USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth County, Wisconsin > Part 73
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481
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
dispersed at that hour, he would take the key away from him. On the failure of the jury to find an indictment. the Judge delivered his discharge papers to Sheriff Preston, who found him some- where on the park grounds, read him the paper, demanded the key of the prisoner, walked over to the jail and locked him ont.
About the year 1852. the old jail was condemned, and a better one built near the northwest corner of the park. at the intersection of Church and Court streets. This, in turn, gave way to the present jail, which was completed in 1878. The old building, with lot, was sold, and the present site purchased, at the northwest corner of Church and Walworth streets. The new lot cost $1,000, and the buildings thereon -- jail, barn. shed and jailer's house-$9.546. The total cost of the property was $10,516. The buildings were erected by Messrs. Nolan & Shearer, of Janesville: the plans were furnished by architects Koch & Co., of Milwaukee. The jail and appurtenances are fitted with all modern appliances for the safety and health of those confined. It is a model of perfection for the uses for which it was built.
EARLY TAVERNS,
The first effort to build a tavern on the site reserved by the county for that purpose was made by Richard Hogaboom, James Farnsworth and Benjamin Arnold. Neither of them nor all of them had sufficient capital for the undertaking. They nevertheless determined to build the tavern, and thereby become the proprietors of the most valuable corner in the embryo city of Elkhorn. They bought a frame in Sheboygan, had it shipped to Racine, and from there hauled it by horse teams to Elkhorn. Before it was fairly erected. they came to the too com- inon grief of many whose hopes overleap their powers, and were obliged to sell out to a man having less hope but more money. Rev. Levi Lee finished the building, and, at the same time, took off their hands the contract they had made to ereet the court house. He completed the tavern in 1842, and received his deeds for the lots early in 1843. There were residnary inter- ests that installed James Farnsworth as the first landlord. He did not remain long. Gen. Sheldon Walling succeeded him, as a lessor of Elder Lee. who owned the tavern. Walling was too genial to suit the ideas of Mr. Lee, who desired the tavern to be run on strictly temperance principles. This had perhaps less to do with the change than the fact that Gen. Walling was not over-serupulous in the prompt payment of his rent. At any rate. Mr. Lee concluded to run the hotel himself, and moved in as landlord some time in 1842. In 1843, George Young, the father of Dr. George H. Young, now a resident of Elkhorn, leased the house. He remained one year, at the expiration of which time Mr. Lee again took the house himself. In 1845, Wilmot Brothers took the house. They were followed by D. B. Packer, who remained till Mr. Lee felt constrained to make another change. The succeeding landlords were: Dewing & Bemis. Baird Brothers, and John Aiken. About 1850, E. P. Eaton bought the house of Mr. Lee. improved it, and kept for several years one of the best taverns in the county. Mr. Eaton sold out to Lyman Edwards and moved to lowa. Edwards rented to S. C. Russ, who kept the house in splendid shape till the hotel was purchased by the present proprietor. John H. Snyder, who came into possession April 10. 1869. Since that time, he has so completely metamorphosed the house that it is unrecognizable to old visitors. It was in early days a square, two-story house. on the corner: now it extends eighty-two feet on Wisconsin street, sixty-six feet on Wal- worth street, and is three stories high, with a double veranda on two sides. Nothing is left to remind the early traveler of the old house save the old oak paneled doors, and the iron thumb door-latches, bought by Farnsworth over forty years ago. They still do duty at the entrances of the remodeled hotel.
Some time in 1842. Edward Elderkin built a second hotel, nearly on the site now occupied by the old court house. A part of the building is still standing, directly east of it. It was. on its completion, leased to C. Bellows. He kept it but a short time. Samuel Mallory bought his lease and furniture, and opened the house October 28, 1844. It was known as the Wal- worth Center House, and, under the management of Mr. Mallory and his very efficient family. became one of the best taverns in the county, and drew largely on the patronage of the rival house, then kept by the Wilmot Brothers. Mr. Mallory ran the house, with a short intermis- sion, for nearly five years, during which its reputation as a first-class tavern never waned. The
482
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
following rhythmic announcement. which appeared in the first number of the Western Star, is sued at Elkborn August 28. 1845. tells of the excellences of the hotel at that time:
WALWORTHI COUNTY CENTER HOUSE.
" S. Mallory takes pleasure to inform
The public that he lives at Elkhorn,
And that he has a public honse in charge,
To which he invites the publie at large.
Accommodations of all kinds, and good cheer,
With choicest liquors and strong beer; Lemonade, soda beer, and Tom and Jerry,
Which gentlemen can have to make them merry.
llis table is furnished with the substantials of life,
Cooked and prepared by his daughters and wife.
Myself will attend you and give you the food,
With desserts and pastry, which shall all be good.
My barn is furnished with wild and tame hay,
Which gentlemen can have for ready pay. My oats I will sell at one shilling a peek,
And that I will have, in spite of Tom Dick.
As for barn room to feed, you can have it Tree.
If yourself yon will feed with me; But, as I want a part of the fleece,
If you don't feed yourself, it's a sixpence apiece.
Call at the Walworth Center House, if you mistake not,
For the Elkhorn House is kept by D. C. Wilmot.
A mistake in the house, you can plainly see,
Is a loss of your enstom, and a damage to me.
My charge shall be reasonable, according to times;
My attention shall be striet, and I'll do without rhimes.
I'll undergo fatigue, and be always on hand
To retain the reputation the house now commands."
This hotel changed landlords often after Mr. Mallory left it, and fell from its high estate as age dilapidated it. It has been abandoned as a hotel for many years, and stands now a melancholy reminder of the good cheer of other days. gone never to return.
EARLY HAPPENINGS AND FIRST THINGS.
The first frame house was built by Hollis Latham. Albert Ogden and Milo Bradley, in the spring of 1837. It was first occupied by the family of Daniel E. Bradley, June 12, 1837. Some part of it is still in existence, being a part of Henry M. Eastman's barn.
The first plowing was done on Section 6 and Seetion 1. on the claims of Albert Ogden and Hollis Latham, in May. 1837.
The first marriage was that of Hollis Latham to Louisa, daughter of Daniel E. Bradley, April. 183S. Their oldest son. Le Grand Latham, was the first child born in the town. He was born January 7. 1839. Other early marriages were: John Jones to Mary Hicks, in 1840-41; Albert Ogden to Charlotte Boyce, September, 1843; Edward Elderkin to Mary M. Beardsley. December. 1843: Le Grand Rockwell to Frances Hickok. August. 1844; H. S. Win- sor to Maria L. Husted, January, 1845.
The first store was started by Le Grand Roekwell. in 1838.
Le Grand Rockwell was also the first Postmaster, appointed in 1838; the first Clerk of the Court. appointed in April. 1839; the first Register of Deeds. appointed February, 1839. He also established the first bank, August 10. 1856. The first post office, the first store and the first eourt were in a building built by him.
The first schoolhouse was built in the summer of 1840. The money was raised by sub- scription. It was a wooden structure. on the school lot. west of the park, where the house of Mr. Belden Weed now stands.
The first schoolmistress was Lydia Carr: Mary Brewster was the second; Adelaide C. Beardsley was the third.
The first schoolmaster was Edward Elderkin. He taught an evening school in the new schoolhouse in the winter of 1841. He was also the first lawyer. He arrived in October, 1839.
483
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
The first physician was Dr. George H. Young, who came in 1843. He is still living in Elkhorn and practicing his profession.
The first minister who preached iu the town was Rev. Jesse Halstead, a Methodist, in 1838 or 1839.
The first blacksmith was Anthony Delap.
The first shoemaker was Peter Golder, who had his house near the geographieal center of the county, south of the lot now owned by Mr. O. Livingston. Here he lived and did work at his trade. He is and has been for a quarter of a century the Probate Judge of Walworth County.
The first carpenter was Milo E. Bradley.
The first tailor was J. Matheson.
The first church organized was St. John's Church in the Wilderness, Episcopal, October, 1841.
The first church edifiee built was the Baptist, in 1853.
The first church bell was purchased in Chicago, for the St. John's (Episcopal) Church, in the summer of 1856.
The first apple-trees were raised from the seed. Gen. Sheldon Walling planted the seed and started a nursery on the Bradley place in 1838.
The first hotel was begun by Hogaboom, Farnsworth and Arnold. It was finished by Levi Lee in 1842, and occupied the corner of the present site of the Central House. James Farns- worth was the first landlord.
The first tavern was the old frame building built and oceupied by the first settlers in 1837, and kept open to all travelers by the Bradleys till the " hotel " above mentioned was built.
The first prisoner imprisoned in the log jail was William Johnson. He was committed from Whitewater for some slight offense, for a term of ten days. Sheriff Walling was away, and the jail as yet unfinished and guiltless of locks. Under Sheriff Albert Ogden. however, put the prisoner in jail and fastened him by a leaning timber against the outside of the door.
The first dog came in from Geneva, on the trail of Hollis Latham and Albert Ogden, in 1839. He owned no master. but was a sort of neighborhood dog. He was black, good-natured, a pluieky fighter, a splendid hunter and a general favorite. He was as well and favorably known as any inhabitant of the village. His name was Barney Ogden, and, as such, was at- taehed to the petition for the post office and the appointment of Le Grand Rockwell as Post- master. Perhaps, through the weight of his name, Roekwell got the appointment. Certain it is that. for years after. Barney received his public documents from Washington with as much regularity and in as large quantity as other Walworth County constituency. Here he lived for twelve years. the terror of snakes, wild hogs, deer, rabbits and squirrels, and the friend of every man, woman and child in the settlement. He grew old and stiff. blind and deaf, and eame to a tragieal end by being accidentally run over by an ox-sled in 1849. He was properly interred, but. as no stono marks his grave. the place of his final rest is not known.
The first singing school was taught in the schoolhouse, by Seth Cowles, in the winter of 1842.
THE WAR PERIOD.
During the war of the rebellion, Elkhorn stood shoulder to shoulder with the other towns in the county in vigorous and stanch support of the Union cause. The history of the loyal work of the men and women of the several towns is so interwoven that no attempt will be made to give a separate account. The county was one of the earliest to respond to the first call for troops, and Elkhorn was among the first of the towns. During the years of the war, she raised for the families of volunteers $1.600; for bounties to furnish her full quota, $8,280-a total amount of $9.880. Thirty-eight citizens of the little town did personal service. During the whole war period. the women worked incessantly, having a vigorous and effective Woman's Aid Society. For further and more specific and merited mention, the reader is referred to the war reeord, in the history of the county at large.
THE LARGEST FIRE.
The most destructive conflagration that has ever visited the village broke out on the night of February 26, 1867. It commenced in the store of F. C. Odell, and resulted in the entire de-
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
struction of the Centralia Block, and several buildings north and south of it. Otis Preston lost three stores, worth $3.000. They were occupied by R. C. Preston and Edwin Hodges. South, in the same block. was the store of Charles Dunlap. occupied by F. C. Odell. all of whom were completely burned out. Mr. Stephen C. Leggett also lost his dwelling house by the same fire. Anthony Graff was also burned out. The fire at the time was a great disaster to the place. It was the work of an incendiary. Charles Hay, a simple young man. was tried and sentenced to the penitentiary. He was generally believed to have been the tool of more designing and crafty parties.
CORPORATE HISTORY.
The affairs of the town were administered under the act of incorporation until 1857, at which time the village was incorporated. embracing within its corporate limits the entire town. Thus the town government was entirely superseded, and. as the two are co-extensive, no effort need be made to draw any line of demarkation or separation between the administration of affairs under the two forms of government further than to state. as above, the time at which the change occurred. The roster of officers and other chronological details will therefore appear without further mention of the change.
FIRST TOWN MEETING.
The first town meeting of Elkhorn was held at the court house on Tuesday, April 7. 1846. Levi Lee was chosen Moderator. and Alonzo Platt Secretary.
It was resolved that the Moderator should appoint a committee of three to report the amount of money necessary to be raised for town expenses the ensuing year. Le Grand Rockwell. Horace N. Hay, and H. S. Winsor were appointed snch committee, and reported: For contin- gent fund. $45: for road fund. $20: for school fund. $20. recommending that $10 of the con- tingent fund be used to pay the Town Clerk. and that. in addition to the above. $5 be raised for a poor fund.
The report of the committee was considered. each proposition being voted on separately. and each and all were adopted.
It was also resolved that the compensation of the town officers should be $1 per day, and that the Town Clerk should purchase three suitable books for the use of the town. " the cost of all which shall not exceed 86." The following is the first poll list of the town: Samuel Mallory, Edward Elderkin, H. Van Brunt, William L. Stowe, Levi Lee, Alonzo Platt. C. N. Meigs. Zenas Ogden. Russell Crandall. Edward Winne, Hollis Latham. George Watson. Curtis Bellows. William H. Mickle, William K. May. Samnel Tubbs. Job O. Mattison. James L. Tubbs. H. H. Hartson. Levi Thomas, George H. Young. Horace N. Hay, Maj. Cooley. Orrin Maxham. John S. Boyd. H. S. Winsor, Clark McCarty. Renben R. Bourn. U. D. Meacham. John (illispie, William Garfield. Dexter Dewing. Zophar Chittenden, William E. Gregory, John Matheson, Edwin Hodges, Alex. S. Brown, John F. Bruce, George Humphrey. Lneins J. Wil- mot. E. K. Frost, David Hartson, George Gale, Le Grand Rockwell. E. G. Hartson, George Dewing, Lewis Bemis. Davis Reed, Charles Garfield. F. A. Utter, Noah Harriman. John G. Parker. Booth B. Davis. Total number of votes polled, fifty-three, all of which for State Gov- ernment.
The following officers were elected: Supervisors, Urban D. Meacham, Chairman: Zenas Ogden, Horace N. Hay: Assessor, Hollis Latham: Town Clerk. Edward Elderkin: Collector, William Garfield: Treasurer, Edwin Hodges: Justices of the Peace. Hollis Latham, Levi Lee, George Gale: Road Commissioners. William E. Gregory, Curtis Bellows, Samnel Mallory; School Commissioners, George H. Young. Edward Winne, H. S. Winsor.
Following is the roster of town and village officers from 1847 to ISSI. inclusive:
1847 -- Supervisors. George Gale, Chairman; George H. Young, Albert Ogden; Clerk, Ed- ward Winne: Treasurer, Alex S. Brown.
1848 -- Supervisors, George Gale. Chairman: George Humphrey, Lot Mayo; Clerk, Sam- uel W. Henderson: Treasurer, Amplias Chamberlain (moved), George Bacheldor (appointed). 1849 -- Supervisors, E. R. Utter, Chairman ; H. N. Hay, William Garfield; E. K. Frost, Clerk: H. H. Hartson, Treasurer.
485
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
1850 -Supervisors. George H. Young, Chairman: Cyrus C. Stow. Albert Ogden; W. H. Pettit. Clerk: H. H. Hartson. Treasurer.
1851-Supervisors. H. S. Winsor, Chairman; Alonzo Angel. C. C. Stow: Alvah J. Frost, Clerk; H. H. Hartson. Treasurer.
1852 -- Supervisors, Le Grand Rockwell, Chairman: Daniel P. Handy, Thomas W. Miller; Alvah J. Frost, Clerk: Hollis Latham, Treasurer.
1853-Supervisors, Le Grand Rockwell. Chairman; William Garfield. Lot Mayo: Alvah J. Frost. Clerk: H. H. Hartson, Treasurer.
1854-Supervisors, Otis Preston, Chairman; H. S. Winsor, Harley F. Smith; Myron E. Dewing, Clerk; Myron E. Dewing, Treasurer.
1855 -- Supervisors, Otis Preston, Chairman; Zenas Ogden, William Garfield; Myron E. Dewing, Clerk: Myron E. Dewing, Treasurer.
1856-Supervisors, Alvah J. Frost, Chairman; Zenas Ogden, William Garfield; Charles D. Handy, Clerk; David R. Johnson, Treasurer.
1857-Supervisors, Jesse C. Mills, Chairman; Squire Stanford, Delos Brett: Henry Brad- ley, Clerk; John L. Holley, Treasurer.
1858-Supervisors, John F. Brett, Chairman: Edward Elderkin, Robert Holley: Henry Bradley, Clerk: H. H. Hartson, Treasurer.
1859-Supervisors, Otis Preston, Chairman: Amos Eastman, Edward Elderkin; Charles Lyon. Clerk: Zebina Houghton, Treasurer.
1860- Supervisors, Edwin Hodges, Chairman; W. H. Conger, H. F. Smith: Henry Brad- ley. Clerk; Alexander Stevens, Treasurer.
1861-Supervisors, Edwin Hodges, Chairman: William H. Conger, H. F. Smith; Henry Bradley, Clerk: Alexander Stevens, Treasurer.
1862-Supervisors, W. H. Conger, Chairman; H. F. Smith, Lester Allen; H. Bradley, Clerk; P. C. Gilbert. Treasurer.
1863-Supervisors, H. S. Winsor, Chairman: Lester Allen, B. B. Humphrey; E. C. Stevens, Clerk; P. C. Gilbert, Treasurer.
1864 -- Supervisors, Edwin Hodges, Chairman; * L. C. Merrick, George Bulkley; +W. H. Moorhouse. Clerk: P. C. Gilbert, Treasurer.
1865- Supervisors, Edwin Hodges, Chairman; H. S. Winsor, George Bulkley; Henry Brad- ley, Clerk; P. C. Gilbert, Treasurer.
1866 -- Supervisors, H. S. Winsor, Chairman; Lester Allen, D. R. Johnson; Henry Bradley, Clerk: P. C. Gilbert, Treasurer.
1867-Supervisors. Edwin Hodges. Chairman: George Bulkley, Robert Harkness; J. S. J. Eaton, Clerk: P. C. Gilbert, Treasurer.
1868 -- Supervisors. William H. Conger, Chairman: J. L. Edwards, Squire Stanford; John K. Burbank, Clerk; J. S. J. Eaton, Treasurer.
1869-Supervisors, W. H. Conger, Chairman; H. S. Bunker, John A. Norris; Henry Brad- ley, Clerk; Joseph S. J. Eaton, Treasurer.
1870 Supervisors. C. Wiswell, Chairman; E. B. Dewing, Israel Smith; Henry Bradley, Clerk; Waldo W. Hartwell, Treasurer.
1871-Supervisors, C. Wiswell, Chairman; N. Catlin, J. H. Lauderdale; H. Bradley, Clerk; W. W. Hartwell, Treasurer.
1872 -- Supervisors, Wyman Spooner, Chairman; Squire Stanford, Hollis Latham ; Henry Bradley, Clerk: Dyar L. Cowdery, Treasurer.
1873-Supervisors, E. B. Dewing, Chairman: C. Wiswell, S. Stanford; George W. Ogden, Clerk; D. L. Cowdery, Treasurer.
1874-Supervisors, E. B. Dewing, Chairman: C. Wiswell, Lucius Allen; E. M. Latham, ('lerk; John Cromley, Treasurer.
1875-Supervisors, E. B. Dewing, Chairman: C. F. Ellsworth, J. H. Lauderdale; E. M. Latham, Clerk; John Cromley, Treasurer.
1876 Supervisors, E. B. Dewing, Chairman; C. F. Ellsworth, C. Wiswell: George W. Ogden, Clerk: John Cromley, Treasurer.
* Merrick moved away, and H. S. Winsor appointed Supervisor.
+Moorhouse moved away, Henry Adkins was appointed Clerk.
486
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
1877 -- Supervisors, Lucins Allen, Chairman: Dewitt Stanford, Hollis Latham; Joseph Liedl, Clerk: John Cromley, Treasurer.
1878-Supervisors, O. C. Chase. Chairman: Dewitt Stanford. R. D. Harriman; Joseph Liedl, Clerk: Charles Lyon, Treasurer.
1879-Supervisors, William H. Hurlbnt, Chairman; J. A. Perry, John Hare: Clerk, J. M. Barker: Treasurer. Charles Lyon.
1880-Supervisors, Christopher Wiswell, Chairman ; W. J. Stratton, Hollis Latham; Clerk, E. M. Latham: Treasurer, H. C. Norris.
1881 - Supervisors, Lucius Allen, Chairman; W. J. Stratton, J. W. Hayes: Clerk, E. M. Latham: Treasurer, H. C. Norris.
SCHOOLS.
The first school district organization of the present town was effected April 22, 1846. The School Commissioners were George H. Young, Edward Winne and H. S. Winsor. The whole town was at that time made one school district, and has so remained ever since. The school fund at the disposal of the committee at the ontset was not over-large, as appears from the rec- ords. It was voted that " the sum of $9, now in the treasury, and the further sum of $20. raised by vote of the town, be applied to the use of said District No. 1 in said town." So Dis- trict No. 1 was ushered into existence possessed of an old wooden schoolhouse, 20x20 feet in size, and cash in hand amounting to $29. There was at that time a population of perhaps two hundred, and not far from forty scholars. No records of the enumeration of scholars appears at that date.
The first schoolhouse which was occupied on the organization of the district came as a her- itage from the old town district, No. 1. It was built in the summer of 1840. on Lot S, Block 9, on the west side of the park, the original lot reserved for school purposes by the Commis- sioners when the town was platted. It served the district till 1850, at which time it was re- placed by a more commodions brick structure, which still stands on the lot, and is now the res- idence of Mr. Belden Weed. This building was the village schoolhouse for eighteen years. In 1868, it was sold, and the present building erected.
It is located at the eastern terminus of Walworth street, where ample grounds were secured by vacating the street, which formerly extended further eastward, and by the purchase of ground on either side. It stands in the center of the street terminus, facing the street approach from the west. It is built of brick, in a substantial manner, and is surmounted with a belfry, or observatory. It is two stories in height. The body of the building is 60x45 feet, with a frontal projection, for entrance and stairways, of fifteen feet. There are four schoolrooms -- two on the first floor, one on either side of the hall, and two on the floor above. The rooms below are occupied by the primary and intermediate departments: those on the second floor, by the gram- mar and high schools. The plan of the building was furnished by G. P. Randall. Squire Stanford did the carpenter work, and Stevens & Dewing the masonry. The total cost, incInd- ing lot, fence and furniture, was $14,994.37. It has a seating capacity for 200 scholars. It is now inadequate for the scholars enrolled, and additions will be made in the near future.
The schools were conducted under the old class system till 1851. At that time, the graded system was adopted. The change was effected under the administration of Le Grand Rockwell, H. F. Smith and Edwin Hodges, who constituted the School Board at that time, and under the supervision, as teachers, of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, who at that time were engaged to teach the school.
The last report of the County Superintendent of Schools gives the following statistics of the district: Total valuation of all school property, $11.300; amount of money received for 1881, $4, 773.55; amount expended. $3,165.62; number of teachers, 5; number of scholars enn- merated, 330; number attending school, 273; number of volumes in library, 200; average monthly wages of teachers, male, SSS.89; female, $45. Joseph F. Lyon is the present School Clerk, and Howard L. Smith Principal.
SELECT SCHOOLS.
Since the organization of the high school department, no select schools have been sustained. Prior to that time, for many years, such schools were sustained. Among the earliest teachers
489
HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
remembered who taught the higher branches were Misses Friend, Hattie M. Perkins and Huxley. Lorenzo Hand and Everett Chamberlain also taught what was known as the Elkhorn Academy. These schools were taught in a building still standing on South street, and used by the Lu- therans as a place of worship. There was also a private school taught for a time in the basement of the Methodist briek church, afterward burned.
ELKHORN IN 1881.
The population of Elkhorn by the Federal census of 1880 was 1,122. At the close of 1881, it is estimated from the last school census to considerably exceed 1,200.
About 10 per cent of the population are farmers. The average value of the farming lands is $40 per acre. The lands are productive, and under a high state of cultivation. The farm- ing area, owing to the small dimensions of the town (four square miles), is not even one-tenth that of the average of the full townships of the county. The showing of crops in proportion to the area compares favorably with the best agricultural towns of the county. The grain crops of 1880 were as follows: Wheat, 950 bushels: corn, 11,190 bushels; oats, S,985 bushels; bar- ley, 895 bushels. There were also made 26,426 pounds of butter, and 67,879 pounds of cheese. The hay crop amounted to 454 tons.
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