History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 112

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 112

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None of the original charter members are now (1880) members of the lodge; some still reside in the city, some have moved away and some have died. Of the present members, the one who has been longest in connection with the lodge is Samuel D. Hastings, who united with it on the 17th of February, 1857, while spending the winter in Madison as a member

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

of the Legislature from Trempealeau. Rev. M. D. Miller and Mary A. Winslaide have been in continuous connection with the lodge since April 5, 1859. Mrs. S. E. Pierson was the earliest connected with the lodge of any who are now members, having united March 25, 1856, but one week after its institution, but she lost her membership and again united at a later date.

The loss of some of the earlier records of the lodge renders it impossible to give a complete sketch of its early history. The names of 1,650 persons who have been members of the lodge are found upon the records now in existence, but this is by no means the whole number who have been connected with it. It is safe to say that nearly 2,000 persons have united with it since its organization.

Among those who have been connected with this lodge are the following ministers of the Gospel :

Rev. E. C. Wyrick, Rev. M. D. Miller, Rev. A. McWright, Rev. M. Himebaugh, now agent of the Western Seaman's Friend Society ; Rev. J. C. Aspinwall, Rev. A. B. Green, a Chaplain in the army, who united while in Camp Randall with his regiment; Rev. J. A. Sweatland, Rev. George Fellows, Rev. Porter H. Snow, Rev. A. H. Walter, Rev. P. S. Mather, Rev. H. K. Cobb, Rev. J. E. Johnson, at one time Pastor of the Baptist Church in this city ; Rev. J. C. Fuller, Rev. H. Stone Richardson, Rev. Lathrop Taylor, at one time Pastor of the Congrega- tional Church of Madison ; Rev. W. H. Thompson, Rev. Dr. W. H. Brisbane, Rev. Dr. E. D. Huntley, now President of Lawrence University ; and Rev. M. Benson.

The following-named lawyers, who are now or at some period in the past were members of the Madison bar, have been members of this lodge: Hon. Thomas Hood, now of Washington ; D. K. Tenney, Farlin Q. Ball and J. L. High, now distinguished members of the Chicago bar ; J. W. Johnson, one of the most eloquent men of his day ; J. C. Mckinney and J. E. Wildish, now of Milwaukee ; T. J. Widvey, of La Crosse ; John C. Spooner, now of Hudson ; Judge J. G. Knapp, now of Florida ; D. Lloyd Jones, now of Stevens Point ; J. H. Carpenter, LL. D ; Herbert A. Lewis, Rufus B. Smith and W. H. Rogers, still of this city.

The following well-known present or past residents of the city have been members of the lodge at some period during its existence : A. T. Bruce, the auctioneer ; Frank Dorn, Wm. P. Towers, W. J. Parks, Elisha Burdick, E. B. Dean, Jr., Abijah Abbott, the late Mrs. Chauncey, L. Williams, Charles E. Bross, Robert Wootten, Dr. O. M. Twitchell, Charles D. At- wood, Jacob Seeman, C. H. Billings, E. S. McBride, John A. Johnson, M. L. Daggett, A. M. Daggett, E. A. Tappan, John Hawks, James D. Butler, Mrs. Anna B. Butler, Ezra Copp, S. E. Pierson, Frank Stoltz, R. M. La Follette, H. H. Giles, John Gallagher, John Griffith, Arthur C. Mills, Mrs. Sarah F. Dean, Mrs. E. C. DeMoe, M. B. French, Hiram Johnson, Estes Wilson, Charles Hawks, Dr. Charles H. Hall, Mrs. Dr. Wilson, A. L. Davison, John Cory, Alex Gill, Thomas Dean, William Davidson, Charles F. Lamb, Howard Hoyt. George W. Stone, Hallie W. Main, C. A. Daley, Frank E. Parker, Charles K. Tenney, H. A. Draper, Andrew Isaacs, Frank W. Hoyt.

The following are names of persons who were members of the lodge while residents of the city, or while here temporarily as members of the Legislature, or for some other purpose :

Thomas S. Allen, F. A. Boardman, Orlando Brown, Judge M. D. Bartlett, C. H. Purple, Henry Howarth, Prof. J. C. Pickard, Wareham Parks, S.G. Benedict. William T. Atwood, Prof. C. H. Allen, Prof. E. S. Carr, Samuel Cole, E. L. Brown, William H. Bliss, now United States District Attorney at St. Louis ; J. S. Curtis, A. J. Craig, J. A. Watrous, P. H. Turner, J. D. Ruggles, E. A. Calkins, Julius F. Randolph, J. L. Pickard, now President of the Iowa State University ; D. W. Fernandez, K. J. Fleisher, Mrs. Jennie C. Carr, James Ross, W. H. Miller, Wm. C. Bradley, Henry J. Saw, J. M. Haight, O. G. Scofield, E. W. Skinner, H. Borchsenius, E. E. Pratt, William V. Baker, G. B. Holden, Dexter Rowe, H. G Wilson, H. S. Marsh, W. W. Church, Charles L. Blanchard, Pitt Cravath, Frank Jordan, James E. Brett, Leroy L. Baker, Elliott H. Benton, Anson O. Doolittle, H. Neiman, Harrie Forseman, William B. Jarvis, George Jarvis, Almerin Gillett, Ed S. Bean, James M. Bull, James E. Dean, Charles D. Purple, Luzerne H. Dexter, N. Bowerman, S. E. Jones, A. F. Dexter, A. E

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Cook, Herbert Reed, Alex Richardson, Robert Howard, George H. Scidmore, J. P. Kenea, T. D. Stone, Adrian Webster, Frank E. Pearson, George W. Zindley, J. T. Kean.

Three hundred and sixty-two volunteers, while at Camp Randall, were initiated into the lodge. On the evening of the 7th of May, 1861, Capt. Julius F. Randolph, of the Randall Guards of Madison, with forty-nine members of his company, were initiated at one time.

At the time Capital Lodge was organized, there was in existence in the city a division of the Sons of Temperance, but it soon after ceased to work.

Within a year or two after the organization of Capital Lodge, another Good Templar Lodge was instituted, known as State Central Lodge, but it continued in existence but a few years.

Some years later an effort was made to revive the Sons of Temperance. A division was organized, but it lived but a short time, as Capital Lodge of Good Templars seemed to fully cover tbe ground.

At a later period, another Good Templar's Lodge, known as Madison Lodge, No. 156, was organized.

A large number of persons united with this lodge that had always kept aloof from Capital Lodge, and Madison Lodge soon became one of the largest and most efficient lodges in the State, numbering at one time nearly 200 members. There was a work for this lodge to do, and it did it, and, when the members felt that its work was done, its charter was surrendered, and such of its members as felt there was still work for them to do in connection with the Order of Good Templars, united with Capital Lodge, and are now among its most useful members.

At several periods during the past twenty-five years, the matter of the organization of open . temperance societies has been agitated, and twice such societies have been started. Some years since, Madison was favored with one or two lectures by the late Dr. Charles Jewett, one of the ablest and best men ever engaged in the temperance work. The meetings were held in the Baptist Church, and, under the inspiration created by the Doctor's lectures, an open temperance society was organized, and the members of Capital Lodge, as on all similar occasions, united in the movement, and did what they could to help it forward. For awhile the meetings were well attended, and it was hoped the organization would prove permanent and efficient ; but the attend- ance soon began to fall off, and, in the course of a few months, scarcely any one attended the meetings but Good Templars, and they soon came to the conclusion that they could accomplish more by concentrating their efforts upon the work of their own lodge.

Some five or six years ago, Waubesa Lodge, I. O. G. T., was instituted in the western part of the city, near the Fair Grounds. This lodge is still in existence, and has done, and is still doing, a good work.

Within the past few years a Temple of Honor has been instituted in the city, which has occupied a ground peculiar to itself, and, in its appropriate sphere, has done a grand work, which no other organization had succeeded in doing.

It is still in existence, and is actively engaged in its good work. It is, without doubt, indebted more to the faithful labors of Henry M. Lewis, United States District Attorney, than to any other one person for its success.

For a period of some ten years, from 1859 to 1869, there was in the city an organization among the children and youth, known as the Band of Hope.

It was organized in the month of June, 1859, by Samuel D. Hastings, then State Treas- urer, and was under his charge a good share of the time during its existence.

J. L. Pickard, while Superintendent of Public Instruction ; Rev. Lathrop Taylor, while Pastor of the Congregational Church ; W. P. Tower, while Superintendent of the Baptist Sun- day School, and Herbert Reed, each had charge of the Band during limited periods.

Nearly 1,100 children and youth took the triple pledge of abstinence from intoxicating drinks, tobacco and profanity, in connection with this Band of Hope, and, while some have broken their pledges, many have kept them inviolate to the present time.

Those who fifteen and twenty years ago were children, are now men and women.

The names of many of those who were connected with this Band of Hope will be recognized by the present citizens of Madison.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Among these names may be mentioned the following: Mary E. Bevitt, now the wife of a clergyman in Hudson ; Edith Billings, the wife of F. H. Firmin, of Madison; Frank G. Brown, one of our prominent and wealthy citizens; Nellie Bradly, now Mrs. Graves; Ella Brainerd, now Mrs. Saw ; Harrie Brainerd, Charlie Brainerd and Willie Brainerd, now residents of Chicago; Leeroy L. Baker, of Kenosha ; Dawson R. Butler, Henry Butler, now in Europe completing his studies ; Anne Butler, Agnes Butler, Mary Beecroft, Anna Beechlin, Frederick Beecroft, Sidney Cole, now a merchant in Milwaukee; Sarah Church, Edith Conover, Nellie Cheneyworth, Herbert W. Cheneyworth, Frederick Cheneyworth, Frederick Conover, Jessie Craig, Albert Dexter, Luzerne Dexter, Charles L. Dudley, Mamie Dean, Ralph Carr, Flora Carr, Emma Catlin, Belle Catlin, Herbert Craig, Allen Craig, Harry S. Dean, James E. Dean, John Fitch, Alfred S. Frank, Frances L. Fuller, Alice Gill, Frank Gaylord, Florence L. Hast- ings, now Mrs. H. W. Hoyt; Ruth Hawkes, now Mrs. Isaacs ; Elizabeth Hawkes, George Hopkins, Henry Hobbins, Briard F. Hill, Olive L. Hoyt, now Mrs. Burr W. Jones; Frank Hoyt, Eva Jones, Mary Joss, now Mrs. Atwood; Alice Johnson now Mrs. Nelson ; Joseph Keys, Edgar C. Kellogg, Carlton E. Miller, Willie Main, Andrew Mayers, Laura Marsh, Claude Norton, Sarah Nichols, John Norton, Frank Parker, T. D. Plumb, Jr., Charles M. Plumb, Belle Plumb, now Mrs. J. C. Fuller ; Mary Jane Pierson, Frank Proudfit, Frederick Pierson, Julia Proudfit, now Mrs. George Hopkins ; Ellis Proudfit, Walter Pierson, Frederick Pichard, Charles E. Pichard, Earl Rudd, Willie Rublee, Roger Spooner, Gordon Ripley, Bradford W. Ripley, Louis Sholes, William Sleightham, Charles Sleightham, Frederick H. Stoltze, Howard Stoltze, Frederick C. Sheasby, Thomas Turville, William D. Turville, Frank Turner, Willie Turner, Anna Vilas, Elizabeth Waltsinger, Emma Waltsinger, Watson Wyman.

The Band of Hope may, in a certain sense, be regarded as a child of Capital Lodge, No. 1, I. O. G. T. It was organized by a member of Capital Lodge, and the most of those who aided in carrying it on were members of this lodge, and many of the members of the band are now members of the lodge.

Capital Lodge has been in existence nearly a quarter of a century. During the entire period the lodge-room has been open on every Tuesday evening, unless, by reason of the Grand Lodge being in session in the city, or of some temperance work in some other direction, a meeting may have occasionally been omitted.

Between 1,200 and 1,300 regular lodge meetings have been held. The pledge of total abstinence has been administered to nearly 2,000 persons. A large proportion of the public temperance meetings, that have been held in the city during the past twenty-five years, have been originated by this lodge. The lodge has secured the speakers, given notice of the meetings and paid all expenses, and kept itself entirely in the background, claiming none of the credit. During the period of its existence the members have contributed to pay running expenses and to carry on temperance work, between $4,000 and $5,000.

There are but few organizations in the State that have a better record than that of Capital Lodge, No. 1, I. O. G. T.

Some that took the pledge of total abstinence at its altar have broken it; but the great majority have been true, both to its letter and to its spirit, and not only in Madison and in Wisconsin, but all over the land can be found evidences of the good results of the labors of this humble temperance organization.

The St. Joseph's Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society was organized January 7, 1872.

The Father Mathew temperance pledge was at that time administered by Rev. Father Vahey to the following-named persons : John B. Hyland, Herbert A. Monaghan, Peter Coyne, Martin O'Connell, James Riley, Michael Kearns, Patrick Brogan, Simeon Dunn, Hugh Joyce, William Martin, John B. Moran, Ed Genaughty, Thomas Doyle, Charles Heran, Thomas H. McGrath, James Devlin, John Halligan, John Moran, John Dayley, Tim Brehany, James Maroney and John Doyle.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

On the 14th of January, the pledge was administered to the following-named persons : E. C. Burke, James Reynolds, John Gillen, George P. Harrington, Thomas Kelly, John Dunn, James Andrews, Thomas Higgins, John Devlin, Hugh Riley, William O'Toole, John O'Toole, James Hamilton and Dennis Haggerty.

The organization was completed at this meeting by the election of the following officers : President, John B. Hyland ; Vice President, E. C. Burke; Secretary, Herbert A. Monaghan ; Treasurer, Martin O'Connell.

The object of this society, as set forth in its constitution, " shall be to promote temperance ; to aid any of its members who may stand in need by reason of sickness or bodily injury, and especially to promote the unity and the spiritual and temporal welfare of its members.'

The society has been in existence nearly nine years, and during this period has administered the total abstinence pledge to nearly three hundred persons.

The present officers of the society are as follows : President, Richard T. Cummins ; Vice President, Francis Daley ; Secretary, Bernard Halligan ; Treasurer, Patrick Kelly ; Marshal, James Hayes.

On the 18th of January, 1880, our city was visited by Miss Frances E. Willard, of Evanston; Ill., the President of the Woman's National Christian Temperance Union.

As one result of her two most able and eloquent addresses, the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union of Madison was organized, consisting at the time of its institution of sixty-seven members, which has since been increased to ninety-six, among whom will be found many of the best and most prominent women of the city.

The following are the names of the officers then elected : President, Mrs. H. A. Miner ; Vice Presidents, Mrs. A. H. Main, Miss C. L. Ware, Mrs. James E. Baker, Mrs. J. E. Irish, Mrs. J. E. Moseley, Miss Ella A. Giles ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Emma C. Bascom ; Recording Secretary, Miss Mary M. Miller ; Treasurer, Mrs. F. W. Oakley.

Thus far this organization has shown itself to be one of the most efficient ever instituted in our midst.

Under its auspices have been held some of the largest and most interesting temperance meetings ever held in the city. Able addresses have been delivered by Miss Frances E. Willard, of Evanston, Ill. ; Prof. G. E. Foster, of New Brunswick ; Mrs. J. E. Foster, of Clinton, Iowa, and Rev. E. L. Eaton, of Beloit.

The union have procured a large number of signatures to the temperance pledge ; have circulated more or less temperance literature, and have in operation, plans for continuing to cir- culate such literature, and have in various other ways labored for the advancement of the cause.

They are now perfecting plans by which they hope to do something for a class of boys in the city who seem to be outside of all good influences.

Suitable rooms have been secured, where these boys will be invited to spend their week-day evenings and Sunday afternoons, where they will be met by various members of the union, who will try to please, interest and instruct them. The rooms will be made pleasant and attractive to the boys by games, amusements and entertainments during the evenings, that will be inter- . spersed with the instructions imparted.

MONKS' HALL.

A dwelling-house formerly located on the corner of Wisconsin avenue and Clymer street, was moved off in the month of June, 1873. to make room for a more modern structure after- ward erected by David Atwood for a private residence. This house was one of the old land- marks of Madison, and had its historic incidents. It was erected in 1842, by Peter H. Van Ber- gen, through whose energy many of the finest buildings in Madison were constructed. In the early years of this house, a select school was taught in it by J. R. Brigham. On graduating from college, Mr. Brigham returned to his home in Madison, and issued a notice for a select school in this house, and hither the then children, now men and women, some of whom have become dis- tinguished in the land, repaired and received instruction in the rudiments of an education. The . school was a success. The young teacher also proved a success in the world.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The house was then used as a dwelling, with frequent changes of occupants for many years. At one time, Ahram Ogden, resided there. He was a brother of William B. Ogden, of Chicago. Afterward it was occupied by Mrs. Jesse A. Clark, William Welch, Dr. Gray, Dr. Rudd, Alfred Earl, Williard I. Gordon, George Capron, and others, as a private residence.

In the winter of 1853, the house became especially noted as " Monks' Hall." Under this title, its reputation was extensive. It has been spoken of as the political headquarters of the "Forty Thieves." This was not wholly correct. That thieves resorted there during the winter, no one could deny ; but they were not wholly of any political party, nor were they wholly of that set known in the State as the "Forty Thieves." There were at least forty of them, and their conduct was no better than that of the regular forty, but all the sins of " Monks' Hall," during the winter of 1853, must not be charged to the parties known as the "Forty Thieves." Added to their other sins, this would be too much. It was, perhaps, the first great railroad session of the Legislature of Wisconsin. The " Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company," which had a blooming existence at that time, and which afterward figured somewhat extensively in foreign countries, was asking legislation, and this old house became the headquarters of that organization under the euphonious name of "Monks' Hall." It was here that members were taken in and done for; they were fed here, and they took liquid beverages in the same place; rates were fixed with various appliances, and nights were often made hideous. But we will not attempt to give a detailed history of that winter at " Monks' Hall." Most of the prom- inent actors in the scenes of that time have gone to their long home; and we willingly throw the veil of oblivion over many of their deeds during this eventful winter, and trust the after lives of the individuals engaged in the work of that session at Monks' Hall have good enough in them to compensate for the evils of that time. The operations of that winter in this building may be insignificant compared with those that have since occurred in matters pertaining to rail- roads, but in the then innocent condition of the people, before railroads had reached Madison the scenes of that winter were deemed especially hard.

The old house is gone, and a new one on the same lot has taken its place, which is better suited to the location and the age in which we live.

MANUFACTORIES.

Madison Plow Works .- These works were founded in 1846, by Charles H. Billings, a native of Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., who moved from Cazenovia to Naperville, Ill., then learned the trade of plow-making, and, in the year above mentioned, came to Madison, and, in connection with George A. Cary, started a general blacksmithing and plow shop, on the corner of Morris (now Main) and Webster streets.

In 1849, he formed a copartnership with S. H. Carman, under the firm name of Bil- lings & Carman. In 1854, they built a new factory on King street, which was burned in 1856. The same year, they rebuilt the factory (now known as Breckheimer's Brewery). In 1860, Mr. Carman went to Pike's Peak. In 1864, Mr. Billings removed the works to the corner of Blair and, Williamson streets, East Madison. In September, 1866, Mr. Frank H. Firmin became a partner in the business under the name and style of Firmin & Billings. In July, 1869, the works were again removed to Webster street. In October, 1876, Mr. Walter C. Noe became a partner under the name of Firmin, Billings & Noe, and in 1879, Mr. John B. Norton became a partner under the name of Firmin, Billings & Co. January 19, 1880, a joint-stock company was organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, called the " Madison Plow Company," with an authorized capital of $35,000. The officers of the company are F. H. Firmin, President and Treasurer ; J. B. Norton, Vice Presi- dent ; W. C. Noe, Secretary ; C. H. Billings, Superintendent.

The company have purchased the old " Garnhart Reaper Works," on Washington avenue, near the Catfish, and have fitted them up, and are now occupying the same (November, 1880) as a plow factory. They are steadily and surely building up a fine trade. Their goods are well and favorably known throughout Wisconsin and the Northwest-especially for their thorough

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY

make, superior strength and durability, and greater adaptation to the peculiar soil of this sec- tion of country. They make a full line of steel plows, including stubble, sod, corn-breaking plows, etc. Their heavy grub-breakers are a specialty. They have recently made arrange- ments with the patentee for manufacturing chilled iron plows under the Seaman patent, which are said to be superior to any other plow of the kind in the world.

Sorensen, Fredericksen & Fish. - The business now carried on by this firm was first com- menced in 1863 by D. T. Sorensen and N. Fredericksen, in a one-story frame building, 20x40, which stood just next to the Irish Catholic Church, on Lot 7, Block 67. Here they had a little machinery for making sash, doors, etc., which was operated by a one-horse-power engine in the shape of an old lame equine. In 1865, their business having largely increased, they erected a frame shop, in dimensions 40x80 feet, on the present site, and moved in. They also at this time changed the old horse-power for a ten-horse-power engine, bought for them in the oil regions of Pennsylvania at a cost of $500, and added planers, matchers, etc., to their machinery. In 1867, the increase of business warranting further improvements, the frame shop was inclosed by the main part of the present structure, it being 48x96, two stories, built of stone from the Madison quarry and roofed with metal. A twenty-horse-power engine was also added and new machinery put in. In June, 1874, William T. Fish, an old resident and practical mechanic and builder, was taken into the firm for the purpose of extending building operations and adding a lumber- yard. Again, and for the last time, in 1876, their business facilities were increased by building an addition, 40x72 feet, enlarging their engine-house to accommodate a new forty-five-horse- power engine and boiler to match, and erecting a patent dry-house, where green lumber can be seasoned in ten days. They have now thirty different machines, costing from $10 to $1,200, and do as good cabinet and carpentering work, in both hard and soft woods, as can be done anywhere.

The representative value of yard, stock and mill, is about $55,000. They handle (sell and work up) about 3,000,000 feet of lumber annually, and employ twenty- five men nearly the year round. To illustrate as to the extent of the business done, which is almost entirely local in its character, we make the following notes: Over $200,000 worth of work done on the capitol building and $250,000 on the Elgin Insane Hospital. Also, the carpenter-work on the Park Hotel and other expensive jobs, were done by them. In fine, this is to-day one of the repre- sentative firms in the State as well as in Madison, and, when it is considered how few years have been employed in realizing this growth, one can but admire the industry that has achieved so much and the resources surrounding that have rendered it possible.

Madison Manufacturing Company .- The first building in this company's grounds was erected for a saw-mill by Deacon Gorham in 1853. Two or three years after, J. E. Brown pur- chased the property and converted the mill into a foundry and machine-shop. At that time there was but one other foundry in the village; the last mentioned was located on State street, west of Housman's Brewery, which burned fourteen years ago.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 112

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304