USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 13
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In 1850 the office was made presidential, and in 1882 the free delivery system was inaugurated, with five carriers. At the close of the fiscal year on June 30, 1916, there were ninety-two people employed in connection with the office, to wit: Postmaster, assist- ant postmaster, 38 clerks, 2 substitute clerks, 35 city carriers, 6 substitute carriers, 4 mural carriers, 3 engaged in carrying the mails to and from the railroad stations, and 2 janitors. The receipts in 1915 reached $382,000 - quite a development since Dr. Cary made his first report on June 30, 1836, when the receipts amomited to $122.69.
Following is a list of postmasters, with the year when each was appointed or entered upon the duties of the position: A. B. Saxton, who served from February 25 to May 19, 1836; Dr. Bush- nell B. Cary, who took the office on May 19, 1836; Elias Smith. 1841; Bushnell B. Cary, 1845; Eldad Smith, 1849 (Mr. Smith was the first postmaster appointed by the President; he was confirmed by the Senate on September 28, 1850) : Tallmadge Stevens, 1853; Bushnell B. Cary, February 23, 1854; N. H. JJoy, 1860; JJohn Tap- ley, 1861; William L. Utley, 1869; Henry W. Wright, 1877; Norton J. Field, 1881; Clarence Snyder, 1886; Hiram JJ. Smith, 1890; Andrew Simonson, 1894; Jackson I. Case, 1898; Hiram JJ. Smith, 1902: Christopher C. Gittings, 1906; James E. Pritchard, 1910; George H. Herzog, 1915.
EARLY MAIL ROUTES
About the time the Root River postoffice was established, or perhaps a little later, an act of Congress authorized a mail route from Chicago to Green Bay, passing through the present Towns of Evanston, Waukegan, Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, West Bend, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton and Kaukauna. The carrier on this route was Alexis Clermont, who
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
had served during the Black Hawk War as one of Colonel Tyler's "home defense" men at Fort Howard. Pierre B. Grignon was the contractor and employed Clermont to carry the mail. He made his trips on foot, accompanied by an Oneida Indian. They depended on the Indian villages along the route and what game they could kill for their food, though each always carried a bag of parched corn "to fall back on" in case game was scarce or they were delayed in reaching one of the Indian villages. It required about a month for the round trip and the wages ranged from sixty to seventy dollars per month, owing to the season of the year.
In 1892, when in the eighty-fifth year of his age, Alexis Cler- mont walked the entire distance over his old mail route from Green Bay to Chicago, a distance of 240 miles. He was dressed in the same kind of costume that he wore when carrying the mails sixty years before, and carried with him the mail pouch, his rifle and the bag of parched corn. His object in making the journey was to raise money enough to "smooth his pathway to the grave," but the receipts did not come up to his expectations. Friends in Chicago sent him back and he died at DePere, Brown County, Wisconsin, February 8, 1899.
In 1839 a Concord wagon, drawn by two horses, was put on the mail route between Chicago and Milwaukee. In favorable weather the trip could be made in two days. The mail driver also took passengers, which added to his income. The first night out from Chicago the stage reached Kenosha - sometimes after darkness had fallen - and by leaving there early the next morn- ing the driver and his passengers could take breakfast in Racine. From Racine they went west, crossed the old plank road (or where the old plank road was afterward built), abont two miles from the village; then turned north and crossed the Root River on a bridge at Beardsley's tavern, where horses were changed; thence three miles or so in a northwesterly direction, and struck the Milwaukee road near the north line of the county.
Another mail route ran from Racine westward to Mineral Point, where it connected with routes running to Prairie du Chien and Dubuque. The first postoffice in this route was at Foxville (now Burlington). From that point the mail carrier passed through the present Towns of Whitewater, Jefferson, Madison and Dodgeville. On the return trip he followed a route farther
. W. T RICHMOND. ....
D. McDONALD. ........
GED. WUSTUM. ....
3. 1. CASE.
THOMAS i ALVEY.
JOSHUA W. HART.
G. A. THOMSON.
M. B. ERSKINE.
W. P. PACKARD.
T. G. FISH. ....
M M. SECOR. .... ....
JOSEPH MILLER.
DAVID G. JANES.
FREDERICK MAHA
MICHAEL HIGGINS, Jr.
PETER r 'ELSON
MAYORS OF RACINE
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
south, through Darlington, Monticello, Janesville and Elkhorn to Burlington, and from there to Racine. Eastern mails were carried on vessels around the lakes. In the summer months a letter from New York would reach Racine in about two weeks. but in bad weather it sometimes would be a month, or even more, before the vessel reached the mouth of the Root River on its way to Chicago.
THE VILLAGE INCORPORATED
During the years 1839 and 1840 there was quite a tide of immigration to Wisconsin and Racine received its share of the new comers. Among those who settled in the village in those two years were: S. B. Peck, John A. Carswell, Consider Heath, Delavan Wood, Eli R. Cooley, Truman G. Wright, Lucius S. Blake and Isaac Harmon. According to a statement in the first city directory (1850) Racine had a population in 1840 of about three hundred. The first number of the Racine Argus was issued on February 14, 1838, with Delavan Wood as editor. A few weeks later the paper contained an editorial setting forth the advantages of Racine, as follows:
"We have a jail, two fine public houses (the Raeine and the Fulton Hotels), a mimber of stores, dwelling houses, mechanics' shops, etc. It was first settled about three years ago. Its growth since that time, although not as rapid as some others, has been gradual and permanent. While many places that, during the rage of speculation for the last two years, have outstripped us now retrograde, or at least have to stand still, for the country which sustains them to settle and improve, our march, not having been in advance of the surrounding country, which is now rapidly settling, will continue onward.
"A number of farmers in the immediate vicinity of this place. who struck the first blow on their farms only two years ago, have, during the past season, raised from one thousand to two thousand bushels of grain. No finer beef cattle can be found than those which graze on these prairies. Our Legislature at its last session passed laws incorporating a bank here, with a capital of $200,000; a mutual fire insurance company; a railroad from this place to an extensive stone quarry about three miles distant, and also a railroad to Rock River, about sixty miles west. Congress last winter made an appropriation of $5,000 for a light-house at this place, which is to be erected this spring; and the committee re-
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FHISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
ported in favor of a harbor here, but the bill did not become a law. The United States engineers reported that a harbor can be made here for $55,000. There is not a place in the Territory that prom- ises a more rapid and permanent growth."
With the increase in population, and the citizens holding such optimistic views as those expressed in the Argus, the sentiment in favor of the incorporation was a perfectly natural one. A movement to that end was started in 1840 and on February 13, 1841, Governor Dodge approved "An act to incorporate the Vil- lage of Racine, in Racine County." An election for village officers was held early in April and resulted as follows: President, Dr. Elias Smith: Trustees, Alanson Filer, Sidney A. Sage, Marshall M. Strong and Consider Heath; Clerk, Levi S. Cary; Assessor, AAmaziah Stebbins.
The first meeting of the Village Board was held on April 12, 1841, when Dr. Smith and Mr. Stebbins tendered their resigna- tions as president and assessor. The resignations were accepted and Alanson Filer was chosen president pro tem. But little busi- ness was transacted. Alfred Cary was appointed assessor, a tax levy of $300 was ordered for the expenses of the current year, and a special election was ordered for May 5, 1841, to elect a village president. Charles S. Wright was elected and was the first active president of the village. At a subsequent meeting Levi S. Cary resigned as elerk and on November 13, 1841, Isaac Harmon was appointed to the vacancy. He continued to serve in that capacity as long as the village goverment lasted.
During the first year, the principal business of the board was to improve the streets. When the town was first laid out a heavy growth of timber marked the site. Trees were ent down, but the stumps were left standing in the streets, and in some of them the brush-wood had not been burned at the time Racine was incorporated. The first contract for street improvements was made with Socrates Hopkins, who agreed to remove the stumps and turnpike Main Street, from Second to Seventh, 125 rods, for $1.00 per rod. S. H. Fenn was awarded a contract to remove the stumps from a portion of Sixth Street, and an appro- priation of $14.00 was made for sidewalks on Main Street, from Third to Fourth. The clerk received $10.00 for his first year's services.
Officers were elected annually. The last election under the
COLLEGE AVENUE AND RIVER STREET, LOOKING NORTH View taken in '60s, showing ferry, warehouse, the Star Mills and old bridge
LOOKING NORTH FROM NORTH END OF COLLEGE AVENUE TODAY
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
village charter was held in April, 1848. Those who served as presidents of the board while the village government was in existence were: Charles S. Wright, 1841; Bushnell B. Cary, 1842; M. B. Mead, 1843; Warren Cole, 1844; John A. Carswell, 1845; C. W. Spafard, 1846; C. W. White, 1847; Eli R. Cooley, 1848.
At the beginning of the year 1848 the population of Racine was estimated at nearly three thousand. Wisconsin was admitted to statehood on May 29, 1848. and a week later the first State Legislature assembled at Madison. Philo White was a Senator from Racine County, and in the House were Samuel E. Chapman, Julius L. Gilbert and David McDonald. Through their influence a bill was passed authorizing the incorporation of Racine as a city.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT
The bill incorporating the City of Racine was approved by Governor Nelson Dewey on August 8, 1848. It contained fifty- eight sections and defined in detail how the city goverment should be inaugurated. the duties of the various officers, etc. The president of the village was authorized to "designate some time in the month of October, 1848, for holding the first election, and shall appoint three suitable persons in each ward of the city to be judges of the first election under the provisions of this act. and also two suitable persons as clerks thereof in each ward." The act also defined the boundaries of each of the five wards and further provided that the "Board of Trustees of the Village of Racine shall determine who shall have been properly elected at the first election; and the president of the Board of Trustees of said village shall administer the oath of office to the first mayor, and such mayor shall administer the oath of office to the several aldermen who have been declared to be duly elected, and also to all other officers in said city."
The officers to be elected were a mayor, clerk, treasurer, mar- shal, two aldermen from each ward, chief engineer of the fire department, and one assessor for each ward. At the election Reuben M. Norton was chosen mayor: Isaiah G. Parker, clerk: Charles G. Collins, treasurer: William L. Utley, marshal; William K. May, S. C. Yont, Alanson Filer, Roswell Morris. Moses Vilas, Imcas Bradley, Sidney A. Sage, S. S. Hurlburt, Hosea L. Allen and George D. Fellows, aldermen; S. S. Diekinson, chief fire engi- neer: Alfred Cary and John W. Cary, assessors (only two elected).
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On October 6, 1848, the City Council met for the first time. Mayor Norton was sworn in by Eli R. Cooley, president of the Board of Trustees, who then retired from office and turned over the reins of government to the new mayor. Marshall M. Strong was appointed city attorney and Moses Vilas was made city sur- veyor. The trustees submitted a statement showing the financial condition of the village, which was accepted, and the funds on hand were turned over to Treasurer Collins, after which the meeting adjourned.
From that time to the present the ordinary business and legislation of the city have gone forward in about the same man- ner as in other cities of the same class. The original charter has been amended; a Board of Public Works was established that has charge of all publie improvements; also a Fire and Police Com- mission that looks after the protection of the citizens and their property; and in 1905 a Park Board was created. Following is a list of the mayors of Racine from 1848 to 1916, with the year in which they entered upon the duties of the office, and each served until the election and qualification of his successor: Reu- ben M. Norton, 1848; Henry Bryan, 1849; Eli R. Cooley, 1850; William HI. Waterman, 1851; William T. Richmond, 1852; David McDonald, 1853; George Wustum, 1855; Jerome I. Case, 1856; John W. Cary, 1857; Jerome T. Case, 1858; W. W. Vaughan, 1859; Jerome T. Case, 1860; George C. Northrop, 1861; Alvin Raymond, 1862: George C. Northrop, 1863; Thomas Falvey, 1864; Joshua W. Hart, 1865; George A. Thomson, 1866; M. B. Erskine, 1869; Reuben Doud, 1872; R. II. Baker, 1874; Renben Dond, 1875; John G. Meacham, 1876; Ernest J. Hueffner, 1879; M. B. Erskine, 1880; W. P. Packard, 1881; T. G. Fish, 1883; M. M. Secor, 1884; Joseph Miller, 1885; D. A. Olin, 1886; M. M. Seeor, 1888; F. L. Mitchell, 1889; Adolph Weber, 1890; Jackson I. Case, 1891; David G. Janes, 1895; Frederick Graham, 1897; Michael Higgins, 1899; Peter B. Nelson, 1904; A. J. Horlick, 1907; W. S. Goodland, 1911; T. W. Thiesen, 1915.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The first move toward the establishment of a fire department was made while Racine was still under the village government. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees on January 22, 1843, the constitution and by-laws of "Fire Company, Engine No. 1," were presented by Alanson Filer, and the board adopted a resolution
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recognizing the company as authorized by the village to extin- guish fires. It was a volunteer company, and it may be interest- ing to the people of Racine to know who were the first men in the city to offer their services in case of fire. Following is the roster of the company: Foreman, Ludlow F. Lewis; members, W. R. P. Armstrong, Albert H. Blake, Edwin S. Blake, Edward Brink, William D. Busbee, Louis Butterfield, J. R. Carpenter. Jr., William F. Cole, Edwin Colvin, Eli R. Cooley, Lneius Cooper, Henry F. Cox, Jr., Tra Dean, Sidney S. Dickinson, George D. Fellows, Alanson Filer, Elihu Filer, G. C. Flagg, Edwin Gould, S. F. Heath, H. D. Hott, John J. Humphrey, Benjamin Kelley, Joseph C. Knapp, Samuel G. Knight, A. H. Lee, C. M. Mann, Henry L. Marsh, Matthew B. Mead, F. H. Orvis, I. N. Parker, Benjamin K. Perkins, John Ramsdell. William T. Richmond, Charles F. Rogers, F. M. Rublee. A. C. St. John. Charles Smith, Edward W. Smith, C. W. Spafard, James M. Sprague, George G. Stevens, Marshall M. Strong, James M. Titus, J. A. Titus, Moses Vilas, William H. Waterman, Chester W. White, Theo. J. Wisner.
In this list will be recognized some of the most prominent men of that day. Three members of the company afterward served as mayors of the city, four as presidents of the Village Board, and Marshall M. Strong and Alanson Filer represented Racine County in the Legislature. The company was equipped with hand engine of the erank piston variety, built by Russell Skinner, of Racine, and a limited supply of hose. Such a fire company now would be a laughing stock, but old "No. 1" was the pride of Racine at the time it was organized.
On February 23. 1843, at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, the constitution and by-laws of "Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1," were presented by B. B. Jones. By resolution of the board, the company was made a part of the fire department. but the membership of the company was limited to forty.
The Racine Engine Company was organized early in the year 1846, and on the 25th of April it was accepted by the Board of Trustees. At the same time the hook and ladder company was reorganized. Thus remained the Racine fire department until after the incorporation of the city in 1848. Sidney S. Dickinson was elected chief fire engineer at the first city election, though lit- tle was done in 1848 toward the reorganization of the department,
.
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farther than the passage of an ordinance defining the duties of the chief engineer and his assistants, etc. In 1849 Elijah N. Aikin was elected chief engineer and the real fire department can be said to date from this year.
In June, 1849, the No. 1 Company was reorganized, with C. W. Spafard as foreman and fifty-three members. The old Russell Skinner engine was discarded and one of more modern type purchased. The hook and ladder company was also reorganized under the name of "Protection Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1," with Thomas W. Wright as foreman and a membership of thirty. Engine Company No. 2 was organized a little later, with sixty-one members and Sterling P. Rounds as foreman, and before the close of the year a third company was organized. It was composed almost entirely of Welshmen, numbered forty members and was under the foremanship of Evan Lewis. Three new engines were purchased in 1849. They were built by L. Button & Company, of Racine. The one which took the place of the old Skinner engine was called the "Racine"; Company No. 2 called their engine the "Fire King": and Company No. 3 christened theirs the "Star of the West". A little later three engine honses were built for the three companies. No. 1 was located on the corner of Fourth and Wisconsin Streets; No. 2, on Main, near Second: and No. 3, on Seventh, between Main and Wisconsin.
On January 4, 1866, about four o'clock in the morning, fire was discovered in a blacksmith shop on the north side of Fifth Street, not far from Wisconsin Street. A keen northwesterly wind was blowing and the flames were soon communicated to Buffham's paint shop, next door cast, and in a short time the adjoining buildings were ignited. The mercury was below zero and the department worked at great disadvantage in their efforts to control the flames. The Racine Honse, the old historic tavern erected in 1837, although across the street, canght fire and the flying sparks from that building ignited St. Inke's Church. All the buildings from the hotel to the court-honse were burned, and the total loss was estimated at nearly two Imdred thonsand dollars. This was the most destructive fire in Racine up to that time and it demonstrated the fact that the fire department as then constituted was unable to cope with a real conflagration.
During the spring and summer following the great fire, vari-
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1
1
OLD No. 4 HAND PUMP FIRE ENGINE AND COMPANY
...
5
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RACINE'S FIRST CHEMICAL FIRE ENGINE
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
ous suggestions were made for the improvement of the depart- ment, and on October 1, 1867, the H. C. Silsby Company, of Seneca Falls, New York, brought a steam fire engine to Racine and tested it in the presence of the committee appointed for the purpose by the City Council. The test was reported as "entirely satisfactory," so the engine was purchased and named the "Gem of the Lakes." It was placed in the hands of the old No. 1 Com- pany, whose hand engine was taken to the Fourth Ward and placed in service there as the "Racine No. 4," a new company having been formed to take charge of it, part of the old company following the engine to its new quarters. The first time the steam fire engine was called into service was at the Clancy fire, corner of Main and Fourth Streets. Owing to the fact that no provision had been made for taking the "Gem of the Lakes" to fires, it was drawn to the Clancy fire by hand. This, coupled with the inexperience of the men in handling steam engines, caused so much delay that the old "Star of the West" Company had a stream of water playing on the fire before the steamer could get into action. So much sport was made of the new engine, from which so much had been expected, that the company disbanded. Men were then constantly employed to take charge of the steamer and a team was engaged to draw it to fires. This was the first step toward a paid fire department.
On April 6, 1868, the council passed an ordinance establish- ing fire limits, within which buildings must conform to certain regulations. Engine House No. 2 was remodeled for the steamer and the old hand engine there was sold to the Town of West Bend. In 1871 the council purchased a second Silsby engine, which was known as "L. S. Blake, No. 2"; hand engine No. 3 was sold to Savannah, Illinois, and the "Gem of the Lakes" was renamed the "John Vaughan." After several more years of service it was considered unfit for further use and turned back to the Silsby Manufacturing Company as part payment for the steamer ".John (. Meacham." In September, 1877, the fire marshal sold hand engine No. 4 to the Town of Burlington, Wisconsin, and a chem- ical engine - the "Henry Mitchell" - took its place. It was a good piece of apparatus in its day, but the improvements in fire- fighting machinery finally relegated it to the scrap pile.
In 1883 the department was made a full paid institution and since that time the city has not depended upon "volunteers" to
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extinguish fires. The last published report of the City of Racine shows six engine houses, with forty-three men on the pay-roll, which amonnted to $42,810 for the year. The equipment was valued at $50,526, exclusive of the value of the buildings and grounds. More than half of the fire apparatus of the city is now of the auto-motor type and of the most approved designs.
Today fire-fighting is a regular business, but the members of the paid fire department miss many of the pleasurable inci- dents of the old volunteer days. Sterling P. Rounds, who was foreman of the old "Fire King" Company, and who afterward went to Chicago, in writing to a friend in Racine, recounted a number of happenings while he was connected with the company. He says:
"It was composed of the young business men and 'live' boys of the town. It was named 'Fire King,' after the crack company of Buffalo, of which its foreman had recently been secretary. The neat brick engine house at the foot of Main Street was built for it. The first trial of the engine, on its arrival at Perry Dutton's pier, was a success and the boys were delighted. Very soon after it came, a fire occurred on the hill (since graded down) west of the engine house and, as the boys had to take water from the river, a very long distance, there was some delay. One of the aldermen, who had opposed the purchase of the engine, impa- tiently remarked: 'Now that we want firemen, they are not on hand; where is this boasted new company?' The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the stream of water filled the long line of hose, and Bill MeCarty, who held the pipe and who had listened with disgust to the 'blowing' of the old fraud, turned the nozzle upon him. His hat went one way, the alderman the other, and he was fully aware where the new company was.
"At the great tournament which took place at Chicago in the fall of 1850, where were gathered the crack companies from Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee and other cities, both the Racine companies were present. The sixty wide-awake young fellows of No. 2 attracted much attention. After the parade, and at the competition, though seventh in the line of twenty-two companies, at the word, 'Break line and take water,' we divided the honors with No. 9 of Buffalo of having the first water through the hose, and at the burning of the old 'Tremont,' the following night, had the first water on the fire, though Sol
FIRST RACINE MAIL CARRIERS
William Weinecke. Thomas Buckley, Erastus Packard, Elias Pritchard and George Covert. Seated, Richard Thronson.
RACINE POLICE FORCE, 1××0
Top Row: C. Anderson, T. Miller, P. Matson, J. Rowan. L. Groebel. C. Sorenson and G. Rober. Lower Row: H. Pritchard. T. Clark. W. Mills and J. Drew.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Cather and 'Dar' Munroe did fall in the cistern when 'taking suction.'
"The Racine companies went to Chicago and returned by boat. They arrived at Racine about midnight, but somehow the news of the honorable record made at the tournament had pre- ceded them and it seemed as if the entire population had turned out to welcome the boys home. Bonfires were lighted, the old cannon was brought out, and salute after salute was fired as the steamboat hove in sight, while cheer upon cheer greeted the boys as they landed at the pier, and followed them to their engine houses. Nor were they allowed to go to their beds. Groups gathered at the 'Empire,' the 'St. Charles' and other popular places of resort, and as the story was repeated the enthusiasm grew wilder and more noisy until daylight appeared."
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