USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 37
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BOLD CHEEK.
About the coolest case of cheek that ever occurred here, was in the case of Chas. Lee, who was arrested for setting fire to Jas. Lud- ington's Lumber yard, August 12, asking Mr. Ludington to go his bail. Wasn't this cool ?
*This well known and popular Railroad Superintendent died at La Crosse, April 13, 1884. A sketch of Mr. Atkins will appear in volume IV, of this series.
+Johnny Mitchell, (commonly called Paddy Mitchell, ) was the first porter al this depot, and I think the last. It was a custom with him when bothered with questions and he in a hurry, to give the answer above, in true Celtic brogue. Ile is yet alive but very old.
ĮThis depot was about 20x70 feet, the projecting eaves in vogue at the present day, upon all that class of building. These have been cut down when it was con- erted into an office, as above stated.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
A RELIC OF THE OLDEN TIME.
During the spring of 1852 the workingmen excavating the trench through East Water Street, for the gas pipes, came upon the remains of an old log shanty, the first building erected in Milwaukee. Several good solid pieces of oak puncheons were taken out. We understand that they formed the east end of the building. A row of them followed the trench for some distance directly in front of George Dyer's store, No. 211 East Water street. The accumula- tions of years had covered them with some three feet of gravel. Since those tim- bers were set in the ground, what changes have taken place in the scene ! Then the trader met his Indian customers and dickered and bartered with them and made up his packs. Anon he welcomed the early settlers as they at first came straggling and then pouring in. So time rolled away-no long time either-and the hand of improvement has long ago covered up all traces of the first shanty ; but a city of 25,000 thousand inhabitants, busy, thriving and growing, stands where the first settler waited for his Indian customers.
This was no doubt a part of the foundation of Mr. Juneau's ware- house but not the first building erected in Milwaukee by any means.
RAILROAD MEETING.
There was a railroad meeting, (see annexed) at which Hans Crocker was president, and W. A. Prentiss and T. L. Ogden, secre- taries.
A meeting of the citizens of Milwaukee will be held on the evening of Sept. 6, at the Market Hall, at 7 o'clock, to take into consideration the propriety of a loan of the credit of the city for furthering the construction of the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railroad. A full attendance is requested.
D. H. CHANDLER, RUFUS KING, S. E. FOOTE, WILLIAMS LEE, JAS. H. PAINE, Committee.
Of the proceedings, it is sufficient to say, that after the subject had been thoroughly discussed, by Alex. Mitchell, D. A. J. Upham, Frank Randall, Jas. S. Brown, against ; and by Jas. H. Paine, Byron Kilbourn, and Myron H. Orton, for ; the motion to loan was lost.
A committee, however, consisting of Alex. Mitchell, Kilbourn, Upham, Horner and Walker, was appointed to draft resolutions ex- pressive of the sense of the meeting, who reported as follows:
Resolved, That we deem it inexpedient, at this time, to recommend to the city to loan its credit, in aid of the construction of the La Crosse & Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Railroad, or to ask the Common Council to submit any question bearing upon that subject to the people. Carried.
Mr. Upham however, made a minority report consisting of two resolutions in favor of loaning the city credit, &c., and asking that this Road be placed upon the same footing as the Lake Shore & Fond du Lac, (to be voted for on the 9th inst.) Lost. The vote on the 9th was as follows :
The Fond du Lac & Lake Shore : For : First Ward, 360; Second, 190; Third, 273; Fourth, 102; Fifth, 225 ; total, 1, 110. Against : First Ward, 19; Second, 21; Third, 55; Fourth, o; Fifth, 3; total, 97; majority for, 1,012.
This vote proved a costly one for Milwaukee, as the roads were not all built, but the bonds have been paid.
Milwaukee Academy, built this year, by Messrs. Dixon and Rich- ardson, northeast corner of Milwaukee and Mason streets, opened Oct. 4, burned Dec. 22, 1853. It was occupied then by Daniel M. Dixon and J. C. Warren, Mr. Richardson having retired.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The census of the children between 4 and 20 years of age, resid- ing in the city, on the 3d of August last, which the law requires to be made, has just been completed, and shows an increase of 649 during the last year.
This is a larger increase in the census than has been anticipated, but the returns have been very carefully collected by trustworthy and competent men. We annex the following returns :
Males.
Females.
Total.
First Ward
998
1,155
2,153
Second Ward.
963
838
I,SOI
Third Ward
559
528
1,087
Fourth Ward.
359
337
696
Fifth Ward.
360
366
726
Totals
3,239
3,244
6,463
In 1851, it was
5,814
Increase
649
That census revealed the following facts, viz :
Ist. That there are only 15 more boys in the city than girls.
2d. That in the First Ward the girls are 150 ahead. That in the Second Ward the boys are 125 ahead. And that in the Third and Fourth Wards the boys are 15 per cent. ahead.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
FUN.
An amusing scene took place yesterday (September 9) on East Water Street, between a debtor who would not pay, and a creditor who wanted his pay. The latter personage expressed a determina- tion to have " brains," or money, and as the debtor did not appear to have any of that commodity to spare, there was a row. They fought and fought, until finally the crowd interfered and the debtor skipped.
Alfred Johnson, city clerk, died October 4, and was succeeded by S. C. West. This gentleman was a large, fine looking man, and a good accountant, but whisky got the better of him, and he went to the dogs in the prime of life leaving a wife, now Mrs. F. Hauleman.
West Water Street was planked this year from Spring Street to the Milwaukee & Mississippi depot. In putting down the water pipe this year (1883) the workmen came upon this old plank road some four feet below the present grade. These plank (which were of oak) were in a semi-petrified condition.
JOHN M. W. LACE KILLED.
John M. W. Lace was shot this year, Oct. 1I, while standing upon the sidewalk on Wisconsin Street, a few steps west of the First National Bank, by Mary Anne Wheeler, a young woman whom he had ruined. This affair caused great excitement in the community, as well as great expense to the county. There were two trials, the jury not agreeing at the first, but upon the second trial she was cleared on the ground of justifiable homicide.
John M. W. Lace, who, I believe, came to Milwaukee from Min- eral Point, was a bold, bad man ; and his sad end, although a crime in law, was justifiable on the ground that he ruined the girl, and then refused to right the wrong.
New Locomotive Menomonee built, see annexed :
OUR MILWAUKEE LOCOMOTIVE.
The Locomotive Menomonee, built by Walton & Co., at the Menomonee Foundry in the Fifth Ward, the first one manufactured there, was put in motion on the track on Saturday, and performed to the complete satisfaction of all con- cerned. We note the fact with no little pride, that here, in Milwaukee, has been built the first locomotive west of Cleveland. It weighs 26 tons, is built with the
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boiler hanging high, and the working gear beneath-is well built in every part, and does very great credit to the establishment from which it comes, while it will be an important addition to the motive power of the railroad.
POLITICAL.
The political horizon was luminous this fall : The election resulted as follows :
Legislature were, to the Senate : D. C. Reed and F. Huebschmann.
Assembly : Ch. Cain, Joseph A. Phelps, Wallace W. Graham, John L. Burn-
ham, Edward Hasse, Valentine Kusel and Wm. Beck.
OFFICERS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
County Judge-Horatio N. Wells.
Clerk of the Court-Matthew Keenan.
Sheriff-H. L. Page.
Under Sheriff-S. S. Conover.
Deputy Sheriff-Wm. Wedemeyer.
66 66 John Mitchell.
66 A. Seifert.
66 Wm Beck.
Prosecuting Attorney-A. R. R. Butler.
Register of Deeds-C. J. Kern.
Treasurer-G. M. Fitzgerald.
Clerk Board of Supervisors-A. Bade.
Surveyor-John Gregory.
Coroner-Timothy O'Brien.
MILWAUKEE GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
This corporation, whose success has been remarkable, was chartered January 3, 1852, although a contract had been made by the city with John Lockwood, June 6, 1851, to erect such works, in anticipa- tion of such charter being granted. This charter was a very liberal one, as such charters always are to every new enterprise. The charter members, (or as they were called the trustees,) to whom it was first granted, were John Lockwood, Wm. P. Lynde, James Kneeland, James H. Rogers, and David P. Hull.
The works were completed in 1852. The gas being let on for the first time August 23, of that year. In speaking of which the Sentinel had the following :
THE GAS.
The city was lighted last night. Most of the forenoon the burners were at work in the stores, helping the air out of the pipes. At night the gas was turned
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
on, and the lamps were lighted, and made a brilliant illumination in the streets. In the stores, the burners did not do full duty, but in a day or two, the bluish ap- pearance caused by air in the pipes, will give way to the clear white light. Young's Hall was in a blaze of light, and a very pleasant party of invited guests partook of the hospitality of Mr. Lockwood, the manager of the works.
BLOWN UP.
The works were blown up on the 15th, through the carelessness of some " Handy Andy," whose curiousity led him to open the stop- cock in the purifying room, whereby the room was soon filled with gas, which by coming in contact with a lighted candle, caused an explosion that blew out all one side of the building. The wall was quickly put up again, and all was ready by the 23d, when the gas was let on as stated above. But the formal opening was celebrated at Young's Hall, November 6th, D. A. J. Upham, presiding. This was a grand affair-supper, speeches, toasts and songs.
Probably no stock ever owned in Milwaukee, (not excepting the Exposition stock,) has ever paid as large returns, as has this gas stock, and a capitalist in want of investment might as well hunt for a needle in the haymow as for any of this stock. It is not for sale. It had its troubles at first, through the dishonesty (or rascality) call it what you please, of its first superintendent, M. W. Clark, and of its secretary, Mr. Irons. But it outlived all its diseases, and is a very healthy concern to-day; several attempts have been made to put a com- petitor in the field, but only in one instance did it succeed, viz : the south side "Gas Works," located on Reed Street ; this attempt was a complete failure, and the works are now used as a foundry. The old company " held the fort," and are likely to for several years to come. Gas costs money, the company has money, and money is power.
INCORRIGIBLE.
Under the above heading we find the following in relation to Reed Street :
Some days since we hinted a wish, that some alderman from the Fifth Ward might be obliged to pass through the mud, between the Menomonee River and Lake Street, hoping that such an adventure might induce him to repair the side- walks. Well, yestesday, after trudging through a spot in that locality, we encoun- tered one of them, carrying a couple of window sash. Just at the spot where the
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
plank walk terminates in a profound abyss, in front of where we stood. Said our official friend: "See here, when you come into the Fifth Ward you find walks like this-(pointing north) that is in the Fourth Ward." We did not lift up our voice and weep, it would have been of no use, but, digging off the mud, we mused upon the unaccountable stupidity which, instead of making the Menomo- nee River the boundary line of the Ward,* made it an imaginary one, so that the aldermen from two Wards would have to agree (an unheard of thing) before any repairs could be made on the street. And as we stood musing, our aldermanic friend with the sash went hurrying, staggering and plowing through the mud, northward, while, at the same time, a man on a gray pony yelled for help, as he sank nearly out of sight in that fathomless abyss of mud and water. We give that road up as a bad job .- Milwaukee Sentinel, Nov. 26, 1852.
This was replied to in the Sentinel, of the 30th, as follows :
MR. EDITOR:
I noticed, a few days since, a humorous article in your paper in reference to an alderman about to take a leap from the plank walk in the Fifth Ward into the bot- tomless pit of mud in the Fourth Ward, which you had just passed through. Now all I have to say about that alderman, with the two casements of sash upon his shoulder, is that he really had a bad time of it, I assure you, and if he had not himself blamed his neighbors so many times, and felt so keenly the smart of the lash that is laid upon him by every one that is engaged in the transportation of goods over that street, either by cart or back load, he would have marched up to the Fourth Ward alderman and commenced abusing him for not making their side- walks. He might also have made some noise about that " Menomonee Bridge." But as that belongs to the county, and they in conjunction with the bridge com- mittee have to care for it, it would not do to speak of it in connection with the two other beautiful structures (Spring Street and Walker's l'oint) which the city
owns. But to return to the mud. Really, Mr. Editor, I am glad that the people generally believe that all the mud and marsh south of the Menomonee River belongs to the Fifth Ward, for it has a tendency to bring us into notice. And it is high time that we should be noticed, for in the first place we were some years behind the rest of the city in having our titles perfected, and it has taken us sev- eral years more to get over the shock caused by the firing of cannon when the announcement was made that the pre-emption was obtained.
It may be a matter of interest to some of the people of the city to know just where the Fifth Ward is located, and something of the soil and productions. Some of the old residents know it as Walker's Point, but as Col. Walker has walked out into the Third Ward, we now call it the Fifth Ward of the City of Milwaukee.
The soil in this Ward is clay, sand, black-muck and marsh. The products are
*The folly would have been in making it such, as the serpentine course of this modern "Lethe" will soon be obliterated.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
bricks, suckers, bull-frogs, aldermen, and candidates for the Assembly. And, in conclusion, allow me to say for this Ward, that we invite emigration to it of indus- trious, wholesome citizens. To all such we say come, without money if you have none, but if you have money bring that, for we can relieve you of it at short notice.
If you wish to engage in the manufacture of brick, we have an abundance of the raw material, even of that kind that makes the bricks you carry in your hat, all over the Ward.
But to those who wish to engage in the manufacture of brown earthen ware, I will say, that a better or stronger article of clay can be found in the First Ward.
If any one should desire any further information in reference to our Ward, just call upon either of the aldermen and they will furnish it.
Oh, who would not be an alderman!
This was S. H. Martin.
NEW FIRM.
Russell Sage, Chas. H. Wheeler* & Hiram Sherman were in the old Sweet elevator, successors to D. C. Reed & Co.
First ice formed this year, November 16.
Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad opened to Whitewater, 63 miles, November 30, 1852.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION.
The contest for member of Congress this year, resulted in the election of Daniel Wells, Jr., over Charles Durkee. The canvass was a very spirited one, the Bank question being one of the prime fac- tors upon which the vote turned.
The vote of the city was as follows :
First ward for, 1003; second, 549 ; third, 551 ; fourth, 408 ; fifth, 455. Total 2966. Against first, 16; second, 6 ; third, 3; fourth, 7; fifth, 7. Total 39; majority for, 2927.
Showing conclusively that the people wanted Banks if nothing else.
WAR.
In the Wisconsin, of Nov. 8, was an account of the Kilkenny fight between Billy O'Flamington and Daniel McGraw, of this city, grow- ing out of a political dispute, concerning the late Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott's abilities as a warrior, during the late unpleasantness, between this country and Mexico. The correspondence here given is merely
*Died August 13, 1882.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
descriptive of the fight and reconciliation, and is entitled a reconcili- atory correspondence.
MR. EDITOR : We are happy to state to the expectant public, that the diffi- culties " betune " Daniel McGraw and Billy O'Flamington, growing out of an exciting political dispute, are all amicably arranged, and now that the cause is re- moved, by mutual concessions on both sides, (as will be seen further on,) all is once more " quiet on the l'otomac."* The cause of the war was this :
Mr. McGraw who is an enthusiastic Pierce man, had said : That Gen. Scott peppered his soup, more than he did the Mexicans. Billy, who was an enthusi- astic Scott volunteer, the last time Scott led the charge to dinner, warmly denied the foul expression, upon which, Dan asked Billy how he knew, to which Billy replied in a tone of mingled defiance and scorn, "be-dad I'll show yees." At which both started spontenaciouslyt for Spring St. Hill, for an adjustment of the difficulty according to the rules laid down in " Hoyle's hand-book." No sooner how- ever, had the two belligerents reached the center of Spring St. Bridge, and out of the jurisdiction of both justices, Smith and Hamilton, and fairly on neutral ground, than Billy, ignoring the usual courtesies in vogue among " naval pugil- ists," of backing their main yard, and firing a shot to leeward as a signal that time was up, lent Dan a "slathering " calamity right athwart his figure head, which nearly knocked him off the bridge, before Dan (who had the wind on the quarter, and was running free with his starboard tacks aboard,) could fly his sheets and square his yards for action. Į He soon however, came head to wind, and poured a broadside into his antagonist which stove in his forepeak, completely closing Billy's larboard head-light, and carrying away the starboard section of his shirt collar. Billy then luffed, and Dan. prepared to bord, when neutral powers interlered, (the combatants having drifted into foreign waters, ) and a calm ensued. It was of short duration however, for no sooner had the smoke of the battle cleared off a little, than Billy attempted to run his antagonist down, and leave no vestige of the wreck behind. He accordingly put his helm hard a-port, squared his yards, and struck Dan amid-ships with such force as to carry away all his standing rigging, when his mainsail came down by the run, leaving his spars en- tirely destitute of canvas, which impeded his action materially. He soon brought up again however, set his canvas, ported his helm, and gave Billy another broad- side, when Billy bore up with the intention to board, which gave Dan. an oppor - tunity to bring his "Long l'om " to bear upon Billy's stern, which sprung his keel to such an extent, as to cause a big leakage in the " main hold," when neutral powers again interfered, and both combatants were towed into port and placed in Admiral John White's County dry dock for repairs.
*This phrase is a borrowed one, as it did not come into nse until the Rebellion. ¡A Western slang phrase.
ĮAs this battle was fought over the water, it being on Spring St. Bridge, it will be reported in nautical language.
5I
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
The friends of the combatants, who by the way, were all deeply interested in the result, were fearful that if the parties were let out of quarantine, hostilities would again be renewed, are all happy to learn that the war is ended, and that a treaty of peace has been signed, as the following correspondence fully proves :
CELL No. I, IN DURANCE vile, MILWAUKEE, Nov. 5, 1852. DAN. MCGRAW, EsQ. :
SIR : I understand that you sent to borry my soup spoon this morning, during the hours I appropriated to repose. Such evidences of friendly feeling touch my heart, and are duly appreciated by me. I felt myself hurt by your remark addressed to the memory of my late friend Gen. Scott. My spoon is at your service. Have yees' any good tebaccy ?
Yours Respectfully,
BILLY O'FLAMINGTON.
ANSWER.
CELL NO. 2, SAME PLACE, NOV. 5, 1852.
TO BILLY O'FLAMINGTON,
SIR : In reply to your very considerate note, I have to inform you that I am out of tebaccy. I am obliged by your kind offer of the spoon, but have learned to ate mee soup wid a fork. It is proper for me to state that my charge against Gen. Scott, which you took in such high dudgeon, was simply an inference drawn from the length of the time he waited for his soup to cool. It struck me that it must surely have been over peppered, I therefore regarded your assault as per- sonally insulting.
Very Respectfully Yours, D. MCGRAW.
CELL NO. I, SAME PLACE, NOV. 5, 1852.
D. MCGRAW, EsQ. :
SIR : You were mistaken in your premises, and therefore not to blame for your conclusions. It was hot weather instead of hot pepper that retarded the cooling of Gen. Scott's soup. Allow me to assure you that I had no intention of breaking your suspenders, or disarranging your habiliments. Sheriff White has kindly favored me with some tebaccy, half of which I send you.
Respectfully Yours, BILLY O'FLAMINGTON.
CELL NO. 2, SAME PLACE, NOV. 5, 1852.
To BILLY O'FLAMINGTON, ESQ. :
DEAR SIR : Your magnanimity upsets me. I accept your tebaccy with many thanks, and in considering everything that has occurred between us, in a Pick- wickian sense, I therefore withdraw the offensive language against your friend
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Gen. Scott, and with Sheriff White's permission, shall be happy to have yees jine me at tea at 612 P. M.
Most Affectionately Yours, D. McCRAW.
P. S .- Will ye lend me the loan of yer spoon to-morrow morning.
D. McG.
NEW FIRM.
Goodrich & Vosburg successors to J. R. Treat.
CORRECTION.
On page 321, it was stated when sketching the ship chandlery of G. D. Norris & Co., that the old Helfenstein warehouse foot of Main St., (Broadway,) was burnt. This was an oversight, it was the sheds adjoining on the west and not the warehouse that was burnt. The old landmark is still there, and is the property of Jas. A. Bryden.
CHAPTER VII.
1853.
Opening Address -- Railroad Meeting at Gardner's Hall-do. City Hall-Milwau. kee & Mississippi Railroad open to Janesville-Weather- Wisconsin Leather Company-An Elegant Store-Lester Sexton-Niedecken & Sons-John Mitchell-Dutcher, Ball & Goodrich-Mass Meeting-Election-Mills and Manufacturers-Buildings-A Full Jail-Water Works-School-Suicide- Health Insurance-Hiram F. Story-Council-Fond du Lac depot located- Railroad Riot-Impeachment Trial-Bridges-Consecration of St. John's Cathedral -J. A. Pirie-M. Steever-Chas. H. Perkins-II. H. Camp- Railroad Earnings-Political-Scenes at Election-John White-The Cross Keys-Stimson & Daily.
The commencement of 1853 was stormy, both politically and financially. A bitter railroad war had sprung up between the directors (or at least a portion of them) of the Milwaukee & Missis- sippi Railroad, then just fairly started, and Mr. Kilbourn, on account of the latter having " bolted the track," so to speak, as to the Milwaukee & Mississippi road, in the construction of which up to that time, (or a short time previous,) he had been the power behind the throne, and his attempts to get the city committed wholly to the construction of his new "protege," the Milwaukee & LaCrosse road, and thus the war went on. A stormy session was witnessed at the great railroad meeting, held at Gardner's Hall, January 3, on which occasion Messrs. Kilbourn, R. N. Messenger, Moses M. Strong, John H. Tweedy, Hans Crocker, Jas. S. Brown, Asahel Finch, Jr., Levi Blossom, and Sherman M. Booth, all ventilated their grievances, pro and con. Mr. Kilbourn wanted the city to become " god father " to his new scheme-the Milwaukee & LaCrosse Railroad- while Blossom blowed for the Lake Shore & Green Bay Railroad (the present Chicago & Northwestern, in the inception of which he was the moving spirit and owned their charter, virtually). Some wanted to invest all the city's spare change and bond her besides, in aid of their individual pets, while others, Mr. Mitchell in
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
particular, being less excited and having more at stake, thought the city had better go slow, as notwithstanding the ease with which rail- roads could be built on paper, it took money, and a large amount of it too, to build them on the ground, and that the tax payers would find it an easier matter to vote it than to get it.
Railroad building was having a boom in 1853, and although the people were not quite willing as yet to grant all these prospective roads wanted, yet they did it in the end, and dearly have they paid for it.
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