USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > A history of Columbia County, Wisconsin : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 23
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The average attendance at St. Mary's school is about two hundred. The children are taught by the Sisters of St. Dominic. The school has been established since 1866 and conducted in its present location since 1880. The sisters are comfortably housed in St. Dominic's Convent, standing on the property of the church, which is a credit both to the parish and the city.
THE METHODISTS OF PORTAGE
In the spring of 1851, a society of Methodists was organized in Portage by the Rev. Mr. Mackintosh. He remained but a short time, and such local preachers as James Chancellor and Isaac Smith-the latter an exhorter from the colony of English potters who had settled in the north- ern part of the county-kept the organization together, pending the organization of a regular church. Rev. William Wells, a sturdy pioneer minister, often filled the pulpit of this society.
In the fall of 1852, Rev. John Bean was sent to Portage by the pre- siding elder, as the result of an urgent call, and thus became the first
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regular pastor. Rev. D. Stansbury succeeded him, and during his pastorate, about 1856, the society erected a small wooden building as a house of worship.
Among those who have served the society as pastors, succeeding Mr. Stansbury, were: Rev. C. P. Hackney, H. V. Train, W. B. Haseltine, R. Langley, John M. Springer, I. B. Baehman, Jacob Miller, I. B. Rich- ardson, William Haw, James Evans, George W. Case, John Knibbs, F. W. Hall, A. S. Collins, W. J. Mckay, J. E. Irish, W. R. Irish, A. M. Pilcher, II. W. Bushnell, E. Trimm and W. H. Penn (the present in- cumbent ).
The beautiful church, corner of DeWitt and Pleasant, opposite the courthouse square, is largely the result of the labors of the Ladies' Aid Society, who for several years energetically collected funds for its erec- tion. The church was built under the pastorate of Rev. H. W. Bushnell. On October 3, 1897, Rev. D. W. Couch, of New York City, made an appeal for subscriptions to the new church, which, with resources on hand, gave the enterprise a backing of $6,000. The board of directors then took matters well in hand, and in the following year the corner- stone of the present structure was laid, being completed at a cost of $11,000. The edifice has two spires, the major one, ninety feet high, being on the corner of De Witt and Pleasant streets.
The First Methodist has cause for pride as a stimulant of patriot- ism, as illustrated by the records of some of its pastors in Civil war times. Rev. John M. Springer enlisted as a private and died in the Union service, Rev. R. Langley was an army chaplain, and Revs. W. J. Mckay and A. M. Pilcher have creditable army records.
The present membership of the First Methodist is nearly two hun- dred and twenty, with a Sunday School which has 245 scholars. The church is old, but strong, active and growing.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
After some years of missionary work in this place the First Presby- terian Church of the town of Fort Winnebago was organized by Rev. William Wynkoop MeNair, July 14, 1850, and incorporated as such, July 29, 1850. Not until July 21, 1892, was the name changed to the First Presbyterian Church of Portage.
On organizing, a frame building was erected on ground opposite the county jail, which served as a house of worship until February, 1856, and the former building was sold to the Baptists who moved it to near the southeast corner of Adams and Conant streets; the Presbyterians
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having moved to the brick edifice on the north corner of Cook and Adams streets, erected an edifice at a cost of $13,000.
This was a most substantial building, and will be a prominent land- mark for many years to come. It has been twice gutted by fire, but it stands today apparently as good as ever.
The first fire occurred May 19, 1892, doing damage to such an extent that it was deemed advisable to build in a more westerly location, Por- tage having grown in that direction, and the present place of worship was erected in 1893, and dedicated October 15th. In this church and the manse on adjoining property east, the Presbyterians own one of the pretty and substantial church properties of the state, worth over forty thousand dollars.
Following the resignation of the Rev. W. W. McNair, the following were incumbents of the pulpit: Rev. George C. Heckman, 1856-60; Rev. Benjamin Van Zandt, 1860-62; Rev. Fred R. Wotring, 1863-66; Rev. Charles F. Beach, 1867-69; Rev. John H. Ritchey, 1869-74; Rev. Samuel Wycoff, 1874-77; Rev. L. H. Mitchell, 1878-81; Rev. Daniel Bierce, 1881-83; Rev. I. V. W. Schenck, 1883-86; Rev. John H. Ritchey (second term), 1886-1902, (died) ; Rev. W. G. Blue, 1902-07; Rev. J. I. Cleland, 1907-12; Rev. A. S. MeKay, 1913, present incumbent. The foregoing were all men of more than ordinary ability, but the twenty- one years of John H. Ritchey, ended by death, show his great worth and popularity.
In the following those marked # were elders and t trustees: Con- nected with Rev. W. W. MeNair in the organization were, George Wall *+ ; Chauney J. Pettibone #; H. R. Pettibone; John apJones and John A. Johnson, clerk. Mention in those early records and later, and the order given are the following: Charles Helms; Dr. D. C. Holtenstein; C. J. McCullock t ; Decatur Vandercook; Lemuel Berry t ; L. S. Dixon; W. Owen; E. O. Emerson ; John E. Peabody ; Rev. J. B. Plumstead ; Donald Ferguson # John L. Clark * ; E. S. Doty ; S. E. Dana ; George H. Osborn ; M. C. Prescott; Alva Stewart; E. P. Hill; Ll. Breese #t ; R. B. Wentworth t; E. L. Jaeger t; D. G. Muirt; A. D. Hem- menway * ; R. Pool; Thomas Yule * ; M. Jennings * ; W. S. Scher- merhorn #; W. G. Bebb; W. L. Parry #; R. Campbell; R. O. Loomis t ; G. J. Cox; J. J. Edwards; S. Shaw; R. L. Williams; N. K. Shattuck #t; James Paterson ; ; C. R. Austin; William Fulton *+; J. H. Rogers t ; John Williamson t ; L. L. Kennan ; D. A. Goodyear t ; G. J. Owen; George Yule; William L. Breese; Alex Sheret; D. Buglass, Sr. ; Paul Schumann +; M. L. Alverson; F. A. Lanzer #; W. C. Barden *; Dr. F. T. Gorton *t ; F. L. Sanborn *+; E. R. Rice * ; H. E. Andrews *t ; R. L. Cochran *; C. F. Mohr + ; R. McConochie t ; D. Bogne .*
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The present church officers with terms expiring as follows are: Ses- sion, pastor; A. D. MeKay, moderator; William Fulton, 1915, clerk; Ll. Breese (life) ; H. E. Andrews, 1916; F. L. Sanborn, 1917; F. T. Gor- ton, 1917 ; D. Bogue, 1917, elders. Board of trustees: Chairman, F. L. Sanborn, 1915; Wmn. Fulton, clerk, 1916; Ll. Breese, 1915; F. T. Gorton, 1915; E. L. Jaeger, 1916; M. L. Alverson, 1916; J. H. Rogers, 1917; C. F. Mohr, 1917; R. N. MeConochie, 1917. The deacons are: E. L. Jaeger, A. Janda and A. O. Thayer. Treasurer of general fund, D. T. Lurvey ; treasurer of benevolences, F. L. Sanborn.
The church has the following small endowments for special purposes : The Lydia H. Wentworth Memorial Fund, The Mrs. A. Weir Fund, and The Mrs. Maria J. Baker Fund; and its affairs are in good condi- tions and without debt of any kind.
The period of the Civil war was detrimental to the progress of the Presbyterian Church, as it was more or less to that of every other relig- ious body in Portage. It was just recovering when Mr. Ritchey assumed his first pastorate, under which the church increased materially in mem- bership. When he resumed the charge in 1886, it had a membership of about one hundred and thirty, and under his long and faithful second incumbency it reached its highest state of prosperity.
The old church burned May 29, 1892, and the new structure was completed and dedicated October 15, 1893. Present membership about two hundred and twenty-five.
The First Presbyterian Church is the oldest Protestant organization in Portage, and its long life has been fruitful of great uplifting power in the community.
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. John's Episcopal Church of Portage was organized June 8, 1853, at a meeting held in Verandah Hall. The well-known pioneer, Henry Merrell, was chosen chairman, and J. B. Seaman secretary of the meet- ing, after which Mr. Merrell was elected senior warden and Alvah Hand junior warden of the parish, with C. D. Hottenstein, John Delaney, J. B. Seaman, M. H. Pettibone and A. C. Ketchum as vestrymen. After the election of Doctor Hottenstein and Mr. Seaman as treasurer and secre- tary, respectively, an invitation was extended to Rev. E. A. Goodenough, a missionary, to take spiritual charge of the small flock of Episcopalians, which invitation was accepted. Such, in brief, were the proceedings of the first meeting of St. John's Episcopal Parish.
Missionaries continued the services at Verandah Hall until August 7. 1854, when Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson accepted a call as the first
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settled rector. The building of the first church was started June 4, 1855, when the late Richard F. Veeder, then a vestryman, donated its site. The edifice was completed the same year, and consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., on August 31, 1856. Mr. Thompson was ordained at the same time and continued the rectorship until November, 1858, subsequently becoming widely known as rector of Grace Episcopal Church, New York.
Rev. Eugene C. Patterson, who succeeded Mr. Thompson, served the parish until 1860, and was followed in 1861 by Rev. Alonzo J. M. Hud- son. The rectorship was assumed by Rev. Walter F. Lloyd in 1867, and by Rev. Samuel D. Pulford in 1869. In 1871, during his incum- beney, the present rectory was built. After seven years of service, in 1876 Mr. Pulford was succeeded by Rev. John K. Karcher, who, after a brief rectorship, was followed by Rev. Joel Clark, the latter retiring in 1879.
Rev. Harry Thompson and Rev. Charles Susan served the church from March, 1879, to April, 1880; Rev. John Wilkenson from the latter date until November, of the same year, and Rev. H. C. Whitte- more for the succeeding three years, followed by Rev. Charles T. Susan, who held the charge until December, 1893, when he was appointed arch- deacon of the diocese.
Rev. Frederick E. Jewell accepted the rectorship in February, 1894, closing his work here May 1, 1900; and his was a noted service. It was during his pastorate, on Sunday, October 17, 1897, that the old church was destroyed which the congregation had occupied for forty-one years. The present edifice was first used September 4, 1898, and was dedicated by Bishop I. L. Nicholson March 9, 1899. During Mr. Jewell's rector- ship the first vested choir of St. John's was organized.
Rev. A. G. Harrison assumed charge of the parish in February, 1901; was succeeded in February, 1905, by Rev. A. G. Jones, and a year later by Rev. Herman F. Rockstroh. During Mr. Rockstroh's rector- ship the parish took on new life, and his sudden death, December 1, 1907, was a great loss to the church and the community. His outward memorial in St. John's Parish is Rockstroh Hall, a structure erected in 1913 between the church building and the rectory, in which is conducted the general work of the parish.
Rev. William E. Phillips became rector of St. John's in July, 1908, and continued in charge of the parish until July, 1912. In December of that year Rev. William H. Pond, the present incumbent, was called to the service.
At the present time, St. John's Episcopal Church has 265 communi- cants, and is growing as a stable religious body of Christians.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
The First Baptist Church of Portage City was organized a few months after St. John's Episcopal. On August 30, 1853, the following met at Spicer's schoolhouse, Fort Winnebago, to perfect an organiza- tion : A. L. Round, I. Fuller, M. Fuller, Samantha P. Kincaid, Eunice Fuller, Malissa Fuller, C. Wright, Julia Wright, A. Spicer, Caroline Spieer, R. Spicer, Christina Spicer, Tacy Spieer, Mary C. Trout, T. R. Jones, Amanda Jones, Phoebe and Lucy Fuller, Lecta M. Cully and Thomas O. Hear. After the society was organized services were con- ducted at the schoolhouse, in Verandah Hall on DeWitt Street, and at the residences of members.
The first regular pastor, Elder J. H. Rogers, commenced his labors July 19, 1855, and during his pastorate (in 1857) the society purchased the Presbyterian edifice on Cook Street opposite the county jail, and moved it to the southeast corner of Conant and Adams streets. Soon afterward it was sold to the Catholics, who removed it to an adjoining lot, whereon they had built a frame church. The purchased structure was afterward used by St. Mary's Parish as a parochial schoolhouse.
The Baptists then took immediate measures for the construction of a brick church on Cook Street, near Mac. The basement of the new building, in which the society assembled for worship, was dedicated October 30, 1859, but sold the following year to the Catholics in exchange for their property on Conant Street. Upon this was a frame school- house, which the Baptists transformed into their church home.
Following Mr. Rogers, who resigned in December, 1859, eame, within the following decade, Revs. I. J. Hoile, A. Whitman, E. Ellis, J. H. Wilderman, W. Archer, D. S. MeEwen, R. Storey, George P. Guild, J. W. Fuhrman, Charles Haas, H. J. Finch, Adam Fawcett, G. E. Farr, W. H. Stone, H. R. MacMillan and Ira W. Bingham.
The building on Conant Street, which had been used as a church for thirty-seven years, being too small for the increased membership of 1896 (over three hundred), was sold in that year, and the structure now occupied by the congregation was purchased of the Presbyterians and remodeled. It was dedicated as a Baptist church May 3, 1896. Eight months from that time the interior of the edifice was destroyed by fire, but rebuilding at once commeneed and the church was reopened on June 13, 1897.
It was during the pastorate of Dr. W. H. Stone that the First Baptist celebrated the golden anniversary of its founding in 1853. The services were largely attended, and the occasion brought forth much deserved
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felicitation over its long record of progress among the religious com- munities of Portage.
At present the First Baptist Church has an active membership of 190, of whom 120 are residents of the city.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
The strong German element in Portage asserted itself at an early day in the organization of a number of churches, of which the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran is the most influential of the present day. This society was organized in 1854, through the efforts of Christian Braetz, George Jurgens and other fellow-countrymen, and Rev. Mr. Beckel was its first pastor. Services were held in the Fourth Ward schoolhouse until 1874.
In the meantime the membership had largely increased and the financial resources of the church so increased as to warrant the erection of a permanent house of worship. The result was the completion of the brick structure at the corner of Carroll and Mac, in the year mentioned ; and it is still occupied by St. John's, under the pastoral charge of Rev. William Uffenbeck. Mr. Uffenbeck was called to the pastorate in 1904. Within his charge are 712 communicants, of whom 181 are voting mem- bers. The Sunday school of St. John's numbers about one hundred and twenty. Connected with the church is also a large parochial school about half a mile west. So that altogether St. John's Evangelical Luth- eran Church is perhaps the strongest religious body in Portage, and one of the most prominent in Southern Wisconsin.
The small frame building in which St. John's congregation had worshipped prior to the erection of the brick church was sold to the Free Methodists in 1874, and for some years they maintained services at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Pleasant, whither they had moved it.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL TRINITY CHURCH
The German Evangelical Trinity Church was organized in Portage in 1863, by the Rev. Louis Von Ragir. This church is located at the intersection of Wisconsin Street and Prospect Avenue. Mr. Von Ragir was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Hauf, and he by the Rev. Mr. Gotleib. It was under Mr. Gotleib's ministry, that the church was erected. Rev. A. Klein succeeded Mr. Gotleib. Succeeding him were: Revs. D. Ankele, J. Frankenstein and C. A. Hauck. The Rev. Edward Resmann is the present pastor and has served the people of that church for more
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than a quarter of a century-under his pastorate the church has been greatly improved and the membership greatly increased.
OTHER PORTAGE CHURCHES
The German Catholics founded a church in 1877, and erected a brick edifice on Mac Street, but they have been absorbed by St. Mary's Parish, as will be evident from a reading of its history.
THE MASONS FORM PIONEER LODGE
The Masons were the first of the seeret and benevolent orders to establish themselves in Portage. Their pioneer was Fort Winnebago Lodge No. 33, A. F. & A. M., organized in 1850, the dispensation being granted June 26th by William R. Smith, grand master of the state, and the charter granted on December 13th. The original meeting was held in the house afterward occupied by John Graham as a residence. It then stood on Cook Street, opposite the present site of the First Pres- byterian Church. It is said that the old anteroom door, with the little wicket in the center through which the belated members of the mystic order were wont to whisper mysterious words in order that they might join the "rest of the boys," was afterward used as a eellar door by Brother Graham.
The charter members of the lodge were Hugh McFarlane, Erastus Cook, Charles M. Kingsbury, Walter W. Kellogg, G. Law, Nelson MeNeal, Robert Hunter and Daniel Clough. John Delaney, the lawyer-editor, was the first initiate, joining the lodge October 17, 1850.
The lodge at first met in Vandercook's Bloek, but since 1883 all the Masonie bodies of Portage have held their meetings in their own hall, the lower story of which has been occupied-first by the armory of Company F, and of late years by the postoffice. The present member- ship of the lodge is 175.
The present officers of the blue lodge are as follows: Frank R. Graham, master; E. Andrews, senior warden; D. T. Lurvy, junior war- den ; John Graham, treasurer; Harry Slinger, secretary. John Graham's first official position in Fort Winnebago Lodge dates from 1858, when he was elected junior warden, and he has held the position of treasurer con- tinuously since 1867. LI. Breese was secretary in 1861, and is among the oldest of the living Masons in Columbia County. M. T. Alverson, who was secretary in 1868, and Edmund S. Baker, secretary in 1871, are also among the Masonic veterans.
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CHAPTER, COUNCIL AND COMMANDERY
Fort Winnebago Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., was granted a dispen- sation by R. D. Pulford, grand high priest of Wisconsin, February 22, 1856. To be strictly accurate, from the date of dispensation to February 5, 1862, the name of the chapter was Portage, its present name having been assumed in the latter year. The chapter met for the first time March 11, 1856, and the officers were installed February 28, 1857. The first three who received the R. A. degree were A. B. Alden, G. W. Stout and J. Arnold. Mr. Alden was grand master of the Masons of Wisconsin in 1861-63.
The present officers of the chapter, which has a membership of 175, are: James A. Older, high priest; J. H. Rogers, king; M. T. Alverson, scribe ; E. S. Baker, secretary ; Alois Zienert, treasurer. John Graham was first identified with the chapter officially in 1857, when he held the position of secretary, and Mr. Alverson, whose official connection with the chapter commenced in 1870, is still on the staff.
The Council of Royal and Select Masters, which has a membership of forty-five, has the following officers: M. T. Alverson, illustrious master; R. A. Smith, deputy master; J. S. Williams, principal con- dnetor of work; E. S. Baker, recorder and treasurer.
Fort Winnebago Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar, received its dispensation from H. L. Palmer, grand commander of the state, on January 2, 1862. The commandery met, for the first time, on April 17, 1861, with E. P. Hill as eminent commander. The present officers of the commandery, which numbers 123 members, are: R. E. York, com- mander; J. H. Rogers, generalissimo; W. M. Edwards, captain general; G. W. Case, prelate; R. S. Woodman, senior warden; Henry C. Brodie, junior warden; E. S. Baker, recorder; Alois Zienert, treasurer.
I. O. O. F. BODIES
The first Odd Fellows of Portage were largely Germans. This was so evident to the members of their pioneer organization, Portage City Lodge No. 61, which was established January 2, 1854, that the English- speaking element gradually withdrew. In January, 1862, the lodge be- came an English-speaking organization.
The present Wanona Lodge, No. 132, was instituted on the 8th of October, 1867, its first officers being: S. K. Vaughan, noble grand ; M. Waterhouse, vice grand; M. T. Alverson, recording secretary ; B. J. Pixley, treasurer; James Monroe, permanent secretary. Those now in
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office : HI. A. Cuff, noble grand; John Gay, vice grand; Ray Watson, recording secretary ; Joseph II. Bryan, financial secretary ; R. C. Anacker, treasurer ; F. L. Sanborn, James Baird and Charles Guenther, trustees. The lodge has over sixty members, and a flourishing auxiliary-Pansy Rebekah Lodge No. 106, organized in 1893.
THE PYTHIAN BROTHERS
Pythianism in Portage was born in 1882, when J. B. Powell, of Milwaukee, an enthusiast of the order, canvassed the local field and, although he found it rather crowded with lodges of the older orders, marshaled twenty-two men to support the cause, and Portage Lodge No. 35, K. of P., was the result. It was instituted January 16, 1883, and its first officers were: William Meacher, Jr., P. C .; HI. S. Goss, C. C .; J. E. Jones, V. C .; Wiliam Edwards, P. C .; A. Colonins, M. of E .; R. A. Spreeher, M. of F .; W. C. Mantor, K. of R. and S .; E. S. Purdy, M. of A .; P. J. Barkman, I. G .; E. H. Hughes, O. G .; representatives to the grand lodge, William Meacher, Jr., and J. E. Jones. But evidently the time was not ripe for the planting and growth of No. 35, which ceased to meet in 1886, and at the grand lodge convention of March 13, 1888, its charter was suspended.
In September, 1892, ten years after the first attempt to establish a Pythian lodge in Portage, Mr. Powell again appeared with his old-time vim. At this time he had behind him an order which had steadily gained in popularity, as well as a larger city. Securing the names of forty citizens (some of them connected with No. 35), Mr. Powell obtained a working team of his Pythian brothers from Milwaukee, and McQueeney Lodge No. 104 was organized in the Masonic lodge room, on the 10th of September, 1892, although the charter was not granted until May 30th of the succeeding year.
Following are the first officers installed : M. McQueeney, P. C .; J. B. Taylor, P .; J. M. Russell, M. of E .; James M. Lawson, M. of A .; E. HI. Warner, I. G .; M. T. Alverson, C. C .; W. C. Jens, V. C .; A. J. Niemeyer, M. of F .; E. A. Pollard, K. of R. & S .; Robert G. Buglass, O. G. Altogether there were forty-one eharter members.
The lodge has now about one hundred and forty members, with the following officers: 1913, Frank R. Graham, C. C .; 1914, E. J. Klug, C. C .; Charles II. Ilall, V. C .; Otto E. Isberner, P .; A. D. Johnson, M. of W .; S. H. Peek, M. of E .; Anton Lohr, M. of F .; W. R. Jamieson, C. of R. S .; P. P. Huebner, M. at A .; E. A. Rebholz, I. G .; Wm. Nie- meyer, O. G. Present number of members, 152.
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PORTAGE LODGE, BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS
Portage Lodge of Elks was organized March 26, 1901, with thirty members. It has been one of the most progressive lodges in the city, having initiated 252 members; its present membership is 153.
The first officers of this organization were: J. H. Wells, Exalted Ruler ; J. E. Jones, Leading Knight ; H. L. Bellinghausen, Loyal Knight ; E. H. Burlingame, Lecturing Knight; Charles G. Jaeger, Secretary ; Frank P. Dunker, Treasurer; D. Buglass, Tyler; J. C. Butt, Esquire ; C. P. Jaeger, Chaplain ; E. P. Ashley, Inner Guard; Trustees, A. C. Taylor, H. J. Puffer, J. C. Mckenzie.
The lodge maintains club rooms adjoining its hall and is first in charities and social functions in the city organizations. The present officers of the lodge are: Julius Eulberg, Exalted Ruler; Dr. W. J. Thomson, Leading Knight; E. B. Lillie, Loyal Knight; Wm. Papke, Lecturing Knight; E. A. Weinke, Secretary; Otto Paulus, Treasurer ; J. W. Dalton, Tyler; T. F. Curry, Esquire; W. O. Kelm, Chaplain; C. W. Baker, Inner Guard; Trustees, J. C. Leisch, Carl Luedtke, A. Zienert.
D. A. R. OF PORTAGE By Mrs. J. E. Jones
Wau-Bun Chapter No. 439 is the name by which is known the Portage Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Wau-Bun is an Indian word signifying "Dawn," which seemed an especially fitting name for an organization whose aim it is to keep alive the memories of the dawn of American Independence and the names of the brave men and women who achieved it.
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