USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of Wisconsin from prehistoric to present periods : the story of the state interspersed with realistic and romantic events > Part 40
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Upon his return to Wisconsin in March, 1882, he was welcomed home by all classes and given an ovation of the most enthusiastic description. In Feb_ ruary, 1886, he was elected commander of the Wisconsin department of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in the following August, commander-in- chief of that body.
General Fairchild still retains his interest in all the political questions of the day, and during the general election campaigns works from Maine to Texas and at his own expense. The general lives in the home built by his father more than forty years ago, on the banks of Lake Monona, and there, amidst old associations, dispenses hospitality in a manner characteristic of his bright and cheerful disposition.
IMPORTANT EVENTS DURING 1866-1867.
On January 1, 1866, the newly-elected state officers were inaugurated and entered upon their official duties. The inauguration ceremonies took place on the evening of the Ist of January at the capitol. At eight o'clock in the eve- ning the outgoing and incoming officers entered the hall in a body. After
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Governor Lewis delivered a valedictory address, Governor Fairchild appeared and took the oath of office, which was administered by Chief-Justice Dixon, of the supreme court. The state officers-elect then came forward, separately, and took the oath of office.
The nineteenth session of the state legislature convened on the roth day of January, 1866, and, after being in session ninety-three days, adjourned on the 12th day of April.
The governor's message contained numerous important recommendations, among which were the proposition to cancel the state bonds, subsequently in- vested in the trust funds, substituting non-negotiable certificates of indebted- ness in their place ; recommendations respecting assessments of taxation ; the revision of the statutes, necessitated by over six hundred amendments ; the completion of the capitol; the acceptance of the agricultural college grant ; the enlargement of the hospital for the insane; and the establishment of a home for the soldiers' orphans. The message closed with a beautiful and eloquent tribute to the brave and patriotic men for their services in behalf of the union.
Mrs. Governor Harvey conceived the idea of converting the Harvey U. S. A. general hospital into a soldiers' orphan home. The home was opened January 1, 1866, through this estimable lady's influence. The necessary funds, $12,834.69, were raised by private subscription. The grounds were those upon which Governor Farwell erected buildings in 1856, and are situ- ated about a mile from the capitol square. The home became a state institu- tion March 31, 1866. Prior to the purchase of the property by the state, the home had been opened by Mrs. Harvey, with the co-operation of a board of trustees. Under their management the building was thoroughly refitted. At the time the state took possession, there were eighty-four orphans duly ad- mitted and properly cared for. Mrs. Harvey was the first superintendent of this institution. On May 1, 1867, she resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. F. B. Brewer, who occupied the position until January 1, 1868, at which time the Rev. I. N. Cundall was elected to the position.
At the congressional election in November, 1866, Halbert E. Paine, Ben- jamin F. Hopkins, Amasa Cobb, Charles A. Eldredge, Philetus Sawyer and C. C. Washburn were elected members of Congress.
On January 22d, the state senate cast the following vote for United States senator : Timothy O. Howe, twenty-three votes ; Charles A. Eldredge, nine votes ; E. S. Bragg, one vote. In the assembly the votes cast for United States senator were as follows : Timothy O. Howe, seventy-two votes; Charles A. Eldredge, thirty-one votes ; E. S. Bragg, one vote ; J. J. Guppy, one vote. On January 23d, in a joint convention of the two houses, Timothy O. Howe was declared duly elected for the term of six years, commencing March 4, 1868.
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The Republican Union state convention convened at Madison on the 5th day of September, 1867, and made the following nominations : For governor, Lucius Fairchild ; lieutenant-governor, Wyman Spooner; secretary of state, Thomas S. Allen ; state treasurer, William E. Smith; attorney-general, Charles R. Gill; bank comptroller, J. M. Rusk; state prison commissioner, Henry Cordier ; superintendent of public instruction, A. J. Craig.
The Democratic convention met at Madison on the 12th day of Septem- ber, 1867, and placed the following gentlemen in nomination : For governor, J. J. Tallmadge; lieutenant-governor, G. L. Park ; secretary of state, Emil Rothe; state treasurer, Peter Rupp ; attorney-general, L. P. Weatherby ; bank comptroller, R. J. Harvey; state prison commissioner, Ole Heg; superinten- dent of public instruction, Lyman C. Draper. Mr. Draper declined the nomi- nation and his place was filled by substituting the name of William H. Peck.
At the November election the Republican ticket was elected by majorities ranging from four thousand to six thousand.
EVENTS of 1868-1869.
The twenty-first session of the state legislature convened on January 8, 1868, and adjourned March 6, after a session of fifty-nine days.
Governor Fairchild, in his message, gave important facts relative to the several departments of the state and its reformatory and benevolent institutions. Among other matters contained in his message, of great importance to the state, was his recommendation that the state should promptly call upon con- gress for relief in auditing the claims against the general government of $248,000, which was just and equitable.
During this session of the legislature seventy-eight laws and five hundred and fourteen private and local laws were enacted and passed.
The Republican nominees for congress, in 1868, were as follows: H. E. Paine, B. F. Hopkins, Amasa Cobb, L. F. Frisby, Philetus Sawyer, and C. C. Washburn. The Democratic nominees were : Alexander Mitchell, John Winans, T. F. H. Passmore, C. A. Eldredge, Joseph Vilas and A. G. Ellis. The whole Repub- lican congressional ticket was elected, except L. F. Frisby, who was beaten by Charles A. Eldredge from the Fourth district.
The twenty-second session of the legislature convened on the 13 of Decem- ber, 1869, and adjourned March 11th, after a session of fifty-eight days. The senate was organized by the Honorable Wyman Spooner, lieutenant- governor, taking his seat as president. I. B. Hills was elected chief clerk, and W. H. Hamilton was elected sergeant-at-arms. In the assembly, the Honorable A. M. Thompson was elected speaker, E. W. Young, chief clerk, and Rollin C. Kelly, sergeant-at-arms.
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WISCONSIN'S STATE GOVERNORS.
The most important business transacted by this legislature was the election of the United States senator to succeed the Hon. James R. Doolittle, whose term of office expired March 4, 1870. The Hon. Matthew H. Carpenter received the nomination, on the sixth ballot, by a vote of forty-four against forty-three for other candidates. Mr. Carpenter's principal opponent was the Hon. C. C. Washburn.
The Republican state convention, on September 1, 1869, nominated the following state officers: For governor, Lucius Fairchild ; lieutenant-governor, Thaddeus C. Pound ; secretary of state, E. A. Spencer ; state treasurer, Henry Baetz; attorney-general, S. S. Barlow; state-prison commissioner, Geo. F. Wheeler ; superintendent of public instruction, A. J. Craig. Mr. Spencer de- clined the nomination, and Llwellyn Breese was appointed to fill the vacancy.
On September 8th, the state Democratic convention, held at Milwaukee, placed in nomination the following ticket : For governor, C. D. Robinson ; lieu- tenant-governor, H. H. Gray ; secretary of state, A. G. Cook ; state treasurer, John Black; attorney-general, S. U. Pinney ; state-prison commissioner, C. M. Bordoe ;`superintendent of public instruction, F. K. Gannon.
At the November election, the whole Republican ticket was elected, Gov- ernor Fairchild's majority being 8,343.
EVENTS OF 1870.
On January 3d, 1870, Governor Fairchild entered upon his official duties for a third term, which fact was conclusive that his services had been duly appreciated by the people of the Badger state.
On the 12th day of January, 1870, the twenty-third session of the legisla- ture convened, and, after being in session sixty-five days, adjourned on March 17th. On the 13th day of January, Governor Fairchild appeared before the joint convention of the legislature and delivered his annual message.
In January, 1870, Governor Fairchild received official information that the claims of the state of Wisconsin against the general government for equipping troops for the union army, to the amount of $219,742.06, previously sus- pended or disallowed, had been audited and the sum placed to the credit of the state. During the previous year the sum of $131,000 had also been al- lowed, leaving a large amount of other claims remaining suspended and unpaid.
On July 2d, 1 870, the Honorable A. J. Craig, state superintendent of public instruction, died. General Samuel Fallows was appointed by Governor Fairchild to fill the place of the late superintendent.
In July, 1870, the board of commissioners appointed by the governor, to locate a site for the new hospital for the insane, recommended, subject to the approval of the governor, a site on Lake Winnebago, four miles north of Osh-
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kosh, on the main line of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. The legis- lature authorized the appropriation of $10,000 for the original purchase, which was about three hundred acres of land. The commissioners, under the provisions of the act were authorized to obtain plans for the buildings, and to contract for the immediate erection of the same. For this purpose the sum of $125,000 was appropriated, $40,000 to be expended or drawn from the state treasury during the year of 1870.
During the month of July bids were opened for the erection and comple- tion of the female college building on the state university grounds. The amount appropriated by the legislature was $50,000.
At the congressional convention, the following nominations were made : Democratic, Alexander Mitchell, A. G. Cook, John Strachan, Charles A. Eldredge, Joseph Stringham and Alexander Meggett. Republican, William P. Lyon, G. W. Hazelton, J. Allen Barber, J. A. Watrous, Philetus Sawyer and J. M. Rusk.
At the November election in 1870, Alexander Mitchell and Charles A. Eldredge, Democrats, and G. W. Hasleton, J. Allen Barber, Philetus Sawyer and J. M. Rusk, Republicans, were elected members of congress.
The government census taken this year shows the population of Wiscon- sin to be 1,540,670, an increase of 278,789 since 1860.
EVENTS OF 1871.
The twenty-fourth session of the state legislature convened on the 18th day of January, 1871, and adjourned, after a session of twenty-four days, on March 25th. On January 12th, the governor met the legislature in joint con- vention and delivered his annual address.
The distinguished jurist and one of the associate justices of the supreme court, Honorable Bryon Payne, died on the 13th day of January, 1871. A few days after the governor appointed William P. Lyon, of Racine, to fill the va- cancy until the general election in spring, when a justice was elected by vote of the people.
The building commissioners of the Northern Wisconsin hospital for the insane met in February, 1871, and, after examining the bids for the erection of the asylum, awarded the contract to James Reynolds, of Milwaukee, who was the lowest bidder, for $146,581.
The Republican state convention which convened at Madison on the 30th day of August, 1871, placed the following gentlemen in nomination : For governor : C. C. Washburn ; lieutenant-governor, M. H. Pettitt; secretary of state, Llwellyn Breeze; state treasurer, Henry Baetz; superintendent of public instruction, Samuel Fallows; attorney-general, S. S. Barlow; state- prison commissioner, C. F. Wheeler ; emigrant commissioner, O. C. Johnson.
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WISCONSIN'S STATE GOVERNORS.
On August 23, 1871, the Democratic state convention convened at Madi- son, and placed in nomination the following ticket : For governor, James R. Doolittle ; lieutenant-governor, John A. Rice; secretary of state, Milton Montgomery ; state treasurer, Anton Klauss; attorney-general, E. S. Bragg ; state-prison commissioner, L. E. Johnson ; superintendent of public instruc- tion, Warren D. Parker ; emigrant commissioner, Jacob Boden.
It was in October, 1871, when the disastrous Chicago fire occurred, which was shortly followed by great fires in Northern Wisconsin. The fires in Wisconsin devastated millions of dollars worth of property, thousands of homes, and an innumerable loss of life. At Peshtigo alone four hundred and seven bodies were found. Destructive fires also took place in Northwestern Wiscon- sin, in the Black river pineries. It is estimated that over one thousand lives were lost during the month of October through this source. The people throughout the state with one accord, with their accustomed liberality, sent large supplies of food and clothing to the destitute. The humane and charitable institutions made praiseworthy efforts to alleviate the suffering and privations of those demanding their sympathy.
At the November election this year the whole Republican ticket was elected. The Republican candidates received majorities ranging from eight thousand to ten thousand.
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS HOTEL AND STAGES.
CHAPTER LVII.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR WASHBURN.
1872-1874.
Biographical Sketch of Governor Washburn. - Important Events .- Disasters. - Political.
CADWALADER COLDOON WASHBURN was our next governor. He was of good old English family, and in his youth was quiet, studious and thoughtful. While a boy he worked on the farm and went to the town school until he reached his seventeenth year, at which time he entered a store at Hallowell, a thriving little place, where both his social and business opportunities were unusually good. Dur- ing the winter of 1838-39 he was em- ployed as teacher of the principal school at Wiscasset, and so earned enough money to start west. He went so far as Davenport, Iowa, where he taught a private school for three months. On the day following the close of his school, he accepted a position with D. D. Owen, on the Iowa geological survey, which congress at that time had just ordered to be made.
In the winter of 1839-40, Mr. Wash- burn came back east to Rock Island, Illinois, where he began the study of law with his old-time friend, Joseph B. Wells. In the election of 1840 he supported General Harrison, and was himself elected surveyor of Rock Island county. In March, 1842, Mr. Washburn removed to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and there, after being admitted to the bar, first began the practice of his profession.
Mineral Point at this time was a thriving little mining town, and Mr. Washburn, by his integrity and ability, soon built up for himself a large and profitable practice.
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In 1844 he joined himself with Cyrus Woodman, and for years the firm of Washburn and Woodman transacted a large and lucrative financial and land business.
In 1852 Mr. Washburn was invited by Governor Farwell and Justice Har- low S. Orton to go to Madison and assist in framing a general banking law. Under this law the Mineral Point bank was established by Mapes, Washburn and Woodman. In March, 1855, Mr. Woodman retired from the firm, and the entire management of the business fell on Mr. Washburn alone.
At the previous November election, Mr. Washburn had been elected by the Republicans, entirely without solicitation on his part, to be a member of congress. His brothers, one from Maine, the other from Illinois, were also members of congress, and for the ensuing six years these three brothers used their united efforts in behalf of their country.
In 1861 Mr. Washburn removed to La Crosse, but hardly had he settled down when, perceiving the North was in need of men, he raised the Second regiment ot cavalry, he being its colonel, and reported for duty Octo- ber 10, 1861. He was made major-general in November, 1862, and was an energetic, successful commander up to the time of his resigning in May, 1865.
In 1861 Mr. Washburn joined in the minority report against slavery and secession. His speech to the house on the subject was as follows :
" Sir, I have no special dread in regard to the future of this Republic. Whatever may come, I have an abiding faith in a kind Providence that has ever watched over us, that passing events will be overruled for good, and for the welfare of mankind in this and other lands. If this union must be dis- solved, whether by peaceable secession, or through fires and blood and civil war, we shall have the consolation of knowing that when the conflict is over, those who survive it will be, what they never have been, inhabitants of a free country."
In 1866, Mr. Washburn was again elected to congress, and in 1868 re- elected. In 1871, at the close of his term in congress, the Republicans made him their candidate for governor. By ten thousand majority he was elected over James R. Doolittle.
His administration was marked by usefulness and economy. He was re- nominated in 1873, with William R. Taylor as his opponent. William R. Taylor was elected and the official career of Governor Washburn was ended.
In private life, Mr. Washburn attracted more, if possible, attention than in public. He was the first to purchase pine lands, and held them while other purchasers were selling their lands for a mere nothing. He made millions of dollars in the manufacture of lumber and flour. In 1878, he went to Europe, and there learned the various methods of making flour. He was the first to
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introduce into this country the Hungarian system and the patent process of producing flour. His mill became the largest and best in the world.
Governor Washburn's charitable purposes were conducted in a noble but modest manner-Washburn observatory to the Wisconsin state university, at Madison ; People's library in La Crosse; Minneapolis Orphan asylum, in honor of his mother ; his beautiful home and grounds, near Madison, to the Catholic Sisters, and numerous lesser gifts. His death occurred at the age of sixty-four, at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on May 14, 1882.
EVENTS OF 1872.
The twenty-fifth session of our state legislature convened on January 1, 1872, and, after being in session seventy-seven days, adjourned on the 27th day of March.
Hon. H. M. Pettitt, of Kenosha, the lieutenant-governor, took his seat as president of the senate, while J. H. Wagner was elected chief clerk, and W. D. Hoard, sergeant-at-arms. Daniel Hall, was chosen speaker in the assembly, E. W. Young, elected chief clerk, and S. S. Fifield, sergeant-at-arms.
On January 11th, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Governor Washburn deliv- ered his first annual message to the two houses of the legislature in joint con- vention. The message was long, and set forth in detail the general condition of state affairs. He also referred to recent great conflagrations within the state and suggested appropriate measures to afford relief. In this able document he recommended the civil service reform, a return to specie payments at an early day, and the adoption of a general telegraph system in connection with our postal system.
The governor, in speaking of the great fires of 1871, said :
"During the last days of September, and during the first days of October, the northeast part of the state was overrun by fires, destroying much prop- erty, and causing great distress, but nothing compared to what was soon to follow ; for on the 8th and 9th of October a conflagration, unparalleled in the world's history, swept over portions of the counties Oconto, Brown, Door and Kewaunee, consuming all before it.
"In vain the unhappy people sought refuge in open fields, swamps, lakes and rivers. The fire-blast, which seemed to come down from Heaven, was so sudden and appalling, that many believed that the long fore told destruction of the world was at hand. By this conflagration it is estimated that over a thousand people lost their lives; and many others were horribly burned and maimed, and doomed to drag out a life more intolerable than death itself. As soon as intelligence of this great calamity reached the executive office, my pre- decessor, with that promptitude and humanity which are to be expected from him, proceeded at once to the scene of the disaster, to lend such aid as was
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within his power. Appealing at once to the charitable for relief to the sufferers, the great heart of the country responded with a generosity that calls for the warmest gratitude.
"The people of the state, in the most prompt and liberal manner, sent forward money, clothing and supplies for their suffering fellow-citizens. The people of other states were not less prompt and generous in their liberal offer- ings; and even Canada and Europe heard our cry, and manifested their sym- pathy with a liberal hand.
"I place before the legislature the full and satisfactory report of my prede- cessor, detailing his action in regard to the sufferers. The responsibility taken by him and the state treasurer cannot fail to meet your approval. The urgency of the case fully justifies their action. It cannot be regarded as a precedent ; and such an occasion is not likely to again arise.
"The total amount of money received at the executive office for the benefit of the sufferers, January 1, 1872, was $166,789.96, of which sum $46,900 was transmitted to the relief committee at Green Bay ; $8,005.16 was expended for supplies ; $487.57, for sundry expenses, leaving unexpended, $111,397.23, for which I hold the receipt of Honorable Henry Baetz, state treas- urer, for $33,539.05, and a certificate of deposit in the state bank at Madison for $77,858.18.
"In addition to the foregoing contributions of money, large amounts of clothing and provisions have been received through the executive office, and it is understood that large amounts of money, clothing and supplies have also been contributed through the Milwaukee and Green Bay relief committees. It is recommended that a joint relief committee, consisting of one member of the senate and two of the assembly, be constituted at an early day, with authority to proceed at once to the 'burnt district' and investigate the con- dition of the people there, and confer with the relief committees of Green Bay and Milwaukee, and ascertain what amount of relief will be required to place them in a comfortable condition, and when they can be self-sustaining; and I also ask that you constitute some authority through which the amount now subject to my order may be disposed of so as to give the most relief, and best meet the wishes of the contributors."
At the November election in 1872, the Republican electors were chosen. At the meeting of the electorial college, the ten votes of Wisconsin were cast for U. S. Grant, for president, and Henry Wilson, vice-president. The Republi- can candidates for congress in the different congressional districts were Charles G. Williams, G. W. Hazelton, J. A. Barber, H. Baetz, F. C. Winckler, Philetus Sawyer, J. M. Rusk, and A. S. McDill.
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WISCONSIN'S STATE GOVERNORS.
The Democratic candidates in the eight congressional districts were Scott Sloan, G. B. Smith, A. Warden, Alexander Mitchell, C. A. Eldredge, M. P. Lindsley, S. J. Marston, and William Carston.
The Republican candidates were all elected except H. Baetz and F. C. Winckler. Alexander Mitchell and Charles A. Eldredge, Democrats, were elected in their places.
EVENTS OF 1873.
The twenty-sixth session of the state legislature convened on the 8th day of January, 1873, and adjourned March 20th, after a seventy-two days session. Governor Washburn, on January 9th, delivered his second annual message to the two houses of the legislature. This document was of more than ordinary interest, and far above the standard documents of the kind. The message opened with a clear and brief reference to the excellent returns from agricul- tural pursuits, the development of the state's industries, the rapid advance in manufacturing, the progress of education, and the rapid and healthful exten- sion of the railways within our borders. The most important business of this session of the legislature was the election of a United States senator to fill the place of Honorable Timothy O. Howe, whose term of office would expire March 4, 1874. ' On the 22d day of January the two houses met in joint convention and compared the journals relating to the election of the United States senator. In the senate Timothy O). Howe had received twenty-two votes, and Henry L. Pal- mer nine. In the assembly Mr. Howe had received sixty-one votes and Mr. Palmer thirty-five. The president announced that Honorable T. O. Howe was elected United States senator for the term of six years from the 4th of March, 1874.
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