USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 24
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Section 8. There shall be elected by the members of each company aforesaid, annually, at their annual meeting, a clerk or secretary and a treasurer, who shall, on or before the first Monday of May in each year, return to the city clerk a list containing the name of each member of their respective companies, and when any member of either of said companies shall cease to be a member thereto by resignation, expul- sion or otherwise, notice thereof shall be given to the city clerk.
Section 9. The city clerk is hereby required to keep a record of the members of the several compan- ies organized under this chapter and such record shall consist of the returns made by the several clerks or secretaries as above provided, and no person shall be exempt from jury duty unless the name is entered on such list, in case any person shall for any cause, cease to be a member of either of said companies, the clerk shall note the fact thereon, and shall return to the clerk of the board of supervisors of the county of Lang- lade a list of all persons who are members of either or all said companies exempt from jury duty, on or be- fore the day now appointed, or which may hereafter be appointed for the annual meetings of said board and said board shall not place the names of such per- sons on the jury list for the ensuing year.
Section 10. The officers of the fire department shall be a chief engineer, an assistant engineer, a secretary and treasurer. The several fire companies shall hold at least one annual meeting for the purpose of elect- ing department officers, the first meeting to be called by the mayor. Each member of the several com- panies, in good standing, shall be entitled to a vote in the election of department officers, and a majority of the votes cast shall elect. The officers so elected shall be subject to confirmation by the common council.
CHAPTER XIV.
CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND RECONSTRUC- TION OF SIDEWALKS.
Section 1. The common council shall have power to order the building construction, reconstruction or repair of sidewalks in the city of Antigo in such a manner it may deem proper provided, however, that when any member of the common council, shall offer a resolu- tion for the construction of any sidewalk in the city, the resolution shall be referred to the proper commit- tee and held over until the next regular meeting. Such resolution shall describe the street or part of street along with and the block opposite where it is pro- posed to construct such sidewalk. The city clerk shall, within five days after such resolution is intro- duced and referred, serve a copy of such resolution on each and all of the residents or occupants of lots on the street or streets along which it is proposed to build such sidewalks.
Section 2. At its next regular meeting after such resolution shall have been so offered and referred, ac- tion shall be had by the common council thereon, and if such resolution be adopted by the common council, an order shall be entered among its records requiring
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a sidewalk to be constructed along such street or part of street or lands described in said resolution. The common council in such order, shall designate and de- termine the street or part of street along which such sidewalk shall be constructed, and the time within which the owner or owners of the property along such streets shall build the same. If the owner or owners of any such lot or lots or such lands shall fail to so construct such sidewalks opposite the lot or lots, or lands so owned by him or them within the time limited in said order, the city shall construct such part thereof as such owner or owners have so failed to construct and charge the cost thereof to the lot or lots, or lands, op- posite which the city shall have so constructed such sidewalk.
Section 3. Within three days after said order shall have been entered as aforesaid the city marshal of said city shall serve a copy of such order upon the resi- dents or occupants of the lots or lands opposite which such sidewalk is to be constructed personally or by leaving a true copy thereof at the usual place or abode of such owner or occupants in said city. In case any owner or owners of any such lot or lots, or such lands, shall not reside thereon, or in the city of Antigo, or his or their name shall be unknown to the city marshal, then such order shall be served on such non-resident or unknown owner or owners, by publishing the same in some newspaper published in said city, at least once and at least ten days before the expiration of the time limited in said order for the construction of such sidewalk. As soon as the city marshal shall have completed the service of said order as herein provided, he shall make and file with the city clerk his return service, in which he shall state the time, place and manner of service thereof, and in case the order shall have been published, as hereinafter provided, he shall attach to his return, and file therewith the affidavits of the publication thereof in the usual form, subscrib- ed and sworn to by the printer or publisher of the newspaper in which such order shall have been so published.
Section 4. At any time after such order shall have been so entered by the common council as hereinbe- fore provided, and within the time therein limited, therefor, the owner or owners of the lots or lands op- posite which such sidewalk is to be constructed may, at his or their own expense, and in the manner and of the width and material designated in such order, construct such sidewalk opposite the said lots, or lands owned by them respectively.
Section 5. Within the three days after the expira- tion of the time limited in such order for constructing said sidewalk, the street commissioner of the ward in which said sidewalk is ordered to be built, shall ex- amine the street, part of the street or block, along said sidewalk shall have been ordered to be so constructed, and within said three days shall make and file with the city clerk a report in writing, signed by him, as to the construction of the same. He shall state in such re- port what part of said side walk, if any, has been and what part, if any, has not been constructed in con- formity with such order, and shall describe the lots or
part of lots, or lands, if any opposite within the side- walk has been so constructed as well as the lots or part of lots, or lands, if any, along which said side- walk has not been so constructed.
Section 6. If it shall appear, by such report of the street commissioner that any part of such sidewalk has not been constructed in conformity with the order aforesaid, the common council shall at its next regular meeting after such report shall have been made and filed, direct the street commissioner to proceed at once to construct, in conformity with said order, such part of said sidewalk as said report shows has not been con- structed, and the said street commissioner shall there- upon proceed at once so to construct such part of side- walk.
Section 7. Immediately upon completion of his work, the street commissioner shall make and file with the clerk a statement in writing, subscribed and sworn to by him, in which he shall state the total expense actual- ly incurred by him in so constructing that part of such sidewalk in front of each lot, or lots or land, opposite which it appears by his report, the owner or owners of such lot or lots, or land has failed as aforesaid to construct sidewalk.
Section 8. At its next regular meeting after such statement shall have been so filed, the common coun- cil shall by resolution levy and assess upon each lot or part of lot, lands, opposite which any sidewalk or part of sidewalk shall have been constructed, by said street commissioner as appears by his said statement, a spe- cial tax sufficient to pay actual expense incurred in so constructing the same as appears by said statement, and said resolution shall describe each such lots or part of lots, or lands, state the names of the owners thereof, and compensation of salary for any services.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(Concluded)
Section 16. All city or ward officers, at the ex- piration of their own term of office, or upon their resig- nation, removal or vacation from office, shall imme- diately deliver to their successor in office all property, moneys, books, papers, and effects of every descrip- tion in their possession belonging to the office they may have held. Any person who may have held an office neglecting or refusing so to do for twenty-four hours after the presentment, by his successor, of the city clerk's certificate of his successor's election or ap- pointment and qualifications to the office shall forfeit and pay to the use of said city twenty-four hours re- fusal, the sum of one hundred dollars and all damages and costs incurred, either by the said city or his suc- cessor by reason of such neglect or refusal.
Section 17. The common council of the city of Antigo, or a committee thereof to be appointed there- by for the purpose shall meet with the board of su- pervisors, of the town of Antigo, at the common coun- cil rooms in the city of Antigo, upon six days notice given by either party to the other, by service thereof on the town or city clerk, for the purpose of appro- priating and dividing the credits and indebtedness of the town of Antigo, as the same shall be found to be on the first Tuesday of April, 1885.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Section 18. All the credits and liabilities of the town of Antigo, as they shall be found to exist on the first Tuesday of April, 1885, shall be apportioned to the city and town of Antigo on the basis of the last assessment of said town.
Section 19. A certified copy of such apportion- ment signed by said town board and said common council shall be filed in the office of the town clerk of the town of Antigo, in the office of the city clerk of the city of Antigo, in the county of Langlade, in the county clerk's office and in the county treasury offices and the proportion of the indebtedness due from Lang- lade county to the town of Antigo, which shall be ap- portioned to the city of Antigo, shall be paid to the treasurer of said city, and become part of the general fund thereof.
Section 20. The city clerk of the city of Antigo shall insert and levy in the tax roll of said city, for the year 1885, the amount of the indebtedness of the town of Antigo, which shall be apportioned to said city and the treasurer of said city and the treasurer of the town of Antigo, take the receipt therefore, and file the same in the office of the city clerk, and thereupon and thereafter the city of Antigo shall stand released of and from any and all liabilities of said town of Antigo.
Section 21. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication.
Approved March 14, 1885.
GENERAL CITY CHARTER ADOPTED.
June 27, 1905, the patent of the general city charter which was then adopted by the city of Antigo was re- ceived by the city from the Secretary of State. It brought a number of important changes in city govern- ment. The Board of Public Works became a more
important body. All public work or city improve- ment jobs exceeding $200 in value were placed under the direction of this board. The power of eminent domain was greatly extended by the general charter and its operation much more complete. Six years be- fore the adoption of the general charter, in 1899, the ordinances of the city of Antigo were ably revised by the then City Attorney Max Hoffman and were pub- lished in book form. No revision followed until when on August 2, 1905, the city council directed the City Clerk, A. M. Arveson and City Attorney, E. A. Morse, to re-write and revise the ordinances and have them issued in book form. They at once complied with the directions of the city council and on March 22, 1906, the revised ordinances were published. Since the re- vision of 1906, 103 ordinances have been passed by the law making body of the city of Antigo.
PRESENT CITY WARD BOUNDARIES.
Chapter 1 of the general ordinances of the city of
Antigo as revised, consolidated and amended give the boundaries of the city to-date correct as follows, with the exception of eighty acres of land attached to the city at the time the Langlade Lumber Company was established.
Section 1 .- All that district of territory in the coun- ty of Langlade hereinafter described, shall be a city by the name of Antigo, and the people now inhabiting, and those who shall inhabit said district, shall be a munici- pal corporation by the name of Antigo, and shall have the powers hereafter specifically granted, and the au- thorities thereof shall have perpetual succession, and shall be capable of contracting and being contracted with, suing and being sued, pleading and being im- pleaded, in all courts of law and equity, and shall have a common seal, and may change and alter the same at pleasure.
Section 2 .- All that district of country included in the south half of section nineteen, south half of sec- tion twenty, all of section thirty, all of section twenty- nine, north half of section thirty-one, except that part of the east half of the north-east quarter lying south of the north bank of Spring Brook, and the mill pond, and the north half of section thirty-two, all in town- ship thirty-one north, range eleven east, in Langlade County, Wisconsin, shall comprise and constitute the city of Antigo.
Section 3 .- The city of Antigo shall be divided into six wards as follows: All the territory lying north of the center line of Fifth Avenue, extended to the east city limits, and east of the center line of Superior Street and Neva Road continued northeasterly as now used and traveled, to the north limits of the city, shall constitute the First Ward. All the territory lying north of the center of Fifth Avenue, west of Superior Street and Neva Road continued northeasterly as now used and traveled, and east of the main track of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway company, shall com- prise the Second Ward. All the territory lying west of the main track of the Chicago & Northwestern rail- way company, and north of the center line of Fifth Avenue, extended to the western city limits, shall con- stitute the Third Ward. All the territory lying south of the center of Fifth Avenue, and west of the main track of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway com- pany, shall constitute the Fourth Ward. All the ter- ritory lying east of the main track of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway company, south of the center of Fifth Avenue, and west of the center of Superior Street, continued to the southern limits of the city, shall constitute the Fifth Ward. All the territory ly- ing east of the center of Superior Street continued to the southern limits of the city, and south of the center of Fifth Avenue, continued to the eastern city limits, shall constitute the Sixth Ward.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXV. City Administrations --- 1885-1922
Mayor Thomas W. Lynch-Mayor Munson M. Ross-Mayor Daniel W. Keen-Thomas W. Lynch's Second Administration-Mayor J. F. Doyle-Mayor I. D. Steffen-Mayor Cassius F. Smith-Mayor J. F. Doyle's Second Administration-Mayor J. F. Albers-Mayor George W. Hill-Mayor R. H. McMullen-Mayor John F. Dailey-Mayor I. D. Steffen's Second Adminis- tration-R. H. McMullen's Second Administration-Mayor Thomas W. Hogan-Mayor Fred Hayssen-George W. Hill's Second Administration-Fred Hayssen's Second Term-Burt W. Rynder's Administration-George W. Hill's Last Term-Mayor Leonard Freiburger-The Ad- ministration of Dr. I. D. Steffen-Government by Commission Adopted-C. Fred Calhoun's Ad- ministration-The Administration of John Benishek-The Present Administration of Mayor Charles J. Hanzel.
A review of the administrations of the Mayors of Antigo is the most feasible way to cover municipal ac- tivities in a span of years from 1885 to 1922. This review of Antigo, as a city, commences with the ad- ministration of Thomas W. Lynch, the first Mayor, who was elected on April 7, 1885.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THOMAS W. LYNCH -1885-1886.
Thomas W. Lynch, a Democrat, lawyer and resi- dent of the village of Antigo two years before its in-
THOMAS W. LYNCH First Mayor of Antigo-1885-86.
corporation as a city, was elected first Mayor of Anti- go, April 7, 1885, with practically no opposition, pur- suant to the provisions of Chapter 79, Wisconsin laws of 1885. The first meeting of the Aldermen elected from the four wards and the Mayor was held at Spen-
cer's Hall, the site of the Hill Building, Fifth Avenue, April 13, 1885. The city of Antigo was formally created then.
George Clithero, Alderman from the Second Ward was elected President of the first city council, on the second ballot. He defeated D. W. Keen and P. J. Koelzer.
The first ordinance passed prescribed the width of board sidewalks and the manner in which they should be constructed. This ordinance was passed April 16, 1885.
April 13, 1885, a poll tax of $1.50 was made upon every male inhabitant in the city of Antigo between the ages of 21 and 50 years, the said fund to go into the street improvement fund.
The salary of City Marshal was fixed at $50 and W. L. Crocker was chosen first marshal on April 14, 1885. The salary of the city clerk was fixed at $250.
May 1, 1885, the city awarded to Messrs. Wood & George the contract for pulling stumps from the prin- cipal Antigo streets for $84, the work to be completed in June, 1885.
Mayor Thomas W. Lynch issued the first public pro- clamation ever issued by an Antigo Mayor on August 6, 1885 in which he said:
TO THE CITIZENS OF ANTIGO :
"On the 8th of August will occur the funeral of America's great chieftain, General U. S. Grant. An event of equal universal regret has not occurred in our day, nor is likely to happen again. The preparations being made throughout this great country, to pay the final tribute to our world renowned fellow citizen, but feebly speaks the affections of the people for the de- ceased. Nor is the regret confined to this country; it prevails throughout the world co-existence with his fame; from the humblest village to the grandest metro- polis, from the farm to the cabinet, the people are pre- paring to observe the obsequies of General Grant. It is to meet therefore, that our young city should join in the National event with appropriate ceremonies.
I therefore request that all business be suspended
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
and all business houses close from twelve o'clock noon to four in the afternoon, August 8, 1885, and that the citizens meet at the Odd Fellows' Hall at 2 p. m. and proceed from there to the Antigo Opera House, where appropriate funeral ceremonies will be held.
The exercises will be given under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic. All civic societies are requested to be present.
(Signed)
THOMAS W. LYNCH,
Mayor of Antigo. April 6, 1885.
Mayor Lynch officially welcomed the Wisconsin Press Association to Antigo on August 18, 1885. This was the first state-wide gathering of people who every visited Antigo.
September 15, 1885 at a special election the first vote was taken in the city of Antigo on the license question. The question was whether $500, $350 or $200 should be the annual license to be paid. The voters declared in favor of a $500 license by a vote of 42 majority. The total vote was 181 for $500; 19 for $350 license; and 120 for $200 license.
June 7, 1885, the city purchased fire apparatus for the volunteer fire department from Bailey & Gleason by a vote of 7 to 1. The fire apparatus was accepted on July 3, 1885, and a hook and ladder truck was pur- chased for $350.
W. F. White was elected first Antigo City Attorney on August 6, 1885.
Sixteen ordinances were passed during the Ad- ministration of Mayor Thomas W. Lynch. The last meeting of the common council under his administra- tion was held April 12, 1886, when Mayor elect M. M. Ross and the new city officers qualified and took the oath of office.
ADMINISTRATION OF MUNSON M. ROSS- 1886-1887.
Munson Monroe Ross, the second Mayor of Antigo, was elected to the office April 6, 1886, over Geo. W. Latta. Mayor-elect Ross lead the Democratic city ticket. The election was very exciting the chief con- troversies were between the Mayoralty candidates and the vote on the license question. The license of sa- loons was discontinued in the city by a very large vote. Mayor Ross, born August 22, 1853, came to Antigo in June, 1881, and permanently located in the village in September, 1881. He was elected by a vote of 353 as against 200 for Mr. Latta. April 12, 1886, Mayor Ross presided for the first time over the city council. D. W. Keen was elected President of the council, Ed. Mckinney was selected City Marshal, at this first ses- sion. George Schintz was elected the second City At- torney of Antigo on April 19, 1886.
In June, 1886, the city purchased a second hand steamer for fire fighting purposes from the city of Appleton. The apparatus proved very necessary and paid for itself in one fire.
Mayor Ross issued an order closing all "Casino" and
other club rooms where liquor was sold in violation of the city government November 24, 1886.
In February, 1887, the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad decided to locate its shops and ma- chine factory at Antigo after the Ross administration, with the assistance of many public spirited citizens, made arrangements for an $8,000 appropriation to pur- chase the necessary grounds for the industry. This action meant much to Antigo-in fact if not then accom- plished, Antigo probably today would not be the im- portant railroad center that it is.
A public subscription was started to raise money to purchase the grounds for the railroad property and $4,300 was obtained in that way.
MUNSON M. ROSS Mayor of Antigo-1886-87
The contributors were: Hessel & Leykom, C. G. Adkins, C. H. Thompson, M. L. Bacon, E. A. Crain, H. G. Borgman, G. C. Williams, J. H. Dawley, Herman & Becklinger, G. J. Schutz, M. Weix, W. H. Blinn, Irvin Gray, Henry Smith, J. L. Jensen, Mark W. Waite, James Chadek, J. C. Lewis & Co., S. Neuman, T. H. Robbins, W. L. Giffin, F. M. Sherman, W. H. Dawley, August Kropp, Louis Wahl, Joseph Hoffman, J. W. Wines, John A. Ogden, S. Buerger, Fred C. Mey- er, D. Berard, A. C. Clark, H. J. Frick, Johns & Kel- logg, J. Brennan, Nicholas Boll, J. E. Mullowney, Ben Spencer, Henry Berner, Sr., John Doersch, Gus Ulrich, Silbar & Goldberg, Robinson & McDonald, Thomas W. Lynch, R. Otto, H. V. Mills, W. S. Morgan, F. Manthey, P. J. Koelzer, W. F. Bowman, M. J. Lower, S. E. Les- lie, George L. Schintz, John E. Martin, Niels Anderson, L. K. Strong, Charles Teipner, A. Logan, W. H. Stacy, Leutsker & Wilterding, Frank Wanninger, R. H. Mc- Mullen, L. Mendlik, W. E. Jones, P. J. Millard, J. H. Trever, C. M. Beattie, Con Donohue, Dennis McGuire, Louis Novotny, A. H. Morris, H. L. Ferguson, W. F. White, J. F. Doyle, E. N. Mellor, Fred Herman, C. F. Smith, Gates Saxton, H. A. Kohl, G. W. Latta, W. J.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Zahl, T. D. Kellogg, D. W. Keen, Edward Daskam, H. C. Humphrey, R. L. Webster, A. D. Rice, Fred Hay- ssen and Philip Wessa.
Mayor Ross was an efficient Mayor. When elected he was at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, but took charge of city affairs with vigor upon his return. His adminis- tration was handicapped due to the lack of funds, how- ever. Nevertheless during his term of office consid- erable street improvements were made and the city in general made good progress.
Mayor Ross was succeeded in office by Daniel W. Keen, who was the first Mayor to be elected under the city charter after its first revision.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF DANIEL W. KEEN- -
1887-1888.
Daniel W. Keen, former Alderman and public spirit- ed citizen, was the first Mayor elected after the first revision of the original city charter. He defeated Charles S. Leykom, who was nominated at a meet-
DANIEL W. KEEN Mayor of Antigo-1887-88.
ing held at the headquarters of the Antigo Business Men's Association on April 15, 1887. The Business Men's Association and those affiliated with it were "for economical and conservative government and for the election of men who will faithfully discharge the du- ties devolving upon them." Mr. Keen lead the Union Tax Payer's ticket, in opposition to the Business Men's Citizen's Ticket.
Mayor Keen presided at the first council meeting un- der his administration on May 9, 1887. Alderman L. Mendlick was elected President of the city council.
The first ordinance passed under the Keen adminis- tration was one granting L. K. Strong and his asso- ciates the privilege of erecting, operating and main- taining a system of electric lighting in Antigo.
A municipal well was authorized constructed in June, 1887. This well was located at the intersection of
Fifth Avenue and Daskam (Morse) Street and B. P. Hopkins of New London, Wisconsin, secured the con- tract to dig the well, the first municipal one in Antigo.
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