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 30
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After his death the mill was operated by his sons, Harry M. and George Newton, until it burned some years later. With the destruction of the plant the business went out of existence, as the Newton boys did not rebuild it. but used the water power for operating the electric light plant, which they subsequently ac- quired, and the general powerhouse of which is situated on the site of the old paper mill at the present time.
Among other industries which have gone out of existence and which were prominent at one time, was the carriage works of Messrs. E. and A. Thorbus, which was established in the village of Sparta in the fall of 1866 by the senior partner of the firm. Mr. Thorbus commenced business in an old frame building and. during the first year, turned out seventy-five wagons of various kinds, the greater part of which were heavy vehicles, adapted for hauling and farm work. In 1870 A. Thorbus was admitted as a partner, bringing both business, capital and energy, and during this year the firm erected a warehouse at a cost of $3.000, which they occupied for many years. When the works were run to their full capacity, they employed twenty-five hands and kept in stock about 450 vehicles of various kinds.
As the years went by the manufacture of wagons was gradu- ally discontinued and, finally, under the name of E. Thorbus & Son, the business was conducted principally as a headquarters for farm machinery up to the time of the death of E. Thorbus. It was afterwards continued by the estate under the management
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of the son, C. T. Thorbus, until a few years ago, when he sold it to Davis & Jones.
There are three feed mills at present being operated in the city. One on Water street by G. II. Bunnell, he having acquired the Bacon mill dam and operates it at the present time; a pros- perous business, manufacturing flour of different grades in a small way and being very useful for the farmers for feed grind- ing.
The old mill by the St. Paul depot is now owned by Bergman Bros., both of these properties have, in the past years, gone through so many different hands that the records of them cannot be gotten at the present time.
Both have had various ups and downs, and the trouble with the water power, especially the dam, has taken the course that is common with the dams constructed of wood and dirt. At present it appears to be operated successfully, being owned by Bergman Brothers, who have increased its clientage since they came in the business.
The old McCoy mill, situated on the lower end of Court street, is still operated with the water power which had been in ex- istence for so many years. It is used as a feed mill and has built a large clientage among the farmers of the south and west.
Monroe County Telephone Company. This company was organized in a small way in the year 1897, with eighty-five phones and with V. V. Willey, E. V. Benjamin and H. C. Jackney as incorporators, who, in December, 1907 sold out their hold- ings to about thirty local men, who have since owned it. It has grown steadily and extends its lines in all directions in the county, and in the year 1904, it closed a contract with Bell Tele- phone Company by which it is also connected directly with long- distance lines, which is a great convenience to its patrons; it operates at the present time 552 miles of rural routes and city lines, with 950 telephones ; has its central office in the Teasdale building. where a fine equipment is maintained with modern and most improved switch-boards, and in connection a rest room for the girl operators.
The plant is valued with all its connection lines at about $50,000, and owes its success principally to Senator Howard Teasdale, who has been the secretary and general manager of the organization since its start.
The present officers are C. M. Beebe, president; W. G. Wil- liams, vice president ; H. Teasdale, secretary and general man- ager, and W. McBride, treasurer.
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Sparta Grain Separator Company. This company has the distinction of building a machine for the separating of wheat and oats and the cleaning of wheat and oats, which is the work of a Sparta man, Mr. George W. Richardson; Mr. Richardson worked a great many years upon his idea and finally succeeded in getting a patent on a machine which would accomplish the work, so longed desired by mill and elevator men, that is a machine which would clean wheat and other mixtures of grain, separating them, thus making the grade higher.
The company was organized in the year 1902, in the manu- facture of this machine, and started in a small way in its present location and met with success and, finally, in the year 1909, the entire plant was sold to C. T. Thorbus, who is now the sole owner; he has perfected the machine in various ways and en- larged the plant at different times and the machines have been sold in various parts of the United States, and at the present time Mr. Thorbus has organized a stock company at Winnipeg, Canada, for the manufacture of Richardson Grain Separators, so that starting from a small beginning, this business promises to extend itself over a large territory. Several sizes of these machines are manufactured, from a small machine for mills, up to a large machine of big capacity for handling grain in ele- vators.
American Cigar Company. This is not an industry by local capital, but is one of the many plants of this great company which is operated in different parts of the United States for the sorting and grading of tobacco ; the company located here in the year 1901. and erected several large brick buildings, near the Northwestern depot, upon the land donated to it by the city for this purpose : to this plant is brought a large stock of tobacco, bought in different parts of Wisconsin by the different agents of the company, and here it is sorted, graded and packed; the gen- eral manager and staff are employed the year around at the plant, and during the sorting season it has employed as high as 500 hands in the handling of tobacco.
There is also an equipment of machinery for curing tobacco, by which the leaf is started in one end of the machine and at the end of a few hours comes out the other side, cured and ready for nse. This is a very complicated machine, and requires the atten- tion of an expert to operate it and accomplish the results, which otherwise requires considerable time.
The present general manager is H. S. MeGiffin, with a corps of assistants.
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Jefferson Leaf Tobacco Company. This organization was in- corporated by W. T. Jefferson and his son Harley, in connection with several others, in the year 1909. Mr. W. T. Jefferson had formerly been a manager of the plant of the American Cigar Company here and also state manager for that institution : he re- tired from its service in 1909 and organized the Jefferson Leaf Tobacco Company ; his long experience in the business in Vir- ginia and in Wisconsin fitted him to engage at once in this busi- ness, and the company leased commodious quarters, situated on Water street, where it congregates its stock of leaf tobacco. sorts and packs it. It employs about fifty hands.
The present officers of the corporation are W. T. Jefferson, president : D. W. Cheney, vice president ; H. W. Jefferson, secre- tary and treasurer.
Sparta Iron Works. Originally established as an iron foundry. the present plant is the outgrowth of the oldest estab- lished industry in the city. In 1857 Captain Fisk erected the first foundry in response to a demand growing up in this section of the state for such a business: he afterwards sold an interest to Frank Skillman and Jeremiah Andreas; this firm ran the business until 1860, when Skillman acquired the entire business, buying out the other two, and conducted it until 1865, when he sold out to Lowrie, Mock & Stevens: this firm sold to H. Greve, and he in turn was bought ont by J. J. Owsley, during whose ownership the plant was destroyed by fire.
In 1867 Lowrie, Irwin & Gilbert built another foundry near where the present works are located, and this was finally pur- chased by the Sparta Manufacturing Company, and again the plant was destroyed by fire. L. M. Newbury bought what was left and built another shop in 1869. sold a half interest to J. P. Ward, and in 1872 built what is the main building of the present works. Ward sold to Mr. Satterlee and the firm of Newbury & Satterlee carried on the business extensively, at times employing as many as sixteen hands.
The works passed into the hands of Carl Newbury and J. U. Durant, by whom it was formed into a corporation: the entire plant was taken over by Lee and Robert Canfield, who are the principal stockholders, and the business has been conducted under their management ever since. Gradually the foundry and casting business was dropped and the entire plant is now devoted principally to the manufacture of well drilling machinery. and in this business the Canfield brothers have made a success which is hardly realized by the citizens of Sparta ; modest and unassum-
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ing. they have developed surprising business ability, employ about forty hands, five of whom are traveling salesmen, and their machinery is sold all over the United States, in Canada, Porto Rico, Africa, India and the South American states and elsewhere.
CHAPTER XXXII. CHURCHES OF SPARTA.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Congregational church had its beginning with the com- ing of Rev. W. F. Avery, who arrived October 24, 1854; having finished his studies at Amherst College, Massachusetts, he started West and, upon his arrival, found everything crude and primi- tive, but he entered into the work with great earnestness ; after three and a half years his health broke down from overwork. At first, there being no meetinghouse, services were conducted in private houses, the church being formally organized June 22, 1855, commenced the building of a church in the winter of 1856, which was formally dedicated June 11, 1857; it was erected at a cost of $3,800 complete. The first deacons of the church were Joseph Avery, the father of the pastor; Guy C. Hoyt, and H. M. Sandford. Deacon Avery was untiring in his efforts in behalf of his church, and it was through his efforts that the church build- ing was erected. The first board of officers was elected March 8. 1856, consisting of six trustees, being George W. Root, G. C. Hoyt, E. S. Blake, E. Lathrop, Joseph Avery and A. F. Childs.
In 1858 Rev. Avery resigned, and from that period to 1867 the pulpit was occupied by five different clergymen ; the Rev. Joseph Carmichael became the pastor in 1866 and served for nine years, being followed by Rev. Geo. F. Hunting for two years, and he in turn succeeded by Rev. Frank T. Lee, who entered the pastorate January 23, 1879. During his time the church made rapid progress.
The Rev. William Crawford followed him, commencing the work April 8, 1883, and continued as pastor for about eighteen years, and it was during his long pastorate that the church reached its climax of success; Dr. Crawford, a most earnest Christian, of great executive ability, a profound scholar upon whom his college, Amherst, has conferred the degree of D.D., was closely allied with the best interests of Sparta, and the memory of the great work accomplished by him will long linger in the minds of the people of Sparta. It was during his pastor-
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ate, and largely due to his efforts, that the present beautiful church was erected at a cost of about $20,000 and dedicated JJune 23, 1879.
This church is far beyond the church building ordinarily found in a city of this size; it is built upon grand architectural lines, handsome in appearance, fitted inside with a large pipe organ and modern church furnishings, a large. roomy andi- torium, the acoustic properties of which are excellent, church parlors which can be opened into the main auditorium and a well-appointed basement dining room and kitchen, in which church suppers are frequently held.
Rev. E. W. Huelster was called to the pastorate from the East, succeeding Dr. Crawford, in January, 1901 ; upon his re- tirement, after considerable discussion, the Rev. F. W. Walker Pugh, pastor of the First Baptist Church of the city, was en- gaged as pastor, and the two church organizations formed an alliance; the Baptist church being so small in numbers that to maintain a clergyman was almost out of the question ; the coali- tion was effected ; the two church societies joined in supporting the church work of the Congregational church, although each organization still retains its officers and each conducts its annual church meeting as before. The arrangement seems to be a very happy one, as the congregation, thus augmented, supports the church very well.
Rev. Harding Hogan succeeded Dr. Pugh, having been the pastor for about two years last past : Rev. Hogan is a fortunate addition to the local clergy, a man of broad mind. a deep student, gifted far beyond the ordinary with eloquence, his sermons, habitually delivered without the aid of a manuscript, are models of logie, thought and diction. There are the usual societies con- nected with the church which maintain the ordinary church ae- tivities and do much charity work, and the church is fortunate in having a large choir of mixed voices, ably conducted by Dr. S. D. Beebe.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Sparta was visited for the first time by a Catholic priest in 1858. in the person of the Rev. Father Roche, who celebrated mass in a railroad shanty. At that time there were but few Catholic families in the village, but with the advent of Father Montagne, who succeeded Father Roche in 1860, hegan the growth of the congregation until in the year 1867 a frame church was built, under the direction of Father Marco: Father
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Montague was succeeded by Father Stroker about 1864, and he in turn, by Father Gallagher about 1865, and Father Marco.
This building was located somewhere near the present Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company depot, and the first members of the congregation were H. Fanning, Thomas and Pat Brennan, HI. Schroff. D. Sullivan, P. Fitzgerald, C. Bedenk, H. C. Muller. T. MeGargle, H. Carr. W. Lennon, M. Bransfield, Thomas and Bernard Mulrenin, Ed Barry, William, Thomas, Ed and John Bowler, Pat Davis, Con. Carroll, Jacob Poss, J. Ant- weiler, John Wagner and Alee Allen, five of whom, Pat and Thomas Brennan, William and Thomas Bowler and Thomas Mul- renin, are still living.
The Rev. Father Quigley succeeded Father Marco as the pastor in 1867, and he in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Father Dorward of Tomah, who on the 14th day of August, 1876, was succeeded in turn by Rev. J. B. Metzler, who held the pastorate until August, 1877. when the Rev. Joseph Baner relieved him ; he officiated until 1877, when Rev. J. Wicker took charge, until 1879, when Rev. J. B. Wiedman succeeded him. The church first erected in 1867, near the depot, was moved to the present loca- tion in 1877; the membership at that time consisted of about fifty families.
Rev. Father T. H. Beau succeeded Father Wiedman in the pastorate, and after a short pastorate of a few months by Rev. J. Kennedy, he in turn was succeeded by Rev. Father H. F. Flock, who marks the twenty-fifth year of his pastorate in 1912. During the latter's pastorate the old church was enlarged and remodeled at an expense of about $2,000. Until about 1897 two mission churches were attached to the Sparta church, one at Summit of about fifty families, and one at Pine Hill, near Sham- rock, of about twenty families. Since 1897 the Sparta congre- gation has service every Sunday ; the aforesaid church at Summit now having a resident pastor, and the church at Pine IFill being attended from Black River Falls.
On Sunday morning. January 22, 1905, the church was totally destroyed by fire, which started in the basement and. it being an old wooden building. it soon went up into flames. The congre- gation, luckily, had $2,300 of insurance on this building, so that it was not a total loss.
Steps were immediately taken for the erection of a new church, and on Sunday, September 24, 1905, the cornerstone of the new edifice was laid with impressive ceremonies by Bishop Schwebach, of LaCrosse, and on June 5, two years later, the
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bishop again visited the church and presided at the dedicatory ceremonies, which were very elaborate. The church owns the entire block upon which its buildings are situated, with the ex- ception of four lots which are owned by the Franciscan Sisters and upon which stands the St. Mary's Domestic Science school building.
The congregation has a membership of something over 100 families, who are steady supporters of the church. besides about fifty who are occasional contributors. Though not large, the congregation has made a splendid showing the last few years in erecting a new parsonage at a cost of $4.000; buying new prop- erty to the value of $6.000, and building the new church at a cost of $30.000 with a residue debt of only $15,000 at the present time and that is being paid at a rapid rate.
ST. MARY'S DOMESTIC SCIENCE SCHOOL.
This is not financially connected with St. Patrick's congrega- tion, but is a separate institution conducted by the Franciscan Sisters of LaCrosse. Wis. Originally the building which was considerably smaller than now, was used as a school and after- wards it was changed to a girls' orphanage, for which purpose it was used until 1889, when the orphans were taken to La Crosse, and it then became a boarding school until about the year 1905.
The sisters then determined to undertake the opening of a domestic science school in connection with the St. Mary's Con- vent, and it became a success from the start ; it then was neces- sary to enlarge the buildings to accommodate the increasing at- tendance. The building was thoroughly remodeled and enlarged and school formally opened on Monday, January 6. 1908. It is equipped with a large and commodious kitchen, a spacious dining room, sewing room, class room. bright. airy dormitories. a well- equipped laundry, several music rooms, all well lighted. steam heat and ventilation and provided with all modern improve- ments, arranged with a view to the practical convenience and comfort of the pupils.
This is a school for girls, and its principal purpose is to teach domestic science and all its branches, which includes for the first year, cooking and serving of meals, table etiquette. study in composition and nutrient value of various foods. housekeeping and home management. laundering in all its branches, plain sewing, mending and darning. the making of simple garments. common and fancy needlework. The second year of the course includes also home-nursing. care of the sick and the sick room,
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making, cutting and fitting of garments and art needlework. Music is also taught, the musie department being well provided with rooms and instruments. Orchestra concerts and musical programs are provided for the entertainment of the pupils and their friends: there is also a course of drawing and painting, which is optional for those who desire to take it. In connection with the other instructions in the school, religious instruction is given, and the training and discipline which will cultivate in its pupils the Christian virtues and special traits of womanly char- acter that should be prominent in good Christian homes.
The following is a list of the graduates of the school: 1910 -Veronica Elner, New Ulm, Minn. 1911-Emily Shornar, La Crosse, Wis .; Gertrude Beecher, Eau Claire, Wis .; Pauline Ilil- debrand, Sheboygan, Wis .; Catherine Schmitt, St. Lucas, Ia. 1912-Clara Belter, Athens, Wis .: Anna Beil, Athens, Wis .; Mary Greiner, Athens, Wis .: Clemence Canar, Mondovi, Wis .; Florence Schlosser, Eau Claire, Wis .; Anna Mariek, Eau Claire, Wis .; Sophia Duren, Cazenovia, Wis .; Clara Muehlenkamp, Nor- walk, Wis .; Elizabeth Rick, Plain, Wis. ; Mary E. Hughes, Green- wood, Wis.
The total attendance for the year 1911-12 was forty-five pupils.
THE ORDER OF THE SACRED HEART.
This city is fortunate in being selected as one of the three points in the United States where is established a home for the members of this order.
In August, 1911, the property known as the Judge Romanzo Bunn residence, on South Court street, was purchased, which in- cludes about thirteen acres of land, and became a mission house of this order, and on September 27th it was dedicated by the Rev. James Schwebach, bishop of LaCrosse, with impressive ceremonies. This order was originally founded in France. by Very Rev. Jules Chevalier, December 8, 1854, but in consequence of the French anti-clericalism, the society was moved from France, where it had a magnificent basilica, dedicated to our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which annually attracted thousands of pilgrims and established its headquarters in Holland, from which it rapidly spread over many countries. The mother home is now located in Rome.
The chief activities of the order are the missions of the South Sea and Philippine Islands; the society is especially strong in New Guinea, where it has a complete organization, headed by an
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archbishop with 140 priests and 100 lay brethren ; in the Philip- pine Islands there are twenty-five priests and twenty lay breth- ren. Although the missions are dangerous and difficult, they are declared to be the most prosperous of any throughout the world, and the order has at this time a total membership of 600 priests and 200 lay brothers. At the mission home in this city there are at the present time an average of about seven priests who are here for rest from their arduous labors.
The home is well located geographically, and it is expected in the future that it will grow in usefulness and be the home of many of these missionaries during the times in which they are permitted to retire from active service and recruit their health and strength.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In the early settlement of the country it seems that the Methodist denomination was first on the ground in Sparta in the person of Rev. Frederick Wałrath, who preached the first sermon in 1851 to a congregation of five persons, services being held in the cabin of Mr. Petit.
Rev. Walrath continued to hold services from that time until 1854, the membership numbering about twenty-five persons; in that year the first regularly appointed pastor took charge. the Rev. Mr. Mayne. Although regularly assigned to this church, the organization did not, in fact, take place until 1856; at that time Rev. Renben R. Wood, presiding eller of the LaCrosse dis- triet, Wisconsin conference, appointed Frederick Walrath. W. J. Tucker, Albert H. Blake, Benjamin Stevens and J. W. Harding as trustees of the church at Sparta, to hold in trust all church property : the organization being completed according to the laws of the state by the presiding elder acknowledging the ex- ecution of the certificate before E. S. Blake, notary public, at Sparta, on the 16th day of February, 1856. the document being filed in the office of the county clerk on the same date.
In 1856 a neat church was erected at a cost of about $2,500, and about that time a bell was presented to the church by the members of the community, the sum of $450 having been raised by subscription for that purpose, and became a great addition to the building. The church was, of course, regularly supplied under the system used in the Methodist conference, with pastors. during the first years, and for a great many years the five-year rulo being in force : a record of all of the pastors is not available. but among them have been men of high intellectual attainments,
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among them might be mentioned the Rev. Seamann, Rev. Trimm, who became presiding elder of this district a few years ago ; Rev. Wright, who afterwards was sent to Europe in the mission- ary work; Rev. Bauchop, who believed in practical patriotism, joined the Sparta military company and received a commission as lieutenant, serving for a time faithfully and well.
Rev. L. A. Brenner perhaps accomplished the greatest amount of improvement in church property, for during his incumbency for a few years ending in 1911. the church was greatly improved and enlarged, and through his efforts money was raised and a magnificent pipe organ purchased and installed ; the building en- tirely fitted with beautiful stained glass windows.
In the past years the church has had able managers among its trustees, and has acquired the title to most of the block upon which the church building is situated ; has erected a fine parson- age for the pastor's use, which is one of the finest appointed resi- dences in the city.
During the fall of 1911 the conference of the LaCrosse dis- triet was held at this church ; at this meeting Rev. L. A. Brenner was appointed district superintendent, a fitting reward for good and faithful service. The church has a large membership, is in a good condition financially. and wields a considerable influence in the community ; has many societies connected with it, espe- cially among the young people, and strong Sunday school and Epworth League: the pastor at the present writing being Rev. Straw.
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