USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 44
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The question of incorporation as a village came before the Circuit Court of Winnebago, and M. N. Bosworth, C. B. Ranney, and Captain Joseph Keyes, were appointed inspectors of an election to be held, at which the people could vote for and against the incorporation of the settlement into a village, under the authority of Chapter 52 of the Revised Statutes. The vote being' favorable the village of Winnebago Rapids was incor- porated by the Circuit Court, April 10, 1850, the order of in- corporation being recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds at Oshkosh, in Volume H of mortgages, page 476, March 15, 1851. Smith Moores, the Indian trader, was elected first presi- dent; D. D. Dodge, who kept "Dodge's Hotel"; A. B. Brien, J. S. Bloom, Loyal H. Jones, and Harvey L. Kimberly were trustees. Judge J. B. Hamilton was elected clerk and Robert
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Thompson marshal. At an adjourned meeting of the board of trustees Perrine Yale appeared and qualified as trustee, and was elected village treasurer. At their meeting, July 5, the American half dollar was adopted as the seal of the corpora- tion. In 1851, Smith Moores was re-elected president. It was supposed the proceedings of the organic election had been irreg- ular; but no advantage was taken of this and the election per- mitted to stand.
From the original records of the town of Neenah found in the office of the City Clerk at Menasha, the following information of interest at the present day has been picked out from the rubbish pile of documents, rich with the signatures, handwrit- ing and laborious work of the pioneer builders of two cities.
At an election held at the school house March 13, 1848, there were 98 votes cast; 90 were for the constitution of the state and 8 against it. At the annual town meeting there were 91 votes cast. Officers elected were Burr T. Craft, chairman; Loyal H. Jones and David Murray, supervisors; Perrine Yale, treasurer; Wm. Denison, clerk. At the presidential election, November 7, there were 185 votes cast. Cass and Butler, electors, had 57; Taylor and Filmore, 69; Harrison Reed and Rufus King were two of these, and Van Buren and Adams, electors, had 50 votes. For register of deeds, G. W. Washburn had the highest number, and Eli Stilson had 57 for county surveyor. James D. Doty, for Congress, had 90 votes, and "Timothy O. How" had 41 votes. At an election held May 8, 1848, for the first state officers Nel- son Dewey, who became the first governor, had 52 votes, and John H. Tweedy, the defeated candidate, had 62 votes. For Con- gress Mason C. Darling had 30 votes, and Alexander L. Collins 62. Warren Chase, "the lone one" of Ceresco, had 30 votes for the Senate and was the first state senator. There were 96 votes cast at this election. The treasurer's report for the year shows $261 taxes collected, and that the collector had 5 per cent for collection. Among the petitions for highways there is one in the clear handwriting of Governor Doty for a road across the island, since known as Naymut street, and in this petition ap- pears the first use of the name Menasha, as it is dated "Menasha. Sept. 1. 1849." and the first signer is "J. D. Doty." At an election held April 3. 1849, there were 172 votes cast in the town meeting. Cornelius Northrup was elected chairman ; H. C. Finch and Lucius Taft, supervisors; O. P. Clinton. superintendent of schools. There were seven candidates for Justice, and six
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Thougher marshel At an adjourned meeting of the is. ... .. frustes Perrine Yab appeared and qualified as truster. .. 1 was elected village treasurer. At their meeting. July . . vergean half dollar was adopted as the seal of the corp ." :14: In 1831. Smith Moores was re-elected president. It .. : - supposed the proceedings of the organic duction had been to. . . was . but on ashortage was taken of this and the election ge .
From the megat rends of the town of Neenah found : 1. :nie af : . is 'look at Menasha, the following information.
the present day has been picked out free, q .. rubbish cajas documents, rich with the signatures. banda;" ing ene chattous work of the prender builders of two cities.
A : . : .... was held at the school house March 13. 1945. the. were A least: 90 ware for the constitution of the state a: 8 'aparat At the annual town wereting there were Of cast Fried were Buir T. Craft. chairman: Lovat !! Jon go. David Murray, supervisors: Perrine Yale, treasurer. We Lasor ders. At the presidential election. November 7. there were Is5 years cast. Cass and Butler, electors, had ST. Tutor and Filmore of: Harrison Reed and Rufus King were two of these. and Van Buren and Adams, electors, had 50 votes. For register of deeds. G W Washburn had the highest number and El Salon and it for county surveyor. James D. Doty. for Congress nad ar vates, and . Timothy O. How " had +1 votes At an election hold May - lots, for the first state officers X 1 son Doong she became the first governor, had 52 votes. Bei Jola I. To. do. the der ved candidate, had 12 votes. For con gross Manent. Dertig hand 50 votes, and Alexander La. Colli 62. Warren, Chase. "the big one" of teresen, had 30 votes f . the Same and sa At &t state senator. There were 96 voll- as at this tecno. The treasurer's report for the year shows $20; taxes wanted, and that the collector had 5 per cent for Protection Among or petitour for high ways there is one .. the Glove handwriting of Governed Doty for a road across ;....
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" known as Navod street, and in this petition at
. these are at the gates Meneshe as it is dated . Merach. . :
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info" andthe signer is " b Doty." i
Cornelius Northrup was closed . haimean . . .
There were seven candidates for hatier.
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HIRAM W. WEBSTER.
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION OF NEENAH.
candidates for constables. At a general election held in No- vember, there were 191 votes cast. Nelson Dewey had 91, and Alexander L. Collins, 93 for Governor. At a town meeting held April 2, 1850, there were 243 votes cast. There was a special election called at the school house, but the school being in ses- sion it was adjourned to Wheeler & Emmons' office, and one Daniel Church stationed to notify the electors. The general election, November, 1850, was held at Dodge Hotel, and 377 votes cast, of which Governor James D. Doty had 293 and Harrison C. Hobart, 57 for Congress; Kendrick Kimball had 180 for sheriff; J. B. Hamilton, 155, and Edwin Wheeler, 119, Elbridge Smith, 95, for district attorney. At a town meeting, April 25, 1850, a motion was made to hold next meeting at Dodge Hotel in Winnebago Rapids. Amendment to hold at Menasha House, Menasha, lost. The special election notice of December 11, 1851, mentions the school room two doors west of the post office in the village of Winnebago Rapids. Another mentions that the meeting called to meet at the school house, was obliged to ad- journ to the school room west of the post office. This shows there were two places in which school met and one of them was on Wisconsin street. The annual contest for place of holding the town meeting was provided for in the rules of order of business : No. 6, "Determine by vote on the place for holding next town meeting" (1851). At elections polls were closed at 5 o'clock and opened between 9 and 10 o'clock. At the town meeting April 1, 1851, Curtis Reed moved "that next town meet- ing be held at school house in the village of Menasha, and there- after it be holden alternately at the village of Menasha and Winnebago Rapids." Carried. To offset this the settlers at Winnebago had the territory erected into a village by the Cir- cuit Court, as mentioned above. The records show four acres purchased for a cemetery, from the estate of Harvey Jones, for $37.50. This is the older part of the present cemetery-the north end-and was surveyed in 1851. There were thirteen licenses issued for the sale of intoxicating drinks in 1851. At the election this year there were 338 votes cast. Mathew N. Bosworth, chairman; E. F. O'Connell and Smith Moores, super- visors; Elbridge Smith, clerk, and Edwin Wheeler, treasurer. The first election held at Menasha was November 1, 1851, when a poll was ordered opened there for the settlers to vote at a general election. Polls opened at the Decker House, and the first town meeting held at Menasha was April 6, 1852.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
It appears that the organization of the village of Winnebago Rapids was held to be illegal, although it was ignored; but March 28, 1856, the village plats of Winnebago Rapids and Nee- nah were consolidated by change of the corporate name of Winnebago Rapids. to Neenah, and the village incorporated by the county board, and this was the first legal use of the name Neenah as applied to the village. The following were the vari- ous village officers elected thereafter :
J. B. Hamilton, president; A. G. LaGrange, clerk; J. R. Kim- berly, Jeremiah Cummings, Ed. Smith, D. R. Pangborn, H. O. Crane and A. H. Cronkhite, trustees. In 1857 the officers were : J. B. Hamilton, president; Samuel Roberts, clerk; J. H. Town- send, S. G. Burdick, J. R. Davis, E. S. Welch, Ed. Smith and H. O. Crane, trustees.
In 1858, D. R. Pangborn, president; J. Clitz Perry, clerk ; George H. Clement, Ira Howard, James W. Weeden, I. H. Tor- rey, J. H. Peckham and J. E. Shattuck, trustees.
In 1859, D. C. Van Ostrand, president; Moses Hooper, clerk; John W. Williams, Newell Demerrit, Abner Smith, O. T. Walker, John A. Welch and L. Milton Marsh, trustees. Two hundred and sixty-one votes were cast at this election.
In 1860, D. C. Van Ostrand, president; I. W. Hunt, clerk; Charles A. Leavens, J. L. Clement, A. E. Cross, S. G. Burdick, Robert Hold and W. M. Moore, trustees.
In 1861, Edwin L. Hubbard, president; I. W. Hunt, clerk; C. J. Packard, P. R. Williams, Hugh McGregor, E. P. Marsh. James Smith and Charles A. Leavens, trustees.
In 1862, Charles A. Leavens, president; Samuel Roberts, clerk ; I. L. Doton, Hugh McGregor, John Jamison, John Hunt. Hiram Shoemaker and Theodore Brown, trustees.
In 1863, Charles A. Leavens, president; H. P. Leavens, clerk ; Ilugh McGregor, John Jamison, I. L. Doton, Lovel Stowe. John R. Ford and Henry Wildfang, trustees.
In 1864, HI. P. Leavens, president; J. N. Stone, clerk; I. L. Doton. Hiram Smith, S. J. Maxwell, John R. Ford, Joshua Kurtz and Loval Stowe, trustees.
In 1865, Wm. Pitt Peckham, president; R. D. Torrey, clerk ; D. L. Kimberly, Hugh McGregor, W. R. Jones, Martin Gavan, U. C. Wheeler and J. L. Clement, trustees.
In 1866, Samuel Galentine, president; W. W. Daggett, clerk ; Henry Clark, Alexander Billstein, R. D. Torrey. Robert Hold. C. B. Manville and Alexander Moore, trustees.
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION OF NEENAH.
In 1867, Samuel Galentine, president; . W. W. Daggett, clerk ; W. B. M. Young, Newell Demerrit, G. C. Jones, John Bergstrom, S. E. Ford and A. E. Cross, trustees.
In 1868, J. N. Stone, president; W. W. Daggett, clerk; G. C. Jones, Henry Clark, Hugh McGregor, John Bergstrom, W. P. Peckham and A. K. Moore, trustees.
In 1869, Wm. Pitt Peckham, president ; W. W. Daggett, clerk ; D. C. Van Ostrand, Hugh McGregor, Alexander Billstein, M. Hayward, John Bergstrom and John Hunt, trustees.
In 1870, Alex. Billstein, president; W. W. Daggett, clerk ; Hugh McGregor, John R. Davis, A. II. F. Krueger, A. E. Cross, Martin Gavin and Evan Johnson, trustees.
In 1871, Robert Shiells, president; D. E. Markham, clerk ; Hugh McGregor, Theodore Brown, Franklin Pickard, D. L. Kimberly, A. E. Cross and Harold Nelson, trustees. Four hundred and thirty-two votes were cast at this election.
In 1872, Alex. Billstein, president; D. E. Markham, clerk; Martin Gavin, A. E. Cross, M. E. Sorley, Theodore Brown, Daniel Barnes and S. G. Kellogg, trustees.
The village had now outgrown the settlement days, and desir- ing wider authority for improvements and public utilities, ap- plied for and obtained a city charter from the Legislature, March 13, 1873, by which the city was divided into three wards, since changed to four, and on the 31st of the same month was held the first charter election. The seal adopted was the council tree. The following is a list of city officers to date :
Edward Smith, mayor; William Kellett and John B. Russell, aldermen of the First Ward; Ansel W. Patten and. Andrew Michelson, aldermen of the Second Ward; A. H. F. Krueger and John Bergstrom, aldermen of the Third Ward.
At the first meeting of the council, April 5, Carl J. Kraby was elected city clerk ; J. B. Hamilton, attorney, and J. L. Mathews, chief of police. James Conlan was at the charter election, chosen police justice; George Donelson, treasurer, and Lovel Stowe, jus- tice of the peace, for the First Ward.
In 1874, Edward Smith, mayor; Carl J. Kraby, clerk; H. P. Leavens, William Kellett, A. II. F. Krueger, J. O'Brien, A. W. Patten and M. E. Sorley, aldermen. The charter was now amended, providing for four wards.
In 1875, Alexander Billstein, mayor; Carl J. Kraby, clerk; G. C. Jones, H. P. Leavens, Hugh McGregor, J. O'Brien, Charles
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Petzhold, William Robinson, M. E. Sorley and J. W. Tobey, alder- men.
In 1876, A. H. F. Krueger, mayor; C. J. Kraby, clerk; Mar- tin Gaven, M. H. P. Haynes, Wm. Kettell, Hugh McGregor, Will- iam Pitt Peckham, Charles Petzhold, J. W. Tobey and G. C. Jones, aldermen.
In 1877, D. L. Kimberly, mayor; C. J. Kraby, clerk; John R. Davis, Martin Gavin, M. H. P. Haynes, J. W. Hunt, Andrew Jagerson, William Kellett, W. P. Peckham and Henry Sherry, aldermen.
In 1878, A. H. F. Krueger, mayor; C. J. Kraby, clerk; G. Christenson, J. R. Davis, J. W. Hunt, A. Jagerson, John Roberts, Henry Sherry, E. L. Sawyer and J. W. Tobey, aldermen.
In 1879, Wm. Kellett, mayor; C. J. Kraby, clerk; Andrew Michelson, treasurer; J. R. Davis, Sr., N. Demerritt, G. Berg- strom, G. Christenson, G. A. Whiting, John Roberts, A. Guldager, J. O. Tobey, aldermen.
1880-Mayor, C. B. Clark; clerk, G. W. Ladd; aldermen, (1) J. R. Davis, Newell Demerritt, (2) Geo. O. Bergstrom, C. W. How- ard, (3) Geo. A. Whiting, A. J. Whitnack, (4) Fred. Guldager, Nels C. Jensen.
1881-Mayor, C. B. Clark ; clerk, G. W. Ladd; treasurer, H. E. Coats; aldermen, (1) Norman Willard, Newell Demerritt, (2) Geo. O. Bergstrom, C. W. Howard, (3) Geo. A. Whiting, A. J. Whitnack, (4) Wm. Aylward, Nels C. Jensen.
1882-Mayor, C. B. Clark ; clerk, G. W. Ladd; aldermen, (1) J. R. Davis, Norman Willard, (2) John Gerhardt, Geo. O. Berg- strom, (3) John Roberts, Geo. A. Whiting, (4) Geo. Danalson, Wm. Aylward.
1883-Mayor, A. II. J. Krueger; clerk, I. N. Stone; treasurer, S. A. Simpson ; aldermen, (1) Norman Willard, J. R. Davis, (2) Andrew Jagerson, John Gerhardt, (3) Henry Clark, John Roh- erts. (4) Wm. Aylward, Geo. Danalson.
1884-Mayor, Geo. A. Whiting; clerk, J. C. Kerwin; treasurer. Bernard Johnson; aldermen, (1) C. B. Clark, Norman Willard, (2) Chas. Paepke, Andrew Jagerson, (3) I. W. Hunt, Henry Clark, (4) Geo. Jagerson, Wm. Aylward.
1885-Mayor, George A. Whiting; clerk, J. C. Kerwin; treas- urer, Peter D. Kraby ; aldermen, (1) Louis Weber, C. B. Clark, (2) Andrew Jagerson. Chas. Paepke, (3) I. I. Fish, I. W. Hunt, (4) Wm. Aylward, Geo. II. Jagerson.
. 1886-Mayor. Geo. A. Whiting; treasurer, Peter D. Kraby;
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION OF NEENAH.
clerk, J. P. Rassmussen; aldermen, (1) Geo. E. Scott, Louis Weber, (2) Wm. Arneman, A. Jagerson, (3) Louis Hertzeger, I. I. Fish, (4) Geo. Jagerson, Wm. Aylward.
1887-Mayor, E. W. Clark; treasurer, Theodore Paepke; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) Louis Weber, Geo. E. Scott, (2) Ole 0. Myhre, Wm. Arneman, (3) John Roberts, Louis Hertzeger, (4) Fred Fritzen, Wm. Aylward.
1888-Mayor, Wm. Arneman; treasurer, Theodore Paepke; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) I. E. Johnson, Louis Weber, (2) W. H. Hesse, Ole O. Myhre, (3) Louis Hertzeger, John Rob- erts, (4) Peter Baumgarten, Fred Fritzen.
1889-Mayor, S. A. Cook; treasurer, Gustave Kahlfas; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) W. L. Davis, I. E. Johnson, Ole E. Myhre, W. H. Hesse, (3) G. H. Albee, Louis Hertzeger, (4) Fred Fritzen, Peter Baumgarten.
1890-Mayor, Geo. O. Bergstrom; treasurer, A. W. Kellogg; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) Wm. Krueger, W. C. Davis, (2) Wm. H. Hesse, Ole O. Myhre, (3) J. F. Ellis, G. H. Albee, (4) Peter Baumgarten, Fred Fritzen.
1891-Mayor, W. H. Hesse; treasurer. A. W. Kellogg; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) F. T. Russell, Wm. Krueger, (2) Carl Clausen, C. Kaelsch, (3) I. W. Brown, I. F. Ellis, (4) Theodore Nelson, Peter Baumgarten.
1892-Mayor, E. J. Lackman; treasurer, F. J. Baird; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) Stephen Zemlock, F. E. Russell, (2) A. W. Kellogg, Carl Clausen, (3) John Stilp, Jr., I. W. Brown, (4) Geo. Jagerson, Theodore Nelson.
1893-Mayor, Wm. Arneman; treasurer, F. J. Baird; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, (1) K. Germanson, Stephen Zemlock, (2) Andrew Jagerson, A. W. Kellogg, (3) J. F. Ellis, John Stilp, Jr., (4) Theodore Nelson, Geo. Jagerson.
1894-Mayor, E. A. Williams ; treasurer, T. E. Gallahan; clerk, T. T. Moulton; aldermen, (1) S. I. Chalfant, K. Germanson, (2) A. D. Eldridge, Andrew Jagerson, (3) I. H. Healy, I. F. Ellis, (4) E. Giddings, Theodore Nelson.
1895-Mayor, Wm. Arnemen ; treasurer, K. Hermanson ; clerk, T. T. Moulton ; aldermen, (1) W. L. Davis, S. I. Chalfant, (2) Andrew Jagerson, A. D. Eldredge, (3) James H. Wright, J. H. Healy. (4) Geo. Jagerson, E. Giddings.
1896-Mayor, Geo. O. Bergstrom; treasurer, K. Germanson; clerk, T. T. Moulton ; aldermen, (1) H. E. Coats, W. L. Davis,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
(2). Andrew Jagerson, Geo. M. Schmidt, (3) J. H. Wright, L. H. Freeman, (4) Lauretz Nelson, George Jagerson.
1897-Mayor, Geo. O. Bergstrom; treasurer, August Striddie; clerk, T. T. Moulton; aldermen, (1) W. L. Davis, H. E. Coats, (2) Ole O. Myhre, Geo. M. Schmidt, (3) John Christoph, L. H. Freeman, (4) Geo. A. Jagerson, Lauritz Nelson.
1898-Mayor, J. N. Stone; clerk, S. M. Sykes; treasurer, Fred. Fritzen; aldermen, (1) C. W. Nelson, W. L. Davis, (2) Chas. Schultz, Ole O. Myhre, (3) Louis Hertzeger, John Christoph, (4) Wm. Aylward, Geo. A. Jagerson.
1899-Mayor, Thomas Higgins; treasurer, Fred Fritzen; clerk, S. M. Sykes; aldermen, U. L. Youmans, C. N. Nelson, (2) Ole O. Myhre, Chas. Schultz, (3) Gavin Young, Louis Hertzeger, (4) Geo. A. Jagerson, Wm. Aylward, Jr.
1900-Mayor, Gustave Kahlfas; treasurer, H. H. Clausen; clerk, Geo. H. La Tourneux; aldermen, (1) C. W. Nelson, J. L. Youmans, (2) I. F. Brown, Jr., Ole O. Myhre, (3) Louis Hertzeger, Gavin Young, (4) Geo. F. Thompson, Geo. A. Jagerson.
1901-Mayor, M. L. Campbell; treasurer, E. P. Marsh; clerk, J. P. Keating; aldermen, (1) Geo. Christoph, C. W. Nelson, (2) Willard Lansing, I. F. Brown, Jr., (3) L. H. Freeman, Louis Hertzeger, (4) A. Schoettler, Geo. F. Thompson.
1902-Mayor for two years, Charles Schultz; treasurer two years, Geo. A. Jagerson ; clerk, J. P. Keating; aldermen, (1) Wm. Woeckner, Geo. Christoph, (2) Max Thurmanson, Willard Lan- sing, (3) Frank Mace, L. H. Freeman, (4) Geo. F. Thompson, A. Schoettler.
1903-Aldermen (1) Geo. Christoph, Wm. Woeckner, (2) E. R. Gleason, M. T. Thurmanson, (3) L. II. Freeman, Frank Mace, (4) Geo. Jagerson, Geo. F. Thompson; clerk, J. P. Keating.
1904-Mayor for term of two years, Charles Schultz; treas- urer, two years' term, Geo. Danalson ; clerk, J. P. Keating; alder- men. (1) Gilbert Neff, Geo. Christoph, (2) Max Thurmanson, E. B. Pratt, (3) John Stilp, L. H. Freeman, (4) J. H. Briehl, Geo. Jagerson.
1905-Clerk, J. P. Keating; aldermen, (1) George Christoph, Gilbert Neff. (2) E. B. Pride, Max Thurmanson, (3) L. H. Free- man. John Stilp. (4) Geo. Jagerson, Joe II. Briehl.
1906-Mayor for two years, Charles Schultz; treasurer, two- year term, Carl Clausen; clerk. J. P. Keating; aldermen, (1) Gilbert Neff. Geo. Christoph. (2) J. O. Robinson, E. B. Pride, (3) E. R. Williams, John Stilp, (4) Geo. Jagerson, I. P. Jensen.
CIVIC ORGANIZATION OF NEENAH. 467
1907-Clerk, J. P. Keating; aldermen, (1) F. A. Leavens, Gil- bert Neff, (2) F. L. Haertle, I. O. Robinson, (3) Robt. Jamison, Jno. Stilp, (4) Geo. Jagerson, J. P. Jensen.
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XXXVIII.
THE LOG SCHOOL HOUSE "NOT WORTH A RED CENT"- THE PIONEER TEACHER AT SIX DOLLARS A MONTH, AND THE NEW PALACE SCHOOL EDIFICES, WITH THEIR NORMAL CORPS OF PRO- FESSORS AND INSTRUCTORS.
It is mentioned by Rev. O. P. Clinton that in "the early part of the summer of 1846, we renovated an old block house, which we found without floor, door or windows, and appropriated it to church and school purposes. In this house the lamented Dea- con Mitchell was married in a public congregation to his esti- mable wife, Miss Caroline Boynton, a former pupil of mine." This was a description of the oldest school house since the older mis- sion of ten years before, and it stood on Doty avenue. The name of the teacher of the old mission was Gregory. This may have been Almon Gregory, who had been a teacher in the Cadle mission at Green Bay. Miss Caroline Northrup taught in this first log cabin school house, made into a church of a Sunday and school house of a week day, and a place for town meetings on Saturday or vacation days. Some one had erected a build- ing for a store out on the Oshkosh road near the present ceme- tery, which being unused was occupied by Miss Caroline Boyn- ton, with a country school in 1848 and 1849. Having been mar- ried to Deacon Mitchell she gave up the pioneer teaching to other people. There is evidence through the old records of continuous school. The school taught by Miss Caroline Boynton contained twelve pupils, her salary was $6.00 per month ; but in a few years the teachers were paid $18.00 per month. The total cost of these early schools was very slight compared with the annual budget of the present day of $15,000, $6,000 of which is paid by the state.
Report for September 1 of school district No. 1, Winnebago Rapids, 1850, give the number of male children over 4 and under 20, as eighty-one. number female children same age, eighty-two. There were seven children under 4 years and three over 20 who attended school. Whole number in school during the year of 468
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SCHOOL HOUSES PAST AND PRESENT.
seven and one-half months, 115. Newell De Merritt taught four months, for $100.00, Mrs. E. M. P. Lindsley three and one-half months, for $56.00; Mrs. Emiline Brewster, four months for $64.00; Miss Louise Jones, three and one-half months, for $42. "The school house, built of logs not worth one red cent, for the use made of it." It has "one chair, one table." The next year there is evidence of two school buildings, one a room two doors west of the post office, which was then in the Kimberly store on Wisconsin street, and another school building also in use, prob- ably on Doty avenue, as one town meeting, adjourned from a school house where school was in session, to the other, which seemed not to be in use that day. The report of the school superintendent of Winnebago Rapids for 1851 shows 139 chil- dren of school age, and 102 attending school. Edgar M. Pad- dock taught four months at $25.00 per month, and Miss Frances Ward four months at $18.00 per month. Under the village. ward schools were established in the third, fourth and first wards, mostly frame buildings. After the coming of the city charter and by the centennial year a sentiment had grown up for a higher and more efficient education, and a vote was ordered to be taken February, 1876, on the question of instituting a pub- lic high school system, which was favorable and the first class graduated from the new high school, held their commencement exercises in Schuetzen IIall on Cedar street, June 29, 1876. The class was composed of Jessie Cooke, Nellie Herrick, Minnie Gittins, Della Brown, Mamie Ford, Fanny Wheeler and Jackson Fuller.
Mr. T. T. Moulton was elected first superintendent of schools, under the new law, and Robert Shiells, Edward Smith, Jacob Bell, and Ephraim Giddings commissioners, composing the school board. The first meeting of the board was held July 10, 1875, at the council room and Mr. L. J. Dunn was elected clerk. At that time there were six school houses, two of them built of brick. Three of them were devoted to different grades of the high school department in the absence of a high school build- ing. Mr. H. A. Hobart was principal, with twelve assistant teachers in the grades and primaries. There were 1.279 chil- dren of school age and 660 of them attended school. Within a few years a new brick school building was built in the fourth ward, and in 1898 this was replaced by the large commodious modern school building erected under Mr. Henry J. Van Ryne,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
architect of Milwaukee, at a cost of $20,000. The schools are graded under a course that requires ten years to complete.
In the year 1879 the high school building on Doty avenue in the wide grounds covering the end of the block was erected, and took the place of our buildings then in use. "This is a fine brick structure, and will cost, with furnace and equipment, $25,000," says a contemporary. Dr. Barnett, then superintend- ent of schools, makes a full report on every detail of this build- ing. It has eight class rooms, and was 100 feet square. It is heated by three hot air furnaces and the rooms are ventilated by a system, "I believe, as perfect as the present state of sanitary science will admit it." The attendance and requirements of modern education in a few years made this elegant building too small. In 1907 it was arranged to build a new High School building. The old location was made unpleasant, with the Northwestern Railway line in front by which the exercises were interrupted by the rumble of trains. Land was purchased on Cedar street, now South Commercial, and under plans made by Henry J. Van Ryne and Gerrit J. DeGelleke, architects of Mil- waukee, a modern High School edifice is being erected to cost $100,000.
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