USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 33
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JAS. JOHNSON S. S. DAGGETT Aldermen.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
The first part of the work (viz) the filling up the frog pond was done and cistern* built by Michael Page ; J. W. Dunlop planted the trees, S. W. and W. H. Babcock built the fence, partly by sub- scription. Balance paid for by general tax.
OMNIBUS LINE.
An omnibus line was started Sept. 20, from the Spring street Hill via Wisconsin, Mason, Main and Jackson streets to the corner of Division and Astor; also from Kilbourn town to Walker's Point by Messrs. Frink & Walker, nee Davis & Moore.
PACKING HOUSE.
Roddis & Co., Edward and Thos. Roddis, opened a packing house (the present McGeoch) this year.
FIRE.
Northeast corner of Spring and West Water Nov. 9; this was the second time an attempt had been made to burn this corner without success, but this time the boys succeeded in burning the old castle.
NEW DAILY PAPER.
The Milwaukee Daily Fournal. The first number of this paper appeared to-day, Nov. 13th, it is about the size of the Free Democrat. Whig in politics and costs $4 per annum. Wilson and Hamilton, editors.
JAS. CRUMMEY MAKES A SPEECH.
At the celebration by the Whigs of Gov. Farwell's election, as gover- nor in 1851, Jas. Crummey made a speech which was referred to by the Wisconsin as not having received proper notice from the Sentinel, who replied to that paper on the 12th, and Mr. Crummey replied on the 13th, both of which are inserted :
SINGULAR OMISSION.
The Sentinel, in its account of the Whig jubilee omits all notice of Jas. Crum- mey's speech-who is generally known as the right bower of the editor of the Sentinel .- Wisconsin.
It would have been more singular if we had made mention of the speech, in- asmuch as we missed the pleasure of hearing it. But if our friend Crummey did make one, we warrant that it was to the point, which is more than can ever be said for the Wisconsin's editorials. We should like to know, by the way, what
*Mention of which has been previously made.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Mr. Crummey has done, to provoke the sneers of the Commercial and the squibs of the Wisconsin.
Messrs. Editors:
The Commercial and Wisconsin have both fired their "pop- guns" at me because I gave the boys a turn, Saturday night, in celebrating Gov. Farwell's election. Whether this is the work of the regular editors, or of the "fou-fous" they hire to do the "penny-a-lining," Ifdon't know and don't care. If these mullets want to make a muss with me, all they've got to do is to say so. The Commercial sets me down as making a "flash" speech. If they'll tell me what they mean by "flash,"' I'll talk to them. I try to mind my business and advise them to do the same. They didn't make much by turning up their noses at the mechanics, and they wont make more than twice out of me. If they call me out for another speech, I'll try and give 'em one that will make deaf men hear, blind men see, and fat men grow lean. You can bet your life on that.
J. M. CRUMMEY.
Mr. Crummey is yet with us and as wide-awake as when he first came, 30 years ago, and if he was not blessed with as good education- al privileges as some of his competitors were, he has got lots of "horse sense," is true to what he believes to be right and as fear- less in carrying out his principles as any man in the city. He is a peach without any worm in it, is James, and whoever attempts to "bamboozle" him, will get their foot in it.
FIRE.
A fire broke out Nov. 15, in the three story brick store now No. 375 East Water, owned by Henry Sivyer and occupied by the late U. H. Persons, as a grocery, the store was thoroughly gutted also the store of E. D. Baker, on the north and Bradley & Metcalf on the south,* were badly damaged by water.
The fire limits extended after this fire so as to include, block 58, 59, 71 and 72, Fourth ward, and that portion of the First and Third wards lying west of Milwaukee street, north of Huron and south of Oneida, except the eaet 1-2 of block 14, Third ward.
The Sentinel of the 19th has the following :
Old Kirby has finally raised his sign at the corner of East Water and Wiscon- sin streets, over one of the handsomest jeweler's, and watch maker's stores in the western country. The fixtures and furniture of the store are in exceedingly good
* Their branch store.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
taste and of the best quality, and the shelves, show-cases, &c., are amply filled with useful and ornamental articles. Kirby himself looks as smiling as a basket of chips, and is on hand all the time to wait upon his numerous customers.
First ice formed in 1851, November 27th.
No. 3 engine house was built this year and opened with a ball De- cember 5th.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The hose and hook and ladder companies take possession of their new and handsome house on Main Street to-day. As Oregon Company No. 3 are already in their new quarters our whole department are now comfortably housed for the winter, and in excellent order for service should occasion require.
LICENSE.
The question of license or no license which had agitated the public mind during 1851, culminated December 30th, in a call for a public meeting at the Milwaukee House, northeast corner of Main and Huron Streets, at which Russell Wheeler was chairman, and Geo. W. Kellogg, secretary, and at which the common council was called upon to enforce the law or step down and out and give way to better men. But not complying, a second meeting was held at the same place early in 1852, at which a resolution was passed stat- ing that inasmuch as the council had failed to enforce the law, that they be respectfully requested to refund to those who had paid, upon which the council at its meeting held December 18th, feeling confi- dent that they could not enforce the law (or from fear of Wheeler, et al.) backed square down, rescinded the ordinance and passed a resolution to refund, which brought the following from the Wisconsin of the 19th, entitled, " More Taxation :"
Mr. Editor :
In looking over the proceedings of the common council yesterday. we were as. tonished to find that the aldermen had adopted a minority report to refund all the money which has been paid for license under the present law, amounting, as we are informed, to some six thousand dollars, so that this amount is to be paid by the property holders of the city. We have witnessed strange things done by our common council, but we think that this act transcends all other acts in its wanton injustice and perfect contempt for the law of the land. A man pays his money to carry on a business which is destructive to the morality and prosperity of the community, and after spreading desolation all around him and taking the money from the poor laborer while the cries of his distressed family, for bread and fuel,
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comes to us upon every wintry blast, and unless relieved by the hand of charity would absolutely perish with hunger and cold. The very money he has paid for a license to ruin his neighbor's business, is refunded to him by the authorities of our city and the temperance portion of our city must stand the burthen of the pauperism and crime, which are its legitimate fruits. We cannot, however, for- bear to express our admiration for the four aldermen who had the courage to withstand the threatened intimidation of the army of liquor dealers that crowded the lobby and which struck terror* into the hearts of some of that body, and who voted manfully in spite of the threats of the liquor men. JUSTICE.
The action of the council on the 18th, in voting to refund the license money already paid in, was to say the least a cowardly, if not a criminal act, and a lengthy newspaper discussion took place in reference to this, and the unlawfulness of the acts of the treasurer in taking notest and before orders to refund were signed (for they were made out) an injunction was served upon Alderman Johnson which blocked the wheels-see annexed. After which there was a call for a mass meeting upon that question at the Methodist Church on Spring Street, to be held on the second of January, 1853, for the proceed- ings of which see chapter on that year.
THE LICENSE MONEY.
The Free Democrat of last evening says :
An injunction has been served upon Alderman Johnson, president of the board, against refunding the license money. The clerk of the council made out the orders yesterday, and sent a messenger to Alderman Johnson, requesting him to to come and sign them ; but he declines to do so, till required to do it by a higher authority.
The Wisconsin published the following note from Alderman John- son :
Editor of Wisconsin :
Permit me to say to the liquor dealers, who are waiting for the orders to be refunded, which they have paid for license, that a letter of attorney has been served upon me, forbidding me signing the orders, and informing me that I will be held individually liable for every order I may so sign. Now as I have property, the result of my own labor, I have not the most remote idea of defending suits for
*It should be stated that at the meeting held on the 24th, Alderman John Plankinton, of the Fourth Ward, moved the reconsideration of the resolution to refund, which, on motion of Alderman Daggett, was laid on the table.
+The city treasurer had taken notes for a part of this license money, which, of course, was not a proper thing to do, which explains why Dr. Johnson said what he did.
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
365
the city, out of my private means. To-morrow, will appear the documents with which I have been served.
JAMES JOHNSON, President of Common Council.
The following is the notice of injunction served upon Alderman Johnson. We publish it at his request, in order that all the facts in the case may be before the public at once :
MILWAUKEE, December 24.
Doctor Johnson, President of the Honorable Common Council.
DEAR SIR :- Permit me, as the attorney of H. Reed, David McDougall, E. Clark, Elisha Eldred, I. E. Goodall, P. B. Hill, Wms. Lee, H. S. Burton, etc., tax payers in this city, to enter their protest against the refunding of the money, now in the city treasury, collected under the law for licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors. This money now constitutes a part of the general city fund, as they believe, and they respectfully submit that the honorable common council has no more authority to order a repayment of this money, collected under a law of the State, than to nullify the laws establishing the courts of Wisconsin.
Without intending the slightest disrespect to the honorable common council, it is the purpose of these gentlemen tax payers, to hold each member of the honor- able common council, individually liable for every dollar that shall be paid out of the treasury, under the unconstitutional and illegal proceedings of the honorable common council in respect to this matter.
I remain, with high consideration, your humble servant,
JAMES H. PAINE.
An ordinance for grading and laying side walks on the following streets was passed Oct. 6, 1851 : Fifth street from Sycamore to Cly- bourn, (both sides,) Marshall from Mason to Martin, west side of Fifth from Spring to Sycamore, Van Buren from Mason to Wisconsin, Wisconsin, on the south side, from Cass to East Water and Oneida from East Water to the lake.
Snow fell Dec. 16, 7 inches deep.
Steamboat arrivals for 1851 were SIO
226
Propellers
58
Brigs
457
Schooners
1549
The imports were :
1, 182,66
Merchandise (tons)
$2,599.551
Exports
Roddis packing house burned Dec. 24, 1851. .
45
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Statistics of the Milwaukee county jail for 14 years, or since its erection to Dec. 31, 1850:
Number of males committed, 951; females, 50; total, 1001. Of these there were charged with murder, 25 ; manslaughter, 2 ; larceny, 22; assault and battery, 280; with intent to kill, 18; arson, 10; false pretense, 15; robbing the mail, 3; burglary, 14; forgery, 3 ; insane, 12; rape, 3; buggery, 2 : riot, 52; counterfeiting, 18. The remaining 372 were charged with minor offences.
Of these there were, disorderly, (i. e. ugly while in jail) 968 ; broke jail, 11; died, 2 ; removed to Waukesha county, 5 ; now in jail 25.
This jail has been used both as a jail and state prison, by the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac to within a short time. Leverett T. Rice, Jailor.
CORRECTION.
On page 285 of this volume, when speaking of the founding of the Milwaukee Normal Institute, it was stated that its location was upon the northeast corner of Milwaukee and Mason streets and that it was burned in 1853. This statement was intended for the Mil- waukee academy, of Messrs. Dixon & Richardson, which, as the reader will see further on, was erected upon that corner in 1852, and burned Dec. 22, 1853.
The normal institute (now the Milwaukee female college) upon the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Division streets, although partly destroyed by fire January 26, 1883, is still in existence and as an educa- tional institution ranks high and is one in which the citizens of Milwau- kee take great pride. This is the school with which Miss Catherine Beecher (of educational fame) was so prominently identified for many years. It is now in charge of Prof. Chas. S. Farrar, has a fine ob- servatory and telescope, and under the professor's plastic hand, is rapidly bringing the young ladies of Milwaukee up to as high a plane in education as was formerly considered the birthright of the boys only. May its shadow never be less.
CHAPTER VII.
1852.
Opening Address- Ordinance passed appointing Night Watch-Burns Supper- Jeremiah B. Zander-Row in a Liquor Store-Criminal-Inbusch Bros., Sketch of -New Charter-Vote accepting the same .- William P. Young's Block Burnt-The Drake Brothers, Sketch of-Democratic Party per- manently organized-Then and twelve years later-Political-Moses Knee- land, Sketch-Political-Supervisors-School Commissioners-Fire Depart- ment-Fire Limits Extended-Post Office Removed -R. P. Elmore, Sketch -Doctor Payne, Sketch-N. Brick, Sketch-St. Patrick's Day-J. McMan- man-City Printing-Financial-Great Storm-Troubles About the Bridges -Steamers and Propellers-F. H. Brodhead-Market House-The "Asinine" Society-Michael Page, sketch-Chas. P. Foote, Sketch-" Lost ! Lost !" __ Report of Alderman Prentiss-Water Power-Walter Burke, Letter-The " May Fest "-Durand & Lawrence, Sketch of-Spring Street Bridge again The Awnings Come Down-The Schools-The License Question-Ratification -Celebration and its Results-Migration of Insects-Important to Many- The Menomonee Valley High-Water-Gas Pipe laid Across the River-As- tronomy-Making Voters-Milwaukee's First Depot-Cheek -- Improvements Railroad Meeting-School Census -- Taxation-The Old Plank Road-John M. W. Lace, Killed-Political-The Fall Election-Opening of the Gas Works -- Incorrigible-Congressional-War between D. McGraw and Billy O'Flamington-Fire Department.
The opening of the year in 1852 was marked with several at- tempts at incendiarism, none of which, however, were entirely suc- cessful. The city had now reached a period in its history, reached by all commercial cities sooner or later (viz :) a period when the bummer element seeks the ascendency, and Milwaukee had just enough of that element to make the office of police justice anything but a sinecure.
The foot prints of the discussion about temperance in 1849 and 1850, were also yet plainly to be seen, neither had the ill-feeling en- gendered on account of the assault upon the Methodist Church in 1851 wholly abated, while the escape of the rioters from punishment through the unfair course pursued by Judge Hubbell, mentioned in the previous chapter, had emboldened those who hated restraint (and who were, in fact, incipient nihilists) to other violations of the
368
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
laws, to check which, the strong arm of that guardian of life and property was invoked, after which there was a cessation of wrong doing as well as a scarcity of wrong doers in Milweukee for a season.
MUNICIPAL.
An ordinance was passed at the meeting of the council January 6th, establishing a night watch (the number of which had been fixed upon the previous year) with Timothy O'Brien as captain .* A com- mittee was also appointed to negotiate with John Lockwood for the construction of a system of water works, in which the city was to take $75,000 stock, to be represented by Hans Crocker. The sixth anniversary of the Excelsior Society was also celebrated at the Home saloon, Gen'l Rufus King, Mayor Walker, John J. Orton and Lieut. Gov. Burns, being among the speakers. The governor having only a short time previous received three full degrees and a tiger the One Thousand and One was of course filled with useful knowledge, and made an eloquent and impressive speech upon the physical and intel- lectual power of the sons of the Empire State, and the new year was fairly begun.
NEW CHARTER.
In speaking of the new charter (mentioned in previous chaptert) the Sentinel of January 19th, has the following :
We understand that the charter convention have completed their labors and have reported the new charter to the common council, with the recommendation that it be published and submitted to the judgment of the people, and, if ap- proved by them, transmitted to Madison for the sanction of the legislature. The common council will no doubt adopt the recommendation and provide for taking the sense of the people upon the new charter at an early day.
The following is the vote taken February 2, 1852, which was sub- sequently confirmed by the legislature. First Ward, for, 394 ; Sec- ond, 184; Third, 477 ; Fourth, 178; Fifth, 180. Total 1,413.
* The first appointments under this ordinance were for the First Ward (then the First and Seventh): Hugh Watson, Peter Schoffle, and Moritz Morganshine. Second Ward-Charles Niemam, Albert Lathrop and Charles Dorflinger. Third Ward-Philip Daily and Jas. Glover (only two). Fourth Ward-John B. Win- ton, Geo. Nieman, (lost on the steamer Sea Bird, April 8, 1868,) and Chas. Eis- feldt. Fifth Ward-A. Pattie and Jacob Tornorsen (Norwegian).
+The one prepared by the second committee of which Col. Crocker was chair- man, and who, in fact, drafted it.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Against, First Ward, 249; Second, 353; Third, 22; Fourth, 60 ; Fifth, 45. Total 729. Majority for, 684.
LOCKED UP.
One of the witnesses or spectators in the United States court roor., Friday evening, fell asleep in his seat, and on waking up, discovered, to his amazenient, that
The court had fled The lights were dead, And all but him departed.
Rushing to the door, he made a violent attempt to burst it upon, but failing in this, kicked out a panel, and so made his escape.
This was the late Jeremiah B. Zander, who came into the United States court room, (Martin's block) pretty well filled with benzine, laid down on one of the seats where he fell asleep and where he was left when the court adjourned and where he remained until 8 P. M., when he awoke and broke out as stated.
J. B. Zander was a first class clerk, if kept from liquor, a difficult thing to do, but if not, he was as useless as a wooden ham. He was a clerk in the office of the circuit court under Mathew Keenan, who was the only one who ever could keep him straight for several years. Poor Jerry, he died many years ago, and every member of his family are gone. The son died from disease contracted in the rebellion, the daughter soon after, and Mrs. Zander some two years ago. He was a native of Troy, N. Y., and came in 1856, as a part- ner to John Corbin.
A ROW IN A LIQUOR STORE.
There was a row in the liquor store of True & Hoyt, 377 East Water, Jan. 31, in which Mr. True was shot while being ejected from the store by Hoyt .*
CRIMINAL.
A scoundrel named Jack Larson, alias "Sleeky John" and his paramour "Old Meliss", were arrested Feb. 8, 1852, by marshal Timothy O'Brien, for a vile outrage on the person of a poor German
* Hiram True and Charles M. Hoyt. Mr. Hloyt, who was quite prominent as a horse man and a politician, died several years ago. Of Mr. True, I have no knowledge, I think he left shortly after this affair. He was not badly injured by the bullet, and no doubt the shot was accidental.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
girl named Mary Baker. I was on the jury who sent those fiends in human form to the penitentiary for life. Their crime was a diabol- ical one and their punishment a just one. They are both dead long ago.
INBUSCH BROTHERS.
Prominent among our early merchants who have continued in business to the present time, and who by their energy and perse- verance have helped to bring our city to its present prosperous com- mercial standing, are the Messrs. Inbusch Bros., (John G., John D. and John H. Inbusch) from Germany. This well-known house was founded in 1847, by John G., who came to Milwaukee from the city of New York, where he first commenced business in America, and opened a store at what is now No. 278 East Water street, for the wholesale and retail liquor trade, where he was joined in 1849 by John D., and the business continued until 1852, when they removed to their new store, erected the previous summer, now Nos. 238 and 240 East Water street, and added rectifying to their business, where they were joined in 1856, by John H. Inbusch (the present head of the firm) and the business continued until 1860, when becoming tired of the liquor traffic, they connected groceries with it and in 1862 went out of it altogether, since which they have dealt in groceries only, en- tirely by wholesale and are to-day one of the largest as well as one of the wealthiest firms in the northwest. This house, like that of Friend Bros., has always followed the German custom of recognizing the oldest member, as the managing head, which was filled by the late John G., until his death, Sept. 27th, 1852, when John H., be- came the head, which position he holds to-day.
The members of this firm have never sought for political honors, or held any political office in this country, but have confined themselves strictly to the business of making money. Good executive ability they all possess to an unusual degree, hence their success. Their store al- though doing so large a business, is at all times an unusually quiet place, order being with them, the first law. John G., was for many years previous to his death, president of the old State bank of Wis- consin (now the Milwaukee National bank) where by his good financiering, he kept that institution in a healthy condition financially. In political faith I believe they are all Democrats, and in religious Lu-
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
therans and pillars in the church, northwest correr of Brady and Divis- ion streets. They have also erected besides the two stores already mentioned, Nos. 232, 234 and 236 East Water, a fine block on the northwest corner of Martin and Van Buren streets, known as Nos. 545 to 561 Van Buren and one upon the northeast corner of Jack- son and Martin streets, known as Nos. 174 and 176 Martin street and one (the residence of John D. Inbusch) No. 597 Cass. All of which are ornaments to the city.
The writer's long acquaintance with these gentlemen during all these years, has been a pleasant one, an attachment having been formed on our first meeting, in 1852, which has never died out and he counts them to-day as among his personal friends, as their great wealth does not make them proud. Such is a brief sketch of this well known pioneer house, the members of which have reached a plane, in the commercial world that few compared with the great mass of business men, ever attain ; no financial crash has ever affected their credit, nor any scandal their good name. Their record is a clean one.
WM. P. YOUNG'S BLOCK BURNT,
February 15, 1852. Total loss to Mr. Young, $20,000. No in- surance. This building stood upon the northeast corner of Main and Wisconsin Streets. The walls also fell upon and demolished the dwelling of Luke Seaver on the north, and the old engine house on the east .* There was also a loss of $2,000 on musical instruments, belonging to the German Musical Society, who had a rehearsal there the previous day, preparatory to giving a concert. Also, a loss of $1,000 on carpenters' tools. The building was not quite finished when burnt.
*This engine house stood upon the west 20 feet of the lot where the cuslom house now stands, about 12 feet above the present grade. The boys used to have hard work to get the old machine in and out, on account of the steep ascent from the street up to the door at that time. It was all graded off when the custom house was erected. This first engine house was when discarded, removed to the tract then known as the island, at the foot of Martin Street, and occupied by Ehlebrach & Co., as an office for their lumber yard, and from there to the north side of Martin Street, between East Water and Market Streets, where it was used by Casper Grode, for a boot and shoe shop, until ISS1, when it was demol- ished by Val. Blatz, who owned the ground. The first engine, the Neptune, was stored in this house in 1839.
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