USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume I > Part 40
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
327
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Division street, where the present main track is now laid. A hollow square was formed and Dr. Darling opened the ceremonies with a brief address, a spade which had been carried in the procession was handed to A. H. Smith, the pres- ident of the road, and as he cut the tough sod and tossed it high in the air, a shout went up that could be heard for miles, and here was the beginning of what is now known as the Chicago & Northwestern railway-that great system which is now recognized to be one of the greatest railway systems in this country. And while portions of what now constitutes this line of railway were built before any work was done in Wisconsin, yet the first work done on the Chicago & Northwestern railway proper, was in the city of Fond du Lac, in 1851, hence Fond du Lac has the right to the claim of being the birthplace of this mighty system.
HAULED ENGINE WITH OXEN
"The first engine for this road was brought from Buffalo by boat to She- boygan, and was hauled from Sheboygan to Fond du Lac by teams of oxen and horses. It took several weeks to bring it here. This engine weighed some fif- teen tons and was named 'The Winnebago' in honor of the lake from which it drank.
"This new line of railroad encountered many vicissitudes ; iron was hard to get, and it was not until eight years after the time ground was broken in Fond du Lac that a continuous passage by rail could be made to Chicago.
THREE PERIODS
"I am going to divide Fond du Lac's industrial development into three peri- ods. I am going to call them.
"First-The Sawmill Period.
"Second-The Stagnation Period.
"Third -- The Revival or New Industry Period.
"Doubtless you all know that Fond du Lac was primarily what is commonly known as 'A Sawmill Town.' As early as 1845 the first sawmill was running in Fond du Lac, and was located on the east branch of the Fond du Lac river, at a point which today would be directly back of the court house. This mill was run by water power, a dam having been built which furnished a seven foot head of water, while the water wheel was made of wood and furnished considerable power. This mill could saw about 2,500 feet of lumber per day by being run early in the morning until late at night.
THE FIRST STEAM MILL
"In 1846 the first steam mill was built in Fond du Lac; in fact in this part of Wisconsin, and was located on the east bank of the river just where Cotton street now is. The mill was erected by Cornelius Davis, who furnished the experience, and by A. G. Ruggles, who furnished the money. The logs and timber for the mill were cut on the Wolf river in 1846 and were rafted to Fond du Lac, after which Mr. Ruggles went east and bought the engine, boiler and machinery. The
328
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
machinery was brought by boat, and while making the trip a terrific storm was encountered, and the frightened passengers were for a time determined to heave the heavy mill machinery overboard to insure the safety of the vessel. Mr. Rug- gles was far more disturbed at the threats of the passengers than he was at the storm, bad as it was, for all he had was represented by the machinery, which seemed in a fair way to be dumped into the lake. However, the storm subsided without the passengers making good their dire threats, and in course of time the machinery was landed in Sheboygan and brought to Fond du Lac by teams of oxen.
ZENITH OF LUMBER BUSINESS
"From this small beginning the number of mills was gradually increased until 1873, when the lumber business had reached its zenith. In this year there were in Fond du Lac eighteen lumber and shingle mills, employing some 830 hands, manufacturing 67,000,000 feet of lumber and 88,000,000 shingles, valued at $1,- 225,000, while four sash and door factories employed some 585 hands, with an annual output of about $1,050,000.
"In addition to the above there were sundry foundries, machine shops, flour- ing mills, carriage factories, paper mills, and steam bakeries, employing in the aggregate upwards of 1,500 hands, producing nearly $2,000,000 in manufactured products annually. The average deposits of the banks of Fond du Lac were, in 1873, about $900,000.
"At this time there were also maintained here the general car shops of the Northwestern road, also a sawmill, in which was sawed the lumber used in the manufacture of the cars. A large body of men were being employed and it was in these shops that the first Pullman coach was made.
THE STAGNATION PERIOD
"I wish it were possible to pass by the second, or stagnation period of Fond du Lac history and not to recall it. It is filled with good intentions and many failures. The panic of 1873 was far-reaching in crippling the many industries in Fond du Lac. . The sawmills soon commenced to shut down, owing to their inability to secure raw material, and mills that burned were not rebuilt.
THE LAST STRAW
"In 1876 the car shops, which had been a large factor in keeping up the town, were moved to Chicago. This seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back. The feeling must have been very bitter towards this railway cor- poration by the citizens of Fond du Lac, for I find in a directory published shortly after the removal of the shops, the following, printed under a Northwestern time table :
"'We print the above time tables at our own expense, for the benefit of the public, who must travel on the Northwestern road. Not for the good of the road, which we believe to be one of the meanest and most illiberal corporations on the face of the earth. Even its seeming liberal actions towards the Van Brunt Works
329
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
is but the temporary free lease of buildings of little or no further use to them, and so situated as to be useless for ordinary business purposes. We warn the timid and halting that if no competing line of southerly railroad is built, Oshkosh and other points having competing lines, will outgrow Fond du Lac, until the "Second City" will finally become third and even fourth in point of population and business among the cities of the state.'
"I can only attribute this outburst of feeling to one of two causes. First, that it reflected the temperament of the citizens of Fond du Lac after the shops were removed, or, secondly, that the editor of the directory had been unsuccess- ful in his request for a pass, which sometimes could be secured' for the asking in two days.
GOOD INTENTIONS-MANY FAILURES
"I say that this period of stagnation was filled with good intentions and many failures. For some twenty-five years did this period of depression continue. It seemed to be impossible for Fond du Lac to gain a new foothold, although the business men of this period were not slow to realize that new industries must be secured for the city, to take the place of the lumber industries so fast dis- appearing.
STREWN WITH WRECKAGE
"This period seems strewn with financial wreckage of many large and small industries, which had been endeavoring to do their part in maintaining Fond du Lac's position in the industrial and financial world,-concerns like Hiner's Iron Works, Hunter's Paper Mills, Empire Woolen Mills, Baker's bank, Steveley's fac- tory, Pierron's Boiler Works, the Stickney shoe factory, the blast furnace, C. J. L. Meyer's various interests and numerous smaller industries became financially involved.
INDUSTRIAL INCUBATOR ONLY
"Fond du Lac seems to have also served as an industrial incubator for a num- ber of industries which received their start here, and this period saw the re- moval of a number of the sawmills-the McDonald Manufacturing Company to Minneapolis, forming the nucleus of what is known as the Minneapolis Thresh- ing Machine Company ; the LaBelle Wagon Works to Superior; the Wheel and Seeder Company to La Crosse; the Yeast Foam Company to Chicago; and the absorption of the B. Wild Steam Bakery by the National Biscuit Company.
"Naturally such an upheaval of the business conditions in Fond du Lac dur- ing this period had a marked effect upon the population of the city. I find that the state census of 1875 gave Fond du Lac a population of 15,308. This dropped to 13,091 in 1880 and further receded to 12,024 in 1890. The next five years showed a small gain, and the census of 1895 shows a population of 13,051, while an appreciable increase was made during the succeeding five years, the 1900 census showing the city to have a population of 15,501.
330
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
A TRIBUTE TO MR. WHITCOMB
"This brings us into what I have, termed The Revival, or New Industry Period.
"There is a gentleman who now resides in Wisconsin's first city, who has always believed that Fond du Lac possessed certain natural and geographical advantages which are not possessed by her sister cities in the Fox River valley. A man who in the earlier days of Fond du Lac was a resident here, and although called to work in a larger field, never lost sight of the fact that Fond du Lac held the geographical position as being the logical location for a division head- quarters for any railroad which traversed eastern Wisconsin, and I therefore say to Henry F. Whitcomb does Fond du Lac owe to no small degree the debt for its industrial revival.
"His broad vision and business foresight while president of the Wisconsin Central Railway Company in convincing his board of directors that Fond du Lac was the logical point for their general car shops and division headquarters has been demonstrated beyond a doubt. In fact, his foresight and judgment was soon confirmed by the management of the Northwestern railroad, who shortly after the coming of the Wisconsin Central shops realized that this road had made a wise move and they, too, followed suit by establishing division headquarters and repair shops at North Fond du Lac.
EMPLOY 1,700 MEN
"Time does not permit me to tell you how certain of our citizens made it pos- sible for these shops and division headquarters to be moved here. Houses had to be built, a new town laid out, with stores, churches and schools, but Fond du Lac citizens proved themselves equal to the emergency and today we find the Soo shops at North Fond du Lac are giving employment to 891 men, while the North- western shops employ about 225 men and that there are now living in Fond du Lac nearly seven hundred conductors, engineers, firemen and other trainmen, the combined pay roll of these two roads at this point being over $1,250,000 annually, which is paid to over seventeen hundred men.
FOND DU LAC OF TODAY
"The Fond du Lac of today is not the Fond du Lac of 1873. The estimated value of the manufactured product at that time was $4,212,000, of which the largest item was represented by lumber, shingles, sash and doors, with a value of $2,280,000, while today I find from the best information I am able to gather that our manufactured product represents an annual value of over $7,000,000, of which the largest item is represented by our leather industry, with a value of $4,000,000, this industry being represented entirely by the Fred Rueping Leather Company, which, as William Rueping & Sons in 1873, gave employment to twenty hands, with an annual output of $70,000 in leather, has grown until they are now employing 500 hands, manufacturing annually leather, with a value of over $4,- 000,000. It may be said of this concern that it is now in its third generation, for the grandsons of William Rueping who founded this industry in 1854, are the managers and principal owners of the business today.
FRED RUEPING
331
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
"There are six other industries now in business here which connect the Fond du Lac of yesterday with the Fond du Lac of today,-the B. F. & H. L. Sweet Company, established in 1855; the Moore & Galloway Lumber Company and the Huber & Fuhrman Drug Mills in 1864; the Giddings & Lewis Manufacturing Company, known in an early day as the Novelty Iron Works, in 1866; the O. C. Steenberg Company, in 1867; and the Bechaud Brewing Company, established in 1872. These six concerns who in 1873 were employing 205 hands are now employing 1,039 hands, which shows a very healthy growth. Twenty-one of the most important manufacturing industries in Fond du Lac today are giving em- ployment to over 2,100 people.
THE BANK DEPOSITS
"No better indication of the growth and stability of conditions today can be found than by a comparison of the bank deposits of the Fond du Lac of yes- terday with the Fond du Lac of today, for while the bank deposits in 1873, when the city had around 15,000 population, were around $900,000, the deposits held by our banks today, with an estimated population of 20,000, are nearly $5,000,000.
"In closing, let me say that Fond du Lac is proud of her industries. The prod- ucts of her industries are known far and wide. We want you to see these prod- ucts of which we are so justly proud, and in order that you may do so, we have prepared for you a 'Made in Fond du Lac Exposition,' which is being held at our Coliseum building. You are most cordially invited to visit this exhibit, for it will give you a more comprehensive idea of what Fond du Lac is doing in manufacturing than I can possibly tell you this afternoon.
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE
"We can furnish leather from our tannery for your shoes in your walk through life. When you sit at your family table it can be a table made in Fond du Lac. When you go to your refrigerator, it can be a Gurney. Our Bonita chocolates will appease your sweet tooth. At your office you can sit at a Win- nebago desk and use a Harris typewriter. We can put a new top on your auto- mobile and will soon be able to light it for you with electric light. We can fur- nish you with shirts and overalls. If you want to wear wooden shoes, we make them. We will furnish your churches complete. If you are ill, we can furnish you with drugs from our Drug Mill, and when this fitful journey through life is ended, you can be buried in a Fond du Lac casket. Let me assure you that Fond du Lac is prepared to take care of your wants from the cradle to the grave."
.
CHAPTER XVII
RELIGIOUS
THE ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES IN FOND DU LAC EARLY EFFECTED- FIRST RE- LIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IN THE LOG CABINS OF THE SETTLERS- HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES OF THE CHIEF CITY.
ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
On the 3d of September, 1848, the organization of St. Paul's Episcopal church took place in the courthouse. Among the first members were ex-Governor N. P. Tallmadge, Chief Justice Stow of the supreme court, Lieutenant Governor S. W. Beall and General George D. Ruggles. Steps were taken in 1850 to build a church edifice and in the meantime services were held in Darling's block. The lot was given by Judge Macy and was located on the corner of Follet and Ban- nister streets. The church was completed in 1852, the first service being held therein on the 12th of March. The first rector was the Rev. Joshua Sweet, who served until 1863. In 1867 a new church building was erected on the present site of the cathedral, at a cost of $20,000. When the Rt. Rev. J. H. Hobart Brown became bishop of the diocese in December, 1875, steps were taken at once to make Fond du Lac the see city, and the rector and vestry of St. Paul's church offered the realty belonging to the corporation to the bishop for cathedral pur- poses, and all the pew holders deeded their rights to the bishop and on the feast of the conversion of St. Paul, January 25, 1876, St. Paul's cathedral was instituted.
The cathedral was destroyed by fire on Friday morning, January 25, 1884. A movement to rebuild promptly followed and a structure larger and more costly than the original edifice was erected. The first service in the new cathedral was held on Easter morning, 1887, although the building was in an unfinished condi- tion and the first regular worship was held on the 6th of June following. The diocese was thrown into deep mourning by the death of the beloved Bishop Brown, which occurred on the 2d of May, 1888. The Rev. Fr. Grafton, then of Providence, Rhode Island, was elected to succeed the lamented bishop, the consecration taking place on the 25th of April, 1889. Several rectors, eminent in the Episcopal church, have officiated at St. Paul's and prominent among them was the eloquent and gifted Rev. James de Koven, D. D., who preached his last sermon in the old cathedral before it burned.
The cathedral building is of stone, and its interior finish is particularly at- tractive.
333
334
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
THE RT. REV. CHARLES C. GRAFTON, D. D.
Charles Chapman Grafton was born in Boston, Massachusetts, April 12, 1830. His father was Major Joseph Grafton, U. S. A., of the war of 1812, and later surveyor of the customs of Boston. His mother was Maria Gurley, only child of John Ward Gurley, attorney general of Louisiana. The Graftons are an old Salem family, having come to this country in the early days of the colony. Its connection with the church is of long standing, since tradition has it that "Rich- ard Grafton, printer to the Kinges Majestie," in 1850, who printed the first Eng- lish Prayer Book, was a member of the family. The future bishop of Fond du Lac was educated in the Boston Latin school and after leaving that institution entered the law school of Harvard, receiving the degree of LL. B. from Har- vard University, and then decided to study for Holy Orders. His theological studies were conducted under the direction of Bishop Wittingham, of Maryland. He was ordained deacon by the Rt. Rev. W. R. Wittingham, D. D. LL. D., in St. Peter's church, Ellicotts' Mills, Maryland, December 23, 1855. His diaconate was spent as assistant at Reistertown, Maryland, and at the Associate Mission House in Baltimore, of which he was one of the founders. He was ordained priest in St. Paul's church, Baltimore, May 30, 1858, by the same prelate who had conferred deacon's orders upon him. Upon being ordained to the priest- hood, Mr. Grafton became curate at St. Paul's, Baltimore, and was appointed by the bishop as chaplain to the Diocesan Order of Deaconesses.
In 1860 Mr. Grafton was elected rector at St. Peter's church, Philadelphia, one of the most important parishes in the country, and from which the former rector. W. H. Odenheimer, D. D., had just been elevated to the Episcopacy. This honor Mr. Grafton declined. In 1865 Mr. Grafton went to England, with the cordial approbation of his bishop, for the purpose, if possible, of organizing a society or brotherhood on monastic lines. Such religious orders had not flour- ished in the Anglican church since the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, and his followers. Mr. Grafton soon found other men who were praying and longing for a restoration of the religious life, so in company with the Rev. S. W. O'Neil and the Rev. R. M. Benson, a community was formed at Cowley, Oxford, under the name of The Society of St. John the Evangelist. No constitution was framed at that time or for many years, it being thought wiser to wait until that society developed its needs. The chief work of this society was the preaching of Missions, which is a churchly form of what are popularly called revivals. But the work was not inconsistent with regular parish work, as is shown by the fact that in 1872 "Father" Grafton, as he was then called, became rector of the Church of the Advent, Boston.
The Church of the Advent has always stood for whatever is called "advanced" teachings. It had numbered among its rectors such names as Dr. William Cros- well, Dr. Bowles and Bishop Southgate. In the calling of Father Grafton to the rectorship. this policy was maintained. The church stood for free seats and an open church, with frequent and hearty services. Father Grafton's rectorship lasted from 1872 to 1888. during which time he saw many wonderful changes and developments in and out of his own parish. A new parish church was built at a cost of about $300,000. An American house was founded for the English Sisterhood of St. Margaret's, East Grinstead, and subsequently another Sister-
REV. CHARLES C. GRAFTON
335
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
hood, that of the Holy Nativity, was founded. In addition to these works and the great cares of his large and growing city parish, Father Grafton was con- stantly engaged in giving "Missions" throughout the country and in writing on religious topics. The number of communicants in his parish grew from 250 to 600, and a section of the parish which had separated from the mother church, grew also to about 600 communicants.
In 1888 Father Grafton resigned his rectorship of the Church of the Advent and removed to Providence, Rhode Island, establishing there the Mother House of the Sisters of the Holy Nativity. This Sisterhood has now grown large and strong under the fostering care of its founder and is represented in several dioceses.
In 1889 Father Grafton was elected bishop of Fond du Lac, to succeed the Rt. Rev. J. H. Hobart Brown, S. T. D. The consecration of the bishop took. place in the Fond du Lac cathedral on St. Mark's day, April 25, 1889, by the Rt. Rev. W. E. McLaren, D. D., LL. D., bishop of Chicago, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Alexander Burgess, S. T. D .. the Rt. Rev. G. F. Seymour, S. T. D., LL. D., the Rt. Rev. D. B. Knickerbacker, S. T. D., the Rt. Rev. M. N. Gilbert. D. D., and the Rt. Rev. C. F. Knight, D. D., D. C. L. The occasion was one of great demonstration in the Cathedral City, many notables coming from other parts of the country to attend.
During Bishop Grafton's Episcopacy the church in his diocese was strength- ened and developed in a wonderful way. A large number of churches and mis- sions which had been closed and abandoned were reopened, among these be- ing Berlin, Waupun, Omro, Oakfield, Menasha, Waupaca, Medford, Washburn, Bayfield, Antigo, Merrill, Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Rectories have been built or purchased in Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, Stevens Point, Waupaca, Ahnapee. Sheboygan Falls and Berlin. Many new church buildings have been erected, besides guild halls, etc.
It is sometimes said that the diocese of Fond du Lac is a small one. The contrary is the fact. The diocese comprises 27,000 square miles and has a popu- lation of 587,983. There are about twenty-two places in which there is neither parish or mission in working condition. The population is largely foreign and from Roman Catholic countries. The work of the church has been done in spite of every obstacle. After many months of illness, endured patiently and with Christian resignation, the beloved pastor gave up the life he had devoted to his people, August 30, 1912, at the age of 82.
GRAFTON HALL
In a retired corner of Fond du Lac, at the north end of Sophia street, is Grafton Hall-a girls' school-of which the city is justly proud.
St. Paul's congregation has always been interested in Christian education. At one time a parish school with an attendance of 150 pupils was successfully maintained. The large wooden building connected with the cathedral was built for this purpose, and an able force of teachers was supported. About the year 1880 a boarding department was added for both boys and girls, which was continued for three or four years. In 1886 Mrs. Delano moved to Fond du Lac and under the direction of Bishop Brown organized the Sisterhood of St.
336
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Monica for widows, and provided a home for a girls' boarding school. Mrs. Bennett was placed in charge of the school work. At the end of five years the school was placed on the accredited list of the State University.
In the autumn of 1893 Grafton Hall corporation was duly organized under a state charter, and to it was deeded that portion of the school property then belonging to St. Monica House. In 1895 two adjoining lots were purchased and the erection of a new school building was begun. This was completed in the autumn of 1896 at a cost of $45,000. The building is a model of convenience and elegance most complete in all its appointments. It stands on the north side of the school grounds, fronting south, and just across the yard is the handsome cathedral. The school building is 143 feet long and 54 feet wide. It is built of Fond du Lac gray limestone, with a blue slate roof. On the first floor are the ยท class rooms, study hall, library, grand hall, reception room, dining hall, kitchen, etc. Twenty-five single bedrooms, infirmary and bath rooms, are found on the second floor, all well lighted and comfortably furnished. The individual rooms for each pupil are a great attraction, and the furniture of white birch with white enamel and brass bedsteads is most attractive. The plumbing is the latest and best. On the third floor is the large culture hall, with open rafters. This hall is used during school hours by the music department, and in the free periods, for recreation purposes. Here the basket ball contests are waged during the winter, and many a Saturday night is passed, long to be remembered. Ten music rooms adjoin, and the art studio, with its attractive features. The chapel is at the west end, where the roof again opens out into Gothic arches, and the surroundings prompt devotion. Once a day the school gathers here and many a helpful resolu- tion is suggested that leads to higher aims and ideals.
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.