USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 25
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Upon petition of many citizens an ordinance was passed May 17, 1887 discontinuing the following streets in Antigo. Commencing at the southeast corner of Pacific street, running thence northerly along the west line of the right-of-way of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad to a point in the north line of lot nine (9) in block forty-one (41), extended thence westerly on the line of lot 9, extended twenty- two feet, thence southerly to the place of beginning. Also the east twenty-two feet of Pacific street from the north line of said lot 9 extended to Fifth Avenue, the easterly twenty-two feet of all that part of Reed Street lying between Fifth and Fourth Avenues, the east twenty-two feet of that part of Reed Street between Fourth and Third Avenues; all of Reed Street lying between Third Avenue and the north line of First Ave- nue; all that part of First Avenue between the westerly line of lot 1, block 2, extended northerly to the north line of said First Avenue and the east boundary of lot 4, of block 1, extended north to the north line of said First Avenue; all that part of Second Avenue lying between the west line of lot 1, block 12, extending northerly to the west line of lot 10, block 2, and the east boundary line of lot 4, block 11, extended norther- ly to the east line of lot 15, block 1; all that part of the alley lying between blocks 9 and 10, block 1 and lying between lots 9 and 10, block 11.
These streets and alleys were discontinued to make room for the extensive improvements of the Milwau- kee, Lake Shore & Western railroad.
In 1887 the common council passed an ordinance exempting all manufacturing plants from taxation for a period of five years, that would locate in the city of Antigo and would quarantee steady employment to at least twenty men.
Mayor Keen served until the election in April, 1888, when Thomas W. Lynch, Antigo's first Mayor, was elected. He was nominated by a coalition of Demo- crats and Republicans. He defeated W. E. Jones and W. B. Badger. The latter was the Prohibition candi- date.
THE SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF THOMAS W. LYNCH-1888-1889.
Thomas W. Lynch began his second administration of Antigo municipal affairs on April 9, 1888. Mayor Lynch delivered his message to the new city council and made many specific recommendations regarding important city questions. He said among other things : "We have agreed to assume the trust of administering
the affairs of the city for the coming year. In per- forming that trust the welfare and best interest of the city, present and future, should be our sole aim. Public money is just as sacred as private money. Between necessary and unnecessary expenses we should use the judgment that any prudent business man would use in his own business."
April 9, 1888, W. H. Dawley was elected President
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of the city council, defeating J. A. Thursby.
Saloon licenses were granted for the first time since the first administration of Mayor Lynch.
Ed. McKenna was appointed Marshal of Antigo by Mayor Lynch after the various municipal committees were appointed.
The Wisconsin Press Association made its second visit to Antigo on July 25, 1888 and a public reception was given the editors. Mayor Lynch delivered the address of welcome. Among the visitors were Editor W. D. Hoard of Ft. Atkinson and John Hicks, Presi- dent of the Association. Mayor Lynch, P. J. Millard, A. B. Millard, J. C. Lewis, W. H. Dawley, J. A. Ogden, G. W. Latta and H. G. Borgman, accompanied the edi- tors from Antigo to Rhinelander.
Applications for sidewalks (plank) were granted at every meeting of the city council during this admin- istration.
In 1889 the matter of making certain amendments to the city charter was taken up by the Mayor and the city council.
The Sixth Ward was created as a result of revision of the charter and the boundary of the city was ex- tended one half mile each way.
The Lynch administration of 1888-89 was less mo- mentous than that of 1885-86 when that citizen who played such an important part in Antigo municipal af- fairs first piloted the municipal ship. Mayor Lynch was succeeded by Dr. J. F. Doyle. The proposed amendments to the city charter were endorsed by the electorate.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR J. F. DOYLE -1889-90.
The first meeting of the city council under the Doyle administration was held on Monday, April 8, 1889. Mayor Doyle made some important suggestions to the Aldermen of the various wards, his address following the farewell speech of the outgoing Mayor Thomas W. Lynch.
One of the important achievements of this adminis- tration was the appointment of a committee, consisting of the Mayor, W. H. Dawley and H. C. Humphrey to investigate the matter of water works for the city of Antigo. This was not the first time the water works question was brought to the attention of the city, but this was the first practical step toward the solution of the problem.
June 28, 1889, a mass meeting was held at the city council rooms for the purpose of discussing the water question. H. G. Borgman and W. B. Johns were ap- pointed to look over city water works in other cities.
H. C. Humphrey, J. H. Trever and Hon. Thomas W. Lynch were selected to represent the city of Antigo to confer with officials of the M. L. S. & W. R. R. Co. re- garding alleged rumors that the Antigo shops would be moved to Kaukauna, Wis. The committee reported that the company had made no such plans and inti- mated that Antigo would ultimately be the point where the Lake Shore system would have its largest shops.
During the administration of Mayor Doyle, the city
adopted the report of a committee on schools and authorized the expenditure of "not more than $20,000 for the erection of a high school in block 63."
The first ordinance making it necessary for transient merchants to pay a municipal license was passed by the city council in October, 1889.
The first arc lights were installed in Antigo on the principal streets during the Doyle administration by the Antigo Edison Electric Light Company.
The polling places for the municipal election of 1890 were fixed as follows: First Ward-Teipner's sample
DR. J. F. DOYLE Mayor of Antigo-1889-90
room; Second Ward-The Council Rooms; Third Ward -The school house; Fourth Ward-School house; Fifth Ward-Ratskey building, near Larzelere Livery; Sixth Ward-Freiburger's Shop, near bridge.
Mayor Doyle was succeeded by Dr. I. D. Steffen, who was elected April 1, 1890. Dr. Steffen defeated G. W. Latta. The city council under Mayor Doyle as- sembled for the last time on April 8, 1890, completed its work and turned over the city's destiny to the new Mayor and the new council. Dr. J. F. Doyle, the re- tiring Mayor and Dr. I. D. Steffen, Mayor-elect, de- livered appropriate addresses.
THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR I. D. STEFFEN-1890-91.
April 8, 1890, the first meeting of the new city coun- cil under Mayor I. D. Steffen was called to order by the new chief executive. W. H. Dawley was selected President of the council for the year, T. H. Robbins was elected City Marshal, H. A. Mills was chosen Deputy City Marshal, the retiring Mayor, Dr. J. F. Doyle was chosen as City Physician and F. J. Finu- cane was elected City Attorney at this meeting.
The subject of water works, which had been con- stantly before the Doyle administration was one of the problems with which the Steffen administration had to cope.
April 16, 1890, the city council thoroughly considered the question of water works for the growing city of
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Antigo. The rental system was decided to be the most feasible system to adopt. April 30, 1890, the proposals for the erection of a plant were opened by the city council and a committee was selected by May- or Steffen to report May 2, 1890. The result was that a special election was authorized to be held May 31, 1890, at which time the voters decided by a vote of 621 to 39 to permit a tax levy of $4,000 per year to pay the rental of such a system as it might adopt. The vote demonstrated that the people were then fully alert to prosperity and needs of the city. New bids were at once called for by the city council and on June 12, 1890, the council adopted and granted a franchise to W. G. Maxcy, giving him the exclusive right to main- tain a system of water works in Antigo for fire and domestic purposes for a term of thirty years (1890- 1920). The question of levying a tax of $4,000 per
DR. J. D. STEFFEN First served as Mayor of Antigo in 1890-91.
year for a term of thirty years to pay fire hydrant ren- tals was again put before the electorate on July 28, 1890, and the people were in favor of the proposal by an overwhelming vote of 514 to 21.
The water plant was in operation by January 1, 1891 and this marked an important step in the municipal ad- vancement of Antigo. We shall learn more of the wa- ter works in the administrations following.
Through the efforts of the city council under Mayor Steffen the Kingsbury & Henshaw flour mill and the saw mill, eventually, important industries in Antigo, were obtained in May, 1890.
November 24, 1890, the new hose cart for the fire department was received and accepted by the city council. Arrangements were made at this time by the council to provide sleeping quarters for four men in the fire department and to always have a team of horses on hand to haul fire apparatus to any fire.
The Frost Veneer Seating Company erected their plant in Antigo in the months of November-December, 1891, during the Steffen administration. W. D. Badger erected the plant.
The city council passed an ordinance in February, 1892, authorizing the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & West-
ern Railway Co. to construct and maintain a track across the streets between the Frost Veneer plant and the Antigo Screen Door Company plant. This track is a part of what is commonly called the "belt line."
During the administration of 1890, Dr. Steffen was also President of the School Board and at this time also the first high school building was erected in the block now occupied for high school purposes.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF CASSIUS F. SMITH -1891-92.
Cassius F. Smith was elected Mayor of Antigo in April, 1891, by defeating W. H. Dawley. Mayor Smith was the unanimous choice of the Republicans of the city. He defeated his opponent by a vote of 437 to 357 in a contest that was very exciting.
The first meeting of the city council under Mayor Smith was held on April 14, 1891. Mayor Smith se- lected T. H. Robbins as City Marshal; Louis Novotny as Street Commissioner; Attorney George W. Latta as City Attorney; Dr. J. H. Dawley as City Physician and B. F. Dorr as the first City Engineer.
CASSIUS F. SMITH Mayor of Antigo-1891-92.
During his administration many new buildings were erected in Antigo and streets were generally improv- ed.
The stand pipe of the Antigo Water Company was erected in April, 1891. Ed. LaLonde was then Super- intendent of the plant.
At that time the Antigo Water Works park was con- sidered the best in Antigo.
The question of cattle running at large on the streets was again given serious discussion by the city coun- cil.
May, 1891, the city fire department, with the sanction of the city council, responded to many calls in the out- skirts of the city, where forest fires were raging. Dur-
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ing this month thousands of dollars of property was destroyed by the forest fires, among which was one at Bryant and Kent, Price township.
Mill Street, between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue, was discontinued by the city to make room for extensive improvements by the Crocker Chair Company.
During the Smith administration G. E. Frost, Presi- dent of the Frost Veneer Seating Company of Sheboy- gan and William Calhoun, an official of that concern together with W. D. Badger, Manager of their plant at Elcho, conferred with the city officials regarding the location of their plant at Antigo.
A bonus was granted the company and as a result the mill was moved from Elcho to Antigo.
Mayor Smith retired from office in April, 1892, de- clining to become a candidate for re-election. Shortly afterwards he moved from Antigo and today he is Pres- ident of the Chicago Lumber and Veneer Company, Chicago, Ill., which concern has extensive operations over a wide field.
THE SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR J. F. DOYLE-1892-93.
Mayor J. F. Doyle defeated John A. Ogden by a vote of 488 to 326, a majority of 162 votes. The entire Democratic ticket of the city was elected with the ex- ception of a Justice of the Peace. The license ques- tion again came up and the vote was 643 for license and 157 against license, or a majority of 486 in favor of granting license.
April 11, 1892, the city council was organized under the Doyle administration. Ex-Mayor Steffen was elected President of the city council, T. H. Robbins as City Marshal; L. Novotny as Street Commissioner; G. R. Shaw as City Physician; W. F. White as City At- torney; Dr. J. H. Dawley as Health Officer; Mayor Doyle in his recommendations to the council dwelt with length on the financial conditions, treasury settle- ments, the street fund, the industrial bonus proposition and the publicity of council proceedings.
May 11, 1892, the city council authorized the enforce- ment of the ordinance prohibiting the running at large of cattle and elected Andrew Teske as Pound-Master. A fee of twenty-five cents was authorized paid to any individual who would drive any cattle running at large on the city streets to the city pound. This ordinance had its effect, when enforced, as but few cattle ran at large in Antigo since.
July 21, 1892, Mayor Doyle "unofficially" straddled L. E. Bucknam's bicycle and quite a crowd gathered on the corner of Clermont Street and Fifth Avenue expect- ing to see some fun but the Mayor got aboard with the agility of an expert and rode away on the "wonder ma- chine" to the bewilderment of the people.
The city council, at a special meeting, November 1, 1893, decided to extend the Superior Street water main to Tenth Avenue to afford fire protection to the Antigo Manufacturing Company. The plant had been des- troyed by fire the day before.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF J. F. ALBERS
1893-94.
The mayoralty campaign of the spring of 1893 was really started by the Citizens' League, a non-partisan organization, whose object was "to get the men best fitted for public service into office," to look over the transactions of the city council and the county board and to stand for economy and low taxation." The coalition of Democrats, Republicans and Prohibition- ists endorsed and supported J. F. Albers for Mayor. The Democrats put up J. L. Klocke. Thus the con- test was between two prominent business men of the city.
Mr. Albers was elected, receiving 464 votes to 350 for Mr. Klocke. D. J. Mahoney was elected City Clerk and the contest for City Treasurer between L.
J. F. ALBERS Mayor of Antigo-1893-94.
Buckman and John McCarthy was a tie, which when settled by lot, resulted in Mr. McCarthy's victory.
When the result of the Mayoralty election was an- nounced the adherents of the Citizens' League held a great parade and celebration on Fifth Avenue, which brought back the old days of 1884 when the Blaine and Cleveland torch processions were so lively.
The vote was canvassed by the city council April 6, 1893.
on
The administration of Mayor Albers' was launched on April 10, 1893, with the organization of the city council of which T. D. Kellogg was chosen President. T. H. Robbins was elected City Marshal; A. C. Con- way, City Attorney; Dr. I. D. Steffen, City Physician ; L. Corrigan, Street Commissioner and B. F. Dorr, City Engineer.
The estimated operating expenses for the ensuing year were given at $23,476.20.
During this administration the great Weed mill fire
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
occurred on May 20, 1893. Mayor Albers telegraphed to Rhinelander for aid which came at once.
An ordinance was passed by the city council stop- ping all bicycle riding on sidewalks of the city. The wheel men of Antigo resented this ordinance as the streets of the city were traveled by wheel with dif- ficulty.
Acting upon the petition of residents a hose cart was established in both the Third and Fourth Wards dur- ing this administration.
City Marshal O'Connor applied for a franchise to erect and maintain a telephone exchange in Antigo in 1894 and his application was granted by the coun- cil.
The report was current during this administration that the Northwestern railroad would remove their shops from Antigo to Monico and thus minimize the importance of Antigo as a railroad center. Public spirited Antigo citizens together with the city council placed the matter before the officials of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company and were given as- surance that the shops would remain in the city. Thus an industry of great importance was retained.
The Citizens' League of Antigo became a potent force as the end of the Albers' administration approached. It was non-partisan in character. Dr. I. D. Steffen was President; W. H. Blinn, Vice-President; J. C. Lewis, Secretary; J. F. Albers, Treasurer; Advisors were : A. M. Millard, John E. Martin, W. F. White, M. F. Crowe and H. G. Borgman. The Committee on Special Inquiry consisted of Ed. Daskam, J. C. Spencer and John A. Ogden.
Mayor Albers was followed by George W. Hill, a Democrat, who served his first term as Mayor from 1894-95.
THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION OF GEORGE W. HILL-1894-95.
George W. Hill, a pioneer Antigo citizen, was first elected Mayor on April 3, 1894 defeating Dr. I. D. Steffen. Although a Democrat Mr. Hill did not have the support of the Democrat organ of the city in the election.
The first council meeting was held April 9, 1894. Mayor Hill appointed various committees and the council elected the following officers: President of the council-T. D. Kellogg; City Marshal-Peter O'Con- nor; Deputy Marshal-Frank Cunningham; City At- torney-W. F. White; Street Commissioner-L. Cor- rigan; City Engineer-B. F. Dorr; City Physician-Dr. I. D. Steffen. Fire Wardens were appointed in each ward.
By reason of the defeat of the proposition to in- crease the water tax $500 at the annual municipal elec- tion the city council ordered a special election to be held April 30, 1894. The proposal for the increase was defeated at the annual election due to the mis- understanding of the question. Thus when the vote was taken the second time it resulted in 419 in favor of the increase and but 75 against the proposition. This
gave the city authorities power to grant extensions of the water works as the means of the city afforded.
In June, 1894, the city council, after a demonstra- tion had been made before Mayor Hill and members of the council by three different machines, authorized the purchase of an Austin road machine for use on An- tigo streets.
In 1894 there was considerable propaganda about the city purchasing the water works.
Fifteen hundred feet of hose for the volunteer fire department was purchased by the Committee on Fire and Water of the city council in August, 1894.
GEORGE W. HILL First served as Mayor of Antigo in 1894-95.
A new fire department was organized in November, 1894, and the organization was accepted by the city council. An arrangement was made for four pipemen to sleep in the engine house, the city to purchase a team of horses and the volunteers agreed to furnish a vol- unteer chief, whose services were gratuitous.
In February, 1895, the finance committee of the city council was instructed to act with the Antigo Board of Education to devise ways and means for the construc- tion of a new school house in the Second Ward. The proposition was finally defeated.
Mayor Hill served until April 8, 1895, when Mayor- elect R. H. McMullen presided over the city affairs for the first time.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF R. H. McMULLEN -1895-98.
R. H. McMullen came to Antigo in 1880 from Chil- ton, Calumet County, Wisconsin, and at once became an active leader in the affairs of the village and city of Antigo. He was chosen the first City Treasurer in 1885 and held other offices. He was first elected May- or of Antigo on April 2, 1895, defeating the Republi- can candidate for Mayor, John A. Ogden, by a vote of 483 to 410. With the exception of one city officer
.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
and five members of the city council the entire official roster was Democratic.
Among the outstanding events during his adminis- trations were the proposal to raise a sum sufficient to erect a new school in the Second Ward. The propos- al went down to defeat on April 2, 1895.
A. M. Lanning was elected President of the city council under Mayor McMullen during his first admin- istration. Ordinance No. 75 amended ordinance No. 42, prescribed new fire limits for the city and regulat- ed the construction of buildings within those limits.
The telephone franchise of Peter O'Connor was re- pealed during the year 1895.
As a result of a conference with Superintendent G. F. Bidwell, Mayor McMullen and the council succeed- ed in having the Chicago & Northwestern railroad
R. H. MCMULLEN First served as Mayor in 1895-98.
construct crossings at all Antigo streets and to main- tain an arc light on Fifth Avenue at their crossing.
During the McMullen administration the Antigo Opera House, where the first county fair was held was burned to the ground. Hoeffler Brothers were then in charge of it. The fire was on May 22, 1895.
The license question was voted upon September 17, 1895, and $500 as an annual license was again decided upon by the voters.
Mayor McMullen was successively elected until 1898. In March, 1896, caucuses were held in Antigo Wards and T. D. Kellogg was nominated by the Re- publicans to contest the Mayoralty with Mr. McMullen. The result was the re-election of Mr. McMullen by a vote of 608-314.
The new city council met on April 13, 1896, and the following official roster was created: City Attor- ney-F. J. Finucane; City Physician-Dr. T. L. Har- rington; City Marshal-John McArthur; Deputy Mar- shal-Isaac Lamont; Street Commissioner-Larry
Corrigan; City Engineer-B. F. Dorr; Department Driver-Chet Hugunin; Janitor-M. Devoy.
April 6, 1897, Mayor McMullen was again victorious for the office. He defeated John A. Ogden by a vote of 510 to 457. The appointive city officials remained the same with the exception of City Physician, M. J. Lower, being selected.
Mayor McMullen and the city council did consider- able street work during his last administration. There was then considerable agitation about paving Fifth Avenue. Nothing definite was then decided.
He served until the election of John F. Dailey on April 5, 1898.
In 1919 Mr. McMullen moved from Antigo to Port- land, Oregon, which has been his home since. He was born in Marysburg, Ontario, Canada on May 10, 1850.
Mayor McMullen was the first citizen to be continu- ously elected by the voters of Antigo for three con- secutive terms. He was the first Antigo Mayor to be re-elected after the expiration of his first term. Oth- er mayors had been previously re-elected but their terms were not consecutive.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN F. DAILEY- 1898-99.
John F. Dailey was elected Mayor of Antigo on April 5, 1898, defeating W. B. Johns by a vote of 571 to 349. Mr. Dailey was the Democrat nominee and Mr. Johns
JOHN F. DAILEY Mayor of Antigo-1898-99.
was the Republican choice. Mayor Dailey was born on December 26, 1856, at Ogdensburg, Waupaca Coun- ty, Wisconsin. He spent his early youth on a farm and secured his schooling at Waupaca. When a young man he became Superintendent of a large saw mill at Manawa, Wisconsin. He moved to Strass- burg, Langlade County, eight years later and there op- erated a saw mill for nearly six years. From Strass-
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
burg in 1897 he came to Antigo and opened up a shoe store.
The principal events of his administration were the macadamizing of Fifth Avenue and the revision of the city ordinances by City Attorney Max Hoffman and the City Clerk.
Mayor Dailey was requested to run for re-election but refused because of business affairs.
The last meeting of the city council under his ad- ministration was held April 10, 1899. Mayor Dailey thanked the city council for the courtesies extended him during his administration and then the city coun- cil of 1898-99 adjourned.
Dr. I. D. Steffen followed Mayor Dailey in office, this being Dr. Steffen's second administration.
It was during the Dailey administration that the printing offices of the Antigo Herold, The Antigo Re- publican and the Weekly News Item were entered and the mechanical plants were damaged, January 19, 1899. The city council at their meeting of January 22, 1899, offered a reward of $250 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties who per- petrated the deed.
The city council tabled a request for aid when the Antigo Public Library Association presented a peti- tion signed by one hundred tax payers on February 6, 1899.
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