USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > Madison > A history of Madison, the capital of Wisconsin : including the Four Lake country : to July, 1874, with an appendix of notes on Dane County and its towns > Part 25
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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
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CHAPTER VIII.
REBELLION HISTORY - DEATH OF GOV. HARVEY - ELECTIONS, 1862-69 - PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1862-69 - OLD CAPITOL DEMOLISHED AND SOUTH WING BUILT - STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORY - DEATII OF NATHANIEL AMES -STEAM NAVIGATION - BUSINESS STATISTICS, 1865-68 - HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S GUARDS - ARTE- SIAN WELL -NATIONAL ANNIVERSARIES, 1867-70 - UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE - PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IMPROVEMENTS.
The administration of Gov. RANDALL and other State offi- cers, terminated at noon, January 6, 1862, at which time Hon. LOUIS P. HARVEY, late Secretary of State, took the oath of office and assumed the Executive chair. Soon after the bat- tle at Pittsburg Landing, on the 7th of April, the certainty that some of the Wisconsin regiments had suffered severely, in- duced the Governor to organize an expedition for the relief of the wounded and suffering soldiers. In less than twenty-four hours, supplies were gathered, and on the 10th the party started on their benevolent object. On their arrival at Chicago, they found ninety boxes of supplies, etc., furnished, which were for- warded, to accompany the party. Of this large number, sixty- one were from Milwaukee, thirteen from Madison, six from Beloit, and the remainder from various parts of the State. On their arrival at Mound City, they administered to the wants of some thirty soldiers, and also at Paducah and Savannah, where the presence of the Governor and the benefactions of Wiscon- sin friends did much to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wounded. After the party had nearly completed their labors, they took the boat at Pittsburg Landing, on the 19th, for Cairo. Here, a disaster occurred which brought sorrow to many hearts, and the loss to Wisconsin of its patriotic Gov- ernor. Passing from one boat to the other (the night being dark and rainy), Gov. HARVEY made a misstep, and fell over- board between the two steamers. Every assistance was ren-
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dered that was possible, but without avail. His body, which had drifted a great distance down the river, was subsequently recovered and identified by his watch and some other property on his person, and was brought to Madison. This sad event made a deep impression on the public mind. Appropriate commemorative services were held at the Assembly Hall, and addresses delivered by Gov. E. SALOMON, President A. L. CHAPIN of Beloit College, and others. The funeral services took place on the 7th of May, and the remains were taken to Forest Hill Cemetery, followed by a large procession, where they are de- posited.
The Second Regiment, which had been identified with the Army of the Potomac from its organization to this time, and which was the representative of Wisconsin at the first battle of Bull Run, was about the 1st of October united with the Sixth and Seventh Regiments. In the re-organization of the army under Gen. MCCLELLAN, these regiments, together with the Ninth Indiana, were organized as a brigade, and assigned to the command of Brig. Gen. GIBBON. Thenceforth their his- tory is identical, and the State of Wisconsin may well be proud of their record, which has procured for them the name of the " Iron Brigade." As before stated, the city of Madison and Dane county were largely represented in these regiments.
President LINCOLN's proclamation for 300,000 additional troops was made July 1, and five regiments were required of the State of Wisconsin. In consequence of this, the Governor called out regiments 21 to 25, inclusive, to prepare for service. The Twenty-third Regiment was composed, in part, of Dane county men, and we find the following officers as being from Madison: W. G. PITMAN, Adjutant. Company A, WILLIAM F. VILAS, Captain, and SINCLAIR W. BOTKIN, First Lieutenant. Company D, Jos. E. GREEN, Captain, J. W. TOLFORD, First Lieutenant, and F. A. STOLTZE, Second Lieutenant. Company E, JAS. M. BULL, Captain, HENRY VILAS, Second Lieutenant. Company I, A. R. JONES, Captain, J. M. SUMNER, Second Lieu- tenant.
The casualities occurring in the service this year, as far as re-
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lates to this section, are here given. The names of privates cannot be furnished, as it is impossible to ascertain their loca- tion or place of residence. At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 5 (Shiloh), Lt. Col. CASSIUS FAIRCHILD, of the Sixteenth Regiment, was severely wounded in the thigh.
Col. CHAS. L. HARRIS of the 11th Wisconsin, was wounded in the arm and leg, at the battle of Bayou Couche, in which ·engagement four were killed and forty-one wounded.
At the battle of Cedar Mountains (Antietam), on the 9th of August, Capt. WM. HAWLEY of Company K, of the Third Reg- iment, was wounded in the ankle, and Lieut. T. J. WIDVEY of the same company, was taken prisoner. This company went into action with 44 men, and lost, in killed and wounded, 18. On the 1st of November following, Capt. HAWLEY was pro- moted Lieutenant Colonel of the same regiment.
Maj. J. W. JEFFERSON of the Eighth Regiment, was wounded at the second battle of Corinth, October 3.
In the three days' fight of the 28th to 30th of August, at Gainesville and Bull Run, the Iron Brigade suffered severely. The Second Regiment went into the fight with 430 men, and lost, in killed, wounded and missing, 286. Capt. JULIUS F. RANDOLPH of Company H, a well known and highly respected young man of Madison, was killed, with twelve of his com- pany, and twenty-three wounded. On the day succeeding the battle, Lt. Col. LUCIUS FAIRCHILD was promoted Colonel.
At the spring election in April, L. B. VILAS was the Union candidate for Mayor, and WM. T. LEITCH. the Democratic candidate; 1,359 votes were polled, of which the former re- ceived 619 votes and the latter 740, being elected by 121 ma- jority. CALVIN. AINSWORTH was elected Police Justice and F. B. HUCHTING, Treasurer. The following aldermen were also elected: 1st ward, E. B. DEAN, Jr., and G. GRIMM; 2d ward, T. E. BIRD and A. C. DAVIS; 3d ward, C. W. HEYL and W. M. RASDALL; 4th ward, C. H. LUCE and E. KAVANAUGH.
The National anniversary was observed in the usual manner. Hon. G. B. SMITH, President; T. E. BIRD, Marshal; W. F. VILAS, Reader; Rev. W. L. GREEN, Chaplain; J. H. LATHROP,
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Orator. A fine display of fireworks in the evening, closed the celebration.
Prof. CHAS. H. ALLEN, Superintendent of City Schools, in his report for the year, states that there were at the last enu- meration, 2,380 children in the city between the ages of four and twenty years - that the whole number registered in the public schools for the term commencing September, 1862, was. 656, and the average daily attendance 423. The superinten- dent makes a strong appeal for more and better school accomo- dations.
The improvements in the city were not as large this year as some others. Among them was the enlargement of FAIR- CHILD's block on Pinckney and Main streets, BEMIS and BOUD- LER's meat market, N. W. DEAN's block on State and Pinck- ney streets, and the Norwegian Lutheran church, corner of Hamilton and Butler streets.
The Regents of the State University this year, established a Normal Department, and Prof. CHARLES H. ALLEN, was ap- pointed Principal. The department was opened on the 16th of March for the accomodation of students of either sex, seeking to educate themselves for the vocation of teaching. The entire south building was set apart for a boarding house, dormitories and other rooms necessary for the department un- der the special charge of the Professor, aided by a preceptress. The number of pupils enrolled at the fall term was one hun- dred and sixty-two.
On the 16th of March, 1862, the Vestry of Grace Church ex- tended a call to the Rev. JAS. L. MAXWELL, of Bordentown, N. J., which was accepted, and May 18, he entered upon his work as rector. During his ministry a fine organ was added by the liberality of the congregation, at an expense of some $2,500, and gave its first tones to a public congregation on the evening of Easter Monday, April 22, 1867.
A northern climate being too vigorous for the health of his wife, Mr. MAXWELL sent in his resignation May 1, 1867, and removed to New Jersey.
On the 17th of March, 1863, the old Madison Hotel, built in
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1837-8, was destroyed by fire. A history of this, one of the oldest landmarks of the city, has already been given in the early history of the town.
The annual election for city officers took place the 7th of' April. For Mayor WM. T. LEITCH received 774 votes, and Gen. WM. W. TREDWAY, 519. The former was elected by a major- ity of 255. For the office of Treasurer, C. W. HEYL received received 501 votes, KYRON TIERNEY 461, and T. C. BOURKE, 329; the former was elected, and also the following aldermen: 1st ward, J. ZEHNPENING, JOHN MONAGHAN; 2d ward, J. H. CARPENTER and H. M. LEWIS; 3d ward, JAS. Ross and J. T. STEVENS; 4th ward, Jos. HOBBINS and H. N. MOULTON.
An act of the legislature was passed and approved March 26, 1863, providing for continuing the work on the State Capitol, by which the Board of Building Commissioners- were authorized to let to the lowest responsible bidder, the contract for the building and erection of the foundations. of the South wing and of the rotunda and the erection and completion of the North wing; all of which was to be completed by December 31, 1863, the expense not to ex- ceed the sum of $63,000. On the 9th of May the bids were opened, and the contract awarded to JAMES LIVESEY for $50,855 as the lowest bidder. The work of demolishing the old Capitol. building was soon commenced. On the 20th of May the State Journal says: "Heavy weights of lead were found in the win- dow frames, which in the aggregate were worth $300. Lead was used in the early time as it was cheaper than iron. The building was a somewhat " imposing " specimen of architecture, and the imposition became the more apparent as the new cap- itol building began to rise around and above it. It was the scene of many interesting incidents, some of them historical, but the greater part should rest under the mantle of forgetful- ness. It was in this building that were held the first Legisla- tures after the separate organization of Wisconsin as a Terri- tory - here were held the first political conventions - here the two constitutional conventions assembled - here VINEYARD shot ARNDT, and here he was indicted - here the DODGE and
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DorY controversies were figured and worked out - here was enacted the legislation which has made some and unmade oth- ers. The old building has witnessed many changes, has stood through good and much evil report, and finally passes away, to the gratification of the people of Madison, who now consider the " Capitol question " settled."
" The work of building in the city progressed usually well this spring. A large number of dwellings and business blocks are already considerably advanced, and many others will soon be commenced. Among the fine residences now in process of erection, are those of Hon. BENJ. F. HOPKINS on Lake Mendota, TIMOTHY BROWN, Esq., and D. K. TENNEY. Gen. SIMEON MILLS, on his farm east of the city, is building an ele- gant country residence. A large number of other buildings, and additions to old ones, are being constructed. M. D. MIL- LER's block, corner of Carroll and Main streets, is going on finely, and a new block is to be built between the Fox Block (now occupied by VROMAN & FRANK) and the building now used for the Post Office." The "Turners' Hall " was also built.
On the 27th of May, Mrs. MAGDALINE STONER, wife of Mr. JOHN STONER, one of the first settlers of the city, died, aged 71 years and 5 months. Mr. and Mrs. STONER came here the 6th of September, 1837. He built his cabin near Lake Men- dota, on the low lands near the ridge, and resided in that neigh- borhood till his death. Mrs. STONER was the mother of four daughters and of a son, who is the first male child born of white parents within the bounds of the city - J. MADISON STONER, now a resident of Colorado. The daughters grew up to womanhood, but soon after died of consumption. The old- est son, GEO. W. STONER, is still a resident of Madison. Mrs. STONER was an estimable lady, and was highly respected by every one.
There was no formal celebration on the 4th of July, this year. The Governor, however, directed the State Armorer, Capt. McFARLAND, to fire salutes at sun rise and sun set. There was a much larger number of persons in the city than was anticipated under the circumstances.
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On the 27th of August, NATHANIEL AMES, the sole surviv- ing revolutionary soldier of the Northwest, departed this life, at his residence at Oregon, (12 miles south of Madison,) aged 102 years, 4 months and 2 days. The chief incidents of the deceased veteran's life are familiar to the residents of Dane county, as they have frequently been referred to on the 4th of July and other national occasions, in which the veteran, not- withstanding his great age and accompanying infirmities, was always pleased and willing to participate. We have seen his pension paper, dated in 1833, signed by LEWIS CASS, which cer- tified that he was entitled to draw a pension for his services as a private in the revolutionary army. He witnessed the execu- tion of ANDRE, and was present at other historic events of the revolutionary war.
He has been for sixty-five years a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his body was buried by them, at Rome Corners, on Sunday, the 30th inst., at 11 o'clock in the morning. Dele- gations from the lodges of this city, and from those of adjacent places, were present at the obsequies of this last revolutionary soldier in the Northwest.
The Madison Mutual Insurance Company commenced break- ing ground for the erection of their new building on Mifflin street, near the corner of Pinckney street, on the 15th of Au- gust. It is to be 24 feet front by 60 feet deep. -
An act of the Legislature, approved April 2, 1863, incorpo- rated the " Methodist Episcopal Church Building Association," and a meeting was held on the 22d of August, to raise, by sub- scription, $50,000 for the erection of a new church edifice. An agent was appointed to visit the different portions of the State to secure assistance for this object.
From the report of the Board of Education for the year end- ing December, 1863, it appears that the total valuation of school property in the city, including buildings, furniture and grounds, was $26,791.62. The number of seats in all the pub- lic school buildings was 709, while the number of pupils en- rolled for the fall term of 1863 was 826. It is intended by the Board, if possible, to erect a new building in the Fourth Ward,
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which will increase the number of seats to about 1,000. The census of school children, as taken this year, makes the whole number between the ages of four and twenty, 2,417, of which number 1,150 are males, and 1,267 females.
The High School, which had been closed for nearly two years on account of financial difficulties, was this year re- opened with 55 pupils.
The "First National Bank " was organized December 15, 1863, with L. B. VILAS, S. D. HASTINGS, N. B. VAN SLYKE, GEORGE A. MASON and TIMOTHY BROWN as first Board of Di- rectors.
We find the following casualties among the officers of Wis- consin volunteers, from Madison and vicinity, during the year:
At the battle of Black River Bridge, May 17, DANIEL E. HOUGH, Captain of Company A, Eleventh Regiment, was mor- tally wounded, and died at the hospital June 3. At the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, LUCIUS FAIRCHILD,* Colonel of Second Regiment, was wounded in the left arm, and suffered amputa- tion; and Capt. NAT. ROLLINS, of Company H, same regiment, was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison, where he was de- tained until December 10, 1864, when he was exchanged. In
* Hon. Lucius Fairchild, a son of Col. Jairus C. Fairchild, was born in the town of Kent, Portage county, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1830; received a com- mon school education ; is by profession an attorney. He came to Wiscon- sin, in 1846, with his parents, and settled at Madison. In 1849, he made an overland trip to California, and remained there until 1855, when he returned to Madison. Was Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dane county in 1859 and 1860; in 1861, entered the military service with the First Wisconsin Volunteers, and was commissioned successively Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Brigadier of Volunteers, and Captain in the Sixteenth Regiment, United States Regular Army. At the battle of Gettysburg, where he commanded the Second Wisconsin Regiment, of the " Iron Brigade," he lost an arm, and, while recruiting his health" received and accepted the Republican nomination for Secretary of State, to which position he was elected in 1863; in 1865, was elected Governor, and was re-elected in 1867 and 1869, serving six years in that capacity, since which time, he has been appointed by the President, United States Consul at Liverpool, Eng., and is, at this date, filling that office with dis- tinguished ability.
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the State Journal, of May 12, he publishes a chapter of his personal experiences in prison.
At Whitewater bridge, in the vicinity of Cape Girardeau, April 24, Capt. S. V. SHIPMAN of the First Cavalry, with forty men of his company, were surrounded by rebels, and had either to surrender or charge through a force of three hundred. They decided on the latter, and started. A deadly fire was opened on them as they advanced, from the front, but the sabres made such havoc among them that the breach was rapidly widened, and in a few minutes the company had cut their way through, and were on their way to the Cape. When nearly through the broken rebel ranks, Capt. SHIPMAN's bridle rein was cut by a bullet, and his horse became unmanageable, when the crowd that had before given way, closed around him; and striking right and left, fighting with both sabre and pistol, he fell at last with a dangerous wound. Besides the band of rebels through whom they charged, with hundreds firing at them, they were really surrounded by 3,000, who had four pieces of artillery and 3,000 more troops at some distance. Capt. SHIPMAN's wound, at first considered fatal, proved very severe, sixty pieces of bone being taken from it at one time, and at last, after months of suffering, left him a cripple for life.
Capt. SHIPMAN was subsequently promoted Colonel. His charge on the rebels, says Mr. LOVE, in his " Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion," " Will take rank among the most dar- ing and grand exploits of the war."
An act of the Legislature, approved April 12, 1864, author- ized the Building Commissioners of the State Capitol to let the contract for the completion of the south wing, and for the center part and rotunda to the top of the roof of the east and west wings, to be completed before December 31, and the sum of $60,000 was appropriated for that purpose. Proposals were received, and the lowest bidder was W. T. FISH, for $42,000. Section 9 of the same act which authorized the work to be completed, provides that the commissioners shall not let the contract for a larger sum than $35,000. In consequence of which, Mr. FISH's bid was declined and the contract was given
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WM. GOODENOW of Milwaukee, for $35,000, who agreed to look to the next Legislature for an appropriation to cover deficiencies. The work was immediately begun and completed by the time specified.
In the month of April, Rev. LEWIS E. MATSON of Racine, was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church, where he preached to the great acceptance of the church, until the summer of 1866, when he resigned to accept a call of the Ply- mouth church of Chicago. After a season of brief but ardu- ous and successful labor there, he was smitten by disease and died at Lyons, France, June 21, 1868.
The city election took place April 5. The candidates for Mayor were WM. T. LEITCH* and J. H. CARPENTER. The former received 602 votes, and the latter 573, Mr. LEITCH being elected by 29 majority.
For Treasurer, THos. C. BOURKE received 514, and C. W. HEYL 624 votes-the latter elected by 110 majority. For Po- lice Justice, there were three candidates, JAMES T. FLOWER, who received 536 votes; GEO. E. WOODWARD, 172 votes, and JOHN R. BALTZELL, 459. Mr. FLOWER was elected, also the following Aldermen: 1st ward, ANDREW WALD and E. SPRAGUE; 2d ward, H. M. LEWIS and TIM. BROWN; 3d ward, K. TIERNEY and ERNEST DCERSCHLAG; 4th ward, J. M. DICKINSON and GEO. D. LINCOLN.
WM. A. HAYES was elected Clerk, and John REYNOLDS, As- sessor. The assessed valuation of city property, as reported by the latter officer, was, real estate, $1,515,160; personal prop-
*William T. Leitch is a son of James Leitch, manufacturer of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was born October 18, 1808. He was educated at that place. and remained there until April, 1829. Arrived in the United States May, 1829, and settled in the city of New York, where he resided nearly all the time until June, 1858, when he removed to Madison. While in New York he was engaged in a large and successful business in the wholesale south- ern clothing trade, until the commencement of the late war.
He has held the office of Mayor for three terms, 1862, 63, 64; was twelve: years President of the Madison Horticultural Society, and ten years ves- tryman of Grace Church, and has held other offices.
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erty, $550,555.50; total, $2,065,715.50. The amount of the tax levy was $53,575.36.
The Second Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers returned, after their three years' enlistment, on the 18th of June. They were received with great demonstrations by citizens of Madison, and large numbers from the country.
There was no formal celebration on the national anniversary. Salutes were given at sun rise and sun set by the State authori- ties. The newspapers of the 5th gave as a reason for the quiet- of the day, that the people of the city and country but re- cently had a celebration at the reception of the Second Regi- ment, and did not feel inclined to have another so soon. A celebration was held at Mazomanie, in which some of the prominent men of this city participated. At Camp Randall, the " Veteran Reserve Corps," which was then in camp, had, an impromptu celebration in a quiet way. A table was spread in a grove, and a good dinner provided. Volunteer toasts and speeches were made. A correspondent of the Journal takes the people of Madison to task for their want of patriotism, etc.
Capt. FRANCIS BARNES, this year, introduced on Lake Mo- nona the "Scutanawbequon," brought here from Lake Koslı- konong. It was 28 feet in length, 11 feet wide, and drew 18 inches of water; four horse power engine, and makes about seven miles per hour. Its introduction was a great success, and was the pioneer of the steam pleasure boats on the lake .*-
The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, this year, com- pleted their road to this place via Beloit, giving the city a di- rect communication to Chicago without going to Milwaukee.
The business of Madison, this year, was promising, and number of desirable improvements made. W. J. SULLIVAN built a block west of the Baptist Church, to the corner of Washington avenue. The former residence of Gov. FARWELL, on Lake Monona, was purchased for a hospital for soldiers, and
* It is proper to state that I. E. Brown had a small steamer occasionally, on Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, some years before. It was small in size, and did not pay for running it. Mr. Griffin, of the Lake Side House, also had a boat running to accommodate the guests.
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large additions made to it. It was subsequently used as a Home for Soldiers' Orphans, and supported by State aid.
The German Methodist Church, on the corner of Mifflin and Webster streets, was built - a handsome brick edifice. Gen. L. FAIRCHILD erected a store on Main street, near the Capital House, twenty by sixty-six feet, forty feet high, and three sto- ries. A. KENTZLER built his large brick stable.
The following casualities occured in the government service in 1864, as far as relates to Madison: F. A. HASKELL, Colonel of the 36th Regiment, at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 3d, was struck by a rebel bullet in the head and was instantly killed. His loss was deeply felt by the men under his com- mand, and a host of friends in Wisconsin; with the Iron Bri- gade he had faced the fire at Gainesville, Antietam, Gettys- burg and other battles in which the brigade participated. In the same engagement, Adjutant B. D. ATWELL, of the same reg- iment was wounded, and at the battle at Reams' Station, Va., August 25, he was missing in the action, and was subsequently a paroled prisoner of war. Lt. GEO. E. ALBEE, of Co. F, was also missing at the same battle, and was also paroled prisoner of war. C. E. WARNER, of Windsor, Dane county, Captain of Co. B., same regiment, was promoted after the battle of Cold Harbor, to the rank of Major and Lt. Colonel, and was wounded in action at Deep Bottom, Va., August 14, which shattered his left arm, rendering amputation necessary. WM. P. AT- WELL, 1st Lieutenant of Co. G., 37th regiment at the assault on the mined Fort at Petersburg, Va., was so severely wounded that amputation of the leg was necessary.
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