USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 39
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Of Mr. Dutcher, who came from Saulsbury, Litchfield, County, Conn, it can be truthfully said that Milwaukee contains no better citizen. As a business man, he stands high, and as a model citizen, has no superior. In manners he is one of the most unobtrusive and gentle, the counterpart in this respect to J. M. Lawrence. He is well calculated to make friends, and as for enemies, he has none. He is very reticent and if he can say no good of a man, he will say noth- ing against him out of malice or envy. He looks you squarely in the face, when talking business, but not in general conversation. He dislikes all ostentation and wants nothing to do with politics or politicians, if he can avoid it, being altogether too conscientious for that.
JOHN C. GOODRICH.
The record of this gentleman has been a remarkable one. Enter-
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
ing the house as clerk, in 1851, he has, to use a nautical term, worked his way from the forecastle to the quarterdeck, and is to-day in com- mand of the oldest continuous grocery store in the city. Mr. Good- rich is of a different temperament from Mr. Dutcher; he is not only ambitious, but he also aggressive, and will get into public notice where Mr. D. would not. He is a prominent member of the Mer- chants' Association and has filled its presidential chair for several terms. He has learned all the ins and outs of the grocery trade, and can run a store to make money where others would lose. He is pos- sessed of a fine physique, a good constitution, a pleasing address, and is one of the few men that would command respect and atten- tion from strangers anywhere. He is diligent in business, and is rapidly gaining wealth. He is also fond of mirth, as the writer has good reason to know, and will never die of ennui. He has good executive ability, and all the routine in his store goes on with the regularity of clock work, neither does he ever change his employes, if he can avoid it, there being men in his store to-day whose locks are frosted by time that came in there when boys. The writer's acquaintance with Mr. Goodrich commenced in 1851, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, in Martin's Block, and has continued uninterrupted to the present. He, like Mr. Dutcher, is generous to a fault, and con- tributes liberally to every charitable object of the day. He always greets his acquaintance with a smile, but if talking business is on his dignity, and is one of the few who by their own exertions have risen from the foot of the ladder to the topmost round, in the same store where he commenced, without its making him light headed. He knows how he got there, and he went there to stay.
Mr. Goodrich is a native of Tonawanda, N. Y.
GREAT MASS MEETING.
There was a large meeting of the electors of Milwaukee, held at the Court House, on the 28th of January, in pursuance of a previous notice, for the purpose of nominating candidates for city officers, to be balloted for at the coming charter election. Ed. O'Neill was called to the chair, and Jacob Mahler appointed secretary.
A committee consisting of three from each Ward, viz: Abner Kirby, John Jennings and Edmund Burke, from the First Ward ;
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Thos. Shields, Frank Ramsdell, (no third man,) from the Second Ward; W. W. Brown, Hugh Duffee and H. McGraw, from the Third Ward ; John S. Mitchell, Jas. H. Rogers and J. Knoll, from the Fourth Ward, and Russell Eddy, Chas. H. Larkin and Chas. Johnson, from the Fifth, to select candidates, who reported the following names for the different city officers for the ensuing year :
Mayor-Geo. H. Walker.
Comptroller-Cicero Comstock.
Treasurer-Alex. Johnson. Marshal-Daniel Hafner. Attorney-Joshua Stark.
This was a purely old Bourbon Democratic ticket.
The delegates from another Democratic caucus, forty-five in num- ber, met the same day, at the Court House, Sheriff Herman L. Page in the chair, A. Kirby, secretary, and nominated James Kneeland, for mayor; Tim. O'Brien, for marshal ; E. F. Herzberg, for treasurer ; Henry W. Gunnison, for comptroller, and Joshua Stark, for attorney, and as this was a bolt, of course a row ensued, during which several delegates put their private marks upon those whom they charged with getting up the split; after which they proceeded to nominate alder- men for the several Wards, and appointed the following gentlemen as a vigilance committee, to watch the polls (and there was need of it) : S. S. Daggett, A. W. Hatch, Chas. E. Wendt, Jas. Mygatt, Wm. Spence, Patrick Mitchell, Ed. D. Baker, John Handley, J. Mc- Donough, J. P. McGregor, Ed. Townsend, and G. W. Harkness.
The following were elected, March 1 :
OFFICERS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mayor-George H. Walker.
President of the Board-S. H. Martin.
City Clerk-S. C. West.
Comptroller-Cicero Comstock.
Marshal-Timothy O'Brien. Treasurer-A. H. Johnston. City Attorney-Joshua Stark.
Police Justice-Clinton Walworth.
City Surveyor-B. H. Edgerton.
City Printers-S. M. Booth and Scheffler & Wendt.
City Sealer of Weights and Measures-Jesse M. Van Slyck.
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ALDERMEN.
First Ward-William A. Prentiss, Jackson Hadley, John Jennings. Second Ward-Francis Huebschmann, Chas. E. Jenkins, Fred. Schlomilch. Third Ward-John Hickey, John Hayden, Hiram Church. Fourth Ward-Samuel C. West, George F. Hartwell, John Bertschy. Fifth Ward-Stoddard H. Martin, Edward Wunderly, M. Delany.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
First Ward-Rufus King, J. Hadley, and Joshua Hathaway. Second Ward-Fr. Huebschmann, B. Church, E. B. Greenleaf. Third Ward-Hans Crocker, J. McManman, E. McGarry. Fourth Ward-James H. Rogers, Haven Powers, Geo. E. H. Day. Fifth Ward-A. Mitchell, J. B. Zander, Daniel Waite.
James H. Rogers, President. Haven Powers, Secretary.
COMMISSIONERS OF SURVEYS.
First Ward-Joshua Hathaway. Second Ward-I. A. Lapham. Third Ward- Elisha Eldred. Fourth Ward-Charles H. Williams. Fifth Ward-Martin Delany.
ASSESSORS.
First Ward-J. Murray. Second Ward-Benjamin Church. Third Ward- Richard Owens. Fourth Ward-John H. Tesch. Fifth Ward-John C. Smith.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
First Ward-C. E. Wendt. Second Ward --- Jasper Vliet. Third Ward-E. Malony. Fourth Ward-J. Sercomb. Fifth Ward-C. H. Larkin. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
First Ward-Albert Smith. Second Ward-Charles F. Bode. Third Ward- William Holland. Fourth Ward-Francis Hamilton. Fifth Ward-Oliver Parsons.
CONSTABLES.
First Ward-J. McGarrigle. Second Ward-Chas. Neuman. Third Ward- John Burke. Fourth Ward-Patrick Maloy. Fifth Ward-J. Mccollum.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Chief Engineer-John S. Fillmore. First Assistant Engineer-L. N. Dewey.
Second Assistant Engineer-Daniel N. Neiman.
Third Assistant Engineer-J. M. Smith.
The new board was organized on the 8th, by the election of S. H. Martin as president, and S. C. West, city clerk.
Some of the bitterest as well as some of the sharpest articles, and some that were libelous, were published against Jas. Kneeland by
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Russell Wheeler, too coarse for insertion here, which played the devil for the time, all growing out of the contest concerning the loan by the city to aid the Fond du Lac Railroad, in which Kneeland and Walker were opponents.
The election, however, resulted in favor of the People's ticket (mainly), a full unadulterated dose of Democracy being too much for some of their stomachs to retain. They could take it mild occasionally. but not straight, most of them preferring "shuger " in their'n.
In commenting upon this election the Wisconsin, of March 1, has the following :
In spite of the mud, the vote polled will be a large one, as there is a very spirited canvass going on respecting the mayoralty. The principal point made is chiefly against Mr. Kneeland, as a certain syndicate are determined to defeat him, cost what it may. And the fact that Col. Walker has lent himself to this movement gives additional bitterness to the canvass.
Well, it was a bitter one, and if any other man in the city had published what Russell Wheeler did, he would have been indicted for , libel. But no one cared to cross blades with him, as he was a bad man to get into a row with.
MILLS.
There were, in 1853, at Humboldt, one paper and one flouring mill, one distillery, one linseed oil mill, and, on the water power, five flouring, one oil, and several manufacturing establishments.
MANUFACTURES.
The value of the goods of all kinds manufactured from March I, 1852, to March 1, 1853, was $2,050,663.32. Of this amount, $230,000 was for clothing, $169,500 for ale and beer, $100,000 for boots and shoes, $137,237.75 for castings and locomotives, and $91,638.63 was for whisky.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Buildings erected were 124 frame, 40 brick, (including gas works.) at a cost of $415,150. In commenting upon that the Sentinel has the following. It is mistaken however, about there being granite pil- lars in common use in Milwaukee, in 1853, as the only ones at that time in the city, were in Martin's and Ludington's block, as far as I know, and it is not certain that they were pure granite :
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Preparations are being made for great improvements in East Water St. Many of the old-fashioned wooden buildings are being taken down to give place to brick structures ; one in particular, being that lately occupied by " Uncle Ben," as hat and cap store. We understand that in its place is to be erected a spacious brick building, upon which no expense will be spared to make it one of the first in the city. Numbers 94, 96, 97, 99, 125 and 127, are some of the many that are being pulled down, or undergoing alteration. Among the latest improvements in build- ings formerly constructed, is that of the substitution of tasteful cast iron pillars for the cumbrous granite once generally used. Among the advantages of this improvement, one of the greatest is the increase of light, which is obtained on account of the little space occupied by the cast iron pillars in comparison with the stone ones. An additional space is also gained for the exhibition of articles in the windows, to say nothing of the better appearance of the front of the stores.
COMPLAINTS.
Great things had been expected from the candidates elected on the People's ticket, in 1852, in regard to taxation and improvements in streets and sidewalks, but not " panning out," as the saying is, just as they expected, some one criticises them in the Sentinel, of March, 1853, as follows :
The disgraceful condition of our streets and sidewalks during the past year, shows the inefficiency of a People's ticket. The candidates promise all you ask, while running for office, but no sooner are they elected and installed into office than the shallowness and insincerity of their promises becomes apparent. Our taxes for the last year have been heavier than ever heretofore, while the improve- ments have been less.
It is evident that the writer of that article was not a friend of the People's ticket, and just as evident that he did not consider that a city could not grow without an increase of expenditure, and as for the streets they were bad enough, but no worse, when we consider the youth and poverty of the city at that time, than to-day, (the dif- ference in wealth considered.) But then some men are constitutional " grumblers," and would doubtless " find fault if they were going to be hung."
QUITE A CHANGE.
Under this heading the Wisconsin, of March 4, had the following in reference to the improvement in the city finances :
Twelve months ago, city orders were sold for 50 cents on the dollar. More than this-I have known them sold at 65 per cent. discount. More than this-up
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to that time the interest on our city bonds had never been paid at maturity. Now they are at par. Our committee on grades are also doing nobly, and our streets will soon show that they know their business. The grades (permanent) in the Third Ward were established yesterday, March 3.
These two statements do not agree exactly, but the Wisconsin was right-orders were sold for the discount mentioned, and the improve- ment in value was due to a change in management. Both statements were therefore right in fact.
ICE.
The ice in the river is getting thin. Two men fell through on the 9th, and on the 11th a horse went through at the foot of Michigan Street. A lady also broke through sufficiently to make her feel quite damp. It all left the river however on the night of the 20th, like the Arab, " and silently stole away," and April 13 brought us our first boat from below, the propeller " Forest City," and navigation was fairly open.
A WONDERFUL FEAT.
A blind horse in Hibbard's warehouse, used for hoisting grain, got loose April 9th, and descended five flights of stairs, to the first floor uninjured. (Query.) Where was this warehouse?
WATER WORKS.
The reader will remember that mention of this subject has pre- viously been made, also that a contract was actually signed by Mayor Walker and City Clerk Johnson, with John Lockwood, Feb. 4, 1851 ; but that nothing came of it, on account of the impossibility of the city raising the $75,000 stock.
And the following from the Wisconsin of April 9th, is inserted as showing that the effort to raise that amount, was not entirely abandoned. The article is entitled
SHALL THE MILWAUKEE WATER WORKS BE BUILT.
As considerable unjust predjudice evidently exists against the construction of the proposed water works, on account of misrepresentation and sectional appeals, it is deemed necessary that every tax payer should acquaint himself with the de- tails of the proposed contract. The contract binds the parties to carry water into
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every ward, crossing the river at Division St.,* with a 16 inch main, and down West Water to Spring with an 8 inch, and crossing to the Fifth ward at the Menomonee bridge, (no sewers to be built but the city kept clean by flushing the gutters.) The cost of the works was to have been under this contract $350,000, $125,000 of which was for pipe.
S. M. Booth was strongly opposed to this contract for which the Wisconsin called him a "leather head," but he did a good thing for the city when he defeated it, as the terms were such as would have been very detrimental to its prosperity, and would have bankrupted it inside of 25 years.
THE FIRST EXPRESS CO.
The first to start an express in Milwaukee, were Jas. Holton and Russell Eddy, (see adv. annexed,) in 1853, upon the opening of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad to Janesville.
MILWAUKEE & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD EXPRESS COMPANY.
Holton & Eddy have made special arrangements hereafter to run a daily express car with a trusty express agent over the railroad from Milwaukee to Janesville and intermediate points, to leave Janesville by the morning train and return by the evening train of each day, for the transmission of all express matter, orders, errands and business, and also to attend more effectually and promptly to the for- warding, sales and cash returns of any kinds of country produce, which may be directed to them for that purpose, by either of the trains of cars. The express agent leaves Milwaukee exery day 3 o'clock P. M. by the passenger train.
N. B .- This is the only authorized Express Company running on the M. & M. R. R. to Janesville and way stations, we having purchased the exclusive right from the Railroad Co.
Milwaukee, Feb. 1, 1853.
HOLTON & EDDY.
It was carried on through much tribulation by these gentlemen for a season, and finally under a contract with the R. R. Co., (who in fact sold them out,) passed into the control of the American Express Company. It was entirely too big a thing for Holton & Eddy to handle.
THE PUBLIC SHOOLS.
The number of teachers in the public schools in 1853, was 28,
* One of the main causes of the failure of this contract, was the fear of the westsiders that they would get no water, and would consequently not be bene- fitted by it, which jealousy caused them to defeat it. They were always ready to stone the eastsiders, even if the rebound broke the glass in their own windows, but they behave better now.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
divided as follows: . Six in the First, seven in the Second, six in the Third, four in the Fourth and five in the fifth wards. The highest salary paid was $500, and the lowest $200.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The number of boys between the age of 4 and 20 years, August 31, 1853, was 3844. Girls, 3964. Total, 7808. Of these there were attending the
Public Schools 1858
Private (and Academies)
1737
Not attending any
4213
Total
7808
This shows a gain in one year of 1345, divided as follows:
First Ward 183
Second Ward 484
Third Ward 257
Fourth Ward 204
Fifth Ward
217
Total 1345
The hotel project was agitated again this year. This time as a stock company :
NOTICE .- The undersigned, commissioners of the Milwaukee Hotel Company, hereby give notice, that on the 25th day of April instant, at one o'clock P. M., at the office of Messrs. Finch & Lynde, in the City of Milwaukee, they will hold a meeting for the purpose of opening subscription books to the capital stock of said company, and receiving subscriptions to the same, under the direction of said com- missioners.
James H. Rogers,
Anson Eldred,
E. B. Dickerman, A. Finch, Jr.,
John Lockwood, S. Park Coon.
Dated, Milwaukee, April 12, 1853.
It was a failure, however, as will be seen in Vol. IV.
SUICIDE.
A young man by the name of Parmenius Wood, a resident of the Fifth Ward, blew off the top of his head with a pistol, at 3 P. M., May 16, 1853, on the south crossing of Wisconsin and Broadway. The top of his head lay by him, as empty as the head of a " circus rider." If brains was what he was in search of, (as some one who stood by suggested that perhaps he might be,) why then he must
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
have blown off the wrong end. At least that was the way it looked .* It occurred during the trial of Ann Wheeler.
HEALTH INSURANCE.
A health Insurance Company was incorporated in 1853. Capital, $50,000.
NOTICE.
The undersigned corporators of the Wisconsin Health Insurance Company, hereby give notice that there will be a meeting of said corporators at the banking house of G. Papendiek & Co., in the city of Milwaukee, at 10 o'clock A. M., on Monday, the second day of May next, for the purpose of opening subscription books to the capital stock of said company, and receiving subscriptions to the same under the direction of said corporators.
C. H. H. PAPENDIEK,
WVM. P. LYNDE,
JAS. H. ROGERS, E. CRAMER, H. C. HEIDE, HERM. SCHWARTING, WILLIAMS LEE,
Corporators.
It was short lived.
POLICE COURT-MAY, 3, 1853.
The following was one of the 1001 police cases occurring in 1853 :
Ellen Tansey was brought down from jail, charged on complaint of Mr Neu- stadtl, with having threatened to set fire to a dwelling house, from which she had been expelled by a writ of restitution. The complainant stated to the court that the woman had been in jail since Saturday, and that she was considerably excited when she made the threats. that he no longer feared that she would put them in- to execution, adding, "if you vill, Mr. Valvort, put dem pig law pooks on the other side avay, and speak from te feelings of your heart, I vish if you could dis- charge her ; she is a poor vomans ; I tink she vill not do bad any more. I mean . dat you vill do vat is right, and send her avay now. I not understand much En- glish."
The defendant was discharged.
A case of assault and battery was tried in the afternoon, and defendant fined $10 and costs ; fine and costs immediately paid.
STEAMERS.
There was a great falling off in the number of side wheelers running
*I saw this man as he lay upon the ground awaiting the arrival of the coroner, and as stated above, the upper half of his skull lay by him a sempty and as clean to all appearance as a newly washed dish. It was a sad sight.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
this year, three only, the Globe, Capt. Amos Pratt, Sultana, Gil. Appleby and the Lady Elgin, Capt. Chamberlin, Propellers having taken their places.
Haskins & Hadley, (J. W. Haskins and the late Jackson Hadley,) were in the old checkered warehouse on South Water Street, this year. Mr. Hadley, who has figured somewhat in this volume, will figure more in vol. IV. Mr. Haskins is in California. He was a smart but a very unprincipled man and finally left for newer scenes, being completely played out here.
HIRAM F. STORY.
This gentleman came to Wisconsin from Randolph, Vermont, in 1846. His first settlement was at Waukesha, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to and settled at his present residence, the southeast quarter of section 26, town 7 north, range 21 east, the former residence of his father, Asa Story, and commenced to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow as a humble tiller of the soil, an employment he would have been engaged in to-day, but for the ac- cidental discovery that his farm was simply a blanket for concealing a bonanza in the shape of building stone, the material for which was laid down there by dame Nature, far back in the early dawn of our earth's geological history, when the Ichthyosaurus, the Plesiosaurus, reptilian monsters of wonderful form and wonderful size, were swarm- ing in the old Paleozoic seas, which then rolled their turbid waters over what is now Wisconsin, while upon its slimy bottom, sheltered from their voracious enemies amid the forests of stone lillies, dwelt countless millions of trilobites, orthoceratites and other crustaceans in almost endless variety, whose petrified forms are found em- bedded in its stony folds, which stony folds as stated, have proved a bonanza to Mr. Story. Neither could its ownership have fallen into worthier hands.
Mr. Story is one of our most useful and valued citizens, and woukl have been such had this blessing called wealth never been bestowed upon him. He is a good man from principle and not from policy. He sprang from a good old Puritan stock, a class of men and women who believed in virtue for virtue's sake, who practiced what they professed, and who were always to be found in the front rank when work was to be done for the good of their fellow men.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
In person Mr. Story is of the average height, has a well formed muscular frame, large head, a high forehead, large clear blue eyes a florid complexion and a strong powerful voice. He is very ner- vous, and yet is not often taken off his guard. He is careful what he says as well as what he does, and will have no dealing with a dis- honest man the second time. He is all business and it is seldom that a day passes during which he is not seen upon our streets, where he greets every one he knows with a nod of recognition. He has good executive ability, keeps his business well in hand, and is making money rapidly. Such is Hiram F. Story. He is a useful man, a worthy and honored citizen, and his beautiful residence is fast becom- ing one of the pleasantest resorts about the city.
" NO POTTY CAN SCHWEER TO DOT."
There was a case tried before Justice Walworth, June 24th, in which a wife and her two boys were up for whipping the husband and father. There was lots of fun elicited on this trial-for the crowd in attendance-during the efforts made by the old German to state his grievances, as he could " nicht English spraken." To the question by the counsel to one of the witnesses, (a German) who had caused the arrest, as to whether the husband of the woman was the father of the two boys, he replied : " Vell, O yaas, I tinks so- I pelieve so,"-(given in a half doubtful manner). " But is he the father of these boys ?" reiterated the lawyer. " Vell, I tink so, but I not like to schweer to dot-no potty can schweer to dot," said the witness. The old German was right ; no one but the old hag of a wife could " schweer to dot." It was an amusing scene.
COMMON COUNCIL.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held June 30th, among other proceedings was the canvassing of the vote for loaning the city credit to the La Crosse & Milwaukee railroad, which vote was as follows :
First Ward, for, 146; Second, 654; Third, 837 ;* Fourth, 94; Fifth, 72-Total
* The heavy vote in the Third Ward can be accounted for only on the strength of a promise that the road should cross the river above the dam and the depot be in that Ward, which promise, if made, was made only for a blind, as it certainly was not the intention to make that the terminus of the road.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
1803. Against, First Ward, 8; Second, 3; Third, 2; Fourth, 2; Fifth, 1- Total, 16. Majority, for, 1787.
They also voted at the same time to make a loan of $25,000 from Kneeland & Hull for city purposes; to let the contract for building Spring Street bridge and Walker Point bridge to John Rugee, at $11,500 for both ; and to loan the city credit to the Milwaukee & Watertown R. R., if the Legislature would grant the power.
DAVID P. HULL.
This gentleman, whose connection with Jas. Kneeland in the banking business, has already been noted, was for many years a very prominent dealer in real estate, and also in the loaning of money. He has retired from active life on account of ill health and is sel- dom seen upon our streets. Mr. Hull is a man of fine literary at- tainments and good business abilities. 4 His fault, if he has any was in going in too deep sometimes. His last official position was tax commissioner, for which he has peculiar qualifications ,as he is a fine mathematician. He is a man of great kindness of heart and will always win friends and retain them.
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