USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 61
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*NOTE - For list of business, manufacturing and profes- ional firms, see classefied directory, on last pages.
296 (f)
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1846-80.
got fairly started through, the water deepened, and it soon became the main channel. Mr. Frank put up a building at the south end of the bridge - the same building which Thomp son & Hayward have been using for a paint shop and office, and built a dock. Mr. C. Bigelow became associated with him, and they opened the first store of any n. te in the place, although a Mr. Terwilleger had previously been in trade here in a small way. To show the extent of the business done during Mr. Terwilleger's time, and the prices, we mention a little inci- dent which happened : A certain gentleman brought a load of wood to town, and tried to sell it After trying for several hours he gave it up, and started for the river to throw it in, rather than to haul it home again. Mr. Terwilleger saw him, and came out and offered him a pint of whisky for the load. The trade was made, and the seller went home with the pro- ceeds. Tradition does n't say what became of the w - ood.
" Mr. C. Bigelow built the Goodwin house, Lots 97 and 98,- Western Addition, just south of Sam Shaw's.
" In the same year, 1850, the first hotel in the village was built - what is now the Larahee House, except that it has been enlarged and improved until there is scarcely anything left of the original structure. The old Exchange Hotel was also built the same summer, but a little later.
" In 1851, the saw mill on the north side of the river, known as " Johnson's Mill," was built by Hiram Johnson and a gentleman by the name of Bump. The mill was burned in 1866, and the present one erected on the same site.
" Educational matters were not neglected in those early days. The first public school teacher in the village was Mr. Henry Purdy. He taught in the winter of 1850-51, in the first school-house erected in the village in the year 1850, It was situated nearly on the spot on which Mr. H. Carter's barn now stands, just west of the present high school building.
" Mr. L. A. Reed soon after taught a school in the building now owned and used by A. J. Dickerson ; and there was also a school on the north side, in Patterson's building, nearly on the site of Pelton's store, with Miss Peabody as teacher,
" The first record we have of a school meeting is on the 7th day of May, 1850. This meeting was called by G. W. Beck- with, Town Superintendent of Schools. The meeting was held at the house of George Gallatin, at 2 o'clock P. M., and W. P. McAllister was elected Director, James Peck Treasurer, and W. W. Wilcox, Clerk. The meeting adjourned to meet at the same place on the following day at 7 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of designating a site for a school house. At the adjourned meeting it was decided to raise $200 for the school house.
"This year - 1851 - was not a very flourishing one for Omro. Nevertheless, the people stayed and struggled through the best they could, and there were some new comers. Among those who came in that year, and the year previous, we men- tion, L. O. E. Manning, the Wilsons, Wilcoxes, L. Andrews, J. Waterman and the Pattersons. According to the recollec tion of N. Frank, Esq., there are not now ten men living in the village, who were men at that time, although many of the boys of those days are now residents of the village.
" In 1855 the Methodist church building was commenced. The foundation for the church was laid, and the frame work put up and inclosed, but it was not finished off until the follow- ing season. The Baptist church was not commenced until 1866, but it was finished before the Methodist church.
" In 1855, the 5th District voted to have a new school house, the old one not being large enough to meet the demands,
and $600 was appropriated for the purpose. At a special meet- ing held December 15, 1855, a proposal of E. C. Matoon for building the house was accepted, the price being $1,500. At a subsequent meeting, March 3, 1856, Mr. Matoon was released from his contract, and a proposal to build the school-house of brick, from George Stokes, was accepted, the price to be $2,140. The building was put up the same season, but was not finished until the following summer.
" In the year 1856, the grist mill was built by Mr. McLaren. This was quite an event for the place, and was the means of drawing considerable trade into the village.
" In the same year Andrew Wilson built his mill on the north side of the river. The float bridge which occupied the place of the present structure was also put across the river the same season. A compromise between the two sections of the village had been effected, and the bridge was located on the line between the two. It was constructed by a company, and opened as a toll bridge
" In 1857, we find among the new residents of the village, Dr. McCall, W. Ames, Dr. Gibbs, Benj. Sadwy and W. Lara- bee. The first village charter was granted that year, and the first charter election was held on the 13th of April. The whole number of votes cast was 105. W. P. McAllister was elected President, and Chancellor Johnson, A. C. Patterson, J. Gibbs and W Larabee, Trustees. W. B. Holcomb was elected Clerk; J. V. Taylor, Treasurer ; Benj. Sawdy, Assessor; and A. J. White, Marshal.
" The village expenses during the year were $234 21. There were 457 rods of sidewalk constructed, at an expense of $1,108.75.
" The building on the corner, now occupied by Berkley & Cain, was erected during the summer, by N. Frank, and rented to Joel V. Taylor, who put in a general stock, and continued business here for several years.
" The project of a railroad to Omro was first brought into definite shape during this year. In the spring and summer the stock was all taken, $90,000 in cash and bonds being the amount which the Town and Village of ()mro pledged or paid.
" In 1858, the float bridge across the Fox was purchased by the town for $Soo, on condition that the Bridge Company put it in repair, and that the village maintain and keep it in repair. The village, at their annual meeting the same year, empowered the Board of Trustees to take action in the matter, and the proposition of the town was agreed to. The purchase was made, and the bridge declared free to the public. G. W. Sha- fer came to Omro this year and commenced business where the Northwestern House stands. Grading and tieing the rail- road was commenced this year, and progressed steadily but not very rapidly. In the following year the work went on, and the grading was nearly completed through to Winneconne. The first depot was built by private subscription, and was located on the bank of the river, on the west side of the track,
" Track laying was commenoed in 1860. In the early part of the winter of that year the iron was laid as far as Waukau, and on Sunday, the ist of January, 1861, the last rail was laid at the bank of the river in Omro.
" The spring of 1861 was ushered in with the first dread notes of war. * *
* Company C, of the Fourteenth Infantry, was recruited in Omro in the fall of 1861, mustered into the United States service, January 30, 1862, and left the State on the 8th of March. * * * David Hinman, a son of J. L. Hinman, now residing in the village, was the first sol- dier from Omro who was killed. * * * *
296 (g)
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1848-80.]
" The Fourteenth was under fire from the time it reached the front until it was mustered out. * * * Company A, of the Forty-eighth Infantry, was recruited here, and was composed almost solely of Omro men. * * * The Third Cavalry, which was recruited in 1861, and mustered into service in Jan- uary, 1862, also contained many citizens of Omro. * * * The Eighteenth Regiment also had one company from Omro, Company F. * * * * * * *
" It was during the year 1863 that Mr. George Challoner built the shingle mill now occupied by Thompson & Hayward. He put in a shingle machine of his own invention, and did a good business.
" In May, 1865, the first permanent newspaper, The Omro Union, was established.
The opening of the spring of 1866 witnessed a general increase of business in Omro. The soldiers had nearly all returned to peaceful pursuits, and the feeling of joy that the Rebellion had at last been crushed seemed to encourage every- body. Improvements were commenced, new enterprises talked of and started, and the busy hum of industry was heard from one end of the village to the other All who wanted work found plenty of it, and at good wages and prompt pay; and workmen from other places flocked here for work, the reputa- tion of Omro as a live, growing town having gone abroad. Both Wilson's and Johnson's saw-mills were run " for all they were worth," and then could not supply the demand; and when they shut down in the fall there was no lumber left in the yard. It had all been shipped green from the saw. Johnson's mill unfortunately burned down in the busiest time, and, although it was immediately rebuilt, much of the best part of the summer was lost. George Challoner put up a large shop on the site of the present foundry and machine shop.
" Lewis & Thompson's shingle mill was then running on full time, and making money. "A" shingles sold for $5. Good- enough & Utter put up a spoke and hub mill just above where Webster's saw-mill is located. It did not succeed very well. It was burned and not rebuilt. Sheldon & Allen put in a broom handle factory in a building about on the site of Lan- sing's barn. It did not prove a success financially, and was finally abandoned. Scott's shingle mill was built near where the woolen mill is, and run for awhile That, too, was burned and not rehuilt. The first brick store was put up that summer -the Gibbs building. The Webster saw mill was put up that season by L. B. Lewis and Ellis Thompson. The Catholic church was built that summer; and Drew & llicks put up their carriage shop, now forming a part of the Thompson & Hayward works.
" The following year, 1868, was not so favorable for Omro; but there was considerable building during the year. Putnam's Block was put up, A Pelton's brick store on the North Side, and many dwellings; and the highway bridge across the Fox Was also built that year. The Omro Agricultural and Mechan- ical Association grounds were fitted up and enclosed during tbe summer and fall, and the fair held there. The Great Western Compound Company was organized, and the building erected the same year. G. W. Shafer built his fine brick building on the corner of Water and Division streets.
" The year 1869 Was not marked by any great changes. David Blish put up and run a planing mill on the North Side, and the manufactories already built were kept running.
" 1870 showed some improvement. The Christian church, now occupied by the Methodist Society, was also put up, besides many fine dwellings. The American House, formerly
known as the Exchange Hotel, and by several other names, on the corner south of Putnam's Block."
In 1871, the foundry and machine shop of George Challoner was destroyed by fire; loss, $20,000. Mr. Challoner immediately rebuilt the works.
On the 14th of September, 1871, some workmen, while excavating near the residence of John Wilson, found the remains of a Mas- todon. The following account was published in the Omro Union.
" The tusks Were the first portions exhumed; they Were mistaken for petrified wood, and the end of one that projected into the ditch was consequently struck off with a spade; soon, however, their true character was discovered, and hy a little farther digging two enormous molar teeth were thrown out. Subsequently the two huge tusks were removed from the soil, getting somewhat mutilated, however, hy rough handling. They were of the enormous length of ten feet each, and one was eight inches in diamater. The teeth, of which four in all have been found, are of immense size, and in a perfect state of preservation, the enamel looking as hard and bright as if but yesterday they were taken from their sockets. They measure on the crown nine inches in length and five in width, and nine inches from the crown to the end of the fangs. Each weighs eight pounds. The teeth of this animal show that it belonged purely to the herbiverous species They have the peculiar mastoid or nipple-like elevations on their grinding surface, from which the animal takes its name."
Among the later business structures erected, are the fine brick blocks of W. W. Race, Andrew Wilson and Treleven & Orchard. These buildings, and the Northwestern Hotel, a substantial brick edifice, are ornaments to the street. The destruction of George Sha- fer's three-story brick block is a great loss to Omro, and one much deplored.
The general business depression which has prevailed of late years somewhat checked the progress of the place, but Omro, in common with other towns. is rapidly resuming the appearance of its better business days, and bids fair to make rapid strides in the march of improvement.
PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN.
One of the live, enterprising men of the place, is Andrew Wilson, who settled on the site of Omro in 1849. He subsequently engaged in lumbering, and, in 1856, built a saw-mill, and continued in the lumber business for sixteen years. His beautiful residence is one of the best in the place. The publisher is indebted to him for the kind interest he has taken in the publication of this work.
H. W. Webster, one of the leading men of the place and a heavy lumber manufacturer, settled in the present Town of Omro, on Sec- tion 15, in December, 1848. In 1870, he pur- chased the large saw-mill which he now oper-
296 (/2) -
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1850-80.
ates. He is one of Omro's representative men and has served as chairman of the Board for six terms, and now represents that district in the State Legislature.
N. Frank, who is fully mentioned in the fore- going historical sketch, came to Omro July 15, 1850, opening the first store, and has taken a prominent part in the history of the place. He has acted as justice of the peace for twenty- two years.
Andrew Lansing is another prominent name. He moved to the Village of Omro, February 12, 1853, and bought the American House, which he kept for a number of years. He also opened the first livery stable in Omro. „ He is one of the early western settlers, having lived in Rosendale in 1847 - in the days of Indian trails.
Robert Crawford settled in the now Town of Omro in the fall of 1849, and was, conse- quently, there at the very beginning of the village, in the building up of which he has taken an active part.
Geo. Shafer came to Omro in 1858, and has been one of its most enterprising citizens. He opened a large drug store, and built the finest business block on the street.
Geo. Challoner, proprietor of a large foundry and machine shop, has been one of the most prominent manufacturers. He settled in Omro in 1849, and is the inventor of Challoner's shingle-mill. He is frequently mentioned in the foregoing sketch.
C. C. Morton is one of the proprietors of the sash and door factory, and Almond Grey is proprietor of a large barrel factory.
J. M. Beals, present chairman of the Board, settled in this town in 1857, and is now a resi- dent of the village. He has served as chair- man for two terms, and is an efficient and influential member of the County Board.
M. G. Bradt, now express agent, is one of the old settlers of this county, having lived at
Delhi and Eureka in 1849, where he was engaged in mercantile business.
Among the leading business firms are Trele- ven & Orchard, whose enterprise gives Omro one of its finest business blocks.
Richard Reed, Jr., is one of the most popu- lar dealers in general merchandise.
W. W Race, one of the enterprising inen of the place, and a heavy dealer in hardware, etc., and whose finely stocked store is a credit to the place.
Leighton & Gilman, who keep a finely filled store, well stocked with groceries, crockery, boots and shoes, etc.
S. N. Bridge, dealer in musical instruments and musical merchandise.
J. T. Russell, dealer in harnesses and sad- dlery hardware, has a well stocked store.
C. C. Covey & Co., dealers in groceries, crockery, boots and shoes, etc., also carry a large stock.
A. W. Larabee, the popular landlord of the Larabee House, is one of the old settlers, and widely known.
Captain Baldwin has lately become landlord of the Northwestern House, and knows how to keep a hotel.
Charles Chase keeps a well-appointed jewelry store.
A. B. Tice has a well stocked meat market.
Alexander Gadbaw deals in farm machinery, and is a collecting agent.
F. Bunker deals in hardware, stoves and tinware.
Robert Webb deals in groceries and pro- visions.
James H. Caswell is an insurance agent, town and village clerk.
POPULATION.
The population of the village is something over two thousand.
296 (¿)
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1880.]
CITY OF OSHKOSH.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
Oshkosh Taking a New Start in the Race of Progress -New Factories and Mills Erected in the Winter of 1879-80 - Another Large Sash and Door Factory Built - Four more Saw mills Built - Another Machine Shop and a Flouring Mill Erected - The Oshkosh Carriage Works, a Mammoth Concern Employing One Hundred and Fifteen Hands, Started during the past Year -Two Large Additional Buildings Added to the Trunk Factory - Other Factories Enlarged and their Capacity Increased - Glazed Sash an Industry of Immense Magnitude - Twenty-six Car Loads of Glass Ordered, During one Week, by the Glazed Sash Factories - Oshkosh the Greatest Sash and Door Manu- facturing Center in the United States.
rapidly are the manufactures of this city increasing, that in the few months that have passed, since the com- pilation of manufacturing statistics were made, which appear in the former pages of this work, several new establish- ments of large proportions have been built. Among them is the large
SASH AND DOOR FACTORY OF RADFORD BROTHERS.
This factory was erected in the spring of 1880, and is one of the largest in the city, being 66 by 184 feet, and two stories high. It contains forty-five different machines, among which are two heavy planers, two flooring and siding machines, one heavy moulder, four morticers, one large diagonal planer, innumerable circular saws, etc. The capacity, per day, is four hundred doors, four hundred windows, and one hundred pairs of blinds; besides dressed lumber. Number of hands, eighty.
ENLARGEMENT OF SASH AND DOOR FACTORIES.
The mammoth sash and door factory of Foster & Jones has been enlarged the present season by an addition 120x20 feet, and two large additional buildings for warehouses; additional machinery has also been put in which will largely increase its capacity.
The large works of Williamson, Libbey & Co. have also increased their facilities, and this enterprising firm are now pushing their manufactures to the fullest capacity.
R. McMillen & Co. have increased the num- ber of their hands to ninety-two, and this immense establishment is turning out doors, sash and dressed lumber in quantities almost exceeding belief.
An addition to the sash and door factories of this city is the new firm of Hume & Wash- burn, which has enlarged the old Neff fac- tory to more than double its former capacity;
having enlarged the building by an addition of 20X152 feet and 30x40, making its present dimensions 60x152. They have also put in twenty new machines.
See views in this work of the factories of Williamson, Libbey & Co., Foster & Jones and R. McMillen & Co.
There are now seven large sash and door factories in this city, and another is to be con- structed the coming summer. Their product last year was largely in excess of that of any other place in the United States. Their aggre- gate capacity per day, then, was one thousand two hundred doors, two thousand five hundred windows, and six hundred pairs of blinds. The enlargement of the capacity of Foster & Jones' mammoth works, and the additional large factory of the Radford Brothers, will greatly increase the product for the present year. A fair estimate for the present year's product, at the rate they are turning out work, is 450,000 doors, 800,000 windows and 160,000 pairs of blinds. The several establishments
are as follows:
R. McMillen & Co., employing . 92 hands
Foster & Jones, employing . 90 hands
Williamson, Libbey & Co., employing . 70 hands
Conlee Brothers, employing . 60 hands
James P. Gould, employing . 70 hands
Radford Brothers, employing . 80 hands
Hume & Washhurn, employing . 56 hands
These factories contain all the best and latest improved machinery - some of them having from forty to fifty different inachines - run by powerful steam engines. Their management, too, is in the hands of men of lifelong experi- ence, and this, with their facilities for obtain- ing the best of stock, gives them the means for manufacturing their products at the lowest possible cost; thus enabling them to success- fully meet any competition in the market.
The completion of the new "Northern" Railroad, gives a new line of access to the pine forests and its lumber resources.
The sash and door factories of Oshkosh con- stitute one of its hopes of continued progress, as it is a branch of manufacture which gives every promise of rapid increase.
GLAZED SASH.
An industry of immense proportions is that of glazed sash, and in this no other place can compare with Oshkosh. Its magnitude may be seen in the fact that George F. Stroud, of this city, wholesale dealer in glass, oils and paints, received orders from these factories, in one week, for twenty-six car loads of glass. These aggregated eleven thousand two hundred boxes; and was but one shipment of several in the year.
37 B
296 (j)
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1880.
NEW SAW MILLS ERECTED.
Four new saw mills have been built during the past year. They are those of Geo. W. Pratt, whose old mill was destroyed by fire in May, 1879; Foster & Jones, who have built on the site of the old Sheldon mill; Badger & Gould, whose new mill occupies the site of the old Stevenson mill, and the new mill of O. Beach, now nearly completed. These are all first-class and ranking with the very best. They have all the latest improvements in steam saw mill machinery, and are of large capacity, averaging about seven millions of sawed lum- ber in a season, with large quantities of shin- gles and lath. These additional new mills will largely increase the lumber manufacturing capacity of this city.
OSHKOSH CARRIAGE WORKS OF PARSONS, NEVILLE & CO.
This extensive factory, a view of which is given in this work, is a large contribution to the manufactures of this city, and to that renewed manufacturing impetus that is now pushing her forward in the race of progress.
This establishment started up February of 1879. They employ one hundred and fifteen hands, and turned out two thousand finished carriages during the year. They are increas- ing their facilities, and, large as the works are, they give promise of greatly increased propor- tions. These carriages are shipped by the car load, even to California, Texas and the Eastern States. Their sales for the past year amounted to $140,000; and they expect to manufacture, during the present year, three thousand carriages. Orders are flowing in about as fast as they can fill them.
EAGLE TRUNK FACTORY ENLARGED.
Among the manufactures of Oshkosh which have sprung into enlarged proportions during the year 1879, are those of the trunk factory of Schmit Brothers. These works have been more than quadrupled in proportion since the view was engraved which illustrates them in this work. Since then a building 40 by 100 feet and three stories high, in itself much larger than the old works, has been built; another one has been added 35 by 75 feet, two stories high, and an engine room 18 by 26 feet. These buildings are all supplied with the latest improved machinery, and the number of hands has been increased to seventy, while more are needed.
These works are turning out trunks at the rate of thirty-two thousand a year, and are the largest trunk factory in the Northwest. At
the rate it is increasing its proportions, it will soon be a mammoth concern.
This is one of the institutions which gives Oshkosh its prosperity.
ENLARGEMENT OF CLARK'S STAR MATCH WORKS.
This factory, which is now said to be the largest match factory in the world, has been enlarged since the view was taken which illus trates it in this work, by the addition of two buildings. Additional machinery has also been put in, and the number of hands, which amounted to 350, has been increased.
These works are continually increasing their proportions. For details of the working of a concern which turns out 34,444,800 boxes of matches per year, and which consumes, in making paper boxes, two hundred and twenty tons of paper, see page 169.
ANOTHER STEAM FLOURING MILL.
Another flouring mill has been added to the list during the season of 1879, making three flouring mills.
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