USA > Wisconsin > Sheboygan County > History of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, past and present > Part 17
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In 1874 the road was leased to the Wisconsin Central Railroad Com- . pany and operated by them for a number of years. Later the road be- came a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company's system.
The Milwaukee, Manitowoc & Green Bay Railroad Company was in- corporated in 1870. They were empowered to build and operate a railroad from Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, running thence northerly through the counties of Ozaukee (to Port Washington, within three quarters of a mile of said village) and Sheboygan, to the cities of Sheboygan, Mani- towoc, and northerly to Green Bay. An organization was effected imme- diately and the work of building begun, but interruption occurred, and it was in November, 1872, when the first train was run to Sheboygan. The road was afterward united with the Appleton & New London Railroad Com- pany and reorganized under the name of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company. In 1891 the road became a part of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company's system.
The 1889 the necessity of better railroad facilities for the city of She- boygan began to attract the attention of the business men of that city and a company was formed and preliminary surveys made from Sheboygan to Waldo.
With the transfer of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, the necessity of better railway facilities became more evident and in 1893 J. Donohue, in company with others, offered to build a railroad from Sheboygan to connect with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, then the Milwaukee Northern, at some point near Waldo, providing the city of Sheboygan would donate $40,000 to aid in the construction of the same. About this time Mr. Cameron ap- peared and organized a company under the name of Sheboygan, St. Paul
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& Central Railway Company, and offered to build a railroad connecting Sheboygan with the Milwaukee & Northern Railway at some point near Waldo, providing the city of Sheboygan would donate to them $35,000. The city accepted the latter offer.
The Sheboygan, St. Paul & Central Railway Company surveyed a line from Sheboygan southwesterly through the villages of Ourtown and Hing- ham, to a point on the Milwaukee & Northern Railway, about one mile north of Random Lake. Considerable grading was done on this line, but as the company had no financial standing, and could probably not make any ar- rangements with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, the plan was abandoned.
STREET RAILWAYS AND INTERURBAN
On September 22, 1885, a franchise was granted for a street railway. The cars were drawn by horses and mules and covered but a small terri- tory. In 1895 H. G. Northrup was granted a franchise for a trolley system of street railways, but before he had completed the innovation he transferred his interests to the Sheboygan Light, Power and Railway Company. The tracks were extended to other streets and for some time past the city has had excellent service. In 1901 the city granted a franchise to John M. Saemann and P. P. Brickbauer for an electric interurban railway, to connect the city with Plymouth, Crystal Lake and Elkhart Lake and in the fall of that year cars were running to the towns mentioned, with the exception of Elkhart Lake. A branch was built from Plymouth and operated to Elkhart Lake in 1909, the first car reaching that popular summer resort on June 12th of the year mentioned. Previous to this, however, an electric line had been built from Sheboygan to Milwaukee. These interurbans are very gen- erously patronized, thus showing the great appreciation of the people of the county.
MARINE
Sheboygan's lake traffic is one of the significant features of the city as a business mark and manufacturing center. The mouth of the Sheboygan river was early recognized as a splendid natural harbor and was given especial attention by congress in 1836, when government officers prosecuted surveys and soundings, from which a chart was made of the river's mouth and the bay. A report was subsequently made by Colonel Albert to the war de- partment, and the chart was submitted, but no material action was taken by the Federal authorities until 1840, when a lighthouse was built on north She- boygan point, which was kept by a Mr. Wolverton. This building stood for twenty years and was replaced by a more modern one in 1860 and some years thereafter was placed in charge of Mrs. E. Pape, wife of Louis Pape, a Civil war veteran, who had sustained a serious accident by the bursting of a cannon upon the occasion of a Fourth of July celebration. This lighthouse remained in commission until the present one was built, opposite Pennsyl- vania avenue. The first pier, a crude affair, was built and owned by Wil-
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liam Farnsworth. The structure ran out from Center street, north of the mouth of the Sheboygan river. In 1845, four years later, the pier was ex- tended to a total length of 800 feet. The next improvement for water traf- fic was the Kirkland pier, built south of the river in 1848, but in the spring of 1852 a terrific gale of wind swept both the piers into the lake. They were almost immediately rebuilt, however, and were ready for the business that was constantly increasing. They answered the purpose expected of them until the building of a harbor in the river.
It was after many attempts of the citizens had been made and yards and yards of red tape had been spun by national legislators before any- thing definite and tangible had been secured toward harbor building at Sheboygan. In the winter session of congress in 1844-5, an appropria- tion of $25,000 had been made for the improvement of navigation over the bar at the mouth of the Sheboygan river, but President John Tyler failed to sign the measure and, consequently, it died "abornin."
In 1849, the need of financial assistance from the government had be- come so imperative that a committee of Sheboygan business men prepared a memorial to congress, setting forth various reasons why a harbor should be constructed at this port. Among other things the memorial detailed the astounding fact that every vessel owned at this port had been stranded or wrecked, entailing a loss to the shipping interests approximating the cost of improvements sought. A list of nine vessels was given which were wrecked while lying at anchor in the bay and the further fact was shown that several lives were lost in the disasters enumerated. As showing that the shipping business had assumed sufficient importance to demand better facilities, it was demonstrated that in 1847 the arrivals and departures of steamers alone, without taking note of sailing vessels, was 443, and in 1848 the number had increased to 525. The arrival of immigrants at the port of Sheboygan was 1,417 in 1845, 4,380 in 1846, 4,228 in 1847, and 6,200 in 1848, the year of the great exodus from Germany to the United States. The imports of merchandise in 1848 to Sheboygan amounted to the no inconsiderable amount of 2,859, the estimated value of which was $571,800. The exports included 986 barrels of pork, 5,015 bushels of wheat, besides vast quantities of lumber, shingles, cord wood, wool, etc.
On the 5th day of January, 1852, a mass meeting of citizens was held, W. R. Gorsline presiding and Edward Gilman acting as secretary. The object of the meeting was to discuss what measures should be adopted to secure the construction of an adequate harbor at Sheboygan and it was there and then decided to call a delegate convention. In pursuance thereof, a convention was held on the 22d day of January, following, wherein one hundred and thirty-one delegates responded to their names upon roll call. Silas B. Stedman had been placed in the chair and vice presidents selected from the various towns represented. The result of the deliberations of this body were as follows: Congress being then in session, a request was presented before the House of Representatives, in which the government was asked to appropriate $30,000 for the construction of a harbor at She- boygan. This the congress acceded to. Another result was the petitioning of the county to appropriate $20,000 for a like purpose and also the city
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was asked to give $10,000. The legislature passed an act empowering the county and city to raise the amounts desired, and A. P. Lyman, Henry Stock, Charles D. Cole, Jonathan Seeley, A. G. Dye, Reed C. Brazelton and John Gore were appointed harbor commissioners. February 20, 1852, the first contract was let for work on Sheboygan's harbor and since that time, at certain periods, appropriations have been made for harbor im- provements, which total at this time the sum of $600,000. On December I, 1873, a lighthouse was built on the north pier of the harbor, which was burned March 17, 1880. A new building took its place June 20th follow- ing, and J. L. Mallory was placed in charge. The present lighthouse keeper is G. M. S. Hansen.
The first vessel built in Sheboygan was the small schooner, "Pilot." It was put on the ways by Captain Powell and launched in 1845. This was the beginning of a large and profitable industry in Sheboygan and boat building was long continued here. In 1855 a steam dredge was built for the city, which was kept in commission and ran two years. However, some years since the shipyards were removed and the construction of vessels has ceased at this port.
Many vessels touch at this port and a number of them, including tugs, are owned here. The John P. Reiss, one of the largest steel clad propellers on the great lakes, was launched at Loraine, Ohio, January 29, 1910, Mrs. John P. Reiss performing the time-honored ceremony of its christening. The John P. Reiss is one of the leviathans of the inland waters of this country, its measurements being 524 feet long, 56 feet in width and 30 feet in depth; capacity, 10,000 tons. The vessel is owned by the Wiscon- sin Transportation Company, of which John P. Reiss, of Sheboygan, is secretary and treasurer.
Through the kindness of George Lebermann, deputy customs collector, the following data is here presented, which shows the commodities received and shipped by lake, during the calendar year 1911, at the port of She- boygan :
RECEIPTS
Coal, hard
. 261,296 tons
Coal, soft 335,252 tons.
Fire wood 7,085 cords
Lumber 3,992,000 feet
Tan bark
650 cords
Pulp wood
156 cords
Salt
5,900 tons
Green Fruit
64,700 baskets
Apples
1,730 bushels
Potatoes 500 bushels
Unclassed freight . 12 tons
Cheese 300 tons
Agricultural implements . 200 tons
Carriages
. 100 tons
General merchandise
13,150 tons
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SHIPMENT .
Eggs 500 tons
Peas
100 tons
Chairs
100 tons
Furniture 3,000 tons
Leather
2,800 tons
Fish
1,000 tons
General merchandise
1,588 tons
Hard coal dust
4,500 tons
NUMBER OF VESSELS ENTERED
Steamers 508
Tonnage 538,646
Schooners
III
Tonnage. 14,321
Total
619
552,967
NUMBER OF VESSELS DEPARTED
Steamers
516
Tonnage.
564,195
Schooners
IIO
Tonnage. 14,297
Total.
626
578,492
LIFE SAVING STATION
The United States Life Saving Station was established at Sheboygan in 1876, and a fair sized station house erected on the south side of the She- boygan river at a spot now occupied by docks No. I of the C. Reiss Coal Company. The building contained the life saving apparatus and served as a meeting place of the crew. The apparatus consisted of a self-raising boat, two surf boats, a mortar, used to shoot a line to vessels in distress, and such other paraphernalia as life preservers, ropes, etc., which necessity required. The crew, commanded by Captain Oley Groh, consisted of eight volunteers, mostly fishermen. This little band of heroes who, without expectation of reward, risked their lives in order to save the lives and property of others had the following membership: Captain Oley Groh; Henry Groh, Harry Hine, Charles Lamphere, John Gass, Charles West, Oley Ellison, Erich Nel- son and Hans Hansen. In fair weather the men attended to their private affairs but as soon as a storm loomed up they hastened to the station, to be in readiness when their services were required. In 1880, however, the station was placed upon a "paid basis" and with that innovation came the establishment of the "look-out" and the "shore patrol." From that time on, the members of the crew gave their entire time to the duties of their positions and spent night and day at the station house. Besides the general duties con- nected with the care of the house, each life saver took his place at the look-out and at the patrol, which extended two and a half miles south
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and two miles north along the beach. The membership of the first paid crew was: Henry Groh, William Groh, Charles Lamphere, Oley Ellison, Garette Muntinga, Martin Coin, Albert Heabing and Erich Nelson.
A distinctive uniform, designed by Captain Groh and worn first by the members of the Sheboygan crew, met with such general favor that it was adopted by all the stations along the lake and is still in use. Thous- ands of dollars worth of property and scores of lives have been saved by the United States Life Saving crew at this port, since the location of the station here. The present captain of the crew is Joseph Dionne.
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CHAPTER IX CHURCHES OF SHEBOYGAN CITY
HOLY NAME CHURCH
About sixty-five years ago a few Catholic families settled at Sheboy- gan and in the surrounding neighborhood. These were found by the Rev. Father Rehrl in his journeyings along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, during the summer of 1845. On the 24th of August of that year, Father Rehrl celebrated mass for the first time in Sheboygan, in the home of Alban Kent. The table used as an altar by him at that time was later presented by Mr. Kent to Holy Name congregation, and it is now kept in the sanctuary of the church as a lasting remembrance of the pioneer and missionary days. Father Rehrl soon encouraged his people to erect a church, a small frame building, 30x20 feet, which was dedicated in honor of St. Magdalene. From that time, 1845, until 1850, Father Rehrl visited this place once every three months, besides which the people were attended occasionally by Rev. P. Fabian. According to the records still extant of this Catholic com- munity, thirty-two children were baptized during the five years of Father Rehrl's administration. In 1850 Rev. F. X. Etschmann became the first resident pastor. However, he remained but six months, when he took charge of the Catholic congregation at Madison, his successor in Sheboy- gan being Rev. Mathew Gernbauer. For some months prior to this change of pastors, a number of small congregations had been established in the neighborhood, among them being those at Wilson, Plymouth, Mitchell, Lyndon, Rhine and Mosel, all of which were given in charge to the rector of St. Magdalene's congregation at Sheboygan. Under the judicious ad- ministration of its several priests, the mother parish rapidly increased in strength and numbers. During the pastorate of Father Gernbauer, which extended over a period of eighteen months, 124 children were baptized. It soon became evident that the original church was entirely inadequate to accommodate the members, and accordingly an addition 46x30 feet was built to the main structure. In 1851 a mission was held at St. Magdalene's by the celebrated Jesuit Father F. X. Weninger, who also erected a mis- sion cross in the new cemetery, land for which was purchased during his visits here. In May, 1852, Father Gernbauer was transferred to another parish, his successor being Rev. Fusseder, who remained until September, 1853. Among numerous improvements accomplished by this pastor was the erection of a building and establishment of a parochial school, which was placed in charge of Mr. Berger, a lay teacher. He also built a steeple on Vol. 1-10
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the church and purchased a bell for the same. Father Fusseder left She- boygan in September, 1853, to assume a pastorate at Beaver Dam. Later he met with a terrible affliction, becoming totally blind. He remained at Beaver Dam for a number of years after, and finally died there in 1885.
From 1853 until 1858 Father De Berge was rector of St. Magdalene's, and during this period several of the missions were erected into parishes, among them being those of Lyndon and Herman. During his pastorate the first parsonage was also built, which was done by separating the orig- inal church from the addition and remodeling the latter into a dwelling house. It was also at the same time that 843 children were baptized. In the fall of 1858 Father De Berge was appointed a professor in the Ecclesi- astical Seminary at St. Francis, near Milwaukee. He died at Elm Grove in the summer of 1882. He was succeeded in Sheboygan by Rev. Benedict Smedding, who remained until 1860. He built a new schoolhouse and remodeled the old building into a residence for the sisters. This school has been in charge of sisters from the Convent of Notre Dame since 1859. Father Smedding died September 4, 1881, at Paris, Kenosha county, where he was buried. The next rector of the parish was Rev. F. X. Schrauden- bach, who remained eighteen months. His successor was Rev. Michael Haider, who took charge in the spring of 1862. Under his administration all debts were liquidated and a magnificent stone church erected. The plans and specifications for this building were drawn by Father Haider. A block of land 360 by 318 feet was purchased for $2,200, in the center of which the structure was placed. This was built of stone obtained from a quarry which had been bought for that purpose by the parish. It was during the same year that Father Weninger held his second mission at She- boygan. The foundation of the church was built in 1867, the corner stone being laid on the 21st of June that year, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Henni, and on the 10th of November, 1872, the church was dedicated by him, he being assisted by Dr. Joseph Salzmann, now deceased, Revs. Joseph Rainer, F. X. Etschmann and Father Schleyer. Four years later the steeples were finished. The dimensions of the church when completed were: length, 180 feet; width across aisles, 98 feet; and in the center, 58 feet ; height, 70 feet; steeples, each 170 feet. The building is lighted throughout with electricity and gas, the former being put in by the present rector at his own expense, while the gas chandeliers were presented to the congregation by Messrs. A. Hammes, Nicholas Heil and Joseph Lutz. The Stations of the cross erected in 1874, were the gift of George Brickner, of Sheboygan Falls. In 1879 a pipe organ was installed and in 1883 a bell was presented to the congregation by Thomas M. Blackstock, a non-Catholic. About the same time three additional bells were ordered from a foundry in Baltimore, Mary- land. In the following year a comfortable residence was built for the sis- ters, then in charge of the parochial school. Father Haider died in 1884, the vacancy thus created being filled by Rev. Father Schwaiger, who soon after his arrival built a new brick parsonage at a cost of $3,000. It was at about the same time that a clock costing $700 was bought and placed in one of the steeples. Many improvements were also made to the interior
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furnishings of the structure and a memorial chapel was erected over the grave of Father Haider, toward which Mr. Blackstock donated $400.
The congregation of Holy Name had now assumed such proportions that it was deemed advisable to establish another parish. This change was effected January 6, 1886, when a congregation was organized by the Catho- lics living south of the Sheboygan river. The corner stone of the new church built by this congregation was laid by Mons. L. Batz, on the feast of St. John the Baptist, 1888. The structure was of brick, two stories high, the first floor being arranged for school purposes and the second as a church. The building was dedicated October 14, 1888, by Archbishop Michael Heiss, in honor of St. Peter Claver, and the Rev. J. B. Van Treeck was appointed the first rector of the new parish. In December, 1889, Fa- ther Schwaiger exchanged pastorates with Rev. Nicholas A. Thill, rector of St. Lawrence congregation in Washington county. Under Father Thill's administration the church was furnished, new altars, new pews, a pulpit and floors being provided. The interior was also handsomely decorated with fresco paintings by Liebig and cathedral glass put in all of the win- dows. In addition to this a sacristy was added to the sanctuary and an elegant brick schoolhouse erected at a cost of $15,500. In the fall of 1892 Rev. Thill exchanged . pastorates with his brother, Rev. Dominic F. Thill, rector at Jefferson, and formerly for eleven years pastor of St. Mary's congregation at Milwaukee. Under his administration the parish has made most satisfactory progress and many improvements have been made. The parochial school connected with Holy Name congregation was made a graded school by Father Thill and is considered one of the very best in the diocese.
The Revs. Gottlieb Beau and M. M. Gerend, the latter now rector of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at St. Francis, were offsprings of this con- gregation.
St. Nicholas Hospital, which is conducted by Sisters of St. Francis, was established in this parish in the spring of 1890. There are a number of Catholic organizations to which the members of Holy Name congrega- tion belong, among them being: St. Boniface Aid Society, St. George's Catholic Knights, St. John's Young Men's Society, Holy Name Boys' So- ciety, St. Ann's Mothers' Society, St. Mary's Sodality of the Immaculate Conception, Children of Mary Society, Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and Catholic Order of Foresters.
Holy Name congregation is of a polyglot character, although those who are either German by birth or descent, predominate. The congregation now consists of 700 families and there are 858 pupils in the school.
ST. PETER CLAVER CHURCH
St. Peter Claver church organization came into existence February 7, 1888, and the first services were conducted by Rev. J. P. Van Treeck, Octo- ber 14th of that year. When the church was organized, the membership numbered ninety families but that number has increased from three to four fold. The school was organized in November, 1888, with about eighty
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pupils and two teachers, but the number has increased in proportion to that of the church. The first church edifice was used both for religious services and school purposes and stood on the corner of Clara avenue and Cedar street, where the parish owned several valuable lots. About 1907 a splendid new building was erected, near which is the priest's house, school building and a hall for the use of the Leo Hall Association and other so- cieties connected with the church. The new building stands on the corner of Clara avenue and South Eleventh street. Rev. J. P. Van Treeck has been the pastor from the beginning. He is a native of Sheboygan county, born in the town of Wilson, March 9, 1855. His father, Peter J. Van Treeck, was a native of Geldern, Rhine province, Prussia. In 1849 the grandfather, Gerhard Van Treeck, with his wife and their four children, emigrated to America, coming directly to Sheboygan.
Father Van Treeck obtained his primary education in the district schools of the town of Wilson. He graduated from St. Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee, in 1880, and was ordained to the ministry. His first church was at Centerville, Manitowoc county. From there he went to Theresa, Dodge county, and afterwards to Alverno, Manitowoc county. In 1888, as before stated, he assumed his present charge.
STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS CHURCH
The arrival of Rev. James Cherne in Sheboygan was in March, 1910, and his mission here was to found a Slavonic Catholic church, in which he was successful. He organized the church with a large congregation and built a beautiful stone edifice for religious purposes on New Jersey avenue, near South Eighth street, which was dedicated by Bishop Kodelka, of Milwaukee, on November 26, 1911. He still presides over the spiritual destinies of Sts. Cyril and Methodius church parish.
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
The Church of the Immaculate Conception was organized by Lithu- anians of the Catholic faith, in the year 1903, by Rev. Casimir Ambrozaitis, with 70 families as the initial membership. The next pastor to preside here was Rev. M. Jodyszius, who was followed by Rev. A. Balinska. After a two years' stay Rev. Stanislaus Dysza succeeded him but only remained a few months, when Father John A. Gadeikis was sent to this charge and has remained up to the present time. Since the organization of the church the membership has constantly grown in numbers and is now 160 families. The church building is located on the corner of Erie avenue and Ninth street.
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