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 5
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On April 12, 1874, the main building of the Wisconsin State School for the Blind was totally destroyed by fire; the fire de- partment from Janesville tried to check the flames, but owing to the distance from the water, they were unable to do much of anything in that regard.
In 1874 a manufacturing enterprise was launched in Janes- ville, which gave employment to many persons for a number of
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years. This was the Janesville Cotton Manufacturing Company, incorporated August 4, 1874, with a capital of $125,000, which was later increased to $500,000. Mr. Frank Whittaker suggested the feasibility of building a cotton factory here and aided great- ly in its construction. O. B. Ford was president, J. J. R. Pease vice-president, F. S. Eldred treasurer and William A. Lawrence secretary of the company. On the completion of the main build- ing its use was donated to the Janesville Sack Company for a charity ball, which was held February 9, 1875. The "Gazette," in its account of the party, says that at least 4,000 persons at- tended. On the third floor ninety-six sets, or 768 persons were dancing at one time. The exercises were held on the first floor and speeches were made by Dr. Palmer, Pliny Norcross, Judge Bennett and others. This company bought a large amount of both the upper and lower water powers, and erected during 1874 two large buildings, fitted with necessary machinery, at a cost of about $200,000, the main manufacturing establishment, be- tween North Franklin and River streets, 221x54 feet, three stories high, and another building spanning the raceway just east of it. Later on in 1883, they erected a large factory building and power plant southwest of the woolen mills in Monterey on the lower water power at a cost of $250,000. To run the mills they pro- cured two expert cotton men from North Adams, Mass .; one, A. J. Ray, became secretary of the firm, and the other, Chester Bailey, who had been the superintendent of the Arnold mills of North Adams, Mass., for fourteen years previous, became super- intendent of the mills. During many years they did a large busi- ness. In 1878 they made over 5,000,000 yards of sheeting, valued at over $300,000, with a pay roll of $70,000. Nearly the same amount was made in 1880 and 1883. They then employed nearly 400 hands. After the erection of the lower factory their output was further increased. Excessive freight rates on cotton for such a distance as it had to be brought and the high price paid to operatives forced the mills into financial troubles, and in 1886 a new corporation, called the Janesville Cotton Mills, was formed to take over the business, with a capital of $150,000. They ran the mills for some years longer, but the business still proving a losing venture they wound up the affairs of the corporation, and the plant was finally sold a few years since to the Janesville Electric Company.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
In 1871 and 1872, Morris C. Smith built the fine brick block at the northeast corner of Main and Milwaukee streets to take the place of the old frame building which had been burned there; the upper story of this block was used as a meeting place by the Masonic society for many years, and until they bought their own building in 1906. Brick buildings were also erected on Milwau- kee street between River street and the river to take the place of the old frame buildings destroyed by fire.
In 1870 Peter Myers built the opera house at the corner of East Milwaukee and Bluff streets; this opera house was a vast improvement over the halls which had theretofore been used for theatrical entertainments. Lappin's hall, located in the Lappin Block, continued to be used, however, for a number of years after this time.
In 1872 George C. McLean bought an interest in the Payne & Hastings Woolen Mills, which they bought in 1868 of F. Whitta- ker, who built in 1849, on the lower water power in Monterey, and under his management, as the New McLean Manufacturing Company, the mills did a large business for many years. The mills were totally destroyed by fire in August, 1881, but were at once rebuilt. After Mr. McLean's retirement about 1890 they were sold to Jonathan Ellis of Fort Dover, Canada, and are still a large factor in Janesville's industries under the name of the Rock River Woolen Mills.
In 1874 Colonel Burr Robbins bought the old Doty farm and what was formerly the old fair grounds at the bend of the river in the southeastern part of the city. and made the same into winter quarters for his Great American and German Allied Shows. His circus wintered here until he left the show business in the later 80's. During the winters it was a busy place, pre- paring for the coming season, and a great source of entertain- ment to many who took delight in seeing the animals in their winter quarters. The circus always gave its first performance of the season at Janesville, and when it went out of existence it left a void in the lives of the Janesville youngsters.
1875-1879.
May 1, 1875, the Congregational church was totally destroyed by fire; the fire caught in the pastor's study and burned very slowly, so that it was thought for many hours that it could be
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extinguished; there was a heavy snowstorm during the day and Prof. Bischoff, the famous blind organist, who was organist of the church at that time, wished to take out the magnificent pipe organ, but as the fire was deemed to be under control, he was dissuaded from removing the organ, and when it was seen that the church must go there was no time for that removal.
A new church, the present building, was erected on the same site, commencing shortly after the fire.
In October, 1875 a third bank was established at Janesville, being the Merchants & Mechanics' Savings bank, organized under the state laws with a capital of $50,000. This was the first sav- ings bank in Janesville, and it has grown steadily since its estab- lishment until now its deposits amount to over a million and a half dollars, being the largest of any of the city banks. For a number of years this bank was located in the Lappin block, and then was removed to the Jeffris block, at the west end of the Milwaukee street bridge, where it has since remained. Dur- ing the past year the building has been remodeled for it and beautifully finished in white marble and mahogany, so that it is now one of the handsomest bank buildings in the state.
On November 18, 1877, the Williams house, formerly the Bor- den house, at the corner of West Milwaukee and High streets, was burned. No building replaced it until 1879, when David Jeffris built the present Grand hotel on the same site.
On March 11, 1878, a new daily newspaper was launched by Garrett Veeder and W. H. Leonard, who had been publishing a weekly since 1869; it was named the "Janesville Daily Re- corder," and is still published, Peter J. Mouat being the present owner and editor. This paper is the only Democratic daily in Rock county.
The year 1879 is noted for a carnival of crime. On May 13 of that year George Mack was found murdered at his farm home in the town of Turtle. His wife and one George Dickerson were arrested. Dickerson was found guilty and testified against Mrs. Mack, who was tried in the Rock county circuit court, being de- fended by Ogden H. Fethers and John Winans. Mrs. Mack was convicted, but the supreme court reversed the conviction and granted a new trial, and after a change of venue to Jefferson county the case dragged along until she was finally allowed to
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go on her own recognizance. Dickerson was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was pardoned by the governor in 1891.
In September, 1879, the little son of Alex White was brutally murdered by George Baumgartner in the town of Porter. On October 6 a large mob of neighbors and others from that section of the county rode into the city and made demand upon Sheriff Comstock for the surrender of Baumgartner. The coming of the mob had become known, however, and Baumgartner had been taken out of the city; he was taken first to Elkhorn and then by a roundabout way to Monroe, where Judge Conger was hold- ing court; there he was brought into court in the dead of night, and after pleading guilty was sentenced to Waupun for life.
In October occurred another murder at the town of Milton, Edward Fogarty being killed by Henry Christianson.
In 1879 David Jeffris built the present Grand hotel on the site of the old Williams house, and it was opened for business on January 1, 1880. Mr. Jeffris for many years ran a lumber yard just south of the Grand Hotel building, and erected many prom- inent buildings in Janesville. It is said that he built over 400 buildings in the city.
The Grand hotel has been operated by J. F. Sweeney from nearly the beginning, and is now known as one of the best hotels in southern Wisconsin.
In 1877 John Thoroughgood and F. Stevens commenced the manufacture of cigar boxes and cigar box lumber in Janesville, buying out a small business which had been established by Fred Morse in 1874. In 1883 the late Fenner Kimball acquired a half interest in the business, and it was run by him and Mr. Thor- oughgood jointly for a number of years. Since Mr. Thorough- good's death, a couple of years ago, it has been operated by the Thoroughgood estate, George F. Kimball and Henry A. Gagan. For a number of years they occupied a large building owned by the Lappin estate at the foot of Pease court, and then erected for themselves in 1889 at a cost of $20,000, the large four-story brick building at the foot of Prospect avenue.
Another cigar box factory was established by Henry A. Doty a short time afterwards, and was in business for a number of years just north of the Thoroughgood factory.
In 1875 the making of shoes was begun in Janesville by the Janesville Shoe Manufacturing Company, who occupied a build-
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Fenner Kimball
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ing at the corner of South Main and South Second streets, erected on the ground where the ice skating rink had been burned in 1872. In 1878 the business passed to the Wisconsin Shoe Com- pany, incorporated February, 1878, with a capital of $20,000. This concern continued operating for a number of years, making about $200,000 worth of goods a year. They were burned out in January, 1888, and before they ceased a number of other like manufacturers had commenced business, the next being the Janesville Boot Company, organized by J. A. Cunningham and others in 1882. Later, Alexander Richardson and F. M. Marz- luff operated a large factory on South River street for some years, when F. M. Marzluff withdrew and started a separate factory on the raceway. This factory was destroyed by fire in February, 1902, entailing a loss of about $55,000; but the factory has been continued by Mr. Marzluff, and is now located in two stories of the old main building of the Janesville Cotton Manu- facturing Company.
The factory of Alexander Richardson was removed to Me- nominee, Wis., but later Mr. Richardson withdrew from it and established a new factory at Janesville, which now occupies the building across the raceway formerly owned by the cotton com- pany.
1880-1884.
September 8, ex-President U. S. Grant visited Janesville and held a reception in the Myers house, shaking hands with an im- mense crowd of people who were presented to him.
During the above period of five years began a new industry in Janesville, which is now one of the principal industries of the city; this was the purchase and handling of leaf tobacco. To- bacco had been raised in Rock county for many years previous, first being raised by Mr. Pomeroy near Edgerton in the 50's. It was also raised in Janesville, as it is stated in the 1856 direc- tory that "Mr. St. John has raised five tons of tobacco from six acres, worth 10 cents per pound, amounting to $1,000."
Tobacco raising had become quite universal prior to 1880, 3,476 acres having been raised in Rock county in 1879, but it was mostly sold to Chicago dealers. Rowe & Stevens, who had a warehouse on the corner of Wall and Madison streets, were heavy buyers of the 1881 crop at Janesville, and the firm of
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Baines, Heddles & Co. was organized about the same time. F. M. Hibbard, J. G. DeLong and Conrad Bros. were early buyers. The "Gazette," giving a review for 1880, says that 5,100 cases were handled here during the year, and in 1881 says there were from 8,000 to 10,000 cases put up in Janesville.
The industry of Janesville has grown steadily from that time until now there are thirty leaf tobacco warehouses in Janesville, and more leaf is packed here than in any other city of the United States excepting Lancaster, Pa.
In buying the 1906 crop the Janesville dealers invested over two millions of dollars, and assorting and handling of this crop gave employment to over 950 men and women for several months. The Janesville dealers buy heavily in other sections of Wiscon- sin where tobacco is raised, notably Dane and Viroqua counties. Within the last few years the stemming of the lower grades of leaf for export purposes has become quite an industry in Janes- ville, and a mammoth brick warehouse costing about $30,000 was erected during the past year by M. F. Green & Co. on Acad- emy street just north of their old warehouse in order to handle this one branch of the industry.
The amount of money invested in the tobacco crop is shown by the loss in a fire which has just occurred (January 18, 1908), where the Julius Marquissee warehouse, situated at the foot of South Franklin street, was totally destroyed with the packing therein, entailing a loss of over $200,000, in the packing alone.
In 1880 electric light was first introduced into Janesville by the Janesville Electric Light Company, which was incorporated March 18, 1880, by Dr. Henry Palmer, W. T. Vankirk and others This plant was afterwards bought by Captain Pliny Norcross, who extended it from time to time. During Captain Norcross' ownership of the plant the main buildings were situated at the end of the upper raceway, on the river between Milwaukee and Dodge streets. The waterpower at Fulton and also that at In- dian Ford was bought by Captain Norcross and run in connec- tion with the Janesville plant for the lighting of the city streets and the furnishing of motive power, etc.
In 1904 Captain Norcross sold out to a company composed of M. G. Jeffris, Levi Carle, T. O. Howe, Stanley B. Smith and George G. Sutherland, who commenced rebuilding and extending the plant. They bought the waterpower and buildings owned
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by the old Janesville Cotton Manufacturing Company, the Ford Milling Company and others, which thus gave them the control of the greater portion of the waterpower in the city, both the upper and lower powers. On the site of the old Ford mill at the west end of the upper dam they built a modern power plant at a cost of about $70,000, and also rebuilt the plant on the lower waterpower at a cost of a number of thousands of dollars. The capital stoek of the company was inereased to $100,000. Before Captain Noreross sold his interest the electric company had com- meneed in a small way the furnishing of heat by a forced eir- culation of water heated by steam. This business has been con- tinued by the present company, and quite a number of business blocks near Milwaukee street bridge are heated in this way, among them being the entire Jackman building.
In 1880 Chester Bailey, formerly superintendent of the cotton manufacturing company, established the Badger State Warp Mills near the west end of the upper dam; later he began the manufacture of cotton batting, and this business was bought out in about 1890 by T. O. Howe and Fred Howe, operating as Howe Bros. This business has grown steadily from that time, and now, under the name of Rock River Cotton Company, under which name it was incorporated in 1902, occupies nearly the whole block between Franklin, River, Wall and West Bluff streets, the company having bought all of the land in the block except the north building, owned by L. B. Carle & Son. Large briek factory buildings have been erected on this block from time to time, and now the plant represents an expenditure of over $300,000. The Howe brothers, besides operating this plant, are extensively interested in the Janesville Machine Company, the First National Bank and other of the city's industries.
On October 5, 1881, the Janesville Machine Company was in- corporated by James Harris, J. B. Crosby and others, with a capital of $100,000, to take over the business of the Harris Manu- facturing Company; this was done on the first day of January, 1882, and the Harris Manufacturing Company then ceased to do business as a corporation. The Harris Manufacturing Com- pany was incorporated in 1869 by James Harris, E. G. Fifield and Horace Dewey, and continued the business started by Har- ris, Guild & Angell, as mentioned in the review of 1859. Prior to the formation of the Harris Manufacturing Company, the in-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
terests of Messrs. Guild and Angell had been bought by James Harris, and later Leavitt and E. G. Fifield became interested with Mr. Harris, which organization, as Harris, Fifield & Co., was carried up to the organization of the corporation.
The business of manufacturing agricultural implements had grown steadily, so that in the review of the city's industries in the "Gazette" of December 1, 1880, it was stated that their capital was now $150,000, and the surplus $91,000; that they had manufactured during the year of 1880 $235,000 worth of goods. Since the organization of the Janesville Machine Company the growth has continued steadily and the concern is now the city's largest manufacturing industry. Under J. A. Craig, the general manager, the past years have seen an exceptional increase in the plant. New buildings have been erected until now they occupy nearly three city blocks, extending south from Pleasant street on both sides of River street. Their capital has been in- creased until it is now $500,000; they employ on an average from 250 to 300 men, and their buildings and plant have a valuation of $500,000, with a payroll of $5,000 to $6,000 semi-monthly. Their annual output is about $500,000 to $600,000.
The plows manufactured by the Janesville Machine Company have taken the grand sweepstakes prize at the annual competi- tion in Illinois for many years, and their Little Champion mowers and reapers and disk harrows are favorably known wherever agricultural implements are used. The Little Champion mowers were invented chiefly by James Harris, who was connected with the concern which bore his name for so many years. Mr. Harris withdrew from active connection with the firm a number of years ago; prior to 1880 he had invented a safety oil lamp, and asso- ciated himself with D. P. Smith for its manufacture. In 1880 the firm of Harris & Smith was reported as manufacturing about $30,000 worth of these lamps annually, and they were shipped all over the world, a large trade being in Europe. About 1885 the firm of Harris & Smith drifted into the manufacture of barbed wire. Mr. Smith withdrew from the company after a few years, and the business has been carried on since then by James Harris and his son, A. J. Harris. It has grown to be a very large manufacturing industry, and the making of wire nails and woven wire fencing has been added to the manufacture of barbed wire, as the use of the latter has fallen off in favor of the more humane
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smooth woven wire fencing. The business was incorporated by the Harrises in 1903 as the Janesville Barbed Wire Company, with a capital stock of $150,000.
In March, 1880, the first telephone exchange was opened in Janesville by the Janesville Telephone Company with sixteen subscribers; the number of subscribers had grown to fifty-eight by January 1, 1881. This exchange became a part of the Bell telephone system, and the Wisconsin Telephone Company was granted a franchise by the city in 1892, and increased its equip- ment, having a large number of subscribers.
In 1898 a movement was started for an independent telephone exchange, and the Rock County Telephone Company was given a franchise. This company took away most of the subscribers of the old Wisconsin Telephone Company, but owing to a reduction in the prices both companies have increased their patronage to a marvelous degree; now both companies are running exchanges in the city with a large number of subscribers, the Rock County Company having about 1,500 and the Bell Company about 900.
In 1880 the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company built a line from Janesville to Afton in Rock county, so that better connections were given for Madison and the northwest; and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company built a line from Janesville to Beloit, which gave another outlet to Chicago and to Racine and points in western Illinois.
The citizens subscribed $6,000 or $7,000 bonus for the build- ing of the Northwestern line and about $10,000 for the building of the St. Paul line. The two roads ran parallel along the west bank of the river as far as Afton, the St. Paul line continuing across the river a little further down.
Beginning with the year 1880 and extending on for a con- siderable number of years, Janesville became the head of the draft horse importing industry. Thomas Bowles brought the first Norman horse to Janesville in 1865, and in 1873 began deal- ing in imported horses, though not making importations himself until about 1883, when the firm became Bowles & Hadden. Later the firm was changed to Hadden, Scott & Mouat. They did a very large business in importing French horses.
Alexander Galbraith and his brothers, under the name of Galbraith Bros., began importing Clydesdale horses from Scot- land in 1880; their importations of Clydesdales and Hackneys
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increased until they were probably the largest importers in the United States.
Other extensive importers with headquarters at Janesville between 1880 and 1895 were Reid Bros., Hunter Bros. and Hop- kins & Son. The horses imported were sold all over the United States and Canada, and Janesville became the mecca for horse buyers.
A drop in prices in 1893 caused all of the firms to cease busi- ness. Alexander Galbraithi, however, commenced importing again about 1896, as prices began going up, and since that time to the present, in company with his son, all importations have steadily increased. The MeLay Bros. are also heavy dealers in Clydes.
Mr. Galbraith is considered an authority on horses, and his services as judge are in constant requirement at all of the large exhibitions in the United States. He is at present president of the American Clydesdale Association, and prior to becoming president was its secretary for many years.
Janesville did not give its whole attention to draft horses, however, for it was celebrated for many years as a center for raising extremely fast trotting stock. Messrs. Henry D. Mc- Kinney, H. S. Woodruff, B. B. Eldredge, John Griffiths and others were large owners and breeders of trotting horses. The annual June race meet, held by the Janesville Driving Park Association for years prior to the passage of the anti-pool selling law, drew many thousands of people to Janesville to witness the races.
In 1884 South River street began to be used for mercantile business through the building of a three-story mercantile block by Captain Pliny Norcross. Captain Norcross also built during that year the Phoebus block on West Milwaukee street; this block was built on the site of the old Farmer's mill, the mill being removed to the foot of Dodge street, where it has since been run by E. P. Doty.
In 1881 a municipal court for the county of Rock was estab- lished at Janesville, taking the place of the police justices with a considerable increase of jurisdiction. L. F. Patten was elected as the first municipal judge and began holding court the last Monday of June, 1881. H. A. Patterson was elected municipal judge in 1887, M. M. Phelps in 1893 and Charles L. Fifield in
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1899 and 1905. The eriminal business of the eity had been taken care of by the police justice from 1856 to 1881; among the jus- tiees were Sanford A. Hutson, William Smith, M. S. Prichard and T. S. Nolan, holding the office when it was abolished.
In February, 1881, Janesville was cut off from the outside world by a snow blockade which lasted over three days; the streets of the city were so filled with snow that all travel was abandoned, and the country roads were impassable for more than a week.
1885-1889.
In 1885 a company formed by Pliny Norcross, F. C. Cook and others purchased land and ereeted a large roller skating rink building, 88 feet by 150 feet, on South River street. Roller skating had begun to be popular and rinks had been opened in the Norcross block and in the Young American hall on Main street during 1884, and after the opening of the new rink the sport continued for a number of years. Polo was played on skates and Janesville had a team famous over the northwest, games being played in many other cities where they were vie- torious. After the decline of roller skating the rink building was used as a carriage manufactory by J. W. Richardson, and as a place for holding the Janesville Mid-Winter Fair until the last four or five years, when roller skating has again become the fad, and the rink is now thronged nightly during the winter season; it being now under the management of James Connors.
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