USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume I > Part 47
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Provision, so it was thought, was amply made for a library building, but the association not owning a site, which was very necessary, the women of the club extended their efforts and by their solicitations soon secured through subscrip- tions, $6,000 for the payment of the beautiful lot upon which the Carnegie library building now stands, which is upon the southeast corner of Portland and Divi- sion streets, and occupies a space 160 x 160 feet.
After very careful consideration the library board came to the conclusion that the $30,000 given by Mr. Carnegie was not sufficient to erect a building large enough to provide for the future growth of the library, and at the same time be acceptable in point of convenience and general appearance. This phase of the situation was communicated to the council, whereupon a committee was appointed to confer with the library board and its architect. The result was the committee recommended to the council that the city appropriate $10,000 for the purpose of being used in construction and furnishing of the library build- ing. The council adopted the committee's report unanimously and the main feature of the enterprise-the money to pay-reached a happy conclusion. On the after- noon of June 27, 1903, the cornerstone of the Carnegie Free Public Library of Fond du Lac was laid, Frank B. Hoskins, president of the board, officiating. The opening address was delivered by L. A. Bishop, chief executive of the city, before a happy, interested and delighted populace, made up of members of the library board, common council, members of the Woman's club, other societies and citizens of Fond du Lac. Others who made addresses on that occasion were Rev. Father M. J. Taugher, Rev. W. D. Cornell, Mrs. Waldo Sweet, president of the Woman's Club, and F. B. Hoskins, president of the library board.
The building is constructed of limestone, with brown stone trimmings, and
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
has a frontage of 120 feet on the street. It is two stories in height, excluding the basement. The lower story is used for library purposes and has a capacity of over 30,000 books. There is a general reference room, a reading room, chil- drens room and the librarians room. The second floor contains a magnificent auditorium, with a seating capacity of 500, a public museum and two club rooms. These can be thrown into the auditorium, making them practically one large room1.
In October. 1904, the library was dedicated under very auspicious circum- stances. The ceremony of presenting the building to the city was gracefully carried through by the president of the library board, F. B. Hoskins, formally delivering the structure to Mayor John Hughes. Among other things in Presi- dent Hoskins' most excellent address he said: "I recognize the fact that we have started late and will therefore abridge my remarks. Mr. Carnegie's offer of $30,000 was the conception of the building of these walls. The evening after the telegram from him was received, the council met in special session and adopted an ordinance which complied with the conditions named in his bequest. The women started to collect funds and in a short time they had the deed and abstract for the lot upon which this building now stands, and it was presented to the city. The structure has cost $43,000, exclusive of the lot. Van Ryn & deGellecke, of Milwaukee, drew up the plans, and George Jorgenson, of Fond du Lac. received the contract. The members of the board when the offer was accepted were: John Heath, Major E. R. Herren, C. A. Galloway. William Weber, T. F. Mayham, O. H. Ecke, Raphael Katz and William Wilson. The board which dedicates the structure includes Mrs. L. A. Bishop, Miss Elizabeth Waters, O. H. Ecke, J. W. Watson, L. A. Williams, C. A. Galloway, Major E. R. Herren, John Heath, William Wilson and F. B. Hoskins."
Others who addressed the assemblage on this .occasion were Mrs. L. A. Wil- liams, on behalf of the Woman's Club; Reuben G. Thwaits, secretary of the State Historical Society and superintendent of the State Historical Library ; and Judge N. C. Giffin.
Since the opening of the new library building, many valuable donations of books, pictures and articles of historic interest have been made. In the assembly room on the second floor, are three fine oil paintings of presidents of the United States : Lincoln, Mckinley and Roosevelt. The book stacks are increasing and now they hold 28,679 volumes, classified from a child's book to a tome for the erudite. During the year ending July, 1912, the borrowers numbered 57,413, and at any hour of the library day, the rooms of the institution were tenanted by the booklover. The officials for 1912 were: President, John Heath ; vice presi- dent, G. T. McDougall ; secretary, William Wilson ; librarian, Emma E. Rose.
FOND DU LAC WOMAN'S CLUB
The Fond du Lac Woman's Club was organized February 28, 1896, by a small band of women whose object was self-improvement. Today the club not only stands for the object of its foundation but is striving to better the condition of others. It is interested in educational, civic, social and philanthropic subjects, the work being carried on through six departments, namely : art, civic improve- ment, home and education, literature, music and philanthropy, and through spe-
Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, FOND DU LAC
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
cial committees-industrial and legislative, public, school extension, social purity, health, civil service and rural club extension.
The first officials were President, Mrs. Frank Sweet ; first vice president, Mrs. F. M. Givens; second vice president, Mrs. Henry Boyle; third vice president, Mrs. J. C. Fuhrman ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. L. A. Williams; recording secretary, Mrs. Will Mihills; treasurer, Miss Larrabee.
The club was incorporated September 3. 1904. The present officers are : President, Mrs. C. L. Handt; first vice president, Mrs. D. F. Blewett ; second vice president, Mrs. G. H. Stanchfield ; secretary, Mrs. G. F. Scheib; correspond- ing secretary, Mrs. G. J. Bean; treasurer, Mrs. E. L. Maloney.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
After several conferences between H. J. Yapp, W. T. Mitchell, C. E. Lewis, O. K. Ecke, W. W. Hughes and J. C. Mckesson-it was decided by them to give out notice of a public meeting to be held for the purpose of considering the advisability of organizing the Young Men's Christian Association of Fond du Lac. In response to the public call some seventy-five men gathered in the audi- torium of the new public library building on the evening of November II, 1904. W. T. Mitchell presided. State Secretary F. E. Anderson, of Milwaukee, ex- plained the scope and methods of Y. M. C. A. work. The meeting voted unani- mously to organize at once and a constitution, previously prepared, was adopted. The first board of directors consisted of C. E. Lewis, H. J. Yapp, W. T. Mitchell, O. H. Ecke, C. A. Galloway, J. C. Mckesson, G. F. Finger, Dr. C. A. Beebe, Fred Moore, William Chegwin, J. F. Wegner and D. E. Johnson.
The first officials were: President, D. E. Johnson; vice president, W. T. Mitchell; recording secretary, J. C. Mckesson ; treasurer, H. J. Yapp.
The first meetings of the board of directors were held in the law offices of Mckesson & Hughes. The initial step toward securing a Y. M. C. A. building was taken when the state convention of the Wisconsin Y. M. C. A. was invited to meet in Fond du Lac, which it did March 7-10, 1905. A building committee was appointed, consisting of O. H. Ecke, chairman ; C. A. White, Edward Moore, Dr. C. A. Beebe, W. W. Collins and J. C. McKesson. The secretary was in- structed to incorporate the association and on March 17, 1905, the necessary papers were issued to the association by the secretary of state:
On June 14, 1905, O. H. Ecke was elected president of the association; H. J. Yapp, vice president ; J. C. Mckesson, recording secretary ; and E. M. Moore, treasurer. That year, during the spring, the first series of Sunday afternoon meetings were held in the People's Christian Association Hall, and in August the first officer employed was E. R. Champion, who was engaged as general secretary. In the following October a committee was appointed to arrange a lyceum course.
In raising the money to erect the building several business men and others connected with the association formed into teams and made daily solicitations, gathering together at lunch time and making reports until the canvass was com- pleted. During the month of June, 1906, an active campaign for the building was conducted but previous to this, on March 28. the site upon which the build- ing now stands, at No. 16 East First street, was purchased, and in April follow-
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
ing, C. E. Cleveland, Edward Madden, P. B. Haber, S. D. Wyatt, W. F. Mitchell and C. A. Lichty were appointed as members of the building committee. A few days later M. O. Pillsbury was engaged as architect. In September following, S. D. Wyatt was chosen as superintendent of construction. O. H. Ecke was continued as president and was his own successor in 1907. September 26, 1907, C. G. Goodsell was engaged as general secretary.
The new building, with its modest, though beautiful front, was first occupied during the month of March, 1908. Its interior arrangement is in conformity to the needs and desires of members of the association and displays the conveniences and equipments to be found in similar modern buildings of like character in larger cities. In the fall of 1912, a large swimming pool was constructed, which added materially to the demands and pleasure of the members.
The cost of this Y. M. C. A. property totals $57,500; $8,500 was paid for the lot. $43,000 for the building, and $3,500 for furnishings. Of the 500 mem- bers. 162 are boys and 338 adults.
In the election of 1908 W. T. Mitchell was selected as president ; H. J. Yapp, vice president; C. A. Cheney, recording secretary ; M. T. Simmons, treasurer. In 1909, Dr. C. A. Cheney was elected president; H. J. Yapp, vice president ; N. A. McDonald, recording secretary; M. T. Simmons, treasurer. All these officers were retained in their positions until 1912, when the official list was increased by the addition of J. W. Adams, general secretary ; E. E. King, assistant secretary ; and R. L. Stauffer, physical director.
LADIES AUXILIARY
In the fall of 1905 the ladies auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. was organized, and Mrs. P. B. Haber elected president; Mrs. G. W. Watson, vice president ; Mrs. O. H. Ecke, secretary; Mrs. C. A. Beck, treasurer. In the succeeding years the following have held office in this branch of the association: 1906-07- President, Mrs.Waldo Sweet; vice president, Mrs. M. B. Helmer; secretary, Mrs. W. M. McIntyre; treasurer, H. O. Lewis.
1907-08-President, Mrs. A. F. Koons; vice president, Mrs. W. J. McCallam ; secretary, Mrs. W. M. McIntyre; treasurer, Miss Eliza Keys.
1908-09-President, Mrs. C. A. Galloway ; vice president, Mrs. J. M. Hill; sec- retary, Mrs. W. M. McIntyre; treasurer, Miss Eliza Keys; assistant treasurer. Mrs. C. G. Goodsell.
1909-10-President, Mrs. A. W. Bissett; vice president, Mrs. George Wester- velt ; secretary, Mrs. E. E. Smith; treasurer, Miss Eliza Keys ; assistant treasurer, Mrs. C. G. Goodsell.
19IO-II-President, Mrs. A. J. McCreery ; vice president, Mrs. L. B. Van Blarcom; first assistant vice president, Mrs. A. A. Jones; second assistant vice president, Mrs. E. E. Smith; secretary, Mrs. F. C. Rogers ; treasurer, Miss Eliza Keys; assistant treasurer, Mrs. C. G. Goodsell.
19II-12-President, Mrs. L. B. Van Blarcom; vice president, Mrs. E. E. Smith ; assistant vice president, Mrs. P. C. Jones; secretary, Mrs. W. B. Pills-
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
bury ; assistant secretary, Mrs. A. W. Bissett; treasurer, Miss Eliza Keys ; assist- ant treasurer, Mrs. H. J. Yapp.
It should be here stated that some time prior to the Civil war, a Young Men's Christian Association was in evidence in Fond du Lac and remained in opera- tion for a number of years. For want of sustenance it finally went out of exist- ence.
Vol. I-25
CHAPTER XIX
CITY OF RIPON
SECOND MUNICIPALITY OF THE COUNTY-EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS- - RIPON BIRTHPLACE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-HAD AMBITION TO BECOME COUNTY SEAT-CHURCHES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
The original owner of the land upon which primitive Ripon stood was John S. Horner, who bid off the tract at the public land sale in Green Bay, November 5, 1838. He did not receive a patent for the land, however. This was issued to Mary Eleanor Watson, of Washington, as his assignee, October 2, 1840. Later, as attorney for Mary Eleanor Watson, having power of attorney to act, Horner transferred the land to David P. Mapes under the following warranty deed :
"Warranty Deed .- This indenture, made this 28th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1849, between John S. Horner, as attorney in fact for Mary Eleanor Watson, of the city of Washington, pursuant to a power of attorney hereto annexed, of the first part, and David P. Mapes, of Fond du Lac county, Wiscon- sin, of the second part, witnesseth; That the said party of the first part, for and in ocnsideration of the sum of $500, to him in hand paid, receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged, does grant, bargain, sell, remise, release and convey unto the party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, all the following lots in the town of Ripon, in the county of Fond du Lac, Wiscon- sin, according to the plat of said town to be of record, to wit: Nos. 2 and 4, of Block I ; Lots No. 2, 3 and 5, of Block 3 ; Lot No. 5, of Block 4 ; Lots Nos. 2 and 3, of Block 5 ; Lots Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, of Block 6; Lots Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and II, of Block 8; Lots 2, 4 and 5 of Block 9; Lot 2, of Block 10; also Outlots Nos. I, 3 and 4; and he, the said Horner, as aforesaid, his heirs, executors and admin- istrators, do covenant with the said David P. Mapes as follows : First, that she, the said Mary Eleanor Watson, is lawfully seized of the said premises ; second, that she, the said Watson, has good right to convey the same, so that the same is free from encumbrances; that the said Watson and the said Horner will forever war- rant and defend the title of the same against all lawful claims.
"Witness my hand and seal, the day and year first above written.
"John S. Horner, Attorney in fact for Mary Eleanor Watson.
"Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Mary Frisbee and J. Wilber.
"State of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County, ss .- On April 28, 1849, came before me John S. Horner and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
"A. P. MAPES, Notary Public."
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
There were conditions attached to the contract for the sale of this land to Mapes, which he fulfilled most satisfactorily. With his two sons, he saw to it that lots were offered to settlers at reasonable prices and, like Dr. Darling of Fond du Lac, he offered a number of lots free of price to persons agreeing to make improvements thereon within a certain specified time. Pursuant to agreement he built a mill and hotel at a cost of nearly $10,000, and made other improve- ments that soon attracted a very desirable class of people to the growing village. One of the lots donated was given to E. L. Northrup, who crected upon it the first store building in the place. This was on the east side of the public square. To Samuel Pedrick was given the second lot and fulfilled the promise to erect a frame building thereon. Alexander Beardsley promised to put up a black- smith shop and received the third lot donated by Mr. Mapes.
History has it that Samuel Pedrick erected the first building in Ripon, a frame shanty on a lot near the Fond du Lac & Sheboygan Railway depot. The structure-12 × 12-was ready for occupancy early in April, 1849, and Samuel Pedrick, his wife and five children-Charles R., Marcellus, Zebulon, Cyrus and Mary J., at once moved into it. Mr. Pedrick's death, which occurred in Sep- tember, 1850, was the first to occur in the village.
In December, 1849, and six weeks after arriving, Ezra Northrup opened the · first store in Ripon and in May, 1850, Dana F. Shepard and Samuel Sumner, were running a store under the firm name of Sumner & Shepard. A year later, having sold his interest in the store, Mr. Shepard built a hotel. that was long known by his name.
The first hardware establishment in Ripon was started by John P. Taggart, who arrived in the village in September, 1850. His brother, William P. Taggart, came in 1852 and that year the firm of Taggart Brothers was formed.
One of Ripon's earliest and prominent men of enterprise and importance was Alvan E. Bovay. He was its first lawyer. Major Bovay became a citizen here in 1850. Another pioneer and influential citizen of Ripon was Jehdeiah Bowen, who made his appearance here in June, 1850. That year he put up a building on the northwest corner of the public square and opened a general stock of mer- chandise. He was one of the builders of the place and assisted very materially in its growth. David Greenway also arrived in Ripon in 1850 and brought with him his wife and three children. By this time the village had begun to assume proportions and its people were correspondingly encouraged.
Ripon and Ceresco having grown together, joined issues in 1853 and on the 2d day of April assumed the name of Morena. But, when the city was chartered the name of Ripon was retained. And it is well to here note that the first charter sought by the citizens of Ripon was for a city of government but, being a little too ambitious in providing for three wards, which did not meet the approval of other sections of the county, the charter had to be so amended as to provide for only two wards before certain members of the legislature would agree to its passage. The act creating the city of Ripon was passed through the efforts of its citizen, E. L. Runals, during the session of the assembly in 1858. Harvey Grant was the first man to hold the office of mayor of Ripon, and L. G. Kelley is the chief executive officer of the city.
WEST FOND DU LAC STREET, RIPON
RIPON KNITTING WORKS
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SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL, RIPON
MAIN STREET, SOUTH, RIPON
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HISTORY OF. FOND DU LAC COUNTY
POSTOFFICE
The first postoffice at Ripon was called Ceresco, for at the time of its establish- ment Ripon practically did not exist. Mr. Rounds was the first postmaster, hav- ing been appointed in 1844. Through the efforts of D. P. Mapes the office was removed to Ripon and E. L. Northrup was appointed postmaster, receiving his commission March 30, 1850. On the expiration of his term, however, Post- master Starr made an unsuccessful attempt in 1853 to have the office returned to Ceresco. This was a great disappointment to the people of the community, which was mostly made up of members of the Wisconsin Phalanx. There have been a number who have presided over this office. The present incumbent is F. A. Everhard, who received his appointment in April, 191I.
1 SCHOOLS
Ripon has good schools and will have expended within a few months for new buildings about $75,000. This will include a high-school building to replace the one destroyed by fire. The first school taught here was in the fall of 1844 by Mr. Rounds, who presided over his pupils in the Wisconsin Phalanx building at Ceresco. The Phalanx in 1845 erected a stone schoolhouse on lot I, block 5, corner of Church and Liberty streets. Mr. Rounds was the first teacher here also. The school was not a public institution, however, being first maintained by the citizens of Ceresco for the benefit of their own children. The district schools were organized in 1849, when Mr. Daniel taught the first term of five months in the stone schoolhouse erected by the Phalanx.
WATERWORKS
The Ripon waterworks were built in 1890 by private corporation under the name and title of the Ripon Light & Water Company. Ninety per cent of the stock is owned by C. P. and W. P. Haseltine.
GAS PLANT
The gas plant was begun in 1872 by C. L. Lightburn, and while small at the time, the building and machinery cost about $25,000. In 1876 the plant went into possession of A. L. Dobbs. The property is now owned by the Haseltine Electric Light Company, which purchased it about 1895.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The city of Ripon practically had no regularly organized fire department until 1875, when the council purchased a chemical engine and then a volunteer com- pany was organized, with Hazen R. Hill as chief fire marshall. He was soon succeeded by H. J. Goodall. The department is now in good condition and the city has sustained but few losses by fire.
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
STREET PAVING
Ripon has macadamized streets, kept in good repair, and four blocks of brick paving. The macadamized streets are approaches to the city, varying in length from one mile to one and a half miles. There is also a good sewerage system, which was inaugurated in 1895.
The city hall, a substantial building, was erected in 1885. Here are offices for municipal court, council and city clerk. On the ground floor is the postoffice in front and the fire department occupies the rear.
There have been a number of hotels in Ripon but the principal one now is the Englebright, a large structure, facing the square.
LODGES
The two principal lodges in Ripon are the Masonic and Odd Fellows. Ripon Lodge, No. 95, F. & A. M. was granted dispensation in September, 1857. The charter members were Robert O. Selfridge, David N. Hosmer, A. B. Pratt, Philo England, David P. Mapes, Charles Hopkins, Thomas Ford, G. P. Bragdon, J. E. Brown and J. K. Hunt. The first officers were: R. O. Selfridge, W. M .; A. B. Pratt, S. W .; D. N. Hosmer, J. W .; J. M. S. Maxon, S. D .; Thomas Ford, J. D .; J. E. Brown, Sec .; B. Dailey, Tyler.
Ripon Lodge No. 144, I. O. O. F., was chartered on the IIth of March, 1868. The charter members were Ellis Shepard, A. E. Olin, Daniel Stafford, O. R. Ellis and H. MacArthur. The first officers were: Ellis Shepard, N. G .; Daniel Stafford, V. G .; S. G. Dodge, R. S .; George W. Peck, P. S .; A. E. Olin, Treas.
CEMETERY
The first cemetery in what is now Ripon was laid off by the Wisconsin Phalanx in 1845, in the northwest corner of Ceresco. R. D. Mason, Jacob Beck- with, Carlton Lane, Jacob Woodruff, Russell Smith and John Irving donated the lot to the association. The first burial here was that of Caroline Danks; a mem- ber of the Phalanx, and the next was that of Uriel Farmin. The wife of Tim- othy J. Mapes was the first person to be buried on College hill in Ripon. Samuel Pedrick, who died in September, 1850, was the second. Others were buried on College hill before a cemetery was set apart. Most of the bodies were subse- quently removed to the present cemetery, the original deed of which was given by J. Bowen to D. Sabin, D. P. Mapes, E. L. Northrup, Dana F. Shepard and E. P. West. The old association was reorganized in 1863. Dana F. Shepard, George N. Lyman, A. M. Skeels, B. G. Webster and Solon G. Dodge were elected directors.
RIPON'S EARLY AMBITION
The chief feature of this article shall be the effort of the citizens of Ripon to take off a slice of the county, add it to a part of Marquette and thus set the stakes for making of herself a county seat. But the early action of Taychcedah interjects its remembrance here and as it has to do with the permanent location
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
of a seat of government for the county of Fond du Lac, brief mention will here be made of Taycheedah's part in the short but strenuous struggle to reach that distinction.
Taycheedah desired the county seat and being a village of great importance in her younger days, offered flattering inducements to settlers to locate within her borders. But Dr. Darling was a citizen of Fond du Lac, a wide-awake, enter- prising and courageous citizen. He had large landed interests within the village that would become valuable, only in the event Fond du Lac remained as the legislature intended it should, the county seat. Hence it was, that Dr. Darling spiked Taycheedah's guns, by selling to all who would come, lots at a very low price and in many instances made a gift of lots to those agreeing to at once build upon them. At that time the river and lake cut quite a figure in the future of the city and it was then believed the place would be an important lake port. The shipping argument was an effective one and this, with other inducements settled the fate of Taycheedah.
But Fond du Lac was not left alone many years in her glory as a county seat. The village of Ripon had designs upon her domain and ambitions of her own. After the county of Green Lake had been created and detached from the county of Marquette and Dartford had been given the county seat, not without a fight for it, however, Ripon conceiving that the plan would meet the views of cer- tain of the defeated villages of Green Lake county, offered for passage in the legislature a bill to detach the towns of Metomen, Ripon and Alto from the county of Fond du Lac and add them to Green Lake, hoping, by the passage of the meas- ure, to become the county seat of Green Lake. But the bill failed to pass. How- ever, a bill was passed authorizing the people of Fond du Lac to vote on the proposition to detach the town of Ripon from this county and attach it to Green Lake county. The question was submitted to the electors November 8, 1859, and was defeated by a small majority. There were 5,315 votes cast, of which 2,604 were in favor of the dismemberment and 2,71 I against the proposition. Captain Mapes, E. L. Runals, Jerre Dobbs and others foremost in the scheme for the advancement of Ripon were not discouraged by their failures. They contested certain votes, especially in Ripon, claiming that they had been improperly read and to the loss of Ripon. The matter went to the supreme court of the state and was decided adversely to the Ripon partisans. This ended their efforts to make Ripon a county seat and today the little city is the second largest and prosperous municipality in Fond du Lac county.
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