History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 115

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 115

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Longfellow, Alfred Lilly, Leverity Larson, Lars Larsten, Joseph S. Lambert, Andrew Lanergar, Oliver Langilon, Elias Lang, Addison Lemon, W. W. Lathrop, Lewis Larson, Charles Lattin, George Martin, George Mulanphy, John Miller, G. W. Morehead, Andrew Mathison, W. Mar- shall, William Manley, Mr. Moore, Mathias Mebber, M. H. McDonnell, Jasper Newham, Alason Neil, Nicholas Oliver, John Olsen, Philip Perry, Charles Porter, Levi Peckhan, Lush Prabst, Frederick Plumm, Truman Peck, William Power, William Pendergrast, Alexander Quinnetto, Frank Robinson, Ernst Rasse, William Reed, Harrison Rogers, Jacob Richinson, Benjamin Rector, Philetus Sutton, Hiram Stedman, Peter Summer, Thomas Smith, Finley Smith, Stan- ford Stafford, Henry Sheldon, Edward F. Smith, Franklin Summons, John Story, Henry Smith, Joseph E. Seton, Mr. Schultz, Peter J. Suttler, Francis Schofield, M. Sixton, J. Story, Peter H. Sabin, Charles H. Sereivus, S. L. Strats, Benjamin Taylor, E. C. Tubbs, James Taylor, Aslack Torgenson, Mathias Thomas, Robert A. Thomson, C. D. Thornton, Thomas W. Thomson, Niles Torston, C. S. Thomson, John Tews, J. M. Velvick, William Vanbeek, Chester Worden, Nelson M. West, Invie Whitlate, Henry C. Wilcox, James Wood, Matthias Webber, C. A. Weaber, Joseph H. Wisel, W. M. Withington, John Williams, N. B. Wickham, John Wa-ha-wash, Henry L. Wright, Harry Waschall, Gilbert Woolson, John Whitmore, Gilbert Wilson.

The cemetery is in the town of Madison, and lies two and one-half miles southwest of the capitol. It is inclosed, having a neat picket fence in front. Since it was first platted, many con- spicuous monuments, of marble and granite, have been raised in remembrance of the departed, and several other valuable and pleasing improvements made, the most important of which are the stone charnel house, the well tower and windmill, and the chapel. The two last named are especially worthy of mention ; the well, 165 feet deep, has a windmill tower erected over it, which supports a large tank, forty-six feet from the ground, that holds the water supply needed ; the tower is over seventy feet high, and from its top may be obtained an extended view of the surrounding country. The chapel, erected in 1878 by Mrs. John Catlin, as a memorial to her deceased husband, one of the noted pioncers of Madison, and presented to the city, is the most attractive and ornamental feature on the grounds. It is eighteen and a half by twenty-six feet, with entrance 7x10 feet ; above, are a bell-tower and spire. The structure is of Madison quarry stone, trimmed with Bedford marble, and cost $3,300 finished and furnished. The floor is laid of Philadelphia tile, tessellated in style, with drab, blue and red sections ; the windows are of stained glass, and the furnishings are of solid walnut and ash; it will accommodate seventy people.

The improved portion of the cemetery is kept scrupulously clean, and the graves, vaults, walks and drive-ways are tastefully ornamented by shrubbery and flowers. It is one of the most beautiful burial-places in Wisconsin. The present Cemetery Commissioners are Darwin Clark, C. P. Chapman and D. Fitch ; the latter also being Superintendent.

BREWERIES.

Capital Brewery, located corner of State and Gorham streets, was erected by William Voght, about the year 1854; he continued the business until 1863, when the property was pur- chased by Joseph Hausmann, the present owner and proprietor. Immediately after coming into possession, Mr. Hausmann began building and remodeling, and soon there was nothing to be seen of the original structure. The Capital is one of the finest breweries in this part of the State. The main building is of brick, three stories high, and consists of malt-house, brewery and ice- house, is 45x125, with an ice-house in rear, 30x65. There is also a saloon, 30x60, and residence adjoining, 24x50, built of brick, and two stories in height. The whole represents an outlay of $70,000, with a capacity of 8,000 barrels per annum.

Brickheimer's Brewery, located on King street, opposite Capital House, was erected for a plow-factory by Billings & Carman, in 1856, and conducted as such until 1865, when the prop- erty was purchased by M. Brickheimer, who, after making a number of improvements and put- ting in machinery, converted it to its present use, at a cost of $25,000. The main building is used for a saloon and storage purposes. It is 47x70 feet. The brewery is 40x60 feet, and the

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

ice-house, 24x70 feet. The buildings occupy nearly a block, fronting on King and Wilson streets. Mr. Brickheimer manufactures, on an average, 2,000 barrels of beer annually.

Sprecher's Brewery, located on the corner of Blount and Williamson streets, is the oldest brewery in Madison. It was erected by Fred Sprecher in 1848, who continued the business until the time of his death. The property was then leased to Hausmann & Brickheimer for a term of five years. At the expiration of their lease, it was rented to George Rochenbach for a term of three years, when the present owner, Peter Fauerbach, leased it for ten years. At the expiration of his lease, he purchased the property ; this was on the 14th of October, 1878. The brewery has a capacity of 1,500 barrels a year, and represents an outlay of $10,000. .

HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE.

This edifice, situated on the southeast corner of Block 89, is constructed of brick, and covers an area of 63x92 feet. It is four stories in height. The first three stories were erected in 1855 and 1856. Subsequently, the fourth story was added, Peter H. Van Bergen being the builder. The lower floor was, soon after completion, occupied by the post office and by various stores; the second floor was divided into large and small rooms, and was used for offices or sim- ilar purposes, and the third and fourth stories were taken for a public hall or theater, as it was then called, this being the first regular theater-hall opened in the city. In 1860 or 1861, the ownership of the building passed to the estate of P. H. Dater, Jr., and, after that, in the fall of 1869, it became the property of R. M. Hooley. Immediately Mr. Hooley began remodeling and making changes in the building, which, when completed, cost $6,000, the three upper stories being converted into the present attractive and commodious opera-hall auditorium and stage. The hall has a seating capacity for 800. The work was completed in February, 1871, and, on the evening of the 21st of that month, the hall was dedicated with a grand operatic entertainment, given by the amateur talent of the city, the building being christened Hooley's Opera House. The opera house during the year passed into the hands of Mr. Bryan, and, in 1872, it became the property of the present owner, G. B. Burrows.

THE MADISON MAENNERCHOR.

This society was founded during the last months of the year 1853. About that time there was organized and in existence a quartette of male voices, which, by its renditions of popular songs, won for itself some local renown. It served as a stimulus for further efforts in the direction of a song society, and it was not long afterward enlarged to a double quartette, con- sisting of Franz Massing, Caspar Zwicky, John Eberhard, Theodor Herfurth, Ernst Doerg- schlag, A. P. Doergschlag, Frederick Unger and Daniel Maul, which may well be considered the foundation of the present chorus.

This double quartette had not been in existence very long when a considerable number of yonng and talented singers manifested a strong desire of joining its ranks, and it then resolved to re-organize as a male chorus. Under the direction of Prof. Franz Massing, this male chorus, to which at the time had been added the names of R. Baus, J. Kilb, Fr. Sauthoff, G. Grimm, A. Pickarts, J. Pickarts, Carl Miller, F. Pecher, F. Kurz, Chr. Hinrichs, C. W. Heyl, J. G. Ott, and some others, continued to prosper and flourish, and, in 1857, on October 24, an event took place which evidenced the high degree of popularity which the chorus had attained. On that day the ladies of Madison presented to the chorus a magnificent flag, bear- ing the inscription, "Dem Madison Maennerchor gewidmet von den Frauen und Yungfrauen, am 24en October, 1857."

When, after some time, the chorus, by reason of various circumstances, was forced to dis- band, Mr. Fr. Kurtz assumed the responsibility of caring for the flag, and it remained in his possession until October 25, 1870. At this period, the chorus having once more re-organized, he again, for the first time during the intervening years, unfurled the flag which he had so well guarded.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The event was celebrated by a grand festivity, and created great enthusiasm among the members, who at that time were the following: Messrs. R. Baus, F. Pecher, George Heuer, Charles Kayser, C. H. Heyl, Chr. Hinrichs, Carl Karstens, W. Krueger, F. Sauthoff, August Sauthoff, Angust Scheibel, William Scheibel, John Stock, A. Lund, John Grass, Carl Miller, August Herfurth, W. A. Oppel and Frederick Kurtz. Prof. A. Pickarts, whose memory will never leave us, was chosen director, and held that position until his untimely death. Under his matchless leadership, the chorus advanced in membership, capability and popularity, to an extent unknown to its former days, and its present most favorable status may be largely attrib- uted to his untiring efforts.

The chorus numbers now forty-eight active, thirty-six passive and five honorary members, which makes it the largest society in the "Nordwestliche Saengerbund," of which it became a member in 1870.

The present Director is Prof. J. Brahn, a very able and efficient musician. The Maenner- chor took part in the following musical festivals: At Milwaukee, in 1856; in the second festi- val at Milwaukee, under the name of "Gesangsektion des Madison Turnvereins;" in the next festival, at Watertown, under the name of " Mozart Club," and, under its auspices was held the fourth musical festival, at Madison. In 1879, it participated in the competition for a prize at the ninth festival in Milwaukee, and succeeded in obtaining the first prize, consisting of an elegant silver cup, inscribed, "Zur Erinnerung an das neunte Saengerfest des Nordwestlichen Saengerbundes, Milwaukee, 1879." In 1881, the tenth musical festival of the Bund will take place in Madison, for which occasion the Maennerchor has assumed the manage- ment.

ST. GEORGE'S SOCIETY.

The first call toward organizing this society was extended to all Englishmen re- siding in Madison and vicinity, to meet at the old Fairchild Hall, on August 30, 1856. When the meeting was convened, representatives of Great Britain from Milwaukee, and other distant localties in the State, were present, as well as home residents. The society was organized with thirty-five members, Dr. Joseph Hobbins, being called to the chair, and committees were appointed to nominate officers, draft a constitution, and secure a charter. The officers nominated and elected were: Joseph Hobbins, President ; J. W. Mayhew and William Wallace, Recording and Corresponding Secretaries ; Henry Wright, Treasurer ; William B. Jarvis, First Vice President ; Richard Shorrocks, Second Vice President; Dr. William Hobbins, Physician, and Rev. David Keene, Rector of St. John's, Milwaukee, Chaplain. The society was incorporated by act of the Legislature, passed October 13, 1856, as follows :

SECTION. 1. Joseph Hobbins, William B. Jarvis, George H. Barwise, Joseph W. Mayhew and Edward Thompson, together with such other persoos as may become associated with them under this charter, are hereby constituted a body corporate, located in the city of Madison, by the name of the St. George's Society.

SEC. 2. The objects of said society are benevolent, and to afford relief to indigent natives of England, and their wives and children.

SEC. 3. Such corporation shall have power to establish for its government a constitution and by-laws, to elect its officers and prescribe their duties, to have and use a common seal, to expel any of its members, and to possess all the powers and privileges necessary to carry out and fulfill the objects of this corporation.

SEC. 4. The said corporation may purchase and hold real and personal estate; but the aunnal income of the said real and personal estate which the said corporation may at one time hold, shall not exceed five thousand dollars.

SEC. 5. The said corporation shall possess the general powers, and be subject to the general restrictions and liabilities prescribed by the Revised Statutes of the State of Wisconsin.

According to the constitution of the society, none but Englishmen can be members, and they must hold four regular meetings each year, besides the annual fete to be held on St. George's day, April 23. In other respects, the constitution is similar to those usually adopted by benev- olent societies.

This society has always done what it could for distressed countrymen. One act particularly worthy of note, was the sending, in February, 1863, of fifty-three barrels of flour to the unem- ployed and starving manufacturing operatives of Manchester, England.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Early in the rebellion the members unanimously pledged themselves to support the Govern- ment, and when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, they voted to, and did, defer their annual dinner and attended the obsequies of that great man in a body. They also sent condolences to Secretary Seward, from whom they received a very appreciative reply, and a published volume of the condolences received from various parts of the world.

On their tenth anniversary, a very flattering testimonial, an edition of Addison's complete works, was presented to Dr. Joseph Hobbins, who had been President up to that time. The society is the oldest of its kind in the State, and is the only one that has an independent charter. They have a room in Brown's Block, suitably fitted up and adorned with British emblems, and are in a reasonably prosperous condition.

MADISON INSTITUTE.

The Madison Institute was incorporated by act of Legislature, approved July 13, 1853. Its object was " for the purpose of establishing and sustaining at Madison a reading room and library, and for providing for and instituting literary and scientific lectures, and other means of moral and intellectual improvement.

Its charter members were Lyman C. Draper, Leonard J. Farwell, David J. Powers, George P. Delaplaine, John W. Hunt, Julius P. Atwood, Beriah Brown, David Atwood, Elisha Burdick, Nahaniel W. Dean and Elisha W. Keyes.

The officers were John H. Lathrop, President ; Frank H. Firman, Recording Secretary ; Benjamin F. Hopkins, Corresponding Secretary ; Johnson J. Starks, Treasurer.

The institute was supported by annual dues, by subscription, and by funds raised by lectures, dramatic entertainments and festivals.

The first lecture given under direction of the society was by Josiah Quincy, Jr., on Mon- day evening, December 11, 1854; subject, " The Mormons and their Prophet."

From the time of its incorporation till 1860, the institute prospered, but during the war the society had few regular meetings, the library being kept in a law office in the city. In 1866, through the exertions of J. C. Ford and others, the interest in the institute revived. In 1867, the society accepted the offer made by the Common Council, of rooms in the city hall; the library consisting at that time of over 800 volumes.

The institute library remained in the city hall till May, 1875, when the society donated the use of their entire library of over 3,000 volumes to the Madison Free Library.

WATER SUPPLY.

In the month of February, 1855, the Madison Hydraulic Company was chartered, and afterward fully organized. Its object was to furnish the inhabitants a full and certain supply at all times of pure fresh water. In doing so, arrangements were to be perfected to take water from Lake Mendota of a depth of at least twenty feet, and, by steam or other power, force it into a reservoir upon a hill in the rear of the university buildings-this hill being about forty feet higher than the capitol park. A six or eight inch pipe was to convey the water east-the whole length of State street- sending off smaller branches at the intersection of streets. It was supposed that water could be conveyed into the third stories of every building about the park, and much higher on the lower grounds. It was also proposed to have two or more fountains in the university grounds, and four within the capitol park. The whole expense was not to exceed $40,000. The oficers of the company werc H. A. Tenney, President ; William A. White, Secre- tary, and Leonard J. Farwell, Treasurer. The company did not succeed in carrying out their plans. There was not a sufficient amount of stock subscribed to warrant the undertaking, and the project was abandoned.

The Legislature of 1878 passed an appropriation for a water supply for the State house. The Regents of the University of Wisconsin had constructed a supply for the university buildings in 1876 and 1877, of which the State now took advantage by enlarging the works and placing a duplicate pump of large capacity to assist the one already in place. The water was obtained from Lake Mendota, through a pipe extending down 300 feet into the lake, where the water is

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

deep and pure. From here it is elevated to a large iron supply tank in the dome of university hall ; thence, by means of a system of pipes, it is distributed to the various buildings and hydrants upon the university grounds. Proper connections being made, a ten-inch pipe was laid along State street to the State house. At the several depressions and elevations along the line the pipe was tapped for blow-offs of mud and air, and the same terminated in fire hydrants. In the capitol there is a stand-pipe extending ten feet above the roof, which gives sufficient pressure for fire streams. The line is nearly one mile long and is susceptible of extension at any time that necessity calls for it. Provisions were made for branch pipes at important points.

The State house is provided with a very complete system of fire protection from basement to attic. The latter can be deluged by spray at a moment's notice hy the tank pressure from the university, so as to extinguish any fire that may there originate. The water is soft, and there has been no complaint from scaling of the heating-boilers since its use began. A number of hydrants about the capitol and park are abundantly provided with water ; also the Centennial fountain, which was erected in 1878, and throws off its cooling spray during the sultry season of the year. The city has no water works. Most of the private business houses are abundantly supplied from wells of very pure water.

HEALTH OF MADISON.

Of the almost perfect salubrity of Madison there can be no question. It has but little endemic disease, such as bilious fever or typhoid fever, or fully developed ague, and the epidem- ics which have occasionally visited it have been of a very mild type as compared with those of other and less healthy places. This has been particularly observable with measles and scarlet fever, the latter so fatal, and the former so subject to more or less serious complications in the Eastern cities.

People generally, residents of Madison, are healthy looking. This applies particularly to children and young people, thus affording the best indication of all others of the salubrity of our location. The mortality among little children, so fearfully great in the cities on the Atlan- tic borders and of older countries, we are altogether free from, and our death rate for all ages only fractional as compared with very many other places.

For that large class of persons on the Eastern coast and elsewhere who suffer from that peculiar and inveterate form of dyspepsia, best known as nervous dyspepsia, as well as for those thousand and one cases of chronic bronchitis and "ministerial throat ail" so rife in the places. referred to, Madison offers a salutary and safe resort. Such affections are here almost unknown, save as cases of importation. Its comparatively dry atmosphere, equable climate and high and inland situation, together with the more simple and regular habits of living of its inhabitants, their out-door exercise in hunting, fishing and boating, furnish them at once with the best restorative and preventive.

The most noticeable feature, however, of the influence of the climate of Madison over disease is in the progress of phthisis pulmonalis, or ordinary consumption. Cases far advanced in this disease, progressing with a fatal rapidity on the sea-coast and in the cities of the East, are, on coming here, checked in their course, and life that seemed not worth more than a few weeks' miscrable lease lengthened out to eighteen months or two years or longer, the acute cases becoming chronic.

Very numerous, indeed, are the instances met with in Madison of consumptive persons coming from Europe and from the East in the first stages of phthisis who have regained their health under the happy influence of the climate and of the more natural mode of living, and this, too, with but little medical aid.

A remarkable, distinctive and self-evident fact confirmatory of the correctness of the opinion before expressed as to the comparatively perfect salubrity of Madison, is to be found in the healthy appearance of the foreigners who throng our streets. They not only retain their native clear and healthy complexion but maintain their flesh, increasing and prospering. Whether German, English, Trish, Scotch, Dutch or Norwegian, there is no falling-off from their good physical condition.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

MADISON AS A CITY-CONTINUED.

SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-MASONIC-INSURANCE-I. O. O. F .- GAS WORKS-BENEVOLENT AND OTHER SOCIETIES-MADISON FREE LIBRARY-CALEDONIAN CLUB AND ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY-STEAM- BOATS-HOTELS-CITY HALL-MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS-ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORK- MEN-TELEGRAPHY-THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN MADISON-A NOTABLE GATHERING-MADISON OF TO-DAY.

SCHOOLS.

In the spring of 1838, A. A. Bird employed Miss Louisa Brayton, of Aztalan, to teach the children of his family, before the summer was over, several other families sent their children to be instructed by Miss Brayton, thus establishing the first school ever taught in Madison. Miss Rhoda Pierce taught in the summer of 1839. The following winter, Edgar S. Searle had charge of the school, succeeded in 1840 by E. M. Williamson. These gentlemen and their successors taught in a small building on the corner of Pinckney and Dayton streets. The building was a wooden frame, the inner sides of the walls being filled with brick, and entirely destitute of the mod- ern conveniences of schoolhouses at the present day. Four sticks driven into-sometimes through -a slab, convex side down, formed movable seats. Mr. Williamson taught boys only, his school numbering six pupils. Girls were taught at the same time by Miss Pierce in an old building, situated in the vicinity of what is now known as Dean's Block. At this early day, thirteen pupils comprised the membership of the Madison school. Mr. Williamson conducted the' school two terms. Darwin Clark taught in the winter of 1841 and 1842, with Miss Lucia Smith, having charge of the school in the summers of 1841, 1842 and 1843. Messrs. Conkey, Badger and Holt succeeded Mr. Clark, the following winters.

On the 22d of December, 1841, application was made to David Brigham, James Morrison and Burk Fairchild, School Commissioners for the county of Dane, to set off Township 7, of Range 9 east, to be organized as School District No. 1. This was the first action had relative to the organization of schools under Territorial laws in Dane County; the application was signed by Dr. Almon Lull, Ira W. Bird, E. Quivey, Peter W. Matts and Nicholas Smith. The Com- missioners took the same into consideration, and on the 25th reported favorably, and set off the territory described as District No. 1. On January 24, the district was enlarged by including Township 8, which was attached February 15, 1841.

In May, 1842, James Morrison, President, and Simeon Mills, Secretary, of the Board of Trustees of Madison Select Female School, announced that they had secured the services of Mra. Gay aa teacher.

The number of pupils in the public schools had, at this date, 1844, so largely increased, and the population so augmented, that it was determined to lengthen the school term, which had heretofore been of three and four months' duration, and continue the school during the year. Accordingly, in the spring of this year, David H. Wright, of Madison, took charge of the school, and continued it until the spring of 1845. The school now numbered nearly one hundred pupils, the room being filled to its utmost capacity. A novel contrivance in the school-room for the purpose of relieving its crowded state, deserves a passing notice. This consisted of a long shelf huilt across the end of the room, and above the door, to which a ladder at one end gave access. This shelf was used for " stowing away " the smaller boys and girls. To save time, the teacher frequently caught the juveniles in hand, and by an expert toss, deposited them in their seat in " the gallery." In the summer of 1845, Miss Smedley taught one term, which fin- ished the course of discipline in this building. In the summer of this year, another schoolhouse

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 115

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