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 31
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Was organized September 9. 1854, with sixteen members, its first pastor being the Rev. James Squier; after an existence of some months the church disbanded and was reorganized on the 29th of June, 1856, with twenty-two constituent members, who adopted the New Hampshire confession of faith, and during the first year. under the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Card, the member- ship increased by the addition of fifty-one persons: in 1858 the first church building was erected on Benton street : subsequently this was disposed of and. under the pastorate of Rev. S. S. Walker, a church building was erected on the corner of Oak and Court streets, the present site; in 1895 the congregation having grown to substantial proportions, erected the beautiful church which occupies the site which was formally dedicated February 7th. 1897. The church, during the succeeding years, had varied success, but gradually. through removals from the city. the mem-
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bership dwindled to a point which, as has been said. resulted in the coalition with the Congregational society during the pastor- ate of the Rev. F. W. Walker Pugh : at the publication of this history the arrangement still continues, a striking illustration that letting down the bars in denominational religion results and can result in greater good.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first services of this church were held at what was known at "Union Block," just south of Assembly hall, by Rev. Fayette Durlin, missionary stationed at LaCrosse : he visited Sparta oc- casionally thereafter for some time. Bishop Kemper made the first Episcopal visitation in 1859, at which time Mrs. J. W. Wal- rath, Mrs. J. D. Condit and Mrs. J. W. Smith received the rite of confirmation. In 1860 the first Sunday school was organized by a few ladies at the home of Mrs. O. D. Randall, which held its first sessions at Liberty hall. In 1861 the lot was purchased where the little church now stands. and in 1863 a plain church was erected through the efforts of the few members and the donations from all classes of citizens. In April. 1863. St. John's Church was formally organized with the Rev. W. P. Ten Broeck as pastor. Many clergymen have been assigned to this little church, which has had a varied existence, at times no services being held, at others occasional service and at times having a missionary priest regularly in charge.
Of late years the most determined effort to inaugurate a re- vival of the church membership and work was undertaken, with the coming of Rev. A. J. R. Goldsmith from England, sent here by Bishop Nicholson : he arrived in July. 1906. and remained about two years, during which time he was ordained by Bishop Webb: he resigned and went to Arapahoe. Neb. In September, 1909, Rev. Robert T. MeCutchen assumed charge, hokling regu- lar services up to the time when he received an appointment from the general board of missions in New York City as missionary to the Philippine Islands, with residence at Sagada, for which duty he and his wife left Sparta early in 1911. The church has since been closed, except for occasional services which have been sup- plied by Rev. Link from Mauston.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
TOMAII, MENOMONEE CHIEF.
It having been established beyond the question that the city of Tomah was named from Thomas Carron, or "Tomah," which is the French pronunciation for Thomas, a biography of this remarkable man merits a place in this work. There seems to have been a great deal of uncertainty in the past among the people of Tomah who have been interested in investigating its early days and the reason for the name, and it has frequently been written that he was a Winnebago chief, but through the efforts of the Wisconsin State Historical Society the principal facts in his life have been gathered and are here presented.
Tomah was the most noted of the sons of the old Carron, a celebrated Menomonee chief, and was born in 1752 in the old King's village, opposite Green Bay. He was a man of magnifi- eent appearanee, being six feet tall, with dark eyes and handsome features, and was very prepossessing, with a lordly bearing. He looked every inch a king and one writer, Grignon, says that he was the finest looking chief that he had ever seen. He was firm, prudent, peaceable and conciliatory, and was sincerely loved alike by the white and red men of his time. In his early man- hood he became the acting chief of the Menomonee tribe, although he had no hereditary title to the chieftainship. This was held at the time by a man about as old as himself, who was an idiot. Tomah merely ruled as the acknowledged strongest man of his nation, and this he continued to do for a great many years. The Indian tribes around him are represented as being afraid of him, which is mentioned as a singular fact, that he never engaged in war with any of them while in control of the nation, but seemed to inspire awe by his great ability.
The home of this tribe was in the vicinity of Green Bay. but the Indians at different times roamed this entire country, and no doubt at some time the chief Tomah occupied for a brief space some portion of the site of the present city of Tomah as his camp- ing grounds and made the acquaintance of some settler or settlers in that region, who were so impressed with his bearing and
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friendliness that his name was proposed for the little early settle- ment, and ever since the village, and afterwards the city, has borne his name. An account written by James W. Biddle, of Pittsburgh, Pa., of a visit to the Indian tribes at Green Bay and vicinity along in 1816 and 1817, gives many interesting events in the history of this great chief. Mr. Biddle relates that on his visit he learned that in 1810 or 1811 Tecumseh was forming his great combination for driving the Americans back, who, like the waves of the sea, were encroaching upon their hunting grounds. With this view he visited Green Bay, obtained a council and hearing from Tomah and his people, whom he addressed in a man- ner he best knew how to do, and in the course of which, in true Indian spirit, he pictured the glory, as well as certainty of suc- cess. and as omens of this recapitulated to them his own hitherto prosperous career-the number of battles he had fought. the vic- tories he had won, the enemies he had slain, and the scalps he had taken from the heads of the warrior-foes. Tomah appeared sensible of this influence, for he was opposed to leading his people into war. Ilis reply was in a tone to allay this feeling, and he closed with the remark to them that they had heard the words of Tecumseh-heard of the battles he had fought. the enemies he had slain, and the scalps he had taken. He then paused. and while the deepest silence reigned throughout the audience he slowly raised his hands, and his eyes fixed on them, and in a lower but not less prouder tone continued, "But it is my boast that these hands are unstained with human blood !" The effect is described as tremendous-nature obeyed her own impulse : an admiration was forced even from those who could not. or did not, approve of the moral to be implied. and the gravity of the council was disturbed for an instant by a murmur of approba- tion, a tribute of genius, overpowering at the moment the force of education and of habit. He concluded with remarking that he had ever supported the policy of peace. as his nation was small and consequently weak ; that he was fully aware of the injustice of the Americans in their encroachments upon the lands of the Indians, and for them feared its consequences, but that he saw no relief for it in going to war. and therefore, as a national thing, he would not do so. but that if any of his young men were desirous of leaving their hunting grounds and following Tecum- sch they had his permission to do so. Ilis prudent councils pre- vailed.
The further report of Mr. Biddle, given in his own language. is as follows: "I always thought this an odd speech. a very
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remarkable one to come from a savage, for such Tomah was by birth and education, but by nature I always thought him one of the grandest specimens of humanity I had ever seen. I had not met with him at Green Bay; I was only a few days here in 1816 and hurried with business, nor did I hear much, if anything, of him, until after meeting him the next year at Mackinaw. The first I heard of him was a prescription of his to Col. John Bowyer, the Indian agent at Green Bay, for the gout, of which my brother, Edward Biddle, told me, and a very rational one I thought it, 'to drink no whiskey, live on lean meat and wild rice and scarify his feet.' This led me to make inquiries about him when I found that my brother had become a warm friend of his-an admirer of him.
"When at Mackinaw early one morning in the latter part of May or early in June, 1817, I had come out of my lodgings and observed approaching me one of the many Indians then on the island, and taking a look at him as he emerged from the fog, then very heavy, I was struck as he passed in a most unusual manner by his singularly imposing presence. I had never seen, I thought, so magnificent a man. He was of large size, perhaps full six feet, with fine proportions, a little stoop-shouldered, and dressed in a somewhat dirty Indian blanket, and had scarcely noticed me as he passed. I remember it as distinctly as if it was yesterday. I watched him until he disappeared again in the fog and remember almost giving expression to a feeling which seemed irresistibly to creep over me, that the earth was too mean for such a man to walk on! The idea, to be sure, was discarded the moment it came up, but existence it had at this, my first view. of Tomah. I had no knowledge at the time who he was or that Tomah was on the island, but while standing there before my door and under the influence of the feeling I have described, Henry Graverat, the Indian interpreter, came up and I inquired of him whether he knew an Indian who had just passed by ? He replied yes, that it was Tomah, chief of the Menomonee Indians, who, with his people, had arrived late the evening before and were encamped at the 'Point ;' that Tomah had just been with him to ask a council with the Indian agent, Maj. Wm. II. Puthuff. The council was held at 10 o'clock and I made it my business to attend.
"To understand what follows, I must make a short digression. The British for many years had paid annual contributions, termed by them Indian annuities, giving each member of the tribe a suit of clothes, consisting of a shirt, leggins, breech-clout and blanket
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-and each family a copper kettle, knives, axes, guns, ammuni- tion, etc. For these each tribe came regularly in the spring or fall. either to Mackinaw or Drummond's island or the Sault Ste. Marie. Tomah was a British Indian. He had not himself engaged in the war, but his feelings were with the British, as were per- sonally some of his young men. He had arrived on Mackinaw island with his whole people on their way to Drummond's island to receive their usual annuity. and stopped at Mackinaw to rest over night. There was nothing novel to us in this as a number of tribes had previously arrived, stopped and had a council, at which they told their story. always winding up with professions of love for their 'Chemuckiman Nosah,' or American father, who, they hoped, would open his heart and give their people some meat to stay them on their journey, and his breasts to give them some milk-i. e., whiskey-to make them joyful. This was the usual winding up of all such councils. When the council in this instance had met and the proper time offered, Tomah arose and stated to Major Puthuff that he had arrived with the Menomonee nation the night before on their way to visit their British father, and that having stopped on the island to rest over the night lie had thought it his duty to report the fact to his American father. With this simple announcement he sat down. Puthuff, a little nettled, made a short reply and the council broke up.
"Coming out of the council house I waited for Major Puthuff and remarked to him that Tomah would want some provisions for his people, and that I wished he would give me an order for that purpose. 'D-n the rascal, why didn't he ask for it, then ?' 'I suppose,' said I, 'being a British Indian. he is too proud.' 'Well. let him starve then.' 'H' all are to starve who are proud, God help many that I know of, major.' I had no difficulty in prevailing in the matter as the government had made provision for such issues to Indians, and Graverat and I made out an esti- mate proper under the circumstances to give. and Tomah and his people continued their voyage.
"In a few days he and they returned, dejected and disconso- late. A change had come over the spirit of British policy. They had just come out of a long and exhausting dance. led them by Napoleon, and were counting the cost. They had been casting around to find where surest and readiest to ent off drains upon their treasury and judging that they had no further need of Indian services, lopped off the whole list of Indian annuities. This was already known to Mackinaw and had been told to Tomah upon his arrival, but he would not, or did not, believe it. IIe found
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it, however, too true. There were no annuities there for him or for any of the other tribes, many of whom were there, and it was anticipated at one time that they would rise against the British force there and take what they could get. But this was not attempted.
"My brother Edward, then and now at Mackinaw, had been well acquainted with Tomah at Green Bay, and immediately after his return to the island he came into the store, spoke a few words to my brother and left. I had seen the interview and watched the result without making any inquiry, for I saw that my brother, who greatly loved Tomah, was imbued with all his melancholy. In a few moments a young Indian came into the store with a three-gallon keg, which my brother bade the young man in the store to fill with whiskey. which was charged on the books to Tomah. I was looking over the books but a few years ago and saw the entry on the ledger, which brought with it a train of wild and melancholy thoughts. This insult from the British authorities, as he took it, was more than his proud heart could bear. For himself he might have borne up against it, but for his people, and in the sight of those whose good offices he had refused to ask, he could or would not. The keg was brought to him in his tent, from which he drank alone, and to an excess that relieved him on the third day of pride, grief, joy and care. He was buried on the island. I was present at his funeral and witnessed his daughter, a young girl of nineteen or twenty, as she mournfully sang his death song at the head of the coffin just before lowering into the grave all that was mortal of Tomah. I never saw so distressed and broken-hearted a people. They said they were no longer a nation, no longer anything. Tomah could alone command and keep them together, but now they would be scattered and lost. We made a collection and bought them pro- visions which carried them home, where they organized under some other chief, until driven from their old hunting-grounds by you land-grasping Wisconsiners !"
Tomah died and was buried at Mackinaw, July 8, 1818, at the age of sixty-six years. On his grave Mr. John Law, of Green Bay, erected a monument with the following inscription :
"Here rests the body of Thomas Carron, grand chief of the Folle Avoine (Menominee) nation, who departed this life July 8, 1818, aged sixty-six years, regretted by all who knew him."
Thus lived and died this great man, for great he was in his day, a heroic figure of commanding ability, gifted with that nobility of character and breadth of mind which makes men
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great, whether civilized or savage ; and his great influence among his people and the surrounding tribes did much in keeping the friendly relations with the early settlers, whom he invariably protected. He was fully as great as Phillip, of Pokanoket, or Pontiac, or Tecumseh, not as well known perhaps, but exhibiting traits of character which called for great admiration, and the city which bears his name may well be proud of it .- Ed.
CHAPTER XXXIV. CITY OF TOMAIL.
Woven around the adoption of the name of this beautiful city are a number of interesting facts. How and why it was given this name appears a little later in the chapter. "Tomah" is truly an euphonious word, pleasing to hear, giving the idea of gentle- ness and yet sturdy strength. The village and the city bears the name of that celebrated Menomonee chief whose life and char- acter show him to have been a mighty man among his people and in his time. So the city, his namesake, has become a familiar word throughout the state and stands for sturdy municipal strength and progress.
Contrary to the general belief as to who was the first settler upon the site of the city, credit usually being given to Robert E. Gillett, stands forth the fact that Jesse Boorman was the first actual settler and the first man to acquire title to any portion of the land upon which the city is now situated.
When in 1854 Mr. Boorman, who was then living in Wal- worth county, was informed by an itinerant preacher that the region to the west, near the Mississippi river, was the "Promised Land," the first idea of the new settlement began to take form. In that year Mr. Boorman drove through from Walworth county to LaCrosse and entered three forties of land, which are now a portion of the site of the city. He came back and located the land and proceeded to elear a portion of it, going back to Wal- worth county in the winter and returning in the spring to further improve the land.
To digress from the story at this point it seems fitting to give a short sketeh of Mr. Boorman's life. He was born July 4, 1830, in Kent county, England. When about six months of age he came with his parents to this country, embarking at Liverpool in a sailing vessel and landing in New York on New Year's day, 1831, the voyage having occupied six weeks.
The family soon located in Chautanqua county, New York, where they lived for three years. moving from there to Green county, in sight of the Catskill mountains, where they resided for
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three years more. Mr. Boorman's father then decided to "go west," left that location and went to Schenectady by way of Buffalo, coming to Wisconsin by the lake route, passing through Chicago and then on to Walworth county by teams, arriving there early in June, 1837, when Wisconsin was still a territory. John Boorman. Jesse's father, entered 320 acres of land in Wal- worth county ; his son, Jesse, remained at home and assisted in working the farm until 1854, when he located the 120 acres of land which will be described hereafter. securing a patent signed by James Buchanan, then President.
In 1855 he, with his brother-in-law. came to Madison by rail and then walked from there to the present site of Tomah and established a farm home, where he lived for many years until 1903 when, owing to his advanced age, he retired from active farm life and has since resided in the city of Tomah. He was married to Miss Lucilica Constance Ryland, November 4, 1858.
In 1855 Robert E. Gillett, accompanied by Robert Howie. arrived upon the scene. Mr. Gillett purchased some land which lay south and cast of the present location of the city, and went to Walworth county during the winter of 1856-57 and offered to trade land with Mr. Boorman. Mr. Boorman requested him to wait until spring, when he would be on the premises again. Accordingly in the spring of 1857 Boorman came back. At that time he had no idea that this location might be a good trading point with the advent of the railroad which it was rumored would be constructed through from Milwaukee, and the land he owned not being the best for agricultural puposes, on April 24th he traded with Mr. Gillett. On that day he gave Gillett a deed of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section four. township seventeen, range one west, which deed was recorded in the office of the register of deeds in volume four of deeds, on page 285. on April 24. 1857. For this land Mr. Boorman received an equal amount and sixty acres "to boot, " which comprised a portion of the old Boorman farm, upon which, with additional purchases, he remained as stated until 1903.
Mr. Gillett had four forties in section nine, joining section four on the south. and the impulse which led to the selection of this point for a village is an interesting story. Robert A. Gillett, the son of Robert E .. when a young man of twenty years was employed with the surveying party which staked out the route of the Milwaukee and LaCrosse Railroad from Milwaukee to the
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Mississippi river. ITis father, Robert E., instructed him to find out from the engineer in charge of the work at what point the line of railroad was most likely to be built to the north, and in the course of events it was found that Council House creek was the most likely and logical point for such an extension. Word was sent back to Milwaukee and a movement was immediately started to buy the property necessary for a town site. This was done at what would be considered a trifling cost in these days. The United States government and the state of Wisconsin held title to the land and settlers were able to secure it at very reason- able prices. The land grants were secured by Robert E. Gillett and a tract covering a mile in length and a half-mile in width was secured south of and abutting upon the projected railroad, which the founder often stated, and firmly believed, would some day be a railroad center. His untimely death prevented him from seeing his dream realized even to a small degree.
In 1855 Griswold Gillett, the father of Robert E., took up 160 acres of land adjoining the southeast corner of the original village, on a land warrant for service rendered the United States government in the war of 1812. This became the homestead of the family, and on this farm the third house in the village was built. After the trade which had been made between Robert E. Gillett and Jesse Boorman, plans were at once made for laying out the town site. When the plot of ground was selected it was necessary to find a name for the proposed village. and it appears that the son, Robert A. Gillett, after the perusal of an old history of the state in which a record was found telling that an old and highly esteemed Indian chief, contemporaneous with and friendly to Chief Oshkosh, had at one time gathered his tribe for confer- ence in the council house located on the headwaters of what is now known as Council creek, he chose the name "Tomah," which was accordingly adopted. In connection with this chapter it is eminently fitting that here be given a short account of the founder of the city and his son, remarkable men, both of them, in many ways.
Robert E. Gillett was born in Mesopotamia, O., on the 23rd day of June, 1809. He was one of the three sons of Griswold Gillett and Elvina Tracy, both of whom were pioneer settlers of the western reserve of Ohio. Born in the first decade of the nineteenth century, Robert E. Gillett combined the spirit of the pioneer with an appreciation of the value of education, and was one of the first to become identified with the educational move- ment of which Oberlin college, Ohio, was the center, and became .
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the first financial secretary of the society or group of earnest men and women who laid the foundation of this wonderful school. Ile was a man of sterling character and strong convictions, and his love of justice prompted him to take up the cause of abolition. and he was known throughout the South as a "black abolition- ist." Ilis home in Oberlin later became a station in the famous "underground railroad," and the shop over his kitchen was used for sheltering negro slaves on their way to Canada and freedom. At one time he was chosen by a Southern judge as guardian of five mulatto children. Family records do not show the date of this period in his career, but there were three Miner children and two LaMar children, the latter being a branch of the family of which Senator LaMar of late fame belonged. These children were taken to Oberlin and their estates administered in a just and satisfactory manner, and all five in due time graduated from Oberlin college. His activity in the cause of abolition was car- ried on until the election of President Lincoln, of whom he was a staunch supporter. Just before his death his services were recognized by President Lincoln, who commissioned him Minister to Venezuela, but death came before he could assume the responsibility of this mission. In the early days of the settlement of Monroe county he was one of the few judicial officers in the community, holding for a short time the office of justice of the peace.
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