USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 7
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Of the horse and oxen stables
By the forest trees surrounded. Of the peavy and the cant hook Now no longer seen with workmen. Stories of the timber cruising,
Bearing trees and section corners, Tramping woodland shod in snow shoes
Seeking merchantable timber, Looking ever at the tree trunks, Never noting soil they grew on Though the richest ever planted.
Tell the tales of timber stealing, Liens for labor, suits for trespass, To a wondering pastoral people. Tell of shingle bolts and saw logs And the timber cut for pulp wood; Of the log jams in the river, And the ice roads to the landing Of the circular and band saw,
How they ripped the logs and lumber, When his father was a youngster;
They will tell of mills dismantled, Of the knives that changed the huge logs
Into long sheets called veneering. Of the hubs made for the wagons
Turned and mortised by the carload, And the staves and hoops for barrels, Manufactured by the million ; They will tell of mills that vanished,
When no timber grew to feed them.
Where they stood the lawn mowers clicking Seems faint echo to their noises.
Tell how forests were denuded Of all timber having value, When the farmer of the southward Came to clear the timber slashings,
Built of logs their house and stables, Toiling hard for crops to gather, How the timber farmer wondered, Shook his head and smiled with pity
Said it was the height of folly Trying to force from stumps a living;
But the sneers were all unheeded By a farmer at his clearing. Late and early toiling conquered,
Field on field was cleared and planted Garnered grain rewards his labors. Dairy cattle browse contented In the pastures once the forest.
Well content the prosperous farmer Tells with mirth of timber settler Who once owned his smiling acres. How he followed lumbering northward To the verge of civilization And was never heard from after.
33
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER X. County Politics and Parties
Political Parties-Federal-Whig-Democrat-Republican-Green Backs-Socialists-Non-Parti- san League-Progressives-Retirement of Old School leaders-County political henchmen- Personal Politics in County Affairs-Political Wire Pulling-Langlade County Women in Pol- itics-The Political Wigwam of 1896-War with Germany Breaks Party Ties-Labor to the Front-Weakening of Party Lines-The Battle Line of 1924-Presidential Vote of County 1884-1920.
In the Colonial period of American history there ex- isted no political parties such as are prevalent today. Not until 1760, when the English insisted upon a severe policy toward the Colonies did two factions develop, one favoring self government and the other favoring obedience to the crown government. Thus was born the Colonial Whig and the Tory groups and with their birth American political history began.
The initial party organization commenced in op- position to measures sponsored by Alexander Hamil- ton, which included the establishment of a National Bank. In this conflict of ideas developed the Feder- al and Anti-Federalist-the former led by Alexander Hamilton, the latter by Thomas Jefferson. The Fed- eralists gained control of the new United States gov- ernment with the election of George Washington, but in 1801 were overthrown by the Anti-Federalists, who during their quarter of a century of power, changed their party label from Anti-Federalist to Democratic- Republican, Republican and finally Democrat.
The National Republican party, created during the Monroe "Era of Good Feeling," the Anti-Masonic party of 1832, the Whig party of 1836, the Liberty party of 1840, the Free Soilers of 1848, the American or Know-nothing party of 1856, the Republican party of 1856, the Green Backs or Nationals of 1876, the Laborites of 1884, the Peoples Party of 1892, the So- cialists of 1892, the Populists of 1896, the Socialist-Labor Party of 1896, the Prohibition- ists commencing in 1896, the Progressives of 1912, the Farmer-Labor Party of 1920, all have been organized as a result of divided opinions on some burning princi- pal or issue of national interest.
POLITICAL LANGLADE COUNTY.
Political history of the county began when Squire A. Taylor made his fight for the County of New, in 1879. A year later, as we know, in February, 1880, the name of the county became Langlade. The Wolf River settlement and its leaders opposed the establish- ment of the county-seat at Springbrook or Antigo. Francis A. Deleglise and his followers accepted the creation of New County nonchalantly. This is evi- denced by the following petition to the Oconto County Board of Supervisors : We, the undersigned inhabi- tants and electors of that part of Range eleven (11)
that lays in Oconto County* do hereby make applica- tion to you to establish and organize a town out of and comprising the above mentioned territory and to call said town the name set opposite the majority of the signers hereto.
Dated at Antigo this sixth day of November, 1880.
Names of Petitioners and the name preferred for proposed town :
F. A. Deleglise -- Antigo.
Gus Lind-Antigo.
George Ratcliffe-Antigo. -Remington-Antigo.
Niels Anderson-Antigo.
Richard Healy-Antigo.
John Erkling-Antigo.
Joseph R. Sheriff-Antigo.
Charles Mosher-Antigo.
William Miller-Springbrook.
Charles Teipner-Springbrook.
S. L. Wait-Antigo. Daniel M. Taggart-Antigo.
D. M. Randall-Antigo.
D. S. Olmsted-Antigo.
James Novotny-Antigo.
Joseph Kraus-Antigo. Jozeph Nowotny-Antigo.
Joseph Novotny-Antigo.
Louis Novotny-Antigo.
Joseph Duchac-Antigo.
Philip Novotni-Antigo.
Thomas Vochoska-Antigo.
Antone Honzik-Antigo. E. R. Whitmore-Antigo.
Joseph Mattek-Antigo.
Joseph Plzak-Antigo.
John Carlson-Antigo.
Wenzel Smetana-Antigo.
J. C. Maloney-Antigo.
J. W. Goodwin-Antigo.
* The territory which the petitioners sought to have detached from Oconto County did not then belong to Oconto County. The petit oners desired townships 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42. North, Range 11 East "be detached from all previous town organizations existing under authority of the Oconto County Board and that the townships be organized and named Antigo." The first town election was to be held April 5, 1881, A. D., at Niels Anderson's storc. This was directly in conflict with the Chapter 7, laws of 1880. approved February 19, 1880, in which New County was changed to Langlade County, (with Antigo township as a part of it) and in which Oconto County had no jurisdiction since 1879. It demonstrates the rivalry between the Squire A. Taylor group on the Wolf River and the settlers in and adjacent to Antigo.
34
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Alex McMillan-Springbrook. E. Holly-Antigo. Jos. Holy-Antigo. M. W. Waite-Antigo. Alexander McMartin-Antigo. Albert Brown-Antigo. Frank Byrne-Springbrook. Peter O'Connor-Springbrook. James O'Connor-Antigo.
Thomas W. Leslie-Antigo.
Oliver Leslie-Antigo.
R. J. Richards-Springbrook. John Cherne, Antigo.
Lawrence Walk-Antigo.
Stephen Dauet-Antigo.
Joseph Debrewer-Antigo.
Patrick Byrne-Springbrook. John Deresch -- Antigo.
T. Ekart-Antigo.
Michael Weix-Antigo.
Frank Campton-Springbrook. Nick Golden-Antigo.
Total number voting-59. 50 for Antigo-9 for Springbrook. "Two would not sign on account of the majority being for Antigo," said the petition.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS-1884-1924.
The campaign of 1884 was Langlade County's first dip into Presidential politics. September 25, 1884, a Blaine and Logan Club was organized with W. H. Blinn as President and A. L. Ross, Commander. October 16, 1884, a great celebration and torch parade was held by the Blaine and Loganites in Antigo. The procession, headed by a brass band, proceeded from the Antigo House (corner of 5th Avenue and Edison street) to the Opera House (south of site of Vivian Hotel), where Hon. W. C. Bailey of Green Bay spoke in ringing terms for over an hour on impending is- sues. The Republicans appealed to Civil War vete- rans to support Blaine and especially Logan, soldier and G. A. R. Commander.
The Democrats were very active in support of Cleve- land and Hendricks. A Cleveland and Hendricks Club was formed with Attorney Thomas W. Lynch as President and W. H. Dawley as Secretary. Their street parades, torch processions and county campaign- ing kept the Plumed Knights of the Blaine and Logan Club on the alert. Many prominent speakers visited Antigo and spoke on the paramount issue, the tariff.
After the election the people of the village throng- ed to the Milwaukee, Lake Shore depot, where tele- graphic returns were received. The bulletins were scanned with eagerness to cheer or lament as the re- port dictated. Rivalry was not over when voting ceased as the Republicans charged the Democrats with "being too boisterous while awaiting returns."
Newspapers played an important part in the cam- paign. The Langlade Republican was strong for Blaine, while the News Item was for the Cleveland- Hendricks ticket.
Pioneers are of the opinion that Antigo has never since witnessed such earnest political torch parades, pow wows and active political campaigning as the great election of 1884. While Blaine carried the county it was only by 126 votes.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1888.
The campaign of 1888 turned the tide in favor of the Republicans and Benjamin Harrison, with free trade as the paramount issue, went into the President's chair. Langlade County endorsed Cleveland in the campaign by 1192 votes as against 774 for General Harrison.
The election was equally exciting as that of 1884. When the returns showed Harrison and Morton as the victors a great log cabin demonstration was arrang- ed, Saturday, November 10, 1888. Music, a pro- cession, banners, horsemen and a general "bang up" prevailed. An amusing incident of the 1888 fight was related by an old timer telling how William Mar- thinson carried David Clements from Weed's mill to Clement's residence, a considerable distance, as pay- ment of a losing end of an election bet.
THE GREAT FIGHT FOR FREE SILVER.
The most exciting campaign in the history of the nation for years was the Mckinley-Bryan contest of 1896. The coinage of free silver at a 16 to 1 ratio was the dominant issue. Mckinley carried Langlade County by approximately five hundred votes. The campaign held sway over the entire nation from the time nominations were made until the inauguration of President-elect Mckinley. Bryan, magnetic ora- tor, toured the country speaking to great crowds every- where. Republican and Democrat leaders were sent into Langlade County to aid their respective parties. Rallies, torchlight parades, political speeches and bar- becues enlivened the campaign in which party lines were broken and crossed in so many ways making its local phase notable in Langlade County political his- tory.
THE POLITICAL WIGWAM OF 1896.
The citizens of Antigo, chiefly Republicans, with the aid of some Gold Democrats and free silver pro- ponents alike, realized the need of a large meeting place during the political election of 1896. Accord- ingly carpenters, laborers, politicians and office seek- ers all joined hands and erected a monstrous wigwam, as it was called, on the present public library grounds.
The great poles were hauled from the Kingsbury & Henshaw land just west of Neva road, opposite the McHale farm, north of Antigo. Most of the labor and material was donated. The framework of the wigwam was erected with great speed. A substan- tial building paper covered the rough wall boards. The interior was equipped with plank seats and a plat- form. The seating capacity was between fifteen hundred to two thousand. Antigo had a Bryan Club and a Mckinley Club during that hot fought contest.
35
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Republican and Democrat campaign speeches alike were given in the wigwam. More interest was evinc- ed by the women of the county than ever before.
MCKINLEY CARRIES LANGLADE.
Bryan was defeated but as he said "the year 1900 is not far away, the campfires of patriotism still burn" and the great Commoner to this day is a leader in American politics. The campaign of 1900 resulted again in the victory of Mckinley and the Republicans. Langlade County gave Mckinley five hundred majori- ty, the vote being 1596 for Mckinley and 1084 for Bryan. The paramount issue was the monetory sys- tem and the tariff.
In 1904, Alton B. Parker, Democratic presidential nominee was defeated by Roosevelt. Parker charged his defeat to followers of Bryan. Roosevelt carried Langlade County by a thousand votes.
The campaign of 1912 is notable for developing the Bull Moose or Progressive Party under the leadership of Roosevelt, who defeated LaFollette of Wisconsin for Presidential nominee. William Howard Taft, eminently qualified, was nominated at Chicago by the Republicans. Some thought the nomination to be un- fair and the Progressive party was the result. Sena- tor La Follette broke with Roosevelt after the latter's nomination. Meanwhile the Democrats, through the influence of Bryan, nominated Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey and with the Republican forces divided the results were easy to forecast. Wilson was elected. He carried Langlade County by five hun- dred votes. Roosevelt lead Taft in Langlade Coun- ty and gained a greater vote than Taft in the nation.
In 1916 with Europe at war, the United States neu- tral, Woodrow Wilson was swept into office on a plat- form, "He kept us out of war." Langlade County en- dorsed Wilson, giving him two-hundred more votes than Charles Evans Hughes, Republican nominee.
The campaign of 1920 was one of the most memor- able in the history of the nation. President Wilson, broken in health, his ideals of a League of Nations shattered, looked on as James M. Cox, Ohio war Gov- ernor, leading the Democrats in a remarkable uphill battle, was overwhelmingly defeated by the Republi- cans, who nominated Warren G. Harding, U. S. Sena- tor from Ohio.
Langlade County went Republican by two thou- sand votes. The paramount issue was the League of Nations and America's foreign policy. The Farmer- Labor party, new born, made a creditable showing. The Non-partisan League gained a following in Lang- lade County. The campaigns of 1884-1896 and 1920 are considered the most remarkable in American poli- tical history. We can only await the year 1924 to see if these contests are not superceded.
THE YEAR 1924 IS NOT FAR AWAY.
The battle lines of politics are beginning to be ar- rayed at this writing. The Democrats have many leaders as McAdoo, Pomerene, Bryan, Cox or Walsh,
Presidential possibilities, but a dark horse has ample time to come up. Warren G. Harding, if alive, will un- questionably be the Republican choice again. The So- cialists may replace Debs with a man younger than he. Soldiers of the World War and the women will play an important part in the contest. The dead pro- gressives of 1912 may be reborn under a new title. Borah, La Follette, (who will be re-elected in Novem- ber, 1922), Johnson of California, James A. Reed and France of Maryland would be the timber for the new political coterie. The conservative policies of the Republicans are now a target.
PERSONAL COUNTY POLITICS.
Langlade County since its organization in 1880 has had, in its past and present political history many leaders who acquired their controlling influence through their own personal prestige and cordiality rather than through party principles. The day is pass- ing when men adhere to the narrowness of a one policy or party. Party lines are weakening. A man's character, his ability and his honesty figure largely in local politics. For that reason Langlade County may be Republican on national issues, but largely Demo- cratic on local affairs.
DOMINANT PARTIES IN COUNTY.
The dominant parties in the county have been Dem- ocrat and Republican. In 1884 and afterward for sometime the Prohibitionists or "third party" element was strong. The Socialist Party has been stronger in late years. There candidate for U. S. Senate, Vic- tor L. Berger, received 420 votes in the county in 1918. The Non-Partisan League organized in the county in 1919. Allied with various labor organizations in a Farmer-Labor League this party swept the county in the 1920 primaries, but was defeated in the general election. The Republican McCoy Club (Col. McCoy, of Sparta was then Democrat candidate for Governor against J. J. Blaine, Progressive Republican, whom the standpat Republicans repudiated) of Langlade County played an important part in the defeat of the Farmer-Labor group. The Republican county com- mittee was captured by the Farmer-Labor League and is still in their control. Issues resultant from the World War broke party ties. Democrat county offi- cers have been retained almost without exception, save for Sheriff, for many years. In 1922 the important battle in the county appears to be between the Progres- sives and the Stalwarts for control of Republican party affairs. "Rings," political aspirants, so-called ama- teur political "bosses" and "one man power" are talk- ed of in the county.
LANGLADE COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL VOTE SINCE ORGANIZATION TO DATE.
In 1880 there is no record of a Presidential vote in New County, but in 1881 a record of a Gubernatorial vote is given in Langlade County. Langlade County has voted Republican majorities six times and Demo- cratic majorities in Presidential elections four times.
36
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
The first Presidential vote was during the great Blaine and Logan and Cleveland and Hendricks campaign as follows :
1884-Grover Cleveland, Democrat-559 votes ; James G. Blaine, Republican-685 votes.
1888-Grover Cleveland, Democrat-1192 votes ; Benjamin Harrison, Republican-774 votes.
1892-Grover Cleveland, Democrat-1299 votes; Benjamin Harrison, Republican-877 votes; J. B. Weaver, Peoples Party-13 votes; Bidwell, Prohibi- tionist-31 votes.
1896-William J. Bryan, Democrat-957 votes; Wil- liam Mckinley, Republican-1445 votes; J. W. Palmer -21 votes.
1900-William J. Bryan, Democrat-1084 votes; William McKinley, Republican-1596 votes; Wooley, Prohibitionist-48 votes; Eugene Debs, Socialist-5
votes; J. F. Malloney, Social Labor-5 votes.
1904-Theodore Roosevelt, Republican-2105 votes; A. B. Parker, Democrat-1018 votes; Swallow, Prohi- bitionist-46 votes; Socialist-31 votes; Social Labor Party-1 vote; Peoples Party-2 votes.
1908-William J. Bryan, Democrat-1340; William H. Taft, Republican-1921 votes; Chafin, Prohibition- ist-64 votes; Debs, Socialist-33 votes.
1912-Woodrow Wilson, Democrat-1387 votes ; William H. Taft, Republican-710 votes; Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive-810 votes; Chafin, Prohibi- tionist-36 votes; Debs, Socialist-91 votes.
1916-Woodrow Wilson, Democrat-1730 votes : Charles Evans Hughes, Republican-1524 votes.
1920-James M. Cox, Democrat-1619 votes; War- ren G. Harding, Republican-4059 votes; Debs, So- cialist-189 votes; Watkins, Prohibitionist-46 votes.
37
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI. Schools and Education
State Land Grants-Ordinance of 1787-First Langlade County School-Pioneer Teaching Meth- ods-Early Teachers-Graded and Consolidated Schools-Antigo High School-Public Schools-Parochial Schools-County Superintendents-Antigo Public Library-City Super- intendents-Antigo Pioneer Club-Wisconsin Geographical Society of Antigo-Langlade County Historical Society-Graduates by Classes from 1885-1922, inclusive, Antigo High School-Langlade County Normal.
"That religion, morality and knowledge, being nec- essary to the government and happiness of mankind, schools and means of education shall be forever en- couraged," declared the Ordinance of 1787. At once the founders of this nation encouraged and fostered, in the organic law of government, education among the people.
Thirteen years before Congress carved Wisconsin from the Northwest Territory, it set aside every six- teenth section within the limits of the proposed state for common school purposes, estimated at 1523 sec- tions. Later 72 sections were set aside as a Univer- sity fund. 72 addi- tional sections were granted the Universi- ty fund. This grant was assigned to sa- line lands, but other lands were substitut- ed. Various grants of land, too numer- ous to mention here and not of assistance in revealing the mo- tive of this chapter, were granted to the state for school funds at varying periods from 1848 to 1922. All lands and moneys were given to the state in trust in order to create a fund, the income of which might be added to other sources of revenue, with which public schools were maintained.
Thus the total number of acres of land grants to the state aggregated nearly five million acres. Yet the income derived from such a vast area is far below what it should be. Powerful combines, making pleas for immigration, purchased thousands of acres of pub- lic school land grants and laid the foundation for large private fortunes.
THE FIRST WISCONSIN SCHOOL.
Pierre Grignon, son-in-law of Charles De Langlade opened a private school for French families at Green
Bay. James Porlier, ancestral relative of Louis Por- lier, ex-Sheriff of Langlade County, was the instruc- tor. There were many private and religious schools in the state before 1836. Edward West taught the first public school in Town Kilbourn (now a part of Milwaukee). The first Wisconsin high school was established in 1846. Eleazer Root was the first State Superintendent of Wisconsin Schools. A free high school law was passed in 1875, five years before the organization of Langlade County, and carried with it an appropriation of $25,000.00.
-
AN OLD LOG CABIN SCHOOL
Typical of pioneer education in Langlade County. This school has been replaced by a modern brick structure. See photo in Forest District, Upham township.
THE BENNET LAW -ITS REPEAL.
Under the Terri- torial government state schools were under the jurisdiction of county commis- sioners, who were re- placed by the town superintendents.
School boards of three members were later organized.
Town superintend- ents were then re- sponsible to the County Clerk. This was an improvement. In early years Coun- ty Superintendents carried teacher's cer- tificates and promiscuously distributed them to friends, regardless of teaching qualifications. The first man- ual for common schools was issued by State Superin- tendent Graham in 1882. Since then the annual school manual is published by the State Department of Education.
In 1889, by the passage of the Bennet Law, making it compulsory for all children between ages of 7 and 14, to attend school at least 12 weeks and not more than 24 weeks, the educational system of the state be- came embroiled in politics. The Bennet Law was repealed in 1891 and a new compulsory law was in- stituted.
38
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
THE ORIGIN OF ARBOR DAY.
Setting aside a day for the annual planting of trees was first proclaimed by the Governor of Nebraska in 1872. Hon. B. G. Northrop, Secretary of the Con- necticut Board of Education in 1865 was the first to suggest such a day. Observance of Arbor Day in Wisconsin on the first Friday of May is annually pro- claimed by the Governor. Arbor Day is also as- sociated with Bird Day, when children are instructed in the care and protection of birds.
The Arbor Day manual of exercises and instructions is annually published by the State Department of Ed- ucation. Arbor Day has been the means of planting millions of trees throughout the United States. Since the World War many of the trees have been dedicated to fallen American heroes.
LANGLADE COUNTY SCHOOLS.
THE FIRST ANTIGO SCHOOL.
The first school in Antigo was constructed of logs by a young man named Joseph Krause. He intend- ed to reside at the place, but instead took up a home- stead at or near Kempster. The school was located where the P. F. Kelly Implement Store is now, corner of Third Avenue and Superior Street and was opened in 1879. Miss Anna Sheriff, now Mrs. Peter O'Con- nor of White Lake, Elton township, proved capable and efficient as the first teacher.
Other early teachers in Antigo were: Miss Sophia Deleglise, now Mrs. Sophia Leslie, Miss Carrie Her- man, Miss Nellie Williams, now Mrs. C. S. Leykom, Mrs. Maggie Hughes, Byron J. Oakley, the late F. J. Finucane, Elizabeth McGill, Virginia Pierson and Liz- zie Borgman. By 1883 Antigo had a graded school with three departments.
The first Antigo school was typical of the pioneer.
The dominating thought of the first settlers in Langlade County was to secure means and education for their children. It was not more than six months after the first permanent set- tlers came into east- ern Langlade County when the first school house was erected.
The first school was located on sec- tion 3, township 31, north, of range 14 east. The little log cabin, built in 1873, was roughly thrown together. While it
THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN ANTIGO. Here Miss Anna Sheriff held sway during the first term. Note the
scooped roof, the forest in the background and the oxen. Ed. Guenthner is standing near the oxen.
It had only two half windows in which to let light. The floor was made of rough odds and ends
boards. The seats were made of bass- wood trees, "split in twain." The round sides were perforated with holes to receive pegs. Back rests and book shelves were absent.
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