History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 88

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 88

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Of the two Churches, the Reformed Church was first organized in 1849. It has a member- ship of 170 heads of families, representing about 600 persons. The men of families are alone called upon to contribute for its support ; and this is done by levying a tax equally upon all, whether rich or poor, sufficient to pay ex- penses. The amount is determined by the an- mal meeting of the male members, at which all rules for the government of the congregation are made and altered; and all such meetings are almost always fully attended, great interest being taken in the proceedings. The congre- gation is independent of any other Church or synod of the same denomination in America. Repeated efforts have been made by synods to bring them into connection, but all attempts in

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

that direction have encountered an independent spirit of opposition on the part of this society, which would not brook even the semblance of control.

· The Church is nominally in connection with the synod of Eastern Switzerland, but the re- lation is practically of little benefit to either party. The hymn books and catechisms are the same as those used in Switzerland, and are imported as required, none of this kind be- ing printed or used elsewhere in this country. The liturgy is also from the same source, con- taining prayers which are read for each Sun- day, holiday and other occasions of worship. Prayers are always read-never extempore in Church service.

As it may be interesting to others to know how the services are conducted, the following order on Sundays, will give a proper idea: At about 9 o'clock the first bell is rung, not tolled, as in many other churches; and between the first ringing and 10 o'clock, the worshipers be- gin to come in, taking seats where they please, except that the sexes sit separately on either side of the church. At 10 o'clock both bells are rung, which is the signal that the minister has started from his house, about eighty rods away; the ringing continues until he enters the building, when the people rise as he enters, and remain standing until he reads prayers, and announces the text, and also during the singing, which is led by a good choir of male voices, accompanied by an organ. After the sermon is over, prayers are again read, followed by singing and the benedic- tion. Then follows the singular custom of the female part of the congregation leaving the church first, the bell ringing the while, and the men standing; and not until the last skirt has passed the door, does the male part follow, led by the pastor.

The origin of this custom, according to tra- dition, is as follows: Some 500 years ago, the Austrians being at war with the Swiss, attempted to surprise the town of Nafels, in Glarus; or, as other traditions have it, a battle

occurred between the combatants in the neigh- boring canton of Grisons or Granbundten. In either case, the circumstances were the same- the people were at church-whether Sunday or holiday is not recorded; but a woman leaving church during service discovered the enemy, and gave the alarm; and, it is related, that the women on that day did valorous service, rolling and throwing rocks upon the enemy, and aiding in a great measure, to gain a decisive victory over their old enemies, the Austrians. Since that time, tradition says, the right and honor are accorded to the female worshipers in all the churches of the canton of Glarus, to leave the church first, the men standing in deference while they pass out. This custom is rigid- ly, and without exception, kept up here, no matter what the occasion for meeting and wor- ship.

Weddings are for the most part solemnized by the ministers; seldom by a justice of the peace. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the only days on which a Swiss will be married; the latter is the favorite day. The other days of the week are not regarded as fortunate; Wednesday is espc- cially considered the most unlucky. Persons about to enter matrimony, some time before the ceremony takes place, go together to the houses of those whom they wish to invite as guests to the wedding, and verbally request their presence. Wedding feasts are of late mostly arranged at a hotel; but formerly at the home of the groom or bride. After being pronounced man and wife, at the church or in the minister's house, the couple, with the invited guests, partake of the wedding dinner, after which dancing is indulged "in till a late hour. Before and after the marriage ceremony, the lads and young men salute the bridal party with a profuse discharge of fire-arms. The more noise, the greater the honor. Very rarely do the Swiss here inter- marry with the people of other nationalities; almost without exception, they marry among their own country folks.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

The baptism of infants is another occasion for a feast. Children are nsnally christened when less than three months old; and the cere- mony takes place in the church, except in a few instances, a god-father and god-mother invari- ably witnessing the baptism at the altar. Ac- cording to Church rules, parents are not per- mitted to act as sponsors. If parents are Church members, no fee is required for weddings, baptisms or funeral services; otherwise a fee is collected, which is paid into the Church fund, and not as a perquisite to the preacher, as in other societies.

When a person dies, the relatives, friends and countrymen are notified by messengers of the time of death and burial; and the accompany- ing of the dead to their last resting place is a dnty which is faithfully fulfilled, over 150 teams being often seen at a funeral. The church bells are made to do duty on all of these occa- sions. A couple of bell-tolls give notice to the sponsors that the minister is at the altar, ready to proceed with the baptism. On account of the baptisms being always performed at the close of the regular services, the god-mother and child remain in some convenient dwelling near the church, until summoned by the bell. This is so arranged that the congregation may not be disturbed by any fretfulness on the part of the infant, to whom no doubt the ser- vices would often become as tedions as they sometimes do to older children, not only in this, but in numerous other churches.

At weddings they ring a merry peal ; and at funerals the bells are tolled until the coffin is lowered into the grave. They are also rung twice each day, as is the custom in Switzerland, at 11 A M., and at dusk every evening, for fivee minutes each time ; and at midnight of the 31st of December they are rung a whole hour, to welcome in the New Year.

Kilbi, as it is termed here-a corruption of Kirchwethe, or church hallowing-is the holiday of all days. The 4th of July is celebrated with American fervor ; but Kilbi is a blending of all

holidays into one. This day occurs on the last Sunday of September of each year; and, as its name denotes, is strictly a religious festival, being the anniversary of the dedication of the church. On that day the pastor, at the close of the services, dedicates the building anew ; and this is as far as religions observances are kept. In the afternoon, target-shooting, and dancing, are moderately indulged in ; but Monday is the great day. Strangers come from a distance, and neighbors and friends meet, and renew friendships, over loaded tables and foaming glasses. The youth, and, in fact, almost every- body, repair to the village ; and music and dancing begin abont noon, and are kept up until next morning, at three or more different halls, and all are crowded. In spite of the crowd, and the quantities of beer and wine drank- but stronger drinks are scarce, and consequently so are quarrels-the best of humor and hilarity prevail.

The way these dances are managed is a nov- elty to Americans. Usually there is a com- mittee of three managers at each dancing place, whose business it is to provide the music, keep order, collect the entrance fee from the male dancers ; and, above all, supply them with fe- male partners. For this purpose, the best look- ing manager is sent with a gay and ribbon- bedecked team, to all places where it is known young ladies live, and politely invite them to take seats in his carriage ; and, unless there is a prior engagement, the lasses are always ready to comply. When his carriage is full, he drives to the hall at which he is a manager, unloads, and again sallies forth in another direction until a sufficiency of partners is secured, or the sup- ply of lasses are exhausted. His fellow mana- gers in the meanwhile keep order, arrange the couples, and direct things generally, for the en- joyment and comfort of all.

A good time is had at the homes, as well ; the best that can be afforded is cooked and enten ; and among all the cakes and dishes of

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

every kind, honey is accorded a prominent place. Few there are who do not eat bread and butter and honey on Kilbi. The general good time extends into Tuesday, sometimes, but usually Monday night closes the feast, which not only is kept up by the Swiss, but by American youth from a distance, who have learned to share in the celebration.

The earliest attempt at English education was made under difficulties. The first district school was taught in 1847, by Mr. Cowan *- only a short term-in a small log house belonging to Balthasar Schindler. The next school was kept in the house of Matthias Schmidt, in 1848, by a certain James Kilroy, an Irishman, who, as report says, walloped learning into the youth well. But conceive the circumstances : A small log house, a family of nine persons, an Irish pedagogue and about twenty Swiss schol- ars, all in one room, and not very large at that. Many are still living in this vicinity who be- longed to that primitive school; and the log house, the scene of these early pedagogic ex- hibitions, is still standing.

A school house was built in 1849 in the vil- lage, and Peter Jenny was teacher for some six years. Afterwards J. C. Zimmerman taught three years; and since, with few intermissions, Matthias Steussy has taught the district school in the village for the last eighteen years. All these teachers were Swiss. The outlying dis- tricts in the township are taught as is usual by different persons almost every term. Several young men of Swiss descent have qualified themselves for teaching at academies elsewhere; but no "school-marm" has New Glarus ever produced. The reason for this is not apparent, unless it be the general belief here entertained, that much education for a girl will spoil her for a house-wife. A knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic is considered sufficient for women. A girl is early taught. the myster- ies of cooking, washing and sewing; and her

education is not considered complete unless she also understands milking, making butter and cheese, and binding grain in the harvest field. In consequence of the active out-door labor, which in addition to their household duties the females perform, they are in general more healthy, robust and fit to fight the battle of life that awaits all, than are their American sisters who seldom allow the summer sun to shine upon their unprotected hands and faces, and who as a rule are hardly allowed the needful exercise which health demands. Weak nerves and hysterics are often the rule with the latter, while with the former they are unknown.

The German schools in the village have been fully as ably conducted as the English. First, a Mr. Ernst and Mr. Tschudy, and then the Rev. Mr. Streissguth, and subsequently Kev. Mr. Zimmerman, taught the German school; and, in addition to the ordinary branches of study, included such religious instruction as the rules of the Church required. In 1867 F. Kno- bel, a teacher from the canton of Glarus, set- tled here, and has taught German uninterrupt- edly since his arrival. Christian Luchsinger has taught a German evening school for those who, more advanced in years, and employed in labor, could not attend in day time. German school books were first brought from the old country; but the supply giving out, American printed books were adopted. The desire for education is universal; and, as a whole, the people of New Glarus compare favorably in learning with other rural sections of the coun- try.

The political partialities of the people are largely with the democratic party, two-thirds usually voting that way; and it is another in- stance of the conservatism of these Swiss set- tlers that they have adhered, through all changes, to the political creed they first em- braced when they settled here. For a man to change his political belief is quite as rare as to change his religion. Among the younger gen- eration the leaning is toward the republican

*About the time, or since, this was written, Mr. Cowan died in the Green county poor house.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

party; but members of both parties have almost unanimously supported at the polls deserving persons who were well known to them, without regard to party affiliations.

Politicians are few; politics being a subject not so much discussed as among Americans. Elections are always conducted quietly, with but little of the jobbing and pettifogging usual at some places. J. J. Tschudy was the first Swiss elected to a county office in Green county. He served as recorder, then register, and after- ward served four terms as county clerk. Mat- thias Marty was county clerk while Mr. Tschudy was register. John Luchsinger has, for the fourth time, been elected to represent the north district of Green county in the legislature, and was the first person of Swiss birth sent to the legislature from Green county, and has served longer than any other representative from that connty.

No lawyers have ever found any encourage- ment to locate in the settlement. The few cases where their aid has been required were managed by the Monroe attorneys. There has been little need of the profession, as the people are too busy and economical to think of litiga- tion.

Mr. Tschudy was the first to render assistance to the sick, having some knowledge of medi- cine and being provided with a stock of medi- cines from his father, an experienced physician in Old Glarus. Rev. Mr. Streissguth after- wards administered medical aid to the settlers. A person by the name of Bonjour, a French- Swiss, dispensed drugs; but, in 1853, he was displaced by Dr. Samuel Blumer, a good physi- cian, who arrived from Glarus. He remained here until 1866, when he removed to Iowa. His son, J. J. Blumer, M. D., who received his medical education at the University of Pennsyl- vania, is now located here, and is justly consid- ered an excellent physician.

There is a fine glee club organized, which contains some good voices, and is, as well as the church choir; under the direction of F. Knobel,

the German teacher. The songs and ballads of Switzerland are sung with the same pathos and feeling here as there, and seldom any others. A rifle club, consisting of about twenty men- bers, is active in drill, and numbers many ex- cellent shots, who have won prizes at the an- nual competitions in this and other States. There are no secret societies whatever, and, as far as known, no members of any in this settle- ment.

When the Civil War broke out, the Swiss in New Glarus and vicinity furnished their full proportion of volunteers, according to the best authority, about ninety-eight boys in blue, who did not dishonor the memory of their sires who fought at St. Jacob, Nafels, Morgarten, and other well-fought fields in the father-land.

The people are very conservative in most things, especially in their adherence to the cus- toms and usages of their ancestors, and in their language, religion and politics. It is illustrated by the fact that the same pastor has preached, and the same schoolmaster taught, for eighteen successive years. There has been scarcely any perceptible change or diminution in the hearty, homely manners of the New Glarus people and their descendants; nor in their disposition to work, to economize and achieve independence in all things. Even dame fashion has been able to make but small inroads among the fair sex ; a basque, pin-back overskirt, or any other fash- ionable contrivance, is looked upon as a snare and an abomination by the elderly women; bat their daughters trespass somewhat, in a mild way, in that direction. And happily the bar- barous fashion of banged-hair has not yet ap- peared. Should any girl thus attempt to dis- figure herself, there would, without doubt, be banging enough from the unfashionable mater familias.

Attachment to the father-land is strong and sincere. From time to time, fully thirty per- sons, who have gathered a competency here, have returned to Switzerland, some having I been twice and even three times; but not to ex-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

ceed half a dozen have returned to remain. The large farms, grand distances, and enlarged thought of this country tend to give larger views to both sight and mind; so that, it is said, everything in the Old Country appears close and contracted by comparison; and, as some have expressed it, that there seemed to be hardly room to breathe there. Still the love for the "old home," as it is still affectionately termed by all, is undying; and few who were adults when they came here but cherish the wish and hope to behold their loved native mountains once more before they go hence to the undis- covered country.

How long this reverential feeling will con- tinue, will depend upon circumstances; but it would seem, from past experience in Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and New York, where many whose ancestors migrated 200 years ago, still speak only German, that unless the iron horse finds his way to these hills and valleys, it is more than likely that 100 years hence will make little change in the language and customs of the New Glarus people. With all this adherence to what is ancient, and aversion to mixing, and inter-marrying with those of other Nationalities, those who read, and few do not, are well in- formed, and quick to comprehend whatever is of advantage to themselves, and of general in- terest. From being almost entirely ignorant of the modes of American . farming, they are now . considered the equals of the best farmers in the country, taking advantages of, and purchasing the best labor-saving machinery, and in enter- prise and endurance are scarcely equalled by any.

In public spirit they are not lacking. In ad- dition to the fine district school house, there has also been built another in which German is taught. In 1870 when a railroad was projected in the vicinity, the township promptly voted $20,000 to aid in building it, besides $100 in cash to assist in defraying the expense of sur- veying. As yet there is no prospect of the road being built. In 1861 news was received

that the town of Glarus, Switzerland, was al- most destroyed by fire. In a short time, the sum of $1,250 was contributed, and sent there for distribution among the suffering people.

In 1850 the parsonage was built of hewn logs and framed. It was then considered the finest house in the village. It is still the parsonage, but it is sadly the worse for wear; and we may safely conclude, that in the onward march of improvement, it will soon be supplanted by a much better one.

In 1852 the scarlet fever raged in the colony, and in a short time seventeen children died. In 1854 a new comer arrived, by the way of Freeport, Ill., who was infected with the cholera; and the disease spread, and proved a very sad scourge, no less than twenty-two per- sons, adults, dying in a short time from its ravages.

The town of New Glarus was organized in April, 1850; prior to which, the settlement had been generally known as the Swiss colony, but to those in Switzerland as New Glarus. The territo- ry comprising it had been hitherto attached, for all civil purposes, to the adjoining town of York. The village of New Glarus was laid out and platted, in 1851, by Mr. Spangler, of Monroe. During the year, the first framed house was erected by Ott Bros., since of Madison, who opened the first store; and the same year Joshua Wild built a saw mill with an under- shot wheel. The first hotel was erected by Baumgartner Brothers in 1853. In 1862 David Klaessy built a grist mill, with two run of stones, propelled by water power; and with this mill was probably connected the first bar- ley bulling machine in Wisconsin. The de- mand warranted the outlay, as hulled barley soup is a favorite dish among the New Glarus people. In 1867. a brewery was built by Dr. Blumer & Co ; and beer has been brewed since, supplying the settlement, which formerly re- ceived its national beverage from Madison and Monroe.

Swiss cheese was made by many farmers as early as 1854, and much of an excellent quality

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was sold; but dairy cheese making has given way to the factory system. The first cheese factory was established in 1870; and since then eight others, large and small, have gone into operation. Three-fourths of the cheese made is Limburger, and is said to pay the maker bet- ter than any other variety. The number of cows whose milk is brought to these factories is about 2,500; and fully 600,000 pounds of cheese are now made in a season in the township of New Glarus alone. It is a branch of farming that, on these rolling lands, assures the farmer a steady income. There are no fortunes made quickly by it, but it gives a surer return for la- bor than any other branch of farming industry, and is a direct benefit to the soil, more land be- ing in grass, and better manured than with grain culture.

The factories are built by the farmers, and leased to cheese makers, who buy the milk at a fixed price, thus differing from many other places, where the farmers hire the cheese maker and divide the net proceeds. Some Swiss cheese is still made here, but not to compare with former years in quantity. Of the cheese product, the most was formerly shipped to Mil- waukee, Chicago and St. Louis; but of late, cheese has been sent to Great Britain, and, in- credible as it may seem, some even to Switzer- land, that land of cheese.

In the year 1849 the stock in the colony, ac- cording to the report of the Rev. Mr. Streiss- guth, consisted of one horse, one bull, forty- one oxen, forty-nine cows, forty heifers and steers two years old, fifty-one calves, fifteen sheep and 482 hogs. The crop of that year was sixty-five bushels of oats, 545 of corn and 495 of potatoes-the product of 104 acres of cultivated land. The population was then rated at 125.

Bilten is the name of a branch of this colony, in the adjoining town of Washington, and was founded in 1847 by the authorities of the parish of Bilten, in Glarus, Switzerland. In that year sufficient funds were sent to Fridolin Streiff,

one of the pioneers of New Glarus, to purchase seventeen forty acre tracts; and in the same year twelve families, mostly from the above named parish, settled thereon. The Bilten set- tlement has shared with the main colony in reputation for thrift and industry; and the peo- ple, as a class, are doing well. They have by purchase extended the original boundaries, which were about five miles from New Glarus, so that now the two settlements have blended into one, with no intervening settlers of other nationalities.

The pastors of New Glarus formerly held divine service in Bilten once in four weeks ; but for some years this has been discontinued, and those who do not come to New Glarus for wor. ship have themselves built a handsome church, at which preachers from Monroe officiate. The chief branch of farming in this settlement is also the making of cheese, for which the land is well adapted, being rolling, and well watered by brooks and springs ; and it now comprises about one-half of the township, being the north- ern and rougher portion.

Thus, from feeble beginnings, has the New Glarus colony, with its adjacent Swiss settle- ments, expanded from something over 100 pov- erty-stricken people, to fully 4,000 in number ; and from 1,280 acres of wild, uncultivated land, to over 60,000 aeres, transformed into comfort- rble homes, with all the conveniences, and many of the luxuries of life. With comforta- ble residences and barns, churches and school- houses, fruitful orchards, well cultured fields of golden grain, well filled granaries, with herds on many a hill-side, horses and carriages, and pianos and melodeons scattered here and there through the settlement, the people of New Gla- rus and their descendants have abundant cause to thank God for the success of the past, and put their trust in him for the future.

December, 1878.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON NEW GLARUS. [By J. Jacob Tschudy.]

The colony of New Glarus was founded by an association of several political communities

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

of the canton of Glarus, in Switzerland, who organized themselves into a society under the sanction of the government of the canton, in the year 1844 ; and had the following aims or purposes in view for the benefit of the over- crowded population of that small and moun- tainous canton, which are copied from the records :

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History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 88

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168