History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 68

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

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The board supervises all the charitable and penal institutions of the State, as well as the jails and poor-houses. The private charitable institutions are also under its supervision.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Through the influence of the board, the prison management of the State Prison has been brought to a high standard of efficiency under the watchful care of a non-partisan Board of Directors. This of itself is a reform worth noting.

It has removed quite all the children from the poor-houses of the State, by procuring the passage of the act prohibiting their retention therein. This reform will in the future save more to the State than the entire cost of the board. It will diminish pauperism, and thus save the tax-payers. It has reformed the poor-houses of their dirt and filth. It has greatly improved the condition of the chronic insane in the poor-houses, so that now that class are quite as well cared for, at an expense of from $1 to $1.75 per week, as in the State Hospitals, at $4.25 to $4.75 per week.

The poor-houses are now as cleanly as the average homes of the people. It has reformed the county jails by the introduction of cleanliness and order, the separation of the sexes, where possible, the extermination of vermin, and improvement in ventilation. Through its influence, juvenile offenders are no longer confined in county jails, but sent at once to the Industrial School at Waukesha. All this has been done in the entire absence of authority, except to look into and inquire and report, the exercise simply of moral power.

It has introduced into the State institutions a uniform system of keeping the books and accounts, simple in detail and easily understood. It has reduced greatly the expenditures in the different State institutions, by requiring a detailed report of the expenditure of all the moneys placed in their keeping. This reduction in a single institution has equaled the entire expenses of the board. The cost to the State has averaged about $2,200 per year, and, outside of special investigations, it has cost less than $2,100, as gathered from the reports of the Secretary of State. No member of the board receives any pay, except when ordered by the Governor to make an investigation. The Secretary receives a salary of $1,500 per year, and devotes his whole time to the work, under the direction of the board.

All the county poor-houses are visited each year, and nearly all the jails. The State insti- tutions are visited twice in each year-once by the board, and once by each individual member, at times when not expected. No notice is given of these visits, except the annual one of the board in the fall. It has made several investigations that were ordered by the Governor.

A large amount of work has been done by this board-much of it the public know nothing about. Many complaints have been investigated and many evils reformed.

The board has not "sounded its horn," but quietly pursued its way ; has gained public confidence and become one of the permanent institutions of the State.

Gov. Smith said in his last message :

" The good they do is not so much talked about as the evil that may escape their notice."

This is the fate of all public servants.

V .- THE STATE FISH HATCHERY.

The first account of artificial impregnation of fish-eggs was given to the world late in the fourteenth century, and it is said to have been discovered by Don Pinchon, a French monk. The art seems to have been forgotten, if it had ever existed, till 1758, when it was revived by Jacobi and an account of it was published in German by Count Goldstein. The first practical use of the art was made in Hanover. In 1837, a Mr. Shaw, in Scotland, resorted to artificial impreg- nation for the purpose of restocking salmon streams. In 1811, Boccius, a civil engineer of Hammersmith, England, practiced the art with the trout. In 1842, Joseph Reney, a poor fish- erman in the Vosges, without any knowledge in respect to previous experiments, discovered the art and restocked the Moselle and other streams, gaining thereby, his livelihood. Prof. Caste, of the College of France, gave to the enterprise his sanction, and this gave rise to the modern industry of fish culture. This business is carried on extensively and profitably throughout Central Europe, and is patronized by the Governments of the Great Powers. One establish- ment at Hunnigen, Germanv, with its buildings and ponds, covers eighty acres.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

About twelve years ago, the attention of the New England States and New York was called to this subject, owing to the alarming depletion of their streams in producing fish food. Scien- tific and practical labors were vigorously entered upon, and, availing themselves of the experi- ments made by European Governments, a system of State Fish Commissions was set on foot by interested parties, and by the aid of public money those depleted waters have been brought back to their maximum supply of fish. Gradually State Fish Commissions have increased, until now a number of them are in existence. The Dominion of Canada, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the headwaters of the lakes, manifests a lively interest in artificial fish propagation, and has several large artificial hatcheries, one of which is located at Windsor, opposite Detroit, where from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 of whitefish are annually hatched and planted in Detroit River.

The great success resulting from the artificial propagation of fish in Europe, and an inquiry into the cause of the rapid and alarming decrease in the number of fish in the United States waters, led to the organization of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries in 1871. Congress, in the year 1879, appropriated to the United States Fishery Commission $75,000. This was mainly expended in scientific researches respecting the fish, its habits and causes of deple- tion, and in aiding the States provided with Fish Commissions by donating to them the impreg- nated ova of the better varieties.

Wisconsin is one of the most favored States, all things considered, for fish culture in the Union, Michigan and Minnesota being her only rivals.

The first appropriation made by the Legislature of Wisconsin for the purpose of fish culture was in 1873, when the sum of $500 was placed at the disposal of the Commissioner of Fisheries for the United States. In 1874, the Wisconsin Commission was organized and the sum of $360 appropriated to pay current expenses and supply tbe wants of the Commissioner. In 1875, the appropriation was increased to $2,000, by which the Commission was placed upon a sound finan- cial basis, and in a condition to commence work for which it was designed. From that time can be reckoned the beginning of fish culture by the State. In 1876, the sum appropriated was $10,000. It became at the same time the duty of the Commissioners to purchase a site for a State Hatching-House, and to erect thereon a hatching-house, tenement, ponds, and to equip the hatching-house for hatching purposes and in all practical ways to procure spawns and fish to be disposed of in furtherance of the purposes of the law.

In 1876 was completed the purchase of the grounds, the erection of the buildings, and the construction of the ponds (seven in number) of the Madison Hatchery, and that year witnessed the first hatch of fry at that locality, the distribution of which began in the spring of 1877. Prior to the fall and winter of 1876, the hatching had been conducted in private establishments.

The grounds purchased were located in the town of Fitchburg, Dane County-a tract known as the " Nine Springs," on Section 3, about three miles southwest of the city of Madison. The tract consists of a fraction less than forty acres, and the price paid was $35 an acre.

The Commissioners established a temporary hatching house at Milwaukee for the hatching of spawn of the whitefish and lake trout. "The Common Council and the Board of Public Works of that city gave space in their water-works building for that purpose, with permission to draw all the water required for hatching purposes from their reservoirs.

In 1377, $8,000 were appropriated by the State to the object of fish culture in Wisconsin. A like sum was also given in 1878, and the Commission re-organized, increasing the number of members from four to seven, the Governor remaining, as before, a member ex officio.

By the purchase of three acres and a fraction, the site of the hatchery, near Madison, is now made to contain forty-three acres, with as fine springs as are in the State or in the North- west, and wonderfully adapted for the purposes of the Commission. Improvements have also been made and two additional ponds constructed. The temporary hatching establishment at Milwaukee is still continued. The appropriation for the year 1879 by the State amounted to $8,000; for 1880, $2,000.

The Commissioners of Fisheries of Wisconsin, who have served in that capacity since the passage of the law, in 1874, authorizing their appointment, are as follows : William Welch, A.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Palmer, P. R. Hoy, H. F. Dousman, Moses Hooper, Mark Douglas,* John F. Antisdel,* Chris- topher Hutchinson, * J. V. Jones,* Philo Dunning* and C. L. Valentine .* Govs. Ludington and Smith* have also served as ex officio members under the law making them such. M. D. Comstock and H. W. Welsher have served as Superintendents of the Wisconsin Fish Commis- sion, the latter being still in office.

VI .- THE SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME.

Among all the noble women who gave themselves to the sanitary work of the war, perhaps few were more peculiarly fitted for forming and carrying out plans than Mrs. C. A. P. Harvey. The thrill of horror with which the people of Wisconsin learned that their Governor, Louis P. Harvey, had been drowned at Savannah, Tenn., was one of those things never to be forgotten by the residents of the State. His self-appointed work had been the care of our soldiers after the fearful conflicts at Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh, and out of this grew the career of his stricken wife. At her own request, she soon received from Gov. Salomon a commission to act as one of the sanitary agents of the State.

In the performance of duties thus assumed by her, she found many Northern men languish- ing in Southern hospitals, whose lives depended upon their removal to a more invigorating cli- mate. Becoming convinced of this, she went to Washington, and, by her almost unaided efforts, procured the establishment of a convalescent hospital at Madison, Wis. The building thus used, and known as Harvey Hospital, had been built for a residence by Gov. Farwell, and by its high, spacious and airy rooms, with ample communications between them, was admirably fitted for hos- pital purposes. After it was no longer needed for this use, Mrs. Harvey conceived the idea of converting it into a home for soldiers' orphans.

Upon her return from the South, in 1865, Mrs. Harvey brought with her a half-dozen orphans of the war, whom she had picked up, not inquiring on which side their fathers fell. Chiefly through her persistency and indomitable will, the United States Government was induced to convey to the State of Wisconsin the three wings of the building which had been rented as hospital wards, and all the fixtures and supplies, provided the State would purchase the building and grounds. Before this arrangement was completed, however, necessary funds were raised by private subscriptions, and the Home was opened January 1, 1866, with eighty-four orphan inmates, and Mrs. Harvey at its head.

The first bill for a Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Wisconsin was introduced in the Assembly in 1865; but the law authorizing its establishment was enacted by the Legislature of 1866, although the Home was opened January 1 of that year. The amount received from private subscriptions was $12,834.69. The property was purchased by the State for $10,000, and the Home became a State institution March 31, 1866. Under, the direction of Mrs. Harvey and a board of trustees, the building was thoroughly refitted and furnished. On the 1st of May, 1867, Mrs. Harvey resigned as Superintendent, and Henry Harnden as Financial Agent. F. B. Brewer succeeded Mrs. Harvey, and Mrs. Brewer was appointed Matron. Mr. Brewer resigned the 1st of January, 1868, and I. N. Cundall was elected to the position of Superin- tendent. After filling it over a year, he resigned, and was succeeded by W. P. Towers, Mary Towers, his wife, taking the place of Mrs. Brewer, as Matron. Mr. Towers resigned March 1, 1872, and was succeeded by R. W. Burton. Mrs. Burton was the successor of, Mrs. Towers as Matron. Mr. and Mrs. Burton continued to occupy their respective positions until the Home was finally closed.

The orphans were not only maintained, but educated and brought up to habits of industry.

Under the law of 1870, six of the pupils of the Home were sent to the Normal School at Whitewater to be educated at the expense of the State for two years, the expense not to exceed $200 per year for each pupil.

During the year 1871, one of the boys of the Home, Mendel P. Blakesley, of Patch Grove, was recommended by the examiners as a suitable candidate for the naval school at

* Still in office.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Annapolis, and in June he went there, passed the examination at the school, and was appointed by President Grant.

In the same year, the Home received $23,000 in bonds and $554.97 accrued interest, after paying all the expenses in securing this magnificent bequest; which was the Home's share of nearly $100,000 left by Horatio Ward, deceased, an eminent American banker, who died in London, Eng., to the various Homes that have been formed throughout the loyal States for the orphans by the late war for the restoration of the Union. The philan- thropic testator expressed his desire as to the disposition of this fund as follows: "I judge that the interest only, for a time, will be used, and that the bequest will be so managed as to give the orphans, as they become of age, a sum of money to fit them out in life, and thus gradually extinguish the fund."

The Legislature of 1871 enacted a law to the effect that, after September, that year, all chil- dren remaining in the Home should become the wards of the State, and that the State Board of Charities and Reform should be their legal guardians, with authority to bind out any of the children to such trade or occupation as was deemed best, and to exercise a close supervision over their interest and safety, during their minority.

On the 30th of September, 1873, there were 153 children in the Home. The Legislature of 1872 appropriated $30,000 for the current expenses, and, in 1873, $20,000 for the same purpose.

But the number of the orphans now continually decreased, owing to the fact that homes were found for many, while some were returned to their mothers; none were kept in the Home after they reached the age of fifteen years, except in special cases. At length, when the num- ber had diminished to less than forty children, it was thought best to close the institution. This was in 1875. The whole number of orphans cared for during the continuance of the Home was about seven hundred.

The Legislature then transferred the Home to the Regents of the University of Wisconsin, authorizing them to establish, as contemplated by the reconstruction act of 1866, a medical col- lege or course of lectures upon all branches usually taught in such an institution, when, in their judgment, such college should be required by the medical profession of the State. But the Presi- dent of the University, in his report for 1875, said: " The time does not seem to have arrived for the establishment of a medical department. Such a college, if established, should certainly be located at Milwaukee, as affording, by its size, far more clinical advantages than Madison, or than any othre place within the State. We should be glad to unite a medical college in Milwaukee to the Uni- versity ; and should hope both to aid it and receive aid from it." In 1876, an act was passed authorizing the sale of the Home by the Regents, or its use for any purpose they might deem expedient. It has since been disposed of, and a Norwegian seminary established therein. This institution is elsewhere described.

The following extract from the last report of the Trustees of the Home gives some additional particulars :

" Immediately after the closing of the war, Mrs. L. P. Harvey and other benevolent citi- zens began to organize the sympathetic interest which all good citizens felt for the welfare of the children whose fathers had lost their lives in defense of national unity. Voluntary sub- scriptions were invited for the purpose of providing a home for these children, and over $12,000 were subscribed and collected. Mrs. Harvey and B. F. Hopkins solicited from the Secretary of War the use of the buildings on the shores of Lake Monona, at Madison, which were owned and had been occupied by the General Government during the war as a military hospital, and in which to gather the soldiers' orphans.

" The use of the building was granted, and there, during the fall of 1865, the altar of the Home of Wisconsin Soldiers' Orphans was erected. On the 31st of March, 1866, the Legisla- ture made an appropriation of $10,000 for the purchase of the building, adopted the Home, and provided by law for its government. All soldiers' orphans whose fathers had enlisted in the State were invited to participate in the benefits of this home, where generous maintenance and

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IHISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

good common-school privileges were provided; $12,000 were expended in a substantial school building. Nine years afterward, in the spring of 1875, the home was abandoned and the prop- erty transferred to the Regents of the State University. For each one who was an inmate at that time, having no home, one was provided; those having friends or relatives, were taken in charge by them, and, by way of aid, $5 per month was paid by the State to the guardian or parent until each of the children had arrived at the age of fourteen years. There were admitted into the home, during its existence, six hundred and eighty-three children. Of these, twenty who wished to qualify themselves for teachers, were given the opportunity of a full course at the State Normal Schools, in addition to several years' attendance at the home school. The amount of the appropriations made by the Legislature for the support of these children and for their education and care, including cost of buildings, from the date of the first act of adoption, March 31, 1866, until the close of the trust so far as the State is concerned, December 31, 1879, was $342,300."

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

CHAPTER VII.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY-WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-WISCONSIN STATE HOR- TICULTURAL SOCIETY-WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS AND LETTERS-THIE OLD AND THE NEW CAPITOL-THE CAPITOL GROUNDS-DANE COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY-POLITICAL DIVI- SIONS-UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The organization of an historical society for Wisconsin had been the subject of public dis- cussion during 1845 and 1846, and, in October of the latter year, a meeting was held for that purpose at Madison. A. Hyatt Smith was chosen President; Messrs. Doty and Burnett, Vice Presidents ; Thomas W. Sutherland, Secretary ; E. M. Williamson, Treasurer; all to hold their respective appointments until the annual meeting, which was fixed for January, 1847. At the first annual meeting, Morgan L. Martin was chosen President, and the other officers were re-elected. The second annual meeting, in January, 1848, was slimly attended, but the organi- zation was not abandoned, and W. R. Smith was chosen President for the ensuing year. The success of the society had not, so far, met the expectations of its founders and friends, and, in January, 1849, a meeting was held for the purpose of creating a new organization, with a view to increasing the membership and to secure a more efficient co-operation in the collection of ma- terial for such a society on the part of early settlers and prominent citizens throughout the State. A new organization was effected; the Governor, Nelson Dewey, was made ex officio President of the society ; I. A. Lapham, Corresponding Secretary ; Charles Lord, Recording Secretary, and one Vice President was chosen for each of the twenty-five counties then organ- ized. When L. J. Farwell became Governor of the State, and President of the Society, in 1852, he directed a full set of the Territorial and State laws and journals to be placed in the society's library. These, together with two volumes of Proceedings of the American Ethnological Society, presented by Frank Hudson, comprised the total works in the library in October, 1852.

After a newspaper discussion, during a part of 1853, regarding some minor differences, the Society was re-organized in January, 1854, under a charter obtained from the Legislature in March, 1853, when W. R. Smith was chosen President ; J. W. Hunt, Librarian ; O. M. Con- over, Treasurer ; Charles Lord, Recording Secretary; Lyman C. Draper, Corresponding Sec- retary ; and S. H. Carpenter, Librarian. In 1855, Daniel S. Durrie was chosen Librarian ; Messrs. Durrie and Draper have ever since held their respective offices. From the date of its re-organization to the present time, the society has had a prosperous career. It occupies the second floor of the south wing of the State House for its collections. Its officers claim to have 90,000 books, pamphlets and documents. There are collected here files, more or less complete, of nearly all the newspapers of the State. The Society has accumulated a number of prehistoric copper implements and Indian relics, and has published eight volumes of historical collections. Many portraits of pioneers and noted citizens belong to the society. The library has, by action of the society and the State, become, for all practical purposes, a State library. Liberal appropria- tions for the purchase of books and for the salaries of its officers, are made by the Legislature annually.

The officers of the society from its first organization are as follows : Presidents-A. Hyatt Smith, 1846 ; Morgan L. Martin, 1847; William R. Smith, 1848; Nelson Dewey, 1849-51;

*This society aod the three following ones are not, strictly speaking, State institutions, as they are not supported wholly by funds from the treasury of Wieconein, end are uoder control of officers not appointed by the State. Each one, however, is located at Madison, the Capital of the State, where it has its yearly meetinge .- En.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Leonard J. Farwell, 1852-53; William R. Smith, 1854-61; Increase A. Lapham, 1862- 71; Alexander Mitchell, 1872-77 ; Cadwalader C. Washburn, 1878-80.

Secretary-Thomas W. Sutherland, 1846-48.

Recording Secretary-Rev. Charles Lord, 1849-54; Dr. John W. Hunt, 1855-59; Stephen V. Shipman, 1860-61; Frank H. Firmin, 1862-65; Stephen V. Shipman, 1866- 71; Frank H. Firmin, 1872-80.

Corresponding Secretary-Increase A. Lapham, 1849-52; Horace A. Tenney, 1853; Lyman C. Draper, 1854-80.

Treasurer-E. M. Williamson, 1846-52 ; Albert C. Ingham, 1853; O. M. Conover, 1854-68 ; A. H. Main, 1869-80.

Librarian-John W. Hunt, 1853-54; Stephen H. Carpenter, 1855; Daniel S. Durrie, 1856-1880.

WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The permanent organization of the society was effected March 12, 1851, by the election of Erastus W. Drury, of Fond du Lac, President, and of A. C. Ingham, of Madison, Dane Co., Secretary. The first State Fair was held at Janesville, Rock Co., October, 1851, with an address by John H. Lathrop, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin. Henry M. Billings, of Highland, was President in 1852; Elisha W. Edgerton, of Summit, in 1853, 1854 and 1855; Harvey Durkee, of Kenosha, in 1856; J. F. Willard, of Janesville, in 1857, 1858 and 1859; B. R. Hinkley, of Summit, from 1860 to 1872; William R. Taylor, of Cottage Grove, was elected President for 1873, but, having been elected Governor of the State, he resigned at the first meeting of the board in 1873; Eli Stilson, of Oshkosh, was President from 1873 to 1877, inclusive ; N. D. Fratt, of Racine, was elected for 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881. Albert C. Ingham was Secretary in 1851, 1852, 1853 and 1854; George O. Tiffany, of Madison, in 1855, 1856 and 1857 ; D. J. Powers, of Madison, in 1858 and 1859; John W. Hoyt, of Madison, from 1860 to 1871, inclusive ; W. W. Field, of Boscobel, from 1872 to 1877, inclusive; George E. Bryant, of Madison, was elected Secretary for 1878, 1879 1880 and 1881. Chauncey Abbott was Treasurer in 1851; Simeon Mills in 1852 and 1853; Samuel Marshall, 1854, 1855; D. J. Powers, 1856, 1857; David Atwood, 1858 to 1870, inclusive; Harrison Ludington, 1871, 1872; F. J. Blair, 1873 to 1877, inclusive; Cyrus Miner, 1878 to 1881, inclusive.

From the above it will be seen that the society has entered upon its thirtieth year; that all of its secretaries, with the exception of W. W. Field, have been citizens of Dane County. The society owns fair grounds in connection with Dane County near the University of Wisconsin. It has held twenty-seven exhibitions, nine of which have been held in Madison, and its officers say with pride that they have never compromised a debt or a premium, but have always paid at the rate of a hundred cents on the dollar. The society has printed eighteen volumes of five hundred pages each. Seven thousand of these volumes are yearly distributed to the people of the State. While the society is in effect a State institution, its home is in Dane County, and the yearly exhibits of the citizens of the county show that they appreciate it and believe in its good works. It has commodious rooms in the Capitol, which are much visited by people from abroad. It has a library of fifteen hundred volumes, a fine mineral collection and some exhibits of works of art. It is a department of the State that all its people should foster, for, while Wisconsin has some grand commercial cities, her greatness and glory will depend largely upon the tillers of her soil.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 68

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