USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 123
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The house is now under the management of Jacob Van Etta, and ranks among the first- class hotels of the State.
The Capital House was erected by William M. Rasdall, on the site of the old Kentucky House, in 1866. It was 85x75 feet, and capable of accommodating 100 guests. The house was opened January 1, 1867, with Beverly Jefferson as landlord. Some years later, Mr. Rasdall sold the property to Miller & Borchsenius, who in turn sold to George W. Mason, and he to Mr. Spauld- ing, the present owner. The Capital House is excellently conducted, and receives a large share of patronage. It is under the management of L. M. Breesee.
There are a number of other hotels in Madison, all places of entertainment which do credit to the city. Among these may be mentioned the American House, East Madison House, Farmers' Exchange, Fess Hotel, Chris Gaieger, Germania House, Hauck's Hotel, Lake City House, Madison House, Mansion House, Nolden's Hotel, Thomas O'Niel, Railway House, Thompson's Hotel, Trierer Hof, William Tell House and Wisconsin House.
CITY HALL.
The city hall was erected in 1857. The size of the building is 50x100 feet, three stories high, with a front on Mifflin and Wisconsin avenues. Donnell & Kutzbock, were the architects. The first story above the basement is occupied by the Madison Free Library, the S. U. Pinney Supply Hose Company and the Governor's Guard military company. The second floor contains the rooms of the Municipal Court, City Clerk, Council Chamber, City Surveyor and City Treasurer. The third floor is a lecture-room.
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS .*
The Madison Guard-the first Wisconsin company in the war of 1861 .- In making up the records of the war, who was first, who was bravest, who was greatest, will in the end be settled by posterity. The following correspondence shows the first company that was tendered and accepted in Wisconsin for the war :
CAPT. BRYANT TO GOV. RANDALL.
To His Excellency, Alexander W. Randall, Governor of Wisconsin :
MADISON, Jan. 9, 1861.
SIR : . I have the honor to report to the commander-in-chief of the militia of Wisconsin, the following resolu- tion, introduced by Lieutenant Plunkett, this day adopted hy my command :
" Resolved, That Capt. George E. Bryant be instructed to tender to Governor Randall the services of the Madi- son Guard, in case their services may be required for the preservation of the American Union."
And I pledge you the services of my company at any and all times when you may require them for the preser- vation of our State and of our American Union.
Your Oht. Servt., GEORGE E. BRYANT, Captain Madison Guard.
. It is a matter of regret that the account of the Madison Guards was not inserted in a previous article-the one on the great rebellious It was, however, received by the printer too late to appear where it properly belongs .- ED.
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
NOTES OF SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS.
The following entries appear in the journal of the Executive office : April 16-Madison Guard notified that services were accepted.
April 18-Governor authorized Capt. Bryant, of Madison Guard, to quarter enlisted men from outside the city at American House.
The following letter is on file in the Executive office :
Hon. A. W. Randall, Governor of Wisconsin :
My command is ready for duty and awaits orders. Your Obt. Servt.,
GEORGE E. BRYANT, Capt. Mad. Guard,
Filed April 22, 1861.
The roster of the Madison Guard, at the dates above given, whose services were accepted, is as follows :
Captain-George E. Bryant, farmer, lives near Madison, Wis. ; he became a Colonel and a General. First Lieutenant-William H. Plunkett ; became Major Seventeenth Wisconsin. Second Lieutenant-William H. Miller ; was Major Second Cavalry. First Sergeant-M. J. Cantwell ; was Lieutenant Twelfth Wisconsin. Second Sergeant-Charles Reynolds ; was Captain Twelfth Wisconsin. Third Sergeant-Joseph P. Spencer. Fourth Sergeant-Daniel Eder, killed near Vicksburg. Fifth Sergeant-William Buckley. First Corporal-F. B. Huchting ; first man wounded from Wisconsin. Second Corporal-N. Camberger ; entered regular army. Third Corporal-S. A. Nash ; entered regular army. Fourth Corporal-W. W. Day ; became a Lieutenant in the Eleventh Wisconsin.
Privates .- Hugo Anschuts, Oscar Allen, H. B. Ames, Wallace W. Bird (became a Cap- tain), August Bartsch (became a Captain, dead), Edward W. Barbarin, C. H. Beyler (became Lieutenant), Charles A. Bangs, H. Brittel, Charles Byewater, Frederick Bodenstein, F. S. Clark, Edward Carl, Albion L. Day, Philip M. Day, D. W. Duel, F. E. Dietrich (dead), George F. Fawcett, Valentine Fisher, J. J. Foster, John .W. Fancher, E. A. Franklin, Wayne Gallo- way, William Green, Robert Hastie (fifer), William Helms, R. S. Hill, C. E. G. Horn (became a Colonel and died in the army), E. M. Hawes, C. A. Hoffman, H. M. Haskell, John Jene- wine, Peter Jacob, Beverly Jefferson, H. D. Kimball, George Koch, J. F. Locke, H. S. Sud- cliff, W. P. Langworthy (became Captain in Twelfth Wisconsin), J. E. Murdaugh, Sheppard Murdaugh, J. W. McGinley (drummer), Joseph Matheson (became Captain Fifteenth Wiscon- sin), Ed. M. Marsh, C. W. Morrill, H. A. Moore, A. C. McDonald, Henry Norton, A: B. Porter, Charles Porter, John Rushford, J. E. Roerby, James Rochford, George Rubrecht, John Reynolds (dead), F. D. Stone (became Captain Eleventh Wisconsin), A. Safford, Richard Smith, Julius Schroder (became a Lieutenant), Charles Schade, John G. Smith, H. I. Spauld- ing, Cassius Spears (dead), Jacob Steinberger, Godfrey Tubah, David Veidt (became Captain, dead), W. Van Nette, Fred Wallin, A. J. Warren, H. Wandrey (lost a leg), John Wickart (dead), Joseph Weymar, Joseph I. Wilkes.
The Madison Guard was organized in February, 1857, John Willans being its first Captain. Capt. Willans removed from Madison early in January, 1858, and was succeeded by John A. Byrne. Capt. Byrne, some six months after his election, resigned, making some magnanimous donations to the company, but did not cease to be.one of its most active and efficient members. Samuel Crawford, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court, then a private in the company, was chosen to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Capt. Byrne. At the next election of company officers, in 1859, George E. Bryant was unanimously chosen Captain, and remained in command of the company until its campaigns were ended. Capt. Bryant is a graduate of Norwich Military University.
The Madison Guard has always been known as an Irish organization. Early in January, 1861, when it was expected there would be trouble at the inauguration of the President-elect, it promptly tendered its services to the Government, determined that the constitutionally elected
817
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
President would be inaugurated only in Washington. The threats, then made by the rebels to prevent the President from being inaugurated were not carried into effect, and the services of the company were not required until the stars and stripes were torn from the place where they belonged at Fort Sumter. Then the tender of their services were accepted, when its ranks were immediately filled-Americans, Germans, Scandinavians and Irishmen all joining to fight for the preservation of our glorious Union.
The Madison Guard became the color company of the First Wisconsin Regiment, and the color bearer, F. B. Huchtings, was the first man wounded from Wisconsin. Falling, he gave the colors to Corporal W. W. Day, who carried them in victory.
Governor's Guard .- On the 1st of March, 1875, sixty-five citizens of Madison, Dane Co., Wis., petitioned George E. Bryant, County Judge, for authority to organize a company of State militia under the laws of Wisconsin. William Helm was designated by the said court to organ- ize the company, which was perfected on the 24th of March, 1875, by the election of August Bartsch, Captain ; John Stock, First Lieutenant ; Phillip Heinkel, Second Lieutenant ; Will- jam Helm, Treasurer ; John B. Heim, Secretary.
The company was named the " Governor's Guard," and made rapid progress under the above officers in drilling and the manual of arms, but received a serious loss in their Captain, August Bartsch, who died of quick consumption, August 17, 1875. On the 6th of September following, Lieut. Stock was promoted Captain, Lieut. Heinkel First Lieutenant, and First Sergt. John Heyl commissioned Second Lieutenant. The officers' roster so constituted lasted until March, 1878, when Capt. Stock resigned on account of removal from the city, and the company remained under the charge of its First Lieutenant. until the following October 16, when Phillip Heinkel was promoted to the Captaincy, Lieut. Heyl to First Lieutenant, and George Nickerman to Second Lieutenant to date.
In regard to Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Heim served but a short time in 1875, when August Ramthun was elected, and served the company for three years in that capacity. Since that time, Louis Joachim has very ably filled the secretaryship. Mr. Helm, having from the. first refused to accept an officer's commission, for want of time, has served as Treasurer and Quartermaster during the five years of the company's existence, having been annually re- elected.
The annual report of the Treasurer, April, 1880, showed a very prosperous condition of the company financially, and passing a good muster by the Adjutant General.
The company has just received and paid for a new uniform, costing $1,400, in all respects complying with specifications contained in General Order No. 5, describing the new uniform adopted by the State of Wisconsin as the Wisconsin National Guard uniform.
Lake City Guards .- The first steps toward organizing this company were taken very early in the spring of 1879, the principal movers in the matter being Frank Jones, Fred P. Smith and A. L. Burdick. At that time a vacancy occurred in the regular number of the State militia companies, and accordingly, in order to secure the position, this company organized very hastily, and was mustered in May 27 of the same year. William Hogbin was elected Captain ; Stanley Proudfit, First Lieutenant; and A. L. Burdick, Second Lieutenant. In July following, Capt. Hogbin resigned, and Chandler P. Chapman was elected to take his place. Capt. Chapman took charge of the company on the 3d of August, and then began in good earnest the work of drill and discipline, which had previously been very slack. The company made its first appear- ance at the State fair of 1879, about six or eight weeks after Capt. Chapman began drilling them ; and in the exhibition drill did so well that they were very highly complimented by the Adju- tant General, who said that he would have been satisfied with the exhibition if made by the oldest company in the State. They first appeared in uniform at the inauguration of Gov. Smith, and with five other companies formed the escort of the Governor on that occasion.
The new uniform selected for the Lake City Guards was so much admired by the Executive that on March 29, 1880, a general order was issued making it the standard uniform for all infantry companies of the Wisconsin National Guard. It was as follows :
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY
The commissioned officers have their uniform and insignia prescribed for officers of like rank in the United States army, except that the officers of any separate company, battalion or regiment, may wear the "forage " instead of the " full dress " cap, and epaulets in place of shoulder- knots.
The enlisted men are furnished with full-dress coat, single-breasted, "National Guard " pattern, of dark-blue broadcloth, buttoning to the throat; standing collar, to look in front at the bottom, and slope thence up and backward ; with collar, sleeve and skirt "slashes," and skirt facings of buff cloth ; collar seams and edges of " slashes " trimmed with narrow "sautache " gold braid ; three rows of " Wisconsin State Pattern " buttons on breast, nine in each row ; three on each "skirt slash," two on waist seam at back, and one on each skirt at intersection of facings, all of " coat size ;" three "vest size " buttons on each sleeve " slash," and one at point of each " collar slash "-all as indicated in the designs filed in the office of the Quartermaster General.
The trousers are made of dark-blue cloth, with buff stripe, one inch wide, on outer seam. The cap, " Chasseur " pattern, of dark-blue cloth, as prescribed for officers of the United States army ; while the cap ornaments are the same as prescribed for infantry in the United States Army, substituting " State " buttons for fastening the chin straps, and adding a white ball pompon.
At the State fair of 1880, Gen. Grant highly complimented the young company on their perfect drill, especially in skirmish line, and subsequently the Army and Navy Journal said of them :
" The arrival of Gen. Grant to attend the State Fair at Madison, brought the two local companies into prominence as escort, and, in the case of the Lake City Guard at least, as exhib- itors of great improvement in the school of the company.
" Capt. Chapman is an enthusiast, a careful student and a painstaking instructor. As a consequence, the Lake City Guard, in their street parade and escort duty on Tuesday, and their exhibition drill on Wednesday, made a most favorable impression. A noticeable feature in their drill is the individual carriage of the officers and most of the rank and file-heads erect, shoulders square, and the step firm and free. Such movements as obliquings, either in line or column, are well executed, the parallelism of the sets of fours being thoroughly observed, and no tendency to the half wheel so often detected in carelessly instructed commands. The manual of arms in marching was well executed, no ducking of the head in changing from right shoulder arms to support or carry, but a little more " snap " and emphasis in the execution of such motion would be an improvement." -
They are armed with the latest 45-caliber breech-loading Springfield rifles, and equipped with both service and dress acconterments. They have a drill-room, 44x100; armory, 50x20 ; and a club room, finely furnished, 20x28. There are now sixty-seven members.
The Veteran Club of the city of Madison was organized by the execution of articles of association on the 20th day of May, 1879. Its objects are : " The mutual support of the mem- bers, their families or kindred, in case of sickness, poverty, misfortune or death ; and further, of encouraging and promoting the comradely feelings of veterans of the late war."
Any honorably discharged soldier or sailor of the regular or volunteer service of the United States is eligible to membership.
The present officers are : President, A. H. Hollister ; Vice President, Robert Monteith . Secretary, Charles George Mayers ; Treasurer, Charles Kayser ; Marshal, Frank C. Billings.
Trustees : M. J. Cantwell, B. M. Minch, for three years ; Herbert A. Lewis, S. W. Botkin, for two years ; E. R. Bristol, Louis C. Helm, for one year.
819
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Askew, Samuel.
Charleton, William Helm, Lewis C.
Lovejoy, Harry W. Parkinson, A. C.
Smith, George W.
Baker, G. W.
Chittenden, C. C. Hobbins, William. Lyon, William P. Parsons, P. B.
Stevens, E. W.
Bender, Charles.
Combs, William E. Hugbin, William.
Long, Elias.
Pearson, Silas E.
Stillman, W. D.
Bennett, James.
Cory, John. Hollister, A. H. Lockwood, H. H. Pierce, A. J.
Stock, John G.
Bennett, W. H.
Culver, Edwin.
Holt, George W.
McCormick, Jas.
Pitman, William G. Stoltze, F. A.
Benson, John.
Damon, C. A.
Howe, John B.
Matheson, Jos.
Pratt, John G.
Billings, Frank C. Dean, Joseph.
Jackson, J. A.
Maxen, Peter.
Reed, E. R.
Botkin, S. W.
Delmar, Peter.
Jefferson, B.
Mayers, Charles G. Roberts, Eugene. Meredith, A. A.
Bradley, Wm. A.
Durst, Barthel.
Jones, W. W.
Minch, B. M.
Roth, John C. Rowley, M. S.
Brahany, William. Duyle, Michael.
Joyce, Patrick.
Monteith, Robert.
Bresland, Joseph.
Duppler, Fred.
Kayser, Charles.
Moran, William.
Rupp, Anton A. Schmidt, Carl G.
Bresee, Levi. Fergeot, Thomas C. Kayser, A. F.
Mills, Arthur C.
Warner, Hans B.
Bryant, Ed E.
Gillies, George.
Lewis, Sever.
Nelson, N. P.
Sexton, Andrew. Sheler, Henry. Shetter, Henry.
Ward, A. J.
Bryant, George E. Hacker, T. L.
Lindeman, E. G.
Nichols, John H.
Cantwell, M. J.
Healy, William.
Link, Joseph.
Oakley, F. W.
Carman, J. W.
Helm, William.
Locke, J. C.
. O'Neil, Patrick.
Silbernagle, J. J. Smith, Rufus B. Smith, Mark.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
This is a benevolent organization, the principal object of which is the insurance of the lives of those who belong to the order.
Upon the death of a member, the lodge contributes $1 for each of those remaining, which sum is turned over to the Treasurer, who in turn hands the total to the Grand Treasurer. The last-mentioned officer then pays the amount of $2,000 to the relatives of the deceased.
In Madison there are two of these organizations-Madison Lodge, No. 66, and Monona Lodge, No. 69.
Madison Lodge, No. 66, was organized June 2, 1879, with the following charter members: C. H. Hall, E. S. McBride, C. F. Cooley, E. J. Doane, R. C. Spooner, R. W. Hurd, C. A. Daley, W. W. Jones, William Alderson, W. J. Jones, Charles Wedelstedt, J. A. Mack, J. H. Clark, J. H. Waggoner, C. H. Beyler, M. S. Rowley, J. W. Sumner, J. H. Nichols, E. R. Curtis, R. J. McConnell, F. H. Gray, Frank E. Parker, C. H. Beyler, Jr., Howard Hoyt, Charles E. Bross, William G. Pitman, William H. Bradley, H. W. Hoyt, A. L. Davidson, James Reynolds, Arthur C. Mills, Ezra P. Copp, Ed Flaherty, A. R. Jones and T. E. Thompson.
This lodge has thirty-seven members in good standing, and meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in Gill's Block, on Pinckney street.
The following is a list of the present officers : E. S. McBride, M. W. ; Frank Gray, G. F .; Charles Beyler, O .; W. W. Jones, R. and F. ; C. A. Daley, Receiver ; A. R. Jones, G. ; W. J. Jones, I. G .; G. W. Baker, O. G.
Monona Lodge, No. 69, was instituted June 24, 1879, with the following charter mem- bers: Franz Pecher, F. J. Moll, Chr. Dick, W. O. Grove, H. Schuette, H. Gaertner, August Nietert, Andrew Kentzler, Henry Laue, E. G. Lindeman, George H. Joachim, E. O. Kney, August Scheibel, L. W. Joachim, Chas. Wedelstedt, Charles H. Beyler, Maligus Boehmer, Johann Vitense, George Speckner, George Lippert, James R. Stuart, Carl Hlabel and Fr. Moessner.
The following is a list of the present officers : Frank Pecher, Senior P. M. W. ; Charles Wedelstedt, Junior P. M. W .; Fred J. Moll, M. W. ; A. Nietert, G. F .; H. Schuette, Recorder; L. Joachim, Financier ; A. Kentzler, Receiver ; J. Guthlein, Overseer; Charles Lanz, Guide; H. Laue, I. W. ; G. Speckner, O. W.
This lodge meets every Wednesday in Gill's Block, and has twenty-nine members in good standing.
TELEGRAPHY.
The Electric Telegraph in Dane County .- The first electric telegraph line constructed in Dane County was in the year 1847, it being a continuation of the old Hotchkiss line from
1
Utzerath, Michael Usher, F. W. Vilas, William F. Wandray, August
Bristol, E. R. .
Fleming, James.
Lewis, Herbert A. Moulton, H. Z.
Wedelstedt, Chas, Woods, Jacob B.
Bowen, E. Detloff, Ferdinand. Jones, A. R.
Story, Hugh G. Sumner, John M.
Thomas, John
820
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Janesville, and was built on the old Government road. From Madison the line was extended westward to Mineral Point. A man by the name of Lee opened the first office in Madison, remaining a few weeks, when Benjamin F. Hopkins assumed charge of the office, using an old-fashioned paper machine. Mr. Hopkins resigned the office, and a man by the name- of Murray was in charge until 1859, when Charles E. Weller was appointed manager, continu- ing until the spring of 1863. when he was succeeded by Hon. Charles E. Bross, the present man- ager. After the completion of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railway, the line was trans- ferred to the line of the road, and until 1864, there was but one line over which all the busi- ness, both railroad and commercial, was transacted. In that year, a second wire was built from Milwaukee, since which time various lines have been constructed, until they now number nine lines, with the immediate prospect of two more. Up to 1865, one operator alone was employed, but at that time the business had increased so largely that Frank E. Parker, who had learned the art of telegraphy with Mr. Bross, was employed as an assistant, subsequently, Fred E. Par- ker, a younger brother of Frank E., was employed. The business of the office has increased from barely enough to pay the manager, in 1847, until now it will average $25,000 per- year. The present staff of the office is now constituted as follows : Charles E. Bross, man- ager ; Frank E. Parker, assistant manager; Fred E. Parker, operator; J. G. Hyland, opera- tor ; Miss Irene J. Hills, operator ; with two messenger boys.
The Telephone in Dane County .- The first telephone in use in Dane County was on a line. between Science Hall University and the University Regents' office in the Park Bank Block, and was put in working order by Charles E. Bross, October 1, 1878. The 1st of Decem- ber the same year, Mr. Bross constructed a line for Mr. Andrew Kentzler between his livery ? stable and the Park Hotel. In May, 1879, Mr. Bross and Frank E. Parker started the Bell Telephone Exchange of Madison, with thirty subscribers with five lines, six subscribers being on one line, the central office being in one of the front windows of the American Express office. The number of subscribers increased, but the system did not work perfectly, on account of defective bells and the confusion of so many subscribers on a single wire. In July, Robert Wootton bought out the interest of Frank E. Parker. In August, it was determined to change the system, building each subscriber a single wire, and putting in a magneto bell in place of the small electric bells, which was done and the central office moved in the top story of Gurnce's Block. In October, Mr. Bross purchased the interest of Mr. Wootton, and the 1st of August, 1880, removed the central office to the top story of the Telegraph Block. There is now 110 subscribers to the system, which is working perfectly. The longest line connected with the office is the Insane Asylum, about seven miles in length. The force at the central office is as follows : Charles E. Bross, proprietor ; John G. Hyland, superintendent ; Willie Hyland, line repairer ; Miss Lizzie Hamilton, day operator ; Adolph Buser, night operator.
Wisconsin Telegraph Institute .- In the fall of 1880, seeing the want of a school for the. instruction of young men and women in the delightful art of telegraphy, Charles E. Bross and Frank E. Parker opened the Wisconsin Telegraph Institute in the Telegraph Block, in the city of Madison, which is doing a good work in disseminating the knowledge of the useful and fasci- nating art of telegraphy.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN MADISON. .
Sunny skies and a bracing atmosphere heralded the opening of the day, September 10, 1878, which was to see the arrival of Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States, and party in Madison, as the guests of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. Before day- break, the country roads were blocked with teams, loaded down with living freight. The market place was a jam at 10 o'clock, the sidewalks were thronged, the windows and the housetops were- gay with fluttering ribbons. It was evident that thousands considered it a gala day indeed.
Many of the stores and business establishments were tastefully decorated. The most elab- orate display, however, was at the Park Hotel. The parlors had been filled with plants. Taste and skill could do no more than was accomplished here. The outside of the building was not
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
less attractive. The hotel presented a magnificent appearance, surpassing anything of the kind ever seen in Madison before.
By 9 o'clock, every street leading to the East Madison depot was densely thronged. At 10 o'clock, the regular train from Portage arrived with the Guppey Guards of that city and a train load of excursionists from along the route. As soon as the Guards had formed on the street and the train was unloaded, the President's special came rolling along. The cannon fired, the multitude cheered, the committee of reception boarded the three palace cars, and the members of the party were then escorted to carriages, the President and Mrs. Hayes and Gov. W. E. Smith and Mayor G. B. Smith occupying the first carriage.
The procession was formed in the following order : Portage Military Band, Guppey Guards of Portage, Governor's Guard Band, carriages containing the Presidential party, flanked by the Governor's Guard, then citizens generally. The line of march was along Williamson, King and Main streets to the Park Hotel.
Upon the arrival of the procession at the hotel, the Presidential party, with Gov. Smith, Mayor Smith and leading citizens, ascended to the Main street veranda, which had been deco- rated for the purpose. The Governor, advancing to the railing with the President, welcomed him and greeted the assembled citizens with a few well-chosen remarks. After the Governor's greeting, Mayor George B. Smith welcomed the President in behalf of the city. The President made his acknowledgment, as follows :
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