USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of Wisconsin from prehistoric to present periods : the story of the state interspersed with realistic and romantic events > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
" Parties of men were on the alert and ready for the work of rescue. Word was sent to Evanston, and citizens and its entire student community came up in force. Attention was first directed to a large raft coming in steadily but bravely over the waves, upon which were standing a large group of human beings, since known to have been some fifty in number. Around and beyond it on all sides were single survivors and groups of two and three, or more, but painful interest centered upon the fate of that larger raft. It reached the seething line of surf. With a glass those on shore could see that the company on board seemed to obey the orders of one. That ladies and children were there-hearts on shore forgot to beat for an instant, and then saw the raft break and disappear in the seas. Of the entire number on board, only fifteen names appear in our list of the saved. Of the lost was the brave heart who tried his best to save those committed to his charge, and perished in the attempt-brave Captain Jack Wilson, the commander of the unfortunate steamer.
" Thenceforward the scene on the shore until 2 P. M., when the last sur- vivor was drawn out of the surf, was a scene which lookers-on will never forget. Of its nature the best proof is the fact that the from forty to fifty persons saved were less than one-third of the number that came in from the lake to pass the fearful gauntlet of the line of breakers, several hundred feet off shore, were under the very eyes and almost within hail of those on shore, we saw the majority perish. The rafts would come into the line of surf, dip to the force
476
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
of the waves and then turn completely over. Again and again would rafts containing from one to five or more persons gradually near the shore and then be lost, where a stone's cast would reach them, yet really as far from human help as if in mid-ocean.
" The scenes of these fearful hours would fill a volume. The episode of the saving of John W. Eviston, of Milwaukee, with his wife in his arms, was one that left few eyes dry among the spectators. He had secured himself and precious burden to the severed roof of the pilot house, a stout, octagonal canvas-covered frame. As this came in, he was seen upon it, holding in one arm a woman. Again and again the waves broke over them, and more than once both were submerged. Still they came on, passed the first breakers, and mid- way thence to the shore their raft hung, beaten and swept by roller after roller, and for minutes making no progress, while the breathless spectators, not two hundred feet distant, watched and waited the result.
WHY SHE WENT DOWN.
" It is now evident from the appearance of that part of the wreck that lies at Daggett's Point, near Waukegan, that the final catastrophe was brought about by the dropping of the engine walking-bean, etc., through the bottom. At the point above named, all that part of the hull abaft the mid- ships, on the larboard side, lies upon the beach-a full fourth of the hull from the plank shear to the keel. The most rational explanation of the disaster is, that the colliding vessel carried away the larboard wheel, and most of the engine braces on that side, and that as soon as she rolled a-port, the engine, walking- beam, etc., having nothing to sustain them, carried away a large part of the hull, and went down on the larboard side of the keel, producing the catastro- phe, which all the saved described as very sudden. It is probable that the first violent roll after the collision did the fatal work. On no other hypothesis can we account for the separation of the hull, and explain the positive testimony of some of the officers, that the walking-beam went down before the upper works floated off.
THE SCENE IN MILWAUKEE WHEN THE NEWS ARRIVED.
"An eye-witness informs us that the scene at Milwaukee on Saturday morning, when the news of the catastrophe was first received, can never be effaced from his memory. The stores in the principal streets were immediately deserted, many of them being left open and unattended, and all rushed to the telegraph office to learn the extent of the loss. In walking along the streets it seemed as if every second person met was either crying or so dumb-stricken that he could not express himself, nor recognize his friends and acquaintances."
477
LOSS OF THE LADY ELGIN.
The schooner Augusta, which caused this fearful catastrophe, continued to come to the Milwaukee port until the feeling became so bitter against the vessel that her owners made application to the treasury department and ob- tained permission to change the name of the craft to Col. Cook. She is still plying the lakes between Cleveland and Kelly's Island in the stone carrying trade, and is owned by L. P. and J. A. Smith, of Cleveland.
On September 7, 1889, the survivors of the Lady Elgin met at Milwau- kee, and organized the Lady Elgin Survivors' Society, with Fred Snyder as president and Frank Boyd as its secretary. One of the principal objects of the organization was to provide a fund for masses to be said for the souls of the ill-fated passengers. A fund sufficient to pay for the masses at St. John's Cathedral, at Milwaukee, for all future time, was easily raised. The original membership of the society was twenty-five, but death has reduced the number of the society to sixteen. The annual meeting is held on September 8th.
NAMES OF SURVIVORS STILL LIVING.
Fred Snyder, 103 7th Street,
Milwaukee.
Frank Boyd, 1000 Grand Avenue,
=
Thomas Shea, 322 Madison Street,
John J. Crilly, 316 Jackson Street,
Martin Eviston, 234 Broadway,
John Rossiter, 386 Cass Street, . .
=
C. Beverung, 609 2d Street,
66
Ed. Mallon, 922 Clybourne Street,
Mr. and Mrs. John Eviston, 523 Jackson Street,
J. H. Miller, 467 3d Avenue,
=
William Dever, 226 16th Street,
66
Adelbert Doebert, 583 7th Street,
66
John Roper, Milwaukee Street,
=
Jerome Rode,
66
John McLindell, McLindell House,
Hugh Sullivan, 916 St. Paul Avenue,
66
William Edward, 315 Jackson Street, -
66
Phillip Edward, 315 Jackson Street,
Rooney,
Mrs. Edward Burke, 278 Milwaukee Street, John Regan,
66
Fred Kutemeyer,
John Ravers, -
Thomas B. Keogh, -
Wauwatosa. St. Paul, Minn. Goldsborough, N. C.
John H. Murray, 2313 Wells Street,
478
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
J. H. Cook, -
Thomas Murray, Mrs. Frank Evans,
First Mate George Davis,
Steward Fred Rice,
Mrs. Frank Horn, - W. H. Gunnison,
Mrs. Margaret Hayes, Erie, Pa. William Moats, - Troy, N. Y.
Appleton, Wis. Random Lake, Wis. St. Louis, Mo. Residence unknown. Residence unknown. Columbus, Ohio. Rochester, N. Y.
N
Memories of Our Heroes.
IN futile arts ever, man wastes not his life, But with noble aim oft bears his part in the strife, We mean not the records of discord and woe, The struggle for triumph in days long ago. No ! greater than these are the traces men leave, Who have reached the grand heights that the noble achieve.
Would ye witness grand monuments worthy the name, The works that enhance architecture's domain, Ve need roam not alone 'neath Italian's fair skies, Where Gothic cathedrals in majesty rise; For in oak-shaded cottage or proud mansion hall, Are the triumphs of effort-our homes great and small.
Ah ! these ever brighten memorial's chain Where learning and art in sweet peace calmly reign -- How varied the sketches portraying man's life As he wanders the world where illusions are rife ! Go seek in his hovel the worn Polish serf As he toils in a land where he owns not a turf.
Note the thousands now starving in Erin's green isle, Where the blight of oppression makes barren the soil, Mark the churches war-ruined, the cloisters laid waste; Yes, go to these places and hurry not past, They are all that endure now of tyranny's reign, They tell you of sadness, of mourning and pain.
Oh ! well may we gladden our mournful refrain, As America, fair, our attention would claim. The cross pointing upwards from altars below, The Mexican shrine where the purest gems glow, As the light of the faith-each one silently speaks Of Columbus, the brave, as the wild wave he seeks.
For the home of the savage, the poor, needy one, To gather the jewels that shine round God's throne, From the oak-shaded cot to the Capitol's dome, Where the world learns a lesson from liberty's home,- Where Washington's name, in bright letters of gold, Reflects the brave deeds of his comrades untold.
Are the memories of warriors, the noble and just, Who battled for right, who were true to the trust, Aye, such are the heroes our nation doth boast, Whose mem'ry will never remorseful sigh cost, But shrined amid all that is noble and great, 'Twill live beyond grandeur of empire and state.
They fought not for power nor the dross of the world, But o'er their free country a banner unfurled, And there it is guarded in state house and hall- A memory well fitting brave men to recall. Long, long, may their banner its stars and stripes wave, O'er a nation of heroes, a home of the brave.
MARY FENELON MCCRORY
BINNER-ENS. C. MIL-CHE
SENATOR MATT. H. CARPENTER.
CHAPTER LXII.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR LUDINGTON.
1876-1878.
Biographical Sketch of Governor Ludington .- Important Events .- Elections.
HARRISON LUDINGTON, our eighteenth governor, was born in Putnam county, New York, on July 31, 1812. In early life he worked hard through the summer months, and during the winters attended the district schools. This was all the education which Harrison Ludington received.
When 26 years of age, he started for the wild west. By foot and by stage he traveled until he reached Milwaukee, in November, 1838, and now became a per- manent settler. He immediately entered into the general mercantile business with his brother Lewis, under the firm name of Ludington & Co., and here Governor Ludington's honorable and upright ca- reer began. In 1851, Mr. Ludington became senior member of the firm of Ludington, Wells & Van Schaick, a lumbering concern. This business was one of the largest and most profitable in the Northwest.
Harrison Ludington was a Whig in politics, until the formation of the Re- publican party, in 1854, which party he joined. He was twice elected alderman, and three times mayor of Milwaukee. His office was conducted in an able, trustworthy manner, with economy and success. It was during the time that Mr. Ludington was mayor that the "great fire" swept over Chicago. His energetic spirit and generous hand made it possible for the people of Mil- waukee to extend relief to the suffering masses, and not only did the common council of Milwaukee give thanks to their mayor, but also was a special ac- knowledgment of thanks tendered him by the Chicago authorities.
479
480
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
In 1875, the Republican convention met at Madison, and placed in nom- ination their strongest man for governor-Harrison Ludington. He was elected over Governor Taylor, by the small majority of eight hundred and forty-one, while all the other Republican candidates were defeated. In Jan- uary, 1876, he resigned his position as mayor of Milwaukee, and was inaugu- rated governor of Wisconsin. At the end of his term he declined to be renom- inated.
His business qualifications were fully demonstrated in the opening para- graph of his first message to the legislature, which was as follows :
" It may not be considered unbecoming for me to express some doubt as to the wisdom of the provision of the constitution, which makes it the duty of the incoming governor to communicate to the legislature the condition of the state, and recommend such matters to them for their consideration as he may deem expedient. It would appear that such information and recommendation might more properly come from the citizen who had administered the affairs of the state during the past year, than from one who had just been called from other occupations to that duty."
During the entire term of Mr. Ludington's administration, he himself went over the books and records of the executive office every week. His clerks were capable and experienced, yet of his own personal knowledge must he know that the public business was being done promptly and properly.
Mr. Harrison Ludington was a genial, whole-hearted man, always willing to lend a helping hand. Ready always to help the poor, and through this reason was known to the masses by no other name than " Bluff Hal."
EVENTS OF 1876.
The twenty-ninth session of the Wisconsin legislature convened January 12, 1876, and was in session until March 14, 1876, a period of sixty-three days. This legislature consisted of one hundred and thirty-three members.
The senate was organized with Charles D. Parker as president, R. L. D. Potter as president pro tem., and A. J. Turner, chief clerk, while the assembly was organized with Samuel S. Fifield as speaker, R. M. Strong chief clerk, and C. D. Long as assistant clerk.
(Governor Ludington's message to the legislature was an able document, treating upon the necessities of the state, together with suggested needy reforms.)
This legislature passed a large amount of necessary laws and amendments to existing laws, together with incorporate acts. Among the numerous im- portant laws passed at this session, were those pertaining to civil and criminal actions, acts pertaining to the assessment of property, to prevent fraud in bank. ing, authorizing foreign trustees to bring actions within the state, redemption
481
WISCONSIN'S STATE GOVERNORS.
of land sold under foreclosure, authorizing the establishment of free high schools, prohibiting gambling in railroad cars, and acts pertaining to the preservation of game and fish.
The city charters of Appleton, Beloit, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Manitowoc, Menasha, Oconto, Oshkosh, Platteville, Portage, Ripon, Sheboygan, and Wausau were amended.
This legislature wisely made liberal appropriations for the following public institutions :
State prison at Waupun. $27,870
For the payment of pensions of soldiers' orphans 4,000
To the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb 33,500
For building laundry and kitchen for same. 6,500
For the Institution for the Education of the Blind. 1,800
Industrial School for Boys. 31,000
For the purpose of introducing the manufacture of boots and shoes into the above institution. 15,000
For the completion of the above building, furniture and fixtures. 5,000
Dodge County Agricultural Society. 100
Wisconsin State Agricultural Society 2,000
Outagamie County Agricultural Society
100
Iowa and Door County Agricultural Society, each .. 100
Waukesha County Agricultural Society. 100
As a contingent fund for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, $300, and for the governor's contingent fund. 2,000
To the State Board of Centennial Managers 20,000
The Supreme Court, at its January term this year, decided that under our statutory laws, women could not be admitted to practice law before that court.
The presidential election of 1876 created in Wisconsin, as in all other states, great excitement. The campaigns on the part of the presidential nomi- nees, Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden were well organized, and bitterly contested throughout every precinct in our state. Mr. Hayes received 130,068 votes as against Mr. Tilden's 123,927 votes, which resulted in the election of the following presidential electors : At large, Wm. H. Hiner, Francis Campbell.
First district, T. D. Weeks; 2d district, T. D. Lange; 3d district, Daniel D. Downes; 4th district, Casper M. Sanger; 5th district, Charles Luling ; 6th district, Charles H. Foster ; 7th district, Charles B. Solberg; 8th district, John H Knapp.
.
482
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
EVENTS OF 1877.
The thirtieth session of the Wisconsin legislature convened at Madison, January 10, 1877, and adjourned March 8, 1877, after a period of fifty- eight days. This legislature was composed of one hundred and thirty-three members.
The state senate was organized with Lieutenant-Governor Charles D. Parker as its president, W. H. Hiner, president pro tem., and A. J. Turner, chief clerk.
The assembly was organized with J. B. Cassoday as speaker, W. A. Nowell, chief clerk, and Charles D. King as assistant clerk.
The governor, in his able message, again pointed out to the legislature many needed reforms and laid before that body a statistical statement of the various public institutions throughout the state. This legislature passed the usual batch of general, private and local laws, and made the usual number of necessary and unnecessary amendments to the statutes. Among the numerous appropriations passed by this legislature were appropriations to the following institutions :
Wisconsin Hospital for the Insane.
Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association.
Home for the Friendless at Milwaukee.
State Prison.
Northern Hospital for the Insane.
Deaf and Dumb Institute.
Institute for the Blind.
Industrial School for Boys.
Soldiers' orphans.
State Fish Commissioners and
Superintendent of Public Property.
The legislature at this session also passed a law granting to women the privilege of practicing law in the various state courts.
It was during the summer of 1877 that a cyclone visited Pensaukee, Oconto county, and devastated considerable property.
The state Democratic convention convened early in the fall of 1877, and placed in nomination the following ticket :
For governor, James A. Mallory ; for lieutenant-governor, Romanzo E. Davis ; for secretary of state, James B. Hayes ; for state treasurer, John Ringle ; for attorney-general, J. M. Morrow; for state superintendent, Edward Searing.
The Republican state convention placed in nomination the following ticket in opposition to the Democratic nominees :
483
WISCONSIN'S STATE GOVERNORS.
For governor, William E. Smith; for lieutenant-governor, James M. Bing- ham; for secretary of state, Hans B. Warner; for state treasurer, Richard Guenther ; for attorney-general, Alexander Wilson ; for state superintendent, William C. Whitford.
At the November election the whole Republican state ticket was elected, Governor Smith's plurality being 8,273. At this election the following mem- bers of congress were elected :
Charles G. Williams, Edward S. Bragg, Lucien B. Caswell, Gabriel Bouck, George C. Hazelton, Herman L. Humphrey, William Pitt Lynde, Thaddeus C. Pound.
SCENE ON THE WISCONSIN RIVER, ON THE LINE OF THE M., L. S. & W. R'Y.
CHAPTER LXIII. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR SMITH.
1878-1882.
Biographical Sketch of William E. Smith .- Important Events During His Administration.
OUR next governor is the kindly, courteous, even-tempered William E. Smith. His ability and worth are not questioned. He was born on June 18, 1824, near Inverness, Scotland, thus being the first foreigner who was ever elected to fill the highest executive office of the state of Wisconsin. In 1835, his family emigrated to America, and settled at Commerce, Oakland county, Michigan. William finished his well- begun education in this country, then de- cided to adopt a mercantile life, and so first started in business in Michigan, but after a few years went to New York, where he entered the wholesale dry goods house of Ira Smith & Co. This was one of the largest concerns of the time. He remained in their employ five years.
When twenty-five years of age he came West, and settled in Racine county, Wisconsin, not being satisfied with the place, however, moved to Fox Lake, Dodge county, where he established him- self in the mercantile business, which he conducted for a period of twenty-three years without intermission.
He was married in 1850, his wife being the daughter of the well-known Rev. John Booth, of Michigan.
In 1850, he was elected to the state assembly, and the following year was nominated for assemblyman, but would not run. In 1857-58, he was a mem- ber of the state senate and, during the same year, was appointed by Governor Randall regent of the state normal schools. He held this last position for twenty successive years, or until he himself was made governor.
In 1864 William E. Smith was again state senator, but before his term had fully expired, he was elected state treasurer, and, in 1867, re-elected to the
485
.
486
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
same office. The uninvested " trust funds" of the state during the possession of this office, were handled in such a manner that great credit was added to his already substantial career. From this time on the private affairs of the governor were merged into public affairs. In November, 1870, he was elected to the legislature, and in January, 1871, was make speaker of the assembly. In this latter trust Mr. Smith was more than successful. The quickness and justness of his decisions, the ability to detect underhand attempts and subter- fuges, his genial manners, and his firmness to do right in all cases, were of the utmost account in making him what he was-a success.
In 1872 Mr. Smith moved to Milwaukee and entered into the wholesale grocery business with Judson A. Roundy and Sidney Hauxhurst, under the firm name of Smith, Roundy & Co. In 1874 he was appointed a director of the Wisconsin state prison, which position he occupied until his election as governor compelled him to resign his old office. It was in the year of 1877 that William E. Smith received the Republican nomination for governor of Wisconsin. During this campaign there were three candidates, the first case of this kind in the history of the state. Edward P. Allis was candidate for the Greenbackers, and Judge James A. Mallory the Democratic nominee. The representatives were all influential, powerful men, and when William E. Smith was elected by a plurality of over eight thousand votes, it proved that the peo- ple were well aware of his faithfulness and sterling ability. They were not dis- appointed-from the first Governor Smith's administration was very 'popular. In 1879 he was re-elected and served conscientiously and well in the high posi- tion of trust vested in him. Upon his retirement from office, in January of 1882, he returned to Milwaukee, and together with his son, Ira, and Henry M. Mendel, again started in the wholesale grocery business, which, because of his popularity, became very prosperous.
It was a bitter cold morning, on the 10th day of January, 1883, when oc- curred the burning of the Newhall House, one of Milwaukee's finest hotels, and which resulted in the loss of nearly one hundred lives. Committees of relief were everywhere established to do what could be done for the dead and relieve the survivors. Governor Smith was appointed chairman of the relief committee, and while serving in this capacity, contracted so severe a cold that pneumonia set in, and he died February 13, 1883. This appeared to be the climax of that dreadful January morning, when so many human lives were either burned or mangled, while attempting to escape the flames. Governor Smith's funeral was attended by great sorrow and respect. The legislative and state officers were present in bodies, for the purpose of testifying the state's great loss. And so ended the life of one of the most faithful workers in the state. He, him- self, occupying a high and honorable place in the public community through life, lost his life, how ? In the service of the poor and needy.
487
WISCONSIN'S STATE GOVERNORS.
EVENTS OF 1878.
The thirty-first session of the Wisconsin state legislature, convened Janu- ary 9, 1878, and adjourned March 21, 1878. An extra session convened June 4, 1878, for the purpose of completing the revision of the statutes. This extra session adjourned June 7, 1878.
The state senate was organized with James M. Bingham as president, A. J. Turner, chief clerk, and L. J. Brayton, sergeant-at-arms. The assembly was constituted as follows: Augustus R. Barrows, speaker; Jabez R. Hunter, chief clerk, and Anton Klaus, sergeant-at-arms.
Governor Smith's message to the legislature was a clean-cut and forcible document, which greatly assisted the legislature in the performance of its numerous duties. Several hundred bills, amendments and private and local laws were passed by this legislature, among the most important of which were the following enactments :
An act to build a pier at Green Bay ; an act constituting a board of text book examiners ; the refunding of bonded indebtedness to counties, cities, etc. ; an act prohibiting the adulteration of milk in butter and cheese factories ; acts for the preservation of fish and game, and repealing the tax on dogs.
The generosity of the state was well exhibited through its representatives in its appropriations to the following institutions :
Milwaukee Industrial School for Girls, Institution for the Education of the Blind, Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association, Indus- trial School for Boys, State Agricultural Society, Mineral Point Railroad Com- pany, Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, Manitowoc County Agricultural Society, State Fish Commissioners, Eastern Monroe Agricultural Society, Northern Hospital for the Insane, State Hospital for the Insane, be- sides numerous appropriations to town corporations and individuals, aggregat- ing more than $328.000.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.