History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 117

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 117

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The whole number of school children between four and twenty, in 1873, was 1,842 males, 1,955 females ; total 3,798 ; number of pupils in all schools enrolled, 1,183. Receipts were $37,785.41, of which $25.000 was from loan from School Land Commissioners. Expenditures were $37,760.62, of which amount $17,072.43 was for building the high school ; $12,105.22 for teachers' wages, and the remainder for incidentals. The whole number of teachers employed was twenty-five. Samuel Shaw had charge as Superintendent.

In 1874, there were 1,821 males, 1,847 females ; total 3,668 scholars of school age in the city. Receipts during the year were $34,352.20 ; expenditures, $34,198.75.

July 2, 1875, the first class graduating from the high school held their commencement ex- ercises at the city hall. Fourteen diplomas were awarded by the President of the Board of Education, in the several courses, as follows : Ancient Classical Course-Archibald Durrie, Charles Lamb, Oliver Ford, Howard Hoyt. Modern Classical Course-Frank Huntington and Hattie Thoms. Scientific Course-Charles Oakley, Thomas Parr, William Kallock, Edward Oakley, William Windsor, Carrie Billings, Ella Hickok and Annie Horne.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The school census for the year 1875 was 1,891 males, 1,875 females ; total 3,766.

The graduating exercises of the high school for 1876, were held at the city hall, on Fri- day, June 30. Twenty diplomas were awarded, as follows : Ancient Classical Course-Henry Favill, Alfred Patek, Henry Wilkinson, Stanley Proudfit, Euphenia Henry. Modern Classical Course-Charles Hudson, Geroge Morgan, Henry Mason, William Morgan, Willis Hoover, Sarah Dudgeon, Hattie Huntington. Scientific Course-Nettie Nelson, Stella Ford, Carrie French, Carrie Kellogg, Margaret Coyne, Kittie Kelly, Maria Dean, Lizzie Bright. Sixteen . members of this class entered the university as freshmen.

The school census for the year 1876, was 3,619.

During the spring of 1877, it was made known to the Board of Education that the building which had hitherto been rented by them for two departments, in the Third Ward, could no longer be had after the close of the term. It was, therefore, finally determined to erect a new house, large enough for the needs of the ward. Accordingly, all arrangements were completed for commencing the new building at the opening of the summer vacation. The work was vigorously pushed forward, and the house was ready for occupancy at the beginning of the fall term of school. The entire cost of the lot, building and furniture to be bought was about $1,760. The house, though a model of neatness, convenience and economy, is only a temporary accommoda- tion for the ward. The census this year shows 3,926 children of school age, 2,212 of this num- ber attending school some portion of the year.

The graduating class numbered twenty-four members : Ancient Classical Course-J. A. T. Bjornson, William Penn Lyon, Willard Snell, Charles H. Kerr, Salmon Dalberg, Anna R. Butler, Julia K. Clark.

Modern Classical Course-Colin R. Davidson, Edmond Burdick, Walter H. Chase, James R. Young, George R. Byrne, Howard Leslie Smith, Lizzie R. Dresser, Emma Bascom, Florence Bascom, Hattie Stout, Fannie Marion Hall, Jennie McMillan, Minnie C. Hopkins.

Scientific Course-Frank D. Hyer, Frankie Steiner, Matie Noble, Jennie M. Williams.

The school census for 1878 shows the number of children to be 3,951. At the end of the first month of the spring term there were 1,352 attending school.

Eight pupils in the graduating class this year-Henry Pennock, Wendell Paine, William Oakey, William Dodds, Walter Pearson, Sarah Chambers, Lucy Gay, Mary Stover.

There are 4,011 children of school age in the city. At the end of first month, spring term of 1879, 1,380 pupils were in attendance.

The graduates of 1879 were August Umbrite, Julia Ray, Rosa Fitch, Lillie Beecroft, Mary Wright, Alice Lamb, Sarah Clark, Jennie Lovejoy. Commercial Course-Edgar Doty, Cyrus Guile, Sophie Klauber, Nettie Estabrook.

The Board of Education was organized in 1855, by the choice of William B. Jarvis as Chairman ; John Y. Smith, Treasurer ; W. A. White, Clerk. Additional members-L. J. Farwell, Simeon Mills and D. H. Wright. D. Y. Kilgore was chosen Superintendent.

1856-W. B. Jarvis, L. J. Farwell, Simeon Mills, David H. Wright, L. W. Hoyt, J. T. Clark ; D. Y. Kilgore, Superintendent.

1857-David H. Wright, President ; Daniel S. Durrie, Clerk ; Lansing W. Hoyt, Treas- urer ; W. B. Jarvis, L. J. Farwell, D. Atwood ; D. Y. Kilgore, Superintendent.

1858-L. J. Farwell, H. G. Bliss, L. W. Hoyt, David Atwood, D. H. Wright, D. T. Kilgore ; D. Y. Kilgore, Superintendent.

1859-David Atwood, John H. Slavan, D. H. Wright, H. G. Bliss, J. T. Clark, D. Y. Kilgore ; D. Y. Kilgore, Superintendent.

1860-J. T. Clark, J. H. Slavan, H. G. Bliss, D. J. Powers, David Atwood, J. W. Sterling.

1861-John W. Sterling, President ; Horace G. Bliss, Clerk ; John H. Slavan, Treasurer; J. P. Fuchs, W. T. Leitch, J. H. Carpenter.

1862-W. T. Leitch, J. H. Slavan, J. H. Carpenter, H. G. Bliss, K. Tierney, J. W. Sterling, W. A. Hayes, J. P. Fuchs ; Charles H. Allen, Superintendent.

Hm Iroman oman

MADISON.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

1863-W. T. Leitch, President ; W. A. Hayes, Clerk ; John H. Slavan, Treasurer ; Messrs. Byrne, Burdick, Welch, Pickarts and Carpenter ; F. B. Williams, Superintendent of Schools.

1864-E. W. Keyes, President ; S. H. Carpenter, Clerk ; Elisha Burdick, Treasurer ; J. S. Lovewell, Superintendeut.

1865-William Welch, A. Pickarts, E. W. Keyes, John A. Byrne, D. Read, H. M. Lewis, E. Burdick, S. H. Carpenter ; J. S. Lovewell, Superintendent.

Oficers of Board for 1866-E. W. Keyes, President ; S. H. Carpenter, Clerk ; E. Burdick, Treasurer; B. M. Reynolds, Superintendent.

1867 to 1872-J. H. Carpenter, President ; S. H. Carpenter, Clerk; E. Burdick, Treas- urer ; B. M. Reynolds, Superintendent of Schools.

1873-J. H. Carpenter, President ; W. S. Leitch, Clerk ; Elisha Burdick, Treasurer ; Walter H. Chase, Superintendent ..

1874 to 1879-J. H. Carpenter, President ; W. T. Leitch, Clerk ; Elisha Burdick, Treas- urer ; Samuel Shaw, Superintendent.

1880-J. H. Carpenter, President; John Corscot, Clerk ; Elisha Burdick, Treasurer ; Samuel Shaw, Superintendent.

Prof. George's School .- A classical and commercial school was established in 1861, by Prof. R. F. George. With few interruptions, it lasted till the fall of 1879. Many of the present business men of the city attended the school. Its condition was generally prosperous, at one time having one hundred scholars on its roll-call. Prof. George was particularly successful in securing the constant interest and rapid advancement of his pupils ; and his pleasant and agree- able yet judicious government gained their attention and respect.

CHURCHES.

Episcopal Church .- The first step taken for the establishment of a church in Madison was the drawing up of a paper in the following form, with the accompanying signers, on the 25th of July, 1839 :

" We, whose names are hereunto attached, believing the Holy Scriptures to be the word of God, and deeply feeling the importance of maintaining divine services in our town, and prefer- ring the Protestant Episcopal Church to any other, we hereby unite ourselves into a parish of the said church for the above and every other purpose which is requisite and necessary to the same.

" Madison, July 25, 1839.

"[Signed by] John Catlin, J. A. Noonan, Henry Fake, H. Fellows, M. Fellows, A. Hyer, H. Dickson, H. C. Fellows, Adam Smith, A. Lull, Ahnira Fake, La Fayette Kellogg, George C. Hyer, J. Taylor, A. A. Bird, David Hyer."

In the spring of the year 1840, definite action was taken for the organization of the church.

Rev. Washington Philo, a minister of that church, on the 9th of March, addressed a letter to the Gospel Messenger, in which he gives an account of the meeting held to organize the same. The letter is as follows :

"Madison, Wis., March 9, 1840 .- Whatever relates to the prosperity and extension of our Zion can never be uninteresting to devout and consistent churchmen. I therefore send a brief extract of the minutes of the proceedings of the citizens of this town convened at the capitol for the purpose of organizing a Protestant Episcopal Church, on the 8th instant. The Rev. W. Philo presided, and, after the object of the meeting was stated by him, and some few remarks made by W. T. Sterling, J. A. Noonan and others, on motion of John Catlin, Esq., Thomas W. Sutherland, Esq., was chosen Secretary of the meeting. The names of the gentlemen present entitled to vote by the rules of the society and disposed to act were then recorded in the minutes. They were David Hyer, John Catlin, J. A. Noonan, P. W. Matts and Adam Smith.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

" On motion of J. Catlin, it was

" Resolved, That this meeting do now proceed to elect the Warden and Vestrymen by ballot.

" Whereupon, the votes being taken and counted, it appeared that the following gentlemen were duly elected : Warden, John Catlin ; Vestrymen, William B. Slaughter, Josiah A. Noonan, David Hyer, George Hyer, P. W. Matts, Ebenezer Brigham, R. L. Ream and Edward Campbell.

"It was then moved, seconded and enacted that the time of service shall expire annually hereafter, npon Monday in Easter week.

"The chair then proposed and J. A. Noonan seconded the proposition, and the meeting enacted, that this society shall be known and designated as the ' Apostolic Church.'

"The minutes then being signed by the Chairman and the Secretary, the society adjourned.

" Our friends in the East may see by the above and other like demonstration that their brethren in the far West are not idle, but are doing what they can for God and the church, and if we do not exhibit that augmented -increase in our numbers that our brethren do in the East, it is because the far West is newer, the population more sparse and demoralizing influence more inveterate. The church in this station has obtained a good beginning for a place so new, changing, and of such a diversity of religious opinions. It is not, I believe, quite three years since the first dwelling was erected. Some families remain in town but a few weeks, and others a few months, till they can conveniently settle on farms in the country. The inhabitants now here are mostly from the East, and have brought with them, as is generally the case, their old religions notions and prejudices, and among them are those who belonged to as many as six dif- ferent denominations. But there were, when I came, but two communicants of the church, and but two or three others acquainted with our truly excellent liturgy. It is our sincere and earn- est prayer to Almighty God that He, of his bountiful goodness, would prosper these feeble beginnings and further them to His own glory, evangelical piety, and permanent, primitive and apostolic principles and usages."

Mrs. Henry Fake and Mrs. David Hyer were church members. Religious services were held in the old capitol building, Rev. W. Philo having been engaged as stated clergyman.

Mr. Philo preached at Madison for about a year, and was succeeded by Rev. Richard F. Cadle, formerly of Green Bay, who supplied the church for a time.

On the 19th of December, 1845, the Rev. Stephen McHugh accepted a call, and imme- diately took measures fer the organization of a parish, under the title of " Grace Church, Madi-

son." During his ministry, the " Ladies' Episcopal Benevolent Society," having by their efforts raised the sum of $150, purchased the two lots now owned and occupied by the church.

The number of communicants was then twenty-five. Among the names of the members were Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Knapp, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Collins, Mrs. Nelson Emmons, Mrs. John Catlin, Mrs. Andrus Viall, Mrs. P. W. Matts, Mrs. Julius T. Clark and the two Misses McHugh. A. L. Collins and J. G. Knapp, Wardens, and Beriah Brown, Vestryman.

In the summer of 1847, Rev. Mr. McHugh resigned, and, on the 11th of August, 1850, a call was presented to Rev. W. H. Woodward, of Pontiac, Mich., who took charge of the parish September 22, 1850.

On the 6th November of said year, a brick house was commenced on the church lots, intended for a parsonage and temporarily as a place of worship. On Christmas Day, divine wor- ship was first held in the building, and communion administered to fourteen persons. On Easter Monday, 1851, the following persons were elected to the vestry : J. H. Lathrop, LL. D., Senior Warden ; P. B. Kissam, Junior Warden ; C. Abbott, N. S. Emmons, Beriah Brown and Jacob Kniffen, Vestrymen. At a meeting of the vestry, May 7, 1851, P. B. Kissam, J. Catlin and N. S. Emmons were elected delegates to the convention.

Rev. Mr. Woodward resigned the charge of the parish November 14, 1851. No further services were held till June 13, 1852, when Rev. Hugh M. Thompson officiated, and, on the 25th

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of the same month, was elected Rector. Rev. Mr. Thompson subsequently resigned, and the Rev. Henry P. Powers officiated from October, 1853, to December, 1854.

In April, 1855, the Rev. James B. Britton, of Dayton, Ohio, visited Madison, and was invited to take charge of the parish of Grace Church. The invitation was accepted, and he entered upon the duties of his charge, June 1, 1855. The chapel, enlarged and refitted at an expense of $1,000, was occupied for the first time on Sunday, the 17th of June, 1855. The chapel, being soon found inadequate to the wants of the parish, a subscription was set on foot, headed by a generous friend, in the amount of $1,200, and soon reaching the sum of $8,000, for the erection of a church edifice. A plan was agreed upon, and, on the 25th of September, the same year, the foundation was commenced, on Lot 5, Block 75.

The building committee were L. J. Farwell, W. A. Mears, H. K. Lawrence, P. H. Van Bergen and I. W. De Forrest.

The building is of cut stone, in the Gothic style, and composed of a tower, nave and chancel. The main entrance is through the tower by two large and massive doors. The tower is 22 feet square, forming a spacious vestibule. It is a prominent feature of the structure, and is located at the corner of the nave-fronting on the corner of Carroll street and Washington avenue. It is supported at the angles by massive buttresses, diminishing as they ascend, and terminating in handsome paneled and foliated pinnacles, at a height of 80 feet from the sidewalk. The whole height of the tower and spire is 140 feet, and the building will comfortably seat 600 persons. The walls are 33 feet high, and the highest point of the gable, on which is fixed a neat Greek cross, is 56 feet. The east front is lighted by a large trillioned window, 12x30 feet, and sup- plied with stained glass. The sides and ends are supported by heavy buttresses, which add to its strength and symmetry. These buttresses terminate in foliated pinnacles. The chancel is 22x18 feet, and flanked on respective sides by an organ room and vestry, and is connected with the nave by a broad and high arch. It is lighted at the end by a triple lancet-window, with stained glass like the one in front.

The interior is furnished in tasteful and costly style ; the ceiling is an elliptic Gothic arch, richly adorned with stucco work, composed of heavy ribs-interlaced Gothic arches running from the apex of the ceiling to the springing-and terminating there on elegantly carved corbels. The interstices of the ribs are ornamented with carved bosses. The pulpit is of octagonal form, and located on the south side of the chancel arch, and is entered from the vestry ; on the north side of the chancel arch is the reading desk and organ, the latter costing $3,000. The nave is 36 feet high from the floor to the apex of the ceiling. The plan was designed by J. & A. Douglas, of Milwaukee.

The size of the building is 112x74 feet. The nave, 80x42 feet, containing eighty pews, and will comfortably seat 500 persons.

The building was in readiness for public worship early in 1858; the tower, however, being incomplete, and the basement unfinished. The cost of the church, as then completed, was about $22,000. In October, 1861, the Rev. M. Britton, having accepted an appointment as Chaplain in the army, tendered his resignation as Rector, to take effect November 1, which was accepted.

January 18, 1862, a meeting of the vestrymen of the church was held, when the selection of a clergyman was under consideration. The resolution was unanimously adopted that a call be extended to the Rev. J. L. Maxwell, of Bordentown, N. J., to take charge of the parish. Mr. Maxwell accepted, and officiated until May 1, 1867, and, at that time, tendered his resigna- tion, to take effect the last of June.

On the 12th of September, 1867, the Rev. Henry W. Spalding, of Evansville, Ind., was invited by the Vestry to the charge of Grace Church, and he entered upon his duties on the 10th of November following.

In the year 1868, the basement of the church building was floored, plastered, and put in complete order for Sunday school and evening services, at an expense of $1,874.49, and, in the following year, the old brick building erected in 1850, and latterly used as a chapel and Sunday school room, was taken down. The church owns a parsonage which cost $5,000.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

At a meeting of Grace Church, held on the 28th of February, 1870, it was resolved to proceed as soon as practicable to the completion of the tower and steeple of the church; and, at a subsequent meeting, a building committee was appointed, consisting of D. Worthington, A. Proudfit and W. T. Leitch.

The funds for this purpose were soon after raised, and the work was finished during the year, and the building made complete by a graceful spire 165 feet in height. Its total cost was $6,000.

In the summer of 1872, the church was thoroughly renovated, the walls replastered and painted ; the pulpit removed, and a new one put in its place, the pews varnished, and the aisles newly carpeted.

On the 10th of February, 1873, the Rector, Rev. Dr. Spalding, having been invited to another field of labor, tendered his resignation, which was accepted with deep regret.

In his farewell discourse, he gave some statistics of the church, and of his labors :

He entered, he said, upon his duties as their Rector on the 10th of November, 1867, and found, as the results of previous labor and faith, the church, with its organ and furniture, though without a tower or spire, or its present commodious Sunday school rooms.

The parish register, dated from June 13, 1852, and reported up to the time of his rector- ship-fifteen years :

Baptisms-Infants, 272; adults, 41; total, 313; or an average of more than 20 a year. Of these, some were administered at Blooming Grove, some at Vienna, a number at Middleton, and a large number are recorded as private.

" The confirmations are : Men, 21; women, 103; total, 124; an average of a little more than eight a year ; some from Middleton and some from Windsor. Marriages during that time, 124; burials, 142.

" The communion alms amount to $3,451.41, an average from 1855 to 1867 of $245 per year."

He regretted the imperfect record and loss of papers concerning the work of his predeces- sors, and said that much in the past, of self-denial and earnest hard work for Christ, would be lost till the great day shall make manifest the deeds of God's servants.

The summary, he continued, of our five years' work together is as follows:

"Baptisms-of infants, 202; adults, 106; total, 308; an average of a little less than 60 a year. Confirmations, 270, 13 of which were at Vienna, 7 at Middleton, and 23 at Evansville; 55 were males. Marriages, 49. Burials, 64. Communicants, 260 or 270. Families, about 120. Offertory, $12,680.68; expenses, about $15,000; the other moneys received, making a total of $30,000. Five missions have been built up. Five clergymen have taken orders, and six are now candidates for orders. There are three working organizations under the Diocesan Board of Missions."

June 19, 1873, the Vestry unanimously resolved to call Rev. John Wilkinson, of Chicago, who accepted the invitation, and entered upon his duties July 13 of the same year. During Mr. Wilkinson's pastorate, a chime of bells was purchased at a cost of $4,500. The 4th of June, his resignation was accepted, which was to have taken effect on or before the 1st day of October, 1879; but at a meeting of the Vestry of the church, held October 1, 1879, he was requested to continue his ministrations in the parish until the 1st day of May, 1880. Mr. Wilkinson served until that time, and is now Rector of a church in Portage, Wis.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first conference that sent her members to labor in Madi- son was the Illinois Conference. The first appointment made in this State was by that Conference, October 1, 1835, at Milwaukee. In 1836, Root River Mission was formed, and Samuel Pilsbury appointed Pastor. At the Illinois Conference, 1837, Salmon Stebbins was made Presiding Elder of Milwaukee District, and Madison Mission left to be supplied, which is the first mention made of Madison. The Rev. Samnel Pilsbury, who was preacher at the Aztalan Mission, came and preached in Madison in the fall of 1838, and during the next season came regularly once a month. A few incidents of Mr. Pilsbury's labors have been preserved.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

While tarrying at A. A. Bird's for about a week, the young girls, including Marion, having esrd some of the settlers say that they had not had a prayer at their house for years, kept an ccount of the number of morning and evening prayers made by Mr. Pilsbury while with them ith chalk on the door. Mr. Pilsbury opened, by prayer, the first session of the Territorial Council in Madison.

There were no members reported to Conference at the session September 12, 1838, but Isdison and Fort Winnebago were associated. and the Rev. John Hodges was the missionary. it the end of the year five members were reported in his field. In the year 1839, Madison was aft to be supplied. Rev. Mr. Stebbins was employed at Racine and Southport, but preached t Madison occasionally during the year.

Down to 1840, there had been no class formed, and preaching was done in the Assembly Hall of the capitol, which was the only place for public gatherings, and it was open for all enominations. A few Methodists in the Legislature, among its officers, in that year, gathered ogether on Sundaysfor class-meetings, the first class-mectings held in Madison. On Sunday morning and evening preaching was kept up in the Assembly Hall. The Chaplain, James Mitchell, being a Methodist, he and Rev. Alfred Brunson took it turn about, there being no other reacher there, exceptan occasional visitor, for the winter.

At the meeting of the Rock River Conference, held at Pine Creek, Ogle County, Ill., there were three members reported at Madison August 20, 1840-Ruth Starks, Benjamin Holt and wife. Mr. Holt was leader. At the meeting of the Conference at Platteville August 21, 1841, there were eleven members reported at Madison. At the Conference at Chicago August 24, 1842, six members reported, and S. P. Keyes at Madison Mission. The services were now held in the capitol. At the conference held at Dubuque, Iowa, August 23, 1843, seventy-eight members reported at Madison, and Jesse L. Bennet, missionary. At one held July 24, 1844, fifty-eight members. Salmon Stebbins, preacher. One at Peoria August 20, 1845, forty-six members, and William Allen appointed, but did not come, and Benjamin Close came as a sub- stitute. Mrs. Hannah Pyncheon Wright became a member this year. At the Conference at. Galena, Ill., August 12, 1846, Madison reported (including adjacent towns) 260 members. F. Smith and R. R. Farnsworth, preachers ; the latter did not come, but William Tasker was asso- ciated with the former. August 11, 1847-members, 234. John Penman and C. B. Foster, preachers. The Wisconsin Conference was formed July 12, 1848, and met at Southport (Kenosha); 220 members reported, John Penman, preacher. Conference held at Platteville July 27, 1849, and sixty-eight members reported, one probationer and four local preachers. Wesley Lattin, at Madison. July 26, 1850, Conference held at Beloit, and sixty-eight members and eighty-seven probationers, Wesley Lattin, returned. The building of the church was com- menced this year. June 25, 1851, Conference held at Waukesha; 104 members, thirty-six probationers and five local preachers. Madison District, Washington Wilcox, Presiding Elder, and Jonathan M. Snow and Enoch Tasker, preachers. September 1, 1852, Conference held at Fond du Lac; there were 106 members, nine probationers, two colored and one local preacher. I. Searles. Presiding Elder, and W. H. Thomson, preacher. The church was completed this year and dedicated, Rev. S. C. Thomas preaching the dedicatory sermon. Of the subsequent minis- ters of this church, we find. in 1853, O. F. Comfort, Pastor; 1854, J. Nolan ; 1855 and 1856, M. Himebaugh; 1857, C. E. Wyrick ; 1858, J. West Millour, for eight months, and Rev. Samnel Fallows, a student of the university, appointed junior preacher ; 1859, J. C. Aspinwall and Mr. Fallows, assistant.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 117

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