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 36
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
There stands a house on Lake Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, that is a characteristic old house with its porch and pillars against the building and narrow windows about the front door. It was built on Main Street about 1840 by Mr. Chadwick, a carpenter, later moved to Sixth Street, and when Robert II. Baker wished to build his barn John C. Campbell, who then owned it, moved it to its present location. Doctor Wilson. a partner of Dr. P. R. Hoy, lived here at the time Hugh Gorton's oldest child was born.
There are two old houses on Lake Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets, once the homes of the owners of docks and warehouses, that were formerly on the lake front at Second and Third Streets. There is the frame dwelling, No. 320, built by William Turnbull for a sash factory, remodeled by Patrick Murphy, of the firm of Raymond, Dutton & Company, for his dwelling, and sold in 1850 to Alvin Raymond, who lived in it as a home until his death in 1893.
These doeks were not built until the harbor was completed in 1844. Previous to that time passengers and freight had been conveyed to the vessels in seows and lighters. The building of railroads caused six elevators and two bridge piers to fall into disuse. The bridge piers, the one at Second Street, owned by Waterman, and the one at Third, owned by Raymond, Dutton & Murphy, are worthy of note. By means of piles they were built out into the lake until the water had a depth of twelve or fourteen feet. They were four or five hundred feet long and righiteen to twenty feet wide and greatly facilitated traffic, en- abling teams and wagons with their loads to be driven directly to and from the vessels.
The other house stands next door north, No. 316 Lake Avenue, and was built by Seneca Raymond of brick bought of Heath & Dickinson, from their yard where the J. I. Case Plow Works now stands. He lived there until he embarked in the hotel business as proprietor of the "Racine Exchange," from 1846 to 1850, and then of "Congress Hall."
Until recently the house of A. P. Dutton, built in 1846, and occupied by him from that time until his death, a period of over fifty years, also survived, but it now has been torn down to make way for M. M. Secor's factory building.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Daniel Slanson came to Racine in 1837 and his family in May, 1838. He purchased a claim of 160 acres from Mrs. Milli- gan. During the summer the family lived in a log shanty and in the fall moved into their frame house erected on the site of the present brick house now owned by Thomas M. Kearney. The lumber for this house was sawed here, but the windows, sash and doors were shipped from New York City. In about 1867 this frame house was moved across the street to the north side of Washington Avenue and later was moved farther back, and at last used for a stable by George Teall. The log house on the Kearney Street property was built for a cooper shop, and at the time was the only one in the vicinity, so all the pork bar- rels for the farmers and butchers for miles around were made here. This shop was also used as a place for the annual town meetings and as a polling place for many years, and is worthy of preservation.
The old brick house on the south side of Sixth Street, be- tween Park Avenue and Villa Street, known as the "Ives House," was the first brick house in Racine. It was built abont 1840 by Ira Dean, the first brick mason in Racine, for Henry F. Cox, who was the first clerk of conrt for Racine County. His health failed and he went south, where he died. He left the property to his sister, Jane Cox, who had married Stephen Ives, and they occupied the house for many years.
About 1844 of 1845 Roswell Morris built himself a house on Sixth Street, about where the office of the Racine Gas Company now stands. About 1850 this was purchased by Lyman Munroe, grandfather of Louis P. Munroe. Mr. Munroe occupied the honse up to the time of his wife's death, when it was sold and later movd farther west, and you may now see it second door from the corner of Sixth Street, on Stannard Street, facing east.
Roswell Morris and William Waterman built the Old Court- house in 1839, the Old Jail in 1841, and the Register of Deeds' Office in 1842. These buildings were erected for Captain Knapp in fulfillment of an agreement with the officers of the county to the effect that they were to convey to him a clear title to his claim of one hundred and forty-one acres, and he in return was to build the county buildings for them.
In 1841 Racine, with a population of about 400, was incor- porated as a village with Dr. Elias Smith as its first president.
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IHISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Doctor Smith came from near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1835. He never engaged actively in his profession, but with William Waterman, who came with him, opened a store in 1836 under the name of Smith & Waterman. This firm also built the Fulton House, which preceded the Racine Exchange. In 1841 he built the Hubacheck House, No. 113 Fifth Street, and lived there many years. Later he moved to the MeCalman House, on Main Street, that once stood where Mrs. Jackson I. Case's House now stands. Here he spent the last years of his life. This house is now the rear portion of W. W. Rowland's home on College Avenne.
Doctor Smith was very much interested in old relies and especially in the Indian mounds, and co-operated with Dr. Philo R. lloy in opening and examining several of them, and he him- self is buried in Mound Cemetery, immediately adjoining one of these mounds, which Doctor Hoy describes as "containing seven skeletons, all in a sitting position and facing cast."
In 1848 Racine was incorporated as a city with Reuben M. Norton as its first mayor. Mr. Norton was with Mr. Tillapangh's unele. He came here in 1840 and soon after built a home for himself at the corner of Washington Avenue and Center Street, later used as an office building by the Mitchell-Lewis Wagon Company, then moved across the street, remodeled and used as a dwelling. Mr. Norton was a lumber merchant, who later became wealthy and built the homestead now occupied by Mrs. J. 1. Case, on Main Street. Subsequently he met with reverses, lost his property, removed to Chicago, formed a partnership with his son-in-law, Augustus Gray, under the name of Gray & Com- pany, and was again successful.
11. S. Durand came to Racine from Hartford, Connecticut, in 1843, and in 1844 he occupied the house at No. 512 Park Avenue, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Sanders. He after- wards built the handsome residence on Main Street, later pur- chased and remodeled by Frederick Robinson. He at once en- gaged in the wholesale and retail mercantile business, under the finn name of Durand & Hlill, and in the insurance business with his brother-in-law under the name of Durand & Miller, both duly advertised in the "Racing Argus," the first newspaper published in Racine, and for thirteen years he was president of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company.
BILLINGS P'STOGRAPH PARLORS TS.CAPS . FURS.
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MAIN STREET, RACINE, IN THE 60s Southeast corner of Main and Fourth Streets
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
The house, which once stood near the corner of Sixth and Main Streets, and which was moved by Messrs. Bull and Rob- inson to make way for their barn, was built by Thomas Wright in the early '40s. He did not live very long and his widow mar- ried J. Y. Scammon of the Record-Herald and moved to Chicago. It was next occupied by George A. Thompson, president of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company. Afterwards it was the home of W. T. Lewis for four or five years. Mrs. Fixen was born there. Mr. Morris, of Morris & Pugh, also lived there. When the Hotel Racine was built the old house was purchased by Miss Scribner and moved to Wisconsin Street, and then again moved to make way for the barn.
The "Dr. Martin House" on Main Street was built by Nel- son H. Pendleton in the late '40s, and occupied by him umtil about 1850. He sold to Marshall M. Strong, who after a few years sold to Simeon W. Spafford. It was afterwards purchased by Dr. S. J. Martin and occupied by him for a period of over thirty years.
The "Hunt House," that formerly stood at the corner of Main and Ninth Streets, was erected about 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were both musicians, fond of social entertainments, and frequently had large companies at their home. It was after- wards purchased by H. G. Mitchell, enlarged and occupied by him and his family up to the time of the completion of his new home a few years ago, and was then moved back and now fronts on Lake Avenne. The windows, sash and doors for this building were shipped from Buffalo.
A. G. Knight came to Racine in 1836, walking all the way from Chicago. His family arrived later in a sailing vessel. Ho kept the Racine House in 1838, was Register of Deeds from 1841 to 1843, and Clerk of the Court from 1844 to 1848. In 1851 he engaged in the real estate and abstract business, in which he continued until his death. He was one of the incorporators of the "Racine Seminary," and captain of the first militia com- pany. For a time he lived on Superior Street, south of State, and afterwards built on the corner of College Avenue and Fif- teenth Street, where he lived for many vars. This house was moved away a few years ago to make room for Mrs. Knight's new house.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Dr. Philo R. Hoy came to Racine in the summer of 1846, and at once took possession of a squatter's deserted house that stood on the present site of the William Henry Miller House, on Main Street, corner of Ninth. Shortly after he built a new house here, using the old part for a kitchen. Here for a long series of years he practiced his profession and pursued his seien- tifie studies, and here both he and his wife died. Here also two of his children-Mrs. Miller and Philo Hoy-were born, Mrs. Miller was married, and her two children were born. The old house has been removed and now stands on the east side of Grand Avenue, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets. It is quite unchanged, and even the windows, with their small panes of imperfect glass, remain.
The "Eddy House," 724 Main Street, is also an old settler. It was probably built by Doctor Blanchard. Mrs. Milligan and family occupied the house at one time and her nephew, Robert Knapp, who afterwards married her daughter, boarded with her. The family afterwards moved to Shawano, Wisconsin, where Mrs. Milligan died, and where most of her children and grand- children still live.
CHAPTER XXH
LETTERS FROM GUERNSEY PIONEERS
PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER -N. LE PREVOST -JOHN COLE -PREVOST'S SECOND LETTER - ALEXANDER BURCHI -THEIR DESCRIPTIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
This chapter is devoted to the descriptions of this county, sent across the waters of the Atlantic by venturesome men of the Isle of Guernsey. These men came here early in the history, not only of the County of Racine, but also of Wisconsin Territory and the state. They left comfortable homes in their native land and courageously tempted fate and fortune by crossing the wide expanse of water separating them from the land of the free and of unlimited opportunity for those who dared and had the spirit and stamina of the pioneer home builder and conqueror of new worlds.
Racine County was very young, in fact she was still in her swaddling clothes, when the Guernseyman heard of the wonders of the land and forests and lakes and rivers of this great domain, which is a part and parcel of the State of Wisconsin. His lot in the mother country was one of unceasing toil, with little op- portunity to gain mich in the way of a home that he could call his own. He was a renter and always would be a renter as long as he remained satisfied with conditions that had obtained for centuries in Britain. Learning of the unlimited resources of the new world and the hitherto unheard of facilities for securing land at a nominal cost, these people from Guernsey early made their appearance in Racine County and, by their letters back to relatives and friends in the old country, induced many of their countrymen to join them here and do that for themselves which they could not do in their native land: Make a home for them- selves and their progeny.
In the letters herein reproduced from an old diary, the reader will have the good fortune of learning at first hand the appearance of this locality, the nature of the soil, prices of land and of its products, which obtained when inhabitants were few, land cheap and money scarce. The customs of the country are graphically described and difficulties are hardly noticed. Mr.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Le Prevost, however, very modestly is often given to a denial of any intention of persuading his correspondents across the water to accept his description of the country, as he kept in mind that he might possibly be prejudiced in its favor. He certainly did not stint his subject of adjectives when describing his new home in Wisconsin Territory. However, he was a man of high recti- tude and ever mindful of all the virtues, of which truth is not the smallest, and the reader of the present can now see Mr. Le Prevost did not over-color his pictures in limning the beauties of Racine County. Let it be observed from the letters them- selves how closely he kept to the shore of facts in expressing his unbounded delight in his new surroundings.
Copy of letter written by Mr. N. Le Prevost, on arrival in United States, dated Racine, Wisconsin Territory, Sptember 12, 1840, received at Guernsey, November 6, 1840:
We left New York the 6th of July at 5 o'clock evening, ar- rived at Albany the 7th at 11 a. m., 160 miles. We embarked at noon of same day on a canal boat. Arrived at Buffalo on 13th July, at 8 a. m., distance 369 miles. On same boat, dragged by two horses, we passed a number of towns and villages, among them were Troy, Utica, Syracuse, Palmyra, Rochester and Buf- falo, all fine towns. The 13th of July, as above, we embarked on board a steamboat for Cleveland in Ohio, and we arrived the 14th, being the next day at 9:00 in the morning. Distance 196 miles.
We arrived at our cousins, Mr. James Mansell, at 4 o'clock past meridian, which person was quite overjoyed at seeing us, as also his wife and daughter-distance 12 miles. Our cousins of the Paysans are always together and of good record.
I decided and left my family at Mr. Mansells on the 19th of July, and went to Sandusky, on arrival there I was informed that this part was not healthy-that people were subject to trembling fever. From there, I proceeded to Toledo-it was item-but as I had heard speak greatly in favor of Milwaukee, in the Wisconsin -- It was my route to pass by Detroit, where I arrived the 21st July. The country of Michigan is not very healthy- I embarked on 22nd, in the Steamboat Illinois for Mil- waukee, at which place I arrived 26th July-distance from my wife 800 miles. I remained there two days.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
I saw several lands or estates for sale at moderate prices, and I agreed with a cooper for employment, until Feb. 1841, in expectation of passing winter in town with my family. I took my departure next day; rejoined my family at Ohio, where I ar- rived on the 1st of Aug., and left on consins and their families on the 7th for Milwaukee, at which place we arrived on the 11th at 5:00 in the evening-distance straight line from Mr. Mansells, 754 miles.
The next day I went to the cooper, who informed me he could not employ me for want of wood.
Up to this time all the lands that I had seen were woody and the farms cleared and for sale, were at $10 to $30 per acre; but I was informed that at Racine there were Government lands called Prairies to sell at $1-14 the acre.
I left my family on the 13th and proceeded to Racine, dis- tance 25 miles, where I saw those Prairies. Oh! the beautiful grounds, not a tree and full of grass about 15 inches high, and in the lower parts 3 feet high - but as there is wood required for fire and building, and it has to be purchased second hand at from $5 to $8 per acre, and from 3 to 5 miles distance of the Prairies, I got discouraged.
I saw several farms for sale at from $5 to $12 per acre, one in particular pleased me, for which it was offered me at $6-14 or $500 for 84 acres.
I rejoined my family on the 15th, and on my report of the estate and the appearances, we decided upon going to establish ourselves there. In short we purchased a fine mare of 4 or 5 years old for $70 and a wagon for $75, so as to carry my family to see the farm.
We left Milwaukee on the 18th, and we hired a house in town for one month for $5 per month. We drove out to see the farms with our horse and wagon most every day-as much on one side as the other.
I made an offer for the farm I had in view as above men- tioned, but they would not accept my proposal, I appeared quite careless and told them I was offered some farms from right to left. We went to them several times but still could not agree. A la fin the 1st of Sept., they came and offered it at my price, the gold tempting them, and the 2nd Sept. passed the contract, and I have paid the amount.
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IHISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Now I have to inform you that we have a farm containing 80 acres of land, but to make you understand better our farm meas- ures Guernsey Vergies of land: it has 126 perches or 1/2 mile in length, and 63 perches or 1; mile in breadth all joining together and situated at 312 miles distance of the town of Racine, on the Lake Michigan side, and 55 miles north of Chicago-10 miles north of Southport and 25 miles south of Milwaukee.
Of the 198 Vergies 18 perches there is about 100 where there is not 10 cart loads of timber.
These Prairies are not of a wet soil, but the greatest part labourable, because the ground is what is termed Voultante. In the middle of the Prairie I have a beautiful platon for hay, of which I ent myself 708 tons last week. On both sides of the field there was fine wheat and Indian corn, potatoes, cabbages, etc.
There is about 50 vergies enclosed-the rest is not. In the middle of the farm there is a run of water that does not dry and that separates the Prairie from the Woodland.
The wood consists of oak, nut trees and hickory - the black soil is from 1 to 2 feet deep - not like Ohioh - which I have seen is not 4 inches deep with a soil of clay beneath.
I know dear Annt, that you are anxious to know what I have paid for it in all.
In the first place I must tell you that there is a log house, and 2 3 of the produce; 2 tieks of wheat containing I suppose abont 700 sheaves equal to the Guernsey ones, and the wheat is fine: the Indian corn is not yet ent, but I expect to have 40 Bushels barley measure; and abont 30 bushels potatoes, and 400 cabbages, onions ete: a quantity of melons and pumpkins, to feed the cattle on and the only cow they had on the estate.
I have paid for all, farm, erop, eow, etc., and etc., 81 sov- ereigns, which makes $405, for the sovereigns are worth $5, at New York they are worth $4.84.
I have purchased 5 old rams, 3 pigs one year old, 3 pigs 2 months old, one heifer 18 months old - the whole for 6 sov- ereigns or $30; and I am on the point of purchasing a yoke of oxen 3 years old for $40 so that we can labour our land and cat bread and meat, without being anxious about our rents. The only tax we have to pay is $6 per year. May God bless Guernsey with all its slaves.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
My dear Aunt, if there are any Guernsey men who wish to quit their mother, to come to America, to purchase land, let them come straight here, without stopping elsewhere; tilled farms are too dear, and those that are not cleared require a great deal of labour: but here they are for the most part. Prairies, which are easy to clear and at service. The land is very cheap and we can keep as mich cattle as one pleases. They have the run of the woods and prairies, that are not closed. and the hogs fatten on the acorns and nuts, and all the animals find themselves near the house at night. It is only in the win- ter season that a person must be cautious to have a good supply of hay, according to the quantity of cattle kept, and if a person has not a sufficient on his own grounds he can ent on the Gov- ernment without paying anything.
At Guernsey it seems there is nothing in America but thieves, barbarians and Indians.
To prove the contrary the way we have passed, we have seen merchandise. tools, etc. in the street night and day, and nobody complains of being robbed; besides we are the only house who close our doors with lock and key. In the country houses they have not even an overlateb at their doors.
There are Indians in these parts, but they have taken oath to conform themselves to the laws of the state. They neither say or do anything to any person. They are of a yellow taint and long black hair. They paint their faces and have rings in their ears, and some even in their noses, for ornament. Their dress consists of a blanket, to envelope them, some wear trou- sers, and others stockings, others have knee breeches, and a waist band ornamented with beads; and they make baskets etc., with ash splits, which they sell for a livelyhood: they kill game for their is no want of it hear: in 3 hours I shot 15 pigeons, and 3 ducks all wild.
I have written to our counsin Mansell and I expect him in 15 days, for he promised to visit ns when we would be estab- lished, for he does not like the Ohio land and I am sure he will purchase here, for we seem to be on Guernsey land.
There is only five years that this land is inhabited by the whites and it is astonishing the number of people already set- tled here, but most parts have purchased from Government with borrowed money, and there are some who pay as high as 50%
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
for their borrowed money, the least they lend money for is 7%.
The produce is cheap, viz - Flour at $21/4 per 100 pounds, or 220 lbs. flour for £1.
The beef is at 3e per pound, pork 4c, Mutton 4c, potatoes 1 - per bu. so that large amounts are not realized. They are obliged to sell their farms at little profits or lose them. This is a favorable time to purchase.
I' am satisfied of my bargain, for our produce will go by water to New York, which is and will always be better than at New Orleans.
We can go to New York in 13 days from here, by water without putting foot on shore,
They are erecting flour mills here so that they will require flour barrels.
My dear Aunt, there are all species of fruit, and we have strawberries on our Prairie, raspberries, plums, apples and grapes, gooseberries and currants in the woods.
The other day I proceeded, accompanied by Betsy, Man- sell, Deborah and Louisa, to fetch 3 Bushels of wild apples, and two bushels of nuts (small), we had a great many large ones.
Margaret and Mary have more work for the ladies than they can do.
We are well respected here.
We have a Presbyterian, Anglican and Baptist Churches etc., etc.
My daughters have 6/- Guernsey money for making a gown, 4 - for a bomiet, 3/6 for each man's shirt, which is double the wages they have at Guernsey for the same work.
In America there is no distinction - a poor man is as much respected as the richest - behavior canses the liberty and equality.
We are seven in the family; we had 36 hundred in weight of baggage; for carterage, porterage, draggage, canals, and lakes since our departure from Guernsey up to our arrival here, with- out reckoning our vietuals, provisions that we took from Guern- sey-, it has cost just 107 sovereigns or £15:6:0 each person, and we have lost nothing of our effects, and although it has cost ns for the transportation of our luggage, it still comes cheap.
In the Weekly Dispatch, printed and published at No. 139
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Fleet Street, London, April 11, 1841, is the following copy of a letter from John Cole, farmer, late of Menliss, Somerset, to his friend. Mr. Gibbons, of No. 2 Arbor Street, Commercial Road, East London:
Wisconsin Territory, Nov. 16, 1840.
Dear Sir: I promised when I left England to better my condition by emigrating, and that if successful I would write to you. At length I have been as good as my word.
I had a fair passage from Bristol to New York. After remaining here a few days I began my labors in this wide country and traveled through the whole of the northern states (the Canadas), but could see no chance for a farmer of small capital to begin farming upon new land in these heavily tim- bered countries, to bring about anything like comfort in my life time. Every rod of ground is covered with timber, the work of a man's life time to clear a small farm, and cleared farms are very dear - entirely out of my reach - so I began to think of returning to England again; but seeing a great emigration in this country from the other states and Canada, I resolved to go back and look at it, and believe me, I found it as much before any other country here as it is possible to be in every point of view. This country is as handsome in appearance as any part I have seen in England. If any industrious person with £100 to £200 does not get a good independent and certain living here, it must be entirely his own fault. I am located three miles from the seaport town of Racine. The land all about this part is of the best quality - principally black loam, and already fit for cultivation - not a stick, bramble, or stump in your way. The timber is in chimps or groves, about one mile apart: enough for fuel or building purposes only, and there are tamarack nearly fit for rails, without splitting, to fence in your farm in any quantity (a great advantage not to be found in any other part). as a person can fence in his farm with very trifling trouble.
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