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 14
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In the year 1889 Albert Dolge, of Dolgeville, N. Y., published in the Chicago "Morning News" his conviction that manufac- turers would eventually make all their employees partners in the business. In his own establishment for making piano felts and felt shoes he worked this idea into practical form and gave his workmen not only a share in the profits, but also a pension fund, which provided for their old age. At the present time (1908) this principle appears in the share-holding system of the National Biscuit Company; the United States Steel Corporation adopted it in the year 1900, and the American Radiator Company, about 1906. April 4. 1908, the New Jersey School Furniture Company divided among its seventy-four employes $8,400 profits, having begun this profit-sharing with them five years ago.
A notable example of this new principle and practice is found here in Rock county in the Baker Manufacturing Company, of Evansville. This company was organized in April, 1873, as the firm of A. S. Baker & Co., to manufacture wind mills and iron
SOLOMON C. CARR.
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pumps. In 1876 the total amount of cash invested was $12,000. January 1, 1879, the net assets were found to be over $20,000 and in February, 1879, the business was incorporated as the Baker Manufacturing Company, the capital of $20,000, consisting of 200 shares of $100 each. March 15. 1883, the capital was increased to $100,000, M. V. Pratt buying $10,000 worth of the new stock at par and being made vice president. At the annual meeting, held January 12, 1891, there was declared a dividend of 1 per cent on the capital of the company, the first dividend ever declared, because previously the profits had all been applied to the extension of the business. January 16, 1892, it was voted to offer thirty shares of the stock to the employes as an invest- ment. On January 31, 1898, a special dividend of 10 per cent was made in addition to the regular 6 per cent dividend on 1,000 shares, which had been paid each year since 1892; also a divi- dend of 6 per cent on the $7,750 invested in the electric plant, which supplied city light. This part was afterwards purchased by the city.
The subject of profit-sharing having been considered for sev- eral years, at the annual meeting held January 31, 1899, a committee, consisting of Allen S. Baker, John S. Baker, his son, and C. J. Smith, was appointed to report a plan to an adjourned meeting of the shareholders, which was held February 7, 1899. At that meeting the plan reported was approved by a vote of 653 to 321 (finally adopted February 24, 1899), and it was unanimously decided to pay each man, who had been in the com- pany's employ during the past year, 10 per cent, in cash, of the wages earned by each for that year, including salaried men.
On February 24, 1899, at a special meeting of the share- holders it was voted to increase the capital stock to $300,000-of which $200,000 (2,000 shares of $100 each) was to be called "preferred," fully paid up stock, and $100,000 (1,000 shares) was to be known as "common" and issued in profit sharing, to capital and labor in proportion to the earnings of each-the earnings of capital to be 5 per cent on the preferred stock and the earnings of labor being the amount earned by each employee in day wages or salaries during each year. At the beginning of each year an inventory was to be taken showing all assets and liabilities, and the net amount that the assets exceeded the lia- bilities was to be the net gain or profit of the preceding year's
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business-10 per cent of which to be set aside as a sinking fund, and the balance to be divided in profit sharing-15 per cent to be paid in cash and 85 per cent in the common stock of the company, no one to participate in profit sharing before being in the company's employ two years. This plan of profit sharing was unanimously adopted. This increase of capital gave to each shareholder two shares of preferred stock for every one pre- viously owned.
On January 30, 1900, there was divided among the preferred shareholders $5,712.56 of surplus that remained in assets after fully paying up the $200,000 in preferred stock, and there was sold at auction the share purchased of M. V. Pratt (now doubled). A. Eager being the highest bidder, purchased this stock for $240. After dividing this surplus there was found to be in net earn- ings for the previous year $22,477.18-10 per cent of which was paid into the sinking fund, $3,032.58 was paid in cash and $17,- 196.89 in common stock-in profit-sharing. This increased the earnings of capital and labor 60.3169 per cent for the year 1899. The total assets of the company on January 1, 1901, was $257,043.66 and the total liabilities $219,757.75, making a net gain of $37,285.91 during the year 1900-10 per cent. of which was paid into the sinking fund; $4,915.41 was paid in cash and ' $27,853.93 in common stock in profit-sharing, leaving surplus balance of $787.98. This division of profits increased the earn- ings of the preferred stock and labor 82.7 per cent for the year 1900.
The plan as amended January 26, 1904, arranged the division of profits between the preferred stock and labor in pro- portion to the earnings of each, as follows :
First. The earnings of the preferred stock shall be a dividend of 5 per cent per annum, which shall be paid quarterly in advance.
Second. The earnings of hour and piece labor shall be the product of the total number of hours employed during any year by the price fixed for such labor per hour. This is not to exclude piece work, but persons working by the piece shall be credited in profit sharing only with the amounts they would have earned in the same time at a fixed price per hour.
Third. The earnings of salaried labor shall be the total amount paid in salaries during any year.
The fixing of all wages and salaries, and the hiring and dis-
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charging of employees shall be done by the general manager, superintendent or by such other officer as the company may designate.
All hour and piece work wages shall be paid weekly, and all salaries at the close of each month.
To determine the net profit, an inventory shall be taken January 1 of each year of all assets, including sinking fund, but no accrued interest; and of all liabilities, including preferred stock, common stock, amounts credited toward the purchase of common stock and sinking fund. The net profit or loss shall be the difference between the assets and liabilities.
The net profit of each year shall be used as follows :
First. To pay a dividend, not to exceed 5 per cent on the common stock and on amounts credited toward the purchase of common stock.
Second. Ten per cent of the amount remaining shall be paid into a sinking fund which will be invested in bonds and other securities easily converted into cash. The said sinking fund shall become a part of the business only in case at a net loss and shall not be used to enlarge the business. Interest accruing thereon shall be considered as part of the regular income of the com- pany and not added to the sinking fund.
Third. The remainder of the net profit shall be divided between all the persons regularly employed in the manufacturing business and the preferred stock in proportion to the recognized earnings of each. Fifteen per cent of this division shall be paid in cash and 85 per cent in the common stock of the company.
Should there be a net loss in any year's business there shall be no dividend on the common stock or on amounts accredited toward the same, no profit sharing and an amount equal to the loss shall be drawn from the sinking fund to restore it. In case the sinking fund is not sufficient to pay the loss there shall be no profit sharing until the loss in excess of the sinking fund is fully restored.
Any person who shall have been in the regular employ of the company for 4,500 hours during 100 consecutive weeks shall thereupon begin in participation in profit sharing, provided he does not quit the employ of the company, or is not discharged prior to January 1 of any year.
When there shall be an amount due to any person entitled
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to profit sharing, less than $100, it shall be entered to his credit on the stub of the stock book, but the certificate attached thereto shall not be made out or issued until amounts have been entered to fully pay up a share. But after credits have been entered to the amount of $75 or more, the balance may be paid in cash and the share issued fully paid up. Should any person wish to dis- pose of credits less than $75, the same must be referred to the directors for their action.
The later annual reports of the company have been regularly published and need not be given here. They show continued prosperity, harmonious relations between employers and em- ployed and the mutual satisfaction of all concerned in the results.
VILLAGES.
The villages of Rock county are Afton, Avalon, Avon Center, Cooksville, Emerald Grove, Footville, Fulton, Hanover, Indian Ford, Johnstown, Johnstown Center, Koshkonong, Lima Center, Magnolia, West Magnolia, Milton, Milton Junction, Orfordville, Rock Prairie, Shopiere, Spring Valley Corners, Stebbinsville and Union.
Afton is a small village in the town of Rock, six miles south- west of Janesville, at a junction of the Northwestern railroad with the Milwaukee and St. Paul. It was first laid out in 1855 by Mr. Joseph Church. It has a water power and a grist mill, built in 1872, a store, a creamery, with several shops, a school and a neat Baptist church, built in 1861 at a cost of $2,000. That church society was organized in 1856 with these twelve members: Deacon Moses L. Burdick, Elizabeth Burdick, Josiah and Mary Antisdell, Clark Antisdell and wife, Simon Antisdell, William Blanchard and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Washburn and Miss Nancy Church. The schoolhouse was built just north of the village and school kept there as early as 1849. In late years the old building has been replaced by a neat modern structure, placed somewhat nearer the village center.
Avalon is a settlement in the town of Bradford, and a station on the new short line of the Chicago. Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, about ten miles southeast of Janesville. It has a new, two-story schoolhouse and a store, and is surrounded by a fine farming community.
Avon Center, a village on Sugar river, is located on section
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20, of the township of Avon. It is sixteen miles west of Beloit and six miles southeast of Broadhead, from which latter place its mail is brought.
Cooksville, a village of about 135 persons, is located on section 6, in the town of Porter, ten miles west of Edgerton and about seven northeast of Evansville. It was laid out in 1842 by John Cook, who purchased the west half of Section 6, and platted a few acres, which he called by the above name. In this same year he erected a sawmill on the "Bad Fish creek," and in 1844 sold out to John Shepard, who built a grist mill. It was com- pleted in 1847, and prior to its completion a room in it was used as a meeting house by the Free Baptist Society.
The first store was opened by John D. Chambers in 1845; the first postoffice was established in 1849; and one of the first doctors was a Swede named Smedt. The church has always been repre- sented here, the Methodists establishing a circuit in 1847, and about the year 1860 the Congregationalists established a church.
Emerald Grove is located in section 6, Bradford township, seven miles east of Janesville. In the early days is contained a postoffice, one tavern, a Congregational church, one blacksmith shop, one store, a schoolhouse and fifteen dwellings. It has not changed much in the past sixty years, and has now a population of about 130. Its mails are received by free delivery from Janesville.
Footville, in Plymouth township, is on section 5. It is a sta- tion on the Chicago and Northwestern railroad, about sixteen miles north of Beloit, and was for a time the terminus of that line. It was first located in June, 1845, by Mr. E. A. Foot, from whom it derived its name. He was followed in the fall of that year by Mr. E. F. Richards, and with two other persons, they continued the inhabitants of this village until 1854, when the Galena & Chicago Union, as the Chicago & Northwestern was then called, became an established fact. Emigrants from the eastern states and from other places began to arrive, and build- ings were at once started and completed. When the first train of cars ran into the depot at "Bachelors Grove," as the town was then called, on January 1, 1855, it met with a rousing recep- tion from the inhabitants. Stores were opened as early as 1853, and business was on the boom. While this village has not in- creased in population in the past fifty years, the business houses
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and business methods have improved. They still have their churches, and their schools, which are conducted on broader and more modern lines than they were in "Ye olden time."
Fulton. Among the hills of the town of Fulton, on the banks of Catfish creek, stands this little village of 168 souls. Edgerton, which is located on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, is the nearest railroad point, about five miles away.
In 1846 Emanuel Corker came from Whitewater and erected a frame house, and while living there. before immigration had fairly started, commenced the erection of a grist mill. Not long thereafter he was joined in his solitude by James Merwin, Edward Hyland, Nelson Coon, David L. Mills and Silas Hanks. About this time Henry M. Dickinson arrived, and a short time after, opened the first store. And Nelson Coon erected a hotel, which was conducted by Phillip Davault as the "Fulton house." A Congregational church was organized in 1851, and services have since been continued.
The first creamery in Rock county was established here in 1877, and made that year 38,000 pounds of butter.
The grist mill, which was built by Mr. Corker, passed into the hands of White Brothers, and was successfully conducted by them for many years and, as the writer understands, is still in' existence.
Hanover. In 1844, Mr. Joseph Hohensheldt, who had settled here, located this village, which was not plotted till April 16, 1856, by John L. V. Thomas, and wife as proprietors. The post- office was established this year, with Mr. William Ranny as post- master. In 1857 the Milwaukee & Mississippi railroad, now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, was built to this vil- lage, and later was followed by the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, which forms a junction with the St. Paul, called Han- over Junction. Hanover is a thriving village on the Monroe division of the St. Paul railroad, nine miles from Janesville, and has stores, churches and schools.
Indian Ford. (By Mrs. D. E. Hopkins, December, 1907.) The fording or crossing of Rock river by the Indians in early days accounts for the name of this hamlet, while the name proper is "Fulton Center," it being the center of Fulton township; in early days. when politicians wrote the ticket, public meetings were held at Fulton Center.
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The first wooden bridge across the river at this place was built by private subscription in 1846. The bridge now spanning Rock river at this place is a fine bent iron bridge, built in 1896. at a cost of nearly $10,000, the county paying a certain per cent of the cost. The dam was built in 1843; Dr. Guy Stoughton securing a charter, built a dam and erected a sawmill on the east bank of the river. Later he purchased a large new frame building, owned by Henry Whitaker and William T. Hall, who were engaged in the mercantile business at that time. The new frame building, combined with the little sawmill, made the first grist mill and was successfully run for years by Silas Hurd, who owned a large tract of land east of the village. His son, John C. Hurd, now lives on the old homestead east of the town. On this east side mill site now stands a repair shop built by John Call and owned by William Price.
The first hotel, a small red frame building, was built by Serenius Elliott some time in the '40s. Later the building was made a grand hotel by the erection of a large brick and stone upright, containing the finest dance hall in the country. Among its many landlords have been : Phillip Default, Fred True, Simon Hurd, Mr. George Kellog, Charles Finney, the last being the landlord for many years. Mr. Robert Johnson lived there as postmaster and storekeeper until the building was finally aban- doned, and it is now an old-time ruin. The site is now owned by William Cox.
The first school was opened in 1842. The schoolhouse for many years was used for church and Sunday school entertain- ments, funerals and all public meetings. In its stead now stands a fine school building on the Milton road. The building is larger and finer, but the school is smaller, because the population has changed so much.
Among the early professional men were Dr. Howe, Dr.Land- ers, Dr. Stoughton. On the west bank a large stone house was built in 1852 by David Tidball. As soon as finished, the upper story was rented by Nelson Finney. Mr. Tidball and family occupied the lower story, and the basement was used for a shop. On this foundation stands a frame store built by David McChes- ney, and the store was run by his sons. Later George Lackner bought the store and it was conducted by him for over sixteen
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years. After his death, it passed into the hands of two brothers, W. H. Cox and N. W. Cox. W. Cox now conducts the store.
About the year 1855 Erastus and Theodore Hopkins bought the water right on the west side of the river and erected a saw- mill. A third brother, Elijah Hopkins, coming from the east to help build and run the sawmill after its completion. In 1862 the tobacco industry being favorable, they began the sawing of tobacco lath, or lath for the purpose of stringing tobacco. This mill was successfully managed by these brothers until 1864, when it was burned to the ground. On this same location a flour- ing mill was built in 1868 by David H. McChesney. The mill was run by D. H. McChesny and sons for years. It is now an electric light plant, which was put in by Captain Pliny Norcross, from Janesville. The dynamo was first run by Mr. P. Berg, whose home was in Fulton village. In 1880 the Good Templars' hall was built on the west side. A lodge was organized in 1879, holding meetings in the mill for the first year. In 1895 a co- operative cheese factory, was built just east of Good Templars' hall. It was run one year as a cheese factory, this was bought out and became a butter factory, owned and run by Mr. Garlock, later by Mr. Bullock, and at the present time (1908) by William Hill.
Edwin Rodgers came here as a blacksmith in 1850. Rogers & Hopkins were wagonmakers; later a Mr. Bushoir worked with Mr. Rodgers, doing the woodwork. Mr. Rodgers now lives at Fort Atkinson, leaving this place in the spring of 1907, to reside with his sister, one of the last living pioneers of this village. W. T. Hall, of Beloit, and Levi Hiltz, of Indian Ford, are other pioneers still alive. The names of Kimball, Crumb, Hutson, Sey- mour, Hyett and Sherman Stone were familiar to all earlyday people, but they have gone, one by one, the way of all the world. This place has never had a church building; the town hall has served for that purpose.
Johnstown. This is a small village, located in section 23, in the township of Johnstown. It was established about the year 1839, when Messrs. Carter, Fletcher, Cammell and Hill. settled on the location and built the first house. It now has a population of 138.
Johnstown Center. In 1837 Norman Smith made a claim at the present site on land owned by Henry P. Johnson, and located
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the village. It has now a population of 175 persons, with store, church, blacksmith shop, etc.
Koshkonong. This is a small station on the Green Bay division of the Chicago & Northwestern railway, near the north- ern line of Rock county, in the town of Milton. It is five miles north of Milton Junction and about two miles east of the lake, from which it is named.
Lima Center, or as it was once called, "Child's Station," is situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, seven miles east of Milton Junction. It was first located in 1853 by Mr. N. A. Childs, who erected a house upon ground now occupied by the village. He was also the postmaster, and with Mr. L. H. Childs, built and occupied the first store. It is a village now of 230 persons, and has schools and churches.
Magnolia, in the township of Magnolia, is three miles west from the railroad. It was located in 1843 by Joshua Dunbar, Andree Cotter, Joseph Prentice, and a man named Jenkins, who settled on the quarter sections of sections 14, 15, 22, 23, which all four center in the town. They now have a population of over 200 persons, churches of different denominations, and good schools with a large attendance. The place had at one time a spring- bed factory, which was established in 1877 by Osborn Howard, and a sulky plow factory. The rest of the business consists of blacksmith shop, hotel and stores, with a daily mail service from Evansville.
Magnolia Station, formerly called Cainville, is a hamlet of about sixty persons, on the Northwestern railroad, three miles east of Magnolia. It owes its old name to Mr. S. J. Cain, who was instrumental in securing a postoffice here in 1861. The place now consists of a store, a schoolhouse, depot, warehouse and a few dwellings.
Milton is one of the older villages in Rock county, and was founded by Joseph Goodrich, who, in 1838, built the first house of the village, which is still standing. He conceived the idea of founding a village then, though the land still belonged to the government, and he had only a squatter's claim. He proposed to plot and dedicate a large public square and sell building lots around it, giving lots to mechanics who would build shops thereon. He solicited the co-operation of his neighbors, N. G. Storrs and Peter McEwen, in the enterprise and in giving a portion of the
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land for the square; but they considered the scheme as wild and visionary.
Mr. Goodrich thereupon purchased Mr. McEwen's claim to the southeast quarter of section 27, for which he paid $60 in goods from his pioneer store. On this quarter section he and James Pierce (his hired man) laid out the public square of Milton.
The following spring, of 1840, Joseph Goodrich purchased the land from the government, and on this quarter section the main part of the village is situated. The original deeds for the lots were all given by Mr. Goodrich, as is attested by the records of Rock county. Mr. Goodrich also dedicated lands for school, church and cemetery purposes. The Peter McEwan farm, on section 34, adjoined the public square on the south, and on this land, some village and church lots are now located.
The first postoffice was established in 1839. Mr. Joseph Good- rich being the first postmaster, as well as the first store-keeper, from whom most of the goods used by the inhabitants were pur- chased. In the same year Mr. Goodrich opened the first tavern, under the name of Milton House, which was always a temperance house.
Milton is a thriving village with a population of about 1000. persons, located eight miles northeast of Janesville, on the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. It has one bank, four churches, fifteen societies, numerous stores, schools and the famous Milton College, which is described in a separate paper in the chapter on colleges.
Bank of Milton. This institution was incorporated in 1884,. with a capital of $15,000. B. H. Wells is now president. Dr. A. S. Maxon, vice president, and P. M. Green, cashier. It does a general banking business.
Congregational Church. A meeting was held at the log house of Ansel Dickinson, August 16, 1838, and with Rev. William M. Adams as moderator the above church was organized with nine members. Up to 1842 services were held in private houses, and it was called the Congregational Church of Du Lac; but in the fall of that year a house of worship was constructed on the north- east quarter of section 35, town of Milton, and it became known as the First Congregational church of Rock county. The first minister was Rev. David Smith, October, 1839 to 1841. The building was moved to the site of the present church in the
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winter of 1845-46. It was replaced by a brick building, dedicated in 1857; the present church edifice was dedicated June 4, 1893. The church is now known as the First Congregational Church of Milton. June 3, 1850, this half-acre lot was deeded to the church society by Peter McEwan, who gave the village its name.
Methodist Church. In 1846 this church was organized with nine members, by Rev. Matthew Bennett; services were held in private homes for some years. In 1854 a meeting was held, and it was decided to build a house of worship, which was finished that year, at the cost of $1,500, Peter McEwan giving the site. The church has had a large membership, which at times has fallen off, only again to regain its lost strength. In 1884 the church edifice was rebuilt in its present form, and in 1890 the present parsonage was built.
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