History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 185

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767

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Cumberland was incorporated as a village November 29, 1881, upon petition of Thomas P. Stone, J. H. Smith, A. D. Fuller, O. A. Ritan and C. A. Lamoreux. J. F. Fuller was the first village president. This form of local government was continued for but three years, as in the spring of 1885 Cum- berland was incorporated as a city, with three wards. The first officers were: Mayor, L. B. Royce; city clerk, T. M. Purtell (he resigned the office before the expiration of his term and was succeeded by A. J. Olson); treasurer, E. V. Benjamin; assessor, A. F. Wright; city attorneys, Mead & Wright; justices of the peace, R. H. Clothier and S. W. Alderson. Aldermen: First Ward, James Griswold and T. A. Johnson; super- visor, J. H. Smith; Second Ward, S. H. Waterman and M. D. Richards; supervisor, J. F. Miller; Third Ward, A. J. Cook; super- visor, Thomas H. Oakes. Six years later, on April 2, 1891, the legislature passed an amendment which gave the city practically a new charter, and at that time a fourth ward was created.

The immense tracts of pine and hardwood timber, including oak, maple, basswood and birch, gave rise in the vicinity not only to extensive logging operations, but also to some large lumber and planing mills, which flourished until the available supply of tim- ber had been exhausted.

In the spring of 1880 a complete steam sawmill, with planers, and lath and shingle mills, was erected by Mansfield & Lang at what was then North Cumberland. The firm operated the plant for about two years, when it was purchased by S. G. Cook & Co. They leased it to E. G. Oliver & Co., who managed it for a brief period, when Cook & Co. took possession of it. After running for nearly a season it was destroyed by fire on August 15, 1884. E. L. Hunter then bought the site, and what was left of the plant, and built what was known for years as the North Cumberland Mill. It included a saw, planing and shingle mill, and Mr. Hunter also manufactured furniture stock, employing a large number of men. The mill had a capacity of 60,000 feet of lumber and 120,000 shingles a day. The logs came from a radius of twelve miles around the chain of lakes.

In the fall of 1879, Messrs. Griggs & Fos- ter of St. Paul, established a large general store in Cumberland, and early in 1880 it was placed in charge of J. F. Miller. The firm also engaged largely in the purchase of cordwood, piling and railroad ties. In the same year, 1880, T. P. Stone and J. C. Max- well purchased about 100,000,000 feet of pine timber in the vicinity, and in the fall built a large steam sawmill. Then, in the sum- mer of 1881, the two firms-that of Griggs & Foster and that of Stone & Maxwell- consolidated and became merged in the Cumberland Lumber Co., which a few months later was transferred to the Beaver Lake Lumbering Co., of which the officers and principal stockholders were: (H. E. Southwell, President; Jeff T. Heath, secre- tary, and L. B. Royce, treasurer. An exten- sive business was transacted, the product of the company for five years being as follows: 1883, 16,500,000 feet of lumber; 1884, 21,- 500,000 feet; 1885, 21,300,000 feet; 1886, 25,- 000,000 feet; 1887, 23,450,000. On January 1, 1888, this corporation was absorbed by the Beaver Dam Lumber Co., which had just then organized with a capital stock of $200,- 000, and which was composed of Messrs. Griggs, Foster & Miller and L. B. Royce. An extensive tract of pine timber land had been purchased in the winter of 1887-88. Im- provements were made in the plant in the spring of 1891, including the erection of a new band mill. This brought its capacity up to 60,000 feet of lumber and 175,000 shingles a day.

In may, 1888, the Cumberland Agricultural and Driving Park Association was organ- ized and for several years meetings were held annually in September. Among the chief promoters and officers were H. L. Wil- liams, W. A. Hall, W. B. Hopkins and G. H. Irwin.

In those days the saloon was a recognized institution and in 1884 there were 24 within the limits of the village. A liquor license in 1885 cost two hundred dollars. In the same year the jail was repaired, and there was already a fire department, with N. D. Richards as chief. Another institution was the city pound. with John Kellene as pound master. In the same year (1885) the citi-

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zens petitioned the council to complete Elm street bridge. The council meetings at this time were held in the old engine-house, built right in the roadway on Lake street, just west of Second street, which part of Lake street was then regarded as "no thorough- fare"; but soon afterwards the building was moved to the present site. The city clerk's records for date of September 19, 1885 con- tain the entry: "The proposition of Griggs, Foster & Miller to sell to the city lot 1. Griggs, Foster & Miller's addition, upon which to locate engine-house, accepted." In November, that year, the assessed property valuation of the city was $173,463, and a tax of one per cent was levied for the sup- port of the city government for the coming year.

In January, 1886, a tax on dogs was pro- vided by ordinance, and in March, that year, the sale of liquor on Sunday was prohibited. About that time a Presbyterian society was started, which was allowed the use of the engine-house for worship, but there were few members and the society had but a brief existence. In May the number of sa- loon licenses was restricted to "five in force at any one time." Plans for a new engine- house were proceeded with, and in June the fire company was disbanded and a new one organized. In December an ordinance was passed requiring pack peddlers to pay a license fee of ten dollars.

In February, 1888, the sum of $300 was voted to the Advocate, then owned by H. S. Comstock, to help defray the expense of pub- lishing a special edition of that paper show- ing the advantages of Barron county and particularly of Cumberland, in the form of an eight-page supplement, which was subse- quently published.

On June 4, 1889, the council encouraged a similar enterprise, appropriating money for cuts (not to exceed $60) to illustrate a pamphlet, or booklet, to be published by Ball & Morgan, then conducting the Advo- cate, descriptive of the city of Cumberland and its immediate surroundings. Some copies of this pamphlet are still in existence, and it has been found useful to some extent in the preparation of this article, especially those parts of it dealing with pioneer days.

In 1890 the council helped the Cumberland Cornet band, by a loan of $125, to purchase needed instruments, and extensive prepara- tions were made for a G. A. R. reunion and celebration on the second, third, fourth and fifth of July.

In July, 1892, a committee was appointed "in regard to waterworks," consisting of J. Lonquest, P. A. Johnson and J. F. Fuller.

In February, 1893, the state board of health was requested to send a representa- tive here to investigate the sanitary con- dition of the Italian settlement and to place it under special quarantine, and an ordi. nance was passed to regulate the burial of the dead and prevent the spread of conta- gious diseases. That the city fathers were keeping careful watch of local conditions, and endeavoring to keep the community well up in the van of progress, is shown by the various resolutions passed, or ordinances

adopted, from time to time, providing for the removal of snow from the side-walks, the cutting of thistles, the preventing of cattle or other animals from roaming at large through the streets, the preventing of cows from wearing bells within the city limits, the removal of pigstys from the im- mediate vicinity of human dwellings, the repairing of sidewalks and bridges, street grading, improvement of the cemetery, the prevention of bicycle riding on the side- walks, and many other things.

On July 10, 1894, the committee on fire and water recommended the purchase of a more suitable fire-engine and other fire ap- paratus.

On August 1, the same year, the erection of a system of waterworks being deemed necessary, which would entail the borrowing by the city of the sum of $5,900, it was re- solved to call a special election for the pur- pose of putting the question to the voters. The election, which was held August 13, went in favor of the proposition by a vote of 180 out of a total vote of 205. It was originally intended to issue bonds to cover a period of ten years, at the rate of six per cent per annum, but on August 24 it was decided to borrow the necessary sum from the state, under the provisions of Chapter 167, laws of 1881, whereby the said loan could be made payable within twelve years in ten equal installments, at five per cent interest, and the certificates of indebtedness were ordered to be prepared accordingly.

On February 26, 1895 the bid of Fairbanks, Morse & Co. for $6,245, for the construction of the waterworks (except the water tower) was accepted, the contract for the tower being let to M. C. Burk for $3,500. The plans for the system were made by C. F. Loweth. On March 4 an assessment on owners of lots was made.

On April 2, 1895, a draft of an ordinance was read granting S. W. Borum and Dewitt Post the right of franchise to erect a sys- tem of telephones in the city of Cumber- land. The resolution passed. Money seems to have been hard to get at this time, as the city treasurer was authorized to borrow $2,000 at eight per cent to pay off indebted- ness.

The city water tank, which had been re- cently constructed at so much expense, proved too weak for its purpose, as it burst, and on September 14 the council appointed a board to assess the damage to the prop- erty of Heber Angell from that cause. It must have been slight, as it was assessed at only $15. A proposal of Fairbanks, Morse & Co. to rebuild the tank for $920 was ac- cepted.

On April 7, 1896, under Mayor W. B. Hop- kins, the city voted against the license of saloons. This seems to have been the first public action taken in Cumberland in the direction of prohibition, which as a local measure proved only temporary, as the wet and dry forces were at this time about equal- ly balanced, the city going "wet" again the following year. The records show com- plaints against certain saloon keepers for running disorderly houses, and all such

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cases were investigated by the council and occasionally a license was revoked. The vote on the license question cast April 6, 1897, was in favor of license by 139 to 134 against. At this time the cost of a saloon license was $500.

On November 20, 1897, a resolution was adopted for the lighting of the streets, pub- lic grounds and public buildings by electric- ity, and steps were taken to provide the necessary plant at a cost "not to exceed $3,000, the contract to be let to Martin Peter- son. A contract was also let to A. Shaw for 100 poles at 40 cents apiece, and it was de- cided to purchase of Mrs. Angell a tract of land for an addition to the grounds of the water-works and electric light light plant. The contract for the construction of the plant and the installation of the system was awarded to the Fort Wayne Electric Cor- poration of Fort Wayne, Ind. for $1,808.

December 14, 1897, it was voted to grant a franchise for 25 years to the Cumberland Telephone Co., its successors and assigns. The city was now moving rapidly along the road of progress, and another forward step was taken on February 28, 1898, when "the library committee" submitted a verbal re- port in favor of the establishment of a state free library. This step ultimately led to the establishment of the present fine library. About this time the water-works and elec- tric light plant were finished and the con- tractors paid. Additional lights were put in and the water mains extended the same year. A motion was also carried to provide for the construction of the Cumberland bridge. In November that year it was also provided that the electric lights be run from dark to daylight.

In January, 1903, an ordinance was passed prohibiting the keeping of high explosives within the city limits. In February, 1905, it was voted to provide $1,000 annually for the support of the Carnegie library.

On July 11: 1905, a resolution was adopted to accept the bid of Fairbanks, Morse & Co. for the installation of a new boiler at the power-house, to cost $2,337. The ultimate cost exceeded the sum by about $110 but was allowed by the council. In November, 1906, Mayor Albert C. Uecke, who had been elected in April that year, resigned, and a special election was called for December 11 to elect a new mayor, when Charles F. Foote was elected. On January 29, 1907, it was voted by the council that, beginning February 1, 1907, the Carnegie Library and the high school be required to pay the reg- ular rentals for the use of electric lights and power.

February 26, 1907, a motion was presented and adopted to the effect that the "city was in great need of certain large public im- provements," which included street grading, an adequate jail, fire-house and council chamber building, and improvements in the fire and water plants "which will make the. same efficient and economical, and whereas it appears that the city is not in a position to make such improvements and to pay for the same by the raising of a direct tax thereon, and it further appearing that it is

for the best interest of the city, as well as for the tax payers and property owners therein that these improvements be made at once, and that the expense of the same be covered by a long time, rather than by a direct and immediate tax," etc., a com- mittee headed by the mayor was therefore appointed to employ a civil engineer, or some other suitable person, to investigate and make report as to the extent and char- acter of the improvements needed. In April it was voted to employ an engineer to run the electric light plant, adjust the meters and repair the electric light mains.

On June 10, 1908, it was resolved that ap- plication be made to the commissioner of public funds for the loan of $25,000 from the trust funds for the following purposes: The rebuilding and improvement of the electric lighting works and mains, $15,000; building a city hall, $3,000; extending the water mains, $1,000; improvement of streets and building cement sidewalks thereon- $6,000; the above question to be submitted to the voters at a special election to be held July 3, 1908. The election resulted in favor of the proposition by a vote of 133 to 38. and the city attorney was instructed to make application for the loan, the said loan to be payable within 20 years in 18 equal installments of $1,388.89 each, with interest at the rate of three and a half per centum per annum, payable in advance as provided by law. On September 15 the council met to consider bids for the above work, at which meeting it was additionally proposed to include in the improvements to the elec- tric light plant a new 100-horsepower en- gine, "to be directly connected with the generator now in use so as to form two complete units, all connections to be made and the installing to be done by the success- ful bidder. The bid of J. G. Robertson of St. Paul for $17,000 was finally accepted. The system thus provided remained in oper- ation until four years ago when the city discarded its power plant, selling the ma- chinery, and has sinoe derived its power for water and lights from the Apple River Mil. ling Co.

The Farmers Light & Power Co., a con- cern which supplies light and power to the farmers in this vicinity, is a sub-station of the Apple River Milling Co. It was organ- ized in the early part of 1919, with John Avery as president, Grover Jacobson secre- tary, and A. L. Morken treasurer, which of- ficers are still serving. The original amount of stock issued was $10,000, which was in- creased in the latter part of 1920 to $30,000 The company has about 25 miles of country line and about 85 patrons, and is an impor- tant factor in the development of the region round about Cumberland.

Having thus taken a brief chronological view of events connected with the progress of the city from 1884 to a comparatively re- cent date, it remains to speak more partic- ularly of those institutions, whether pub- licly or privately owned, that may be classed as public utilities, as agencies of material production, or of educational, social and re- ligious growth. Representative mercantile

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houses may be found mentioned in the bio- graphical part of this history.

The fire department has been several times mentioned in connection with the acte and ordinances of the city council. It is a voluntary organization, and has its quarters. in the city hall building, the apparatus con- sisting of a hose-cart and hook and ladder. No engine is necessary, as the city stand- pipe gives enough direct pressure.

Early in August, 1921, the city began the construction of a modern, scientific and anti- septic sewerage system of the semi-Dorpund type, to be completed in December the same year. By the latter part of November the pipes, ranging from 15-inch to 8-inch, had all been laid, and the contractors were en- gaged in finishing the disposal plant, the last part of the work. The passing of the sewerage through this plant renders it per- fectly inocuous and it is then emptied into the south part of Beaver Dam lake. Three sewerage lifts are required to raise the sew- erage from the lower parts of the town, and it is carried down the main channel by grav- ity. The maximum cut, or depth at which the pipe was laid, was 25 feet. This was installed under the guidance of L. P. Wolf of St. Paul, consulting engineer, and H. Von Hippel, resident engineer.

A library association was established in Cumberland as early as 1898, and from the first received the endorsement and active aid of the city council, as the records show that on February 22, that year, "the library committee submitted a verbal report that a state free library be established, that the. committee be allowed to use the engine- house as a library room, and that a small appropriation be made by the council to de- fray necessary expenses." The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The sum of $50 was appropriated for a lib- rary fund, and a library board was appoint- ed by the council consisting of eight mem- bers, three to serve for one year, three for two years, and two for three years. The members of this board, who were appointed by Mayor S. H. Waterman, were as follows: For one year, D. E. Cameron, Mrs. H. H. Poukey and Mrs. S. H. Waterman; for two years, F. F. Morgan, Mrs. C. F. Kalk and Mrs. H. S. Comstock; for three years, J. F. Fuller, W. B. Hopkins and F. L. Olcott. F. F. Morgan was made president, F. L. Olcott secretary, and Mrs. C. F. Kalk treasurer. It was decided that the library should be located in the city council rooms, that it should be opened to the public as a reading- room and library every Saturday. Mrs. Fin- ley Urquhart was appointed librarian. For a number of years this early library was supported by sums of money voted by the city council, usually in amounts of $50 to $75, as the need arose, by private donations and by funds derived from parties, lectures and other entertainments arranged for that purpose. The people of the township were privileged to draw books on the same terms as the inhabitants of the city, including chil- dren from ten years old up, these provisions being established in 1899. In January, 1901, it was decided to allow each person to draw

two books at a time, provided that but one of them was fiction. On February 4, 1903, Mrs. G. E. Carr was appointed librarian. Various amounts were expended from time to time for books and magazines. A year or two later, owing to the growth and increas- ing popularity of the institution, the need of a special library building became urgent, and it was decided to apply for assistance to Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Negotiations were accordingly set on foot, the prime movers in this enterprise being Dr. W. B. Hopkins, F. F. Morgan and T. O. Mason. The applica- tion of the committee was received favor- ably and on March 15, 1905, the association met to consider Mr. Carnegie's proposition to give $10.000 to the city of Cumberland for a library building on the condition that the city should raise $1,000 a year for the support of the institution. A resolution in favor thereof was made and adopted, and the matter of procuring a suitable site dis- cussed. At various informal meetings of the board plans and specifications were exam- ined, and a plan was finally accepted for the building corresponding to that of the library at Fairmont, Minn. C. H. Paschke, of Fair- mont, Minn., was employed as architect. The building, a substantial and ornamental structure, was erected in 1905, the cost be- ing kept within the amount appropriated, the site (a central location on Second street) being provided by the city. In December, 1921, the library contained about 3,700 books. It has a very good reference de- partment, including a large number of the leading magazines and newspapers, the back files of the magazines in some instances extending back for many years. There is also a Norwegian traveling library, the books being obtained from the Wisconsin Free Library Commission; and in addition, there is a large list of children's books. An auditorium in the lower part of the build- ing is used for social meetings. On Decem- ber 12, 1910, Mrs. H. H. Poukey was elected librarian, and entered upon the duties of the office January 1, 1911, since which time she has continued to serve in that capacity.

One of the oldest institutions of the city is the Lakeside Cemetery, which was laid out in 1880, the site having been purchased by the village. The price of land at that time was nominal, being probably from $2 to $5 an acre. The ground covers ten acres and is located in the east part of the city within the limits. A cemetery Association was formed by calling a meeting of all those who owned lots in the cemetery, and an or- ganization was effected, of which H. C. Doo- little was president, Dr. C. E. Foote secre- tary, and W. N. Fuller treasurer. Within a few years both Mr. Doolittle and Dr. Foote moved away and their places as off- cers were not filled, but Mr. Fuller has con- tinued as treasurer and for the last ten years has been the only officer of the asso- ciation. The cemetery has been maintained by contributions from the city and by the sale of lots. A new addition was platted in 1918 and more lots laid out. Monument salesmen who visit Cumberland speak of Lakeside as one of the finest cemeteries in

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northern Wisconsin. A sexton is maintained from May 1 to October 1, each year, to keep the grounds in good condition.

The school kept by Mrs. Hodgkin, and the first district school house, that across the Bonett bridge, have already been men- tioned. The latter continued in use until 1879 or 1880, when it was superseded by a new school house built on the island on the site of the present Company Store ware- house. It contained four or five rooms and was used as a graded school. When it became crowded the adjacent build- ing of the Masonic Temple was utilized as an addition, and both buildings were in use until the erection of the present large brick school house on Second street in 1903. This building, which contains sixteen rooms and an auditorium, cost about $50,000 and the site $3,000. By 1921, however, the number of pupils had so increased that it was found too small, and in the summer of that year a supplementary building, of frame con- struction, was built just across the street, at a cost of $6,500. It contains three rooms and is occupied by the first, second and third grades. In December, 1921, there were 181 pupils in the high school and about 500 in the grades. Many of them come from the country. The district, which is No. 2, covers a part of the township of Crystal Lake as well as part of the township of Cumberland. Ten teachers are employed in the high school and nine in the grades and another grade teacher is soon to be em- ployed. Plans are now being considered for the erection of a still larger school house in the near future, to cost in the neighbor- hood of $75,000.

The earliest records show that the Cum- berland postoffice was established in June. 1876, at the home of L. L. Gunderson in section 10, and that he served as postmaster from 1876 to 1881. Some time after he as- sumed the duties of the office-it is not known how long-he moved to the village, bringing the postoffice with him. He is still living and is now in the U. S. Government service in Alaska. The next postmaster was C. A. Lamoreux, who served from 1881 to 1884, and is now located in Portland in the law business. Then L. L. Gunderson again became postmaster and served from 1884 to 1885. He was succeeded by T. M. Purtell, who served from 1885 to 1886, when Grover Cleveland became president and appointed C. F. Kalk, who administered the affairs of the office until 1889. Then T. M. Purtell was again appointed and served from 1889 to 1894. Mr. Kalk died in Menomonie, Wis., in February, 1921, at the ripe old age of 90 years. T. M. Purtell moved to Madison, Wis., where he still resides, having been in the service of the state of Wisconsin in several capacities, including service for a short time as state treasurer. W. C. Pease, now deceased, was appointed postmaster at Cumberland in 1894 and served until 1899. Bennie Johnson was the next postmaster, having been the successful candidate among several worthy Republicans in a popular eliminary contest held by that party in the city of Cumberland. He served from 1899

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 185

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1767

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767