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 3
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In March, 1848, a census showed the population of Janesville to be 1,812. There were 318 families, 113 of whom lived on the east side of the river and 205 on the west side. And it was shown that 116 houses on the west side of the river had been erected in the last eighteen months.
In this year, 1849, Thomas Lappin built the present store occupied by Putnam on Main street, forty-two feet front and 100 feet deep for one store and sixty feet deep for the other. These were occupied in 1849 by Whellock & Sutherland.
The Congregational Church Society in this year also com-
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meneed building its first house of worship, but it was not fin- ished and dedicated until October, 1850. This was built on the site of the present Congregational church, but was torn down in 1865 to make way for a more pretentious building.
The county jail was built during this year on the courthouse square, being near the southern side of the park and about in front of the present residence of Hiram Merrill.
The building of a large woolen mill upon the lower water- power was commenced by Frank Whittaker during 1849; it was not completed and the operating started until 1850.
Monterey bridge was also being built during this year by Mr. Miltimore, and was completed in 1850.
August 30 a public meeting was held to secure the location of the state asylum for the blind at Janesville, and it was soon after established here. Though at first by private parties, the first term of school was held in one of Ira Miltimore's buildings on Center avenue near the Monterey bridge. Later, in 1850, the school was transferred to the residence of Mrs. HI. Hunter on Jackson street. In 1852, Captain Miltimore having donated ten acres where the site now is, a building was erected thereon, and in the fall the school commenced operation there. At about this time the state took charge of it.
One of those who took a most active interest in the establish- ment of this school, and who was instrumental in having it lo- cated at Janesville, was Josiah F. Willard, father of Frances Wil- lard, the famous temperance advocate. Mr. Willard had come here from Ohio with his family, including Frances, then seven years old, in 1846, and settled on a farm a little ways south of where the school for the blind is now located, where he lived until November, 1858. He was trustee of the blind asylum from 1852 until 1858. He was one of the members of the first legislature in 1848 and was president of the Rock County Fair Association and of the State Agricultural Society. He was the earliest historian of Rock county, having compiled the "History of Rock County" which was published by the Rock County Agricultural Associa- tion and Mechanics' Institute, in connection with Orrin Guernsey.
In October, 1849, the postoffice department established a daily mail service between Milwaukee and Janesville. The mails were then all carried by stage, and there were nine mail routes cross-
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ing Janesville, so that the arrival and departure of the stages furnished daily excitement and added to the lively appearance of the town.
1850.
In February, 1850, the large Excelsior Mills built by Richard- son in 1848 on the raceway were destroyed by fire. There was also a break at the eastern end of the upper dam, but this was shortly afterward repaired.
In June, 1850, the count of the population was 3,100, showing that it had increased about 1,300 in a little over a year.
In 1850 the first regular pastor of the Catholic church took charge, being the Rev. Patrick Keenan; prior to this time the services had been held by outside priests.
In December of this year the Masonic chapter was chartered, being Janesville Chapter No. 5, chartered December 9, 1850.
1851.
January 8, 1851, the Oak Hill Cemetery Association was or- ganized and procured land where the Oak Hill Cemetery now is. Previous to this time, as stated before, the block now occu- pied by the Jefferson school was used as a cemetery; but from this time on no more bodies were interred there, and in 1855 and 1856 those that had been buried there were taken up and re- buried in Oak Hill and Mt. Olivet cemeteries.
On June 1, 1851, the raceway bank above where the Blodgett Mills now are, broke, and the water, being suddenly released, swept across the river and flooded the opposite side, causing con- siderable damage.
On July 10 the first ground was broken for the building of a railway between Fond du Lac and Chicago, by what is now the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company; it was then called the Rock River Valley Railway Company, and A. Hyatt Smith, of the city of Janesville, was president. He officiated as president at the breaking of ground at Fond du Lac on this date; about the same time work was started on the road at Chicago, and build- ing rapidly progressed at both ends.
During this year some of the largest buildings were erected. Ensign H. Bennett and J. F. Clapp erected a three-story building on Main street, being now a part of J. M. Bostwick & Sons' store.
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The Ogden House, a five-story building on the northerly side of Milwaukee street between Main and Bluff, was built by J. M. May; it was used for commercial purposes for a couple of years, but was turned into a hotel after the Stevens House burned in 1853. In 1859 the postoffice was located in this building.
S. D. Smith, J. T. Norton and William M. Tallman built the Tallman block on Milwaukee street at the west end of Milwaukee Street bridge in 1851.
The Baptist Society built a church during this year at the cor- ner of Cherry and Pleasant streets, which was occupied by them until 1867, when they built a new church on Jackson street and sold the old church; this building still stands, having been for many years used as a laboratory by William M. Tallman, and later as a tobacco warehouse.
On October 12, 1851, the first state fair was held in Janesville, and the Rock County Agricultural Society also held its fair in connection with it. This fair was held on the prairie east of the courthouse park, being where the George McKey and C. S. Jackman residences are now located. This fair was attended by at least 5,000 people, and the net receipts, given as $254, were divided equally between the state and county associations.
1852.
In 1852 the Southern Wisconsin Railway Company, afterwards the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company, and merging in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, was or- ganized at the Stevens House in Janesville. It was formed to build a railway from Janesville to the Mississippi river, but never reached the western terminus. It was finished to Monroe in 1858.
In this year, 1852, the Mt. Olivet Catholic cemetery was opened on four acres of land east of Oak Hill Cemetery and was dedi- cated by Rev. Father McFaul, of St. Patrick's church.
1853.
The year 1853 was a famous year for Janesville, because then it was incorporated as a city by chapter 93 of the Private and Local Laws of 1853, which was approved by Governor Farwell on March 19, 1853. As incorporated Janesville was bounded and included the same quantity of land that it now covers, namely, four sections of the town of Janesville, two of the town of Rock,
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
and three half-sections, one in La Prairie and two in the town of Harmony. It was divided into four wards, two on each side of the river ; the First, Second and Third wards being substantially as they now are, and the Fourth including what are now the Fourth and Fifth wards.
The first election was fixed for the first Tuesday of April. A. Hyatt Smith was elected the first mayor of Janesville at that election.
Mr. Smith was probably the foremost citizen of Janesville at that time. He was born in New York city in February, 1814, and began studying law when fourteen years old. At the age of twenty-one he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in New York city for six years. Because of impaired health he was ad- vised to leave the seacoast, and as he had previously visited Wis- consin on business, he determined to move here, coming in 1837, as we have stated before. From the time of his getting here he took a most prominent part in the activities of Janesville, start- ing the upper water-power almost at once on his arrival. He was elected to the first constitutional convention in 1847 and was the same year appointed attorney general of the territory, and held that office until the state was admitted into the Union. At that time there was no railroad between Janesville and Madison, and he used to drive up to Madison to attend to his duties as attorney general, sometimes driving up in the morning and returning in the afternoon. He owned most of the land on the west side of the river in Janesville, and much property in Chicago, and was estimated to be worth at one time over a million dollars.
In 1847 he organized a company to build a plank road from Milwaukee to Janesville, giving it most of his time and a num- ber of thousand dollars in money during the ensuing six years. There was considerable antagonism to the project, and finally it was given up and the franchise allowed to be disposed of to Wall street brokers at a large loss to Mr. Smith and his co- workers. The burning of the Hyatt House, spoken of hereafter, and the Chicago fire in 1871, finished the financial destruction of Mr. Smith, though he kept his spirits and continued in the prac- tice of law at Janesville until almost the time of his death, which occurred October 17, 1892.
The first board of aldermen elected with Mr. Smith to govern
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the new city were: B. T. Pixley, E. L. Roberts and W. P. Bur- rows, of the First ward; John J. R. Pease, Timothy Jackman and George Barnes, of the Second ward; E. A. Howland, B. B. Eld- redge and Charles Conrad, of the Third ward; George H. Willis- ton, George W. Taylor and John Carlin, of the Fourth ward. James H. Ogilvie was elected city clerk, Charles S. Jordan city attorney, J. W. Hodson city treasurer and W. T. Hopkins city marshal.
On election night, the first Tuesday of April, the Stevens House was destroyed by fire during one of the most violent gales of wind ever experienced; it was a wonder that more of the city was not burned, as there was no fire department except a volun- teer bucket brigade. The burning of the Stevens House prompted the common council to take action in securing a better fire de- partment and apparatus, though this was not accomplished for some time thereafter.
The building of the Milwaukee & Mississippi railway during the previous year had progressed so far that it was ready to op- erate early in January, 1853. On January 5, 1853, the city cele- brated its completion with public meetings and speeches. The first locomotive did not arrive until January 10, 1853, when it pulled into Janesville and stopped at the depot on the bluff east of the present gas works, in charge of Engineer John C. Fox. Mr. Fox has been with the railway company ever since that time, being now master mechanic of this division of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway Company, the successor of the Mil- waukee & Mississippi Railway Company.
The third newspaper was started on January 6, 1853, being the "Free Press," Rev. Joseph Baker, editor. This paper was Republican in politics and was issued until 1857, when it was bought by the "Gazette" and merged with that paper.
The McKey Brothers, merchants, built during this year the four-story building on the east side of Main street, twenty-two feet wide and 100 feet deep.
The population according to the first city census was 4,800.
In the summer of 1853 the plan of Mayor Smith for a railway line from Janesville to the Mississippi, leaving the western terminus open, led to the coming of two delegations to Janesville, one from Galena and the other from Dubuque, advocating differ-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
ent routes. The teamster who drove the wagon that brought the first party registered at the old American Hotel as "U. S. Grant and Team, Galena." That hotel, called the American House, stood at the northwest corner of Court street and Main. The venerable city clerk, Mr. James Burgess, subsequently said about this fact: "Whether the driver of the Galena team and the late President Grant are identical, I have no means of know- ing. After the meeting adjourned the two delegations invited me to a dinner which lasted well along toward daybreak; rumor says that one of the party, when the time came for the Galena delegation to leave for home, was heard to propose to another that they should send for Ulysses. 'Let him sleep,' was the re- ply; 'it's better for him and us too.'"
1854.
The burning of the Stevens House in 1853 started an agitation for adequate fire protection ; the talk, however, did not material- ize in procuring any engines until 1855, but before the engines were received two fire companies were organized, being the Rock River No. 1 and Water Witch No. 2.
During this year, 1854, the upper or Milwaukee Street bridge was completed, taking the place of the old toll bridge. It was built by John F. Rayne, Ora L.,Phelps and William Hume, with three tiers of stone and timber arches.
Thomas Wollescroft built a store building at the east end of the bridge, being the building now used as a saloon. Afterwards for a number of years the lower portion of the building was used as a postoffice and the upper part as a meeting hall for the Young Men's Christian Association.
On July 4, 1854, the first daily paper in Janesville was issued by the Janesville "Gazette," Levi Alden and Charles Holt, pro- prietors. Owing to insufficient patronage it was determined later in the year to suspend publication of the daily, and the paper was not issued as a daily from October 7, 1854, to March, 1857.
In 1854 Alex T. Gray, a Janesville man, was inaugurated as secretary of state. He had been chief clerk of the assembly since 1850, and held the office of secretary of state until 1856. Then he came back to Janesville- and practiced law here for several years. J. B. Doe was mayor during this year, but most of the old council were reelected.
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
1855.
In April, 1855, the present system of graded public schools was adopted by the city, though they were not thoroughly graded until 1856. The old academy was used as the central high school, and there were eight other graded schools provided for. At the same time there were three private select schools and the school for the blind, so that the city was well provided with educational facilities.
On June 25, 1855, the two hand fire engines previously ordered by the city arrived, and in the evening the first regular parade of the fire department took place. They paraded in full uniform, consisting of leather helmets, red shirts and black pants with red- top boots, so that they made an imposing appearance. Two days afterwards, on June 27, a fire occurred, it being the Third Ward schoolhouse, which was located in what is now known as Forest Park addition near Logan avenue. Notwithstanding the use of the new engines the building was destroyed.
On July 4 the Milwaukee fire company No. 3 visited Janes- ville as the guest of the Janesville department and participated in the Fourth of July celebration.
Gilbert Dolson, later sheriff, was the first engineer of the fire department, Joseph H. Buff first assistant and Winfield S. Chase second assistant.
As an auxiliary to the fire department Sack Company No. 1 was organized in March, 1855. This was composed of twenty business men of the city, who gave their services voluntarily to do general police duty during fires. This company has been in existence ever since its organization in 1855 to the present time, though the name was changed to the Janesville Fire Police in 1889. The most prominent business men of the city have been connected with this organization, and it has come to be the pride of the department.
Now they have a patrol wagon which is built so as to act as a chemical engine. In addition they always carry a number of portable fire extinguishers, and many of the fires have been checked by the prompt use of these extinguishers that would have grown into disastrous conflagrations had it been necessary to wait for the use of water by the regular department. For many years they also responded to ambulance calls, having purchased
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
an ambulance equipment to be used in connection with the wagon.
On July 5, 1855, the body of Andrew Alger, a citizen of Jef- ferson county, was found in Spaulding's woods, four miles east of Janesville; he had been murdered there on June 16 by David F. Mayberry. Mr. Alger had sold a considerable quantity of timber and had the money with him at Beloit. Mayberry, who had served several terms in the Illinois penitentiary for high crimes, planned to rob him, and succeeded in getting permission from him to ride north with him from Beloit. He rode in the wagon to Janesville, and here they halted for a short time, and Mayberry purchased a hatchet. Proceeding on their way to Jef- ferson, they reached the Spaulding woods, when Mayberry struck his victim with the hatchet, killing him, and after robbing him concealed his body in the underbrush. After the finding of the body Mayberry was very soon arrested near Rockford, Ill., and brought to Janesville for trial. The circuit court was in session, Judge Doolittle presiding, and he was put to immediate trial. On July 12 in the morning he was convicted and sentenced by Judge Doolittle to life imprisonment. A large number of Alger's friends and neighbors from Jefferson county, and also lumbermen from the north, whom the money was to pay, were in attendance on the trial, and while Mayberry was being taken from the court- house to the jail they seized him from the officers and dragged him from in front of the jail, then situated in the courthouse park, through the park to a tree nearly opposite where Hiram Merrill's residence now is situated, where Bluff street crosses the park; a rope was thrown about his neck and over a limb of a tree, and the mob swung him into eternity. After they were sure that he was dead the mob quietly dispersed, and the authorities cut the body down and conveyed it to the courthouse. The tree was shortly after cut down and pieces of it taken as souvenirs.
The citizens of Janesville were in favor of allowing the legal sentence to be carried out, but the cold-blooded way in which the crime was committed, its deliberation and planning, did away with any sympathy or pity that might have been had for the per- petrator, and the citizens would not try to defend Mayberry from the mob violence or assist the officers in protecting him, though they regretted the forcible substitution of mob rule for the au- thority of the law. No attempt seems to have been made to pun- ish the lynchers.
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
In October, 1855, two banks were started in the city of Janes- ville, which have endured to the present time. There seems to be some question as to which one began business first. The Cen- tral Bank of Wisconsin, now the First National Bank, began business on October 19, 1855, and has continued in practically the same location ever since. Its first president was O. W. Nor- ton and the cashier William A. Lawrence; it was organized as a national bank in September, 1863. The Rock County Bank was organized as a state bank October 16, 1855; Timothy Jackman as president, Andrew Palmer vice-president and J. B. Crosby eashier. In January, 1865, it was organized as a national bank, and since that time has been known as the Rock County National Bank. Prior to the formation of these banks the Badger State Bank had been engaged in a general banking business. It was incorporated in 1853 by H. C. MeCrea, W. J. Bell and E. C. Dim- ock, who had been doing a private banking business since 1850 under the name of MeCrea, Bell & Co. McCrea and Bell were Milwaukee men who started banks in different Wisconsin cities. After the institution of the First National and Rock County banks the business of the Badger State Bank fell off and it went out of business in 1857. The Janesville City Bank, operated by H. B. Bunster and J. P. Hoyt, and the Producers' Bank, by Gov- ernor Barstow, did a small business in 1857 and 1858, but soon closed.
On June 10, 1855, the second Blue Lodge of Masons was or- ganized, being Janesville Lodge No. 55, F. and A. M. During this year there were some of the most pretentious business blocks erected. Thomas Lappin built the Lappin block, a four-story building at the corner of Main and Milwaukee streets, at a cost of $36,000. This was owned by him until the time of his death, but a few years ago was sold by his estate to Dennis and Michael Hayes, who rebuilt it into a modern office building, and it is now known as the Hayes block.
A four-story briek block 22x100 feet was built by William Hutson north of MeKey's on the east side of Main street. Peter Myers also started building a four-story block next north of the Hutson building and south of the present Myers House, 90x100 feet; this was not finished until 1858. Sandford Williams built a portion of the five-story building still standing on East Mil- waukee street east of the Ogden House; of the balance of this
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
block two stories had been built by Nelson Hurlburt in 1849, and during the year 1855 the balance was raised three stories by J. M. Riker, making the whole building five stories in height. A four-story store building just west of the Ogden House on Mil- waukee street was also built by D. J. Farwell.
The Presbyterian Church Society erected a building for their worship on the west side of Jackson street; this was a wooden building between Wall and Bluff streets and was used by them until the erection of their new church in 1891, when it was sold for $2,100 and is now the property of the city, being used for patrol service, etc. The society had been organized on May 5, 1855, through the labors of Rev. M. W. Staples, who became their pastor, and in that position he continued until 1858.
The erection of these buildings, with those that had been pre- viously built gave the city quite a metropolitan air. The city's population had increased so that the state census of 1855 showed a population of 7,018.
Edward L. Dimock was the mayor during this year.
1856.
During this year two new bridges were erected by the city, the Monterey bridge being rebuilt by them, and a new bridge built across the river between Court and Pleasant streets. This latter was erected under the superintendence of William McLean and was called the lower bridge as distinguished from the upper bridge.
The Janesville Gas Company, chartered by the legislature during 1856, completed its plant and commenced the manufacture of gas.
In September the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railway Company, now the Chicago & North-Western, completed its track as far as Janesville, and on September 15 the first passenger train arrived. The depot at that time was at the east end of the present bridge across the river near the Miltimore quarries.
During the next year the road was completed to Oshkosh, as the building of it had been started from both ends. It was ex- tended to Green Bay in 1862. The bridges across the river must have been built during 1856 or 1857. Both the North-Western and the St. Paul companies joined in the building of the upper railway bridge.
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Faren Finch Huren
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
The fire department was enlarged during this year by the or- ganization of a hook and ladder company, with W. B. Britton as foreman; they did not procure their equipment, however, until the next year.
July 10, 1856, the second Odd Fellows lodge of Janesville was chartered, being Janesville City Lodge No. 90; and on September 11, 1856, the Masonic commandery of Knights Templar was char- tered.
1857.
In 1857 two additional wards were added to the four pre- viously formed-the Fifth, on the west side of the river, and the Sixth, out of the Second and Third, on the east side. Aldermen of these wards were elected, but at the next session of the legisla- ture the new wards were abolished and the city remained divided into four wards until 1871, when the Fifth ward was again estab- lished and still remains.
In March, 1857, Charles Holt purchased the Janesville "Free Press," united it with the Janesville "Gazette," and began pub- lishing a daily paper again. It was published as a morning paper and called "The Daily Morning Gazette," being a seven-column paper. From that time until the present there has always been a daily "Gazette," though it was changed to an evening paper many years ago.
The second state fair was held at Janesville from September 28 to October 2, 1857. This was held on the grounds which had been made into a fair grounds at the lower end of Main street in what is now the Spring Brook addition to the city. This fair was very largely attended, the gross receipts amounting to $8,804.60.
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