History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 128

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 128

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Stoughton Wagon Works .- The village of Stoughton has secured, since 1865, quite a rep- utation as a manufacturing point. In the year mentioned, T. G. Mandt, in a small shop erected by his own hands, on a capital of $100, commenced the manufacture of wagons, employing no help, but doing all the work himself, being a practical wagon-maker and blacksmith. From this small beginning, through a period of financial depression, on a downward market the greater part of the time, he has built up a business of which he may well be proud. The small shop, barely large enough for one or two men to be engaged at work, has grown into fifteen large buildings, covering seven acres of ground. The main building, erected during the summer of 1880, and used as the wood-work department, is 162x44 feet, three stories in height, in addition to which, and for the same purpose, is a building 44x80 feet, two stories high. The building in which the office is located is 56x60, two stories high, a part of which is used for the storage of hardware and iron, the ironing of wheels, and other articles. The machine-shop and foundry is 44x60, and is fitted up with lathes, punches, cutting-machines, and other utensils used in the business. The repair department is a two-story building, 34x90, where all kinds of vehicles and agricultural machinery are repaired. In addition to these are drying-rooms, paint shops, stor- age rooms and other necessary buildings, making one of the most complete manufactories in the country. The present capacity of the works is one wagon complete every twenty minutes, be- sides about 1,000 buggies and carriages of various descriptions, 2,000 sleighs, and a vast amount of drags and other agricultural implements yearly. In his annual circular for 1880, the pro- prietor says :

"My trade is not spread over all the States and Territories of the Union, for, wherever my wagons have once been introduced, the acknowledged superiority over all other wagons has made them the 'leading wagon ;' and a healthy and steadily increasing demand, where they are best known, has not necessitated a wide range of territory. I can, with just pride, boast that my wagons are invariably sold by the best and most responsible parties throughout the West, and have yet to find one single instance where a responsible firm have commenced selling my goods, that have given them up for other wagons.'

The local trade of Mr. Mandt speaks well for his work, he virtually controlling the trade for forty miles around. Among the points of excellence claimed by the manufacturer are :

1. They are made of the very best selected and thoroughly seasoned wood.

2. The woodwork, before being ironed, has invariably two coats of linseed oil, grad- ually dried into the wood by a drying process. Every piece in the gearing is put together in white lead when ironed. The felloes are soaked in boiling oil.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

3. They are the easiest running, the skeins being set with a gauge, so that each skein is invariably alike, and, consequently, every wagon is exact and there is no variation in ease of draft. Skeins are all heated and driven on the axle in white lead, this process being obtained by careful study and long experience.

4. Has a patent tongue spring (T. G. Mandt's patent), which can be adjusted so as to hold longue in any position ; lessens weight on horses' necks ; is light, simple, and can never get out of rig.

5. The bottom of box is arranged with a cleat in front of forward bolster, preventing the sway-bar from rubbing on reach.

6. There is a safety-catch on the end of each tongue, thereby preventing it from falling out of the neck-yoke ring, even if tugs unhitch, or whiffletree, clevises, etc., fall out, and runa- ways and accidents in most instances prevented.

7. The tongue-iron, near the hold-back, is doubled and drawn out, which prevents the rings in the neck-yoke from wearing the tongue, and is thirty-four inches long, being twice the length of an ordinary tongue-iron, and hinders the horses from gnawing the tongue.

8. The two hub bands next to the spokes are not driven up to the spokes within half an inch, giving water and mud, naturally accumulating there in wet weather, a chance to run off. On most wagons these bands are driven close up, and even into the spokes, enough so as to admit water into the wood, thereby rotting the hubs and spokes. Have also a small, half-oval band on the front of hub bands, adding materially to outside finish of the hub.

Many points of excellence are also claimed for the carriages, some of which are covered by letters patent. In the transaction of his business, Mr. Mandt employs 110 hands, and pays out for labor over $4,000 per month. From the small beginning already noted, Mr. Mandt's sales increased to $162,000 in 1878, and $300,000 in 1880.

Erickson Bros.' Wagon-Shop .- In 1874, K. Erickson opened a small shop for the purpose of manufacturing plows and the repair of agricultural machinery. In 1876, a partnership was formed with his brother, Iver Erickson, and the manufacture of wagons and carriages was added. The firm employs from six to ten hands throughout the year, and turns out good work.

A. Flyte .- This gentleman commenced business in this place in the spring of 1852, and is located on the east bank of the Yahara. He employs from four to ten men in the various de- partments of his wagon and carriage manufactory.

Stoughton State Bank .- This institution was established in the fall of 1877, and organized under the general banking law of the State, with a capital of $50,000. In 1878, they built a fine two-story bank building, with basement, which they occupied in December of that year. The deposits have gradually increased, until at present the average is about $70,000. A large amount of money passes through this bank annually, of which the tobacco interest requires nearly $200,000, and flour $50,000, per year. The present Directors are O. M. Turner, George Dow, M. Johnson and H. H. Giles; O. M. Turner, President; M. Johnson, Vice President; Robe Dow, Cashier.

Tobacco Trade .- The first tobacco bought in this market by a local buyer, for shipment on his own account, was by Matthew Johnson, in 1871. But little was raised that year, the greater part of what was grown in this neighborhood being sold at Edgerton, the shipments from this station amounting to 25,000 pounds. For several years Mr. Johnson was the only local buyer, but there were buyers from the East who came out during the season. Such warehouses as could be obtained were used until 1877, when James S. Hutson erected one near the depot, since which time seven others have been built, by M. Oppenheimer, Bunzl & Dormit, and Johnson & Turner. The last party, in the fall of 1879, erected a house 40x104, 24-foot posts, and base- ment 9 feet, the storage capacity of which is 5,000 cases, of 400 pounds each. The other warehouses of the village will hold about 8,000 cases. During the winter, about 200 men find employment in the various warehouses. During the years 1871 to 1880, inclusive, were shipped respectively 25,800, 773,790, 814,930, 1,752,710, 339,100, 888,650, 1,385,370, 1,746,- 360, 1,830,960, 3,000,000 pounds.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Planing-Mill .- Near the depot is located the planing-mill of S. H. Severson & Co. This mill was erected in 1867, by Mr. E. J. Leavitt, and sold by him two years after to Miller & Stoughton; bought back in about one year, and run by Leavitt & Sheldon, until 1871, when it was purchased by S. H. Severson & Co. In the fall of 1877, it was rebuilt by the latter party, new machin- ery added, making it one of the most complete mills in this section of the State. In addition to general custom work of planing, sawing and turning, Severson & Co. commenced the manu- facture, in the spring of 1878, of Fawcett's patent blinds, an invention of which they have the exclusive control in this State. In this blind, the slats are made to interlock in such a manner, when closed, as to exclude not only every ray of light, but also wind, dust, rain and snow. In place of a staple, as in common blinds, this blind has a clip which holds the slats to their place and keeps them from rattling. There is also a lock at the lower end of the operating rod, by which you can fasten the slats shut, open, or part way open, and hold them to their place. There is no opening between the stiles and ends of slats to admit the rays of the sun on your carpets and upholstery, as in the old style. The fastenings do not allow the slats to open only horizon- tally, so no rain will ever beat into the windows. About 8,000 pairs are made yearly. The firm also manufacture the sliding window screens, of which a large number are made yearly. Twelve men are regularly employed in their establishment, which is an important addition to the manufacturing interests of Stoughton.

Cheese Factory .- In 1872, Sidney Emmes erected a factory in the town of Rutland for the purpose of manufacturing cheese. The enterprise was successful, but, thinking to enlarge his business, he tore down the building the same fall and removed it to this place, re-erected it, and commenced manufacturing a superior article. He manufactured but one season, was taken suddenly sick and died. No one desiring to continue the business, the building passed into the hands of Matthew Johnson, who transformed it into a tenement house.

Congregational Church .- On the 19th day of April, 1857, the members of the Presby. terian Church at Cookville voted unanimously to remove their place of meeting to the village of Stoughton, and that the organization should be known as the "First Presbyterian Church of Stoughton." The first meeting at the latter place was held Sunday, May 3, of the same year. Those comprising the organization were Abner Barlow and wife, James Gillis and wife, George Gillis and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hume, David Gillis and wife, Mrs. Betsy B. Johnson, Andrew Erskine and wife, Luke Joslyn and wife, L. M. Van Buren and wife, Mrs. Sarah L. Boyce and Mrs. Maria Dawes. The congregation elected from their number James Gillis, Luke Joslyn and L. M. Van Buren, Elders, and they were duly ordained to the work. Rev. Robert Sewell, the founder of the church, was chosen its Pastor, and served as such until his death in 1874, save for a period of one year, when Rev. M. M. Martin served as supply. At a special meeting of the Church, held May 29, 1863, it was resolved to change the name of the church from the "First Presby- terian Church of Stoughton" to the "First Congregational Church of Stoughton," and to be hereafter governed by the rules and forms of the latter body. About this time, steps were taken for the erection of a church building, which was completed and dedicated to the worship of the Living God, December 31, 1863. Rev. R. Sewell made the invocation, Rev. M. P. Kinney, of Janesville, read a portion of the sacred Scriptures, followed by prayer by Rev. R. W. Bos- worth, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. M. P. Kinney then delivered an appropriate and eloquent sermon, from Ex., xx, 24: "In all places where I record my name." At the conclusion of the address, Rev. L. Taylor, of Madison, offered up the dedicatory prayer. The Trustees of the church, at the time of its erection, were Ray Jenkins, John R. Boyce and Luke Joslyn. Since the death of Mr. Sewell, no regular Pastor has been employed.

Universalist Church .- The first preaching by a minister of this denomination was held in the old schoolhouse, wherein a society was formed in 1857. During the following year, a neat church edifice of cream-colored brick was erected on the west side of the river, at a cost of $4,000. In this house regular services have since been held, under the pastoral charge of Revs. B. F. Dodge, Mr. Peck, B. F. Rodgers, Miss Swartz, J. C. Crawford, Mr. Howe, L. B. Mason, E. Garfield and S. W. Sutton. Rev. Mr. Garfield's pastorate extended over a period

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

of seven years, from 1870 to 1877, since which time Rev. Mr. Sutton has served, and under whose administration a church organization was formed June 1, 1879, with E. E. Roberts, F. Isham, Mrs. Sophronia Willard, Mrs. Ellen Hale, Mrs. Adaline Higbee, Mrs. Jane Fuller, Mrs. Jane Goff, Mrs. Delia Everest, Mrs. Roxana Sawin, Mrs. Helen Warren, Mrs. Elvira Stoughton, Mrs. Ann Galley, Mrs. Mary Gilman, Miss Mary Nelson, Miss Ida Lyon, as constit- uent members. Three more have since been admitted-George M. Burnett, Mrs. M. E. Bur- nett, Miss De Ette Allen. The officers of the church are Rev. S. W. Sutton, Pastor ; Miss Mary Nelson, Clerk ; Mrs. Mary Gilman, Treasurer ; E. E. Roberts and Mrs. Sophronia Wil- lard, Deacons. The society organization has fifty members, with E. E. Roberts, President ; Miss Ida Lyon, Clerk; Miss De Ette Allen, Treasurer ; W. W. Key, O. Isham, John Atkinson, 0. M. Turner and T. G. Taylor, Trustees.

Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Christ Church .-- A church building was erected in 1875, under the supervision of Rev. C. M. Hristendahl, Pastor of the church, which, together with the parsonage and grounds, cost $7,500. About sixty-five families are connected. Trust- ees-J. J. Naset, G. T. Mandt and A. A. Quale.

Norwegian Lutheran Church .- Organized Saturday, October 6, 1866, by Prof. Hasselquist, President of the Scandinavian Augustana Synod. Its first members were J. G. Baker (Trustee), C. Hansen, T. G. Mandt, L. T. Lawson (Trustee), Christen Hansen, Johanna Asmundsen, Carl Rasmussen (Trustee), Lars Gregorsen, Lars Johnsen, Ole Samson, H. C. Asbjornsen, Ole E. Quame, Roal Bentsen, Paul Lassesen, John Paulsen, Paul Johnsen, Ole J. Quame, Jorgen J. Quame, Ole M. Bratland, Elling Johannesen, Ole Bradley, Mrs. H. Hoversen, Mrs Mathew Johnsen and Mrs. K. Olsen.

On the following day, the first service was held, Rev. Prof. Hasselquist officiating.

At a meeting held three weeks later (October 27), Rev. O. J. Hantlestad, from Milwaukee, was elected Chairman and J. G. Baker Secretary, and L. T. Lawson, J. G. Baker and Johann Asmundsen, Deacons. At this meeting, Rev. Hatlestad was elected Pastor of the congregation. He was to preach one Sunday in every four weeks.

At a regular congregational meeting on the 21st of April, 1867, Rev. Hatlestad having resigned as Pastor for want of time, and a theological student, J. M. Eggen, being recommended to the congregation, he was unanimously elected and called to the pastorate, and accepted the call. The Boure congregation, organized at Pleasant Springs June 22, 1860, by Rev. P. A. Rasmussen, from Lisbon, Ill., expressed at this meeting a willingness to unite with the Stough- ton Church in securing the services of Mr. Eggen.

At a meeting April 24, 1867, steps were taken toward the erection of a church edifice. A lot being donated by Mr. Luke Stoughton, a church was the same year erected (46x30), but not completed and dedicated till 1872, the cost at completion being $2,800.

Rev. Eggen resigned as Pastor of the church in March, 1871, and Rev. Prof. A. Weenaas supplied the pulpit temporarily till October, 1872, when Rev. M. Falk Gjertsen, of Leland, Ill., being previously elected as Pastor, began ministerial work, who has since been Pastor in charge.

In April, 1874, a parsonage was bought. In 1877, the church building being too small to accommodate the congregation, it was enlarged, its present size being 30x68, with a basement for Sunday school, 30x22, at an additional cost of $2,000, the present value of church property, including the parsonage, being between $5,000 and $6,000, which is entirely free from indebt- edness. The congregation numbers 315 communicants, with about 600 souls.

The present officers are: Trustees, Knudt Eriksen, Carl Rasmussen and Andrew Erik- sen ; Deacons, Bendik Grane, Sam Barron, Knudt Mikkelsen, Ingebrigt Quame and Christian Egner ; Secretary, Dr. F. Laws ; Treasurer, Andrew Eriksen.

The church has had, as shown by its history, a steady and vigorous growth, and enjoyed an internal as well as an external prosperity.

Social Lodge, No. 60, I. O. O. F .- This Lodge was instituted September 19, 1851, with A. Reed, N. G. ; E. H. Lacy, V. G. ; W. M. Colladay, Secretary ; A. M. Drake, Treas- urer ; Amos Seward, W. ; A. T. Fleetwood, O. G .; A. West, I. G,; Jacob Mandeville, R. S.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

N. G. ; Jonathan Mosher, L. S. N. G. ; Charles Smith, Cond. ; H. P. Colton, R. S. V. G. In 1859, the lodge was suspended, and re-organized March 1, 1876, with James Hutson, N. G .; T. C. Lund, V. G. ; H. E. McEachron, Secretary ; P. B. Barnson, P. S. ; H. G. Venass, Treasurer ; K. Toepfer, R. S. N. G. ; A. T. Higbee, L. S. N. G. ; O. Halverson, W .; C. A. Roberts, C .; F. Schrode, R. S. S. ; D. Pringle, L. S. S. ; A. Flyte, O. G. ; J. Chidester, I. G .; M. Johnson, R. S. V. G. ; F. A. Barden, L. S. V. G. Prosperity has attended the lodge since its re organization, it having a membership at present of sixty-five, with the following-named officers : Charles Davis, N. G. ; E. K. Cutler, V. G. ; S. Legreid, Secretary ; J. M. Hib- bard, P. S .; N. Greenbank, Treasurer ; J. C. Chidester, R. S. N. G. ; H. R. Hanson, L. S. N. G. ; Ole Kroken, W. ; E. W. Curtis, Conductor ; J. C. Johnson, R. S. S. ; H. Scheldrup, L. S. S. ; George W. Wise, O. G. ; Ole A. Quame, I. G .; Ole Hanson, R. S. V. G. ; John Schmidt, L. S. V. G.

Kegonsa Lodge, No. 73, A., F. § A. M .- A dispensation was granted March 7, 1856, for the organization of the lodge. William M. Colladay was elected W. M. ; John Atkin, S. W .; Luke Stoughton, J. W. A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge, June 12, 1856, the above-mentioned officers being continued, and in addition the following-named were elected : Henry Church, Secretary ; S. B. Sibley, S. D. ; I. D. Basley, J. D. ; H. R. Roby, Tiler. From its organization to the present time, 138 Master Masons have been initiated, the present membership being forty-seven. Death has called away eight of their number-John Atkin, Luke Stoughton, D. C. Davis, D. McMahon, W. Jones, A. B. Emery, Frank Allen and B. F. Nott. The present officers are O. E. Turner, W. M .; G. M. Burnett, S. W. ; H. J. Everest, J. W .; N. Greenbank, Treasurer; H. M. Tusler, Secretary ; F. A. Buckman, S. D. ; A. T. Higbee, J. D. ; H. W. Hale and E. E. Warren, Stewards ; J. C. Chidester. Tiler.

Navigation of the Yahara .- In 1865, Mr. Davison built a small scow for the purpose of drawing stone from the lake, but after running a few times found it unprofitable, and abandoned it. No further attempt was made to navigate the stream until the fall of 1879, when J. G. Baker had a small boat built, 18 feet in length, 4 feet 3 inches in width, drawing 20 inches of water. A one-horse-power engine, made for the purpose at Waltham, Mass., was put on board, and the little boat made its first trip up the river and into the lake in September, 1879. The name Mr. Baker gave to his boat was the " Rjukan," after a celebrated waterfall in Norway, the meaning of which is " smoking water." This enterprise proving successful, in the spring of 1880, T. C. Lund had built a boat 21 feet in length, 6 feet beam, 16 inches draw, ou which was placed a two- horse-power engine, built to order in Waltham, Mass. This boat will carry about twenty persons, and is used by Mr. Lund for pleasure parties. On account of the low railway bridge, the boat cannot pass under it to the lake, but Mr. Lund has had constructed a truck on which it is taken out of the water and run about sixteen rods, when it is again placed in the water, when it passes unobstructed into the lake. The name of this boat is the " Gange-Rolf," so named in honor of a Norwegian giant king, the literal meaning of which is " Walking Rolf," the giant being so large he could not ride a horse without his feet touching the ground, therefore he was compelled to walk.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES-CONTINUED.

PRELIMINARY VIEW-TOWN OF CHRISTIANA-TOWN OF COTTAGE GROVE-TOWN OF OREGON- VILLAGE OF OREGON-TOWN OF MONTROSE-TOWN OF FITCHBURG TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD- TOWN OF VERONA-TOWN OF CLARKSON (EXTINCT)-TOWN OF WINDSOR-TOWN OF CROSS PLAINS.

PRELIMINARY VIEW.

Within a year after the formation of the towns of Rutland, Rome, Albion, Dunkirk, Sun Prairie and Madison-" the original towns "-the Territorial Legislature set off the north half of Albion into a new town. This was on the 23d of January, 1847. The same Legislature, on the 11th day of the next month, passed an act, as previously explained, greatly reducing the town of Madison, so that it contained only three townships. A portion of its territory was erected into seven new towns by the same act, and one township was added to a town previously created. The town of Rome lost two townships at the same time, and gained one from the territory formerly belonging to Madison.

TOWN OF CHRISTIANA.

This town was named Christiana by Mr. Grunnul Olson Vindeg, in honor of the capital of Norway, his native land. It should have been spelled Christiania.

The town of Christiana is situated in the southeast part of the county, on the eastern bound- ary line, from which it is separated from the town of Oakland, in Jefferson County. A large proportion of the land is that of an undulating prairie, broken here and there by beautiful oak openings and marsh, and possessing an abundance of water, affording every facility for manu- facturing enterprise. The streams of this town are the Koshkonong River, which enters its limits at the village of Cambridge, on Section 12, passes through the village of Clinton, on Sec- tions 13, 24, 23, and thence through Sections 26, 25 and 36, into the town of Albion; the Koshkonong Creek, in the southern part, which has its rise in small streams in the center of the town ; and Mud Creek, which runs north into the town of Deerfield. Koshkonong prairie extends through the town from south west to northeast and into the town of Deerfield. The north- ern portion of the town is marshy, with scattering oak openings; the western part prairie and openings, with marsh on Koshkonong Creek and its tributaries ; the eastern part, openings and prairie.

William M. Mayhew was the first settler. He located on Section 28, in 1837. He built a log house at the foot of a steep bluff, and for many years kept a tavern for the entertainment, principally, of the teamsters drawing lead from the mines, near the Blue Mounds, to Milwaukee. Mr. Mayhew was the first Chairman of the Town Board, on the organization of the town in 1847. For several years he was " monarch of all he surveyed " in Christiana, but, in 1842, a number of settlers arrived, the most of them being emigrants from Norway, among whom were Hellik Gunderson, Jul Gisleson, Nils Olsen Smithback and Thosten Levorson.

The first church in the town was a Norwegian Lutheran, and was organized in 1844 by Rev. Mr. Dietrichsen. The same year, a log church was built by the society on Section 27, and was superseded, in 1858, by a neat and commodious building of stone. Mr. Dietrichsen was succeeded in 1850 by Rev. A. C. Preus, and he, in 1860, by Rev. J. A. Ottesen. At pres- ent there are three other church organizations in the town-the Methodists and Presbyterians at

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Cambridge, and the Seventh-Day Baptists, near Utica. This latter church was organized in 1850, with Rev. Z. Campbell as Pastor, and has a neat house of worship, built in 1866.

The first public school was kept by Mrs. William Mayhew, at her husband's tavern, in the winter of 1845-46. The first schoolhouse, which was a rough log structure, was built very soon after, on Section 10, and which remained standing until within a few years. There are now ten schoolhouses in the town.

There are three villages in Christiana-Cambridge, Clinton and Utica-the last of which has not been platted, and contains but about a dozen honses, including a store, blacksmith-shop and post office.

Christiana has furnished four members of the Legislature, and two county officers-Gabriel Bjornson was elected member of the Assembly in 1850, Daniel B. Crandall in 1857, William D. Potter in 1865, and John E. Johnson in 1868. Gabriel Bjornson was elected Clerk of the County Board of Supervisors in 1852, and re-elected in 1854; Charles Corneliuson was elected Register of Deeds in 1856.

The town was organized the first Tuesday in April, 1847, a full board of town officers being elected.

The first election was held at the house of Neil A. Perry.

The following were among the officers elected at the first election :

William M. Mayhew, Chairman ; Nicholas T. Holmes, William H. Coon, Supervisors ; A. Lasher, Clerk ; N. G. Van Horn, Treasurer ; Samuel H. Coon, Assessor.

The Territory now constituting the town of Christiana-Township 5 north, of Range 12 east-was for one year the north half of the town of Albion. The act erecting it into a separate town was approved January 23, 1847.

The population of 1870 was 1,342. The present population is 1,859.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 128

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