USA > Wisconsin > Door County > History of Door county, Wisconsin, together with biographies of nearly seven hundred families, and mention of 4,000 persons > Part 12
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In early days the basis for running a newspaper in Door county was somewhat different from the present data. Then
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
a muskrat skin, or owl wing would pay for a good sized adver- tisement, while a cord of rotten green wood dumped in front of the office door stood for two years subscription. The former practice is no longer a standard, but the latter barbarious act has beencontinued up to the present day of civilization. A score of yearsago, as now, delinquent tax lists, sheriff and . mortgage sales kept newspaper publishers out of the poor house (belonging to the same family as do druggists, doctors, and lawyers)-they live mostly on the misfortunes of the gen- eral public.
THE FERRY.
From the time white men first began to traverse Door county, the waters of Sturgeon Bay have occupied the attention of the inhabitants not a little. The bay, before the canal was dug, cut the county nearly in two, and the transportation of men, horses, wagons, etc., from one bank to the other, was a task that consumed time and cost money. As early as 1859 steps were taken to establish a regular ferry line, and the County Board granted a ferry license or charter to E. S. Fuller. The license or charter was drawn, which provided that said Fuller should furnish and keep in repairs sufficient boats and scows for the accommodation of the travelling public. In the spring of 1860 Mr. Fuller started the first regular ferry, fully equipped, and plyed the boats between his lime kiln, on the west side of the bay, and what is now known as the grist mill dock, on the east bank of the bay. For passengers he had the usual style of boats, but for transferring teams, wagons, etc., the craft was a singular one. It was constructed of two large canoes, which ran parallel, and were fastened together with large beame, covered with close planking. It is stated that this ingenius structure worked well, and was a good transport for teams and articles of considerable weight; and it towed much easier than the usual scow model. The rates of fare were: team and wagon, 50 cents; foot passengers, 10 cents. Mr. Fuller's charter was for three years.
After Mr. Fuller's charter expired, Mr. E. T. Schjoth was made ferryman, and the landing moved half a mile farther up toward the head of the bay, the ferry running from Schjoth's dock, on the west side of the bay, to what is now the S. B. L. Co.'s dock, on the east bank of the bay-making the passage much shorter than the Fuller route. For carrying teams, Mr. Schjoth used the ordinary build of scows, and when a team was transferred passengers were expected to lend a helping hand on the mammoth oars that moved the scows-the usual fare being collected, also. Some years later Mr. Schjoth had a rope stretched across the bay from the east to west bank,
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THE COUNTY SEAT.
and the scow was taken from one side of the bay to the other by "over-hand pulling" on the rope.
The hand ferrying worked very well for a while, but the increase of travel demanded a faster and more certain means of transfer. Consequently, in 1873 the County Board appoint- ed a committee to draft rules and regulations governing a steam ferry. The rules drawn were: "The ferry is to be kept running at all times during the day, from 5 o'clock A. M. to 8 o'clock P. M., as may be required or necessary; the total rate of fare to be: One span of horses or oxen, wagon and driver, 25 cents; single horse, wagon or buggy, and driver, 20 cents; foot passengers 5 cents." A notice for proposals to build or establish a steam ferry was advertised, but without effect. Finally, in the latter part of the year 1873, Mr. Robert Noble made a proposition to establish a steam ferry, which proposi- tion was accepted by the Board-Mr. Noble to run the ferry and collect as toll the rates given above. A ten years ferry license or charter was given him, and Mr. Schjoth stepped down and out at the close of navigation, 1873. During the winter of '73-'4 the present steam ferry Ark was built, and put into commission at the opening of navigation, 1874, and since that date has been a good public servant.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
In the organization of the county, in 1851, the county seat was located at a certain place in the forest, in the vicinity of what is now Bailey's Harbor township. A Mr. Sweet, who had purchased a large tract of land in Bailey's Harbor, was the main worker in getting the county organized, and the county seat located. No doubt that at that time he saw in the dim distance a city covering his lands; the streets long and wide, with large stores and business houses looming up on either side; magnificent county buildings as a background, and him- self a bonanza king. * * * Time rolled on, and in two or three seasons Mr. Sweet's property went into the hands of Alexander Mitchel, the well known Milwaukee banker. No steps were taken to carry out the county seat organization, nor were any town or county officers elected. Four or five years afterward, or in November, 1856, the early settlers of Sturgeon Bay (then called Otumba) resolved to carry out the organization, and proceeded to take the legal and necessary course to remove the county seat from Bailey's Harbor to Stur- geon Bay. Messrs. A. G. and W. H. Warren, Joseph Harris, Sr., and John Garland were the main active ones, and they accom- plished their purpose. At that time Sturgeon Bay was in its infancy, and the total value of property would not exceed, in dollars, what is now owned by any one of the main companies
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
now carrying on business here. The "county buildings" were structures that in this day many of our county farmers would not use to shelter cattle, and the jail was a root house. A few years later the building now known as the "old court house" was occupied; a log jail built, and the outfit was considered "pretty comfortable." But with years of use the old court house became uncomfortable, and was too small. In 1878-'9 a new brick court house was built, and now Door county has a building, for its size, not excelled in the State. The jail, however, is, if possible, inferior to the pioneer root house. A decade ago the county officers occupied a humble building, but for their services received a large salary. To-day the true American principle is adopted, and the county officials occupy a magnificent building, but their pay is humble, compared with the salary paid in by-gone years. Sturgeon Bay has grown from a settlement of a hand ful of inhabitants to a thriving place with a population of an even 1,200 the 1st day of June, 1880. The branches of business carried on in Stur- geon Bay, will be found in the county directory, which appears among the last pages of this book.
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
The Sturgeon Bay Library Association was incorporated by act of the Legislature passed March 17th, 1866. The charter members were D. A. Reed, D. H. Rice, Wm. K. Dresser, George Pinney, G. W. Allen, Joseph Harris, Sr., W. H. Wead, Henry Schuyler, John Garland, and E. M. Squire. The spirit which inspired these charter members no longer inspires their asso- ciates and successors. The minutes of the society show that for several years after its incorporation the association held public weekly meetings, at which these pioneers, improved and amused themselves and the country by heavy debates, resolving. that "Capital punishment should be abolished," that "Women should vote," that "the President of the United States should be impeached" and that the society was the custodian of the welfare of the country generally. Sometimes when the debate ought to have begun and time was called, if the con- batants were not ready to come to the scratch, the assembly did not spend a profitless evening, by any means, but they selected one of their number to read an instructive and enter- taining article from one of the numerous patent office reports which then, as now, garnished the shelves of the library. Not only were there debates and select readings, but the exercises were varied by recitations, essays and songs-but no prayers. The interest in those public meetings languished and died out in 1872; or about that time. It was a gradual decline. A few patriotic members however, still hung on and once a year met
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AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
and elected themselves officers of the association. By figur- ing and scraping and appealing to the patriotism of our rep- resentatives in congress and at Madison, the shelves of the library were loaded with session laws, messages and docu- ments, blue books, patent office reports and other valuable reading matter until there were over 300 volumes in the lib- rary. This entitled the association to receive from the State all books published by authority of the State and, on making the proper application, a full set of Wisconsin reports was added to the library. In 1879 an effort to revive the public meetings of the society was made. There were two entertain- ments, two fizzles and one smash. It was not for want of an appreciative audience, but for failure on the part of the appointed performers. At present, although there are no pub- lic meetings, the library association is thriving. Within a few weeks some 80 new volumes have been added to the library, and the members can now entertain themselves with reading the writings of Irving, Hawthorne, Scott, Holland, George Elliott and many other standard authors. Any one can become a permanent member of the society by paying three dollars in cash or by donating three dollars worth of books,-or a tempo- rary member by paying a smaller sum according to the time and depositing the value of the book drawn. The society has in its treasury about seventy dollars which will shortly be invested in books.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Notwithstanding the many obstacles that confronted, and made farm progress slow with the pioneer settlers, every year added more acres of tillable land to each farmer's clearing, and by 1865 Door county began to "look up" as an agricultural district. It was in November 1865, that the Door county Agri- cultural Society was organized under the provisions of Chap- ter 80, of the revised statues for the year 1858. The headquar- ters of the Society were at Sturgeon Bay, the county seat.
To be sure, the first exhibition in '66 was not a "mammoth affair," but what there was it was good, and the Society was placed square upon its feet. For some years afterwards the fairs grew finely, and a general interest was taken-farmers bringing in their big squashes, lucious watermelons, fine wheat, good corn, choice varieties of oats, barley and rye, new and productive kinds of potatoes, hardy and well adapted fruits of all kinds, while the excellent quality of Door county maple sugar sweetened the whole affair. The useful house- wife ornamented the hall with elegant bed quilts, warm mit- tens, and an excellent display of all kinds of needle work. Young maidens of sweet sixteen championed and made close competition for exhibiting the best loaves of bread. In fact,
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
the flower of usefulness bloomed promiscously all over the county, and every one seemed anxious to sow a larger amount of the seed each succeeding year. Finally a fair exhibition of cattle, horses, sheep, and swine could be seen at the annual meeting of the Door County Agricultural Society. Then skilled work began to be placed on exhibition, and mechani- cal ingenuity stood prominent in the general display. Pro- gress moved on, and small prizes were awarded for speed horses owned in the county, and making a reasonable record at the Fair trots. Various difficult and amusing feats were introduced, and prizes awarded to "those who came out top of the heap." In fact, Door county Fairs became quite popular with the general public, and the outlook for permenancy was being well grounded.
But alas, that injurious element (jealousy) that gnaws at the vitals, and when once rooted will poison any public organiza- tion, began to get a good hold and grew in the Agricultural Society. Then politics-which in local affairs, is cussed and foxy-began to work indirectly at the Fairs, and the annual meetings began to contract, experience cramps of disorganiza- tion, and in 1880 no fair was held.
However, there has always been a few old "true blues," and it is to be hoped that they will exert themselves to the utmost the coming season, and again set the Agricultural Society back on its foundation. Once again fastened on the wheels of progress, the Fair could be made better than ever; united action, floated on the wings of "pull together." would revive the Agricultural Society, with honor to the people and credit to the county.
CHURCHES AND LODGES.
With the advancement of the county, the different religious denominations began to do missionary work at various parts of the county. At as early date as 1853 and '54 gospel preach- ir g was not unfrequent. To-day nearly every settlement in thi county has one or more churches. At the present time the Roman Catholic creed undoubtedly has a larger following than all other churches combined. The different churches in the Scandinavian tongue have a large membership, while the Methodist, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Episcopal, Luth- eran, etc., have many supporters.
LODGES.
The first lodge or secret society of importance that was established in the county was that of the "Good Templars" in 1864, with headquarters at Sturgeon Bay. It was a temperance institution, which became vigorous and grew in membership for several years. Then discord began to take the place of
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AMUSEMENTS.
peace, and a second lodge was established-but personal strife instead of temperance was the main work of the majority of the leaders, and the usual result of wrangling came-both lodges defuncked. A lodge was also organized at Fish Creek, but it followed the path of the Sturgeon Bay lodges.
1n 1878 a "Temple of Honor" lodge was started, which was another champion of temperance. For a time the Temple flourished, but before the year 1878 drew to a close, the Temple of Honor, as an organization in Sturgeon Bay, had collapsed, and was no more.
In 1878 the Henry S. Baird Lodge of F. & A. M. was started in Sturgeon Bay. Also the Order of the Sons of Hermann. Both organizations are in a flourishing condition, and gaining members.
AMUSEMENTS.
Even as far back as when salt and potatoes was the only eatables "those the best off" in Door county could get, amuse- ments were not lost sight of. True, broadcloth clothes, stand- up collars, dyed mustaches, gold-plated watch chains and twenty-five cent diamond rings were not so commonly worn by gentlemen as in thsse modern days; neither did the ladies wear so many silk dresses, false hair, jewelry, and put on man- ners as do many of the piano thumpers of to-day, but for real fun, the men who wore blue and brown overalls, coupled with ladies donned with dresses of home made cioth the "old times" but twenty in number could kick more enjoyment out of the same number of hours than a whole regiment of 1880 society -a dollar molasses pull had a greater amount of sweetness in it than a hundred dollar party of this decade.
But with the change of date comes modification in amuse- ment. The "shin dig" has been changed to a "social ball," or "grand hop;" a "gathering for a sing" to a "sociable;" "back- door exercise" to a "circus," where the clown sings foolish pieces, and the audience pronounce it "grand;" etc. But such is modern improvement! and we all take a hand in it-the old and young; from all nations and localities-Door county not being an exception.
However, lumbering is carried on quite extensively in the county yet, and in the lumbering camps the amusement is more of the "old time style," and really our lumbermen find life in the woods far pleasanter than those unused to that sort of business generally believe it to be; but those who have been initiated, and have spent a winter or two among the pines long to go into camp again when the logging season commences. True, they have to work hard, both early and late, but then there is a lot of fun in this kind of life that can be found no
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
where else, and those who have once enjoyed it are always anxious to do so some more. It is a kind of jolly free life, which, when once tasted, is not soon forgotten and is always enjoyable. Instead of being a dull life-filling the boys with ennui, and disgust, it is the very reverse-life, fun and frolic intensified with a variety that does not clog or flag. The hard labor of the day gives a greater zest for the music, songs, games and dances of the evening and these in turn bring rest to the weary laborer, and sweet sleep that restores the strength and elasticity to the body and mind, and preparing them for the next day's labor. This goes on day after day and evening, through the winter, and makes the boys long for the return of the logging season. None but those who have been there know the pleasure and benefit of a good dance, at least one evening in a week, in the logging camps. The boys will work the better for it, and be anxious to come again. Like the natives of the West India Iles who rise early and commence work that daylight may come, the loggers will put in their time with greater energy under the belief that the week will roll 'round quicker than when time hangs heavily on their hands for the want of something exciting. So they push for- ward their work that they may have a good rollicking dance on Saturday night. In this way all interested are benefitted, and the winter passes off profitably as well as pleasant.
THE CANAL. -
Of public improvements, the Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michi- gan Ship Canal is the most important and costly within the boundaries of Door county. By Chapter 365 of private and local laws, of Wis. for 1864, the present Canal Company was incorporated. It names William B. Ogden, Freeland B. Gard- ner, Thomas H. Beebe, Jesse Spaulding and A. E. Goodrich, of Chicago, Alexander Mitchell, Anson Eldred and Daniel Wells, of Milwaukee, Joseph Harris and George Bennett, of Sturgeon Bay, A. P. Lyman, of Sheboygan, Charles D. Robinson, Henry S. Baird, George Strong, Andrew E. Elmore, H. F. Waring, Jas. S. Baker, and F. S. Schettler, of Green Bay, W. M. Whitcomb and Uri Balcom, of Oconto, Edwin C. French, of Peshtigo, Andrew Reed, of Depere, Richard S. Fay, of Boston, George P. Smith, of Philadelphia, Elisha Riggs, of Washington, D. C., J. S. Speirgelberg and David Magie, of New York, Elias Gill, of Hartford, and Wm. G. McMaster, of Lockport, as incorporators of the company, and confers on them the usual powers of body- corporate. The act also names William B. Ogden, F. B. Gard- ner, Thomas H. Beebe, Joseph Harris, George Bennett, Alexan- er Mitchel, Charles D. Robinson, H. S. Baird, W. M. Whitcomb,
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THE CANAL.
Anson Eldred, and Andrew Reid, as the first Board of Direc- tors, with power to elect one of their number President, and to hold till their successors are elected and qualified. The same act revealed Chapter 129 of private and local laws of 1856, and Chapter 237 of private and local laws of 1858,-acts passed to incorporate the Sturgeon Bay Canal Company, in pursuance of which nothing seems to have been done.
By an act of Congress, approved April 10th, 1866, 2% ),CCO acres of government land, lying nearest the canal, in Wiscon- sin, were ceded by the United States to the State, to aid in the construction of the breakwater, harbor and ship canal. On the 4th of October, following, the Directors met at Milwaukee, and organized the Canal Company by the election of Wm. B. Ogden as president, and Joseph Harris as secretary and treas- urer.
Nothing further seems to have been done till the winter of 1868. By an act of the Legislature approved March 5th, 1868, the lands and franchises granted to the State were accepted, subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions contained in the grant from Congress. By the same act, and for the pur- pose of carrying out the objects of the grant, the lands, (not the franchises,) were conferred upon the Canal & Harbor Com- pany, subject, also, to the same restrictions, terms and con- ditions. By the terms of this act, the Company were to cause the route to be surveyed and established, to prepare a plan for the construction of the canal, and a diagram thereof, to be approved by the Governor, and filed with the Secretary of State. The Company were then to proceed to construct the canal in conformity with the plan and diagram, and to receive the lands, a fourth at a time, as the work be advanced, in pay- ment therefor. The State was to be reimbursed for any expen- ses it might incur in protecting the lands or otherwise. The act, taken in connection with the subsequent acts of the Com- pany, is in the nature of a contract, whereby the Company agree to build the canal for the State, and to take the lands in full payment therefor.
About 1870 the project for a narrow gauge railroad to Stur- geon Bay from Fond du Lac was agitated, and the Legislature of that year passed an act authorizing the Canal Company to consolidate with the railroad company, then recently charted; but nothing ever came of it.
The canal project slept till 1871, when a new shoot was taken. Congress this year made an appropriation, and author- ized the Secretary of War to cause to be made a survey, maps, and an estimate of the cost of the proposed canal and harbor. A new survey was made by Capt. Casgrain, since engineer of
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
the Company. The old route, which had been surveyed and the timber cut out by private contribution, was abandoned, and the present route of the canal established. Since then the government has taken charge of the harbor and break waters, leaving the canal only, for the Company to construct. But still nothing, of consequence, was done towards building the canal. The time had not come.
In 1873 the Legislature authorized the Company to mortgage the lands as security for the bonds of the Company to the amount of $350,000, which the Company were to negotiate, and thereby procure funds to construct the canal. The mort- gage and bonds were prepared, and the matter placed in the hands of the financial agent of the Company; but, either because the bonds could not be sold, or because of the panic the Company thought it could do better to wait, or for some other reason, the matter fell through, and no funds were derived from this source.
Meanwhile "trespass funds" had been accumulating in the State treasury, the net proceeds of which belonged to the Company. Some $40,000 had thus accumulated, when, in the summer of 1872, with these funds and others furnished by the Company, work was actually begun, and continued till the fall of 1873. On the 7th of October, of that year, the Company received the Governor's certificate that one fourth of the work had been done. This entitled them to one fourth of the grant, and after some time spent in procuring a construction of the act of 1868, and in getting the lands apprised, one fourth, in value, of the grant was conveyed to the Company.
From that time forward, with occasional interruptions, the work has been continued with commendable energy. On the Fourth of July, 1878, was celebrated at this place the union of the waters of Lake Michigan and Sturgeon Bay by way of the canal. During the past season, the summer of 1880, the canal was much used by light draft vessels, and by the larger craft in the lumber trade on their return trips. Already the Company has received three-fourths of the land, and a good share of fourth quarter of the work has been done. The pros- pect now is that the close of the season of 1881 will find the work completed, furnishing a safe and convenient outlet to the lakes for the vast and rapidly increasing commerce of Northern Wisconsin.
From the following diagram an idea can be obtained of the improvement-representing both the Canal and Harbor. The black, or heavy rulling, is to represent the bank protection and sheet piling.
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THE CANAL.
WATERS OF STURGEON BAY.
TIMBERED LAND.
BANKS OF CANAL-Sand, Covered with Timber.
CANAL, 7,300 feet long-100 feet wide.
BANKS OF CANAL-Sand, Covered with Timber.
TIMBERED LAND.
Protection, 1.700 ft.
Protection, 1,700 tt.
350 ft.
350 It.
THE LAKE.
Sheet piling, 692 ft.
HARBOR.
Sheet piling, 692 ft.
THE LAKE.
Proposed Outside Break.
The Harbor, when completed, will be one of the best on Lake Michigan, and only second to Chicago Harbor. The Har-
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HISTORY OF DOOR COUNTY.
bor is to be dredged out to an average depth of 16 feet; will be 800 feet wide at the mouth of the canal, 1,200 feet long to the crib protection, with an entrance into the basin of 235 feet. The breaks are cribs, filled with stone, and act as "wings" for protection against the sea. The dotted lines is to be pile work, which will allow the sea or swell to pass through, instead of rolling on into the basin or Harbor.
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