USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 24
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THAT BULL CALF.
Some one who signs himself "One who wants a quiet snooze," complains bitterly about the bellowing of a " bull calf" located in the rear of the old Presbyterian Church who makes night hideous in his
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bovine way when calling for his mar. I can appreciate his vex- ation as well as enjoy his article, for I remember that calf myself. He made it lively for the neighborhood for a while that summer ; you could hear him four blocks away.
Lange & Reed, grocers, opposite the city hotel; this was Herbert Reed.
L. P. & R. H. Swift, brokers, 396 East water. I remember these gentlemen well.
Waite & Kimball, L. E. Waite and J. M. Kimball, 274 East Water, boots and shoes.
Denney & Mckenzie, G. H. Denney and A. R. Mckenzie, 321 East Water, general merchandise.
Mills Bros., grocery, 361 East Water.
Steamer Nile burnt at the foot of Washington street, September 5, 1850. Sweet's old warehouse burnt at the same time .*
Vogta Naprstek, books, 427 East Water. This man was a Russian and for the time he resided here, he made it warm for the Catholic church, (i. e.) he was at war with it continually; if alive to-day, he would be a Nihilist. He was a hard citizen. He left many years ago.
FIRST TRIP OF THE LOCOMOTIVE WISCONSIN.
Mention has already been made in a previous chapter about the manufacture of locomotives at the Menominee Locomotive works. The annexed is the account of the trial trip of the Wisconsin :
A GRAND TRIP.
According to previous notice the locomotive fired up yesterday afternoon for a trip towards the Mississippi. Quite a crowd of our citizens, in compliance with the polite invitation of the engineer of the R. R., Mr. Vliet, mounted to the dizzy heights of the tender, where the accommodations were good, though rather crowded for those of us who took notes.
* This warehouse, mention of which was made in vol. 2, page 240, was erected at or near the intersection of Washington and Barclay streets, in 1837, by the late Capt. Sanderson, that point being at that time where the marsh and hard land met. But as no appropriation for dredging the channel from the river up to it could be obtained from the government, the hope for which was the cause of its erection at that point, it was removed in 1843, to the bank of the river at the foot of Washington street, which was then graded to it, and where it was burnt as stated above. It stood when burnt exactly where the derrick for masking vessels in Messrs. Wolf & Davidson's ship yards is at present erected, at the intersection of Washington streets with the old channel of the Milwaukee river. Sic transit.
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Leaving the Milwaukee river at about 3 o'clock, amidst the cheers of the assem- bled multitude, we passed quickly out along the shores of the Menominee, leav- ing the city on the right and left, and sped on amidst the pealing of the bell, and the screaming of the whistle. Time fails to tell the sights we saw, or of the en- thusiasm created by the appearance of the locomotive as we passed westward.
The party returned at an early hour, highly pleased with the trip, and left with their best wishes for the success of the great work thus commenced.
We desire to say, in justice to our contemporary, that in mentioning yesterday morning the intended expedition of the Wisconsin towards Waukesha, we inten- ded no allusion to any supposed disposition of our neighbor of the journal of that name, to support Mr. Elmore's claims to the nomination for congress. Nothing of the kind.
MILWAUKEE A PORT OF ENTRY.
Milwaukee was made a port of entry this year, A. W. Hatch collector. Josiah E. McClure was appointed deputy.
PROCLAMATION OF THE MAYOR.
$300 Reward !
WHEREAS, several attempts have recently been made by incendiaries to set fire to buildings in this city ; now, therefore, by virtue of the authority given rre by a resolution of the common council passed June 27, 1850, I offer a reward of $300, to be paid by the city of Milwaukee, for the arrest and conviction of any person or persons guilty of the crime of arson within the limits of said city.
[L. s. ] Given under my hand, at the city of Milwaukee, this 30th, day of Sept. A. D. 1850. D. A. J. UPHAM.
The above proclamation was called forth by a number of attempts to set fire to buildings in the city of late, two of which have been directed more especially to the property of Ludington & Co. A week ago Sunday evening their shingle yard on the island above the Oneida street bridge was fired, and considerable property destroyed. Again, last Sunday evening, at about 8 o'clock, fire was discovered by one of our citizens in the rear of their store, adjoining our office, among some tar barrels, the combustibles so placed as to show the hand of an incendiary.
Messrs. Ludington & Co., offer a reward of $100 for the detection of the per- son who set fire to the shingle yard, and $200 for that of the person who made the attempt upon the store.
We hope that the large reward offered will have the effect of bringing the mis- creant to justice.
True & Hart were the successors to N. S. Donaldson, who retired from active business this year in October.
William P. Young came this year and opened a crockery store at 365 East Water. Mr. Young will be spoken of again further on.
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SPRING STREET bridge (?)
The clumsy mass of timbers called by the above name, had another tumble down yesterday morning, one of the floats being found under water. If the whole concern had gone out of sight, it would have been a cause of general re- joicing. A gang of hands were at work all day yesterday, trying to raise it, but the more they pumped, the more it wouldn't come, and at night the affair was im- passible for foot passengers, as it had been all day for teams. The miserable old thing costs enough in repairs each year to build a bridge at that important cross- ing place.
STILL THERE.
This unsightly pile of old timber still remains in the river, the two broken parts of the draw projecting into the air at an angle of 45 ° or less, with the slats nailed to the plank so that the sober people can, by exercising much judgment, cross at that point. It is a shame and disgrace to the city that this wreck should be allowed to lie so long in its present condition, only equalled by the disgrace in- curred by putting up such a cumbrous, unsightly affair in the first place. We hear that the work upon it is delayed by some trouble in the First and Second wards as to paying their share of the expenses incurred. If this is so, it is high time that this and the other bridges were made a charge upon the city fund. Meantime, we hope that our daguerreotype artists are awake to the neccessity and propriety of obtaining a representation of the city bridges-to secure the shadow ere the timber sinks.
WHIG COUNTY NOMINATIONS.
The Whig county convention, which met at the court house on Saturday last, was well attended, and nominated a capital ticket. For the office of Sheriff, Mr. Jackson Tibbits ; of the town of Milwaukee, as tall and sound a specimen of Yankee timber as can be found in this region was unanimously nominated. He has intelligence to comprehend and nerve to execute the duties of his office, and would fill it well. Frederick Wardner, an old and esteemed resident of our city, and competent for the office, was nominated for register. Priam B. Hill, late clerk of the common council, a most accurate and trustworthy man, was selected as the candidate for clerk of the court ; and H. S. Orton, a lawyer of decided ability and in good practice, for district attorney. This ticket was completed by the nomination of J. B. Zander for coroner, and W. S. Trowbridge for surveyor, both good whigs and reliable men. The senatorial convention for the nineteenth district which met at the same time and place, unanimously selected our esteemed fellow citizen, Increase A. Lapham, of the Second ward, as the Whig candidate for the state senate. The people have tried Mr. Lapham in various capacities, and never found him wanting He is well worthy of further trust.
The ticket thus commended to the suffrage of the electors of Milwaukee county, is, in all respects, unexceptionable. We doubt whether our Democratic friends can better any of these nominations, and if they don't we shall expect them to
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"come down" like men, and vote for the Whig candidates. As for our Whig friends, they need no urging, we hope, to go to work in earnest, and all together, in behalf of their county ticket.
MUNICIPAL.
There was a mass meeting held at the Court House, October 3, 1850, to take into consideration the complications growing out of the caucus system. This meeting ended in a big row. Prominent among the speakers were the late Gen. Paine, Harlow Orton, John White, Asahel Finch, Jr., Chas. James, A. D. Smith, and some lesser lights. It was just such a time as the parrot and monkey had, for a while. Politics were rampant that fall.
The following is the call for Geo. H. Walker to run against S. H. Martin, for the Assembly :
CORRESPONDENCE.
MILWAUKEE, Nov. I.
To HON. GEORGE H. WALKER:
The undersigned, electors of the Fourth and Fifth Wards, in view of the many and peculiar embarrassments (financial and otherwise) under which the city is at present laboring, and deeming you at the same time the person most familiar with the condition of the same, and eminently competent and qualified to protect and represent the various interests thereof in the Legislature of the State next ensuing, and believing, moreover, that the considerations involved in the election of a Representative, forbid the conversion of the same into a strict party issue, and that it is the nearly unanimous desire of the electors of the said wards, that you so represent them, we hereby solicit the use of your name, as a candidate for " Member of Assembly," to represent the District comprising the Fourth and Fifth Wards.
Moses Kneeland, John McCollum,
Charles J. Richards, N. Jewett,
J. Van Vechten l'latto, Wm. Cook,
J. Pierce,
John Fishbeck,
James Goggin,
N. H. Northrup,
Tobias Lochmann,
D. N. Neiman,
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Fl. Huber,
J. H. Tesch, Johann Leymann,
Clem. Mayer, Michael Page,
A. W. Starks,
Fred. Miller, J. L. Pierce,
Michael Costello,
Joseph Cochran,
Francis Kerr,
Henry Gallagan,
WVm. Curtan,
Patrick Lawton.
Danl. H. Chandler, James M. Smith, J. T. Sinclair,
Chas. J. Brandeker,
H. H. West, Danl. Mulhaney, J. McCafferty, C. A. Noyes,
Thos. Coulan,
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To Messrs. Kneeland, Chandler, Jewett, Van Vechten, Sinclair, and many others, whose names are unavoidably crowded out and will be published to-morrow:
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 4, 1850.
GENTLEMEN :
I am in the receipt of your communication, under date November I.
Esteeming myself honored by such an expression of sentiment on the part of my fellow citizens, under the circumstances to which you have alluded, I deem it my duty to respond to your invitation by freely according the use of my name as a candidate for Representative in the next Legislature.
If chosen to that station, I shall endeavor to serve you faithfully, and with a view to the promotion of the best interests of our city.
I am, very respectfully, your fellow citizen,
GEO. H. WALKER.
At the same time, John P. McGregor was nominated from the First Assembly district, and Russell Wheeler from the Third.
In commenting upon this call, the Sentinel, of the Ist, had the following :
"BOLTING" BECOME "REGULAR."
Col. Geo. H. Walker's "running stump" in the Fourth assembly district is one of the most encouraging "signs of the times." 'To see this old party war-horse; this champion of "regular nominations" and "Democratic usages ;" this chairman of various ward, county and state committees-to see the colonel, we say, not only "bolting" a regular nominations, but himself running stump against it, is refresh- ing to behold. When such as him break loose from the party trammels, and set an example of independence, surely men of lesser weight, physically and politically, may be held excused if they "go and do likewise." Under the authority, there- fore, of the colonel's high example, we proclaim full liberty to all the electors in our city to vote to-morrow just as they please. It can no longer be deemed dis- honorable, or irregular to "bolt," since one of the high priests of Democracy leads the way. If Col. Walker can rightfully and "regularly" run the stump against Mr. Martin, surely Mr. Conover is excusible for doing the same thing in regard to Mr. White, and Mr. Durkee in regard to Mr. Elmore. What's com- mendable in the Colonel, can't be very censurable in them, unless indeed our contemporaries of the Wisconsin and Commercial, who sit in judgment upon the deeds and motives of their fellow-men, hold with one of Shakespeare's characters that
Great men jest at (regular nominations,) 'tis wit in them, But in the less, foul profanation !
And this about Gen. H. C. Hobart :
"CROWDED OUT" AGAIN !
Mr. Hobart's name, as the candidate in Third district is again omitted in yester- day's Wisconsin. That honest print not only "crowds him out" of its columns,
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but is helping as much it dare, "to crowd him off the course" ! And yet this Janus-faced and hypocritical pretender to "Democracy" undertakes to denounce the honest masses of the district who can't be bullied, or bribed into voting for a yearling Democrat.
The following named gentlemen were chosen, in 1849, to repre- sent Milwaukee in the Legislature in 1850 :
Senate-Duncan C. Reed and John B. Smith.
Assembly-Jas. B. Cross, Chas. E. Jenkins, Edward McGarry, John E. Came- ron, Garret M. Fitzgerald, Enoch Chase, and Samuel Brown.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY-OFFICIAL.
ABSTRACT OF THE VOTES CAST FOR COUNTY OFFICERS AT A GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN SAID COUNTY, NOVEMBER 5, 1850.
Congress-A. E. Elmore, 2808 ; Durkee, 1372.
State senate-Huesbschmann, 1232 ; Lapham, 871.
Sheriff-John White, 2304 ; Conover, 1976.
Clerk of the court-H. K. White, 2436 ; P. B. Hill, 829.
Register-M. Schoffler, 2803 ; F. Wardner, 1605.
Coroner-J. B. Zander, 841 ; Wonderly, 452 ; Thomas Hatcher, 3134.
Surveyor-J. Gregory, 3525 ; Trowbridge, 879.
District attorney-A. R. R. Butler, 3607.
FOR THE ASSEMBLY.
First ward-Wm. K. Wilson, 515 ; Alanson Sweet, 219 ; J. P. McGregor, 210. Second ward-Wm. Meiklehan, 165 ; Chas. E. Jenkins, 335 ; J. S. Phelps, 232. Third ward-John L. Doran, 545.
Fourth and Fifth wards-Stoddard H. Martin, 106; 129; total, 235. George H. Walker, 323 ; 303 ; total, 626.
Wauwatosa, Granville and Milwaukee-Tobias G. Osborne, 123; 132; 94; total, 349. Clark Brookins, 70 ; 28; 6 ; total, 104.
Greenfield and Lake-Reuben Strong, 43 ; 72 ; total, 115. Enoch Chase, 170 ; 104 ; total 274.
Franklin and Oak Creek-Patrick Caveny, 135 ; 85 ; total, 220. Albert F. Cook, 10; 92 ; total, 102.
THE COUNTY CANVASS. MILWAUKEE, Nov. 15th, 1850.
MR. CRAMER :
Dear sir :- I noticed in your paper of yesterday, that the returns from the town of Milwaukee show that 93 votes were given for Charles Conover, for sheriff. This was a mistake. No votes were given for Charles Conover. But in the hurry of counting we misapprehended the given name of Mr. Conover, the candidate for the office of sheriff, calling it Charles ; but the tickets which we
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carelessly counted for Charles, in fact had the name of Samuel S. Conover, and and should have been counted for him.
RICHARD CARLISLE. Town clerk, Town of Milwaukee.
SOLOMON JUNEAU'S PORTRAIT.
A resolution to purchase the portrait of Solomon Juneau, painted by Robertson for the Council Chamber, at an expense of $40.00, was passed by the Council, October 10, 1850.
This is the same one now in the Council Room.
CLOSING THE STORES.
An effort was made this year to close the stores at 8 P. M., the call for which was signed by seventy-eight of the leading firms. But it did not last long-too much avarice in human nature for that.
ANOTHER MODEL WAREHOUSE .*
We liave already noticed the erection of a large warehouse during the past summer by U. H. Persons, on the river, below Walker's Point Bridge, adding materially to the storage capacity of our city; and to the great improvement made in that part of the city by the long line of substantial wharf laid along the river, and the operations of the dredge boat.
We have now to mention still another warehouse built this season, and just completed, by L. J. Higby, on the West Side of the Milwaukee River, opposite the termination of Washington Avenue.
The building has been erected with the greatest care, under the personal super - vision of Mr. Higby, whose long experience as a forwarding and commission merchant has enabled him to suggest many improvements which will afford great facilities for the safe and speedy transactions of a heavy business. The ware- house, five stories in height, is built upon a foundation made by driving some 600 piles into the earth to a sufficient depth to reach solid ground. The river in front has been dredged to the depth of fourteen feet, and the earth thrown back upon the lot, filling it to the grade of the street.
The dimensions of the building are 40 by 100 feet, built of wood; the immense framing timbers, when the mere skeleton was standing, attracting much attention
* In Volume II, page 186, mention was made of the erection of this warehouse, by Mr. Higby, and its occupation first by himself for about a year, and then by Messrs. Courtney & Button. And on page 187, of its being let to William B. Alvord, who occupied it until burnt in 1857.
CORRECTION .- It was also stated, on page 186, that Mr. Higby occupied the old Stockton & McClure warehouse. This was an error, as the upper warehouse referred to in this connection stood upon the southeast corner of West Water and Sycamore Streets, and was erected by Mr. Higby prior to the erection of the one at Clybourn Street,
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by their solidity and symmetry. The whole is to be lined with brick and the out- side has been covered with two or three coats of the celebrated "fire proof paint." This and the absence of windows, will render the building as near fire-proof as can be.
The first story is left clear for the reception of transient goods, and the upper part is formed into binns capable of storing 150,000 bushels of wheat. The ele- vators, moved by horse power, can raise 6,000 bushels daily, and the discharging apparatus is sufficient to clear out 2,000 bushels per hour.
Everything has been done with care, and there are many of the minor arrange- ments, devised by Mr. Higby himself, which will materially facilitate the opera- tions of receiving and discharging. The warehouse, we understand, has been built at an expense of about $10,000, Messrs. D. D. Sibley and W. Paisley being the master mechanics.
It will be seen by Mr. Higby's advertisement that the new warehouse is now ready for business, a large share of which it will doubtless receive.
Uriah H. Persons, whom no doubt, many yet living can remember, was a smart money-making man, but an unscrupulous scoundrel. He was bad all through, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he was dishonest. Milwaukee has had some bad men to contend with, but no one of them all, as far as I know, that for ras- cality, unadulterated and pure, could discount U. H. Persons. He was a hard one, his boys all followed in his footsteps and have, I be- lieve, all been elected to the penitentiary, from where he also gradu- ated before coming to Milwaukee.
GARDINER'S HALL.
This hall, mention of which was made in Vol. 2, page 204, has 60 feet front by 80 feet deep, and from floor to ceiling, 23 feet, with a tier of boxes extending on three sides, and it was designed to fur- nish comfortable accommodations for about two thousand persons. This hall was superbly fitted up by the lessee, Samuel Gardiner, Jr., who determined that it should rank first among the public halls of the western country. It was finished by the 25th of December and opened on Christmas evening with a grand ball. Forty-two sets of cotillions could be accommodated upon the floor at one time. Dur- ing the first week after the opening, Mr. Gardiner gratuitously granted the use of the hall for two evenings, for concerts-one for the benefit of the orphan asylum, and one for the benefit of dis- abled firemen.
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The following programme of the first gathering held in this famous place of amusement is given as an illustration of the way the early Milwaukeans were wont to pass the winter months :
CHRISTMAS NIGHT BALL,
To be given December 25, 1850, at Gardiner's new hall. A grand ball will be given at the opening of Gardiner's new hall in Martin's Block, on Wednesday evening, December 25th. The hall will accommodate 42 cotillion sets, with com- fortable seats for 800 persons besides, and is the most spacious and elegant apart- ment in the west. The music, refreshments, etc., will be of the best description, and no pains or expense will be spared to render the entertainment eminently successful. The following gentlemen have consented to act as managers for this occasion.
MANAGERS.
Byron Kilbourn,
G. H. Walker,
Hans Crocker,
E. B. Wolcott,
Elisha Starr,
Wm. Brown,
Rufus King,
A. Kirby,
C. D. Finch,
Chas. Storm,
Chas. H. Hurd,
J. B. Kellogg,
F. Bosworth,
J. R. Goodfellow,
Lucas Seaver.
FLOOR MANAGERS.
Rufus King, Elisha Starr, Wm. Brown.
17 Tickets may be procured at the ticket office attached and at the store of S. Gardiner, Jr.
CORRECTION.
In Vol. 2, page 154, in a foot note it is stated that Jas. B. Martin built what is now 389-91 and 393 East Water, in 1851 ; that should be understood to mean that it was commenced in 1850, and com- pleted in 1851, as by the above advertisement it will be seen (and which was true) that it was so far completed in 1850 as to admit of a ball being held there December 25th, of that year.
ORPHAN ASYLUM,
Held its first anniversary in Gardiner's Hall, December 27, 1850.
OFFICERS.
President, Mrs. Laurie Hall, Mrs. S. B. Grant second director. Secretary Mrs. W. L. Parsons, treasurer Mrs. Alex. Mitchell,
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MANAGERS.
Mrs. Wm. H. Byronn,
Mrs. B. McVicker,
Mrs. G. P. Hewett,
Mrs. D. McDugold,
Mrs. C. Arnold,
Mrs. A. D. Smith,
Mrs. J. F. Rague,
Mrs. H. Peck,
Mrs. A. F. Clark,
Mrs. E. D. Holton,
Mrs. E. Eldred,
Mrs. E. La Due,
Mrs. J. Hustis,
Mrs. J. P. Green.
The powder house on the lake shore removed this year to Wauwa- tosa.
FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT.
OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, PRE- PARED BY THEIR COMMITTEE.
The school commissioners of the city of Milwaukee, in pursuance of the law relative to public schools of this city, submit herewith their annual report :
The school system of this city was established in 1846, now nearly four years since it has been in operation, during which time, comparatively, but little progress has been made in the education of our children and youth, owing, mostly, to the fact that the public schools have had no suitable houses for their accommo. dations.
The teachers, though generally well qualified for their very laborious and responsible duties, have been so poorly accommodated with rooms, having in each school all ages of children and youth without the possibility of properly classify- ing them, that any want of success may be attributed to these causes and incon- veniences rather than any want of qualifications on the part of the teachers, but this great evil will soon be remedied in all the wards by the erection and com- pletion of large, commodious and pleasant school houses.
Two houses 42x60 feet each, two stories high with a basement have been erected in the Fourth and Fifth wards, the basements of suitable dimensions for hot air furnaces, for warming the whole interior. These buildings are of brick and provided with flues sufficient to secure thorough ventilation, and regulate the temperature to any required degree. The first story, is divided into two principal rooms each, with suitable ante and recitation rooms to accommodate the primary and intermediate departments.
The second story contains one large room, two lobbies and a recitation room suitable for the accommodation of the senior department or grammar school.
The plan for the school houses in the First and Third wards have been varied somewhat from those in the other wards by having a cupola erected, at the time of the erection of the buildings, suitable for a bell, and the basement to be of a suitable height, between the joints, for the accommodations of schools, when the populations of these wards shall require other schools in them, while they are
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also to be two feet longer those already erected, and it is not expected to warm them by means of furnaces, but by stoves. -
In the Second ward the contract has been let, but the work has been hindered by the necessity of removing a large body of earth in order to reduce the found- ation to the proper grade. This is done however with but little expense to the city.
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