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 195

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 195

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Farming implements.

$ 70,000

Furniture.

75,000

Flour

890.000

Gas

12,000

Hubs and spokes.

86,000

Iron

355,000

Lumber

80.000

Leather

$5,000

Lime, brick, etc.

30,000

Machinery

38,000

Pumps

8,500

Paper (print and wrapping)

850,000

Slaves and heading

110,000

Sash, doors and blinds

75.000

Woolen goods

200,000

Wood pulp.

140,000

Others

78,000

Tolal $3,182,000

Total for IS79. 2,458,000

Railroad Facilities .- The Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company, by its connection with the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul line at New London, is the most important factor in the northern transportation system of Outagamie County and of Appleton. It enters the county by way of Buchanan Town, in the southeast, passes west and northwest through Appleton, Grand Chute, Greenville, village of Hortonville, Hortonia, to New London, where it connects with the Green Bay road, which has run through Brown County into the northeastern part of Outagamie, through Seymour (Town and City), Black Creek (Town and Village), and village of Middleburg, Bovina, village of Shiocton, and town of Liberty. The Chicago and North- western cuts off the southeastern corner of the county from the eastern boundary of Kaukauna to the southern of Grand Chute, accommodating the villages of Kaukauna and Little Chute, and the city of Appleton on its way. It also runs

through the town of Dale in the southwest. The Milwau- kee & Northern, with the two corporations mentioned above,

673

HISTORY OF OUTAGAMIE COUNTY.

is also a prime factor in opening up communication and bringing business from the south. The Chicago & North- western Company was the pioneer in giving the county and the metropolis her railroad facilities. For nearly twenty years that great corporation has retained the good will of the people of this locality, and within the past two years has further cemented their friendship by inaugurating a thorough system of local extension along the water-powers of Appleton, by which the scores of manufactories there located are accommodated beyond measure. The Milwau- kee & Northern, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & West- ern followed close in its wake, until every factory of note has a railroad at its own door.

Although the hum of machinery is constant, Summer and Winter, there are few inland cities of the Northwest so delightfully situated, and so charming themselves, as Apple- ton. It is beautifully situated on both banks of the Fox River, elegant residences and magnificent churches over- looking the manufactories in the valley. The swift rushing stream carries away all filth and breeders of disease, and the air on the uplands is pure and dry. Nature seems to have stamped the location and city with health. Dr. J. T. Reeve has also labored so effectually to throw additional safeguards around Appleton, that her Board of Health has been abolished as a merely ornamental appendage. Beauti- ful drives within the city limits and along the banks of the river serve to increase the natural charms, and the river itself offers opportunities for boating, fishing and bathing, which are taken advantage of with zest. In the southeas- tern part of the city, on the south bank of the Fox, is the Telulah Driving Park and a fine mineral spring, so strongly impregnated with sulphur that the sides of the fountains are encrusted. The water is of a dark greenish yellow, but clear as crystal. It is becoming quite a famous resort for people of the vicinity, and its reputation extends beyond Appleton. Health, beauty and mineral water belong to Appleton. What more is required for a Summer resort ? INCORPORATION.

Appleton was incorporated as a city under Chapter 132, P. and L. L., March 2. 1857, and its ward boundaries are established as follows : The First Ward is bounded north by Second avenue, south and east by the Fox River, and west by Drew street. The Second Ward is that portion of the city between Drew on the east, North Division, North and South Elm streets, on the west, Fox River on the south and Atlantic street on the north. The Third Ward is bounded north by College avenue, west by the city limits, south and eastward by Fox River, and east by North and South Elm streets. The Fourth Ward comprises all that portion of Appleton south of the river. The Fifth Ward, the territory limited north by Second avenue, south by College avenue, east by North Division street, and west by corporation line. The Sixth Ward embraces the district bounded north by the city limits, south by Atlantic street, from Drew to North Division, east by Drew street, and west by North Division. The population of Appleton is 8,005. H. Pierce is Mayor.

The bonded debt of the city is $99,000, and its assessed valuation $2,148,646.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Appleton is divided into four school districts, its Board of Education being composed as follows : First District, W. H. Chilson and C. P. Richmond ; Second District, Samuel Ryan and Joseph Koffend; Third District, George Schultes and Joseph Rork ; Fourth District, James Lawler and P. J. Johnson. A. H. Conkey is City Superintendent and Clerk of the Board.

First District .- The value of the school buildings in this district is $5,000. A new structure is being erected to cost $11,000. The old building is situated on the corner of Meade and Franklin streets. The principal of the school, which comprises five departments, is Prof. M. J. Burk.

Second District .- The Appleton High school of the Sec- ond District is located in the " Hercules" building, corner of Fisk and Appleton. R. H. Schmidt is principal both of that and the district school. There are fourteen depart- ments in all. The value of the property is $18,000, which will be increased to $36,000 by erection of additional building.

Third District .- There are four buildings in this district, and seven departinents, C. W. Greenfield, principal. The Third Ward structure is corner of Fifth and Locust streets ; the Fifth Ward on Richmond, between Lorian and Elsie ; " Amicus " school, (second and third grades), corner of Appleton and Commercial streets; "Germania," (sixth grades), corner of Fisk and Morrison streets. The total value of the property is $12,000.

Fourth District .- The school is situated on Jackson street, between Lorian and Elsie streets, and the property is valued at $11,000. A. B. Whitman is principal.

The value of school buildings and sites is therefore $46,000, of new structure being erected and sites $30,000- total $76,000. At the time of taking the census of 1880, there were 2,897 children of school age in the city, the en- rollment was 1,780, and the attendance 1,350. In private and parochial schools the enrollment is about 450.

The Fire Department, as re organized by Hon. George Kreiss, the Chief of the department, this branch of the municipal service consists of Steam Engine Company No. I (Steamer "Amos Story"); Washington Steam Engine Company No. 2 (Steamer "Alvin Foster "); and Appleton Hook and Ladder Company. The facilities for staying con- flagrations are excellent, the city having provided fourteen cisterns, whose aggregate capacity is 175,000 barrels.

The Press .- The first effort to establish a newspaper at Appleton was made by Edward Edwards, in the latter part of 1851. He bought a small press and type from Oshkosh, and had already " made up" two pages when a fire broke out in the building, and he escaped with his life only, the printing office being totally destroyed. In December, 1852, the Hon. Perry H. Smith, then a practicing attorney at Appleton, also the first County Judge of Outagamie County, now a resident of Chicago, Ill., persuaded Samual Ryan, Jr., to come to Appleton and see whether a newspaper could be made to live or not. On the 31st of December, 1852, hav- ing interviewed the County Board and most of the residents of the little hamlet in the dense wilderness, he decided to try it ; and on the twenty-fourth day of February, 1853, the

674

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN

first number of the Appleton Crescent, a six-column sheet, was issued to the world. The type for that issue was principally set by Samuel Ryan, Jr., Chancey D. Foote and John C. Ryan, although some articles were placed in type by Henry D. Ryan and James K. Proudfit. All these per- sons still survive. Col. Foote is a resident of Texas, Gen. Proudfit of Missouri, and John C. Ryan, when last heard from, was in Nevada. During that year, James Ryan and Henry D. Ryan entered the office, and until 1858, the four brothers conducted the paper and in the main did mechan- ical work also, although Rolla A. Law, who died a few years since at South Haven, Mich., contributed most of the polit- ical articles in 1854-5, Samuel Ryan, Jr., not assuming full control as political and local editor until the beginning of 1856. In 1858, John C. Ryan left for what is now Colorado and Montana, followed the succeeding year by Henry D. Ryan, who returned, however, in 1861, and re-entered the Office, filling the editorial chair until 1864, when he retired in bad health, but soon after entered upon the study and in due time into the practice of law.

When the war of the Rebellion broke out, Samuel Ryan, Jr., the founder of the paper, set to work to arrange his affairs to enter the army. For a few weeks, Jerome A. Watrous, now an editor of the Sunday Telegraph, Milwaukee, and Charles 1). Elliott, now an editor of the Fond du Lac Commonwealth, both of whom had mastered the "art pre- servative " in the Crescent office, were its editors, and were so announced; but being seized with the "army fever " one day, left the forms on the press, and enlisted in Co. E, Sixth Wis. Inf., Iron Brigade. Then James Ryan and Park B. Elliott had to take up the editorial labor, but the latter (whose name never appeared in that capacity), soon en- listed in the Tenth Wisconsin, and was killed in his first battle, at Perryville, Ky. Samuel Ryan, Jr., enlisted that Fall as a private in the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, was soon appointed quartermaster sergeant; immediately after de- tailed to the commissary department, to which was soon added extra duties at head-quarters, such as clerk of mili- tary commission, clerk to regimental court martials, etc., remaining until honorably mustered out on the re-organiza- tion of regimental, commissioned and non-commissioned staff. In 1864, he resumed the editor-in-chiefship of The Crescent, James Ryan being the associate editor, and the two have ever since controlled and managed the concern.

During the first seven years of its existence, it required an abundance of hard work, sacrifice, and self-denial on the part of the Ryan Brothers to keep The Crescent alive, and during the next seven years it barely afforded them a respectable support ; while now, with its steam presses and handsome jobbing department, it is one of the finest es:ab- lishments in the State, and the newspaper wields a powerful influence in the community and wherever known. From the first, its conductors made the development of its part of the State a specialty, and it is quite certain that Appleton owes much of its population and business to that fact,

The Appleton Post was established in 1858 It changed hands several times during the succeeding ten years, when the present editor, A. J. Reid, became connected with the

journal. Under his good management the Post has become one of the leading and most flourishing papers of the in- terior of the State. It has contributed largely to the de- velopment of Appleton, and especially have its annual "reviews " been the means of calling particular and invalua- ble attention to the charms and advantages of the city as a resident locality and a business and manufacturing point. The Post is provided with superior printing facilities. It has four steam presses, and equipments to correspond ; its jobbing and newspaper patronage extending throughout Northern Wisconsin. This journal is Republican in poli- tics, and is earnest and forcible in the expression of its views. A. J. Reid is editor, and D. C. Pavey his associate.

Appleton Volks Freund is published every Friday, and is an Independent Democratic journal. It was first issued, March 1, 1870, as a seven-column folio sheet, by Messrs. Erb, Schindelmeisser & Selback. Mr. Schindelmeisser re- tired after three months' experience, and the Volks Freund was published by Messrs. Erb & Selbach. One year later. H. W. Meyer purchased the formers interest, and the firm became Mersrs. Selbach & Meyer. The next year, the latter becrme the sole proprietor, as he is at present. The paper has undergone several changes for the better, being now a six-column quarto. In the Fall of 1877, a Sunday edition, Der Haus Schatz was first issued.

Appleton Wecker was established in June, 1873, at Me- nsha, as Der Beobachter am Winnebago. It was issued as a German Independent journal, every Saturday, four pages, size 26x40. The original proprietors were William Klæpfel and John Klinker. During the next year, the latter bought out Mr. Klæpfel, and continued to publish the paper until March, 1881, when it was removed to Appleton. The paper is now a quarto, 30x44, and is issued Thursdays, by Messrs. C. Ræmer and John Klinker.

Churches .- A short sketch of the churches of Appleton is given below, in chronological order :

Rev. W. H. Thompson organized the Appleton mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and presided over it. In 1853, the church building was commenced, opposite the University grounds. It was destroyed by fire in 1872, and another one began the next year. On account of business depression, this was not completed until November, 1879. Rev. R. M. Hatfield preached the dedicatory sermon. The edifice, one of the finest in the city, is situated on the corner of Lawrence and Morrison streets, and cost $40,000. Rev. S. N. Griffith is pastor. The church membership is 300.

In 1850, a Presbyterian Church was organized, but the next year the members adopted the Congregational form of worship. In 1852, Amos A. Laurence donated a lot, and the building of a church commenced. It was dedicated in 1854. Additions have since been made, so that it is com- modious and convenient. The church is located on the west side of Oneida street, between College avenue and Lawrence. At present it has no pastor.

In 1870, the organization, known as "the First Presby- terian Church of Appleton," was effected. For eight years the society lay virtually dormant. In December, 1878, Rev. J. B. Andrews assumed the pastorate, and in one year the

675

HISTORY OF OUTAGAMIE COUNTY.

fine edifice was erected which stands on the southwest corner of College avenue and Drew street. Its cost was $20,000. In January, 1879, a re-organization was effected, and, on account of the munificence of the late David Smith, the banker, the name was changed to the "Memorial Pres- byterian Church." The congregation of the church now numbers 300.

The First Baptist Church was organized in 1852, by the Rev. Mr. Andrews, of Neenah. Meetings were held at vari- ous places until the present building, southeast corner of Fisk and Appleton streets, was erected. Its cost was $6,000. The membership of the church is 130, Rev. Mr. Carroll be- ing its pastor.

Episcopal services were read as early as 1855, but no organization was effected until 1864. In 1866, Grace church, a neat Gothic edifice, was completed at a cost of $12,000. It is situated on the northwest corner of Appleton and Ed- wards streets. Rev. George Verner is pastor, and the soci- ety has eighty communicants.

St. Mary's Parish, Catholic, is the oldest organization of that denomination in Appleton, having been founded in 1859. A building was erected soon after, but the founda- tion of the present structure, northeast corner of State and Seventh streets, was not laid until 1874, and not fully com- pleted until 1880, when, by the expenditure of $9,oco, the two spires which grace the church were finished. Notwith- standing the imposing and costly edifice which has been built, the society is out of debt. Its strength is 600 souls. Its pastor, Rev. Father F. Tanguay. The cost of the build- ing was $25,000.

Zion Congregational Society (Jewish) was formed in 1866, and held meetings without a pastor for twelve years. In 1878 Dr. Meyer Samuel Weiss, present Rabbi, took charge. The Zion Congregational Society have no synagogue. The membership is seventy-five.

St. Paul's ( German Lutheran ) was established in 1867, and the building, corner of Fisk and Morrison streets, com- pleted in 1874. The lot was donated by Anson Ballard. The society has eighty members. A day school, which has about fifty pupils, is attached to the church. The value of the church property is $5,000. Rev. John Hodtwalker has charge of both church and school.

Emanuel Church ( German Evangelical ) was organized in 1868, and the building erected four years later, at a cost of $5,000. It is situated corner of Durkee and Fisk streets, a fine parsonage being attached. The society has a mem- bership of 130. Rev. J. L. Runkel is pastor.

St. Joseph's Church ( German, Holland and Belgium Catholic ) is the leading Catholic organization of Appleton, being under the management of the order of Franciscan Monks, Capuchin Fathers. A monastery adjoins the church, which is a large and handsome edifice on the north side of Lawrence street, east of Walnut, Third Ward. The society was organized in 1868, and three years thereafter the church was erected at a cost of $25,000. In 1880, a fine school building ( 80x90 feet, two stories ) was erected on the church property, also at a cost of $25,000. The school is in charge of Sisters of Notre Dame, and has

an attendance of 350. It is under the general supervision of the church, however, of which Father P. Bonaventura Frey, in charge of this ecclesiastical province, is pastor. The church membership is 400 families.

Societies .- Like all other cities of its size, Appleton abounds in secret societies. On May 12, 1850, Timothy O. Howe, D. D. G. M., formed Konemic Lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F. In 1864 a building was erected, corner of Oneida street and College avenue. The property is valued at $10,000. This is the largest lodge in the city, having 200 members; A. B. Randall, N. G. In addition to this are Rhine Lodge, No. 63, a flourishing German organiza- tion, Daughters of Rebecca, and the Appleton Encamp- ment. The first Masonic lodge, in Appleton, was institu- ted in the Winter of 1854, by H. L. Palmer, of Milwaukee, Grand Master of the State. The dispensation was dated April 10, A. L., 5854, and, on April 25, a charter was is- sued to Waverly Lodge, No. 51. James M. Murray was its first W. M. Harvey Shipman is the present officer. The membership is 90. The Appleton Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized May 9, 1874. D. C. Babcock is H. P. The fine new Masonic hall, corner of Oneida street and College avenue, was dedicated, with impressive ceremo- nies, on July 12, 1881. The Turnverein was organized in 1868 ; membership eighty. In November of that year, a hall on the east side of Superior, north of Fisk street, was erected. It seats 500 persons. The total value of the society's prop- erty is $6,000. Joseph Koffend is president of the Verein. There is also a flourishing Temple of Honor (No. 11 ); Lodge, No. 31, I. O. G. T .; Forest City Lodge, No. 394, Knights of Honor; Crescent City Lodge, No. 46, A. O. U. W .; Appleton Lodge, No. 8, Sons of Hermann ; besides a council of Royal Arcanum ( Telulah, No. 280 ); Fox River Lodge, No. 209, B'nai B'rith, and other organizations.

Banks-First National Bank of Appleton, successor to the banking house of A. L. Smith, established in 1868, was organized Dec. 13, 1870, with a capital stock of $50,000. Officers of the bank are Aug. Ledyard Smith, president ; H. D. Smith, vice-president ; Herman Erl, cashier. Direc- tors, A. L. Smith, H. D. Smith, Dr. J. T. Reeves, C. B. Clark, and H. J. Rogers. Capital stock is now $100,000 ; its total resources $354,000 ; with a surplus of $20,coo and $230,000 average deposits. Their bank building, erected in 1871, corner of College avenue and Appleton street, is a two story brick, 22x80 ; bank entrance on College avenue ; Di- rector's room and private offices in the rear, with entrance on Appleton street.

AUGUST LEDYARD SMITH, president, is a native of Connecti- cut, and a graduate of Wesleyan University, at Middleton, in his nalive State, class of 1854. That same year he removed to Wisconsin, and was, until 1857, a tutor in the State University, at Madison, at the ex- piration of which lime he came to Appleton as secretary and treasu- rer of the Fox & Wisconsin River Improvement Company, a position which he continued to hold during all the changes made in that corpora- tion, and still holds with their legal successor, the Green Bay & Missis- sippi Canal Company. Mr. Smith has been Thoroughly identified with the educational as well as the industrial interests of the State of his adop- tion. Ile was a member of the Board of Regents of the State Univer- sity for six years, and represented his district in the State Senate session of 1865-66. 1le is a Trustee of Lawrence University, and financially interested in various industries in this city, besides doing an extensive land business as agent for Mississippi & Green Bay Canal Company.

670

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Manufacturers' National Bank of Appleton was organized July 1. 1871, as successor to the private bank of David Smith & Co., established in 1861, and conducted until the incorporation of the present institution. The present capi- tal stock is $50,000, its surplus $9,000, and its average de- posits 8200,000. The present officers of the bank are C. G. Adkins, president ; A. Galpin, Jr., cashier. The bank build- ing, owned by the corporation, is a two-story brick struc- ture, 20x75 feet, on the corner of College avenue and Mor- rison street, and was erected in 1873.

A. GALPIN, JR., is a native of England, came to America in 1848, settled in Waukesha County with his father's family; removed to Neenah in 1864, and was in the National Bank of Neenah prior to com- ing to Appleton, in 1871, as cashier of the Manufacturer's National.

Commercial National Bank, capital $100,000. This is a new organization, incorporated in the Fall of 1881, and had not fully commenced operations when our notes of Outagamie County were taken. The incorporators are J. D). Witter, Grand Rapids, Wis .; E. C. Goff, W. G. Wharton, J. H. Wharton, S. K. Wambold and W. S. Warner. Work was commenced on their bank building in July, 1881, and it was rapidly pushed to completion. It is a three-story, ornate brick, fronting sixty-one feet on College avenue, and 90 feet on Oneida street, occu- pying the site of a building erected about ten years since and known as Masonic block.

E. C. GOFF, real estate dealer and capitalist, is a native of Canton, N. Y., of which city he was Postmaster under Pierce's administration. In I85t he removed to New York City. and four years later to Apple- ton, and until 1858 was more or less engaged in mercantile business. For the past twenty-two years he has been exclusively engaged in real estate operations, holding large landed interests in this county. His residence and grounds on Prospect street afford one of the finest views obtainable of this city and valley, and are themselves unsurpassed by any in the city. Mr. Goff devotes himself exclusively to business and the management of his farms lying contiguous to the city. He was May- or of the city in 1871.

The Gas Works were erected in 1877, being located on the north side of Fox River. l'he works are substantially built of brick, and have a capacity which would meet the demands of a city double the size of Appleton. The suc- cess of the enterprise is largely due to George A. Farwell, its wide-awake practical superintendent. Its management has now passed into the hands of home capitalists, the own- ers having already paid out $17,500 upon the improvements. Officers of the Appleton Gas Light Company : E. C. Goff, president ; W. S. Warner, vice-president ; S. K. Wambold, treasurer ; George A. Farwell, secretary and superinten- dent.

GEORGE A. FARWELL, superintendent of the Appleton Gas- Light Co, is a native of Worcester, Mass., graduating from the high school department of his native city in the class of 1850; he removed the following year to Detroit, where, for twelve years, he was connected with the old Detroit Gas Company, closing his services therewith in 1867. He was then in charge of the gas works at Lawrence, Kas., for six years and superintendent of the works at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, three years ; from which place, in 1866, he went to St. Joe in charge of the gas com- pany's works at that place. In 1877 he came to Appleton, having ac- cepted the superintendency of the works here. On the re-organization of the company in 1881, Mr. Farwell became a stockholder and was elected secretary of the company. The efficiency of his management is evinced from the fact that not only has the stock of the company rapidly risen in value, and the investments of the holders become a paying one, but in mid Summer last, it became necessary to enlarge the capacity of manu- facture to meet the growing demand, which, even at that season of the year, had exhausted the means of supply. The company have now laid five miles of pipe-with fifty street lamps and 200 consumers.

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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