USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 6
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The minutes of the last meeting having been read and approved, the outgoing Mayor Solomon Juneau, addressed the Board as follows :
GENTLEMEN,-Before I vacate the chair, I wish to make a few remarks to your honorable body.
When I first set foot on this soil some thirty years ago, I little thought that dur- ing my age and generation, I should behold such a sight as now presents itself. Then the " Red man " was supreme monarch of the place on which our delightful city now stands. The plains and the rivers of Wisconsin belonged to him, and were subject to his will and control.
But now the scene is changed.
The " war whoop" of the Indian has given way to the mild counsels of civilized and intelligent men. The wigwam is supplanted by massive and ornamental structures. The place of the bark canoe, which was then the only craft that floated upon the waters of the noble river* that meanders through the heart of your city, has been filled by the hundreds of vessels, propelled by both steam and wind, which now annually visit our shores and enter our harbor, laden with the commerce of the east, and which bears away the surplus produce of Wisconsin.
Here we behold a city of twelve thousand inhabitants, with her beautiful streets and walks, her fair gardens, her splendid buildings, and her intelligent and enterprising population, where eleven years ago the soil was unbroken.
I have been a resident of your city from the first commencement, to the present day, and I trust, gentlemen, that you will do me the justice to believe that its interests, growth and prosperity have ever been and still are my dearest desire. That it may continue to increase in size and population is my sincere wish, that we may have the laws and the same well administered, will be my constant prayer,
* He ought to see it to-day.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
when I shall have retired from the honorable and responsible situation, to which the partiality of my fellow citizens have elevated me.
In yielding up the trust reposed in me, I cannot but feel a proud satisfaction that it is to pass into the hands of a gentleman whose ability, integrity, high standing and long tried virtues among his fellow citizens fairly entitles him to the confidence they have reposed in him. Allow me then to tender to you, and through you to my fellow citizens, my sincere acknowledgements for the support, kindness and indulgence which I have received at your and their hands.
I was conscious at the outset, that my experience had not been such as to qualify me for the discharge of the duties of the office I now hold, either in a measure satisfactory to the public or myself, but notwithstanding you have received little aid from me, I am satisfied that the public interests have not suffered from want of an able and faithful representative in the Common Council. And for the pru. dent, judicious and economical administration of the offices of our infant city the people are indebted to your wisdom and intelligence. I regret that other associ- ations have allowed me to preside so seldom over your deliberations, not that I could have hoped to aid or benefit you, or those you have so ably and faithfully represented, but because I fear that my absence may have been construed into an indifference to the interests of our city. Again offering you and particularly the gentleman who has with so much ability presided over your deliberations during my absence* my grateful acknowledgment, and my best wishes for your individ- ual health and happiness, I cheerfully give up the chair I now occupy to the gen- tleman whom the people have chosen to succeed me.
SOLOMON JUNEAU.
Milwaukee, April 14th, 1847.
On motion of Mr. Kilbourn, the address was ordered to be entered upon the journal, and published in the city papers, after which the oath of office was administered to Mayor Wells by Mr. Juneau.t
The following resolution offered by Mr. Kilbourn, was unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be extended to the Hon. Solomon Juneau, Mayor, and Hon. John B. Smith, Acting Mayor, for the dignified, able and impartial manner in which they have respectively discharged the arduous and responsible duties devolving on them during the past year.
To which Mr. Smith replied as follows :
GENTLEMEN -- For the approbation of the manner in which the duties of the chair have been performed while occupied by myself so flatteringly expressed in the resolution you have just passed, I tender you my most grateful thanks. My
* The late John B. Smith, Acting Mayor.
+ Mayor Solomon Juneau's inaugural (which should have appeared in Vol. II, but was overlooked) did not differ materially from those delivered on similar oc- casions, except for its brevity. It was short and right to the point. It can be found in Wheeler's Chronicles, pages 182, 183 and 184.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
success, in the performance of these duties, has been mainly owing to your kind- ness and forbearance, the remembrance of which will be ever greatfully cherished. We are about to separate, to meet no more in our present capacity, but often I trust, as friends. May we always meet in harmony. May no passing cloud ever cast its shadow over our friendship. And when called upon to close our mortal career, may we be able to look back upon the path we have traveled, and the course we have pursued without remorse or regret.
Gentlemen, accept for yourselves individually, my best wishes, that you may enjoy a long life of usefulness and happiness.
The aldermen elect then came forward and took the oath of office. After which the Board adjourned until the 15th, when the following appointments were made by the mayor:
Committee on Finance -Edgerton, Ludington and Weeks.
Judiciary-Messenger, Goodall and Martin.
Schools .- Martin, Van Dyke and Sayers.
Alms House .- Ludington, Furlong and Hawkins.
Police-Owens, Messenger and Waite.
Fire Department .- Schulte, Edgerton and Walter.
Bridges .- Rogers, Schulte, Furlong, Hawkins and Van Dyke.
Printing .- Weeks, Sayers and Rogers.
License .- Goodall, Owens and Waite.
The Board then proceeded to ballot for city clerk with the following result:
Ist,
2d.
3d.
A. II. Bielfeld,
6
6 6
Samuel Wells,
6
7 9
Amos Tuffs, I
C. C. Savage, -
I
Robert L. Ream, I
Samuel Wells having received a majority of the votes cast was declared elected Joseph Shaunier was then elected Harbor Master.
Alderman Messenger then moved that a special election be held in the several wards, April 27th, between the hours of 9 A. M. and 4 P. M., to decide upon the acceptance or rejection of the act authorizing the loan of $15,000, for the erection of public school buildings, which on motion of Alderman L. W. Weeks, was laid over until the next meeting.
On motion of Mr. Messenger the board then proceeded to the appointment of school commissioners for the several wards with the following result :
Ist Ward .- James. Johnson.
2d Ward .- August Grenlich.
3d Ward .- Edward McGarry.
4th Ward .- Sidney L. Rood. 5th Ward .- C. M. Shumway.
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SUPERVISORS .* Ist Ward .- Jas. B. Martin. 2d Ward .- R. N. Messenger. 3d Ward .- B. H. Edgerton. 4th Ward .- Jas. H. Rogers. 5th Ward .- Wm. A. Hawkins. SURVEYORS. Ist and 5th Wards .- Wm. Jervis. 2d and 4th Wards .- I. A. Lapham. 3d Ward .- Jas. McCall.
-
The bonds of Edmund Sanderson, as city treasurer, and William H. Palmer, as marshal, were then presented and accepted.
A resolution was also offered by Alderman I. E. Goodall, to expend $100, on Spring St. and Walker's Point Bridges, when Alderman S. H. Martin moved to amend by including Oneida and Chestnut St. Bridges. (Lost.) The mayor giving the casting vote in the negative.
The petition for the appointment of William Welch, as watchman for the first ward, was laid on the table. And one for M. D. Webster, for the second ward, was referred to the local committee of that ward.
After which the board adjourned.
SAMUEL WELLS, City Clerk. CORRECTION.
In volume II, page 252, is a list of the first officers elected under the city charter, in which by some oversight the following city officers were omitted, viz .; Chas. E. Tuttle, Police Justice, Thos. H. Fan- ning, City Marshal, and James Holliday, City Attorney.
WARD OFFICERS.
Justices of Peace .- Ist Ward-Jas. B. Cross.
2d Ward-Tertellius D. Butler.
3d Ward-Alex. Matthieson. 4th Ward-Chas. E. Tuttle, (also acting as Police Justice). 5th Ward .- Sidney S. Childs.
Street Inspectors .- Ist Ward-Jas. H. Smith. 2d Ward-Joachim F. Gruenhagen. 3d Ward-John Ryan. 4th Ward-Michael Keene. 5th Ward-August Harmeyer.
Constables .- Ist Ward-Joseph Liebhaber and Wm. Youlin.
2d Ward -- David Knab. 3d Ward -- Patrick Guerin,
* This office was filled at that time by the Common Council from their own body same as now.
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4th Ward-John Mitchell.
5th Ward-Joseph Headley and Randall H. Bryant.
Captain of the Watch .- Henry Bates.
Ilay and Wood Inspector .- Mathias Stien.
The following report upon the work done on Spring St., is given here as a part of the political history of the city, and for reference if ever wanted.
It made quite a commotion at the time, as I well remember.
Jonathan Taylor was a prominent politician and contractor in the Fourth Ward for several years, where he made lots of money as well as a large amount of trouble. He was a sharp one and perfectly un- scrupulous. He built the frame dwelling known at No. 149 Second St., which was his residence. He went from here to New York City, where in connection with Chas. Trainor, another old-time Milwaukee contractor, he made a large amount of money in putting down the block pavement of which they were the first there, as well as here. The following is the statement referred to above .*
B MILWAUKEE, March 30, 1847.
I hereby certify, that the following amount of city orders have been issued to Jonathan Taylor, in payment of Spring Street contract.
Fourth Ward Side Walk Orders
$3,162 00
Fourth Ward General Orders
461 55
$3,623 55 A. IIENRY BIELFELD, Clerk.
A
MESSRS. KILBOURN AND RAPELJIE:
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit a statement of quantities of work done by J. Taylor, on Spring Street, and side walks, agreeably to your letter of March 23d, IS47:
Ist. Amount of earth excavated on side walks in front of lots not enjoined 6,960 yards.
2d. Amount of earth excavated on side walks in front of lots en- joined 1,155
3d. Amount of filling on side walks in front of lots not enjoined .. 5,291
4th. Amount of filling on side walks in front of lots enjoined 2,118
* The writer has just heard, December, 1883, of the death of Jonathan Taylor, in California, in poverty. Such is life-to-day a king, politically and financially- to-morrow, a beggar, at least it is too often so with a politician.
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MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
5th. Amount of earth excavated in Spring St. on first hill 5,554 yards
6tb. Amount of earth excavated in Spring St. on second hill. 5 041 ..
7th. Amount of filling on Spring St 2,979
8th. Amount of excavation on cross streets and alleys 1,852 66
9th. Amount of filling on cross streets and alleys. Respectfully submitted,
618
WILLIAM JERVIS, Engineer.
Milwaukee, March 27th, 1847.
REPORT.
The undersigned Arbitrators, appointed by mutual agreement or arbitration bond, signed by Jonathan Taylor on the one part, and the city of Milwaukee by their local committee of the Fourth Ward, and signed on behalf of said Ward Committee by George E. Blodgett and Moses Kneeland, dated March 18th, 1847, on the other part, having examined the matters referred to them touching a certain contract entered into between said Taylor and Committee of said Ward, on the 22d day of August, 1846, whereby said Taylor agreed to perform certain work on Spring Street and the side walks thereof, and on certain cross streets and alleys; and having been first "duly sworn faithfully and fairly to hear and examine the matters in controversy between the parties aforesaid, and to make a just award according to law and evidence, to the best of our understanding," do find and publish the following AWARD:
Ist. In regard to damages sustained by said Taylor " by reason of the interrup- tion of said work and the delay of payment therefor," the undersigned are of the opinion that the interruption of the work was caused by certain injunctions issued by the District Court of Milwaukee County at the suit of parties other than said Fourth Ward, and therefore that said interruption was not caused by the act of said Fourth Ward-that the subject in controversy between said third parties and said Ward is still pending before said court-and that under the existing state of the case, while the subject is undetermined by the Court -- the undersigned cannot determine against whom, or what parties any damage would lie, which may have been sustained by said Taylor, in consequence of the interruption of his work. They therefore have not gone into inquiry as to the amount of said damage, but have left that subject to be disposed of agreeably to law, not deeming it proper to express any opinion which might in any way interfere with the rightful legal rem- edies of all the parties concerned, when the matter shall have been so disposed by the Court as to determine what may be their respective rights.
2d. " In respect to the actual amount of work done by him on said Spring Street, and the amount due and unpaid to him therefor." The undersigned called on the engineer who had been in charge of the work, for a statement of the amount of work done, which he furuished and is hereto appended marked A.
And they also obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Common Council, a statement of payments made to said Taylor, on said contract, which is also here-
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with submitted, marked B; which have furnished data for the following statement, and from which the following conclusions have been drawn;
STATEMENT AS PER ESTIMATE OF ENGINEER (A.)
Side walk excavations
6,960 yards not enjoined.
do
do
1,155 do. previous to injunction.
Total
8,115 do. contract price 2572c. per yard - $2069 32
Side walk filling
5,291
do. not enjoined.
do
do 2,118
do. previous to injunction.
Total
7,409
do. contract price 2512c. per yard $1,889 29
Amount
$3,958 61
Cross streets and alleys excavation 1,852 yards at 2512c. per yard 472 26
Excavation in Spring Street 10,595 do.
Filling side walk in do. as above 7,409 do.
Excess of excavation over filling.
3, 186 do.
At 2512c $812 43-$1,284 69
Total
$5,243 30
STATEMENT FROM CLERK'S CERTIFICATE (B).
Amount paid in side walk orders.
$3,162 00
do do 4th Ward general orders 461 55 $3,623 55
Due on contract $1,619 75 By a verbal statement made by the engineer, it is ascertained that there should be a deduction made from his estimate on cross streets and alleys of 275 yards, which at the above price 251/2c. is. $70 12
$1,549 63
From the foregoing it appears there was payable under the contract, 11 general orders. $1.284 69-$70 12-$1,214 57
Of which there has been paid . 661 55
Remaining unpaid $553 02 It also appears there was payable in side walk orders 3,958 61
Of which there has been paid 3,162 00
Remaining unpaid 796 61
1
$1,549 63
3d. In regard to "any and all sums which may be found due and awarded to said Taylor, shall be paid to said Taylor on or before the first day of April next, in such city orders as said Arbitrators shall designate in their award." The under-
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signed, knowing the present embarrassment of the 4th ward growing out of the suits which have been instituted against it in chancery, believe that the whole amount found due said Taylor cannot be paid in full by said Ward at the present time, and believing that no injustice will be done to said Taylor by deferring the payment with interest of a part of said amount to a future day; and believing it demanded by public policy to authorize, (so far as the power to do so has been reposed in us by the parties, ) a part of said payment to be made at a future day, do award that the said sum of fifteen hundred and forty-nine dollars and sixty- three cents, be paid, with interest at the rate of seven per cent. per annum, from and after the first day of January, 1847, by orders drawn payable by the Fourth Ward; one-third of said amount to be payable on demand or within the year 1847, one-third in the year 1848, and one-third in the year 1849.
And we do further find and award that said parties shall pay in equal proportions, or moiety, the expense of this arbitration, including the survey made by the Engi- neer, and statement by him of the work done by said Taylor.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this thirtieth day of March, 1847.
BYRON KILBOURN, [L. S. ] JACOB RAPELJIE, [L. S. ]
BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
The following is given as a sample of the meetings of the School Board in 1847 :
Thursday, November 18, 1847,
Present-Messrs. Shoeffler, Randall, Greulich, Potter, King, Rood, Abbey, Shumway and Buck.
Absent-Messrs. Johnson, Lapham, Selby, Hussey, Stowe and Putnam.
The President in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
The Chair stated that the special business of the meeting was the consideration of the report of the Committee on text books.
On motion of Mr. Randall, the Board proceeded to consider the report.
Mr. Rood, in behalf of the Committee, offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the following text books be used in the public schools of this city, to the exclusion of all others:
The Eclectic Reader, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The Eclectic Speller.
Town's Analysis.
Davies' Arithmetic, large and small.
Bullion's Grammar, 66
Wilson's History of the U. S., large and small.
Mitchell's Geography "
Do. Outline Maps.
Winchester's Writing Books, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
8
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After some discussion. the resolution was adopted.
An account of A. W. Sanborn, for glass set in 5th Ward School, $1.80 was allowed.
And then the Board adjourned till the first Thursday in December.
H. G. ABBEY, Secretary.
THE RELIANCE WORKS.
This pioneer foundry and " Burr mill-stone " factory, (a fine cut of which is to be seen in the City Directory of 1856,) was located on the east side of West Water St., at its intersection with Second St. It was founded in 1847, by Chas. S. Decker* and Jas. Saville, of Dayton, Ohio. This was the only establishment of the kind, in 1847, west of Buffalo, N. Y., where a complete outfit for a grist, or saw mill could be procured.t They did a large business until 1857, when the panic brought them, as well as their congeners, " The Eagle," " The Globe," " The Wisconsin " and " The Menomonee Locomotive Works," and the " Bay State Iron Works " to grief. And, in 1862, Messrs. Decker & Saville, as well as the " Bay State," were succeeded by E. P. Allis & Co., who also absorbed a large portion of the machinery and pat- terns of all the within mentioned establishments.
Mr. Saville, who came in 1846, was the clerk for Messrs. Turton & Sercombe, of the Eagle Foundry for the first year, and until the found- ing of the Reliance Works, of which he was the real head in 1847. and the managing partner up to 1862, when, as stated, it succumbed to the pressure of the money market, and E. P. Allis became his suc- cessor. And it was the labor of Mr. Saville that gave to the present works the foundation for all its present prosperity. He " shook the bush," and his successors " caught the bird." Such too often is the case. Mr. Saville was for many years one of our prominent and in- fluential citizens. He was a very genial and companionable man, and one who would never make enemies. His greatest fault was in not pushing things at the proper moment. He was also a prominent member of the Spring St. M. E. Church, and a first-class man. He
* Mr. Decker never lived here. He was the capitalist of the concern, at its organization. He died at Dayton in 1863.
+ Milwaukee had the honor, through this house, of manufacturing the first com - plete entire set of grist mill machinery, of any other city in the West, and in them also had the first successful stove foundry there was west of Buffalo or Albany, N. Y.
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is now the manager of the Duluth Iron Company's Works at Duluth, Minn. He built the double brick building, No. 136-8 Third St., where he lived for many years. The writer remembers Mr. Saville as one of his long life friends, and often sees him in memory as he appeared in his palmy days in Milwaukee. And that his last years may be prosperous and pleasant, is certainly the wish of the writer.
HENRY SILER.
This gentleman, whose well remembered face and form often comes to mind, when thinking of the " olden time," came also from Dayton, Ohio, in 1847, as the superintendent of the Burr " milling" stone department of the Reliance Works, in which department he was an expert. He was a large, broad shouldered and very muscular man, had a large face, dark hair, and a voice very low in tone and very soft. He was no talker but a worker. He was well known all over the state for his skill as a milling stone manufacturer. He was a sincere Christian, and one of the kind who lived up to what he pro- fessed. He was one of the official Board in the Spring Street M. E. Church for many years. He died in the harness, so to speak, from overwork, November 11th, 1868. I remember him well. His wife and two daughters survive him. There were comparatively few outside his immediate circle who knew the worth to the community of such a man as was Henry Siler. He was too unassuming to get into public notice, but his loss was felt keenly by those who knew him best, among whom was the writer. Peace to his memory.
SCHOOL REPORT.
The following report of our Public Schools (the first ever made) is given here as a document of great historical interest. It was copied from the Milwaukee Sentinel of April 26th, 1847, and is entitled : FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS, and addressed to the Common Council, and reads as follows :
The act passed by the Territorial Legislature during the session of 1846, and in pursuance of which the general control and supervision of the Public Schools of Milwaukee, was committed to the Board of School Commissioners, appointed by the Common Council, makes it the duty of said Board to submit to your Hon- orable body, an annual report, embracing the acts and proceedings of the Board, as well as an account of the number and condition of all the Public Schools kept
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in the city, during the year, the time they have severally been taught, the number of children taught in said schools respectively, and the number between the years of 5 and 16 residing in the city, on the first day of January last past, the amount of school money raised or received during the year, distinguishing the amount raised by taxes, from the amount by rate bills, together with such other information as they may deem useful, or the Common Council require at their hands.
In the discharge of the duty thus imposed upon them, the Board of School Commissioners respectfully submit the following report:
The Board was organized under appointment of the Common Council on the 14th day of April, 1846, by the election of Rufus King as President, and Henry G. Abbey, as Secretary, and proceeded without delay to inquire into the condition of the then Public Schools of the city, and as to the means at the disposal of the Board for continuing them and of establishing others.
There was no money for school purposes, at the command of the Board, nor could any be realized until the assessment and collection of the annual city taxes, in December or January following. But it was felt that the children of our city should not be left too long without the means and opportunity of common school instruction, if any plan could be devised, to anticipate the collection of the school tax. Under the ordinance of the Common Council relative to the finances and accounts of the city, authority was given to the President and Secretary of the Board of School Commissioners to draw orders on the school fund, for the payment of teachers' wages, and other school expenses; and availing themselves of this resource, the Board determined to open Public Schools in the several Wards, as soon as suitable teachers and rooms could be procured.
Accordingly schools were opened on the first day of June, in the Fourth Ward, under N. Searles, and in the Fifth Ward, under Willis W. Yale; on the 8th day of June, in the Second Ward, under the charge of David Van Derin, and in the Third Ward, under the charge of Sidney S. Childs; and on the 29th of June, in the First Ward, under the charge of Morgan L. Skinner.
These schools continued in successful operation throughout the months of June, July and August, and after a vacation of a four weeks, were reopened on the 5th of October, that in the Fifth Ward, under the charge of H. R. Wilcox, in place of Mr. Yale, who had left the city. In order moreover to accommodate the in- creasing demand for school facilities in the Third Ward, Mr. Thomas Keogh was employed to teach a second school in that Ward, commencing on the 5th of Oct. There were then six Public Schools in operation under the charge of the Board, and these were continued during the entire winter, with the exception of ten days vacation, at the close of December, and up to the third instant. As it was found that these schools were still insufficient to accommodate all the children who applied for admission, it was deemed advisable, early in February, to open two primary schools, one in the Second Ward under the charge of Miss Belinda C. Hutchinson, and one in the Fifth Ward, under the charge of Miss Ann Loomis, for one quarter each and at an average expense, of $75,00.
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