USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 121
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This was a pioneer company, and really inaugurated the mutual system in Wisconson. For a quarter of a century it enjoyed prosperity. It issued over 160,000 policies. Its specialty was farm and homestead insurance, and for years it carried a large proportion of this class of risks in the State. The primary ideas were cheap insurance to the members, to retain at home, as far as practicable, the large amounts paid for premiums, and ultimately make it a strong finan- cial institution.
The company commenced business under a special charter in 1851. The incorporators were Gov. L. J. Farwell, Simeon Mills, N. B. Eddy, F. G. Tibbitts and B. F. Hopkins.
Its first accessible record declares, that, pursuant to a notice, the Directors of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company met at the court house, in Madison, Friday evening, April 5, 1851. N. B. Eddy was appointed Chairman, and William N. Seymour Secretary, of the meeting. On motion of Dr. Ward, the Chairman was requested to read the charter of the company, which was done, after which they proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted in the choice of the following: For President, Simeon Mills ; Vice President, N. B. Eddy ; Secretary, B. F. Hop- kins; Treasurer, L. J. Farwell ; Executive Committee, Simeon Mills, William C. Wells, David Atwood, A. J. Ward and N. W. Dean. The following-named Directors were present, qualified, and took the oath of office prescribed in the charter : L. J. Farwell, B. F. Hopkins, A. J. Ward, William N. Seymour, David Atwood, F. G. Tibbitts, Simeon Mills, William Welch, N. W. Dean and N. B. Eddy.
Simeon Mills remained President until June 15, 1854, when he was succeeded by N. W. Desn. Mr. Hopkins continued to discharge the duties of Secretary until January, 1857, when David Atwood assumed the desk. Its managers have been men occupying high positions, and identified with public affairs throughout its history, and its membership has included at one time and another nearly all the prominent men of the State. D. J. Powers succeeded Mr. Dean, as President, in 1861, and was followed by J. W. Boyd, in 1862, who filled the position until succeeded, in 1870, by Mr. Atwood, who closed the executive line, after a continuous connection with the company from its organization in 1851.
Dennison Worthington succeeded Mr. Atwood as Secretary in 1861, and the company attained its highest eminence and also saw the turn of its fortunes under his administration. Mr.
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Worthington was very devoted to the Madison Mutual, and continued in the discharge of his duties until forced by failing health to resign in 1874. B. E. Hutchinson succeeded him as Sec- retary, and remained in this position to the end. As general agent or adjuster, Mr. Hutchin- son had been with the company from the spring of 1870, and, as a member of the last Board of Directors, saw the fulfillment of its final obligations and honorable retirement.
The business of the company did not assume large proportions until 1860, for it appears from the statement of 1859 that the whole number of policies issued to that date was 3,620; premiums, $19,849.50. The assessments of 1836 and 1838 yielded $6,625.07; losses and expenses had amounted to $16,248.23, and, after payment of agents, there remained in the treasury only $268.23. It reached its zenith in 1867, when its cash premiums were $178,- 599.36, issuing during that year 14,703 policies, and, at its close, having at risk $60,669,373, which arose in 1870 to $64,580,600. Probably the final retirement of the company is largely due to this latter fact, for, with the great shrinkage in values and business prostration occurring about this time, the losses grew out of all proportion. Its experience is pointed to by those inim- ical to mutual insurance as another instance of weakness in time of disaster. Its assets were mainly premium notes, and assessments upon these curtailed its business rapidly. It had always maintained a good record for liberality and fair dealing, and its losses have been promptly paid.
In 1877, the Madison Mutual was changed to the Madison Fire Insurance Company, and to its other assets were added $100,000 of guaranty capital. This seems to have come when rates were so low and competition so sharp as to be unavailing, and therefore, in the spring of 1880, the risks were all re-insured in the Westchester Insurance Company of New York, and the Madison Fire Insurance Company retired from business, having made good its oft-repeated assurance that "no policy would be issued that could not be taken care of."
The Hekla Fire Insurance Company, of Madison, was organized in 1871, and chartered by special act of that year.
The company was authorized to commence business with a subscribed capital of $100,000, of which at least $25,000 was to be paid up in cash. It began operations in June, 1871, and has gradually increased its capital stock, which now is $200,000, and its assets, December 31, 1879, nearly $290,000.
The first Board of Directors consisted of the following gentlemen : Halle Steensland, Mons- Anderson, Charles B. Solberg, O. B. Daley, John A. Johnson, Peter C. Peterson, K. O. Heim- dall, George Wilson, H. Peterson, Peter Johnson, K. J. Fleischer, Ole Thompson, Z. Saveland, O. Torrison and Matthew Johnson.
Mons Anderson was elected President, J. A. Johnson, Vice President, and Halle Steens- land, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Anderson held the office of President for a few years, after which John A. Johnson was elected, and is yet President. Mr. Steensland still holds the secretaryship and treasurership.
The " Hekla " has, from a small beginning, steadily advanced in strength and popularity both at home and abroad. Its reputation for fair dealing with its patrons is firmly established, and deserves continued success.
I. 0. 0. F.
Hope Lodge, No. 17, was instituted in the village (now city) of Madison, on the evening. of June 15, 1847, by Past Grand A. B. Southworth, of Potosi Lodge, No. 3, then D. D. G. M. of this district, with the following Past Grands as charter members : Charles Holt, C. B. Chapman, John Y. Smith, William Welch and Noah Clemmons. The first officers were C. B. Chapman. N. G .; J. Y. Smith, V. G .; Noah Clemmons, R. S .; William Welch, P. S.
The Lodge was organized in the old Argus office, corner of Main and Webster streets, and has since occupied, as places of meeting, the old Patriot office, fourth story of Ogden's Block, and third story of Madison Mutual Insurance Company's building, respectively, and its hall is .. now in the fourth story of Brown's Block, where it holds regular meetings on Friday evening of each week. The following are the present officers of the Lodge : N. G., F. C. Billings ; V.
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
G., H. E. Willis; R. S., James Carville ; P. S., C. E. Jewett ; Treas., W. T. Fish ; W., R. B. Livesey ; C., C. A. Damon ; R. S. N. G., F. C. Sheasby ; L. S. N. G., J. W. Hudson ; R. S. V. G., C. E. Hoyt; L. S. V. G., J. O. Jones ; R. S. S., T. W. Evans ; L. S. S., Mark Smith ; I. G., N. A. Greenbank ; O. G., Thomas Dean.
Madison Encampment, No. 8 .- Madison Encampment, No. 8, I. O. O. F., was instituted at the village (now city) of Madison, Thursday evening, March 3, 1853, by Charles C. Cheney, Esq., of Janesville, Grand Patriarch of Wisconsin, with the following as charter members : Edward Ilsley, David H. Wright, James Halpin, Eri S. Oakley, Hiram Nye, J. B. Colton and C. B. Chapman. The first officers of the Encampment were: C. P., D. H. Wright ; H. P., C. B. Chapman ; S. W., James Halpin ; Scribe, Edward Ilsley ; Treas., Hiram Nye ; J. W., E. S. Oakley.
The Encampment meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, in Odd Fel- lows' Hall, Brown's Block, corner Pinckney street and Washington avenue.
The following are the present officers of the Encampment: C. P., L. C. Helm : H. P., D. H. Wright ; S. W., C. E. Hoyt ; J. W., C. A. Damon; Scribe, James Carville ; Treas., J. S. Hawks.
Mozart Lodge, No 143, was instituted March 2, 1868, with the following charter mem- bers: H. Schwarz, F. E. Gunkel, S. Hywan, C. Habick, S. Einstein, C. W. Heyl, C. Voltz, H. Christoffers, C. Paunack and W. Lamp. The present officers are L. C. Helm, N. G., G. Barkhan, V. G .; B. Minch, Sec'y ; F. Detloff, P. Sec'y ; F. Memrhard, Treas. The Lodge has eighty-two members; meets every Tuesday night, in Brown's Block, on Pinckney street.
Echo Rebekah Lodge, No. 32, was organized Feb. 27, 1873.
Charter Members-Worth Lefferts, Myron B. French, Henry E. Willis, Benjamin D. Miner, Nelson Bowerman, Charles E. Hoyt, John W. Hudson, John L. Lewis, James Bennett, James Carville, Henry A. Draper, Hugh Longstaff, Clara M. Lefferts, Elizabeth French, Ella E. Willis, Emma F. Miner, Martha A. Bowerman, Theresa M. Hoyt, Rachel Hudson, Virtue C. Lewis, Bethiah Bennett, Diana A. Oakley, Eliza Longstaff.
First Officers-John W. Hudson, N. G .; Diana A. Oakley, V. G .; Martha A. Bowerman, R. S .; Elizabeth French, Treas.
Present Officers-Benjamin D. Miner, N. G .; Emma F. Miner, V. G .; Theresa M. Hoyt, R. S .; Patience Ford, Treas.
Night of Meeting-First Saturday of each month.
BENEVOLENT AND OTHER SOCIETIES.
The Turn- Verein was organized February 24, 1855, by the following gentlemen : Fred Sauthoff, Charles Hinrichs, Casper Zwiky, H. Lacher, A. Huchting, F. Huchting, J. Reis, Ed Gisselman, H. Schroeder, L. Roeder, John Maurer, J. G. Ott, F. Fischer, D. Maul and C. Hinrichs. The present officers are : Charles Wedelstedt, President ; Gotlieb Schmidt, Secre- tary ; Carl Miller, Treasurer. The society is in a flourishing condition. It has 130 members, who meet on the first and third Mondays of each month in their hall on Butler street.
This organization has a fine building; it was erected in 1863; its dimensions are 56x122 feet, and its cost, including the stage and theater paraphernalia, about $20,000. The Turners are strictly a German society, and their object is social intercourse, and teaching the youth morals as well as gymnastics.
Madison Grove Lodge, No. 4, U. A. O. D., was instituted Jannary 22, 1859, with the fol- lowing charter members : C. Stein, G. Drohman, H. Neider, R. Kamlah, J. Manrer, M. Bauman, M. Kirst, F. Knoefel, H. Repp, H. Hess. The present officers are : C. Figge, N. A .; G. Bark- han, V. A .; W. Sauthoff, R. Secretary ; L. Keesler, P. Secretary ; H. Maisch, Treasurer. Have sixty-six members in good standing, and are in a flourishing condition. Meetings every Thursday evening in their hall on State street, in Meyer's Block.
The Druids is a German society, a secret organization, and the object is sociality and be- nevolence, quite similar to the I. O. O. F.
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Madison Relief Association, No. 2 .- This society was organized December 19, 1866, sub- sequent to the disbanding of the Madison Fire Company No. 2. The old constitution of that company was revised and adopted, by which the general fund might be added to the sick fund. In case of sickness, a weekly payment of $5 to be paid the members, and, when necessary, a night watch of two men. In case of death of a member, $25, and of the wife $15. Monthly dues 25 cents. At the postponed meeting held January 15, 1867, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, C. W. Heyl; Vice President, Richard Baus; Cor- responding Secretary, W. Schuckart; Financial Secretary, A. F. Kayser ; Treasurer, George- Soelch ; Trustee, three years, M. Hinrichs ; Trustee, two years, George Armbrecht ; Trustee, one year, Ed Gunkel ; Steward, A. F. Kropf.
At the annual meeting held January 7, 1868, the following officers were elected for the en- suing year : President, Richard Baus ; Vice President, J. A. Steinle ; Recording Secretary, W. Schuckart; Financial Secretary, John Koerber ; Treasurer, George Soelch; Trustee for three years, E. Gunckel ; Steward, B. H. Nienaber.
At the annual meeting held January 5, 1869, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Richard Baus ; Vice President, J. A. Steinle; Recording Secretary, W. Schuckart ; Financial Secretary, John Koerber; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee for three years, George Armbrecht; Steward, B: H. Nienaber.
At the annual meeting held January 4, 1870, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, C. W. Heyl; Vice President, H. Beerbaum ; Recording Secretary, L. Kessler; Financial Secretary, John Bieler ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, M. Hinrichs ; Steward, B. H. Nienaber. Initiation fee was placed at $10.
At the annual meeting held January 3, 1871, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, C. W. Heyl ; Vice President, Joseph Hausmann; Recording Secretary, John Bieler ; Financial Secretary, William Holtzhausen ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee for three years, Richard Baus. By resolution, the meetings were changed to quarterly instead of monthly.
At the annual meeting held January 2, 1872, the following officers were elected for the en- suing year : President, C. W. Heyl; Vice President, B. H. Nienaber; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser ; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim ; Treasurer, George Soelch, Trustee three years, George Armbrecht.
At the annual meeting held January 7, 1873, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, C. W. Heyl ; Vice President, Joseph Hausmann ; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser ; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, M. Hinrichs.
At the annual meeting held January 6, 1874, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Richard Bans ; Vice President, H. Beerbaum ; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser ; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, John Bieler.
At the annual meeting held January 5, 1875, the following officers were elected for the en- suing year : President, Richard Baus ; Vice President, H. Beerbaum ; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser ; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, George Armbrecht.
The cash capital having reached the sum of $2,500, the constitution was revised so as to read that the monthly dues are to be abolished, and, in case it would fall below that amount, monthly dues shall be collected again. Up to the present day, no monthly dues have been col. lected, the interest on the capital having paid all expenses. Initiation fee was fixed at $50.
At the annual meeting held January 5, 1876, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Richard Baus ; Vice President, H. Beerbaum ; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, M. Hinrichs.
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
At the annual meeting held January 2, 1877, the following officers were elected for the ensning year : President, Richard Baus ; Vice President, H. Beerbaum; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, John Bieler.
At the annual meeting held January 8, 1878, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, J. A. Steinle : Vice President, L. Mildbrand ; Recording Secretary, A. F. Kayser ; Financial Secretary, John B. Heim ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, George Armbrecht.
At the annual meeting held January 7, 1879, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, J. A. Steinle ; Vice President, L. Mildbrand ; Recording Secretary, John B. Heim ; Financial Secretary, H. Jungman ; Treasurer, George Soelch; Trustee three years, Martin Heinrichs.
At the annual meeting held January 6, 1880, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Philipp Schoen ; Vice President, J. F. Genal ; Recording Secretary, John B. Heim ; Financial Secretary, Henry Jungman ; Treasurer, George Soelch ; Trustee three years, John Bieler.
Life members of the association are as follows : George Armbrecht, William Lamp, Daniel Kessler, W. A. Oppell, Otto Hinrichs, Edo Hinrichs, Martin Hinrichs, Henry H. Hinrichs, J. A. Steinle, Ch. Foster, William Holtzhausen, Louis Kessler, C. W. Heyl, Philipp Schoen, Joseph Hausmann, Henry Jungmann, A. F. Kropf, Ch. Niebuhr, Aug. Heitmann, John Bieler, John Kessenich, John Helmus, Michael Zwang, Mathew Boehmer, A. F. Kayser, B. Golden- berger, Fr. Schmidt, Ch. Barnard, A. Conrad, William Heidkamp, Theo. Dresen, A. Glesber- bar, F. Zehnppenning, George Soelch, B. H. Nienaber, B. Boelsing, Ambrose Lang, J. F. Genal, William Albert, A. Klosse, Peter Weber, John Koerber, William Steckelberger, William Krueger, John Hoevler, John B. Heim, William Scheibel, Gustav Barckhan, L. Mildbrand, William Veerhausen, Jur. Lamp.
The association is composed of some of the best and leading men of the city, who have been honored by its citizens with offices of trust, of various kinds, and, as a rule (it is fortunate), have heen of the healthy kind. During its existence as a Fire Company and Aid Society, it has only lost about ten members, five since it was organized into an aid society. Its capital has been invested carefully, and the accumulating interest is sufficient to carry all the expenses. No monthly dues having been paid since 1874, showing it to be one of the best and healthiest aid societies in the State. Its initiation is placed at $50.
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The Liederkranz .- This society was organized November 24, 1876, with about twenty members. The officers elected were : Phillip Heinkel, President ; Miss Hedwigstein, Secretary ; John Rankin, Treasurer. Herman Pfund was chosen leader at first, but in a short time was succeeded by Louis Joachim, the present leader.
Their meetings were held the first year in the Turners' Hall, which was furnished free to aid them in getting started. At the expiration of that time, they had their present commodious hall and anterooms in Herforth's block, prepared for them, and immediately took possession. The society at first gave public entertainments, but these have been discontinued, their meetings being now of a private character. There are now thirty or forty members; the hall is well furnished, and the society has a good piano and various other properties to the value of $500. The society is in a flourishing condition. The present officers are: Mr. Charles Pressentine, President; Miss Lizzie Schwab, Vice President ; Mrs. E. Baas, Treasurer; Mr. William Glenz, Secretary ; Miss Annie Ott, Librarian ; George Neckerman, Stephen Bass and Louis Joachim, Trustees.
St Raphael' s Benevolent Society .- This society was organized in February, 1869. Upon the application of John Melvine, M. J. Cantwell, John Reynolds, James Conklin and James Kelly, the society was incorporated by act of Legislature, dated March 3, 1870. The society is con- ducted under the auspices of the Catholic Church, to which all its members must belong.
1
806
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
" They shall attend to their religious duties in a body on the first Sunday in August in each year ; they shall be citizens of the United States, or have declared their intentions to become such ; they shall be exempt from all infirmities which would prevent them from gaining a livelihood; they shall be of good moral character and of temperate habits ; they shall not be less than eighteen years of age, nor more than sixty ; and shall pay an admission fee, in proportion to the ages, as follows : Eighteen to twenty-five years, $3; over twenty-five and under thirty, $4; over thirty and under thirty-five, $5; over thirty-five and under forty, $6 ; over forty and under forty-five, $7; over forty-five and under fifty, $8; over fifty and under fifty-five, $9 ; over fifty- five and under sixty, $10."
Section 2, of this charter, says : "The object of this society is to afford relief to its mem- bers in sickness and distress, and to contribute means for defraying burial expenses of its deceased members ; also to extend such aid as its resources will admit to those who are not mem- bers of this society and are in distress."
Madison Literary Society .- Madison, almost from its infancy, in common with other vil- lages and cities, has had, at different times, various social and aesthetic societies, instituted for the purpose of affording diversion and information. In the fall of 1877, Miss Ella A. Giles, desiring to see established in the city a literary society, called in the assistance of a few friends for that purpose ; the result was the organization of the Madison Literary Society.
The first meeting for the purpose of organizing this society was held in the agricult- ural rooms of the capitol October 1, 1877. Joseph Hobbins was chosen Chairman, and C. N. Gregory Secretary. General preliminaries were discussed, and a committee, consist- ing of Joseph Hobbins, William F. Allen, Mrs. S. Fairchild Dean and Miss Ella A. Giles, was appointed to perfect plans and draft a constitution. The meeting then adjourned to convene again October 8 following. At that meeting the society was fully organized, a constitution be- ing adopted, and officers elected, as follows : Joseph Hobbins, President ; John Bascom and Mrs. S. L. Sheldon, Vice Presidents ; Miss Ella A. Giles, Secretary, and C. N. Gregory, Treasurer. The society then adjourned to meet thenceforth on the first Monday evening of each month.
On Monday evening, November 5, 1877, the first regular literary meeting was held. The exercises on that occasion consisted of the President's inaugural address and music, concluding with conversation and a collection. The conversational method of discussion is still pursued as a. portion of each evening's exercise, it being the object of the society to make the meetings pleasant as well as profitable-social as well as literary.
The most noticeable features in the constitution are, that " the members shall be people of acknowledged literary taste," and "the number shall be limited to fifty." The society began with thirty members, but within four months it had reached the number fixed by its constitu- tion as the maximum to be admitted.
Officers of the Literary Club, elected October. 8, 1877 : President-Joseph Hobbins; Vice Presidents-John Bascom and Mrs. S. L. Sheldon ; Secretary-Miss Ella A. Giles; Treasurer-Charles N. Gregory.
Elected October 7, 1878: President-Joseph Hobbins; Vice Presidents-John Bascom and Mrs. S. L. Sheldon ; Secretary-Miss Ella A. Giles; Treasurer-R. B. Anderson.
Elected October 6, 1879: President-Joseph Hobbins ; Vice Presidents-O. M. Conover and Mrs. S. L. Sheldon ; Secretary-Mrs. Burr W. Jones ; Treasurer-Clark Gapen.
Elected October 6, 1880 : President-W. F. Allen; Vice Presidents-C. H. Richards, C. N. Gregory and Mrs. Joseph Hobbins ; Secretary-Reuben G. Thwaites; Treasurer-Mrs. W. W. Daniells.
MADISON FREE LIBRARY.
The Madison Free Library was organized under Chapter 80 of the laws of 1872 (now part of Chapter 41, Revised Statutes), and an ordinance of the city of Madison passed and approved November 21, 1874, Madison having the honor to be the first city in the State to establish a free library under the statute.
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
The Board of Directors first met on the 9th day of January, 1875, and elected the following officers, to continue in office until July, 1876 : J. C. Ford, President ; H. M. Lewis, Vice President ; W. F. Allen, Secretary.
On March 16, 1875, rules and regulations for the government of the library and reading- rooms were adopted, and on the 30th of March Miss V. O. Robbins was elected Librarian.
On the 31st of May, 1875, the library was formally opened by a public meeting, which was addressed by J. C. Ford, President of the Board of Directors ; S. U. Pinney, Mayor of the city ; John Bascom, President of the State University ; Edward Searing, Superintendent of Public Instruction ; and by J. D. Butler.
At the time of its organization, the free library was the recipient in trust of the library and books of the Madison Institute, consisting of 3,170 volumes.
July 10, 1876, H. M. Lewis was elected President of the Board of Directors ; George P. Delaplaine, Vice President; W. F. Allen, Secretary ; and Miss V. C. Robbins, Librarian.
During the year ending July 1, 1877, the board caused a catalogue of the library to be prepared, under the superintendence of the Librarian, at an expense of $400 for preparing and printing.
July 9, 1877, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, H. M. Lewis; Vice President, A. B. Braley ; Secretary, William F. Allen; Librarian, Miss Jennie M. Field, Miss Robbins declining a re-election.
During the year ending July 1, 1878, the Common Council of the city of Madison assigned for the use of the library and reading-rooms, the present commodious and pleasant rooms in the city hall, which were well, substantially and handsomely repaired and fitted for the purposes of the library at a cost of $781.36, under the direction of a committee of the Board of Directors, consisting of George P. Delaplaine, J. C. Ford and J. J. Suhr.
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