USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 22
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153
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
D. A. Barnard was re-elected poor commis- sioner.
Taxes were levied as follows: For State purposes, 86,085.06; for county purposes, $15,- 210.85; for county school purposes, $3,420. The total assessed valuation of the county this year was $3.802,714.
A special session was held in February, 1880, to take steps regarding a new court house. Van S. Bennett was elected chairman.
The following is a transcript of the record so far as relates to the county buildings :
Resolved, That the court house contemplated to be built in the county of Vernon, be built at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars ($17,000), and the jail at the sum of six thousand dollars ($6.000), and that the committee to contract for and superintend the construction of the same, be and are hereby anthorized and instructed to have the same fully completed and ready for occupation, at the prices above named.
That the cost of said court house and jail is hereby limited to said sum of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000), and the committee hereafter to be elected shall not exceed said amount, and that said committee give a bond to said county in this penal sum of fifty thousand dollars (850,000) to be approved by the board of supervisors of said county to secure and indem- nify said county against the payment of any excess above said sum of $23,000 for said court house and jail.
The special committee to whom was referred the petitions asking that the question of build- ing a new court house be submitted to a vote of the people, reported the same back to the board withont recommendation. Received and placed on file.
Mr. McMichael offered a resolution in rela- tion to accepting a loan of $23,000 from the State. Referred to committee on finance.
On motion of Mr. Jordan the board adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M.
2 o'clock P. M. Board met. Called to order by the chairman.
The committee on finance made the following report.
Your committee to whom was referred pre- amble and resolution in relation to acceptance of a loan of the trust funds of the State, have had the same under consideration, and respect- fully recommend their passage.
J. W. HOYT, E. L. OAKES, ROGER WILLIAMS.
Committee.
The report of the committee was adopted and the following preamble and resolutions passed. On this question the ayes and nays were called for. Those voting in the affirmative were: Messrs. Anderson, Bennett, Hoyt, Fox, Jordan, McLees, McMichael, Il. H. Morgan, Michelet, Oakes, Powell, Rogers, Schlong, Sherman, Smith, Snyder and Williams,-seventeen.
Those voting in the negative were: Messrs. Ellefson, Hanson, Joseph Morgan and Wise- four.
Absent or not voting, McVey-1.
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The Legislature of the State of Wisconsin, at its annual session, A. D. 1880, passed a law approved Jan. 29, 1880, author- izing the commissioners of public lands to loan a portion of the trust funds of this State not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25, 000), to the county of Vernon, in this State, and authorizing the board of supervisors of Vernon county to borrow a sum not exceeding the amount above named, of said commis- sioners, and to issue to said commissioners cer- tificates of the indebtedness so contracted : said indebtedness to bear interest at the rate of seven per cent. per annum :
Resolred, That we, the board of supervisors of Vernon county, duly assembled according to law, do hereby accept a loan of twenty-three thousand dollars (823,000), according to the provisions of said aet and the terms and limi- tations therein provided ; and be it further
Resolved, That we, the said board of supervi- ors of Vernon county, assembled as aforesaid,
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
do issue to said commissioners certificates of the indebtedness so contracted, and that the chairman and clerk of this board be and are hereby fully authorized and empowered, in the name of the county of Vernon to make, execute and deliver to said commissioners of the pub- lic lands, the certificates of said indebtedness, in such form as required by said commissioners, for any and all sums of money that may be loaned to said county, hereby fully empowering the said chairman and clerk of said board to do and perform all necessary things to be done by them to carry out the provisions of said act and these resolutions.
Resolved, That a certified copy of this pre- amble and resolutions be filed by the clerk of this board with the secretary of State of the State of Wisconsin.
Adopted Feb. 11, A. D. 1880.
Mr. Ellefson offered a resolution in relation to recording his vote, which the board refused to adopt.
On motion of Mr. Smith the board took a recess for one hour. The time having expired the board re-assembled.
Mr. Anderson offered the following resolution which, on motion of Mr. Schlong, was adopted under a suspension of the rules:
Resolved, That the new court house be built of stone, and that the roof of said court house be made of tin or iron, whichever to the build- ing committee shall seem most proper.
Mr. Williams moved that Mr. Struck, architect, be invited to meet the board to-morrow morn- ing. Motion prevailed.
Mr. Michelet moved that the vote by which the board refused to adopt the resolution of- fered by Mr. Ellefson in relation to recording his vote, be re-considered. Motion prevailed and the vote was re-considered and the resolu- tion adopted as follows :
Resolved, by the board of supervisors of Ver- non county that Christian Ellefson have permis- sion to record his vote on the resolutions rela- ting to building a court house.
Mr. Ellefson recorded his vote in the nega- tive.
Mr. Smith moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair to view grounds for location of new court house and jail, and report to the board to-morrow morning. Motion pre- vailed.
Messrs. Smith, Hoyt, Jordan, Hanson and McLees were appointed such committee.
Mr. Williams moved that a committee of three be appointed to examine the title to the lots on which the old court house and jail are located. Motion prevailed. Messrs. Williams, Michelet and H. H. Morgan were appointed such committee.
On motion of Mr. Hoyt the board adjourned until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
Thursday, Feb. 12, 1880, 9 o'clock A. M. Board met, called to order by the chairman. Members all present except Mr. McVey. Jour- nal of yesterday read and approved.
Mr. Schlong offered a resolution in relation to employing an architect. Referred to the committee on finance.
Mr. Hoyt offered a resolution in relation to building committee. Referred to committee on ways and means.
The committee on grounds were granted further time.
The special committee appointed to examine title to lots 1, 2, 7 and 8, block 6, made the following report, which was received and placed on file :
Your special committee to examine the records, in the register's office, in rela- tion to the court house lots, beg leave to report that they have made the necessary examination and find that the county is the legal owner of said lots.
ROGER WILLIAMS, JOIIN MICHELET, Com.
HENRY H. MORGAN,
On motion, a recess of thirty minutes was taken. The time having expired, the board re- assembled.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
The committee on ways and means made the following report:
We, your committee on ways and means, to whom was referred the resolution for the elec- tion of a building committee, beg leave to re- port that they have had the same under consid- eration and recommend its passage.
On motion of Mr. Hoyt the report was adopted and the resolution passed by a vote of ayes and nays, all the members present voting aye except Messrs. Sherman and Williams, who voted nay.
Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Ver- non county, that this board elect a committee of five persons to be designated as a building committee. Said committee shall have power to contract for the building of a court house, the cost of which shall not exceed the sum of $17,000, and for a jail and jailors' house, the cost of which shall not exceed $6,000. Said committee shall employ a competent architect to prepare plans and specifications, and super- intend the work of construction of said build- ings; they shall cause public notice to be given that sealed proposals will be received for the construction of said buildings, and the material of which the same shall be constructed, and shall reject any and all bids exceeding the amount above stated. Said building committee shall require of the party or parties to whom contracts are awarded, to give bonds for the faithful performance of their contracts, as fol- lows: For the construction of the court house, in the sum of $34,000, for the construction of the jail and jailors' house, in the sum of $12,000. Said committee shall give bonds to Vernon county in the sum of $50,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties and the proper disposition of all moneys of the county, placed in their hands, for the construction of said buildings. Said committee shall receive for their services, the sum of $2 per day each, for each days time actually spent in the per- formance of their duties, and six cents per mile, for each mile necessarily traveled. Said com-
mittee may elect a treasurer who shall give bonds in the sum of $26,000, for the faithful performance of his duties, and may make such rules and regulations for the government of their body as they may deem proper, provided such rules do not exceed the authority granted said committee by the several resolutions of the county board. All the bonds mentioned in this resolution (excepting the bond of treasurer of the building committee) shall be approved by the chairman and two other members of this board, and the bond of the treasurer of the building committee shall be approved by a ma- jority of said building committee.
J. W. HOYT.
Mr. Schlong introduced an order in relation to building commissioner. Referred to com- mittee on finance.
On motion of Mr. McMichael, the board pro- ceeded to elect by ballot a building committee of five members. Messrs. Hoyt, Snyder, Powell, McLees and Anderson were elected such com- mittee.
Mr. Williams offered the following resolu- tion, which was passed:
Resolved, That Col. C. M. Butt be requested to draft an order defining and limiting the pow- ers and duties of the building committee, so that said committee shall not be able to make the cost of court house, jail and jailors' residence exceed the sum of $23,000, without being liable upon their official bond, for the excess of the said amount of $23,000.
The committee on finance made the following report:
Your committee, to whom was referred the order, in relation to electing building commis- sioners to superintend the construction of county buildings, have had the same under considera- tion, and respectfully recommend its passage as amended, by inserting two in place of one.
On motion of Mr. McMichael, the report was adopted and order passed.
The county board of supervisors, of the county of Vernon, do order as follows:
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
That there be two special commissioners elected by this board, by ballot, whose duty it shall be, to watch over and care for the proper erection of the court house and jail, and report in writing to the chairman and clerk of this board, of any irregularities in the performance of the work, selection of the materials or dis- bursements from the fund appropriated for building purposes.
That the said special commissioners shall have the further power, and it is hereby made their duty to inform the architect and chairman of the building committee, of any defects in the construction of said buildings, or deviations in the work upon said county buildings, from the plans and specifications of the architect pertain- ing to the same.
Signed, HENRY SCHLONG.
On motion of Mr. McMichael, the board ad- journed until 2 o'clock P. M.
Two o'clock P. M. Board met. Called to or- der by the chairman.
The committee on finance made the follow- ing report, which was adopted and the resolu- tion passed.
Your committee, to whom was referred the resolution in relation to employing an archi- tect and superintendent of the new court house and jail, have had the same under considera- tion, and respectfully recommend its passage.
Resolved, That we hereby elect C. F. Struck, of La Crosse, Wis., the architect and superin- tendent of the new court house and jail, and that the building committee make a written contract with him for his compensation as such.
HENRY SCHLONG.
The special committee on grounds for new buildings made the following report:
Your committee appointed to select a site for new county buildings, have looked at various sites, and have selected as the most appropri- ate place for such buildings, a piece of land be- longing to Mr. Minshall, seventeen rods and thirteen and a half feet wide, on the east side, running the full width of his land, back to the
west line about thirty-five or thirty-eight rods, for the sum of $150 per acre.
WILLIAM SMITH, J. W. HOYT, PETER HANSON, J. M. McLEES.
On motion of Mr. Anderson, the report was adopted.
Mr. Jordan made the following minority re- port.
The undersigned, a member of your special committee, to whom was assigned the duty of viewing the several locations in and about Viroqua, proposed as suitable places on which to erect the new county buildings, and report to this body, begs leave to report that, in his opin- ion, the location occupied by the present county buildings is better adapted to that purpose, and all things considered preferable to any other, and would respectfully recommend the adoption of the resolution hereunto attached.
T. S. JORDAN.
On motion of Mr. Ellefson, the report was adopted and resolution passed by the following vote: Affirmative, 11. Negative, 7.
Resolved, That the court house and jail, to be erected, be located on the grounds occupied by the present buildings used for those purposes.
Mr. Williams moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution in relation to building committee was adopted. Motion lost by the following vote: Affirmative, 10. Negative, 10.
Mr. Ellefson offered a resolution as to material to be used in jail, which the board refused to adopt.
H. Il. Morgan moved to reconsider the vote on the resolution adopted in relation to lo- c tion of new buildings. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Those voting in the af- firmative were: Messrs. Anderson, Hoyt, Han- son, McLees, 11. H. Morgan, Michelet, Schlong, Sherman, Smith, Snyder, Williams and Wise, 12. Those voting in the negative were: Messrs. Bennett, Ellefson, Fox, Jordan, McMichael, Joseph Morgan, Oakes, Powell and Rodgers, 9.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Mr. Williams moved that the resolution be laid on the table. Mr. McMichael moved to amend by postponing action thereon, until to- morrow morning. Amendment lost. The origi- nal motion prevailed, the resolution was tabled.
Mr. McMichael introduced an order authoriz- ing county treasurer to pay over funds to the building committee. Referred to the commit- tee on finance.
Mr. Williams moved to reconsider the vote on the order passed in relation to eleeting two building commissioners. Motion prevailed. The vote was reconsidered and the order laid on the table.
Mr. Anderson offered a resolution authoriz- ing the building committee to purchase ground for new county buildings. Referred to com- mittee on ways and means.
The committee on ways and means reported the same back to the board for their action. Mr. McLees moved that the resolution do now pass. Motion prevailed. The ayes and nays were called for. Those voting in the affirma- tive were: Anderson, Fox, Hoyt, MeLees, Mich- elet, Rodgers, Schlong, Sherman, Smith, Sny- der, Williams and Wise, 12. Those voting in the negative were: Bennett, Ellefson, Han- son, Jordan, McMichael, Joseph Morgan, II. H. Morgan, Oakes and Powel, 9.
Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Ver- non county, that the building committee be and are hereby instructed to negotiate with the proper parties, for seventeen rods, thirteen and a half feet, by thirty-five to fifty rods of ground upon which the new court house and jail shall be located in the west portion of the village of Viroqna, on the site recommended by a special committee of this body and upon the lands of Mr. Minshall.
On motion, the board adjourned until 7 o'clock P. J. Board met. Called to order by the chairman.
Mr. Hoyt offered a resolution authorizing the building committee to sell lots 1, 2, 7 and 8, in
block 6, Viroqua. Referred to committee on ways and means.
On motion of Mr. Williams, the board ad- journed until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
Friday, Feb. 13, 1880, 9 o'clock A. M. Board met. Called to order by the chairman. Mem- bers all present except Mr. McVey. Journal of yesterday read and approved.
The committee on ways and means made the following report:
Your committee on ways and means, to whom was referred the resolution authorizing the building committee to sell grounds, beg leave to report that they have had the same under consideration and offer the order hereto as a substitute, and recommend its passage.
The report was adopted and the substitute was passed by the following vote. Those voting in the affirmative were: Anderson, Bennett, Ellef- son, Hoyt, Hanson, Jordan, McLees, McMichael, H. II. Morgan, Michelet, Oaks, Powell, Rodg- ers, Schlong, Smith and Snyder, 16. Those voting in the negative were: Fox, Joseph Mor- gan, Sherman, Williams and Wise, 5.
It is hereby ordered and determined, by the county board of supervisors of Vernon county, that the building committee of this board, is hereby authorized and empowered to sell lots 1, 2, 7 and 8, in block 6, of the original plat of the village of Viroqua, on such terms as shall seem to them for the best interests of the county, and apply the proceeds of such sale or sales, to the payment for the grounds purchased from Edward Minshall and wife, for the location of the new county buildings, and in constructing fences, walks, out houses, cisterns and in plant- ing trees, or otherwise improving the grounds. Upon the committee making such sale, it shall be the duty of the county clerk, when notified, and requested by the chairman of said com- mittee so to do, to execute to the purchaser or purchasers, good and sufficient warrantee deeds in the name and on behalf of Vernon county, for the lot or lots so sold.
158
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
All moneys arising from such sale or sales, shall be paid over to the building committee who shall render an account for the same to the county board of supervisors.
The committee on finance made the follow- ing report:
Your committee, to whom was referred the order authorizing the building committee to re- ceive the $23,000 of the trust funds, have had the same under consideration, and respectfully recommend that it do not pass. The report of the committee was adopted. The board refused to pass the order.
Mr. Schlong moved to strike out the words " said committee shall grant bonds in the sum of $50,000" in the resolutions passed by this board in relation to building committee, which motion prevailed.
Mr. Williams offered the following resolu- tion which was adopted under a suspension of the rules :
Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Vernon county, that chairman of the county board shall have power to fill any vacancy on the building committee caused by the death or resignation of any member of said committee.
Mr. Schlong offered a resolution in relation to bonds of building committee.
Mr. McMichael moved that the rules be sus- pended and the resolution adopted. Mr. Will- iams moved to amend by striking out the words "Ten thousand" and inserting the words "Twenty-five thousand."
The amendment was lost by the following vote : Affirmative, five ; negative, fifteen. Mr. McMichael's motion prevailed, and the resolu- tion adopted as follows :
Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Vernon county, that the members of the build- ing committee be required to give a joint bond for the sum of $10,000 for the faithful perform- ance of their duties, said committee shall have power to draw orders on the treasurer for the funds in his hands, said orders to be signed by
the chairman of the board of supervisors and countersigned by the clerk, upon the recom- mendation of the building committee.
The annual session for 1880 began on the 9th of November. R. S. McMichael, of Viro- qua, was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen represented the vari- ous towns and villages in the county :
Henry Schlong, Bergen ; M. N. Hanson, Christiana ; H. W. Knapp, Clinton ; Ole An- derson, Coon ; R. S. Sherman, Forest ; II. A. Owen, Franklin ; John Carpenter, Genoa ; John Shaughnessy, Greenwood ; J. W. Hoyt, Hamburg.
Win. Webster, Harmony ; Roger Williams, Hillsborough; . William Frazier, Jefferson; Irwin Fox, Kickapoo; Stanley Stout, Liberty; Charles G. Stebbins, Stark; J. M. Vance, Ster- ling; Laor King, Union; E. Powell, Viroqna; R. S. McMichael, village of Viroqua; John Snyder, Webster; H. HI. Morgan, Wheatland; Samuel Sloggy, Whitestown.
At this session the bounty upon wolves was raised as follows: On a full grown female wolf, $15, bounty; on a full grown male wolf, $10 bounty; all whelps, $5 bounty.
D. A. Barnard was re-elected to the office of commissioner of the poor.
The board fixed the salaries of the various county officers as follows: County clerk, $800 per year; treasurer, $800; district attorney, $300; commissioner of poor, $2 per day and eight cents per mile; county superintendent, $3 per day not to exceed $800; clerk of circuit conrt, $300 and fees; connty judge, $500.
Taxes were levied as follows: For State purposes, $12,811.29; for county purposes, $15,871.88; for county school purposes, $3,609. The total assessed valnation of the county at that time was $3,967,970.
On the 15th of November, 1881, the board met again in annual session. J. W. Hoyt, of Hamburg, was elected chairman for the ensu- ing year. The following members of the board were present: Henry Schlong, Bergen;
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
T. Madden, Christiana; P. Brody, Clinton; Helge Larson, Coon; R. S. Sherman, Forest; H. A. Owen, Franklin; W. L. Riley, Genoa; John Shaughnessy, Greenwood; J. W. Hoyt, Hamburg; Simon Clawson, Harmony; Roger Williams, Hillsborough; Wm. Frazier, Jeffer- son; C. M. Poff, Kickapoo; L. S. Rabbitt, Liberty; Irvin Nixon, Stark; J. M. Vance, Ster- ling; Laor King, Union; E. Tilton, Viroqua; II.A. Chase, Viroqua village; Wm. Hayes, Webster; I]. H. Morgan, Wheatland; Samuel Sloggy, Whites- town. D. A. Barnard was re-elected poor commissioner.
Taxes were assessed by the board as follows: For State purposes, $10,242.07; for county purposes, 818,067.25; for countyschool purpos- es, $3,788. The total assessed valuation of the county in 1880 was $4,014,945.
For the annual session in 1882, the board met on the 14th of November. J. W. Hoyt, of Hamburg, was re-elected chairman. The board consisted of the following gentlemen:
Henry Schlong, Bergen; Patrick Brody, Clinton; Timothy Madden, Christiana; Ole Anderson, Coon; W. C. Stelting, Forest; F. K. Van Wagner, Franklin; W. L. Riley, Genoa; Martin Rodgers, Greenwood; J. W. Hoyt, Hamburg; Jesse Cowen, Harmony; Roger Wil- liams, Hillsborough; A. B. Saxton, Jefferson; W. N. Carter, Kickapoo; L. S. Rabbitt, Liberty; Troy Evans, Stark; J. M. Vance, Sterling; S. Bauman, Union; E. Tilton, Viroqua; H. A. Chase, Viroqua village; William IIays, Web- ster; H. H. Morgan, Wheatland; Samnel Sloggy, Whitestown.
Chairman Hoyt appointed the following com- mittees:
On finance: H. A. Chase, Roger Williams and Henry Schlong.
On claims: Samuel Sloggy, E. Tilton and Ole Anderson.
Ways and means: H. H. Morgan, S. Bau- man, W. N. Carter, F. K. Van Wagner, A. B. Saxton, W. C. Stelting and Martin Rodgers.
Roads, bridges and ferries: William Hays, J. M. Vance, W. L. Riley, Jesse Cowen and Troy Evans.
Equalization: E. Tilton, L. S. Rabbitt, Patrick Brody, H. 11. Morgan and T. Madden.
D. A. Barnard, commissioner of poor, pre- sented his report, in which he stated that there had been forty-two panpers at the county house during the past year. The aver- age number at the house during the year was thirty-one. The cost per capita of $1.24 per week. The number at the house Oct. 31, 1882, was thirty; of this number six were insane, fourteen idiotic, one epileptie, two cripples; four over seventy years of age; one under ten years, and of the others, two are incapable of self- support. The number receiving aid from the county outside of the county was 195. Mr. Barnard was re-elected to the office of poor commissioner.
The salaries of the various county officers were fixed as follows: County clerk, $900 per annum; treasurer, 8800; district attorney, $400; clerk of circuit court, $300 and fees; county judge, $500; poor commissioner, $2 per day and 10 cents per mile; county superintendent, $3 per day.
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