History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches, Part 10

Author: Dessureau, Robert M
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Antigo, Wis., Berner bros. publishing co.
Number of Pages: 384


USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 10


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67


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50


HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.


CHAPTER XII. Industries, 1873-1923.


Thomas Dobbs Saw Mill-John Evans Saw Mill-Novotny Brothers-Clithero, Putnam & Strong, 1883-Herman, Becklinger & Herman-Weed Mill-T. D. Kellogg-Antigo Hub & Mfg. Co .- Hoop & Stave Co .- Antigo Lbr. Co. of 1883-Pioneer Iron Works-Badger Hub Factory-Clancy Factory-Goodwin's Broom Factory-Hoxie & Mellor-Excelsior Factory- Canning Company-Building Supply-Wis. Handle & Mfg. Co .- River Improvement Co .- Screen Door Co .- English Mfg. Co .- Antigo and City Gas Cos .- Antigo Mfg. Co .- Wunderlich and Krause Lumber Cos .- Faust Lbr. Co .- Antigo Lbr. Co .- Mattefs Bros .- Frost Veneer- Tractor Corporation-Fish Lumber Company-Langlade Lbr. Co .- Hirt Bros .- Kingsbury & Henshaw-Henshaw-Worden Lumber Co .- V. Wolf-Lincoln Box Co.


One of the most interesting phases of the develop- ment of the county has been the rise and expansion of industries that flourished and then for various reasons halted operations and passed into oblivion. The cause for these changes in the industrial life of a communi- ty opens up a philosophy of history producing a wide and interesting field.


The first industry established in the county was the old portable saw mill of Thomas M. Dobbs, a Pennsyl- vanian, who came into the county in 1873. Dobbs be- gan to clear out a space in the wilderness for his home


lage; it gave the settlers a market for their timber, provided employment and supplied the growing de- mand for lumber. Mr. Deleglise gave the Novotny Brothers the right to erect a dam with a seven foot head and overflow any of his lands for a pond. In April, 1883, the legislature passed a law authorizing Joseph and Louis Novotny to construct a dam across Springbrook on the west 1/2 of the northeast and the east 1/2 of the northwest 1/4 of section 29, township 31. range 11 east. The two brothers erected a grist mill also. The saw mill averaged 30,000 feet per day.


A


HOW LOGS WERE ONCE HAULED TO ANTIGO MILLS. Contrast the above "Caterpillar" tractor method of hauling logs, once used by the T. D. Kellogg Lumber and Manufacturing Company, with the pioneer method shown on page 31.


immediately after his arrival. His mill was on sec- tion 30, township 31, range 15 east. He stayed there but a short time when he moved to the junction point of the Lily and Wolf rivers, known since as the Lily.


The second saw mill in the county was probably owned by John Evans, who first operated on the Ever- green River south of White Lake about 1879.


FIRST ANTIGO SAW MILL.


Louis and Joseph Novotny came to Antigo in De- cember, 1878, from Manitowoc, consulted with Hon. F. A. Deleglise and agreed to erect a saw mill in the village. They moved their equipment from Wausau in 1879 and erected "Novotny's Mill" on the site of the Faust mill of today. Louis Novotny erected Antigo's first frame building.


The Novotny mill was an asset to the embryo vil-


THE WEED MILL.


In January, 1882, A. Weed of Oshkosh erected a large saw and planing mill one mile south of the Vil- lage of Antigo. This mill had a capacity of 75,000 feet per eleven hour day. Approximately 20,000 feet of lumber was cut into shingles by the shingle mill. Booming facilities were provided by backing up Springbrook with a 37 rod long dam providing ample storage for ten million feet of logs. One hundred persons were employed on an average by Weed's mill, which operated until 1899, when it was destroyed by fire. When, in 1885, the city was incorporated the Weed mill property was excluded because of high taxes. A store and boarding house was operated in connection with the mill. F. J. Hopkins was in charge of this for many years.


51


HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.


HERMAN, BECKLINGER & HERMAN.


In 1881 Fred and Julius Herman came to Antigo from Milwaukee and erected a saw mill on the site of the Crocker Chair Company plant. The mill operated until March 22, 1883, when it was destroyed by fire. The Herman Brothers rebuilt. They also opened a fur- niture factory, June 23, 1882. The firm was then known as Herman, Becklinger & Herman. A 60 horse power engine drove the mill machinery. The plant was sold to the Crocker Chair Company, December 9, 1890. The new rebuilt owners and reconstructed the plant, which they still operate. They manufacture chair parts.


T. D. KELLOGG BUYS OUT NOVOTNY BROS.


In March, 1883, T. D. Kellogg moved to Antigo from New (Lily), where he had operated a saw mill. He purchased Novotny Brothers saw mill, grist mill, pow- er dam and 14 acres of land in 1885. The mill burned down in 1886, but was rebuilt. Mr. Kellogg then took D. D. Kellogg (not a relative) of Green Bay into partnership, operating as Kellogg & Kellogg. In 1889, D. D. Kellogg sold his interest to T. D. Kellogg and two years later, 1891, the T. D. Kellogg Lumber & Manufacturing Company was organized. The saw mill was sold in 1905 to J. H. Worden. For a time the T. D. Kellogg Lumber & Manufacturing Company operated three mills-Polar mill, Antigo Hoop & Stave mill and the T. D. Kellogg mill.


ANTIGO HUB & MFG. CO.


The Antigo Hub & Mfg. Company was organized September 19, 1892, by Henry J. Frick, W. Morgan and A. Wiltderding. A plant was erected and operated with fair success for a while but finally failed. The property was taken over by the First National Bank. H. B. Kellogg was selected to operate it for the bank in 1901 and did so until April 18, 1903, when it was re- organized as the Antigo Hoop & Stave Company of which H. B. Kellogg was the principal owner. The in- dustry was sold April 1, 1919 to Henshaw-Worden Lumber Company, who used the yard, but wrecked the machinery.


ANTIGO LUMBER COMPANY OF 1883.


The first "Antigo Lumber Company" was organized in November, 1883, by E. R. Van Buran, Antigo man, and Chicago associates. The company did a broker- age business and had an office located where the Lang- lade County Normal dormitory is now located. Five years later it disbanded, Mr. Van Buran leaving for Chicago.


PIONEER IRON WORKS.


The Pioneer Iron Works was organized January 1, 1884, by W. B. Johns, who came here from Brillion, Calumet County, Wisconsin. He erected the plant at 4th Avenue and Dorr Street. He formed a partner-


ship with J. Kerling of Manitowoc. Kerling soon sold his rights back to Mr. Johns, who took D. D. Kel- logg into partnership with him. The Pioneer Iron Works flourished in its early history. For a long time W. B. Johns operated it alone, he being followed by W. S. Morgan.


BADGER HUB FACTORY.


W. D. Badger came to Antigo from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and on December 7, 1883, erected a hub factory in the northern part of the Village of Antigo, across from the C. & N. W. Round House location. The frame timbers used in the excelsior factory of C. B. McDonald & Co., was the first product of the hub factory. Mr. Badger operated the mill but a short time when Louis Buckman became his partner. He was from Green Bay. The mill burned in 1886 and Mr. Badger went three miles north to "Shadeks" sid- ing, Antigo township, and erected a mill.


CLANCY BUILDING FACTORY.


From 1883 to 1889, E. Clancy, a well known con- tractor of Antigo, ran a building factory north of the Pioneer Iron Works. It was an auxiliary to his con- tract business.


CITY PLANING MILL.


Fred Herman of the Herman, Becklinger & Herman firm, erected a planing mill in Antigo in 1881. It was located in block 64, across from the Antigo Public Library grounds. It operated until about 1889.


R. M. GOODWIN BROOM HANDLE FACTORY.


The R. M. Goodwin Company of Union Pier, Michi- gan erected a broom handle factory in Antigo in August, 1885. They operated until 1893, when the plant was sold to W. H. Pardee and others. John T. Thursby was the manager of the plant. 8,000 handles were turned out daily. It burned down in 1895.


J. C. HOXIE & E. N. MELLOR.


J. C. Hoxie and E. N. Mellor, known over the middle west, did a volume of lumber business in the county until their failure in 1890. They had all their logs cut in Langlade County mills, not operating mills of their own. They leased the Weed Mill for a while, however, and ran a building material mill of their own south of Clithero & Strong's mill, across from the pres- ent Antigo Canning Company. Mr. Mellor shot him-


self in the Vivian Hotel, December 22, 1892, the morn- ing he was to appear at a "three cornered deal" hear- ing in the bankruptcy proceedings at Oshkosh. Mellor was once Vice-President of the Wisconsin Valley Lum- berman's Association. The Hoxie & Mellor failure involved millions of dollars and was given first page publicity in metropolitan newspapers.


52


HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.


EXCELSIOR FACTORY.


C. B. McDonald and George T. Ratcliffe opened an excelsior factory providing a market for basswood pro- ducts, December, 1883. In the spring of 1885, the original owners sold to Rassmussen & Co. Rassmus- sen was influenced to come to Antigo by Niels Ander- son. The plant, located across from the Henshaw Lumber Company office, on Sixth Avenue, was clos- ed in August, 1885, as a result of litigation. Niels Anderson then took it over and operated it for a while later. In 1907 the property was remodeled into a planing mill. Those who were interested in the busi- ness were John P. Nelson, P. F. Kelly, John A. Ogden and J. J. Laughlin. The mill burned.


CLITHERO & STRONG-PUTNAM-BANGS.


George Clithero and L. K. Strong, pioneers, formed the Clithero & Strong patrnership in 1885. They operated a planing mill on south Morse street across from the site of the Antigo Canning Co. The mill operated until 1887 when it burned. Mr. Clithero went to Hurley and Mr. Strong entered the real estate business in Antigo. George Clithero first had E. R. Putnam as a partner in 1883. Putnam and he ran a sash door factory on south Morse street from Novem- ber 1883, until 1885. In September 1884, N. Bangs became associated with the two and the concern was then known as the Antigo Planing Mill Co.


In 1885, Hans Anderson, a Dane, opened a machine shop in Antigo. It was a small industry.


WISCONSIN HANDLE & MFG. CO.


The Wisconsin Handle & Mfg. Company was organ- ized September 5, 1893, by W. H. Pardee, E. P. Bridge- man and Charles Kellogg. The Company took over the R. M. Goodwin Broom Handle Factory. It ope- rated until 1895.


IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES.


The River Improvement Company organized Febru- ary 26, 1894, by A. C. Campbell, A. M. Lanning and G. W. Hogben and the Big Eau Claire River Improve- ment Company organized by J. D. Ross, W. H. Bissell, and J. S. Clements, were both organized to improve the Big Eau Claire River, the first, the west branch, and the last named concern, the river course in Lincoln and Langlade counties "adjacent to timber territory."


ANTIGO SCREEN DOOR COMPANY.


The Antigo Screen Door Company was organized by G. W. Hogben, H. C. Humphrey and A. M. Lanning, June 25, 1897. The concern went bankrupt after ope- rating a few years on the site of the English Mfg. Co.


ANTIGO MINING AND OIL CONCERNS.


In an early day many prominent Antigo men were in- terested in mining companies such as: The Phoenix Mining Co., organized December 27, 1886; The Iron


Vein Mining Company, organized February 10, 1887; The Antigo Mining Company, organized about then also. Leaders were Nick Bangs, M. Tollefson, War- ren and George Hill, W. W. Warner, Pat Day, H. A. Kohl, R. J. Leutsker, P. J. Koelzer, M. M. Ross and J. E. Mullowney.


In 1921-22 a number of Antigo people, more parti- cularly John Brown, Jr., John Hanousek, W. B. Mc- Arthur, C. J. Courtney, Harry Meyers and others be- came interested in an oil well at Roundup, Montana, called the Devils Dome Oil concern.


ANTIGO CANNING CO.


The Antigo Canning Company was organized Octo- ber 12, 1907, by H. C. Head, R. B. Johns and Sarah A. Head. The company operates extensively each year, its products being sold everywhere. A tremen- dous volume of vegetable products are canned at their factory south of the city and just west of the C. & N. W. tracks.


ANTIGO BUILDING SUPPLY CO.


The Antigo Building Supply Company organized October 28, 1902, with the following officers: Presi- dent-Robert Miller; Vice-President-Herman Behn; Manager-G. A. Hirsch; Secretary-Treasurer-W. A. Maertz. Present officers are: President-Robert Miller, Clintonville; Vice-President-Henry Leppla, Brillion, Wis .; Secretary-Treasurer-C. O. Miller, Antigo; Manager-T. A. Brenner. Offices and factory are at 817 Fulton Street.


INTERNATIONAL HOIST CO.


The International Hoist Company was originally the result of the activities of C. F. Dallman, Joseph Wirig and Leonard Frieburger, who on November 12, 1910, filed articles of organization for the concern. The in- dustry was created to manufacture hoists designed by Mr. Dallman. A plant was erected on north Minola Street, Antigo. For years the industry was operated by the Beavers Reserve Fund Fraternity, Dr. J. C. Wright, and Mayer Brothers of Mankato, Minn., when it was sold to the Murray-Mylrea Machine Company. In 1919 the buildings were sold to the Antigo Tractor Corporation.


ENGLISH MANUFACTURING CO.


The English Manufacturing Co., with factories and offices at 805 Hudson Street, was organized October 28, 1907. The company deals in pails, ice cream freezers, packing tubs, staves, heading timber, etc. John English is head of the institution.


ANTIGO GAS CO .- CITY GAS CO.


The Antigo Gas Company was organized February 10, 1910 by J. C. Spencer and R. Koebke. The indus- try went through reverses and a period or re-organiza- tion and litigation until March 12, 1914, when the City Gas Company was organized. June 1, 1919, C. O.


53


HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.


Somdahl took active control of the plant, stock of which is now owned by six individuals. Extensive improvements and many new patrons has resulted. Offices are in the Masonic Temple building. The plant is located on south Clermont street, between 9th and 10th avenues.


ANTIGO MFG. CO.


The Antigo Mfg. Co. was organized in Nov., 1891, by Messrs. H. A. Babcock, John Holley, G. H. Maxwell and G. K. Meneely. The plant located on 10th Ave- nue burned October 31, 1893. It was rebuilt and still operates. Excepting H. A. Babcock, the original owners still control the industry.


WUNDERLICH-KRAUSE-EDGAR & MARTIN- DAWLEY NORTHERN YARDS, INC.


The Wunderlich Lbr. & Mfg. Co. was organized in 1905 by Chris. Wunderlich, who was associated with his brother, George Wunderlich. A mill erected on south Clermont street was destroyed by a boiler explo- sion, February 24, 1905. May 10, 1918, George Wun- derlich, C. H. Krause and R. E. Krause organized the C. H. Krause Lumber Co., which operated until the concern went into bankruptcy. The property was purchased by George Wunderlich from the bankruptcy referee and then sold to Edgar & Martin, who operated until 1922. Dawley-Northern Yards, Inc., of Wausau, Wis., then purchased the planing mill and property and still own it. H. F. Harmon is local manager.


WOLF RIVER LUMBER COMPANY.


The Wolf River Lumber Company, organized March 18, 1912, by J. H. Worden, President, has offices on Superior street, Antigo. Its operations in lumber, white and Norway pine, hemlock and hardwood pro- ducts, logs and pulp wood, are extensive.


WISCONSIN BARK & LBR. CO.


The Wisconsin Bark & Lbr. Co. took over the saw and planing mill property of the T. D. Kellogg Lumber & Mfg. Co., in 1905, after the mill had been sold to J. H. Worden.


Principal owners were J. H. Worden, and Edward Faust. Until 1909 the industry operated as that con- cern and then re-organized as


THE ANTIGO LUMBER COMPANY.


We have heard of the Antigo Lumber Company of 1883. Twenty-six years later another Antigo Lumber Company, which operated from 1909 until 1912, came into existence. The concern went bankrupt in 1912 and J. H. Worden, Caspar Faust of Oshkosh, Charles Malug of Marion, Wis., and J. B. Lesch of Chicago, took over the property. The new concern became


THE FAUST LUMBER COMPANY.


The Faust Lumber Company operates a saw and planing mill in Antigo. The annual cut of lumber


is about six million feet. Principal owners are: J. H. Worden, L. P. Tradewell, J. B. Lesch, John Hessel and Caspar Faust.


MATTEFS BROTHERS COMPANY.


Mattefs Brothers Company was organized February 7, 1917, and is the successor of the Mattefs Construc- tion Co., organized in 1904. Principal owners are Gust and August Mattefs. The company operates a plan- ing, building supply and interior finish mill, lot 13, Lincoln street. It engages extensively in contract building. A new mill is being erected.


FROST VENEER SEATING COMPANY.


The Frost Veneer Seating Company was one of the early industries to locate in Langlade County, coming first to Elmhurst and then at Elcho, from where in 1890 they moved to Antigo. A plant was erected on the north end of Novotny's (Kellogg's) pond where 40 men are employed on an average. The Antigo mill devotes itself exclusively to cutting and drying veneer. Chris. Janes, Superintendent, was appointed May 1, 1921. Main offices are at 50 Union Square, New York City.


THE ANTIGO TRACTOR CORPORATION.


The Antigo Tractor Corporation was organized Janu- ary 13, 1921, by a group of citizens, chiefly of Lang- lade County. Capital stock is $1,000,000. The cor- poration is the outgrowth of the original Antigo Tractor Company, organized with a capital stock of $100,000, June 12, 1919. The corporation engages in the manufacture and distribution of the Quad-Pull Tractor, principal of which was designed by D. S. Stewart, Antigo man. Factory and offices are located on north Minola street, Antigo. The plant was pur- chased in 1919. Officers of the Antigo Tractor Cor- poration are : President-John Manser; 1st Vice-Pres- ident-Ernest Hirt; 2nd Vice-President-J. R. McQuil- lan; Secretary-Dr. E. R. Murphy; Treasurer-Ernest Hirt. Board of Directors consist of the officers and W. H. Wolpert, George Foster of Wausau, John Han- ousek, Charles W. Fish, Morris Robinson and R. C. Dempsey.


THE CHAS. W. FISH LUMBER COMPANY.


The Charles W. Fish Lumber Company, main office at Elcho, cut their first log at the Antigo mill, No. 3, July 11, 1917. The plant was started May 1, 1917, after a popular campaign was made to induce Mr. Fish to build in Antigo. The institution employs 100 men the year around. The cut averages 12 million feet an- nually. Offices and plant are located in the northern part of the city. M. H. Keenan is the foreman. The Chas. W. Fish Lumber Company has five mills, two of which are in Langlade County.


54


HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.


THE LANGLADE LUMBER COMPANY.


The Langlade Lumber Company was organized Jan- uary 2, 1916, and on April 1, 1916, ground was broken for the erection of their saw mill on Clermont Heights, Antigo. The first log was cut December 20, 1916. The modern planing mill, started May 1, 1917, was completed in August the same year.


The Langlade Lumber Company purchased the tim- ber holdings of the defunct Paine Lumber Company of Oshkosh. The company operated five camps and had fifteen jobers logging in the 1922 season. All of their timber west of the C. & N. W. right-of-way in Upham township has been cut. The store and camps of Bass Lake and Pearson are discussed in Upham and Ainsworth townships.


Officers of the Langlade Lumber Company are: L. K. Baker, Chicago, President; George E. Foster, Wau- sau, 1st Vice-President; Frank Boutin, Minneapolis, 2nd Vice-President; J. R. McQuillan, General Manager and Secretary; H. L. Fitze, Assistant Secretary; A. R. Owen, Owen, Wis., Treasurer; Fred H. Shaw, Super- intendent and L. A. Maier, Land Department Manager. Offices are at 1625 Clermont Street.


The Company employs 130 men annually on an average and has a cut of approximately 20 million feet of lumber. Much of the product is sent direct from the camps to the paper industries in the Fox River Valley.


HIRT BROTHERS MILLING CO.


The Hirt Brothers Milling Company opened their Antigo mill on 9th Avenue, December 15, 1917. The company is engaged in the manufacture of wheat, rye and buckwheat flour, grind feed for farmers and con- duct a wholesale and retail business in flour, feed, hay and grain. Officers of Hirt Brothers Milling Company are : President-Ernest Hirt; Vice- President-L. L. Gibbs; Secretary-Treasurer-Miss Elsie Hirt.


The average daily production of flour on a 24-hour run basis is 150 barrels.


KINGSBURY & HENSHAW LUMBER CO.


The Kingsbury & Henshaw Lumber Company was organized in 1892 by C. E. Henshaw and J. J. Kings- bury. They erected a saw mill on Field street, Antigo. The business flourished until the death of J. J. Kings- bury, August 2, 1917. The concern re-organized with C. E. Henshaw and J. H. Worden associated in the


HENSHAW-WORDEN LUMBER CO.


The Henshaw-Worden Lumber Company was organ- ized December 4, 1917, with a capital stock of $100,000. January 12, 1922, the firm name was chang- ed to Henshaw Lumber Company. C. J. Te Selle is secretary and manager of the concern, which has offices on Field street and 6th avenue.


V. WOLF MILLWORK CO.


The Vincent Wolf Millwork Co. was opened in May, 1914, at 628 Sixth Avenue. The concern deals in building material, interior and exterior finishing, sash doors, etc.


LINCOLN BOX COMPANY.


The Lincoln Box Company of Merrill, Lincoln Coun- ty, opened a factory in Antigo on Hudson street recent- ly.


THE LANGLADE LAUNDRY CO.


The present Langlade Laundry Company was form- ed by C. E. Horne and O. R. Frisby, who in the fall of 1916 purchased the plant from F. A. Hecker, when it was then located on Fifth Avenue in the Neff-Roberts flat. In the spring of 1919, the business was sold to William A. Lange and Ed. Stoddard, Wausau, Wis- consin, men. A half year later E. C. Stoddard sold his interest to C. E. Horne and since that time the business has been owned and operated by the Lang- lade Laundry Company, of which Wm. A. Lange and C. E. Horne are proprietors. The business continued in Neff-Roberts building until the spring of 1921, when because of increased business, and need of larger quar- ters, a modern two story brick structure was erected, which houses a laundry and dry cleaning and dyeing establishment. The proprietors added new machinery and equipment, a soft water installation, with a capaci- ty of 12,000 gallons a day, water being pumped from a deep well in the plant. The plant employs four male and twelve female employes.


The Langlade Laundry plant is a model institution. By a special ventilating system the air in the entire plant is changed every seven minutes. Windows on both sides of the plant make ideal working conditions. It is safe to infer that the plant is the most modern one of Northern Wisconsin. The laundry work is of ex- ceptional high grade and is under the efficient super- vision of C. E. Horne. Mr. Lange, associate of Mr. Horne's, has personal charge of the dyeing and clean- ing department. The laundry has added rug cleaning to its field and with this new venture they are meet- ing with success.


55


HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.


CHAPTER XIII. Banks and Finances, Langlade County


Early Bank Charters-First Banking Law-National Bank Act-First Langlade County Bank-The Bank of Antigo-Langlade National Bank-The First National Bank-The Fidelity Savings Bank -Elcho, Neva, White Lake and Phlox Banks-Comparison 1881-1922.


The Territorial Legislature of Michigan granted a charter to the Bank of Wisconsin at Green Bay in 1834. (Before Wisconsin was detached from Michigan Ter- ritory.) This bank was in existence until 1838, when upon demand it was liquidated.


Bank charters were granted to the Miner's Bank of Dubuque, Ia., then in Wisconsin Territory, the Bank of Milwaukee and the Bank of Mineral Point at the Wis- consin Territory Legislature's first session.


Louis Grignon, Green Bay, kin of Charles De Lang- lade, possessed the first bank bills in Wisconsin. No doubt, they were for service with the British in the War of 1812.


The first general banking law in Wisconsin was adopted in 1852 and has since been frequently amend- ed. All changes are made by the legislature with- out submission to the electorate.


The National system of banking was organized by law in 1863. The first monetary system was estab- lished in the United States by an act of Congress on April 2, 1792. First coinage began at the government mint at Philadelphia. The single gold standard, as a unit of value, was adopted in 1873. State and Na- tional banks are required to keep on hand a certain per cent of their deposits to meet all ordinary drafts and such special emergencies as may arise.


LANGLADE COUNTY'S FIRST BANK.


The first bank in Langlade County was organized as a private institution in 1881 by L. D. Moses, pioneer Antigo merchant. This bank was located just east of what is now A. A. Lueck's Drug Store. It was called The Langlade County Bank. L. D. Moses was presi- dent and Irvin Gray, later an employee of the First National Bank, was cashier.


The deposits never exceeded six thousand dollars and the bank possessed no capital stock.


H. C. Humphrey of Sheboygan Falls and F. W. Humphrey of Shawano purchased the bank from its original owners in 1883 and continued it under the same name and as a private institution.




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