USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 45
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Prof. E. N. Beeman is principal and has greatly assisted in per- fecting the plans of this structure, which is regarded as the most perfect school building ever constructed. The building has been named the "Kimberly High School," in honor of the thirty years' service of Mr. J. Alfred Kimberly on the school board. On the completion of the new building the older high school will be used by the primary departments. The old frame structure on Forest avenue on the island gave place about ten years since to a modern brick building of handsome architecture.
Mrs. J. Alfred Kimberly became interested several years ago in introducing in the public schools economic education, both in sewing, cooking and manual training. At first the work was taken up by parlor meetings and subscriptions, and a teacher provided and the range, dishes and tables furnished, by the generosity of friends of the movement. In this manner domestic science has been continued in the public school for many years. Mrs. Kimberly has extended her favor in domestic science, fur- nishing $5,000 of the $10,000 endowment of a chair in domestic science at Downer College, inspired by her; and later furnish- ing $500 of the $1,000 raised by the Federated Women's Clubs of Wisconsin as a loan fund for assisting worthy girls in obtain-
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ing the special studies desired by them, a project strongly favored by Mrs. Kimberly.
The schools of Neenah have long been held in high favor, and for a good many years have been on the accredited list of the University of Wisconsin, and the several colleges of Wisconsin. Prof. W. W. Daggett, one of the principals of older days, has long been at the head of Daggett's Business College of Oshkosh; Prof. D. E. Gardner, his successor in the Neenah schools, was for many years an instructor in the Platteville Normal school. The grade of all the instructors has been high. This has been due largely to the special care observed by the council in appointing representative men on the school board.
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XXXIX.
THE GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANTS, WATER WORKS, POPULATION, LIBRARY, CITY HALL, FIRE COM- PANIES AND PARKS IN THE CITY OF NEENAH, AND THE SAMUEL A. COOK ARMORY.
The Neenah and Menasha Gas Company, organized in 1878, ob- tained franchises from Neenah and Menasha and commenced at once the laying of gas mains. Messrs. Thomas and Henry Hig- gins came over from Dixon, Illinois, where they had a gas plant, and associating with Mr. J. D. Patton, formed this company, and their request for the favor of the two cities was responded to by granting the franchise necessary to inaugurate a lighting plant for domestic and public lighting. Before this the streets had been unlighted. The gas plant was erected on the island as near midway of the two cities as possible. It is still located at the same place, though very much enlarged. The city was lighted on December 25, 1878. This Christmas night, being the anniversary of the opening of Schuetzen Hall, the event was celebrated by a grand illumination of the hall. The charge made for corner street lamps was $1.50 per month. The plant was sold ยท in 1888 to a company of which Mr. George Davis owned the largest number of shares, and became the manager. He extended and greatly improved the system. He very soon purchased the electric light plant installed at Menasha in 1888, by Hart & Harry, and moved it to the gas plant, and installed an improved system of lighting by electricity in each city. The price paid was $86.00 per year for each street are light of 2,000 candle power. The entire system was sold to the company having their plant located at Appleton. They further extended the gas plant for use in cooking and lighting. The city is now lighted by electricity under contract with the Fox River Valley Interurban Company, who have also taken over the domestic lighting by electricity. Mr. Henry Iliggins moved to Manitowoc, where he built the interurban street car line to Two Rivers. These im- provements are not strictly under the head of municipal im-
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PUBLIC UTILITIES OF NEENAH.
provements, but as public service corporations they serve the same purpose.
The municipal water works is strictly a public enterprise, as it was built by the taxation of the citizens. The plant is located on the shore of Lake Winnebago in the former park of the Schuetzen Bund, and consists of a large brick building and an iron stand pipe. It has a double set of boilers and a double set of pumps, with steam engines attached. Its capacity is 2,500,000 gallons per day, of which 700,000 gallons are used. Hard coal is used for fuel, which is hauled by team from the depot. The water at first filtered from the lake is now obtained from a deep eight-inch well made at a cost of $2,000. The plant cost $100,000. There have been laid twelve miles of water mains and the sys- tem shows a slight profit each year by charging the city, public schools and library for its use. The public are not yet using enough water to pay for the operation.
The population of the village of Neenah in 1855 was 940. In 1905 the population was found by the state census to be 6,047. This was made up of 1,312 families, and there were a total of 2,870 males and 3,176 females, showing a difference in sex of 305 more females than males. There are in the first ward, 1,862; second ward, 1,444; third ward, 2,200; fourth ward, 541. The enumeration shows eight colored persons and four Indians. 4,662 were native born, 1,381 were foreign born, 4,113 were born in Wisconsin and 532 were born in other states. Of the foreign born 43 were born in Canada, 403 in Denmark, 33 in England, only 3 in France, 639 in Germany, 10 in Holland, 7 in Hungary, 41 in Ireland, 122 in Norway, 4 in Scotland, 21 in Sweden, 16 in Wales, 6 in Switzerland.
One of the most charming public institutions in the city is the public library, so nicely housed in the Carnegie library, erected in 1905. It contains 888 books of reference and 9,389 volumes in its loan department, total of books in the library 10,277. There are 2,419 cards issued showing that nearly half the people take out books, which is a good average. The total circulation for the year July 1, 1907, was 30,142 books issued. There were 872 books added during the year, 13,121 children's books were read during the year. The library is opened on Sunday after- noon. The teachers in the public schools have special cards and take out many books for use in the schools. The library is free to the country people and the county teacher. Miss Cora Isa- bella Lansing is librarian. Miss Malvina Charlotte Clausen as- sistant. The Board of Commissioners 1907 are L. H. Freeman,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
president; Miss Madge Christie, vice-president; T. B. Blair, secretary ; E. M. Beeman, J. J. Leutenegger, W. C. Wing, E. C. Aylward. The revenues amount to about $3,000.
The library was founded in 1870, by small subscriptions and lectures. One winter Mr. Charles B. Clark was on a lecture com- mittee that realized about $150. Mrs. J. Alfred Kimberly fa- vored the movement and led several projects for raising money. Mr. Robert Shiells became the president at an early day, and continued until several years ago, when he resigned. The pri- vate library so long established was taken over by the city in 1900, and maintained by the council and given rooms in the new city hall. Robert Shiells still kept up his interest in the work, and one day in 1904 wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie suggest- ing that he furnish the funds for a library building in Neenah. The reply was that a town with so much wealth could well build their own building. Mr. Shiells replied, they were build- ing public improvements, schools and churches, and therefore could with good grace call on Mr. Carnegie to furnish the library. But he still refused. There lives in Washington Mr. William R. Smith, the landscape gardener at the White House for the last fifty-five years. He is a great student of Robert Burns, and of course a Scotchman. He had gathered together a duplicate of the library used by Burns, many of them the very books used by Burns, and as near as possible the same editions. Mr. Andrew Carnegie is a great friend of Mr. Smith, and spends many days each year at his home in Washington. During this correspond- ence he was at the home of Mr. Smith, and asked him if he knew of a Scotchman out at Neenah, Wisconsin, named Robert Shiells. He said he did not know him personally, but was well acquainted with him by his writing, and thought a great deal of him, and if he ever went west he promised himself to call on Mr. Shiells. Then Mr. Carnegie told of the correspondence. Mr. Smith said, "Why, Andy, you made a mistake; give Mr. Shiells his library." Then Mr. Carnegie replied, "All right, Smith, I will do it." One day soon after, a little to his surprise, the letter came to Mr. Shiells offering the city $10,000, provided they would support it with $1,000 per annum. The offer was accept- ed. The citizens raised $15,000 in addition, of which Theda ('lark gave $5.000, and the site where it is at present located. It cost nearly $30.000.
The council had met at various places about the city, and in 1886 took steps to erect a city hall. William Waters, of Osh-
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PUBLIC UTILITIES OF NEENAH.
kosh, was the architect, and the present very sightly city hall was erected at a cost of $40,000. There is a large auditorium room for public meetings on the third floor. The steam fire en- gine, once so useful in fire protection, and steamer teams are on the first floor, and the city offices on the second floor.
The fire department was organized almost with the coming of the village with their hand engines. In 1880 they purchased the Silsby, which did good service. The Rescue Hook and Ladder Company was organized October, 1875. These fire companies have always been efficient and have done good service.
The Riverside Park along the river bank, a most delightful strip of natural forest, almost a natural park in the city, has helped so much to give that caste of beauty and gentility to Neenah, that it has become one of its most important functions. The park was purchased by the village board in June, 1872, and since then gradually improved. Each year handsome flower beds are set out which add much to its charm.
The Driving Park on the island, not often used now, was originally purchased, and fitted up by a stock company organ- ized in 1871 by citizens of Menasha and Neenah. It consisted of twenty acres along the shore of Lake Winnebago, and had a half mile track. For several seasons races were held there. It then fell into disuse, until in 1880, the property was mostly purchased by P. V. Lawson and sold to William Striddie. It has since passed into the hands of Mr. Charles R. Smith, and seldom used for driving.
The Samuel A. Cook Memorial Armory is a gift to the public for the use of the H. J. Lewis Post, G. A. R., of Neenah, the J. P. Shepard Post, G. A. R., Menasha, the Women's Relief Corps, of Menasha and Neenah, Company I of the state militia, com- posed of fifty boys from both Menasha and Neenah. It is erected on the site of the old Universalist church. Mr. Cook undertook to locate the building exactly over the division line between the two cities, with half of the building in each; but this being impossible because of land titles, it was located as close to the line as possible. It has cost $30,000 and was built in 1906, of red brick in armory style, and is a handsome ornament to the street and city. A large drill room with balcony is on the first floor, and the meeting rooms of the several organizations are arranged on the second floor.
Company I was organized ten years ago, and have maintained a good reputation at the annual encampments of the state mili-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
tia. Captain J. B. Schneller has held that position from the beginning. The history of J. P. Shepard Post, G. A. R., is given elsewhere. H. J. Lewis Post, G. A. R., Neenah, was or- ganized at the same time to keep up the love of the flag fought for by veterans of the Civil War. The Women's Relief Corps is made up of the wives and daughters of the soldiers of the Civil War, and belong to the home guard. Their object is patriotic benevolence.
Hon. Samuel A. Cook, himself a soldier of the Civil War and always deeply interested in the welfare of the old soldiers, was born in upper Canada, January 28, 1849, and removed with his parents to Wisconsin in 1855. They were wrecked on the Lady Elgin and his mother drowned. He was educated in the com- mon schools and resided a number of years in Calumet county, when he went into the northern forests near Unity, where he was successful. About 1880 he removed to Neenah, where he soon made his first venture in paper making by the purchase of the paper mills built by Hon. A. W. Patten. After selling these mills, he purchased a mill at Menasha and organized the Cook Paper Company. After several years he sold this mill and built a large paper mill at Alexandria, Indiana, which he still oper- ates. He also owns the old Kellogg patent inside concern at Chicago. He has retained his home at Neenah. He was mayor of Neenah, member of the Assembly two terms, member of Congress one term, refusing a second; a member of the national conventions that nominated Benjamin Harrison and the one that nominated William MeKinley; candidate for the United States Senate, receiving almost enough votes to elect by the Legislature in 1898. In the state Republican convention com- posed of the highest political and business talent in Wisconsin for Governor of the state, one of the highest honors ever paid to a citizen. Speeches were made by Senator Spooner and others of the great men of national reputation. The regularity of the convention was contested for lack of notice; but the national Re- publican convention at Chicago admitted its delegates, although the Supreme Court of Wisconsin declared for the rump con- vention, and then Mr. Cook withdrew. He has now been re- quested by a host of signed petitioners throughout the state to be a candidate for the United States Senate before the next ses- sion of the Legislature, and is regarded as a very able and popu- lar man.
XL.
THE CHURCH SOCIETY AND CHURCH BUILDINGS IN NEENAII.
The First Universalist Church Society of Menasha and Nee- nah was organized in 1866, with a membership of 49, under Rev. J. Hussey as pastor. The Church of the Good Shepard was erected the next year, near the dividing line on Commercial street, island. It was a handsome brick edifice with a steeple and memorial windows, and cost $8,000. For many years it was a very popular church and its pastors men of ability. Mr. Daniel and Joseph Barnes and families, Mr. Charles B. Clark and family, Mr. I. W. Hunt and family, Mr. P. V. Lawson and family, Mr. A. J. Webster and family, and many others were either members or participants. The pastors have been Revs. J. Hussey, 1866 to 1870; Thomas C. Druley, January, 1870, or- dained pastor December 7, 1870, and was succeeded by Rev. S. W. Sutton. Miss E. Tupper was pastor in 1870, and after being married to Mr. W. A. Wielke moved to Rochester, Minne- sota; Rev. J. S. Fall was pastor in 1872; Rev. Isa A. Eberhurt was pastor in 1874; Rev. II. L. D. Webster was pastor in 1876; Rev. C. B. Lombard was pastor in 1878; Rev. Arelup was pastor August, 1888. Mrs. Mary J. DeLong was pastor for many years. The church building was repaired and remodeled in April, 1896. and re-dedicated as a house of worship. The sermon was preached by Dr. Cantwell. Rev. Eddy was ordained pastor on Monday evening, April 13, Rev. A. C. Griese, of Racine, preach- ing the sermon. Rev. Olympia Brown Willis, of Racine, made bi-weekly visits to the church after Rev. Eddy left. The so- ciety turned the church building over to the general church so- ciety, and in 1904 the church building was sold to Samuel A. Cook, who tore it down, and built on its site the armory. They have a saying in New York city that "ill luck follows every enterprise erected on the site of an old church."
Rev. Hussey, the founder of this church, was an eloquent and powerful pulpit orator, and for several years had great success in his pastorate. Ill health compelled him to give up the work.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
He died soon after, and was buried in the local cemetery. One of his daughters was married to Mr. Thomas Nash of Grand Rapids.
The Presbyterian Society is very old in Neenah. In 1876, the pastor, Rev. John E. Chapin, gave a series of splendid historical sermons, in which he detailed in his beautiful and eloquent way the story of this church, and these sermons have been copied to form the major portion of this history, using as closely as this limited detail would permit the good pastor's own words :
"The first Protestant religious service held in the place was by a traveling Methodist minister in 1845. The service was at the residence of Mr. Harrison Reed. The congregation was com- posed of all the white American population then here, and con- sisted of seven persons. There were only about 7,000 inhabitants in the entire region now comprising the State of Wisconsin. It is almost impossible to realize the marvelous progress here indi- cated; for in this brief space of time, a space which leaves the child then born still young, the population has increased to nearly a million and a half, and, of this population over 450,000 were born within the State. When many of this audience were infants all this was a trackless wilderness, peopled only by pow- erful Indian tribes.
The Rev. O. P. Clinton, then an exploring agent of the Amer- ican Home Missionary Society, was the first Protestant minister that established himself on the ground. He still lives on our beautiful island, on the spot of land donated to him by Governor Doty, and prosecutes the Home Missionary work. (IIe died June 17, 1890.)
Through published correspondence and personal effort on his part, attention was called to the location, and emigration began to flow in. By the fall of the year 1846 the Jones, the Yales, the Briens, the Northrups, the Wheatleys, Deacon Mitchell, and others came. The second Protestant religious service ever held in the place was held that year by Mr. Clinton in a log house, which still stands on the point, near where Mr. Holbrook now lives. There were twelve persons present. (This house remains. in 1908, used as a barn.) The first movement towards a church organization was in response to a call issued to the "friends of religion" who desired to be "associated in the organization of an evangelical church." The meeting was held at the residence of Mr. (. Northrup, on the 22d of January, 1847, and consisted of the following persons: Rev. O. P. Clinton, L. A. Donaldson,
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CHURCH SOCIETIES IN NEENAH.
Mary L. Donaldson, Mary Cornelius Northrup, Caroline A. North- rup, Corydon P. Northrup, John L. Sanbourn, Lydia Sanbourn, James Ladd, Charity Ladd, Harrison Reed, Harriet Huxley, David M. Montgomery, George W. Sawyer, John F. Johnston, Phillip Brien and H. C. Finch. It was resolved to form them- selves into a Church of Christ. A committee was appointed to examine and select a confession of faith for adoption at an ad- journed meeting. At a meeting held February 9, 1847, this com- mittee reported and their report was adopted. The Congrega- tional Church polity was then adopted by a vote of 12 to 5. The following resolutions, adopted at that meeting, without a dis- senting voice, is indicative of the Christian sentiment then pre- vailing. The first is on the Sabbath :
"Resolved, That the Christian Sabbath is one of the main pil- lars of our civil and religious institutions, and that the welfare of our country, the purity of the church, the prosperity of relig- ion, and the salvation of souls depend greatly upon the per- petuity of its sacred observance; that the observance or desecra- tion of the Sabbath is to a great extent governed by the precept and example of professing Christians; and that attending to secular business, indulging in conversation upon worldly sub- jects, or journeying upon the Sabbath is inconsistent with this sacred institution.
The second is on the subject of temperance, and is as fol- lows :
"Resolved, That the traffic in, or use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is a practice wholly inconsistent with Christian character and should be a barrier to Christian fellowship. The third is as follows :
"Resolved, That in the opinion of this church American slav- ery is a sin; that the ministry and all Christians are bound in con- sistency with their high profession to rebuke all sin, and to use their influence to remove all oppression and to secure equal rights to all men; . . that while we deprecate all harsh language and rash measures in attempting to remove this evil, we will nevertheless avail ourselves of all suitable measures ac- cording to our judgment, to enlighten and correct the public mind in regard to the abomination of slavery, and wipe the foul and disgraceful sin from our land."
The church was fully constituted on the Sabbath of the first communion, April 4, 1847. The preparatory lecture had been preached by the Rev. O. P. Clinton on the preceding Thursday,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
from Romans 12:1, and J. L. Sanbourn was appointed to act as deacon. Twelve persons then presented letters, all from Pres- byterian or Congregational churches, and on the day of com- munion gave public assent to the church covenant. Of that number Mrs. Harriet Huxley is now a member of this church. Deacon Mitchell died in communion with this church in July, 1873. Of the rest, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton live on the island, Mr. Ladd on his farm near this city, and the Northrups, or some of them at least, in Menasha, are members of the Congregational Church there. Several who had participated in the preliminary meetings did not see their way clear to unite at the last.
At the next church meeting the election for the office of deacon resulted in the choice of J. L. Sanbourn, Samuel Mitchell and C. P. Northrup to serve until the annual meeting in December. The church, thus constituted, was received by the Madison con- vention, which met at Waupun, August 1, 1847.
The regular place of worship at this time was in an old log building which stood toward the east end of Doty avenue, about opposite to the front of Mr. John Kimberly's residence. The Indian ponies were cleared out and necessary repairs made for the purpose. The only trace of the building now remaining is one of the cornerstones still in its place in the rear of the lot on which Mr. Wm. T. Patterson now lives. A storeroom which stood on Wisconsin avenue, somewhere between Mr. Theodore Brown's residence and the railroad track, was afterward rented and occu- pied till the brick church was built.
The Rev. O. P. Clinton was chosen from time to time to be the stated supply of the church, until he finally declined to serve in this capacity in the spring of 1851. He was assisted in his mis- sionary labors for a short time in the fall of 1848 by the Rev. J. Whittlesey ; and again in the summer of 1849 an effort was made to procure the services as an assistant of the Rev. D. Lewis, a Welsh Congregational clergyman, but it does not seem to have succeeded.
The memory of Mr. Clinton's labors, Christian kindness and faithfulness is still warmly cherished among the pioneers of this city. It seems that the records of the church were first examined and approved at the meeting of the Madison convention at Fond du Lac in August. 1848. The name there signed as moderator is a striking index to the marvelous growth of the Northwest. Jeremiah Porter is the name. Ile was the first Protestant minis- ter in Chicago and organized the first church there. I met with
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him in Marietta, Georgia, in 1864, where he was laboring in the hospitals, and remember him as a very active, pleasing and not yet an old man. He still lives somewhere in the West-the great city of Chicago and its surrounding empire having grown up within the compass of his manhood.
During Brother Clinton's pastorate the Congregational church at Menasha was organized. This settlement began later than ours. The first mention of preaching there was in August, 1849. The first communion was held here in July, 1850, this church seeming to have met there for that purpose. In January, 1851, a motion was carried at a church meeting to grant letters to those who wished to aid in forming a church at Menasha.
There were added to the original membership up to the close of Brother Clinton's pastorate twenty-eight members, six of whom are now members of this church, viz .: Deacon Enos, Mrs. Nancy Brien, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shoemaker, Dr. Gallentine, Mrs. Mary Gallentine and Mr. Ranney.
The village burying ground was on the spot now partially oc- cupied by the residence of Mr. Proctor.
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