USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 37
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EDWARD LULL
Is another of the old settlers, and a man highly esteemed. He has also held important public positions, and among others, those of Alder- man and School Commissioner, and has always proved a faithful and efficient recipient of pub-
lic trust. He is an influential member of the present Common Council.
SAMUEL ECKSTEIN
Came to Oshkosh in 1849, and opened the second clothing store and merchant tailoring establishment in the place. His name will be found mentioned among the business firms in our early history. He is still doing a large and successful business. His house and that of Hon. S. M. Hay are the only two surviv- ing firms which were doing business here in 1849. Mr. Eckstein has ever held a high place in the popular estimation, and is one of our most respectable citizens, and one of this city's leading business men. His establishment is one of the popular institutions of the place, and is always well stocked with a large assort- ment of cloths. Mr. Eckstein is always fortu- nate in securing the services of the most artis- tic cutters. Mr. Michael Maloney has offi- ciated in this house, in that capacity, for eight years, and gives the fullest satisfaction to their many customers, in the most recherche fit and style.
THE BECKWITH HOUSE.
One of the most popular houses with the traveling public is the Beckwith. It is the largest among the elegant structures of rebuilt Oshkosh, and supplies a want which was long felt in this city, namely, enlarged hotel facilities.
Immediately after the great fire of 1875, Mr. Beckwith commenced the enterprise of con- structing this elegant building, and the result is a hotel that will rank with the very first-class houses of the larger cities.
Our splendid lake and yachting facilities and delightful summer climate are attracting the attention of summer tourists, and the Beckwith furnishes the most ample accommo- dation for the entertainment of guests.
The building has a front on Main Street of
180
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1879.
132 feet, and on Algoma of 110. It contains seventy-five rooms, which are high, airy and well ventilated. The house is constructed on the modern hotel principles. The inside finish and embellishments are elegant, the furniture new throughout, and every pains taken to make this house a credit to the city.
Mr. Beckwith's pleasant manners and kind attention to his guests, the comforts of the house, its scrupulous neatness, and its well spread tables, have already earned for it a wide-spread popularity.
DOCTOR II. B. DALE.
Among the most prominent citizens of Osh- kosh is Doctor H. B. Dale, the present popu- lar mayor of the city. He moved from Steu- ben County, New York, his native place, in 1860, which was the year he graduated, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession.
He attained so rapid a popularity here that in 1867 he was elected from his ward, where a strong party majority existed against him, as alderman, and was the first Democrat elected from that ward. At the same election he was elected as city superintendent of schools, and was re-elected for eight consecutive terms. He was then nominated by both political parties for the ninth term, and declined. He proved a most efficient superintendent, as his popular- ity as such attests, and devoted much of his time in attending to the interests of the schools, which were in the most flourishing condition during his long term of service.
When he commenced there were eighteen teachers, and when he surrendered the office there were fifty-six. The Dale school building, a magnificent brick structure, was named in compliment to him for his long, faithful and competent service. He also received the high compliment of a nomination for State Superin- tendent of schools, but was defeated with the balance of the Democratic state ticket. Last spring, 1879, he was elected mayor of this city, a position he fills very creditably.
HON. GEORGE HYER.
But few men have left a more enduring impression on this city than the late Hon. George Hyer. He was one of the early Western pioneers, and came to Milwaukee in 1836, and was engaged in printing on the first newspaper published in the Territory of Wisconsin. The following year he carried the first mail to the Rock River settlement that was sent west from Milwaukee. In 1838 he set the first type on the Wisconsin Enquirer, the first paper published in Madison. After a long newspaper career, in which he was closely
associated with public life, and during which he took a very prominent part in territorial and state affairs, he retired to a farm near Beloit; but longing for his old vocation, he came to Oshkosh in 1867, and purchased the Democrat, refitted the office, and commenced the publication of the Oshkosh Times, which, under his able editorial management, became one of the leading papers of the State.
George Hyer, from his very earliest man- hood having been associated with that spirit of enterprise, progress and improvement, for which the early settlers of the State were distinguished, was imbued with that feeling, and soon became recognized, in Oshkosh as one of the champions of public and private enterprise. The Times soon exercised a great influence, and aided very much in awakening a renewed spirit of progress and improvement in this city, with which the name of George Hyer will be long associated. He was a great advocate of a northern railroad - a consuma- tion now reached -and was chiefly instru- mental in establishing the Northern State Agri- cultural and Mechanical Association.
His death, which occured in the spring of 1872, was greatly deplored by this community and a wide circle of friends extending through- out the State, and deprived this city of one of its best friends.
FORMER EDITORS.
Among the former newspaper editors in this city now engaged in other vocations the names of Geo. H. Read, C. R. Nevitt, Geo. Gary, C. W. Felker, Hiram Morley and C. E. Pike, are prominent. Their connection with the press is fully related in the history of the newspaper press of Oshkosh on another page. Of Mr. Read full mention has been made. Mr. Charles Nevitt was his associate in the Courier and the business-manager of that paper, and was one of the chief originators of the North- western. He was regarded as one of the best printers in the Northwest, being master of his profession, and was and is now a very active business man.
Hon. Geo. Gary, now County Judge, was for many years in the editorial harness. He was an able writer, and the papers under his management took a high rank among the pub- lications of the State.
Mr. C. E. Pike came to Oshkosh, from Bos- ton, in November, 1859, and joined Mr. Nev- itt in the publication of the Northwestern, and was editor-in-chief of that paper during the first three years of the war - a stormy period for a newspaper editor. Mr. Pike proved to be a very polished and vigorous writer, and
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RESIDENCE OF C.W. FELKER. WASHINGTON. ST. OSHKOSH, WIS.
RESIDENCE OF DR. H. E. DALE, ALGOMA, ST., OSHKOSH , WIS.
sed M.T. BAT
1875 75 00 UNION BOILER WORKS
M.Y.B47.45 1875
UNION STEAM BOILER WORKS, M.T. BATTIS,Prop. Manuf. of Steam Boilers, Smoke Stacks, Britchens, Tanks & c., MARKET, ST. OSHKOSH, WIS.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1879.]
made his paper a very able champion of the measures of the Government. In the fall of 1864 he ended his connection with the North- western and shortly afterwards removed from this city. In the spring of 1878 he returned to Oshkosh, and engaged in the practice of his profession - that of the law. Mr. Pike is a man of fine natural abilities cultivated by a lib- eral education, foreign travel and wide expe- rience, with a fine address and pleasing manners.
Hiram Morley, although mentioned as a former editor is still in his old vocation, and is now editor of the Oshkosh Standard. He s one of the earlier settlers and came to reside in Oshkosh in 1848, at a time when the site of this city was covered with trees and stumps. His connection with the early newspaper press is fully related in a separate article. As will be seen, he was engaged here in the publication of papers in 1849-50-51, at which time he removed to Fond du Lac, where he published a paper until 1863. In 1863, he became one of the proprietors of the Oshkosh Courier, and in 1864 merged that paper into the Northwest- ern and joined in the publication of the lat- ter. He has held many public positions in this city, among others that of alderman for five years, and member of the Board of Super- visors. He is a master of his profession, and has a wide circle of friends.
Marcellus Strong was, for a few years, an associate of Mr. Read, in the Courier. He is a good printer, and a man highly esteemed.
Jere Crowley will be remembered by the old settlers. He edited the Courier in the first years of its existence, and after he sold it to Read & Nevitt, went to Menasha, where he published the Advocate. Jere was at home in a printing office, "native and to the manor born, " and knew how to get out a "live paper." In 1878 and 1879 he was Assistant Attorney General of the State, and subsequently went to Manitowoc, where he published a newspaper up to the time of his death. Jere was warmly attached to a wide circle of friends, who will ever hold in fond remembrance his many good qualities.
Charles G. Finney, now of California, and whose connection with the Oshkosh North- western is related in the article on that subject, conducted that paper very ably. He met with an unfortunate accident through the premature discharge of a gun, which badly shattered his hand and left his life in a very precarious con- dition. He is a man of very warm attach- ments and had a host of friends here, by whom he is held in kindly remembrance for his many genial and generous qualities.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
Among the early business firms of Oshkosh will be found the name of M. J. Williams, who opened the first drug store, and who is now one of the surviving firms of that day, and still as flourishing and popular as ever.
Alexander Read, who kept a dry goods store, and afterwards was clerk of the County Board, and now deputy clerk of the court, is a man very popular with the early settlers.
Henry Hicks, who in the olden time was one of the leading business men, is one of the numerous instances of those who have been overtaken by reverses - a kind neighbor and true friend, and liked by all who know him.
Among the early settlers George Cameron's name appears conspicuously. He is still here and maintains his old-time popularity; he has held the office of assessor for several terms and has lately resumed his old business, having this year erected a large livery and sale stable.
William D. Stroud is one of the early set- tlers. He moved with his family from Ver- gennes, Vermont, to this place in 1851, and purchased a tract of 160 acres, now within the city limits, on which he resided till 1866, when he sold the same and moved into his handsome residence in the Third Ward. He has contributed his quota towards building up the place, and is one of its most respected citizens.
Jefferson Bray is one of the honored names of the olden time - a man highly respected by all who know him.
Among the physicians of the early day Doc- tor Schenich will be long remembered for his kindness of heart and the many generous qual- ities that so endeared him to all who knew him.
Doctors A. P. Barber, Thomas Russell and ' A. B. Wright, old practitioners, are still here and in the possession of a large and successful practice.
Among the attorneys of the early day still here are the names of W. R. Kennedy, who has for several terms held the position of city attorney; A. A. Austin, who came here in 1849, and has held for several terms the office of district attorney, and G. W. Washburn, who also came in 1849 and held many import- ant public positions, among others that of judge of this judicial circuit.
Among those who have disappeared from the arena of human action are the names of C. Coolbaugh, who long enjoyed a successful practice; L. P. Crary, one of the most elo- quent speakers in the State in his day, and C. R. Weisbrod, who also held many important public positions, and was a man of great influ-
182
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN. [1879.
ence, and built up a large and successful law practice to which his son Albert succeeds.
A. B. Bowen, still a resident and the occu- pant of one of the most beautiful places in the city, was among the earlier residents, and one of the most enterprising of the business men of the place.
Abram Sawdy will long be remembered by the old settlers as one of nature's noblemen.
Matt Kremer, now in the grocery business, came here in 1852. He is still flourishing and always has a kind spot in his heart for the old settlers.
William Greenwood, who has just returned here from Chicago, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession, first came to this county in 1850. Reverses overtook him, but full of energy, even in his old age, he is trying to redeem his fallen fortunes, and his old friends are glad to welcome him back.
"Bone" Millard, the pioneer of the Wolf River pineries, is still here, and is the same energetic and generous-hearted man and kind friend that he was thirty years ago.
A. F. David, now a resident of Oregon, was one of the leading business men of the early days, and very popular in his time. He was at one time sheriff of this county.
A. K. Osborne, late United States Collector and now a resident of this place, is one of the early settlers. He has long held important public positions, among others, Judge of the Waupaca County Court, member of the State Legislature and United States Collector. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and has proved faithful to every trust reposed in his hands.
James Murdoch, Doctor Henning, and other early residents, have been fully mentioned in the pages on the early history of Oshkosh. Other prominent business and professional names of the present time will be mentioned in connection with the classified business direc- tory in the subsequent pages of this work.
CHAPTER XLIX.
City and County Officers-Courts, Judges-Fire and Police Departments-Schools, Churches and Societies,
CITY OFFICERS.
Gro
AYOR, H. B. Dale; Superintendent of Schools, George H. Read; City Clerk, Josiah B. Powers; Treasurer, John H. Loper; Attorney, Manzo H. Eaton; Chief of Police, Allsworth Ford.
ALDERMEN.
First Ward-R. A. Spink, Leander Choate, M. T. Battis.
Second Ward - Jos. Staudenraus, R. J. Weisbrod, Jas. Kenney.
Third Ward - Joseph Kilp, John Laabs, Bruno Martin.
Fourth Ward- J. C. Noyes, Wm. Wake- man, Sr., A. M. Brainerd.
Fifth Ward - James McNair, Loren Tyler, Thomas Polley.
Sixth Ward -E. M. Lull, Patrick Flynn, James Rankel.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
James D. Campbell, Theodore Frentz, Ira Griffin, H. L. Lawson, Milton Prock, Wm. Lueck.
These constitute the School Board, with Superintendent Read, President, ex-officio.
ASSESSORS.
Geo. Cameron, R. W. Ryckman, Gus Thom.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Joseph Jackson, Chris Sarau.
POLICE FORCE.
Allsworth Ford, chief; assistants, S. F. Cutts, J. C. Merton, J. B. Raggatz, Cornelius Gorman and Wm. Hogan. Merchant Police, John Blake, Joseph Burster.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This department is noted for its efficiency and sees much hard service. It is so well disciplined and constantly ready for any emergency, that on the first sound of the alarm the steamers are on their way to the scene of disaster, every man in his place and ready for the most arduous duty.
There are three fire steamers, one hand engine, five hose carts and a hook-and-ladder truck. There is an ample supply of hose, and excellent water facilities are now provided. Henry P. Schmidt is chief engineer and Chas. Rief first assistant.
Steamer Phoenix, No. 1, is located on Main Street, near Merritt. Anson W. Farrand is engineer, and one of the best machinists in the State. His assistants are Lewis Sweet, James D. Lewis, David Montgomery, John Dickinson, John Sargent, Samuel Chambers and Albert Farrand.
Steamer W. H. Doe, No. 2, is located at 134 High street. Harvey C. Nash, engineer; assistants, Cornelius McCusker, James Kellet, John O'Brien, Pliny Yount, Frank Rief and Geo. H. Prine.
Steamer Brooklyn, No. 4, is located on Sixth Street, near Kansas. Thomas Roach
183
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1879.]
engineer; assistants, Anson Littlefield, Michael Monahan, John Monahan, Louis Ganzer, John Cowling, Robert Brauer, Albert Brauer, Lathrop Littlefield and Geo. H. Robinson.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Sheriff, Frank B. Morgan; Register of Deeds, Carl J. Kraby; Treasurer, L. W. Hull; Clerk of the Board, Otis Chase; Clerk of the Court, Thomas D. Grimmer; District Attor- ney, George W. Burnell; County Surveyor, H. W. Leach.
CIRCUIT COURT. Hon. D. F. Pulling, Fudge Third Judicial Circuit.
Terms of Court - Tuesday next after the second Monday of April, and Tuesday next after the fourth Monday of November. By statute, the terms in this county are the special terms, for all the other counties in the circuit, and the court is open for the trans- action of business at any time when the judge is present.
COUNTY COURT. Hon George Gary, County Judge
Probate Terms - Regular terms, first Tucs- day in every month. Special terms when ordered, on other Tuesdays.
Civil Jurisdiction - Regular terms, second Monday in February, May and October. Special terms, first Monday in each month, except February, May, October, July and August.
CITY OFFICERS FROM DATE OF INCORPORA- TION TO PRESENT TIME.
Mayors - Edward Eastman, 1853. Joseph Jackson, 1854-55. Thomas A. Follett, 1856. Joseph Jackson, 1857. S. M. Hay, 1858-59. B. S. Henning, 1860. John Fitzgerald, 1861. H. C. Jewell, 1862. Philetus Sawyer, 1863- 64 Carlton Foster, 1865-66. J. H. Porter, 1867. C. W. Davis, 1868. J. H. Porter, 1869. Joseph Stringham, 1870. James V. Jones, 1871. James Jenkins, 1872. James V. Jones, 1873-74. Joseph Stringham, 1875. Andrew Haben, 1876-77. Sanford Beckwith, 1878. Dr. H. B. Dale, 1879.
City Clerks - Wm. Luscher, 1853-54. M. A. Edmonds, 1855. John R. Forbes, 1856. Wm. Luscher, 1867 to 58. George Burnside, 1859. J. B. Powers, 1860 to 1880.
City Treasurers - Walter H. Weed, 1853- 54-55. D. A. Hicks, 1856. A. H. Read, 1857. M. E. Tremble, 1858-59-60. James Lankton, 1861. Benj. Granger, 1862. Robert Mc- Curdy, 1863-64-65. Wm. H. Boyd, 1866. F. X. Haben, 1867. W. P. Taylor, 1868 to 1874. John H. Loper, 1875 to 1879.
1
City Attorneys-Wm. R. Kennedy, 1853. .
T. L. Kennan, 1854. B. Rexford, 1854. C. A. Weisbrod, 1857-58. B. Rexford, 1859- 60. N. Whittemore, 1861. H. B Jackson, 1862. Wm. R. Kennedy, 1863-64. H. B. Jackson, 1865-66. E. P. Finch, 1867. James Freeman, 1868. John Hancock, 1869. Jeff Murdock, 1870. James Freeman, 1871. Wm. R. Kennedy, 1872 to 1876. James R. Mer- rill, 1877-78. W. S. Wheeler, 1879. M. H. Eaton, 1879.
City Marshals - E. M. Neff, 1853. James A. Rea, 1854. E. M. Neff, 1855. John La Dow, 1856-57. N. T. Merritt, 1858. Joseph Jackson, 1859. John La Dow, 1860. Joseph Jackson, 1861 to 1867.
Chicf of Police - Joseph Jackson 1868. Asa Worden, 1869-70. Joseph Jackson, 1871 to 1876. Horace Stroud, 1877. Alsworth Ford, 1878-79.
SCHOOLS.
The achievements of this city in providing enlarged facilities for the education of youth, reflect upon it the highest credit. £ No city in in the State, in proportion to its population, can compare favorably with it in elegant school structures.
The people have taken the deepest interest in the welfare of our schools, and have been most lavish in their expenditure, and Oshkosh, with all her other social advantages, has become one of the educational centers of the State. Her public schools and spacious school buildings, are nowhere surpassed in the West, and only equaled by much larger cities.
The High School building is a magnificent structure, erected at a cost of $43,000. The Dale School building is another elegant brick edifice, costing $16,000, exclusive of the land. The Frentz School building, a fine brick edifice, cost $9,000, and the Read School building, now in course of construction, will cost, when completed and furnished, about $10,000. These are all buildings of imposing proportions and of much architectural beauty, as the view of the High School on the opposite page plainly shows. The Sixth Ward School is another large brick structure, and in addition to these, are the two large frame buildings in the Third Ward, and three other frame school houses; making five brick structures and five frame. There are also, the State Normal School, the Business College, the St. Vincent de Paul Academy, the German and English Academy, five denominational schools and the " Kindergarten.' =
The public school system of this city is the graded .plan, with a prescribed course of study from the primary up to the higher departments.
184
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1879.
Semi-annual examinations in scholarship are made for the purpose of grading the pupils, and by which they progress, as fast as qualified, into more advanced classes.
The course of instruction is, Second
Primary, First Primary, Second Inter- mediate, First Intermediate, Grammar Department, Class B, Class A; and High School Department. The course in the Grammer Department includes reading, oral spelling, geography, arithmetic, English grammer and writing.
There are three courses in the High School: The Full course, the English course and the Latin course.
The number of children in the city between the ages of four and twenty, as per the school census of 1879, is 5,409.
The following from tlte very able report of School Superintendent Geo. H. Read gives very full information in regard to the present condition of our public schools:
"The general conduct of the children in the observ- ance of discipline and good order, has been very praiseworthy. There have been not more than six cases of misconduct requiring temporary suspension ; and but one where expulsion was deemed necessary. This, considering the average enroll- ment in all the schools approximates two thousand in number, is very creditable, as well to the children as to the teachers who have them in charge. It proves that our free public schools can be schools for inculcating proper habits of deportment and manners, as well as for intellectual cultivation. In this matter of orderly conduct, there has been a noticeable improvement within the past two or three years ; and the complaints of peo- ple living in the vicinity of school-houses, of improper and dis- orderly behavior during the recesses, and before and after school hours, have almost entirely ceased. I attribute this improvement mainly to the adoption of the system of employ- ing male teachers for the principals of the Ward Schools, and making them responsible for the discipline and government of the entire school, in all its departments. When the principal is firmly supported by the school authorities in the exercise of his rightful power as the governing head of the school, he secures respect and obedience, and has no difficulty in main- taining discipline and decorum among the pupils.
SCHOOL EXPENSES.
I congratulate the Board on the very favorable exhibit of the condition of the school finances, as shown by the annual finan- cial statement, which has already been published in the official paper, as required by the city charter. The account of expen- ditures is brought down to April 1, 1879, and includes all sal- aries of officers, teachers and janitors to that date. The total cost of supporting the schools for the official year ending on the 31st inst. is $27,358 02. This includes all sums paid for repairs of buildings and for school-room equipments. It is a less amount by $2,002.87 than was expended for the same pur- poses for the year ending March 31, 1878, and $8,301.88 less than the like expenditures for the year ending March 31, 1877. The disbursements on account of current expenses for the three next preceding years were as follows :
For the Year 1875-6
$34,831.63
For the Year 1876-7 35,659.90
# 1877-8 29,360.89
4 1878-9 27,358.02
The balance on hand in the treasury April 1. 1879, is $22,- 243.SS, a sum more than sufficient, with prudent management, to meet all ordinary liabilities on account of the school ser- vice, until the next tax levy is realized.
There was on hand in the Treasury, at the beginning of the School Year, September 1, 1878 .$16,552 90 The amount on hand at the beginning of the preceding schoot year was. . . 7,321.50
Total amount of ealaries paid to male teachers at the present time. 4,750.00
Total amount paid to female teachers 15,880.00 6
Number of male teschers employed.
Number of female teachers employed. 44
Number of Public Schoot buildings in the city 9 Number of Pupils the houses will accommodate. Number of schools in the city with three or more departments Number with two departments. 1
2,500
6
Number of ungraded schools of one department.
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