USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 11
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JOHN T. PERKINS.
I think Mr. Perkins was in the right. I remember this case, and the feeling that Mr. Newhall's letter created among the thinking portion of the community. There would have been just as much propriety or common sense, in Mr. Newhall's refusing to be pulled out of a well, (had he fallen into one), by Mr. Rice, as to refuse to receive the aid proffered him upon this occasion. Suppose, for in- stance, that Mr. Rice had wished to purchase a bill of furniture of Mr. Newhall, for his theater, would he have refused to sell it to him, although he well knew that the money to pay for it was earned in a theater ? Certainly not, and the most that can be said in extenua- tion of his conduct would be, that he was more nice than wise. But then, the world is full of just such men, to-day; men who "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel," or even a railroad. But so it was.
THE WEATHER.
The spring of 1848 opened quite early. The ice left the river proper, February 16, but lingered along the shores and in the Kin- · nikinick until the twenty-eighth, when it all went. The first boat from below was the propeller Manhattan, April 15th.
SCHOOLS.
The dilatory manner in which the Common Council acted in loan- ing the $15,000 voted to build school-houses, brought out the fol- lowing in the Wisconsin of April 7, 1848 :
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THE SCHOOL HOUSES .- Where are the school houses for the people of this city ? Last year the people voted to loan the money, and there has been a gentleman here from Boston for several days ready to take it at eight per cent., but, but, but, we have no school houses, as yet, worthy of the name. If we cannot have a harbor and school houses too, let us have the school house.
PROF. AMASA BUCK.
Among the names of the pioneers of Wisconsin who are worthy to be handed down to posterity, is that of Prof. Amasa Buck, the . founder of the first Academical School in the city of Milwaukee. He was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, December 26, 1784, and moved with his parents to Bath, New Hampshire, in 1786. Here he grew to manhood, and obtained as thorough an education as could be had in the schools of that day. From his earliest life, Prof. Buck selected and entirely devoted himself to the profession of an educa- tor. The writer of this sketch having been one of his students, knew him well. He possessed an ample mind, and a profound love of learning ; and but few men surpassed him in the rare ability to impart knowledge to others. It was his mission to found institutions of learning, and cultivate a taste for the higher branches of educa- tion. With this single purpose, he immediately followed the march of the world westward, building up schools and scattering the seeds of knowledge. Learning in several states is indebted to his intellec- tual labors. He arrived in Milwaukee in 1848. Here he immedi- ately established the Milwaukee Collegiate Institute, which was first opened at what is now 453 Broadway. It was afterwards moved to the old Free Church upon the same street, at the place now occu- pied as the Central Fire Station. It remained here until 1850, when it was transferred to a new building erected by the Professor express- ly for the Institute. This was situated at what is now 536 and 538 Broadway. The institution attracted much attention at that time, and continued to prosper until the death of Prof. Buck, which oc- curred on the 20th of September, 1852.
This was the first Collegiate School located in Milwaukee, and one of the first established in Wisconsin. From the columns of the Mil- waukee Sentinel of that day, we select the following interesting ac- count of this pioneer institution of learning, and also of its distin- guished founder :
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MILWAUKEE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE .- By reference to our advertising columns, it will be seen that another term of this excellent school is to commence on Monday next. The institute is under the charge of Professor Amasa Buck, a veteran instructor, whose forty years experience, combined with a natural aptitude for this pursuit, and an excellent education, eminently qualify him for the respon- sible trust. The school room is large, well ventilated, and provided with a valua- ble apparatus and a well selected cabinet, the property of Professor Buck, alto- gether the choicest and most extensive in our state. The desks, benches, black- boards, indeed all the furniture of the school room, is of the best description, and nothing is wanting to make the institute complete of its kind.
This institute, established scarce a year since, has made the most rapid progress in point of numbers and excellence, of anything of the kind we have witnessed. It was thought by some, that the attempt to establish in the young city of Milwau- kee, an institution of this character, would prove a failure-that real merit and talent were not appreciated here as elsewhere, but time has shown to the contrary -- so much, indeed, that the most sanguine anticipations of the principals have been realized. It is now conceded that Milwaukee can and will support, and that, too, most liberally, an Academy of Science, when properly conducted, and in the pro- per hands. This institution now numbers upward of 150 students.
Prof. Buck was a man of fine presence and scholarly appearance ; and after a long life of exceptional devotion to his profession he entered upon his rest. An excellent portrait of the Professor has been placed in the rooms of the City Library by the request of the Trustees, one of whom, Gen. Harrison C. Hobart, was a student under his instruction at the well-known New Hampton Academy, in New Hampshire. He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery.
DR. HUBBELL LOOMIS.
This gentleman, mention of whom was made in Vol. I, page 55, as having lived upon the block bounded by Reed, Hanover, Florida, and Oregon streets, and who came from Michigan to Milwaukee in 1836, was a man of very marked peculiarities of character, and much better fitted for a gentleman at large, than for a pioneer. One of the Doctor's peculiarities was to always wear a ruffle shirt, a suit of black and a stove-pipe hat ; and to see him chopping wood (as the writer often has) sans coat and vest, with the ruffle to his shirt some six inches in width, flaunting in the breeze, was a sight not easily forgotten. He was, however, a good physician of the old school, and had for a while a good practice. He was also a man
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whose morals were irreproachable. He was not much of a talker, but was quite active in politics ; (he was a Democrat), although he never attained much influence, politically, on account of his oppo- sition to Col. G. H. Walker, a feud always existing between them, growing out of the settlement of the land titles, upon the south side. He could, however, wield a sarcastic pen, as the controversy in the papers of that day between him and the Colonel, fully proves. He used the Colonel up badly.
Dr. Loomis was a fine looking man. He had a very nervous temperament. He walked quick, had a large head, a clear blue eye and dark brown hair. He came from the old Puritan stock of New England, and, like them, was extremely radical in his views. He was always gentlemanly, even when excited, and I very much doubt if any one living, ever heard him use a profane or vulgar word. He was always cautious in his speech. He had a habit, when walking. of thrusting his left hand in his pocket, and always wore his hat (a glossy black one), tipped slightly back. Such are some of the per- sonal characteristics of Dr. Hubbell Loomis. His death occurred from gastric fever, November 11, 1849.
Dr. Loomis left one son and two daughters. The son died sev- eral years ago, unmarried; one of the daughters is now the wife of H. K. Edgerton, of Oconomowoc. The second was the wife of the late Geo. G. Dousman. She has also joined her family upon the other side. One of her daughters, Rose Dousman, is the wife of William T. Hooker, of Duluth, Minnesota.
FIRE.
March third, great fire on Walker's Point. David Merrill's store burned, including all the rigging for two new vessels. Loss about $10,000. Lieut. Wright's recruits for the Mexican War, fifty in number, helped at this fire, by hauling the engines through the snow.
COUNCIL.
Among the proceedings of the Common Council at their meeting March 23d, we find the following :
Present, Aldermen Ludington, Martin, Schulte, Van Dyke, (not John H.) Walters, Edgerton, Furlong, Goodall, Rogers, Sayers and Weeks.
Absent, Owens, Hawkins and Waite.
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The accounts of William White and L. P. Rice for boarding prisoners in the jail, Shuny for services as harbor master, $40 per month, Pat Guerin $580, grading, J. B. Vliet, for services as surveyor at the poor farm, were allowed. But D. Perry for refreshments, furnished firemen at the recent fire, $18, not allowed.
The Sentinel made some pretty severe comments upon this, as the refreshments were furnished upon an order issued by one of their own members. But that was about the way they acted with every little bill that came up relating to the department until they finally struck, which brought the city dads to time .*
EDMUND SANDERSON.
This well remembered young merchant, was the youngest son of the late Capt. James Sanderson,t (a sketch of whom appeared in Vol. II, page 62), and had a store in Walker's block, in 1848, which continued until 1854.
Mr. Sanderson was the second city treasurer. He was a very quiet and dignified gentleman ; very easy in all his movements - never was known to be in a hurry - very reticent ; in fact, he talked less than any one I ever knew, who did as much business as he did, for he carried a very large stock for those times, of general mer- chandise. He had dark hair and eyes, dark complexion, weighed about 140 pounds, walked with his head a little bowed, as if in a study, and kept his lips so nearly closed when talking, as to cause any one who might be listening, to think that he had a pebble in his mouth. Nothing ever escaped his observation. He was also a good accountant, and in every way an honest, trustworthy and first-class citizen. He was, like Dr. L. W. Weeks, a true friend (if a friend), but if he disliked you, he would ignore you entirely. The writer
* This action of the council was taken in high dudgeon by the citizens of the fifth ward, and of course they aired their grievances in the papers, which were replied to by some one who, in order to cover his track, signed himself "Fifth Ward," giving them (the fifth warders, ) some fatherly advice, to which they replied by advising him (Third Ward) to attend to his own business, if he had any, and that when they of the fifth ward wanted any advice from the gentleman from the third, for there was where it come from, they would give him a call. It was a spicy article.
+Captain Sanderson returned to Milwaukee from Portland, Oregon, January 12, 1882, a mere wreck of his former self, and was placed in the home of the "Little Sisters of the Poor," on Wells street, by the Old Settler's club, and kindly cared for until his death, May 28, 1883. He united with the Catholic church four days previous to his death, and was buried in Calvery cemetery. He was eighty-nine years old. Such was the end of James Sanderson.
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first met Edmund Sanderson in Buffalo, in November, 1836, where an acquaintance was formed which continued without interruption until his death, November 11, 1854. Peace to his memory.
Among the acts passed by the Council this year, was one for grad- ing West Water street from the Menomonee Bridge to the fourth ward line, (Reed street.) Also one for paying 7 per cent. interest on all orders drawn on the general fund of the first and third wards, after April ist, if not paid on presentation.
THE FUR FLIES.
As the time for the spring election drew near in 1848, the poli- ticians put on their war paint, and went forth after scalps! The " loco focos" held meetings in the several wards, which the reader will perceive, as he progresses, were not love-feasts, and made the following nominations :
In the first ward two meetings were held, and two tickets were nominated. At the one held at the Rheinish House, Geo. E. H. Day, of blessed memory, " Holy George," as the unregenerate were wont to call him, because he was so slippery, Frederick Arnold and Henry Heidie were nominated for Aldermen, Clinton Walworth for Justice, and Wm. Arnold for Street Inspector. At the one held at the Court House, Lindsey Ward, Alanson Sweet and James Johnson were nominated for Aldermen ; James B. Cross for Justice, and Thomas Toohey for Inspector. A good ticket, (so said the Sentinel), for " Gorillas " to get up. The second ward nominated August Greu- lich, Egbert Moseley and A. Higley, for Aldermen ; and Riley N. Messenger, for Justice.
The third ward had the usual " circus, " all hands 'round and " chassee " over characteristic of that ward, in these early times, over the nomination of Alex Matheson' for Justice ; but J. L. Doran beat " Alex " out of sight, although, in rascality, they were about on a par, the difference being in brains. Doran could discount Alex fifty per cent. in that article, and then have enough left to start a " concert saloon. " The usual newspaper bombast followed these nominations, and some of the candidates, Chas. E. Tuttle, for in- stance, and one or two others were furnished with a " Family Tree " which astonished them, as well as some of their constituents. Charles
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E. Tuttle was a bad egg .- smart as a whip-cunning as a serpent, but not as " harmless as a dove "; not if my memory is correct, and I think it is. Chas. E. Tuttle, Dr. Whitney, Geo. G. Blodgett, Wal- ter W. Kellogg, Alex. Matheson, John L. Doran, and Holy Geo. E. H. Day, were a bad crowd-not an honest hair in the head of one of them.
A DIVIDED HOUSE.
A resolution was also offered at this meeting, (by some one who has more zeal than sense,) that Mr. Matheson be declared the nom- inee for delegate to the congressional convention, at East Troy on the 18th, which, on being put to vote, was declared lost by the chairman, whereupon Aleck's friends called for a division of the house. At this some zealous democrat exclaimed: "Is it a division of the house yees want !- will divide it and give yees the out side, be-gob," and they did vi et armis, after which they finished their business and adjourned. There was a large amount of windy news- paper discussions about the way Alex was treated, but no harm came of it. It was the way they did things in that ward, in those days, if they did not like a man they "scooted" him.
The following squib, taken from the Courier, in relation to the first charter election in 1846, is inserted here simply to give the reader an idea of the strong partisan feeling existing in these days, as well as the way the editors were wont to abuse each other, same as they do to-day, and afterwards go and take a smile together :
THE FOURTH THE BANNER WARD.
It is conceded that the fourth ward is entitled to the banner, having polled the largest straight democratic vote, according to the whole number polled.
THE "BLOODY THIRD" AND THE "SAUCY FOURTH !"
When all have done well we are loth to particularize, but we cannot refrain from especially complimenting our friends in the "bloody third" and the "saucy fourth," as the whigs dubbed those wards yesterday morning. At the third a dead set was made to create disaffection and heart-burnings in the democrat ic ranks, and the fourth the whigs were cock-sure of carrying up to lwo o'clock yes - Lerday afternoon, A prominent whig, soon after the passage of the city charter, stigmatized the third ward as "Sodom and Gomorrah." It is to be hoped that the shower of fire and brimstone that whiggery received in that ward will not cause any of its candidates to turn into a pillar of salt.
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The election held April 5th, resulted as follows : For Mayor, Byron Kilbourn; Treasurer, Chas. Geisberg; Attorney, Chas. E. Tuttle ; Police Justice, C. Walworth ; Marshal, Timothy O'Brien.
WARD OFFICERS. FIRST WARD.
Aldermen, Nelson Ludington, Alanson Sweet * and F. Arnold; Assessors, James Nugent, Matthias Stein and Hiram A. Smith ; Jus- tice, Clinton Walworth; Street Inspector, Wm. Arnold ; Constable, Andrew Lienhart.
SECOND WARD.
Aldermen, Egbert Moseley, August Greulich and I. A. Lapham; Assessors, M. Murphy, David Knab and Chas. Best; Justice, Ter- tellius D. Butler ; Constable, Richard Short ; Street Inspector, J. F. Luerk.
THIRD WARD.
Aldermen, B. H. Edgerton, Richard Murphy and James B. Bray ; Justice, John L. Doran ; Assessors, J. H. Cordes, A. McCormick and Henry Gallaghan; Street Inspector, John Ryan ; Constable, Pat. Guerin.
FOURTH WARD.
Aldermen, A. W. Stark, J. S. Pardee and I. E. Goodall; Asses- sors, J. Sherman, John Fishbeck and Benj. Bagnall ; Justice, Haven Powers; Street Inspector, Lewis Grant; Constable, John Mitchell.
FIFTH WARD.
Aldermen, Richard M. Sweet, Edwin De Wolf and Chapman Yates; Assessors, Francis Neikerk, Amos Loomis and Henry Shew ; Justice, John McCollum. (This was a bad appointment, as Mr. McCollum had no education.) Constable, Warren Perrego ; Street Commissioner, F. Harmeyer.
There was a vote taken upon the license question, with the fol- lowing result :
* Alanson Sweet's election was contested by George E. H. Day, and a new election was ordered April II, resulting as follows : Sweet, 262 ; Day, So, and Clarence Shepard (who also was a candidate at this special ) 140. Sweet's major- ity 42, over both.
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First ward, for, 220 ; second, 90 ; third, 36 ; fourth, 33 ; fifth, 79; total, 458. Against, first ward, 145; second, 58 ; third, 136; fourth, 68 ; fifth, 34 ; total, 441. Majority for license, 17. Last year all the wards except the fifth, voted for license. But this year the " bloody third " has gone ahead of them all in voting against it.
The annexed are the official returns for mayor, with Gen. King's comments thereon :
CITY ELECTION.
The charter election yesterday was warmly, but peaceably contested, and called out a full vote. The regularly nominated candidates of the democratic party were elected for the charter officers, and the democrats have also carried their ward officers, with few exceptions. The majorities for mayor are nearly as follows :
King, first ward, 104 majority. Kilbourn, second ward, 130 majority ; third ward, 96 ; fourth ward, 45 ; fifth ward, 55. Majority for Kilbourn, 222.
While grateful to our friends for the flattering vote they gave us yesterday, we cannot but congratulate our fellow-citizens that their choice for mayor has fallen upon a gentleman every way qualified for the station, and who will discharge its duties with credit to himself and honor to the city.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
The first Commissioners appointed under the charter were as fol- lows: First ward, John H. Tweedy, Dr. Jas. Johnson and Moritz Schoeffler ; second ward, D. Van Deeren, J. B. Selby and J. A. Mes- senger ; third ward, Levi Hubbell, Rufus King and Edward Hussey; fourth ward, Sidney L. Rood, A. W. Stowe and Henry G. Abbey ; fittlı ward, Jas. Magone, W. W. Yale and Aaron Herriman. Rufus King, President; H. G. Abbey, Secretary. (See Vol. II, page 254.)
1847.
The new appointees in 1847 were: For the First ward, Jas. John- son, (re-elected); Second, August Greulich, (new member) ; Third, Parcellet Potter, (new member*) ; Fourth, S. L. Rood, (re-elected) ; Fifth, C. M. Shumway, (new member) ; J. S. Buck having succeeded A. Harriman, as previously stated, January 7, 1847, and Osgood S. Putnam succeeded W. W. Yale. There must have been other changes during the year, as the roll call at the session held by the
* The council proceedings as published in the Courier of April, 1847, gave Ed. McGarry from this ward. Mr. McGarry did not come to Milwaukee until Sep- tember, 1847.
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board November 18, 1847, (see page 69), shows Scheffler, Frank Randall and Johnson from the First ward; Greulich, Selby and Lapham from the Second ; King, Potter and Hussey from the Third. Rood, Stowe, and Abbey from the Fourth, and Shumway, Putnam and Buck from the Fifth.
1848.
The new members in 1848 were Chas. Winkler from the First ward, David Van Deerin from the Second ; Third, Parcellet Pot- ter; Fourth, H. G. Abbey* ; Fifth, J. S. Buck. So that if no other changes occurred during the year, the board for 1848 would stand as follows: Winkler, Randall, and Scheffler, from the First; Greulich, Lapham and Van Deeren from the Second; King, Potter and Hussey from the Third; Rood, Holton and Abbey from the Fourth, and Shumway, Putnam and Buck from the Fifth. RUFUS KING, President. HENRY G. ABBEV, Secretary.
Of these, Schæffler, Lapham, King, Potter, Hussey, Rood, John- son, Harriman, Messenger, Hubbell, Magone and Putnam have passed from earth away.
SUPERVISORS.
The following were appointed to act as supervisors, the duties of this office being at that time performed by a member of the com- mon council (viz:) First ward, A. Sweet; Second, Egbert Moseley ; Third, Richard Murphy ; Fourth, A. W. Stark; Fifth, Chapman Yates.
Alanson Sweet was also elected president of the board.
Of these officials, Kilburn, Giesberg, Walworth, N. Ludington, Smith, Lienhart, Moseley, Knab, Best, Murphy, McCormick, Gal- laghan, Fishbeck, Stark, Pardee, R. M. Sweet, Neukirk, Loomis, Mc- Collum and Perrigo, have likewise crossed the dark river.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
GEO. E. H. DAY.
I do not suppose that the city of Milwaukee ever held within her
*Edward D. Holton was also appointed to succeed Alex. W. Stowe, who had removed to Madison.
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borders another man of equal ability, who was more universally de- tested than Geo. E. H. Day.
He was smart enough, in fact too smart, as any one who was ever unfortunate enough to get into his clutches was pretty sure to find out. He was a prominent Methodist and could make as long and as loud a prayer, as the best of them. But its effect was to cast a chill over all who heard it. No rubber ever invented was as elastic as was his conscience, and the only chance the boys ever had to get even with him was when he joined the 1001, and you can safely bet sixty-two and a half cents that he got all the degrees. They not only filled his head with wisdom (such as it was), but they also put a plaster of shoemaker's wax in his stockings (in order to see if it was possible to make him stick to anything) which, besides causing him to blaspheme fearfully, nearly pulled the soles off his feet when attempting their removal. He left for Minneapolis shortly after that where he died a few years ago. He was a gem.
Andrew Lienhart was another singular character. He was a blatant politician and like the late Dr. Hundhausen, was always in trouble. The writer will never forget seeing Andrew attempt to put his finger in the holy water vase at St. Gall's church on St. Patrick's day, 1852. He was full of benzine and in his awkwardness pulled the vase from the wall, spilling its contents upon the floor.
At which mishap, regardless of the sanctity of the place, he gave utterance to an adjective that nearly lifted the roof, after which he went on with his devotions as though nothing unusual had occurred. Poor Andrew, whisky was too much for him, and he filled a drunk- ard's grave long ago, but in memory's eye I often see him as he ap- peared on that 17th of March, 1852.
The hotel project mentioned in Vol. II, page 220, was revived again this year, but nothing came of it but wind.
MR. ROGERS' NEW HOTEL.
Our fellow citizen, Mr. James H. Rogers, has purchased the lots running 120 feet each way, from the corner of Water and Wisconsin streets, with the intention of erecting a first class hotel. The proposed edifice will cover the entire lot and be five or six stories in height. It is to be built of brick, upon a stone basement. Mr. Rogers intends visiting New York and Boston in a few weeks, with the view of getting the best possible plan for the hotel, combining all the modern improve-
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ments and conveniences. The work will be commenced the present season, and will be pressed forward with all diligence. The new hotel will not only be an ornament to our city, but will add largely to the accommodations for travellers as well as residents.
HIGH SCHOOL.
There was an examination at the high school (John A. Brown principal), held this year, at which some of the present business men of Milwaukee won the belt, among whom were Geo. G. Hough- and A. Warren Phelps.
This school was kept in the old building in the Sixth ward krown for so many years as the haunted house, the old Devlin place, pulled down in 1881.
THE CHERUBUSCO.
There was a scow built this year called by this name by John T. Per- kins and Capt. Hubbell*, for the lumber trade. She was a monster and came into Milwaukee May 21, on her first trip from Green Bay with 230 M. feet of lumber, She was built where near Trostel & Gallun's tannery now stands, in the First ward, North Water street between Milwaukee and Jefferson streets.
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