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 155

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 155

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served until Jan. 14, 1864, and was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tenn. He returned to his home. He was appointed deputy provost marshal for Kewaunee County, and held the same until the office was abolished, he has been Supervisor four years in succession and was Under Sheriff one term. He now draws a pension. His wife's maiden name was Miss Amber S. Stephenson, she was born in Norway, March 1, 1827. They have eight children living-Anna C., Mary E., Gustavus A., Christina C., Charles A., Emma C., Herman and Albertina.

CHARLES KLINGHOLZ, flour mills, Manitowoc Rapids, was born June 27, 1812, in Prussia. He came to Manitowoc County in 1849, and at once engaged in the milling business, which he continued until 1874, when his sons rented his mill, and has since conducted the business. Soon after starting his mill, Mr. Klingholz opened a general supply store, which he conducted several years. He has served several years as Chair- man of the County Board. He was also appointed one of the direct- ors and was agent for the finance for the Manitowoc & Mississippi Rail- road. While in Prussia, he was engaged in the coal and iron business, and owned ten vessels, which he used for the transportation of these com- modities on the Rhine. He was, in 1840, married to Miss Herriette Augendt, a native of Wesel, Germany. She was born in 1827. They have five children, two sons and three daughters.

MRS. ELIZABETH KUNZ, proprietor of a brewery, Branch Station. Her husband's name was Gottfried Kunz. The brewery was built in 1858. Mrs. Kunz was born in Germany, Nov. 8. 1836. Her husband was also born in Germany, Feb. 1, 1830. He died May 28, 1878. They have five children-Louisa, Charles G. L., Minnie C., Ida W., and J. Florian.

EDWARD LENERVILLE, farmer, Sec. 14, Manitowoc Rapids Township, owns 100 acres, has eighty acres improved. He settled in Manitowoc Rapids, in 1834, and worked in a saw-mill two and a half years, then settled on his present place. He states there was not a house in Manitowoc City at that date, but one or two in Manitowoc Rapids, being no settlement in the country. He also states that he is the oldest settler, excepting Mr. P. Tebo, in Manitowoc Rapids. He was born in Canada East, April 12, 1835. He was married to Miss Jane Johnson; she was born in Lisbon, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 6, 1824. They have seven children living-Francis, Maria, Lizzie R., Edward L., Albert, Robert, and Lowa M.

HIRAM MCALLISTER, Sec. 5, forty acres, Branch Station. He was born in Johnson, Vt., June 20, 1808. He settled in Manitowoc Rapids in Spring, 1839, having come to Manitowoc County in 1837. He has followed various kinds of business, having been engaged in lumber- ing and milling in an early day. He has seen the country develop from a wilderness to its present standing. He was married in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., 1839, to Miss Caroline Shay ; she was born in same county in Vermont, 1819. They had two sons. Mrs. McAllister died from an injury received in being tipped out of a cutter in 1849. He was again married to Miss Harriet Burnet ; she was born in Lockport, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1819 ; she died in May, 1880.

LARS MATHISEN, farmer, Sec. 32, Manitowoc Rapids Town- ship, owns 122 acres and sixty-five improved. He was born in Norway, Dec. 18, 1814. He came to America September, 1849, and settled on his farm in Manitowoc Rapids. He was married in that place Feb. II, 1854, to Miss Rosine Hummel ; she was born in Germany, 1838. They have eleven children living, seven daughters and four sons.

JOHN C. MEYER, farmer, Sec. 36, P. O. Manitowoc, was born March 4, 1819, in Holstein, Germany. In 1848 he came to Dodge County, and in the Spring of 1850 he came to Manitowoc and engaged in contracting and building. He built many of the public buildings in Manitowoc, besides the bridges which span the river. He owns a tract of eighty-three acres of land, upon which he now resides, as well a pro- perty in the city. Married, in 1850, Miss Dora Auga, also a native of Holstein. They have one son and one daughter.

PLINY PIERCE, proprietor saw and carding mill, makes farming his principal business, Sec. 14, Manitowoc Rapids Township, owns 120 acres, has sixty acres improved. He does a good business in carding wool. He also contemplates putting in machinery for a flouring mill. He was born in Essex County, N. Y., March, 1808, and moved into St. Lawrence County in 1830, following milling there seven years. He moved to Manitowoc County in June, 1837, and located at Manitowoc Rapids, and kept hotel and Post-office about four years, after which he lo- cated at his present home. Ile was elected Register of Deeds in 1840, also held the office of County Clerk and Assessor at same time. He made the first assessment of the town in 1839. There were only two or three families in the town when he first settled there, consisting of Mr. O. C. Hubbard, J. W. Conroe, and his own family. He erected his saw mill in 1849. Carding mill 1866. He was married in Hague, Warren Co., N. Y., in 1829, to Miss Susanna Phillips, who was born in Springfield, Ver- mont, February, 1808. They have six children living-Alonzo C., mar- ried and living near his father ; Pliny J. married, and living in Mani- towoc City ; Dewit B .; Anson M. at home ; Mary C., married to Mr. E. Bailey, and living at Kaukauna, and Hannah M. at home.

536

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

HENRY VOGELSANG, farmer, Sec. 33, Manitowoc Rapids Town- ship, owns 120 acres, 100 acres improved. He was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 2 1835. He emigrated to America in 1853, and set- tled on his farm, where he has since lived. He was married Oct. 28, 1857, on his farm, to Miss Caroline Sieker ; she was born in Holland, Oct. 4, 1842. They have nine children living-Mary L., Ida R., J. Fred- erick, Henry C., Minnie L., William H., Louis G., Eliza J. and Er- nest E.

HENRY WILLS, farmer, Sec. 35, Manitowoc Rapids Township, has 120 acres land, seventy acres under cultivation. He was born in Upper Canada, April 5, 1824, and lived there twenty-two years. He then visited many portions of Wisconsin and Illinois, and finally located in Manitowoc Rapids Township, in 1848. He followed lumbering six years, since which he has been engaged in farming. When he settled in the country, it was a complete wilderness, the largest town in the county being Manitowoc Rapids, then the county seat. He was mar- ried to Miss Hannah A. Tufts, Dec. 16, 1851 ; she was born in St. James, New Brunswick, Jan. 6, 1829. Her parents moved from Maine to Manitowoc Rapids in 1850. They have had nine children-Millard A. (deceased). Wilmot H., James H. Elizabeth F. (deceased), Ward B., Eddie E., Jacob L., Ettie A., Millie M. (deceased).

TWO RIVERS.

Seven miles north of Manitowoc, on the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, is the city of Two Riv- ers. It lies on the lake shore, at the junction of the East and West Twin rivers, the two rivers from which it receives its namc. In early days, Two Rivers was the center of a flourishing lumber district, and to this it owes its growth, The extensive forests of hemlock in this vicinity also made the establishment of the tanning business profitable. The waters were also plentifully stocked with fish, which was formerly the source of a large income to Two Rivers. But a constant and vigorous drain of these sources of prosper- ity too soon exhausted them. A number still engage in the fish business, but it is not carried on to any great extent. Some $30,000 worth of whitefish is exported annually. The sole representative of the lumber business in Two Rivers is the first saw-mill, and the first building erected here, in 1836. It is still standing, but is idle. The legiti- mate and wealthy successors, however, of this rough branch of manufacture is the Two Rivers Manufacturing Company and Mann Brothers, who operate the extensive tub and pail and chair factories. The large tannery, owned by the Wis- consin Leather Company, and started up in 1851, is still in operation.

Daniel Wells, Jr., S. W. Beal and Morgan L. Martin made the first entries of land on the present site of the city of Two Rivers, September 10, 1835. The first white set- tler was a French Canadian by the name of Oliver Lou- grine, commonly called "Alonzo." In this same year, he entered 320 acres of land for actual settlement. The next year, Robert M. Ebbers and John Lawe, of Green Bay, erected a saw-mill, which became the nucleus of Two Riv- ers. It was run by "Alonzo." Lumber was plenty and good, and soon quite a settlement sprung up at the point where the Twin rivers meet, and where the logs from the two streams come together. Conroe's mill, a few miles to the west, operated by the Neshota Company, also assisted to draw settlers toward Two Rivers. In 1837, the panic came, and affected business at this point as it did the coun- . people, and was incorporated March 12, 1878. Its population try's prosperity generally. The prospects of Two Rivers were on the up-grade again when H. H. Smith located here,

in September, 1845. He immediately rented a saw-mill, and after running it for two years, purchased the property. By the end of Mr. Smith's first five years' residence in Two Rivers, a majority of the village was dependent upon him and his business. Then, in 1850, the place was visited by the cholera, and its prosperity and prospects almost blight- ed. The scourge first appeared August 6, 1850, on Mon- day. On Sunday, a party of Menomonee Indians had been indulging in a regular jamboree, drinking fish oil and per- haps something stronger. On Monday, they were taken with the usual symptoms, and six of them died. Six more followed soon after, and the twelve were buried in some pits near the lake shore. The epidemic soon spread, and be- tween that Monday and the following, Two Rivers, which then was a village of about 300 people, received three dis- tinct shocks. Out of the 300, fifty died ; many more, severe attacks which brought them nigh unto death. Among others, Mr. Smith's son was stricken in his young manhood, and Mr. Smith himself had a narrow escape. Eight of his mill hands died. The village was wild with dread. The last attack was a week from the first, on Monday. The boat from Chicago was to arrive on Tuesday, but it was de- layed until Thursday. When it did pull up at the dock, the village, in effect, stampeded. Some families did not even stop to collect their household goods, but were satis- fied to get on board with their lives. Although the visita- tion of the cholera was a blow to both the heart and purse of Mr. Smith, he cheerfully assisted in lightening the bur- dens of those suffering in body, soul or estate, even furnish- ing many with the passage money by which they could get away. It was several years before Two Rivers regained her former standing.

In 1851, the firm of Aldrich, Smith & Co. was formed. Five years thereafter, William M. Honey came to Two Rivers, and organized the New England Manufacturing Company, building a small chair factory. In 1860, the Two Rivers Manufacturing Company was formed, at the head of the business and the active manager of the improved and enlarged factory being H. H. Smith. The tub and pail fac- tory, which is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the United States, was built in 1857. Further details in regard to these corner-stones of the prosperity of Two Riv- ers will follow. Among the early causes of the city's growth was also the organization of the Wisconsin Leather Com- pany, in 1850, and the erection of one of the largest tan- neries in the West, two miles north. At this time, the fish- eries of J. P. Clark, of Detroit, were in active operation. They were situated here and at the point south of Manito- woc. From 1838 to 1853 they fairly coined money for their owner, and consequently increased the commercial impor- tance of Two Rivers. Although the fish and the timber have about disappeared, in their stead have grown up quite a variety of manufacturing establishments.

The city of Two Rivers has a population of over 2,000 is mostly German. It has four churches, a number of secret and benevolent societies, a good ;high school and district

537

HISTORY OF MANITOWOC COUNTY.

school, a weekly paper, a fire department, and all the other adjuncts of civilized and growing Western life.

The Fire Department was first organized in 1872, but is now being re-organized as a paid department. The hand engine has been replaced by a steamer, "Protection No. 1." There is also a hook and ladder company. The engine house, which is a neat, two-story structure, of brick, was built in 1874, at a cost of $5,000 In the second story are the firemen's hall, City Hall and municipal offices, and in the basement, the jail. The present chief of the depart- ment is Julius Pelz.

The educational facilities consist of a free high school and a graded district school of six departments. The average at- tendance is 360, A. Thomas being the principal. The build- ings are of wood, two-story, with stone foundations, and surrounded by a large play ground. One of them was erected in 1865, the other in 1872-3. The value of houses and sites is placed at $12,000.

The Manitowoc County Chronicle was established by a stock company, in 1872. H. S. Pierpont was its editor. The journal was purchased by W. F. Nash, its present editor and proprietor, in 1875. The Chronicle is an eight-column folio, published weekly, and is Democratic in politics.

Churches .- St. Luke's Church (Catholic) was organized as a mission to Manitowoc, July 19, 1851, but was formed as a separate society in 1853. Its first pastor was Rev. Joseph Brunner. The present membership of the church is 243 families. Attached to the church is a large parochial school, at which there is an attendance of 130. Rev. Father George I. Veith is pastor of St. Luke's Church.

German Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1856, by Rev. William Siekereik, and the build- ing erected in 1859. The present membership is about 120 souls, Rev. George Harm being its pastor.

German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1861, the building having been purchased from the Episco- pal society. The present membership is 120 families. The church has no settled pastor.

The Union Congregational Church was organized in 1851. Its membership is small. It has, at present, no set- tled pastor.

Two Rivers Turnverein was formed June 21, 1857, and the hall erected in 1867. The property of the society is valued at $5,000, and its membership is thirty-five.

There is also a large society of Sons of Hermann, a Good Templar's and a Knights of Honor Lodge.

COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES.

Two Rivers is the northern terminus of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway, and has the advantages which every terminal point possesses. Its harbor has also been improved at great expense. From the report of Mayor H. M. Robert for the fiscal year 1880, the following facts are selected, showing what has been accomplished, and at what cost :

" The Harbor .- The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1870, and modified in 1877, the object being to afford a channel'of entrance'of navigable

width, and of not less than twelve feet in depth. The nat- ural channel was narrow, with not more than two feet in depth at the shoalest part.

"The amount expended to June 30, 1880, is $132,539.62, and has resulted in securing a channel 100 feet wide, with a depth of not less than seven feet over the bar, and a depth of not less than nine feet in the east and west branches of the river. The harbor is not yet open to commerce, though used by small vessels.

Estimated cost for extending the piers to the 18-foot curve, with dredging between the piers $265,588 80

Appropriated since 160,000 00

Amount to be appropriated $105,588 80

Amount which can be profitably expended during the fiscal year 1881-82 50,000 00

"The operations during the past fiscal year have con- sisted in the completion of the sand-tight lining to the pile piers.

"During the year, the United States dredge removed from the channel between the piers 49,801 cubic yards of sand and clay. Of this amount, 29,056 cubic yards were removed during the season of 1879, and 20,245 cubic yards during the months of May and June, 1880. [For details of this work, see the tabulated statement under Port Wash- ington Harbor.]

"This amount of dredging has opened a channel between the piers about 1,200 feet in length, 75 feet in width, and with a depth of 11 feet. The present limited extension of the piers renders the preservation of this channel problem- atical; but upon the completion of the extension in progress and that proposed, it is expected that this difficulty will disappear, and that the harbor can be opened and main- tained for its local commerce."

The life saving station at Two Rivers was established in 1878, a volunteer force having been organized two years previous. The tasteful building which now accommodates the crew and their apparatus, was erected in the Fall of 1876. Capt. Pilon is in charge of the crew of eight men.

The tub and pail factory, probably the largest of the kind in the United States, was erected in 1857 by H. H. Smith. Over $50,000 in cash was expended upon it the first year. Although twice consumed by fire, it was each time rebuilt, enlarged and improved. In July, 1881, Mr. Smith sold his interest in the business to Mann Brothers, of Milwaukee, for $60,000. The factory employs about 150 men, and does an annual business of $200,000.

The city, in the vicinity of the chair factory, presents the appearance of a small and uniform village, the two main buildings being clustered around with smaller ones, devoted to their several specialties. The small factory, erected in 1856, by William Honey, has grown to mammoth dimen- sions, and is now owned and operated by the Two Rivers' Manufacturing Company (Mann Brothers). The annual product of the factory amounts to $100,000 annually, and between 150 and 200 men are employed. Much of the chair seating is "given out," so that really these figures do not represent the full number. Upon both of these im-

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

mense establishments nearly 400 men are depending for sup- port. They are the business life and soul of Two Rivers. Operated in connection with them is a large general store, whose business amounts to $80,000 annually.

Sash, door and blind factory. In 1873, a stock company was formed for the carrying on of this business. In 1880, H. H. Smith obtained control of it by purchase, and has since carried it on. The annual manufacture of the fac- tory amounts to $So,ooo; thirty-five men are employed.

Wisconsin Leather Company. In 1850, the Wisconsin Leather Company was formed by Rufus, George W. and William Allen, E. P. Allis and Cyrus Whitcomb, of Milwau- kee. They erected a tannery two miles north of Two Rivers, in 1850-51, commencing business in May of the latter year. It has since continued under that management, employing at present seventy men, consuming 4,000 tons of bark annually, and tanning 20,000 hides. The main build- ing is 350x45 feet. The bark is now obtained mostly from Kewaunee County and Michigan.

Charles Winkelmiller and H. Lohmann are the owners and operators of small tanneries in the city of Two Rivers.

Flour mills of A. Wehausen. The large and substantial three-story brick building was erected in 1878, at a cost, with machinery, of $24,000. A. Wehausen is the owner and proprietor. The mills have six run of stone, and a capacity of sixty barrels of flour and one ton of feed daily.

R. E. Mueller's brewery. A small building, on the site of the present substantial structure, was erected by Edward Mueller, father of the present proprietor, in 1848. Upon his death, in 1871, R. E. Mueller took charge of the busi- ness. The capacity of the brewery is 2,000 barrels an- nually.

Wood Type Manufactory. About a year ago, J. E. Ham- ilton commenced the manufacture of type from holly wood. He has since built up a profitable business, shipping some of his type to distant Western States. It is durable and gives a clean impression.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ANDREW BAETZ, wagon-maker and blacksmith, Two Rivers, was born Aug. 22, 1828, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany ; July, 1852, he came to Two Rivers, and has since followed this business, which he learned with his father when a boy ; married, in 1853, to Sophia Dep- ping, of Lippe-Detmold, Germany ; they have seven children, three sons and four daughters ; his brother Henry entered the army of the rebel- lion, and was soon afterward promoted to major ; was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg; there received his discharge; he has been four years State Treasurer, and is now a resident of Milwaukee.

N. BARTELL, foreman Two Rivers Chair Factory, was born July 7, 1835, in Erie Co., N. Y. In 1859 he came to Sandusky, O., where he was engaged in the chair business, which he learned from his father. His father went to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1829, and carried on the chair and furniture business until 1849, when he fell a victim to the cholera. In 1861, the sub- ject of this sketch enlisted in the army and served three months. He then went to Toledo. In 1876 he went to Sheboygan, and in 1879 he moved to Two Rivers, and was appointed to his present position. He has invented two chair patents, which are now being manufactured by this company, upon which he receives a royalty. He married, in 1860, Miss M. Dean, of Sandusky, who died March 4, ISSO, aged thirty-eight years. They have three children, two daughters and one son.

JOHN C. BOIIM, deceased, Two Rivers, was born Nov. 8, 1830, in Ilolstein, Germany. In 1850, he came to Wisconsin and settled in Two Rivers, and followed the mason trade several years, during which he built many of the principal works, including the Wis- consin Leather Company's buildings. About 1856 he opened a hotel, known as the Lake House, which he conducted up to the time of his

death, which occurred Dec. 23, 1877. The business has since been con- ducted by his widow, who owns the property. They were married March 17, 1852. Her maiden name was Regena Klien, and she was born in Prussia, March 17, 1834. There were seven children-Charles, Henry E .. John L., Emma, Matilda, Augusta, and Adaline.

H. M. GEBHART, druggist, Two Rivers, is a native of this place. In 1869 he began learning the drug business with Dr. J. Oswald, and continued his studies for three years, when he moved to Manitowoc, where he followed the drug business for three and one-half years, then moved to Appleton, where he remained but a short time. On May 10, 1879, he bought out the drug store of Dr. F. S. Luhmann, and has since conducted the business.

ALBERT KAIILENBERG, general merchandise and meat mar- ket, Two Rivers, born, Oct. 11, 1826; in Prussia, and in 1852 he came to Two Rivers and worked at various kinds of labor for two years. He then opened a meat market and has continued in this business ever since. In October. 1880, he opened a general store. He mar- ried, in 1856, Miss Katharine Weis, of Hesse-Darmstadt, who died in 1868, aged thirty-four years. They have three children, one son and two daughters. He married, the second time, Bertha Albrecht, in 1868, a native of Prussia, by whom he has one son and one daugh- ter.

LEOPOLD MANN, manager Two Rivers Manufacturing Com- pany, was born, March 18, 1834, in Bohemia. In July, 1846, he came to Washington County with his parents, where he assisted on his father's farm, until 1850, and then moved to Milwaukee and was employed by his brothers in the grocery and provision business until 1857. He then returned to Washington County and opened a general store, which he carried on until 1862, when he moved to Two Rivers and was employed by the Two Rivers Manufacturing Company, and in 1866 he was appointed manager of the company, which position he has since occupied. Married, in 1865, to Miss Clara Neustadt, of Bohemia, who came to New York with her parents at the age of four years. They have three children, two sons and a danghter.

BENEDICT MAYER, general merchandise, Two Rivers, born, Dec. 28, 1833, in Baden, Germany ; came to New Orleans in 1854. thence to Cincinnati and Rochester, N. V. In 1856, he came to Mani- towoc County and followed farming for nine years. In 1865, he moved to Two Rivers and worked for the Two Rivers Manufacturing Company for six years ; in 1871, he established his present business. Married, in 1857, Miss Doratha Snidlemann, of Prussia. She died in 1859 aged twenty-eight years. They had two children, one son and one daughter. He married, for the second time, in 1860, Frederica Meyer, a native of Prussia.

RICHARD E. MUELLER, Two Rivers brewery, was born, Jan. 29, 1839, in Saxony, Germany. In 1847, he came to this place with his parents ; in 1848, his father built this brewery and continued the busi- ness until his death, which occurred in 1871, aged sixty-three years. He then succeeded his father in the business. He has been Alderman and County Supervisor. In 1867, he married Miss Katherine Hobzkneight, who is a native of Bavaria. They have three children.

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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