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 12
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Secret Societies.
This has ever been a great place for secret and benevolent organizations, all the old and many of the new orders having re- ceived a hearty welcome.
Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 135, A. F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation dated May 24, 1862, and its charter bears the date of June 11, 1862. The place of meeting was then at Shopiere. The lodge was removed to Clinton in 1867, since which time it has thrived and now has a large membership, a fine hall, etc.
The I. O. O. F. order was first organized at Johnstown Center, July 21, 1851, and ran until 1867, when, on account of so many of its members having gone to the war, its charter was surren- dered. In March, 1868, it was removed to this place and re- organized, meeting the first time at W. H. Cornwell's.
The Clinton Grange, P. of H., No. 38, was organized in Novem- ber, 1872, Milton S. Warner being the first worthy master, with eleven charter members. C. M. Treat was worthy master from 1872 to 1875, when E. J. Carpenter was elected to that office. For some years it was a strong order and had for its members a great number of our best citizens ; but was finally given up.
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The Patrons of Industry was another farmers' organization which once had a strong hold, but which also went peacefully to sleep and is now in sweet repose.
The Knights of Honor, a fraternal insurance organization, was chartered October 4, 1877, with eighteen members, which grew to about ninety, and it still has an organization here.
The Knights of the Globe, another fraternal insurance society, has been running for some months and has a good membership.
Adelphia Camp, 374, M. W. A., was organized July 21, 1887, with thirteen charter members.
Home Forum, No. 504, is a like organization, which has a large membership and also includes upon its roll many of our leading citizens, the ladies included.
The Clinton Postoffice was established August 12, 1843, with Stephen Perley as postmaster. On July 12, 1844, Griswold Weaver succeeded him. August 16, 1849, John F. Gillman was appointed to the position and on the 5th of September, in the same year, Alonzo Richardson took the office. April 28, 1856, Thomas Hunter was commissioned. March 6, 1857, the name was changed to Ogden and Thomas Hunter was again commissioned. On August 3, 1861, William H. Snyder was appointed, and on Jan- uary 16, 1864, the name was changed back to Clinton, and Mr. Snyder recommissioned. W. I. Hartshorn was appointed Febru- ary 28, 1865, and Henry S. Wooster March 15, 1868. He it was who separated the office from other places of business and con- ducted its affairs, with the assistance of the late Hon. D. G. Cheever and ye editor until April, 1877, when James Irish was appointed. H. N. Cronkrite's commission was dated in April, 1886, and from April, 1890, to May, 1894, R. W. Cheever was post- master. From then until April 1, of this year, J. E. B. Budlong has held the position, he being succeeded by William A. Mayhew.
There was also an office started at Summerville upon the same date as this one, with William Stewart as postmaster. He was succeeded by R. P. Willard, January 11, 1850. This office was discontinued and blended with the Clinton office on March 6, 1857.
The office "Bergen" was started on the state line, four miles south of the village, in the summer of 1895, with C. K. Johnson as the postmaster. At present Henry S. Anderson holds that position.
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The first Norwegian settlement of Wisconsin, and the fourth in the United States, was started in the southern portion of our town by Ole Knudson Natesta, July 1, 1838, being the first Scan- dinavian to come to the state, and this was also the beginning of the settlement of Jefferson Prairie, now one of the most pleasant and fertile gardens on earth. He was born in Vaegli, Norway, December 24, 1807, and died here May 28, 1886. When he first settled here there were but eight American settlers in the town- ship. In the spring of 1839 his brother, Ansten, accompanied by Thore Holgerson, Kittle, Christopher Newhouse, Erik Skavlem and others, came, bought land and settled near Ole, where chil- dren of theirs are, for the most part, still residing. In 1839 and 1844 quite a number of natives of Voss also came and settled here, of whom K. B. Duxstad, who is still living, was one. Ansten K. was born August 26, 1813, and died April 8, 1889.
The Newspapers of Clinton date back to April 6, 1861, upon which date volume 1, No. 1 of the "Clinton Enterprise" was issued by Hamilton and Turner. Next we find that in 1868 N. D. Wright, of Delavan, with Henry Coleman, as local editor, was running a paper by the same name. October 14, 1871, B. F. Latta and T. J. Allen started the "Clinton Gazette"; but none of these long survived. November 12, 1874, Chet. M. Whitman and Curt. M. Treat brought out the first number of the "Clinton Independ- ent." In July, 1875, Curt. became sole proprietor and ran it until November 15, 1878, when it was purchased by P. H. and H. S. Swift; after a few months Rev. C. C. Marston became its editor and shortly afterward he was followed by Dr. Bowers. In 1882 W. C. Brown was the proprietor, but during that summer sold to D. G. and R. W. Cheever and Dr. Covert. R. W. Cheever soon afterward acquired the sole management and is its present pub- lisher and proprietor.
"The Rock County Banner" was started by Mrs. L. S. Wilcox in 1887 as an organ of the W. C. T. U., ever since which time she has largely shaped its course, although its ownership and politics have met with numerous changes.
"The American Antiquarian," a magazine founded by Rev. S. D. Peet, of Chicago, was published here for several years.
Village of Clinton. Upon August 19, 1881, a notice was pre- pared and posted to the effect that a petition was to be presented to the circuit court asking that the village be incorporated. This
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was signed by H. S. Wooster, F. A. Ames, P. D. Dickerman, C. P. Drake and F. P. Wallis. The petition included, via of description, Commencing at the southeast corner of section 8 and running north 1/2 mile, thence west 1/4 mile, thence north 1/4 mile, thence west 1/2 mile, then south 3/4 mile, thence east 3/4 mile, to place of starting, continuing 320 acres and being in section 8, township 1 north, range 14, east. Population at that time being 931. Said petition being signed by F. A. Ames, P. D. Dickerman, C. P. Drake, Whitfield and Kennedy, O. L. Woodward, T. Babcock, E. S. Smith, F. P. Wallis and E. W. Jerman. Upon December 13, 1881, Judge H. S. Conger ordered an election to be held upon the question and appointed J. W. Jones, John Hammond and William Edwards as inspectors of said election. This election was held at Union Hall, on the 21st day of January, A. D. 1882. The whole number of votes cast was 186, of which number 119 were yes and 67 no. The first election for village officers was held February 25, 1882.
Manufactures. Although Clinton has always been a strictly farming community, and as such has no superior on earth, yet it has had some factories which have helped to give it notoriety abroad.
The Wallis Carriage Company, which was started here by F. P. Wallis, in the spring of 1869, was one of these. Large buildings were erected and for a number of years the business thrived. At times as many as thirty-four hands were employed, turning out a complete carriage daily, and no better class of work could be found than was produced by them; but new and improved ma- chinery, less honest work and sharper competition by other con- cerns, made it necessary for them to have more capital, and, in 1885, a stock company was formed and the factory was removed to La Crosse.
The Clinton Steam Flouring Mill was erected in the summer of 1875 at a cost of some $25,000. There was then much experi- menting and numerous changing of costly machinery; but they finally succeeded in building up a reputation for a first class product. About fifteen hands were given employment and some $50,000 was invested in the business; but this was not sufficient to compete with the greater concerns which were located nearer the wheat fields, and they were crowded out and the mill was after- ward sold to parties who moved it to Freeport.
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Cooper Shop. Barrels were manufactured by the carload. They also made vast numbers of cheese boxes and gave employ- ment to some fifteen or twenty hands; but, in 1879, fire destroyed the plant; after which it was never rebuilt.
The Clinton Truek Factory is an institution which for a great many years was managed by Hiram Cobb, now deceased. Some years ago J. W. Hartshorn took hold of it and in 1887 a large stone building was ereeted, new machinery put in, so as to make of it a very neat, complete factory, from which are being con- stantly turned out large numbers of fine new trucks, besides which they do much of the repair work for the American Express Company.
Banking. The first bank was started here by Captain J. F. Cleghorn, and he was succeeded by O. C. Gates. In 1882 The Citizen's Bank of Clinton was incorporated and their fine bank building was erected by C. P. Drake, P. D. Dickerman, William Edwards, A. Woodard, Sr., R. M. Benson, George Wilcox, A. G. Ransom, L. Downs, K. B. Duxstad, O. R. Tillerson, J. C. Church, George Covert, Artemus Smith and James MeNee, fully half of whom have since passed away. It was managed by the three first named until 1887, when A. Woodard purchased a controlling interest and has since then been its president. The present officers are : A. Woodard, president ; K. B. Duxstad, viec president; A. Woodard, Jr., cashier, and II. A. Moehlenpah, assistant cashier.
Public School Buildings. In the early forties the first school building was erected on the corner near where Mr. Robinson's house now stands. After a few years this was not large enough to accommodate all the scholars, and another one was built upon the same lot. Early in the sixties the sight was changed and a larger building was erected, and in after years was enlarged, but served its purpose well for some thirty years. The cost of this structure was some $3,500. In 1893 the present fine building was erected at a cost of some $13,000, and is one of which any town of our size might well feel proud.
The First Town Meeting was held at the home of Charles Tuttle on April 5, 1842. The number of votes cast was fifty-nine. William Stewart was elected chairman; Heman Murray and Jared H. Randall, side supervisors; Henry Tuttle, elerk; G. Weaver, treasurer; L. R. Gilbert, assessor; R. P. Willard, col- lector. Heman Murray was elected chairman the following year,
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1843. In 1844 James Chamberlain, 98 votes cast; 1854, Heman Murray, 141 ballots ; 1846, William Stewart, 101 votes; 1847, S. O. Slosson, 136 votes. In 1848, 112 votes were cast; in 1860, 235; in 1867, 263; in 1870, 337; in 1874, 341, and in 1876, 376. At the general election, held that fall, 464 votes were cast. That year H. Pierce was chairman; J. F. Cleghorn, clerk; A. C. Voorhees, treasurer ; S. Conley, assessor.
Edgerton. This thriving little city of nearly three thousand people is situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road, seventy-one miles west of Milwaukee and twenty-six miles east of Madison. In 1853, Lucius M. Page and H. S. Swift laid out the village north of the railroad and Adin J. and E. A. Burdick on the south side.
The first frame house was built in 1853, by Ferdinand Davis, who used it as a store and residence; in 1853 two brick stores were erected, and in 1857 H. S. Swift erected the "Swift Block." In the winter of 1853-54, Nelson Coon erected the first hotel building and conducted it as the Exchange hotel. He sold this in 1854 and built the United States Hotel. From this time for- ward the village continued to grow and the number of buildings increased in size and grandeur, until now there are many large and well stocked stores, a modern hotel and large modern and up-to-date residences, quite different from those of pioneer days.
Edgerton has a free public library, four churches, seven church societies, five lodges, two banks, and modern schools, in- cluding the graded departments of a high school whose grad- uates are accepted at the Wisconsin University.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated in 1863, and for a number of years, services were held in the school house. In 1867 a brick building was purchased, 22x40, with a seating capacity of 200, fitted up for church purposes, and since then the society has been in a flourishing condition.
St. John's German Lutheran Church was organized in 1872, with a membership of seventeen. This society has had a steady growth, built a new church and is prosperous.
The other churches are the First Congregational and the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran.
The Church Societies are, Father Mathew's T. A. and B. So- ciety, Ladies, Aid of the Norwegian Lutheran church, Ladies' Aid of the M. E. Church, St. Rose Ladies' Society of St. Joseph's
ANDREW JENSON.
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Catholic Church, Young Ladies' Society of the Norwegian Luth- eran Church, Young Ladies' Society of the German Lutheran Church and the Young People's Society of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.
Fraternal Societies. Fulton Lodge No. 69 F. and A. M .; Ed- gerton chapter No. 63; O. E. S. Edgerton Lodge No. 135, I. O. O. F .; H. S. Swift Post No. 137, G. A R .; Modern Woodmen of America, Edgerton Camp No. 440.
The First National Bank was incorporated Nov. 23, 1903, with a capital of $25,000. George W. Doty, president; W. MeChes- ney, vice-president; Wirt Wright, eashier.
The Tobacco Exchange Bank is the oldest bank in Edger- ton, and was incorporated in 1897, with a capital of $50,000. Andrew Jensen, president; W. S. Heddles, vice-president, and (until his death in 1907), W. S. Brown was cashier. Very large amounts of money, considering the size of the place, pass through this bank every year because of the immense trade in eigar leaf tobacco, which centers here.
Edgerton has an excellent local newspaper and also one of far more than local reputation, the "Tobacco Reporter," edited and published by F. W. Coon. This goes all over the United States and across the ocean and is a recognized authority on the to- baeeo market.
It will doubtless surprise many nonresidents of Edgerton, to learn of the extent to which the raising, purchasing and ex- porting of tobacco is carried on in this place. Its fame as a tobacco-raising locality has long since reached to states and cities in the east, whose inhabitants, especially those engaged in the business of manufacturing tobaceo, were not slow to turn their knowledge to good aeeount, by the establishment of agencies at this village, now eity.
The "weed," which from time immemorial, has proved a souree of comfort and joy to the sons of men, was first grown in Edgerton by Messrs. E. Hall and Robert Johnson, in 1853; but, unaccustomed as they were to the growth of the plant, they failed to save the erop and the mystery of growing and saving tobacco successfully was left unsolved until a few years later, when it was again essayed, this time with sneeess, by Mr. Ralph Pomeroy, who was an old Ohio grower.
Up to 1858, erops were planted and saved, but they were very
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light, owing to the non-existence of a market. That year gave the budding industry a.bad "set back," the principal agent in the work being the heavy frosts, which nipped the young plants in the bud and turned the hearts of the owners thereof to gall and wormwood.
The idea of growing tobacco having received a shock, no more crops worthy of the name were put down until 1860, when some five hundred cases (400 pounds to the case), were garnered, which brought, in the Milwaukee and Chicago markets, from four cents to six cents per pound. This was encouraging and soon the tobacco buyer was as much an institution in Edgerton as the cotton buyer was in the southern states. From that time to 1866, the amount of tobacco garnered gradually increased, until it reached the then large amount of 2,000 cases.
The fame of the market at this place had reached by this time to the cities of New York, Cincinnati, Hartford, and to other places, and representatives of the leading houses were sent out to learn its magnitude and the prospects of the longevity of the interest, with the view of establishing agencies. Apparently they were satisfied, for Messrs. Shohn & Ritzenstein of New York, im- mediately commissioned Mr. William Pomeroy to purchase for them. Very soon after that, Mr. W. P. Bently received instruc- tions from Messrs. Joseph Meyer & Sons of New York, to act for them, and he was followed by Mr. C. H. Wheeler, who had authority from Messrs. Becker Bros .. of Baltimore, Md., and Rothschilds, Schrader & Eliel, of Chicago, to purchase all the to- bacco they could get. Following him came Mr. W. W. Child, who bought for Messrs. Wintermeyer & McCowan, of Hartford, Conn .; and after him Mr. Thomas Hutson, was directed by Schroder & Bond, of New York, to represent them in the leafy field. The firm which he represented built the first tobacco house in the village, in 1869, with a storing capacity of 2,500 cases.
Since this time other firms have erected large storehouses, until now there are in Edgerton in the neighborhood of forty- nine commodious brick buildings used for the storing and pack- ing of this commodity.
The presence in 1870 of such a large number of agents, all bnyers for first-class houses, instigated the farmers of Edgerton to put forth greater efforts in the tobacco-growing line than they had ever before attained, and, as a result, in the next year they
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gathered and sold 30,000 cases or an aggregate of 12,000,000 pounds, for which they received six cents per pound, or the enor- mous sum of $720,000. Prices had been higher; for instance, in 1869 they had reached twelve and one-half cents per pound; but then there was only a small erop, not more than 20,000 cases. But in the following year from fifteen to twenty cents per pound was paid for a crop of 3,500 cases; in that year, as in 1869, the crop was small, and that of Connecticut, the largest tobacco rais- ing state, very poor. Another cause which militated very much against the reception by the growers of high prices in 1871, was the large quantity and poor quality raised. They outgeneraled themselves, but since then, have had no special cause for com- plaint.
The tobacco grown in the neighborhood is what is known to the trade as cigar leaf, and in that elass dealers and growers now say that Wisconsin takes first rank as a tobacco growing state.
Edgerton now (1908), is claimed to be the largest leaf to- bacco market in the world. (See also the paper on "Rock County and Tobacco," on page
PIONEERS OF EDGERTON.
By
Mrs. Charles R. Bentley.
As our country has been growing away from its early history "The Dames" and "The Daughters" have been interesting them- selves in preserving places of historic value and in keeping in the memory many heroic deeds of our pioneer countrymen. The women's elubs are doing much work along the same line, and this evening we are assembled, in this same spirit, to take an inventory of our possessions, past and present, in our home city of Edgerton. It is fitting, then, that we pay tribute to the men and women who braved the hardships and difficulties of a new country in laying the foundation of our prosperous little city. I take pleasure in bringing to mind, so far as I can, the pioneer families of Edgerton and something of their manner of living in pioneer days.
I find the first to settle within what is now our city limits was William Bliven, wife and child. They came from Allegany
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county, New York, in 1842, took up government land and built a log house, in which they lived, in the extreme northeast corner of our city. Mr. and Mrs. Bliven were Seventh Day Baptists. They raised a large family amid hardships and privations, we may believe. For water to drink they took a barrel on a stone-boat drawn by oxen and went to Aden Burdick's (now known as the Thomas Atwood farm). Water for washing and other purposes they drew from Mud Lake, also with an ox team. Rather a slow method of drawing water, even with a most speedy ox team, as compared to turning a spicket.
In 1843 Mr. Arnold Collins came from New York with his wife and five children. They took up government land and built the first frame house-whose history you know. A son, Milo Collins, is now a resident of our city. This family were also Seventh Day Baptists. We believe it took seven days of religion to keep faith and heart strong. Bread with pumpkin butter was not sufficient. A man from the Emerald Isle, named Thomas Quigley, owned a farm purchased from the government in 1843. It comprised the land on which the railroad depot now stands.
In 1848 John Fassett came from Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons, Sherman and Porter; Mr. Fassett's brother, Schuy- ler, accompanied them. By the way, this gentleman was the third postmaster, and I am told that in those early days he found it quite a task to keep his silk hat smooth, nor could he take a trolley or limited express to Milwaukee to purchase a new one.
John Fassett was a practical man; he took up 160 acres of government land, including that ground now sacred to many of us because it is the resting place of our loved ones.
In 1842 Mr. Aden Burdick came from New York state and bought a large tract of government land on which he made his home with his wife and grown children. In 1851 his youngest son, Austin, left the home farm and came with his bride and made a home in a log house on the site that J. B. Tointon's house is now on. This log cabin home was warmed in winter from logs burning in an open fireplace in front of which the meals were cooked until 1852, the advent of a new method of cooking, when Austin Bur- dick purchased an iron cook stove in Beloit.
For meat they caught fish in the streams or killed game, and Christmas, 1851, Mr. Burdick killed three deer on the slope of the hill behind the house Lew Towne lives in. He killed one by the
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Catholic church later. We are proud to speak of Mr. and Mrs. Burdiek as the representative pioneer family, having lived longer in close touch with the life and activities of Edgerton than any couple the writer has knowledge of. The influence of pioneer life was felt in their home. The cordial greeting, the true hospitality shown to acquaintances as well as to friends, and I feel certain that many strangers were made welcome to a "dish of tea." To such pioneers much credit is due for all that has been best in the social and business life of our city. Mr. and Mrs. Burdiek have ever discouraged all that was low and degrading, while they assisted and supported that which had a tendency to uplift and ennoble character. Mrs. Burdick was one of our Monday Club's charter members. To Mr. Burdiek I am indebted for informa- tion regarding pioneer life. I will tell you a little story he told me in regard to a little girl who came to his well for water when he lived where Mr. William Clarke does. They drew water with a pail hooked on to the end of a pole. As the girl lowered her pail Mr. Burdick was frightened to see her disappear head fore- most into the well. He called to some one passing to assist him in getting her out, but what was his astonishment when he looked into the well to see the girl, her pail full of sand, elimbing out by placing her hands in the crevices in the sides. She got her pail of water and, without a word, walked away with it to her home, a block and a half distant. Such was the pluck of a fifteen-year-old pioneer maiden.
In 1853 Daniel Coon, the first carpenter, came. His wife and daughters were prominent members of the village society. At this time, Robert Attlesey, then living in England, received a letter from his father, who was living here, telling him of the good prospects in this new country. Mr. Attlesey decided to try his fortune here, and eame as all did in those days, by sailing vessel. He was eleven weeks and three days on the ocean, and sixty-four out of twelve hundred passengers died on the voyage.
Roslyn Robinson came in 1853 also, with his wife and three sons. Grant is a resident now.
Ferdinand Davis, who sold the first stock of goods, came at this time. He had a wife and two sons, Percy and Evan, who were sent to Milton College to complete their education begun in the village schools. Mr. Davis and wife were from New Jersey. In 1853 they went to California, where he died, leaving consider-
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able wealth in silver mines. They were Seventh Day Baptist people, as were our mayor's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Doty, who came west in 1849. Mr. Doty owned a sawmill at Newville. While living there in 1852 Mr. George Doty was born. They moved to Edgerton in 1853. Mr. George and Will Doty and a sister in Janesville are all that are left of a large family.
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