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 242

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 242

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Newspapers .- There are two weekly newspapers pub- lished in the city. The Plymouth Reporter was established in 1872, by A. F. Warden, the present editor and proprie- tor. It is a six-column quarto, and is the only English Democratic paper published in the county. It has a circu- lation of 600 copies.

The first issue of the Plymouth Sun was printed Sep- tember 6, 1879, by L. K. Howe, who still continues to be its editor and proprietor. The paper is independent in pol- itics. A large job business is carried on in connection with it.

Dairying .- The dairying interests of the town and city are of great importance, and it is thought that more cheese is manufactured here than in any other town in the county. There are about a dozen factories within the limits of the town. The largest of these is situated in the city of Plym- outh, and owned and operated by F. A. Streblow. This factory takes the milk of 500 cows, and turns out twenty- five cheeses per day, or about a ton in weight. S. H. Conover & Co. do a business of over half a million dollars per year in buying cheese and exporting it. Their trade is largely with Liverpool.

A dairy board of trade has been in successful operation for several years. Weekly meetings, with telegraphic mar- ket reports from New York and Liverpool, are held and attended by buyers from all over the country. The offer- ings from Calumet, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties amount to about 3,500 boxes or 200,000 pounds weekly. The present organization of the board of trade is as fol- lows : President, Enos Eastman ; Secretary, A. F. War- den ; Treasurer, Charles Delo.

Churches .- The Congregational Church was organized about the year 1848, in the town of Lyndon, and had, at first, a membership of eleven. The church was transferred to the city of Plymouth about ten years after its organiza- tion. In 1859, the present church edifice was built, and the parsonage was completed in 1868. The church mem- bership is about fifty, with eighty in the Sunday school. Rev. Gilbert Rindell has been Pastor of the church for about two years and a half.

The first Episcopal service held in the town was con- ducted by Rev. L. W. Davis, of Sheboygan, in 1851. St. Paul's Church was organized October 28, 1857, with a membership of nine. Semi-monthly services were, at first, held in the village schoolhouse. The church edifice was consecrated December 4, 1858, by Bishop Kemper, and the first confirmation was in the previous April. Rev. William Gardam is the present Rector, and the communicants num- ber about fifty.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

St. John's German Lutheran Church was dedicated January 16, 1859, and has a present membership of seventy-five with a congregation of about 500. There is connected with the church a school of about ninety children. The Pastor of the church is Rev. John Herzen. There are two other German Churches and one Roman Catholic, making a total of six in the city.

There are three large flouring-mills in the city of Plymouth. That owned by Otto Puhlmann was started soon after the settlement of the town, and has been con- stantly operated since that time. All the flour is made by the "roller process," and a large merchant business is carried on. The business of this mail is estimated at between $400,000 and $500,000 annually.

The mill of Oberreich & Moersch was built in 1867 by William Schwartz. It does a large amount of custom grinding.

Brickbaur & Klumb, of the South Plymouth Mills, do a business of many thousand dollars in buying grain, sell- ing flour and general custom work.

The bank of Plymouth was organized in 1873, with a cash capital of about $15,000. The officers of the bank are: President, J. W. Dow, and Cashier, E. A. Dow. This is the only bank in the city.

A chair factory was started in 1879 by Obed Mattoon. He employs about fifteen hands. and sells his goods largely in Kansas, Nebraska and the West.

William Schwartz does a lumber business of about $25,000 per year.

Carl Schwartz started a foundry in 1867, and employs six or seven bands in making machinery and castings of all kinds.

The Hub Club, a literary and amateur dramatic society, widely and favorably known, was organized in 1870. A library of several hundred volumes is maintained by the club.

Plymouth Union Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 71, was organ- ized here in 1855. The lodge has about seventy-five mem- bers, and is in a prosperous condition. They are the owners of the finest business block in town, in which their magnificently furnished lodge room is also situated. The officers of the lodge at present are W. J. Brier, N. G .; E. Drury, R. S. ; Otto Puhlmann, A. F. Warden and August Scheide, Trustees.

A musical society was organized in September, 1856, with a membership of eight. It has been kept up ever since and now has about twenty members.

A Turnverein was established in August, 1856, but soon died ont. The present society was organized in May, 1870, and admitted to the Grand Lodge of Turners in May, 1872.

The German Lyceum was organized in 1864. In 1869, the hall occupied by the society was burned. In the same year, the society re-organized under a State charter and built the present " Lyceum Hall" at a cost of about 87,500.

The "Plymouth Fire Company " was organized in 1867. The company is uniformed, and the engine kept in a convenient engine house, which also has a fire bell.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE W. BARNARD, merchant, Plymouth ; was born in Dutchess Co. N. Y., July 13, 1823 ; came to Wisconsin when it was a Territory, in 1846, and stopped for that winter in Wauke-

sha County, also locating a farm in the town of Plymouth, She- boygan Co ; in the spring of 1847, returned to New York, got his wife and came back to Wisconsin, and settled on his home- stead. in September, 1847, when he commenced to improve it and work for the interest of settling up the country. He lived there five years, when he took a trip baek East, which he had promised his wife. if she would consent to come West. and on his return to Plymouth, he sold out his farm and moved to the village and started to work at carpentering and building; also starting a nursery, which business he followed until 1865, then starting a merchandise store, which he has followed ever since. In 1850, he was elected to the office of Town Treasurer, and has since held the offices of County Supervisor, Justice (fifteen years), Town Clerk and various other offices. He was married, in 1846, to Miss Hannah C. Gildersleeve, of New York, by whom he has two children-one son and one daughter.

HIRAM BISHOP, farmer, on Sec. 22; P. O. Plymouth ; was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., on the 26th of January, 1823; is the son of Morris W. and Olive Bishop, the latter dying, in New York, in 1849, the former, in 1855. The subject of this sketch came West and landed in Milwaukee, in the fall of 1845, settling on the farm where he still lives, during the same year, which he purchased from the Government for $1.25 per acre. He was married, in 1846, in New York, after returning from entering his elaim, to Miss Amanda Baldwin, by whom he has three children, viz., Ira J., Lester T., now City Clerk of Plymouth, and Hiram F. Mr. Bishop is a member of the I. O. O. F., Plymouth, Union Lodge No. 71 ; also of the Union Encampment, No. 52, at Plym- onth, and has served three years as District Deputy Grand Patriarch of his district. He was a sailor on the lakes before coming West, for a number of years, having been First Mate on the steamer George Clinton ; also on two or three other different boats.

IRA A. BRADFORD, farmer, on Sec. 23; P. O. Plym- outh ; was born in Vermont on the 27th of February. 1820. His father, Joseph Bradford, was killed by a falling tree. when the subject of this sketch was only 13 years old, aud. in October, 1846, moved to Wisconsin. settling on a farm in the town of Plymouth, Sheboygan Co., having previously visited Wisconsin, in 1842, but only stayed about six months. He enlisted in the late war, in February, of 1864, in the 26th, Company E, W. V. I., serving until July, of 1865, being Sergeant when discharged. Mr. Bradford has been Supervisor of the Town Board, and was married, in November, 1843, to Miss Sarah Sweeting, by whom he has six sons, all of whom are school teachers, viz., George W., now County Treasurer of Sheboygan County ; Dewitt A., Princi- pal of Hartford School, Washington County ; Charles M., Martin E., Frank J. and William N.

ASA CARPENTER, farmer, on Sec. 34; P. O. Plymouth ; was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., on the 26th of December, 1829; he was raised on a farm, which occupation he followed until 1851. when he came to Wisconsin, settling in the town of Plymouth, Sheboygan Co., where he worked by the month for two and a half years, after which he bought the farm on which he now lives. He was elected Chairman of the Town Board, in 1857, and was Assessor for three years, and in the winter of 1876 was a juror on a whisky suit in the United States Court, at Milwaukee. He was married, in April, of 1854, to Harriet M. Wilson, daughter of Ezra Wilson, who became a settler of the town of Plymouth, in 1849.

CHARLES DELO, of the firm of Conover & Co., wholesale cheese dealers, Plymouth ; this firm is one of the largest shipping and exporting firms in checse in the State of Wisconsin ; they shipped in the year 1880 over fifty thousand boxes of cheese to Liverpool, averaging 55 lbs. each, all of which was manufactured in Sheboygan and Manitowoc Counties; this firm was the first that started the manufactory of cheese in Sheboygan County, at Plymouth, Mr. Hiram Conover being then the proprietor of the factory, working by the month ; they being young and industrious

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HISTORY OF SHEBOYGAN COUNTY.

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men, had saved enough capital to buy the factory in 1877, which they sold out in 1879, and started to buy and export cheese, and will this season (1881 ), pay over $250,000 for cheese, all of which will go to Liverpool. Mr. Delo was born Oet. 9, 1853; was mar- ried in March, 1880, to Ida Conover, daughter of Ilirahm Con- over, of Plymouth.

EDWARD DREWRY, farmer, Plymouth; was born in Canada, June, 1835 ; came with his parents to Wisconsin, in 1846. who located at Milwaukee, and remained there until the spring of 1847, then moving to Sheboygan County, and settled on a farm in the town of Plymouth, a mile and a half south of the village. His father, Edward B., died in January, 1849. The subject of this sketch remained at home, working on the home farm and going to school, teaching, etc., until he reached the age of 22 years, then bought himself a farm of 80 aeres near the homestead, which he continued to work until 1865, when he was elected to the office of County School Superintendent ; he served as Town Clerk seven years : in 1869 moved with his family to the State of Michigan ; lived there two years, then returned to Wisconsin, and

bought a farm in the town of Lyndon, where he resided until 1877, when he moved back to Plymouth, Wis. ; married Nov. 14, 1861, to Martha A. Doekstader, she being born in New York ; he is a member of I. O. O. F. of Plymouth, Union Lodge No. 67, also the A., F. & A. M., Cassia Lodge, No. 167, of Plymouth.

HON. ENOS EASTMAN, farmer, Plymouth ; was born Oet. 27, 1821, in the State of New York ; he remained at home with his parents, working on the farm and going to school until 21 years of age, during which time he received an academic edu- cation, and at that age he bought himself a small farm of 50 acres, which he worked until 1849, when he sold out and came West to the State of Wisconsin, and located on the farm where he now lives, in May, 1849, which had been pre-empted and some little improvements made on; he then set to work further im- proving his farm and buying more land with his annual earnings from his farm, and finally erecting himself a fine brick residence. Mr. E. has always taken an active part in the welfare of the county, holding various county and town offices; he was Repre- sentative to the Legislature from his eonnty in 1871, and in the Senate in 1875-6 ; was married in New York to Miss Miriam

Carpenter in 1844, by whom he has five children, viz. : Vasti L., now Mrs. R. Gardner ; Miriam E., now Mrs. A. F. Warden ; Lillie M., now Mrs. G. W. Zerler ; Charles D. and Enis E., also one daughter, Sarah MI .. who died in 1869.

CONRAD FISCHER, livery stable, Plymouth ; was born in Germany on the 4th of March, 1842; came to the United States with his parents, Christopher and Catherine F., who settled in the town of Plymouth on a farm. The subject of this sketch was married at the age of 25. to widow Mile, nee Juliet Miller, and then started to farm for himself, at which he continued until 1876, when he sold out, moving into the city of Plymouth, where he started a livery stable; he was City Marshal in 1879.

M. D. L. FULLER, lawyer, Plymouth ; was born in Alle- gany Co., N. Y .; came to Wisconsin in 1854 with his parents, who settled in Dane County ; graduated at Milton College, Wis., in 1871 ; was Principal of Sheboygan Falls High School in 1871- 72; was Superintendent of Schools for Sheboygan County in 1874-75 ; represents said county in the Second Assembly District ; at present Legislator ; is one of the largest law firms in the county, opening said office in 1875, at Plymouth; was married in the spring of 1874.

HENRY GILMAN, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Piymouth; was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 24, 1815; is the son of Solomon and Polly Gilman. His father serving as Musician in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was married, in 1838, to Pelly Bard, who was born is State of New Haven. They moved West to Sheboygan Co., Wis., in the fall of 1845, and entered 160 acres of land in Sec. 35, town of Plymouth. Here they lived two years; then moved on the farm where thew now live, and, at the time Mr. G. first settled in town of Plymouth, there was only the fol- lowing persons living in what is now that township: Johnson, generally known as Jack Johnson, Samuel Patten, S. V. Thorp, Bradford, Jacob Manee, James T. Flint and Bradbery Robinson, all of whom Mr. G. has survived. He has reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Chester M. of this num ber, was a soldier in the war of rebellion, enlisting in 1862 in 27th W. V. I., Co. B; died at Halena, Ark., August, 1863, after one year and three days' service. Auther also enlisting twice, the latter time in 1864, in 27th W. V. I., Co. B, and served until the close of the war.

GUSTAVE KARPE, Postmaster, Plymouth : was born in Germany on the 26th of September, 1836. Came to America with his parents in 1852, settling in town of Plymouth, Wis., on a farm, which land was all heavily timbered. The subject of this sketch lived at home until 1864, when he enlisted in the rebellion, in the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry, Co. C. He was discharged on be- ing disabled for further serviec, and then returned home; and, in 1869, was appointed Postmaster, which position he has held ever since. He is a member of the A. & A. M., Cassia Lodge, No. 167, and of the Harmony Chapter, and also of the I. O. O. F., Plymouth Union Lodge, No. 75. Mr. Karpe was married, in 1857, to Miss Frederica Porth, who was born in Germany, her parents still living there. They have three children, two sons and a daughter.

FREDRICH KINRENSCHILD, furniture and undertaker, Plymouth ; was born in Prussia Nov. 23, 1822. Came to America in 1853, and located at Milwaukee, where he lived but a short time; then moved to Plymouth, his present home, where he first engaged to work at the carpenter trade, which he followed a little over one year; then built himself a shop and bought a small stock of furniture, and every year adding to his stoek with an increased trade up to the present time. Was married in Prussia to Au- gusta Starm, who was a native of the same State, by whom he has one daughter-Emelia, now Mrs. William Sebald.

RUDOLPH KRAUSS, brick-yard, Plymouth ; was born in Germany March 17. 1825. Emigrated to United States in spring of 1847, and settled in town of Rhine, Sheboygan Co., Wis., where he bought a farm of the Government consisting of 160 acres, be- ing all heavy timbered land. Here he lived improving his farm,

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

etc., until 1873, when he started the brick-yard at Plymouth, which he run in connection with his farm until 1867; then mov- ing his family to Plymouth, renting his farm and giving his full attention to brick making. Mr. K. held several important town offices is town of Rhine, such as Assessor, Treasurer, Clerk, Super- visor, etc. In the spring of 1849, was married to Dorathea Pricknor, who is also a native of Germany, by whom he has five children, all of whom are living, viz., Alford L., Annie, Lucy, Otto and Lena.

SAMUEL. W. MEAD, M. D., Plymouth ; was born in Put- nam Co., N. Y., Ang. 15, 1849. He received a common-school education in his native State, and started to read medicine in Brooklyn, N. Y., with Mr. Dr. R. B. Welton, after which he com- menced his college course at Long Island College Hospital, where he was a graduate in high standing as M. D., and was appointed Resident Physician in the Long Island Hospital for one year ; then moving to Wisconsin in 1878, and located at the above place, where he began his first practice. He is a member of Royal Ar- canum of Plymouth. Was married, Jan. 1, 1879, to Miss Francis E. Drewry, of Plymouth, by whom he has one daughter-Iren W. JOHN F. MEHRMANN, merchant, Plymouth ; was obrn in Germany Sept. 2, 1809 ; came to the United States in 1854, and located in Plymouth, Sheboygan Co., and in 1855 started a store where he now is. He was married, in 1858, to the widow of Cyrase Johnson, one of the first settlers in the town of Plym- outh ; she was born Feb. 20, 1829, in Schenectady Co., N. Y., who settled in town of Plymouth in spring of 1845, her daughter, An- nie, now Mrs. John Knowd, being the first white female child born in town of Plymouth, in month of February, 1846 ; her husband, Mr. Knowd, has been station agent for the railroad since it was constructed, at Plymouth, except six months, when he was in the war.

ROBERT OBERREICH, proprietor of Central Flour and Feed Mill, Plymouth ; was born in Germany Jan. 17, 1846. He started to learn the milling trade in his native country at the age of 14, which business he followed there until 1871, when he emi- grated to the United States and located in town of Plymouth, She- boygan Co., Wis., and worked first for three months at carpenter's trade, after which time he went to Manitowoc and started to work in a mill for Fred Sull, where he remained nearly two years, then returning to Sheboygan Co., and worked in a country mill in town of Plymouth uutil 1879, when he leased the mill where he now is, and, in the spring of 1881, bought it; this mill has a capacity of fifty barrels per day, besides grinding feed, ete .; it was erected in 1867, by William Schwartz. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Ernistens Piletz, who was born in Prussia, by whom he has chil- dren-Osker and Willic.

CHARLES W. PRESCOTT, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Plym- outh, was born in Oncida Co., N. Y., June 19, 1825. He came to Wiseonsin in 1844, first going to Milwaukee, and the same year going back East to Ohio, where he remained until June of 1846 ; he then came back to Wisconsin and worked in Prairiesville, Washington Co., at the carpenter's trade. In 1847, he entered some land in Fond du Lac Co., and, during the same year, oper- ated a saw-mill, and then went up Wolf River, where he was fore- man of a saw-mill until 1851 ; he then returned to Osceola and commenced improving his land, on which he lived until 1862, at that time being elected County Clerk of Fond du Lac Co., and holding that position four years. In the meantime, he sold his farm, and, in January of 1867, at the expiration of his clerkship, bought the farm on which he now lives. He was married, in 1852. at Osceola, to Miss Julia E. Cannin, by whom he has two children, his wife dying in 1855.

OTTO PUHLMANN, proprietor of Plymouth Roller Mill ; was born in Germany June 12, 1838; emigrated to the United States in December, 1859, and located at Plymouth, Wis., where he engaged to work by the month in the mill of which he now is owner. In 1861, he went to Milwaukee to attend the commercial college, where he graduated the same year, and returned to Plym-

outh, there enlisting in Co. C, 4th W. V. I., and served until Jan- uary, 1865 ; he was promoted while in service, first to Captain, and afterward to Adjutant General, and served in most of the principal battles in the rebellion ; was wounded twice-once in the left arm and once in the left leg. After the war, he returned to Plymouth, where he resumed his position in the mill, and, in 1866, he became a partner with R. H. Hotchkiss, who died in 1878. Mr. Puhlmann since continuing the business, and this mill is furnished with a complete set of rollers and all of the late im- provements, and has a capacity of 125 barrels per day. He is also engaged in buying and shipping grain and seeds, etc. He was elected to the Legislature in year of 1872, and has served as Mayor of city of Plymouth four years, which office he now holds. Was married, in 1866, to Miss Anna T. Moore, of Plymouth.

SIMON A. RICK MEIER, cheese-factory. Born in Sheboy- gan Falls Dec. 17, 1855. And at the age of 18 years, learned carpenter trade, and was employed at it some four years. Then employed in cheese factory for one year. Has been engaged in present business since fall of 1878. Manufactures about nine thousand pounds of cheese per month. Is a son of Simon Riek- meir, who settled in Sheboygan Falls in 1853.

AUSGUST SCHMIDT, merchant, Plymouth, was born in Germany, Aug. 4, 1845 ; emigrated to America with his parents in 1848, who located in town of Plymouth, Sheboygan Co., on farm where he resided until 1856, when they moved to the village, the subject of this going to school and living at home until 1861, when he enlisted in the war of rebellion at the age of 15 years, in Co. C, 4th Wis. Vol. Infty. and served until 1866; when he returned to Plymouth, where he remained but a short time, then going to State of Alabama to help his brother run a large planta- tion ; stayed there one season and came back to Plymouth, and commenced to clerk for his brother-in-law, where he remained until 1875, when he started in business for himself in the build- ing where he now is. Was married in 1872, to Miss Barbra Sehermack, of Shehoygan, being born in Germany.

WILLIAM SEBALD, retail liquor dealer, Plymouth. was born in Prussia, Dec. 14, 1843; emigrated to the United States with his parents, in 1848. who settled in Sheboygan Co., on farm ; the subject of this sketch left home at the age of 12 years and went to the city of Sheboygan, where he worked by the month, and in 1865 enlisted there in the 45th W. V. C. I., and served until the close of the war; then returned to Sheboygan and engaged as clerk in wholesale liquor house ; and afterward was traveling agent, and finally, located at Plymouth in 1868, and started his present business, which he has followed siuce. Was married in 1868 to Miss Emelia Kinrenschild, of Plymouth, by whom he has four children living-Rosa, Benno, Emilia and Wella.

ANDREW J. SPEAR. Plymouth, Deputy Sheriff of She- boygan Co., was born in Vermont, Nov. 26, 1831; came to Wis- consin in fall of 1852, and worked at millwright trade; afterward running on the lakes as clerk ; then working at the State prison three years, with his father-in-law, who was Warden at Waupun, Wis. ; afterward moving to Fond du Lac, where he bought a saw mill and ran that and the lumber business until he moved to Plym- outh. where he started lumber yard, where he has lived since.

FERDINAND A. STREBLOW, proprietor of Plymouth cheese factory, was born in Germany, Feb. 15, 1853; emigrated to United States with his parents in 1858, who resided in New York until 1862, when he came to the State of Wisconsin and bought a farm in town of Plymouth, Sheboygan Co. ; there he lived, working the farm and also built a cheese factory in town of Rhine, in 1877, and ran that until 1879, when the subject of this sketch moved to village of Plymouth and bought the factory where he now is, of S. Il. Conover, this factory having a capacity of twenty- five cheeses per day, which is the largest factory in Sheboygan Co. The cheese made at this factory is shipped to Liverpool, which amounts to 5,000 sixty-pound boxes per annum. He was mar- ried in 1875, to Miss Louisa Klopf, who died in February, 1881, by whom he had two children.

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HISTORY OF SHEBOYGAN COUNTY.

HENRY STOCKS, of the firm of H. Stocks & Co., hard- ware dealers, Plymouth. This firm was established in 1878, and while yet a young firm they do about 88,000 per annum. Mr. Stoeks is an experienced hardware merchant, having served for a number of years with the well known firm in Milwaukee, John Nazro & Co., and also John Pritzlaff, previous to starting in busi- ness at Plymouth. He enlisted at Sheboygan in 1861, Co. A, 9th W. V. I., and served three years ; was promoted three times- Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and thence to Captain. He was born in Mobile Ala., Jan. 14, 1841 ; was married in Sheboy- gan in 1869, to Miss Tena Teyne, of Sheboygan. His father settled at Sheboygan in 1846 ; was a lumber merchant at that place and was one of the Harbor Commissioners appointed to make improve- ments there. He died in 1856.

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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