USA > Wisconsin > Sheboygan County > History of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, past and present > Part 38
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The Schwartz Manufacturing Company, makers of kitchen furniture, cabinets, etc., was organized in 1891 and was under the management of Wil- liam Schwartz until his death, which occurred in 1903. In August, 1903, the business was incorporated under the name of The Schwartz Manufac- turing Company, with G. A. Albrecht, president; H. Hostman, vice presi- dent; and E. Eastman, secretary and treasurer. In 1904 fire destroyed one of the buildings located on Stafford street, but was soon rebuilt. This con- cern's product is in great demand and it finds employment for about forty hands.
The Schwartz Foundry is a long established industry of Plymouth. Carl Schwartz, who settled here in 1847, started the business in a small way many years since and today his sons, William, Carl and John, are continuing the work begun by the father so long ago, in a new shop built by the elder Schwartz in 1905.
The Plymouth Roller Mills is an historic institution of this region and will be so recognized by the reader when its original name, Quitquioc, is men- tioned. As will be seen elsewhere in this work, the Quitquioc mill was built by H. I. Davidson in 1849, and completed by R. H. Hotchkiss in 1857. Ru- dolph Puhlman became a partner of Mr. Hotchkiss and the mill became known as the Hotchkiss & Puhlman Mill and so continued until 1889, when it was purchased by William Schwartz. In 1901 Gottlieb Pfeiffer became owner of the property and has so improved the mill that it meets all demand by its patrons of the present day.
The F. Thurmann & Company foundry and machine shops are important adjuncts to the business interests of the community. The shops were estab- lished in 1886. The proprietors were John and Carl Schwartz and Fred Thurman. In 1889 Thurman withdrew and for eighteen years thereafter
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employed his time in blacksmithing. In 1885 another foundry had been started by G. A. Albrecht, Charles Fuchs and Charles Knauer. Knauer dis- posed of his interests the same year to William Thurmann, son of Fred, and later the Thurmanns and G. A. Albrecht acquired the plant, the latter retir- ing from the firm in 1902. The Thurmanns make feed cutters, plows, cast- ings and do general foundry work.
There are other industries astir in Plymouth and, in a way, probably as important as those given space here. There are other factories, lumber firms doing a large business and their managers being men of affairs and influential in the counsels of those who have the best interests of Plymouth at heart. There is the Plymouth brewery established by G. Weber in 1865, still in operation and giving general satisfaction to its many patrons; there are numerous mercantile establishments, all keeping pace with the rapid times; and there are the newspapers, true and honest reflectors of the sen- timent and character of the bailiwick. All of these cannot be individually sketched. Many of them have found a place in the second volume, while others are mentioned in one or more chapters in this one.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The first organization for library purposes was at the home of H. N. Smith, January 21, 1870. This society was formed to put on plays, the pro- ceeds to be used to purchase books. The first officers were : president, R. H. Hotchkiss ; vice president, J. L. Dockstader ; treasurer, Helen Taylor ; secre- tary, E. H. Bowman. The first librarian was Mrs. P. H. Smith and the library was kept in her home. In 1877 this society, called the "Hub Club," had successfully presented about thirty of the standard plays, the gross re- ceipts in round numbers being two thousand dollars. November 15, 1901, the present public library was opened to the public. For nearly two years prior to this time the ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps had maintained and kept up a public reading room, with hopes of merging this into a public library. They petitioned Mayor A. H. Schram to make an appropriation for the purpose. The members of the Hub Club, with the same interest at heart, would donate the Hub Club books. Upon this basis and decision the public library was brought about, according to state, city and free library commission rules.
The first officers were: President, E. A. Dow; vice president, Miss Franc Taylor ; treasurer, E. D. Dennis ; secretary, Miss Mary Clark. The be- ginning was with about 1,100 books. There are now two thousand.
COUNTY FAIRS
The first agricultural society in Sheboygan county was organized July 4, 1851. Suitable grounds were secured and fairs were held for a number of years. Interest in the meetings finally waned, the grounds and buildings were disposed of and the society went out of existence. On the 10th of Oc- tober, 1896, in Turner Hall, in the city of Plymouth, a number of influential men of the county assembled and organized the Sheboygan County Agricul-
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MFG. CO.
Congregational Church Catholic Church View of the Mullet River
High School Grade School City Hall St. Paul's Church
VIEWS OF PLYMOUTH
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tural Association. H. Wheeler, Sr., was elected president; Noah Saemann, of Adell, vice president; Otto Gaffron, Plymouth, secretary; E. A. Dow, Plymouth, treasurer. Directors: M. Gottfried, Elkhart; E. B. Robinson, Lyndon ; George Wolff, Rhine; F. B. Hesler, Glenbeulah; A. McDonnell, Scott.
A purchase was made of twenty acres lying northeast of the Weeks' property, and two hundred shares of stock of the par value of ten dollars each were sold, a part of which was paid for in labor performed on the grounds. The first fair was held in 1897 and since then the annual meet- ings have been well attended and from year to year the interest has been maintained. The present officers are: P. K. Wheeler, president; N. Sae- mann, vice president; O. Gaffron, secretary; E. A. Dow, treasurer ; R. A. LaBudde, Rhine; H. W. Timmer, Lyndon; J. E. Brogan, Mitchell; R. B. Melvin, Glenbeulah; George Nohl, Johnsonville, directors. J. O. Parrish, Lima, general superintendent; H. J. Goelzer, Plymouth, superintendent of speed; H. F. Thiedeman, Plymouth, superintendent of grounds.
CHRONOLOGY OF PLYMOUTH TOWN
The first survey was in 1835.
The first purchase of land for settlement was made by Cyrus Johnson, June 7, 1845.
A daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Johnson, February 8, 1846, was the first white child born in the town.
Peter Ichstedt, born March 10, 1849, was the first male child.
Rennsalaer Thorpe and Jane Van Patten were married March 12, 1847. This was the first marriage ceremony in Plymouth.
The death of Jacob Mantz, March 20, 1846, was the first to occur in the county.
Renssalaer Thorpe cut the first tree in the town, May 9, 1845.
The Methodists held the first religious services in 1845.
Thomas I. Davidson was the first postmaster in 1846.
Grandma Thorpe, in 1845, was the first to lend medical aid to a patient. A. S. Doolittle was the first doctor.
Jacob Mantz and William Hueppgen, who came in 1845 and 1846, respect- ively, were the initial German settlers.
J. W. Taylor laid out the village plat in the summer of 1847.
The first frame store building was erected by H. N. Smith in the spring of 1848.
Enos Eastman was the first settler to own a horse. This was in 1849. Mr. Babcock was the first male school teacher in 1848-9.
William Lipe opened the first blacksmith shop in 1849.
The first plank road reached the town from Sheboygan in 1851.
The first shoemaker was S. H. Houghton.
The cemetery association was organized in 1852.
A. S. Doolittle was the first regular physician and a Mr. Searles in 1852 was the first lawyer.
The first clerk of the town was James Clark in 1849, and the first treas- urer, Hiram Bishop; the first superintendent of schools, Franklin Bond.
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FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
This society was organized in 1855 and was then called the First Con- gregational church of Lyndon, its meetings being held at the homes of the members or at the Mulleton schoolhouse. It seems, however, that several years prior to 1855 a number of Christian families living near the town line between Plymouth and Lyndon met at their homes and later at the schoolhouse for divine worship. At a meeting held January 14, 1855, Samuel Reed was elected a delegate to attend the Winnebago convention which met the same month at Rosendale, Wisconsin, and to make applica- tion for admission to that body. January 3, 1857, C. W. Wilder and Joseph Bamford were chosen a committee to "make a plan of a meeting house, estimate the expense of building and report at some subsequent meeting."
The First Congregational society of Plymouth and Lyndon was or- ganized December 1, 1857, to have charge of the business and legal mat- ters appertaining to the church. C. W. Wilder, Elijah Dawley and Joseph Bamford were elected trustees ; M. Benson, clerk; and O. Treadwell, treas- urer. A preparatory lecture was delivered in the schoolhouse in Plymouth, Saturday, July 1, 1858. This seems to have been the beginning of a move- ment to move the church from the town of Lyndon to the village of Plymouth.
During 1859 the congregation was engaged in building a house of wor- ship in the village of Plymouth. This was dedicated December 17 of that year, and is still in use, having been from time to time repaired and re- modeled, and an addition of twelve feet has been added to the front of the church. A new pipe organ was installed in the summer of 1912. The par- sonage, which was built in 1866, has also recently been greatly improved and remodeled and it is now a modern and convenient residence. The value of the church property is $18,000.
The present membership of the church is one hundred and sixty, while the Sunday school numbers one hundred and ninety-eight members. There is also a Ladies' Society, a Priscilla Society, composed of the young ladies of the church, a society called the King's Daughters, composed of the young girls of the congregation and a Christian Endeavor Society, all of which are in a thriving condition.
The first pastor to serve the church was Rev. Josephus Morton, who came in 1855 and remained until his death, September 15, 1859. His suc- cessors have been : Thomas Wadsworth, 1860-63; Henry Avery, 1863-64; James D. Todd, 1864-67; Sidney H. Barteau, 1867-70; J. N. Powell, 1870- 75; L. Wolfsen, 1875-77; David Wirt, 1877-79; Gilbert Rindell, 1879-85; G. J. Webster, 1885-88; G. B. Hubbard, 1888-98; F. C. Bliss, 1898-1901 ; George H. Marsh, 1901-05; Charles McIntosh, 1905 until his death in November, 1906. The church was then without a pastor for a few months, when A. J. Wilson came in February, 1907, and remained until 1909; William Lodwick then served from May of the latter year until 1911, and he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Winfred Altvater, who assumed charge in Decem- ber, 1911.
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ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
The organization of St. John's Lutheran church was perfected in 1856, with the following charter members: John Adams, John W. Hueppchen, Henry Boecher, Christopher Bade, J. G. W. Hueppchen, J. J. Keuper, Mi- chael Eberhardt and Henry Borges.
The members built the first church in 1858, which was dedicated the fol- lowing year. This served its purpose until 1890, when the building gave way to a new one, which was erected at a cost of $14,000. The dedication took place March 8, 1891. The church has two bells in its tower and also the city clock. The interior is beautifully finished and decorated.
There are now 710 communicants of St. John's and in the parochial school are 135 pupils.
The pastors who have served the church from the time of the organiza- tion to the present time are : Revs. G. Steinbach, 1856-58; E. Rolf, 1858-62; F. Ottmann, 1864-84; J. Herzer, 1884-91; W. Matthes, 1891-95; H. F. Proehl, 1895 until he resigned a short time prior to his death, which oc- curred April 8, 1911. The church was then without a pastor for a short time when Rev. Martin Schmidt assumed charge and is still with the church.
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH
The organization of this church was perfected March 6, 1896, with sev- enteen families, among whom were Henry Schwalenberg, John Kroeger, Henry Zwerg, Christoph Ploetzke, Herman Ploetzke, Carl Hecker, John Stallmann and Huldreich Witzel.
In the same year the congregation began the erection of a house of worship, which was completed and dedicated on the 18th of October, 1896, the dedicatory services being in charge of Rev. Vriesen, of Sheboygan Falls. It is a neat frame structure, with a seating capacity of three hundred, and stands on the corner of Smith street and Forest avenue. The parsonage adjoins the church property and the value of both properties is $6,000. The present membership of the church is 262, while the Sunday school numbers 130.
There have been but two pastors in the church, Rev. Steinecker serving from the time of the organization until his death in 1902, when the present pastor, Rev. F. W. Beisser, assumed charge.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH
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The German Evangelical, also known as the German Methodist church, was organized about forty years ago and among its first members were the families of Greenisen, Corta, Kunst, Kook, and Fischer. The first meet- ings were held in a schoolhouse two miles west of Plymouth, and about five years after the organization of the society, a church was built at the corner of Pleasant street and Western avenue. It is a small frame structure, valued at $2,800. This has always been a mission, supplied by pastors from other towns. The first to serve the church was Rev. Deede and at the present time
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it is served by Rev. Conrad Wiegand, of Sheboygan. Services are held every Sunday and there are nine families in attendance.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, PLYMOUTH
The congregation of St. John the Baptist's at Plymouth, was established in 1861, by the Rev. Father Schmitting. Prior to this and even as far back as 1848, the people in this vicinity received occasional visits from the Revs. F. Schraudenbach and Rehrl, who were among the pioneer missionaries of the northwest and who said mass in the homes of different settlers. Of these Rev. Schraudenbach is credited with having been the first to say mass at Plymouth. The congregation at this place was attended as a mission by Fathers Stehle and Haider between the years 1863 and 1868, services being held during that period once every month. After them came the Capuchin Fathers from Mt. Calvary, who ministered to the spiritual wants of these people until 1888, when Rev. J. P. Van Treeck, located at Sheboygan, visited Plymouth every three weeks. This he continued to do until 1890, when his brother, J. A. Van Treeck, taking charge of his congregation during his sickness and absence, administered to the wants of these congregations. Upon his return in August, 1891, Rev. J. P. Van Treeck again took charge of the congregation, his first services as resident pastor being held August 9 of that year at which time the congregation numbered but twenty-two families. This number has since been greatly increased.
There is a school connected with St. John's, which was opened in Sep- tember, 1896, at which time forty-three pupils were in attendance.
The present pastor is Rev. E. J. Meyer.
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