USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 67
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209
1877-from the college of letters-in the ancient classical course, as Bachelors of Arts, Brigham Bliss, C. L. Dudley, Franklin Fisher, Howard Morris, and S. W. Trousdale; in the modern classical course, as Bachelors of Letters, Alexander Craven and Mary Hill ; from the college of arts-course in general science, Carrie B. Carpenter, S. H. Cook, T. H. Gill, Bene- dict Goldenberger, F. N. Hendrix, Hattie M. Hover, E. M. Lowry, Florence E. Mitchell, Frank Moore, Annie A. Porter, A. C. Prescott, J. C. Rathbun, Matilda Reuel, H. J. Smith, Alice Stickney, Nellie M. Tate, W. E. Todd, S. M. Williams, and H. C. Wood-as Bachelors of Science ; as Bachelors of Civil Engineering, John F. Albers, J. P. Paine, N. F. Phillips, J. M. Turner, and James Whelan, Jr. ; and as Bachelor of Mining and Metallurgy, W. A. Hover ; from the law department, H. W. Bingham, H. H. Curtis, J. J. Fruit, W. W. Haseltine, John T. Kean, Herman Pfund, F. E. Purple, James Reynolds, W. F. White, and John T. Yule.
1878-from the college of letters-in the ancient classical course, as Bachelors of Arts, F. K. Conover, W. A. Germain, Mary Hill, C. E. Hooker, Francis E. Noyes, O. W. Ray, and H. J. Taylor ; in the modern classical course, as Bachelor of Letters, Alexander Berger ; from the college of arts, in General Science, C. E. Buell, W. A. Corson, H. W. Eaton, W. S. Field,
446
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Helen L. Hatch, Alice F. Frisby, Almah J. Frisby, W. J. Fuller, B. F. Gilman, T. P. Lind- ley, Martha Mann, Nettie L. Porter, F. B. Robinson, R. G. Siebecker, and Lewis E. Walker, as Bachelors of Science ; as Bachelor of Agriculture, W. W. Brown ; as Bachelor of Civil Engineering, W. H. Bradley ; as Civil Engineers, George P. Bradish, William Munroe, and John F. Albers ; and as Metallurgical Engineer, Oliver Matthews ; from the law department, Carroll Atwood, F. E. Briggs, F. C. Brooks, S. O. Campbell, T. H. Gill, L. P. Hale, J. S. Keyes, P. V. Lawson, J. R. Matthews, A. H. Noyes, R. E. Noyes, J. O'Connor, R. B. Salter, E. H. Sprague, E. A. Tucker, R. F. Wilbur, R. F. Pettigrew, and William Windsor, Jr.
1879-In arts, John Anderson, George M. Bascom, Clarence Dennis, Flora E. Dodge, Archibald Durrie, Oliver G. Ford, H. C. Martin, David Mason, Lewis Ostensen, and J. B. Simpson ; in letters, C. H. Albertson, Jennie Bascom, Mary Bunn, Belle Case, Lulu C. Dan- iels, Abby W. Jewett, E. J. Paul, Katharine C. Paul, Arthur Puls, Susie A. Sterling, George L. Voorhees, and Flora E. Dodge; in science, John G. Conway, A. G. Dennett, W. E. Den- nett, Ida M. Hoyt, J. H. Hutchinson, K. Knapp, R. M. La Follette, Jesse M. Meyer, E. B. Oakley, A. D. Prideaux, Edith M. Stearns, John W. Thomas, E. W. Davis, and, by special favor, J. W. Fisher ; in mining and metallurgy, C. R. Vanhise ; in law, W. H. Allen, Perry Baird, J. H. Berryman, H. S. Butler, George De Clerk, H. G. Dickie, S. A. Doolittle, J. A. Eggen, C. N. Harris, E. A. Hayes, F. N. Hendrix, J. W. Ivey, John Kelley, Jr., C. H. Ladd, G. L. Kurtz, P. H. Martin, Seth Mills, Howard Morris, C. H. Oakey, J. M. Olin, Jermain Post, A. C. Prescott, Tennis Slingerland, and Otto Peemiller, Thomas O'Meara ; in mining and metallurgy, Magnus Swenson ; in law, Neal Brown, Edmund Burdick, Charles Cicero Cal- kins, Clarence Luther Clark, Frederick King Conover, Galen Hiram Coon, Frank Cutter, Arthur Eugene Deming, Charles Lowell Dudley, Walter Scott Field, David Hadley Flett, Alfred Swift, Frank Schuyler, Grant Gilman, Charles Ford Harding, Jay Orley Hayes, Frederick Will- iam Henderson, Emmett Reuben Hicks, Henry L. Palmer Hillyer, Edward J. Hughes, Charles August Koeffler, Paul Theodore Krez, Alvin Ernest Mecartney, Horace Stevens Merwin, Arthur Loomis Sanborn, George Shaefer, Robert George Liebecker, Henry J. Taylor, Clinton Textor, John Charles Ticknor, Lewis Edward Walker, Charles Vining White, George Irving Wright.
1880-In arts. John Milton Dodson, Henry Baird Favill, Henry Decker Goodwin, Alvirus- Nelson Hitchcock, George Hofstetter, Judson Elijah Hoyt, Charles Francis Lamb, John Thomas Morgans, Alfred Patek, Henry Lewis Richardson, Frank H. Sawyer, Albert Edward Schaub, Darwin Wilfred Smith, Charles Gordon Sterling.
In Letters-Frank Benton Brundage, Edith J. Crosse, Maria Morrison Dean, Humphrey J. Desmond, Annie Beck Dinsdale, Mary Dunwiddie, Waldo Fisher, Rose Gifford, Edward F. Gleason, Emma Heller, Annie Isabella Home, Lonisa Martin, Viola Imogene Troy, Alice- Jessie Craig.
In Science-Jay William Hicks, James Gardiner Johnstone, Mary Agnes Nelson, Etna Joseph Wiswall, Alvin Webster Wohlford, Charles Richard Vanhise, Leonora Maxwell Northrop.
In Civil Engineering,-George Edward Morgan, Harry Brown Sturtevant, Archie O. Powell.
In Metallurgical Engineering-Magnus Swenson.
In Law-Neal Brown, Edmund Burdick, Charles C. Calkins, C. L. Clark, F. K. Conover, G. H. Coon, Frank Cutler, A. E. Deming, C. L. Dudley, W. S. Field, A. S. Frank, S. G. Gilman, C. F. Harding, J. C. Hayes, E. R. Hicks, H. L. P. Hillyer, E. J. Hughes, C. A. Hoeffler, P. T. Krez, A. E. Macartney, II. S. Merwin, A. L. Sanborn, George Shafer, R. G. Seibecker, H. J. Taylor, Clinton Textor, J. C. Tickner, L. E. Walker, C. V. White, George I. Wright, D. H. Flett and F. W. Henderson.
In Mechanical Engineering-William Sylvester Bliss.
The university courses are free to all within the State. To those belonging without the State tuition is, per term, $6.
Unusual advantages are offered by the university to young women. They have a range of studies and a quality of instruction equal to those of the very best American colleges, while the
447
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
expense is less than half that usually met with at seminaries and colleges for women. There is no distinction, in advantages, made between young men and young women. A young woman can take any of the courses, or select studies from any of them.
Ladies' Hall is a fine building, well furnished and well provided with all the conveniences and public rooms necessary for the comfort and profit of the students. All the expenses of a young woman, except those strictly personal, who boards in Ladies' Hall, need not exceed $185 per year.
First term-heating, lighting and rent in Ladies' Hall $20 00
15 00
Second term
Third term 16 15 00
Board in Ladies' Hall including washing of bedding, towels and napkins, per week 3 00
Personal washing, Ladies' Hall, per dozen
60
Instrumental music, 20 lessons. 10 00
Use of instrument, per term 2 00
Vocal music, 20 lessons
10 00
There is only one extra-music, and the instruction in that is of a very superior order.
II .- THE STATE LIBRARY.
This institution had its origin in the generous appropriation of $5,000 out of the general treasury, by Congress, contained in the seventeenth section of the organic act creating the Ter- ritory of Wisconsin. At the first session of the Territorial Legislature, held at Belmont in 1836, a joint resolution was adopted, appointing the Hon. John M. Clayton, of Delaware (through whose instrumentality the clause in the organic act making the appropriation was inserted), Hon. Lewis F. Lima, of Missouri, Hon. G. W. Jones, then Delegate in Congress from this Territory (which at that time included what now constitutes the State of Iowa as well as Wiscon- sin), and Hon. Peter Hill Engle, the Speaker of the first Territorial House of Representatives, a committee to select and purchase a library for the use of the Territory, and authorizing them to draw the sum appropriated for that purpose from the Federal Treasury. Mr. Engle was the act- ive member of the committee, and made the selections and purchases, with the approval of the other members. James Clarke, publisher of the Belmont Gazette, and first Territorial printer, was the first Librarian.
The first appropriation by the State to replenish the library was made in 1851. The sum of $2,500`was then appropriated, to be expended under direction of Gov. Dewey in the purchase of law books. Subsequently, in 1854, the sum of $3,000 was appropriated for law and miscel- laneous works ; and in 1857, the additional appropriation of $1,000 was made for the same purpose, together with a standing appropriation of $250 for such additions to the law and miscel- laneous departments of the library as might from time to time be deemed desirable.
In 1864, the annual appropriation was increased to $300, and two years later the additional sum of $600 was placed at the disposal of the Governor for the purpose of supplying deficiencies in the law department. These appropriations were continued until 1877, when the annual ap- propriation was increased to $1,500.
The purchase of miscellaneous works for the library was virtually discontinued in 1866, except that purchases were subsequently made for completing imperfect sets of works of refer- ence. In 1875, the miscellaneous works were transferred to the State Historical Society. Since that time, the condition of the library as a State law library has rapidly improved. It stands among the best in the States of the Great Northwest, and with its present resources will be able to maintain the high position it occupies.
Since the organization of State government, the following-named gentlemen have occupied the position of State Librarian : George P. Delaplaine, C. G. Mayers, Fritz Anneke, William Dudley, from 1852 to 1854; August Kreuer, from 1854 to 1856; Horace Rublee, from 1856 to 1860; Samuel C. Bean, from 1860 to 1863; O. M. Conover, from 1863 to 1874; Francis Massing, from 1874 to 1876 ; J. R. Berryman, from 1876 to date.
448
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
The whole number of volumes in the library at the present time is, in round numbers, 14,000. Rooms are set apart at in the capitol at Madison for use of the library.
III .- WISCONSIN STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
In 1854, L. J. Farwell sold to the State one hundred acres of land on the north side of Lake Mendota, in the town of Westport, for the location of the " Hospital for the Insane." It is about three miles from Madison by a direct line across the lake, and six miles by carriage road. The grounds also adjoin the track of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad. By an act of the Legislature, approved March 30, 1854, the Governor was authorized to appoint Commis- sioners to prepare plans and let a contract for the erection of a lunatic asylum, substantially on the plan of the asylum at Worcester, Mass., both in respect to design and expense. In pursu- ance of this act, Gov. Barstow appointed Commissioners and a Superintendent: The contract was awarded to Andrew Proudfit, and the work commenced. On the assembling of the Legisla- ture in 1855, that body annulled the contract on the ground that the plan adopted was much more extensive than had been authorized, and bore no particular resemblance to the Wor- cester asylum, as well as for other reasons. The result of this action was that the work was suspended.
By an act of the Legislature, approved March 6, 1857, the State Hospital for the Insane was established, and L. J. Farwell, John P. McGregor and Levi Sterling were appointed Com- missioners by the Governor. The Commissioners, at their first meeting, on the 5th of May, elected L. J. Farwell, President ; J. P. McGregor, Secretary, and Levi Sterling, Building Superintendent, and employed S. V. Shipman as architect.
The following is a synopsis of the plan of the buildings, as drawn by the architect, S. V. Shipman : The structure to consist of the center or main building, with two longitudinal and two transverse wings-the main building to be 65x127 feet; the longitudinal, each 41x92 feet, and the transverse wings 40x86 feet; the main building and transverse buildings are to be four stories high-cellar eight feet, first story twelve feet, the second of the main building fifteen feet, the third story thirteen feet and the fourth story eleven feet. The first, second and third stories of the wing will be twelve feet each ; the walls of the fourth, or attic story, will be ten feet. The main building and each of the transverse wings are to be surmounted by a cupola, that of the main building being fifty feet and of each wing twenty-seven feet above the roof.
After the adoption of plans, specifications and detail drawings, notice was published in every city in the State that proposals would be received until September 1 following for doing all the work and furnishing all the materials in accordance with the plans and specifi- cations.
On the 1st of September, the bids were opened and the contract awarded to Nelson McNiel, of Portage City, for building the central or main building, one longitudinal and one transverse wing for the sum of $73,500 ..
Mr. McNiel, after making some progress on the work, threw up his contract, which caused much delay in the completion of the building, and it was not until some time in 1860 that it was turned over to the Board of Trustees for the reception of patients.
An act was passed, approved April 11, 1861, during the last session of the Legislature, appropriating $40,000 for the enlargement of the building. That act authorized the Board of Trustees, or such committee as might be designated by them, to construct a longitudinal and transverse wing, to be located on the west side of the center building, corresponding in dimen- sions with the wings on the east side of the center building. In pursuance of a requirement of this act, the executive committee advertised for sealed proposals for furnishing materials and doing the work ; and, at the time designated in the advertisement, several proposals were laid before the board to be examined and their respective merits determined. After all of the proposals had been considered in reference to the price proposed and the general interests of the
449
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
institution, it was unanimously agreed and ordered that the mason-work and furnishing the materials therefor should be let to Joseph Parkins, of the County of Dane, for the sum of $20,- 500, and that the carpenter-work and painting and glazing, with the materials therefor, should be let to Bradley & Norton, of the city of Racine, for the sum of $9,450.
In accordance with the order, contracts were entered into between the executive committee and the aforementioned parties on the 6th day of June, 1861, and the requisite bonds to secure the completion of the contract and the faithful performance of the work were duly made and deposited by the several contractors.
The heating apparatus, gas pipes and fixtures, registers, window guards and sewerage were not included in either of the contracts just mentioned, as it was deemed advisable to have that work performed by the State, under the direction of the board, by purchasing the materials and hav- ing them fitted by persons in their employ. The Board of Trustees, in their annual report for 1861, speak of the commendable zeal of the contractors in the prosecution of the work, which was commenced on the 1st of June of that year, and which was so far advanced as to be roofed and inclosed before the winter set in.
The Legislature, at the session of 1866, passed an act approved April 11, for erecting one transverse and one longitudinal wing on the east side of the main building. On the 19th of June, proposals were received from contractors, and the contract was awarded to A. Proudfit for the mason work at $64,500, and Anderson, Davidson, & Co., carpenter work, $33,500, the whole amounting to $98,000.
The entire length of the hospital building is 569 feet, the center building being 65x120; the first longitudinal wing on each side of the center is 132 feet, and the last on each extremity is 119 feet. The transverse wings are 87 feet long. This elegant and commodious building is surrounded by ornamental grounds, wood and farming lands to the extent of 393 acres, and, with the extensions and improvements recently added, forms an asylum creditable to the enterprise and philanthropy of the people of Wisconsin, and well adapted for the care of the unfortunates needing their protection. The hospital will now accommodate comfortably 550 patients.
The Legislature of 1871 made some important changes in the law governing the hospital. The number of Trustees was reduced from fifteen to five, and required to meet quarterly instead of semi-annually, as formerly. And again, in 1872, this law was changed to embrace the gov- ernment of the Northern Hospital for the Insane.
All insane persons living within the limits of the following-named counties, will be received at the Wisconsin State Hospital as far as accommodations can be furnished :
Adams, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, La Fayette, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Richland, Rock, St. Croix, Sauk, Trempealeau, Vernon and Wal- worth.
J. Edwards Lee, M. D., was the first Medical Superintendent, having been elected by the first Board of Trustees, on the 22d of June, 1859, and the furniture and furnishing of the center building and first wing, and arrangements for the reception of patients were conducted under his supervision.
The second Board of Trustees, organized April 10, 1860, and on the 22d of May following appointed John P. Clement, M. D., to supersede Dr. Lee as Superintendent; and in June, 1860, Mrs. Mary C. Halliday was appointed Matron. The first patient was admitted July 14, 1860.
Dr. Clement resigned January 1, 1864, and from that time until April 20, the hospital was in charge of John W. Sawyer, M. D., Assistant Physician, when A. H. Van Norstrand, M. D., was elected Superintendent. Dr. Van Norstand resigned June 6, 1868, and was succeeded by A. S. McDill, M. D.
Dr. McDill resigned in October, 1872, and on the 29th of April, 1873, Mark Ranney, M. D., was appointed Superintendent, and entered upon his duties July 23.
450
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Dr. Ranney resigned and was succeeded by A. S. McDill, M. D., in April, 1875. Dr. McDill was removed by death November 12, 1875.
D. F. Boughton, M. D., who had served a number of years as Assistant Physician in the hospital, was chosen to fill the vacancy occasioned by Dr. McDill's death, and is still in charge of the institution.
The Trustees' Report of September 30, 1879, shows that there were in the hospital, on that day, 251 males and 256 females-total, 507.
The following table shows for each year the statistics of the hospital from July 14, 1860, when the first patient was admitted, to September 30, 1879 (end of the hospital year):
WHOLE NUMBER.
1860.
1861.
1862
1863.
1864.
1865.
1866.
1867.
1868.
1869.
1870.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.
1876.
1877.
1878.
1879.
Total.
Admitted
45 106
89 123 112
87
95
114 175
209 168 154 166 212 143 160 181 144 148 214
91 172 169 148 271 110 132 199 116 137 100
Recovered.
1
19
25
37
56
33
42
49|
55
51
53
54
60
39
31
32
34
45
35
37
783
Improved.
1
8
8
16
21
25
30
33
32
14
41
52
26
76
32
53
40
21
36
36
601
Unimproved
1
7
7
4
36
9
13
22
7
13
46
34
37
134
23
27 105
21
36
11
593
Died
1
10
21
9
17
13
7
10
15
13
32
29
25
22
24
20 20
28
30
16
362
Treated
45
47 192 254 300 257 272
455 532 524 521 585 457 507 557
498 530 607
Remaining at end of year.
23
49
62
59
44
57
57
95 109
82
81
92 115 73
82
99
78
82
83 58 111
1,375
Males discharged.
23
33
44
64
34
50
61
51
58
92
83
83 148
44
70
98
62
76
54
1,227
Females discharged.
4
21
28
22
66
46
42
53
58
33
80
86
65 123
66
62 101
54
61
46
1,118
Males died
199
Females died.
1
7
7
1
8
6
1
3
8
5
14
15
14
13
12
9 10
11
12
7
163
Males recovered.
13
12
24
23
16
19
30
25
31
31
23
33|
21
11
16
19
21
14
21
403
Females recovered.
6
13
13
33
17
23
19
30
21
22
31
27
18
20
16
15
24
21
16
385
Daily average each year
90
117 162 187 179 181 185
310 362 359 365 329 337 364 334 370 379 426
The cost of construction of the hospital, the current expenses, the whole number of patients, and the average number, have been, each year, as follows :
YEAR.
Conetruction.
Current Expeneee.
Total cost to the Statě.
Whole No. of patienta.
Average number.
1856
$224,925 33
$ 3,875 89
$ 228,801 22
45
7
1860
1861
20,724 24
21,602 18'
42,326 42
147
90
1862.
28,645 06
22,038 49
50,683 55
192
117
1863
7,074 54
31,706 36
38,790 90
254
162
1864.
3,351 25
35,311 12
38,662 37
300
187
1865
4,348 26
47,309 78
51,658 04
257
179
1866
2,091 20
40,495 60
42,586 80
272
181
1867
80,112 00
44,118 87
124,230 87
294
185
1868.
65,261 97
46,818 00
112,079 97
355
203
1869
35,857 63
71,320 08
107,177 71
455
310
1870.
15,361 52
80,518 37
95,879 89
532
362
1871
18,043 26
76,890 61
94,933 87
524
359
1872.
19,105 22
86,770 56
105,975 78
531
365
1873.
31,875 00
87,563 15
119,438 15
585
829
1874.
10,000 00
86,567 08
96,567 08
457
337
1875
4,000 00
63,500 00
67,500 00
507
364
1856
13,850 00
70,853 32
84,603 32
557
334
1877
11,500 00
89,501 79
101,001 79
498
370
1878.
96,338 59
96,338 59
530
380
1879
20,100 00
104,603 99
124,703 99
607
425
Total
$576,326 48
$1,207,783 13
$1,784,040 31
4
44
61
66 130
80
92 114 109
59
80 100
86
93
74
89
70
12
11 10
17
18
9
3
14
8
9
7
6
7
7
8
18
14
11
9
61 90 103
1,480
Females admitted
22
56
40
61
53
43
38
294 355
364 360 355 373 314 847 375 355 382 393 507
41 103 131 188 170 177 180 180 246
Males admitted.
50
1
...
2,855
Discharged.
2,345
203
AB Bowen het
MADISON.
453
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
IV .- STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM.
Gov. Fairchild, in his annual message to the Legislature in 1870, recommended the reduc- tion of each Board of Trustees, having charge of the State charities and institutions, to five, and the appointment of a State Board of Charities and Reform.
Although the suggestion was favorably received by the Legislature, the bill embodying his views, after passing one House, failed in the other, for want of time to reach it at the close of the session.
The recommendation was renewed in 1871, and an act was passed, Section 1 of which reads as follows:
SECTION 1. To the end that the administration of public charity and correction may be conducted on sound prin- ciples of economy, justice and humanity, and that the relations existing between the State and its dependent classes · may bs better understood, there is hereby created a State Board of Charities and Reform.
The act further made it the duty of the board "to investigate and supervise the whole system of charitable and correctional institutions supported by the State or receiving aid from the State Treasury ; to investigate into the condition of the poor-houses of the State, the cost of pauperism, and also to investigate the jails, city prisons, and houses of correction ; to look after the care of the insane, and ascertain if they are treated humanely ;" and, in general, the board was directed to ascertain for the information of the Legislature any important facts or considerations bearing upon the best treatment of criminals and the diminution of crime. The act further provided that the office of the board should be in Madison.
The board appointed by Gov. Fairchild consisted of the following-named persons : Willard Merrill, Janesville, for one year ; William C. Allen, Racine, for two years ; H. H. Giles, Madi- son, for three years ; Andrew E. Elmore, Fort Howard, four years; Mrs. Mary E. B. Lynde, Milwaukee, five years. It organized April 13, 1871, by the election of H. H. Giles as Presi- dent, William C. Allen as Vice President, and Samuel D. Hastings as Secretary. Willard Merrill was re-appointed in 1872, for five years; William C. Allen was re-appointed in 1873, for five years. In February, 1874, Mrs. Lynde and Messrs. Merrill and Allen sent their resig- nation to Gov. Taylor, and the vacancies created were filled by the appointment of Mrs. Lynde, of Milwaukee, W. W. Reed, M. D., of Jefferson, and E. E. Chapin, of Columbus. The term of H. H. Giles expired in April, 1874, and he was re-appointed by Gov. Taylor.
Under Chapter 414 of the laws of 1876, the board was re-organized, and Gov. Ludington appointed W. W. Reed, A. E. Elmore, Rev. H. C. Tilton, of Whitewater, and H. H. Giles and C. H. Haskins, of Milwaukee, to serve from one to five years, and in the order named. H. H. Giles was elected President, A. E. Elmore Vice President, and Theron W. Haight, of Wau- kesha, Secretary-the latter in place of Gen. A. C. Parkinson, who had served two years as Secretary.
In 1877, A. E. Elmore was elected President, and W. W. Reed, Vice President, and they have been re-elected at each annual meeting since.
In April, 1878, Mr. Haight resigned as Secretary, and Theodore D. Kanouse, of Watertown, was elected in his place. Mr. Kanouse resigned in September, 18/9, and H. H. Giles, a member of the board, was appointed for the balance of the year. In April, 1880, Rev. A. O. Wright, of Fox Lake, was elected Secretary.
In 1879, J. H. Vivian, M. D., of Mineral Point, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rev. H. C. Tilton, and in February, 1880, Mrs. E. B. Fairbanks was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. H. Haskins.
The board now (November, 1880,) consists of Mrs. Fairbanks, of Milwaukee, W. W. Reed of Jefferson, A. E. Elmore, of Fort Howard, J. H. Vivian, of Mineral Point, and H. H. Giles, of Madison.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.