USA > Wisconsin > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Wisconsin, past and present : including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county [microform] > Part 29
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Sparta Chapter No. 18, Order of the Eastern Star. This order was instituted on the 5th day of May. 1891, with the following charter members: A. H. Isham, Miss Mary Isham. Mr. and Mrs. James Skillman, Mr. and Mrs. J. Schram. Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Merrill. Mrs. D. B. Cheney and Mrs. William Meyer.
This is an order to which the wives. danghters, mothers, sis- ters and children of Masons are eligible, and is in part of a social nature. It has rendered much assistance in the past to the sick and needy members of the order. It first occupied a hall over the Monroe County bank, but now is installed in the Masonic Temple, and meets twice a month; it occasionally gives social parties, which are greatly enjoyed by the members and their friends.
The present officers are Emma Baldwin, worthy matron; Dr. J. C. Prill. patron ; Genevieve Masters, associate matron ; Jennie Horseman, condnetress; Millie Enekhausen, secretary : Jennie
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Brewster, associate conduetress ; Sarah Merrill, treasurer; Anna Salsbury. Adah; Bell Robie Lee, Ruth; Dorcas Chamberlain, Esther; Elizabeth Davis, Martha; Lorena Hay, Electa; Alice Baldwin, warder; J. T. Sargent, sentinel; Eva Williams, chap- lain, and Lena Taylor, organist.
Sparta Lodge No. 94, I. O. O. F. The present charter of this organization was granted on the 21st day of January, 1899, with II. Palmer, R. Langley, L. D. Fisher, D. C. Fuller and S. P. Green- man as charter members. There was a lodge of this order organ- ized in Sparta on or about the year 1858, but it disbanded and the records of it are not available. The present lodge numbers about 150 members, and is in a prosperous condition.
In the year 1887 it acquired the property known as the old HIeller block on the corner of South Water and Oak streets, in which was added a business block on the west, so that this order is now the owner of a handsome property with paying business tenants below, and a fine suite of lodge rooms on the second floor, including a large and commodious dining room and kitchen ; the property is valued at the present time at $10,000.
Its present officers are E. F. Babcock, N. G .; W. S. Jones, V. G .; D. L. Jones, secretary ; W. O. Naset, P. S .; W. II. Blyton, treasurer.
Sparta Encampment No. 36, I. O. O. F. This is the uniform rank of the order of the Odd Fellows, and was instituted January 19, 1870. Its charter members were A. W. Kemp, S. P. Green- man. G. Simpson, S. B. Hamilton, J. II. Allen, J. N. Tarr and W. F. Cook.
This is an order of a military character, and is handsomely equipped with uniforms, each member carrying a sword; its membership consists of about forty at the present time, and its meetings are held at the hall of the I. O. O. F., and its present officers are F. J. Van Antwerp chief patriarch ; A. P. Anderson, senior warden; O. J. Jackson, scribe; F. J. Sheldon, junior warden, and J. B. Almer, high priest.
Mineral Springs Lodge of Rebeccas No. 41. This is an organ- ization for women, connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the charter was granted for its institution by the grand lodge on December 3, 1874, and was organized with the following charter members: A. W. Kemp, G. S. Shaw, Sam- uel Hoyt. E. E. Olin, L. Green, D. H. Smith, II. A. Streeter, W. P. Meyer, Mrs. A. W. Kemp, Mrs. G. S. Shaw, Mrs. Samuel Hoyt, Mrs. E. E. Olin, Mrs. L. Green, Mrs. G. II. Smith, Mrs. H. A. Streeter and Mrs. W. P. Meyer.
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This organization is noteworthy for its charitable deeds, and has been a great help to the members of the order, and they fre- quently give social entertainments at the commodious lodge rooms of the Odd Fellows, which are greatly enjoyed by the par- ticipants. It numbers 113 members, and its present officers are :
Mrs. Virginia Brewster. N. G .; Mrs. Inez Heasty, recording secretary : Mrs. Fayette Baldwin, treasurer: Mrs. Bell Millard. past N. G .: Mrs. Jennie Sheldon. L. S. N. G. : Mrs. Ole JJackson, L. S. vice G. : Mrs. Evan Lewis, conductor : David S. Jones, out- side guard : Mrs. Emma Talbot. V. G .; Mrs. John Hoffman, finan- cial secretary; Mrs. Mand West, chaplain : Mrs. Ada Goodman. R. S. N. G .: Mrs. Jennie Brandt. R. S. vice G .: Mrs. Alice Bors. warden : Mrs. David S. Jones, inside guard : Mrs. H. M. Smith, lodge deputy.
Knights of Pythias, was organized July 9. 1874, with the fol- lowing charter members: M. R. Gage. A. W. Wilson. C. Blakes- lee. W. H. Nott, J. M. Morrow. J. A. Harvey. C. B. McClure. D. C. Beebe, W. Goodale. J. B. Palmer and N. P. Lee. The lodge had a warrant granted to them under which they worked until July 1, 1875, when their charter was received from the grand lodge. They were authorized by the warrant to organize, con- stitute and establish a lodge of Knights of Pythias at Sparta, county of Monroe, state of Wisconsin, to be known at Sparta Lodge, No. 18, Knights of Pythias.
The first officers of the lodge were M. R. Gage. C. C .: D. C. Beebe, V. C .: W. H. Nott. P. C .: C. Blakeslee. P. : J. M. Morrow. M. A .; A. W. Wilson, K. R. S. : C. D. MeClure. M. F. : J. Harvey, M. E .; N. P. Lee, I. G .: W. Goodale, O. G.
The lodge has occupied different halls during the time of its existence, and it is now very comfortably housed on the second floor of the Grossman building. where they have commodious quarters fitted up and club rooms.
The lodge at present numbers - members, and its present officers are F. R. Salsbury, C. C .: E. A. Richardson, V. C .; A. F. Baldwin, prelate: F. DeBruin. M. of W .; W. S. Jones. K. R. S. : C. E. McMillan. M. of F. : A. J. Carnahan, M. of E. : S. C. Letson. M. of A., and C. E. Simpson, guard.
Sparta Camp, No. 560, M. W. A. This order was installed in the city of Sparta on the 18th day of April. 18SS, with the follow- ing officers: M. A. Thayer. V. C .: W. H. Moseley, W. A .: C. M. Beebe, clerk : C. C. Herbst, banker : Beebe & Sarles, physicians : William Schaller, watchman: W. E. Coats, celate: J. A. Sholts.
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manager; George McDowell, secretary; John Guy, escort. There were in all about twenty charter members.
The order has had a steady and prosperous growth and now has 438 members, among whom are thirty-nine social members, who do not participate in the insurance benefit of the order; the lodge occupies handsome quarters in what is known as the old Opera block, leasing the entire upper floor of this building, in- cluding the dance hall, which it rents for public entertainments at various times and from which considerable revenue is derived.
Its present officers are W. P. Bamber, consul ; M. H. Babcock, advisor; C. E. Stevenson, banker; C. M. Van Antwerp, clerk : Ed. Arnold, escort; August Keifer, sentry; C. Merrow, watch- man ; Sarles, Beebe & Beebe and II. II. Williams, physicians ; D. Hemstock, R. E. Nicol and C. H. Leach, managers ; M. E. Put- man, chief forester.
This lodge is a member of the LaCrosse Valley Association of Modern Woodman, which gives an annual picnic, and on June 5, 1912, the annual picnic was held in the city of Sparta, with an elaborate program and a large attendance.
CHAPTER XXIX. THE SPARTA FREE LIBRARY.
What is now the "Sparta Free Library," was, at the time of its first organization and starting in the world, in the winter of 1861 and '62, termed the "Young Men's Library Association" of Sparta. It had its origin in the desire of a number of citizens, at that time, who possessed culture and literary tastes, to found a library which should be a credit to the place and which should not only be a public benefit in the direction of promoting a greater knowledge of books and the higher aesthetic culture which comes from the study of standard works by well-known writers, and valuable also as a means of reference, but which should be the basis for an association of kindred minds and tastes, for purposes of mutual intellectual improvement. The matter of organizing a library association had been discussed in public and private for some two or three years before it finally took shape and formed itself into a definite purpose. Among the citizens who took a prominent part in the beginning of the Young Men's Library Association, and to whom the credit of its inception and organization mainly belong. may be named Messrs. Romanzo Bunn, afterwards United States district judge for the western district of Wisconsin : Thomas B. Tyler, J. T. Hemphill, Judge George E. Pratt, D. McBride, Dr. M. R. Gage, Milton Montgomery. M. A. Thayer, E. S. Whitaker. H. R. Hayden, L. B. Noves and a number of others. The exact date of the first meet- ing of the association cannot be stated with certainty, owing to the fact that the early records of the institution have been lost : and for the same reason but few details of the organization and progress of the association can be given, except such as can be gathered from the memories of the early projectors of the enter- prise. It was organized as a stock association. and the members subscribing for shares at $5 each. With the fund thus raised, the light preliminary expenses were defrayed, and a small but judiciously selected assortment of books procured. Not an incon- siderable part of the infant library also were the donation of members and others who gave such volumes as they could spare
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from their private collections, and thus a by no means insignifi- eant beginning was made.
The officers elected at the start were a president, vice presi- dent, secretary, treasurer and librarian. R. Bunn was chosen first president of the association, with E. S. Whitaker secretary and T. B. Tyler treasurer, and, subsequently, by Judge George Pratt, who filled the office for a considerable time. He was succeeded by Dr. R. S. Wells as librarian.
The new Young Men's Library Association, during the first year of its existence, experienced the usual vicissitudes of such institutions, the interest in it being active for a time, and then subsiding in to rather a state of quietude, broken at intervals by spasmodie revivals when a concert or dramatic entertainment was arranged for its benefit, or when an annual election of offi- cers took place. The Civil War was then at its height and filled too large a share in men's minds to permit their giving much at- tention to matters literary and, moreover, the class really imbued with a love of books and reading was, as is generally the case in western towns, exceedingly limited part of the total population. It is not singular, therefore, that although expenses were kept up and frequent additions were made, on the whole the association rather languished after the first year of its organization. The library rules were defective in not requiring a deposit on the loan of the books, and as a consequence, large numbers of the volumes became scattered and lost. The labor of keeping track of them was not a paying task, and as may be imagined, could not be performed effectively under the circumstances. After a time, and during one of the occasional periods of activity, a change was made and new rules were adopted, one requiring a deposit from those borrowing books from the library, the deposit being refunded, less 10 eents, on the return of the book. This reform kept the library intact, but the question of the revenue was still a perplexing problem. The membership dues had been originally fixed at $2 per annum, but as the number of members diminished from neglect and non-payment of dues, this source afforded no surplus for incidental expenses and the procuring of new books. The Sparta Dramatic Club, a local dramatic organization, came to the rescue at several different occasions and gave entertainments for the benefit of the library, from which considerable amounts were realized and for which the members thereof, among whom were prominent Messrs. M. S. Powell, the brothers H. R. and Harrison Hayden, D. S. Whitaker. George Farbham, Mrs. George Whitcomb, Mrs. M. A. Harris, Mr.
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and Mrs. L. B. Noyes and others, deserving full credit for the liberal aid they thus rendered in the institution.
Finally it became apparent that the library would have to be put on some different basis in order to give it permanence and provide for its growth and stability. The membership had dwindled from 100 down to thirteen in the winter of 1873-4. A meeting of the thirteen was held in the office of the librarian. Dr. Wells, and it was proposed to form a new organization under the state law, then recently passed, authorizing villages and cities to establish free public libraries. The first meeting was held May 8. 1874, at which the organization. under the state law. was effected. By this arrangement the library became a village institution, subject to municipal authority, and its affairs in charge of a board of trustees.
When the library had finally become a village institution, it was located in the upper room of a store buikling opposite the old Ida House, which is now the Hotel Lewis; when Dr. Wells left town the library was removed to the second floor of the Schram building on Water street. where it remained for a good many years, until the present library building was erected.
In 1900 there was considerable agitation with regard to the erection of a building for the library, and Dr. W. T. Sarles had taken some steps towards calling a meeting for the purpose of making some arrangements looking to that end, but in the mean- time Dr. F. P. Stiles, having learned through reliable sources that money could be procured from Andrew Carnegie for a library buikling in this city if proper application was made, pre- pared such a letter, which resulted in Mr. Carnegie agreeing to give the sum of $10,000 for the construction of a library, upon the condition that a permanent provision should be made by the city of an amount each year equaling 10 per cent of the gift to maintain the same. This was very readily granted by the Com- mon Council, and the library board, after considering several sites, purchased the old Globe Hotel property, at the corner of Main and Court streets, being a lot 150 north and south and 130 east and west: in 1901, plans for the building having been adopted, the library board appointed C. M. Masters, F. P. Stiles and George A. Richardson as a building committee. The work was commenced carly in 1902 and finished during the month of April, 1903.
It was found when the building was nearly completed, that the sum given would not be sufficient to complete the building and to build sidewalks, grade and seed the ground, and an appli-
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cation was made to Mr. Carnegie. who granted the sum of $2,000 more, upon the same condition that the provision amounting to 10 per cent of the gift should be provided.
The library building, a handsome brick and stone structure containing commodious and nicely furnished reading rooms with hot water heat and electric lights, is one of the most convenient and tasteful buildings of its character to be found anywhere. Considerable credit is to be given to the building committee for the thorough manner in which their work was carried out, and especially to George A. Richardson, who devoted a great deal of time in superintending the construction of the building and in the furnishing and fitting of it to its present condition; he has served for more than twenty years as president of the library board, all without any compensation whatever and purely for the satisfaction of seeing the library succeed; that it has been an institution of great value to the citizens of Sparta there can be no question, containing as it does at the present time 7,288 volumes, consisting of all classes of literature and comprising valuable reference works. At the present time there are about twenty-five periodicals, consisting of magazines and newspapers taken. The library is open daily under the charge of Miss Jennie Scouten, who has been librarian since 1894, and whose extensive knowledge of library work and her invariably courteous treat- ment to patrons of the institution has made her hosts of friends. At the present time Miss Lila Newberry is assistant librarian, and has been for three years. The present library board consists of George A. Richardson, Dr. F. P. Stiles, Dr. Carl Beebe, Mrs. C. C. Newton, Mrs. Paul Schaller and Mr. HI. J. Masters.
CHAPTER XXX. THIE SPARTA FAIR ASSOCIATION.
The title of this chapter is used to designate in a general way the fair associations, which have existed for a great many years under different titles, on this side of the county.
The first organization of the character was called "The Mon- roe County Agricultural Society." and was organized at a very early date in the history of the county ; in 1857 Robert E. Gillette. of Tomah, whose name is so closely connected with the history of that city, a zealous worker in all things which pertained to the welfare of the county, suggested the advisability of organizing an agricultural society and, after considerable agitation, it culminated in a meeting of representative citizens of the city who were favorable to the project.
Those who exhibited the greatest interest in promoting the organization were R. E. Gillette, Samuel Hoyt, T. B. Tyler, L. S. Fisher and Amos Kendall ; after some discussion the society was formally organized early in 1858, under the laws of the state of Wisconsin then existing, which provided for the organization of state and county agricultural societies, and it adopted the name of "Monroe County Agricultural Society."
The first officers elected were Samuel Hoyt, president ; L. S. Fisher, secretary, and Amos Kendall, treasurer.
The association held its first fair in Sparta in September. 1858, in what was then known as "Denny's Lot," situated on South Water street, where the O. I. Newton Son's Company electric light office and the adjacent lumber yard is situated; at least one man is living who attended this fair in the person of Fred A. Holden, assistant register of deeds.
Mr. Holden relates that the fair was quite a success, and that the exhibits consisted of cattle and agricultural products, and the sports consisted of foot races and a wrestling match, in which a Mr. Burlingame challenged all comers. He states that there were only three teams of horses at the fair, being the ones owned by Squire Andrews, who then was the landlord of the "Monroe House ;" his father. A. D. Holden, owning a span and also one of
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the Bard's. The rest of the inhabitants from the country came with ox teams and with the old-fashioned linch pin wagons, which were greased with tar. This seems peculiar at the present day, but it seems to be the fact that tar was used as a lubricator for wagons in those days. The receipts of the exhibits were rather light, but exceeded the disbursements, and the people who attended were unanimous in the claim that the gathering was a great success.
In 1863 the society became the purchaser of the present fair ground, situated west of the city. for which $725 was paid and a deed received from the owner on the third day of September in that year. The plat originally consisted of an entire forty acres. but this being too much for the purposes of the society. all but twenty-five acres were disposed of and are comprised in the present fair grounds.
The purposes of this society was to promote the annual gath- erings at which the best products of the soil and the dairy were exhibited ; improved machinery and implements for agricultural and dairy purposes were exhibited, and farmers, merchants, manufacturers and all classes of industries joined in making ex- hibits of their specialty, for which liberal premiums were offered in all lines.
Fairs, which were more or less successful, were held in the succeeding years, and by means of donations from citizens, it was kept going financially and. up to 1880, was in a flourishing con- dition ; at that time a tornado, which passed through this section of the country, caused a severe loss to the society. as the build- ings on the grounds were completely demolished, causing a great expense to rebuild and repair; by prudent management, how- ever, the debt was paid and the society once more placed upon a good financial footing.
The society continued its existence until about 1892, when interest in it lagged and no fairs were held and, in May. 1894. it was succeeded by the "Sparta Driving and Agricultural Associa- tion," which was incorporated by W. T. Sarles, Fred Gross. M. R. Gage, W. P. Palmer, L. D. Merrill and F. L. French, whose names appear on the original articles of incorporation.
This society acquired the old fair grounds and improved the racetrack and held horse races at different times during the season of such sports, and revived the old fair and conducted the same for a great many years.
No fairs were held during 1909 and 1911, and the society, as then in existence, transferred its whole property in the winter of
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1911-12 to the "Sparta Fair Association, " surrendered all their stock, and the organization which now owns the property is com- posed principally of farmers ; it has been thoroughly reorganized with W. H. Hanchett president and W. A. Holden secretary.
Active preparations are being made, and undoubtedly the year 1912 will see the resumption of holding an annual fair in the fall of the year. There are upon the grounds at the present commodious grand stands. a large exhibition building for farm products, mercantile exhibits and all those requiring indoor space, a large and commodious barn with box stalls for racing stock, ample cattle sheds and barns for the stock, together with pens for pigs and sheep and a large house where chickens and other domestic birds are exhibited; all together, the plant is very complete ; a good half-mile track for racing. in the center is a baseball ground. There is an artesian well on the grounds which furnishes the best of water to the barns and stock sheds.
The new fair association starts with bright prospects. has a very large number of stockholders, as no person is allowed to own more than one share of stock, and whatever place it takes in the future history of the county, it certainly does not lack for good equipment, good membership and ample opportunity.
CHAPTER XXXI.
MANUFACTURES AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
Manufacturing was inaugurated in the little village of Sparta in 1853, when A. II. and Hilton Blake erected a sawmill upon the banks of Beaver creek ; were it still standing it would now be located about in the center of Water street; this was the only sawmill here in this vicinity, except the one which is situated in Angelo, having been built there in 1852 by Seth Angel.
Messrs. Blake run this sawmill until about 1857, when the same was purchased by K. and O. P. MeClure, who destroyed the old building and built the first grist mill in Sparta ; this was situated about forty feet east of the old building. This grist mill was operated by MeClure Brothers for several years to great ad- vantage, the farmers bringing their grain to the mill from a great distance to be ground.
In June, 1867, the property was bought by T. B. Tyler and T. D. Steele for $27,000; they erected on the site of the grist mill a woolen mill, at an estimate cost of $30,000, and commeneed the operation under the firm name of T. B. Tyler & Co .; they con- tinued to operate the mill until 1872, when they sold it to II. Greeve. At that time the greater part of the original plat belonging to the mill property had been disposed of as building lots.
From that time, 1872 to 1878, the mill did not meet with a great deal of success, not running regularly, and in September of the latter year, T. B. Gibson bought the mill and commenced operation May 1, 1879, manufacturing woolen goods, making a specialty of fine white blankets, which became quite noted. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Gibson made several improvements in the work in order to fill the demand for his goods, and increased the machinery ; he manufactured fine white blankets and Mackinaw cloth, the latter being a grade of goods used for ont-elothing for lumber and woodsmen. The business ran at that time up to a capacity of $50.000 worth of goods per year and employed as high as twenty-five hands ; it was operated as a woolen mill for several years, until it passed into other hands and the manu-
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facture of goods was no longer continued ; the building was used for various purposes at different times up until about 1909, when it was sold to W. A. Hemstock, and is now used as a livery stable.
As early as 1864 the village of Sparta boasted of a paper mill, which was erected in that year by John L. Mather, at a cost of $42,000. In 1871 it came into the possession of Oran I. Newton, who ran it until 1879, when he rebuilt the entire plant at a cost of over $50,000. The mill was situated on the LaCrosse river, when the water power, which is now used by the O. 1. Newton Son's Electric Light Company, was first put in. The mill's capacity was over 6,000 pounds of paper daily, and employed as high as twenty hands, using in the manufacture of a certain kind of paper five tons of straw daily. In addition to the manufacture of wrapping paper and paper bags, Mr. Newton dealt very largely in other grades of paper, and built up a large trade throughout the Northwest, keeping several salesmen on the road constantly.
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