History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 113

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958

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The fire of Monday morning, December 22, 1879, destroyed not only the church, but all its contents. Then the situation of the society was mnost deplorable, as it was at least $150 in debt and no church. Before the ashes were cold, a meeting was held in the town hall to arrange for the reconstruction. The new church was begun soon after, and completed in November, 1880, and on the 28th of the month the dedication services were celebrated.

The new church is a frame building, 38x66 feet in size, and 30 feet high at the eaves, with a well-proportioned tower and steeple attached to the southeast corner. The basement, the floor of which is on a level with the ground, is 12 feet high, and comprises, besides the main entrance to the building, a Sunday school room 35x37 feet, and two class-rooms, each 14x17 feet, con- nected by folding doors, so that they can be thrown into one for prayer meetings, etc.

The main audience-room is 37x50 feet, and 18 feet high in the studding, with raised ceiling, and has a permanent seating capacity to comfortably accommodate about three hundred and fifty people. The walls and ceiling are beautifully frescoed, and the windows, which are of Gothic pattern, are filled with embossed glass with stained borders. The seats are of pine finished in oil, with walnut trimmings, and the pulpit desk, railings, etc., are of walnut and handsomely desiged. The building cost about $6,500, of which amount $4,500 was paid in cash, leaving a debt of $2,000. The present Pastor is Rev. J. W. Fox, and the Board of Trustees is as

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

follows : Johnson Glanville, James Perkins, Thomas Arthur, William Mylroie, J. C. Kelly, Henry Prideaux, R. Penallach, William Sampson and William Davies. The Dodgeville Cen- tral Sunday School was organized by Joseph Vincent and Samuel Hendy, respectively, the first and second Superintendents. For two years thereafter, the school was managed by two Super- intendents, having equal authority. Among these were Johnson Glanville, W. H. Hocking, Henry Vincent and James Rogers. In 1870, while William Hendy and William Wigham were serving, the school was re-organized as the Primitive Methodist Sabbath School, William Hendy being elected Superintendent. He was succeeded by Johnson Glanville, the incumbent. About two hundred and fifty teachers and scholars are enrolled.

.The Welsh Congregational .- Of the different nationalities that have settled in Iowa County, none have taken a more universal and earnest stand on the side of Christianity and morality than the Welsh. In Dodgeville, this spirit was evinced at very early day, as we find that a Sabbath school and prayer meeting was organized during 1841 by Thomas Williams, Henry Williams and David Jenkins. The two former were Welshmen. Mr. Jenkins was a blacksmith, and his shop was wont to ring with the blows of the hammer during the week, and with the prayers and hymns of the devout on the Sabbath. In 1842-43, meetings were held in a log building in Welsh Hollow, east of the village. On the 24th of December, 1845, the present Welsh Congregational society was organized, the Rev. David D. Jones being the first Pastor. He was succeeded by the Revs. William Parry, who served from 1848 to 1855; Evan Owens, 1855-68; John D. Davis, 1868-71; Benjamin Jones, 1871, and then Rev. Sem Phillips, the present Pastor, who has been with his people since 1872. The first church, built in 1853, stands near the Grove Schoolhouse, and is now used as a dwelling, the society having sold it and devoted the proceeds to the rehabilitation of the Division Street Congregational Church, which has been their property since 1876. The present Trustees are D. W. Reese, Robert N. Will- iams, T. D. Griffith, Robert Williams, Williams B. Williams, Edward Parry and David D. Jones. The Sabbath school is one of the branches of the work of this church, which has ever received the utmost care and been mnost successfully managed.

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Charch-Was organized in the spring of 1848, the moving spirits being Isaac Owens and wife, William Owens and wife, Griffith Jones and wife, James Morris, William' Jones, J. W. Jones and wife, William Jones and wife, Hugh Davis and wife, Mrs. Watkin Watkins, Thomas Jones, Mrs. Hannah Williams and Evan Jones and wife. Of these, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Owens and Mrs. Watkins are now the only residents of Dodgeville. In 1852, the following parties were elected Trustecs : Hngh Davis, Isaac Owens, William Jones, and William Owens. The present church was then built, to which an addition was subsequently made. Among the best remembered Pastors may be mentioned the Revs. Griffith Roberts, Griffith Jones, John Evans, John Davis (Pecatonica), Edward George, Thomas Davis, John Davis and David Lewis. The latter was the first resident Pastor. Rev. William Charles is the present Pastor, and the following-named are the Trustees : Hugh W. Jones, Isaac Owens and William Hughes. The membership is now about fifty sonls. The Sabbath school was organ- ized in conjunction with the Baptists, and probably antedates the church. The earliest meet- ings were held in the log cabins of the settlers, and the efforts of the pioneer Christians in estab- lishing and maintaining the church met with many obstacles.

The Congregational Church .- Rev. S. A. Allen, of Cuba, N. Y., was the founder of this church, assisted by Paul Jeardoe and Lewis Wheeler, each of whom officiated as Elders. In 1847, and later, an old store building on what is now Division street was used as a meeting house. The society was very weak in numbers at first, and was partially supported by the Home Mission Society. The building of the Division Street Church was begun in 1848, but such was the paucity and poverty of the membership that it was not completed until 1851. The ladics of the society, largely outnumbering the men, determined to secure a bell for the new church, and to that end formed a sewing circle, Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Dr. Cassells, Mrs. Col. Stephens, Mrs. John Faragher, Mrs. Paul Jeardoe, Mrs. Stebbins, Mrs. Ranger and others interesting themselves. The result was the purchase and use of the first church bell in Dodge-

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

ville in 1853. The Rev. Mr. Allen continued to officiate until 1856, then removed to Iowa, where he died. During 1857, while the Rev. Mr. Warner was the regular Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Atwater, of Galena, Ill., came here, and by his earnest work created a revival of interest in the church. The society was, however, too small and too poor to support a regular Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Williamson being the last in the year 1858. Occasional meetings were held during the next few years, the society gradually disintegrating. The church is now in posses- sion of the Welsh Congregationalists.

THE CEMETERIES.

The pleasant and healthful location, the pure water and air, nor yet the vitality inherited by the people of Dodgeville can stay the siekle of death's reaper. As early as 1827-28, when " Wiskonsan " was a wilderness, and when the present seat of this populous county was only a mining eamp, the reaper found it. James Journey, a white miner, and one of Gov. Dodge's negro slaves, died and were buried somewhere within the inelosure now known as the old bury- ing-ground. In 1828, there were a number of deaths and a corresponding number of inter- ments here. Ground was ceded gratuitously for the purpose.

This was the state of affairs in October, 1850, when the Town Board passed the following recommendation :

We, the members of the Board of Health of the town of Dodgeville, at a mecting held on the twenty-eighth (28th) inst., for the purpose of examining into the situation of the burying-ground in said town, find the ground principally filled up ; and it is reported that there has been several graves dug into by digging other graves ; and it is further reported by a number of citizens of the place, that there is a very bad smell arising from the ground in the evening, and we consider, for the benefit of the citizens of the place, it would be advisable to close up the ground on or before the first of December next. * *

* We further recommend to the Honorable Board, that they should select a piece of ground convenient to the town for the purpose of a new burial-place as soon as it can conveniently he done, so that the old one can be closed up before winter sets in, as there is a great number of persons who have been buried there who died of cholera; and if such graves should be interrupted, it might be the cause of a great deal of sickness.

By order of the Board.

A true copy.

MICHAEL BENNETT, Deputy Town Clerk.

WILLIAM JAMES, Chairman. PHILLIP THOM, Secretary.

In consequence of the adoption of the foregoing, the Town Clerk, T. M. Fullerton, called a special town meeting at his office, November 2, 1850, at which meeting Dr. G. W. Burrall moved that the Supervisors be authorized to buy a lot for a new burying-ground. This was so modified as to read, "Said lot not to be less than five nor more than ten acres, nor to be nearer the center of the village of Dodgeville than one-fourth of a mile," and agreed to, as was a motion authorizing the board to draw an order on the Treasurer to meet the expenses of the purchase. The board were also instructed as to the surveying, platting and sale of the lots. The board, comprising Samuel Handy, Thomas Menkey and S. T. Ferrel, bought six aeres of Gov. Henry Dodge, for $60. The deed is dated July 10, 1851. At a meeting of the Town Board, February 22, 1855, Rev. A. S. Allen was requested to draw up a code of by-laws, which code was adopted by the people of the town in April, 1855. The original by-laws were lost. The first name on the records as the purchaser of a lot-Lot 1, Block 1-is that of J. T. Mes- sersmith ; he failed to pay, and Isaac Whitney became the owner of the lot.

This home of the dead is pleasantly situated, and has been sufficiently ornamented in vari- ous ways to render it pleasing to the eye rather than cold and repellant, or apparently only a fit abode for ghouls and spooks to inhabit.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

In gradually traeing the growth of Dodgeville from its ineipieney through the various marked stages of its career, since 1827, we have only attempted to dwell upon those points in connection with its development which are of historical value in a general way, rather as per- tains to the entire community than to a few individuals, although we have particularly alluded to a few of the early characters and settlers who were the founders of the place, and sustain thereby exceptionally marked relations to its history.

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

There are many things connected with the history of the various individuals who have sojourned here for a brief time that, if described, would be very interesting to friends. and, per- chance, to the casual reader; but it is not within the province or scope of this work to dilate upon other incidents that those of permanent value to the public ; and not only that, but many things, exceedingly simple in themselves, through the medium of tradition, are made to wear " coats of many colors," or, chamnelion-like, are ever-varying in their hues, so that he who would avoid error must needs eschew them entirely. Viewing the village from the present standpoint, in connection with its past fluctuating fortunes, and the various retarding influences that have been arrayed against it, an observing and reflective person must naturally be deeply impressed with the stanch and enterprising character of a majority of the business men who have figured here within the last thirty years. The changes that have been wrought are very marked, while the various natural resources have been, until within the last fifteen or twenty years, exceedingly meager. Nothing but the sturdy Anglo-Saxon spirit could or would have achieved so much against such odds, and not one community in fifty of even that sturdy race would have done so much.

Twenty years ago, nearly all of the lots north of Division street, toward the court house, were lying unoccupied, there not being more than five or six buildings, all told, and they were very small affairs, as evidenced by those that are left; and as for business, nearly all that was being transacted was in " Dirty Hollow," or south of Division street, in the vicinity of the old fort, and where the first merchants who came here held forth. Of those who were operating here then or before, but few remain to carry the impress of that past into the business of to-day. The oldest of these firms are Messrs. Thomas & Hoskins, J. E. Bartle, Charles Rogers.

It is only about twenty-three years since the principal men of the little community banded together, and by their constant and united efforts against a most discouraging opposition and an absolute possession, which is but justly regarded as nine points in a case, discounted the efforts of their opponents and secured the county seat, and erected a court house that is a credit to the county. Whatever may be generally said of that struggle, known as the county seat war (fully described elsewhere), and one thing is very apparent throughout, that the moving spirits of Dodgeville achieved a triumph as creditable to their enterprise as it is advantageous to the north part of the county. As a partial result of that change, Dodgeville has since picked up very rapidly, and, withal, in a thoroughly substantial manner; for her business men in commercial circles far and wide throughout the East are recognized as being solid, a term which implies first-class beyond peradventure.

The moral, intellectual and social status of the place is far above the average. The people, while being conservative in many respects, the result of self-reliance, are, nevertheless, generous and warm-hearted to an extent seldom seen elsewhere. The young and old alike take an evi- dent delight in contributing to the pleasure and happiness of strangers as well as to personal friends. Strangers will find a majority of the people kind, civil and obliging, as those who have been called upon to sojourn there for a time can testify ; and what greater evidence of the true spirit of civilization can be adduced than this ? 'Tis the warmth of human kindness that reveals the heart's true emotions and aspirations.

The churches here are sufficiently numerous and represent enough of different creeds to accommodate a much larger population, while the schools are undoubtedly of the very highest order, although the buildings used are rather indifferent with reference to suitableness. How- ever, this difficulty will soon be obviated, as the united districts have already entered upon the erection of a school building of such proportions as will furnish ample accommodations of a very superior character for the pupils of the town. It is anticipated that from $20,000 to $30,000 will be expended in this way, as, now that the work is begun, it is the expressed determination of the people to erect a building that will meet all demands and be considerably in advance of anything heretofore erected in the county.

Of the amount of business transacted here annually, it is scarcely necessary to make men- tion, as it is generally understood that immense quantities of goods are sold, even outrivaling

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cotemporary towns possessing better general facilities for trade than are enjoyed here. One of the special industries of the place, which surpasses anything of the kind in this part of the State, is the culture of grapes and manufacture of wine by the Elwood brothers. Something like fifteen acres are devoted to the business, and thousands of tons of luscious grapes are raised annually, being sold or converted into the best of wine, thereby furnishing a large amount of work annually to different parties, both to men and women, and also securing a handsome reve- nue. The general business pursued here, and men engaged in the same, will be seen by con- sulting the directory. In conclusion, it may be said that, if in the future the youth of to-day develop the business qualities of the men now on the stage of action, Dodgeville will never lack for prosperity, and will wield an influence strong and beneficial to the entire county.

PROFESSIONAL MEN.

Physicians .- As will be remembered, it is noted that the first disciples of Esculapius who came here had not enough to do to procure bread, the people being too few and perversely healthy to allow or require the use of medicines. However, in later years, with the increase of population and the injurious habits indulged in by the masses, there has been more than enough of sickness, and, consequently, a demaand for doctors. The following are the names of all those who can be obtained who have operated here : Drs. Justine, Frost, Phillips, Sibley, Bishop, Williams, Burrall, Buch, Jenkins, Garney, Cutler, Williams, Perkins, Esterly, Cosens, Edwards and Pierce. Dr. Burrall was located here the greatest length of time, having been in active practice for about thirty-two years. After him, Dr. Cutler has been here the longest, and is now active in the field.

Lawyers .- The first expounder of Solon and Blackstone to locate here permanently is said to have been Charles Bishop, who came at a very early day. After him came N. B. Boy- den, L. H. D. Crane, L. W. Reese, L. P. Rober, George Blessing, A. S. Sly, P. D. Wiggin- ton, Orville Strong, M. J. Briggs, O. C. Smith, J. J. Hoskins, J. T. Jones and Archie McAr- thur. Mr. Reese has longest represented the bar at this place, having been here since 1852. The lawyers who have been engaged here have usually proved to be men of superior attainments and abilities, and have contributed in large part to the success of the village in the various pub- lic enterprises in which the people have been engaged.

DIRECTORY.

Newspaper .- Dodgeville Chronicle (A. S. Hearn.)

Attorneys .- Resse & Carter, J. J. Hoskins, O. C. Smith, Briggs & Jenks, Archibald Mc- Arthur.

Physicians .- H. C. Cutler, G. W. Burall, William Edwards, R. Cosens, Mrs. R. Cosens. Dentistry .- D. W. Clark, F. C. Elliot.

Insurance .- A. L. Robbins.

Banks .- S. W. Reese, Orville Strong & Co.

General Stores .- Jones & Owens, H. & J. Rowe, W. H. Rogers, Charles Bishop, J. H. Penberthy & Bro., B. Thomas & Co., Prideaux & Hooper, Bilkey, Kennedy & Co., John A. Hahn, J. C. Hocking.

Grocers .- J. V. Rogers, J. C. Trezona, John Corin, John R. Davies.

Books and Notions .- Thomas Rogers.

Drugs, etc .- James Roberts, W. A. Bishop.

Jewelry .- J. J. Herbert, J. H. Cartwright.

Hardware .- Thomas Perkins, James Perkins, J. H. Penberthy & Bro. Boots and Shoes .- Daniel McMullen.

Harness .- R. W. Evans, E. H. Scholfield, Thomas Bosanko.

Hotels .- Commercial, Marks', Dodgeville, Western Wisconsin, Howells'.

Dressmaking .- Jennie A. Owens, Sarah Sincox, Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, Mrs. Mattie Sims, Miss Precilla Williams.

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

Milliners .- Jennie A. Owens, Mrs. E. Northy, Nicholas Arthur, Mrs. R. Robinson.

Photography .- E. H. MeElhose.

Flour and Feed .- John Corin.

Shoemakers .- D. MeMullen, John H. Lewis, Thomas Lee.

Painting .- C. S. Ralph, B. J. Davey, W. J. Davey.

Tailors .- Souden & Jones.

Butchers .- John Tregilgus, James Cahill, Kessler & Cimanski, Charles Bilky, George Michael, Pratt & Scouriek.

. Cigar Factory .- August Muhlhauser.

Coopers .- R. A Draper.

Blacksmiths .- F. W. Strattınan & Co., Kelly, Prideaux & Co., James Hoskings & Son, William Harris, Peter Spang, William Johns & Bro., Francis IIoeking.

Barbers .- Charles A. Hahn, John A. Hahn, R. H. Arthur.

Bakeries .- Mrs. Jane H. Jones.

Furniture .- B. T. Davey, John E. Bartle, James Marr.

Ore Buyers .- Bennett, Hoskins & Co., Mundy, Pearce & Co.

Lime .- Davies Bros.

Livery .- A. B. Robinson, Pengelley Bros., William N. Bishop, George Michael.

Smelt Furnace .- Bennett, Hoskins & Co., Mundy, Pearce & Co.

Saloons .- Oscar Carlson, John Rudersdorf, John Trentzch, Michael Olson, John Evans, Adam Enlburg, H. H. Walters, Richard Rogers, Joseph Hocking.

nelle

CHAPTER XVII.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

TOWN OF MINERAL POINT-TOWN OF DODGEVILLE-TOWN OF ARENA-OLD ARENA-NEW ARENA- HELENA STATION-TOWN OF CLYDE-TOWN OF EDEN-EDEN VILLAGE-TOWN OF HIGHILAND CENTREVILLE-VILLAGE OF HIGHILAND.

TOWN OF MINERAL POINT,

one of the southern tier of towns, is bounded on the north by Dodgeville Town ; on the east by Walwick ; on the south by La Fayette County, and on the west by town of Linden. It is irregularly surveyed, and laid out in sixty-two sections, and contains a total of 39,680 acres, 8,220 of which are prairie. The town is well watered by the Pecatonica River, which enters at the northwest corner, and, coursing south along the west town line, crosses into La Fayette County, through Section 14; by the Mineral Point Branch, Rock Creek, Spensley's Branch and other tributaries. The country, which in early days is represented to have been almost mountainous, has been toned down, as it were, by the advance of civilization. In times when the pioneer first made his advent into the present town, jagged peaks and high ridges greeted his admiring gaze. Their bases were covered with forest trees and low underbrush, affording retreats for wild animals still infesting the country, while their tops, usually bare of vegetation, were crowned with rocks, presenting to some unmistakable evidence that this section was once the scene of some convulsion of nature, to which was probably due the existence of rich mines of ore and other minerals which abounded in apparently inexhaustible quantities.

Prior to the settlement of the lead mines, miners were persuaded to explore and occupy the mineral lands, and were ready at all times to repel invasion or retreat from attack. When peace was concluded at the Portage between the whites and Winnebagoes, however, a number of the more daring and enterprising of these soldiers of fortune, prompted by the desire to par- ticipate in rich "finds " alleged as existing throughout the lead region, began prospecting and doubtless included the present town of Mineral Point in their canvass. But they have left no guide-board on the highway of time by which their names, their heroism and their success could be perpetuated, hence they must be passed over with brief reference. The early settlement of the town was made at the point now known as Mineral Point City, which has been elaborately treated in another portion of this work. They came hither eloquent with hope and happiness. Few of them remain, but many a time, doubtless, has the spirit form of the pioneer risen be- fore the eyes of bustling generations in all the beauty of that far-off land they see so dimly, but will, if hopes and prayers are answered, be revealed unto them when that thing called life is merged into immortality. In this connection the reader will pardon what may seem vain repe- tition in the statement that the first permanent settlement in the town, it is said, was made by John Hood. In the spring of 1828, that enterprising explorer left his Missouri home, accom- panied by his wife and child, and ventured into the almost undiscovered territory of the present Iowa County, to make a new beginning, build a new home in the wilderness and lay the founda- tion for a future, against which sorrow and bitterness should not prevail. His first habitation was a cabin made of poles, in which with his family he resided until more luxurious accommo- dations could be prepared. While thus occupied, on an afternoon in May, the most delightful of seasons, when nature and humanity seem to grow mellow in the sunlight, Mr. Hood was interrupted in his work by the arrival of Nathaniel Morris, who came into the country and handed his name down to posterity as the builder of the first log cabin and discoverer of the first vein of ore in the present town. There were many others who came into the town about

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

this date, but settled in the village, and are mentioned in the chapter devoted to that subjeet. At this time no attention was paid to agriculture, and settlements were confined to the localities where mining was carried on. The population, made up largely of the foreign element, and, by the way the most peaceable, was also made up of individuals from nearly every State in the Union. Some had come hither to escape the penalties imposed for some violation of the laws at home, others came in search of adventure, while a majority was attracted by the facility with which wealth was acquired, the excitement or enchantment surrounding all new discoveries, and a desire to escape from the restraints of civilized society. In all portions of the town where mines had been opened, the appearances of civilization were illusive if not deceitful. The men preponderated, of course, and lived in hastily constructed cabins, half under ground, to be aban- doned when a more promising location was found. The rapidity with which these running set- tlements sprang up was duplicated in California twenty years later. Here they lived and toiled and triumphed, without taking thought for the morrow or the hereafter, the mystery of which has been solved by so many of them since. What cared they for the future, or the flowers that are said to bloom in the fields called the sweet fields of Eden ? Whether stirrup, songs and stirrup-cups would be found in the summer lands beyond the Jordan, or whether harps would be put in the hands that had carried cups to lips oftener than plaints to priests or prayers to virgins ? Did any inquire, or care, whether there was aught that would avail to do away the curse, or pay to the uttermost farthing the debt called Nemesis? Who can tell ?

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History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 113

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958