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 30

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 30

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The members of the firm are Henry C. and George B. Smith, both natives of Morristown, N. J., who came to Green Bay with their father's family in 1854. Henry Smith enlisted in the 20th Ill. I. in 1861, and was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability. Recovering his health he re-enlisted the following year, 1862, in the 12th Wisconsin ; was with Grant in the Vicksburg campaign ; with Sherman in the At- lanta campaign ; went with his army down to the sea and was captured on the march north from Savannah, and confined in Libby prison about two months. Returning home he was variously employed in lumber business until 1873, when he commenced gardening. He is the sales- man and business manager of the firm. George B. Smith has given his attention to gardening from a boy, and is in every sense of the word a practical gardener, fully acquainted with all the details of the business.

EUGENE SMITH, superintendent National Furnace Company, is a native of Ohio, from which State he came to Wisconsin in :370, and

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

to Depere two years later, having accepted the position of assistant cashier of the bank of Depere, This position he resigned in 1875 to take charge of the hooks of the National Furnace Company at Depere, and in April, ISSI, came to Green Bay as superintendent of the com- pany's works at this point.

E. R. SMITH, Sheriff, is a native of Vermont, was engaged in mercantile business there when the war broke out, and entered the United States service with the 2d Regiment Ver. I., the first three years' regiment from that State. He served the full term of his enlist- ment, during which time he was on detached service nine months, and returning bome served one year as property steward in the general hos- pital at Burlington. In 1869, Mr. Smith came West and soon afterward settled at Wrightstown in this county. He was a member of the Town Board there three years; served two years as clerk ; was Justice of the Peace there eight years, and entered upon his present duties Jan. 1, 1881.

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JOHN M. SMITH, of Green Bay, was born Dec. 13, 1820, in Mcrris Co., N. J. His father was a wide-awake, energetic farmer, and was one antorg he fast few to adopt what is now leimed a system of in proved cultivation. Ficm him the son gained much of that practical krowledge which has made him so well-known as a thorough and suc- cessful cultivator of the soil. His early education was as good as the common schools of his rative county could give, until he had nearly attained manhocd, when he entered on a course of preparation for col- lege, beirg very desirous of entering one of the learned professions. Such, however, was not the course Providence had marked out for him. Before he had completed his preparatory course. he was called home to take care of his father's affairs on the farm, he being for some months laid aside by a severe accident, which event changed permanently the whole course of his future life. Still he was a close student, and all his spare time was devoted to books, which were a necessity of his life. Books of history had for him a peculiar charm, and all agricultural infor- mation was eagerly sought after. lle was passionately fond of music, and devoted much time to its study. On the 14th of March, 1844, he was married to Miss Emily B. Torrey, of Honesdale, Penn. She was born Jan. 31, 1821. Their married life has been an exceptionally happy one. Nine sons and two daughters were given them, and seven sons and one daughter are still living. In May, 1854, they removed from New

Jersey to Wisconsin, and in July of the same year came to Green Bay to make a home, where they have ever since resided. He has occupied his present home twenty-five years. From the time of his marriage until his removal to Wisconsin he was engaged in lumbering, and for several years after coming West, he was more or less engaged in the same busi- ness. But the dream of his manhood, after being obliged to give up his early plans, had heen to own a piece of land, and make it do its best ; so when in 1864 a route was opened to the iron and lumber region north of us, he saw that there was a chance for some one to start market gardens to feed the men who would have no time to cultivate for themselves. He went through the northern district to Lake Superior, and came back so well pleased with the prospect of a future market, that he at once deter- mined to make market-gardening and fruit-growing a permanent busi- ness. He commenced with about three acres, and with the yearly in- creasing demand has enlarged until now (1881) he has about forty-five acres, mostly in garden crops, and a constant demand for nearly every thing grown. He is a ready writer, and has always taken an active in- terest in the agricultural development of the State. In 1871 the farmers of Wisconsin commenced holding agricultural conventions in different parts of the State. From the first, Mr. Smith has been identified with them, giving time and thought and money, when necessary, to make them a success. His co-workers seem to have appreciated his services, and have repeatedly chosen him their leader. Ten years ago the Brown County Horticultural Society was formed. It was afterward changed to include agriculture, and Mr. Smith was chosen its first president, which position he still holds by the annually expressed wish of its members. In 1870 the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Associa- tion was organized, he being made one of its vice-presidents, which place he held until 1873, when he was made president until 1876, when he was chosen president of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, where he has been annually re-elected until the present time. In March, 1881, was organized the Fox River Valley Amber Cane-growers' Association, and Mr. Smith was chosen its president against his own earnest protest, as he had already more than his share of that kind of work, but the members insisted, and he finally allowed his name to stand. He has always taken an active interest in political matters, always using his in- fluence to secure the best men possible for all places of public trust. He has never sought office for himself, and it is safe to say he never will. Should his fellow citizens ever need him for any place of public trust, they will have to seek him.

GEORGE SOMERS, wholesale dry goods, etc., is a native of Ger- many. Came to America with his parents when quite young, settling in Pennsylvania ; came to this State in 1851 and was several years en- gaged in the diy goods trade at Racine and Monroe, before coming to this city in 1863. Since that date he has been prominently identified with the dry goods trade of the Northwest, having at various times branch stores in Neenah, Depere, Stevens Point, and Winona and Rochester, Minnesota. .

J. J. ST. LOUIS, general hardware and house furnishing goods, also jobber in tin, copper, sheet and galvanized iron, No. 78 Washing- ton street. This business was established in 1862 by the proprietor, in the block just across the street from his present location, In 1874 he purchased the lot on which his store now stands, and two years later erected his business house, a two-story brick, 2612 x 100 feet, the lower story used as a sales room and office, the rear of the upper story as a manufactory. His premises are 260 feet deep, and terminate on the dock, at which the largest lake vessels find ample dockage, and where he has a capacious warehouse. The business gives constant employment to a force of from five to six persons. Mr. St. Louis is a native of New York State ; bred to business in Plattsburg, and engaged in trade in that vicinity before coming to Green Bay in 1855. Fle was con- nected with the house of A. Kimball of this city before engaging in business for himself.

HENRY STRONG, the founder of the bank of Green Bay, and its president during all the various changes in its organization, is a na- tive of New York City and a son of George D. Strong, a prominent banker and wholesale merchant of that city. He was bred to business in a Wall-street banking house. He moved from New York to Oshkosh in 1854 ; organized the Commercial Bank of that city, conducted its op- erations four years, and then went to Green Bay, where, for the past twenty-two years, he has conducted business as a banker, and thor- oughly identified himself with the manufacturing interests of the city.

GEORGE A. SNAVELY, proprietor Adams House, Green Bay. The house has a capacity of thirty sleeping-rooms on second floor ; office, dining-room and private sitting-room on first floor, and public sitting- room on second floor ; stables accommodating twenty-one horses in rear of hotel ; established in 1859 by St. Pierao. In 1869 Mr. B. Smith bought it, and conducted it until 1875, when Mr. Snavely bought it, and has conducted it since. The house is centrally located to the business interests of the place, and is convenient to the railroad and steam-boat depots.

TRACY & BAILEY, attorneys-at-law. Office in post-office block. The members of this firm are John J. Tracy and Willard C. Bailey.

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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.

Their law partnership was formed in 1877, and practice extends to all the State and Federal courts.

John J. Tracy is a native of Vermont and a graduate of Dartmouth College-class of 1864. Leaving college he enlisted in the United States service, was discharged at the close of the war, came to Green Bay where for two years he was principal of the city schools, then entered the law office of John C. Neville, and was admitted to the Bar in 1868 at the Spring term ol court. The same year he entered into partnership with his legal preceptor, and was in practice with him until 1875. during which time he was twice elected District Attorney. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity.

Willard C. Bailey is a native Wisconsin, served with the 40th Wis. I during the late war, graduated from Beloit College in the class of 1869 and came to Green Bay the same year as principal of the city schools, studied law during the two years he held that position, then entered the office of Hastings & Greene, was admitted to the Bar in the Spring of 1872, entered immediately upon the practice of his profession in this city, and has so continned. Mr. Bailey is the present chairman of the Republican Central Committee for Brown Co. ; takes an active part in temperance matters, and for ten terms was presiding officer of the Tem- ple of Honor. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. fraternities.

JAMES E. TRACY, of the firm of Gormley & Tracy, merchant tailors. 123 Washington street, Green Bay, was born in Ireland, August, 1848. In July, 1863, he came to New York. After spending seven years at his business, and traveling through the cities of Illinois for one year, he \ came here in the employ of Richman & Lehman, with whom he remained for five years. He then engaged with Mr. Hoffman for about a year, after which he conducted a business for himself up to the present. He has formed a copartnership with Mr. Gormley, and the firm are able to supply their patrons with the most elegant styles and choicest qualities of goods. In 1872 Mr. Tracy was married to Miss Flora Rositer of Ft. Howard. They have two sons and one daughter.

LOUIS VAN DYCKE (deceased) was born in Antwerp ; came to America in 1855, and the following year settled in Green Bay. Two years later, on the organization of Kewaunee County, he removed to Red River in that county. Was its first District Attorney and Post- master, and was Township Treasurer there for ten years. Returning to Green Bay in 1868, he was engaged in mercantile business, brewing, and other industries until his death January 9, 1881. In 1875, in con- nection with John M. Shoemaker he established the dry goods house of Shoemaker & Van Dycke, his interest in which as well as his brewery, is now in the hands of his widow, Mrs. Olivia Van Dycke (nee Cesar), whom he married in 1857.

MRS. O. VAN DYCKE is a native of Belgium ; came to America in 1856, and settled in Kewaunee County, where the following year she married Louis Van Dycke, and by his death, after twenty-four years of happy married life, was left a widow with six children and the care of a large estate.

DR. A. H. VAN NORSTRAND is a native of New York; pur- sned his academical studies in Wayne Co., N.Y., and his medical studies in Pittsfield, Mass., after which he entered the Vermont Medical College at Woodstock, and graduated in the class of 1846. The following year he removed to Wisconsin and settled in Astalan, Jefferson Co., where, with the exception of one year spent in Oshkosh, he remained in the practice of his profession until 1861. On the breaking out of the war Dr. Van Norstrand recruited a company for the 4th Wis. I., but be- fore taking the field was commissioned surgeon of the regiment and served with it in that capacity and on staff duty until the re-enlistment of the regiment in 1864, when he retired from the service. Returning home he was appointed Superintendent of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane at Madison, which position he held until 1868, a short time prior to his removal to this county. In 1874, he was appointed a Trus- tee of the State Hospital, serving for two years, and before entering the military service of the United States had been twice elected a member of the State Assembly, sessions of 1852 and 1855.

B. J. VAN VALKENBURGH, the only resident member of the firm of Cargill & Van Valkenburgh, is a native of New York. He came to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled at Manitowoc, where he was engaged in general merchandise until 1861, when he enlisted in the 21st Wis. I., and was mustered out as major U. S. V. in the quartermaster depart- ment, after three years and three months active service. Retiring from the army, Mr. Van Valkenburgh was engaged in commission and grain business at La Crosse, prior to coming to this city.

VROMAN & SALE, attorneys at law, office on Washington street, over Dowville & Basches' store. The members of the firm are C. E. Vroman and L. B. Sale, and their law partnership was formed in 1874.

C. E. Vroman is a native of this State. Gratnated from the State University at Madison in the class of 1868, from the Albany Law School the following year, and settled for practice in this city in 1872. He was elected District Attorney in 1879, still holds that office, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity.

L. B. Sale is a native of Wisconsin. Served with the 40th Regiment

Wis. I. during the last war. Graduated from the classical department of the State University in 1870, and from the law department two years later. Was admitted to practice in Eau Claire County, then his residence, and in 1874, came to this city where as before stated he established practice as law partner of C. E. Vroman. He is a member of the K. of P. fraternity.

A. A. WARREN, insurance agent, office-room No. 4 Spaulding's block, is a native of Ohio ; came to this State in 1854, and to Green Bay in 1866, since which time he has been thoroughly identified with the business interests of this city and vicinity. He was for four years secre- tary, treasurer and general manager of the Monitor Iron Works at Fort Howard, has taken an active part in all efforts to increase the manufacturing industries and carrying facilities of this section, and is the corresponding secretary of an association formed for that purpose. He represents the First Ward of this city in the County Board of Supervisors for Brown County.

DANIEL WIIITNEY was born in Gilsum, N.H., Sept. 3, 1795. Settling in Green Bay in 1819, he established himself in the mercantile business, at once, and the following year opened store at Shanty Town, built his log houses, and became speedily known as the leading trader and business man of that region. Mr. Whitney's nature was roving and enterprising, and there was probably no other man of those times who was so intimately acquainted with the country up and down the Fox and Wisconsin rivers and as far east as Detroit. In 1822, he took a trip to the latter place on snow-shoes, his only companions being Indians. It was about the same time that Moses Hardwick was making similar excursions as a carrier of the mail to Detroit and west- ward to those lakes, but these two were about the only ones in this region adventursome and hardy enough to undertake the weary and danger- ous journey. Mr. Whitney did not confine himself, however, to the business either of a trader or an explorer. He was pre-eminently a practical man of great energy of body and mind and was never idle. He built the first mill upon the Wisconsin River. In 1821-2, he became sutler at Ft. Snelling. He developed into an extensive lumberman, and built mill after mill. Upon the advent of the Stockbridge Indians, in 1827, he opened a supply store at Little Chute on Fox River, and operated it for many years. By 1829, the business prospects of Shanty Town had con- sidably dimmed, and when Mr. Whitney platted Navarino in that

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

year the place became almost deserted. The land comprising the site of Navarino was owned by the seven Grignon brothers. One of them, Augus- tus, refused to sell under any consideration. The other six were willing and " tossed up" to see what portion of their possession should go. The result of the " toss-up" determined Mr. Whitney's purchase and the future site of Navarino, which became the North Ward of Green Bay. When the village was platted Mr. Whitney at once commenced to invite settlement by building stores and dwelling houses, a wharf, warehouses, school-house, hotel, etc. The latter became known as the Washington House and was situated where the Beaumont House now stands. This plan of personally building up the place he continued for ten years, sometimes even going so far as to give away land to those desiring to permanently locate in Navarino. By this time Shanty Town had almost fallen out of sight, Gen. Dickinson, who was clerk for Mr. Whitney when he opened store in 1820, removed to the present site of Depere, and Mr. Whitney took his family to the more prosperous settlement of Navarino. There he continued to reside, prosperous, industrious, re- spected, until death called him away Nov. 4, 1862. The late Col. Charles Tullar, who came to Green Bay as clerk for Mr. Whitney in 1831, managed the property of the deceased, which was considerable, until the time of the former's death in October, 1874. Mr. Whitney was married Sept. 1, 1826, in Vermont, to Miss E. S. Henshaw. They have had six boys and one daughter. The latter and two of their sons are still living. The widow, a bright old lady of seventy-seven years, yet of vigorous mind, survives her lamented husband, and now resides in the old homestead, originally built by Mr. Whitney in 1833, and in- tended as a boarding-house for his hands, but of which Mr. Whitney, preferring housekeeping to hotel life, took possession. In 1833, Daniel Whitney attempted to utilize some of the product of the lead mines, and established the first shot-tower in the West, at a place called Helena, at the mouth of Mill Creek, on the Wisconsin River, in the present limits of Iowa County. A detailed history of this venture is given in the Western Historical Company's "History of Iowa County, ISSI."

G. W. WATSON, the only resident member of the firm of Watson & McLeod, is a native of New York ; came to this region with his parents in 1844, and embarked in business for himself in the lumber trade in 1861, since which time he has been a resident of this city. The lumber firm of which he was a member, had SSo,ooo of property in mills and lumber swept away in a night by the great fires of 1871, but con- tinued in business until 1874, at which time he entered the wholesale grocery house of Roundy, Peckham & Co., of Milwaukee, as traveling salesman, which position he surrendered to establish his present busi- ness in ISSO.

A. WEISE, the senior member of the firm of Weise & Holman, is a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to America in 1841, settling in Green Bay the following year. From 1842 to 1876, he followed his trade as carriage and wagon maker, which he had learned in Germany, during which time he had accumulated a very valuable property. In 1866, he built the house now occupied by him as a crock- ery store, a two-story brick 44xSo, and has erected over thirty buildings in this city, of which he now owns eighteen dwelling houses, four stores and the wagon shop, in which one of his sons is doing business.

FORT HOWARD.

The progress of the early settlement of the vicinity of Fort Howard has been traced in preceding pages. The military reservation upon which the borough, and later the city, of Fort Howard was founded, was set apart by order of the President, March 2, 1829, and comprised all the lands lying upon Fox River and Green Bay, Township 24 north, Range 20 east, being about 4,000 acres. Daniel Whitney, M. L. Martin, John W. Arndt, of Green Bay, and James Murray, of New York, the original owners, succeeded in getting the War Department to release the claim, and the lands were abandoned for military purposes, December 4, 1850. Through the courts the owners obtained a division of the claim, and Joel S. Fisk, Francis Desnoyers, James Callahan and others bought interests, the first named and Mr. Arndt laying out their shares in village lots. Several additions were made before Fort Howard became a borough, October 3, 1856. Previous to this the Town Board had held sessions at Duck Creek. On November 10, 1864, in pursuance of a Congressional act, approved in March, 1863, the Commissioner of the general land-office sold the lands, including the site of the fort, about half the entire tract, stretching two miles along the shore of the river and bay, the property bringing over $25,000. That portion of the

reservation unsold was made subject to private entry. In 1868, the Land Commissioner issued a patent to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company for eighty acres of the land, upon which are now located their buildings.

The place was first organized into a borough in 1856, with Robert Chappell as president. Oscar Gray served until 1860, when Otto Tank was elected. In 1873, Fort Howard became a city.

When Fort Howard was incorporated as a city in March, 1873, James H. Elmore was elected Mayor and John A. Salscheider, Treasurer. D. Hunt was Clerk, which posi- tion he held until 1876. In 1874, D. M. Burns was Mayor, and John A. Salscheider, Treasurer ; in 1875, George Rich- ardson and R. Chappell; 1876, George Richardson and Joel S. Fisk. C. H. Puerner was chosen Clerk in that year, being the present incumbent. He had previously served the borough from 1865 to 1873. In 1877-8, George Rich- ardson was Mayor and A. L. Gray, Treasurer; 1879, M. M. Newald and Joseph Taylor; 1880, A. Schwartz and D. Hunt; 1881, A. L. Gray and D. Hunt.

In 1854 a post-office was first established in Fort How- ard, Oscar Gray being Postmaster. It was located corner of Pearl and Main streets, at the end of Walnut street bridge. William J. Fisk succeeded him; Joseph Taylor, 1861-78; when George Richardson, present incumbent, was appointed.

The first district school was established in 1850. The school-house was on the present site of Hill & Burns's hard- ware store; a small frame building, in which Mr. Shaler began with forty scholars. Three years after, this building was moved to Chestnut street, enlarged to double size, and, as the school increased in numbers, made two stories in height. August 11, 1880, the number of children be- tween four and fourteen years of age were 1, 151 : 551 males and 560 females. Average attendance, 545.

The graded high school was put in operation in 1873. It is now a full graded high school from the primary up, embracing eleven separate departments. It has thirteen teachers, and occupies six buildings, located in the several wards. The appraisement of property is $23,000; the high school building and site, without including two other buildings, being $14,000 at a low valuation. George Rich- ardson is Superintendent, and Worden Reynolds, First Prin- cipal.

Fire Company No. 1 was established in 1858, with fifty charter members. The officers were : Hiram Hubbard, chief engineer; William Rossiter, assistant engineer ; James A. Beattie, foreman ; F. Jewell, assistant foreman ; James Camm, treasurer; O. Gray, secretary ; and Frank Tierman, hose captain. The company started with an old engine which had been formerly used at the garrison, and which was run for one or two years, when, in 1860, there was purchased a Button hand engine. This was followed in 1873 by a Button steam engine. The first building was a one-story frame, on Pearl street. In 1875, a handsome brick structure was erected, also on Pearl street, at a cost of $6,000. The present membership is twenty, and the officers are : A. L. Gray, chief engineer ; William F. Marshall, assistant engineer; R. F. Peak, foreman ; Laton Newald, assistant foreman; W. R. Beattie, hose captain ; James Tierman, treasurer ; and A. Lucas, secre- tary. The company have 1,600 feet of good hose, beside that long in use. The water supply, away from the river, is a very large, well-built tank, in the fifth ward, which is filled from an artesian well constantly overflowing ; also, a sewer at the corner of Broadway and Hubbard streets, con- nected directly with the river.

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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