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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01076 9195
WISCONSIN
Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form
EDITED BY EX-GOV. GEO. W. PECK
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MADISON, WIS. Western llistorical Association 1906
1917214
Copyright, 1906
By Western Historical Association
Borderlands $20.00(3)
PREFACE.
The title of this volume is self-explanatory and needs but few words by way of preface. It is unique among volumes of Wiscon- sin literature and will, we believe, prove highly acceptable to all students of Wisconsin affairs and to professional and business men generally. The work of compilation was done by William J. Anderson and William A. Anderson, with the Hon. George W. Peck, formerly governor of Wisconsin, as supervising editor.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
Aaron, a country postoffice in Burnett county. It is 45 miles east of Grantsburg, the county seat.
Abbotsford, an incorporated village in Clark county on the A. & N. E. and W. C. Rys., with a population of 900; has one newspaper, the Weekly Clarion, and a bank. Is 40 miles N. E. of Neillsville, the county seat.
"Abe, Old." -- The Wisconsin war eagle of that name was cap- tured by an Indian on the Flambeau river and presented to the Eighth Wisconsin regiment. The bird accompanied that regiment in all of its campaigns and lived through thirty-six battles and skirmishes, At his death several years after the war the skin was mounted and the effigy kept in a class case in the section in the capitol reserved for the G. A. R. relics and battle flags. The mounted remains were destroyed in the fire which destroyed the capitol building in February, 1904.
Ableman, an incorporated village in Sauk county on the C. & N. W. Ry. and the Baraboo river. Is 9 miles west of Baraboo, the county scat. It has a population of 450.
Abrams, a village on the Pensaukee river in Oconto county, 14 miles southwest of Oconto, the county seat. The C., M. & St. P. Ry. goes through the village. The population is 200.
Academy, German-English, was established at Milwaukee about 1853 under the auspices of the Milwaukee Schulverein. Liberal German-Americans have supported the institution, and in 1888, built for it large and commodious buildings. In 1878 a normal school was opened in connection with it, being the model depart-
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ـخلافـ
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
ment for the National German-American Teachers' Seminary. The training given in the normal school is similar to that given in the seminaries of Germany, and is calculated to fit young men and women for teaching in both German and English. Instruction in the seminary is free.
Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, Wisconsin, was organized at Madison February 16, 1870, at a convention called for the pur- pose by the governor. Its objects are the promotion and advance- ment of science, arts and letters. The transactions are published annually and contain the papers and reports on various subjects, the state paying the expense of publication. The library of the society is housed in the Historical Society building in Madison. The transactions cover the fields of letters, art, anthropology, arch- aeology, astronomy, bibliography, botany, engineering, geography, geology, mathematics, medicine, meteorology, statistics, and zoology. The academy meets once each year when reports are made and papers read. It exchanges its transactions with all the scientific societies of the world.
Accident, Capitol .- On November 8, 1883, while in process of erection the south wing of the capitol building collapsed. Seven workmen were killed.
Ackerville is on the C., M. & St. P. Ry., in Washington county, 11 miles south of West Bend, the county seat. The population is 75.
Ada, a town in Sheboygan county 12 miles northwest of Sheboygan, the county seat. Has a population of 70.
Adams Center, a village in Adams county. Has a population of 140 and is 5 miles south of Friendship, the county seat.
Adams, Charles Kendall, former president of the state univer- sity, was born in Derby, Vt., January 24, 1835. In 1861 he was graduated from the University of Michigan and in 1862 received the degree of Master of Arts. The following fall he became in- structor in Latin and history and was assistant instructor in 1863. In 1885 was made president of Cornell University, and in 1892 he received a call to become the president of the U. W. Widely known as the author of "Democracy and Monarchy in France," "Manual
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
F of Historical Literature" and "Life and Work of Christopher Co- lumbus." In 1886 he was granted the honorary degree of LL. D. by Harvard. Resigned the presidency of the University of Wis- consin early in 1902 and died in California July 26, 1902.
Adams County is situated in the south central part of the state. The county was named in honor of President John Quincy Adams and was organized in 1852. The soil is a dark, sandy loam. The census of 1905 gives it a population of 9,062 and its area is 680 square miles. It is the only county in the state that is not touched by a railroad. The county seat is Friendship.
Adams, Henry Cullen, was born in Verona, Oneida county, N. Y., November 28, 1850; educated at Albion Academy and the Univer- sity of Wisconsin; member of the assembly in 1883 and 1885; superintendent of public property under Gov. Hoard in 1888; served as dairy and food commissioner from 1895 to 1902. He was elected to represent the second district in Congress in 1902 and re-elected in 1904. His home was in Madison. He died July 9, 1906.
Addison, a town in Washington county, with a population of 35. It is 10 miles west of West Bend, the county seat.
Adell, a town on the C. M. & St. P. Ry. in Sheboygan county with a population of 300. It is 18 miles southwest of Sheboygan, the county seat.
Adjutant General .- See National Guard.
Adney, a discontinued postoffice in Crawford county.
Adsit, a discontinued postoffice in Dane county.
Advance, a postoffice in Shawano county, 18 miles from Shawano, the county seat.
Adverse Possession, Law of .- Under the Wisconsin Statutes no action for the recovery of real estate or the possession thereof can be maintained unless it appears that the plaintiff or his predecessor was seized or possessed of the premises in question within twenty years before the commencement of such action. In such actions the person establishing a legal title to the premises is presumed to have been possessed thereof within the time required by law, and the occupation of the premises by another is deemed to have been subordinate to the legal title unless it appears that there has been
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
adverse possession for a sufficient time, and of the required nature. Where the occupant entered into possession of the premises under a claim of title founded upon a written instrument or upon a court judgment the occupant is deemed to have held adversely if there has been continual occupation and possession under such claim for ten years. The land is deemed to have been so occupied and pos- sessed under such claim or judgment where (1) it has been usually, cultivated or improved, (2) protected by a substantial enclosure, (3) where, although not enclosed, it has been used for the supply of fuel or fencing timber for the purpose of husbandry or for the ordinary use of the occupant, and (4) where a known farm or a single lot has been partly improved the portion of such farin or lot uncleared or minclosed, according to the custom of the adjoining country, shall be deemed to have been occupied for the same period as the part improved or cultivated. Where there has been an actual continued occupation of any premises under a claim of title not founded upon any written instrument or judgment or decree, in order to constitute a bar to an action for the recovery of such real estate, the land must have been adversely held for a period of twenty years and for the purpose of constituting such adverse possession the land is deemed to have been possessed and occupied only (1) when it has been protected by a substantial inclosure, or (2) when it has been usually cultivated or improved.
Advertiser, The Milwaukee, the first newspaper published in Milwaukee. Its first edition appeared July 14, 1836.
Afton, a village with a population of 125 is situated on Bass Creek, a water power stream on the C. & N. W. Ry. in Rock county, 6 miles S. of Janesville, the county seat.
Age of Consent .- The legislature in 1899 raised the age of con- sent in females from 14 to 18 years.
Agricultural Experiment Association was organized Feb. 22, 1901, and in 1905 had a membership of 600. Its objects are to carry on experiments and investigations useful to progressive farming; to form a more perfect union of the farmers of the state, and to grow and disseminate new varieties of seeds and plants. The legisla-
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
ture of 1903 provided for an annual appropriation to pay the ex- pense of printing the reports of the association.
Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized in 1860 for the purpose of promoting improvements in all departments of agriculture and in the mechanic arts. It paid a great deal of atten- tion to racing, running and trotting, and the improvement of racing stock. Its headquarters were in Milwaukee and its originators prominent Milwaukee men. It is not now active.
Agricultural Schools, County .- In response to a public sentiment fostered by many educators of the state, the legislature of 1901 provided for the establishment of county schools of agriculture in two counties-Dunn and Marathon were selected-and the schools are now in successful operation. The legislature of 1905 provided for two more schools, one in Marinette county and one in Clark county. These schools are in the nature of normal institutes and not only teach the art of agriculture but prepare students to teach it in other schools. The state pays half the annual cost up to $2,500 for each school; the county furnishes the equipment and pays the balance.
Agriculture, Statistics of .- The state census of 1905 gives the following agricultural statistics: Number of acres of improved land, 10,948,619 ; of unimproved land, 8,687,606; value including build- ings, $796,844,174; value of farm implements, $18,936,901; total wages paid, including board, $13,002,930. Number of acres of wheat, 210,010; bushels, 2,700,813, valued at $2,263,701. Number of acres of oats, 2,243,208 ; bushels, 72,493,843, valued at $20,060,749.' Number of acres of barley, 708,205; bushels, 21,098,402, valued at $8,105,927. Number of acres of rye, 290,523; bushels, 3,830,621, valued at $2,544,823. Number of acres of buckwheat, 34,672; bushels, 497,364, valued at $291,305. Number of acres of corn, 1,324,026; bushels, 41,766,910, valued at $16,916,926. Number of acres of clover seed, 83,288; bushels, 153,054, valued at $939,761. Number of acres of timothy seed, 15,453; bushels, 80,781, valued at $99,966. Number of acres of flax seed, 7,918; bushels, 116,372, valued at $121,667. Number of acres of other grains and seeds, 4,434; bushels, 116,560, valued at $69,157. Number of acres of hay,
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
2,586,152 ; tons, 3,932,954, valued at $21,777,119. There were also 18,234 lbs. of maple sugar, worth $2,625; 43, $33 gallons of maple syrup worth $47,071; 2,324,710 lbs. of honey worth $215,505; 2,024,855 bushels of apples worth $684,976; 245,625 lbs. of grapes worth $9,002 ; 37,651,498 lbs. of tobacco worth $2,526,824; and 100,- 783 tons of sugar beets valued at $450,004. In the dairy business there were 1,237,910 milch cows worth $30,784,377; 100,418,960 gallons of milk worth $9,585,660; 34,620,368 lbs. of butter worth $6,556,207; and 1,974,830 lbs. of cheese worth $173,422. The num- ber of fowl was 8,734,772 valued at $2,529,345; and 45,097,668 dozens of eggs worth $6,633,459. Of wool there were 3,736,039 lbs. valued at $1,015,609; wagons and carriages numbered 441,836, valued at $10,768,103; 509 automobiles valued at $461,665; other farm products valued at $466,795. Of farm animals there were 607,670 horses and mules valued at $43,613,839; 2,331,681 cattle and calves on hand worth $40,602,016; 792,353 cattle and calves sold or consumed worth $12,617,674; 1,439,333 hogs on hand worth' $6,216,021; 1,780,132 hogs sold or consumed, valued at $16,098,791; 901,025 sheep and lambs on hand worth $2,420,789; and 428,397 sheep and lambs sold or consumed valued at $1,347,603. The mis- cellaneous products are : Potatoes, 228,839 acres ; 29,848,206 bushels; value, $5,743,678. Root crops, 8,254 acres ; 1,512,441 bushels ; value, $333,265. Beans and peas, 84,314 acres; 1,360,047 bushels; value, $1,210,961. Berries, 4,488 acres; 267,748 bushels; value, $503,930. Sorghum, 1,587 acres; 23,415 gallons; value, $37,820. Total, acre-' age of grain, 4,921,737; total bushels of grain, 142,854,720; total value of grain, $51,413,982. The total value of all agricultural products exclusive of land and farm implements was $266,181,574.
Ahnapee River is in Kewaunee county, flows southeast and empties into Lake Michigan at Algoma.
Alabama, a postoffice with a population of 35 in Polk county, 24 miles northwest of Balsam Lake, the county seat.
Alaska, a settlement in Kewauree county, 534 miles north of Kewaunee, the county seat. Is on the shore of Lake Michigan and has a population of 100.
Alban, a postoffice in Portage county on the south branch of the
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"CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
Little Wolf river, 20 miles northeast of Stevens Point, the county seat.
Albany .- This village, with a population of 850, is located on the Sugar river and the C. M. & St. P. Ry. in Green county. Has a weekly newspaper, the Vindicator, and two banks. Monroe, the county seat, is 20 miles southwest.
Albertville, a village with a population of 50 is situated on the line of the W. C. Ry. in Chippewa county, 12 miles west of Chip- pewa Falls, the county seat.
Albion is situated in Dane county, 25 miles southeast of Madison, the county seat. It has a population of 200 and is the seat of Albion College.
Alden, a discontinued postoffice in Polk county.
Alderley, a discontinued postoffice in Dodge county.
Algoma, a beautifully located city on the shore of Lake Michi- gan in Kewaunee county, 12 miles north of Kewaunee, the county seat. Is a division point of the A. & W. Ry. and a stopping point of the Goodrich line of steamers. The population numbers 2,008. It was formerly known as Ahnapee.
Algonquin Indians .- While the name Algonquin was given to all tribes on the north bank of the St. Lawrence river and the north- ern border of the great lakes, there was one particular tribe to which this name applied. Their hunting grounds extended to Lake Superior and they were often found within the borders of Wisconsin by the early explorers and missionaries.
Aliceton, a discontinued postoffice in Jefferson county.
Allen's Grove, a postoffice in Walworth county on the C. M. & St. P. Ry., 14 miles southwest of Elkhorn, the county seat.
Allenton, a town on the Rock river and on the line of W. C. Ry. in Washington county, 8 miles west of West Bend, the county seat. The population is 300.
Allenville, a village in Winnebago county, on the line of the C. & N. W. Ry. It is 11 miles north of Oshkosh, the county seat, and has a population of 50.
Alloa, a settlement in Columbia county, 712 miles southwest of
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
Portage, the county seat. It receives its mail by R. F. D. from Portage.
Alloidal Lands .- The constitution declares that all lands in Wis- consin are alloidal; i. e., held by the owner without being subject to any feudal service, or any tax or rent other than the tax levied by the government.
Allouez, a station of the Superior postoffice on the N. P., the D. S. S. & A., the C. & N. W. and the G. N. Rys.
Allouez, Claude Jean, a French priest of the order of Jesuits known as "The apostle to the Ottawas." He constructed the first mission in the territory which afterward became Wisconsin. His first mission was on Chequamegon Bay, on La Pointe de Saint Esprit, not far from the head of the bay.
Alma .- This city, the county seat of Buffalo county, was first settled in 1852, incorporated as a village in 1868 and as a city in 1885. It is on the east bank of the Mississippi river and on the C. B. & Q. Ry. It has a weekly paper, the Buffalo County Journal, and a bank. Its population by the census of 1905 was 1,172.
Alma Center .- This village, settled in 1860, is in Jackson county, 12 miles northwest of Black River Falls, the county seat. The population is 350 and the village is located on the main line of the G. B. & W. Ry. A weekly newspaper, the Alma Center News, is published and the village boasts a bank.
Almena, a town of 150 in Barron county, 10 miles west of Bar- ron, the county seat and on the M. St. P. & S. Ste. M. Ry.
Almond, a village in Portage county, on the C. & N. W. Ry. with a population of 417. It is 24 miles southwest of Stevens Point, the county seat, has a bank, and a weekly newspaper, the Portage County Press.
Alpha, a discontinued postoffice in Burnett county.
Alstad, a country postoffice in Burnett county, 10 miles south- west of Grantsburg, the county seat.
Altdorf, a discontinued postoffice in Wood county.
Alto, a discontinued postoffice in Fond du Lac county.
Altona .- See New Holstein.
Altoona, an incorporated village in Eau Claire county on the
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
C. St. P. M. & O. Ry. and the Eau Claire river and Otter Creek. It was settled in 1882 and now has a population of 800. It is 312 miles east of Eau Claire, the county seat.
Alumni Magazine, The Wisconsin, is a monthly magazine pub- lished at Madison under the auspices of the Alumni Association of the University of Wisconsin. It aims to maintain an interest in the university among the alumni.
Alverno, a town in Manitowoc county on the W. C. Ry., with a population of 25. It is 5 miles west of Manitowoc, the county seat. Amanda, a discontinued postoffice in Oconto county.
Amberg, a postoffice in Marinette county on the C. M. & St. P. Ry. with a population of 500. It is 46 miles by rail from Marinette, the county seat.
American Flag, Desecration of .- The legislature of 1901 enacted a measure prohibiting the use of the American flag for advertising purposes,-that is the printing of words or devices of any kind on the flag for such purposes.
American Fur Company .- See Fur Trade, Wisconsin.
American Rule, Wisconsin Under .- From 1783 the country which is now included in the state of Wisconsin was under Ameri- can dominion. though in disregard of the treaty of that year the' British for several years longer still maintained posts in the ceded territory, holding Green Bay as a dependency of the British fort at Mackinac. Several of the original colonies claimed the North- west country, but they joined in ceding the disputed territory and ir 1787, by the Ordinance of that year, the Federal Congress erected the Northwest Territory. The first governor was Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1789-1802. Following this, Wisconsin was successively a part of Indiana Territory, Illinois Territory, and Michigan Terri- tory, and in 1836 Wisconsin Territory was created, embodying in its borders the present state, and what is now Minnesota, Iowa and much of the two Dakotas. In 1848 Wisconsin was admitted to the union with the boundaries the same as they now are. (See Boun- daries of Wisconsin.)
Amery, an incorporated village in Polk county with a population of 1,200 on the banks of the Apple river, a water power stream, and
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on the line of the M. St. P. & S. Ste. M. Ry. Has a bank and a weekly paper, the Free Press.
Amherst, a village in Portage county on the Waupaca river and the W. C. Ry. It dates its settlement from 1850 and now boasts a population of 329. It is 17 miles southeast of Stevens Point and has a bank and a weekly newspaper, the Advocate.
Amherst Junction, a village in Portage county at the junction of the G. B. & W. R. R. and the W. C. Ry., with a population of 250. It is 14 miles southeast of Stevens Point, the county seat, and has a bank.
Aminicon, a station in Douglas county on the N. P. Ry. It is 8 miles from Superior, which is its postoffice.
Aminicon River rises and is entirely in Douglas county. Flows north and empties into Lake Superior. It is crossed by the C. St. P. M. & O. and the D. S. S. & A. Rys, at Thomas and by the N. P. at Aminicon.
Amos, a discontinued postoffice in Dane county.
Amy, a discontinued postoffice in Dunn county.
Anah is situated on a water power stream, Potato Creek; this town with a population of about 100 is located in Washburn county, 15 miles northeast of Shell Lake, the county seat.
Anarchy, Criminal .- The statutes define criminal anarchy as the advocacy of the overthrow of organized government by assassina- tion, by force or violence ; or the assassination of the executive head of government ; the teaching by printing or speech, or the deliber- ate and wilful justification by word of mouth or writing, of as- sassination. ?
Anchorage, a country postoffice of Buffalo county, 9 miles south- east of Alma, the county seat.
Anderson, a discontinued postoffice in Grant county.
Anderson, Rasmus B., one of the best known of Wisconsin au- thors, was born in Albion, Dane county, Jan. 12, 1846; educated at Norwegian Lutheran College of Decorah, Ia .; from 1875 to 1884 was professor of Scandinavian languages and literature in the U. W .; in 1885 was appointed U. S. minister to Denmark and served until 1889. Author of many works illustrative of Scandinavian
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CYCLOPEDIA OF WISCONSIN.
folk-lore and history, and editor of Amerika, an influential weekly paper printed in the Norwegian language at Madison.
Andersonville Prison Monument .- The legislature of 1903 ap- propriated $10,000 and authorized the appointment of a commission to select a site and erect a monument in the National Cemetery at Andersonville in memory of the Wisconsin soldiers who suffered and died there in prison.
Andrus, a country postoffice of Polk county, 14 miles northeast of Balsam Lake, the county seat.
Angelica, a post town in Shawano county with a population of 175. It is 18 miles southeast of Shawano, the county scat.
Angelo, a settlement in Monroe county 21/2 miles from Sparta, the county seat and its postoffice.
Aniwa, an incorporated village in Shawano county with a popu- lation of 353. Is 18 miles northwest of Shawano, the county seat, and is on the C. & N. W. Ry.
Annaton, a discontinued postoffice in Grant county.
Annita, a country postoffice of Bayfield county, 50 miles from Washburn, the county seat.
Annsburg .- See Ridgeland.
Anson, a settlement in Chippewa county, 91/2 miles northeast of Chippewa Falls, the county seat and its postoffice.
Anti-Bucket-Shop Law .- The legislature of 1903 enacted what is known as the anti-bucket-shop law, which prohibits trad- ing in options and margins by correspondence, at points away from a regular board of trade.
Anti-Cigarette Law .- Chapter 82, Laws of 1905, is a drastic anti- cigarette law, intended to abolish the cigarette habit among boys. It imposes a heavy penalty for the selling or offering for sale cigar- ettes, cigarette papers, or cigarette wrappers or any substitute therefor ; or any paper made or prepared for the purpose of making cigarettes, or any substitute therefor.
Antigo .- This city of 6,663 population is the county seat of Langlade county and is on the C. & N. W. Ry. and Spring Brook river. It was first settled in 1876 by F. A. Deleglise and incor- porated as a city in 1885. It is a division point of the C. & N. W.
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Ry., contains two banks, and three weekly newspapers, the Antigo Herold (German), the Antigo Journal, and the Republican.
Anti-Gypsy Law .- The legislature of 1903 enacted what is known as the anti-gypsy law which makes it unlawful for travelers to remain camped in the highway longer than 12 hours after no- tice that they must move on has been given by the owner of the abutting property, or by a supervisor, or by a trustee of a town or village.
Anti-Lobby Law .- Chapter 243 of the Laws of 1899, is known as the anti-lobby law. It compels the registration in the secretary of state's office of all persons acting as agents or attorneys of firms, individuals or corporations before the legislature or legisla- tive committees. Municipalities are excepted from the operation of the law.
Anti-Pass Law .- Chapter 311, Laws of 1874, is a stringent anti-pass law. It prohibited the issuing to or acceptance by, any judge of a court of record, state officer or member of the legislature of a railroad pass or a special rate, and was in its general purpose a law against discrimination. It also prohibited the combining of parallel lines, or the election of the same man as an officer of two parallel and competing lines. The law was repealed at the same time with the Potter law. The legislature of 1899 passed a stringent anti-pass law applying to all incumbents of public offices. A constitutional amendment embodying the sub- stance of the law was submitted to the people and was duly adopted. The Rate Commission law passed in 1905 contains provisions which are interpreted by the railroads as absolutely prohibiting the issuance of passes to any person, excepting railroad employes.
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