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 36
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tee has done effective service by promoting sociality, providing entertainment for members and their friends. They arrange for the annual banquet each year, and one year gave a complimentary banquet to the Business Men's Club.
And last, but not least. must be mentioned the program and press committee, who keep the wheels oiled. They work early and late, but behind the scenes. Neither club members nor the public realize the faithful attention these committees must give to details. Many entertaining programs are given throughout the year, and many instructive ones. Men and women of note in the state have been guests of the club and spoken before it. Social center work, boy problems, domestic science, peace and conversation, are among the subjects which have been discussed. And not less helpful have been the interesting talks given by Tomah's own citizens on live topics of the day. At the close of five years' existence, the club is a prosperous and active agent in the plans for progress in the city of Tomah.
OFFICERS, 1911-1912.
President, Mrs. W. R. McCaul ; first vice president. Mrs. W. W. Warren ; second vice president, Mrs. H. J. Skinner; third vice president, Mrs. E. K. Tuttle : corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. L. Burt ; recording secretary, Mrs. A. A. Fix; treasurer, Mrs. Wallace Taft.
Active Membership List: Mrs. O. L. Anderson, Mrs. R. Andres, Mrs. Robert Babb, Mrs. F. S. Barrows, Mrs. Earnest Bartels, Mrs. W. R. Bartels. Mrs. L. N. Burt, Mrs. Addison Cady, Mrs. T. B. Corrigan. Mrs. Frank Drew, Mrs. Alice Eaton, Mrs. Fred Eldridge. Mrs. Alois Fix. Mrs. Will Gleis, Mrs. M. Gondre- zick, Mrs. A. S. Goodyear, Mrs. George Graham, Mrs. Clarence Hanover, Mrs. F. M. Hart. Mrs. E. E. Ilatch, Mrs. C. C. Hazen, Mrs. Anna Homermiller. Mrs. W. C. Homermiller. Mrs. H. B. Johnson. Mrs. Carrie King, Mrs. E. F. Koon, Mrs. William Lee. Mrs. M. B. Lee, Mrs. E. Lockwood. Mrs. W. E. Barnhart. Mrs. L. W. Earle. Mrs. Thomas McCaul, Mrs. W. R. McCaul. Mrs. Charles McFadden, Mrs. L. McKain, Mrs. C. J. Maxwell. Mrs. E. Meloy, Mrs. M. Moran, Mrs. James O'Leary, Mrs. Sarah Palmer. Mrs. A. B. Pennewell, Mrs. C. E: Quigg. Mrs. William Roddell, Mrs. Edward Schwerer, Mrs. Elizabeth Seymour. Mrs. C. T. Sipple, Mrs. J. Simonson, Mrs. II. J. Skinner. Mrs. I. G. Stutsman, Mrs. Charles Taft. Mrs. Wallace Taft. Mrs. F. K. Tuttle. Mrs. F. K. Talbot, Mrs. Emma J. Treat. Mrs. George Uebele, Miss C. W. C.
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CIVIC IMPROVEMENT CLUB OF TOMAH
Voswinkle, Mrs. W. W. Warren, Mrs. Waltman, Mrs. Charles Weiss, Mrs. C. H. Wiklund, Mrs. A. Withers, Mrs. W. B. Naylor, Mrs. George Warren, Mrs. C. J. Wells, Mrs. A. E. Winter, Mrs. A. C. Stone, Mrs. Charles Hanchett.
CHAPTER XL. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF TOMAH.
Goodyear Lumber Company. The original firm of D. A. & C. A. Goodyear was organized in 1876, its first plant being a portable mill located at Mather Station, on the Valley division of the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. In 1879 C. A. Goodyear became a resident of Tomah, and in 1883 the lumber vards of the company were located here, followed by the location of their large planing mill the next season, at the site where it now stands. In connection with the planing mill they put in an electric light plant and furnished light for the city and private residences and business houses for many years. until this part of the business was sold a few years ago to a stock company.
The company operated mills at different points on the Valley division when the building of the Goodyear railway in the heart of a large tract of timber resulted in the construction of their large mill at the station of Goodyear. After this pine was exhausted the company, having purchased a large tract of land in the northern part of the state with several hundred millions of good pine upon it, the big saw mill was moved to Tomah and arrangements made with the railway company to haul logs to the mill on the Valley division, which situation obtains today ; a train a day of logs is delivered at the mill.
This saw mill has within the past few years been thoroughly overhauled and improved ; is now operated by electricity and is considered a model of its kind and one of the best equipped saw mills to be found anywhere.
The Bridge Works. In 1890 the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company decided to locate its bridge building department at Tomah ; this only came about after quite a contest between several towns along the main line of the road, as most of the cities from Watertown to LaCrosse, including both places. made offers of bonuses in various forms. The common council of the city of Tomah tendered the company ten acres of land lying north of the new depot, which offer was accepted, and it was mainly due
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to the fact that Tomah was centrally located that induced the company to locate here and refuse more advantageous offers from other places.
It consists of a large office building and a factory building 60 by 350 feet, equipped with machinery for wood working; a large yard for the storing of lumber, timber, piles, concrete mix- ing apparatus and general supplies; there is also a paint shop in connection. At this plant not only are wooden culverts and bridges constructed, but depots, store houses and other build- ings are manufactured ready to set up; it employs a large force of men and operates the year around.
The Frog Shops, as they are familiarly called, were located here. by the St. Paul company, and the buildings erected for the plant in 1907; the shops are most modern, being equipped with electrical machinery and manufacture frogs for the tracks and other iron work ; it is operated by a large power plant in a sepa- rate building containing powerful engines and huge dynamos, used for both power and lighting. This is a busy place and employs about from 100 to 150 men.
Sash and Door Factory, operated by Crosset brothers, started a number of years ago in a very modest way, is now a large plant employing quite a force of men ; the company does an extensive business in contract work, from building frames and interior finish, to erecting of entire buildings. The plant has a fine equip- ment of machinery and is operated by steam.
Tomah Electric Light and Telephone Company now owns and controls the telephone plant and connecting lines and also the electric lighting plant : the telephone company is equipped with its own office building with modern switch boards, and owns a large mileage of line having connection with long-distance serv- ice. The electric light plant is the only one in the city furnish- ing street lights as well as for business places and residences ; a well managed, up-to-date institution.
Farmers' Creamery was organized in August, 1902, and located its plant in the city building, a brick building with a most modern equipment; this institution has been successfully con- ducted and does a large volume of business each year running close to $150,000.
Soda Water Factory has been conducted for many years by M. Gondreziek at the same location known as the old "Grant House" corner. Mr. Gondrezick owns the building there located and uses the entire basement for his factory.
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A Flour and Feed Mill is operated by W. H. Schultz & Co. in the same block in which the Sherman House is located, and enjoys a large clientage among the farmers.
A number of years ago a brick manufacturing plant was operated by Thomas McCaul near the city; good clay for the manufacture of red brick being found upon the property acquired by him west of town; it was operated for a few years, but for some reason was abandoned and the land used for farming purposes.
Another Wood-Working Plant is operated by the Tomah Manufacturing Company, which does general contracting in the building line; has been operated for about eight or nine years.
CHAPTER XLI. BANKS IN TOMAIL.
The early history of the banking interests in Tomah is not in the form of corporate existence ; and up to the time of the change in the banking laws, were private banks owned by partnerships ; no public record is available and no record at all ean be found. In the early seventies Runkel & Freeman entered into the bank- ing business in a white brick building in the block just south of Gillett park; what the capital invested was or the volume of business transacted is not now known. The Bank of Tomah suc- ceeded this and was established by Thayer & Kingman, of Sparta, in 1879, and was also a private bank. These gentlemen were at the time conducting the Monroe County Bank at Sparta also.
But in 1893, Mr. Kingman having withdrawn from the busi- ness some years before, under the management of Mr. Thayer, both these institutions failed and went into the hands of an assignee, W. G. Williams, who wound up the affairs of both institutions.
With this exception the banks in Tomah have been conducted on sound financial principles, conservatively managed and have retained the confidence of the people in the city and surround- ing country.
At this time Tomah is well favored with banks, having four banking houses, each, of course, organized under the laws of the state. The combined capital of these institutions is $90,200, and the combined assets foot up to the sum of $1,118,527.02, aggre- gated from the reports of June, 1912.
Warren's Bank was organized in 1888 as a private banking house under the name of J. H. Warren & Son. Its officers were : J. H. Warren. president ; G. H. Warren, vice president, and W. W. Warren, cashier; the composition of this firm was unique in that it represented three generations of the Warrens, and at the time of the organization of the firm their ages were, respectively, eighty-six years, fifty-three years and twenty-three years.
As a private bank it had from the start the confidence of the public, and while still conducted as such its deposits ran up to
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over $270,000, which is a remarkable testimonial of confidence in an institution without capital. This bank passed through three panies without closing its doors, and in. the panic of 1893 was the only bank in the county that kept its doors open and did business at the old stand.
In 1903, under the laws then passed. it was organized as a state bank with a capital of $25,000; at that time John H. War- ren had passed away and George H. Warren became president. W. W. Warren remaining cashier; the bank having been con- dueted under the same management for over twenty-three years up to the death of George II. Warren. W. W. Warren has suc- ceeded to the position of his father and is now president and manager ; J. P. Reinhard, formerly of the Monroe County Bank at Sparta, cashier. Norma Fitch, bookkeeper.
That under the management of Colonel Warren the same con- servative methods are used and that the confidence of the public is still the same is evidenced by the deposits which in June. 1912, were $509,146.18. and this together with its capital stock, sur- plus of $5,000 and undivided profits, brings up the grand total to $541,743.55.
The bank occupies its own building, built in 1888, in which business was first opened up.
Bank of Tomah. After the failure of the Thayer bank in 1893, the opportunity to establish a bank business in Tomah appeared good to Frenk Drew, formerly of Portage, later of Dakota, where he had been engaged in the banking business with his brother. He came to Tomah late in the year 1893 and pro- ceeded to interest some of the business men of the community in the organizing of a banking corporation under the name of the Bank of Tomah.
A banking corporation was organized with Frank Drew. Wat- son Earle and Charles A. Goodyear and William Feiting as its incorporators and principal stockholders. The business name of "Bank of Tomah," together with the building in which that institution had been housed, were purchased of the assignee. W. G. Williams, and its existence as a bank began March 1. 1894, with a capital of $25,000.
In September. 1903, an amendment was made to the articles of incorporation so that the capital was made $15.200.
C. A. Goodyear was its first president, with Frank Drew as eashier. Later Mr. Watson Earle succeeded to the presidency. The bank has been successfully conducted under the manage- ment of Mr. Drew since its organization; has the confidence of
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the public and has a large clientage of depositors among the busi- ness men and farmers of the surrounding territory.
Its deposits in June, 1912, were $216,936.84, which, together with its capital, surplus and undivided profits, makes a grand total of $237.842.32.
Farmers' & Merchants' Bank. This institution has not been organized long enough to have much of a history, as its authority to do business dates from February 25, 1911. It was incorporated by Thomas E. Anderson, George P. Stevens and William J. Bren- nan; erected a handsome banking house on Superior avenne, starting business with a surplus fund of $10,000 in addition to its capital.
Thomas E. Anderson is president and William J. Brennan is cashier. Under their management, in little over a year, the insti- tution has grown remarkably. In June, 1912, its deposits were $220,661.33, and taken together with its capital, surplus fund and undivided profits, makes a grand total of $256,243.76.
The State Bank. This bank also is of so recent an organiza- tion as to preclude any historical sketch, for its history is vet to be made outside of the fact of its organization and commence- ment of business. Its organizers, believing the field for another bank at Tomah still a good one, notwithstanding the fact that there were three other banking institutions, incorporated under the state law with a capital of $25,000; J. P. Rice, C. B. Drowatzky and G. C. Pingel were its incorporators; the present officers are, J. P. Rice, president ; G. C. Pingel, vice president : C. B. Dro- watzky, eashier ; H. B. Vaudell, F. O. Drowatzky and A. O'Leary, directors.
The bank opened business under circumstances which seem to insure a good growth in business. During its short existence its deposits have reached in June, 1912, $57,074.14, and, taken together with surplus fund and undivided profits, makes a total of $82,692.39 at that time.
CHAPTER XLII. THE TOMAH INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
Perhaps one of the most interesting educational institutions in the county is the Indian Industrial Boarding School located at Tomah; this is one of the several schools owned and conducted by the United States Government for the education of Indian children.
When in 1890 the subject was agitated of establishing an Indian school in the central portion of Wisconsin, a strong com- petition began between several cities of the state to secure the school ; Tomah, Sparta, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Black River Falls and several other cities entered the contest and all sorts of inducements were offered to the government authorities. The city of Tomah offered to purchase a farm of 200 acres located two miles north of the city limits for the farm and the buildings; the citizens were successful in securing its location ; originally the sum of $25,000 was appropriated for the initial expenses of building the plant; the original buildings consisted of a large brick building and boiler house containing heating plant and laundry. Since that time six brick and ten frame buildings have been added and the farm has been increased by the Government to 340 acres. This farm is under the man- agement of an expert farmer and a competent dairy man is also employed, who has at this time under his charge fifty Holstein dairy cattle. Much valuable instruction is given to the Indian boys by the manager of these two industries and at the same time considerable experimental work has been done and is now being done on the farm under the direction of the Agricultural Department of the State University. All of this fur- nishes instruction of the finest kind for the benefit of the Indian boy pupils, who are thus receiving a practical education in farm- ing and dairying and in other agricultural pursuits. In addition to that boys are taught carpenter work; there is a complete course in domestic science and art for the girls which is main- tained in a well equipped building provided for that purpose.
The Government pays all the expenses of the pupils, including
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THE TOMAH INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
transportation to and from school; they are kept for a term of three years and literary instruction is given during nine months of the year, the pupils being carried through the eight grades of the common school branches being the state school course for Wisconsin. Pupils are received from any of the middle western states and most of them come from Wisconsin, some coming from Minnesota and Michigan.
The school is maintained under the semi-military discipline and the boys wear a neat blue uniform trimmed with red, and the girls are dressed in becoming dresses; they are taught the habits of cleanliness and all of the pupils live at the school in large dormitories which are cared for by the pupils principally. Some of the girls. in fact most of them, show a great talent for needle work and turn out beautiful pieces of embroidery and other fancy work as well as neatly executed plain sewing. The boys go into athletics quite freely under the instruction of their teachers and for a number of years a football team has held up the honor of the little Indians in various contests with high school and other teams throughout this part of the state; every summer a baseball team has been supported consisting entirely of pupils of the school and under the instruction of an expert ball player who formerly graduated from the Carlyle School, and is a ball team which is no mean antagonist and plays games with different clubs in this part of the state.
For a number of years a brass band has been a part of the equipment of the school and the young Indian boys take to music very readily : the Tomah Indian School Band has quite a reputa- tion in this part of the state : the entire band is composed of the Indian youths of various ages under the instruction of an Indian leader, a man by the name of "Look Around": he is an excellent slide trombone player and a very fine musician. Many of the graduates of the school have taken responsible positions and have made homes for themselves and great benefit is derived from this institution ; it is hoped that many good citizens may be made from the Indian children in the future as has been done in the past.
The present superintendent, L. M. Compton, has been in charge of the school for the last fourteen years and his fine executive ability. together with a disposition which seems to be suited to over-mastering difficulties, has built up an institution which is second to none of its kind anywhere in the country; Mr. Comp- ton is considered a vlanable citizen of Monroe county as well, as he is publie spirited and has given a good deal in the interests of the community at Tomah. He recently was appointed a gov-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
ernment Indian agent for this section of the state and it is his duty to look after the tribal Indians and to conduct the govern- ment annuity payments, a duty which he performs to the satis- faction of the Indian department. A good residence is provided on the farm for the superintendent and also for the farmer, and together with fine outbuildings makes a plant which is not only valuable, but conducted in all lines in the highest of development and is visited by many people from different parts of the country. The attendance at the present time is 250 scholars.
CHAPTER XLIII. STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Chapter 337, laws of 1885, made it the duty of the board of supervision, by and with the consent of the governor, to select a suitable site and ereet thereon buildings for a state school or temporary home for dependent and neglected children-such institution to be known as the "State Public School." Soon after the enactment of this law the board advertised for proposals for furnishing a site for this institution, and received responses from Stevens Point, Waupaca, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon, New Lisbon. Sparta and La Crosse. Subsequently the board visited all these places, inspecting the sites proposed and canvassed the advantages of each locality, and, finally, with the approval of the governor, selected Sparta as the locality for the school, accepting an offer of a tract of land embracing 164.8 acres as the site. This land lies in one regular body on the northeast of the city, being partly within its limits, having the La Crosse river for its eastern boundary and one of the city streets as its western line. The location is in all respects a health- ful one, possesses many attractions in itself, and commands a view of one of the finest landscapes in the state.
During the year 1886 three cottages were erected and equipped in accordance with the provisions of the law, two of them of solid brick, two stories and an attie in height, with stone base- ment, and 'capable of accommodating 100 pupils. The third cot- tage, a frame structure. veneered with brick, two stories and an attic above a stone basement, was devoted at first to the uses of the superintendent and his family, but subsequently to the accom- modation of the young children, of whom it affords room for thirty. The institution was opened for the reception of pupils on the 13th of November, 1886, with Robert T. Roberts as superin- tendent. It soon became apparent, from the rapidity with which committments were made, that more room must be provided before the full benefits of the institution could be realized. Accordingly the legislature of 1887 made provisions for the erec- tion of a central building. two cottages and such other structures
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as it should deem necessary. The board of supervision, during that year, had erected the buildings named, and in addition thereto a boiler and engine house and laundry and a barn. The central building is of brick, three stories in height upon a stone basement, and furnishes room for the superintendent and his family and employes, a general kitchen and large dining room, an assembly room and offices. The cottages are of brick, two stories and an attic in height, with a stone basement, and furnish accom- modations for sixty pupils each. A school house, two stories in height, containing three class rooms and necessary halls on each floor, and furnishing accommodations for about 250 pupils, was erected in 1889, as were also a cold storage building, ice house and additional farm buildings, and a dwelling house on adjoining land purchased was reconstructed into a comfortable hospital.
In August, 1891, the board of control elected F. L. Sanborn, of Ashland, to be superintendent in place of Mr. Roberts, whose term had expired. July 7, 1892, fire, believed to be the work of an incendiary ward, destroyed the roof and upper story of the main building. The building was promptly reconstructed at a cost of $4,814.96. The primary object of the institution is to fur- nish a temporary home for dependent and neglected children until suitable homes can be found for them in good families. While they remain in the institution they are instructed in the elementary branches of an English education.
July 1, 1895, Hon. S. S. Landt was elected to the superin- tendency, which position he held for four years. Under his administration a general hospital was constructed at a cost of $3,300 ; also an addition to the laundry building for storage pur- poses at a cost of $1.000. M. T. Park succeeded Mr. Landt on July 1. 1899, and continued in office nine years. During his administration the following buildings were erected : Horse barn for driving teams, at a cost of $2,250 ; two playhouses or pavilions. costing $300 each; new coal shed with capacity for storing 600 tons of coal, at a cost of $4,000; shed for farm machinery, at a cost of $300; two additions were built on Cottage "D." increasing the capacity from fifteen to thirty babies, at a cost of $6,000.
C. M. Bright succeeded Mr. Park as superintendent on July 1. 1908, and continued in office three years. Two new cottages were constructed at a cost of about $22,000: also other improvements of remodeling and new plumbing in the cottages, school house and kitchen. at an expense of $1,000.
J. F. Brown, superintendent of School for the Blind at Janes-
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ville, was transferred to the State Public School, succeeding C. M. Bright as superintendent on August 1, 1911. Up to the present time 3,711 children have been committed, the majority having been placed in homes on indenture contracts, where they remain until they become eighteen years of age. The average population of the institution is now (May 29, 1912) 140.
CHAPTER XLIV. VILLAGES OF THE COUNTY.
VILLAGE OF CASHTON.
Eighteen miles south of Sparta, on an elevation 700 feet above the county seat of Monroe county, overlooking one of the prettiest districts of farm lands in western Wisconsin, stands the village of C'ashton. The land where the village is located is on section thirty, township fifteen, north of range three west, in the town of Jefferson, and was formerly owned by Andrew Nelson and Hans Larson, the latter of whom is still living near the village.
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