USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 29
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2. We do not cherish the tendency manifested in this draft, towards uniting dif- ferent powers of administration, and rather demand a strict republican separation of the legislative, executive and police, and judicial powers. We are entirely op- posed to the androgynal office of a mayor, after the pattern of Joe Barker, of the German Burgomasters, as head of police and chief executive, having at the same time the power to bring before his court citizens " upon his own observation," and to " dispose of all cases in a summary manner, without pleading."*
3. We are opposed to the building or making of single track railways at the public expense, and opposed to the propelling of cars upon our streets by steam.
4. We do not see the expediency or necessity of a house of peers or lords, as a higher branch of legislation in our city matters, constructed in the manner as this draft provides.
5. We agree to the change of the present system of grading and improving streets, as too momentous to be effected by the summary provisions of this one- sided charter ; but are of the opinion that the interests of those who heretofore have contributed towards making and improving other streets, and elevating them into places of business, should be well balanced and deliberated in a public con- vention of delegates from the different wards of our city, and compromised in a manner satisfactory to all parties concerned.
6. We regard the section 43, as to the change of grades " that may hereafter be established," leaving the grades now established to the mercy of the future alter- ation, in its whole tenor, as too frivolous, as to be sustained by the approval of our community.
*It seems that some of the Germans were in for giving the mayor police and judicial powers, but it did not take with the masses.
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7. We find the manner of conducting ward business in private meetings of the respective aldermen of each ward, as lacking publicity and the control of the public.
8. The final provisions in section 49, doing away with the necessity of publish- ing notice of the expiration of the time of redemption of lots or lands sold for city or state taxes, as required by the provisions of our revised statutes, adds to the weight of suspicion in the ends and motives of the new provisions of this draft.
9. We consider it unjust to exclude the payer of taxes upon personal property from voting upon loans to be contracted, as long as the payment of principal and interest is provided out of the first street taxes assessed and collected after the dates of such loans.
10. We consider the importance of this document, and the bearing of the dif- ferent alterations therein contained, as too vast, to admit careful examination of the same in the short space of a few days, out of a few copies that reached some individuals of this large population of our city. And therefore
Resolved, That we instruct our representatives in both branches of our legisla- ture to vote against this scheme in any and every shape, and to provide in its stead, for an election of delegates from the respective wards of Milwaukee to a city convention, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the wants and wishes and interests of the inhabitants of this city to draft a city charter and sub- mit its acceptance or refusal to a vote of the people at a public election.
Resolved, That we instruct our representatives to amend our now existing city charter, as to provide for the election of three assessors for each ward and all other ward and city officers by the voters of said wards, and for the legal assess- ment and collection of ward, city, county and state taxes. Also, for the pay- ment of the debt of the west ward.
Resolved, That we condemn the course pursued by those engaged in the rig- ging out and sending away like hot shot, of this important document, without con- sulting the wishes of the people, without any previous publication-yea, without any provision for the submission of the same to a popular vote, as a highhanded outrage ; and the sending of an additional article, containing the submission in an after train, on the eve of the bursting forth of popular indignation, does in no way soften this guilt.
On motion of Mr. Schumaker, the above resolutions, after an animated discus- sion, in which Mr. Prentiss, Dr. Johnson, F. Fratney, and others participated, were adopted, with great unanimity and applause.
After the rejection of several motions and resolutions by Dr. Johnson and others, the following resolutions, by Ald. Wedemeyer, were adopted :
Resolved, That the proposition now before the common council, to pay $250 for drawing up the new city charter, is a project for taking the money out of the pockets of the people for scanty service, and that it is the duty, not of the city, to pay him, but the duty of those who employed him.
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.
Resolved, That those who employed Judge Miller, and ought to pay him, may estimate the value of his services ; but if the people pay, let them fix the price.
On motion of Jasper Vliet, the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That it is inexpedient to divide the county of Milwaukee, but that the same should remain as it is, and that our representatives in the legislature be in- structed to use their influence accordingly.
On motion of Alderman McGarry, it was
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in all the city papers, and that the secretaries be instructed to send a copy of the same to each of our senators and representatives in the legislature.
On motion the meeting adjourned sine die.
A. D. SMITH, President.
D. E. CAMERON, Secretaries.
E. F. HERZTBERG, S
Smith & McVicker, were the successors of A. V. R. Ableman, in the planing mill (previously spoken of) on West Water Street, this year.
FIRE.
A fire occurred at the ship chandlery of G. D. Norris, January 18th, which destroyed the ship chandlery, Jacob Fink's cabinet shop ; Nelson Ludington & Co., lumber yard, 1,800,000 feet; J. E. McClure's grocery ; Smith & McVicker's lumber, 1,600,000 feet ; F. M. Clark, 1,000,000 feet ; L. J. Kimball's carriage factory, corner of Main and Chicago Streets ; Nelson Sogg's blacksmith shop, and several small dwellings. This fire which was on the block bounded by East Water, Menomonee, Broadway and Erie Streets, was a very large and destructive one ; made doubly so from the severity of the weather, rendering it almost impossible to work the engines. I re- member this fire well. Loss $55,000 ; insurance $25,000 ; a large amount for that day.
The ship chandlery of G. D. Norris, in which this fire originated, was founded in 1843,* by Messrs. Henry Payson and George Robb, from Chicago, their first place of business being in a small frame building standing upon the northeast corner of East Water and Erie Streets, erected for them by the late Geo. D. Dousman, and where
*There is some dispute as to the exact date of the founding of this sail loft and ship chandlery, some claiming that it was as early as 1841, but I am certain that it was not later than 1843, and I am of the opinion that it was in 1842.
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they continued to do business until 1845, when they were joined by Mr. Norris, from Boston, who acted as their clerk in the construc- tion of the bark Utica, principally, and who continued with them until August 1846, when he purchased their interest* and continued the business under the title of G. D. Norris & Co., until burnt out as stated above, when he removed to what is now the Bethel Home,t northeast corner of Milwaukee and Erie Streets, using the dining room for a shop and the Helfenstein warehouse for a store room,¿ when he remained for a few weeks, when he purchased the two- story frame sail loft erected in 1848 by James K. Webster§ upon the east half of lot 3, block 1, Fifth Ward, at what is now 220 South Water Street, into which he removed and where he remained until the seventh of August, upon which day the building was removed on a scow, directly across the river and placed upon the site of the present building, Nos. 19 and 21 Erie Street.
AN ARRIVAL.
A long, low craft bearing the U. S. flag, which has been moored for some time in the Fifth Ward, labelled, since last winter, "G. D. Norris' Sail Loft," floated across the river to Erie Street on Saturday, in some part of which we suppose it will take a permanent berth, and Mr. Norris be found ready to wait upon all comers.
*It has been claimed that Mr. Norris purchased only a part interest in 1846, which the writer thinks is perhaps true, as there is an advertisement in the early papers under the title of Payson & Robb & G. D. Norris, which would imply that those gentlemen retained an interest silently, if not openly up to 1848, when they retired and returned to Chicago, after which it was G. D. Norris.
#This building was erected by Wm. B. Hibbard, in 1850, for a hotel, the writer working upon it for Messrs. Shadbolt & Spalding, who were the contrac- tors. It was never oocupied, however, as a hotel, and was unoccupied at that time.
¿The Helfenstein warehouse which was directly opposite, on the river side, burnt several years ago.
§Jas. K. Webster came from New York city in 1848, and opened a ship chandlery in a small two-story frame yet standing and known as No. 205 Lake Street, erected by Jas. Lewis, which he occupied for that purpose until the erection of his new one referred to above was completed, into which he moved and where he remained until the spring of 1849. when, becoming discouraged at the outlook for the ship chandlery business, he left for California, where he still resides, after which the building stood vacant until occupied by Mr. Norris, as stated above.
Mr. Webster was a splendid looking man. He always wore a blue coat with brass buttons, drab pants and a white hat. I remember him well. His half brother, Henry Kavanagh, (now a coal merchant on South Water Street, ) who also came in 1848, was employed in this building for both Messrs. Webster and Norris.
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This moving was done by Owen Goss, at the expense of the late Caleb Harrison, and came near proving a bad job for that gentle- man, on account of there being at that time no tugs upon the river, which compelled them to use poles as a motive power, which poles being too short for the depth of water, the scow, of course, went gypsying down the river until opposite the present harbor before they succeeded in arresting her course, after which they were compelled to warp her back again, which took nearly two days, on account of the strong current at that time in the river. I remember this affair as though it were but yesterday, as the scow remained at the bank after her return for several days before the building was placed upon the lot. Mr. Harrison was heartily sick of this contract, on account of the extra expense incurred, but if the scow had gone into the ake it would have ruined him. But all is well that ends well, and the building was finally landed in safety, where it was occupied until the fall of 1852, when, upon the commencement of the erection of the present building, it was sold to Dr. L. W. Weeks, who employed Owen Goss to move it back to its original site, which he did, Mr. Norris remaining in it while being removed and until the present building was completed in 1853, after which it was occupied by the late Giles A. Waite and George Green* as a carpenter shop for a short time, then for the storage of salt and lime, and lastly by Messrs. Paige & Fitzgerald (the late Joseph Paige and R. P. Fitz- gerald), as a stable, in connection with their coal yard, until the erection of the present shed by Chas. D. Nash, in 1877, when it was , pulled down and has passed into oblivion. Such is a brief sketch of this pioneer ship chandlery building from its erection in 1848 by Mr. Webster to its demolition in 1877.
The business roster of the house of G. D. Norris & Co. has been as follows :
From 1848, (when, as the writer believes, Mr. Norris became sole owner,) to January 1, 1861, it was G. D. Norris, at which date John Thorsen, a native of Stovanger, Norway, who came in 1844, as
* As the reader has already seen its original color was black, but while occupied by Messrs. Waite & Green it was repainted in "checks," and known as the "little checkered " warehouse, in contra-distinction to the one just above it, the " old checkered" warehouse, which the reader will remember was occupied in 1850 and 1851 by Chas. H. Larkin & Co.
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foreman for Messrs. Payson & Robb, (and who had held the same position with Mr. Norris,) became a partner, the title being G. D. Norris & Co., which continued until July 1, 1867, when Mr. Thorsen retired, after which Mr. Norris remained alone until his death, October 19. 1869, when Andrew Joys, a native of Christiana, Norway, who had been in the employ of Mr. Norris as clerk since 1856, took charge of the business for Mis. Norris, until January 1, 1870, when he was made a partner, and the business continued under the title of Norris & Co., until January 1, 1871, when Chas. W. Norris was admitted, and the business continued under the title of G. D. Norris & Co., until 1875, when John Joys, also a native of Christiana, who came in 1855, was admitted, the firm now consisting of Mrs. Alice B. Norris, Chas. W. Norris, Andrew M. Joys, and John Joys, under the title of G. D. Norris & Co.
Greenleaf D. Norris, whose business record has been given above, was from the day of his arrival in Milwaukee, to his death, a period of 24 years, a man of influence. He came from a city where men do business strictly upon business principles, a maxim he followed to the letter. He had splendid executive abilities, and being in pos- session of ample means to do business with, he of course soon out- ran all his competitors in his line, and made money rapidly.
Physicially he was one of the finest looking men in the city, he was one who would command respect, and receive attention from strangers at first sight, and he certainly was one of the most mus- cular men, for his size, that it was ever my fortune to meet. He had a grip like a vice and took great delight in making it known occa- sionally. He was as quick motioned as a cat metaphorically speak- ing, and as full of mischief as a boy. He was possessed of fine social qualities, good conversational powers and a universal favorite everywhere. He was fond of children and would do anything in his power to amuse or make them happy. He was perfectly fearless and would brook no insult from any man. He walked with a quick easy step, his hands usually thrust in his pockets, and his eyes cast upon the ground. He was fond of books and works of art, gener- ous to all in want, and if he gave to any charitable or worthy object, he gave liberally. He was one of the first directors of the North- western Insurance Company and vice president, and several of the
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first policies issued were signed by him. In politics he was a Re- publican, and a good one, but would not hold office. He was in life one of Milwaukee's most respected and representative men, and will live in memory for many years to come.
Mr. Norris was born in Boston, Mass., March 19, 1822. His son Chas. W. Norris, is in person the counterpart of his father, and in habit like him in many respects. He has the same pleasant smile, and manly bearing, and is a worthy son of a worthy sire. He also has a goodly share of his business ability, and the house is under his management in connection with the Messrs. Joys, moving on and taking the lead as of yore, and if he make as good a record as did his father, he will be a man of influence as well as usefulness. He is not nervous, is very quiet and unasuming, but beneath that lies concealed a will that stops at nothing short of accomplishing its object. He looks you squarely in the face when addressing you, has a pleasing address and a pleasant greeting for all, and like his father keeps well up with the times in literature as well as business, and is rapidly coming to the front as a leading business man and an influential citizen. Of his present associates in the business, the Messrs. Joys, it is sufficient to say that they possess the same traits of character for which their nation has been famed (viz :) courage, perseverance, caution and industry. They possess a thorough knowledge of all that pertains to their profession, are among our best foreign born citizens, and are fast coming to the front as leaders among their countrymen in this land of their adoption, both socially and financially. Mr. Thorsen, their former partner, now one of our heaviest lumber merchants, his firm being known as the Stronach Lumber Company, is also a good business man, has be- come quite wealthy, and is a good representative of the old Norse race, from which he sprung. He walks as erect as a soldier, his hat always tipped back upon his head. He has a large round face (beardless), a florid complexion and a nervous temperature. He is very social and gentlemanly, a good friend (if a friend) and if an enemy will always let it be known in a way not to be misunderstood. There is one peculiarity for which this house has always been noted, and that is the length of time for which it retains its employees, there being two sailmakers (viz:) Jacob Weil, a Norwegian, and
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William Wreede, a German, (known as Tom Anderson) who have been in their employ continuously for over thirty years. Such is a brief sketch of the ship chandlery house of G. D. Norris & Co., a house whose financial credit is without a stain, and whose flag has never been struck since first flung to the breeze in 1843, through all the financial disasters that the country and particularly the west, has been called to pass. This house never failed to pay a hundred cents on the dollar. And the only death which has occurred up to to-day is that of Mr. Norris, as previously stated. Financially, it was founded upon a rock, and under the same wise management in the future as in the past, its proprietors-be they who they may- will, to use a nautical phrase, be found upon the quarter deck for a century to come.
DIVIDING THE COUNTY.
The proposition to have the city set off into a county by itself was brought up again this year at Madison. Nothing came of it, however, but wind, but there was plenty of that.
THE BURNS SUPPER.
The sons of " auld Scotia " held the Burns supper this year at No. I Spring Street, (Belden's old home saloon,) January 24, where the Scotchmen had lots of hot whisky, punch, and " haggis." Arthur McArthur, president, R. Menzies, secretary. Among the speakers upon this occasion, besides the president, were Robert Menzies, who made an eloquent speech at this their fourth annual gathering. He was followed by John P. McGregor, J. H. Tweedy, Judge Levi Hubbell, Jas. McEwen, after which they closed with the following poetic effusion to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne":
" And what though we be far awa', And in a foreign clime, We'll ne'er forget auld Scotia's shores And the days of auld lang syne."
This society (now known as the St. Andrew's Society) meets regu- larly every year, and is one of the best kept up national affairs of the age. They never fail to have a " haggis," and several other national dishes, with Scotch whisky " galore," and always have a good time. This the writer knows from experience.
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THE PLANK ROAD CRAZE.
There was a regular craze for plank roads in 1849, '50 and '51, among the business men of Milwaukee, as the only means of getting into the country, for which the following charters were obtained :
Milwaukee and Janesville, Watertown, Lisbon, Green Bay, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, Fond du Lac, and Humboldt.
Upon several of these roads, viz: the Janesville, Waukesha, Watertown, and Lisbon, considerable work was done. The charter for the Janesville road was obtained in 1848, upon which nineteen miles of plank were subsequently laid, a part of which (to Hale's Corners) is in use to-day, and upon which tolls are collected. The moving spirit in this enterprise was Alanson Sweet. The road com- menced at the intersection of First Avenue and Railroad Street, going directly to the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Mitchell Street and on past Forest Home. The officers of this corporation were Levi Blossom, president, S. J. Van Vechten, secretary, Alanson Sweet, treasurer. Office in Exchange Block on Michigan Street, where Alex. Mitchell's Bank now stands.
The Milwaukee and Lisbon Plank Road was chartered in 1850, capital $200,000. Eight miles were built in 1851. The fol- lowing are the officers: Leander Comstock, president, E. B. Green- leaf, secretary, Robert Whitehead, treasurer. Directors were L. Comstock, J. A. Phelps, Richard Hoppin, Jr., Albert Fowler, Clark Brookins, Levi Russell, and Lucius Bottum. This was wholly a West Side enterprise. The office was at 352 Third Street, over Comstock's store.
The Milwaukee and Fond du Lac was organized June, 1850, during which the first division of ten miles was put under contract, and built in 1851. Officers, Joseph R. Thomas, president, John B. Vliet, secretary. Directors, J. R. Thomas, Garret Vliet, Richardson Houghton, Jacob A. Hoover, Ferdinand Kalckoff, Robert W. Peirce, and John B. Vliet. As this company had no treasurer, it is pre- sumable that they had no money.
The Milwaukee and Waukesha was chartered in 1850, capital stock $14,000-$12,000 of which was actually paid in. The office was at 91, now 291 East Water. Officers, Henry Williams, president, Chas. H. Larkin, secretary. Directors, H. Williams, Alex. Mitchell, John
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Burnham, Joseph Cary, D. Fishback, Chas. C. Dewey, and Chas. A. Hastings. This road was built by Chas. Hart and is in use to-day, the property of Daniel Wells, Jr. The moving spirit in this enter- prise was the late Elisha Eldred.
The Madison, Watertown and Milwaukee Plank Road Company was first chartered in 1846, amended in 1848. Actual capital, $90,000. Forty-five miles of this road were actually built and upon which tolls were collected. The office was in Joshua Hathaway's Building, southeast corner of Main and Mason Streets. Officers were Elisha Eldred, president, Joshua Hathaway, secretary, Alex. Mitchell, treasurer. Directors, Elisha Eldred, Eliphalet Cramer, Hans Crocker, Harvey Birchard, John S. Rockwell, John Richards, and Joshua Hathaway. This road is defunct.
The officers of the Milwaukee and Green Bay Road were Daniel Richards, president, Richard Carlisle, secretary and treasurer. Nine miles of this road were put under contract, to be finished in 1852.
All of these roads, with the exception of the Janesville and Waukesha, before mentioned, are things of the past.
COWHIDING A LOCAL.
The local of the Free Democrat was cowhided on Wisconsin Street for making too free with the names of certain parties, thus initiating the young pencil pusher into an organization in which a certain New York editor had already taken nine degrees. It did the young bantam lots of good and cured him effectually of the swell- head, a disease quite prevalent in those days among the local frater- nity.
EDITORIAL SQUIBS.
In the Wisconsin of January 13th, we find the following editorial squib in reference to a mistake said to have been made by the Sentinel in their review of the Rev. John J. Miter's lecture before the Young Men's Christian Association, which as the Wisconsin claims contained a gross misrepresentation as to the history of Balaam's ass :
MR. EDITOR : The editor of the Sentinel in his review of the Rev. J. J. Miter's lecture for the Young Men's Association, says (or makes Mr. Miter say) that Samuel was the father of Saul. Now it would be gratifying to know how that
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knowledge was obtained, whether by clairvoyance or by spiritual rappings, as the Bible tells quite a different story. In that book the first we learn of Samuel is that he was the son of Kish, and was sent to seek his father's asses, and from the developments recently made in reporting this lecture one would be likely to con- clude that some of that class of long eared animals were still at large.
" SUR-OC."
TAXATION.
There was an article in the Wisconsin of February 4th, upon tax- ation in which the writer goes for Sherman M. Booth with a sharp stick for some measure he had advocated in the Free Democrat, upon that ever perplexing subject to the early Milwaukeans. It does not bother the Websterian mathametician of the present day to raise a tax. At least it will not, if they succeed in their endeavors to have the limit to what they require removed, all they will have to do then will be to vote what they want without any figuring.
IMPROVEMENTS.
E. Schumacker had a locksmith shop at 245 East Water (old num- ber) this year. Mr. Schumacker is yet with us ; he has been in busi- ness for many years in Milwaukee and at Port Washington, where he erected a large foundry in company with Wm. Johnson, but not proving a success, has been abandoned and the partnership dis- solved.
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