USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo County Wisconsin 10847607 > Part 20
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do. do. at Milwaukee.
Farmers Institutes, at different places.
CHARITABLE, REFORMATORY AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS:
State. Board of Charity and Reform.
It has charge of the following:
1. Private Institutions for the Insane.
2. Prisons.
3. Reformatories.
4. Institutions for the Poor.
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268
POLITICAL HISTORY.
ford, then to Crawford and Chippewa, then to La Crosse and Chippewa, but it belonged during that time always to the sec- ond Congressional District.
REPRESENTATIVES. Second District: .
30th Congress 1847-49 Mason C. Darling.
31st do.
1849-51 .Orsamus Cole.
32d do. 1851-53 Ben. C. Eastman.
33d do. 1853-55 Ben. C. Eastman.
34th
do. 1855 -- 57 Cadwallader C. Washburn.
35th do. 1857-59 Cad wallader C. Washburn.
36th
do. 1859-61 Cadwallader C. Washburn.
37th do. 1861-63 Luther Hanchett (Died 1862)
Succeeded by Walter D. McIndoe. Sixth District:
38th Congress 1863-65 Walter D. McIndoe.
39th do.
1865-67 Walter D. McIndoe.
40th do.
1867-69 Cadwallader C. Washburn.
41st do.
1869-71 Cadwallader C. Washburn.
42d do. 1871-73 Jeremiah M. Rusk.
Seventh District:
43d Congress 1873-75 .. Jeremiah M. Rusk.
44th do. 1875-77 Jeremiah M. Rusk.
45th do. 1877-79 Herman L. Humphrey.
46th do. 1879-81 Herman L. Humphrey.
47th do. 1881-83 Herman L. Humphrey.
Eighth District:
48th Congress 1883-85 William T. Price. 49th · do. 1885-87 William T. Price (Died Dec. 1886). Succeeded by his son Hugh H. Price. 50th Congress 1887-89 .Nils P. Haugen.
Beyond this enumeration of our Senators and Representatives much else does not seem to belong to a local history except the division of our state into United States District Courts. There are two such courts in the state, one for the Eastern and one for the Western District. Buffalo County belonging to the latter, I will give its present organization:
WESTERN DISTRICT:
Judge-Romanzo Bunn, Madison.
269
POLITICAL HISTORY.
District Attorney-A. R. Bushnell, Lancaster. Assistant District Attorney-W. H. Rogers, Madison. Marshal-D. C. Fulton, Hudson.
Deputy Marshal-T. Scott Ansley, Mineral Point. Terms of Court.
At Madison -. First Monday in June.
At La Crosse-Third Tuesday in September.
Special Term: At Madison-First Tuesday in December.
I think it would be rather tedious to enumerate the Presidents of the United States in order of succession, especially as the aver- age schoolma'm has had the habit, for the last fifty years, to make the urchins repeat the table ad infinitum, considering this " teach- ing elementary history." But we may, nevertheless, give a synopsis of the present government.
PRESIDENT:
Grover Cleveland of New York.
VICE-PRESIDENT:
Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana. (Died 1886.)
The President pro temp. of the Senate is his constitutional suc- cessor.
THE CABINET.
Secretary of State-Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware.
" Treasury-Daniel Manning of New York. Re- signed; succeeded by Fairchild.
Secretary of War-Wm. C. Endicott, of Massachusetts. " Navy-Wm. C. Whitney of New York.
" Interior-Lucius Q. C. Lamar of Mississippi.
Postmaster General-Wm. F. Vilas of Wisconsin.
Attorney General-Augustus H. Garland of Arkansas.
Having now recited all of the important political events, ar- rangements and organizations with which our county was or is now connected as a part of the country at large, of Wisconsin Ter- ritory and of the State of Wisconsin, it will be proper to say some- thing of the history of politics. I have in the foregoing refrained from mentioning anything relating to the internal administration, government and judiciary organization of the county, considering, that such matters are more properly related under the head of "Organization," under which they will be fully discussed.
-
270
POLITICAL HISTORY.
The county of Buffalo was ushered into political existence at a time when party ties were extremely loose, and a complete revo- lution was effected, in which one old party; the Whigs, was left without a name, the other, the Democrats, very much diminished in numbers and influence, especially in the northern states, and a new party, the Republican, was formed, and marshalled its forces for the first time in the presidential contest of 1856, in which Wis- consin gave Fremont, Republican, 66,090 votes against 52,843 for Buchanan, thus, for the first time in its history declaring its oppo- sition to the party which had become notorious for favoring the extension of the institution of slavery over all the remaining ter- ritories of the United States, making it legal in all the future states.
In the memorable struggle of 1860, which was followed by the War of the Rebellion, the stand of Wisconsin was still more de- cided as it cast 86,110 votes for Lincoln against 65,021 for Douglas. The split in the Democratic party did not manifest itself greatly in this state, Breckinridge receiving only 888 votes, while that last shadow of the Whig-Knownothing-Union pretense, John Bell, re- ceived only 161. The vote, then, was a vigorous protest against Proslavery preponderance, as well as that vacillating policy, which at any moment might take a summersault in the same direction. We must in justice to the Democratic-party, as it manifested itself in this state, assert, that the great majority of them were subse- quently war-democrats, and setting aside minor distinctions be- tween themselves and the Republicans, supported the government as counsellors and as soldiers. Of this we will have occasion to speak afterwards. The election of 1864 giving Lincoln 83,458 against Mcclellan 65,884 showed some reaction in favor of democ- racy, based, no doubt, on the mistaken notion, that " the war was a failure." Nevertheless Wisconsin was not willing to "swap horses in the middle of the stream." The strength of the Repub- lican party was displayed in 1868 in the first election of Gen. Grant to the presidency, he receiving 108,587 votes, against-84,710 for Horatio Seymour. Nor was his majority very much dimin- ished in the second election, in spite of the opposition of the Lib. eral Republicans who voted for Greeley. The vote stood. 104,992 for Grant against 86,477 for Greeley. The increased democratic. vote, however, ought to go to the credit of the Democrats"inas- much as it shows; that they were liberal enough to support a man,
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272
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Of course, during war times political feelings were hot, and the battles fought down south found their microscopic counterparts in every corner of the land. The missile weapons were words, and some bitter denunciations from either side were bombshells ; the itinerant stump-speaker was on a raid, local committees were on skirmish lines, and it was impossible to prevent the irregular forces from discharging their pop-guns. But the people of this county were unquestionably patriotic, and in an overwhelming ma- jority Republicans, during that time, so that there was little chance for any serious encounters. Before the war some skirmishing was done on account of county-matters, the history of which will be given under the head of County Organization, as it would be a euphonistic exaggeration to call it politics, when the horizon of our perception of right and justice is limited by the view we take from our own threshold. This also applies to the little irritations caused by the contact of different nationalities, which, like every other contact, can not always be accomplished without more or less friction. These frictions were sometimes felt in the earlier years of our intercourse with each other, but have disappeared very largely, especially since the children of different nationalities have for years attended the same schools. We may now be in- clined to look upon the manifestations of patriotism, of the party stripe, or of a local description, or of the nature of national preju- dice, as upon something foolish or unjustifiable, yet it must be ad- mitted that it was never considered as a reproach, and if sincere sincere has its origin in generosity towards those, with whom nearer ties, accidental though they may be, have connected us from the time when impulses were stronger than reason, and we sometimes still use the reasoning faculty more for a weapon, than for a moderator. If, however, I admit, that prejudices of that kind have largely disappeared among our fellow-citizens, I am nevertheless aware of the fact, that they are occasionally stirred up by unprincipled politicians for their own selfish objects. Political education, though it has made great progress amongst us, is certainly not yet perfect, nor will it ever be.
It would have been easy enough to bring up entertaining re- miniscences of ebullitions belonging into this category, and allu- sions, especially to some local animosities can not be entirely sup-
:273
POLITICAL HISTORY.
pressed, but of all such things we may truly-say: "/The less said, the sooner mended."
Perhaps it would be well to apply this proverb to a review of the present status and future prospects of the existing -political parties. These parties are: Republicans, Democrats, Prohibi- tionists, Socialists, who divide into Labor Union Men, Land Re- formers and Anarchists. The Republicans and Democrats are well organized, have their acknowledged leaders, and also their reliable followers. They are, however, languishing for want of live issues. The Democrats accuse the Republicans at the least allusion to the "late onpleasantness " and its still. existing consequence, of swinging the " bloody shirt." The Republicans retaliate by allu- sions to the "Rebel Yell." For the balance, both parties want to be in office, which is not very likely to happen, and will not last 'very long, if it should come to pass. So far the great body of voters in this county has been marshaled in these two camps by the force of habit rather than by any decided partisanship either way. There is among our fellow citizens no great ambition to fight over fossil issues. Tariff reform seemed to become a lead- ing topic, coming out in the shape of a free-trade plank of a Dem- ocratic platform, but the party was afraid to stand upon that plank, just as the Republicans were afraid of announcing them- selves decided protectionists. While thus there is some apathy in the old ranks, a new party has developed a considerable. strength. It must be confessed that its avowed principles are old enough to be good, if age would work on them as it is said to work on wine. This party is the Prohibitionists. The sum total of their platform and principles is: "Thou shalt not eat of the forbidden fruit." I think there is something like that in the first few chapters of the book of "Genesis." There is also the punishment for disobeying, and the result of the first prohibition. Practically, however, and the Prohibitionists are in their way not entirely impractical, their principle is: "Thou shalt not do. what I can prevent." They ought to call themselves Preventionists. We are acquainted with their arguments, which are about the same that we had to listen to in the nursery. It is not good for you to do this, and you will get sick, if you eat that, and I must keep scissors and knives out of your reach, because you will hurt yourself, sure. We have a right to do so, because we are your guardians and responsible for
274
POLITICAL HISTORY.
your welfare, both temporal and : eternal .. Therefore we want to prohibit the manufacture, use and sale of liquors of all kinds, and in order to make sure of the effectiveness of the law, we want to keep a spy upon your tracks. we want to have a right and warrant to enter your premises, your private dwellings, to put our noses into the most secret recesses of your cellars, and to convict you of a crime, the awful crime of having done as you chose. This party is not yet very strong in our county. There are people who prac- tice temperance, or total abstinence, as it is sometimes called, and some of them would be inclined toward . prohibition, but many of them say, that every person ought to be able to. govern his own -appetite, and none else liable to' prosecution but those who do actual wrong. Stragglers from either of the old parties coquet with the Prohibitionists in order to get their political support. This makes the party vain, and one day it may come out and challenge the old parties, and its imaginary balance of power will become invisible even to the eyes of faith:
The next party to be looked at would be the Socialists. The term has become something of a reproach, on oneside because of the unwarranted actions of some persons who profess to belong to the party or political sect, on the other side because of a misapprehen- sion of the name: Theoretically a Socialist is no more than a per- son' who wishes to improve the social condition of mankind in general, and of those classes of it in particular, who feel the neces- sity of such improvement more keenly than some other classes, and who maintains the right of every one to work his own salva- `tion in this particular point, either by his own private' exertion, or by combining with others for the same purpose. Some of the most effective means for this purpose, though not under that name, have already been admitted into practice; and, indeed, every public improvement is socialistic, in the true meaning of the word, as far as everybody is compelled, in one way or another, to con- tribute his share, sometimes much against his will and consent. A's I' do not, however, mean to write an exposition or a panegyric of this idea, or of the party which pretends to represent the mo- dern phase of it, I will turn to the divisions under which the said party appears in politics and in social life. The most important division is the one, which manifests itself in the combinations of :
working men for mutual protection and the achievement of what
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276.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
speculate. It would be about as wise as prophesying the weather for any day. next year, and about as useless, and besides, there are people.enough, who consider. themselves better qualified for that business than I do consider myself.
27
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION.
The' political organization of this county has a history in which a humorous feature should not be suppressed. In the first half of the year 1853 there resided at Monteville, now the village of Trempealeau, the three brothers, Wesley, Marvin and James Pierce, without any premonition, that soon they would be called upon to play quite a role, each in his peculiar vocation or capacity, in a new county, of which one of them, in a political sense, was destined to become father. Passing through Monteville, John Buehler, on his way to his former home in Grant County hap- pened to make their acquaintance, expressing the d'esire of the people of Holmes' Landing and neighborhood, to receive the bles- sing of civilization by being set off as an independent body politic called a county. His idea was that his new home belonged still to La Crosse County, which, indeeed, at that time, as far as he and his neighbors knew, was bounded at the north by Buffalo or Beef River. But by an act of the legislature approved February 11, 1853, all that portion of county, north of the township line .be- tween Townships 18 and 19 extending from Adams County to the state line in the Mississippi River, was set off into a separate county, to be called and known as the county of Jackson. At all events his suggestion was worked upon, and Marvin Pierce went up to Holmes' Landing, and there was furnished with pecuniary means for carrying out the scheme. The legislature had been called to an extra session and we find in the session laws of 1853, page 98, the following :
CHAPTER 100. SESSION LAWS OF 1853.
" An Act, To divide the county of Jackson and create the counties of Buffalo and Clarke.
The people of the State of Wisconsin represented in Senate and Assembly do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. All that portion of the county of Jackson lying west of the range line, between ranges
Boundaries -
278
ORGANIZATION.
seven and eight, (7 and 8) west of the fourth princi pal meridian, be and the same hereby is organized into a separate county, to be called and known by the name of " Buffalo;" and all that portion of the said county of Jackson lying north of the township line between township twenty-two and twenty-three (22 and 23) and east of the range line, between ranges three and four (3 and 4) west of the said fourth prin- cipal meridian, be and the same hereby .is organized into a separate county, to be called and known by the name of " Clarke."
Organization.
SEC. 2. On the first Monday in September next the electors of the said counties of "Buffalo" and "Clarke," shall each elect a county judge, and the said counties from and after the first day of January, 1854, shall be organized for judicial purposes.
Election of County Officera.
SEC. 3. The electors in the said counties of Buf- falo and Clarke, shall at the general election in No- vember next, elect all county officers necessary for a complete county organization in each county, and it shall be the duty of the county treasurers and clerks of the board of supervisors thus elected in each of said counties, at least four weeks previous to the spring election in 1854, to divide their respective counties up into as many towns as they shall deem expedient for the convenience of the inhabitants; and until the said division be made, the county of Boffalo shall re- main as one town, and the county of Clarke shall also remain as one town.
1
Elections beld.
SEC. 4. The polls necessary to be opened for the elections provided for in this act shall be opened in Buffalo county at Holmes' Landing, and in Clarke county at O'Neil's Mill; and the returns of said elec- tion shall be left with the inspectors of said elections, and the said inspectors shall within ten days from the holding of any election, issue certificates of election to the persons elected to the respective offices.
SEC. 4. The county seat for the county of Buf- falo, is hereby located on section one (1), in township
County sent of Ruffalo county.
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280
ORGANIZATION.
SEC. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved, January 24, 1854. Published. Jan. 25, 1854.
By this.act the county had become so long that the division of it was no longer unconstitutional, and Chapter 2 of said session laws was:
'An act to organize the county of Trempe-a-l'eau.
The first section or paragraph of this act reads as follows:
SECTION 1. All that portion of country embraced in the fol- lowing boundaries, is hereby set off into a separate county, to be called and known as the county of Trempe-a-l'eau, to wit: Begin- ning at the point .on the Mississippi River, where the line between townships 17 and 18 north strikes said river; thence: running east on said line to the main channel of Black River; thence up the main channel of Black River to the line between townships 18 and.19 north; thence east on said line to the range line between ranges 6 and 7 West; thence north on said range line to the line between townships 24 and 25 north; thence west. on said line and to the line between ranges 9 and 10 west; thence' south on said range line to Trempe-a-l'-eau River; thence down the main chan- nel of Trempe-a-l'-eau River to the Mississippi River; thence down the main channel .of the Mississippi River:to the place of beginning,
This still left all of township 18 ranges 10 and 11 lying west of Trempealeau River a part of La Crosse County, an oversight which was remedied in Section 1,of Chapter 35 Session Laws of 1854 entitled:
An act to divide the county of La Crosse and organize the county of Monroe.
Said Section 1 reads:
"SECTION 1. All that portion of the county of La Crosse situ- ated and lying . west of the main channel of the Trempealeau River is hereby set off and attached to, and hereafter shall consti- tute and be a part of the county of Buffalo.".
This was the very land always supposed hy . the settlers of that time to have belonged to Buffalo County by the first act of organization. They knew the situation, but the legislature and their lobb . ist, Mr Pierce, were ignorant of it, the latter probably
281
ORGANIZATION.
only of the description. The remainder of the above cited act relates exclusively to Monroe County.
This fixed the boundary lines between the two counties as they have ever since remained. The seat of justice or the county- seat, as it is generally called, for Trempealeau County' was fixed in the Northwestern quarter of section 33, township 19 north, range 8 west, not, indeed the site of the present village of Galesville, but opposite to it on Beaver River or creek, where the mill now stands. The two organizers of the two counties resemble each other in try- ing to get personal advantage out of the legislative acts, by having the county seats located where they' respectively owned real estate. But though the county seat does not now' remain at the place, where Judge Gale had located it, it must 'still' be confessed that the location, especially at that date and for a number of years after it, was a central and acceptable'place for the population of Trempealeau County, while that selected by Marvin Pierce was neither central, nor otherwise fit for the purpose and his action must be set down as a barefaced speculation. That ultimately he did not realize anything from this audacious 'scheme can not be set down to his credit, as he certainly had the good. will to make it pay, nor was his disappointment a satisfactory expiation for the unnecessary or useless expenses incurred, and the bad feelings aroused among the people of the neighborhood. The Pierces, or any of them, never resided upon the place selected for the county seat, but gaining control of almost the whole of what is, with more truth than imagination called the Sand Prairie, they laid out the town of Upper Fountain City, which, however, was never set- tled and long since vacated. 'If in after times'the corner of Sandy Hook afforded any livelihood to different parties in succession, it was, because travel from and to 'Waumandee, Belvidere and Alma took that direction across the mill-dam of which we will have oc- casion to speak afterwards. The proceedings of the county board of supervisors will afford instances 'enough for that purpose. Part of the organization, as will be seen by reference to the act creating the county, was an election to be held at Holmes' Land- ing which was appointed and held at that place, on Sept. 1, 1853, of a county judge, and, at'the general election in November of the same year, of the necessary county officers. It was also by the organic act made the duty of the county treasurer and the clerk of
282
ORGANIZATION.
the county board of supervisors to divide the county into town- ships suitable to the convenience of the inhabitants for the pur- pose of establishing town governments, in default of any action on the part of said officers the county to remain one township. The township was by common consent rather than any explicit proceedings called by the same name as the county i. e. Buffalo. By an appeal to that veteran of politicians John Buehler, Sen., I was enabled to procure a list of those who voted at the first elec- tion, required by the act creating the county. They are:
1. John Buehler.
2. Christian Wenger.
3. Caspar Wild.
4. Andrew Barth.
5. John Haeussinger ..
6. John Aldermatt.
7. Frederick Binder.
8. James M. Pierce. .
9. Marvin Pierce.
10. Adam Raetz.
11. Henry Goerke.
12. Jacob Bronnenkant.
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