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. II > Part 11
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John Hackett subsequently became president and Joseph Hendley, Sr., superintendent, and both remained in these posi- tions until their death. All of the original stockholders and officers are now dead.
Later the business passed into the control of the Hendley family and was managed for many years by Messrs. J. L. and T. C. Hendley, who sold out in 1906, to the merger company, which was reorganized in July, 1906, under the present company.
The early day historians speak of the enterprise as a dis- couragement for all connected with it. There were few patrons and no incentive for enlargement, and the gas was expensive to produce on so small an output, and had it not been for such a de- termined and capable business man as Joseph Hendley, Sr., it is doubtful if the enterprise would have been carried on after the first few years of experiment.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Mr. Hendley inspired all with confidence in the enterprise, and made friends for the company by his patient, consistent, conservative and wise administration of its affairs. He urged patrons to be economical of gas and showed them how to get the best results from it and finally developed a fine business from an almost forlorn hope.
Water. Prior to 1885 city fire protection in Beloit consisted of two hand fire engines, which were operated by two volunteer fire companies, who always did splendid work wherever they could get water from the river. Numerous and disastrous fires often occurred, however, outside of that supply, especially from 1880 to 1885, the last two destructive fires being the Baptist and Catholic churches, both of which slowly and tantalizingly burned to the ground without water before a helpless crowd. Along in this period Beloit was dead. Numerous failures had occurred, manufacturing was stagnant, growth impossible, and, on account of the fire risk, new companies would not locate at Beloit. The citizens and common council took up the matter and succeeded, in 1882, in getting some Philadelphia people to accept a franchise under the name of Beloit Water Company and to build a water system. This company, after spending some $20,000, failed and stopped work. During the next three years the city publicly advertised for a water works system and offered unusual induce- ments to any one who would take up the project.
In 1885, Messrs. C. H. Morse, W. H. Wheeler, J. B. Peet, C. H. Parker, E. C. Allen and C. B. Salmon agreed to build a water works system, and the present franchise was granted under the name of M. M. Moore, who assigned to the Beloit Water Works Company, and the works were completed, tested and accepted by the city in November, 1885.
From that time forward the city began to show new signs of life and steadily grew from 5,000 people to its present size of 15,000 people. Early in June, 1906, the Salmon brothers, who were the sole owners, sold the water works to individuals, who also purchased the gas and electric plants, and put all three utilities into a new company, under the name of the Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company, which, on account of the default of one of the promoters, was reorganized in 1906 under the present management.
The record of the Beloit water works in service is unequaled
William Clifton Daland
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BELOIT'S MANUFACTURING INTERESTS
by any water company, private or publie, in Wisconsin. Beloit's fire losses to the per cent of premium for fire insurance collected, sinee 1885, is less than that of any other city of its size in the northwest. If all the fire premiums paid by citizens since 1885 had been paid into the city treasury and the city had paid all of the fire losses during the same period, there would now be a surplus of over $400,000 on hand.
XXX.
THE PRESS OF BELOIT.
Journalism in Beloit dates back to September 4, 1846, when Messrs. Cooley and Civer established the "Beloit Messenger," a paper independent in politics; this was published but a short time when it suspended for lack of interest and no file of it is known to the editor.
The existence of many other papers has been clearly estab- lished, but only faint traces of their existence have been found. Files are undiscoverable, and the only means or proofs of their existence are the memories of some of their old time patrons.
The Beloit "Journal," supposed to be the next paper pub- lished, made its first appearance on June 29, 1848, issued by Stokes and Briggs. This paper was a weekly, published in the interest of the Whig party and was edited by J. R. Briggs. With various changes of name and proprietors, this paper has been continuously published up to the present time, and still lives and flourishes as the Beloit "Free Press." In the fall of 1848. it passed under the control of J. R. Briggs, Jr., who was sole proprietor until September, 1849, when a partnership was formed with C. G. Foster, of Troy, New York. In May, 1854, Foster purchased the interest of his partner and continned the publi- cation of a Republican paper until August, 1855, when he sold out to A. Paine, J. J. Bushnell and Lucins G. Fisher, under the name of A. Paine & Company. The paper was published by them but a few weeks when it was again sold to H. L. Devereux. In January, 1856, Devereux formed a partnership with B. E. Hale, who had charge of the editorial department. On May 27, 1856, the paper made its appearance under the name of B. E. Hale-no explanation for the change being made in any of its columns. February 19, 1857, B. E. Hale & Company were an- nounced as the publishers.
In 1857 a weekly Democratic paper was started by De Lorma Brooks, and was called "The Herald"; shortly after that an-
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THE PRESS OF BELOIT
other Republican paper called "the Beloit Times," made its appearance and was published by N. O. Perkins, the two pub- lishers effecting an arrangement whereby the Democratic "Her- ald" was printed on one side of the sheet, and the Republican "Times" on the other. D. P. Hinckling was associated but a short time with Mr. Brooks in the conduct of the "Herald." Mr. Perkins ultimately purchased Mr. Brooks' interest and becom- ing sole proprietor of the "Herald," changed the name of the paper to the "Beloit Courier," and on January 1, 1860, having associated with himself Barret H. Smith, the firm changed to Perkins & Smith, with A. P. Waterman and Wright and New- comb as silent partners.
Under the management of B. E. Hale & Company, the "Jour- nal" was continued until April 21, 1859, when it was purchased by William E. Hale and Horatio Pratt, with H. Pratt as editor. In 1860 Mr. Hale retired and the paper passed into the control of H. Pratt & Company-the firm consisting of Horatio Pratt and James A. White.
The field, however, being too small for the support of two Republican papers, negotiations were started and arrangements ultimately made, under which the two were consolidated and named the "Journal and Courier," managed by Perkins & Smith, N. O. Perkins editor. A bound file of the Beloit "Jour- nal and Courier," complete, from April 5, 1860, to March 27, 1862, has been preserved by Mrs. N. O. Perkins and loaned to the editor of this history. It is expected that this volume will be added to the meagre, scanty and imperfect files of Beloit papers now preserved in the Beloit college library. On October 31. 1861, the paper was reduced from eight to seven columns. On November 7, 1861, the "Journal and Courier" was transferred to Barret H. and Lathrop E. Smith. On the 22nd of January, 1863, Lathrop E. Smith retired and the paper was carried on by Barret H. Smith. April 21, 1864, Barret H. Smith severed his connection with the paper, and was succeeded by Mr. A. Paine, who announced that the paper would not be tied to any political party. June 9 the compound name was dropped and the paper reappeared as "The Beloit Journal."
Chalmers Ingersoll started the "Beloit Free Press" in Febru- ary, 1866, and soon absorbed the "Beloit Journal" by purchase. In the summer of 1869 Ingersoll sold his interest to M. Frank
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
& Co., and the old name of the paper-"The Journal"-was re- vived. During the next winter the paper passed to the control of T. O. Thompson, and J. B. Dow, the latter disposing of his interest, in the fall of 1870, to E. D. Coe. The "Free Press" was resurrected September 21, 1870, by Chalmers Ingersoll and N. O. Perkins. After about three months, Chalmers Ingersoll became sole proprietor, but Perkins continued as editor. During the spring of 1871 the "Free Press" again absorbed the "Journal," Mr. Thompson retiring and Mr. Coe acquiring a half interest in the "Free Press." The following fall Mr. Ingersoll bought out Mr. Coe and became sole owner. Mr. N. O. Perkins continued his editorial connection until the winter of 1872 and '73, when he changed to a position on the staff of the "Milwaukee Senti- nel."
May, 1873, Henry R. Hobart, after publishing a quarterly, call- ed the "Beloit Crescent" for a year or so previous, became associ- ate editor of the "Free Press" with Mr. Ingersoll; in March fol- lowing bought a half interest in the business and, until March, 1877, conducted the paper under the firm name of Ingersoll & Hobart. In the latter year Mr. Hobart became the sole pro- prietor. In 1875 Messrs. Ingersoll & Hobart had enlarged the size of the "Free Press" to a nine column folio.
July 1, 1878, Charles S. Guernsey and David J. Welch be- gan publishing an evening paper, called the "Daily Herald," with Albert Ayer as manager of the advertising department.
August 7, 1878, the "Free Press" office first issued a daily paper, called the "Phonograph," which was published and edited by J. W. Cary, G. E. Farrer, Ingalls & Hobart. In continuation of this, on the first of February, 1879, Henry F. Hobart started the "Daily Free Press," a four-column folio, with Albert F. Ayer as local reporter, merging in it also, later, the "Daily Herald," of which in 1880 Otis H. Brand was editor and pro- prietor.
In 1882 Mr. Cham Ingersoll again became the owner, editor and publisher of the "Free Press," Mr. Ayer continuing as city editor.
In the year 1903 Mr. M. C. Hanna, a Milwaukee newspaper man, was admitted to partnership. In 1907, June 1, Inger- soll and Hanna sold the paper to the Free Press Publishing Company, M. C. Hanna, President and Editor; A. F. Ayer, Vice
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THE PRESS OF BELOIT
President ; D. HI. Foster, Secretary; J. S. Hubbard, Treasurer. With the new firm arrangement the capacity of the business of the office was doubled and the circulation has been largely in- creased. From the beginning this paper has been and still is strongly Republican.
Another paper, of which no file has been preserved, was the semi-weekly "Register," started by Mr. Ehrman and Mr. Le- land in the spring of 1870. It was soon numbered among the "lights that failed."
The "Graphic," an eight-page Democratic weekly, made its appearance, January 13, 1877, with F. E. Fillmore and W. D. Matthews as the editors and proprietors. Early in 1878 Mr. Matthews withdrew from the paper and Mr. Fillmore continued it until his death in December of that year. He was succeeded in the proprietorship by O. H. Brand and a Mr. C. B. Case, who in August, 1879, sold his interest to Brand.
In the summer of 1879 Mr. Julius A. Truesdell became as- sociated in the editorial work with Mr. Hobart, on the "Free Press." Soon after Mr. Truesdell founded a weekly paper, called "The Outlook." In May, 1883, Mr. F. F. Livermore became edi- tor and proprietor of the "Outlook" and served as its editor about three years. In or near 1886 a stock company was formed to publish a successor to the "Outlook," a paper called the "Daily Citizen," with Rev. Forest A. Marsh, pastor of the Baptist church, as its editor. This was continued about two years, when the plant was sold to a Mr. Wallace Brown. After conducting the paper about one year he sold it to the firm of Metzger & Reprogle. The latter soon after sold his interest to Metzger, who then continued the paper under the name of the "Daily News."
January 1, 1897, D. B. Worthington, leaving a position on the staff of the Chicago "Times-Herald," came to Beloit and took ac- tive business and editorial management of the Beloit "Daily News," then an afternoon newspaper. The "Daily News" for sev- eral years had been conducted as a Democratic paper and the pre- ponderance of Republicans in Beloit had made the paper's suc- cess impossible. It had drifted into the hands of two young men, who changed its name to the "Morning News," but the paper survived that name only a few months. Just as it had determined to go out of existence Mr. Worthington took hold of the paper and restored its original name, made it an after-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
noon instead of a morning newspaper and at first, Independent in politics. A printer was associated with him in the venture, but after two years Mr. Worthington secured for a partner Wal- ter S. Goodland, now owner of the "Racine Times," who, ten months later, sold his interest to Mr. Worthington. The latter's progressive, energetic policy resulted in the "Daily News" be- coming a largely circulated, influential and prosperous paper, Republican since the year 1900. He modernized the plant and engaged extensively in high-grade color and half-tone printing and owned the business alone until July 1, 1906; then T. C. Hendley, a successful business man of Beloit, bought a half in- terest and a stock company was formed under the name of the "Daily News" Publishing Company. In 1907, this company erected a building of its own on Fourth street, Beloit, costing over $30,000, and added the latest types of presses and linotype machines, making the plant as a whole one of the most com- plete in Wisconsin. The circulation of the "Daily News" has now, 1908, reached about 3,500. It is Republican in politics and represents the so-called "progressive" wing of that party in the state.
The Beloit College "Monthly" was established in 1853, and first edited by J. A. Brewster, Alexander Kerr and H. L. Marsh. The "Monthly" was published by a Publication Society, until the winter of 1872, when that society was merged into the Archæan Union. On September 18, 1875, the "Monthly merged with the "Round Table," a journal founded by W. H. Carr, Booth M. Malone and J. A. Truesdell, all members of the class of 1877. The "Round Table" and "College Monthly" (as the publication was from that time called in order to preserve the name and prestige of the older journal), was published semi- monthly under the new management. The next year the class of 1877 arranged with the Archæan Society to assume the pub- lication of the "Round Table," and the year following the man- agement reverted to the society; the college magazine was edited by their board of editors, and has been called ever since, the "Round Table." It is published weekly during the college year by the Archæan Union, as the organ of the students, alumni and friends of Beloit College.
XXXI.
SMALLER CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNS.
The histories of Janesville and Beloit have been separately given. The smaller cities of Rock county are Clinton, Edgerton and Evansville.
Clinton is the southeast township of the county and is known as town 1, range 14, east, and is one of the very choicest gems of the magnificent Badger state.
April 9, 1837, Deacon Chauncey Tuttle, Dr. Dennis Mills, Mil- ton S. Warner and William S. Murray commenced a settlement on the west side of Jefferson Prairie, within the present limits of the town of Clinton. The first structure consisted of four crotches set in the ground with poles thrown across and a brush heap for a roof, sided up on three sides with Indian blankets. By a log heap fire in front was cooked the first meal in Clinton. The floor was made of a wagon box carefully taken to pieces and laid upon the ground, and this served every purpose of a house for eight days and nights. April 10 was spent in an examination of the prairie and adjoining timber lands. A few sections were marked and taken possession of in the name of the "Jefferson Prairie Company." The next business was to cut and haul logs, from which a house 12x16 was soon constructed without the use of a single foot of sawed lumber, which building afterwards served as a shelter for many of Clinton's first settlers.
Charles Tuttle was soon dispatched to Rockford, the nearest point where grain could be obtained. The horses were exchanged for oxen and a breaking plow, and about one hundred acres were were broken and crops of corn, potatoes, oats, buckwheat, turnips, etc., were sown.
Ezekiel Brownell and Adaline Pratt were the first couple mar- ried in the township, Joseph S. Pierce, justice of the peace, officiat- ing. The nearest provision market at this time was Chicago, where flour was from $10 to $12 per barrel and pork from $7 to $10 per hundred. The journey was made in from two to three weeks, according to the condition of the "sloughs."
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Mrs. S. S. Downer, in the year 1838, gave birth to a daughter, afterwards named Lucy, who was the first white child born here. Mrs. Milton S. Warner was the mother of the second native born child; also a daughter, named Charlotte, afterward the wife of the late William B. Guild.
The first school taught in Clinton was by Miss Eliza Baker, in the year 1843, at Willis' Corners, with an attendance of twenty scholars.
Ole K. Knudson, or Natesta, father of Henry Natesta, was the first of our many thrifty and early Norwegian settlers.
The town was organized in 1842 and was then nine miles square, taking in what is now a part of Bradford and Turtle.
The first town meeting was held at the home of Charles Tuttle, April 5, 1842. The early settlers deserve great credit for the interest they took in school matters, and their example has ever been followed by our people. At their first school meeting was levied the initial public tax, and was for school purposes, to the amount of $100.
Clinton has ever since then maintained a good school and has been the institution from which very many have gone forth to successfully battle with the ups and downs of life. At the present time there is a large new school building, presided over by seven able teachers, while in the outlying districts there are several so- called district schools.
The Congregational Church, of Clinton, was organized March 30, 1858, with a membership of thirty-five. The ministers who have served as pastors are: Rev. W. H. Bernard, Rev. P. F. Warner, Rev. James Brewer, D. M. Breckenridge, Rev. G. F. Bron- son, Rev. S. D. Peet, W. J. Clarke, F. N. Dexter and Rev. W. H. Moore. The main church edifice was erected in 1860 at a cost of some $2,000, besides the site and much labor given by Thomas Tuttle. In 1867 the parsonage was built at a cost of some $1,800. In 1871 the addition was built for a vestry, costing some $1,900. The bell was purchased in 1876 for $300.
The Baptist Church. In August, 1838, Deacon Stephen Bar- rett with his family moved here from Ohio, and John Lewis and his family arrived here from the state of Pennsylvania, October 30, 1838. Deacon Abel F. Lewis, a licentiate, came to visit his brother, John, and while here for a few days in November held the first Baptist meeting in the place. In the spring of 1839
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Brother Lewis again returned and services were held during the summer. The first Sabbath in January Elder F. Topping held a meeting at the home of Deacon S. Barrett, after which, for some time, he preached here every other week. A goodly number of additions to the church was the result. May, 1840, the meeting was held at the home of Brother John Lewis, with Elder P. W. Lake as moderator and Elder Topping as clerk. In the years 1849 and 1850 the old Baptist church was built at Clinton Corners, but was moved here in 1857. This building was used by them until the year 1867, when the present structure was erected, which is a building 38x64, with a vestry in the rear which is 20x33, at a cost of some $6,500. October 24, 1840, Elder F. Topping was invited to preach half the time. July 3, 1843, Rev. Mr. Winchell was secured for each alternate week. November 11, 1843, Rev. Moses Pickett was called to preach every other week. September 7, 1844, he was re-engaged and remained two years. November 28, 1846, Elder Charles Button was engaged, remaining until 1849. In 1850 M. W. Webster and M. B. True were the pastors. Rev. Purrett was the pastor in 1856, S. Jones in 1857, E. B. Hatch from 1858 to 1865, C. M. Newell from 1865 to 1867, T. S. Mize from 1867 until his death in 1871, after which Rev. Taylor supplied the pulpit for four months and W. W. Moore six months. Rev. H. W. Stearns was the pastor from 1872 to 1878, Rev. C. C. Marston from 1878 to 1881, Rev. H. A. Smith from 1882 to 1886, Rev. H. Happell from 1886 to 1891, Rev. W. B. Stubbert from 1891 to 1896, and Rev. T. J. Parsons, ? ? ? ?
The Methodist Church. This church was organized at Sum- merville in the fall of 1844. The members at the organization were J. O. Case and wife, Bennett Wooster and wife, and Peter Losee. Elder Flanders was the preacher in charge; Elder Stock- ing was the presiding elder. In 1845 Harson Northrop and wife, and H. Newell and wife settled here and united with them. The present church edifice was erected in 1857, Rev. H. B. Crandall being the preacher in charge. Rev. Thomas Eddy preached the dedication sermon. Their present fine new parsonage was erected in 1896 at a cost of some $3,000, under the efforts and great assist- ance of the pastor, Rev. W. P. Leek.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church. On the first Mon- day in 1880 Rev. F. Buhring came and preached the first German Lutheran sermon in Clinton, in the home of F. Mix, near the
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
depot. After having preached for a time at different private houses the attendants of the services had become so numerous that they were forced to build a church. A lot on the hill was bought and a little church 24x40 was erected and, on July 16, 1882, dedicated. The congregation was organized by Rev. F. Buhring in 1883 with sixteen members. Everything went smoothly until 1886. In 1886 Rev. F. Buhring received a call from Minnesota and accepted. For a short time the congregation was without a minister. A call was sent to Rev. Emil Base, who accepted, and July 25, 1886, he was duly installed by Rev. J. Schlerf, of Janes- ville. The church building became too small, and in 1887 it was rebuilt. In 1891 Rev. Base was called away to Mayville, Wis., and Rev. H. Rohrs, from Hilbert, Wis., became his successor.
The Holy Catholic Church, of Clinton, was established under the supervision of the diocese of Milwaukee in the fall of 1844. Very Rev. Martin Kundig, from Milwaukee, attended for two years; Rev. Peter John Fonder, of Burlington, two years; since which time the fathers from Janesville, Geneva, and most of the time from Beloit, have looked after the spiritual affairs to a con- siderable extent in the southeastern part of the town, where they have a neat church building. At times they have had nearly three hundred communicants; but of late years, the families hav- ing become scattered, services have been held there but irregu- larly.
The Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in the Town of Clin- ton. According to the history of Rev. O. J. Hatlestad the congre- gation was organized by the Rev. O. Andrewson, and the time of organization is given in a historic sketch left by Rev. Andrew- son, as the summer of 1849, at the house of Even Larsen. The records of the first meeting have unfortunately been lost. For about six years the congregation was without a permanent pastor, but was served partly by Rev. O. Andrewson and partly by Rev. O. J. Hatlestad. In 1851, at a meeting held at Cedarville, Ill., September 18-24, it participated by regularly elected delegates in the formation of "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North- ern Illinois." In the month of August, 1855, a meeting was held in the log meeting house, near the residence of A. K. Natestad, for the purpose of calling a permanent pastor. This meeting re- sulted in a unanimous vote to extend a call to the Rev. O. Andrew- son, which he accepted and became the settled pastor of the
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church in the spring of 1856. According to resolutions passed at a meeting held April 7, 1858, a church building was erected during the summer of this year, costing about $1,700. In 1860 the con- gregation participated in the formation of the Scandinavian Augustana Synod, which was organized at the old frame church at Bergen Postoffice, Wis., at a meeting held there June 5-12. This meeting consisted of six Norwegian and sixteen Swedish pastors and fourteen congregational delegates. The congrega- tion remained in connection with this synod until 1870, when the Norwegians separated from the Swedes and formed the Nor- wegian Augustana Synod at a meeting also held at the old church at Bergen Postoffice, October 5-12. This connection was continued until the synod in 1890 was merged in the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. On the 22d of March, 1892, the Antimissourian congregation and the Conference congregation, agreeably to earlier resolutions, formally joined the Evangelical Lutheran congregation in the town of Clinton, Rock county, Wis., and since that time the church has been one of the strongest in the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
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