire. England, the last Tuesday in July. 1820

;

came to America, arriving in New

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

settled on See. 3, Town 12 north, Range 3, now Ironton helped to organize the town of Marston, of which the present town of Ironton then Mr. Jessop was married Oct. 22, 1862. in Ironton, to Mrs. Betsey Markham, daughter of formed a part. Amos and Mary (Greenwood) Grunshaw Mrs. Jessop was born in Lancashire, England; came to the United States in 1827. Was married February, 1838, at Fall River, Mass., to James Markham they had six children Mary, deceased; Sarah, now Mrs. R. R. Gatley John, married to Elisabeth All, and living in Dakota; in 18..5, Mr. Markham went to Chicago on business, and has never been heard from since Mrs. Markham took care of her children, and saved a few hundred dollars, with which she by his family came to Wisconsin in 1802. Mr. John Jessop was one of the very earliest settlers in Ironton a couple of hunters were his only neighbors within the limits of the present town of Ironton the first year of his residence here he has 140 acres of land they have two adopted children John J. Cludeary and Ella Atkinson. deceased was the son of George and Ann (Jones. Kenworthy; was born in Yorkshire. England, April 13, 1814. Was married in England on Easter Monday April, 1834, to Catharine Brade, daughter of John and Alice (Wogding) Brade Mrs. K. was born in Lancashire, England; Mr. K. and family came to the United States in 1849, settled in Philadelphia Mr. K. was a cotton warper by trade remained in Philadelphia about eight years in March, 185(5, came to Sauk Co., Wis. settled on Sec. 32, Ironton bought 80 acres of land there are six children living George K., married to Martha (a ward of her aunt's) Emily, now Mrs. George Law, living in Iowa; Alfred, married to Celia E. Crouch, and living on the homestead Mary E., now Mrs. Peter Inman, living in Iowa, and Thomas J., living in Iowa; Mr. Kenworthy died April 12, 1878; one son (John) was a member of Co. H, 22d W. V. I., and died in hospital near Vicksburg.

York May 2, 1849, and in Sauk Co. May 17, same year;

east,

;

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;

—

;

KEXARD KENWORTHV,

;

—

;

ALFRED KENWORTHY,

1'. (). Lime Ridge; son of Kenard and farmer, Section 32 Catharine Brade Kenworthy. Was married in Reedsburg, Oct, 12, 1873, to Celia E. Crouch, daughter "I Horace and Mary Ware) Crouch Mrs. K. was born in Westfield, Sauk Co., Wis.; they have two children Ralph W. and Florence A. ;

—

;

CHARLES

KESTER,

farmer, Sec. 25 P. 0. Reedsburg; is the son of William W. M. and Susan R. (Washburn) Kester; was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, July 22. 1842; when 13 years of age came to Sauk Co., Wis., with bis parents, who settled on See. 36, [ronton. He enlisted in the fall of 1861, in Co. F, 3d W. Y. C., ('apt. Yittum, and served a little less than three years; was injured at Camp Barstow, Jaucsville, Wis., which eventually caused his discharge. He was married at Reedsburg, Oct. 4, 1860, to Mrs. Julia A. Ford, daughter of L. D. King; she was burn in Jefferson Co., V was married Feb. 28, L855, to Amos Ford, in Dodge Co.. Wis.; two children were born of this marriage — Mary E., now Mrs. Fred Banks, residing in Nebraska, and S. Lorenzo, located in Nebraska Mr. Ford was killed duly 2, 1864, at the battle of Atlanta; .Mrs. Kestcr's people came to Wisconsin in 1854, and settled in the town of Trenton, Dodge Co. Mr. and Mrs. Kester have two children one girl called X, and a son, Charles Earle. Mr, K. lias a well-improved farm of 80 acres on Sec. 25, with good buildings; has 60 acres under cultivation. In politics, he is a Republican. ;

;

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CHARLES

LAWRENCE,

THOMAS

LAWRENCE,

farm,,-. Sec. 27; P. O. [ronton; sou of Robert and Sarah J. Lawrence: was born in England; came to the United States in 1853; located in Lake Co., 111. Was married in November, 1859, to Eliza Newton, daughter of John and Eliza Newton. Mrs. L. was born in England; they have six children— Ezra, Julia A.. Lucius, Matilda, Albert and Luther. Mr. L and family came to Sauk Co., Wis, Sep! 1, 1863; settled on See. 27, [ronton; they ba land. N Republican in politics Mr. L. enlisted in February, 1864, in Co. K, 35th W. V. I.

farmer, See. 21; P. [ronton; son of Robert and Sarah V. Jackson Lawrence; was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., July 6, 1836; came to the 1'nited States in July, 1856; made his home in the town of Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha Co., Wis.; the next five years were spenl reral States of Wi-mn-in. Illinois, Missouri and Minnesota; in November, 861, came to Sauk Was married, Oct. 8 1863, in [ronton, td Sarah M. Co., Wis.; settled ,in See. 21; has 8 tres. Mrs. Lawrenee was born near Rochester, Genesee Co., Widner, daughter of Samuel and Mary Widner. N. Y'.; they have tour chi \ Robert EL, Thomas P. and Irwin A. Mr. L. enlisted Feb. lias been Clerk of School District 365 in Co. I'. 19th W. V. I.; served till the close of the war. No. 3 li.r three years Mrs. Lawrence and eldesl is the presenl Clerk. Politics, Republican. members of the Regular Baptist Church. 1

ROGER LAUGHNEY, farmer, I

tughney

;

was born in Count;

Mayo

See.

26;

[reland

O. Reedsburg; son of Patrick and Ann February, L802. Was married, in 1837, to

TOWN OF [RONTON.

777

Mar. Moore; Mrs. Laughney died one and a hall' years after her marriage; iii 1840, Mr. L, was married there were seven children born of this marriage -John a farmer, living al home), to Bridget McDonald Man in i\v Mrs. (I'.Mally widow her husband was killed in the iron-ore bed at [ronton, by the fall of a here he is body of ore, Oct. I, L872), Patrick J. (married Mary Davlin; residing-at l'iiislini now Mrs. Thomas Moran widow Mrs. Moran Sarah in the wholesale dry-goods business keeps the Grand Central Hotel .at Fmlenton. Venango Co., Penn.), Ann now Mrs. John Timlin, widow, .\isedi, .Jennie iv Mrs. Thomas J. living in Kilboun Flynn, living in Pennsylvania; Mr. F. is engaged in the mereantile business. Mr. Laughney and family came to the United States in 1864; settled in the town of [ronton, Sauk Co., Wis.; has 1 60 acres of land situated on Sec. 26. ;

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;

PATRICK NEWMAN, farmer. See. 23; P. 0. Reedsburg;

so,, of William and Ellen was boi n in County Longford, Ireland, in 1828 eame to the United Stales in 1850 Brooklyn, X. V., tor fifteen years. He was married, June 23, 1861, to Catharine, daughter of Felix and Catharine McGregor) Donley; she was born in Ireland; they have three chilEllen. Edward and Katie. dren In 1865, he moved to Allegany Co., X. Y.; after a residei there of they have 80 acres of land. Mr. Newman four years, he came to Sauk Co., Wis., and settled on See. 23 has been Treasurer of his School District nine years.

Keenan) Newman

home

;

(

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CHARLES PERRET, farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. [ronton; son of Joseph and Mary

l'erret

;

in Haute Saone, France, Aug. 13, [827 came to the United States in June, 1852; lived in New He was married there Dee. |:;, 1857, to Margaret, daughter of Frederic and Catharina Yorkeighf years. Becker; she was horn in France; they have four children Charles, Lina, Adaline and Jennie. Mr. l'erret and family came to Sauk Co., Wis., in June, 1869, and settled on Sec. 27 they have SI) acres of land. They are members of the Christian Church.

was horn

;

—

;

FREDERIC REXAUI), farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Ironton; son of George and Elizabeth Vug 1835; came to the United States in October, [853, and lived there one year, then went to Massachusetts, and in 1858 came to Sauk Co., bought his farm on Sec. 21 has 120 acres. Returned to Massachusetts, and was married Judy, daughter of Henry Beuchat she was horn in Switzerland there, Nov. [9, right after the 361, marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Renaud eame to Sauk Co., Wis., to their present, home; they have eight children I. Alina E., Mary E., Flora V., Alice L., Frederic A., Frank O. and Maud. Mr. R. has 90 acres under cultivation.

Renaud; was born in Eastern France

'_'.

settled in Connecticut;

;

EZRA

REYNOLDS,

farmer. Sec. 33; P. O. Lime Ridge; son of Richard and Cynthia B. Kimball Reynolds; was born in Oswego Co., X. Y., Dec. 29, 1817. He was married Oct. 30, 1851, in Oswego Co., to Elizabeth Crysler Riddle; she was horn in Canada. In 1857, Mr. 1!. and family moved to Wisconsin, and settled in Dane Co.; lived there about five and a half years, and, March 1, 1862, came to Saul Co. and settled on Sec. 33, Ironton; have [0 acres of land. Aug. 1."., lsi',2, Mr. R. enlisted

23d W. V. [..served about eleven months, and was discharged for disability. Mr. and Mrs. II. hildreu Aretus E., living in Dakota; Cynthia M., now Mrs. John Delmore, living in North Emogene, now Mrs. E. Tupper, living in Honey Creek; Alice E. and Jesse; the thi were born in the State of New York, the younger in Wisconsin. In politics Mr. R. is a Republican. Mrs. Reynolds is a member of the Methodisl Church. in

Co.

II.

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Freedom

;

CHARLES

SAXDS,

farmer, Sec. 9; P. ). fronton; son of Nathaniel and Jan, H. Weyart Sands; was born in the town of Benton, Yates Co., X. Y., Sept. 30, 1830; while quite young, went with his family to Cayuga Co., \. V.. where he remained till 16 years of age; Aug. 29, 1846, he (

Vi-roii-in the family located in Walworth Co. after a residence there of three years, they reto Dane Co., and, in the spring of 1853, Mr. Sands came to Sauk Co. He was married. Jan 5, 1854 in Ironton. to Elizabeth A. Atkinson, daughter of John Atkinson; there were seven children born of this marriage— Jane (now Mrs. A. Hughes, residing in the village of [ronton), George G., Orin L., Annie, Charles II., Willie and Arvin C. Mr. Sands located on Sec. 5, Town 12, Range J. now [ronton resided there till 1864 in the spring of thai year, moved to his present farm on Sec. 9, same town has In March, 1865, he enlisted in Co. Iv 50th W. V. I., and served till April, 1866 155 acres. v, Treasurer of [ronton several years, and Supervisor three or lour years was 'hairman in 1863 and 364, and is the present Chairman 1880 has served as Sehool District Clerk four years, and is the District No. 2. Director of Joint Sid His wife died Fob. 15, 1872. He was married, Sept. 25, 1873, in Ironton. to Mrs. Susan Bostwick, widow of Charles Bostwick, and daughter of Anthony Emily she had three children by the first marriage Isa, now Mrs. Howard Wickersham, living in Dakota Willie, living in Minnesota, and Nelson, at home. :

;

moved

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

f78

REV. JOHN SEAMANS, minister of the Regular Baptist Church and farmer

P. 0. Lime was born in Ashford, Windham Co., Conn., May 12. 1819 remained in his native county till 19 in November, 1838, went to Chicago by the way of Buffalo and the lakes; took passage on r Illinois, in company with about 500 othns; they wore thirteen days making the voyage; while on Lake Michigan they experienced one of the most terrible storms ever seen on those waters; the snow the vessel proved seaflew with such cutting force that it was almost impossible to stand up against it worthy, ami, though looking more like a huge iceberg than a steamer, she rode out of the storm in safety. Stopping only a short time in Chicago, he proceeded to Du Page Co., where he and a brother who had preceded him, prepared to make a home; the country not having been surveyed, they marked out a tract of about 320 acres by plowing a furrow around it the flourishing village of Wheaton now occupies the There site of their claim alter a residence of three years in Du Page Co.. he went to Genesee Co.. X. Y. he was married, Feb. If,, 1846, to Lucinda Dexter, daughter of Reuben and Sally (Groff) Dexter; they hid seven children Charles L. (deceased), Frederic B. (married to Aliua Emery and living in Westfield), John A. (married to Alice Kenworthy and living in Monona Co., Iowa), Clara M. (deceased), Sarah E.. Edwin D. and Ida M. In October, 1846, came to Sauk Co.. Wis. stopped at Loganville during the winhas been ter, and in the spring moved to his farm of 80 acres on Sec. 34, Ironton, where he still resides an officer of the school district several jears. He was ordained, at Loganville, a minister of the Regular Baptisl Church, in July, 1858; during his twenty-two years' labors as a minister of the Gospel in Sauk Co. he has married seventy couples and preached 160 funerals services.

Ridge

;

Mars of age; ii

;

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ISAAC

SETTLE,

farmer, Sec. 32 P. O. Lime Ridge son of William'E. and Lucy Payne N. Settle; was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1835 while quite young, went with, his parents to Belmont Co., Ohio in 1857, came to Wisconsin, settled in Westtield, Sauk Co. Was married in WashingI

;

Mrs. 1863, to Adelia R. Thornburgh, daughter of William B. and Ursula A. Thornburgh. in Morrow Co., Ohio. Mr. S. enlisted Feb. 27, 1864, iti Co. B. 35th W. V. I.; was spent one week in Libby Prison and Castle taken prisoner at the battle of Coal Harbor, June 1. 186-1 Thunder, four months in Andersonville from there was taken to Savannah Ga. from there to Mi lien, where ho spent a month, and was then removed to Blackshear, and from there to Florence, where he was Served paroled and sent North. In 1866, moved to his present farm, See. 32, Ironton be has 4(1 acres. tun, Dec. 31.

Settle was born

;

one teiiu as Supervisor of Ironton. and is the present Clerk of School District No. 2. Mr. and Mrs. Settle Mr. Settle have five children living— Rhoda R, Bertha B.. Cora M., Charles N.. ami one girl unnamed. is

Republican.

EPHKAIM

SMITH,

son of Oliver I'. (). Lime Ridge blacksmith and farmer, See. ;>,[ T. and Deborah (Thomas) Smith; was horn in Rutland, Vt., Aug. 19, 1826; remained in his native countrj lived there till 10 years of age. then came to Ohio with his parents, who made their home in Delaware Co. Was married in Delaware Co.. Dec. 2, 1845, to about eii'ht years, and spent two in traveling in Indiana Mis. Smith was born in Onondaga Co., N. Wheeler, daughter of Lyman and Mahala Wheeler. V. they have nine children Albert U. (married to Mary Johnson, living in the town of Washington John L. (married to Ellen Selden, residing in [ronton), Melissa A. (now Mrs. 11. St. John, living in Woodland leremiah, Mahala II. (now Mrs. S. Z Hudson, living in Baraboo), Joseph E., Clarinda I., Emmet D. F. divine i„ Mr. Smith came to Sauk Co., Aug. 1. L855, Hand), ami Malimla V. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Co. A. 49th W. V. I. and settle,! on See. :;i has 80 acres of land. served till the close of tin- war. Has been Supervisor of hi- town one year; uas the first Clerk of his Mr. and Mrs Smith are memschool district, and is the present Treasurer. In politics, Republican. bers ol the hristian Church. ;

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(

AltKA.1I STANSFIELD, farmer, Sec. 3;

I'. -on of John and Susan Dobson [ronton He was married in Yorkshire, in 1838, to Grace horn in York-hire, England, Pec. 1. 1813. Marshall, daughter of William and Anna Marshall; Mrs. Stansfield was horn in Yorkshire. England; they Susannah, deceased. had two children, of whom onlj one is living Mr. Stansfield and family William e; to tie United States in 1849; made his hoim in New JTork 'it for about three years, then wont to Massachusetts and remained ,.ne year, (hen came to S:.uk Co.. Wis ami settled in See. 3, Ironton; has

Stansfield

(

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(

William enlisted, in the 40 acres of land. Mr. Stansfn-hl uas Cli rk of hi- school district three years. fall of 18&1, in Co F. 3d W, V. C. went into the service as a private, and was promoted to the position of Quartermaster Sergeant Mr. and Mrs. Stansfield are members served three year- and three months. .ular Baptist Church. ;

;

STOWE, farmer and proprietor cheese factory. Sec. 6; P. 0. Ironton;

4.1 OI{<;i'. William K and Sarah

Ii.

Dunn

Stowe; born in Lincolnshire. England. Oct. 3, 1830.

the sonof

He was married

TOWN OF [RONTON.

<«''

Batty; Mrs. Stowe was born in [857, to Sarah Batty, daughter of William and Rebecca Kirk now Mrs. George Wiekesham, of IronLizzie A.. Sarah L. Lincolnshire, England; they Lave four girls ton), Mary A. and Minnie R. Mr. Stowe and family came to the United States in .May. 1857, and made he was engaged in dices i-making al Bouckville manufactured 335,000 Y. their home in Madison Co pounds of cheese annually; after a residence of five years in this place, the family m >ved to the town of

Jan.

2::.

—

Sec. 6,

;

lived there aboul eleven years, and then came to Wisconsin in April, LS73; settled has 34] acres of land town of [ronton in is; l. he started a small cheese-factory on Sec. 6;

Eaton, same county ..ii

;

makes about three tons of cl

se a year.

STOWE, farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. [ronton; son of William E. and Sarah B. Dunn Stowe!

Lincolnshire,

born

England, Aug.

11.

1822.

He was married

—

May.

I-^IT.

Ann. daughter of

Thomas and Mary Maw; they have two boys and two -iris Sarah B. (now Mrs. E. Stanley, living in William F. and George W., at home. Mr. Stowe Mary J. now Mrs. Charles Noble, of [ronton [owa came to the United States in June. 1847; made his home in Bouckville, Madison Co., N. Y., where he i,

I'd in distilling

the

of 1859,

fall

he'came

Wisconsin and

settled

Sank

town of

Co.,

Mr. Stowe ottered himself three was Chairman of that town from 1862 to 1865. volun'eer soldier, and was rejected; finally he was drafted and taken, in February, 1865. and

Woodland, Sec. 28 times as

;

In 1867, he came to [ronton and settled on Sec. 5, where he now retill the close of the war. he has a well-improved farm of 235 acres; within a week after coming to [ronton, he was elected Supervisor, and the next year was elected Chairman; has served in that capacity sinee that time, with the -if three years has served as Justice of the Peace several years, and Town Treasurer two years was elected Superintendent of the Poor for the north district of Sauk Co.. in 1879, and is now serving

served sides;

;

in that capacity.

V. L. VAN LOON, blacksmith, wagon and carriage maker. Ironton

;

son of Abram and Sarah

Y.. May 1, 1832 when 14 years of age. he went to Penn Yam Colier Van Loon born in Steuben Co., Yates Co., and served three years learning the blacksmith trade; traveled in Canada, New York. Pennsylengaged with vania and other Statej as a journeyman blacksmith; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1871 John P. Smith as blacksmith. lie was married, June 16, 1873, in the town of Ironton. to Mary J. they Mrs. Van Loon was born in Ironton Wells, daughter of Thomas ami Susan M. Bond) Wells. have two children In the fall of Mrs. V. is a member of the Methodist Church. Frank and Susan M. i

;

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187 i. Mr. Van Loon opened his present shop; has nine lots and two houses.

AARON WESTON,

Politics,

Democrat.

Payne) Weston: son of John and Ann Sec. 26; P. 0. Reedsburg born in Sussex, England, Dec. 3, 1825 came to the United States in 1849, and settled in Oneida Co.. lie was married in that county, May 25, [850, to Charlotte Peal, daughter of John and Ann N. Y. Men - Peal; Mrs. Weston was horn in Sussex. England. In Is.")], they moved to Wisconsin, settled in Neosho, Dodge Co., and two years after came to Sauk Co. located at Reedsburg till 1866, and then came to Ironton, Sec. 26 they have 20 acres of land. In 1 864, Mr. Weston enlisted in Co. P. 3d W. V. I. Was injured by a fall, and was discharged at MeClellan Hospital, Pennsylvania. July 12, 1865, for dis ability there are five children in the family lohu Anna, now Mrs. Benjamin Doty, living in Baraboo Charles and Frank. Mr. Weston has been Albert, married to Jane Oler, living in the town of [ronton Polities. Republican. Clerk of his school district in Reedsburg one term. ;

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JIKS. ELIZA WHEELER. Sec. 31

P. Lime Ridge; widow of Upton G. Wheeler. Henry and Nancy Dearholt; horn in Baltimore Co., Md. He was married. June 30, 1839, Winder, has had live children Elizabeth, now Mrs. II. H. Brenizer, of the town of Ironton William II. was a member of Co. C. 96th O. V. I.; was killed in Lousiana. Nov. 3, 1863, at the battle of Cache Bayou; Martha A., now Mi's. W. II. Brenizer, of the town of Ironton Emily J. died in infancy, In Upton G. was married to Leonora Shourds, and living in the town of Ironton. 1850, the family moved to Monroe Co., Ohio. Mrs. Mr. Wheeler was a blacksmith by trade; his death occurred in 1851. sin in 1*70; settled on Sec. 31. [ronton, where they in":. Wheeler and family moved to Wim they have 80 acres of land. Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church.

—

pton G.

;

HENRY WHEELER,

farmer. See. 35; P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of Nelson and Warner Wheeler; born in the State of New York May 3, 1836; when about 2 years of age his parents moved to Morrow Co., Ohio; resided there about nineteen years, and then moved to Wisconsin in July. Township 12, Range 3, now Ironton. His father, Mr. Nelson Wheeler, entered 1854 settled on Sec. Mr. Henrj Wheeler was married 36U aero of laud, of which Henry has S2 acres, where he now resides. Oct. 13, 1861, in the town of Ironton, to Electa Benson, daughter of Almeron and Lucinda i

.!.">,

780

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

—

Benson; they have four children William, Orton, Elias and Emeline. Mr. Wheeler is proprietor of a J. I. Case Eclipse Threshing Machine he has been engaged in threshing about twenty-eight years. ;

LEAXDER WHEELER, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Lime Ridge; son of Nelson and Emeline Wheeler

burn in Morrow Co., Ohio, July 10, 1839

came to Wisconsin with his parents, July 13, 1854 Range 3; has 190 acres. He was married, Nov. 8, 1863, to Phebe Blakeslee, daughter of J. G. Blakeslee; they have six children living, have losi one; those living are Nelson, Walter, Arthur, Hattie and Mattie the two last are twins, 5 years old, and so nearly alike that their teacher cannot tell .me from the other; Herbert anil Ruby E. (deceased*. Mr. Wheeler has been Clerk of the School Histrict six years Director one term, and now serving the second. In politics. Republican. ;

;

settled on Sec. 35, Town 12,

;

NELSON WHEELER,

deceased son of F. E. Wheeler, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., 1811. He was married to Emeline Warner, of New York, and moved to Ohio in 1838 lived there 1S54, then came to Wisconsin, and settled on Sec. 35, Town 12, Range 3, now Ironton. Had seven children Jane was married to La Fayette Ackerman, now deceased Henry, married to Electa Benson, living en See. Mo, [ronton Leander, married to Phoebe Blakeslee, living on Sec. 35, Ironton; Robert A., married to Mary Sbal'er Emily E., now Mrs. James Priest Mary J., now Mrs. Ed Blank, and Nelson P. Mr. Wheeler was Justice of the Peace and Chairman of Washington several years, and also of Ironton he was the first Chairman of Washington, was present at the organization, and suggested naming the town Washington in honor of G. Washington Cray, the first white settler, and it was carried was Assessor and Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Wisconsin Legislature of 1S59. Politics, Republican. His death occurred in October, L869. ;

;

till

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TOWN OF EXCELSIOR. MILTON ARMSTRONG, shoemaker.

Able,,,,,, s f Daniel and Laura (WeekArmwas born in Granby, Oswego Co., N. Y.. Aug. 19. Is:;:;; when 9 years of age, moved with his family to Kane Co., 111.; remained there three years, and then moved to .lellerson, Wis. He was married Nov. 12, 1856, to Sarah Ann Snoad, in Adams Co.. Wis., daughter of William and Frances M. (Smith Snoad Mrs, \, was born in Rochester, \. V. they, have two children Savillie and Myron. Mr. Annstrong came to Able, nan. Sauk Co., in 1868, where he is now engaged in the hoot and shoe business .

strong;

;

—

;

FREDERIC BARINGER, farmer, Sec. 36

P.O. North Freedom: son of John

F. and Frederic Baringer was born in the city of Brich Baringer; his father died July 5, 1868. Northhampton Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1827. He was married March 6, 1851, to Caroline Born, daughter of Henry and Catharine Sheid Born, at Lock Haven Penn; l,a\ e three children Anna, Lotta and William 10. Mr. Baringer came to Wisconsin in 1855, and located at l'.arahoo after a residence of one year at that place, lie moved to his limn in Exeebior. Sec 36 where he now reside-; has was Treasurer of the town of Excelsior in 1862, and Chairman during tl 320 acres of land. Mr. 1876-77-78. Mr. and Mrs. Baringer are members of the M. E. Church. ;

Margarel Easton,

—

;

I'.,

EHREXREICH BENDER, fanner.

Sec.:;:;:

P.O.Ableman; so,, of Christopher and

Bar-

was bom in Wittenburg, Germany, April 6, 1837; came to the United States located in the town of Freedom, Sauk Co. Was married March 9, IS, 17, to Louisa Kern mele, daughter of Frederic and Cat harine Minsing Kemmele; Mrs 1!, was born in Wittenburg; the; havi hraidt) Bender;

June 4, 1857

;

— Ida Carrie, William, Frederic and Gustave.

Mr. B. came to Excelsioi in the spring of m;s, has 108 acres of land; was a member of Co. C, 35th [owaV. I.; enlisted Aug., 1862, served three year.-, ami was with hi- regiment in all engagements participated ill by them, was Mr. Bender is proprietor of the plal of Rock Springs, ExSupervisor of Excelsior in 1877 and 1878. four children

and settled on Sec. 33

;

celsior.

born

X. Jl. RI'RT, fanner Ap

See. 30; P.

Reed-burg; S

f Samuel

and I'amelialScari, Burl

was

native town -South Wilbraham, Mass. during his childhood; went with .. old; lived there till 1832, when the family moved to Medina, one yeai in Dane Co., and then moved to Sauk Co. here to Wisconsin in 1850, spendin

from He was married Dec. 21, 1834, to Eliza 1851, settling in Excelsior,on Sec. 30, where he now resides. they have three children living, and one deceased Newton M. and Milton A. (twins), Gertrude, now Mrs. E. F. Barker, and Samuel deceased died >c. 12, 1867 Milton A. was I

;

i„

Hull, daughter of Austin Hull

—

;

a member of Co. A.

t9th W. V.

(

;

Newton M. Burt was born at Medina, Medina Co. Ohio,June6 L838,

, ;

TOWN' OF EXCELSIOE

781

was married Oct. 23, 1862, to Miss Mary L. Fisk, daughter of Royal and Harriet Lester M., Ralph M and Royal S. three children

Mead

Fisk

;

they have

—

NEWELL CARPENTER,

farmer, Sec. 31; P. 0. Ablemau's ; was born in the town of Sutton, Worcester Co. Mass.. .Ian. '_'!, 1S2J: occupation millwright, worked al bis trade throughout the Mr. V>\ England States till 1854, when he moved to Wisconsin, locating at White Creek, i.dams Co. ('. is ihe owner of 160 acres in Adams Co., where he has a large combined saw shingle and planing mill .

without disposing of this property, Mr. C. moved to Sauk Co. in 1877, settling in the town of Excelsior, ,,i, here he erected a fine grist-mill on what is known as Narrows Crook, and with the help See. .".1 Was married, Feb. 21, 1847, in (' leeticut, to Mary E. of his son. carries on the milling business. Mr. Carpenter is the sou of .John and Maxficld, daughter of .lane-- and Betsey (Butler) Maxfield. There are six children in the family of Newell Carpenter— Charlotte T. Abagail Heally) Carpenter. Franklin. Abner, Alice, Newell and Leonard. .

THOMAS CHAMBERS, farmer,

See. 27; P. 0. North Freedom; son of William ChamLancashire, England, March 12,1838; came to Sauk Co. in 1856; has a farm of Was married in January, 1862, to Miss Ann Etchels, at Beaver Mrs. Chambers was bom in LancaWis., daughter of Thomas and Johanna (Udell) Etchels. They have one child— Robert. Mr. C. was a member of Co. F, 3d W. V. I.; served England.

was born

ber-,

situated on Sec. 27, Excelsior

Dam,

shire,

three years and three months

;

was in all the engagements in which his company participated.

CHARLES E. Dll BOIS, farmer, See. 5: P. 0. Reedsburg sun of William and Cynthia ;

settled on See. 10, town of Dellona, to Wisconsin in 1851 Eighmie) Du Bois now Excelsior after residing there twelve years, moved to Sec. 5, same town, where lie now lives occupa was born in tion farmer, and agent for Waupun wind mills and farm machinery; has 190 acres of land Was married in Excelsior, Nov. 27, 187 I. to Miss Emma A. Young. Is IT. mar Saratoga Springs. X. V. John Henry Du Bois. brother of C Floyd M. daughter of John C. and Mary Young have one child C. E. Du Bois and wife are members of the CongreE was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. gational Church. Reedsburg. i

;

came with his parents

;

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ADAM

FEY. merchant. Ableman son of Adam and Annai Thomas Fey born in Holtzhousen, lived in Prussia till 1854, when he moved to Iowa, where he remained till he Prussia, Feb. 10, 1827 came to Wisconsin in 1855, locating in the town of Troy. Sauk Co., where lie was engaged in farming for fouryears; in 1869, he moved to Spring Green, and opened a general store, and in 1871, removed to where he now resides: he is dealing in general merchandise, and has a large, well-stocked store in company with L. Goedecke. He was married at Madison, Wis., May 5, 1872, to Hannah Rueder, Adolph, and one unnamed. daughter of Adolph Rueder: have had two hoys Willfanner. See. 22; P. 0. Ableman; son of Parley and Esther when 1 year old, his parents moved to Mad iams Foster was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., May 5, .1807 ison Co., X. Y., where they lived till he was 2-1 years old, when the family moved to Elba, Genesee C Mr. F. was married in Elba, February, 1832, to Eliza, daughter of John Robinson; they have N. Y. Maria, now Mrs. J. W. Harris; Parley J., John M.. George W.; tildren, of whom four are living Cornelia, who died when 5 years old; two others who died in infancy; in 1835, Mr. P. and Peoria, III., where they resided about ten years, and then came to Wisconsin; family moved to located on Sec. 22, Excelsior. 1859 has 80 acres of land; Mr. F. has been Chairman and Supervisor Mrs. Foster died about the 1st of March, 18S0. John M. enlisted of Excelsior was Assessor one year. re-enlisted in 1864, his brother enlisting at the in Co. A, 6th W. V. I., in April, L861 served one year same time; they served till the close of the war. John M. was married to Ella Ryder. George W. was Farley has Kill acres. married to Eva J. Peers Jan. 1. L873 has 80 acres of laud. :

;

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ALANSON FOSTER, ;

;

—

;

EDWIN GARDNER, farmer, Sec. 5 P.O. Reedsburg son of Isaac and Perrino Gardner ;

;

bom

Winslow. Stephenson Co., 111., in 1845; lived in Illinois till 1866, when he came memberofCo. M. 17th 111. V. C. Was married, Feb. 7. 1871, at Kilbourn City, to Miss Jennette Winnie, daughter of Cornelius and Mary Winnie: they have one child. Mary Edith. Mr. G. has 160 acres of land. was

burg, Wis.

in ;

served two years in the late war; was a

WILLIAM

GEMMILL,

farmer, Sec. 16 P. O.Reedsburg sou of William and Frances J. (Blaine Gemmill was born in Hopewell, Xork Co., Penn., Oct. 16, 1828 went with his parents to after spending three Indiana when 7 years of age. where he lived till 1853, when he went to California He was married, Feb. 17. 1856, to Miss years in the gold regions of that State, he returned to Indiana. :

;

Cass, daughter of J. B. and Augusta

Chaffee) Cass

;

thesameyear

they

Wis

— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

(82

the following year he purchased and took possession of hi* present farm of 240 acres, situated on Sec. Mr. Gemmill has been Supervisor of his town two years; Treasurer four years, and Justice 16. Excelsior.

he lias just received the appointment of enumerator of the census of 1880. for his town of the Peace has four children Ambrose J Emmett J.. William and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the

—

;

Methodist Episcopal Church.

Politically.

Mr. G. is a Republican.

E. W. UILJIORE, station agent C. & N. W. R. R. Ableman son of Adam and Mary A. resided in his native town till coming (Watson) Gilmore was born in Bedford, N. H.. July X. 1 s 1 to Wisconsin in 1X50 stopped first at Baraboo. Sauk Co.. a few months, and then located in the town of occupation, fanner and real estate dealer; is now agent of C. & N. W. R. R. Company, Honey Creek Was married. Jan. 15. 1870. at .Milwaukee, to Miss Clara M. Sax ton. daughter of H. and at Ableman. Sarah (Gilmore) Saxton they have one child. Mary C. Mr. Gilmore is half-owner of a tract of 520 acres, situated in K\c. l-iur aportion of Ableman is located on this tract. ;

;

LOUS (wOEDECKE, merchant, Ableman;

son of Henry and Henrietta (Hilgendag) Goedecke; born in Brunswick, Germany, Dec. 5, 1834; cane to the United States in 1853, landing in New York Dec. 5. After one year's residence in New York, Mr. G. came to Milwaukee, where he was employed as clerk with H. E. Einbock, remaining in Milwaukee about two years; then went to Waupun, Wis., where he engaged in business for himself as a dealer in general merchandise. He was married at Waupun. Oct. 2li, I85ti, to Julia Morsbaeh, daughter of Jacob and Henrietta (Lange) Morsbach they have lour children— Henry, Louis A., Hugo and Ella. Mr. Goedecke and family moved to Sauk Co. in 1857, and located near Sauk City was engaged in farming about six years, then went to Sauk City, and engaged as clerk with Charles Nebel remained here about three years, and then went to Spring Green ami opened a general store; continued in business here till 1X71, when he removed to Ableman, where he now resides. On coming to Ableman, Mr. G. went in business in company with Mr. Weitzel, under the firm name of Weitzel & Co. After three years, Mr. W. sold out to Mr. A. Fey, and the firm name was These gentlemen have a well-stocked store of general merchandise. changed to A. Fey & Co. ;

;

ISRAEL GREENY, farmer, Sec. 31;

1".

Ableman; son of Anthony and

Elizabeth

Greeny; born in the town of Orwall, Addison Co., Vt Ma, 16, 1832; lived in his native town the time of coming to Wisconsin in 1853; located at Waupun, and was appointed an officer of the State Prison under (Jen. A. W. Starks. Commissioner; served in that position during his residence at Smith

till

Waupun, six years. He was married at Waupun to Miss Mary Jane Starks May 14, 1X54. Mrs. Greeny is the daughter .if Gen. A. W. Starks; her mother's maiden name being Mary Ann Filkins. Mr. Greeny and family cam.- to Sauk Co. in 1850. locating on Sec. 29, Excelsior, where they resided till 1871, when they removed to the old homestead of Gen. Starks on Sec. 31, same town; they have 235 acres of land their family consists of six children, two boys and four girls named Charles, John Starks, Maggie, Amie. Sarah and Ann. Mr G. is Republican in politics, lie enlisted in Co. V, 23d W. V. T.. and was rejected at Madison. Mrs. Greeny'.- father. Gen. A. W. Starks, was one of the pioneers of Sauk Co., ;

rilled here in

852.

ARRISOX.

son ,,!' Higgins and Margaret Williamson farmer, Sec. 1 P. O. Delton T. II Harrison; horn in the town of Alexander, Hunterdon Co.. N. .1.. in \K'A> resided in his native town till lie was married, March 0, L854, when he moved to Wisconsin, settling on Sec-. 1, town of Excelsior. 1861, to Miss Mary Minott, daughter of James ami Nancy (Sheaf Minott; they have four children Nellie, Josephine, Edith and Minott. Mr. Harrison has a well-improved farm of 320 acres. Politics, '

;

(

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CHARLES HENGSTLER,

farmer, Sec. 35; 1' 0. North Freedom; son of Charles and Marjaret (Waltz Hengstler; born Sept. 12. 1x51, in Lycoming Co.. Penn. in 1X55, with bis parent-, he came t" Wisconsin, locating in the town of Greenfield, Sauk Co. after two years, the family a Excelsior, making their home on Sec. 35. lie \\ os married, June 18, 1879, to Emma Shale, daughter of .1 Christian and Margaret B Alice. M> II. has Reedsburg, Wis.; they have one child ;

—

land.

ELIAS II. Ill RRARIt. farmer, Sec. 28;

Ableman; son of Hiram and Hannah Archer) Hubbard; born in the town of Burke, Caledonia Co., Vt., Lug. 30, 1824; came to Wisconsin in May, 845, making hi- home on Sauk Prairie, town of Prairie du Sac, where he resided till X5.'t. when he moved to his present home on See. 28, Excelsior; he held the office of Town Treasurer during the I'

and 1850, town of Prairie du Sac; ha- been Director of hi- scl district several years; Mr. tl u MiT of a farm of L20 acres; he -pen! the first niin years of his life in his native place is

•

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— TOWN OF [RONTON.

783

parents to Canada; after living there eight years, he returned to Vermont, making liis home in Addison Co.; afterward returned to Canada, and alter a year's shortly afterward, returned to Vermont, and moved with staj moved to Michigan, stopping in Wayne Co, ,r

thi

expiration of that time, he went with

his

;

Mr. Hubbard was married at Roedsburg. April 28, 1850, Wisconsin, arriving here in 1845. Catharine Barringer, daughter of Henry and Abigail Barringer; Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have six children living, one deceased -Klias Henry, Calisla Eveline, Mary Ellen, Stephen Julius, Theresa Belle livnne: and Alice, deceased. Mr. Hubbard is a stalwart Republican; he enlisted, in 1864, in the 49th W. V. I., and was rejected af Madison. his' parents to

STEPHEX D. HAMBEETOX, Ableman; son of Aaron and Sophia

Humble-

Briggs)

born in Aurora. Erie Co.. N. V.. Sept. 23, 1820; lived in New York till 1845. when he came to He was married April 23, 1848, at Yorkville. to Wisconsin, making his home at Yorkville. Racine Co. Mary A.Taylor daughter of James and Nancy Taylor; Mrs. Hambleton was born in St. Lawrence Co.. In 1848, Mr. Hambleton and family came to N. V. James Taylor was a soldier of the war of 1812. Randolph. Wis., to live; Mr. Hambleton voted at the adoption of the State Constitution of Wisconsin; was the first Town Clerk of Randolph was the second Town Superintendent of Schools of Randolph, and Mr. Hambleton came to Satrk Co. in 1809 and settled in Dellona, where the third of the town of Scott.

ton

;

he resided till 1875, when he moved to Excelsior; he is now a resident of Ableman Village; was SuperRachel (wife of George Acers. of La visor of Excelsior in 1877 and 1878; has three children living Charles. Nancy, Hattie and Frederic Crosse), Addie and Myra; Mrs. Hambleton and four children Mr. Hambleton has followed a variety of sed away; Mrs. Hambleton died March 20, 1870. callings, having been by turns farmer, merchant, hotel keeper, and is now engaged in the butchering busiJune 15. 1875. Mr. Hambleton was married to Miss Augusta Wilson, daughter of Warren Wilson. ness.

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SENECA J. EAMBERTON, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Baraboo

born at Geneva. Ashtabula about 18 years of age; was engaged in the tailoring busilie was married Aug. 31, 1844, at Kenosha, to Miss Eliza Huntington, daughter of William J. and Laura (Kuler) Huntington; has five boys AdelMr. Lamberton eame to Wisconsin in 1844 bert M., William A.. Frank W.. Percy C. and Charles H. located at Kenosha and engaged in the clothing business; after about a year, he moved to Delavan. continthis was the first uing at bis trade till 1849; he moved to Baral mo. where he opened a clothing store house of that line in the village; previous to this, be had entered the northeast quarter of Sec. 13. Township 12, Range 5. now a part oi Excelsior; this was in 1848; here he made improvements, the first to be seen on that road between Baraboo and Reedsburg; the first machine thrashing in the town was done on this place. Mr. Lamberton continued to carry on business in Baraboo until 1854, when he moved to his farm, where he now resides he has now 400 acres of land in reference to the business of Raraboo at the date of Mr. Lamberton's settlement there, he says his cash receipts for the first six months were 86.30, he having to take lumber in payment for goods; this was made into rafts and poled down the Barto the Wisconsin, and from there to the Mississippi, before a market was found and it could be converted into money. Co.. Ohio. Oct. 14. 1823.

where he resided

;

till

ness in various places till he came to Wisconsin, in 1854.

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;

AI'drUST LAXtwEXHAX, proprietor of blacksmith-shop

docs a general

;

blacksmithing

Ableman; son of Valentine and Mary S. Icgelmilch Langenhan was born in Saxony, Germany, Nov. 23, 1849 came to the United States in May, lst!7 lived in Baltimore, Md one year, then moved to Sauk Co., Wis., and settled at Sauk City, where he learned bis trade. He was married in that she was burn in Sank City; place, May 1, 1877, to Ida. daughter id' Henry and Louisa Sehlegehnileh they have one child, Walter; in ls7o, Mr. L.'s family removed to Wausau, where they remained one year, ami then returned to Sauk City; -pent a short time in Spring Green; went from there to Mazomanic, and, in October, 1876, came to Ableman Station, Excelsior, ami opened the shop where he now dors business. Has two lots where his shop is, and two at his residence. business;

)

;

LAJIOREAUX,

I'. stock-dealer ami farmer. Sec. 33; 0. Ableman. son of C. horn Sept. 19,1849, at Chester. Lake Co.. Ohio; when 4 went with his parents to Freeport, 111. after a residence of one year in that city, the family moved to Cherry Valley, 111., making only a short stay in this place; they moved to Baraboo, Wis., in is.")."). Was married, May 1. 1873, at Raraboo. to Elizabeth Hirsehinger, daughter of Michael and Melinda Hirschinger they have four children Edith, Arthur A.. Cora ami Howard. March 1. 1879, Mr. L. moved to his farm of 95 acres, situated near Ableman, on See, :. ,]er and

I>.

Andrew and Electa (Colton) Lamoreaux age,

;

farmer.

BIOGRAPHICAL .SKETCHES:

784

ISAAC METCALF, farmer, Sec. 8; P.

Reedsburg; son of Richard and Hannah (Cooper) Metcalf; born July 6, 1826, at Kilbourn, Yorkshire, England; lived in his native town till 1847. and then came to the United States. Stopped three years in Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he was married. Feb, Mrs. Metcalf was born in Lanca20, 1850, to Mary Ridings, daughter of William and Martha Ridings Mr. M. and family came to Wisconsin in June, 1850, and located on Sec. 8, Dellona, shire, England. now Excelsior he entered from Government the northeast quarter of Sec. 8, 160 acres afterward bought the east half of southwest quarter, 80 acres, and afterward 93 acres, together with 120 acres which be owns in Reedsburg, making a total of 453 acres. They have eight children Martha, Hannah, Margaret Ellen, Frank II Fred. I., Charles W., Emma and Louis. lias been Supervisor two years, and is now serving the third term has been Director of his school district fourteen years. ;

;

—

;

THOMAS METCAL.F, farmer, Sec. 9

P.O. Reedsburg; sou of Richard and Hannah Ccoperi Metcalf; born in August, 1820, at Kilbourn. Yorkshire, England came to Wisconsin in 1852. on See. 9. Excelsior, purchasing 80 acres; has since bought 108 acres more in this town; has 4o acres in Fr loni and 20 acres near Baraboo, making in all 308 acres. Mr. M. was married in Cox;

;

wold, England, April 10, 1847, to Mary Ann Brassington the children by this marriage arc Richard, Margaret, Jane and two sons named William are deceased. Alice, Ellen, now Mrs. Herbert Dauo Mrs. ;

;

Metcalf died March 10, 1859. Mr. 31. was married in July, 1859, to Jane Hannah, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mclnnis) Hannah, of the Highlands of Scoilaud Mrs. Metcalf was born in Galloway;

shire, Scotland.

ISAAC W. MORLEY, farmer, Sec. 20

Ableman son of Thomas and Lillis in May. IS 19, and look was engaged in farming and milling. In 1861, was elected County Superintendent of Schools, being the first to hold that office in the county was re-elected and held the office four years; was Town Superintendent of Schools for several years, and Town Clerk a short time. Has 363 Was born in Mentor, Lake Co., Ohio, Sept. 2,1820; resided in Mentor previous to acres of land. coming to Wisconsin, except about three years spent in Kirtland, Ohio. Was married, Oct. 15, 1845, at Kirtland, to Miss Maryette Smith, daughter of Elijah and Rachel Smith they have four boys and three girls Mary I,., now Mrs. R. C. Cole; Alvin II.. Lucius W., Thomas E., Harvey W., Leaphe R. and Minnie E. Mr. and Mrs. Morley are members of the Congregational Church, Reedsburg. of which Mr. In politics, Mr. Morley is Republican. Morley is Deacon. (

Russell

Morley

;

came In Wisconsin and entered the land where he now lives

;

possession in June. 1850;

;

—

FRANCIS X. PECK, tanner. See. 0; P.

>. Reedsburg; sou of Newman and Sarah Cone was horn duly 21 1830, in the town of Bristol, Hartford Co.. Conn., where he resided prior to his coming onsin, June 10, 184 1, locating in the town of Caledonia, llacinc Co.; came to Sauk Co. March 29, In 1857, he was elected Town Superin1856, and settled on Sec. 6, town of Dellona (now Excelsior). at the first annual town meeting of Excelsior, held in April, 1858, he was elected tendent of Schools Supervisor in 1863, he was elected Town Clerk, and wa re-elected for each successive year till 1880, with the exception of one year, having acted longer in that capacity than any other person ill tic counts he has been Justice of the Peace since 1875, was Chairman in 1868, now holds the position of Secretary of the Sauk Co. Agricultural Society, and is the Republican candidate for Register of Deeds. Ele has of land. He was married Nov. 3, 1853. to Miss Klizi Jcnnette Montgomery, at Racine, Wis.; she is the daughter of William and Caroline (Lovell) Montgomery; they have seven children Carrie Iv, Kate M. -now Mrs. (denies W. Randall), Agnes J., Tracy L-., Earl G., Grace L. and Ruby. Mr. Peck is iced -burg Congregational Church, and Mrs. Peck and daughter are members of the M. E. a member of the Church. S. !M I. !»<!,. merchant, Ableman; son of .lames and Gerusha (Gilson) Pierce; was born in Schaghiicokc N. Y, Aug. 17. 1819 went with his parents to Canada, where they made their home S 13. to Xarina. lie was married at Boston, Mass.. Dec. 25. for awhile and then moved to Massachusetts, if Benjamin and liehecca Smith Tarbox thej have three children living and twqjdeo Edwin II., Richard M. and Emma A.; Melville K. and Carrie, deceased Mr. Pierce came to Wisconsin in 1854; settled in the village of Rig Spring. New Haven, A.dams Co.. and engaged in the boot and si business, and afterward in general merchandise; came to Ableman, Sauk Co., April, 1 879, and opened lie held the office of Assessor two years and a general country store, where he is still in the business. Treasurer year, while residing in NV» Haven, Adams Co. Mr. Pierce and wife are rabers of the V] E. Church Mr I', is a Republican in politics.

Peck

(

;

—

EDWIX

;

EDWARD P. RICHARDSON, Richardson; was

bom in Brookfield

P. 0. Ableman; son of Edward and Lorinda (Phillips) Worcester Co., Mass., Oct. 19, 1847; lived in his native town till

TOWN OF

EXCELSIOR.

785

to Wisconsin; ho made his home al Hi- Spring, Adams Co., where, after reaching 1858, when he ca manhood, he followed the business of fanning, buying and selling grain and live stock, and dealing in farm machinery. He held the offices of Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace in New Haven, Adams Co., lie has 80 acres of land in that town. He ca Wis. to Sink Co. in 1877, and settled in Ahleinan. town of Excelsior, where he new resides. He was married. Vug. '.'A, \<~i\. at Big Spring, to Miss Addie. daughter of W. S. and Mary A. Pierce; they have one child. Sidney Mr. Richardson's mother's father, John E. Phillips, was a relative of Wendell Phillips; he was a soldier of the Revolution, and was it is a fact worthy of note that he voted at every Presi104 years and 8 months old at the time he died dential election, from Washington's till Lincoln's second election. Mr. Richardson is the present Justice of the Peace at Ableman, and is engaged in selling farm machinery and dealing in produce, stock and grain. In politics, he is a Republican. [•'..

;

SANFORD,

JOI1X

farmer. Sec. 3 P. 0. Reedsburg son of Abram and D. Priscilla was born in Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. V. Nov. 17. 1820; removed in childhood with his parents to Oneida Co., N. V., where he resided till 1850, when he came to Wist sin, settling in il: Istmrg on Sees. 32 and 33; resided in Reedsburg twenty-five years, when he changed town of II his residence to See. :i, in Excelsior. He was married. Dec. 22, 1876, to Mjss Ellen, daughter of John Lilly. Walter and Edna. and Lydia (Denton) Dyson; they have three children Mr. Sanford has a well-improved farm of .'J20 acres.

(Hambly) Sanford

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ADAM SCHUESTER, farmer,

P. 0. Ableman; son of Adam and Catharine Sehuester was horn in Wittenberg, Germany, July 17, 1832 came to the United States in June, 1857, and settled in the town of Freedom, Sauk Co., Wis. after five years' residence in this town, removed to iled on See. 34 lias 141! acres. Was married Pee. 1, 1860 they have seven children Heinrich, August, Frank, John, William, Mary and Elizabeth.

34;

See.

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—

;

FREDERIC C. SCHLLTE, hotel-keeper, Ableman; son of Carl and Fredericka Schulte; was born July 27, 1846, at Westphalia, Prussia came with his parents to the United States in 1857, and located in the town of Westfield, Sauk Co. after about four years spent in this town, Frederic C. went to Sauk City, and to Ableman in 1876. Was married. Nov. 12, 1871, to Caroline Pohlmann, daughter of John and Catharine Pohlmann they have lour children Frederic. Alvina, Walter and Lena. P. Ableman. ;

;

—

;

CHRISTIAN SHALE, farmer. Sec. 35; P. 0. North Freedom; son of Ferdinand and Agnes I. ouch Shale was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Nov. 13, 1817. Was married at Hebron, Penn., June 26, 1835, to Margaret Baringer, daughter of John F. and Margaret F. '.rich Baringer they I

;

have had ten children, six girls and four boys

Emma, Ellen and Charles II

— Catharine Sophia, Frederic, John, Mary. William, Mary is now Mrs. David Wolfl', residing in Iowa

;

Eliza-

Sophia is nmv Mrs. Henry Wolff, residing in Iowa; Catharine is Mrs. Charles Klumpp Elizabeth is Mrs. William Sipp, and Emma is Mrs. Charles Hengstler. Mr. Shale resided in his native town till 1858, when he Wisconsin, and settled on Sec. Excelsior. Sauk Co.; his three sons arc in Dakota, near WatMr. S. has been Supervisor id' Excelsior three years has 160 acres of land. beth,

dei

;

.'!.">.

;

ABRAM SILVERXAIL, farmer.

Sees. 7 and 8; P, 0. Reedsburg; son of Nicholas and was born in Ancram, Columbia Co., N. V.. Aug. 13, 1827. Was married. Dec. 11, 1843, at Hillsdale, N. V., to Anna Maria Kilmer, daughter of Jacob Kilmer; they have one sou. Ja\ 1). In S-ptemher. l-.">o. the family came to Wisconsin, locating at Genesee, Waukesha Co., where they lived till February, 1879, when they came to Sauk Co., and settled on the farm of 120 acres which is

Maria (Miller) Silvernail

;

CHRISTOPHER STACKMAXX,

farmer. See. 36 was born in P. 0. North Fr lorn the Circuit of Bromberg, Province of'Posen, Prussia, Sept. 14, 1827 came to the uited States in IS64, in Westchester Co., N. Y., aboul four years; he then came to Wisconsin in 1868, and settled on ;

;

i. where he has 80 acres of land. He was married in Prussia, in 1856, to Caroline Zilke (deceased'; has five children, one girl and four boys Mary. Paul. Theodore. Julius and Edward. Is a

—

memberof the Baptist Church, North IV

CHARLES S. TI'RXER, farmer and carpenter. See. 29

was horn in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 30, lS3li; learned the carpenter's trade. Was married Feb. II, 1863, to Angie Ball. of Stephen and Abigail Ball had two children by this marriage Herbert and Romney Leigh d Mrs. Turner died Nov. 1. 1868. Mr. Turner was married July 8, 18C9. to M..! ighter of ;

Robert

Cooper; they have four children

;

—

— Charles Glynne, Lenedie, Robert C and Benjamin.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

786

Wisconsin in 1866, and located on Sec. 29, Excelsior, where he now resides; has 185 acres of Mr. Turner was one of the victims of the hop crash in L868, he having that season 15 acres under res that he is cultivating, and has faith thai a persistent effort in the business .Mr. Turner was elected Town Clerk in L868, and served in that rapacity. will brin- success.

came 1

WATSOX,

hotel-keeper, Ableman; son of Ebenezer and Mary (Corbin WatEI>\YAK1> C. was born in Bradford, Merrimack Co., N. EL, Sept. 24, 1833; lived in New Hampshire till 1848, when he went to Boston, and in the spring of 1850, came to Wisconsin, located in Sauk City; in the fall of Was married May 15, 1855. to Miss the same year came to Baraboo; in May. 1855, came to Ableman. her mother's name was Elizabeth (Jarvis) Laura K. Ableman, only daughter of Col. S. V. 1!. Ableman Mr. Watson lias Ableman; Mrs. Watson was born in Albany. N. i'. thej have one child Ellen F. been Chairman if the town of Freedom, when it included the south portion of what is now Excelsior, was has been Chairman of Excelsior three years, and Superintendent of schools two years. Mr. also town Clerk Watson is proprietor of the Charter House, at Ableman has 200 acres of land in Excelsior, Sees. 27 and he has been Mrs. Watson's father, Mr. S. V. R. Ableman, was one of the pioneers of Sauk Co. 32. More appropriate mention will be made of prominently identified with the public interests of the county.

son

;

—

;

the Colonel

connection with the general history.

LAWRENCE WATSOi\, farmer,

In 1850, at the age of 4 Sec. 12; 1'. O. Baraboo, Wis. orphan. Lawrence was taken into the family of William AVatson, a resident of Franklin, present town of Excelsior, Sauk in the 160 acres land "Watson purchased of William Mr. In 1854, N. J. Mr. Lawrence Watson's name was established by In 1858, he moved his family to this farm. Co., Wis. He was married in Excelsior, Nov. 27, 1877, to Delia A. Elliott, daughter act of Legislature in 1805. Mrs. Watson was born in Mecklenberg, Schuyler Co., N. of Charles and Calisla Chamberlain! Elliott. Mr. Watson was elected ChairY. they have three children— Edith E., Eva C. (twins), and Charles T. man of "his town in 1878, and re-elected in 1879 and 1880, being the present incumbent was Supervisor He has a well-improved farm in 1875, Treasurer in 1876 and 1877, and Justice of the Peace in 1874. years, beinn an

;

of 120 acres; occupation, former.

JACOB WEICHER.

wagon and carriage maker, Ab'eman son of Peter and Annie Simon Weicher. was born in Rochester. N. Y., Aug. 7, 1850; lived there till 1871, then came to Milwaukee, Wis., stopped there a few months and then went to Sun Prairie. Dane Co. here Mr. W. carried on a wagon -bop for nearly six years, and in 1880. came to Ableman, Sauk Co., his present residence, and Was married in July, 1870. to Mary Kleiner, daughter of E, and agon shop. Mr. W. has recently bought the old grist-mill, and has Sophia Kleiner they have one child Peter. fitted it up into a Hue wagon-shop. son of Cornelius and Mary (Case) farmer. Sec. 12; P.O. Reedsburg Winnie; was born in Blenheim, Schoharie Co., N. Y.. Nov. 9, 1840 resided in his native place till 1844, the family settled in Walworth Co.; remained there till when, with his parents, he moved to Wisconsin 1850, and then moved to Sauk Co., locating in the town of Reedsburg, on Sec. 12; in 1800, Mr. Winnie Mr. Winpurchased and look possession of his present farm in Excelsior; the farm contains 160 acres. Baraboo, to Percis, daughter of Henry and Maria Gardner; they nie was married, March 28, 1867, at Mr. Winnie served about two years in the late war; enlisted Dec. have two children— Alma and Ernest, i

;

—

;

3IENZO WIXXIK.

;

31, 1861, in Co. A. 19th

TOWN OF LAVALLE. H.

I*.

APKKilt. Lavalle, of the firm of 11. P.

Apker,

liverymen and

proprietors

ine. Mr Apker was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., May 23, L825 son f [ronton and Charlotta (Meyers Apker; when 2:i years of age, went to Stephenson Co., 111., was enWas married in gaged in farming and mill business; after two years, camo to Baraboo, Wis., in 1850, they had child, which died in infancy; Mrs. Apker died ill 1*52. in Illinois, to Caroline Clay March 10, 1855. Mr. Apker was married, Jan. 27, 1857, to Betsy E. Parker, daughter of Mrs. Apker was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y.; they have six children Chester G. and Electa Parker. ;

of Peter and

(

;

Edward I'... Man C, Harry P., Fanny E., Ina Et. and Clinton C; from Baraboo, Mr. Apker moved Woodland and engaged in farming in 1867, moved to Lavalle, and was engaged in the stave busi;

operated the carding-mill four years; in the spring of 1880, went into his present Politics. Republican. has been Supervisor of Woodland one year, and of 1. avail, two years.

ness several years.;

business;

TOWN OF LAVALLE.

BARNEY, retired merchant

Hit

son of Royal and Rachel Barne3 was born in Ellisburg, when years of age, wenl with his paren-s to Lorain ('....Ohio. Jefferson Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1819 Was married there, Jan. 20 L 840, to Lydia, daughter of Joshua and Ruth Harrington. Mrs Barney

S. P.

;

II. S.. married to Annie \. was born in Stockbridge, Madison Co., N. Y; they have three children Potter, and living in Lavalle; Miranda L., now Mrs. Alonzo D rotter, living in the town of Lavalle; E. Mr. E. E. Barney is engaged in the drug and general merchandise business K., married to Mary Allen. at Lavalle. Mr. S. 1'. Barney and family came to Wisconsin in 1850, settled at Ft. Atkinson, Jefferson Mr. B. iva< engaged in the drug and general merchandise business; in May. IS.")"), came to then engaged as dealer in • neral merchanLavalle was engaged in farming aboul one and a half yeardise; in Is.")'.', his More was burglarized to the extent of S600; Mr. B. then turned his attention to hop The following year, Mr. 1! resumed the drug and and tobacco growing; in 1873, Mrs. Barney died. general merchandise business at Lavalle: in 1876, sold out to his son. E E. who now carries on the busiMr. Barney was appointed the first Postmaster of Lavalle, by President Pierce in 1856; served ness. t.-d Chairman in served two years as Town in 1859-60 was Assessor about five years previous to the transfer of Baraboo Valley R. It. to the C. & N. W. liy.. Mr. Barney was one of 1870 his father died in 1858. the directors of the road Mr. Barney's parents came with him to Sauk Co :

;

(

;

LYMAN BEERY, of the firm of Beery & Yager, millers was horn

in Fairfield Co. Ohio, Sarah (Shisler) Beery. When about 6 years of age, went with his The parents to Delaware Co., Ohio; remained there three years, and then came to Stink Co., Wis. family located on See. 1, Town 13, Range3,now Lavalle. Mr. Beery was married, Jan. I. 1875, at Augusta, Wis., to Adelia Andrews, daughter of Russell and Caroline (Noble) Andrews, Mrs. Beery was born in Elna A., Ada and Lodema. Was engaged in farming Morrow Co., Ohio they have three children then located in the village of Lavalle, for three years; spent two years traveling in Iowa and Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber and warehouse business; January, 1879, bought into Lavalle Flouring Mills has been Town Clerk Chairman of Lavalle for the past three years is the present incumbent polities. Republican one yi ar, and is the present School District Clerk has six acres of hind where he ;

1845; -en of David and

Dee. II.

—

;

resides.

THOMAS CAMERON, wagon and carriage maker, Lavalle son of Abraham and Annie ;

came with his parents to Wiswas born in Indiana Co., Penn., June 26, 1849 1850; settled near Baraboo. Sauk Co.; remained there about ten years; in I860 moved to Mr. Cameron was married at Lavalle, March 4, 1873, to Addie Fuller; the town of Lavalle, Sec. 36. they have one child May; soon after his mat riage, Mr. Cameron moved to Lavalle and commenced business as a wairon and carriage maker; in politics, Mr. C. is a Republican; Mrs. Cameron is a member of the Methodist Church. (Stephens) Cameron

;

consin in

—

PATRICK CARROLL,

farmer, Sec. 24 P. O. Lavalle: was horn in Tipperary Co., IreL830 son of Patrick and Jane (Cooper) Carroll came to the United States in 185] spent one winter in Albany, and, in the spring of 1852, went to Schoharie Co., N. Y.; remained there till the fall of 1855; came 'to Sauk Co., Wis.; settled at Reedsburg lived th'ere six years. Was married, Jan. 24, I860, to Bridget Casey, daughter of John and Mary (O'Gara) Casey; their children are John, in 1861, he moved to Lavalle and Ellen, Patrick, Annie, William and Margaret Jane, Mary deceased Mr. Carroll was Clerk of School District No. 13 three years. settled on See. 24 has 80 acres of land and Treasurer six years; Mr. Carroll and family are Catholics; in polities. Mr. C. is a Democrat. land, in

;

THOMAS

CLARK,

farmer. Sec. S; I. O. Lavalle; sou of Justus B. and Matilda J. when N years of age, went to (Carver) Clark was bom in Milwaukee Co., Wis., March 26, L847 Jefferson Co., Wis., and in 1865, to Juneau Co.; in the fall of 1868 moved to Lavalle, Sauk Co., settling on Sue 8. Was married in Juneau Co., April-!), 1874, to Sophronia Lane, daughter of Mrs. ('. was horn in the town of Lavalle. Sank Co.; they have four Daniel and Mary Green) Lane. Mr. Clark's father (Justus Clark was bom George J., Justus B., Homer X. and Jasper II. children in Rutland Co., Vt.; moved to the State of New Yoik. and, in 1832, to the Territory of Wisconsin settled near Milwaukee, which was then only an Indian trading-post; when the land came into market he town of Lavalle). entered quarter section about SOS, he moved to Sauk Co., where be now resides Mr. T. J. Clark has a Clerk of his School District No. 12; politics. Democrat. ;

;

—

;

GEORGE W. DICKENS, farmer,

See.

35;

I'.

Lavalli

;

was born

Was married, Sept. 6, 1846, in N. Y, March 14, 1823; son of Philip and Lucy (Rathbone) Di kens. Cayuga Co., X. Y, to Miry Clark) Mallon Mrs. Dickens was born in Woolwich, England they have If John M. Sarah M. (now Mrs. William II. Field, residence Lavalle had ten children ;

—

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

788

(married to Mary A. Gear, residence Lavalle), Lucy J. (now Mrs. K. Leigh), George (deceased), Lydia (now Mrs. V. Courtier, of Ironton). Idellah M. (now Mrs. James Courtier, also of the town of Ironton"), Ellsworth E., Maston and Mary A. In 1848, Mr. Dickens ami family came to Wisconsin and made their home in Past Troy, Walworth Co., living there six years; moved to Sauk Co. in 1854, and settled mi Sec. Mr. Dickens 35, Town 13, Range 3 (now Lavalle!, where they still reside; have Sil acres of land. has been Treasurer of his enlisted, Oct. 18, 1861, in Co. It. 12th W. V.I.,and served till Oct. 28, 1864 Polities. Republican. school district one year, and Assessor of the town of Lavalle one year. ;

BENJAMIN C. DOUGLASS, of the firm of

II.

W. Douglass & Co., butchers. Lavalle; was

Crandall) Douglass; when in Windham. Conn., Oct. 25, 1826; son of Henry W. and Sophia subsequently moved to Charleston, R. I., resided in Pawtucket years of age, lie went to Rhode Island He was married at Pawwhere he was overseer of the carding in the Caroline Cotton Mills five years. Mrs. DougApril 9, 1848, to Abbie A. Salisbury, daughti r of Joseph and Lydia Salisbury tucket, R. Henry C. (married to Viola Watkins, living in lass w s born in Maine; they have had four children Rose who died at 2 years Lavalle), Joseph A. married to Susan Burdick, living in the town of Lavalle oid Harry W. (married to Alice Graham II. W. is in partnership with his father in the butcher26th Conn. V. I., and served about a year Mr. Douglass enlisted, in 18(12, in Co. in- business al Lavalle. at the siege of l'ort Hudson, he escaped a broken thigh by his steel tobacco-box and a plug of tobacco as it was, he was knocked down by the force of the ball and rendered unfit catching an Enfield rifle ball for duty for several days Mr. D. cherishes that ball as an interesting relic of the war. In 1867, he came he has 164 acres of land rented his to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Lavalle, Sauk Co Sec. 23 Mr. I), has farm in 1878, and came to the village of Lavalle. where he engaged in his present business. 1'olities. Republican. \irru a member of the Town Board of Lavalle three years. Mrs. D. is a member of the S „.d Advent Church.

born

(

;

—

;

HENRY C. DOUGLASS, fanner. Jan. 31, 1849

son of

;

I!.

C and Abbie A.

P. O. Lavalle; was born in Pawtucket. Mass.. Douglass when about 5 years of age, he went to

Sec. 15

Salisbury

;

Windham Co., Conn., and remained there till 1868; then the family moved to Wisconsin, and settled in Sauk Co., town of Lavalle, Sec. 2:!. He was married, March 2. 1873, to Lucy V. Watkins, daughter of they have three ehilWatkins; Mrs. Douglass was born in Fairfield, Sink Co., Wis. V. and Elvira M. Tn the spring of 1873, he moved to his present home. Sec. 15; spent one year in Lavalle in clerking; has been Assessor two years, and is serving was Census Enumerator, for 1880, of Lavalle. Mr. and Mrs D. his third term as Justice of the Peace Politics, Republican. are members of the Second A<l\cnt Church. <)

G. and

Louisa

i" orge

;

Ann

has 30 acres of land

;

JOHN W. FINDUAY, farmer. Sec. 10 Findlay

;

born

Philadelphia, and

;

P. 0. Lavalle

;

son of James and Ruth

(

DeVaughn

s:-',s when about (i years of age, went with his father to Baltimore, Md., Aug. 2 1, Was married, Jan. 3, 1859, May, 1851, came to town of Freedom, Sauk Co., Wis. 1

;

Baraboo, to Miranda A. Allen, daughter of Abram and Eliza (Hatch) Allen; Mrs. Findlay was born V. they have three children Andrew A., Prank P. and Ruth E. Le Raysville, Jefferson Co. Lived in the vicinitj of Baraboo loi -event! years, and in March. 1859 moved to Lavalle, settling on Sec. Id; has lil acres. In politics, Mr. P. is a Republican. Mrs. Pindla\ is a member of the Advent Christian Church her father Abram Allen, came to Sauk Co. June S, [846, and settled near Baraboo.

;

JAMES FORDHAM,

farmer, Sec. 25; P.O. Reedsburg son of James and Mary Ann Ion, England, Jan. 9,1824; came to America, fParish) Fordham was horn in Essexshire, near L lived there several years, moved to Buffalo, and shortly after landing at Quel in the spring of 1 829 \ Y came to Wisconsin in L845, and made his home in Mount Pleasant, Racine Ishurir. and participated in the first election Was Co.; in 1851, moved to Sauk Co., stopped at I! married al Newport. Wis., Jan. 1. 1854, to Nancy A. Carbine, daughter of .Michael and Mary Carbine; Mrs. F. was born in Ohio they have had eleven children George IP. Emerette P, now Mrs. Lewis deceased; Elizabeth, deceased \nne deceived \ i..la Menard, living at Milwaukee Addie, deceased ;

;

—

;

Came to Lavalle in 1861, and settled on Ignes and John, all born in Sauk Co. served of laud. Mr. Fordham enlisted in March. 1865, in Co. E, 50th W. V. [. lias been Supervisor of Laval! till April 2<i. year; has been three years Treasurer of his 1866. Politics, Democrat. school district, and Director nine years is the present incumbent Mary. Frank, James, Sec 25; ha- 200

;

ASA GrAIiE, of the firm of Gale Pros., Lavalle, dealers implemer Gale

lumber, sash, doors, agricultural

farm produce; business was established Jan. I. 1874; successors to Berrj & horn in Schoharie Co., N. V.sa Gale is the son of Stephen and Eunice (Weaver) Gale; !" when iyearsofage, went with his parents to Walworth Co., Wis.; remained there tl

Mr. :

;;

TOWN OF LAVALLE.

789

March, L865, in Co. A, 19th W. V. I., in May, 1871, to Ella Ketcham, daughter they have two children -Aggie ami Maud. In 1871, went to Thayer, Kan., and engaged in the hardware business; after two years' residence in Has been Treasurer of Lavalle five Kansas, came to Lavalle, Wis., ami engaged in his present business. is iln' ], resent incumbeut. _\. Mrs ami Politics, Republican. Enlisted about Four years, and then removed to Adams Co. served till the close nf the war. Was married, in Adams Co., of Jesse and Eli/.a Ketcham Mrs. G. was born in N" w Y irk

;

HARVEY GIFFORD, proprietor of saw-mill; residence and

mill situ;

Big Creek,

The mill was built by Mr. Gifford in 1868 saws ahum 1,500 feet per day, hah L2 P. 0. Lavalle. Mr. Gifford was born in Schoharie Co pine and hardwood lumber; market. Lavalle, four miles distant. N. Y.. Feb. II. 1844; son of Lewis and Rosina (Schermerhurn) Gifford; came with his parents to Wis-

See.

;

consin in the fall of 18 15

;

the family located

Summit Waukesha

the town of

resided there till Co. after three years, removed to a

;

then came to Sauk Co., and settled in the village of Keedsburg 1857 farm in the same town. In 1867, Mr. Harvey Gifford came to the town of Lavalle, and settled on Big Creek, See. 12; ha- 30 acn - of land in this section, beside 27 acres in Juneau Co. built the sawmill Was married, Dee. L'.'i, lsiis, in Rock Co., to Coralin Fessendea which he now owns and operates. daughter of Aaron and Jane Baker Fesseiideti Mrs. Gifford was born in Illinois they have three chilh dren Lewis, Elnora and Alma. Mr. G. has been Director of School District No. 10 eleven years, ;

;

— Democrat. HENRY G. HEAD, fanner,

politics,

Sec. 9; P. O. Lavalle; son of Henry G. and Bettj (Wilbur) Head was horn in Schenectady Co., X. Y.. Oct, 2, 1825. Was married, Aug. 31, 1848, at Cobbleskill, Schoharie Co., N. Y., to Marie Seaee, daughter of John and Mary (Goodram Seaee Mrs. Head was horn in Suffolkshire, England her people came to the United States in 1831, and settled in Albany, N. Y. have had seven children John deceased at '_'o vcars of age i, James, Charles, Annie, iilbert, William and Julia. Mr. Head enlisted Feb. ;i. 1865, in£o. D, 192d N. Y. V. I.; served till the close of the war. In March, 1869, came to Wisconsin, and settled in Sauk Co., town of Lavalle; has eighty acres of lacd. Politics. Democrat. ,

;

—

WELLINGTON S. HUBBELL, farmer, Sec. 35; Y.

Co., N.

P. 0. Lavalle: was born in Otsego son of Zalman and Cinda (Beardsley) Hubbell while quite young, moved with X. Y. in 1850. came to Wisconsin; made a short stop of one year at in the spring of 1851 located in [ronton (site of the present mill-power there); had

Feb. 8,

1828

;

his parents to Chenango Co.,

Beaver Dam

;

learned the trade of carpenter and

;

joiner;

worked

trade

his

various

places

the

Wet:

He was married in Utica, Licking Co., Ohio, Oct 1854, traveled in Ohio and New York. 1854, to Mary Patrick, a daughter of Alanson and Dorinda Patrick; Mrs. Huhhell was horn in the State of New York; they have had six children Eugene W., Ella G., Henry A., Florence M. dei eased Charles E. deceased), and Myrtie E. In the fall of 1854, Mr. II. sold his fronton properly to Mr. Tower; in the fall of the same year he came to Wisconsin and bought his present farm, the northeast quarter of Sec. 35, Town l:>. Range :i, now Lavalle in the spring of ls~>f>, he moved his familyout his farm was originally a favorite maple-sugar ground of the Indians. Mr. Huhhell has been Jus ice of the I'.ace one term and is now serving the second was drafted in October, 1864; the situation of his family making it inconvenient for him to go, he furnished a substitute. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Congregational Church. Politics. Republican. in

18,

—

;

WILLIAM

IttllV. blacksmith' and wagonmaker, Lavalle; was horn at Nassau, Germany, 1844; son of George and Mica Rehm Kuhn. came to the United States in 1866, and located worked at. his trade about a year in Wonewoc, and the same time in Mansion then wenl Wisconsin to Monroe Co., where he was married, Nov. 20, 1869, to Annie Hansen, daughter of Lambert and Celie Ilamloeh Hansen; Mrs. Kuhn was horn in Germany; they have five children August W., Celie Adelia, Maggie and Annie. Mr. Kuhn and family came to Lavalle in October, 1875, and opened the shop where he now does business has three lots. Mr. Kuhn served one and a half years in the Austrian army. Politics. Democratic. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn are members of the Catholic Church. in

;

—

;

SAMUEL LIVESLEY, farmer, hop-grower and dealer

in Imps, Sec 25; P. 0. Lavalle; ls:;u. sun of George and Esthei L'.i. Waddoll Livesley came to tin 1841, with his parents; lived in Geauga Co., Ohio, about four years; then returned to England; learned the trade of sail-making, and returned to the United States in 1848; sailed on the lakes till 1850, when he sailed for California via Cape lorn was at San Francisco at. the time of the great fire

horn

Cheshire. England, Dee,

United States

sailed

again,

nine years

;

making the Sandwich and South Sea Islands and South America; followed the sea about He was marrii made twenty seven passages of the Atlantic in the merchant service. <

;

790

BIOGRAPHll AX SKETCHES:

England, to Margaret Maddock, daughter of Robert unci Elizabeth Maddock. Mrs. L. was burn in Cheshire, England they have ten children Robert M., Esther E., Lizzie, George l\. Minnie. Thomas A., William .J.. Charles, Magnus A. and Samuel W. Mr L. and family returned to the United States in 1S57, and settled in the town of Iiccdsburg, Sank Co.. Wis remained there moved to [ronton in 1861 till 1873, when they moved to Lavalle located on Sec. 25, their present farm; has I.'hi acres of land Mrs. L., and son Robert, are members of the Congregational t'liureh. Mr. L. is Republican in politics. in

—

;

THADEUS S. MARTIN, farmer.

See. P.O. Lavalle son of Samuel and Lucy (Tarbell) Franklin Co.. Vt., July 10, 1832. He was married, March 29, 1854, at Shell, urn. was horn in Quebec, to Elizabeth Lewis, daughter of William Lewis; Mrs. M Canada; they have seven child* George W., married to Nancy Pheasanden, living in Wonewoc Emma J., Herbert II.. Hattie A.. Lillian B.. Edward L. and Byron W. In May. 1855, came to Wisconsin, and ille, Wis.; in January. 1856, moved to Sauk Co., Wis., See. 1. Lavalle; has 120 acres. He was Justio of the Peace two years, and Clerk of School District No. 10 about fifteen years. Mr. M. enlisted, November, 1864, in Co. 1>, 18th W. V. I.; served till the close of the war. Mrs. Martin died in February. 1880. Mr. Martin is a member of the Second Advent Church. Politics, Republican.

Martin; horn

;

Vt.,

n—

;

FREDERIC MEYERS,

born in Germany, proprietor of billiard and sample rooms, Lavalli Oct. 17. 1848; sen of Henry and Dora .Waller to the United States in 1868; arrived in u Reedsburg, Sauk Co., Wis., May 26; engaged iii farming that .summer; attended school the following winter, and lie next spring went to Iowa; worked al railroading till the spring of 1871, then came to ;

Sauk Co., Wis wem to work on tbeW. W. R. II., and afterward was engaged on the ('. ,V N. It. R., Madison Division, one year spent one winter in the woods getting out bridge timber met with a severe by a cut from a broad-ax, which resulted in a permanent lameness. Finding himself unfit for ;

;

a live Aiiek.-i

Wis

;

labor, he opened bis present sample rooms, Schwartz, daughter of Jo>cph and Arieka they have two children— Alta and Henry K,

WENZ M III liRATER, M hlbauer; bom

farmer. See. 17;

29, ls-7 s

Dee

was married.

lie

Mrs. Meyers was born

P.O. Lava

Milwaukee.

Matthiasand Annie M.

to the United Stales in 1854; then went to a short time in that city He 1855; then cam.' to Wausau, Wis. was married at this place. March 15, 1857, to Elizabeth Kuiiz. daughter of George and Margaret Rohm Kunz; Mrs. Mihlbauer was born in Germany; tl children Anna ('.. Phillip J.. .Mary and Emil. In December, 1857, Mr. M. and I'amiK moved to Sauk Co., and settled on Sec. 7. Lavalle; subseMr. moved to his present farm has ill) acres, more than 1 00 of which is under g cultivation. M. enlisted, Oct. 24, 1864, in Co. D, 44th W. V. I.; served till the close oi the war lie has been Supervisor of Lavalle fur eight years; been Director of bis school district, No. 6, three years, and Treasurer Politics, Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Catholic Church.

arrived

N< w York.

Baden, Germany, Sept,

1834; came

25,

May 14, after a five mouths' voyage at West Killiiucr. nee Providence,

;

ipped

spi nl

;

till

)

—

;

JEWETT X. NYE, farmer and manufacturer of the Taylor harrow,

Lavalle, was born in Somer and Ann Nutting) Nye. When (1 years of age, came with 1. 1840; sun of Sewell Was married. April Wisconsin; lived at Fitcbburg, Dane County. 1865, at Evansville, Rock Co., Wi to Ella A. Dougherty, daughter of Smith and Harriet Dougherty; Mrs. Nye was born in Maine; they have four children In 1866, movedto Rock Zella M. Arthur W., Arvie B. and Irwin D. Countj lived there two year-, ami then returned to Dane County stopped till 1^7."> went to Mitchell Co.. [own: was engaged in fanning; after a year, returned to Fitcbburg, and, in 1877, came to Sauk County and engaged in the flouring-mill business, under the firm name of Nye & Yager; followed this business in 1878 and 1879, about one and a half years has 140 then sold out to Mr. Lyman Beerey acres of land en See. 28 poli'iis, Republican.

Maine, Feb.

his parents to

'.».

;

PADDOCK, merchant

R. ii. of Daniel and

and Postmaster, of the lino

Paddock, was born at Vienna, Oneida

Keith

A Paddock Nov. M. 1827; was Lavalle, sou

Co., N. Y.,

V Y. Sept. 12, 1856, to Hattie Davis, daughter of Charles Davis,

Mrs. Paddock n Village June 6, 1857; in May. 1858, Mr. Paddock came to Wisconsin aid settled in [ro of that year, commenced business there as a dealer in general mi rchandisa was married. Jan. in. 1859, at Clinton, N. Y .. to Harriet hes. daughter of Silas Ives; tloy have three children Cora L Herbert E. ami Can!.- M, .Mr. Paddock was Town Clerk one year and Justice of the Peace four years; was served till 1S71 appointed Postmaster of [ronton by President Buchanan was elected Sheriff of Sauk County in the fall of 1870; -Ian. 1. 1871, moved to Baraboo remained there the two years billowing; 1876. Min mnv»d ie Lavalle where he led previously established a

married at Clinton,

died Aug.

;

:!.

;

—

TOWN OF LAYALLE.

!, 1

was appointed Postmaster of Lavalle July 1,1876, h\ Presidenl Grant; is the present Mr. Paddock is of the firm of Keith & Paddock, manufacturers of light barrel staves; they incumbent Mr. E. A. Miller is associated with them in the have one factory at Reedsburg and another at Lavalle. stave business; the capacity of the two mills is about one and a half million slaves annually; Keith & Paddock buy ties and wood for the C. & N.-W. R. R. Co.; they purchase about 50,000 ties and 1,500

store (1873); ;

cords of Wood

a year.

MANELIOLS PEARSON,

farmer, See. 34; i'. O. [ronton; was born near Bradford, Yorkshire, England, in 1810 was married in the same shire, in 1832, to Sarah Roe, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Roe; Mrs. Pearson was born in England; Mr Pearson came to the United States in 1841; located stopped one year in Indiana; then came to Columbia Co., Wis.; in 1848, moved to Sank County on Government land, in Sec. 34, Town 13, Range 3, now Lavalle, took up 160 acres; Mr. P. built the shanties; shortly aftersome hunters living in neighbors being town, only white first house in the his ;

—

the Harrisons. Jossnps John and Joseph), the Thornward, several English families settled near him tons, Tordoffs and others. Mr. Pearson has increased his acreage till he now has 344 acres; in 1847, he had returned to England and brought his family to this country the following year there are six children Martha, now Mrs. James Charles, married to Martha Harrison, and living in the town of (ronton ;

—

;

Mary (deceased), Isaac, married to Emily Mallon, and residing in Lavalle ronton Mary A., the first white child born within the territory now called Lavalle, now Mrs. George luman, of the town ol Lavalle; Thomas, married to Martha Greenhalgh, and Christopher (.'., married to Eliza Charles was a Greenhalgh, also of Lavalle. Mr. Pearson was one of the lirst Supervisors of the town. Isaac was a member ..I Co. F, 35th W. A'. I.; George Enman of Co. B. f Co B, 12th W. V. I. Politics. Democrat. 12th VV. V. 1. Harrison, also of

;

CHRISTOPHER C. PEARSOX, son of Manelious and Sarah Hoc

Pearson, was born was married to Eliza, daughter of Peter and Anna (Crook) Greenhalgh. England; they have three children— Harry, Edwin aud one girl i

Laval!,.

Sauk

Co., Wis.;

Mrs. Pearson was horn

Yorkshire,

unnamed

A. D. POTTER, farmer. Sec. 16

P. <). Lavalle; was horn in Bainbridge, N. Y., Aug. 27, he the son of Elisha and Climena (Calkins) Potter; Mr. Potter's father was a miller by trade Co., N. Y.. and from there to Otsego Co., and in 1844 to Leonardsville, lived there about Madison three years afterward returned to Otsego Co., town of South Edminston six years. mmI in 1853 came to Wisconsin, and settled in Town 13, Range 3, now Lavalle. locating on

L837;

;

moved to Waterville, Oneida ,

;

A. D. married, Dec. 31, 1865, at Reedsburg, Miranda, daughter of S,

See." 16.

ton

died

and Lydia (Harring-

she was horn in Lorain Co., Ohio; they have four children- Nellie M.. Herbert E. (who Barnej when nearly 3 years of age), Burr S. and one unnamed. Mr. Potter has been Supervisor of Lavalle .

two years. Assessor one year, and Director of his school district three years, He has 60 acres of land.

politically,

he is a Democrat.

RATHRl'X.

Sept was horn in Steuben Co., X. ^ lumberman and \\ . 29. 1824; son of Thomas and Nancy Yroman Rathbun when 17 years of age. went to Madison, Wis.. resided near Madison from 1844 till 1855 was employed as pilot on the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, He was married in the sumin ihe lumber business; in 1855, purchased the land where he now resides mer of 1858, at Reedsburg, to Julia A., daughter of Israel and Calista Mosier) Perry; Mrs. it. was hern in farmer, See. 24

;

Vermont her father was a grand-nephew of Commodore Perry; they have had four children, of whom William and Julia are only two are living; Adolbert died when 7 years id' age, James when 1 year old living. Mr. Rathbun has been Chairman of Lavalle four years, and Justice oi the Peace two terms, lie isV.G of] O.O. I'. Lodge, No. 244, Lavalle He has 260 acres of land. ;

;

WILLIAM RARLCK,

farmer, See. 19; P. 0. Lavalle; son ol John and Dorathj stopped near Milwas horn in Germany March 25, 1828; earn- to the United States in is I, Was married July S, 1852, in Lavalle, to waukee. Wis., till the fall of 1851, then came to Sauk Co. Mrs. Rabuck was born in Ohio; Sarah Ann Karstetter, .laughter of Sebastian and Elizabeth Karstetter they have thirteen childien, all living Joseph II.. ma tried to Cornelia Gardner, residence, town of La Valle Mary M.. now Mrs. J. H. Karstetter, also of Lavalle; William S., John W., Albert A.. Edward N., Jane S., Charles E.. Frank P., Levi II., George A. and Arthur R. Mr. R. located on Sec. 19, Lavalle; has 314 acres oi land. He enlisted March. 1865, in Co. A. 52d W. V. I. served till the eli.se of war. When Mr. R. commenced the improvement of his land, he had the misfortune to lose an ox remembering something of the customs of the " Fatherland," he broke a cow to work with his odd os the first time he drove his new team to the village, it caused considerable amusement, but the experiment I

;

—

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

'''•-

by training some more cows to work, he soon had a breaking-team his first wheat crop was put in with a grub-hoe, and yielded at the rate of fifty bushels to the acre this he sold to settlers for $1.25 Mr. R. manufactures sorghum sirup his sou Albert superintends the work they will make this per bushel season 1,200 gallons when Mr. R. did his thrashing, and, was running his cane-mill at the same time, he had to employ only one hand outside of his family Mrs. R. is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. R. is a Democrat. all

the same

;

FRANK P. SANDFORD, farmer and hop-grower P. 0. Lavalle

is the son of Joseph F. Byron, Ogle Co., 111., Nov. 11, 1838; went with his Shullsburgh, La Fayette Co., Wis.; in July 1848. the family removed to Baraboo, Sauk Co.; the following spring they returned to Illinois; one year after they returned to Baraboo. Frank P. was married at Baraboo, Oct. 1, 1857, to Sylvia Hammon she was bom in Pennsylvania they had two children Joseph F. was drowned when nearly 3 years old; Jessie R. died ;

and Ruthama (Parker) Sandford

;

was born

parents to Dubuque, Iowa, and from there

;

—

;

Mr. Sandford came to Reedsburg in the spring of 1S5II, and engaged in mercantile business; ten years afterward be came to Lavalle, and was engaged in the mercantile business about six years, then entered upon his present business of hop-growing and farming; he has 11 acres in hops he has 27] acres of land. He was Chairman of Lavalle one year, and Treasurer three years in politics, he is a Republican. in infancy.

;

GEORGE P. SANDFORD, money-loaner and dealer

son of Joseph in Byron, Ogle Co., 111., Deo. 24, 1S43 went with his 1845 to Shullsburgh, Wis., and in 1848 to Baraboo. Sauk Co., to Delcon iu 1S57, to Reedsburg in 1860, and to Lavalle in 1864. He was married May 7, 1878, at Reedsburg, to Mary, daughter of John and Ann Hague; she was born in Winfield, Sauk Co.; they had one child, who died in infancy; Mrs. Sandford's death occurred March 14, 1879. Mr. S. was engaged in Lavalle in the mercantile busine.-s and the manufacturing of tight-barrel staves. He was married at Garden Valley, Jackson Co., Wis.. -May 26, 1880, to Mary B., daughter of J. and L. M. Leveretl she was born in Salem. Neb. Mr. S. served as Postmaster of Lavalle from lS69to 1873; was Town Treasurer two years; was proprietor of P. Sandford's addition to Lavalle; gave the C. &. N.-W. R. R. Co. the ground for depot and in real estate, Lavalle ;

Ruthama (Parker) Sandford; was born

F. and

;

He has 1,000 acres of land.

right of way.

;

In politics, he is a Republican.

JOSEPH F. SANDFORD, merchant and dealer

in general merchandise, Lavalle; son of Jared Wooster) Sandford born in Prospect, New Haven Co., Conn., -I ul 10, 1811 went to Pennsylvania when f yens of age spent about seven years in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, and 1825 then went to Michigan after three years in this State, went to Illinois, locating at the present site of Rockford 1835i; his nearest neighbor was at Dixon Ferry, forty miles distant; as an incident of the times might be mentioned his experience of going to the post office in company with a man named Garner Mr. Sandford started for Cherry Grove, the nearest post office, forty-five miles away, to mail a letter; the snow was nearly two feet deep, and they were obliged to camp two nights in the snow, being nearly frozen before reaching office. Mr. S. was married at Dixon's Ferry, 111., Jan. 28. |s:;s, t Ruthama Parker, daughter of Joel Parker; Mrs. Sandford was born at Stoekbridge, Oneida Co., N. Y. they have two sons —Francis P., married to Sylvia A. [ammon, and living in the town of Lavalle (leorge P., married to Mary B. Levereli and living in the village of Lavalle. In S4.~p, moved to La Fayette Co., Wis., ami remained there three years moved to Baraboo, Sank Co., in July, 184 s was engaged in business as a dealer in general merchandise in 1850, opened the first store in Reedsburg the store was carried mi by K. M. Strong and O. II. Perry; moved to Reedsburg in 1861, continued in business there till 1864, when he went to Lavalle and comin the stand now occupied by B. ti. Paddock; in addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Sandford attends to the renting of his numerous buildings and to loaning money. Was appointed Postmaster of Lavalle in 1863 and served till 1869. George P. acted as Postmaster from that time till 1873 Was Chairman of Lavalle one year and Treasurer Mr. 8. was proprietor of the original plat.

and Abagail

(

;

•

;

several

;

JOHN SINCLEAR,

farmer, See. 32 son of Smalleyand Roxalana Sinclear P. 0. [ronton born in Niagara Co., N. V., Dec. 22. 1829; when I'd years of age, wenl to Cass Co., [nd. W.i.- married in Logansport, [nd., June IT, L855, to Elizabeth J. Bates, daughter of [saac Bates; Mrs. Sinclear was born in Indiana they have had ei".ht children, of whom six are living Julia, now Mrs. Iscar Bunker, of ;

;

(

Iowa;

Deidama, now Mrs. John L. Beeson, living in Lavalle; Addie. now Mr,-. E. Hunker, of Lavalle; two died in infancy. E., ('lemma and \|ina In 1857, Mr. Sinclear and family moved to Wis0i i'ed in the village of ronton, Sauk Co.. lived there eight years, then eame to Lavalle and settled I where he now resides, and has 335 acres ofland. Mr. S. enlisted in February, 1864, in Co. D. 46th W. V. [.. and served till the close of the war. Was Treasurer of Ironton five years has been Charles

;

— Ti>\\\ Director of his school district ten years.

OF LAVALLE.

Politics.

Republican.

793

Mr. and Mrs. Sinclear are members of the

Wesleyan Methodist Church.

JOH\ TORDOFF,

farmer, Sec. 34; P. 0. Lavalle; born in Yorkshire, England, March 22, 1830; son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Priestley) Tordoff; came to the United States in 1848, and located Columbia Co., Wis. remained there till L851, when he moved to Township 13, Range 3, now Lavalle, Was married, March 11, 1852, to Emma Thornton, daughter of Rueben and and settled on Sec. 34. had six children by this marriage Mrs. T. was horn in Yorkshire, England Elizabeth Thornton Edmund, Samuel, Emily, deceased Squire, John, and Paul, deceased Edmund married Amanda KarsSamuel married Emma Royer, also of Lavalle Mrs. John Tordoff died in July, tetter, residing in Lavalle Mr. In 1858, Mr. Tordoff came to his present farm. Sec. 33, where he has 236 acres of land. 1864. Mrs. Tordoff was Tordoff went to England, and was married there March 30, 1870, to Fanny Tetlow Mr. T. and wile returned to his home in America they have four children horn in Yorkshire, England Mr. Tordoff was Chairman of Lavalle one year and Treasurer two years. Annie. Ledger. Hairy and Tom. in

;

Politics.

horn terell

;

Republican.

JOHN WHITE, farmer, Sec. 14; P. 0. Lavalle; son of Charles and Mary (White) White; .lane Cotwas married Nov. England, 1812. 1830, Devonshire, England, May the Baraboo 1857, they have had nine children — Charles H. (deceased), drowned June lie

;

William A., married to Almira Lake; John II., married to River; .Mary E., now Mrs. Charles Gibbins Emily Pond Sarah, now Mrs. L. Gardner Elizabeth A., now Mrs. William Canon; Anna (deceased) Robert J., married to Ann J. Slater. Mr. White ami family came to the United States in 1849 settled came to Reedsburg, Sauk Co., in February, 1854, and the next year to Lavalle; in Waukesha Co., Wis. ;

;

has 120 acres of land.

JOHN H. WHITE,

farmer; residence, Sec 14; P. 0. Lavalle; son of John and Jane (Cot" White. He was married, Dec. 15, 1861, to Emily Pond, daughter of Andrew ami Mary Pond they have five children living Annie A., Charles J. B., Abbie L., Lorenzo A. and Frank E. Robert E. Mr. White enlisted in January. 1862; mustered in March following; was a member of the (deceased). He has been Justice of the Peace four 12th Wisconsin Battery; served three years has 80 acres of laud. terell

—

;

terms, and Clerk of School District No. 4, twelve years.

DR. JAMES J. WORTHY, physician and surgeon, Lavalle; son of James G. and Mary Worthy; born in the vicinity of London. England, Oct. 9, 1827; studied medicine, and graduKing's College; was a student of Barthi mew Hospital, London; sailed as ship's surgeon; made twelve voyages across the Atlantic, as surgeon to -hips carrying from eight to fifteen hundred people He served as Surgeon in the British army in the East Indies in 1849-50 came was never rpuarantined. to the f ntted States in 1856; located at St. Peter. Minn., and entered upon the practice of his profession. He wa> married in Cleveland, near St. Peter, Minn., Sept. 22, 1857, to Maria C. Humphrey, daughter of Mrs. Worthy was born at Plymouth, Ashtabula Co.. Ludwick M. and Charlotte (Smith) Humphrey. In Ohio; they have four children Willoughby B., Hattie C, James H. and one unnamed. [Strong

;

—

part of 1860. he went to Cazenovia. Richland Co.. Wis., where he practiced his

profession

till

moved to Ironton, Sauk Co. remained in Ironton till the spring of 1880, when he came to Lavalle, where he now resides. He was Chairman of the town of Westford, Richland Co., two years. then

;

THEODORE YAGER,

of the firm of Beery & Yager, millers; manufacturers of flour and water-power mill; capacity, seventy barrels per day. Lavalle; brand, Lavalle Mills Choice Winter Mr. Yager was born at Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 12. 1830; son of George ami Margaret Crai..line to Wisconsin in June. 1859 settled al Fulton. Rock Co.; was on-agod in milling at the Fulton Mills. He was married at Belleville, Wis.. December, 1859, to Louisa Yager, daughter of 11. W. Me remained at Mrs. Y. was born in Canada; they have had two children, both deceased. ran the Stoughton Mills about eighteen months Fulton one and a half years, and then went to Stoughton then went to Belleville. Wis. ran the Belleville Mills about three years; from there he moved to Moscow, ran the Orangeville Iowa was engaged in milling one year: from there he moved to Stephenson Co., [11. Mills one year; then bought a half-interest in the Dover Mills, Wis. was there two years, and then went feed.

;

had charge of that mill for eight years. In July. 1874. came to Lavalle; took the Lavalle months; then wen! to bed-Intro, and ran those mills one year, returned to Lavalle, and, in company with J. N. Nye, bought the Lavalle Mills. In 1878, Mr. Nye sold out to Lyman

Mazomanie

;

Mills on lease about nineteen

Beery, Mr. Yager's present partner.

;

BIntiHAPlIK AI

TOWN OF WINFIELD. MARTIN CONWAY, farmer, Section 21; O'Hara

1^17

;

1'. <> Reedsburg; son of Patrick and Hannah was born in the County Mayo, Ireland, April 15, 1820 came to the United States in Philadelphia April 9, ami went to Pottsfield stayed there a short time and then moved to

Conway

la in led

;

lived there about two years; then located in Washington Co. Rensselaer Co., Penn. Ho was married Dec. 21, 1*5], to Bridget Hession, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Sommers) Session Mrs. Conway was ;

bom in Holy Mount, County Mayo, Ireland

;

—

they have had nine children Rev. Thomas M., Catholic North Platte, Neb., Ellen, Patrick J., Mary A.. Alice, Martin H. (deceased), Peter II.. Catharine B. and John H. Mr. Conway and family came to Sauk Co. April 13, 1857; stopped in Dellona till winter of 1858; then came to his present farm on Section 21, Winfield has 200 acres of land; in 1874, built his new house, one of the most tasty and costly residences of the town. Mr. C. has been Town Clerk one year. Supervisor one year, and Treasurer of the school district twelve years. Mr. Conway and family are Catholics. In politics, Mr. C. is a Democrat. ;

Priest of

;

JOHN CAKLIIjE, farmer, Sec. 24;

(

lloedsburg

;

son of James and

Elizabeth

Camp

Carlile, was bom in the North of Ireland Aug. 5, 1824 left Ireland when 12 years of age, came to Canada unaccompanied by friends si'.C'j remained in Canada till 1849, when he came to Sauk Co., Wis., and bought his present farm. See. 24, Winfield he has now 270 acres in 1853, went to California via the [sthmus, stayed three years. On his return, was married July 28, 1S57, at Winfield. to Mary M 'Cray, daughter of Prank and Sarah McCookin Mot 'ray they have had four children Blanch, James ("deceased), John and Matie. When Mr. Carlile selected hi- farm in Township 13, Range l, now Winfield, it was comparatively a perfect wilderness; there were not more than three or four families settled in the township at that time (the Duncans, Andrewses, Lockes and Leonards). Mr. Carlile has been Director of his school district several years. Polities. Republican. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the bell

;

(

;

—

;

Presbyterian Church.

AMOS COTTINGTON,

farmer and hop-grower. See. 26; P. 0. Reedsburg; .-on of Jesseand Rebecca Forward Cottington; was horn in Ticehurst, England. Dee, I. 1838 came to the United States with his parents in 1841 lived in Madison Co., N. Y.. three years, then the family moved to Waterville, Oneida Co. in IN52, they moved to Wisconsin, miking their home in Sauk Co., town of Winfield. Mr. A uos Cottington was married Dee. 3, 1862, at Portage, Wis., to Elmina M. Fish, daughter of Elisha and Polly (King) Fish; Mrs. Cottington was born in Hensselaerville, Albany. Co., N. Y. they have two 1

;

children— Edna E. and 0. E. Mr. C. enlisted April I. L865,inCo. F,51stW. V. [.; served till the close of the war. Has n Chairman of Winfield four years, and is now serving the fifth is the present Treasurer 1

;

of School District No. has served ten years in succession Mr. C. sett led on his present farm in lSli^; has 200 acres of laud has always grown hops (pule extensively commencing business for himself; in I

;

fact,

hops are associated with

has been

says his first work was done in a hop-yard, and he has at present, five acres in hops.

his earliest recollections;

co'ntinuouslj since

;

JESSK COTTINGTON, farmer and hop grower, Sec. 26

P. 0. Reedsburg son of Robert was born in Sussex Co., England March 24, 1816. He was married 1834, to Rebecca Forward, daughter ol Robert and Mary (Waters) Forward ngton was bom in Sussex Co.; they have eight children Agnes (died at Carthage. Mo., January, 1880, was the wife of F. Gregorj Amos married to Elmina M Fish, residence Winfield ,• \ marhsah Brown, bi the three elder children were born in England, the others in the States; Jeremiah married to Lavina Stillick, and living in Barron Co.. Wis.), Mary (died in

and Sarah (Woodsell) Cottington

(

;

in his native county, in

—

».

(

Hannah (now Mrs. A. P. Ellinw I, ol Robert M. D. married to Ida Barnhart, in Chip] n m Mrs. Reuben Spaulding, living in Lowa). Marj Mr. Cottington came to the United States in May, 1841, and settled in Madison Co., V V. after three yesSfe, he moved to Waterville, Oneida Co. was manager of the hop-yards of C. D. Palmer seven years in 1851, moved i" Wisconsin; remained a few mouths in Westtield, and, in February, 1852, located on Sec. 26, Winfield, Sauk Co., his ]. resent residence; he has 200 acres off, ml. Mr. Cottington planted the first hop-yard in infancy

residing

;

8 ink Co. in thespring of 1852. For particulars, see history of Winfield. lias at present 5 acres of hops Mr. Cottington was Chairman of Winfield one year, and Treasurer two years. Politics, Republican. Levi C. was a member of Co. F, 3d W, V. ('.. and served two yea] P. was a member of Jer h 1

lib

[.,

afterward

transferred

and served till the close of the war.

to,

cavalry

;

enlisted

April, 1861

;

re-enlisted a-

veteran

TOWN OF

795

WIM'IKI.l).

.IOHX FESSEY, farmer, Sec 6; P.O. Lavalle

Buckinghamshire, England, He was married May 18, L844, in Bucks f Joseph and Elizabeth (Griffin) Fessey. Ocl T. 182<I Mrs. Fessey was born in inghamshire, to Elizabeth Caves, daughter of Joseph and Mary Winkle Caves they have had nine children —Joseph married in Filena Andrews, resi the same shire as her husband William (married to Amanda Rogers, residence Lavalle), Richard G. (deceased). Mary dence Juneau Co. E (now Mrs. F. Potter, living in Juneau Co.), George (deceased), Sarah, Carrie, Frederic G.' and John Mr. Fessey and family came to America in 1844; landed in Quebec and remained in Canada one F. year; then removed to Vermonl in April, 1845, and was engaged in Canning in that State seven years; d to Janesville, Wis and resided there live years, and, in November, L855, came to Sank Co. He was Treasurer of Woodland five years, or during and settled in Town 13, Range 2 now Woodland located on Sec. 9, and, in L863, moved to his entire residence in the town; in 1860, came to Winfield ities. be has about 200 acres, lying partly in Sauk and partly in Juneau (' his present farm on See. 6 In politics, Republican. Enlisted, in September. 1861, in Co. B, 12th W. V. [., and served one year. was bor

;

SILAS FISH, was born in Albanv Co., N. V.

Was married. Nov. 20, 1824, to Betsy Raynow Mrs. Thomas 11. Powell, of Winfield William, deceased; Darrow, residence, Sparta Spencer C, married to Mary J. Fish, residence Winfield; Jasper M., married to Temperance Hand, residence, Walworth Co.; Lewis N.. married to Sarah Lucius, married to Darrow, residence Winfield; Emma J., now Mrs. ('. E Kelley, residence, Winfield Phcebe M. Darrow, residence, Monroe Co.; Elbert W., married to Ella McCray, residence, Winfield. Mr. Fish and family cam to Wisconsin April l.">, IS.Vi, and located on See. 24, town of Winfhld, Sauk Co., Mr. where he now ivside,,. Mr. and Mrs. Fish celebrated their fiftieth or golden wedding six years ago. of Winfield Fish hain politics, he is a Democrat.

mond

;

they bad nine children— Elizabeth,

;

Elias R., married to Adelia P.

;

'i-

;

LEWIS X. FISH, farmer, Sec. 24

P.O. Reedsburg sou of Silas and Betsy (Raymoi.d) Albany Co., N. Y.. Aug. 8, 1838; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1855; Was married, March 1. 1862, to Sarah Darrow. daughter of Henry located in Winfield, Sauk Co., Wis. A. and Luseva Dann) Darrow. Mrs. Fish was bom in Walworth Co. (her people came to Wisconsin George L., Edwin K., Emma B., Jasper in 1839 They have had eight children Ida M. (deceased In December. 1867, Mr. Fish and family settled on T., Walter E.. '.Mary A., and one boy unnamed. their present farm Mr. F. has been Supervisor of Winfield one year, and Treasurer of has 317 acres. Fish; was Lorn

;

S'li

iol

In politics, a

District No. 2 six years.

Democrat.

SPENCER C. FISH, farmer, See. 27

son of Silas and Betsy Raymond) P. 0. Reedsburg served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith busiFish; was horn in Greene Co., N. Y., July 3, IS32 Was married 1854 came to Wisconsin, settling on See. '27, his present farm; has USD acres. Mrs. April I. 1855, in Albany Co., N. Y., to Mary J. Fish, daughter of Elisha and Dolly King Fish. Fish was bi rn in Albany Co., N. Y. They have three children— Edgar C, Orton G. and Mina M. Mr. ed March 8, 1865, in Co. F. 51st W. V. I.; served till the close of the war; was Second Ser geant Mr. F. has been Supervisor of Winfield one year; Treasurer two years, and Clerk of the School i

;

Distri

several years

Politics,

Republican.

ROItttRT GREENWOOD, Sr., stone-mason and farmer. Sec. 16; P. 0. Reedsburg; son Fawcett) Greenwood; was born in January. 1803, in Yorkshire, England; was berl md Elizabeth, now Mrs. E. G. Gregmarried to Eleanor Jackson they had nine children— Joseph, deceased dsburg Robert, married to Eveline Miller, living in Winfield John, married to Mahala Curtis, Winfield tsabclla. deceased; Margaret., now Mrs. James Dawson, of Racine Co.; .lames, marElizabeth

of R

;

ried to

Emma Buck, deceased, residence. Nebraska

;

Miles, married to

Emma Cameron, residence, Winfield

and Jane. Mr. Greenwood came to the United States in 1847, spent four years in Racine Co., and came to the town of Winfield, Sauk Co., in 1851 when he reached his land, he found himself with onlj $10 in money, in a wilderness of timber, without a foot of land cleared, and a wife and nine children to provide provisions were for; the first summer was pa-sed by the family under some boards set against a pole him to bring home a fat beer to replenish l's good marksmanship often enabled id Mr. Grecnw the larder; once he nearly lost his life in a fight with a large bear that he had wounded, but was saved bj stance of his dog, which attracted the bear's attention while Mr. G. re-loaded, when the bear was ;

;

dispatched.

ROBERT GREENWOOD,

Jr., farmer, See. lb; 1'. O. Reedsburg; son of Robert and was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. II. 1839; when 8 years of age, Elea Jackson) Greenwood came with his parents to the United States in L847 the family made a settlement in Raymond, Racim Co., Wis., alter four years moved to Sauk Co. in June, 1851, settled in Winfield, Sec. 16; has 103 acres ;

;

— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

796

of land where lie resides; SO acres in the town of Reedsburg, besides two In. uses and lots in the village. Was married, Feb. 11, 1874, at New Lisbon, Juneau Co.. to Dora Capstick, daughter of George a'nd Margaret Capstick. Mrs. Greenwood was born in the United States she died five weeks after her marMr. G. has been Chairman of the town of Winfield two years; Assessor three years, and served two terms as Treasurer, and three terms as Clerk of School District N'o. 3. Was married, April 22, 1879, to Eveline Miller, daughter of Heman and Elizabeth Darrow ) Miller. Mrs. G. was born in Walworth Mr. Greenwood enlisted November, 1862, in Co. F. 3d W. V. C, and served till the close of Co., Wis. the war. Politics, Republican. ;

(

EDWARD HEMINGWAY, Elizabeth

Hemingway; was born

Croft)

farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Reedsburg; son of Francis and Yorkshire, England, Dec. 23, 1824; came to the United

New Jersey and New York, in the cities of Patand Bloomfield, and again at Little Falls; in hopes of benefiting the mother's health, England; however, after nine months, they returned to Little Falls, N. J; here Mr. II. and his father were engaged as ingrain-carpet weavers. Mr. Edward H. went to Poughkeepsie, and was married Dec. 21. 1849, to Mary Mcintosh, daughter of James and Ann (Burns) Mcintosh Mrs. Hemingway was born in Paisley, Scotland; they have one daughter and two sons living; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Frank T. Houghton, of Winfield, Francis (deceased James, Francis deceased), Ann (deceased), Edward 1. Mr. II. and family came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1851 located on Sec. 9, town of Winfield. Sauk Co., where he remained till the spring of 1872, when he moved to Sec. 1(3, where he now resides; lias 180 acres; has been Supervisor of Winfield two years, and Treasurer one year, and Director chool district three years Mr. H. still does some flannel and carpet weaving winters. Politics, Republican. Mr. and Mrs. II. are members of the Baptist Church. States with his parents in IS III; spent several years in erson, Little Falls,

the family returned to

;

JAMES IIOItK AX. farmer. Sec. 21

son of Peter and Bridget Rewan) P. O. Reedsburg was born in Illinois Oct. 14, 1844; came to Wisconsin in 1848 with his parents; settled iu Sauk Co. Was married Jan. 19, 1867, in Lyndon, Juneau Co., to Mary Gallagher, daughter of James and Catharine Mcllugh Gallagher; Mrs. Horkan was born in Ireland; they have six children William F.. John, James E., Bridget W., Peter J. and George P. Mr. H. came to Winfield in 1866 Bettled on Sec. 21 has 160 acres ni' land Mr. and Mrs. Horkan are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. H. is a Democrat.

Horkan

;

Dellona,

;

S. T. HOI <.II S 'OX. farmer, Sec. 22 P. O. Reedsburg; son of Abner and Susannah (Taylor) Houghton was born in St. Johnshury, Caledonia Co., Vt., May 28, 1812; was brought up on a farm; when 21 years of age, engaged with the Fairbanks Scale Co. went to Watenille, Me., and built a dam for the company Was married, Oct. 2. 1837, to then went I0 A.UgUSta and worked as a pattern maker. Mrs. Houghton was bum at Catharine Albee, daughter of Benjamin and Betsey (Cunningham) Albee Wi.-casset. Me.: they have four children Corrilla, now Mrs. V. B. Clark, residing at Minneapolis, Minn; John C, died Dec. 1, ISTT; was married to Annie Mauvor, resided at Fairbury, Neb.; left a wife and two children Maria S. Frank 'I'., married to Elizabeth Hemingway, residing in Winfield Mr. m went tu California, January, 1852, via Panama; returned to Augusta, May, 1853; in 1855, came tu Wisconsin; arrived at Reedsburg, Sauk Co., July I. came at mice to his farm. Sec J-'. has been Chairman of Winfield line year. Politics, lli in Winfield, where he now resides; has 2111 acreMrs. Houghton is a member of tin Episcopal Church Frank T. and wile are members of the ocrat. ;

;

—

;

Baptisl

(

Ihurch.

JOHN JACKSON, farmer, Sec. 15;

0. Reedsburg

son of Roberf and Ellen (Jackson) Jackson, was born in Yorkshire, England, July 2.'!, 1823: came to the United Males with his parents in Mr. Jackson was married at Poughkeepsie. July 1845; they made their home in Poughkeepsie, X. V. Mrs. Jackson was born in York17, 1852, to Eliza Croft, daughter ^i' Robert and Rachel (Field. Crofi Robert C., William I'., Ann E., Jonathan (deceased), shire, England; the} have had eight children Richard R. James deceased the two lasl named were twins, John G. and Isabella; all but the eldest were born in Winfield. [n September, 1855, Mr. Jackson and family came to Wisconsin, "Stopped six months in Raymond, Racine Co., then came to Winfield, Sauk Co., settled on Sec. 15, where they now Mi .1 has 200 acres of land has been Director of School Districl three years. Mr. and Mrs. •lark -mi are members of the Baptist Church. I'.

;

—

;

CHARLES U. KELLEY, farmer. Sec. 14;

P. 0. Reedsburg; was born in Sanbornton, N. Belknap County, Nov. 18, 1815; sun of Timothy and Sarah Chatman) Kelley. Was married in New Hampshire, July 29, 1839, to Eliza J. Dearborn, daughter of George and Martha De Merritt) Dearborn. Charles, Edwin (marMrs. Kelley was burn in the Slate of XVw Ymk they have had eleven children II

— i

;

TOWN OF WINFIELD;

797

Emma J. Fish, living in Winfield), Ann Eliza, George W.

ried to

Reedsburg), Ellen

married to Amanda Root, residing al now Mrs. ('. Fuller, residing in Winfield), Harriet now Mrs. A. Fuller, residing in Win-

La Fayette M

married to Mary E. Wener, also of Winfield), [sabella (now Mrs Joseph B. Kindall, in A F. Adelberl those unmarried, arc living at home. Mr. K. moved to Laconia, N. EL, and in May, 1854, came t<i W'isn.Msin. slii|ip,il at Baraboo, Sauk Co., a year, and in June, 1855, moved lias In en Assessor of Winfield two years, and Clerk of School to Winfield. settled mi his present farm, Sec. 11 In politics, is a Republican. Mr. Kelley lias a rchard, from which he will District No. - one year. he has one tree that is "is years old, that is undoubtedly gather this year ,u least 27"> barrels of apples the largest in the county; its circumference is six feet ten inches, and its branches cover a space 16x48 feet; last year it bore twenty-six bushels of apples. field

Minn.), William 1... Fremont

;

EDWIN KELLEY, farmer

Sec, 23; P. 0.

Reedsburg; son of C. R. and

Eliza J.

Dear

lived al Baraboo, born Kelley, was born in Laconia. PL II.. May 12. 1840, came to Wisconsin in S.) Sauk Co., about one year, then came to Winfield, settled on Sec. 23. Was married in Winfield. March 5, Mrs'. Kelley was born in Greene 1862, to Emma J. Fish, daughter of Silas and Betsy Raymond) Fish Lemuel R., Ella Ida deceased Herbert D. In April, 1862, Co., N. Y. they have had three children located on his present farm, See. 23; has 407 acres of land. Mr. K. enlisted March 8, 1865, in Co! F. ."list W. V. I.; served till the close of the war. Has been \s^ossor of Winfield one year, and is serving his 1

;

fourth term in succession as Treasurer; has been .Justice of the Peace two years, and Clerk of ScTool Dis-

No.

trict

seven years.

Polities,

Democrat.

LAFAYETTE M. KELLEY, farmer. See. 16; P.O. Reedsburg; son of

C. R. and Eliza Dearborn) Kelley; was born in Meredith Village, Belknap Co., N. II., Feb, 4. 1847; in May, 1854, came with his parents to Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis.; remained there till June, 185 to Winfield. He enlisted and was mustered into the service Jan. 2*. 1XC4, in Co. B. 12th W. V. I. was wounded Jul) 28, 1864, in front of Atlanta, producing a permanent disability; served till July 1. 1865. He was married Nov. 6, 1867, in Winfield, to Mary E., daughter of Charles and Doratha (Kiber) Wener; she was born in Burlington, Racine Co., Wis.; they have seven children James II.. Mary. va I!., Mabel II Mr. Kelley came to his present farm in the fall of 1869; it lies Charles 1!.. Inez, and one girl unnamed. in See. 16, and contains KMI acres. He bis been Justice of the Peace two years, Clerk of School District 'respondent of the Reedsburg Fnr Press six No. 2 three years, aud of No. 3 six years; has n J.

;

—

years

;

Republican in polities.

ALFRED F. LAWTON, farmer. See. 26; V.. Oct. 26,

Polly

King

1829. Fish

;

P. 0. Reedsburg; was Imn, in Albany Co., X. Was married in the sain unty Dee. 23, 1855, to Emily, daughter of Elisha and she was born in Albany Co.; Mr. Lawton and family came to Wisconsin in 1855 and

on his present farm of 85 acres in See. 26, Winfield, Sauk Co. He enlisted, March I. 1865, in Co. F. 51st W. V. I., and served till the close of the war; was Post Quartermaster at Milwaukee. He has been Town Clerk of Winfield eight years, and Justice of the Peace two years; in politics, he is a

settle.

lean.

«EORGE F. LAWSOJf, farmer,

See. 15; P. O. Reedsburg; son of George and Susan Lawson was born in Nottingham, England, May 30, 1808; came to Canada in June, 183] remained there about two years, then went to Kennebec Co., Me.; stopped there about a year, and then went to Boston, Mass.; in *:;.">. he enlisted in the 1st U. S. Artillery; served in Florida in the Seminole war, till wounded in the fall of 1836 his horse was killed under him and fell, shattering his right leg; he was in the hospital all winter, and was discharged in the spring of 1837. He stopped a short time in Washington, then went to Boston, and from there lo New Hampshire, where he learned the shoemaking business. In 1848, he went to England, and was married in Nottingham, in June, 1848, to Susan, daughter of dames and Lydia Lawson. In about two months he returned to the United Slates and stopped al Lawrence, Mass about one and a half years, then came to Sauk Co.. Wis., iii May. 1851, and settled on Sec. 15, town of Winfield; he bad 160 acres, has now 80; they have six children Su-an now Mrs .Joseph Mcintosh, of Winfield), George J., Lydia and Elizabeth. Mr. Lawson has been Superintendent of Schools of Winfield two years, Supervisor one term. Justice of the Peace two terms. Clerk of Scl District No. 3 two terms, and Director one term in politics, he is a Republican.

Riley)

;

LACHLAJf MdNTOSH. farmer, See. 10;

Reedsburg; so,, of .lanes and Ann Burns Melutosh, was born in Paisley. Scotland, dune 18, 1828 came to the United States in 1841 made his home in Cherryville, Conn.; about a year afterward went to PoughkoepMc, X. V. Was married there, April 9, 1851, to Catharine Cameron, daughter of Alexander and Margaret McWhinnie) Cameron. Mrs Melutosh was born in Westchester Co., N. Y. lu 18")1, came to Wisconsin and settled in Town 13, I

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

T ,,s

Range living

now Winfield, on Sec. 10; he has '2~:\ acres; they have had eleven children, of whom nine

— Mar

.|i 'i

M.n.l

.Tallies,

;

married

Alice

Lizzie

Southerby.

residing

are

Ann;

Reedsburg;

Mrs. George Thayer, living in Winfield Thomas L.; Joseph; Mary deceased Jennie; Mr. and Mrs. Mcintosh and three of the children are members of the John E. and May.

Catharine, now ('. ;

)

;

Mr. .Mcintosh has been Town Superintendent of Schools, and Justice of the Peace was Supervisor one year, and Assessor several years; was the first Clerk of the School permanent organization, and has held the offices of Director and Treasurer at different times; first Town Superintendent of Schools.

Baptist Church. r-

District on

SAMUEL MOXTROSS,

was born iii Dutchess Co., X. V., Sept. 11, 1804; when 21 years of Greene Co. and engaged in the Hudson River trade; followed the river about twenl during this time was a steamboat Captain many years. Was married in Athens. Greene Co.. April. L825, to Lydia Raymond, daughter of Lemuel and Temperance Raymond; they have had two children Enos L., married to Sally A. Pelton, living in Windfield I'lnebe T.. deceased, was the wife of George IVlton. Mr. Montross came io Wisconsin in isf>2, and settled on See, Town 13, Range 4, now Winfield, Sauk Mr. Montross has been an active leader in the Liberal Co.; jointly with his son has 180 acres of land. religious movement in Sauk Co., and has given the cause material aid, both by liberal contributions of money and by speaking. He has acted in sympathy with Ichabod Codding, the well-known liberal speaker. and is favorably known as a leader in the cause. age, went to

—

;

'_'.">.

MONTROSS,

E. 1,. farmer, Sec. 25 P.O. Reedsburg; son of Samuel and Lydia (Raymond) Montross, was born in Albany Co., N. Y.. .May 29, 1 827. Was married in Greene Co., N. Y., to Sally A. 1'elton, daughter of John and Sarah Hinckley! Pelton. Mrs. M. was born in Athens, Greene Co. have had two children Frederic and Ivah, both deceased, and on. adopted daughter, Agnes Williams Montross (deceased) Agnes was a woman of great spiritual power. She was the wife of Jason Pelton. and died about a year after her man ;

—

;

<*EOR4iiE PELTON, farmer, Sec. 36; P. 0. Reedsburg

son of John and Sarah Hinckley was born in Austerlitz, Columbia Co., N. Y.. Feb. 9, 1830 in 1850, came to Wisconsin and setnow Winfield |, northwest quarter of Sec. 36, Sauk Co. went South in L3, Range 1853; spent a pari oi two years iii Mississippi. On his return, he was married, Nov. 16, 1854, to Phoebe Montross, daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Raymond) Montross; Mrs. Pelton was born in the State of New York they had three children sons S. Aylmer. Montross and Meredith who died Oct. I. S65 Mr. P. enlisted. March 8, 1865, in Co. F, 51st W. V. [., and served till the close of the war; was mus-

Pelton

tled in

;

Township

;

Mrs

Sept. 5, 1865.

School District No.

for nine years

;

—

June 14, 1870. he has 86 acres of land.

Pelton

died

Mr. Pelton has been Treasurer of joint Politics, Republican.

HIRAM PELTON, farmer,

P. O. Dallas. Harm,, Co., Wis. son of John and Sarah HinckEastern New York Aug. 30, 1825; while quite young, the family moved to Athens, Greene Co. He was married al At hen.-. Jan. 31, 1849, to 'eborah Seaman, daughter of Samuel and Annie Mrs. Tel ton was born in Albany Co., roodfellow Seaman Y. they have had five children Ida deceased Aha, Maynard, Ernest and Fanny. In 185(1, moved to Wisconsin and settled in ley)

Pelton; was born

;

—

(

;

Sauk Co., Town 13, Range

now Winfield), Sec. 35

;

had

10 acres.

Was elected the first Town Clerk

of Winfield, and was re-elected six successive years; served as Chairman one year was Clerk oJ School District No. three years. In. lune, 1870, moved to Dallas Barron Co., Wis., where he now resides; teres of land has been Town Clerk of Dallas three years, Supen isor of the town ol Barron two years, and Treasurer one year. In politics, Republican. ;

;

WILLIAM

SCAIFE,

farmer, See. 16; P. Reedsburg; son of Joseph and Mary U. (Gibson) Scaife was born in thecountyof Durham, England, \pil 18. 1824; was married in Yorkshire, Jan. 17, 1846 to Eleanor Thompson, daughter of Mathew and Margaret Main Thompson. Mi was born in Hartforth, Yorkshire; they have had two children, bo Mr. S. was a bill ;

In 1849, came to the United States, arrived in New York April t; lived at Buffalo, by occupation. ear, then went to Boston, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.; was there al the comple ion of the Erie Rail-

returned to Buffalo: lived at Dari May. 1855, cam S oik 'o Wis., settle,] ir

September, 1852, moved to McHenry Lav. die. See. 1. in March 1861, moved to ill

in Co.. 111., and in Ironton, from there in i;.,dl,indeai to Lavalle again In October, 1865, came to Winfield. Sec. 16, where they now reside; they have I20acresof land; spent the summer of 1873 in Reedsburg, where Mr i

has 6,

Winfield.

;

lots has been Treasurer of the School District in Lavalle Mr. and Mrs. Scaife are members of the Second Advent I

;

Clerk of his District,

— ;

TOWN OF PRAIRIE Dl" SAC.

799

TOWN OF PRAIRIE DU SAC. JOHN BACH, lealer in agricultural implements, Sauk City

born in Luxemburg, Germany, 1842; he came to Wisconsin with his parents, Valentine and Susanna Bach, in 1852, and He then moved to Hone3 Creek, this county, where he located in Sauk City, where he lived until 1857. Man T., Katie, Valenmarried Miss Mary A. Yunk, of that town; they have six children— Susanna M tine, Anna M. M. and Matilda J. Mr. Bach is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the A 0. CI. W.

Nov

;

21,

Bices of Justice of the Peace since 1875, Village Clerk since 1877, He has filled tl He moved from Honey Creek to Sauk Citj in 1876 he has been a dealer in a nd Treasurer one term.

a t present writing

agricultural implements four yeais, and

IIOX.

doing a large business.

THOMAS KAKER,

Prairie

du Sac;

born

Weymouth, England, Nov.

10,

1852, and arrived in Sauk Co., Wis., in June of the same year He was he came to Prairie du Sac in is."):;, and it lias been his home the greater part of the time since. appointed Postmaster at Prairie du Sac in sill, a position he lias continued in since to the gen

1832

left

his native place April

He was a member of the Wisconsin Assembly in 1875, and Deputy United States

faction of tlic citizens.

M. Coates, from December, 1869, until the second and third disVt presenl writing, -Mr. Baker holds the offices of Postmaster, tricts were consolidated July 1, 1871. Notary Public, School Treasurer. Treasurer of the .Masonic lodge, of the Presbyterian Church, of the Sauk He married, in this county, Miss Prairie Bible Society, and of the Prairie du Sac Cemetery Association. they have one child S. Jennie. A. J. McGinnis born in Belmont, La Fayette !o., of Prairie Sac harness shop, du proprietor Y. II. «J. his lather. B. F. Bailey, had settled in that county in 1833, and married there Wis.. Nov. 21. lSii'J Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of William Johnson, a pioneer settler of Wisconsin, and now a resident of Sumter, this county. During the war of the rebellion, J. II. Bailey, the subject of this sketch, enlisted was enrolled in Spring Green, this county, in 1861, and participated in in the 6th Wisconsin Battery ninetetn otigagt incuts, the principal ones being Corinth. Vickshurg. Chattanooga. Jackson, Mission Ridge He married, in Sumter, this county, and Kingston he was honorably discharged in September, 1863. they have one child, she was born in Delaware Co., IVnn. Miss Louise (Jttendorfer, of Spring (ireen he keeps a full supply Mr. Bailey has been for a number of years engaged in the harness trade Frances. in that line in his shop in Prairie du Sac. and promptly attends to repairing. Collector ot Internal Revenue, under

1!.

—

BAIEE

(

;

JACOB BOHX. plasterer and proprietor of greenhouse, Sauk City

was born in Heide, GerTn his native country, in the revolution of 1848, he was four years in active many, Aug. 16,1827. He came to the United States in 1851, service in the German Army, and was wounded al Schleswig. During the war of the rebellion, een a resident of Sauk City a greater part of the time since. he enlisted in Co. D, 9th W. V. I., and was wounded at Newtonia, Mo., where he was honorably disthey have seven children lie married, in Sauk City, Aldine Stadelmann charged as First Lieutenant. Herman, Leander, Edmund, Amelia, wife of August Nietart, of Madison, Wis. Alma, Elvina and Adale. In politics, he is a Republican. Mr. Bohn is a member of the Masonic fraternity. ;

;

CHARLES BOHXSACK, of the firm of Charles Bohnsack & Son, manufacturers of He married, in wagons and carriages, also gent ral repairing, Sauk City born in Germany Oct. s, S22. they migrated to this country, and settled in Sauk City, Wis., in 1852 country, Mary Brosh ar, and is new the pioneer in that business he engaged in the manufacture of wagons and hue Their in Sauk City. Himself and wife are members of the Free-Thinking (.'onuregati.ui of Sauk Co. oMcst son. William, married Lizzie Webber; they reside in Sauk City, and he is partner in business with his eldest daughter. Mary, is the wife of A Marquardt, of Sauk City Emma, second oldest daughfather F. their Messrs. Bohnsack & Son have a large trade ter, is the wife of Bernard Reno, MaZO Manie, Wis. work is well known for its superior make. Kuoni, merchants, Sauk City; was born in of! the firm of Boiler & He has been Zurich Switzerland. Aug. 29, 1829; came to Wisconsin in 1855. locating in Sauk City. He is both are tb ased. twice married his first wife was Barbara Myer his second wife, Julia Rost capable busines the senior member of the firm, Boiler & Kuoni, and is an energetic and I

;

CASPER BOLLER,

;

enjoying the confidence of all with whom he is acquainted, he

'\. If.

BRfGGS, Prairie du Sac; was born in 1818,

married

his

native

county,

Mi-

Margaret

North;

Hancock. came

they

Berk-hire to

Co.,

Wisconsin

Mass

;

1849,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

800

Walworth Co., where they remained until 1854, when they removed to the town of Westuk Co., there remaining until 1876, in which year they went to Reedsburg and were engaged in the hotel business until 1878, then came to Prairie du Sac, where himself and son 0. E. Briggs have since

settling in Troy,

—

the leading hotel of the place. Mr. Briggs was the first Justice of the Peace kept the Briggs [louse he was also elected the first Town School Superintendent, and was Town cted in the town of Westfield he was sent as a delegate from the town of Westfield to Republican County Treasurer several terms Convention twenty two consecutive James ; his oldest son 0. E., is engaged in the hotel business with him he was born in Hancock, .Mass., and during the war of the rebellion, served in Co. E,49th W. V. Third son, (ieorgo X., lives in St. Peter. Minn. Mr. Briggs ad son, W. P., lives at Reedsburg. i- a II. publican in polities, having always acted with that party. eli

;

THOMAS J. BRYANT, farmer,

was born in Turner. Androscoggin Co., Sees. 27 and 28 >, 1840. where he remained the most of the time until 1861, when he went to Canada lumbering until about 1865, in which year he came to the town of Prairie du Sac, Wis., and in farming, which he bus successfully continued ever since. Hemarried, in Quebec District, CanEliza Parker; they have four children Ella M., William E.. Grade E. and Herbert A. Mr. Bryant owns200 ions of well-improved land, and is an energetic and enterprising citizen. Me., June 1

;

(

—

Sauk City was born in Tlukawy, RitseheuRO, Germany, June 28, 1851. In 1869, he came to ibis county, locating in Sauk City, He married in Sauk City, Miss Lissette Wehner she was born in Madison, which has been his borne since. Wis., June 19, 18511 they have three children Julius, Eda and Custav. Mr. Buro and wife are memin politics, he acts with the Lutheran Church. He is also a member of the A. <>. U. he has boon in business in Sauk City for several years and has been very successful. Republican party dealer in wines, liquors and cigars,

,1. J. waldi, Province I'osen,

;

—

;

JOHN COMJ1ANS,

dealer in wines, liquors and cigars, Sauk City; was born in Prussia Jan. 1828; in his native country he was a soldier in active service four years; he came to Wisconsin in in 1874, he moved to Sauk City 1854, and settled on a farm in the town of Prairie du Sac. Sauk Co and engaged in business. lie married in Prussia Miss Johanna Heeg they have bad four children, only living. Mr. Commaus has been Assessor for the town of Prairie du Sac four years, and has held various school offices. 28,

;

KOBKRT CUNRADI,

druggist, Sauk City; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 11. quired bis knowledge of the drug trad" by working ten years in one of the principal drug stores in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany; four years prior to bis coming to ibis country, he was general agent for a Manufacturing company, and had for his territory lermany and Italy; in 1849, he came to the United States from .Munich, Germany, and located in Sauk City, Wis., the same year; in 1851, he went !-. Mo., and there had charge of a drug store until 1S5I1. then returned to Sauk City, and, in company with Edmund Rendtorff, engaged in the mercantile business, wherein they continued and bad an trade for 'e than twentj years, at the end of ^hich time Mr. Ren dtorrff retired from the Mr. Cunradi is new engaged in the drug and grocery trade he carries a large stock, and has a first-class trade. He married in Sauk City Miss Mena Mauiugarih; they have seven children August. Kobert, Charles, Edward, Herman, Eliza nod Emma. Mr. Cunradi has filled various offices, and is a prominent citizen of Sauk Co. H of the Free-Thin] Sauk Co. ii

;

—

JULIUS DALL.MANN,

farmer; I'. ». Prairie da Sac was burn in Germany in 1843. He married, in his native country. Pivdriea Klein, mith; thet came to Wisconsin in 1868, and lived in Sauk then moved on a farm in Prairie du Sac, where they have since lived City until 1872 they h' <

;

—

children Bertha. Charlie. Ida, Lilly, Emma, Adda and Adolph. native Country two years. He is a successful lariner.

DODO,

Mr. Dallmann served in the army in bis

retired, I'rairie du Sac was born in Bloomfield, N. .)., in 1811. H J AIRE'S town Emeline Baldwin; they came to Wisconsin in 1863, locating in the town of SumSauk Co., where they lived three years, then moved to I'rairie du Sae, win homi ir since; their children are Matilda, wife of Aaron Magee, Baraboo; Charlotte, wife of Jesse Mather, Sumr 18 I. Julia E wife of Edward Farr, I'rairie du Sac; Edward 1!.. married and lives in Minnesota of A. Baldwin. I'rairie du S ic Charles I!., live, ill Newark. N. J. lie served in a N. J. V. luring the war. Mr. Dodd and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. ;

ried in his native ter,

;

REV. HERMAN CwROSSE, in

1842;

A ustria, and

was at

Pastor of Catholic Church. Sank City; was born in Saxony, the College at Heiligenstadt. the universities at Munich and

educated in Westphalia, being ordained

the latter city

June 16,

865.

In 1866, he came

;

TOWN OF PRAIRIE DU

801

SAC.

was again ordained in Milwaukee. Wis., in June of that year, and immediately afterward went to Missouri and had pastoral charge of a church at Kansas City for five years; thence to St. Mary's, Monroe Co., Wis., and was Pastor of the church at that place about seven years then coming to Sauk City, and having charge of the congregation there since.

to this country, and

;

JOSEPH I. HELLER, many, July 29, L816

dealer in general merchandise, Sauk City; was horn in Baden, Gerearly life he learned the tinsmith trade, and was in business on his own account

native country eight years. He married his wife in Germany her name was Aplouia Fuerst: they came to this country in 1850, locating in Sauk City, Wis., which has been their home since; tin \ have three children Julia, wife of John C. Rendtorfl, a merchant in Black Hawk, this county; Othelia, and Eugene K. Mr. Heller has been in business in Sauk City wife of Julius Wissenborn, of Sauk City

his

;

—

;

since 1851, and by close application to details and fair dealing, he has built up a large and flourishing keeps a large stock of general merchandise, and in his store can be found everything usually

kept in a first-class general store.

PHILIP HOEFER,

manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds, and proprietor of planing and saw mills, Sauk City is a native of Naestaeden, Kries Nassau, Germany he came to Wisconsin in is.5 I. locating in Sauk Co., where he resided until during the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted at Baraboo, served nearly two years; was wounded severely at Gainesville, anil was honorably in Co. A,6th W. V. I. In 1867, be went to Minnesota, and was engaged in the mercantile business three years discharged. in l.sTd, he engaged iu' the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds, moldings, etc., in Sauk City, doing a largi and lucrative business since. He married, in Blue Earth, Minn., Miss Caroline Teske the\ havi sis children Caroline, Frank, Philip, Edward, Alfred and Samuel. Mr. Hoefer has been Clerk of the Sauk City High School five years, and is Justice of the Peace, President of the Sauk City Board of Trustees, Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and was Town Assessor three terms, and is connected with various societies. In politics, Mr. Hoefer acts with the Republican party. ;

;

—

HUBBARD,

P. 0. Prairie du Sac. This gentleman, a pioneer settler of Sauk Co., is O. B. Burke. Caledonia Co., Vt. was born July 25, 1827, where he remained most of the time until 1843; then went to Essex Co., N. Y., and. in L845, came to Wisconsin, locating in Sauk Prairie; therefore, is one of the oldest settlers now in the southern portion of Sauk Co. He has been three times marhis first wife was Miss E. Foster, a native of New York ried she died in Excelsior, this county. His second wife was Cathrine M. Howard she was born in Burlington. Yt., and died in Freedom, this county His present wife was Eliza J. Ladd. of St. Lawrence Co.. N. Y. by the first maniage there are no children by the second marriage there are two children -William A. and Granville H. by the present marriage the children are Julia E. and Maude. He owns nearly 300 acres of land; his home farm is well located, a short distance from Prairie du Sac. and is finely improved he is a member of the Old Settlers' Association of Sauk Co. In politics, he is a Republican. a native of

;

A. F. JONAS, M. D., Sauk City

born in Arlington, -Columbia Co., Wis.; when he was 1 year old, his parents removed to Madison, where he enjoyed the advantages of obtaining a thorough education, and afterward entered the Bennett College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, where he graduated in the class of 1877, since that time having followed the practice of his profession in Sauk City large practice, and has the entire confidence of the community at large. He is a member of the Eclectic Socii t\ is also a member of the A. ). U. W., for which he is examining physician. .

(

ANDREW

KAIIX. manufacturer. Sauk City; was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, June 15, 1838; in L858, he came to Milwaukee. Wis., where he remained until I860, in which year In came to Sank Citj in December, L 861, he established his wagon and blacksmith simp, and in 1875 added ;

machine works, and in 1879 started a foundry; he does a large business m manufacturing and Ins shops are the most extensive of any in the southern portion of Sauk Co. He ma Sauk City, Sophia, daughter of George and Sophia Froly, pioneer settler- of Wisconsin; she was born Oct. 21, 1843, in the town of Roxbury, Dane Co., Wis., and was the first white child bom in that town rldren are Augusta, William. Selma, Andrew, Henry, Emma, Edward and Gustav. Mr. Kahn and wife are members of the Lutheran Church in politics, he is a Republican. to

his

repairing;

;

SAMUEL KLEINER, present Chairman

of the Prairie du Sac Town Board of Supervisors Lenzlmrg. Switzerland; was horn Feb. 21, 1830; he came to the United States and settled in Sauk Co.. Wis., in 1855. He has been Chairman and member of the Board of Supervia terms, and takes an active part in the advanc f the religious, educational and other interests of his town besides serving on the Board of Supervisors, he has hen elected to various other offices of public He owns a well-improved farm of 200 acres in the vicinity of Sauk City. He married in his trust. is

a native of

;

— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

802 native country Miss

Mary Suter; they have

eleven children.

Mr. Kleiner is an earnest and

Politically,

consistent supporter of the Republican party.

licI'STAV KKAISE, dealer in and manufacturer of harness, saddles, collars, bridle Sauk City; was horn in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 3, IS 15 in 1853. he came with his parents, Ernest and Louise Krause, to Prairie du Sac. Wis., where they now reside, in affluent circumstances Mr. Krause followed harness making four years in Chicago, 111., and in all has followed that, business about sixteen years. He married in Sunk City Miss Adeline Breeht she was born in Ohio they have three children In polities, Mr. K. is a Republican. Louise, Otto and Annie. ;

;

KUONI,

was born of the firm of Boiler & Kuoni. dealers in general merchandise. Sauk City C. eame to Wisconsin in 1860, and. in 1861, enlisted in Co. D, 9th W. V. I., in Switzerladn, Feb. 23. L842 serving three years and six months; was severely wounded at Jenkins' Ferry. Ark., losing a leg thereby He was appointed Postmaster in 1866, was honorably-discharged as Orderly Serjeant, at Madison Wis. He married, in Sauk City. Miss Dora Boiler; they a position he still fills to the general satisfaction of all. ;

;

have

live

children

— Julius.

Richard and Emma. The firm of Boiler & Kuoni carry a and are doinga large and lucrative business.

Elizzie, Paulina,

large stock of general merchandise,

WILLIAM LEIVZ, proprietor of the Sauk City Brewery; was born

Baden, Germany, in

1848, he came to this country and located in Milwaukee, Wis., where he resided until 1850; 1ms been engaged in brewing in Sauk City since went to several places in the United States 1868. He married, in Milwaukee, Miss Elizabeth llamm they have nine children Mary (wife of Oscar Staddleman, Mazomanie, Wis.), Emil (in Milwaukee). Adolph, Gustav, Louise, Willie, George,

1825;

after that he

—

;

Lena and Johana, at home.

MARTIN LODDE,

of the firm of M. Lodde & Son, proprietors of the Sauk City Flouringin his native country he learned the horn in Westfalen, Greven, Prussia, Nov. 8, 1819 machinist and millwright trade; he came to the United States, and worked at his trade in various places in New York until 1848, when he cam.- to Milwaukee, Wis.; followed his business there until 1850, then came to Sank City, which has been his home since; he has erected numerous mills in this portion of Wis Mills: was

;

He married, in Milwaukee Co.. Wis., Miss Christiana Zeeh

—

they have seven children Henry, George, the second oldest son, is proprietor of a meat market in the wife of Carl Hedausen, M. D., in Appleton, Wis.; Mary, Christina, Katie, Amelia. Mr. Lodde was twelve years a member of the Town Board of Supervisors The Sauk City Mills have four run of buhrs, and the flour and six years Chairman of that body. made in them is widely known for its superior quality.

consin.

-mi,

a partner in the mill

Baraboo; Anna, the

oldest

daughter,

;

MARQUARDT,

AUGUST

proprietor of paint-shop, Sauk City; was born in Kries F. Obornik, Germany, Nov. '!. fstn in sif>4, he came to this country, and has been a resilient of Wisconsin During the war of the rebellion, he enlisted, at Portage, Wis., in Co. E. 2d the most of the time since. W. V. ('.. served fouryears. and was honorably discharged at Madison. Wis. He married, in Sauk City, Ella. William, Julius, August and Robert. Mr. Marquardt Miss Mary Bohnsack; they have five children has been engaged in painting in Sauk City a number of years, and docs a g ] business. In politics, he is a Republican. :

—

MEYER,

proprietor of the United States Hotel. Sauk City; was born in Nordenbek, GerP. he served in the army of his native country; was engaged in hotel-keeping sevmany. June 20, v Nordenbek, and is still owner of tie- Meyers Hotel in that city; he came to this country in el located in Sank City. Wis., where hi' has been engaged in the. hotel business the most of the time since. He married, in Sauk City, Othelia Boiler; they have one child, Eda. Mr. Meyer has in connection with his hotel a billiard-room and livery-Stable; his hotel is the leading one of Sauk City. l

:;.".

;

eral years in

E. C. MOORE, a leading merchant. I'rairie du Sac

was born in Orange, N. J., June 3, L835 du Sac Wis., in 1850, and since that time has been prominently identified with the ha- for several years past been a leader in her mere, 'Utile interests. she died in I'rairie du Sac His first wife was Cathrine M. Bell, a native of Ohio the children by this marriage are Martin C. and Prank W.; the former married Alice Kelsey he is engaged in the store with bis father; Frank W. is deceased. Mr. Moore married his present wife, Elizabeth E. Egberton, in West Id, N. J.; the children by this marriage are Annie E. and George I>. he came to

I'rairie

various interests of the village, and

;

ALBERT MORSKACII,

Marshal of Sank City was born in 1829 in Prussia; he came V. with his parents. John J. and lennci iet ta Morsbach, to the United States in L848; lived in Milwaukee, Wis., until 1849, then came to Sauk City afterward moved to Spring Green, where his mother died, and 1

;

TOWN OF PRAIRIE DU

803

SAC.

from which place his father moved to [owa, where ho now resides; Alberl lived in Spring Gr about eleven years, then returned to Sauk City, where he has made bis home since. Her married, in [owa C<>., Wis., Miss .Marreita McCutcheon. In politics, Mr. Morsbach is a Republican. He lias been a contini al Sauk Co. since 18-19, with the exception of about one year he spent in Iowa. Besides being t ity Marshal, he has filled the office of Constable several years. Served in Co. K 26th Regt. W. V. I. was wounded at 'haiieelliirsvillle ami afterward transferred to the 23d Reg. Vet. Reserve Corps, where i

;

(

he was till close of the war.

DAVID 1IYERS, proprietor of wagon and general repair shop, Prairie du Sac; was hum O.,

N. V.. in 1823;

he came in Wisconsin

1846, and has been a resilient of Prairie du Sac

He marrii d Esther, a daughter of J. Hatch, a pioneer settler of Sauk Co.; she was born in Oh in;

since.

—

Cornelius, llaitie J., Mary, Elihu, John and Frank. Mr. Myers has been engaged they have six children in blacksmithing in Prairie du Sac for a number of years, and has a leading trade.

COX RAD MYER, proprietor of meat market, Sauk City; was horn

in Baden, Germany, iu 1830; he came to this country in 1854 and settled in Sauk City, Wis., which has been his home most of the time since. He married, in the town of Troy, Sauk Co., Wis.. Mena Kreuker; they have live John, Fred, Mary, Annie and Herman. children In his native country. Mr. Myer served in the Gertie has lieen engaged in ke.-ping meat market since 1ST4. In politics, he is a Republican.

—

CHARLES XAFFZ, dealer

in general merchandise, Sauk City; was horn in Wuerzberg, on the Main, Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 8, 1825; in early life he received a liberal education in his native city, and, prior to his coming to this country, was engaged in the hanking business several years; in Is IS. he came to the United States, locating iii what is now the town of Merrimack. Sauk Co., Wis., where he pari in rgaiiiziiig the first schools, and was the first Town Clerk, and the first Justice of thi Peaci elected the latter office he filled from 1854 until 1863. and the former three years; hi rilled various other local offices; in 1863, he came to Sauk Ciiy and engaged in general merchandising, and has a large and constantly increasing trade. He married, in Sauk City. Roselia Bosch sin came to Wisconsin in 1849; they have eight children Henry, he oldest son. is in the mercantile business in Madison. Wis.; Charles II.. second oldest, is a druggist in Madison, Wis.; Victor II., third oldest, is a salesman for a wholesale firm of Chicago. Edwin M. S., Gustavus, Thekla, Ella and Eugenia, the younger of the children, are at home. Mr. Xallz is agent of Bremen and Hamburg St< amers; American Steamship Co., Philadelphia and Liverpool; lied Star Steamship Line, Philadelphia and Antwerpen; also, fire and life insurance agent. Notary Public, and agent for the sale of German railroad tickets to any principal ierman seaport, and railroad tick' ts from New York and Philadelphia to Mazomanie via Pennsylvania Central and Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroads. i

;

—

C. H. XOLD, photographer and Sauk Co., Wis

March

14,

1859

ORRECHT,

;

du Sac; was born in the town of Troy. were pioneer settlers of that town he engaged in his presyoung man of enterprise and energy, and has a large and

confectioner, Prairie

his parents

;

ent business in Prairie du Sac in 1ST7 constantly increasing trade.

;

prominent business man of Sauk City since 1857

;

was born in Jennins, Can-

Graubueten, Switzerland, July 9, 1830; at the age of 14, he went to Poland and learned confectionery in the city of Re/.escbow. and in 1849 returned to his native country, and thence to the United Stat s in the same year, locating in Sauk Cil v, where he has resided since, with the exception of four years ton

he was engaged in the confectionery business iu St. Louis, Mo; in 1857, he engaged in the mercantile v .'is. he established business in Sauk City, and most successfully ontinued in it for over twenty yi ars in himself in the lumber business, c lonnection with his merchandising, and is now the largest and most .successful lumber merchant m the Wisconsin River. He married, in Sauk City, Miss Caroline i

Hitzeneimeir she was bom in Mengernhausen, Germany, Nov. 16, 1835, and came with her parents to In polities. Mr. Obrechl is a Republican. By industry and enterprise he has accumulated a large property, having real estate and other interests in various cities in the Northwest. ;

Sauk City, Wis., in 1844.

E. A. OERTEL, manufacturer of carriages and wagons, Prairie du Sac

was born in Saxony, in Wisconsin the same \ear; he wagons in Prairie du Sac for a number of years, and has a large trade. He married, in Prairie du Sac. Miss C. Wilson the) have one child, Mary J. Ml has been elected to various local other-, and is a citizen of enterprise and energy. He was lour years in Los Angeles, Cal. (from 1866 until 1870), and a portion of the years 1874 and 187.")

Germany, in 1827; in

;

1849, he came to this country, settling

the manufacture of cairiagos and

;

GEORGE OWENS, States in 1841,

first

settling in

Prairie du Sac; was horn in (lion, ester. England; came to the United Whitewater, Wis., wdiere he lived until 1843, when hi cam Prairie du i

— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

804

He married, in Prairie du Sac, Mrs. Mary Crossman. Mr. Owens has been his home since. owned and ran the first threshing machine in Sauk or Dane Cos.; he brought it to this county in 1843, and in 1846, he made the first lumber wagon in Prairie it was the only machine in the county until 1845 du Sac. Mr. Owen was a member of the Town Board eight years, six years of that time being Chairman Sac. which

;

of that body.

J. C. PRY, dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements and farm machinery, Prairie du Sac

was born in Washington Co., Penn.,July 14. 1839, and resiled there uatil the breaking-out of the war of Penn., in Co. A. 100th Penn. V. I., better known as the i:, ib llion, when he enlisted in Washington. He participated in a number of engagements; was severely Regiment, to serve three years i; ,'indhead After his discharge from the service, he returned to his native county, a\ South Mountain. Md. run! came from there to Prairie du Sac, Wis., in 180"); oiua.'od in dealing in agricultural implements, and has successfully continued in that business since. He married, in Prairie du Sac. Miss Minnie Aiken; they Mr. Pry is Special Treasury Agent. In politics, he is a ReLizzie B. and Maude E. two children i

—

publican.

QUIMBY,

HON.

Sauk City; he was born in Ireland May 16, 1823; in early life, he J. B. inic education, and resided in Morristown, Vt.. from 1828 until 1850; in the latter year, he came to Wisconsin, and has been a resident of Sauk Co. since 1851. April 22, 1856, he married Miss Sarah Leland, daughter of the Hon. Cyrus Leland she was born in Peoria. 111., in 1837 they have eight children. Mr. Quimby is a lawyer by profession he was District Attorney of Sank Co. from 1852 until County Judge two terms (eight years), and was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 1871. and reli

;

eti

d in 1873.

P. JOSKPH SCHADDR, photographer and dealer in notions and fancy goods, Sauk City; he was born in Krefehl. Germany, Sept. 20, 1S38

he learned photography in his native city, and was in there, on his own account, for several years. He first came to the United States in 1864, remaining Germany, remaining there until 1867, when he again came returned to Boston, then time and in a short to this country, and in May, 1878, located in Sauk City. Wis., establishing himself in the photograph in 1S77. he added to bis business a large stock of notions and fancy goods; be is doing a large bu He married, in Sauk City. Emma A. Brawn they and has the confidence of the community. Mr. Alvin J., Herman T. and Hugo the latter is deceased lie died in 1870. have had three cbildr n ;

;

iber of the

;

Masonic fraternity, and A. 0. U. W., in which he has filled various offices.

CJIAKJ-iUS SCIlI,I'N<«B.\rM, manufacturer of and dealer in harness, saddles and collars, Sauk City; he was born in Sauk County, Wis., dune 7. 1853; his father. Ferdinand Schlungbaum. who is also the manufacturer of harness and supplies in Sauk City, was a pioneer business man of the city. Charles Schlungbaum, the subject of this notice, married, in Sauk City. Anna Boiler. daughter of Casper Poller, now a leading merchant of that <-it\ they have one child, a daughter, Alma bridles, whips, etc.,

;

Mr, S. has had thirteen years' experience in the harness trade and is doing a large business. h. i- a Republican.

F. .SriIOENFFiM>, Sauk City, was consin

Tn polities,

born in Magdeburg, Prussia, in 1815 became to Wisand settled in Sauk City, where he has since lived, with, the exception of about six years lie married, in bis native country, Fredrica Yedeke irado. they have three children and llan-y. Mr. Schoenfeld carries a full stock of groceries, jewelry, guns, pistols, etc., .oil business in Prussia, be was in the military service for fourteen years, being in active ;

;

of the time, ate

promoted to the rank of Major in his regiment.

CHRISTIAN SCHUMM, Sauk City; was born

in Langenburg, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, He received a liberal education in his native country, and in 1846 crossed Jan. 11. 1821. intictO make' a home in the " New World." lie first located in the cit\ of New York, remaining thereuntil 1848, then came West; lived in Galena, HI., one year; then went to El Dorado Co., Cal., remaining irs, at the end of which time he returned to Galena, and moved tjien to Honey Creek. Sauk Co., Wis., in 1859, where he was engaged in farming until 1864, when he came to Sauk City a retail dealer in wines, liquors, etc. He married in Galena, 111., Miss in Baden, German) they have eight children George now attending the Cornell University; Otto, a printer, in Galena, 111.; Lizzie, Lena, Herman. Emilie, Adele and Walter. ly,

—

;

CI1RISTOPI1 SPIFIIIt. dealer and manufacturer ofl

and shoes, Sauk City; was born in Mccklenbui hwerin, Germany, Sept. 7, 1818; he came to Wisconsin in 1848; lived in Milwaukee until 850, then came to Sauk litj n hi n In has bei -oce engaj d in his present business. He married, in 1

(

TOWN OF PRAIRIE DU

805

SAC.

—

Sauk City, Mis> ('. Werner; they have three children Louise, wife of Charles Wiscnbom, proprietor of Mr. Spiehr was President of. the Free-Thinking the Astor House, Sauk City; Bertha and Charles. He has held various town and school offices. In polnine years. Congregation of Sauk Co. three terms

—

he is Liberal.

itics,

MAX STINGrLHAlIMEB,

proprietor of the Sauk

the Wisconsin River,

City Bridge

Germany, Oct. 6, 1824 in liis native country, he in 1847, he came to the United States, located in Milwaukee, Wis., where he remained until 1850, when he came to Sauk City and engaged in the mercantile business for about two years, and afterward built a brewery, and engaged in brewing until the fall maiden name in L866, he purchased the Sauk City Bridge, of which he is now sole proprietor ol 1865 they were married in Sauk City; she was born in Gennino, of his wife was Anna Barbara Grohanni

Sauk City

was born in Landau, on der

Isar, Bavaria,

learned the mason's trade, and followed it several years

;

Mr. Stinglhaimner is a Republican in politics, and has acted with that party since its organHe has been a member of the Board of Supervisors three years, ization, being at its birth in Madison. He takes an active part in Village Trustee two years, United States water-gauge keeper three years. public affairs, and is very popular. Switzerland.

TRIPP,

This representative gentleman was born in Duanesattorney at law, Sauk City. J. >•». burg. Seder eetady, Co., N. Y.. duly 5, 1868; he was educated in Schoharie Academy, one of the oldest and most noted schools of his native State after having finished the academical course, he began the study of his chosen profession, the law, in the office of Goodyear & Martin, leading attorneys of Schohu ie, was and, after completing the course, was admitted to the bar, June, 1S53; at that time, Westward, ho the cry -the attention of the youth of the Eastern States being directed particularly to Wisconsin as a land rite with splendid opportunities and golden prospects; so hither came the young lawyer to make his fortune and grow up with the country he first located at Baraboo. and remained there until September, SS of here he has siuee remained, and in the pr 854, then moved to Sauk City and hung out his shingle - built a fine legal business and won the unlimited confidence of his friends and patrons; in 18(i2, he was elected to the Assembly, being appointed Chairman of Committee on Contingent Expenses, and one of the Committee on Corporations, he also served on several special committees, for which position he proved himself well adapted; he has been elected Chairman of the County and Town Boards of Supervisors several times, and has been Town Clerk of Prairie du Sac for mere than sixteen years; in 1860, he was a promising candidate for State Senator since 1868, he has been engaged in the banking business, and. in short, has been one of the representative men of the county for many years, in all general business relations. Mr. Tripp has been twice married; his first wife, Fannie W. Hallett, died in 18l!5; his present wife was Nellie M., daughter of J. 1. Waterbury, of Prairie du Sac, Wis. ;

;

REV. JOHN

III I I.. Prairie du Sac; was born in Hanover, Germany, April 7, 1816, years of age; he then went to Hamburg and lived in that city until where be remained until he was 844, he came S [:\. « hen he went to London, England from there he came to the United States, and, in to Wisconsin, and lived in Prairie du Sac until the following year 1845 when he located in the town of Honey Creek, thus becoming a pioneer settler of that town lie afterward removed to the town of Smut, r, which town was his home for a number of years; in lSTo. he came to Prairie du Sac, and has been a continual resident of that village since. He married, in New Orleans, March 1844, Miss Mary Heidtmann they have three children Louisa, wife of A. Fisher, Prairie du Sac Emma, wife of Rev. Charles Mr. Thilke was Justice Snyder, of 'Arlington. Wis.; Mcua, wife of John Keller, of the town of Sumter. of the Peace in Sumter from 1849 until L870 and was also elected to various other local offices. U^ was 1

.">

;

(

;

:'..

—

;

preacher of the Evangelical ministerial labors since that time.

and a full lii

\ssooiation

of North

America

I860, and has been active in

He keeps constantly on hand all of the best makes of sewing-machines

supplies: also a line of organs.

NICHOLAS TRIAKEXBROTT.

Sauk City: was born in Coburg, Saxony. Germany March 19, 1838; be came to Wisconsin in 1860. Ho married, in Sauk City, Mi>s Louise Deininger; they have two children Mena and Emma. In politics, Mr. T. is a Republican. He is a dealer in wines and

—

liquors,

and owns his place of business.

HO\. J. I. WATERBIRY. Prairie du Sac

was born in St Lawrence Co.. N. V.. Aug. 4, 1*44. he married, in hi- native county, Miss P. M. Stone; they have one daughter, Nellie, Mr. Waterbury settled in Wisconsin in 1839, and located in the town of Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., in 1840; in 1867-68 he was a member of the Wi "as Assembly, and has been Chairman of the Prairie du Sae Town Board of Supervisors several terms a member of the first Board of County Commissioners, and collected the first tax collected in Sauk Co. 1818.

wife of Hon. J. S. Tripp, of Prairie du Sac.

;

BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES:

8 16

Mr. Waterbury has been a continual resident of the town of Prairie du Sac since 1840 he owns a valuable farm adjoin inn lie village of Prairie du Sac; his home is pleasantly located in the village, and surrounded by all nl he modern comforts. Prairie du Sae born Oct. 7, 1821, in the town of Bingham^ Somerset E. XV. Co., State of Main:- was educated at Harvard Univ a'sity. M,i-- ichu-ctt-v graduating in ho class of ISIS; was Principal of a grammar school in Lowoll, .Mass.. from Si-|.ti-nil>iT. ls|s i,, Vpril, 1849, and teacher f Soil bo studied law in the natural science in the high school, in Lowell, from April, 1849, to Oatob er, olfn f lion. Tappan Wentworth, in I, m Mass and was admitted to the practice of law in the Supreme Cmirl of .Massachusetts in October, Hod. He was married to Harriot Norton, of Lowell. Mass., the other, a son, a daughter, died at the age of 20 months in His; ih,.', have had two children was killed by runaway horses at the age of 17 years. Mr. 5Toung settled at Prairie du Sac, Wis., in 1856, residing there since. He was a member of the Wi cousin \ssombly from the South District of Sauk Co., L861 to ] 365, inclusive; Chief Clerk of the \ f the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, by 66 to 1ST:!, inclusive was app tinted Trust. Gov. Randall, in 1860, and held the trust until his resignation in April, 1874; was appointed on the \ at 1,. in Hospital for the Insane, by Ho v. Fairchild, in 1869 he was nominated ite tli Republicans, at the convention held in Malison, in August, 1873, as their candidate for S of State; in politics, he was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, and since then always ;

(

VOUNG,

HOX.

;

Republican.

TOWN OF SPRINC GREEN. DAVID

DA VIES,

druggist and dealer in D. ks and stationei j. Spring Green, was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, on the 30th of November, 1841. \ in 1853, lived in He .one to this coi ania until his coming to Wisconsin in 1856, arriving in Spring Green in August of that year, and has been almosl continual resident ince During the war of the rebellion, he enlisted at Madison 1

19th

W. V. I., as a private; was pr

ted Sarg. am. then

Sacond

Lieutenant, and

was honorabusiness, and is always Dee, 31 Green. married Miss Mattie Iv Greene; they have three children. Mr. Da vies has been Postmaster since 865. Is Public, Treasurer of the Auxiliary Bible Society, and holds, and has filled, various other offices. lie is a practical mall, his habits industrious, and be has been active in aiding in the building of schools, the organization of churches and Sabbath schools till of the latter institutions he has been prominently -

the close of the war.

-ucli at

In ISlio, he en -age.

alive to every vital interest touching the prosperity

in his present

of the village ,,f Spring

;

number of years.

identified with for a

JOHN Itl'VS'T \<-

manufacturer of carriages, buggies, light and heavy wagons. Spring born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1852 in 1869. he hi- wife was Mi-s Louise to this count} Zilg, of Spring Green they have one child, Carroll. Mr. Bettingei is a memb ir of the Village Board of eil in the manufacture of carriages, buggies ami wagons several y liusii.es- iii that line is now lining a good he erected n iw shops in 1879. which are the equal of any in Sauk (',.. Mr. Bettinger is a man of enterprise and is doing his share toward building up the business I

l''.l{.

interests of .-spring

DAVID

liven

DAVIES,

farmer, Sec. 7: P. 0. Spring Green J. was born in South Wales in 1830; lie came to this country in 1853, locating in Jackson County, Ohio, where be remained a short time; then moved to Armstrong Co., then Green, Sauk Co., Wis., which has been his home sine. Nov. 28j 1860, he married, in Spring Green, Mary T. Jones, of thai town: they have had seven children Minnie D., Joshua deceased, Eliza M., Thomas A., Benjamin P., George W., and Gracie. Mr. ;

ms 32 acres of land Lis home farm is most desirably located in close proximity to the village ol SpringGreen; Mr. Davics has been a continual resident of Spring Green since 1853, anoVhas taken au 1

;

active part in the improving and

and takes a deep

interest

advancement of the town he is a citizen of much energy and enterprise, the advancement of the educational and other public interests of general ;

REV. JOHN DAVIES. Spring Green liberal

was born in North Wales in 1821. He received a education in hb> native country in 1848, he came to this country, lived in Kvansburg. IVnn tl n moved in Ulossburg, Tioga Co., and was there ordained a minister of the Congregaiet.7, 1849; he had pastoi liai of thi Con in itional Church at Blossbura until ;

;

TOW X OF SPUING GREEN. 1854, then was ;i]>| mini cil iii ill.- .-1 continued until the following year itiou

Church

that

807

Welsh 'ongrogatinnal Church in Racine, Wis., where he 1855), when he came to Spring Green, taking pastoral charge of the

:i i-

of tin-

_i.

(

m active part in the organization

pla

Spring Green

;

of the

English Congregational

and afterward having charge of Congregational Churches at Fish Creek and ng.aged

ministerial duties down to the present time

various places.

1851, he married, in Charleston. IVnn. Annie Edwards; they have had six children, three of Mr. Da\ ies lias a proficient medical education, and followed the practice thereof for over eighteen years. Much of the present efficiency and the past success of the religious and educational interest- nt' this portion of Wisconsin are due to him he takes an active interest in the passing events of tinday, and his love for the best works in literature is permanent; he is thoughtful ami independent in the formation of opinions, and is possessed of dignity and firmness in maintaining his iileas of right and duty; his home is pleasantly located in the vicinity of the village of Spring Green, where he owns a finely improved farm of over 100 acres of land re living.

A. 31. DYE, proprietor of jewelry store, Spring Green; was born in Cedarville, N.

V.,

March

participated In-

[

Herkin

During the war of the rebellion, he served in Co. I!. 121st N. Y. V. I., and the battles of Rappahannock Station. Mine Run and Gettysburg, was wounded at the lie was married in HerkiWiMernos. served three years and was rably discharged, 17. 1840.

mer County, to Miss Ettie Ellsworth; they ha\e one child— Leon, burn in Cedarville, N. Y. in 1877, they came to Wisconsin and located in Spring Green; Mr. Dye has been engaged in the jewelry busi-r nineteen years, and is an excellent, workman; he keeps a full line of jewelry, watches, ;

lie takes ests of Spring

an active

int -rest

matters pertaining to the advancement, of all the local inter-

Green.

DANIEL J. EVANS, farmer.

Spring Green; born Oct ). P. 15, 1856, at DodgeWis.: his parents, John and Elizabeth J. Evans, natives of Wales, came to Wisconsin in 1854, when- they remained until 1862, when they removed to this town (Spring making it their home during their life; their children are Annie, now the wife of Charles A. Palmer. Kansas; Daniel J., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Mary and William Daniel J owns a desirably located farm, situated only a short distance from the village of Spring Green; he is a very (

ville,

locating in Dodgeville,

;

farmer.

J. X. FIXX, merchant, Spring Green; born

Edinburg, Saratoga Co., \\ V.. Feb.

12,

1831 ;

when be was 8 year- of age, he removed with his parents to Ontario Co., X. V.; thence to Vernou, Waukesha Co.. Wis., and from there to Union, Rock Co., where he remained until 1852; afterward he lived one year in Arien, Wis., then Went to Buena Vista. Richland Co.; remained thereuntil 1855, in which year he commenced clerking in a store at Richland City in S57, he went to Steele Co., Minn. ;

;

to Wisconsin and engaged in clerking in a drug Store at Lone Lock one year, then broom-making, and was engaged in that and farming until 1867, when, in connection with his brother, Charles W. Finn, lie engaged in business at Spring Green. In 1873, he purchased his brother's be keeps a full stock of general groceries, fruits, etc lie is Town and Village Clerk, also Justice el the 1'eace. He married, in Spring Green. Wis.. Ella Finn; they have one son. Frank in

1858, returned

learned

J. Finn.

^ THOMAS FRANCIS,

farmer, Sec. 34; P. 0. Spring Green; bum in North Wales in in this country while a young man. and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lawrence Co IVnn., and Wheeling, Ya., prior to his coming to Wisconsin; he lias, at present writing, been a resident of Sauk Co., Wis., for more than twenty years. He married, in [owa Co., Wis.. Miss Margaret .lames (daughter of Benjamin and Catharine .lames, early settlers of Dodgeville, Iowa Co. Eliza they have live children II. Emma k\. Man B. and George E. Mr. Francis owns lu acres of land his farm is locaild Brook Valley, and is well improved. .

—

;

WILLIAM II. HARRIS, farmer. Sec. 35

;

Spring Green was bom April 26, 1832, P. with his parents, Jonathan W. and Abigail 0. Harris, and 1845, where they plaited the village of Harrisburg. and a thriving local business has been carried on there since. During the war of the rebellion, William H. Harris, tin- subject ol this sketch, enlisted at Harrisburg, in Co. K. 23d W. Y .. and participated in the near Mansfield, Ohio; .

;

he came to Wisconsin

the town of Troy, this (Sauk

Co., in about

Chickasaw Bayou, from Dec. 25 until Dec 31, 1862; Ft. Hinman, Jan. 11. 1863; Cypress Bend, Feb. 19; Port Gibson, May Champion Hills, May 16; Black River Bridge, Maj 17; Vicksburg, from May 19 until .J uly Carrion Crow Bayou, Nov. 3 in Jackson, from duly 12 until duly 23 this battle he was wounded) Sabina Cross Roads, April 8, 1864; Cain River, April 23 Jackson Oct battles of

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

H08 5

;

24-25

Dallas Station, Dec.

;

1865

Greenville, from Feb. 16 until Feb. 23,

;

siege of Mobile, March 25

1865; the records of his regiment show that he was always in active service, and was under fire in all of the above battles, and that be was honorably discharged at the close of the war as First Sergeant. He married, in Decorah, Wis., Dorotha Benson, a native of Pennsylvania; they have resided in Spring Green since 1866; their children are George W., Abigail N\, William L., Helen I., Jennie B., Eva E., Bertha, Irwin S. and Alma G. Mr. Harris owns 230 acres of land, located in the vicinity of the village of Spring Green, and well improved. He has been elected to various offices of trust, and has the confidence of the entire community. until April 12,

HARRIS,

dealer in general merchandise, Spring Green was born in Richland Co., Ohio, S. M. Nov. 15,1837; he came to Wisconsin with his parents, JonathanW. and Abagail C. Harris, in 1845, and settled where Harrisburg now stands, it being named for them in early life. S. M. Harris learned the carpenter and joiner trade, and continued in it for about seventeen years, a great portion of the time being engaged in contracting and building; he engaged in the mercantile business in Spring Green Jan. 1, 1872, and has a large and constantly increasing trade. He is a leading and prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity. Mr. Harris married in Troy, this county, Mary, daughter of Samuel Davis, an esteemed and early settler they have three children Florence C, Gilbert L. and Effie. Mr. H. takes an active interest in educational matters, and has filled various school and other local offices he is everywhere regarded as a man of superior business attainments and a man of integrity. ;

;

—

;

SOX.

proprietor of harness-shop, Spring Green It It I S. II was born in Iowa Co., Wis., 1854; his father. William Harrison, came to Iowa Co. in 1842, and there married Maria Hodgthey were both natives of England; they still reside in Iowa Co., well-to-do and esteemed citizens. G. S. Harrison learned harness-making in Dane Co.; he located in Spring Green the present year (1880) he has a good stock of harness, saddles, and everything usually kept in the harness line he has a good CjJ.

;

Oct. 18,

son

;

trade, which

constantly increasing.

THOMAS

HILL., farmer, Sec. 7; P. 0. Spring Green; was born Oct. 16, 1847, in LancaEngland; in 1855, he immigrated to this country with his parents, Thomas and Margaret Hill; they first lived in Racine, Wis., a short time, then removed to Spring Green. Thomas Hill, the subject of this sketch, first engaged in clerking in a mercantile store, which he continued in several years in 1872, he engaged in the mercantile business on his own account, continuing in it until 1S77 in 1879, he purchased the farm he now resides on it is adjacent to the village, is well improved, and contains 120 shire,

;

He married in Spring Green, Emeline S., daughter of E. P. Newell, an early settler, and for a number of years a leading merchant in Spring Green, holding various offices of honor and trust, highly esteemed in every respect, and enjoying the full confidence of all they have three children Ernst T., acres.

—

;

Earl and Carl.

Mr. Hill is an active and energetic man. social in disposition, and is deservedly popular. Himself and wife are leading members of the Congregational Church.

W. R. HOOD, farmer. Sec. 29; P. 0. Lone Rock; was born in

Pittsburgh. Penn., Aug. 14. at the " Iron City " lollege, Pittsburgh he came to Wisconsin in 1859, locating Spring Green, Sauk County, which lias been his home ever since, with the exception of the time lie was in the service of the Union, and the year 1868, which be lived in Loganville, tl>is county. In the war of the rebellion, Mr. Hood first enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Battery; was enrolled in September. 1861, and served in the battery until December, 1862, then was transferred to United States irps, in which he served until July, 1864, and in January, 1865, entered Co. E, 49th W. V. I., rved in thai regiment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. In poliMr. Hood is an active Republican; al present writing be holds, the offices of Justice of the Peace, tics ary Public and Clerk of Districl Schools, lie has been twice married his first wife was Miss M. Sweet; "I" died Dec. 31, 1862 two children by the first marriage Ida and Sylvester; his present wife was Miss onnielifl'. of Loganville. this county; they have five children Clarence C, Victor V., Eliza E., Adda A. and Ralph II. .Mr. Hood owns a valuable farm, well located and improved.

L840

be was educated

;

in the town of

;

—

;

—

S. I'. IIOVIK. farmer. Sec. 8; 1'. Spring Green was born in Piscataquis Co., Maine, April 30,1832; in s it. he came to Wisconsin and located in Cooksville, Rock County, where he remained until 1865, then removed to his present home in Spring Green, Sank Co., Wis. lie married in Richland Co.. Wis.. Miss Elmina Cass they had four children— Frank A., James A., Lillian M, B. and Freddie <

».

;

lloxie owns a finely located ami well improved farm of in acres, in the vicinity of the village of Spring he has been a continual resident of Wisconsin since 1817. with the exception of three years he spent on the Pacific Coast. In politics, he is a Republican he is a prominent member of the Grange, and 1

Green

;

has filled various offices in that

SOi

KU -'

TOWN OF SPRING GREEN. M. F. HOR LEY, President of the Board of Trustees, Spring Green, was Lorn

County Waterford, Ireland, in 1819; in 1841, he emigrated to British America, and to the United States in 1850 located in Richland lived in Boston, Mass., and Chicago, 111., until 1859, when he came to Wisconsin City; in 1850, came to Spring Green; he has been Chairman of the Village Board several terms, and He married in the Province of Nova Scotia, B. A., Miss Mary A. Duggan a school officer o\ er nine years. their children are John, Michael, Ellen, Celia, James and Annie their oldest, John, is salesman for a Milwaukee firm Ellen is the wife of James McKanna of this town Celia is teaching school. far.iier and stock-raiser P. 0. Spring Green; was born in Dodgeville, Wis.; is T. his parents, Thomas E. and Martha Jones, settled in Dodgeville in therefore a native to the manor born 1st 1. and shortly after the birth of John T. removed to Spring Green and built and run the first store in that town and were honored and esteemed citizens; their childaen were John T., whose name heads this Mr. J. notice Margaret E.. now the wife of J. T. Barnard, of Spring Green; Thomas E deceased. T Jones owns over 500 acres of land, and is one of the most extensive farmers in Spring Green; his paternal grandfather, Evan Jones, was the third person to settle in the town of Spring Green, and took an active part in the improvement of the new county. was born in Leicester, EnP. O. Spring Green farmer. Sec. 32; gland. July 16, 1841. In 1848, his parents. William and Mary A. Lester, emigrated to this country and in

;

JOHN

JONES,

;

EDWARD LESTER,

;

Edward Lester, the subject of this Wis., where they still reside, esteemed citizens. sketch, lived in Dane (',.. until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted at Madison, served four years and participated in every engagement his command was in, and in Co. F. 11th W. V. I. He married, in the town of Troy, this county, in 1866. Miss Agnes Stewart, always in active service. Immediately daughter of Alexander and Agnes Stewart, old settlers and still honored residents of Troy. they have two chilafter they were married, they moved to Spring Green, where they have since resided settled in

Dane

Co.,

;

dren—Helen E. and William E.

Mr. Lester owns 200 acres of well-improved land.

He is a Republican

in politics.

WILLIAM HAUOFFIN, M. D., Spring Green; was born

Harrisburg, Ky., in 1824; he studied medicine in his native place and in the New York Medical Institute, graduating m about 1857 first practiced his profession in New York City about one year; then went to Woodville, Miss., and prache when returned rebellion, the ticed there the greater part of the time until the breaking-out of the war of At the to his native State and was in the Confederate service in the position of surgeon during the war. in

;

close of the rebellion, he engaged in the practice of bis profession at Savannah, Ga.; until 1872, when his health began to fail, and, in consequence, he moved to Minnesota, thence to New Albin, Iowa, where he resided until the autumn of 1878, when he came to Spring Green. He has a large practice and enjoys the Dr. confidence and esteem of all, and is universally respected for his sterling integrity and liberal views.

Magoffin married in Savannah, Ga.. Miss Annie B. Patterson Annie aid Jennie.

SILAS

;

their children

NICKEY,

are

Marian, William B..

an extensive farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Spring Green was born in MorF. row Co., Ohio, Sept. 1. 1852 his parents, Abraham and Margaret Nickey, moved to Wisconsin the same and settled year in Spring Green. Silas F. married Miss Frances Sherwood, a daughter of M.lvin Slierwood they have one child Gertrude. Mr. Nickey is, at the present writing. Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors, a position to which he has been elected four times he has also filled local offices in the village of Spring Green he owns a large and well-improved farm, which he manages, besides giving a good deal of his time and attention to buying and shipping stock, in which he is largely interested. ;

—

;

T. C.

PECK, farmer, Sec. 34

;

P. O. Spring Green

;

was born Oct. 3, 1825. in Wayne Co.

Y., where he remained until 1846, when he came to Wisconsin, locatingin Newark. Rock Co., where be resided about seven years, at the end of which time he removed to the town of Franklin, this (Sauk (V He married. lived in Franklin one year, then moved to Spring Green, which has been bis home since. ;

they have eight children— Eva I., their oldest daughter, is the wife of P. Morrison, of Newark, Rock Co., Wis.; Ruth. Mary, Frank E., Lydia, George H., Sylvester and Fred L. the younger children are all at home. Mr Peck has, for a number of years, filled the office of Dishe owns trict School Treasurer, and has been a member of the Town Board of Supervisors several terms in Howard.

111.,

Miss Mary Colwell

;

280 acres of land, desirably located and well improved. Mr. Peck came to Wisconsin two years prior to its becoming a State then he had scarcely any of this world's goods, but he came with a determination to ;

win and make for himself a home and competence how well he has succeeded, is proved by his broad acres in a high state of cultivation and improvement, and the many comforts which surround his home. ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

810

GEORGE G. REELY, farmer,

Sec, 33; I'. 0. Spring Green; born in County of Kent, England, March 7, L826 in early life, he followed the sea as a sailor, and visited many of the principal f the world in 1847. he came to the United Stairs, and lived in the State of Louisiana thi part of the time until 1849, i'i which year lie came to Wisconsin, and has been a resident of the town of .iron, Sank Co.. Wis., the' greater pari id' (he time since. During the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. A, 36th W. V. I. was wounded at North Anna, and was present at Lee's surrender of Richmond; lie w;n l.oiiorably discharged at the close of the war. He married, in Dane Co., Wis., Miss Ann O'Mera they have three children Sarah A., their oldest daughter, is the wife of Thomas Norton, of ioys, William M. and John W., are at home Spring G Mr. Eteely owns an improved farm in polities. He takes an active interest in educational matters, and ;

;

•

;

—

;

school offices.

WILLIAM REELY, builder, Spring Green; born Aug.

1828;

10,

and

to Wisconsin,

in Brooklin, Kent County. England, 1847, he emigrated to Ft. Stanley, Canada, where he remained until 1849; tl resided in Spring Green since that time, with the exception of the short time he was in

lias

1856, he married, in Spring Green. Phoebe Robson, a native ofSpauldSarah J., wife of W. Hayes, who served in the 17th they have six children Mr. Reely has been eng i-ed in eon tracting and buildiug for a number of years he is an experienced mechanic and doe- a good business. \pril 21,

ing,

—

Lincolnshire, England;

W. V. 1. during the war; Thomas, Nettie, Lilly, Harry and Ralph. ;

RICHARD C. ROBSON, farmer, Sec. 3

in P. 0. Spring Green; horn Aug. 22, 1844 nd; he came with his parents, William and Phoebe Robson, who are lis county, in 1851, and in 185 !, located with them ill the town of Tro\ Wis During the war id' the rebellion, he enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Bat until the clos of the war. when he was honorably discharged. He married, in Spring Dale Dane Co., ;

Spauldin

Wis., Miss Belle Thronson

owns 60 a.-res of land.

;

they have three children— Charles

Is a

II..

Thomas M. and, Cora C.

Mr. Robson

Republican in politics.

JOSEPH SEIDERS, farmer, Sec. 3

P.O. Spring Green born in Reading, Penn., July alter their marriage, they moved to Richland where they lived until 1854, when thej came to Wisconsin, locating iii the town of Spring Their oldest son John, served in the 6th Wisconsin Battery sided during the war id' the rebellion P. J., the second oldest, also served m the 6th Battery, and was wounded at Corinth, Miss. William is the third oldest oldest daughter, Mary, is the wife of Joseph Hood, a soldier in the 6th Wisconsin Battery during the war dan- liter, wa- man c d twice, her tirst Eliza, second old. husband was Capt. II her present husband is Lemuel H iod I, ol the 6th Battery, .ind he is deceased 'assaline. third oldest daughter, is the wife of Charles heck, who was a s ldier in active ser\ ice during our war with .Mexico and .Miss Cornelia E., younge.st Louisa, fourth daughter, is the wife of Charlie Finn daughter. Mr. Seiders owns about 270 acres of land; his farm is splendidly improved.

;

He married, in Lebanon Co., Perm.. Eliza Keiler

1810.

;

Co., Ohio,

;

,-i

;

PHILIP J. SEIDERS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Spring Green; was born

in Richland Co., 15, L837; he came to Wisconsin with his parents, Joseph and Eliza Seiders, in 1854, and Spring Green, Sauk Co. \t the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in Done Rock, Wis to serve in the iiih Wiscn-in Batter} and was itive service the greater part of the time, until honorably discharged, lie married, in Spring Green, Clarissa K Elwood they have one son William II. While in the -en ice Mr Seiders was severely wounded in the right shoulder at the faille of Corinth, Miss He owns a valuable and well improved farm.

Ohio, Oct.

settled

;

A. C. SCHKHLI'L

proprietor of harness shop. Spring Green; was horn in Switzerland 1833, he came to this country learned the trade of harness-maker in Marion, Ohio; During the war of the rebellion, he enlisted at 3, locating in Richland City. Windsor. Wis., in Co. A. 36th W. V. I.; participated in all the battles his command was in, among them were Cold Harbor, Hatcher's Bun, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Beam's Station. He married in Morrow Co., Ohio, Rebi a Knapp their children are Josephine, now wife of Albert Clayton, of Rich-

March

11.

1825;

;

."i

;

Wis

land City,

in Bi Mary, wife of W. Thornburg; of ronton, married Hettie Morey they live in Rock Co., Minn.; [sadora, wife of John T. this town; William, Ellsworth, Charles, Richard, Jane and Eugene. >n bis return home from VIi Schebli moved to Richland Center, and then to this county in 1867, and has been engaged

this coin. f..

;

he was a soldier in the 6th Wiscon \|

;

(

can-

making sh. p in the city since.

IIOX. IS. IT. STRONG was horn in Woodbury. Litchfield Co., Conn., in 1819. He married, in Mar;

Gri

'lev

came

to Wisconsin

1854, and located at

Janesyille, where he

TOWN OF

GREEN.

sprint;

811

1857 in which year he came to Spring; Green, where he has since resided since Ik: lias lived in Sauk Co., he has been elected to several offices of h r and number of times a f tlie Hoard if Supervisors and J usi ice of the Peace in 1870-71, he was a member of the Wis e filled with honor to himself and constituent-. Mr. Strong was tbi of the village of Spring G and kept the firs! store; he was, for a number of yeai in dealing in stock; he is proprietor of the Park Hotel, and has run it in ci 'Ction with his other busi in every position lie lias been chosen to fill, he ness livery, stock-dealing, farmin mtil

;

has discharged the duties to the satisfaction of all, and

JAMES A. TAYLOR, farmer;

;

held

high esteem bj his fellow citi

0. Spring Green, is a Co., Ohio, born in 1822 came to Wisconsin in 1844, locating in the town of Sumter, Sauk Co., where he entered Government land, and improved a farm, and resided on it about ten years; then moved to Harri another iarra improved it, and remained there a tl twelve years at the end oi which time, he came to Sprint; Green, which has been his home since: he i- a large land-holder, and one of the most successful farmers in the county. Mr. Taylor married in Troy, this county. Miss Phoebe Harris^ daughter of Jonthey have five children Louisa, wife of F. athan W. Harris, who first locate. the village of Harrisburg \ B. Davison, of Grant Co., Wis W., who is married and lives at Emmetsburg, Iowa, his wife was Miss Kitlic SToung ('has Alice T., and Delia G. married Sarah Morgan, they also r< side in Kmmelsburg Mr. Taylor is a member of the Congregational Church. He has served the people i- various local offices. P,

;

—

;

.IOIIX ii. THOMAS, farmer. Sec. 33;

was born in South Wale,. i„ I'. (). Spring Green married in his native country Miss Nellie Jones. In 1851, they came to this country andsetCentre, Jefferson Co., Wis., where they remained until 1855, in which year they came to Spring Green, Sauk Co and were among the tirst settlers in the vicinity of where the village of Spring now located; in about 1861, the} removed to Sec. 33, Cold Brook Valley, where he has since lived. their children are His wife died in 1871; she was a sincere and an earnest Christian woman oldest daughter, was the wife of John J. Thomas, she is now deceased Griffie, oldest son. is living in Chicago. 111.; his first wife. Susan Davis, is deceased; his present wile was Ann D. Jones, of Spring Green; he was a volunteer soldier in the t'.th Wisconsin flattery during the war; was honorably discharged at its close; John, the -eon.l oid< son, served in the .'!7th W. V. I, during the war; was wounded at Petersburg; lie married Eliza Jones; they live in Adams Co., Iowa; Margai daughter, resides in this town Lewis, the third oldest son. married Mary Richards they live in Adams 1812.

;

lie

iiiia

;

Iowa; Rachel, the third oldest daughter, is the wife of Richard Damrey, Macon Co., 111.; Magdawas the wife of II. Ballard; she is now deceased Hannah, the fifth oldest daughter, is the wife of John Rose. Chicago, 111. Thomas, the fourth oldest sen. died in Ixoiiia Centre, Jefferson Co., Wis. Mr. David, the fifth oldest son. married Nellie Jones; they live in Dawson. Neb. Thomas has been for over twenty-six years a Deacon iu the Congregational Church, and has alwa rest in religious and educational matters, lie has held the other, of Justice of the Peace twelve \-sessnr two year-, and various other local offices. He owns a valuable farm of 200 acres in Cold Brook \ alley. The name " Cold Brook " was given by him to the valley in the early history of its settleing the name of a valley near his native place ill Wales. Mr. Thomas is a leading and enterprising citizen, and has been very successful in life. Co.,

lene, fourth oldest daughter,

;

WILLIAM TI'XSTALL.

farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, Spring Green was born May 3, 1836, in County Cumberland, England. He married, in his native county, Margaret Tennion they came to this country in 1869, settling in Sauk Co., Wis., the same year, and it lias been their home ,

;

still

In-

have seven children

filled

— John, William, James, Moses.

Jennie. Bessie and Mamie.

Mr. Tun-

Owns 160 acres of valuable laud in this county, also property He is a leading member of the M. E. Church, and takes an active interest in religious

various local offices of trust.

Spring Green.

and educational matters.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

TOWN OF TROY. MRS. ABAGAIL AMBLER, Sec. 13; P. 0. Riche's Corners: her maiden name was she was born in Lambertville. N. J. She married, in her native place, Thomas Ambler; they Pidcocli came in Wisconsin in 1851, and settled in the town of Troy, Sauk Co., where she s'ill resides, esteemed by. he was a soldier in Co. with whom she is acquainted their children are George W.. now in Missouri Joshua, in Kansas William, K. 23d W. V, I. during the war of the rebellion Jacob F., of this town manages the farm; Elizabeth, wife of S. Ranson, of Grant Co., Wis. Louisa, wife of Marion Jacobs, of Mrs. Ambler owns 120 acres of well located and improved land. this county; Abbie A. and Roxte. ;

.ill

;

SAMIEE BABINGTON,

farmer, Sec. 27 P. O. Cassell Prairie; was born in Milbrook, in 1865, he went to Pennsylvania, thence to Illinois, and from that State came to Canada, in 1847 Wisconsin in L866 ? and located in the town of Troy, Sauk Co. In 1872, he married Miss Tomazine Patthey have four children terson John T., Robert S., Maude M. and Guy. Mr. Babington owns 260 acres of land, and is an energetic and go-ahead citizen. Mrs. Babington, his wife, was born in the city of New York, where her parents, John and Mary Patterson, had lived for several years prior to their coming they were pioneer settlers of Patterson's Valley, town of Troy, Sauk Co., where to Wisconsin in 1852 they lived a number of years, and were esteemed citizens. ;

;

—

;

GEORGE BOXHAM, farmer. Sec. 19

P. 0. Black Hawk was born in Wingrove, BuekWhen he first came to this country, be lived near Mansfield, Ohio, a 1821. came to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Troy, Sauk County, which has n his home since. He married, in the town of Franklin, this county, Miss Ruhamah Jacoby, a native they have seven children of Stark Co., Ohio Susan. Hollis G., Phoebe A., Lucy L., James L., John E. and William B.; the oldest daughter, Susan, is the wife of Benjamin Young, of this town (Troy). Mr. Bonham owns a valuable farm of 125 acres; he is Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors, and

inghamsl ire, England,

(

)ct.

;

.">.

short time; in 1851, he I

—

;

was Town Treasurer several years, in politics, a Republican In- is 'l.i-s-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church himself and wife are leading members. His wife's mother, an old resident of this county, is still King, herself and husband were early settlers of Franklin, this county. (

;

T. <". I'll A .11 ItF.lt lil\. an early settler of this town I'

Cassell

».

until

1.")

wife, Paulina

Troy

and a leading fanner in Sec. 36

11. 1820, in Windham, Windham Co., Vt., where be remained with bis parents to Winhall, Bennington County, where he married

was born April

Prairie;

years of age; then removed

Kidder, who died a few years after her marriage, leaving one child, a daughter,

!'.. who is now the wife of J. \V. Brooks, a leading physician in Hot Springs, Ark. Mr. Cbammarried his presenl wife. Regina Helf. in Brattleboro, Vt.; alter their marriage, they went to Worcester, Mass where he was employed officially in the Hospital for the Insane, iii 1853, they came in Wisconsin, purchased the farm where they now live and have resided since; they have three chilLulu, llattie and Cora. dren Mr. Chamberlin was Postmaster of Cassell Prairie P. 0. over sixteen

berlin

—

lie has taken an active part in advancing the religious, educational and other interests of the town rears of Troy, and in improvements he has steadily kept pace with the growth and prosperity of the country; his farm i^ well located and contains over '.'Mi) acres.

l-'ICEIt EEA.1IME. proprietor of blacksmith and wagon shop. Black Hawk; was born in Germany March 16, 1847; in 1868, he came to Wisconsin, locating in Richland Center, working there and in various other places in the southern part of Wisconsin until his coining to Black Hawk, where he engaged in blacksmithing and wagon-making on his own account, and has succeeded in buildingup a large ili married, in Richland County, Miss Maggie Berger; she was horn in Richland County; they o children Fred and Curtis. Mr. Flamme learned mechanical work in his native country, and had years ofexperiei before his coming to ibis country; his work is strictly first class.

W. inSllllitlli. farmer; P. 0.

Black Hawk; was born in the town of Troy, 1852. He married Miss Mary Gasser, daughter of George and Margurite GasFranklin, this county. .Mr. Hasbeider's parents, William and Charlotte llasH0W live in Sauk City, in affluent circumstances; thej were early set tiers of the town of Troy, which was their home for a number of years. A. W. Hasheidor, whose name heads this sketch, is one ading tanners of the town of Troy in politics, be is a Republican himself and wife attend the meetings of the Evangelical Association of North America. Wis., Feb

med citizens of

;

TOWN OF TROY.

813

HON. C. C. KUNTZ, Sec. 7; P. 0. Black Hawk; wa« horn in the town of Moerzheim, was educated al the normal schools and the where he graduated in 1852; he came to Wisconsin in when' he edited the Pioneer am Wisconsin, the first German Republican paper in Wisconsin in 1856, he was a delegate to the National Convention at Philadelphia, which nominated J. C. Fremont for the office of President of' the United States; he was a member of the Wisconsin Legislative Assembly in 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1874, four terms, serving each in the town of Troy he has filled various local offices. term as Chairman of the Committee on Education Mr. and, in every position he has been called to fill, has discharged the duties thereof with signal ability. Kuntz married, in St. Louis, Mo., in lS.")li, Miss Susan Mix daughter of ('apt. Mix, of the United States Mr. Kuntz owns a finely located and improved Navy; they have two children Eugene and Katie. farm, which of late years he has devoted the most of his time to cultivating and improving. Palatinate, Germany, Jan. 11, L832;

Landau Co.. Rhenish

Rhenish Sauk City,

Palatinate,

Kaiserslanter,

college

L853,

and

settled

county,

this

;

—

LOERI'ABEL,

was born in Prussia in 1821 farmer. Sec. .",2; P. 0. Cassell Prairie; H. he came to this country and Wisconsin in 1849; lived near Pewaukee, in Waukesha Co., one year, and then went to St. Louis, Mo., there remaining but a short time; he then came to Lowa Co., Wis., and lie married in Lone Rock, Richthence to the town of Troy, Sauk Co., which has been his home since, land Co., Wis.. Maty McCready Mr. Loerpabel owns 240 acres of land, and they have nine children. has held various local offices. ;

;

CARLTON PAGE, farmer; P. O. Spring Green

;

was born in Richland Co., Wis., in 1850

pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, and were honored and esteemed Alice Booker; she was born in Janesville, "Wis., and they have daughter of Edwin Booker, one of the early settlers of that enterprising nd growing city one child— Chester L. Mr. Page is largely engaged in farming, and has been very successful thus far in citizens.

Page, were

and Jane

his parents, Gerritl

He married in this (Sauk) county, Miss

;

life.

ROBERT F. PALMER, farmer, See. 18

;

P. O. Black Hawk

;

was born in

(range Co

1811 when he was 19 years of age, he removed with his parents to Onondaga Co., where he married, June 'Kt, 1839, in the town of Skaneateles, Miss Jane E. Briggs; -lie was bom in Mareellus, Onondaga Co.. N. Y., Feb. 17, 1818; in 1849, they came to Wisconsin; they first located at Beaver

Y., Feb. 7,

;

Dam, where they remained over one year; then moved to the town of Scott, Columbia Co.. which was their home until 1856, in which year they removed to Wcstfield, this county, and thence to their present he married in Wcstfield, home in Troy in 1866 their eldest son, Harrison J., lives in Holt Co., Neb, this county, Maria Mepham Charles A., the eldest daughter, Mary E., is married and lives in Michigan second eldest sou, married Anna J. Evans, of Spring Green they now live in Kansas; Sarah J., second ;

;

eldest daughter,

nesota;

Edward

the wife of John A. Young, of Richland Co., Wis. Ajah A., unmarried, lives in MinMr. Palmer owns R. and William IL, the youngest of the boys, reside in this town.

150 acres of land

;

his farm

desirably located and well improved.

JOHN B. PATTERSON, farmer, Sec. 34

P. 0. Cassell Prairie; was bom it, County Down, Ireland, May 20, 1841 his parents, William and Jane Patterson, were of Scotland she died in Ireland, and he emigrated to this country in 1851, bringing his family with him in 1852, they a what is now known as Patterson's Valley, in town of Troy, Sauk Co., Wis., where he did in ;

;

360

his children are John B., whose name

Pierce, of this town

tinual resident of

;

heads this sketch John Robert G., now in Kansas Jane. ;

of Ohio; he owns 130 acres of land

;

Mary, who is now the wife of William S. B.

Patterson, our subject, has been a con-

He married, in Delton.this county, Miss Huldah R. Snow, a native

Troy since 1852. ;

Republican in politics; has filled various school offices.

MARCUS L. PATTERSON, farmer, See. 33;

0. Cassell

was born it, lowa

Prairie;

lie married in Waukesha. Wis.. Miss M. Felix; she was born in the town of Honey Creek, this county, and was the daughter of G. Felix, an early settler ami esteemed citiz f that

Co.. Wis.. Dec. 21. l-.">7.

town; they have one child, Lizzie C. Mr. Patterson is extensively engaged in fanning he owns 260 acres of land; his parents, Henry and Eliza Patterson, were early settlers of Wisconsin, and were au first to settle in the valley now known as Patterson's Valley, in the town of Troy, the valley del name from the Patterson families, of whom they were one, who were the first settlers. ;

JOHN W. PROCTOR, farmer.' Sec L6 and Wisconsin, and arc

.'ill;

Spring

Green; was born 'in

his parents, John and Julia Proctor, were pionei C settlers of now esteemed citizens of' Pocahontas Co., lowa. During the war of tin- rebellion, J.

Cooksville, Rock Co., Wis., Feb. 17, 1845

W. Proctor, the subject of this

;

the 6th Wisconsin

Battery, and was

active service

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

814

He married, in Tmv. Sauk Co., Wis., Jeanette Stt w honorably discharged at tln> close of the war. art; she was also born in Rock Co., Wis., and is the daughter of Alexander and Agnes Stewart, who Sauk settled in Rock Co. in its early history, and at pros, ait writing have been honored residents of this Mr. Proctor owns 160 acres of well-improved land; he has been a resicounty Cor over thirty-one years. dent if this town (Troy) since 1857, and has taken a just pride in its improvements. until

JOS1X C. RENDTORFF, merchant. Black Hawk 1845

;

his lather.

was horn in Sauk City, Wis., June 3,

Edmund Kendtorfi', is one of the oldest settlers now residing in that city. John C, the sub-

was educated in Sauk City and St. Louis, Mo., and wa< for several years a mercantile clerk Chicago, [11.; in 1868, he engaged in the mercantile business in Black Hawk, in .Milwaukee, Wis., an manage nl and close attention to duly, secured a large and constantly and has by his untiring zeal, g increasing trade; he was appointed Bos' master in 1869, a position he still tills with entire satisfaction to the my. He married, in Sauk City, Miss Julia Heller, daughter of J. I. Heller, now a leading merchant of thai place: they have two children Edmund and Walter. Mr. Rendtorff is a Republican in politics; he has been elected to various local offices, and is withal very popular; he carries a large stock of general merchandise, and does an extensive trade.. is notice,

—

JOSEPH REUSCIILEIN, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Spring Green was born

;

Baden, Ger-

in 1848, he came to this country with his father and step-mother, his'mother having died they settled in Burlington, Racine Co., Wis, where he remained until [851, in which year

many, in 1837; iny;

and located in the town of Franklin, where he resided until 1ST.'!, when he moved He married in Franklin, Sarah J. Faust, a native of Indiana, of which State her Faust, were early settlers; they now live in Crawford Co., Wis. Mr. nproved farm of about 240 acres. He has been a continual resident of Wisconsin witnessing its growth from a population of little more than 300,391 until the present time, when it embraces a population of over 1,300,729. he came to Sauk Co

to his present

home.

James and Mary

daivnts.

ROBSOX,

one of the early settlers of the town of Troy, and now an extensive S.VIIl'Fili 15. was born Aug. I, 1837, in Spaulding, England; he immigrated farmer on Sec. 6; P.O. Spring Green mntry with his parents, Willard and Phoebe Robson, in 1851, locating with them in the town of Troy, Sauk Co., Wis .in [854, where he, in common with other settlers of Sauk Co. at that time, endured the hardships and privations that must necessarily lie under-one by the first settlers of any country. He married Elizabeth J. Lonsdale, a native of Northamptonshire, England, and daughter of Robert and Catharine Lonsdale, who settled in this county in 1849; they have ten children— Edward 15., George H., William R., Irwin W., Alpheus J., Lonsdale C, Silas B., Walter F., Myrta A and Elsie L. Mr. Robsou owns 200 acres of valuable land is a thorough and go-ahead fanner, and is fully identified with the progress the town of Tro\ has made, from an almost unbroken and uncultivated wilderness, until the present time, when it compares favorably with any towu in the county, in her various improvements and interests. ;

;

WILLI

RORSOX.

farmer, Sec. 2 All P. 0. Spring (liven; was born April 15, 1812, in Feb. 26, 1834, he married, in the Episcopal Church in Spaulding. England, Miss Phoebe Clear: sic was bom March 23, 1809, in Lincolnshire; they crossed the Alantic in 1851; lived at St at en Maud until 1854, iii win in to Wisconsin, settling in the town of Troy, Sauk Co., ;

Lincolnshire, England.

the same year, entering their land from he Government, thus becoming the pioneer settlers of the southern Their oldesl sun, Samuel B., married Elizaof Troy, which has been their bom.' since. beth J. I. iw reside in this town; John their second oldesl son, is a merchant in Bane Co Wis. he served In li Wisconsin Battery in active service bis w jfe was Georgiana l'tmh she died in June. 1880 Richard C., thi third oldest son, served in the Wisconsin battery of heavy artillery was

;

of the war; he married Belle Thomson Henry, the fourth son. 'served through the war in the 6th Wisconsin Battery; re enlisted at the close of the war to do service on the and died in the service in Arizona tl Idest daughter, Mar) J., was the wife of John Wyinan

honorabl} all

;

frontier,

;

be died in Staten Island

;

second

the third oldesl daughter,

Sarah

A, is the wife of John Gleason. of Spring

the wifeof William Reely, of Spring (iivm

;

(

ircen

;

fourth oldest. Eliza S., is

\ioi-on Rldred, Dane Co., Wis. Mr. Robson owns 150 acres of land; himself and *(ife have a vivid recollection of piaieer life in Sauk Co., and of many of the old settlers who prepared the way for the oi

lie county al the present time, who have gone to a fairer clime, and of enduring and satisfying tenure than this.

JOIIX A. Nri:i,< II I.K. a pi

-ettler

;

and a wdl to do farmer of the town of Troy, en iii Switzerland, iii 1823; he came to Wisconsin in S-Ki, making a settlement where lie on all sides of him there was an uncultivated wilderness, bat now all is hanged on every hand r

;

TOWN OF TROY. arc seen the workings of industry, and fields in

815

high state of cultivation that he has kept ps with the growth and improvement going on around hi in is amply testified to by his well improved acres and substantial mi Minus. Be married, in Sank City, Wis., Man ha Sheets sin- was also a native of Switzerland; their children are John, now in Trempeleau Co., Wis.; Albert fndrew Martha, wife of L Schneller, aud Lizzie. Mr. Sprecher has filled various local offices in the town of Troy, and has taken an aqtive part in Himself and wife are members of the Evangelical Association of North America. He her public affairs. In politics he is a Republican. was in in ia service in his native country. a

;

i I

ALEXANDER STEWART, Sr v prominent

citizen and Tanner. Sec. 1; P. ). Spring Renfrew, the seat of Kenfrewshirc, Scotland, in lsiti; most of his boyhood was spent in When he was 21 years old, hi ime River Clyde, a short distance from Clasgow. In 1845, they came Westand located to this country, and married, in Newark, V. I. .Miss Agnes Moreland. in Rock Co., Wis whi re thej remained four y<ars, at the end of which time they moved to this county and located in the town of Troy, which has been their home since. Their oldest son, William, served in the W. V lie married Julia Fulcomer I M they now live in Rooks Co., during the war of the rebellion. third oldest son. .lames F., married Kan., second oldest son, Alexander, Jr., married Betsy Pultson Mary Aron oldest daughter, Eliza, is the wife of John Pulcomer second oldest daughter, Jane H., resides at home third oldest daughter. .Icatiette, is the wife of W. John Proctor Agnes, the fourth daughter, is the wife ot' E. holer, Annie, the fifth daughter, is the wife ot Enos (iwjn. Mr. Stewart was elected the first Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors in Troy, a position he has several times been called on to till since that time, and has keen officially identified with the history of the town in various positions He is an extensive and successful fanner; is a prominent member and organizer since its organization. in the Orange Society, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to any enterprise that gives promise in any way of advancing the interests of his town or county; he was, for several years, the most extensive hop -rower in this portion of Wisconsin he owns a valuable and well improved farm of about

Green;

born

(

his native city, near the

;

400 acres.

ORISON THOMAS. Sec 36; P.

born in Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., Cassell Prairie 1822, where he remained until 1841. when he went to Worcester, Mass., and was employed in the Hospital for the Insane until 1850, in which year he came to Wisconsin, locating in Raymond. Racine Co., where he resided until March, 1852, when he removed to this 'Sauk county and entered a portion of the farm he now resides on, and which has been his home since. Mr. Thomas married in Worcester, Mass. maiden name of his wife was Isabella P. Brown she was a native they have two sons Robert E. and Eugene F. of Paxton, in that State Mr. Thomas and wife were N.

II..

Aug.

;

'_'.

capacity

official

;

—

;

among the first settlers of what is now the town of Troy, and are now the oldest residents in the southeastern part of the town, and fully appreciate the changes made since the early days, when the town of almost entirely a wilderness. Mr. Thomas is one of those enterprising and energetic men to whom much credit is due for the establishment of many beneficial interests, always taking an active part in educational and religious matters. He was several years a member and Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors, and has filled nearly all of the town offices several times; he has been a member of the -

Board of County Poor since 1ST:;, being Chairman of that body a portion of the time; in every position he has been called to fill, he lias discharged the duties with entire satisfaction to the people. He own- a valuable tract of well-improved land, consisting of nearly (10(1 acres. He is one of the representative men of Sink County always prominently identified with the public interests.

— SAMUEL WA ESTER, farmer. Sec 19;

P.O. Black Hawk; bom in Lincolnshire, England. Feb. 13, 1817 he came to this country in 1850. Married, in Richland Co., Ohio. Miss Elizabeth Bonham, a native of Buckinghamshire, England; they came to Wisconsin in 1851 and located in the town of Troy. Sauk Co., which has been their home since; they have seven children Mary J., Andrew ;

—

EL, Harriet, Albert, Parker, Belle and Isaiah; Mr. Walster is a leading and successful farmer; he owns over 300 acres of laud; his farm is well improved and desirably located. In polities, be is a Republican.

WILLIAMS,

farmer, Sec. 5 P.O. Cassell Prairie; born in Seward, Winnebago Co., J. S. his parents, Thomas and Margaret Williams, were natives of Wales, and settled in Winne111., in 1840 bago Co. prior to the Black Hawk war, thus becoming pioneer settlers of the Northwest; .1. S. was educated in the common schools in his native county, and lived there until 1856, when he went to Delaware Co., Iowa, remaining there four years. In 1860, he returned to Wisconsin and married in Iowa Co., and made that county his home until 1869, when himself, wife and only daughter. Jeanette, removed to uk) county and located where they now live. Mr. Williams is one of the leading farmers in the town of Troy he owns I'TO acres of land he takes a part in school affairs ami other public matter-., and several ti mi- has been officially identified with the district school interests ;

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

816

TOWN OF FAIRFIELD. B. F. AMES, farmer, See. 10; P. 0. Baraboo

;

was born in Madison, Wis., Dec. 17, 1853, and

the following year his parents removed to Baraboo, Sauk Co., where he resided until 1875, in which year He married, in Greenfield, Sauk Co., he came to Fairfield, where he has since been engaged in farming. Wis.. Miss Prothera, daughter of Mason and Martha J. Profilers, pioneer settlers of that town they have ;

Mr. Ames and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; in politics, he is a one child, Charlie. Be owns so acres of well-improved land, His father, Ira L. Ames, came to Wisconsin in Republican. Dane Co.; be was a native of Oneida Co., N. Y .; during the war, he was a resident of Barin settling 1843, he married his wife in aboo, ami there enlisted in the 17th W. V. I., and died in the service at Corinth ;

bis native

county

;

her maiden name was Sarah A. Brooks.

ROYAL AYKES,-~ farmer. Sec. 17; P. 0. Baraboo;

Rockingham, Yt., .March

this leading citizen of Fairfield was born

He married, in Plymouth Co., Mass., Miss Nancy Jackson, a native

1824.

In 1855, they came to Wisconsin, locating in the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co., of of Abington, Mass. In the war of the rebellion, Mr. Ayres served in Co. E, which they have been esteemed citizens since. lie is, at preseut writing, 49th W. V. [., and was honorably discharged on the restoration of peace. in of the Fairfield Town Board of Supervisors, a position he has filled at various times since his cuming to Fairfield, besides holding several other local offices. He owns a valuable and well-improved farm Himself and wife are leading members of the M. E. Church. Their children are Abbie of 100 acres. this county; Carrie F., wife of E. R. Thomas, of the town of FairE., wife of E. D. Kidder, of Delt Politically, Mr. Ayres acts with the Republican party, being an active and field Ella V. and Charles J. intelligent worker in its interests; in religious and educational matters, he has done much, and has ever helped by every means in his power their advancement. ;

JOSEPH BURTON,

farmer, See. 2; 1'. 0. Baraboo; is a native of Lincolnshire, England; was born Dec 12, 1839; in ls;>5, he came to the United States locating in Milwaukee, Wis., until 1859, then came to Fairfield, Sauk ('..., Wis., remaining there one year, at the end of which time he went to Peak; went from there to Missouri, and from the latter State returned to Fairfield, which has He married, in Baraboo, Wis., Miss Hattie A. Barker, of that city they have two been bis home since. children -Lilj E. and Clara A. Mr. Burton has a. well-located and finely improved farm. He has been In politics, he is a Republican. His parents, Robert and Man District Sclei.il Treasurer about six years. A. Burton, wru- residents of Fairfield, Sauk Co., Wis., from 1866 until 1871, when they removed to Mil; ;

waukce, Wis., where thej new

live.

O AXE. farmer, Sec. 3

P.O. Baraboo. This gentleman, a resident of the town of Fair 4, is a native of New Hampshire, and was born in Crawford Co., May 16, 1813' remained until he was IS years of age, then went to Medford, Middlesex Co., Mass., where he after.i nivenf Meredith, N. H.; prior to their coming to Wisconsin, they lived ward married M ^i. \\.

;

field, Sau

'•

n Point, N. Y.; she died in this town Fairfield), in 1878 she was a member of the M. E. Church, and an esteemed and Ihristian woman their children are Charles, who is married and resides in this town the maiden name of his wife was Man Fuller George, who. during the war of the rebellion, enlisted in the 32d W. V. I., and died in the service, at Jackson, Teiin Willie, also deceased Melden, now -h attending Julia and Ad. lie at home, and Man K .deceased). Mr. Dane has been ;

(

;

with the history of the town of Fairfield, several times holding the office of Town Supervisor, Assessor, and other town offices. He is a leading member of the M. E. Church. He owns a finely .1

improved farm, wellocated.

DAN&ERFIELD,

farmer, Sec."8 J. P. P.O. Baral was born in Salem Co., N. J., Oct. 17,1819; in 1847, he came to Wisconsin, and. in January. 1849, married, in Walworth Co., Miss Caroline Warn, a native of Aurelius. Cayuga Co.. V thej cametoSauk Co. and settled in the town of Fairfield, in B53, making it their home sine Mr, Dangerfield has been elected to various town offices o& honor aud trust and leading position in the town of Fairfield since his coming he takes an active pari in politics, being an active and consistent worker in the ranks of the Republican party. His father, J. ;

;

Mrs. Dangerfield -

Priscilla Warn, were pioneer settlers of Keck Co., Wis where they settled in 1844 and when they cam., to Sauk Co., residing in the town of Fairfield until their death. Mr. Danind his home farm is well impn

ind lived until 1855,

was iii the aiuiy of thai country several years .

; .

T<>\\\

GETCHELL,

OF FAIBFIELD.

817

farmer, Sec. L3 P.O. Baraboo born in Gilmanton, X. II.; when he II. was 2 years old. his parents removed in Sebec, Me., where most of his youth was spent in attending school. He married, in the town of Milo, Me., Julia A. Battles; she was born in New Vineyard, Me. they came West in L850 settling in tin' town of Fairfield, Sank Co., Wis. where they have since lived.

;

when they lived at [ronton they have six children, viz., Ann, wife el li he was a soldier in the lid W. V. 11. Travis, of Marathon Co., Wis. during the war ..I' the rebellion, and prior to serving in that regiment served in the navy; Aaron, who married Eldora Watkins Frank, Mr. Getchell has tilled a number of local offices, including those of Town Fred, Mark and Gertrude. lis parents. Mac and Lydia Getchell, both In politics, ho is a Republican. Supervisor and Vssessor natives of New Hampshire, came to Wisconsin in ISoO. and settled in Fairfield, where he died in 1866; she is still living in Fairfield. Mrs. Getchell's parents, James and Abagail Battles, settled in Walworth Co., Wis., in 1847, and in 1848 came to Fairfield, where they lived the remaining years of their lives esteemed citizens. with the exception

;

HACKETT,

JOSEPH

tanner, Sec. 24; P. 0. Baraboo; born in New Vineyard, L. Franklin Co.. Me., July 27. 1839. He came to Wisconsin in 1865, and married in Kilbourn, Wis., Miss A. Teel, daughter of Benjamin Teel, a pioneer settler and esteemed citizen of Fairfield, Sauk Co., Wis.; they have five children Phoebe, Josephine, Granville, Charlie, the fifth is an infant unnamed. Mr. Hackett owns a mostdesirable farm, pleasantly located, and containing 120 acres of land. He has held various local offices, and is at present writing a member of the Fairfield Town Board of Supervisors.

—

DAVIS HACKETT,

farmer. Sec. 13; P.O. Baraboo; horn in New Vineyard. Me., X. Oct. L8, l^:!'.t; he came to Wisconsin in 1853, and located in Fairfield, Sauk Co., which has been his home the greater part of the time since. During the war of the rebellion, he was a volunteer soldier iu Co. M. 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He married Mi-s Carrie, daughter of William Brown, who was a soldier in an Illinois regiment in the late war. and died in the service. They have four children— Millecent M., Eda M., Ephraim L. and Carrie F.

HARTSO\ HACKETT,

farmer, Sec. 13 P. 0. Baraboo born in New Vineyard, Franklin Aug. 2, 1806. He married, in his native county. Miss Martha Johnson, a native of Farmington, Me.; tbe\ came to Wisconsin in 1853, locating in the town of Fairfield, where they have continued to reside since they have four children Mary S.. wife of John Luce, of this town Emelie, married Joseph Luce; during the war id' the rebellion, lie enlisted in Co. M., 1st W. V. A., and died from ill health con traded in the service Mandelia, wife of John Atkinson, of Delton, this county X. Davis is the youngest of the family during the war of the rebellion, he served in Co. M. 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery bis Mr. Hackett has filled various town and school offices, wife's name was Carrie Brown. ;

;

Co.. Me.,

—

;

HENRY S. HOLDEN, farmer, Sec.

Baraboo; was born in Kingsville, Ashtabula Sol), in which year he moved to Kane Co., Ill Co., Ohio. dan. L3, 1836, where he remained until where, during the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. I, 52d 111. Y. I. was in active service, and was honorably discharged tit Rome, Ga. Prior to his coming West, he married, in Geneva, Ohio, Miss Eliza Poles; they came to Fairfield, Sauk Co., Wis., in the autumn of 18(14, and it has been their home since their surviving children are Jennie, wife of Thomas Warn, of Baraboo Ruby, wife of Ceorgo Clark, of this town, and Miss at tie. Mr. Holden owns 160 acres of land; his home farm is well improved. In polities, he acts with the Republican party; he takes a lively interest in educational matters, therefore, has been at various times chosen to fill school offices. P. 0.

.'!

;

1 1

DAVID G. HUNTER, farmer, Sec.. IS; P. O. Baraboo;

a native of Vermont

;

was born

Addison Co., March 20, 1820, where he remained until 1837, when he went to Essex Co., X. V., there residing until his coming to Wisconsin in 1850, in which year lie settled in the town of Fairfield, Sank Co in

thus becoming one of the early settlers. He married, iif Fairfield, Mis- Betsy Fuller, a native of Vermont they have three children Mary, Jennie and Louise Mr. Hunter owns 150 aire- of land he ha- taken

—

;

an active interest in educational matters, therefore, has at various times been elected

HARVEY Hi

school offices.

ICS.HJ It T. farmer. Sec 11 I'. ). Baraboo was ben. in Herkimer Co.. X He married, in New York State, Sarah Brown, they came to Wisconsin in 1848, and settled the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co., where he still resides an old and esteemed citizen his wife died in May. 1880 she was a most exemplary woman, and her loss was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends <

;

Y., in 1805. in

;

and relatives; their children are Martin, who, during the war of the rebellion, served in Co. K. lib W. V. [., as Second Lieutenant; was wounded at Pittsburg Landing, he now resides in Hannibal Mo. Truman, 1

;

who

served in Co. E, 12th

W. V. I., four years as Drum Major, now resides in Eaulaire, Wis

;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

818 served first in Co. K, 14th the lTtli

W. V. I., until after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, then became a soldier of

W. V. I., in which he served until the close of the war, he is now living in California

Oscar A., the in Co. E. 49th W. V. [. during the war, he resides in this town; Audulushia, is the wife of A. M. Phelps, of Fond du Lac, Wis. the youngest, daughter is Mr. Hurlbut is a Republican in politics; he has been elected to several town offices; owns an ;

agesl of the sons, served oldest daughter,

;

Miss Eva, im] roved farm,

HUKLBURT,

OSCAR

was born in Jefferson Co., N. farmer. S,c. 11; P. 0. Baraboo A. to Wisconsin with his parents, Harvey and Sarah Hurlburt, locating in Fairfield, Sauk Co., he i';i lsis. During the war of the rebellion he served in Co. E, 49th W. V. I., and received an honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of service. He married Nellie Mereten, daughter of Henry Mereten, a pioneer settler of Portage City, Wis. he is a farmer by occupation, and very successful. In politics, Y.

;

he is a Republican.

JAJIES LAMAR, farmer, Sec. 31

This gentleman, a pioneer settler of the P.O. Baral Northwest, was born fifty six miles southeast of Nashville, in Smith Co., Tenn.,in 1820, where he remained until 335, when he went to Jefferson Co., III. thence to Coles Co., in 1842. and from there went to Burin 1843; and came from thereto Dodgeville. Wis., in the same lington. Iowa, and from there to Galena. Ill He 8 14, he came to Baraboo, Sauk Co., and has been a resident of Sauk Co. since. in November, vcar they came to the town of Fairin Baraboo. Miss A. Rowen she was born near Plattville, Wis. field in 1866, and own a pleasantly located and well improved farm of 150 acres; their children are Marion, 1

;

Norton, of this town; Melissa, wife of Amos Z. Norton; Eleanor, wife of Charles Rhoda, wife of C. Myers, of Fairfield James F. Brittemarte and Alf'rida are Myers, of Newport, Wis. unmarried. In politics, Mr. Lamar is a Republican. Mrs. Lamar's parents, Wallace and Elizabeth Rowen,

who married Miss E.

;

settled in

;

Wisconsin prior to the Black

Hawk war, and were esteemed citizens; both have long since been

called to their long borne

JOHN LIFE,

farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. Baraboo; wasborn in New Vineyard, Franklin Co., Me., He married, in his native county. Miss Mary S. Hackett, daughter of Hartsou Hackett, of Dec. 30, 1819. this town. They came to Wisconsin in 1852. locating in the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co.,aud it has been their home since their children are Elwin C, James II. and John S. Mr. Luce owns a most desirable farm he has filled various town offices, including those of Town Supervisor, Town School Superintendent, under the old system, and Town Clerk. His father, John T., was a soldier in the war of 1812. The maiden name of his wife was Betsy Wendell; her father, Thomas Wendell, was a soldier in active service in the Colonial army, two of Mr. Line's brothers, Thomas W. and Joseph W., were in the army of the Union in the war ol Thomas died while in the service, and Joseph died from the hardthe rebellion both are now deceased ships and exposure lie passed through in the tented field iii defense of the principles of union. ;

;

GARDINER

MYERS,

is a native of Chenango Co., farmer, Sec. 31 P. O. Baraboo II. town of Columbus, July 13,1817; in 1843, he came to the Northwest, and, in 1847, came to Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis., remaining there until 1849, in which year he came to Fairfield and has been variously identified with the interests of that town since, tilling many of its offices and taking an interest in its progress and improvements. He married in Chicago, 111., Miss Lydia Myers; she was born in Chautauqua Co., Y. their children are Charles, Frank, [da, Lucinda and Edith Charles, the first named, married Rhoda Lamar, of this town [da married Franklin Warn. Mr. Myers owns a valuable f far In politics, he is a Republican, and is a firm supporter of the principles of that, party. 60 acres. His father, Oliver Myers, served through the war of 1812; he was a native of Vermont, his wife, Amie _' also a native of that State; her father. Gardiner Hall, was a soldier in active service in the army. Mrs. John Myers' father. J. .Myers. saw servicein the war of 1812; his wife was Lucinda t. were both natives of Veri t

N. V.

;

NEWELL,

F. O. farmer; P.O.Baral wasbornin Erie Co., Penn., Sept. 8, 1840 when he was al.out 6 years old, his parents, Orange and Anna Newell, came to Wisconsin, locating in Hock Co., where then i.Sauk Co., thus licoomn r- of that town. ined a short time F. Newell, the subject of this notice, during the war of the rebellion, enlisted in Co. L, :;d W. V. C, to serve three years; was leu al the close of the War, in Leavenworth, Kan. lie married, in Fairfield. Miss Marian Miles; they have hive children Venlic, Daisy and Cora. luring the time Mr. Newell was in the service, he was actively engaged on the frontier. Heownsa valuable farm, located a short distance! tccessful farmer hi.- wife's parents. Danieland HarrietMil early setthrs of Sauk Co. he is deceased; she is now a resident of this town. Mr. Newell's father. Orange Newell, is still living and is an esteemed citizen of Fairfield. ;

;

TOWN

OF FAIRFIELD.

AMOS XOKTOX. one of the leading farmers, T

settlers nf

thai

He was born in [otuer, lortland Co., N. Y.. Feb. 5, 1816 when he leson Stc. 10; I'. (). Barabo years old, his parents removed to leatiga ('".. Ohio, where he spenl his youth in attendin iLake Co Ohin. Cordelia >'d- a native of Mas-iohu-ctis; they came to Wis >.

was

819

well one of a- tin' carlii-si

as (

;

In 1836, he married, in

(

1845, locating in Racine Co., a few miles west of the city of Racine, where thej remained until His presen 1848, wh the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co., where she died in 1860. maiden nine' was Catharine Wrightmyer she was born in Prince Edward Township, Ontario District, Tana. la: her first husband was Mar-inn. The children by Mr. Norton's firsl marria who is now a resident of Kansas he married Lizzie Baldwin during the war of the rebellion, he was a Eli, now a blacksmith tit Poynette; volunteer soldier, in active service in a regiment of Wisconsin cavalry he was three year- in the service, in a Wisconsin regiment, and was wounded he married Addie Ingraham Nirum S., served three years in Co. Iv. 32d W. V. I. he is now a resident of this town he marhe served four years ried M Annie Larson Melissa C, was the wife of Henry Marston she is deceased in the Union army during the war; Sarah A., is the wife of Harry Woodin, of Minnesota he served in army through the rebellion; Charlotte A., wile of L. G. Marston, of Lane Co., Wis.; \ s his town. Z., who married Melissa Lamar, of Fairfield; Ellen P., wife of Marion Lamar, of By Mr. present marriage there is one son William D. Mr. Norton owns 200 acres of valuable land a a prominent position in the town as a citizen, and has filled several town offices he had the first thrashing machine in the northern part of Sank Co. it was purchased and brought by him to the county in 1849. sin in

;

(

;

—

;

GEORGE A. PABODIK, farmer, Sec. 3 1

Co., N. V., Dec. 3,

1840

;

P. 0.

Baraboo

;

was horn in Norwich, Chenango

early life lie learned the printer's trade in his native town, also followed teach-

Chenango Co.

At the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, lie enlisted in the town of Addison, Steuben Co., N. Y., in a regiment raised to serve for three months, and afterward entered Co. E, 34th N. Y. V. I., and afterward was in the 20th N. Y. V. C. in all of those regiments he was in active service was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks; reported killed, and obituary notices of him were published in the papers of his native county, which be read, but did not believe they in spite of the reports concerning his death, he fully recovered, took an active part in several nts, and was auain wounded in the battle of Frodi'icksburg, and taken prisoner, but escaped time; he was the first man that entered the service from Chenango Co. he was at the battle of Balls Bluff, and was all through with the army of the Potomac, and with the army on the dames, under Gen. Butler; he was made Lieutenant, and. toward the close of the war. was Chief Clerk in the 25th ps; he was honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865. In January, 1867, he marlida Co., N. Y.. Mis.- Jennie M.Tyler; immediately after they were married, they came to Sauk they have one child living Mr. Pabodie was Secretary of the Sauk Co. Agrieul Alice C. ty three years, and Deputy Register of deeds in L880. Owns In polities, be is a Republican. a pleasantly located and valuable farm. He is a lineal descendant of the celebrated John Alden Flower fame, and traces his history back to L630. everal years in various places in

;

—

PALMER, farmer. See. 23

This gentleman is an old resident of Sauk in 1849, he came ST., April 3, 1830 In L861, he enlisted in Co. II, 1858. 17th W. V. L; was made 1st Lieutenant, afterward served as Captain of his company two years; was wounded iii the -iege of Yieksburg, and was honorably discharged in 1S05. lie married in Merrimack, Sauk Co.. Wis.. Miss Sarah Green, a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. they have three children Lilburn II., Elmer E. and Jay. led in Fairfield several years he owns over 300 Mr. Palmer and fa acres of land, and is extensively engaged in fanning. In politics, he acts with the Republican ['arty, being upporter of its principles; he has been elected to various offices, including thoseof Town Supervisor, Assessor, and Justice of the Peace. I>.

Sauk Co., Wis.

;

0. Baraboo.

was born in Oneida was in the mercantile business in Baral

Co., and an esteemed citizen of Fairfield

Co., N.

;

—

;

P. J. PARSHALL, farmer.

Sec. 12; P. 0. Baral has been a resident of the town of now living in that town than he was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in L819; in 1836, he went to Chicago, 111., and was a sailor on the lakes for several years. In Chicago, he married his wife, her maiden nun was Hannah M. C if Benjamin Teel, an old and esteemed citizen of Fairfield her birthplace was Wilni"t. X. H. tlcir oldest children ar, lean J., Aroura and Inez dean J. is an enterprising young man, Fairtiold.

Sauk

;

Co., Wis., since 1847, hence, there are few earlier settlers

id wife;

;

and carries on the farm with his father; Aroura was the first white child born in the town of Fairfield, II Vim mi hi. of Baraboo Inez, the youngest of the three, is the wife of Melvin I

;

820

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Smith the younger children are Orria A. and Eureka. Mr. Parshall owns a finely improved farm of His son-in-law, Vrootnan, was a soldier in the 1st W. V. C, and saw active service. Officially, 126 acres. Mr. Parshall has been elected to various offices in the town of Fairfield he has always taken an active part in the public affairs of the town, working for everything that gave promise of enhancing the local ;

;

interests.

ANDREW POESON,

farmer, Sec. 32 P. O. Baraboo Mr. Poison is a native of Kingsbury, was born June 10, 1S21 in early life he enjoyed the advantage of obtaining a liberal educaand in 184-1, he came to the United States, coming to Wisconsin the same year, and residing in Baraboo and vicinity, until 1847, when he located in the town of Fairfield, and has been identified with the growth and improvement of that town since. He married in Baraboo, Miss Ose Tolliffson, in 1850 their Charles E. and Alice S. Mr. Poison is the earliest settler of Sauk Co., now residing within children are the limits of the town of Fairfield he owns 200 acres of land well improved, and stands in the front rank of the well-to-do farmers of Sauk County. In polities, Mr. Poison is a Republican. -Mrs. Poison's father, Tolliff Tolliffson, and his wife, Hannah Tolliffson, were pioneer settlers of Boone Co., 111., where they both died in 1847. Mr. Poison owned the first reaper run in the town of Fairfield he was for several years interested in the manufacture of lumber in the northern part of Wisconsin, where he owned several acres of pine land, which netted him profitable returns.

Norway

;

tion,

;

—

;

ROBERT RAMSEY,

farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Baraboo; Ireland; his father was from Scotland; his mother from Leeds, England

is ;

a native of

County Fermanagh,

he came to America in 1855, first

New England, where he lived several years. In 1861, he married, in Hartford, Conn., Miss Matilda Scott, a native of St. John's, New Brunswick, Canada imliving in Brooklyn, N. Y.; then going to Connecticut,

;

mediately after they were married, they came to Wisconsin, locating in the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co., where they have since resided on their farm, which is well located and finely improved. They have six children Mary A., Annie I., Nellie G., Barbara J., Robert W. and Frank H. Mr. Ramsey has been Treasurer of School District No. 6, four years, has also held the offices of Clerk and Director.

—

EDWIN

A. SMITH, Sec. 3; P. O. Baraboo; was born in Gardiner, Kennebeck Co., Me., June 3, 1^22, where be remained until about 1843, in which year he went to Boston, Mass., where he afterward married bis wife, Hannah M. Morse; they came from Boston to Baraboo, Wis., where they resided for about two years, then came to Fairfield, which town has been their home most of the time since, and of that town they an- early settlers and esteemed citizens. Their children are Henry S., Wilton L. and Morgeanna. Mr. Smith owns 120 acres of land, and is one of the well-to-do and successful farmers of the town of Fairfield his farm is located in a desirable part of tin- town, and is well improved. To such men as Mr. Smith the town owes, in a great measure, its present advanced state of improvement. ;

AARON

TEEL,

farmer, Sec. 7 this gentleman, an enterprising citizen and P. O. Baraboo F. progressive limner, was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Nov. 27. 1837 in 1845, he came to Wisconsin with his parents, Benjamin and Phoebe Teel, locating in the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co., then, comparatively speaking, a wilderness. He married, in Fairfield, Miss Mary Watts, a native of Ohio; her parents were early settlers of Sank Co., and esteemed citizens. Mr. Teel and wife occupy a high position in ;

;

his farm

children are Frank P., Lilly ML, Nelson and May S. Mr. Teel owns 300 acres of land most desirably located in one of the best districts in the town of Fairfield, and possesses many Officially, Mr. Teel has been elected to various local offices, including that of Town

heir

natural advantages.

Supervisor.

BENJAMIN TEEL, farmer, Sec 7 field is

now residing within its boundaries;

in his

--llih

year.

lie

is the oldest settler of the town of FairP. O. Baraboo was born in Merrimack Co., N. H., Dee. 12, 1800, therefore ;

;

He married in Wilinot, N. H., Phoebe Morrill, a native of that place; they came to

Wisconsin in 1*15, and Settled in the town of Fairfield. Sauk Co.; she died in 1869; their children are Joseph, who married Mary (iitchell, who is a farmer in affluent circumstances in this town. Aaron F. married Miss Mary Watt; Hannah, wife of P. J. Parshall, an extensive farmer, Sec. 12, this town; Lucy, wife of Benjamin Clark, Nebraska; Susan, wife of P. Buck, Reedsburg, this county; Aiuiena, wife of lack ei i. of Baraboo. Joseph I, Mr. Teel has been closely identified with the interests of the town of Pairfield from its infancy to the present time, and has taken an active part in her public affairs, being elected many times by his (ellow-citi/.cns to offices of honor and trust, the duties of all of which he disi harged with signal ability, and to the entire satisfaction of the citizens. Ho has of late years retired from active life, ami is passing hi- declining years in peace and plenty, the rewards which a well-spent life is sure to I

bring.

TOWN OF BEAR CREEK. T. H. TOLIilFF. farmer,

IT;

821

Baraboo; was born in Belvidere, [11., Oct. 24, they came to the town of 1844; his parents, 0. G-. and ^.nn Tolliff, settled in Illinois in about 1838 Vernon, Lane Co., Wis., in about L858, where they now live, T. II.. the subject of this notice, coming with them. In December, 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 15th W. V. I., serving one year, then entered the in 13fi5, beQuartermaster's Department, Nashville, Tenn.. where he served three years as shipping-clerk came to Barabno. Wis. He married Miss Helen Palmer, daughter of Levi S. and Elizabeth Palmer, old they have three children settlers of Fairfield Nettie, Arthur and Henry. In Baraboo, Mr. Tolliff followed harness-making; he moved to Fairfield in 1878. Sec.

;

—

;

XORKIS

WILCOX,

farmer. Sec. 12; P. 0. Baraboo. This esteemed citizen of FairC. field was born in La Fayette. Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 25, 1824, where he remained until 1844, in which year he came West, locating in Clinton, Rock Co., Wis. engaged in farming there until 1849, when he purchased the farm he now lives on moved on to it the same year and commenced the work of improving and building up a home, in which he proved eminently successful. He has been twice married, his first wife was Laura A. D. Losey. she died in July, 1S52. His second wife was Charlotte Olds, she is also deceased one child, a son. Bishop, by first marriage. He married Sylvia Andrews and is engaged in farming in this town by his second marriage there are four children Norris, Mary A., Ulysses and Minnie. Mr. Wilcox has been a continual resident of Wisconsin since 1X44 in the town of Fairfield, he ;

;

—

;

has been elected to various local offices of trust;

his

farm is located a short ride north of Baraboo, is finely

improved and very valuable, containing 120 acres.

JOHN W

KM* IIT.1I1 LIS. proprietor of general repair and blacksmith shop, and farmer, SecP. 0. Baraboo; was born in Prince Edward Township. Ontario District, Canada, Nov. 25, 1832 he came to Madison, Wis., in 1S50. and there learned the blacksmith trade in about 1853, he bame to Sauk Co. and engaged in blacksmithing in Baraboo until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he 5

;

A. 2d W. V. I. was in active service three years, at the end of which time he received an honorable discharge; after his discharge, he worked six months for the Government in Nashville, Tenn.; then returned to Baraboo where he remained until 1867, when he came to Fairfield and established a general repair and blacksmith shop in which he does a good business; he also owns a well-located farm of about Kit) acres. He married, in Madison, Wis., F^leeta A. Ames she was born in Oneida Co.. N. Y.,

enlisted in Co.

;

and came to Wisconsin with her parents prior to its becoming a State her grandfather, Nathaniel Ames, was a soldier of distinction in the Colonial army her father, Ira L. Ames, was a soldier'in the 17th W. V. I., in the war of the rebellion, and died in the service two of her brothers also saw service in the war, Edgar and Harvey B. Ames, the former dying in the service at Arlington Heights, the latter is now a resilient of Illinois. In politics, Mr. WYightmyer is a Republican. ;

;

JOHX

TOWN OF BEAR CREEK. DEWEY, farmer, Sec. 22; P. 0. Spring Green; was born

I). April 20. 1810; when he was

in Westfield, Mass.,

I years of age, his parents removed to Portage Co., Ohio where he married, 1833, Miss Mary Ferry; in 1830, they came to Wisconsin, settling in Oconomowoc. Waukesha Co. Oconomowoc at that time contained a population of twenty-seven persons. In about 1845, Mr. Dewey and his family returned to Portage Co., Ohio, where his wife died, leaving six children, the oldest of whom, Benjamin I''., now of this town, served in Co. G, Wisconsin Heavy Artillery during the war of the rebellion; Sarah L., the second oldest, is married and lives in Richland Co., Wis.; Eliza J., wife of Daniel Miller, of Richland Co., Wis., was the first white female child born in Oconomowoc; Moses F., the fourth oldest, enlisted in Co. K, 23d W. V. I., and died in the service Mary E., the fifth oldest, is the wife of Henry Flummer, Idaho Springs. Colo. July Ellen 0., sixth oldest, is the wife of S. Shaw, Kent, Ohio. 3 18. Mr. Dewey married bis present wife, in Brimfield, Ohio; her maiden name was Louisa Hoo] er 25, Bhe was born in Huntingdon Co., lYnn.. Sept. HO, 1821 they have one son. George D., born in Kent, Ohio; he is a leading farmer in this town Bear Creek Mr. Dewey and his present wife came to Richland Co., Wis., in 1854, and lived in that county until 1858, when they moved to their present home; he has at various times been elected to local offices, and, during his residence in Wisconsin, has been closely identified with the manufacturing and other interests. 1

;

ANDREW DWYER,

farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. White Mound; was born in County Clare, Ireland; be came to this country in 1852, and lived in the States of New York and Ohio until his coming to Wisconsio in 1854, locating in the town of Delafield, Waukesha Co.; he afterward moved to

—

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

822

Pewaukee', where he was railroad agent for four years in 1866. he came to Bear Creek, Sauk Co., where He married, in Akron, Ohio, Miss Catharine Dwyer; they have eight children he has sine; lived. James, William, Thomas, John, Annie, Bridget M., Mary A. and Andrew. Mr. Dwyer owns L'211 acres He is the present Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors, and was Town of well-improved land. ;

Treasurer four years and Clerk five years.

JAMES FERGUSON,"

farmer. Sec. 22; P. O. Spring Green was horn near Madison. Wis. April 2, 1855; he has been a resident of Bear Creek since 1869, with the exception of three year.-, a portion of which he spent in attending school at Chicago. 111. He is af presenl Town Clerk, and takes His father, John Ferguson, married, in County Mayo, Irean active interest in the public affairs. land, Bridget Murray; they came to this country in IS 15; lived in Massachusetts a short time, then ;

came to Dane Co.; moved thence to Juneau Co., where he died. He enlisted in Co. A, 47th W. V. I., was wounded at Manassas, was in active service two years, at the end during the war of the rebellion of which time he was honorably discharged. His wife moved to Bear Creek in 1869, and is still living; their children are Mary, Thomas, James. Catherine, Eliza and Emma. ;

JOHN JOHXSOX. a leading farmer and stock-raiser, See. IS; P. O. Lone Buck; was burn V, March 22, 1815, He married, in his native county, Miss Rachel Brooks; they came to Wisconsin in 1851 and settled in the town of Bear Creek, Sauk sic was bom in England they have two children Co., which has been their home since C. D. Johnson, an enterprising and ener-

in Burlington, Oisi-,, Co., N. ;

—

;

young man, and Miss Lucy

Mr. Johnson followed school-teaching, and taught school several years iii bis native county; be manufactured the first cheese in the town of Bear Creek, a He owns L'SII acres id' land his farm is desirably located and business be was engaged in several years. is finely improved; his residence was erected in 1878, and is one of the finest buildings in the -ouiheni

getic

In early

life,

;

portion of

Sauk Co.

WILLIAM LARKIX, fanner. Sec. 9; P.

().

bom

Spring Green; was

Kings

in 1828; he came to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled in the town of Bear Creek, Sauk Co., in 1857. He has been married twice— his first wife, Margaret Faighety, died in Iowa Co.. Wis.; his p re

land,

New York her father, iUfred Stratton, was a pioneer first school in that town; M. I, :j kin's children are Eliza ('.. Adda, Clarvina. Bertha. I, no and Katie During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Larkin enlisted in Co. E, 49th W. V. 1., he was in active service and was honorably disIf' 1m-. filled various local offices, and is at present writing Justice of the Peace. I! charged. pleasantly located and valuable farm. was

Electa A. Stratton, a native of the State of

;

ed she taught the

wife of

John Morgan, of this town

;

AXTOIXE MOR4»AX,

farmer and stock-raiser, See. 26; I'. ( Plain; born in Bavat ibis country in 1853, and. in Hoi, settled in the town of Bear Creek. lie came t lie married in Milwaukee. Wis., Miss Josephine Grotz where be has lived since, they have three chilMr. Morgan was one of the prime movers in (lie organization of the dren—Adeline, Sophia and Mary. Franklin Fanner-' Mutual Fire Insurance Co.. and has been a member of lie Board "I' Directors in that lie owns 1;.'_! acres of land since its organization. his farm is well -improved, and in a desirable

many, Dec. 25, 1819.

;

location.

JOSEPH OCHSWER, proprietor of Bear Vallej Flouring

I'. 0. Hear Valley. Mills, Sec 31 Mr. Ochsner was born in Baden, Germany. May 1817. He came to ibis country in 1844 married in Utiea, Miss Mary Rothmund; they came io Wisconsin in ls.">(>; located at Saxonville, Richland Co.. where they resided until 1865, in which year they moved to their presenl borne in Ileal' Creek; their children are Edward, William H., Joseph, Charlie, Benjamin, Arthur, Maggie, Mary, Louisa and Fannie. The first named I'M ward married Carrie Sellout/. they live in Richland Co. the second, named William Colorado; the rest reside af homi II., married Kittie Schontz Joseph, thi is in Mr. wns 220 acres of valuable land. He erected his flouring mill in 1871 it is substantially built His son William II. now manages it. and the flout of his make is wellcontains three run of buhrs. known for iis superior quality. In April, of the presenl year, the saw-mill on Mr. 0chsn8t.fi farm was Mr. nl is run by William II. Ochsner and the Beckwith Brothers. Ochsner is a membei of the Board of Directors in the Franklin Mutual Farmers' Fire Insurance Co He has filled various town offices, and is a leading and energetic citizen. ;

;"),

;

»F

FRANKLIN.

TOWN OF FRANKLIN JOMJMI BANDEL, M. D., Sec. 27; P.O. Plain; born

Wurtemberg Germany, Sept.

academic education, and afterward entered a medical college it Heidelberg, where he graduated al the end of five years; then was appointed a surgeon in the military In 1852, he came to Wisconsin, service of his native country, a position he filled for nearlj three years. and resided in Madison the greater part of the time until I860, when he moved to the town of Franklin, 21, 1830.

early life, he

received an

his home since. During the war of the rebellion, he was a soldier in Co II, was liiiiiui\ibl\ discharged at the close til' the war as Second Lieutenant. He W. V. lie is 'resident of the Franklin Mutual Chairman of the Franklin Town Board of Supervisors four years,

Sauk Co., which has been 37th

;

Fanners' Fire Insurance Co., a position he has filled since its organization in 1S77. He was also Town Mr. Bandel was married in Milwaukee, in 1S52, to Christiana Phillip; Assessor of Franklin three terms. they have ten children. He owns over MOO acres ot land his farm is pleasantly located and well improved ;

JOHN H. CARPENTER, farmer, Sec. 18;

P. 0. White

Mound

;

born in Richland Co.,

111..

Morrow Co., Ohio. During the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. F, 13d Ohio V. [., and served in that regiment about one year. In 1864, he came to Wisconsin, and enlisted in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, in which he served until the close of the war. The war records of both States Ohio and Wisconsin i, show for him a good record, and that he was in active service. He married his first wife, Julia A. Culley, in Morrow Co., His present wife was of Spring Green (this Ohio; she died in Wisconsin, leaving one child, Charles. in

He was educated, and spent

1843.

the most of his early life in

count}

Mr. Carpenter owns a pleasantly located and well-improved farm of 95

Carrie C. (Jttendorfer.

acres of land.

politics,

he is a Republican.

4»EOR<*E CLARIIM»E, farmer, Sec. 17; P. 0. White Mound; was bom in Leicester, in 1847, emigrated with his parents, William and Elizabeth Claridge, to Dam C During the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in to the town of Franklin, Sauk Co., in 1850. 36th W. V. I. was wounded at Cold Harbor, and was afterward transferred to Co. A, of the loth 'oi-ps in which he served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He married in Richland Co.. Wis.. Mi.»s Elizabeth Born they have six children Ellen. John \\ '.. George II., Annie, Albert L. and Alice A. Mr. Claridge owns 2S0 acres of land himself and wife are leading memM. E. Church.

England, in 1843;

Wis., thei

Co.

;

—

;

E. M. DAVIES, farmer, Sec. 32;

P. 0. Plain

;

was born in the town of Franklin, Sauk Co.,

Wis., Nov. 18, 1853; was educated at the high school at Spring Green, Wis. [n 1880, was elected Chairmi He is cvten^iveU engage! in farming, being one of the f the Franklin Town Board of Supervisors. leading agriculturists of the town of Franklin; his father. R. W. Davies, was a native of Wales; lie married in his native country, Margaret Margans they came to this country, and settled in the town of Franklin, Sauk Co., Wis., in 1851, thus becoming early settlers of that town; he died April 27, 1^77; she is still living, and is a resident of the town of Franklin; their children arc Thomas, who is married and resides his wife was Ella Carpenter. in Franklin E. M., whose name heads this sketch, R. W. Davies. was a leading member of the M. E. Church; he was highly esteemed by all as a liberal and upright man. ;

;

RICHARD H. DOUGLAS, Sec. 34; P.O. Plain; was born

in Aberdeen, Scotland, in year- of age, he emigrated to Canada; studied surgery, and was appointed a Sur1815; when he was geon in the military service in be tilled several years, afterward went to Toronto, and was in the servii f the Government, as Superintendent of Public Improvements, and other official until 1840, when he came to Wisconsin, locating in Sauk Co., Wis., which county has been his home since. He married, in York, Canada. Miss Louisa Ferman; they have ten children. Mr. Douglas owns g'o acres of land he is Secretary of the Franklin Farmers' Mutual Fire [nsurance C I

;

position be has filled since

its

organization

1877.

HEXRY MITCHELL, farmer, Sec. 5

P. 0. Plain; tsa nativeof Westmoreland Co., England was born Oct. I. 1832. Hisfirsl wife's maiden name was Mary Taylor; she died in England his pi was Jane Baxter. Mr. Mitchell came to this country in 1 Still, and lived in Buffalo, N. Y.. until his coming asin in 1871 in which year In located in the town of Franklin, Sauk Co. his children an two daughti rs and a son the daughters are married and reside in Buffalo, X. Y. the son, [saac, is home. Mr. Mitchell owns a well improved farm of 120 acres of land. lie has been elected to local offi takes an interest in th pr of the resources of his town ;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

824

T. J. MORGJANS, a leading citizen and farmer, Sec. 32 Wales, Jan. 24. 1814

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P. 0. Plain

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was born in Breckenshire,

when he was 6 years oF age, his parents removed to Glenniorganshire, where

his

1S41, he came to this country, living in Pennsylvania until 1843 then went to Galena, 111.; thence to Dodgeville, Wis., in 1844, and from there to Spring Green, then known as Helena July 7, Bottoms, in the same year, thus becoming one of the first settlers in the south part of Sauk Co. 1848, he married, in the town of Troy, this county, Phoebe Slauter she was born near Williamsburg, Ind., and came to Sauk Co., Wis., with her parents, Dewitt and Phcebe Slauter, in 1845; her father, Dewitt Slauter, was the first settler of what is now the town of Franklin, this county; in 1849, Mr. Morthey are now the oldest gans and wit'.' removed to the town of Franklin, which has been their home since their oldest son, John T., is a minister of the M. E. Church, in Dane Co., settlers living in that town their third oldest son Howell, is also in Wis.; their second oldest sun Dewit, is in Nora Springs. Iowa Mr. Morgans' quarter-section Nora Springs; David W., [saac, Phoebe A. Daniel and Mary arc at home. He has been Justice of the Peace for over twenty-five years is of land is most desirably located. Notary Public, and has been at various times elected to local offices he taught the first school in the town of Franklin, held many of the first offices in that town, and has always taken an active part in her early life was spent

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public affairs.

RIEK,

fanner, Sec. 12; P. 0. Plain was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 13, 1832; A. 1853, he came to this country, living in Michigan until 1855; then came to Manitowoc Co.. Wis.. where he remained about, one year; then went to Richland Co., Wis., and was engaged in milling and farming in that county until 1860, in which year he removed to Franklin, Sauk Co., which has been his home since. His first wife, Elizabeth Lewis, he married at Richland City she died in this town (Franklin they bad one daughter, Annie, now the wife of Frank Lunenschloss, of Richland Center, Wis.; Mr. He owns 164 acres of, land; is a memRick married bis present wife, Katrina Schmitz, in Ithaca, Wis. ber of the Franklin Town Board of Supervisors, of which body he was Chairman twice. ;

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GH SCALA1V,

farmer and mason, Sec. 13; P. O.White Mound; was born in Sherbrooke, II1 T Canada, March 20, 1823; in 1838, he came to the United States and worked at the mason trade in various States, until the breaking-out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in Battery L, U. S. A., and was in active service until the close of the war. In 1849, he returned to Canada, and married, in Sherin 1853, they came to Boone Co., 111., where they were his native town, Miss Mary McKeegan He then went to Beloit, Wis., and enlisted in the 4th living when the war of the rebellion commenced. Battery, W. Y. A.; he was wounded at Ft. Monroe, and was bonorabl\ discharged at the close of the war. ;

In the autumn of 1865, he removed to the town of Franklin, Sauk Co., Wis., which has been the home of William, born in Montreal, Canada, in 1853 Mary they have three children himself and family since now the wife of William Kaley), born in Boone Co., 111., in ls.">6; Hugh, also born in Boone Co.. 111.. Mr. Scallan owns 2711 acres of land. in 1858.

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TEMPEST

$L1N<*ER, farmer, and proprietor of Slinger's Mill, Sec. 5 P. 0. Plain was he lie came to the United States in 1856, and settled in Wisconsin in 1S57 born in England, in -21 His first wife, Anna Riley, died in England: the has been a continual resident of the State since. maiden name of his present wife was Margaret Dick; they have four children living Henry, John, In politics, he is a Democrat. Fred and >i< k. Mr. Slinger owns a pleasantly located farm. ;

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MISCELL WI'.tM S.

825

MISCELLANEOUS.

SAMUEL VEEDER, proprietor of the Juneau House, Wonewoc, Juneau and Penelope

Bradt) Veeder; was born

Montgomery Co., N. Y

the town of Clenn.

12 years of age, moved with his parents to Cortland Co., N. Y. Mrs. Veeder was born in the Stair of New Y'ork Martha J. Carnes.

Co., son of ,

Adam

Aug. 1G, 1815;

He was married Feb. 12, 1842, to

when

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they had six children Frederic S., Maustnn Charles, married to Ella C. Cook, residRichland •'<>. Martha, now Mrs. Chester Moore, of Forest, Vernon Co. Harriet, now Mrs. Joseph Snyder, of Woodland Mary, died dune In 1852, moved to 1864, al the age of six years, and Frank. Cayuga Co., X. Y. in May, 1855, came to Sauk Co., Wis., settled on Section 10, Woodland, in what is known as Plum Valley. Mrs. Veeder died Feb. 2, 1870, at the age of 55. Mr. Veeder was married, July 25, 1871, to Mrs. Julia Kelley, daughter oi David and Lydia Baird. Julia Baird was married November, 1851, to Dr. H. B. Kelley, and resided in Oneida Co., N. Y. Dr. Kelley died March 1, 1859; they have two children Ella E.. who died when 2 years of age, and Everette H. J., residing at Wonewoc. Mr. Veeder was one of the first Justices of Woodland. In Oct. 7, 1*7!>, he moved to his present home, Wonewoc, and entered upon his business of hotel keeping'. Polities. Republican. Mis. Veeder is a member of the Congregational Church of Reedshurg. attorney-at-law, married to Cyrene Horton, living at ing in

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CHARLES

PEETON,

fanner. See. -.'5; P. >. Reedshurg; son of John and Sarah A. (Hinckley) Pelton was bom in Greene Co., N. Y.. Nov. 28, 1831 while quite young, went to Columbia Co., N. Y., and remained there till 15 years of age spent two years on a farm then followed the Hudson River boating for some years came to Wisconsin in December, 1850, and stopped a couple of years with his father in the town of Winfield, Sauk Co. spent about two years in the Yellow River pinery, and then He was married in January. 1857, at Portage, Wis., to about two years in breaking land and threshing. Nancy M. Oakes, daughter of Edward and Nancy (lakes; there were three children born of this marriage —Olive W. .now Mrs. Charles Powell, married in March. L879, residence Winfield), May H. deceased, Mr. P. moved to his present farm, Sec. 25, in 1857; he has IMS acres. and Charles (living at home). Mrs. Pelton died March 2. L868, Mr. Pelton was married. Jan. 17. 1870, to Mrs.Emily Wakefield, daughter of Timothy and Sophronia (Flint) Temple Mrs. Pelton was born in Reading, Mass.; they have one child Willis." Mrs. Pelt,, n is a member of the Congregati il In polities', Mr. P. is a ReChurch. <

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publican.

TOO LATE FOR INSERTION PRAIRIE

1)1"

PROPER PLACE.

SAC.

The town raised by tax and paid out us bounty to volunteers, during the war, $13,152. Raised by voluntary subscription by residents of the town liable to military duty, for same purpose, $3,000, making in till the sum of $16,152.

PASSENGERS BOUND FOR

CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, NEBRASKA, DAKOTA, WISCOZCTSIJNT, AUSTID

IMIIIIsriKriESOTA, ZMTOISTTAIsr-A.,

THIE TEEEITOEIES,

Should, if they would consult their interest, buy their tickets via the

Chicago & North -Western Railway LEADHTO-

This is the

:R..<£-II-|-\77".£>-"2"

of the

"WEST A.JSTn NORTHWEST. iiiip'Thtnt

system dI Kiiilwuv Lin

the Largfst Corporationa in the World,

MILES OK ROAD.

2,390

Chicago, Council Bluffs & California Line.

Chicago, La Crosse

Chicago, Sioux City & Yankton Line.

Chicago, Minnesota & Dakota Line. Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis Line.

Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & La Crosse Line. Freeport & Dubuque Line,

& Winona Line.

Chicago, Milwaukee

& Lake Superior Line

Chicago, Green Bay & Marquette Line. These Lines enable

tin-

"CHICAGO

NORTH-WESTERN" h. reach all

points in th,-

WEST, ViKTIIW EST, nml, through it«

connections, tin) FAR WEST. It offers every facility f..r <>uick, Sate and Ceinf utahle Transit to the traveler who selects Ibis as his It stands second to nu road In the West, alel otleis iiidlicp-moiils and advantages that ale not ami can not he offered by any of its ( is determined that the CHICAGO .v. Its management adopts everv iinprovement know n to the modern Riiilwav Svstem, WESTERN shall remain the 1, EA DIM ltail«.,ioi thcCREVI' WEST.

RAILWAY

NORTH-

Passengers should ask for and he certain their Tickets have a Coup ,n which reads, over the

CHICAGO & NORTH-WESTERN RY/ All Ticket Agents will be glad to sell them via this Line.

* XOKTll-H'ESTERX RAILWAY

ixpn i,

THROUGH between Chicago and the Missouri liner.

I'.EUi IN This is t

MlNll.no oiler load inns Pullman Hotel .nlv

Line that has Til Ri lit

;

Cars, or

any form of Hotel Cans,

EATING CARS of any sort.

NO TRANSFER at ST. PAUL via the CHICAGO & NORTH-WESTERN RY. Passengers procuring tickets to points beyond ST.

PAIL should use GREAT CARE to see that they read over the

Chicago &, North-Western Railway, Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis Line. And not oyer a n ate having a SIMILAR NAME, as this is

ss^THE ONLY ROUTE YOU CAN TAKE TO AVOID A CHANGE OF DEPOT AT ST, PAUL."** SI w MiRK ii'-l'ICE HUSTON lit ICC N, I

No ,',

dI:,

Broadway.

Slate Street,

MILWAUKEE CITY TICKET OEEU'E-I

COUNCIL

Ml,

EPS TICKET iiFKICES-Coruer Ilroadwav and and Chicago * North-

Union Pacific Depotj Western Railway I' j,,,i Pearl Stieet,

(IMMM

PICKET OFFICES— Union

Pacific Depot, and 1324 Far-

SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE -S New Montgomery Street. LONDON ENGLAND, OFFICES—449 Strand, and 3 Adelaide