History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 7

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 7
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Sixth District. - Alanson M. Kimball. Seventh District .- Jeremiah M. Rusk. Eighth District .- George W. Cate.

XLVth Congress, 1877-79.

First District .- Charles G. Williams. Second District .- Lucien B. Caswell. Third District .- George C. Hazelton. Fourth District .- William Pitt Lynde. Fifth District .- Edward S, Bragg. Sixth District. - Gabriel Bouck. Seventh District .- Herman L. Humphrey. Eighth District .- Thaddeus C. Pound.

$ Died Jan. 1, 1870. and David Atwood elected tofil. vacancy Feb. 15, 1870.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

XLVIth Congress, 1879-81.

First District .- Charles G Williams. Second District .- Lucien B. Caswell. Third District .- George C. Hazelton. Fourth District .- Peter V. Deuster. Fifth District. - Edward S. Bragg. Sixth District. - Gabriel Bouck. Seventh District. - Herman L. Ilumphrey.

Eighth District -Thaddeus C. Pound. XLVIIth Congress, 1881-83.

First District. - Charles G. Williams. Second District. - Lucien B. Caswell.

Third District. - George C. Hazelton

Fourth District .- Peter V. Deuster. Fifth District .- Edward S. Bragg. Sixth District .- Richard Guenther.

Seventh District .- Herman L. Humphrey .

Eighth District -Thaddeus C. Pound. XLVIIIth Congress, 1883-85.

First District .- John Winans.

Second District .- Daniel H. Sumner.

Third District .- Burr W. Jones.

Fourth District. - Peter V. Deuster.

Fifth District .- Joseph Rankin.

Sixth District -Richard Guenther,

Seventh District .- Gilbert M. Woodward.

Eightli District. - William T Price.

Ninth District .- Isaac Stephenson.

The first Legislature in joint convention, on the 7th of June 1848, canvassed, in accord- aneo with the constitution, the votes given on the 8th of May, for the State officers, and the two representatives in Congress. On the same day the State officers were sworn into office. The next day Gov. Dewey delivered his first message to the Legislature. The first im- portant business of the first State Legislature was the election of two United States senators; Henry Dodge and Isaac P. Walker, both democrats, were elected. The latter drew the short term; so that his office expired on the 4th day of March, 1849, at the end of the thirteenth Congress; as Dodge drew the long term, his office expired on the 4th day of March, 1851, at the end of thirty-first Congress. Both were elected, June 8, 1848. Their successors, with the date of their elections, were as follows: Isaac P. Walker, Jan. 17, 1849; Henry Dodge, Jan. 20, 1851 ; Charles Durkee, Feb. 1, 1855;

James R. Doolittle, Jan. 23, 1857; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 23, 1861; James R. Doolittle, Jan. 22, 1863; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 24, 1867 ; Matthew II. Carpenter, Jan. 26, 1869 ; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 21, 1873; Angus Cameron, Feb. 3, 1875 ; Matthew II. Carpenter, Jan. 22, 1879; Philetus Sawyer, Jan. 26, 1881 ; Angus Cam- eron, March 10, 1881.

The constitution vested the judicial power of the State in a supreme court, circuit court, courts of probate, and justices of the peace, giving the Legislature power to vest such juris- diction as should be deemed necessary in mu- nicipal courts. Judges were not to be elected at any State or county election, nor within thirty days before or after one. The State was divided into five judicial circuits, Edward V. Whiton being chosen judge at the election on the first Monday in August, 1848, of the first circuit, composed of the counties of Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green as then constituted; Levi Hubbell, of the second, composed of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson and Dane; Charles H. Larrabee, of the third, composed of Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette. Sank and Portage, as then formed; Alexander W. Stow, of the fourth, composed of Brown, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winne- bago and Calumet; and Mortimer M. Jackson, of the fifth, composed of the counties of Iowa, LaFayette, Grant, Crawford and St Croix, as then organized ; the county of Richland being attached to Iowa county ; the county of Chippewa to the county of Crawford ; and the county of La Pointe to the county of St. Croix, forjudicial purposes. In 1850, a sixth eirenit was formed. By an act, which took of- feet in 1854, a seventh circuit was formed. On the Ist day of January, 1855, an eighth and ninth cireuit was formed. In the same year was also formed a tenth circuit. An eleventh circuit was formed in 1864. By an act which took effect the 1st day of January, 1871, the twelfth circuit was formed. In 1876 a thir- teenth circuit was "constituted and re-organ

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

ized." At the present time John M. Went- worth is judge of the first circuit, which is com- posed of the conntics of Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha; Charles A. Ilamilton of the second, which includes Milwaukee county; David J. Pulling of the third, composed of Calumet, Green Lake and Winnebago; Norman S. Gil- son of the fourth, composed of Sheboygan, Mani- towoc, Kewannee and Fond du Lac; George Clementson of the fifth, composed of Grant, lowa, La Fayette, Richland and Crawford; Alfred W. Newman of the sixth, composed of Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trem- pealean and Vernon; Charles M. Webb of the seventh, composed of Portage, Marathon, Wau- paca, Wood, Waushara, Lincoln, Price, and Tay- lor; Egbert B. Bundy of the eighth, composed of Buffalo, Dunu, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix; Alva Stewart of the ninth, composed of Adams, Columbia, Dane, Juneau, Sank, M rquette; George Il. Myres, of the tenth, composed of Florence, Langlade, Outagamie, and Shawano; Solon C. Clongh of the eleventh, composed of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Polk, and Washburn; John R. Bennett of the twelfth, composed of Rock, Green, and Jefferson; A. Scott Sloan, of the thir- teenth, composed of Dodge, Ozankee, Washing- ton, and Waukesha; Samuel D. Hlastings of the fourteenth, composed of Brown, Door, Mainette and Oconto.

The first Legislature provided for the re-elec- tion of judges of the circuit courts on the first Monday of August, 1848. By the same aet it was provided that the first term of the supreme court should be held in Madison, on the sec- ond Monday of January, 1849, and thereafter at the same place and on the same day, yearly ; afterward changed so as to hold a January and June term in each year. Under the constitution, the circuit judges were also judges of the supreme court. One of their own number under an act of June 29, 1848, was to be, by themselves, elected chief justice. Under this arrangement, the following

were the justices of the supreme court, at the times indicated: Alex. W. Stow, C. J., fourth, district, Ang. 28, 1848, to Jan. 1, 1851; Edward V. Whiton, A. J., first circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1858; Levi Hubbell, A. J., elected chief justice, June 18, 1851, second circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1853; Charles HI. Larrabee, A. J., third circuit, Aug. 28, 1848. to Jnne 1, 1853; Mortimer M. Jackson, A. J., fifth circuit, Ang. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1853; Timothy O. Howe, A. J., fourth circuit, Jan. 1, 1851, to June 1, 1853; Wiram Knowlton, A. J.,sixth circuit, organized by the Legislature in 1850, Ang. 6, 1850,to June 1, 1853. In 1853, the supreme court was separately organized, the chief justice and associate justices being voted for as such. The following persons have con- stituted that court during the terms indicated, since its separate organization: Edward V. Whiton, C. J., June 1, 1853, to April 12, 1859; Luther S. Dixon, C. J., April 20, 1850, to June 17 1874; Edward G. Ryan, C. J., June 17, 1874, to Oct. 19, 1880; Orsamus Cole, C. J., Nov. 11. 1880, (in office); Samuel Crawford, A. J., June 1, 1853, to June 19, 1855 ; Abraham D. Smith, A. J., June 1, 1853, to June 21, 1859; Orsamus Cole, A. J., June 19, 1855, to Nov. 11, 1880; Byron Paine, A. J., June 21, 1859, to Nov. 15, 1864; Jason Downer, A. J., Nov. 15, 1864, to Sept. 11, 1867; Byron Paine, A. J., Sept. 11, 1867, to Jan. 13, 1871; William P. Lyon, A. J., Jan. 20, 1870, (in office); David Taylor, A. J .. April 18, 1878, (in office); Harlow S. Orton, A. J., April 18, 1878, (in office); John B. Casso- day, A. J., Nov. 11, 1880, (in office).

The act of Congress entitled "An act to ena ble the people of Wisconsin territory to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union," ap- proved Ang.6, 1846, provided for one l'nited States judicial district to be called the district of Wisconsin. It was also provided that a dis- triet court should be held therein by one judge who should reside in the district and be called a district judge. The court was to hold two

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

terms a year in the capital, Madison. This was afterward changed so that one term only was held at the seat of the State government, while the other was to be held at Milwaukee. Special terms could be held at either of these places. , On the 12th day of June, 1848, Andrew G. Miller was appointed by the President district judge. By the act of Congress of July 15, 1862, a circuit court of the United States was created to be held in Wisconsin. The district judge was given power to hold the circuit court in Wisconsin in company with the circuit judge and circuit justice, or either of them, or alone in their absence. Wisconsin now composes a portion of the seventh judicial cirenit of the United States, Thomas Drummond being cir- cuit judge. He resides at Chicago. The cir- cuit justice is one of judges of the United States supreme court. Two terms of the circuit court are held each year at Milwaukee and one term in Madison.

In 1870 the State was divided into two dis- tricts, the castern and western. In the western district, one term of the United States district court each year was to be held at Madison and one at La Crosse; in the eastern district, two terms were to be held at Milwaukee and one at Oshkosh. On the 9th day of July, 1870, James (". Hopkins was appointed judge of the western district, Andrew G. Miller remaining judge of the eastern district. The latter resigned to take effect Jan. 1, 1874, and JJames H. Howe was appointed to fill the vacancy; but Judge Howe soon resigned, and Charles E. Dyer, on the 10th of February, 1875, appointed in his place. He is still in office. Judge Hopkins, of the western district, died Sept. 4, 1877; when, on the 13th of October following, Romanzo Bunn was appointed his successor, and now fills that office.

An act was passed by the first Legislature pro- viding for the election and defining the duties of a State superintendent of public instruction. The persons holding that office, with the term of each, are as follows: Eleazer Root. from

Jan. 1, 1849, to Jan. 5, 1852; Azel P. Ladd, from Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1854; Hiram A. Wright, from Jan. 5, 1854, to May 29, 1855; A. Constantine Barry, from June 26, 1855, to Jan. 4, 1858; Lyman (. Draper, from Jan. 4, 1858, to Jan. 2, 1860; Josiah L. Pickard, from Jan. 2, 1860, to Sept. 30, 1864; John G. Mc- Mynn, from Oct. 1, 1864, to Jan. 6, 1868; Alex- ander J. Craig, from Jan. 6, 1868, to Jan. 3, 1870; Samuel Fallows, from Jan. 6, 1870, to Jan. 4, 1874; Edward Searing, from Jan. 4, 1874, to Jan 7, 1878; William ('. Whitford, from Jan. 7, 1878, to Jan. 2, 1882; Robert Gra- ham, from Jan. 2, 1882, (now in office.) By the same Legislature, a State University was estab- lished. The school system of Wisconsin em- braces graded schools, to be found in all the cities and larger villages, the district schools, organized in the smaller villages and in the country generally, besides the University of Wisconsin, (located at Madison, the capital of the State). The university has three depart- ments: the college of letters, the college of arts. and the college of law. It was founded upon a grant of seventy-two sections of land made by Congress to the territory of Wisconsin. That act required the secretary of the treasury to set apart and reserve from sale, out of any public lands within the territory of Wisconsin, "a quantity of land, not exceeding two entire tow !:- ships, for the support of a university within the said territory and for no other use or purpose whatsoever; to be located in tracts of land not less than an entire section corresponding with any of the legal divisions into which the public lands are authorized to be surveyed." The territorial Legislature, at its session in 1838, passed a law incorporating the "University of the Territory of Wisconsin," loeating the same at or near Madison. In 1841 a commissioner was appointed to select the lands donated to the State for the maintenance of the university, who performed the duty assigned to him in a most acceptable manner. Section 6 of article X of the State constitution provides that "pro

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

vision shall be made by law for the establish- ment of a State University at or near the seat of government. The proceeds of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted by the United States to the State, for the support of a University shall be and remain a perpetual fund, to be called the 'University fund,' the interest of which shall be appropriated to the support of the State University." Immediately upon the organization of the State government an act was passed incorporating the State Univer- sity, and a board of regents appointed, who at once organized the institution.

The University was formally opened by the public inauguration of a chancellor, Jan. 16, 1850. The preparatory department of the Uni- versity was opened Feb. 5, 1849, with twenty pupils. In 1849 the regents purchased nearly 200 acres of land, comprising what is known as the "University Addition to the City of Madi- son," and the old "University Grounds." In 1851 the north dormitory was completed, and the first college classes formed. In 1854 the south dormitory was erected. Owing to the fact that the lands comprising the original grant had produced a fund wholly inadequate to the support of the university, in 1854 a further grant of seventy-two sections of land was made by Congress to the State for that purpose. In 1866 the University was completely re-organized, so as to meet the requirements of a law of Con- gress passed in 1862, providing for the endow- ment of agricultural colleges. That act granted to the several States a quantity of land equal to 30,000 acres for each senator and representa- tive in Congress, by the apportionment under the census of 1860. The objects of that grant are fully set forth in sections four and five of said act. The lands received by Wisconsin under said act of Congress, and conferred upon the State University for the support of an agri- cultural college, amounted to 240,000 acres, making a total of 322,160 acres of land donated to this State by the general government for the endowment and support of this institution. Up

to the time of its re-organization, the University had not received one dollar from the State or from any municipal corporation. In pursuance of a law passed in 1866, Dane county issued bonds to the amount of $40,000 for the pur- chase of abont 200 acres of land contiguous to the University grounds for an experimental farm, and for the erection of suitable buildings thereon. The next winter the Legislature passed a law which appropriated annually for ten years to the income of the University Fund, $7,308.76, that being the interest upon the sum illegally taken from the fund by the law of 1862 to pay for the erection of buildings.

In 1870 the Legislature appropriated $50,000 for the erection of a female college, which is the first contribution made outright to the up- building of any institution of learning in this State. In order to comply with the law grant- ing lands for the support of agricultural colleges, the University was compelled to make large outlays in fitting up laboratories and purchas- ing the apparatus necessary for instruction and practical advancement in the arts immediately connected with the industrial interests of the State, a burden which the Legislature very gen- erously shared by making a further annual ap- propriation in 1872 of $10,000 to the income of the University Fund. The increased facilities offered by improvements in the old and by the erection of a new college building proved wholly inadequate to meet the growing wants of the institution. In its report for 1874, the board of visitors said: "A hall of natural sei- ences is just now the one desideratum of the Uni- versity. It can never do the work it ought to do, the work the State expects it to do, without some speedily increased facilities." 'The Leg- islature promptly responded to this demand, and at its next session appropriated $$0,000 for the erection of a building for scientific pur- poses. In order to permanently provide for de- ficiencies in the University Fund income, and to establish the institution upon a firm and endur- ing foundation, the Legislature of 1876 enacted

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

"That there shall be levied and collected for the year 1876 and annnally thereafter, a State tax of one-tenth of one mill for each dollar of the assessed valuation of the taxable property of this State, and the amount so levied and col- lected is hereby appropriated to the University Fund income, to be used as a part thereof." This is in lieu of all other appropriations for the benefit of this fund, and all tuition fees for students in the regular classes are abolished by this act.

The fourth section of the act of 1876, to per- manently provide for deficiencies in the Uni- versity Fund income, is as follows: "From and out of the receipts of said tax, the sum of$3,000 annually shall be set apart for astronomical work and for instruction in astronomy, to be expended under the direction of the regents of the University of Wisconsin, as soon as a com- plete and well equipped observatory shall be given the University, on its own grounds with- out cost to the State: Provided, that such ob- servatory shall be completed within three years from the passage of this act." The astronomi- cal observatory whose construction was provided for by this act, was erected by the wise liber- ality of ex-Gov. Washburn. It is a beautiful stone building, finely situated and well fitted for its work. Its length is eighty feet, its breadth forty-two feet, and its height forty- eight feet. Over the door to the rotunda is a marble tablet bearing this inscription: "Erected and furnished, A. D. 1878, by the munificence of Cadwallader C. Washburn, and by him pre- sented to the University of Wisconsin; a tribute to general science. In recognition of this gift, this tablet is inserted by the regents of the University." The telescope has a sixteen inch object-glass. The size is a most desirable one for the great mass of astronomical work. In 1881 a students' observatory was erected and a wing was added to the east side of the Wash- burn observatory.

In the fall of 1848 there was a Presidential election. There were then three organized

political parties in the State-whig, democrat and free-soil, each having a ticket in the field ; but the democrats were in the majority. The successful electors for that year and for each four years since that date, were as follows :

1848. Elected November 7.

At. Large-Francis Huebschmann. Wm. Dunwiddie.

First District- David P. Maples Second District-Samuel F. Nichlos.

1852. Elected November 2.

At Large-Montgomery M. Cotbren. Satterlee Clark.

First District-Philo White. Second District-Beriah Brown. Third District-Charles Billinghurst,

1856. Elected November 4.

At Large-Edward D. Holton. James H. Knowlton.

First District-Gregor Mencel. Second District-Walter D. McIndoe.

Third District-Bille Williams.

1860. Elected November 6.

At Large-Walter D. McIndoe. Bradford Rixford.

First District-William W. Vaughan.

Second District-J. Allen Barber. Third District-Herman Lindeman.

1864. Elected November 8.

At Large-William W. Field Henry L. Blood.

First District-George C. Northrop.

Second District-Jonathan Bowman.

Third District-Allen Warden.

Fourth District-Henry J. Turner.

Fifth District-Henry F. Belitz.

Sixth District-Alexander S. McDill.

1868. Elected November 3.

At Large-Stephen S. Barlow. Henry D. Barron.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

First District-Elihu Enos.

Second District-Charles G. Williams. Third District-Allen Warden. Fourth District-Leander F. Frisby. Fifth District-William G. Ritch. Sixth District-William T. Price.

1872. Elected November 5.

At Large-William E. Cramer. Frederick Fleischer.

First District-Jerome S. Nickles.

Second District-George G. Swain.

Third District-Ormshy B. Thomas.

Fourth District-Frederick Hilgen.

Fifth District-Edward C. McFetridge.

Sixth District-George E. Hoskinson. Seventh District-Romanzo Bunn.

Eighth District-Henry D. Barron.

1876. Elected November 7.

At Large-William H. Hiner. Francis Campbell.

First District-T D. Weeks.

Second District-T. D. Lang.

Third District-Daniel L. Downs.

Fourth District-Casper M. Sanger.

Fifth District -- Charles Luling.

Sixth District-James 11. Foster.

Seventh District-Charles B. Solberg.

Eighth District-John H. Knapp.

1880. Elected November 2.

At Large-George End. Knud Langland.

First District-Lucius S. Blake.

Second District-John Kellogg.

Third District-George E. Weatherby.

Fourth District-William P. McLaren.

Fifth District-C. T. Lovell.

Sixth District-E. L Browne.

Seventh District-F. H. Kribbs.

Eighth District-John T. Kingston.

The popular vote cast for President at each of the Presidential elections in Wisconsin, and

the electoral vote cast for each successful can- didate, were as follows :

Year.

CANDIDATES.

Popular Vote. .

Electoral Vote.

1848 Zachary Taylor.

13, 747

Lewis Cass ..

15, 001 4

Martin Van Buren.

10, 418

1852 Franklin Pierce

33. 658 5

Winfield Scott.

22, 240

John P. Hale. .

8, 814

1856 James Buchanan

52,843

John C. Fremont.

66,090 5

Millard Fillmore.

579

1860 Abraham Lincoln. .

86,118 5

John C. Breckinridge.

888 . .

John Bell. .

161 ..

S. A. Douglas.

65,021

1864 Abraham Lincoln

83, 458 8

Geo B. McClellan.

65,884

. .

1868 Ulysses S. Grant. ..

108, 857 8

Horatio Seymour.

84, 707

1872 Ulysses S. Grant.

104, 997 10

Horace Greeley Charles O'Connor.

86, 477| . . 834.

1876 Rutherford B. Hayes 130, 668 10

Samuel J. Tilden.

123, 927 . .

Peter Cooper 1,509 . .

G C. Smith.

27)

1880 James A Garfield 144, 398 10

Winfield S. Hancock.

114, 644 . .

J. B. Weaver

7,986

Neal Dow. 68 . .

J B. Phelps.

91 ..

The act of the first Legislature of the State, exempting a homestead from forced sale on any debt or liability contracted after Jan. 1, 1849, and another act exempting certain per- sonal property, were laws the most liberal in their nature passed by any State in the Union previous to that time. Other acts were passed -such as were deemed necessary to put the machinery of the State government in all its branches, in fair running order. And, by the second Legislature (1849) were enacted a num- ber of laws of public utility. The statutes were revised, making a volume of over 900 pages. The year 1848 was one of general prosperity to the rapidly increasing population of the State ; and that of 1849 developed in an increased ratio its productive capacity in every depart- ment of labor. The agriculturist, the artisan,

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

the miner, reaped the well-earned reward of his honest labor. The commercial and manu- facturing interests were extended in a manner highly creditable to the enterprise of the people. The educational interests of the State began to assume a more systematic organization. The tide of immigration suffered no decrease during the year. Within the limits of Wiscon- sin, the oppressed of other climes continued to find welcome and happy homes. There were many attractions for emigrants from the Old World, especially from northern Europe-from Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark ; also from Ireland and England.

The third Legislature changed the January term of the supreme court to December and or- ganized a sixth judicial eircuit. The first charitable institution in Wisconsin, incorporated by the State, was the "Wisconsin Institute for the Education of the Blind." A school for that unfortunate class had been opened in Janes- ville, in the latter part of 1849, receiving its support from the citizens of that place and vicinity. By an act of the Legislature, approved Feb. 9, 1850, this school was taken under the care of the Institute, to continue and maintain it, at ,lanesville, and to qualify, as far as might be, the blind of the State for the enjoyment of the blessings of a free government; for obtain- ing the means of subsistence; and for the dis- charge of those duties, social and political, devolving upon American citizens. It has since been supported from the treasury of the State. On the 7th of October, 1850, it was opened for the reception of pupils, under the direction of a board of trustees appointed by the governor. The other charitable institutions of the State are the State Hospital for the Insane, located near Madison, and opened for patients in July, 1860; Northern Hospital for the Insane, located near Oshkosh, to which patients were first ad- mitted in April, 1873, and the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, located at Delavan, in Walworth county.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 7

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298