USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 46
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Miss M. M. Nethaway, Rose P. Thrall and Grace Crossman also opened private schools for youths, misses and even infants, but they were all discontinued about the time the public schools became graded and thoroughly systematized, in 1870.
NEW UNION SCHOOL
In the last year of the Civil war, when it became apparent that the citizens of Baraboo would be permitted to devote more of their time to domestie affairs, it became evident that the needs of the Union school building erected in 1850 had been far outgrown. Again arose the dis- cussion as to the division of the district, but unionism prevailed.
Two different sites were selected and purchased for the new Union School, but were both abandoned, and a third bought on block 38, a little south of the business district of Baraboo. Exeavations for the foundation of the larger and better building were begun in April, 1869, and in October, 1870, it was completed at a cost of $33,000. It had a seating capacity for about 870 pupils. About 600 pupils were enrolled in the district at the time the school was opened.
FREE HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZED
In April, 1877, the School Board of District No. . 7, comprising James H. Halsted, H. Cowles and T. D. Lang, accepted from the State Commission of School and University Lands a loan of $8,000, and thereby felt justified in organizing a free high school in the following August. At this time the high school department was organized although the schools were not thoroughly systematized until the incorporation of the city in 1882. During that period Prof. Isaae A. Sabin and Prof. William A. Willis, head of the school, were the leading laborers in the initial work of "licking the system into shape." The latter was retained as superintendent when it came under control of a separate board of education.
PRINCIPAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS
A complete list of superintendents and principals (of the high school) follows W. A. Willis, superintendent and principal, July, 1882, to July, 1884: C. W. Cabeen, principal, July, 1884, to July, 1886; P. Pinch, superintendent, July, 1884, to November 1, 1885 (resigned) ; Herman Grotophorst, superintendent, November 1, 1885, to July, 1886; W. J. Brier, superintendent and principal, July 1, 1886, to July 1, 1889; L. H. Clark, superintendent and principal, July 1, 1889, to September 7, 1891 (resigned) ; E. C. Wiswall, superintendent and principal, Septem- ber 7, 1891, to July, 1894; J. E. NeCollins, superintendent and principal,
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July, 1894, to July, 1899; II. A. Whipple, superintendent and principal, July, 1899, to July, 1903; G. W. Gehrand, superintendent and principal, July, 1903, to July, 1908; H. R. Chamberlain, superintendent and prin- cipal, July, 1908, to July, 1910; A. C. Kingsford, superintendent and principal, July, 1910 -.
Presidents of the Board of Education : J. J. Gattiker, July, 1882, to July, 1886; John M. True, July, 1886, to July, 1888; E. W. Young, July, 1888, to July, 1890; John M. True, July, 1890, to July, 1896; J. B, Dono- van, July, 1896, to July, 1897; John M. True, July, 1897, to July, 1901; J. Van Orden, July, 1901, to July, 1902; John M. True, July, 1902, to July, 1905; C. H. Evenson, July, 1905, to July, 1906; John M. True, July, 1906, to July, 1908; Evan A. Evans, July, 1908, to July, 1910; E. P. MeFetridge, July, 1910 -.
THE PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL
At the time the old high school was constructed, with its assembly hall in the third story, it was considered quite an imposing and most creditable public building. But, with the growth of the city and the elevation of publie sentiment and requirements, it was finally held up as an "eye-sore," a "fire trap," and all that and more. In February, 1906, a defective flue caused a fire which burned out the vitals of the old building and hard wind blew down a large portion of its west wall; so that there was a unanimous sentiment in favor of erecting a large, taste- ful, safe and sanitary high school building. In September, of the fol- lowing year, the work had been completed which had brought to fruition a large public enterprise and added to the city buildings one which was really an imposing ornament, as well as practically adapted to every requirement.
The new high school stood on the site of the old, corner of Second and Oak streets, a massive 3-story building of red brick, 164 by 128 feet on the ground, trimmed with stone and galvanized iron. A large annex, built about six years previously, also was on the school grounds, still utilized for the overflow-the seventh and eighth grades.
The inside of the high school proper is of red birch, with the excep- tion of the assembly hall, which is of oak. The main entrances of the building are from the north, south and west. The heating plant and the wood-working room of the manual training department are in the basement. Drinking fountains, modern toilet arrangements, electric lights, a complete modern combination system of heating and ventilating, a gymnasium, physical and chemical laboratories, large and elegant administrative offices and pleasant and convenient recitation rooms, are a few of the features which give the Baraboo High School standing among the best institutions of the kind in the state. All at a cost of about $80.000; to which sum a very material addition would have to be
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BARABOO HIGH SCHOOL
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made if a similar building were to be erected in these war times of high prices.
THE WARD SCHOOLS
Outside of the high school and the- annex, there are three public schools in Baraboo. The first ward building, a 2-story red brick, corner of Sixth Avenue and Angle Street, was erected in 1885; the second ward house, corner of Fifth Street and Barker, built of the same material in 1890, and the third ward schoolhouse, corner of Elm and Grove, erected in 1892.
The total enrollment of the pupils in the public schools of Baraboo is 900. They are instructed by about forty teachers, of whom thirteen are in the high school, four in the annex, and six in each of the ward schools. There are 130 in St. Joseph's (Catholic) School.
THE POSTOFFICE TO THE PRESENT
Dr. Seth P. Angle was the first postmaster in Baraboo, the office being in a rude building on Water Street, "under the hill." Doctor Angle is buried near the entrance in the Baraboo Cemetery and his monument may be seen set at an angle. The complete list of Baraboo postmasters, with the dates of their commissions, include the following : Dr. Seth P. Angle, March 8, 1847; Eber Z. Crandall, July 11, 1848; Benjamin L. Purdy, June 28, 1849; Mrs. Lucy F. Perkins, May 3, 1853; James H. Wells, February 21, 1857; Truman J. Wood, March 3, 1858; Samuel Hartley, April 19, 1861; David K. Noyes, May 7, 1867; David E. Welch, January 16, 1884; Mathew H. Mould, November 2, 1885; David E. Welch, second appointment, March 7, 1890; Ransom Jackson, March 15, 1894; Arthur P. Cheek, September 17, 1898; Frank E. Shults, Aug- ust 12, 1911, and Alger C. Pearson, July 10, 1916.
The postoffice was located in various temporary places, more often on Oak Street than elsewhere, before a permanent building was erected by the general Government on that thoroughfare just west of the high school. The main entrance is on Second Street. From the time the bill was introduced by Congressman J. W. Babcock until the building was accepted from the contractors in January, 1906, covered a period of four years. Its cost was $45,000; it is built of red brick, Bedford stone, granite and terra cotta, is about fifty-six feet square, and is well fur- nished and appointed.
BARABOO FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The institution named is an educational influence of immeasurable value to the highest well-being of the city. It is of special value to
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scholars of the public schools and to all, young and old, who are following any lines of literary investigation.
The organization of the library dates from September 27, 1897, when Frank Avery was chosen president of the board and J. S. Worthman, secretary. Miss Emma Gattiker was its first vice president. On New Year's day of 1898 Miss Kate M. Potter was appointed librarian and has since held the position, making her connection the longest, in continuous service, of any official identified with the library.
Since Mr. Avery's term expired in 1898, following have been presi- dents: John M. True, 1898 to 1901; E. G. Marriott, 1901 to 1903; A. G. Buckley, 1903 to 1906; R. B. 'Griggs, 1906 to 1909; Geo. T. Thuerer, 1909 -.
The successors of Miss Emma Gattiker as vice president : E. G. Mar- riott, 1898 to 1901; R. B. Griggs, 1901 to 1902; M. J. Coughlin, 1902 to 1903; Mrs. J. E. English, 1903 -.
Succeeding J. S. Worthman as secretary were: R. B. Griggs, July 1, 1902, to July 1, 1906; L. S. Van Orden, July 1, 1906, to July 1, 1908; J. S. Worthman, July 1, 1908, to July 1, 1910; Emma Gattiker, July 1, 1910 -.
The library became a Carnegie institution in 1902, and the beautiful and convenient building now occupied by the collection of 11,000 vol- umes, club rooms and other accommodations, was completed at a cost of $15,000.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS AND UTILITIES
It has become a generally accepted principle of public hygiene that a pure and abundant supply of water is the most effective safeguard against epidemics and other less pronounced forms of sickness. Of late years, also, a good system of waterworks has been made to fill another pressing desideratum; that is, the necessity of securing economical and adequate protection against fire for those communities which could not afford to expend large sums of money on costly and varied fire apparatus and in the maintenance of a well-paid department. These statements were, of course, made with reference to the City of Baraboo, which, for thirty years, has been developing its system of water distribution and protection against fire through its waterworks. The result is a fine supply of pure water and the provision of such means to guard against fire as the distribution of numerous water hydrants in thickly settled districts, with means of increasing the pressure in case of necessity. The headquarters of the fire department are in the city hall on Fourth Street, where are an engine, hook and ladder and hose cart. No. 2 house is on Lynn Street, where are a hose cart and even minor apparatus.
In 1886 the city issued bonds to the amount of $100,000 for the
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construction of waterworks, which were commenced in the fall of that year and completed in the spring of 1887 at a cost of $75,000. The water is obtained from a group of living springs located about a mile northeast of the city near the Baraboo River, and the brick pumping station stands about 700 feet from the springs. The pumps are propelled by water power from a large dam race about half a mile long leading from the river. The standpipe in the north part of the city is on a hill some 140 feet above Main Street. The structure itself is 52 feet high and 30 feet in diameter and has a capacity of 150,000 gallons.
One of the municipal departments which, fortunately, has never been forced to abnormal growth in Baraboo is that given over to the police. Although here is a city of some thousands of people law and order are so instinctively maintained that its total police force comprises only one chief, an assistant and two patrolmen.
Besides the waterworks, the only publie utility not under control of the city is the telephone service. The Baraboo Telephone Company, which renders that service, was incorporated in 1895, and conducts an exchange comprising several hundred subscribers and covering Baraboo and several adjoining towns.
THE PRESS OF BARABOO
The first newspaper to be issued from Baraboo lived a little more than six years. It was a whig organ, the Sauk County Standard, and its initial number was put out by Messrs. A. McFadden and C. H. MeLaugh- lin on the twenty-fifth of June, 1850. In the following February Mr. McFadden retired, and Mr. MeLaughlin assumed the proprietorship, changing the politics of his newspaper to democratic, with M. C. Waite as editor. In May of that year (1851) Duncan C. Niven succeeded Mr. Waite; polities the same. MeLaughlin and Niven both retired at the end of the Standard's first volume, when the name of the paper was changed to the Sauk County Democrat. Until August, 1855, the changes of proprictorship and editorship were fast, if not furious, and included the assumption of various responsibilities by J. H. Wagoner, George R. Clark, R. H. Davis, D. S. Vittum, Cyrus H. MeLaughlin (again), R. C. Gould, Andrew C. Holt, Victor E. Peck and James I. Dennis. After- ward, until the final suspension of the newspaper in November, 1856, J. W. Phelps and J. II. Wells guided its fortunes, such as they were.
The Baraboo Republic is, therefore, the oldest paper of continuons publication in the community. Its first number was issued in January, 1855, by D. K. and S. Noyes, being then a seven-column republican jour- nal. In October of the same year the junior partner withdrew and was succeeded by Perkins & Blake, D. K. Noyes retaining the proprietorship and political editorship. In the meantime a name which was to become widely known throughout the United States had appeared in the columns
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of the Republic as a contributor, and in September, 1856, it appeared as one of its editors-A. N. Kellogg, the originator, or at least the popular- izor, of the "patent insides" for country newspapers, in which enterprise he afterward made a fortune. In the following month Mr. Noyes retired from the Republie, the editorship of which was assumed by Mr. Kellogg, while H. A. Perkins became its publisher, the two co-operating under the firm name of Kellogg & Perkins. In June, 1862, Mr. Kellogg withdrew and J. W. Blake and C. E. Stewart assumed the conduct of the Republic. Mr. Stuart withdrew in 1863, and Mr. Blake, the remaining proprietor, sold the paper to William Hill in 1865. Then came Joseph I. Weirich in 1872, Edwin H. Woodman in 1874, and in January, 1880, J. H. Powers. In 1882 Mr. Woodman retired, and in 1891 a joint stock com- pany was formed to conduct the enterprise. At this time the Hood Brothers associated themselves with Mr. Powers, and in March, 1894, the Daily Republic was established. George H. and Sidney J. Hood succeeded Mr. Powers as proprietors and editors of the Republic and are still at the head of its affairs.
The Sauk County Democrat was established January 31, 1879, by Joshua G. Ford. In 1886 it was sold to Herman Grotophorst and E. August Runge. In 1890 the latter became sole proprietor and assumed the general editorship, with E. L. Luekow as local editor. Subsequently Mr. Luckow became proprietor and editor of the Democrat for a number of years, and was succeeded by Roland J. Osborne, present owner and editor.
In the carly '80s a little newspaper was issued by L. HI. Cook, at Delton, called the Mirror Lake Echo. The name was pretty, but that did not bolster up the enterprise sufficiently to ensure it a substantial exist- ence, and it soon died of inanition of subscribers and advertisers. Most of the office material passed to J. T. Huntington, of that village, after- ward bookkeeper of the state senate, and, through Col. D. E. Welch, of Baraboo, it was sold to J. F. Kartack, the printer, of that city. His job office was then over the store now occupied by Acott's clothing store, and thence the first issue of the Advertiser, the progenitor of the News, came forth on Monday, May 26, 1884. After the newspaper had appeared for about a year Mr. Kartack's brother, G. A., purchased an interest in the paper, which was enlarged to its present size. Various changes of loea- tion occurred before the paper was purchased by A. D. Dorsett and H. E. Cole, La Crosse newspaper men; which was in April, 1894.
The first number of the Evening News, issued by these gentlemen and J. F. Kartack, appeared June 4, 1894. It was both daily and weekly. After Kartack, Dorsett & Cole had owned the paper jointly for about a year Mr. Kartack sold his interest to J. K. Matchett, of Pierceton, Indi- ana, but the last named soon disposed of his share to Cole & Dorsett. For three years beginning January 1, 1907, Mr. Cole was the sole editor
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and proprietor of the News, selling.an interest to H. K. Page, January 1, 1910. They now own the paper.
THE CHURCHES OF BARABOO
Like all other intelligent American communities in which schools, newspapers and other educational forces are well organized, Baraboo is also strong in its support of the churches which have been persistently planted and nourished by good and far-sighted men and women. No religious belief, or shade of religious thought, is slighted, and there is no excuse, except lack of inclination, for not stimulating and strengthening the spiritual nature in some form of worship or another.
In this section of the chapter devoted to Baraboo, the story of its religious growth must be told through the records of the various churches and charitable organizations, and these sketches are arranged chrono- logieally. Those which first assumed local form lead the list.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Methodists were the first of the religionists to establish themselves in the Baraboo Valley and, as is typical of the sect, in the early pioneer times their zeal carried along the great bulk of the settlers. The faithful and hard work of their missionaries finally developed into the strong organization known as the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Baraboo, with a large membership and a handsome house of worship. One of the old members of the society of today, A. J. Gemmill, has recently prepared an authentic and complete history of the church, the main portions of which are reproduced herewith. He writes as follows:
"Rev. Thomas M. Fullerton, a Methodist, was the first minister of the gospel to visit Baraboo. He came to Potosi, Wis., from Kentucky in 1836, when in his nineteenth year. His mother became an invalid soon after he was born. He was providentially placed in a Presbyterian family, where he was trained in the fear of the Lord. In 1840, during a protracted meeting held by Rev. H. W. Reed and Rev. J. G. Whitford, he united with the M. E. Church. In August, 1841, he joined the new Rock River Conference held at Platteville, Wis., on recommendation of H. W. Reed, presiding elder. He was then appointed to Muscoda, a new circuit including all settlements on both sides of the Wisconsin river from Muscoda to Baraboo. It took three weeks to make the circuit, in- volving over two hundred miles of travel.
"Rev. John Crummer, a Methodist preacher on the Mineral Point mission, visited Sauk Prairie in 1840. He was followed by the Rev. .James G. Whitford. Mr. Whitford had spent several years of widower- hood as a frontier missionary, and very naturally desired to find a fellow- sufferer of the gentler sex; believing, as many do, that by uniting their
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sorrows, they could bear them more joyfully. Mrs. Sarah Sayles, the widowed daughter of Henry Tech and wife, who had settled at the foot of the bluffs on Sauk Prairie in 1840, attracted him. Mr. Whitford and Mrs. Sayles were united in marriage on the 15th day of August, 1841. This was probably the first marriage in Sauk County.
"In 1841 Mr. Fullerton, then a local preacher, appointed to assist Mr. Whitford on the Mineral Point Mission, reached the Teel home at the foot of the bluffs on Sauk Prairie, June 23d, and preached there on Thursday evening, June 24, 1841. A Methodist class was formed at the home of 'Father Teel,' which, for several years, was the place of meeting, and also the stopping place of the traveling preachers.
"Rev. Fullerton's first visit to Baraboo Mills was on October 5, 1841. A Mr. Draper, a Baptist connected with the mill, requested him to establish meetings here. The mill was about one-half a mile above the ford on the Baraboo river. A Mr. William Hill, from one of the New England states, had built a log cabin ten or fifteen rods east of the mill. and boarded Mr. Draper's mill hands.
"On the 16th of October, 1841, on Tuesday evening at Mr. Hill's honse, Rev. T. M. Fullerton delivered the first sermon preached in the Baraboo Valley to eleven persons. Of those present only Mr. Draper pro- fessed religion. Mr. Fullerton regularly filled the appointment for two years. Then he was appointed to a mission on Lake Superior. After- ward, on account of poor health, Mr. Fullerton located for about ten years. Then he became an active member of the West Wisconsin Con- ference, filling important appointments until he was superannuated in 1882. He died in 1889 in the 73d year of his age. Mr. Fullerton kept a record of all his missionary travels.
"On Sunday, February 6, 1842, Mr. Fullerton formed the first Methodist elass in Baraboo, consisting of Solomon Schaffer, leader, Ollie Schaffer and Parmelia Gibson, all of whom were Methodist immigrants recently arrived. Mr. Schaffer was mill blacksmith and lived in a new house south of the mill. Mrs. Gibson and family lived a mile up the river on the north side.
"On the 10th of April, 1843, Mrs. Mary J. Hill, the woman of the house where the meetings were held, joined the elass. She was the first convert to religion in the Baraboo Valley.
"The class was reorganized in 1843 by Rev. A. M. Badger, appointed to the Sauk Prairie or Prairie du Sae Mission, who continued the services. Lauren Cowles and Ralph Cowles joined the class in 1843. For some time meetings were held at the home of a Mrs. Gillson south of the river. During the pastorate of Rev. P. S. Richardson (1845) the place of meet- ing was changed to the home of Alexander Crawford in Lyons, and Mr. Crawford became class leader. Services were held in private houses, and in the Court House until the first chapel was built.
"In 1849 Baraboo was set off from the Sank Mission and became the
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head of a circnit under the name of the Adams Mission, Rev. Asa Wood being appointed pastor. After two years the charge was called Baraboo. This territory was within the bounds of the Rock River Conference until 1848, when the conference was divided and the Wisconsin Conference formed. The West Wisconsin Conference was formed in 1856.
"The first Sunday School in Baraboo was a Union Sunday School organized in the spring of 1848, with James A. Maxwell, a Methodist, superintendent. It was held for a time in a log schoolhouse on the Lyons road. Early in 1849 it was held in the Court House ereeted in 1848 on the north side of Fourth avenue opposite the park. In the spring of 1850 the Methodists separated from the Union Sunday School and formned a Methodist Sunday School, with James A. Maxwell superintendent. This school started with sixty-five scholars and sixteen officers and teachers.
"In 1849 the sixteen members of the Mission were as follows: Alex- ander Crawford and wife; James A. Maxwell and wife; C. A. Clark and wife; E. Langdon and wife; J. M. Clark and wife; Mrs. Chauncey Brown, Benj. L. Purdy, Charles Stanley, Ralph Cowles, Mrs. James Crawford and Mrs. C. M. Adams. In 1848 James A. Maxwell, Peter Losey and Alexander Crawford were elected a board of trustees. Late in 1849 it was decided to build a chapel. Mr. Crawford donated the lot at the southeast corner of Broadway and Fifth avenue for a churel location. A building committee, consisting of Rev. Asa Wood and C. A. Clark, was appointed. Clearing away the snow from the ground, a rough wooden building, 34 by 36 feet, boarded horizontally, inside and out, with inch boards over 2 by 6 inch studding, and filled between the boards with sawdust, was erected in January, 1850. This was the first church building in Baraboo. In January, 1851, steps were taken to build a new church on the ground where the first chapel stood. During the summer the building, 36 by 50 feet. was raised on the basement walls, and the basement finished off so that it could be used for services during the fall and winter of 1851-52. This basement was also used for public school purposes and for a court room. The building was completed during the summer of 1853. Baraboo was then a thriving village in a region to which the tide of emigration had been increasing.
"The church was finished just in time for the sixth annual session of the Wisconsin Conference, which assembled in Baraboo on the 31st of August, 1853, Bishop Scott presiding. The church was dedicated by Bishop Scott during the conference on September 4, 1853. In 1866, during the pastorate of Rev. J. E. Irish, the church building was en- larged : 25 feet were added to the south end and a tower erected. In 1873, during the pastorate of Rev. James Evans, a house and lot at the southeast corner of Broadway and Seventh avenue were purchased. This property was the first parsonage. It was sold in 1891 and a house and lot at the north end of Broadway was purchased for a parsonage. This
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