USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
3 3433 08192280 3
----
------
...
----
----- -
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
-
---
--
--------
--
---
-----
FOUNDATOLY
SSTOR
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofmilwauk01bruc
1
- --
WILLIAM GEORGE BRUCE
HISTORY
OF
MILWAUKEE CITY AND COUNTY
EDITED BY WILLIAM GEORGE BRUCE
VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1922
·
YORK
PUBLIC
THE NEW
LIBRARY
ISTOR
TILDER
LENOX & FOUNDATIONS
PREFACE
More than forty years have elapsed since the story of the City and County of Milwaukee was presented in anything like a compact, comprehensive and accessible form. Since then the newspapers, the local governmental depart- ments and various agencies have hourly and daily recorded the several activi- ties of the community. These activities have grown in number, variety and importance, and have amplified themselves in so many diversified directions that only an assembling of certain leading facts will afford a true pieture of the whole.
The current records have served their purpose and the needs of their period. These records, however, soon become obscured in the mass of things, and the important and more outstanding facts and events become imbedded in the mesh of routine and in matters of temporary concern only. Thus, the essential facts and data must periodically be resened from their submerged state and brought to the light again, collected and arranged with order and sequence, and with a due regard for their meaning and import.
AAnd since history is a continous record of activities, tendencies and move- ments it demands not only their adequate treatment but successive presenta- tion as well. The story which has been halted must be resumed and told to its finish, which means that it must be brought up to the present time, and left to the future to be resumed and told again.
With this thought in mind the Ilistory of Milwaukee, city and county, is approached, presenting in compaet form not only the struggles and trials of a pioneer day and the story of humble beginnings but emphasizing the crown- ing achievements of a later period as well. In his treatment of the work as a whole the editor has aimed to deal more generously with the history of the past forty years and to reveal with reasonable clearness the forces and in- fluences that have made for the growth and development of a great urban center of population. While the early pioneer and settlement period is by no means minimized it has been sought to accord the fullest measure of attention to the later period. It will bere be recognized that the city secured in this period that economic, eivie and social momentum which has reared it to its present splendor and importance as an American city.
A large part of the manuscript was prepared by J. Seymour Currey who wrote an acceptable history of Chicago several years ago and whose services as a writer on historie subjeets have been recognized. The chapters on the Industrial Beginning and Achievements, the Commercial Rise and Expansion, the Milwaukee Harbor, the Auditorium and the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Alt-Milwaukee to an American City were written by the editor in
V
ví
IHISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
the belief that his immediate identification with these interests and institutions qualified him to treat them more intimately and adequately. The entire his- tory, however, has been written under the supervision of the editor who has spared no effort in verifying the facts presented.
In the treatment of these several subjects some of which are primary and basie in the city's growth and development, the authors have aimed to go beyond the mere recital of facts and events by bringing cause and effect into play and in drawing from them permissible and warrantable deductions and conclusions.
The Editor.
An American city! What splendid forces-latent and active-are implied in that name! Let us miss no opportunity to bring to our service the best thought and experience of the world in city planning, city building and city living. Let us not only proclaim a place among our sister cities of the Great Republic, but deserve to be arrayed with the most progressive among them. Only by exemplifying the truest and best in American urban life shall we render ourselves worthy of being an integral part of the greatest nation on earth.
WILLIAM GEORGE BRUCE.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Prefaee
V
Introduetion 17
CHAPTER
1 Discovery of the Great West. 21
II Ordinance of 1787 .. 37
IlI Discovery of the Great Lakes. 43
IV Mail Carriers and Routes 53
Indian Villages 61
Days of the Fur Trader
67
VII The Lead Mining Industry 77
Solomon Junean and His Family 83
IX Byron Kilbourn and George II. Walker 99
Life and Labors of Andrew J. Vieau.
107
XI Milwaukee in the Pioneer Period 129
113
XII The Lady Elgin Disaster.
147
XIV Lincoln in Milwaukee.
Immigration and Race Origin.
171
XVII
The Era of Internal Improvements
207
XVIII
Industrial Beginnings and Achievement
219
XIX
Commercial Rise and Expansion
257
Harbor and Marine Interests.
269 The Coming of the Railroads
319
XXII
Banking and Finance.
339
XXIII Life and Fire Insurance.
369
XXIV The Chamber of Commerce ..
379
Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
383
XXII
The Milwaukee Post Office. 415
XXVII The Milwaukee Auditorium. 421
435
Water Works Department
The Health Department .. 477
XXXI
City Planning and Zoning.
481
XXXII
Milwaukee County Government. 557
XXXIII
Woman's Suffrage in Wisconsin. 565
XXXIV Participation in War. 571
XXIV Roosevelt's Visit to Milwaukee. 607
XXXVI
Milwaukee Publie Schools. 629
ix
XIII The Great Milwaukee Fire.
153
Beginnings, Dates, Events .. 189
The Municipal Government. 469
CONTENTS
PAGE
Higher Institutions of Learning.
647
XXXVIII The Public Library and Museum
667
Milwaukee's Musical History 675
The Progress of Art in Milwaukee
685
XLI Newspapers and Trade Publications
707
XLII Public and Private Charities 739
XLIII
The Transition Period. 755
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Bruce, William George. Frontispiece
Milwaukee-An Old-Time View
20
Milwaukee in 1840-Outline Map ..
24
Milwaukee in 1820-Bird's-eye View 36
Form of Proclamation-1825. 44
An Old Marriage License. 44
Old Settlers' Club-Presidents ..
52
Milwaukee in 1853-Bird's-eye View
60
Milwaukee in 1873-Bird's-eye View
66
Site of First House-Tablet.
80
Solomon Juneau-Portrait
84 88
Solomon Juneau Momument.
92
Solomon Juneau-Original Letter.
94
Juneau Trading with Indians-Bas Relief
94
Byron Kilbourn-Portrait
98
Byron Kilbourn Residence
100
Walker, George H .- Portrait
104
Chestnut Street in 1860.
112
Increase A. Lapham-Quit Claim Deed.
124
Sinking of "Lady Elgin
130
"Augusta"-Schooner
134
Steamer "Lady Elgin
140
John Wilson, Captain of the "Lady Elgin
140
Matthew Stein Gun Shop, The
172
Rufus King Residence ..
176
Old Cream City Base Ball Club.
176
Wisconsin Street in an Earlier Day
180
Tolin Pollworth's Restaurant.
180
Milwaukee Honse
184
Mrs. Milwaukee HI. Smith Hackelberg
190
Charles Milwaukee Sivyer-Tablet ..
194
Baner & Steinmeyer's Store.
208
East Water Street in the Early Forties
208
West Water Street- Looking North.
210
Wisconsin Street-About 1867
214
Indington Block
216
Original Penny Store.
216
Skyline of Milwaukee-Looking North
218
First Steam Flour Mill ..
218
Northeast Corner Milwaukee and Wisconsin, 1871.
220
Looking North on Main Street, 1870.
220
Republican Honse 224
Old Newhall House 224
Astor llotel 226
230
Medford Hotel
Wisconsin Street-Looking West.
232
xi
Solomon Juneau, First Mayor of Milwaukee.
xii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Miller Hotel and Third Street.
236
Menominee Valley-Manufacturing Center
240
Milwaukee Manufacturers' Home Building 240
The Hotel Wisconsin. 244
Toy Theatre and Chinese Restaurant.
246
East Water Street, North of Wisconsin Street.
258
New Plankinton Hotel and Old Plankinton Honse
260
Grand Avenue East from Sixth Street.
262
The Pfister Hotel. .
264
View of Milwaukee-Looking West
266
Old-Time Schooner Entering Harbor.
270
Car Ferry "Grand Haven'
270
Steamer "Christopher Columbus
274
Kinniekinnie Basin
274
Ilarbor Plans-Ontline Sketch.
278
A Lake Coal Carrier.
282
Menominee River. Coal Doek Center
282
Jones Island and Kinnickinnie Basin
288
Coal Handling Scenes.
294
Menominee River, Coal Shipping Center
298
Milwaukee River, Grain Elevators.
298
Sidewheeler "John A. Dix"
304
Old Goodrich Dock ..
304
Milwaukee River and Commercial Center.
310
Milwaukee River North from Buffalo Street.
314
Old Lake Shore Depot.
320
First Railway Depot
320
Old Lacrosse Depot and Third Street in 1860.
322
Railroad Rate Table ..
324
Officers and Employes, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry.
326
Chicago & Northwestern Station .. 330
330
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry. Station
334
First Wisconsin National Bank Building
346
The Marshall & Ilsley Bank.
350
Second Ward Savings Bank
356
Old Insurance Building.
370
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Building.
374
Northwestern National Fire Insurance Company Building
374
Chamber of Commerce and Mitchell Building
378
Merchants' Association-Dinner Program.
384
Merchants' Association-Meun Cover Design
386
Merchants' Association-Banquet Menu.
390
Grand Avenue, West from Bridge
396
View of Milwaukee-Looking Southwest.
398
Majestic Building
102
The Milwaukee Chul
404
The Calumet Club.
408
The Wisconsin Club.
408
Milwaukee Yacht Club
410
Old Elks' Club House. 410
Post Office-Old Building 414 . . . .
Stock Yards at West Milwaukee.
East Water Street-Looking North from Wisconsin Street
338
Milwaukee Athletic Club. 392
386
Wells Office Building.
xiii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Post Office and Wisconsin Street ..
418
Soldiers' Home Fair Building, 1865 .. 422
Auditorium Building
124
Auditorium-Interior Main Arena.
428
Exposition Building-Old
430
City Hall and Market Square ..
436 440
Old Courthouse and County Jail
Old-Time Campaign Document. 442
City Hall and Bergh Fountain.
444 448
Fourth of July Announcement.
450
Milwaukee Engine Company No. 1
452
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1
456
Expenditure of City Tax Revenues.
458
Mass Meeting of Electors.
460
Carpenter, Matthew HI .- A Sentiment.
462
Army Call of 1862 for Volunteers.
466 470
Water Tower and Park.
470
Columbia Hospital
476
Milwaukee Hospital
476
Washington Park-Moonlight Seene.
482
Christian Wahl-Bust
484
Mitehell Park-Sunken Gardens
484
Lake Park, Grand Terrace ..
486
Entrance to Lake Drive.
490
Skyline of Milwaukee from the Bay
490
North Point Light House
490
Grand Avenue Viaduet
492
Prospect Avenue
494
Layton Boulevard-Looking South from National Avenue.
494
Juneau Park-Solomon Juneau Monument.
496
Civic Center Group-Clas.
500
Arteries-Proposed East and West, in Connection with Auditorium and City Hall Sites 502
Sketch of Suggested Grouping of Public Buildings
504
City Hall Civic Center-Map 504
Bridge and River Scheme-Clas.
506
Lakeshore Drive and Parkway-Clas.
508
Civic Center Scheme-Bird 's-eye View Milwaukee's Proposed Parkway 508
Washington Monument 510
Arteries-Proposed East and West, in Connection with Revised Park Board Site
512
River Improvement Scheme-Clas.
514
Von Steuben Monument ..
518
Plan Proposed by Park Board in 1909.
520
Lake Front Study-Clas.
522
Auditorium Site-Plan for Grouping.
Dr. E. B. Woleott Monument. .
526
City Hall Civic Center-Bird's-eye View 530
Civic Center Plan 1. 532
Civic Center Plan 2. 532
Kościuszko Monument 534
City Hall Site-Proposed Grouping. 538
Bridge and Doek Area-Clas 524
522
Old City Hall
MeKinley Park-Bathing Beach.
xiv
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Auditorium Site-Suggested Grouping
540
Robert Burns Monument. .
5.14
Goethe-Schiller Moment, Washington Park.
544
Washington Park, Seal Enclosure.
546
Lief Ericson Statue, JJunean Park.
546
Washington Park-Winter Scene.
550
South Shore Park Bathing Beach.
554
Courthouse and St. John's Cathedral
556
Soldiers' Monument
570
Milwaukee Light Guard-Group.
576
Milwaukee Light Guard-Card of Thanks
582
National Soldiers' Home.
590
Fourteenth Distriet School.
630
Twenty-third District School.
630
Trinity Hospital
646
Marquette University Administration Building.
646
Concordia College
650
Milwaukee-Downer College Buildings
650
Milwaukee University School ..
656
Milwaukee State Normal School.
662
Riverside Iligh School. East Side
662
Public Library
668
Old Dam at North Avenue.
672
Layton Art Gallery
684
Old Academy of Music
690
Pabst Theatre
696
Davidson Theatre
702
Ivanhoe Commandery Temple
706
Kenwood Masonic Temple.
706
Emergency Hospital
740
St. Mary's Hospital
740
Grand Avenue Methodist Church .
742
Grace Lutheran Church.
742
The Rescue Mission
744
St. Paul's Church.
746
Altenheim ( Lutheran Old Folks' Ilome)
74-
Trinity Lutheran Church.
750
The Gesu Church. 752
Temple Emanu-El 754
St. Josaphat's Church .. 754
Old-Time Milwaukee Garden Saloon.
760
Schlitz Park. Now Lapham Park. 760
Henry Wehr's. a Famous Restaurant .
766
Old-Time Whitefish Bay Bay Resort.
778
Old-World " Bierstube' 778
Bar at Schlitz Palm Garden 784
Interior of a Famous Palm Garden.
784
PART I
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY PIONEER AND SETTLEMENT PERIOD IMMIGRATION AND RACE ORIGIN
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
INTRODUCTION
Every community has its story of humble beginnings, of earlier struggles and trials, and of hard won achievements. Every generation receives its inspiration and guidance from the preceding generation. Every people demonstrates its character and worth by the estimate it places upon its pro- genitors, and the respeet and appreciation it manifests for them.
Thus, an eventful past, with its achievements and its lessons, is reduced to historie record that we may enter into the charm of its romance, profit by its teachings, and emulate its examples in effort equally worthy and benefi- cent. Moreover, it enables a grateful progeny to measure human valnes, pay tribute to the builders of a former day, and realize as well as recognize the blessings and benefactions conferred by preceding generations.
The story of an Indian village that grew in less than a century to the pro- portions of a great American city, that has reared mighty structures dedicated to the useful arts, to commerce and trade and to the eultural aspirations of man, is not wholly without interest or eharm.
True, it notes no historie battles, no brilliant or decisive strokes in war- fare, no epoch making turns in the tide of human affairs, no momentons events in our national history. And yet it tells of a most splendid confliet- a conflict in which man has grappled with the elements of nature in order to subject them to uses for which the Creator intended them-a conflict in which mind has triumphed over matter.
The founders of Milwaukee were men of character, of vision, of action. The Indian instinetively sought that spot where three rivers converged and opened into a beautiful inland ocean. But, the white man saw the gifts of nature, the advantage of location and environment, and proceeded to build a habitation that should suit his faney, his needs, his purposes. Ile applied his ingenuity, his enterprise, and his industry, and thus performed his part in the great mareh of human progress and civilization.
It was the trading instinet that first brought the white man to the haunts of the Indian. It was, however, the industrial bent rather than the com- mereial instincts of the former that gave stimulus to subsequent economic stability and population growth. The individual mechanic, who, single handed and alone, fashioned useful things became the founder of monster industrial enterprises. The individual worker gradually resorted to the group
Vol. 1-2
17
18
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
system, then came the era of organization and of quantity production. Thus, great manufacturing plants, whose products now go to the four ends of the world, found their inception with the simple mechanie in overalls, who under- stood the immediate wants of his fellowman and knew how to supply them.
A glance at the east and west shore lines of Lake Michigan reveals a peenliar phenomenon. The cast shore presents a series of small cities and villages while the shores of Wisconsin maintain a number of large and impor- tant manufacturing centers. The hinterland of the two shore lines has, no doubt, much to do with the material vitality of these cities but the primary ranse must be sought elsewhere. The population that sought the west shore was in the main industrially inelined. It included a preponderance of skilled mechanics. There were, of course, those who were trained in commercial and professional pursuits, but the artisan at all times predominated.
The Yankees who came from New England and the Knickerbockers. as they were then called, who came from New York state between the thirties and forties of the last century, were young, strong and hopeful. They songht business opportunities and concerned themselves with transportation, bank- ing, insurance and general commercial undertakings.
With the tide of immigration that rolled in between the years of 1840 to 1875 from Germany, Austria, Ireland, Scotland and the Scandinavian countries, came also that industrial impetus which since has so strongly char- actorized the Wisconsin lake cities and led to Milwaukee's rise as a great manufacturing center.
In connection with the foregoing it should be added that the transition. too, from a community whose racial origin was at one time more largely foreign than native, passing in an orderly, logical and consistent manner from a stage of foreignism to Americanism, constitutes a chapter that deserves treatment in the light of present day conceptions and of developments of a more recent period.
What is told of the men of Milwaukee in point of industry and perse- verance, is equally true of the women. They braved the privation and hard- ships of a pioneer day. They bore the burdens of motherhood and shared with their husbands the sterner realities of life in a new and rough country. In the subsequent development and maintenance of educational, charitable and welfare endeavor they assumed the larger task, and thus made a mag- nificent contribution to the social and moral progress of their time and their community.
11 is safe to say that adequate recognition has never been accorded to the part which women here played in the earlier foundations of a social order and in the development of those agencies which gave practical expression to the higher and nobler impulses of man.
Ilistories are frequently subject to revision not so much as to the bare facts they chronicle but rather as to the spirit they breathe, the atmosphere they aim to refleet, and the impressions they ultimately convey. Even isolated facts may obtain their true setting and relative import in the light of later facts and conditions. Constant research and the coupling of event with event lead to the correction of misstatements, the adjustment of values, and
19
INTRODUCTION
the fixing of conclusions. Again, histories already begun must from time to time be brought up to date and amplified by subsequent events.
In the light of the marvellous progress made by the city and county of Milwaukee during the past two decades, and in amplification of the assembled records of the past, a new history must be deemed timely and desirable. The more important events of that period, a record of the later influences and forees that have entered into the growth and development of a great population eenter, must be rendered accessible to present and future generations. The lessons and precepts of that period must not be lost.
The contribution which the people of that political unit with which this volume deals, have made to the economic and civie life of the nation is well worthy of a dignified and permanent record. Out of the aggregate of events, out of its successes and its failures, must spring the history of a nation.
The people of whom this history treats have manifested the same inven- tive genins. the same enterprise and energy, the same constructive ability and the same loyalty and patriotism that has characterized the nation as a whole. They have been so closely interlinked with its material progress as to share in its adversities as well as in its suceesses ; they have constituted so intimately a part of its political life as to share fully in its burdens as well as its blessings. At all times have they responded, willingly. readily and unselfishly, to the national spirit and impulse as they have complied with the duties of citizen- ship at home.
It is with this thought in mind, and in this manner of approach, that the task of writing a new history of Milwaukee city and county, as an integral part of the Great Republie, is undertaken-a history that shall be concise, comprehensive and complete in form and presentation, and worthy of the people whose story it tells.
WILLIAM GEORGE BRUCE.
AN OLD TIME OIL PAINTING OF MILWAUKEE Probably painted in the early '40s. Painting belongs to the Old Settlers ('lub
CHAPTER I
DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT WEST
In the year 1634, Jean Nicollet, accompanied by seven Indian companions, entered Lake Michigan by way of the Straits of Mackinac, and thus was the first white man to behold the broad surface of this inland sea. "Along its northern shores his canoe was paddled by his dusky oarsmen," says H. E. Legler in his "Leading Events in Wisconsin Ilistory." "At the Bay de Noquet he briefly tarried, and finally came to the Menomonee, where that river pours its waters into Green Bay."
Later Nicollet ascended the Fox River until he came to the country of the Maseoutens and at that point he turned south, when within three days' journey of the portage, into the Wisconsin River, thus missing the route to the Missis- sippi which JJoliet and Marquette followed in 1673. At length in the course of his extended journey he reached the country of the Illinois Indians. After a sojourn with these tribes he returned to Green Bay, "doubtless along the western shore of Lake Michigan," says Legler. However, as this is a con- jecture the statement may not be accepted as fully authentic.
Nicholas Perrot came to visit the Wisconsin Indians in 1665, having been intrusted by the authorities at Montreal with the task of making peace among the tribes who were "fierce as wild cats, full of mutual jealousies, withont rulers and without laws." In this mission Perrot succeeded remarkably well.
Voyages of Joliet and Marquette .- The discovery of the Upper Mississippi River was made on the celebrated voyage of Joliet and Marquette in 1673. The beginning of the recorded history of the Great West dates from this year and this voyage, and its importance requires some account of the events which marked one of the most brilliant and daring enterprises in the annals of west- ern adventure and exploration.
The Mississippi River had been discovered by a Spaniard, Hernando De Soto in 1541, at a point near the present City of Memphis; but this discovery had been well-nigh forgotten at the period of time here spoken of. That a great river existed, far to the north of the region where De Soto found and crossed the Mississippi, was well known to the French from the reports made to them by the Indians, vague and indefinite though they were; and these reports excited the imagination and stimulated the ambition of many of the adventurous spirits of the time.
It does not appear to have been suspected by any of the early French explorers that the Great River of which the Indians told them, was one and the same with that discovered by the Spanish explorer, more than a century
21
22
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
before. Many conjectures were made as to where it reached the sea. on which point the Indians could give no reliable information. Some thought that it emptied into the "Sea of Virginia," others contended that it flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, while Frontenac. the governor of New France, was convinced that it discharged its waters into the Vermilion Sea, that is the Gulf of Cali fornia : and that by way of it, a passage might be found to China.
The Great Unknown River. Reports having reached France, regarding the "Great River of the West." as it was often spoken of, the French minis- ter, Colbert, wrote to Talon, the intendant at Quebec, in 1672, that efforts should be made "to reach the sea ;" meaning to explore the great unknown river and solve the mystery of its outlet. This was followed by appropriate instructions. Father Dablon, in the "Jesuit Relations." says: "The Count Frontenac, our governor, and Monsieur Talon, then our intendant, recogniz- ing the importance of this discovery [ to be made], * appointed For this undertaking Sieur Joliet, whom they considered very fit for so great an enterprise : and they were well pleased that Father Marquette should be of the party."
It must be understood that the government of New France at this period was of a dual character. The French King did not believe it safe to intrust the affairs of his AAmerican dominions to the hands of a single man, and there- fore the office of "intendant" was created, the incumbent possessing coordi- nate authority with the governor general. Thus the acts of the intendant were regarded as of equal anthority with those of the governor general, and as mentioned above through the joint action of these two officials the expedi- tion was anthorized.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.