History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 101

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The present county officers are : J. Edmund Mil- lard, County Judge; A. E. Dunlap, Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court ; Henry S. Hunt, Clerk of the Board of Su- pervisors ; Henry B. Lowe, Register of Deeds ; Sam- uel G. Ellis, Sheriff; Henry S. Comstock, District Attorney ; August W. Millard, Superintendent of Schools ; Irwin W. Sherwood, Treasurer; R. P. Raw- son, Coroner. After the question as to the location of the connty seat had been settled to the satisfaction of all, the citizens of the village of Dartford erected a substantial stone building for the double purposes of a

court-house and jail, at a cost of $4,000. In 1869, a separate fire-proof building was erected for the county offices, at an additional cost of $6,000. By the State census of 1850, the population of Green Lake County was 15,867. The Americans, representatives from the Middle and New England States, are still in the major- ity, but at their present rate of increase, the Germans will soon have the controlling voice. The Irish and other nationalities are well represented in the northern and western portions of the county.

The public schools of the county will compare favor- ably with those of larger and more wealthy counties. The excellent manner in which they are conducted re- fleets great credit on the people. It is from this stand- point of education that the prosperity of a community may be judged. Green Lake County has every reason to feel proud at the advancement made in this direction, and at the grand efforts now being put forth to place her public schools on a still higher basis. The following estimates, exclusive of the city of Berlin, were taken from the County Superintendent's report for the year ending August 31, 1880: Number of school-houses in the county, 70; cash value of school property, $35,- 201.20; moneys received for school purposes during the year, $18,947.34; number of teachers employed, male, 36; female, 87; number of children attending school, 2,743.

The county, though largely dependent on its agri- cultural products, by which to make a showing to the outside world, has manifested considerable enterprise in the way of utilizing what few natural advantages are afforded by the tributaries of the Fox River. The Fox itself, owing to its slight fall, which is barely a foot to the mile, is perfectly useless as a means of pow- er, and serves only as a great natural canal and a fer- tilizer of the grand valley through which it silently finds its way. Steam mills and manufactories to sup- ply the needs of the population are extending and in- creasing as the wants of the community demand. The tillable lands are now mostly all under cultiva- tion.

WAR RECORD.

Green Lake County made for herself a brilliant war record, ranking foremost as to the number of men fur- nished in proportion to her population. Public enthu- siasm knew no bounds, and in city, town and hamlet the demand on every tongue was for a vigorous prose- cution of the war. Scarcely had the sounds of strife burst upon the country when the people of Green Lake County rose up en masse. Meetings were held in every village and hamlet in the county, rousing war speeches were made by the orators of the day, enlist- ments were made by men of all classes and professions. The little city of Berlin became the head center, and in less than two months from the time President Lin- coln issued his first proclamation, the county had mus- tered in and sent to the front nearly 1,000 men. Be- sides this number, home companies were raised and put under military discipline. In this way, the county kept full its quota. Local bounties were raised, prin- cipally by subscriptions from among the leading busi- ness men. In this manner, volunteer enlistments were readily obtained. The following are the credits for

349

HISTORY OF GREEN LAKE COUNTY.

each town, as taken from the Adjutant-General's re- port.

Towns.

Quota.

Credits. I80

Berlin City

161

" Town

Brooklyn

Dayton

Green Lake

Kingston

Mackford

IOI

Manchester

Marquette

Princeton

Seneca

St. Marie

Total,

796

855

This number does not include the commissioned of- ficers nor the men who left the county to enlist in the towns and cities in other counties.

The following account in reference to the Berlin Light Guards was given by the Berlin Courant, June 20,1861 :

"On Friday afternoon, agreeably to announcement, the Berlin Light Guards turned out with full ranks to receive a stand of colors from the ladies of Berlin. A large crowd was in attendance, notwithstanding the high wind, which raised clouds of dust, played provoking antics with Sum- mer hats, and unmannerly annoyed the fair wearers of crin- oline who graced the occasion by their presence. The flag was presented by Miss Marie Macnish, with the following neat and appropriate speech :

"BERLIN LIGHT GUARDS-Gentlemen-In behalf of the ladies of Berlin, I present you with our National Colors. May you bear them proudly, and to the last preserve them freefrom insult. Accept them as a slight tribute of respect from your fair friends. Leaving, as you are, your friends, your homes and all that is dear to you, to assist in this great battle for freedom, you are acting nobly. You are acting from principle, and are not merely actuated by ambitious motives. Our government is in danger of being usurped by the Southern power. Wisconsin has responded nobly to the national call for volunteers, but among the nu- merous regiments, no company, I trust, contains better, truer or nobler men, who are willing to sacrifice their lives, if need be, for their coun- try's welfare, than this little band now before me. As a company, we are proud of you, and we have reason to be. May your conduct on the battle field ever be as exemplary as it has been since your sojourn with us. We shall miss you all, but some are dearer to us than others, being connected by the closest ties of relationship. Having one dearly be- loved brother in your ranks, I trust, for his sake, that kind feelings to- ward one another will ever reign triumphant. You are engaged in a glorious cause. Go on, and may He who 'tempers the wind unto the shorn lamb ' guide and protect you all through the coming contest ; and should we ne'er meet again on earth, let us do our duty here so as to be prepared to meet in that spot where partings are no more. Accept our kindest wishes, one and all, and ever prove true to the 'RED, WHITE AND BLUE.'

"Capt. Bugh accepted the colors in behalf of his com- pany, and replied in words of stirring patriotism and burn- ing eloquence, thanking the ladies for the generous and appropriate gift, and pledging himself and his companions in arms to return it untarnished by treason or cowardice. The pupils of the Berlin High School sang the ' Red, White and Blue,' and were vociferously applauded. After which, Capt. Bugh was presented with a revolver by Mr. William Williams, in behalf of the citizens of Berlin. Capt. Bugh acknowledged the beautiful gift in a neat speech, which was greeted with rounds of applause. Each volunteer was then presented with a 'housewife,' a gift from the ladies, and an indispensable article in camp, where each soldier has to re- pair his own wardrobe. They were filled with needles, pins, thread, and all the et cetera of a work-basket. Miss Macnish and Miss White, who assisted in the ceremony, were beautifully attired in red, white and blue, and were the admired of all admirers. The flag is a splendid thing,

of full regulation size, trimmed with gold fringe, and mounted on an elegant staff, decorated with heavy red silk tassels. A streamer of white satin is fastened to the top, on which 'Berlin Light Guards ' is lettered in red and gold. It cost in the neighborhood of $70, and is a credit alike to the generous patriotism and excellent taste of the ladies of this city.'

LEGISLATIVE.

The Representatives elected to serve the county since its organization have been as follows :

Assembly-Jessie Thomas, 1859-60 ; James W. Burt, 1860-2; Alvin L. Flint, 1862-3; Archibald Nicholas, 1863-4; S. W. Smith, 1864-5; James Field, 1865-6; L. J. Brayton, 1866-7; William A. Bugh, 1867-8; Charles Kilbourn, 1868-9; Ira Manley, Jr., 1869-70 ; Edwin L. Hoyt, 1870-1; Joseph C. Burdick, 1871-2; Archibald Nicholas, 1872-3; A. D. Foote, 1873-4; S. M. Knox, 1874-5; W. H. Dakin, 1875-6; Waldo S. Flint, 1876-7 ; Homer Nelson, 1877-8; O. W. Bow, 1878-9; Samuel Barter, 1879-80 ; Richard Prichard, 1880-1.

Senate-M. L. Kimball, 1868-60 ; M. W. Seely, 1860-8; G. D. Waring, 1868-74; Waldo S. Flint, 1874-6; Hobart S. Sackett, 1877-81.

The following election returns, giving the number of votes cast for the Presidential candidates, will show the political complexion of the county : For James A. Garfield, Republican, 1,764; Winfield S. Hancock, Democrat, 1,170 ; Weaver, Greenback, 105. Garfield's plurality, 489; majority over Hancock, 594.

SUMMER ATTRACTIONS.

Big and Little Green Lakes, as they are called, are among the prominent features of the county, and are fast gaining in popularity as Summer resorts. Big Green Lake is a remarkably fine sheet of water, of a greenish color. The lake takes its name from the color of its water, and the county its name after the lake.

This lake is about twelve miles in length, and has an average width of three miles. The water is very clear and generally deep, having been plumbed in some places to the depth of 100 feet. The shores are high and wooded, and are irregular, being indented by fine bays. It is only within a few years that this gem of a lake has attracted the attention of pleasure seekers. David Greenway was the first man to embark in the venturesome undertaking of keeping a Summer resort hotel at this place. The Oakwood House was opened by him June 15, 1867. He succeeded in getting a few guests from Chicago, St. Louis and the South. The fame of Green Lake spread so rapidly that he was obliged to enlarge and improve his place in order to accommodate the many who sought a refuge from the heat and dust of cities in the cool shades on the shores of the lake. This year (1881) he had an average of 250 guests.

"Clarence Park," formerly "Sherwood Forest," now owned by Robert C. Baker, is situated on the west- ern shore, about a mile from Dartford. This house was built in 1874, by John C. Sherwood, and is noted for its elegant parks and fine drives, the most attractive on the lake.

Pleasant Point House, situated on the north side of the lake, was completed in the month of April, 1880.

350

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

George A. Ross, the proprietor, is from Chicago, and is using every means possible to make " Pleasant Point House" the finest and most desirable on the lake.

" Spring Grove House," owned by H. R. Hill. of Ripon, and the " Como Bay Honse," owned by C. F. Dodge, of the same place, form the principal attrac- tions on the south side of the lake. The " Glen," sit- uated to the south and east, is an attractive spot. It is a second Yosemite Valley, on a small scale, and is a favorite picnic ground. W. M. Lockwood, of Ripon, has fitted up two elegant little steamers, " Camera " and " Pallet." These steamers make trips around the lake to accommodate excursionists and pleasure seek- ers. The several watering places are provided with fleets of sail and row boats, and when filled by their merry crews, these boats, as they flit across the green waters of the lake, add a charm to scenes of unsur- passed grandeur. Prominent among the many hand- some private residences along the lake are those of Gen. M. Braman, ex-Governor of Idaho, and R. Lucas, formerly of St. Louis.

Little Green Lake is situated in the southern part of the town of Green Lake, and has the same distinct- ive characteristics as its larger namesake. It is about a mile and three-quarters in length and a mile wide. Lake Puckaway, in the western part of the county, an expansion of the Fox River, is about eight miles in length, and from three-quarters to a mile wide. The Indian name signifies wild rice. During the duck sea- son the borders of the lake are lined with hunters from the large cities and surrounding country, while the no- ble red man never fails to put in an appearance. Fish are caught in abundance during the season ; fine spec- imens of lake trout, pickerel, bass and perch gladden the hearts of the fishermen, and serve to amuse those who come in search of pleasure.

BERLIN CITY.

This little city is the metropolis of the county, and has a population of 3,500. It is pleasantly situated on both sides of the Fox River, in the northeast corner of the coun- ty. The city has beautiful natural surroundings, both on the bluff and in the valley. Its chief claim, in earlier days, as a desirable spot for settlement, was owing to its being the only good crossing or landing place on the Fox River, for many miles above or below. The first name given was Strong's Landing. In 1848, Nathan H. Strong, Thomas Noyes, Benjamin F. Moore, Joseph Giles and Oscar Wilson laid out a town plat, and gave it the name of Strongsville. The land was surveyed by Otis H. Capson, and the entries made by Register P. 1). Haywood. Nathan II. and William D. Strong were the first settlers. They originally came from Franklin Co., N. Y. Nathan H. Strong built the first fer- ry-boat, and took an active part in the organization of the early town government. His death occurred August 23, 1852. William 1). Strong is still a resident of the city, and is now living with his daughter, on the west side. His was the first marriage in the town, his sweetheart, Tryphena Bignall, having taught the first school. The board shanty in which the school was kept stood on the lot where the Union Church now stands. The Baptists were the first to

hold services, in 1848. Samuel Southard and William D. Strong built them a board shanty. Rev. R. Manning was the pioneer minister. The Methodists and Congregational- ists organized in 1849. The first steam saw-mill was built by Wilson & Phelps, in 1848. The first steamboat was the " Badger State ;" it landed in the Spring of 1849, with Captain Hoetelling at the helm. The first Post-office was kept by Hiram Conant, in a little board shanty. Mr. Co- nant was appointed in the month of April, 1848. On being requested by the Postmaster General to find a name unlike any other in the State, he selected that of Berlin. The mail was brought once a week, on horseback. The first mail-carrier was Louis W. Strong, son of Nathan H. Strong. then only twelve years of age. The lad grew to be a prom- ising young lawyer in the city which his father had found- ed. When the war broke out he was made first lieutenant of Company G, of the Fifth Wisconsin Regiment. He was soon promoted to the rank of captain. He was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863. C. D. Taylor built the first hotel. A Mr. Montague opened the first store, and J. Mer- riman became the recognized pioneer doctor.

In 1850, the town of Berlin could claim only 250 inhab- itants ; seven years later it was incorporated as a city, with a population of 2,800. The city has excellent facilities for market and transportation. Steamboats arrive and depart daily on the Fox River, making connections with the lake steamers at Green Bay. The Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road forms the connecting link with the south and west, two passenger trains being run each way daily. This road was completed to the city in the month of August, 1857, when a grand celebration was held in commemoration of the event. The road was incorporated and built under the name of Milwaukee & Horicon. The town of Berlin voted $100,- ooo toward its completion.

The manufactories of Berlin are being pushed with con- siderable enterprise. The woolen mill, a large stone build- ing, owned by D. L. Harkness & Co., was erected in 1870, at a cost of $25,000. The mill gives employment to for- ty-five persons, and manufactures $50,000 worth of cloths and flannels annually. In addition to the woolen mill, the city contains three steam flouring mills, using constantly twelve run of stone; one furniture and coffin manufactory ; two foundries; two machine shops; two tanneries; three saw-mills; two carriage factories; two marble shops; one brewery ; one sash factory ; two whip factories ; one glove fac- tory ; six hotels and nine churches. The business houses are mostly all substantial stone or brick buildings, while the va- riety and quality of goods kept in stock by the merchants are such as to command a large patronage. There are two banks in the city, both private institutions. Large quarries of granite and limestone rocks are now being successfully worked near the city.

The first officers elected to serve the city were as follows : George D. Waring, Mayor; Thomas E. Baker, City Clerk ; Stillman Wright, Treasurer; Field, Bassett, Turner and Tay- lor, Aldermen. Mr. Waring's successors to the office of Mayor were: John Porter, H. G. Talbot, O. F. Silver, S. A.

351

HISTORY OF GREEN LAKE COUNTY.

Warner, W. Rogers, Mr. Stedman, and the present Mayor, H. G. Talbot.

The first meeting was held in Metropolitan Hall, April 14, 1857, when the organization of the city took place.

The religious societies of Berlin were organized at an early day, and have kept equal pace with the rapid advance- ment of the city. Handsome church edifices have been erected by each of the different denominations. Following are the churches now represented in the city, with the names of their pastors:

Union Church, Congregational and Presbyterian, Rev. R. M. Webster, pastor; First Baptist Church, Rev. E. H. Page, pastor; Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. S. A. Olin, pastor; Free Will Baptist, no pastor; Trinity Church (Epis- copal), pastor, Rev. C. S. Susan ; St. Joseph's Church (Cath- olic), Father Allen, pastor; Polish Catholic Church, S. Wie- zarick, pastor. Besides these, the Germans have two churches. The German Methodist and German Lutheran both are in a flourishing condition, and have each a neat church edifice.

The fraternal societies are represented as follows :

Berlin Lodge, No. 38, A. F. & A M., meets first and third Mondays in each month. Organized November 27, 1851. Chartered June 11, 1852. First charter members- John S Willis, W. M .; Charles Bartlett, S. W .; Joel New- ell, J. W. Present officers- E. G. Blackmore, W. M. ; P. B. Wightman, S. W .; T. W. Hamilton, J. W .; C. A. Peck, treasurer; John Megran, secretary; A. L. Buell. S. D .; H. D. Slayton, J. D.

Berlin Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M., meets first and third Wednesdays in each month. Organized January 6, 1859. Chartered February 11, 1859. Charter members-Thomas J. Warner, H. P .; Joseph Yates, K. ; William E. Howard, S. Present officers- S. E. Bassett, H. P .; G. M. Guest, K .; D. L. Dewey, Sr., S .; C. A. Peck, treasurer ; John Megran, secretary ; E. G. Blackmore, P. S.

Berlin Commandery, No. To, K. T., meets second Satur- day of each month. Organized November 14, 1870. Char- tered January 19, 1871. Charter members-Joseph Yates, E. C .; S. Bridgman, Gen .; John W. Woodhull, C. Gen. ; Present officers - P. B. Wightman, E. S .; Charles C. Ran- ons, Gen .; G. W. Graves, C. Gen. ; C. A. Peck, prelate ; G. M. Guest, treasurer; John Megran, recorder; P. F. Whiting, warder.

Berlin Lodge, No. 56, I. O. O. F., meets every Tuesday evening. This lodge numbers about fifty members. The lodge rooms are elegantly furnished throughout.

Berlin Lodge, No. 7, Knights of Pythias, meets second and fourth Wednesdays in each month. Instituted by the Grand Lodge, November 3, 1871. Charter members-John W. Woodhull, G. W. Graves, William Kees, E. Hathaway, H. C. Snow and D. J. Turner. Present officers-J. A. Collins, P. C .; E. G. Longcroft, V. C .; J. H. Guest, C. C .; J. M. Hawley, Prel. ; Edward Strauss, K. of R. & S. The lodge numbers forty-eight members, all in good standing. The Endowment Rank was added May 26, 1880. Present

officers-M. E. Osborn, president ; E. G. Longcroft, vice- president ; Secretary and Treasurer, Edward Strauss.

John H. Williams Post, No. 4, G. A. R., meets every Thursday evening. Organized September 8, 1866.

Berlin Lodge, No. 53, A. O. U. W., meets second and fourth Mondays of each month. Organized in 1879.

Berlin Temple of Honor, No. 17, organized in 1876, meets very Friday evening.

Enterprise Lodge, No. 34, 1. O. G. T., organized in 1868, meets every Tuesday evening. W. W. Collins, W. C. T.

Berlin Philharmonic Society-a musical club composed of a good corps of singers. The club presents successfully one or two operas each season.

Temperance Club Rooms, Berlin, were established by the Berlin Red Ribbon Club, in 1878. The rooms are fur- nished with three billiard tables, cigars, confectionery, ice- cream, and makes a specialty of its lunch counter and hot coffee and tea, which is served at all hours. Lorenzo Dow has leased the rooms and conducts the business. He was born in Cattaraugus Co., N.Y., in 1838, where he lived until 1850, when he came to this State. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry, and served in the ranks ten months, when he was detailed in the commissary department, serving until the close of the war. He came to Berlin in 1877, and engaged as clerk of the Dunham Hotel. He was married April 7, 1859, to Miss Caroline G. Thurston, of Beaver Dam, who was a native of Montpelier, Vt.

The Red Ribbon Club, a flourishing temperance organ- ization, has now 300 members. The society keeps open doors, day and evening, Sundays excepted. The club room is handsomely furnished throughout. Joining this room is large reading and entertainment hall, tastily fitted up. Billiard and pool tables are furnished for the accommo- dation of the members and their friends. President, G. D. Waring ; Vice-president, J. N. Morris.

The Friends in Council. a society of ladies- object, mental improvement-have already completed the Chautau- qua Course.

The Berlin Cattle Fair is held on the third Wednesday of each month, and affords excellent facilities for the sale or exchange of live stock and other property.

The Grand Army of the Republic is a national organiza- tion, extending into every State in the Union. It has been the means of accomplishing a great deal of good for the soldiers, by fostering those fraternal feelings which were in- dissolubly welded in the fire of battle, in which so many of their comrades sacrificed their lives. The headquarters of the Wisconsin Department was established at the city of Berlin, in 1866. Griff J. Thomas, commander ; John I). Galloway, assistant adjutant general; George C. Staff, of Milwaukee, S. V. C .; J. M. Vanderhoof, Darien, J. V. C. ; Thomas P. Russell, Oshkosh, medical director ; Rev. J. H. Whitney, Reedsburg, chaplain; Ziba C. Hamilton, Berlin, A. Q. M. G .; H. D. Bullard, Delavan, J. A .; Charles Per- kins, National Home, inspector ; Henry Fischer, Milwau- kee, C. M. O.

352

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Berlin City Brass Band ranks among the first in the State. The music is skillfully executed, under the direction of Mr. Hermann Stater. The band has the very best of instruments-eighteen pieces in all.

American Cornet Band, just newly organized, has six- teen pieces. The band is now prepared to furnish music for public entertainments.

The Fire Department was organized in 1870, under the supervision of Eli Buell and Louis Smith. The department consists of Berlin Engine Company, No. 1-fifty members ; Hose Company, No 1-twelve members; Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1-thirty members. Mr. Buell still main- tains his place at the head of the department, having been elected to the position of chief when the company was first organized. The department is well equipped throughout, has a substantial brick engine house, with good fire bell. The water supply is obtained from wells and res- ervoirs and the Fox River.

The first fire to create a serious loss of property, in the city of Berlin, originated in Banes & Caswell's saloon, on the morning of January 18, 1860. Thirteen buildings were destroyed ; estimated loss, $30,000. This fire was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. The second fire occurred on the morning of March 28, 1861, and consumed eleven buildings. It originated in Peck's store, and followed the business block south until it had destroyed property to the amount of $20,000. The blaze to cause the most serious loss was the one which destroyed the flouring mill built in 1856. This fire originated in the smut-mill, on the night of March 11, 1870. A large amount of grain was stored in the mill, which was entirely consumed by the fire, the esti- mated loss being $45,000. Following close after this disas- ter, another large fire broke out on the morning of April 5 of the same year, which destroyed Yates, Foote & Dod- son's block, involving a loss of $35,000. Fires are of less frequent occurrence at the present day. This is due in a great measure to the fact that the business portion of the city is now of brick and stone buildings, more beautiful and substantial than the former wooden structures that oc- cupied the ground. The excellent fire department is also a great preventive against fires.

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Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052