USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > A history of Columbia County, Wisconsin : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 25
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LUDINGTON'S PLAT AND ADDITION
Ludington's Plat was the first official evidence of the existence of Columbus, and it was recorded by Lewis Ludington in the Brown County
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archives at Green Bay, on the 11th of November, 1844. His first addi- tion of October, 1850, was recorded in Columbia County, which had been organized three years before.
The original plat of the village presented a fine picture on paper. Passing through the eastern limits, the Crawfish marked its winding course. Leading away to the southwest from the river's oak-fringed banks to the borders of clustering groves in the distance were broad avenues, with other wide streets crossing them at right angles. Near the river's edge was an entire block marked "public square," and not far away a "park," "schoolhouse," "church" and "hotel"-all dona- tions from the proprietor of the village.
FIRST HOTEL, STORE AND SCHOOL
H. A. Whitney was the lucky possessor of the portion of the plat indicated as "hotel," corner of James and Ludington streets, and in the summer of 1844 he secured absolute title to it by building a tavern upon it. It was a one-and-a-half story frame, and most of the lumber which went into it was hauled from Aztalan. In the lower part Mr. Whitney kept a small stock of goods, his store.
The school of the Ludington Plat did not materialize until 1846, when it was erected on Ludington Street, and the Congregationalists built the church in 1850 upon the land at the corner of Mill Street and Broadway, which Mr. Ludington had deeded to them.
MILL PROPERTY PASSES TO J. S. MANNING
In the meantime the old mill property had passed out of the hands of Colonel Drake, the Ludington agent. Soon after getting his little sawmill in operation Major Dickason had put in a run of stone, and thus became the only miller for miles around. When the Drake-Ludington management came into control in 1843, the grinding of grain was made the leading feature of the plant and another run of stone added. Peo- ple came from Madison, Stevens Point and other remote settlements to the Columbus mill, and so extensive was the custom that some of the grists would have to wait two weeks before their "turn" would be reached. When J. S. Manning purchased the plant in August, 1849, it was one of the busiest mills in Central Wisconsin. Mr. Manning put in new machinery and otherwise improved it, and in after years the water power, as well as the grinding facilities, was kept up to the re- quirements of the trade.
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COLUMBUS BECOMES A VILLAGE
Columbus continued to grow in every particular, and by the early '60s it became apparent that the place was ready for a local government separate from the township organization. The villagers had participated in town affairs, and the townsmen had turned about and mixed with village matters. But the Columbus people who had become a consoli- dated majority eommeneed to chafe to the point of becoming sore, and found their remedy in May, 1864, by adopting the village form of government.
Columbus was incorporated as a village under legislative act, ap- proved March 30, 1864, and it was provided that its officers should be a president, four trustees, one marshal and one treasurer, to be elected annually on the first Tuesday in May. The election was held accord- ingly, with the following result: R. W. Chadbourn, president; F. F. Farnham, Silas Axtell, John IIasey and Thomas Smith, trustees; Milo J. Ingalls, treasurer ; B. F. Hart, marshal.
INCORPORATED AS A CITY
From the organization of Columbus as a village until its incorporation as a city in 1874, R. W. Chadbourn, W. W. Drake, F. F. Farnham, Daniel E. Bassett, W. M. Griswold, J. S. Manning and Frank Higgins served as presidents of the board of trustees, and during the entire decade Charles L. Dering acted as clerk.
Toward the last of January, 1874, President Frank Huggins and Trustee E. E. Chapin, of the village board, repaired to Madison with a petition of the villagers to the State Legislature asking to be incorporated as a city. The memorial, with a bill, was introduced to the Senate on February 3rd, and, after proper preliminary action, was printed. The latter was taken back to Columbus for correction and amendment. After heing somewhat changed, notwithstanding opposition from the town Board of Supervisors, the incorporating act passed both houses of the Legislature, receiving the governor's signature February 26, 1874.
The corporation area was divided into three wards and municipal elections fixed for the first Tuesday of April. Provision was made for the following officers: Mayor, treasurer, assessor and police justice, for the city at large; one alderman and one supervisor for each ward, as well as a justice of the peace and a constable. An amendment to the charter repealed the elause providing for a general police justice, and the duties formerly devolving upon that official were divided among the ward justices.
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The first officers, elected in April, were as follows: L. J. Sawyer, mayor; H. Rowell, police justice; H. D. James, treasurer; John C. Hoppin, assessor. C. L. Dering was chosen by the Common Council as city clerk and O. M. Dering, marshal.
The incorporation of the City of Columbus was an event which called for renewed enterprise, and its growth into a stirring, pro-
CITY HALL AND AUDITORIUM, COLUMBUS
gressive municipality is told in the details of its present life and of the institutions founded and developed by its citizens.
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
The municipal activities of Columbus are now centered in its hand- some city hall, completed in 1892. It accommodates the various city officers and houses the fire apparatus, and its upper floors are mainly occupied by an attractive auditorium which will seat nearly one thousand people.
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ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATERWORKS
The electric light and waterworks plant is at the foot of Water Street, along the right of way of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. Columbus was one of the first cities in Central Wis- consin to adopt the system of electric white lights for its business streets. The cluster of lights on either side of James and Ludington streets give its down-town district a cheerful and business-like appearance. The supply of water is furnished from three artesian wells, and the power house at the dam sends it through the mains with sufficient force to furnish, with the apparatus at the city hall, adequate fire protection. Both the light plant and the waterworks are owned by the municipality and are more that self-sustaining, with very reasonable charges for water and light.
The year 1877 was a season of great activity in the public affairs of Columbus. It had been a city since 1874, and several projects which had been under way culminated in that year. The old Methodist Church building, which had been moved to Broadway and converted into a public hall, was transformed into an opera house in 1877; which was the predecessor of the auditorium in the city hall building.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Among other important clauses in the city charter was one providing for the establishment of a fire department. Accordingly, on December 26, 1877, the City Council entered into a contract with the Babcock Manufacturing Company of Chicago for two extinguishers and a hook and ladder truck. A department had already been organized with L. J. Sawyer as chief, and the Germania Fire Company, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 and Columbia Fire Company had been formed- all within the year 1877.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
On the 20th of January, 1877, a meeting of prominent citizens was held at the opera house for the purpose of organizing a library associ- ation. This was but preliminary to the gathering of a week after, at which Matthew Lowth, a settler of 1851 and a leading citizen of public affairs, was chosen president; E. S. Griswold, vice president; C. L. Dering, secretary, and L. R. Rockwell, treasurer. At the same meeting ex-Governor Lewis donated fifty-four volumes; E. S. Griswold tendered
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the use of two rooms in his brick block (which was accepted) and Miss Mattie Walsh was appointed librarian.
This was the origin of the Free Public Library, which was founded in 1901. Largely through the influence of the Woman's Club, Andrew J. Carnegie was induced to donate $10,000 for the founding of a library under his well-known conditions, and a site for a building was pur- chased opposite the city hall. It was a beautiful little structure which was thrown open to the public in November, 1912. The regular annual appropriation voted by the City Council for its support is $1,500. Most of the standard magazines, several Wisconsin newspapers, and a good
COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL, 1895-1910
selection of 5,800 books are provided for patrons. The library is in charge of Miss Nellie A. Loomis, who has had the position since 1908.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
The 545 pupils connected with the public system of education pro- vided by the City of Columbus are accommodated in one of the most substantial and attractive buildings for the purpose in Columbia County. The building, which is of cream brick, is located in a city block, the entire property being valned at $90,000. Professor R. L. Heindel, head of the city system, has under him 145 pupils in the high school and 400 in the grammar department. Included in the scope of the curriculum are Latin and German, music and drawing, domestic science, and manual and vocational training.
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The Union School building consists of two parts-the old High School, completed in 1895 and now housing the kindergarten and two grammar grades, and the 1910 structure, in which are the present High School pupils and those of six grammar grades. It is a far cry from the little frame schoolhouse erected on Ludington Street in 1846 to the massive Union Building of 1895-1910; but, in its day, the former was just as important to the progress of the primitive town as the latter is to the development of the larger and more finished community.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
In November, 1849, a meeting was held at that tiny schoolhouse which resulted in the formation of the first district, which embraced the present city. Robert Mills was elected director; J. T. Lewis, treasurer, and H. S. Haskell, clerk. From a report made by the district clerk to the town superintendent, in the following year (1850) it appears that the average attendance of scholars in the district was sixty-four.
It is interesting to know that such as the following taught in that schoolhouse on Ludington Street, during the '50s: Garrit T. Thorn, afterward a senator from Jefferson County; John A. Elliot, once state auditor of Iowa, and Laura D. Ross, who afterward practiced medicine in Milwaukee, married Dr. E. B. Wolcott, one of the leading army surgeons in the Civil war, and herself became a widely known advocate for the rights and real progress of her sex, as well as an able surgeon and medical practitioner.
The old Union School building was completed in 1858, after an unusually exciting contest between the progressives and conservatives covering a period of nearly three years.
PRESENT GRADED SYSTEM ESTABLISHED
The graded system of the city schools was introduced in the fall of 1874, following the incorporation of Columbus as a municipality. The act of incorporation of February separated the system from the juris- diction of the county superintendent, and in July following the common council eleeted a board of education, which promulgated the graded system. On the 5th of March, 1875, after the system had been intro- duced, the State Legislature enaeted a general law authorizing the establishment of free high schools, and on August 9th following, the voters of Columbus adopted its provisions. The board of education experienced some difficulty in attempting the organization of the new system, but finally succeeded in January, 1876. The first to graduate
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from the city free high school was Miss Louie Adams, in June, 1877.
The first board of education elected under the graded system was as follows: John Quincy Adams, president; James T. Lewis and E. E. Chapin ; S. O. Burrington, superintendent.
WILLIAM C. LEITSCH
One of the most prominent citizens of Columbus, and who stands peculiarly as a representative of the municipality itself, is William C. Leitsch, an advisory editor of this work. He was born at Columbus, May 31, 1867, of German parents. After attending the public schools and the Watertown College, he was employed for some years by a Chicago clothing house. In 1893 he took up the study of law and in 1896 was graduated from the University of Wisconsin with the class of that year. He immediately located in Columbus and has practiced there ever since.
Mr. Leitsch has held the following public offices: Mayor, 1898-1901; chairman of the Columbia County Board; president of the Columbus School Board; president of the Water and Light Board; chairman of the Columbia County Republican Committee. He has also been president of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. The magnitude of the can- ning industries are known to all, and in that industrial field Mr. Leitsch is one of the most prominent men in the country. He is one of the organizers of the Columbus Canning Company, which commenced busi- ness in 1900 and is now operating the largest pea plant in the world. Mr. Leitsch has been president of the company since its organization and is now its general manager; also president of the Wisconsin Pea Canners' Association and president of the National Canners' Associ- ation which has its main office in Washington, D. C. He is a director of the First National Bank of Columbus, and altogether a citizen of breadth of mind, activities and attainments. Mr. Leitsch was married to Adelaide Brown Stoppenbach at Jefferson, Wisconsin, in June, 1900. They have no children.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF COLUMBUS
The Congregationalists of Columbus were the first to organize into a society, coming together January 26, 1850, under Rev. A. Montgomery as chairman of the council, and J. Q. Adams as clerk. Letters from different churches were presented by James Campbell, Mrs. Julia Camp- bell, Richard Stratton, Mrs. Polly Stratton, Emily Stratton, Mrs. Asenath Stratton, Mrs. Helen S. Rosenkrans, Ellen Hagerman, Maria Hagerman and Mrs. Hayden, the foregoing constituting the First Con- Vol. I-16
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gregational Church of Columbus. Soon afterward it became a member of the Madison district, but in August, 1852, it was voted to change the relations of the church from that district to the Fox River Presbytery. In the following November the Presbyterian form of government was formally adopted, and three elders of the faith were chosen. Thus matters progressed until a majority of the members withdrew and organ- ized a separate Presbyterian society in 1866.
In the meantime the original Congregational Church had erected a house of worship (in the early '90s) on the corner of Mill Street and Broadway, on the lot donated by James Ludington, and under the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Rosenkrans its temporal and spiritual affairs flourished. He remained with the society until 1858, and was followed by Rev. T. C. Melvin.
When the Presbyterians organized into a separate society they made preparations to build, and in the fall of 1867 their church edifice was completed on Broadway. It was opened under the pastorate of Rev. E. F. Fish.
In 1874 the two societies reunited, the Congregationalists sold their church and, under the name of the Olivet Church Society, services were proposed to be resumed in the former Presbyterian edifice on Broadway, but there was a misunderstanding as to the control of the property, and the Presbyterians retained it.
Olivet Society (the Congregationalists) immediately proceeded to build another church, at the corner of Spring and Prairie streets, which was completed early in 1877. The present society is in a flourishing condition, with Rev. Henry Kerman as pastor, having a membership of 150.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
The German Lutheran Church of Columbus, which has been under the pastorate of Rev. D. H. Koch for thirty years, is the strongest re- ligious body in the county and one of the most influential in Central Wisconsin. It is a noteworthy representation of German perseverance, thrift and conscientiousness, as applied to the spiritual things of life. In 1855 a number of German families settled in and near Columbus, the most influential of whom were from the Grand Duchy of Mecklen- burg. They were all Lutherans and soon got together to form a society for worship. Shortly afterward a Rev. Sans, of Watertown, came among them as a temporary preacher, followed in the same year by Pastor Oswald, their first regular clergyman. Rev. A. Reuter followed, and the new arrivals from Germany so increased the congregation that
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the necessity for a church edifice became apparent. J. T. Lewis do- nated a lot in West Columbus for a site, and on May 3, 1858, while Rev. Reuter was still pastor, articles of agreement were signed by which was formed the German Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Society of Colum- bus and vicinity. An incorporation was then effected with A. Reuter as pastor, Joseph Prien as president of the board of trustees, and Christian Mueller, secretary.
The building of a church was commenced on the donated site, but a majority of the congregation deemed another location more desirable ; so that the lot given by Mr. Lewis was sold, and Lot 1, Block 13, Birds- ey's Addition (donated by the owner of that tract) was accepted. The church erected thereon was completed in 1859. In 1866 a purchase was made of another lot in Birdsey's Addition upon which stood a residence, that building being used as the first parsonage. Two years later the first church edifice was moved to the site of the present massive house of worship, and all the real estate held by the society at the other location was sold. A large addition to the church building was completed in 1869, and still the builder could not keep pace with the increase of mem- bership and demand for religious accommodations.
In December, 1877, the congregation voted for the erection of a new church, and its cornerstone was laid June 2, 1878, on the Sunday called Exaudi. On the third of the following November the building was dedi- cated in the presence of a large assemblage from Beaver Dam, Lowell, Waterloo and Portage. As completed, the church was an edifice of cream brick, trimmed with red brick, 70x40 feet, with a belfry 125 feet high. Several additions and renovations have since been made, greatly increasing its seating capacity, as well as keeping it attractive and modern.
The 1,600-pound bell in this church has a history. In 1873 the metal from which it is made was presented to the society by the Emperor of Germany. On the 4th of July, 1876 (the Centennial anniversary), there arrived at New York from Berlin one six-pound brass cannon and four other pieces of ordnance, consigned to the Lutheran congregation of Columbus. They were of French make captured during the German conquest of Alsace-Lorraine. They reached Columbus in February, 1877, and in April, 1878, were reshipped to Baltimore, where they were recast into a bell, bearing the following inscription: "I call the living ones; I mourn the dead ones; I break the lightning."
In 1884, six years after the dedication of the original church, Rev. D. H. Koch assumed the great charge which he still carries. He has worked early and late, and has seen his society grow from 239 to 437 families. Those under his pastorate number 1,800 souls and 1,268
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actual communicants, and attend the services of the church from points fifteen miles distant.
Connected with the society is a large parochial school, founded in 1858, which has its own building separate from the grounds occupied by the church and the parsonage. It has also a strong Maennerchor, which has been in existence since that year, a flourishing women's society, Bible elass, and other auxiliaries which add to its influence and keep its spirit active and strong.
GERMAN METHODISTS
The German Methodists of Columbus have been organized into a local church since 1855. Rev. Charles Kluckkorn and Rev. John Wester- field, missionaries, had preached for three years previously, and it was during the ministrations of the latter that the Columbus German Meth- odists were separated from their Baraboo brethren for church purposes. The first trustees of the new society were Louis Kenzel, John Miller, J. Battels, J. Fuhrman and Frederick Topp. In 1866 the society erected its first church, but the rapid growth of membership made it necessary to build a larger edifice in 1874. The German Methodists continue to prosper as churchmen and women. Rev. C. F. Henke, who has supplied their spiritual needs for four years, is in charge of a church which has a membership of 275.
ENGLISH METHODISTS
The first meetings of Methodists in the vicinity of Columbus, and perhaps in Columbia County, were held in 1845 at what is now Fountain Prairie, which was included in a circuit comprising Waterloo, Aztalan and Watertown. Various circuit preachers came to Watertown before a little society was organized by the Rev. N. S. Green. Along in the late '50s the Columbus Society was separated from the other points in the circuit, and in 1859 a church edifice was dedicated by Rev. H. C. Tilton. The church still occupied by the society was dedicated October 26, 1873, by Rev. C. H. Fowler. Rev. R. W. Plannette is the pastor now in charge. Membership of the English Methodist Church is about fifty-five.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Jerome's Catholic Church had its origin in the ministrations of Rev. Martin Kundig, who came to the supporters of that faith in
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Columbus as early as 1856. Previous to that time the Catholics of the place had attended St. Columbkill's Church in the Town of Elba, Dodge County. Early in the spring of that year work was commenced upon the foundation of a church edifice on a lot donated by A. P. Birdsey, and in June of that year the cornerstone was laid. For want of funds work was suspended for about eight years, and a permanent house of worship was not completed until 1866. The first resident pastor was Rev. James O'Keefe, who succeeded to the charge in 1868. Rev. E. McGuirk (who had served the church as a missionary), Rev. E. Gray, Rev. Henry Roche and others labored for the parish and the faith with good results. In 1879, under the last named, a much needed addition to the building was made. The present edifice was erected in 1893, Rev. Henry R. Murphy, still in charge of St. Jerome's, assuming his duties in July of that year, The membership is 126, and his long and faithful service has been amply rewarded.
LEADING LODGES
Columbus has a number of flourishing lodges and societies, the oldest. of which is Columbus Lodge No. 75, A. F. & A. M., organized June 12, 1856. Its first officers were: M. Adams, W. M .; N. Sawyer, S. W .; E. Churchill, J. W .; J. A. Erhart, treasurer; B. E. Johnson, secretary. Those serving at present are as follows: John T. Pick, W. M .; Fred A. Stare, S. W .; Oscar Wiener, J. W .; G. N. Shepard, treasurer ; Julius Henricksen, secretary.
The Modern Woodmen of America were organized September 29, 1887, with twenty members and the following officers: L. J. Dinsmore, V. C .; E. Churchill, W. A .; J. R. Decker, banker; C. E. Eaton, clerk ; F. O. Goodspeed, escort; Charles Prime, watchman; Charles Petero, sentry. The first death in the camp was that of Jerome Smith, the victim of a runaway accident April 18, 1894. Present officers: John Pick, V. C .; Fred Hurd, W. A .; Edward Pietzner, banker; H. C. Lange, clerk; S. M. Barraclough, escort; C. M. Christiensen, watchman; A. H. Sydow, sentry. The membership of the camp is 200.
Alpha Lodge No. 110, K. of P., was organized January 17, 1893. It has a membership of seventy-four, with the following officers: John L. Albright, C. C .; Rodney Shepard, V. C .; Martin Weidemann, prelate; Moses Jones, M. of W .; F. A. Chadbourn, M. of E .; William Amrein, M. at A .; H. V. Eichberg, M. of F .; H. F. Eichberg, K. of R. & S .; E. C. Arndt, grand representative; F. A. Chadbourn, deputy G. C.
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FIRST COLUMBUS BANKS
Isaiah Robinson carried on the first money exchange in Columbus, and in 1853 R. W. Chadbourn not only engaged in the banking business, but added real estate and insurance transactions to it. Mr. Chadbourn finally cut off all but banking, and in 1855 obtained a regular charter.
W. L. Lewis established himself as a banker in December, 1856. With Mr. Lewis were interested C. C. and James Barnes. About 1859 the bank became the property of Willard Scott and Vosburg Sprague, under whose management it ceased to exist in 1861 ..
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