USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 18
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Resolved, That the Secretary of this meeting transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Mayor of the city with a request that he lay the same before the Council at their next meeting.
Resolved, That Gen. Riley be requested to address the public on the subject of Temperance at the corner of Wisconsin and Water Streets, at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon, May 26th.
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to have the proceedings of this meeting published in all the papers of this city.
Resolved, That this meeting adjourn sine die.
D. A. J. UPHAM, Chairman. J. B. SMITH,
J. P. GREVES, Vice Presidents.
WV. H. BYRON, Secretary.
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A meeting was also called by those in favor of no license, on the 18th day of May, the proceedings of which are annexed :
OPPOSITION TO THE NEW LICENSE LAW.
The meeting, the official proceedings of which we publish below, we owe the public an apology for not attending. The truth is, we have been so occupied with domestic cares and sickness in our family, that we did not know of the meeting till it was passed. If the accounts we have heard of the speeches are correct, we think a report of them, such as we should have been most happy to have given, would have been rich and racy. We understand some of the lawyers-perhaps their wits had been sharpened by long practice at the bar-made temperance look blue, and of course very naturally made out themselves to be first rate temper- ance men. The meeting, we are told, was made up principally of those in the rum interest-a pretty large interest in the city. We hope there will be a general turn out of Temperance men at the adjourned meeting this evening.
We shall have something to say about this law when the discussion becomes general. There is considerable truth in the second resolution:
PUBLIC MEETING.
Pursuant to a call, a meeting of the citizens of Milwaukee was held at Military Hall, on the 18th day of May, 1849, John S. Mitchell was chosen chairman, and H. Upman secretary. On motion a committee was appointed to draft resolutions: the chair, M. P. Main, P. Murray, J. Thomssen, S. K. Beeker, W. I. Armstrong. After the meeting had been adressed by several speakers, the committee on reso- lutions reported the following :
Resolved, That the law passed at the recent session of the legislature of this state on the subject of license is unjust and burdensome in its provisions, and op- pressive on the great portion of those engaged in a regular and legal business.
Resolved, That we as citizens of Milwaukee, being in favor of equal rights and laws that operate equally on every portion of the community, do hereby ex- press our disapprobation of the law in question, believing that its effects will in- jure the poor men only, and enable the wealthier portion of the community, to monopolize a business that should be left free to all.
Resolved, That we will each and all of us nse our best efforts to procure the repeal of said law, believing that a just and proper regard for equal rights require that no such law should have a place on our statute books.
Resolved, That as republicans we can never submit to the above named law, and feel bound to repudiate those who aided or in any way promoted its passage.
Which were adopted with great unanimity.
And it was further resolved, 'That a general meeting of the people of Milwau- kee be held at Military Hall on Wednesday next, to take such other and further proceedings in the matter as may be deemed necessary.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the city and state papers.
On motion the meeting then adjourned till Wednesday next.
JOHN S. MITCHELL, President. H. UPMAN, Secretary.
The law here spoken of would appear at first sight to be one of the most righteous acts ever placed upon a statute book, as nothing can be more just than to hold every one responsible for all the injury he may do his fellow man, and I can conceive of no greater one than to sell a man that which the vendor well knows will eventually kill him and ruin his family. But the fault lies not so much in the vendor as in the law, and as prohibition is practically im- possible-in fact as problematical as is the millennium-and never will be accomplished, the next best thing to do is to put such a fet- ter upon this hydra-headed " gorgon " as will curtail its power for evil materially.
We are far behind the European nations upon this question. We allow the manufacture and sale of an article so badly adulterated and so deadly in its effect upon all who use it, that if manufactured or sold in any other country except this land of the free and home of the brave, would send both manufacturer and vendor to the gal- leys for life. Its manufacture and sale, however, will never cease in this country, and all the efforts of the prohibitionist to bring about that glad day will prove as abortive as were those of the general gov- ernment to put down the late rebellion and retain slavery. It is the chief corner stone of the political system, and although there is no denying that two-thirds of all our taxes and three-fourths of all the crime committed are due to it, yet the deadly work goes on. The misery caused by intemperance is beyond the power of any pen to portray ; language fails to describe it, it is the one great living national curse of the age. What the people want to do is to take the control of it out of politics, put a license fee of not less than $1,000 on the sale of it and allow no person to sell, even then, who will not give bonds not to sell to minors or habitual drunkards. Shall it be done ?
Reed street from the ward line, was graded, graveled and side- walked this year to Florida street, and a very expensive job it was,
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
as nearly all of it was in the marsh, with water from four to ten feet in depth; also South water from the river to Virginia and Ferry from the river to Lake, were finished in part this year.
THOMAS SHEA.
This gentleman came from Tipperary county, Ireland, to Mil- waukee in 1849, then a mere boy. His first employment was as drayman for Ward's line of steamboats, then running between Mil- waukee and Chicago, from Kellogg & Strong's pier; which occu- pation he followed for five years, when he went into the employ of the North Western rail road, under a contract to haul their freight, which has proved a bonanza, as it has made him quite wealthy. Mr. Shea has got the push in him, that, combined with good judgment, which he certainly is possessed of to a great degree, never fails to make a successful man. The lack of education and its advantages has been more than offset in his case by good practical common sense. He has raised himself by his own exertion, from poverty to affluence, while many a man upon whom thousands have been ex- pended for education, has gone to ruin. Mr. Shea has a fine physique, and has become a power among his countrymen in Mil- waukee. He is a Democrat, but not a politician ; he is all business and has no time, or desire to hold office. Few of his countrymen in this city have been as successful, or stand higher in the estimation of the people, than Thomas Shea, a good business man, and a good citizen.
H. H. WEST.
This gentleman, whose face is as familiar to our citizens as is that of the sun, came to this city from the town of Elbridge, Central New York, in 1849. His first employment was as clerk for his brother, S. C. West, who in company with Abraham Morton, wasat that time in the dry goods trade, at what is now 101 Grand avenue. Here he remained until 1855, when he went into the employ of the M. & M. rail road, as clerk, in whose employ he remained until 1857, when he went into partnership with S. C. West, in the book trade, who as has been already seen, had succeeded Ford & Fairbanks* the year
*Jonathan Ford, now of Kansas city, and John I. Fairbanks, now a resident of Milwaukee, who were the successors of J. A. Hall, now an insurance agent, who founded this pioneer book store, at what is now 385 East Water, in 1854.
24
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previous, at what is now 373 East Water, at which time a bindery was also opened in connection with this store and where they remained until 1861, when they removed to what is now 363 East Water street and from there in 1865 to 360 East Water, now occupied by Alexander Mitchell's bank, where they remained until 1868, when S. C. West withdrew, and the stock was removed to 347 and 349 East Water, where it has remained until the present.
This institution is the oldest book store in the city, if not in the state. The present firm has built a very large business, local, as well as country, and are known all over the north west, for fair and honorable dealing, on which principle their business has always been conducted. Mr. West has a pleasant word for every one, neither is it flattery to say that he has the confidence of the entire community, and although not a politician, (in the full sense of the term) has given sixteen years of his life to the service of the people, seven in the council and nine in the school board, which has satisfied him, (as it will every one who does his duty,) that "Jordan" is a hard road to travel.
In political faith he is a Republican and in religious a Presbyterian, and one of the pillars in the Calvary church. He has been greatly aided in his business by Mr. Hubbell West, who has the management of the financial and bindery department, who, though he votes the Democratic ticket, (occasionally) is a first class business man and a valued citizen, always at his post and understands the book trade to perfection. Such substantially is the record of the house that the Wests built.
CENSUS.
'The population of the city taken by Alex. Macy, for the school commissioners in December, 1848, gives as follows :
First ward-males, 2457 ; Second ward-1847; Third ward- 2080; Fourth ward-943; Fifth ward-1074; total 8401. First ward -females, 2000; Second ward-2779; Third ward-1661; Fourth ward-752 ; Fifth ward-928; total 8120 ; total both sexes, 16,521.
In 1847, it was as follows, including both sexes :
First ward-4601; Second ward-3869 ; Third ward-2978;
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Fourth ward-1552 ; Fifth ward-1364; total 14,364. Increase, 2157. Of these 16,521, 6969 were Americans, 5708 were Germans, 2487 were Irish, 135 were Hollanders, 97 were Scotch, 83 were Nor- wegians, 74 were French, 34 were Welch, 8 were Danes, 6 were Swedes.
It is possible that some English and Hollanders have been omitted or classed with other foreigners.
SCHOOL BOARD.
In the Sentinel of January 24, we find the following report :
CENSUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR 1848.
First ward-727; Second ward-720; Third ward-482; Fourth ward 261; Fifth ward-573. (1849.) First ward-1189; Second ward-1051; Third ward-918; Fourth ward-526; Fifth ward-628. Total, (1848,) 2763, in (1849) 4312, increase, 1549. This was a good showing, and new school houses are all being built.
The city tax for 1849, was declared illegal and had to be re- assessed. There was some tall swearing, but as usual, no one to blame. But that some one had blundered, and badly too, was very certain.
SPRING STREET BRIDGE.
There was a cutting article in the Wisconsin of April 17th, upon the unsafe condition of Spring Street bridge, over which, notwith- standing the settlement entered into at the close of the bridge war in 1845, there was still controversy and a smouldering fire kept alive. It was a severe one and brought the aldermen to time.
There was a new machine shop opened on the water power this year in May, by G. Goodnough.
NEW PAPER.
There was a new paper started this year called the Commercial Advertiser, in June, by Lucas Seaver and Henry W. Gunnison.
Ambrose Ely, boots and shoes, was at what is now 395 East Water, this year, sign of the Red Boot.
Mr. Ely was quite a prominent business man for several years, but finally went out of business himself and was in the employ of Atkins & Steele for a number of years. He was a good man and a useful citizen; he died at Kilbourn City, August 2, 1873. His widow is yet
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
with us, as is also his daughter Mrs. G. P. Hewett, so celebrated as an artist.
BIOGRAPHICAL ..
Among the new comers this year was Prof. Henry N. Hempsted from Albany, N. Y., landing here October 18th, and commenced his . career as a music teacher, which he followed until 1851, when he purchased the stock of Geo. F. Illsley, previously mentioned, and commenced business over A. W. Hall's book store on Wisconsin Street, and from there to 175 East Water, now 373, Arnold & Wil- son's book store, where he remained until 1856 when he removed to 371 East Water, and began to keep pianos and melodeons, the latter then just coming into use. He remained here until 1860, when this store being too small for his increasing business he removed to 418 Broadway, and in 1864 to the Miller block, Nos. 408, 410 and 412 Broadway, which had been fitted up expressly for him. Here he opened the largest stock of musical instruments of all kinds as well as books and sheet music, etc., in the West, and for the next seven- teen years was at the head of the business, his place being the resort of all the musicians in the country, who wished to purchase or prac- tice, and has probably sold more pianos than all his competitors put together. Prof. Hempsted is a thorough musician and as a com- poser has no superior in the west, if he has in the country, particularly in band music. His celebrated Light Guard Quick Step is one of the most popular pieces ever published in this country. He is a fine organist, and as a performer one of the most graceful and correct that it has been the good fortune of the writer to know. He seems to play by intuition. He was for several years the organist of Plymouth Church and although many others have manipulated the keys in later years, yet the writer will venture the assertion that no one of them has ever filled his place, or brought out the mighty harmonies of Handel or Haydn upon that wonderful instrument as could Mr. Hempsted, and although time is beginning to frost his head, he is to-day no mean antagonist for even Prof. Garratt to meet. He is a born musician and has no superior in the West. And that he may yet live many years is certainly the wish of all who know him.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
CELEBRATION.
The celebration of the glorious Fourth, judging from the number of officers appointed, was a weighty affair, and must have done the soul of Washington a heap of good. Several military companies from abroad were present. The following is the list of the officers :
President, Alanson Sweet ; vice presidents, Byron Kilbourn, I). H. Chandler, Alexander Mitchell, George H. Walker, W. W. Brown, Lucas Seaver, S. B. Davis, Charles James, Wm. E. Cramer, Moritz Schoeffler, S. M. Booth, F. Fratney and James H. Rogers.
Orator, Levi Hubbell; reader of declaration, Wm. A. J. Fuller : marshal, Col. Amos Sawyer, ; asst. marshals, Levi Blossom, Chas. L. Kane, S. P. Coon, J. S. Fillmore, J. E. Cameron, D. Upman, L. K. Swift, John Bradford, G. B. Boyd, J. A. Liebhaber and George G. Dousman. How they ever got through the day with all these officers, is more than I can tell, but every body said that it was the biggest time they ever had, and in some respects it was.
The old Milwaukee House was finally removed this year, upon which some wag of a reporter gets off the following :
THE MILWAUKEE HOUSE-"BIG BUGS," &c.
The foundation of the old Milwaukee House seems tottering as the work of grading comes nearer and nearer to the ancient structure .- (The house having been built, we believe, some twelve years ago-and in our city a twelve year old building dates back into the "dim and distant past.") This was the hotel of the city-the abode of the "upper ten" in days gone by. Some "big bugs" yet linger around its walls and deserted bed-chambers ; well may they exclaim :
"We feel like those who crawl along Some banquet hall deserted."
Sad and solemn must be their reflections ! Let all backbiters take warning lest they too be thus left alone by those who have fed and nurtured them. An interesting question arises in the inquiring mind, what is to be the final fate of their dilapidated tenement ? Shall some strong wind overturn its walls, or is it to take up its line of march along with its younger and smaller peripatetic brethren to some less con- spicuous place ?
There is not a remnant of this old hotel left except the part known as the "Belleview" .* This is yet standing on the north west corner of
*Mention of which was made in vol. I., page 76.
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Milwaukee and Detroit street, and used as a boarding house and saloon.
MANSLAUGHTER.
The Wisconsin of August 4th has the following :
AFFRAY AND DEATH.
The schooner Meriden, Capt. Seymour, bound from Cleveland to Chicago, put into this port yesterday afternoon, having on board the dead body of James Bain, the second mate, who was killed in an affray which occurred the night previous, when off Port Washington. The facts, as we gather them, are briefly these : That the deceased Bain, commenced an attack on the captain, and the first mate, Harvey Rummage, interfered. Bain grappled and threw him over the rail. He was drawn on board again by some of the crew, when Bain again grappled him and in the scuffle Rummage struck Bain a blow with his fist, which instantly killed him. The schooner put in here at Rummage's request and on her arrival he immediately gave himself up to the authorities.
I was on the coroner's jury in this case. The verdict was justi- fiable homicide. The mate felt very bad about the affair as he had no intention to injure him, but it must have been a powerful blow.
P. Cady had a grocery this year at 381 East Water.
Minard S. Vielie opened a hardware store at 319 East Water. This is the man spoken of in volume 2 in the sketch of the Metho- dist Church.
COUNCIL.
At the meeting of the common council last evening an ordinance was passed finally establishing the grade of the following streets in the First and Third wards, viz: River, East Water, Erie, Market, Main, Milwaukee, Jefferson, Jackson, Van Buren, Cass, Beach, Marshall and Lake streets and Waverly Place (be- tween blocks 105 and 106 on Martin and Division streets)-this has been for some weeks past under discussion, and will be a matter of interest to the resi- dents on those streets. The ordinance, giving the particulars of the several grades, is of considerable length, and will be published on Monday.
The name of Huron Street was also changed to Washington Avenue *. Soit seems we can boast of a real avenue, having length, breadth, houses, (are there trees ? there should be) etc., etc. Well, we are looking up. The dwellers on this " Avenue," bearing such a good name, will keep in mind their new dignity, and see that all is tasteful and nice about their premises.
Much other business of a general nature was transacted.
*This change did not obtain.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
There was an attempt made this year to manufacture brick by a new process at the old brick yard at the foot of Fourteenth Street, by Messrs Tibbets & McKnight, by pressing the clay directly into bricks without any kneading. It was a failure on account of the " nodules " of lime in the clay swelling when exposed to the atmos- phere and spliting the brick.
The Phoenix Block, number 365 East Water Street, was built with these brick.
NEW STORE.
Messrs Crampton & Osborne, the late Jonathan H. Crampton and Walter Osborne, were at 356 (Dickerman's Block) for a short time when they went into Martin's new block, 399 East Water. They were its first occupants .* They kept a very large stock of dry goods.
BUSINESS BOOM.
Business in the fall of 1849 was good, wheat came in fast, emi- grants do., and all parties felt pleased with the work of the past year. There had been a large amount of building and street improve- ments. The river closed on the sixth of the month this year, twenty-four days earlier than in 1848.
MANUFACTORIES.
The amount of manufacturing on the Water Power this year, up to July Ist, was as follows :
Axes and edged tools.
$ 30,000
Burke's woolen factory
40,000
Pail, (Luscomb )
58,000
Sash, doors and blinds 40,000
Turning shop
25,000
Machine shop and foundry
95,000
Carriage shop.
15,000
Tannery and grist mill.
80,000
'Total
$383,000
In addition to which the planing mills were running night and day.
J. W. MEDBERY.
NEW WHOLESALE GROCERY.
Thompson Litell, 307 East Water. Mr. Litell was quite a promi-
*The author helped fit up this store for these gentlemen, and such was their haste that they were in it before it was fully completed.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
nent business man in this city for over twenty years. He was a dark complexioned, finely built man, and one of the close-fisted kind. He was a Baptist and a leading member in the first church. He was a great grumbler, nothing ever went right with him, owing, I think, to his bad health. His residence was at 136 Mason street, which house he built. He died at Cleveland Ohio, (where he had gone for his health) August 19, 1867, and was brought here and interred at Forest Home cemetery.
BRIDGE.
Among the improvements this year was the erection of a new bridge at Oneida street, and one from the foot of Martin street to the island in the middle of the river.
CHOLERA.
This was the great cholera year in Milwaukee, from which great numbers died, 101 in the month of August alone. Some of the ex- periences through which the writer passed in connection with this scourge will not be forgotten while life remains.
MILWAUKEE TIME.
Much complaint having been made about the difference in time between the east and west side this year, M. McDermot, a civil engineer, then here, was employed to work it up, and here is his re- port :
To the Editor of the Sentinel & Gazette.
SIR :- Having rambled through Milwaukee and seen that the time on the west side of the Milwaukee river appears to be regulated by Mr. Peter's great clock and that those on the east side of the river are regulated by Mr. Kirby's excellent clock, and seeing that those two clocks differ twelve minntes from one another, love of truth compelled me to find the true mean time on the 10th inst., in Mil- waukee, which showed Mr. Peter's to be 6 minutes too fast, and Mr. Kirby's 6 minutes too slow. As these gentlemen still insist that each had the true time, I took the time on the 13th by two infallible methods, which, as I expected, got the same result. These clocks, if once corrected, will, I believe, take some years to accumulate the same difference. Hoping the time will be nearer the true time and that the clocks will not differ so much as they do now,
I remain yours.
MICH. MCDERMOTT, C. E.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
VALUATION OF CITY PROPERTY.
Some tax payer complains (and justly too, I think,) about the in- equality of the amount in the different wards. Here is the valuation and the complaint :
The rolls of the several assessors have been completed and handed into the common council. The figures as returned, are as follows :
First ward.
Real Estate. $445,347
Personal $85,050 25,160
Total. $530,397
Second ward
314,525
339.685
Third ward.
542,815
Fourth ward
297, 120
59,800
354,920
Fifth ward
213,862
15,360
229,222
$1,868,667
$189,370
$2,047,937
This valuation, so far as personal property is concerned, is ridiculously incorrect. Take the Second ward for instance, with its water power and the numerous mills and factories upon it, assessed only 25,000 ! In the First ward, too, according to these books, there is but $85,000 worth of personal property. Does anybody doubt that there is double or treble that amount ? We cannot appreciate the policy or justice of these incorrect assessments. The common council ought to amend them. Assuming that the proportion between the different wards is cor- rect, nobody would suffer by raising the assessments to the actual value of the property, and if the proportion is not correct, it should be made so. In either case the rolls need revision.
INDIAN NAMES.
The following article on the meaning of the Indian names so common in Wisconsin is given as reference merely :
A very competent authority has furnished our contemporary the Commercial Ad- vertiser, with the following interesting list of Indian names of different localities in the northern part of our state. We fully agree with the Commercial as to the importance of rescuing from the oblivion which threatens them, all the Indian names and traditions appertaining to our state. Wisconsin is rich in such resources, and our state historical society should make it a point to search for and preserve them. Something may be done towards accomplishing this desirable end by pre- serving the Indian names of the different towns and villages in our state, instead of baptizing them anew with Roman, Grecian or English appellations. But to the communication :
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