USA > Wisconsin > Sheboygan County > History of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, past and present > Part 37
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which became the only resort for church, school, lecture, or any popular en- tertainment. Charles Krumrey was also a settler early in 1849. He met an untimely death by an accident in 1870. A Mr. Laudenbach and Ara Wilson were "forty-niners," the latter the first mason in the town.
THE FIRST GRIST MILL
In the fall of 1849 Henry I. Davidson and Robert H. Hotchkiss, of Mil- waukee, erected a mill upon a site later known as the Wattier mill, which was under the charge of George Chamberlin, of Sheboygan Falls, during the winter of 1849-50. On the 27th of March, 1850, the first grist was ground, which was wheat belonging to Hiram Bishop. On the 28th of that month H. N. Smith bought Mr. Davidson's interests and the mill was then con- ducted under the firm name of Smith & Hotchkiss. Owing to the lack of wheat in the county and surrounding country, the mill had very little to do for a long while.
INCREASE OF WHEAT CROP
The wheat crop in 1850 was good in quantity and quality. Four retailed at the mill for five dollars per barrel and the Smith & Hotchkiss mill during the fall and winter of that year had a very good run of custom. People liv- ing in Manitowoc, Calumet and Fond du Lac counties, though thirty miles distant, were regular customers, frequently remaining over night for their grist to be ground. Wages for laborers were from eight dollars to twelve dollars per month, with board. At this time winter wheat was the principal crop, little spring wheat being sown.
THE QUITQUIOC HOUSE
The hostelry which became widely known as the Quitquioc House was built in the summer and fall of 1850 by W. D. Moore, G. W. Barnard and others, the workmen being paid one dollar a day. The house was formally opened February 22, 1851, with a ball and supper in honor of the event and the birthday of the Father of his Country. At the banquet were served oysters, turkey, chicken pie, ice cream and every dainty in the shape of cake conceivable. It is said that G. W. Barnard declared "that he was going to this ball if it took every dried apple he had."
Among others who came to the town in 1850 were Henry Fischer, Fran- cis Lozau, Herman Kropp, William Steele, Isaac Shauger, John Zinkgraf, Anthony Komans, with his son, Christian, and William Kistner, with his first wife and child, William.
In the winter of 1849-50 M. M. Flint taught the first school in the new schoolhouse. He was a man of education and a superior teacher. In the summer of 1850 Miss Mary Tickner taught this school and she also taught here a portion of the next winter. She married Daniel O'Neal and her place was supplied by a Miss Averill. In the summer of 1851 Miss Fannie Law- rence, of Sheboygan, taught this school.
The year 1851 witnessed the completion of the plank road between Ply- mouth and Sheboygan. The planks were sawed by means of a portable
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horse sawmill. This same year Mr. and Mrs. Orrin Treadwell became set- tlers of the then village of Plymouth, bringing with them the first piano known to the place.
Many have become residents of the community since 1850 but it is not the purpose of this work to name each individual for the reason that space forbids it. Matters of importance, however, will be given place.
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FIRST FAIR IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY
The first fair in the county took place at Sheboygan, October 1, 1851, where Adonijah Carter, of Plymouth, took the premium for three-year- old colts, and James Cleveland captured the first premium on field crops. Miss Carter received the first premium on bed quilts. The second county fair was held in Plymouth in the fall of 1852. This fair was notable from the fact that Henry Tidman, of Sheboygan Falls, exhibited two merino rams, the first fine wool sheep in the county.
In this same year the name of the village was changed from Quitquioc to that of Plymouth.
In 1852 G. W. Glidden opened a fanning mill factory and in 1854 the cemetery association was organized.
In 1867 William Schwartz built the Central Mills, putting in three run of stone, and in the fall of that year V. Wattier purchased Mr. Schwartz' lower mill and gave it the name of "Paris," adding two run of stone, mak- ing four in all.
THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH
While Plymouth has not grown as rapidly as the county seat, its at- tractions in the way of population and trade have been steady and sub- stantial. For a large section of the county this place is an important trad- ing and shipping point and its many large and well-stocked mercantile establishments are attractions that make for a generous patronage. Ply- mouth is the greatest cheese mart in the state of Wisconsin and is the place for the activities of the largest individual cheese dealer in the country. Its chair factory gives employment to many hands, and other industries of this thriving little city gives her prestige with the outside world needing her manufactures.
The city now has a population of 3,100. The site is an ideal one, both for business and residential purposes, nestling down in a beautiful valley as it does, where nature protects it from the elements by her hills and forest. Plymouth, now in the vernacular known as "The Hub," by reason of being almost in the center of the county, is about fifteen miles from Sheboygan city and fifty-five miles from Milwaukee. Seven miles away is the enchanting summer resort of Lake Elkhart. Transportation facili- ties are equal to the needs of merchant and traveler. Direct communica- tion with the outer world is accessible over the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago & Northwestern railroads. Hourly, trains run on an interurban electric line to Sheboygan and also to Elkhart Lake. Many
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SCENE ON MULLET RIVER, ONE MILE BELOW PLYMOUTH
SCENE ON MULLETT RIVER NEAR PLYMOUTH
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beautiful and substantial homes, churches, schoolhouses, places of amuse- ment, fraternal and social bodies and the like make Plymouth a most de- sirable place to select as a permanent abode.
The government and business affairs of Plymouth were conducted under a village charter until 1877, when the general assembly granted the village wider privileges under a city charter. That year the municipality was legalized as a city and perfected as such, by its first election under the new charter. H. H. Huson was chosen as the first mayor, D. M. Jackson, clerk, and E. A. Dow, treasurer.
In 1874, a fire engine house had been erected for the use of the fire department and council and in 1893 a new and more commodious struct- ure took its place on the corner of Main and Stafford, and is known as the city hall, where the fire apparatus is kept and the city council holds its meetings.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The fire department was organized October 5, 1868. The officers elected were: William Elwell, foreman; Andrew Schneider, assistant foreman; Otto Puhlmann, secretary. A hand engine and 200 feet of rubber hose were purchased for $650, the money being raised by subscription.
In 1874 a fire house, with basement, was built, the upper room being used as a place for meetings and the basement was used for storing the engine and hose.
In 1875 a hook and ladder truck was bought, with necessary equip- ments. They were under charge of the fire company but owing to lack of interest on the part of the citizens, that part of the apparatus was never successfully handled. A desire was felt to organize a separate company that would devote their time to that part of the department, and October 8, 1883, a company was organized to take charge of the hook and ladder truck. In December of the latter year the two companies formed a fire department and elected as the first chief, August Scheibe, Sr. Eventually the city purchased a new Watrous engine, a new hose cart and sufficient hose, also a new hook and ladder truck. The charter members of the hook and ladder company, fourteen in all, were: John Carroll, James Blackmore, Fred Dobbratz, B. A. Gaffron, C. W. Brown, H. M. Freutel, John Holzschuh, W. G. Karpe, Andrew Dowset, Fred Donarth, Otto Derr- waldt, E. Pokriefke, G. Albrecht, W. Schwartz. At a meeting held No- vember 8, 1883, the following officers were elected: E. Pokriefke, fore- man; C. W. Brown, assistant foreman; W. G. Karpe, secretary ; B. A. Gaf- fron, treasurer ; H. M. Freutel, steward.
January 22, 1897, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a chemical engine company, and the following were elected the first offi- cers: Foreman, R. H. Koehler; assistant foreman, L. A. Kaestner ; pipe- . man, M. Larson; assistant pipeman, H. Reinhold; secretary, G. F. Kegler ; treasurer, L. J. Kaestner. The charter members were: R. H. Koehler, G. F. Kegler, L. J. Kaestner, L. A. Kaestner, George W. Corbett, F. V. Smith, Otto Carthaus, J. W. Kroeger, M. Larson, Hugo Reinhold, J. H.
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Kissinger, F. A. Prussell, J. W. Schuler, W. J. Sweet, Charles D. East- man, Frank Derrwaldt, E. A. Dean, J. A. Stretch, E. R. Gohr, J. B. Kolsta, A. J. Strassburger, Addison Corbett, Carl Runge, F. L. Carroll, Otto Ull- rich, William Behrend.
In 1893 the city provided a new and handsome engine house, at a cost of $5,500. In 1896 a 100 gallon, single tank engine was added to the ap- paratus. The department now numbers 200 members. Water is obtained from the Mullet river. There is also a live well, 8x14 feet and 16 feet deep, carrying 9 feet of water. There are also many cisterns in the out- skirts of the city.
The first chief was August Scheibe, and his successors have been, H. C. Bade, A. H. Schram, T. F. Ackermann and Herman Luedtke. The present equipment consists of one steam fire engine, one hand engine, one chemical engine, one hook and ladder truck and three hose wagons and carts.
The police force is small, owing to the small number of misdemeanors demanding attention. The city as a whole is orderly and well behaved, so that, a marshal and two or three policemen are able to cope with any attempt to disrupt the peace and quietude of the city.
WATERWORKS AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Plymouth has a waterworks and electric light system all its own and the citizens, who patronize both, are given an excellent quality of water and are served with both necessities faithfully and to their entire satisfac- tion.
At a special meeting of council, held September 19, 1900, a contract was let to W. H. Wheeler & Company, of Janesville, to build an electric light and waterworks plant, the contract price being practically $70,000. Ground for the reservoir was broken in October and soon thereafter the laying of mains was begun. Two wells, one 371 feet in depth, and the other, 129 feet, were drilled, and proved a capacity of 500 gallons of pure and limpid water per minute. This reaches the reservoir, on a hill in the west part of the city, which is circular in form, sixty feet in diameter, fifteen feet in depth, and holding 325,000 gallons of water. The power house is a brick structure, in which is installed a Corliss engine, two Smith pumps, the power pump having a capacity of 500,000 gallons per day and a larger one with a force sufficient to pump 1,000,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. In the system are six miles of pipe, varying in diameter from four to ten inches, and fifty Eddy hydrants.
At the power plant are three dynamos, one a Western electric arc, an eighty-five lighter ; the second the Westinghouse incandescent, with capacity of 1,200 lights; and the third dynamo, a Warren alternator, for use in case of emergency. There are ten miles of electric wires, conducting the subtle agent to 2,400 incandescent lamps and sixty arc. On September 17, 1901, one year after the measure was adopted, these two utilities in one were turned over to the city in a finished state and since that time Plymouth has been making and supplying to her citizens electric lights and water of a superior quality.
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PLYMOUTH POSTMASTERS
On the 22d day of September, 1846, Thomas I. Davidson received the appointment of postmaster from the Polk administration and kept the office in his little log tavern the first year. He then removed his office to the kitchen in a new log house he subsequently built. The receipts of the office for the first quarter were $2.50. For letters coming from a distance at that time the postage was from ten to twenty-five cents and the revenue was al- ways demanded and paid before the delivery of mail matter to the patrons of the office. In those days there were no fast mail trains, nor slow ones for that matter. "Uncle Sam's" carriers rode horseback and delivered mail at Plymouth about once a week, according to the weather and conditions of the road.
Henry P. Davidson succeeded his son, Thomas I. Davidson, July 1, 1848, and retained the office in the kitchen of his log cabin. He only handled the mail a few weeks, when his successor, Patrick Henry Smith, was appointed to the position, July 25, 1848, and distributed the mail over the counter of his general store. September 11, of the same year, Mr. Smith handed back the burdens and responsibilities of this primitive office to Henry P. David- son, who made his headquarters for the short period of his incumbency in the Smith business establishment.
John W. Taylor took up the labors of a village postmaster November 5, 1849, and was succeeded by William West, May 5, 1851. Mr. West was only in the office until October 9th of that year, when he retired in favor of William D. Lipe. During the administration of President Franklin Pierce, Patrick H. Smith was appointed once more to the position of postmaster at Plymouth, his credentials bearing date of June 5, 1853. Mail facilities had so increased and improved that the citizens were served by Mr. Smith tri- weekly with incoming mail at his store.
In 1856 P. H. Smith resigned as postmaster in favor of John J. Hansen and on July 29, the latter received his appointment. He kept the office in his hardware store until his term expired.
Eberhard Schlaich received his appointment as postmaster May 11, 1861, and with the exception of an interim from October 22, 1862, to December of that year, in which Martin M. Flint was the incumbent, he served the government almost seven years. It is presumed he first kept the office at his hotel, the Central House, which he built in 1858. It was during his admin- istration that mail was received daily. The business of the office for the first year amounted to about $200; this was increased to $375 in the year he re- tired from the postmastership.
The successors of Eberhard Schlaich in the office of postmaster at Ply- mouth are the following: Henry Brooks, February 10, 1868; Gustavus Karpe, April 19, 1869; H. W. Hostman, December 28, 1885; Michael Sweet, June 20, 1889; Charles D. Eastman, January 10, 1895; Gustav A. Albrecht, January 28, 1899; Charles Pfeifer, April 24, 1908.
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SCHOOLS
The first school taught in the village of Plymouth was by a Mr. Babcock, of Minneapolis, in the winter of 1847-8, in a log house on Milwaukee street, that later gave way to a frame structure which sheltered Mrs. E. L. Clark and daughter Mary, so many years. The first district was organized in 1847. The second teacher was Plautina Stone, who later became Mrs. S. Aiken, of Winooski, and who taught in a log house near where the brewery now stands. J. W. Taylor went on horseback to Winooski for her, walking back, while she rode the horse.
The first frame schoolhouse was erected in 1849, on the site now oc- cupied by the Laack residence. Some of its teachers were Miss Langdon, of Milwaukee, Miss Murphy, of Sheboygan, Messrs. Searles, Harmon, Flint, Cody, Drewry and Littlefield, Misses Martha Dockstader, Franc Taylor and Vashti Eastman (Mrs. R. Gardner). During Mr. Littlefield's excellent work, the first primary was taught by Mrs. Littlefield, a seat placed around the entry way for the little ones. C. B. Briggs taught a term in 1862, in the Quitquioc school, and in 1863 in the other; Alpha Witt, who later became Mrs. William Swart, assisted, being the first assistant known. A new two- story frame structure was erected where the building, put up in 1903, now stands.
School began October, 1867, with Eliza Graves as principal and three other teachers. No grading had been done, so to Miss Graves fell this ar- duous task. She remained two years and was an excellent educator. Through her efforts all the possibilities of the pupil were brought out. Miss Curtiss and Mr. Wiley followed, and in 1873 A. F. Warden came and held the position with a marked degree of success for two years, when he pur- chased the Reporter. In 1877 he married Mamie Eastman, of Plymouth. He held many posts of honor while a resident of Plymouth. He gave an address at the dedicatory exercises of the new schoolhouse in 1904. In 1875 W. J. Brier succeeded Mr. Warden, and in 1877, through his efforts, it became a high school and received the first state aid. The first class to graduate was in 1879 and was composed of C. D. Eastman, M. C. Mead, Amasa Burton, Charles Maynard, Will Bradford and Larady Robinson. Mr. Brier remained as one of the strongest and best educators in the ranks for eleven years, when he accepted an invitation to the superintendency in Baraboo, his old home, where he remained three years. He went to River Falls as institute conductor in 1889, and after nine years of service became president of the normal in River Falls. The members of the board were Messrs. H. Boecher, H. Wheeler, Sr., who for twelve years served as clerk, and William Swart, who served twenty-one years as director. Otto Gaff- ron, who has been a resident of Plymouth since 1875, succeeded Mr. Brier as principal, in 1886. At this time there were forty-one pupils in the high school room and one assistant. Early in 1901 it was placed on the ac- credited list, with the exception of the classical course. Mr. Gaffron re- mained as principal until January, 1903, but had taught six years in the grammar department previous to this, making a total of about twenty- five years in the school. He was succeeded by A. A. Thomson, who re-
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HURUBIN CANNING COMPANY.
IMOUTH CITY WATER WORDS
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PLYMOUT CASA PAIL
VIEWS OF THE BUSINESS DISTRICT OF PLYMOUTH, SOME OF THE MANUFACTUR- ING PLANTS AND PLYMOUTH STATE BANK
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mained but six months, when he became connected with the schools at Two Rivers. He was succeeded by W. B. Collins, under whose direction the school course was changed to meet the state requirements. The course now covers eight years in the grades and four years in the high school. In 1904 a new nine-room structure was completed, at a cost of $26,000, equipped with the Johnson ventilating and heating system. J. J. Enright is the present principal of the school.
BANKS
The state bank of Plymouth was organized first as a private concern by J. W. Dow, who came to the city in 1873 and opened a bank, which he conducted for his own individual profit until 1890, when with others he secured a charter from the state and in the year last above mentioned the Plymouth State Bank began operations, with a capital stock of $25,000. The first officials were: J. W. Dow, president; August Schmidt, vice presi- dent; E. A. Dow, cashier; H. W. Hostman, assistant cashier. After the senior Dow's death his son, E. A. Dow, succeeded to the presidency and Mr. Hostman also took a stride forward and assumed the duties of cashier, which position he still ably holds. In 1904 the capital stock was increased to $50,000 and in 1906 the capital was further enlarged to $60,000. The home of the bank is a beautiful structure with a stone front tastefully and attractively designed. The interior has all the essentials of a modern bank, having spaciousness, safety vaults, burglar-proof safes, etc. The capital stock and surplus are $120,000,; undivided profits, $27,000; deposits, $808,000. The present officials are : E. A. Dow, president ; August Schmidt, vice president ; H. W. Hostman, cashier, R.W .. Dow, assistant cashier.
PLYMOUTH EXCHANGE BANK
The above named financial institution was organized as a state bank, May 6, 1886, and capitalized at $25,000. W. C. Saemann, Frances Tay- lor, Mary F. Behnke, Henry Nickel and others were the chief promoters of the enterprise. The first board of directors consisted of W. C. Sae- mann, F. W. Behnke, Adam Wolf, Frances Taylor, Henry Nickel, R. R. Wilson, John J. Koch. Officials : W. C. Saemann, president; Henry Nickel, vice president ; O. Osthelder, cashier. Mr. Osthelder remained cashier until September 30, 1902, when he resigned, and Henry Garbisch was elected in his stead. Mr. Garbisch only retained the position about six weeks, when he voluntarily gave way to R. H. Koehler, the latter taking charge of his position January 1, 1903.
W. C. Saemann died September 12, 1904, when R. R. Wilson assumed the duties of the office, but, at the regular meeting of the board of direct- ors, held January 10, 1905, C. D. Eastman was elected to the presidency. The present handsome bank building was erected in 1905 and its beautiful outlines would grace a city of much more pretensions than Plymouth.
May 10, 1905, the capital stock of the Exchange Bank was increased from $25,000 to $50,000. The surplus and profits amount to $42,000, and Vol. 1-22
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deposits reach $510,000. Charles D. Eastman, president; O. A. Scheibe, vice president ; R. H. Koehler, cashier.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
Cassia Lodge, No. 167, A. F. & A. M. was organized June 11, 1867. J. C. F. McNeal was the charter worshipful master and A. E. Stoddard, senior warden. With modest beginning the lodge has grown and prospered, having now a membership of eighty-five, and headquarters especially designed and furnished in the new Plymouth Exchange Bank building. The present of- ficials are : W. M., O. W. Timm; S. W., J. H. Wheeler ; J. W., W. L. Kaest- ner; S. D., E. J. Larson; J. D., G. T. Larfeld; Treasurer, H. W. Hostman ; Secretary, C. W. Jackson.
Plymouth Union Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F., was organized January 21, 1887, with the following charter members: O. Treadwell, Hiram N. Smith, William Elwell, Ernest Kaestner and Robert Hotchkiss. The lodge now has a membership of fifty-two, all of whom are strong in the tenets of the order and work faithfully to keep it in the front'ranks. The officials for 1912 are : N. G., John F. Goelzer ; V. G., Peter Staley ; Secretary, Edward Fox; Finan- cial Secretary, H. E. Haugh; Treasurer, R. H. Koehler. The lodge meets in rooms in the Dow block.
Alice Lodge of Rebekahs, No. 155, an auxiliary of the Odd Fellows, was organized June 5, 1907, with the following charter members: William Graef, G. W. Ubbelohde, Louis Feld, Ben Feld, Fanny Feld, Rose Feld, Abe Feld and Elvyn Goelzer.
The Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 724, was organized May 31, 1898. The charter members were: A. G. Glenn, T. J. Lahl, C. F. Delo, Charles Huson, H. N. Shadbolt, H. F. Flagg, George M. Huson, George C. Sweet, Michael Gaffron, Byron A. Huson, G. L. Hostman, H. W. Timm, J. H. Gilman, M. M. Kaestner, L. J. Wittenberg.
Royal Arcanum, Hiawatha Lodge, No. 520, was organized April 13, 1881, with twelve charter members. There is also a lodge of Royal Neighbors, which meets in the Dow building in the same room as the Odd Fellows and Woodmen.
Hub City Aerie, No. 1312, Order of Eagles, was organized February 8, 1906, with sixty-four charter members.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Henry G. Davidson Post, G. A. R., No. 212, was organized November 9, 1895, and had twenty-seven charter members. As death has been very busy with veterans of the Civil war, keeping the ranks of the lodge from thin- ning out has been a losing fight. It is, therefore, but a question of time when the last member of this patriotic band will be commanded to answer the final roll call.
The Iroquois Club is a social organization that came into existence in 1905. It now has fifty-five members and meets in beautifully appointed rooms in the Exchange Bank building. The officers are: president, O. W.
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Timm; vice president, R. H. Hanke; secretary and treasurer, W. W. Sae- mann.
INDUSTRIAL PLYMOUTH
This city has many inducements that should attract to its confines manu- facturing concerns desiring a good location. As it is, there are industries here that should be given special mention.
In 1895 a number of business men subscribed for capital stock and the Plymouth Refrigerating, Water, Light & Power Company was organized. H. E. Dow was its president and the capitalization was $20,000. A large three-story building was erected, but the patronage having increased so rapidly another story was added in 1896 and the capital stock increased to $50,000. The plant was built for the dry storage of perishable goods and when first remodeled its capacity was equal to 75,000 boxes of cheese and 5,000 cases of eggs, besides meat and other articles. In 1899 C. D. East- man became president and additional storage room was added to the plant. Several warehouses have been built by the company to accommodate its cus- tomers-principally large cheese dealers-and having a well equipped water, steam and electric plant attached, is capable of meeting the wants of all who may deal with the company.
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