USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Rock County, Wisconsin; a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens and varied interests, from the earliest times, up to date, Vol. I > Part 45
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Returning from California in the fall of 1855 (some said with $30,000 in gold), Dr. E. N. Clark, his brother, Dexter Clark, of Rockford and others, with E. R. Wadsworth, organized the Wads- worth, Clark & Co. bank, located in the Bushnell block (later Goodwin house), at what is now 403 East Grand avenue.
The hard times of 1857, however, caused their failure, an event in which the editor's father may be said to have had a hand only
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in the sense of having one taken off. At that time. when $100 would secure eighty acres of government farm land, he had loaned one of the incorporators $2,000 on an unsecured note of hand, and in the published list of liabilities occurred the modest item, "Benj. Brown, $2,000." As he never received anything in return, that fact illustrates some of the trying experiences that even our capable business pioneers passed through. Mr. John Doolittle (called familiarly Uncle Jack Doolittle) also lost heavily then.
In 1860 was organized in Beloit the Southern Bank of Wis- consin, which lasted but for a short time.
In the year 1863, H. N. Davis, F. K. Davis and others, from Kenosha, Wis., organized the Beloit National bank, with a capital of $50,000. This continued in business ten years, until the panic of 1873 closed its doors.
Soon after that date, Messrs. Crim and Starkweather rented their premises and opened a private bank, which continued, how- ever, only about two years.
In January, 1879, the Citizens National bank of Beloit was started with the following officers: President, H. P. Taylor; vice-president, John R. Reigart; cashier, W. H. Baumes. The directors were S. T. Merrill, A. B. Carpenter, J. R. Reigart, H. P. Taylor, C. B. Salmon, W. H. Baumes. The Manufacturer's bank, started in 1880 by C. B. Salmon & Co., J. H. French, cashier, was in 1881 merged into the Citizens National bank, which con- tinued until 1886 and then closed up its business by going into voluntary liquidation.
The Second National Bank was organized in July, 1882, with a capital stock of $50,000. President, Charles H. Parker; vice- president, Samuel H. Slaymaker; cashier, Frank H. Stark- weather; assistant cashier, L. Holden Parker. In December, 1899, William B. Strong secured a controlling interest and be- came its president, with F. M. Strong, vice-president, and B. P. Eldred, cashier. The present officers (1908) are F. M. Strong, president ; R. J. Burge, vice-president ; B. P. Eldred, cashier. The present capital stock is $50,000, and the surplus and undivided profits are about $57,000.
The Beloit State Bank was established in Beloit, Wis., in the year 1892, with a capital stock of $75,000, which was afterward reduced, and now stands at $60,000. The original incorporators
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BANKING IN BELOIT
were John Paley, of Beloit, Wis., formerly of Lanark, Carroll county, Illinois ; O. F. McKenney, G. D. Campbell, R. H. Campbell and J. M. Rinewalt, of Mt. Carroll, Ill., and L. M. Bent, of Mor- rison, Ill. The officers were: President, John Paley; vice-presi- dent, J. M. Rinewalt ; cashier, G. S. Whitford. The board of di- rectors consisted of Mr. Paley, Mr. McKenney, Mr. Rinewalt, Mr. G. D. Campbell and Mr. R. H. Campbell. A very short time afterward Mr. G. D. Campbell became cashier, with C. H. Paley as assistant cashier, and C. H. Paley became director in the place of J. M. Rinewalt. These directors were later succeeded by John Paley, C. H. Paley, A. L. Paley, G. D. Campbell and O. F. Mc- Kenney, with John Paley acting as both president and cashier.
Owing to the death, in 1904, of Mr. John Paley, Mr. R. E. Meech, of Beloit, and Mr. H. A. von Oven, of Iowa, were entered upon the books as stockholders, and the board of directors was as follows : Mrs. John Paley, Miss Paley, Mr. H. A. von Oven, Mr. G. D. Campbell and Mr. O. F. McKenney. The officers were chosen as follows: President, H. A. von Oven; vice-president, G. D. Campbell; cashier, C. H. Paley; assistant cashier, R. E. Meech. The above named board of directors and officers have served since the election of 1905, and have been reelected at each annual meeting.
Hyde & Brittan. The one banking institution of Beloit, which, begun in an early day, has survived all the changes of fifty-four years and still enjoys a vigorous existence, is connected with the names of Hyde & Brittan. In the earlier days of Beloit, Mr. Louis C. Hyde conducted a private banking business in a little office on the west side of lower State street, just north of Race. (In the same room Lawyer W. C. Spaulding had a desk and pro- fessed to loan money, but had no connection whatever with Mr. Hyde). In the year 1854 Louis C. Hyde and George B. Sanderson organized the Bank of Beloit with a capital of $60,000. The bank premises were on the east side of State street, where the Brani- gan hotel block now stands, No. 205. The officers of the bank were George B. Sanderson, president; J. G. Winslow, vice-presi- dent; Louis C. Hyde, cashier. Shortly after this organization of the Bank of Beloit, Mr. Hyde withdrew and on the opposite side of the street (about No. 202 State, now occupied by the John Burger market) started a private bank in his own name. This bank continued in his name up to the year 1873, when he took
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
into the business his son-in-law, Walter M. Brittan, making the firm name L. C. Hyde & Brittan.
After the Beloit National bank had closed its doors in the fall of 1873, the general call for a national bank in our city was re- sponded to by Hyde & Brittan, who in the year 1874 organized the First National bank of Beloit, succeeding the L. C. Hyde & Brittan bank. Of that First National bank, L. C. Hyde was presi- dent; Anson P. Waterman, vice-president, and Walter M. Brit- tan, cashier; the capital was $50,000. That bank located in the southwest corner of the Goodwin house building (northeast cor- ner of State street and School, now East Grand avenue), became, as it still remains, an integral part of the regular and conserva- tive business life of our city. After ten years of business, this First National bank, in the year 1884, went into voluntary liqui- dation and was succeeded in business by the private bank of L. C. Hyde & Brittan. After the death of Banker Louis C. Hyde in 1899 this bank, reorganized and incorporated under the state banking laws of Wisconsin, was continued as the L. C. Hyde & Brittan bank, Walter M. Brittan, president; E. S. Green, cashier ; R. K. Rockwell, assistant cashier. (Mr. Ed Green says that he began service in the Beloit National bank when he was fifteen years old, but does not say whether that start was thirty-five or was forty years ago. It is enough that he has kept right on in that connection with banking ever since and is here yet to serve you.) In 1904 this bank purchased the Carpenter block at the east end of the bridge on the north side of East Grand avenue, and moved to that locality, which it still occupies.
The Beloit Savings Bank. The establishment of this bank was largely due to the influence and efforts of Hon. Sereno T. Merrill, who was well seconded by John A. Holmes.
March 21, 1881, at a meeting of twenty-six citizens, held in the city council room, Hon. J. H. Reigart, chairman, and Booth M. Malone, Esq., secretary ; Hon. S. T. Merrill, the prime mover, stated the object of the meeting and, articles of incorporation having been previously prepared and signed, the Beloit Savings bank was duly organized according to the Wisconsin statutes of 1876. The first president was Sereno T. Merrill; secretary and treasurer, Elder John A. Holmes. The office of the bank, located at first on the second floor of the block of D. S. Foster (357 East
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BANKING IN BELOIT
Grand avenue), who donated that first year's rent, was moved in 1886 to a rear room in the Citizens bank (Salmon's Postoffice block), in 1887 to a second story rear room in the same block and in 1888 to a front office of that block. In 1890 the bank moved to A. P. Waterman's office in the Goodwin block on School street (now East Grand avenue). Then in 1891 it was removed to the Ritcher block, 355 East Grand avenue, where it remained until the present location, No. 348 East Grand avenue, having been purchased, was entered upon, January 1, 1900.
This bank has paid semi-annual dividends at the rate of three and one-half per cent per annum. Its first published report, that for July 1, 1881, showed that there were forty-one accounts opened and that the deposits received amounted then to $1,983.02. Ten years later, January 1, 1891, there were 1,285 open accounts and the amount due depositors was $72,616.84. According to the report for January, 1908, there are now some 6,000 deposit ac- counts and the amount due depositors December 31, 1907, was $1,179,565, an increase during the previous year, notwithstanding the panic, of about $53,000 over the deposits for 1906. The total amount paid in dividends to depositors up to January, 1908, in- clusive, is $284,173.84.
The present officers (May, 1908) are: President, David H. Pollock ; vice presidents, A. N. Bort, J. T. Johnson ; secretary and treasurer, Edward F. Hanson.
The present record of the four banks of the city of Beloit, February, 1908, is : Amount of capital and undivided profits, in- cluding the guarantee fund of the savings bank, $337,860. The amount of deposits is $2,895,280.
EDGERTON BANKS.
The First National Bank, of Edgerton, Wis., was organized in the year 1903 by George W. Doty, W. McChesney, John Mawhin- ney, Theodore A. Clarke, E. G. Bussey, Samuel Hall and U. G. Miller.
It began business with a paid up capital of $25,000. For four months it was managed by V. S. Kidd, cashier, who was then succeeded by Wirt Wright, elected cashier and coming to Edger- ton from a Chicago bank.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
April 1, 1907, Roy F. Wright was elected cashier, succeeding Wirt Wright.
The capital continues to be $25,000, and this bank enjoys the confidence of the community.
The Tobacco Exchange Bank handles large sums connected with the tobacco trade of Edgerton, mentioned elsewhere.
XXIV.
HISTORY OF THE JANESVILLE PRESS. By A. O. Wilson.
Whoever undertakes to write a history of the Janesville press will soon discover that the task is both great and discouraging.
The absence by death or removal of witnesses to interview, the general chaos of records, and the conflict of authorities upon points where agreement might reasonably be expected, are some of the difficulties to be met with. When names and dates are wanted I find the oldest inhabitant very accommodating and sympathetic, but his memory is woefully defective. I have en- deavored to make this research complete, but cannot vouch for its absolute correctness. But why should certainty of detail be expected concerning a paper the very name of which is lost be- yond recovery ?
Janesville has had several of this class, and four-fifths of the newspapers that once existed here have disappeared, to- gether with the men who published them, without leaving a ves- tige of their history. Some of these papers were doubtless bril- liant, and the oldest inhabitant is fond of quoting them as models for coming generations to imitate, but no one seems to have pre- served the files of his favorite organ.
I have probably interviewed personally or by letter a hun- dred persons, and the files of existing papers have been freely placed at my disposal; yet with all this willing assistance secur- ing the necessary facts has been extremely difficult. I am never- theless under great obligations to all who have assisted in any way, and especially to Hon. B. B. Eldredge, for the use of his collection of early records. I have listed fifty-six publications, whereas the annotated catalogue of the State Historical Society credits Janesville with only about twenty, since 1845.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
THE PRESS.
I herewith submit a list of Janesville publications, with date of first issue, etc., also purposes of publication, politics, etc., where known :
1845. "Janesville Gazette," weekly, Whig, now Republican.
1854. "Janesville Gazette," daily, Republican.
1865. "Janesville Gazette," semi-weekly, Republican.
1846. "Rock County Democrat," weekly, Democrat. Suspend- ed in 1848.
1849. "Rock County Badger," weekly, Democrat, changed to
1851. "Badger State," weekly, Democrat, consolidated with
1851. "The Democratic Standard," weekly, Democrat, suspend- ed in 1858.
1856. "The Daily Standard," Democrat, weekly, suspended in 1858.
1859. "Janesville Weekly Times," Democrat, 1859-60.
1859. "Janesville Daily Times," Democrat, 1859-60.
1854. "The Battering Ram," Free Soil. Date supplied.
1853.
"The Free Press," Free Soil, weekly. Absorbed by "Ga- zette" 1856.
1860. "Janesville Democrat," weekly, Democrat, September, 1860, to December, 1860, changed to "Rock County Re- publican."
1860. "Rock County Republican," weekly, December, 1860, to June, 1861.
1860. "The Monitor," weekly, Democrat, 1860-63.
1870. "The Picayune," monthly, drug business, 1870-73.
1855. "Wisconsin Journal of Education," monthly, January, 1855, still published.
1851. "Demokraten," Norwegian, Democrat, June to October, 1851.
1849. "Wisconsin and Iowa Farmer and Northwest Cultivator," weekly, August, 1849, to 1855.
1869. "The Northern Farmer," weekly, agricultural, 1869-70.
1869. "Rock County Recorder," weekly, Independent Repub- lican, still published, changed to Democrat in 1885.
1878. "The Daily Recorder," Independent Republican, still pub- lished, changed to Democrat in 1885.
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THE JANESVILLE PRESS
1869. "The Janesville City Times," weekly, Demoerat, consoli- dated with "The Recorder" in 1886.
1878. "The Janesville Daily Times," Democrat, suspended in 1881.
1870. "The Workingman's Friend," weekly, political reform, discontinued same year.
1869. "Spirit of the Turf," semi-monthly, horse industry, sus- pended 1870, removed to Chicago.
1870. "Our Folks at Home," monthly, literary, suspended shortly.
1889. "The Janesville Journal," weekly, German industry, still issued.
1891. "The Family Friend," monthly, business promoter, soon suspended.
ยท 1891. "Janesville Republican," weekly, Republican, September, 1891, to April, 1899.
1892. "Janesville Daily Republican," discontinued in 1899.
1894. "The Sunday Mirror," weekly, literary society gossip, consolidated with "Republican" February, 1895.
1884. "The Commercial Union," weekly, business quotations, still published in Chicago.
1886. "The Janesville Signal," weekly, literary and news, ab- sorbed by Family Friend Publishing Company, 1892.
1878. "The Penny Post," daily, Independent Republican, sus- pended about 1879 or 1880.
1866. "The Janesville Democrat," weekly, Democrat, removed to Juneau, Wis.
1867. "North-Western Advance," weekly, temperance, trans- ferred to Milwaukee, 1870.
1874. "The Bulletin of Progress," monthly, telegraphy, still issued.
1887. "The Janesville Sun," weekly, bus. and news, consoli- dated with "Signal," 1889.
1889. "Wisconsin Tobaeco Leaf," weekly, tobacco trade, dis- continued June 29, 1899.
1898. "Farm and Home," weekly, farm interests, still pub- lished.
1892. "Wisconsin Druggist's Exchange," monthly, pharmacy, still published.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
1898. "Wisconsin Medical Recorder," monthly, medicine and surgery, still issued.
1895. "The Vedette," monthly, high school interests, suspend- ed 1897.
1898. "The Phoenix," monthly, high school interests, discon- tined 1899.
1886. "Our Own," monthly, high school interests, discontinued 1886.
1895. "Pebbles," weekly, political reform, discontinued 1896.
1894. "The Sentinel," quarterly, Trinity Episcopal church, dis- continued 1897.
1889. "Our Church Home," monthly, Congregational church, discontinued 1892.
1894. "The Angelus," monthly, Christ Episcopal church, still published.
1896. "Free Religious Leaflet," monthly, Unitarian, discontin- ued 1897.
1898. "Church Echoes," monthly, First Baptist church, still issued.
1888. "The Lamp-Lighter," monthly, Methodist Episcopal church, removed to Milwaukee in 1896.
1868. "The Spiritualist," weekly, discontinued 1869.
1880. "The Chronicle," daily, Republican.
1900.
"Irish-American Star," weekly, now "Catholic Star."
"The Janesville Gazette," weekly, was the first newspaper published in Janesville, and made its initial appearance August 14, 1845, while Wisconsin was still a territory and Janesville but a country village.
Levi Alden and a partner named Stoddard were the pub- lishers, and as this event antedated the Republican party, the "Gazette" became the exponent of Whig doctrines.
In December of 1845 W. F. Tompkins succeeded Stoddard in the business, and he sold to Mr. Alden. The firm of Alden & Grattan then appeared as publishers, Grattan having a nominal interest until September, 1848, when he withdrew.
In December, 1848, Charles Holt bought a half interest and became joint editor, an arrangement which was continued with slight interruption until August, 1859, when Hiram Bowen and Daniel Wilcox came in, the new firm doing business under the title of Holt, Bowen & Wilcox. It may be of interest to many
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THE JANESVILLE PRESS
of the older residents to know that the senior member, Mr. Holt, is still living at Kankakee, Ill. In reply to a letter asking for personal recollections Mr. Holt says (letter of June 21, 1899) : "I might beat you in personal recollections when the 'Gazette' combatted General Crabb, Andrew Palmer, Alexander T. Gray, James Armstrong, Dan Brown, G. H. Bishop and others as Dem- ocratie opponents and newspaper competitors, but who can com- bine the present with the past much better than I can."
It is self-evident, judging from the familiarity with which he quotes these names of Janesville citizens long since dead, that Mr. Holt's mind is still vigorous and in good working order.
July 4, 1854, a six-column daily was issued, but at the end of three months was suspended. In March, 1857, Mr. Holt bought the "Janesville Free Press," consolidating it with the "Gazette," and began the publication of a morning daily of seven columns, and for some time subsequently the weekly issue was called the "Gazette and Free Press."
(Statement of fact from the City Directory of 1859 by Alasco D. Brigham.)
Holt & Bowen composed the firm of the "Morning Gazette" publishers, and it would seem that there were some changes of proprietorship previous to this not mentioned in the records.
It appears, however, that the name "Free Press" was dropped from the weekly about 1864, when the new firm, consisting of A. M. Thompson, W. G. Roberts and Daniel Wilcox, took charge and started the "Semi-weekly Gazette." In December, 1863, Holt and Bowen retired, and the business was apportioned as follows: Mr. Thompson as managing editor, Mr. Roberts city editor and Mr. Wilcox business manager. The daily was changed from a morning issue to an evening paper on March 19, 1860, and this arrangement continued till 1870. July 1, 1870, the "Ga- zette" outfit was purchased by General James Bintliff and R. L. and A. W. Colvin, forming the new Gazette Printing Company. General Bintliff became chief editor, W. S. Bowen local editor, A. M. Colvin secretary and R. L. Colvin treasurer and business manager. The prosperity of the "Gazette" was now widely rec- ognized throughout the state, its previous able management be- ing fully sustained by the new company in all respects. General Bintliff may not have been Mr. Thompson's equal as a far- sighted political editor, but the general was a man of refined
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
tastes, a patient scholar, and always a welcome guest at local entertainments, of which there were many in his time, both mu- sical and literary. It is with much regret that I learn that he is nearly blind and past work at his home in Chicago. (1900.)
From July, 1870, to March, 1874, Wheeler S. Bowen, a son of Hiram Bowen, held the position of local editor.
And about this time there appeared upon the scene a finely educated Englishman by the name of Charles E. Jones, who for a brief season earned his daily bread by doing local work on the "Gazette." Mr. Jones was a ripe scholar and a gentleman of distinguished abilities as a writer and lecturer, but he was not created for local editor on a city newspaper, and soon drifted away to Australia, where he became a member of parliament.
For some time after Mr. Bowen retired to take charge of a paper at Yankton, Dak., there was no regularly installed city editor on the "Gazette" force, but the work was done by John C. Spencer, foreman of the news room, C. E. Jones and Alex- ander Pierce.
In September, 1874, Nicholas Smith became the regular local editor, and when General Bintliff retired in 1878 Mr. Smith be- came chief editor. In 1878 a new company was formed, officered as follows: Isaac Farnsworth, president; Frank Barnett, secre- tary, and E. B. Farnsworth, treasurer. Howard W. Tilton be- came city editor, but in the following March Messrs. Barnett and E. B. Farnsworth were succeeded by A. M. and R. L. Colvin as secretary and treasurer respectively.
Of the parties here named it may be mentioned that Mr. Tilton finally retired to accept a position on the Omaha "Bee," which, I believe, he still holds. Mr. Bowen has acquired a repu- tation in South Dakota. Mr. Colvin has long been engaged in other business. Colonel Smith, now of Milwaukee, Wis., has ceased work as a newspaper writer, but has prepared and pub- lished an interesting history of hymns and their authors. In reply to a letter asking for personal recollections in connection with the "Gazette" he informed me in June last that he was compelled to quit work and seek rest and treatment. He refers to certain acts with evident pride, among them being that the "Gazette" under his management was foremost in championing biennial sessions of the legislature and in turning public senti-
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THE JANESVILLE PRESS
ment in favor of John C. Spooner for United States senator in the contest of 1885.
Mr. Smith retired from the "Gazette" in July, 1890.
(Facts from Colonel Smith's Letter.)
In 1883 H. F. Bliss purchased the "Gazette" and assumed its management in April of that year, and the local editors were John C. Spencer and B. F. Nowlan. The record shows that the company still existed, with the following titles: Nicholas Smith, president and managing editor; II. F. Bliss, treasurer and man- ager; William Bladon, secretary; John C. Spencer, eity editor. Mr. Nowlan came in October, 1889. From July, 1890, to 1898 J. C. Wilmarth was managing editor, with J. C. Spencer local editor and B. F. Nowlan assistant. In 1895 Spencer retired and Now- lan became city editor, with W. W. Watt reporter. In 1898 Mr. Nowlan became chief editor and J. C. Wilmarth business man- ager. At this writing the "Gazette" staff consists of B. F. Nowlan, chief editor; Fred Puhler, city editor, and W. W. Watt, reporter. W. C. Wilmarth was quite recently compelled to retire from active work on account of ill health. (1900.)
(Facts, names, dates, etc., obtained from personal interviews, letters, local histories and "Gazette" files.)
A portion of the "Gazette" files were somewhat damaged by fire not long since, and it is to be regretted that they are not kept in a fireproof vault, as they constitute the most conserva- tive history of Janesville in existence from 1845 to the present time.
"The Free Press" weekly was established June 6, 1853, by a group of men calling themselves Free Democrats. They consist- ed of James W. Burgess, Joseph Baker, R. B. Treat, Orrin Guern- sey, E. A. Howland and others, Mr. Baker acting as editor. As a matter of fact the "Free Press" was a sort of advance courier of those political doctrines which a little later culminated in the formation of the present Republican party of the nation. In October, 1853, William M. Doty bought a half interest and Baker & Doty appeared as the publishers until June 7, 1855, when Baker became sole proprietor. In October G. B. Burnett and A. J. Hall took a half interest and issued a daily and weekly. Baker sold to Burnett and Hall, and E. C. Sackett bought the entire plant, employing E. F. Winthrow as editor. Soon after Fre-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
mont's defeat for the presidency in 1856 the "Free Press" was absorbed by the "Gazette."
(Facts from the Directory of 1859 and History of Rock County.)
"The Battering Ram" was a Free Soil paper. Date of issue and name of publisher not known; probably about 1854 or 1856.
"The Rock County Democrat," weekly. In August, 1846, George W. Crabb issued the "Rock County Democrat," which was suspended following the presidential election of 1848.
(Brigham's Directory of 1859.)
"The Rock County Badger," weekly, was started in 1849 by John A. Brown as a Democratic paper to take the place of the "Rock County Democrat." Alex T. Gray was coeditor until October, 1850, when Messrs. George W. Crabb and John A. Brown formed a partnership, changing the name of the paper to that of
"Badger State," weekly. In 1851 George W. Crabb was suc- ceeded by D. C. Brown, a brother of John A. Brown, as publisher, who conducted this paper but a short time, when it was consoli- dated with the "Democratic Standard."
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