USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 20
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Among those who had sought refuge in Milwaukee, where he had a brother living, was a man by the name of Mason, a smart, intelli- gent young fellow, who was unfortunate enough to be discovered, while seated upon a horse at the foot of Wisconsin Street, by some officers from Fort Winnebago, who were stopping at the old Mil- waukee House (then kept by Geo. E. Graves), and ordered to sur- render. Well knowing his fate, if taken, he leaped from the horse and made a rush for the old corner store of Ludington, Birchard & Co.,* which he succeeded in reaching, the officers being in hot pursuit.
* This pioneer building, a cut of which is here given, was removed in 1851 10
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As he entered the door the one in command, utterly regardless of who might be within, gave the order to fire, exclaiming, " Shoot the d ---- d rascal ! shoot him !" In obedience to this order two shots were at once fired-the second just as Mason was entering the door -luckily, however, without injuring any one, the officer being no doubt too excited for a steady aim.
Of course the sight of Mason running, with the officers in pursuit, together with the order to fire, followed by the report of the pistol, created, as well it might, no little excitement, and the street was instantly filled with men, each inquiring of the other what was up, prominent among whom was Col. Geo. Walker, then in the act of being shaved in Green's old barber shop, where the Iron Block now stands, from whence, with a napkin pinned around his neck and face white with lather, he rushed into the street, where seeing but a crowd of excited men, he demanded in clarion tones to know what in h-ll was the matter. That, however, was a conundrum that no one present could solve, and the colonel returned to his tonsorial enjoyment.
Now the sudden appearance of Mason into the store as if thrown from a catapult, with the officers in pursuit, let alone the report of the pistol and the whistling of the bullet, caused no little excitement inside as well as out, particularly among the different members of the
525 East Water Street, where it was used for a hay barn until 1878, when it was removed across the block to about the same number on River Street and fitted up as a feed mill, where it was burnt August 10, 1882.
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firm, two of whom happened to be present, one of whom* instantly executed a backhanded somersault from the top of the counter upon which in accordance with an ancient custom, now obsolete (at least in cities), he happened to be sitting, and disappeared from view among the barrels, tea chests, nail kegs, and other miscellaneous articles usually kept in that locality in those days. No prairie dog could have done it quicker or more natural. It only wanted the yelp to make it perfect. Had the bullet been aimed at him it would have been at least five minutes too late, so quick were his movements. Not any of that in mine, was no doubt his boss thought just then, but he made no sign.
Not so Bluff Hal.t He faced the music like a man, seized the would be murderer by the throat, and giving him what might be called a " slathering calamity" right between the eyes that made him see a whole constellation of stars, laid him over the counter, where he held him with one hand while he wrenched the pistol from him with the other, carried it to the door and discharged the contents of the four remaining barrels into the ground, thus rendering the weapon harmless for further mischief.
By this time the crowd outside had got an inkling of what was going on, and their blood was up to fever heat in a moment. A few, among whom was Sam Robinson, Mose Donaldson, and several others equally hot headed, were for lynching the officers, while others were for throwing them into the river (which ought to have been done), and they would no doubt got roughly handled had they not beat a hasty retreat.
They were however informed, in language more expressive than elegant, that this was not Fort Winnebago, and that if shooting and torturing soldiers was a common pastime there, it would not be tolerated in Milwaukee.
Meanwhile Mason, the unwilling cause of all this excitement, had passed directly through the store, leaped from the back door to the ground, ran up the river to Biddle Street, where he swam across and made his escape. Neither was he ever retaken.
This, as far as I know, was the last attempt ever made to arrest
* The late Nelson Ludington.
¿ Harrison Ludington.
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deserters in Milwaukee, although it was well known that quite a number made their home here for several years. It was a business that did not pay.
GEO. R. DYER.
Among those who came in 1836, was an individual by the name of George R. Dyer, known among the boys as the "town calf," who settled upon the northeast quarter of section 24, town 7, range 21, who on account of his singular personal appearance, as well as his eccentricities of character, has been more firmly photographed upon my memory than has any one of those I found here, who after- wards moved away. He remained but a short time; he left I think, in 1838 or '39. In personal appearance George would not rank among the highest types of manly beauty. He was over six feet in height, three fourths of which was legs, his feet were of immense size, large arms, small chest, long neck, large head, had a heavy powerful voice, always spoke in a half imperative tone, was of an exceedingly nervous temperament, and when a little excited resem- bled a ten horse power "jumping jack" more than anything else, and on account of the loose manner in which he was put together, was about as well qualified to take up and improve a farm, (if he ex- pected to do the work himself) as that long eared animal Æsop speaks about (in the fable) was to play the part of the lion. As an itinerant showman, he might have been a success, but as a granger he was a failure.
His dress usually consisted of dark pants, coat indigo blue, and of the claw hammer pattern, white vest, white gloves, (with a gold ring seen on the outside) and a stove pipe hat. A nobby boy, he was, for a pioneer. Thus accoutred, he once made his appearance in East Water street with a lumber wagon, to which was attached a yoke of oxen and in front an old mare, being what is known in New England as a spike team, in the management of which he made more noise, and attracted more attention, than half a dozen runaways would at the present day. Now whether it was the size of the town, or inability to understand the cherokee in which George issued his commands, or a disposition to show off that got possession of that old piece of horse flesh, will probably never be known; per-
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haps she was thinking of her circus days and mistook George for the clown. Any way she opened one, taking the part of the trained mule by giving a series of kicks that any mule, however well trained, might be proud of, the last of which left her outside the traces, where she remained perfectly quiet for a few seconds as though undecided what to do next. This performance frustrated George somewhat at first, but as quite a crowd had gathered around him, he quickly recovered his self possession, and with a yell at the unruly beast that meant business, he roared out: "W-h-o-o-a there you durned old lunatic, where in thunder 'you comin' to with your legs out the traces, (here he elevated his voice so that it could be heard a block off) wan't you never in town afore?" And for years after that, when anybody's horse got unsettled in his mind, you would hear that ex- pression quoted as a settler.
ALFRED ORRENDORFF.
This gentleman, whose name appears so often among the early settlers, came to Milwaukee in 1835, and settled upon the northeast quarter of section thirty-three, township seven, range twenty-one. The entry of this claim bears date, on the record, March 17, 1837, just four days subsequent to the great claim meeting held at the Court House, March 13, to organize for self protection against the speculators, and at which he was one of the leading spirits. He also entered the southwest and southeast quarters of the same sec- tion, afterwards known as the Russell Sage farm, now the property of Geo. C. Stevens and others. Mr. Orrendorff was a native of Ken- tucky, and possessed in no small degree the reckless spirit for which the people of that State are so noted.
!
In person he was tall and slim, had dark hair, a swarthy com- plexion, large dark lustrous eyes, that, when their owner was excited, shone like beads. He had a powerful voice, clear in tone, spoke quick and with a slight southern accent, and always looked you square in the face when in conversation with you, and he always meant just what he said. He was not a man that it would do to fool with much, unless you were itching for a fight, in which case you would most certainly be accommodated. He was as quick motioned as a cat, neither was he ever known to back down, or to
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show the white feather. He would frequently swim his pony across the river at Wisconsin Street, even after the ferry was established. He walked with a long nervous stride, was a splendid woodsman, and a famous hunter.
Mr. Orrendorff was one of the party who volunteered to go out after and arrest the two Indians, who killed Ellsworth Burnett, November 5th, 1835, and take them to Green Bay, upon which occasion there occurred an incident that showed what kind of a customer he was when aroused. The Indians were taken to Fort Howard for safe keeping, until they could be tried, where the com- manding officer at first declined to receive them, giving as a reason that if they had killed Burnett, they no doubt had sufficient provo- cation. At this announcement all the lion in Orrendorff was aroused in a moment, and stepping in front of the officer, rifle in hand, his whole frame quivering with excitement, he looked him steadily in the eye, and hissing out his words between his clenched teeth, addressed him as follows: "You 're a nice man-you are-for the government to send out here to protect the frontier, you d-d white livered scoundrel! You just let them two Injuns go, if you think best (here he elevated his voice and put in an adjective that made the officer's hair lift), and I will shoot them both before they can get across Fox River." And he would. The officer backed down. It was not often that a United States officer had to back down in those days, particularly upon the frontier, but this one did.
This incident was related to me by Benjamin F. Wheelock, now a resident of Medford, Taylor County, who was present in the fort at the time and witnessed the whole proceeding.
While on a trip to Green Bay, in 1836, Mr. Orrendorff entered the cabin of a settler named Smith to obtain a night's lodging. He was cold, wet, hungry, tired and used up generally, his countenance presenting such a woe begone aspect as to cause Mrs. Smith to inquire what had happened. Had he been in a bear fight; treed by wolves ; beat by some squaw in a game of moccasin ; blown up with gunpowder ; struck by lightning, or what? To which he replied " Narry one, but you better believe, Madame, that I've had the worstest luck, and the morstest of it that, perhaps, by jim-eni, that
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you did see." (The last two words being strongly emphasized.) This expression was a by-word among the boys for a long time afterward.
It was upon his claim that so many swarms of bees (twenty-eight) were found in one day, June, 1837. The woods were literally filled with bees in those days. If the settlers had no other stock to boast of, they had bees.
Mr. Orrendorff was not a man to settle down in one place for any great length of time ; he was too fond of excitement for that. Con- sequently no sooner had the rough and tumble of the few first years worn off than he, like Clyman, got restless and uneasy, and finally went to California, where he died. But the recollection of his manly form and daring spirit, as well as eccentricities of character, will never fade from the memories of the early settlers of Milwaukee County.
JOHN CORBIN.
Mr. Corbin, who came to Milwaukee in 1836, was from Keese- ville, N. Y .; was among the first merchants to open a store in Mil- waukee, which he did in company with Jeremiah B. Zander in the old Walker warehouse at the point, in May of that year, under the firm name of Zander & Corbin, with a stock of general merchandise, where they remained until 1838, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Zander retiring, and Sylvester L. Corbin became a partner. This store being too small they removed, in 1839, to the Hollister ware- house where they remained until 1841, when they succumbed to the general pressure, and were succeeded by James Rathburn, from Buffalo, who filled the store with a heavy stock of dry goods and groceries. Mr. Corbin was of medium height, slightly built, had dark hair and eyes, his voice was soft and low in tone. He was full of fun and mischief and one of the most social and companionable men of his time. He was also a great hunter and a splendid shot with a rifle. He removed to Iowa about 1856, where he died a few years ago.
Sylvester L. Corbin removed to Beaver Dam where he resided for several years, and where, I am informed, he died some three years ago, a mere wreck of what he once was, the result of intemperance. He was a splendid looking man when I first knew him, tall and
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straight, florid complexion, proud spirited and held the cards at that time, which if properly handled, would have made him to-day one of the solid men of Milwaukee, but such was not to be.
CORRECTION.
On page 170, in sketch of G. W. Mygatt, the date of his death was by mistake omitted. He died October 26, 1883.
CHAPTER IV.
1850.
Opening address-Charter Meeting-Taxation-City Government-Improve- ments-Fire-Leland's Old Home Burnt-Adolph Cramer, Sketch of- do. H. S. Mack-New Warehouse-Hemenway's Bank-Great Storm-Riot -Fire-The Kenosha War-Political-A Lecture-Financial-Pennsylvania House Burnt-A Second " Sam Patch"-The Bayou-Phoenix Building- That Bull Calf-Chief Engineer's Report-Municipal Election-S. Juneau's Portrait-Miscellaneous-School Superintendent's Report-List of Saloons- Hon. Ed. O'Neill, Sketch of-Buildings Erected-Imports and Exports- Newspapers- Public Schools-Churches-Orphan Asylum-Benevolent Societies-Military Companies.
Milwaukee in 1850, had become quite a noted city. The previous winter had been a long one, the river as has been seen in the previous chapter, having closed on the sixth of December. True the cholera had decimated our ranks largely in 1849, but immigration had also been large. Our population had now reached 20,000, and our future looked bright. No sooner, however, had the winter of 1849-50 fairly set in than the usual number of balls and social gatherings were inaugurated by the different fire and military com- panies in the city. Fairs that would last a week, were held for the benefit of the different orphan asylums, into which the young ladies were wont to inveigle the innocent youth of our city during the wee-sma' hours, and some of the elders too (occasionally) in order to induce them to invest their small change in pin cushions, wax dolls and other bric-a-brac, and in which they were very successful, often to the great disgust of the boys when cornered by these win- some beggars. The politicians were at Madison looking after their little bills or getting wisdom by being initiated into the mysteries of that wonderful organization known as the Ancient Oriental Evanic order of the 1001, in order to fit themselves for the arduous duties incident to the life of a pioneer legislator, should they ever be called to that high office. The editors of the Sentinel and Gazette and the Il'is-
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consin were busy throwing mud at each other and abusing Noonan, Sherman M. Booth was manufacturing political dam-a-nite, (and he could do it too) for use in the coming presidential election for the benefit of the Free Soil Party, and all was lovely. Thus the winter passed away until March 3d, when the ice left the river, and April 4th brought us our first boat, the schooner Republic, from below, which put us once more in communication with the east by water, after which all was life and bustle in getting ready for the work of the year.
TAXATION.
There was, as the writer well remembers, and as no doubt the reader who has followed him through these pages has not failed to discover, much complaint, often without just cause, about the enormous rate of taxation during the infancy of our city.
The following, taken from the Wisconsin of January 4th, is given as an illustration of how it worked it many cases :
MR. EDITOR: Permit a tax-payer to enquire through your paper of the alder- men of the First and Third wards in what manner the bridge tax of one-half of one per cent. levied in 1849, has been expended. This tax amounted to the enormous sum of $6,770; does it take all that to pay the bridge tenders ? Mil- waukee is at present divided into five wards. In the first the tax is 512 per cent., and in the Third 472, independent of the special tax. I own a lot the assessed value of which is $230.00, and upon which the tax is 144.90. Will some good mathematician please figure out how much I can make by building upon that lot, and then have the improvements taxed in proportion.
JUNIUS.
There was no reply to this inquiry, the aldermen being, no doubt, unable to cipher it out. Neither was Junius alone in this matter, there were several more who paid as high a tax as did he, but they kept out of print.
PUBLIC MEETING.
There was a mass meeting held at the Court House, January 7th,*
* It was shown at this meeting on the 7th that, with a population of 18,000, the gross amount of taxes was $143,617.07, equal to $8.50 per capita, while Detroit, with a population of 20,000, paid $64,000, and Chicago only $55,000.
Among those who were particularly active at this meeting were Dr. Jas. John- son, Frank Randall, Parcellet Potter, Wm. A. Prentiss, Levi Blossom, Alanson Sweet, Leonard Kennedy, Cicero Comstock, James Kneeland, Ira E. Goodall, Dr. L. W. Weeks, John L. Doran, and Gen. John McManman.
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under a call signed by one hundred and twenty of our most promi- nent citizens, to receive and take action upon the report of a com- mittee, consisting of Col. Geo. H. Walker, Dr. Jas. Johnson and Dr. Jas. P. Greves, (appointed at a previous meeting held at the Military Hall, January 4,) upon the amendments to the new city charter.
The meeting was called to order by Hon. Albert Smith, in the absence of the President (B. H. Edgerton), and Clarence Shepard was appointed Secretary. This was a very spirited meeting, and one at which a large amount of carburetted hydrogen was expended by the different would be Solons, each of whom was loaded to the muzzle with amendments, warranted not to cut in the eye, that, if adopted, would effect a radical cure for all the evils which it was claimed existed in the present charter. One wanted the number of aldermen, then three in each ward, (elected annually,) increased to four, two to go out each year, while another wanted all to go out. One of the committee, Dr. Jas. Johnson, wanted a comptroller in each ward. This was opposed by Alanson Sweet. Col. Walker wanted the time for holding the charter election changed from April to January, all the aldermen to be paid one dollar for each attend- ance, claiming that that would make them more punctual. Mr. Sweet claimed the right to expend the city money for the purpose of entertaining guests from abroad, about which a row had been made.
Mr. Bielfeld read an account of certain resolutions passed on the 4th of July expenses, never before made public, the aggregate amount of which was $600 to $800. The aldermen had voted to have these proceedings not published. What their reasons were he would not say, but would leave the people to think for themselves.
Dr. Johnson thought it no more than right that men who served the city should have a jollification occasionally ; and if no heavier bills could be brought against them than this paltry sum, he never would have assisted in calling a meeting to amend the city charter. There were circumstances on this occasion which justified the ex- penditures. The Chicago military on that day visited the city, and were received at the city expense.
Mr. A. Sweet justified the course he had taken upon this subject. It was in justice to the military of the city, who requested the city to
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receive companies which they were unable to receive respectfully themselves, and he would do it again under the same circumstances.
Mr. McManman thought the expenditure a just one. The mili- tary had asked this, not for themselves, but as an honor to Mil- waukee. It was usual in all cities, and these expenses were paid without a murmur. We had not come here to bring up petty quar- rels, but to revise a city charter, and he hoped these deeds of the common council would not be referred to again.
Gen. McManman was opposed by A. H. Bielfeld, and thus the war went on, until it culminated in the appointment of a new com- mittee, consisting of three from each ward, who were to report at a future meeting, after which they adjourned until the 14th, when they held another " seance," resulting in a further adjournment until the 16th, when, after a long and exciting session, they completed their work by leaving the whole matter practically where they found it, thereby fully verifying the old adage, that too many cooks spoil the broth.
The principal changes were the abolition of the poll tax of $2.00 per capita, which up to that time had been the law, and reducing the number of assessors in each ward from three to one.
The charter was then ordered to be engrossed, certified and sent to Madison for approval, after which the meeting adjourned sine die.
There was also an article in the Wisconsin, of January 16th, from some one who signed himself " city father," which contained some pertinent suggestions about the proposed amendments to the charter, one of which was, that the number of aldermen in each ward be limited to two, one to go out each year. This advice, however, was not followed, as that would not have given the politicians, who were then just putting on their " war paint," and were anxious for " scalps," a chance to get them.
It is a little singular how many there are who are not only willing but anxious to serve the public for nothing, and board themselves. But so it is, and their numbers are increasing annually with the in- crease of the chances for plunder. They are patriots only in name.
The following petition was also sent to Madison upon this then very important subject ;
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To the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin :
The undersigned, aldermen of the City of Milwaukee, respectfully represent:
That the act for the incorporation of the City of Milwaukee is totally defective, and the several amendments thereto that have been annually enacted have failed to improve it. Immediately after the organization of the present board a new charter was deemed necessary, and a committee was appointed who drafted the one now before your honorable body, and which we pray your honorable body to approve.
JAMES H. ROGERS,
EDWARD BUTTON,
JACOB A. HOOVER,
NELSON LUDINGTON,
MICHAEL PAGE,
JOHN B. JUNEAU,*
WM. WEDEMEYER,
WM. P. LYNDE,
MOSES KNEELAND,
HENRY A. HAYDEN.
A meeting was also held in the Second Ward, on the 21st of January, at the Mansion House, August Greulich, Chairman, R. D. Jennings and John B. Vliet, Secretaries, at which a series of resolu- tions were adopted in favor of the new charter, (then at Madison,) after which Jacob A. Hoover offered the following :
Resolved, That whenever it shall be expedient to call meetings in this ward, in future, (to make gas,) Mr. Becker, generally called the little giant, from the City of Humboldt, is respectfully requested to appear, with his twenty-four pounder, drawn by one yoke of oxen, to give the signal.+
North western oil store opened this year at 233 (old number) East Water street, L. B. Warner agent.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Among the improvements made this year, was the erection of a block of three stores, known as Nos. 413, 415 and 417 East Water street, by James Kneeland, the carpenter work upon which, was done by Edwin Palmer and Geo. B. Bingham, the mason work by Henry and Joseph Sivyer ; also No. 419, by Geo. J. Fowler ; 421, by Charles Waterman ; 423, by J. C. Benton ; 425, by Archabald Mc-
* This gentleman died August 23, 1883. He was a carpenter, and for a num- ber of years quite a prominent master builder, but for the last twelve or fifteen years had been a religious monomaniac. He was a nephew of Solomon Juneau, and a rigid catholic.
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