USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume I > Part 32
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The legislature of 1860 passed a bill establishing the office of county super- intendent of schools who should examine and license teachers and inspect schools.
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The first election in Brown county came off in November, 1861, and on Septem- ber 7th of that year, the Bay City Press makes trenchant comment thus: "There is to be elected at the November elections an officer under an act of last winter to the most important and most thankless office in the gift of the people-super- intendent of our county schools. He must be a man of superior attainments and no humbug about it. He must know his duties and be equal to them. His acquirements must not only be solid and genuine, but he must have energy and firmness and ingenuity to render them practical. A county treasurer may be an ass or an idiot, and a judicious selection of a deputy may keep his accounts justly and render his exhibits intelligibly. But here imposture cannot be prac- ticed or even attempted with impunity. The pay is ridiculously inadequate but the public will not be content with anything less than the very best talent, and none other need offer. Let us look round for a proper candidate."
In 1860, Henry J. Furber. a youthful pedagogue from Maine, became principal of the Green Bay schools. He raised the grade of the schools, added to the course of study Latin and advanced mathematics and proved a most efficient teacher.
In 1866 the charter of Green Bay was changed and the schools passed under the control of a board of education, consisting of a member from each city ward elected by the common council and a city superintendent chosen by the board of education. L. W. Briggs of Racine became principal of the schools in 1871, and they were thoroughly reorganized by him. He established nine grades and a high school and the present organization of schools is largely due to him.
With the opening of the year 1881 under J. C. Crawford, principal, the school entered upon a new existence. The standing of the school was materially raised to new methods. The course of study was raised and extended, newer methods were introduced. In 1882 official notice was received that the state university had placed the school upon its accredited list for the general science and modern classical courses. In 1885, J. C. Crawford became superintendent as well as principal. He resigned both offices in 1888, and Mrs. Cornelia B. Field was chosen superintendent, the first woman to hold that office in Green Bay.
At the present time we have in the county four high schools, two in Green Bay and two in De Pere, on the east and west sides of the river.
The present county superintendent, Joseph Novitski is a live energetic man, having the advancement of the schools at heart and judicious in the use of methods to that end. Within the past year or two many changes and improve- ments have been made throughout the county in health condition requirements of rural schools. New schoolhouses are going up all over the county and one of the requirements in construction is consideration for the health, eyesight and com- fort of the scholars. A school bulletin is issued bi-monthly by Mr. Novitski in place of the circulars and notices sent out at irregular intervals and these bul- letins contain all suggestions and information to which the attention of the teachers should be called.
The report of superintendent Novitski for the past year states that there are now in this county fifteen state graded schools, fourteen are two department or what is known as second class state graded schools, receiving annual aid from the state of $200. One is a three department or first class and receives annually $300. Sixty one room schools have complied with the requirements of first
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class rural schools and each receives state aid of $50, making a total of $3,000 each year. To make the work more practical and interesting for pupils, a corn growing contest was instituted, also work with the Babcock milk tester. One thousand entries were made by pupils in the county fair and $1oo in prizes received.
As it has been placed on the list of accredited-list Wisconsin schools, the Academy of St. Joseph should be mentioned among schools of the same stand- ing. In 1897, at the request of Rt. Rev. Bishop Messmer the Sisters of St. Joseph from Carondelet, Missouri, opened an academy for girls, in this city. It was in the frame building which stood on the corner of Milwaukee and Madison streets where the new St. John's church has been placed. Many stories are told of this old house, which was in use in the pioneer days of early Wis- consin. From this small beginning has grown the flourishing and finely equipped school which in 1909-10 numbered one hundred and fifteen pupils, and has now a larger enrollment.
In 1892, having outgrown its small quarters, the property known as the Kellogg place on Monroe avenue, was purchased and an addition to the resi- dence begun. In 1909, Sister Irene, who had been with the school from its be- ginning, was placed in charge as MIother Superior. Under her efficient man- agement several branches of study have been added and in 1910, a large brick building was erected and fully equipped with modern appliances.
Previous to 1862 the schools of Brown county were under a sort of town- ship form of supervision, a superintendent being chosen from among the best educated of the settlers; sometimes the person elected had the advantage of a college education, while others had but a limited knowledge of the "three R's." and a slight acquaintance with the English language, seeing no reason for its inflections or grammatical construction.
The teacher applying for a school might be fourteen or forty ; he secured it, provided he passed the not too rigid examination, (and had a friend on the board) ; arithmetic, a problem in long division and probably a catch question in the "Rule of Three;" spelling Europe, biscuit, phthisic, etc .; reading from any- thing at hand, Gulliver's Travels, Robinson Crusoe, or Pilgrim's Progress, as the case may be ; grammar, name parts of speech in a simple sentence. These with the applicant's signature, and a recommendation for the moral character may be considered a very thorough test in the days of town superintendents in Brown county. Knowing his limitations, the superintendent sometimes apologized to the college bred applicant (who sought to replenish his purse by teaching a term or two in the district school, before entering his chosen profession) for pre- suming to test his scholarship.
With the election of autumn, 1861, dawned a new era in the educational life of Wisconsin, as the county superintendents of schools were then elected. Brown county was most fortunate in choosing for its leader in educational affairs a gen- tleman and a scholar; courteous, affable, sympathetic, thoroughly versed in the classics, he was also a great mathematician, his favorite occupation being that of a civil engineer. J. Kip Anderson was the first and greatest of Brown county's school superintendents.
Edward Hicks succeeded Mr. Anderson, occupying the position until 1866, when Oscar Gray, of Fort Howard (now a part of Green Bay), was elected.
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Mr. Hicks and Mr. Gray had other business interests, the superintendent's salary being below the "living wage." They did what they could under the circum- stances for the uplift of the schools. They were able, manly men, who knew the great disadvantage under which teachers labored and were always ready with words of sound advice and rare kindliness to the young and unexperienced teacher who sought their support and judgment.
P. H. Lynch occupied the position of county superintendent from 1872 to 1872. He was succeeded by Theron Sedwick, a rising young lawyer of West De Pere, who did not seek reelection.
In the fall of 1877 Brown county honored itself by electing a woman to the office of county superintendent, Minnie H. Kelleher. Miss Kelleher, coming from the teachers' ranks, knew where to find weakness in the line and put forth sturdy efforts to strengthen it ; she was ably aided by the teachers of the county. including those of De Pere and Green Bay. The county was divided into associ- ation districts in which were held teachers' meetings, to discuss how and what to teach. Miss Kelleher held the office two terms, then returned to, the more con- genial life of teaching. Her work was fearlessly and faithfully discharged, and was highly appreciated by the men and women of sound principles throughout the state.
George F. Steele succeeded Miss Kelleher ; he was followed by John Kittell, who in turn was succeeded by Daniel Rice. three of Brown county's native sons, who might be said to have used the office as a stepping stone to greater preferment, while each discharged his duty to the best of his ability.
Later John B. Fournier became superintendent, followed by J. F. Novitski.
(References for Chapter XXI: Wis. Hist. Coll. Vol. 1; Ibid Vol. 14; Ibid Vol. 7: French, History of Brown County; MS. Records of Christ Church Parish; MS. Letters; Columbian History of Education; Mrs. Curtis R. Merrill ; Green Bay Advocate and Bay City Press. )
CHAPTER XXII
CHURCHES OF BROWN COUNTY
The history of the churches of Brown county is indicative of the varied ele- ments that compose its population. French missionaries in early times made the beginning for Roman Catholicism, and although there was an interim when 110 service was held hereabout, yet the French settlers remained stanch adherents of that faitli. Services of prayer and hymn singing were held in the homes, notably that of Madame Langevin and her mother, Madame Langlade. With the coming of the American troops and consequent influx of settlers from the east and south, various forms of Protestant worship were inaugurated, all how- ever, Catholics and Protestants, working together for the higher life of the community.
The wave of immigration from foreign countries beginning with 1840, brought in a large proportion of Roman Catholics so that in many of the country towns, that is the prevailing form of worship. The certificate of baptism per- formed by Rev. Samuel Peters of the Church of England, is the only record that religious rites were performed in the early part of the nineteenth century in the Green Bay region.
In 1823, Green Bay was first visited by Father Gabriel Richard of Detroit, vicar-general of the northwest diocese, an untiring worker in the missionary field. He made arrangements for the erection of a church in Shantytown, and it is said that ground was broken at that time for a log structure, but it was not until two years later. in 1825, when the venerable Father Badin was placed in charge that definite arrangements for building in Green Bay were made. A petition was circulated which reads :
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR FATHER BADIN
"To the subscribers: Dear citizens, we implore your assistance and leave it to your generosity to furnish the funds for Mr. Badin, your pastor, who is now about to depart for Detroit, June 27, 1825."
The quaint document goes on to say that the subscription list "will be pre- sented and collected by a respectable citizen of the place, to the honorable officers, private soldiers, and other persons whatever at Green Bay, towards imploring their charitable assistance for both the building of the Catholic church and the clergyman thereof." The church was completed to the extent of occupancy that same year, the funds being placed in the hands of Joseph Jourdain on the 11th day of July, 1825. It stood near the corner of Adams and Mason streets. The officers who gave to the good cause were Major William Whistler, Lieutenant Henry H. Loring and Adjutant Dean, and of the private soldiers, three.
Father Badin made semi-annual visits of two weeks each, and at that time
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would assemble his congregation and instruct them in the formulas of their religion. Young and old met together and seated on the floor in ranks from ten to fifteen deep, would repeat after the good priest creed, catechism, or scripture lesson ; he meanwhile walking up and down between the rows and keeping a sharp lookout for delinquents in respect to attention. This building was never entirely completed, but burned to the ground five years later through the carelessness of Father Fauvel, the priest who succeeded Father Badin in 1826. Fauvel roomed in a part of the church building, and after its destruction the people built him a schoolhouse, "four or five rods east of the former church site." Fathers Badin and Mazzuchelli would not recognize Fauvel as a priest and warned the people "not to employ him at burials and if he dared to preach to go out and leave him alone."
Soon after Father Mazzuchelli assumed charge the delinquent was obliged to leave. In the fall of 1828, the Rev. P. S. Dejean visited the mission. Some time during the year 1830, Bishop Fenwick, of Cincinnati, came to Green Bay, remaining, however, but a few days. In the following year he repeated the visit, staying for three weeks, and at this time he, assisted by the Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli, who had accompanied him, held a kind of mission, preached several times a day, heard confessions and conferred the holy sacrament of confirmation on about one hundred people. During this visit also the Bishop selected as the site for a church a tract of land in Menomineeville, between the Catholic Ceme- tery and the lower De P'ere road, which still belongs to the Diocese of Green Bay. Contributions for the purpose of carrying out this plan, amounting to $300 were immediately received and the work was at once begun. This church was the first erected in this region since the mission chapel of St. Francis Xavier had been demolished in 1687. A complete history of its erection is given through the letters and memoranda belonging to Father Mazzuchelli and preserved in the Grignon, Lawe and Porlier papers in the State Historical Society. There is given the subscription list both of money and materials, the largest donations being from the Bishop, $150, and from Father Mazzuchelli, $60. Edwin Hart was the builder, a most excellent workman, and responsible for the substantial Epis- copal Mission House as well as many other of the well built dwellings of early days.
Father Mazzuchelli was very impatient to see the church completed, and when absent on other duties connected with his Mackinac parish, wrote continually to Louis Grignon or to Judge Porlier in regard to it. On August 12, 1831, he writes that "Mr. Heart" must begin work immediately or forfeit the contract and his interest in the material to be obtained was unflagging. In July of the following year the church neared completion, and there was still the whitewashing of the walls to be done, on which Father Mazzuchelli writes he can save $20.00, and that he will agree to give Mr. Hart $12 to cut the window panes with his diamond and set them ; otherwise he will buy cotton enough to stretch over the seven windows.
In 1832, two Redemptorists, Fathers Hatcher and Sanderl, took charge of St. John's congregation and remained with the exception of a few short interruptions until 1837, their last entry of baptisms apparently being made in March of that year.
Father Mazzuchelli came again in 1833, bringing with him two sisters of the
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order of St. Clara, Sisters Clara and Theresa Bourdaloue, who bought land near to the church where they established a school. Their services were also of the greatest value during the terrible cholera epidemic of 1834.
In that same year came Father Theodore J. Van den Broek who labored zealously in the field until 1838, his mission including not only the settlements at the Bay and Little Chute, but several among the Indians.
In the fall of 1838, probably in October, Father Florimond Bonduel, a Belgian by birth and educated in Belgium, came to Green Bay and assumed the charge of St. John's. He bought from B. F. Salomon and Paul and Joseph Ducharme most of the land in Shantytown, all of which by the way is still in pos- session of the church. He also seems to have taken very good care of the cemetery, which under his fostering care was greatly beautified and improved. He died after a short illness on December 13, 1861, his remains finding a last resting place in the spot which in life he had nurtured so carefully and well.
In September, 1843, P. Carabin, a German of Loraine, was appointed to suc- ceed Father Bonduel and maintained his post until August, 1847.
During this pastorate the Rev. P. Cahazettis arrived at Green Bay, where after a few days he succumbed to a virulent attack of typhoid fever.
In 1847, the church at Shantytown was burnt through the carelessness of a Mass server. In its place in 1848, a Methodist church was bought, which stood on the site of the present parsonage. This was during the pastorate of the Rev. A. S. Godfert, who succeeded Father Carabin and who stayed until September, 1849. During this period the Rev. Caspaer Rehri, a missionary well known throughout the greater part of Wisconsin, paid regular quarterly visits to this mission, aiding the pastor in various ways. In October, 1849, came the Jesuit Fathers, Anton Anderledy, a Swiss, and afterward general of the order (he died on January 18, 1892), and Joseph Brunner, who stayed until July, 1851, when Father Brunner went to India, where he died.
There exists in the parish of St. John's a little book containing in writing an inventory of all the furniture and utensils in the church from the year 1849. also the gifts made to the church between 1849 and 1862. There also is an inven- . tory made by Father Hoffen, 1865-70, which includes the old silver ostensorium. and Duguenory's crucifix.
In 1872 the church purchased from the Methodists burned and was replaced two years later by one much more commodious, the Rev. A. Crud being pastor. In the winter of 1911 fire destroyed this church also and in its stead on the corner of Madison and Milwaukee streets a costly and substantial structure was erected. The Rev. L. A. Ricklin has been the pastor of St. John's for many years.
Green Bay is the Episcopal see of the large Green Bay diocese, which was established March 3, 1868, and the handsome Cathedral church of St. Francis Xavier stands on the corner of Monroe avenue and Doty street.
When the Rev. P. F. S. Winenger, S. J., held the mission of St. John's church, 1851, the separation of the German element from that parish was seri- ously considered. The first record of receipts and disbursements and other business matters pertaining to St. Mary's congregation are dated September 20, 1851. This date therefore is accepted as the one upon which the new con- gregation was organized. Funds were collected and a church completed early in 1854, which was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Henni, of Milwaukee.
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
On March 3, 1868, Green Bay was elevated to an Episcopal see, of which Rev. Joseph Melcher, of St. Louis, was appointed first bishop. On arriving in Green Bay, Bishop Melcher selected St. Mary's for his pro-cathedral. At his death the Rev. F. X. Krautbauer became bishop, and during his episcopacy the cathedral was finished, and consecrated by him in the presence of the most rev- erend Archbishop Heiss and four bishops, and a crowded congregation. Sep- tember 7, 8 and 9, 1893, were made memorable by the visit to Green Bay of the papal delegate, afterward Cardinal Satolli. The reception of his eminence was a grand ovation, and is still remembered as a most notable event.
The present bishop is the Rt. Rev. Joseph J. Fox, who is the son of Paul Fox, one of the most active incorporators of St. Mary's church. Bishop Fox was born and grew up in Green Bay and is much esteemed throughout the county.
St. Patrick's church was built in 1865 by the Irish residents on both sides of the river. It was dedicated on August 15, 1866 by the Very Reverend Father Daems, Father McGinnity being pastor at the time. The present church was built in 1893-94, the Rev. M. J. O'Brien, pastor. Father O'Brien still has charge of the parish.
Sts. Peter and Paul was built by German and Belgian families living in the northeastern portion of the city. A large new church was erected in 1911 under Rev. Martin T. Anderegg, who was appointed to the church in 1893.
In the beginning of the sixties the Hollanders and Flemish who had left St. John's with the German congregation were obliged to leave St. Mary's on account of overcrowding the church, and on February 21, 1864 held a meeting at which a new congregation of forty-seven families was formed. The trustees pur- chased the old courthouse building, paying for the same $1,200. Father VerBoort became the pastor. The church was dedicated on August 25, 1867, in honor of St. Willebrord, the first bishop of Utrect, Holland and apostle of the Nether- lands. The congregation increased so rapidly that a much larger church was necessary, and in the summer of 188g the foundation of the new church was laid. The Rev. P. A. Van Susteren is the present pastor.
The large Polish church, Blessed Virgin of the Angels, with monastery and school in connection, was built in 1904. Rev. A. Wisniewski, O. F. M., is rector.
In 1824 a meeting was held in Menominceville for the purpose of organ- izing a Protestant Episcopal church to be known as Christ church, not, however, until September 16, 1829, was the organization of the parish completed, and a copy of the constitution sent to Robert Irwin, Jr., then in Detroit attending as delegate the legislative council, with a petition for a charter. The act incor- porating the parish is as follows :
CHRIST CHURCH
Be it enacted by the legislative council of the Territory of Michigan that Richard F. Cadle, as rector, and Daniel Whitney and Albert G. Ellis as wardens, and James D. Doty, William Dickenson, John Lawe, Alexander J. Irwin, John P. Arndt, Samuel W. Beale, Robert Irwin, Jr., and Henry S. Baird, as vestrymen, with their associates and successors be, and they are hereby incorporated and declared a body politic and corporate in deed and in law by the name and style of the "Rector Wardens and Vestrymen of Christ's Church in the township of Green Bay."
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Christ church parish and that of Manitowoc were the only church organi- zations in Wisconsin thus incorporated independent of diocesan jurisdiction.
Richard F. Cadle, who had been appointed in 1827 by the Protestant Episcopal missionary board as superintendent of Green Bay missions, with his sister, Sarah B. Cadle, as assistant, had opened a school in the unoccupied barracks at Camp Smith. John V. Suydam, who came to Green Bay in 1831, was engaged as as- sistant teacher in the same school; later as district and county surveyor and as occupying many offices of trust in church and county life, Suydam was one of the well known men of Green Bay, where he continued to reside until his death in 1888.
Ill health and many discouragements caused the resignation of Mr. Cadle, and the newly formed vestry who loved and admired him, immediately invited him to become their first pastor, a call which he accepted. It was immediately planned to erect a church on land platted for that purpose in Menomineeville, and in the meantime services were held in the mission house. Thither a detach- ment of troops marched from Fort Howard each Sunday under the command of a lieutenant, to attend divine service, there being no resident chaplain at the garrison. McCall in his description of the treaty of 1830 says that on one Sunday, Rev. Eleazer Williams, "in flowing white robes" read service at the fort, but this was only an occasional affair, the soldiers being expected to attend regularly after the Christ church parish was erected at Green Bay. While here on the second of July in one of the rooms of the Baird home he baptized two of the Baird children, one, afterward Mrs. James S. Baker, a little over two years old, the other two weeks ..
In 1834, Rev. Jackson Kemper, afterward distinguished as first missionary bishop, came to Green Bay, sent by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to report on the Indian school established in Menomineeville by Rev. Richard Cadle. His journal gives a lively and interesting account of the journey west ; his short stay in the village and visit to Oneida. "At three we started for Oneida, say nine miles. Dr. M., in a wagon driven by Neddy and for a companion, Cobus Hill. I mounted on a Green Bay pony, belonging to Adjutant Chapman, an easy racking horse. Two miles of the road had just been opened by the Oneidas the week before. After riding through the woods six miles we came to the settle- ment-log houses scattered on each side of the road, with perhaps four hundred acres cleared-the crops look promising ; at parsonage about sunset. The build- ing had been much improved during the day; a shed had been erected for a kitchen, where several Oneida women prepared the meal: a porch had been placed in front, etc. ; the house had two rooms beside a large pantry. * *
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